Sharif Digital Repository

In this paper, a two-dimensional, two-phase, non-isothermal model is presented to predict the electrochemical, mass transfer and heat transfer behaviors in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). Governing equations including the momentum, continuity, heat transfer, proton and electron transport, species transport for water, methanol, and all the gas species (carbon dioxide, methanol vapor, water vapor, oxygen, and nitrogen) and the auxiliary equations are coupled to studying the various phenomena in DMFC. The modeling results agree well with the four different experimental data in an extensive range of operation conditions. A parametric study is also performed to examine the effects of the cell... 

In this paper, a two-dimensional, two-phase, isothermal model is presented to investigate the water transport characteristic and water distribution in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) with emphasis on exploring the water distribution in different layers of DMFC. The liquid-gas two-phase mass transport in the porous anode and cathode is formulated based on multi-fluid model in porous media and water and methanol crossover through the membrane are considered with the effect of diffusion, electro-osmotic drag, and convection. The modeling results agree well with the three different experimental data in an extensive range of operation conditions. A parametric study is also performed to examine... 

Nonlinearity characteristics, such as backlash, in various mechanisms, limit the performance of feedback systems by causing delays, undesired oscillations and inaccuracy. Backlash influence analysis and modeling is necessary to design a precision controller for this nonlinearity. Backlash between meshing gears in an electromechanical system is modeled by the use of differential equations and a nonlinear spring-damper. According to this model, the paper shows that oscillations and delays cannot be compensated by a state feedback controller. Therefore, an adaptive algorithm is designed, based on different regions of the system angular position error. Since this controller needs an estimation... 

The performance of Co-flow fluidic thrust vectoring is a function of secondary flow characteristics and the fluidic nozzle geometry. In terms of nozzle geometry, wall shape and the secondary slot aspect ratio are the main parameters that control the vector angle. The present study aims to find a high quality wall shape to achieve the best thrust vectoring performance, which is characterized by the maximum thrust deflection angle with respect to the injected secondary air. A 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is employed to investigate the flow characteristics in thrust vectoring system. This model is validated using experimental data collected from the deflection of exhaust gases of... 

Surface mounted piezoelectric sensors and actuators on elastic structures are often connected to electrical networks. The coupled equations of motion of the elastic structure with piezoelectric elements are already well known. However, due to complex behavior of some electrical elements in the electrical network, it is not an easy task to obtain the integrated equations of the whole system. A good remedy for this problem is to take advantage of an equivalent electrical circuit (EEC) representation of the mechanical part, leading the entire system to be represented as an electrical circuit. In this study, the authors propose a new method for constructing the EEC. This method is based upon the... 

This paper describes a feasibility study of using numerical analysis technique, coupled with a non-linear simulation model of a conceptual fluidic-thrust-vectored unmanned aerial tailsitter to obtain required thrust deflection angles for a transition manoeuvre in take-off. It also studies the aircraft behaviour in transition subjected to the changes in specified parameters like the thrust value and the engine distance from the centre of gravity. The focus of the research presented was to get the vehicle from zero speed on the ground, in vertical position, to a specified velocity at a specified attitude, in cruise position. It was also specified that, when the vehicle was considered to be... 

The feasibility of using fluidic thrust-vectoring system, as a control technique for the longitudinal and lateral trim purpose was investigated in this study. For this purpose, integration of a Co-flow method into the propulsion unit of a conceptual aerial vehicle was assumed. The focus of the research presented was to estimate the required thrust vector angle in order to trim the aerial vehicle in different flight phases. Since the fluidic thrust vectoring requires secondary air flow to deflect the engine exhaust gas, this research also provides an analytical toolset for preliminary sizing of a suitable secondary air supply. It was found that thrust vectoring could be an effective mean of... 

In this paper, the dynamic stability of a small thrust-vectored flapless aerial vehicle is investigated. The study was based on linearization of nonlinear equations of motion, using the aircraft longitudinal and lateral-directional stability derivatives. Since the aircraft was supposed to be merely controlled by fluidic thrust vectoring, the concept was novel and some innovative derivatives had to be introduced. The aircraft characteristic equations were then derived in terms of the obtained derivatives and used for dynamic stability analysis and flying quality assessment in horizontal flight. As well, nonlinear simulation modeling was used for dynamical mode excitation and observation. All...