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32 pages, 2873 KB  
Article
Acoustic Radiation from a Lined Flanged Duct at an Order-Two Exceptional Point: Mode Matching with an Improper-Integral Radiation Closure
by Mohammed Alkinidri
Mathematics 2026, 14(17), 3129; https://doi.org/10.3390/math14173129 - 31 Aug 2026
Abstract
Exceptional points are parameter values at which two eigenvalues and their corresponding eigenfunctions coalesce, rendering the wave operator defective. They arise widely in non-Hermitian wave physics and disrupt the modal expansions on which semi-analytic scattering methods rely. For lined acoustic waveguides, an augmented [...] Read more.
Exceptional points are parameter values at which two eigenvalues and their corresponding eigenfunctions coalesce, rendering the wave operator defective. They arise widely in non-Hermitian wave physics and disrupt the modal expansions on which semi-analytic scattering methods rely. For lined acoustic waveguides, an augmented mode-matching ansatz that restores completeness at such a degeneracy—by adjoining the generalised eigenfunction obtained from the derivative of the parametrised duct mode with respect to its transverse spectral parameter—has been established for junctions between duct sections with discrete modal sets. This article extends that ansatz to an open, radiating configuration: a rigid feed duct communicates through an impedance-lined throat, tuned to an order-two exceptional point, with a half-space bounded by a rigid flange. The radiating mouth replaces the discrete modal closure by a continuous spectrum, so the augmented basis must be matched against an improper spectral integral. The half-space field is generated by the aperture velocity, which builds the rigid-flange condition into the representation exactly, and the resulting improper integrals are rendered analytic by branch-aware substitutions whose cutoff is tied to the retained modal content. The formulation is validated on the matching and boundary conditions themselves: pointwise continuity of pressure and of normal velocity at the internal junction, pointwise pressure continuity at the radiating mouth, the vanishing of the normal velocity on the rigid flange, and the recovery of the classical flanged-duct radiation problem in the rigid limit, cross-checked against an independent implementation. The full lined problem, including the defective case, has been further verified against an independent finite-volume solution of the same boundary-value problem, whose grid-converged fractions agree with the mode-matching values to within 8×105. A conserved-power identity is monitored as a necessary but not sufficient check. Numerical experiments confirm the known breakdown of the standard expansion at the exceptional point and the well-conditioned convergence of the augmented one in this radiating setting, and a scan of the complex admittance plane, refined by local optimisation and repeated across throat lengths and frequencies, shows that flange radiation detunes the absorption optimum away from the exceptional point, by an amount that grows with the radiated share of the power budget and vanishes as the throat lengthens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section E: Applied Mathematics)
23 pages, 36890 KB  
Article
Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic Effects of Axial Clearance in a Wall-Penetrating Blade Ring Ducted Fan for Unmanned eVTOL Propulsion
by Qiang Li, Yefa Hu, Mengqi Zhang and Cong Huang
Aerospace 2026, 13(9), 786; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13090786 - 31 Aug 2026
Abstract
Tip leakage degrades ducted fan performance and contributes to unsteady loading noise. This study investigates a wall-penetrating blade ring (WPBR) ducted fan for unmanned electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL), replacing radial clearance with axial end face gaps. Six configurations of a 381 [...] Read more.
Tip leakage degrades ducted fan performance and contributes to unsteady loading noise. This study investigates a wall-penetrating blade ring (WPBR) ducted fan for unmanned electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL), replacing radial clearance with axial end face gaps. Six configurations of a 381 mm four-bladed rotor were evaluated at 5000 r/min under quasi-hover conditions: a conventional ducted fan, an internal blade ring rotor, and four WPBR cases with single-sided clearances of 0.8–2.0 mm. Sliding-mesh unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations using the shear stress transport k-ω model were coupled with the Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings formulation. The WPBR formed a U-shaped cavity recirculation and redistributed the concentrated tip-region vortical structures. The 1.2 mm case retained 28.72 N of thrust, 2.1% above baseline, while reducing torque by 6.1% relative to the 0.8 mm case; its figure of merit remained lower. Its simulations predicted a reduction of 16.4 dB in the first blade-passing frequency level in the rotor plane and a predicted reduction of up to 15 dB in overall sound pressure level at 1 m. Thus, it represents a compromise among thrust, torque, and predicted acoustic performance rather than an aerodynamic optimum. A magnetically supported prototype operated up to 2000 r/min, demonstrating low-speed operability of the architecture for unmanned eVTOL propulsion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
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37 pages, 39429 KB  
Article
Numerical Analysis of First- and Second-Law Performance in Round Tubes Equipped with Multiple Helical Screw Tape Inserts
by Smith Eiamsa-ard, Sathaporn Liengsirikul, Suriya Chokphoemphun, Varesa Chuwattanakul, Paisan Naphon, Manoj Kumar and Monsak Pimsarn
Eng 2026, 7(8), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng7080423 - 19 Aug 2026
Viewed by 195
Abstract
Enhanced circular tubes are widely employed in shell-and-tube heat exchangers, power-generation condensers, chemical reactors, refrigeration systems, and air-cooled heat exchangers, where improved convective performance can reduce the heat-transfer area required for a specified thermal duty. Helical screw tapes (HSTs) are passive inserts that [...] Read more.
Enhanced circular tubes are widely employed in shell-and-tube heat exchangers, power-generation condensers, chemical reactors, refrigeration systems, and air-cooled heat exchangers, where improved convective performance can reduce the heat-transfer area required for a specified thermal duty. Helical screw tapes (HSTs) are passive inserts that promote sustained swirling motion and enhance convective heat transfer within such tubes. Although helical screw tapes and multiple-insert arrangements have been investigated previously, the combined thermohydraulic and second-law effects of increasing the number of co-rotating HSTs under fixed geometric ratios remain insufficiently quantified. In this investigation, turbulent airflow in a heated round tube was numerically investigated to examine the effect of tape number on heat transfer, pressure drop, thermal performance, total entropy generation (Stotal), and exergy destruction (ExD). Six HST configurations containing one to six tapes were examined over a Reynolds-number range of Re = 5000–20,000 in a circular tube with an inner diameter of DT = 31 mm, which was also adopted as the characteristic length for the Reynolds number, Nusselt number, and friction factor. The helical pitch P, screw diameter Ds, tape width W, and tape thickness t were 60 mm, 30 mm, 4.5 mm, and 0.2 mm, respectively, giving a pitch ratio of P/Ds = 2.0 and a width ratio of W/Ds = 0.15. A plain tube (PT) served as the baseline case. The results show that increasing the number of tapes intensifies swirl flow and enhances heat transfer but also leads to a continuous increase in pressure loss. For the optimum three-tape arrangement, the Nusselt number is increased by 126.0–158.8% and the thermal performance factor by 4.5–19.5% relative to the plain tube, while the total entropy generation and exergy destruction are simultaneously reduced by 7.9–61.0%. Among the configurations examined, HST-P2.0-W0.150-3, comprising three tapes at a pitch ratio of P/Ds = 2.0 and a width ratio of W/Ds = 0.15, achieved the best overall performance by delivering the highest thermal performance factor and the lowest total entropy generation and exergy destruction among the HST cases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Chemical, Civil and Environmental Engineering)
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37 pages, 13971 KB  
Article
CFD Analysis of Drag and Internal Volume Tradeoffs in a Compact AUV with a Myring Forebody and Flat Stern
by Zhenchao Fu, Jingxing Feng, Zhengyang Zhu, Zhihao Wang, Xiaodong Liu, Yude Shao and Hokeun Kang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(16), 1456; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14161456 - 7 Aug 2026
Viewed by 368
Abstract
Low-slenderness-ratio, flat-ended autonomous underwater vehicles must balance hydrodynamic resistance against internal volume retention, yet classical slender-body criteria do not fully represent their coupled forebody wake response. A generalized Myring forebody was assessed for an AUV with L = 0.8 m, D = 0.2 [...] Read more.
Low-slenderness-ratio, flat-ended autonomous underwater vehicles must balance hydrodynamic resistance against internal volume retention, yet classical slender-body criteria do not fully represent their coupled forebody wake response. A generalized Myring forebody was assessed for an AUV with L = 0.8 m, D = 0.2 m, and L/D = 4.0 using 53 steady three-dimensional Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes simulations with the shear stress transport k-ω model. Gaussian process regression and the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) were used only for candidate-region screening; production grid direct CFD samples were used to determine nondominance. Strict fold-wise leave-one-out cross-validation gave Q2 = 0.173 globally and RMSE = 0.001399 and Q2 = 0.683 in the predefined 18-sample decision region, indicating local screening utility rather than global surrogate validation. The direct CFD audit identified 13 globally and seven locally nondominated samples; both previously selected test configurations were dominated after CFD back-substitution. Their three grid drag sequences were monotonic but non-asymptotic. Pressure drag comprised 75.88–79.20% of total drag. However, the reduction in the low-drag test configuration relative to the baseline arose mainly from a lower viscous contribution; axial pressure fields therefore indicate redistribution rather than exclusive drag-reduction causation. Paired CFD samples showed that the sign of the drag responded to N reversal between the two sampled Lnose values, whereas analytical volume increased with N in both pairs. The results reveal a discrete, configuration-dependent drag volume trade-off and local N-Lnose coupling. The rectangular regions are sampling envelopes rather than validated optimum windows, and the conclusions are restricted to steady, deeply submerged, smooth-wall bare-hull conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Engineering Hydrodynamics, 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 2592 KB  
Article
One-Step Preparation of Silk Fibroin and Sericin from Silkworm Cocoons Using High-Temperature High-Pressure Treatment
by Yeon Jin Kim, Bo Kyung Park, Ick Soo Kim and In Chul Um
Polymers 2026, 18(15), 1919; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18151919 - 5 Aug 2026
Viewed by 430
Abstract
Conventional silk degumming processes are primarily designed to recover either silk fibroin (SF) or sericin, resulting in inefficient utilization of silk resources and substantial sericin waste. In this study, a one-step high-temperature high-pressure (HTHP) process was developed for the simultaneous preparation of SF [...] Read more.
Conventional silk degumming processes are primarily designed to recover either silk fibroin (SF) or sericin, resulting in inefficient utilization of silk resources and substantial sericin waste. In this study, a one-step high-temperature high-pressure (HTHP) process was developed for the simultaneous preparation of SF and sericin from silkworm cocoons. To determine the optimum processing conditions, HTHP treatment was performed at 120 °C for 10, 20, and 30 min. The effects of treatment time on the degumming efficiency and the physicochemical properties of SF and sericin were systematically investigated through the characterization of SF as degummed fibers, regenerated solutions, and electrospun fibers, and sericin as solutions and gels. Complete degumming was achieved after 10 min of HTHP treatment, corresponding to a degumming ratio of 25.4%, with no further increase at longer treatment times. While complete degumming was maintained beyond 10 min, prolonged treatment progressively deteriorated the physicochemical properties of sericin and eventually reduced the molecular integrity of SF, as consistently demonstrated across the different material forms. Compared with the conventional soap/soda method, the HTHP process better preserved the molecular integrity of SF while simultaneously recovering an aqueous sericin fraction without chemical degumming. Based on the degumming efficiency and the physicochemical properties of both silk proteins, 10 min was identified as the optimum HTHP treatment time for the simultaneous preparation of SF and sericin. This one-step HTHP process provides a simple and efficient process for improving silk resource utilization and facilitating the industrial production of SF and sericin-based biomaterials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass to Biopolymers: Sustainable Materials Engineering)
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20 pages, 50918 KB  
Article
Mechanism and Process Optimization of Pulsed Laser Cleaning of Ink Layers on Ceramic Tiles
by Aijun Liu, Hanlin Zhang, Tengfei Li, Kaixiang Yang and Jinghua Han
Photonics 2026, 13(8), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13080714 - 29 Jul 2026
Viewed by 276
Abstract
Efficient laser cleaning of glazed ceramic tiles requires the ink layer to be removed without damaging the brittle glaze. We investigated the removal of acrylic ink using a 1064 nm, 10 ns Nd:YAG laser operating at 1 Hz. The lens-to-sample working distance L, [...] Read more.
Efficient laser cleaning of glazed ceramic tiles requires the ink layer to be removed without damaging the brittle glaze. We investigated the removal of acrylic ink using a 1064 nm, 10 ns Nd:YAG laser operating at 1 Hz. The lens-to-sample working distance L, pulse energy, and pulse number were varied, and the cleaned regions were evaluated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), theoretical analysis, and COMSOL simulation. At L = 20 cm, the sample was close to the nominal focal plane, and the high local fluence removed the ink rapidly, but it also produced whitening, depressions, micro-pits, and glaze damage. Increasing L to 25–30 cm enlarged the measured spot diameter, lowered the average fluence, and widened the controllable cleaning range. Two low-damage conditions were identified at L = 30 cm: 30.80 J/cm2 with 3 pulses and 41.00 J/cm2 with 2 pulses. SEM–EDS showed that cleaning quality cannot be judged from exposed area or carbon content alone; morphology, preservation of the native glaze microstructure, the C/O ratio, and recovery of substrate-related elements must be considered together. Under the stated model assumptions, the calculated local temperature exceeded the acrylic decomposition temperature, and the thermoelastic stress reached tens to hundreds of MPa. These results make thermal decomposition and stress-assisted interfacial separation physically plausible. However, the present data do not separate thermoelastic stress from pressure-wave loading. Likewise, visible air breakdown and non-monotonic cleaning at high pulse energy only suggest possible plasma-related attenuation because plasma density and transmitted laser energy were not measured. The reported combinations should therefore be regarded as a system-specific process window rather than a universal optimum. Full article
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41 pages, 62533 KB  
Article
Multi-Objective Optimization of a High-Temperature Flange–Bolt–Gasket System Based on a Cyclic Symmetric Thermal–Structural Coupling Model
by Honghao Xu, Peigang Jiao, Changhui Zheng, Jiaxin Shi and Yiheng Zhang
Symmetry 2026, 18(8), 1252; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18081252 - 23 Jul 2026
Viewed by 843
Abstract
The high-temperature sealing reliability of flange–bolt–gasket systems is governed by the coupled gasket leakage, flange cracking, and bolt yielding. This study investigates a DN200 PN40 (nominal diameter 200 mm and nominal pressure 4.0 MPa) weld-neck flange assembly operating under 300 °C superheated steam [...] Read more.
The high-temperature sealing reliability of flange–bolt–gasket systems is governed by the coupled gasket leakage, flange cracking, and bolt yielding. This study investigates a DN200 PN40 (nominal diameter 200 mm and nominal pressure 4.0 MPa) weld-neck flange assembly operating under 300 °C superheated steam at 4 MPa internal pressure. Exploiting the assembly’s 12-fold cyclic rotational symmetry, a 1/12 periodic-sector finite element model with steady-state thermal–structural sequential coupling was developed in ANSYS Workbench and validated against the Omiya–Sawa 3-inch weld-neck flange benchmark at two levels (Level 1: bolt load vs. experiment; Level 2: 250 °C gasket contact pressure vs. reference finite element method (FEM)), with maximum errors below 1.5% in both levels; the benchmark thus establishes the reliability of the modeling procedure rather than constituting a direct experimental validation of the DN200 PN40 configuration. Using a central composite design, second-order response surface models (RSM) and Kriging surrogate models were constructed and compared, followed by Sobol global sensitivity analysis, multi-objective optimization using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II), and decision-making using the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), with bolt preload F and gasket width b as design variables. Baseline analysis revealed a differential contact pressure distribution—lower at the inner radius and higher at the outer radius—driven by a −0.308° flange rotation, identifying the inner gasket edge as the critical sealing failure path. RSM outperformed Kriging for the primary objective (mean absolute percentage error (MAPE): 0.72% vs. 3.61%), and the Pareto front collapsed to b = 19 mm. The TOPSIS-recommended optimum (F = 59,942 N, b = 19.00 mm), verified by ANSYS back-substitution, increased the minimum gasket contact pressure by 31.01% while reducing the flange membrane-plus-bending stress by 2.26%, achieving a coordinated improvement of both sealing performance and structural safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section F: Engineering and Materials)
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41 pages, 13621 KB  
Article
Operations-Research Decision Support for Industrial Resource Clusters: A Multi-Objective Linear-Programming Framework for Multi-Origin Water Allocation in a Mediterranean Brewery
by Nikolaos Sifakis, Angelos Pothoulakis, George Tsinarakis, Dimitrios Cholidis and George Arampatzis
Processes 2026, 14(15), 2382; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14152382 - 23 Jul 2026
Viewed by 745
Abstract
Water-intensive industries in the Mediterranean face supply stress and decarbonisation pressure simultaneously. We develop an operations-research decision-support framework that treats the firm as one node of a small industrial resource cluster and prices the cost and carbon-equivalent emissions of five alternative supply trains—municipal [...] Read more.
Water-intensive industries in the Mediterranean face supply stress and decarbonisation pressure simultaneously. We develop an operations-research decision-support framework that treats the firm as one node of a small industrial resource cluster and prices the cost and carbon-equivalent emissions of five alternative supply trains—municipal water, river water, groundwater, rainwater harvesting and brewery wastewater reuse—within a multi-objective Linear Program. Each train carries engineering-grounded expenditures, energy intensities and grid emissions, and a weighted-sum scalarisation is solved daily for 365 days under three managerial scenarios. On a Cretan microbrewery whose 2022 demand of 5250 m3 is met from the municipal network, the balanced and cost-focused scenarios coincide on a single optimum that cuts the Levelised Cost of Water by 25.3% and emissions by 40.7%, while the eco-friendly scenario yields a 19.3% cost and 51.7% emissions reduction. LP duality, shadow prices and an extended sensitivity programme (diversification, capacity, grid factor, discount rate, RO recovery and demand profile) turn the optimisation into a decision-support package: optimal daily allocations, shadow-price signals on capacity and demand, and robustness diagnostics for capital planning, dispatch and risk management. Results are site-specific, but the framework and its diagnostics transfer in structure to clusters sharing the same convex-polytope source geometry; transposition to energy cooperatives is future work. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Water Resource Pollution Mitigation Processes)
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20 pages, 4212 KB  
Article
Combined Reinforcement of Rubber Aggregate Concrete with Ceramic Balls and Steel Fibers Under Dynamic Compression
by Kefo Qu, Aimei Yao, Yongjun Deng and Chengqing Wu
Buildings 2026, 16(14), 2919; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16142919 - 22 Jul 2026
Viewed by 403
Abstract
Rubber aggregate concrete (RAC) offers excellent frost resistance and impact toughness, but the incorporation of rubber particles substantially reduces its compressive strength, limiting structural applications. Existing improvement strategies have mainly relied on a single modification route, whereas the dynamic compressive response of RAC [...] Read more.
Rubber aggregate concrete (RAC) offers excellent frost resistance and impact toughness, but the incorporation of rubber particles substantially reduces its compressive strength, limiting structural applications. Existing improvement strategies have mainly relied on a single modification route, whereas the dynamic compressive response of RAC containing both ceramic balls and steel fibers remains insufficiently clarified. Here, a ceramic ball–steel fiber rubber aggregate concrete (CBSFRC) was investigated using quasi-static compression, a Φ120 mm split Hopkinson pressure bar system, and high-speed photography. Three steel-fiber volume fractions (1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) were tested. The CBSFRC waveform displayed a characteristic ‘low-first, high-second’ double-peak pattern, in contrast to the ‘high-first, low-second’ pattern of the reference rubber aggregate concrete (CRC). At the common interpolated strain rates of 40, 45, and 50 s−1, the dynamic compressive strengths of CBSFRC were 35.9–53.6% higher than those of CRC; no extrapolation was used. The largest quasi-static strength increase among the tested mixtures was 51.7%. The observed CBSFRC ultimate strains and strain energy densities ranged from 11.1–17.5 × 10−3 to 8.1–14.1 × 105 J/m3, respectively. Matched-rate analysis showed that the largest DIF increment was 18.8% for SF-1CBRC at 40 s−1, whereas the largest strain-energy-density increment was 70.2% for SF-1.5CBRC at 50 s−1. These results describe the tested range and do not establish a universal optimum steel-fiber content. Full article
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20 pages, 51478 KB  
Article
Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of AE45-Gd Magnesium Alloy Under Different Aging Processes
by Dengyun Lei, Jiyuan Li, Yulong He, Monan Xue, Siqi Yang and Huisheng Cai
Materials 2026, 19(14), 3098; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19143098 - 19 Jul 2026
Viewed by 295
Abstract
To investigate the microstructural evolution and mechanical property changes in an as-extruded AE45-Gd magnesium alloy subjected to different aging treatments, an alloy containing multi-scale second phases was prepared by extrusion and subsequently subjected to artificial aging and aging under pressure. The microstructural evolution, [...] Read more.
To investigate the microstructural evolution and mechanical property changes in an as-extruded AE45-Gd magnesium alloy subjected to different aging treatments, an alloy containing multi-scale second phases was prepared by extrusion and subsequently subjected to artificial aging and aging under pressure. The microstructural evolution, age-hardening behavior, and mechanical properties of the alloy under different aging treatments were investigated. It was found that conventional isothermal aging can improve the mechanical properties to a certain extent. As the aging temperature increases, the peak-aged hardness decreases slightly, while the time to reach peak aging is progressively shortened. Aging under pressure also significantly shortens the time to peak aging, though the peak-aged hardness changes little. The multi-scale second phases in the alloy, consisting of coarse blocky Al2RE (La, Ce, Gd) and fine granular Al11RE3 (La, Ce, Gd), exhibit typical Ostwald ripening during aging, and aging under pressure accelerates this process. The optimum aging parameters are determined to be 200 °C for 16 h. After this treatment, the alloy achieves a yield strength of 183.95 MPa, a tensile strength of 322.50MPa, and an elongation of 4.32%. Microcracks predominantly initiate at the large Al2RE (La, Ce, Gd) compounds. The small granular Al11RE3 (La, Ce, Gd) particles show little evidence of self-cracking, and cracking mainly occurs at the phase boundaries between these particles and the magnesium matrix. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Metals and Alloys)
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33 pages, 8379 KB  
Article
NMR-Based Fractal Characterization of Capillary-Force-Regulated Shut-in Imbibition in Continental Shale Oil: Pore-Size-Dependent Recovery, Nanopore Mobilization Threshold, and Permeability Enhancement
by Hui Li and Ben Li
Fractal Fract. 2026, 10(7), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/fractalfract10070481 - 16 Jul 2026
Viewed by 316
Abstract
Continental shale oil reservoirs contain multiscale pore–fracture systems with strong heterogeneity and fractal characteristics, which complicate oil mobilization during post-fracturing shut-in imbibition. In this study, shale cores from the LGS Formation (a lacustrine continental shale oil formation in China) were used to investigate [...] Read more.
Continental shale oil reservoirs contain multiscale pore–fracture systems with strong heterogeneity and fractal characteristics, which complicate oil mobilization during post-fracturing shut-in imbibition. In this study, shale cores from the LGS Formation (a lacustrine continental shale oil formation in China) were used to investigate capillary-force-regulated pressurized shut-in imbibition by integrating interfacial tension measurements, apparent contact angle tests, capillary pressure calculation, time-lapse nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), NMR-based fractal characterization, visual observations, and pre-/post-imbibition permeability measurements. Two surfactant-based imbibition agents with different capillary-force regulation mechanisms were compared to represent different capillary-force regulation pathways. Agent 1 mainly modified apparent wettability, increasing the contact angle from 51.0° to 66.1°, whereas Agent 2 reduced the oil–water interfacial tension from 31.85 to 22.12 mN/m while maintaining a favorable apparent contact angle of 49.3°. Time-lapse NMR results showed that oil recovery increased with shut-in time and reached approximately 12–30% after 144 h. Agent 2 generally produced higher recovery than Agent 1, with the optimum response at 0.15 wt%. NMR-derived fractal dimensions ranged mainly from 2.32 to 2.61, confirming the multiscale heterogeneity of the LGS shale pore system. Pore-size-resolved recovery further showed that oil mobilization was dominated by pores larger than 20 nm and microfracture-related spaces, whereas pores smaller than 20 nm contributed only limited bulk recovery. This indicates an apparent nanopore mobilization threshold near 20 nm, controlled by fractal pore complexity, pore-throat connectivity, oil adsorption, capillary pressure, and molecular accessibility of imbibition agents. Visual and permeability evidence further showed that pressurized imbibition can selectively activate connected pore–fracture pathways. Post-imbibition dry-core permeability increased in all tested samples, although the enhancement was highly heterogeneous. These results demonstrate that shut-in imbibition in LGS shale is governed by coupled interfacial regulation, fractal pore heterogeneity, pore-size-dependent oil accessibility, and selective pore–fracture structural modification. Full article
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29 pages, 31532 KB  
Article
Reconstruction and CFD Modeling of a Kaplan Turbine for Digital Twin Applications
by Przemysław Szulc, Vassiliki T. Kontargyri, Oleksandr Moloshnyi, Artur Machalski, Aneta Nycz, Janusz Skrzypacz, Magdalena Nemś, Dominik Błoński, Przemysław Janik and Zuzanna Satława
Energies 2026, 19(14), 3341; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19143341 - 15 Jul 2026
Viewed by 441
Abstract
Developing digital twins for legacy hydropower units is difficult when turbine documentation, calibrated performance data, and integrated measurements are incomplete. This study presents a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-assisted reconstruction workflow for a Kaplan turbine at the Wały Śląskie Hydropower Plant and evaluates its [...] Read more.
Developing digital twins for legacy hydropower units is difficult when turbine documentation, calibrated performance data, and integrated measurements are incomplete. This study presents a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-assisted reconstruction workflow for a Kaplan turbine at the Wały Śląskie Hydropower Plant and evaluates its use as a physics-informed foundation for a digital twin. The flow passage was reconstructed from archival documentation, direct measurements, and optical 3D scanning of the runner. A steady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes model was then prepared in OpenFOAM v2506 for selected head levels, guide-vane openings, and runner-blade angles. The simulations determined hydraulic performance, flow-field structures, and combinatory characteristics of the double-regulated turbine. The computed hydraulic efficiency reached approximately 85% in the nominal-head range, and the highest-efficiency region formed a broad plateau rather than a sharp optimum. CFD-derived and measurement-derived combinatory trends were consistent, although absolute values remain limited by relative field measurements and uncalibrated Winter–Kennedy flow estimation, a differential-pressure-based method. The CFD results were reduced to compact response surfaces and integrated with reconstructed geometry into an advisory digital twin for operating-point assessment, visualization, documentation, and training. This study establishes a robust workflow for this specific Kaplan turbine case where reverse engineering, integrated with CFD analysis, generates high-fidelity surrogate models for hydropower digital twins, effectively addressing the challenge of incomplete legacy documentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flexibility Solutions and Innovations for Sustainable Hydropower)
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19 pages, 5001 KB  
Article
Research on Multiphysics Coordinated Control Characteristics of 550 kV Fast Circuit Breaker Operating Mechanism and Arc-Extinguishing Chamber
by Shaoan Wang, Tianbo Zhang, Jianwei Wei, Qingchao Sun, Bowen Xu, Lumin Zhao, Qijie Zhu, Jianlei Zhao and Xiangwei Li
Energies 2026, 19(14), 3275; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19143275 - 11 Jul 2026
Viewed by 366
Abstract
With the expansion of the power grid and the high proportion of new energy access, the short-circuit current level of the system is increasingly approaching the breaking limit of the circuit breaker. This paper focuses on the 550 kV fast circuit breaker, using [...] Read more.
With the expansion of the power grid and the high proportion of new energy access, the short-circuit current level of the system is increasingly approaching the breaking limit of the circuit breaker. This paper focuses on the 550 kV fast circuit breaker, using a coupled numerical model of the operating mechanism and arc-extinguishing chamber to investigate the coordinated influence of nozzle turbulence grooves and compression cylinder diameter. It is found that the turbulence groove enhances the exchange of cold and hot airflow by inducing the recirculation zone. The turbulence groove modifies the local nozzle flow field and enhances cold–hot gas mixing, as indicated by the reduced arc-core temperature and gentler radial temperature gradient without affecting the contact motion characteristics. The maximum temperature of the arc core is reduced from 32.5 kK to 31.4 kK, and the pressure attenuation during the critical period of arc extinguishing is effectively delayed. In addition, the diameter of the compression cylinder and the opening characteristics show significant nonlinear coupling characteristics: when the diameter is 70 mm, the arc blowing strength is insufficient, and when the diameter is 90 mm, the pressure gas reaction overload inhibits the opening speed. The comprehensive analysis shows that when the diameter is 80 mm, the pressure accumulation and mechanical characteristics achieve the best balance, and the arc-core temperature is reduced to a minimum of 29 kK. Among the three investigated cylinder diameters, Dc = 80 mm provides the best balance between pressure build-up and operating-mechanism response when combined with the nozzle turbulence groove. This configuration provides more favorable flow-field conditions for long-arcing energy dissipation among the investigated cases. It should be emphasized that this conclusion is limited to the investigated range of Dc = 70–90 mm and should not be regarded as a global optimum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Voltage Engineering and Insulation Technologies)
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26 pages, 11407 KB  
Article
Augmented Heat Transfer and Pressure Loss Characteristics of Sawtooth-Modified Transverse Baffles in a Rectangular Channel
by Warin Keaitnukul, Pichit Kaewkosum, Amit Joshi, Sunil Chamoli, Monsak Pimsarn, Chinaruk Thianpong, Suriya Chokphoemphun, Arnut Phila and Smith Eiamsa-ard
Eng 2026, 7(7), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng7070339 - 10 Jul 2026
Viewed by 515
Abstract
This study investigates heat transfer enhancement in the cooling channels of gas turbine blade turbulators using modified transverse baffles with isosceles triangular sawtooth perforations. The proposed baffle design aims to improve convective heat transfer by promoting flow mixing and disrupting the thermal boundary [...] Read more.
This study investigates heat transfer enhancement in the cooling channels of gas turbine blade turbulators using modified transverse baffles with isosceles triangular sawtooth perforations. The proposed baffle design aims to improve convective heat transfer by promoting flow mixing and disrupting the thermal boundary layer. Experiments were conducted in a rectangular channel with an aspect ratio of 3.75 under constant heat flux conditions using air (Pr = 0.7) as the working fluid. The effects of Reynolds number (Re = 6000–24,000), sawtooth width ratio (a/W = 0.0, 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5), and sawtooth height ratio (b/e = 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0) were systematically investigated. The blockage ratio (e/H) and pitch ratio (P/H) were maintained at 0.3 and 1.5, respectively. Heat transfer characteristics were evaluated using the thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) technique, while thermal–hydraulic performance was assessed in terms of the Nusselt number (Nu), friction factor (f), and thermal performance factor (TPF). The results demonstrate that introducing sawtooth perforations significantly enhances heat transfer compared with a smooth channel, yielding Nusselt number ratios (Nu/Nus) between 1.6 and 2.6. The highest heat transfer enhancement was achieved at a/W = 0.0625 and b/e = 0.25, where the relatively small sawtooth openings generated stronger jet impingement, enhanced flow mixing, and more effective disruption of the thermal boundary layer. However, these geometric modifications also increased the pressure loss due to intensified flow blockage and recirculation, resulting in friction factor ratios (f/fs) ranging from 8.9 to 14.9. The maximum pressure-drop penalty occurred at b/e = 0.25 because the smaller openings produced stronger turbulence and increased flow resistance. Despite the increased friction loss, the optimum configuration (a/W = 0.0625 and b/e = 0.25) achieved the highest thermal performance factor of 1.2 at Re = 6000. Full article
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Review
Overview of Thermal Management System for Hydrogen-Fueled Aero-Engines Driven by Energy Conservation and Digital Intelligence
by Yiqiao Li, Jing Huang, Yang Xiao, Shanlin Liu, Yifei Chen, Luyuan Gong, Yali Guo and Shengqiang Shen
Machines 2026, 14(7), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines14070749 - 2 Jul 2026
Viewed by 527
Abstract
Under the background of the green transformation and energy conservation in the aviation field, hydrogen-fueled aero-engines are the primary direction for achieving sustainable aviation power development. However, the unique thermophysical properties of hydrogen fuel induce extreme thermal load challenges to engine thermal management. [...] Read more.
Under the background of the green transformation and energy conservation in the aviation field, hydrogen-fueled aero-engines are the primary direction for achieving sustainable aviation power development. However, the unique thermophysical properties of hydrogen fuel induce extreme thermal load challenges to engine thermal management. Based on the requirements of energy conservation and digital-intelligent technologies, this paper reviewed the recent research progress, important challenges, and future development directions in the thermal management field for hydrogen-fueled aero-engines, and filled the gaps in existing related reviews. (1) As for the liquid hydrogen thermal properties and thermal management requirements, the unique thermal physical properties of liquid hydrogen can easily cause fluctuations in heat load, large temperature differences, and material compatibility issues such as hydrogen embrittlement during storage, transportation, and combustion. The application of thermal barrier coatings, the design of targeted cooling structures, and the regulation of heat loss in the pipeline of the hydrogen supply system require particular attention. (2) As for the technical architecture and optimization of thermal management, the optimization of the high-pressure side manifolds in the cooled cooling air heat exchanger increases the flow uniformity by 18.8% and reduces the weight by 22.5%. The intercooled recuperated engine with the optimum area ratio reduces specific fuel consumption by 5.3% compared to the baseline engine in cruise. However, the system-level optimization research of the above widely recognized solutions is relatively limited in terms of coordinating the energy flow of engines. The baseline engine employed the method of system integration optimization to achieve a 2.99% increase in thrust and a 6.78% reduction in fuel consumption. (3) As for the thermal management modeling and simulation, the intelligent optimization method based on computational fluid dynamics reduces the pressure loss coefficient of the vane-integrated heat exchanger by 36%. Nevertheless, the multiphysics coupling model confronts a contradiction between computational cost and accuracy. (4) As for the comprehensive evaluation method, the advanced configuration of the hydrogen-fueled aero-engine can approximately reduce specific fuel consumption by 68.5% and NOx emission by 12.7% under the same maximum thrust condition. The hydrogen consumption of the proton exchange membrane fuel cells system model compared with the baseline system, optimized by the multi-objective optimization algorithm, has decreased by 15%, while the thermal uniformity has improved by 20–30%. However, the current evaluation system mostly focuses on a single dimension, lacking the analysis of nonlinear coupling among multiple factors and a closed-loop mechanism for evaluation, optimization, and verification. Future research should focus on the matching model of liquid hydrogen’s thermophysical properties and full flight conditions, global multi-energy flows optimization methods, multidimensional collaborative numerical simulation, multiphysics coupling models, and multidimensional comprehensive evaluation systems, to provide closed-loop theoretical support for the efficient, intelligent, and reliable thermal management system for hydrogen-fueled aero-engines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Machine Tools for Precision Machining: Design, Control and Prospects)
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