Optimal Design Specifications Research Articles

Evaluation of Exterior Insulated Panels for Residential Deep Energy Retrofits

This paper provides an analysis of challenges and available solutions for exterior insulated panels suitable for deep energy retrofits of existing building envelopes. The analysis covers a review of available technologies that provide flexible retrofit insulated panels suitable for multiple climates and building typologies. Moreover, the paper proposes a new design for insulated retrofit panels that account for the majority of identified technical risks including cost, architectural diversity, climate variations, structural concerns, moisture resilience, air sealing, and water sealing. Additionally, the proposed design can be easily installed with minimal disruption to the occupants. A series of parametric and optimization analyses is carried out to identify the optimal design specifications for insulated panels suitable for deep retrofits of existing US housing stocks. The analysis results show that the optimal design criteria for the insulated panels can reduce heating and cooling energy consumption by up to 80% and HVAC capacities by 70%. Moreover, the results indicate that these insulated panels are highly cost effective for retrofitting US housing units located in cold climates.

A microfluidic device to separate high-quality plasma from undiluted whole blood sample using an enhanced gravitational sedimentation mechanism

The growing interest in lab-on-a-chip systems for plasma separation has led to the presentation of various devices. Trench-based devices benefiting from gravitational sedimentation are efficient structures with air-locking and low speed-drawbacks. The present study introduces a fast, hemolysis-free, highly efficient blood plasma separation microfluidic device. The proposed device is based on gravitational sedimentation combined with dielectrophoresis force to promote the purity of the separated plasma, reduce the separation process time, and overcome the air-locking problem. The effect of geometrical parameters on the separation process is investigated using finite element analysis to attain optimal design specifications. A drop of whole blood (10 μl) is injected into the fabricated chip at four flow rates of 70 nl/s to 100 nl/s. It takes less than 4 min to obtain 2.2 μl plasma from undiluted blood without losing plasma proteins. Additionally, a porous Melt-Blown Polypropylene (MBPP) layer is used to eliminate the air-locking problem, which in previous trench-based microsystems led to time-consuming device preparation steps. Blood samples with various hematocrits (15%–65%) are tested with the applied voltages of 0–20 Vpp through the optimized structure. A purity of 99.98% ± 0.02% (evaluated by hemocytometry) is achieved using optimized dielectrophoresis force by the applied voltage of 20 Vpp, which is more than the previous studies. The UV–Visible spectroscopy results confirm obtaining a non-hemolyzed sample at a flow rate of 70 nl/s. The proposed device achieves a relative increase in the flow rate compared to similar previous studies while maintaining the high quality of the separated plasma. This achievement lies in using the MBPP layer and combining two separation methods.

Design and Development of Smart Weight Measurement, Lateral Turning and Transfer Bedding for Unconscious Patients in Pandemics.

Patient care and convenience remain the concern of medical professionals and caregivers alike. An unconscious patient confined to a bed may develop fluid accumulation and pressure sores due to inactivity and deficiency of oxygen flow. Moreover, weight monitoring is crucial for an effective treatment plan, which is difficult to measure for bedridden patients. This paper presents the design and development of a smart and cost-effective independent system for lateral rotation, movement, weight measurement, and transporting immobile patients. Optimal dimensions and practical design specifications are determined by a survey across various hospitals. Subsequently, the proposed hoist-based weighing and turning mechanism is CAD-modeled and simulated. Later, the structural analysis is carried out to select suitable metallurgy for various sub-assemblies to ensure design reliability. After fabrication, optimization, integration, and testing procedures, the base frame is designed to mount a hydraulic motor for the actuator, a DC power source for self-sustenance, and lockable wheels for portability. The installation of a weighing scale and a hydraulic actuator is ensured to lift the patient for weight measuring up to 600 pounds or lateral turning of 80 degrees both ways. The developed system offers simple operating characteristics, allows for keeping patient weight records, and assists nurses in changing patients' lateral positions both ways, comfortably massage patients' backs, and transport them from one bed to another. Additionally, being lightweight offers reduced contact with the patient to increase the healthcare staff's safety in pandemics; it is also height adjustable and portable, allowing for use with multiple-sized beds and easy transportation across the medical facility. The feedback from paramedics is encouraging regarding reducing labor-intensive nursing tasks, alleviating the discomfort of long-term bed-ridden patients, and allowing medical practitioners to suggest better treatment plans.

Using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to design efficient magnetic nanoparticles for clinical hyperthermia.

The purpose of this study was to identify the properties of magnetite nanoparticles that deliver optimal heating efficiency, predict the geometrical characteristics to get these target properties, and determine the concentrations of nanoparticles required to optimize thermotherapy. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations were employed to identify the properties of magnetic nanoparticles that deliver high Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values. Optimal volumes were determined for anisotropies ranging between 11 and 40kJ/m3 under clinically relevant magnetic field conditions. Atomistic spin simulations were employed to determine the aspect ratios of ellipsoidal magnetite nanoparticles that deliver the target properties. A numerical model was developed using the extended cardiac-torso (XCAT) phantom to simulate low-field (4 kA/m) and high-field (18 kA/m) prostate cancer thermotherapy. A stationary optimization study exploiting the Method of Moving Asymptotes (MMA) was carried out to calculate the concentration fields that deliver homogenous temperature distributions within target thermotherapy range constrained by the optimization objective function. A time-dependent study was used to compute the thermal dose of a 30-min session. Prolate ellipsoidal magnetite nanoparticles with a volume of 3922 ± 35 nm3 and aspect ratio of 1.56, which yields an effective anisotropy of 20kJ/m3 , constituted the optimal design at current maximum clinical field properties (H0 =18 kA/m, f=100kHz), with SAR=342.0 ± 2.7 W/g, while nanoparticles with a volume of 4147 ± 36 nm3 , aspect ratio of 1.29, and effective anisotropy 11kJ/m3 were optimal for low-field applications (H0 =4 kA/m, f=100kHz), with SAR=50.2 ± 0.5 W/g. The average concentration of 3.86 ± 0.10 and 0.57 ± 0.01mg/cm3 at 4 and 18 kA/m, respectively, were sufficient to reach therapeutic temperatures of 42-44°C throughout the prostate volume. The thermal dose delivered during a 30-min session exceeded 5.8 Cumulative Equivalent Minutes at 43°C within 90% of the prostate volume (CEM43T90 ). The optimal properties and design specifications of magnetite nanoparticles vary with magnetic field properties. Application-specific magnetic nanoparticles or nanoparticles that are optimized at low fields are indicated for optimal thermal dose delivery at low concentrations.

Optimal Sizing of Recycling Folded Cascode Amplifier for Low Frequency Applications Using New Hybrid Swarm Intelligence-Based Technique

ABSTRACT A new efficient design approach for sizing a high performance analog amplifier circuit namely the Recycling Folded Cascode (RFC) amplifier is presented. A RFC amplifier is an enhanced version of the conventional folded cascode amplifier and achieves better slew rate, gain, bandwidth, offset etc. for same area and power budget. Low frequency amplifiers such as biomedical or neural have a demanding requirement of low area, low power and low noise apart from meeting other optimal design specifications which have inherent trade-off amongst themselves. As a result, manual sizing becomes a computationally inefficient approach. Thus, swarm based optimization techniques have been employed to efficiently determine the optimal sizing for the RFC amplifier such that the area is minimized while meeting all the optimal design specifications considering the constraints. A new hybrid whale particle swarm optimization (HWPSO) algorithm is employed which takes advantage of the good qualities of both the whale algorithm and the PSO algorithm to optimize the area with less computational complexity. Simulations and statistical analysis have been performed and comparisons with other state of art algorithms reveals that HWPSO-based approach achieves a minimum circuit area of 21 µm2 with a mean Friedman’s statistical rank of 2.05 while meeting optimal design specifications for low frequency systems. Finally, validation with circuit design tool Cadence Virtuoso is done and pre as well as post layout analysis have been performed which further illustrated a close agreement with algorithmic results.

Optimal Sizing of Recycling Folded Cascode Amplifier for Low-Frequency Applications Using New Hybrid Swarm Intelligence-Based Technique

ABSTRACT A new efficient design approach for sizing a high-performance analog amplifier circuit namely the recycling folded cascode (RFC) amplifier is presented. An RFC amplifier is an enhanced version of the conventional folded cascode amplifier and achieves better slew rate, gain, bandwidth, offset, etc. for same area and power budget. Low-frequency amplifiers such as biomedical or neural have a demanding requirement of low area, low power, and low noise apart from meeting other optimal design specifications which have inherent trade-off among themselves. As a result, manual sizing becomes a computationally inefficient approach. Thus, swarm-based optimization techniques have been employed to efficiently determine the optimal sizing for the RFC amplifier such that the area is minimized while meeting all the optimal design specifications considering the constraints. A new hybrid whale particle swarm optimization (HWPSO) algorithm is employed which takes advantage of the good qualities of both the whale algorithm and the PSO algorithm to optimize the area with less computational complexity. Simulations and statistical analysis have been performed and comparisons with other state of art algorithms reveals that HWPSO-based approach achieves a minimum circuit area of 21 µm2 with a mean Friedman’s statistical rank of 2.05 while meeting optimal design specifications for low-frequency systems. Finally, validation with circuit design tool Cadence Virtuoso is done and pre- as well as postlayout analysis have been performed which further illustrated a close agreement with algorithmic results.

Concurrency Within Ternary Galois Processing of Highly-regular 3D Networks Via Controlled Nano Switching

New implementations for concurrent computing applications of 3D networks using corresponding nano and field-emission controlled-switching components are introduced. The developed implementations are performed within 3D lattice-based systems to perform the required concurrent computing. The introduced 3D systems utilize recent findings in field-emission and nano applications to implement the function of the basic 3D lattice networks using nano controlled-switching. This includes ternary lattice computing via carbon nanotubes and carbon field-emission techniques. The presented realization of lattice networks can be important for several reasons including the reduction of power consumption, which is an important specification for the system design in several future and emerging technologies, and in achieving high performance and reliability realizations. The introduced implementations for 3D lattice computations, with 2D lattice networks as a special case, are also important for the design within modern technologies that require optimal design specifications of high speed, high regularity and ease-of-manufacturability, such as in highly-reliable error-correcting signal processing applications.

Optimization of Multilayer Standby Mechanisms in Continuous Chemical Processes

Every critical online unit in a continuous process must always function normally, and one or more identical units are usually put on standby to sustain the uninterrupted operation. Although a few related studies have been reported in the literature, a comprehensive analysis of the standby mechanism still has not been carried out. The objective of this research is to construct a generalized mathematical model to synthesize the multilayer standby mechanisms for any given processes by minimizing the total expected life cycle expenditure. A Matlab code can be developed accordingly to perform the required optimization tasks via a genetic algorithm. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach have been demonstrated with the case studies concerning the pump system in a typical chemical plant. From the optimization results, one can obtain the optimal design specifications of the multilayer standby mechanism, which include (1) the number of layers, (2) the numbers of both online and spare sensors in each measurement channel, (3) the corresponding voting-gate logic in each channel, (4) the inspection interval of a switch, (5) the number of spares for a switch, (6) the inspection intervals for warm standbys, and (7) the number of cold standbys.

Optimal Membrane-Process Design (OMPD): A software product for optimal design of membrane gas separation processes

The optimal design of a membrane gas separation process requires minimizing several objective functions subject to nonlinear relationships among the optimizing variables. This article describes a novel software product, named Optimal Membrane-Process Design (OMPD), for the optimal design of membrane gas separation processes. The product generates several potential process design configurations and then searches the process design parameters and operating conditions spaces to arrive at optimal design specifications and operating conditions. It is able to consider every type and any number of operational, compositional, and economical objective functions in a computationally cost-effective manner. It calculates all Pareto optimal solutions in a single trial. It can optimize any number of membrane units arranged in multi-step and/or multi-stage configurations. It optimally places pairs of adjacent membrane units, either two-step or two-stage, while simultaneously considering several membrane types.

Parallel processing via carbon field emission-based controlled-switching of regular bijective nano systolic networks, Part II

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce new implementations for parallel processing applications using bijective systolic networks and their corresponding carbon-based field emission controlled switching. The developed implementations are performed in the reversible domain to perform the required bijective parallel computing, where the implementations for parallel computations that utilize the presented field-emission controlled switching and their corresponding many-valued (m-ary) extensions for the use in nano systolic networks are introduced. The second part of the paper introduces the implementation of systolic computing using two-to-one controlled switching via carbon-based field emission that were presented in the first part of the paper, and the computational extension to the general case of many-valued (m-ary) systolic networks utilizing many-to-one carbon-based field emission is also introduced. Design/methodology/approach The introduced systolic systems utilize recent findings in field emission and nano applications to implement the functionality of the basic bijective systolic network. This includes many-valued systolic computing via field-emission techniques using carbon-based nanotubes and nanotips. The realization of bijective logic circuits in current and emerging technologies can be very important for various reasons. The reduction of power consumption is a major requirement for the circuit design in future technologies, and thus, the new nano systolic circuits can play an important role in the design of circuits that consume minimal power for future applications such as in low-power signal processing. In addition, the implemented bijective systems can be utilized to implement massive parallel processing and thus obtaining very high processing performance, where the implementation will also utilize the significant size reduction within the nano domain. The extensions of implementations to field emission-based many-valued systolic networks using the introduced bijective nano systolic architectures are also presented. Findings Novel bijective systolic architectures using nano-based field emission implementations are introduced in this paper, and the implementation using the general scheme of many-valued computing is presented. The carbon-based field emission implementation of nano systolic networks is also introduced. This is accomplished using the introduced field-emission carbon-based devices, where field emission from carbon nanotubes and nano-apex carbon fibers is utilized. The implementations of the many-valued bijective systolic networks utilizing the introduced nano-based architectures are also presented. Practical implications The introduced bijective systolic implementations form new important directions in the systolic realizations using the newly emerging nano-based technologies. The 2-to-1 multiplexer is a basic building block in “switch logic,” where in switch logic, a logic circuit is realized as a combination of switches rather than a combination of logic gates as in the gate logic, which proves to be less costly in synthesizing multiplexer-based wide variety of modern circuits and systems since nano implementations exist in very compact space where carbon-based devices switch reliably using much less power than silicon-based devices. The introduced implementations for nano systolic computation are new and interesting for the design in future nanotechnologies that require optimal design specifications of minimum power consumption and minimum size layout such as in low-power control of autonomous robots and in the adiabatic low-power VLSI circuit design for signal processing applications. Originality/value The introduced bijective systolic implementations form new important directions in the systolic realizations utilizing the newly emerging nanotechnologies. The introduced implementations for nano systolic computation are new and interesting for the design in future nanotechnologies that require optimal design specifications of high performance, minimum power and minimum size.

Parallel processing via carbon field emission-based controlled switching of regular bijective nano systolic networks, part 1: basics

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce new implementations for parallel processing applications using bijective systolic networks and the corresponding carbon-based field emission controlled switching. The developed implementations are performed in the reversible domain to perform the required bijective parallel computing, where the implementations for parallel computations that utilize the presented field-emission controlled switching and their corresponding m-ary (many-valued) extensions for the use in nano systolic networks are introduced. The first part of the paper presents important fundamentals with regards to systolic computing and carbon-based field emission that will be utilized in the implementations within the second part of the paper. Design/methodology/approach The introduced systolic systems utilize recent findings in field emission and nano applications to implement the functionality of the basic bijective systolic network. This includes many-valued systolic computing via field emission techniques using carbon-based nanotubes and nanotips. The realization of bijective logic circuits in current and emerging technologies can be very important for various reasons. The reduction of power consumption is a major requirement for the circuit design in future technologies, and thus, the new nano systolic circuits can play an important role in the design of circuits that consume minimal power for future applications such as in low-power signal processing. In addition, the implemented bijective systems can be utilized to implement massive parallel processing and thus obtaining very high processing performance, where the implementation will also utilize the significant size reduction within the nano domain. The extensions of implementations to field emission-based many-valued systolic networks using the introduced bijective nano systolic architectures are also presented. Findings Novel bijective systolic architectures using nano-based field emission implementations are introduced in this paper, and the implementation using the general scheme of many-valued computing is presented. The carbon-based field emission implementation of nano systolic networks is also introduced. This is accomplished using the introduced field emission carbon-based devices, where field emission from carbon nanotubes and nano-apex carbon fibers is utilized. The implementations of the many-valued bijective systolic networks utilizing the introduced nano-based architectures are also presented. Originality/value The introduced bijective systolic implementations form new important directions in the systolic realizations using the newly emerging nano-based technologies. The 2-to-1 multiplexer is a basic building block in “switch logic,” where in switch logic, a logic circuit is realized as a combination of switches rather than a combination of logic gates as in the gate logic, which proves to be less costly in synthesizing multiplexer-based wide variety of modern circuits and systems since nano implementations exist in very compact space where carbon-based devices switch reliably using much less power than silicon-based devices. The introduced implementations for nano systolic computation are new and interesting for the design in future nanotechnologies that require optimal design specifications of minimum power consumption and minimum size layout such as in low-power control of autonomous robots and in the adiabatic low-power very-large-scale-integration circuit design for signal processing applications.

Parallel Bijective Processing of Regular Nano Systolic Grids via Carbon Field Emission Controlled - Switching

New implementations for parallel processing applications using reversible systolic networks and the corresponding nano and field-emission controlled-switching components is introduced. The extensions of implementations to many-valued field-emission systolic networks using the introduced reversible systolic architectures are also presented. The developed implementations are performed in the reversible domain to perform the required parallel computing. The introduced systolic systems utilize recent findings in field emission and nano applications to implement the function of the basic reversible systolic network using nano controlled-switching. This includes many-valued systolic computing via carbon nanotubes and carbon field-emission techniques. The presented realization of reversible circuits can be important for several reasons including the reduction of power consumption, which is an important specification for the system design in several future and emerging technologies, and also achieving high performance realizations. The introduced implementations for non-classical systolic computation are new and interesting for the design within modern technologies that require optimal design specifications of high speed, minimum power and minimum size, which includes applications in adiabatic low-power signal processing .

Tuning the Plasmonic Extinction Resonances of Hexagonal Arrays of Ag Nanoparticles

Plasmonically enhanced effects on a self-assembled, hexagonal array layer of ~4-nm silver nanoparticles are analyzed using three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (3D FDTD) simulations and compared against experimentally measured extinction spectra. The effect of particle size, lattice spacing, and lack of monodispersity of the hexagonal array of silver nanoparticles on the extinction resonance was investigated to help determine optimal design specifications for efficient organic solar power harvesting.

Comparative evaluation of optimal energy efficiency designs for French and US office buildings

In both the US and French building sectors, significant efforts have been undertaken to reduce the environmental impacts of new constructions notably their fossil energy consumption and related carbon emissions. This paper summarizes the results of a comparative evaluation of optimal design specifications for office buildings for selected locations in both US and France using life cycle cost analysis approach. First, an overview of both the US and French approaches for developing building energy efficiency standards and design of high performance buildings is outlined. Then, a general approach for design optimization of energy efficient office buildings is presented. Finally, selected results of the optimal analysis are discussed. In particular, it is found that optimizing life cycle costs (LCC) resulted on average in 30% in primary energy savings for office buildings located in the US and 40% savings in France. However, it is found that LCC-based optimal building designs do not meet the French energy efficiency RT 2012 standard. When accounting for typical operating conditions, photovoltaic (PV) panels are needed in order to comply with the RT 2012 required thresholds for the total primary energy consumption of the office buildings located in the French cities considered in the analysis.

Design specifications of H2O2/kerosene bipropellant rocket system for space missions

Over the last decade, interest has been rekindled on hydrogen peroxide as a rocket propellant. As a result, 1000-N-class H2O2/hydrocarbon bipropellant rocket systems are in a stage requiring a serious exploration for application. Application to orbit-raising maneuvers is proposed here as the most appropriate use of the 1000-N-class thrusters. In this study, optimal design specifications of a 90% H2O2/kerosene rocket system for an apogee kick motor were derived. The optimal design specifications are configured with a thrust of 742 N, a chamber pressure of 11.7 bar, a mixture ratio of 7.36, and a nozzle expansion ratio of 580. It was found that, in the case of the latest Korean geosynchronous satellite, replacing the current apogee kick motor with the H2O2/kerosene rocket system would result in a mass increase of less than 0.5% of the total mass.

Reliability analysis of a single warm-standby system subject to repairable and nonrepairable failures

An n-unit system provisioned with a single warm standby is investigated. The individual units are subject to repairable failures, while the entire system is subject to a nonrepairable failure at some finite but random time in the future. System performance measures for systems observed over a time interval of random duration are introduced. Two models to compute these system performance measures, one employing a policy of block replacement, and the other without a block replacement policy, are developed. Distributional assumptions involving distributions of phase type introduce matrix Laplace transformations into the calculations of the performance measures. It is shown that these measures are easily carried out on a laptop computer using Microsoft Excel. A simple economic model is used to illustrate how the performance measures may be used to determine optimal economic design specifications for the warm standby.

Analyzing pump impeller for performance evaluation using RSM and CFD

This paper illustrates the improvement in the performance of a centrifugal pump by modifying impeller design specifications via response surface methodology (RSM) complemented with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Impeller geometry is varied at the best efficiency point (BEP) to get hold of the performance of the pump. The pump characteristics are evaluated by studying the impeller eye diameter, vane exit angle, and width of impeller blade at exit. Different pump models were analyzed by modifying the critical design parameters via central composite design. CFD analysis is carried out for the developed models to predict the performance of the pump and experimental studies were conducted to validate the CFD. Conformation experiments were performed to verify the optimal design specifications. Good agreements between the predicted and actual values of responses have been observed. The RSM- and CFD-based optimized impeller parameters yield an increase in total head from 39.66 m to 41.72 m and the power consumption is minimized from 432.17W to 366.95W at BEP.

휠 굴삭기용 변속기의 클러치 마찰특성 분석

Hydraulic transmission is the main component delivering power to the drive wheels of an excavator during forward and backward movement, and it has low speed, high torque and high speed, low torque gear change ratios as a forward/backward two-speed main function. It also has additional function of ensuring that the excavator is stably fixed on the ground with the built-in parking brake during excavation operations. In this study, optimal design specifications are determined by modeling and simulating about the multi-disc-type friction clutch, which is the main component improving the reliability of the hydraulic transmission for a 14-ton wheel excavator, and the friction properties of the transmission clutch are analyzed by performing sample tests.

Finite Element Analysis and Optimization of Structure for Large Blanking Machine Equipment during High-Speed Blanking

This paper reviews the background and significance to investigate the high-speed speed blanking process modeling simulation and optimization of large blanking machine equipment for CNC uncoiling, leveling and shearing line. And a powerful tool has been providing to of heavy machinery optimal design specifications. The finite element model of beam structure has been established by using a three-dimensional modeling software UG NX4.0 CAD and finite element analysis software ANSYS. Then the static and dynamic characteristics results of the whole beam structure have been simulated. On the basis of analysis results, the optimal static and dynamic performance of square cross-section of the beam structure has been obtained. Drawings at the design stage of large blanking machine equipment for NC uncoiling, leveling and shearing line, the use of finite element theory and modal analysis theory, the structure of the blanking machine static and dynamic performance analysis and prediction using optimal design method for optimization, the new machine to improve job performance, improve processing accuracy, shorten the development cycle and enhance the competitiveness of products is very important.

Conceptual Design of a Butyl-levulinate Reactive Distillation Process by Incremental Refinement

Butyl-levulinate has been identified as a promising fuel candidate with high oxygen content. Its combustion in diesel engines yields very low soot and NO x emissions. It can be produced by the esterification of butanol and levulinic acid, which themselves are platform chemicals in a biorenewables-based chemical supply chain. Since the equilibrium of esterification limits the conversion in a conventional reactor, reactive distillation can be applied to overcome this limitation. The presence of the high-boiling catalyst sulfuric acid requires a further separation step downstream of the reactive distillation column to recover the catalyst for recycle. Optimal design specifications and an optimal operating point are determined using rigorous flowsheet optimization. The challenging optimization problem is solved by a favorable initialization strategy and continuous reformulation. The design identified has the potential to produce a renewable transportation fuel at reasonable cost.