Average Output Power Research Articles

Active tuned mass damper for a benchmark tall building using an energy-harvesting electromagnetic damper

Among various structural vibration control categories, active control typically provides superior control performance. However, its high energy demand often limits its extensive implementation in large-scale civil structures. Very recently, electromagnetic dampers, which can convert kinetic energy into electrical energy, have emerged as a novel solution for active control with reduced or even zero energy consumption. This study explored the feasibility of an energy-harvesting active tuned mass damper (ATMD) by using an electromagnetic damper for simultaneous vibration suppression and energy harvesting. Numerical simulations were conducted for a full-scale, 76-story benchmark building equipped with the proposed design. The proposed ATMD outperforms the optimised passive counterpart of the same mass, as the former introduces an evident reduction in displacement responses. Furthermore, the proposed ATMD can offer a commensurate control performance to a passive damper with a weight three times heavier. The proposed ATMD also exhibits promising energy-harvesting performance, achieving an average output power at the kilowatt level. The results suggest that electromagnetic devices hold great potential for large-scale applications in civil structures, paving the way for a prosperous future in this field.

High-power and narrow-linewidth nanosecond pulsed intracavity crystalline Raman laser operating at 1.7 µm

We report on a high-power and narrow-linewidth nanosecond pulsed intracavity crystalline Raman laser at 1.7 µm. Driven by an acousto-optically Q-switched 1314 nm two-crystal Nd:YLF laser, the highly efficient cascaded YVO4 Raman laser at 1715nm was obtained within the well-designed L-shaped resonator. Thanks to the absence of spatial hole burning in the stimulated Raman scattering process, significant spectral purification of second-Stokes radiation was observed by incorporating a fused silica etalon in the high-Q fundamental cavity. Under the repetition rate of 4 kHz, the highest average output power for single longitudinal mode operation was up to 2.2 W with the aid of precision vibration isolation and precision temperature controlling, corresponding to the pulse duration of ∼2.8 ns and the spectral linewidth of ∼330 MHz. Further increasing the launched pump power, the second-Stokes laser tended toward be always multimode, and the maximum average output power amounted to 4.8 W with the peak power of ∼0.8 MW and the spectral linewidth of ∼0.08 nm. The second-Stokes emission was near diffraction limited with M2 < 1.4 across the whole pump power range.

Experimental Validation of Power Output and Efficiency for an Oscillating Water Column (OWC)

With the global energy demand escalating and concerns over the environmental impact of fossil fuels, there's a pressing need for cleaner, sustainable alternatives. This study highlights the potential contribution of wave energy to the power needs of coastal structures in the context of renewable energy. The research evaluates the power output and efficiency for an Oscillating Water Column (OWC) system that can be integrated into coastal structures to meet part of their power needs. Findings from both theoretical calculations and a 1:10 scale model experiment are presented. The mechanical power output and efficiency of the system for a full-scale prototype were calculated for deep water conditions with a wave height of 3m. The water surface oscillation inside the chamber is assumed to reflect the oscillation occurring outside the chamber. The maximum average mechanical power output for the full-scale prototype, corresponding to a wavelength of 22.5 m, was determined to be 64.8 kW, achieving a mechanical efficiency of 64.4%. The overall efficiency of the system is calculated as 55% by assuming the generator efficiency to be 85%, resulting in an average power output of approximately 55 kW. A 1:10 scale model of the OWC system with a Wells turbine was constructed and tested in a tank for deep water conditions. Froude similarity and Keulegan-Carpenter similarity were used, ensuring a seamless transition from the model to the prototype. The OWC model was subjected to controlled heaving motion with a period of T=1.2 s. The power generated by the OWC model illuminated four integrated 3.4V LEDs on the Wells turbine, which were used to measure the power output produced. The power output of the model was measured to be a minimum of 0.12 W for a rotational speed of 107 rpm, which corresponds to a power output of 12 kW for the scaled-up prototype. This system has the potential for further enhancement by incorporating multiple OWCs into coastal structures exposed to wave action. Such development could facilitate meeting the power requirements of coastal structures, thereby contributing to the promotion of both renewable energy generation and a sustainable environment. Future research will focus on optimizing OWC chamber sizes for specific sites and refining the model to better capture water surface oscillation dynamics. l

Research on Heliostat Field Optimization Based on Monte Carlo Theorem and Randomized Algorithms

The text discusses a mathematical model established for calculating the optical efficiency of heliostat fields in solar power systems. It's grounded in geometric optics algorithms and considers factors affecting the field's optical efficiency. Each heliostat and the ground have independent coordinate systems for assessing whether light is blocked. The Monte Carlo method is utilized to determine the proportion of blocked light in reflected rays. This approach accommodates the conical nature of solar radiation, enhancing accuracy by transitioning from parallel to conical light representation. The results indicate an annual average optical efficiency of 0.5084 for the heliostat field, an annual average thermal power output of 30.879 MW, and 0.4915 kW/m2 as the annual average thermal power output per unit mirror area.

Performance analysis of deep borehole heat exchangers for decarbonization of heating systems

AbstractMeeting the climate change mitigation targets will require a substantial shift from fossil to clean fuels in the heating sector. Heat pumps with deep borehole exchangers are a promising solution to reduce emissions. Here the thermal behavior of deep borehole exchangers (DBHEs) ranging from 1 to 2 km was analyzed for various heat flow profiles. A strong correlation between thermal energy extraction and power output from DBHEs was found, also influenced by the heating profile employed. Longer operating time over the year typically resulted in higher energy production, while shorter one yielded higher average thermal power output, highlighting the importance of the choice of heating strategy and system design for optimal performance of DBHEs. Short breaks in operation for regenerating the borehole, for example, with waste heat, proved to be favorable for the performance yielding an overall heat output close to the same as with continuous extraction of heat. The results demonstrate the usefulness of deep boreholes for dense urban areas with less available space. As the heat production from a single DBHE in Finnish conditions ranges from half up to even a few GWh a year, the technology is best suitable for larger heat loads.

2D Materials‐Based Pulsed Solid‐State Laser: Status and Prospect

AbstractPulsed solid‐state lasers comprise 2D materials as saturable absorbers that contain transparent windows of the atmosphere and characteristic fingerprint spectra of several vital molecules that are significant in various applications and research. Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made in the development of narrow pulse width, high energy, high average output power, high efficiency, and simple construction of passively Q‐switched and mode‐locked lasers with 2D materials as saturable absorbers. This review summarizes the development of 2D materials, including graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, topological insulators, and MXenes, as modulator devices for solid‐state lasers owing to their broadband operation, excellent nonlinear optical response, low recovery time, ultrafast dynamic processing, and easy fabrication. Then, some new emerging and representative applications of pulsed solid‐state lasers are introduced and illustrated such as laser surgery, material processing, and lidar. Finally, future challenges and perspectives of pulsed solid‐state lasers with 2D materials‐based saturable absorbers are analyzed and addressed. The rapid development of pulsed solid‐state lasers with the continuous improvement of modulation technology is expected to expand opportunities for application in industry, scientific, medical, and other areas.

The Use of Markov Chain Model for Rating Location Based Turbine Performance

It is shown how a 12-state Markov chain model can be used in rating turbine performance in a given location. A 1.8 MW wind turbine exposed to wind speed in San Angelo, USA is used for illustration. The model fits the data. As such, features of the model are used in providing indices for rating the performance of the turbine in this location. Probability distribution of the wind speed in this location is introduced into each of the traditional methods of computing average power output from the turbine power curve and expected extract-able power. The estimates obtained are 937 kW and 826 kW, respectively.

Performance enhancement of porous clay cooler for BIPV applications using hollowed clay structures and metallic extended fins as evaporation and thermal conductivity enhancers

This paper investigates the employing of a passive evaporative cooling approach to mitigate the temperature rise of PV panels within building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems. The investigation explores enhancing the heat transfer capabilities of composite clay layers by incorporating thermal conductive materials such as iron-oxide and zinc-oxide. This enhancement aimed to improve the overall thermal properties of the composite clay structures, thereby boosting heat transfer rates. Additionally, two distinct designs were evaluated as well: one integrating hollowed clay layer and the other featuring a clay layer with extended fins to enhance both heat and mass transfer rates within the evaporative porous clay structure. A series of experiments conducted under real conditions using prototyped building rooms to simulate real BIPV systems to assess the cooling performance of the presented scenarios. The results revealed that the hollowed clay layer achieved the most substantial decrease in PV panel temperature, with a reduction of 16.5 % compared to the findings with a solid clay layer. In contrast, the composite Iron-oxide/clay layer demonstrated the smallest decrease in PV temperature at 11 %. Moreover, utilizing the hollowed clay structure led to a 6.3 % increase in average PV output power, as well as around 4.5 % enhancement in average photovoltaic’s efficiency compared to the outcomes observed with the solid clay layer. Moreover, incorporating the hollowed clay layer resulted in the most significant decrease in the building's annual load, achieving a reduction of 79.6 %. This signifies approximately a 2 % higher enhancement in cooling capabilities compared to utilizing solid clay layer. Further, the cost of electricity production decreased by 7.7 % (from 0.104 $/kWh to 0.096 $/kWh) following the incorporation of the hollowed clay layer, while the payback time was reduced by roughly 0.8 years compared to utilizing the solid clay layer and by 1.7 years in comparison to the non-cooled BIPV system.

First thin-disk oscillator with ceramic Yb:LuScO3 in comparison to the operation with ceramic Yb:Lu2O3

We report on the characterization and first laser operation of ceramic Yb:LuScO3 in a thin-disk oscillator. The optical performance achieved with a ceramic Yb:LuScO3 disk is compared to the one obtained with an existing ceramic Yb:Lu2O3 disk for reference. The characterization covers the measurement of the fluorescence spectra, the fluorescence lifetimes, and nomarsky imaging. The investigation on the laser operation covers the measurement of resonator losses, output powers, and thermal behavior during continuous-wave operation in a multimode thin-disk oscillator. An average output power of 149 W and a slope efficiency of 51.8% were achieved with the ceramic Yb:LuScO3 disk which reached a maximum surface temperature of about 150 °C. At the same temperature level, a disk made of the already established ceramic Yb:Lu2O3 delivered 957 W of output power with a slope efficiency of 75.7%.

Gain-Switched Er-Doped Fluoride Fiber Laser at ~3.75 μm

We demonstrate a pulsed Er-doped ZBLAN fiber laser operating at 3.75 μm based on the gain-switching scheme. A diffraction grating is introduced as a wavelength selection component to enable stable lasing in this long-wavelength region that deviates from the emission peak of 4F9/2→4I9/2 transition in Er3+. Different from the conventional gain-switching behavior where the pulse repetition frequency of the output laser is same as the that of the pump, the gain-switched laser demonstrated here shows a variable pulse repetition frequency, which accounts for 1/n (n = 4, 3, 2) of the pump pulse repetition frequency, in response to the 1950 nm pump power. The output pulse characteristics, including average output power, repetition frequency, pulse duration, and peak power, are investigated in detail. Over 200 mW average output power at 3.75 μm was obtained at 12 W of 1950 nm pump power. This work demonstrates that the Er-doped ZBLAN fiber laser, in combination with gain-switched scheme, is a feasible and promising approach to generate powerful pulsed emission > 3.7 μm.

A Broadband Three-Way Series Doherty Power Amplifier with Deep Power Back-Off Efficiency Enhancement for 5G Application

This article presents a new broadband three-way series Doherty power amplifier (DPA) topology, which enables a broadband output power back-off (OBO) efficiency enhancement of up to 10 dB or higher. The proposed DPA topology achieves Doherty load modulation and three-way power combining through a transformer, which requires only a low coupling factor, thus facilitating its implementation in double-sided PCBs or monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) processes. The design equations for the proposed DPA topology are proposed and analyzed in detail. A proof-of-concept PA at the 2.1–2.8 GHz band using commercial GaN transistors was designed and fabricated to validate the proposed concept. Within the operating frequency band, it achieves a saturated output power (Psat) of 44.5–46.5 dBm with a peak drain efficiency (DE) of 60–72%, and 43–52% DE at 10 dB OBO. Moreover, under a 20 MHz long-term evolution (LTE)-modulated signal, the PA demonstrates a 36.8–37.5 dBm average output power (Pavg) and 47–53% average drain efficiency (DEavg). Notably, the adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) is as low as −35–−28.2 dBc without any digital predistortion (DPD).

Amplification-free GW-level, 150 W, 14 MHz, and 8 fs thin-disk laser based on compression in multipass cells.

We report an amplification-free thin-disk laser system delivering 0.9 GW peak power. The 120 fs pulses, at 14 MHz, centered around 1 µm, containing 12.8 µJ delivered by a thin-disk oscillator, were compressed by factor 15 down to 8.0 fs with 148 W average output power and overall 82% efficiency. Additionally, we showed that even a sub-two-cycle operation with 6.2 fs can be reached with this technology. The system will be a crucial part of the XUV frequency comb being developed and a unique high-repetition rate driver for attosecond pulse generation.

Miniaturized design of multi-octave PA using spoof surface plasmon polaritons

Surface Plasmon Polariton (SSPP), which exhibits subwavelength-scaled field confinement, can be realized at microwave frequencies by ultrathin corrugated metallic strips, providing significant potential for circuit and system miniaturization. A number of SSPP units were employed in this study to design input and output matching networks of a multi-octave RF power amplifier (PA) for the purpose of reducing the overall circuit size. The designed SSPP-based PAs were fabricated and demonstrated to have an output power between 39.1 dBm and 41.8 dBm, and a power added efficiency (PAE) ranging between 60.2 % and 69.8 % in the frequency range of 0.8 GHz to 3.1 GHz, with a size of 35.5 mm * 46.7 mm, which achieves a 47 % size reduction compared to the traditional transmission-line based PA. A highly efficient global optimization method, the Bayesian Optimization (BO), was utilized to further enhance performance. SSPP PA's average output power and PAE have been improved by approximately 0.3 dBm and 2.6 %, respectively. Its overall size remains at the same level. With the use of a 20 MHz 5GNR signal, digital pre-distortion (DPD) has been implemented, and the linearity of the PA has been improved.

Using stacked pot connection of wetland microbial fuel cells to charge the battery: Potential and effecting factor

In the practical application of wetland microbial fuel cells (WMFCs), suitable designs and stacked connection systems have consistently been employed to increase and harvest power generation. Our study compares different WMFCs designs and demonstrates that the cylinder pot design outperforms the small hanging pot design in terms of electrical energy production. Moreover, power generation from the cylinder pot can be further optimized through separator modification and stacked connections. The stacked WMFCs design exhibited no voltage reversal, with an average power output ranging from 0.03 ± 0.01 mW (single pot) to 0.11 ± 0.05 mW (stacked connection of 5 pots) over a 60-day operational period. Additionally, our study identifies distinct patterns in both anodic and cathodic physiochemical factors including electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and nitrate (NO3−), highlighting the significant influence of plant involvement on altering concentrations and levels in different electrode zones. The WMFCs bioelectricity production system, employing 15 pots stacked connections achieves an impressive maximum power density of 9.02 mW/m2. The system's practical application is evidenced by its ability to successfully power a DC-DC circuit and charge a 1.2 V AAA battery over a period of 30 h, achieving an average charging rate of 0.0.2 V per hour.

Design and experimental investigation of a positive feedback magnetic-coupled piezoelectric energy harvester

A positive feedback magnetic-coupled piezoelectric energy harvester (PFM) is proposed to address the limitations of current piezoelectric energy collectors, including restricted acquisition direction, limited acquisition bandwidth, and low energy output. Firstly, the dynamic theoretical model of the energy harvester was established, and the optimization factors were explored, providing a solid theoretical foundation for subsequent research endeavors. The energy capture characteristics of rectangular beam and compound trapezoidal beam were compared through finite element simulation analysis. Subsequently, an experimental platform was constructed and an optimized experimental methodology was devised to analyze the energy capture characteristics and enhance the performance of the energy harvester. The results demonstrate that the positive feedback magnetic-coupled PFM with a trapezoidal beam exhibits superior energy capture efficiency. Furthermore, it is observed that the optimized energy harvester possesses wide frequency coverage, multi-directional capabilities, low-frequency adaptability, and facilitates easy vibration. When the 45 kΩ resistor is connected in series and subjected to a longitudinal external excitation amplitude of 0.5 g, it is capable of generating an average voltage and power output of 4.20 V and 0.39 mW respectively at a vibration frequency of 9 Hz. Similarly, when exposed to a transverse external excitation amplitude of 1 g, it can produce an average voltage output of 6.2 V and power output of 0.85 mW at a vibration frequency of 19 Hz. When the inclination angle of the energy harvester is set to 35 degrees, the maximum voltage output occurs at a frequency of 18 Hz and the Z-axis to X-axis force ratio of the energy harvester is 1.428. These research findings can serve as valuable references for piezoelectric energy harvesting applications in self-powered microelectronic systems.

A Parameter Optimization Design and Numerical Calculation Method for Circular Heliostat Field

Solar energy is a low-carbon, eco-friendly, clean energy source that is easily converted into heat and electricity, making the study of solar thermal power generation technology of great significance and with broad application prospects. To improve the performance of solar power plants, it is necessary to reasonably arrange the light reflectors. Both denser heliostats are needed to ensure enough light can be concentrated into the solar collector, thereby improving the power of the power station; at the same time, waste of material must be prevented, striving to increase output thermal power per unit mirror area. This paper is based on the background of the 2023 CUMCM Problem A. Firstly, it analyzes parameters such as the optical efficiency of the original heliostat field, the annual average output power, and the annual average thermal power output per unit mirror area. Secondly, based on the data provided in the appendix, it analyzes the distribution pattern of the heliostat field and establishes an optimization design model for the heliostat field. Next, the optimization design model of the heliostat field is solved using discrete numerical calculation methods. Finally, according to the results of the model solution, the placement positions of the heliostats, the size of the mirrors, and the installation height are adjusted to improve the annual average thermal power output per unit mirror area, thereby achieving an optimized design of the heliostat field.

Ischemic Conditioning Reduces Neuromuscular Fatigability During Dynamic Exercise Post Stroke

INTRODUCTION: In addition to baseline muscle weakness, stroke survivors often demonstrate increased neuromuscular fatigability (an acute exercise-induced reduction in power, hereafter referred to as fatigability), which limits endurance during functional tasks. Ischemic conditioning (IC) is a non-invasive and easy-to-administer intervention that can reduce fatigability in stroke survivors during a sustained isometric contraction of their paretic knee extensors. However, IC’s effects on fatigability during dynamic contractions are unknown, despite the greater relevance to everyday activities. Additionally, fatigability is known to be task specific. Thus, the purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of IC on fatigability (percent reduction in power) during dynamic contractions of the paretic knee extensors in stroke survivors. We hypothesized that fatigability would be less after a single session of IC versus IC-sham treatment in stroke survivors. Methods: Eight stroke survivors (66 ± 6 years of age, 6 male) performed 60 maximal voluntary concentric contractions (1 every 4 seconds) with their paretic knee extensors against a resistance of 30% of their maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque through a 60-degree range of motion after receiving a single session of IC and IC-sham treatment on two separate days. IC consisted of 5 sets of 5-minute upper thigh blood flow occlusion at 225 mmHg (25 mmHg for IC-sham) with 5 minutes of no occlusion between each set. The order of the 2 sessions was randomized. All participants visited the laboratory on a different day for functional measurements (Fugl-Meyer Assessment, 10-meter walk test, and 6-minute walk test). Reduction in power was calculated as the difference between the highest average power output from 5 consecutive contractions within the first 15 contractions and the average power output from the last 5 contractions. A paired t-test was used to compare if fatigability during dynamic exercise would differ between the 2 sessions after IC and IC-sham treatment. Pearson correlation was performed to determine the relationship between the difference in fatigability (after IC versus IC-sham treatment) and functional measurements. Results: After a single session of IC treatment, stroke survivors were less fatigable compared to IC-sham treatment (21.9 ± 19.2% power reduction vs. 29.4 ± 19.0%, p = 0.016). Improvement in fatigability after IC versus IC-sham treatment was positively correlated with Fugl-Meyer Assessment lower extremity motor score ( r = 0.82, p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: These preliminary results indicate that IC could serve as a potential intervention to reduce fatigability during dynamic exercise in stroke survivors, especially those who are mildly affected by stroke. Funding Source: American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship (903373, ZZ) and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development R01 Grant (HD099340, AH & MD). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Investigation of the integration of an oscillating aerofoil-based energy harvester into the building roof

The increasing energy efficiency requirements have led to innovative renewable energy solutions being integrated into buildings. Several works have shown the potential of micro wind turbines on buildings. However, their implementations have been hindered by several challenges. Flow energy harvesting devices such as oscillating aerofoils provide potential, yet a literature gap exists regarding their integration into buildings. This study addresses this gap by investigating oscillating aerofoil wind energy harvesting system performance through numerical modelling. A coupled numerical model was introduced, integrating a novel computational approach using ANSYS Fluent with one degree of freedom in rotational motion. This methodology was introduced to analyze the dynamic behaviour and predict mechanical power output of the oscillating aerofoil wind energy harvesting system, which is a novel exploration in existing literature. Moreover, validation of the computational fluid dynamics model was conducted through using experimental wind tunnel data in the literature, and results demonstrated agreement between numerical and experimental results. To improve the wind energy harvesting system of a single oscillating aerofoil, it was integrated into building roof to take advantage of acceleration effects of building roof shape. The design improvement comprises of a novel wind energy harvesting system design of an oscillating aerofoil integrated into three different building roof including flat, pitched, and curved shapes to enhance energy efficiency. The numerical analysis demonstrated that integrating an oscillating NACA 0012 aerofoil into a curved roof resulted in the highest average power output. Specifically, the integration of the curved roof and the aerofoil yielded 18 watts, while the flat roof generated only 0.6 watts at a wind speed of 3 m/s. Integration into a pitched roof achieved 12 watts at 9 m/s. Comparatively, integrating the curved roof with the aerofoil increased power output by 50% compared to the pitched roof design at 9 m/s wind speed. Thus, variations in wind speed significantly impact performance. In addition, changes in wind direction from 0 to 10 degrees led to reduced efficiency and lower predicted power output. Lastly, the power spectral density for NACA 0012 integrated into the pitched and curved roof buildings revealed peaks at 5.8 Hz in 9 m/s wind speed conditions.

High power self-Q-switched Tm:YAP laser

To the best of our knowledge, the output performance of a self-Q-switched Tm:YAP laser has been controlled by adjusting the cavity length for the first time. By using a concise concave-flat cavity, a pulsed laser emitting at 1993 nm is produced without any additional modulation device. Under a stable self-Q-switched mode, the maximum average output power of 9.76 W is achieved from the laser when the incident pump power is 28.78 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 36.9% and an optical-to-optical conversion efficacy of 33.9%. Also, the narrowest pulse width of 485 ns at 48.97 kHz is obtained from the laser with a single pulse energy of 199.3 µJ. As far as we know, this laser has the highest average power and narrowest pulse width compared to other self-Q-switched Tm:YAP lasers.

On the validation and applicability of multiphysics models for hydrogen SOFC

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are a viable alternative for environmentally-friendly conversion of hydrogen into energy and multiphysics simulation can be used to diminish the experimental effort to improve their efficiency. However, an appropriate model of the involved processes and their parameters must be chosen. This paper studies the effects of choice between Maxwell–Stefan and Fick’s law models, and uncertainty of electrode ionic conductivity σion and anodic reference exchange current density i0,ref,f, on cell performance as implemented in the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. In the case of Maxwell–Stefan, peak average power output increased by 21.9% as σion varies from 10−3 to 10−1 S/cm, while the model based on Fick’s law shows an increase of 55.2%. The Maxwell–Stefan model exhibits an increase in peak power of 6% as i0,ref,f ranges from 0.4 to 0.8 A/cm2, and the Fick’s law model an increase of 8.2%. The dependence of the Maxwell–Stefan model on σion is characterized as logarithmic in the studied range. The Maxwell–Stefan model is deemed preferable because its lower sensitivity to the studied parameters helps mitigate uncertainty. It is concluded that despite its limitations, multiphysics modeling is a useful tool for directing research on SOFC materials owing to its descriptive potential.