A Multiagent‐Based Microgrid Operation Method

In this paper, we propose an autonomous microgrid operation using a multiagent approach. The proposed multiagent system consists of seven types of agent: a single microgrid controller agent (MGC), several load agents (LAGs), several gas‐turbine (gas‐engine) agents (GAGs), several photovoltaic generation agents (PVAGs), several wind‐turbine generation agents (WTAGs), several battery agents (BAGs), and a single grid agent (GridAG). In a microgrid, LAGs act as consumers or buyers, GAGs, PVAGs, and WTAGs act as producers or sellers, and BAGs act as prosumers or sellers/buyers. In order to verify the performance of the proposed system, it is applied to a simple model system with different electrical power prices. From the simulation results, it can be seen that the proposed multiagent system can perform microgrid operations efficiently.     

An α2,3-Linked Sialylglycopolymer as a Multivalent Glycoligand Against Avian and Human Influenza Viruses

A glycopolymer bearing α2,3-linked sialyltrisaccharides was synthesized by living radical polymerization using a glycomonomer prepared by a protecting-group-free process, direct azidation of the free sialyllactose, and subsequent azide-alkyne cycloaddition. The prepared glycopolymer with pendant 3´-sialyllactose moieties strongly interacted with both avian and human influenza viruses analyzed by the hemagglutination inhibition assay and the quartz crystal microbalance method.     

A Three‐Position Swing Electromagnetic Actuator with an Integrated Eddy Current Brake for Suppression of the Operating Time and Improvement of the Stopping Accuracy

A closed‐loop control system is commonly used in electromagnetic actuators to ensure operating performance. However, this system frequently leads to high costs. We developed a swing electromagnetic actuator with an integrated eddy current brake to reduce the operating time and improve the stopping accuracy. The developed actuator is a three‐position cylindrical actuator moving within a ±120º angle without closed‐loop control. The rotor is composed of a bulk and thin metal laminations and the stator has three sets of pairs of coils. The rotor is stopped at an intermediate position by magnetic force generated by the coils. This paper describes the electromagnetic design and its evaluation by using an FEM simulation to predict its operating characteristics and measure its performance on a test bench. The superiority of our actuator design is verified by comparing these measurements. The operating time is reduced to one‐sixth of that of a laminated rotor and the over travel is compressed to zero. In addition, this actuator has the advantage that it is electrically robust against variations in the power supply.     

Representative sample of LISP program inference from examples

The inference of LISP programs from their input-output behaviour is one of the most significant subjects in the study of inductive inference. P.D. Summers gave the inference algorithm for this problem. His method uses a recurrence relation among multiple examples. We have extended this method. By characterizing the set of examples, we introduce the notion of a representative sample that describes the capability of the LISP program appropriately. That is, a representative sample is the set of examples that are the simplest ones of all the examples that behave in the same way. Then, we give a condition that assures the existence of a representative sample and partial correctness of the inference algorithm. Furthermore, we propose an interactive procedure that transforms an arbitrary given set of examples into the representative one. This procedure makes the inference algorithm flexible.     

A Sensorless Starting Method for Self‐Controlled Synchronous Motors

Self‐controlled synchronous motors have been used as variable speed motors in industry and are now also used for propelling ships. In this type of motor, information on the rotor position is needed in order to achieve stable operation. A simple sensorless starting method for this motor is studied in this paper. An initial rotor position detection method without a position sensor is first discussed. It is shown that the position can be detected easily by observing the electromotive forces induced in the armature windings due to the change in the field current. Then, a new starting method for the motor is proposed on the basis of DC link current chopping during the starting period. It is shown that, based on the proposed method, starting of the motor can be realized independently of the load conditions, which indicates the usefulness of the proposed method. Finally, the effects of various system parameters on the response of the DC input current and the motor speed during starting up are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 175(3): 48–55, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21082     

Correlation between micro-structural properties and ionic conductivity of Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 ceramics

We report on the structure and lithium ion transport properties of Li_1.5Al_0.5Ge_1.5(PO₄)₃ (LAGP). This material is commercially available and is prepared as amorphous powders via a flame spray technique called Flash Creation Method (FCM). We crystallize and sinter the amorphous powders at different temperatures in order to alter grain size and grain boundary properties. The structure is then characterized by means of powder X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. AC impedance spectroscopy is used to study lithium ion transport. A maximum total conductivity of 2 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature is found for a sample sintered at 750 °C for 2 h. In order to distinguish between grain and grain boundary contributions to the impedance spectra, equivalent circuit fits are carried out. The results are analysed in the framework of the classical brick layer model and of a finite-element approach taking into account non-ideal grain contacts. Our experimental results for the grain and grain boundary resistances are in good agreement with the predications of the finite-element approach.     

Application of virtual machine technology to real-time mapping of Thomson scattering data to flux coordinates for the LHD

This paper presents a system called “TSMAP” that maps electron temperature profiles to flux coordinates for the Large Helical Device (LHD). Considering the flux surface is isothermal, TSMAP searches an equilibrium database for the LHD equilibrium that fits the electron temperature profile. The equilibrium database is built through many VMEC computations of the helical equilibria. Because the number of equilibria is large, the most important technical issue for realizing the TSMAP system is computational performance. Therefore, we use multiple personal computers to enhance performance when building the database for TSMAP. We use virtual machines on multiple Linux computers to run the TSMAP program. Virtual machine technology is flexible, allowing the number of computers to be easily increased. This paper discusses how the use of virtual machine technology enhances the performance of TSMAP calculations when multiple CPU cores are used.     

Immobilization of Cs and Sr to HZr2(PO4)3 using an autoclave

The proton-type crystalline zirconium phosphate, HZr₂(PO₄)₃, was prepared by a thermal decomposition of NH₄Zr₂(PO₄)₃ at about 450 °C, where NH₄Zr₂(PO₄)₃ was obtained in advance by a hydrothermal synthesis using a mixed solution of ZrOCl₂, H₃PO₄ and H₂C₂O₄. Cs or Sr ion was immobilized to HZr₂(PO₄)₃ by mixing HZr₂(PO₄)₃ with an aqueous solution of CsNO₃ or Sr(NO₃)₂ under the molar ratio CsNO₃/HZr₂(PO₄)₃ = 1.0 or Sr(NO₃)₂/HZr₂(PO₄)₃ = 0.5. The mixtures were treated thermally in an autoclave at different temperatures from 200 to 275 °C and Arrhenius equation was applied to the Cs and Sr immobilization process to HZr₂(PO₄)₃. The activation energy for the immobilization process of Cs or Sr was estimated as 179 kJ mol^?1 and 186 kJ mol^?1, respectively.     

Flexibility of production ordering systems

The flexibility of production ordering systems as medium range production control systems are studied. The changes affecting flexibility, production ordering systems as responses to changes, and the performance measures of flexibility are clarified. On the basis of this framework, mathematical models of production system and production ordering systems are developed to evaluate their flexibility. Two types of changes are considered: demand fluctuation and downtime fluctuation due to machine breakdown, and two models for ‘push-type’ and ‘pull-type’ production ordering systems are investigated. By simulating the models, the amplifications of production quantities and inventory levels as flexibility measures for each type of production ordering system are analysed and the flexibility compared.