Thermodynamic analysis of natural gas reciprocating compressors based on real and ideal gas models

The accurate modelling and investigating effects of various parameters of the reciprocating compressors are important subjects. In this work, based on first law of thermodynamics, conversation of mass and real and ideal gas assumptions, a theoretical analysis has been constructed to simulate natural gas reciprocating compressors. For computing the thermodynamic properties of natural gas based on real gas model, the AGA8 equation of state has been used. Numerical results validated with previous measured values and showed a good agreement. The effects of important parameters such as: angular speed, clearance and pressure ratio have been studied on the performance of the compressors. The results reveal the in-control volume temperature for ideal gas is more than real gas model but the mass flow rate and work for real gas is higher than ideal gas model. On the other hand, the indicated work that required for compression is greater for ideal gas model.     

Fault estimation and accommodation for networked control systems with nonuniform sampling periods

This paper deals with the problem of fault estimation and accommodation for a class of networked control systems with nonuniform uncertain sampling periods. Firstly, the reason why the adaptive fault diagnosis observer cannot be applied to networked control systems is analyzed. Based on this analysis, a novel robust fault estimation observer is constructed to estimate both continuous‐time fault and system states by using nonuniformly discrete‐time sampled outputs. Furthermore, using the obtained states and fault information, a nonuniformly sampled‐data fault tolerant control law is designed to preserve the stability of the closed‐loop system. The proposed scheme can not only guarantee the impact of continuous‐time uncertainties and discrete‐time sampled estimation errors on the faulty system to satisfy a H _∞ performance index but also repress the negative effect of the unknown intersample behavior of continuous‐time fault by use of an inequality technique. Finally, simulation results are included to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A hand gesture recognition technique for human–computer interaction

We propose an approach to recognize trajectory-based dynamic hand gestures in real time for human–computer interaction (HCI). We also introduce a fast learning mechanism that does not require extensive training data to teach gestures to the system. We use a six-degrees-of-freedom position tracker to collect trajectory data and represent gestures as an ordered sequence of directional movements in 2D. In the learning phase, sample gesture data is filtered and processed to create gesture recognizers, which are basically finite-state machine sequence recognizers. We achieve online gesture recognition by these recognizers without needing to specify gesture start and end positions. The results of the conducted user study show that the proposed method is very promising in terms of gesture detection and recognition performance (73% accuracy) in a stream of motion. Additionally, the assessment of the user attitude survey denotes that the gestural interface is very useful and satisfactory. One of the novel parts of the proposed approach is that it gives users the freedom to create gesture commands according to their preferences for selected tasks. Thus, the presented gesture recognition approach makes the HCI process more intuitive and user specific.     

Classification and regression models of audio and vibration signals for machine state monitoring in precision machining systems

We present a data-driven method for monitoring machine status in manufacturing processes. Audio and vibration data from precision machining are used for inference in two operating scenarios: (a) variable machine health states (anomaly detection); and (b) settings of machine operation (state estimation). Audio and vibration signals are first processed through Fast Fourier Transform and Principal Component Analysis to extract transformed and informative features. These features are then used in the training of classification and regression models for machine state monitoring. Specifically, three classifiers (K-nearest neighbors, convolutional neural networks and support vector machines) and two regressors (support vector regression and neural network regression) were explored, in terms of their accuracy in machine state prediction. It is shown that the audio and vibration signals are sufficiently rich in information about the machine that 100% state classification accuracy could be accomplished. Data fusion was also explored, showing overall superior accuracy of data-driven regression models.     

Solid state reactions between SiC and Ir

Reactivity between SiC and Ir as a function of SiC-crystallinity was investigated by diffusion bonding technique under a vacuum and over the temperature range of 1200–1450 °C. As reaction products, various Ir-silicides and free unreacted-C were detected. Reactivity is strongly affected by the temperature and SiC-crystallinity involving a series of interactions, from “no reaction” to “massive exothermic reactions”. In particular, interfacial phenomena are more pronounced by the presence of defects and grain boundaries.Solid state reactions result in formation of fine C-precipitates rearranged in a quasi-periodic microstructure. On the contrary, clustering of highly ordered C-precipitates (C-graphitized) occurs after “massive reactions” take place.A relationship between the degree of graphitization (from 1 to multi-layers of graphene), temperature and SiC crystallinity was found by Raman spectroscopy. 2D-layering phenomenon is enhanced in polycrystalline SiC at high temperature.     

Two‐Photon Up‐Conversion Photoluminescence Realized through Spatially Extended Gap States in Quasi‐2D Perovskite Films

A new approach to generate a two‐photon up‐conversion photoluminescence (PL) by directly exciting the gap states with continuous‐wave (CW) infrared photoexcitation in solution‐processing quasi‐2D perovskite films [(PEA)₂(MA)₄Pb₅Br₁₆ with n = 5] is reported. Specifically, a visible PL peaked at 520 nm is observed with the quadratic power dependence by exciting the gap states with CW 980 nm laser excitation, indicating a two‐photon up‐conversion PL occurring in quasi‐2D perovskite films. Decreasing the gap states by reducing the n value leads to a dramatic decrease in the two‐photon up‐conversion PL signal. This confirms that the gap states are indeed responsible for generating the two‐photon up‐conversion PL in quasi‐2D perovskites. Furthermore, mechanical scratching indicates that the different‐n‐value nanoplates are essentially uniformly formed in the quasi‐2D perovskite films toward generating multi‐photon up‐conversion light emission. More importantly, the two‐photon up‐conversion PL is found to be sensitive to an external magnetic field, indicating that the gap states are essentially formed as spatially extended states ready for multi‐photon excitation. Polarization‐dependent up‐conversion PL studies reveal that the gap states experience the orbit–orbit interaction through Coulomb polarization to form spatially extended states toward developing multi‐photon up‐conversion light emission in quasi‐2D perovskites.     

An efficient NFEM for optimal control problems governed by a bilinear state equation

In this paper, a nonconforming finite element method (NFEM) is proposed for the constrained optimal control problems (OCPs) governed by a bilinear state equation. The state and adjoint state are approximated by the nonconforming $E{Q}_1^{rot}$ element, and the control is approximated by the orthogonal projection through the state and adjoint state. Some superclose and superconvergence properties are obtained by full use of the distinguish characters of this $E{Q}_1^{rot}$ element, such as the interpolation operator equals the Ritz projection, and the consistency error is one order higher than its interpolation error in the broken energy norm. Finally, some numerical results are provided to verify the theoretical analysis.     

Ab initio calculations of the NO2 fission for CL-20 conformers

NO₂ fission is regarded to be the most important initial decomposition process of 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20). In this study, four CL-20 conformers based on the ε-CL-20 were obtained after the optimization at m062x/cc-pvtz level, and the bond length, bond order and bond dissociation energy of the N-N bonds were examined to investigate the stability of these bonds. In addition, the rate constants and activation energy of the NO₂ fission were evaluated using the microcanonical variational transition state theory (μVT). The calculation results have shown that N-N bonds in the case of pseudo-equatorial and axial of nitro groups are the most stable and the least stable, respectively, by evaluating the bond length, bond order and minimum energy path (MEP). The NO₂ fission rate constants are affected by not only the stability of N-N bonds but also the repulsion forces from the other nitro groups, and the fission process for pseudo-equatorial positioning of nitro groups is easier to be accelerated due to the increase of the repulsion forces. The decomposition of CL-20 conformer may mainly originate from the fission of the pseudo-equatorial positioning of nitro groups, especially for CL-20 III conformer because of the significant low activation energy.     

Stress intensity factor evaluations for a curved crack in orthotropic particulate composites using an interaction integral method

This paper develops a domain-independent interaction integral (DII-integral) for extracting mixed-mode stress intensity factors (SIFs) for orthotropic materials with complex interfaces. The DII-integral does not require material property gradients, and moreover its validity is not affected by material interfaces. Combined with the extended finite element method (XFEM), the DII-integral is employed to investigate a straight crack in an orthotropic functionally graded plate and a curved crack in orthotropic particulate composites.