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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 2 March 2023

Kartik Venkatraman, Stéphane Moreau, Julien Christophe and Christophe Schram

The purpose of the paper is to predict the aerodynamic performance of a complete scale model H-Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) with end plates at different operating…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to predict the aerodynamic performance of a complete scale model H-Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) with end plates at different operating conditions. This paper aims at understanding the flow physics around a model VAWT for three different tip speed ratios corresponding to three different flow regimes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study achieves a first three-dimensional hybrid lattice Boltzmann method/very large eddy simulation (LBM-VLES) model for a complete scaled model VAWT with end plates and mast using the solver PowerFLOW. The power curve predicted from the numerical simulations is compared with the experimental data collected at Erlangen University. This study highlights the complexity of the turbulent flow features that are seen at three different operational regimes of the turbine using instantaneous flow structures, mean velocity, pressure iso-contours, blade loading and skin friction plots.

Findings

The power curve predicted using the LBM-VLES approach and setup provides a good overall match with the experimental power curve, with the peak and drop after the operational point being captured. Variable turbulent flow structures are seen over the azimuthal revolution that depends on the tip speed ratio (TSR). Significant dynamic stall structures are seen in the upwind phase and at the end of the downwind phase of rotation in the deep stall regime. Strong blade wake interactions and turbulent flow structures are seen inside the rotor at higher TSRs.

Research limitations/implications

The computational cost and time for such high-fidelity simulations using the LBM-VLES remains expensive. Each simulation requires around a week using supercomputing facilities. Further studies need to be performed to improve analytical VAWT models using inputs/calibration from high fidelity simulation databases. As a future work, the impact of turbulent and nonuniform inflow conditions that are more representative of a typical urban environment also needs to be investigated.

Practical implications

The LBM methodology is shown to be a reliable approach for VAWT power prediction. Dynamic stall and blade wake interactions reduce the aerodynamic performance of a VAWT. An ideal operation close to the peak of the power curve should be favored based on the local wind resource, as this point exhibits a smoother variation of forces improving operational performance. The 3D flow features also exhibit a significant wake asymmetry that could impact the optimal layout of VAWT clusters to increase their power density. The present work also highlights the importance of 3D simulations of the complete model including the support structures such as end plates and mast.

Social implications

Accurate predictions of power performance for Darrieus VAWTs could help in better siting of wind turbines thus improving return of investment and reducing levelized cost of energy. It could promote the development of onsite electricity generation, especially for industrial sites/urban areas and renew interest for VAWT wind farms.

Originality/value

A first high-fidelity simulation of a complete VAWT with end plates and supporting structures has been performed using the LBM approach and compared with experimental data. The 3D flow physics has been analyzed at different operating regimes of the turbine. These physical insights and prediction capabilities of this approach could be useful for commercial VAWT manufacturers.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 33 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 17 August 2021

Emanuele Quaranta, Toni Pujol and Maria Carmela Grano

The paper presents a techno-economic analysis of the electromechanical equipment of traditional vertical axis water mills (VAWMs) to help investors, mill owners and engineers to…

2077

Abstract

Purpose

The paper presents a techno-economic analysis of the electromechanical equipment of traditional vertical axis water mills (VAWMs) to help investors, mill owners and engineers to preliminary estimate related benefits and costs of a VAWM repowering.

Design/methodology/approach

Two sustainable repowering solutions were examined with the additional aim to preserve the original status and aesthetics of a VAWM: the use of a vertical axis water wheel (VAWW) and a vertical axis impulse turbine. The analysis was applied to a database of 714 VAWMs in Basilicata (Italy), with known head and flow.

Findings

Expeditious equations were proposed for both solutions to determine: (1) a suitable diameter as a function of the flow rate; (2) the costs of the electromechanical equipment; (3) achievable power. The common operating hydraulic range of a VAWM (head and flow) was also identified. Reality checks on the obtained results are shown, in particular by examining two Spanish case studies and the available literature. The power generated by the impulse turbine (Turgo type) is twice that of a VAWW, but it is one order of magnitude more expensive. Therefore, the impulse turbine should be used for higher power requirements (>3 kW), or when the electricity is delivered to the grid, maximizing the long-term profit.

Originality/value

Since there is not enough evidence about the achievable performance and cost of a VAWM repowering, this work provides expeditious tools for their evaluation.

Details

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, vol. 13 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-1266

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 31 January 2024

Kilian Fricke, Thomas Bergs, Philipp Ganser and Martin Seimann

The aviation industry has seen consistent growth over the past few decades. To maintain its sustainability and competitiveness, it is important to have a comprehensive…

Abstract

Purpose

The aviation industry has seen consistent growth over the past few decades. To maintain its sustainability and competitiveness, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of the environmental impacts across the entire life cycle of the industry, including materials, processes and resources; manufacturing and production; lifetime services; reuse; end-of-life; and recycling. One important component of aircraft engines, integral rotors known as Blisks, are made of high-value metallic alloys that require complex and resource-intensive manufacturing processes. The purpose of this paper is to assess the ecological and economical impacts generated through Blisk production and thereby identify significant ‘hot-spots’.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper focuses on the methodology and approach for conducting a full-scale Blisk life cycle assessment (LCA) based on ISO 14040/44. Unlike previous papers in the European Aerospace Science Network series, which focused on the first two stages of LCA, this publication delves into the “life cycle impact assessment” and “interpretation” stages, providing an overview of the life cycle inventory modeling, impact category selection and presenting preliminary LCA results for the Blisk manufacturing process chain.

Findings

The result shows that the milled titanium Blisk has a lower CO2 footprint than the milled nickel Blisk, which is less than half of the global warming potential (GWP) of the milled nickel Blisk. A main contributor to GWP arises from raw material production. However, no recycling scenarios were included in the analysis, which will be the topic of further investigations.

Originality/value

The originality of this work lies in the detailed ecological assessment of the manufacturing for complex engine components and the derivation of hot spots as well as potential improvements in terms of eco-footprint reduction throughout the products cradle-to-gate cycle. The LCA results serve as a basis for future approaches of process chain optimisation, use of “greener” materials and individual process improvements.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 96 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 5 May 2021

Chloé Joffre

The aim of this research paper is to design a motor holder in order to minimize the weight of the motor and to reduce its vibrations causing noise pollution.

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this research paper is to design a motor holder in order to minimize the weight of the motor and to reduce its vibrations causing noise pollution.

Design/methodology/approach

To meet the requirements of the purpose the use of cellular lattice structures is ideal. Lattice structures ensure both low mass and high strength. Moreover, their absorption properties are relatively interesting concerning the attenuation of vibrations.

Findings

The result of this paper shows that lattice structure can answer to the need of different fields such as aeronautics in the design of lightweight structures which are strong with a low mass. Indeed, the weight of the final structure of the holder is 0.92 g and its safety factor is 5.1 which met the requirements.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the research paper were the RAM capacity of the computer.

Social implications

To minimize the weight of the holder in a patroller or a plane is to reduce the consumption of fuel. Moreover one of the reasons of optimizing the vibrations is to reduce noise pollution.

Originality/value

This paper is directed to students, designers who want to know more about the use of lattice structure and more precisely honeycomb sandwich structure.

Details

Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing and Special Equipment, vol. 2 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2633-6596

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 10 June 2021

Jaeyoung Cha, Juyeol Yun and Ho-Yon Hwang

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and compare the performances of novel roadable personal air vehicle (PAV) concepts that meet established operational requirements with…

2077

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and compare the performances of novel roadable personal air vehicle (PAV) concepts that meet established operational requirements with different types of engines.

Design/methodology/approach

The vehicle configuration was devised considering the dimensions and operational restrictions of the roads, runways and parking lots in South Korea. A folding wing design was adopted for road operations and parking. The propulsion designs considered herein use gasoline, diesel and hybrid architectures for longer-range missions. The sizing point of the roadable PAV that minimizes the wing area was selected, and the rate of climb, ground roll distance, cruise speed and service ceiling requirements were met. For various engine types and mission profiles, the performances of differently sized PAVs were compared with respect to the MTOW, wing area, wing span, thrust-to-weight ratio, wing loading, power-to-weight ratio, brake horsepower and fuel efficiency.

Findings

Unlike automobiles, the weight penalty of the hybrid system because of the additional electrical components reduced the fuel efficiency considerably. When the four engine types were compared, matching the total engine system weight, the internal combustion (IC) engine PAVs had better fuel efficiency rates than the hybrid powered PAVs. Finally, a gasoline-powered PAV configuration was selected as the final design because it had the lowest MTOW, despite its slightly worse fuel efficiency compared to that of the diesel-powered engine.

Research limitations/implications

Although an electric aircraft powered only by batteries most capitalizes on the operating cost, noise and emissions benefits of electric propulsion, it also is most hampered by range limitations. Air traffic integration or any safety, and noise issues were not accounted in this study.

Practical implications

Aircraft sizing is a critical aspect of a system-level study because it is a prerequisite for most design and analysis activities, including those related to the internal layout as well as cost and system effectiveness analyses. The results of this study can be implemented to design a PAV.

Social implications

This study can contribute to the establishment of innovative PAV concepts that can alleviate today’s transportation problems.

Originality/value

This study compared the sizing results of PAVs with hybrid engines with those having IC engines.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 93 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 5 April 2024

Kai Rüdele, Matthias Wolf and Christian Ramsauer

Improving productivity and efficiency has always been crucial for industrial companies to remain competitive. In recent years, the topic of environmental impact has become…

Abstract

Purpose

Improving productivity and efficiency has always been crucial for industrial companies to remain competitive. In recent years, the topic of environmental impact has become increasingly important. Published research indicates that environmental and economic goals can enforce or rival each other. However, few papers have been published that address the interaction and integration of these two goals.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, we identify both, synergies and trade-offs based on a systematic review incorporating 66 publications issued between 1992 and 2021. We analyze, quantify and cluster examples of conjunctions of ecological and economic measures and thereby develop a framework for the combined improvement of performance and environmental compatibility.

Findings

Our findings indicate an increased significance of a combined consideration of these two dimensions of sustainability. We found that cases where enforcing synergies between economic and ecological effects were identified are by far more frequent than reports on trade-offs. For the individual categories, cost savings are uniformly considered as the most important economic aspect while, energy savings appear to be marginally more relevant than waste reduction in terms of environmental aspects.

Originality/value

No previous literature review provides a comparable graphical treatment of synergies and trade-offs between cost savings and ecological effects. For the first time, identified measures were classified in a 3 × 3 table considering type and principle.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 35 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 23 December 2021

Théo Laporte

Thus, in this work the goal is to design, simulate and optimise a holder of a brushless motor in lattice structure to get the best performance in terms of mechanical strength…

Abstract

Purpose

Thus, in this work the goal is to design, simulate and optimise a holder of a brushless motor in lattice structure to get the best performance in terms of mechanical strength, vibration absorption and lightness.

Design/methodology/approach

Nowadays, most manufacturers and designers' goal are to sell efficient products in mass to keep up or outrun competition. Medical, aeronautical, automobile and civil engineering sectors produce complex parts and products that encompasses multiple properties such as lightweight, energy absorbance, vibration reduction and stress resistant. Studies found that lattice structures are more and more useful in these fields since their characteristics satisfy complex behaviour.

Findings

The study's outcome suggests that the use of lattice structure reduces 60% of the actual motor holder mass while keeping the strength of the material, meeting initial specifications.

Research limitations/implications

The Ram capacity of the PC.

Practical implications

Light materials for aerospace engineering elongate the range of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to an extra range of flight.

Social implications

Situation awareness of the country border using surveillance drone and minimising the consumption of fuel.

Originality/value

The research allowed reducing 60% the actual holder mass.

Details

Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing and Special Equipment, vol. 3 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2633-6596

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 30 July 2021

Michał Ciałkowski, Aleksander Olejnik, Magda Joachimiak, Krzysztof Grysa and Andrzej Frąckowiak

To reduce the heat load of a gas turbine blade, its surface is covered with an outer layer of ceramics with high thermal resistance. The purpose of this paper is the selection of…

Abstract

Purpose

To reduce the heat load of a gas turbine blade, its surface is covered with an outer layer of ceramics with high thermal resistance. The purpose of this paper is the selection of ceramics with such a low heat conduction coefficient and thickness, so that the permissible metal temperature is not exceeded on the metal-ceramics interface due to the loss ofmechanical properties.

Design/methodology/approach

Therefore, for given temperature changes over time on the metal-ceramics interface, temperature changes over time on the inner side of the blade and the assumed initial temperature, the temperature change over time on the outer surface of the ceramics should be determined. The problem presented in this way is a Cauchy type problem. When analyzing the problem, it is taken into account that thermophysical properties of metal and ceramics may depend on temperature. Due to the thin layer of ceramics in relation to the wall thickness, the problem is considered in the area in the flat layer. Thus, a one-dimensional non-stationary heat flow is considered.

Findings

The range of stability of the Cauchy problem as a function of time step, thickness of ceramics and thermophysical properties of metal and ceramics are examined. The numerical computations also involved the influence of disturbances in the temperature on metal-ceramics interface on the solution to the inverse problem.

Practical implications

The computational model can be used to analyze the heat flow in gas turbine blades with thermal barrier.

Originality/value

A number of inverse problems of the type considered in the paper are presented in the literature. Inverse problems, especially those Cauchy-type, are ill-conditioned numerically, which means that a small change in the inputs may result in significant errors of the solution. In such a case, regularization of the inverse problem is needed. However, the Cauchy problem presented in the paper does not require regularization.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 32 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 19 March 2021

Dandan Qiu, Lei Luo, Zhiqi Zhao, Songtao Wang, Zhongqi Wang and Bengt Ake Sunden

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of film holes’ arrangements and jet Reynolds number on flow structure and heat transfer characteristics of jet impingement…

1183

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of film holes’ arrangements and jet Reynolds number on flow structure and heat transfer characteristics of jet impingement conjugated with film cooling in a semicylinder double wall channel.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerical simulations are used in this research. Streamlines on different sections, skin-friction lines, velocity, wall shear stress and turbulent kinetic energy contours near the concave target wall and vortices in the double channel are presented. Local Nusselt number contours and surface averaged Nusselt numbers are also obtained. Topology analysis is applied to further understand the fluid flow and is used in analyzing the heat transfer characteristics.

Findings

It is found that the arrangement of side films positioned far from the center jets helps to enhance the flow disturbance and heat transfer behind the film holes. The heat transfer uniformity for the case of 55° films arrangement angle is most improved and the thermal performance is the highest in this study.

Originality/value

The film holes’ arrangements effects on fluid flow and heat transfer in an impingement cooled concave channel are conducted. The flow structures in the channel and flow characteristics near target by topology pictures are first obtained for the confined film cooled impingement cases. The heat transfer distributions are analyzed with the flow characteristics. The highest heat transfer uniformity and thermal performance situation is obtained in present work.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 31 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 2 November 2023

H.A. Kumara Swamy, Sankar Mani, N. Keerthi Reddy and Younghae Do

One of the major challenges in the design of thermal equipment is to minimize the entropy production and enhance the thermal dissipation rate for improving energy efficiency of…

Abstract

Purpose

One of the major challenges in the design of thermal equipment is to minimize the entropy production and enhance the thermal dissipation rate for improving energy efficiency of the devices. In several industrial applications, the structure of thermal device is cylindrical shape. In this regard, this paper aims to explore the impact of isothermal cylindrical solid block on nanofluid (Ag – H2O) convective flow and entropy generation in a cylindrical annular chamber subjected to different thermal conditions. Furthermore, the present study also addresses the structural impact of cylindrical solid block placed at the center of annular domain.

Design/methodology/approach

The alternating direction implicit and successive over relaxation techniques are used in the current investigation to solve the coupled partial differential equations. Furthermore, estimation of average Nusselt number and total entropy generation involves integration and is achieved by Simpson and Trapezoidal’s rules, respectively. Mesh independence checks have been carried out to ensure the accuracy of numerical results.

Findings

Computations have been performed to analyze the simultaneous multiple influences, such as different thermal conditions, size and aspect ratio of the hot obstacle, Rayleigh number and nanoparticle shape on buoyancy-driven nanoliquid movement, heat dissipation, irreversibility distribution, cup-mixing temperature and performance evaluation criteria in an annular chamber. The computational results reveal that the nanoparticle shape and obstacle size produce conducive situation for increasing system’s thermal efficiency. Furthermore, utilization of nonspherical shaped nanoparticles enhances the heat transfer rate with minimum entropy generation in the enclosure. Also, greater performance evaluation criteria has been noticed for larger obstacle for both uniform and nonuniform heating.

Research limitations/implications

The current numerical investigation can be extended to further explore the thermal performance with different positions of solid obstacle, inclination angles, by applying Lorentz force, internal heat generation and so on numerically or experimentally.

Originality/value

A pioneering numerical investigation on the structural influence of hot solid block on the convective nanofluid flow, energy transport and entropy production in an annular space has been analyzed. The results in the present study are novel, related to various modern industrial applications. These results could be used as a firsthand information for the design engineers to obtain highly efficient thermal systems.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

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