Numerical study on PEMFC’s geometrical parameters under different humidifying conditions

Steady-state and three-dimensional simulations were carried out to study the influences of geometrical parameters on the performance of PEMFC under different hydrating conditions. Flow fields, species transport, transport of water in polymer membrane and movement of liquid water in cathode and anode porous layers were determined, in order to accomplish a complete estimation of ohmic and concentration losses of PEMFC power. The geometrical parameters were thickness of the polymer membrane, cathode catalyst layer as well as gas channel to rib width ratio. Every simulation was made under different relative humidities of inlet flows (50 and 100%) for every change of characteristic length. Results show that the influence of the geometrical parameters on ohmic and concentration losses is of considerable importance. The performance of PEMFC is seriously affected under dehydrating conditions. However, such performance may be considerably improved by using suitable geometrical parameters. Cathode and anode liquid saturation may not only affect the transport of species, but also the polymer electrolyte water content. These results show the importance of simultaneously calculating both the water absorption and desorption through the polymer electrolyte and the liquid saturation in the cathode and anode porous mediums to obtain an actual view of ohmic and concentration losses of the PEMFC performance.     

Scientific and technological performance evaluation of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) in the field of Biotechnology

An evaluation of the Spanish CSIC performance in Biotechnology, as compared with those of the French CNRS and the Italian CNR, has been carried out to determine the balance between the generation of scientific knowledge and the transfer of technology. This study shows a high scientific productivity mostly in journals with moderate impact factor, a low generation of patents and an insufficient transfer of knowledge to the Spanish companies. Other indicators confirm the existence of competitive human resources in biotechnological research producing scientific knowledge of interest for the development of patents and that cooperates successfully at European level.     

Multifractal analysis of non-conformal repellers: a model case

For a model class of repellers of non-conformal expanding maps, we obtain sharp lower bounds for the dimension spectra of the Birkhoff averages of a Hölder continuous function. As in the well-studied case of conformal dynamics, the bounds are also expressed here in terms of the thermodynamic formalism.     

Extrusion-rotomolding of plasticized PVC formulations

In this work, we present a novel process to produce plasticized PVC articles. Plasticized PVC dispersion resin (dry blend) was extruded and poured into a hot mold. The mold was transferred to a rotomolding machine, where the final geometry was obtained. Formulations using commercial PVC suspension resin and three different types of plasticizers were prepared under different processing conditions. The physical appearance of the articles and the tensile properties of the materials were evaluated.     

Transient dynamics of cylinders under wave slamming

Large diameter slender cylindrical shells used as buoyancy chambers and support legs for compliant marine structures experience a variety of impact loadings which could induce significant levels of dynamic response. By examining the response of a typical range of cylindrical shell geometries to a simulation of the impact loading typical of wave slamming, the paper examines the likely levels and practical significance of the transient dynamic response. It shows that the levels of dynamic response are sufficiently severe to have important implications for the triggering of buckling and fatigue collapse characteristics. It is suggested that this phenomenon requires additional more-detailed consideration, including the provision of reliable predictions of transient slam pressure distributions and the levels and forms of hydrodynamic damping, as well as the effects of more practical shell and stiffening geometries, and ambient stress levels.     

Influence of Manufacturing and Ripening Conditions on the Survival of Enterobacteriaceae in Manchego Cheese

The effects of cooking temperature, time and temperature of brine-salting, and temperature of ripening on the behavior of Enterobacteriaceae in Manchego cheese were studied. Fifty lots of cheese from raw ewe's milk manufactured and ripened under different conditions were investigated throughout a 60-day ripening period. Differences in pH values due to temperature-dependent whey retention accounted for the effect of cooking temperature on coliform and fecal coliform counts. Temperature of brine-salting had no effect on Enterobacteriaceae counts, but a significant effect of salting time on Enterobacteriaceae and fecal coliform counts was detected. Ripening temperature was the manufacturing variable with greatest influence (P<.01) on Enterobacteriaceae and coliform counts during the whole curing period.     

Ionomer composites based on sepiolite/hydrogenated poly(styrene butadiene) block copolymer systems

Ionomeric composites based on sepiolite and hydrogenated poly(styrene butadiene) block copolymer were obtained and characterized from a microstructural and electrical point of view. Before blending, because of the high silanol group concentration in the sepiolite, the latter could be organophilized with suitable coupling agents. The resulting materials were easily processed into thin films or membranes 0.2–0.4 mm thick, their conductivity in some cases approaching 10^?1 S/cm. Their suitability for film formation and good electrical properties indicate potential applications as electrolytes in polymer fuel cells. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3512–3519, 2002     

Spreading Codes Generator for Wireless CDMA Networks

The prime characteristic of spread spectrum modulated signals is that their bandwidth is greater than the information rate. In this way a redundancy is introduced that allows the severe levels of inteference inherent in the transmission of digital information over radio and satellite links to be overcome. Current spread spectrum applications are primarily in military communications; nevertheless, there is growing interest in this technique for third generation mobile radio networks (UMTS, FPLTS, etc.) with open discussion regarding the practicality of using a multiple access system based on spread spectrum techniques (CDMA). However, in order to support as many users in the same bandwidth as other multiple access techniques such as TDMA or FDMA, it is important how to generate large families of sequences that present low cross-correlation. The aim of this paper is to describe a spreading codes generator that can produce a large number of PN sequences with good properties of auto- and cross-correlation. Moreover, the codes generated shows high unpredictability and good statistical behaviour. This also allows the implementation of some features that are common on military networks such as message privacy (increasingly important in commercial networks) without additional cost. The structure presented shows itself to be advantageous for high speed generation of codes at a low cost, low power consumption (allowing longer life for batteries), small size and simplicity of implementation, essential ingredients for commercial equipment. Another attractive feature is its structural parallelism, useful in VLSI implementations. All of these features render it potentially suitable for the implementation of channel bandwidth sharing systems in future wireless personal communications networks.     

Integrating scheduling and control functions in computer integrated manufacturing using artificial intelligence

Proper integration of scheduling and control in Flexible Manufacturing Systems will make available the required level of decision-making capacity to provide a flexibly-automated, efficient, and quality manufacturing process. To achieve this level of integration, the developments in computer technology and sophisticated techniques of artificial intelligence (AI) should be applied to such FMS functions as scheduling. In this paper, we present an Intelligent Scheduling System for FMS under development that makes use of the integration of two AI technologies. These two AI technologies — Neural Networks and Expert Systems — provide the intelligence that the scheduling function requires in order to generate goodschedules within the restrictions imposed by real-time problems. Because the system has the ability to plan ahead and learn, it has a higher probability of success than conventional approaches. The adaptive behavior that will be achieved contribute to the integration of scheduling and control in FMS.