Engineering Innovations

Excellent UV-Shielding Performance of PVA Film Using Methanol Extracted Longevity Spinach Leaves (Gynura Procumbens)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Zikri Zikri, Hairul Abral, Meifal Rusli, Melbi Mahardika
Developing composite films with UV-absorbing qualities is crucial for protecting light-sensitive products, particularly in food and pharmaceutical packaging. This study created a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based film by integrating LSE to achieve tailored ultraviolet (UV) protection. Extraction of LSE through methanol maceration resulted in high total phenolic (38.59 ± 0.15 mgGAE/g) and flavonoid (91.26 ± 0.99 mEQ/g) contents, both of which are known to absorb UV radiation. The composite films were prepared using a solution molding method and characterized for UV-visible transmission. Pure PVA films exhibited poor UV blocking ability but high visual transparency, while PVA/LSE films provided perfect 100% UV protection up to 416 nm with reduced clarity. PVA/LSE films showed excellent UV attenuation while maintaining good transparency. Films combining PVA and LSE showed synergistic benefits, facilitating a balance between UV protection and transparency. These results demonstrate the potential of PVA/LSE composites as environmentally friendly functional materials for UV-sensitive food and pharmaceutical packaging applications.

AI Tools for Plasma Diagnostics by X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy in the PANDORA Project Frame

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Bianca Peri, Eugenia Naselli, Giorgio Finocchiaro, Bharat Mishra, Angelo Pidatella, Richárd Rácz, Sandor Biri, David Mascali
Magnetized plasmas in compact traps offer a unique environment for fundamental research. PANDORA (Plasma for Astrophysics Nuclear Decay Observations and Radiation for Archeometry) is a multidisciplinary project focused on studying β decays in plasmas, using a novel facility that replicates stellar-like conditions. The project also supports applications to materials science, accelerator and ion source technologies, etc. A plasma diagnostics system based on a soft X-ray pinhole camera has been designed and implemented, with an innovative algorithm for Single-Photon Counting (SPhC) and High Dynamical Range (HDR) analysis. This enables space-resolved X-ray spectroscopy and the determination of magneto-plasma properties like local thermodynamic parameters (in terms of electron density and temperature) and confinement dynamics. This work presents results from an AI-based model in MATLAB designed to optimize the above mentioned algorithm. Using K-means clustering, events with similar features were grouped to identify those distinguishing real from spurious ones. A labeled dataset then is used to train a neural network to minimize pile-up, accelerating the recovery of high-resolution spectra and improving soft X-ray emission analysis. This contribution details the current neural network development stage and first applications to experimental data acquired during an experimental campaign carried out at the ATOMKI Laboratory.

Recent Developments of the VOXES Von Hamos X-Ray Spectrometer for Laboratory XES and XAS Studies

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Simone Manti, Alessandro Scordo
VOXES is a Von Hamos X-ray spectrometer developed at the INFN National Laboratories of Frascati for high-resolution laboratory X-ray spectroscopy in the 5-20 keV range. It uses curved mosaic crystals and motorized positioning stages to perform wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) with sub-10 eV tunable resolution for extended and dilute samples. Recent developments include the integration of an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) line based on a silicon pin-diode detector, which enables flux monitoring and simultaneous ED and WD measurements. In addition, a dedicated liquid-sample holder has been introduced, and a Y-shaped support geometry, crucial for switching to a transmission layout, provides mechanical compatibility with laboratory XAS, now under implementation. These upgrades expand the versatility and automation of VOXES, strengthening its role as a table-top platform for laboratory X-ray spectroscopy.

Beamlines of the EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB X-Ray FEL Facility

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Federico Nguyen
We present the design and performance analysis of AQUA and ARIA, the two free-electron laser beamlines designed to operate at the EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB facility. AQUA is optimized for the water window, leveraging APPLE-X undulators for selectable polarization and fine spectral tuning, driven by a 1 GeV linac featuring a plasma accelerating stage. Start-to-end simulations, including realistic beam distributions and jitter effects, predict stable output of about 1011 photons per pulse. ARIA is a seeded source aimed at covering the extreme ultraviolet range with polarization control and unique characteristics of the light output pulse, for user applications in chemistry and life sciences.

Laser Shock Peening with Acoustic Emission In-Situ Monitoring for Quality Control

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): James M. Griffin, Pratik Shukla, Rui Qin, Paul Butler Smith
Laser Shock Peening (LSP) is increasingly employed across various industrial sectors, particularly in safety-critical applications where extending structural integrity and lifespan is paramount. This work investigates the influence of varying laser energies and confinement layers on the LSP process. Understanding these parameter variations is crucial for precise process control. To gain deeper insights into the process dynamics from an in-situ, non-destructive testing (NDT) perspective, acoustic bursts will be considered and measured. Acoustic Emission (AE) is a method that uses piezo-electric material to determine the level of emitted elastic waves from the source where transients in the form of displacement within piezo-electric crystalline structure (either in a tensile or compressive manner) provide a quantitative voltage for decerning different measurements. Most current testing methods use destructive tests with coupon parts; this process however directly measures the material state in question and is non-destructive in nature. Post-LSP, additional NDT techniques are utilised to characterise material modifications in terms of residual stress and hardness. This research aims to enhance material understanding, complemented by destructive testing for residual stress and microstructure analysis, and to lay the foundation for advanced algorithms and digital modelling for robust real-time, quality control in LSP.

Improved Performance Assessment of Photovoltaic Systems Using Paraffin-Based Phase Change Materials and Innovative Container Designs

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Zainal Arifin, Ubaidillah Ubaidillah, Wibawa Endra Juwana, Rendy Adhi Rachmanto, Eflita Yohana, Denny Widhiyanuriyawan, Noval Fattah Alfaiz, Singgih Dwi Prasetyo, Mohd Afzanizam Mohd Rosli
Integrating Phase Change Material (PCM) in Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) systems is an effective solution to improve the cooling efficiency of solar panels. This study modeled and analyzed three configurations of paraffin-based PCM containers using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach, with radiation intensities of 300, 600, 900, and 1200 W/m². The temperature distribution analysis showed that Model 1, with its design lacking additional partitions, produced a more homogeneous heat distribution and maintained lower PV-cell temperatures than Models 2 and 3. Model 1 recorded a maximum temperature of 27.4°C at its highest intensity, while Model 2 and Model 3 reached 28.5°C and 27.5°C, respectively. Efficiency evaluations show that the Model 1 also produces the highest thermal efficiency, reaching 11.7% at 1200 W/m², compared with the Model 2 at 10.5% and the Model 3 at 11.2%. The Model 1's superior performance is attributed to the PCM's ability to absorb latent heat effectively, slow the rise in PV cell temperature, and maintain stable energy conversion efficiency. Based on these results, Model 1 is recommended as the optimal configuration for PVT-PCM systems to improve thermal efficiency, maintain PV-cell performance, and extend the operational life of solar collector systems.

Numerical Study of Four Hydrokinetic Savonius Turbines in a Staggered Co-Rotating Configuration in the Cooling Water Channel

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Mohammad Riko Putra Utama, Triyogi Yuwono
The increasing demand for electrical energy in Indonesia each year, driven by economic growth, population expansion, and the industrial sector, requires a transition from fossil energy to renewable energy (RE) to support the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) target by 2060. One such effort involves utilising the cooling water channel at the Paiton Power Plant by installing staggered co-rotating Savonius hydrokinetic turbines. In this study, a numerical simulation method was employed using ANSYS Software, with a 2-dimensional (2D) geometric model, unsteady flow, and a realisable k-ε viscous model (RKE). The TSR variations were 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2. Savonius turbines arranged in a staggered co-rotating configuration with varying turbine spacing (S/D) of 2.10 and 16.86, respectively. This study aim to evaluate the performance of the four staggered co-rotating Savonius turbines, presented as graphs of Coefficient of Power (CoP) and Coefficient of Moment (Cm) versus Tip Speed Ratio (TSR), velocity contours, and pressure contours. The results obtained from studying four Savonius turbines arranged in a staggered co-rotating configuration show that the greater the distance between the turbines, the better the turbine performance. At distance of S/D = 2.1, each turbine has an influence on the other. At distance of S/D = 16.86, each turbine no longer influences the others, as the performance of each turbine is similar to that of a single turbine, thereby achieving optimal turbine performance.

Numerical Study of Four Hydrokinetic Savonius Turbines in an In-Line Square Co-Rotating Configuration in the Cooling Water Channel

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Daniel Ardian Setiyanto, Triyogi Yuwono
The 2019-2023 energy mix is still heavily dominated by coal and natural gas. Indonesia is committed to achieving Net-Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060. One of the renewable energy sources that can be utilized is hydropower, also known as water energy. The application of water energy utilization as an energy source involves harnessing the flow in the PLTU cooling water channel. In this study conducted by numerical simulation method, the Savonius turbine is arranged in-line square co-rotating configuration in clockwise rotation with variation of distance between turbines (S/D) of 2.1 and 23.79 with S is the distance between two turbines both horizontally and vertically and D is the diameter of the Savonius turbine. Patel et al's research was used for the validation process, and an average error of 2.78% was obtained. In the S/D 2.10 variation, the four turbines function as a single unit, resulting in a flow blockage effect. In the furthest S/D variation of 23.79, the performance of the front turbines improves, but the rear turbines remain relatively the same because they are too close to the canal wall, resulting in a flow blockage effect as well.

Numerical Analysis of Defect-Induced Stress and Deformation in a Progressive Cavity Pump Stator Elastomer

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Dwi Meilianto, Rachmat Sriwijaya
Progressive Cavity Pumps (PCPs) depend on elastomeric stators to achieve effective sealing and mechanical durability. However, manufacturing imperfections and operational wear can introduce surface discontinuities that modify rotor–stator contact conditions and generate stress concentrations. This study presents a three-dimensional finite element analysis to investigate defect-induced stress and deformation in a PCP stator elastomer. The stator is modeled as nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) using a third-order Ogden hyperelastic formulation derived from experimental tensile testing, while frictional contact between the rotor and stator is incorporated to represent realistic operating conditions. Circumferential rectangular grooves of varying depths and multiple rotor–stator interference levels are systematically examined. The results demonstrate that increasing rotor–stator interference significantly elevates the maximum von Mises stress, maximum principal strain, strain energy density, and overall stator deformation. In contrast, increasing defect depth modifies the stress distribution and slightly increases structural compliance, leading to a reduction in peak notch-tip stress due to stress redistribution within the elastomer. Pronounced stress concentration is observed at the defect edges, particularly at the notch tip, which may represent potential crack initiation regions under cyclic loading. These findings clarify the combined influence of interference and geometric discontinuities on stator mechanical response and provide insights for improving defect-tolerant design and reliability of PCP stator elastomers.

Bayesian Strategy for the Volume Accuracy of Ink Droplets Continuous Estimation during Printing Based on Prior Knowledge with Earth Mover’s Distance

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Deyi Kong, Jian Kui Chen, Jia Cong Xiong
Monitoring the volume accuracy of ink droplets during printing is important for OLED panel production. This article uses data from ink droplet observation volumes before printing to build a membership distribution histogram and intuitively describes the volume status of multiple nozzles. A histogram in conjunction with the Earth Mover’s Distance (EMD) indicator is used to design prior knowledge, which describes a subjective estimate of ink droplet volume distribution based on experimental data. And using the likelihood function, combining the sampled data of the ink droplets observation volume, obtains the volume accuracy estimate of the ink droplets during printing. This article proposes a Bayesian strategy for the volume accuracy of ink droplet continuous estimation during printing based on prior knowledge with EMD. This strategy can randomly inspect any number of samples of nozzles in the production process and get a reasonable estimate of volume after each sampling observation, which can realize continuous estimation and adjustment for the volume accuracy of ink droplets during printing.

The Printing of Highly Uniform Display Device by Graph Convolutional Neural Network-Based Manufacturing

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Jia Cong Xiong, Jian Kui Chen, Zi Wei Zhao
The field of print display manufacturing still faces the challenge of uneven volume printing. This paper proposes an integer programming framework tailored to the printing process for volume optimisation, alongside a mimetic solving algorithm based on a graph convolutional neural network. These methods enable the accurate resolution of models and achieve volume uniformity with an error margin of less than 2%, effectively addressing inconsistencies in pixel pit printing. Simulation and experimental results validate the efficacy of the approach.

Effect of Surface Roughness on the Friction Moment in a Ball Bearing

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Harsh Kumar, Mayank Tiwari
Ball bearings are crucial components in various machinery and mechanical systems, finding applications across numerous industries such as automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, robotics, and household appliances. Minimizing friction and wear in the bearings is essential to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and lifespan of equipment. Friction moments in ball bearings occur due to rolling-sliding motion at the ball-race contact and sliding between the ball and cage. The magnitude of these friction moments depends on factors such as surface topography, load, and speed. Understanding how surface topography influences the friction moments in these bearings is crucial. This paper investigates the effect of surface roughness on the friction moment between the ball and race contact, as well as between the ball and cage contact. An analytical model is employed to estimate the friction torque within ball bearings, considering the total friction torque generated at the contact points between the balls and the race, as well as at the ball-cage interface. A mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication model is used to estimate the friction coefficient at these contact points.

A Study on the Effects of Cam Eccentricity and Cylinder Phase Angle on the Output Performance of a Two Cylinder Stirling Engine

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Chin Kuei Lin, Shie Chen Yang, Wen Ko Liang, Yi Xiang Wang
This study experimentally investigated the effects of cam eccentric hole position and cylinder phase angle on the rotational speed and output power of a twin-cylinder Stirling engine. Experimental data were analyzed to identify the optimal combination of eccentric hole position and cylinder phase angle. The eccentric cam influences the piston's stroke and movement speed, which directly affect the engine's output power. Additionally, the cylinder phase angle impacts the continuity and stability of engine operation. Experimental results indicate that a cam eccentric distance of 5.5 mm leads to imbalanced piston motion and increased power consumption. In contrast, an eccentric distance of 5 mm combined with a cylinder phase angle of 80 degrees yields the lowest cam power consumption, thereby significantly enhancing the overall output efficiency of the Stirling engine.

Auxiliary Lubrication Effects of Polyolefin Resin and Porous Polymer Materials Used in the Linear Slide Rails

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Publication date: 11 June 2026
Source: Engineering Innovations Vol. 19
Author(s): Hsiang Yu Wang, Yuh Ping Chang, Por Cheng Huang, Chun Yi Kuo, Jin Chi Wang
With the rapid development of the precision machine tool industry, the requirements for the performance of the linear guides are becoming increasingly stringent. To transmit greater power and be used in the heavy-load environments, the contact surface between the balls and the rails must withstand great stress, and it is easy to cause severe wear of the material. Therefore, the applications of auxiliary lubrication technology to improve the overall lubrication properties has become the focus of the design of linear slides used under high load conditions. The effectiveness of polyolefin resin and porous polymers on the auxiliary lubrication is studied in this paper. The experimental results show that the porous polymer auxiliary lubrication device not only has a shorter running-in period and lower friction results, but also has acceptable anti-wear properties.