Control of the quality of polymer products in continuous reactors: comparison of performance of state estimators with and without updating of parameters

In the paper the control of the product quality in polymerization reactors is analysed in the presence of persistent perturbations (unmodeled disturbances, modeling errors), as met in industrial reactors. The free radical polymerization of methyl-methacrylate in a continuous stirred tank reactor is studied. It is shown that state estimators (Extended Kalman Filters) with constant parameters cannot give offset free performance. Criteria for the selection of a set of parameters to be updated as additional states in the filter and to evaluate their effectiveness in opposing the action of realistic perturbations are given by an analysis of the linearized model of the system. Performance of different types of estimators, including one and two-time scale filters, with and without updating of parameters, is analysed by simulation on the full order process and the predictions made by previous analysis are confirmed. In the most common case of presence of perturbations affecting the energy balance and the concentration of initiator in the reactor, offset free control of the molecular weight of the product can be achieved by means of a filter which is based only on measurements of temperature and conversion and makes an update of two parameters. In the case that also the kinetic model of the polymerization reaction is affected by errors, a two-time scale filter, which makes use also of Molecular Weight values and updates three parameters, becomes necessary to obtain offset free performance.     

TRANSFER FUNCTION MODEL ORDER AND PARAMETER ESTIMATION

Abstract. A distributed lag model with a rational transfer function is considered. We have demonstrated that the C -table can be used to determine the orders of the rational transfer function and the Padé table can be used to estimate the parameters of an identifiable transfer function. In case the model is not uniquely identified, the C -table reduces possible competing models to only a few for further examination. Padé approximant gives consistent initial values for possibly more efficient iterative procedures to estimate the coefficients of the identified model. Some asymptotic results on the estimation of the C -table and the Padé table are given. A few examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.     

A review of error estimation and adaptivity in the boundary element method

When using the boundary element method, the accuracy of the numerical solution depends critically on the discretization of the boundary into elements (panels). The distribution of the panels is one of the most important decisions taken when analyzing a problem, but still the vast majority of users employ empirical guidelines to distribute the panels. This paper reviews the various adaptive schemes that have been proposed for boundary elements. Numerical results are obtained for infinite fluid flow problems and free surface problems and are used to assess the reliability and effectiveness of each method.     

Bioprocess applications of model-based estimation techniques

The last decade has seen the development of a number of approaches for estimating those variables which are difficult to measure on-line in industrial process situations. Whilst a range of techniques is available, a common element is the use of process knowledge in the form of a system model. In the case of bioprocess systems, although a large range of models has been presented in the literature, their use in estimation schemes on an industrial scale has been limited. A number of reasons can be identified for their low level of utilisation. Of particular significance is the uncertainty which exists in quantifying system performance and the process-model mismatch which inevitably results. The level of ‘pre-defined model’ uncertainty, together with the knowledge gained during the course of the fermentation, serves to dictate estimator structure. The paper considers a range of estimation strategies and contrasts, through industrial applications, their performance characteristics and utility.     

European intercomparison on electron spin resonance identification of irradiated foodstuffs

The results of a co-trial organized by the Community Bureau of Reference on the use of Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy for the identification of irradiated food in 21 laboratories are presented. The trial was qualitative on beef and trout bones, sardine scales, pistachio nut shells, dried grapes, and papaya, and quantitative on poultry bones. There was no difficulty in identifying irradiated meat bones, dried grapes, and papaya. In the case of fish bones there is a need for further kinetic study on different species. Identification of irradiation in pistachio nuts is more complicated and additional research is needed before further trials. All laboratories were able to distinguish between chicken bones irradiated at 1 to 3 kGy or 7 to 10 kGy although there was a partial overlap between the results.     

Improved Estimates for the Accuracy of Small Disjuncts

Learning systems often describe a target class as a disjunction of conjunctions of conditions. Recent work has noted that small disjuncts, i.e., those supported by few training examples, typically have poor predictive accuracy. One model of this accuracy is provided by the Bayes-Laplace formula based on the number of training examples covered by the disjunct and the number of them belonging to the target class. However, experiments show that small disjuncts associated with target classes of different relative frequencies tend to have different error rates. This note defines the context of a disjunct as the set of training examples that fail to satisfy at most one of its conditions. An empirical adaptation of the Bayes-Laplace formula is presented that also makes use of the relative frequency of the target class in this context. Trials are reported comparing the performance of the original formula and the adaptation in six learning tasks.     

轮式工程机械轮边减速器优化模型与方法

论述了重构轮式工程机械轮边减速器优化设计数学模型的必要性,给出了精确化的目标函数,全面化和准确化的设计变量、基于并行设计的约束条件;介绍了对优化解适用性评价的方法和手段。巧妙地解决了优化解中离散变量的圆整问题,提供了基于MATLAB的求解反渐开线函数的M文件。     

Assumptions and Consequences of Treating Providers in Therapy Studies as Fixed Versus Random Effects: Reply to Crits-Christoph, Tu, and Gallop (2003) and Serlin, Wampold, and Levin (2003).

In their comments on the authors' article (see record 2003-10163-009), R. C. Serlin, B. E. Wampold, and J. R. Levin (see record 2003-10163-011) and P. Crits-Christoph, X. Tu, and R. Gallop (see record 2003-10163-010) took issue with the authors' suggestion to evaluate therapy studies with nested providers with a fixed model approach. In this rejoinder, the authors' comment on Serlin et al's critique by showing that their arguments do not apply, are based on misconceptions about the purpose and nature of statistical inference, or are based on flawed reasoning. The authors also comment on Crits-Christoph et al's critique by showing that the proposed approach is very similar to, but less inclusive than, their own suggestion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)