Clarification of the SSR mitigation mechanism of a TCSC

A thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC) is considered to be effective not only for flow control and stabilization of power systems, but also for mitigation of subsynchronous resonance (SSR). This paper clarifies the SSR mitigation mechanism of a TCSC. First, using time simulations, we show that SSR appears and disappears depending on the firing angle of the TCSC. Next, we show that the frequency characteristics vary considerably with the firing angle. Further, we show that SSR occurs in TCSC-compensated systems as well as in conventional series-capacitor-compensated systems when 60 Hz minus the electrical resonance frequency of a transmission system coincides with the torsional oscillation frequency of a generator-turbine shaft. TCSC can avert SSR by changing the firing angle and by shifting the electrical resonance frequency. Next, we propose an equivalent circuit to TCSC which consists of a series capacitor in parallel with a resistor and a reactor. We adjust the parameters so that it shows the same frequency characteristics as TCSC. We apply it to time simulations to see if it is equivalent to TCSC. Finally, we perform an eigenvalue analysis on the equivalent circuit. We obtain results that correspond to the time simulations. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 120(4): 31–39, 1997     

A current sensor using the Faraday effect in optical fiber manufactured from flint glass

For application to current monitoring in electric power facilities, the authors have been developing a current sensor utilizing the Faraday effect of an optical fiber manufactured from flint glass having a very small stress-optic coefficient. This paper describes the result of study on constructing the sensing system, which is composed of a sensor head, a light source, fibers for light transmission and a signal processing circuit. First, results from investigation are reported with respect to causes affecting performance and durability of the sensor, and examinations of countermeasures also are described. As a result of the research, it was confirmed experimentally that several means are effective to improve characteristics of the sensor. Then, design and test results of a sensor model constructed with application of the means are described. From the test results it was proved that the model shows excellent characteristics satisfying basic requirements of the standard for conventional current transformers. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 118 (3): 22–38, 1997     

Dye Adsorption Characteristics of Anatase TiO2 Film Prepared in an Aqueous Solution

Anatase TiO₂ film was deposited on SnO₂: F substrate in aqueous solution. The film had an assembly of acicular TiO₂ nanocrystals on the surface. The crystals grew along the c-axis, i.e. perpendicular to the substrate. Dye adsorption increased with film thickness. Intensity of photoluminescence originating from the dye adsorbed on the nanostructured film after annealing was 3 times higher than that of thicker particulate film constructed of TiO₂ nanoparticles (P25). Additionally, dye adsorption property of the film without annealing was two times higher than the film with annealing. Consequently, the as-deposited film had high dye adsorption property which is about 6 times higher that that of thicker particulate film constructed of TiO₂ nanoparticles (P25). Assemblies of acicular crystals on the surface increased the surface area and amount of dye adsorption. The film may be useful for biomolecule sensors and dye-sensitized solar cells.     

High mechanical performance SiC/SiC composites by NITE process with tailoring of appropriate fabrication temperature to fiber volume fraction

Unidirectional SiC/SiC composites are prepared by nano-powder infiltration and transient eutectic-phase (NITE) process, using pyrolytic carbon (PyC)-coated Tyranno-SA SiC fibers as reinforcement and SiC nano-powder with sintering additives for matrix formation. The effects of two kinds of fiber volume fraction incorporating fabrication temperature were characterized on densification, microstructure and mechanical properties. Densification of the composites with low fiber volume fraction (appropriately 30 vol%) was developed even at lower fabrication temperature of 1800 °C, and then saturated at 3rd stage of matrix densification corresponding to classic liquid phase sintering. Hence, densification of the composites with high volume fraction (above 50 vol%) became restricted because the many fibers retarded the infiltration of SiC nano-powder at lower fabrication temperature of 1800 °C. When fabrication temperature increased by 1900 °C, densification of the composites was effectively enhanced in the intra-fiber-bundles and simultaneously the interaction between PyC interface and matrix was strengthened. SEM observation on the fracture surface revealed that fiber pull-out length was accordingly changed with fabrication temperature as well as fiber volume fraction, which dominated tensile fracture behaviors. Through NITE process, SiC/SiC composites with two fracture types were successfully developed by tailoring of appropriate fabrication temperature to fiber volume fraction as follows: (1) high ductility type and (2) high strength type.     

Influence of the incorporation of fine calcium carbonate particles on the impact strength of polypropylene/polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene butene)‐block‐polystyrene blends

The Izod impact strength of two kinds of ternary composites was investigated. One consisted of polypropylene (PP), the triblock copolymer polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene butene)‐block‐polystyrene (SEBS), and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) particles, and the other consisted of PP, carboxylated SEBS (C‐SEBS), and CaCO₃ particles. The mean size of the CaCO₃ particles was about 160 nm. According to scanning electron microscopy observations, the composite with SEBS showed a morphology in which SEBS domains and CaCO₃ particles were independently dispersed in the PP matrix. On the other hand, the composite with C‐SEBS showed a morphology in which CaCO₃ particles were encapsulated by C‐SEBS; that is, a core–shell structure was formed. The Izod impact strength of the composite with SEBS was higher than that of the composite with C‐SEBS and the PP/SEBS and PP/C‐SEBS binary blends. According to observations of the fractured surface, the stress‐whitened area was larger in the composite with SEBS than in the composite with C‐SEBS and the PP/SEBS and PP/C‐SEBS binary blends. The toughening mechanism of the composite, using nanometer‐sized CaCO₃ particles in combination with SEBS, was examined. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Biodegradable supramolecular composites of poly(ε‐caprolactone) and low‐molecular‐weight organic gelators

When a homogeneous hot liquid of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) with (R)‐12‐hydroxystearic acid (HSA) or N‐carbobenzyloxy‐L ‐isoleucylaminooctadecane (CIA) was gradually cooled to room temperature, the mixture became gelatinous material and then solidified to give a PCL/HSA or PCL/CIA composite. The rheological measurements of the mixtures of PCL with HSA and CIA revealed that the organogels are formed at around 70–50°C and 100–73°C during the cooling process, respectively. Furthermore, the formation of supramolecular fibrillar networks was confirmed by the microscopic and differential scanning calorimetric analyses. The tensile moduli of both the composites were improved by the addition of CIA and HSA. Both the composites showed so high biodegradability as PCL. The fibrillar networks of the composites were also regenerated during the repeated cooling process from the isotropic liquid. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Thermal Conductivity and Tensile Properties of Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Aluminum-Matrix Composites Fabricated via Powder Metallurgy: Effects of Ball Milling and Extrusion Conditions on Microstructures and Resultant Composite Properties

Carbon nanofiber(CNF)-reinforced aluminum-matrix composites were fabricated via ball milling and spark plasma sintering(SPS), SPS followed by hot extrusion and powder extrusion. Two mixing conditions of CNF and aluminum powder were adopted: milling at 90 rpm and milling at 200 rpm. After milling at 90 rpm, the mixed powder was sintered using SPS at 560 °C. The composite was then extruded at 500 °C at an extrusion ratio of 9. Composites were also fabricated via powder extrusion of powder milled at 200 rpm and 550 °C with an extrusion ratio of 9(R9) or 16(R16). The thermal conductivity and tensile properties of the resultant composites were evaluated. Anisotropic thermal conductivity was observed even in the sintered products. The anisotropy could be controlled via hot extrusion. The thermal conductivity of composites fabricated via powder extrusion was higher than those fabricated using other methods. However, in the case of specimens with a CNF volume fraction of 4.0%, the thermal conductivity of the composite fabricated via SPS and hot extrusion was the highest. The highest thermal conductivity of 4.0% CNF-reinforced composite is attributable to networking and percolation of CNFs. The effect of the fabrication route on the tensile strength and ductility was also investigated. Tensile strengths of the R9 composites were the highest. By contrast, the R16 composites prepared under long heating duration exhibited high ductility at CNF volume fractions of 2.0% and 5.0%. The microstructures of composites and fracture surfaces were observed in detail, and fracture process was elucidated. The results revealed that controlling the heating and plastic deformation during extrusion will yield strong and ductile composites.     

Modeling high-temperature glass molding process by coupling heat transfer and viscous deformation analysis

Glass molding is as an effective approach to produce precision micro optical elements with complex shapes at high production efficiency. Since glass is deformed at a high temperature where the mechanical and optical properties depend strongly on temperature, modeling the heat transfer and high-temperature deformation behavior of glass is an important issue. In this paper, a two-step pressing process is proposed according to the non-linear thermal expansion characteristics of glass. Heat transfer phenomenon was modeled by considering the temperature dependence of specific heat and thermal conductivity of glass. Viscosity of glass near the softening point was measured by uniaxially pressing cylindrical glass preforms between a pair of flat molds using an ultraprecision glass molding machine. Based on the numerical models and experimentally measured glass property, thermo-mechanical finite element method simulation of temperature rise during heating and material flow during pressing was carried out. The minimum heating time and pressing load changes were successfully predicted.