4 research outputs found
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Utilizing Additive Manufacturing in Thermoacoustic Refrigeration-based Atmospheric Water Generation
Atmospheric water generators are devices that generate water by condensation. The water vapor in the air
is cooled, by a refrigeration system, below the dew point and thus forces a phase transfer from gaseous to
liquid. Thermoacoustic refrigeration (TAR) was used as the refrigeration technology. The TAR is an
innovative clean technology that utilizes an acoustic wave passing through a gas to create a temperature
gradient in a specially designed porous material. The main components of such a system are resonator tube,
stack, acoustic driver, gas, and heat exchangers. An additive manufacturing process was utilized to develop
different configurations and interchangeable components of the TAR system. The lowest temperature on
the cold side of the stack was achieved by the stack manufactured with spiral design, spacing of 0.53 mm,
4cm length, and 1cm stack position in the resonator tube. The minimum temperature achieved with this
prototype was around 46 ̊F at a room temperature of 72 ̊F, relative humidity of 59%, and dew point of 57 ̊
F.Mechanical Engineerin
Optimization of Solar Energy Harvesting: An Empirical Approach
Renewable energy is the path for a sustainable future. The development in this field is progressing rapidly and solar energy is at the heart of this development. The performance and efficiency limitations are the main obstacles preventing solar energy from fulfilling its potential. This research intends to improve the performance of solar panels by identifying and optimizing the affecting factors. For this purpose, a mechanical system was developed to hold and control the tilt and orientation of the photovoltaic panel. A data acquisition system and electrical system were built to measure and store performance data of the photovoltaic panels. A design of experiments and Response Surface Methodology were used to investigate the impact of these factors on the yield response as well as the output optimization. The findings of the experiment showed an optimum result with a tilt of 60° from the horizon, an azimuth angel of 45° from the south, and a clean panel condition. The wind factor showed insignificant impact within the specified range