Training and optimization of an artificial neural network controlling a hybrid power filter

A hybrid power compensator (HPC) consisting of a static VAr compensator and a dynamic compensator needs to be optimally controlled during the compensation of nonlinear loads. The HPC must be controlled to meet minimum requirements in terms of power factor and harmonic distortion, while at the same time minimizing its total cost. An artificial neural network (ANN) is used to control the HPC amidst a very dynamic power system environment. The performance of a reference ANN is evaluated while controlling an HPC connected to a typical nonlinear industrial load. The training and performance of the ANN is then optimized in terms of training set size, training set packing and ANN topology and the performance compared to the reference ANN. This paper highlights the importance of optimising the mentioned ANN parameters to achieve optimum ANN training and modeling accuracy. The results obtained reveals that the application of an ANN in controlling an HPC is feasible given that the ANN parameters are chosen appropriately.     

Bio-layer management in anaerobic membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment.

Membrane separation technology represents an alternative way to achieve biomass retention in anaerobic bioreactors for wastewater treatment. Due to high biomass concentrations of anaerobic reactors, cake formation is likely to represent a major cause of flux decline. In the presented research, experiments are performed on the effect of biomass concentration and level of gas sparging on the hydraulic capacity of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor. Both parameters significantly affected the hydraulic capacity, with biomass exerting the most pronounced effect. After 50 days of continuous operation the critical flux remained virtually unchanged, despite an increase in membrane resistance, suggesting that biomass characteristics and hydraulic conditions determine the bio-layer formation rather than the membrane's fouling level. The concept of bio-layer management is introduced to describe the programmed combination of actions performed in order to control the formation of biomass layer over membranes.     

Nitric oxide reduction and carbon monoxide oxidation over carbon-supported copper-chromium catalysts

Carbon supported copper-chromium catalysts are shown to be very active for both the reduction of nitric oxide with carbon monoxide and the oxidation of carbon monoxide with oxygen. Mixed copper-chromium oxide active phases have good activity in the simultaneous removal of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide from exhaust gases. The influence of several catalyst variables has been investigated. The activity per volume of catalyst increases with increasing loading, while the intrinsic activity shows a maximum around C/M=100−50. An optimum catalyst for nitric oxide reduction and carbon monoxide oxidation has a copper/chromium ratio of 2/1. The apparent activation energy for the carbon monoxide oxidation over carbon supported copper-chromium catalysts is 77 kJ/mol, suggesting that the Cu---O bond rupture is the rate-limiting process. The reduction of nitric oxide takes place at higher temperatures. Since all catalysts have a low selectivity for molecular nitrogen formation at lower temperatures, the dissociation of nitric oxide is probably rate determining, resulting in a slightly reduced catalyst system. In an excess of carbon monoxide the reaction is first-order in nitric oxide and zero-order in carbon monoxide. Moisture inhibits the reaction by reversible competitive adsorption, whereas carbon dioxide does not. Oxygen completely inhibits the reduction of nitric oxide due to the more rapid reoxidation of the catalytic sites compared to nitric oxide. Therefore, the reduction of nitric oxide takes place only when all oxygen has been converted and, hence, is shifted to higher temperatures. As a possible consequence, the production of nitrous oxide is reduced. Nitric oxide and molecular oxygen react preferentially with carbon monoxide, so, in an excess of oxidizing component, gasification of the carbon support occurs at higher temperatures after carbon monoxide has been completely consumed.     

Intramolecular crosslinking of poly(vinyl alcohol)

Poly(vinyl alcohol) is crosslinked in dilute solution (c=0.1 wt%) with glutaraldehyde. The reaction product is characterized by viscometry and gel permeation chromatography (g.p.c.). The intrinsic viscosity decreases with increasing degree of crosslinking and does not depend on temperature. G.p.c. reveals that the reaction product is not homogeneous, but consists of a mixture of particles with different sizes, possibly both intra- and intermolecularly crosslinked molecules. The intramolecularly crosslinked molecules are smaller in size than the initial polymer molecules and their size depends on the degree of crosslinking. They possess a narrow particle size distribution even if the initial polymer sample had a broad molecular weight distribution.     

Life cycle of hydroprocessing catalysts and total catalyst management

Hydroprocessing catalysts based on Ni, Co, Mo and W are used in various refinery processing applications where several deactivation mechanisms become of importance (coke formation, active phase sintering, metals deposition, poisoning) in the catalyst's life cycle. The life cycle of commercial hydroprocessing catalysts is very complex and includes the catalyst production, sulfidation, use, oxidative regeneration followed by re-sulfidation and reuse or, if reuse is not possible, recycling or disposal. To understand the changes in catalyst properties taking place during a life cycle, the catalyst quality in the different stages can be best monitored by using advanced analytical techniques. The catalyst's life cycle is further complicated by numerous technical, environmental and organizational issues involved. In principle, different companies can be involved in each of the life cycle steps. Leading catalyst manufacturers, together with specialized firms, offer refineries a total catalyst management concept, starting with the purchase of the fresh catalyst and ending with its final recycling or disposal. Total catalyst management includes a broad range of services, ensuring optimal timing during the change-out process, reliable, smooth and safe operations, minimal downtime and maximum catalyst and unit performance.     

Separating n-alkane mixtures by exploiting differences in the adsorption capacity within cages of CHA, AFX and ERI zeolites

The saturation capacity of n-alkanes in CHA, AFX and ERI zeolites, that consist of cages separated by windows, decreases with increasing carbon number. The major aim of the present communication is to demonstrate the possibility of separating n-alkane mixtures relying on differences in saturation capacities. To investigate this possibility, Configurational-Bias Monte Carlo simulations for adsorption of C3–nC6, nC4–nC6, and nC5–nC6 mixtures in CHA, AFX and ERI were carried out for equimolar bulk fluid phase. These mixture simulations show that for operation at fluid phase fugacities below about 1 MPa, the adsorbed phase in equilibrium with the bulk vapor phase is predominantly the alkane with the longer chain length, i.e. nC6. However, for operation at pressures in excess of 1 MPa, the adsorbed phase in equilibrium with the bulk liquid phase is richer in the component with the smaller chain length. In some cases, the nC6 is practically excluded from the zeolite.     

Prediction of necking of high strength steel tubes during hydroforming—multi-axial loading

This article studies tubular hydroforming of high strength low alloy (HSLA) and dual phase (DP600) straight tubes under the action of end feeding loads. Experiments demonstrate that higher end feed loads enhance the formability of the tubes and increase the internal fluid pressure for onset of necking and bursting. Because of the action of the internal pressure and the axial compressive load, the onset of localization (necking) is due to a complex three-dimensional state of stress. Using free expansion experiments, approximate upper and lower bound strain-based forming limit curves are determined for the tube materials. These limit curves, in turn, are used to derive upper and lower bound extended stress-based forming limit curves [Simha et al., Prediction of necking in tubular hydroforming using an extended stress-based FLC. Transactions of the ASME Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology 2007;129(1): 36-47]. In conjunction with finite element computations that use solid elements to model the tube, these stress-based limit curves are used to predict upper and lower bound necking pressures under the action of end feed loading. These predictions of necking pressures, when an appropriate coefficient of tube-die friction is used, are found to bracket the experimentally measured necking pressures. Computations using plane stress shell elements to model the tubes are shown to give erroneous results, since the plane stress approximation is not valid when tubes are hydroformed in a die.     

Driving Mechanisms of Delamination Related Reliability Problems in Exposed Pad Packages

Exposed pad packages were introduced in the late 1980s and early 1990s because of their excellent thermal and electrical performance. Despite these advantages, the exposed pad packages experience a lot of thermo-hygro-mechanical related reliability problems during qualification and testing. Examples are die lift, which occurs predominantly after moisture sensitivity level conditions, and die-attach to leadframe delamination leading to downbond stitch breaks during temperature cycling. In this chapter, nonlinear finite element (FE) models using fracture mechanics based J-integral calculations are used to assess the reliability problems of the exposed pad package family. Using the parametric FE models any geometrical and material effects can be explored to their impact on the occurrence diepad delamination, and dielift. For instance the impact of diepad size is found to be of much less importance as the impact of die thickness is. Using the fracture mechanics approach, the starting location for the delamination from thermo-hygro-mechanical point of view is deducted. The results indicate that when diepad delamination is present, cracks are likely to grow beneath the die and dielift will occur. The interaction between dielift and other failure modes, such as lifted ball bonds, are not found to be very significant. The FE models are combined with simulation-based optimization methods to deduct design guidelines for optimal reliability of the exposed pad family.     

有线和无线宽带接入产品技术

射频存储系统的目标市场有两个，一个是宽带网络，一个是无线局域网：下图介绍的是第一公里的无线宽带接入系统。图的中央有一个中枢（hub)，它的周围是一个分布网络。这是一个包括光和电的、数据和模拟结合的网络，这种系统在中国的大城市都有广泛的部署。圆圈是飞利浦开发的一些结点、中枢和分布网络，包括放大器和光电设备。