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Inventions

Inventions is an international, scientific, peer-reviewed, open access journal published bimonthly online by MDPI.

Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, ESCI (Web of Science), Inspec, Ei Compendex and other databases.
Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Engineering, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q1 (General Engineering)
Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 18.5 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2024).
Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.

Impact Factor: 2.1 (2023); 5-Year Impact Factor: 2.7 (2023)

Imprint Information Journal Flyer Open Access ISSN: 2411-5134

Latest Articles

13 pages, 5040 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Compatibility Analysis Between RedCap Non-Public Networks and 5G NR in TDD FR1 and FR2 Bands

by Valery Tikhvinskiy, Alexander Pastukh, Svetlana Dymkova and Oleg Varlamov

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010012 - 1 Feb 2025

RedCap technology is set to become a critical component in the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling sensors and wearable devices for medical, industrial, and commercial applications. However, because RedCap primarily operates in non-public networks and does not synchronize its time-division [...] Read more.

RedCap technology is set to become a critical component in the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling sensors and wearable devices for medical, industrial, and commercial applications. However, because RedCap primarily operates in non-public networks and does not synchronize its time-division duplexing (TDD) mode with 5G NR networks, interference risks arise. This is particularly concerning as traditional 5G NR networks prioritize downlink communication, whereas RedCap is designed for uplink. This study investigates the potential interference between RedCap non-public networks and 5G NR in TDD FR1 and FR2 frequency bands using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The results illustrate how RedCap deployments may impact 5G NR performance in urban and suburban environments. Key insights are provided to inform strategies for minimizing interference and ensuring coexistence between these technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Electrical Engineering/Energy/Communications)

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14 pages, 627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Robust Control of Irrigation Systems Using Predictive Methods and Disturbance Rejection

by Jose Carreño-Zagarra, Diana Poveda-Rodriguez and Marco Flórez

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010011 - 31 Jan 2025

Ensuring that the world’s population meets its food needs, despite water restrictions, can be significantly improved by increasing irrigation efficiency and productivity. Achieving this goal necessitates technological advancements in control systems. Therefore, the implementation of effective control systems across the entire irrigation water [...] Read more.

Ensuring that the world’s population meets its food needs, despite water restrictions, can be significantly improved by increasing irrigation efficiency and productivity. Achieving this goal necessitates technological advancements in control systems. Therefore, the implementation of effective control systems across the entire irrigation water distribution chain is crucial and requires technological modernization. This paper presents a control scheme that combines the benefits of model predictive control (MPC) and active disturbance rejection by using generalized proportional integral (GPI) observers. The proposed control scheme was applied to a three-canal irrigation system. The simulation results confirm that the proposed controller is robust to disturbances and ensures accurate tracking for all reference levels. The controller’s performance is highlighted by the improvement in response time and considerable reduction in overshoot compared with the optimized proportional integral (PI) controllers. Additionally, the use of GPI observers allows for the precise estimation of nonlinear disturbances and phase variables, enhancing the robustness of the system. The efficiency of the observer is due to its ability to adequately estimate global additive disturbances, including unknown parameters and external disturbances in the input–output dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Design, Modeling and Computing Methods)

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20 pages, 3689 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving the Thermal Efficiency of Gasket Plate Heat Exchangers Used in Vegetable Oil Processing

by Anișoara-Arleziana Neagu and Claudia Irina Koncsag

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010010 - 31 Jan 2025

The study investigates, by calculations, some ways to improve the thermal efficiency of plate heat exchangers (PHEs) used in the vegetable oil processing industry. The performance of these heat exchangers is limited by the heat transfer rate of the oil side and by [...] Read more.

The study investigates, by calculations, some ways to improve the thermal efficiency of plate heat exchangers (PHEs) used in the vegetable oil processing industry. The performance of these heat exchangers is limited by the heat transfer rate of the oil side and by the low thermal conductivity of the plate material. The study starts from a base case with vegetable oils cooled with water in plate heat exchangers, all with a chevron angle of 30° and a different number of channels and plate transfer areas. The change in one geometrical characteristic of the plates, namely the chevron angle, from 30° to 45° then to 60°, led to a significant increase in the overall heat transfer coefficients of 16.0% when changing from 30° to 45° and of 28.1%, on average, when increasing the angle from 45° to 60°. This is a significant increase accompanied by a rise in the pressure drops of the circuits, but the values are acceptable since they do not exceed 1 bar on the oil circuit and 1.4 bar on the cold fluid circuit, respectively. The use of Fe₃O₄–SiO₂/Water hybrid nanofluids with concentrations of 0.5% v/v, 0.75% v/v, and 1% v/v were investigated to replace the cooling water. An increase of 2.2% on average was noticed when using the 1% v/v nanofluid comparatively with water, which is not large but adds to the chevron angle increase. A supplementary 2.6% increase is possible by changing the manufacturing material for plates with aluminum alloy 6060 and also by adding to the performances obtained by previous modifications. The total increase for all sets of modifications can increase the performance by 34.2% on average. Thus, for the design of new PHEs, miniaturization of the equipment becomes possible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Heat Exchangers)

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16 pages, 5068 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simulation-Driven Optimization of Thermochemical Energy Storage in SrCl₂-Based System for Integration with Solar Energy Technology

by Suratsavadee K. Korkua, Uthen Thubsuang, Siraporn Sakphrom, Santanu Kumar Dash, Chalearm Tesanu and Kamon Thinsurat

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010009 - 30 Jan 2025

This study presents a simulation-driven optimization of thermochemical energy storage using SrCl₂-based systems for integration with solar energy technologies. Thermochemical sorption systems offer promising potential for enhancing solar energy-storage efficiency by capturing both thermal and electrical energy. However, optimizing sorption processes [...] Read more.

This study presents a simulation-driven optimization of thermochemical energy storage using SrCl₂-based systems for integration with solar energy technologies. Thermochemical sorption systems offer promising potential for enhancing solar energy-storage efficiency by capturing both thermal and electrical energy. However, optimizing sorption processes remains crucial for maximizing energy storage capacity. This work utilized advanced simulation tools to analyze the heat and mass transfer dynamics within SrCl₂-EG composites and evaluate system performance under varying compression ratios (CR), reactant temperatures, and heat transfer fluid (HTF) flow rates. The results demonstrate that adjusting CR enhances the overall system efficiency. CR = 4 yields the highest desorption rate of 93.8%, while reducing the required HTF mass flow by nearly tenfold compared to lower CR values. Higher CR contributes to a reduction in sensible heat loss, allowing a greater percentage of thermal energy to be captured. Simulations also show that optimized SrCl₂-based systems can integrate effectively with solar energy conversion technologies, making them highly suitable for both energy storage and cooling applications. This research underscores the role of thermochemical energy storage systems in providing more sustainable and efficient solar energy solutions. By reducing energy losses and improving the reliability of the energy storage process, SrCl₂-based systems offer significant advantages for renewable energy integration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends and Innovations in Renewable Energy)

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19 pages, 3306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Multi-Time Scale Flexible Resource Aggregation and Evaluation for New Power Systems

by Daren Li, Qingzhou Zhang, Lezhen Pan, Hao Duan, Dongbin Hong and Guiping Wu

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010008 - 22 Jan 2025

The strong uncertainty of the high proportion of new energy and the gradual decrease in the proportion of thermoelectric units have led to a shortage of system flexibility resources. System-level energy storage can efficiently alleviate the pressure of peak shaving and frequency regulation. [...] Read more.

The strong uncertainty of the high proportion of new energy and the gradual decrease in the proportion of thermoelectric units have led to a shortage of system flexibility resources. System-level energy storage can efficiently alleviate the pressure of peak shaving and frequency regulation. Effective aggregation of flexibility resources is a key technical foundation for enhancing economic operation and advanced user-side response strategies of new power systems. However, the decentralization and heterogeneity of flexibility resources across generation, grid, load, and storage sides pose dual challenges of aggregation speed and accuracy. In view of this, this paper proposes a large-scale multi-dimensional flexibility polymerization method based on different response time scales. First, the flexibility resource definitions and response characteristics of generation, grid, load, and storage sides were analyzed and categorized according to their response time scales. Second, flexibility regulation models for resources on each side were established. On this basis, an improved Minkowski aggregation algorithm is proposed to precisely quantify the regulation capabilities of multi-dimensional flexibility resources at different time scales, enabling efficient resource aggregation. Finally, the results of the case analysis show that the proposed method can accurately aggregate the flexibility resource adjustment capabilities at different time scales to respond to the multi-time scale flexibility requirements of the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Electrical Engineering/Energy/Communications)

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16 pages, 6221 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Temperature Control During Storage of Raw Materials in the Process of Biodiesel Fuel Production

by Anzhelika M. Eremeeva and Yury V. Ilyushin

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010007 - 22 Jan 2025

In the modern conditions of the growing consumer market for environmentally friendly industries, the issue of optimizing resource-intensive and energy-intensive technological chains is acute. One of the most expensive stages is the storage of grain—raw materials for the production of biodiesel. This is [...] Read more.

In the modern conditions of the growing consumer market for environmentally friendly industries, the issue of optimizing resource-intensive and energy-intensive technological chains is acute. One of the most expensive stages is the storage of grain—raw materials for the production of biodiesel. This is due to there being no unified temperature control system. In this paper, the authors have developed a mathematical model and a hardware–software complex that allows for the measurement of the temperature field in grain storage areas. To address this challenge, the authors employed methodologies derived from spatial distributed systems to construct a mathematical model. The development of a technical device and the implementation of a software module for processing the measured data in C++ Builder were then undertaken. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing)

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9 pages, 2251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of On-Site Calibration Device for Electricity Meter Based on Pulse Detection

by Yingchun Wang, Wenjing Yu, Cheng Zhang, Li Ye, Wei Wei and Zhixin Yang

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010006 - 22 Jan 2025

At present, the error calibration of electricity meters in operation generally adopts an off-site method; that is, the electricity meter is taken out of operation and then calibrated in the laboratory. Off-site calibration, while beneficial, may not fully capture the operational error of [...] Read more.

At present, the error calibration of electricity meters in operation generally adopts an off-site method; that is, the electricity meter is taken out of operation and then calibrated in the laboratory. Off-site calibration, while beneficial, may not fully capture the operational error of the electricity meter due to potential differences in environmental conditions. An on-site calibration device for electricity meters based on pulse detection is designed, which obtains the error of the electricity meter under calibration by comparing the energy pulses of the standard electricity meter with those of the electricity meter under calibration. High-precision voltage and current sampling channels are designed, with a voltage measurement error of less than 0.02% and a current measurement error of less than 0.03%. In response to the non-synchronous sampling problem caused by frequency fluctuations in the on-site verification environment, a fast optimal frequency estimation algorithm is applied to accurately calculate the signal frequency within two cycles. The sampling time interval is adjusted to achieve lock-frequency synchronous sampling, and ensure the accurate calculation of electrical parameters. In order to reduce the complexity of the device circuit structure and equipment cost, a standard electric energy pulses generation method based on digital integration-to-frequency is proposed, which uses software to generate electric energy pulses, with a maximum output frequency of up to 10 kHz. Tests conducted in the laboratory on the developed on-site calibration device for electricity meters show that its accuracy is better than the 0.05 accuracy class, meeting the application requirements for on-site verification of electricity energy meters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Electrical Engineering/Energy/Communications)

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23 pages, 5966 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intelligent Human–Computer Interaction for Building Information Models Using Gesture Recognition

by Tianyi Zhang, Yukang Wang, Xiaoping Zhou, Deli Liu, Jingyi Ji and Junfu Feng

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010005 - 16 Jan 2025

Human–computer interaction (HCI) with three-dimensional (3D) Building Information Modelling/Model (BIM) is the crucial ingredient to enhancing the user experience and fostering the value of BIM. Current BIMs mostly use keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen as media for HCI. Using these hardware devices for HCI [...] Read more.

Human–computer interaction (HCI) with three-dimensional (3D) Building Information Modelling/Model (BIM) is the crucial ingredient to enhancing the user experience and fostering the value of BIM. Current BIMs mostly use keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen as media for HCI. Using these hardware devices for HCI with BIM may lead to space constraints and a lack of visual intuitiveness. Somatosensory interaction represents an emergent modality of interaction, e.g., gesture interaction, which requires no equipment or direct touch, presents a potential approach to solving these problems. This paper proposes a computer-vision-based gesture interaction system for BIM. Firstly, a set of gestures for BIM model manipulation was designed, grounded in human ergonomics. These gestures include selection, translation, scaling, rotation, and restoration of the 3D model. Secondly, a gesture understanding algorithm dedicated to 3D model manipulation is introduced in this paper. Then, an interaction system for 3D models based on machine vision and gesture recognition was developed. A series of systematic experiments are conducted to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed system. In various environments, including pure white backgrounds, offices, and conference rooms, even when wearing gloves, the system has an accuracy rate of over 97% and a frame rate maintained between 26 and 30 frames. The final experimental results show that the method has good performance, confirming its feasibility, accuracy, and fluidity. Somatosensory interaction with 3D models enhances the interaction experience and operation efficiency between the user and the model, further expanding the application scene of BIM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Design, Modeling and Computing Methods)

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13 pages, 13701 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Implementation of Elevator Push-Buttons with Integrated Ultraviolet-C Light-Emitting Diode Light Sources for Disinfection

by Xing Qiu, Jeffery C. C. Lo, Yuanjie Cheng and S. W. Ricky Lee

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010004 - 15 Jan 2025

Background: More effective and automated techniques for disinfecting elevator push-buttons currently need to be developed, especially given that they are frequently touched by hundreds of individuals. Methods: An automatic elevator push-button disinfection device equipped with four 265 nm ultraviolet-C (UVC) light-emitting diode (LED) [...] Read more.

Background: More effective and automated techniques for disinfecting elevator push-buttons currently need to be developed, especially given that they are frequently touched by hundreds of individuals. Methods: An automatic elevator push-button disinfection device equipped with four 265 nm ultraviolet-C (UVC) light-emitting diode (LED) packages has been developed for disinfection after each touch to reduce the risk of infection. In this paper, the UVC leakage test, UVC LED package reliability test, and bacteria disinfection efficiency test were performed. Results: The disinfection efficiency for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli can reach over 90% in 10 s, and end users can set multiple disinfection periods in light of their circumstances. The disinfection device is safe for the human body if the distance exceeds 120 mm. The accelerated aging test result demonstrates that the disinfection device is reliable under normal operation and end-users can increase the disinfection time by compensating for the irradiance drop. Conclusions: The automatic elevator push-button disinfection device provides a safe, highly efficient, and stable disinfection solution for elevator push-buttons. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing)

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17 pages, 1815 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical Properties of Jet-A/n-Heptane/Alcohol Blends for Turboengine Applications

by Sibel Osman, Laurentiu Ceatra, Grigore Cican and Radu Mirea

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010003 - 12 Jan 2025

This work investigated the physical properties of Jet-A blended with n-heptane and various n-alcohols. The mixtures contained 10%, 20%, and 30% n-alcohols, including n-propanol, n-butanol, n-pentanol, n-hexanol, n-heptanol, and n-octanol. These alcohols are either derived from biomass or have significant potential for bio-based [...] Read more.

This work investigated the physical properties of Jet-A blended with n-heptane and various n-alcohols. The mixtures contained 10%, 20%, and 30% n-alcohols, including n-propanol, n-butanol, n-pentanol, n-hexanol, n-heptanol, and n-octanol. These alcohols are either derived from biomass or have significant potential for bio-based production. The blends were assessed against American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D1655 standards for Jet-A in terms of the density, viscosity, and flash point. Additionally, the refractive index and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis were employed to gain insights into the blend chemical composition. Density measurements for the blends fell within the ASTM specifications (0.7939 to 0.8075 g·cm⁻³). Viscosity measurements at −20 °C were not directly conducted due to technical limitations. However, extrapolating viscosity–temperature data suggests that the blends would meet the ASTM standard. Flash point measurements revealed that all mixtures exhibited values below the ASTM specification of 38 °C. Regression equations were developed to estimate the density, kinematic viscosity, and refractive index of the studied mixtures as a function of alcohol volume. Furthermore, a correlation study was conducted to estimate density and viscosity from refractive index measurements, given their simplicity, and minimal sample volume requirements. The R² values for these correlations exceeded 0.99, indicating a strong relationship between the refractive index and the other properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Applied Chemistry and Physics)

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12 pages, 1481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design, Development, and Testing of a New Device to Prevent High-Frequency Noise-Induced Damage: The “Dynamic Earplug”

by Lucrezia Giorgi, Antonio Moffa, Marco Mattaroccia, Michele Antonio Lopez, Emiliano Schena and Manuele Casale

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010002 - 4 Jan 2025

Hearing loss resulting from prolonged exposure to loud noise is known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and it often affects professionals exposed to occupational sources of high sound levels. Among the professionals chronically exposed to noise, dentists use instrumentation that produces high-frequency noise. [...] Read more.

Hearing loss resulting from prolonged exposure to loud noise is known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and it often affects professionals exposed to occupational sources of high sound levels. Among the professionals chronically exposed to noise, dentists use instrumentation that produces high-frequency noise. In this occupational category, NIHL is estimated to reach a 5% to 20% prevalence of workers. However, dentists and healthcare personnel have no suitable personal protection equipment designed for their needs. The study aims to develop a new individual hearing protection device called the “dynamic earplug”, which protects from high-frequency noise and amplifies speech frequencies. Testing with the Fonix 7000 Hearing Aid Test System showed effective filtering of high frequencies (above 4000 Hz) from dental instruments and a speech frequency amplification of up to 13 dB (500 Hz–1000 Hz). In a trial involving 20 subjects during an 8 h work shift, most participants positively evaluated the device’s esthetics, ease of insertion, comfort, stability, and noise attenuation while still being able to hear patients’ and colleagues’ voices. The dynamic earplug shows promise as an efficient and comfortable hearing protection solution for professionals exposed to high-frequency noise. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing)

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18 pages, 3818 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Link Characteristics Comparison of Lambertian & Non-Lambertian MIMO-Based 6G Vehicular Visible Light Communications

by Jupeng Ding, Chih-Lin I, Jintao Wang and Hui Yang

Inventions 2025, 10(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10010001 - 28 Dec 2024

As one key candidate technology for the 6G internet of vehicles, vehicular visible light communications (VLCs) have received widespread attention and discussion due to their inherent advantages, including broadband, green, security, and ubiquity. In order to improve the quality of vehicular VLC links [...] Read more.

As one key candidate technology for the 6G internet of vehicles, vehicular visible light communications (VLCs) have received widespread attention and discussion due to their inherent advantages, including broadband, green, security, and ubiquity. In order to improve the quality of vehicular VLC links and extend their coverage, various multiple input multiple output (MIMO) techniques have been actively introduced into the field of vehicular VLC, demonstrating the corresponding performance gain potential. Objectively, the existing research works mentioned above are generally limited to the discussion of MIMO vehicular VLC based on conventional Lambertian light-emitting diode (LED) light sources. Consequently, there is one absence of a targeted study and evaluation of the link configuration-based vehicular non-Lambertian LEDs and the potential non-Lambertian MIMO vehicular VLC. To address the limitations of the aforementioned research and explore the novel spatial dimension for vehicular VLC design, this work attempts to introduce the representative non-Lambertian LED light beams into the typical MIMO vehicular VLC application for constructing novel MIMO vehicular VLC transmission links. The numerical results demonstrate that in 2 × 2 MIMO mode, compared to the benchmark Lambertian vehicular VLC scheme, the proposed typical non-Lambertian NSPW vehicular VLC schemes could provide capacity gains of up to 5.18 bps/Hz and 4.71 bps/Hz for the stop mode, and the traffic mode, respectively. Moreover, this article quantitatively evaluates the impact of the spatial spacing of receiver light beams on the performance of MIMO vehicular VLC and the relevant fundamental characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Electrical Engineering/Energy/Communications)

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26 pages, 15093 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Alternative Energy Sources Usable in Automotive Transport

by Jiří Zukal, Zoltán Szabó, Miloš Klíma and Pavel Fiala

Inventions 2024, 9(6), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions9060125 - 18 Dec 2024

The research focuses on the methodology of preparing a concept and application scenarios for alternative sources of energy in transportation. The ideas and interpretations are not strictly limited to automobile transport but also reach into other areas of using and processing energy. The [...] Read more.

The research focuses on the methodology of preparing a concept and application scenarios for alternative sources of energy in transportation. The ideas and interpretations are not strictly limited to automobile transport but also reach into other areas of using and processing energy. The conceptual approach to the choice of sources, with the aim of securing the efficient use of energy conversion, is illustrated on the model embodiment embedded in a passenger car; the relevant presentation is centered on an experiment focusing on the linear arrangement of a driven electromagnetic generator. This involves generating and collecting energy for not only the accumulation of electrical energy using relatively independent systems, but also for direct use within driving needs. In the modeled example, the supplied energy is assumed to be in a range of constant power from p = 10 W to 50 kW (200 kW). The given example of the design of the choice of energy conversion sources and the use of generators in a passenger car shows the possibilities, limitations, and variants for demonstrating the requirements relating to a simple driving mode. The application of a linear or cylindrical internal combustion engine is considered for a specific set mode of the car. Variants of suitable uses of the accumulated energy in compressed air are proposed. The use of light and thermal forms of energy is considered for additional forms. As an experimental example, the use of generators derived from vibration harvesters is shown. The proposed energy generation arrangement can be controlled and optimized for specific transport tasks. The generation and accumulation of energy can be employed in the form of electrical energy, as kinetic energy for direct use in driving, or to accumulate in compressed air for later use. Solar energy can be used directly or can be accumulated. The combustion unit can serve as a source of kinetic energy or also to store energy for further use. The concept of alternative sources is based on known methods of use in other industries. The model combination of resources and its simple analysis in the concept of resource selection is demonstrated on an example of an application in passenger cars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends and Innovations in Renewable Energy)

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24 pages, 4541 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Low-Cost Automated Injection Molding Device for Sustainable Plastic Recycling and Circular Economy Applications

by Ananta Sinchai, Kunthorn Boonyang and Thanakorn Simmala

Inventions 2024, 9(6), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions9060124 - 17 Dec 2024

In response to the critical demand for innovative solutions to tackle plastic pollution, this research presents a low-cost, fully automated plastic injection molding system designed to convert waste into sustainable products. Constructed entirely from repurposed materials, the apparatus focuses on processing high-density polyethylene [...] Read more.

In response to the critical demand for innovative solutions to tackle plastic pollution, this research presents a low-cost, fully automated plastic injection molding system designed to convert waste into sustainable products. Constructed entirely from repurposed materials, the apparatus focuses on processing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) efficiently without hydraulic components, thereby enhancing eco-friendliness and accessibility. Performance evaluations identified an optimal molding temperature of 200 °C, yielding consistent products with a minimal weight deviation of 4.17%. The key operational parameters included a motor speed of 525 RPM, a gear ratio of 1:30, and an inverter frequency of 105 Hz. Further tests showed that processing temperatures of 210 °C and 220 °C, with injection times of 15 to 35 s, yielded optimal surface finish and complete filling. The surface finish, assessed through image intensity variation, had a low coefficient of variation (≤5%), while computer vision evaluation confirmed the full filling of all specimens in this range. A laser-based overflow detection system has minimized material waste, proving effective in small-scale, community recycling. This study underscores the potential of low-cost automated systems to advance the practices of circular economies and enhance localized plastic waste management. Future research will focus on automation, temperature precision, material adaptability, and emissions management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing)

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11 pages, 3982 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Bioactive Agrocomposite for Tissue Engineering and Bone Regeneration

by Miguel Suffo, Celia Pérez-Muñoz, Daniel Goma-Jiménez, Carlos Revenga, Pablo Andrés-Cano and Miguel Ángel Cauqui-López

Inventions 2024, 9(6), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions9060123 - 9 Dec 2024

Background: This study describes a novel biomaterial consisting of a mixture of biphasic bioceramic obtained from waste generated by the sugar industry (Carbocal) and a medical-grade epoxy resin adhesive called LOCTITE^® M31 CLTM. The objective was to demonstrate the possibility of coating [...] Read more.

Background: This study describes a novel biomaterial consisting of a mixture of biphasic bioceramic obtained from waste generated by the sugar industry (Carbocal) and a medical-grade epoxy resin adhesive called LOCTITE^® M31 CLTM. The objective was to demonstrate the possibility of coating non-bioactive and non-biodegradable metallic surfaces on implantable elements. Methods: After preparation, the mixture was applied to the surfaces of hip prostheses composed of two distinct materials: polyetherimide and grade 5 titanium. In both cases, adhesion tests produced favourable results. Additionally, cell cultures were conducted using human foetal osteoblastic cell lines (hFOB 1.19). Results: It was observed that the mixture did not affect the proliferation of bone cells. Conclusions: This composite material was found to promote the growth of bone cells, suggesting its potential for fostering bone tissue development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Biotechnology and Materials)

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16 pages, 7334 KiB

Open AccessReview

Patents of Systems and Methods Using Non-Ionizing Radiation for Measuring Rearfoot Deformations: A Review

by Gabriel Trujillo-Hernández, Wendy Flores-Fuentes, Luis Roberto Ramírez-Hernández, Oleg Sergiyenko, Moises J. Castro-Toscano, Abelardo Mercado-Herrera and Fabian N. Murrieta-Rico

Inventions 2024, 9(6), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions9060122 - 6 Dec 2024

Individuals’ lifestyles are affected by valgus and varus deformities in the rearfoot, causing pain in the joints and plantar surface due to the misalignment between the tibial and calcaneus. In orthopedics, medical professionals measure this misalignment by using X-ray systems and goniometers. The [...] Read more.

Individuals’ lifestyles are affected by valgus and varus deformities in the rearfoot, causing pain in the joints and plantar surface due to the misalignment between the tibial and calcaneus. In orthopedics, medical professionals measure this misalignment by using X-ray systems and goniometers. The X-ray emits ionizing radiation that can cause damage through cumulative exposure over a lifetime, whereas the goniometer will produce measurement errors. This patent review conducted a technological search of systems and methods across various databases using inclusion and exclusion criteria. These thirty-five obtained patents provide valuable information about mechanical, electronic, and mechatronic technologies and non-ionizing radiation to evaluate valgus and varus deformities. The patents are classified into stationary mechanisms, stationary electronic devices, dynamic mechanisms, dynamic electronic devices, stationary mechatronic devices, and dynamic mechatronic devices. They are further categorized based on their measurement methods as either visual or automatic. Additionally, the patents are grouped by usage mode into sitting, standing, and walking. This patent review aims to provide medical professionals with little-known techniques for measuring and evaluating the rearfoot alignment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advanced Systems Engineering: Theory and Applications, 2nd Volume)

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14 pages, 4024 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization and Development of Ceramics with Inorganic Additives

by Mirza Awais, Asif Mansoor, Imran Shah, Murtaza Hussain and Muhammad Asif

Inventions 2024, 9(6), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions9060121 - 5 Dec 2024

Date palm tree (DPT) and pine tree (PT) needles in forests form a combustible mat, posing fire risks during summer in Pakistan that damage vegetation, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity and impact local livelihoods. In this article, sintered ceramic specimens were prepared at different [...] Read more.

Date palm tree (DPT) and pine tree (PT) needles in forests form a combustible mat, posing fire risks during summer in Pakistan that damage vegetation, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity and impact local livelihoods. In this article, sintered ceramic specimens were prepared at different weight concentrations (DPT5, DPT10, DPT20, and DPT 30 and PT5, PT10, PT20, and PT30) of date palm tree leaf ash and pine tree needle ash as secondary additives in ceramic manufacturing along with primary material kaolinite (China clay). Raw materials composition was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), taking loss on ignition, water absorption, bulk density, saturated surface dry density (SSD), weight per unit area, and thermal cycling as measurement indexes. The result indicates that loss on ignition increases while increasing the quantity of secondary additives and the maximum increase for DPT30 was 19.6% and for PT30, it was 22.1%. As the secondary additives increase, the water absorption rate also increases and the maximum increase for DPT30 and PT30 is 4.5%. Meanwhile, with the increase in secondary additives, the density decreased; for DPT 30, it was 1457.7 kg/m³ and for PT30, it was 1829.8 kg/m³. Thermal performance was investigated by heating and cooling cycles. It was observed that thermal performances increase with the increase in secondary additives. The results reveal this novel approach has the potential to form a ceramic and good properties can be achieved. The prepared specimens have the potential to be used in the fields of electronics, aerospace, construction, and building engineering, alleviating environmental strain, curbing the exhaustion of China clay reserves, and most importantly, lowering the risk of forest fires in Pakistan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing)

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22 pages, 11834 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Open-Source Data Logger System for Real-Time Monitoring and Fault Detection in Bench Testing

by Marcio Luís Munhoz Amorim, Jorge Gomes Lima, Norah Nadia Sánchez Torres, Jose A. Afonso, Sérgio F. Lopes, João P. P. do Carmo, Lucas Vinicius Hartmann, Cicero Rocha Souto, Fabiano Salvadori and Oswaldo Hideo Ando Junior

Inventions 2024, 9(6), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions9060120 - 4 Dec 2024

This paper presents the design and development of a proof of concept (PoC) open-source data logger system for wireless data acquisition via Wi-Fi aimed at bench testing and fault detection in combustion and electric engines. The system integrates multiple sensors, including accelerometers, microphones, [...] Read more.

This paper presents the design and development of a proof of concept (PoC) open-source data logger system for wireless data acquisition via Wi-Fi aimed at bench testing and fault detection in combustion and electric engines. The system integrates multiple sensors, including accelerometers, microphones, thermocouples, and gas sensors, to monitor critical parameters, such as vibration, sound, temperature, and CO₂ levels. These measurements are crucial for detecting anomalies in engine performance, such as ignition and combustion faults. For combustion engines, temperature sensors detect operational anomalies, including diesel engines operating beyond the normal range of 80 °C to 95 °C and gasoline engines between 90 °C and 110 °C. These readings help identify failures in cooling systems, thermostat valves, or potential coolant leaks. Acoustic sensors identify abnormal noises indicative of issues such as belt misalignment, valve knocking, timing irregularities, or loose parts. Vibration sensors detect displacement issues caused by engine mount failures, cracks in the engine block, or defects in pistons and valves. These sensors can work synergistically with acoustic sensors to enhance fault detection. Additionally, CO₂ and organic compound sensors monitor fuel combustion efficiency and detect failures in the exhaust system. For electric motors, temperature sensors help identify anomalies, such as overloads, bearing problems, or excessive shaft load. Acoustic sensors diagnose coil issues, phase imbalances, bearing defects, and faults in chain or belt systems. Vibration sensors detect shaft and bearing problems, inadequate motor mounting, or overload conditions. The collected data are processed and analyzed to improve engine performance, contributing to reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhanced energy efficiency. This PoC system leverages open-source technology to provide a cost-effective and versatile solution for both research and practical applications. Initial laboratory tests validate its feasibility for real-time data acquisition and highlight its potential for creating datasets to support advanced diagnostic algorithms. Future work will focus on enhancing telemetry capabilities, improving Wi-Fi and cloud integration, and developing machine learning-based diagnostic methodologies for combustion and electric engines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Electrical Engineering/Energy/Communications)

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19 pages, 7479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Scheduling of Virtual Power Plants Under a Multiple Energy Sharing Framework Considering Joint Electricity and Carbon Trading

by Xue Li, Xuan Zhang, Jiannan Zhang, Wenlu Ji, Lifeng Wang, Xiaomin Lu and Jingchen Zhang

Inventions 2024, 9(6), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions9060119 - 2 Dec 2024

The virtual power plant (VPP) is an excellent approach for mitigating the intermittency and fluctuation of renewable energy sources. The present work proposes an optimal scheduling model for VPPs to leverage the benefits of joint electricity and carbon trading from the perspective of [...] Read more.

The virtual power plant (VPP) is an excellent approach for mitigating the intermittency and fluctuation of renewable energy sources. The present work proposes an optimal scheduling model for VPPs to leverage the benefits of joint electricity and carbon trading from the perspective of multiple energy-sharing mechanisms. First, the optimal sharing scheduling model of the electric, thermal, and hydrogen energy was established. The model integrates various components, including wind turbines, photovoltaic units, electrolytic cells, combined heat and power units, hydrogen-doped gas boilers, electric energy storage, thermal storage tanks, and hydrogen storage tanks. Then, the model incorporates a tiered carbon trading mechanism to minimize operating and trading costs. Finally, numerical results indicate that, compared with the independent operation of virtual power plants and the lack of joint electricity and carbon trading, the optimal scheduling scheme proposed in this paper reduces the total cost and carbon emissions of the three VPPs by 3.3% and 49.7%, respectively. This demonstrates that the proposed model can effectively reduce the total operating expenses of VPPs by facilitating the allocation of electric, thermal, and hydrogen energy and achieving low-carbon emission operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Inventions and Innovation in Electrical Engineering/Energy/Communications)

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14 pages, 4942 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Route-Choice Behavior Along LRT Lines Using Inverse Reinforcement Learning

by Tomohiro Okubo, Akihiro Kobayashi, Daisuke Kamisaka and Akinori Morimoto

Inventions 2024, 9(6), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions9060118 - 1 Dec 2024

As the decline of public transportation in rural areas becomes a growing concern, initiatives to introduce attractive next-generation transportation systems to promote public transportation usage are being considered across various regions. In Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, where the next-generation light rail transit (LRT) [...] Read more.

As the decline of public transportation in rural areas becomes a growing concern, initiatives to introduce attractive next-generation transportation systems to promote public transportation usage are being considered across various regions. In Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, where the next-generation light rail transit (LRT) system has been introduced, the number of users has significantly increased compared to before its introduction, with some users riding the LRT for the sake of the experience itself. On the other hand, there is a demand for a more micro-level and quantitative evaluation of the impact that the LRT has on the liveliness of areas along its route. Therefore, this study uses inverse reinforcement learning (IRL), a type of machine learning, to build a model that estimates route-choice behavior along the LRT lines based on behavioral trajectories generated from smartphone location data. The model is capable of evaluating the characteristics of location data with high accuracy. The findings indicate that routes along the LRT lines tend to be selected, suggesting that both the appeal of the LRT itself and the attractiveness of the spaces along its route contribute to this tendency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable and Intelligent Transportation Systems)

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