• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.1084-1089
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• 2009

A numerical study of thermo-flow characteristics is presented to determine correlations of pressure drop and heat transfer for offset-strip fins. As a blockage ratio increased, previous correlations underestimate f values in laminar and turbulent regimes, and overestimate j values in laminar regime. Therefore, new correlations, which are applicable to fins with blockage ratios more than 15%, are presented.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 2004

The distributed resistance model has been recently implemented into the MATRA-LMR code in order to improve its prediction capability over the wire-wrap model for a flow blockage analysis in the LMR. The code capability has been investigated using experimental data observed in the FFM (Fuel Failure Mock-up)-2A and 5B for two typical flow conditions in a blocked channel. The predicted results by the MATRA-LMR with a distributed resistance model agreed well with the experimental data for wire-wrapped subchannels. However, it is suggested that the parameter n in the distributed resistance model needs to be calibrated accurately for a reasonable prediction of the temperature field under a low flow condition. Finally, the analyses of a blockage for the assembly of the KALIMER design are performed. Satisfactory results by the MATRA-LMR code were obtained through and rerified a comparison with results of the SABRE code.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.3207-3216
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• 2021

Three-dimensional structures of a vortical flow field and heat transfer characteristics in a partially blocked 7-pin fuel assembly mock-up of sodium-cooled fast reactor have been investigated through a numerical analysis using a commercial computational fluid dynamics code, ANSYS CFX. The simulation with the SST turbulence model agrees well with the experimental data of outlet and cladding wall temperatures. From the analysis on the limiting streamline at the wall, multi-scale vortexes developed in axial direction were found around the blockage. The vortex core has a high cladding wall temperature, and the attachment line has a low cladding wall temperature. The small-scale vortex structures significantly enhance the convective heat transfer because it increases the turbulent mixing and the turbulence kinetic energy. The large-scale vortex structures supply thermal energy near the heated cladding wall surface. It is expected that control of the vortex structures in the fuel assembly plays a significant role in the convective heat transfer enhancement. Furthermore, the blockage plate and grid spacer increase the pressure drop to about 36% compared to the bare case.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.158.1-158
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• 2002

• Wind and Structures
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.21-36
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• 2010

A new full scale testing apparatus generically named the Wall of Wind (WoW) has been built by the researchers at the International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC) at Florida International University (FIU). WoW is capable of testing single story building models subjected up to category 3 hurricane wind speeds. Depending on the relative model and WoW wind field sizes, testing may entail blockage issues. In addition, the proximity of the test building to the wind simulator may also affect the aerodynamic data. This study focuses on the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) assessment of the effects on the quality of the aerodynamic data of (i) blockage due to model buildings of various sizes and (ii) wind simulator proximity for various distances between the wind simulator and the test building. The test buildings were assumed to have simple parallelepiped shapes. The computer simulations were performed under both finite WoW wind-field conditions and in an extended Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) wind flow. Mean pressure coefficients for the roof and the windward and leeward walls served as measures of the blockage and wind simulator proximity effects. The study uses the commercial software FLUENT with Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations and a Renormalization Group (RNG) k-${\varepsilon}$ turbulence model. The results indicated that for larger size test specimens (i.e. for cases where the height of test specimen is larger than one third of the wind field height) blockage correction may become necessary. The test specimen should also be placed at a distance greater than twice the height of the test specimen from the fans to reduce proximity effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2008

Experimental studies have been performed to examine the influences of wall obstructions in a rectangular confinement. Three wall obstacles with blockage ratios ranging from 10 to 30% were used. Temporally resolved flame front images were recorded by a high-speed video camera to investigate the interaction between a propagating flame and the obstacle. The local flame displacement speed and its probability density functions(PDFs) were obtained for the wall obstructions. During the interaction with the sharp-edges of the wall obstacles, the local propagation speed increased. The increase of local speed became larger as the obstruction ratio increased. However, the averaged flame displacement speeds with different blockage ratios were not significantly different within the chamber as shown in the paper of Park et al. The flame front interaction investigated in this work was less dependent of the obstacle obstructions compared to that published in the literature for large L/D.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.83-88
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• 2004

In this study, the flow and thermal performance of the heat sink and fan-sink were experimentally studied to predict the operating condition of the fan-sink. The experiments of the flow and thermal resistance of the heat sink with various inlet blockage, which were occurred by the shapes of the axial fans, were conducted for the proof of the effects of the inlet blockages. The greater the inlet blockage of the heat sink, the higher the pressure drop and lower the thermal resistance of the heat sink will be. The operating point of the fan-sink was predicted by the pressure drop curve with the inlet blockage, which was corresponded to the selected fan and the fan performance curve, and verified by the performance test of the fan-sink. The predicted operating point of the fan-sink had good agreement with the result of the performance test of the fan-sink within $0.7\%$ of the volume flow rates. Measured thermal resistance of the fan-sink was equivalent to that of the heat sink with the same inlet blockage of the fan-sink. It was shown that the heat transfer characteristics of the heat sink were influenced by the flow interaction between the selected fan and the heat sink. To improve the thermal resistance of the heat sink, it is necessary to consider appropriate flow patterns of the fan outlet entering into the heat sink.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.63-72
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• 2013

A Mach 5 nozzle and a diffuser of the Scramjet Engine Test Facility (SETF) were made for a hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet engine. SETF, attached with a diffuser guide, started with a model of 60% blockage, though the model engine could not start by over expansion of the facility nozzle. The model was moved into the nozzle to escape the shock generated from the nozzle exit, both SETF and the engine could start. The pitot rake experiments (blockage of 2.3%) were done for measuring the core flow in the test section. From the pitot experiments, the core flow was expanded by an under expansion. It means that the core flow in the test section was related with a model blockage. SETF and the engine with a blockage of 33% work normally. From a series of experiments, SETF started with a normal shock efficiency of 58%, regardless of a blockage ratio.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.396-404
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• 2023

The blockage rate for three kinds of nets commonly used in agricultural facilities was assessed by using the image acquisition and its relevant processing. By using both empirical relations presented by Idel'chik and Richards and Robinson, and the blockage rate obtained from the image processing, the pressure drop through the nets was predicted and also compared with wind tunnel experiment results. The results of the study showed that the blockage rate of the net was discriminated according to such factors as the magnitude of nets, the existence of inside threads, the thickness and number of threads. In addition, the blockage rate for the incident angle of 0° when the wind blew at the front had the range of 0.22-0.29 (0.22-0.32 when considering whole incident angles from 0° to 45° by 15°). For the nets with the blockage rate of about 30% or below, the prediction by the empirical relations of by Idel'chik and Richards and Robinson showed a little higher pressure drop overall than that of the wind tunnel test, but the use of the empirical relations and the blockage rate could be thought of as providing effectively meaningful guidelines for the safe design of agricultural facilities including nets because the wind tunnel test has been tedious and expensive. Further research and potential application on the prediction technique of the pressure drop, regarding both a subtle deformation by the wind and manufacturing methods with regard to the level of knots and the existence of inside threads, needs to be done for the nets with higher blockage rate.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2009

We have examined the effects of certain mutations of the selectivity filter and of the membrane helix M2 on $Ba^{2+}$ blockage of the inward rectifier potassium channel, Kir 2.1. We expressed mutant and wild type murine Kir 2.1 in Chinese hamster ovary(CHO) cells and used the whole cell patch-clamp technique to record $K^+$ currents in the absence and presence of externally applied $Ba^{2+}$. Wild type Kir2.1 was blocked by externally applied $Ba^{2+}$ in a voltage and concentration dependent manner. Mutants of Y145 in the selectivity filter showed little change in the kinetics of $Ba^{2+}$ blockage. The estimated $K_d(0)$ was 108 ${\mu}M$ for Kir2.1 wild type, 124 ${\mu}M$ for a concatameric WT-Y145V dimer, 109 ${\mu}M$ for a WT-Y145L dimer, and 267 ${\mu}M$ for Y145F. Mutant channels T141A and S165L exhibit a reduced affinity together with a large reduction in the rate of blockage. In S165L, blockage proceeds with a double exponential time course, suggestive of more than one blocking site. The double mutation T141A/S165L dramatically reduced affinity for $Ba^{2+}$, also showing two components with very different time courses. Mutants D172K and D172R(lining the central, aqueous cavity of the channel) showed both a decreased affinity to $Ba^{2+}$ and a decrease in the on transition rate constant(${\kappa}_{on}$). These results imply that residues stabilising the cytoplasmic end of the selectivity filter(T141, S165) and in the central cavity(D172) are major determinants of high affinity $Ba^{2+}$ blockage in Kir 2.1.