Robert Smusz

Values of energy supply and demand vary within the same timeframe and are not equal. Consequently, to minimise the amount of energy wasted, there is a need to use various types of energy storing systems. Recently, one can observe a trend in which phase change materials (PCM) have gained popularity as materials that can store an excess of heat energy. In this research, the authors analysed paraffin wax (cheese wax)’s capability as a PCM energy storing material for a low temperature energy-storage device. Due to the relatively low thermal conductivity of wax, the authors also analysed open-cell ceramic Al2O3/SiC composite foams’ (in which the PCM was dispersed) influence on heat exchange process. Thermal analysis on paraffin wax was performed, determining its specific heat in liquid and solid state, latent heat (LH) of melting, melting temperature and thermal conductivity. Thermal tests were also performed on thermal energy container (with built-in PCM and ceramic foams) for transient heat transfer. Heat transfer coefficient and value of accumulated energy amount were determined.

The free transverse vibrations of shafts with complex geometry are studied using analytical methods and numerical simulations. A methodology is proposed for evaluating the results of a natural transverse vibration analysis as generated by finite element (FE) models of a shaft with compound geometry. The effectiveness of the suggested approach is tested using an arbitrarily chosen model of the injection pump shaft. The required analytical models of the transverse vibrations of stepped shafts are derived based on the Timoshenko thick beam theory. The separation of variables method is used to find the needed solutions to the free vibrations. The eigenvalue problem is formulated and solved by using the FE representation for the shaft and for each shaft-simplified model. The results for these models are discussed and compared. Additionally, the usefulness of the Myklestad–Prohl (MP) method in the field of preliminary analysis of transverse vibration of complex shaft systems is indicated. It is important to note that the solutions proposed in this paper could be useful for engineers dealing with the dynamics of various types of machine shafts with low values of operating speeds.