Engineering Commons^™

Energy Commodities Trading Using A Phase Signal Derived From The Levy Index Of Price And Volatility, Jonathan Blackledge, Derek Kearney, Claire Farrell, Grace Kearney

Articles

Energy traders need to decide what markets and commodities to trade in, when to open and close trades and how to maximize profits. In this paper we consider an approach for analyzing energy commodity price data based on the Lévy index in order to develop a new short-term predictive trend indicator for the price. This is achieved by computing the unwrapped phase signal generated from the Lévy index of both the Stochastic Volatility and price and is evaluated using data from the Irish Energy Market, namely, time series for the price of Electricity, Gas and Oil. The initial results show …

Wind Resource In The Urban Environment, Jonathan Blackledge, Eugene Coyle, Derek Kearney, Eamonn Murphy, Maria-Jose Rivas Duartes

Articles

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observation recognized the need to include in the 1996 WMO Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observation, WMO No. 8 a new chapter on Urban Observations (Oke 2006). There is an increasing demand for meteorological data to support building and urban design, energy conservation, micro -wind turbine installation, air quality, pollution control, insurance, wind engineering, etc. Over the last six years instrumentation has been installed at the Dublin Ins titute of Technology (DIT) in two separate locations to monitor the wind. Research has shown that the wind resource will …

Analysis Of Wind Velocity And The Quantification Of Wind Turbulence In Rural And Urban Environments Using The Levy Index And Fractal Dimension, Jonathan Blackledge, Eugene Coyle, Niall Mccoy, Derek Kearney, Keith Sunderland, Thomas Woolmington

Articles

This paper is concerned with a quantitative and comparative analysis of wind velocities in urban and rural environments. It is undertaken to provide a route to the classification of wind energy in a rural and urban setting. This is a common problem and the basis of a significant focus of research into wind energy. In this paper, we use a non-Gaussian statistical model to undertake this task, and, through a further modification of the data analysis algorithms used, extend the model to study the effect of wind turbulence, thereby introducing a new metric for this effect that is arguably superior …

Upqc For Power Quality Improvement In Dg Integrated Smart Grid Network: A Review, Shafiuzzaman Khadem, Malabika Basu, Michael Conlon

Articles

Quality of power supply has become an important issue with the increasing demand of Distributed Generation (DG) systems either connected to the grid through some power electronics grid-tie inverters or to work in isolated (microgrid) mode towards the development of a smart grid network. In this paper a technical review of Integration of Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC) in Distributed Generation Network has been presented. Though the primary task of UPQC is to minimize the grid voltage and load current disturbance along with the reactive and harmonic power compensation, additional functionalities like compensation of voltage interruption and active power transfer …

Structure And Polymorphism Of Biaxial Bent-Core Smectic Liquid Crystal, S. Sreenilayam, M. Nagaraj, Yuri Panarin, J. K. Vij, A. Lehmann, C. Tschierske

Articles

The mesomorphic properties of a homologous series of achiral bent-core compounds are studied by polarizing optical microscopy, electro-optics and polarization measurements. Induction of a new orthogonal smectic phases with the increase of alkyl side chain length was observed. One of the compounds exhibits a unique phase transition between four non-tilted smectic phases (SmAPA–SmAPAR-SmAPR-SmA). The uniaxial but antiferroelectric nature of SmAPAR phase was confirmed by POM, current response, the 2nd harmonic electro-optic response and polarization measurements. The structure of SmAPAR phase was studied theoretically by Next-Nearest-Neighbor model and was identified as SmAPα.

Stereoscopic Avatar Interfaces : A Study To Determine What Effect, If Any, 3d Technology Has At Increasing The Interpretability Of An Avatar's Gaze Into The Real-World, Mark Dunne, Brian Mac Namee, John D. Kelleher

Conference papers

An approach to displaying avatar interfaces monoscopically such as the Turning, Stretching and Boxing (TSB) technique (a combination of three graphical processes) has been shown to improve the communication efficiency of avatars by increasing a user's ability to interpret an avatar's gaze direction through the delivery of a sustained 3D illusion of the avatar on a standard 2D display. A reasonable question to ask about this approach is whether or not the improvement in interpretability can be matched or surpassed by using a standard 3D display technology (stereoscopic) with or without the fore-mentioned approach? This paper presents an experiment that …

Improved Speech Intelligibility With A Chimaera Hearing Aid Algorithm, Andrew Hines, Naomi Harte

Conference papers

It is recognised that current hearing aid fitting algorithms can corrupt fine timing cues in speech. This paper presents a fitting algorithm that aims to improve speech intelligibility, while preserving the temporal fine structure. The algorithm combines the signal envelope amplification from a standard hearing aid fitting algorithm with the fine timing information available to unaided listeners. The proposed “chimaera aid” is evaluated with computer simulated listener tests to measure its speech intelligibility for 3 sample hearing losses. In addition, the experiment demonstrates the potential application of auditory nerve models in the development of new hearing aid algorithm designs using …

Enhanced Refractometer Based On Periodically Tapered Small Core Singlemode Fiber, Pengfei Wang, Gilberto Brambilla, Ming Ding, Timothy Lee, Lin Bo, Yuliya Semenova, Qiang Wu, Gerald Farrell

Articles

Abstract—An all-fiber 1 refractive index (RI) sensor with a 2 simple configuration of periodical tapers is proposed and inves3 tigated experimentally. The proposed fiber RI sensor consists of 4 a small core fiber sandwiched between two standard singlemode 5 fibers, with tapers periodically fabricated along the small core 6 fiber using a focused CO2 laser beam. Such a structure can be 7 used for RI sensing by measuring the dip wavelength shift of 8 the multimode interference within the small core fiber cladding. 9 An average sensitivity of 226.6 nm/RIU (RI Unit) has been 10 experimentally achieved in the RI …

Developments In Performance Monitoring Of Concrete Exposed To Extreme Environments., W. J. Mccarter, T. M. Chrisp, G. Starrs, A. Adamson, E. Owens, P. A. M. Basheer, S. V. Nanukuttan, S. Srinivasan, Niall Holmes

Articles

The performance of the surface zone of concrete is acknowledged as a major factor governing the rate of deterioration of reinforced concrete structures because it provides the only barrier to the ingress of water containing dissolved ionic species such as chlorides, which ultimately initiate corrosion of the reinforcement. In situ monitoring of cover-zone concrete is therefore critical in attempting to make realistic predictions as to the in-service performance of the structure. To this end, this paper presents developments in a remote interrogation system to allow for continuous, real-time monitoring of the cover-zone concrete from an office setting. Use is made …

Clinical Coverage Of An Archetype Repository Over Snomed-Ct., Sheng Yu, Damon Berry, Jesus Bisbal

Articles

Clinical archetypes provide a means for health professionals to design what should be communicated as part of an Electronic Health Record (EHR). An ever-growing number of archetype definitions follow this health information modelling approach, and this international archetype resource will eventually cover a large number of clinical concepts. On the other hand, clinical terminology systems that can be referenced by archetypes also have a wide coverage over many types of health-care information.

No existing work measures the clinical content coverage of archetypes using terminology systems as a metric. Archetype authors require guidance to identify under-covered clinical areas that may need …

Integration Of Upqc For Power Quality Improvement In Distributed Generation Network – A Review, Shafiuzzaman Khan Khadem, Malabika Basu, Michael Conlon

Conference Papers

In this paper a technical review of the integration of a Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC) in a distributed generation network is presented. Although the primary task of UPQC is to minimize grid voltage and load current disturbances along with reactive and harmonic power compensation, additional functionalities such as compensation of voltage interruption and active power transfer to the load and grid have also been identified. Connection methodologies with their advantages and disadvantages are also described. Recent improvements in capacity expansion techniques and future trends for the application of UPQC in distributed modes are also identified.

Nanozeolites Doped Photopolymer Layers With Reduced Shrinkage, Mohesh Moothanchery, Izabela Naydenova, Svetlana Mintova, Vincent Toal

Articles

An acrylamide based photopolymer doped with pure silica MFI-type zeolite (silicalite-1) nanoparticles has been characterized for holographic recording purposes. The concentrations of the silicalite-1 nanoparticles in the photopolymer layers were 1, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 wt.%. The inclusion of silicalite-1 nanoparticle in the photopolymer has resulted in an increase of the diffraction efficiency by up to 40%, and decrease of the shrinkage from 1.32% to 0.57%. The best results were obtained in layers doped with 5 wt.% silicalite-1 nanoparticles.

Flood Routing In Natural Channels Using Muskingum Methods, Safa Elbashir

Other resources

The accuracy of flood routing is an important subject for research in hydrology and hydraulics. Accurate information of the flood peak attenuation and the duration of the high water levels obtained by channel routing are of most importance in flood forecasting operations and flood protection works (Subramanya, 2008). This study implements two hydrological methods for channel routing, the basic Muskingum and the constant coefficient Muskingum-Cunge methods on the River Brosna, Co. Offaly in Ireland. Previous researches have reported the simplicity and applicability of these methods on most natural streams within certain limits. These limitations are encountered in the River Brosna …

Physicochemical And Microbiological Quality Of Water From A Pilot Domestic Rainwater Harvesting Facility In Ireland., Sean O'Hogain, Liam Mccarton, Niamh Mcintyre, Jenny Pender, Anna Reid

Articles

DTC Research Group, Dublin Institute of Technology personnel were commissioned in 2005 by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in Ireland to assess the feasibility of utilising harvested rainwater to replace treated mains water, for non-potable uses. A pilot project was set up. The project involved the design, installation, commissioning and monitoring of rainwater harvesting facilities in a rural housing development. A monitoring program was carried out to examine the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of the harvested rainwater. Harvested rainwater was sampled monthly and tested. Analysis of the harvested rainwater quality showed a consistently high quality of raw …

Light Coupling Between A Singlemode-Multimode-Singlemode (Sms) Fiber Structure And A Long Period Fiber Gating, Qiang Wu, Yuliya Semenova, Youqiao Ma, Pengfei Wang, Tuan Gao, Long Jin, Gerald Farrell

Articles

We propose a novel optical coupling technique based on evanescent field coupling between a singlemode-multimode-singlemode (SMS) fiber structure and a long period fiber grating (LPFG). By parallel placement of the two fiber sections in close proximity to each other, the excited multi-cladding modes from the SMS fiber section can be selectively coupled to the guided mode in the LPFG, and vice versa. A theoretical analysis based for such a structure is undertaken and the simulated results are verified by experiments demonstrating a maximum coupling efficiency of up to 1.66% (which could be improved to 27.5% in theory) over a broadband …

Going Green, Dermot Kehily

Articles

No abstract provided.

Simulation-Based Optimisation Model For The Lean Assessment In Sme: A Case Study, Amr Arisha, Amr Mahfouz, John Shea

Conference papers

Due to their space limitation and small production scale, small and medium enterprises (SME) are vulner-able to rapid changes. Lean principles are considered as effective improvement approach to eliminate sys-tem’s waste and inefficiencies. Although much of the academic materials have addressed the lean practic-es into large, global companies, they can still be adjusted to SMEs. Risks are usually associated with lean implementation process due to the drastic required changes in business policies and operations. Simulation can be successfully used to predict the impact of the proposed changes ahead of the implementation which helps to mitigate risks. Integrating simulation with optimization …

Life Cycle Costing Template (Excel), Dermot Kehily

Reports

No abstract provided.

Time To Make Renting A Long-Term Housing Choice, Lorcan Sirr

Media

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Barriers To Independent Study And Learning In First Year Undergraduate Engineering Students?, Robert Martin Morris

Papers, presentations and other resources

This mixed method case study was carried out in the Technological University Dublin, Ireland and was conducted with the co-operation of four experienced lecturers of engineering and three groups of first year undergraduate engineering students.

The main aim of the research was to identify factors which represent barriers to the independent study and learning of first year engineering students.

Many first year engineering students do not return to college for the second year of their programmes. Many reasons for this are identified in the research, including the failure of students to pass assessments and exams as a result of the …

Looking After The Best Interests Of Dublin Must Be Top Priority, Lorcan Sirr, Conor Skehan

Media

No abstract provided.

Dc Pulsed Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Image Information, Denis P. Dowling, F T. O'Neill, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Victor J. Law

Articles

This paper presents optical imaging and optical emission spectroscopy (OES) data of an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet. It is shown how the visual information and OES information of the air discharge are related as the blown arc extends from the nozzle (2-4 mm) with a molecular nitrogen rotational temperature on the order of 1700 K and the flowing afterglow beyond this region is dominated by the cooler (300-K) NO-O chemiluminescent reaction that produces NO₂ species.

A Test Method For Optimal Micro-Screen Drum Filter Selection, Eoin Dolan, Ronan Oliver, Niall Murphy, Michael O'Hehir

Other resources

In order to meet increasing demand for seafood worldwide Recirculation Aquaculture Systems (RAS) are frequently used. These systems are susceptible to contamination by waste matter including faecal material in the water. It is imperative that this material is removed from the system. The maintenance of good water quality is a pre-requisite to the success of the operation. Negligence in this area will adversely affect animal growth rates and also the economic performance of the system.

Micro-screen drum filters are a popular solution for the removal of this material (Cripps, Simon J. and Bergheim, Asbjørn., 2000). These screens are nominally rated …

Bs News November/December

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Liquid Crystal Devices For Optical Communications And Sensing Applications, Sunish Mathews

Doctoral

This thesis is focussed on the design and development of liquid crystal based tunable photonic devices for applications in optical communications and optical sensing, with an emphasis on all-fiber device configuration. The infiltration of liquid crystals into photonic crystal fiber provides a suitable common platform to design and fabricate simple and compact all-fiber tunable photonic devices which can be easily integrated with optical fiber networks and sensing systems. Based on the infiltration of liquid crystals – materials with high dielectric anisotropy, into photonic crystal fibers a common platform is developed to address the need for electronically tunable photonic devices with …

Effect On The Processing Characteristics Of Zno Varistors Produced Using Vibratory Milling, Maura Kelleher, M.S.J. Hashmi

Conference Papers

Abstract. Each manufacturing stage in the production of zinc oxide varistors from powder preparation to the final encapsulated device is important not only for the formation of the varistor component with optimum microstructure and thus electrical characteristics but also for avoiding the introduction of flaws and reduced yield. In this paper the authors describe and discuss the effect of multi-elemental oxide additives having been milled for different durations using a vibratory mill with cylindrical zirconia media on the powder characteristics of the subsequent processing stages. A commercial ZnO varistor formulation was used. The subsequent processing stages that are given particular …

Technical Note: Friction Factor Diagrams For Pipe Flow, Jim Mcgovern

Articles

This technical note describes diagrams of friction factor for pipe flow that have been prepared using, mainly, the equations that Lewis Moody used to prepare his famous diagram in 1944. The preparation of the new diagrams was prompted by the need for vector graphics versions that could be used for teaching purposes and that could be distributed freely to students and others under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike license. Using a structure very similar to that of Moody's diagram, variants with the Darcy friction factor and the Fanning friction factor have been prepared. In addition, variants have been prepared that include …

Domestic Application Of Micro Wind Turbines In Ireland: Investigation Of Their Economic Viability, Zhe Li, Fergal Boyle, Anthony Reynolds

Articles

Electricity generation from renewable sources of energy will be a key part in the development of future strategies for many countries globally. This renewable electricity generation will be hugely important for Ireland, due to its lack of fossil fuel resources. The extremely good wind resource available provides Ireland with the opportunity of generating vast amount of electricity from wind energy. Large-scale wind electricity generation reached 1264 MW installed capacity by January 2010 in Ireland. However, micro scale wind electricity generation has not been very popular in Ireland to-date. The unclear economics of micro wind turbines, under Irish conditions, is considered …

Performance Of Elotex®Copra900 As A Corrosion Inhibitor, Niall Holmes

Other resources

Corrosion inhibitors as cement additions consist of powders or solutions that are added to concrete when mixed to prevent or delay corrosion. This paper presents an early-age evaluation of a new corrosion inhibitor, namely ELOTEX^®COPRA900 following a corrosion and durability study on concrete samples with different cementitious materials.

A comparison of the corrosion inhibition properties of ELOTEX^®COPRA900 against a well known and established corrosion inhibitor on the market, namely Calcium Nitrite and a control with no corrosion inhibitor product. Calcium Nitrite works by increasing the threshold of chlorides required for corrosion to begin. ELOTEX^®COPRA900 …

Numerical Study Of An Ion-Exchanged Glass Waveguide Using Both Two-Dimensional And Three-Dimensional Models, Pengfei Wang, Yuliya Semenova, Jie Zheng, Qiang Wu, Agus Hatta, Gerald Farrell

Articles

A numerical study is carried out to compare the two-dimensional (2-D) case and three-dimensional (3-D) case for the modelling of an ion-exchanged glass waveguide. It is shown that different waveguide widths on the photomask correspond to different ion concentration distributions after an annealing process. A numerical example is presented of two waveguide sections with different widths indicates that due to the abrupt change of the waveguide width, a 3-D theoretical model is required for an accurate prediction of the parameters of ion-exchanged glass waveguides. The good agreement between the modelled and measured results proves that the developed 3-D numerical model …