Design and Experimental Validation of a Ducted Counter-rotating Axial-flow Fans System

An experimental study on the design of counter-rotating axial-flow fans was carried out. The fans were designed using an inverse method. In particular, the system is designed to have a pure axial discharge flow. The counter-rotating fans operate in a ducted-flow configuration and the overall performances are measured in a normalized test bench. The rotation rate of each fan is independently controlled. The relative axial spacing between fans can vary from 17% to 310%. The results show that the efficiency is strongly increased compared to a conventional rotor or to a rotor-stator stage. The effects of varying the rotation rates ratio on the overall performances are studied and show that the system has a very flexible use, with a large patch of high efficient operating points in the parameter space. The increase of axial spacing causes only a small decrease of the efficiencyComment: accepted in Journal of Fluid Engineerin

Experimental two dimensional cellular flames

International audienceThe propagation of very unstable cellular flames (also called self-turbulent flames) is studied experimentally in a Hele-Shaw cell. This quasi-two dimensional configuration allows for quantitative image analysis. The dynamics of the premixed flame is controlled in these conditions by the creation or merging of the cusps that appear on the front

Life Science Zurich Learning Center – A New Symbiosis of Research Institutions and Schools

The Life Science Learning Center (LSLC) was officially founded in 2005. It is a branch of the pre-existing Life Science Zurich, an organization created by and belonging to the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich to promote and support life sciences in several central parts of society. The LSLC's primary goals are to offer educational opportunities for school children as well as continuing education for teachers of the primary and secondary school levels. In particular, the LSLC facilitates various types of interactions between schools and the higher educational and research institutions (University of Zurich and Federal Institutes of Technology): it offers practicals for pupils in a special laboratory, tours of professional research laboratories, pedagogical training for future biology teachers, and specialized modules of continuing education for teachers. It also contributes to diverse initiatives promoting life sciences in the general public. It is led by a small team of dedicated people based on the Irchel Campus of the University of Zurich

Selection of lubricant material for the roller chains of the AHM grapple drive system for the CRBRP

Properties of Anderol 732 lubricating grease are evaluated to meet the design requirements for the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant (CRBRP) auxiliary machine (AHM) chain lubrication. Based on the evaluation made in this report, the material is recommended as a lubricant for the specified application. The material is to be applied by the chain manufacturer prior to installation in the AHM