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Appl. Sci., Volume 7, Issue 4 (April 2017) – 121 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging non-isothermal membrane separation process having broad spectrum of applications e.g. it is a promising technique for desalting highly saline water. For an efficient process realization application of non-wetted porous hydrophobic membranes are required.
In the presented work, TiO2 and Al2O3 ceramic membranes were efficiently functionalized with fluorine-free grafting molecules. As a result, highly hydrophobic surfaces (CA = 111°–132°) possessing low surface free energy (31–52 mN•m-1) and low roughness (23–51 nm) were achieved. Membranes were subsequently tested in air gap membrane distillation showing high permeate flux and salt retention close to 100%. View the paper
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4859 KiB  
Article
Convective Heat Transfer and Particle Motion in an Obstructed Duct with Two Side by Side Obstacles by Means of DPM Model
by Saman Rashidi, Javad Aolfazli Esfahani and Rahmat Ellahi
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040431 - 24 Apr 2017
Cited by 97 | Viewed by 7633
Abstract
In this research, a two-way coupling of discrete phase model is developed in order to track the discrete nature of aluminum oxide particles in an obstructed duct with two side-by-side obstacles. Finite volume method and trajectory analysis are simultaneously utilized to solve the [...] Read more.
In this research, a two-way coupling of discrete phase model is developed in order to track the discrete nature of aluminum oxide particles in an obstructed duct with two side-by-side obstacles. Finite volume method and trajectory analysis are simultaneously utilized to solve the equations for liquid and solid phases, respectively. The interactions between two phases are fully taken into account in the simulation by considering the Brownian, drag, gravity, and thermophoresis forces. The effects of space ratios between two obstacles and particle diameters on different parameters containing concentration and deposition of particles and Nusselt number are studied for the constant values of Reynolds number (Re = 100) and volume fractions of nanoparticles (Φ = 0.01). The obtained results indicate that the particles with smaller diameter (dp = 30 nm) are not affected by the flow streamline and they diffuse through the streamlines. Moreover, the particle deposition enhances as the value of space ratio increases. A comparison between the experimental and numerical results is also provided with the existing literature as a limiting case of the reported problem and found in good agreement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments of Nanofluids)
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1894 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Light Trapping in Silicon Nanowire and Surface Textured Thin-Film Solar Cells
by Rion Parsons, Asman Tamang, Vladislav Jovanov, Veit Wagner and Dietmar Knipp
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040427 - 24 Apr 2017
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6527
Abstract
The optics of axial silicon nanowire solar cells is investigated and compared to silicon thin-film solar cells with textured contact layers. The quantum efficiency and short circuit current density are calculated taking a device geometry into account, which can be fabricated by using [...] Read more.
The optics of axial silicon nanowire solar cells is investigated and compared to silicon thin-film solar cells with textured contact layers. The quantum efficiency and short circuit current density are calculated taking a device geometry into account, which can be fabricated by using standard semiconductor processing. The solar cells with textured absorber and textured contact layers provide a gain of short circuit current density of 4.4 mA/cm2 and 6.1 mA/cm2 compared to a solar cell on a flat substrate, respectively. The influence of the device dimensions on the quantum efficiency and short circuit current density will be discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Light Management for Optoelectronics)
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5285 KiB  
Article
Dense Pure Tungsten Fabricated by Selective Laser Melting
by Dianzheng Wang, Chenfan Yu, Xin Zhou, Jing Ma, Wei Liu and Zhijian Shen
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040430 - 23 Apr 2017
Cited by 101 | Viewed by 10319
Abstract
Additive manufacturing using tungsten, a brittle material, is difficult because of its high melting point, thermal conductivity, and oxidation tendency. In this study, pure tungsten parts with densities of up to 18.53 g/cm3 (i.e., 96.0% of the theoretical density) were fabricated by selective [...] Read more.
Additive manufacturing using tungsten, a brittle material, is difficult because of its high melting point, thermal conductivity, and oxidation tendency. In this study, pure tungsten parts with densities of up to 18.53 g/cm3 (i.e., 96.0% of the theoretical density) were fabricated by selective laser melting. In order to minimize balling effects, the raw polyhedral tungsten powders underwent a spheroidization process before laser consolidation. Compared with polyhedral powders, the spherical powders showed increased laser absorptivity and packing density, which helped in the formation of a continuous molten track and promoted densification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for 3D Printing)
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4037 KiB  
Article
An Investigation on Eddy Current Pulsed Thermography to Detect Surface Cracks on the Tungsten Carbide Matrix of Polycrystalline Diamond Compact Bit
by Changhang Xu, Xumei Gong, Wuyang Zhang and Guoming Chen
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040429 - 23 Apr 2017
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6113
Abstract
Polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits are commonly used drill bits in the petroleum drilling industry. Cracks often occur on the surface of a bit, which may result in the unexpected suspension of the drilling operation, or even accidents. Therefore, the detection of surface [...] Read more.
Polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits are commonly used drill bits in the petroleum drilling industry. Cracks often occur on the surface of a bit, which may result in the unexpected suspension of the drilling operation, or even accidents. Therefore, the detection of surface cracks on PDC bits is of great importance to ensure continuous drilling operation and to prevent accidents. However, it is extremely difficult to detect such cracks by visual inspection or other traditional nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques due to the small size of cracks and the irregular geometry of bits. As one emerging NDT technique, eddy current pulsed thermography (ECPT) can instantly detect surface cracks on metal parts with irregular geometry. In this study, the feasibility of ECPT of detecting surface cracks on the tungsten carbide matrix of PDC bits was investigated. A successive scanning detection mode is proposed to detect surface cracks by using ECPT with a low power heating excitation unit and small-size coils. The influence of excitation duration on the detection result was also investigated. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to process the acquired IR image sequences to improve detection sensitivity. Finally, the whole shape of a crack was restored with processed images containing varied cracks segments. Based on the experimental results, we conclude that the surface cracks on the tungsten carbide matrix of PDC bit can be detected effectively and conveniently by ECPT in scanning mode with the aid of PCA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of Civil Structures)
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3951 KiB  
Article
Pushover Analysis on Infill Effects on the Failure Pattern of Reinforced Concrete Frames
by Ning Ning, Dehu Yu, Chunwei Zhang and Shan Jiang
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040428 - 23 Apr 2017
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5698
Abstract
This paper presents a pushover analysis using ABAQUS (Dassault Company, Providence, Rhodes Island, USA) for spatial reinforced concrete (RC) frames. The main purpose is to study the effect of the infills on failure patterns of the RC frames. The Finite Element Method (FEM) [...] Read more.
This paper presents a pushover analysis using ABAQUS (Dassault Company, Providence, Rhodes Island, USA) for spatial reinforced concrete (RC) frames. The main purpose is to study the effect of the infills on failure patterns of the RC frames. The Finite Element Method (FEM) model considered an RC frame with fulfilled infills, half-filled infills, and without infills. Column moment, the effective width of the cast in situ slab, and the required ratio of column to beam strength are calculated and analyzed. Research findings indicate that the location of the inflection point varied because of the effect of infills. Some of the calculated values of column moments are larger than those values according to the design code. The effective slab width and the required ratio of column to beam strength are found to be reduced due to the infill effects. The actual effective width of the slab should be considered in the required ratio of column to beam strength. Reasonable advice is proposed and discussed for design purposes. Full article
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4426 KiB  
Article
A Scenario-Adaptive Driving Behavior Prediction Approach to Urban Autonomous Driving
by Xinli Geng, Huawei Liang, Biao Yu, Pan Zhao, Liuwei He and Rulin Huang
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040426 - 22 Apr 2017
Cited by 67 | Viewed by 11707
Abstract
Driving through dynamically changing traffic scenarios is a highly challenging task for autonomous vehicles, especially on urban roadways. Prediction of surrounding vehicles’ driving behaviors plays a crucial role in autonomous vehicles. Most traditional driving behavior prediction models work only for a specific traffic [...] Read more.
Driving through dynamically changing traffic scenarios is a highly challenging task for autonomous vehicles, especially on urban roadways. Prediction of surrounding vehicles’ driving behaviors plays a crucial role in autonomous vehicles. Most traditional driving behavior prediction models work only for a specific traffic scenario and cannot be adapted to different scenarios. In addition, priori driving knowledge was never considered sufficiently. This study proposes a novel scenario-adaptive approach to solve these problems. A novel ontology model was developed to model traffic scenarios. Continuous features of driving behavior were learned by Hidden Markov Models (HMMs). Then, a knowledge base was constructed to specify the model adaptation strategies and store priori probabilities based on the scenario’s characteristics. Finally, the target vehicle’s future behavior was predicted considering both a posteriori probabilities and a priori probabilities. The proposed approach was sufficiently evaluated with a real autonomous vehicle. The application scope of traditional models can be extended to a variety of scenarios, while the prediction performance can be improved by the consideration of priori knowledge. For lane-changing behaviors, the prediction time horizon can be extended by up to 56% (0.76 s) on average. Meanwhile, long-term prediction precision can be enhanced by over 26%. Full article
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11835 KiB  
Article
PTMD Control on a Benchmark TV Tower under Earthquake and Wind Load Excitations
by Wei Lin, Gangbing Song and Shanghong Chen
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040425 - 22 Apr 2017
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6722
Abstract
A pounding tuned mass damper (PTMD) is introduced by making use of the energy dissipated during impact. In the proposed PTMD, a viscoelastic layer is attached to an impact limitation collar so that energy can be further consumed and transferred to heat energy. [...] Read more.
A pounding tuned mass damper (PTMD) is introduced by making use of the energy dissipated during impact. In the proposed PTMD, a viscoelastic layer is attached to an impact limitation collar so that energy can be further consumed and transferred to heat energy. An improved numerical model to simulate pounding force is proposed and verified through experimentation. The accuracy of the proposed model was validated against a traditional Hertz-based pounding model. A comparison showed that the improved model tends to have a better prediction of the peak pounding force. A simulation was then carried out by taking the benchmark Canton Tower, which is a super-tall structure, as the host structure. The dynamic responses of uncontrolled, TMD-controlled and PTMD controlled system were simulated under wind and earthquake excitations. Unlike traditional TMDs, which are sensitive to input excitations and the mass ratio, the proposed PTMD maintains a stable level of control efficiency when the structure is excited by different earthquake records and different intensities. Particularly, more improvement can be observed when an extreme earthquake is considered. The proposed PTMD was able to achieve similar, or even better, control effectiveness with a lower mass ratio. These results demonstrate the superior adaptability of the PTMD and its applicability for protection of a building against seismic activity. A parametric study was then performed to investigate the influence of the mass ratio and the gap value on the control efficiency. A comparison of results show that better control results will be guaranteed by optimization of the gap value. Full article
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2357 KiB  
Article
A Program Model of Fuzzy Interpreted Petri Net to Control Discrete Event Systems
by Michał Markiewicz and Lesław Gniewek
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040422 - 22 Apr 2017
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4914
Abstract
Using Petri nets (PNs) to control discrete event systems (DES) has many benefits, because of their graphical representations, the possibility of parallel process control, and their formal descriptions. Amongst the different PNs that are applied for this purpose, most have some limitations for [...] Read more.
Using Petri nets (PNs) to control discrete event systems (DES) has many benefits, because of their graphical representations, the possibility of parallel process control, and their formal descriptions. Amongst the different PNs that are applied for this purpose, most have some limitations for visualization. For many of these PNs, another restriction is the length of time between the creation of the control algorithm in the form of a graph and its practical implementation. These two issues can be resolved with one solution called fuzzy interpreted PN (FIPN). This article proposes the use of a program model based on FIPN to control DES and the method for generation of this model using the graphical representation of the net. FIPN offers a better visualization in comparison to discrete PNs and it allows for the quick creation of program code through the application of a simulator called FIPN-SML. This computer tool implements a method that transforms the graphical form of FIPN into Structured Text (ST) language supported by the IEC 61131-3. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling, Simulation, Operation and Control of Discrete Event Systems)
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5493 KiB  
Article
Time Reversal Method for Guided Waves with Multimode and Multipath on Corrosion Defect Detection in Wire
by Yaoye Zhang, Dongsheng Li and Zhi Zhou
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040424 - 21 Apr 2017
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4782
Abstract
This study identified depths of artificial pitting corrosion on the galvanized steel wires, frequently used in bridge cables, based on the time reversal method (TRM). Specifically, the multimode longitudinal ultrasonic guided waves are excited in terms of characteristics of radical distribution of the [...] Read more.
This study identified depths of artificial pitting corrosion on the galvanized steel wires, frequently used in bridge cables, based on the time reversal method (TRM). Specifically, the multimode longitudinal ultrasonic guided waves are excited in terms of characteristics of radical distribution of the normalized average energy flow density (NAPFD) in a wire. Furthermore, the complex defect scattered signals are difficult to interpret, which are attributed to multimode, multipath and dispersion, but are considered to enhance the focused energy through the TRM while the different depths of defect are explicitly identified by the normalized amplitudes of reconstructed wave packets. Finally, in contrast to the traditional monitoring approach relying on the amplitude of defect echo, the proposed method in this study is demonstrated to have a higher sensitivity to recognize the progressive increase of corrosion depth. Full article
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1805 KiB  
Article
A Short-Term Photovoltaic Power Prediction Model Based on an FOS-ELM Algorithm
by Jidong Wang, Ran Ran and Yue Zhou
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040423 - 21 Apr 2017
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4618
Abstract
With the increasing proportion of photovoltaic (PV) power in power systems, the problem of its fluctuation and intermittency has become more prominent. To reduce the negative influence of the use of PV power, we propose a short-term PV power prediction model based on [...] Read more.
With the increasing proportion of photovoltaic (PV) power in power systems, the problem of its fluctuation and intermittency has become more prominent. To reduce the negative influence of the use of PV power, we propose a short-term PV power prediction model based on the online sequential extreme learning machine with forgetting mechanism (FOS-ELM), which can constantly replace outdated data with new data. We use historical weather data and historical PV power data to predict the PV power in the next period of time. The simulation result shows that this model has the advantages of a short training time and high accuracy. This model can help the power dispatch department schedule generation plans as well as support spatial and temporal compensation and coordinated power control, which is important for the security and stability as well as the optimal operation of power systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution Power Systems)
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2934 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Water Distribution Characteristics for Two Kinds of Sprinklers Used for Center Pivot Irrigation Systems
by Jian Jiao, Yadong Wang, Liliang Han and Derong Su
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040421 - 21 Apr 2017
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7095
Abstract
Sprinkler selection influences the water distribution uniformity of center pivot irrigation systems. The sprinkling uniformity of the center pivot is crucial for the yield and quality of crops on a large scale. Rotating and fixed spray plate sprinklers (RSPSs and FSPSs) are the [...] Read more.
Sprinkler selection influences the water distribution uniformity of center pivot irrigation systems. The sprinkling uniformity of the center pivot is crucial for the yield and quality of crops on a large scale. Rotating and fixed spray plate sprinklers (RSPSs and FSPSs) are the two most popular types. However, sprinkler selection is mainly based on price, not on differences in performance between them. Under low-wind field conditions, the water distributions of individual RSPSs and FSPSs with different nozzles (2.78, 4.76, and 6.75 mm in diameter) were measured using a catch can method. Cubic spline interpolation was used for data conversion for FSPS measurements; the nozzle configuration model was used to simulate the water distribution of the same-nozzle-sprinkler pipe section and full circular irrigated areas in a simulated center pivot under three sprinkler intervals of 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 m respectively. Results showed that (1) individual RSPSs distributed the most water around the sprinkler, whereas individual FSPSs distributed the most water over a ring-shaped region at the periphery of the sprinkler, and the wetted radii for RSPSs and FSPSs ranged from 4.88 to 7.05 m and from 5.02 to 6.85 m, respectively; (2) same-nozzle-sprinkler pipe sections of RSPSs distributed the most water around the central axes of the pipe sections, and their sprinkling uniformities were 44.7%–51.0%, whereas FSPSs distributed the most water over both sides of the axes symmetrically, and less water around the axes, with sprinkling uniformities of 40.3%–58.0%; and (3) the sprinkling uniformities of the full circular irrigated areas were 85.8%–91.7% and 85.8%–86.2% when using RSPSs and FSPSs, respectively, under different sprinkler intervals, and the uniformities were 3.1% and 6.2% higher using RSPSs than FSPSs with sprinkler intervals of 3.0 and 4.5 m, respectively. RSPS accommodated larger sprinkler intervals (>3.0 m) and maintained superior sprinkling performance when compared with FSPS. Full article
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2684 KiB  
Article
Operational Temperature Effect on Positioning Accuracy of a Single-Axial Moving Carrier
by Kun-Ying Li, Win-Jet Luo, Jun-Zheng Huang, Yung-Chao Chan, Pratikto and Dini Faridah
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040420 - 20 Apr 2017
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4914
Abstract
This study investigated the ambient environmental temperature effect on the positioning accuracy of a periodically-moving carrier. The moving carrier was operated in an environmental chamber in which the operational temperature could be controlled by an air conditioning system. Different operational temperature modes, including [...] Read more.
This study investigated the ambient environmental temperature effect on the positioning accuracy of a periodically-moving carrier. The moving carrier was operated in an environmental chamber in which the operational temperature could be controlled by an air conditioning system. Different operational temperature modes, including a stable environment, a rise in temperature, a decline in temperature, summer daytime hours, and winter nighttime hours in terms of seasonal climate change in Taiwan, were generated within the environmental chamber by an air conditioning system to investigate the operational temperature’s effect on positioning accuracy. From the experimental measurements of a periodically-moving carrier, it is found that the operational temperature conditions can significantly affect the positioning accuracy of the moving carrier, especially in the case of an operational temperature decline. Under stable operational conditions, the positioning accuracy of the moving carrier can be considerably improved. In comparison to the case of an operational temperature decline, the positioning accuracy improvement can reach 29.6%. Moreover, the effect of the temperature distributions within the chamber on the positioning accuracy was further investigated. It was found that, with a parallel flow pattern in the chamber, the positioning accuracy can be further enhanced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 2016 International Conference on Inventions)
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7219 KiB  
Article
Nuclear Power Plant Prestressed Concrete Containment Vessel Structure Monitoring during Integrated Leakage Rate Testing Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors
by Jinke Li, Kaixing Liao, Xianglong Kong, Shengyuan Li, Xinwang Zhang, Xuefeng Zhao and Changsen Sun
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040419 - 20 Apr 2017
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 10313
Abstract
As the last barrier of nuclear reactor, prestressed concrete containment vessels (PCCVs) play an important role in nuclear power plants (NPPs). To test the mechanical property of PCCV during the integrated leakage rate testing (ILRT), a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor was used [...] Read more.
As the last barrier of nuclear reactor, prestressed concrete containment vessels (PCCVs) play an important role in nuclear power plants (NPPs). To test the mechanical property of PCCV during the integrated leakage rate testing (ILRT), a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor was used to monitor concrete strain. In addition, a finite element method (FEM) model was built to simulate the progress of the ILRT. The results showed that the strain monitored by FBG had the same trend compared to the inner pressure variation. The calculation results showed a similar trend compared with the monitoring results and provided much information about the locations in which the strain sensors should be installed. Therefore, it is confirmed that FBG sensors and FEM simulation are very useful in PCCV structure monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of Civil Structures)
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6866 KiB  
Article
Improved Tensor-Based Singular Spectrum Analysis Based on Single Channel Blind Source Separation Algorithm and Its Application to Fault Diagnosis
by Dan Yang, Cancan Yi, Zengbin Xu, Yi Zhang, Mao Ge and Changming Liu
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040418 - 20 Apr 2017
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6547
Abstract
To solve the problem of multi-fault blind source separation (BSS) in the case that the observed signals are under-determined, a novel approach for single channel blind source separation (SCBSS) based on the improved tensor-based singular spectrum analysis (TSSA) is proposed. As the most [...] Read more.
To solve the problem of multi-fault blind source separation (BSS) in the case that the observed signals are under-determined, a novel approach for single channel blind source separation (SCBSS) based on the improved tensor-based singular spectrum analysis (TSSA) is proposed. As the most natural representation of high-dimensional data, tensor can preserve the intrinsic structure of the data to the maximum extent. Thus, TSSA method can be employed to extract the multi-fault features from the measured single-channel vibration signal. However, SCBSS based on TSSA still has some limitations, mainly including unsatisfactory convergence of TSSA in many cases and the number of source signals is hard to accurately estimate. Therefore, the improved TSSA algorithm based on canonical decomposition and parallel factors (CANDECOMP/PARAFAC) weighted optimization, namely CP-WOPT, is proposed in this paper. CP-WOPT algorithm is applied to process the factor matrix using a first-order optimization approach instead of the original least square method in TSSA, so as to improve the convergence of this algorithm. In order to accurately estimate the number of the source signals in BSS, EMD-SVD-BIC (empirical mode decomposition—singular value decomposition—Bayesian information criterion) method, instead of the SVD in the conventional TSSA, is introduced. To validate the proposed method, we applied it to the analysis of the numerical simulation signal and the multi-fault rolling bearing signals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of Civil Structures)
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14481 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Temperature Field on Low Amplitude Oscillatory Flow within a Parallel-Plate Heat Exchanger in a Standing Wave Thermoacoustic System
by Fatimah A.Z. Mohd Saat and Artur J. Jaworski
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040417 - 20 Apr 2017
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 8533
Abstract
Thermoacoustic technologies rely on a direct power conversion between acoustic and thermal energies using well known thermoacoustic effects. The presence of the acoustic field leads to oscillatory heat transfer and fluid flow processes within the components of thermoacoustic devices, notably heat exchangers. This [...] Read more.
Thermoacoustic technologies rely on a direct power conversion between acoustic and thermal energies using well known thermoacoustic effects. The presence of the acoustic field leads to oscillatory heat transfer and fluid flow processes within the components of thermoacoustic devices, notably heat exchangers. This paper outlines a two-dimensional ANSYS FLUENT CFD (computational fluid dynamics) model of flow across a pair of hot and cold heat exchangers that aims to explain the physics of phenomena observed in earlier experimental work. Firstly, the governing equations, boundary conditions and preliminary model validation are explained in detail. The numerical results show that the velocity profiles within heat exchanger plates become distorted in the presence of temperature gradients, which indicates interesting changes in the flow structure. The fluid temperature profiles from the computational model have a similar trend with the experimental results, but with differences in magnitude particularly noticeable in the hot region. Possible reasons for the differences are discussed. Accordingly, the space averaged wall heat flux is discussed for different phases and locations across both the cold and hot heat exchangers. In addition, the effects of gravity and device orientation on the flow and heat transfer are also presented. Viscous dissipation was found to be the highest when the device was set at a horizontal position; its magnitude increases with the increase of temperature differentials. These indicate that possible losses of energy may depend on the device orientation and applied temperature field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heat Transfer Processes in Oscillatory Flow Conditions)
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3121 KiB  
Article
Design Point Performance and Optimization of Humid Air Turbine Power Plants
by Giovanni D. Brighenti, Pau Lluis Orts-Gonzalez, Luis Sanchez-de-Leon and Pavlos K. Zachos
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040413 - 20 Apr 2017
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5644
Abstract
With the recent drive towards higher thermal efficiencies and lower emission levels in the power generation market, advanced cycle power plants have become an increasingly appealing option. Among these systems, humid air turbines have been previously identified as promising candidates to deliver high [...] Read more.
With the recent drive towards higher thermal efficiencies and lower emission levels in the power generation market, advanced cycle power plants have become an increasingly appealing option. Among these systems, humid air turbines have been previously identified as promising candidates to deliver high efficiency and power output with notably low overall system volume, weight and emissions footprint. This paper investigates the performance of an advanced humid air turbine power cycle and aims to identify the dependencies between key cycle design variables, thermal performance, weight and cost by means of a parametric design optimization approach. Designs of the main heat exchangers are generated, aiming to ascertain the relationship between their technology level and the total weight and acquisition cost of them. The research outcomes show that the recuperator and the intercooler are the two components with the largest influence on the thermal efficiency and the total cost. The total weight of the power system is driven by the technology level of the recuperator and the economizer. Finally, the effectiveness of the aftercooler seems to have the greatest impact in reducing the total acquisition cost of the system with minimum penalty on its thermal efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gas Turbines Propulsion and Power)
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2128 KiB  
Article
Fusion of Intraoperative 3D B-mode and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Data for Automatic Identification of Residual Brain Tumors
by Elisee Ilunga-Mbuyamba, Dirk Lindner, Juan Gabriel Avina-Cervantes, Felix Arlt, Horacio Rostro-Gonzalez, Ivan Cruz-Aceves and Claire Chalopin
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040415 - 19 Apr 2017
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5846
Abstract
Intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) imaging is routinely performed to assist neurosurgeons during tumor surgery. In particular, the identification of the possible presence of residual tumors at the end of the intervention is crucial for the operation outcome. B-mode ultrasound remains the standard modality because [...] Read more.
Intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) imaging is routinely performed to assist neurosurgeons during tumor surgery. In particular, the identification of the possible presence of residual tumors at the end of the intervention is crucial for the operation outcome. B-mode ultrasound remains the standard modality because it depicts brain structures well. However, tumorous tissue is hard to differentiate from resection cavity borders, blood and artifacts. On the other hand, contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) highlights residuals of the tumor, but the interpretation of the image is complex. Therefore, an assistance system to support the identification of tumor remnants in the iUS data is needed. Our approach is based on image segmentation and data fusion techniques. It consists of combining relevant information, automatically extracted from both intraoperative B-mode and CEUS image data, according to decision rules that model the analysis process of neurosurgeons to interpret the iUS data. The method was tested on an image dataset of 23 patients suffering from glioblastoma. The detection rate of brain areas with tumor residuals reached by the algorithm was qualitatively and quantitatively compared with manual annotations provided by experts. The results showed that the assistance tool was able to successfully identify areas with suspicious tissue. Full article
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5574 KiB  
Article
Research on the Blind Source Separation Method Based on Regenerated Phase-Shifted Sinusoid-Assisted EMD and Its Application in Diagnosing Rolling-Bearing Faults
by Cancan Yi, Yong Lv, Han Xiao, Guanghui You and Zhang Dang
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040414 - 19 Apr 2017
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6072
Abstract
To improve the performance of single-channel, multi-fault blind source separation (BSS), a novel method based on regenerated phase-shifted sinusoid-assisted empirical mode decomposition (RPSEMD) is proposed in this paper. The RPSEMD method is used to decompose the original single-channel vibration signal into several intrinsic [...] Read more.
To improve the performance of single-channel, multi-fault blind source separation (BSS), a novel method based on regenerated phase-shifted sinusoid-assisted empirical mode decomposition (RPSEMD) is proposed in this paper. The RPSEMD method is used to decompose the original single-channel vibration signal into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), with the obtained IMFs and original signal together forming a new observed signal for the dimensional lifting. Therefore, an undetermined problem is transformed into a positive definite problem. Compared with the existing EMD method and its improved version, the proposed RPSEMD method performs better in solving the mode mixing problem (MMP) by employing sinusoid-assisted technology. Meanwhile, it can also reduce the computational load and reconstruction errors. The number of source signals is estimated by adopting singular value decomposition (SVD) and Bayes information criterion (BIC). Simulation analysis has demonstrated the superiority of this method being applied in multi-fault BSS. Furthermore, its effectiveness in identifying the multi-fault features of rolling-bearing has been also verified based on a test rig. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of Civil Structures)
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1284 KiB  
Article
Simplified Swarm Optimization-Based Function Module Detection in Protein–Protein Interaction Networks
by Xianghan Zheng, Lingting Wu, Shaozhen Ye and Riqing Chen
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040412 - 19 Apr 2017
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6817
Abstract
Proteomics research has become one of the most important topics in the field of life science and natural science. At present, research on protein–protein interaction networks (PPIN) mainly focuses on detecting protein complexes or function modules. However, existing approaches are either ineffective or [...] Read more.
Proteomics research has become one of the most important topics in the field of life science and natural science. At present, research on protein–protein interaction networks (PPIN) mainly focuses on detecting protein complexes or function modules. However, existing approaches are either ineffective or incomplete. In this paper, we investigate detection mechanisms of functional modules in PPIN, including open database, existing detection algorithms, and recent solutions. After that, we describe the proposed approach based on the simplified swarm optimization (SSO) algorithm and the knowledge of Gene Ontology (GO). The proposed solution implements the SSO algorithm for clustering proteins with similar function, and imports biological gene ontology knowledge for further identifying function complexes and improving detection accuracy. Furthermore, we use four different categories of species datasets for experiment: fruitfly, mouse, scere, and human. The testing and analysis result show that the proposed solution is feasible, efficient, and could achieve a higher accuracy of prediction than existing approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Healthcare)
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3052 KiB  
Article
Diffraction-Based Optical Switching with MEMS
by Pierre-Alexandre Blanche, Lloyd LaComb, Youmin Wang and Ming C. Wu
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040411 - 19 Apr 2017
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 7963
Abstract
We are presenting an overview of MEMS-based (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) optical switch technology starting from the reflective two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) MEMS implementations. To further increase the speed of the MEMS from these devices, the mirror size needs to be reduced. Small mirror [...] Read more.
We are presenting an overview of MEMS-based (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) optical switch technology starting from the reflective two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) MEMS implementations. To further increase the speed of the MEMS from these devices, the mirror size needs to be reduced. Small mirror size prevents efficient reflection but favors a diffraction-based approach. Two implementations have been demonstrated, one using the Texas Instruments DLP (Digital Light Processing), and the other an LCoS-based (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) SLM (Spatial Light Modulator). These switches demonstrated the benefit of diffraction, by independently achieving high speed, efficiency, and high number of ports. We also demonstrated for the first time that PSK (Phase Shift Keying) modulation format can be used with diffraction-based devices. To be truly effective in diffraction mode, the MEMS pixels should modulate the phase of the incident light. We are presenting our past and current efforts to manufacture a new type of MEMS where the pixels are moving in the vertical direction. The original structure is a 32 × 32 phase modulator array with high contrast grating pixels, and we are introducing a new sub-wavelength linear array capable of a 310 kHz modulation rate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Modulators and Switches)
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2203 KiB  
Article
Performance Improvement of High Efficiency Mono-Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells by Modifying Rear-Side Morphology
by Chung-Yuan Kung, Chih-Hsiang Yang, Chun-Wei Huang, Shui-Yang Lien, Wen-Zhang Zhu, Hai-Jun Lin and Xiao-Ying Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040410 - 18 Apr 2017
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3971
Abstract
In this work, aluminum oxide films with excellent passivation effects were prepared on the rear-side surface of passivated emitter and rear cells (PERCs) using a self-developed spatial atomic layer deposition system. Various rear-side surface morphologies were obtained through different etching treatments. We compared [...] Read more.
In this work, aluminum oxide films with excellent passivation effects were prepared on the rear-side surface of passivated emitter and rear cells (PERCs) using a self-developed spatial atomic layer deposition system. Various rear-side surface morphologies were obtained through different etching treatments. We compared the PERCs with standard etching treatment and further polishing processes on rear-side surfaces. Experimental results show that compared with the unpolished cell, the polished cell attained superior electrical performance, particularly in open-circuit voltage (Voc) and short-circuit current density (Jsc), because of the more effective rear-side surface passivation and reabsorption of long-wavelength light. The improvement in Voc and Jsc raised the conversion efficiency to 19.27%. This study verifies that despite polished cells requiring complex processes, the polishing treatment displays application potential for achieving high efficiency in the solar industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Nanotechnology and Applied Nanosciences)
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2247 KiB  
Article
Viscosity Prediction of Different Ethylene Glycol/Water Based Nanofluids Using a RBF Neural Network
by Ningbo Zhao and Zhiming Li
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040409 - 18 Apr 2017
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5759
Abstract
In this study, a radial basis function (RBF) neural network with three-layer feed forward architecture was developed to effectively predict the viscosity ratio of different ethylene glycol/water based nanofluids. A total of 216 experimental data involving CuO, TiO2, SiO2, [...] Read more.
In this study, a radial basis function (RBF) neural network with three-layer feed forward architecture was developed to effectively predict the viscosity ratio of different ethylene glycol/water based nanofluids. A total of 216 experimental data involving CuO, TiO2, SiO2, and SiC nanoparticles were collected from the published literature to train and test the RBF neural network. The parameters including temperature, nanoparticle properties (size, volume fraction, and density), and viscosity of the base fluid were selected as the input variables of the RBF neural network. The investigations demonstrated that the viscosity ratio predicted by the RBF neural network agreed well with the experimental data. The root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), sum of squared error (SSE), and statistical coefficient of multiple determination (R2) were respectively 0.04615, 2.12738%, 0.46007, and 0.99925 for the total samples when the Spread was 0.3. In addition, the RBF neural network had a better ability for predicting the viscosity ratio of nanofluids than the typical Batchelor model and Chen model, and the prediction performance of RBF neural networks were affected by the size of the data set. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments of Nanofluids)
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136 KiB  
Meeting Report
Nobel Symposium on Free Electron Laser Research
by Mats Larsson
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040408 - 18 Apr 2017
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3944
Abstract
This meeting report describes the Nobel Symposium on Free Electron Laser Research, which was organized in Sigtuna, Sweden, 14–18 June 2015. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue X-Ray Free-Electron Laser)
8803 KiB  
Review
Self-Referenced Spectral Interferometry for Femtosecond Pulse Characterization
by Xiong Shen, Peng Wang, Jun Liu, Takayoshi Kobayashi and Ruxin Li
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040407 - 18 Apr 2017
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 7425
Abstract
Since its introduction in 2010, self-referenced spectral interferometry (SRSI) has turned out to be an analytical, sensitive, accurate, and fast method for characterizing the temporal profile of femtosecond pulses. We review the underlying principle and the recent progress in the field of SRSI. [...] Read more.
Since its introduction in 2010, self-referenced spectral interferometry (SRSI) has turned out to be an analytical, sensitive, accurate, and fast method for characterizing the temporal profile of femtosecond pulses. We review the underlying principle and the recent progress in the field of SRSI. We present our experimental work on this method, including the development of self-diffraction (SD) effect-based SRSI (SD-SRSI) and transient-grating (TG) effect-based SRSI (TG-SRSI). Three experiments based on TG-SRSI were performed: (1) We built a simple TG-SRSI device and used it to characterize a sub-10 fs pulse with a center wavelength of 1.8 μm. (2) On the basis of the TG effect, we successfully combined SRSI and frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) into a single device. The device has a broad range of application, because it has the advantages of both SRSI and FROG methods. (3) Weak sub-nanojoule pulses from an oscillator were successfully characterized using the TG-SRSI device, the optical setup of which is smaller than the palm of a hand, making it convenient for use in many applications, including sensor monitoring the pulse profile of laser systems. In addition, the SRSI method was extended for single-shot characterization of the temporal contrast of ultraintense and ultrashort laser pulses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultrashort Optical Pulses)
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2925 KiB  
Article
The Brownian and Thermophoretic Analysis of the Non-Newtonian Williamson Fluid Flow of Thin Film in a Porous Space over an Unstable Stretching Surface
by Liaqat Ali, Saeed Islam, Taza Gul, Ilyas Khan, L. C. C. Dennis, Waris Khan and Aurangzeb Khan
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040404 - 18 Apr 2017
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5674
Abstract
This paper explores Liquid Film Flow of Williamson Fluid over an Unstable Stretching Surface in a Porous Space . The Brownian motion and Thermophoresis effect of the liquid film flow on a stretching sheet have been observed. This research include, to focus on [...] Read more.
This paper explores Liquid Film Flow of Williamson Fluid over an Unstable Stretching Surface in a Porous Space . The Brownian motion and Thermophoresis effect of the liquid film flow on a stretching sheet have been observed. This research include, to focus on the variation in the thickness of the liquid film in a porous space. The self-similarity variables have been applied to convert the modelled equations into a set of non-linear coupled differential equations. These non-linear differential equations have been treated through an analytical technique known as Homotopy Analysis Method (HAM). The effect of physical non-dimensional parameters like, Eckert Number, Prandtl Number, Porosity Parameter, Brownian Motion Parameter, Unsteadiness Parameter, Schmidt Number, Thermophoresis Parameter, Dimensionless Film Thickness, and Williamson Fluid Constant on the liquid film size are investigated and conferred in this endeavor. The obtained results through HAM are authenticated, from its comparison with numerical (ND-Solve Method). The graphical comparison of these two methods is elaborated. The numerical comparison with absolute errors are also been shown in the tables. The physical and numerical results using h curves for the residuals of the velocity, temperature and concentration profiles are obtained Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments of Nanofluids)
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2682 KiB  
Article
Learning-Based Optimal Desired Compensation Adaptive Robust Control for a Flexure-Based Micro-Motion Manipulator
by Shi Jia, Yao Jiang, Tiemin Li and Yunsong Du
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040406 - 17 Apr 2017
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4254
Abstract
Flexure-based micro-motion mechanisms activated by piezoelectric actuators have a wide range of applications in modern precision industry, due to their inherent merits. However, system performance is negatively affected by model uncertainty, disturbance and uncertain nonlinearity, such as the cross-coupling effect and the hysteresis [...] Read more.
Flexure-based micro-motion mechanisms activated by piezoelectric actuators have a wide range of applications in modern precision industry, due to their inherent merits. However, system performance is negatively affected by model uncertainty, disturbance and uncertain nonlinearity, such as the cross-coupling effect and the hysteresis of the actuator. This paper presents an integrated learning-based optimal desired compensation adaptive robust control (LODCARC) methodology for a flexure-based parallel micro-motion manipulator. The proposed LODCARC optimizes the reference trajectory used in the desired compensation adaptive robust control (DCARC) by iterative learning control (ILC), which can greatly compensate for the effect of repetitive disturbance and uncertainty. The proposed control approach was tested on the flexure-based micro-motion manipulator, with the comparative results of high-speed tracking experiments verifying that the proposed LODCARC controller can achieve excellent tracking and contouring performances with parametric adaption and disturbance robustness. Furthermore, the iterative reference optimization can effectively accommodate the effects of unmodeled repetitive uncertainty from the micro-motion system. This study provides a practical and effective technique for the flexure-based micro-motion manipulator to achieve high-precision motion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mechanical Engineering)
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17585 KiB  
Article
Modeling Analysis on Propagation of Structure-Borne Vibration Caused by an Indoor Distribution Transformer in a Building and Its Control Method
by Junhua Wang, Yi Xu, Kaibin Liang, Qisheng Liu, Jiangui Li and Kaipei Liu
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040405 - 17 Apr 2017
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5737
Abstract
With the increase of urban population and electricity demand, in order to provide sufficient power to residents, distribution transformers are getting closer to residential buildings, and are even directly placed on the first floor or the basement of buildings due to space limitations. [...] Read more.
With the increase of urban population and electricity demand, in order to provide sufficient power to residents, distribution transformers are getting closer to residential buildings, and are even directly placed on the first floor or the basement of buildings due to space limitations. The vibration and noise with low frequency of mainly 50–250 Hz generated by the distribution transformers spread to rooms through beams, bricks, walls and other building structures, which inevitably damages the living environment. In this paper, through focusing on the frame of buildings, simulation models of the indoor distribution transformer vibrating in the structure field are built, including a two-layer model and a six-layer model. This paper simulates and analyzes the vibration response of the structural system, studies the propagation laws of the structure-borne sound caused by the transformer and quantitatively analyzes the attenuation characteristics of the vibration. Finally the prevention method of the structure-borne noise, called vibration isolation, is introduced and analyzed by the field test to evaluate the noise reduction effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Acoustics and Vibrations)
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3711 KiB  
Article
Oxidation Products of Ester-Based Oils with and without Antioxidants Identified by Stable Isotope Labelling and Mass Spectrometry
by Marcella Frauscher, Charlotte Besser, Günter Allmaier and Nicole Dörr
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040396 - 16 Apr 2017
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6590
Abstract
As lubricants with a high thermo-oxidative stability such as synthetic esters are gaining more importance in the lubricant market, a detailed knowledge regarding their oxidative degradation behaviour is of high importance. In order to reveal their degradation products and processes, a novel approach [...] Read more.
As lubricants with a high thermo-oxidative stability such as synthetic esters are gaining more importance in the lubricant market, a detailed knowledge regarding their oxidative degradation behaviour is of high importance. In order to reveal their degradation products and processes, a novel approach combining artificial alteration, isotope labelling based on oxidation with 16O2 and 18O2, and mass spectrometry (MS), was applied to a bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate base oil. The degradation products such as 2-ethylhexanol and its monoesters with short-chain fatty acids pinpointed the C–O ester bond as the site prone to oxidative attack, allowing the collection of information about the oxidation mechanisms. Furthermore, the influence of the antioxidant (AO) 4,4′-methylene-bis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol) as an additive on the oxidation behaviour and resulting products was studied: blends containing AO showed a remarkably higher resistance against oxidation. However, similar degradation products were obtained after AO depletion and without AO. AO cleavage occurred at the carbon atom that bridges the phenols to give 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid. By applying the isotope labelling approach, sites of preferential oxidative cleavage and hence differentiation of the origin of oxygen atoms—either from the atmosphere or from base oil components—can be unambiguously related in oxygen-containing base oils, as well as in blends with additives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lubricant Additives)
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2367 KiB  
Article
A Three-Dimensional Resonant Triggering Probe for Micro-CMM
by Qiangxian Huang, Chen Chen, Kui Wu, Liansheng Zhang, Ruijun Li and Kuang-Chao Fan
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040403 - 15 Apr 2017
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6338
Abstract
To achieve true 3D nano-measurement with sub-nanometer resolution and very low touch force through a micro/nano coordinate measuring machine, a new 3D resonant trigger probe based on a quartz tuning fork is proposed. In this trigger probe, a quartz tuning fork with a [...] Read more.
To achieve true 3D nano-measurement with sub-nanometer resolution and very low touch force through a micro/nano coordinate measuring machine, a new 3D resonant trigger probe based on a quartz tuning fork is proposed. In this trigger probe, a quartz tuning fork with a microsphere tip vibrates at its resonant frequency, and is used as the sensing element. The resonance parameters of this quartz tuning fork (e.g., vibrating amplitude and resonant frequency) are extremely sensitive to external 3D microforces. The distinguished feature of this probe is its ability to interact with the sample surface in the actual three directions. The microsphere tip of the probe interacts with the sample surface in tapping mode in the Z direction, whereas it interacts in friction mode in the X and Y directions. The dynamic contact mechanism of the probe is based on interfacial force theory, and mechanical models of the interactions between the microsphere tip and sample surface in the X, Y, and Z directions are constructed and simulated. The experiment shows that the probe has sub-nanometer resolution in 3D directions and triggers repeatability of approximately 40 nm in each direction. Theoretical analysis and experimental results verify that this 3D resonant trigger probe can be used for true 3D profile measurement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dimensional Micro and Nanometrology)
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1268 KiB  
Article
Hydrophobic Ceramic Membranes for Water Desalination
by Joanna Kujawa, Sophie Cerneaux, Wojciech Kujawski and Katarzyna Knozowska
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(4), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040402 - 15 Apr 2017
Cited by 50 | Viewed by 9409
Abstract
Hydrophilic ceramic membranes (tubular and planar) made of TiO2 and Al2O3 were efficiently modified with non-fluorinated hydrophobic grafting molecules. As a result of condensation reaction between hydroxyl groups on the membrane and reactive groups of modifiers, the hydrophobic surfaces [...] Read more.
Hydrophilic ceramic membranes (tubular and planar) made of TiO2 and Al2O3 were efficiently modified with non-fluorinated hydrophobic grafting molecules. As a result of condensation reaction between hydroxyl groups on the membrane and reactive groups of modifiers, the hydrophobic surfaces were obtained. Ceramic materials were chemically modified using three various non-fluorinated grafting agents. In the present work, the influence of grafting time and type of grafting molecule on the modification efficiency was evaluated. The changes of physicochemical properties of obtained hydrophobic surfaces were determined by measuring the contact angle (CA), roughness (RMS), and surface free energy (SFE). The modified surfaces were characterized by contact angle in the range of 111–132°. Moreover, hydrophobic tubular membranes were utilized in air-gap membrane distillation to desalination of sodium chloride aqueous solutions. The observed permeate fluxes were in the range of 0.7–4.8 kg·m−2·h−1 for tests with pure water. The values of permeate fluxes for membranes in contact with NaCl solutions were smaller, within the range of 0.4–2.8 kg·m−2·h−1. The retention of NaCl in AGMD process using hydrophobized ceramic membranes was close to unity for all investigated membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Distillation)
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