Magnetic separations in biotechnology—a review

Magnetic separation technology has a broad range of potential applications in both small and large scale biotechnology. This review considers a selection of magnetic techniques and their possible uses.     

Numerical analyses of high‐beta spherical tokamaks with varied elongation

The effect of plasma elongation on the second‐stable spherical tokamak (ST) was numerically studied using the experimentally measured pressure and current profiles of ultrahigh‐beta STs. The maximum beta of ST over 50% was obtained in the TS‐3 ST/CT experiment by applying an external toroidal field to an FRC. It was found that the marginal beta for the ballooning instability increased with the plasma elongation κ of ST. The elongated STs with κ > 2 have the magnetic shear (S)–pressure gradient (α) profiles located in the second‐stable regime for the ballooning mode and the stability margin increased with κ. The close relation between the absolute minimum‐B profile and the second stability was documented. The effect of elongation on maximum beta was observed to saturate when κ exceed 3, indicating that the optimized elongation for high‐beta STs is located around 2 < κ < 3. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 155(4): 1–6, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20132     

A novel method of suppressing the inrush current of transformers by using a series‐connected voltage‐source PWM converter

This paper proposes a novel method of suppressing the inrush current of transformers. A small‐rated voltage‐source PWM converter is connected in series to the transformers through a matching transformer. As the connected PWM converter serves as a resistor for the source current, no inrush phenomena occurs. The required rating of the PWM converter, which serves as the damping resistor for the inrush phenomena, is 1/400 that of the main transformers in single‐phase circuits. In three‐phase circuits, it is 1/900. The basic principle of the proposed method is discussed. Digital computer simulation is implemented to confirm the validity and excellent practicability of the proposed method using the PSCAD/EMTDC. A prototype experimental model is constructed and tested. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can perfectly suppress the inrush phenomena. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 157(4): 56–65, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20174     

A novel robust current control approach using adaptive line enhancer for three‐phase current‐source active power filter

An effective system control method is presented for applying a three‐phase current‐source PWM converter with a deadbeat controller to active power filters (APFs). In the shunt‐type configuration, the APF is controlled such that the current drawn by the APF from the utility is equal to the current harmonics and reactive current required for the load. To attain the time‐optimal response of the APF supply current, a two‐dimensional deadbeat control scheme is applied to APF current control. Furthermore, in order to cancel both the delay in the two‐dimensional deadbeat control scheme and the delay in DSP control strategy, an Adaptive Line Enhancer (ALE) is introduced in order to predict the desired value three sampling periods ahead. ALE has another function of bringing robustness to the deadbeat control system. Due to the ALE, settling time is made short in a transient state. On the other hand, total harmonic distortion (THD) of source currents can be minimized compared to the case where ideal identification of the controlled system can be made. The experimental results obtained from the DSP‐based APF are also reported. The compensating ability of this APF is very high in accuracy and responsiveness although the modulation frequency is rather low. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 150(1): 50–61, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20014     

Effect of pretreatments and freezing rate on the firmness of potato tissue after a freeze–thaw cycle

The texture of potato tissue after a freeze–thaw process using different freezing rates and different pretreatments was analysed, in order to select the best strategy for optimum preservation of the textural characteristics of pre‐frozen potato. Ten blanching conditions were tested and a two‐step blanching process with calcium chloride (0.07 g mL^?1) proved the most effective in protecting the tissue after a freeze–thaw process (maximum load force around 10–55% of the raw tissue, depending on potato batch, for air‐blast freezing and 20–60% for immersion freezing). Vacuum impregnation at 100 and 400 mbar, even when followed by different pre‐drying treatments to remove excess water, was very detrimental to resistance to a freeze–thaw process (maximum load force below 10% of the raw tissue for air‐blast freezing and below 20% for immersion freezing). Microstructure analysis confirmed better tissue integrity retention with ethyleneglycol immersion freezing instead of air‐freezing. Differences were found between batches with a 6‐month difference in storage time, indicating that the fresher batch was more suitable for freezing.     

High‐pressure processing effects on the mechanical,barrier and mass transfer properties of food packaging flexible structures: a critical review

Food products can be high‐pressure processed (HPP) either in bulk or prepackaged in flexible or semi‐rigid packaging materials. In the latter case the packaging material is subjected, together with the food, to high‐pressure treatment. A number of studies have been performed to quantify the effects of high‐pressure processing on the physical and barrier properties of the packaging material, since the integrity of the package during and after processing is of paramount importance to the safety and quality of the food product. This article reviews the results of published research concerning the effect of HPP on packaging materials. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

三峡工地高压供电线路故障判断方法的探讨

高压供电设备故障特别是输电线路的高压接地故障对工地的影响是相当大的。由于接地故障为隐性故障，没有明显的物理现象，且若是长期接地可能会发展成较为严重的两相或三相短路故障，使系统解列运行直至崩溃；由于工地流动人员较多，还易造成电击事故。利用高压一相接地时在线路中产生零序电压这一特性来迅速判断和切除接地的用电设备，可以保证各项施工的顺利进行。     

Electrical conductivity in iodine-doped ethyl cellulose

The electrical conductivity of solution-grown ethyl cellulose (EC) films, 5–30 μm thick, has been studied in the sandwich configuration (metal–EC–metal) as a function of iodine concentration from 0.5 to 5.0 wt% ratio. The studies were conducted in the temperature range 333–383 K, while the field was varied over the range (3.0–5.5) × 10⁴V/cm. Aluminium was used as the lower electrode, while the upper electrode was of Al, Ag, Cu, Au or Sn. Certain transient effects such as a large burst of current immediately after the application of field were observed. An attempt was made to identify the nature of the current by comparing the observed dependence on electric field, electrode material and temperature with the respective characteristic features of the existing theories of electrical conduction. The results show that the electrical conduction follows Ohm's law at lower fields, while at higher fields, space-charge limited current (SCLC) was observed. It was also found that Richardson–Schottky emission was responsible, to some extent, for the transport of charge carriers in the polymer. The conductivity of the films increased on doping with iodine. The dopant molecules are considered to act as additional trapping centes and provide links between the polymer molecules in the amorphous region, thus resulting in the formation of charge transfer complexes.     

Morphology development in polyethylene/polystyrene blends: the influence of processing conditions and interfacial modification

The influence of processing conditions and interfacial modification on the morphology evolution and the composition range within which fully co‐continuous high density polyethylene/polystyrene blend structures can exist during blending in a single screw extruder was studied. Blends ranging from pure A to pure B component, with and without compatibilizer, were prepared under two different shear rates. It was found that high shear rates displaced the breakdown–coalescence balance of the dispersed nodules to the side of coalescence, narrowing the percolation domain and the critical composition for full co‐continuity decreased with increasing shear rates. The addition of a tri‐block compatibilizer induced the percolation threshold of the polystyrene phase to begin at lower percentages of polyethylene but the phase inversion point did not change. The experimental results are discussed in the light of various theoretical models. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Flow stress of high density polyethylene and nylon 66 at high rates of strain

Measurement of the flow stress of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and nylon 66 at strain rates of 10³ s^?1 using a split Hopkinson pressure bar technique is discussed. The flow stress at a strain of 10% has been determined for both polymers at 20°C. The intrinsic errors involved in this technique are briefly reviewed. The results indicate that the flow stress of HDPE and nylon 66 were 50MPa and 150MPa, respectively, at strain rates of about 10³s^?1.