Commercial Design Research Articles

Hydraulic performance analysis of new versus commercial nozzle design for pressurised porous media filters

AbstractRapid water filtration with pressurised porous media filters is extensively applied in drip irrigation systems. In double-chamber filters, the underdrains are fixed to the base of the inner plate to sustain the media above while draining water. Here, a new underdrain design intended to reduce the filter energy consumption is presented. The main difference with commercial underdrain units corresponds to the distribution of the slots, being in a horizontal plate to uniformise the flow trajectories inside the porous media. Both commercial and new underdrain designs have been tested in laboratory in both filtration and backwashing modes with three media types, two media heights, and superficial velocities ranging from 20 to 120 m h−1. In filtration mode, results indicate that the new design reduces the filter pressure drop by 31% at 60 m h−1 in comparison with the commercial one. The exploration with an analytical model that correctly reproduces the filter pressure drop, reveals that its value at 60 m h−1 is only 15% higher than the ideal scenario (uniform flow throughout the porous media bed). In backwashing mode, the pressure drop in comparison with the commercial design is reduced by 65% at 80 m h−1, while having the same trend for the bed expansion, which is also predicted by a simple analytical expression. Thus, the new underdrain design produces a more homogeneous fluidised regime than the commercial one at low-moderate superficial velocities.

Sustainable package design for efficient pomegranate cold chain: Enhancing storage space, sea freight efficiency, material sustainability, and energy conservation

This study evaluated the performance of a novel fabricated dual layer ventilated packaging (carton) design for pomegranate fruit. The study argues that higher process throughput, storage space usage (higher cargo density) and packaging material usage can be achieved through systematic design of packaging. The mechanical strength, fruit cooling speeds, and quality preservation characteristics of the new and existing carton designs were evaluated in a controlled laboratory environment. The new carton design achieved 22 % above minimum recommended industry compression strength, confirming its stacking safety during palletization. Fruit packed inside both carton designs attained an average respiration rate of 5.66 ± 1.23 mL CO2 kg−1 h−1 during cold storage. Fruit decay incidence (average 5.5 %), colour changes and sensory attributes were also similar in both carton designs after 12 weeks cold storage and 2 weeks ambient storage period. Finally, fresh pomegranate fruit (cv. Wonderful) were packed in the new and commercial package designs, palletized, containerized and exported from South Africa to Germany. The novel dual layer design had a higher freight density (1720 kg more fruit per reefer) compared to the commercial counterpart. It also improved the precooling process throughput (13 % faster), reduced carton material usage (40 %), and reduced energy usage (13 %). These advantages of the new dual layer ventilated packaging can be implemented with considerable sustainability benefits.

Large commercial business aircraft acoustic design with SEA

As air travel becomes more frequent, customers are demanding a quieter cabin environment. Over the past two decades, Gulfstream has developed a suite of predictive tools based on Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) to create a quiet cabin on business aircraft. This paper discusses the most recent collaboration between Gulfstream and Jet Aviation to develop an acoustic design for a large commercial business aircraft. SEA analysis played a key role to identify the risks, determine the driving mechanisms, and develop solutions to meet the established target. Besides SEA model development and analysis, this paper will also discuss some unique challenges to this aircraft and some innovations that were developed to mitigate them. One year after the acoustic design was released, flight test data on the completed aircraft confirmed the success of the acoustic design as the quietest cabin to date on the specific aircraft type.

Impact of Yayoi Kusama's Art on Commercial Design: A Case Study of Brand Collaborations

Impact of Yayoi Kusama's Art on Commercial Design: A Case Study of Brand Collaborations

A Nonintrusive Optical Approach to Characterize Heliostats in Utility-Scale Power Tower Plants: Camera Position Sensitivity Analysis

Abstract Optics plays a major role in the effectiveness of concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. The nonintrusive optical (NIO) approach developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory uses uncrewed aircraft system (UAS)-based imaging to survey heliostats in a commercial-scale power tower CSP plant and characterize their optical errors. The image processing algorithm uses photogrammetry to calculate the camera position for each image frame, and the accuracy of the estimated optical errors is highly sensitive to the calculated camera position accuracy. In this study, we simulate a series of case studies in python to examine the impact of different parameters of the sensitivity of the camera calculation, including the number of facet corners used as control points for the photogrammetric calculation, precision error in the detected pixel locations of the facet corners in the image, and precision error of the canting and mounting positions of the facets of the heliostat. The case studies consider heliostat geometry based on three commercial designs to serve as representative examples of different possible sizes of heliostats that the NIO method could be applied to. The results show that increasing the number of control points can improve accuracy for heliostats with many facets, pixel precision has a significantly larger impact on camera calculation accuracy than facet canting and mounting errors, and the camera distance and focal length must be chosen to ensure adequate pixel accuracy on the heliostat surface depending on the size of heliostat. Based on the results, recommendations for the allowable values of each parameter are provided to achieve the required NIO optical error estimation accuracy depending on the size of heliostat.

Effect of Commercial Trap Design and Location on Captures of Diocalandra frumenti (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) on Palm Trees.

Diocalandra frumenti (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) is a weevil present in the Canary Islands, affecting economically important palms such as Phoenix canariensis H. Wildpret and its hybrids, for which there were no trapping tools. The larvae cause the main damage by burrowing galleries in the rachis of the leaves, causing premature drying and collapse. To develop an effective trap, six trials were carried out to evaluate the effect of trap type, design, colour, height, distance and location of the trap in relation to the palm tree on D. frumenti captures. This study confirms that the Econex® trap, green in colour, without a cover and with two ventilation holes of 2.5 cm in diameter, diametrically opposite each other and at 1 cm from the top of the base of the trap, baited with sugar cane and water, and placed between the first and second ring of green leaves of the palm canopy, is efficient in capturing D. frumenti. These results establish a basis for future research focused on the development of a specific trapping system based on semiochemicals to serve as a tool for detection, monitoring and mass trapping of D. frumenti.

An FPGA-Based YOLOv5 Accelerator for Real-Time Industrial Vision Applications.

The You Only Look Once (YOLO) object detection network has garnered widespread adoption in various industries, owing to its superior inference speed and robust detection capabilities. This model has proven invaluable in automating production processes such as material processing, machining, and quality inspection. However, as market competition intensifies, there is a constant demand for higher detection speed and accuracy. Current FPGA accelerators based on 8-bit quantization have struggled to meet these increasingly stringent performance requirements. In response, we present a novel 4-bit quantization-based neural network accelerator for the YOLOv5 model, designed to enhance real-time processing capabilities while maintaining high detection accuracy. To achieve effective model compression, we introduce an optimized quantization scheme that reduces the bit-width of the entire YOLO network-including the first layer-to 4 bits, with only a 1.5% degradation in mean Average Precision (mAP). For the hardware implementation, we propose a unified Digital Signal Processor (DSP) packing scheme, coupled with a novel parity adder tree architecture that accommodates the proposed quantization strategies. This approach efficiently reduces on-chip DSP utilization by 50%, offering a significant improvement in performance and resource efficiency. Experimental results show that the industrial object detection system based on the proposed FPGA accelerator achieves a throughput of 808.6 GOPS and an efficiency of 0.49 GOPS/DSP for YOLOv5s on the ZCU102 board, which is 29% higher than a commercial FPGA accelerator design (Xilinx's Vitis AI).

Comparative Study on the Interest in Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines Representation versus Polynomial Surface Description in a Freeform Three-Mirror Anastigmat

Novel freeform optical design methods can be classified in two categories, depending on whether they focus on the generation of a starting point or the development of new optimization tools. In this paper, we design a freeform three-mirror anastigmat (TMA) and compare different surface representations using either a differential ray tracer as a new optimization tool or a commercial ray tracer (ANSYS-ZEMAX OpticStudio). For differential ray tracing, we used FORMIDABLE (Freeform Optics Raytracer with Manufacturable Imaging Design cApaBiLitiEs), an optical design library with differential ray tracing and Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) optimization capabilities, available under the European Software Community License (ESCL). NURBS allow a freeform surface to be represented without needing any prior knowledge of the surface, such as the polynomial degree in polynomial descriptions. OpticStudio and other commercial optical design software are designed to optimize polynomial surfaces but are not well-suited to optimize NURBS surfaces, requiring a custom optical design library. In order to demonstrate the interest in using NURBS representation, we designed and independently optimized two freeform telescopes over different iteration cycles; with NURBS using FORMIDABLE or with XY polynomials using OpticStudio. We then compared the resulting systems using their root mean square field maps to assess the optimization quality of each surface representation. We also provided a full-system comparison, including mirror freeform departures. This study shows that NURBS can be a relevant alternative to XY polynomials for the freeform optimization of reflective three-mirror telescopes as it achieves more a uniform imaging quality in the field of view.

Variables affecting the structure of commercial advertising design (analytical study)

ان الدراسات التصميمية للإعلان التجاري تشكل رافداً حياً من روافد الثقافة ، لأنها تمثل الواقع وترسم ابعاد المستقبل من اجل تثبيت نوازع الانسان من مختلف ميادين الحياة التي يطرق ابوابها الاعلان التجاري ، ومن خلال هذه النوازع يتم الكشف عن التصورات الذهنية سواء أكانت سلباً ام ايجاباً . حيث يمثل فن الاعلان الجانب الابتكاري في العملية التصميمية ، ويتوقف عليه مدى نجاح الجهود الاعلانية التي تقوم بها المنشأة المعلنة باعتبار ان الابتكار هو قلب الاعلان ، وان الاعلان هو التعبير الابتكاري عن الافكار الجديدة الخلاقة .

Development of a boron-containing reduced activation Ferritic-Martensitic (B-RAFM) steel

Steel will be an essential part of any commercial fusion reactor design. Applications in this area involve extreme conditions, imposing particular performance requirements, such as high operational temperature and creep resistance, and also a limitation on the elements that can be used due to the activation that occurs on interaction with irradiation. This work begins with a steel developed for conventional power plant applications, the IBN1 grade developed by IMPACT (a UK consortium of industrial and academic research organisations). This grade has shown excellent properties at high temperature due to high temperature-stable precipitate phases, but contains several elements that would become radiologically active to a degree that is incompatible with the required disposal routes after exposure to the fusion reactor environment. In this study, modifications of the composition are made to remove these elements, and thermodynamic modelling and experimental assessment of the phases that form are undertaken. In this, we have paid particular attention to the prediction of transformation temperatures (to understand if normalisation and tempering can be applied successfully) and the precipitates, to see if suitable phases that are likely to impart creep strength and other desirable properties would be formed. The modifications made include the removal of Nb, Mo, Ni, Co, Cu and Al from the starting alloy, and the substitution of Ta (intended to form carbides, replacing the effect of Nb). Modifications of the amount of retained elemental components, such as C, Mn and Cr, have been made with Thermo-Calc modelling, to ensure preservation of comparable phase transformation temperatures and microstructures. The predicted changes to the alloy are compared to the observations from experimental investigation, finding that tantalum can substitute for niobium in these systems and form similar carbides with similar distribution in the material, and that reduction of Cr to 8 wt% and increase of C to 0.12 wt% raises the Ae4 temperature to allow a high-temperature heat treatment without δ-ferrite formation. While assessment of the mechanical properties of this alloy would be required, the perspectives for these alloys to perform at high temperature that can be inferred from the microstructure are discussed.

MODELLING STUDY ON CENTRAL COURTYARD SHADING STRATEGY IN TROPICAL CLIMATE REGION MALAYSIA

A courtyard is an open multi-functional space and an effective daylight passive design strategy in a building. However, to have a courtyard in a tropical country, it had to deal with the issue of visual discomfort, which requires some consideration in adaptation to the climate condition. These visual comfort issues include inconsistent light distribution, inappropriate illuminance levels, glare, and a lack of shaded areas. The focus of this research paper is to address the solution of shading strategies towards the visual discomfort issues associated with courtyard spaces. The solution is done by modelling study method on courtyard ratios and courtyard configuration to determine the effect on the internal courtyard percentage shaded area. This research aims to explore the potential benefits of using courtyards as a daylight shading design as a strategy in buildings. Besides, it is also to examine courtyard design variables in enhancing visual comfort, particularly in the context of commercial building design in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur is chosen to represent the tropical climate region. The aim is achieved by identifying optimum courtyard ratios that can improve daylight, shading, and visual comfort that make courtyards functional and usable spaces. Results show that a small and deep courtyard is found to be best suited to tropical climate conditions with the configuration of the courtyard’s height being double the size or more than the size of the courtyard’s width. This courtyard ratio is able to produce a full shaded area during daytime. While courtyard length does not have any impact on the percentage of shaded area, wide and narrow courtyard need to adapt to the tropical climate constraint by having aided shading strategies such as multi-layered height of trees, independent covered structures like a canopy or gazebo, shading panels, awnings, and extended roof overhangs.

Switching in microseconds: design of a 5 × 5 non-blocking free space optical switch at 1550nm with a piezo-actuator and beam-steering lens system

Modern data center networks (DCNs) require optical switches with ultra-low loss, ultra-fast reconfiguration speed, high throughput, and high extinction ratio performances. In this work, we propose the design of a 5 × 5 optical switch at 1550 nm based on a piezo-actuator serving as a translating input optical source, and a beam-steering system built of spherical lenses to complete the switching behaviour. An ultra-fast actuator switching speed is estimated as 1.55 μs latency for a single connection with a demo circuit. We further simulate the beam-steering system end-to-end in a commercial optical design software CODE V and demonstrate a theoretical 2.16 dB insertion loss for a single connection in the switch at optimum alignment.

Implementation of microcontroller board on a sustainable and degradable PLA/flax composite substrate: a case study

In this paper, we present a novel polylactic-acid/flax-composite substrate and the implementation of a demonstrator: a microcontroller board based on commercial design. The substrate is developed for printed circuit board (PCB) applications. The pre-preg is biodegradable, reinforced, and flame-retarded. The novel material was developed to counter the increasing amount of e-waste and to improve the sustainability of the microelectronics sector. The motivation was to present a working circuit in commercial complexity that can be implemented on a rigid substrate made of natural, bio-based materials with a structure very similar to the widely used Flame Retardant Class 4 (FR4) substrate at an early technological readiness level (2–3). The circuit design is based on the Arduino Nano open-source microcontroller board design so that the demonstration could be programmable and easy to fit into education, IoT applications, and embedded designs. During the work, the design was optimized at the level of layout. The copper-clad pre-preg was then prepared and processed with subtractive printed wiring technology and through hole plating. The traditional surface mounting methodology was applied for assembly. The resulting yield of PCB production was around 50%. Signal analysis was successful with analogue data acquisition (voltage) and low-frequency (4 kHz) tests, indistinguishable from sample FR4 boards. Eventually, the samples were subjected to highly accelerated stress test (HAST). HAST tests revealed limitations compared to traditional FR4 printed circuit materials. After six cycles, the weight loss was around 30% in the case of PLA/Flax, and as three-point bending tests showed, the possible ultimate strength (25 MPa at a flexural state) was reduced by 80%. Finally, the sustainability aspect was assessed, where we found that ∼95 vol% and ∼90 wt% of the traditional substrate can be substituted, significantly easing the load of waste on the environment.

The superiority of innovative spiral-interdigital microelectrode pattern in increasing the sensitivity of tracing synchronization via serum starvation in cellular metabolism

In order to investigate the changes in the properties of the cell culture solution in the effect of cell synchronization via cell starvation (for 12, 24, and 36 h), a new spiral-interdigital pattern of microelectrode as a biosensor has been proposed. Then, to test its superiority, the results of this spiral-interdigital pattern with the results of the commercial pattern have been compared. The cells were selected from breast cancer standard lines (MDA-MB-231). Changes in CV peaks of the secretions were recorded by the spiral-interdigital pattern, in which increasing the interactive surface with homogenous electric paths had been considered by simulation before fabrication. The results of the simulation and experimental procedures showed a meaningful correlation. The occurrence of CV oxidative peaks at about 0.1–0.4 V and reductive peaks at approximately 0 V in the spiral-interdigital biosensor in the starved MDA-MB-231 cell line has been observed. The starvation situation resembles one that does not cause meaningful cell apoptosis or necrosis, and this method is only used to make the cells synchronized. Also, no peak is observed in normal cell growth conditions. In addition, by using the commercial design of the electrodes, no peak is observed in any of the conditions of normal and synchronized growth of the cells. Therefore, it seems that the observed peaks are caused by the agents that are secreted in the cell culture solution in a synchronized situation. Moreover, the design of the new spiral-interdigital electrode can significantly increase the sensitivity of the sensor to receive these peaks due to more space and a uniform electric field.

A multi-aspect approach of a building to achieve optimization in India’s major green building rating systems by incorporating BIM

Abstract This paper delves into the concept of “green buildings,” structures designed to enhance the quality of life within their geographical context through their unique attributes. In the context of India, this study focuses on three primary green building rating systems: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), IGBC (Indian Green Building Council), and GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment). The objective of this article is to present an optimized three-dimensional model for a commercial building, employing Building Information Modelling (BIM) techniques. To achieve this, a checklist is developed based on the maximum rating points stipulated by the aforementioned rating systems. Using this checklist as a guideline, a three-dimensional model is constructed, integrating key parameters of sustainability and environmental performance. Subsequently, a cost analysis is conducted on the model to determine the payback time, thus establishing a holistic framework for sustainable building design. This research contributes to the advancement of sustainable architectural practices by integrating BIM technology with green building rating systems, providing a valuable methodology for architects and stakeholders to optimize commercial building designs with an emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility.

An Empirical Study on the Upcycling of Glass Bottles into Hydrocyclone Separators

Cyclones are pivotal in mechanical process engineering and crucial in the complex field of separation technology. Their robustness and compact spatial requirements render them universally applicable and versatile across various industrial domains. Depending on the utilized fluid and field of application, both gas-based cyclones and hydrocyclones (HCs) are well established. Regarding HC design, enduring elongated flat cones have seen minimal alterations in shape and structure since their introduction over more than a hundred years ago. Experimental investigations regarding unconventional cone designs within scientific studies remain the exception. Therefore, this study focuses on alternative geometric configurations of the separation chambers and highlights their impact on separation and energy efficiency. To achieve this objective, different geometric shapes are investigated and retrofitted into HCs. The geometric foundation is derived from upcycled glass bottles. The repurposed bottles with a volume of 750 mL are used in conjunction with an inlet part, following the established Rietema design. Experimental tests are conducted with dilute phase separation, using 0.1–200 µm test particles in water. Comparisons between a bottle-based HC and a conventional Rietema design were conducted, establishing a benchmark against the standard. The findings revealed a noticeable correlation between separation efficiency and cone geometry. Conical designs demonstrated enhanced separation, particularly at lower volume flows. At the highest volume flow of 75 L min−1, the best performing bottle cyclones showed separation efficiencies of 78.5%, 78.4% and 77.9% and therefore are in a competitive range with 78.0% efficiency, achieved using the commercial Rietema design. Minimal disparities in cut sizes were observed in terms of separation grade efficiency among the models tested. Variations in separation efficiency and fractional efficiency curves indicated nuanced differences in classification efficiency.

Flow Distribution in Molten Salt Receiver Panels at High Flux Gradients

This paper presents a simulation study on critical mass flow distributions in receiver panels of commercial-scale molten salt towers (MST). Despite sophisticated aimpoint optimizations, the flux density distribution on an MST receiver in actual operation contains significant vertical and horizontal gradients. This study investigated how the latter affects the mass flow distribution among the parallel absorber tubes in each panel. A parametric study applied a discretized dynamic thermohydraulic model of a commercial scale receiver design, highlighting at which mass flow rates, flux density gradients and mean flux densities the flow distribution can become critical. Excessive temperature developments were observed, suggesting maintaining appropriate minimal mass flow rates to avoid damaging tube walls and the molten salt chemistry.

Tailored detection efficiency for linear variable filter-based sensors: applying simulation models of spectral characteristics in optical design

To accurately model the specific detection characteristics of spectral sensors based on linear variable filters (LVFs) within an optical design tool, it is essential to consider crucial position-variable spectral properties, such as peak transmittance, central wavelength, half width, or slope steepness. In this context, we propose a straightforward approach, integrating a dynamic link library (DLL) containing all position-dependent spectral properties of the LVF into a commercial optical design software. Exemplary investigations are conducted for an LVF with a detection range of 450–850 nm. For ease of use, the measured position-, wavelength-, and angle-dependent transmission properties of the LVF have been described through a simple yet highly accurate model system. Moreover, to highlight the essential value of this simulation for specific applications, an efficiency-enhancing spectral module is simulated, which is an LVF-mirror arrangement characterized by a multiple-reflected beam path. The introduced optical design tool demonstrates its particular strength by enabling the optimization of the highest detection efficiency for either the short- or long-wavelength range.

Optimising miniaturised hydrocyclones for enhanced separation of microplastics

Microplastics, particularly those in the 5–20µm range, pose substantial risks in aquatic environments, yet effective removal techniques are limited. This study assesses two critical geometric parameters of a 10 mm mini-hydrocyclone: inlet radius and insertion angle. Along with the inlet velocity, they are optimised collectively to enhance the MPs’ removal. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations using the Mixture model and Reynolds stress model were employed to track the particle–water–air interactions, revealing the flow dynamics and absence of an air core. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) using a Box-Behnken design of experiments was adopted to assess the impact of the geometric and operational parameters and determine the optimal design. Recovery efficiency, concentration efficiency, and split rate were recorded during experiments and compared with CFD results, showing a good agreement between experiments and CFD simulations. The resulting novel design achieved an 88.53% MPs recovery and a concentration efficiency of 1.83, which represents an obvious improvement over the commercial design’s MPs recovery efficiency of 79.97% and concentration efficiency of 1.68. Simulations reveal that the novel design shortens the path for MPs through the forced turbulence region and modifies the velocity and turbulence fields, enhancing the concentration gradient of MPs within the mini-hydrocyclone’s chamber. Moreover, the novel design exhibits a more robust response to inlet velocity variations, a crucial advantage for its application in arrays. Experiments further confirm that a matrix composed of 10 novel mini-hydrocyclones achieves 10 percentage points higher recovery efficiency than the matrix with 10 commercial mini-hydrocyclones. These findings mark a significant step towards effective MP removal, addressing a critical environmental issue.

Correlation Study of Commercial Street Morphology and Pedestrian Activity in Cold Region Summers under Thermal Comfort Guidance: A Case Study of Sanlitun, Beijing

Pedestrian vitality in commercial streets is influenced by various factors, among which the spatial form of the street and the resulting thermal environment have a significant impact. This study, from the perspective of thermal comfort, combines thermal comfort simulation with pedestrian simulation to establish an optimization model based on pedestrian vitality. The model aims to analyze and quantify the impact of street spatial form on thermal comfort and pedestrian vitality, providing a comprehensive evaluation of optimization schemes for commercial street spaces. Firstly, the study identifies the levels of spatial design parameters for commercial streets and generates optimized design scenarios for commercial street spaces. Using the simulation platforms Rhino 7 Grasshopper and MATLAB R2023a, a pedestrian simulation model guided by thermal comfort is constructed and validated against empirical data. Next, the influence of commercial street spatial design parameters on store visitations is assessed, identifying the most critical design parameters. Finally, design strategies for commercial streets are proposed based on vitality-oriented layouts. The results indicate that the spatial form of the street significantly affects store visitations, with the street width-to-height ratio being the most influential factor, followed by street orientation and interface form. NW-SE-oriented streets show a 47.2% higher Total Store Visitations (TSV) value compared to E-W-oriented streets, while E-W streets exhibit a Differential Store Visitation (DSV) value 4.47 times that of NW-SE streets. Streets with a W/H ratio of 0.25 have a 54.9% higher Total Store Visitations value than those with a W/H ratio of 0.9, and streets with a W/H ratio of 0.65 exhibit a Differential Store Visitations value 1.21 times that of streets with a W/H ratio of 0.25. Considering overall street vitality, the study recommends NW-SE- and NE-SW-oriented streets, with a width-to-height ratio between 0.25 and 0.4. The study also proposes strategies for the modification and expansion of streets in different orientations, providing the scientific basis and optimization recommendations for the planning and renovation of commercial streets in cold regions during summer.