Research Papers - Department of Mechanical Engineering

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://rda.sliit.lk/handle/123456789/604

Browse

Filters

2009 - 200912020 - 20221

Advanced Search

Filter by

Settings

Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Design

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    PublicationOpen Access
    Design and Fabrication of a Novel Hybrid Solar Dryer
    (SLIIT, 2022-02-11) Perera, C; Fernando, G; Liyanage, M
    A hybrid solar dryer was designed and tested for commercial dissemination of active and passive drying methods over traditional sun drying methods. The proposed dryer employs novel features such as user controllability of the drying parameters and includes sensors and controllers for active monitoring of drying parameters. The functionality of the dryer is broadened by using logic control whereby intermittent drying patterns are introduced to the system for more efficient operation. This paper documents the design calculations and fabrication process of the dryer as well as the results of drying obtained under a controlled environment. 10 experiments have been carried out to assess the limits and potential improvements to the system which yielded satisfactory conditions with a temperature fluctuation of ±1℃ and change in %RH of ±2% at any given temperature within the specified limits. The developed system has been used for drying apples which yielded dried products from an initial weight of 346 grams to a final weight of 55 grams in 5 hours in pure convection and the same initial weight was reduced to 52 grams in 3 hours when operating in solar hybrid mode. The average energy consumption of the dryer was obtained at 300 Watts at uninterrupted solar insolation operation and 224 Watts during pure convective operation, portraying the efficient operation of the system to be eligible to be powered by a solar-powered energy storage
  • Thumbnail Image
    PublicationEmbargo
    Design and control of a high performance SCARA type robotic arm with rotary hydraulic actuators
    (IEEE, 2009-05-03) Liyanage, M. H; Krouglicof, N; Gosine, R
    This study proposes a selective compliant assembly robotic arm (SCARA) with two revolute joints for poultry deboning. The joints of the arm are based on two high performance rotary type hydraulic actuators. These actuators are operated by servo valves, which control hydraulic fluid flow and direction. A PID based independent joint control system is considered for controlling the position of each joint. The system was modelled using the MATLAB-SIMULINK toolbox. The simulation results show that the arm was capable of covering a work envelope of 0.9 m times 0.9 m, reaching controlled velocities of up to 7.5 m/s with an average of 5.8 m/s. Obtaining such high speeds and torques would be a difficult task with electrical actuators of the capacity as the hydraulic counterparts considered here.