Strojniški vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering

Experimental Testing System for Adsorption Space Heating

Urška Mlakar — 2024-03-28

Approximately 40 % of the final energy is used for heating and cooling of buildings. Of this, as much as 75 % is used in residential buildings. The proportion of energy needed in buildings is relatively high, so it is necessary to start using technologies that have low energy consumption, use it efficiently or provide it from renewable sources. One such technology is thermal energy storage, which allows us to store excess energy for later when we need extra energy. The paper presents two experiments in the field of adsorption space heating. In the first experiment, measurements were carried out on the adsorbents - zeolite 13X and zeolite NaYBFK, which were placed into a duct, through which humid air was transported by means of a centrifugal fan. In the second experiment, water vapour as the working medium was used. With the first experiment we achieved better water uptake on NaYBF, while the second experiment shows the increase of water uptake of zeolite 13X.

Research on the Adaptability of Packers for Integrated String Fracturing Operations in Low Porosity and Low Permeability Reservoirs

Zhiyong Wan — 2024-03-28

To study the failure of conventional packers in the fracturing and stimulation of low-porosity and low-permeability reservoirs and reduce the failure accidents of packers in the fracturing process, a suitable integrated string packers was selected in the process of fracturing and stimulation in an oilfield in the Middle East as a case study. Three different well types have been established. The wellbore temperature distribution and the axial force of the string can be calculated under the conditions of various wellhead pressures and different displacement, and it is found that the temperature at the bottom of the well can reach 130 °C, and the maximum axial force at the wellhead is 500 kN. At the same time, the applicability of retrievable tubing testing squeeze (RTTS) and hydraulic-set retrievable (RH) packer in different working conditions was evaluated, and it was found that only RTTS packers can meet the needs of the oil field. According to the calculated temperature field and axial force distribution, the stress on different components of the packer under different working conditions is established during the fracturing-stimulation operation. In the worst working conditions, the maximum stress of the packer occurs at the lower part of the central pipe, reaching 303.83 MPa, which is in a safe state. The contact stress on rubber rings can reach 30 MPa, indicating that the sealing performance can meet the requirements of on-site use. The temperature and axial force data calculated by the model provide a theoretical basis for safe well control. Through model evaluation, it was found that the RTTS packer can be suitable for the fracturing and stimulation needs of the oilfield. The research methods and achievements in the article provide theoretical guidance for evaluating the applicability of packers in the fracturing and stimulation process of low porosity and low permeability reservoirs.

Service Performance Optimization and Experimental Study of a New W-W Type Non-circular Planetary Gear Train

Changbin Dong — 2024-03-28

To address the vibration problem in traditional W-W-type non-circular planetary gear trains during operation, this study proposes two new combinations of W-W-type non-circular planetary gear trains. The study focuses on analysing the transmission error and improving service performance. By utilizing the conjugate theory and the coordinate transformation theory, an accurate mathematical model for non-circular gears is derived. The transmission error models for the two combination forms of the non-circular planetary gear train are established using the incremental meshing line method. The analysis also examines the influence of eccentricity on the transmission error. Kinematic analysis of the multi-body dynamics model confirms that the new W-W type non-circular planetary gear train, formed by combining non-circular gears and cylindrical gears, exhibits superior transmission performance. Furthermore, a test analysis is conducted on the roller pumping unit test platform and the indicator diagrams of the pumping unit under various working conditions are obtained. The study concludes that the optimal matching mode for the sucker rod counterweight and motor frequency of the reversing device of the pumping unit is 20 kN and 20 Hz, and the dynamic balance of the pumping unit load can be achieved by adjusting the motor frequency.

Transient Flow Characteristics of a Pressure Differential Valve with Different Valve Spool Damping Orifice Structures

Xu Zhang — 2024-03-28

Lubrication system failure is a significant cause of in-flight shutdown incidents in aviation engines. The pressure differential valve, an essential component of a certain type of aviation engine lubrication system, is responsible for controlling the flow rate and pressure of the lubricating oil. Comprehending the transient flow characteristics of the pressure differential valve is of paramount importance for the secure operation of lubrication systems. This paper establishes a transient flow model of a pressure differential valve based on a transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, and the experimental validation demonstrates the effectiveness of the computational model. The internal flow characteristics of the differential pressure valve at different stages during the opening process were studied. Additionally, four transient lubricating oil flow models with different valve spool damping orifice were established to analyse the impact of damping orifice structure on valve spool movement characteristics, pressure control characteristics, and flow field distribution. The results indicate that when the diameter of the valve spool damping orifice increases from 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm, the valve spool displacement and fluid force increase by 88 % and 20 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the peak valve spool velocity, peak oil supply pressure, and steady-state value decreased by 15 %, 29 %, and 34 %, respectively. As the length of the valve spool damping orifice increases from 0.894 mm to 4.0 mm, the growth rate of valve spool displacement and fluid force gradually decreases, with the peak valve spool velocity decreasing by 7 %. This study has potential significance for the structural optimization and application of pressure differential valve in lubrication systems.

An Eigenfrequency-Constrained Topology Optimization Method with Design Variable Reduction

Wenchang Liu — 2024-03-28

The dynamic response of structures heavily relies on eigenfrequency, so the optimization of eigenfrequency is valuable in various working conditions. The bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO) method has been widely applied due to its ability to eliminate grayscale elements. Based upon BESO, this paper introduces a topology optimization method that incorporates eigenfrequency constraints and reduces the number of design variables. In this method, the optimization objective was to minimize compliance. The Lagrange multiplier was used to introduce eigenfrequency constraints, allowing for coordinated control of compliance and eigenfrequency. To prevent oscillation during the optimization process, the sensitivity was normalized. Additionally, to achieve faster convergence, the variables were reduced after meeting volume constraints. The numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of this method in increasing the eigenfrequency of the structure and avoiding resonance.

Forced Vibration of Time-Varying Elevator Traction System

Jie Sun — 2024-03-28

This paper proposes a theoretical model for the forced vibration of time-varying elevator traction systems caused by eccentric excitation of the traction machine. Based on the Hamilton principle and a variational principle with variable boundaries, the equations of motion and the complex boundary condition of a time-varying elevator traction system are established. A quantitative formula between the angular velocity of the traction machine, the diameter of the traction wheel, the elevator running distance and the running time is put forward. It is found that when the maximum values of acceleration and deceleration exceed 1.5 m/s², the elevator traction system may undergo resonance.

Nonlinear Free Vibration Analysis of Functionally Graded Porous Conical Shells Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets

Xiaolin Huang — 2024-03-28

The nonlinear vibration analysis of functionally graded reinforced with graphene platelet (FG-GRC) porous truncated conical shells surrounded by the Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation is presented in this paper. An improved model for evaluating the material properties of porous composites is proposed. Three types of porous distribution and three patterns of graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) dispersion are estimated. Coupled with the effect of the Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation, the nonlinear governing equations are developed by using the Hamilton principle. The Galerkin integrated technique is employed to obtain the linear and nonlinear frequencies of the shells. After the present method is validated, the effects of the pores, GPLs, the Winkler-Pasternak foundation, and the semi-vertex are investigated in detail. The results show that the linear frequency can be raised by increasing the values of the mass volume of the GPL and foundation parameters. In contrast, the ratio of nonlinear to linear frequency declines as the mass volume of the GPLs and foundation parameters rises. Furthermore, it is found that the minimum ratio of nonlinear to linear frequency can be obtained as the semi-vertex angle is about 55º, and the effect of porosity distribution on the linear and linear frequencies might be neglected.

Design Optimization of Mechanical Valves in Dishwashers Based on the Minimization of Pressure Losses

Furkan Kılavuz — 2024-03-28

Energy savings, albeit very small, are of great importance for devices whose use has become indispensable. In this study, an optimization based on sustainability and energy saving was aimed at designing the valve used in a white goods company's mass production of dishwashers. One significant factor that affects the overall efficiency of a dishwasher is pressure loss within the mechanical valve system. By optimizing the system, it is possible to minimize pressure loss and increase overall efficiency. To this end, 4th-order Bézier curves, which are used to model the blades of the impeller, were obtained using MATLAB R2023a software. Using Bézier curves, solid models of impellers with different blade profiles and numbers were created with SOLIDWORKS 2021 software. Fifty different models with six different blade numbers and five different materials were considered. In the numerical analyses, pressure losses were determined using ANSYS Fluent 2023R2 software. In addition to numerical analysis, blades were produced using the additive manufacturing method, and outlet pressures were measured experimentally. The experimental results were compared with the computational fluid dynamics analysis findings to evaluate the performance of different impeller designs. To determine the optimal design, the design of experiments and response optimizer approaches are applied, which enables the systematic evaluation of different design parameters. Furthermore, using numerical results, an artificial neural network model was created, and efficiency was predicted for the optimum parameters. Experimental and numerical results show that the optimum blade design enables the least pressure loss.