The switched reluctance machine (SRM) has certain advantages such as robustness and the absence of permanent magnets which have encouraged its use in recent years. One of its applications is as a self-excited generator. This behavior is produced when a capacitor is series or parallel connected to each single phase forming a nonlinear pseudoresonant circuit. This application can be used in isolated sites with a wind turbine for energy generation. This paper describes a novel method used for the specific design of a 1-kW self-excited SRM for wind power applications based on torque considerations. The machine volume, dimensions, finite-element analysis, model verification, simulations, and experimental results are all presented.

Aqueous synthesis without ligands of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with exceptional properties still remains an open issue, because of the challenge to control simultaneously numerous properties of the IONPs in these rigorous settings. To solve this, it is necessary to correlate the synthesis process with their properties, but this correlation is until now not well understood. Here, we study and correlate the structure, crystallinity, morphology, as well as magnetic, relaxometric and heating properties of IONPs obtained for different durations of the hydrothermal treatment that correspond to the different growth stages of IONPs upon initial co-precipitation in aqueous environment without ligands. We find that their properties were different for IONPs with comparable diameters. Specifically, by controlling the growth of IONPs from primary to secondary particles firstly by colloidal and then also by magnetic interactions, we control their crystallinity from monocrystalline to polycrystalline IONPs, respectively. Surface energy minimization in the aqueous environment along with low temperature treatment is used to favor nearly defect-free IONPs featuring superior properties, such as high saturation magnetization, magnetic volume, surface crystallinity, the transversal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxivity (up to r₂ = 1189 mM⁻¹·s⁻¹ and r₂/r₁ = 195) and specific absorption rate, SAR (up to 1225.1 W·g_Fe⁻¹).

In induction home appliances, the characterization of the physical properties of the vessel allows for better control strategies and new cooking functionalities. Current modelling techniques calculate a simple R-L equivalent circuit that models the inductor impedance taking into account all the physical coupling parameters, but these techniques do not allow to directly extract the physical parameters, such as vessel material. In this paper, a new methodology for online detection of the pot material is presented. On this approach, the inductor included in the hob simultaneously serves as heating element and sensor. First, harmonic impedances are calculated by spectral estimation from the currents and voltages waveforms recorded at the inductor. Then, a feature set, including four harmonic impedances and the power factor, is processed by machine learning algorithms for the identification of the pot material. The material identification system is implemented onto an embedded processor similar to those included in current induction hobs; thus, smart sensing features are incorporated onto a domestic cooker without using additional sensors, at no additional cost.

Vertical transportation is a promising field in terms of efficiency improvement opportunities. Several manufacturers are working on the development of new and efficient elevator lifts based on energy-recovery schemes. This paper is focused on the retrofit of already existing inverter-based non-efficient elevator actuators. This purpose is achieved through a) the connection of only two wires to the DC bus of the existing inverter, and b) a very simple but robust control based on several voltage hysteresis-bands. Simulation and experimental results show the validity of the approach.

This paper evaluates several DC-DC power converter topologies suitable for arc welding focusing on MMA type (manual metal arc). The aim is to outline the main characteristics of this process that directly affect the electronic design of the DC-DC converter and to set criteria to select the most adequate. They will be compared taking into account volume, weight, cost and functionality. As a result, it will be selected those that fit better for the application. To conclude, some experimental results on a full-bridge converter confirm the study and the selection procedure followed.

Switched Reluctance Machine (SRM) has a nonlinear behavior which difficults its understanding. The electric model shows this nonlinear behavior and it is difficult to derive conclusions but for the linear case. Simulators appear as the ideal tools for studying the machine. Although some papers report simulation models for this machine working in motoring and generating modes, the generating mode is only used for braking but not for generating electricity. In this paper the machine is used for generation purpose and the generated voltage and current are alternative instead of DC as usual. This difference enforces relevant changes demanding a new simulation model. The model has been implemented in Matlab/Simulink and allows analysis of linear and nonlinear cases. It has been used to study the working zones and its steady and transitory state behavior.