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The goal of an automatic monitoring system of partial discharges (PDs), based on acoustic emission (AE) detection, is the identification of the type of source of PD and its localization. In the event that multiple deterioration processes are present in the electrical equipment, more than one PD source may be active and their AE signals may overlap on the sensors. This overlapping effect modifies the temporal and frequency characteristics of the measured signals compared to the characteristics of the signals from a single PD source and thus, automatic classification becomes very difficult. In this paper we have proposed applying blind signal separation (BSS) techniques to recover the signals from each source, therefore separating each temporal and frequency characteristic. We have tested the proposed algorithm: firstly using synthetic mixed signals from two types of PD sources and secondly using real signals from a test bench specifically designed to control the position, time and amplitude of the AEs.Index Terms -Partial discharge, acoustic emission, blind signal separation, wavelet transform, on-site PD measurement.

A multichannel interferometric system is proposed for the ultrasonic detection of partial discharges using intrinsic optical fibre sensors that may be immersed in oil. It is based on a heterodyne scheme which drives at least four sensor heads in order to localize the source of the acoustic emissions. Proper design of the sensing head improves its sensitivity through magnification and reaches a compact encapsulated probe able to be installed within power transformers. The optoelectronic implementation and the experimental tests are presented to optimize the resolution (4 channels—4 mrad). In addition, the results of ultrasound measurements at 150 kHz with an optical fibre sensor immersed in water in an acoustic test bench are shown, in which a resolution better than 10 Pa was obtained. Finally, the set-up for three-phase power transformers is demonstrated and characterized to detect and locate the source of acoustic emissions.

Cell functions and behavior are regulated not only by soluble (biochemical) signals but also by biophysical and mechanical cues within the cells’ microenvironment. Thanks to the dynamical and complex cell machinery, cells are genuine and effective mechanotransducers translating mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals, which eventually alter multiple aspects of their own homeostasis. Given the dominant and classic biochemical-based views to explain biological processes, it could be challenging to elucidate the key role that mechanical parameters such as vibration, frequency, and force play in biology. Gaining a better understanding of how mechanical stimuli (and their mechanical parameters associated) affect biological outcomes relies partially on the availability of experimental tools that may allow researchers to alter mechanically the cell’s microenvironment and observe cell responses. Here, we introduce a new device to study in vitro responses of cells to dynamic mechanical stimulation using a piezoelectric membrane. Using this device, we can flexibly change the parameters of the dynamic mechanical stimulation (frequency, amplitude, and duration of the stimuli), which increases the possibility to study the cell behavior under different mechanical excitations. We report on the design and implementation of such device and the characterization of its dynamic mechanical properties. By using this device, we have performed a preliminary study on the effect of dynamic mechanical stimulation in a cell monolayer of an epidermal cell line (HaCaT) studying the effects of 1 Hz and 80 Hz excitation frequencies (in the dynamic stimuli) on HaCaT cell migration, proliferation, and morphology. Our preliminary results indicate that the response of HaCaT is dependent on the frequency of stimulation. The device is economic, easily replicated in other laboratories and can support research for a better understanding of mechanisms mediating cellular mechanotransduction.

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