Modelling of Transduction Heaters Using Transformer Equivalent Circuit and Finite Element Analysis

This paper presents the modelling of transduction heaters using the TEC （transformer equivalent circuit） model and FEA （finite element analysis）. Each model was used to simulate a set oftransduction heating experiments and the results compared. Analysis of the TEC calculated results suggested modification of three parameters： the secondary resistance, the core tube eddy current resistance and the core tube magnetizing reactance. The improved TEC model was then used to design, build and test a 6 kW transduction heater. The measured results are compared with calculated results from the TEC and FEA models. The TEC model accurately predicts the performance of the heater.     

Application of nitrile butadiene rubber for flexible,chemically protective coating

Rheological properties of toluene solutions of nitrile butadiene rubber, of different molecular weights (M_w, 290,000,320,000, and 450,000) and acrylonitrile contents (30 and 40 percent), were investigated at low (0.1 S^?1) to medium (20,0 S^?1) shear rates, in order to determine their feasibility for dip-coating applications. The effect of a surface-active additive, bentonite, and the solid content (15 and 20 wt percent) on solution viscosity was of main interest. At low zero-shear viscosity (<50 Pa·S) an excessive sagging of the wet film was experienced; at high zeroshear viscosity (>100 Pa-·S) the coating showed poor leveling. Zeroshear viscosity was found to be less affected by bentonite than oligomer-based solutions, at the same time, the solid content and the molecular weight of the polymer had more pronounced effects. With a proper balance of the parameters, seamless coating films were achieved, with excellent tensile and tear properties, and good permeation resistance against benzene.     

Validating Operator Event Sequence Diagrams: The case of an automated vehicle to human driver handovers

Predicting what drivers will do as vehicle control is handed over to them from automation is a relatively new challenge for the motor vehicle industry. Operator Event Sequence Diagrams (OESDs) offer a way of modeling the interactions between the driver and vehicle automation in the handover of control. In this paper, two studies are presented in which a range of handover strategies are tested. The anticipated driver strategies were modeled using OESDs to serve as predictions of driver behavior. Drivers were then observed in two separate studies: (1) using a Lower-Fidelity (vehicle seat and controls) simulator and (2) using a Higher-Fidelity (whole vehicle) simulator. Driver behavior during a takeover task was categorized according to the signal detection paradigm into hits, misses, false alarms, and correct rejections. The results showed that for all strategies in both sets of studies, the median criterion for validity was exceeded ( > 0.8), suggesting that OESDs made good predictions of driver behavior during the handover of the vehicle from automation to manual control.     

Application of mid-infrared spectroscopy to the development and transfer of a manufacturing process for an active pharmaceutical ingredient

The use of in situ mid-infrared spectroscopy to support the development of a pharmaceutical manufacturing process is disclosed. Data on this two-stage telescoped reaction from several reaction scales (<50 mL to 1600 liters) and at multiple manufacturing locations is shown. In addition to providing data on both reactions in the telescope, the mid-IR data has been used to monitor an intermediate distillation operation and therefore it has been possible to profile the whole process. Data is also shown on aliquot addition during the first chemical transformation, which is used to check the instrumentation.