Poly(vinylidene) fluoride (PVDF) nano-composite membranes were prepared. The dope solution contained varied concentrations of superhydrophobic SiO2 nano-particles. The fabricated flat sheet membranes were characterized extensively by SEM, FTIR, water contact angle, LEPw, surface roughness, pore size diameter and pore size distribution. The effect of the nano-particles on the membrane performance was then analysed. The nano-composite membranes showed increased surface pore diameter, elevated water contact angle measurements with lower LEPw when compared to the neat membrane. The 7 wt. % nano-composite membrane showed the greatest flux in a VMD process with 2.9 kg/m2.h flux achieved accounting to a 4 fold increase when compared to the neat membrane. Desalination test were carried out using a 35 g/L synthetic salt water and rejection >99.98% was obtained. The best performing nano-composite dope solution (7 wt. %) was then further treated for performance enhancement by increasing the water content to increase pore size and pore size distribution followed by coating with nano-fibres. The uncoated and coated flat sheets, were characterized by SEM, surface roughness, LEPw and CAw. Flux analysis showed that the increase in water content had little effects on the VMD flux. It also suggests that; the nano-fibre layer posed very little resistance to mass transfer. A comparison of VMD and DCMD was also done experimentally.

The objective for this project is to investigate various electrical and software means of control to support and advance the development of a novel vacuum adhesion system for a wall-climbing robot. The design and implementation of custom electronics and a wirelessly controlled real-time software system used to define and support the functionalities of these electronics is discussed. The testing and evaluation of the overall system performance and the performance of the several different subsystems developed, while working both individually and cooperatively within the system, is also demonstrated.

Spacecraft testing includes acoustics, vibrations, and thermal vacuum. Cal Poly’s Space Environments Lab is equipped with multiple vacuum chambers, but no thermal vacuum chamber. The purpose of this thesis is to incorporate an ATS Chiller system with the HVEC vacuum chamber so students are able to experiment with a thermal vacuum chamber. The ATS Chiller had leaky pipes that needed to be refurbished and a shroud was implemented to improve thermal capabilities of the system. The full system was able to reach temperatures as low as -38ºC and as high as 58ºC at a pressure of 10-6 Torr. The ATS Chiller was able to absorb up to 500W of heat dissipation from a component mounted to the platen inside of the vacuum chamber. Thermal modeling of the apparatus was performed in Thermal Desktop. The model was incorporated with the test data to extract interface resistance information between connected surfaces. Another model is used to analyze a theoretical component inside the apparatus to evaluate mounting methods and determine theoretical temperatures of the component. The model adjusts for material properties, including thermal conductivity and emissivity to accurately simulate testing conditions within +/- 3ºC. Platen and shroud adjustments were able to accommodate a peak bake out temperature of 130±2.2℃ of any component without damage to the system. Three temperature cycles were performed by the thermal vacuum chamber to reach extreme temperatures of 58℃ and -38. A 300 Watt heater was used to simulate component heat dissipation for the duration of the test. Furthermore, this thesis lays out further possibilities for thermal testing using the HVEC Vacuum chamber and ATS chiller as a thermal vacuum chamber.

This diploma thesis deals with conceptual design of application tanker for swap carrier MEGA 33. The first part of the thesis is focused on filling and emptying process possibilities, material alternatives used for the tankers manufacturing and evaluation of tankers with similar construction solution. The main part of this thesis describes conceptual design of tanker carrier. On the basis of this concept the stress analysis using finite element method has been completed. This thesis also includes relevant drawing documentation.

This thesis deals with problematics of air/fuel mixture diagnosis od older carburetor motors. Especially for motors with more than one cylinder. In this thesis are informations about commercial product for diagnosis, brief informations about function of CV caburetor and best setup of fuel mixture. The next step in this thesis will be design, construction and testing of device for the diagnosis air/fuel mixture in practical use. Device will be able to measure mixture and other values witch can be used for best carburetor setup.

This work deals with issue of preparation active electrochromic film of titanium dioxide and intercalation properties. By electrodeposition was created active film on glass substrates covered with transparent conductive thin-film In2O3:Sn (ITO). The active films prepared by electrolytic way were compared with active films prepared by vacuum methods. Then has been studied theirs electrode properties in electrolytes containing lithium.

The aim of this work is to compare technology of silicon and aluminium moulds used to make castings using technology of cire perdue with single – piece work. The work itself deals with physical production of silicon mould in vacuum casting system, shaping aluminium mould using CNC machine and subsequent casting of wax models into these moulds. It also handles with physical production of one piece by shaping. It contains background research of the method lost wax casting manufacturing aluminium and silicon moulds and last but not least of Rapid Prototyping technology for producing master model.

This diploma thesis deals with reducing the time of sucking water into the rotating impeller of the centrifugal pump as used in firesport. The suction is carried out by the ejector, which is powered by combustion engine exhaust gases. A mathematical model was created, which shows the flow in the ejector. It was also used as a basis for the creation of a new ejector, which has an increased airflow when getting closer to atmospheric pressure.

Diploma thesis deals with the design of a vibration isolated platform for low temperature scanning tunneling microscope working under ultra high vacuum (UHV STM). Cooling of the microscope is done by liquid helium using a flow cryostat designed in Institute of Scientific Instruments of the AS CR. In the thesis, general requirements of designing of an ultra high vacuum compatible devices are discussed, as well as the ways of vibrational isolation and damping. Also some ways how to restrict the transfer of vibration between vacuum devices and surroundings are mentioned. This knowledge is then applied to the design of the antivibrational microscope platform compatible with low temperature usage. For better understanding of vibrational transfer and damping, a real model of the designed platform is made and vibrational transfer characteristics are measured and compared with the theory.

This thesis is focused on experimental work in the domain of vacuum evaporation efficiency improvement. The first part introduces theory of liquids evaporation and its influencing factors, then multi-stage flash distillation technology. The next part of theory is an overview of other technologies used for desalination of sea water and introduction to the design of experiments. In the practical part are selected factors affecting efficiency of device and experiment plan is designed for them. When the experiment is done, optimal operating conditions of technology are designed on basis of analysis.