Use of singular value decomposition in system identification

Use of the singular value decomposition is suggested for problems of linear least-squares system identification rather than the usual method involving the normal equations.     

Reliability Evaluation for Optimally Operated, Large, Electric Power Systems

This paper presents a combined optimization/reliability technique to evaluate the reliability of large power systems. It uses Monte Carlo simulation for the individual operation/failure random performance of elements of a power network. This simulation overcomes the difficulty in constructing the many possible states for large power systems of complex topology. A simplified power-flow representation of the power network is used and a network reduction is implemented to reduce the size of the power-flow problem, such that only the effective part of the network (for a given contingency) is retained. The control parameters are optimized in order to simulate practical contingency situations in which suitable controls are invoked to preserve, as much as possible, the continuity of supply. The optimization problem is solved by linear programming in which the generator powers are manipulated as optimization variables to maximize the load power supplied and subject to the power flow equations as well as upper and lower bounds on the optimization variables. The outputs of the performance simulation and the optimization problem are subsequently used to compute the system reliability indices. The paper describes the computerized algorithm as well as numerical results for the IEEE 118-bus power system to demonstrate the applicability of the algorithm to actual systems.     

Mutual admittance characteristics for two-element parallel prolate spheroidal antenna systems

Spheroidal dipole antenna systems consisting of two thin center-fed parallel prolate spheroids in various configurations (side-by-side and collinear) are considered, The resultant EM fields are represented as modal expansions in terms of spheroidal vector eigenfunctions. The translational addition theorems for spheroidal functions developed by the authors in a previous paper play the central role in the formulation of a system matrix [G] which transforms the primary. EM excitations of the fed dipoles into their scattered responses. From the knowledge of the [G] matrix, the mutual admittances of the dipole system are obtained and plotted against center-to-center separation of the dipoles for side-by-side and collinear dipole configurations. The major to minor axial ratios of 10:1 and 100:1 of the prolate spheroidal dipoles are considered for presenting various curves. However, for the side-by-side configuration, due to a radius of convergence of the translational relation for outgoing wave to incoming wave transformation, the separationdof the spheroids is restricted tod > {a_{1}, a_{2}}_{max}, whosea_{1}anda_{2}are the semimajor axial lengths of the two spheroids.     

A stress-coping profile of opioid dependent individuals entering naltrexone treatment: A comparison with healthy controls.

Background: Stress is known to increase addiction vulnerability and risk of relapse to substance use. Purpose & Method: We compared opioid dependent individuals entering naltrexone treatment (n = 57) with healthy controls (n = 75) on measures of stress, coping, and social support and examined the relative contribution of group membership, coping, and social support to stress within the sample. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA), and stepwise multiple regression were conducted. Results: Compared with controls, opioid dependent subjects reported greater stress, less use of adaptive coping, but comparable use of maladaptive/avoidant coping. No group differences were found with respect to social support. Perceived stress was predicted by group membership, low social support, and greater use of maladaptive/avoidant coping, and the prediction by social support and maladaptive/avoidant coping did not differ by group. Conclusion: Opioid dependent individuals entering naltrexone treatment experience higher levels of stress and report less use of adaptive coping strategies when compared with controls. Group membership, maladaptive/avoidant coping, and social support independently contribute to perceived stress. Findings suggest that novel treatment approaches that decrease maladaptive/avoidant coping and improve social support are important aspects of decreasing stress during early recovery from opioid addiction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Scratch hardness and deformation maps for polycarbonate and polyethylene

This paper presents results obtained from the scratching of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and a polycarbonate (PC). The data are used to obtain various surface mechanical properties such as the hardness and also the prevailing deformation mechanisms. Scratch results are reported for the case of rigid conical indenters for various tip included angles, bulk temperatures, scratch velocities, and applied normal loads. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser profilometry data are used to study the surface deformation and damage mechanisms, and to assess the topography of the surfaces after scratching. Deformation maps are provided for these polymers under different experimental conditions, which describe the various deformation characteristics. In general, these polymers show both increasing and decreasing trends for the scratch hardness values with variation of cone angle, (4qW/ηd²; where W is the normal load, d the width of the residual scratch, and q is a characteristic contact parameter, which ranges between 1 and 2). The scratch velocity, which governs the imposed strain rate, imparts an increasing effect on the hardness values, whereas a higher bulk temperature of the material decreases the scratch hardness. The measured responses of the surface properties of these polymers are shown to greatly depend upon the kind of deformation mechanism prevalent during the scratching and associated material removal processes.     

The probability of predicting personality traits by the way user types on touch screen

Innovations in Systems and Software Engineering - Age-group, gender, handedness and number of hands used are the common personality traits of a typist, and identifying such traits can be a key in...     

Natural circulation studies in a lead bismuth eutectic loop

Lead Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) is increasingly getting more attraction as the coolant for advanced reactor systems. It is also the primary coolant of the Compact High Temperature Reactor (CHTR), being designed at BARC. A loop has been set up for thermal hydraulics, instrument development and material related studies relevant to CHTR. Steady state natural circulation experimental studies were carried out for different power levels. Transient studies for start-up of natural circulation in the loop, loss of heat sink and step power change have also been carried out. An 1D code named LeBENC has been developed at BARC to simulate the natural circulation characteristics in closed loops. The salient features of the code include ability to handle non-uniform diameter components, axial thermal conduction in fluid and heat losses from the piping to the environment. This paper deals with the experimental studies carried out in the loop. Detailed validation of the LeBENC code with the experimental data is also discussed in the paper.     

Steam drum level dynamics in a multiple loop natural circulation system of a pressure-tube type boiling water reactor

Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) is a pressure tube type boiling water reactor employing natural circulation as the mode of heat removal under all the operating conditions. Main heat transport system (MHTS) of AHWR is essentially a multi-loop natural circulation system with all the loops connected to each other. Each loop of MHTS has a steam drum that provides for gravity based steam–water separation. Steam drum level is a very critical parameter especially in multi-loop natural circulation systems as large departures from the set point may lead to ineffective separation of steam–water or may affect the driving head. However, such a system is susceptible to steam drum level anomalies under postulated asymmetrical operating conditions among the different quadrants of the core like feedwater flow distribution anomaly among the steam drums or power anomaly among the core quadrants. Analyses were carried out to probe such scenarios and unravel the underlying dynamics of steam drum level using system code RELAP5/Mod3.2. In addition, a scheme to obviate such problem in a passive manner without dependence on level controller was examined. It was concluded that steam drums need to be connected in the liquid as well as steam space to make the system tolerant to asymmetrical operating conditions.     

Investigation on condensation in presence of a noncondensable gas for a wide range of Reynolds number

A theoretical model has been developed to study the local heat transfer coefficient of a condensing vapour in the presence of a noncondensable gas, where the gas/vapour mixture is flowing downward inside a vertical tube. The two-phase heat transfer is analysed using an annular flow pattern with a liquid film at the tube wall and a turbulent gas/vapour core. The gas/vapour core is modeled using the analogy between heat and mass transfer. The model incorporates Nusselt equation with McAdams modifier and Blangetti model for calculating the film heat transfer coefficient, Moody and Wallis correlations to account for film waviness effect on gas/vapour boundary layer. The suction effect due to condensation, developing flow and property variation of the gas phase is also considered. A comparative study of heat transfer coefficient and vapour mass flow rate has been made with various models to account for condensate film resistance and condensate film roughness. Results show that for very high Reynolds number, the condensation heat transfer coefficient is higher than the film heat transfer coefficient.