Fundamental-Frequency-Modulated Six-Level Diode-Clamped Multilevel Inverter for Three-Phase Stand-Alone Photovoltaic System

This paper presents a fundamental-frequency-modulated diode-clamped multilevel inverter (DCMLI) scheme for a three-phase stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system. The system consists of five series-connected PV modules, a six-level DCMLI generating fundamental-modulation staircase three-phase output voltages, and a three-phase induction motor as the load. In order to validate the proposed concept, simulation studies and experimental measurements using a small-scale laboratory prototype are also presented. The results show the feasibility of the fundamental frequency switching application in three-phase stand-alone PV power systems.     

Opportunistic Beamforming over Rayleigh Channels with Partial Side Information

In recent years, diversity techniques have evolved into highly attractive technology for wireless communications in different forms. For instance, the channel fluctuations of the users in a network are exploited as multiuser diversity by scheduling the user with the best signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). When fading is slow, beamforming at a multiple antenna transmitter is used to induce artificial channel fluctuations to ensure multiuser diversity in the network. Such a beamforming scheme is called opportunistic beamforming since the transmitter uses random beamforming to artificially induce opportunism in the network [1]. Opportunism requires a large number of users in the system in order to reach the performance of the true beamforming that uses perfect channel state information (CSI). In this paper we investigate the benefit of having partial CSI at an opportunistic transmitter. In the investigation, we focus on the maximum normalized SNR scheduling where user?s feedback consists of SNR relative to its channel gain. We show that opportunism can be beneficially used to increase the average throughput of the system. Simulations support the analytical average throughput results obtained as the amount of CSI and the number of users vary.     

Control of a 3-phase 4-leg active power filter under non-ideal mains voltage condition

In this paper, instantaneous reactive power theory (IRP), also known as p–q theory based a new control algorithm is proposed for 3-phase 4-wire and 4-leg shunt active power filter (APF) to suppress harmonic currents, compensate reactive power and neutral line current and balance the load currents under unbalanced non-linear load and non-ideal mains voltage conditions. The APF is composed from 4-leg voltage source inverter (VSI) with a common DC-link capacitor and hysteresis–band PWM current controller. In order to show validity of the proposed control algorithm, compared conventional p–q and p–q–r theory, four different cases such as ideal and unbalanced and balanced-distorted and unbalanced-distorted mains voltage conditions are considered and then simulated. All simulations are performed by using Matlab-Simulink Power System Blockset. The performance of the 4-leg APF with the proposed control algorithm is found considerably effective and adequate to compensate harmonics, reactive power and neutral current and balance load currents under all non-ideal mains voltage scenarios.     

Effect of whey protein concentrate on phenolic profile and browning of fresh-cut lettuce (Lactuca Sativa)

The in vitro kinetics of lettuce PPO with respect to dissolved oxygen using catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and gallic acid has been examined. In-vitro lettuce polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity was determined by measuring the consumption of oxygen during the oxidation reaction. The effect of whey protein concentrate (WPC) was tested on the inhibition of lettuce PPO comparing with ascorbic acid (AA) and cysteine. A competitive model that considered inhibitors was the most appropriate model to explain reaction kinetics. Browning of lettuce was also monitored during storage for 24 h. Addition of WPC prevented loss of lightness in lettuce. Loss of identified phenolic compounds in lettuce was measured during the enzymatic browning process by high-performance liquid chromatography. Degradation of identified phenolic compounds followed first order kinetics during storage. Combination of WPC with cysteine was proposed for the protection of phenolics compounds against PPO-catalysed oxidation.     

A system-wide approach to minimize the operational cost of bench production in open-cast mining operations

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology - The production cycle of open-cast coal mines generally includes drilling, blasting, loading, hauling and coal preparation activities....