A Real-time Nonlinear Model Predictive Controller for Yaw Motion Optimization of Distributed Drive Electric Vehicles

This paper proposes a real-time nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) strategy for direct yaw moment control (DYC) of distributed drive electric vehicles (DDEVs). The NMPC strategy is based on a control-oriented model built by integrating a single track vehicle model with the Magic Formula (MF) tire model. To mitigate the NMPC computational cost, the continuation/generalized minimal residual (C/GMRES) algorithm is employed and modified for real-time optimization. Since the traditional C/GMRES algorithm cannot directly solve the inequality constraint problem, the external penalty method is introduced to transform inequality constraints into an equivalently unconstrained optimization problem. Based on the Pontryagin’s minimum principle (PMP), the existence and uniqueness for solution of the proposed C/GMRES algorithm are proven. Additionally, to achieve fast initialization in C/GMRES algorithm, the varying predictive duration is adopted so that the analytic expressions of optimally initial solutions in C/GMRES algorithm can be derived and gained. A Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) condition based control allocation method distributes the desired traction and yaw moment among four independent motors. Numerical simulations are carried out by combining CarSim and Matlab/Simulink to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Results demonstrate that the real-time NMPC strategy can achieve superior vehicle stability performance, guarantee the given safety constraints, and significantly reduce the computational efforts

Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei of Appendiceal Origin - 801 Cases from a Single Institution in China

Aim: As more and more centers has published their treatment results ofpseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) andhyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), the data from Chinais missing. Myxoma Department of Aerospace Hospital is the biggestcenter treating PMP in China. The purpose of this study is to report theearly and long-term outcomes for PMP from this single center. Methods:801 appendix-derived PMP out of 1008 consecutive patients treated inMyxoma Department of Aerospace Hospital between 2008 and 2019 wereretrospectively analyzed. Results: Complete cytoreductive surgery (CCRS)was achieved in 240 (30%) patients with median PCI of 14(1~39), andthe rest had maximal tumor debulking (MTD), HIPEC was implementedin 96.3% of CCRS and 78.6% of MTD. The major morbidity (gradeIII/IV) was 11.4% and the 30-day operative mortality is 0.7%. The 5-and 10-year OS of CCRS was 76.9% and 64.1%, which is significantlyhigher than MTD (5-, 10-year OS as 36.1%, 27.1%; p20, MTD, high pathologic grade and without HIPECwere independent factors predicting poorer prognosis. Conclusions: CCRS+HIPEC can benefit PMP well with controllable risks. MTD+HIPEC maybenefit PMP as well when CCRS cannot be achieved after fully asscessmentby an experienced peritoneal maglignacy center, but the surgery should beperformed as limited as possible

Heat Sink Enhancement of Decalin by Symmetrical Imidazolium Ionic Liquid-Capped Metal Nanoparticles

Catalytic cracking–dehydrogenation of hydrocarbon fuels with hydrocarbon-soluble metal nanoparticles is an appealing way to improve fuel heat sink in a high-speed aircraft. In this work, two hydrocarbon-soluble metal nanoparticles (Pd@ILs and Pt@ILs) by using symmetrical imidazolium ionic liquids (1,3-bis(14-alkyl) imidazolium bromide) as protective agents were successfully synthesized. The catalytic performance for cracking and dehydrogenation of decalin-based nanofluids was investigated using an electrically heated tubular reactor. In comparison with Pd@14N with the conventional tetradecylamine ligand, Pd@ILs and Pt@ILs catalysts exhibited smaller average particle sizes and showed better performance in terms of dispersion stability, thermal stability, and catalytic activity. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that the strong affinity of C atoms in the conjugate imidazole ring to the metal surface allows these nanoparticles to be stably dispersed in decalin for at least 2 months. In the quasi-homogeneous conversion of decalin, Pd@ILs exhibited the best performance in promoting fuel cracking and dehydrogenation conversion with the highest yields of hydrogen and unsaturated hydrocarbon products, especially aromatic products, thus enhancing the heat sink of nanofluids. Particularly, the heat sink of nanofluids with the Pd@ILs catalyst was 3.39 MJ kg–1 at 700 °C, which was 0.58 MJ kg–1 higher than that from decalin thermal cracking and 0.43 MJ kg–1 higher than that of the nanofluids with the Pd@14N catalyst. In addition, Pd@ILs nanofluids gave the highest heat sink of 3.61 MJ kg–1 at 725 °C. The significant enhancements are attributed to cooperative interplay between the initiation effect of ILs and the remarkable catalytic ability of Pd nanoparticles in cracking–dehydrogenation reaction, as well as the unique properties of Pd@ILs, including smaller Pd particle size, more accessible surface Pd active sites, and higher thermal stability. This work shows that symmetrical imidazolium ionic liquid-capped metal nanoparticles can serve as effective quasi-homogeneous catalysts for enhancing heat sink of hydrocarbon fuels through catalytic cracking and dehydrogenation