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This paper aims to propose an integrated protection scheme for converters of a low-power, low-cost photovoltaic system. Power electronic converters use a variety of methods to limit overload and fault current. The use of insulated and non-insulated sensors along with additional circuits to detect and limit fault current can cause current to be limited or completely cut off before damage to semiconductor devices. In addition, fuses that have slower performance are used as backup for any type of protection.

First, all the candidate points for protection are investigated. In this paper, after examining the performance of glass fuses as linear resistors, they are used as a current feedback element. A simple, isolated and reliable circuit for fault detection at various points of the system has been proposed that can be implemented and operated in single shot or auto-reclose operating mode.

The experimental results of this circuit on a dc/dc converter and an H-bridge inverter show that it can cut off all instantaneous short circuit errors in less than 50 µs and prevent damage to the semiconductor switch.

In low-cost and low-power converters, it is usually not cost-effective to use complex and expensive devices. For this reason, these converters are more vulnerable to faults. On the other hand, in complex systems such as photovoltaics, several converters are used simultaneously in different parts, and the occurrence of a fault in each of them causes the whole system to fail.

This paper aims to improve the general circuit of driving and protection based on insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) in dielectric barrier discharge power supply by designing a novel half-bridge inverter circuit with discrete components.

With one SG3524 chip, the structure based on discrete components is used to design the IGBT drive circuit. The driving waveform is isolated and sent out by photo-coupler 6N137. The protection circuit is realized by Hall sensor directly detecting the main circuit current, supplemented by a few components, including diodes, resistors, capacitors and triodes. It improves the reliability of the protection circuit.

In the driving circuit, the phase difference of signals from two channels are 180°. Moreover, when the duty cycle is set at 40%, it can ensure sufficient pulse width modulation response time. In the protection circuit, when over-current occurs, an intermittent output signal is automatically sent out. Furthermore, the over-current response time can be controlled independently. The peak voltage can be adjusted continuously from 0 to 30 kV with its frequency from 8 to 25 kHz and the power output up to 150 W.

The novel circuit of driving and protection makes not only its structure simpler and easier to be realized but also key parameters, such as frequency, the duty cycle and the driving voltage, continuously adjustable. Moreover, the power supply is suitable for other discharges such as corona discharge and jet discharge.

Because of the logic delay in the converter, the minimum turn on time of the switch is influenced by the constant time. When the inductor current gets to the threshold of the chip, the control signal will delay for a period. This makes the inductor current rising with the increasing of the clock and leads to the load current out of control. Thus, this paper aims to design an oscillator with a variable frequency protection function.

This paper presents an oscillator with the reducing frequency applied in the DC-DC converter. When the converter works normally, the operating frequency of the oscillator is 1.5 MHz. So the inductor current has enough time to decay and prevent the power transistor damaging. After the abnormal condition, the converter returns to the normal operating mode automatically.

Based on 0.5 µm CMOS process, simulated by the HSPICE, the simulation results shows that the frequency of the oscillator linearly decreases from 1.5 MHz to 380 KHz when the feedback voltage less than 0.2 V. The maximum deviation of the oscillator frequency is only 6 per cent from −50°C to 125°C within the power supply voltage of 2.7-5.5 V.

When the light load occurs at the output stage, the oscillator frequency will decrease as the load voltage drops. The test results shows that when the circuit works in the normal condition, the oscillator frequency is 1.5 MHz. When the load decreased, the operating frequency is dropped dramatically.

This study aims to prevent occupational accidents occurring in the manufacturing industry by means of touch sensors. When the occupational accidents occurring in the manufacturing industry around the world are examined, it is seen that approximately 88% of occupational accidents occur from “dangerous movement” and 10% from “dangerous situation.” Although some studies related to safety culture studies, safety studies in design and collective or personal protective measures have been started, they have not been brought to an adequate level. It is observed that studies on dangerous movements continue even in many developed countries. In this study, first of all, a literature study was conducted. Occupational accidents experienced in the manufacturing sector in Turkey have been examined. In line with these investigations, a prototype circuit protection system has been developed that can prevent accidents caused by dangerous movement. With the circuit, its applicability and effectiveness were measured by conducting experiments on different manufacturing machines. The prototype circuit applied in this paper was made based on the logic of protective measures made on sawstop machines used in different sectors. In the experimental study conducted, it was observed that in 30 experiments conducted with a prototype on ten separate manufacturing machines, it stopped the machines 26 times at minimum and 29 times at maximum. On average, when looking at the system efficiency values, it was seen that the system was 81.6% effective, and it was observed that positive results could be obtained when converted into a real product.

In this study, their contribution to the prevention of work accidents caused by presses and rotary accents from machines used in the manufacturing industry by means of touch sensors used in Industry 4.0 was examined.

With Industry 4.0, different automation systems began to be switched in many areas and sectors. Studies have started on different sensors used also in Industry 4.0 in occupational health and safety studies, but it is seen that they have not been applied at an adequate level. It should be designed in such a way as to prevent errors or stop these errors in the studies performed. Today, sensors are produced at much lower costs than before. In addition, the constantly developing technology provides great convenience for these applications.

This study was applied for press and cylinder machines from manufacturing machines. This study has been tried for machines producing a maximum pressure of 300 tons.

A prototype was designed. Trials were done on some machines by prototype. There could be improve and find different solutions for safety problems in the industry with this perspective.

DESIGN MTBF's under military airborne conditions are up to 10 times greater than those of present operational equipment. Reliability is enhanced through use of all solid‐state design whenever possible, electronic tuning and switching, a high reliability parts programme and application of multilayer and microelectronic circuits. Modular construction and planar functional packaging are employed. All units meet or exceed MIL‐E‐5400, class IX environmental requirements and are made by the Collins Radio Co.

The paper aims to substantiate optimization directions of resettable fuses parameters to protect solar arrays from overcurrent.

The method of modeling the electrophysical characteristics of resettable fuses is used.

Resettable fuses currently produced are of little use for protecting photovoltaic cells (PVC) in solar arrays from overcurrent. The volume fraction of the conductive filler should be about 0.15, near the percolation threshold. Thus, reducing the resistance by increasing the amount of filler is not possible. The matrix of the composite should consist of a material with a significant proportion of the crystalline phase to ensure a sharp increase in the composite's volume near the melting point. Using a polymer with a lower melting point instead of polyethylene can reduce the power required to switch a resettable fuses.

The possibility of using resettable fuses based on polymer composite materials with a positive temperature coefficient of resistance to protect photovoltaic solar cells from current overloads is considered. Modeling of the electrophysical characteristics of modern industrial fuses of this type based on polyethylene-nanocarbon composites has been carried out. The limits of their applicability for the protection of photovoltaic solar cells are analyzed. On the basis of the obtained results, the optimization directions of the resettable fuses parameters for use in the protection circuits of PVC of solar array are determined.

ADVANCED GENERATOR TECHNOLOGICAL CONCEPTS by the Westinghouse Aerospace electrical division in joint development with Sundstrand Aviation offer dramatic improvements in electrical power system weight and reliability.

Votage source converter (VSC) based or current source converter (CSC) based shunt active power filter (SAPF)? It is the main question in harmonic elimination project using SAPF.This paper presents some criteria based on which the designer can decide which type of filter is more suitable for implementation of the project according to the nature and characteristics of the project.

Owing to the importance of cost and power losses criteria, relevant equations will be formulated and comparative analysis will be carried out between conventional structures based on CSC or VSC. For validation of analyses, simulation results have been studied in the MATLAB–SIMULINK environment.

Simulation results have examined two important criteria of power losses and costs. Although the results show the superiority of VSSAPF to CSSAPF in both criteria, this comparison is performed in a general and conventional condition. Using third-order filters of inductive-capacitive-inductive (LCL) type in VSSAPF, using insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) with reverse-voltage blocking ability in CSSAPF, which eliminates the need to use series diodes, and the use of superconducting technology in the DC-side endpoint in CSSAPF, not only reduce the difference of cost and losses in two schemes but also may lead to the lower costs and losses in CSSAPF than VSSAPF.

This paper is the result of many years working on active power filter and can be useful for engineers who are engaged in industrial projects.

Because of the inconvenience and inflexibility of the laser controller, the applied range of optogenetics is limited. This paper aims to present the design of a portable remote-controlled laser controller system, including the remote-controlled system and the laser stimulator.

The remote-controlled system is handheld, which can wirelessly adjust the power and the emitting frequency of the laser by utilizing the ZigBee module.

The laser stimulator can be mounted on the animal as it is light weight (35 g) and small in size (40 × 40 × 20 mm), and its power and frequency can be appropriately adjusted by changing the current amplitude and duty radio. In the end, the experiments verify the reliability and effectiveness of the laser controller.

In virtue of the modular design of the driven circuit and the reasonable layout, the whole system has the advantages of small volume, convenient control and high stability, which provide the convenience for the development of portable optogenetics animal robot experiment and has broad market prospects.

Previous articles in this series have mentioned some TV cameras costing £200 and others costing £2000 plus. The reader may well wonder at the difference in price.