PSO-based MPPT control of wind-driven Self-Excited Induction Generator for pumping system

In recent years, much research has been done to improve the performance of a wind energy conversion system at various wind speeds using Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithms to find an efficient production of peak energy.In most cases, the MPPT techniques used to maximize the turbines power coefficient neglect the effect of losses generated by the system components, which can shift the true optimal operating point of the wind turbine. Furthermore, conventional MPPT methods such as Perturbation and Observation (P&O) and Incremental of Conductance (IncCond), need to sense both the rotor speed and the power of the wind turbine. In addition, other methods such as Fuzzy Logic and neural networks based on MPPT algorithms are proposed but these methods require knowledge of the wind speed and system parameters for the training phase.In this context, a new MPPT technique is being proposed in this paper, based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for a standalone Self-Excited Induction Generator (SEIG) operating at variable wind speed and supplying an induction motor coupled to a centrifugal pump.     

Field‐based robotic phenotyping of sorghum plant architecture using stereo vision

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is known as a major feedstock for biofuel production. To improve its biomass yield through genetic research, manually measuring yield component traits (e.g. plant height, stem diameter, leaf angle, leaf area, leaf number, and panicle size) in the field is the current best practice. However, such laborious and time‐consuming tasks have become a bottleneck limiting experiment scale and data acquisition frequency. This paper presents a high‐throughput field‐based robotic phenotyping system which performed side‐view stereo imaging for dense sorghum plants with a wide range of plant heights throughout the growing season. Our study demonstrated the suitability of stereo vision for field‐based three‐dimensional plant phenotyping when recent advances in stereo matching algorithms were incorporated. A robust data processing pipeline was developed to quantify the variations or morphological traits in plant architecture, which included plot‐based plant height, plot‐based plant width, convex hull volume, plant surface area, and stem diameter (semiautomated). These image‐derived measurements were highly repeatable and showed high correlations with the in‐field manual measurements. Meanwhile, manually collecting the same traits required a large amount of manpower and time compared to the robotic system. The results demonstrated that the proposed system could be a promising tool for large‐scale field‐based high‐throughput plant phenotyping of bioenergy crops.     

Trehalose and proline failed to enhance cold tolerance of the cowpea weevil,Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Col.: Bruchidae)

The cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Col.: Bruchidae) is a cosmopolitan field-to-store pest ranked as the major post-harvest pest of cowpea in tropical regions. The cold tolerance of an insect species can vary as a result of abiotic features including food resources. In this study, C. maculatus larvae were fed with proline and trehalose (10, 20, and 40 mmol) treated cowpea seeds to determine the effects of these potential cryoprotectants on the supercooling (SCP) and cold hardiness of the upcoming adult beetles. The SCPs of the control, proline-fed and trehalose-fed adults non-significantly changed from −18.2 °C for the control to −17.2 °C for trehalose-fed adults. The cold hardiness (24 h at 0, -5.0, −7.5, −10.0, and −12.5 °C) of the adults was almost the same for control and treatments. Median lethal times (LT₅₀; lethal time for 50% mortality) were 6.3, 6.0, and 5.4 h, respectively. Moreover, feeding the larvae with proline and trehalose-treated seeds did not affect the proline and trehalose contents of the adult beetles. Our results showed that C. maculatus could not tolerate subzero temperatures well above their SCP, indicating that this species might be a chill-susceptible insect.     

The numerical calculation of topological turning points

We introduce the definition of topological turning point of a function ?(x, λ): ?×?→?, then we propose a numerical method for calculating it. This new definition does not require any regularity for ? but its continuity; moreover, topological turning point coincides with turning point when ? is sufficiently smooth. The numerical method that we introduce has linear rate of convergence, and it is of secure convergence.     

Design and analysis of a new wave energy converter based on a point absorber and a hydraulic system harvesting energy from waves near the shore in calm seas

The aim of this paper is to illustrate the design of a new wave energy converter, composed of a point absorber and a hydraulic system (power take off) and sized for recovering energy in calm seas from waves near the shore. The point absorber is consisting of a rectangular shaped buoy integrating a piston pump. The set buoy‐pump oscillates under the waves action and moves natural water in a closed circuit hydraulic system (power take off) composed of a piping connecting the piston pump itself, a pressurized reservoir, a hydraulic turbine and a discharge tank. The methodology adopted for designing the main constituents involves a 1D mathematical model, settled for understanding the motion of the buoy under the hypothesis of regular waves and fully developed sea, and a sizing procedure applied for the design of all the components of the hydraulic system. The project related to the Calabrian site of Cetraro (Mediterranean Sea—south Italy) led to designing a system with a 4 m large buoy, associated with a small 13 cm diameter micro Pelton turbine, so that more than 22 000 kWh could be recovered in a year.     

直线运动滚动导轨副混合润滑研究

综合考虑了直线运动导轨副接触几何、预紧力、真实表面粗糙度、曲率系数等因素,建立了直线运动导轨副混合润滑数值模型,研究了滑块移动速度、曲率半径系数、工作载荷、表面粗糙度对导轨接触副润滑特性的影响,得到结论:导轨副法向工作载荷、最大赫兹接触压力和赫兹接触半径随着外加总载荷的增大而增大,平均膜厚随着载荷的增大而减小;混合润滑模型可预测导轨副在大范围工况条件下完整的润滑状态;直线运动导轨大多工作在混合润滑状态下,随着滑块移动速度的增加,接触界面由边界润滑状态向混合润滑状态转变,润滑性能逐渐提高;适当增加曲率半径系数,有利于润滑油膜的形成与稳定。     

Estimating underground mine ventilation friction factors from low density 3D data acquired by a moving LiDAR

Ventilation system analysis for underground mines has remained mostly unchanged since the Atkinson method was made popular by Mc Elroy in 1935. Data available to ventilation technicians and engineers is typically limited to the quantity of air moving through any given heading. Because computer-aided modelling, simulation, and ventilation system design tools have improved, it is now important to ensure that developed models have the most accurate information possible. This paper presents a new technique for estimating underground drift friction factors that works by processing 3 D point cloud data obtained by using a mobile Li DAR. Presented are field results that compare the proposed approach with previously published algorithms, as well as with manually acquired measurements.     

Effects of developmental stage,cold acclimation and diet on the cold tolerance of three species of Cryptolestes (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae)

Flat grain beetles (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) are common stored-product insect pests in Canada, infesting cereals in grain bins, equipment and end products in flour mills. We studied the cold tolerance of the three most common flat grain beetles: Cryptolestes ferrugineus, Cryptolestes turcicus and Cryptolestes pusillus, by measuring the survival at −10 °C and supercooling point (SCP) for different life stages (egg, young larva, old larva, pupa and adult) reared on flour mixed with brewer’s yeast. Probit analysis was used to estimate the lethal time for 50 and 95% mortality. This was done with non-acclimated individuals (only held at 30 °C) or cold-acclimated individuals (held at 18, 10 and 5 °C, for 1 week/temperature). In general, adults were the most cold-hardy stage for each of the species. Acclimated insects were anywhere from no increase in cold tolerance to 14-fold more cold-tolerant than the corresponding non-acclimated stage and species. Cryptolestes ferrugineus was most cold-tolerant species (58 d at −10 °C to reach 95% mortality for acclimated adult), C. turcicus was the next most cold-tolerant, (39 d) and C. pusillus was the least cold-tolerant (11 d). The cold tolerance of adults reared on three diets was measured both for acclimated and non-acclimated insects. The adults reared on grain diet (whole wheat kernels, cracked wheat kernels and wheat germ (90:5:5 mass ratio) were the most cold-tolerant, adults reared on white-wheat flour and brewer’s yeast diet (95:5 mass ratio) had the next highest cold tolerance followed by the adults reared on 100% white-wheat flour. Supercooling point (SCP) of insects ranged from −20.6 to −26.7 °C. In general, acclimated insects had slightly lower SCP than non-acclimated insects.     

喷气燃料冰点试验出现悬浮物的探讨

某公司加氢裂化装置生产的喷气燃料在冰点试验时发现了悬浮物，并且悬浮物在回温过程中消失。虽然通过调整原料中催化裂化柴油（简称催化柴油）、外购原料、常三线柴油的掺炼情况，减少原料中芳烃及正构烷烃的含量，但是在冰点试验时依然发现了悬浮物；其次，通过调整反应深度和分馏塔分离效果（喷气燃料馏程），以及对影响喷气燃料质量的其他因素进行排查，仍然未找到出现悬浮物的原因；最后通过化验分析方法排查发现，在干燥环境（没有湿空气的影响）下进行喷气燃料冰点试验时，可以避免产生絮状物，说明空气中的水是喷气燃料冰点试验中产生絮状物的直接原因。因此，在进行喷气燃料冰点试验时要采取措施隔绝水分。     

Dynamic reorder point replenishment strategies for a capacitated supply chain with seasonal demand

Managing inventory and service levels in a capacitated supply chain environment with seasonal demand requires appropriate selection and readjustment of replenishment decision variables. This study focuses on the dynamic adjustment of decision variables within supply chains using continuous-review reorder point (ROP) replenishment. A framework is proposed to adjust reorder points and lot sizes based on optimal settings within different regions of a seasonal demand cycle. This framework also includes the optimal timing of adjustments defining these regions. A discrete-event simulation model of a simple, capacity-constrained supply chain is developed and simulation–optimization experiments are performed, the objective being to minimize the total supply chain inventory subject to a target delivery service level. The performance of ROP systems with optimal static and optimal dynamic decision variable settings are compared using two different seasonal demand patterns. The results confirm that performance with dynamic decision variable adjustment is better. For a given delivery service level, average work-in-process inventory levels are almost the same for both systems. However average finished goods inventory levels decrease significantly and are more stable under dynamic adjustment. The practical implication is that both finished goods holding costs and maximum storage capacity requirements are reduced.