Study of Ti – Al based high-temperature cermet filters

Operation in corrosive media and/or at high temperatures requires improved characteristics of the performance and durability of filtering equipment. The Ti – Al intermetallic system combines low density with high strength and exhibits high resistance to oxidation and corrosion at elevated temperatures. We present the results of studying high-temperature Ti – Al cermet products (filters) with nanoscale pores. Filters were obtained from a mixture of Ti and Al powders (mass ratio 40:60) by thermal explosion. XRD methods showed that the synthesized material consists of two main phases: TiAl3 and Al2O3. The microstructure analysis revealed the presence of large-sized TiAl3 structures and spherical Al2O3 aggregates enveloped by nanostructured TiAl3. Moreover, nanoscale fibrous TiAl3 compounds forming a multilevel developed cobweb-like structure are observed in the entire volume of the pore space of the material. The open porosity of the material was 48%, the pore size was 0.1 – 0.2 μm, the efficiency of the porous material was 99.999%, the resistance to gas flow was 100 mm of water column, and the filtration index was 0.062. Thermal tests revealed the possibility of effective use of filters under conditions of elevated (up to 800°C) temperatures and corrosive media due to the chemically stable and heat-resistant binary structure of the material. The results obtained can be used to improve the methodology of the development and operation of high-temperature cermet filters based on Ti – Al.

Experimental Investigation on Geopolymer Concrete with Various Sustainable Mineral Ashes

The aim of this research was to find the best alternative for river sand in concrete. In both geopolymer concrete (GPC) and cement concrete (CC), the fine aggregates are replaced with various sustainable mineral ashes, and mechanical and durability tests are conducted. Specimens for tests were made of M40 grade GPC and CC, with five different soil types as river sand substitute. The materials chosen to replace the river sand are manufactured sand (M-sand), sea sand, copper slag, quarry dust, and limestone sand as 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, respectively by weight. GPF50 and CC50 were kept as control mixes for GPC and CC, respectively. The test results of respective concretes are compared with the control mix results. From compressive strength results, M-sand as a fine aggregate had an increase in strength in every replacement level of GPC and CC. Additionally, copper slag is identified with a significant strength reduction in GPC and CC after 25% replacement. Copper slag, quarry dust, and limestone sand in GPC and CC resulted in considerable loss of strength in all replacement levels except for 25% replacement. The cost of GPC and CC is mixed with the selected fine aggregate replacement materials which arrived. Durability and cost analyses are performed for the advisable mixes and control mixes to have a comparison. Durability tests, namely, water absorption and acid tests and water permeability and thermal tests are conducted and discussed. Durability results also indicate a positive signal to mixes with M-sand. The advisable replacement of river sand with each alternative is discussed.

Analysis of temperature measuring error in high-temperature ceramic samples with various methods of thermocouple fixing

The evaluation of methodological errors in measuring the temperature of nitride ceramics under unilateral heating by high-intensity heat flow was carried out. Simulation of thermal processes in the temperature sensor — sample system was performed using the Siemens PLMNX program. Various methods of fixing platinum-rhodium thermocouples with a diameter of 0.1 mm on the surface and inside the samples have been investigated. The regularities of the influence of the size of the hot junction, the presence of thermal cement, the shape of the grooves for fixing thermocouples on the methodological error of temperature measurement were investigated. Significant errors were revealed when installing thermocouples on the surface of the sample without violating its integrity. Recommendations for the installation of thermocouples were given. The results of the paper can be useful in the preparation of experimental samples for thermal tests on radiation heating stands.

Fretting Fatigue Performance of Unidirectional, Laminated Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Straps at Elevated Service Temperature

The fretting fatigue performance of laminated, unidirectional (UD), pin-loaded, carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) straps that can be used as bridge hanger cables was investigated at a sustained service temperature of 60 °C. The aim of this paper is to elucidate the influence of the slightly elevated service temperature on the tensile fatigue performance of CFRP straps. First, steady state thermal tests at ambient temperature and at 60 °C are presented, in order to establish the behaviour of the straps at these temperatures. These results indicated that the static tensile performance of the straps is not affected by the increase in temperature. Subsequently, nine upper stress levels (USLs) between 650 and 1400 MPa were chosen in order to establish the S–N curve at 60 °C (frequency 10 Hz; R = 0.1) and a comparison with an existing S–N curve at ambient temperature was made. In general, the straps fatigue limit was slightly decreased by temperature, up to 750 MPa USL, while, for the higher USLs, the straps performed slightly better as compared with the S–N curve at ambient temperature.

Analysis of fuel consumption of modern electronically controlled high-speed marine engines

The paper presents thermal tests of modern electronically controlled high-speed main engines of Caterpillar 3500 series of marine vessels. During the thermotechnical tests, experimental studies were carried out to change the values of the actual fuel consumption depending on the engine load. The number of engines under study installed on sea tugs during 10 years of operation was 80 units. The accumulated experience in conducting experimental studies of the technical condition control by the CIP method of diagnostics will make it possible to move from the classical approaches of technical operation to the new ones included in the system of remote monitoring and control of ship technical means of autonomous ships in operation. The experimental research methodology includes a classic approach to conducting such tests and a modern approach with remote data transmission to the shipowner’s office. Studies have shown that different types of 3500 series engines have different actual fuel consumption values, but for each series, for example, 3512B, the scatter of points is small. The results of experimental studies of Caterpillar 3500 series engines made it possible to construct generalized dependences of the actual fuel consumption for each engine model separately. Experimental studies of ship technical means by the CIP method of diagnostics of sea vessels in operation are the basis for the control system of autonomous ships.

Thermal Design and Verification of Spherical Scientific Satellite Q-SAT

Small satellites have gradually become an important mean of space scientific exploration. The Tsinghua University developed a spherical small satellite, Q-SAT, which is aimed at detecting the Earth gravity and atmosphere parameters. In the current paper, thermal control for Q-SAT is discussed. For heat exchange between the satellite and the environment, radiation plays the main part. Different from traditional cuboid satellites, the current spherical satellite has no individual heat input and output plane which brings challenges to the thermal design of the satellite. In addition, the cost of small satellites is required to be as low as possible. A passive thermal control solution based on integrated spherical structure is employed on the Q-SAT. The combination of two integrated hemispheres is designed to facilitate the heat conduction. Different materials are utilized to control the heat transfer path. Firstly, a set of numerical simulations demonstrate that the current design can be well adapted to complex flight environment. Next, the thermal design is verified by thermal tests. As the traditional heat radiation lamps cannot meet the test requirements of the spherical satellite, an external heat flow test method which is based on distributed heaters is proposed. Results from numerical simulations agree well with the experimental test results. Both results show that the thermal system can guarantee the functions of the satellite. Q-SAT was successfully launched into orbit on August 6, 2020. The telemetry data from Q-SAT verified the effectiveness of the satellite thermal system. The thermal design and test method proposed in present paper can potentially be adopted to other small scientific satellites as well.

Triaxial Failure Behavior of Highly Porous Cementitious Foams Used as Heat Insulation

This work reports a detailed experimental study that is aimed at investigating the failure mechanisms of highly porous cementitious foams used as heat insulation under triaxial stress states. The designed target dry density of the considered foam mixture was 180 kg/m3 by setting the water-to-cement ratio of the considered cement paste to 0.4. The mechanical experiments were accompanied by thermal tests to observe the effect that specific air void structures have on the resulting insulation properties and by micro-to-meso geometric studies to identify and classify the inner structure of the considered mineralized foams. Unconfined compressive strengths were performed first, obtaining peak stresses of 0.252, 0.283, 0.223, and 0.251 (results in MPa), corresponding to peak strains of 39.0, 28.6, 45.3, and 20.6 (in ×10−3 mm/mm), respectively. Moreover, three triaxial confinement levels of 33%, 66%, and 90% of the mean uniaxial compressive strength (fc) were adopted. The results showed that a 33% confinement may cause a strength increase and an almost perfect elastic–plastic stress–strain behavior. However, higher levels of confinements (i.e., 66% and 90%) produced very unstable behaviors in terms of the final strength and stress–strain response.

Enhancing Thermal Properties of Steam Turbine Blades by Coating with Nanomaterials

Heat resistant coatings are considered for the external surface Low-Pressure Steam Turbines (LPST). 410 stainless steel covered with nano heat resistant coatings consists of a heat resistant connecting layer enhanced by nanoparticles. A commercial paint was modified by using 20%wt of (titanium dioxide (TiO2) - aluminum oxide (Al2O3)) with different concentrations range (25,50,75wt% of TiO2) layers. These nano-coatings paints were airbrushed onto the surface of specimens of steam turbine blades. The test rig and experimental apparatus have been fabricated and collected to accomplish the thermal tests. The samples were subjected to heat resistance and a temperature test approximately similar to the steam turbine's operation condition temperature. The test results are used to choose the nano-coating layer with a concentration that ensures a composition's highest protective properties. The test sample with concentration (paint-(75% Al2O3+25% TiO2)) showed the highest thermal properties compares with the other cases.

Thermal Camouflage Clothing in Diurnal and Nocturnal Environments

This paper shows the possibility to thermally camouflage a human body in a beach environment, during the day and at night, through the use of two knitted fabric clothing prototypes. The conceptual design process applied was initially developed based on the need to firstly understand the behaviour of an individual dressed under the focus of a thermal imaging camera in the light of the infrared spectrum. The thermal tests undertaken to observe the model's thermal camouflage in certain positions/perspectives in both environments, enable simultaneously running of different solutions while introducing changes to the clothing. Printing with copper pigments and the patchwork using stitched structures in polyester knitted fabric played a decisive role to capture the thermal colours of the thermal image intended for the camouflage effect.