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Laser metal deposition (LMD) is an additive manufacturing process in which a metal powder or wire is added to a laser-induced molten pool. This localized deposition of material is used for the manufacturing, modification, and repair of a wide range of metal components. The use of wire as feedstock offers various advantages over the use of powder in terms of the contamination of the process environment, the material utilization rate, the ease of handling, and the material price. However, to achieve a stable process as well as defined geometrical and microstructural properties over many layers, precise knowledge on the effects of the input variables of the process on the resulting deposition characteristics is required. In this work, the melt pool temperature was used as an input parameter in LMD with coaxial wire feeding of stainless steel, which was made possible through the use of a dedicated closed-loop control system based on pyrometry. Initially, a temperature range was determined for different process conditions in which a stable deposition was obtained. Within this range, the cause-effect relationships between the melt pool temperature and the resulting geometry as well as the material properties were investigated for individual weld beads. It was found that the melt pool temperature is positively correlated with the width of the weld bead as well as the dilution. In addition, a dependence of the microhardness distribution over the cross section of a weld bead on the melt pool temperature was demonstrated, with an increased temperature negatively affecting the hardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent increase in ailments has increased the demand for diagnosis and surgery based on X-rays. An X-ray system using a filament-type tube heats the filament for operation, and the electrons emitted by the thermal energy during this process produce X-rays. Conventionally, current control-based methods are used to regulate heating. However, these methods do not control the temperature of the filament, resulting in lower or higher output than the desired dose rate. Therefore, we propose a filament temperature control method that enables constant temperature control, which cannot be achieved using the existing heating method for X-ray systems with filament tubes. Additionally, we developed an indirect temperature estimation algorithm for the tungsten filament to incorporate the proposed method. To validate the tube current control through temperature control, we performed experiments to compare the existing current-controlled heating and temperature control methods in terms of the filament temperature. As the tube current is proportional to the dose rate, it was measured through a comparative analysis of the change in the output of dose rate over time. The obtained results validate that the proposed method can maintain both the filament temperature and tube current at the desired level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we propose a temperature-based proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controlling algorithm using highly dense fiber Bragg grating (FBG) arrays for laser ablation (LA) of ex vivo pancreatic tissues. Custom-made highly dense FBG arrays with a spatial resolution of 1.2 mm were fabricated with the femtosecond point-by-point writing technology and optimized for LA applications. In order to obtain proper PID gain values, finite element method-based iterative simulation of different PID gains was performed. Then, the proposed algorithm, with numerically derived PID gains, was experimentally validated. In the experiments, the point temperature was controlled at different distances from the laser fiber tip (6.0, 7.2, 8.4, and 10.8 mm). The obtained results report robust controlling and correlation between controlled distance and the resulting area of ablation. The results of the work encourage further investigation of FBG array application for LA control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature variations during microwave freeze-drying (MFD) of carrot slices and how closed-loop temperature control (CLT) improved such variations were investigated. The carrot slices were dried to a final moisture content of 6% with a terminal temperature of 40°C using 100-watt microwave power under 100-Pa vacuum pressure. The results showed that the MFD process consisted of two phases, viz. sublimation and desorption drying. In the sublimation drying phase, ice, due to its low dielectric permittivity, absorbed little microwave energy. This caused a slow rising of temperature of carrot slices at the early stage of drying. After the moisture decreased below 45%, the sample temperature increased sharply until it reached the temperature of the chamber, indicating the onset of desorption drying phase. In this phase, the sample temperature rose faster than that in the sublimation phase. Without CLT, the temperature of carrot slices varied by 25°C in the desorption drying phase of MFD. After applying CLT to the MFD process, the variation in temperature of the carrot slices was reduced to 11°C, equivalent to a temperature control improvement of 56%. The MFD with CLT system also significantly reduced the drying time and energy consumption by 35-40%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent increase in ailments has increased the demand for diagnosis and surgery based on X-rays. An X-ray system using a filament-type tube heats the filament for operation, and the electrons emitted by the thermal energy during this process produce X-rays. Conventionally, current control-based methods are used to regulate heating. However, these methods do not control the temperature of the filament, resulting in lower or higher output than the desired dose rate. Therefore, we propose a filament temperature control method that enables constant temperature control, which cannot be achieved using the existing heating method for X-ray systems with filament tubes. Additionally, we developed an indirect temperature estimation algorithm for the tungsten filament to incorporate the proposed method. To validate the tube current control through temperature control, we performed experiments to compare the existing current-controlled heating and temperature control methods in terms of the filament temperature. As the tube current is proportional to the dose rate, it was measured through a comparative analysis of the change in the output of dose rate over time. The obtained results validate that the proposed method can maintain both the filament temperature and tube current at the desired level.

This article presents the development of an implanted artificial urethral valve that is used for the treatment of urinary incontinence, with emphasis on a transcutaneous power transmission system with closed-loop thermal control function. The valve uses a shape memory alloy (SMA) plate as the actuator, which is activated with batteries placed outside a patient's body using a transcutaneous power transmission system. The power transmission system is equipped with an implanted temperature monitor circuit and a temperature controller to prevent the SMA actuator from being overheated during a prolonged urination. Laboratory experiments and animal experiments, both in vitro and in vivo, show that the developed power transmission system can successfully control the temperature of the SMA actuator to activate the valve without excessive heating of the SMA actuator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser ablation (LA) of cancer is a minimally invasive technique based on targeted heat release. Controlling tissue temperature during LA is crucial to achieve the desired therapeutic effect in the organs while preserving the healthy tissue around. Here, we report the design and implementation of a real-time monitoring system performing closed-loop temperature control, based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) spatial measurements. Highly dense FBG arrays (1.19 mm length, 0.01 mm edge-to-edge distance) were inscribed in polyimide-coated fibers using the femtosecond point-by-point writing technology to obtain the spatial resolution needed for accurate reconstruction of high-gradient temperature profiles during LA. The zone control strategy was implemented such that the temperature in the laser-irradiated area was maintained at specific set values (43 and 55 °C), in correspondence to specific radii (2 and 6 mm) of the targeted zone. The developed control system was assessed in terms of measured temperature maps during an ex vivo liver LA. Results suggest that the temperature-feedback system provides several advantages, including controlling the margins of the ablated zone and keeping the maximum temperature below the critical values. Our strategy and resulting analysis go beyond the state-of-the-art LA regulation techniques, encouraging further investigation in the identification of the optimal control-loop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]