On-line Data Acquisition Research Articles

Round Robin Testing of RTV Silicone Rubber Coatings for Outdoor Insulation

This paper presents the results of round robin tests performed to evaluate the electrical performance of Room Temperature Vulcanizing (RTV) silicone rubber coatings used for improving the contamination performance of outdoor ceramic insulators. The test, performed in six different laboratories, included several salt-fog chambers and a tracking wheel. Most test facilities were equipped with an on-line data acquisition system for measurement of leakage current activity. Four generic formulations of RTV silicone rubber coatings applied on ceramic rods were evaluated. The results indicate a general consensus in the ranking of the coatings` leakage current suppression capability, despite the variation in the experimental conditions employed. This suggests that guidelines for a laboratory test for evaluating the RTV coating material`s electrical performance under contaminated conditions could be developed.

A system for monitoring the refractivities of fluids in the DELPHI RICH detectors in the VUV region

Abstract An overview of the instrumentation developed for the quality control of the optical properties of fluid components of RICH detectors is presented. An on-line data acquisition and control system for operation of a refractometer in the UV and VUV region is presented. The possibility of simultaneous measurement of transmittance and refractivity using a Fabry-Perot refractometer in the UV and VUV region is discussed. The accuracy of the refractometer in the n − 1 determination of atmospheric air is presently 0.3% at 255 nm and about 1% at 185 nm. It is expected to improve when measuring the refractivities of the fluorocarbons used as radiators in RICH detectors.

Medical and surgical applications of space biosensor technology

Researchers in space life sciences are rapidly approaching a technology impasse. Many of the critical questions on the impact of spaceflight on living systems simply cannot be answered with the limited available technologies. Research subjects, particularly small animal models like the rat, must be allowed to function relatively untended and unrestrained for long periods to fully reflect the impact of microgravity and spaceflight on their behavior and physiology. These requirements preclude the use of present hard-wired instrumentation techniques and limited data acquisition systems. Implantable sensors and miniaturized biotelemetry are the only means of capturing the fundamental and critical data. This same biosensor and biotelemetry technology has direct application to Earth-based medicine and surgery. Continuous, on-line data acquisition and improved measurement capabilities combined with the ease and flexibility offered by automated, wireless, and portable instruments and data systems, should provide a boon to the health care industry. Playing a key role in this technology revolution is the Sensors 2000! (S2K!) Program at NASA Ames Research Center. S2K!, in collaboration with space life sciences researchers and managers, provides an integrated capability for sensor technology development and applications, including advanced biosensor technology development, spaceflight hardware development, and technology transfer and commercialization. S2K! is presently collaborating on several spaceflight projects with dual-use medical applications. One prime example is a collaboration with the Fetal Treatment Center (FTC) at the University of California at San Francisco. The goal is to develop and apply implantable chemical sensor and biotelemetry technology to continuously monitor fetal patients during extra-uterine surgery, replacement into the womb, through birth and beyond. Once validated for ground use, the method will be transitioned to spaceflight applications to remotely monitor key biochemical parameters in flight animals. Successful application of NASA implantable biosensor and biotelemetry technologies should accelerate the advancement of this and other modern medical procedures while furthering the exploration of life in space.

Direct Observation of Capillary Electrophoretic Phenomena Using Video Image Analysis System

Abstract A video imaging system was developed for direct observation of the seperated zones of DNS-amino acids inside a capillary during an electrophoretic run. Using a CCD video camera, the moving zone of fluorescent band was observed after irradiation of capillary with a UV lamp and monitored in 10 cm region of a capilliary. On-line data acquisition in addition with the possibility of further image processing, made it possible to get a clear and real image of the seperated bands of solute.

Prospect of RBMK-NPPS strength monitoring system on-line module development

System for strength monitoring and residual lifetime (SMS) assessment of NPP equipment makes it possible to improve safety and effectiveness of operation. According to SMS concept it includes two main modules: for on-line data acquisition and diagnostic and for off-line date processing and lifetime assessment. Algorithm for RBMK SMS on-line module is proposed to be based on the basis of “DASHA” expert system shell. Universal expert shell “DASHA” was created using the original matrix method of image identification theory and can be used for on-line diagnostic system development for any complex technological object of arbitrary physical nature.

Computerized lie detection: Advancing the state of the art

Several questions addressing human versus computerized lie detection have been answered as a result of technological advances in the computer field. User friendly software has enabled the polygraph examiner to make necessary test adjustments in “real time” clinical environments. Many of the issues surrounding test procedures and chart evaluation are resolved incorporating this proven technology. Particularly significant is the conversion of physiological responses of a binary system to that of a digital recording, eliminating the subjective errors associated with manual chart measurements usually found with the inexperienced examiner. Online acquisition of data utilizing the ability to make corrections in recording artifacts, along with the capability to perform the final exam analysis in record time are two major examples of computer advantages in the truth verification field.

Data acquisition and monitoring system for the UHE gamma ray experiment at Kolar Gold Fields

A computerised on-line data acquisition system has been implemented to acquire data and monitor all the detectors in an extensive air shower experiment at Kolar Gold Fields, India, designed to search for point sources of Ultra High Energy gamma rays. It is based on the LSI-11 microcomputer, which has a powerful instruction set and a daisy chained vectored interrupt facility. Two personal computers are linked with LSI-11 through a 16-bit communication bus, to transfer data for a quick analysis. While the system performs this function in the background, it can be interrupted, at different priority levels, by several foreground functions, such as event data acquisition, detector monitoring, etc. The hardware and software features of the data acquisition system are described in detail.

LDV measurements of turbulent flow behavior of droplets in a two-phase coaxial jet

Coaxial nozzles are frequently utilized for the atomization of liquids in sprays. The performance of a nozzle is generally evaluated by its atomizing characteristics, which are actually governed by the turbulence interactions of two fluids. With this point of view, this experimental study was carried out to investigate the turbulent behavior of the droplets atomized in a two-phase coaxial jet. Air and water have been used as the working fluids, and the measurements have been made by an on-line data acquisition system connected to a two-channel LDV set(DISA, 5W, Argon laser, blue: 488 nm, green: 514.5 nm). In order to generate a two-phase mixing jet, two types of coaxial nozzles (liquid column type, liquid sheet type) were used. For the investigations of the turbulent flow structure of this two-phase mixing jet, the spreading rates, mean and fluctuating components, intermittency factors and the iso-contours of joint probability densities were measured and analyzed. The results from the both types of nozzles did not show remarkable differences in mean and fluctuating velocity distributions, intermittency factors or the iso-joint probability density contours. Since the measurements were made in the fully developed turbulent mixing regions, the mean velocity distribution profiles showed good similarities and agreed well with the semi-empirical curves. The RMS values were represented as high order levels and so were the intermittency factors. The typical development trends of turbulent components ofu′ andv′ for both types were illustrated in the iso-joint probability density contours.

A low cost, open and flexible on-line data acquisition system for instrumental chromatography

A laboratory-made data acquisition system has been constructed using a low cost acquisition board for industrial applications, a few commercial integrated circuits, namely a programmable gain amplifier and an analogic low pass filter, and a regular PC compatible computer. The lack of time counting circuits in the board has been solved by the use of the pulse generation circuit of the personal computer as reference time for the acquisition rate. Thus, one channel of timing of this circuit has been reprogrammed to work at frequencies higher than 18.2 Hz when needed. In addition to its low cost, the system is open and flexible. It may process either internal data or files generated by other systems, it allows the easy insertion of more software routines for data treatment and contains a wide diversity of methods for data quantitation and peak parameter calculation (area, mean, variance, skew, excess and number of theoretical plates). Three different calculation methods for the determination of these parameters are included in the system: additive integration, graphical measurement-based log-normal equations and curve fitting of different distribution functions by the generalized least squares method. The last method affords the use of the Gaussian, Exponentially-Modified Gaussian and log-normal functions as well as the orthogonal developments of the former, the Gram-Charlier and Edgeworth-Cramér series.

Hydraulic model of a gas-lift bioreactor with flocculating yeast

The hydraulic model of a gas lift bioreactor, during a continuous alcoholic fermentation by using a strongly flocculating yeast, is analysed. Sucrose at two different concentrations (50 and 100 g/l) was used as substrate and the dilution rate for all the experiments was 1 h−1. The biomass concentrations were between 85 and 110 g dry weight/1. A stimulus response technique was used to obtain the Residence Time Distribution curves, a pulse of a lactose solution being used as the tracer. Mixing time was determined by means of the response to a pulse of an acid tracer. These experiments were carried out by using an on-line data-acquisition system. The bioreactor behaviour is completely homogeneous, except for high substrate and biomass concentrations. A two parameters combined model is necessary, in this case, to fit the experimental data. Mixing times are very low, in the order of 10 seconds.

The influence of thermal history, strain rate and sample geometry on the deformation behaviour of polymers: use of the thermovision technique

In this study we investigated the influence of thermal history, strain rate and sample geometry on the deformation behaviour of polymers. The investigation relies on observing the polymer surface temperature profile during the deformation process. Uniaxial tensile deformation was produced in polypropylene and high-density polyethylene at 95°C or 110°C over the strain rate range 0.167 l/s to 1.67 l/s. Polymer surface temperature profiles were recorded using the thermovision technique. The results showed that the temperature profile varied with changes in thermal history, strain rate and sample geometry. Furthermore, the study emphasized the effectiveness of the thermovision technique for off- and on-line data acquisition during polymer deformation processes.

Designing an anaesthesia data management system for a medium size country hospital. A report of four years experiences.

By the end of 1990 the anaesthesia department of the Offenburg hospital, a 500 bed hospital, started to install a data management system in the main operating theatres. In a first phase, 23 PCs were installed in 7 induction rooms and 7 theatres as well as in the 9-bed recovery-room. All PCs are connected via ethernet to a VAX-server. The main functions of the system may be summarized as follows: 1) On-line data acquisition from the patient monitor and from the anaesthesia machine (the ventilator); 2) Off-line data entry of other variables including drugs, fluids and postop. orders as well as demographic and administrative data; 3) Data transfer from induction room to theatre and from theatre to the recovery room; 4) Printout of an automatic anaesthesia record at the end of each case--a hand-written protocol no longer required; 5) Storage of data-files on the VAX-server with possibility of reviewing individual cases and also of performing all types of statistical analysis. The set-up of the whole system including 12 ICU beds and other workstations (total of 42 PC-stations) is described as well as hard- and software used. Problems encountered during installation of hardware and experiences during implementation of software are briefly discussed. A short overview is given concerning future development.

Supernova real-time monitor system in Kamiokande

A data-analysis program to discover possible supernova neutrino bursts has been installed in the online data-acquisition computer of the Kamiokande experiment. The program automatically analyzes data within 20 min and gives an alarm to collaborators if a possible supernova neutrino burst is found. The detection efficiency of the program is 96% for a typical supernova located 50 kpc from Earth. After a careful analysis by the Kamiokande collaborators, it will be possible to inform all optical observatories in the world about the occurrence of a supernova within 3 h from the time of first detecting the neutrino burst. Information concerning the celestial position of a supernova will also be available for supernovae having a distance less than ∼ 10 kpc. This information will be helpful for observing the first optical emissions from the newly born supernova.

Isotope identification by KODAQ for /spl beta/-NMR study

The KODAQ (Kakuken Online Data AcQuisition) system was modified for more efficient data taking. The new system, consisting of a CAMAC crate and two personal computers, was as convenient as the original KODAQ and was applied to the isotope identification of the projectile fragments in the /spl beta/-NMR study of short lived /sup 43/Ti(T/sub /spl frac12//=0.5 s).< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

On-line condition monitoring of tool wear in end milling using acoustic emission : International Journal of Production Research, Vol. 29, No. 7, pp. 1339–1353 (1991)

The monitoring of tool wear is important in maintaining the quality of workpieces produced. This paper presents a methodology to monitor on-line tool wear in end milling using acoustic emission. It is well known that the root-mean-square (RMS) value of the acoustic emission is directly proportional to the power expended in turning. A mathematical model has been developed to predict the RMS value of the acoustic-emission signal in milling. This mathematical model incorporates the machining parameters as variables. The accuracy of the model has been verified by a series of experiments. The experiments were carried out on a Bridgeport milling machine and data was collected and analysed by using an on-line computer data acquisition system. A comparison of the experimental and theoretical RMS values indicates a very good agreement between them. A control strategy similar to the moving average/moving range charts has been developed for monitoring on-line tool wear. The limits for the control charts were obtaine...

THE BUILDING AERODYNAMICS WIND TUNNEL GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL BUILDING RESEARCH &amp; DESIGN INSTITUTE

Guangdong Building Aerodynamics Wind Tunnel CGB-l built in 1986 is the first large wind tunnel specially designed for architectural aerodynamics in china, supported by State Department of Construction and local government. As an adiabatic atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel, it is dual test section in tandem and close circuit type. The lager test section is close type of 3m (W) ×2m (H) × 10m (L) and maximum wind speed 18m/s, and small one is either close or open type available of 1.2m (W) × 1.8m (H) × 10m (L) and maximum wind speed 46m/s. Using “spires, roughness elements and barries” simulation methods. the modeled atmospheric boundary layers over various terrains can be generated in either test section at a scale appropriate to the model. On-line digital data acquisition, processing and display have been realized with personal computer-base system.Testing capacities provided in CGB-1 include pressure and balance measurements, pedestrian-level wind environment investigations, and wind-induced dynamic response with aeroelastic models. Newly-equiped High-Frequency Base Balance has been successfully demonstrated in CAARC standard model testing, resulting in well-agreeded results with other labs in the world.The vital activities on wind engineering research in this facility since 1986 when the wind tunnel was put into operation, particularly its important role in wind-resistance structure design for many new high rise buildings, long-span cable bridges and shell roof structure, which recently increasingly appeared in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai Economic Special Zone and other South-China modern cities which already became the forward economical developing regions located in typhoon zone. The testing capacity of this wind tunnel is demonstrated here by several typical examples among over 40 major consultant contracts, which have been completed up to date, e.g. Guangdong International Building (63 stories), Shenzhen Xianchen Building (218ni high), Zhuhai Jinniu Plaza (193. 8m high) and so on. It enjoys good reputation through the research projects from the clients.The wind tunnel CGB-1 is well-equipped, has advanced-trained engineers and good engineering experiences through the testings practice for many years. We sincerely welcome the colleagues both at home and abroad to joint our co-operative research programme and carry out the wind engineering activities there in order to make great contributions to the development of architectural aerodynamics in this country. The wind tunnel lab is ready to serve any customes including in Asia-Pacific area.

A New Dairy Control and Management System in the Automatic Milking Farm: Basic Concepts and Components

The introduction of automatic milking technology, including on-line individual data acquisition and processing, requires adaptation of dairy management methods. Automatic milking systems allow the individual cow to be milked and fed according to her production performance and potential to achieve maximal profits with minimal resources. Because the farmer is not actually present each time a milking or feeding decision is needed, a new generation of control and management systems has been designed to assume the short-term dairy management and operational control. The overall management control still remains with the farmer or herdsperson, who is supported by the dairy control and management system. The paper discusses the influence on dairy management of the integration of the individual automatic milking and feeding systems. Then, the concept of a dairy control and management system, which includes a decision support and expert system, is described. A prototype, which enables automatic milking and feeding routines, was developed and tested.

Apparatus for the measurement of spin dependent observables in np and pp elastic and quasi-elastic scattering

The present article describes an apparatus used for the measurement of spin dependent observables at SATURNE II. Observables for np elastic and quasi-elastic scattering were measured between 0.31 and 1.1 GeV, those for pp elastic scattering between 1.94 and 2.24 GeV. Measurements of pn and pp observables with an unpolarized 6LiD and 7LiH targets around 2 GeV were also carried out. Fast electronics, on-line data acquisition, event selection and off-line analysis are presented.

Local orthotropic shrinkage determination in injected moulded polymer plates

An apparatus to precisely measure local orthotropic shrinkage in polymer plates has been designed. The principle of local shrinkage determination is based on the comparison of the distance between two small engravings on the plate mould and the distance between the reproduced engravings on the polymer plate. Under a microscope, the distances are measured in two directions on micrometric translation stages. The performance of the entire device, which includes on-line experimental data acquisition, is discussed; the precision of shrinkage measurement remains below 4%. Shrinkage prediction models, which are based on statistical analysis and built with the first experimental results, have proved reliable and have been integrated as an experimental database in a general deformation prediction process of polymer parts.

Data management system development for on-line data acquisition and process control

The development of a data management system (DMS) for a production system is presented. The DMS is linked to a barcode based data acquisition network which is distributed throughout the production system. It not only facilitates the automation of the data acquisition process but also provides on-line statistical process control for effective system operation.