This dissertation presents work conducted at the Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Chapter 1 introduces the concept of impedance measurement, and discusses previous work on this topic. This chapter also addresses issues associated with impedance measurement. Chapter 2 introduces the analyzer architecture and the proposed algorithm. The algorithm involves locking on to the voltage vector at the point of common coupling between the analyzer and the system via a PLL to establish a D-Q frame. A series of sweeps are performed, injecting at least two independent angles in the D-Q plane, acquiring D- and Q-axis voltages and currents for each axis of injection at the point of interest. Chapter 3 discusses the analyzer hardware and the criteria for selection. The hardware built ranges from large-scale power level hardware to communication hardware implementing a universal serial bus. An eight-layer PCB was constructed implementing analog signal conditioning and conversion to and from digital signals with high resolution. The PCB interfaces with the existing Universal Controller hardware. Chapter 4 discusses the analyzer software. Software was written in C++, VHDL, and Matlab to implement the measurement process. This chapter also provides a description of the software architecture and individual components. Chapter 5 discusses the application of the analyzer to various examples. A dynamic model of the analyzer is constructed, considering all components of the measurement system. Congruence with predicted results is demonstrated for three-phase balanced linear impedance networks, which can be directly derived based on stationary impedance measurements. Other impedances measured include a voltage source inverter, Vienna rectifier, six-pulse rectifier and an autotransformer-rectifier unit. / Ph. D.

Energy harvesting from the rotating system has been an influential topic for researchers over the past several years. Yet, most of these harvesters are linear resonance-based harvesters whose output power drops dramatically under random excitations. This poses a serious problem because a lot of vibrations in rotating systems are stochastic. In this dissertation, a novel energy harvesting strategy for rotating systems was proposed by taking advantage of stochastic resonance. Stochastic resonance is referred to as a physical phenomenon that is manifest in nonlinear bistable systems whereby a weak periodic signal can be significantly amplified with the aid of inherent noise or vice versa. Stochastic resonance can thus be used to amplify the noisy and weak vibration motion. Through mathematical modeling, this dissertation shows that stochastic resonance is particularly favorable to energy harvesting in rotating systems. The conditions for stochastic resonance are satisfied by adding a nonlinear bistable energy harvester to the rotating system because whirl noise and periodic signalㄴ already coexist in the rotating environment. Both numerical and experimental results show that stochastic resonance energy harvester has higher power and wider bandwidth than linear harvesters under a rotating environment. The dissertation also investigates how stochastic resonance changes for the various types of excitation that occur in real-world applications. Under the non-gaussian noise, the stochastic resonance frequency is shifted larger value. Furthermore, the co-existence of the vibrational and stochastic resonance is observed depending on the periodic signal to noise ratio. The dissertation finally proposed two real applications of stochastic resonance energy harvesting. First, stochastic resonance energy harvester for oil drilling applications is presented. In the oil drilling environment, the periodic force in rotating shafts is biased, which can lower the efficacy of stochastic resonance. To solve the problem, an external magnet was placed above the bi-stable energy harvester to compensate for the biased periodic signal. Energy harvester for smart tires is also proposed. The passively tuned system is implemented in a rotating tire via centrifugal force. An inward-oriented rotating beam is used to induce bistability via the centrifugal acceleration of the tire. The results show that larger power output and wider bandwidth can be obtained by applying the proposed harvesting strategy to the rotating system. / Doctor of Philosophy / In this dissertation, a novel energy harvesting strategy for rotating systems was proposed by taking advantage of stochastic resonance. Stochastic resonance is referred to as a physical phenomenon that is manifest in nonlinear bistable systems whereby a weak periodic signal can be significantly amplified with the aid of inherent noise or vice versa. Stochastic resonance can thus be used to amplify the noisy and weak vibration motion. Through mathematical modeling, this dissertation shows that stochastic resonance is particularly favorable to energy harvesting in rotating systems.Both numerical and experimental results show that stochastic resonance energy harvester has higher power and wider bandwidth than linear harvesters under a rotating environment. The dissertation also investigates how stochastic resonance changes for the various types of excitation that occur in real-world applications. The dissertation finally proposed two real applications of stochastic resonance energy harvesting. First, stochastic resonance energy harvester for oil drilling applications is presented. Energy harvester for smart tires is also proposed. The results show that larger power output and wider bandwidth can be obtained by applying the proposed harvesting strategy to the rotating system.

A full-scale rotating biological contactor treatment system primarily used for treatment of wastes from single-family dwellings was studied at the Blacksburg-Virginia Tech wastewater treatment plant. Municipal primary clarifier effluent was pumped into the 600 gpd rated RBC unit at the rate of 480 gpd for a period of 4 1/2 months. The RBC unit contained a primary clarifier, four stages of discs, and a secondary clarifier. A thorough sampling and analysis program was performed to determine start-up characteristics and resistance to controlled shock loadings. Samples from seven locations, ranging from the influent through each stage of the RBC into the effluent, were collected and analyzed in order to monitor treatment performance. Samples were analyzed for COD, TKN, NH₃-N, Org-N, NO⁻₃-N, SS, DO and total alkalinity. Based on an analysis of the results obtained it was determined that a start-up period of approximately 30 days was required to develop a sufficient growth of biofilm mass to reach"steady state" conditions, i.e., maximum consistent organic removal and nitrification efficiency. Shock loading investigations included step increases in hydraulic and organic loads as well as controlled diurnal flow patterns. From these studies it was determined that the RBC was resistant to changes in effluent organic concentration, but that nitrification efficiency could be notably suppressed. The attached biofilm was not adversely affected by the shock loads. Throughout the manuscript diagrams and tables are provided to clarify procedures and materials used. Analytical results are presented in three-dimensional plots to illustrate patterns revealed by the data. / Master of Science

Dynamic behavior of flexural-torsional coupled vibration of rotating beams using the Rayleigh-Ritz method with orthogonal polynomials as basis functions is studied. The present work starts from a review of the development and analysis of four basic types of beam theories: the Euler-Bernoulli, Rayleigh, Shear and Timoshenko and goes over to a study of flexural-torsional coupled vibration analysis using basic beam theories. In obtaining natural frequencies, orthogonal polynomials used in the Rayleigh-Ritz method are studied as an efficient way of getting results. The study is also performed for both non-rotating and rotating beams. Orthogonal polynomials and functions studied in the present work are : Legendre, Chebyshev, integrated Legendre, modified Duncan polynomials, the eigenfunctions of a pinned-free uniform beam, and the special trigonometric functions used in conjunction with Hermite cubics. Studied cases are non-rotating and rotating Timoshenko beams, bending-torsion coupled beam with free-free boundary conditions, a cantilever beam, and a rotating cantilever beam. The obtained natural frequencies and mode shapes are compared to those available in various references and results for coupled flexural-torsional vibrations are compared to both previously available references and with those obtained using NASTRAN finite element package. / Master of Science

Se realiza un modelo CFD-3D de un compresor centrífugo. Se determina la configuración numérica adecuada para simular puntos de funcionamiento cercanos a bombeo. Se validan los resultados frente a ensayos experimentales realizados en cámara anecoica. Se analizan los resultados, justificando las características del ruido emitido por el compresor a partir de los patrones de flujo encontrados. En particular, se analiza el flujo en la holgura entre los álabes y la carcasa del compresor y en la parte posterior del rodete. Por último, se analiza la influencia de las geometrías aguas arriba del compresor en el ruido producido por éste. / Navarro García, R. (2014). A numerical approach for predicting flow-induced acoustics at near-stall conditions in an automotive turbocharger compressor [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/44114 / Premios Extraordinarios de tesis doctorales

L’analyse vibratoire constitue une part très importante des moyens de mesures pour la surveillance et la détection des défauts mécaniques des machines tournantes. Le positionnement des accéléromètres est stratégique et contribue fortement à la réussite du diagnostic ; la proximité du capteur de l’élément défaillant est une condition très utile, mais pas toujours réalisable. La corrélation entre le bruit émis par une machine et son état est assez étroite et montre l’apport des mesures acoustiques pour l’optimisation du diagnostic. L’imagerie acoustique, très appliquée pour détecter des sources dans le domaine du transport, avec ses multiples méthodes (holographie, beamforming, etc…) peut être un moyen pour remonter aux défauts mécaniques. Dans cet objectif, plusieurs stratégies basées sur l’algorithme de beamforming sont développées. Premièrement, des indicateurs communément utilisés pour le diagnostic des machines sont visualisés en fonction de l’espace. Le kurtosis permet de localiser les sources impulsives qui peuvent être reliées à un défaut. De nouveaux indicateurs basés sur le spectre d’enveloppe des signaux focalisés sont également mis en place pour détecter les défauts de roulement de bague interne et externe. D’autre part, la moyenne synchrone angulaire est utilisée pour extraire le champ acoustique synchrone avec la rotation d'un composant de la machine. Les sources reliées à un défaut sont affectées au champ résiduel et peuvent être identifiées dans les cartographies. Enfin, une nouvelle méthode d'imagerie acoustique qui exploite les fonctions de transfert vibroacoustiques entre des accéléromètres positionnés sur la machine et une antenne acoustique est développée. Elle permet d'obtenir des cartographies de la pression rayonnée sur une surface de la machine uniquement à partir d'accéléromètres. Son applicabilité à la détection de défaut est également démontrée sur un banc à engrenages. / Vibration analysis is mainly used in condition monitoring and fault detection of rotating machine domain. The success of the diagnosis is strongly related to the position of the accelerometers. However, the machine geometry sometimes prevents the sensors to be placed close enough to the faulted part causing the diagnostic failure. The sound emitted by a mechanism and its condition are related. Using microphones to optimize condition monitoring is then justified. Acoustic imaging techniques (acoustic holography, beamforming, etc…) are mainly used as a source localization and quantification tool but they can be turned into a powerful diagnosis tool. Several strategies based on the beamforming algorithm are developed in this work. Firstly, diagnosis features commonly used in condition monitoring of rotating machinery are mapped as a function of space. Kurtosis allows localizing impulsive sources which eventually can be related to a mechanism failure. New features based on the squared envelope spectrum of the focused signals are also introduced. They aim toward the detection of inner and outer race fault in roller element bearings. On the other hand, angular synchronous average is used to extract the acoustic field synchronous with one component rotation. The sources related to a fault are localized in the residual field mappings. Finally, a new imaging technique based on the vibroacoustic transfer functions between a few accelerometers placed on the machine and the microphone array is developed. It allows obtaining the mappings of the radiated pressure on the machine surface only thanks to the accelerometers. It is tested as a fault detection tool on a test bench

Dans une machine à induction, le diagnostic de défauts par analyse du signal du courant électrique nécessite la connaissance du comportement dynamique de la machine. En plus des sources externes d'excitation, le comportement du moteur est gouverné par un ensemble de phénomènes périodiques liés sa géométrie angulairement périodique et couplés par leur caractère multiphysique. En présence d’un défaut de roulement, les grandeurs mesurables présenteront des composantes à sa fréquence caractéristique combinée aux fréquences caractéristiques du moteur. La compréhension des interactions, en particulier de modulation, passe par la mise en place de modèles numériques qui représentent les manifestations des phénomènes couplés. Ce travail de thèse propose donc un modèle électro-magnéto-mécanique d'une machine à induction à cage d'écureuil couplé à un modèle de palier à roulement à billes dans un cadre original d'écriture appelé "Approches Angulaires". En conservant dans la modélisation la relation "Angle-Temps" il est possible d'étendre aisèment la modélisation aux conditions de fonctionnement non-stationnaires et d'introduire un couplage fort entre les modèles mécanique et électromagnétique. Ainsi, on montre que la vitesse angulaire instantanée est la grandeur qui assure la transmission du défaut mécanique localisé aux grandeurs électriques. Le modèle proposé offre ainsi un décryptage des phénomènes de modulation présents sur la voie de transfert et décrits par les couplages de comportements dynamiques cycliques (réseau de perméances, chargement des éléments roulants,...) et/ou périodiques (résonances de structure, résonance électriques, ...). Ces travaux ouvrent la voie à une meilleure compréhension du comportement couplé multiphysique d'une machine électrique pour mieux spécifier les outils de surveillance à mettre en œuvre. Les futurs développements peuvent maintenant s'orienter ver une complexification des modèles ou l'exploitation de comportements dynamiques fins en régime non-stationnaire. / In an induction machine, the diagnosis of defects by analysis of the electrical current signal requires knowledge of the dynamic behavior of the machine. In addition to external excitation sources, the behavior of the motor is governed by a set of periodic phenomena related to its angularly periodic geometry and coupled by their multiphysical character. In the presence of a bearing defect, measurable quantities will have components at its characteristic frequency combined with the characteristic frequencies of the engine. The understanding of interactions, in particular modulation, requires the implementation of numerical models that represent the manifestations of coupled phenomena. This thesis work proposes an electro-magneto-mechanical model of a squirrel-cage induction machine coupled to a rolling bearing model in an original writing frame called "Angular Approaches". By keeping the "Angle-Time" relation in modeling, it is possible to easily extend the modeling to non-stationary operating conditions and to introduce a strong coupling between the mechanical and electromagnetic models. Thus, it is shown that the instantaneous angular speed is the quantity which ensures the transmission of the localized mechanical defect to the electrical quantities. The proposed model thus offers a decryption of the modulation phenomena present on the transfer path and described by the couplings of cyclic dynamic behaviors (permeance network, loading of the rolling elements, etc.) and / or periodic (structural resonances, electrical resonance, etc.). This work opens the way for a better understanding of the multiphysical coupled behaviors of an electrical machine to better specify the monitoring tools to be used. Further developments can now be directed to a complexity of models or to the exploitation of fine dynamic behaviors in a non-steady operating conditions.

Les oxydes de manganèse présentent un grand intérêt en raison de leur activité catalytique pour l'ORR (la réaction de réduction de l’oxygène) en milieu alcalin et peuvent être utilisés comme matériaux sans métaux nobles pour la cathode dans les piles à combustible. La présente thèse est consacrée à l’étude de l’activité d'oxydes de manganèse pour l’ORR. Il a été montré que Mn2O3 avec structure bixbyite a une meilleure activité catalytique vers l'ORR en milieu alcalin que les autres oxydes de manganèse étudiés. L'activité spécifique de Mn2O3 est seulement 4 fois inférieure à celle de Pt à une surtension de 0.3 V (ERH). Le lien entre la structure des oxydes de Mn et l'activité ORR est identifié: l'activité spécifique augmente exponentiellement avec le potentiel du couple redox Mn(III)/Mn(IV) de surface. Pour assurer l'activité électrocatalytique élevée de Mn2O3, il est nécessaire d'ajouter du carbone à la composition d'électrode, ainsi que de garder un potentiel supérieur à 0.7 V (ERH). / Manganese oxides are of great interest due to their catalytic activity towards the ORR (the oxygen reduction reaction) in alkaline media and can be used as noble metal-free materials for the cathode in liquid and polymer electrolyte alkaline fuel cells. The present thesis is devoted to the investigation of the ORR activity of manganese oxides. It was shown that Mn2O3 with bixbyite structure has a better catalytic activity toward the ORR in alkaline media than other investigated manganese oxide, the surface activity of Mn2O3 is only 4 times lower than that of Pt at an overvoltage of 0.3 V (RHE). The link between the structure of Mn oxides and the ORR activity is found: the specific ORR activity exponentially increases with the potential of the surface Mn(III)/Mn(IV) red-ox couple. To ensure the high electrocatalytic activity of Mn2O3, it is necessary to add carbon to the electrode composition, as well as to keep potential above 0.7 V (RHE).

This thesis examines previously unresolved issues regarding the fluid dynamics of the spread of buoyant water into a rotating environment. We focus in particular on the role that finite potential vorticity and background turbulence play in determining the flow properties. When water of an anomalous density enters into an oceanic basin, gravity-driven surface flows can be established as a result of the density difference. These flows are often of a sufficiently large scale that the dynamics are affected by the Coriolis force arising from the rotation of the earth. This causes the formation of a large outflow gyre near to the source which feeds into a propagating gravity current that is confined to the coast. Previous experimental work in this field has sought to simplify the problem through the use of a point source and a quiescent ambient. We extend this work to provide a better representation of the real-world flow by introducing a source of finite depth and background turbulence to the rotating ambient. This study seeks to answer three key questions that are critical to the understanding of the flow behaviour in this scenario. First, what is the effect of the finite potential vorticity of the outflow on the properties of the outflow vortex and the boundary current? Second, what role does the presence of the the outflow vortex play in determining the behaviour of the current? Third, what is the effect of background turbulence on the flow properties? To carry out the investigation, experiments were conducted in the laboratory and compared with a theoretical description of the flow. The currents are generated inside a rotating tank filled with saltwater by the continuous release of buoyant freshwater from a source structure located at the fluid surface. A horizontal source of finite depth is used to introduce finite potential vorticity into the outflow. The impact of background turbulence is examined by introducing an oscillating grid into the rotating tank. We find that the finite potential vorticity of the outflow plays an important role in determining the flow properties for sufficiently low Rossby and Froude number. As the value of these parameters is increased a zero potential vorticity model is able to capture the key elements of the flow behaviour. The outflow vortex is found to act as a time-varying source to the boundary current, with the current velocity fixed by the vortex velocity field. The vortex vorticity is seen to decrease with time, while the vortex radius continues to increase at late times despite the vortex having reached a limiting depth, which enables potential vorticity to be conserved and the current to be supplied with a non-zero velocity. Finally, the structure of the background turbulence is found to be key in determining the effect that it has on the flow properties, with different behaviours observed for three-dimensional and quasi- two-dimensional turbulence.

Le but principal de la thèse est d'étudier les liens entre les singularités du spectre d'un Hamiltonien quantique contrôlé et les questions de contrôlabilité de l'équation Schr"odinger associée.La principale question qui se pose est de savoir comment contrôler une famille de systèmes quantiques dépendant des paramètres avec une entrée de commande commune. Ce problème de contrôlabilité d'ensemble est lié à la conception d'une stratégie de contrôle robuste lorsqu'un paramètre (une fréquence de résonance ou une inhomogénéité de champ de contrôle par exemple) est inconnu, et constitue un enjeu important pour les expérimentateurs.Grâce à l'étude des familles à un paramètre de Hamiltoniens et de leurs singularités génériques, nous donnons une stratégie de contrôle explicite pour le problème de contrôlabilité d'ensemble lorsque les conditions géométriques sur le spectre des Hamiltoniens sont satisfaites. Le résultat est basé sur la théorie de l'approximation adiabatique et sur la présence de courbes d'intersections coniques de valeurs propres du Hamiltonien contrôlé. La technique proposée fonctionne pour des systèmes évoluant à la fois dans des espaces de Hilbert de dimension finie et de dimension infinie. Nous étudions ensuite le problème de la contrôlabilité d'ensemble sous des hypothèses moins restrictives sur le spectre, à savoir la présence de singularités non-coniques. Sous des conditions génériques, de telles singularités n'apparaissent pas pour des systèmes uniques, mais apparaissent pour des familles de systèmes à un paramètre.Pour l'étude d'un système unique, nous nous concentrons sur une classe de courbes dans l'espace des contrôles, appelées les courbes non-mixantes (définies dans cite{Bos}), qui peuvent optimiser la dynamique adiabatique près des intersections coniques et non coniques. Elles sont liées à la géométrie des espaces propres du Hamiltonien contrôlé et l'approximation adiabatique possède une meilleure précision le long de celles-ci.Nous proposons d'étudier la compatibilité de l'approximation adiabatique avec la Rotating Wave Approximation. De telles approximations sont généralement combinées par les physiciens. Mon travail montre que cela ne se justifie pour les systèmes quantiques à dimensions finies que dans certaines conditions sur les échelles de temps. Nous étudions également les questions de contrôle d'ensemble dans ce cas. / The main purpose of the thesis is to study the links between the singularities of the spectrum of a controlled quantum Hamiltonian and the controllability issues of the associated Schr"odinger equation.The principal issue that is developed is how to control a parameter-dependent family of quantum systems with a common control input. This problem of ensemble controllability is linked to the design of a robust control strategy when a parameter (a resonance frequency or a control field inhomogeneity for instance) is unknown, and is an important issue for experimentalists.Thanks to the study one-parametric families of Hamiltonians and their generic singularities, we give an explicit control strategy for the ensemble controllability problem when geometric conditions on the spectrum of the Hamiltonian are satisfied. The result is based on adiabatic approximation theory and on the presence of curves of conical eigenvalue intersections of the controlled Hamiltonian. The proposed technique works for systems evolving both in finite-dimensional and infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. Then we study the problem of ensemble controllability under less restrictive hypotheses on the spectrum, namely the presence of non-conical singularities. Under generic conditions such non-conical singularities are not present for single systems, but appear for one-parametric families of systems.For the study of a single system, we focus on a class of curves in the space of controls, called the non-mixing curves (defined in cite{Bos}), that can optimize the adiabatic dynamics near conical and non-conical intersections. They are linked to the geometry of the eigenspaces of the controlled Hamiltonian and the adiabatic approximation holds with higher precision along them.We propose to study the compatibility of the adiabatic approximation with the rotating wave approximation. Such approximations are usually done in cascade by physicists. My work shows that this is justified for finite dimensional quantum systems only under certain conditions on the time scales. We also study ensemble control issues in this case.