Electric-power quality measurements under distorted conditions:: Are they utopia or reality?

This paper discusses how distortion- and unbalance-dependent parameters can be used for assessing the electric-power quality. In particular, possible ways for the localization of the sources producing distortion are discussed. The information supplied by the different measurement procedures proposed in the literature or by the International Standards is compared, on the basis of experimental results. The discussion is aimed at outlining items that have not yet been studied in a satisfactory way.     

Functional and comparative study of lingual papillae in four species of bear (Ursidae) by scanning electron microscopy

The eight current species of bear (Ursidae) are widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and America. They are mainly encountered in the northern hemisphere, except for the spectacled bear and the sun bear, which are also found in the south of the equator. Adaptations of the masticatory apparatus (teeth, tongue, and musculature) to diet are one of the factors that imply the greatest structural changes in the cranium. This diet may be carnivorous, herbivorous, melliferous, or insectivorous, with one type of food predominating according to the time of year. The way in which food is eaten determines the morphology of the lingual surface; generally speaking, all bears put their mouth to the food, which, initially, they lick or they let the food stick to their tongue, as occurs when insects are eaten. As in all mammals, a distinction can be made between mechanical and gustatory papillae and the development and distribution of which depend on the species and their eating habits. In this study of the complete tongues of four species of adult bears, we describe the morphology of the lingual surfaces, the different types of papillae, their characteristics, and topographic distribution. It was seen that there were five main types of lingual papillae: filiform, conical, fungiform, foliate, and vallate. Morphology of the microgrooves and pores was similar to that observed in other mammals. In general, there were no great differences among the four species of bears studied, perhaps due to the similarity in the kind of food they consume in captivity.     

Automatic control systems for submerged membrane bioreactors: a state-of-the-art review

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology has become relatively widespread as an advanced treatment for both industrial and municipal wastewater, especially in areas prone to water scarcity. Although operational cost is a key issue in MBRs, currently only a few crucial papers and inventions aimed to optimise and enhance MBR efficiency have been published. The present review summarises the available solutions in the area of automatic control systems and widely explores the advances in automation and control for MBRs. In this review of state of the art, different control systems are evaluated comparatively, distinguishing between control systems used for the filtration process and those used for the biological process of MBRs and describing the challenge faced by integrated control systems. The existing knowledge is classified according to the manipulated variables, the operational mode (open-loop or closed-loop) and the controlled variables used.     

Numerical study of flow anisotropy within a single natural rock joint

The paper investigates the flow anisotropy within a natural joint subjected to mechanical shear. The cubic law is the simplest way to describe fluid flow through rock joints but because of rock wall roughness, deviations from this model have been observed. The Reynolds equation usually gives better results. In this study, micro-scale roughness is taken into account to define a reduced coefficient of permeability. Numerical simulations have been carried out by applying Darcy's law to the rock joint, described as an equivalent porous medium. The numerical simulations are based on experimental data obtained by Hans (PhD, Grenoble, 2002) from a series of hydromechanical shear tests on a rock joint replica. The numerical results have been compared to the experimental ones, and to the results obtained by applying the Reynolds equation, to assess the relevance of the simulations. For the fracture studied, the approach proposed herein can reproduce relatively well the experimental flow anisotropy, and provides consistent values of flow rates, whereas the Reynolds equation tends to give higher flow rates.     

A method for the determination of the parameters of the hysteresismodel of magnetic materials

Many methods have been proposed for the determination of the hysteresis loops of magnetic materials, and many mathematical approaches have been proposed to find a good model for the hysteresis phenomenon. However, very few attempts have been made to determine the parameters of the hysteresis model experimentally. This paper shows how, starting from a digital method for the experimental determination of the hysteresis loop under different maximum induction values, the parameters of a hysteresis model can be automatically estimated with good accuracy. Due to its good behavior in terms of accuracy and to the comparative ease in determining its parameters, the Preisach model for rate-independent hysteresis phenomena was chosen. Experimental determination of the model and consequent hysteresis loop computation were carried out. An accuracy below 1% was attained over the peak induction range from 0.49 T to 1.68 T and the frequency range from 50 Hz to 100 Hz     

A Comprehensive Mixed-Mode Time-Domain Load- and Source-Pull Measurement System

We present a novel test set devised for nonlinear balanced device characterization using load-pull techniques. The system is capable of measuring the voltage and current waveforms at the calibration reference planes while independently tuning the device under test (DUT) source and load differential- and common-mode terminations. The test set is designed to address present and future large-signal multiport measurement needs, easing the characterization task while developing new multiport active devices.      

Antimicrobial finish of textiles by chitosan UV-curing

The purpose of this research work was to develop a textile finish based on the radical UV-curing of chitosan on textiles to confer antimicrobial properties. Chitosan is a biopolymer with unique properties such as biodegradability, non-toxicity, antimicrobial activity. In this work cotton or silk fabrics and synthetic filter fabrics were impregnated with an acid solution of chitosan added of the photoinitiator in the proper amount and cured at room temperature by exposure to UV lamp. Process conditions such as percentage add-on, dilution, chitosan-fabric contact time, irradiation time and power, were optimized. The antimicrobial activity of finished fabrics was tested according to ASTM E 2149-01 standard test performed with Escherichia Coli ATCC 8739. Moreover dyeing test with Turquoise Telon dye were carried out to evaluate the treatment homogeneity while the amino group content was determined by ninhydrin assay. Moreover on cotton and silk fabrics the treatment fastness to domestic laundering was tested, according to UNI EN ISO105-C01. Obtained results showed a strong antimicrobial activity conferred by the treatment, homogeneous on fabric surface. It is evident already at low add-on, without affecting the hand properties of natural fabrics and the filtration characteristics of the synthetic filter fabrics. Finally, washing fastness was better for samples prepared with a better penetration of chitosan inside the fibers.     

Analysis of the failure mechanisms of a weak rock through photogrammetrical measurements by 2D and 3D visions

This research has been dedicated to the experimental study of two different types of marls through uniaxial compressive tests on prismatic specimens. Induced deformations were measured during testing by classical extensometers and by means of photogrammetrical measurements. Either one or two cameras were employed to allow, respectively, 2D or 3D (using a stereoscopic vision) displacement measurements. A specific software was developed and applied to determine displacement and deformation maps at each photogram on the whole specimen surface. The interpretation of experimental tests, carried out for a better understanding of failure phase in weak rock before crack propagation starts, is illustrated in the paper.     

Experimental and numerical study of oblique impact on woven composite sandwich structure: Influence of the firing axis orientation

During flight, aircrafts can be submitted to complex loadings. The reliability of their structure is an essential aspect in ensuring passenger safety. In the specific case of helicopters, blades are subjected to impact loading. The following work will focus on the experimental and numerical study of an oblique impact on the skin of the blade. It is equivalent in a first approach to an impact on a sandwich panel comprising a foam core and a thin woven composite skin. This study aims to identify the mechanisms of damage to the skin for different orientations of the firing axis, and to develop a representative model of the damage kinetics adapted to the modeling of the complete structure. Thus, an F.E. semi-continuous explicit model has been developed. It relies on the development of a specific damageable element at the woven mesh scale. Numerical results obtained are accurate, allowing the identification of the damage mechanism of the woven skin for different firing orientations.     

Predicting the emissive power of hydrocarbon pool fires

The emissive power (E) of a flame depends on the size of the fire and the type of fuel. In fact, it changes significantly over the flame surface: the zones of luminous flame have high emittance, while those covered by smoke have low E values. The emissive power of each zone (that is, the luminous or clear flame and the non-luminous or smoky flame) and the portion of total flame area they occupy must be assessed when a two-zone model is used. In this study, data obtained from an experimental set-up were used to estimate the emissive power of fires and its behaviour as a function of pool size. The experiments were performed using gasoline and diesel oil as fuel. Five concentric circular pools (1.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6m in diameter) were used. Appropriate instruments were employed to determine the main features of the fires. By superimposing IR and VHS images it was possible to accurately identify the luminous and non-luminous zones of the fire. Mathematical expressions were obtained that give a more accurate prediction of E(lum), E(soot) and the average emissive power of a fire as a function of its luminous and smoky zones. These expressions can be used in a two-zone model to obtain a better prediction of the thermal radiation. The value of the radiative fraction was determined from the thermal flux measured with radiometers. An expression is also proposed for estimating the radiative fraction.