The paper presents the results of research on liquid flow maldistribution in the shell side of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger (STHE). This phenomenon constitutes the reason for the formation of the velocity reduction area and adversely affects heat transfer and pressure drop. In order to provide details of the liquid distribution in STHE, two visualization methods were utilized. First, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code coupled with the k-ε model and the laser-based particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique was applied. The tests were carried out for a bundle comprising 37 tubes in an in-line layout with a pitch d_z/t = 1.5, placed in a shell with D_in = 0.1 m. The STHE liquid feed rates corresponded to Reynolds numbers Re_in equal to 16,662, 24,993, and 33,324. The analysis demonstrated that the flow maldistribution in the investigated geometry originates the result of three main streams in the cross-section of the shell side: central stream, oblique stream, and bypass stream. For central and oblique streams, the largest velocity reduction areas were formed in the wake of the tubes. On the basis of the flow visualization, it was also shown that the in-line layout of the tube bundle helps to boost the wake region between successive tubes in a row. Additionally, unfavorable vortex phenomena between the last row of tubes and the lower part of the exchanger shell were identified in the investigations. The conducted studies confirmed the feasibility of both methods in the identification and assessment of fluid flow irregularities in STHE. The maximum error of the CFD method in comparison to the experimental methods did not exceed 7% in terms of the pressure drops and 11% in the range of the maximum velocities.

The aim of this study was to analyse in detail the effect of varying the parameters of the Johnson–Cook (JC) material model on the results of a numerical simulation of the orthogonal turning process of the Ti6Al4V titanium alloy. The first step involved an experimental study, including the recording of cutting force components and temperature, as well as the measurement of chip geometry, which was used to validate the FEM simulation. This was followed by a sensitivity analysis of the JC model with respect to five parameters, namely A, B, C, m, and n, each modified independently by ±20%. The effects of these changes on cutting forces, cutting zone temperature, stresses, and chip geometry were evaluated. The results showed that parameters A, B, and m had the greatest influence on the physical quantities analysed, while C and n are of secondary importance. The analysis highlighted the need for precise calibration of the JC model parameters, especially when modelling machining processes involving difficult-to-machine materials. The results provided practical guidance for optimising the selection of constitutive parameters in machining simulations.

This article reports the results of a study into the effect of operating parameters on the occurrence and course of gas–liquid two-phase phenomena during the fogging process carried out with the use of a conical pressure-swirl nozzle. Four alternatives of the stub regulation angles and four values of pressure of air supply to the nozzle were tested as part of the current research. The range of the investigated variables was common for the operation of fumigators used to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The liquid flow rate (weighting method), the field of velocity, and turbulent flow intensity factor, as well as velocity profiles over the section of 1 m from the nozzle were determined using the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. The obtained results were correlated with the measurements of the diameters of spray droplets using the laser light scattering (LLS) technique. On the basis of this research, a dependence between the nozzle parameters and the spray cone pattern was identified in terms of dynamics and droplet diameter distribution. As a result of the research, a wide range of parameters were identified in which the fogging process was carried out in a stable and repeatable manner. There were exceptions to this rule only in the cases when there was a deficiency of the liquid necessary to generate a two-phase mixture.

The analysis of the vehicle acceleration process is a current topic based on the aspects related to the general characteristics of the car, its parameters, design, drive unit performance, and the influence of external factors. Therfore in the article, the authors assessed the dynamic and energy parameters of the car motion, in which the intensity of acceleration of the car with different intensities was examined. Acceleration was carried out in two variants, the first for a normal internal combustion engine and the second for the same engine but additionally equipped with a short-term boost system. In this way, it influences the increase in power and energy in the car drive system, changing its acceleration intensity. Variable car acceleration intensity was obtained in the range from 0.12 to 1.37 m/s2 , and energy consumption at the level of 0.4 to 1.2 MJ in the distance of 1/4 mile. The article proposes a combination of energy parameters and engine power in order to assess the acceleration dynamics, for this purpose, the specific energy consumption of the car was determined, ranging from 0.35 to 2.0 J/(kg∙m), which was related to the engine power, denoting it with the dynamics index. The study focuses on the assessment of the relationship between the specific energy consumption and acceleration of passenger cars in the available powertrain system using a new dynamics index. The proposed dynamics index combines the energy and dynamic parameters of the car to be able to objectively quantify the acceleration process.

The operation of an internal combustion engine in a transient state is related to constant changes in cylinder filling degree. Managing a steady course of engine torque demands constant corrections in the volume of air delivered to the engine. In this work, different engine throttle management strategies were analyzed. The effect of throttle velocity on emissions was depicted. The research has shown that the greatest value of work density is reached by the IC engine for relatively low values of throttle angle. For shown values, disturbances in air flow in engine intake which may adversely affect emissions due to uneven cylinder filling were researched with the use of Digital Particle Image Velocimetry. The conducted research has shown significant unevennes in air supply to individual cylinders in the engine. This effect may cause discrepancies in air excess ratio for each cylinder, and result in heightened harmful substance emission.

The study contains an analysis of the acceleration process of a passenger vehicle equipped with an IC powertrain, aimed at determining a throttle control strategy that minimizes fuel consumption during acceleration while maintaining adequate dynamic performance. The first stage involved measuring traction parameters for a constant assumed engine power. The second stage focused on determining a control trajectory that would ensure minimal fuel consumption during acceleration. To achieve this the acceleration process was examined during a flexibility test in the speed range from 12.5 to 35 m/s, following an acceleration pedal control line related to the crankshaft rotation speed. Implementing the acceleration process along this control line resulted in a reduction in acceleration dynamics, accompanied by a decrease in fuel consumption per distance traveled by nearly 51%. An analysis of the average acceleration values for a given drivetrain gear ratio revealed that exceeding a throttle position of 70% yields no significant improvement in vehicle dynamics. The optimal throttle positions during acceleration were found to be within the range of 25% to 70%.