A convolutional neural network (CNN)-based direct method to detect stiction in control valves

Control valves are considered important capital assets in any process industry. A properly maintained control valve can have a significant impact on how well the process is controlled as well as the overall cost of the plant. However, control valves can suffer from poor control performance due to valve non-linearities. One of the main reasons for non-linearity is control valve stiction. Stiction not only causes oscillations in the process variables but also shortens the life of the control valve, resulting in an economic loss for the process. In a process plant, a control engineer generally analyzes the time series plot of process value (PV), set point (SP), and controller output (OP) data and identifies stiction based on the typical shape pattern of PV/SP/OP plot. In this study, the same shape pattern methodology is adapted to identify stiction using convolutional neural network (CNN) technique. A one-dimensional convolution neural network (Conv1D) algorithm is developed, which works directly on PV/SP/OP time series data for stiction detection. The proposed CNN algorithm is tested on both simulated and industrial control loop data. The suggested method provides promising results with a combined stiction prediction accuracy of 92% (92.2% in predicting non-sticky and 91.53% in predicting sticky loops) for the industrial loops data studied.     

Highly Aligned Centrifugal Spun Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers Collected and Processed with Automated Tracks

A parallel automated track collector is integrated with a rationally designed centrifugal spinning head to collect aligned polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers. Centrifugal spinning is an extremely promising nanofiber fabrication technology due to high production rates. However, continuous oriented fiber collection and processing presents challenges. Engineering solutions to these two challenges are explored in this study. A 3D-printed head design, optimized through a computational fluid dynamics simulation approach, is utilized to limit unwanted air currents that disturb deposited nanofibers. An automated track collecting device has pulled deposited nanofibers away from the collecting area. This results in a continuous supply of individual aligned nanofibers as opposed to the densely packed nanofiber mesh ring that is deposited on conventional static post collectors. The automated track collector allows for simple integration of the postdraw processing step that is critical to polymer fiber manufacturing for enhancing macromolecular orientation and mechanical properties. Postdrawing has enhanced the mechanical properties of centrifugal spun PAN nanofibers, which have different crystalline properties compared with conventional PAN microfiber. These technological developments address key limitations of centrifugal spinning that can facilitate high production rate commercial fabrication of highly aligned, high-performance polymer nanofibers.     

Polymeric sodium alginate interpenetrating network beads for the controlled release of chlorpyrifos

Novel polymeric sodium alginate (Na‐Alg) interpenetrating network (IPN) beads have been prepared by crosslinking Na‐Alg blend with gelatin (GE) or egg albumin (EA) using glutaraldehyde (GA) as the crosslinking agent. These beads were used for the controlled release of chlorpyrifos. The swelling experiments were performed in water at different temperatures, and these data were used to calculate the molecular mass (M_C) between crosslinks as well as diffusion coefficients. Diffusion coefficients calculated from desorption data were lower by about two orders of magnitude than those calculated from sorption results. Higher values of M_C were obtained for the gelatin‐based IPNs than the neat Na‐Alg and egg albumin‐based matrices. Size of the beads did not vary significantly either by the network or by increasing the exposure time to the crosslinking agent. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to understand the surface characteristics of the beads. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated a molecular level dispersion of chlorpyrifos in the polymer matrix. The percentage entrapment efficiency showed a dependence on the type of network polymer as well as time of exposure to the crosslinking agent. The encapsulation efficiency decreased with an increase in time of exposure to the crosslinking agent. In vitro release experiments have been performed to follow the release kinetics of chlorpyrifos from the matrices. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 911–918, 2002     

Antifungal activity of solventlessly synthesized organomercurials

A series of new barbituryl/thiobarbituryl substituted organomercurial derivatives 3a-i have been synthesised from pyrimidine derivatives 1a-c and arylmercuric chloride 2a-c over K(2)CO(3) under microwave irradiations (MWI). This solventless synthesis apart from eliminating organic solvent from workup step, also gave improved yield as compared to the conventional heating, with reaction time reduced from hours to minutes. The prepared compounds were tested against A. niger and A. flavous for their antifungal activity and were found to posses good activity.     

Vinyl chloride in rural water from pre‐1977 applications of PVC pipe

In the early 1990s, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) was found in a rural water system that included poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) pipe manufactured prior to 1977. Because VCM, considered a human carcinogen, was not regulated in pipe until 1977, some pre‐1977 pipes could contain it at significant levels. Manufacturing processes adopted in 1975 and in place by 1977 reduced VCM levels by as much as a factor of 1000. Pipe manufactured by using the newer resin technology does not show detectable VCM migration under any reasonable installation circumstances. Migration of VCM is a function of pipe size, VCM concentration at time of installation, water temperature, and flow rate. History, scientific investigations, and conclusions drawn from field investigations are summarized. Tools for the determination of possible candidate systems, potential noncompliance, and remediation, both short‐term and long‐term, are provided. A spreadsheet‐based computer model of diffusion is described.     

Encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics of solid and liquid pesticides through urea formaldehyde crosslinked starch,guar gum,and starch + guar gum matrices

This article presents our preliminary experimental data on the release kinetics and encapsulation efficiency of urea formaldehyde (UF) crosslinked matrices of starch (St), guar gum (GG), and starch + guar gum (St + GG) for the controlled release of solid (chlorpyrifos) and liquid (neem seed oil) pesticides. The data reveal variable release rates in relation to the polymer type and especially the pesticide type. It is possible to slow the release rates of pesticides using cheaply available materials such as starch and guar gum. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 2863–2866, 2001     

Compression molding of biodegradable drug‐eluting implants for sustained release of metronidazole and doxycycline

The purpose of this report was to develop solvent‐free biodegradable drug‐eluting implants that provide sustained release of metronidazole and doxycycline. The drug‐eluting implants were prepared using the compression molding technique. To fabricate the implants, polylactide‐polyglycolide copolymers were premixed with metronidazole or doxycycline. The mixture was then compression molded and sintered to form implants of various sizes and geometries. An elution method and an HPLC assay were used to characterize the in vitro release rates of the antibiotics over a 28‐day period. A bacterial inhibition test was also carried out to determine the bioactivity of released antibiotics. The concentrations of both metronidazole and doxycycline were much greater than the minimum inhibitory concentration of Escherichia coli for up to 3 and 4 weeks, respectively, and the bioactivities of the antibiotics remained high after the fabrication process. Furthermore, the initial burst could be minimized and the release rate could be reduced by increasing the size of the implants and by adopting low drug to polymer ratios. By using this compression molding technique and appropriate processing parameters, we will be able to fabricate biodegradable implants of various types of antibacterial drugs for long‐term local deliveries. Eventually, biodegradable drug‐eluting implants may be used to treat various periodontal diseases. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Cryptosporidium Log-inactivation with Ozone Using Effluent CT10, Geometric Mean CT10, Extended Integrated CT10 and Extended CSTR Calculations

The draft Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR) contains Cryptosporidium log-inactivation CT tables (ozone-in-water concentration [residual], “C” times contact time, T). Depending on water temperature, Cryptosporidium CT values that are listed are 15 to 25 times greater than CT values for equivalent Giardia log-inactivation credit. The elevated operating dose required for Cryptosporidium log-inactivation credit has the potential to increase disinfection by-product (DBP) formation (e.g., bromate). Calculating CT value accurately will minimize ozone dose, which will decrease operating cost and lower DBP formation, and at the same time maintain disinfection protection through implementation of scientifically based safety factors. Various methods are available for calculating CT value. The method chosen depends largely on the available information concerning ozone residual characteristics and hydrodynamic features of the ozone contactor, plus local regulatory requirements. Four methods are discussed in this paper. Each method can be used to calculate Giardia, virus, and Cryptosporidium log-inactivation credit.     

非磁性粘性颗粒在添加磁性大颗粒磁场流化床中的流化性能

通过添加磁性大颗粒，破碎活塞及沟流，显著改善了非磁性粘性颗粒在磁场流化床中的流化性能。为了评价非磁性粘性颗粒在磁场流化床中的流化性能，测量了最小流化速度、床层压力降和床膨胀高度。实验结果表明，非磁性粘性颗粒的最小流化速度，由于添加磁性大颗粒，而显著降低。磁性大颗粒添加量对非磁性粘性颗粒的最小流化速度有较大影响，随磁性大颗粒添加量的增加，最小流化速度降低，但当磁性大颗粒添加量增大到40％后，非磁性粘性颗粒和磁性大颗粒的混合物的最小流化速度就不再降低。     

Nanostructured polymer blends: Synthesis and structure

Nanostructured polymer blends prepared via anionic ring opening polymerizations of cyclic monomers in the presence of a pre-made polymer melt exhibit a number of special properties over traditional polymer blends and homopolymers. Here, we report on a simple and versatile method of in situ polymerization of macrocyclic carbonates in the presence of a maleic anhydride polypropylene (mPP) matrix and a surface-active compatibilizer (i.e. PC grafted onto a mPP backbone generated in situ) to yield a micro- and nanostructured polymer blends consisting of a polycarbonate (PC) minor phase, and a polypropylene (PP) major phase. By varying the processing conditions and concentration of the macrocyclic carbonate it was possible to reduce the size of the PC dispersions to an average minor diameter of 150 nm. NMR and TEM characterizations indicate that the PC dispersions do not influence crystal content in the PP phase. Overall, the results point to a simple strategy and versatile route to new polymeric materials with enhanced benefits.