In this work the reliability of a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) microphone is studied through two accelerated life tests, mixed flowing gas (MFG) testing and shock impact testing. The objective is to identify the associated failure mechanisms and improve the reliability of MEMS devices. Failure analyses are carried out by using various tools, such as optical microscopy, scanning elect...

We report damage threshold measurements of novel absorbers comprised of either liquid-cooled silicon carbide or vitreous carbon foams. The measurements demonstrate damage thresholds up to 1.6x10(4) W/cm(2) at an incident circular spot size of 2 mm with an absorbance of 96% at 1.064 microm. We present a summary of the damage threshold as a function of the water flow velocity and the absorbance m...

Erosion by flowing water is one of the major forces shaping the surface of Earth. Studies in the last decade have shown, in particular, that the drainage region of rivers, where water is collected, exhibits scale invariant features characterized by exponents that are the same for rivers around the world. Here we show that from the data obtained by the MOLA altimeter of the Mars Global Surveyor ...

Liquisolid technique is a new and promising method that can change the dissolution rate of water insoluble drugs. According to the new formulation method of liquisolid compacts, liquid medications such as solutions or suspensions of water insoluble drugs in suitable non-volatile liquid vehicles can be converted into acceptably flowing and compressible powders by blending with selected powder ex...

Some marvel at these massive structures as engineering wonders that provide inestimable public benefit – things like flood control, water supply, hydroelectric power, improved navigation and water recreation. Yet others don’t share this appreciation and have doubts about the ability of humankind to effectively harness nature, particularly the power of the world’s mighty rivers. They decry the d...

Firefighting activities regarding buildings normally require electric power to be disconnected before a water jet is used, in order to minimize the risk of electrocution. As for as concerns Photovoltaic Systems, during a fire event it is not possible to turn off the whole power system in order to guarantee that all the components are de-energized. The object of this paper is to estimate the saf...

With the increasing installed capacity of desalination, the greenhouse gas emission for generating the required energy to power the desalination plants is also becoming the focus of attention in the world community. Domestic reverse osmosis membranes have been very successful technology especially in the developing world to provide safe drinking water. The novel concept of photovoltaic powered ...

This paper introduces the functioning principle as well as dimensioning elements of a new active solar heating system using air as heat carrier. The air is heated in flat-plate collectors and then circulated through the building walls having circulation “hollows”. The heat storage function is performed by a rockbed storage unit. The solar collectors have water-air double service and supply the ...

direct contact membrane distillation (dcmd) which emerges as an alternative separation technology can effectively perform a colloidal separation process under thermal driven force. dcmd is capable of extracting pure water from aqueous solutions containing non-volatile nanoparticles through the hydrophobic microporous membrane when a vapour pressure difference was established across the membrane...