Controller Design Using Ant Colony Algorithm for a Non-inverting Buck–Boost Chopper Based on a Detailed Average Model

In this article, the non-inverting buck–boost converter and its operation modes are scrutinized. The closed-loop stability of the converter in buck and boost modes is analyzed, and the necessity of using an appropriated controller is demonstrated. Then the application of an adapted ant colony optimization to design a feedback controller is proposed, and a controller based on its existing model is tuned. Simulation and experimental results obtained from the ant colony optimization designed controller are then compared with a controller designed with the classic method. Although the simulation and experimental results prove the efficiency of the proposed control approach, a significant difference between controller behavior in practice and simulation is obvious. Finding these differences, more detailed models, including all parasitic elements, in the buck and boost modes are derived. Applying the proposed model in controller design illustrates that the desired performance of the converter can be guaranteed with a simple proportional-integral (PI) controller. The suggested ant colony-based controller is again tuned based on the more detailed model, which improves the performance of the converter system even more. Furthermore, good agreement between analytical and experimental outputs validates the accuracy of the modeling and simulation.     

Linear circuits: a measurement‐based approach

This paper proposes a new measurement‐based approach that can solve synthesis problems in unknown linear circuits. The method makes use of a small number of measurements to determine the functional dependency of any circuit signal or variable on any set of design variables. Once the functional dependency is obtained, the design requirements can be applied to find the design parameter values. The results are described for linear direct current and alternating current circuits. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Non‐intrusive characterization of particle size changes in fluidized beds using recurrence plots

An on‐line method is developed for monitoring of mean particle size in fluidized beds using pressure fluctuations (PFs) and acoustic emissions (AE) signal by recurrence plot (RP) and recurrence quantification analysis (RQA). PFs and AE signals of a lab‐scale fluidized bed were measured simultaneously at various superficial gas velocities and mean particle sizes. Although the AE signals are often very complicated due to many different acoustic sources in the bed, applying RP analyses showed that small changes in mean particle size can be detected by visual comparison of AE‐RP structures, while this cannot be distinguished by graphical RP analysis of PFs. Moreover, the hydrodynamics of the bed was inspected through RQA analysis of both signals. For this purpose, recurrence rate, determinism, laminarity, average length of diagonal and vertical lines were extracted from RPs showing the effect of an increase in the mean particle size. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 3547–3561, 2016     

Synthesis and Spark Plasma Sintering of Mg2Si Nanopowder by Mechanical Alloying and Heat Treatment

In this investigation, a two‐step method for the preparation of magnesium silicide (Mg₂Si) nanopowder was studied. This method is known as mechanical alloying followed by heat treatment. The results showed that the compositions of the combustion products depended on the milling time, heat treatment temperature, and starting mixtures. Pure Mg₂Si nanopowder was formed after short milling time and heat treatment, from Mg and Si powders with the mole ratio of 2.1:1 (Mg:Si) at 500°C in Ar atmosphere. Using the Mg₂Si nanopowder, Mg₂Si ceramic was produced by spark plasma sintering at 800°C under 50 MPa for 15 min. Composition and structure of reactants and products were examined by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM).     

Equivalent linear model for fully self‐centering earthquake‐resisting systems

Modern rocking and stepping cores have been known as the efficient self‐centering earthquake‐resisting systems (SC‐ERSs). The current article proposes an approximate equivalent linear (EL) model for rapid estimation of the SC‐ERS displacement. An equivalent damping ratio and effective stiffness are formulated for flag‐shaped hysteresis of a fully SC‐ERS. The approximate EL model is first established using secant stiffness and Jacobsen's damping model. Nonlinear response history analyses are carried out to compare exact and approximated peak displacements. Findings reveal that EL analysis of the SC‐ERS based on Jacobsen's damping leads to underestimation of the maximum inelastic displacement. Accordingly, a new optimal damping formula is proposed using a genetic algorithm and nonlinear regression analyses. The improved EL model is validated by practical examples, and the results show acceptable accuracy in design‐level displacement estimation.     

Removal of bisphenol A and 17α-ethinyl estradiol from landfill leachate using single-walled carbon nanotubes

In this study, the adsorption of bisphenol A (BPA) and 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) from landfill leachate onto single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was investigated. Different leachate solutions were prepared by altering the pH, ionic strength, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the solutions to mimic the varying water conditions that occur in leachate during the various stages of waste decomposition. The youngest and oldest leachate solutions contained varying DOC and background chemistry and were represented by leachate Type A (pH = 5.0; DOC = 2500 mg/L; conductivity = 12,500 μS/cm; [Ca²⁺] = 1200 mg/L; [Mg²⁺] = 470 mg/L) and Type E (pH = 7.5; DOC = 250 mg/L; conductivity = 3250 μS/cm; [Ca²⁺] = 60 mg/L; [Mg²⁺] = 180 mg/L). These solutions were subsequently combined in different ratios to produce intermediate solutions, labeled B-D, to replicate time-dependent changes in leachate composition. Overall, a larger fraction of EE2 was removed as compared to BPA, consistent with its higher log K_OW value. The total removal of BPA and EE2 decreased in older leachate solutions, with the adsorptive capacity of SWCNTs decreasing in the order of leachate Type A > Type B > Type C > Type D > Type E. An increase in the pH from 3.5 to 11 decreased the adsorption of BPA by 22% in young leachate and by 10% in old leachate. The changes in pH did not affect the adsorption of EE2 in the young leachate, but did reduce adsorption by 32% in the old leachate. Adjusting the ionic strength using Na⁺ did not significantly impact adsorption, while increasing the concentration of Ca²⁺ resulted in a 12% increase in the adsorption of BPA and a 19% increase in the adsorption of EE2. DOC was revealed to be the most influential parameter in this study. In the presence of hydrophilic DOC, represented by glucose in this study, adsorption of the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) onto the SWCNTs was not affected. In the absence of SWCNTs, hydrophobic DOC (i.e., humic acid) adsorbed 15-20% of BPA and EE2. However, when the humic acid and SWCNTs were both present, the overall adsorptive capacity of the SWCNTs was reduced. Hydrophobic (π-π electron donor-acceptor) interactions between the EDCs and the constituents in the leachate, as well as interactions between the SWCNTs and the EDCs, are proposed as potential adsorption mechanisms for BPA and EE2 onto SWCNTs.     

Effect of Temperature on Fluidization Regimes

The probability of fluidization regimes at high temperature was determined experimentally by frequency domain analysis of pressure fluctuations. Fluidization regime probabilities were calculated for various gas velocities and temperatures. By increasing the temperature, larger bubbles became more stable which resulted in postponing transition from bubbling to turbulent fluidization. Results showed that the transition velocity from bubbling to turbulent increases by raising the temperature. A probability model was proposed and compared with experimental data indicating good accordance.