Recently a new technology of piezoelectric transducers based on PZT thick film has been developed as a response to a call for devices working at higher frequencies suitable for production in large numbers at low cost. Eight PZT thick film based focused transducers with resonant frequency close to 40 MHz were fabricated and experimentally investigated. The PZT thick films were deposited on acoustically engineered ceramic substrates by pad printing. Considering high frequency and non-linear propagation it has been decided to evaluate the axial pressure field emitted (and reflected by thick metal plate) by each of concave transducer differing in radius of curvature - 11 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 16 mm.

All transducers were activated using AVTEC AVG-3A-PS transmitter and Ritec diplexer connected directly to Agilent 54641D oscilloscope. As anticipated, in all cases the focal distance was up to 10% closer to the transducer face than the one related to the curvature radius. Axial pressure distributions were also compared to the calculated ones (with the experimentally determined boundary conditions) using the angular spectrum method including nonlinear propagation in water. The computed results are in a very good agreement with the experimental ones. The transducers were excited with Golay coded sequences at 35-40 MHz. Introducing the coded excitation allowed replacing the short-burst transmission at 20 MHz with the same peak amplitude pressure, but with almost double center frequency, resulting in considerably better axial resolution. The thick films exhibited at least 30% bandwidth broadening comparing to the standard PZ 27 transducer, resulting in an increase in matching filtering output by a factor of 1.4-1.5 and finally resulting in a SNR gain of the same order.

A new configuration of rectifier suiting CMOS technology is presented. The rectifier consists of only two n-channel MOS transistors, two capacitors and two resistors; for this reason it is very favourable in manufacturing in CMOS technology. With these features the rectifier is easy to design and cheap in production. Despite its simplicity, the rectifier has relatively good characteristics, the voltage and power efficiency, and bandwidth greater than 89%, 87%, and 1 GHz, respectively. The performed simulations and measurements of a prototype circuit fully confirmed its correct operation and advantages.

Although the gas insulated structures have a high degree of reliability, the unavoidable defects are primary reason of their failures. Partial discharge (PD) has been regarded as an effective indication for condition monitoring and diagnosis of gas insulated switchgears (GISs) to ensure their reliable and stable operation. Among various PD detection methods, the ultra-high frequency (UHF) technique has the advantages of on-line motoring and defect classification. In this paper, there are presented 7 types of artificial electrode systems fabricated for simulation of real insulation defects in gas insulated structures. A real-time measurement system was developed to acquire defect patterns in a form of phase-resolve partial discharge (PRPD) intensity graph, using a UHF sensor. Further, the discharge distribution and statistical characteristics were extracted for defect identification using a neural network algorithm. In addition, a conversion experiment was proposed by detecting the PD pulse simultaneously using a non-induction resistor and a UHF sensor. A relationship between the magnitude of UHF signal and the amplitude of apparent charge was established, which was used for evaluation of PD using the UHF sensor.

A lot of methods for sensorless drive control have been published last years for synchronous and asynchronous machines. One of the approaches uses high frequency carrier injection for position control. The injected high frequency signal is controlled to remain in alignment with the saliency produced by the saturation of the main flux. Due to the fact that it does not use the fundamental machine model which fails at standstill of the magnetic field it is possible to control the drive even at zero speed. In spite of this obvious advantage industry does not apply sensorless control in their products. This is due to the dependency of many published methods on physical parameters of the machine. The high frequency carrier injection method, presented in this paper, does not need to have exact machine parameters and it can be used for machines where there is only a very small rotor anisotropy like in Surface Mounted Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (SMPMSM) [1]. Standard drives usually are supplied by a 6-pulse diode rectifier. Due to new European directives concerning the harmonic content in the mains it is expected that the use of controlled pulse-width modulated PWM rectifiers will be enforced in the future [2]. An important advantage of this type of rectifiers is the regeneration of the energy back to the grid. Another benefit are low harmonics in comparison to diode rectifiers. Using one of many control methods published so far it is also possible to achieve almost unity power factor. However, in these methods voltage sensors are necessary to synchronize PWM rectifiers with the mains. Therefore they are not very popular in the industry with respect to the cost and the lack of reliability. Recently a control method was proposed which is based on a tracking scheme. It does not need any voltage sensor on the ac-side of the rectifier and it does not need to know accurate parameters of the system. This paper presents the control solution for a cheap, industry friendly (no additional hardware and installation effort) drive system. The phase tracking method for control of electrical drive and PWM rectifier is described. Encouraging experimental results are shown.

The paper presents the theoretical background, computer model, laboratory measurements and SPICE simulation results of a 323 W, 1 MHz Class E inverter operating with an efficiency of 97%. The inverter is built around a CoolMOS transistor from Infineon Technologies. The transistor belongs to a new generation of high quality, optimized for low conduction losses and high speed switching power MOSFET-s. The presented computer model of Class E inverter is based on a state-space description and allows computing the inverter parameters for the optimum operation. Its validity has been confirmed experimentally. The SPICE simulation of the inverter has been also carried out in order to obtain better agreement between measurement and calculation results.

In this study, we model realized volatility constructed from intra-day high-frequency data. We explore the possibility of confusing long memory andstructural breaks in the realized volatility of the following spot exchange rates: EUR/USD, EUR/JPY, EUR/CHF, EUR/GBP, and EUR/AUD. The resultsshow evidence for the presence of long memory in the exchange rates’ realizedvolatility. From the Bai–Perron test, we found structural breakpoints that matchsignificant events in financial markets. Furthermore, the findings provide strongevidence in favour of the presence of long memory.

A novel circuit topology of modified switched boost high frequency hybrid resonant inverter fitted induction heating equipment is presented in this paper for efficient induction heating. Recently, induction heating technique is becoming very popular for both domestic and industrial purposes because of its high energy efficiency and controllability. Generally in induction heating, a high frequency alternating magnetic field is required to induce the eddy currents in the work piece. High frequency resonant inverters are incorporated in induction heating equipment which produce a high frequency alternating magnetic field surrounding the coil. Previously this high frequency alternating magnetic field was produced by voltage source inverters. But VSIs have several demerits. So, in this paper, a new scheme of modified switched boost high frequency hybrid resonant inverter fitted induction heating equipment has been depicted which enhances the energy efficiency and controllability and the same is validated by PSIM.

Cardiac Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is a commonly used clinical procedure for treating many cardiac arrhythmias. However, the efficacy of RF ablation may be limited by two factors: small ventricular lesions and impedance rise, leading to coagulum formation and desiccation of tissue. In this paper, a high frequency (HF) energy ablation system operating at 27.12 MHz based on an automated load matching system was developed. A HF energy matched probe associated to the automated impedance matching device ensures optimal transfer of the energy to the load. The aim of this study was to evaluate this energy for catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction.

In vivo studies were performed using 10 sheep to characterize the lesions created with the impedance matching system. No cardiac perforation was noted. No thrombus was observed at the catheter tip. Acute lesions ranged from 3 to 45 mm in diameter (mean ±SD = 10.3±10) and from 1 to 15 mm in depth (6.7±3.9), exhibiting a close relationship between HF delivered power level and lesion size. Catheter ablation using HF current is feasible and appears effective in producing a stable AV block when applied at the AV junction and large myocardial lesions at ventricular sites.

The microstructure and macroscopic properties of WC-50Ni+stellite 1(Co-Cr-W, ST1) coating layer fabricated by HVOF spray have been investigated. WC-50Ni powder and ST1 powders were mixed in the ratio of 1:0 and 5:5 wt.%, respectively. Argon heat treatment (Ar) and high-frequency heat treatment (H.F.) were conducted on the coating materials. WC was decomposed in the Ar heat treatment specimen, but decomposition of WC was not observed in the H.F. heat treatment specimen. Hardness was measured for as-sprayed WC-50Ni (821.5Hv) and as-sprayed WC-50Ni+ST1 (668.1 Hv). Hardness of Ar heat treatment specimen was reduced by about 14~18% than that of the as-sprayed coating layers. However, when the H.F. heat treatment was performed, the hardness inversely increased by about 6~10% than the as-sprayed coating layer. Based on these results, the method to improve the mechanical property of HVOF sprayed WC-50Ni+ST1 coating layer has also been also discussed.

The aim of this work is to present problems related to tinnitus symptoms, its pathogenesis, hypotheses on tinnitus causes, and therapy treatment to reduce or mask the phantom noise. In addition, the hypothesis on the existence of parasitic quantization that accompanies hearing loss has been recalled. Moreover, the paper describes a study carried out by the Authors with the application of high-frequency dither having specially formed spectral characteristics. Discussion on preliminary results obtained and conclusions are also contained.

This study investigates the effects of frequency, compression force and Vee angle parameters of High-Frequency Electric Resistance Welding (HF-ERW) process on mechanical properties of API X52 microalloy steel welding joint. Therefore, API X52 microalloy steel sheets having thickness of 8 mm was provided to manufacture pipes with the diameter of 16”. with direct weld seams using the HF-ERW method. During the manufacturing process, frequency values of 150, 200 and 250 kHz, compression forces of 2, 4 and 6 mark and Vee angles of 3°, 5°, and 7° were adopted. After changing the welding parameters, from the welded pipes, tensile and Charpy impact test samples prepared to macroscopically evaluate the weld metal flow and examine the effects of these parameters on mechanical properties of the welded joints. According to the results, it was concluded that frequency of 150 kHz, the compression force of 4 mark and Vee angle of 5° yields best mechanical properties in the HF-ERW joint of API X52 microalloy steel.

A contactless energy transmission system is essential to supply onboard systems of electromagnetically levitated vehicles without physical contact to the guide rail. One of the possibilities to realise a contactless power supply (CPS) is by integrating the primary actuator into the guide rail of an electromagnetic guiding system (MGS). The secondary actuator is mounted on the elevator car. During the energy transmission, load dependent non-linear losses occur in the guide rail. The additional losses, which are caused by the leakage flux penetrating into the guide rail, cannot be modelled using the classical approach of iron losses in the equivalent circuit of a transformer, which is a constant parallel resistance to the mutual inductance. This paper introduces an approach for modelling the load dependent non-linear losses occurring in the guide rail using additional variable discrete circuit elements.