A compact electrostatic coalescer which enables the online separation of water from crude oils has been developed. Fundamentals of the coalescence process as functions of various parameters such as excitation frequency, voltage, oil flow rate, etc are studied.
This project is concerned with methods of developing high-integrity solutions to enterprise-level problems. The results will be integrated with the tools and techniques being developed at IBM UK Laboratories for e-business solutions built on Enterprise Java Beans.
The objective of this programme is:
1. to increase the uptake of formal modelling in the business critical systems industry. We plan to achieve this by:
2. lowering the cost of entry and 3. increasing the benefits of using formal modelling. We will be able to:
4. lower the cost by building a repository of generic models of systems and components; 5. increase the benefits by making verification and validation of critical systems available to real system architects; 6. lower the cost and increase the benefits by providing automated tool support. The focus is on support of system definition and architectural design so that the systems integrator can more easily model systems and validate proposed system architectures
The objective of PUSSEE is to introduce the formal proof of system properties throughout a modular system design methodology that integrates sub-systems co-verification with system refinement and reusability of virtual system components. This will be done by combining the UML and B languages to allow the verification of system specifications through the composition of proven sub-systems (in particular interfaces, using the VSIA/SLIF standard). The link of B with C, VHDL and SystemC will extend the correct-by-construction design process to lower system-on-chip (SoC) development stages. Prototype tools will be developed for the code generation from UML and B, and existing B verification tools will be extended to support IP reuse, according to the VSI Alliance work. The methodology and tools will be validated through the development of three industrial applications: a wireless mobile terminal, an IP encryption module for secure data transmission through internet and a network management module for automobiles.
The MATISSE project is developing industrial strength methodologies and associated technologies for the engineering of software-based critical systems. These methodologies and technologies will support industry in providing essential services for the information society of the Third Millennium that are highly dependable. The work programme is based on three major industrial case studies representing a spectrum of the essential services for the information society :- an embedded verifier for a smartcard system; a railway signalling and control system and a diagnostic system for healthcare clinicians and researchers. MATISSE will provide :- guidelines that allow formal methods to be integrated into existing systems engineering lifecycles so that higher degrees of safety and reliability can be achieved; methodologies that expand the range of application of these formal methods and enhancements to technologies associated with these formal methods.
This project involves the application of confocal Raman microscopy to the study of ageing effects in polymeric materials. The work involves three elements: a study of the relationships between the optical characteristics of the sample material and the confocal sampling process; the use of Raman microscopy as a analytical tool for the study of defect structures (voids, trees, corona discharge etc) in dielectrics; an investigation of the chemical changes that occur during exposure to high electric fields.
Although much is known, phenomenologically, about the electrostatic charging behaviour of insulator surfaces, many fundamental aspects of the process remain unclear. In this study we are applying two complementary techniques to study the charging/discharging behaviour of model insulator surfaces - size effects are of particular interest.
It is well known that mechanical forces can impact upon dielectric breakdown behaviour. In this project we are examining a range of issues associated with thermo-mechanical processes in high voltage cable insulation, and related model systems.
This project is concerned with the association of small molecular penetrants with polymeric systems. A range of techniques are being used to study the migration of small molecules through systems that are relevant to high voltage cables systems. Much of our current interest centres on the use of dilute solution techniques to provide fundamental thermodynamic parameters and the effect of ageing on these.
The project is examining the use of expertise finders and capability mangers within manufcaturing industries. The main challenges of the work are:
Methodologies for collecting information regarding skills and competencies through mining documents
Understanding the social requirements of such a system
Development examplar tools to help users locate the required expertise