Optimal Control of the Primary Drying Stage of Freeze Drying of Solutions in Vials Using Variational Calculus

The problem of operating freeze drying of pharmaceutical products in vials placed in trays of a freeze dryer to remove free water (in frozen state) at a minimum time was formulated as an optimal control problem. Two different types of freeze dryer designs were considered. In type I freeze dryer design, upper and lower plate temperatures were controlled together, while in type II freeze dryer design, upper and lower plate temperatures were controlled independently. The heat input to the material being dried and the drying chamber pressure were considered as control variables. Constraints were placed on the system state variables by the melting and scorch temperatures during primary drying stage. Necessary conditions of optimality for the primary drying stage of freeze drying process in vials are derived and presented. Furthermore, an approach for constructing the optimal control policies that would minimize the drying time for the primary drying stage was given. In order to analyze optimal control policy for the primary drying stage of the freeze-drying process in vials, a rigorous multi-dimensional unsteady state mathematical model was used. The theoretical approach presented in this work was applied in the freeze drying of skim milk. Significant reductions in the drying times of primary drying stage of freeze drying process in vials were obtained, as compared to the drying times obtained from conventional operational policies.     

合成己二腈反应技术研究——(Ⅴ)己二腈工业反应过程模拟与反应器改造

对己二腈工业反应器提出了两釜串联带回流的模型,通过模拟计算得出模型的级间返混系数 f=6的结论。该模型能较好地预测工业反应器中物料组分浓度变化和气、液两相的流动特性;指出了现工业反应器的鼓泡中和段体积偏小是造成己二酸浓度偏高的关键;提出了可以通过增加串连一个鼓泡预反应段的改造方案,能有效地降低己二酸的浓度,从7%降至4%左右,从而能较好地减缓腐蚀和结焦。     

A method of identifying latent human errors in work systems

Work system improvements are implemented in various manufacturing processes to prevent problems caused by human errors. However, they are almost always applied to problems which have already occurred. This paper examines a method of identifying latent human errors existing within the work systems beforehand. A procedure for applying failure mode and effect analysis to this identification problem was defined based on over 1000 empirical errors: a work system decomposition criterion and fundamental error modes for listing latent human errors, and then applied to three practical manufacturing processes in order to evaluate its effectiveness.     

The impact of roasting on the ochratoxin A content of coffee

Roasting coffee led to a drop in the ochratoxin A (OTA) concentration, as measured by the reference method, especially for dark type roasts. The way the beverage was prepared also affected the OTA content, which could paradoxically be higher than that of the initial roasted coffee. Assays on the thermal stability of pure OTA showed that it ought to be found in larger quantities in roasted coffee. This suggested that OTA was masked by reactions with the substrate during roasting. The absence of OTA in green coffee is therefore the best guarantee of safety.     

Practical method for generation expansion planning based on dynamic programming

This paper presents an efficient method which provides the optimal generation mix and the optimal generation construction process. The approximation method in which the dynamic programming technique and gradient method are combined is applied to determine the optimal generation mix with hydropower generation technologies. The successive approximations dynamic programming (SADP) technique, which is very suitable for high-dimensional multistage decision process problems, is used for obtaining the optimal generation construction process. The effectiveness and feasibility of the developed technique are demonstrated on a practical power system model which has five types of generation technologies including a hydropower generation technology.     

超薄SiO2层的热生长

隧道小孔中超薄ＳｉＯ２的生长是ＥＥＰＲＯＭ电路制造的关键工艺之一。采用ＳＵＰＲＥＭ－Ⅲ工艺模拟程序对超薄ＳｉＯ２的热生长进行了工艺模拟，经过大量的工艺实验及优化，确定了超薄ＳｉＯ２的最佳生长条件，生长出的ＳｉＯ２性能良好，完全可满足ＥＥＰＲＯＭ研制的要求。     

Effects of temperature, ammonium and glucose concentrations on yeast growth in a model wine system

In enology, alcoholic fermentation is a complex process involving several mechanisms. Slow and incomplete alcoholic fermentation is a chronic problem for the wine industry and factors leading to sluggish and stuck fermentations have been extensively studied and reviewed. The most studied cause of sluggish and stuck fermentation is the nitrogen content limitation. Nevertheless, other factors, such as temperature of fermentation and sugar concentration can affect the growth of yeasts. In this study we modelled the yeast growth‐cycle in wine model system as a function of temperature, sugar and ammonium concentrations; the individual effects and the interaction of these factors were analysed by means of a quadratic response surface methodology. Cell concentrations and weight loss were monitored in the whole wine fermentation process. The results of central composite design show that lower is the availability of nitrogen, higher is the cell growth rate; moreover, initial nitrogen concentration also influences survival time of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.