Reduced‐order method for mathematical modeling of multiphase dc‐dc converter

A multiphase dc‐dc converter is effective for miniaturization and achieving high‐power density in a switching power supply. However, its mathematical modeling becomes complex as the phase number of the circuit increases. This study proposes a new modeling method to derive a reduced‐order method in a simple manner. The frequency characteristics of the reduced‐order model are fit to those of the original mathematical model of the multiphase dc‐dc converter. Therefore, the efficacy of the proposed method is validated.     

Practical Application of ±250‐kV DC‐XLPE Cable for Hokkaido–Honshu HVDC Link

The long‐term dc properties of DC‐XLPE insulation materials, which have been developed for dc use, were investigated. It was found that the lifetime of DC‐XLPE under dc voltage application is extended by the addition of nano‐sized filler. The time dependence of the space charge distribution at 50 kV/mm was observed for 7 days. Almost no accumulation of space charge in DC‐XLPE was found. The 250‐kV DC‐XLPE cables and accessories were manufactured and subjected to a type test and PQ test for use in the Hokkaido–Honshu dc link facility owned by the Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. These tests were performed under conditions that included a polarity reversal test for line commutated converter (LCC) systems as recommended in CIGRE TB 219. The test temperature was 90 °C. The type test and PQ test were successfully completed. The DC‐XLPE cable and accessories were installed in summer 2012 for the Hokkaido–Honshu dc link. After the installation of the dc extruded cable system, a dc high‐voltage test at 362.5 kV (=1.45 PU) for 15 min was successfully completed in accordance with CIGRE TB 219. This dc extruded cable system was put into operation in December 2012 as the world's highest‐voltage extruded dc cable in service and the world's first dc extruded cable for a LCC system including polarity reversal operation.     

Facile Preparation of Nanosized MoP as Cocatalyst Coupled with TiO2 for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic H2 Production

Catalysis Letters - Presently, combining MoP as a co-catalyst and another subjective semiconductor into a composite catalyst often requires the use of various complex reduction methods. In this...     

Effect of CNTs on morphology and electromagnetic properties of non-firing CNTs/silica composite ceramics

Carbon composite ceramics have much attention for industry because of their excellent properties such as strong toughness, high electrical conductivity as well as low percolation threshold. Therefore, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to incorporate with silica ceramics in order to improve their electromagnetic properties. The amount of CNTs in CNTs/silica composite ceramics was varied in order to investigate its effect on morphologies and electromagnetic properties of those. The composites were successfully fabricated by non-firing process. The results revealed that the obtained CNTs/silica composite ceramic have an electrical resistivity of 66.6?Ω·cm with a bending strength of 13.8?MPa. At the same time, the electromagnetic wave absorption ability achieved 70% over a wild frequency. This indicates that the CNTs in CNTs/silica composite ceramics may be potentially applied for an electromagnetic wave reflective material.     

Effect of silane modification on CNTs/silica composites fabricated by a non-firing process to enhance interfacial property and dispersibility

Carbon nanotube/ceramic composites have been in the spotlight thanks to their excellent properties. Sintering is the vital part of ceramics fabrication in terms of reliability, however sintering the carbon nanotube (CNT) based ceramic composites is a challenging task. In this study, interfacial bonding of silane functionalized CNT with silica ceramic is investigated by a non-firing sintering process. CNTs are first treated by a mixed acid with the aid of a silane 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES), which improves the chemical bonding and dispersibility of CNT in ceramic bodies. The extent of APTES chemical functionalization and mechanical property of CNT/silica ceramic composites are characterized using Raman spectrometer, FT-IR analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and three-point bending strength measurement. Results show that composites are successfully prepared without sintering with stable CNT-silica interface, superior dispersibility, and good mechanical properties.     

Manipulating the chemical affinity and kinetics of 3D silica particle network via the phase-separation technique

We developed a simple and versatile technique for a particle’s self-organizing-network based on a non-solvent induced micro-phase separation (NIPS). When a good solvent vaporizes from a particle dispersion in a ternary solution including the polymer, good solvent and non-solvent, the suspension is separated into the polymer network and non-solvent phase. If the affinity between the particles and polymer is sufficient enough, the particles are entrapped in the polymer network and particle network can be achieved. To expand this technique to particles with various physical properties, the surface of the particles was identified using the Hansen dispersibility parameter (HDP). From a comparison of the HDP of the unmodified and modified silica, an NH₂ group is suitable for entrapment of the silica by cellulose acetate as the polymer. However, with an increase in number of the silica particles, entrapment of the silica in the polymer was prevented. Control of the phase separation rate by the lowering temperature leaded to entrapment of silica particles in the polymer network. The proposed technique is effective not only for spherical oxide particles, but also for non-oxides, various shapes and structures. Depending on particle characteristics, functional films and bulk materials for thermal insulation, light diffusion, and electro conductivity can be obtained.     

The study of the effect of external additives on the synthesis of fumed TiO2 with a high content of rutile structure by the novel natural dropping thermal treatment

The effect of external additives on the synthesis of fumed TiO₂ with a high rutile structure content was studied. The focus of this investigation was on the external additive species, agglomerates of the fumed TiO₂ before and after the thermal treatment. The transformation ratio from the anatase to rutile structure of the thermally-treated fumed TiO₂ was investigated as a function of the fumed TiO₂ agglomerate before the thermal treatment. Small agglomerated powders resulted in a decrease of transformation temperature. Two novel results were obtained in this investigation. One was a new fumed TiO₂ with a 100% rutile structure having an excellent dispersibility being successfully synthesized by the thermal treatment of AEROXIDE® TiO₂ P 25 with a small portion of AEROSIL® R 972. The other was the remarkable acceleration of the transformation from the anatase to rutile structure and grain growth/sintering of the thermally-treated fumed TiO₂ observed at a relatively low thermal treatment temperature by the oxidation reaction of calcium stearate as an external additive.     

Studies on suspension and emulsion. XLVI. Emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of styrene in acetone–water

Emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of styrene in acetone–water medium was carried out using potassium persulfate as initiator. Below acetone content of 40 vol %, stable emulsion was prepared and polymerizations were remarkably fast compared with those in pure water. The particle size decreased from 0.5 to 0.17 μm with an increase in acetone content in the range 0–40 vol %, and the distributions were very sharp. The optimum polymerization for the preparation of the stable emulsion was: styrene, 20 vol %; acetone/water, 40/60 (v/v); KPS, 3.4 × 10^?3 mole/l; temp., 90°C.     

Morphology of composite polymer emulsion particles consisting of two kinds of polymers between which ionic bonding intermolecular interaction operates

The morphology of particles (I) produced by seeded emulsion copolymerization of styrene (S) and sodium p-styrene sulfonate (NaSS) with butyl acrylate (BA)-methacryloyloxyethyl-trimethylammonium chloride (QDM) copolymer particles as seed was examined in comparison with poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA)-polystyrene (PS) composite polymer emulsion particles (II). In an electron microscopic observation, it was observed that II particles had an anomalous shape and the electron densities at different points in the particle were heterogeneous, whereas I particles had an almost spherical shape and the electron densities were homogeneous. The maximum tensile strength and toughnes were much larger in II than I. The dynamic mechanical studies indicate that II film had a macroheterogeneous structure consisting of PS-rich and PBA-rich phases, whereas I film had a microheterogeneous structure. These ressults suggest that there is an effect of intermolecular interaction between polymers of different kinds on the formation of heterogeneous structure in particles consisting of two kinds of polymers.     

Detection of six single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with rheumatoid arthritis by a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method and an electrochemical DNA chip

An electrochemical DNA chip using an electrochemically active intercalator and DNA probe immobilized on a gold electrode has been developed for genetic analysis. In this study, the six polymorphisms associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), N-acetyltransferase2 (NAT2) gene polymorphisms T341C, G590A, and G857A, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms C677T and A1298C, and serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) gene promoter polymorphism C-13T were simultaneously detected by the electrochemical DNA chip and the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method, which is a novel technique for DNA amplification. Human genomic DNAs were extracted from blood, and the targets containing the six polymorphisms were amplified by the LAMP method. A sample containing the six LAMP products was reacted with the electrochemical DNA chip using a DNA detection system that controls hybridization reaction, washing, electrochemical detection, and data analysis automatically. A total of 31 samples were genotyped by this method, and the results were completely consistent with those determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis or the PCR direct sequence analysis. The time required for this method was only 2 h, and operations were very simple. Therefore, this method is expected to contribute to personalized medicine based on genotype.