Branch Line Research Articles

Study on the Characteristics of Molten Glass in a Float Glass Process with a New Structure.

Glass is one of the most common materials in society, and the float glass process is the main production method of glass used at present, which involves adopting a melting furnace with a single cooler. However, this structure has been difficult to fit to the requirements of modern glass production, such as producing multiple types of glass and large-scale production. Therefore, a large-tonnage float glass melting furnace with a double cooler is studied, which is rising in popularity in the glass sector. The aim of this paper is to clarify the characteristics of the new glass furnace. A numerical simulation technique is applied to analyze the thermal and flow characteristics of molten glass in the new structure so as to clarify the feasibility of production by checking the temperature distribution and flow field of the molten glass. The results show that the new structure also exhibits flow behavior similar to the original structure in the branch line. Due to the addition of the branch line, the stability of the temperature is improved, with a 60 K and 43 K difference between the surface and bottom in the main and branch lines, respectively. Similar stability is shown in the flow field, specifically low acceleration in the cooler (0.006 m/s2). The bubble clarification time is about 2700 s, less than the 3000 s required for flow. The parameters of the branch line meet the requirements of glass production. In theory, a glass-melting furnace with a double cooler has the capacity to produce two types of glass.

Data-model driven probability model of branch power flow for distribution networks and its application to analysis of overload and line loss

The fluctuation of highly penetrated distributed generations (DGs) in distribution networks (DNs) increases branch overload risks, which makes the analysis uncertainty of branch power flow more complex. The probability analysis of branch power can grasp the power flow operation characteristics under uncertain conditions, which supports the power flow optimization management and ensures the safe and economic operation of DNs. Therefore, this paper proposes a data-model driven probability analysis method for branch power flow in DNs. An approximate branch power model is first derived to reveal the analytical relationship between branch power and node power. Then, based on the branch power approximation model and the forecasting error, the datasets of branch apparent power are constructed to capture the complex nonlinear characteristics of the power flow. The non-Gaussian distribution characteristics of branch apparent power and line loss are described by the optimal probability fitting method. Finally, the probability level of branch overload is evaluated and the probability distribution of line loss is analyzed. The case studies demonstrate that the branch power approximation model is highly accurate, and the probability distribution of the branch apparent power presents different characteristics. The proposed method can quickly and accurately calculate the branch overload probability level.

Settlement Suitability Analysis: The Case of Bursa City

Abstract: Nowadays, the existing built-up area texture in cities has started to shift towards areas that are not suitable for settlement. In this sense, settlement suitability analyses play a critical role in the realisation of sustainable development goals. Detailed analyses are required to formulate an effective settlement strategy in regions with large and diverse natural features such as Bursa. In this study, in order to determine the areas suitable for settlement in the study area, which covers the borders of Osmangazi, Nilüfer and Yıldırım districts, which are the central districts of Bursa city, a settlement suitability analysis was carried out with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method using 9 parameters consisting of slope, elevation, lithology, land use, precipitation, temperature, distance to stream, distance to fault and erosion. The main underlying data used in the study are 10m resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM), lithology, land use, erosion, precipitation, and temperature (WorldClim) data of Bursa city. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that 9% of the city is very suitable, 44% is less suitable and 47% is not suitable. The area where the city was established is in very suitable and moderate suitable class. It is observed that the settlements established in the study area, especially in the areas close to the fault line and the main river branch, are in the moderate suitability class. In addition, it has been determined that the erosion risk is in the low class, and the settlements far from the main river branch and fault line are in the very favourable class. While it is observed that Bursa city is located at appropriate values in terms of topography, it is seen that especially the southern part of the city is not sufficiently suitable in terms of distance to fault lines. The results obtained aim to contribute to sustainable settlement planning and to provide a guide for the methods and processes to be used in settlement suitability analysis.

Potential assessment of CO2 source/sink and its matching research during CCS process of deep unworkable seam

It is of great significance for the engineering popularization of CO2-ECBM technology to evaluate the potential of CCUS source and sink and study the matching of pipeline network of deep unworkable seam. In this study, the deep unworkable seam was taken as the research object. Firstly, the evaluation method of CO2 storage potential in deep unworkable seam was discussed. Secondly, the CO2 storage potential was analyzed. Then, the matching research of CO2 source and sink was carried out, and the pipe network design was optimized. Finally, suggestions for the design of pipe network are put forward from the perspective of time and space scale. The results show that the average annual CO2 emissions of coal-fired power plants vary greatly, and the total emissions are 58.76 million tons. The CO2 storage potential in deep unworkable seam is huge with a total amount of 762 million tons, which can store CO2 for 12.97 years. During the 10-year period, the deep unworkable seam can store 587.6 million tons of CO2, and the cumulative length of pipeline is 251.61 km with requiring a cumulative capital of $ 4.26 × 1010. In the process of CO2 source-sink matching, the cumulative saving mileage of carbon sink is 98.75 km, and the cumulative saving cost is $ 25.669 billion with accounting for 39.25% and 60.26% of the total mileage and cost, respectively. Based on the three-step approach, the whole line of CO2 source and sink in Huainan coalfield can be completed by stages and regions, and all CO2 transportation and storage can be realized. CO2 pipelines include gas collection and distribution branch lines, intra-regional trunk lines, and interregional trunk lines. Based on the reasonable layout of CO2 pipelines, a variety of CCS applications can be simultaneously carried out, intra-regional and inter-regional CO2 transport network demonstrations can be built, and integrated business models of CO2 transport and storage can be simultaneously built on land and sea. The research results can provide reference for the evaluation of CO2 sequestration potential of China's coal bases, and lay a foundation for the deployment of CCUS clusters.

Dual band beam steering antenna using branch line coupler network for higher band applications

Abstract A beam-steering fed array antenna has been proposed for radar and mm-Wave applications operating from 22.6 to 26.89 GHz and 30–45 GHz with B.W % of 17.34 % and 40 % respectively having size of 12.11 × 25.58 × 0.8 mm3 (0.96λo × 2.01λo × 0.06λo). For radar, this antenna covers 24.15 GHz as police radar, 24.25–25.25 GHz & 31.8–33.4 GHz as navigation radar, and 33.4–36 GHz as high-resolution radar for airport surveillance. This antenna also covers mm-wave bands for different countries (Brazil-40 GHz, China- 34–42.5 GHz, Mexico- 33 GHz and 37 GHz, and USA- 24 GHz, 37 & 39 GHz). At initial stage, a monopole antenna with DGS has been designed with an operating band of 20.2–31.2 GHz and 36.6–42.2 GHz. Proposed antenna shifts the beam pattern at 90° with each other after exciting each port in alternative order with a scanning angle of ±45°, ±75° & ±180°. Peak gain for 1st band ranges from 7.1 to 9 dBi and for the 2nd band ranges from 8.8 to 10.2 dBi and has a radiation efficiency of 88 %. Other diversity parameters such as ECC, DG, MEG, and isolation get analysed to observe the coupling effects. Design, development, and analysis of all antenna parameters is done by using HFSS 19 platform.

Long-lines for research monitoring and efficient population regulation of an invasive apex predator, European catfish (Silurus glanis)

European catfish is a large-bodied apex predator, a key species in native areas, but invasive in others where it negatively impacts local aquatic fauna necessitates catfish regulation. However, traditional ichthyological methods face challenges in capturing it. The study presents a detailed description of the efficient long-line method, refined through 48 sampling campaigns across twelve European water bodies. This method proves cost-effective and technically undemanding, requiring an average of 5.6 bait fish to catch one European catfish per day. The long-lines outperform other techniques, with the highest Biomass per unit effort (BPUE) of 6.205 kg of catfish per man-hour and minimal by-catch (0.276 kg per man-hour). In contrast, fyke nets, the second most efficient method, achieve a BPUE of 0.621 kg of catfish per man-hour with 3.953 kg of by-catch per man-hour. To optimize long-line catches, a 15 m distance between branch lines and regular relocation is recommended. Live fish is the most effective bait with no significant differences observed among species. However, earthworms, a less controversial alternative, are also efficient, especially for smaller catfish. Our recapture approach using various ichthyological methods revealed no hook avoidance behavior by catfish after a previous catch or avoidance by a certain part of the population. The long-line method is suitable for population regulation, scientific research, and conservation efforts and is the most effective means of capturing live European catfish.

A Study on Fault Localization Method of Three-Terminal Multi-Section Overhead Line–Cable Hybrid Line Using MEEMD Combined with Teager Energy Operator Algorithm

An improved fault localization method combining total aggregate empirical modal decomposition (MEEMD) and Teager energy operator (TEO) is proposed to address the fault localization issue of three-terminal multi-segment overhead line–cable hybrid transmission lines. This method solves the fault localization problem caused by wave impedance discontinuity in hybrid lines. First, the MEEMD algorithm, which improves modal aliasing, and the Teager energy operator, which reflects transient energy changes, are combined for the accurate detection of faulty traveling wave heads. The fault line section determination condition within the fault branch is used to determine the overhead line section or cable section where the fault is located after determining the faulty branch line. This condition is based on the time difference between the initial traveling wave of the fault arriving at each end measurement point and the T-node. Ultimately, the fault distance is determined using the double-ended traveling wave technique. By combining PSCAD and MATLAB for simulation verification, the accuracy of the ranging method is compared and analyzed, and the results show that the method is able to ensure the accuracy of ranging at different fault locations and transition resistances. Additionally, the localization error is basically kept within 30 m, which significantly improves the accuracy of fault localization.

A new method for synthesis and designing transmissive linear-to-circular polarization converters based on branch line circuit model

This paper proposes a new design method of a linear-to-circular polarization converter based on the branch line circuit model. The series branches are implemented by dielectric spacers and the shunt branches are implemented by anisotropic admittance sheets. The admittance matrix of the anisotropic admittance sheets is derived by even and odd mode analysis. A unit cell consisting of two metal layers and a dielectric spacer is then designed using an iterative algorithm for operation from 15.5 to 23 GHz. Results indicate that the axial ratio and insertion loss of the designed polarizer are better than 3 and 1.5 dB respectively, for incident angles between ±45°. To validate the simulation results, a waveguide-based test setup is designed and fabricated, with measurement results indicating good agreement with simulations. The proposed method can be potentially applied to design other anisotropic structures such as half-plate polarizers and polarization rotators.

On the Water Jet Quality at Part-Load Operation of Pelton turbines

Abstract Pelton turbines with multiple nozzles are characterised by their excellent performance over a wide operating range of mass flow rates. Thus, Pelton turbine manifolds must also be designed to deliver good flow quality to the nozzles at part-load operating conditions to accomplish the expectations. A reduced number of nozzles are opened at low mass flow rate operating conditions, where the choice of the open nozzles depends on the water jet quality generated at the individual nozzles. We investigate the flow phenomena occurring in the manifold with the operation of a reduced nozzle number employing numerical simulations to analyse beneficial nozzle opening selections. The turbulent two-phase flow is predicted by the Volume-Of-Fluid (VOF) approach and the k–ω SST turbulence closure model. Different nozzle operating scenarios are simulated, and the implications on the water jet quality, i.e. deviation and shape deformation, are reported. The results show that the free water jet quality criteria can change drastically at individual nozzle operating conditions because of the velocity changes at the branch line junctions.

Improving Short-Haul Intermodal Transit Times on Low-Density Rail Corridors with Platoons of Self-Propelled Autonomous Railcars

U.S. freight railroads consume in excess of 13 billion liters of diesel fuel yearly. Although efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions have made substantial progress in the last decades, the benefits are relatively incremental and will not be sufficient to realize full decarbonization. Several independent efforts are underway to develop alternative locomotive fuels and propulsion technologies designed to fit within the typical locomotive envelope. In addition to these more conventional efforts, multiple startup companies are working to develop self-propelled autonomous railcars (SPARCs) that can achieve targeted decarbonization levels while also disrupting the traditional railroad operating paradigm. SPARC operations with multiple platoon lengths, as well as a control scenario with a conventional train length of 110 railcars, were simulated on an example corridor linking a port with an inland intermodal terminal. This line was single track with short sidings on inconsistent intervals, which is typical of U.S. branch lines serving few local customers without heavy through traffic. For all traffic levels simulated, SPARCs had a much lower transit time than the conventional trains. Optimal platoon length varied between 15- and 38-vehicles per platoon depending on the traffic demand, well under North American standards of over 100 railcars per train.

A Differential and High-Sensitivity Thickness Measurement Sensor for Dielectric Solid Materials Using a Branch Line Coupler

A Differential and High-Sensitivity Thickness Measurement Sensor for Dielectric Solid Materials Using a Branch Line Coupler

A Compact Wideband Branch Line Coupler for Lower 5G Applications

A Compact Wideband Branch Line Coupler for Lower 5G Applications

A multi-objective genetic algorithm approach applied to compact meander branch line couplers design for 5G-enabled IoT applications

A multi-objective genetic algorithm approach applied to compact meander branch line couplers design for 5G-enabled IoT applications

Solutions for Quadrature/Nonquadrature Branch Line Coupler With Equal/Unequal Power Division [Application Notes

Solutions for Quadrature/Nonquadrature Branch Line Coupler With Equal/Unequal Power Division [Application Notes

Wideband Center-fed Stacked Patch Circularly Polarized Antenna used in Phased Array

A center-fed circularly polarized stacked patch antenna (CF-CPSPA) with enhanced axial-ratio (AR) bandwidth is proposed in this paper. The antenna is composed of two microstrip patches, the lower patch consists of a circular pad, an elliptical-ring, and two branch lines connecting them, which is used to realize the center-fed condition, and the upper patch is an elliptical patch to achieve the wide band performance. Firstly, two center-fed linearly polarized stacked patch antennas with wide band are designed, one mode radiated with x polarization, and the other generates y polarized radiation. Next, the orthogonal modes of two linearly polarized antennas are combined together by a specific design. Finally, the approximate equal amplitude and quadrature phase difference of the introduced modes are achieved in the operating frequency band with proper parameters analysis. And the impedance bandwidth and 3dB AR bandwidth is improved to 30.4% and 16.5%.

Design of a Microwave Quadrature Hybrid Coupler with Harmonic Suppression Using Artificial Neural Networks

In this paper, a compact and simple structure of an elliptic microstrip lowpass filter (LPF) is designed for harmonic suppression in microwave quadrature hybrid coupler (QHC) applications. A radial resonator and a rectangular resonator are used to produce an elliptic LPF. The proposed LPF is used on the outer sides of the branch line coupler, which has improved the coupler harmonic suppression. Furthermore, artificial neural networks (ANNs) are incorporated to improve the LPF design process. The LPF best structure is obtained using the proposed ANN model. The proposed LPF has a compact size, which only occupies 16.4 mm × 7.3 mm equals to 0.164 λg × 0.073 λg, has a cut frequency of 2.2 GHz, and shows a sharp transmission band with a roll-off rate of 158.3 dB/GHz. Finally, the deigned QHC operates correctly at 1 GHz, which shows high harmonic suppression ability. The proposed QHC provides wide suppression band from 2.25 GHz up to more than 14 GHz, which can effectively suppress 3rd, to 14th harmonics. The proposed coupler features desirable parameters of S11, S21, S31, and S41, with magnitude of −21 dB, −3.4 dB, −3.3 dB, and −22.5 dB, at the operating frequency. The proposed approach mitigates the complexity of the circuit fabrication, compared with the previous methods while achieved desirable performances for the proposed QHC.

The Influence of Temperament on the Conveying Efficiency of UCG High Temperature Gathering Network

Due to the particularity of its gas source area and transportation medium, the factors affecting the efficiency of UCG pipeline transportation are also more complex than those of conventional natural gas. The dendriform UCG pipeline network model is designed through pipe network simulation software, aiming at different component conditions such as moisture, coal tar and dust, and aiming at different pressure and pressure drop changes of wellsite, branch line and trunk line respectively for quantitative analysis. The results show that the increase of the proportion of CH4 and H2 can improve the transport efficiency. With the increase of the proportion of H2O components, the transport efficiency will decrease. Tar in the group does not increase the transportation efficiency, and if the component is large, it will lead to liquid phase in the pipeline and reduce the transportation efficiency; The appearance of dust will reduce the efficiency of transportation.

Understanding train tourism mobilities: a practice theories perspective

By integrating mobilities research with practice theories, this paper uncovers the interdependencies between tourism, transport and mobilities that allows for a more comprehensive analysis of individual mobile practices and their connections with other mobilities and tourism practices at a destination. By analysing train travel as a performance, practice entity (materials, meanings and competencies) and practice bundle, we also bridge the structure–agency gap in transport and tourism research. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork on three longdistance branch lines in Northern England, we unpack train mobilities in the tourism context to show the interconnectedness of and the competition between seemingly unrelated practices. Our findings reveal the structures and dynamics that shape rural train travel within the tourism context. Moreover, train mobility is transformed through various micro-changes that occur through tourists’ performances and changes in the practice elements, such as the presence of skilled or unskilled travellers. We furthermore show that train tourism is an interlocked system of what we have termed ‘multimodal mobility bundles’ involving the interplay and competition between different mobilities and practices and the role of governance in shaping these dynamics.

A review of beamforming microstrip patch antenna array for future 5G/6G networks

With the increase in demand for high data rates and high bandwidth because of multiple users all over the globe, the technology has moved toward the next-generation of wireless communication. This rapid advancement of wireless communication technologies has led to the emergence of 5G networks, which promise significantly higher data rates, lower latency, and enhanced connectivity. Researchers believe that five essential techniques can enable 5G. Beamforming is one of those essentials, as it plays a vital role in achieving reliable and high-capacity communication. This review article portrays a comprehensive analysis of the 5G beamformer Microstrip Patch Antenna array techniques for communication systems. The paper comprises of a deep overview of the fundamental concepts and principles of beamforming, including analog, hybrid, and digital beamforming techniques. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of each approach and discusses their suitability for 5G applications. An in-depth examination of various beamforming techniques employed in 5G, encompassing traditional beamforming, massive Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output beamforming, hybrid beamforming, and adaptive beamforming. The discussion encompasses the strengths, weaknesses, and performance trade-offs of each technique, along with their applicability in diverse deployment scenarios and applications. The review of multiple couplers that are used for the feeding of the antenna is discussed with included hybrid coupler, Wilkinson power divider, branch line coupler, and butler matrix in beamformer smart antenna for 5G/6G communications. Numerous beamforming techniques are compared based on their merits, demerits, and applications. Moreover, the dielectric substrate utilized to design the beamformer was also reviewed. The findings presented in this paper serve as a valuable resource for the researcher, scholars, and engineers working in the field of 5G wireless communications and antenna designing, facilitating the development and deployment of efficient and robust beamforming solutions for future 5G networks.

Multi-terminal negative sequence directional pilot protection method for distributed photovoltaic and energy storage distribution network

After high proportion of distributed photovoltaic and energy storage is connected to the distribution network by distributed multi-point T-connection, the traditional two-terminal directional pilot protection criterion will be affected by the output characteristics of distributed generation (DG) fault current, which leads to the wrong judgment of the fault direction. In response to the asymmetric fault of typical high proportion of DG T-connected to rural distribution network under the background that DG generally adopts negative sequence current suppression strategy, the paper studies the characteristics of negative sequence power direction when the measuring points of the main line and branch lines of DG distribution network in forward fault or backward fault under the negative sequence current suppression strategy, and puts forward a multi-terminal directional pilot protection method of distribution network with high proportion of DG based on negative sequence power direction, which solves the problem that the traditional two-terminal directional pilot protection in DG distribution network is not applicable. Finally, the correctness of the protection criterion is verified in Pscad/Emtdc.© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.