In this paper, the low energy cost synchronization control strategy of Markovian switching complex systems/networks is mainly studied and analyzed through multiple perspectives. Firstly, in order to achieve synchronization of Markovian switching complex networks with low energy cost, a control scheme based on the optimal node selection strategy that does not depend on the network coupling strength is improved, and a finite-time controller with a simpler structure is constructed. Secondly, based on the event-triggered control strategy an effective trigger event is designed to achieve the low energy cost synchronization of Markovian switching complex networks on the basis of reducing the information transmission and interaction between networks. Finally, the two control strategies mentioned in this paper are compared and analyzed from multiple perspectives through numerical simulations to better guide practical engineering.

Four types of non-dairy (plant) drinks—almond, oat, rice, and soy—as well as cow milk with varying fat contents (1.5%, 2.0%, and 3.2%), were examined and compared in terms of the total concentrations of Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, and Zn using inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). Additionally, in vitro gastrointestinal digestion was used to determine the bio-accessible fraction of selected elements, evaluating the nutritional value and risk assessment involved with the consumption of these beverages. A significant difference in the mineral profile was observed depending on the type of plant drink, with the highest content of elements noted in the soy drink and the lowest in the rice drink. Except for Ca and P, the soy drink appears to be a much better source of essential nutrients, including Cu, Fe, and Mn, than cow’s milk. A similar Ca content in plant beverages can be obtained only by adding calcium salt at the stag... [more]

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) underwent a substantial number of alterations, and the accompanying structural mutations in the spike protein prompted questions about the virus’s propensity to evade the antibody neutralization produced by prior infection or vaccination. New mutations in SARS-CoV-2 have raised serious concerns regarding the effectiveness of drugs and vaccines against the virus; thus, identifying and developing potent antiviral medications is crucial to combat viral infections. In the present study, we conducted a detailed in silico investigation that involves molecular docking, density functional (DFT) analysis, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and pharmacological analysis followed by an in vitro study with the spike protein. Among fifty terpenes screened, cryptotanshinone and saikosaponin B2 were found to be potent S1-RBD spike protein inhibitors, displaying considerable hydrogen bond interactions with ke... [more]

A recent study demonstrated that the use of feedforward information with conventional Predictive Functional Control (PFC) leads to unexpected inconsistencies, with subsequent negative impacts on tuning and behaviour. A proposal was made to define the coincident point differently and shown to reduce the lag in the closed-loop PFC responses and applied to some systems with benign dynamics. Other recent work has looked at parameterisations of the future input to deal with challenging open-loop dynamics and significantly extended the range of problems for which PFC can be effective. This paper combines the two concepts, and thus proposes an algorithm that has both more effective and simple tuning than original PFC as well as being applicable to a range of challenging dynamics.

Chrome tanned leather shavings (CTLS) are considered one of the more difficult wastes to manage in the tanning industry. At the same time, this waste is an important source of good quality collagen. The few methods described in the literature for the valorization of these wastes usually require pre-treatment or activation. In this study, an attempt was made to see if raw chrome tanned leather shavings (CTLS) could be modified to obtain secondary raw materials with new physical properties. Glutaraldehyde, glycerol, EDCs, pectin, and tannins were selected for modification of the CTLS. The effectiveness of the processes carried out was confirmed by FTIR analysis of the materials obtained. Changes in the intensity of the characteristic collagen peak (amide I, amide II, and amide III) and changes in the position of the bands in the 1200−1000 cm−1 region were observed in the recorded spectra. The modifications introduced confirmed changes in the physical properties of samples M1−M5, includin... [more]

Oily sludge is a loose material containing solid and multiple liquid components. Thermal desorption is an efficient method of disposing of liquids from oily sludge. Most existing studies have mainly discussed the effect of some external process parameters on thermal desorption, with little discussion on the heat transfer characteristics and the variation in the wet component mass of oily sludge under heating. Small-scale experiments have been performed to measure the rise in temperature and liquid phase content change of the sludge during heating. The temperature rise rate increases with material density and increases faster during the initial heating stage, while it slows down as the liquid phase evaporates. The adhesive shear stress is determined by measuring the pulling force of the test rod, which decreases with decreasing water content and increases significantly with decreasing oil phase content. Heat transfer and energy distribution models have been developed to calculate the ri... [more]

This article aims to optimise the structure of a press machine to enhance its stability and accuracy, as well as reduce the frame deformation during processing. The outer supporting frame of the JH31-250 press machine (Zhejiang Weili Forging Machinery Co., Ltd, Shaoxing, China) is used as a typical sample for exploring optimisation. Commercial software is utilised to conduct a finite element analysis on the three-dimensional model of the press machine frame. A topological optimisation algorithm using the solid isotropic microstructures with penalisation (SIMP) method is then applied to improve the structure of the press frame. The size of the topological structure is further refined with the response surface method and particle swarm optimisation method to ensure it is more relevant to engineering application. The analysis results indicate that the initial frame’s deformation under the static conditions is 0.4229 mm, and after optimisation, the deformed structural displacement is 0.254... [more]

In the regeneration mode, precise control of the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) outlet temperature is crucial for the complete combustion of carbon Particulate Matter (PM) in the subsequent Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and the effective conversion of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). The temperature elevation process of the DOC involves a series of intricate physicochemical reactions characterized by high nonlinearity, substantial time delays, and uncertainties. These factors render effective and stable control of the DOC outlet temperature challenging. To address these issues, this study proposes an approach based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks for Model Predictive Control (MPC), emphasizing precise control of the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst’s outlet temperature during the regeneration mode. To tackle the system’s nonlinear characteristics, LSTM is employed to construct a predictive model for the outlet temperature of the Diesel Oxid... [more]

The coal industry plays an essential role in China’s economic development, and issues such as occupational health and environmental pollution caused by coal dust have attracted a great deal of attention. In accordance with the principles of environmental protection and waste management, this study used carboxymethyl ginkgo cellulose (CL) extracted and modified from Ginkgo biloba leaves as a matrix, and a graft copolymerized with sodium 3-allyloxy-1-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonate (AHPS) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) monomers to prepare low-cost, environmentally friendly, and high-performance coal dust suppression (C-A-N). By optimizing fitting experimental data through three factors and two response surface analyses, the optimal dust suppression efficiency ratio was determined to be 4:8:5, and its swelling and water retention properties were analyzed. The microstructure, chemical reaction process, combustion performance and crusting property of the dust suppression gel were analyzed usi... [more]

The four-way-shuttle-based storage and retrieval system is a recent innovative intelligent vertical warehousing system that has been widely applied in manufacturing and e-commerce environments due to its high flexibility and density. As a complex multi-device cooperative operational system, this system features the parallel operation of multiple elevators and four-way shuttles. During large-scale-batch inbound operations, the quality of scheduling solutions for inbound-operation equipment significantly impacts the system’s efficiency and performance. In this paper, a detailed analysis of the inbound-operation process in the system is conducted, taking into consideration the motion characteristics of both the elevators and four-way shuttles. Furthermore, we establish operational time constraints that account for equipment acceleration and deceleration characteristics and introduce a flexible flow-shop-scheduling model to address the scheduling problem in the system. Additionally, we pro... [more]

Improvements in heat exchanger thermal efficiency are crucial for achieving energy use and cost reductions. The use of nanofluids and the rotation of the exchanger inner tube may enhance heat transfer and exchanger efficiency. In this work, after having performed experiments on such a heat exchanger, a three dimensional numerical model was developed to simulate the transitional forced convection flow of a horizontal double-tube heat exchanger, with the aim of obtaining insight into the effects of the inner tube rotation, fluid flow rate and type of nanofluid employed. It was found that an increase in the nanoparticle concentration up to 3% increased the exchanger efficiency. Al2O3, Al2O3-Cu and Cu-water nanofluids were studied, with the Cu-water being the fluid with the best performance (19.33% improvement). Heat transfer was enhanced with inner tube rotation up to 500 rpm (41.2%). Nevertheless, pressure drop and friction values were increased due to both phenomena, leading to higher p... [more]

This article presents the results of an experimental study on the effect of the selection of kinematic system for the drilling process on the cylindricity deviation, roundness deviation, diameter error and surface roughness of holes in brass alloy. Three different kinematic systems based on the dependence of the direction of rotation of the workpiece and the drill bit were used. The drill bit was mounted in an axially driven holder that allowed it to be put into motion. Cutting tests were conducted at three different spindle speeds and three different feed rates per revolution (27 tests in total). A static ANOVA analysis was used to evaluate the effect of each input parameter on each output parameter. The results of this work have practical applications in machining. The following input parameters of the drilling process should be used to obtain the smallest values of each output parameter: for CYL, n = 4775 rpm, fn = 0.14 mm/rev and KIN III; for RON, n = 4775 rpm, fn = 0.1 or 0.12 mm/... [more]

The reliable operation of industrial equipment is imperative for ensuring both safety and enhanced production efficiency. Machine learning technology, particularly the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), has emerged as a valuable tool for achieving effective fault warning in industrial settings. Despite its success, the practical application of LightGBM encounters challenges in diverse scenarios, primarily stemming from the multitude of parameters that are intricate and challenging to ascertain, thus constraining computational efficiency and accuracy. In response to these challenges, we propose a novel innovative hybrid algorithm that integrates an Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm (AOA), Simulated Annealing (SA), and new search strategies. This amalgamation is designed to optimize LightGBM hyperparameters more effectively. Subsequently, we seamlessly integrate this hybrid algorithm with LightGBM to formulate a sophisticated fault warning system. Validation through industrial c... [more]

The piloted and the spontaneous ignition of low and high molecular weight (LMW and HMW) polymethyl methacrylate are simulated using a one-dimensional condensed-gas phase model for constant heat fluxes in the range of 25−150 kW/m2. Purely thermal (nitrogen) and thermo-oxidative (air) decomposition is considered, described by a single and four-step kinetics for the low and high molecular weight polymer, respectively. Different optical properties are also examined. The same trends of the ignition time and other ignition parameters are always observed. Due to a more significant role of the chemical kinetics, the effects of the sample molecular weight and reaction atmosphere are higher at low heat fluxes. Times are shorter for the black HMW samples and thermo-oxidative kinetics. For piloted ignition, factors are around 2.8−1.6, whereas for thermal decomposition, they are 1.3−1.2. The corresponding figures are 1.8−1.3 and 1.3−1.1, in the same order, for the spontaneous ignition. Overall, the... [more]

To address the issue of low utilization rates, constrained operational modes, and the underutilization of flexible energy storage resources at the end-user level, this research paper introduces a collaborative operational approach for shared energy storage operators in a multiple microgrids (ESO-MGs) system. This approach takes into account the relation of electricity generated by MGs and the integration of diverse energy storage resources managed by ESO. A hybrid game-theoretic energy trading strategy is employed to address the challenges associated with energy trading and revenue distribution in this joint operational mode. Firstly, a multi-objective master−slave game optimization model is developed with the objective of maximizing the revenue earned by shared energy storage operators while simultaneously minimizing the operational costs of multiple microgrids. Secondly, acknowledging the peer-to-peer (P2P) energy sharing dynamics inherent in the multiple microgrid system, a non-co-o... [more]

Hydrodistillation is traditionally a green technology for the manufacturing of natural products that are volatile. As well as acknowledged process intensification methods such as microwave support for energy efficiency to move towards climate neutral operation, digital twins combined with process analytical technology for advanced process control enables reliable operation of an optimal operation point regarding lowest cost of goods, as well as lowest global warming potential equivalent. A novel process control enabled by digital twin technology has shown to reduce the ecological footprint of the extraction by up to 46.5%, while reducing the cost of extraction by 22.4%. Additionally, skilled operator time is reduced, and the sustainable plant material is utilized most efficiently. The approach is ready to apply, but broad industrialization seems to be held back by unclear business cases and lack of comprehension of decision makers. This is in drastic contrast to the political demand fo... [more]

We present the workflow for numerical reservoir simulation of supercritical multi-source and multi-component steam injection for offshore heavy oil development. We have developed unique techniques in a commercial reservoir simulator to implement the thermal properties of supercritical multi-source and multi-component steam, the pyrolysis chemical reactions, the temperature-dependent relative permeability, and the process of partially dissolving the sandstone rock to enhance the matrix permeability in a commercial reservoir simulator. Simulations are conducted on the type pattern reservoir model, which represents one of the heavy oil fields in CNOOC’s Bohai Bay oil field. Simulation input parameters are calibrated based on laboratory experiments conducted for supercritical multi-source and multi-component steam injection. Simulation results have shown clear improvements in injecting supercritical multi-source and multi-component steam in offshore heavy oil reservoirs compared to the nor... [more]

Research interest in the behavior of methane inside nanopores has been growing, driven by the substantial geological reserves of shale gas and coalbed methane. The phase diagram of methane in nanopores differs significantly from its bulk state, influencing its existing form and pertinent physical properties—such as density and viscosity—at specific pressures and temperatures. Currently, there is a lack of effort to understand the nanoconfinement effect on the methane phase diagram; this is a crucial issue that needs urgent attention before delving into other aspects of nanoconfined methane behavior. In this study, we establish a fully coupled model to predict the methane phase diagram across various scales. The model is based on vapor-liquid fugacity equilibrium, considering the shift in critical pressure and temperature induced by pore size shrinkage and adsorption-phase thickness. Notably, our proposed model incorporates the often-overlooked factor of capillary pressure, which is gre... [more]

The present review is devoted to the application of transition metal complexes with such ligands as amino acids, peptides and carbohydrates in catalysis. The literature published over the past 20 years is surveyed. Among the distinctive features of these ligands are their versatility, optical activity, stability and availability. Furthermore, depending on the specific synthetic task to be solved, these ligands open up almost infinite opportunity for modification. Largely thanks to their multifaceted reactivity, transition metal complexes with amino acids, peptides and carbohydrates can catalyze most of the known chemical reactions affording optically pure compounds. In this review, the emphasis is placed upon C(sp3)−H activation, cross-coupling and hydrogenation (including traditional hydrogenation in the presence of hydrogen gas and hydrogenation with hydrogen transfer) reactions. The choice is not accidental, since these reactions on the one hand display the catalytic versatility of... [more]

Digital twins have emerged as a powerful concept for real-time monitoring and analysis, facilitating Quality by Design integration into biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Traditionally, lyophilization processes are developed through trial-and-error, incorporating high security margins and inflexible process set points. Digital twins enable the integration of adaptable operating conditions and implementation of automation through Advanced Process Control (APC) with Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and validated physicochemical models that rely on heat and mass transfer principles, allowing us to overcome the challenges imposed by the lyophilization process. In this study, a digital twin for freeze-drying processes is developed and experimentally validated. Using the digital twin, primary drying conditions were optimized for controlled nucleation and annealing methods by carrying out a few laboratory tests beforehand. By incorporating PAT and modeling, the digital twin accurately predic... [more]

In recent years, the integrity of the gas pipeline in the coal-gas co-mining subsidence area has become a critical problem, restricting the safe and efficient mining of coal resources. This paper establishes a theoretical model for the safety prediction of gas pipelines in mining subsidence areas based on elastic free theory, constructs a 3D model of pipe-sand soil by using ABAQUS simulation software (2021), analyzes the characteristics of ground surface and pipeline settlement combined with the measured data on-site, and reveals the temporal and spatial evolution law of the pipeline load and deformation under the condition of diagonal intersections of the pipeline and high-strength mining working face. The results show that during the mining cycle, the pipe and the sandy soil body experienced the stage of cooperative deformation, the stage of increasing non-cooperative deformation, and the stage of weakening non-cooperative deformation; the pipe body is most vulnerable to yield failur... [more]

In grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems, power quality and voltage control are necessary, particularly under unbalanced grid conditions. These conditions frequently lead to double-line frequency power oscillations, which worsen Direct Current (DC)-link voltage ripples and stress DC-link capacitors. The well-known dq frame vector control technique, which is effective under normal conditions, struggles with oscillatory component management in unbalanced grid conditions. To address this issue, this paper presents an advanced control approach designed for grid-connected PV inverters. The proposed approach is effective at reducing oscillations in the DC-link voltage at double the grid frequency, thereby enhancing system stability and component longevity. This method introduces a feedback control method designed to regulate oscillatory components that appeared within the dq frame and suppress the DC-link voltage oscillations under imbalance conditions, including single line-to-ground (SL... [more]

Lubrication is one of the key factors to improve metal-forming quality. In the process of deep drawing, seizing tumors easily occur on the contact surfaces between the tantalum metal and the mold, which greatly affects the forming quality of the deep-drawn parts. Quality-forming quality problems that occur during the deep drawing of tantalum metal are studied from the perspective of lubrication in this paper. Three lubrication media, caster oil, PE (polyethylene) film, and DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) film, were adopted in the deep drawing of tantalum cylindrical cups. A universal testing machine and microscope were used to investigate the effect of lubrication media on the limit-drawing ratio, maximum forming force, and surface topography quality during the deep drawing process of the tantalum sheet. The results reveal that the lubrication of the PE film and DLC film can greatly improve the forming quality of the tantalum metal sheet, in which the DLC film has higher wear resistance and... [more]

Alginate, a promising biopolymer in the food, biomedical, pharmaceutical, and electronic materials industries, is characterized by its biodegradability, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and gel-forming properties. It is most abundantly found in brown algae. However, conventional dilute acid and alkali extraction methods face limitations in commercialization due to their long processing time, low throughput, and high solvent requirements. In this study, a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) process for sodium alginate was designed to improve extraction efficiency. The solid/liquid ratio, extraction temperature, and extraction solvent concentration were major variables affecting sodium alginate extraction from Undaria pinnatifida (sea mustard). They were then statistically optimized using response surface methodology. Under optimal conditions (13.27 g/L, 91.86 °C, 2.51% (w/v), and 15 min), the yield was 38.41%, which was 93.43% of the theoretical content of sodium alginate in Undaria pinn... [more]

This work explores five falling film evaporator (FFE) simulation approaches combined with energy consumption minimization strategies, namely Mechanical Vapor Recompression and Thermal Vapor Recompression (MVR and TVR, respectively). Global system analysis and advanced dynamic optimization strategies are then investigated to minimize steam consumption, the cost of steam, and the total annualized cost and to maximize product yield. The results indicate that higher TVR discharge pressures, or MVR compression ratios, along with higher feed temperatures, enhance evaporation but increase operational costs. The most economical option includes three evaporator effects with TVR to achieve 50% product dry mass content. However, for a 35% dry mass content, MVR becomes cost-effective with an 11% reduction in unit electricity prices or a simultaneous 7% drop in electricity prices and a 5% increase in gas-based steam prices. Furthermore, switching from milk powder production to milk concentrates lea... [more]