A single-stage power-factor-corrected AC/DC converter

This paper presents a single-stage isolated converter topology designed to achieve a regulated DC output voltage having no low-frequency components and a high-input power factor. The topology is derived from the basic two-switch forward converter, but incorporates an additional transformer winding, inductor and a few diodes. The proposed circuit inherently forces the input current to be discontinuous and AC modulated to achieve high-input power factor. The converter output is operated in discontinuous mode to minimize the bulk capacitor voltage variations when the output load is varied. Analysis of the converter is presented, and performance characteristics are given. Design guidelines to select critical components of the circuit are presented. Experimental results on a 150 W 50 kHz universal input (90-265 V) 54.75 V output AC/DC converter are given which confirm the predicted performance of the proposed topology     

A bidirectional DC-DC converter topology for low power application

This paper presents a bidirectional DC-DC converter for use in low power applications. The proposed topology is based on a half-bridge on the primary and a current-fed push-pull on the secondary side of a high frequency isolation transformer. Achieving bidirectional flow of power using the same power components provides a simple, efficient and galvanically isolated topology that is specially attractive for use in battery charge/discharge circuits in DC UPS. The DC mains (provided by the AC mains), when presented, powers the down stream load converters and the bidirectional converter which essentially operates in the buck mode to charge the battery to a nominal value of 48 V. On failure of the DC mains (derived from the AC mains), the converter operation is comparable to that of a boost and the battery regulates the bus voltage and thereby provides power to the downstream converters. Small signal and steady state analyses are presented for this specific application. The design of a laboratory prototype is included. Experimental results from the prototype, under different operating conditions, validate and evaluate the proposed topology. An efficiency of 86.6% is achieved in the battery charging mode and 90% when the battery provides load power. The converter exhibits good transient response under load variations and switchover from one mode of operation to another     

Novel polymeric photoinitiators bearing side-chain α-aminoacetophenone moieties for ultraviolet-curable pigmented coatings

New polymeric photoinitiators with pendant α-aminoacetophenone moieties, such as the homopolymers of 1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-2-benzyl-2-[N-methyl-N-(3-methacryloyloxypropyl)]aminopropan-1-one and of 1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-2-benzyl-2-[N-methyl-N-(3-methacryloyloxypropyl)]aminobutan-1-one have been prepared and fully characterized. Their photoinitiation activity has been also checked in the ultraviolet cure of a standard acrylic mixture, under irradiation over 380 nm, thus simulating the absorption conditions of a TiO₂-pigmented coating formulation. The results have been compared with those found by using the corresponding low-molecular-weight structural models, purposely synthesized. The activity data obtained are discussed and related to the structural requirements of the above systems. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 2237–2246, 1997     

Copolymeric systems bearing side-chain thioxanthone and α-aminoacetophenone moieties as photoinitiators for ultraviolet-curable pigmented coatings

Copolymers of 1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-2-benzyl-2-[N-methyl-N-(3-meth-acryloyloxy propyl)]aminopropan-1-one and of 1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-2-benzyl-2-[N-methyl-N-(3-methacryloyloxypropyl)]aminobutan-1-one with 1-[(2-methacryloyloxy)ethoxycarbonyl]thioxanthone were prepared and structurally characterized. The above systems were also checked in the ultraviolet cure of an acrylic mixture upon irradiation over 380 nm, thus simulating the conditions of a TiO₂-pigmented formulation. The curing results were compared with those obtained in the presence of the mixtures of the corresponding homopolymers as well as of their low-molecular-weight models. The copolymeric systems display synergistic effects of activity with respect to the structural models but show lower photoinitiation efficiency against the homopolymers mixtures. These data are discussed and interpreted in terms of structural requirements and photochemical mechanistic aspects of the above systems. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 2247–2258, 1997     

Microbial oxidation of naphthalene to cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene in a membrane bioreactor

A microbial dihydroxylation process for the production of cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene from naphthalene is reported. The oxidation reaction was initially studied in a stirred tank reactor using resting cells of a Pseudomonas fluorescens mutant, grown on glucose as carbon source and acetyl salicylate as inducer of the naphthalene dioxygenase enzymatic system. In these conditions the productivity of the system was limited by the efficiency of the oxygenation and by a reversible product inhibition phenomenon. In order to overcome the inhibitory effect of the 1,2-dihydrodiol accumulation, the biotransformations were carried out in a stirred reactor equipped with a membrane ultrafiltration device. In this way, the cells and the insoluble naphthalene were retained and recycled into the vessel, while the soluble diol was continuously removed through the membrane permeate. The diol was recovered by selective adsorption on a column packed with an adsorbent resin, allowing the rapid and direct recycle of the reaction medium back to the enzymatic reactor. This system afforded a final yield three-fold higher than that of the batch process, exhibiting a bioconversion rate of 1·3 g h⁻¹ dm⁻³ for more than 16 h of continuous working.     

An experimental characterization of human torso motion

The torso plays an important role in the human-like operation of humanoids. In this paper, a method is proposed to analyze the behavior of the human torso by using inertial and magnetic sensing tools. Experiments are conducted to characterize the motion performance of the human torso during daily routine operations. Furthermore, the forces acting on the human body during these operations are evaluated to design and validate the performance of a humanoid robot.