Power Equalization Techniques for Three-Phase VSI-Driven Single-Phase Ozone Generators

The purpose of this article is to present a method to equalize power imbalances in single-phase loads driven by three-phase voltage source inverters. The objective is to unbalance the line-to-line voltages in order to equalize the individual load power. The method is evaluated under non-linear loads, considering the dispersion of the high-voltage transformer electrical parameters values usually found in ozone generating systems. Two methods are considered for equalizing the load power. In the progressive method, the power equalization is performed by a microcontroller and works setting up the voltage applied over each load in response to power feedback from the other loads. In addition, Fuzzy Logic concepts are also applied, permitting a fast response, in spite of lower precision in the power balancing. Analytical, simulation and experimental results validate both methods.     

Influence of maize kernel hardness on flour hydration and cooking properties

Knowledge of the association between cooking properties and endosperm hardness may help nutritionist and processors to select raw materials for preparing maize based food products, particularly those eaten as cooked dispersions. Seven commercial maize cultivars differing in hardness were selected to evaluate endosperm hardness on the kernels and some characteristics such as composition and hydration and cooking properties on the grits obtained from those maizes. Results show that the differences in endosperm hardness (directly related to grits protein content) can explain the differences in swelling and amylographic consistencies values. Cultivars with the hardest endosperm show the lowest values at high temperature. They also show the lowest amylographic consistencies. On the other hand softer endosperms present the highest swelling power and the highest amylographic consistencies. These differences are attributed to the restriction for starch swelling caused by the protein matrix. Endosperm hardness measurements and swelling power at 95 degrees C, can be useful to select cultivars that are going to be used to prepare maize based foods like atoles, polenta, etc.     

Efficient Strengthening Technique to Increase the Flexural Resistance of Existing RC Slabs

Composite materials are being used with notable effectiveness to increase and upgrade the flexural load carrying capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) members. Near-surface mounted (NSM) is one of the most promising strengthening techniques, based on the use of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. According to NSM, the laminates are fixed with epoxy based adhesive into slits opened into the concrete cover on the tension face of the elements to strength. Laboratory tests have shown that the NSM technique is an adequate strengthening strategy to increase the flexural resistance of RC slabs. However, in RC slabs of low concrete strength, the increase of the flexural resistance that NSM can provide is limited by the maximum allowable compressive strain in the compressed part of the slab, in order to avoid concrete crushing. This restriction reduces the effectiveness of the strengthening, thus limiting the use of the NSM technique. A new thin layer of concrete bonded to the existing concrete at the compressed region is suitable to overcome this limitation. Volumetric contraction due to shrinkage and thermal effects can induce uncontrolled cracking in the concrete of this thin layer. Adding steel fibers to concrete [steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC)], the postcracking residual stress can be increased in order to prevent the formation of uncontrolled crack patterns. In the present work, the combined strengthening strategy, a SFRC overlay and NSM CFRP laminates, was applied to significantly increase the flexural resistance of existing RC slabs. Experimental results of four-point bending tests, carried out in unstrengthened and strengthened concrete slab strips, are presented and analyzed.     

Experimental annular stratified flames characterisation stabilised by weak swirl

A burner for the investigation of lean stratified premixed flames propagating in intense isotropic turbulence has been developed. Lean pre-mixtures of methane at different equivalence ratios were divided between two concentric co-flows to obtain annular stratification. Turbulence generators were used to control the level of turbulence intensity in the oncoming flow. A third annular weakly swirling airflow provided the flame stabilisation mechanism. A fundamental characteristic was that flame stabilisation did not rely on flow recirculation. The flames were maintained at a position where the local mass flux balanced the burning rate, resulting in a freely propagating turbulent flame front. The absence of physical surfaces in the vicinity of the flame provided free access for laser diagnostics. Stereoscopic Planar Image Velocimetry (SPIV) was applied to obtain the three components of the instantaneous velocity vectors on a vertical plane above the burner at the point of flame stabilisation. The instantaneous temperature fields were determined through Laser Induced Rayleigh (LIRay) scattering. Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) of acetone was used to calculate the average equivalence ratio distributions. Instantaneous turbulent burning velocities were extracted from SPIV results, while flame curvature and flame thermal thickness were calculated using the instantaneous temperature fields. The PDFs of these quantities were analysed to consider the separate influence of equivalence ratio stratification and turbulence. Increased levels of turbulence resulted in the expected higher turbulent burning velocities and flame front wrinkling. Flames characterised by higher fuel gradients showed higher turbulent burning velocities. Increased fuel concentration gradients gave rise to increased flame wrinkling, particularly when associated with positive small radius of curvature.     

Functionally graded adhesive joints by using thermally expandable particles

The main objective of this work was to use thermally expandable particles (TEPs) in order to create a graded adhesive along the overlap by local mixing of the particles. Different amounts of TEPs were used along the overlap with two different adhesives used in automotive industry. Tensile and four-point bend tests were performed on single lap joints with hard steel adherends in order to investigate the behaviour of TEPs-modified graded joints. It was found that the strength of the joints under tension decrease with increasing TEPs content even for small amount of particles (i.e. 1 and 5%). However, a slight increase in strength was found for the graded joints compared to homogeneous joints modified with the same %wt TEPs. In the four-point bending test, the graded joints presented slightly higher strength, if compared with the homogeneous joints modified with the same wt% TEPs. 5%wt TEPs-modified joints presented the highest strength when submitted to bending loading. The experimental results are compared with a finite element model and generally a reasonably good agreement was found.     

A microsatellite genetic linkage map of human chromosome 13

We have characterized 21 polymorphic (CA)n microsatellites for the development of a genetic map of chromosome 13. Fifteen markers were isolated from a flow-sorted chromosome 13 library, four CA repeats were derived from NotI-containing cosmid clones, and two polymorphic markers were described previously (J. L. Weber, A. E. Kwitek, and P. E. May, 1990, Nucleic Acids Res. 18: 4638; L. Warnich, I. Groenwald, L. Laubscher, and A. E. Retief, 1991, Am. J. Hum. Genet. 49(Suppl.): 372 (Abstract)). Regional localization for all of the markers was performed by amplification of DNA from five somatic cell hybrids containing different deletions of chromosome 13. Genetic markers were shown to be distributed throughout 6 of the 11 resolvable chromosomal subregions. Using data from nine families provided by the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH), a framework map of 12 of these 21 markers was developed. Six of the 12 markers form three pairs, with each two members of a pair being tightly linked, such that nine systems of markers can be distinguished. The average heterozygosity of these 12 markers is 0.75. The total length of the sex-averaged map is 65.4 cM (Kosambi), with an average distance of 8.2 cM between systems of markers (eight intervals). Seven remaining markers were placed provisionally into the framework map.     

Bond characterization between concrete substrate and repairing SFRC using pull-off testing

In the last years, an emerging repair and strengthening technique for concrete slabs has been used, consisting of applying a thin layer of steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) onto the slabs. The performance of the strengthened structural system depends on the bonding behaviour between old and new concretes. Adhesives based on epoxy resins currently make this liaison. The prices of these adhesives are quite different depending, mainly, on the percentage of pure resin that they include. In the present paper, three commercial adhesive compounds of distinct prices and properties were selected to bond concrete substrate and repairing SFRC. The bond behaviour was assessed from pull-off tests and the influence of the strength class of concrete substrate and repairing SFRC was analysed. Finally, the performance of the adhesives was evaluated considering both the bond strength and their prices.     

Investigation of the inhibition effect of indole-3-carboxylic acid on the copper corrosion in 0.5 M H2SO4

Inhibition of the copper corrosion by means of indole-3-carboxylic acid (ICA), was studied in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solutions in the temperature range from 25 °C to 55 °C using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The results obtained from the both measurement techniques revealed good inhibitor efficiency in the studied concentration range. Nyquist plots showed depressed semicircles with their centre below real axis. Moreover, the impedance spectra in the case of both non inhibited solutions and inhibited ones by means of lower inhibitor concentrations exhibited Warburg impedance. The adsorption behaviour of ICA followed Langmuir’s isotherm.     

Collagen VI deficiency induces early onset myopathy in the mouse: an animal model for Bethlem myopathy

To gain insight into the function of type VI collagen, the col6a1 gene was inactivated by targeted gene disruption in the mouse. The homozygous mutants lacked collagen VI in the tissues and showed histological features of myopathy such as fiber necrosis and phagocytosis and a pronounced variation in the fiber diameter. Muscles also showed signs of stimulated regeneration of fibers. Necrotic fibers were particularly frequent in the diaphragm at all ages examined. Similar, although milder, alterations were detected in heterozygous mutant mice, indicating haploinsufficiency of the col6a1 gene function. The data led us to conclude that collagen VI is necessary for maintenance of the integrity of muscle fibers and that the col6a1 -deficient mouse can be considered an animal model of Bethlem myopathy.