Criteria for accurate usage of block models

The results of block model calculations for multiple discretizations of a dielectric sphere and circular cylinder suggest that it is essential that the cells must be arranged for a best-fit of the body being modeled, the matrix elements must be reasonably accurate, and the cells must be small enough so that the pulse-function basis approximation is not blatantly unreasonable. When these criteria are approximately satisfied the remaining errors appear to be mainly due to imperfect representation of the shape of the object being modeled. It appears that the accuracy can be improved by using discretizations having cells of reduced size near the surface of the object. Geometric factors are defined which allow testing the potential accuracy of a solution without dimensioning or inverting a large matrix. Several unique procedures for discretization are also described that have the potential of partially mitigating the errors due to inaccurate representation of the shape of a scatterer.     

Analysis of an interferometric optical fibre detection technique applied to silicon vibrating sensors

A simple and accurate analysis of a single-mode optical fibre interferometric displacement detection technique is resented. This analysis is in good agreement with experimental measurements, and shows that angular alignment between the fibre and the sensor is the most critical parameter.     

Effect of Salt, Sugar and Storage Time on Microbiological, Chemical and Sensory Properties of Chinese Style Dried Pork

A Chinese dried pork product was manufactured with combinations of 15, 22.5, and 30% sugar and 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5% salt and evaluated for microbiological, chemical and sensory properties at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days of storage. Aerobic and anaerobic plate counts and TBA values increased during storage with the high sugar and salt combination resulting in the least microbial growth. No major rancidity problems developed. A 30% sugar and 2.5% salted product resulted in the highest panel flavor scores when evaluated by a group of panelists from the Orient.     

Decentralized energy supply: Suitability for the UK's industrial sectors

From the results reported here it is suggested that policy decisions about the potential contribution of decentralized energy supply systems to UK industrial energy requirements should be based on the suitability of individual sectors rather than averaged over all sectors. The suitability of decentralized energy sources is evaluated, based on a themodynamic match between source and demand. This suitability criterion is used to identify the most appropriate sector in manufacturing industries for the adoption of decentralized energy supply, leaving aside economic cost considerations and individual site requirements.     

The impact of multiple failure modes on estimating product field reliability

A difficulty in reliability modeling is how to capture the impact of all of the various reliability defect types. The general approach to optimizing burn-in that we describe in this article addresses a multiple-defect environment. The approach has four main parts: (i) modeling the product's failure rate distribution, (ii) establishing the Pareto distribution of reliability defects, (iii) assessing the kinetic information of each reliability defect, and (iv) estimating the DPPM under product use conditions. This article compares and contrasts the acceleration effects of various extrinsic defects found in 130- and 90-nm CMOS technology products.     

Multivariate statistical analysis of a high rate biofilm process treating kraft mill bleach plant effluent.

This study reports on a multivariate analysis of the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) wastewater treatment system at a Canadian pulp mill. The modelling approach involved a data overview by principal component analysis (PCA) followed by partial least squares (PLS) modelling with the objective of explaining and predicting changes in the BOD output of the reactor. Over two years of data with 87 process measurements were used to build the models. Variables were collected from the MBBR control scheme as well as upstream in the bleach plant and in digestion. To account for process dynamics, a variable lagging approach was used for variables with significant temporal correlations. It was found that wood type pulped at the mill was a significant variable governing reactor performance. Other important variables included flow parameters, faults in the temperature or pH control of the reactor, and some potential indirect indicators of biomass activity (residual nitrogen and pH out). The most predictive model was found to have an RMSEP value of 606 kgBOD/d, representing a 14.5% average error. This was a good fit, given the measurement error of the BOD test. Overall, the statistical approach was effective in describing and predicting MBBR treatment performance.     

Combined directional and contradirectional coupling in athree-waveguide configuration

A three-waveguide coupler, combining directional and contradirectional coupling between the central and side waveguides, respectively, is discussed. Coupled-mode formalism is used to examine the superposed processes both in synchronism and near synchronism. The nature of the solution is shown to depend on the relative coupling strengths of the individual processes. For stronger contradirectional coupling, the power is divided among the three output ports, at ratios closely related to the ratio of the coupling coefficients, and with a nonperiodic, slowly varying length dependence. The coupler can thus be used as a power divider without the need for a precisely special case where the directional and contradirectional coupling coefficients are equal     

Making decentralised systems viable: a guide to managing decentralised assets and risks.

Decentralised systems have the potential to provide a viable option for long term sustainable management of household wastewater. Yet, at present, such systems hold an uncertain status and are frequently omitted from consideration. Their potential can only be realised with improved approaches to their management, and improved methods to decision-making in planning of wastewater systems. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the value of a novel framework to guide the planning of decentralised systems so that asset management and risk management are explicitly considered. The framework was developed through a detailed synthesis of literature and practice in the area of asset management of centralised water and wastewater systems, and risk management in the context of decentralised systems. Key aspects of the framework are attention to socio-economic risks as well as engineering, public health and ecological risks, the central place of communication with multiple stakeholders and establishing a shared asset information system. A case study is used to demonstrate how the framework can guide a different approach and lead to different, more sustainable outcomes, by explicitly considering the needs and perspectives of homeowners, water authorities, relevant government agencies and society as a whole.     

A Mass Transport Model for Drying Wood under Isothermal Conditions

Mass transport in wood during drying can have different mechanisms at different periods of drying. Depending on the current moisture content (MC) and the structure of the wood, the driving forces for the mass transport are essentially different. Above the fiber saturation point (FSP), the lumens are partially saturated and the transport of liquid (free) water occurs as a consequence of capillary action. On the other hand, below the FSP, bound water within the cell walls is conveyed by diffusion, and water vapor in the lumens moves under influence of pressures gradient. Based on these considerations, a unified model is presented that takes into account the transport of the different moisture phases. Simulation of the drying of a Norway spruce sample at 50°C from about 135 to 7% MC is carried out using the finite element method (FEM). Comparison between the simulated average MC and the experimental observations obtained from X-ray computed tomography (CT) shows reasonable agreement. Possible simplifications in the model are briefly discussed as well as some aspects of the numerical implementation. Finally, the influence of absolute permeability on the average MC is studied.