Estudo teórico-experimental do ponto de operação e proposição de método de dimensionamento para sistemas pneumáticos

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica, Florianópolis, 2010Nos últimos anos, diferentes estudos têm sido publicados com o intuito de aperfeiçoar o desempenho de sistemas de posicionamento pneumáticos, principalmente no que se refere às novas técnicas de controle, estudos do comportamento do atrito em atuadores e a influência da válvula direcional proporcional no desempenho do sistema. As válvulas e os cilindros apresentam limitações comportamentais intrínsecas, devido à compressibilidade do ar, às não-linearidades associadas ao escoamento do ar na válvula e ao atrito mecânico no cilindro. Fatores que tornam os sistemas pneumáticos difíceis de serem controlados. No entanto, parece ser possível melhorar o desempenho de sistemas de posicionamento pneumáticos uma vez que seja alcançado um correto dimensionamento da válvula e do cilindro e a condição operacional do sistema seja perfeitamente compreendida. Em um sistema de posicionamento, a condição operacional que determina o tamanho mínimo exigido para a válvula está estabelecida no ponto médio do trajeto entre as duas posições em estado estacionário, onde a velocidade máxima ocorre. Em caso de sistemas pneumáticos on-off, a condição de estado estacionário com velocidade constante é a exigência operacional do sistema. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho estuda a influência dos valores obtidos de catálogos de fabricantes de válvulas frente aos valores obtidos por meio de ensaios experimentais segundo a Norma ISO 6358 na determinação do ponto de operação de um sistema pneumático. O estudo envolve também a análise das mudanças de temperatura nas diferentes vias de trabalho do circuito pneumático durante o deslocamento do atuador. Em função dos resultados alcançados, válidos tanto para sistemas on-off quanto para sistemas de posicionamento, propõe-se um método de cálculo que auxilie o engenheiro projetista na escolha dos componentes pneumáticos, apresentando um conceito alternativo aos tradicionais métodos de dimensionamento.In the last years, many studies have been published in order to improve the performance of the pneumatic positioning systems, mainly about new techniques of control, friction behavior in actuators and the influence of the directional proportional valve in the system performance. The valves and the cylinders have intrinsic behavior limitations due to air compressibility, non-linearities associated with the air flow in the valve and mechanical friction on the cylinder. These factors make systems difficult to control pneumatic. However, it seems to be possible to improve the pneumatic positioning systems when it is reached a correct sizing of the valve and the cylinder and when the operational condition of the system is totally understood. In positioning systems, the operational condition that determines the minimum size required for the valve is established in the middle point of the stroke between the two positions in steady state where the high speed occurs. In on-off pneumatic systems, the steady state condition with constant speed is the operating system requirement. In this scenario, this dissertation studies the influence of values obtained from manufacturer catalogs valves compared to values obtained by experimental tests according to ISO 6358 in the determination of the operating point of pneumatic systems. The study also involves the analysis of temperature changes in the different work ports of the pneumatic circuit during the actuator displacement. With the reached results, valid for both on-off systems and positioning systems, it is proposed a calculation method that helps the design engineer in the choice of pneumatic components, presenting an alternative concept against the traditional methods of sizing

Orbital mass as manifestation of Wegener's granulomatosis: an ophthalmologic diagnostic approach

Orbital manifestation of Wegener's granulomatosis is diverse and diagnosis is often difficult. This study aims to improve the diagnostic strategy in orbital Wegener. A review of the diagnostic process in patients in whom a diagnosis of orbital WG was considered. Thirty-three patients were analysed, consisting of 15 patients with orbital WG, 11 with idiopathic orbital inflammation, 6 with orbital sarcoidosis and one with aspergillosis. Diagnostic findings indicating orbital WG were ear/nose/throat involvement, multiple organ system involvement, a positive ANCA, and on histology vasculitis, whereas granulomatous inflammation without signs of vasculitis was more indicative of another orbital disease. The diagnostic process of orbital WG should include CT scanning of the orbit and sinuses, ANCA blood testing, consultation of a rheumatologist, an ophthalmologist, and an ear-nose-throat specialist, and biopsy of an easily accessible, active inflammatory lesio

Effects of simvastatin and cholestyramine on lipoprotein profile in hyperlipidaemia of nephrotic syndrome

The efficacy, safety, and tolerability of simvastatin (20 mg twice a day) in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia due to unremitting nephrotic syndrome was compared with that of cholestyramine (8 g twice a day) in a crossover trial in ten patients. Two patients were taken off the protocol, one because he could not tolerate cholestyramine and one because of non-compliance with the cholestyramine regimen. No clinical or laboratory adverse experiences were noticed during the study in the other eight patients. Simvastatin was significantly more effective than cholestyramine in reducing the hyperlipidaemia—it produced a 36% decrease in total cholesterol and a 39% decrease in low density (LDL)-cholesterol, whereas cholestyramine reduced total cholesterol by 8% and LDL-cholesterol by 19%. With simvastatin the apolipoprotein B level decreased by 30%, whereas the apolipoprotein A level increased by 10%