• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.173-181
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• 2016

This paper reports on the development of a roller-cam clutch mechanism. This mechanism can transfer bidirectional torque with high backdrivability, as well as increase actuation energy efficiency, in electrical exoskeleton robots. The developed mechanism was installed at the robot knee joint and unclutched during the swing phase which uses less metabolic energy, thereby functioning as a passive joint. The roller-cam clutch aimed to increase actuation energy efficiency while also producing high backdrivability by generating zero impedance for users during the swing phase. To develop the mechanism, mathematical modeling of the roller-cam clutch was conducted, with the design having more than three safety factors following optimization. Titanium (Ti-6AL-4V) material was used. Finally, modeling verification was done using ANSYS software.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.938-943
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• 2007

In this paper, we show that, in case of piezoelectric micropower generator, just replacing Schottky diodes in the bridge rectifier with ultra-low reverse leakage current diodes improves the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency by more than 100%. Experimental and PSPICE simulation results show that, due to the ultra-low leakage current, the charging speed of the circuit employing PAD1 is higher than that of the circuit employing Schottky diodes and the saturation voltage of the circuit employing PAD1 is also higher. This study suggests that , when the internal impedance of source is very large (a few tens of $M{\Omega}$) such that maximum charging current is a few microamperes or less, in order to realize literally the energy scavenging system, ultra-low reverse leakage current diodes should be used for efficient energy conversion. Since low-level vibration is ubiquitous in the environment ranging from human movement to large infrastructures and the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency is much more critical for use of these vibrations, we believe that the improvement in the efficiency using ultra-low leakage diodes, as found in this work, will widen greatly the application of piezoelectric micropower generator.

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2001

In this paper, the defrosting characteristics of a PTC heating sheet is investigated by means of a defrosting heat source for the fin-tube heat exchanger in a refrigerator The defrosting characteristics of the PTC heating sheet are examined and compared with those of a conventional electric heater experimentally. It is found that the characteristics of the water draining rate with the defrosting time show a smoothly oscillating pattern when the PTC heating sheet Is used, and the drained water is completely melted. The defrosting efficiency of the PTC heating sheet is found to be about 75%, which is about 25% higher than that of the electric heater. Also, the reduction of the defrosting time and the increment of the defrosting efficiency may be obtained by improving the arrangement of the heating elements of the healing sheet. It is shown that the defrosting time of the PTC heating sheet increases linearly with the amount of frost, whereas the defrosting efficiency is nearly constant. When applying the PTC heating sheet to the refrigerating system, one should notice the fact that the defrosting performance of the PTC heating sheet may be degraded due to the repetitive operations.

• Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.256-265
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• 2014

Energy efficiency is an essential consideration in sustainable manufacturing. This study presents the car fender-based injection molding process optimization that aims to resolve the trade-off between energy consumption and product quality at the same time in which process parameters are optimized variables. The process is specially optimized by applying response surface methodology and using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA II) in order to resolve multi-object optimization problems. To reduce computational cost and time in the problem-solving procedure, the combination of CAE-integration tools is employed. Based on the Pareto diagram, an appropriate solution is derived out to obtain optimal parameters. The optimization results show that the proposed approach can help effectively engineers in identifying optimal process parameters and achieving competitive advantages of energy consumption and product quality. In addition, the engineering analysis that can be employed to conduct holistic optimization of the injection molding process in order to increase energy efficiency and product quality was also mentioned in this paper.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-28
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• 2016

A grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system comprised of multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) modules was installed in a cold climate region in the U.S. This roof-mounted stationary PV system is a real-world application of PV for building energy generation in International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Climate Zone 5 (and possibly similar climate zones such as 6, 7 and 8), and it served the purposes of research, demonstration, and education. The importance of this work is highlighted by the fact that there has been less emphasis on solar PV system in this region of the U.S. because of climate and latitude challenges. The system is equipped with an extensive data acquisition system capable of collecting performance and meteorological data while visually displaying real-time and historical data through an interactive online interface. Experimental data was collected and analyzed for the system over a one-year period with the focus of the study being on measurements of power production, energy generation, and efficiency. The annual average daily solar insolation incident upon the array was found to be $4.37kWh/m^2$. During the first year of operation, the PV system provided 5,801 kWh (1,264 kWh/kWp) of usable AC electrical energy, and it was found to operate at an annual average conversion efficiency and PR of 10.6 percent and 0.79, respectively. The annual average DC to AC conversion efficiency of the inverter was found to be 94 percent.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.24-30
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• 2011

500W class MTG(Micro turbine generator) operating at 400,000 rpm is under development. From the cycle analysis, it is decided that the self-sustaining speed of MTG is 200,000rpm and the generating speed is 400,000 rpm. Therefore, motor should be designed so that it is able to rotate the rotor up to 200,000rpm and generator should designed so that it is able to generate 500W output at 400,000rpm. First step to design motor/generator is to determine the power and efficiency requirement. Not only the power into the compressor and from the turbine at the operating speed but also the mechanical and electrical losses should be considered in determining the power and efficiency requirement. This study presents the procedure and the results of determining the power and efficiency requirement considering the mechanical and electrical losses depending on the rotating speed which is measured from the experiment.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.29 no.5 s.236
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• pp.625-632
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• 2005

This paper describes the shape optimization of a stator blade in a single-stage transonic axial compressor. The blade optimization has been performed using response surface method and three-dimensional Navier-Stokes analysis. Two shape variables of the stator blade, which are used to define a stacking line, are introduced to increase an adiabatic efficiency. Data points for response evaluations have been selected by D-optimal design, and linear programming method has been used for an optimization on a response surface. Throughout the shape optimization of a stator blade, the adiabatic efficiency is increased to 5.8 percent compared to that of the reference shape of the stator. The increase of the efficiency is mainly caused by the pressure enhancement in the stator blade. Flow separation on the blade suction surface of the stator is also improved by optimizing the stator blade. It is noted that the optimization of the stator blade is also useful method to increase the adiabatic efficiency in the axial compressor as well as the optimization of a rotor blade, which is widely used now.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.24 no.10 s.181
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• pp.2428-2437
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• 2000

In general, it is known that the portion of leakage loss is more than 20 % of total loss in scroll compressor. So far many studies have been done to improve the leakage problem and volumetric efficiency. In order to do this it is necessary that the leakage is exactly evaluated for conventional scroll model. Almost all studies that have been done were assumed that the clearance remains constant while operating. But in actual operating conditions, scroll wrap is deformed due to elevated refrigerant gas temperature. And this makes the leakage clearance change, so the leakage mass flow and the volumetric efficiency are also changed. In this study we assumed the steady state operating condition and obtain the average temperature and convection heat transfer coefficient in terms of involute angle. With these results, using finite element method we analyzed the heat transfer of scroll wrap, then did thermal deformation analysis. Then we obtain the leakage clearance and do the leakage and volumetric efficiency analysis. Compared with undeformed feature, we examine the effect of the thermal deformation on the leakage. The results say that the leakage mass flow for the case of considering thermal deformation is less than that for the unconsidered one, and this means that the leakage clearance is reduced due to thermal deformation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2013

This study was performed to develop a high efficiency submersible axial pump for concentration wastewater treatment. To do this, we simulated the effect of some parameters such as the axial twist angle of a blade(${\beta}$), the radial twist angle of a blade(${\alpha}$) and the length of a blade (l) on pump efficiency using commercial code, ANSYS CFX and BladeGen. The results showed that the axial twist angle of a blade(${\beta}$) was the most sensible parameter on the pump efficiency. And the pump efficiency had a maximum at ${\beta}=20^{\circ}$, ${\alpha}=110^{\circ}$ and l=240 mm.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.389-397
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• 2003

Effect of tip leakage flow on through flow and performance of a centrifugal compressor impeller was numerically studied using CFX-TASC flow. Seven different tip clearances were used to consider the influence of tip clearance on performance. Secondary flow and loss factor were evaluated to understand the loss mechanism inside the impeller due to tip leakage flow. The calculated results were circumferentially averaged along the passage and at the impeller exit for quantitative discussion. Tip clearance effect on Performance could be decomposed into inviscid and viscous components using one dimensional equation. The inviscid component is related with the specific work reduction and the viscous component is related with the additional entropy generation. Two components affected Performance equally. while efficiency drop was mainly influenced by viscous loss. Performance and efficiency drop due to tip clearance were proportional to the ratio of tip clearance to exit blade height. A simple model suggested in the present study predict performance and efficiency drop quite successfully.