Voltage-time and voltage-number characteristics of insulation elements with large scale oil-immersed transformers under field-use conditions

In order to attain reduction in insulation test voltages, voltage-time (V-t) characteristics for ac voltage and voltage-number (V-N) characteristics for lightning impulse voltage were experimentally investigated on the turn-to-turn insulation model, coil-to-coil insulation model and barrier-oil-duct insulation model of core- and shell-type transformers under non-standard of field-use conditions. The conditions used for experiments on insulation characteristics in view of field-use consisted of "clean oil" and "hot oil" as the conditions for insulating oil, "trapezoidal waves", "alternate applications of positive and negative voltages", and "steep front waves" as the conditions for applied voltages, and "low dielectric constant pressboards" as an insulating object in experiments. Although the measured V-t and V-N characteristics varied depending on the conditions, the total evaluation in terms of insulation coordination showed that results under standard conditions were satisfactory in almost all the cases and some cautionary points in a few cases were recognized     

Effects of hydroxylamine on microbial community structure and function of autotrophic nitrifying biofilms determined by in situ hybridization and the use of microelectrodes.

Effects of hydroxylamine (NH2OH), an intermediate of NH4+ oxidation, on microbial community structure and function of two autotrophic nitrifying biofilms fed with and without NH2OH were analyzed by a 16S rRNA approach and the use of microelectrodes. In the NH2OH-added biofilm, partial oxidation of NH4+ to NO2- was observed, whereas complete oxidation of NH4+ to NO3- was achieved in the control biofilm. In situ hybridization results revealed that no nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) hybridized with any specific probes were detected in the NH2OH-added biofilm. Thus, the addition of low concentrations of NH2OH (250 microM) completely inhibited the growth of NOB. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA indicated that the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) detected in both biofilms were closely related to Nitrosomonas europaea, and that the clone sequences from both biofilm libraries have more than 99% similarity to each other. However, in situ hybridization results revealed that the addition of NH2OH changed the form of growth pattern of the dominant Nitrosomonas spp. from dense clusters mode to single scattered cells mode. Microelectrode measurements revealed that the average NH4+ consumption rate calculated in the NH2OH-added biofilm was two times higher than that in the control biofilm. This clearly demonstrated that the oxidation of NH4+ was stimulated by NH2OH addition.     

Quadrilateral element with semi-radial singularity mapping

The singularity mapping elementology based on the constant and semi-radial field conditions is presented in an originally quadrilateral finite element. With the complete evaluations of singularities in the stress and strain as well as of the strain energy finiteness, it is demonstrated that this singularity element family is highly versatile. Differences and some identities between the semi-radial mapping and the so-called quarter-point mapping are also examined.     

Steady-state electrotransport of carbon in nickel and in nickel-copper and iron-copper alloys

For comparison with previous data on iron-carbon alloys, steady-state electrotransport experiments were performed on three alloys: Nickel-0.15 wt pct carbon, nickel-20 copper-0.13 carbon, and iron-7.2 copper-0.10 carbon. The current density was 2.20 to 2.85 × 10⁷ AJm² and the temperature was 1300 K (and also 1200 K for the nickel-carbon alloy). The Z* values obtained were +5.7, +5.7, and +4.5 respectively, for the three alloys. Present theory appears to be unable to explain the relation of these data to similar data on iron-carbon alloys. Formerly Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida     

X-ray diffraction characterization of dental gold alloy-ceramic interfaces

X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to study dental alloy-ceramic interfaces. A Au-Pd-In alloy, which requires oxidation before porcelain firing, and a Au-Pt-Pd-In alloy, which does not require oxidation before porcelain firing, were selected in this study. Alloy specimens were centrifugally cast. Specimen surfaces were metallographically polished through 0.05 m Al_2,O_3} slurries. A thin layer (<50 m) of a dental opaque porcelain was fired on the alloy surfaces with and without initial oxidation. XRD was conducted at room temperature on four types of alloy specimens: polished, oxidized, porcelain fired after alloy oxidation, and porcelain fired without initial alloy oxidation. XRD was also performed on fired opaque porcelain without an alloy substrate. The detection of prominent gold solid solution peaks from alloy-ceramic specimens indicated that the incident X-ray beam reached the alloy-ceramic interface. In₂O₃ and -Ga₂O₃ were identified on the oxidized Au-Pd-In alloy, while In₂O₃ and SnO₂ were detected on the oxidized Au-Pt-Pd-In alloy. Preferred orientation was observed for all the oxides formed on the alloys. Minimum lattice parameter changes (<1%) for the gold solid solutions were observed for both alloys before and after oxidation and porcelain firing. Leucite (KAlSi₂O₆), TiO₂, ZrO₂ and SnO₂ were detected on the fired opaque porcelain. For both alloys, no additional oxides were identified at the metal-ceramic interfaces beyond those present in the oxidized alloys and the opaque porcelain. Similar results were obtained from alloy-ceramic interfaces where there was no prior alloy oxidation. The results indicate the critical role of alloy surface oxides in metal-ceramic bonding and support the chemical bonding mechanism for porcelain adherence. © 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers