SCADA software-based techniques for the management and improvement of industrial efficiency

SCADA, DCS and BMS systems are prevalent across a range of large industrial and commercial installations. The core research contribution of this thesis was to examine whether suitable, non-time critical, algorithms could be developed for deployment on these style of systems. The objective being to use the existing industry standard low frequency signals, for fault detection and diagnosis, condition based control and performance monitoring. This has indicated the potential for applying academic research in a new fashion across industry to improve operational efficiency. A representative SCADA system was used and the work focussed on the industrial water infrastructure in a deep bed filtration plant, a coal fired power station and a gas turbine research establishment. In the water filtration plant innovative software was developed which diagnosed the location of pipe work blockages. A second programme was developed which passively monitored system variables, giving an indication of filter bed fouling and detecting abnormal system conditions. This functionality was used to provide a robust fault tolerant condition based backwash strategy for the filters. A third programme utilised a novel, threshold based, approach to diagnose the individual severity of combined blockages, allowing condition based back wash to continue, even under extreme abnormal blockage conditions. The second area considered was based upon a cooling process located in a power station. An ideal condenser performance surface was successfully assimilated into SCADA software infrastructure, thus vastly improving on existing manual monitoring approaches and providing operators with real time efficiency information. Associated work at a gas turbine research facility demonstrated the further scope for gathering and displaying efficiency information using SCADA software. The work undertaken proved that a research approach can be encapsulated in non-time critical, low frequency algorithms suitable for application to supervisory systems.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

SCADA software-based techniques for the management and improvement of industrial efficiency

SCADA, DCS and BMS systems are prevalent across a range of large industrial and commercial installations. The core research contribution of this thesis was to examine whether suitable, non-time critical, algorithms could be developed for deployment on these style of systems. The objective being to use the existing industry standard low frequency signals, for fault detection and diagnosis, condition based control and performance monitoring. This has indicated the potential for applying academic research in a new fashion across industry to improve operational efficiency. A representative SCADA system was used and the work focussed on the industrial water infrastructure in a deep bed filtration plant, a coal fired power station and a gas turbine research establishment. In the water filtration plant innovative software was developed which diagnosed the location of pipe work blockages. A second programme was developed which passively monitored system variables, giving an indication of filter bed fouling and detecting abnormal system conditions. This functionality was used to provide a robust fault tolerant condition based backwash strategy for the filters. A third programme utilised a novel, threshold based, approach to diagnose the individual severity of combined blockages, allowing condition based back wash to continue, even under extreme abnormal blockage conditions. The second area considered was based upon a cooling process located in a power station. An ideal condenser performance surface was successfully assimilated into SCADA software infrastructure, thus vastly improving on existing manual monitoring approaches and providing operators with real time efficiency information. Associated work at a gas turbine research facility demonstrated the further scope for gathering and displaying efficiency information using SCADA software. The work undertaken proved that a research approach can be encapsulated in non-time critical, low frequency algorithms suitable for application to supervisory systems

The Landscape of Siege

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/classics_lectures/1005/thumbnail.jp

GALEX selected Lyman Break Galaxies at z~2: Comparison with other Populations

We present results of a search for bright Lyman break galaxies at 1.5<=z<=2.5 in the GOODS-S field using a NUV-dropout technique in combination with color-selection. We derived a sample of 73 LBG candidates. We compare our selection efficiencies to BM/BX- and BzK methods (techniques solely based on ground-based data sets), and find the NUV data to provide greater efficiency for selecting star-forming galaxies. We estimate LBG candidate ages, masses, star formation rates, and extinction from fitting PEGASE synthesis evolution models. We find about 20% of our LBG candidates are comparable to infrared luminous LBGs or sub-millimeter galaxies which are thought to be precursors of massive elliptical galaxies today. Overall, we can show that although BM/BX and BzK methods do identify star-forming galaxies at z~2, the sample they provide biases against those star-forming galaxies which are more massive and contain sizeable red stellar populations. A true Lyman break criterion at z~2 is therefore more directly comparable to the populations found at z~3, which does contain a red fraction.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Protocol for a systematic review to identify and weight the indicators of risk of asthma exacerbations in children aged 5-12 years

No abstract available

Challenging the 'view from nowhere': citizen reflections on specialist expertise in a deliberative process

This paper presents analysis of citizen encounters with specialists in a deliberative process, called Deliberative Mapping, which explored options for addressing the shortage of organs for transplantation in the UK. There is a rich theoretical literature about the extent to which citizens are competent to question the knowledge claims of specialists in complex decision-making processes, suggesting the trustworthiness of scientific expertise will depend on the qualities of social interaction in face-to-face dialogue, but little empirical analysis of specific encounters. This paper presents evidence of how citizens located specialist expertise in making judgements about the legitimacy and credibility of specialist knowledge claims, in ways that reflect differences in epistemic procedures valued by the panels of men and women in this process. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The third data release of the Kilo-Degree Survey and associated data products

The Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) is an ongoing optical wide-field imaging survey with the OmegaCAM camera at the VLT Survey Telescope. It aims to image 1500 square degrees in four filters (ugri). The core science driver is mapping the large-scale matter distribution in the Universe, using weak lensing shear and photometric redshift measurements. Further science cases include galaxy evolution, Milky Way structure, detection of high-redshift clusters, and finding rare sources such as strong lenses and quasars. Here we present the third public data release (DR3) and several associated data products, adding further area, homogenized photometric calibration, photometric redshifts and weak lensing shear measurements to the first two releases. A dedicated pipeline embedded in the Astro-WISE information system is used for the production of the main release. Modifications with respect to earlier releases are described in detail. Photometric redshifts have been derived using both Bayesian template fitting, and machine-learning techniques. For the weak lensing measurements, optimized procedures based on the THELI data reduction and lensfit shear measurement packages are used. In DR3 stacked ugri images, weight maps, masks, and source lists for 292 new survey tiles (~300 sq.deg) are made available. The multi-band catalogue, including homogenized photometry and photometric redshifts, covers the combined DR1, DR2 and DR3 footprint of 440 survey tiles (447 sq.deg). Limiting magnitudes are typically 24.3, 25.1, 24.9, 23.8 (5 sigma in a 2 arcsec aperture) in ugri, respectively, and the typical r-band PSF size is less than 0.7 arcsec. The photometric homogenization scheme ensures accurate colors and an absolute calibration stable to ~2% for gri and ~3% in u. Separately released are a weak lensing shear catalogue and photometric redshifts based on two different machine-learning techniques.Comment: small modifications; 27 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.