A monolithic dual-band HgCdTe infrared detector structure

A monolithic HgCdTe photoconductive device structure is presented that is suitable for dual-band optically registered infrared photodetection in the two atmospheric transmission windows of 3-5 μm and 8-12 μm, which correspond to the mid-wave and long-wave infrared bands; MWIR and LWIR, respectively. The proposed structure employs a wider bandgap isolating layer between the two photosensitive layers such that an effective electrical barrier is formed thus prohibiting carrier transport between the two infrared absorbing layers of different cutoff wavelengths. The technology is demonstrated using a mature HgCdTe photoconductive device fabrication process. The resulting detectors have an MWIR cutoff of 5.0 μm, and LWIR cutoff of 10.5 μm     

Sternomental distance as the sole predictor of difficult laryngoscopy in obstetric anaesthesia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: The first generation of pericardial valves was withdrawn from the market because of an excessive rate of premature failure. With an original design, the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valve promised improved results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1984 to December 1993, 71 patients underwent double mitral and aortic valve replacement with the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valve. Mean age was 63.4 years. 58% were male, mean clinical status was 2.9 with 71% of patients in NYHA class III or IV, 55% were in atrial fibrillation. All patients were followed for an average of 4.17 years after their operation, and total follow up was 296 patients years. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 7% (5/71). At this point of the study, 70% of patients are in clinical NYHA class I or II, 42% of patients are in atrial fibrillation and 66% receive anticoagulation treatment. We observed 19 late deaths with an actuarial survival of 58% +/- 14% at ten years. Valve-related complications include four endocarditis, four reoperations, seven anticoagulant-related hemorrhages, two structural failures, one thromboembolic episode, and one sudden death. Two patients died of valve-related causes. After 10 years, freedom from valve related death is 97% +/- 3%, from endocarditis 90% +/- 8%, from reoperation 87% +/- 10%, from thromboembolic complications 98% +/- 2%, from valve failure 93% +/- 7%, and freedom from all complications is 58% +/- 18%. No failure in patients older than 60 years was noted and no leaflet tear was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The 10-year results of this pericardial bioprosthesis make this valve an outstanding choice when a bioprosthesis is required and in patients over 60 years old.     

Partial Discharge Simulations Used for the Design of a Non-Intrusive Cable Condition Monitoring Technique

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of PD （partial discharge） activity within medium voltage XLPE （cross-linked polyethylene） cables. The effect of partial discharge was studied by means of a number of simulations. The simulations were based on the well-known three capacitor model for partial discharge. An equivalent circuit was derived for partial discharge due to a single void in the insulation material of a power cable. The results obtained from the simulations will form the basis of the design proses of a non-intrusive condition monitoring technique. The technique is based on the classification of discharge activity according to five levels of PD. Future work will include the improvement of the simulation model by investigating the high frequency model of a power cable as well as the statistical nature of PD activity. This will improve the accuracy of the simulation results when compared to actual measurements. The work discussed in this paper will be used to construct and calibrate a practical model which will make use of PD measurements for non-intrusive condition monitoring of medium voltage electrical cables.     

Fly Ash Resistivity Profiling for South African Coal Fired Power Stations

Particulate emission is a major problem in industrial processes, mainly power plants that make use of coal as a primary source of energy. Stringent emissions limits, set by government organisations requires industries to conform to these limits to ensure that air quality is sustained and with minimum pollutant present. Electrostatic precipitators are typically used to filter and collect these particulate emissions. Fly ash resistivity is a primary parameter in the collection of particulate emissions, and there is a resistivity range at which electrostatic precipitator collection is most efficient and anything outside this range limits, their operation. High resistivity ash results in back-corona discharge, whilst low resistivity results in particle re-entrainment into the flue gas stream. The purpose of this paper is to investigate and obtain a fly ash resistivity profile for existing power plants in South Africa. Ash samples obtained from power plants are, tested making use of an ash-resistivity test oven, in accordance with IEEE Standard 548-1984. This paper discusses obtained experimental results, to determine the resistivity profile at which South African power plant electrostatic precipitators operate. The electrical efficiency of the electrostatic precipitator system is evaluated based on the obtained resistivity profiles.     

Usage of inherent storage for minimisation of wastewater in multipurpose batch plants

Wastewater minimisation in batch plants is gaining importance due to intensifying environmental legislation and the gradual reduction in the number of freshwater sources. Intrinsic in the minimisation of wastewater in batch plants is the reuse of wastewater through intermediate storage vessels. However, the intermediate storage vessels take up unnecessary space which is undesirable in processes which are generally undertaken in limited spaces. Furthermore, in any batch process there are processing units that are not used extensively in the time horizon. In other words, these units remain idle for the major part of the time horizon, amounting to wasted return on capital investment. The idle processing units can be used as storage vessels, since any processing unit is, in essence, a storage vessel. In doing this one can reduce the size of the central storage and increase the utilisation of capital intensive processing units. The methodology presented in this paper deals with the minimisation of single contaminant wastewater by exploiting the inherent storage possibilities in idle processing units. The methodology is applied to two cases. In the first case the objective is to minimise the amount of effluent and the size of the central storage vessel through the usage of inherent storage, as commonly encountered in grassroot design. In the second case the objective is to determine the minimum wastewater target through the usage of both inherent storage and fixed central storage, as encountered in retrofit design.     

Onset of selective laser flash sintering of AlN

Flash sintering uses a combination of heating and electric fields to rapidly densify ceramics. Previously, it has been shown that a scanning laser can be used to initiate flash sintering in localized regions on an yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) sample in a process known as selective laser flash sintering (SLFS). In this work, we show using a combination of measurements of electric current flowing through the sample and observations of necks formed between powder particles that aluminum nitride (AlN) can also undergo SLFS. Scan conditions required to initiate SLFS are characterized over a range of laser powers and laser scan speeds in a dry nitrogen environment. It is shown that initiation of SLFS in AlN is governed by both the local input energy density per scan and heat dissipation and a numerical model is developed to predict temperatures during SLFS. Assuming the minimum temperature along the conductive path determines the onset of SLFS, the minimum temperature and time required is 450–670 K in 2–0.25 s for the pressed AlN pellets used in this study for laser scan speeds of 33–300 m/s, laser powers of 10–30 W, and an applied electric field of 3000 V/cm.     

Bmim ionic liquids as media for the electrochemical oxidation of 2,6-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>-butylphenol

The electrochemical oxidation of the substituted phenol 2,6-di-t-butylphenol is studied at platinum electrodes using a number of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (bmim) ionic liquids (BF₄, PF₆ and N(CF₃SO₂)₂), and compared with the oxidation obtained using a traditional solvent/electrolyte system (CH₃OH/CH₂Cl₂ and LiClO₄). The electrolysis leads to anodic coupling, resulting in the corresponding diphenoquinone, which upon reduction produces the biphenol. Best results were obtained for the conventional solvent and electrolyte, where the oxidation was found to take place via an indirect method. It was found that the ionic liquids performed better upon dilution with a suitable solvent such as acetonitrile, yielding higher conductivities due to ion separation. Dilution studies were performed with acetonitrile, methanol, dichloromethane and acetone and the resulting increase in conductivity of the ionic liquid was in the order: acetonitrile > methanol > acetone > dichloromethane. This trend is in line with the dielectric constant and the dipole moment of the solvent used. It was found that the electrolysis proceeded best in the following order: conventional solvent/electrolyte > ionic liquid suitably diluted > ionic liquid. Among the ionic liquids, best results were obtained for [bmim][BF₄]. Cyclic voltammetry data was used to further explain the electrolysis as a function of dilution.     

Ultraviolet radiation as a non-thermal treatment for the inactivation of microorganisms in fruit juice

Fruit juices can be processed using ultraviolet (UV-C) light to reduce the number of microorganisms. The UV-C wavelength of 254 nm is used for the disinfection and has a germicidal effect against microorganisms. A novel turbulent flow system was used for the treatment of apple juice, guava-and-pineapple juice, mango nectar, strawberry nectar and two different orange and tropical juices. In comparison to heat pasteurization, juices treated with UV did not change taste and color profiles. Ultraviolet dosage levels (J L^− 1) of 0, 230, 459, 689, 918, 1 148, 1 377, 1 607 and 2 066 were applied to the different juice products in order to reduce the microbial load to acceptable levels. UV-C radiation was successfully applied to reduce the microbial load in the different single strength fruit juices and nectars but optimization is essential for each juice treated. This novel UV technology could be an alternative technology, instead of thermal treatment or application of antimicrobial compounds.

Industrial relevance

This novel UV-C system can be applied successfully to the Food Industry. UV-C can be effectively used to reduce the number of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, as well as yeasts and moulds in different kinds of fruit juices.