Search Results (109)

Urban heat island circulation (UHIC) determines the wind and thermal environments in urban areas. For Loess Tableland valley towns, the evolution characteristics of the UHIC over this negative terrain are not well understood, and therefore, it is important to investigate the evolution characteristics. A city-scale computational fluid dynamics (CSCFD) model is used, and simulation results are validated by the water tank experiment. The evolution process over such negative terrain can be divided into transient and quasi-steady stages, and in the transient stage, the airflow pattern evolves from thermal convection to city-scale closed circulation, while that in the quasi-steady stage is only city-scale closed circulation. In order to further reveal the characteristics of city-scale closed circulation, the sensitivities of different factors influencing the start time, outflow time, mixing height and heat island intensity are analyzed, and the most significant factors influencing these four parameters are urban heat flux, slope height, slope height, and potential temperature lapse rate, respectively. Finally, the dimensionless mixing height and heat island intensity for the valley town increase by 56.80% and 128.68%, respectively, compared to those for the flat city. This study provides guidance for the location and layout of built-up areas in the valley towns. Full article

Global building energy consumption is significantly increasing. Utilizing renewable energy sources may be an effective approach to achieving low-carbon and energy-efficient buildings. A combined system incorporating solar photovoltaic–thermal (PV/T) components with an air-source heat pump (ASHP) was studied for simultaneous heating and power generation in a real residential building. The back panel of the PV/T component featured a novel polygonal Freon circulation channel design. A prototype of the combined heating and power supply system was constructed and tested in Fuzhou City, China. The results indicate that the average coefficient of performance (COP) of the system is 4.66 when the ASHP operates independently. When the PV/T component is integrated with the ASHP, the average COP increases to 5.37. On sunny days, the daily average thermal output of 32 PV/T components reaches 24 kW, while the daily average electricity generation is 64 kW·h. On cloudy days, the average daily power generation is 15.6 kW·h; however, the residual power stored in the battery from the previous day could be utilized to ensure the energy demand in the system. Compared to conventional photovoltaic (PV) systems, the overall energy utilization efficiency improves from 5.68% to 17.76%. The hot water temperature stored in the tank can reach 46.8 °C, satisfying typical household hot water requirements. In comparison to standard PV modules, the system achieves an average cooling efficiency of 45.02%. The variation rate of the system’s thermal loss coefficient is relatively low at 5.07%. The optimal water tank capacity for the system is determined to be 450 L. This system demonstrates significant potential for providing efficient combined heat and power supply for buildings, offering considerable economic and environmental benefits, thereby serving as a reference for the future development of low-carbon and energy-saving building technologies. Full article

Urbanization and climate change have disrupted natural water circulation by increasing impervious surfaces and altering rainfall patterns, leading to reduced groundwater infiltration, deteriorating water quality, and heightened flood risks. This study investigates the application of Low Impact Development (LID) and flood control facilities as structural measures to address these challenges in the upper watershed of the Fucha River in Bogotá, Colombia. The methodology involved analyzing watershed characteristics, defining circulation problems, setting hydrological targets, selecting facility types and locations, evaluating performance, and conducting an economic analysis. To manage the target rainfall of $26.5$$\mathrm{m}$$\mathrm{m}$ under normal conditions, LID facilities such as vegetated swales, rain gardens, infiltration channels, and porous pavements were applied, managing approximately 2362 ${\mathrm{m}}^3$ of runoff. For flood control, five detention tanks were proposed, resulting in a 31.8% reduction in peak flow and a 7.3% decrease in total runoff volume. The flooded area downstream was reduced by $46.8$$\mathrm{h}\mathrm{a}$, and the benefit–cost ratio was calculated at 1.02. These findings confirm that strategic application of LID and detention facilities can contribute to effective urban water cycle management and disaster risk reduction. While the current disaster management approach in Bogotá primarily focuses on post-event response, this study highlights the necessity of transitioning toward proactive disaster preparedness. In particular, the introduction and expansion of flood forecasting and warning systems are recommended as non-structural measures, especially in urban areas with complex infrastructure and climate-sensitive hydrology. Full article

Uneven distribution and delayed system response of dissolved oxygen (DO) in dual−tank recirculating bioreactor systems pose significant challenges for oxygen supply. To address these issues, a dynamic parameterized predictive control (DPPC) approach is proposed and validated through simulation and bench−scale experiments. This method is underpinned by a mathematical model that integrates mass transfer kinetics and chemical thermodynamic principles, accurately capturing oxygen dissolution and transfer within a recirculating environment. By predicting future DO variations and continuously integrating real−time monitoring data, the controller adjusts oxygen injection parameters in real time, rapidly restoring DO levels to target values while minimizing overshoot and latency introduced by system circulation. Experimental results in dual−tank setups show an RMSE below 0.05 and an R² exceeding 0.99, affirming the model’s predictive accuracy under varying oxygen conditions. Compared with conventional feedback control strategies, the proposed method demonstrates improved stability, faster response, and lower overshoot, achieving a 47.8% reduction in ISE and a 41.4% reduction in IAE, thus highlighting its superior tracking accuracy. These findings suggest the DPPC method holds promise as a control framework for future application in oxygen−sensitive culture systems. Full article

This study numerically investigates the solid–liquid mixing characteristics in solid–liquid stirred tanks with solid volume fraction as high as 35%, focusing on the effect of impeller and baffle configurations on solid and liquid flow behaviors. Three stirred tanks with different capacities and impellers were analyzed to evaluate liquid flow field, solid suspension, and free surface profiles. It has demonstrated superior shear rate uniformity in the multi-impeller systems compared to the single-impeller, attributed to the enhanced fluid circulation. Multi-impeller systems can achieve near-complete off-bottom suspension, while the single-impeller configuration exhibited band-shaped particle accumulation above the impeller. Free surface vortices, significantly deeper in the 6 m³ multi-impeller tank due to high blade tip velocities, were mitigated through the integration of four circumferentially arranged triangular baffles. The existence of baffles can suppress surface turbulence, promote axial flow patterns, and eliminate particle accumulation at the tank bottom, improving shear rate and solid concentration homogeneity. These findings provide a beneficial guideline for the optimization of solid–liquid mixing efficiency the similar flow system or processes. Full article

Under the dual imperatives of air pollution control and energy conservation, this study proposes an enhanced optimization framework for combined heat and power (CHP) district heating systems based on bypass thermal storage (BTS). In contrast to conventional centralized tank-based approaches, this method leverages the dynamic hydraulic characteristics of secondary network bypass pipelines to achieve direct sensible heat storage in circulating water, significantly improving system flexibility and energy efficiency. The core innovation lies in addressing the critical yet under-explored issue of control valve dynamic response, which profoundly impacts system operational stability and economic performance. A quality regulation strategy is systematically implemented to stabilize circulation flow rates through temperature modulation by establishing a supply–demand equilibrium model under bypass conditions. To overcome the limitations of traditional feedback control in handling hydraulic transients and heat transfer dynamics in the plate heat exchanger, a Model Predictive Control (MPC) framework is developed, integrating a data-driven valve impedance-opening degree correlation model. This model is rigorously validated against four flow characteristics (linear, equal percentage, quick-opening, and parabolic) and critical impedance parameters (maximum/minimum controllable impedance). This study provides theoretical foundations and technical guidance for optimizing secondary network heating systems, enhancing overall system performance and stability, and promoting energy-efficient development in the heating sector. Full article

Electrocoagulation (EC) systems are regaining attention as a promising wastewater treatment technology due to their numerous advantages, including low system and operational costs and environmental friendliness. However, the widespread adoption and further development of EC systems have been hindered by a lack of fundamental understanding, necessitating systematic research to provide essential insights for system developers. In this study, a continuous EC system with a realistic setup is analyzed using an unsteady, two-dimensional physics-based model that incorporates multiphysics. The model captures key mechanisms, such as arsenic adsorption onto flocs, electrochemical reactions at the electrodes, chemical reactions in the bulk solution, and ionic species transport via diffusion and convection. Additionally, it accounts for bulk wastewater flow circulating between the EC cell and an external storage tank. This comprehensive modeling approach enables a fundamental analysis of how operating conditions influence arsenic removal efficiency, providing crucial insights for optimizing system utilization. Furthermore, the developed model is used to generate data under various operating conditions. Seven machine learning models are trained on this data after hyperparameter optimization. These high-accuracy models are then employed to develop processing maps that identify the conditions necessary to achieve acceptable removal efficiency. This study is the first to generate processing maps by synergistically integrating physics-based and data-driven models. These maps provide clear design and operational guidelines, helping researchers and engineers optimize EC systems. This research establishes a framework for combining physics-based and data-driven modeling approaches to generate processing maps that serve as essential guidelines for wastewater treatment applications. Full article

Accurately detecting coal slime water concentration during coal washing is crucial for optimizing dosing systems and improving separation efficiency. Traditional concentration detection methods are often affected by flow field disturbances. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a pressure differential concentration detection system utilizing interference rectification for a stabilized flow field and improved measurement accuracy. The experimental system comprises a circulating slurry tank, a defoamer, and a turbulence removal measuring tank. Numerical simulations and experimental studies investigated the effects of slurry concentration and inflow velocity on detection accuracy. Through dynamic measurement of pressure difference data under different concentrations and flow rates, the characteristics of a solid–liquid two-phase flow field are simulated using Fluent software. The results demonstrate that for low-concentration (C = 10%) and high-concentration (C = 30%) slurries, a flow velocity of ≥0.7 m/s significantly improves flow uniformity and achieves a stable particle suspension state, maintaining a measurement error within 1% for a flow rate of 0.7 m/s. However, flow rates exceeding 0.7 m/s decrease flow stability, increasing errors. Notably, the combination of sensors at positions No. 2 and No. 4 yields the lowest measurement errors, which verifies the influence of sensor layout on detection accuracy. A 0.7 m/s velocity is identified as the key threshold for flow field stability, and the nonlinear influence of the synergistic effect of flow rate and concentration on the detection stability is revealed. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing pulp concentration detection systems and enhancing industrial dosing precision. Full article

To address the issues of low solid–liquid mixing and mass transfer efficiency and difficult real-time regulation in the resource utilization of non-ferrous metal smelting slag, this study constructs a research framework integrating Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) coupling models and machine learning. The framework systematically investigates particle motion characteristics and mass transfer laws in stirred tanks and enables an intelligent prediction of key parameters. Through a CFD-DEM two-way coupling simulation, the study quantifies particle dispersion characteristics using relative standard deviation (RSD) and calculates the mass transfer coefficient (k) based on the Hughmark model, revealing the effects of particle size and impeller speed on mixing and mass transfer efficiency. For parameter prediction, particle motion and mass transfer data are used to train a multi-model prediction library, with model performance evaluated through comparative experiments. The results show that increasing the rotational speed shortens the particle mixing time, reduces RSD values by 25–40%, increases the coupling force, and decreases stability during the circulation phase. Different machine learning (ML) algorithms exhibit varying performances in the time-series prediction of particle motion characteristics and real-time prediction of mass transfer coefficients. Notably, GA-BP achieves a fitting degree R of 0.99 in both predictions, meeting the requirements for the structural optimization and intelligent regulation of stirred tanks. This research provides theoretical support and technical pathways for the structural optimization and intelligent control of stirred tanks, offering engineering application value in fields such as hydrometallurgy and solid waste resource utilization. Full article

The ballast tank is a critical system for LNG carriers, ensuring structural safety and stability during navigation. When LNG carriers navigate in polar regions, the ballast tank is prone to freezing, which will reduce the efficiency of ballast water circulation. Furthermore, the freezing process generates frost heaving forces that may damage the walls of the ballast tank, shorten the structure’s service life, and disrupt the ship’s normal operations. Therefore, analyzing the freezing process of ballast tanks is essential. This paper focuses on the ballast tank of a polar LNG carrier as the research subject. It assumes that the ballast water is fresh water with unchanging physical properties and takes into account the environmental conditions in polar regions. A numerical simulation model of the freezing process within the ballast tank is established. This study investigates the influence of various environmental parameters on the freezing process and determines the evolution of ice shape in relation to temperature field changes under different environmental conditions. The results indicate that as the ambient temperature decreases, the rate of temperature reduction at the ballast water level accelerates, resulting in a thicker ice layer formed by freezing. Additionally, as the seawater temperature decreases, the rate of temperature decline in the ballast water at the bulkhead is significantly accelerated, leading to an increased rate of ice shape evolution. Furthermore, a reduction in the height of the ballast water level enhances the heat transfer rate of the ballast water, which markedly increases the degree of freezing in the ballast water. Full article

This study presents a preliminary analysis of an innovative system that combines indoor air conditioning with water recovery and storage. The device integrates Peltier cells with a horizontal Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHX), exploiting the ground stable temperature to enhance cooling and promote condensation. Warm, humid air is pre-cooled via the geothermal pipe, then split by a fan into two streams: one passes over the cold side of the Peltier cells for cooling and dehumidification, while the other flows over the hot side and heats up. The two airstreams are then mixed in a water storage tank, which also serves as a thermal mixing chamber to regulate the final air temperature. The analysis investigates the influence of soil thermal conditions on condensation within the horizontal pipe and the resulting cooling effect in indoor spaces. A hybrid simulation approach was adopted, coupling a 3D model implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics^® with a 1D analytical model. Boundary conditions and meteorological data were based on the Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) for Palermo. Two scenarios were considered. In Case A, during the hours when air conditioning is not operating (between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m.), air is circulated in the exchanger to pre-cool the ground and the air leaving the exchanger is rejected into the environment. In Case B, the no air is not circulated in the heat exchanger during non-conditioning periods. Results from the June–August period show that the EAHXs reduced the average outdoor air temperature from 27.81 °C to 25.45 °C, with relative humidity rising from 58.2% to 66.66%, while maintaining nearly constant specific humidity. The system exchanged average powers of 102 W (Case A) and 96 W (Case B), corresponding to energy removals of 225 kWh and 212 kWh, respectively. Case A, which included nighttime soil pre-cooling, showed a 6% increase in efficiency. Condensation water production values range from around 0.005 g/s with one Peltier cell to almost 0.5 g/s with seven Peltier cells. As the number of Peltier cells increases, the cooling effect becomes more pronounced, reducing the output temperature considerably. This solution is scalable and well-suited for implementation in developing countries, where it can be efficiently powered by stand-alone photovoltaic systems. Full article

In this study, a particle image velocimetry (PIV) system was used in a large circulating water tank to investigate the wake of a horizontal-axis tidal turbine model, focusing on minor blockage effects and scale influence. A wake map of the turbine was constructed based on PIV measurements, using velocity deficit, turbulence intensity (TI), and turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) as key indicators. The results showed that TKE developed later than TI, forming a plateau-like shape. This plateau was considered the decay region, with the transition and far-wake regions located before and after it, respectively. Additionally, the power law exponent of TI decreased from −0.731 in the decay region to −0.765 in the far wake, indicating a steeper decay further downstream. Overall, the wake map of the tidal stream turbine model exhibited similarities to that of a previously reported wind turbine model. Full article

The double-piece inner ring ball bearing is an important part of an aero-engine. An excessive bearing temperature leads to bearing thermal expansion, lubricating oil performance degradation, and other problems that seriously affect the service life and reliability of the bearing. Thus, it is important to study the temperature field of a double-piece inner ring ball bearing. In this study, considering the heat exchange of lubricant circulating in the oil tank–tubing–bearing and the influence of the flow field in the bearing chamber on the bearing’s temperature rise, a modified transient thermal network equation for an oil tank–tubing–bearing system was established. Based on ADAMS software and considering the thermal–mechanical coupling effect on the bearing’s contact force, a thermal–mechanical coupling dynamic model for double-piece inner ring ball bearings was established. Combined with the bearing dynamics and modified transient thermal network equation, a thermal–mechanical coupling transient temperature field model for double-piece inner ring ball bearings was constructed. A temperature rise test was carried out on a double-piece inner ring ball bearing, and the accuracy of the bearing temperature rise simulation model was verified by the test results. The model can simulate the oil temperature change process, calculate the heat absorbed by the lubricating oil more accurately, and provide a theoretical basis for the design of bearing and lubrication systems. Full article

Food shortages due to the decreasing arable land area, which is a consequence of the increasing global population, have brought greater attention to greenhouses. However, the cost of air conditioning in greenhouses is high. Therefore, in this study, the heating performance of a low-running-cost air conditioning system using groundwater was evaluated in winter in an agricultural greenhouse. The system consisted of a temperature control room in an agricultural greenhouse and a groundwater recirculation system. The pumped groundwater was passed through a polytube heat exchanger panel and stored in a recirculation tank. The stored water circulated back to the heat exchanger to create a water recirculation system. When operated with only a single 250 L recirculation tank, the temperature in the temperature control room was maintained at 4.9–19.4 °C, even when the maximum and minimum outdoor air temperatures were 12.6 and −2.3 °C, respectively. To achieve a higher minimum temperature in the temperature control room, a method was developed to enable the system to switch from the recirculating water to flowing groundwater when the recirculating water temperature fell below the groundwater temperature. Consequently, the minimum temperature in the temperature control room could be maintained at 8.0 °C. In an experiment in which the capacity of the recirculation tank was tripled (750 L), the minimum temperature was maintained at 7.9 °C, which is a stable temperature for cucumber cultivation. These results indicate that the heating capacity of the proposed system is equivalent to that of ACCFHES (An aquifer coupled cavity flow heat exchanger system) and other heating systems for winter heating. Therefore, this proposed method makes it possible to cultivate plants that grow in a climate similar to that of cucumbers at a low running cost. The amount of heating capacity that could be extracted simply by circulating groundwater was also revealed. Full article

The rapid expansion of large-scale aquaculture has created a demand for more efficient and sustainable farming systems. Among these, land-based circular tank aquaculture is emerging as a key solution due to its high efficiency, scalability, and effective waste management capabilities. Optimizing the hydrodynamic characteristics of these tanks is crucial for improving water quality management and ensuring the health of cultured fish. This study investigates the hydrodynamic characteristics of large land-based circular tanks, focusing on the effects of water pusher configurations and the presence of fish on flow dynamics and sewage collection efficiency. Field experiments were conducted under two conditions: with and without fish, while varying the pusher diameter, deployment angles, and the number of pushers. The flow characteristics at different layers of the tanks were measured using Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry. The results indicate that the pusher deployment has a more significant impact on the flow field and hydrodynamic characteristics compared with the pusher diameter. The optimal configuration for water circulation and sewage collection was identified when the pusher diameter was 11 cm, the deployment angle was 45°, and the number of pushers was 6. The presence of fish significantly influenced the flow field distribution by expanding high velocity flow zones. The findings provide a theoretical basis for optimizing water pusher deployment in large-scale circular tanks with fish, thereby contributing to improved water quality management and fish health. Full article