New balance ground relay for parallel four-circuit transmission lines

A 66-kV network generally is grounded through a neutral grounding resistor. In this network a single-phase ground-fault current is limited to as small as 100 to 400 A. There are parallel four-circuit transmission lines mounted on the same tower in the 66-kV network. In such transmission lines, the load and the fault currents could induce circulating current that flows through the lines. Since the circulating current has zero-phase-sequence and negative-phase-sequence components, it could cause unwanted operation of a balance ground relay using zero-phase-sequence current. However, it is difficult to compensate for the circulating current by the conventional vector compensation scheme. This paper presents a new balance ground relay to deal with the circulating current. In the relay from the ground-fault inception until first tripping, the difference current Δ3I_2d of negative-phase-sequence current 3I_2d of the differential current between two protected lines is used as an input current. The Δ3I_2d is the difference current of 3I_2d between, before and during faults. After the first tripping, the difference current of positive-phase-sequence load current and zero-phase-sequence current of the forementioned differential current are used as an input current. Consequently, a higher sensitivity of the ground-fault protection for these lines has been achieved. The correct operation of the new balance ground relay was confirmed when a single-phase-ground-fault occurred in the parallel four-circuit transmission lines, to which the relay is applied.     

Magnetic Fluids and Their Use in Transducers

Magnetic fluids are now widely used to implement transducer architectures. These fluids have valuable properties compared to traditional materials. In this column, a brief overview of magnetic fluids and their traditional uses in the field of transducers are given and some applications developed at the DIEES laboratory at the University of Catania, Italy are presented     

Tocopherol levels in the plasma lipoproteins from Japanese eel Anguilla japonica

The alpha- and gamma-tocopherol levels in the plasma of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) were 53.9 micrograms and 1.3 micrograms/ml of plasma, respectively. The alpha-tocopherol in the plasma was mainly distributed as very-low-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), while LDL and high-density lipoprotein constituted most of the gamma-tocopherol. A highly positive coefficient of correlation was observed between the alpha-tocopherol and lipoprotein contents in Japanese eel plasma.     

Development of 170 GHz/500 kW gyrotron

A development of 170GHz/500kW level gyrotron was carried out as R&D work of ITER. The oscillation mode is TE_31,8. In a short pulse experiment, the maximum power of 750kW was achieved at 85kV/40A. The efficiency was 22%. In the depressed collector operation, 500kW/36%/50ms was obtained. The maximum efficiency of 40% was obtained at P_RF=470kW whereas the power decrease by the electron trapping was observed. Pulse extension was done up to 10s at P_RF=170kW with the depressed collector operation. The power was limited by the temperature increase of the output window.     

Design optimization of tall tubular lead/acid cells based on an analysis of the reaction distribution

In order to estimate the discharge performance of tall lead/acid cells (with tubular positives), changes in current and potential distributions with discharge progress were calculated with a computer on the basis of plate resistance and the current—potential—time relationship between small facing parts of positive and negative plates. The taller the cell, the larger the voltage drop along the plates. Thus, the discharge time became shorter despite a large amount of available active mass remaining in the bottom part of the plates.Various current-collector designs were evaluated, e.g., one with varying resistance at each height; a side conductor placed along the plates and connected to them at the top, centre and bottom, etc. Results revealed an optimum collector design with which the maximum discharge capacity could be obtained. Furthermore, it was shown that the side conductor markedly improved the discharge performance because the active mass near the connecting parts was appreciably used.     

An analysis of a waveguide T junction with an inductive post

The authors analyze the T junction with an inductive post, taking its diameter into account for the case where the current distribution is assumed on the surface of the post. A single cylindrical post placed in a T junction improves the impedance matching and compensates the junction discontinuity in a wide frequency band. The effects of the design parameters, such as the diameter of the post and its location, are clarified. The measured return loss is accurately predicted. On the basis of this analysis, an effective design procedure for the T junction is proposed, and the reflection below -30 dB is realized over 4% bandwidth     

A new voltage control equipment using fuzzy inference

Power system control equipment needs higher sensitivity and operational reliability. Advanced voltage control equipment is needed for reducing the frequency of tap changes and improving the characteristics (the relationship between the actual voltage and reference voltage) of the voltage to meet today's power system requirements. However, these objectives are in a trade-off relationship. Studies of voltage control derived from a knowledge base suitable for electric power systems can satisfy these objectives using fuzzy inference. Compared with corresponding conventional equipment, the new equipment improved the deviation of 30 min average voltage of 30 percent. This paper describes the design concept of new voltage control equipment using fuzzy inference. In addition, field test results are described along with rules of fuzzy inference, membership functions, and the deviation of 30 min average voltage through detailed simulation.     

A new direction or class assistance during laboratory sessions

Experimental training for undergraduate students in electric and electronic engineering courses must take advantage of emerging technologies. PC-based measurement systems, as well as, virtual instruments are very useful for beginners, which help test theoretical knowledge, carry out useful self-training, and acquire basic hands-on experience with problems arising in real-world experimental trials. Still, training with real instruments in a laboratory can provide students the necessary experience in measurement procedures and basic expertise in the design of measurement systems. Great efforts must be made in the development of new methodologies and tools able to fit the requirements of classes involved in experimental sessions. Advanced technologies can support the development of highly featured and capable laboratory sessions. As an example, the client-server tool presented in this article represents a partial result of a step-by-step ongoing work, which includes a suitable software interface and circuits that will be used to carry out classical experiments. The system has proved to be very useful for the experimental training of undergraduates and they can use it by themselves through a user-friendly interface. Moreover, the laboratory is available for greater lengths of time and can solve the problem of the lack of an adequate number of tutors.     

Use of external conduit impairs liver function in patients with biliary atresia

An external conduit (stoma) for patients with biliary atresia has been used to prevent postoperative cholangitis. Thirty-two patients with biliary atresia who had hepatic portoenterostomies with external conduits were studied retrospectively with respect to frequency and severity of postoperative cholangitis or stoma bleeding. Changes in their liver enzyme levels, and total bilirubin (TB) levels were measured before and after closure of the stoma. Cholangitis was observed in 20 patients (62.5%), and major hemorrhage from the stoma site was seen in 14 patients (43.8%) prior to closure. Levels of liver enzymes such as glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) improved significantly within 1 month after closure of the stoma, and remained low thereafter. The TB concentration was the only liver function that did not change significantly following closure. In summary, the authors do not recommend an external conduit in patients with biliary atresia because it is not an effective way of reducing the incidence of postoperative cholangitis, and it may be deleterious to liver function.     

Discharge behaviour of electrodeposited PbO2 and Pb electrodes

The discharge behaviour of electrodeposited lead dioxide and lead electrodes was investigated under various conditions; the surfaces of the discharged electrodes were observed with a scanning electron microscope. Both the positive and negative electrodes were passivated by a covering of deposited lead sulphate crystals. The amount of lead sulphate required for passivation depended on the size of the crystals.