A generalized method for the transient analysis of Markov models of fault-tolerant systems with deferred repair

Randomization is an attractive alternative for the transient analysis of continuous time Markov models. The main advantages of the method are numerical stability, well-controlled computation error, and ability to specify the computation error in advance. However, the fact that the method can be computationally expensive limits its applicability. Recently, a variant of the (standard) randomization method, called split regenerative randomization has been proposed for the efficient analysis of reliability-like models of fault-tolerant systems with deferred repair. In this article, we generalize that method so that it covers more general reward measures: the expected transient reward rate and the expected averaged reward rate. The generalized method has the same good properties as the standard randomization method and, for large models and large values of the time t at which the measure has to be computed, can be significantly less expensive. The method requires the selection of a subset of states and a regenerative state satisfying some conditions. For a class of continuous time Markov models, class C'_2, including typical failure/repair reliability models with exponential failure and repair time distributions and deferred repair, natural selections for the subset of states and the regenerative state exist and results are available assessing approximately the computational cost of the method in terms of “visible” model characteristics. Using a large model class C'_2 example, we illustrate the performance of the method and show that it can be significantly faster than previously proposed randomizationbased methods.Postprint (published version

Two new algorithms to compute steady-state bounds for Markov models with slow forward and fast backward transitions

Two new algorithms are proposed for the computation of bounds for the steady-state reward rate of irreducible finite Markov models with slow forward and fast backward transitions. The algorithms use detailed knowledge of the model in a subset of generated states G and partial information about the model in the non-generated portion U of the state space. U is assumed partitioned into subsets U_k,1\leq k\leq N with a “nearest neighbor” structure. The algorithms involve the solution of, respectively, |M| + 2 and 4 linear systems of size |G|, where M is the set of values of k corresponding to the subsets U_k through which the model can jump from G to U. Previously proposed algorithms for the same type of models required the solution of |S| linear systems of size |G| + N , where S is the subset of G through which the model can enter G from U, to achieve the same bounds as our algorithms, or gave less tighter bounds if state cloning techniques were used to reduce the number of solved linear systems. An availability model with system state dependent repair rates is used to illustrate the application and performance of the algorithms.Postprint (published version

DC-Voltage-Ratio Control Strategy for Multilevel Cascaded Converters Fed With a Single DC Source

Recently, a multilevel cascaded converter fed with a single DC source has been presented. An analysis of the steady-state working limits of this type of converter is presented in this paper. Limits of the maximum output voltage and the minimum and maximum loading conditions for stable operation of the converter are addressed. In this paper, a way to achieve any DC voltage ratio (inside the stable operation area of the converter) between the H-bridges of the single-DC-source cascaded H-bridge converter is presented. The proposed DC-voltage-ratio control is based on a time-domain modulation strategy that avoids the use of inappropriate states to achieve the DC-voltage-ratio control. The proposed technique is a feedforward-modulation technique which takes into account the actual DC voltage of each H-bridge of the converter, leading to output waveforms with low distortion. In this way, the dc voltage of the floating H-bridge can be controlled while the output voltage has low distortion independently of the desired DC voltage ratio. Experimental results from a two-cell cascaded converter are presented in order to validate the proposed DC-voltage-ratio control strategy and the introduced concepts.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TEC2006-03863Junta de Andalucía EXC/2005/TIC-117

Modeling and Design Optimization of Multifunctional Membrane Reactors for Direct Methane Aromatization

Due to the recent increase of natural gas production in the U.S., utilizing natural gas for higher-value chemicals has become imperative. Direct methane aromatization (DMA) is a promising process used to convert methane to benzene, but it is limited by low conversion of methane and rapid catalyst deactivation by coking. Past work has shown that membrane separation of the hydrogen produced in the DMA reactions can dramatically increase the methane conversion by shifting the equilibrium toward the products, but it also increases coke production. Oxygen introduction into the system has been shown to inhibit this coke production while not inhibiting the benzene production. This paper introduces a novel mathematical model and design to employ both methods in a multifunctional membrane reactor to push the DMA process into further viability. Multifunctional membrane reactors, in this case, are reactors where two different separations occur using two differently selective membranes, on which no systems studies have been found. The proposed multifunctional membrane design incorporates a hydrogen-selective membrane on the outer wall of the reaction zone, and an inner tube filled with airflow surrounded by an oxygen-selective membrane in the middle of the reactor. The design is shown to increase conversion via hydrogen removal by around 100%, and decrease coke production via oxygen addition by 10% when compared to a tubular reactor without any membranes. Optimization studies are performed to determine the best reactor design based on methane conversion, along with coke and benzene production. The obtained optimal design considers a small reactor (length = 25 cm, diameter of reaction tube = 0.7 cm) to subvert coke production and consumption of the product benzene as well as a high permeance (0.01 mol/s·m2·atm1/4) through the hydrogen-permeable membrane. This modeling and design approach sets the stage for guiding further development of multifunctional membrane reactor models and designs for natural gas utilization and other chemical reaction systems

Feed-forward Space Vector Modulation for Single-Phase Multilevel Cascade Converters with any DC voltage ratio

Modulation techniques for multilevel converters can create distorted output voltages and currents if the DC link voltages are unbalanced. This situation can be avoided if the instantaneous DC voltage error is not taken into account in the modulation process. This paper proposes a feed-forward space vector modulation method for a single-phase multilevel cascade converter. Using this modulation technique, the modulated output voltage of the power converter always generates the reference determined by the controller even in worst case voltage unbalance conditions. In addition the possibility of optimizing the DC voltage ratio between the H-bridges of the power converter is introduced. Experimental results from a 5kVA prototype are presented in order to validate the proposed modulation technique

Efficient exploration of availability models guided by failure distances

Recently, a method to bound the steady-state availability using the failure distance concept has been proposed. In this paper we refine that method by introducing state space exploration techniques. In the methods proposed here, the state space is incrementally generated based on the contributions to the steady-state availability band of the states in the frontier of the currently generated state space. Several state space exploration algorithms are evaluated in terms of bounds quality and memory and CPU time requirements. The more efficient seems to be a waved algorithm which expands transition groups. We compare our new methods with the method based on the failure distance concept without state exploration and a method proposed by Souza e Silva and Ochoa which uses state space exploration but does not use the failure distance concept. Using typical examples we show that the methods proposed here can be significantly more efficient than any of the previous methods.Postprint (published version

Synthesis of IDDQ-Testable Circuits: Integrating Built-in Current Sensors

"On-Chip" I_{DDQ} testing by the incorporation of Built-In Current (BIC) sensors has some advantages over "off-chip" techniques. However, the integration of sensors poses analog design problems which are hard to be solved by a digital designer. The automatic incorporation of the sensors using parameterized BIC cells could be a promising alternative. The work reported here identifies partitioning criteria to guide the synthesis of I_{DDQ}-testable circuits. The circuit must be partitioned, such that the defective I_{DDQ} is observable, and the power supply voltage perturbation is within specified limits. In addition to these constraints, also cost criteria are considered: circuit extra delay, area overhead of the BIC sensors, connectivity costs of the test circuitry, and the test application time. The parameters are estimated based on logical as well as electrical level information of the target cell library to be used in the technology mapping phase of the synthesis process. The resulting cost function is optimized by an evolution-based algorithm. When run over large benchmark circuits our method gives significantly superior results to those obtained using simpler and less comprehensive partitioning methods.Postprint (published version