• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1801-1811
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• 2003

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of air-side fouling and cleaning on the performances of various condenser coils used in unitary air-conditioning systems. A total of six condenser coils with different fin geometry and row number were tested. Performance tests were performed at three different conditions: clean-as-received, after fouling, and after cleaning. In all cases, it was observed that the fouling was mostly confined to the frontal face of the heat exchanger as reported in the previous investigations. The amount of deposited dust was more dependent on fin geometry for the single-row heat exchangers than for the double-row heat exchangers. The predominant effect of fouling was to cause a more significant increase in air-side pressure drop than a degradation in heat transfer performance. For the single-row heat exchangers, the pressure drop increased by 28 to 31%, while the heat transfer performance decreased by 7 to 12% at the standard air face velocity of 1.53 m/s depending on fin shape. For the double-row heat exchangers, the pressure drop increased by 22 to 37%, and heat transfer performance decreased by only 4-5% at the same air face velocity. Once the contaminated coils were cleaned according to the given cleaning procedure the original performance of the heat exchangers could almost be recovered completely. The pressure drop could be restored within 1 to 7% and the heat transfer performance could be recovered to within 1 to 5% of the originally clean heat exchangers. Therefore, it is concluded that a periodic application of the specified cleaning technique will be effective in maintaining the thermal performance of the condenser coils.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.185-190
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• 2022

Among the operating limits of a heat pipe, the capillary limit is significantly affected by the characteristics of the wick, which is determined by the capillary performance. The major parameters for determining capillary performance are the maximum capillary pressure and the spreading characteristics that can be expected through the wick. A well-designed wick structure improves capillary performance and helps improve the stability of the heat pipe by enhancing the capillary limit. The capillary performance can be improved by forming a porous microstructure on the surface of the wick structure through surface modification techniques. In this study, a microstructure is formed on the surface of the wick by using a surface modification method (i.e., an electrochemical etching process). In the experiment, specimens are prepared using stainless-steel screen mesh wicks with various fabrication conditions. In addition, the spreading and capillary rise performances are observed with low-surface-tension fluid to quantify the capillary performance. In the experiments, the capillary performance, such as spreading characteristics, maximum capillary pressure, and capillary rise rate, improves in the specimens with microstructures formed through surface modification compared with the specimens without microstructures on the surface. The improved capillary performance can have a positive effect on the capillary limit of the heat pipe. It is believed that the surface microstructures can enhance the operational stability of heat pipes.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.287-295
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• 2004

A performance simulator for the fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle (FCHEV) is developed to evaluate the potentials of hybridization for fuel cell electric vehicle. Dynamic models of FCHEV's electric powertrain components such as fuel cell stack, battery, traction motor, DC/DC converter, etc. are obtained by modular approach using MATLAB SIMULINK. In addition, a thermodynamic model of the fuel cell is introduced using bondgraph to investigate the temperature effect on the vehicle performance. It is found from the simulation results that the hybridization of fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) provides better hydrogen fuel economy especially in the city driving owing to the braking energy recuperation and relatively high efficiency operation of the fuel cell. It is also found from the thermodynamic simulation of the FCEV that the fuel economy and acceleration performance are affected by the temperature due to the relatively low efficiency and reduced output power of the fuel cell stack at low temperature.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.2731-2743
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• 1996

When modeling error is large of plant is time-varying, it is hard to obtain good robust performance and robust stability by conventional contorl methods. Here, we need to design a robust controller bearing modeling error. In this paper, based on recently developed Time Delay Control(TDC) and Disturbance Observer the output feedback Robust Disturbance Observer(RDO), which is easily combined with general linear control, is proposed. Proposed RDO is derived from extending the main idea of Disturbance Observer to multi-input multi-output linear system. RDO solves robust stability problem of Disturbance Observer and has the robust performance same as nominal performance. RDO controlled dual stage positioning system shows excellent robust performance.

• International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2017

The Savonius wind turbine has a lower performance than other types of wind turbines which may attract more study focus on this turbine. This study aimed to improve wind turbine performance by combining a conventional blade with an elliptical blade into a combined blade rotor. The analysis was performed on three blade models in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) using ANSYS_Fluent Release 14.5. Then the results were verified experimentally using an open wind tunnel system. The results of the numerical simulation were similar to the experimental and showed that the combined blade rotor has better dragging flow and overlap flow than the conventional and elliptical blade. Experimental verification showed that the combined blade was to increase the maximum coefficient of power ($Cp_{max.}$) by 11% of the conventional blade and to 5.5% of the elliptical blade.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2006

This paper presents shift characteristics of a dual clutch transmission(DCT). To obtain the shift force, dynamic models of the DCT are constructed by using MATLAB/Simulink and considering the rotational inertia of every component and the target pre-select time. Dynamic models of the shift and clutch actuators are derived based on the experimental results of the dynamic characteristics test. Based on the dynamic model of the DCT synchronizer, control actuator and vehicle model, a DCT vehicle performance simulator is developed. Using the simulator, the shift force and speed of the relevant shafts are obtained. In addition, the torque and acceleration of actuators are calculated during the shift process by considering the engaging and disengaging dynamics of the two clutches. It is observed from the performance simulator that uninterrupted torque can be transmitted by proper control of the two clutches.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.291-300
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• 2004

Performance of PEMFC is affected by many factors such as that of MEA, configuration of flow field, operating conditions, humidification, cooling and so on. In this study, in order to improve the performance of fuel cell, a small area fuel cell stack was made and its performance was tested under various operating conditions. Stack consists of 3 single PEM fuel cells. Channel is serpentine type and the active area of the electrode is $50cm^2$. The test results show that the peak power is 60W at $70^\circ{C}$ of stack temperature with humidification condition.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2019

High performance sandcretes (HPS) are new concretes characterized by particles having a diameter less than 5 mm, as well as very high mechanical strength and durability. This work consists in finding solutions to make sandcretes with good physico-mechanical and durability properties for this new generation of micro-concrete. However, upgrading ordinary sandcrete into high performance sandcrete (HPS) requires a thorough study of formulation parameters (equivalent water/binder ratio, type of cement and its dosage, kind and amount of super plasticizer, and gravel/sand ratio). This research study concerns the formulation, characterization and durability, in a sulphate environment, of a high performance sandcrete (HPS), made from local materials. The obtained results show that the rheological properties of fresh concrete and mechanical strength differ with the mineralogy, density and grain size distribution of sands and silica fume used.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.1250-1258
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• 2021

In this paper, the mechanical performance of cracked surface-coated Zircaloy cladding, which has different coating materials, coating thicknesses and initial crack lengths, has been investigated. By analyzing the stress field near the crack tip, the safety zone range of initial crack length has been decided. In order to determine whether the crack can propagate along the radial (r) or axial (z) directions, the energy release rate has been calculated. By comparing the energy release rate with fracture toughness of materials, we can divide the initial crack lengths into three zones: safety zone, discussion zone and danger zone. The results show that Cr is suitable coating material for the cladding with a thin coating while Fe-Cr-Al have a better fracture mechanical performance in the cladding with thick coating. The Si-coated and SiC-coated claddings are suitable for reactors with low power fuel elements. Conclusions in this paper can provide reference and guidance for the cladding design of nuclear fuel elements.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.240-248
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• 2011

Mechanical face seal installed in primary heat transport pump used for heavy water reactor prevents leakage of working fluid using thin working fluid film between primary seal ring and mating ring. If the leakage of working fluid exceeds the allowable volume, serious accident can be happened by the trouble of primary heat transport pump. The thinner fluid film exists between primary seal ring and mating ring, the less working fluid leaks out. On the other hand, if the thickness of fluid film is not enough, the life of mechanical face seal will be reduced by friction and wear. Therefore appropriate design is necessary to maximize the performance and life of mechanical face seal. In this study, numerical analysis using finite volume method was conducted to investigate the performance of mechanical face seals which have same deep straight groove and 11 different net coning values. As results, equilibrium clearance between primary seal ring and mating ring, leakage volume of working fluid, friction torque on sealing surface and stiffness of working fluid film were obtained. With increasing net coning value, equilibrium clearance and leakage volume increase, and friction torque and stiffness of fluid film decrease.