Testing and Research

Purpose

　As part of the activities stipulated in Article 4, Paragraph 1, Item (2) of the Foundation’s Articles of Incorporation, the purpose of the Foundation is to contribute to raising the level of industrial technology in Japan by carrying out experimental research on the practical application of inventions and ideas in industrial technology and by providing recommendations.

Results

AY2022 Joint Research (with Prof. Tomoaki Okuda, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University)

1.　Research Theme

Application of Airborne Particle Manipulation Analysis Techniques in Assessing Particulate Matter Hazards

2.　Purpose of the Research

This research aimed to develop and apply Keio University’s in-air particle manipulation analysis technology, including but not limited to virtual impactors and cyclones, for assessing particulate matter toxicity; this was done in collaboration with Amano Institute of Technology.

3.　Contents of This Fiscal Year’s Project

3.1.　Joint Production of a Small Portable Open/Close Cyclone Device

• 　The Okuda Laboratory of Keio University provided the Amano Institute of Technology with a set of manufacturing drawings for a small, portable open/close cyclone device that had already been developed and utilized in practical applications. Subsequently, the device was manufactured at the Amano Institute of Technology. The chronological order is as follows:
• 2022/6/13 Four members from the Amano Institute of Technology – President Kawabata, Director Sudo, Researcher Handa, and Researcher Amma – visited and observed the Okuda Laboratory.
• 2022/7/5 Keio University provided Amano Institute of Technology with a set of manufacturing drawings for a small portable open/close cyclone device.
• 2022/10/21　The prototype was completed. Representatives from Keio University and the Amano Institute of Technology inspected the prototype and commenced trial operations.
• 2022/11/22 Some of the results were presented at the 5th Amano Forum

3.2.　Scale-Up of Particulate Matter Collection System Using Small Open/Close Cyclones

• 　It has been proven at Keio University that small cyclone devices are highly effective in collecting atmospheric particles (Alimov et al., 2022, AJAE 16, 103-121). However, due to the small size and high flow rate of these cyclones, they incur significant pressure loss, necessitating the use of a powerful pump for air suction. In order to scale up the device and increase the particle collection capacity in the future, empirical data is needed for operating multiple cyclones with a large pump. Consequently, a larger pump was selected, and the cyclones were connected on the rooftop of Keio University to commence operation. The chronological order is as follows:
• 2022/6/15 Ordered a pump (Orion KCPH30-V-01A-50)
• 2022/9/2 Pump installation completed
• 2022/10/7 Completed connecting the pump piping and started trial operation

3.3.　CFD Analysis of the Interior of a Small Open/Close Cyclone

• 　The internal specifications of the cyclone body, which is the main device of the small cyclone system, are based on a commercial product (URG-2000-30EHB, 50% particle diameter 1 μm at 16.7 L/min). However, there is potential for optimization of these specifications when operating at higher flow rates (around 100 L/min), as is the case with this device. To analyze the flow characteristics within the cyclone body, a CFD simulation was constructed. Analysis of the flow field data suggested significant changes in the vortex structure when altering the flow rate to 80, 90, and 100 L/min. The chronological order is as follows:
• 2022/10/3 Began constructing the cyclone interior simulation.
• 2022/12/27 Completed the prototype of the fluid simulation and conducted an initial analysis of the flow field data.

　3.3.1.　Analysis Results

The conditions of the fluid simulation were as follows

▽Numerical Model:

・Software: OpenFOAM v9 (https://openfoam.org)

・Method: Steady, incompressible, single-phase (fluid)

・Turbulence Model: Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes (RANS), kOmegaSST

▽PC Used:

・CPU: AMD Ryzen9 7950X 4.50 GHz 16C/32T (128 GB RAM)

▽Fluid material:

・Density: 1.2 kg/m³

・Viscosity: :1.8×10^-5 Pa s

▽Mesh

・Number of Elements: 130,595

・Base Element Size: 1 mm

・Number of Mesh Layers Near the Wall: 4

・Enlargement Ratio: 1.0

Fig. 1 presents the results of the analysis of the fluid behavior inside the cyclone, configured with the parameters of K-TRiC’s small cyclone. It has been determined that fluid simulation results within the cyclone can be accurately obtained based on the operating flow rate. Moving forward, our plan is to undertake particle simulations and then compare these calculated results with actual measurements.

Fig. 1 Photograph of the fabricated small cyclone (open/close type) and results of fluid simulation

Major experimental research and collaborative research conducted in the past

Research period (year)	Experimental research	Collaborative research
1963ー1979	Development of a new electronic Taximeter system
1987ー1990	Measurement of combustion gas temperature in spark-ignition engines
	Development of wind speed and direction data statistical processing equipment
1993－1999	Development of a regenerative three-phase alternating current induction dynamometer
2003ー2009		Basic research on a new method of dynamometer
2010－2015	Research on improving the efficiency of photovoltaic power generation
2012－2016		Research on thermoelectric conversion capable of high output
2016－2020		Pioneering structural catalytic conversion systems for CO2 reduction and utilization through high-speed & low-temperature methane conversion
2019－2020	Research and development of small wood chip manufacturing machine
2022-		Development and practical application of a high-flow open/ closed cyclone system for the assessment of particulate matter toxicity

　This is a list of annual reports by year of publication. The year of implementation was one year earlier. Ongoing studies that have been conducted but not reported are not listed.