Engineering Commons^™

Flat Plate Solar Collector Materials (And Designs With An Economic Methodology For Optimizing Collector Design), Michael L. Day '79, Donald S. Remer, Daniel Hyatt '82

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

The desirability of specific materials and designs for conventional flat-plate solar collector components is considered. Then a methodology for choosing the most economic component is presented, consisting of a computer simulation and a rate-of-return analysis. The effect of rising conventional fuel costs is examined. Examples of using the methodology are given, based on Southern California climatic and user-demand conditions. Selective absorber-plate coatings and film inner glazing are shown to be economic, yielding a rate-of-return of 23 percent and 29 percent, respectively.

Motion‐Compensated Transform Coding, A. N. Netravali, J. A. Stuller

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Interframe Hybrid Transform/dpcm Coders Encode Television Signals by Taking a Spatial Transform of a Block of Picture Elements in a Frame and Predictively Coding the Resulting Coefficients using the Corresponding Coefficients of the Spatial Block at the Same Location in the Previous Frame. These Coders Can Be Made More Efficient for Scenes Containing Objects in Translational Motion by First Estimating the Translational Displacement of Objects and Then using Coefficients of a Spatially Displaced Block in the Previous Frame for Prediction. This Paper Presents Simulation Results for Such Motion‐compensated Transform Coders using Two Algorithms for Estimating Displacements. the First Algorithm, Which …

Reduction Of Transmission Error Propagation In Adaptively Predicted, Dpcm Encoded Pictures, N. F. Maxemchuk, J. A. Stuller

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A New Technique for Reducing Transmission Error Propagation in Adaptively Predicted, dpcm‐encoded Pictures is Described. the Basis for the Technique is a Generalization of the Notion of Predictor Output Attenuation, Described by Graham, to Include Attenuation of the Adaptive Prediction Function. Simulation Results Are Presented that Show that Application of the Technique to Graham's Codec Results in Significant Reduction in Error Propagation Without Degradation of Picture Quality. the Technique Requires No Increase in Transmission Rate. © 1979 the Bell System Technical Journal

Toward More Meaningful Laboratory Experiences In Digital Signal Processing And Digital Control, Rodger E. Ziemer, D. Ronald Fannin, Paul D. Stigall

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Digital Signal Processing and Digital Control Are of Utmost Importance for Electrical Engineering Students, for They Are Present in Many Aspects of Today's Technical World. Complex Topics Like These Should Not Be Introduced into a Curriculum as a Crash Program but Taken as Steps in an Evolutionary Process. a Successful Example of This Evolutionary Process is Well Underway at the University of Missouri-Rolla. Copyright © 1979 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

Simple Generation Of One-Parameter Pseudoterrain Surfaces, Gordon E. Carlson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A simple method for generating digital terrain surfaces as a function of only the terrain standard deviation is presented. This is accomplished by fitting a postulated autocorrelation model to actual terrain data. Observed relations between model parameters are used to obtain a one-parameter model. Copyright © 1979 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Inc.

Transform Domain Motion Estimation, J. A. Stuller, A. N. Netravali

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Paper Introduces an Algorithm for Estimating the Displacement of Moving Objects in a Television Scene from Spatial Transform Coefficients of Successive Frames. the Algorithm Works Recursively in Such a Way that the Displacement Estimates Are Updated from Coefficient to Coefficient. a Promising Application of This Algorithm is in Motion‐compensated Interframe Hybrid Transform‐dpcm Image Coding. We Give a Statistical Analysis of the Transform Domain Displacement Estimation Algorithm and Prove its Convergence under Certain Realistic Conditions. an Analytical Derivation is Presented that Gives Sufficient Conditions for the Rate of Convergence of the Algorithm to Be Independent of the Transform Type. This …

An Adaptive Intraframe Dpcm Codec Based Upon Nonstationary Image Model, N. F. Maxemchuk, J. A. Stuller

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Paper Introduces a Nonstationary Model for Images and Develops an Adaptive Intrafield Dpcm Codec based Upon the Model. the Codec Attempts to Minimize the Mean‐square Coding Error at Each Sample Point in the Picture. the Quantizer in the Resulting Adaptive Codec is Found to Be Similar to that Previously Obtained from Visual Masking Considerations. Comparative Simulation Results using 256 X 256 Pixel Rasters Are Given for Two‐ and Three‐bit/pixel Versions of the Adaptive Codec, the Three‐bit/pixel Graham Codec, and Three‐bit/pixel Previous Element Dpcm. © 1979 the Bell System Technical Journal

A Microcomputer-Based Data Acquisition System With Hardware Capabilities To Calculate A Fast Fourier Transform, R. A. Kobylinski, Rodger E. Ziemer, Paul D. Stigall

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) Has in Recent Years Become an Important Tool to the Engineer. There Are a Number of Algorithms Which Calculate the FFT. One Such Algorithm is the Cooley-Tukey FFT Algorithm (Radix-2) Which Lends itself Rather Easily to a Combination Software and Hardware Implementation. with a Microcomputer as the Controller of a Data Acquisition Module and Hardware Which Computes the Butterfly Associated with the FFT Algorithm, the FFT Can Be Calculated Efficiently. © 1979 IEEE

Backscatter Inversion In Spherically Asymmetric Ionosphere, R. (Richard) E. Dubroff, N. Narayana Rao, K. C. Yeh

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

It is Well Known that Various Diurnal and Morphological Features of the Ionosphere Reveal Substantial Departures from the Normally Simplified Assumption of Spherical Symmetry at Certain Times of the Day or at Certain Geographic Locations. a Radio Ray Passing through Such an Ionosphere Must Bear Information About its Horizontal Gradients. the Leading Edge of a Backscatter Ionogram is Formed by Obliquely Propagated Radio Rays of Minimum Time Delay and Hence is Useful in Deducing Information About the Ionospheric Horizontal Gradients. in This Regard, the Ionospheric Electron Density Distribution is Modeled by a Locally Quasi‐parabolic Layer with Six Parameters. This Six‐parameter …

Stable Equilibrium Statistical States For Spheromaks, George Vahala, Linda L. Vahala

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Incompressible nondissipative magnetohydrodynamic turbulence is treated for spherical systems. From the absolute equilibrium expectation values of the fields one can investigate those initially quiescent states for which no large mean square velocity will develop. This stable state is force-free and gives rise to the Hill vortex structure for the magnetic flux surfaces.

Performance Theorems For The Resource Scheduling Functions Of A Multiprocessing System, George Arthur Nicol

Dissertations and Theses

In this dissertation, a multiprocess scheduling model is developed and a set of performance theorems is constructed for the set of scheduling functions associated with the model. Each theorem describes the conditions under which a scheduling function exhibits a particular type of performance.

Real-Time Estimation Of Aerodynamic Coefficients By Means Of An Extended Kalman Filter, James Robert Kelsey

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

A technique for estimation of the aerodynamic parameters of a flight vehicle from onboard measurements is presented.

An extended Kalman filter is used to extract the parameters in the presence of measurement noise and initial uncertainty of the parameter values. Computer generated data were used for the measurement information in lieu of actual flight data.

Several state models of varying complexity are studied in an attempt to find a model which yields adequate estimates while minimizing the required computation time.

Principal Angle, Principal Azimuth, And Principal-Angle Ellipsometry Of Film-Substrate Systems, R. M.A. Azzam, A.-R. M. Zaghloul

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications

When the film thickness is considered as a parameter, a system composed of a transparent film on an absorbing substrate (in a transparent ambient) is characterized by a range of principal angle ø¯_min ≤ ø¯ ≤ ø¯_max over which the associated principal azimuth ψ¯ varies between 0° and 90° (i.e., 0° ≤ ψ¯ ≤ 90°) and the reflection phase difference Δ assumes either one of the two values: +π/2 or −π/2. We determine the principal angle ø¯(d) and principal azimuth ψ¯(d) as functions of film thickness d for the vacuum-SiO₂-Si system at …

Propagation Of Partially Polarized Light Through Anisotropic Media With Or Without Depolarization: A Differential 4 × 4 Matrix Calculus, R. M.A. Azzam

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications

We extend the scope of the Mueller calculus to parallel that established by Jones for his calculus. We find that the Stokes vector S of a light beam that propagates through a linear depolarizing anisotropic medium obeys the first-order linear differential equation dS/dz = mS, where z is the distance traveled along the direction of propagation and m is a 4 × 4 real matrix that summarizes the optical properties of the medium which influence the Stokes vector. We determine the differential matrix m for eight basic types of optical behavior, find its form for the most general anisotropic nondepolarizing …

Consequences Of Light Reflection At The Interface Between Two Transparent Media Such That The Angle Of Refraction Is 45°, R. M.A. Azzam

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications

The reflection of light at the interface between two transparent, homogeneous and optically isotropic media such that the angle of refraction is 45° has the following interesting consequences: (i) the interface relfectivity for the parallel (p) polarization is the square of that for the perpendicular (s) polarization; (ii) the angular deviation of the propagation direction upon refraction is equal to the polarization (or ellipsometric) angle ψ and (iii) the complex reflection coefficient for the ppolarization is stationary, in both magnitude and phase, with respect to small charges of the (refractive and/or absorptive) optical properties of …

New Trends In Building Design And Planning -- For The Age Of Energy Conservation, C. William Brubaker

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

In response to increasing energy costs, building design and planning are changing. Rational design can achieve many of the goals of energy conservation.

The Arizona Solar Tax Incentives Package, Donald E. Osborn

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The State of Arizona has enacted into law one of the nation's most comprehensive and consumer oriented set of tax incentives to encourage the use of solar energy devices. The development of these incentives and their required regulations and guidelines are covered.

Solar Technology Inventory For The Mid-American Region, L. Icerman, S. K. Parker

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

A mailed questionnaire and telephone contact procedure was developed to identify solar equipment manufacturers in the Mid-American Solar Energy Center (MASEC) region and to collect information required to characterize the solar equipment manufacturing industry. Special emphasis was placed on assembling data that are useful in evaluating the commercialization status of the solar energy industry from an equipment supplier viewpoint.

Generation For Maximum System Efficiency, Charles A. Gross

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

This paper presents a method for solving for the generation combination that supplies a specific load demand at maximum efficiency in a multigenerator power system. The method accounts for transmission losses using the B constant approach and generating losses using heat rate data. Results are presented for an example test system.

Energy Conservative Electric Lines-Now!, Paul F. Pugh, A. S. Yeranian

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

This paper describes the components of a new energy conservative cable system and new methods to service prove new products without disturbing the existing power system. Methods are presented for attaching a new cable design to an existing system for a trial installation. It describes how field splices and taps are easily made to extend the line without a shutdown or disturbance.

Maxwellian Concepts Of Magnetro-Electrodynamics And The Reality Of Med Energy Producing Devices, Tom Day

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

"We can scarcely avoid the inference that light consists in the transverse undulations of the same medium which is the cause of electric and magnetic phenomena."

Toward A Methodology For Evaluation Of Solar Systems, William P. Moran, Gene E. Kouba, Bruce V. Ketcham

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The shortcomings and inconsistences of the typical return-on-capital evaluation are detailed. Generalizations of evaluation objectives and performance measures and data gathering objectives are given.

Direct Energy Conversions Of Solar Energy, A. A. Rahman

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

In this paper, the design concepts of three direct energy converters were explained. The converters selected were thermoelectric, thermionic and magnetohydrodynamic converters. Discussions and analysis of the material limitations of these converters with possible improvements to make these devices suitable for domestic or public use was also explained.

Mississippi County Community College -- A Photovoltaic Demonstration Project, William M. Woodsmall Jr.

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

An overall view of the integration of all systems involved in the world's largest photovoltaic demonstration project.

Mississippi County Community College in Blytheville is presently being planned using a 240 KW ± photovoltaic collection field for its energy source. Systems include the collectors, thermal, process control, storage (both thermal and electrical) power conditioning, and the building itself.

On The Thermodynamics Of Direct Energy Conversions, A. A. Rahman

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

In this work, a generalized thermodynamic analysis was developed for direct energy converters that operate as heat engines. Examples for various converters as thermoelectric, MHD and Nernst generators were solved. The possibilities of utilizing these concepts on designing generators to convert heat or solar energy directly into electricity were also discussed.

Long Term Stability Of Linearized Thermistor Circuits, Gene E. Kouba

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The long term accuracy and stability of linearized thermistor circuits used for temperature measurements in a solar home monitoring project are being evaluated by periodic calibration.

Concentration Of Solar Energy Using A Cassegrain Type Solar Furnace, M. H. Cobble, W. C. Hull

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

A solar furnace consisting of a paraboloid of revolution that tracks the sun, and a hyperboloid of revolution reflector that has a focus in common with the paraboloid is analyzed using a three-dimensional ray trace to determine the image shape and size, and for the concentration to be obtained for various eccentricities e of the hyperboloid when used with an 84 foot diameter paraboloid (radar dish).

The Solar Connection -- Promise Or Peril?, Paul S. Strong

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

During the past decade important progress has been made in understanding the sun-earth environmental system. Modern observations of solar activity document changes in solar output over time scales ranging from seconds to decades, and evidence for longer term variations have been found in historical records. It follows that the sun cannot be considered to be a totally non-variable energy source. Continued research progress into solar-terrestrial interactions will hopefully provide an understanding of sun-weather/climate relationships resulting in energy conservation through more efficient energy utilization of our planet's atmospheric energy system.

Commercially Available Vacuum Tube Solar Collectors, Stanley J. Ring

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Efficiencies on the order of 50 percent with high differential temperature (150° C) have been advertised with the current distribution of commercially available evacuated tube collectors. Product specifications and, where possible, experimental data have been gathered and presented. The paper also develops a mathematical model for evaluation of these collectors. Results conclude that, although performance is high, collector expense limits the cost effectiveness to necessary high-temperature, high-volume applications. These include both residential cooling and industrial processing.

Computer Modeling Of A Solar Hot Water Collector System, Michael F. Bregar, William E. Stewart Jr.

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Computer modeling of a solar collector system can facilitate the selection of design paths and produce the optimal orientation and layout of the system for its intended location and seasonal usage patterns. Application of economic criteria to modeling also enables the analysis of alternate designs in terms of their installed and operating costs, as well as allowing calculation of payback periods for the various system configurations.

This program was intended to aid in the design of solar hot water collector systems. Design parameters of the system are used as inputs to the program. System configuration and design can then be …