A novel chaotic Henry gas solubility optimization algorithm for solving real-world engineering problems

The paper proposes a novel metaheuristic based on integrating chaotic maps into a Henry gas solubility optimization algorithm (HGSO). The new algorithm is named chaotic Henry gas solubility optimization (CHGSO). The hybridization is aimed at enhancement of the convergence rate of the original Henry gas solubility optimizer for solving real-life engineering optimization problems. This hybridization provides a problem-independent optimization algorithm. The CHGSO performance is evaluated using various conventional constrained optimization problems, e.g., a welded beam problem and a cantilever beam problem. The performance of the CHGSO is investigated using both the manufacturing and diaphragm spring design problems taken from the automotive industry. The results obtained from using CHGSO for solving the various constrained test problems are compared with a number of established and newly invented metaheuristics, including an artificial bee colony algorithm, an ant colony algorithm, a cuckoo search algorithm, a salp swarm optimization algorithm, a grasshopper optimization algorithm, a mine blast algorithm, an ant lion optimizer, a gravitational search algorithm, a multi-verse optimizer, a Harris hawks optimization algorithm, and the original Henry gas solubility optimization algorithm. The results indicate that with selecting an appropriate chaotic map, the CHGSO is a robust optimization approach for obtaining the optimal variables in mechanical design and manufacturing optimization problems.

     

Cryogenic Temperature Measurement Using Silicon Carbide-Based Wireless Optical Sensor

Demonstrated is a novel silicon carbide (SiC)-based wireless optical sensor for cryogenic temperatures. The proposed design uses two wavelength processing and free-space optical beam interrogation of a remoted single crystal SiC chip placed in the cryogenic vacuum chamber to enable wireless temperature measurement. Experimental temperature sensing using the proposed sensor is reported from near room temperature to 100 K with an estimated 0.2 K resolution. The sensor uses eye safe laser wavelengths at 1550 and 1540 nm to implement the signal processing to determine the temperature value     

Demonstration of an all-digital 7-bit 33-channel photonic delay line for phased-array radars

A 7-bit multichannel photonic delay line for phased-array antenna control is demonstrated. Multichannel (33-pixel) ferroelectric liquid-crystal (FLC) devices are used as polarization rotation elements, and polarization beam-splitter cubes are used as polarization elements that route the optical signals to different paths. The controller is remotely fed by a unique fiber-optic-array design that uses gradient-index lens collimators for the input single-mode polarization-maintaining fibers. The optical signal is collected by a similar fiber array that uses multimode fibers for improved coupling efficiency. Photonic delay-line (PDL) design issues such as multiport assemblies, multipixel FLC designs, and delay-line architectures are discussed. Furthermore, various PDL parameters are examined. High electrical isolation numbers are obtained for both the within-channel leakage noise (e.g., less than -70 dB) and the interchannel cross talk (e.g., less than -90 dB). Optical and electrical insertion loss is examined for the PDL as well as for the overall system. A high-compression dynamic range of 149 dB . Hz and a spurious free dynamic range of 105 dB . Hz(2/3) are presented.     

General formula for coupling-loss characterization of single-mode fiber collimators by use of gradient-index rod lenses

A general formula for determining the coupling loss between two single-mode fiber collimators with the simultaneous existence of separation, lateral offset and angular tilt misalignments, and spot-size mismatch is theoretically derived by use of the Gaussian field approximation. Based on this general formula, the formulas for coupling losses that are due to the misalignment of insert separation, lateral offset, and angular tilt are given. The formula for the coupling loss that is due to Gaussian spot-size mismatch of two single-mode collimators is also given. Good agreement between these formulas and experimental results is demonstrated with gradient-index rod lens-based fiber collimators operating in the 1300-nm band.     

Angstrom-range optical path-length measurement with a high-speed scanning heterodyne optical interferometer

A highly accurate method of optical path-length measurement is introduced by use of a scanning heterodyne optical interferometer with no moving parts. The instrument has demonstrated the potential to measure optical path length at angstrom resolution over continuous thickness in the micrometer range. This optical path length can be used to calculate the thickness of any material if the refractive index is known or to measure the refractive index of the material if the thickness is known. The instrument uses a single acousto-optic device in an in-line ultra-stable reflective geometry to implement rapid scanning in the microsecond domain for thickness measurements of the test medium.     

Reconfigurable wavelength add-drop filtering based on a Banyannetwork topology and ferroelectric liquid crystal fiber-optic switches

This paper presents a modular optical implementation of a Banyan network by using the physical flexibility of the optical fiber to form the interconnections between compact switching stages based on bulk polarization optics. Specifically, these switching stages use total internal reflection (TIR) prisms with ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) polarization rotators to form compact modules. Using this Banyan network implementation, a reconfigurable multiwavelength add-drop filter for wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) applications is proposed. Experimental results for our fiber connected 2 in-2 out FLC-based bulk-optic switching stage gives a ~6.7 dB optical insertion loss and a ~-40 dB optical interchannel crosstalk level. A low 2 dB optical insertion loss design number is expected with optimized components, realizing high (e.g., 35 μs) switching speed and low crosstalk switching networks     

A maximum power point tracking for photovoltaic-SPE system using a maximum current controller

Processes to produce hydrogen from solar photovoltaic (PV)-powered water electrolysis using solid polymer electrolysis (SPE) are reported. An alternative control of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in the PV-SPE system based on the maximum current searching methods has been designed and implemented.Based on the characteristics of voltage–current and theoretical analysis of SPE, it can be shown that the tracking of the maximum current output of DC–DC converter in SPE side will track the MPPT of photovoltaic panel simultaneously.This method uses a proportional integrator controller to control the duty factor of DC–DC converter with pulse-width modulator (PWM).The MPPT performance and hydrogen production performance of this method have been evaluated and discussed based on the results of the experiment.     

Effect of the silica precursor on the conductivity of hectorite-derived polymer nanocomposites

New hectorite and organo-hectorite clays have been prepared using different silica sol sources, in order to examine the importance of sol particle size, pH, and surface chemistry on the final matrix. Polymer-clay nanocomposites (PCN) are prepared by intercalating polyethylene oxide in the clay layers of lithium hectorites. The resulting films are physically and electrochemically evaluated. Conductivity values, activation energies, and lithium transference numbers indicate that the PCNs are single ion conductors with transference numbers close to unity. The activation energies are in the range of 0.02 V, two orders of magnitude lower than the conventional polymer electrolytes.     

25-channel nematic liquid-crystal optical time-delay unitcharacterization

A 25-channel, 1-bit, free-space, nematic liquid crystal (NLCU) spatial light modulator (SLM)-based optical time delay unit (OTDU) is demonstrated with worst case electrical signal-to-noise ratios (SNR's) ranging from 50-60 dB for various delay/no-delay modes of operation and with a worst case -42,3-dB electrical channel isolation/crosstalk level. For comparison, single channel performance neglecting crosstalk noise but including within-channel leakage noise gives electrical SNR's from 74-85 dB, indicating that the leakage signal in this OTDU is minimal compared to crosstalk, To lower crosstalk, path-difference compensated imaging optics must be used by the OTDU     

Detection of the frequency, antimicrobial susceptibility, and genotypic discrimination of Aeromonas strains isolated from municipally treated tap water samples by cultivation and AP-PCR

The frequency, antibiotic susceptibility, and genotypic discrimination of Aeromonas strains isolated from municipally treated drinking tap water distribution systems were investigated in this study. We have analyzed 148 tap water samples collected from 8 different locations by bacterial cultivation and arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR). Gram negative, hemolytic, oxidase (+) and catalase (+) bacterial colonies were applied to the study. Identification of bacterial colonies was done by conventional biochemical method and API ID 20E panel (BioMerieux-France). Molecular epidemiological discrimination of the isolates was done by AP-PCR. Aeromonas spp. was detected in 6 of 148 (4%) tap water samples from 8 different locations. Five isolates were identified as Aeromonas hydrophila and one isolate was identified as Vibrio fluvialis by conventional biochemical method. These data were also confirmed by API 20E panel. One of 6 isolates was resistant to gentamicin, 2 of 6 isolates were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, 4 of 6 isolates were resistant to ampicillin and ampicillin-sulbactam and all of 6 isolates were resistant to cephalothin. All isolates were found to be susceptible to amikacin, aztreonam, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin. All 6 strains of Aeromonas were discriminated by AP-PCR and were determined that all isolates were from different genotypic sources. Although the frequency of the isolates was under the standard limits, the results indicate that hemolytic A. hydrophila are present in municipally treated tap water samples in Mersin City. While all strains were genotypically distinct, all of them were resistant to first generation beta lactam antibiotics tested in this study.