An enzymic approach to the study of sewage and sludges

The purpose of the work described here has been (a) to obtain some evidence on catalase (an oxidative enzyme) and protease, urease and phosphatase (hydrolytic enzymes) in sewage, activated sludge and septic tank sludge, and (b) to use this evidence, as a new approach, to find out the relationship between the main groups of the micro-organisms (bacteria and protozoa) and their relative influence on the purification process. To make a rapid assessment of the enzyme activities in these systems in the course of three weeks, as an experimental measure, rat tissues were added, which might serve as an additional or a ‘shock’ load of organic matter to follow broadly the development of bacteria and protozoa and the changes in the enzyme activities in the different systems. A control system with sewage alone was also run. The results showed that the initial decomposition of the fresh organic matter added to sewage and sludges was almost entirely due to bacterial activity and the later oxidative changes and removal of the suspended solids, including the bacteria, were largely due to the protozoa, such as Epistylis articulata. Analysis of the enzyme activities in the different materials showed, among other things, that the activated sludge, with its mized bacteria, protozoa and other organisms, as a whole, contained about twenty times more protease activity than an equivalent amount of the protozoan E. articulata, and that this protozoan contained five times more catalase activity than the activated sludge. The significance of these observations is discussed.

Some new concepts in nonlinear systems

Some new concepts characterizing the response of nonlinear systems are developed. These new concepts are denoted by the terms, the transient system equivalent, the response vector, and the space-phase components. This third concept is analyzed in comparison with the well-known technique of symmetrical components. The performance of a multiplicative feedback control system is represented by a nonlinear integro-differential equation; its solution is obtained by the principle of variation of parameters. The system response is treated as a vector and is resolved into its space-phase components. The individual effects of these components on the performance of the system are discussed. The suitability of the technique for the transient analysis of higher order nonlinear control systems is discussed.

Advanced transmission electron microscope triboprobe with automated closed-loop nanopositioning

Here the design and operation of a novel transmission electron microscope (TEM) triboprobe instrument with real-time vision control for advanced in situ electron microscopy is demonstrated. The NanoLAB triboprobe incorporates a new high stiffness coarse slider design for increased stability and positioning performance. This is linked with an advanced software control system which introduces both new and flexible in situ experimental functional testing modes, plus an automated vision control feedback system. This advancement in instrumentation design unlocks new possibilities of performing a range of new dynamical nanoscale materials tests, including novel friction and fatigue experiments inside the electron microscope.

Robust multivariable controllers for a tublar ammonia reactor

The specific objective of this paper is to develop multivariable controllers that would achieve asymptotic regulation in the presence of parameter variations and disturbance inputs for a tubular reactor used in ammonia synthesis. A ninth order state space model with three control inputs and two disturbance inputs is generated from the nonlinear distributed model using linearization and lumping approximations. Using this model, an approach for control system design is developed keeping in view the imperfections of the model and the measurability of the state variables. Specifically, the design of feedforward and robust integral controllers using state and output feedback is considered. Also, the design of robust multiloop proportional integral controllers is presented. Finally the performance of these controllers is evaluated through simulation.

Direct Evaluation Of Transient Stability Improvement With Static Var Compensators Using A Structure Preserving Energy Function

The ability of Static Var Compensators (SVCs) to rapidly and continuously control reactive power in response to changing system conditions can result in the improvement of system stability and also increase the power transfer in the transmission system. This paper concerns the application of strategically located SVCs to enhance the transient stability limits and the direct evaluation of the effect of these SVCs on transient stability using a Structure Preserving Energy Function (SPEF). The SVC control system can be modelled from the steady- state control characteristic to accurately simulate its effect on transient stability. Treating the SVC as a voltage-dependent reactive power load leads to the derivation of a path-independent SPEF for the SVC. Case studies on a 10-machine test system using multiple SVCs illustrate the effects of SVCs on transient stability and its accurate prediction.

NanoLAB Triboprobe: Characterizing Dynamic Wear, Friction and Fatigue at the Nanoscale

In-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has developed rapidly over the last decade. In particular, with the inclusion of scanning probes in TEM holders, allows both mechanical and electrical testing to be performed whilst simultaneously imaging the microstructure at high resolution. In-situ TEM nanoindentation and tensile experiments require only an axial displacement perpendicular to the test surface. However, here, through the development of a novel in-situ TEM triboprobe, other surface characterisation experiments are now possible, with the introduction of a fully programmable 3D positioning system. Programmable lateral displacement control allows scratch tests to be performed at high resolution with simultaneous imaging of the changing microstructure. With the addition of repeated cyclic movements, both nanoscale fatigue and friction experiments can also now be performed. We demonstrate a range of movement profiles for a variety of applications, in particular, lateral sliding wear. The developed NanoLAB TEM triboprobe also includes a new closed loop vision control system for intuitive control during positioning and alignment. It includes an automated online calibration to ensure that the fine piezotube is controlled accurately throughout any type of test. Both the 3D programmability and the closed loop vision feedback system are demonstrated here.

Energy Reduction in SRAM using Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Management

This paper describes a dynamic voltage frequency control scheme for a 256 X 64 SRAM block for reducing the energy in active mode and stand-by mode. The DVFM control system monitors the external clock and changes the supply voltage and the body bias so as to achieve a significant reduction in energy. The behavioral model of the proposed DVFM control system algorithm is described and simulated in HDL using delay and energy parameters obtained through SPICE simulation. The frequency range dictated by an external controller is 100 MHz to I GHz. The supply voltage of the complete memory system is varied in steps of 50 mV over the range of 500 mV to IV. The threshold voltage range of operation is plusmn100 mV around the nominal value, achieving 83.4% energy reduction in the active mode and 86.7% in the stand-by mode. This paper also proposes a energy replica that is used in the energy monitor subsystem of the DVFM system.

Aerodynamic pressure variation over SMA wire integrated morphing aerofoil

An analysis of the pressure variation over an aerofoil with integrated Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wire is reported. A computational model based on finite elements and potential flow computation is proposed to obtain the deflections of the upper and the lower skins of the aerofoil subjected to aerodynamic pressure and hysteretic deformation of the SMA wire. The computational model couples a one-dimensional phenomenological constitutive model of SMA wire with the laminar incompressible aerodynamic pressure induced deformation of the aerofoil skins. The SMA wires are actuated by thermoelectric control system with auxiliary compensator feeding the piezoelectric stack actuators to adjust the hysteretic dynamics of the SMA wire. At each step of this coupled deformation process, the deflected/morphed shape of the aerofoil is d while recalculating to get the pressure distribution. Panel method based on incompressible and inviscid flow is employed for this purpose. The aerodynamic lift is then obtained from the pressure distributions. Numerical results on the variation of coefficient of pressure are reported.

Swarm intelligence algorithms for integrated optimization of piezoelectric actuator and sensor placement and feedback gains

Swarm intelligence algorithms are applied for optimal control of flexible smart structures bonded with piezoelectric actuators and sensors. The optimal locations of actuators/sensors and feedback gain are obtained by maximizing the energy dissipated by the feedback control system. We provide a mathematical proof that this system is uncontrollable if the actuators and sensors are placed at the nodal points of the mode shapes. The optimal locations of actuators/sensors and feedback gain represent a constrained non-linear optimization problem. This problem is converted to an unconstrained optimization problem by using penalty functions. Two swarm intelligence algorithms, namely, Artificial bee colony (ABC) and glowworm swarm optimization (GSO) algorithms, are considered to obtain the optimal solution. In earlier published research, a cantilever beam with one and two collocated actuator(s)/sensor(s) was considered and the numerical results were obtained by using genetic algorithm and gradient based optimization methods. We consider the same problem and present the results obtained by using the swarm intelligence algorithms ABC and GSO. An extension of this cantilever beam problem with five collocated actuators/sensors is considered and the numerical results obtained by using the ABC and GSO algorithms are presented. The effect of increasing the number of design variables (locations of actuators and sensors and gain) on the optimization process is investigated. It is shown that the ABC and GSO algorithms are robust and are good choices for the optimization of smart structures.

On the cut‐on frequencies of a large round duct with azimuthal as well as radial partitions

This letter deals with a three‐dimensional analysis of circular sectors and annular segments resulting from the partitioning of a round (cylindrical) duct for use in an active noise control system. The relevant frequency equations are derived for stationary medium and solved numerically to arrive at the cut‐on frequencies of the first few modes. The resultant table indicates among other things that azimuthal partitioning does not raise the cutoff frequency (the smallest cut‐on frequency) beyond a particular value, and that radial partitioning is counterproductive in that respect.

Bypass operation in bridge convertors for high-voltage d.c. transmission

Bypass operation with the aid of a special bypass valve is an important part of present-day schemes of protection for h.v. d.c. transmission systems. In this paper, the possibility of using two valves connected to any phase in the bridge convertor for the purpose of bypass operation is studied. The scheme is based on the use of logic circuits in conjunction with modified methods of fault detection. Analysis of the faults in a d.c. transmission system is carried out with the object of determining the requirements of such a logic-circuit control system. An outline of the scheme for the logic-circuit control of the bypass operation for both rectifier and invertor bridges is then given. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding the advantages of such a system, which include reduction in the number of valves, prevention of severe faults and fast clearance of faults, in addition to the immediate location of the fault and its nature.

Application of Solar Powered High Voltage Discharge Plasma for NOX Removal in Diesel Engine Exhaust

This paper proposes a compact electric discharge plasma source for controlling NOX emission in diesel engine exhaust. Boost converter is used to boost to solar powered battery voltage to 24V, further an automobile ignition coil was used to generate the high voltage pulse using fly-back topology. This design is aimed at retrofitting the existing catalytic converters with pulse assisted cleaning technique. In this paper we bring out a relative comparison of discharge plasma and plasma-adsorbent process at different gas flow rates. Activated alumina was used as adsorbent. The main emphasis is laid on the development of a compact pulse source from 12V battery, which is powered by the solar, for the removal of NOX from the filtered diesel engine exhaust.

Evaporation Heat Transfer Coefficient in a Capillary Pumped Loop and Loop Heat Pipe for Different Working Fluids

Capillary pumped loop (CPL) and loop heat pipe (LHP) are passive two-phase heat transport devices. They have been gaining importance as a part of the thermal control system of spacecraft. The evaporation heat transfer coefficient at the tooth-wick interface of an LHP or CPL has a significant impact on the evaporator temperature. It is also the main parameter in sizing of a CPL or LHP. Experimentally determined evaporation heat transfer coefficients from a three-port CPL with tubular axially grooved (TAG) evaporator and a TAG LHP with acetone, R-134A, and ammonia as working fluids are presented in this paper. The influences of working fluid, hydrodynamic blocks in the core, evaporator configuration (LHP or CPL), and adverse elevation (evaporator above condenser) on the heat transfer coefficient are presented.

Mitigation of lower order harmonics in a grid-connected single-phase PV inverter

In this paper, a simple single-phase grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) inverter topology consisting of a boost section, a low-voltage single-phase inverter with an inductive filter, and a step-up transformer interfacing the grid is considered. Ideally, this topology will not inject any lower order harmonics into the grid due to high-frequency pulse width modulation operation. However, the nonideal factors in the system such as core saturation-induced distorted magnetizing current of the transformer and the dead time of the inverter, etc., contribute to a significant amount of lower order harmonics in the grid current. A novel design of inverter current control that mitigates lower order harmonics is presented in this paper. An adaptive harmonic compensation technique and its design are proposed for the lower order harmonic compensation. In addition, a proportional-resonant-integral (PRI) controller and its design are also proposed. This controller eliminates the dc component in the control system, which introduces even harmonics in the grid current in the topology considered. The dynamics of the system due to the interaction between the PRI controller and the adaptive compensation scheme is also analyzed. The complete design has been validated with experimental results and good agreement with theoretical analysis of the overall system is observed.