Winding Method to Reduce Vibration and Loss Caused by Fractional Slot of Synchronous Machine

Fractional‐slot windings are widely used in rotating machines in order to improve the output voltage waveform, increase the design flexibility, and gain many other advantages. However, fractional‐slot windings are known to produce different harmonic components such as an even order and/or fractional number of space flux harmonics compared to integral‐slot windings. These harmonics may increase stray losses and cause stator core vibration. This paper describes an analysis of space flux harmonics and proposes new winding methods such as “novel interspersed windings” to reduce these harmonic components. The proposed winding methods were verified by numerical analysis and model tests.     

Enlargement of Claw Pole Motor Using SMC Cores Divided in the Circumferential Direction

Clawtooth motors have the feature that they can be made thin in the axial direction. This makes them suitable for appliances, automobile accessories, and small‐sized industrial motors. On the other hand, there is a need for thinner HEV and elevator motors and large‐sized industrial motors. In this study, we examined ways of increasing the output of clawtooth motors. We arrived at the following conclusions. (1) The optimal stator structure was determined and the prospects of attaining the target specification of 123 N‐m were determined. (2) Three important manufacturing tasks, assurance of core assembly accuracy, thin coil manufacture, and rotator insertion, were identified. (3) Experimental results and the results of analysis were in agreement with respect to the EMF. (4) The experimental cogging torque results and finite element analysis (FEA) results were in agreement with the FEA results at sixth order but not at second and fourth order. (5) Although the core needed to be divided in the circumferential direction in order to increase its size, it was clear that the influence on the torque was small. (6) Use of a divided core is a good solution for enlargement of clawtooth motors.     

Preventive approach against drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis through the suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition

A number of drugs induce pulmonary injury and subsequently lead to serious lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis as the adverse drug reactions. However, an effective preventive approach against drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis has not been established due to poor understanding of common preventive targets in a variety of drugs showing pulmonary toxicity. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a cellular phenotypic change of the epithelial to mesenchymal state, contributes to the development of pulmonary fibrosis through the conversion of damaged alveolar epithelium into myofibroblasts. As several drugs with pulmonary toxicity have been reported to induce EMT, EMT serves as a bridge between the drugs and pulmonary fibrosis. Accumulated evidence supports the potential of EMT as a preventive target against drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Additionally, since there are mechanistic differences between the main pharmacological effect and EMT induced by the drug, prevention based on EMT suppression would be possible and would contribute to continuous clinical treatment with the drug to avoid EMT-mediated serious pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, targeting EMT seems to be adequate for exerting a preventive effect since EMT in damaged alveolar epithelial cells occurs prior to the development of the pathophysiological state of the whole lung in a bleomycin-induced lung injury rat model. This viewpoint deals with the benefits and perspectives of preventive approaches against druginduced pulmonary fibrosis through the suppression of EMT, which has rarely been addressed.     

Pressure Rise due to SF6 Arcing and Energy Balance in a Closed Container

From an environmental viewpoint, when carrying out internal arc tests on SF₆‐insulated power equipment, it is necessary to prevent SF₆ from being released into the atmosphere or to replace SF₆ with air in accordance with IEC standards. However, the pressure rise and the thermal effect of the hot gas exhausted during arcing when testing in air are still considerably different from those for testing in SF₆. Thus, it is necessary to propose a specific procedure to replace SF₆ with air and to select appropriate parameters for the tests. Therefore, it is desirable to clarify the equivalent conditions causing these phenomena both experimentally and analytically. In this paper, we describe the effect of the charged gas pressure in a closed container on the pressure rise due to air and SF₆ arcing and the ratio of the arc energy to the energy contributing to the internal pressure rise () from an experimental viewpoint. Additionally, to research the energy balance resulting from SF₆ arcing in the container, the energy balance is discussed on the basis of chemical reactions, radiation, and the melting and vaporization of the electrodes. It is found that the maximum pressure rise increases for both gases upon increasing the gas pressure from 0.1 MPa to 0.4 MPa. Subsequently, good agreement with the energy balance was obtained under reasonable assumptions by taking account of the energy components related to the chemical reactions, radiation, and the melting and vaporization of the electrodes. The ratio of the radiation energy loss to the total consumption energy increased upon increasing the charged gas pressure.     

Direct Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Fusel Alcohols, Fatty Acids and Esters of Distilled Alcoholic Beverages

A gas chromatographic method is proposed for the quantitative determination of the main volatile components of distilled alcoholic beverages such as whisky, brandy and rum. This gas chromatographic method enables direct analysis of 23 volatile components, 5 alcohols, 4 acids, 11 esters and 3 aldehydes by simply mixing a beverage sample with internal standards. A fused silica crosslinked 5% phenymethyl silicone capillary column (50 m × 0.31 mm i.d.) is used. The accuracy of the analysis is satisfactory, with the within-day and day-to-day coefficients of variation for most compounds being less than 10%, and the entire procedure can be completed in 40 min.     

Characteristics of Wheat-Flour Dough Using Enterobacter cloacae GAO With and Without Yeast

The Leavening bacterium Enterobacter cloacae GAO made dough rise, without shrinkage or flattening due to refrigeration. The GAO plus yeast mixture was allowed to ferment from 20 to 25% of the time for the GAO alone. The ratio of 0.5% yeast volume to wheat flour was acceptable. The yeast was used in the dough to make mantou (a type of bun). Both mantou volume and pH declined after 3 days refrigeration. The GAO and yeast mixture could withstand 5-7 days refrigeration before falling.     

Pressure Rises Due to Arc under Insulating Oil in Closed Vessel—Pressure Fluctuation of Depth Direction in Oil

When a fault arc occurs in oil‐filled electric equipment, it generates a flammable gas and a dynamic pressure rise. In this study, the pressure rises due to the arc are measured in a closed vessel containing air and oil for different arc depths. The pressure rises in air and oil with different depth are measured under experimental conditions involving an arc current 6.6 kA, an arc duration of 100 ms. Experimental results show that the frequency of pressure fluctuation varies with the depth of the arc. Our approximate calculation of the pressure fluctuation with consideration of the oil flux is consistent with the experimental results.     

EFFECT OF SLAUGHTER METHOD ON DEGRADATION OF INTRAMUSCULAR TYPE V COLLAGEN DURING SHORT-TERM CHILLED STORAGE OF CHUB MACKEREL SCOMBER JAPONICUS

The present paper demonstrates that a nonstntggling slaughter method can delay degradation of type V collagen in meat of chub mackerel Scomber japonicus and softening of the meat during postharvest chilled storage. The fish were slaughtered by piercing a knife into nape (nonstruggling method) or by leaving on ground (struggling method) and then stored in an ice box. Sensory study revealed that the postharvest softening of the meat was moderated at 4 and 8 h by the non‐struggling slaughter method in comparison with the struggling method. On the basis of the specific solubilization of type V collagen and reduced tyrosine content in it, a cleavage of the nonhelical regions (telopeptides) of the type V collagen occurred during the chilled storage in the fish slaughtered by the struggling method. The degradation of type V collagen was also slower in the meat of the fish slaughtered by the nonstruggling method, which can be directly linked to the moderation of the postharvest softening.     

Phospholipase A2-mediated synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine containing highly unsaturated fatty acids

Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), which contains highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) specifically in sn -2 position, was synthesized by porcine pancreatic phospholipase A₂-catalysed esterification of lysophosphatidylethanolamine with HUFA. the use of glycerol containing only a little water as solvent was the important key to this reaction. A 27% yield of up to 94.5% sn -2 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-containing PE was obtained using >99% EPA as a substrate HUFA.     

Study on Rotary Loop Flow Controller for the Next‐Generation Distribution System

This paper describes two types of rotary loop flow controller, one is series type and the other is unified power flow controller (UPFC) type. Both of them can maintain the suitable voltage level of distribution system even with a large and uneven penetration of distributed generation. The configurations of proposed controllers are essentially same as wound rotor induction machine with no slip rings. The proposed controllers are less costly, more efficient, and more tolerant to overvoltages/currents as compared to power electronics‐type controllers. Further, UPFC‐type rotary loop flow controller has additional advantages like relatively smaller capability and ability to control reactive power than the series type of rotary loop flow controller. The proper functioning of the proposed controllers is confirmed through simulations and experiments.