Haruo Amari

A virtual reality application for software visualization

Since a power network control system constitutes a large-scale computer network, intricate functions of software such as processing synchronization and data transmission among the constituent computers are required for improvement of system performance and efficiency. Methods for the support of overall large-scale system design are still scarce. Conventional text-oriented tools are insufficient to design, construct, and maintain large and complicated systems. As a means for solving this problem, an analytical method has been designed based on computer graphics visualization of static structural data and execution trace data of a software applications functional units. Prototyping tools for the development of software, enabling the direct manipulation of graphical elements through user-machine interfaces based on virtual reality technology, have been developed.<<ETX>>

A study on visualization of control software design

Virtual environment for software visualization are discussed. Visual representation plays an important role in coordinating or managing large scale system developments. First, the problem of software design for large scale control systems such as the control system for the distribution of regional electric power is discussed from a “needs” point of view. It is emphasized that the conventional methodology is no longer sufficient for recent large and complex computer system designs. Second, the use of visualization technology is introduced as a solution to the software crisis mentioned above. A method of mapping from an originally logical representation into a visual representation is proposed. Finally, implementation of the idea is discussed from a “seeds” point of view. By using this so called “virtual environment” technology, we could develop a non-text based programming environment.

Wet Steam Flowrate Calibration Facility

Newly developed wet steam flowrate calibration facility is introduced. It has a closed loop in which boilers generate a steam flow up to 800 kg/h. Steam flow of known wetness up to 12% is generated by cooling down a dry steam flow by a heat exchanger. The wetness is calculated from the enthalpy the heat exchanger draws from the dry steam flow. Analysis of the facility performance, calibration results of an orifice flowmeter calibration, and uncertainty analysis are described.Copyright

Clarification of Measurement Error of Orifice Flow Meter in Wet Steam Flow

It is well known that the wetness of steam flow sometimes causes measurement errors of the steam flow meter. However, it is difficult to clarify a particular error quantitatively in actual plants and factories, and thus far, there has been no established method for estimating the error caused by the wetness of steam flow. Therefore, wet steam flow rate measurement experiments were conducted to clarify the measurement error caused by the wetness of steam flow in a plant and a factory. In this study, as the first step, the orifice flow meter was applied because it is the main flow meter in actual plants. Experiments were conducted with the steam flow apparatus by changing the flow rate, pressure and wetness. As a result, the correlation between the measurement error and the flow condition was clarified. Moreover, for the correction of the error, a new correction method was applied and was confirmed to be better than existing methods now being used.Copyright

Application Study of a Heat Pump Producing High Temperature and High Pressure Water for an Industrial Drying Process

This paper reports application study of newly developed turbo heat pump for 130 °C water for an industrial process in an actual factory. The heat pump is characterized by high efficiency and large heat output, by using a state-of-the-art turbo compressor. The heat pump requires a low temperature heat source. The heat demand is for several drying furnaces in the factory, which requires producing hot air of 120 °C. The heat exchanger was designed to produce the hot air. Experiments were conducted to confirm the performance of the heat exchanger with a reduced size of the heat exchanger. Low temperature heat sources are from both exhaust gas of the drying and annealing furnaces. The heat exchangers were also designed to recover heat of the exhaust gas. As a result, it was confirmed that the heat pump was able to satisfy the present heat demand while retaining high efficiency.

Application Study of Newly Developed Turbo Heat Pump for 130 Degrees Celsius Water for an Industrial Process

This paper reports application study of newly developed turbo heat pump for 130 degrees Celsius (°C) water for an industrial process in an actual factory. The heat pump is characterized by high efficiency and large heat output, by using a state-of-the-art turbo compressor. The heat pump requires a low temperature heat source in order to achieve high efficiency. The heat demand is for several drying furnaces in the factory, which requires producing hot air of 120 °C. The heat exchanger was designed to produce the hot air. Experiments were conducted to confirm the performance of the heat exchanger under a reduced size of the heat exchanger. Low temperature heat sources are from both exhaust gas of the drying furnaces and that of an annealing furnace. The heat exchangers were also designed to recover heat of the exhaust gas from the two types of furnace. A thermal storage tank was prepared for the low temperature heat source, and for adjusting the time difference between the heat demand and the low temperature heat source. The size of the tank was determined by considering the schedule of furnaces operations. As a result of the present study, it was confirmed that the heat pump was able to satisfy the present heat demand while retaining high efficiency. Primary energy consumption and CO2 emission of the heat pump were calculated on the basis of the present results in order to compare them with those of the boilers.Copyright