Incorporating microgrids coupling with utilization of flexible switching to enhance self-healing ability of electric distribution systems

Electric distribution networks have to deal with issues caused by natural disasters. These problems possess unique characteristics, and their severity can make load restoration methods impotent. One solution that can help in alleviating the aftermath is the use of microgrids (MGs). Employing the cumulative capacity of the generation resources through MG coupling facilitates the self-healing capability and leads to better-coordinated energy management during the restoration period, while the switching capability of the system should also be considered. In this paper, to form and schedule dynamic MGs in distribution systems, a novel model based on mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) is proposed. This approach employs graph-related theories to formulate the optimal formation of the networked MGs and management of their proper participation in the load recovery process. In addition, the Benders decomposition technique is applied to alleviate computability issues of the optimization problem. The validity and applicability of the proposed model are evaluated by several simulation studies.     

"不知火"柑橘全自动包装生产线的设计与研究

目的为了解决柑橘在实际包装过程中因于人工手动装袋、装箱等导致的效率低下问题,设计一条全自动柑橘包装生产线。方法基于“不知火”柑橘的特殊体型特征,使用传送带分级装置对其进行分级;通过倾斜皮带解决柑橘排列姿态的整理问题;经给袋式包装机装袋后,采用扭结式扎口装置对其进行封口;利用并联机器人对其进行装箱。通过计算生产节拍,合理规划每个工序的循环时间,并通过Flexsim软件对该生产线进行仿真分析与平衡优化。结果该生产线整体效率由89%提升到93%,能够正常运行且满足生产力的需求。结论该柑橘包装生产线实现了柑橘的分级、整料、装袋、装箱等工序,降低了工作强度,提高了生产效率,实现了包装过程的自动化。     

Notwendigkeit und Vermarktung von Flexibilitätsoptionen im Energiesystem der Zukunft

Demands on production, distribution and consumption of electrical energy change fundamentally with the energy revolution. Energy purchasing costs for inflexible consumers are rising and proceeds of inflexible producers are sinking. Companies are able to reduce costs by marketing operational flexibility options. This article sets out the need of flexibility in the energy system and the new marketing options. Flexibility potentials within infrastructure plants of a chemical park are analyzed, evaluated regarding marketing and activated in the presented research project FlexChemistry.     

Structural load alleviation using distributed delay shaper: Application to flexible aircraft

Lightweight flexible aircraft suffers from unwanted oscillatory vibrations during aircraft manoeuvres. A recently developed distributed-delay signal (DZV) shaper is therefore proposed to be applied as a feedforward controller to alleviate the manoeuvre loads, as an alternative to traditional structural filters used routinely in this context. Structural filters are essentially linear low-pass filters with bandwidth below the significant flexible modes, applied to control signals generated either by the pilot’s direct input or by the flight control system. It has been showed that if instead a properly tuned signal shaper is used, better performance can be achieved: first, the target modes are significantly attenuated while the responsiveness of the aircraft is less compromised and secondly, the oscillatory nature of the vibrations are reduced. The high fidelity simulation results on a full scaled dynamic model of a highly flexible blended wing–body (BWB) aircraft show that in comparison to traditional structural filters, signal shapers significantly reduce the wing root loading (forces and moments) which provides potential structural benefits.     

Bearing capacity of horizontally layered geosynthetic reinforced stone columns

In very soft soils, the bearing capacity of stone columns may not improve significantly due to very low confinement of the surrounding soil. Therefore, they may be reinforced with geosynthetics by using vertical encasement or horizontal layers. Very limited studies exist on horizontally reinforced stone columns (HRSCs). In this research, some large body laboratory tests have been performed on horizontally reinforced stone columns with diameters of 60, 80, and 100?mm and groups of stone columns with 60?mm diameter. Results show that the bearing capacity of stone columns increases by using horizontally reinforcing layers. Also, they reduce lateral bulging of stone columns by their frictional and interlocking effects with stone column aggregates. Finally, numerical analyses were carried out to study main affecting parameters on the bearing capacity of HRSCs. Numerical analysis results show that the bearing capacity increases considerably with increasing the number of horizontal layers and decreasing space between layers.     

Smart control of the assembly process with a fuzzy control system in the context of Industry 4.0

Assembly line balancing is important for the efficiency of the assembly process, however, a wide range of disruptions can break the current workload balance. Some researchers explored the task assignment plan for the assembly line balancing problem with the assumption that the assembly process is smooth with no disruption. Other researchers considered the impacts of disruptions, but they only explored the task re-assignment solutions for the assembly line re-balancing problem with the assumption that the re-balancing decision has been made already. There is limited literature exploring on-line adjustment solutions (layout adjustment and production rate adjustment) for an assembly line in a dynamic environment. This is because real-time monitoring of an assembly process was impossible in the past, and it is difficult to incorporate uncertainty factors into the balancing process because of the randomness and non-linearity of these factors. However, Industry 4.0 breaks the information barriers between different parts of an assembly line, since smart, connected products, which are enabled by advanced information and communication technology, can intelligently interact and communicate with each other and collect, process and produce information. Smart control of an assembly line becomes possible with the large amounts of real-time production data in the era of Industry 4.0, but there is little literature considering this new context. In this study, a fuzzy control system is developed to analyze the real-time information of an assembly line, with two types of fuzzy controllers in the fuzzy system. Type 1 fuzzy controller is used to determine whether the assembly line should be re-balanced to satisfy the demand, and type 2 fuzzy controller is used to adjust the production rate of each workstation in time to eliminate blockage and starvation, and increase the utilization of machines. Compared with three assembly lines without the proposed fuzzy control system, the assembly line with the fuzzy control system performs better, in terms of blockage ratio, starvation ratio and buffer level. Additionally, with the improvement of information transparency, the performance of an assembly line will be better. The research findings shed light on the smart control of the assembly process, and provide insights into the impacts of Industry 4.0 on assembly line balancing.     

A study of the load transfer behavior of fully grouted rock bolts with analytical modelling

Fully grouted rock bolts have been used in mining industry for many years. Much research has been conducted to evaluate the load transfer behavior of fully grouted rock bolts with experimental programs.However, compared with that, less work has been conducted with analytical modelling. Therefore, in this paper, the authors used an analytical model to study the load transfer behavior of fully grouted rock bolts.To confirm the credibility of this analytical model, an in-situ pull-out test was used to validate this model.There was a close match between the experimental result and the analytical result. Following it, a parametric study was conducted with this analytical model. The influence of coefficients, Young's modulus of the rock bolt and the diameter of the rock bolt on the load transfer performance of rock bolts was studied.Furthermore, the load distribution along the fully grouted rock bolt was analytically studied. The results show that the axial load in the rock bolt decayed from the loaded end to the free end independent of the pull-out load. However, the trend of the load distribution curve was influenced by the pull-out load. This paper was beneficial for better understanding the load transfer mechanism of fully grouted rock bolts.     

Assessment of local strain field in adhesive layer of an unsymmetrically repaired CFRP panel using digital image correlation

The present study focuses on experimental investigation of through the thickness displacement and strain field in thin adhesive layer in single sided (unsymmetrical) patch repaired CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer) panel under tensile load. Digital image correlation (DIC) technique is employed to acquire the displacement and strain (longitudinal, peel and shear) field. Experimental determination of shear transfer length based on shear strain field obtained from DIC is introduced to estimate the optimum overlap length which is an essential parameter in patch design for the repair of CFRP structures. Further, DIC experiment with magnified optics is performed to get an insight into complex and localized strain field over thin adhesive layer especially at critical zones leading to damage initiation. The failure mechanism, load displacement behavior, damage initiation and propagation are closely monitored using DIC. The influence of patch edge tapering on strain distribution in adhesive layer is also investigated. The DIC successfully captures the global and localized strain field at critical zones over thin adhesive layer and further helps in monitoring the damage based on strain anomalies. Strains are found to have maximum magnitude at the patch overlap edge and the shear strain level in adhesive layer is higher than the peel strain. Normal tapering increases the peel strain and has negligible influence on shear strain level in adhesive layer. The recommended overlap length is found to be consistent with the recommendation in the literature. Whole field strain pattern and the overlap length obtained from experiment are further compared with the finite element analysis results and they appear to be in good coherence.