Modeling and control of batch-to-batch polymer processes

The modeling and control of a typical cyclic polymer process, such as injection molding or thermoforming, are considered. The purpose of control is to achieve a specified product quality for a sequence of parts. First, conventional feedback controllers are compared to statistically based controllers with respect to random noise disturbances. It is shown that conventional controllers may not react quickly to load disturbances without magnifying background noise and reducing product yield. It is demonstrated that statistically based controllers are able to differentiate between noise and load disturbances, proving them superior when part quality tolerance is tight and noise level relatively large. Next, the responsiveness of conventional controllers (proportional, integral, and proportionalintegral) is compared with several statistically based controllers (CUSUM, Western Electric runs rules, and simple Shewhart) when subjected to load disturbances. Three load disturbances were modeled; steps, ramps, and sinusoids. Again, statistically based methods generally prove superior to and, at worst, comparable to conventional controllers.     

Desiccation and recolonization of phytobenthos in a regulated desert river: Colorado River at Lees Ferry,Arizona, USA

We tested the recolonization of the phytobenthic community in the tailwaters of Glen Canyon Dam following long- and short-term experimentally induced desiccation. The response of Cladophora glomerata, Oscillatoria spp., miscellaneous phytobenthos species and periphyton was studied over 18 weeks using three treatments: (1) undisturbed control cobbles from the submerged zone; (2) cobbles desiccated and replaced into the submerged zone; and (3) cobbles desiccated and replaced into the varial zone. Periphyton density and compositional response resulting from these treatments were also examined. Desiccation treatments were significantly different in biomass from controls throughout the study. The biomass of desiccated and replaced river cobbles averaged <30% of the controls for C. glomerata and periphyton during the 18-week recolonization period. In contrast, the biomass of the control Oscillatoria and miscellaneous phytobenthos species averaged only 3 and 50% of that in the desiccation treatments, respectively. Cladophora, the dominant alga, comprised 77% of the phytobenthic biomass. A significant positive relationship between discharge, Cladophora and periphyton biomass was present in all treatments, while there was a negative relationship with discharge for Oscillatoria and miscellaneous phytobenthos species. There was a significant inverse correlation, as well as a pattern of separate biomass dominance, between C. glomerata and Oscillatoria. Cladophora was the dominant phytobenthos species on cobbles below the baseflow and Oscillatoria was dominant on cobbles in the varial zone. In general, the Cladophora biomass decreased under intermittent drying conditions, while Oscillatoria declined under permanently wet conditions. Diatom composition was not significantly different between treatments; however, their density was lower on desiccated cobbles. Diatom density on desiccated cobbles in the submerged and varial zones averaged 69 and 42% of that of the controls, respectively. Recovery and maintenance of benthic resources are hindered by fluctuating flow regimes driven by electricity and irrigation requirements. Repeated desiccation of the phytobenthos has major effects on the bottom-up interactions in the Colorado River ecosystem. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

粉土干化过程中微观结构的演变

对黏粒含量为34%的粉土泥浆样进行无宏观裂缝出现的慢速干化试验,对干化至不同目标含水率的试样进行压汞试验,获得孔隙分布曲线,系统地研究干化过程中粉土微观结构的演变规律,分析微观裂隙的形成及发展机制。研究结果表明:随着干化的发展,最大进汞量逐渐减小,当含水率达到缩限后,最大进汞量保持不变;不可侵入孔随干化逐渐增多,当含水率小于缩限后,不可侵入孔增大的趋势减缓;当含水率大于缩限前,孔径分布(PSD)曲线峰值对应孔径随干化呈单调递减的关系,含水率继续减小至缩限以下时,峰值对应孔径逐渐增大至固定值;由饱和到非饱和过渡时,PSD曲线在0.1~1?m范围有隆起并达到最大,随着干化的深入,隆起减小直至消失。PSD曲线峰值孔径随干化先减小后增大的趋势以及隆起随干化的变化规律,均证明干化过程中有可能产生微观裂隙,并反映了微观裂隙的演变过程。粉土泥浆样干化过程中,当由饱和过渡到非饱和状态时,黏土会像外套一样裹在粉土颗粒周围,微观裂隙在黏土颗粒间及黏土颗粒与粉土颗粒间的交界面上开始出现,该微观裂隙和宏观干燥裂缝在本质上是不同的,是对土体龟裂研究机制的补充。     

Effect of polyaluminium chloride on phosphorus removal in constructed wetlands treated with swine wastewater

Total phosphorus (TP) removal in aged constructed wetlands poses a challenge, especially when treated with swine wastewater with high concentrations of phosphorus (P). Our earlier studies with anaerobic lagoon swine wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands showed a decline in P removal (45-22%) with increased years of operation. These particular wetlands have been treated with swine wastewater every year since the first application in 1997. Preliminary lab-scale studies were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of polyaluminium chloride (PAC) in the removal of phosphate-P (PO4-P) from swine wastewater. The experimental objective was to increase the phosphorus treatment efficiency in constructed wetland by adding PAC as a precipitating agent. PAC was added by continuous injection to each wetland system at a rate of 3 L day(-1) (1:5 dilution of concentrated PAC). Swine wastewater was added from an anaerobic lagoon to four constructed wetland cells (11m wide x 40m long) at TP loads of 5.4-6.1 kg ha(-1) day(-1) in two experimental periods, September to November of 2008 and 2009. Treatment efficiency of two wetland systems: marsh-pond-marsh (M-P-M) and continuous marsh (CM) was compared. The wetlands were planted with cattails (Typha latifolia L.) and bulrushes (Scirpus americanus). In 2008, PAC treatment showed an increase of 27.5 and 40.8% of TP removal over control in M-P-M and CM respectively. Similar trend was also observed in the following year. PAC as a flocculant and precipitating agent showed potential to enhance TP removal in constructed wetlands treated with swine wastewater.     

H2S optimization for lignite liquefaction

Two lignite samples, Beulah No. 3 and Big Brown No. 1, were liquefied at 420 °C using H₂ and synthesis gas to determine the optimum beneficial amount of H₂S in the batch autoclave reactor. Under the conditions employed, 50–100 psi partial pressure of H₂S, nominally 4–10 wt% of daf lignite, was optimum for both samples. Synthesis gas outperformed H₂ with and without H₂S for the liquefaction of the two coals.     

Intra-arterial bolus of 125I labeled meglumine diatrizoate. Early extravascular distribution

A mixture of 125I labeled meglumine diatrizoate and 131I labeled human serum albumin was injected into the lower abdominal aorta of 30 anesthetized, laparotomized male rats. Measurements of the activities in cardiac blood and in different tissues of the hindlimbs and tests were perfomed at six time intervals ranging from 5 seconds to 2 minutes after injection, the determine early uptake and distribution volumes of diatrizoate. Concentrations and distribution volumes were initially much greater than values obtained after intravenous injection, but these differences had considerably decreased or disappeared by 2 minutes.     

哲学思想在数学发现中的指导作用

数学的发展与哲学是密不可分的 ,早期的几位哲学与数学家将哲学思想溶于数学研究之中 ,导致数学的发现 ,从而推动了数学的发展。本文论述了哲学思想在数学发现中的重要作用     

Novel impact modification in a TPO system

An innovative TPO, based upon a complex fluid, is described, which shows an unusual balance of physical properties. The effects of complex fluid composition are addressed in a statistically designed experiment. Physical performance, rheological effects, thermal analysis, and morphological characterization are reported. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 12:183–191, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers