Evaluation of TBM performance prediction models and sensitivity analysis of input parameters

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - In recent years, anumber of models and formulas have been proposed to estimate the penetration rate of hard rock tunnel boring machines (TBMs)....     

PiSHi: click the images and I tell if you are a human

This paper introduces pictorial intelligent system for human identification (PiSHi), an image-based captcha which uses three human cognitive abilities to distinguish humans from machines. The first is the human ability to easily recognise the image’s upright orientation. The second is the human brain’s ability in recognising a picture’s content when it is only partially visible. And the third is the human ability in unconscious decision making when encountering pictorial challenges. This work models such complicated human patterns in problem solving for the first time. In order to extract these behavioural patterns and save them in a pattern database, we have implemented our own captcha and performed a series of experiments. PiSHi’s interface presents the user with a set of distorted pictures and asks her to click on the upright orientation of all the pictures in any preferred order. Next, it captures the user’s interaction patterns, compares them with the ones saved in the pattern database, and grants her a corresponding credit. Based on this credit, the user either passes or fails the test, and participates in updating the picture database. Our experiments indicate that human users can solve our proposed captcha effectively—with an accuracy of 99.44 %. Besides, our proposed system is secure against several types of attacks including random guessing and reverse image search engines. The results offer the possibility of utilising the identified human behavioural models in practical captchas.     

Modeling and optimization of the chamber of OWC system

Due to their non-polluting nature and environment friendliness, Renewable Energies have gained great deal of attention and deserve a substantial body of both theoretical and empirical research. Amongst other factors, the low operational cost and simple maintenance procedures attributed the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) are perhaps the main reasons why this system is the most used concept for the ocean wave energy capture.In this paper, through extensive experimental research various geometrical designs of an OWC system is investigated and the optimized set up for the maximum energy harness is obtained.The initial chamber dimensions were 10 × 50 × 53 cm with the chamber being placed in an open channel with wave-simulating equipment with dimensions of 16 × 0.7 × .05 m. For various chamber geometries, with the aid of a air rotameter and a Pitot tube equipped with a digital manometer, the outlet air flow and velocity from the chamber was measured and registered.The measurements were then interpreted to provide design data for the optimal geometry of the chamber that may yield the maximum conversion of wave energy to useful energy.     

Hydrogen from solar energy,a clean energy carrier from a sustainable source of energy

Solar energy is going to play a crucial role in the future energy scenario of the world that conducts interests to solar-to-hydrogen as a means of achieving a clean energy carrier. Hydrogen is a sustainable energy carrier, capable of substituting fossil fuels and decreasing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission to save the world from global warming. Hydrogen production from ubiquitous sustainable solar energy and an abundantly available water is an environmentally friendly solution for globally increasing energy demands and ensures long-term energy security. Among various solar hydrogen production routes, this study concentrates on solar thermolysis, solar thermal hydrogen via electrolysis, thermochemical water splitting, fossil fuels decarbonization, and photovoltaic-based hydrogen production with special focus on the concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) system. Energy management and thermodynamic analysis of CPV-based hydrogen production as the near-term sustainable option are developed. The capability of three electrolysis systems including alkaline water electrolysis (AWE), polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis, and solid oxide electrolysis for coupling to solar systems for H₂ production is discussed. Since the cost of solar hydrogen has a very large range because of the various employed technologies, the challenges, pros and cons of the different methods, and the commercialization processes are also noticed. Among three electrolysis technologies considered for postulated solar hydrogen economy, AWE is found the most mature to integrate with the CPV system. Although substantial progresses have been made in solar hydrogen production technologies, the review indicates that these systems require further maturation to emulate the produced grid-based hydrogen.     

Comparison of optical properties between ladder and lambda-type EIT medium with Er3+ ion concentration in Er3+:YAG crystal

The effect of Er³⁺ doped ion concentration on optical properties of two type three-level schemes in 35 nm Er³⁺:YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) crystal is studied. It is found that intensity threshold of optical bistability and multistability can be changed by Er³⁺ doped ion concentration. Moreover, switching from optical multistability to optical bistability can be done differently by Er³⁺ concentration in two types of three-level schemes. The steady-state and transient behaviors of absorption, dispersion and group index of weak probe field in two schemes are also discussed. In this study, we will report an initial study on optical properties in Er³⁺:YAG crystal and propose a basis for selecting the suitable concentration to carry out experimental investigations in the future.     

Influence of case hardening on wear resistance of a sintered low alloy steel

PM technique has been applied for some products in the autoindustries due to unique functions and cost saving. The wear resistance of PM steel parts is one of the most significant surface properties. Nitriding and carburizing processes consist of exposing metallic materials to nitrogen and carbon to improve their surface hardness and wear resistance. In this research, the partially diffusion prealloyed powders, Ultrapac LE, containing Fe-4Ni-1.5Cu-0.5Mo with 0.2% graphite and two different densities were sintered at 1120 °C for 30 min. Depending on the applied pressures during cold pressing, two different porosities of 14.11 and 10.26 vol.% were obtained. Some specimens were carburized and some others were nitrided in cyanate liquid salt bath. The pin-on-disc wear test and hardness test were used to evaluate the surface behavior of specimens. The results showed that the wear resistance increased by nitriding and carburizing processes and the effect of nitriding is more than carburizing on wear resistance. In the case of materials studied, except for 4 h nitrided specimens, other specimens with higher porosity level showed better wear resistance. In these specimens, large pores entrapped the wear debris and created a densified layer. It prevented the formation of large abrasive agglomerates. For the carburized specimens, wear mechanisms were affected by the brittle fracture caused by abrasive wear. So, wear resistance did not increase significantly. In this investigation, abrasive, plastic deformation and oxidation wear were observed as wear mechanisms.     

An investigation on the sensitivity analysis of the parameters of proposed wax precipitation model

Reservoir hydrocarbon fluids contain heavy paraffins that may form solid phase of wax at low temperatures. Formation of solid phases is highly unwanted in oil production assemblies, pipelines and in process equipments. A predictive technique is crucial to the solution of wax formation to alleviate this problem.The effect of different parameters to predict the conditions under which wax precipitation takes place using the proposed model of Sahand University of Technology and other models has been investigated. The proposed model uses regular solution theory to describe solid phase (wax) non-ideality and the liquid and gas phases are being described by an equation of state.In order to evaluate the reliability of the proposed model, wax appearance temperatures (WAT's) were calculated for several mixtures at different compositions and compared with different models. The proposed model predictions had very good agreement with experimental data over a wide range of compositional distributions in comparison with other models. Solid wax content was also calculated at different temperatures below WAT in several synthetic systems made up of a solvent (decane) and a paraffinic heavy fraction. The results of calculating the amount of wax precipitation showed very good agreement with experimental data. Effect of different parameters including fusion temperature (T^f), Enthalpy of fusion (Δh^f), solubility parameter (δ^S), and binary interaction parameters (BIP) in predicting the WAT and the amount of wax precipitated for different oil mixtures have been evaluated using the proposed model and compared with other models. The results showed that the T^f is the most sensitive parameter while δ^S shows the least sensitivity in matching the WAT. Even though using Δh^f could provide the same results as tuning T^f, but the required changes are much higher and sometimes not practical. Also using BIP as the tuning parameter, requires a fairly large coefficient that makes it unsuitable to be considered as the tuning parameter.     

Impact of innovation programs on development of energy system: Case of Iranian electricity-supply system

The paper presents further experiments with an extended version of a comprehensive model for assessment of energy technologies and research and development (R&D) planning to evaluate the impact of innovation programs on development of Iranian electricity-supply system. This analytical instrument is a model of energy R&D resource allocation with an explicit perspective of developing countries which has been linked to a bottom-up energy-systems model. Three emerging electricity generation technologies of solar PV, wind turbine and gas fuel cell are considered in the model and the impact of innovation programs on cost-reducing innovation for them is examined. The main results provided by the modeling approach include optimal allocation of R&D resources, induced capacity expansion policies to guarantee the effectiveness of R&D activities, competitive cost of emerging technologies, impact of innovation programs on optimal structure of electricity-supply system and benefits of innovation programs in the long-run.