Turbulence influence on wind energy extraction for a medium size vertical axis wind turbine

The relation between power performance and turbulence intensity for a VAWT H‐rotor is studied using logged data from a 14 month (discontinuous) period with the H‐rotor operating in wind speeds up to 9 m/s. The turbine, designed originally for a nominal power of 200 kW, operated during this period mostly in a restricted mode due to mechanical concerns, reaching power levels up to about 80 kW. Two different approaches are used for presenting results, one that can be compared to power curves consistent with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard and one that allows isolating the effect of turbulence from the cubic variation of power with wind speed. Accounting for this effect, the turbine still shows slightly higher efficiency at higher turbulence, proposing that the H‐rotor is well suited for wind sites with turbulent winds. The operational data are also used to create a C_p(λ) curve, showing slightly lower C_p compared with a curve simulated by a double multiple streamtube model. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Loss evaluation and design optimisation for direct driven permanent magnet synchronous generators for wind power

When designing a generator for a wind turbine it is important to adapt the generator to the source, i.e. the wind conditions at the specific site. Furthermore, the variable speed operation of the generator needs to be considered. In this paper, electromagnetic losses in direct driven permanent magnet synchronous generators are evaluated through simulations. Six different generators are compared to each other. The simulations are performed by using an electromagnetic model, solved in a finite element environment and a control model developed in MATLAB. It is shown that when designing a generator it is important to consider the statistical wind distribution, control system, and aerodynamic efficiency in order to evaluate the performance properly. In this paper, generators with high overload capability are studied since they are of interest for this specific application. It is shown that a generator optimised for a minimum of losses will have a high overload capability.     

A Highly Enantioselective Catalytic Domino Aza‐Michael/Aldol Reaction: One‐Pot Organocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of 1,2‐Dihydroquinolidines

The highly enantioselective organocatalytic domino aza‐Michael/aldol reaction is presented. The unprecedented, chiral amine‐catalyzed asymmetric domino reactions between 2‐aminobenzaldehydes and α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes proceed with excellent chemo‐ and enantioselectivity to give the corresponding pharmaceutically valuable 1,2‐dihydroquinolines derivatives in high yields with 90 to >99 % ee.     

Controlling grout spreading in tunnel grouting — analyses and developments of the GIN-method

In order to choose the best grouting technique, predictions of the grouting result can be made. Due to uncertainties in the predictions, control of the grouting during ongoing work is an important step towards a successful result. One method to control the grouting is the GIN-method developed and presented by Lombardi and Deere (1993). The method focuses on controlling the grout spreading in order to minimise the risk of hydraulic uplift and achieve a more uniform spreading around a bore hole. However, this method is described with emphasis on dam grouting. In this paper, theories are analysed and developed from a tunnel grouting point of view. A concept of a normalised pressure and normalised grout spreading is presented that at the same time enables control of the grout spreading distance as well as the risk of hydraulic uplift. Calculations based on field data are also done in order to visualise and discuss the potential use of developed theories. Some conclusions from the performed analyses are that other mathematical relations than those stipulated by the GIN-method better account for the risk of hydraulic uplift and that higher pressures than the “rule of thumb” stipulates could be used in good rock. So far, the concept of normalised pressure and normalised grout spreading is in its first stage and is studied mainly from a theoretical point of view. Further studies are thus needed.     

Tribological surfaces of organic brake pads

Despite the enormous amount of testing and development of automotive brakes and brake pad materials, rather little is known about their tribological contact situation on a microscopic level. The sliding of an organic brake pad against a grey cast iron rotor is very different from most tribological systems. When worn against the rotor, the complex structure and very inhomogeneous composition of the pads results in a particular surface structure, with large contact plateaus rising a few micrometers above the rest of the surface [Wear 232 (1999) 163; Wear 2000 (submitted for publication); Proceedings of the Nordtrib 2000, vol. 2 (2000), 358]. The present investigation involves a more comprehensive study of the formation, mechanical properties and composition of the tribological surfaces of such pads, using high resolution scanning electron microscopy, nanoindentation, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and three-dimensional profilometry using white light optical interferometry. The observations are discussed and correlated to observed friction phenomena.     

Optimization of La2O3-containing diopside based glass-ceramic sealants for fuel cell applications

We report on the optimization of La₂O₃-containing diopside based glass-ceramics (GCs) for sealant applications in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Seven glass compositions were prepared by modifying the parent glass composition, Ca_0.8Ba_0.1MgAl_0.1La_0.1Si_1.9O₆. First five glasses were prepared by the addition of different amounts of B₂O₃ in a systematic manner (i.e. 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 wt.%) to the parent glass composition while the remaining two glasses were derived by substituting SrO for BaO in the glasses containing 2 wt.% and 5 wt.% B₂O₃. Structural and thermal behavior of the glasses was investigated by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), density measurements, dilatometry and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Liquid–liquid amorphous phase separation was observed in B₂O₃-containing glasses. Sintering and crystallization behavior, microstructure, and properties of the GCs were investigated under different heat treatment conditions (800 and 850 °C; 1–300 h). The GCs with ≥5 wt.% B₂O₃ showed an abnormal thermal expansion behavior above 600 °C. The chemical interaction behavior of the glasses with SOFC electrolyte and metallic interconnects, has been investigated in air atmosphere at SOFC operating temperature. Thermal shock resistance and gas-tightness of GC sealants in contact with 8YSZ was evaluated in air and water. The total electrical resistance of a model cell comprising Crofer 22 APU and 8YSZ plates joined by a GC sealant has been examined by the impedance spectroscopy. Good matching of thermal expansion coefficients (CTE) and strong, but not reactive, adhesion to electrolyte and interconnect, in conjunction with a low level of electrical conductivity, indicate that the investigated GCs are suitable candidates for further experimentation as SOFC sealants.     

Critical oxide thickness for efficient single-walled carbon nanotube growth on silicon using thin SiO2 diffusion barriers

The ability to integrate carbon nanotubes, especially single-walled carbon nanotubes, seamlessly onto silicon would expand their range of applications considerably. Though direct integration using chemical vapor deposition is the simplest method, the growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes on bare silicon and on ultrathin oxides is greatly inhibited due to the formation of a noncatalytic silicide. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we show that silicide formation occurs on ultrathin oxides due to thermally activated metal diffusion through the oxide. Silicides affect the growth of single-walled nanotubes more than multi-walled nanotubes due to the increased kinetics at the higher single-walled nanotube growth temperature. We demonstrate that nickel and iron catalysts, when deposited on clean silicon or ultrathin silicon dioxide layers, begin to form silicides at relatively low temperatures, and that by 900 degrees C, all of the catalyst has been incorporated into the silicide, rendering it inactive for subsequent single-walled nanotube growth. We further show that a 4-nm silicon dioxide layer is the minimum diffusion barrier thickness that allows for efficient single-walled nanotube growth.     

The effects of high-sugar ryegrass/red clover silage diets on intake,production, digestibility,and N utilization in dairy cows,as measured in vivo and predicted by the NorFor model

Grass silage-based diets often result in poor nitrogen utilization when fed to dairy cows. Perennial ryegrass cultivars with high concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) have proven potential for correcting this imbalance when fed fresh, and have also been shown to increase feed intake, milk production, and N utilization. The possibility of achieving corresponding effects with silage-based diets was investigated in change-over experiments in an incomplete block design with 16 (yr 1) or 12 (yr 2) Swedish Red dairy cows in mid lactation. Measurements on N excretion and rumen parameters were performed on subgroups of 8 and 4 cows, respectively. In yr 1, 2 ryegrass cultivars (standard = Fennema; high-WSC = Aberdart) and 2 cuts (first and second) were compared. In all treatments, ryegrass silage was mixed 75/25 on a dry matter (DM) basis, with red clover silage before feeding out. In yr 2, 1 basic mixture from the different cuts of these 2 cultivars was used and experimental factors were red clover silage inclusion (25 or 50%) and sucrose addition (0 or 10%) on a silage DM basis. Differences in WSC concentration in the silage mixtures in yr 1 were minor, whereas the differences between cuts were more substantial: 100 compared with 111 g/kg of DM for first-cut silage and 39 compared with 47 g/kg of DM for second-cut silage. The silages fed in yr 2 had a WSC concentration of 115 or 102 g/kg of DM (25 or 50% red clover, respectively), but when sucrose was added WSC concentration reached 198 and 189 g/kg of DM, respectively. Milk production (kg/d) did not differ between treatments in either year. Red clover inclusion to 50% of silage DM increased milk protein. Nitrogen efficiency (milk N/feed N) increased from 0.231 to 0.254 with sucrose inclusion in yr 2 (average for the 2 red clover levels). Overall rumen pH was 5.99 and increased sucrose level did not affect pH level or daily pH pattern. Sucrose addition reduced neutral detergent fiber digestibility, particularly at higher inclusion rates of clover. Rumen pool of total purines did not differ between treatments, nor did protein production assessed from urinary allantoin. The NorFor feed evaluation model overestimated digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and N, but underestimated N excretion in feces. We concluded that addition of WSC to dairy cow diets at levels up to 3 kg of WSC per day (>14% of DM) does not dramatically affect cow performance.     

Presence Network Agent: A Simple Way to Improve the Presence Service

The article examines a possible way of improving the performance of the presence service within IMS networks without modifying the presence and group management enabler. This can be achieved by means of a presence network agent (PNA). The PNA has been defined by 3GPP in [1]; it is a new logic entity within the IMS core network that is able to publish the presence information on behalf of the presentity user agent. The PNA improves performance because it reduces the presence signaling load within the radio access network without downgrading the freshness and richness of the presence information. The article?s goal is to provide the reader with useful information about the PNA and our experience with PNA implementation and deployment. We first describe the PNA concept as defined by 3GPP, highlighting the open issues still present in the standardization and the possible optimizations, subsequently we present an actual implementation of a PNA handling busy/idle states for IMS calls.     

A survey of teenager unnatural deaths in northern Sweden 1981-2000

OBJECTIVE: To survey unnatural deaths among teenagers in northern Sweden and to suggest preventive measures. SETTING: The four northernmost counties (908,000 inhabitants, 1991), forming 55% of the area of Sweden. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All unnatural teenager deaths from 1981 through 2000 were identified in the databases of the Department of Forensic Medicine in Umea, National Board of Forensic Medicine. Police reports and autopsy findings were always studied, social and hospital records if present. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-five deaths were found, of which 267 (75%) were males and 88 (25%) females. Ninety out of 327 (28%) tested positive for alcohol. Two hundred and forty-eight (70%) were unintentional and 102 (30%) were intentional deaths, and five (1%) were categorized as undetermined manner of death. Unintentional deaths decreased while the incidence of intentional deaths remained unaffected by time. CONCLUSIONS: Injury-reducing measures have been effective concerning unintentional deaths and the fall in young licensed drivers due to the economical recess have probably also contributed to the decrease. However, there were no signs of decreasing numbers of suicides during the study period, which calls for resources to be allocated to suicide prevention.