Process study of the formation of biodegradable polymer microspheres for tissue engineering

A series of polymer microspheres was prepared via solvent evaporation by dispersing dichloromethane solutions of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) in water. The dimensions of the final dry particles were measured by laser diffraction and correlated to the main fluid-dynamic parameters of the dispersion process, namely viscosity ratio, volume fraction of dispersed phase, intensity of stirring, and Weber number (We). Data analysis indicated that the system under study can be quantitatively well described by empirical models present in the literature and concerning the dispersion of liquid-liquid immiscible systems. The PLGA microspheres obtained in this way may be employed for fabrication of biodegradable scaffolds for tissue engineering

Thermo-Hydrodynamic Analysis of Plain and Tilting Pad Bearings

Abstract The demand for higher efficiency and increased equipment compactness is pushing industrial compressors' designers towards the choice of higher rotor peripheral speed. As a consequence, modern bearing-rotor systems are subject to complex thermal phenomena inducing a renewed interest on their real working conditions. This work is about the validation of the in-house numerical code TILTPAD developed at the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Florence for the thermo-hydrodynamic analysis of both plain and tilting pad journal bearings performance. TILTPAD is a steady-state code based on a 2D thin-film approach able to find either the resulting hydrodynamic load using the shaft equilibrium position and the rotational speed (i.e., direct problem) or the shaft equilibrium position once the load and the rotational speed are prescribed (i.e., inverse problem). In order to calculate pads' pressure distribution a finite element approach is used to solve the Reynolds equation together with a mixed procedure to evaluate pads equilibrium positions. Two steady-state energy equations based on a Petroff-type simplification are implemented in the code. The first one is proposed in the work of Balbahadur and Kirk [1] while the second one is based on an improved mixing model and a temperature dependent viscosity. An iterative procedure is used between Reynolds and energy equations to account for the dependence of the dynamic viscosity on the temperature field. Super-laminar flow regimes are also modeled in the code by means of a simplified approach able to represents, with reasonable accuracy, the effects of Taylor-Couette vortex flows and of the transitional regimes up to the onset of a fully turbulent state. Under these hypotheses, the pressure field is slightly affected by the viscosity variation while dissipative effects are enhanced. The code has been validated by means of comparison with available experimental data. Particular attention is devoted to static working parameters (i.e., equilibrium position and frictional power loss), reproducing the global behavior of the bearing, although some local characteristic is also considered

Host Matrix Materials for Luminescent Solar Concentrators: Recent Achievements and Forthcoming Challenges

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) have attracted increasing attention in the past few years as appealing solar energy technology for the seamless integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems into the built environment. Traditionally, research in this field has focused on two main aspects: the optimization of the device assembly, in the quest for more efficient architectures to maximize collection, transport, and conversion of photons into usable electrical energy; the development of novel, highly emissive luminescent species, to ensure broad light collection and efficient photon emission. Only recently, the attention has also been directed toward the selection and development of suitable host matrix/waveguide materials with appropriate optical properties, sufficient chemical compatibility with the guest luminescent species, good processability for easy device fabrication and prolonged durability in outdoor operation. In addition to consolidated polymeric systems based on polyacrylates or polycarbonates, in recent years different examples of alternative host matrix systems have been proposed, characterized by peculiar chemical, physical and optical characteristics specifically designed to meet the stringent requirements of the LSC technology. This mini-review will focus on recent developments in the design of new host matrix materials for LSC applications. An overview of the most recent examples of novel LSC host matrices will be provided here, mainly focusing on new polymers, polymer-based organic-inorganic hybrids and multifunctional organic systems. Finally, opportunities and challenges in the field will be considered in view of the effective exploitation of the LSC technology in real application scenarios

On the Effect of an Aggressive Inlet Swirl Profile on the Aero-thermal Performance of a Cooled Vane

AbstractA high-pressure vane equipped with a realistic film-cooling configuration has been studied. The vane is characterized by the presence of multiple rows of fan-shaped holes along pressure and suction side while the leading edge is protected by a showerhead system. Steady three-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations have been performed. A preliminary grid sensitivity analysis has been performed (with uniform inlet flow) to quantify the effect of the spatial resolution. Turbulence model has been assessed in comparison with available experiment data. The effects of a realistic inlet swirl on the aero-thermal performance of the cooling system are then investigated by means of comparison between two different kinds of simulations. The first one using a uniform inlet flow while the second one with aggressive swirl derived from the EU-funded project TATEF2. Clocking effects are also accounted for. The effect of the swirling flow in determining the coolant transport are investigated, evidencing the key role that these phenomena have in determining the effectiveness of the cooling

Uncertainty Quantification in Hydrodynamic Bearings

Although it is possible to imagine a strong sensitivity of hydrodynamic bearings performance to geometrical and fluid dynamic uncertainties, a small amount of scientific contributions have been found in literature about the use of uncertainty quantification techniques for the numerical modeling of bearings. In the present paper we aim at quantifying the effects of the aleatory uncertainty of some relevant input values on key parameters related to rotordynamic effects in turbomachinery, and in particular on the rotor thermal instability problem (e.g. the equilibrium position and the dynamic coefficients). A methodology is initially developed in order to study the propagation of the uncertainties in the numerical analysis of Tilting Pad Journal Bearings (TPJB). Due to the characteristics of the in-house finite element code TILTPAD considered for the UQ analysis, the Monte Carlo method has been selected among the possible approaches. The analysis here presented considers the effects of both manufacturing tolerances on the assembled bearing clearance and of the tolerances adopted for the characterization of the viscosity grade of the oil. The test case adopted for the analysis is the Kingsbury D-140 TPJB. Considering the individual variation of the selected parameters, it is possible to observe that the standard deviation (STD) of the the non-dimensional dynamic coefficients is up to 2.1% in case of viscosity variation and up to 9.1% in case of clearance variation. The STD of the frictional power losses is about 2.2% and 1.4% respectively. Considering the simultaneous variation of the selected parameters, it is possible to observe a STD of the non-dimensional dynamic coefficients comprised between 6.4% and 9.4%, while the STD of the frictional power losses is about 2.7%

Observations upon the occurrence, structure, and function of the giant cells of the marrow

No Abstract.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50231/1/1050040106_ftp.pd

Film Cooling Performance in a Transonic High-pressure Vane: Decoupled Simulation and Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis☆

Abstract The continuous demand for increased performance and reliability of gas turbines leads to the improvement of prediction tools. Having regard to the effects of heat transfer on the residual life of gas turbine components, it is necessary to achieve a high level of accuracy in the evaluation of thermal loads. Computational fluid dynamics is able to provide reliable data in a limited lapse of time. In this paper, the numerical analysis of the cooled vane of the MT1 high-pressure turbine stage is presented. A grid dependence analysis based on the evaluation of the aero-thermal characteristics of the vane has been performed. Turbulence is modeled using the kT-kL-ω method whose performance in this kind of configuration is rarely debated in the scientific literature. Model parameters have been tuned to match the experimental data. The final objective of the present activity is to assess the capability of numerical methods to deal with an annular, transonic high-pressure vane with a realistic film cooling configuration. Adiabatic effectiveness, heat transfer coefficient and net heat flux reduction distributions have been evaluated, the latter providing relevant information on the performance of the cooling system. The coupled fluid-solid simulation of the cooled configuration has also been performed to evaluate the impact of conjugate heat transfer on the prediction of thermal loads. Results show a non-negligible difference in the wall temperature evaluation between the decoupled and the coupled approach, mainly caused by the heat conduction in the solid

Evaluation of an automatic gas chromatographic system for the identification of bacterial infective agents

The potential clinical application of gas chromatography to microbial identifcation was evaluated. A completely automated system, the MIS (Microbial Identification System; Hewlett- Packard) can analyse and identify pure strains by comparison of their cellular fatty acids patterns (C9-C20) with the reference parameters stored in a library. Three hundred and sixty-seven strains were tested, comparing the gas chromatographic results with those obtained by the traditional microbiological methods in the bacteriology laboratory of our Institute. A standardized extractive procedure was followed to obtain the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), but some modifications to the recommended procedure were introduced in the bacterial growth procedures: colonies harvested not only from the recommended growth media but also from selective media routinely used in the bacteriology laboratory were successfully examined. These modifications did not influence the results but improved the ease for the user; good agreement with the comparison method was observed as far as identifications of genus and species are concerned for 238 cases. The major advantages of this computerized system are a reduction in the time required to obtain the final results, the elimination of human errors by using the autosampler and a better inter-laboratory comparability of results owing to a higher degree of objectivity. On the other hand, the limited throughput of MIS (only 40 samples in 24 h) prevents its use in a large routine laboratory; this technology is appropriate in emergency cases, in taxonomic studies and as a confirmatory method

Effects of realistic inflow conditions on the aero-thermal performance of a film-cooled vane

A high-pressure vane equipped with a realistic film-cooling configuration has been studied. The vane is characterized by the presence of multiple rows of fan-shaped holes along pressure and suction side while the leading edge is protected by a showerhead system of cylindrical holes. Steady three-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations have been performed. A preliminary grid sensitivity analysis has been performed with uniform inlet flow to quantify the effect of the spatial resolution. Turbulence model has been assessed in comparison with available experimental data. The effects of a realistic inflow condition on the thermal behaviour of the cooled vane are then investigated by means of comparison between two conjugate heat transfer simulations. The first one is characterized by a uniform inlet flow while the second one presents a temperature distortion and a superimposed aggressive swirl derived from the EU- funded TATEF2 project. The effect of the swirling flow in determining the metal temperature distribution is investigated with particular attention to the consequences on the operation of the film cooling system