Engineering Commons^™

A Combined Gel Entrapped And Membrane Attached Microbial Process For Biodegrading Organic Compounds, Fayaz Saifuddin Lakhwala

Dissertations

A comparative study has been performed between two bioreactors treating phenol, one using calcium alginate entrapped microorganisms, and the other using microorganisms attached on the surface of a polymeric membrane. Laboratory experiments conducted in batch recirculation mode, as well as a continuous feed mode, showed that the calcium alginate bio-bead reactor is more efficient in treating high feed concentrations of phenol, while the membrane bioreactor is more effective in the lower concentration regime (less than 150 ppm). In batch recirculation mode, the reaction rates (expressed as mg phenol/hr*gm dry cells) in the membrane reactor are an order of magnitude higher …

Thermodynamics Of Strong Electrolyte Solutions : Prediction Of Osmotic Coefficients By Pair Correlation Function Method, One Kwon Rim

Dissertations

Thermodynamic properties (osmotic coefficients) of strong electrolyte solutions have been studied by the method of statistical mechanics. First the charged soft sphere potential is developed based on the Pauling type model. Next the charged soft sphere potential is converted to the thermodynamically corresponding charged hard sphere potential by way of the perturbation method developed by Verlet and Weis. Simultaneously, the radial distribution function is developed by modification of the Exponential theory through introduction of the Stillinger-Lovett moment condition. The effective hard sphere diameter values calculated by the perturbation method are combined with the modified Exponential theory, and these quantities are …

On Local Stresses And Spring Constants Of A Sphere-Nozzle Connection, Ban-Li Lyow

Dissertations

This dissertation studies the local stresses and spring constants of a spherical shell with a nozzle attachment when it is under various loadings, namely radial force, overturning moment, horizontal shear force, and torsional moment. Because of the mathematical difficulty in modeling the nozzle-sphere configuration, particularly with nozzle opening, the finite element method (ANSYS package) is utilized in this study. The model used in this study is a quadrilateral thin shell element model when the γ_s (spherical radius/thickness) value is larger than 10. Otherwise the isoparametric solid element is used. The resulting stresses are basically biaxial state of stresses. It …

Decomposing Non-Product Form Queueing Lattices Through Autorouting With A* Algorithm, Chun-Chang Yu

Theses

Direct solution techniques are expensive for the state transition lattice of a class of non-product form queuing modes. In this thesis, Autorouting with A* algorithm is adapted to decompose it as solvable subsets which can be solved sequentially and independently. Autorouting with A* algorithm is heuristics in problem solving. It also is one of a class of global optimization problems that are difficult to solve. Some queuing modes of type A will be decomposed in this thesis through Autorouting with A* algorithm.

N-Cross Coupled Phase Locked Loops, Joseph C. Aboukhalil

Theses

Interference cancelation has been mainly performed using arrays, in an important issue in communication both array and spatial cancelation and time domain approach were used. In array applications, depth of cancelation may dependent on the interferences to background power ratio and their spatial distributions. Also, array cancelers are inadequate when the signals are less than an array beamwidth apart. The latter was dealt with using supperesolution and eigenanalysis methods. Different time domain methods were used in the past. Among them what is termed Cross-Coupled PEL. It is an arrangement of two PLL each one is locked on and tracking one …

A Study Of Biological Dentrification Of Munition Wastes, Sonia R. Venugopal

Theses

Kinetics of denitrification were studied using a consortium from the Lawrence, Kansas municipal treatment plant. Experiments were conducted in the batch mode, under controlled oxygen and pH conditions. It was found that the Monod model can successfully perdict the experimental results of nitrate depletion. It was also found that when the pH is maintained at values between 7.0 and 8.5, nitrate can be treated in a batch mode without having any significant nitrite presence in the reactor. The experimentally determined kinetic parameters were used in preliminary calculations for sizing a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). An existing mathematical model for the …

Coexistence Of Three Pure And Simple Competitors In Four Interconnected Bioreactors, Ming Wu

Theses

It is known that a homogeneous environment having invariant inputs cannot allow for steady state coexistence of any number of pure and simple competitors. However, it has been proven that two pure and simple competitors can coexist at a steady state in two interconnected chemostats, if the conditions are such that they allow a different species to grow faster in each one of the two vessels. It has been also shown that three pure and simple competitors cannot coexist in three interconnected chemostats, even if the conditions are such that a different population could grow faster (have the competitive advantage) …

Fault Tolerant Clos Network, Preet Mohan S. Ahluwalia

Theses

Multistage interconnection networks, or MINs, provide paths between functional modules in multiprocessor systems. The MINs are usually segmented into several stages. Each stage connects inputs to appropriate links of the next stage so that the cumulative effect of all the stages satisfies input-output connection requirements.

This thesis deals with a fault tolerant Clos network. The fault tolerance technique involves addition of extra switches per stage to compensate for any switch failure The reliability analysis of both ordinary and fault tolerant Clos networks is presented. The optimal number of extra switches required to get the best reliability results has been analyzed.

Direct Schottky Injection Image Sensors, Subramanyam V. Ayyagari

Theses

This thesis describes the analysis and simulations of Direct Schottky Injection (DSI) imagers which have 100% fill factor. Frame transfer (FT) and interline transfer (IT) DSI imager structures have been investigated. Theoretical Poisson solution for the PT and P-NP FT-DSI structures is presented, which closely agrees with simulation results. Simulation for frame transfer FT-DSI imagers has been done in SUPREM III since 1-D effects are more dominant. Single carrier transit time for both the structures were estimated from the electric fields.

Simulations of IT-DSI structures was done using PISCES llb, to get the local electric fields, which define the directionality …

Centrifugal Modeling Of Leaking Underground Storage Tanks, Kuo-Neng George Chang

Theses

There are between 2 to 3.5 million Underground Storage Tanks (UST) located through this nation. Most of these tanks store gasoline and fuel oil. Many tanks in fact are or will soon be leaking, thus making them one of the major sources of groundwater contamination in USA. The fate and transport of chemicals from the leaking USTs is estimated from mathematical models. A major difficulty in these modeling efforts has been a crucial lack of information concerning the constitutive relationships governing multiphase contaminant movement.

Centrifugal modeling is an alternative to mathematical modeling, which may give an insight to the problem …

Multiresolution Techniques : Laplacian Pyramid Coding And Its Comparison With Subband Coding, Danmei Chang

Theses

The multiresolution pyramid and related structures have been developed as intermediate representations between the purely frequency domain and purely spatial domain. In this thesis. we discuss two important pyramid structures which are often used in multiresolution representation: Laplacian pyramid and subband coding.

Laplacian pyramid. a typical pyramid structure, is studied in detail. By means of software implementation. we obtain a comprehensive understanding of its features and applications in image representation and data compression. Several modifications of pyramid structure are used to compress the data dynamic range, reduce the computational complexity and improve performance. Performance of the conventional Laplacian pyramid and …

Development Of Techniques Of Artificial Intelligence In Identifying The Different Machined Surfaces, Yi-Ching Chou

Theses

This thesis deals with the identification of different machined surfaces with artificial inteligence techniques. There are five kinds of machining operations: grinding, turning, milling, EDM and waterjet which determine the characteristics of resulting surfaces. Topology of various specimens is measured using the surfanylizer. Twenty one parameters are extracted from the measurements to describe the characteristics. In this thesis, we develop neural and expert systems that recoginize and classify surfaces according to the machining methods.

Ct Fan Beam Reconstruction With A Non-Stationary Axis-Of-Rotation, Joseph A. Concepcion

Theses

One important aspect for reconstructing an image using Computed Tomography (CT) is that the axis-of-rotation must pivot at the same point on the reconstruction plane as the x-ray source and CT scanner assembly rotates around the imaged object. This pivot point is used as a reference point for backprojecting pixel values to their proper coordinates. Therefore, reconstructing an image with a non-stationary axis-of-rotation would backproject pixel values to wrong coordinate points, since the reference point is non-stationary for every projection angle.

A convolution filtered backprojection algorithm has been derived for correcting images that were acquired with a non-stationary axis-of-rotation using …

Tri-Color Led Display System Using Microcontroller, Costakis A. Constantinou

Theses

A seven-by-forty-eight tricolor LED display panel is designed and built around the 68HC11 MCU.

Four bilateral switching transistors (4066) are used in a Wien bridge configuration to drive each tri-color LED. With this circuitry one is able to drive the tricolor LED symmetrically. An alternative design that uses only two switching transistors is also offered.

A software program was developed to output on the display scrolling and fixed messages. Each message could be displayed in a different color (Red, Green and Yellow) and at a different speed (Slow, Fast, and Medium). The program also includes an editor with insertion and …

Some Aspects Of Integration Of Classification, Computer Aided Design, Process Planning, And Scheduling Of Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Suresh Godavari

Theses

This work deals with the role, problems and solution technique for integration of Computer Assisted Design, Classification, Process Planning, and Scheduling for a Flexible Manufacturing System. A lark spectrum of rotational and prismatic parts are considered.

A Knowledge-based rough classification and coding system [C&C] has been developed for coding similar parts using a Group Technology [GT] technique. In this module VP-EXPERT and DBase III Plus are used as expert system and database respectively. This module interfaces with a database for the retrieval and selection process.

The code obtained from the C&C system is the basis for the succeeding phases. The …

Dual Token Ring Lan Performance, Pratap S. Pasupuleti

Theses

A simulation model to analyze the performance of a dual token ring LAN is developed. The performance measures throughput, average packet delay and maximum delay per packet are obtained. System performance is analyzed for different loads, number of stations, and packet lengths. The performances of token ring LANs with a conventional structure and a dual ring structure are compared for both uniform packet sizes and a case with mixed packet sizes. In the uniform packet size case, the dual ring delays were lower at equivalent throughput because of propagation delay effects. In the mixed packet size case the maximum delays …

Hot : A Timing Optimizer For Hierarchical Vlsi Circuits Using The Charge Conservation Delay Model, Yumei Quan

Theses

The primary benefits of VLSI chips are their high speed, small area, and lower power. These performance attributes are dependent on the quality of chip design. As a result, performance can be optimized by proper design decisions. One of the decisions in chip design is the selection of gate delays and/or transistor sizes (channel width of an MOS transistor).

To optimize the performance of VLSI chips, transistor delay models and optimization algorithms are very important since accurate analytical models for signal delay are essential to replace expensive device level simulation and the high efficient algorithms assist designers in developing high …

Design, Fabrication, And Testing Of Temperature Compensated Magfet, Dilip K. Sampath

Theses

A simple model based on dc behaviour of MOS transistors operating in weak inversion is derived on the basis of previous publications. The bipolar like source to drain transfer characteristics of MOS transistor in weak inversion was used to implement a voltage source that is proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT); a cell that can be stacked to obtain the desired voltage. A CMOS temperature compensated current reference is implemented using PTAT cell with MOSFET as current defining element. A CMOS magnetic field sensor has been developed. The sensitivity of sensor is dependant on the bias current; incorporation of temperature independent …

An Efficient Annealing Algorithm For Global Optimization In Boltzmann Machines, Rajendra Sarasakrishna

Theses

This thesis proposes a new annealing algorithm for Boltzmann Machines. This algorithm uses an Exponential Formula for temperature scheduling that produces remarkably better solutions for global optimization. The superiority of the new algorithm is shown by computer simulations of several examples on Boltzmann Machine and its variants. This is also shown to have better properties than algorithms like Generalized Simulated Annealing which possess somewhat similar dynamics.

Comparative Study Of Prediction Gain Based On Neural Network Architecture, Prashant M. Shah

Theses

This thesis describes the Neural Network approach to design predictor using Delta and Generalized Delta Rule. The predictor is designed by supervised training based on the typical sequence of pixel values. Neural Network is used to find the coefficients of the predictor. Both 1-D and 2-D scheme of the pixels as well as linear and non-linear correlations are used to find the coefficients by training. Different combinations of pixels are used to find the "best" combination among the order of the predictor.

Efficient Multiprocessor Scheduling By Mean Field Theory Neural Networks, Pei-Ken Yi

Theses

In this thesis, we develop an optimization method based on Mean Field Theory (MFT) Neural Networks to solve the Task Scheduling problem. The MFT algorithm combines characteristics of the Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm and the Hopfield neural network. MFT exhibits rapid convergence and at the same time it preserves the solution quality afforded by SA. Since MFT has been successfully used to solve the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP), a new modification to MFT is also presented which supports Task Scheduling problem. The temperature behavior of MFT during Task Scheduling is approximately analyzed and shown to possess a critical temperature (71,) …

Integrated Digital Speech System With Pc, Zhen Zhu

Theses

A PC-based real-time digital speech processing system is designed. Speech synthesis, analysis, storage and retrieval are implemented in the system with intelligent telephone functions. Speech data are stored on floppy disk and easy to retrieve. Though floppy disk is slow in speed, real-time processing is achieved with low bit rate coding. The computer gets speech data from a digital speech processing unit or send data to it through a synchronous seiial communication port. The analog input of digital speech processing unit can be selected from the telephone line or the microphone, and output of the digital speech processing unit can …

Solid-Liquid Suspension In Agitated Vessels Provided With Multiple Impellers, Tong Li

Theses

A large number of references can be found in the literature on the effect of mixing parameters on the achievement of the minimum agitation speed to just suspend solid particles. In the vast majority of these studies the agitation system consisted of just one centrally mounted impeller. However, the determination of the minimum agitation speed to achieve the just suspended state when the additional impellers are used have received very little attention. It is the intent of this work to investigate the role of multiple impeller agitation system on the achievement of the complete particle suspension state. The effect of …

A Machine Vision System With Remote Host, Chieyeon Jason Chen

Theses

The modem plays an important role in data communication using the Public Swiched Telephone Network. In this thesis, the modem function is merged into a low cost machine vision system based on the Motorola 68HC11. Evalation Board The system comprises the intelligent machine vision con- troller and a remotely located host computer, such as an IBM-PC. It, supports extra long distance communication capability so that the controller and the host can be anywhere in the world where then is a telephone line. Because of the limit of a 2100 bps modem, soft ware data compression is implemented here to save …

A Multimode Index Detecting Sensor For Use In Plastic Concrete, Qiyu Chen

Theses

This thesis describes a microcomputer-based measuring system using a laser diode source, a fiber optic sensor and a microcomputer DMA interface to test and analyze the entrained percentage of air in concrete.

The principle of refraction and reflection of light in optical fibers is applied to detection of air bubbles. Reflected light intensity signals are detected and transferred through a DMA interface to a laptop computer. Analysis of reflected light intensity produces a measurement of the air content of fresh concrete. Accuracy of the system is evaluated through extensive laboratory and field trials.

Novel Way Of Sub-Carrier Coherent Detection And Clock Recovery In Fiber-Optic Communications, Narayan Gehlot

Theses

We experimentally demonstrate a novel concept for recovery of a Sub-Carrier and Timing Clock in fiber-optic communication systems using a Wavelength Division Multiplexing technique. The idea is to send a low radio frequency (RF) as a reference pilot from the transmitter to the receiver on a separate laser using the principle of Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM). This low frequency signal is taken to be a subharmonic of the subcarrier used to carry information and intensity modulate another laser. Such approach will be expected to generate at the receiver a local oscillator in high coherence with the subcarrier.

We show that …

Deposition Of Particles In A Channel With Gravity And Image Forces, Jing-Shiun Lai

Theses

Deposition of particles in a parallel-plate channel under the influence of inertia, fluid viscosity, gravity and image forces was studied using trajectory method.

A laminar fluid flow of uniform and parabolic (or fully-developed) velocity profiles is assumed and the fluid is suspended with particles having the same velocity as the fluid at the inlet plane. The particles flowing into a horizontal parallel-plate channel have no initial velocity in the vertical direction. The influence of gravity force and image force produces a vertical motion which results in deposition of particles on the channel walls.

A trajectory method was employed to find …

On The Estimation Of New Life Model Of Transformer Insulation Material Under Combined Electrical And Thermal Stress, Chiming Lin

Theses

Results of combined electrical and thermal aging and only thermal aging studies conducted on a 'fish' paper insulation material are presented in this thesis.

The model for aging has been proposed which is essentially the Arrhenius equation with a weighted factor {exp -cg/kT1 to describe the enhanced reaction rate process under combined thermal and electrical stress. A procedure has been described for evaluation of parameters of this new model.

It is seen that life estimates obtained with this model are close enough to the experimental results.

In addition, reliability data were also generated on the same material using electrical noise. …

Experimental Study Of The Internal Loads In A Cardan Joint, Johannes K. Waal De

Theses

A recent investigation by Fischer and Freudenstein questioned the validity of the negligible axial forces assumption in the static force analysis of Cardan Joints. The purpose of this paper is to experimentally assess this assumption for the dynamic case.

To this end an experiment was constructed to determine the axial forces acting on the intermediate revolute joints of a Cardan joint. A four-square test arrangement was prepared such that shaft intersection angle, shaft torque, and shaft speed could be varied. Strain gages were applied to the "arms" of the joint to measure the resulting strains due to the forces along …

Fast Packet Switching For B-Isdn With Neural Net Control, Ajit K. Chaudhuri

Theses

The concept of integrated network where both the voice packet and data packet are delt with, started taking shape since 1970. Later, Users? demand for communication of data, voice, file, facsimile, image, videotext, videophone, videomovie has also been felt. All these services need bit rate of transmission in the order of 10, even 100 Mbits. An economical way to transmit this higher bit rate, with flexibility of bandwidth, is to treat voice/video in the form of packets and transmit those packets in real time. Studies of this kind of communication is carried out in Broadband ISDN ( BISDN). At this …