Should we be surprised at expert system success ?

Abstract. Expert systems proliferate. They are now a usable and used tool in a variety of organizations. However, little research has been undertaken on the quantification of success or failure of expert system projects. By and large the only test carried out for expert system validation is one of comparison of the conclusions of the system with those of an expert or team of experts. While questioning the validity, this paper accepts that this method is being used and analyses whether or not the results obtained from this type of test should be a surprise. That is, what sort of results should be expected and to what extent do the reported ones live up to these expectations? Earlier research from the field of human information processing casts doubts on the success claims made for current expert systems. The implications of this research are then analysed in order to explore the possible redeeming features of expert systems which are not taken into account in such comparisons. The use of linear models as comparators for expert systems may prove beneficial.     

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     

From hospital to municipal cogeneration systems: an Italian case study

A mixed integer linear programming model combined with a more traditional design by scenarios is proposed to optimize facilities size and operation mode of a municipal energy system involving significant civil centres and a hospital. Moving from the need of a new heat and power station for the local hospital due to the construction of new pavilions, the opportunity of involving other centres in the neighbourhood in a distributed cogeneration system is analysed, increasing system complexity step by step. Smaller cogeneration units tailored to hospital needs are rewarding ventures with relatively low risks but, in a country whose traditional power generation systems heavily rely on fossil fuels and where energy policy and market conditions can make it profitable to sell surplus power, district heating systems foster the installation of larger cogenerators and lead thereby to higher profits and to better performance as for primary energy savings and greenhouse gases emission reduction. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of the flow behaviour of sausage emulsions with a simple tube viscometer

A specially designed tube viscometer was used to measure apparent viscosity during flow of Bologna type sausage emulsions moving through a pipe. Emulsions varied in fat content (from 21.8 to 44.3%) and in moisture/protein ratio (from 3.7 to 5.6), and the effects of added sodium chloride, sodium diphosphate, starch and blood plasma were investigated in a 36% fat, 3.7 moisture/protein emulsion.
The shear stresses determined as a function of shear rate were fitted by a power law. Yield stress of the emulsions was negligible relative to the applied stress. However, inspection of the flow profiles indicated that considerable slip of the sausage emulsion occurred at the pipe wall. Both emulsion flow and slip contribute to overall flow behaviour, so a kind of effective viscosity is determined. Intrinsic rheological properties and wall slip will both be affected by the composition of the sausage emulsion.     

Modeling of a power electronic converter for EMC in the conduction emission frequency band

With the advancement of high‐frequency switching devices, electromagnetic interferences (EMI) have become problems in power electronic converter designs. It is necessary for an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) design to prospect and consider its possible EMI levels. This paper describes how to compute effects from a power converter to an object point to reduce conduction EMI noises effectively by an appropriate design. Modeling techniques for converter elements are discussed for a model in the conduction emission frequency band by the parameter tuning method and for line constants by an analytical derivation. Then a derived model is simulated for harmonic distributions of loop currents and their magnetic fields. © 2002 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 139(1): 44–50, 2002: DOI 10.1002/eej.1145     

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。     

Development of cable fault location method using fiber optic distributed temperature sensor

When ground-fault problems occur on a cable line, immediate fault location and restoration are required. Therefore, various new methods to locate the fault point instantaneously have been investigated to replace such conventional methods as the Murray loop method and the pulse radar method [1]. These methods require a long time to locate the fault point. One possible fault location method is to sense the temperature rise following a ground fault using a fiber optic distributed temperature sensor. Application of this method was found feasible through sensing the temperature rise at a ground-fault test using a thermocouple as a temperature sensor with test cables [4]. A power/optical composite cable was prepared experimentally and after verifying its thermal mechanical performance, the temperature rise at an incidence of a fault was determined and the anticipated performance was demonstrated in a ground-fault test. This article describes the outline of the test.     

Multivariable controller design in an adaptive control scheme

A multivariable control system design approach in the frequency domain is presented. The issue of control system redesign in an adaptive control scheme is discussed. Expert system techniques have been used for the automated design of controllers for multivariable systems. Design knowledge has been represented using rules, facts and objects. The design process consists of a sequence of operations obtained by heuristics and experience in the the design techniques. An automated design session of a multivariable plant using the expert system demonstrates that the expert system appears to work well in its prototype implementation.     

Pole shifting for matrices over real algebras

Pole shifting of multivariable control system over finite dimensional real algebras is studied. The main results are expressed in terms of the minimal polynomial of A + BF, where F is a feedback.     

An economic and environmental assessment of biomass utilization in lignite‐fired power plants of Greece

The environmental and socio‐economic impacts of biomass utilization by co‐firing with brown coal in an existing thermoelectric unit in Greece or through its pure combustion in a new plant were studied and evaluated in this work. The 125 MW_e lignite‐fired power plant in Ptolemais Power Station (Western Macedonia) was used as reference system. The environmental benefits of the alternative biomass exploitation options were quantified based on the life cycle assessment methodology, as established by SETAC, while the BIOSEM technique was used to carry out socio‐economic calculations. The obtained results showed clear environmental benefits of both biomass utilization alternatives in comparison with the reference system. In addition, co‐firing biomass with lignite in an existing unit outperforms the combustion of biomass exclusively in a new plant, since it exhibits a better environmental performance and it is a low risk investment with immediate benefits. A biomass combustion unit requires a considerably higher capital investment and its benefits are more evident in the long run. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.