Short‐current pulse‐based adaptive maximum‐power‐point tracking for a photovoltaic power generation system

This paper focuses on a maximum‐power‐point tracking method of photovoltaics via use of the short‐current pulse. It has been reported that the optimum operating current is proportional to the short current and that maximum‐power‐point tracking can be performed by detecting the short current. The proposed method utilizes the intermittent short‐current pulse to estimate the optimum operating current and its operating characteristics have experimentally been verified. Also, an adaptive mechanism to identify the parameter between the optimum current and the short current is discussed. A prototype of the controller has been set up and the experimental results have demonstrated excellent performance, proving the feasibility of the system. © 2002 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 139(1): 65–72, 2002; DOI 10.1002/eej.1147     

Antiatherogenic effects of the antioxidant BO-653 in three different animal models

Antioxidants have been proposed to have antiatherogenic potential by their inhibition of low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Here, we report an antioxidant, BO-653 (2,3-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2, 2-dipentyl-4,6-di-tert-butylbenzofuran), designed to exhibit antioxidative potency comparable to that of alpha-tocopherol, but yet possess a high degree of lipophilicity comparable to that of probucol. BO-653 exhibits a high affinity for LDL and is well distributed in aortic vessels in vivo. In atherosclerosis models of rabbits and mice, BO-653 has been shown to be able to suppress the formation of atherosclerotic lesions without untoward side effects. Specifically, there was no reduction of high density lipoprotein levels. This antioxidant provides additional evidence in support of the oxidized-LDL hypothesis, and itself is a promising candidate antioxidant for clinical use.     

High-input-power saturation properties of apolarization-insensitive semiconductor Mach-Zehnder interferometer gateswitch for WDM applications

We propose that a polarization-insensitive Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) switch is useful for optical gate elements, especially if multiwavelength signals are input. This device has high-input-power saturation properties, which shows that both the operating voltage and the extinction ratio do not change when the optical input power reaches at least +18 dBm. A high extinction ratio of 30 dB was achieved in the wide-wavelength range of 20 nm. Moreover, the extinction ratio can be improved by up to 45 dB by using a cascaded configuration to decrease crosstalk. These results indicate the MZI gate switch is well suited to wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) network components     

Long-range OTDR for single-mode optical fibre using a P2O5 highly doped fibre Raman laser

A wide-dynamic-range single-mode optical time-domain reflectometer using a P2O5 highly doped fibre Raman laser and a cooled Ge-PIN photodiode has been realised for the first time. The maximum detectable one-way loss was improved to 35dB in the 1.5 ?m wavelength band.     

TETHER-LINKED [60]FULLERENE-DONOR DYADS

A series of [60]fullerene bis-adducts having a π-electron-rich aromatic ring as a donor in a face-to-face arrangement were synthesized by the bis-cyclopropanation of [60]fullerene with tether-linked bis-malonates. One of the bis-adducts showed a photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer which caused the dramatic quenching of its fluorescence in a polar solvent.     

An Experimental Study on Transverse Hydrogen Gas Injection into Mach 1.8 Airflow Channel-The 1st report:Single Circular Injector

INTRODUCTIONResearchonSCRamjet,whichwascarriedoutex-tensivelyillUSinthepastatthelatesixtiesandsev-ellties,hasbeenupdatedtoraisenewinterestamongstseveralcountriesintheworldbecauseoftheconcep-tualdevelopmentofaframeintegratedpropulsionsys-temforthenextgenerationtransAnatmosphereflightvehicle.However,fullcomprehensionofthebasicthermo-gasdynamicstructurewithinthecombustorisyettobeeffortedfromscientificandengineeringpointofviews,whichplaysakeyroleindevelopingthefirmtechnologyofsupersoniccombu…     

Prism-pair interferometry by homodyne interferometers with a common light source for high-accuracy measurement of the absolute refractive index of glasses

A prism-pair interferometer comprising two homodyne interferometers with a common light source was developed for high-precision measurements of the refractive index of optical glasses with an uncertainty of the order of 10(-6). The two interferometers measure changes in the optical path length in the glass sample and in air, respectively. Uncertainties in the absolute wavelength of the common light source are cancelled out by calculating a ratio between the results from the interferometers. Uncertainties in phase measurement are suppressed by a quadrature detection system. The combined standard uncertainty of the developed system is evaluated as 1.1×10(-6).     

Carbon nanotube enables quantum leap in oil recovery

A novel sealing material based on a CNT-rubber composite was developed for use in producing oil from deep, hot reservoirs. Fully dispersed and better bondings are two critical advances that enhance its mechanical properties. Authors solved the critical issues and clarified the mechanism of nano network reinforcement using test data. The resulting sealing solution underwent field tests around the world, and it marks a rare success story for the use of nanotechnology in the oilfield.     

Thermodynamics of antimony,arsenic, and tin in CaO—CaF2 melts

In view of the importance of tramp element contamination of steel products through a large volume of scrap consumption in the near future, the thermodynamic behaviour of Sb, As, Sn and Cu in CaO—CaF₂ melts under reducing conditions was studied by examining the dependences of distribution of each element between Cu, Ag or Sn alloys and CaO—CaF₂ melts on the CaO activity, oxygen partial pressure and temperature around 1 500°C. As a result, the reaction products on treatment by Ca compounds were demonstrated to be Ca₃Sb₂, Ca₃As₂, Ca₂Sn and CaCu. Experimentally obtained distributions were extrapolated to lower oxygen partial pressures less than 10^?18 atm to estimate the feasibility of removing those tramp elements from molten iron. It is thermodynamically indicated that if the prevailing oxygen partial pressure of the environment is below 10^?23 atm, these impurities, except Cu, would be substantially removed from molten steel.