In this study a semi-passive pulse thermal loop (PTL) was designed and experimentally validated. It provides improved heat transfer over passive systems such as the loop heat pipe in the moderate to high heat flux range and can be a sustainable alternative to active systems as it does not require an electric pump. This work details the components of the engineering prototype and characterizes their performance through the application of compressible and two-phase flow theory. A custom LabVIEW application was utilized for data acquisition and control. During operation with refrigerant R-134a the system was shown to be robust under a range of heat loads from 100 W to 800 W. Operation was achieved with driving pressure differentials ranging from 3 bar to 12 bar and pulse frequencies ranging from 0.42 Hz to 0.08 Hz. A smaller pressure differential and an increased pulse frequency results in improved heat transfer at the boilers. An evolution of the PTL is proposed that incorporates a novel, ejector-based pump-free refrigeration system. The design of the pulse refrigeration system (PRS) features valves at the outlet of two PTL-like boilers that are alternately actuated to direct pulses of refrigerant through an ejector. This is intended to entrain and raise the pressure of a secondary stream of refrigerant from the cooling loop, thereby replacing the compressor in a conventional vapor-compression cycle. The PRS is therefore characterized by transient flow through the ejector. An experimental prototype has been constructed which is able to operate as a conventional PTL when the cooling section is bypassed, although full operation of the refrigeration loop remains to be demonstrated. The design of the ejector is carried out using a one-dimensional model implemented in MATLAB that accounts for compressibility effects with NIST REFPROP vapor data sub-routines. The model enables the analysis of ejector performance in response to a transient pressure wave at the primary inlet. The high driving pressures provided by the PTL permit operation in a micro-gravity environment with minimal power consumption. Like the PTL, the proposed PRS is therefore well suited to terrestrial and aerospace applications where it could be driven by waste heat from electronics or solar thermal energy. As a novel semi-passive thermal management system, it will require complex control of the valves. Further analysis of the transient thermodynamic cycle is necessary in order to characterize and effect successful operation of the PRS. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

A technology that has the potential to create more efficient and compact refrigeration devices is an Active Magnetic Regenerative Refrigerator (AMRR). An AMRR can operate over a broad range of temperatures, as long as the appropriate refrigerant is implemented. Thus this flexible technology can be used for small, efficient, and simple room temperature refrigerators, as well as efficient gas liquefaction plants (AMRLs). Active Magnetic Regenerator Refrigeration exploits the magnetocaloric effect displayed by magnetic materials whereby a reversible temperature change is induced when the material is exposed to a magnetic field. By using the magnetic materials in a regenerator as the heat storage medium and as the means of work input, one creates an Active Magnetic Regenerator (AMR). In this work, an experimental study of Active Magnetic Regenerators composed of single and multi-materials is carried out. AMRs made up of Gd, Gd.74Tb.26, and Gd.85Er.15 are studied in cycles rejecting heat between 270 K and 311 K. A variety of operating conditions were tested and regenerator performance with respect to heat load, utilization, and frequency was examined. AMR behavior was qualitatively interpreted and a path for performance improvement and future investigations laid.

This work was undertaken to investigate the perceived problem of Thermal Discomfort in Malawi. One observable effect of thermal discomfort was the amount of foreign exchange that was spent to import air conditioning devices. The purpose of the work was to find out, and quantify the problem of thermal discomfort and outline its effects to the people and country. In order to investigate the problem of thermal discomfort in depth in a place where the necessary data hardly existed a lot of work had to be done. The work has been outlined in four stages of research, analysis and documentation and these are as follows 1 Literature Review The subject of Thermal Comfort appears to be location specific, but the general principles are universal. In that context it was necessary to read widely on both historical and contemporary current work. The problem of thermal comfort in general was being discussed as early as 1758 and still remains a big area of research and discussion today. A considerable number of literature that specifically relate to the problem of thermal comfort in the tropics has been reviewed. The problem of scales for thermal comfort measurement has been discussed in detail. It is still not possible to quote a scale that is satisfactory. However, the recent approach of Adaptive Thermal Comfort Model seems to be closer to the answer than the others 2 Analysing Existing Relevant Information And Data In Malawi In the course of this work it was found out that quite a large amount of useful data existed in Malawi. However, this data was not standardised. Most of this data had to be cleaned and updated. Some of the old formulae are quoted in their original formats in order not to confuse the referencing. The data that exists in Malawi has been recorded on three types of instruments; namely the Gunn Bellum Spherical Pyranometer, the Camp Bell Stoke Sunshine Recorder and the Eppley Pyranometer. Most of the data was recorded using the Camp Bell Stokes Sunshine Recorder. The data recorded on the Gunn Bellum Spherical Pyranometer had to be related to that from the Camp Bell Stokes Sunshine Recorder. The former gave data that was more accurate as was found out when a comparison was made with data recorded on an Eppley Pyranometer. A paper on this subject was accepted for publication in the Renewable Energy Journal of WREN. Wind speeds, air temperatures, and humidity have been analysed to investigate the severity of thermal discomfort relative to locations in Malawi. This has resulted in the identification of three climatic zones. A tool for testing Thermal Discomfort severity of a location by calculating number Degree Days (D. d) if the altitude (AL) has been developed; as D. d = -575.994 In AL + 4226.6 3 Field Measurements In order to investigate some of the issues that came out of this work, it was felt simpler to conduct field measurements. For example it would have been possible to build typical experimental houses, and extract performance data on Thermal Comfort from these buildings. However, this approach would have been very expensive. On the other hand it was felt that it was possible to find in the field that were representative of typical buildings and could be prepared and tested to extract performance data for use in the work. The latter approach was adopted and has proved to be more realistic than the former. 4 Field Surveys There were certain areas where the only way to find information was not to conduct experiments but to conduct field conduct surveys. This was done once to find the Preferred Bath Water Temperature (PBWT) and deduce the Neutral Temperature Range for Malawi. This yielded very useful results. The first published paper on this work was in this area (copy of this publication is attached). The second area of field survey was to survey traditional buildings in seven selected districts stretching from latitude 9°S to 17°S; covering a terrestrial distance of over 1000 km; over altitudes from 52 to over 1600 metres above mean sea level (m. a. m. s. l). This again yielded very useful environmental data that explained why traditional buildings have certain structural elements as functions of the environment and the need to achieve Thermal Comfort. A number of useful equations have been developed. From that sub routine of this research of PBWT survey an equation was developed that related the bath temperature (h) to the air temperature (tab) as; tb =0.3772 tab + 36.4401. Part of this work was also published separately in 2001. From this equation the Thermal Comfort Temperature Range for Malawi was deduced as 22-27°C. From the survey of the traditional buildings, a number of structural elements were that are functions of Thermal Comfort were identified as derivatives of the desire to have Thermal Comfort in the buildings. A regression equation that can give values of irradiation of the locality in MJm 1 Day' was developed. Lastly the results have been extracted as recommendations directed at policy makers, and both Architects and Engineers to use this data and the results in their design work. It is also further recommended that the national buildings regulations could be updated and revised to incorporate some of the findings. It is strongly believed that some of the findings will be incorporated to update the two main Laws that regulate Public Health in Malawi. These are the Public Health Act; Cap. 34.01, and the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1977; of the Malawi Laws. All data that has been cleaned up or measured specifically for this work has been organised and tabulated into ready-to-use tables and are included.

Thesis (M. S.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Ghiaasiaan, S. Mostafa; Committee Member: Desai, Prateen; Committee Member: Jeter, Sheldon; Committee Member: Kirkconnell, Carl.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-109).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Jeremy P. Harvey, Committee Member ; Carl S. Kirkconnell, Committee Member ; Kurt D. Pennell, Committee Member ; S. Mostafa Ghiaasiaan, Committee Chair ; Prateen V. Desai, Committee Member ; Sheldon M. Jeter, Committee Member.

Thesis (M. S.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Kirkconnell, Carl S., Committee Member ; Ghiaasiaan, S. Mostafa, Committee Chair ; Desai, Prateen V., Committee Member ; Jeter, Sheldon M., Committee Member.

M. Tech. Mechanical Engineering.

Thesis (MTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Agriculture has emerged as a major economic activity in the African continent. Therefore, fruits and vegetables are considered as essential source of vitamins, minerals and proteins. However, fruits and vegetables are perishing rapidly. Thus, the adequate handling starts from the field, by applying appropriate method of storage and preservation in order to reduce post-harvest losses and extend its shelf life. Preservation by removing heat from the products is the most common method of preservation. In rural areas, the access to the grid is expensive or in some cases impossible. Therefore, researchers have been paying more attention to find alternative sources of power to run the cooling units. This study provides proof of a concept for the use of solar energy to cool down harvested fruits and vegetables at the farm level to an adequate farm storage temperature. The target storage temperature range is between 5 and 15 oC. A model refrigerator was designed and constructed in the mechanical engineering workshop of Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It was installed and tested in outdoor conditions to get the effect of different weather conditions. The model consists of a typical vapour compression system powered by a 12 V solar PV system. A DC compressor was used, and therefore, there is no inverter. The model was first tested without a product and then with 20 kg batches of different fruits for a period of two weeks in April 2016. Wind speed, ambient temperature and solar radiation intensity data were monitored and collected from a Campbell Scientific weather station mounted on the roof adjacent to the model. By monitoring the temperatures and compressor current hourly, the refrigeration effect, power consumption and coefficient of performance were determined. The overall COP based on input solar energy was 2.8. It was thus proved that a suitably sized PV system could be designed and implemented at farm level to cool harvested fruits from ambient to storage temperature without the use of an inverter. This could go some way to helping retard deterioration of fruits and vegetables before delivery to a marketplace or to storage.

[pt] O presente trabalho trata da determinação experimental dos parâmetros de desempenho de um compressor rotativo de deslocamento positivo,que faz parte de um motor de refrigeração em desenvolvimento. Este opera segundo o ciclo de Brayton invertido utilizando o ar como fluido de trabalho. A vazão mássica real de ar em escoamento pelo compressor, eventuais vazamentos, potência de eixo entregue ao compressor e a potência desenvolvida pelo mesmo são obtidas com base em procedimentos experimentais. A vazão e a potência teóricas foram determinadas com base em uma simulação do funcionamento do compressor. A partir destes resultados, determinaram-se as eficiências isentrópica,mecânica e volumétrica, permitindo uma análise das condições de operação do compressor. Usando resultados experimentais, realizou-se uma análise termodinâmica convencional de disponibilidade associada ao processo real ocorrido no compressor para explicar a natureza das irreversibilidades envolvidas e indicar as condições ótimas de funcionamento. Com base na filosofia de análise utilizada, este novo tipo de máquina de refrigeração foi criteriosamente analisada. Sugestões de melhoria são apresentadas no sentido de melhor qualificar este novo tipo de compressor para trabalhar com sistemas que operem segundo o ciclo de Brayton invertido. Neste trabalho é apresentado uma proposta otimizada de um novo projeto de expansor. / [en] The present work describe tests of performance of a positive displacement rotary compressor which is part of a new type of refrigerating machine under development. The working fluid is air and the machine operates at the Brayton Cycle. The mass flow rate, eventual mass leakages, the power delivered to the compressor shaft and the actual power developed are obtained based upon experimental procedures. The theorectical mass flow rate and the isentropic power was calculed through a theorectical simulation, and, from these results, the isentropic mechanical and volumetric efficiencies have been evaluated allowing the determination of the favorable and critical conditions of operation. An uncertainty analysis is developed in order to control the experimental procedures and acuracy of the experiments conducted. Using experimental results as an input, a classical avaiability thermodynamics analysis of the process was developed in order to explain the nature of the associated irreversibilities and to indicate the optimum conditions of operation of the compressor. Based upon the described approach, this new type of refrigerating machine has been carefully analysed. Aiming better performance, design modifications are suggested as an attempt to better qualify this type of compressor for operation in systems which operate in the Brayton Cycle. Finalle, an improved design of an expander is discussed.