Experimental heat and mass transfer of the separated and coupled rotating desiccant wheel and heat wheel

The experimental evaluation of the separated and coupled rotating desiccant wheel and heat wheel is reported. The study aims to investigate the performance of the desiccant wheel and of the heat wheel both when operated separately and jointly. The performance evaluation of the desiccant wheel is based on its moisture removal capacity (MRC), moisture removal regeneration (MRR), and moisture mass balance (MMB). In addition, the study used the total energy balance (TEB), sensible coefficient of performance (COP_Sensible), latent coefficient of performance (COP_Latent) and, total coefficient of performance (COP_Total). The performance of the heat wheel is based on its effectiveness. The COP_Sensible, COP_Latent and, COP_Total are used in the performance evaluation of the coupled desiccant wheel and heat wheel. The general results of the study show that the MRC, MRR and MMB coupled with the TEB, COP_Latent, COP_Sensible and COP_Total predict adequately the performance of the desiccant wheel. In addition, the coupled operation of the desiccant wheel and heat wheel, contributed to the reduction of the external thermal energy requirement for the regeneration of the desiccant wheel. This study can be applied in other researches seeking evaluation of the desiccant wheel, heat wheel, and their combined operation. Moreover, the data presented here are significant for the desiccant wheel benchmarking and for evaluation of the desiccant wheel models.     

Comparative performance of desiccant wheel with effective and ordinary regeneration sector using mathematical model

A mathematical model for predicting the performance of a desiccant wheel with effective regeneration sector has been used. This model has been used to conduct a comparative performance of desiccant wheel with effective and ordinary regeneration sector. It was found that for all the cases considered in this study like rotation of wheel, regeneration temperature, velocity and ambient moisture, the desiccant wheel with “effective regeneration sector” gives better result as compared to ordinary regeneration sector.     

Parametric study of the cyclic behaviour of a hygroscopic matrix in a desiccant airflow system

The study of the transport phenomena in desiccant airflow systems has been addressed in numerous research works, some of them concerning combined processes of cooling, dehumidification and energy recovery. In this paper a detailed numerical model is used to simulate the behaviour of a parallel-plate channel, cyclically exposed to two airflows with different inlet conditions, the plate being composed by a substrate and a desiccant porous layer. The modelled channel is considered to be representative of a real channel of a hygroscopic matrix that is operating at steady state regime, like it occurs in desiccant or enthalpy rotors. The numerical results are treated in order to represent the global behaviour of the hygroscopic rotor under steady state conditions. Results of a parametric study are presented as maps of isovalues of the heat and mass transfer rates and of the outlet states of both airflows, considering channels of distinct wall thickness, of different thickness of the desiccant and the subtract layers, together with wide ranges of the rotation speed and of the wheel partition. The mapped results presented provide an overview of the operation characteristics of hygroscopic rotors, allowing a quick determination of the optimum range of values for relevant parameters, such as the rotation speed and the wheel partition. The model is thus an interesting tool for design and manufacture purposes of enthalpy and desiccant wheels.     

Economic and technical assessment of the desiccant wheel effect on the thermal performance of cross flow cooling towers in variable wet bulb temperature

Performance improvements of cross flow cooling towers in variable wet bulb temperature were performed. A conventional mathematical model is used to predict desiccant wheel effect on the performance of cooling tower. It is found that by using optimum parameters of desiccant wheel, the inlet air wet bulb temperature into the cooling tower would decrease more than 6 °C and outlet water temperature would decrease more than 4 °C.     

Effect of desiccant isotherm on the design parameters of desiccant wheel

A one dimensional mathematical model is developed to optimize the design parameters of desiccant wheel. The result shows that after some value of design parameters, change in moisture removal is negligible. The optimum isotherm shape should be R = 0.1. At this isotherm optimum value of wheel length, and channel pitch should be in the range of 0.2–0.25 and 0.003–0.004 m respectively.     

Theoretical study of the effect of liquid desiccant mass flow rate on the performance of a cross flow parallel-plate liquid desiccant-air dehumidifier

A computer simulation using MATLAB is investigated to predict the distribution of air stream parameters (humidity ratio and temperature) as well as desiccant parameters (temperature and concentration) inside the parallel plate absorber. The present absorber consists of fourteen parallel plates with a surface area per unit volume ratio of 80 m²/m³. Calcium chloride as a liquid desiccant flows through the top of the plates to the bottom while the air flows through the gap between the plates making it a cross flow configuration. The model results show the effect of desiccant mass flow rate on the performance of the dehumidifier (moisture removal and dehumidifier effectiveness). Performance comparisons between present cross-flow dehumidifier and another experimental cross-flow dehumidifier in the literature are carried out. The simulation is expected to help in optimizing of a cross flow dehumidifier.     

The effect of velocity on rigid wheel performance

A simulation model to predict the effect of velocity on rigid-wheel performance for off-road terrain was examined. The soil–wheel simulation model is based on determining the forces acting on a wheel in steady state conditions. The stress distribution at the interface was analyzed from the instantaneous equilibrium between wheel and soil elements. The soil was presented by its reaction to penetration and shear. The simulation model describes the effect of wheel velocity on the soil–wheel interaction performances such as: wheel sinkage, wheel slip, net tractive ratio, gross traction ratio, tractive efficiency and motion resistance ratio. Simulation results from several soil-wheel configurations corroborate that the effect of velocity should be considered. It was found that wheel performance such as net tractive ratio and tractive efficiency, increases with increasing velocity. Both, relative wheel sinkage and relative free rolling wheel force ratio, decrease as velocity increases. The suggested model improves the performance prediction of off-road operating vehicles and can be used for applications such as controlling and improving off-road vehicle performance.     

Experimental and numerical investigations on the performance of dehumidifying desiccant beds composed of silica-gel and thermal energy storage particles

Enhanced efficiency of the adsorption process in the dehumidifier is a key element for improved performance of desiccant cooling systems. Due to the exothermic nature of the adsorption process, the dehumidification and cooling capacity are limited by significant temperature changes in the adsorption column. In the present study, the effects of integration of sensible and latent heat storage particles in the desiccant bed for in situ management of released adsorption heat are investigated. For this purpose, column experiments are performed using an initially dry granular bed made of silica-gel particles or a homogeneous mixture of silica gel and inert sensible or latent heat storage particles. The packed bed is subject to a sudden uniform air flow at selected values of temperature and humidity. Also, a packed bed numerical model is developed that includes the coupled non-equilibrium heat and moisture transfer in the solid and gas phases. Investigations of the heat and mass transfer characteristics are reported using the composite structure and the results are compared with the base case of simple silica gel bed. Improved desiccant cooling system performance can be obtained by appropriate adjustment of desiccant cycle operation and proper choice of the volume ratio of thermal energy storage particles.     

Measurement and modeling for two-dimensional normal stress distribution of wheel on loose soil

On the Moon or Mars, typical target environments for exploration rovers are covered with fine sand, so their wheels easily slip on such weak ground. When wheel slippage occurs, it is hard for the rover to follow its desired route. In the worst case, the rover gets stuck in loose soil and cannot move anymore. To reduce the risk of the rover getting stuck, analysis of the contact mechanics between the soil and wheel is important. Various normal stress distribution models for under the wheel surface have been proposed so far. However, classical models assume a uniform stress distribution in the wheel’s width direction. In this study, we measured the two-dimensional normal stress distribution of a wheel in experiments. The results clarified that the stress distribution in the wheel’s width direction is a mountain-shape curve with a peak located at the center of the wheel. Based on the results, we constructed a stress distribution model for the wheel’s width direction. In this paper, we report our measurements for the two-dimensional stress distribution of a wheel on loose soil and introduce our stress distribution model for the wheel’s width direction based on our experimental results.     

Analysis of Mars Exploration Rover wheel mobility processes and the limitations of classical terramechanics models using discrete element method simulations

A previous three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) model of Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs) wheel mobility demonstrated agreement with test data for wheel drawbar pull and sinkage for wheel slips from 0.0 to 0.7. Here, results from the previous model are compared with wheel mobility data for non-MER wheels that cover the range of wheel slip from 0.0 to 1.0. Wheel slips near 1.0 are of interest for assessing rover mobility hazards. DEM MER wheel model predictions show close agreement with weight-normalized wheel drawbar pull data from 0.0 to 0.99 wheel slip and show a similar trend for wheel sinkage. The nonlinear increase in MER wheel drawbar pull and sinkage for wheel slips greater that 0.7 is caused by development of a tailings pile behind the wheel as it digs into the regolith.Classical terramechanics wheel mobility equations used in the ARTEMIS MER mobility model are inaccurate above wheel slips of 0.6 as they do not account for the regolith tailings pile behind the wheel. To improve ARTEMIS accuracy at wheel slips greater that 0.6 a lookup table of drawbar pull, wheel torque, and sinkage derived from DEM mobility simulations can be substituted for terramechanics equation calculations.     

基于恒等映射多层极限学习机的高速列车踏面磨耗预测模型

针对高速列车车轮踏面磨耗单一模型无法对各种复杂工况下列车车轮踏面磨耗进行定量计算的问题, 提出一种基于恒等映射多层极限学习机的高速列车车轮踏面磨耗测量方法. 首先将恒等映射引入到多层极限学习机中, 提出一种基于恒等映射的多层极限学习机模型(identity multilayer extreme learning machine, I-ML-ELM), 采用机器学习公共数据集对该模型进行性能验证, 数值结果表明I-ML-ELM模型具有较好的准确性与泛化性; 然后基于车辆-轨道耦合动力学理论建立高速列车的车辆-轨道耦合动力学模型, 模拟列车运行的不同工况, 观测和分析高速列车的车轮踏面磨耗情况, 并通过I-ML-ELM预测模型对高速列车车轮踏面磨耗量进行学习及预测; 最后应用高速列车车轮踏面磨耗的实际测量值对I-ML-ELM预测模型进行进一步的验证, 结果表明: I-ML-ELM预测模型的各项性能参数指标在整体上优于以下五种网络: ELM, FLN, ML-ELM, ML-KELM和DLSFLN, 通过高速列车线路实测数据的进一步验证表明, 本文提出的基于I-ML-ELM的高速列车车轮踏面磨耗预测模型能较好地反映不同参数对高速列车车轮踏面磨耗值的影响规律.      

Design and development of a new transformable wheel used in amphibious all-terrain vehicles (A-ATV)

Conventional ground-wheeled vehicles usually have poor trafficability, low efficiency, a large amount of energy consumption and possible failure when driving on soft terrain. To solve this problem, this paper presents a new design of transformable wheels for use in an amphibious all-terrain vehicle. The wheel has two extreme working statuses: unfolded walking-wheel and folded rigid wheel. Furthermore, the kinematic characteristics of the transformable wheel were studied using a kinematic method. When the wheel is unfolded at walking-wheel status, the displacement, velocity and acceleration of the wheel with different slip rates were analyzed. The stress condition is studied by using a classic soil mechanics method when the transformable wheel is driven on soft terrain. The relationship among wheel traction, wheel parameters and soil deformation under the stress were obtained. The results show that both the wheel traction and trafficability can be improved by using the proposed transformable wheel. Finally, a finite element model is established based on the vehicle terramechanics, and the interaction result between the transformable wheel and elastic–plastic soil is simulated when the transformable wheel is driven at different unfold angles. The simulation results are consistent with the theoretical analysis, which verifies the applicability and effectiveness of the transformable wheel developed in this paper.     

Mobility performance of a rigid wheel in low gravity environments

To investigate influences of gravity on mobility of wheeled rovers for future lunar/planetary exploration missions, model experiments of a soil-wheel system were performed on an aircraft during variable gravity maneuvers. The experimental set-up consists of a single rigid wheel and a soil bed with two kinds of dry sands: lunar soil simulant and Toyoura sand. The experimental results revealed that a lower gravity environment yields higher wheel slippage in variable gravity conditions. In addition to the partial gravity experiments, the same experiments with variable wheel load levels were also performed on ground (1 g conditions). The on-ground experiments produced opposite results to those obtained in the partial gravity experiments, where a lower wheel load yields lower slippage in a constant gravity environment. In low gravity environments, fluidity (flowability) of soil increases due to the confining stress reduction in the soil, while the effect of the wheel load on sinkage decreases. As a result, both of these effects are canceled out, and gravity seemingly has no effect on the wheel sinkage. In the meantime, in addition to the effect of wheel load reduction, the increase of the soil flowability lessens the shear resistance to the wheel rotation, as a result of which the wheel is unable to hold sufficient traction in low gravity environments. This suggests that the mobility of the wheel is governed concurrently by two mechanisms: the bearing characteristics to the wheel load, and the shearing characteristics to the wheel rotation. It appears that, in low gravity, the wheel mobility deteriorates due to the relative decrease in the driving force while the wheel sinkage remains constant. Thus, it can be concluded that the lunar and/or Mars’ gravity environments will be unfavorable in terms of the mobility performance of wheels as compared to the earth’s gravity condition.     

2D FE–DEM analysis of tractive performance of an elastic wheel for planetary rovers

We have been developing a simulation program for use with soil–wheel interaction problems by coupling Finite Element Method (FEM) and Discrete Element Method (DEM) for which a wheel is modeled by FEM and soil is expressed by DEM. Previous two-dimensional FE–DEM was updated to analyze the tractive performance of a flexible elastic wheel by introducing a new algorithm learned from the PID-controller model. In an elastic wheel model, four structural parts were defined using FEM: the wheel rim, intermediate part, surface layer, and wheel lugs. The wheel rigidity was controlled by varying the Young’s Modulus of the intermediate part. The tractive performance of two elastic wheels with lugs for planetary rovers of the European Space Agency was analyzed. Numerical results were compared with experimentally obtained results collected at DLR Bremen, Germany. The FE–DEM result was confirmed to depict similar behaviors of tractive performance such as gross tractive effort, net traction, running resistance, and wheel sinkage, as in the results of experiments. Moreover, the tractive performance of elastic wheels on Mars was predicted using FE–DEM. Results clarified that no significant difference of net traction exists between the two wheels.     

基于优化多核极限学习机的车轮多边形磨耗识别

多边形车轮是铁路机车车辆中普遍存在的一种磨损现象, 随着列车运营里程的增加, 车轮磨耗程度显著提升, 严重影响着列车乘坐舒适性和运营安全性, 借助于列车运营监测大数据开展多边形车轮动态检测方法研究具有重要意义. 本研究基于列车轴箱垂向加速度建立了多边形车轮定量识别模型, 首先通过阶次分析识别出轴箱加速度中包含的多边形车轮主要阶次, 同时获取各阶次对应的加速度幅值信息, 在此基础上引入加速度信号熵特征共同构建多边形车轮磨耗幅值识别特征矩阵, 然后建立遗传变异粒子群优化多核极限学习机 (GMPSO-MKELM) 识别模型, 通过特征矩阵与磨耗幅值的映射关系, 进一步实现了车轮多边形磨耗幅值识别. 通过仿真与现场实测数据研究结果表明, 所提出的识别模型能有效地从轴箱加速度中提取多边形车轮主要阶次, 磨耗幅值的识别精度均优于对比模型且具有较高的检测效率, 可实现均方根误差为0.0010 (仿真结果) 与0.0134 (试验结果) 的精确识别, 本文提出的多边形车轮磨耗识别模型可为列车车轮检测与智能维护提供理论基础.      

不同轮轨接触模型在车桥耦合振动中的比较

以工程实例为研究对象,建立了整车-整桥系统耦合振动数值分析模型。考虑车轮的跳轨和挤密情况,建立了单边弹簧-阻尼系统弹性轮轨接触模型。采用基于多体系统动力学和有限元法结合的联合仿真技术,计算了两种轮轨接触时动车组列车以不同车速通过大跨度连续桥梁的耦合振动响应。数值计算结果表明:两种轮轨接触模型的桥梁动力响应比较接近;列车的横向轮轨力、轮重减载率和脱轨系数相差较大,当速度为350km/h时,横向轮轨力增大了46.5%,轮重减载率增大了130.8%,脱轨系数增大了24.66%;用单边-弹簧阻尼系统弹性轮轨接触模型更符合实际。     

Experimental study on wheel-soil interaction mechanics using in-wheel sensor and particle image velocimetry Part I: Analysis and modeling of normal stress of lightweight wheeled vehicles

This study aims to develop a wheel-soil interaction model for a lightweight wheeled vehicle by measuring the normal stress distribution beneath the wheel. The main contribution of this work is to clarify the wheel-soil interaction using a wheel testbed that equips multiple sensory systems. An in-wheel sensor accurately measures the normal stress distribution as well as the contact angles of the wheel. Particle image velocimetry with a standard off-the-shelf camera analyzes soil flow beneath the wheel. The proposed model for the normal stress distribution is formulated based on these experimental data and takes into account the following phenomena for the lightweight vehicles that have not been considered in the classical model: (1) the normal stress distribution takes the form of a Gaussian curve; (2) the normal stress distribution concentrates in the front region of the wheel contact patch; (3) the distribution is divided into two areas with the boundary determined by the maximum normal stress angle; and (4) the maximum normal stress exponentially decreases as the slip ratio increases. Then, the proposed model is experimentally validated. Furthermore, a simulation study for the wheel driving characteristics using the proposed model confirms the accuracy of the proposed model.     

Development of in-wheel sensor system for accurate measurement of wheel terrain interaction characteristics

Planetary rovers need high mobility on a rough terrain such as sandy soil, because such a terrain often impedes the rover mobility and causes significant wheel slip. Therefore, the accurate estimation of wheel soil interaction characteristics is an important issue. Recent studies related to wheel soil interaction mechanics have revealed that the classical wheel model has not adequately addressed the actual interaction characteristics observed through experiments. This article proposes an in-wheel sensor system equipped with two sensory devices on the wheel surface: force sensors that directly measure the force distribution between the wheel and soil and light sensors that accurately detect the wheel soil surface boundary line. This sensor design enables the accurate measurement of wheel terrain interaction characteristics such as wheel force distribution, wheel–soil contact angles, and wheel sinkage when the powered wheel runs on loose sand. In this article, the development of the in-wheel sensor system is introduced along with its system diagram and sensor modules. The usefulness of the in-wheel sensor system is then experimentally evaluated via a single wheel test bench. The experimental results confirm that explicit differences can be observed between the classical wheel model and practical data measured by the in-wheel sensor system.     

Motion of a wheel on snow

A model of a snow layer represented by a continuous set of columns whose deformations are described by the nonlinear model of an ideal elastoplastic continuous medium with viscous properties is proposed. Under the action of a rigid wheel on snow, the field of shear stresses is specified by the law of dry friction. Prom the equations of motion describing the plane-parallel motion of the wheel, there are determined a zone of contact of the wheel with snow, the steady motions of the wheel, and a mode of slipping the wheel. The numerical results are given in tables and figures. These results are obtained by solving the nonlinear equations of motion containing definite integrals with variable integration limits.     

Experimental and DEM analyses on wheel-soil interaction

In this paper, the wheel-soil interaction for a future lunar exploration mission is investigated by physical model tests and numerical simulations. Firstly, a series of physical model tests was conducted using the TJ-1 lunar soil simulant with various driving conditions, wheel configurations and ground void ratios. Then the corresponding numerical simulations were performed in a terrestrial environment using the Distinct Element Method (DEM) with a new contact model for lunar soil, where the rolling resistance and van der Waals force were implemented. In addition, DEM simulations in an extraterrestrial (lunar) environment were performed. The results indicate that tractive efficiency does not depend on wheel rotational velocity, but decreases with increasing extra vertical load on the wheel and ground void ratio. Rover performance improves when wheels are equipped with lugs. The DEM simulations in terrestrial environment can qualitatively reproduce the soil deformation pattern as observed in the physical model tests. The variations of traction efficiency against the driving condition, wheel configuration and ground void ratio attained in the DEM simulations match the experimental observations qualitatively. Moreover, the wheel track is found to be less evident and the tractive efficiency is higher in the extraterrestrial environment compared to the performance on Earth.