Space–time interface-tracking with topology change (ST-TC)

To address the computational challenges associated with contact between moving interfaces, such as those in cardiovascular fluid–structure interaction (FSI), parachute FSI, and flapping-wing aerodynamics, we introduce a space–time (ST) interface-tracking method that can deal with topology change (TC). In cardiovascular FSI, our primary target is heart valves. The method is a new version of the deforming-spatial-domain/stabilized space–time (DSD/SST) method, and we call it ST-TC. It includes a master–slave system that maintains the connectivity of the “parent” mesh when there is contact between the moving interfaces. It is an efficient, practical alternative to using unstructured ST meshes, but without giving up on the accurate representation of the interface or consistent representation of the interface motion. We explain the method with conceptual examples and present 2D test computations with models representative of the classes of problems we are targeting.     

Characteristics of the Arc Voltage of a High‐Current Air Arc in a Sealed Chamber

The effect of the arc voltage on various factors of design and control was investigated for high currents in order to develop design guidelines for circuit breakers. In this study, the dependence on such factors, namely, the current, arc length, electrode surface area, and internal pressure of the arc voltage, was evaluated quantitatively. As a result of the evaluations, it was estimated that the arc voltage near the electrode surface rises linearly with the arc current and the power ?0.8 of the surface area, and that the voltage in the arc column rises as the 0.3 power of the pressure increase. We confirmed the validity of the estimated voltage characteristics by comparison with the generated voltage in an actual arc‐extinction chamber. The characteristics of the estimated voltage can provide effective guidelines for the design of arc extinguishing chambers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 186(1): 34–42, 2014; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.22487     

Development of Motor Model of Rotor Slot Harmonics for Speed Sensorless Control of Induction Motor

This paper proposes a novel mathematical dynamic model to represent the steady‐state and transient‐state characteristics of rotor slot harmonics of an induction motor for sensorless control. Although it is well known that the rotor slot harmonics originate from the mechanical structure of the induction motor, a mathematical model that describes the relationship between the stator/rotor currents of the induction motor and the slot harmonics has not yet been proposed. Therefore, in this paper, a three‐phase model of the induction motor that depicts the rotor slot harmonics is developed by taking into consideration the magnetomotive force harmonics and the change in the magnetic air gap caused by the rotor slots. The validity of the proposed model is verified by comparing the experimental results and the calculated values. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 186(3): 63–74, 2014; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.22478     

Evaluation of Young’s modulus of imprinted hydrogen silsesquioxane pillar after residual layer removal by reactive ion etching

Nanoimprint lithography has two basic steps. The first is the imprint step in which a mold with nanostructures on its surface is pressed into a resin film on a substrate, followed by removal of the mold. The second step is the residual layer removal by a reactive ion etching (RIE). There is no report whether the properties of the imprinted structure after RIE change or not. In this work, the authors evaluated the Young’s modulus of the imprinted pillar after residual layer removal by RIE. In this experiment, hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ), a type of spin-on-glass, was used as an imprint material. The residual layer was etched by RIE using CHF₃ gas. The Young’s modulus of imprinted pillar after RIE was measured via cantilever method. The Young’s modulus of HSQ pillar after RIE was twice as much as that of HSQ pillar before RIE. From the Fourier transform infrared measurement, it was founds the chemical structure of HSQ was changed by forming network structure due to heating by RIE plasma energy. These results indicate that the mechanical property of imprinted structure was changed in the residual layer removal step by using RIE.     

Towards the improvement of thermal efficiency in lignite‐fired power generation: Concerning the utilization of Polish lignite deposits in state‐of‐the‐art IGCC technology

Integrated coal Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) is the most advanced technology for coal‐fired power generation. The two‐stage entrained flow gasification process allows for the use of a wide range of coal, as long as the gasification temperature is above the ash melting point of a used fuel. In this gasification technology, lignite, which often has a low ash melting point, can be preferably utilized. However, ash fluidity is also another importance, because the behaviour of molten slag can diminish a stable ash discharge from a gasifier. As the eligibility of coal ash properties is a considerable factor, water physically and chemically kept in lignite (30 – 60% in mass) attributes to deteriorating gasification efficiency, because it causes significant heat loss and increasing oxygen consumption. Developing a thermal evaporative lignite drying method will be a necessary attempt to apply lignite to the coal gasification process. For those preceded objectives, coal and ash properties and drying characteristics of several grades of Polish lignite, extracted from Belchatow and Turow deposits, have been experimentally investigated in a preliminary study evaluating the applicability and consideration for its utilization in state‐of‐the‐art clean coal technology, IGCC. This paper particularly discusses the eligibility of Polish lignite from the perspective of the fusibility and fluidity of ash melts and the fundamental drying kinetics of lignite in superheated steam in the light of water removal. The viscosity of ash melts is measured at high temperature up to 1700 °C. In the drying tests, the significant influence of structural issues, because of the provenance and origin of lignite on the drying characteristics, was found by applying the method of sensitivity analysis of physical propensity. This paper concludes that the investigated Polish lignite has characteristics favourable for utilization in IGCC technology, once the precautions related to its high moisture have been carefully addressed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sweeteners interacting with the transmembrane domain of the human sweet-taste receptor induce sweet-taste synergisms in binary mixtures

Sweet enhancing effect of neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (NHDC) or cyclamate has been reported to be synergistic in human sensory tests. However, little is known about whether these synergisms are caused by the mechanism mediated by the human sweet-taste receptor. Here, we examined the sweetness intensity of sweet tastant mixtures by measuring the responses of cultured cells stably expressing the human sweet-taste receptor. The results showed that the cell response to sucrose was synergistically potentiated by the addition of NHDC or cyclamate. Moreover, a point mutation in the transmembrane domain of hT1R3 almost completely eliminated the enhancing effects of NHDC and cyclamate. These results suggest that ligand–receptor interactions in the transmembrane domain of hT1R3 are necessary for NHDC and cyclamate to elicit the synergistic potentiation of the receptor activation. Our results may provide the foundation of a molecular basis for receptor-based synergisms of sweet tastes in mixtures of diverse sweet substances.