Current Reconstruction Techniques for Survivable Three-Phase PWM Converters

In high-performance three-phase pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) converter systems used in generator and motor drives, failure of current sensors will directly interrupt the system performance, and will even cause disastrous consequences. Redundancy in design is one of the popular choices to overcome this issue. However, this usually leads to an undesirable increase in size and cost. This letter presents two novel model-independent current reconstruction methods for three-phase PWM converter systems based on space vector modulation. Using the proposed sensor placement and software algorithm, phase currents within a three-phase converter can be reconstructed to an acceptable level of accuracy under single-survived-sensor ($S^3$) scenario. A hardware prototype is built and fault tolerant algorithm is implemented using a DSP (TMS320F2812). Experiments are conducted under worst-case scenario to verify the flexibility of sensor placement/converter layout and software algorithm.      

Insulator‐Conductor Type Transitions in Graphene‐Modified Silver Nanowire Networks: A Route to Inexpensive Transparent Conductors

Silver nanowire coatings are an attractive alternative to indium tin oxide for producing transparent conductors. To fabricate coatings with low sheet resistance required for touchscreen displays, a multi‐layer network of silver nanowires must be produced that may not be cost effective. This problem is counteracted here by modifying the electrical properties of an ultra‐low‐density nanowire network through local deposition of conducting graphene platelets. Unlike other solution‐processed materials, such as graphene oxide, our pristine graphene is free of oxygen functional groups, resulting in it being electrically conducting without the need for further chemical treatment. Graphene adsorption at inter‐wire junctions as well as graphene connecting adjacent wires contributes to a marked enhancement in electrical properties. Using our approach, the amount of nanowires needed to produce viable transparent electrodes could be more than 50 times less than the equivalent pristine high density nanowire networks, thus having major commercial implications. Using a laser ablation process, it is shown that the resulting films can be patterned into individual electrode structures, which is a pre‐requisite to touchscreen sensor fabrication.     

Four-quadrant position sensorless control in SRM drives over the entire speed range

Proper synchronization of the excitation with respect to the rotor position is essential in optimal control of switched reluctance motor (SRM) drives. To avoid additional cost, size, and unreliability caused by the external position sensors, magnetic status of the SRM can be directly monitored to detect commutation instants. A one-to-one correspondence between magnetic status of the SRM and rotor position removes the need for an explicit access to the rotor position. In order to obtain a good precision over the entire speed range, educated modifications on the structure of the sensorless strategy is necessary. This is due to the impact of the operational regions on dynamic behavior of the SRM. In addition, introduction of SRM technology to industrial and domestic applications has raised the need for four-quadrant operation of the SRM drives. The present paper introduces a range of strategies that are necessary to accommodate this requirement in a sensorless format. Our experimental findings indicate that high-grade sensorless operation in a four-quadrant SRM drive is possible and can be integrated in a variety of applications.     

Making the case for applications of switched reluctance motor technology in automotive products

Switched reluctance machines (SRM) offer attractive attributes for automotive applications. These include robustness to harsh operational conditions, rugged structure, fault resilient performance, and a wide range of speed. The main debate over the adequacy of switched reluctance drives in automotive applications has often focused on efficiency and position sensorless control over the entire speed range, adaptation of control algorithms in the presence of parameter variations, and high levels of acoustic noise and vibration. The present paper demonstrates three key technologies developed over the past few years that have resulted in tangible improvements in the performance of SRM/generators (SRM/G) as related to the above areas of interest. This paper intends to illustrate the new possibilities and remaining challenges in applications of SRM in automotive industry. The proposed technologies have been validated by simulation and experimental results.     

Preparation,Characterization and Controlled Release Investigation of Biocompatible pH-Sensitive PVA/PAA Hydrogels

In the present research hydrogel films based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) blend, with various crosslink densities, have been prepared through different thermal treatment. The results of FTIR and DSC confirmed quality and quantity of conclusion on miscibility of PVA/PAA blends, respectively. Besides, biocompatibility of the samples has been proved in cytotoxicity tests using L929 cells, according to ISO10993–5. Water uptake of the hydrogel blends is measured. pH sensitivity properties of blends are studied with and without boiling in NaOH solutions where the effect of swelling in water before boiling has also been investigated. Preswellings in water and NaOH concentration have been found to be mainly effective on pH sensitivity of PVA/PAA blends. Biocompatibility and pH sensitivity behavior make these hydrogels appropriate candidates to orally deliver drugs such as insulin and peptides that can be released in basic pH of intestine. The stability of these films in acidic solutions and its expansion and also the consequent release of drugs in basic solutions have been studied by using Teofilin as a model drug by UV-spectrophotometeric measurements.     

Reducing the effects of scattered photons in X-ray projection imaging

An iterative algorithm is introduced which can compute and subtract the scatter bias. It is assumed that the scatter-free image is spatially bounded and anything outside the boundary is the result of recorded scattered photons. This information and the fact that the scatter distribution does not have appreciable high-frequency content are utilized.     

A new staining method for the detection of activities of H2O2-producing oxidases on gels and blots using cerium and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine.

Cerium chloride (CeCl3) was used to trap the hydrogen peroxide generated by several oxidases on native gels and blots. The pale yellow color of cerium perhydroxide formed is converted to a brown-black precipitate by the subsequent reaction with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine. The suitability of this method for the detection of the activity of several oxidases on gels and on blots under nondenaturing conditions, employing different electrophoretic systems and resolving techniques, is demonstrated. Moreover, this method has proven to be highly suitable for the assessment of the substrate and stereospecificity of oxidases, the determination of their molecular weights, and the isoelectric points of isoforms.     

Separation and preparative isolation of phenolic dialdehydes by on-line overpressured layer chromatography

The Reimer-Tiemann reaction carried out in a heterogeneous solid-liquid medium was found to give the isomeric dialdehydes 2-hydroxy-1,3-benzenedicarboxaldehyde and 4-hydroxy-1,3-benzenedicarboxaldehyde. The PRISMA model was employed to optimize the eluent mixture, and with careful choice of silica gel high-performance thin-layer chromatographic plates, the two isomers could be isolated and purified by on-line overpressured layer chromatography.     

Trimethylsilyl Protection of Alcohols Over Phosphorus Pentoxide Supported on Silica Gel

Abstract

An eco-friendly and mild protocol for trimethylsilyl protection of alcohols over phosphorus pentoxide supported on silica gel using hexamethyldisilazane has been described. Solvent-free and ambient reaction conditions, easy workup, short reaction times, excellent yields, and reusability of the catalyst are the noticeable features of this methodology.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT