Production of β-SiC by pyrolysis of rice husk in gas furnaces

Short fibers and fine particles of β-SiC were obtained by pyrolysis of Colombian rice husk (RH). The synthesis of SiC was carried out in a gas furnace: a mathematical model was developed in order to design and build this equipment and the process was optimized using an experimental design that included variables such as temperature, pyrolysis time, type of catalyst, and process atmosphere. The obtained material was characterized by using FTIR, DRX and SEM for microstructural characterization and EDS technique for chemical analysis.     

折流杆换热器CAD系统的开发

本文阐述了折流杆换热器CAD系统的开发方法，包括：把大量线图、数表进行数据程序化，利用ADSRX技术、PDB界面设计技术和参数化图形设计技术对折流杆换热器的一百多种类型、三万多种规格的零部件进行了设计，将数据信息采用数据文件和数据库的方式进行了集成和管理，从而实现折流杆换热器工艺、机械、零部件子系统的集成。     

PIV Investigations of Flow Patterns in the Entrance Configuration of Plate-fin Heat Exchanger

Flow characteristics in the entrance of plate-fin heat exchanger have been investigated by means of particle image velocimetry （PIV）. The flow field was measured using the two-frame cross-correlation technique. Streamline and velocity contour graphs at different cross-sections were obtained in the experiment. The experimental results indicate that flow maldistribution in the conventional header is very serious, while the improved header configuration with punched baffle can effectively improve the uniformity. The flow maldistribution parameter in plate-fin heat exchanger has been reduced from 1.21 to 0.21, and the ratio of the maximum velocity to the minimum is reduced from 23.2 to 1.8 by installing the punched baffle. The results suggest room for the optimum design of plate-fin heat exchanger.     

消能锥形阀过流状态研究与优化

消能锥形阀是一种用于中、高水头下的消能控流阀门,其内部结构设计的好坏直接影响着控流效果。为探究消能锥形阀在不同开度下,过流流量及内部流场的变化情况。进行了模型试验与CFD数值模拟计算,试验中发现开度从100%关至85%时出现了流量反而上升、进口压力下降的情况。利用CFD数值模拟的方法对内部流场进行了可视化研究。研究结果表明,在全开状态下锥形阀内部存在以下问题:过强的局部高速高压区域、低速流动死区范围过大、涡流区过度影响高速过流部分。并对锥形阀进行了一定的结构改进,优化了其内部流场情况。     

Oxygen reduction on platinum electrodes in base: Theoretical study

Electrode-potential-dependent activation energies for electron transfer have been calculated using a local reaction center model and constrained variation theory for the oxygen reduction reaction on platinum in base. Results for four one-electron transfer steps are presented. For the first, O₂(ads) is predicted to be reduced to adsorbed superoxide, O₂⁻(ads), which dissociates with a low activation barrier to O(ads) + O⁻(ads). Then a proton transfer form H₂O(ads) to O⁻(ads) takes place, forming OH(ads) + OH⁻(aq). The second electron transfer reacts O(ads) with H₂O(aq) to form a second OH(ads) + OH⁻(aq). The third and fourth electron transfers react the two OH(ads) with two H₂O(aq) to form two H₂O(ads) + two OH⁻(aq). All three different surface reduction reactions are predicted to have reversible potentials in the −0.24 V(SHE) to −0.29 V(SHE) range for 0.1 M base and activation energies for the superoxide formation step are close to the experimentally observed range in 0.1 M base for the overall four-electron to water over the three low index (1 1 0) (1 0 0) and (1 1 1) surfaces: 0.38-0.49 eV at 0.35 eV respectively at 0.88 V(RHE). Predicted reversible potentials for forming O₂⁻(ads) are compared with estimates from the experimental literature. The difference between the acid mechanism, where the peroxyl radical, OOH(ads) is the first reduction intermediate, and the base mechanism, where superoxide, O₂⁻(ads) is the first reduction intermediate, is discussed.     

Police officer in-vehicle discomfort: Appointments carriage method and vehicle seat features

Musculoskeletal pain is commonly reported by police officers. A potential cause of officer discomfort is a mismatch between vehicle seats and the method used for carrying appointments. Twenty-five police officers rated their discomfort while seated in: (1) a standard police vehicle seat, and (2) a vehicle seat custom-designed for police use. Discomfort was recorded in both seats while wearing police appointments on: (1) a traditional appointments belt, and (2) a load-bearing vest/belt combination (LBV). Sitting in the standard vehicle seat and carrying appointments on a traditional appointments belt were both associated with significantly elevated discomfort. Four vehicle seat features were most implicated as contributing to discomfort: back rest bolster prominence; lumbar region support; seat cushion width; and seat cushion bolster depth. Authorising the carriage of appointments using a LBV is a lower cost solution with potential to reduce officer discomfort. Furthermore, the introduction of custom-designed vehicle seats should be considered.     

Estimating oxygen consumption from heart rate using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system and analytical approaches

In new approaches based on adaptive neuro-fuzzy systems (ANFIS) and analytical method, heart rate (HR) measurements were used to estimate oxygen consumption (VO₂). Thirty-five participants performed Meyer and Flenghi's step-test (eight of which performed regeneration release work), during which heart rate and oxygen consumption were measured. Two individualized models and a General ANFIS model that does not require individual calibration were developed. Results indicated the superior precision achieved with individualized ANFIS modelling (RMSE = 1.0 and 2.8 ml/kg min in laboratory and field, respectively). The analytical model outperformed the traditional linear calibration and Flex-HR methods with field data. The General ANFIS model's estimates of VO₂ were not significantly different from actual field VO₂ measurements (RMSE = 3.5 ml/kg min). With its ease of use and low implementation cost, the General ANFIS model shows potential to replace any of the traditional individualized methods for VO₂ estimation from HR data collected in the field.     

On the robust control of stable minimum phase plants with large uncertainty in a time constant. A fractional-order control approach

This paper addresses the problem of designing controllers that are robust to a great uncertainty in a time constant of the plant. Plants must be represented by minimum phase rational transfer functions of an arbitrary order. The design specifications are: (1) a phase margin for the nominal plant, (2) a gain crossover frequency for the nominal plant, (3) zero steady state error to step commands, and (4) a constant phase margin for all the possible values of the time constant (T$T$): 0<T<∞$0<T<\infty$. We propose a theorem that defines the structure of the set of controllers that fulfil these specifications and show that it is necessary for these robust controllers to include a fractional-order PI$PI$ term. Examples are developed for both stable and unstable plants, and the results are compared with a standard PI$PI$ controller and a robust controller designed using the QFT$QFT$ methodology.     

乙烯-丙烯酸甲酯共聚物对蜡的作用机理

利用偏光显微镜和微电泳仪研究了乙烯-丙烯酸甲酯共聚物(EMA)对蜡晶的形态和电性质的影响。结果表明:EMA加入原油后,使原油中的蜡晶形成小的晶体,改善了原油的流变性性能;降凝剂EMA的加入可使蜡晶表面带电,电性排斥使蜡晶高度分散而稳定存在;当EMA用量较低时,蜡晶表面ζ电位随降凝剂用量增加而增加,当EMA用量较高时,蜡品表面与电位随降凝剂用量的增加趋势变缓;EMA的用量达到一定值时,蜡晶表面ζ电位不随降凝剂含量的增加而变化。     

天然中草药美白祛斑化妆品

根据色斑的形成机理，采用相应的天然草本植物提取物淡化色斑。根据细胞内黑色素形成机理，选用适当抑制剂。减少黑色素的过量生成，防止皮肤表皮的继续黑化，提出美白与祛斑化妆品的合理配制方法。