Optimal operation of heat exchanger networks through energy flow redistribution

This paper presents a novel energy flow redistribution methodology to achieve optimal operation of heat exchanger networks (HENs). The proposed method aims to manipulate the propagation path of a disturbance through the network to reduce its impact on utility consumption. Specifically, an optimization problem is formulated to generate new duty targets for heat exchangers of the network when a disturbance is encountered. Subsequently, a feedback control system is designed to track these targets by manipulating bypasses around the process heat exchangers. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is illustrated with the help of three benchmark examples. The proposed approach can handle disturbances in inlet as well as target temperature, inlet flow and heat transfer coefficient of individual heat exchangers.

Adaptive Feedback Control in Human Reaching Adaptation to Force Fields

Sensorimotor adaptation is a central function of the nervous system, as it allows humans and other animals to flexibly anticipate their interaction with the environment. In the context of human reaching adaptation to force fields, studies have traditionally separated feedforward (FF) and feedback (FB) processes involved in the improvement of behavior. Here, we review computational models of FF adaptation to force fields and discuss them in light of recent evidence highlighting a clear involvement of feedback control. Instead of a model in which FF and FB mechanisms adapt in parallel, we discuss how online adaptation in the feedback control system can explain both trial-by-trial adaptation and improvements in online motor corrections. Importantly, this computational model combines sensorimotor control and short-term adaptation in a single framework, offering novel perspectives for our understanding of human reaching adaptation and control.

Number and Distribution of Fiducial Fibres in a Spectroscopic Survey Telescope

To date, the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) has been in operation for 12 years. To improve the telescope’s astronomical observation accuracy, the original open-loop fibre positioning system of LAMOST is in urgent need of upgrading. The upgrade plan is to locate several fibre view cameras (FVCs) around primary mirror B to build a closed-loop feedback control system. The FVCs are ~20 m from the focal surface. To reduce a series of errors when the cameras detect the positions of the optical fibres, we designed fiducial fibres on the focal surface to be fiducial points for the cameras. Increasing the number of fiducial fibres can improve the detection accuracy of the FVC system, but it will also certainly reduce the number of fibre positioners that can be used for observation. Therefore, the focus of this paper is how to achieve the quantity and distribution that meet the requirements of system detection. In this paper, we introduce the necessity of using fiducial fibres, propose a method for selecting their number, and present several methods for assessing the uniformity of their distribution. Finally, we use particle swarm optimization to find the best distribution of fiducial fibres.

Artificial Intelligence for Detecting Indoor Visual Discomfort from Facial Analysis of Building Occupants

Glare is a common local visual discomfort that is difficult to identify with conventional light sensors. This article presents an artificial intelligence algorithm that detects subjective local glare discomfort from the image analysis of the video footage of an office occupant’s face. The occupant’s face is directly used as a visual comfort sensor. Results show that it can recognize glare discomfort with around 90% accuracy. This algorithm can thus be at the basis of an efficient feedback control system to regulate shading devices in an office building.

Active Disturbance Rejection Control Based Feedback Control System for Quasi-Continuous-Wave Laser Beam Pointing Stabilization

Because of the significant nonlinearity of fast steering mirror (FSM), which is actuated by lead zirconate titanate (PZT) stacks, designing a high-performance laser beam pointing stabilization system is always a difficult work. This paper reports an active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) based feedback control system for laser beam pointing stabilization of a high-power quasi-continuous-wave (QCW) Nd:YAG slab laser with a repetition frequency of 160 Hz and an average output power of 1.5 kW. The simulation and experiment show that the ADRC is faster and smoother than traditional proportional-integral-differential (PID) control, and the ADRC can effectively reduce overshoot in the laser beam pointing stabilization process.