Sediment Concentration and Its Prediction by Perceptron Kalman Filtering Procedure

Predictions of the discharge and the associated sediment concentration are very useful ingredients in any water resources reservoir design, planning, maintenance, and operation. Although there are many empirical relationships between the discharge and sediment concentration amounts, they need estimation of model parameters. Generally, parameter estimations are achieved through the regression method (RM), which has several restrictive assumptions. Such models are locally valid and their structures and parameter values are questionable from region to others. This paper proposes a new approach for sediment concentration prediction provided that there are measurements of discharge and sediment concentration. The basis of the methodology is a dynamic transitional model between successive time instances based on two variables, namely, discharge and sediment concentration measurements. The transition matrix elements are estimated from the measurements through a special form of the artificial neural networks as perceptrons. The sediment concentration predictions from discharge measurements are achieved through a perceptron Kalman filtering (PKF) technique. In the meantime, this technique also provides temporal predictions. A certain portion of the measurement sequence is employed for the model parameter estimations through training and the remaining part is used for the model verification. Detailed comparisons between RM and PKF approaches are presented and, finally, it is shown that the latter model works dynamically by simulating the observation scatter diagram in the best possible manner with smaller prediction errors. The application of the methodology is performed for the discharge and sediment concentration measurements obtained from the Mississippi River basin at St. Louis, Missouri. It is found that the PKF methodology has smaller average relative, root-mean-square, and absolute errors than RM. Furthermore, graphical representation, such as the scatter and frequency diagrams, indicated that the PKF approach has superiority over the RM.     

Non-contact flood discharge measurements using an X-band pulse radar (I) theory

This article describes a non-contact method for measuring surface velocity and discharge in a natural channel. The X-band pulse (9.36 GHz) radar, developed by the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington, was used to scan instantaneously the lateral distribution of surface velocity across a river section, according to Bragg scattering from short waves produced by turbulent boils on the surface of the river. Based on the assumption that the vertical velocity distribution follows a universal power or logarithmic law, the discharges were estimated.     

A Study of Ozone Generation by Negative Corona Discharge Through Different Plasma Chemistry Models

The Steady radial distribution of chemical species in a wire‐to‐cylinder ozone generator filled with pure oxygen has been computed by applying four different plasma chemistry models of increasing complexity. The most complete model considers ten species (e, O₂ ⁺, O₂ ^?, O₃ ^?, O^?, O₂, O₂(¹Δ_g), O₂(¹∑_g ⁺), O and O₃) and 79 reactions, including ionization by electron impact, electron attachment and detachment, electron-ion recombination, charge transfer, etc. The chemical model is coupled with the electrical model through Poisson's equation. The spatially averaged ozone density has been computed as a function of the current intensity and compared with the experimental values obtained by UV spectroscopy.     

Electrochemical investigation of the iron-containing and no iron-containing AB5-type negative electrodes

The electrochemical behaviour of LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.75−xFe_x (x = 0, 0.15, 0.55, 0.75) intermetallic compounds has been studied and presented [C. Khaldi, H. Mathlouthi, J. Lamloumi, A. Percheron-Guégan, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 29 (2004) 307–311; C. Khaldi, H. Mathlouthi, J. Lamloumi, A. Percheron-Guégan, J. Alloys Compd. 360 (2003) 266–271; C. Khaldi, H. Mathlouthi, J. Lamloumi, A. Percheron-Guégan, J. Alloys Compd. 384 (2004) 249–253]. It has been deduced that the LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.4Fe_0.35 compound has interesting electrochemical properties. In this paper we present the electrochemical study of LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.4Fe_0.35 compound properties compared with the parent LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.75 compound. Several techniques, such as, the chronopotentiometry, the constant potential discharge (CPD), the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and the linear polarization (LP) were applied to characterize these electrochemical properties. The electrochemical discharge capacity of the LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.75 alloy increases to reach 294 mAh g⁻¹ after few cycles only (five cycles). However, the activation of the LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.4Fe_0.35 alloy takes more than 20 cycles to be achieved and the obtained maximum discharge capacity is 194 mAh g⁻¹. The hydrogen diffusion coefficient D_H was determined by constant potential discharge and cyclic voltammetry techniques. The obtained values of the LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.75 and LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.4Fe_0.35 compounds are 6.29 × 10⁻¹¹ and 7.62 × 10⁻¹¹, and 2 × 10⁻⁸ and 7.5 × 10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹ by CPD and CV techniques, respectively. The exchange current density values, determined by a linear polarization technique, are 44 and 27 mA g⁻¹, respectively, for LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.75 and LaNi_3.55Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.4Fe_0.35 alloys.     

On the Performance of Ozone Generators Working with Dielectric Barrier Discharges

The parameters, which determine the performance of ozone generators, are efficiency and maximum ozone concentration. The efficiency from oxygen has been found to be nearly independent on the kind of barrier discharge arrangement (volume, surface, coplanar), while the ozone concentration saturation level depends on the specific design of the generator. These phenomena are explained with features of the discharge process and the properties of chemical reactions, respectively. The importance of a limit in the energy density of the discharge is highlighted.     

Ozone Generator with Cylindrical Type of Rotating Electrode

An ozone generator using a rotating electrode to improve ozone generation efficiency is proposed. The ozone generator electrode unit consists of a rotating electrode and fixed electrode. The rotating electrode has the grounded 36 pieces of tungsten wires fixed in parallel to the rotation axis on the rotating cylinder surface. A dielectric electrode is used as a fixed electrode located on the inside of the tube of the electrode unit. The width of the apparent discharge gap is 1mm. Alternating current with a frequency of 50 Hz is applied to the electrode unit. The rotation speed can be adjusted from 0 rpm to 1200 rpm by a variable speed motor. Oxygen gas is used as the material gas. Higher ozone concentration and higher ozone generation efficiency are obtained compared with that when the rotation speed is 0 rpm. The gas temperature is measured at the inlet and outlet of the ozone generator, and the rotation speed for the cooling effect is most effective at about 500 rpm. The maximum generation efficiency is estimated to be 61 g/kWh at 800 rpm, and this value is twice as large as in the case of 0 rpm.     

Degradation of a textile azo dye by pulsed arc discharge to the surface of wastewater

The pulsed arc discharge to the surface of wastewater was applied to the degradation of a textile azo dye (Acid Red 27). A high-voltage electrode (discharging electrode) was vertically placed above the surface of the wastewater while the wastewater itself was grounded. The pulsed arc discharge occurred between the tip of the discharging electrode and the surface of the wastewater, producing various oxidative species. Oxygen was used as the working gas instead of air to prevent nitrogen oxides from forming. The effect of several parameters on the chromaticity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was examined. The results obtained showed that the chromaticity of the wastewater was completely removed by this process and the COD also decreased significantly. It has been found that ozone formed in the gas phase mainly affects the removal of the dye. The contribution of other effects such as ultraviolet light emission and OH radical formation during the arc discharge to the degradation of the dye was found to be less than 15%. For the present reactor system, the optimum pH, pulse repetition rate and agitation speed were found to be 3.0, 110 Hz and 300 rpm, respectively.     

增压缸在辗扩机液压低速回路中的应用及分析

介绍了在油缸低速工作流量小于凋速阀最小稳定流量时，通过增压缸与油缸的串联，实现工作油缸稳定低速运动的一种设计方法，并对油缸与增压缸串联后回路的动态特性进行了分析。通过应用于辗扩机液压低速运动回路中的实例表明，该方法可有效地改善机床的低速运行的稳定性和可靠性。     

The multiphase effect on crystal structure, hydrogen absorbing properties and electrode performance of Sc---Zr based Laves phase alloys

The crystal structure, hydrogen absorbing properties and electrode performance of Laves phase alloy systems, Sc---Zr---Ni---Mn and Sc---Ni---V systems, were studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, pressure-composition isotherm and electrochemical measurements. C14 and C15 Laves phases and minor ScNi-related phase were found in the Sc---Zr---Ni---Mn alloy system. The ScNi-related phase was composed of Sc, Zr and Ni elements. Two kinds of minor phase, BCC and ScNi-related phases, were identified in addition to the C15 phase in the Sc---Zr---Ni---V alloy system. The BCC contained mainly the element V. The ScNi-related phase contributed to an increase in the hydrogen capacity, but those in the V alloy system did not. The multiphase anode with a large amount of the ScNi-related phase showed a low durability against the KOH electrolyte. The substitution of Zr by Sc led to an improvement in the initial activation of the anode, but there was not a clear correlation between the presence of the multiphase in the anode and the rate capability.     

In-process evaluation of grit protrusion feature for fine diamond grinding wheel by means of electro-contact discharge dressing

This paper introduces a new in-process evaluation method for grit protrusion feature on wheel surface by monitoring discharge current trace during electro-contact discharge (ECD) dressing of metal-bonded fine diamond grinding wheel. First an impulse discharge machining experiment was carried out to investigate the correlation between metal bond removal and discharge parameters, namely discharge current I_e and discharge pulse duration τ_e. Then ECD dressing experiment for #600 diamond grinding wheel was conduced to analyses the quantitative effect of the discharge parameters (I_e and τ_e), derived from discharge current trace between wheel and dresser (electrode), on grit protrusion feature of wheel surface. The result shows that the grit protrusion feature is sensitive to the discharge parameters (I_e and τ_e) with reference to mean diamond grit size d_gm. Further, the discharge parameters (I_e and τ_e) in ECD dressing should conform to the discharge variables’ requirement of , by which the grit protrusion feature may be evaluated and the dressing process variables may be determined. Finally, the in-process evaluation method was successfully applied to ECD dressing of #1500 diamond grinding wheel for valid grinding of hard-brittle materials.