• Energy Research
• VN close

Operation of a free piston linear engine is modeled based on the combination of three mathematical models, including a piston dynamic model, a linear alternator model and a thermodynamic model. The simulated in-cylinder pressure, piston velocity, and electric power output are compared with the corresponding experimental results to validate the models mentioned above. The influences of the design parameters, including cylinder dimension ( Le), number of coil turns ( N), and air gap ( g) between the translator and stator, on the dynamic performance, in-cylinder pressure and electric power generation of the free piston linear engine are studied. The study results show that the reduction of Le has a benefit for improving the piston dynamic performance and output electric power, however it also reduced the cylinder pressure. The increase of number of coil turns N results in the reduction of the peak piston velocity, displacement, acceleration, and pressure in the cylinder, however, it increases the output electric power of the free piston linear engine. The peak piston velocity, displacement, acceleration, and pressure in the cylinder are considerably decreased when g is reduced. However, the reduction of g has a benefit to improve the output electric power of the free piston linear engine. The energy conversion efficiency can be maximized when g and Le are reduced, and N is increased.

Operation of a free piston linear engine is modeled based on the combination of three mathematical models, including a piston dynamic model, a linear alternator model and a thermodynamic model. The simulated in-cylinder pressure, piston velocity, and electric power output are compared with the corresponding experimental results to validate the models mentioned above. The influences of the design parameters, including cylinder dimension ( Le), number of coil turns ( N), and air gap ( g) between the translator and stator, on the dynamic performance, in-cylinder pressure and electric power generation of the free piston linear engine are studied. The study results show that the reduction of Le has a benefit for improving the piston dynamic performance and output electric power, however it also reduced the cylinder pressure. The increase of number of coil turns N results in the reduction of the peak piston velocity, displacement, acceleration, and pressure in the cylinder, however, it increases the output electric power of the free piston linear engine. The peak piston velocity, displacement, acceleration, and pressure in the cylinder are considerably decreased when g is reduced. However, the reduction of g has a benefit to improve the output electric power of the free piston linear engine. The energy conversion efficiency can be maximized when g and Le are reduced, and N is increased.

Land use and climate change always induce significant changes in various parameters of the hydrologic cycle (e.g., surface runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration). The Wadi El-Assiuti downstream area in the Eastern Desert of Egypt is one of the most promising areas for development that is suffering from insufficient water availability and inadequate water quality for different purposes. The main goal of this research is to evaluate the changes in groundwater quality, land use, and climate in association with geology and flooding during three periods within the years 1997–2019 in the downstream portion of Wadi El-Assiuti in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, using spatiotemporal variation associated with groundwater hydrochemical analysis and GIS techniques. About 133 groundwater samples were collected to examine groundwater quality changes over time. Different groundwater quality indices were calculated, and the results show that TDS levels of groundwater in the study area ranged between 1080–2780 mg/L, 672–4564 mg/L, and 811–6084 mg/L, while SAR levels varied within 6.15–15.34, 1.83–28.87, and 1.43–30.57 for the years 1997, 2007, and 2019, respectively. Both RSBC and SSP values exhibited significantly increasing trends over time. KR values were within 1.36–4.06 in 1997, 0.58–14.09 in 2007, and 0.35–14.92 in 2019; MAR values were within 6.9–45.2 in 1997, 20.79–71.5 in 2007, and 17.71–75.81 in 2019; and PI values were within 60.16–83 in 1997, 45.56–101.03 in 2007, and 42.51–148.88 in 2019. Across the entire study area, ongoing land use changes increased from 1.1% in 1997 to 4.1% in 2019. Findings pointed to the significant contribution of the deep Nubian Sandstone Aquifer to the groundwater aquifer at Wadi El-Assiuti through fractures and deep faults. Given the climatic conditions from 1997–2019, these changes may have affected water quality in shallow aquifers, especially with increasing evaporation. Realizing the spatiotemporal variation of the aquifer recharge system, land use development, and climate change clearly would help in water resource management. This study revealed that flooding events, deep-seated geologic structures, and land use development associated with human activities have the highest impact on groundwater quality.

Land use and climate change always induce significant changes in various parameters of the hydrologic cycle (e.g., surface runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration). The Wadi El-Assiuti downstream area in the Eastern Desert of Egypt is one of the most promising areas for development that is suffering from insufficient water availability and inadequate water quality for different purposes. The main goal of this research is to evaluate the changes in groundwater quality, land use, and climate in association with geology and flooding during three periods within the years 1997–2019 in the downstream portion of Wadi El-Assiuti in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, using spatiotemporal variation associated with groundwater hydrochemical analysis and GIS techniques. About 133 groundwater samples were collected to examine groundwater quality changes over time. Different groundwater quality indices were calculated, and the results show that TDS levels of groundwater in the study area ranged between 1080–2780 mg/L, 672–4564 mg/L, and 811–6084 mg/L, while SAR levels varied within 6.15–15.34, 1.83–28.87, and 1.43–30.57 for the years 1997, 2007, and 2019, respectively. Both RSBC and SSP values exhibited significantly increasing trends over time. KR values were within 1.36–4.06 in 1997, 0.58–14.09 in 2007, and 0.35–14.92 in 2019; MAR values were within 6.9–45.2 in 1997, 20.79–71.5 in 2007, and 17.71–75.81 in 2019; and PI values were within 60.16–83 in 1997, 45.56–101.03 in 2007, and 42.51–148.88 in 2019. Across the entire study area, ongoing land use changes increased from 1.1% in 1997 to 4.1% in 2019. Findings pointed to the significant contribution of the deep Nubian Sandstone Aquifer to the groundwater aquifer at Wadi El-Assiuti through fractures and deep faults. Given the climatic conditions from 1997–2019, these changes may have affected water quality in shallow aquifers, especially with increasing evaporation. Realizing the spatiotemporal variation of the aquifer recharge system, land use development, and climate change clearly would help in water resource management. This study revealed that flooding events, deep-seated geologic structures, and land use development associated with human activities have the highest impact on groundwater quality.

Abstract Based on Euler-Lagrange method and Finnie erosion model, the gas-solid flow in governing valve was numerically simulated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software in this paper. The discrete phase model (DPM) was used to simulate the particle flow, and the Eulerian conservation equation was used to solve the continuous phase. The shear stress transport (SST) turbulence mode was chosen to estimate the turbulence viscosity. Results show that the serious erosion area is found mainly on the valve chest bottom and throat under the large and medium lift conditions, but on the valve diffuser under the small lift condition. With the decrease of valve opening, the erosion rate density increases. The main factor affecting solid particle erosion (SPE) is different in the course of valve opening. The erosion rate density reaches the maximum in the particle diameter range of 40–60 μm.

Abstract Based on Euler-Lagrange method and Finnie erosion model, the gas-solid flow in governing valve was numerically simulated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software in this paper. The discrete phase model (DPM) was used to simulate the particle flow, and the Eulerian conservation equation was used to solve the continuous phase. The shear stress transport (SST) turbulence mode was chosen to estimate the turbulence viscosity. Results show that the serious erosion area is found mainly on the valve chest bottom and throat under the large and medium lift conditions, but on the valve diffuser under the small lift condition. With the decrease of valve opening, the erosion rate density increases. The main factor affecting solid particle erosion (SPE) is different in the course of valve opening. The erosion rate density reaches the maximum in the particle diameter range of 40–60 μm.

It is crucial to produce potable water from salt water in arid places using a stepped solar still desalination process. This work presents the temperature distribution and phase transformation of lauric acid PCM in inclined stepped solar still desalination system. A second-order finite volume method is employed for discretizing the two-dimensional geometry, while energy, continuity, and momentum equations are solved and then coupled using the second-order PRESTO algorithm. The solidification and melting CFD models have been used to capture the melting stages of lauric acid PCM. Four steps with an inclination of 30° to ground and two different cases with saline water levels of 10 mm and 40 mm have been reported. The results reveal that the temperature and mass fraction of lauric acid PCM strongly depends on the saline water level at each step, the number of steps, the angle of inclination, and the location of the solar still step. The maximum percentage increase in PCM melting fraction is 50%, and a PCM temperature rise of 4 °C is observed in the case of SWL-max compared to SWL-min. The total enthalpy of lauric acid PCM is increased by 30% for the SWL-max water level compared to the SWL-min water level.

It is crucial to produce potable water from salt water in arid places using a stepped solar still desalination process. This work presents the temperature distribution and phase transformation of lauric acid PCM in inclined stepped solar still desalination system. A second-order finite volume method is employed for discretizing the two-dimensional geometry, while energy, continuity, and momentum equations are solved and then coupled using the second-order PRESTO algorithm. The solidification and melting CFD models have been used to capture the melting stages of lauric acid PCM. Four steps with an inclination of 30° to ground and two different cases with saline water levels of 10 mm and 40 mm have been reported. The results reveal that the temperature and mass fraction of lauric acid PCM strongly depends on the saline water level at each step, the number of steps, the angle of inclination, and the location of the solar still step. The maximum percentage increase in PCM melting fraction is 50%, and a PCM temperature rise of 4 °C is observed in the case of SWL-max compared to SWL-min. The total enthalpy of lauric acid PCM is increased by 30% for the SWL-max water level compared to the SWL-min water level.