Gravitational Search Based Algorithm for Optimal Coordination of Directional Overcurrent Relays Using User Defined Characteristic

Due to dependency on Plug Setting (PS), Time Dial Setting (TDS), size of the network, more than one back-up relays for one primary relay and other technical constraints, coordination of Directional Overcurrent Relays (DOCRs) is an extremely constrained and nonlinear optimization problem. In this paper, a new Gravitational Search (GS) based algorithm is presented for achieving optimal coordination of directional overcurrent relays. The proposed algorithm utilizes user defined characteristic for inverse time overcurrent relays than the predefined standard curves. The user defined relay characteristic deals with constants that control the shape of the characteristics as variable adjustable values which are optimally chosen along with TDS and Plug Setting Multiplier (PSM). The performance of the proposed algorithm has been evaluated on 8-bus, 15-bus and IEEE 30-bus distribution network at different fault locations (near-end, far-end and middle point). In addition, the time of operation of some of the primary relays at different fault locations on IEEE 30-bus distribution network is also presented. At the end, comparative evaluation of the proposed algorithm with other optimization algorithms having different relay characteristics presented in the literature clearly indicates its effectiveness and superiority in terms of the sum of total primary relays operating time.     

Design of 0.5 V voltage-combiner based OTA with 60 dB gain 250 kHz UGB in CMOS

A gain enhancement technique for a pseudo differential OTA based on voltage combiner, suitable for sub-1 V supply is presented in this letter. The proposed technique uses a G _m boosted voltage combiner. Unlike the typical voltage combiner which has an approximated gain of \(2\,\frac{{\text{V}}}{{\text{V}}}\), this voltage combiner can produce gain more than \(5\,\frac{{\text{V}}}{{\text{V}}}\). So it help us achieve nearly 60 dB DC gain with 250 kHz UGB for the pseudo differential OTA at a capacitive load of 10 pF. Power dissipation is very low i.e. 716 nW at supply of 0.5 V. So as to facilitate maximum swing at 0.5 V supply and lower the power consumption, MOS transistors are biased in weak/moderate inversion. The OTA is designed in standard 45 nm CMOS process. Phase margin of is more than \(55^{\circ }\) for a typical load of 10 pF. The input referred noise is \(150\,\upmu {\text{V}}{/}\sqrt{{\text{Hz}}}\) at 10 Hz and slew rate \(0.02\,{\text{V}}{/}\upmu{\text{s}}\) for 10 pF load.     

Anthropogenic contamination and risk assessment of heavy metals in stream sediments influenced by acid mine drainage from a northeast coalfield,India

The total concentrations and chemical partitioning of heavy metals in streambed sediments, collected around the Jaintia Hills coal deposit of northeast India, were studied using pollution indices and multivariate techniques to evaluate the risk and contamination levels from heavy metals and their possible origins. Results show that sediments close to mining sites have low pH (<4), high organic carbon, and contain significant amounts of Fe-oxyhydroxide phases (mainly, goethite and schwertmannite), which implies direct impact of coal mine drainage. The average concentrations of Fe, Cu, Co, Cd, Cr, and Zn exceeded the World average, and in some cases, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Cr concentrations exceeded the threshold effects level, which suggests they will be toxic to aquatic biota. Contamination factors (CF) show that the sediments are low to highly contaminated with Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, Fe, and Zn and low to moderately contaminated with Co, Cr and Ni. The pollution load index (PLI), degree of contamination index (C _deg) and Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI) show that the sediments are moderately to highly contaminated, with the extent of pollution greatest nearest to the collieries. The potential ecological risk index (RI) shows low to considerable ecological risk from heavy metals in the sediments, with Cd having the high potential of risk, which also agrees with the risk assessment code (RAC). Multivariate statistical analysis suggests that the concentrations of the heavy metals in stream sediments are strongly influenced by Fe-oxyhydroxide phases and organic carbon derived from anthropogenic sources, mainly coal mining activities. Although a significant proportion of the Cd, Mn, and Ni in the sediments are partitioned into exchangeable and organic fractions, a sizable amount of metals are also found in the Fe–Mn fraction, suggesting that Fe-oxyhydroxides play a dominant role in controlling metal mobility in these stream sediments.     

Microstructural investigations on as-cast and annealed Al–Sc and Al–Sc–Zr alloys

Al–Sc and Al–Sc–Zr alloys containing 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 wt.% Sc and 0.15 wt.% Zr were investigated using optical microscopy, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The phase composition of the alloys and the morphology of precipitates that developed during solidification in the sand casting process and subsequent thermal treatment of the samples were studied. XRD analysis shows that the weight percentage of the Al₃Sc/Al₃(Sc, Zr) precipitates was significantly below 1% in all alloys except for the virgin Al0.5Sc0.15Zr alloy. In this alloy the precipitates were observed as primary dendritic particles. In the binary Al–Sc alloys, ageing at 470 °C for 24 h produced precipitates associated with dislocation networks, whereas the precipitates in the annealed Al–Sc–Zr alloys were free of interfacial dislocations except at the lowest content of Sc. Development of large incoherent precipitates during precipitation heat treatment reduced hardness of all the alloys studied. Growth of the Al₃Sc/Al₃(Sc, Zr) precipitates after heat treatment was less at low Sc content and in the presence of Zr. Increase in hardness was observed after heat treatment at 300 °C in all alloys. There is a small difference in hardness between binary and ternary alloys slow cooled after sand casting.     

Binary whale optimization algorithm: a new metaheuristic approach for profit-based unit commitment problems in competitive electricity markets

This article presents a metaheuristic approach, the binary whale optimization algorithm (BWOA), to solve complex, constrained, non-convex, binary-nature profit-based unit commitment (PBUC) optimization problems of a price-taking generation company (GenCo) in the electricity market. To simulate the binary-nature PBUC problem, the continuous, real-value whale position/location is mapped into binary search space through various transfer functions. This article introduces three variants of BWOA using tangential hyperbolic, inverse tangent (arctan) and sigmoidal transfer functions. The effectiveness of the BWOA approaches is examined in test systems with different market mechanisms, i.e. an energy-only market, and energy and reserve market participation with different reserve payment methods. The simulation results are presented, discussed and compared with other existing approaches. The convergence characteristics, solution quality and consistency of the results across different BWOA variants are discussed. The superiority and statistical significance of the proposed approaches with respect to existing approaches is also presented.     

Assessment of relative impacts of various geo-mining factors on methane dispersion for safety in gassy underground coal mines: an artificial neural networks approach

Neural Computing and Applications - Dispersing methane to a safer level is crucial for mines safety as methane has been the greatest contributor of explosion hazard in underground coal mines...     

Development and evaluation of ZnO-Fe2O3 based nanocomposite sensors for butanol detection

Olfactory sensing of specific volatile organic compounds released by bacterial pathogens is one of the unique ways for determining microbial contamination in packaged food products. This study reports the development and evaluation of zinc oxide-iron oxide (ZnO-Fe2O3) nanocomposite sensors to detect low concentrations of butanol, one of the VOCs specific to Salmonella contamination in packaged beef, at low operating temperature (100 degrees C). The ZnO-Fe2O3 sensor was developed using modified Sol-gel method on an interdigitated alumina substrate. The sensor thin film characterization confirmed a uniform layer of ZnO-Fe2O3 thin film formation with ZnO nanorods of 100 nm height. Also, ZnO-Fe2O3 nanocomposite sensor demonstrated repeatable responses and good sensitivity to butanol with an estimated lower detection limit of about 26 ppm at 100 degrees C.     

Influence of strain and strain rate on microstructural evolution during superplasticity of Mg–Al–Zn sheet

Strain-induced abnormal grain growth was observed along the gage length during high-temperature uniaxial tensile testing of rolled Mg–Al–Zn (AZ31) sheet. Effective strain and strain rates in biaxial forming of AZ31 sheets also affected the nature of grain growth in the formed sheet. For the uniaxial testing done at 400 °C and a strain rate of 10^?1 s^?1, abnormal grain growth was prevalent in the gage sections that experienced true strain values between 0.2 and 1.0. Biaxial forming of AZ31 at 5 × 10^?2 s^?1 and 400 °C also exhibited abnormal grain growth at the cross sections which experienced a true strain of 1.7. Uniaxially tested sample at 400 °C and a strain rate of 10^?3 s^?1, however, showed no abnormal grain growth in the gage sections which experienced true local strain values ranging from 1.0 to 2.3. The normalized flow stress versus temperature and grain size compensated strain rate plot showed that the deformation kinetics of the current AZ31 alloy was similar to that reported in the literature for AZ31 alloys. Orientation image microscopy (OIM) was used to study the texture evolution, grain size, and grain boundary misorientation during uniaxial and biaxial forming. Influence of deformation parameters, namely strain rate, strain, and temperature on grain growth and refinement were discussed with the help of OIM results.     

Achieving High Strength and High Ductility in Friction Stir-Processed Cast Magnesium Alloy

Friction stir processing (FSP) is emerging as an effective tool for microstructural modification and property enhancement. As-cast AZ91 magnesium alloy was friction stir processed with one-pass and two-pass to examine the influence of processing conditions on microstructural evolution and corresponding mechanical properties. Grain refinement accompanied with development of strong basal texture was observed for both processing conditions. Ultrafine-grained (UFG) AZ91 was achieved under two-pass FSP with fine precipitates distributed on the grain boundary. The processed UFG AZ91 exhibited a high tensile strength of ~435 MPa (117 pct improvement) and tensile fracture elongation of ~23 pct. The promising combination of strength and ductility is attributed to the elimination of casting porosity, and high density of fine precipitates in an UFG structure with quite low dislocation density. The effects of grain size, precipitate, and texture on deformation behavior have been discussed.