Application of artificial neural networks in voltage stabilityassessment

Voltage stability problems have been one of the major concerns for electric utilities as a result of system heavy loading. This paper reports on an investigation on the application of ANNs in voltage stability assessment. A multilayer feedforward artificial neural network (ANN) with error backpropagation learning is proposed for calculation of voltage stability margins (VSM). Based on the energy method, a direct mapping relation between power system loading conditions and the VSMs is set up via the ANN. A systematic method for selecting the ANN's input variables was developed using sensitivity analysis. The effects of ANN's training pattern sensitivity problems were also studied by dividing system operating conditions into several loading levels based on sensitivity analysis. Extensive testing of the proposed ANN-based approach indicate its viability for power system voltage stability assessment. Simulation results on five test systems are reported in the paper     

Kinetic model of block photopolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate to high conversion

The kinetics of glycidyl methacrylate block polymerization to high conversion was experimentally investigated with variations of the photoinitiator concentration, temperature, and power of UV illumination. The kinetic curves of this polymerization process contain three characterized sections of coordinates of “conversion–time,” namely: The first one is practically linear to a conversion of ≈0.5, the second represents, by itself, the autoacceleration process, and the third presents the autodecelation process. An additional peculiarity of such a polymerization process is poor reproduction of the kinetic measurements. This reproduction does not correspond to instrumental error. Derivation of a kinetic model for block linear polymerization was done. This model is, quantitatively, in good agreement with all the data of the experimental material. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3556–3569, 2002     

Enhancement of heat and mass transfer in a plane channel with turbulizers on one of the walls

The effect of turbulizing asperities positioned on one of the walls of a plane channel on the intensity of exchange processes near a smooth wall with injection of different working media is studied experimentally. Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 70, No. 3, pp. 404–408, 1997.     

Effect of repositioning of rhodium direct-charge detectors in a RBMK-1000 reactor on fuel and emitter-material burnup coefficients

Scientific-Technical Center “Atomtekhénergo.” Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant. N. V. Sultanov Institute of Nuclear Reactors, Russian Scientific Center “Kurchatovskii institut.” Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 76, No. 6, pp. 470–473, June, 1994.     

The Air is Always Cleaner on the Other Side: Race,Space, and Ambient Air Toxics Exposures in California

Abstract: Environmental justice advocates have recently focused attention on cumulative exposure in minority neighborhoods due to multiple sources of pollution. This article uses U.S. EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) for 1996 to examine environmental inequality in California, a state that has been a recent innovator in environmental justice policy. We first estimate potential lifetime cancer risks from mobile and stationary sources. We then consider the distribution of these risks using both simple comparisons and a multivariate model in which we control for income, land use, and other explanatory factors, as well as spatial correlation. We find large racial disparities in California's “riskscape” as well as inequalities by other factors and suggest several implications for environmental and land use policy.     

Analytical solution of a system of nonlinear measuring equations of a 12-pole microwave reflectometer

Analytical solution of a system of nonlinear measuring equations of a 12-pole microwave reflectometer was obtained. Criteria for selecting a true solution in the general case were developed and the analysis was conducted for a number of particular cases that may generate practical interest.