Uniform Velocity Distribution Research Articles

The optimal design of airflow modes for double-layer solar air heater with perforated baffles

Abstract To further improve the thermal performance of SAH, two mathematical models of the double-layer solar air heater with perforated baffles (DSAH-PB) were established to analyze the optimal airflow modes. In Mode 1, the air flowed parallelly in the upper and lower channels; in Mode 2, the airflow in the upper channel was opposite to the airflow in the lower channel. Validation against reported data showed the models’ accuracy with a maximum relative deviation of less than 10%. Results indicated that Mode 2 achieved a collection efficiency 2.57∼4.28% higher than Mode 1, attributable to a thinner boundary layer and increased turbulence, enhancing the convective heat transfer coefficient. Comparative analysis revealed that the outlet temperatures in Mode 2’s upper and lower channels exceeded those in Mode 1 by 0.37∼ 3.67°C and 1.63∼7.48°C, respectively. Velocity distribution analysis confirmed the superior performance of Mode 2, with a more uniform velocity distribution and lower absorber plate temperature, contributing to improved thermal efficiency. The study underscored the importance of airflow distribution and channel design in optimizing SAH performance.

Exergy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency of Double Air Pass Solar Tunnel Air Dryer: A CFD Analysis

This work presents, the computational fluid dynamics simulation of a forced convection double air pass solar tunnel drying system to study the temperature distribution, the flow behaviour of the air stream, and the exergy performance. Realizable k-epsilon non-equilibrium wall function turbulence model, discrete ordinate radiation model, and species transport were used. The average temperature, thermal efficiency, and exergy efficiency were found to 59.2 oC, 30%, and 9.41%, respectively. The result revealed that the uniform temperature and velocity distribution throughout the heating and drying chamber. Therefore, the newly developed double air pass solar tunnel dryer enhances the air temperature and the exergy performance leads to the increment of drying rate and reduction of drying period.

Qualitative analysis of the coupling effect of fluid velocity distribution in microchannels on the performance of water-cooling lithium-ion batteries system

ABSTRACT Lithium-ion batteries are the direct power sources of electric vehicles, but their high heat flux density restricts their development. Microchannel heat sinks (MCHS) can assist in heat dissipation to overcome this. The distribution of fluid velocity among microchannels has a considerable effect on the performance of MCHS for a water-cooling lithium-ion batteries system. In this paper, a new microchannel heat sink with high depth to width aspect ratio is proposed and the influence of four different aspect ratios on the distribution of fluid velocity among microchannels and heat transfer performance of MCHS was numerically studied by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The results showed that at the same inlet flow rate, the larger the aspect ratio of the microchannels, the better the uniformity of the internal fluid velocity. The heat performance of microchannel structures with four different aspect ratios for a water-cooling lithium-ion batteries is further investigated experimentally. Compared with the simulation results of the fluid velocity distribution, the coupling effect between the fluid velocity distribution in the microchannels and the heat dissipation performance of a water-cooling lithium-ion batteries is analyzed. The results fully demonstrated that a larger aspect ratio of the microchannels results in a better heat dissipation performance on the surface of the lithium-ion batteries. Optimizing the aspect ratio of the microchannels to facilitate a relatively uniform velocity distribution to improve heat dissipation performance of the water-cooling system may be a key factor to be considered, which provides a new idea for passive thermal management of batteries.

Numerical Investigation of Archimedes Screw Turbines under Low-Head Conditions

The development of screw turbines for micro-hydro power generation has garnered heightened interest lately, attributed to their capability to perform efficiently despite low head and low discharge. The present numerical work aims to evaluate the prospect of low-head water energy widely available in the Aceh region. In this region, the Archimedes Screw turbine is the most commonly used. In the present numerical study, the characteristics of the Archimedes screw turbine were studied under the constant of the head of 1 meter and the inclination angle of 30o, with the flow rate served as the varying parameter. In the simulation, a three-dimensional numerical investigation of pressure characteristics, flow velocity, and kinetic energy turbulence due to the change in the flow rates was carried out using the Navier-Stokes equations. Next, the turbulence model of K-Epsilon was also implemented. The comparisons between the experimental and the simulation results were carried out to ensure the accuracy of the simulation model, and the results indicated that the changes in flow rates have a marked influence on pressure distribution, the flow velocity field, and turbulent kinetic energy. It was found that the performance of the Archimedes double screw turbine was improved by increasing the flow rate due to the uniform distribution of pressure, flow velocity, and turbulent kinetic energy. Moreover, the optimum condition was achieved in a turbine with 8 screws. Therefore, maintaining the inflow rate is crucial as it significantly impacts the efficiency of the Archimedes Screw Turbine.

Characterizing and predicting the partial slip subjected to variable gradients of velocity and pressure in eccentric micro-scale Taylor–Couette flows

In the context of eccentric micro-scale Taylor–Couette flow, variations in localized flow scales result in a non-uniform fluid–solid interface slip state, distinct from the typically studied uniform slip velocity distribution. This study introduces a boundary condition definition method aimed at characterizing partial slip states, complemented by a coupled iterative analysis system tailored to address this complexity. Key contributions include the development of a method for calculating the limiting shear stress, which considers local velocity gradients and pressures. Validation demonstrates that the locally derived slip state aligns more closely with Knudsen number distributions of local flow scales compared to traditional uniform slip models, and exhibits greater consistency with experimentally measured pressure distributions. Additionally, the study reveals that eccentric Taylor–Couette flow, characterized by significant variations in local flow scales and strong self-induced pressure effects, leads to complex distributions of local pressure, velocity gradients, and differences in local slip velocities. Specifically, the non-uniform distribution of local pressure gradients due to eccentricity results in partial slip occurring predominantly on the rotor in regions with positive pressure gradients, and on the stator in regions with negative pressure gradients. Furthermore, the variation in gap height exerts a greater influence on local slip compared to rotational speed and eccentricity ratio. Under certain conditions influenced by pressure gradients, the slip velocity on the rotor may exceed its tangential speed.

The Development and Optimization of a New Wind Tunnel Design for Odour Sampling

The characterization of passive area sources, emitting odours due to wind-driven convection, poses significant challenges. The present experimental study aims to evaluate the performance, in terms of fluid dynamics and mass transfer, of a recently developed wind tunnel, with a more compact design and reduced weight, compared to the one proposed by the Italian regulations. The results show that the new design outperforms the Italian standard in several aspects. From a fluid dynamic point of view, the new wind tunnel exhibits a slightly more homogenous and uniform velocity distribution, and it does not reveal airflow preferential channels inside the central body. The pressure tests highlight that the presence of fillers in the new wind tunnel does not significantly alter the pressure inside the hood and therefore the gas–liquid equilibrium conditions; actually, the slight overpressure may help to prevent the infiltration of external air. Finally, mass transfer tests on the standard device show a vertical concentration gradient along the outlet duct, highlighting concentration values that differ up to a factor of two depending on the measurement point. The new design has almost completely solved this issue, thanks to the use of fillers that promote mixing of the outlet flow.

Analysis of Flow Field Characteristics in the Three-Phase Jet Fire Monitor Head

To enhance the jet performance of the three-phase jet fire monitor (TPJFM), an analysis was conducted on the internal flow field (IFF) characteristics of the monitor head. Using the volume of fluid method, the impact of key structural parameters, such as the powder-pipe bending angle and the supporting blade length, on the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) of the IFF, the velocity distribution uniformity at the nozzle outlet, and the pressure drop (PD) between the inlet and outlet of the internal flow field, was analyzed. The study revealed that increasing the bending angle of the powder pipe will lead to a significant improvement in the uniformity of velocity distribution in the IFF. Extending the supporting blade length helps reduce the average TKE at the nozzle outlet but has a minimal impact on the velocity distribution uniformity and the PD between the inlet and outlet. Reasonable design of the distance between the supporting blades and the bending section of the powder pipe can improve the IFF characteristics, reducing local pressure losses and peak TKE. The research results can effectively improve the IFF characteristics, enhance jet performance, and provide theoretical basis and technical support for the design and optimization of the TPJFM.

Multi-Dimensional Modelling of Bioinspired Flow Channels Based on Plant Leaves for PEM Electrolyser

The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyser (PEMWE) has gained significant interest among various electrolysis methods due to its ability to produce highly purified, compressed hydrogen. The spatial configuration of bipolar plates and their flow channel patterns play a critical role in the efficiency and longevity of the PEM water electrolyser. Optimally designed flow channels ensure uniform pressure and velocity distribution across the stack, enabling high-pressure operation and facilitating high current densities. This study uses flow channel geometry inspired by authentic vine leaf patterns found in biomass, based on various plant leaves, including Soybean, Victoria Amazonica, Water Lily, Nelumbo Nucifera, Kiwi, and Acalypha Hispida leaves, as a novel channel pattern to design a PEM bipolar plate with a circular cross-section area of 13.85 cm2. The proposed bipolar design is further analysed with COMSOL Multiphysics to integrate the conservation of mass and momentum, molecular diffusion (Maxwell–Stefan), charge transfer equations, and other fabrication factors into a cohesive single-domain model. The simulation results showed that the novel designs have the most uniform velocity profile, lower pressure drop, superior pressure distribution, and heightened mixture homogeneity compared to the traditional serpentine models.

Effects of Ribbed Crossflow Channel in a Turbine Blade on Film Cooling Performance of Diffusion Slot Holes with Various Cross Section Orientations

Abstract This paper investigates the influence of ribbed crossflow on the film cooling performance of a turbine rotor blade. A pressure-sensitive paint measurement technique was employed to measure the effectiveness of film cooling. The discharge coefficients were also measured to determine the flow resistance. A row of film holes was positioned at the pressure surface or suction surface with a spanwise hole spacing of 7.5D, which is half of the rib spacing. The experiments were carried out at a mainstream Reynolds number of 520,000, a turbulence intensity of 3.6%, and a density ratio of 0.97. The crossflow inlet velocity was 45% of the cascade inlet velocity. A fan-shaped hole with a 14 deg expansion angle (Fans-14), a horizontally oriented slot cross section diffusion hole with a 14 deg expansion angle (H1.7-14), and two vertically oriented slot cross section diffusion holes with 14 deg (V1.7-14) and 20 deg (V1.7-20) expansion angles were tested with/without crossflow. The results indicated that the slot cross-sectional orientation significantly changes the flow patterns inside the holes. H1.7-14 has stronger lateral expansion and better surface adhesion, while V1.7-14 and V1.7-20 yield more uniform lateral velocity distributions. Regardless of crossflow, H1.7-14 produces the highest film effectiveness and discharge coefficient on the pressure surface, while it changes to V1.7-20 on the suction surface. The ribbed crossflow increases the film effectiveness on both the pressure surface and suction surface, except for V1.7-20, as it is almost unaffected by the crossflow.

Simulation and experiment of CRAFT NNBI cryopump

The cryogenic vacuum system is an important subsystem of Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology Negative Neutral Beam Injector, which provides vacuum environment support for various experiments related to the beam generation and transport process. In the paper, a simulation and experimental study of the Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Reactor Negative Neutral Beam Injector (CRAFT NNBI) cryopump performance has been carried out. The Beam Line Vessel (BLV) and its components are modeled by Solidworks, the pressure distribution, gas molecular velocity distribution and adsorption uniformity of the crysorption pump in the BLV are analyzed by simulation using the Molflow software, at the same time, the performance of the south cryopump is tested experimentally using in-situ measurement method. The simulation results show that the average pressure near the Neutralizer is 8.5*10-3 Pa, the average pressure near the Electrical Residual Ion Dump (ERID) is 8*10-3 Pa, and the average pressure near the Calorimeter is 9*10-3 Pa. The adsorption percentage fluctuates around 12%, which indicates that single structure plays the function of adsorption efficiently, the theoretical pumping speed of the south cryopump on H2 was calculated to be 7.34*105 L/s, total theoretical pumping speed of two cryopumps can reach 3.67*106 L/s. The experimental results showed that when the south cryopump was operation, the pressures near the Neutralizer were 2.8*10-2 Pa, the pressures near the ERID were 2.7*10-2 Pa, and the pressures near the Calorimeter were 7*10-3 Pa, the actual pumping speed of the south cryopump on H2 was 6.37*105 L/s, total actual pumping speed of two cryopumps can reach 3.1*106 L/s.

Numerical investigation on heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of Micro-Pillar array surface

The array surface structure can improve heat transfer efficiency and achieve large heat transfer area per unit of volume. In this study, a numerical simulation using CFD method was carried out to construct a dual-channel three-dimensional mathematical model with micro-pillar array surface. The characteristic of heat transfer and flow resistance for the arrayed surface structure have been studied. In addition, four different array configurations, including cylindrical, elliptical, quadrangular and herringbone, were considered to compare the thermal performance and flow behavior. The configuration with the best overall performance was obtained as cylindrical by comparison. The effects of different heights, arrangement methods and pitches on the system performance were analyzed. The velocity distribution on the array surface was also obtained. It is found that the cylindrical array structure has obvious advantages in overall performance, with more uniform surface velocity distribution and better overall performance at lower Re conditions.

Application of CFD Simulation to the Design of an Innovative Drying Chamber

Drying and sanitising equipment has been very common in industrial plants since the pandemic. These are devices that consume significant amounts of energy. The best solution is to use a drying chamber equipped with a heat pump, which allows partial recovery of the energy. In the design of the drying chamber, the drying time is important, which depends both on the parameters of the heat pump itself, and the geometry and airflow of the drying chamber. The geometry and airflow supply should be arranged to ensure a uniform distribution of velocity throughout the drying area. For this purpose, the use of CFD simulations has been proposed. A model was developed in ANSYS/FLUENT where all model parameters, including the optimal mesh density, turbulence models, etc., were determined. The model was verified on the experimental results of the basic design of the chamber. Then an innovative design was proposed that was modelled and optimised in terms of the distribution of the inlet’s perforation. The final design was made, and, at the same time, the simulation’s results were verified by measuring the velocity of airflow in the new design. Together with the optimisation of the heat pump, this made it possible to reduce the drying time by 50%, with a simultaneous reduction in the energy consumed.

Gas-Solid flow and mass transfer characteristics in activated carbon adsorption equipment: The impact of structural outline

The efficacy of adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in industrial emissions by activated carbon (AC) is influenced by adsorption kinetics and hydrodynamics. To simulate the performance of continuous flow AC adsorption process, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model that includes both multiphase flow and adsorption kinetics was developed. Because of its well-understood adsorption mechanism, N-butane was chosen as the target contaminant in this investigation. Simulation results revealed that velocity distribution uniformity is deeply affected by structural outline. According to simulations of the heat and mass transfer process, the adsorption reaction stoichiometric constraints between n-butane and AC were achieved; however, full utilization of AC was difficult to reach because of the hindered heat accumulation and mass transfer diffusion. Different structural outline leads to a 2.15 % improvement of adsorption efficiency due to an enhancement in the velocity distribution uniformity. The CFD model adequately describes the breakage curve occurring in the gas-solid multiphase flow system and confirms that heat and mass transfer is the rate limiting step in contaminant adsorption. This article investigates the effects of velocity distribution, heat and mass transfer on adsorption efficiency in equipment with different structural outline, and provide valuable insights into the design and application of equipment for eliminating VOCs.

On the sound field of an oscillating elliptical disk in free space with an open and closed back.

An oscillating elliptical disk in free space has a uniform surface velocity distribution and is therefore a rigid sound radiator. The radiated sound also represents that scattered from a stationary disk in the presence of a normal plane wave. Using the Fourier (Hankel) Green's function in cylindrical coordinates, together with the monopole Kirchhoff-Helmholtz boundary integral, rigorous analytical formulas are derived for calculating the surface pressure distribution, radiation impedance, on-axis pressure, and, directivity pattern of an elliptical open-back disk in free space, and these are plotted over a range of normalized frequencies. The directivity is compared with that of a rigid circular disk in free space, and asymptotic low-frequency approximations are derived for the radiation impedance and on-axis pressure. Using the Gutin concept, the radiated sound is combined with that from a rigid elliptical disk in an infinite baffle to obtain the radiation impedance, on-axis pressure, and, directivity pattern of a closed-back elliptical disk in free space. The latter has a uniform velocity distribution on the front surface and zero velocity over the entire back surface.

Research and improvement of the design of a sedimentation tank for hydropower and irrigation

The study is devoted to the analysis and optimisation of the design of the sedimentation tank to increase the efficiency of settling solid particles in hydropower and irrigation systems. Both experimental and numerical methods were used to analyse and optimise the design of sedimentation tanks to increase their efficiency in hydropower and irrigation systems. The study examined and analysed various types of sedimentation tanks according to design schemes, flow regime, deposition dynamics and sediment flushing methods, and also considered recommended improvements for hydropower and irrigation of various types of sedimentation tanks. During the study, it was revealed that optimising the geometry of the sedimentation tank significantly increases the efficiency of solid particle deposition. Experimental data have shown that changing the angle of inclination of the walls and increasing the area of the bottom of the sedimentation tank contribute to improving the deposition of silt and sand. It has also been found that the use of special turbulent inserts reduces the particle deposition time and improves the quality of treated water. Hydraulic flow modelling has confirmed that a more uniform velocity distribution in the sedimentation tank reduces turbulence and promotes more efficient particle deposition. The introduction of automated systems for monitoring and controlling the cleaning process has made it possible to increase the reliability and stability of the sedimentation tank. As a result, it was proved that the proposed design and technological changes can significantly increase the efficiency and durability of sedimentation tanks in hydropower and irrigation. The study provides practical recommendations for improving the design of sedimentation tanks, which helps to increase their efficiency and reliability in hydropower and irrigation, thereby improving water management

Effect of temperature and velocity inlet conditions at the diffusers on the thermal and dynamic behavior of an impacting swirling multi-jet system

This study concerns the numerical simulation of a system of swirling turbulent jets impacting a flat plate, by two numerical models of the closure of the Navier Stokes equations (k-ω sst). The jet impact technique is widely applied in the field of heating, drying and cooling of industrial objects. The experimental test bench comprising a diffuser of diameter D, impacting the perpendicular plate, such that the impact distance H = 4D. The swirl is obtained by a swirl generator, made up of 12 fins arranged at 60° from the vertical, placed just at the outlet of the diffuser. The temperature of the swirling jets blowing on the plate is measured with a VELOCICALC PLUS portable thermo-anemometer device, in different stations. It is noted that this diffuser configuration having balanced inlet temperatures (T, T, T), gives a uniform distribution of temperature and velocity on the surface of the plate. This temperature distribution results from a 95% spread of homogenization of plate heat transfer. The (k-ω sst) model gave temperature and velocity profiles that coincide with those of the experimental results. By way of comparison, the (k-ω sst) model better predicts impacting jets, particularly in fluctuating zones. The latter remains a relatively better numerical simulation tool in terms of quality.

Deep Learning With Physics-Embedded Neural Network for Full Waveform Ultrasonic Brain Imaging.

The convenience, safety, and affordability of ultrasound imaging make it a vital non-invasive diagnostic technique for examining soft tissues. However, significant differences in acoustic impedance between the skull and soft tissues hinder the successful application of traditional ultrasound for brain imaging. In this study, we propose a physics-embedded neural network with deep learning based full waveform inversion (PEN-FWI), which can achieve reliable quantitative imaging of brain tissues. The network consists of two fundamental components: forward convolutional neural network (FCNN) and inversion sub-neural network (ISNN). The FCNN explores the nonlinear mapping relationship between the brain model and the wavefield, replacing the tedious wavefield calculation process based on the finite difference method. The ISNN implements the mapping from the wavefield to the model. PEN-FWI includes three iterative steps, each embedding the F CNN into the ISNN, ultimately achieving tomography from wavefield to brain models. Simulation and laboratory tests indicate that PEN-FWI can produce high-quality imaging of the skull and soft tissues, even starting from a homogeneous water model. PEN-FWI can achieve excellent imaging of clot models with constant uniform distribution of velocity, randomly Gaussian distribution of velocity, and irregularly shaped randomly distributed velocity. Robust differentiation can also be achieved for brain slices of various tissues and skulls, resulting in high-quality imaging. The imaging time for a horizontal cross-sectional imag e of the brain is only 1.13 seconds. This algorithm can effectively promote ultrasound-based brain tomography and provide feasible solutions in other fields.

Understanding two‐phase flow behaviour: CFD Assessment of silicone oil–air and water–air in an intermediate vertical pipe

AbstractThe study utilized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations employing the volume of fluid (VOF) model to analyze silicone oil–air flows in a vertical pipe with a diameter of 67 mm. Various structured meshes ensured grid independence, and the k‐ε realizable model addressed turbulence. The analysis characterized bubbly to annular flows, involving the evaluation of flow patterns, radial void fractions, void fraction time series, probability density functions (PDFs), power spectral densities (PSDs), and mean void fractions. Results indicated a transition from bubbly to annular flow with increasing gas velocities and notable changes in radial void fraction profiles. Void fraction exhibited significant variations with distinct flow patterns at constant liquid velocity. PDFs identified flow regimes, and PSDs revealed frequency patterns. CFD results were validated against experiments, demonstrating good agreement. The validated CFD model was utilized to investigate radial gas velocities and pressure drops, revealing a shift from uniform velocity distributions to irregular patterns and a decrease in total pressure drop with an increase in gas superficial velocity. The model was also applied to a water‐air system to explore two‐phase flow behaviour. The impact of superficial gas velocity on flow patterns and radial void fractions was studied through numerical analysis and compared with the silicone oil‐air system. Results showed that at extreme gas velocities (0.06 and 5.53 m/s), silicone oil exhibited bubbly and annular flows, while water displayed cap bubbly and churn flows. The significant variation in radial void fraction at these velocities emphasized the impact of fluid properties.

Numerical study of bubble rise in plunging breaking waves

During the occurrence of plunging wave breaking, a substantial number of multi-scale bubbles are generated. These submerged bubbles persist for extended periods and contribute to the distinct acoustic and optical characteristics of the wake. In this study, we utilize high-fidelity simulations, combined with the adaptive refinement strategy to accurately track bubbles of multi-scales during the entire rising stage. Unlike previous studies, our emphasis is specifically on investigating the process of bubble rising during plunging wave breaking. Comprehensive statistical analyses are performed and characteristics of bubbles across various scales are also provided. Our findings reveal that most bubbles are concentrated in small scales, while larger bubbles rapidly ascend to the surface or undergo fragmentation into smaller bubbles through breaking cascades eventually. A distinct stratification of bubble size distribution along the depth direction is observed. Bubble velocity distributions are also important characteristics that are frequently neglected in studies of plunging wave breaking. Bubbles primarily spread along the spanwise direction, with a uniform distribution of velocity in this dimension. The velocity distribution of bubbles displays asymmetric tails that extend to higher velocities, and within this high-velocity regime, a power law behavior is observed, similar to the size distributions. Ultimately, the flow field is left with only a few small bubbles, moving at an exceedingly low speed. Furthermore, dynamical evolution of bubble rise in plunging wave breaking is described in detail and we analyze the intricate interactions between bubbles and turbulent flows. We observe that vortices are predominantly generated in close proximity to the bubbles, and bubble motion plays a crucial role in initiating turbulent flows. Simultaneously, these vortices contribute to the fragmentation of large-scale bubbles, transforming them into smaller counterparts due to turbulent fluctuations.

Heat transfer optimisation using novel biomorphic pin-fin heat sinks: An integrated approach via design for manufacturing, numerical simulation, and machine learning

With the availability of advanced manufacturing techniques, non-conventional shapes and bio-inspired/biomorphic designs have shown to provide more efficient heat transfer. Consequently, this research investigates the heat transfer performance and fluid flow characteristics of novel biomorphic scutoid pin fins with varying volumes and top geometries. Numerical simulations were conducted using four hybrid designs for Reynolds Number 5500–13500. The impact of pin fin 'top' geometrical features on the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) was evaluated by combining computational fluid dynamics (CFD), experimental data, and machine learning. The results highlighted that the new pin fins saved 6.3 % to 14.3 % volume/material usage but produced around 1.5 to 1.7 times more heat transfer than conventional square/rectangular fins. Also, manipulating pin fins via the top geometrical properties can lead to more uniform velocity and temperature distributions while demonstrating the potential for increased thermal efficiency with reduced thermal resistance. Furthermore, six machine learning models accurately predict HTC using volume and surface area as key variables, achieving less than 5 % mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Overall, this research introduces innovative biomorphic designs with unconventional geometries, emphasising resource optimisation and efficient HTC prediction using machine learning. It simplifies design processes, supports agile product development, calls for re-evaluation of conventional heat sink geometries, and provides promising directions for future research.