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In this paper, we propose a novel technique to build a charge-balancing circuit for series-connected battery strings using various kinds of disk-type ceramic Pb(Zr ∙ Ti)O3 piezoelectric resonators (PRs). The use of PRs replaces the whole external battery voltage-balancer circuit, which consists mainly of a bulky magnetic element. The proposed technique is validated using different ceramic PRs and the results are analyzed in terms of their physical properties. A series-connected battery string with a voltage rating of 61.5 V is set as a hardware prototype under test, then the power transfer efficiency of the system is measured at different imbalance voltages. The performance of the proposed battery voltage-balancer circuit employed with a PR is also validated through hardware implementation. Furthermore, the temperature distribution image of the PR is obtained to compare power transfer efficiency and thermal stress under different operating conditions. The test results show that the battery voltage-balancer circuit can be successfully implemented using PRs with the maximum power conversion efficiency of over 96% for energy storage systems.

Various crop spacing methods have been implemented so far for the greenhouse and plant factory applications. However, there is no generally accepted parameter for evaluation of plant spacing efficiency in plant production system. In this study, 'Planted Area Index' (PAI) of a spacing method is defined as the ratio of the planted area in the field to required planted area using the spacing method when no transplanting operation is assumed. Three common types of spacing methods for plane placement of the plants were modeled mathematically. For calculating the planted area, an optimal growth radius function (R(t)) is needed. Function of the days after transplanting stage gives a radius of an optimal circle area for the living plants. A computer simulation was developed to calculate the PAI, based on three crop spacing methods and four optimal growth radius functions. In general, the 1-D zigzag spacing showed the best PAI. Moreover, it gives an example on how to apply the PAI for the design.

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