A simplified physically-based breach model for a high concrete-faced rockfill dam: A case study

A simplified physically-based model was developed to simulate the breaching process of the Gouhou concrete-faced rockfill dam (CFRD), which is the only breach case of a high CFRD in the world. Considering the dam height, a hydraulic method was chosen to simulate the initial scour position on the downstream slope, with the steepening of the downstream slope taken into account; a headcut erosion formula was adopted to simulate the backward erosion as well. The moment equilibrium method was utilized to calculate the ultimate length of a concrete slab under its self-weight and water loads. The calculated results of the Gouhou CFRD breach case show that the proposed model provides reasonable peak breach flow, final breach width, and failure time, with relative errors less than 15% as compared with the measured data. Sensitivity studies show that the outputs of the proposed model are more or less sensitive to different parameters. Three typical parametric models were compared with the proposed model, and the comparison demonstrates that the proposed physically-based breach model performs better and provides more detailed results than the parametric models.     

Prediction of cooling efficiency of forced-air precooling systems based on optimized differential evolution and improved BP neural network

This paper proposes an approach to predict the efficiency of forced-air cooling of fresh apples that combines the optimized differential evolution (DE) algorithm and the back-propagation (BP) neural network algorithm. First, to balance population diversity and fast convergence, the individual mutation operation of the basic DE algorithm was optimized by dividing the entire population into two equal parts according to the fitness value of individuals, and DE-best-1 and DE-current-to-rand-1 are used as individual mutation operations for the superior- and inferior-part individuals, respectively. Moreover, the selection operation of basic DE was also changed by using a crowding scheme, which helps maintain population diversity and discover more regions containing the global optima. Second, an optimized DE-BP neural network model was established by using the optimized DE to determine the initial weights and thresholds of the BP neural network to avoid being trapped in local minima, following which the effect of input parameters on the network output was subjected to a comprehensive sensitivity analysis based on the trained neural network. The results show that the optimized DE-BP model accurately predicts the efficiency with which apples are cooled. Furthermore, the airflow velocity and total opening area have a significant negative correlation with the average apple temperature and a positive correlation with the cooling rate of the apples. Finally, the most important factor influencing the cooling efficiency of the pre-cooling system is the total opening area of the ventilated packaging.     

Simplification and applicability studies of a hydrogen-air detailed reaction mechanism

The research of hydrogen fuel internal combustion engine (HICE) had great significance facing the challenges of energy and environmental problems. Based on the detailed hydrogen-air reaction mechanism, the pre-mix model of CHEMKIN-Pro software was selected to simplify the detailed mechanism GRI-3.0. The most important elements and reactions was chose to construct framework mechanism firstly based on the sensitivity coefficient for H₂O and NO formation, and additional elements and reactions were added to framework mechanism for complementing the oxidation path of N2 and H₂. A simplified mechanism including 24-step elementary reaction was obtained and the laminar burning velocity calculated by this simplified mechanism matches well with the detailed mechanism in a wide range. This simplified mechanism was also applied in a CFD model which predicted the cylinder instantaneous pressure and NOx emission accurately within a large range of fuel air equivalent ratio. Showing that this mechanism has good applicability.     

A pseudo-likelihood approach for estimating diagnostic accuracy of multiple binary medical tests

Latent class models with crossed subject-specific and test(rater)-specific random effects have been proposed to estimate the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of a group of binary tests or binary ratings. However, the computation of these models are hindered by their complicated Monte Carlo Expectation–Maximization (MCEM) algorithm. In this article, a class of pseudo-likelihood functions is developed for conducting statistical inference with crossed random-effects latent class models in diagnostic medicine. Theoretically, the maximum pseudo-likelihood estimation is still consistent and has asymptotic normality. Numerically, our results show that not only the pseudo-likelihood approach significantly reduces the computational time, but it has comparable efficiency relative to the MCEM algorithm. In addition, dimension-wise likelihood, one of the proposed pseudo-likelihoods, demonstrates its superior performance in estimating sensitivity and specificity.     

Analysis of an EMST-based path for 3D meshes

For several 3D data applications such as data-hiding or compression, data ordering is a major problem. We need to know how to achieve the same 3D mesh path between the coding and decoding stages. Various algorithms have been proposed in recent years, but we focus on methods based on Euclidean Minimum Spanning Trees (EMST). In this paper, we analyse the sensitivity of the EMST structure to obtain a more robust synchronization. We present a new theoretical analysis and a way to visualize EMST robustness. Moreover, this analysis can be useful in 3D data-hiding in order to detect fragile area and to predict the 3D object robustness during transmission on a noisy channel.     

Simplified anode architecture for PEMFC systems based on alternative fuel feeding: Experimental characterization and optimization for automotive applications

The need to reduce PEMFC systems cost as well as to increase their durability is crucial for their integration in various applications and especially for transport applications. A new simplified architecture of the anode circuit called Alternating Fuel Feeding (AFF) offers to reduce the development costs. Requiring a new stack concept, it combines the simplicity of Dead-End Anode (DEA) with the operation advantages of the hydrogen recirculation. The three architectures (DEA, recirculation and AFF) are compared in terms of performance on a 5-kW test bench in automotive conditions, through a sensitivity analysis. A gain of 17% on the system efficiency is observed when switching from DEA to AFF. Moreover, similar performances are obtained both for AFF and for recirculation after an accurate optimization of the AFF tuning parameters. Based on DoE data, a gain of 25% on the weight of the anodic line has been identified compared to pulsed ejector architecture and 43% with the classic recirculation architecture with blower only (Miraï).     

MDCK细胞库的建立、检定及其生物学特性

目的建立MDCK细胞的主细胞库及工作细胞库,并进行检定,同时评价其生物学特性。方法从欧洲细胞保藏中心(European Collection of Authenticated Cell Culture,ECACC)引进1株MDCK细胞,经传代扩大培养后,分别建立主库及工作细胞库。按照《中国药典》三部(2015版)规定的方法对细胞库进行细胞活力、细胞形态、无菌、支原体及细胞内外源病毒因子检查,并对细胞生长状况、传代稳定性、流感病毒敏感性进行检测。结果建立的MDCK细胞主种子库及工作种子库细胞形态呈不规则的上皮样细胞状,生长状态良好,细胞活率分别为96.0%和95.5%,无菌、支原体及细胞内外源病毒因子检查结果均合格。MDCK细胞生长曲线均呈S型,培养48~96 h进入对数生长期,随后进入平台期。连续传10代48 h细胞活率在93.0%~95.5%之间,较稳定。MDCK细胞对流感病毒较敏感,对B型流感病毒的敏感性高于A型流感病毒。结论建立的主细胞库及工作细胞库各项检测结果均符合《中国药典》规定,具有良好的传代稳定性及流感病毒敏感性。     

Development and techno-economic analyses of a novel hydrogen production process via chemical looping

In this work, a novel hydrogen production process (Integrated Chemical Looping Water Splitting “ICLWS”) has been developed. The modelled process has been optimised via heat integration between the main process units. The effects of the key process variables (i.e. the oxygen carrier-to-fuel ratio, steam flow rate and discharged gas temperature) on the behaviour of the reducer and oxidiser reactors were investigated. The thermal and exergy efficiencies of the process were studied and compared against a conventional steam-methane reforming (SMR) process. Finally, the economic feasibility of the process was evaluated based on the corresponding CAPEX, OPEX and first-year plant cost per kg of the hydrogen produced. The thermal efficiency of the ICLWS process was improved by 31.1% compared to the baseline (Chemical Looping Water Splitting without heat integration) process. The hydrogen efficiency and the effective efficiencies were also higher by 11.7% and 11.9%, respectively compared to the SMR process. The sensitivity analysis showed that the oxygen carrier–to-methane and -steam ratios enhanced the discharged gas and solid conversions from both the reducer and oxidiser. Unlike for the oxidiser, the temperature of the discharged gas and solids from the reducer had an impact on the gas and solid conversion. The economic evaluation of the process indicated hydrogen production costs of $1.41 and $1.62 per kilogram of hydrogen produced for Fe-based oxygen carriers supported by ZrO₂ and MgAl₂O₄, respectively - 14% and 1.2% lower for the SMR process H₂ production costs respectively.     

A skeletal n-butane mechanism with integrated simplification method

A new skeletal mechanism of n-butane is developed for describing its ignition and combustion characteristics applicable over a wide range of conditions: initial temperature 690–1430 K, pressure 1–30 atm, and equivalence ratio 0.5–2.0. Starting with a detailed chemical reaction kinetic model of 230 species and 1328 reactions (Healy et al., Combust. Flame, 2010), the directed relation graph method is applied as the first step to derive a semi-detailed mechanism with 134 species. Then, the reaction path analysis in conjunction with temperature sensitivity analysis is used to remove the redundant species and reaction paths simultaneously under the condition of low-temperature and moderate-to-high temperatures, respectively. Finally, a skeletal n-butane mechanism consisting of 86 species and 373 reactions can be obtained. Mechanism validation indicates that the new developed skeletal mechanism is in good agreement with the detailed mechanism in predicting the global ignition and combustion characteristics. The new skeletal mechanism is further validated using extensive available literature data including rapid pressure machine ignition delay time, shock-tube ignition delay time, laminar flame speed, and jet-stirred reaction oxidation, covering a large range of temperatures, pressures, and equivalence ratios. The comparison results demonstrate that a satisfactory agreement between predictions and experimental measurements is achieved.