Taiwan Association of Engineering and Technology Innovation: E-Journals
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Improving Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Process Efficiency Using Predictive Control
Get PDFThis paper investigates the performance of a new predictive control approach used to improve the energy efficiency and effluent quality of a conventional Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). A modified variant of the well-known Generalized Predictive Control (GPC) method has been applied to control the dissolved oxygen concentration in the aerobic bioreactor of a WWTP. The quadratic cost function was modified to a positional implementation that considers control signal weighting and not its increments, in order to minimize the control energy. The Activated Sludge Process (ASP) optimization using the proposed variant of the GPC algorithm provides an improved aeration system efficiency to reduce energy costs. The control strategy is investigated and evaluated by performing simulations and analyzing the results. Both the set point tracking and the regulatory performances have been tested. Moreover, the effects of some tuning parameters are also investigated. The results show that this control strategy can be efficiently used for dissolved oxygen control in WWTP
Component Energy Efficiencies in a Novel Linear to Rotary Motion Inter-conversion Hydro-mechanism Running a Solar Tracker
Get PDFA new mechanism interconverting linear and rotary motion was investigated for energy transfers among its components. It employed a gear-rack set, a Hooke coupling and a specially designed bladder-valve system that regulated the motion. The purpose was to estimate individual component mechanical efficiencies as they existed in the prototype so that future reengineering of the mechanism could be properly targeted. Theoretical modelling of the mechanism was first done to obtain equations for efficiencies of the key components. Two-stage experimentation followed when running a solar tracker. The first stage produced data for inputting into the model to determine the efficiencies’ theoretical variation with the Hooke coupling shaft angle. The second one verified results of the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software solutions of the model. It was found that the energy transfer to focus on was that between the Hooke coupling and the output shaft because its efficiency was below 4
A Reliable QRS Detection Method Based on Dual-Tree Wavelet Transform
Get PDFElectrocardiography is considered as a powerful technique for assessing heart condition. To study cardiac disorders, it is essential to localize and extract the QRS complex: the prominent region within the electrocardiogram signal. Since the QRS complex has various morphologies and is usually contaminated by severe overlapping spectral noise, accurate detection is a complicated task. This paper proposes a reliable method based on the Dual-Tree Wavelet Transform, which uses a threshold process to select the QRS frequency components and reduce the overlapping noise. The QRS deflections are then emphasized using squaring and moving average operators. The chosen decision rule is simple and based on the variance of the signal. The proposed method was tested on the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database, and the algorithm showed high accuracy detection results compared to those of other recently published works
The Effect of Additional Layer between Liner and PMMA on Reducing Cracks of Cement Mantle Hip Joints
Get PDFLoosening of the acetabular liner component caused by the failure of the cement mantle is a complex phenomenon in a total hip arthroplasty. This failure is often associated with the occurrence of cracking in the cement mantle. Investigation of this cracking can be performed by fatigue test or simulation. Cracking can be caused by initial cracks (porosity), defects of cement mantle, or stress due to repeated loading. An initial crack may be caused by material defects. The stress depends on the load and on the strength of the material itself. To reduce crack failure, one can minimize the initial crack or optimize the thickness of the cement mantle and reduce stress that occurs in the cement mantle. This study offers a solution for reducing the intensity of stress on the cement mantle by providing an additional metal layer between the liner and the acetabular component cement mantle. The study is performed by simulating static contact using finite element analysis. Results show that the additional layer between the acetabular liner and the cement mantle can significantly reduce the stress on the contact surface of the cement mantle
The Study of Natural Nano-Composite Filter for Industrial Wastewater Treatment
Get PDFDue to the rapid development of industry, the amount of industrial wastewater and water pollution is a serious problem for environment. Along with the economic development, the complications of wastewater treatment and drainage have been raised. For examples, textile printing and dyeing wastewater as model system, we utilized natural nano-composite filter adsorption test under different concentrations of dye liquid, different times with nano-composite powder, and observed the solutions with spectrophotometer.
The manufacture of natural nano-composite filter was from a variety of mineral flour in accordance with the specific proportion of ore combination, and its inside appearance was like a sponge structure with many nano-sized pores, which increased its adsorption capacity. The production procedure of this natural nano-composite was much simpler than activated carbon, and the failure rate is relatively low, so the cost is lower twice than functional activated carbon. Because it is made of natural mineral powder, it will not cause second pollution to the environment. The final results show that methylene blue and no.257 black dye adsorption capacity of natural nano-composite filter was more effective in high temperature 55℃. Conclusively, we used the absorption curves to demonstrate the absorption kinetics
A GI Proposal to Display ECG Digital Signals Wirelessly Real-time Transmitted onto a Remote PC
Get PDFThe sensors, as wireless communication system, comply the 7-layer model Open Systems Interconnection (OSI). In this paper, a point-to-point transmission model was used. The ECG signal is transmitted from the Router Sensor (RS) to an end Coordinator Node (CN) plugged-in to the laptop via USB port; RS acquires ECG signal in analogical mode, and is also responsible with sampling, quantization and sending it wirelessly direct to CN. The distance between RS and CN is a single-hop transmission, and does not exceed the range of the XBeeS2Pro transceivers. The communication protocol is ZigBee. Remote viewing of the transmitted signal is performed on a Graphical Interface (GI) written under MATLAB, after the signal has been digitized; the choice of MATLAB was motivated by future developments. Particular aspects will be highlighted, so that the reader to be edified about the results obtained during laboratory experiments. Recording demonstrate that the purpose exposed in title has been reached: Direct link in Real-Time was established, and the digital ECG signal received is reconstituted accurately on MATLAB GI; signal received on laptop is compared with the analog signal displayed on oscilloscope
Application of Serious Game Model on Simulation Training for Decision Makings of Project Management
Get PDFThis study develops a novel serious game foster decision making skills in project management based on role playing. It provides features such as accident event handling, resource allocation, selections of subcontractors, procurement and stock management, adjustment of project scheduling, and performance evaluations to be exercised by user online. In doing so, users can strengthen their project skills by managing a virtual project. Importantly, the proposed game provides users with virtual experiences to implement management and control tasks of a construction project, which is often difficult to offer in conventional training. The proposed system is an online game developed by using advanced web development tools with integrations of MySQL for project data management and MS project for project schedule update on the server side. Users are presented with a virtual project in dynamic scene image depicting a construction site, which changes as the game progresses. There are also images present various construction events. During game play, users can function as a project manager whom is responsible for making various decisions involving accident handling and resource allocation as the virtual construction project progresses. Results of the decisions made are obtained by real-time simulation based on project data, then are visually and interactively replied to the users to understand the subsequent effects of their actions. In this training mode, decision-based simulation can provide realistic and reliable consequences of their decisions. The virtual reality feature of this computer game offers an economic and viable alternative to actual project management experiences
Robust Algorithms for Regression Analysis Based on Fuzzy Objective Functions
Get PDFIn this paper, we address the issues related to the design of fuzzy robust linear regression algorithms. The design of robust linear regression analysis has been studied in the literature of statistics for over two decades. More recently various robust regression models have been proposed for processing noisy data. We proposed a new objective function by using fuzzy complement and derive improved algorithms that can produce good regression analysis from the spoiled data set. Data set from the U.S. Department of Transportation is used to evaluate the performance of the regression algorithms
Projecting the Mental Model of Social Networking Site Usage
Get PDFThe growth of online social networking sites (SNS) has created a new world of connection and communication for online users. SNS usage has become an important part of people’s daily lives. This study aims to obtain new insights towards SNS usage behaviour. Based on participants’ mental models, it is hoped to make more clear exposition about their perceptions and experiences as well as to explore what factors affect their behaviour for using social networking sites. A blend of qualitative methodologies was adopted for data collection and analysis, including the Zaltman metaphor elicitation technique (ZMET) method, the laddering technique, and the means-end chain theory. The results of this study show that the most important values of using SNS include its convenience, maintaining relationship, gaining relaxation, as well as reaching coherence. Additionally, participants pointed out they cared about their online privacy issues very much and had found some potential dangers; however, they continued to use these sites because of the great benefits and enjoyment
Benzimidazole-loaded Halloysite Nanotube as a Smart Coating Application
Get PDFSmart coating has been developed for the corrosion control of surfaces exposed to corrosive environment. An important step in development of a smart coating is the successful impregnation of corrosion inhibitor into the nanocontainer as a coating pigment. In this study, halloysite was used as nanocontainer to encapsulate benzimidazole as corrosion inhibitor by vacuum method. FESEM, TEM, FTIR and TGA characterization techniques were used to confirm the loading of halloysite with benzimidazole. FESEM results indicated differences between the morphology of the unloaded-halloysite and benzimidazole loaded-halloysite. TEM results confirmed that benzimidazole molecules are loaded into halloysite. FTIR result revealed there are differences in the absorbance characteristic of peaks between peak number 1000-4000 cm-1 for loaded and unloaded samples. It is seen that the absorbance in the loaded-halloysite is higher than unloaded-halloysite, which confirms quantity/specific functional group of molecules. TGA result showed the temperature of degradation of benzimidazole-loaded HNT was higher than pure HNT. EIS was conducted to examine the protection characteristic of the developed smart coating. From EIS results, of 1, 3, and 6 days of experimental duration, it is seen that the value of coating impedance (Z’) after exposure to 3.5% NaCl environment is very height, 2.460E+07 Ω, which confirm a very good anti corrosion protection characteristic for the developed smart coating.