We present a compliance matrix for a single-bent leaf flexure (SBLF) that shows the relationships between the deformations and the six-axis loads applied to the SBLF. Higher-order beam theory that considers the variable shear and warping effect is considered in bending. The partially restrained warping at the junction between elements is also considered in torsion. The total strain energy is calculated, and the complete compliance matrix is derived by using Castigliano’s second theorem. Sensitivity analyses over the compliance elements are performed and verified via finite element analysis (FEA). The results show that the derived compliance elements are in good agreement with FEA, with errors of less than 7.6%. We suggest that theoretical compliance elements considering variable shear and warping in bending and partially restrained warping in torsion give highly accurate design equations representing the compliant mechanism of the SBLF. The present work could be used in a modal analysis of a single-bent leaf flexure.

The objective of this study is to investigate the energy savings and economics of the hot water supply system for the luxury resort. The hot water was generated using the waste heat from the exhaust gas heat (EGH) of internal combustion engine (ICE) installed at the luxury resort. The capacity and characteristics of waste heat source, flow demand and supply system of hot water were surveyed, and data is collected from the real system. The new heat exchanger system which utilizes the EGH to produce the hot water is designed considering the dew point temperature and the back pressure of exhaust gas system. The results show that the proposed system could supply hot water at a temperature of 55 °C corresponding to the present resort demand of 6 m3/h using EGH of ICE at 20% load. The proposed system could achieve the saving of 400 L/day in diesel oil (DO) fuel consumption and the payback time of new system could be evaluated as 9 months. The proposed system could produce hot water of 14 m3/h at 25% of engine load and 29 m3/h at full engine load which are sufficient to satisfy the regular and maximum hot water demand of resort. The presented results show the capability of the proposed system to satisfy the current hot water demand of resort and suggest the larger potential to save energy by recovering EGH of ICE. The novelty of the present work involves detailed methodology to design heat exchangers and evaluate system economics for hot water supply system based on EGH of ICE.

Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a potential solution to face the global energy crisis and climate change issues in the transportation sector. Currently, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have gained popularity as a source of energy in EVs, owing to several benefits including higher power density. To compete with internal combustion (IC) engine vehicles, the capacity of Li-ion batteries is continuously increasing to improve the efficiency and reliability of EVs. The performance characteristics and safe operations of Li-ion batteries depend on their operating temperature which demands the effective thermal management of Li-ion batteries. The commercially employed cooling strategies have several obstructions to enable the desired thermal management of high-power density batteries with allowable maximum temperature and symmetrical temperature distribution. The efforts are striving in the direction of searching for advanced cooling strategies which could eliminate the limitations of current cooling strategies and be employed in next-generation battery thermal management systems. The present review summarizes numerous research studies that explore advanced cooling strategies for battery thermal management in EVs. Research studies on phase change material cooling and direct liquid cooling for battery thermal management are comprehensively reviewed over the time period of 2018–2023. This review discusses the various experimental and numerical works executed to date on battery thermal management based on the aforementioned cooling strategies. Considering the practical feasibility and drawbacks of phase change material cooling, the focus of the present review is tilted toward the explanation of current research works on direct liquid cooling as an emerging battery thermal management technique. Direct liquid cooling has the potential to achieve the desired battery performance under normal as well as extreme operating conditions. However, extensive research still needs to be executed to commercialize direct liquid cooling as an advanced battery thermal management technique in EVs. The present review would be referred to as one that gives concrete direction in the search for a suitable advanced cooling strategy for battery thermal management in the next generation of EVs.