Microstructures boosting boiling performance

INTERESTING ENGINEERING SHOP

Welcome to "Mechanical," your weekly digest where engineers turn innovative ideas into realities. In this edition, we explore everything from the tiny adjustments that are making big waves in thermal dynamics to robots setting new records in material science.

Buckle up for a journey through the fascinating world of science and mechanics, where big challenges meet ingenious solutions.

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INDUSTRY UPDATES

🛫 NASA making a jet engine core for 1st hybrid-electric airliner engine
A new ultra-efficient sustainable jet engine called Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) would lead to a fuel burn reduction of 10 percent compared to existing engines.

🤖 Virginia Tech’s hydrogel innovation unlocks faster, more flexible robots
Gel diffusiophoresis is a process that can boost hydrogel functionality and potentially replace rubber in flexible robots.

🌱 New bio-resin that can be recycled back to redefine 3D printing
Unlike traditional photopolymer resins derived from petrochemicals, this recyclable resin is made out of bio-sourced materials.

🧠 Electric thinking caps aid learning
Transcranial electric stimulation helps strengthen training done in virtual reality.

📱 Tiny titans: Revolutionary microcapacitors set to supercharge next-gen Eeectronics
A major advancement in microelectronics: Berkeley Lab develops novel microcapacitor technology to enhance energy storage capabilities on microchips.

SPOTLIGHT

The science behind Virginia Tech's optimized boiling plates

The traditional boiling process faces inherent limitations due to forming a vapor blanket when water is heated. This layer is like a barrier that prevents effective heat transfer. A novel approach by the engineering team at Virginia Tech has introduced a solution. A small tweak on boiling plates makes a significant difference to how we harness the power of heat in the seemingly simple act of boiling water. Tiny holes on the boiling surface alter the dynamics of bubble formation and detachment.

Microstructured surfaces enable bubbles to merge and detach at sizes considerably smaller than in other boiling scenarios. Generally, bubbles grow to a millimeter in diameter at most before buoyancy forces them away from the heat source. The new and enhanced surface, on the other hand, encourages bubbles to depart at just micrometers in diameter. This allows more heat to be transferred more quickly.

The rapid departure of bubbles reduces the risk of forming a vapor blanket and allows the boiling process to take place at higher temperatures. This technique optimizes heat transfer and extends the operating range of boilers to higher temperatures at the same time.

When water boils, some impurities are left behind and accumulate to form an insulating layer on the boiling plate, further impeding heat transfer. The optimized plate design minimizes the effects of ‘scaling’ and ensures that the microstructures remain effective over longer periods.

This development has far-reaching positive effects beyond Virginia Tech laboratories. Industries like power generation and manufacturing that rely on efficient boiling processes can benefit from reduced energy consumption.

Here is a fun fluids engineering experiment for those who want to know more about the liquid boiling process in partial gravity.

MechTech Innovations

How MAMA BEAR is redefining material science

Groundbreaking experiments at Boston University are redefining the boundaries of materials science. The autonomous robot named MAMA BEAR is at the forefront of creating the most efficient energy-absorbing structures. This robot is part of a broader initiative led by Associate Professor Keith Brown.

The robot is tasked with optimizing the design of tiny, 3D-printed plastic structures that can most effectively absorb impact. Each iteration of these structures undergoes a rigorous test. It is crushed under pressures equivalent to an adult Arabian horse standing on a quarter.

The MAMA BEAR is unique for its use of Bayesian optimization to refine the design after each test, learning from past data to enhance future performance.

Recently, this method led to a breakthrough. A structure reaching 75% efficiency in energy absorption set a new record in the field. The tiny 3D-printed structures have numerous applications, from enhancing the safety of car bumpers and helmets to improving protective packaging for shipping.

As MAMA BEAR continues to churn out and test thousands of designs, it's not just advancing the science of materials but also reshaping the future of engineering by introducing new durable structures.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

📷 The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
A pioneering steampunk novel imagines an alternative Victorian England. It blends historical figures with fictional narratives and explores the societal and technological changes brought about by alternate technologies.

🌌 Anathem by Neal Stephenson
A novel dives deep into concepts of space, time, and the universe’s underlying mathematical structures. Immersive world-building, dedicated pursuit of knowledge, and attention to detail are some characteristics of this book.

🪐 Saturn Run by John Sandford and Ctein 
This sci-fi thriller novel, set in the near future, explores concepts of space and time. The U.S. and China race to claim alien technology discovered orbiting Saturn.

🌕 Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
The story in this novel interestingly spans over 5,000 years. It details the technological and genetic engineering feats that preserve human civilization after the moon suddenly explodes.

🧬 The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
This is a biopunk science fiction novel with themes of bioengineering and conservation. The story is set in a future Thailand after global warming has wreaked havoc on the world.