Search Results (12)

This study investigated the impacts of diverse aeration processes (continuous aeration vs. intermittent aeration) and aeration rates on the aerobic composting process. The key properties examined include temperature, oxygen dynamics, lignocellulose degradation, humification, and the functional potential of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) based on metagenomic analysis. Among all the treatments, continuous aeration at a low rate (CA_1.5) attained the highest level of lignocellulose degradation by balancing the thermophilic duration and oxygen supply. Conversely, intermittent aeration (IA_3) led to superior humus stabilization, with the ratio of humic acid to fulvic acid (H/F) increasing by 118.45% in comparison to the initial level. Low total ventilation in CA_1.5 and IA_3 facilitated an increase in the abundance of glycosyl transferases (GTs) genes. Notably, intermittent aeration (IA_3) synergistically augmented the activities of glycoside hydrolases (GHs) and GTs, propelling the efficient conversion of lignocellulose into stable humic substances. In conclusion, the aeration process influenced the functional potential of microbial CAZymes, thus exerting an influence on both the composting efficiency and the quality of the final product. Full article

As the environmental regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) become more stringent, the accurate prediction of ship propulsion performance has become essential. Under ballast conditions where the draft is shallow, the propeller approaches the free surface, causing complex phenomena such as ventilation and surface piercing, which reduce propulsion efficiency. The conventional virtual disk (VD) method cannot adequately capture these free-surface effects, leading to deviations from model propeller results. To resolve this, a correction formula that accounts for the advance ratio (J) and submergence ratio ($h/D$) has been proposed in previous studies. In this study, the correction formula was simplified and implemented in a CFD environment using a field function, enabling dynamic adjustment of body force based on time-varying submergence depth. A comparative analysis was conducted between the conventional VD, modified VD, and model propeller using POW and self-propulsion simulations for an MR tanker and SP598M propeller. The improved method was validated in calm and regular wave conditions. The results showed that the modified VD method closely matched the performance trends of the model propeller, especially in free surface-interference conditions (e.g., $h/D$ < 0.5). Furthermore, additional validations in wave-induced self-propulsion confirmed that the modified VD method accurately reproduced the reductions in wake fraction and thrust deduction coefficient, unlike the overestimations observed with the conventional VD. These results demonstrate that the modified VD method can reliably predict propulsion performance under real sea states and serve as a practical tool in the early design stage. Full article

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the urgent need for the rapid deployment of healthcare facilities propelled the rise of modular construction using an infill approach. In these modular, negative-pressure wards, the design of indoor airflow and pressure plays a crucial role in meeting the ventilation strategies required for isolation facilities. Accordingly, this paper focuses on modular negative-pressure wards employing an infill construction method and proposes an appropriate spatial pressure distribution to address the problem of air tightness degradation due to leakage. This study analyzed the indoor airflow and pressure distribution of a unit module corresponding to an infill. It aimed to examine whether the pressure difference with the adjacent room is maintained and to assess its effectiveness in isolating contaminated air. First, the airflow rate of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in the unit module was calculated to ensure that it would meet the performance criteria of the negative-pressure ward. Afterward, based on the calculated rate, the study assessed the airflow and room-specific pressure within a typical floor, encompassing both the unit module and associated nursing support facilities. Here, the airflow in the external corridor of the typical floor was divided into two cases according to the pressure distribution: negative pressure and atmospheric pressure. The calculation results were compared using a computational fluid dynamics tool. The analysis results confirm that the air isolation performance is adequate as the pressure difference between adjacent rooms in the unit module and the typical floor was maintained at 2.5 Pa. Additionally, the indoor airflow in the negative-pressure isolation room formed a stable flow at a slow speed of 0.1–0.2 m/s, minimizing the possibility of air contamination from outside the isolation room. In particular, Case B of the typical floor design proposes a method to optimize the pressure distribution in the modular negative-pressure ward by designing the ventilation flow rate at atmospheric pressure level. Thus, this study emphasizes that atmospheric pressure design is appropriate when designing pressure in areas where negative-pressure control is difficult and can contribute to the design and improvement of similar medical facilities in the future. Full article

In a high-temperature test of the gas generator with a free-loading composite propellant, an abnormal jitter appeared in the latter part of the internal ballistic curve, whereas no such abnormality was observed in the low-temperature and normal-temperature tests. To investigate the cause, quasi-steady-state simulations of the internal flow field, as well as strength and buckling simulations of the grain, were conducted. The strength simulation revealed that the maximum stress experienced by the composite propellant during operation at 323 K is 0.7 MPa, which is lower than the ultimate stress of the grain (1.01 MPa), indicating no stress failure. The buckling simulation demonstrated that the instability arises from an imbalance of pressure on the inner and outer surfaces of the grain. In the original structure, the ventilation effect on each surface of the grain varied with the regression of the burning surface, leading to a pressure imbalance on the inner and outer surfaces of the composite propellant. Consequently, a non-ablative cladding layer was applied to ensure that the ventilation effect of each channel remains constant. The simulation demonstrated that the pressure on the surfaces of the composite propellant gradually balanced with the operation of the gas generator. Upon retesting at high temperatures, no abnormal jitter was observed in the internal ballistic curve. This indicates that maintaining a constant ventilation area for the combustion chamber and preventing changes in the ventilation effect can ensure the structural integrity of the composite propellant during operation. The working state of the composite propellant with this non-ablative cladding layer is not affected by variations in the design of the solid rocket motor. This approach enhances the adaptability and reliability of the free-loading composite propellant under different motor structures. Full article

Even though the cycloidal rotor concept has been around for almost a century, it is still not as popular as it should be. Most often it is used to propel unmanned aerial vehicles or sea-going ships, or it is applied as a river- or sea-energy converter. Despite the possibility of directing the flow by changing the inclination angle of blades and the possibility of working in both directions, there are no scientific studies on the use of the concept in HVAC (heat, ventilation and air conditioning). One of the most important elements characterizing the operation of the cycloidal rotor is the cycloidal function describing the change in the angles of the blades during rotation. To properly design a cycloidal rotor for a preferred application, an analysis of the rotor geometrical parameters must be performed and analyzed. This was performed on a four-blade rotor equipped with CLARK Y blades. Using Ansys CFX software, a CFD model of a fan operating with various cycloidal functions was created. The results were compared with the experimental data with the use of the LDA technique. Different velocity profiles were obtained despite the use of cycloidal functions with similar waveforms and small angular differences. This is due to the considerable sensitivity of the cycloidal regulation system to differences in the geometrical sizes that describe it. Full article

Limited navigation depth, especially on inland waterways, is one of the main limiting factors that shorten the navigation period. Distributed propulsion systems represent an opportunity to increase the navigability of ships across critical sections of waterways characterized by limited navigation depth. In the case of distributed propulsion systems, it is necessary to examine the position of the propellers and their efficiency, suitable design, and interaction with the surroundings. In this study, self-propelled propulsion units located on the side of the ship are investigated at the level of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses. Seven different types of ducts are considered for the proposed propeller geometry in order to ensure the necessary water supply, to prevent air intake, and to ensure high performance in the serial arrangement of propulsors on the side of the hull. Comparative analyses have shown that propulsion units with Ducts 5 and 6 have sufficient resistance to ventilation at a limited depth and deliver acceptable performance at low inflow and outflow rates. This feature is important in serial configurations, which confirms previous research on this issue. Performance can be further increased by reducing the duct resistance at higher speeds. Full article

It is necessary to switch the control strategies for propulsion system frequently according to the changes of sea states in order to ensure the stability and safety of the navigation. Therefore, identifying the current sea state timely and effectively is of great significance to ensure ship safety. To this end, a reasoning model that is based on maximum likelihood evidential reasoning (MAKER) rule is developed to identify the propeller ventilation type, and the result is used as the basis for the sea states identification. Firstly, a data-driven MAKER model is constructed, which fully considers the interdependence between the input features. Secondly, the genetic algorithm (GA) is used to optimize the parameters of the MAKER model in order to improve the evaluation accuracy. Finally, a simulation is built to obtain experimental data to train the MAKER model, and the validity of the model is verified. The results show that the intelligent sea state identification model that is based on the MAKER rule can identify the propeller ventilation type more accurately, and finally realize intelligent identification of sea states. Full article

This paper presents experimental and theoretical studies on the dynamic effect on the propeller loading due to ventilation by using a simulation model that generates a time domain solution for propeller forces in varying operational conditions. For ventilation modeling, the simulation model applies a formula based on the idea that the change in lift coefficient due to ventilation computes the change in the thrust coefficient. It is discussed how dynamic effects, like hysteresis effects and blade frequency dynamics, can be included in the simulation model. Simulation model validation was completed by comparison with CFD (computational fluid dynamics) calculations and model experiments. Experiments were performed for static and dynamic (heave motion) conditions in the large towing tank at the SINTEF Ocean in Trondheim and in the Marine Cybernetics Laboratories at NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology). The main focus of this paper is to explain and validate the prediction model for thrust loss due to ventilation and out of water effects in static and dynamic heave conditions. Full article

When a planing boat sails at the free surface, the posture changes drastically with time, so the surface piercing propellers usually work in oblique flow. In this paper, numerical simulations are performed to predict the performance of PSP-841B with Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) method coupling with sliding mesh and volume of fluid (VOF) method. The results show that the predicted thrust and torque coefficients of PSP-841B are in good agreement with the experimental data. It proves the present numerical schemes are feasible and validated. These schemes are applied in the simulations of SPP-1 that is installed to a planing craft. In oblique flow, the ventilation volume of SPP-1 increases dramatically, resulting in the postponed transition of vented status that changes from the fully dry to partially wetted; at the low advance ratios, the thrust and torque coefficients are less than that in the horizontal case. As the advance speed increases, the vented mode of SPP-1 varies from full ventilation to partially wet, and the forces and moments get closer to the results in the horizontal flow. In addition, the blockage effect of air cavity to the inflow in oblique flow is more significant than the results in the horizontal case. Full article

Under the condition of large water immersion, surface-piercing propellers are inclined to be heavy loaded. In order to improve the hydrodynamic performance of the surface-piercing propeller, the installation of a vent pipe in front of a propeller disc is more widely used in the propulsion device of high speed planning crafts. Based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, this paper studied the influence of diverse vent pipe diameters on hydrodynamic performance of the surface-piercing propeller under full water immersion conditions. The numerical results show that, with the increase of vent pipe diameters, the thrust and torque of the surface-piercing propeller decrease after ventilation, and the efficiency of the propeller increases rapidly; the low pressure area near the back root of the blade becomes smaller and smaller gradually; and the peak of periodic vibration of thrust and torque can be effectively reduced. The numerical results demonstrate that the installation of artificial vent pipe effectively improves the hydrodynamic performance of surface piercing propeller in the field of high speed crafts, and the increase of artificial vent pipe diameter plays an active role in the propulsion efficiency of the surface-piercing propeller. Full article

This work proposes to adapt an existing sensor and embed it on mannequins used in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training to accurately measure the amount of air supplied to the lungs during ventilation. The proposed sensor consists of measuring the airflow using propellers. The method directly measures the variable of interest and makes reference to spirometric techniques in the elaboration of its model, improving the realism of the dummies. Besides advantages over the sensors that are commonly used for this purpose, the projected sensor presented an agreement with its theoretical model and with the spirometric model. It is suitable for applications with a resolution of 17 mL, and precision of 50 mL and 26 mL for initial (< 900 mL) and final ranges, respectively. Full article

When operated under large water immersion, surface piercing propellers are prone to be in heavy load conditions. To improve the hydrodynamic performance of the surface piercing propellers, engineers usually artificially ventilate the blades by equipping a vent pipe in front of the propeller disc. In this paper, the influence of artificial ventilation on the hydrodynamic performance of surface piercing propellers under full immersion conditions was investigated using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. The numerical results suggest that the effect of artificial ventilation on the pressure distribution on the blades decreases along the radial direction. And at low advancing speed, the thrust, torque as well as the efficiency of the propeller are smaller than those without ventilation. However, with the increase of the advancing speed, the efficiency of the propeller rapidly increases and can be greater than the without-ventilation case. The numerical results demonstrates the effectiveness of the artificial ventilation approach for improving the hydrodynamic performance of the surface piercing propellers for high speed planning crafts. Full article