Size-Controlled Water-Soluble Ag Nanoparticles

Ag nanoparticles of two different sizes (1 and 4 nm) were prepared within an apoferritin cavity by using an Ag+-loaded apoferritin as a nanoconfined environment for their construction. The initial amount of Ag' ions injected in the apoferritin cavity dictates the size of the final Ag particles. The protein shell prevents bulk aggregation of the metal particles, which renders them water soluble and extremely stable

Centralized multivariable control by simplified decoupling

This paper presents a generalized formulation of simplified decoupling to n×n processes that allows for different configurations depending on the decoupler elements set to unity. To apply this decoupling method, the realizability conditions are stated. Then, from the previous decoupling in combination with a decentralized control, the formulation of a centralized control by simplified decoupling is developed. After reducing the controller, this last proposed method is modified to a multivariable PID control. From an implementation point of view, the windup problem is addressed for these methods, and an anti-windup scheme for multivariable PID controllers is proposed. Comparisons with other works demonstrate the effectiveness of these methodologies, through the use of several simulation examples and an experimental lab process

Multivariable PID control by decoupling

This paper presents a new methodology to design multivariable PID controllers based on decoupling control. The method is presented for general n×n processes. In the design procedure, an ideal decoupling control with integral action is designed to minimize interactions. It depends on the desired open loop processes that are specified according to realizability conditions and desired closed loop performance specifications. These realizability conditions are stated and three common cases to define the open loop processes are studied and proposed. Then, controller elements are approximated to PID structure. From a practical point of view, the windup problem is also considered and a new anti-windup scheme for multivariable PID controller is proposed. Comparisons with other works demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology through the use of several simulation examples and an experimental lab process

An extended approach of inverted decoupling

This paper presents an extension of the inverted decoupling approach that allows for more flexibility in choosing the transfer functions of the decoupled apparent process. In addition, the expressions of the inverted decoupling are presented for general n × n processes, highlighting that the complexity of the decoupler elements is independent of the system size. The realizability conditions are stated in order to select a proper configuration, and the different possible cases for each configuration are shown. Comparisons with other works demonstrate the effectiveness of this methodology, through the use of several simulation examples and an experimental lab process

Object oriented modelling and simulation of hydropower plants with run-of-river scheme: A new simulation tool

This paper presents the design of a component library for modelling hydropower plants, and describes the development of a new simulation tool for small hydropower plants with a run-of-river scheme. After reviewing the desirable features of simulation, an approach based on an object oriented modelling language, like EcosimPro, is presented. A general model of hydropower plant with run-of-river scheme is created with this component library. It provides the possibility of choosing a specific number of turbines and spillway gates. In this way, several hydropower stations of similar operating characteristics can be simulated using this same general model. It is expected to obtain interesting information in simulation like the reservoir level, water flows, turbine efficiencies, and so on. In addition, a graphical user interface has been designed in order to operate this general model more easily, to configure plant parameters and to simulate the plant behaviour under different conditions. Three real stations have been used as real examples for validating the model and testing the simulator: hydropower stations of Villafranca and El Carpio (Córdoba, Spain) and Marmolejo (Jaén, Spain)

Inverted decoupling internal model control for square stable multivariable time delay systems

Accepted manuscriptThis paper presents a new tuning methodology of the main controller of an internal model control structure for n×n stable multivariable processes with multiple time delays based on the centralized inverted decoupling structure. Independently of the system size, very simple general expressions for the controller elements are obtained. The realizability conditions are provided and the specification of the closed-loop requirements is explained. A diagonal filter is added to the proposed control structure in order to improve the disturbance rejection without modifying the nominal set-point response. The effectiveness of the method is illustrated through different simulation examples in comparison with other works

Kinetics and compositional dependence on the microwave power and DiH4/N flow ratio of silicon nitride deposited by electron cyclotron resonance plasmas

The archival version of this work was published in Journal of The Electrochemical Society. Hernández, M. J., Garrido, J., Martínez, J. and J. Piqueras. Kinetics and compositional dependence on the microwave power and DiH4/N flow ratio of silicon nitride deposited by electron cyclotron resonance plasmas. Journal of The Electrochemical Society 141.11 (1994): 3234-3237Silicon nitride layers have been deposited at a low temperature, 150ºC in an electron cyclotron plasma from nitrogen and silane as gas precursors. Deposition conditions have been varied in a wide range. Nitrogen flows from 25 to 400 sccm and silane flows from 2.5 to 35 sccm have been used in our experiments. The microwave power was varied from 100 to 1500 W. The result of the nitride growth kinetics show strong dependence on the silane to nitrogen flow ratio and on the microwave power. For large flow ratios and small powers the kinetics exhibits a nearly linear behavior whereas for low flow ratios and high powers a saturated regime was observed. Ellipsometry, infrared spectroscopy, and etch rate studies showed that the best material quality, 95% Si3N4, is obtained in the saturated regime for the lowest flow ratios and the highest powers used

A photometric study of Be stars located in the seismology fields of COROT

Context. In preparation for the COROT mission, an exhaustive photometric study of Be stars located in the seismology fields of the mission has been performed. The very precise and long-time-spanned photometric observations gathered by the COROT satellite will give important clues on the origin of the Be phenomenon. Aims. The aim of this work is to find short-period variable Be stars located in the seismology fields of COROT, and to study and characterise their pulsational properties. Methods. Light curves obtained at the Observatorio de Sierra Nevada, together with data from Hipparcos and ASAS-3 for a total of 84 Be stars, were analysed in order to search for short-term variations. We applied standard Fourier techniques and non-linear least-square fitting to the time series. Results. We found 7 multiperiodic, 21 mono-periodic and 26 non-variable Be stars. Short-term variability was detected in 74% of early-type Be stars and in 31% of mid- to late-type Be stars. We show that non-radial pulsations are more frequent among Be stars than in slow-rotating B stars of the same spectral [email protected]; [email protected]