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Designing a controller for a process plant typically modeled as a first or second‐order system with dead time involves an efficient and accurate estimation of its parameters. Since many process plants are characterized as second‐order plus dead time (SOPDT) overdamped or critically damped systems, this study presents a straightforward parameter estimation method using transient response data from a step input at three specific time instants. Two‐time domain performance indices (PIs), TR (= t90t10 for system dead time = 0 and t90−t5t10−t5 for system dead time ≠ 0; t5, t10 and t90 are respectively the times at which the response reaches 5%, 10% and 90% of the steady‐state response) and fr (reciprocal of rise time tr) are proposed in this work. Correlations are established between these PIs and the parameters of the SOPDT system. The first correlation establishes that TR is a function of the damping ratio ξ only and is independent of the undamped natural frequency ωn, which means that the evaluation of TR from the time response data is sufficient to estimate ξ. The second correlation establishes that for a given ξ, fr is a function of ωn. Thus the evaluation of fr from the time response data and an estimate of ξ from the first correlation is sufficient to estimate ωn. The proposed algorithm estimates the parameters of the canonical transfer function of the plant by these correlations from the three specific time instants, as mentioned above, of the step response of the plant. Comparisons with four methods existing in the literature reveal that the method is also effective with higher order systems that may be approximated by SOPDT dynamics, and robust even with measurement noise, making it useful for implementing control strategies, not only in process plants but also in other systems having similar time responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional terahertz radar suffers from limited operation range for long-distance, noncooperative target detection due to the low transmitter power and atmospheric attenuation effect, both of which pose a hindrance in meeting the requirements of warning detection applications. To improve the radar detection capability, this paper studies an ultrasensitive target detection method based on single-photon detectors to replace traditional radar receivers. The method is expected to considerably expand the operation range of terahertz radars. First, the statistical law of the number of echo photons of a terahertz single-photon radar system is analyzed, and the echo characteristics of the target are expounded from a microscopic perspective. Furthermore, a terahertz single-photon target detection model, incorporating the characteristics of a quantum capacitor detector, is established. In addition, the mathematical expression of the target detection performance is derived, and the performance is evaluated via simulations. Further, a target detection performance curve is obtained. Finally, a time-resolved terahertz photon-counting mechanism experiment is performed, wherein we realize high-precision ranging by counting echo pulses. This work can provide support for the research and development of ultrasensitive target detection technologies and single-photon radar systems in the terahertz band.

The recent developments in electric vehicle (EV) necessities the requirement of a human intervention free charging system for safe and reliable operation. Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology shows promising options to automate the charging process with user convenience. However, the operation of the WPT system is designed to operate at a high-frequency (HF) range, which requires proper control and modulation technique to improve the performance of power electronic modules. This paper proposes a dead-time (DT) integrated Pulse Density Modulation (PDM) technique to provide better control with minimal voltage and current ripples at the switches. The proposed technique is investigated using a LCC-LCL compensated WPT system, which predominantly affects the high-frequency voltage and current ripples. The performance analysis is studied at different density conditions to explore the impact of the integrated PDM approach. Moreover, the PDM technique gives better control over the power transfer at different levels of load requirement. The simulation and experimental analysis was performed for a 3.7 kW WPT prototype test system under different modes of operation of the high-frequency power converters. Both the simulated and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed PDM technique effectively enhances the efficiency of the HF inverter while significantly reducing output current ripples, power dissipation and improving the overall WPT system efficiency to 92%, and leading to a reduction in the power loss in the range of 10% to 20%. This leads to improved overall system control and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the commutation transients of MOSFET and GaN FET devices in motor drive applications during hard-switching and soft-switching commutations at dead time operation. This study compares the switching behaviors of MOSFETs and GaN FETs, focusing on their performance during dead time in inverter legs for voltage source inverters. Experimental tests at various phase current levels reveal distinct switching characteristics and energy dissipation patterns. A validated simulation model estimates the experimental energy exchanged and dissipated during switching transients. The results demonstrate that GaN FETs exhibit lower overall losses at shorter dead times compared to MOSFETs, despite higher reverse conduction voltage drops. The study provides a quantitative framework for selecting optimal dead times to minimize energy losses, enhancing the efficiency of GaN FET-based inverters in low-voltage motor drive applications. Finally, a dead time optimization strategy is proposed and described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conveyor belts serve as the primary mode of ore transportation in mineral processing plants. Feeders, comprised of shorter conveyors, regulate the material flow from silos to longer conveyor belts by adjusting their velocity. This velocity manipulation is facilitated by automatic controllers that gauge the material weight on the conveyor using scales. However, due to positioning constraints of these scales, a notable delay ensues between measurement and the adjustment of the feeder speed. This dead time poses a significant challenge in control design, aiming to prevent oscillations in material levels on the conveyor belt. This paper contributes in two key areas: firstly, through a simulation-based comparison of various control techniques addressing this issue across diverse scenarios; secondly, by implementing the Smith predictor solution in an operational plant and contrasting its performance with that of a single PID controller. Evaluation spans both the transient flow rate during step change setpoints and a month-long assessment. The experimental results reveal a notable increase in production by 355 t/h and a substantial reduction in flow rate oscillations on the conveyor belt, evidenced by a 55% decrease in the standard deviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calibration of 22 gamma camera units was performed at 15 hospitals in southern and western Sweden to estimate 137Cs contamination in humans in a supine static geometry, with a new developed calibration protocol and phantom. The minimum detectable activities (MDAs) and the estimated committed effective doses (CEDs) were calculated for each calibration. Generic calibration factors were calculated for five predetermined groups based on the detector type and manufacturer. Group 1 and 2 included NaI-based gamma cameras from General Electrics (GEs) with a crystal thickness of 5/8′′ and 3/8′′ respectively. Group 3 and 4 included NaI-based gamma cameras from Siemens Healthineers with a crystal thickness of 3/8′′, with a similar energy window as the GE NaI-based cameras and a dual window respectively. Group 5 included semiconductor-based gamma cameras from GE with a CdZnTe (CZT) detector. The generic calibration factors were 60.0 cps kBq−1, 52.3 cps kBq−1, 50.3 cps kBq−1, 53.2 cps kBq−1 and 48.4 cps kBq−1 for group 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively. The MDAs ranged between 169 and 1130 Bq for all groups, with measurement times of 1–10 min, corresponding to a CED of 4.77–77.6 μ Sv. A dead time analysis was performed for group 1 and suggested a dead time of 3.17 μ s for 137Cs measurements. The dead time analysis showed that a maximum count rate of 232 kcps could be measured in the calibration geometry, corresponding to a CED of 108–263 mSv. It has been shown that semiconductor-based gamma cameras with CZT detectors are feasible for estimating 137Cs contamination. The generic calibration factors derived in this study can be used for gamma cameras of the same models in other hospitals, for measurements in the same measurement geometry. This will increase the measurement capability for estimating internal 137Cs contamination in the recovery phase following radiological or nuclear events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is used in quantum detectors. Quantum detectors are widely used in quantum communication. The quality of these detectors strongly affects the optimal performance of the system. The quality of single photon detectors depends on various parameters, which are usually presented in the SPAD specification. If these detectors are made by the manufacturer or evaluated by the user, there is a need for a method to determine and check its main parameters. In this paper, a simple test setup for extracting some of important parameters has been designed and introduced, which can be used practically. These parameters include Dark Count Rate (DCR), Photon Detection Efficiency (PDE), AfterPulse Probability (APP) and Dead time. In the presented design, an FPGA chip is used to measure the parameters. FPGA is responsible for the simultaneous control of the single photon source and the detector. The presented methods specify how to extract the desired parameters. The characterization methods and detailed formulas presented in this paper calculate SPAD parameters.

The demeanour of many chemical and non-chemical processes resemble that of an integrating process. Developing a control plan for an integrating process is complicated, and the difficulty becomes even more when dead time is present. Internal Model Control (IMC) is enthralling in the creation of control strategies because it can derive the controller in the framework of a Proportional-Integral-Derivative controller (PID). It has been noted that when a filter is added to a controller, its performance improves, and various researchers have proposed PID with filter. The current work presents a comprehensive review of existing IMC-PID controllers for controlling integrating processes with dead time. The filter postulation in IMC is discussed, which is responsible for generating several forms of PID for the same process. Performance is measured using a variety of conventional performance indices. This article provides an overview of IMC filter topologies used in IMC-PID tuning for various integrating processes, including tuning relations and time delay approximations. The paper has also highlighted the guidelines for the selection of IMC filter and different structures of IMC filters from conventional to fractional order.

Although Gallium Nitride (GaN) Field Effect Transistor (FET) devices have found extensive application in DC-DC converters, their utilization in inverter motor drives remains an evolving area of study. In particular, the intricacies of reverse conduction operation during the dead time, specific to GaN FETs, require in-depth exploration for inverters supplying AC currents to electrical motors. Therefore, this paper undertakes an assessment of reverse conduction during the dead time intervals in low-voltage GaN FETs employed in motor drives applications. This analysis provides correlations between device technology attributes and the variations in AC phase current. To facilitate this investigation, a dedicated numerical tool is developed to evaluate the reverse conduction characteristics of GaN FET and associated power losses. Furthermore, this study includes a comparative analysis of the reverse conduction behavior of GaN FET devices with their low-voltage MOSFET counterparts, taking into account their differing static and dynamic characteristics. As a result, the main contribution of this work is to provide to the inverter designers a comprehensive understanding of dead-time effects in GaN-based inverters, along with guidance on selecting and optimizing dead time intervals within inverter legs for motor control applications employing the latest generation of GaN FET devices.

This paper proposes a 2-DOF preview feedforward sliding mode controller (PFFSMC), which has a combination of feedback and feedforward terms in the sliding surface, for controlling the multivariable process with dead time, for both set point tracking and disturbance rejection. The proposed controller is applied for the control of the Wood and Berry binary distillation column having the composition of top and bottom products. The performance of the 2-DOF PFFSMC is compared with that of the 1-DOF preview sliding mode controller. The proposed controller delivered better responses for set point tracking and for disturbance rejection. The performance of the proposed 2-DOF PFFSMC is compared with the other controllers reported in the literature and, it was found that there was a significant reduction in the settling time by more than 76%, without any overshoot in the closed loop response. The proposed controller was robust against ±5% parametric uncertainties in gain, time constant, and dead time when these uncertainties were considered alone and together. The stability of the proposed controller was verified using the Lyapunov stability criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper proposes a new adaptive dead time compensation method for dual three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motors with two sets of three-phase windings spatially shifted by 30 electrical degrees. The stator resistance and leakage inductance are the only 5th and 7th harmonic impedances in the dual three-phase motor, which leads to a more pronounced current distortion due to dead time in the dual three-phase motor than in the three-phase motor. Therefore, dead-time compensation has significant implications for the application of dual three-phase motors. In this paper, the minimum value tracking algorithm is used to adjust the compensation voltage amplitude adaptively, and the compensation voltages are added to the output reference voltage in stationary frames. The proposed computation method has some significant advantages, such as simple implementation without additional hardware, easy mathematical computations, and no offline experimental measurements. Simulation results are provided to validate the performance of the proposed method.

This paper investigates the commutation transients of MOSFET and GaN FET devices in motor drive applications during hard-switching and soft-switching commutations at dead time operation. This study compares the switching behaviors of MOSFETs and GaN FETs, focusing on their performance during dead time in inverter legs for voltage source inverters. Experimental tests at various phase current levels reveal distinct switching characteristics and energy dissipation patterns. A validated simulation model estimates the experimental energy exchanged and dissipated during switching transients. The results demonstrate that GaN FETs exhibit lower overall losses at shorter dead times compared to MOSFETs, despite higher reverse conduction voltage drops. The study provides a quantitative framework for selecting optimal dead times to minimize energy losses, enhancing the efficiency of GaN FET-based inverters in low-voltage motor drive applications. Finally, a dead time optimization strategy is proposed and described.

Conveyor belts serve as the primary mode of ore transportation in mineral processing plants. Feeders, comprised of shorter conveyors, regulate the material flow from silos to longer conveyor belts by adjusting their velocity. This velocity manipulation is facilitated by automatic controllers that gauge the material weight on the conveyor using scales. However, due to positioning constraints of these scales, a notable delay ensues between measurement and the adjustment of the feeder speed. This dead time poses a significant challenge in control design, aiming to prevent oscillations in material levels on the conveyor belt. This paper contributes in two key areas: firstly, through a simulation-based comparison of various control techniques addressing this issue across diverse scenarios; secondly, by implementing the Smith predictor solution in an operational plant and contrasting its performance with that of a single PID controller. Evaluation spans both the transient flow rate during step change setpoints and a month-long assessment. The experimental results reveal a notable increase in production by 355 t/h and a substantial reduction in flow rate oscillations on the conveyor belt, evidenced by a 55% decrease in the standard deviation.

We developed an analytical model to evaluate the effect of signal pileup on the recorded energy spectrum in X-ray photon-counting detectors affected by dead time and equipped with retrigger capability. The retrigger function allows the system to work in a specific non-paralyzable counting mode by counting the time-over-threshold of piled-up signals in multiples of a predefined and selectable retrigger time. The model, designed for rectangle-like-shaped signals, allows for arbitrary input energy spectra and can significantly help understand and optimize the behavior of counting detectors with spectral capabilities and retrigger mechanisms in applications involving polychromatic beams, e.g., spectral X-ray imaging and computed tomography (CT), in a time-efficient way. Dedicated numerical simulations were used to validate the model under several conditions of incoming flux and threshold energy, with excellent results.

It is shown that the column dead time determined from the retention of uracil is longer than the one determined from the retention of homologs—lutein diesters—for C16 reversed phases on three columns with sorbents with different pore diameters (80, 110, and 160 Å). This finding confirms the familiar assumption that the sorbate molecules 10% larger than the pore diameter can cause problems with the retention of the sorbate. It is found for smaller molecules (of alkyl benzoates) that the dead time determined from the retention of uracil is less than the one determined from the retention of the homologs on the same stationary phases, confirming that the main cause of the observed effect is the size factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulse pile-up in pulse-height energy analyzers increases when the incident rate of pulses increases relative to the inverse of the dead time per pulse of the detection system. Changes in the observed energy distributions with incident rate and detector-electronics-formed pulse shape then occur. We focus on weak high energy tails in X-ray spectra, important for measurements on partially ionized, warm (50–500 eV average electron energy), pure hydrogen plasma. A first-principles two-photon pulse-pile-up model is derived specific to trapezoidal-shaped pulses; quantitative agreement is found between the measurements and the model’s predictions. The model is then used to diagnose pulse-pile-up tail artifacts and mitigate them in relatively low count-rate spectra.

This paper presents a three-level gate driver for GaN HEMTs (Gallium Nitride High Electron Mobility Transistors) for high false turn-on tolerance and low reverse conduction loss during both dead time at turn-on and turn-off. The proposed gate driver reduces the reverse conduction loss by clamping between the gate and source terminals only during dead time. It has a capacitor which works as a negative voltage source and prevents from the false turn-on phenomenon. It operates only with a single voltage source and a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) output signal. The proposed gate driver is implemented on a 48V-to-12 V synchronous rectifier buck (SR-buck) converter and compared with other countermeasure methods for the false turn-on phenomenon. At the condition of 1 MHz, 30 ns dead time, and 120 W output power, the efficiencies of the proposed and conventional operations are 95.1% and 92.8% respectively. The margin between the threshold voltage and the peak of oscillated voltage of the proposed method becomes 1.3 times larger than that of the conventional method on average.

To avoid leg short-circuit in inverters, dead time must be introduced on leg gate signals. Dead time affects the inverter output voltage fundamental harmonic amplitude, voltage harmonic distortion and inverter efficiency by introducing additional voltage drops. In this regard, dead time effects have been widely investigated for traditional two-level three-phase voltage source inverters in the literature but not extensively for multilevel topology structures. This paper provides a detailed analysis of dead time impact on the harmonic distortion and efficiency of Cascaded H-Bridges Multilevel Inverters (CHBMIs). For this purpose, a general mathematical formulation to determine voltage drop due to dead time effects, also taking into account the adopted Multicarrier PWM strategy, has been provided and experimentally validated for a five-level three-phase CHBMI structure. As a comparison tool between expected and ideal inverter output voltage, the percentage voltage error $e_{\%}$ is introduced. In most of the cases, $e_{\%} $ is lower than 5%, and it starts increasing for very low amplitude modulation index or for specific working points where nonlinearities occur. Furthermore, several experimental investigations have been carried out to evaluate the CHBMI performance in terms of harmonic distortion and efficiency by changing, the values of dead time, modulation index and switching frequency for ten different multi-carried PWM strategies. Experimental results confirm the strong dependency between the dead time impact on the converter performance and the adopted Multi Carrier-PWM (MC-PWM) strategy: as a way of example, converter efficiency can be reduced from 80% to 60% when dead time is increased from $0.5 \mu \text{s}$ to $1.5 \mu \text{s}$ and Phase Shifted-PWM (PS-PWM) is adopted.

This paper proposes an electrical parameter estimation method for permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) considering the voltage source inverter (VSI) nonlinearity. Accurate parameters are essential for high-performance control of PMSMs. Therefore, numerous studies have been conducted to obtain accurate parameters. However, the VSI nonlinearity causes voltage distortion, which causes parameter-estimation errors. To address this problem, this paper presents a solution using the double-frequency double-amplitude (DFDA) injection method based on the high-frequency (HF) injection method. The proposed method is a practical and novel method using simple mathematical calculations that takes into account VSI nonlinearity without using nonlinearity-compensation methods. It increases the accuracy and reduces the resistance-estimation step by simultaneously estimating the stator resistance and inductance. To demonstrate the efficacy and practicability of the proposed method, it was experimentally verified on a 400 W surface-mounted PMSM. The proposed method can simultaneously estimate the stator resistance and inductance with high accuracy within a short time and can, therefore, be applied to PMSM drives in various industries, such as robotics.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the harmonic sources of the single-phase grid-connected voltage source converter (VSC), which leads to an alternative approach for DC bus voltage control of the VSC under grid voltage distortion with a significant switching dead time. A selective current harmonic controller with the zero-reference structure plays a vital role in rejecting the harmonic components in the grid reference current created by the bus voltage control loop and the harmonic components in the grid voltage and in the VSC caused by the switching dead time. Therefore, the bus voltage control can adopt a conventional proportional-integral regulator tuned at a fast bandwidth. The proposed control scheme implemented in the multiple unbalanced synchronous reference frames was validated with a bidirectional 2-kVA VSC under grid voltage distortion and a significant dead time. Furthermore, the proposed control scheme exhibited the transient response and grid current quality superior to the conventional bus voltage control methods with a notch filter and a low-pass filter. The proposed control scheme has inherent frequency adaption.

This paper proposes a modified hybrid robust Smith predictor controller design for integrating processes with long dead time. The proposal results in a dynamic sliding mode controller for integrating systems on blending sliding mode control and Smith Predictor modification concepts. The design part of the controller corresponding to the sliding mode arises from an approximate model of the high-order nonlinear integrating process to characterize the non-self-regulating processes. The approximation to a First Order Integrating System Plus Dead Time is obtained from an experimental method that adopts identification procedures and avoids complex analytical resources. The model contributes to designing the dynamic sliding mode controller and tuning parameters. The resulting controller is a hybrid scheme that combines the sliding mode methodology, a smith predictor structure, and a PD compensator. The hybrid control topology is used for the first time for integrating systems with dead time. The proposed approach is applied to a high order linear integrating system with long-dead time and a coupled tanks system using hardware in the loop (HIL) simulation. The hybrid control topology provides enhanced controller performance, guarantees proven robustness to parameter modeling uncertainties, and attenuates high-frequency oscillations, counteracting the adverse effects of chattering. Integral of Squared Error (ISE), Total Variation of control effort (TVu), Maximum overshoot, and Settling Time are used for quantitative comparative performance analysis.

As third-generation semiconductors become commercial, SiC semiconductors are gradually becoming more widely used in LLC resonant converters. The efficiency of the LLC resonant converter is improved by employing soft switching. However, when designing LLC resonant converters, semiconductors are usually regarded as ideal devices, and their turn-on and turn-off times are neglected. Furthermore, the method of designing the dead time relies on engineering experience and lacks precise theoretical foundations. In order to overcome the shortcomings of the current empirical method and to improve the generality and practicality of the dead time design method, a novel method for calculating the dead time of full-bridge LLC converters is proposed through theoretical research based on the operating principle of full-bridge LLC converters and the conditions for implementing soft switching. The method takes into account the switching characteristics of semiconductors and the on-state delay time of their body diodes, stray inductance, drive circuits, and errors arising from the first harmonic approximation (FHA) and improves the accuracy of the dead time calculation. It can implement good soft switching with full-bridge LLC converters, reduce switching losses, and improve system efficiency. Finally, the simulation experiment and the 2 kW experimental prototype are built to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Dead-time correction is required for accurate quantitative SPECT-based dosimetry in the context of personalised 177Lu radiopharmaceutical therapy. We aimed to evaluate the impact of applying dead-time correction on the reconstructed SPECT image versus on the acquisition projections before reconstruction. Methods Data from 16 SPECT/CT acquisitions of a decaying 177Lu-filled phantom (up to 20.75 GBq) and dual-timepoint SPECT/CT in 14 patients treated with personalised 177Lu peptide receptor radionuclide therapy were analysed. Dead time was determined based on the acquisition wide-spectrum count rate for each projection and averaged for the entire acquisition. Three dead-time correction methods (DTCMs) were used: the per-projection correction, where each projection was individually corrected before reconstruction (DTCM1, the standard of reference), and two per-volume methods using the average dead-time correction factor of the acquisition applied to all projections before reconstruction (DTCM2) or to the SPECT image after reconstruction (DTCM3). Relative differences in quantification were assessed for various volumes of interest (VOIs) on the phantom and patient SPECT images. In patients, the resulting dosimetry estimates for tissues of interest were also compared between DTCMs. Results Both per-volume DTCMs (DTCM2 and DTCM3) were found to be equivalent, with VOI count differences not exceeding 0.8%. When comparing the per-volume post-reconstruction DTCM3 versus the per-projection pre-reconstruction DTCM1, differences in VOI counts and absorbed dose estimates did not exceed 2%, with very few exceptions. The largest absorbed dose deviation was observed for a kidney at 3.5%. Conclusion While per-projection dead-time correction appears ideal for QSPECT, post-reconstruction correction is an acceptable alternative that is more practical to implement in the clinics, and that results in minimal deviations in quantitative accuracy and dosimetry estimates, as compared to the per-projection correction.

An asynchronous quantum-cryptographic communication channel with a receiving module based on a photon counter with a dead time of an extending type was investigated. An expression for estimating the ratio of the probability of erasing binary symbols "0" P(–/0) to the probability of these symbols being erroneous Perr0 has been obtained. Based on the results of mathematical modeling, the dependences of the ratio P(–/0) / Perr0 on the average count rate of signal pulses at the output of the photon counter during the transmission of symbols “0” ns0 for various average duration of dead time of the extended type τd were established. The performed studies have shown that with an increase in ns0, these dependences at first practically do not change and have values close to unity, but then they drop down to the lowest values and go into saturation. This takes place both in the absence of a dead time of the prolonging type, and in its presence.

Integrating and unstable chemical processes showcase instability in open-loop configuration due to the existence of poles at the origin and right-half of the s-plane. They present challenging control requirements due to their non-self-regulating nature. The presence of dead time demands more sophisticated control requirements for the above-mentioned processes. So double-loop control strategies are preferred over PID controllers in single-loop configuration. In this work, a novel IMC-PD double-loop control strategy is proposed for unstable and integrating plants with dead time. The inner-loop consists of PD controller whose initial settings are derived using Routh–Hurwitz stability conditions. The outer-loop consists of an IMC controller whose parameter along with that of the PD controller is optimized using the metaheuristic algorithm called equilibrium optimizer algorithm (EOA). EOA utilizes the range of controller settings from RH criteria for stable operation and provides the optimal settings by minimizing the integral square error (ISE). Merits of the suggested strategy is illustrated with the help of benchmark plant models of unstable/integrating chemical processes and that of a bioreactor. By computing quantitative performance measures, the dynamic responses resulting from the proposed control scheme is found to be more effective than the reported works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a modified hybrid robust Smith predictor controller design for integrating processes with long dead time. The proposal results in a dynamic sliding mode controller for integrating systems on blending sliding mode control and Smith Predictor modification concepts. The design part of the controller corresponding to the sliding mode arises from an approximate model of the high-order nonlinear integrating process to characterize the non-self-regulating processes. The approximation to a First Order Integrating System Plus Dead Time is obtained from an experimental method that adopts identification procedures and avoids complex analytical resources. The model contributes to designing the dynamic sliding mode controller and tuning parameters. The resulting controller is a hybrid scheme that combines the sliding mode methodology, a smith predictor structure, and a PD compensator. The hybrid control topology is used for the first time for integrating systems with dead time. The proposed approach is applied to a high order linear integrating system with long-dead time and a coupled tanks system using hardware in the loop (HIL) simulation. The hybrid control topology provides enhanced controller performance, guarantees proven robustness to parameter modeling uncertainties, and attenuates high-frequency oscillations, counteracting the adverse effects of chattering. Integral of Squared Error (ISE), Total Variation of control effort (TVu), Maximum overshoot, and Settling Time are used for quantitative comparative performance analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analytical design of the PID-type controllers for linear plants based on the magnitude optimum criterion usually results in very good control quality and can be applied directly for high-order linear models with dead time, without need of any model reduction. This paper brings an analysis of properties of this tuning method in the case of the PI controller, which shows that it guarantees closed-loop stability and a large stability margin for stable linear plants without zeros, although there are limitations in the case of oscillating plants. In spite of the fact that the magnitude optimum criterion prescribes the closed-loop response only for low frequencies and the stability margin requirements are not explicitly included in the design objective, it reveals that proper open-loop behavior in the middle and high frequency ranges, decisive for the closed-loop stability and robustness, is ensured automatically for the considered class of linear systems if all damping ratios corresponding to poles of the plant transfer function without the dead-time term are sufficiently high.

This work describes the design of Proportional-Integral-Derivative(PID) controller for stable and unstable First Order Processes with Dead Time(FOPDT). PID controller is augmented with a higher order filter. The PID and the filter parameters are analytically derived using polynomial method. Higher order time delay approximation has been considered for improved accuracy. Maximum sensitivity(MS) based analytical tuning procedure is presented and concrete tuning guidelines are derived. The suggested technique is validated against delay dominant and nonlinear processes. In terms of the various performance indices, the suggested technique is compared to existing methodologies. The proposed method is tested on a real time process to verify the practical application.

Centralized photovoltaic power station is an important part of building a new power system, whose power generation unit is the main equipment of the photovoltaic power station. Therefore, it is the basis of analyzing the harmonic characteristics of photovoltaic power generation to study the harmonic generation mechanism and influencing factors of power generation units and establish the harmonic equivalent model of photovoltaic power generation units. In this paper, firstly, the harmonic generation mechanism is analyzed from the aspects of sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) and dead time of inverter. Secondly, the correlation analysis of influencing factors of output power of photovoltaic power generation unit is carried out, and then the influence of output power on harmonics is analyzed. Thirdly, the harmonic characteristic model of photovoltaic power generation unit based on actual photovoltaic power station and influencing factors is constructed. Finally, the theoretical simulation of SPWM modulation and dead time is verified and analyzed, and the simulation results of harmonic characteristics are compared with the measured data. The results show that the harmonic characteristic of the centralized photovoltaic power station is mainly to generate high-frequency odd-order harmonics, which will generate extra high-frequency even-order harmonics when the irradiation is too high or too low, and cause interharmonics when the irradiance fluctuates on the DC side of the inverter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest ☒ The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Robert deKemp reports a relationship with Jubilant DraxImage Inc that includes: funding grants. Charles Hayden reports a relationship with Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc that includes: employment. Mehmet Aykac reports a relationship with Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc that includes: employment. Robert deKemp has patent with royalties paid to Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Following a radiological or nuclear (RN) event, rapid measurement of 131 I in members of the public is of utmost importance, and much equipment is needed for a high throughput. In this study, three gamma cameras (GCs), two thyroid uptake meters (TUMs) and one whole-body counter (WBC) were calibrated for activity measurements of 131 I in the thyroid. Minimum detectable activity was derived for the GCs, the TUMs and the WBC giving that a committed effective dose (CED) in the interval 2.0-85 μ Sv, 13-700 μ Sv and 0.52-6.4 μ Sv, and thyroid absorbed doses in the interval 0.075-2.1 mGy, 0.48-17 mGy, and 0.020-0.15 mGy, respectively, can be assessed for children, adolescents, and adults. These numbers are based on 10 min measurement, performed at 1, 3 and 7 d after intake, and the CED includes intake by ingestion and inhalation of aerosols Type F, with an activity median aerodynamic diameter of 1 μ m. For a fractional signal loss of 63% due to dead time, a CED up to 2.0, 84 and 3.6 Sv and thyroid absorbed dose up to 47 Gy, 2000 Gy and 88 Gy for the three systems, respectively, can be assessed for children and intake by ingestion as a worst-case scenario in terms of CED, measured 7 d after intake. This study demonstrates the potential and limitations of using equipment readily available at larger hospitals for estimation of 131 I content in thyroid, which could increase the measurement capability following an RN event., (Creative Commons Attribution license.)

Abstract Background Accurate QSPECT is crucial in dosimetry-based, personalized radiopharmaceutical therapy with 177Lu and other radionuclides. We compared the quantitative performance of three NaI(Tl)-crystal SPECT/CT systems equipped with low-energy high-resolution collimators from two vendors (Siemens Symbia T6; GE Discovery 670 and NM/CT 870 DR). Methods Using up to 14 GBq of 99mTc in planar mode, we determined the calibration factor and dead-time constant under the assumption that these systems have a paralyzable behaviour. We monitored their response when one or both detectors were activated. QSPECT capability was validated by SPECT/CT imaging of a customized NEMA phantom containing up to 17 GBq of 99mTc. Acquisitions were reconstructed with a third-party ordered subset expectation maximization algorithm. Results The Siemens system had a higher calibration factor (100.0 cps/MBq) and a lower dead-time constant (0.49 μs) than those from GE (75.4–87.5 cps/MBq; 1.74 μs). Activities of up to 3.3 vs. 2.3–2.7 GBq, respectively, were quantifiable by QSPECT before the observed count rate plateaued or decreased. When used in single-detector mode, the QSPECT capability of the former system increased to 5.1 GBq, whereas that of the latter two systems remained independent of the detectors activation mode. Conclusion Despite similar hardware, SPECT/CT systems’ response can significantly differ at high count rate, which impacts their QSPECT capability in a post-therapeutic setting.

Background: Dead-time correction is required for accurate quantitative SPECT-based dosimetry in the context of personalised 177Lu radiopharmaceutical therapy. We aimed to evaluate the impact of applying dead-time correction on the reconstructed SPECT image versus on the acquisition projections before reconstruction. Methods: Data from 16 SPECT/CT acquisitions of a decaying 177Lu-filled phantom (up to 20.75 GBq) and dual-timepoint SPECT/CT in 14 patients treated with personalised 177Lu peptide receptor radionuclide therapy were analysed. Dead time was determined based on the acquisition wide-spectrum count rate for each projection and averaged for the entire acquisition. Three dead-time correction methods (DTCMs) were used: the per-projection correction, where each projection was individually corrected before reconstruction (DTCM1, the standard of reference), and two per-volume methods using the average dead-time correction factor of the acquisition applied to all projections before reconstruction (DTCM2) or to the SPECT image after reconstruction (DTCM3). Relative differences in quantification were assessed for various volumes of interest (VOIs) on the phantom and patient SPECT images. In patients, the resulting dosimetry estimates for tissues of interest were also compared between DTCMs. Results: Both per-volume DTCMs (DTCM2 and DTCM3) were found to be equivalent, with VOI count differences not exceeding 0.8%. When comparing the per-volume post-reconstruction DTCM3 versus the per-projection pre-reconstruction DTCM1, differences in VOI counts and absorbed dose estimates did not exceed 2%, with very few exceptions. The largest absorbed dose deviation was observed for a kidney at 3.5%. Conclusion: While per-projection dead-time correction appears ideal for QSPECT, post-reconstruction correction is an acceptable alternative that is more practical to implement in the clinics, and that results in minimal deviations in quantitative accuracy and dosimetry estimates, as compared to the per-projection correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When measuring low-power optical signals in single-photon communication channels, the receiving modules must ensure the minimum probability of erroneous data recording. In this regard, it is advisable to use photon counters. They are highly sensitive, but are characterized by data recording errors. The aim of the work was to determine the effect of intensity of optical signal on the probability of erroneous data recording in a single-photon communication channel with a receiving module based on a photon counter.Based on the results of experimental studies, the dependences of the probability of erroneous registration of binary symbols «0» Perr 0 on the intensity of the optical signal J0 , used to transmit these symbols for various supply voltages of the avalanche photodetector U, were obtained. It was found that with an increase of intensity of the optical signal, the dependences Perr 0(J0) first decrease, reaching their lowest value, and then increase. The performed assessment showed that the lowest probability of erroneous registration the binary symbols «0» for the investigated communication channel is equal to 17,56 • 10-2 and corresponds to J0 = 52,41 • 10-2 rel. units and U = 52,54 V.

Goal. Analysis of the effect of load inductance at the output of the class D amplifier for different values of the duration of «dead time» and assessment of the adequacy of existing mathematical models for calculating the THD at the output of the amplifier depending on the duration of «dead time». Methodology. The study of the effect of «dead time» on the THD was performed using a computer model of the half-bridge converter board EPC9035 from Efficient Power Conversion. This board contains GaN transistors EPC2022 eGaN®, the corresponding control driver and other necessary elements for operation. The use of GaN transistors has made it possible to investigate the operation in a wide range of frequent switching, both to control the motor and to amplify the audio signal. Results. It is established that the value of load inductance affects the level of nonlinear distortions caused by «dead time». At inductance values that provide a constant sign of the output current, a difference arises between the duration of the input and output pulses, which increases the THD. At inductance values, when the choke current changes sign during a pulse, there is no error between the duration of the input and output pulses. Changing the inductance changes the relationship between the error signal and the non-error signal. THD changes accordingly. At high conversion frequencies, the voltage spikes caused by the choke current through the built-in diodes during the dead time are partially compensated by overcharging the output capacitance of the transistors, which also reduces harmonic distortion. Originality. For the first time, the value of the THD at the outlets in the fallowness of the different indices of the inductance of the choke and the theoretical calculation of the value in the results of the computer model was obtained. Practical significance. The dependence of the THD values on the inductance of the choke for converters with a switching frequency range from 1 kHz to 400 kHz, which allows them to be used both to control the motor and to amplify the audio signal.