Estimation of the characteristic parameters of proton exchange membrane fuel cells under normal operating conditions

The aim of this work is the study of the effectiveness of different parameter estimation techniques for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) under normal operating conditions. The procedure for the estimation of the real time parameters described herein in good approximation meets the requirements posed regarding such techniques, i.e., to obtain data without interrupting the functioning of the fuel cell and to be as simple as possible. In this approach a fuel cell combined with a step-down voltage regulator system was analyzed and the potential relaxation was used to determine PEMFC electrochemical properties. A screening measurement technique was applied using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) to elucidate the effect of the different operating conditions on the obtained parameter, hence to validate the developed algorithm. The results show that the operating conditions of the step-down regulator device affect some parameters, but the weak correlations predict that the method can be used in real applications.     

Improving Adsorption Dryer Energy Efficiency by Simultaneous Optimization and Heat Integration

Conventionally, energy-saving techniques in drying technology are sequential in nature. First, the dryer is optimized without heat recovery and then, based on the obtained process conditions, heat recovery possibilities are explored. This work presents a methodology for energy-efficient adsorption dryer design that considers sensible and latent heat recovery as an integral part of drying system design. A one-step pinch-based optimization problem is formulated to determine the operating conditions for optimal energy performance of such an integrated system subject to product quality. Because the inlet and target stream properties of the heat recovery network are determined by the adsorption drying conditions, they are unknown a priori and thus are determined simultaneously within the overall optimization using the pinch location method. Energy balances are written above and below the various pinch point possibilities and the optimal pinch point is that which minimizes the amount of external heating utility required while satisfying drying and thermodynamic constraints. Results for a single-stage zeolite adsorption drying process with simultaneous heat recovery optimization show a 15% improvement in efficiency compared to a sequentially optimized system. The improvement is traceable to alterations in enthalpy-related variables like temperatures and flow rates. The discrepancy in optimal operating conditions between the sequential and simultaneous cases underscores the need to change system operating conditions when retrofitting for heat recovery because previous optimal conditions become suboptimal when heat recovery is introduced. Also, compared to a conventional dryer (without an adsorption process) operating under similar conditions, energy consumption is reduced by about 55%.     

Experimental study by online measurement of the precipitation of nickel hydroxide:Effects of operating conditions

The objective of this work is using the online measurement method to study the process of precipitation of nickel hydroxide in a single-feed semi-batch stirred reactor with an internal diameter of D=240 mm. The effects of impeller speed, impeller type, impeller diameter and feed location on the mean particle size d43 and particle size distribution (PSD) were investigated. d43 and PSD were measured online using a Malvern Insitec Liquid Pro-cess Sizer every 20 s. It was found that d43 varied between 13μm and 26μm under different operating conditions, and it decreased with increasing impel er diameter. When feeding at the off-bottom distance of D/2 under lower impeller speeds, d43 was significantly smaller than that at D/3. PSDs were slightly influenced by operating conditions.     

改良冷原子荧光光谱法测定土壤中的汞

采用王水水浴消解—冷原子荧光光谱法(AFS)测定土壤中的汞。利用自行研制的峰值积分测定方法与传统峰面积积分测定方法比较,优化了AFS测定条件,峰值测定的加标回收率在98.96%~101.49%之间,RSD%在1.278%~3.605%之间。峰面积测定的加标回收率在98.61%~102.68%之间,RSD%在2.770%~4.358%之间,从加标回收率及RSD的数据分析来看,峰值积分测定均好于峰面积积分测定。与峰面积积分测定法比较,峰值积分测定法样品测定时间减少50%以上、简便、结果准确、可靠。本法适用于大批土壤中汞的测定。     

Ultrasound measurement method: Errors, noise, and sensitivity

At the National Center of Aerospace Research (ONERA), the burning rate of solid propellants has been determined by means of an ultrasound technique for many years. This paper presents the results obtained on composite propellants for different initial pressures and temperatures, which allow one to discuss the advantages and limitations of the method in terms of the measurement possibility and accuracy. The sensitivity of propagation of ultrasound waves to pertinent physical parameters or operating conditions is illustrated. The errors induced by inadequate corrective terms taken into account in the measurement theory, the effect of the electronic noise of the equipment, and the procedure of differentiating experimental data are shown. Selecting suitable operating conditions allows one to reduce the instrumental error down to 1% of the burning-rate value. Though the ultrasound method is not absolutely universal and perfect, the quality of the data obtained is good enough to be noted. Translated fromFizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 59–67, January–February, 2000.     

Measuring and modelling lateral solid mixing in a three-dimensional batch gas—solid fluidized bed reactor

A 0.27 m diameter fluidized bed reactor has been designed to allow experimental measurement of the axial and radial mixing behaviour of the solids. A unique method has been developed which permits the continuous determination of solid tracer concentration with time at different radial and axial positions within the fluidized bed. Solids mixing has been described by a model in which vertical mixing is instantaneous and lateral mixing occurs by dispersion. The lateral solids dispersion coefficients have been evaluated at various operating conditions from the experimental results of tracer concentration versus time. Based on the results, a modification of an existing correlation is proposed.     

Safe design of cooled tubular reactors for exothermic,multiple reactions. Consecutive reactions

The model of the pseudo-homogeneous, one-dimensional, cooled tubular reactor is applied to two consecutive, irreversible first order reactions. A criterion is derived to obtain a desired integral yield. Based on this criterion three requirements are formulated, which enable us to choose the relevant design and operating conditions. If any of the requirements are met, the reactor is also safe with respect to runaway. In an illustration the results are applied to the production of phthalic anhydride via the oxidation of naphthalene. It is shown that the requirements formulated can be used for the design of the reactor and for its immediate adjustment to a change in operating conditions. In view of the special behaviour of consecutive reactions in a tubular reactor a fine tuning of the operating conditions remains necessary after this adjustment.     

Control strategies for intermittently mixed, forcefully aerated solid-state fermentation bioreactors based on the analysis of a distributed parameter model

This paper tests different control strategies based on classic proportional integral derivative (PID) and advanced dynamic matrix control (DMC) algorithms for an intermittently stirred, forcefully aerated solid-state fermentation bioreactor. The study was done using a distributed parameter model to reproduce the main operating features of this type of bioreactor. There is predicted to be a remarkable improvement in the bioreactor productivity when control strategies are implemented. For this type of bioreactor, the temperature and water content of the substrate bed can be controlled by saturating the air at the air inlet but manipulating its temperature, coupled with a strategy of water replenishment when the water content of the bed falls below a threshold. Dynamic matrix control is superior to PID control; however, a specific convolution matrix for different stages of the fermentation is necessary due to the changing behavior of the system. This work shows the benefit of mathematical modeling, since the many different operating conditions investigated via simulations would not have been economically feasible to undertake experimentally with a large-scale bioreactor. The results obtained provide an excellent starting point for such large-scale experimental work.     

Effect of viscoelasticity in the film‐blowing process

Numerical simulations have been undertaken for the film‐blowing process of viscoelastic fluids under different operating conditions. Viscoelasticity is described by an integral constitutive equation of the K‐BKZ type with a spectrum of relaxation times, which can fit the experimental data well for the shear and extensional viscosities and the normal stresses measured in shear flow. Nonisothermal conditions are considered by applying the Morland–Lee hypothesis, which incorporates the appropriate shift factor and pseudotime into the constitutive equation. The momentum and energy equations are expressed in the machine direction only by using a quasi‐one‐dimensional approach introduced earlier by Pearson and Petrie. The resulting system of differential equations is solved using the finite element method and the Newton‐Raphson iterative scheme. The method of solution was first checked against the Newtonian and Maxwell results for various film characteristics given earlier. The simulations are compared with available experimental data and previous simulations in terms of film shape, velocity, stresses, and temperature. The present results show that the existing modeling of force balances is inadequate for quantitative agreement with the experimental studies. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

求解对流扩散问题的积分方程法

提出了一种求解对流扩散问题的积分方程法。在这一方法中,首先利用Laplace方程的级数形式的格林函数将对流扩散方程转化为积分方程,然后利用级数的正交性质,把积分方程进一步简化为代数方程组,求解该方程组即可得到对流扩散方程的级数形式的近似解。最后,分别利用Chebyshev多项式和Fourier级数求解了3个典型的一维和二维对流扩散问题。该方法和有限体积法、有限元法和迎风差分法相比,展现出非常高的精度并且避免了由解的不连续性造成的虚假振荡。     

Smoke gas analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy – summary of the SAFIR project results

The determination of toxic components from fire gases is difficult because the environment is hot, reactions are often temperature dependent, and a lot of soot may be produced. Due to the different properties of the gas components, a different time‐consuming procedure for each species has traditionally been used. The use of FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrometers as a continuous monitoring technique overcomes many of the problems in smoke gas analyses. FTIR offers an opportunity to set up a calibration and prediction method for each gas showing a characteristic spectral band in the infrared region of the spectrum. The objective of the SAFIR project was to further develop the FTIR gas analysis of smoke gases to be an applicable and reliable method for the determination of toxic components in combustion gases related to fire test conditions. The optimum probe design, filter parameters and the most suitable sampling lines in terms of flow rate, diameter, construction material and operating temperature have been specified. In the large scale, special concern was given to the probe design and the effects of the probe location as well as practical considerations of the sampling line length. Quantitative calibration and prediction methods have been constructed for different components present in smoke gases. Recommendations on how to deal with interferents, non‐linearities and outliers have been provided and a verification method for the spectrometer for unexpected variations and for the different models have been described. FTIR measurement procedures in different fire test scenarios have been studied using the recommendations of this project for measurement techniques and analysis and an interlaboratory trial of the FTIR technique in smoke gas analysis was carried out to define the repeatability and reproducibility of the method in connection with a small scale fire test method, the cone calorimeter. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Impact of weir design on entrained liquid in tray columns

Malfunction of the counter-current flow inside tray columns by entrainment of the liquid phase to higher stages depends on operation parameters but also internal design. The article covers the impact of weir design in terms of triangular notched and picket fence weirs on entrainment above sieve trays. A capture tray enables collection and weighing of the entrained liquid, while an image-based measurement technique additionally observes the respective droplet regime. Experimental results identify lower entrainment rates in case of advancing weir heights and use of a picket fence design. Still, tray designers should preset the desired operation range, as advancing weir heights and picket fence design limit the liquid tray capacity. Furthermore, image analysis enables an extrapolation of the locally detected liquid to an integral entrainment rate for comparison with the conservative capture tray method, as calculated entrainment correlations do not meet the experimental data at each operating point.     

仓式泵气力输送系统优化设计

通过对仓式泵输送装置运行参数测试和分析,发现在某一输送条件下其能耗最小。利用优化设计方法,可以找出仓式泵系统能耗最省的最佳操作条件。最后介绍了优化设计应用实例。     

基于TDLAS技术的CO_2浓度测量

基于可调谐半导体激光吸收光谱(TDLAS)技术,结合HITRAN数据库对CO_2吸收谱线进行分析,选择对1 572.3nm附近的CO_2吸收谱线进行扫描,搭建TDLAS单光路测量实验系统。采用直接测量方法,对一定浓度的CO_2气体进行浓度测量。针对线型函数,提出了拟合吸收谱线加宽调谐范围积分和加入线型积分修正系数两种方法,并对两种方法做出了比较,得到较为准确的修正方法。     

Numerical investigation of tube furnace toxicity measurement method (ISO 19700)

ISO TS 19700 describes a test method for the generation of fire effluent and the identification and measurement of its constituent combustion products. The method has been previously accepted as a British Standard (BS 7990:2003) and as an IEC Standard (IEC 60695‐7‐50), which involves the decomposition of materials or products under various decomposing conditions occurring in different types and stages of real fires. It uses a moving test specimen and a tube furnace at different temperatures and air flow rates as the fire model. Simulations of flow and combustion conditions inside the tube (Purser) furnace were carried out and validated with the measurements. The objective of the present study is to demonstrate the validity of using computational fluid dynamics (CFD)‐based fire field modelling techniques to predict the fire environment inside the tube furnace. These numerical investigations are also used to verify critical experimental operating parameters that affect the performance of the tube furnace and understand the modus operandi of the tube furnace toxicity method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

地面高速轮胎复合材料生热专家系统的应用

介绍地面高速轮胎复合材料生热计算机专家系统。该系统在对不同规格、不同厂牌的轮胎进行大量测温试验主材料生热性能试验的基础上,利用轮胎材料生热性能和导热性能的研究结果,采用有限元计法计算轮胎各部件在各种使用条件下的温度场分布,并进一步研究了轮胎生热与气压,速度及负荷等使用条件之间的关系。应用该系统有利于各种使用条件的合理匹配,确保轮胎正常使用。     

Homogeneous Fluidization Characteristics of Vibrating Fluidized Beds

The effects of vibration parameters, operating conditions and material properties on fluidization quality were investigated by the measurement and analysis of voidage fluctuation signals in a vibrating fluidized bed with a diameter of 148 mm. The fluctuation deviation of the bed voidage and the enhancement index of the bed derived can describe bed homogeneity and its extension. A new criterion of homogeneity, consisting of the material parameter (Ar), operating parameters (H₀, u/u_mf) and vibration parameters (a, ω), is proposed to predict a suitable range of homogeneous fluidization. Experimental results on eight kinds of solids, five static bed heights and different vibration parameters were used to propose guidelines for the reasonable selection of operating conditions for vibrating fluidization and better operating conditions.     

基于高斯混合模型与主元分析的多模型切换方法

针对多模型预测控制的模型切换问题,提出了一种基于工况判断的多模型切换方法,利用工业过程中的可测变量综合反映系统的动态特性,根据动态特性的变化进行多模型切换。首先利用高斯混合模型(GMM)将历史数据划分为若干个工况,然后利用不同工况下的历史数据建立负荷向量矩阵和预测模型,最后根据主元模型的平方预报误差(SPE)选择预测模型。以乙烯裂解炉的反应管出口温度(COT)的控制为例进行仿真,仿真结果表明:提出的方法实现了多个反应管出口温度的稳定均衡控制,当系统的工况发生改变时,通过不同主元模型的SPE统计量的比较,可以很容易地找到匹配的工况,并切换为相应的预测模型,解决了当系统动态特性发生改变时,预测模型切换滞后的问题。     

Safe operating conditions determination for stationary SI gas engines

Knock is a major problem when running combined heat and power (CHP) gas engines because of the variation in the network natural gas composition. A curative solution is widely applied, using an accelerometer to detect knock when it occurs. The engine load is then reduced until knock disappears. The present paper deals with a knock preventive device. It is based on the knock prediction following the engine operating conditions and the fuel gas methane number, and it acts on the engine load before knock happens. A state of the art about knock prediction models is carried out. The maximum of the knock criterion is selected as knock risk estimator, and a limit value above which knock may occur is defined. The estimator is calculated using a two-zone thermodynamic model. This model is specifically based on existing formulas for the calculation of the combustion progress, modified to integrate the effect of the methane number. A chemical kinetic model with 53 species and 325 equilibrium reactions is used to calculate unburned and burned gases composition. The different parameters of the model are fitted with a least squares method from an experimental data base. Errors less than 8% are achieved. The knock risks predicted for various natural gases and operating conditions are in agreement with previous work. Nevertheless, the knock risk estimator is overestimated for natural gases with high concentrations of inert gases such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The definition of a methane number limit based on the engine manufacturer's recommendation is then required to eliminate unwarranted alerts. Safe operating conditions are thus calculated and gathered in the form of a map. This map, combined with the real time measurement of the fuel gas methane number, can be integrated to the control device of the CHP engine in order to guarantee a safe running towards fuel gas quality variation.     

Multi-scale segmentation image analysis for the in-process monitoring of particle shape with batch crystallisers

The morphological forms and habits of pharmaceutical crystals are important properties that can be affected by minor changes in operating conditions such as cooling rates and supersaturation. As a result the pharmaceutical industry demands on-line techniques for real-time measurement of the dynamic changes of these properties in crystallisers. On-line imaging represents a potentially powerful technique for real-time monitoring of the morphological forms during crystal growth, but a major challenge is the availability of methods for image analysis that need to be tolerant to the quality of on-line images, accurate, fast and robust. This paper describes a multi-scale segmentation methodology for analysis of images obtained for batch cooling crystallisation of (L)-glutamic acid using an on-line high-speed imaging system developed by the pharmaceutical manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline. The method proves to be able to analyse effectively the on-line images of different crystal morphological forms, and of varied qualities. Application of the methodology to the analysis of images from a different on-line imaging probe and from an off-line slurry sample imaging system demonstrated the capability of generalisation of the method.