Vacancy site occupation by Co and Ir in half-Heusler ZrNiSn and conversion of the thermoelectric properties from n-type to p-type

The n-type thermoelectric properties of the half-Heusler compound ZrNiSn can be converted to p-type by the addition of Co and Ir. We found that Co and Ir atoms preferably occupy the vacancy sites instead of substituting at Ni sites. This implies that the phase stability of the compound gradually changes towards that of the Heusler compound Zr(Ni,M)₂Sn, where M is Co and/or Ir. The occupation of vacancy sites by Co and Ir atoms leads to a drastic reduction in lattice thermal conductivity owing to the enhancement of phonon scattering by the solid solution effect.     

Evaluation of cost and reliability of power systems with large numbers of distributed generators

The authors have proposed the Flexible, Reliable and Intelligent ENergy Delivery System (called “FRIENDS”), which is a new concept for future power distribution systems. Also, a “micro grid” which is a similar concept to FRIENDS has been developed. In a micro grid, an independent distribution system can be constituted by a number of distributed generators. In this paper, FRIENDS, Micro grid, and conventional distribution systems are compared quantitatively in supply reliability and system cost through time sequential Monte Carlo simulations. In addition, for cost evaluation, interruption costs are included to show risk incurred by unsupplied energy. Finally, the authors search for preferable form with install and operation of distributed generators and network composition according to social cost including interruption cost and system cost. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 167(2): 28–37, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20659     

Equations to predict precipitation onset and bubblepoint pressures of asphaltenic reservoir fluids

A set of algebraic equations to predict upper onset‐of‐precipitation and bubble‐point pressures of asphaltene‐containing reservoir fluids in wide temperature ranges are proposed. In developing the equations, laboratory data of 11 Mexican and 12 more live oils have been analyzed, and a correlation of these data with temperature has been found. A modified least‐squares regression method has been used to develop two versions of the proposed equations. In one version, a single pressure/temperature data point is required to predict the entire onset/bubble‐point curves at any temperature. For oils with no experimental precipitation data available at all, a second version of the proposed expressions employs standard chromatographic data of the reservoir fluid to provide a reasonable prediction. The average absolute deviations in calculated onset and bubble‐point pressures by the proposed equations are 2.53 and 0.45MPa by the one‐point correlations, respectively, and 3.96 and 1.62 MPa by the compositionally‐based correlations, respectively. The developed expressions are simple and can be used to provide reasonable predictions of upper onset and bubble‐point pressures of asphaltenic live oils in cases where laboratory data are scarce. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009     

Interior structure of a quality control center at the low‐voltage side considering power conditioning by SMES

The authors have proposed FRIENDS—Flexible, Reliable and Intelligent Electrical eNergy Delivery System—as a future electric power distribution system. The most important idea of FRIENDS is to install new facilities called Quality Control Centers (QCCs) between the distribution substation and customers. By controlling QCCs appropriately, various purposes of FRIENDS can be achieved. It is indispensable to design the concrete interior structure of QCC in order to realize FRIENDS. This paper proposes the interior structure and control methods of QCC from the viewpoint of power conditioning functions by energy storage system in QCC. In this paper, it is assumed that SMES is used as the energy storage system in QCC. The proposed interior structure is based on the concept of UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply). In this paper, SMES is installed in the DC side of UPS. Further, this paper proposes control methods of SMES and PWM converters. The proposed control methods are used to satisfy various purposes, such as load fluctuation compensation, load leveling, and cooperation with dispersed‐type generator. Finally, the validity of these control methods is confirmed through transient analysis PSCAD/EMTDC. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 143(3): 20–28, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10056     

Gastric cancer occurring in a patient with Plummer-Vinson syndrome: report of a case

We report herein the unusual case of a 59-year-old woman with Plummer-Vinson syndrome who developed gastric cancer. The patient had a longstanding history of dysphagia and iron deficiency anemia, for which she had sporadically taken iron supplements that improved the dysphagia to some extent, but not completely. Owing to her tolerance of the dysphagia, she had not been taking iron supplements for the past 17 years. On admission, she was in fair nutritional condition and not anemic. Blood chemistry results were all normal, including the serum iron level. Gastrointestinal radiographic series demonstrated cervical esophageal webs and advanced gastric cancer. Her dysphagia was successfully treated by endoscopic bougienage through the webs, and a distal partial gastrectomy with nodal dissection was performed. Histology of the resected stomach revealed atrophic mucosal change and, by chance, an adenomatous lesion in addition to adenocarcinoma. Her postoperative course was uneventful and she is now well, without any signs of recurrence. Although Plummer-Vinson syndrome is known to be associated with upper alimentary tract cancers, gastric cancer is extremely rare. A discussion on the etiology of Plummer-Vinson syndrome and its link with potential carcinogenesis follows this case report.