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At least 307 records · Page 17

Implementing Admittance Relaying for Microgrid Protection

An earlier study evaluated issues with microgrid protection. This highlighted the difficulties with microgrid protection, which include: 1. lack of fault current from inverter-interfaced generation, 2. varying fault current between grid-connected and islanded modes, 3. potential for normally-meshed operation and 4. unbalanced operation due to single-phase loads. It is worth noting that not all microgrid designs will include all these challenges. For example, microgrids could choose to omit meshed operation. Previous work identified differential protection based on the discrete S-transform for line protection and admittance protection for load protection as possible solutions . However, some severe limitations were identified. This included the potential for blinding of the discrete S-transform protection when fault contribution on either end of the line is similar, and loss of protection selectivity for admittance protection in the case of upstream line-ground faults. This report investigates admittance protection as a solution for line and load protection in greater detail by comparing analytical and simulated results. Section 2 describes the protection schemes analyzed and the behavior of inverter-interfaced microgrids under faults in more detail. Section 3 derives sequence networks for the fault cases considered. Section 4 presents a transient model constructed to validate the impedances calculated from the sequence networks. Section 5 compares the results from the sequence networks and transient model. Last, Section 6 presents the conclusions of this study in terms of the suitability of admittance relaying for protection of inverter-interfaced microgrids.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Photovoltaic Cable Jackets: A Comparison of Representative Products Using Combined-Accelerated Stress Testing [Slides]

Photovoltaic (PV) cables facilitate the distribution of electricity collected from modules to the energy grid. Durable cabling enables continuous operation of PV installations, whereas cables with a lifetime less than the modules must be replaced - reducing electricity generation and adding to the operating expense. This study primarily focusses on the aging of the key cable types using the combined-accelerated stress testing (C-AST) protocol. Representative cables for utility, building, and control/auxiliary applications were examined. Cable jacket materials examined include: polyolefin, polyethylene, polyamide, poly(vinyl chloride), chlorinated polyethylene, thermoplastic elastomer, and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. Specimen characterizations applied include: optical microscopy, mechanical profilometry, instrumented indentation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A variety of performance and durability characteristics were observed, depending on the base material, polymer formulation, and jacket color. The results from C-AST are analyzed and discussed relative to a recent industry survey on electronic balance of system components in addition to a recent study where similar cables were aged using steady state ultraviolet weathering (International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Specification 62788-7-2). Recommendations are made for the screening, industry qualification, and service life prediction of PV cable jackets.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Persistent Homology Metrics Reveal Quantum Fluctuations and Reactive Atoms in Path Integral Dynamics

Nuclear quantum effects (NQEs) are known to impact a number of features associated with chemical reactivity and physicochemical properties, particularly for light atoms and at low temperatures. In the imaginary time path integral formalism, each atom is mapped onto a “ring polymer” whose spread is related to the quantum mechanical uncertainty in the particle’s position, i.e., its thermal wavelength. A number of metrics have previously been used to investigate and characterize this spread and explain effects arising from quantum delocalization, zero-point energy, and tunneling. Many of these shape metrics consider just the instantaneous structure of the ring polymers. However, given the significant interest in methods such as centroid molecular dynamics and ring polymer molecular dynamics that link the molecular dynamics of these ring polymers to real time properties, there exists significant opportunity to exploit metrics that also allow for the study of the fluctuations of the atom delocalization in time. Here we consider the ring polymer delocalization from the perspective of computational topology, specifically persistent homology, which describes the 3-dimensional arrangement of point cloud data, (i.e. atomic positions). We employ the Betti sequence probability distribution to define the ensemble of shapes adopted by the ring polymer. The Wasserstein distances of Betti sequences adjacent in time are used to characterize fluctuations in shape, where the Fourier transform and associated principal components provides added information differentiating atoms with different NQEs based on their dynamic properties. We demonstrate this methodology on two representative systems, a glassy system consisting of two atom types with dramatically different de Broglie thermal wavelengths, and ab initio molecular dynamics simulation of an aqueous 4 M HCl solution where the H-atoms are differentiated based on their participation in proton transfer reactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A Portable Miniature Cryogenic Environment for In Situ Neutron Diffraction

Neutron diffraction instruments offer a platform for materials science and engineering studies at extended temperature ranges far from ambient. As one of the widely used neutron sample environment types, cryogenic furnaces are usually bulky and complex, and they may need hours of beamtime overhead for installation, configuration, cooling, and sample change, etc. To reduce the overhead time and expedite experiments at the state-of-the-art high-flux neutron source, we developed a low-cost, miniature, and easy-to-use cryogenic environment (77–473 K) for in situ neutron diffraction. A travel-size mug serves for the environment where the samples sit inside. Immediate cooling and an isothermal dwell at 77 K are realized on the sample by direct contact with liquid N 2 in the mug. The designed Al inserts serve as the holder of samples and heating elements, alleviate the thermal gradient, and clear neutron pathways. Both a single-sample continuous measurement and multi-sample high-throughput measurements are demonstrated in this environment. High-quality and refinable in situ neutron diffraction patterns are acquired on model materials. The results quantify the orthorhombic-to-cubic phase transformation process in LiMn 2 O 4 and differentiate the anisotropic lattice thermal expansions and bond length evolutions between rhombohedral perovskite oxides with composition variation.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The method of averages applied to the KS differential equations

A new approach for the solution of artificial satellite trajectory problems is proposed. The basic idea is to apply an analytical solution method (the method of averages) to an appropriate formulation of the orbital mechanics equations of motion (the KS-element differential equations). The result is a set of transformed equations of motion that are more amenable to numerical solution.

Graf, O. F., Jr.↗

Fracture and crack growth in orthotropic laminates

An approximate solution is developed for the determination of the interlaminar normal and shear stresses in the vicinity of a crack in a three dimensional composite containing unidirectional linearly elastic fibers in an infinite linearly elastic matrix. In order to reduce the complexity of the formulation, certain assumptions are made as to the physically significant stresses to be retained. These simplifications reduce the partial differential equations of elasticity to differential-difference equations which are tractable using Fourier transform techniques. The potential for damaged or debonded zones to be generated by an embedded crack is discussed, and stress concentration factors for fibers near the crack are given. Detailed comparisons are made between the present solution, the analogous two dimensional problem, and corresponding shear-lag models.

Goree, J. G.↗

Stresses in a three-dimensional unidirectional composite containing broken fibers

An approximate solution is developed for the determination of the interlaminar normal and shear stresses in the vicinity of a crack in a three dimensional composite containing unidirectional linearly elastic fibers in an infinite linearly elastic matrix. In order to reduce the complexity of the formulation, certain assumptions are made as to the physically significant stresses to be retained. These simplifications reduce the partial differential equations of elasticity to differential-difference equations which are tractable using Fourier transform techniques. This 'material modeling' approach is in contrast with solutions developed by considering each lamina as a homogeneous, orthotropic layer. The resulting solution does not contain the classical singular stress field for the fibers and the influence of broken fibers on unbroken fibers is felt by a change in stress concentration factors. The matrix stresses however, are unbounded as the fiber spacing vanishes and an equivalent fiber-matrix geometry is proposed which gives the correct singular behavior. The numerical solution is considered in detail and several specific examples are presented. The potential for damaged or debonded zones to be generated by an embedded crack is discussed, and stress concentration factors for fibers near the crack are given. Detailed comparisons are made between the present solution, the analogous two-dimensional problem, and corresponding shear-lag models.

Goree, J. G.↗

An analytic solution to the classical two-body problem with drag

The two body problem was analyzed with a specific drag model. The model treats drag as a force proportional to the vector velocity and inversely proportional to the distance to the center of attraction. The solution is expressed in terms of known functions and is of a simple and compact form. The time of flight is expressed as a quadrature in the true anomaly. The results are: (1) development of a vector differential equation which allows analysis of an infinite number of gravitational and drag models; and (2) obtaining the solution of a linear differential equation using the inverse method of laplace transforms.

Mittleman, D.↗

Friend leukemia virus transformed cells exposed to microgravity in the presence of DMSO (7-IML-1)

The purpose of this experiment is to study the adaptation of living cells to microgravity. The in vitro transformation of Friend cells by Dimethylsufoxide (DMSO) is a good model for the study of cell differentiation and protein biosynthesis. Cultures of cells will be prepared shortly before launch. Once in space, transformation will be induced by injection of DMSO. One set of cultures will be chemically fixed with glutaraldehyde for electron microscope investigations; another set will be preserved for determining the amount of hemogloben produced and the extent of cell proliferation.

Cogoli, Augusto↗

Thermal Studies of New Precursors to Indium-tin Oxides for Use as Sensor Materials in the Detection of NO(x)

Control of combustion product emissions in both sub and super-sonic jet engines can be facilitated by measurement of NO(x) levels with metal oxide sensors, In2O3, metal-doped SnO2, and SnO, (as well as other materials) show resistivity changes in the presence of NO(x), but often their sensitivity, stability, and selectivity are low. This study was designed to develop new synthetic pathways to precursors that produce high purity, two phase In2O3-SnO2. The precursors were formed by complexation of tin with any oxide ligands to give the ammonium salt (NH4). Thermal studies of these precursors were carried out by thermal gravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Further studies by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) were also conducted.

Goldsby, J. C.↗

Formal Models of Blur Detection

This paper presents a review and comparison of the engineering and physiological optics literature on defocus detection. The equivalence of spatial frequency based detectors and the edge-based hypothesis, and variance-based detectors and the contrast- difference hypothesis is argued. Finally, variance-invariant transforms are introduced as a means of experimentally differentiating the hypotheses.

Neveu, Charles F.↗

An extension of the Laplace transform to Schwartz distributions

A characterization of the Laplace transform is developed which extends the transform to the Schwartz distributions. The class of distributions includes the impulse functions and other singular functions which occur as solutions to ordinary and partial differential equations. The standard theorems on analyticity, uniqueness, and invertibility of the transform are proved by using the characterization as the definition of the Laplace transform. The definition uses sequences of linear transformations on the space of distributions which extends the Laplace transform to another class of generalized functions, the Mikusinski operators. It is shown that the sequential definition of the transform is equivalent to Schwartz' extension of the ordinary Laplace transform to distributions but, in contrast to Schwartz' definition, does not use the distributional Fourier transform. Several theorems concerning the particular linear transformations used to define the Laplace transforms are proved. All the results proved in one dimension are extended to the n-dimensional case, but proofs are presented only for those situations that require methods different from their one-dimensional analogs.

Price, D. R.↗

Numerical solution of flow problems using body-fitted coordinate systems

The paper deals with numerically generated boundary-fitted coordinate systems. This procedure eliminates the shape of the boundaries as a complicating factor and allows the flow about arbitrary boundaries to be treated essentially as easily as that about simple boundaries. The technique of boundary-fitted coordinate systems is based on a method of automatic numerical generation of a general curvilinear coordinate system having a coordinate line coincident with each boundary of a general multiconnected region involving any number of arbitrarily shaped boundaries. Once the curvilinear coordinate system is generated, any partial differential system of interest may be solved on the coordinate system by transforming the equations and solving the resulting system in finite-difference approximation on the rectangular transformed plane. Attention is given to the types of boundary-fitted coordinate systems, coordinate system control, operation of the coordinate codes, solution of partial differential equations, application to free-surface flow, and other applications of interest.

Thompson, J. F.↗

Concentration-response gene expression analysis in zebrafish reveals phenotypically-anchored transcriptional responses to retene

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and are associated with human disease. Canonically, many PAHs induce toxicity via activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway. While the interaction between PAHs and the AHR is well-established, understanding which AHR-regulated transcriptional effects directly result in observable phenotypes and which are adaptive or benign is important to better understand PAH toxicity. Retene is a frequently detected PAH in environmental sampling and has been associated with AHR2-dependent developmental toxicity in zebrafish, though its mechanism of toxicity has not been fully elucidated. To interrogate transcriptional changes causally associated with retene toxicity, we conducted whole-animal RNA sequencing at 48 hours post-fertilization after exposure to eight retene concentrations. The concentrations were selected to produce effects ranging from no phenotype to mortality and malformations in 100% of animals at 5 days post-fertilization. We identified a concentration-response relationship between retene teratogenicity and differential gene expression in both number of DEGs and magnitude of expression change. Elevated expression of cyp1a at retene concentrations below the threshold for teratogenicity suggested that while cyp1a expression is a sensitive biomarker of AHR activation, it may be too sensitive to serve as a biomarker of AHR-dependent teratogenicity. Genes differentially expressed at only non-teratogenic concentrations were enriched for transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signaling pathway disruption while DEGs identified at only teratogenic concentrations were significantly enriched for response to xenobiotic stimulus and reduction-oxidation reaction activity. DEGs which spanned both non-teratogenic and teratogenic concentrations showed similar disrupted biological processes to those unique to teratogenic concentrations, indicating these processes were disrupted at low exposure concentrations. Gene co-expression network analysis identified several gene modules, including those associated with PAHs and AHR2 activation. One, Module 7, was strongly enriched for AHR2-associated genes and contained the strongest responses to retene. Benchmark concentration (BMC) of Module 7 genes identified a median BMC of 7.5 µM, nearly the highest retene concentration with no associated teratogenicity, supporting the hypothesis that Module 7 genes are largely responsible for retene toxicity.

Toxin, Zebrafish, Retene, Transcriptomics, network↗

Land cover stratification using Landsat Thematic Mapper data in Sahelian and Sudanian woodland and wooded grassland

A standard methodology for thematic mapping of natural vegetation using remotely sensed imagery and digital image processing was modified to account for the spatial and spectral properties of semi-arid landscapes, and tested in study areas in the Sahelian and Sudanian zones, Mali. A principal components transformation of registered wet and dry season Landsat TM images produced a set of synthetic spectral channels differentiating vegetation cover between seasons, and allowed areas with annual grass growth to be distinguished from areas with woody cover. The transformed data were statistically clustered and clusters were assigned to vegetation type and density categories. In a separate step, the images were manually interpreted to differentiate broad soil classes. Four statistics were compared to evaluate the accuracy of the maps based on sample points from air photos. For the relatively detailed categories initially defined, map accuracies were substandard; however, when vegetation density classes were aggregated, overall accuracy was around 90 percent, and class accuracy was greater than 80 percent for most classes. This method is suitable for stratification and inventory of woody biomass at a regional scale in semi-arid woodland and wooded grassland.

Franklin, J.↗

Differential Power Processing for Ultra-Efficient Data Storage

Here this paper presents the hardware, software, and power codesign of an ultra-efficient data storage server with differential power processing (DPP). DPP can reduce the power conversion stress, improve the efficiency, and enhance the functionality of modular power electronics systems. The power inputs of a large number of hard disk drives (HDDs) were connected in series and supported by a multiport ac-coupled differential power processing (MAC-DPP) converter through a multiwinding transformer. Methods for controlling the multi-input multi-output power flow in the multiwinding transformer while avoiding core saturation were investigated. A ten-port MAC-DPP prototype with 700-W/in 3 power density was built to support a 450-W HDD storage system with ten series-stacked voltage domains. The prototype was tested on a 50-HDD server testbench, and the overall system loss is below 1 W (99.77% system efficiency). The server was able to maintain high-speed reading and writing operation of all 50 HDDs against the worst hot-swapping scenarios. A variety of hardware/software configurations and many cloud storage techniques were tested on the fully functioning server. Experimental results show that the energy efficiency of large-scale information systems (CPU/GPU clusters, memory banks, HDD arrays, etc.) can be greatly improved by software, hardware, and power codesign.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Analytical Solutions for Non-Linear Differential Equations with the Help of a Digital Computer

A technique was developed with the help of a digital computer for analytic (algebraic) solutions of autonomous and nonautonomous equations. Two operational transform techniques have been programmed for the solution of these equations. Only relatively simple nonlinear differential equations have been considered. In the cases considered it has been possible to assimilate the secular terms into the solutions. For cases where f(t) is not a bounded function, a direct series solution is developed which can be shown to be an analytic function. All solutions have been checked against results obtained by numerical integration for given initial conditions and constants. It is evident that certain nonlinear differential equations can be solved with the help of a digital computer.

Cromwell, P. C.↗