Fault Diagnosis Of Sensor And Actuator Faults In Multi-Zone Hvac Systems

Globally, the buildings sector accounts for 30% of the energy consumption and more than 55% of the electricity demand. Specifically, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is the most extensively operated component and it is responsible alone for 40% of the final building energy usage. HVAC systems are used to provide healthy and comfortable indoor conditions, and their main objective is to maintain the thermal comfort of occupants with minimum energy usage. HVAC systems include a considerable number of sensors, controlled actuators, and other components. They are at risk of malfunctioning or failure resulting in reduced efficiency, potential interference with the execution of supervision schemes, and equipment deterioration. Hence, Fault Diagnosis (FD) of HVAC systems is essential to improve their reliability, efficiency, and performance, and to provide preventive maintenance. In this thesis work, two neural network-based methods are proposed for sensor and actuator faults in a 3-zone HVAC system. For sensor faults, an online semi-supervised sensor data validation and fault diagnosis method using an Auto-Associative Neural Network (AANN) is developed. The method is based on the implementation of Nonlinear Principal Component Analysis (NPCA) using a Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) and it demonstrates notable capability in sensor fault and inaccuracy correction, measurement noise reduction, missing sensor data replacement, and in both single and multiple sensor faults diagnosis. In addition, a novel on-line supervised multi-model approach for actuator fault diagnosis using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) is developed for single actuator faults. It is based a data transformation in which the 1-dimensional data are configured into a 2-dimensional representation without the use of advanced signal processing techniques. The CNN-based actuator fault diagnosis approach demonstrates improved performance capability compared with the commonly used Machine Learning-based algorithms (i.e., Support Vector Machine and standard Neural Networks). The presented schemes are compared with other commonly used HVAC fault diagnosis methods for benchmarking and they are proven to be superior, effective, accurate, and reliable. The proposed approaches can be applied to large-scale buildings with additional zones

Highlighting the major weaknesses of the WTO anti-dumping agreement which cause international market distortion

Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (hereinafter GATT ) and the World Trade Organization (hereinafter WTO ) Anti-dumping Agreement (hereinafter ADA ) permit WTO members to impose anti-dumping duties as a result of an anti-dumping investigation if any member concludes that a certain product, imported to its territory, has caused or threatens to cause a serious injury to its domestic industry. Accordingly, this member may increase tariffs on this imported product by a specific amount calculated through certain methodologies for each foreign exporter/producer whose imports are subject to the concluded investigation. However, Article VI of GATT and the ADA do not condemn dumping as price discrimination but condemn the product dumping situations causing or threatening to cause material injury to the domestic industry. Consequently, the dumping practice itself is not the only reason for allowing any party to impose anti-dumping duties. The most important factor in the anti-dumping investigation process is to provide clear analysis that dumped imports have indeed caused or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry. Unfortunately, the ADA does not provide members with clear provisions on how to reach this conclusion. In addition, and according to Article 11.1 of the ADA, the imposition of “anti-dumping duty shall remain in force only as long as and to the extent necessary to counter dumping which is causing injury.” The ADA provisions also do not provide clear and objective analysis guidelines to determine whether a member should eliminate anti-dumping duties. The weaknesses of this Agreement, which exist in significant and crucial provisions, such as those relating to injury and causality determinations, or the review of the anti-dumping duties with respect to their level and duration, encourage WTO members to abuse these rules by overprotecting their domestic industries. The extensive use of this tool destroys the main purpose of this Agreement, to stop or hinder injury that is caused by dumped imports. These weaknesses, which undermine the objectivity of the anti-dumping investigations, distort international trade by imposing various anti-dumping duties on numerous foreign products, which are not necessarily causing or threatening to cause material injury

Knowledge and Attitude of Population Towards Iodized Salt in Shendi Locality River Nile State in Sudan

Background: Iodine is observed as one of the most important trace elements in the human body, which is considered very essential during the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiency in humans can cause several diseases or problems, which include spontaneous abortion, increased infant mortality, cretinism, goiter, and mental defects. Methods: The study was conducted as a community based descriptive crosssectional study to determine the knowledge and attitude of the population towards iodized salt in Shendi locality, River Nile State, Sudan, during the period of 2013. In this study, 636 households were included. Questionnaire and observations were used as tools for data collection. The households were selected through a multistage cluster-sampling technique, 636 respondents were selected through systemic random sampling. Results: The study found that the knowledge of the respondents about iodized salt was poor. Out of 636 subjects, 356 (56%) were aware of iodine as a nutritional element. 279 (43.9%) identified that iodine is a chemical element. More than half of the respondents, 355(55.8%), were aware of sources of iodine in foods. The data showed that 299 (47%) of the respondents were aware of the main type of food which contains iodine. 356(56%) were aware of the fact that iodine deficiency had significant influence on the body. In addition, study revealed that 261(41%) of participant were aware of iodized salt. Only 48% of the population knew that iodized salt is necessary to alleviate iodine deficiency disorder. Conclusion: Based on our findings, we conclude that the household has poor knowledge, negative attitude, and poor practice about iodized salt. Hence, health authority should have to develop health education programs to increase the awareness of households about the significance of iodized salt. Also, it involves a proper handling of a continual and effective use of media for broadcasting health education programs

Optimum Electrostatic Desalting Efficiency of Alfulla Crude Oil

The main variables that impact the crude oil desalting process were analyzed by developing mathematical models that represent the variation of Alfulla crude oil density, conductivity and viscosity as function of different parameters. An increase or decrease of these parameters has two opposite effects. First, a decrease in oil density and viscosity implies a significant increase in the settling rate of water to be processed. This decreases equipment depreciation; on the other hand, crude oil conductivity increases exponentially with some parameters such as temperature, which implies a higher rate of power consumption. This study was developed to determine the optimum parameters at which a maximum desalting efficiency and a maximum economic benefit occurs. It was concluded that the optimum parameters are, Crude Oil flowrate is 80 % of the feed, Pressure is 1.1 MPa, temperature is 135 0C, amount of washing water is 3% of the feed, interface level at 580 mm, differential pressure is 60 MPa, amount of demulsifier is 70 ppm and distributed water is available capacity of the tanks

MALARIA AND DEATH OF WOMEN OF CHILD- BEARING AGE IN KASSALA

A retrospective, community-based survey of reproductive age mortality in refugees, acute internally displaced people, slum dwellers and urban population in Kassala Province  Eastern Sudan. Slum dweller sector shows the highest reproductive age mortality rate 314/100,000 WRA, while urban sector shows the lowest rate 199/100,000 WRA. Maternal mortality rate is highest in IDP population and slum dwellers (168 & 126/100,000 WRA respectively) and lowest in urban population 47/100,000 WRA). Maternal mortality ratio is very high in slum dweller, IDP & refugee population (1,207, 1,192 and 914/100,000 live births respectively), and 367 per 100,000 live births in urban population. Malaria is the major cause of death in three sectors with exception of IDP where pregnancy related causes contribute to 70% of the deaths. This study shows the big toll of malaria on the health of females in child bearing age, the high discrepancy in reproductive age mortality and maternal mortality between different population sectors in the same location. It also discusses the causes of these deaths. &nbsp

Female Reproductive Age Mortality in in Kassala (Role of Malaria)

Objectives : To determine the mortality rates ,causes and contributing factors in women in reproductive age in Kassala Province. Setting: A refuge ,acute internally displaced people (IDP) camps, a town slums and an urban area, of total population of 214.100 in Kassala Province, East Sudan. Method: Community –based retrospective study ,using reproductive age mortality Survey (RAMOS) and verbal autopsy . Data was processed using SPSS for Windows Version11. Results: 121 deaths of female aged15-45 years, in four population sectors (refugees, IDP, slum dwellers & urban population) were identified. Slum dwellers show the highest reproductive age mortality rate 314/100,000women in reproductive age, while urban sector shows the lowest rate 199per 100,000WRA. Malaria is the major cause of death in three sectors with exception of IDP sector where pregnancy related causes contribute to 70% of death . Maternal mortality rate is highest in IDP population and slum dwellers(168&126 per100,000WRA)and lowest in urban population(47per 100,000WRA). Maternal mortality ratio is very high in slum dwellers, IDP and refugee population (1207,1192&914 per 100,000 live birth respectively),and 376 per100,000 live births in urban population. Malaria was found to be the major cause of indirect maternal deaths in all sectors. &nbsp

Aflatoxins in roasted peanut in Khartoum a hidden and notorious risk to children

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of about twenty species of the genus Aspergillus. The most important of these species is Aspergillus flavus which was reported for the first time and referred as responsible for the X – turkey disease in 1960 in Great Britain which later on named aflatoxicosis. These toxins pose a limitless risk to man and his domestics by causing a number of diseases and carcinomas. However, since the production of these toxins is rather inevitable accordingly an interdisciplinary management is the answer for managing them. The management of these toxins includes preharvest and postharvest measures such as good agricultural practices (GAP), check of imports, exports, food and feed stuffs, specifying tolerable and action limits and curing by suitable methods.This experiment aimed at having a rapid check for the total aflatoxins in roasted peanut in samples (five groups and 25 in total) collected from the three main cities of the triangular capital Khartoum (Khartoum proper, Khartoum North and Omdurman).Rapid check of aflatoxins has a lot of merits and edge over the other laboratory methods. Twenty five samples of roasted peanut were checked using Aflacheck® test kids (the method used enabled checking 10 ppb total aflatoxins in test samples). Readings revealed that the contamination percentage was 60% for each of the sample groups collected from the two sites in Khartoum proper and 100% for the sample groups collected from two sites in Khartoum north and Omdurman, separately. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in contamination (at 5% confidence level) between the results from Khartoum proper from one side and the samples collected from Khartoum North and Omdurman areas in the other side. However, the overall contamination percentage was 84%.These results,collectively, are alarming (0 tolerance) fora deadly health risk of this roasted peanut contaminated with aflatoxins to consumers of who the majority are children

Antioxidant capacity and sugar content of honey from Blue Nile State, Sudan

This study aimed to evaluate antioxidant capacity of honey samples that were collected from Blue Nile State, Sudan by determining total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC). Antioxidant activities were evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing power assay (FRAP). High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used for the determination of sugars content. The results showed that the highest TPC was (85.7±1 mg GAE /100g), the highest TFC was found to be (55.14 ± 1.09 mg QE /100g) using quercetin equivalent (QE) as standard and the inhibition value of (DPPH) was (52.93 ± 0.44%). The FRAP showed the highest value of (281 μM TE/100g), also the results indicated that the honey contained fructose (38.6 ± 1.8 g/100g - 42.9 ± 1.3 gL100g), and glucose (30.4 ± 0.75 - 31.7 ± 0.68 g/100g). Protein content was found to be ranging between and 0.60% and 1.04%. In conclusion, the results showed that honey is a good source of antioxidants due to the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and carotene. Also, an excellent source of the simple reducing sugars

BALANITES KERNEL OIL FOR THE TREATMENT OF DERMATOPHYTES: A CLINICAL TRIAL

In a previous in vitro study, we have shown that the kernel oil of fruits of the tree Balanites aegyptiaca referred to as Balanites kernel oil ((BKO) is active against dermatophytes (i.e. superficial mycosis, ringworms, tineas (T. captitis, T. cercinata and T. pedis). We report here our clinical trials with BKO. Trials were performed on patients presenting at Wad Medani Dermatology Teaching Hospital as well as primary school children in Elsoreeba Town (5 km south of Wad Medani). Not all patients followed treatment till completely cured. Patients treated with BKO (half of the total) achieved complete cure in 3-5 weeks, on average, while those treated with the standard antifungal drug Miconazole (half of the total patients) did the same in the longer period of 3-8 weeks. Photographs showing progress of response to BKO treatments are included. BKO has great potential for development as a commercial drug for the treatment of dermatophytes