A vortex axis and vortex core border grid adaptation algorithm

In the design process of hydrodynamical and aerodynamical technical applications, the numerical simulation of massively separated vortical flow is crucial for predicting, for example, lift or drag. To obtain reliable numerical results, it is mandatory to accurately predict the physical behavior of vortices. Thus, the dominant vortical flow structures have to be resolved in detail, which requires a local grid refinement and certain adaptation techniques. In this paper, a vortex flow structure adaptation algorithm is presented, which is particularly designed for local grid refinement at vortex axes positions and associated vortex core border locations. To this end, a fast and efficient vortex axis detection scheme is introduced and the algorithm for the vortex core border determination is explained. As the interaction between vortices makes the assignment of grid points to a certain vortex axis difficult, a helicity‐based vortex distinction approach in combination with a geometrical rotational sensor is developed. After describing the combined different techniques in detail, the vortex feature adaptation algorithm is applied to analytical and more realistic examples, which show that the described grid adaptation algorithm is able to enhance the grid cell resolution locally such that all significant vortical flow phenomena are resolved. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxidation of Alcohols by [Cp*Rh(ppy)(OH)]+

Summary.  Rh(III) polypyridine complexes ([Cp ^*Rh(ppy)(H₂O)]²⁺; ppy = 2,2′-bipyridine, 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylate, o-phenanthroline, tetrahydro-4,4′-dialkyl-bis-oxazole) oxidize in organic or aqueous alkaline solution primary and secondary alcohols to aldehydes or ketones and are thereby reduced to the Rh(I) complexes Cp ^*Rh(ppy). The Rh(III) form can be regenerated byoxidants like pyruvate or oxygen, making the reaction quasi-catalytic. The reaction follows anautocatalytic pathway; hydrogen transfer from the α-CH₂ group of an alcoholate complex [Cp ^*Rh(ppy)(OR)]⁺ to Cp ^*Rh(I)(ppy) is suggested to yield the Rh(II) intermediate Cp ^*Rh(ppy)H as the key and rate determining step. The knowledge of Rh(III)/Rh(I) redox potentials allows to estimate the thermodynamic driving force of the reaction which is not more than about 300 mV.     

Ant colony optimization for power plant maintenance scheduling optimization—a five-station hydropower system

A number of algorithms have been developed for the optimization of power plant maintenance schedules. However, the true test of such algorithms occurs when they are applied to real systems. In this paper, the application of an Ant Colony Optimization formulation to a hydropower system is presented. The formulation is found to be effective in handling various constraints commonly encountered in practice. Overall, the results obtained using the ACO formulation are better than those given by traditional methods using engineering judgment, which indicates the potential of ACO in solving realistic power plant maintenance scheduling problems.     

Continuous Frames, Function Spaces, and the Discretization Problem

A continuous frame is a family of vectors in a Hilbert space which allows reproductions of arbitrary elements by continuous superpositions. Associated to a given continuous frame we construct certain Banach spaces. Many classical function spaces can be identified as such spaces. We provide a general method to derive Banach frames and atomic decompositions for these Banach spaces by sampling the continuous frame. This is done by generalizing the coorbit space theory developed by Feichtinger and Gröchenig. As an important tool the concept of localization of frames is extended to continuous frames. As a byproduct we give a partial answer to the question raised by Ali, Antoine, and Gazeau whether any continuous frame admits a corresponding discrete realization generated by sampling.