Coupled models of heat transfer and phase transformation for the run-out table in hot rolling

Mathematical models are been proposed to simulate the thermal and metallurgical behaviors of the strip occurring on the run-out table(ROT) in a hot strip mill. A variational method is utilized for the discretization of the governing transient con-duction-convection equation,with heat transfer coefficients adaptively determined by the actual mill data. To consider the thermal effect of phase transformation during cooling,a constitutive equation for describing austenite decomposition kinetics of steel in air and water cooling zones is coupled with the heat transfer model. As the basic required inputs in the numerical simulations,thermal material properties are experimentally measured for three carbon steels and the least squares method is used to statistically derive regression models for the properties,including specific heat and thermal conductivity. The numerical simulation and experimental results show that the setup accuracy of the temperature prediction system of ROT is effectively improved.

Pressure observer based adaptive robust trajectory tracking control of a parallel manipulator driven by pneumatic muscles

This paper presents a pressure observer based adaptive robust controller (POARC) for posture trajectory tracking of a parallel manipulator driven by three pneumatic muscles without pressure sensors. Due to model errors of the static forces and friction forces of pneumatic muscles, simplified average flow rate characteristics of valves, unknown disturbances of entire system, and unmeasured pressures, there exist rather severe parametric uncertainties, nonlinear uncertainties and dynamic uncertainties in modeling of the parallel manipulator. A nonlinear pressure observer is constructed to estimate unknown pressures on the basis of a single-input-single-output (SISO) decoupling model that is simplified from the actual multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) coupling model of the parallel manipulator. Then, an adaptive robust controller integrated with the pressure observer is developed to accomplish high precision posture trajectory tracking of the parallel manipulator. The experimental results indicate that the system with the proposed POARC not only achieves good control accuracy and smooth movement but also maintains robustness to disturbances.

Improving Suction Performance of Centrifugal Pumps by Using Jetting Device

Improving the suction performance of centrifugal pumps by using jetting device is presented. The theoretical analysis, experimental study and engineering implementation show that suction performance of centrifugal pump can be improved with jetting device and be used for delivering the liquid media requiring high suction performance, whereas the efficiency and head of the pump will decrease a little. The effect of feed-back jetting on suction performance is the most obvious at design point. The suitable rate of feed-back flow is 2%-5%.

Energy diffusion controlled reaction rate in dissipative Hamiltonian systems

In this paper the energy diffusion controlled reaction rate in dissipative Hamiltonian systems is investigated by using the stochastic averaging method for quasi Hamiltonian systems. The boundary value problem of mean first- passage time （MFPT） of averaged system is formulated and the energy diffusion controlled reaction rate is obtained as the inverse of MFPT. The energy diffusion controlled reaction rate in the classical Kramers bistable potential and in a two-dimensional bistable potential with a heat bath are obtained by using the proposed approach respectively. The obtained results are then compared with those from Monte Carlo simulation of original systems and from the classical Kraraers theory. It is shown that the reaction rate obtained by using the proposed approach agrees well with that from Monte Carlo simulation and is more accurate than the classical Kramers rate.

Optimal design of Stewart platforms based on expanding the control bandwidth while considering the hydraulic system design

We proposed an optimal design method to expand the bandwidth for the control of large hydraulic Stewart platform.The method is based on generalized natural frequency and takes hydraulic oil into consideration.A Lagrangian formulation which considers the whole leg inertia is presented to obtain the accurate equivalent mass matrix.Using the model,the effect of leg inertia and the influence of design parameters on the generalized natural frequency are investigated.Finally,numerical examples are presented to validate and confirm the efficiency of the mathematical model.The results show that the leg inertia,especially the piston part plays an important role in the dynamics.The optimum diameter ratio of the base to the moving platform is between 2 and 3,and the optimum joint angle ratio of the base to the moving platform is about 1.The smaller joint angles and a longer leg stroke are favorable for raising system frequencies.The system oil should be preprocessed for large platforms with a requirement for good dynamic performance.

Tidal current turbine based on hydraulic transmission system

Tidal current turbines(TCTs) are newly developed electricity generating devices.Aiming at the stabilization of the power output of TCTs,this paper introduces the hydraulic transmission technologies into TCTs.The hydrodynamics of the turbine was analyzed at first and its power output characteristics were predicted.A hydraulic power transmission system and a hydraulic pitch-controlled system were designed.Then related simulations were conducted.Finally,a TCT prototype was manufactured and tested in the workshop.The test results have confirmed the correctness of the current design and availability of installation of the hydraulic system in TCTs.

A novel restricted-flow etching method for glass

This paper presents a novel micro fabrication method based on the laminar characteristics of micro-scale flows. Therein the separator and etchant are alternatively arranged in micro channels to form multiple laminar streams, and the etchant is located at the site where the reaction is supposed to occur. This new micro fabrication process can be used for the high aspect ratio etching inside a microchannel on glass substrates. Furthermore, the topography of microstructure patterned by this method can be controlled by changing the flow parameters of the separator and etchant. Experiments on the effects of flow parameters on the aspect ratio, side wall profile and etching rate were carried out on a glass substrate. The effect of flow rates on the etching rate and the micro topography was analyzed. In addition, experiments with dynamical changes of the flow rate ratio of the separator and etchant showed that the verticality of the side walls of microstructures can be significantly improved. The restricted flowing etching technique not only abates the isotropic effect in the traditional wet etching but also significantly reduces the dependence on expensive photolithographic equipment.