Change in the chemical structures of carbon black and active carbon caused by CF4 plasma irradiation

Carbon black and active carbon were fluorinated by exposure to CF₄ plasma. Their surface chemical structures were studied by means of elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inverse gas chromatography as a function of treatment time. Fluorine is mainly introduced onto the carbon black and active carbon surfaces during the CF₄ plasma treatment. The amount and type of carbon-fluorine (C-F) functionality formed on the surfaces of the carbon materials depends on the C-C framework structure as well as the plasma treatment time. C1s chemical shifts caused by C-F bonds on the fluorinated active carbon and carbon black surfaces are slightly different from those reported on the various types of fluorinated organic polymers, and have a somewhat ionic character. For the fluorinated active carbon the C-F bond is relatively stable, whereas for the fluorinated carbon black the C-F bond is unstable and has a significant ionic character. In addition, CO₂ gas adsorption characteristics on the fluorinated active carbon can be controlled by the surface C-F functionality.     

Position and speed sensorless control system of permanent magnet synchronous motor with parameter identification

The model parameters of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) are required for high‐performance control and a model‐based sensorless control. This paper proposes a sensorless control system of PMSM that does not need parametric information beforehand. The parameters of a PMSM drive system, including the inverter, are identified at standstill and under operating conditions. At first, the initial rotor position is estimated by a signal injection sensorless scheme in which the machine parameters are not required. After the initial position has been estimated, the resistance, including the on resistance of the IGBT, the voltage error caused by dead time in the inverter, and d‐axis and q‐axis inductances, are identified at standstill. After the motor starts by the signal injection sensorless control, the sensorless scheme changes to an extended EMF estimation scheme. The estimated parameters for the resistance, and daxis and q‐axis inductances are used in such sensorless control. The magnet flux‐linkage, which cannot be estimated at standstill, is identified under the sensorless operation at medium and high speeds. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by several experimental results. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 160(2): 68–76, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/ eej.20548     

Structure and Characteristics of High‐Performance PMASynRM with Ferrite Magnets

Recently, the use of permanent magnet (PM) motors has risen markedly because of improvements in the performance of rare earth PM motors. However, the use of rare earth materials, which is an important aspect of the high‐performance PM motor, should be reduced because of the high cost and unpredictability associated with procuring such materials. The performance of motors that use rare earth materials has reached a very high level, one that will not be easy to match without such materials. In this paper, we propose a structure for a high‐power‐density PM‐assisted synchronous reluctance motor involving the use of a ferrite PM. The structure prevents irreversible demagnetization of the PM even in the presence of heavy flux‐weakening excitation or an inverter fault. It is shown that the proposed structure achieves high‐power and high‐efficiency performance. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 187(1): 42–50, 2014; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.22362     

Stator‐core structure and winding technology for EPS motors

Electric power steering (EPS) motors must have the performance characteristics of precision machines. They should be compact and produce high power. Moreover, the loss torque and the change of loss torque should be as low as possible. In this study, dividing the stator core into small blocks and winding the coils densely on the blocks are shown to be effective techniques for achieving compact high‐power motors. We examined whether I‐shaped divided cores or T‐shaped divided cores were more suitable for EPS motors in terms of motor performance and production cost. We built two experimental motors, one with I‐shaped divided cores and the other with T‐shaped divided cores, and measured three important characteristics of EPS motors: output torque, loss torque, and loss torque change. The T‐type motor proved to have better performance for all three characteristics. Moreover, the productivity of the T‐type motor was shown to be higher than that of the I‐type motor, indicating that overall, T‐shaped divided cores are advantageous for the stators of EPS motors. Next, we considered a new winding method for the continuous winding of two T‐shaped cores in order to achieve a compact terminal connection board. The extending lines made by the new winding method do not extend beyond the coil end. Therefore, this method will contribute to reduction of the axial dimension of EPS motors. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 175(1): 35–42, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21085     

Synthesis and gas permeability of poly(<Emphasis Type=Italic>p</Emphasis>-phenyleneethynylene)s having bulky alkoxy or alkyl groups

Dipropynylbenzene with branched alkoxy and alkyl groups [CH₃C≡CRC₆H₂RC≡CCH₃, R = 2-methylpropoxy (1a), 3-methylbutoxy (1b), 4-methylpentoxy (1c), cyclohexylmethoxy (1d), 2-ethylhexoxy (1e), 2-octoxy (1f), 2-ethylhexyl (1g), and 2-octyl (1h)] were polymerized with Mo(CO)₆ in the presence of 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl to afford poly(2,5-di(alkoxy or alkyl)-p-phenyleneethynylene)s (2a–h). Polymer 2a was insoluble in any solvents, but the other polymers (2b–h) were soluble in common organic solvents. The polymers with relatively long side chains (2e–h) had high molecular weight over 1.6 × 10⁴ and gave free-standing membranes by solution-casting method. The densities of membranes of 2e–h were 0.914–0.998, and their fractional-free volume values were relatively large (0.094–0.158). The oxygen permeability coefficients of membranes of 2e–h were 18.4, 12.7, 4.85, and 19.3 barrers, respectively. It was found that poly(p-phenyleneethynylene) with 2-octyl side groups, which have the branch at the nearest position from main chain, exhibited the highest gas permeability.     

Motion and coalescence of a pair of bubbles rising side by side

Bouncing and coalescence of a pair of slightly deformed bubbles rising side by side in a quiescent liquid are experimentally studied. The trajectories and shapes of the bubbles are investigated in detail by using a high-speed video camera. The wakes of bubbles are visualized by using a photochromic dye that is colored with UV light irradiation. We observe that the patterns of the trajectories of rising bubbles are strongly dependent on the Reynolds number. When the Reynolds number is over the critical region, two bubbles approach each other and then collide. After the collision, two types of motions are observed—coalescence and bouncing. We investigate the critical Reynolds number and Weber number over which the bubbles bounce. In the definitions of these numbers, we use vertical velocity, instead of horizontal one, as the characteristic velocity. We clarify that the critical Weber number is around 2 regardless of the Morton number. The critical Reynolds number decreases with an increase in the Morton number. Moreover, the visualization of the wake of bubbles enables us to observe the vortex separation from the rear surface of the bubbles on collision. We find that the vortex separation from the rear of bouncing bubbles causes a decrease in the rising velocity and an increase in the horizontal speed after their collision. We also observe that the behavior of repeatedly bouncing bubbles is significantly influenced by the wake instability of a single bubble rather than by the bubble-bubble interaction. By applying an existing model for spherical bubble-bubble interaction, we clarify that the revised model accurately describes the trajectory of a pair of slightly deformed bubbles using the restitution coefficient and velocity fluctuation from the experimental results.     

Candesartan (CV-11974) dissociates slowly from the angiotensin AT1 receptor

The mechanisms of the insurmountable antagonism of 2-ethoxy-1-[[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]1H-benzimid azole -7-carboxylic acid, candesartan (CV-11974), an angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, on angiotensin II-induced rabbit aortic contraction were examined in contraction and binding studies. Preincubation of the rabbit aorta with CV-11974 (0.1 nM) for 30 min reduced the maximal contractile response to angiostensin II by approximately 50%. This insurmountable antagonism of CV-11974 was reversed in the presence of losartan (1 microM), a surmountable angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist. The inhibitory effect of CV-11974 on angiotensin II-induced contraction persisted longer after washing than did that of losartan but was irreversible. Scatchard analysis of [3H]CV-11974 binding in bovine adrenal cortical membranes indicated the existence of a single class of binding sites (Kd = 7.4 nM). Competition binding studies using angiotensin II receptor agonists and antagonists have demonstrated that [3H[CV-11974 binding sites may be identical to angiotensin AT1 receptors. The dissociation rate of [3H]CV-11974 binding (t1/2 = 66 min) was 5 times slower than that of [125I]angiotensin II binding (t1/2 = 12 min). These results suggest that the insurmountable antagonism by CV-11974 is due to its slow dissociation from angiotensin AT1 receptors.     

Retrieval and classification methods for textured 3D models: a comparative study

This paper presents a comparative study of six methods for the retrieval and classification of textured 3D models, which have been selected as representative of the state of the art. To better analyse and control how methods deal with specific classes of geometric and texture deformations, we built a collection of 572 synthetic textured mesh models, in which each class includes multiple texture and geometric modifications of a small set of null models. Results show a challenging, yet lively, scenario and also reveal interesting insights into how to deal with texture information according to different approaches, possibly working in the CIELab as well as in modifications of the RGB colour space.     

Combination of 13C- and 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy for structural analyses of neutral,acidic and basic heteroatom compounds in products from coal hydrogenation

Polar compounds consisting of acidic, basic and neutral nonhydrocarbons were separated from the oil portion derived from coal hydrogenation by means of liquid chromatography. These polar compounds comprised a substantial amount of the oil portion, up to ≈ 60 wt%. Acidic and basic compounds were extracted subsequently by chemical methods, leaving the neutral nonhydrocarbons. The neutral nonhydrocarbons were derived further into eight subfractions, Fr-PP_n-1 to-8, using gel permeation chromatography. The fractions were analysed quantitatively using ¹³C- and ¹H-n.m.r.. Information on the distribution of functional groups containing heteroatoms, especially oxygen, which were present as phenolic, phenylether or heteroaromatic rings, was provided indirectly by ¹³C-n.m.r. spectra, utilizing the chemical shift of the carbon which can be distinguished by an adjacent oxygen. Simultaneous application of ¹³C-n.m.r. with ¹H-n.m.r. reduced considerably the number of assumptions required for estimating the average molecular structure of polar compounds.