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This paper is a proposal to embed tree-shaped vasculatures in a wall designed such that the wall withstands without excessive hot spots and peak stresses the intense heating and pressure that impinge on it. The vasculature is a quilt of square-shaped panels, each panel having a tree vasculature that connects the center with the perimeter. The vascular designs for volumetric cooling can be complemented by the shaping and distributing of channels for maximum strength and thermal performance at the same time. Numerical simulations of heat flow and thermal stresses in three directions show that it is possible to determine the optimal geometric features of configurations with radial channels and trees with radial and one level of bifurcations. The global performance is evaluated in terms of the overall thermal resistance and peak von Mises stresses. The dendritic design is superior under the studied thermal condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we show that the production and use of heating on an area must be distributed in clusters organized such that the losses associated with centers of production are balanced by the losses associated with distribution lines. The energy needs increase in time because the population density and the individual need increase. We consider only the increase in the individual need in time. We illustrate the 'distributed energy systems' concept with the production and distribution of hot water on an area. Four classes of designs are analyzed and compared: (0) individual, i.e., one water heater for one user, (r) radial, i.e., N users supplied via radial pipes from a central heater, (2) dendritic network constructed by pairing N users around a central heating, and (4) dendritic network constructed by quadrupling the elemental areas occupied by the users. We show that there is an optimal cluster size (N) as a tradeoff between central losses and distributed losses. We also discover that several distinct (abrupt) design 'transitions' must exist: the recommended design changes through designs 0, r, 2, and 4, as the amount of water used by each individual increases in time with the standard of living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work concerns 3D numerical simulations and experiments on the rise of individual liquid Taylor drops through vertical columns of stagnant heavier liquids. Asymmetric effects are assessed for different conditions, following the observations in a previous work. Furthermore, the disturbances in the continuous phase due to the Taylor drop are studied. Experiments were performed with pairs of liquids in ranges not studied in the literature. Simulations targeted a broad range of dimensionless numbers and were done in a commercial code, using its implementation of the volume of fluid method in a three-dimensional domain. Results were processed according to relevant dimensionless numbers. Different behaviors are found concerning the existence or not of flow and drop shape asymmetries. Depending on the viscosity ratio, three ranges with different characteristics were identified. Relevant results are also reported concerning drop velocity when compared to the literature two-dimensional model. Drop influence in the surrounding continuous phase is also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submicrometric periodic patterning of an organic solar cell surface is investigated in order to optimize the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the device. Patterning is achieved using a single-step all-optical technique based on photoinduced mass transport in azopolymer films. The polymer film with a structured surface is used as a substrate for an organic solar cell based on a copper phthalocyanine/C60 heterojunction. The effect of periodic patterning is investigated through the solar-cell optical-absorption properties and external quantum efficiency measurements. The possibility to increase the short circuit current density and the corresponding photovoltaic conversion efficiency is evidenced with one-dimensional periodic structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoluminescence properties of a periodically structured organic light-emitting diode are presented. Patterning is achieved using an original single-step autostructuration technique based on photoinduced effects in azo-polymer films. We show that single beam laser irradiation can lead to the induction of regular two-dimensional surface relief gratings. The waveguide properties of these microstructures as well as their effect on the emission properties of a light-emitting material are studied. We demonstrate a new straightforward technique to improve external light emission efficiency by outcoupling part of the light that was initially guided into the different diode layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]