Sensorless salient‐pole PM synchronous motor drive in all speed ranges

This paper presents a position sensorless drive of salient‐pole PM synchronous motors in all speed ranges including zero speed. Two position and speed estimation algorithms using the current differences between the actual and the estimated currents are proposed. One is based on the back emf estimation in the medium‐ and high‐speed ranges. Another is based on the position dependency of the winding inductances in the low‐speed ranges including zero speed. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm has been verified with a six‐pole, 1.5‐kW, 1500‐rpm test motor. Stable sensorless speed control from zero to 3000 rpm within ±100% load torque range was achieved. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 135(3): 64–73, 2001     

Effects of main particle diameter on improving particle flowability for compressed packing fraction in a smaller particle admixing system

Particle flowability can be improved by admixing particles smaller than the original particles (main particles). However, the mechanisms by which this technique improves flowability are not yet fully understood. In this study, we examined compressed packing in a particle bed, which is affected by particle flowability. To estimate the mechanism of improvement, we investigated the effects of the main particle diameter on the improvement of compressed packing fractions experimentally.The main particles were 397 and 1460 nm in diameter and the admixed particles were 8, 21, 62, and 104 nm in diameter. The main and admixed particles were mixed in various mass ratios, and the compressed packing fractions of the mixtures were measured. SEM images were used to analyze the coverage diameter and the surface coverage ratio of the admixed particles on the main particles. The main particle packing fraction was improved as the diameter ratio (=main particles/admixed particles) increased. This was explained by a linked rigid-3-bodies model with leverage. Furthermore, the actual surface coverage ratio at which the most improved packing fraction was obtained decreased with increasing main particle diameter. This was explained by the difference in the curvature of the main particle surface.     

Anomalous elastic response of amorphous alloys suggesting collective motions of many atoms

The dynamic Young’s modulus, E, of amorphous (a-) Zr₆₀Cu₃₀Al₁₀ (numbers indicate at.%) alloy was measured as a function of frequency, f, with a strain amplitude, _t, of 10⁻⁶, E(10⁻⁶,f), and also as a function of _t for f near 10² Hz, E(_t,10² Hz), by means of the vibrating reed methods. The elasticity study under the passing of electric current (PEC) was carried out too. E(10⁻⁶,f) is lower than E₀ for f between 10 and 10⁴ Hz showing local minima near 5×10, 5×10² and 5×10³ Hz, which are indicative of the resonant collective motion of many atoms, where E₀ is the static Young’s modulus. E(_t,10² Hz) increases showing saturation with increasing _t. Qualitatively, the outlines of E(10⁻⁶,f) and E(_t,10² Hz) observed for a-Zr₆₀Cu₃₀Al₁₀ are similar to those reported for various a-alloys. Quantitatively, a change in E(_t,10² Hz) for a-Zr₆₀Cu₃₀Al₁₀ is smallest among that reported for various a-alloys, presumably reflecting that the crystallization volume, (ΔV/V)_x, is smallest for a-Zr₆₀Cu₃₀Al₁₀. The effective charge number, Z^*, estimated from the change in E(10⁻⁶,10² Hz) due to PEC is 3.0×10⁵, which is comparable with Z^* reported for various a-alloys. We surmise that the number of atoms in the collective motions excited near 10² Hz is similar among various a-alloys. The E(10⁻⁶,f) data suggest that the spatial sizes of the density fluctuations may show a distribution.     

Relation of the infrasound characteristics and the continuous steel bridge vibration modes generated by the vibration of moving heavy trucks

Railway Engineering Science - As heavy trucks pass over highway bridges, bridge vibration occurs and generates infrasound. General trucks in Japan with rear leaf suspension have whole body...     

A rapid inversion and resolution analysis of magnetic microscope data by the subtractive optimally localized averages method

Modern scanning magnetic microscopes have the potential for fine-scale magnetic investigations of rocks. Observations at high spatial resolution produce large volumes of data, and the interpretation of these data is a nontrivial task. We have developed software using an efficient magnetic inversion technique that explicitly constructs the spatially localized Backus-Gilbert averaging kernel. Our approach, using the subtractive optimally localized averages (SOLA) method (Pijpers, R.P., Thompson, M.J., 1992. Faster formulations of the optimally localized averages method for helioseismic inversions. Astronomy and Astrophysics 262, L33-L36), yield a unidirectional magnetization. The averaging kernel expresses the spatial resolution of the inversion and is valuable for paleomagnetic application of the scanning magnetic microscope. Inversion examples for numerical magnetization patterns are provided to exhibit the performance of the method. Examples of actual magnetic field data collected from thin sections of natural rocks measured with a magnetoimpedance (MI) magnetic microscope are also provided. Numerical tests suggest that the data-independent averaging kernel is desirable for a point-to-point comparison among multiple data. Contamination by vector magnetization components can be estimated by the averaging kernel. We conclude that the SOLA method is a useful technique for paleomagnetic and rock magnetic investigations using scanning magnetic microscopy.     

Utility interactive system using induction machines to supply mechanical power stored in solar batteries

Solar energy is a very attractive potential power source because of its clean and inexhaustible supply. However, the electric power that can be supplied by solar batteries is variable because it depends on weather conditions. Therefore, the supply is either stabilized by storing power in batteries, or it is added to the general utility network via an inverter. Such systems, however, have cost- and maintenance-related problems. This paper proposes a new utility interactive system that is composed of induction machine A connected to a solar battery through a general purpose inverter and another induction machine B interconnected to the utility line. The frequency of the inverter driving machine A is selected such that solar power can be maximally utilized. This system can supply a stable mechanical load with the required power by parallel operation of two induction machines even in rainy weather and, moreover, recharge the solar battery for the utility line in good weather. This proposed system is economical and useful as a small decentralized power supply because a power filter for rejecting high frequency noises and a detector for a power failure are not necessary. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 118 (2): 70–78, 1997     

Neural Networks for Chemical Engineering Unit Operations

Application of artificial neural networks in simulation of chemical engineering unit operations are studied. On the basis of the present work it is suggested that the raw data describing the phenomenon should be processed so that the relationships of the input variables are studied and if relationships are found, such as dimensionless numbers, these relationships are set as inputs in the neural network. Further, if the phenomenon can be described by a simplified mathematical expression, the value calculated by such simplified solution is set as one of the inputs. The method is demonstrated by three examples, namely, by turbulent fluid flow in a tube, breakthrough curve of adsorption, and by suspension crystallization. In all cases the method presented in this work results in a more accurate simulation and in easier training of the neural network.     

Circular dichroism of poly(β-benzyl-l-aspartate) films in the α, β and ω conformations

The conformations of poly(β-benzyl l-aspartate) (PBLA) in film were studied by means of circular dichroism (c.d.). Films of PBLA show c.d. which is related to the benzyl chromophores of this polypeptide. The magnitude and sign of the c.d. of the benzyl chromophores depend on the conformation i.e. α-helix, ω-helix or β-form. The aromatic c.d. of the left-handed α-helix or the left-handed ω-helix is negative in sign, and that of the β-form is positive in sign. The absolute magnitude of the c.d. of PBLA is much larger in the ω-helical conformation than in the α-helical or the β-conformations. In the left-handed α-helical PBLA (α-PBLA), the positive dichroism band of the $\text{n?π1}$ peptide electronic transition is observed at about 226 nm. When the α-PBLA is converted to the left-handed ω-helical PBLA (ω-PBLA), the band at 226 nm shifts to 224 nm, and its magnitude becomes much smaller. In the β-form PBLA (β-PBLA), this band is negative in sign and observed at 223 nm. The absolute magnitude of the c.d. relative to this electronic transition follows the order: β-form < ω-helix < α-helix.     

In-situ observation of structural change in MWCNTs under high-pressure H2 gas atmosphere

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes having a tube-opened framework (o-MWCNTs) have been pressurized in an atmosphere of hydrogen up to 2.5 GPa and at room temperature using a diamond-anvil cell (DAC). Compression up to 0.57 GPa was accompanied by expansion of the honeycom-lattice structure of graphene sheets in spite of decreasing interlayer distance. A deviation in the in-plane C–C distance was obtained to be 3.8 × 10^− 4 nm at 0.57 GPa. The expansion in the honeycom-lattice structure suggests generation of charge-transfer interaction between graphite and hydrogen. This is one of the proofs that hydrogen is intercalated in the interlayer space of o-MWCNTs.