The organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is a versatile approach in the utilization of waste heat in the production of electricity, clean drinking water, and cooling. The efficiency of these cycles must be maximized to make them economical. Parameters for the optimization of ORCs such as evaporator and condenser temperature have...
Uninhabited aerial vehicles, also called UAVs are currently controller by a combination of a human pilot at a remote location, and autopilot systems similar to those found on commercial aircraft. As UAVs transition from remote piloting to fully autonomous operation, control laws must be developed for the tasks to be...
Hot engine exhaust and industrial process exhaust represents a resource that is often rejected to the environment without further utilization. This resource is prevalent in the transportation and industrial process sectors, but stationary engine-generator systems also typically do not utilize this resource. Engine exhaust is considered high grade heat and...
Particle-laden turbulent flows are of great importance in many industrial
applications and are sufficiently complex to require multiple methods of study to
provide a better understanding of the dominant physical mechanisms present in
these processes. This work on large-eddy simulation of particle-laden flows seeks
to help provide the building blocks...
Fractal-like branching microchannel flow networks have been found to improve wall temperature uniformity and decrease both pressure drop and flow power compared to arrays of straight microchannels. The present study seeks to maximize the benefits of fractal-like branching channels by means of a gradient-based optimization algorithm. The algorithm identifies the...
Population counts of aquatic insects can be a credible indicator of the overall health of a waterway. Stonefly (Plecoptera) larva are very sensitive to chemicals present within the waterway, however obtaining population counts of the larvae can be very labor intensive and thus costly. The BugID project has been working...
After traveling to Africa and experiencing the struggles and confusion of interacting with a new culture, I saw the need for some sort of orientation device that would adequately prepare first timers, but also not be too lengthy and daunting for a person that will only be spending a few...
Wave energy conversion is still in its infancy, and in order for it to become a commercially viable technology, developers, investors and utilities need to estimate a Wave Energy Converter's (WEC's) performance for the wave climate of a potential installation site. With the goal of estimating a design's power output...
This thesis presents a feasibility study of a means to passively effect liquid motion parallel to a heated surface though surface geometrical modifications. Such a passive system is beneficial for electronics cooling applications as it reduces the pumping equipment normally required in flow loops and is desired for space applications,...
Innovation can be considered the driving force behind product design. This thesis strives to improve the ease at which innovation is achieved. Firstly by examining how design information is presented and comprehended by various personality types. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test is a quick, easy, and accurate way to determine...