Conventional IC Research Articles

Enhancing Electric Vehicle Battery Thermal Management using Phase Change Materials: A CFD Analysis for Improved Heat Dissipation

The adverse environmental issues and climate change has compelled world to shift to renewable energy systems. Conventional IC engines are the major contributor for air pollution which is the main cause for the global warming. Therefore, EVs (Electric Vehicle) are the future of the automotive industry. The important issues faced by EVS are battery heat generation. Hence in order to remove heat efficiently from the EV battery CFD analysis of a passive thermal management system using PCM for Li-ion batteries is studied for three different discharge rates. Compared to bare cell, the cell with passive BTMS reduces the maximum temperature rise by 2%, 2.1% and 1% at discharge rates of 1.5 C, 1.0 C and 0.5 C respectively thus implying that the BTMS adopted is effective in removing heat from the surface of the cell.

Application of a portable ion chromatograph for real-time field analysis of nitrite and nitrate in soils and soil pore waters

Real-time monitoring of nitrite and nitrate is crucial for maintaining soil health and promoting plant growth. In this study, a portable ion-chromatograph (IC, Aquamonitrix) analyser, coupled with a field-applicable ultrasonic-assisted extraction method, was utilised for in-field determination of nitrate and nitrite in soils. This is the first application of this type of analyser to soil nutrients. On-site analysis of soil from a local sports field showed 94.8 ± 4.3 μg g−1 nitrate, with LODs of 32.0 μg g−1 for nitrate and 5.4 μg g−1 for nitrite. The results were in close agreement with those obtained using a conventional lab-based IC. Relative standard deviations (%RSDs) for soil analysis using Aquamonitrix were consistently below 10%. The obtained average recoveries of samples spiked with nitrite were 100% and 104% for the portable IC and conventional IC, respectively. Furthermore, to assess the suitability of portable IC for samples with high organic matter content, various natural organic fertilisers were extracted and analysed. The results showed 16.2 ± 0.7 μg g−1 nitrite and 28.5 ± 5.6 μg g−1 nitrate in sheep manure samples with LODs of 2.0 μg g−1 for nitrite and 12.0 μg g−1 for nitrate. The portable IC system was further demonstrated via real-time on-site analysis of soil pore-water acquired using a portable battery-based ceramic pore-water sampler. A continuous increase in nitrate concentration over time was observed (from 80 to 148 μg mL−1) in the soil pore-water in a vegetable garden four days after heavy rain. Unlike conventionally sampled natural waters, 7-day storage of the studied pore water samples revealed no changes in nitrate concentrations. An average of 558 ± 51 μg mL−1 nitrate was detected in the soil pore-water samples analysed on a spinach farm, immediately after irrigation.

How to assess the intellectual capital of firms in uncertain times: a systematic literature review and a proposed model for practical adoption

PurposeIntellectual capital (IC) plays a crucial role in today’s volatile business landscape, yet its measurement remains complex. To better navigate these challenges, the authors propose the Integrated Intellectual Capital Measurement (IICM) model, an innovative, robust and comprehensive framework designed to capture IC amid business uncertainty. This study focuses on IC measurement models, typically reliant on secondary data, thus distinguishing it from conventional IC studies.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis across Web of Science, Scopus and EBSCO Business Source Ultimate in February 2023. This yielded 2,709 IC measurement studies, from which the authors selected 27 quantitative papers published from 1985 to 2023.FindingsThe analysis revealed no single, universally accepted approach for measuring IC, with company attributes such as size, industry and location significantly influencing IC measurement methods. A key finding is human capital’s critical yet underrepresented role in firm competitiveness, which the IICM model aims to elevate.Originality/valueThis is the first SLR focused on IC measurement amid business uncertainty, providing insights for better management and navigating turbulence. The authors envisage future research exploring the interplay between IC components, technology, innovation and network-building strategies for business resilience. Additionally, there is a need to understand better the IC’s impact on specific industries (automotive, transportation and hospitality), Social Development Goals and digital transformation performance.

Thermal management system in electric vehicle batteries for environmental sustainability

AbstractDue to the extreme sensitivity of temperature in Li‐ion batteries, thermal management is a significant issue that must be addressed. Since the battery in electric vehicles produces an enormous amount of heat, it reduces its efficiency and its performance. Currently, there is a need for electric vehicles (EVs) because conventional IC engines produce an enormous amount of pollution which affects the environment, so an electric vehicle produces a very small amount of pollution. It is now being recommended and used by many people. But the electric vehicle faces some major problems due to overheating in their battery module. Nowadays, battery temperature is regulated by a system called battery thermal management system (BTMS). Modern EVs use active and passive cooling systems. Thermal management tries to improve battery architecture for greater autonomy or quick charging. To meet future difficulties in thermal management, such as air or liquid cooling, are needed. As a result of the battery's overheating, the vehicle's performance, power, energy storage, charging, and discharging are all negatively impacted; hence, a reliable thermal management system for the battery is essential for resolving these problems. This study provides an overview of the BTMS of the future, beginning with the problems involving temperature and safety. The following is a list of the benefits and drawbacks of BTMSs, which are used to maintain acceptable temperatures for battery packs. In conclusion, an analysis of the progress made in developing temperature management systems for future batteries is presented. As a first look at potential BTMSs for locomotive applications, it has been proposed to conduct a comprehensive analysis and classification of both existing and potential battery management systems.

Design and fabrication of a series contact RF MEMS switch with a novel top electrode

Radio-frequency (RF) micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) switches are widely used in communication devices and test instruments. In this paper, we demonstrate the structural design and optimization of a novel RF MEMS switch with a straight top electrode. The insertion loss, isolation, actuator voltage, and stress distribution of the switch are optimized and explored simultaneously by HFSS and COMSOL software, taking into account both its RF and mechanical properties. Based on the optimized results, a switch was fabricated by a micromachining process compatible with conventional IC processes. The RF performance in the DC to 18 GHz range was measured with a vector network analyzer, showing isolation of more than 21.28 dB over the entire operating frequency range. Moreover, the required actuation voltage was about 9.9 V, and the switching time was approximately 33 μs. A maximum lifetime of 109 switching cycles was obtained. Additionally, the dimension of the sample is 1.8 mm × 1.8 mm × 0.3 mm, which might find application in the current stage.

A Comprehensive Study of the Effects of Various Operating Parameters on a Biogas-Diesel Dual Fuel Engine

Alternative fuels are found to be the most promising solution to the problem of conventional IC engine pollution because their use curtails its huge emissions without exerting a negative impact on its performance. In this research, a conventional compression ignition engine is investigated by operating it with the combination of simulated biogas and neat diesel under a dual fuel mode of operations. The simulated biogas in the current work comprises different proportions of methane and carbon dioxide in the mixture. The full factorial approach in this work involved studying the effects of parameters such as biogas flow rate, composition, intake temperature, torque, and methane enrichment (complete removal of CO2 from biogas) on the engine performance, emissions, and combustion indices with an extensive number of experiments. It is witnessed from the research that biogas is capable of providing a maximum of 90% of the overall energy input, while the CI engine operates under dual fuel mode. Under the dual fuel mode of operation involving biogas, a significant amount of reductions are witnessed in secondary fuel consumption (67%), smoke (75%), and NOx (55%) emissions. At low flow rates, biogas is found to improve brake thermal efficiency (BTE), whereas it reduces hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. Methane enrichment resulted in more diesel substitution by 5.5% and diminishes CO and HC emissions by 5% and 16%, respectively. Increasing the intake temperature caused an increase in thermal efficiency (2%) and a reduction in diesel consumption (~35%), and it curtailed all emission elements except NOx.

Parametric optimization of the CNG/ethanol-induced RCCI profiles in biodiesel combustion through a robust design space foray

To attain a “net-zero carbon footprint,” plant-based biodiesel should be used in conventional IC engines with naturalizing other important emission characteristics like nitrogen oxide and carbon footprint. This study uses a statistical modeling-based multi-objective optimization approach to find the compromise parametric solution for the combustion, performance, stability, and emissions of a diesel engine powered by Mahua biodiesel mixed with compressed natural gas (CNG)/ethanol. This current study was conducted through an advanced injection strategy called the split injection approach, followed by various energy shares from ethanol or CNG enrichment through port fuel injection strategies. Hence the engine operation was conducted with the fuel mixture of various reactivity in different proportions. However, the injection angle was counted as an effective input parameter along with the variation in energy share for different injection angles. A robust ‘design of experiment’ (DoE) approach was incorporated here by a novel strategy developed by Scott Kowalski, John Cornell, and Geoff Vining (KCV) to investigate this multi-factor approach which combines both reactivity phasing and injecting phasing strategies. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based statistical modeling was incorporated here to predict the corresponding responses in continuous design space. It is pertinent to mention that the combination of this novel DoE-RSM-based injection and reactivity phasing is a first-of-a-kind in this paradigm as per the current literature. The robust model’s best desirable responses showed improved combustion, performance, and emission characteristics while remaining within US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits. The NHC & CO footprint of the best optimal strategy was almost 15% and 60% lower for ethanol enriched biodiesel operation and 50% & 80% lower for PFI-CNG operation, respectively, the experimental values corresponding to the highest LNVIMEP & lowest COVIMEP. PM footprint has also illustrated an almost 40% lower footprint corresponding to the lowest ROPRMAX for ethanol enriched strategy and 5% reduced emission for CNG-BD operation corresponding to maximum CD. Improved EQ_BTE and CO2 footprint were registered by almost 6 % & 60% for PFI of ethanol and 20% and 10% for CNG-BD operation, respectively, compared to their experimental values corresponding to the lowest ROPRMax.

Frequency-scaled thermal-aware test scheduling for 3D ICs using machine learning based temperature estimation

Three-dimensional Integrated Circuits (3D IC) are being looked at as an alternative in overcoming some critical challenges plaguing conventional 2D ICs. However, it faces some new challenges — some of them being thermal management and a complicated testing process. This work presents a frequency-scaled thermal-aware test scheduling algorithm for 3D ICs. The thermal awareness is provided by a proposed machine learning based predictive thermal estimation model for 3D ICs. The proposed test scheduling algorithm includes test clock frequency as an important parameter and scales the frequency to achieve lower test time. Experimental results for both the predictive thermal model and scheduling algorithm look promising, with improvements over existing works achieved in most of the cases. The thermal model estimates the temperature of a 3D IC with a high degree of accuracy but at a fraction of time of commonly used 3D IC thermal models, while the scheduling algorithm has been observed to have improved test time of different benchmark circuits up to around 60%. Experimental results show — that test time in terms of clock cycles is inconsequential because schedules with higher clock count may require less time due to frequency scaling.

Characterizing the economic competitiveness of battery electric vehicles in India

Electric Vehicles being at a nascent stage in India, albeit at a slower growth rate, faces a significant barrier of economic compatibility. For countries like India, the economic aspect plays a vital role in the widespread of Electric Vehicles. Concentrating on the cost aspect, this paper contemplates the economic compatibility of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) with conventional IC Engine Vehicles (ICEVs), considering a paring vehicle approach and analysing the case study of India. As less research is carried out for India, we aim to develop an extensive total cost of ownership (TCO) model. Furthermore, the Sensitivity analysis presents the effect on TCO by considering parameters as incentives, reduction in battery prices, finance interest rates and Annual Kilometre Travelled (AKT) &EV + PV integration. For the base case, a much abysmal performance is observed for BEVs. While accounting for various Sensitivity analysis parameters, some BEVs reach cost parity while some become more economical than ICEVs.

Design and analysis of an electric bike chassis

Development of any vehicle, be it a two wheeler or a four wheeler, is a complex and detailed engineering process. For its progress, designers have to prepare concept sketches on 2D platforms (on sheets and graphic tablets), model them on 3D softwares and carry out a bunch of simulations and tests on various computer aided engineering softwares. The aim of this paper is to design and analyze an electric bike chassis and hence prove its stability by performing static structural test. Solidworks was used for modeling the chassis and ANSYS was utilized to analyze it. The frame presented in this study is an original concept and dissimilar to the conventional IC engine chassis. Aspects like the weight of the chassis, its strength, rigidness, and storage space available to the consumer were considered while designing it. Initially, three different frames were modeled and after brainstorming session with experts, the best one out of the three was finalized considering all the above mentioned parameters in mind. In total, four materials were applied on the skeleton for its analysis. These included carbon steel AISI 1018, alloy steel AISI 4130, aluminum alloy 2018, and aluminum alloy AISI 7068 T6. The simulations were completed in true scale. Later on the results were compared and the deformations were thoroughly revised by the team. Considering the cost, weight and the final results of the deformations, the best material was picked up.

Toward Monolithically Integrated Hybrid CMOS-NEM Circuits

Nanoelectromechanical (NEM) switches offer the advantages of zero OFF-state leakage current, abrupt switching characteristics, nonvolatile (NV) operation, and relatively low ON-state resistance as compared with CMOS transistors predominantly used for digital computing today. NEM switches can be implemented using metallic interconnect layers formed in the back-end-of-line (BEOL) steps of a standard CMOS IC manufacturing process, in order to enable compact implementation of hybrid CMOS-NEM circuits. In this article, a release-etch method is developed for realizing BEOL NV-NEM switches with <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\leq 100$ </tex-math></inline-formula> -nm contact gaps. A functional array of BEOL NV-NEM switches is used to implement a hybrid CMOS-NEM IC for data search applications. NV-NEM switch design optimization to minimize the programming voltage and accelerate switching speed is discussed. A scaled NV-NEM technology is projected to be advantageous for high-speed, low-power reconfigurable computing applications. This projection is validated with experimental data for a BEOL NV-NEM switch implemented with a conventional 16-nm CMOS IC manufacturing process.

Experimental Study on CNG Engine with Different Ventury Configuration

Low carbon to hydrogen ratio of compressed natural gas (CNG) is counted as one of the better potential as an alternate fuel instead of conventional fuel for an internal combustion engine. CNG engines have very low particulate emission and lower brake specific fuel consumption compared to conventional fuelled IC engines. Design of carburetion system plays vital role in both conventional CNG engines as well as in dual fuel engines in consideration of better performance and emissions. The restriction barrel named venturi governs the crucial operation of the carburetor. In the presented study, main intention was to achieve an optimum ratio by suitably designing a venturi type gas mixer which mixes the CNG gas with incoming air. Fulfilling the design need, three venturi type gas mixer were designed by varying number of holes, hole size and throat diameter. A four stroke, single cylinder, VCR research engine was used to trial with different venturi configuration for engines carburetion system and their performance as well as exhaust emissions were compared. According to the experimental results, venturi 2 with 23 mm throat diameter and 8 numbers of holes was resulted the most optimal venturi design. During the experimentation at full load, air–fuel equivalence ratio was found close to 1 and equivalence ratio to 0.88, which is the need of CNG engines to run smoothly. This satisfies the venturi type gas mixer design requisite for CNG engine. It is also observed that optimized number of holes improves the engine performance and emission as well.

Static and modal analysis of a crankshaft reciprocating driver for reciprocating-airfoil (RA) driven VTOL aircraft

New modes of transportation systems are under intensive development because traditional systems fail to become mass transportation means due to their technological limitations. To meet the growing demand for VTOL vehicles, a novel VTOL technology, reciprocating-airfoil (RA) driven VTOL aircraft, had been introduced. The objective of this study is to model a crankshaft to structurally determine the feasibility of using a crankshaft structure as the reciprocating driver of this novel VTOL technology. Unlike the conventional crankshaft IC engines or compressors, the crankshaft system herein is a reciprocating driver to generate long-stroke reciprocating motion of the wings for VTOL vehicle operations. The unique challenges of this study are the exceedingly long crank arms and stringent weight minimizations that require the use of high-strength carbon fiber materials. The crankshaft model is geometrically designed by using SOLIDWORKS design software, and the commercial Ansys Mechanical Solver has been selected for the FEM structural analysis. Based on the nonlinear static analysis results, the maximum stress is developed at the junctions between the main shaft and the middle crank web. However, all of the determined deformation, stress, and strain under the current loading conditions as well as weight requirement is acceptable. Also, according to the modal analysis result, the possible resonance chance is low. In conclusion, this study provides a pathway for the final development of the novel reciprocating airfoil VTOL technology.

Study of the Reality on Electric Vehicle in Indian Scenario

In this work, the estimation of the actual CO2 emission of a conventional IC engine vehicle and an electric vehicle have been studied in different phases and those vehicles are in same segmented also. How much time it would be taken in order to convert an electric vehicle in to a Green Vehicle (GV) also been studied. In our work, we compare two similar SUV’s in there same segment one is Electric Vehicle (EV) and another is conventional IC Engine Vehicle (ICV). Both the cars have very similar power output; torque and design in there segment. Although there are many options of fast charging, long refuelling or recharging time is a major problem of the EV but this is not our concern study. In science each and every innovation has one good and a bad side, and there is no exception about the EVs also.

Performance and analysis of battery thermal management system used in electric vehicles (EVS)

The depletion of non-renewable energy resources is compelling us to search and innovate for more reliable options. The reduction in the use of petroleum in the automobiles can significantly affect the use of non-renewable energy resources. In the long run, electric vehicles are the best alternatives to the conventional IC engine automobiles. In electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are most commonly used as an energy. During discharging, excessive heat generation inside the battery will lead to thermal runaway. To operate efficiently, these batteries should be maintained within the desired temperature range of 25 °C to 40 °C. Among the various cooling methods, in this studyair cooling is adopted. The battery pack is discharged at various constant C ratings. The effect of airflow rate on the battery surface temperature is studied with experimentation. The heat transfer coefficient is calculated by considering the average surface temperature of the battery as the wall surface temperature. The CFD analysis is done by considering the steady-state condition and boundary conditions are taken with experimental observations. Experimental results are compared with CFD results with appropriate approximations.

LOW COST IC TESTER USING PSEUDO-RANDOM APPROACH

Lowcost IC testing is now a burning issue in semiconductor technology. Conventional IC tester, ATE (automatic test equipment), cannot cope with the today’s continuously increasing complexities in IC technology. Deterministic algorithm, which is an idea of 1960’s, is adopted in the ATE. Recently pseudo random testing approach has been emerged as an economically viable alternative to the expensive deterministic testing. This paper introduces a SOC implementing pseudo-random test technique for lowcost IC testing with reliable performance. It is capable of testing combinational circuits as well as sequential circuits with scan-path facilities efficiently. It can also be used for testing PCB interconnection faults.

Experimental Trails on Diesel Engine Performance and Emission Characteristics of Waste Cooking Oil Combinations at Varying Injection Pressures

Progressive rising of conventional fuel prices, as well as the high strengthened necessities of the environmental norms to reduce the atmospheric pollution levels, are flattering great challenges to scientists and researchers all over the world. In this regard, biofuels have become one of the best alternative fuels for conventional IC engine operation with reduced emissions and improved performance. Goal of paper is to study the influence on emissions and performance variables in one cylinder CI engine fueled accompanied by diesel-waste cooking oil mixtures. The test rig was operated at rated speed 1500 rpm, CR 17.5 and at variable injection operating pressure of 200, 225 and 250 bar correspondingly. Different fuel mixtures of diesel-waste cooking oil i.e., B10, B20 and B30 on mass basis were used for this study. As compared to neat diesel at standard Injection Operating Pressure (IOP) 200 bar, increased IOP 225 bar exhibits utmost BTE, nominal quantity BSFC, minimum CO and HC pollutions with the superior concentration of NOx emissions. In contrast, by using WCO blends, the performance of the engine reduced along with the emissions except HC.

A novel minimally invasive dynamic-shield, intensity-modulated brachytherapy system for the treatment of cervical cancer.

To present a novel, MRI-compatible dynamicshield intensity modulated brachytherapy (IMBT) applicator and delivery system using 192 Ir, 75 Se, and 169 Yb radioisotopes for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer. Needle-free IMBT is a promising technique for improving target coverage and organs at risk (OAR) sparing. The IMBT delivery system dynamically controls the rotation of a novel tungsten shield placed inside an MRI-compatible, 6-mm wide intrauterine tandem. Using 36 cervical cancer cases, conventional intracavitary brachytherapy (IC-BT) and intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy (IC/IS-BT) (10Ci 192 Ir) plans were compared to IMBT (10Ci 192 Ir; 11.5Ci 75 Se; 44Ci 169 Yb). All plans were generated using the Geant4-based Monte Carlo dose calculation engine, RapidBrachyMC. Treatment plans were optimized then normalized to the same high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) D90 and the D2cc for bladder, rectum, and sigmoid in the research brachytherapy planning system, RapidBrachyMCTPS. Plans were renormalized until either of the three OAR reached dose limits to calculate the maximum achievable HR-CTV D90 and D98 . Compared to IC-BT, IMBT with either of the three radionuclides significantly improves the HR-CTV D90 and D98 by up to 5.2%±0.3% (P<0.001) and 6.7%±0.5% (P<0.001), respectively, with the largest dosimetric enhancement when using 169 Yb followed by 75 Se and then 192 Ir. Similarly, D2cc for all OAR improved with IMBT by up to 7.7%±0.6% (P<0.001). For IC/IS-BT cases, needle-free IMBT achieved clinically acceptable plans with 169 Yb-based IMBT further improving HR-CTV D98 by 1.5%±0.2% (P=0.034) and decreasing sigmoid D2cc by 1.9%±0.4% (P=0.048). Delivery times for IMBT are increased by a factor of 1.7, 3.3, and 2.3 for 192 Ir, 75 Se, and 169 Yb, respectively, relative to conventional 192 Ir BT. Dynamic shield IMBT provides a promising alternative to conventional IC- and IC/IS-BT techniques with significant dosimetric enhancements and even greater improvements with intermediate energy radionuclides. The ability to deliver a highly conformal, OAR-sparing dose without IS needles provides a simplified method for improving the therapeutic ratio less invasively and in a less resource intensive manner.

Battery modelling and state of charge estimation methods for Energy Management in Electric Vehicle-A review

To reduce global warming, the Electric Vehicles (EV) are more attracting Worldwide for replacement of conventional IC engine vehicle but the main problem is driving range and the cost of EV is very high compared to a conventional vehicle. The driving range is mainly depending on the type of battery and size of the battery pack used in EV, for long driving range more number of batteries are required which automatically increase the weight and cost of EV. An effective battery management system will increase battery life and driving range of the EV with less number of batteries. In battery management system of EV the battery is major component but battery is costly and managing power of the battery is very much essential in EV technology. Majority of the issues can be solved by developing advanced battery management system (BMS) in EV such as, Battery modelling, accurate battery state of charge and state of health estimation, which can provide an exact driving range of EV and charging/discharging strategies work more effectively. This review paper mainly focuses on different battery modelling techniques and existing battery SOC estimation methods, issues and challenges.

Retrofitting of a Conventional IC Engine Powered Vehicle to a Hybrid Powertrain System

Retrofitting of a Conventional IC Engine Powered Vehicle to a Hybrid Powertrain System