Experimental investigation of inlet distortion effect on performance of a micro gas turbine

An experimental study has been carried out to determine how inlet total-pressure distortion affects the performance of a micro gas turbine. An inlet simulator is designed and developed to produce and measure distortion patterns at the inlet to the gas turbine. An air jet distortion generator (AJDG) is used to produce nonuniform flow patterns and total pressure probes are installed to measure steady-state total-pressure distribution at the inlet. A set of wind tunnel tests have been performed to confirm the fidelity of distortion generator and measuring devices. Tests are carried out with the gas turbine exposed to inlet flow with 60¿deg, 120¿deg, and 180¿deg circumferential distortion patterns with different distortion intensities. The performance of the gas turbine has been measured and compared with that of clean inlet flow case. Results indicate that the gas turbine performance can be affected significantly facing with intense inlet distortions.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Optimal, scalable forward models for computing gravity anomalies

We describe three approaches for computing a gravity signal from a density anomaly. The first approach consists of the classical "summation" technique, whilst the remaining two methods solve the Poisson problem for the gravitational potential using either a Finite Element (FE) discretization employing a multilevel preconditioner, or a Green's function evaluated with the Fast Multipole Method (FMM). The methods utilizing the PDE formulation described here differ from previously published approaches used in gravity modeling in that they are optimal, implying that both the memory and computational time required scale linearly with respect to the number of unknowns in the potential field. Additionally, all of the implementations presented here are developed such that the computations can be performed in a massively parallel, distributed memory computing environment. Through numerical experiments, we compare the methods on the basis of their discretization error, CPU time and parallel scalability. We demonstrate the parallel scalability of all these techniques by running forward models with up to $10^8$ voxels on 1000's of cores.Comment: 38 pages, 13 figures; accepted by Geophysical Journal Internationa

AAHES: A hybrid expert system realization of Adaptive Autonomy for smart grid

Abstract--Smart grid expectations objectify the need for optimizing power distribution systems greater than ever. Distribution Automation (DA) is an integral part of the SG solution; however, disregarding human factors in the DA systems can make it more problematic than beneficial. As a consequence, Human-Automation Interaction (HAI) theories can be employed to optimize the DA systems in a human-centered manner. Earlier we introduced a novel framework for the realization of Adaptive Autonomy (AA) concept in the power distribution network using expert systems. This research presents a hybrid expert system for the realization of AA, using both Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Logistic Regression (LR) models, referred to as AAHES, respectively. AAHES uses neural networks and logistic regression as an expert system inference engine. This system fuses LR and ANN models' outputs which will results in a progress, comparing to both individual models. The practical list of environmental conditions and superior experts' judgments are used as the expert systems database. Since training samples will affect the expert systems performance, the AAHES is implemented using six different training sets. Finally, the results are interpreted in order to find the best training set. As revealed by the results, the presented AAHES can effectively determine the proper level of automation for changing the performance shaping factors of the HAI systems in the smart grid environment

Cyber security for smart grid: a human-automation interaction framework

Abstract-- Power grid cyber security is turning into a vital concern, while we are moving from the traditional power grid toward modern Smart Grid (SG). To achieve the smart grid objectives, development of Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and computer based automation is necessary. This development makes the smart grid more prone to the cyber attacks. This paper presents a cyber security strategy for the smart grid based on Human Automation Interaction (HAI) theory and especially Adaptive Autonomy (AA) concept. We scheme an adaptive Level of Automation (LOA) for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. This level of automation will be adapted to some environmental conditions which are presented in this paper. The paper presents a brief background, methodology (methodology design), implementation and discussions. Index Terms—smart grid, human automation interaction, adaptive autonomy, cyber security, performance shaping facto

Analysis of time dependent problems using exponential basis functions

In this research we present a method based on using Exponential Basis Functions (EBFs) to solve a class of time dependent engineering problems. The solution is first approximated by a summation of EBFs satisfying the differential equation and then completed by satisfying the time dependent boundary conditions as well as the initial conditions through a collocation method. This can be performed by considering two approaches. In the first one the solution is split into three parts, i.e. a homogeneous solution obtained by homogeneous boundary conditions, a homogeneous solution obtained by non-homogeneous solution and finally a particular solution induced by source terms. In the second approach the solution is split into two parts, i.e. a homogeneous solution and a particular solution induced by source terms. The two approaches are then employed to construct a time marching algorithm for the solution of problems over a long period of time. We shall present the details of the application of the two approaches introduced to some mathematical and engineering problems. The details of the time marching algorithm proposed are explained. Several problems are solved to show the capabilities of the approaches used. Some benchmark problems are also devised and solved for further studies. It is shown that the one of the introduced approaches is capable of solving a class of problems with moving boundaries

Investigation of k-ε Turbulent Models and Their Effects on Offset Jet Flow Simulation

In the case in which relatively low thickness and high-velocity flow enter into the lower velocity fluid, the resulting interference field of these two flows is called the jet. This phenomenon is the dominant output of power plants and some of the dams. The jets can be divided into two categories of free jets and confined jets, caused by the distance from the discharge to limited boundaries points. The offset jet is a type of confined jet in which both free surface and wall boundaries are near the diffusion location. The jet flow due to the extreme curvature in the main flow path and the proximal portion of this flow with solid boundaries have characteristics that make it difficult to solve with simple turbulence models.In this research, the offset jet phenomenon and related issues have been investigated. For this purpose, the offset jet flow pattern and probable factors in the complexity of this model have been simulated using Fluent software which analyses fluid flow in a two dimensional and three dimensional finite volume method. The simulation of offset jet flow pattern has been performed with a focus on investigating different models of turbulence k-ε, also boundary conditions, various wall functions and other effective coefficients in the numerical model and the model results compared with test case data findings and validating results, the necessary approaches in numerical simulation of this phenomenon for using in the next stages had been taken

On the use of exponential basis functions in the analysis of shear deformable laminated plates

In this report, we introduce a meshfree approach for static analysis of isotropic/orthotropic crossply laminated plates with symmetric/non-symmetric layers. Classical, first and third order shear deformation plate theories are employed to perform the analyses. In this method, the solution is first split into homogenous and particular parts and then the homogenous part is approximated by the summation of an appropriately selected set of exponential basis functions (EBFs) with unknown coefficients. In the homogenous solution the EBFs are restricted to satisfy the governing differential equation. The particular solution is derived using a similar approach and another series of EBFs. The imposition of the boundary conditions and determination of the unknown coefficients are performed by a collocation method through a discrete transformation technique. The solution method allows us to obtain semi-analytical solution of plate problems with various shapes and boundary conditions. The solutions of several benchmark plate problems with various geometries are presented to validate the results

Evaluation of Earth Dam Leakage Considering the Uncertainty in Soil ‎Hydraulic Parameters

Analysis of earth dams is generally conducted in three stages of stability, deformability and water penetration analysis. Lack of sufficient attention to leakage, as one of the most important issues, leads to erosion and destruction of slope stability. The aim of current paper is to analyze the earth dam leakage with respect to the existing uncertainty in soil hydraulic parameters. In this research, the Monte Carlo (MC) method was used to calculate soil hydraulic parameters. Using these parameters, analysis of Alborz earth dam leakage by means of SEEP/W model based on the finite elements method was investigated. Due to the hydraulic conditions of the core soil, the total head value, pore water pressure, and water flux in core region will change. The results indicate that uncertainty in the hydraulic parameters of Alborz earth dam are significant, thus risk is important in this dam. The application of the proposed methodology in estimation of leakage from Alborz earth dam in Mazandaran province reveals its efficiency and proper accuracy in predicting the amount of leakage flow in earth dams with respect to the possible changes in the hydraulic parameters of the soil. Moreover, it was found that the quantity of seepage increases considerably when the dam is without core, therefore, the core is very necessary to decrease the value of seepage through the earth dam