The Design of A Life Support Circulation System for Hyperbaric Chambers

The purpose of this thesis was to present the design of a Life-Support Circulation System for Hyperbaric Chambers as specified by the Themis Committee. An important objective was to design a versatile circulation system which could be constructed from commercial products. Circulation specifications were set by conditions required for the animals under observation in the hyperbaric chambers. Since these studies were to be conducted for prolonged periods, cost analysis warranted a closed system design. The versatility of the system required investigation of several types of valves for satisfactory operation. Also, pressure monitoring controlled valves and pressure regulators had to be examined for precision of their settings along with their time response. A schematic layout presenting the locations of three major circulation lines and various types of valves and regulators was constructed. Each valve and regulator, on the layout, was given two numbers; one number classified them as to size and type, and the second classified them as to order of operation. From these operation numbers were constructed twelve flow charts depicting the entire operation routine for the maximum effective use of the circulation systems. These flow charts present the basic routines which could be converted to computer language. The complexity of the system warrants controlled operation by a process computer. Since a process control computer was acquired by the Themis Committee for the purpose of controlling the systems, mechanized operators had to be investigated for both the valves and pressure regulators

Temperature control of a multifunction hall

Tématem bakalářské práce bylo navrhnout a naprogramovat řídicí systém pro vytápění víceúčelových hal. Součástí systému jsou teplotní čidla, měřiče tepla, oběhová čerpadla, servopohony, kotel na tuhá paliva, bioplynová stanice a elektrický kotel. Vše je řízené přes PLC CyBro-2, které komunikuje přes ModBus protokol s počítačem, na kterém je naprogramované grafické prostředí Reliance 4. V grafickém prostředí zákazník můţe nastavit teploty, reţimy a exportovat data o spotřebě tepla.The topic of this bachelor thesis was to propose and program a control system for heating multipurpose halls. The system includes temperature sensors, circulation pumps, actuators, boiler for solid fuels, biogas plant and an electric boiler. Everything is controlled with a PLC CyBro-2, which communicates via ModBus protocol with a computer, where a graphical interface is programmed in Relaince 4. In the graphical interface customer can set the temperature value, choose a heating mode and export data of the heat consumption.

Personal Food Computer: A new device for controlled-environment agriculture

Due to their interdisciplinary nature, devices for controlled-environment agriculture have the possibility to turn into ideal tools not only to conduct research on plant phenology but also to create curricula in a wide range of disciplines. Controlled-environment devices are increasing their functionalities as well as improving their accessibility. Traditionally, building one of these devices from scratch implies knowledge in fields such as mechanical engineering, digital electronics, programming, and energy management. However, the requirements of an effective controlled environment device for personal use brings new constraints and challenges. This paper presents the OpenAg Personal Food Computer (PFC); a low cost desktop size platform, which not only targets plant phenology researchers but also hobbyists, makers, and teachers from elementary to high-school levels (K-12). The PFC is completely open-source and it is intended to become a tool that can be used for collective data sharing and plant growth analysis. Thanks to its modular design, the PFC can be used in a large spectrum of activities.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, Accepted at the 2017 Future Technologies Conference (FTC

Problems in Treating Experimentally Induced Acute Hepatic Failure by Hemoperfusion or Cross Circulation

Acute hepatic failure was induced in rats by galactosamine injection intraperitoneally (1 gm per kg). Twenty-four hours later rats were treated by hemoperfusion (HP) over encapsulated sorbents: cellulose acetate-coated charcoal, polyelectrolyte-coated XAD4, a combination of both, or cross circulation with a healthy donor. Compared with control treatment (prevention of hypoglycemia by glucose infusion), the survival rate was not improved by HP or cross circulation: controls 19% vs. treated animals 0 to 17%. Extension of duration or increased frequency of HP gave the same survival rates. Computer simulation based on zero-order introduction of a possible toxin into a two-compartment model shows that HP up to 5 hr per day is not able to clear the body effectively from the assumed toxin if its partition coefficient exceeds a value of 50

An Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Swirling Flows in a Rectangular Nozzle

The high thrust to weight ratios now possible for military aircraft have made thrust vector pitch control more attractive and versatile than aerodynamic surface pitch control. Use of a rectangular nozzle is a natural consequence because articulation and sealing problems are less formidable than for conventional circular ones. The rectangular nozzle offers the additional possibility that the exhaust may mix rapidly with the ambient air and thereby reduce the radiative signature of the exhaust. A detailed experimental investigation is described, which demonstrates that the formation of axial vortices in the nozzle is dependent on the vorticity distribution at the turbine exhaust. Further, three mechanisms which provide for the formation of axial vortices are identified. A parallel computational investigation was carried out which not only confirmed the relationship between the turbine exhaust vorticity and the vortex pattern formed in the nozzle but also provided details of the flow field between the turbine discharge and the nozzle exit. On the basis of this more detailed understanding, it is now possible to tailor the vortex distribution at the nozzle exit by design of the turbine discharge and the intervening passage

Studies of the effects of gravitational and inertial forces on cardiovascular and respiratory dynamics Semiannual status report

Effects of gravitational and inertial forces on cardiovascular and respiratory dynamic

Altering temperature in a mammalian body

The present application relates to systems and methods for altering temperature in a mammalian body. Optionally, the systems and methods can be used to lower or raise core body temperature of a mammalian subject. Optionally, the systems and methods can be used to lower or raise the temperature of glabrous skin of a mammalian subject.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste