• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.361-377
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• 2019

The stiffness of shape memory alloy (SMA) spring while in actuation is represented by an empirical model that is derived from the logistic differential equation. This model correlates the stiffness to the alloy temperature and the functionality of SMA spring as active variable stiffness actuator (VSA) is analyzed based on factors that are the input conditions (activation current, duty cycle and excitation frequency) and operating conditions (pre-stress and mechanical connection). The model parameters are estimated by adopting the nonlinear least square method, henceforth, the model is validated experimentally. The average correlation factor of 0.95 between the model response and experimental results validates the proposed model. In furtherance, the justification is augmented from the comparison with existing stiffness models (logistic curve model and polynomial model). The important distinction from several observations regarding the comparison of the model prediction with the experimental states that it is more superior, flexible and adaptable than the existing. The nature of stiffness variation in the SMA spring is assessed also from the Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA), which as well proves the proposal. This model advances the ability to use SMA integrated mechanism for enhanced variable stiffness actuation. The investigation proves that the stiffness of SMA spring may be altered under controlled conditions.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2011

An experimental variable rate nursery sprayer was developed to adjust application rates for canopy volume in real time. The sprayer consisted of two vertical booms integrated with ultrasonic sensors, and variable rate nozzles coupled with pulse width modulation (PMW) based solenoid valves. A custom-designed microcontroller instructed the sensors to detect canopy size and occurrence and then controlled nozzles to achieve variable application rates. A spray delivery system, which consisted of diaphragm pump, pressure regulator and 4-cycle gasoline engine, offered the spray discharge function. Spray delay time, time adjustment in spray trigger for the leading distance of the sensor, was measured with a high-speed camera, and it was from 50 to 140 ms earlier than the desired time (398 ms) at 3.2 km/h under indoor conditions. Consequently, the sprayer triggered 4.5 to 12.5 cm prior to detected targets. Duty cycles of the sprayer were from 20 to 34 ms for senor-to-canopy (STC) distance from 0.30 to 0.76 m. Outdoor test confirmed that the nozzles were triggered from 290 to 380 ms after detecting tree canopy at 3.2 km/h. The spray rate of the new sprayer was 58.4 to 85.2% of the constant application rate (935 L/ha). Spray coverage was collected at four areas of evergreen canopy by water sensitive papers (WSP), and ranged from 1.9 to 41.1% and 1.8 to 34.7% for variable and constant rate applications, respectively. One WSP area had significant (P < 0.05) difference in mean spray coverage between two application conditions.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.318-320
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• 2003

This paper presents a novel single-stage high frequency resonant DC-DC converter using zero voltage switching with high input power factor. The proposed high frequency resonant converter integrates half-bridge boost rectifier as power factor corrector (PFC) and half-bridge resonant converter into a single stage. The input stage of the half-bridge boost rectifier is working in discontinuous conduction mode(DCM) with constant duty cycle and variable switching frequency. So that a high power factor is achieved naturally. Simulation results through the Pspice have demonstrated the feasibility of the Proposed DC-DC converter. This proposed converter will be able to be practically used as a power supply in various fields as induction heating applications, DC-DC converter etc.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1992.07b
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• pp.1182-1184
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• 1992

In case of chopper control is used for the d.c motor In the electric vehicle(EV) in general step down chopper is used for the driving and the step-up chopper is used for the regeneration. Bilateral variable ratio chopper system(BVRCS) formed by parallel combination of upper two chopper methods step-down, step-up and step-up/down chopper operations by duty cycle, circuit element and driving condition. In this paper, BVRCS is proposed for the simulated and experimented control of d.c motor in the EV. By the result of simulation BVRCS represents same driving power compared to the step-down and excellent breaking power compared to the step-up chopper system because of the greater motor current.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2004.07b
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• pp.519-523
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• 2004

In this paper, a simple power control scheme of Class-D inverter, which is varied duty cycle of fixed frequency to desired output power. It is more suitable and acceptable for high-frequency induction heating (IH) jar applications. The proposed control scheme has the advantages of not only wide power regulation range but also ease to control output power. Also it can achieve the stable and efficient Zero-Voltage-Switching (ZVS) in whole load range. The control principles of proposed method are described in detail and its validity is verified trough simulations results on 38.5kHz IGBT for induction heating rated on 1.6kW with constant frequency variable power.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2002.07a
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• pp.750-753
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• 2002

A novel single-stage half-bridge high frequency resonant inverter using ZVS(Zero Voltage Switching) with high input power factor suitable for induction heating applications is presented in this paper. The proposed high frequency resonant Inverter integrates half-bridge boost rectifier as power factor corrector(PFC) and half-bridge resonant inverter into a single stage. The input stage of the half-bridge boost rectifier is working in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) with constant duty cycle and variable switching frequency. Simulation results through the Pspice have demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed inverter. This proposed inverter will be able to be practically used as a power supply in various fields as induction heating applications, DC-DC converter etc.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2003.07c
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• pp.1852-1854
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• 2003

In manufacturing processes, various and suitable pulse shapes are required for the purpose of material processing. In order to make various pulse shapes with variable pulse length and high duty cycle, We have fabricated the power supply consisting 6 SCRs and the Pulse Forming Network(PFN) with the precise delay time control. So our control system has three switching circuits, 3 mesh PFN, and simmer circuit. In addition, we have designed and fabricated the PIC one-chip microprocessor(16F877) to control the delay time of sequential switching.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.790-802
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• 2017

This paper proposes the modeling and control strategy to track the MPPs of hybrid PV and Wind power systems, using a new dual input boost converter. The dual input power conditioning system with an independent MPPT control scheme is introduced with minimum number of circuit elements in order to reduce the switching loss, size and cost of the system. Since the operating conditions for the PV and Wind power systems are very distinct from each other, an efficient and superior control system is required to track the MPPs of both renewable sources with the use of a simply-structured single-ended single-inductor converter. The design of Power-Conditioning System (PCS) and detail control strategy are presented in this paper. To provide independent tracking of MPPs, a variable duty-cycle control strategy is employed for the wind system and a variable frequency strategy is employed for the PV system. Finally, the proposed dual-input converter for hybrid power conditioning system is implemented and the hardware test results are presented. From the hardware experiment, it is concluded that the proposed system successfully tracks the MPPs of both of the renewable power systems independently.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2002.07b
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• pp.1196-1198
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• 2002

A novel single-stage half-bridge high frequency resonant inverter using ZVS(Zero Voltage Switching) with high input power factor suitable for induction heating applications is presented in this paper. The proposed high frequency resonant inverter integrates half-bridge boost rectifier as power factor corrector(PFC) and half-bridge resonant inverter into a single stage. The input stage of the half-bridge boost rectifier is working in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) with constant duty cycle and variable switching frequency. So that a high power factor is achieved naturally. Simulation results through the Pspice have demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed inverter. This proposed inverter will be able to be practically used as a power supply in various fields as induction heating applications, DC-DC converter etc.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.64-68
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• 2001

This paper presents an innovative prototype of a new conceptual electromagnetic induction heated type far infrared rays radiant heating appliance using the voltage-fed edge-resonant ZVS-PWM high frequency inverter using IGBTs for food cooking and processing which operates under a constant frequency variable power regulation scheme. This power electronic appliance with soft switching high frequency inverter using IGBTs has attracted special interest from some advantageous viewpoints of safety, cleanliness, compactness and rapid temperature response, which is more suitable for consumer power electronics applications.