A study on the hydraulics of waste stabilization pond

In this study, tracer tests and organic removal tests were conducted on three different ponds in the purpose of evaluating the influence of the flow velocity and dispersion on the hydraulic efficiency of the pond. The authors have compared the hydraulic flow patterns among ponds with different configurations. Experimental and theoretical analyses were performed. This study indicated that the flow characteristics of square ponds are different from that of baffled ponds; the flow velocity and dispersion are equally important factors which affect the pond hydraulics; the number of inserting baffles can be optimized; and the hydraulic efficiency of multistage ponds is superior to that of baffled ponds.

Variants of Secondary Control with Power Recovery for Loading Hydraulic Driving Device

Current high power load simulators are generally incapable of obtaining both high loading performance and high energy efficiency. Simulators with high energy efficiency are used to simulate static-state load, and those with high dynamic performance typically have low energy efficiency. In this paper, the variants of secondary control（VSC） with power recovery are developed to solve this problem for loading hydraulic driving devices that operate under variable pressure, unlike classical secondary control（CSC） that operates in constant pressure network. Hydrostatic secondary control units are used as the loading components, by which the absorbed mechanical power from the tested device is converted into hydraulic power and then fed back into the tested system through 4 types of feedback passages（FPs）. The loading subsystem can operate in constant pressure network, controlled variable pressure network, or the same variable pressure network as that of the tested device by using different FPs. The 4 types of systems are defined, and their key techniques are analyzed, including work principle, simulating the work state of original tested device, static operation points, loading performance, energy efficiency, and control strategy, etc. The important technical merits of the 4 schemes are compared, and 3 of the schemes are selected, designed, simulated using AMESim and evaluated. The researching results show that the investigated systems can simulate the given loads effectively, realize the work conditions of the tested device, and furthermore attain a high power recovery efficiency that ranges from 0.54 to 0.85, even though the 3 schemes have different loading performances and energy efficiencies. This paper proposes several loading schemes that can achieve both high dynamic performance and high power recovery efficiency.

Safety-efficiency trade-offs in the cotton xylem：acclimatization to different soil textures

The acclimatization of plant xylem to altered environmental conditions has attracted considerable attention from researchers over several decades. Plants growing in natural environments must seek a balance between water uptake and the water loss of leaves from evaporation. Thus, the adaptation of xylem to different soil textures is important in maintaining plant water balance. In this study, we investigated the xylem changes of cotton（Gossypium herbaceum L.） xylem in sandy, clay and mixed soils. Results showed that soil texture had a significant effect on xylem vessel diameter and length of stems and roots. Compared with G. herbaceum growing in the clay soil, those plants growing in the sandy soil developed narrower and shorter xylem vessels in their roots, and had a higher percentage of narrow vessels in their stems. These changes resulted in a safer（i.e. less vulnerable to cavitation）, but less-efficient water transport system when soil water availability was low, supporting the hydraulic safety versus efficiency trade-off hypothesis. Furthermore, in sandy and mixed soils, the root： shoot ratio of G. herbaceum increased twofold, which ensures the same efficiency of leaves. In summary, our finding indicates that the morphological plasticity of xylem structure in G. herbaceum has a major role in the acclimatization of this plant species to different soil textures.

GAS AND OIL POWER DISTRIBUTION RATIO OF A NEW HYDRAULIC BREAKER

The working principle of a new hydraulic breaker operated jointly by gas and hydraulic flow which has a reasonable structure, high efficiency and long piston life-span, is analyzed, and the optimal power distribution ratio of the sealed nitrogen gas to the high-pressure oil in the process of piston impacting is studied. Through theoretical analysis, optimization simulation and detailed calculation, it is determined that the impact system has optimal mechanical performance and highest efficiency when the distribution ratio φ is between 0.3 and 0.5. The theoretical result is also verified by repeated tests.

A FAST LAGRANGIAN SIMULATION METHOD FOR FLOW ANALYSIS AND RUNNER DESIGN IN PELTON TURBINES

In the present work, an alternative numerical methodology is developed for a fast and effective simulation and analysis of the complex flow and energy conversion in Pelton impulse hydro turbines. The algorithm is based on the Lagrangian approach and the unsteady free-surface flow during the jet-bucket interaction is simulated by tracking the trajectories of representative fluid particles at very low computer cost. Modern regression tools are implemented in a new parameterization technique of the inner bucket surface. Key-feature of the model is the introduction of additional terms into the particle motion equations to account for various hydraulic losses and the flow spreading, which are regulated and evaluated with the aid of experimental data in a Laboratory Pelton turbine. The model is applied to study the jet-runner interaction in various operation conditions and then to perform numerical design optimization of the bucket shape, using a stochastic optimizer based on evolutionary algorithms. The obtained optimum runner attains remarkably higher hydraulic efficiency in the entire load range. Finally, a new small Pelton turbine （150 kW） is designed, manufactured and tested in the Laboratory, and its performance and efficiency verify the model predictions.

Master equation and runaway speed of the Francis turbine

The master equation of the Francis turbine is derived based on the combination of the angular momentum（Euler） and the energy laws. It relates the geometrical design of the impeller and the regulation settings（guide vane angle and rotational speed） to the discharge and the power output. The master equation, thus, enables the complete characteristics of a given Francis turbine to be easily computed. While applying the energy law, both the shock loss at the impeller inlet and the swirling loss at the impeller exit are taken into account. These are main losses which occur at both the partial load and the overloads and, thus, dominantly influence the characteristics of the Francis turbine. They also totally govern the discharge of the water through the impeller when the impeller is found in the standstill. The computations have been performed for the discharge, the hydraulic torque and the hydraulic efficiency. They were also compared with the available measurements on a model turbine. Excellent agreement has been achieved. The computations also enable the runaway speed of the Francis turbine and the related discharge to be determined as a function of the setting angle of the guide vanes.