Methodology for exploring SOFC system layouts in a highly integrated hybrid propulsion system

This paper presents a methodology to compare different layouts of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system, focusing on component integration and constraints for low-emission aircraft propulsion. The SOFC system is a subsystem of an Integrated Power and Propulsion System (IPPS) fueled by hydrogen and tightly coupled with a micro gas turbine (mGT). The methodology presented here is applied to the case study of a mGT-SOFC and will later help to define the SOFC system layout for the 1MW+ IPPS of the FlyECO project. Due to the low power density of current SOFCs designed for stationary applications, technology projections are used to explore a scenario of entry into service in 2050. Parametric analyses have been performed to consider possible future developments and performance opportunities on the basis of anticipated increases in SOFC power density, which so far could only be implemented on a laboratory scale. Different SOFC system layouts are defined by assuming different aircraft operating conditions (take-off and cruise) as design point, due to the important impact of ambient pressure and temperature in-flight variation on the SOFC system, the related components and the overall performance. To maximize the synergy between SOFC and mGT, all layouts are based on a pressurized SOFC and include a heat exchanger for heat recovery and flow pre-heating. The system performance exploration is carried out with the W-TEMP software, varying the hybridization factor of the mGT-SOFC system between 5% and 20%, and comparing its performance to a baseline H2-fueled mGT. The results obtained for this performance exploration report details on the coupling aspects between the micro gas turbine and the SOFC system and show clearly the advantages of mGT-SOFC integration in terms of net efficiency and production of water, which can be used in the combustion chamber of the mGT to limit the formation of NOx. In conclusion, a procedure to preliminary estimate the mass of the main components in each layout is also presented, to assess how different choices in the design of the mGT-SOFC can affect its weight.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101138488 and by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding guarantee under the project reference 10106893.ASME Turbo Expo 2025: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Expositio

Random wavelet kernels for interpretable fault diagnosis in industrial systems

Deep learning is a powerful method for fault diagnosis, but its "black-box" nature raises concerns in critical applications. This paper presents an interpretable, lightweight method combining random convolution kernel transformation (ROCKET) with wavelet kernels, which offer systematic time-frequency analysis and intuitive insights. Principal component analysis (PCA) is used to extract relevant patterns, forming a health indicator that guides maintenance decisions. A case study on linear actuator fault diagnosis demonstrates the method's balance of interpretability and computational efficiency, making it a valuable tool for reliable asset health monitoring in resource-limited settings.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)The research was partially supported with EPSRC funding (EP/P027121/1).CIRP Annal

Communication RSSI prediction and validation framework for advanced air mobility

This paper proposes a communication signal strength prediction and validation framework for the use of advanced air mobility. Advanced air mobility, including urban air mobility and unmanned aerial vehicles, requires a scalable, safe, and seamless communication infrastructure different from conventional aircraft. This paper proposes a hybrid regression-based prediction method that combines synthetic data generated from a ray-tracing model and real flight test data in the urban airspace and uses k-fold cross-validation to evaluate the predicted signal strength. The results show that the proposed framework provides reliable performance indices, effectively mitigating the insufficiency of flight data. This research will enable evaluating the communication infrastructure and identifying high-risk areas for advanced air mobility stakeholders.Innovate UKThis work was conducted as part of “Advanced Air Mobility: Communication Evaluation for Safe and Seamless Operations”, supported by Innovate UK (grant number 10117151) and Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement (grant number RS-2024-00412531).2025 International Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing (IWCMC

Composite material defect segmentation using deep learning models and infrared thermography

For non-destructive assessment, the segmentation of infrared thermographic images of carbon fiber composites is a critical task in material characterization and quality assessment. This study focuses on applying image processing techniques, particularly adaptive thresholding, alongside neural network models such as U-Net and DeepLabv3 for infrared image segmentation tasks. An experimental analysis was conducted on these networks to compare their performance in segmenting artificial defects from infrared images of a carbon-fibre reinforced polymer sample. The performance of these models was evaluated based on the F1-Score and Intersection over Union (IoU) metrics. The findings reveal that DeepLabv3 demonstrates superior results and efficiency in segmenting patterns of infrared images, achieving an F1-Score of 0.94 and an IoU of 0.74, showcasing its potential for advanced material analysis and quality control.This study was financed in part by the Coordenacao de Aper-feicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior – Brasil (CAPES) –Finance Code 001 and by the National Council for Scientificand Technological Development - Brazil (CNPq) – Finance Codes 407140/2021-2 and 312530/2023-4.Revista de Informática Teórica e Aplicad

Atmospheric pressure plasma etching of Ti-6Al-4 V using SF6 etchant

Atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) etching has been developed recently into a manufacturing technique for silicon-based materials used for large optical lenses. However, there are few reports published regarding APP etching of non-silicon-based materials. We report here the development of an APP process using SF6 for the etching of Ti-6Al-4 V metal alloy. Ti-6Al-4V is extensively used in aerospace and biomedical fields for its excellent properties; however, these properties also make it difficult to machine. Current techniques such as precision grinding and laser polishing can be slow, energy intensive, and cause damages and defects which reduce the lifetime of vital components. The results in this paper demonstrate effective material removal and little surface damage by APP etching of Ti-6Al-4V. Material removal rates between 0.5 and 2 mm3 min−1 were obtained, and the proposed material removal mechanism is through the formation of volatile VFx and TiF4. These results show that APP etching is a promising technique for surface finishing of Ti-6Al-4V, particularly for large- and complex-shaped components.This work was supported by EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Ultra Precision (Grant no. EP/L016567/1) and the Manufacturing Technology Centre Ltd.Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Engineerin

Dataset DrivAer hp-F: Wake Total Pressure Measurements in Yaw Conditions

Dataset for the wake total pressure measurements conducted on the 35% scale DrivAer hp-F model at various yaw angles in the 8x6 Wind Tunnel at Cranfield University. The measurements are performed on the DrivAer hp-F rear wing configuration with an angle of attack of 15°. The dataset includes the total pressure coefficient results from measurements on the P1, P2, and P3 wake planes, which are located 400 mm, 700 mm, and 1000 mm downstream of the vehicle model respectively. Additionally, the horizontal and vertical measurements positions (in mm) are provided for each wake plane. A horizontal sweep on the P3 wake plane has been conducted three times for repeatability. In reference to the publication: Steven Rijns, Tom-Robin Teschner, Kim Blackburn, Anderson Ramos Proenca, James Brighton; Experimental and numerical investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of high-performance vehicle configurations under yaw conditions. Physics of Fluids 1 April 2024; 36 (4): 045112. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0196979 CAD files for the DrivAer hp-F rear wing configuration are available at: Rijns, Steven; Teschner, Tom-Robin; Blackburn, Kim; Ramos Proenca, Anderson; Brighton, James (2024). DrivAer hp-F: Spoiler & Rear Wing Configurations Geometry Pack. Cranfield Online Research Data (CORD). Dataset. https://doi.org/10.17862/cranfield.rd.25715202 Note: The updated dataset retains all original data while adding calibrated data to provide (new) users with an additional reference option

Brief Communication: measurement of boundary layer turbulent transition using an acoustic microphone unit

In this article the transition of a laminar boundary layer (BL) over a flat plate is characterized using an acoustic technique with a pitot probe linked to a microphone unit. The probe was traversed along a BL plate at a fixed wind tunnel flow velocity of 5.5 m/s. A spectral analysis of the acoustic fluctuations showed that this setup can estimate the streamwise location and length of the BL transition region, as well as the BL thickness, by using the intermittency similitude approach. Further work is required to quantify the uncertainty caused by signal attenuation within the data acquisition system.SAE International Journal of Aerospac

Chapter 8: research agenda

This book illustrates the applications of mobile robot systems in warehouse operations with an integrated decision framework for their selection and application. Mobile robot systems are an automation solution in warehouses that make order fulfillment agile, flexible and scalable to cope with the increasing volume and complexity of customer orders. Compared with manual operations, they combine higher productivity and throughput with lower operating costs. As the practical use of mobile robot systems is increasing, decision-makers are confronted with a plethora of decisions. Still, research is lagging in providing the needed academic insights and managerial guidance. The lack of a structured decision framework tailored for mobile robot system applications in warehouses increases the probability of problems when choosing automation systems. This book demonstrates the characteristics of mobile robot systems which reinforce warehouse managers in identifying, evaluating and choosing candidate systems through multiple criteria. Furthermore, the managerial decision framework covering decisions at strategic, tactical and operational levels in detail helps decision-makers to implement a mobile robot solution step-by-step. This book puts special emphasis on change management and operational control of mobile robots using path planning and task allocation algorithms. The book also introduces focus areas that require particular attention to aid the efficiency and practical application of these systems, such as facility layout planning, robot fleet sizing, and human-robot interaction. It will be essential reading for academics and students working on digital warehousing and logistics, as well as practitioners in warehouses looking to make informed decisions

Arsenic contamination of rainfed versus irrigated rice

Arsenic (As) contamination of rice remains a major human health issue in Asia. Most research has been on irrigated rice. However much of the projected increase in global rice demand over coming decades must be met by rainfed lowland systems, for which As relations are poorly understood. We present the most comprehensive survey to date of As in rice in farmers’ fields across Bangladesh, covering both irrigated and rainfed systems. We collected rice grain and soil at 943 sites in the three rice growing seasons: irrigated Boro, rainfed Aus, and longer-duration rainfed Aman. Grain As concentrations increased in the order Aman ≪ Boro < Aus with 2, 25 and 41 % of the sites exceeding permitted thresholds, respectively. The greater concentration in Aus than Boro challenges the accepted wisdom that contaminated irrigation water is the main source of As. The main growth and grain filling periods, when most As is taken up, coincide in Aus with the peak of the monsoon rains, suggesting a link between rainfall and high grain As. We suggest this is due to stronger soil reducing conditions and hence As solubility during peak rainfall. We discuss implications for rainfed lowland rice across Asia and mitigation options.This research was funded by a grant from the UK's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council ‘Metal contamination of rice supplies in Asia’ (Grant Ref. BB/P02274X/1).Environmental Pollutio

Quantitative microbial risk assessment of bioaerosol emissions from squat and bidet toilets during flushing

Bioaerosol emissions during toilet flushing are an often‐overlooked source of potential health risks in shared public facilities. This study systematically investigated the emission characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bioaerosols in washrooms with squat and bidet toilets under varying flushing conditions and ventilation scenarios. Using Monte Carlo simulation–based quantitative microbial risk assessment and sensitivity analysis, the study estimated the disease burden and identified key factors influencing risk. The results showed that squat toilets generated 1.7–2.6 times higher concentrations of S. aureus bioaerosols and 1.2–1.4 times higher concentrations of E. coli bioaerosols compared to bidet toilets. After the first flush, bioaerosol concentrations were 1.3–1.8 times (S. aureus) and 1.2–1.4 times (E. coli) lower than those observed after the second flush. The second flush released a higher proportion of fine bioaerosol particles (<4.7 µm), increasing inhalation risks. The disease health risk burden was consistently one order of magnitude lower after the first flush than the second one. Ventilation with a turned‐on exhaust fan further reduced the risk by one order of magnitude. Sensitivity analysis identified exposure concentration as the most influential parameter, contributing up to 50% of the overall risk. This study highlights the importance of optimizing toilet design and ventilation systems to mitigate bioaerosol emissions and associated health risks. It provides actionable insights for improving public washroom hygiene and minimizing bioaerosol exposure.F.C., Z.A.N., and C.Y. gratefully acknowledge the support of the Environmental Microbiology and Human Health Programme (Grant Reference NE/M010961/1) and the SPF Clean Air Programme (Grant NE/V002171/1) in facilitating this collaborative study.Risk Analysi