Oxygen pressure dependence of tracer diffusivities of Ca and Fe in liquid CaO-SiO2-FexO system

The tracer diffusivities of calcium and iron in a steel-making slag of 33 pct CaO-27 pct SiO₂-40 pct Fe₂O₃ by charge composition have been measured at 1360 to 1460°C as a function of temperature and oxygen pressure in the gas phase. The results expressed in cm²/s (in SI unit of m²/s, the following equation should be divided by 10,000) are given by $$D^{tr} = D_0 \left[ {P_{O_2 } } \right]^{1/\chi } \exp \left[ { - \frac{E}{{RT}}} \right](at 1360 to 1460^\circ C)$$ where for tracer diffusion of iron, D_o is 0.2,x is 8.5, andE is 26 kcal/mol (1.09 x 10⁴ J/ mol) and for tracer diffusion of calcium, D_o is 0.1,x is 12.5, andE is 28 kcal/mol (1.17 × 10⁴ J/mol). Prior to diffusion runs, the slag was equilibrated with the gas mixture of carbon monoxide and dioxide with an oxygen pressure of 10^?11 to 10^?8 atm. The diffusivity was measured by the instantaneous plane source method, using radioactive tracers of calcium and iron. The increase of the tracer diffusivities with the oxygen pressure was interpreted in relation to a probable increase of the divalent cation vacancies in the slag.     

Application of a novel polypropylene to the insulation of an electric power cable

Cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) has been widely adopted as insulating material for high‐voltage power cables up to 500 kV. Further improvement of electrical and thermal properties on insulating material is required in order to increase cable operation efficiency. Therefore, the development of novel insulating material possessing high thermal properties will be necessary. Recent progress of catalysis technology contributes to obtain new polymeric materials which may be applied to electrical insulation. The authors investigated the basic properties of newly developed stereoregular syndiotactic polypropylene (s‐PP) which is synthesized with homogeneous metallocene catalyst. Though recycling of cross‐linked polymers such as conventionally used XLPE may be difficult because of their poor heat deformation, the s‐PP which is not cross‐linked must be suitable for recycling. A series of experiments on its physical and electrical properties gave the following results.

• (1) s‐PP has sufficient flexibility compared with isotactic polypropylene (i‐PP ).
• (2) Both AC and lightning impulse breakdown strength of s‐PP in spite of no cross‐linking are superior to those of XLPE in the temperature range from 25 to 90 °C.
• (3) Degradation by copper of s‐PP is less than that of i‐PP.
• (4) s‐PP/VLDPE blend shows sufficient brittleness temperature for use.

These results suggested that s‐PP should serve as insulating material for power cables at higher‐temperature operation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 146(1): 18–26, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002//eej.10210     

Design of Low-Voltage Highly Linear Switched-R-MOSFET-C Filters

This paper discusses the design, analysis and performance of a low-voltage, highly linear switched-R-MOSFET-C filter. High linearity, even at a low supply voltage, is achieved through the use of duty-cycle-controlled tuning. Tuning MOSFETs are switched completely on while conducting, such that their nonlinear resistance is much smaller than the linear filter resistors, resulting in low distortion. The MOSFETs are also placed inside the filter feedback loop which further reduces distortion. Because tuning is done in the time domain, rather than in the voltage domain, the tuning range is independent of the supply voltage. The filter achieves -77 dB total harmonic distortion (THD) using a 0.6-V supply, and -90 dB THD using a 0.8-V supply, with a 0.6-Vpp differential 2 kHz sine input. The prototype IC, implemented in a 0.18-mum CMOS process, occupies an area of 0.7 mm² and consumes 1 mW of power from a 0.6-V supply.     

Numerical shape identification of cavity in three dimensions based on thermal non-destructive testing data

Shape identification analysis is carried out to obtain hitherto unknown defect shapes in a structure, based on the finite element and the adjoint variable methods. In this study, a test piece incorporating a known defect shape was employed to solve the shape identification problem. Also reported in this study is the shape identification problem of a cavity in a heated resin test piece made using a 3D printer by employing the temperature pattern observed on the surface of the test piece. The surface temperature of a test piece will not be uniformly distributed if it contains cavities. Practical experiments have confirmed that the characteristic of the temperature distribution depends on the size of the cavity. The thermal physical constants, i.e. the thermal conductivity and the convection coefficient, were identified for a model of the test piece incorporating a cavity based on the experimental data. Shape identification analysis was then carried out. Using numerical analysis, the finite element method was applied to simulate the temperature distribution in the test piece, and the adjoint variable method was employed to identify the cavity's shape.     

A case of convulsion induced by propofol

A 71-year-old man was scheduled for laryngomicrosurgery under total intravenous anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol. Seven to eight minutes after induction of anesthesia, convulsion was observed first on his lower limbs and then on his all limbs and the head. This clonicotonic convulsion of a few minute duration lasted for 25 minutes. Later neurological examination revealed normal functions. Although the etiology of convulsion by propofol is controversial, the convulsion observed in our patient seems to be related to glycinergic as well as glutamate receptors. When we administer propofol to patients, we should be careful about the occurrence of convulsion.     

Annulated dinuclear palladium(II) phthalocyanine complex as an effective photo-oxidation catalyst for near-infrared region light

An annulated dinuclear palladium(II) phthalocyanine complex (1) was synthesized and characterized. It was found that 1 worked as a photo-catalyst for the decomposition of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) in aerated toluene under the irradiation of the light in the near-infrared (NIR) region (λ > 780 nm).     

An over‐current withstanding design of superconducting power cables

In a design of HTS power cables, the over‐current withstanding design is very important. In a conventional case, when one of the 2‐circuit power cables failed, the other cable should transport the previous total power continuously. If we adopt this idea also in case of superconducting power cables, the rating current should be decided carefully. In this paper, the authors show a fundamental idea for a short‐time withstanding over‐current design of HTS power cables. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 141(2): 34–40, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10051