• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.29-45
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• 2016

There has been a growing interest in the recent time for the development of solar power tower plants, which are mainly used for utility scale power generation. Combined heat and power (CHP) is an efficient and clean approach to generate electric power and useful thermal energy from a single heat source. The waste heat from the topping Brayton cycle is utilized in the bottoming HRSG cycle for driving steam turbine and also to produce process steam so that efficiency of the cycle is increased. A thermal storage system is likely to add greater reliability to such plants, providing power even during non-peak sunshine hours. This paper presents a conceptual configuration of a solar power tower combined heat and power plant with a topping air Brayton cycle. A simple downstream Rankine cycle with a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and a process heater have been considered for integration with the solar Brayton cycle. The conventional GT combustion chamber is replaced with a solar receiver. The combined cycle has been analyzed using energy as well as exergy methods for a range of pressure ratio across the GT block. From the thermodynamic analysis, it is found that such an integrated system would give a maximum total power (2.37 MW) at a much lower pressure ratio (5) with an overall efficiency exceeding 27%. The solar receiver and heliostats are the main components responsible for exergy destruction. However, exergetic performance of the components is found to improve at higher pressure ratio of the GT block.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2012

Pavement management systems require systematic monitoring of pavement surfaces to determine preventive and corrective maintenance. The process involves the accumulation of large amounts of visual data, typically obtained from site visitation. The pavement surface condition is then correlated to a pavement distress index that is based on a scoring system previously established by state or federal agencies. The scoring system determines if the pavement section requires maintenance, overlay or reconstruction. One of the surface distresses forming part of the overall pavement distress index is the Alligator Crack Index (AC Index). The AC Index involves the visual evaluation of the crack severity of a section of a pavement as being low, medium, or high. This evaluation is then integrated into a formula in order to obtain the AC Index. In this study a quantification of the visual evaluation of the severity of alligator cracking is carried out using photographs and the fractal dimension concept from fractal theory. Pavements with low levels of cracking were found to have a fractal dimension equal to 1.051. Pavements with moderate levels of cracking had a fractal dimension equal to 1.1754. Pavements with high degrees of cracking had a fractal dimension that varied between 1.5037 (high) and 1.7111 (very high). Pavements with a level of cracking equal to 1.8976 represented pavements that disintegrated and developed potholes. Thus, the visual evaluation of the state of cracking of a pavement (the AC Index) could be enhanced with the use of the fractal dimension concept from fractal theory.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 2019

Rows of closely adjacent buildings with similar dynamic characteristics are common building arrangements in residential areas. In this paper, we present a vibration control strategy for the seismic protection of this kind of multibuilding systems. The proposed approach uses an advanced Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) computational procedure to carry out the integrated design of distributed multiactuation schemes that combine interbuilding linking devices with interstory actuators implemented at different levels of the buildings. The controller designs are formulated as static output-feedback H-infinity control problems that include the interstory drifts, interbuilding approachings and control efforts as controlled-output variables. The advantages of the LMI computational procedure are also exploited to design a fully-decentralized velocity-feedback controller, which can define a passive control system with high-performance characteristics. The main ideas are presented by means of a system of three adjacent five-story identical buildings, and a proper set of numerical simulations are conducted to demonstrate the behavior of the different control configurations. The obtained results indicate that interstory-interbuilding multiactuation schemes can be used to design effective vibration control systems for adjacent buildings with similar dynamic characteristics. Specifically, this kind of control systems is able to mitigate the vibrational response of the individual buildings while maintaining reduced levels of pounding risk.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.373-384
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• 2024

In this study, a novel mountain train system was developed that can run along a steep gradient of 180 ‰ and sharp curve with a minimum radius of 10 m. For this novel mountain train, an embedded precast concrete rack rail track was implemented to share the track with an automobile road and increase constructability in mountainous regions. The embedded rack rail track is connected to a hydraulically stabilized base (HSB) layer with shear anchors, which must have sufficient longitudinal resistance because they bear most of the traction forces originated from the rack rail and longitudinal loads owing to the steep gradient. In addition, the damage to the shear anchor parts, including the surrounding concrete, must be strictly limited under the service load because the maintenance of shear anchors inside the track is extremely difficult after installation. In this study, the focus was made on the shear anchor behavior and design an embedded rack rail track, considering the serviceability and ultimate limit states. Accordingly, the design loads for mountain trains were established, and the serviceability criteria of the anchor were proposed. Subsequently, the resistance and damage of the shear anchors were evaluated and analyzed based on the results of several finite element analyses. Finally, the design method of the shear anchors for the embedded rack rail track was established and verified.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2013

This study designs and tests a photovoltaic system with distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) methodology using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) controller. Each solar panel in the distributed PV system is equipped with a newly designed DC/DC converter and the panel's voltage output is regulated by a FPGA controller using PI control. Power from each solar panel on the system is optimized by another controller where the quadratic maximization MPPT algorithm is used to ensure the panel's output power is always maximized. Experiments are carried out at atmospheric insolation with partial shading conditions using 4 amorphous silicon thin film solar panels of 2 different grades fabricated by Chi-Mei Energy. It is found that distributed MPPT requires only 100ms to find the maximum power point of the system. Compared with the traditional centralized PV (CPV) system, the distributed PV (DPV) system harvests more than 4% of solar energy in atmospheric weather condition, and 22% in average under 19% partial shading of one solar panel in the system. Test results for a 1.84 kW rated system composed by 8 poly-Si PV panels using another DC/DC converter design also confirm that the proposed system can be easily implemented into a larger PV power system. Additionally, the use of NI sbRIO-9642 FPGA-based controller is capable of controlling over 16 sets of PV modules, and a number of controllers can cooperate via the network if needed.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.67-84
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• 2020

Given the recent surge of interest towards utilization of renewable distributed energy resources (DER), in particular in remote areas, this paper aims at designing an optimal hybrid system in order to supply loads of a village located in Esfarayen, North Khorasan, Iran. This paper illustrates the optimal design procedure of a standalone hybrid system which consists of Wind Turbine Generator (WTG), Photo Voltaic (PV), Diesel-generator, and Battery denoting as the Energy Storage System (ESS). The WTGs and PVs are considered as the main producers since the site's ambient conditions are suitable for such producers. Moreover, batteries are employed to smooth out the variable outputs of these renewable resources. To this end, whenever the available power generation is higher than the demanded amount, the excess energy will be stored in ESS to be injected into the system in the time of insufficient power generation. Since the standalone system is assumed to have no connection to the upstream network, it must be able to supply the loads without any load curtailment. In this regard, a Diesel-Generator can also be integrated to achieve zero loss of load. The optimal hybrid system design problem is a discrete optimization problem that is solved, here, by means of a recently-introduced meta-heuristic optimization algorithm known as Lightning Attachment Procedure Optimization (LAPO). The results are compared to those of some other methods and discussed in detail. The results also show that the total cost of the designed stand-alone system in 25 years is around 92M€ which is much less than the grid-connected system with the total cost of 205M€. In summary, the obtained simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the utilized optimization algorithm in finding the best results, and the designed hybrid system in serving the remote loads.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.257-273
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• 2013

Top tensioned riser (TTR) is often used in a floating oil/gas production system deployed in deep water for oil/gas transport. This study focuses on the extension of the existing numerical code, known as CABLE3D, to allow for static and dynamic simulation of a TTR connected to a floating structure through a tensioner system or buoyancy can, and restrained by riser guides at different elevations. A tensioner system usually consists of three to six cylindrical tensioners. Although the stiffness of individual tensioner is assumed to be linear, the resultant stiffness of a tensioner system may be nonlinear. The vertical friction between a TTR and the hull at its riser guide is neglected assuming rollers are installed there. Near the water surface, a TTR is forced to move horizontally due to the motion of the upper deck of a floating structure as well as related riser guides. The extended CABLE3D is then integrated into a numerical code, known as COUPLE, for the simulation of the dynamic interaction among the hull of a floating structure, such as spar or TLP, its mooring system and riser system under the impact of wind, current and waves. To demonstrate the application of the extended CABLE3D and its integration with COUPLE, the numerical simulation is made for a truss spar under the impact of Hurricane "Ike". The mooring system of the spar consists of nine mooring lines and the riser system consists of six TTRs and two steel catenary risers (SCRs).

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.124-133
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• 1998

This paper describes a research work of developing a computer-aided design of blanking and piercing for irregular-shaped sheet metal products. An approach to the development of compact and practical CAB system is based on the knowledge-based rules. Knowledge for the CAD system is formulated from plasticity theories, experimental results and the empirical knowledge of field experts. The system has been written in AutoLISP on the AutoCAD with a personal computer. Based on knowledge-based rules, the system, STRT-DES, is designed by considering several factors, such as complexities of blank geometry and punch profile, availability of press equipment and standard parts, utilization ratio which minimizes the scrap in a single or a pairwise operation, bridge width, grain orientation and design requirements which maximize the strength of the part when subsequent bending is involved. This system checks a forming feasibility with both internal and external features, a dimension of blanked hole, and a corner and a fillet radius for irregualrly shaped sheet metal products. Therefore this system can carry out a die design for each process which is obtained from results of an automated blank layout drawing with a best utilization ratio for irregular shape of product that was successful in production feasibility check module and those of an automated strip layout drawing and generate part drawings and the assembly drawing of die set in graphic forms.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.35
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• pp.181-210
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• 2006

This frame analysis attempts to shed light on the process by which the Korean press constructs crisis as social reality through a series of risk reporting on food safety. Based on the FSSI(Food Safety Sentiment Index) developed by KIHASA(Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs), 11 cases of food safety reports from 1989 to 2005 were collected from the Korean Integrated News Database System(KINDS) and analyzed to yield the following salient features: risk diffusion frame; attribution of responsibility frame; conflict frame. It was observed that the press exhibited a tendency to approach the food safety incidents from a bi-polarized perspective, amplifying dichotomy between the victim and the perpetrator rather than treating them as scientific, or environmental hazards that require precise and synthesized information for resolution. This occupational habit of attributing status to agents of news was also found to contribute towards construction of crisis as social reality.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.383-399
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• 2015

Today, as railways increase their capacity and speeds, it is more important than ever to be completely aware of the state of vehicles fleet's condition to ensure the highest quality and safety standards, as well as being able to maintain the costs as low as possible. Operation of a modern, dynamic and efficient railway demands a real time, accurate and reliable evaluation of the infrastructure assets, including signal networks and diagnostic systems able to acquire functional parameters. In the conventional system, measurement data are reliably collected using coaxial wires for communication between sensors and the repository. As sensors grow in size, the cost of the monitoring system can grow. Recently, auto-powered wireless sensor has been considered as an alternative tool for economical and accurate realization of structural health monitoring system, being provided by the following essential features: on-board micro-processor, sensing capability, wireless communication, auto-powered battery, and low cost. In this work, an original harvester device is designed to supply wireless sensor system battery using train bogie energy. Piezoelectric materials have in here considered due to their established ability to directly convert applied strain energy into usable electric energy and their relatively simple modelling into an integrated system. The mechanical and electrical properties of the system are studied according to the project specifications. The numerical formulation is implemented with in-house code using commercial software tool and then experimentally validated through a proof of concept setup using an excitation signal by a real application scenario.