Performance analysis of selective cooperation in amplify‐and‐forward relay networks over identical Nakagami‐m channels

In cooperative communications, multiple relays between a source and a destination can increase the diversity gain. Because all the nodes must use orthogonal channels, multiple‐relay cooperation becomes spectrally inefficient. Therefore, a bestrelay selection scheme was recently proposed. In this paper, we analyzed the performance of this scheme for a system with the relays operating in amplify‐and‐forward mode over identical Nakagami‐m channels using an exact source–relay–destination signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR).We derived accurate closed‐form expressions for various system parameters including the probability density function of end‐to‐end SNR, the average output SNR, the bit error probability, and the channel capacity. The analytical results were verified through Monte Carlo simulations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Beta basis function neural network in CMOS subthreshold mode

Beta basis function neural networks (BBFNNs) are powerful systems for learning and universal approximation. In this paper, we present a hardware implementation of the Beta neuron using the CMOS subthreshold mode. We describe the low power–low voltage analogue Beta neuron circuit. Three main modules are used to realize the electronic Beta function: a logarithmic currentto-voltage converter, a multiplier and an exponential voltage-to-current converter. Simulation results show the validity of our neural hardware implementation. The parameters of the electronic Beta function are controlled independently by current sources. This analogue implementation could be used easily to realize analogue BBFNNs.     

An autonomous controller for improved dynamic performance of parallel-connected,single-phase inverters

A new control technique is presented for the parallel connection of distributed generation inverters. The proposed control technique is based on a modification of the power angle droop control method, and uses only locally measured feedback signals. An improvement in transient response is achieved because the real and imaginary components of the output current are used when deriving the power angle droop controller. The method achieves good active and reactive power sharing and minimises circulating current between parallel connected units. Improved transient response is obtained whilst maintaining power sharing precision or output voltage and frequency accuracy. Simulation and experimental results validate that performance is better than that attained with conventional droop-based approaches.     

Performance evaluation of an efficient reduced-complexity time synchronization approach for OFDM systems

This paper presents a performance analysis of a recently proposed preamble-based reduced-complexity (RC) two-stage synchronization technique. The preamble, composed of two identical subsequences, is first used to determine an uncertainty interval based on Cox and Schmidl algorithm. Then, a differential correlation-based metric is carried using a new sequence obtained by element wise multiplication of the preamble subsequence and a shifted version of it. This second step is performed to fine tune the coarse time estimate, by carrying the differential correlation-based metric over the uncertainty interval of limited width around the coarse estimate, thus leading to low computational load. In this paper, we first discuss some complexity issues of the RC approach compared to previously proposed algorithms. Then, we study the effect of the training sequence class and length choices on the synchronization performance in the case of multipath channels. The impact of the uncertainty interval width on the trade-off between performance and complexity is also studied. The two-stage approach was found to provide almost equal performance to those obtained by the most efficient differential correlation-based benchmarks. However, it has a very reduced computational load, equivalent to that of sliding correlation-based approaches.     

Novel signals for optimized timing synchronization in direct‐sequence spread‐spectrum communication systems

The paper presents design techniques for novel signaling waveforms to optimize timing synchronization in direct‐sequence spread‐spectrum communication systems. Both coarse code timing acquisition and fine delay‐locked loop tracking systems are considered, and their performance metrics are analyzed in terms of initial acquisition detection probability and residual tracking jitter, showing a strong dependency on signal waveform spectral characteristics. Bit error performance under imperfect synchronization is also assessed. A design methodology is formulated with a low complexity parametric optimization approach based on prolate spheroidal waveform expansions for the generation of signals that minimize the probability of acquisition miss and tracking error jitter subject to additional constraints on signal energy and phase transitions. Novel optimized waveforms are synthesized with different levels of effective root mean square bandwidth occupancy and compared with conventional pulses to illustrate their advantages. Performance trade‐offs are demonstrated between the acquisition and tracking systems, whereby signals with low effective bandwidth are found to have better acquisition capability at the expense of poorer tracking jitter, while the converse holds for signals with higher effective bandwidth. It is found that an effective root mean square bandwidth occupancy in the range of 40% to 50% of the chip rate can achieve a good compromise between the requirements of the 2 code timing synchronization phases. Numerical results are presented to quantify the relative merits of representative waveforms with respect to the different performance measures in terms of acquisition capability, tracking jitter, and bit error probability.     

Modeling and characterization of a 5.2 GHz VCO for UWB applications in 0.13 μm CMOS process

This paper describes a 5.2 GHz voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) as a key component in RF transceivers. The circuit includes a complementary cross-coupled MOSFET as a negative conductance, beside a tank circuit which consists of an optimal on-chip spiral inductor (L), and an accumulation mode MOS varactor (C(V)). A model for phase noise and figure merit is introduced and verified through simulation in a standard 0.13 μm CMOS process. The VCO core drew a 4.2 mA of current from a 1.2 V power supply and a phase noise of −98.5 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from the 5.2 GHz carrier was calculated. The whole performance of the circuit specifically the tuning range was found to be 26%.     

Alkali retention/separation during bagasse gasification: a comparison between a fluidised bed and a cyclone gasifier

Biomass fuelled integrated gasification/gas turbines (BIG/GTs) have been found to be one of the most promising technologies to maximise electricity output in the sugar industry. However, biomass fuels contain alkali metals (Na and K) which may be released during the gasification processes and cause deleterious effects on the downstream hardware (e.g. the blades of gas turbines). Much research has therefore been focused on different kinds of gas cleaning. Most of these projects are using a fluidised bed gasifier and includes extensive gas cleaning which leads to a high capital investment.

Increasing alkali retention/separation during the gasification may lead to improved producer gas quality and reduced costs for gas cleaning. However, very little quantitative information is available about the actual potential of this effect. In the present work, comparative bench-scale tests of bagasse gasification were therefore run in an isothermal fluidised bed gasifier and in a cyclone gasifier to evaluate which gasification process is most attractive as regards alkali retention/separation, and to try to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the retention.

The alkali retention in the fluidised bed gasifier was found to be in the range of 12–4% whereas in the cyclone gasifier the alkali separation was found to be about 70%. No significant coating of the fluidised bed's bed material particles could be observed. The SEM/EDS and the elemental maps of the bed material show that a non-sticky ash matrix consisting of mainly Si, Al and K were distributed in a solid form separated from the particles of bed material. This indicates the formation of a high temperature melting potassium containing silicate phase, which is continuously scavenged and lost from the bed through elutriation.     

Pressure–time characteristics in diesel engine fueled with natural gas

Combustion pressure data are measured and presented for a dual fuel engine running on dual fuel of diesel and compressed natural gas, and compared to the diesel engine case. The maximum pressure rise rate during combustion is presented as a measure of combustion noise. Experimental investigation on diesel and dual fuel engines revealed the noise generated from combustion in both cases. A Ricardo E6 diesel version engine is converted to run on dual fuel of diesel and compressed natural gas and is used throughout the work. The engine is fully computerized and the cylinder pressure data, crank angle data are stored in a PC for off-line analysis. The effect of engine speeds, loads, pilot injection angle, and pilot fuel quantity on combustion noise is examined for both diesel and dual engine. Maximum pressure rise rate and some samples of ensemble averaged pressure–crank angle data are presented in the present work. The combustion noise, generally, is found to increase for the dual fuel engine case as compared to the diesel engine case.     

KINEMATIC VISCOSITY-TEMPERATURE BEHAVIOR OF HEAVY TBP-FRACTIONS (455°C+) OF ARABIAN CRUDE OILS

A generalized kinematic viscosity-temperature correlation for undefined liquid heavy petroleum fractions has been developed to represent the data for a wide range of temperature from 100°C to 200°C. The correlation is based on the experimental kinematic viscosity data of true boiling point fractions of four Arabian crude oils. The characterization property required for estimation is 50% boiling point. The proposed correlation fits the experimental data with an overall absolute error of 6.1%. Experimental measurements of kinematic viscosity of heavy true boiling point fractions of Arabian crude oils were also obtained in order to develop the proposed correlation.     

Ion conduction in vanadium-substituted LiSn<Subscript>2</Subscript>P<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> electrolyte nanomaterials

LiSn₂P_3 − y V _y O₁₂ powders with y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 are prepared by mechanochemical milling method. The pellets of the compounds are heat treated at temperatures between 700 to 1,000 °C for sintering period of 8 h. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that all samples consist of rhombohedral crystalline LiSn₂P₃O₁₂ phase. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed that V⁵⁺ has been successfully substituted into LiSn₂P₃O₁₂ crystalline phase. The conductivities of the pellets are determined using impedance spectroscopy. Impedance analysis shows enhancement in both bulk and grain boundary conductivities with increase in y. The enhancement in bulk conductivity is due to decrease in bulk activation energy reflecting an increase in ion mobility as a result of an increase in bottleneck size. Enhancement in grain boundary conductivity is attributed to increase in the number of conducting pathways due to an increase in crystallite homogeneity.