A thermographic study of the on–off behavior of an all-refrigerator

In this work a thermographic camera is used to observe the temperature distribution of a household refrigerator cooling system operating at on–off cycling conditions. This technique offers an alternative method to analyze the cooling system compared to conventional thermocouples. In particular it is interesting to view the overall picture of how the refrigerant charge is distributed over the cooling system at transient conditions. In addition, four sources of energy losses were identified and discussed. Out of these losses, two would have been difficult to find using conventional thermocouple temperature measurements.     

Hydrocarbons as refrigerants in small heat pump and refrigeration systems – A review

Due to the concern for the effects of the release of HFC refrigerants on the global environment caused by the high global warming potential of these substances, there is a large interest in Europe and elsewhere for the use of hydrocarbons as refrigerants. This article presents a comparison of the properties and performance of hydrocarbons as refrigerants in small-size heat pump and refrigeration systems (<20 kW cooling). A listing of several commercially available systems is also presented. The designs, safety precautions and performances of some of these systems are described.As a general conclusion, it is shown that using hydrocarbons will result in COPs equal to, or higher than, those of similar HFC systems. It is also shown that components suitable for hydrocarbon systems are available on the market, even though the number of large-size hermetic compressors is limited. A major concern, which should not be taken lightly, is the safety issue. Reduced charge through indirect systems and compact heat exchangers, outdoor placing of the unit, hydrocarbon sensors and alarms and forced ventilation are all steps which may be applied to reduce the risks under normal operation.     

Recognition of human grasps by time-clustering and fuzzy modeling

In this paper, we address the problem of recognition of human grasps for five-fingered robotic hands and industrial robots in the context of programming-by-demonstration. The robot is instructed by a human operator wearing a data glove capturing the hand poses. For a number of human grasps, the corresponding fingertip trajectories are modeled in time and space by fuzzy clustering and Takagi–Sugeno (TS) modeling. This so-called time-clustering leads to grasp models using time as an input parameter and fingertip positions as outputs. For a sequence of grasps, the control system of the robot hand identifies the grasp segments, classifies the grasps and generates the sequence of grasps shown before. For this purpose, each grasp is correlated with a training sequence. By means of a hybrid fuzzy model, the demonstrated grasp sequence can be reconstructed.     

Nitrogen fertilizer equivalencies of organics of differing quality and optimum combination with inorganic nitrogen source in Central Kenya

Decline in crop yields is a major problem facing smallholder farmers in Kenya and the entire Sub-Saharan region. This is attributed mainly to the mining of major nutrients due to continuous cropping without addition of adequate external nutrients. In most cases inorganic fertilizers are expensive, hence unaffordable to most smallholder farmers. Although organic nutrient sources are available, information about their potential use is scanty. A field experiment was set up in the sub-humid highlands of Kenya to establish the chemical fertilizer equivalency values of different organic materials based on their quality. The experiment consisted of maize plots to which freshly collected leaves of Tithonia diversifolia (tithonia), Senna spectabilis (senna) and Calliandra calothyrsus (calliandra) (all with %N>3) obtained from hedgerows grown ex situ (biomass transfer) and urea (inorganic nitrogen source) were applied. Results obtained for the cumulative above ground biomass yield for three seasons indicated that a combination of both organic and inorganic nutrient source gave higher maize biomass yield than when each was applied separately. Above ground biomass yield production in maize (t ha^–1) from organic and inorganic fertilization was in the order of senna+urea (31.2), tithonia+urea (29.4), calliandra+urea (29.3), tithonia (28.6), senna (27.9), urea (27.4), calliandra (25.9), and control (22.5) for three cumulative seasons. On average, the three organic materials (calliandra, senna and tithonia) gave fertilizer equivalency values for the nitrogen contained in them of 50, 87 and 118%, respectively. It is therefore recommended that tithonia biomass be used in place of mineral fertilizer as a source of nitrogen. The high equivalency values can be attributed to the synergetic effects of nutrient supply, and improved moisture and soil physical conditions of the mulch. However, for sustainable agricultural production, combination with mineral fertilizer would be the best option.     

Synchronization of decentralized multiple-model systems by market-based optimization.

Market-based optimization is a new optimization method for large decentralized systems where the distributed resource allocation of an economic system is adopted. Market-based algorithms can be interpreted as multi-agent scenarios where producer and consumer agents both compete and cooperate on a market of specified commodities. The market-based approach is applied to the synchronization of a set of local multiple-model systems. The method is extended to the case where each of the subsystems is represented by a Takagi-Sugeno (TS) fuzzy system. Although all local systems are provided with the same control input, the behaviors of the local systems are, in general, different because of different parameters in the subsystems. The task of the market-based optimization is to find an appropriate composition of subsystems so that all local systems exhibit a similar dynamical behavior. Examples show that even systems with potentially unstable local systems can be synchronized if there exists a stable combination of weighted subsystems.     

Charakterisierung faserverstärkter Leichtmetalle

Metal-matrix composites combine the properties of metals with those of ceramic fibres. Pistons of highly stressed Diesel engines are reinforced in their bottom zones by the implantation of a preform of fibres. Investigations concentrate on the nondestructive detection of inclusions and defects of fibre distribution. Due to the very small dimensions of the defects test methods capable of responding sensitively to such small defect dimensions have to be applied. Good prerequisites to solve the task of defect detection are provided in first line by ultrasonic inspection within the high-frequency range in connection with scanning methods. Natural defects up to a size of 120 μm could be detected by ultrasonics. With artificial test defects, the limit was reached at 100 μm. Eddy-current inspection, another test procedure, was applied for the detection of fibreless zones, as there exist differences of conductivity between fibreless and fibre-reinforced zones. The use of scanning methods with special probes allows to depict fibreless zones up to a size of 100 μm on the specimen surface.     

Metal dusting of Fe3Al and (Fe,Ni)3Al

Metal dusting is a deterioration of metallic materials in strongly carburizing atmospheres under disintegration into a dust of carbon and fine metal particles (coke). The intermetallic compound Fe₃Al is also very susceptible to metal dusting and disintegrates under formation of vast amounts of coke. The mechanism corresponds to the metal dusting of iron and steels, Fe₃C is formed as an intermediate and the Al is oxidized. With increasing Cr-addition and with increasing Ni-content in alloys (Fe,Ni)₃Al-Cr the materials become more resistant, Ni₃Al is not attacked by metal dusting.     

Effect of eccentric exercise on natural killer cell activity

The effect of eccentric one-legged exercise on natural killer (NK) cell activity was studied in eight healthy males. To distinguish between local and systemic effects, blood samples were collected from veins in the exercising leg and resting arm. However, the results did not significantly differ between the leg and arm. To eliminate diurnal variations, the results were compared with a control group that did not exercise but had blood samples collected at the same time points. In the exercising group, plasma creatine kinase increased progressively during and up to 4 days after exercise. The percentage of CD16+ NK cells increased during exercise, which was paralleled by an increase in the NK cell activity per fixed number of blood mononuclear cells. The NK cell activity on a per NK cell basis did not change. The percentage of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, and CD14+ cells did not change significantly during exercise. The present study thus showed that eccentric exercise with a relatively small muscle mass (1 quadriceps femoris muscle) causes systemic effects on NK cells. It is suggested that the increase in plasma epinephrine during eccentric exercise is responsible for the observed increase in the percentage of CD16+ cells.     

Developing Local Emergency Management by Co‐Ordination Between Municipalities in Policy Networks: Experiences from Sweden

This study aims to increase our understanding of how co‐operation in inter‐municipality policy networks in a Swedish region is established and maintained regarding emergency management. We discuss how a network of five municipalities emerged and took shape. Overall, we conclude that co‐ordination and co‐operation in municipal emergency management are probably relatively easy to develop, because it is easy for the involved actors to see the benefits. Sharing resources is seen as crucial when establishing and, not least, financing efficient, high‐quality emergency management. The municipalities' lack of resources to provide effective emergency services, as required by law, makes them dependent on each other. Limits for co‐ordination were connected to distance and other geographical factors. Other limits of equal importance were linked to factors such as culture/tradition, mutual understanding, size of partners, and unwillingness to give up authority as well as a prior barrier for co‐operation between small and bigger municipalities.