Robust stabilization of a chemical reactor

Robust static output feedback control was applied to a continuous stirred tank reactor with parametric uncertainty and multiple steady states in which exothermic reaction takes place. The problem of robust controller design was converted to a solution of linear matrix inequalities and a computationally simple non-iterative algorithm is presented. The possibility of using robust static output feedback for stabilization of reactors with uncertainty and comparison of robust P and PI controllers with an optimal controller is demonstrated by simulation results.     

Influences of multiple memory systems on auditory mental image acuity

The influence of different memory systems and associated attentional processes on the acuity of auditory images, formed for the purpose of making intonation judgments, was examined across three experiments using three different task types (cued-attention, imagery, and two-tone discrimination). In experiment 1 the influence of implicit long-term memory for musical scale structure was manipulated by varying the scale degree (leading tone versus tonic) of the probe note about which a judgment had to be made. In experiments 2 and 3 the ability of short-term absolute pitch knowledge to develop was manipulated by presenting blocks of trials in the same key or in seven different keys. The acuity of auditory images depended on all of these manipulations. Within individual listeners, thresholds in the two-tone discrimination and cued-attention conditions were closely related. In many listeners, cued-attention thresholds were similar to thresholds in the imagery condition, and depended on the amount of training individual listeners had in playing a musical instrument. The results indicate that mental images formed at a sensory/cognitive interface for the purpose of making perceptual decisions are highly malleable.     

Oscillations, period doublings, and chaos in CO oxidation and catalytic mufflers

Early experimental observations of chaotic behavior arising via the period-doubling route for the CO catalytic oxidation both on Pt(110) and Ptgamma-Al(2)O(3) porous catalyst were reported more than 15 years ago. Recently, a detailed kinetic reaction scheme including over 20 reaction steps was proposed for the catalytic CO oxidation, NO(x) reduction, and hydrocarbon oxidation taking place in a three-way catalyst (TWC) converter, the most common reactor for detoxification of automobile exhaust gases. This reactor is typically operated with periodic variation of inlet oxygen concentration. For an unforced lumped model, we report results of the stoichiometric network analysis of a CO reaction subnetwork determining feedback loops, which cause the oscillations within certain regions of parameters in bifurcation diagrams constructed by numerical continuation techniques. For a forced system, numerical simulations of the CO oxidation reveal the existence of a period-doubling route to chaos. The dependence of the rotation number on the amplitude and period of forcing shows a typical bifurcation structure of Arnold tongues ordered according to Farey sequences, and positive Lyapunov exponents for sufficiently large forcing amplitudes indicate the presence of chaotic dynamics. Multiple periodic and aperiodic time courses of outlet concentrations were also found in simulations using the lumped model with the full TWC kinetics. Numerical solutions of the distributed model in two geometric coordinates with the CO oxidation subnetwork consisting of several tens of nonlinear partial differential equations show oscillations of the outlet reactor concentrations and, in the presence of forcing, multiple periodic and aperiodic oscillations. Spatiotemporal concentration patterns illustrate the complexity of processes within the reactor.     

Ce3+-doped crystalline garnet films – scintillation characterization using α-particle excitation

Scintillating properties of Ce³⁺-doped (Lu,Y) aluminum garnet single crystalline films (SCF) were investigated. Thin SCF films of thickness between 1 and 30 μm were grown by a liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) method in various fluxes. The α-particle excitation (mainly 5.4857 MeV line of ²⁴¹Am) of pulse height spectra is used to measure scintillation response of SCF, especially peak of those α-rays which are totally absorbed in the films. Detailed studies and evaluation of scintillation measurements of large sets of Ce³⁺-doped SCF (Lu,Y) aluminum garnets showed that at present time (i) YAG:Ce SCF have comparable scintillation properties as YAG:Ce single crystals, especially their N_phels photoelectron yields are the same while (ii) scintillation properties of LuAG:Ce SCF do not reach those of LuAG:Ce single crystal.     

A continuum model for yttria-stabilized zirconia incorporating triple phase boundary,lattice structure and immobile oxide ions

A continuum model for yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) in the framework of non-equilibrium thermodynamics is developed. Particular attention is given to (i) modeling of the YSZ-metal-gas triple phase boundary, (ii) incorporation of the lattice structure and immobile oxide ions within the free energy model and (iii) surface reactions. A finite volume discretization method based on modified Scharfetter-Gummel fluxes is derived in order to perform numerical simulations. The model is used to study the impact of yttria and immobile oxide ions on the structure of the charged boundary layer and the double layer capacitance. Cyclic voltammograms of an air-half cell are simulated to study the effect of parameter variations on surface reactions, adsorption and anion diffusion.

     

Preparation of LaNiO3 perovskite by oxalate and carbonate precursor method for utilization as catalyst for high-temperature decomposition of N2O

The mixed oxide LaNiO₃ with perovskite structure was prepared by two relatively new and unconventional methods including preparation and thermal decomposition of mixed metal oxalate or carbonate precursors. The intermediates were prepared by reaction in a highly concentrated suspension (paste). The thermal decomposition conditions of these intermediates were described, and the final calcination temperatures were determined, which were done using thermal analysis methods and X-ray diffraction. During the decomposition of mixed carbonates, one-phase LaNiO₃ is produced directly, and in case of decomposition of oxalates, a mixture of LaNiO₃ and La₂O₃ is produced due to the formation of La₂O₂CO₃ during the heating. Catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide at high temperature (650–930 °C) and high loading (GHSV?=?350,000 h^?1) has shown high LaNiO₃ activity, even at lower temperatures. The results were compared with the same compound obtained by co-precipitation and by solid-state reaction. Methods of preparation based on decomposition of oxalate and carbonate intermediates lead to the preparation of materials with appropriate composition, morphology, specific surface and high catalytic activity.

     

Evaluation of silica from different vendors as the solid support of anion‐exchange chiral stationary phases by means of preferential sorption and liquid chromatography

Chromatographic performance of a chiral stationary phase is significantly influenced by the employed solid support. Properties of the most commonly used support, silica particles, such as size and size distribution, and pore size are of utmost importance for both superficially porous particles and fully porous particles. In this work, we have focused on evaluation of fully porous particles from three different vendors as solid supports for a brush‐type chiral stationary phase based on 9‐O‐tert‐butylcarbamoyl quinidine. We have prepared corresponding stationary phases under identical experimental conditions and determined the parameters of the modified silica by physisorption measurements and scanning electron microscopy. Enantiorecognition properties of the chiral stationary phases have been studied using preferential sorption experiments. The same material was slurry‐packed into chromatographic columns and the chromatographic properties have been evaluated in liquid chromatography. We show that preferential sorption can provide valuable information about the influence of the pore size and total pore volume on the interaction of analytes of different size with the chirally‐modified silica surface. The data can be used to understand differences observed in chromatographic evaluation of the chiral stationary phases. The combination of preferential sorption and liquid chromatography separation can provide detailed information on new chiral stationary phases.     

Eigenvalues of one-dimensional non-self-adjoint Dirac operators and applications

We analyze eigenvalues emerging from thresholds of the essential spectrum of one-dimensional Dirac operators perturbed by complex and non-symmetric potentials. In the general non-self-adjoint setting, we establish the existence and asymptotics of weakly coupled eigenvalues and Lieb–Thirring inequalities. As physical applications, we investigate the damped wave equation and armchair graphene nanoribbons.