A Small-Scale Hybrid Wind Turbine and Fuel Cell Electrical Generator

The global increase in energy demand combined with socioeconomic, political and environmental concerns associated with fossil fuels have increased the interest in alternative sources of energy. A wind turbine converts mechanical energy in the wind into the kinetic energy and to electrical energy. A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts fuel and oxidant into electricity and water with up to 83% efficiency. Flooding is a limitation of fuel cells and occurs when water cannot be expelled from the polymer electrode membrane at a sufficient rate to maintain a continuous reaction. This study presents a small-scale prototype hybrid wind turbine/fuel cell system that combines two demonstrated alternative energy technologies in an effort to achieve a higher efficiency electrical generator through the reduction of flooding in the fuel cell. In the hybrid system, the fuel cell is mounted on the rotating shaft of the wind turbine in order to increase the rate of water removal in the fuel cell membrane. The small-scale hybrid wind turbine and the fuel cell electrical generator is tested in a wind tunnel and power measurements are obtained for the hybrid system over a range of wind speeds. The experimental results show that the proposed hybrid system is technically feasible and that the rotation increases the fuel cell efficiency up to 10% when compared to a stationary fuel cell

Impact of leader on cluster synchronization

5 pages, 5 figuresNon peer reviewedPostprin

Optimized Quality Factor of Fractional Order Analog Filters with Band-Pass and Band-Stop Characteristics

Fractional order (FO) filters have been investigated in this paper, with band-pass (BP) and band-stop (BS) characteristics, which can not be achieved with conventional integer order filters with orders lesser then two. The quality factors for symmetric and asymmetric magnitude response have been optimized using real coded Genetic Algorithm (GA) for a user specified center frequency. Parametric influence of the FO filters on the magnitude response is also illustrated with credible numerical simulations.Comment: 6 pages, 13 figures; 2012 Third International Conference on Computing, Communication and Networking Technologies (ICCCNT'12), July 2012, Coimbator

Reviving Chinese Pangolin Conversation: A Brief Knowledge Sharing

Chinese pangolin is a unique critically endangered small mammal that is covered by scales and feed on termites and ants. It is dark brown or dark gray in color and lives in coniferous and broad-leaf forest, agricultural land, barren land, bamboo forest, grassland Chinese pangolin is widely distributed in the continent of Asia but the detailed studies on population status, ecology, behavior, and illegal trade is lacking. With the developmental activities escalated in Asian countries, the threats to the pangolin population and potential habitats are increasing. Additional athropogenic factors such as deforestation, encroachment, forest fire, over exploitation, hunting, poaching, and illegal trade have caused steep decline in the number of Chinese pangolin in wild. In fact, the pangolin is the most illegally traded animal in the contemporary world. Therefore, it is crucial that we revive and prolong communication regarding the current global and national status, distribution, behavior, illegal trade, and conservation practices across scales to promote the long-term conservation of the Chinese pangolin population and habitat. In the end, this chapter provides some important policy recommendations to promote Chinese pangolin conversation

Computational Modeling and Experimental Validation of Melting and Solidification in Equiaxed Superalloys Processed through Scanning Laser Epitaxy

This paper focuses on simulation-based optimization of the Scanning Laser Epitaxy (SLE) process applied to gas turbine hot-section components made of nickel-base superalloys. SLE creates equiaxed, directionally-solidified and single-crystal microstructures from superalloy powders melted onto like-chemistry substrates using a fast scanning, high power laser beam. In this paper, a transient coupled flow-thermal approach is implemented to accurately simulate the melting and solidification process in SLE. The laser movement is modeled as a Gaussian moving heat source, and the thermophysical properties of the alloys are adjusted based on the thermal field. Simulations for different superalloys such as IN100, René 80 and MAR-M247 are performed and the instantaneous melt pool characteristics are recorded. Comparisons of the simulations with experimental results show reasonably good agreement for the melt depth. Feedback control is implemented, and demonstrated to produce superior quality SLE deposits.This work is sponsored by the ONR through grants N00014-11-1-0670 and N00014-14-1-0658.Mechanical Engineerin

Acute Liver and Renal Failure: A Rare Adverse Effect Exclusive to Intravenous Form of Amiodarone

Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic drug which is highly effective against a wide spectrum of ventricular tachyarrhythmias making it irreplaceable in certain group of patients. We report an unusual case of acute liver and renal failure within 24 hours of initiation of intravenous (IV) amiodarone which resolved after stopping the medication. The mechanism of acute liver and renal toxicity is not clearly known but is believed to be secondary to amiodarone induced (relative) hypotension, idiosyncratic reaction to the drug, and toxicity of the vector that carries the medication, polysorbate-80. In this case review, we discuss the hyperacute drug toxicity caused by IV amiodarone being a distinctly different entity compared to the adverse effects shown by oral amiodarone and support the suggestion that oral amiodarone can be safely administered even in patients who manifest acute hepatitis with the IV form

External rotation method for reduction of acute anterior dislocation of shoulder

Introductions: Many different techniques of reduction of acute anterior shoulder dislocation have been described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of external rotation method for reduction of acute anterior shoulder dislocation. Methods: Fifty-one patients with acute anterior shoulder dislocations with or without greater tuberosity fracture were reduced during a period from January 2013 to January 2015. The external rotation method was used as an initial reduction method performed by orthopaedic surgeon on call or residents. Data sheets completed by the orthopaedic surgeon on call or residents were evaluated with regard to the type of dislocation, the effectiveness of the procedure in achieving reduction, the need for premedication, the ease of performing the reduction, and complications, if any. Results: There were 42 male and nine female patients between 18 to 78 years. Among 51 patients, 49 had successful reduction. No premedication was required in 33 patients who had a successful reduction, and the average time required for reduction in 23 patients was within two minutes whereas 20 patients reduced within five minutes. Only four patients reported severe pain during the process of reduction. The method was not successful in two patients with subcoracoid dislocation associated with displaced fracture of the greater tuberosity. Conclusions: External rotation method is reliable, safe, simple and relatively painless method for reduction of acute anterior shoulder dislocation. Keywords: acute anterior shoulder dislocation, external rotation method, painless reductionÂ

Outcome of tibial diaphyseal fracture fixation with Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) nail

Introductions: Fractures of diaphyseal region of the tibial bone are amongst the most commonly seen extremity injuries in the developing countries. The surgical implant generation network (SIGN) intramedullary (IM) nail was designed for the treatment of long bone fractures in the developing nations. Methods: From March 2008 to December 2018, a total of 104 patients with 104 tibial diaphyseal fractures were treated with SIGN IM nail. The followup visits were arranged at 6, 12, 24 weeks and one-year post operatively. During followup visits, the signs of fracture union clinically as well as radiologically and the presence of complications any were recorded and analyzed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 32.81 (16 – 65) years, male 74 (71.2%) and  female 30 (28.8%). Majority of the patients 70 (67.3%) had fractures after road traffic accidents. The mean time of surgery was 13.58 (1 – 463) days. Six (5.8%) patients had delayed union and no non-union was detected. We had 10 cases (9.6%) of mal-alignment but were on acceptable range. Conclusions: In the developing country like Nepal, the SIGN nail is an effective surgical implant for the management of the tibial diaphyseal fractures with good result of fracture union and low rates of nonunion, mal-alignment and manageable complications. Keywords: diaphyseal fracture, intramedullary nailing, SIGN nail, tibial fractur

Three lateral divergent pinning for displaced supracondylar humerus fractures in children

Introductions: Cross or two lateral pinnings are the most commonly doneprocedures for displaced supracondylar humerus fractures in children. Acrossed pin is biomechanically stable than lateral pins, but associated withrisk of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury. Recent studies have shown stable fixationwith three lateral pin construct. The purpose of this study was to evaluate theefficacy of three lateral divergent pinning for displaced supracondylar humerusfractures.Methods: Thirty five children with Gartland types III were treated betweenNovember 2012 and November 2013. Closed reduction and three lateraldivergent pinning was done with image intensifier guidance. Patients werefollowed up for minimum 6 months. Radiological assessment was done to seeunion, proper pin placement and loss of reduction. Clinically, patients wereassessed by using Flynn criteria.Results: There were 24 (68.6%) male and 11 (31.4%) female children between2 to 13 years of age with displaced supracondylar fractures, left side 26 (74.3%) and right nine (25.7%) cases. All were successfully managed with closed reduction and three lateral divergent pins within 2-6 days of injury. One radial and one median nerve palsies sustained at injury recovered spontaneously. No iatrogenic nerve injuries occurred. A comparison of perioperative and final radiographs revealed no loss of reduction. Twenty-seven excellent, five good, two fair and one poor results on Flynn’s grading. One patient had a superficial pin-tract infection.Conclusions: Closed reduction with three lateral divergent pins is safe for stablefixation of displaced supracondylar humeral fractures in children.Keywords: children, humerus, percutaneous pinning, supracondylar fractur