Conceptual Design Research Articles

Beam emission spectroscopy diagnostic design and capabilities for two-dimensional turbulence measurements on Wendelstein 7-X

A beam emission spectroscopy (BES) diagnostic is designed for studying two-dimensional turbulent dynamics by measuring the Doppler-shifted Balmer-Alpha emission (n = 3 → 2) from neutral heating beams on Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator. The BES viewing geometry has been determined in the conceptual design previously. However, the small Doppler shifts and small optical throughput compared to a typical BES diagnostic demand dedicated efforts on the optical assemblies and the detector module for the BES system. We present the detailed opto-mechanical design and specifications of BES, including a customized neutral beam viewing optical system, a semi-telecentric optical assembly, and a detector module for electronic amplification. The point spread function is calculated using the pyFIDASIM code with experimental parameters and W7-X magnetic configurations to estimate the BES spatial resolution and beam intensity. The as-manufactured interference filter is applied for the spectral isolated beam radiance calculation. Result shows that the BES system is capable of measuring the ion-scale turbulence for k ⊥ ρ i ≤ 0.4 at r/a = 0.75 with reasonable spatial and wavenumber resolutions. An integrated detector module is fabricated where two 8×4 avalanche photodiode detectors (APD) are embedded into the custom-designed pre-amplifier circuit to gain signals to the desired level. The detector noise measurement is performed and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is evaluated. A detectable fluctuation level can be achieved as low as ñ e /n e ≈ 0.5% at frequency f ≤ 400 kHz with a bandwidth of 1 MHz.

Intelligent assistive obstacle avoidance device based on SLAM and wearable technology

Abstract. This paper presents a conceptual design for an intelligent assistive device that combines visual simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) with wearable technology. The device has been developed through the integration of two innovative fields: visual SLAM and wearable technology. The objective is to develop a device that is both user-friendly and safe. The design addresses the issue of safety for visually impaired individuals when they are outside the home. The objective is to provide a dependable, real-time, and resilient solution that can be utilised in intricate indoor and outdoor settings. The system is designed to provide reliable, real-time, and highly effective solutions in variable environments. The main components of the proposed system include visual SLAM, intelligent wearable devices (as carriers), and a comfortable and straightforward user feedback system (through haptic, auditory, or visual signals to provide feedback to the wearer), while simultaneously considering the safety and comfort of the device. This is due to the consideration of the prolonged and frequent periods of use by visually impaired individuals. This paper considers the latest advances in SLAM algorithms, improvements in wearable sensors and the latest developments in robotics for assisting visually impaired people. It also discusses the potential of these technologies in the future development of assistive devices. The aim is to provide a feasible, comfortable and safe solution that will enhance the safety and autonomy of visually impaired people when they are outside.

Some hope for a dimensional assessment? A critical review of psychometric validated (semi-)structured interview to assess eating disorders.

Given that eating disorders (EDs) are considered one of the deadliest mental illnesses, the development of appropriate assessment instruments is a necessity. Despite the extensive literature on assessing EDs, there has been a lack of focus on semi-structured interviews. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of psychometrically validated semi-structured interviews for EDs. Included studies (N=24) were required to present a semi-structured interview for EDs that has been validated through a psychometric process. The APA PsycNet, MEDLINE, APA Psycinfo, Pubmed, and Health & Psychosocial Instruments databases were searched. The literature search included publications through May 2024, with no earliest year restriction. A total of six instruments were identified and reviewed in terms of conceptual design, purpose and content, psychometric characteristics, and strengths and limitations. Three main findings were highlighted: (a) only half of the instruments are up to date; (b) the instruments are based on either a categorical or a mixed categorical-dimensional approach; and (c) the predominance of the categorical approach. The results are discussed regarding the conceptual approaches of the instrument to provide clinical and research implications. Despite the many strengths of the instrument, additional psychometric research is needed.

Overall Concept Design of 2.45 GHz ECR Ion Source with Tunable Magnetic Field

The design of the ECR ion source was made for an operating frequency of 2.45 GHz. The ion source is considered to be used for producing protons and double charged helium ions. The source construction as well as the separate components design are presented in the study. The operating modes include both ECR and microwave operating regimes. The extraction system with the beamforming was developed. The beam adjustment is implemented by the longitudinal shifting of the electrodes against the plasma electrode position. The performance of the 2.45 GHz waveguide line to provide the stable power injection into the plasma chamber is considered. The numerical simulation of the waveguide line components was made and optimised.

Implementation of cooling slots at the pressure side rims of squealer tips

The blade tip is a particularly critical component of the high pressure turbine due to the hot overtip leakage gas being responsible for efficiency losses and thermal degradation, often limiting engine life. Squealer tip designs reduce the over-tip leakage mass flow, increasing efficiency, but the thin pressure side rims can be vulnerable to damage because of their large surface area and the difficulties of shielding them from hot overtip leakage flow. This paper considers a new approach to cooling these pressure side rims, by employing an inclined slot inside a recessed step. Compared to conventional cooling strategies, in which coolant is provided by multiple cylindrical holes, the slot feature improves cooling effectiveness by more than 50% in key regions of the pressure side rim, whilst also allowing for a substantial reduction in coolant mass flow. The concept design is developed and explored using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations, and the performance is validated experimentally in a linear cascade with representative Mach and Reynolds numbers.

Derivation Method for Required Mass Flow Rate in the Conceptual Design Process of Turbine-Based Combined Cycle for Aircraft

Derivation Method for Required Mass Flow Rate in the Conceptual Design Process of Turbine-Based Combined Cycle for Aircraft

Engineering and design of a last mile novel helmet concept

Modern society witnessed a remarkable surge in urban mobility with the proliferation of micro-mobility sharing services. However, this transformation has also led to a worrisome increase in severe accidents and injured users. In addition, conventional helmets are significantly lacking in sustainability. This research investigates the feasibility and safety aspects of a novel bicycle helmet concept using cork as a protective liner. In comparison to traditional synthetic foams, cork offers eco-friendly advantages, such as recyclability and superior protection against multiple impacts. The newly proposed helmet is designed to provide enhanced sustainability and convenience, maintaining compliance with the EN 1078:2012+A1 standard whilst offering the capability to flatten for easy storage and transportation. Numerical simulations were conducted to optimise the design concept, and impact tests, in accordance with the European standard, were performed using physical prototypes categorised into three types of design configuration. The results from the standard impact test were outstanding, with the best performing configuration demonstrating a performance 36.8% below the standard’s threshold. This falls within the average performance range of a regular bicycle helmet made entirely of petrol-derived materials. Furthermore, it exhibited safe head injury criterion levels, indicating a minimal risk of severe head injury.

Conceptual Designing of Control System for an Unmanned Martian Airship for Exploration

This research focuses on the flight dynamics of a Martian airship designed for planetary exploration, with special attention to the unique atmospheric challenges presented by the Red Planet. The study delves into the intricacies of flight stability, buoyancy control, aerodynamic drag, and propulsion. By employing MATLAB Simulink simulations, we model the airship's ascent, hovering, and descent cycles to evaluate thrust requirements and optimal fuel management. Through a detailed examination of aerodynamic forces, we present a holistic view of the airship’s flight mechanics and control systems, including an innovative Pneumatic Propulsion System.

In-Depth Development of a Versatile Rumen Bolus Sensor for Dairy Cattle.

Precision agriculture and the increasing automation efforts in animal husbandry requires continuous and complex monitoring of the animals. Rumen bolus sensors, which are cutting-edge pieces of technology and a rapidly developing research field, present an exceptional opportunity for monitoring the health status, physiological parameters, and estrus of the animals. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the development process of a new sensor development. We address the issues of conceptual design, an overview of applicable sensor modalities, mechanical design, power supply design, applicable hardware solutions, applicable communication solutions and finally the sensor detection algorithms proved in field tests. In conclusion, we present a summary of the current opportunities in the field and provide an analysis of the foreseeable trends.

A New Two-Phase Design Process for a Compliant Mechanism Gripper

The structural design of the components with high accuracy and controllable motion is the focus of precision industries. As a result, researchers found that components created via compliant mechanisms were much preferable. Monolithic structures known as compliant mechanisms allow motion to be achieved without the need of traditional joints. The compliant mechanisms make it easier to build microscale devices because they do not have hard junctions. In this study, a novel two-phase design methodology for compliant mechanism forceps is proposed. In order to eliminate high-stress areas, forceps are often constructed as a distributed compliant mechanism. To offer a distributed planar design, topological optimization is introduced with new approach. Design domain introduced with pattern of holes restricts the single point contact formation and large area formation which yield distributed compliant mechanism. The parametrization technique is implemented to convert the conceptual design to working design. The design of compliant forceps is assessed using finite element analysis (FEA) based on structural considerations. Finally, a handle-equipped microgripper prototype has been developed. Experimental verification demonstrates the gripper's performance and variation is less than 3% with numerical results. Integerated force sensor measure the gripping force and compared the reaction force estimated through FEA.

Exploring Vessels from the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry in Design of Deep-Sea Mining Vessels

_ In this paper, vessels from the offshore oil and gas industry are explored in the conceptual design of value-robust deep-sea mining vessel solutions. The responsive systems comparison method is applied in a case addressing two hypothetical stakeholders: a mining company and a vessel operator. Their value propositions are outlined and pave the ground for important attributes that consolidate into conceptual vessel design solutions. The cost–benefit trade-offs for various design solutions and technology choices are discussed for different future scenarios. The results indicate that complexity drives high CAPEX generation, yielding so-called gold-plated designs. Lower cost mitigation measures should be taken to ensure future missions of a deep-sea mining vessel. The consequences of design choices on commercial considerations are discussed, such as the vessels’ second-hand value in the market and alternative uses. Keywords deep-sea mining; offshore vessels; ship design; technology transfer; cost–benefit; scenario-testing

Laboratory Experiments on Passive Thermal Control of Space Habitats Using Phase-Change Materials

Here, we investigate the performance of phase-change materials (PCMs) in the passive thermal control of space habitats. PCMs are able to absorb and release large amounts energy in the form of latent heat during their (typically, solid-to-liquid) phase transition, which makes them an ideal choice for passive temperature control. In this study, a conceptual design of an igloo-shaped habitat is proposed. A scaled model for laboratory experiments is manufactured via 3D printing, using tap water as the PCM. The setup is used to conduct experiments and analyze PCM performance, based on temperature measurements inside and outside the habitat. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of PCMs in increasing thermal inertia and stabilizing the habitat interior temperature around the melting temperature, confirming that PCMs can be a suitable alternative for passive thermal control. The present study holds significant interest for the future of space exploration, with the emerging need to design habitats that are capable of accommodating astronauts.

Parametric analysis of a fully coupled USV-type wave energy converter: An approach based on wave-to-grid modelling

The integration of the wave energy converter and the unmanned surface vehicle (USV), which has the power generation capability and the mobile capability, is attracting increasing attention in concept design, control, and parametric study, as the integrated system can play a crucial role in the maritime sectors of commerce, science, and military. Enhancing the power generation of a USV-integrated wave energy converter contributes to prolonged USV operations or grid supply, but the power generation performance of this new-type device is significantly influenced by its various coupled subsystems, which requires a systematic methodology for distinguishing key design parameters. To address that problem, a comprehensive wave-to-grid model that reflects all subsystem coupling, energy losses, and constraints is developed to comprehensively describe system dynamics, and then a Taguchi method is employed to investigate the influence of selected design parameters on electric power generation. Results reveal that the piston area of the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator pressure are the two most influential parameters affecting the time-averaged electric power of the proposed USV-type wave energy converter. The proposed methodology provides guidelines for technicians on how to design wave energy converters optimally.

POSITRON SOURCES OF THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL ACCELERATOR COMPLEX OF NSC KIPT

The possibility of producing positron beams using an electron recycler, the conceptual design of which is being developed at KIPT, is considered. The positron flux after the tantalum converter was estimated. The efficiency of the process of injection and acceleration of positrons to 181 and 356 MeV for high-energy physics experiments was calculated. The characteristics of the beam for use in structural studies of solid state physics are considered.

Conceptual Design of a Telemedicine System for Diseases such as Diabetes Type 1, 2 for Higher Efficiency in Disease Management & Treatment Patterns

The components of telemedicine are either electronic, mechanical or a combination of both. These have to be manufactured taking into consideration their specific requirements and the functions which they have to perform. The telemedicine system offers improved disease management and enhanced quality of care. The system should be kept debugged and virus-free. The patient’s logbook is used to register details about the patient. These details include the test results, treatments being currently undertaken, and exercises. It would also contain a record of the treatment method carried out previously and the corresponding results. This information will then facilitate the patient to mark his progress and the caregiver to suggest better medication. Ultimately, timely & effective communication within the period is achievable.

A BIM-integrated Thailand building energy code framework for building envelope thermal requirements in a conceptual design stage

This work presents the development of a building energy code (BEC) of Thailand compliance framework during conceptual design stages (CDS) using building information modeling (BIM) through visual programming language (VPL). The proposed method included five steps: (i) establish a commercial building reference; (ii) develop a BIM base model; (iii) create a BIM overall thermal transfer value (OTTV) and roof thermal transfer value (RTTV) calculation model with VPL scripts; (iv) test the BIM framework with various scenarios; and (v) verify the results with Thailand BEC software. The findings revealed an insignificant difference between the results from the BIM calculation model and those estimated by the Thailand BEC software. This study demonstrated that using BIM with VPL for OTTV and RTTV calculations during the CDS may be implemented automatically, which could help designers make timely decisions to comply with Thailand’s BEC, considering building design, materials, and fenestration ratios.

Automation of conceptual design and modification of aircraft type unmanned aerial vehicles using multidisciplinary optimization and evolutionary algorithms. Part 1: Methods and models

This paper proposes a method for selecting rational parameters for large-size aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles at the initial design stages using an optimization algorithm of differential evolution and numerical mathematical modeling of aerodynamic problems. The method assumes implementation of weight and aerodynamic balance in the main flight modes, it can consider aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles with one or two lifting surfaces, applies parallel calculations, and automatically generates a three-dimensional geometric model of the aircraft appearance based on the optimization results. A method for accelerating by more than three times the process of solving the problem of optimizing aircraft takeoff weight parameters by introducing the target function into the set of design variables is proposed and demonstrated. The results of assessing the reliability of the mathematical models used for aerodynamics and the correct calculation of the target function are presented, taking into account various constraints. A comprehensive check of the operability and effectiveness of the method were considered by solving demonstration problems by optimizing more than ten main design parameters of the appearance of two existing heavy-class unmanned aerial vehicles with known characteristics from open sources. Examples of using the optimization results to modify prototypes are provided.

Deformation Evolution and Perceptual Prediction for Additive Manufacturing of Lightweight Composite Driven by Hybrid Digital Twins

This paper proposes a deformation evolution and perceptual prediction methodology for additive manufacturing of lightweight composite driven by hybrid digital twins (HDT). In order to improve manufacturing quality of irregular lightweight composite through boosting conceptual design in aeronautic and aerospace engineering, the HDT meaning hybridization of physical and digital domains, including deformation and energy efficiency can be built, where the essential parameters can be perceptually predicted in advance, by virtue of the fusion of physical sensors and digital information. The long short term memory (LSTM) can be employed to void vanishing gradient problem and improve predicting precision via Recurrent Neural Networks, thereby laying a foundation for the HDT. The diverse manufacturing requirements of different regions are integrated into the parameters designing phase by attaching region weights confirmed via empiricism and in-service simulation. The effects of slicing strategy and external support structures on manufacturing quality are considered from the perspective of improving dimensional accuracy. The manufacturing efficiency and comprehensive costs are accounted as consideration factors, which are perceptually predicted via LSTM. The designed manufacturing parameters through HDT were virtually examined by evaluating the deformation and equivalent stress distributions of fabricated lightweight component with composite material through AM process simulation. The physical experiments were conducted to verify the HDT-based pre-designing and optimization method of manufacturing parameters via fused deposition modeling (FDM). The energy consumption of actual manufacturing process was measured via digital power meter and applied to evaluate accuracy of perceptual prediction outcomes. The dimensional accuracy and distortion distribution of the manufactured lightweight prototype made with composite material were measured through the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and 3D optical scanner. The proposed method demonstrates effectiveness in improving manufacturing quality and accurately predicting energy consumption, which have been verified with a three-way solenoid valve element, in which the maximum deformation was reduced by 39.78% and the mean absolute percentage error for perceptual prediction was 3.76%.

Conceptual Design and Economic Optimization of Different Valorization Routes for Orange Peel Waste: The Application of the Biorefinery Concept for an Integral Use of Raw Material

Biorefineries are novel biotechnological routes designed to generate sustainable processes from renewable raw materials. The valorization of orange peel waste (OPW) provides high-value products based on their composition. The economic optimization of biorefineries through conceptual design and generation of superstructures based on the analysis of processing units is a topic of great interest. This work aimed to obtain the most profitable biorefinery through economic optimization strategies based on high-value-added products from OPW. Two stages were considered: The first stage consisted of the conceptual design of multiple OPW processing units (production of essential oil, mucic acid, phenolic compounds, biogas, among others). An OPW flow rate of 140 kg/h was selected as the base case. From the stand-alone units, a biorefinery superstructure (second stage) was designed. Finally, the units with the best mass and energy results were selected in order to maximize the net present value (NPV) and obtain an optimal biorefinery configuration. The results evidenced that the production of essential oil and biogas presented the best yields (2.61 mL and 0.028 m3 per kg OPW, respectively). This biorefinery configuration obtained an NPV of −7.7 mUSD from the base case. Through the evaluation of the different superstructure configurations, the combined production of essential oil, biogas, and mucic acid and a scale-up of over 22 times the base case generated the minimum processing scale. Under a Colombian context, the implementation of the biorefineries analyzed are promising since the minimum processing scale contemplated only 8.8% of the OPW production. Efforts to increase yields and decrease capital and operating expenses while keeping environmental impacts low should be pursued.

A Human-Centered Shelter Design for People on the Move in the Al-Sahel Region

This article addresses the development of a human-centered shelter design tailored to meet the specific needs of refugees in the Al-Sahel Region. It focuses on five essential aspects of humanitarian-centered design. The goal is to create a livable unit that accommodates the three distinct phases of an emergency, transitional, and durable situation. We have adopted a non-linear design approach to develop the refugee shelter unit. We engage in discussions with team experts following each data collection phase. The conceptual design of the shelter unit is intended to align with the refugee settlement’s natural growth while maintaining a degree of control over its evolution. We have outlined a spatial configuration for a residential unit designed for three to six individuals and various patio options. Additionally, we have devised plans for an education and healthcare facility, all designed with the same structure to bring a more organized approach to the organic growth of the camp. The design proposal adopts a process-oriented approach, incorporating refugees indirectly in the design and construction of their shelters. While we do not assert that the framework of a ‘refugee camp’ can be sustainable, our goal is to show that its planning, in the absence of alternatives, should adhere to sustainability criteria.