Sharif Digital Repository

This paper presents a decentralized adaptive control design for a class of large-scale nonlinear systems with unknown subsystems. When the subsystems are modeled by affine equations, a direct adaptive controller is devised based on the Lyapunov theory, so that the stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed by introducing a suitably driven adaptive rule. A neuro-based structure is proposed when the subsystems are nonaffine, and the stability analysis is also performed based on the Lyapunov theory. Moreover, the unknown interactions among the subsystems are considered as having a nonlinear function against the simple form considered for the affine case. The proposed controllers are... 

Rapid and selective detection of biomarkers at trace levels is a highly coveted objective in the early diagnosis of cancer. Herein, we disclose the design and synthesis of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) substituted perylene diimide. This compound is fully characterized in solution by multi nuclear NMR, as well as in gas state by ESI-MS. Surprisingly, solid-state characterization revealed an unusual cubic morphology with particle dimensions of 80–160 nm. Fluorescence studies indicate that the bulky POSS units effectively prevent perylene's aggregation caused quenching, yielding quantum yields as high as 92%. Exposing the sensor droplet-cast on quartz to anline and o-toluidine,... 

Distributed generation (DG) units are often interfaced to the main grid using power electronic converters including voltage-source converters (VSCs). A VSC offers dc/ac power conversion, high controllability, and fast dynamic response. Because of nonlinearities, uncertainties, and system parameters’ changes involved in the nature of a grid-connected renewable DG system, conventional linear control methods cannot completely and efficiently address all control objectives. In this paper, a nonlinear adaptive control scheme based on adaptive backstepping strategy is presented to control the operation of a grid-connected renewable DG unit. As compared to the popular vector control technique, the... 

Distributed generation (DG) units are often interfaced to the main grid using power electronic converters including voltage-source converters (VSCs). A VSC offers dc/ac power conversion, high controllability, and fast dynamic response. Because of nonlinearities, uncertainties, and system parameters’ changes involved in the nature of a grid-connected renewable DG system, conventional linear control methods cannot completely and efficiently address all control objectives. In this paper, a nonlinear adaptive control scheme based on adaptive backstepping strategy is presented to control the operation of a grid-connected renewable DG unit. As compared to the popular vector control technique, the... 

The ideas of creatio ex nihilo of the universe and creatio continua of new matter out of nothing entered the arena of natural science with the advent of the Big Bang and the steady-state theories in the mid-twentieth century. Adolf Grünbaum has tried to interpret the steady-state theory in such a way, to show that the continuous formation of new matter out of nothing in this theory can be explained purely physically. In this paper, however, it will be shown that Grünbaum's interpretation encounters at least three problems: not distinguishing between material and efficient causes, inconsistency, and misconceiving the law of density conservation  

This paper presents a single-phase phase-locked loop (PLL) system which is primarily free from the double-frequency ripples from which the conventional PLL system suffers. The proposed PLL is then extended to reject the harmonic components from the input signal and to estimate the phase-angle and frequency of the distorted input signal with no error. Three units of the proposed PLL can be used in three-phase power systems, such as FACTS and HVDC converters, to estimate the phase-angles of the individual phases with no double-frequency ripples and without sensitivity to the presence of harmonics and inter-harmonics. This makes the proposed PLL unique and desirable for applications which... 

A novel three-phase magnitude-phase-locked-loop system (3MPLL) for use in the general area of three-phase (power, energy and power electronic) systems is introduced. The proposed 3MPLL suppresses the noise and distortion from the input signal, mitigates the unbalance, and synthesizes the instantaneous positive-sequence component of the input signal; thus it operates as a nonlinear adaptive notch (or band-pass) filter. The 3MPLL also adaptively tracks and estimates the magnitude, phase angle, and frequency of the input signal; thus, its operation as a nonlinear state estimator. Characteristics of the 3MPLL including its mathematical equations as well as steady-state and dynamic responses are... 

This article deals with the design and optimization of a cascade thermoacoustic Stirling engine. Different configurations for cascade thermoacoustic Stirling heat engine are investigated. A simplified model is proposed to enable initial design guidelines. The most important characteristics of the cascade system are examined. The results indicate that the thermoacoustic engines in cascade configuration may achieve very low onset temperatures. A suitable configuration is selected and the locations and dimensions of different thermoacoustic units are optimized to achieve low onset temperatures as well as high values for the acoustic power output and efficiency. The results support the... 

Demands growth and water resources limitation, enforce water sector policy makers to integrate water supply-demand interactions in a coherent framework for efficient water allocation. Water supply-demand interaction, changes long-term trend of water demands, which in turn has a substantial influence on water allocation. Researches on water allocation modeling lack adequate projection of relationship between water supply and demand. Socio-economic factors representing water allocation stakeholders' benefits, account for the main share of water supply-demand interaction. Identification, representation and consideration of these factors in a water allocation model, is the main limitation of... 

The multi-path phenomenon is one of the main causes of error in Direction Of Arrival Estimation systems which are located in a complex environment. The received signal in this environment consists of Line Of Sight (LOS) and multi-path components which are delayed versions of the LOS signal with the amplitude and the phase depending on the path length. In order to eliminate the multi-path signal, it is necessary to estimate the amplitude, the phase, and the delay of the signal. To this end, a method based on correlation which has been already used to estimate amplitudes and delays of Line Of Sight and multi-path signals in GPS systems, is implemented. After this estimation process, a phase... 

Environmental issues and energy crisis have caused the world attention to the renewable energies; especially the wind power, since they have low cost and high reliability. To achieve higher capacity, wind turbines have increased in their size over the years. However, the large size of the modern turbines has exacerbated the problem of vibrations, which results in lower efficiency and power generation. Because of the large deformations, the conventional linear theories cannot model the blades accurately, due to the importance of nonlinear effects in large scale wind turbines. In this research, a nonlinear kinematic model of the wind turbine blade is developed using the Hamilton's principle.... 

An agent-based model is employed for simulating the price of oil futures. The model proceeds as follows: On each time step agents choose their rule for price expectation formation. Next, they bid and ask based on their price and trend expectations. The new price is formed using “the market mechanism”. Finally, the time steps forward and the process is repeated in the next day. The agents use 6 different rules to make price and trend expectations. Brent future prices in a 2-year-period (2010-2011) and in 2012 are used for model calibration and validation, respectively. It was shown that market participants weigh U.S. stocks data more than other factors, while OECD stock’s data were not that... 

Electric Vehicles (EVs) will be used rampantly in future transportation system. Although the uncontrolled charging of these EVs will be threatening for the stability of the grid, a compatible energy trading policy may provide beneficial services to the grid as well as preserving the sustainability of the system. In this paper, by taking advantage of block rate tariff, a wholesale pricing policy is introduced. A multi-objective approach is utilized to address the cost reduction and load leveling services concurrently. Due to the high computational complexity of a centralized problem, a game theoretic approach is exerted in order to design decentralized controllers for EVs. Moreover, an MPC... 

The LLC resonant converter, as a promising solution for battery charger applications, has the ability to adjust its output voltage during Constant Current and Constant Voltage modes in the charging profile. However, its operation mode changes as switching frequency changes. Therefore, for efficiency-oriented optimizations in battery charger applications, the one-pointed efficiency is not an appropriate objective. To this end, in this paper, a multi-pointed averaged efficiency is considered for optimization along with the transformer volume. Another factor of a proper design for a wide output range LLC is the converter peak voltage gain that is calculated based on an accurate method. The...