Al based alloy powders (Al₈₅Ni₅Y₆Co₂Fe₂) are produced by spray atomization method. High energy ball milling is done to modify the surface topology and particle size for better electrochemical performance. X ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were conducted to characterize the microstructure of the alloys after ball milling. It is found that 5 hours ball milling gives the minimum crystallization and structure change. Thin film sample is also deposited on stainless steel substrate by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method for electrochemical test. The capacity and reversibility for different samples are compared and discussed. A capacity of 200mAh/g is obtained for the battery with thin film sample as anode and a capacity of 140mAh/g is obtained for that with electrode from powder sample. Both of the batteries give up to 94% capacity retention after 20 cycles. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

To enhance mechanical and/or electrical properties of composite materials used in additive manufacturing, nanoparticles are often time deposited to form nanocomposite layers. To customize the mechanical and/or electrical properties, the thickness of such nanocomposite layers must be precisely controlled. A thickness model of filter cakes created through a spray assisted vacuum filtration is presented in this paper, to enable the development of advanced thickness controllers. The mass transfer dynamics in the spray atomization and vacuum filtration are studied for the mass of solid particles and mass of water in differential areas, and then the thickness of a filter cake is derived. A two-loop nonlinear constrained optimization approach is used to identify the unknown parameters in the model. Experiments involving depositing carbon nanofibers in a sheet of paper are used to measure the ability of the model to mimic the filtration process.

No description available.

abstract: First, in a large-scale structure, a 3-D CFD model was built to simulate flow and temperature distributions. The flow patterns and temperature distributions are characterized and validated through spot measurements. The detailed understanding of them then allows for optimization of the HVAC configuration because identification of the problematic flow patterns and temperature mis-distributions leads to some corrective measures. Second, an appropriate form of the viscous dissipation term in the integral form of the conservation equation was considered, and the effects of momentum terms on the computed drop size in pressure-atomized sprays were examined. The Sauter mean diameter (SMD) calculated in this manner agrees well with experimental data of the drop velocities and sizes. Using the suggested equation with the revised treatment of liquid momentum setup, injection parameters can be directly input to the system of equations. Thus, this approach is capable of incorporating the effects of injection parameters for further considerations of the drop and velocity distributions under a wide range of spray geometry and injection conditions. Lastly, groundwater level estimation was investigated using compressed sensing (CS). To satisfy a general property of CS, a random measurement matrix was used, the groundwater network was constructed, and finally the l-1 optimization was run. Through several validation tests, correct estimation of groundwater level by CS was shown. Using this setup, decreasing trends in groundwater level in the southwestern US was shown. The suggested method is effective in that the total measurements of registered wells can be reduced down by approximately 42 %, sparse data can be visualized and a possible approach for groundwater management during extreme weather changes, e.g. in California, was demonstrated. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Mechanical Engineering 2015

Fuel sprays play a major role in order to achieve the required combustion characteristics and pollutant emissions reduction on internal combustion engines, and thus, an accurate prediction of its behavior is required to perform reliable engine combustion and pollutant simulations. A great effort both on experimental and theoretical studies of spray atomization and dispersion has been performed in the latest years. As a result, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations have become a standard tool not only for spray physics understanding but also for design and optimization of engine spray systems. However, spray modeling in its different uses in the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) context is still nowadays a challenging task due to the complex interrelated phenomena taking place, some of them still not fully understood. Primary atomization and secondary breakup, droplet collision, coalescence and vaporization, turbulent interactions between phases have to be solved under high Reynolds (so they are turbulent) and Weber numbers conditions due to the high speed (~500 m/s) and small nozzle diameter (~100 µm) imposed by current engine injection systems technologies. Moreover, Taylor numbers cover a wide range, according to the composition of the injected liquid. Those conditions make experimental observations quite challenging and probably insufficient, especially in the very near nozzle region, where primary atomization takes place. Most of the CFD spray models are currently based on the Discrete Droplet Method. The continuous liquid jet is discretized into 'blobs' or 'parcels', which consists in a number of droplets with the same characteristics. A Lagrangian method is applied to track the liquid phase parcels, which are subject to breakup according to atomization models mainly based on the linear instability theory proposed by Reitz and later extended by Huh and Gosman for liquid turbulence effects to be considered. This approach has been successfully applied b / Khuong ., AD. (2012). The Eulerian-Lagrangian Spray Atomization (ELSA) Model of the Jet Atomization in CFD Simulations: Evaluation and Validation [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/17237 / Palancia

Atomization characteristics of liquid fuel sprays control combustion efficiency and emissions in engines. The present work is motivated by the need to study the atomization and spray structure of vegetable oil biofuels for which no data in the literature exists. In this work, various laser-based diagnostic techniques such as laser shadowgraphy, Particle/Droplet Image Analysis (PDIA) and Laser Sheet Dropsizing (LSD) are applied for studying atomization characteristics, tip penetration, droplet size and liquid volume fraction of Pongamia vegetable oil (SVO) and its blends with diesel. A constant volume high pressure spray visualization chamber is designed and fabricated to study SVO sprays at high gas pressure and temperature conditions. This optical chamber can be used for gas pressures up to 60 bar and temperatures up to 600 K. Optical access inside the chamber is provided through four quartz windows to perform various optical spray diagnostic studies. A high pressure spray injection facility based on components of common rail diesel injection system is designed. This facility can provide an injection pressure of up to 1700 bar with independent control over injection duration and timing. A marked difference is observed between diesel and SVO spray structures under atmospheric gas pressure condition. A very interesting observation related to the behavior of 100% SVO fuel when sprayed into atmospheric pressure is the presence of an intact liquid core even at injection pressure as high as 1600 bar. The presence of liquid core at high injection pressures is attributed to the high viscosity of SVOs and the non-Newtonian behavior of these oils under high pressure and shear. The spray characterization of the oil and its blends at high gas pressure shows that although the atomization is dramatically different from that at atmospheric gas pressure, it is still incomplete even at very high injection pressures. For a gas pressure of 30 bar, it is observed that the Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD) for Pongamia oil is more than twice that of diesel. A new method of simultaneously obtaining two-dimensional droplet size and quantitative liquid volume fraction data in sprays has been developed. Measurements with this method reveal a higher liquid volume fraction at the central axis of spray for Pongamia oil compared to that of diesel indicating potentially poor air-fuel mixing. The experimental data obtained and the spray tip penetration correlations developed for the vegetable oils and blends serve as useful inputs for fuel injection and engine system designers.

[ES] El proceso de atomización primaria es el mecanismo por el cual una vena líquida se disgrega en un ambiente gaseoso. Este proceso está presente en muchas aplicaciones de ingeniería realizando diferentes tareas. En ocasiones es un paso previo antes de ser quemado, como en la industria energética o de propulsión, donde el objetivo es extraer la energía específica del líquido. En otros sectores, como el revestimiento o la extinción de incendios, el objetivo es maximizar el área cubierta por el chorro. Sin embargo, aunque la atomización es una parte fundamental de varios procesos industriales, está lejos de comprenderse por completo. El proceso de atomización es una mezcla de fenómenos de interacción gas-líquido dentro de un campo turbulento que tiene lugar en el campo cercano, que es la región más densa del chorro. Cuando se trata de arrojar luz sobre el proceso de atomización primaria, el problema principal es la falta de teorías físicas definitivas capaces de vincular los complejos eventos de ruptura con la turbulencia. El principal obstáculo que impide investigar el proceso de atomización primaria es la incapacidad de las técnicas ópticas clásicas para proporcionar información de la región densa del chorro. Solo en los últimos años, las nuevas técnicas basadas en rayos X podrían proporcionar nueva información sobre las características de la atomización cerca de la salida de la tobera. Esto también afecta a los modelos computacionales de atomización primaria que, al no disponer de información experimental sobre la región densa, requieren una calibración precisa de sus constantes para proporcionar resultados fiables en el campo lejano. Esta tesis se centra en mejorar el conocimiento del proceso de atomización primaria, especialmente en cómo las condiciones de inyección afectan el desarrollo del chorro en el campo cercano desde dos puntos de vista diferentes. Por un lado, con un enfoque computacional usando Direct Numerical Simulations y, por otro lado, experimentalmente usando Near-Field Microscopy. El estudio computacional se centra en variar los números de Reynolds y Weber de inyección. Los resultados muestran que aumentar el número de Reynolds mejora la desintegración del líquido, mostrando un aumento de las gotas generadas y una nube de gotas más fina. Sin embargo, la falta de un perfil turbulento de flujo de entrada completamente desarrollado conduce a comportamientos inesperados en la longitud de ruptura de la vena líquida que también aumenta con el número de Reynolds. El número de gotas también aumenta cuando aumenta el número de Weber, pero los tamaños característicos de las gotas siguen siendo los mismos. La longitud de ruptura no varía, lo que sugiere que las variaciones de la tensión superficial afectan la ruptura de las gotas y los ligamentos, pero no la desintegración del núcleo líquido en sí. Con los resultados obtenidos de ambos estudios, se propone un modelo fenomenológico que predice la distribución del tamaño de gota en función de las condiciones de inyección. Además, también se ha estudiado el efecto de usar toberas elípticas. Se ha obtenido que el número de gotas detectadas aumenta en comparación con el chorro redondo manteniendo ángulos de apertura del chorro similares. Sin embargo, cuando se utilizan toberas extremadamente excéntricas, la disminución de la turbulencia del flujo de entrada contrarresta los beneficios de este tipo de inyectores. En cuanto al análisis experimental, usar Near-Field Microscopy permite magnificar la región densa y analizar las características macroscópicas del chorro. Por lo tanto, se varían las presiones de inyección y descarga, centrándose en el ángulo de apertura del chorro. Se observa el aumento esperado en el ángulo al aumentar tanto la presión de inyección como la de descarga. Sin embargo, adicionalmente, se realiza un análisis de las perturbaciones del contorno del chorro, concluyendo que, al aumentar la presión de inyección, y por lo tanto la turbulencia del flujo de / [CA] El procés d'atomització primària és el mecanisme pel qual una vena líquida es disgrega en un ambient gasós. Aquest procés és present en moltes aplicacions d'enginyeria fent diferents tasques. De vegades és un pas previ abans de ser cremat, com ara en la indústria energètica o de propulsió, on l'objectiu és extraure l'energia específica del líquid. En altres sectors, com ara el revestiment o l'extinció d'incendis, l'objectiu és maximitzar l'àrea coberta pel doll. No obstant això, tot i que l'atomització és una part fonamental de diversos processos industrials, està lluny de comprendre's per complet. El procés d'atomització és una barreja de fenòmens d'interacció gas-líquid dins d'un camp turbulent que té lloc en el camp pròxim, que és la regió més densa del doll. Quan es tracta de donar llum sobre el procés d'atomització primària, el problema principal és la falta de teories físiques definitives capaces de vincular els complexos esdeveniments de trencament amb la turbulència. El principal obstacle que impedeix investigar el procés d'atomització primària és la incapacitat de les tècniques òptiques clàssiques per a proporcionar informació de la regió densa del doll. Només en els últims anys, les noves tècniques basades en raigs X podrien proporcionar nova informació sobre les característiques de l'atomització prop de l'eixida de la tovera. Això també afecta els models computacionals d'atomització primària que, en no disposar d'informació experimental sobre la regió densa, requereixen un calibratge precís de les seues constants per a proporcionar resultats fiables en el camp llunyà. Aquesta tesi se centra a millorar el coneixement del procés d'atomització primària, especialment en com les condicions d'injecció afecten el desenvolupament del doll en el camp pròxim des de dos punts de vista diferents. D'una banda, amb un enfocament computacional usant Direct Numerical Simulations i, d'altra banda, experimentalment usant Near-Field Microscopy. L'estudi computacional se centra a variar els nombres de Reynolds i Weber d'injecció. Els resultats mostren que augmentar el nombre de Reynolds millora la desintegració del líquid, tot mostrant un augment de les gotes generades i un núvol de gotes més fi. No obstant això, la falta d'un perfil turbulent de flux d'entrada completament desenvolupat condueix a comportaments inesperats en la longitud de ruptura de la vena líquida que també augmenta amb el nombre de Reynolds. El nombre de gotes també augmenta quan creix el nombre de Weber, però les grandàries característiques de les gotes continuen sent les mateixes. La longitud de ruptura no varia, la qual cosa suggereix que les variacions de la tensió superficial afecten la ruptura de les gotes i els lligaments, però no la desintegració del nucli líquid en ell mateix. Amb els resultats obtinguts de tots dos estudis, es proposa un model fenomenològic que prediu la distribució de la grandària de gota en funció de les condicions d'injecció. A més, també s'ha estudiat l'efecte d'usar toveres el·líptiques. S'ha obtingut que el nombre de gotes detectades augmenta en comparació amb el doll redó tot mantenint angles d'obertura del doll similars. No obstant això, quan s'utilitzen toveres extremadament excèntriques, la disminució de la turbulència del flux d'entrada contraresta els beneficis d'aquesta mena d'injectors. Quant a l'anàlisi experimental, usar Near-Field Microscopy permet magnificar la regió densa i analitzar les característiques macroscòpiques del doll. Per tant, es varien les pressions d'injecció i descàrrega, tot centrant-se en l'angle d'obertura del doll. S'observa l'augment esperat en l'angle en augmentar tant la pressió d'injecció com la de descàrrega. No obstant això, addicionalment, es realitza una anàlisi de les pertorbacions del contorn del doll i es conclou que en augmentar la pressió d'injecció, i per tant la turbulència del flux d'entrada, augmenten les pertorbacions en el contorn del ruixat, especialment a pressions de descàrrega mé / [EN] The primary atomisation process is the mechanism by which a liquid vein breaks into droplets in a gaseous ambient. This process is present in many engineering applications accomplishing different tasks. Sometimes it is a previous step before being burned, as in the energy or propulsion industry, where the objective is to extract the specific energy of the liquid. In other sectors, such as the coating or fire extinction, the objective is to maximise the area covered by the droplet cloud. However, although atomisation is a fundamental part of several industrial processes, it is far from fully understood. The atomisation process is a mixture of gas-liquid interaction phenomena within a turbulent field that takes place in the near-field, which is the denser region of the spray. When trying to shed light on the primary atomisation process, the main issue is the lack of definitive physical theories able to link the complex breakup events and the turbulence. The principal impediment that prevents the investigation from breaking through the atomisation process is the inability of the classic optical techniques to provide information from the dense region of the spray. Only in the last years, newer techniques based on X-Ray could provide new information on spray characteristics near the nozzle outlet. This also affects the computational primary atomisation models that, as there is no available experimental information on the dense region, require an accurate calibration of their constants to provide reliable results on the far-field. This thesis focuses on improving the knowledge of the primary atomisation process, especially on how the injection conditions affect the spray development in the near field from two different standpoints. On the one hand, with a computational approach using Direct Numerical Simulations and on the other hand, experimentally using Near-Field Microscopy. The computational study is focused on varying the inflow Reynolds and Weber numbers. Results show that increasing the Reynolds number improves the liquid disintegration, exhibiting an increase of generated droplets and a finer droplet cloud. However, the lack of a fully developed inflow turbulent profile leads to characteristic behaviours on the breakup length of the spray that also increases with the Reynolds number. The number of droplets increases when the Weber number increases, but the characteristic droplet sizes remain the same. The breakup length does not vary, suggesting that the surface tension variations affect the droplet and ligament breakup but not the core disintegration itself. With the results obtained from both studies, a phenomenological model is proposed to predict the droplet size distribution depending on the injection conditions. Additionally, using elliptical nozzles, the number of detected droplets increases compared with the round spray and maintain similar spray apertures. However, when using extremely eccentric nozzles, the inflow turbulence decrease counteracts the elliptical sprays' benefits. Regarding the experimental analysis, the Near-Field Microscopy magnifies the dense region and analyses the macroscopic features on the spray. So the injection and discharge pressure are varied, and the spotlight is put on the spray angle. The expected increase in the spray angle when increasing both the injection and discharge pressure is observed. Nevertheless, additionally, an analysis of the spray contour perturbations is performed, concluding that increasing the injection pressure, and thus the inflow turbulence, increases the perturbations on the spray contour, especially at lower discharge pressures. / González Montero, LA. (2022). Computational and Experimental Study of the Primary Atomisation Process under Different Injection Conditions [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/190635