Miniaturized integrated antennas for far-field wireless powering

This paper describes a series of high-efficiency miniaturized antennas of different sizes that can be integrated with the same wireless-powered RFID chip. Since this RFID chip has power scavenging capability in different ISM bands, several integrated on-chip and off-chip antennas in the three ISM bands of 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz are designed, including one antenna integrated on chip. All proposed antennas are derived from a new planar antenna structure which can be designed toward arbitrary input impedance within a given area constraint. The measurement results for the presented antennas show a different read range. The resulting read range versus antenna size diagram specifies the best operating frequency band for a given read range and occupied area. Though this diagram depends on the chip's specifications like the power-on sensitivity and input impedance, it can be generated for any chip. In addition, the measurement results concerning read range and radiation patterns for the proposed antennas are presented and compared with simulation results, showing very good agreement.     

The effect of pH,solid content,water chemistry and ore mineralogy on the galvanic interactions between chalcopyrite and pyrite and steel balls

The role of pH, solid content, water chemistry and ore mineralogy on the galvanic interactions between chalcopyrite and pyrite and low alloy steel balls were investigated in the grinding of Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper sulfide ore. All these factors strongly affect the galvanic current between the minerals and the steel during the grinding process. The galvanic current density decreased as the solution pH and percent solids increased. In addition, changing the water in the ball mill from tap to distilled water reduced the galvanic current between the minerals and the balls. Potentiodynamic polarization curves showed that pyrite and chalcopyrite demonstrated typical active-passive-transpassive anodic behavior in the grinding of copper ore. However, the nature of their transitions from the active to the passive state differed. This behavior was not seen in the grinding of pure minerals. In addition, an EDTA extraction technique was employed to quantify the amount of oxidized iron in the mill discharge. The amount of extractable iron was influenced by the same experimental factors and in the same way as the galvanic current.     

Modelling carbon dioxide solubility in ionic liquids

Solubility information for CO₂ in different ionic liquids, ILs, in part can potentially be used to select a specific IL for the separation of CO₂ from hydrocarbon fluids. Unfortunately, not all CO₂–IL systems have been experimentally described at similar temperatures and pressures; therefore, a direct comparison of performance by process simulation is not always possible. In the extreme cases, the design of a CO₂ separation process may require predicting the CO₂–IL equilibria for which there are no available solubility data. To address the need for this information, a semi‐empirical correlation was developed to estimate the dissolution of CO₂ in CO₂–IL solvent systems. The theoretical COSMO–RS calculation method was used to calculate the chemical potential of CO₂ in a wide variety of ILs and the Soave–Redlich–Kwong equation was used to calculate the fugacity coefficient of the CO₂ vapour phase. The model was correlated with available literature data, yielding an average error of AAR = 23% and small bias. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

A new reactor concept for combining oxidative coupling and steam re‐forming of methane: modeling and analysis

A new and very promising application of auto‐thermal reactors is the coupling of endothermic and exothermic reactions where the product of the endothermic reaction is the desired one. Therefore, in this work, a reactor in which oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) and steam re‐forming of methane (SRM) reactions take place simultaneously was modeled. The results were obtained in a wide range of different conditions such as inlet feed, inlet temperature, portions of OCM and SRM catalysts, and inlet velocity. In selection of the catalysts, more attention was drawn to prevent re‐forming of OCM products. The main parameters of each reaction under different conditions such as conversion of the feed components, products selectivity and yield, temperature in the length of reactor, and component's concentration in the reactor were considered in course of this study. The results revealed that simultaneous OCM and SRM reactions in one reactor will tend to be auto‐thermal, and the waste of energy will be reduced. The results also show that complete conversion of water and majority of methane and oxygen will decrease the amount of unwanted products at the reactor's discharge–a constraint that exists in single reactors of each reaction specially OCM. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Information-theoretic investigation of impact of huggable communication medium on prefrontal brain activation*

This paper examines the effect of mediated hugs that are achieved with a huggable communication medium on the brain activities of users during conversations. We measured their brain activities with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and evaluated them with two information theoretic measures: permutation entropy, an indicator of relaxation, and multiscale entropy, which captures complexity in brain activation at multiple time scales. We first verify the influence of lip movements on brain activities during conversation and then compare brain activities during tele-conversation through a huggable communication medium with a mobile phone. Our analysis of NIRS signals shows that mediated hugs decrease permutation entropy and increase multiscale entropy. These results suggest that touch interaction through a mediated hug induces a relaxed state in our brain but increases complex patterns of brain activation.     

A new design strategy for DC/DC LLC resonant converter: Concept,modeling, and fabrication

In this paper, a new design procedure for LLC converter has been introduced. In fact, this method is a computer-based design algorithm based on a numerical technique. In the process of designing, the value of the resonant element is obtained by solving the LLC converter fundamental equation. This converter will be controlled by using state feedback, such as output voltage variable. As a matter of fact, in a control system, the change of output voltage (because of load variation) will affect the switching frequency, so the output voltage will be tuned. In the designing process, the fundamental equations of LLC converter are obtained, and the value of the resonant elements is calculated. Also, a comparison analysis is carried out between the proposed and typical methods. The simulation is done to investigate the validity of the proposed method. Moreover, a prototype is manufactured, and the experimental test is done to evaluate its applicability.     

A graphics engine for design of three-dimensional structures from standardized component modules

We present an interactive, menu-driven software package which allows the design of three-dimensional structures from standardized component modules. The standardized component modules used as example building blocks in the project are rectangular solids of several sizes.

The system has been designed such that its output (i.e. the design database) can be used to automatically generate a robot motion program to assemble the designed structure.

Presented are the system database and its internal data structure, an object placement-sequencer algorithm, a height specification and interference checking algorithm, and a balance-checking algorithm. To avoid the creation of dynamic obstacles and interference of the robot arm with these obstacles, the proper sequencing of the blocks in the design database is essential. The object placement-sequencer algorithm is responsible for proper sequencing of the blocks in the design database to avoid the aforementioned problem. The height specification and interference checking algorithm automatically generates the proper positioning of a block in the design by performing a sequential search over the accumulated design structure. The stacking feasibility of the blocks in the design is verified by the balance-checking algorithm, prior to the acceptance of the block as a permanent part of the design.     

Application of neural networks to predict the steady state performance of a Run-Around Membrane Energy Exchanger

Modeling the performance characteristics of thermal systems has been a research interest for many decades with moisture transfer systems experiencing a resurgence over the last decade, especially in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications. In this study, a neural network (NN) model is developed to predict the heat and moisture transfer performances (i.e., the sensible and latent effectivenesses) of a novel HVAC energy exchanger called the Run-Around Membrane Energy Exchanger (RAMEE) which is able to transfer both heat and moisture between exhaust and supply air streams. The training data set for the NN model covers a wide range of design and operating parameters and is produced using an experimentally validated finite difference (FD) model. Two separate NNs (one for sensible and one for latent energy transfer) each with five inputs and one output, are selected to represent the RAMEE. The results from NN models are numerically and experimentally validated. The root mean squared error (RMSE) between the FD and NN models are 0.05 °C and 2 × 10^?5 kg_v/kg_a, indicating satisfactory agreement for energy exchange calculations. The paper reports the weights and biases to make the results of this study reproducible. These NN models are very fast and easy to use therefore, they might be used for design and for estimating the annual energy savings in different buildings which use the RAMEE in their HVAC system. Additionally, the NN models can be used with optimization algorithms to maximize energy savings and minimize life-cycle costs for a given system.     

Discussion on “Enhancement of combined heat and power economic dispatch using self adaptive real-coded genetic algorithm,by P. Subbaraj et al., Applied Energy 86 (2009) 915–921.”

The paper studied by Subbaraj et al. (2009) considers the feasibility of using self adaptive real-coded genetic algorithm for enhancement of combined heat and power economic dispatch. The paper includes some problems about the considered feasible operating region. In this discussion, the controversial point of the paper are given.