Evaluation of Humidity Correction Factor of Disruptive Discharge Voltage of Standard Sphere Air Gaps

The humidity correction method prescribed in the existing IEC standard is based on experimental data obtained under absolute humidity between 5 and 12 g/m³. A discussion on the humidity correction method is needed for higher absolute humidity regions, which is experienced during summer in Japan, and also throughout the year in tropical countries. The effect of absolute humidity on disruptive discharge voltages of standard sphere air gaps has been studied experimentally for several years under conditions of natural humidity, between 2 and 22 g/m³. In the cases of a.c. and lightning impulse voltage application, it was found that the existing IEC humidity correction method seems to be proper for most of the gap spacings studied under absolute humidity up to 22 g/m³. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Comparison of the phytohaemagglutinin from red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) purified by different affinity chromatography

Affinity chromatography (AC) on Affi-Gel blue gel column and thyroglobulin (Tg)-Sepharose 4B column, respectively, were compared for their efficiency in purifying phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) from red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Considering the purity and haemagglutinating activity of the obtained samples, Affi-Gel blue gel exhibited less affinity for PHA than Tg-Sepharose matrix. Affi-Gel blue purified sample showed multiple bands in SDS-PAGE gel, which further confirmed that Affi-Gel blue bound non-PHA proteins as well as PHA. PHA purified by one-step Tg-Sepharose column gave significantly (p < 0.05) higher purity (0.75 ± 0.13 mg PHA/mg lyophilized powder) than the sample purified by two-step (Affi-Gel blue first and then Tg-Sepharose) purification (0.62 ± 0.20 mg PHA/mg lyophilized powder). Circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed that the sample purified by one-step Tg-Sepharose column had similar secondary structures with the sample purified by two-step purification. Thus, one-step Tg-Sepharose purification was effective and time-saving for the preparation of PHA and a promising substitute for the two-step purification method.     

Structural and electrochemical properties of TixZr7−xNi10

Simple ternary alloys with formula Ti_xZr_7−xNi₁₀ (x between 0 and 2.5) were studied as a potential replacement for Laves phase alloys used in the negative electrodes of nickel metal hydride batteries. The samples were prepared by arc-melting and were not annealed. The samples retained a high degree of disorder, which contributed positively to activation and other electrochemical properties. Before hydrogenation, the alloys have a Zr₇Ni₁₀ orthorhombic structure mixed with some C15 and ZrO₂ secondary phases. The amount of C15 secondary phase is important to the bulk diffusion of hydrogen and the surface electrochemical kinetics. That is, the diffusion coefficient and the exchange current both increase in the presence of C15 secondary phase. The proportion of C15 secondary phase is controllable by stoichiometry design. For instance, a slightly higher Zr content reduces the C15 content. Further, as the titanium substitution level increases: (1) the lattice constants decrease; (2) the PCT plateau pressure increases; (3) activation becomes easier; and (4) the high rate dischargeability improves.     

Development of simplified evaluation method for creep-fatigue crack propagation

In the design assessment of fast reactor plant components, prevention of crack initiation from defect-free structures is a main concern. However, existence of initial defects such as weld defects cannot be entirely excluded and this potential cracks are to be evaluated to determine if initiated cracks do not lead to component failure instantly. Therefore, evaluation of structural integrity in the presence of crack-like defects is also important to complement the formal design assessment. The authors have been developing a guideline for assessing long-term structural integrity of fast reactor components using detailed inelastic analysis and nonlinear fracture mechanics. This guideline consists of two parts, evaluation of defect-free structures and flaw evaluation. In the latter, creep-fatigue is considered to be one of the most essential driving force for crack propagation at high operating temperature exceeding 500 °C. The uses of J-integral-type parameters (fatigue J-integral range and creep J-integral) are recommended to describe creep-fatigue crack propagation behavior in the guideline. This paper gives an outline of the simplified evaluation method for creep-fatigue crack propagation.     

Technical evolution of permanent magnet synchronous motors for home appliances

This paper reports on the highly efficient motor technologies used in home appliances in Japan. The permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) is especially suitable because the use of permanent magnets does not require any extra current to produce magnetic power in the rotor, or any other kind of energy. In Japan, there has been a rapid shift from induction motors to PMSMs, and in this paper we will show several examples of PMSMs as applied to the home appliance field. It can be seen that great improvements have been made in high‐efficiency motor technologies. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ultimate strength of compressed stiffened plates and minimum stiffness ratio of their stiffeners

A theoretical investigation into the effectiveness of a stiffener against the ultimate strength of a stiffened plate is carried out. Series of the buckling analyses, the elastic large deflection analyses and the elastic-plastic large deflection analyses are performed by the analytical method and the finite element method on the stiffened plate under thrust. Experiments are also carried out on the stiffened plate under thrust to confirm the theoretical results.On buckling of a stiffened plate, it is well known that ther exxists a minimum stiffness ratio of a stiffener to the plate, $\text{λ}{}^{\mathrm{B}}{}_{\min }$, which gives the maximum limiting value of the buckling strength. Concerning the ultimate strength it was confirmed that there exists a significant stiffness ratio of a st stiffener to the plate, $\text{λ}{}^{\mathrm{U}}{}_{\min }$ similar to $\text{λ}{}^{\mathrm{B}}{}_{\min }$ for the buckling strength.It was also found that there are three typical collapse modes for the stiffened plate under thrust, that is: (1) MODE OO, overall collapse after overall buckling; (2) MODE LO, overall collapse after local buckling; (3) MODE LL, local collapse after local buckling.Approximatelmethods are proposed to evaluate the ultimate strength and $\text{λ}{}^{\mathrm{U}}{}_{\min }$ of a multi-stiffened plate under thrust.The effects of initial imperfections such as welding residual stresses and initial deflection on ultimate strength and $\text{λ}{}^{\mathrm{U}}{}_{\min }$ of a stiffened plate under thrust are also discussed.     

Evaluation of hexabromocyclododecane in fish and marine mammal oil supplements

We analyzed the dietary fish and marine mammal oil supplements purchased from Japanese markets for hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD); 20 brands were analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). HBCD was detected in 15 of 22 samples, and the concentrations of all the HBCD isomers (α, β, and γ) ranged from <0.9 to 67 ng/g lipid weight. α-HBCD was the dominant residue among the HBCD isomers. However, the composition of HBCD isomers varied according to the sample type. We found that 1 sardine oil brand and 2 shark liver oil brands extracted from fish captured in seawater around Japan contained relatively high levels of HBCD, indicating that both the surface and deep seawaters around Japan may have been contaminated with HBCD.     

Study on environmental effect on fatigue and creep-fatigue strength of 316FR stainless steel in sodium at elevated temperature

Low-carbon 316 stainless steel with medium-nitrogen (316FR) is considered as the principal structural material for next generation fast breeder reactor (FBR) plants in Japan. The material strength standard and the creep-fatigue life evaluation method for 316FR have been developed. However, they are based on the results of material tests in air, while actual structural material will be used mainly in liquid sodium environment in the plants. In order to clarify the environmental effect, cyclic bending tests were carried out with and without hold time in sodium. Tested materials were 316FR and conventional 304 and 316 stainless steels. Weld metal of 316FR was also tested. As a result, it was found that fatigue and creep-fatigue lives of 316FR in sodium were larger than those in air and no explicit consideration of the environmental effect is necessary in design. It was also found that the life evaluation method based on the ductility exhaustion concept is applicable to creep-fatigue life assessment in sodium.     

亚洲历史环境保护的动向——以日本为例

对近期日本的城市保护工作的实际加以考察,就会发现由于大量再开发项目列入计划,近代历史性办公建筑濒临拆毁的绝境。而与此同时,一些历史城镇的保护工作取得了巨大进展,有吸引,有吸引力的景观得以保存。在对曼谷、河内、马尼拉、新加坡、庆州以及台湾的几个城镇的考察中,都可以观察到类似的保护实践,尽管面临着巨大的困难,历史环境保护正成为当今亚洲城市规划的主要任务之一。