Domestic solar hot water units, if properly designed, are capable of providing all hot water needs in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way. Despite 50 years of development, commercial technology has not yet achieved substantial market penetration compared to mainstream electric and gas options. Therefore, alternate designs are warranted if they can offer similar or greater performance for a comparable cost to conventional units. This study proved that such alternatives are possible by designing and testing two novel solar hot water systems (SHWS). The first system used compound parabolic collector (CPC) panels to concentrate solar energy and produce steam. The steam moved from a rooftop downward into a heat exchange pipe within a ground level water tank, heating the water, condensing and falling into a receptacle. The operation was entirely passive, since the condensate was pulled up due to the partial vacuum that occurred after system cooling. Efficiencies of up to 40% were obtained. The second system used an air heater panel. Air was circulated in open and closed loop configuration (air recycling) by means of a fan/blower motor and was forced across a compact heat exchanger coupled to a water tank. This produced a natural thermosiphon flow heating the water. Air recycling mode provided higher system efficiencies: 34% vs. 27%. The concurrent development of an analytical model that reasonably predicted heat transfer dynamics of these systems allowed 1) performance optimisation for specific input/starting operating conditions and 2) virtual design improvements. The merit of this model lay in its acceptable accuracy in spite of its simplicity. By optimising for operating conditions and parameter design, both systems are capable of providing over 30 MJ of useful domestic hot water on clear days, which equates roughly to an increase of 35°C in a 200 L water tank. This will satisfy, on average, daily hot water requirements for a 4-person household, particularly in low-latitude regions (eg. Queensland). Preliminary costing for these systems puts them on par with conventional units, with the passive, remotely coupled, low maintenance, CPC SHWS comparable to higher end models. The air heater SHWS, by contrast, was much more economical and easier to build and handle, but at the trade-off cost of 1) the need for an active system, 2) increased maintenance and running costs and 3) the requirement for a temperature control mechanism that would protect the panel body by dumping hot air trapped inside if stagnation were to occur.

Les communications sans fil sont de plus en plus présentes dans notre quotidien, et avec elles, les ondes électromagnétiques qui leurs sont associées. Cela a créé un besoin de produits permettant de contrôler la portée du réseau, pour des raisons de sécurité de données, d'augmentation de débit en cas d'interférences avec d'autres réseaux, ou bien pour des raisons sanitaires. A l'inverse, dans d'autres cas, l'amélioration de la transmission de ces ondes est recherchée. Par exemple, dans les bâtiments de nouvelle construction ou rénovées, l'installation de vitrages à isolation renforcée permet d'avoir des bâtiments plus performantes au niveau thermique. Malheureusement, ces vitrages bloquent également les radiofréquences, dont notamment les signaux de téléphonie mobile. L'objectif de la thèse est la conception et le développement de structures filtrantes imprimées sur substrat souple. Dans un premier temps, des solutions de filtrage sélectif coupe bande sont proposées afin d'empêcher autant que possible la transmission d'ondes électromagnétiques, par exemple celles du WiFi entre les pièces d'un bâtiment. Dans un deuxième temps, une solution permettant d'améliorer la transmission des ondes électromagnétiques au travers des vitrages thermiques est proposée. Outre ces études, un système de caractérisation permettant de caractériser finement ces structures FSS a été développé lors de ces travaux de thèse. / Nowadays wireless communication systems are more and more present in our lives, and with them, electromagnetic waves associated to them. A need of products capable to control the range of the network has appeared, for data security reasons, for data rate increase in case of network interferences or for health reasons. On the opposite, in other cases, improving the transmission of these waves is desired. For instance, in new construction or renovated buildings, energy saving windows allows having more efficient buildings thermal speaking. Unfortunately, those windows also block radiofrequencies, including mobile phone signals. The aim of this thesis is the design and development of filtering structures printed on flexible substrate. First, stop band selective filtering solutions are proposed in order to block as much as possible transmission waves, for instance, WiFi in between different rooms of the same building. Secondly, a solution to improve electromagnetic wave transmission through energy saving windows is proposed. In addition to these studies, a characterization system for testing these FSS structures has been developed during this thesis work.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:56:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 EwinLFB_DISSERT.pdf: 1133428 bytes, checksum: 7db5058d9183e9d7e1e87f596676c111 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-20 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / The main objective of this work is to optimize the performance of frequency selective surfaces (FSS) composed of crossed dipole conducting patches. The optimization process is performed by determining proper values for the width of the crossed dipoles and for the FSS array periodicity, while the length of the crossed dipoles is kept constant. Particularly, the objective is to determine values that provide wide bandwidth using a search algorithm with representation in bioinspired real numbers. Typically FSS structures composed of patch elements are used for band rejection filtering applications. The FSS structures primarily act like filters depending on the type of element chosen. The region of the electromagnetic spectrum chosen for this study is the one that goes from 7 GHz to 12 GHz, which includes mostly the X-band. This frequency band was chosen to allow the use of two X-band horn antennas, in the FSS measurement setup. The design of the FSS using the developed genetic algorithm allowed increasing the structure bandwidth / Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal efetuar a otimiza??o do desempenho de estruturas de superf?cies seletivas de frequ?ncia FSS (Frequency Selective Surface), com patches condutores na forma de dipolos em cruz. A otimiza??o foi realizada atrav?s da identifica??o de valores ?timos para a largura do dipolo e a periodicidade do arranjo, considerando o valor do comprimento do dipolo fixo. Especificamente, objetiva-se determinar valores que permitam aumentar a largura de banda, utilizando um algoritmo de busca bioinspirado com representa??o em n?meros reais. As aplica??es t?picas de estruturas de FSS com patches condutores utilizam frequ?ncias selecionadas atrav?s das faixas de rejei??o. As estruturas de FSS funcionam basicamente como filtros dependendo do tipo de elemento escolhido. A regi?o do espectro eletromagn?tico escolhida para este estudo foi a faixa de 7 GHz a 12 GHz, que inclui basicamente a banda X. Essa regi?o do espectro eletromagn?tico foi escolhida para possibilitar a medi??o do dispositivo com a utiliza??o de antenas de abertura do tipo corneta, que operam na banda X. O projeto da FSS com a utiliza??o do algoritmo gen?tico GA (Genetic Algorithm) permitiu aumentar a largura de banda da estrutura

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:56:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FranciscoCGSS_Capa_ate_pag41.pdf: 9091246 bytes, checksum: 6f81612f5fd4ab8558666746d9be5489 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-06-05 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Frequency selective surfaces (Frequency Selective Surface - FSS) are often used in various applications in telecommunications. Some of these applications may require that these structures have response with multiple resonance bands. Other applications require that the FSS response have large frequency range, to meet the necessary requirements. FSS to design with these features there are numerous techniques cited in the scientific literature. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine some common techniques such as: Overlap of FSS; Elements combined; Elements Elements convolucionados and fractals. And designing multiband FSS and / or broadband selecting simple ways in terms of construction and occupy the smallest possible space, aiming at practical applications. Given these requirements, three projects FSS were performed: a technology applied to IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n and two projects for application in UWB. In project development, commercial software Ansoft DesignerTM and experimental results were satisfactory was used / Superf?cies seletivas em frequ?ncia (Frequency Selective Surface - FSS) s?o usadas frequentemente em diversas aplica??es em telecomunica??es. Algumas dessas aplica??es podem exigir que essas estruturas tenham resposta com m?ltiplas bandas de resson?ncia. Outras aplica??es exigem que as FSS tenham resposta em faixa larga de frequ?ncia, para atender aos requisitos necess?rios. Para projetar uma FSS com essas caracter?sticas existem in?meras t?cnicas citadas na literatura cient?fica. Assim, o prop?sito deste trabalho ? analisar algumas t?cnicas utilizadas tais como: Sobreposi??o de FSS; Elementos combinados; Elementos convolucionados e Elementos fractais. E projetar FSS multibanda e/ou banda larga selecionando maneiras simples em termos de constru??o e que ocupem o menor espa?o poss?vel, visando aplica??es pr?ticas. Tendo em vista estes requisitos, foram realizados tr?s projetos de FSS: um aplicado a tecnologia IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n e dois projetos para aplica??o em UWB. No desenvolvimento dos projetos, foi utilizado o software comercial Ansoft DesignerTM e os resultados experimentais se mostraram satisfat?rios

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2018-01-23T14:13:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PhelipeSenaOliveira_TESE.pdf: 2369727 bytes, checksum: 2bb1dad07260b4efd645c7028636e62f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-01-24T15:05:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PhelipeSenaOliveira_TESE.pdf: 2369727 bytes, checksum: 2bb1dad07260b4efd645c7028636e62f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-24T15:05:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PhelipeSenaOliveira_TESE.pdf: 2369727 bytes, checksum: 2bb1dad07260b4efd645c7028636e62f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-06 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq) / As novas configura??es de dispositivos e circuitos de micro-ondas resulta em aumento de complexidade nos processos de desenvolvimento, particularmente nos casos de s?ntese. Antenas e superf?cies seletivas de frequ?ncia (Frequency Selective Surface - FSS) s?o estruturas muito importantes nos sistemas de comunica??es, que podem ser otimizadas pela atua??o dos algoritmos bioinspirados. Geralmente, para que os algoritmos bioinspirados auxiliem na otimiza??o dessas estruturas ? necess?ria a implementa??o de t?cnicas de an?lise num?rica como o M?todo dos Momentos ou Elementos Finitos. Diante da dificuldade de modelagem das t?cnicas descritas, ? comum a utiliza??o de uma fun??o de estima??o, como as Redes Neurais Artificiais, para substituir a an?lise num?rica. Embora encontre solu??es desejadas, as estima??es s?o realizadas ap?s um processo de treinamento efetuado atrav?s de uma base de dados. Cada estrutura de antena ou FSS exige uma base de dados espec?fica. Este trabalho prop?e uma t?cnica de otimiza??o baseado na utiliza??o de um algoritmo bioinspirado e um framework que realiza a integra??o do algoritmo ao software comercial ANSYS HFSS. O prop?sito ? realizar as simula??es das poss?veis solu??es durante a execu??o do algoritmo bioinspirado, e com isso, evitar o uso de uma base de dados, e assim, tornar a t?cnica eficiente e flex?vel com rela??o ?s altera??es nas estruturas de antenas ou FSS. Outro objetivo original deste trabalho ? a utiliza??o do algoritmo Social Spider Optimization ? SSO para a solu??o de problemas na ?rea de eletromagnetismo aplicado. Para comprovar a efic?cia da t?cnica proposta alguns projetos de antena e FSS s?o otimizados atrav?s de varia??es em seus par?metros estruturais. Os resultados obtidos na otimiza??o dos projetos dos circuitos s?o comparados com outras t?cnicas, tendo sido observado uma boa concord?ncia. / The new settings for devices and microwaves circuits result in an increase of complexity in the processes of development, specially in regards to the process of synthesis. Antennas and Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS) are primordial in communication systems. Alternatively, these structures may be optimized through the usage of bio-inspired algorithms. Generally, in order for the bio-inspired algorithms to assist in the optimization of FSS structures, it is necessary to implement several numerical analysis techniques, such as the method of moments or finite elements. Because of the difficulty to model such methods, it has been turned common the usage of a point estimation function, such as artificial neural networks, to substitute the numerical analysis. Although these procedures end up encountering desirable solutions, the estimations are done after a training process conducted through a database. Additionally, every FSS antenna demands a specific database. This work proposes an optimization technique that relies on the usage of a bio-inspired algorithm and a framework (that provides the integration between the algorithm and the commercial software ANSS HFSS). The purpose of the work is to do simulations of possible solutions during the execution of the bio-inspired algorithm; therefore, avoiding the usage of the database; and so, make the technique flexible and efficient in relation to altering the antennas? structures or FSS. Furthermore, another objective of this work is the usage of the algorithm, namely Social Spider Optimization - SSO in the search for solutions in the field of applied electromagnetism. In order to prove the efficiency of the proposed techniques, some FSS? and antennas? projects are optimized through the variation of their structural parameters. In conclusion, the results that were obtained through the procedures previously shown, are compared to other techniques, resulting in a satisfying agreement rate.

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The main goals of this thesis are to design and examine heterogeneous antennas for different wireless applications of a wide variety of EM spectrum requirements: which includes WLAN 5.0 GHz, WLAN (2.45 GHz), UMTS (1.92-2.17 GHz), 2G, UMTS, LTE, ultra-wideband (UWB) applications, and MBAN applications (2.4 GHz). Various techniques for expanding bandwidth, enhancing performance, and balancing the operation have been examined through comprehensive simulated and physically fabricated models. Thereafter, a compact DRA, for UWB applications is examined. The combined resultant effects of asymmetric positioning of DRs (2, 3 and 4 Cylindrical elements), defected ground technique, dimensions, and profile of the aperture give RF designers detailed scope of the optimization process. More resonances are achieved, and the bandwidth is improved. The obtained results show that, an impedance bandwidth of 133.0%, which covers the Ultra­ Wideband band (3.6GHz - 18.0GHz), with a maximum power gain of 9dBi attained. In addition, a compact conformal wearable CPW antenna using EBG-FSS for MBAN applications at 2.4GHz is proposed. They are designed using fabric materials suitable for daily clothing. The performance of the antenna is investigated in free space, on a layered biological tissue model, and on a real human body to evaluate SAR. When the antenna is combined with an EBG-FSS structure, isolation between the antenna and the human body is introduced. The results show that the FBR is enhanced by 13 dB, the gain by 6.55dBi, and the SAR is lowered by more than 94%. The CPW antenna demonstrated here is appropriate for future MBAN wearable systems. The design, investigation, and application of water level monitoring utilizing subsurface wireless sensor are covered in this thesis. A wideband double inverted-F antenna is designed and examined to overcome signal attenuation issues. The obtained result is feasible, which has an operating bandwidth of 0.8 to 2.17GHz, with a reflection coefficient better than 10 dB. Moreover, a field trial is conducted to evaluate the robustness of the antenna under extreme conditions. A very good efficiency was also demonstrated, with losses of under 20%. Further, the results from the field experiment established that the antenna is a reliable contender for wireless communication in such challenging environments. / Libyan Ministry of Higher Education / The full text will be available at the end of the embargo: 25th May 2025

Frequency selective surfaces (FSSs) provide a variety of spatial filtering functions, such as band-pass or band-stop properties in a radome or other multilayer structure. This filtering is typically achieved through closely-spaced periodic arrangements of metallic shapes on top of a dielectric substrate (or within a stack of dielectric materials). In most cases, the unit cell size, its shape, the substrate parameters, and the inter-element spacing collectively impact the response of the FSS. Expanding this design space to include reconfigurable FSSs provides opportunities for applications requiring frequency agility and/or other properties. Tuning can also enable operation over a potentially wider range of frequencies and can in some cases be used as a loading mechanism or quasi-ground plane. Many technologies have been considered for this type of agility (RF MEMS, PIN diodes, etc.). This includes the recent use of microfluidics and dispersions of nanoparticles, or fluids with controllable dielectrics, which have entered the design space of numerous other EM applications including stub-tuners, antennas, and filters. In this work they provide a material based approach to reconfiguring an FSS. An FSS based on a four-arm spiral with tunable band-stop characteristics is presented in this work. A thin colloidal dispersion above each element provides this tuning capability. The radial expansion and contraction of this dispersion, as well as the variable permittivity of the dispersion, are used to load each element individually. This design incorporates thin fluidic channels within a PDMS layer below the substrate leading to individual unit cells that provide a closed pressure-driven subsystem that contains the dispersion. With the capability to individually control each cell, groups of cells can be locally altered (individually or in groups) to create gratings and other electromagnetically agile features across the surface or within the volume of a radome or other covering. Simulations and measurements of an S-band tunable design using colloidal Barium Strontium Titanate dispersed Silicone oil are provided to demonstrate the capability to adjust the stop-band characteristics of the FSS across the S-band.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:54:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DaviBB_DISSERT_1-70.pdf: 4567680 bytes, checksum: 150ff5afc1806ca374278b4c00a1f5a3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-12-06 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Metamaterials exhibiting negative refraction have attracted a great amount of attention in recent years mostly due to their exquisite electromagnetic properties. These materials are artificial structures that exhibit characteristics not found in nature. It is possible to obtain a metamaterial by combining artificial structures periodically. We investigated the unique properties of Split Ring Resonators, High impedance Surfaces and Frequency Selective Surfaces and composite metamaterials. We have successfully demonstrated the practical use of these structures in antennas and circuits. We experimentally confirmed that composite metamaterial can improve the performance of the structures considered in this thesis, at the frequencies where electromagnetic band gap transmission takes place