Optimum routing of a sailing wind farm

To acquire the wind energy of the oceans, a sailing wind farm has been proposed. The wind farm considered is composed of a semisubmersible floating structure, 11 windmills, four sails, six thrusters, and storage for hydrogen. To maximize the acquired energy, an effective algorithm to search for optimum routes was developed. The algorithm is based on the fact that beam winds yield a maximum of acquired energy. This feature reduces the computation time, and, consequently, efficient route optimization becomes possible in a reasonable time. After setting an operational area for the wind farm, navigation simulations for a 1-year period were carried out. A numerical weather forecast was used as well as the responses of the floating structure, such as the speed of the structure, the output power of the windmills, and the time of course changes. In the simulation, the wind farm evades rough seas to avoid structural damage, and an optimum route is searched for. The capacity factor of the system was used to evaluate the efficiency of the optimized routes. From the simulations, the maximum capacity factor achieved was 42.6%. The dependency of the capacity factor on the initial position of the wind farm was also examined. It was shown that offshore from Sanriku in northeastern Japan is an area suited to the operation of the wind farm. The effect of the initial position on consecutive periods of operation is discussed.     

变轨距列车用电动机的开发

我们为变轨距列车研制了2种牵引电动机.一种是直接驱动的永磁同步电动机,另一种是传统的万向轴驱动的异步电动机.对这2种电动机进行了试验,取得了良好的结果.在美国对变轨距列车的高速耐久性运行试验进行了约2年.在运行试验中,电动机没有发生任何故障.运行试验后进行的解体检查也表明电动机没有任何损伤.     

Design system for optimum contra-rotating propellers

A new type of contrarotating propeller (CRP) system has been developed through the cooperative research work of five shipbuilding companies in Japan (Hitachi Zosen Corporation; Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.; Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.; NKK Corporation; and Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.). This paper describes a design system for an optimum CRP, which is one of the numerous outcomes of this work. The optimum design system is composed of three theoretical programs: (1) the design program of the optimum CRP; (2) the steady lifting surface program of the CRP; (3) the unsteady lifting surface program of the CRP. These theoretical programs will be discussed in the first part of the paper, and the design system supported by these theoretical programs will then be verified by comparing calculated and experimental results.Translation of an article that appeared in the Journal of The Society of Naval Architects of Japan, vol. 180 (1996): The original article won the SNAJ prize, which is awarded annually to the best papers selected from the SNAJ Journal, JMST, or other quality journals in the field of naval architecture and ocean engineering.     

Basic studies on accuracy management systems based on estimating welding deformations

Accuracy management concerns various aspects of all assembly industries, e.g., final product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and manufacturing costs. In the near future, accuracy management will be even more important in manufacturing systems because of mechanization and automation. This paper considers the concept of computer-aided accuracy management systems, which are based on the concept of integrated manufacturing systems. We propose two management systems, accuracy planning and accuracy estimation, and concentrate on accuracy planning. A model of welding deformations and an easy estimation method for such deformations by computer analysis using the finite element method (FEM) are described. A prototype system based on the accuracy management concept was implemented in the authors' integrated manufacturing systems, and some examples of estimating welding deformations are given here. Translation of an article that appeared in the Journal of The Society of Naval Architects of Japan, vol. 181 (1997): The original article won the SNAJ prize, which is awarded annually to the best papers selected from the SNAJ Journal, JMST, or other quality journals in the field of naval architecture and ocean engineering.     

Course Tracking Control Algorithm Using Visual Information

Automatic steering control algorithm has been proposed, which uses the motion of objects in a visual image (Optical Flow) obtained from an ITV camera looking ahead in the situation without forward vehicles. This algorithm is improved to be applicable to the situation in which the forward tracking course is invisible owing to the interfarence of the forward vehicles. The adjustment of the control parameters against the change in vehicle speed is confirmed by the computer simulation experiments.     

Causality of future and spot grain prices between China and the US: Evidence from soybean and corn markets against the surging import pressure

As the boom of the world grain market phases out, the challenge for Chinese government has gradually moved from retarding grain exports to restraining imports. This study tries to examine the causalities of soybean and corn price movement among the United States (US) future market, Chinese domestic future market and Chinese spot markets. We find that the daily prices of all these three types of grains belong to I(1) series, and there are long-run integrations. Also Chinese soybean future prices adjust more quickly than its spot prices, while Chinese corn future prices adjust slower. This paper finds that the soybean price movement originates from the US future market, then passes through Chinese future market, and finally reaches Chinese spot market, while the corn price movement starts in Chinese spot market, then spreads to the future markets in both China and the US. Finally, this paper also provides some policy implications on how to release the pressure from the grain imports.     

Studies on the block positioning metrics system for the hull erection stage

In ship hull production, the accuracy of management activities is extremely important. The block positioning operation in the erection stage is a key process in such management. The quality of the block positioning determines not only the accuracy of the final hull, but also the productivity and cost at the erection stage. We have previously proposed the basic concepts of computer-aided accuracy management. Accuracy management activities consist of "accuracy planning activities" and "accuracy measurement activities." Accuracy measurement activities involve checking and coping with inaccuracy. We have also proposed a system of accuracy measurement metrics: one is accuracy for completion (e.g., straightness, flatness), and the other is accuracy for construction (e.g., the relative joint shapes of each part). This paper explains the detailed accuracy metrics for a block positioning operation in the erection stage. The quality of the block positioning operation is estimated by this system: the accuracy of the completed hull can be evaluated by the concept of tolerance, and the accuracy of the construction process can be evaluated by the concept of labor costs. The prototype of this accuracy metrics system is then implemented. This metrics system is combined with the optimization software program iSIGHT to decide the best block positioning process. Then some examples of the block position optimizing process are shown. Received: November 2, 2001 / Accepted: December 6, 2001     

M250系直流货运电动车组的开发

简单介绍了M250系直流货运电动车组的开发情况,阐述了车体、转向架、主电路、辅助电路、制动系统及监视系统等主要结构,并总结了试验结果.     

日本铁道车辆用超导变压器的开发

介绍了日本铁道车辆用超导变压器的设计研发过程、主要技术参数和定型试验.