Exergy-based ecological optimization of linear phenomenological heat-transfer law irreversible Carnot-engines

The optimal exergy-based ecological performance of a generalized irreversible Carnot-engine with losses due to heat-resistance, heat leakage and internal irreversibility, in which the heat-transfer between the working fluid and the heat reservoirs obeys a linear phenomenological heat-transfer law, is derived by taking an exergy-based ecological optimization criterion as the objective. This consists of maximizing a function representing the best compromise between the power output and entropy-production rate of the heat engine. A numerical example is given to show the effects of heat leakage and internal irreversibility on the optimal performance of the generalized irreversible heat-engine. The results provide theoretical guidance for the design of practical engines.     

An acquisition policy for a multi-supplier system with a finite-time horizon

We study the problem of a manufacturer who outsources a single product to multiple capacitated suppliers. Given a pool of potential suppliers, a decision has to be made about which supplier(s) to use, and how much and how often to purchase from each selected supplier. We build an EOQ-type model with a finite-time horizon, which differs from the existing model in the literature with an infinite-time horizon. We design a dynamic programming and a scatter search algorithm to solve the problem, and provide computational results to show the effectiveness of the proposed methods.     

Closed intercooled regenerator Brayton-cycle with constant-temperature heat-reservoirs

The performance of an irreversible closed intercooled regenerator Brayton-cycle coupled to constant-temperature heat reservoirs is analyzed by using the theory of finite-time thermodynamics (FTT). Analytical formulae for dimensionless power and efficiency are derived. Especially, the intercooling pressure-ratio is optimized for the optimal power and the optimal efficiency, respectively. The effects of component (the intercooler, the regenerator, and the hot- and cold-side heat-exchangers) effectivenesses, the compressor and turbine efficiencies, the heat-reservoir temperature-ratio, and the temperature ratio of the cooling fluid in the intercooler and the cold-side heat reservoir on the optimal power and the corresponding efficiency and corresponding intercooling pressure ratio, as well as the optimal efficiency and the corresponding power and corresponding intercooling pressure-ratio are analyzed by detailed numerical examples.     

Hall MHD and Electron Inertia Effects in Current Sheet Formation at a Magnetic Neutral Line

An exact self-similar solution is used to investigate current sheet formation at a magnetic neutral line in incompressible Hall magnetohydrodynamics. The collapse to a current sheet is modelled as a finite-time singularity in the solution for electric current density at the neutral line. We establish that a finite-time collapse to the current sheet can occur in Hall magnetohydrodynamics, and we find a criterion for the finite-time singularity in terms of the initial conditions. We derive an asymptotic solution for the singularity formation and a formula for the singularity formation time. The analytical results are illustrated by numerical solutions, and we also investigate an alternative similarity reduction. Finally, we generalise our solution to incorporate resistive, viscous and electron inertia terms.     

H∞ sliding mode control of discrete switched systems with time-varying delays

The finite-time boundedness issue for a class of discrete switched systems with time-varying delays is investigated via sliding mode control (SMC) approach. By employing the Lyapunov functional and average dwell time method, new sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the finite-time boundedness of the dynamic system in the novel sliding surface. By solving an optimization problem, the sliding mode controller is synthesized such that the discrete reaching condition is satisfied and the chattering is reduced. A simulation example tests the feasibility of the provided SMC scheme.     

普适定常流内可逆热泵循环模型的有限时间火用经济性能优化

用有限时间热力学理论分析了由一个定热容吸热过程、两个定热容放热过程和两个绝热过程组成的一类普适内可逆热泵循环模型的火用经济性能,导出了循环利润率、供热系数与温度比的关系式,由数值计算得到了利润率和供热系数的特性关系。所得结果包含了内可逆Carnot循环、Otto循环、Diesel循环、Dual循环、Atkinson循环和Brayton循环的有限时间火用经济性能。     

复杂热源下不可逆诺维科夫热机最大功率输出

考虑实际热机工作下的旁通热漏和内部耗散等不可逆因素,建立了包括连续均匀分布、三角形分布、二次分布和帕累托分布等四种不同的统计概率分布高温热源温度下的广义不可逆诺维科夫热机模型,导出了热机最大输出功率及相应的热效率和熵产率随高温热源温度、内部不可逆性等因素变化的关系式。结果表明：热漏和内部耗散分别对热机性能有着不同的影响,热漏使统计热源温度分布下最大功率输出对应的热效率减小,同时也增大了熵产率,但对热机的最大功率输出无影响;内部耗散不可逆性使热机的最大输出功率及相应热效率均明显减小,但使熵产率先增大后减小;熵产率随高温热源温度的标准差增大而减小。研究结果对太阳能发电厂性能提升具有一定理论指导意义。     

Finite-time stabilization for a class of nonholonomic feedforward systems subject to inputs saturation

This paper studies the problem of finite-time stabilization by state feedback for a class of uncertain nonholonomic systems in feedforward-like form subject to inputs saturation. Under the weaker homogeneous condition on systems growth, a saturated finite-time control scheme is developed by exploiting the adding a power integrator method, the homogeneous domination approach and the nested saturation technique. Together with a novel switching control strategy, the designed saturated controller guarantees that the states of closed-loop system are regulated to zero in a finite time without violation of the constraint. As an application of the proposed theoretical results, the problem of saturated finite-time control for vertical wheel on rotating table is solved. Simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Finite-time tracking control of nth-order chained-form non-holonomic systems in the presence of disturbances

This paper addresses the problem of finite-time tracking controller design for nth-order chained-form non-holonomic systems in the presence of unknown disturbances. To this aim, a generalized disturbance observer based controller is proposed and combined with a recursive terminal sliding mode approach which guarantees finite-time convergence of the disturbance observer dynamic. By introducing a time-varying transformation and introducing a new control law, the existence of the sliding around the recursive terminal sliding mode surfaces is guaranteed. Finally, the proposed approach is applied for a wheeled mobile robot with a fourth-order chained-form non-holonomic model. The simulation results demonstrate the desirable and robust tracking performance of the proposed approach in the presence of unknown disturbance.