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This paper is a detailed computational study of the flow within a scale model of a gas turbine engine testing facility. At mass flows representative of tests for large, high bypass ratio turbofans, large amplitude low-frequency pressure fluctuations have been observed experimentally at full- and model-scale. These can be so large as to have deleterious effects on downstream facility components. Improved, delayed, detached eddy simulations (IDDES) of the scale model facility are carried out two operating points using OpenFOAM: one where the high amplitude fluctuations occur, and another where they do not. By comparing detailed assessments of the unsteady flow fields for both conditions, the underlying physical mechanism responsible for the problematic pressure fluctuations is identified. The first key finding is that the shape of the chamber housing the engine being tested can result in excitation of a cut-on mode leading to high-pressure amplitudes and propagation. The second key outcome is that the shear layer shedding frequency will only lead to high amplitudes of pressure fluctuation if the excited mode causes periods of high/low pressure that are synchronized around the circular shear layer. An analytical model is derived for predicting whether tonal propagation occurs. Finally, it is found that far downstream flow behavior is mostly determined by the excitation in the test chamber, with minimal downstream dissipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The international fusion materials irradiation facility-DEMO-oriented neutron source (IFMIF-DONES) is a facility that is designed under the framework of the EU fusion roadmap. It is going to be an essential irradiation facility for testing and qualifying candidate materials under severe irradiation conditions of a neutron field having an energy spectrum like the one present in a fusion power reactor. The material specimens are irradiated in a containment structure named the test cell (TC), which is part of the test systems (TS). The TC also houses a part of the other major system (lithium system, LS), which provides the liquid lithium for the reaction through a piping system. At a point, the lithium piping needs to exit the TS, but the primary safety boundary must be continuous around these penetrations. Therefore, a special barrier, called the test systems–lithium systems interface cell (TLIC), has been developed around the piping system to provide a safety-approved and remotely maintainable vacuum boundary envelope. In this paper, the integrated design development of the TLIC is described, consisting of the design development according to the RCC-MRx code, the remote-handling (RH) needs, and the procedures and safety-related special needs of the design.

Due to the wide range of factors that influence the performance of the direct solar floor (DSF) hygrothermal behaviour, the dynamic simulation using physical models is a difficult task. The DSF thermal simulation are tied to a number of variables that can occasionally be beyond of our control. In this study the hygrothermal behaviour of an experimental room heated by a DSF is predicted using a long short-term memory (LSTM) and a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models. First, we studied the DSF system performance in a Mediterranean climate experimentally, and used the results to validate the numerical part. Then, the proposed LSTM and CNN neural network methods are explored to forecast the temperature and humidity of indoor air. The developed model was trained and tested using real experimental data. The predictive accuracy of the proposed models was compared with other models such as the linear switching model (PWARX) and TRNSYS tools, and evaluated using various statistical assesment metrics. The statistical indicators demonstrate that the LSTM outperforms the CNN, PWARX and TRNSYS model's in terms of forecasting accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The international fusion materials irradiation facility-DEMO-oriented neutron source (IFMIF-DONES) is a facility that is designed under the framework of the EU fusion roadmap. It is going to be an essential irradiation facility for testing and qualifying candidate materials under severe irradiation conditions of a neutron field having an energy spectrum like the one present in a fusion power reactor. The material specimens are irradiated in a containment structure named the test cell (TC), which is part of the test systems (TS). The TC also houses a part of the other major system (lithium system, LS), which provides the liquid lithium for the reaction through a piping system. At a point, the lithium piping needs to exit the TS, but the primary safety boundary must be continuous around these penetrations. Therefore, a special barrier, called the test systems--lithium systems interface cell (TLIC), has been developed around the piping system to provide a safety-approved and remotely maintainable vacuum boundary envelope. In this paper, the integrated design development of the TLIC is described, consisting of the design development according to the RCC-MRx code, the remote-handling (RH) needs, and the procedures and safety-related special needs of the design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposing new materials and systems to improve the performance and energy efficiency of buildings is often followed by performance evaluation to monitor how they perform and contribute. Experimental performance characterization of new and existing building materials and systems is crucial to understanding their behaviour in relation to indoor environmental and conditional changes, in addition to outdoor environmental changes. Full-scale experimental test cell facilities have been at the forefront of experimental performance evaluation in building-related research, as they can provide a realistic representation of buildings, which includes environmental conditions, building structure, and operational characteristics. In this paper, the new test cell facility of BeTOP, located in the city of Toronto, Ontario, is introduced as a full-scale experimental facility with the capability of multiple practical tests simultaneously. This paper describes the characteristics of this test cell, including structure details, testing capabilities, system details, previous testing campaigns, and future testing potential. The design of such a full-scale testing facility is shown to be crucial in a continental climate, such as Toronto, to observe the long-term performance of new systems under variable boundary conditions with cold winters and hot and humid summer seasons.

Copyright of PARC Pesquisa em Arquitetura e Construção is the property of Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Portal de Periodicos Eletronicos Cientificos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The IFMIF-DONES Facility is built with the purpose of irradiating materials under DEMO Tokamak-like conditions and is a first-of-a-kind project that is foreseen to be built in Granada, Spain. A systematic top-down approach is used to design its Systems and to aid the harmonization and interaction between them. One of these main systems is the Test Systems which serves as the meeting point for other major systems such as the Lithium System (LS) and Accelerator Systems (AS), while also providing a connection to the Facilities for Complementary Experiments (FCE) for additional irradiation campaigns to take place. The Test Cell is a confined space for the experiments to take place, with critical functions for operation and safety. The TC is a subsystem serving as a convergent space for other systems, therefore the design of the TC has to fulfil the needs and requirements of the connecting systems also. In this paper, the design evolution of the Test Cell is discussed in detail from the early concept to the last more mature design, while also describing the connecting systems and the challenges these provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the research and development of new battery materials, achieving high reproducibility of the performance parameters in the laboratory test cells is of great importance. Therefore, in the present work, three typical small-format lithium-ion cells (coin cell, Swagelok cell and EL-CELL ECC-PAT-Core) were tested and compared with regard to the reproducibility of their performance parameters (discharge capacity, internal resistance and coulombic efficiency). A design of experiments (DOE) with the two factors separator type and anode–cathode ratio (N/P ratio) was carried out for all cells. For the quality features discharge capacity, internal resistance and coulombic efficiency, the coefficient of variation is used as a measure of reproducibility. The statistical evaluation shows that in 83% of all cases, higher reproducibility is achieved when the Freudenberg separator is used instead of the Celgard separator. In addition, higher reproducibility is achieved in 78% of all cases if the anode and cathode are the same size. A general statement about which test cell format has the highest reproducibility cannot be made. Rather, the format selection should be adapted to the requirements. The examined factors seem to have an influence on the reproducibility but are more insignificant than other still-unknown factors. Since the production of small-format test cells is a manual process, the competence of the assembler seems to prevail. In order to mitigate the influence of as many unknown variables as possible, assembly instructions are proposed for each cell type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of IFMIF-DONES facility is to provide a neutron source for irradiating small specimens and producing experimental data of material properties for the construction of DEMO fusion power plant. The Test Cell (TC) of the DONES is a confined and well-shielded room, where the strong irradiation environment is created. The biological shielding of the TC mainly consists of several meters thick concrete walls and shielding plugs, and a stainless-steel liner. The TC liner and the concrete walls are actively cooled by water because of the high volumetric heating coming from nuclear reactions. Although, the TC is designed to be fully functional for the complete life span of the facility, still there is a very low probability of defect of the TC biological shielding due to their exposure of intense neutron and gamma irradiation. Therefore, the original TC configuration, which was a monolithic approach, had to be revised. Due to this reason, at the end of 2019 the project team has changed the TC concept from the monolithic design to the so-called Maintainable TC Concept (MTCC) design, which allows a maintenance possibility in case of unexpected damage.

The high consumption of electricity in Palmas, Brazil is a direct consequence of the high temperatures identified throughout the year. Therefore, it is necessary to search for sustainable technologies that contribute to comfort through passive cooling, thus reducing the energy consumption. This work presents the results of an experimental campaign of 11 months, in which the effects of shading devices, the use of a low-emissivity reflective film, the implementation of natural ventilation and the application of reflective painting are evaluated, when applied individually and combined. The results show that when applied individually, natural cross ventilation was the most effective at night, while reflective painting showed better performance during the day. Regarding the combinations of techniques, the best combination occurred when reflective painting was used together with natural ventilation, and the result was a relevant improvement in the performance, ensuring high temperature reductions when compared to the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Liquid Crystal & Displays is the property of Chinese Journal of Liquid Crystal & Displays and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

For the research and development of new battery materials, achieving high reproducibility of the performance parameters in the laboratory test cells is of great importance. Therefore, in the present work, three typical small-format lithium-ion cells (coin cell, Swagelok cell and EL-CELL ECC-PAT-Core) were tested and compared with regard to the reproducibility of their performance parameters (discharge capacity, internal resistance and coulombic efficiency). A design of experiments (DOE) with the two factors separator type and anode–cathode ratio (N/P ratio) was carried out for all cells. For the quality features discharge capacity, internal resistance and coulombic efficiency, the coefficient of variation is used as a measure of reproducibility. The statistical evaluation shows that in 83% of all cases, higher reproducibility is achieved when the Freudenberg separator is used instead of the Celgard separator. In addition, higher reproducibility is achieved in 78% of all cases if the anode and cathode are the same size. A general statement about which test cell format has the highest reproducibility cannot be made. Rather, the format selection should be adapted to the requirements. The examined factors seem to have an influence on the reproducibility but are more insignificant than other still-unknown factors. Since the production of small-format test cells is a manual process, the competence of the assembler seems to prevail. In order to mitigate the influence of as many unknown variables as possible, assembly instructions are proposed for each cell type.

• IFMIF-DONES: Fusion facility for testing materials under extreme neutron irradiation conditions. • Test Cell: Test Module containment structure for irradiating material specimens in IFMIF-DONES. • Removable Biological Shielding Blocks: Heavy concrete blocks with SS liner blocking neutron flux. • RBSBs:Remotely Handled, actively cooled, can be removed in case of failure. • Updated RBSB Design: Achievements are described relating to manufacturing, lifting, and positioning within TC. The International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility - DEMO Oriented Neutron Source (IFMIF-DONES) is a facility which is designed under the framework of the EU fusion roadmap. It is going to be an essential irradiation facility for testing and qualifying candidate materials under severe irradiation conditions of a neutron field having an neutron irradiation effect on materials like the one expected in a commercial fusion power reactor. The material specimens are irradiated in a containment structure named Test Cell (TC), which is part of the Test Systems (TS). The first protecting „barrier" against irradiation affecting the surrounding of the TC, are the Removable Biological Shielding Blocks (RBSBs). These ∼9 m height, ∼80 tons elements, which are formed by stainless steel liners filled with heavy concrete, need to be remotely handled as after the first experiments they will get dose rates above the hands-on limit. Irradiation will also result in a large nuclear heat power deposited in the shielding blocks, therefore needs to be actively water cooled by a system of embedded pipes to control the temperature. In this paper the updated design of the RBSBs is described, including the latest achievements and proposals for feasible manufacturing, lifting and positioning possibilities of the blocks inside of the TC respecting the given tolerances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high consumption of electricity in Palmas, Brazil is a direct consequence of the high temperatures identified throughout the year. Therefore, it is necessary to search for sustainable technologies that contribute to comfort through passive cooling, thus reducing the energy consumption. This work presents the results of an experimental campaign of 11 months, in which the effects of shading devices, the use of a low-emissivity reflective film, the implementation of natural ventilation and the application of reflective painting are evaluated, when applied individually and combined. The results show that when applied individually, natural cross ventilation was the most effective at night, while reflective painting showed better performance during the day. Regarding the combinations of techniques, the best combination occurred when reflective painting was used together with natural ventilation, and the result was a relevant improvement in the performance, ensuring high temperature reductions when compared to the control.

The present paper studies the influence of a secondary intake and its effect on the jet stability. Three configurations have been analyzed: one with the secondary intake closed, the second having a convergent nozzle after the augmentor tube and the third case using a perforated augmentor tube. The secondary intake is used to supply air for cooling the exhaust system. Numerical simulation was realized using the k-є model, which is the most used CFD turbulence model, especially for turbulent flow conditions. The results obtained showed that secondary intake influences the jet stability, because of the pressure differences from the two zones. To resolve this closing the secondary intake is the best option available.

In this work, thermal and visual comfort of low heat loss switchable suspended particle device-vacuum (SPD-vacuum) glazing was investigated for less energy-hungry adaptive building's glazing or façade integration at temperate climate. This SPD-vacuum glazing had 38% visible transmittance in the presence of 110 V applied an alternating voltage and 2% visible transmittance in the absence of electrical power. Outdoor test cell characterisation was employed to measure the thermal and daylighting parameters of this glazing. Solar heat gain or solar factor was calculated using non calorimetric methods and varied between 0.38 (Switch OFF/opaque) to 0.51 (Switch ON/transparent). Test cell indoor and ambient parameters (incident solar radiation and ambient temperature) were engaged for thermal comfort analysis by using PMV and PPD methods. Visual comfort was analysed from glare potential, useful daylight index, and colour properties. The comfortable thermal environment was attainable using both states of this glazing for a clear sunny day. Acceptable daylight throughout the day was possible for a clear sunny day for opaque state; however clear state offered allowable/comfortable correlated colour temperature (CCT) of 5786.18 K and colour rendering index (CRI) of 94.83. • Spectral measurement of combined suspended particle -vacuum glazing provided 38% transmission while 110 V AC was supplied. • Thermal comfort of suspended particle device-vacuum combined glazing was evaluated using PMV and PPD methods. • Visual comfort was calculated using useful daylight, daylight glare and colour properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Material Irradiation Facility- DEMO Oriented NEutron Source) is an accelerator based irradiation facility which is aimed to provide the irradiation data needed for the construction of DEMO. The Test Cell (TC) is the central room of IFMIF-DONES enclosing the target and the test module. This work presents the neutronics analyses conducted to provide the relevant nuclear responses for the bio-shield of the TC, including heating, radiation damage and helium production. The results for the TC steel liners covering the inner TC surface have been obtained with an unstructured mesh based interpolation approach. The results show that the softening of the neutron spectrum at the thin layer of the inner wall increases the nuclear heating as well as the helium production in SS316 L. The helium production might be of major concern if re-welding of the liner is required during the lifetime. The impact of a reduced beam footprint size on the TC nuclear responses has been analyzed and found to be insignificant comparing with the normal footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A maintainable test cell (TC) concept, which targets replacing TC key components in case of damages, for the IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – Demo Oriented NEutron Source) facility is proposed to facilitate the maintenance of key containment and biological shielding components, i.e. the liner and the surrounding concrete walls. Unlike the current TC reference design which features permanent liner and concrete shielding walls, the new proposal decouples the components which suffer relative high failure possibilities from the ones which can stay as permanent construction structures. The former ones, that are expected to be replaced in case of damage, include removable sections of the liner and part of the biological shielding materials. Fundamental mechanical solution of this configuration is briefly described, and technical feasibilities are preliminarily analyzed for the aspects of independent liner enclosure structure, maintenance scenarios using remote handling systems, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Summary of IFMIF-DONES Preliminary Engineering Design for a generic site is presented. • Design solutions for Test Cell (TC) penetrations and confinement are proposed. • Integrated neutronic analyses in the target area are performed. • Radiation maps and shielding configuration in the TC and surrounding rooms are discussed. • Integration of RH systems and maintenance procedures in the TC are developed. The need of a high-intensity, 14 MeV neutron source for the qualification of materials under fusion-relevant conditions has been recognized in the European fusion programme as an essential step towards the design and licensing of DEMO and future commercial fusion power plants. This need has pushed the EU to support the development of a Li(d,nx) neutron source called IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility-DEMO Oriented NEutron Source) based on and taking advantage of the results obtained in the IFMIF/EVEDA (IFMIF Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities) project conducted in the framework of the bilateral EU-Japan Broader Approach Agreement. The design activities and the supporting R&D work of the IFMIF-DONES facility are presently being carried out in the framework of the Work Package Early Neutron Source (WPENS) of the EUROfusion Consortium in direct collaboration with F4E Agency, with the main goal of consolidating the underlying technology and developing a sound design basis in order to be ready for IFMIF-DONES construction at the early beginning of the next decade. In this paper, some important aspects of the IFMIF-DONES Preliminary Engineering Design concerning in particular the main design integration issues in the target area are presented and briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study elaborates the theoretical and experimental analysis for the effectiveness of different photovoltaic thermal (PVT) configurations along with their building implications. An experiment was performed on especially designed four identical prototype test cells emphasise the building integration photovoltaic thermal (BiPVT) systems. A comparative analysis of four different possible PVT configurations integrated on identical test cells namely; Case 1: Glass-to-glass PV with duct integrated on a test cell, Case 2: Glass-to -glass PV without duct integrated on a test cell, Case 3: Glass to tedlar PV with duct integrated on a test cell and Case 4: Glass to tedlar PV without duct integrated on a test cell was carried out. Analytical model of the electrical and thermal performance for different cases was developed and experimentally validated in outdoor conditions. On the basis of the correlation coefficient (r) and root mean square percent deviation (e), a fair agreement between theoretically calculated and experimentally observed values is achieved. The glass to glass PV module gives better both electrical and thermal performance with hourly average η m 12.65% and 12.70% for case 1 and 2 respectively. Similarly, the hourly average η ith was observed 32.77% and 25.44% for case 1 and 2 respectively. Further, thermal load levelling with varying packing factor, mass flow rate of air through the PV integrated duct, absorptivity (degradation effect) and transmittivity (dusting effect) are also discussed. Highlights • Potential of different photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) configuration for space heating is explored. • Thermal model for different PVT configurations integrated on prototype test cells is developed. • Test cells based experiments are performed for different PVT configuration in outdoor environment. • Thermal load levelling (TLL) with varying packing factor and ducted air mass flow rate is considered. • Effect of absorptivity (degradation effect) and transmittivity (dusting effect) on TLL is also carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Adding thin PCM layers to highly glazed apartments is an unobtrusive measure to stabilize indoor temperatures. • Integrating PCMs with different melting temperatures is effective in climates with large yearly temperature fluctuations. • Experimental test cells with two thin PCM layers were monitored in a temperate climate. • The effect of solar gains on PCM latent heat energy storage well related to solar peak periods. • Night ventilation cooling was necessary for the solidification of the PCMs during periods with higher solar heat gains. Abstract Recent architectural trends in high-rise residential buildings are favoring more transparent facades with fully glazed exteriors. While aesthetically pleasing, high window to wall ratios (WWR) entail significant discomfort due to higher solar heat gains and heat losses. In this architectural context, passive latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) is a possible solution to regulate indoor thermal comfort by limiting the room temperature swings. This study investigates the effectiveness of adopting Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in retrofitting high-rise apartments with 80% WWR. A composite PCM system, comprised of two PCM products with melting temperatures of 21.7 °C and 25 °C is introduced to provide thermal energy storage across the year. The phase change cycle of the PCMs and their impact on indoor air and interior building surface temperatures are assessed. For this, two test cells were constructed, one acting as a baseline and another enhanced with the composite PCM system positioned on the walls and the ceiling. The results indicate improved performance of the test cell containing the composite PCM system in lowering peak indoor and surface temperatures up to 6 °C. The melting and solidification patterns of the PCMs showed a close correlation with peak solar heat gain and heat loss periods respectively. The benefits of the PCMs were more pronounced in stabilizing indoor cell temperatures in extreme conditions with sharp temperature variations. Aspects such as the effectiveness of night natural ventilation and shading design optimization were also assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A test cell for automotive PEM fuel cell engine is introduced and designed. Similarities and differences of facilities between PEM fuel cell engine and inner-combustion engine are illustrated. It turns out that, the air treatment, exhaust gas, cooling and electrical facilities are quite similar, the fuel treatment, power load type, ventilation and air-conditioning are quite different, while the vibration isolation and noise elimination facilities are completely simplified. Furthermore, a thermodynamic model is proposed to analysis the heat flow in fuel cell engine test cell. The Monte Carlo Simulation method is applied to get the proportion of outgoing thermal flows. A thermal flow rule of 4.5/4.5/0.6/0.4 is proposed as rule of thumb for cell designer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the noise impact of a turbojet testing cell on the adjacent community is investigated. There are scenarios in which the noise from two different turbo engines is analysed. For the noise impact study, acoustic measurements were taken in the test cell to obtain the transmission loss of the three silencers of the test cell. To allow testing of high-power turbojets as Viper or R-11F-300 Tumansky, the test cell was restored and relocated to minimize the noise impact on the surrounding area. The study presents the affected buildings and the number of inhabitants exposed to noise that is assessed according to a German VBEB method based on noise level at façade of the buildings. The study presents the calculus methodologies of the acoustic propagation according ISO 9613-2 on the surrounding area and the noise limits according to the national legislation. To reduce the conflict areas, a technical solution for the intake silencer is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical model of temperature dependent electrical and thermal efficiency of mono-crystalline (m-Si), polycrystalline (p-Si), amorphous silicon thin film (a-Si), cadmium telluride thin film (CdTe) and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) photovoltaic modules integrated on five prototypes identical insulted test cells is developed with and without surface water flow. This model helps in ascertaining the influence of temperature on their performance of building integrated photovoltaic-thermal (BiPVT) system. The theoretically calculated results are experimentally validated in outdoor ambient environment. The electrical & thermal efficiencies are calculated for both high and low mass flow rate of water, m ̇ w . Daily average electrical efficiency of photovoltaic modules; m-Si, p-Si, a-Si, CdTe and CIGS with and without water flow are found to be 12.30%, 10.98%, 6.08%, 6.60% and 7.71%, and 11.41%, 10.30%, 5.86%, 6.26% and 6.99% respectively. In constant room temperature mode, variation in mass flow rate of water, m ̇ w is also evaluated. Overall thermal efficiency and overall exergy for all photovoltaic modules in both cases are also calculated. The characteristic equations of photovoltaic modules integrated on test cells are also developed for both cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper studies the influence of a secondary intake and its effect on the jet stability. Three configurations have been analyzed: one with the secondary intake closed, the second having a convergent nozzle after the augmentor tube and the third case using a perforated augmentor tube. The secondary intake is used to supply air for cooling the exhaust system. Numerical simulation was realized using the k-є model, which is the most used CFD turbulence model, especially for turbulent flow conditions. The results obtained showed that secondary intake influences the jet stability, because of the pressure differences from the two zones. To resolve this closing the secondary intake is the best option available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analytical model for temperature dependent electrical and thermal efficiency for four different photovoltaic-thermal configurations integrated on identical prototype test cells namely; Case 1: glass to glass photovoltaic with duct integrated on a test cell, Case 2: glass to glass photovoltaic without duct integrated on a test cell, Case 3: glass to tedlar photovoltaic with duct integrated on a test cell and, Case 4: glass to tedlar photovoltaic without duct integrated on a test cell is developed in absence of ambient air exchange and experimentally validated in New Delhi’s winter and summer seasonal conditions. The glass to glass photovoltaic module gives better performance in both electrical as well as thermal aspects, and gives daily average η m 11.91% and 11.96% in summer whereas in winter, it gives 12.65% and 12.70% for case 1 and 2 respectively. Similarly, daily average η ith was 32.77% and 25.44% for case 1 and 2 respectively in winter. Ducted cases 1 and 3 have higher η m and η ith due to the large heat dissipation capacity. Constant temperature mode operations inside test cells were attained, and we also discuss the effect of varying mass flow rate on electrical efficiency for ducted cases. Further, the yearly-round electrical, thermal, overall thermal, and overall exergy efficiencies for case 1 were found respectively 10.41%, 34.35%, 61.52% and 13.72% under typical New Delhi weather condition. The characteristic equations for all four cases were also been developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The test cell (TC) in IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Material Irradiation Facility – Demo Oriented NEutron Source) is the meeting area of the three major systems (test systems, lithium systems, and accelerator systems) to host the irradiation test module, lithium target assembly and the end section of the accelerator line. Although the design of the TC, to a large extent, inherits that of the reference IFMIF-EVEDA (Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities) TC, design justifications are required to solve the existing major open issues such as cavitation of the lithium flow, activation and maintainability of key components, and etc. In this paper, these major open issues of the reference TC layout are addressed and a TC reconfiguration proposal, featuring arranging the lithium quench tank inside the TC, is introduced. The two concepts are investigated, analyzed, and compared on the aspects of lithium flow stability, tritium generation rate, key component maintenance scenarios, irradiation shielding, and in-TC components arrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current European energy policies have an influence on the need to rehabilitate the housing stock in order to meet the objectives of the European Union. Most of this housing stock was built without any type of energy regulation in adverse technical and economic conditions and thus is now energetically obsolete. The major rehabilitation effort required must be approached through actions based on previous quantitative energy knowledge of the existing buildings in order to guarantee the efficiency of energy-retrofitted solutions. This assessment can be carried out through monitoring dwellings conditioned by use patterns; through simulation programs, which do not usually offer faithful representations of energy conditions; or by using test cells, which allow us to evaluate a controlled indoor environment without the influence of users. The objective of this paper is to present the design and performance of test cells as an experimental method for vertical facade analysis in order to tackle the problem of retrofitting residential buildings in a Mediterranean climate, taking into account energy and environment. With this equipment, efficiency and energy savings, as well as illumination and interior air quality, can be simultaneously and comprehensively evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calorimetric methods for the performance assessment of building components have been largely applied in indoor laboratories and under steady-state conditions. Although effects of one or more outdoor weather parameters are sometimes mimicked by means of dynamic schedules, they never fully reproduce the complex interactions of the stochastic processes typical of real climate. The present work introduces improved measurement procedures to determine the solar factor under dynamic conditions, applicable to outdoor test cell experiments and which take into account the variation of internal energy in the control volume. An in-depth uncertainty analysis has been conducted in order to highlight the most relevant uncertainty sources and to suggest improvements to the measurement techniques. Based on an iterative application of the uncertainty analysis, we developed and optimised two new strategies to extract and measure the solar load entering through a test sample and a new design concept of test cell facility, which allows the configuration to be adapted according to various test objectives. In order to accurately analyse the storage and delay effects of the thermal capacities within the control volume of the calorimeter, lumped-parameter models of three alternative designs (the two proposed strategies and a reference, traditional one) have been developed and coded in Matlab. The simulation results suggest that, compared to a traditional solution, the two proposed solutions offer a higher measurement accuracy and measurement precision in the determination of the solar factor. In addition, the results indicate that rapidly variable solar irradiance levels are detrimental to the accuracy level of the solar factor measurement; therefore tests should be carried out under stable clear sky conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ZEB Test Cells Laboratory is an experimental facility at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, designed to carry out different types of experiments. The primary use is for testing of building envelope systems, either in comparative or in calorimetric tests, but given the nature and the equipment of the test facility, the interaction between building envelope systems and HVAC terminal units can also be tested. Tests on the interaction between building envelope, building equipment, and building technologies in general can also be performed. Finally, indoor environmental quality analyses, with or without the presence of users in the test cell room, are also possible. The paper gives a detailed report of the characteristics of the facility, including the equipment for climatic control, the monitoring system, and the control systems. Limitations, challenges and potentials improvements to fine tune the test rig are presented too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suspended particle device (SPD) switchable glazing is a candidate intervention to adaptively control solar heat gain. A high voltage low alternating current (AC) to operate a large area SPD applications, can be provided by a photovoltaic (PV) array. The first outdoor characterisation of side-by-side comparison of PV-powered SPD glazing has been conducted. Using an inverter to convert direct current (DC) power from PV to AC a 40 W p PV device continuously powered a 0.07 W SPD glazing. High inverter power losses were found due to high PV inverter sizing ratio, inverter high self-consumption, and low solar radiation. Low sizing ratio 1.12 between PV and inverter offered less power losses from inverter output. PV powered SPD is a promising self-powered switchable solar heat gain control glazing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy retrofitting of the housing stock is a priority in current regulatory standards as a means of reducing energy consumption. The strategies used in retrofitting housing stock ought to respond both to regulatory conditions and to two challenges: specific climate conditions and the improvement of comfort conditions. These issues are especially important in the warmer regions of the Mediterranean, and will be even more so in the future due to climate change. The aim of this paper is to assess the influence that the improvement of facade insulation and the use of ventilation have on the existing housing stock. To do so, an energy evaluation is conducted using on-site monitoring of free-running conditions in test cells reproducing a residential room, both in current condition and with the retrofitted proposal, in Seville (Spain). The results obtained show limited improvement of the facade insulation when outdoor temperatures are high, as well as the influence of ventilation, mainly nocturnal, depending on the ventilation rate and the minimum outdoor temperatures.

The current European energy policies have an influence on the need to rehabilitate the housing stock in order to meet the objectives of the European Union. Most of this housing stock was built without any type of energy regulation in adverse technical and economic conditions and thus is now energetically obsolete. The major rehabilitation effort required must be approached through actions based on previous quantitative energy knowledge of the existing buildings in order to guarantee the efficiency of energy-retrofitted solutions. This assessment can be carried out through monitoring dwellings conditioned by use patterns; through simulation programs, which do not usually offer faithful representations of energy conditions; or by using test cells, which allow us to evaluate a controlled indoor environment without the influence of users. The objective of this paper is to present the design and performance of test cells as an experimental method for vertical facade analysis in order to tackle the problem of retrofitting residential buildings in a Mediterranean climate, taking into account energy and environment. With this equipment, efficiency and energy savings, as well as illumination and interior air quality, can be simultaneously and comprehensively evaluated.