5,851 research outputs found
Optimization of an axial fan for air cooled condensers
We report on the low noise optimization of an axial fan specifically designed for the cooling of CSP power plants. The duty point presents an uncommon combination of a load coefficient of 0.11, a flow coefficient of 0.23 and a static efficiency ηstat > 0.6. Calculated fan Reynolds number is equal to Re = 2.85 x 107. Here we present a process used to optimize and numerically verify the fan performance. The optimization of the blade was carried out with a Python code through a brute-force-search algorithm. Using this approach the chord and pitch distributions of the original blade are varied under geometrical constraints, generating a population of over 24000 different possible individuals. Each individual was then tested using an axisymmetric Python code. The software is based on a blade element axisymmetric principle whereby the rotor blade is divided into a number of streamlines. For each of these streamlines, relationships for velocity and pressure are derived from conservation laws for mass, tangential momentum and energy of incompressible flows. The final geometry was eventually chosen among the individuals with the maximum efficiency. The final design performance was then validated through with a CFD simulation. The simulation was carried out using a RANS approach, with the cubic k - low Reynolds turbulence closure of Lien et al. The numerical simulation was able to verify the air performance of the fan and was used to derive blade-to-blade distributions of design parameters such as flow deviation, velocity components, specific work and diffusion factor of the optimized blade. All the computations were performed in OpenFoam, an open source C++- based CFD library. This work was carried out under MinWaterCSP project, funded by EU H2020 programme
Measuring the Spins of Stellar Black Holes: A Progress Report
We use the Novikov-Thorne thin disk model to fit the thermal continuum X-ray
spectra of black hole X-ray binaries, and thereby extract the dimensionless
spin parameter a* = a/M of the black hole as a parameter of the fit. We
summarize the results obtained to date for six systems and describe work in
progress on additional systems. We also describe recent methodological
advances, our current efforts to make our analysis software fully available to
others, and our theoretical efforts to validate the Novikov-Thorne model.Comment: 6 pages, conference proceedings, X-ray Astronomy 2009: Present
Status, Multi-Wavelength Approach and Future Perspectives, AIP, eds. A.
Comastri et al.; list of authors revise
Competing interactions in arrested states of colloidal clays
Using experiments, theory and simulations, we show that the arrested state
observed in a colloidal clay at intermediate concentrations is stabilized by
the screened Coulomb repulsion (Wigner glass). Dilution experiments allow us to
distinguish this high-concentration disconnected state, which melts upon
addition of water, from a low-concentration gel state, which does not melt.
Theoretical modelling and simulations reproduce the measured Small Angle X-Ray
Scattering static structure factors and confirm the long-range electrostatic
nature of the arrested structure. These findings are attributed to the
different timescales controlling the competing attractive and repulsive
interactions.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter
Probing the Low Mass X-ray Binaries/Globular Cluster connection in NGC1399
We present a wide field study of the Globular Clusters/Low Mass X-ray
Binaries connection in the cD elliptical NGC1399, combining HST/ACS and Chandra
high resolution data. We find evidence that LMXB formation likelihood is
influenced by GCs structural parameters, in addition to the well known effects
of mass and metallicity, independently from galactocentric distance.Comment: in press in the Proceedings of the X-ray 2009 Conference, 7-11
September 2009, Bologna, Ital
Arrested state of clay-water suspensions: gel or glass?
The aging of a charged colloidal system has been studied by Small Angle
X-rays Scattering, in the exchanged momentum range Q=0.03 - 5 nm-1, and by
Dynamic Light Scattering, at different clay concentrations (Cw =0.6 % - 2.8 %).
The static structure factor, S(Q), has been determined as a function of both
aging time and concentration. This is the first direct experimental evidence of
the existence and evolution with aging time of two different arrested states in
a single system simply obtained only by changing its volume fraction: an
inhomogeneous state is reached at low concentrations, while a homogenous one is
found at high concentrations.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure
Identification of network modules by optimization of ratio association
We introduce a novel method for identifying the modular structures of a
network based on the maximization of an objective function: the ratio
association. This cost function arises when the communities detection problem
is described in the probabilistic autoencoder frame. An analogy with kernel
k-means methods allows to develop an efficient optimization algorithm, based on
the deterministic annealing scheme. The performance of the proposed method is
shown on a real data set and on simulated networks
Simultaneous Orthogonal Planarity
We introduce and study the problem: Given planar
graphs each with maximum degree 4 and the same vertex set, do they admit an
OrthoSEFE, that is, is there an assignment of the vertices to grid points and
of the edges to paths on the grid such that the same edges in distinct graphs
are assigned the same path and such that the assignment induces a planar
orthogonal drawing of each of the graphs?
We show that the problem is NP-complete for even if the shared
graph is a Hamiltonian cycle and has sunflower intersection and for
even if the shared graph consists of a cycle and of isolated vertices. Whereas
the problem is polynomial-time solvable for when the union graph has
maximum degree five and the shared graph is biconnected. Further, when the
shared graph is biconnected and has sunflower intersection, we show that every
positive instance has an OrthoSEFE with at most three bends per edge.Comment: Appears in the Proceedings of the 24th International Symposium on
Graph Drawing and Network Visualization (GD 2016
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