We will present the approaches used to investigating the power loss for the stranded core transformers. One advantage of using stranded core is to reduce power loss or enhance transformer efficiency. One difficulty in the modeling of this type of transformer is that the core is not solid (there are small gaps between core wires due to circular cross section). A two dimensional finite element method with nodal basis function for magnetostatic field was developed to study the effects of the small gaps between core wires. The magnetic flux densities are compared for the uniform (solid) cores and the stranded cores for various permeability values. The effects of different air gap dimensions in stranded core to the magnitude of magnetic flux density were also discussed. The results of the two dimensional study were applied to modify the B-H curves in a 3D simulation with an equivalent simplified uniformed core transformer model via Ansoft Maxwell 3D. This is achieved by output the magnitude of magnetic flux density at fixed points of mesh center. The total core loss of a transformer was predicted by integration of the losses of all elements.

Desalination has been increasingly adopted over the last decades as an option, and sometimes as a necessity to overcome water shortages in many areas around the world. Today, several thermal and physical separation technologies are well established in large scale production for domestic and industrial purposes.  Membrane distillation is a novel thermally-driven process that can be adapted effectively for water desalination or water treatment in industrial applications, due to its potential lower energy consumption and simplicity. The general objective of this thesis is to contribute to the technical understanding of membrane distillation as a new technology in water treatment for both industrial and drinking water purposes, as a starting point for further improvement. The thesis includes experimental and numerical investigations that highlight some aspects of the technology application and fundamental aspects. In the field of industrial application, an experimental and numerical assessment has been carried out on an Air Gap Membrane Distillation (AGMD) prototype to assess the utilization of the technology in thermal cogeneration plants; in particular, demineralization of water boiler feed water and treating flue gas condensate. The main assessment parameters were water quality and energy consumption. The results from full-scale simulations of a system of 10 m3/hr production capacity,  connected to the district heating network were as follows: 5 to 12 kWh/m3 specific thermal energy consumption, and  0,6 to 1,5 kWh/m3 specific electricity consumption, depending upon the heat source (district heat supply line or low-grade steam). For desalination applications, experimental and simulation work was conducted on an AGMD semi-commercial system as part of the EU MEDESOL project. The aim was to evaluate AGMD performance with saline water of 35 g/l NaCl in order to establish an operation data base for simulation of a three-stage AGMD desalination system. Specific thermal energy consumption was calculated as 950 kWht/m3 for a layout without heat recovery, and 850 kWht/m3 for a layout with one stage heat recovery.  The lack of internal heat recovery in the current MD module means that most of the heat supplied to MD system was not utilized efficiently, so the thermal energy consumption is high. This would mean that a large solar field is needed. In order to analyze the flow conditions in feed flow and cooling channels, CFD was used as tool to analyze a spacer-obstructed flow channel for different types of spacer geometrical characteristics: flow of attack angle, spacer to channel thickness ratio, and void ratio. Velocity profiles, shear stress, and pressure drop were the main assessment criteria. Results show the flow of attack angle has a very minimum effect on the performance of spacers. The effect of spacer to channel thickness ratio was significant in all assessment parameters. Higher void ratios were found advantageous in promoting flow mixing, but resulted in lower sheer stress and hence reduced heat transfer. Physical modifications were implemented on a semi-commercial AGMD prototype to assess experimentally any improvement in its performance. These modifications were mainly focused on reducing the conductive heat transfer losses by modifying the physical support in the air gap that separates the membrane from the condensation surface. In addition, several feed channel spacers were tested and assessed based on their effect in increasing the mass transfer while maintaining or reducing pressure drop. The modifications yielded a two-fold augmentation: slight increase in the distillate mass flow rate (9-11%), and increased thermal efficiency (6%). The pressure drop in the module was reduced by 50% through selecting the appropriate spacer that would achieve the above mass flow rate increase. / QC 20111021

As características de desempenho dos motores trifásicos de indução são fundamentais para estudos de viabilidade econômica, tanto para a manutenção como para a substituição por motores que apresentem melhor rendimento, visando à economia de energia. Existem diversos procedimentos para determinar o desempenho das máquinas de indução, no entanto, são procedimentos baseados em ensaios que exigem o desacoplamento mecânico, comprometendo assim a praticidade, sem contar no custo da instrumentação envolvida. Este trabalho apresenta o estudo e implementação de dois métodos distintos para estimar o rendimento de forma pouco intrusiva, método do torque no entreferro e método do circuito equivalente. Nesse último são estudadas duas técnicas, a primeira estima os parâmetros do circuito equivalente por meio de um conjunto de equações definidas pela resolução do modelo da máquina, e a segunda, estima os parâmetros do circuito equivalente por meio de um algoritmo de identificação por mínimos quadrados. Por fim são mostrados os resultados da aplicação das metodologias propostas no Laboratório de Eficiência Energética e Hidráulica em Saneamento – LENHS da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, onde então é apresentada uma análise dessas técnicas, considerando os aspectos de precisão e incerteza. / The performance characteristics of three-phase motors are essential for economic feasibility studies, for both maintenance and for replacement by motors that have better efficiency, to save energy. There are several procedures based on tests that require mechanical uncoupling, thereby committing practicality, without counting the cost of the instrumentation involved. This work presents the study and implementation of two different methods to estimate the efficiency in low intrusive order, method of air gap torque and method of equivalent circuit. In the latter, two techniques are studied, the first estimates the equivalent circuit parameters though a set of equations defined by the resolution of the machine model, and second, estimates the equivalent circuit parameters by means of an identification algorithm for least squares. Finally shows the results of applying the proposed methodologies in the Laboratory of Energy Efficiency and Water Sanitation – LENHS in Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, where it is then presented an analysis of these techniques, considering aspects of precision an uncertainty.

As características de desempenho dos motores trifásicos de indução são fundamentais para estudos de viabilidade econômica, tanto para a manutenção como para a substituição por motores que apresentem melhor rendimento, visando à economia de energia. Existem diversos procedimentos para determinar o desempenho das máquinas de indução, no entanto, são procedimentos baseados em ensaios que exigem o desacoplamento mecânico, comprometendo assim a praticidade, sem contar no custo da instrumentação envolvida. Este trabalho apresenta o estudo e implementação de dois métodos distintos para estimar o rendimento de forma pouco intrusiva, método do torque no entreferro e método do circuito equivalente. Nesse último são estudadas duas técnicas, a primeira estima os parâmetros do circuito equivalente por meio de um conjunto de equações definidas pela resolução do modelo da máquina, e a segunda, estima os parâmetros do circuito equivalente por meio de um algoritmo de identificação por mínimos quadrados. Por fim são mostrados os resultados da aplicação das metodologias propostas no Laboratório de Eficiência Energética e Hidráulica em Saneamento – LENHS da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, onde então é apresentada uma análise dessas técnicas, considerando os aspectos de precisão e incerteza. / The performance characteristics of three-phase motors are essential for economic feasibility studies, for both maintenance and for replacement by motors that have better efficiency, to save energy. There are several procedures based on tests that require mechanical uncoupling, thereby committing practicality, without counting the cost of the instrumentation involved. This work presents the study and implementation of two different methods to estimate the efficiency in low intrusive order, method of air gap torque and method of equivalent circuit. In the latter, two techniques are studied, the first estimates the equivalent circuit parameters though a set of equations defined by the resolution of the machine model, and second, estimates the equivalent circuit parameters by means of an identification algorithm for least squares. Finally shows the results of applying the proposed methodologies in the Laboratory of Energy Efficiency and Water Sanitation – LENHS in Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, where it is then presented an analysis of these techniques, considering aspects of precision an uncertainty.

As características de desempenho dos motores trifásicos de indução são fundamentais para estudos de viabilidade econômica, tanto para a manutenção como para a substituição por motores que apresentem melhor rendimento, visando à economia de energia. Existem diversos procedimentos para determinar o desempenho das máquinas de indução, no entanto, são procedimentos baseados em ensaios que exigem o desacoplamento mecânico, comprometendo assim a praticidade, sem contar no custo da instrumentação envolvida. Este trabalho apresenta o estudo e implementação de dois métodos distintos para estimar o rendimento de forma pouco intrusiva, método do torque no entreferro e método do circuito equivalente. Nesse último são estudadas duas técnicas, a primeira estima os parâmetros do circuito equivalente por meio de um conjunto de equações definidas pela resolução do modelo da máquina, e a segunda, estima os parâmetros do circuito equivalente por meio de um algoritmo de identificação por mínimos quadrados. Por fim são mostrados os resultados da aplicação das metodologias propostas no Laboratório de Eficiência Energética e Hidráulica em Saneamento – LENHS da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, onde então é apresentada uma análise dessas técnicas, considerando os aspectos de precisão e incerteza. / The performance characteristics of three-phase motors are essential for economic feasibility studies, for both maintenance and for replacement by motors that have better efficiency, to save energy. There are several procedures based on tests that require mechanical uncoupling, thereby committing practicality, without counting the cost of the instrumentation involved. This work presents the study and implementation of two different methods to estimate the efficiency in low intrusive order, method of air gap torque and method of equivalent circuit. In the latter, two techniques are studied, the first estimates the equivalent circuit parameters though a set of equations defined by the resolution of the machine model, and second, estimates the equivalent circuit parameters by means of an identification algorithm for least squares. Finally shows the results of applying the proposed methodologies in the Laboratory of Energy Efficiency and Water Sanitation – LENHS in Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, where it is then presented an analysis of these techniques, considering aspects of precision an uncertainty.

Die Arbeit beschreibt die Entwicklung und Evaluierung einer Technologieplattform für die Herstellung von oberflächennahen Mikrostrukturen mit hohen Aspektverhältnissen. Grundlage dieser Technologieplattform stellt ein neuartiges Konzept zur mechanischen und elektrischen Kontaktierung beweglicher Elemente mittels spezieller Träger dar, deren typische Breite unterhalb eines Mikrometers liegt. Basierend hierauf werden drei unterschiedliche Prozessabläufe zur Herstellung der Mikrostrukturen, auch als Air gap Insulated Microstructures (AIM) bezeichnet, vorgestellt. Der Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit liegt dabei auf der mehrschichtigen Trägervariante mit Isolationsebene und Leitungsebene. Verschiedene Schichtkombinationen, bestehend aus Siliziumnitrid, Siliziumdioxid und Aluminium, sind in ihrem mechanischen, thermischen und Langzeitverhalten charakterisiert und im Hinblick auf ihre Anwendbarkeit für die Träger bewertet. Für die Strukturierung der Siliziumelemente wird ein Verfahren basierend auf einem CF-Polymer als Passivierungsschicht beschrieben. Neben verschiedenen Ausfallmechanismen für die Passivierung werden gezielte Optimierungen der Abscheide- und Ätzprozesse erläutert sowie deren Resultate dargestellt. Für die vollständige Trennung von Substrat und seismischer Masse ist eine isotrope, vom Aspektverhältnis nahezu unabhängige Siliziumstrukturierung nötig. Entsprechende Betrachtungen und Untersuchungen hierzu, unter Verwendung der Reaktionsgase SF6 und O2, stellen den Abschluss der Untersuchungen zur Prozessentwicklung dar. Um die Leistungsfähigkeit der Technologieplattform zu demonstrieren, erfolgt die Herstellung verschiedener Sensoren und Aktoren. Die Charakterisierung dieser Elemente in ihrem mechanischen, thermischen und Langzeitverhalten stellt den Abschluss dieser Arbeit dar.

Membrane Distillation (MD) is a very promising new technology which can be coupled with renewableenergies and/or waste heat to produce pure water at a low-cost. MD is extremely dependent upon theperformance of the membrane, as it dictates the mass transfer, the heat transfer and the long-termapplication. Unfortunately, there are no commercially produced MD-specific membranes at this point intime. This project aims at finding correlations between membrane characteristics and their performancesin order to define the optimal morphologies and operating conditions for a MD-specific membrane. Todo so, the characteristics of 3 PTFE membranes initially designed for MF were determined throughporosity measurements and microscopic imaging, while their performances were evaluated by measuringthe air permeability and by testing them on an AGMD bench-scale unit.It was found that the most desirable characteristics for a membrane with a high flux are a film with largeporosity, low tortuosity, a small thickness with a resistance to compaction and that has not been subjectedto thickness altering processes. Moreover, the surface pore sizes need to be small enough to avoid surfacewetting, and the backing layer should not restrict the vapor flow in a significant way and should possesslarge open areas.As the feed water temperature and/or the flow rate rises, the flux increases and the energy requirementdecreases, this means that one should ideally aim for the highest possible operating conditions whichrequires larger costs. Therefore it is necessary to find a cost effective solution for each application.The results show that, for comparative purposes, Gurley values are good indicators of a membrane’soverall performance in MD, despite the fact that it does not always accurately predict it. It has also beenfound that membrane specifications provided by manufacturers are generally only approximations, andshould therefore not be used as very precise data for comparing membranes.

Air insulation, especially its efficiency, is often underestimated and most often it is recommended as combination of several methods by our experts. It is known that flowing air used to eliminate excessive humidity in lower construction is insignificantly promoted. Already our ancestors in ancient Rome had experience with implementation of air insulations. However, nowadays such design is connected with many doubts and it forces us to use sense, especially knowledge of construction physics. So it urges higher technical precision when designing functional ventilation system. Each building is actually a unique object, with regard to its position and used properties, that is why certain natural conditions must be accepted when designing. It is more complicated and figuratively speaking it can be written in c. 20 equations of twenty unknowns. Other problems arise in unknown coefficients to individual parameters and their effects. From another point of view it is the issue of changing air during the day, passing fronts, annual cycles and all of these in relation to internal environment of the building, materials used in the construction, land properties of rocks, and last but not least, relation to the terrain around the building. Then there are the effects of the building's altitudes etc. In total they are cycles with sine character of dampening and drying. The thesis discusses how to test the functionality of AIR insulations designed for the floor ventilation in historic buildings and follows on from the previously published articles. A flow analysis is being performed on an object of the city of Žirovnice which has been registered in the list of cultural monuments and was built as a brewery in the years 1589-1592 on the site of an older medieval building. This article brings new air-flow element. The aim of the article is to analyse in detail the air flow in a specific floor void with the aid of modern CFD programs and experimental measurements using the ALMEMO

This thesis involves the development and study of a finite element model of a hermetic, single-vane compressor and a single-phase alternating current induction motor assembled in a common housing. The manufacturer of this unit is experiencing a high scrap rate due to interference during operation between the stator and rotor of the motor. The rotor shaft of the motor is non-typical because of its cantilever design. The finite element model was first subjected to eigenvalue analysis. This revealed that the interference producing displacements were not the result of torque application to the rotor at a frequency close to an eigenvalue of the mechanical system. After a review of the literature and discussions with Electrical Engineering Department faculty possessing extensive motor experience, it was surmised that the physical phenomenon causing the rotor displacement was unbalanced magnetic pull. This phenomenon occurs in the air gap of rotating electric machines due to eccentricity in the air gap. The model was then subjected to simultaneous harmonic force inputs with magnitudes of unity on the rotor and stator surfaces to simulate the presence of unbalanced magnetic pull. It was found that the rotor shaft acts as a cantilever beam while the stator and housing are essentially rigid. The displacements due to these forces were examined and then scaled to develop the motor parameters necessary to produce the radial forces required for stator/rotor interference. Several recommendations were then made regarding possible solutions to the interference problem. / Master of Science

Water stress is an ongoing problem in many places in the world, while the demand for clean and safe freshwater is growing due to the increasing population. In many developing countries, water supplies often are contaminated with arsenic, fluoride, etc. Therefore, it is important to realize that water scarcity and contamination issues concern only one sector but many. HVR Water Purification AB is developing a water purification prototype – ELIXIR 500 - using the air gap membrane technology and is implemented in Odisha, India, aiming to supply with 200 litre water daily. This thesis aims to estimate future energy sources to supply this prototype and explore the possibilities of using only renewable energy resources from technical, economic, and environmental perspectives. These are achieved by firstly identifying the energy possibilities in Odisha, India, and then calculating the feasibility of each solution chosen and finally analyzing the results. Among the energy sources, which are power grid, wind and solar power, diesel generator and solar-diesel hybrid system. It is found that the energy source to the prototype supplied by the power grid is 0.057 USD per litre water, which is the cheapest option. However, it is not feasible due to the lack of electrification from the local network. Meanwhile, the solar-diesel hybridized energy system is the most economical option if renewable energy sources are integrated with 0.11 USD per litre water. / Vattenstress ett pågående problem på många ställen i världen medan efterfrågan på rent och säkert dricksvatten växer på grund av den ökande befolkningen. I många utvecklingsländer är vattenförsörjningen ofta förorenade med arsenik, fluor osv. Det är därför viktigt att inse att vattenbrist och föroreningar inte bara rör en sektor utan många. HVR Water Purification AB utvecklade en prototyp för vattenrening - ELIXIR 500 - med hjälp av luftspaltmembrantekniken (eng: air gap membrane distillation och implementeras redan i Odisha, Indien, med målet att förse 200 liter rent vatten dagligt. Denna avhandling syftar till att uppskatta de framtida energikällorna för att tillhandahålla denna prototyp och utforska möjligheterna att endast använda förnybara energikällor ur tekniska, ekonomiska och miljömässiga perspektiv. Dessa uppnås genom att först identifiera de olika energimöjligheter i Odisha, Indien, följt av beräkningar om utförbarhet för varje vald lösning och slutligen en analys av resultaten. Bland energikällorna elnät, vind, sol, diesel generator och sol-diesel hybrid system har visat sig att energikällan till prototypen som levereras av elnätet som kostar 0.057 USD per liter vatten som det billigaste alternativet, men det är inte möjligt på grund av bristen på elektrifiering från det lokala elnätet. Å andra sidan är det hybridiserade energiskombinationen med solkrafts och diesel det billigaste alternativet om förnybara energikällor ska integreras, resultatet visade att vara 0.11 USD per liter vatten.