| 1. |
- Antón Remírez, Raúl, 1977-
(författare)
-
Experimental and numerical study of the thermal and hydraulic effect of EMC screens in radio base stations : detailed and compact models
- 2006
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Today’s telecommunication cabinets use Electro Magnetic Compliance (EMC) screens in order to reduce electromagnetic noise that can cause some miss functions in electronic equipment. Many radio base stations (RBSs) use a 90-degree building architecture: the flow inlet is perpendicular to the EMC screen, which creates a complex flow, with a 90-degree air turn, expansions, compressions, perforated plates and PCBs. It is of great interest to study how the EMC screen interacts with the rest of components and analyze the total pressure drop and how much the flow pattern changes due to the placement of the screen. Velocity, pressure and temperature measurements as well as flow pattern visualizations have been carried out to gain good insight into the flow and heat transfer characteristics in a subrack model of an RBS. Furthermore, these measurements have been very useful for validating detailed CFD models and evaluating several turbulence models. Nowadays, industrial competition has caused a substantial decrease in the time-to-market of products. This fact makes the use of compact models in the first stages of the design process of vital importance. Accurate and fast compact models can to a great extent decrease the time for design, and thus for production. Hence, to determine the correlations between the pressure drop and flow pattern on the PCBs as a function of the geometry and the Reynolds number, based on a detailed CFD parametric study, was one objective. Furthermore, the development of a compact model using a porous media approach (using two directional-loss coefficients) has been accomplished. Two correlations of these directional loss coefficients were found as a function of the geometry and Reynolds number.
|
|
| 2. |
- Anwar, Zahid, 1981-
(författare)
-
Flow boiling heat transfer, pressure drop and dryout characteristics of low GWP refrigerants in a vertical mini-channel
- 2014
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Two-phase heat transfer in mini/micro-channels is capable of meeting the high cooling demands of modern high heat flux applications. The phase change process ensures better temperature uniformity and control for local hot spots. Furthermore, these compact channels could be helpful in reducing the required charge and material inventories.Environmental concerns—mainly ozone depletion and global warming—have instigated a search for new alternatives in refrigeration industry. While new compounds are being developed to address stringent legislative demands, natural alternatives are also coming into prominence. A limited number of investigators have reported on thermal performance of such alternatives. The current study is therefore focused on saturated flow boiling heat transfer, pressure drop and dryout characteristics for three low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants (R152a, R600a and R1234yf) in a vertical mini-channel.In this study experiments were carried out by uniformly heating a test section (stainless steel tube with 1.60 mm inside diameter and 245 mm heated length) at 27 and 32 oC saturation temperature with 50-500 kg/m2s mass velocities. The effects of various parameters of interest (like heat flux, mass flux, system pressure, vapor quality, operating media) on flow boiling heat transfer, frictional pressure drop and dryout characteristics were recorded. R134a, which has been widely used in several applications, is utilized as a reference case for comparison of thermal performance in this study.Experimental results for saturated boiling heat transfer showed strong influence of heat flux and system pressure with insignificant contributions from mass flux and vapor quality. Two phase frictional pressure drop increased with mass flux, vapor quality and with reduced operating pressure. The dryout heat flux remained unaffected with variation in saturation temperature, critical vapor quality in most cases was about 85%. The experimental results (boiling heat transfer, two-phase pressure drop and dryout heat flux) were compared with well-known macro and micro-scale correlations from the literature.
|
|
| 3. |
- Arias, Jaime, 1957-
(författare)
-
Energy Usage in Supermarkets - Modelling and Field Measurements
- 2005
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis investigates a special type of energy system, namely energy use in supermarkets through modelling, simulations and field studies. A user-friendly computer program, CyberMart, which calculates the total energy performance of a supermarket, is presented. The modelling method described in this thesis has four phases: the first phase is the de-velopment of a conceptual model that includes its objectives, the envi-ronment and the components of the system, and their interconnections. The second phase is a quantitative model in which the ideas from the conceptual model are transformed into mathematical and physical rela-tionships. The third phase is an evaluation of the model with a sensitivity analysis of its predictions and comparisons between the computer model and results from field measurements. The fourth phase is the model ap-plication in which the computer model answers questions identified in the beginning of the modelling process as well as other questions arising throughout the work. Field measurements in seven different supermarkets in Sweden were car-ried out to: (i) investigate the most important parameters that influence energy performance in supermarkets, (ii) analyse the operation of new system designs with indirect system implementation in Sweden during recent years, and (iii) validate the computer model. A thorough sensitivity analysis shows a total sensitivity of 5.6 %, which is a satisfactory result given a 10% change in the majority of input parame-ters and assumptions, with the exception of outdoor temperatures and solar radiation that were calculated as extreme values in METEO-NORM. Comparisons between measurements and simulations in five supermarkets also show a good agreement. Measurements and simula-tion results for a whole year were not possible due to lack of data. CyberMart opens up perspectives for designers and engineers in the field by providing innovative opportunities for assessment and testing of new energy efficient measures but also for evaluation of different already-installed system designs and components. The implementation of new energy-saving technologies in supermarkets requires an extensive inte-grated analysis of the energy performances of the refrigeration system, HVAC system, lighting, equipment, and the total energy usage. This analysis should be done over a long period, to evaluate and compare the real energy performance with the theoretical values calculated by Cyber-Mart.
|
|
| 4. |
- Bekele, Getachew, 1958-
(författare)
-
Study into the Potential and Feasibility of a Standalone Solar-Wind Hybrid Electric Energy Supply System
- 2009
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The tendency to use renewable energy resources has grown continuouslyover the past few decades, be it due to fear over warnings of globalwarming or because of the depletion and short life of fossil fuels or evenas a result of the interest which has developed among researchers doingscientific research into it. This work can be considered as joining any ofthese groups with an objective of giving electric light to the poorpopulation living in one of the poorest nations in the world.The aim of the work is to investigate supplying electric energy fromsolar-wind hybrid resources to remotely located communities detachedfrom the main grid line in Ethiopia. The communities in mind are one oftwo types; the first is the majority of the poor population residing in thecountryside; and the other is people relocated by the Government fromthe over used and dry regions to relatively productive and fertile ones inline with the long-term poverty reduction plan.The work was begun by investigating wind energy and solar energypotentials at four geographically different locations in Ethiopia bycompiling data from different sources and analyzing it using a softwaretool. The locations are Addis Ababa (09:02N, 038:42E), Mekele (13:33N,39:30E), Nazret (08:32N, 039:22E), and Debrezeit (8:44N, 39:02E).The results related to wind energy potential are given in terms of themonthly Average wind speed, the wind speed probability densityfunction (PDF), the wind speed cumulative density function (CDF), thewind speed duration curve (DC), and power density plots for all fourselected sites. According to the results obtained through the analysis, thewind energy potential, even if it is not exceptional, is irrefutably highenough to be exploited for generating electric energy.The solar energy potential, based on sunshine duration data collectedover a period of 7 - 11 years and radiation data obtained from differentsources, has been calculated using regression coefficients specific to thesites in question. Based on the sunshine duration data, the monthlyaverage daily sunshine amount for each of the places has also beencomputed and given in a form of plot. Through additional work on theresults of the calculations, the solar energy potential has been given inthe form of solar radiation plots for each of the selected sites. Asexpected, the results indicated an abundance of solar energy potential.It is based on the promising findings of these two energy resourcepotentials, wind and solar, that the feasibility study for a standalonesolar-wind hybrid energy supply system has proceeded, targeting thecommunity mentioned earlier. The hybrid system consisted of Windturbine, Photovoltaic panel, diesel generator and a bank of batteries, witha power conditioning converter included in the system.The hybrid standalone supply system is intended to provide electricity toa model community of 200 families with five to six family members ineach. The community is equipped with a primary load, a deferrable load,a community school and a health post. An electric load which includeslighting, water pumping, a radio receiver, and some clinical equipmenthas been suggested. Hybrid Optimization Model for ElectricRenewables, HOMER, software has been used for the analysis. Theaverage wind speed and average solar radiation calculated from the datafor all of the selected sites has been used to input into the software.The hybrid system design is approached in three different ways. The firstapproach is to include within the hybrid system those components whichare locally available, without giving special attention to their efficienciesand proceed with the design work. The second approach is tothoroughly search the market for the best and most efficienttechnological products and to select the best components for theanalysis. A third approach considered in an attempt of cost minimizationis to see if a self-contained type of design can be a better solution. Whatthis means is every household will have its own supply system that mayconsist of any combination of PV and wind turbine including converter,battery and charge controller.After running the simulations, lists of power supply systems have beengenerated, sorted according to their net present cost. Sensitivity variables,such as range of wind speeds, range of radiation levels and diesel pricehave been defined as inputs into the software and the optimizationprocess has been carried out repeatedly for the sensitivity variables andthe results have been refined accordingly.
|
|
| 5. |
- Bitaraf Hgahighi, Ehsan, 1980-
(författare)
-
Single Phase Convective Heat Transfer with Nanofluids : An Experimental Approach
- 2015
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Nanofluids (NFs) are engineered colloids of nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed homogenously within base fluids (BFs). Due to the presence of NPs, the thermophysical and transport properties of BFs are subject to change. Existing technologies for cooling electronics seem to be insufficient and NFs, as reported in several studies, might offer a better alternative to liquid cooling. The main purpose of this study, by choosing a critical approach to existing knowledge in the literature, is to investigate experimentally the potential for replacing BFs with NFs in single–phase flow. Several NFs (mainly water based metal oxide NFs) were synthesised, and different experiments (including thermal conductivity, viscosity, heat transfer coefficient, and shelf stability) were performed.The thermal conductivity and the viscosity of several NFs were measured at both near room and elevated temperatures; the results are reported and compared with some correlations. It is shown that the Maxwell model for thermal conductivity and the modified Krieger–Dougherty model for viscosity can be used to predict these properties of NFs within ±10% error, even at elevated temperatures.A screening setup, including a test section with d = 0.5 mm and L = 30 cm, was designed for measuring the heat transfer performance of NFs in laminar flow. In addition a closed–loop setup with a 3.7 mm inner diameter and 1.5 m length test section was also designed to measure the heat transfer coefficients in both laminar and turbulent flow with higher accuracy. Based on the results, classical correlations for predicting Nusselt number and friction factor in a straight tube are still valid for NFs within ± (10 – 20)% error provided that the correct thermophysical properties are used for NFs.Different methods of comparing cooling performance of NFs to BFs are then investigated. Comparison at equal Reynolds number, the most popular method in the literature, is demonstrated both experimentally and analytically to be misleading. However, if the most correct criterion (at equal pumping power) is chosen, a small advantage for some NFs over their BFs should be expected only under laminar flow. The investigation concludes with the proposition of a unique method and apparatus to estimate the shelf stability of NFs.
|
|
| 6. |
- Björk, Erik, 1965-
(författare)
-
Energy Efficiency Improvements in Household Refrigeration Cooling Systems
- 2012
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis is based on eight articles all related to the characteristics of the cooling system and plate evaporator of a household refrigerator. Through these articles, knowledge is provided that can be used to increase the operational efficiency in household refrigeration. Papers A, B and C focus on heat transfer and pressure drop in a commonly used free convection evaporator – the plate evaporator. Applicable correlations are suggested on how to estimate the air side heat transfer, the refrigerant side pressure drop and the refrigerant side heat transfer. Papers D, E and F hold a unique experimental study of the refrigerant charge distribution in the cooling system at transient and steady state conditions. From this cyclic losses are identified and estimated and ways to overcome them are suggested. In paper G the topic “charging and throttling” is investigated in an unparalleled experimental study based on more than 600 data points at different quantities of charge and expansions device capacities. It results in recommendations on how to optimize the capillary tube length and the quantity of refrigerant charge. Finally, Paper H holds a thermographic study of the overall cooling system operating at transient conditions. Overall, a potential to lower the energy use by as much as 25 % was identified in the refrigerator studied. About 10 % was found on the evaporator’s air side. 1-2 % was identified as losses related to the edge effect of the evaporator plate. About 8 % was estimated to be cyclic losses. About 5 % was found in cycle length optimization. It is believed that most of these findings are of general interest for the whole field of household refrigeration even though the results come from one type of refrigerator. Suggestions of simple means to reduce the losses without increasing the unit price are provided within the thesis
|
|
| 7. |
- Bohdanowicz, Paulina
(författare)
-
A Study of Environmental Impacts, Environmental Awareness and Pro-Ecological Initiatives in the Hotel Industry
- 2003
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Throughout the millennia commercial lodging establishmentshave evolved to what is today known as the hospitalityindustry. Hotels constitute one of the main, and stillexpanding, pillars of this sector and are highly unique amongother commercial buildings. They are designed to providecomfort and services twenty-four/seven. The success of tourism,and indirectly the hotel industry, largely depends on theavailability of a clean natural environment. At the same time,the environment is the major recipient of negative impactscreated by the construction and operation of hotel facilities.For many years, the industry was very reluctant to admit itsinfluence on the natural surroundings, but recently attitudeshave started to change.An e-mail based survey of environmental attitudes has beenperformed among more than 4000 European hoteliers, yielding 610responses. A similar questionnaire has further been distributedamong the guests of chosen hotels resulting in 141 answers fromfour Scandinavian hotels. Surveys revealed that both Europeanhoteliers and Scandinavian hotel guests perceive theenvironment as an important factor in the development andsuccess of tourism. Hoteliers are typically aware that theirfacilities influence the natural surroundings, a view sharedalso by hotel patrons, although the magnitude of the impacts isoften underestimated. Hotel managers and staff do have acertain (though varying) level of environmental knowledge andare generally aware of measures that can be taken towardsgreater environmental responsibility.Despite the fear shared by many hoteliers, thatenvironmental practices may negatively affect customer comfortand satisfaction, more than 75% of hotel guests interviewedexpressed their support and willingness to participate in manysuch initiatives. As hotel patrons are gradually demanding“green alternatives”, hoteliers are becomingincreasingly motivated and willing to take steps towardsgreater environmental responsibility. Almost 25% of hotelguests interviewed declared their willingness to pay more foraccommodation in an eco-certified facility.More than 70% of hotels investigated have already introducedpro-ecological initiatives, primarily in the areas of energyand water conservation, as well as responsible wastemanagement. The areas targeted are typically those, which canyield company benefits in a relatively short time.The results of the survey confirmed that the possibility ofa significant decreaseof the operational costs, and theexistence of an obvious and continuous customer demand, maylikely prompt hoteliers to respond with greater environmentalresponsibility. There is undoubtedly a great need for enhancingof education and environmental awareness among hotelrepresentatives and the general public. Given its profile thehotel industry can indisputably become a significant venue ofsuch education by communicating its environmental commitment tocustomers and inter-related industries.Keywords:hotels, environmental impacts, mitigationmeasures, survey, hoteliers, hotel customers, environmentalattitudes, environmental awareness, pro-ecological activities,incentives.
|
|
| 8. |
- Bohdanowicz, Paulina, 1976-
(författare)
-
Responsible resource management in hotels : attitudes, indicators, tools and strategies
- 2006
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Hotels constitute one of the main, and still expanding, pillars of the tourism sector and are highly unique among other commercial buildings. Resource intensive and frequently inefficient systems and operational routines applied in the sector, result in considerable environmental impact and indicate an urgent need for more environmentally sound practices and products in the hotel industry. A certain level of activity in the area of reducing resource use has been observed for quite some time but the motivation for this was related to cost-benefit issues rather than the environment. Furthermore, most of the initiatives are still considered to be best practice case studies and not daily routines. The constantly increasing prices of basic commodities, such as energy resources and water, encourage the implementation of energy and water efficiency and conservation measures in hotel facilities. To this end, numerous guidelines and initiatives have been produced by hotel-related organisations. The study of attitudes among 610 European hoteliers indicated that, at the moment, the level of environmental awareness among hotel managers is not high enough to introduce significant changes, although attitudes differ depending on the country of origin and the corporate policy. The prospects of significant cost savings, as well as customer demand were identified as the most likely parameters to enhance environmental responsibility among hoteliers. The popularity of CSR reporting and sustainability indices, especially among the larger companies, leads the author to believe that the industry is preparing to change. Many of the companies running hotels are also reporting their environmental management goals and indicators of environmental performance, while benchmarking and all types of comparison league tables are gaining popularity. There is, however, no system or methodology of data collection and monitoring that is universally accepted or applicable throughout the hotel sector. Furthermore, the accuracy and validity of the published performance indicators and benchmarks is widely debated due to large variations in the figures reported. The analyses performed on data from over 180 upscale and mid-market European chain hotels (Hilton International and Scandic) indicated that even among relatively uniform (service-wise) hotels the amenities offered did influence consumption, further complicating the concept and applicability of uniform benchmarking and resource consumption modelling. It was thus concluded that, creating a uniform model for all hotels is almost impossible, or would require a significant amount of very detailed input data, and that the results could still be highly inaccurate. Instead, it was suggested that it might actually be more accurate to develop models for individual hotels. Such an approach would allow for the modelling of the behaviour of all types of hotels with no size, type of services or standard limitations. Multi-variate step-wise regression analyses performed on individual Scandic hotels in Sweden indicated that energy consumption was dependent on the outdoor air temperature/actual heating degree days, while water consumption was mainly influenced by the number of guest-nights sold. Experience gained by the author during the process of the Hilton Environmental Reporting system upgrade allowed for the formulation of a set of rules of thumb that ought to be followed in the design of similar schemes. The experience of various regions and numerous companies also suggests that well designed and implemented environmental and resource management programs bring significant benefits at an individual as well as a corporate level. This study provides an indication of the strategies that can be used by various stakeholders in the process of development and implementation of such programs. This research further suggests that future developments in environmental performance indicators and benchmarking may best be served by disaggregating hotels into modules (such as guest-rooms, catering outlets, conference centres) and developing consumption models and best practice indicators for these particular components. The individual efficiencies/performance indicators should then be combined and weighted to provide a just overall evaluation of a facility that could then be compared to a benchmark (developed in the same manner). In a similar manner, sustainability assessment schemes and indicators for destinations and communities could be developed. However, more accurate and differentiated knowledge of the individual performance of sub-systems is necessary to proceed with such an alternative. In addition, the methodologies for data collection and reporting procedures, at all levels of the company and sector, need to be standardized and detailed
|
|
| 9. |
- Chen, Jianyong, 1983-
(författare)
-
Investigation of Vapor Ejectors in Heat Driven Ejector Refrigeration Systems
- 2014
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Refrigeration systems, air-conditioning units and heat pumps have been recognized as indispensable machines in human life, and are used for e.g. food storage, provision of thermal comfort. These machines are dominated by the vapor compression refrigeration system and consume a large percentage of world-wide electricity output. Moreover, CO2 emissions related to the heating and cooling processes contribute significantly to the total amount of CO2 emission from energy use. The ejector refrigeration system (ERS) has been considered as a quite interesting system that can be driven by sustainable and renewable thermal energy, like solar energy, and low-grade waste heat, consequently, reducing the electricity use. The system has some other remarkable merits, such as being simple and reliable, having low initial and running cost with long lifetime, and providing the possibility of using environmentally-friendly refrigerants, which make it very attractive. The ERS has received extensive attention theoretically and experimentally.This thesis describes in-depth investigations of vapor ejectors in the ERS to discover more details. An ejector model is proposed to determine the system performance and obtain the required area ratio of the ejector by introducing three ejector efficiencies. Based on this ejector model, the characteristics of the vapor ejector and the ERS are investigated from different perspectives.The working fluid significantly influences the ejector behavior and system performance as well as the ejector design. No perfect working fluid that satisfies all the criteria of the ERS can be found. The performance of nine refrigerants has been parametrically compared in the ERS. Based on the slope of the vapor saturation curve in a T-s diagram, the working fluids can be divided into three categories: wet, dry and isentropic. A wet fluid has a negative slope of the vapor saturation curve in the T-s diagram. An isentropic expansion process from a saturated vapor state will make the state after the expansion to fall inside the liquid-vapor area of the T-s diagram which will result in droplet formation. Generally, an isentropic expansion for a dry fluid will not occur inside the liquid-vapor area, and consequently no droplets will form. An isentropic fluid has a vertical slope of the vapor saturation curve in the T-s diagram and an isentropic expansion process will hence follow the vapor saturation curve in the T-s diagram, ideally without any droplet formation. However, when the saturation condition is close to the critical point, it is possible that the isentropic expansion process of a dry fluid and an isentropic fluid occurs inside the liquid-vapor area of the T-s diagram, resulting in formation of droplets. In order to avoid droplet formation during the expansion, a minimum required superheat of the primary flow has been introduced before the nozzle inlet. Results show that the dry fluids have generally better performance than the wet fluids and the isentropic fluid. Hence the thesis mostly focuses on the features of vapor ejectors and the ERS using dry fluids.Exergy analysis has been proven to be very useful to identify the location, magnitude, and sources of exergy destruction and exergy loss, and to determine the possibilities of system performance improvement. This method is applied to the ejector and the ERS. The ejector parameters are closely interacting. The operating condition and the ejector area ratio have a great impact on the ejector overall efficiency and system COP. The ejector efficiencies are sensitive to the operating conditions, and they significantly influence the system performance. A so-called advanced exergy analysis is adopted to quantify the interactions among the ERS components and to evaluate the realistic potential of improvement. The results indicate that, at the studied operating condition, the ejector should have the highest priority to be improved, followed by the condenser, and then the generator.Thermoeconomics, which combines the thermodynamic analysis and economic principles, is applied to reveal new terms of interest of the ERS. The economic costs of the brine side fluids (fluids that supply heat to the generator and evaporator and remove heat from the condenser) play very essential roles in the thermoeconomic optimization of the ERS. Depending on different economic conditions, the system improvement from a thermodynamic point of view could be quite different from the thermoeconomic optimization. The ERS is economically sound when using free heat sources and heat sink.An ejector test bench has been built to test the entrainment ratio of different ejectors. Although the experiments do not achieve the desired results, they could still be discussed. The insignificant effect of the superheat of the secondary flow found in the theoretical study is validated. The assumption of neglecting the velocities at the ejector inlets and outlet are confirmed. The quantification of the ejector efficiencies shows that they largely depend on the operating conditions and the ejector dimensions.
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
