Search Results (168)

In air-conditioning compressors operating under ultra-low temperature conditions, both the rotational speed and load torque are at high levels, demanding pump motors that offer high efficiency and high power at high speeds. Electrically excited synchronous motors (EESMs) satisfy these operational requirements by leveraging their inherent wide-speed field-weakening capability and superior high-speed performance characteristics. Current research on EESM primarily targets electric vehicle applications, with a high-efficiency design focused on medium and low speeds. Excitation design under constant-power–speed extension remains insufficiently explored. To address it, this paper proposes an EESM design methodology optimized for high-speed efficiency and constant-power excitation control. Key EESM parameters are determined through a dynamic phasor diagram, and design methods for turn number, split ratio, and other parameters are proposed to extend the high-efficiency region into the high-speed range. Additionally, a power output modulation strategy in the field-weakening region is introduced, enabling dynamic high-power regulation at high speed through excitation adjustment. Compared to similarly sized PMSMs, the proposed EESM exhibits consistently superior efficiency beyond 10,000 rpm, delivering 19% and 49% higher power output at 12,000 rpm and 14,000 rpm, respectively, relative to conventional pump-drive PMSMs. Experimental validation via a prototype confirms excellent high-speed efficiency and sustained constant-power performance, in alignment with the design targets. Full article

Solar-powered pumping systems using series pumps are commonly applied in the delivery of water to remote agricultural regions, particularly in hilly tropical terrain. The synchronization of these pumps typically depends on reliable communication; however, dense vegetation, elevation changes, and weather conditions often disrupt signals. To address these limitations, a fully decentralized, communication-free control system is proposed. Each pumping station operates independently while maintaining synchronized operation through emulated neighbor sensing. The system applies a discrete-time control algorithm with virtual sensing that estimates neighboring pump statuses. Each station consists of a solar photovoltaic (PV) array, variable-speed drive, variable inlet valve, reserve tank, and local control unit. The controller adjusts the valve positions and pump power based on real-time water level measurements and virtual neighbor sensing. The simulation results across four scenarios, including clear sky, cloudy conditions, temporary outage, and varied irradiance, demonstrated steady-state operation with no water overflow or shortage and a steady-state error less than 4% for 3 m³ transfer. The error decreased as the average power increased. The proposed method maintained system functionality under simulated power outage and variable irradiance, confirming its suitability for remote agricultural areas where communication infrastructure is limited. Full article

To advance the construction of intelligent mining, electro-hydraulic digital control technology has emerged as a critical direction for the digital transformation of mining machinery. This study proposes a digital control scheme based on the pressure state of the system and the operating state of the actuator. The scheme utilises a novel convergence rate sliding film position control method to regulate the system pressure in real time by controlling the pilot valve, which is driven by a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). Moreover, a prototype of an incremental digital pressure control valve was developed for high-pressure, high water-based working conditions. A simulation model of the valve was established using AMESim/Simulink, and dynamic characteristics under various operating conditions were analyzed. The relative error between simulated and experimental pressure results remained within ±4.7%. Finally, a multi-parameter optimization was conducted using a genetic algorithm. The results demonstrate that the optimized digital pressure control valve achieved a stabilized inlet pressure within 44.8 ms, with a pressure overshoot of 4.1% and a response time of 20.1 ms, exhibiting excellent real-time dynamic pressure regulation capabilities. This study provides a theoretical foundation and practical reference for comprehensive research on pressure control in underground emulsion pump stations. Full article

Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, is released pre-prandially and during periods of negative energy balance, exhibiting anti-fertility properties. In this study, twenty ewes were divided into two groups: a ghrelin-treated group receiving 1.25 μg/kg body weight (BW) of ghrelin per day via mini-pumps for 28 days and an untreated control group. Estrus was synchronized, superovulation was induced with FSH, and embryos and follicular fluid were collected six days post-estrus. Blood samples were taken to measure LH, progesterone, and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations. Results indicated that in treated animals, preovulatory LH surge was weaker, and progesterone levels were lower than in controls. Differences were observed in the superovulatory response and the number of collected embryos, both being higher in controls. While AMH levels did not differ between groups at the beginning of the experiment, they were lower in treated animals at the time of FSH administration. Treated ewes exhibited a reduced number of small follicles, and their follicular fluid contained lower AMH concentrations than the controls. These findings suggest that ghrelin plays a direct role in regulating LH secretion from the pituitary and in controlling ovarian follicle development, highlighting the strong interaction between nutrition and fertility. Full article

This paper discusses the development of an Integrated Building Energy Model (IBEM) in MATLAB (R2024b) for a university campus building. In the general context of the development of integrated energy district models to guide the evolution and planning of smart energy grids for increased efficiency, resilience, and sustainability, this work describes in detail the development and use of an IBEM for a university campus building featuring a heat pump-based heating/cooling system and PV generation. The IBEM seamlessly integrates thermal and electrical aspects into a complete physical description of the energy performance of a smart building, thus distinguishing itself from co-simulation approaches in which different specialized tools are applied to the two aspects and connected at the level of data exchange. Also, the model, thanks to its physical, white-box nature, can be instanced repeatedly within the comprehensive electrical micro-grid model in which it belongs, with a straightforward change of case-specific parameter settings. The model incorporates a heat pump-based heating/cooling system and photovoltaic generation. The model’s components, including load modeling, heating/cooling system simulation, and heat pump implementation are described in detail. Simulation results illustrate the building’s detailed power consumption and thermal behavior throughout a sample year. Since the building model (along with the whole campus micro-grid model) is implemented in the MATLAB Simulink environment, it is fully portable and exploitable within a large, world-wide user community, including researchers, utility companies, and educational institutions. This aspect is particularly relevant considering that most studies in the literature employ co-simulation environments involving multiple simulation software, which increases the framework’s complexity and presents challenges in models’ synchronization and validation. Full article

The degenerate optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is demonstrated to generate high-power, broadband mid-infrared MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN) femtosecond laser at 151 MHz, synchronously pumped by a commercial Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:KGW oscillator at 1028 nm. The average power of the degenerate OPO centered at 2056 nm is as high as 740 mW, which is the highest output power from a reported 2 μm degenerate femtosecond OPO, pumped by a bulk solid-state laser. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) spectral bandwidth of the degenerate OPO is 87.4 nm, corresponding to a theoretical, Fourier-limited pulse duration of 51 fs. These remarkable results indicate that degenerate OPO is a great potential candidate technology for generating high-power and few-cycle femtosecond pulses around 2 μm. Such mid-infrared sources are well-suited for high harmonic generation, a pumping source for mid- to far-infrared OPO. Full article

The variable-speed operation mode of pumped storage units improves the regulation performance and endows the units with characteristics such as isolation from the power grid, thereby affecting the system stability. This study establishes a detailed mathematical model for the connection of doubly fed induction generator-based variable-speed pumped storage (DFIG-VSPS) to a single-machine infinite bus system under power generation conditions in the synchronous rotation direct-quadrature-zero coordinate system. The introduction of the eigenvalue method to analyze the small-disturbance stability of doubly fed variable-speed pumped storage units and the use of participation factors to calculate the degree of influence of each state variable on the small-disturbance stability of the units are innovations of this study. The participation factor enhances flexibility, continuity, and efficiency in doubly fed variable-speed pumped storage by optimizing dynamic power paths and enabling multi-objective control coordination. While eigenvalue analysis is not new, this study is the first to apply it with participation factors to DFIG-VSPS, addressing gaps in prior simplified models. Furthermore, based on the changes in the characteristic root trajectories, the influence of changes in the speed control system parameters and converter controller parameters on the system stability was determined. Finally, the conclusions obtained were verified through simulation. The results indicate that increasing the time constant of water flow inertia poses a risk of system instability, and the increase in proportional parameters and decrease in integral parameters of the power outer loop controller significantly affect the system stability. Full article

Hybrid pumped hydro storage plants, by integrating pump stations between cascade hydropower stations, have overcome the challenges associated with site selection and construction of pure pumped hydro storage systems, thereby becoming the optimal large-scale energy storage solution for enhancing the absorption of renewable energy. However, the multi-energy conversion between pump stations, hydropower, wind power, and photovoltaic plants poses challenges to both their planning schemes and operational performance. This study proposes a multistage stochastic coordinated planning model for cascade hydropower-wind-solar-thermal-pumped hydro storage (CHWS-PHS) systems. First, a Hybrid Pumped Hydro Storage Adaptive Initial Reservoir Capacity (HPHS-AIRC) strategy is developed to enhance the system’s regulation capability by optimizing initial reservoir levels that are synchronized with renewable generation patterns. Then, Non-anticipativity Constraints (NACs) are incorporated into this model to ensure the dynamic adaptation of investment decisions under multi-timescale uncertainties, including inter-annual natural water inflow (NWI) variations and hourly fluctuations in wind and solar power. Simulation results on the IEEE 118-bus system show that the proposed MSSP model reduces total costs by 6% compared with the traditional two-stage approach (TSSP). Moreover, the HPHS-AIRC strategy improves pumped hydro utilization by 33.8%, particularly benefiting scenarios with drought conditions or operational constraints. Full article

The sub-synchronous oscillation (SSO) characteristics and suppression strategies of a hybrid system comprising doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind turbines and synchronous pumped storage units connected to the power grid via series-compensated transmission lines are analyzed. A modular modeling approach is used to construct a detailed system model, including the wind turbine shaft system, DFIG, converter control system, synchronous machine, excitation system, power system stabilizer (PSS), and series-compensated transmission lines. Eigenvalue calculation-based small-signal stability analysis is conducted to identify the dominant oscillation modes. Suppression measures are also developed using relative participation analysis, and simulations are carried out to validate the accuracy of the model and analysis method. The analysis results indicate that the SSO phenomenon is primarily influenced by the electrical state variables of the DFIG system, while the impact of the state variables of the synchronous machine is relatively minor. When the level of series compensation in the system increases, SSO is significantly exacerbated. To address this issue, a sub-synchronous damping controller (SSDC) is incorporated on the rotor side of the DFIG. The results demonstrate that this method effectively mitigates the SSO and significantly enhances the system’s robustness against disturbances. Furthermore, a simplified modeling approach is proposed based on relative participation analysis. This method neglects the dynamic characteristics of the synchronous machine while considering its impact on the steady-state impedance and initial conditions of the model. These findings provide theoretical guidance and practical insights for addressing and mitigating SSO issues in hybrid renewable energy systems composed of DFIGs and synchronous machines. Full article

A PCB stator axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) motor is presented that overcomes the manufacturing challenges associated with the complex geometry of conventional stators by employing a PCB substrate. Traditionally, AFPM motors are produced by winding coils around the stator teeth, a process that requires specialized winding machinery and is both labor intensive and time consuming, ultimately incurring considerable manufacturing costs and delays. In contrast, PCB substrates offer significant advantages in manufacturability and mass production, effectively resolving these issues. Furthermore, the primary material used in PCB substrates, FR-4, exhibits a permeability similar to that of air, resulting in negligible electromagnetic cogging torque. Cogging torque arises from the attraction between permanent magnets and stator teeth, creating forces that interfere with motor rotation and generate unwanted vibration, noise, and potential mechanical collisions between the rotor and stator. In the PCB stator design, the conventional PCB circuit pattern is replaced by the motor’s coil configuration, and the absence of stator teeth eliminates these interference issues. Consequently, a slotless motor configuration with minimal vibration and noise is achieved. The PCB AFPM motor has been applied to a vehicle-mounted electric water pump (EWP), where mass production and space efficiency are critical. In an EWP, which integrates the impeller with the motor, it is essential that vibrations are minimized since excessive vibration could compromise impeller operation and, due to fluid resistance, require high power input. Moreover, the AFPM configuration facilitates higher torque generation compared to a conventional radial flux permanent magnet synchronous motor (RFPM). In a slotless AFPM motor, the absence of stator teeth prevents core flux saturation, thereby further enhancing torque performance. AC losses occur in the conductors as a result of the magnetic flux produced by the permanent magnets, and similar losses arise within the PCB circuits. Therefore, an optimized PCB circuit design is essential to reduce these losses. The Constant Trace Conductor (CTC) PCB circuit design process is proposed as a viable solution to mitigate AC losses. A 3D finite element analysis (3D FEA) model was developed, analyzed, fabricated, and validated to verify the proposed solution. Full article

This study focuses on enhancing the performance of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs) in pumping applications by improving motor torque through the integration of advanced control strategies. The dq-axis model of a PMSM is utilized to facilitate precise control and dynamic response. The proposed approach combines Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) and Fuzzy Proportional-Integral-Derivative (fuzzy PID) controllers with Vector Control (VC) inverters, specifically designed for PMSMs with salient rotor structures. The salient rotor design inherently provides higher torque density, making it suitable for demanding applications like pumping. The FLC and fuzzy PID controllers are employed to optimize the motor’s dynamic response, ensuring precise torque control and improved efficiency under varying load conditions. The VC inverter further enhances the system’s performance by enabling rapid torque and flux control, reducing torque ripple, and improving overall motor stability. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed control strategy significantly increases motor torque, enhances energy efficiency, and reduces operational losses in pumping applications. This makes the system more reliable and cost-effective for industrial and agricultural pumping systems, where high torque and energy savings are critical. The integration of FLC, fuzzy PID, and VC with a salient-rotor PMSM offers a robust solution for achieving superior motor performance in real-world pumping scenarios. This work contributes to the development of smarter, more efficient pumping systems, paving the way for enhanced industrial automation and energy management. Full article

This article analyses the potential use of a Line-Start Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor (LSPMSM) in a drive system with a frequency converter that enables stable operation without internal feedback from the rotor position. In Fault-Tolerant Control (FTC) drives, resistant to measuring sensor faults, classical PMSM machines lose the possibility of stable operation in the event of damage to the position/speed sensor. LSPMSMs can operate without the presence of measuring sensors. However, most existing studies focus on the application of LSPMSMs powered directly from the grid, which is a suitable approach for large machines such as pumps and fans. Given the ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of electric drives, it is reasonable to explore the application of LSPMSMs in drives controlled by frequency converters. The key advantage of this approach is that the motor, which typically operates in a vector control structure, can maintain stable operation even in the event of a speed sensor failure. This article presents a comprehensive research approach. Calculations of a new type of induced-pole LSPMSM were carried out, and simulation tests using Ansys software were performed. Next, a prototype of the machine was made. The induced-pole PMSM contains a two-times-lower number of permanent magnets but their volume in the motor rotor is the same due to demagnetization robustness. The motor has enclosure-less construction. The startup and running characteristics of the motor were investigated under direct-on-line supply. The article presents calculations, simulation analyses, and experimental validation under scalar control, confirming the feasibility of using this type of machine in Fault-Tolerant Control drives. Full article

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction due to ischemic cardiomyopathy remains a significant clinical challenge. Electrical conduction delays exacerbate symptoms by causing uncoordinated contractions, reducing pumping efficiency, and increasing mortality. Right ventricular pacing further worsens dyssynchrony, while resynchronization therapy improves outcomes but has a high non-responder rate. Given these limitations, bundle branch pacing engages the heart’s conduction system, restoring synchronized contraction and enhancing cardiac function. This review examines the impact of left-bundle-branch-block-induced dyssynchrony, the role of advanced imaging in assessing ventricular function, and the clinical outcomes of bundle branch pacing in heart failure patients. Specifically, we explore the mechanical and hemodynamic effects of left bundle branch block, imaging techniques for dyssynchrony evaluation, and the comparative benefits of bundle branch pacing versus resynchronization therapy. Conduction delays impair function, increase myocardial stress, and worsen clinical outcomes. Advanced imaging plays a critical role in patient selection, identifying those most likely to benefit from conduction system pacing. By restoring electrical coordination, bundle branch pacing enhances ventricular function, reduces hospitalizations, and promotes reverse remodeling. It offers similar or superior benefits to conventional resynchronization therapy, regulates stress hormones, reduces oxidative damage, and improves calcium handling. Bundle branch pacing represents a significant advancement in heart failure management, but careful patient selection remains crucial. Future research should focus on optimizing implantation techniques and validating long-term benefits through large-scale clinical trials. Full article

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a vital tool for understanding neural dynamics, offering a noninvasive technique for measuring subtle magnetic field variations around the scalp generated by synchronized neuronal activity. Two prominent sensor technologies exist: the well-established superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) and the more recent optically pumped magnetometer (OPM). Although many studies have compared these technologies using human-subject data in neuroscience and clinical studies, a direct hardware-level comparison using dry phantoms remains unexplored. This study presents a framework for comparing SQUID- with OPM-MEG systems in a controlled environment using a dry phantom that emulates neuronal activity, allowing strict control over physiological artifacts. Data were obtained from SQUID and OPM systems within the same shielded room, ensuring consistent environmental noise control and shielding conditions. Positioning the OPM sensors closer to the signal source resulted in a signal amplitude approximately 3–4 times larger than that detected by the SQUID-MEG system. However, the source localization error of the OPM-MEG system was approximately three times larger than that obtained by the SQUID-MEG system. The cause of the large source localization error was discussed in terms of sensor-to-source distance, sensor count, signal–noise ratio, and the spatial coverage provided by the sensor array of the source signal. Full article

This paper presents a time-shared pumping technology for semiconductor lasers based on polarization-combined technology, which enables a compact passively Q-switched Nd³⁺:YAG/Cr⁴⁺:YAG laser to generate tunable pulse sequence output. Two 808 nm laser diodes (LDs) with high polarization were integrated into a casing system measuring 61.5 mm × 32 mm × 12.5 mm through the implementation of fast and slow axis collimation, polarization-combined, and beam-shaping techniques. The study introduces a temporal modulation function to the electrical driving signals, allowing for synchronous and delayed control of the two laser pump sources. By adjusting the pumping delays (200 μs, 240 μs, 280 μs, and 320 μs), two types of pulse sequences combined by “1 + 1” and “2 + 2” at 1064 nm were successfully generated. Experimental results demonstrated that the energy and intensity of each sub-pulse within the burst-mode remain stable throughout the entire sequence, with adjustable sub-pulse interval. Furthermore, the laser system exhibited good beam quality with near-diffraction-limited output characteristics (M² < 1.5). In general, the tunable pulse sequence laser source offers significant potential for applications in high-precision laser processing, laser ranging and precision measurement, demonstrating its broad application potential. Full article