high tech 2008

The outlook for Latvian technology “High Tech in Latvia 2008” is řnancially supported by Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia.www.izm.gov.lv

Editorial BoardPēteris Reihmanis, LTP

Laila Eliņa, LTP

Publisher

Latvia Technology Park

www.ltp.lv

In Cooperation withRiga Technical University

Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre

www.rtu.lv

Designed and Printed by

Publishing House AGB

K. Barona iela 31, Riga

LV-1011, Latvia

High Tech in Latvia

Chemistry & BiotechnologySoft Plastics/Polyurethane (PUR) Products, Innovative frolexus Bed Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Siliceous Lignin Soil Amendments for Organic Farming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2New Functional Food Product Containing Omega-3 and Inulin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3New Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Scale-Up Laboratory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

New Materials & ProcessesMethod and Device for Automatic Quality Control of Joints Achieved by Spot Resistance Microwelding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Plastificator of Humin Substances for Cement Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5High Voltage Plasma “Hydraulic Laser” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Humin Substances Additives to Clay Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Control of the Micro Welds Quality by Stabilization the Interelectrode Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Single Tree Forest Inventory Using LIDAR Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Self-Binding Wood Boards and Substitution of Wood Adhesives by Steam Explosion Lignin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Highly Workable Fiber Concretes with High Tensile Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Sheet Metal Parts for Automotive and Other Industrial Companies . . . . . 9Nanosized Ceramic Powders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Plastic Bonded BaFe Permanent Magnets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Mobile Lightweight Hierarchic Cable Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Nano Dispersed Pure Ceramic and Metallic Powders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Pulsing Blood-Vessels Prosthesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Post-Consumer Material Based Multiphase Composites for Broad Range of Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Light Emitting Diodes for Violet and Near Ultraviolet Spectral Region . . . 15The research and development of new materials and technologies for holographic recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15GroGlass AR Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Activated Rubber Powder HTR-RP W-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Ion-Plasma Coatings for Protection and Reconditioning of Precision Friction Pair Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Method calculation of wear based on 3D surface characteristics . . . . . . . . . 18High-Temperature Ceramic Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Life Sciences & MedicineTextile Threads with Anti-Thrombogenic Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Digital Water Descaler – 500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Mercury Pollution Determination in Air Using Zeeman Atomic Absorption Spectrometer RA 915+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Hydrofoul Assisted Trimaran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22“DigCarbMin” – Baldones Schmidt Telescope Astroplates Digitization and Further CCD Surveys of Carbon Stars and Smaller Solar System Objects in Selected Sky Regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Portable Wireless Optical Monitor of Cardiovascular Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Real Time Wireless Transmission Technologies of Human Physiological Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24High-Potency Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Final Dosage Forms Development Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Environment Friendly TechnologiesEnergy Certification of Buildings by Total Energy Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Pyrolytic bio-oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Wood, Metal, Glass Cutting Optimization Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Digital Signal Processing Technology for Recognition of Events in Oil Pipelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27MÁDARA Ecocosmetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Integrated Airborne LIDAR and Hyperspectral Remote Sensing for Environmental Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Glass-Ceramic Composite Materials from Industrial Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28New Lignin-Based Soil Stabiliser for Sustainable Forestry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Computer Based Hydrogeological Modelling of Baltezers, Rembergi and Zakumuiza Water Supply Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30System for Background Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Co-firing of Renewable with Fossil Fuel for Clean and Effective Heat Energy Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Thin Film Coating Technology and Equipment for Solar Cells Industry . . 31

Stratifier of Solar Combisystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Digital Radiography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Monitoring of the Environment Temperature and Relative Humidity . .33Cold Jet Dry Ice Blasting Technology – the Rising Star in Industrial Cleaning Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Design, Manufacture, Installation and Maintenance of Heat Engineering Equipment and Boiler Houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Monolithic Concrete Thermo-Panels for External Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Communication & Information TechnologiesMobile SMS for Microsoft Dynamics™ NAV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36GrinS® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36TeleHelp® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36mTour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37System for Tracking Kids – ROKO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Software for Adaptive Approximation and Surrogate Modelling . . . . . . . . . 38Re-Reference System for GPS User Device Functionality Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 38GPS User Device Testing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39IVR – Interactive Voice Response System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40IVR – Interactive Voice Response System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Methodology for Computer Simulation of Complex Systems and its Implementation for Analysis and Operation Improvement of Real-World Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Wireless PKI (Mobile Signature) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42The Computer Based Exercise Generation and Evaluation System Genexis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Rapid Prototyping – New Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Power Engineering & ElectronicsTechnology to Deposit Electrical Charge on Insulator Hydrogen Affinity Surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Dynamic Model for Power Network Development Optimization . . . . . . . . . . . 44DC to DC Power Electronic Converter for Hydrogen Fuel Cell . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Alone Placed Conducting Body’s Electric Self-Capacity Measuring Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Water Fuelled Boiler System for Heat and Electricity Generation . . . . . . . . . . . 45Electromagnetic Induction Pumps for Liquid Metals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Integrated AC Drive with Matrix Converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Longitudinal Differential Protection (LDP) of High Voltage Lines . . . . . . . . . . . 47Universal Computer Modeling System for Applied Non-Stationary Problems of Aero-Gas-Thermodynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Shunt Active Power Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48SKYBRAKE DD2+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Soft Start Devices with Three-Phase Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Single Wire Electric Energy Transmission Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Acoustic Emission Monitoring of Fatigue Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Model of Bidirectional Power Flow Regulator for Traction Substations of an Electrical Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Water Waves Motion Energy Conversion Device “R .A .W .E .S .” . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Composite Material and Container for Hydrogen Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51New Method for Hydrogen Generation Using Advanced Electrolysis Technique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Novel Double Cross-linked Proton Conducting Membrane and the Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

TransportEfficiency Analysis of Transport Information Systems and Their Application in Transportation Systems Planning and Optimization . . . . . 53Transport Tasks Solution Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Technology of Aircraft Structural Health Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Electro transport sustainable control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Information Infrastructure Model for Virtual Logistics Centre to Ensure Management of Multimodal and Intermodal Transportation in International Transport Corridors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Electronic AutoCAD-Library of Standard Components for Automated Designing of Railway Signaling, Centralization and Blocking Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Leak Control Technology in Pressure Vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Folding a Wheelchair with an Electric Actuator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Folding Electric Scooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

C o n t e n t s

H i g h T e c h i n L a t v i a 2 0 0 8

Soft Plastics/Polyurethane (PUR) Products, Innovative frolexus Bed SystemsFroli is a manufacturer of high quality plastic products . Poly-

urethane (PUR) products are suitable for such spheres as

medicine, rehabilitation, as well as manufacturing . They are

characterised by their long useful life, agreeable surface feel

and hygienic advantages, making them damp resistance that

is of high importance in medicine . Products are manufac-

tured in a variety of shapes and colours, with wooden, steel

or cardboard inserts . Product range includes: arm rests/sup-

ports, leg and calf supports, head supports for chairs for the

disabled, back supports and seats, medical toilet seats and

other .

Froli is also manufacturing patented and health restoring

innovative frolexus bed systems for home, boats, as well as

rehabilitation . With the help of highly soft spring elements

frolexus bed systems individually fit to body shapes and

weight, as well as support backbone orthopaedically correct .

All bed systems are equipped with soft spring elements,

firmness of which is adjustable . frolexus bed systems are

available in various shapes and designs .

Contact person

Ketija Boitmane

Froli Baltic, Ltd . Kustes dambis 6, Ventspils, LV-3601, LatviaTel .: +371 63634500Fax: +371 63634519E-mail: froli-baltic@froli .lvhttp://www .froli .com

Siliceous Lignin Soil Amendments for Organic FarmingOrganic farming based on low input of external additives

fore sees the use of renewable resources in order to restore,

to maintain, to enhance ecological harmony and to provide

environmental quality for future generation . Organic farm-

ing is one of expanding areas in agriculture today with an

estimat ed 20% per year increase over the last years all over

the world .

Siliceous lignins/lignocelluloses, synthesized on the basis

of wood processing waste as biomimetic of soil organic

matter-clay mineral natural complex, are able at low input

to reprogram the production phases of agricultural plants,

to defend plant from stresses of different origin, to enhance

plant productivity and reproductivity, to improve quality of

plant and soil . In unfavorable climatic and other stress con-

ditions, bioregulator and bioprotector effects of siliceous

lignins become more prominent both for organic and con-

ventional agriculture .

Replicated results, obtained over the past 5 years together

with Latvian organic farms: Brivzemnieki (oats, barley, clo ver,

cabbage), Kelmini (buckwheat), Oshi (beans) and Skriveri

Agri cultural Research Institute at Latvian Agriculture Uni ver-

sity (rye, barley, clover), Agronomical Analyzes Laboratory at

Latvian Agriculture University (agricultural products quality

control), clearly showed that siliceous products at low input

(40–250 kg/ha) provided the level of crops close (or even

more) to those obtained by practice of conventional farm-

ing and contributed a lot to improvement of self-regulation

plant-soil biological system through encouragement of eco-

system autochthonous components development .

On the background of siliceous lignins, activity of soil

microflora as well as nutrient and microelements uptake

from soil and their transport into the plant are being

increased . Therefore, application of siliceous lignin products

in farming practice gives opportunity to obtain good crops

on poor and exhausted soils .

VariantHarvest,

t/haNEL*,MJ/kg

Protein,%

Fat,%

NDF*,%

ADF*,%

Control 1 .8 7 .1 12 .1 4 .8 36 .1 19 .2

Si-lignin 10 kg/ha 2 .5 8 .0 13 .1 5 .1 29 .1 9 .1

Si-lignin 40 kg/ha 3 .1 8 .1 13 .2 5 .4 23 .1 6 .3

* NEL, NDF, ADF – respectively, net energy for lactation, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fibettr

Contact person

Gaļina Teliševa

Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry

Dzērbenes street 27, Riga, LV-1006, LatviaTel .: +371 67555916Fax: +371 67550635E-mail: ligno@edi .lvhttp://www .lza .lv/scientists/telysheva .htmhttp://www .inventions .lza .lv/eng/izgudrotaji/TelisevaG .asp

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C h e m i s t r y & B i o t e c h n o l o g y

3

New Functional Food Product Containing Omega-3 and InulinThe new functional food product (FFP) with increased con-

tent of polyunsaturated fats Omega-3 and inulin, produced

by the Company “Iecavnieks”, is offered to the market . Lin-

seed oil is the richest natural source of Omega-3 (alpha-lino-

lenic acid) while Jerusalem artichoke is a well known inulin

source . The new FFP is a blend of linseed cake and Jerusalem

artichoke concentrate (10%) . The chemical composition (%,

DW) of the components and blend is shown in Table .

Carbohydrates Proteins Fats Inulin

Jerusalem artichoke concentrate

66 .48 17 .12 2 .23 47 .50–49 .50

Linseed cake 25 .29 36 .52 21 .94 –

FFP 27 .50 31 .85 25 .52 6 .95

The hemoinformatic method was used to study the

influence of FFP on white male rats . It was shown that

hematogenesis was stimulated in bone marrow; the metab-

olism of lipids was positively influenced by lowering the

cholesterol and LDL levels and increasing the HDL level; the

unspecific and specific immunity of T and B cells was

stimulated .

Contact person

Māra Grūbe

University of LatviaInstitute of Microbiology & Biotechnology

Kronvalda blvd . 4, Riga, LV-1586, LatviaTel .: + 371 67034886Fax: + 371 67034885E-mail: grube@lu .lv

New Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Scale-Up LaboratoryOn the 19th of June, 2007 Joint Stock Company Grindeks

unveiled the new Active pharmaceutical ingredient scale-up

laboratory that is the only laboratory of this kind in the

Baltic States and one of the some in Eastern Europe .

The laboratory is an intermediate stage between creation

of pharmaceutical substances at the research laboratory and

industrial production of these substances . The influence of

an increasing synthesis scale on the quality of pharmaceuti-

cal product is modeled and analyzed at the laboratory . The

laboratory is used to particularize technologies and proce-

dures thereof . The acquired information is used in the stage

of synthesis of compounds for clinical trials and for indus-

trial synthesis later on . The new laboratory is universal, as

several different substance synthesis processes may be tested

in this laboratory .

The analytical part of laboratory is certified according to

GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) standards confirming that

the work organization of the new laboratory corresponds to

the highest laboratory standards in the world, thus, the

results of chemical analyses performed at the laboratory are

recognized in the whole European Union .

Laboratory project was developed within five years time .

It was a Custom Made project, as its concept was developed

by Grindeks, based on market trend analysis and its future

visions . 3 .2 million lats were invested in the realization of the

project . Within the frameworks of the project additional

funding from EU European Regional Development Fund

amounting 1 .5 million lats was attracted .

Contact person

Vitalijs Skrivelis

Grindeks, JSC Krustpils street 53, Riga, LV-1057, LatviaTel .: +371 67083 227, + 371 67083 220Fax: +371 67083 505E-mail: vitalijs .skrivelis@grindeks .lvhttp://www .grindeks .lv

4


Method and Device for Automatic Quality Control of Joints Achieved by Spot Resistance MicroweldingThe original method and device for automatic control of

joints achieved by spot resistance microwelding is offered .

The method is based onto the measurement of final settling

value . It was established and verified experimentally, that it

could be one of the most acceptable parameter of control

at resistance microwelding because settling value well cor-

relates with joint quality and is safely (and easily in com-

parison with electrical parameters, for example) registered at

the same time .

The proposed device of welding joints automatic quality

control contains the following basic structural elements:

displacement transducer, measuring circuit, levels classifier

and control circuit . During control the signal, proportional

to a settling, enters measuring circuit from displacement

transducer . The final settling value, measured after the weld-

ing, goes to an input of the threshold device . According to

a selected cycle time of measurement and classification, the

control circuit gives scan permit of the classifier, and the

measured value s classification on the established treshold

values is performed . Classification’s outcome is displayed by

flashing of one of the channels’ “Norm” or “Reject” lamp .

The measuring circuit and classifier come back in an initial

status by reset impulses, entered from the control circuit .

Contact person

Irina Boiko

Riga Technical UniversityMechanical Engineering Institute, Welding Laboratory

Ezermalas street 6 – 426, Riga, LV-1006, LatviaTel .: +371 67089701Fax: +371 67089739E-mail: irinaboyko@inbox .lvhttp://www .tmf .rtu .lv/mti

Displacementtransducer

Measurementcircuit

Rememberingcircuit

ControlcircuitTool

Dualchannellogicallevelsclassifier

“Reject”

“Passed”

Synchronizing

Scheme of control device, based on measurement of final settling value

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N e w M a t e r i a l s & P r o c e s s e s

Plastificator of Humin Substances for Cement ProductsWith application of cavitation and high voltage plasma

method in processing of several sorts of peat a plastificator

of humin substances has been developed which improves

quality of clay and cement products . It can be applied sepa-

rately, as well as together with water which is prepared in

metastable state with help of cavitation method . Due to

that effectiveness increases .

For liquid cement mixtures adding plastificator of humin

substances increases flowability by 15–22%, products resis-

tance – by 16–21% .

Adding water treated with cavitation and humin sub-

stan ces plastificator to liquid cement-sand mixture, prod-

ucts resistance increases by 29% . Without water treated with

cavitation adding of plastificator of humin substances

increases resistance only by 10% .

For other cement-sand mixtures by forming products

under pressure 16 MPa, adding of plastificator of humin

substances improves compacting of the mixture by 2,1% (as

compared with addition of plastificators B1 and B4) . In addi-

tion, consumption of plastificator of humin substances is

2,3 times less .

Contact person

Semjons Cifanskis

Riga Technical UniversityResearch Laboratory “Nonlinear Phenomenaof Vibrating Systems”

Ezermalas street 6, Riga, LV-1006, LatviaTel .: +371 67089469Fax: +371 67089469E-mail: semjons .cifanskis@rtu .lvhttp://www .mi .rtu .lv

High Voltage Plasma “Hydraulic Laser” The active element of high voltage plasma “Hydraulic Laser”

(HVPHL) is the liquid in the reactor . Generator of impulse

current serves as the supply of energy creating voltage to

electrodes, placed inside the reactor . During electric dis-

charge a plasma bond is created which is the source for

increase of energy in the liquid; this makes an entire complex

of non-linear effects to arise, including also increasing gas

cavities, high intensity percussion waves, cavitation which

actually surrounds the entire capacity of the liquid, and high

speed cumulative spurts .

Construction of HVPHL includes the reactor with elec-

trodes, cumulative jets ensuring outlet of spurts with ultra-

sonic speed (M = 1,3 ÷ 1,4), work cameras and static target .

At the place of the contact where the spurt hits the target

dynamic pressure is active around 550 MPa .

Possible spheres of application: cleaning of long canals,

cleaning of tapped canals, cleaning of inner walls of pipes

and inner cavities of rotors form stratification, punching,

righting and removal of remaining voltage from metal con-

structions, production of low frequency impulse vibrating

exciter, breakage of high resistance materials and purifica-

tion of waste water non-reagents .

Contact person

Semjons Cifanskis




6

Humin Substances Additives to Clay ProductsBy applying cavitation and high voltage plasma method in

processing of several sorts of peat special humin substances

additives have been developed, improving quality of clay

products . They can be applied separately, as will as together

with water which is prepared in metastable condition with

help of cavitation method . Due to this effectiveness

increases .

Clay for Brick Production

Adding of small amount of humin substances improves

plastic characteristics from 8–10% till 30%, which is depen-

dant upon sort of clay . Also the necessitated time for drying

decreases by 5–11% . That improves not only quality of

formed product, but also it allows saving power consump-

tion during the production process . Also moisture content

in the product decreases after baking by 14% .

Clay Liquid in Borings/Ports

By adding humin substances in different concentrations

it is possible to achieve either thinning (by 24%), or thicken-

ing effect, which reduces liquid infiltration in sandy soil by

54% .

Contact person

Semjons Cifanskis



Control of the Micro Welds Qualityby Stabilization the Interelectrode VoltageThe original method, as well as equipment for automatic

control of resistance micro welding joints quality is offered .

This control method is based onto the measurement of

resistance value between electrodes Ree and evaluation of

its modification at three time periods (instead of only

dynamic resistance measurement as usually):

• Reei – initial resistance between electrodes before the

welding current is turn on;

• Reep – resistance between electrodes at time period

between preheating current impulse and welding curent

impulse;

• Reee – resistance between electrodes at the end of the

process, when welding current impulse is turn off .

Herewith, considering the measured before welding Reei,

the automatic correction of preheating impulse takes place .

The evaluation of the welding joint quality is based onto

results of measurements of Reep and Reee . So, the current

value of dynamic resistance between electrodes is

determined . When current value reaches standard value,

voltage drop between electrodes is stabilized . The above

described method is especially effective for condenser resis-

tance welding machines, which use two current impulses:

preheating impulse and welding impulse .

Scheme of control device, based onto the measurement of resistance value

Contact person

Alexander Filipov

Riga Technical UniversityMechanical Engineering Institute

Ezermalas street 6 – 414, Riga, LV-1006, LatviaTel .: + 371 67089701Fax: +371 67089739E-mail: weld5@inbox .lvhttp://www .tmf .rtu .lv/mti


7

Single Tree Forest Inventory Using LIDAR Technology The conventional approach of forest inventory is giving way

to new remote sensing applications, which offer different

scales of observation from measurements of individual trees

to assessment of average parameters of stands . FORAN Bal-

tic’s single tree forest inventory is a cost-effective in single-

tree-based forest inventory using airborne LIDAR (light

detection and ranging) technology in combination with

hyper spectral imagery . It aims at substituting the field mea-

surements of position, species, height, stem and dia meter

volume . The production line of the FORAN Baltic is the first

commercial in the world and a big step forward in forestry

data capture .

In the first stage, the aircraft, equipped with a sensor and

most advanced GPS/INS units flies over a specified area .

Airborne laser scanner data collected with high point den-

sity enables the generation of high resolution accurate digi-

tal terrain models (DTM) . The data are further used to

derive single-tree measurement data . Due to high resolution

of the laser scanner data, individual trees can be detected

and modeled, or forest stand parameters .

Based on the single tree or forest stand average data and

digital aerial images FORAN Baltic can easily create very

realistic 3D visualizations of the area . Trees and landscapes

appear in the view with the properties they have in the

GIS-database and “fly-through” functionality in different

“before/after-scenarios” .

Contact person

Gundars Skudriņš

FORAN Baltic, Ltd . “Lidlauks”, Priekuļu pagasts, Cesis district, LV-4101, LatviaAspazijas blvd . 24, Riga, LV-1050, LatviaTel .: +371 64127951Fax: +371 64127955E-mail: lidlauks@mikc .lvhttp://www .foranbaltic .lv


8

Self-Binding Wood Boards and Substitution of Wood Adhesives by Steam Explosion LigninAdhesive substances are component in composite wood

boards or plywood . Presently phenols derived from petro-

chemicals are the main source of industrially used adhesives,

that is why their costs are driven by oil price . As oil prices

increase dramatically, the costs of wood composites rise

dramatically too – the prices of phenol-based adhesive res-

ins show direct correlation with oil market prices .

Along with economic considerations it is advisable to

reduce production costs for wood adhesives with help of

aromatics from renewables (green chemicals) at fixed prices

as self-adhesive wood composites and sulphur-free

adhesives

The laboratory study results open way to use steam-ex-

ploded pulp (see “High Tech in Latvia 2006” and Fig . 1 in

present issue) as a material for self-binding fibre board and

lignin extracted from biomass after steam explosion auto-

hydrolysis (Fig . 2) of wood as sulphur free adhesive in hot-

pressed composites . In cooperation with JSC “Latvijas Finie-

ris” steam-exploded phenols are tested as substitutes for

synthetic phenol adhesives in plywood .

The efforts have been made to evaluate energy con-

sumption of steam explosion pre-treatment of wood bio-

mass and estimate in terms of self-subsistence and sustain-

ability of biorefinery system .

Contact person

Jānis Grāvītis


Dzērbenes street 27, Riga, LV-1006, LatviaTel .: +371 6012041Fax: +371 7550635E-mail: jgravit@edi .lv


9

Highly Workable Fiber Concretes with High Tensile StrengthFiber concretes and high performance fiber concretes with

steel fiber amount up to 400 kG/m3 were elaborated . Mate-

rials have high durability, impact resistance, are free of

shrinkage cracks, combine high tensile strength with high

workability . Materials are easy for preparation, transporta-

tion, casting and compaction . Tensile strength up to 25 MPa

was achieved . Fiber concrete parameters were validated by

industrial pumpability tests, as well as full-size structural

tests, where scale factor values were obtained .

Testing of fiberconcrete

Fiberconcrete with 250kg/m3 steel fibers. Fiberconcrete (300kg/m3 steel fibers) casting.

Contact person

Andrejs Krasnikovs

Riga Technical University Āzenes street 16/20, Riga, LV-1048, LatviaTel .: +371 29436518Fax: +371 67089083E-mail: akrasn@latnet .lvhttp://www .bml .rtu .lv

Sheet Metal Parts for Automotive and Other Industrial CompaniesMalmar is a state-of-the-art company . It offers 3 core activi-

ties towards its customers: sheet metal parts (riveted cross

members and welded assemblies for chassis), powder coat-

ing (zinc-phosphating and primer included) and last but not

least machining of castings (transmission cases and gear cas-

ings, rotor housings) . Its customers are typical original equip-

ment manufacturers such as truck and bus manufacturers,

air compressor equipment and off-road transport (tractors,

bulldozers, etc .) manufacturers . Malmar is well known for its

overall excellent service in terms of high delivery perfor-

mance, excellent quality level and competitive pricing .

Recently Malmar has been awarded with ISO 16949, which

is a GO/NO GO criterion for the automotive business .

Contact person

Māris Petrovskis

“Malmar Sheet Metal”, Ltd .VATP, Business incubator

Inženieru street 101, Ventspils, LV-3601, LatviaTel .: +371 63628989, +371 63664913Fax: +371 63628990E-mail: maris .petrovskis@malmar .euhttp://www .malmar .eu

Mechanical stresses in fiberconcrete (numerical modeling).


10

Nanosized Ceramic PowdersThe small enterprise “Plasma & Ceramic Technologies”, Ltd .

(PCT, Ltd .) is a producer of nanosized powders of refractory

compounds (oxides, nitrides, carbonitrides et al .) and their

multi-component composites by the plasma technique .

This technique is developed at our host Institute of Inor-

ganic Chemistry of Riga Technical University .

These nanopowders were mainly used for manufacturing

of advanced ceramics . Such powders (for example, Si3N4,

TiN, AlN, Al2O3, ZrO2, Si3N4-SiC, Si3N4-Me2O3, Ti(C, N),

AlN-Y2O3, ZrO2-Y2O3, Al2O3-ZrO2, Al2MgO4, etc .) are char-

acteristic with the specific surface area in the range of

10–90 m2/g and with the particle size in the range of

20–150 nm . The advantage of our technology is manufac-

turing of nanosized composite powders with a high degree

of homogeneity .

The possible application fields of nanopowders are:

• advanced ceramics,

• structure-toughened ceramics,

• ceramics of high thermal conductivity,

• ceramic cutting tools,

• components of fuel cells,

• metal matrix composites,

• modification of metal structure and polymers,

• electrochemical coatings with nanoparticles,

• implant materials for medicine .

The enterprise has a great experience of participation

and collaboration within several EU supported research

projects (TRANSNANOPOWDER – 2001–2004, NANOCER-

AM – 2004–2006, NANORUB – 2005–2008) . The applica-

tion possibilities of our products, especially of silicon nitride

containing powders, have been approved for manufacturing

of materials with excellent characteristics (hardness, flexural

strength, wear and temperature resistance, etc .) . Now we are

one of powder suppliers for the EU-STREP Project CarCIM

entitled: Integration of Two-Component Ceramic Injection

Molding for Large-Scale Production of Novel Multifunc-

tional Ceramic Components for Automotive and Railway

Applications (www .carcim .de) .

Contact person

Eriks Palcevskis

Plasma & Ceramic Technologies, Ltd . Miera street 34, Salaspils, LV-2169, LatviaTel .: +371 67800767Fax: +371 67800767E-mail: pct@nki .lvhttp://www .innovation .lv/pct


11

Plastic Bonded BaFe Permanent MagnetsAt the Institute of Physical Energetics technology for pro-

duction of elastic permanent magnets has been developed,

up to the level allowing their pilot-scale production . In the

magnets, barium ferrite powder for magneto-dielectrics is

used as filler and rubber (natural or synthetic isoprene

СКИ – 3) as binder .

The technology of making magnets provides for mixing

the mentioned materials with softening ones using rollers

for rubber processing of the Пд 320 160/160 type . After roll-

ing, a 1–5 mm thick and up to 320 mm wide strip is

obtained . Magnets with the desired sizes in the form of discs,

plates or strips are produced by stamping or cutting . If nec-

essary, vulcanization of the products is made .

The use of magnetizing devices allows for two-pole mag-

netization of the magnets or multipole magnetization on

one (working) side .

The developed elastic magnets are now and were in the

past widely used in diversified electro-technical, medical,

household and other appliances . Currently, the magnets on

plastic binders find a wide utility in the production of medi-

cal laboratory equipment, in magnetotherapy for curing

diseased joints and backbone, at strains and dislocations,

inflammation of radicals, etc . Measurements of the electro-

physical characteristics are performed using an IPE magneto-

measuring set, which allows determining the characteristics

of magnetic fields and the parameters of magneto-hard

AlNiCo, BaFe, SrFe, SmCo, NiFeB permanent magnets as well

as of magnets based on plastic binders . Apart from that, it is

possible to measure electro-physical parameters of magne-

to-soft ferromagnetic materials, such as electro-technical

and structural steels, ferrites, etc .

The measured parameters of permanent magnets are as

follows:

1 – demagnetization characteristic;

2 – residual magnetic induction, Br;

3 – coercive force, Hcb, Hcj;

4 – maximum energy of the magnet, (BH)max;

5 – coordinates of the point on the demagnetization curve

with maximum energy, Bm, Hm;

6 – temperature of the magnet in the range of 20–200 ľC .

Gaussmeters included into the set allow for measuring

the induction of magnetic fields in the range from 3 × 10–5 T

to 30 T for frequencies from zero to 10 kHz .

The graph displays demagnetization characteristics for

two specimens of elastic permanent magnets . Specimen N1

is made by the IPE technology . The same figure presents a

comparative characteristic for similar magnets on plastic

binders made in China (specimen N2) .

The magneto-measuring set has been used in investiga-

tions into the dependences of basic magnet parameters on

the magnetic filler percentage . The maximum filler percent-

age reaches 92% .

For the use of electro-magnetic devices as magnetic

cores technology has been developed for making elastic fer-

romagnets based on iron powders and carbonyl iron . Mag-

netization characteristics of such materials under permanent

magnetic field are presented . Owing to the low electric con-

ductivity, these materials are classified as elastic magneto-

dielectrics .

Contact person

Vladislavs Pugačevs

Institute of Physical Energetics Aizkraukles street 21, Riga, LV-1006, LatviaTel .: (+371) 67 558 684; +371 29 151 274Fax: (+371) 67 550 839E-mail: magneton@edi .lvhttp://www .innovation .lv/fei


12

Mobile Lightweight Hierarchic Cable StructureThe presented Hierarchic Cable Structure by the application

of new materials in combination with structural systems

where tensile stresses are dominant allows significantly

reduce the dead weight and opens possibilities to cover

extremely large spans without intermediate posts and can

be used as easy deployable and expandable mobile provi-

sional coverings .

• These structures are characterized by non-linear geomet-

ric hardening, which results in a less proportional increase

of stress in elements in relation to increased external

loads . This and using of hybrid composite cable with two

failure stages provides an increased nominal safety factor

evaluated at ultimate limit state of structures .

• The material consumption of the presented structure is

nearly two times more effective then that of analogous

structures at the identical span .

Cross-Sections

Working Scheme Axial force vs. strain relationship

Mobile lightweight hierarchic cable structure Hybrid composite cable with two stage mode of failuret

Contact person

Kārlis Rocēns, Leonīds Pakrastiņš, Dmitrijs Serdjuks

Riga Technical UniversityInstitute of Structural Engineering and Reconstruction

Āzenes street 16, Riga, LV-1048, LatviaTel .: +371 7089284Fax: +371 7089121E-mail: rocensk@latnet .lvhttp://www .ltn .lv/~rocensk


13

Nano Dispersed Pure Ceramic and Metallic PowdersThe joint-stock company NEOMAT (from 1976 to 1992 –

Special Design Technological Bureau of Inorganic Materials

of the Academy of Science of Latvia) has developed high

Technologies and equipments for the producing of nano-

dispersed pure ceramic and metallic powders by plasma

chemical synthesis method and has also produced these

powders . The process is characterized by:

• very high activity and high purity of nano-dispersed pow-

ders with average particle size of 20–80 nm;

• formation of powder composites with phase composi-

tions, which are not formed using powder metallurgy

methods .

The application of nano-dispersed pure powder enables

the manufacturing of high dense materials with advanced

characteristics with relatively low parameters of powder

metallurgy process (such as HP, HIP, etc .) .

Our nano-dispersed pure powders are widely used in

many important branches of industry, such as space tech-

nology, aviation, engine building, electronics, metallurgy,

chemical industry, etc .

Major uses for our powders include turbine blades, com-

bustion chambers for aerospace and aircraft vehicles, bear-

ings, heat exchanger parts, electronic and electrotechnical

devices, surgical instruments and microspheres for medicine,

seals and trim parts, components of equipments for chemi-

cal industry and metallurgy, for modification of structure of

metals and alloys also .

The available nanopowders include:

• nitrides (Si3N4, AlM, TiN, ZrN, NbN, AlN-TiN, Si3N4-AlN,

Si3N4-ZrN)

• oxides (Al2O3, TiO2, SiO2)

• carbides (SiC)

• carbonitrides (TiCN)

• pure metals (Cu in oil)

• composites (Si3N4-Y2O3, Si3N4-Y2O3-Al2O3, Al2O3-Mo-

TiN)

• nitrides-borides (TiN-TiB2, ZrN-ZrB2)

and many others .

Contact person

Leonids Stafeckis

NEOMAT, Ltd . Miera street 34, Salaspils, LV-2169, LatviaTel .: +371 67944794Fax: +371 67944792E-mail: neomat@navigator .lvhttp://www .neomat .lv

Pulsing Blood-Vessels ProsthesisFor reconstruction of main artery segments touched by

atherosclerosis it is recommended to use capable blood-

vessels prosthesis . These implants have wall structure suit-

able for human arteries, ever existing biomechanic features,

and they are biologically harmless . Pulsing blood-vessels

prosthesis is capable of blood circulation functioning renew-

al on the whole, extinguishing pulse wave fluctuations and

avoiding backset development after surgery . Prosthesis is

produced with weaving technology using a complex hollow

wattling pattern and composite, non-toxic material execut-

ing functions of collagen and elastic fibres when the implant

is adopting and functioning in the organism . Penetrability of

biological prosthesis is ensured by double velour coverage

on the exterior layer of the implant and elastic membranes

in its pores produced from preparations capable of produc-

ing bioactivity .

Contact person

Viktorija Kanceviča

Riga Technical UniversityCentre of Biomaterial Innovation and Development

Pulka street 3, Riga, LV-1007, LatviaTel .: +371 26322834E-mail: ltp@rtu .lv


14

Post-Consumer Material Based Multiphase Composites for Broad Range of ApplicationInstitute of Polymer Materials has long-term experience in

developing of post-consumer thermoplastics based multi-

phase materials with predictable set of application and

processing qualities in accordance with the specific needs of

the customer .

Designed multiphase composites are based on wide

range post-consumer polymer materials: poly(ethylene

terephtalate) (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyvinylchloride

(PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and many

others, derived from the waste of traditional packaging

(soft-drink bottles, metallized film, etc .), multimedia (CDs

and DVDs), building (pipes, thermal insulation) and auto-

motive products . Consequently several alternative process-

ing and recycling technologies of these composites are

developed .

In order to comply with the drop of certain exploitation

characteristics, typical for secondary materials, as well as to

impart certain specific features multiphase systems are pur-

posefully modified by means of elastomeric additives (ethyl-

ene-octene copolymer (EOC), ethylene-vinylacetate copoly-

mer (EVAC), ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM)

and other), compatibilizers, micro and nano level inorganic

fillers and γ-irradiation . The key of the modification lies in

the balancing of technological characteristics (mainly rheo-

logical ones) and exploitation properties of the composites

(tensile and flexural stress-strain characteristics, impact

toughness, hardness, Vicat softening point, density, adhe-

siveness and many others) through purposeful selection of

the “right” component ratios and most suitable modifiers .

As a result individual compositions possess high toughness,

long term performance and excellent barrier properties,

while others impart high strength, thermal durability, spe-

cific thermophysical and antistatic features .

It has been demonstrated that certain structure depen-

dent properties of the investigated multiphase systems can

be sufficiently well predicted by means of classical theories

of Hashin–Strikman, Foigt, Reuss, Nielsen, Maxwell and

others .

In general, the complex of properties of the developed

compositions permits their use for manufacturing of corro-

sion resistant products in industry (gaskets, joints for pipe-

line systems, hermetic sealing materials), casings for con-

sumer goods and electrical equipment components,

high-solvent and thermal barrier packaging materials .

FIELDS OF CHARACTERISTIC STRESS-STRAIN VALUES(POST-CONSUMER COMPOSITIONS)

PC – primary polycarbonate; CD – PC derived from CD waste; CD-Al – PC with aluminum derived from CD waste; DVD – PC derived from DVD waste; PET – polyethylene terephtalate (PET) derived from bottle waste; PET/Al – aluminized PET waste; C&L – bottle closure and label waste; C – compatibilizer

Contact person

Mārtiņš Kalniņš

Riga Technical University, Institute of Polymer Materials

Āzenes street 14/24, Riga, LV-1048, LatviaTel ./fax: +371 67089252; +371 67089218E-mail: martinsk@ktf .rtu .lvhttp://www .mlkf .rtu .lv/PMI/index .html


15

Light Emitting Diodes for Violet and Near Ultraviolet Spectral RegionThe growth technology of Light Emitting diode (LED) struc-

tures on sapphire wafers by Metal Organic Chemical Vapor

Deposition (MOCVD) technique has been designed . The

technology is based on AIXTRON RF200 N MOCVD reactor

system .

Technology involves cleaning of wafer surface with

hydrogen flow, formation of single crystalline GaN or AlN

buffer layer, growth of active light emitting multilayer struc-

ture surrounded by p- and n- doped GaAlN layers LED

structure . Technology for opening p- and n- places in single

LED structures for electrical contacts have been designed .

LED characteristics:

• Waffer dimension: 2 inch.

• Capacity: number per wafer of single LED chip structures

available for device production: up to 1100 .

• Light emission spectrum: single bands peaked in wave-

length range 364–445 nm .

• Emission type: Continuous or single/periodic pulse of

duration > 3 ns .

• Technology transfer to MOCVD systems for mass pro-

duc tion of LED structures is available .

Area of applications:

• Development of energy saving and environmental friend-

ly white light illuminators

• Development of systems for express spectral analysis in

medicine, health and environmental monitoring .

Contact person

Ivars Tāle

University of Latvia Institute of Solid State Physics

Ķengaraga street 8, Riga, LV-1063, LatviaTel .: +371 29119943Fax: +371 67312778E-mail: iatale@latent .lv

The Research and Development of New Materials and Technologies for Holographic TecordingIn Laboratory of Optical Recording at Institute of Solid State

Physics (University of Latvia) synthesis and research of amor-

phous chalcogenide (Ach) semiconductor (As-S, As-Se and

As-S-Se) thin films for optical recording and holography

have been performed . The technologies of 2D/3D and two

step 3D rainbow hologram recording are developed . The

methods for fabrication of subwavelength-gratings and sur-

face-relief features with nanometer scale have been devel-

oped . Recently the methods of direct holographic gratings’

recording are being studied .

Using the new developed method of immersion is pos-

sible to use these materials for obtaining the sub-wave phase

and reflection gratings . That shows an importance of these

materials for obtaining of regular nano-structures and high-

density information storage (Tbt/cm2) .

Thin films of AchS photoresists could be obtained by

thermal evaporation in vacuum on glass substrates with

sizes 4 × 4, 5 × 5 and 6 × 6 inches . Spectral sensitivity of Ach

photoresists are λ ≤ 650 nm and light sensitivity: 10–1–

10–2 J/cm2 .

Contact person

Jānis Teteris


Ķengaraga street 8, Riga, LV-1063, LatviaTel .: + 371 29414553Fax: + 371 7132778E-mail: teteris@latnet .lv


16

GroGlass AR GlassGroGlass – advanced coatings on glass for customizing its

optical properties .

As the prices of fossil energy soar, our gazes turn to free

and practically endless resource of energy, the Sun . However,

managing the sun’s rays as they pass through glass is a diffi-

cult task . Our company focuses on three major consumers

of Light – plants who convert the Sun’s energy into sugars,

Solar Panels that convert it into electricity and us, humans,

who convert light into emotions as we gaze upon works of

art behind glass in museums, look through storefronts in live

and work behind glass in architectural buildings .

In high-tech horticulture (greenhouses), plants’ growth

increases in proportion to light conditions inside the green-

house . In response to this market need, GroGlass has devel-

oped the product – GroGlass AR, which, due to anti-

reflective (AR) coating, increase the integral transmission of

PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiation) light by 8% . At the

same time, our coating manages the Sun’s spectrum, reflect-

ing the unwanted heat from the Greenhouse, decreas ing

overall heat gain by 5% . This further increases greenhouse

yields, as growers are able to keep the tempe ratures under

control and minimize CO2 emissions into the atmosphere,

but instead feed it to the plants who convert it into life

energy .

Solar PV modules are also in need of more light and less

heat . By allowing more useful light to pass through the glass

cover, the solARglass product increases the efficiency of the

module by almost 3% and increases its voltage by about 1%

due to lower temperature of the solar panel .

Our coatings also make the glass that covers artworks

practically invisible to the human eye due to the loss of

reflection . We also add a unique feature to block a signifi-

cant portion of the harmful UV radiation that causes dam-

age to graphic art and watercolors . The same “invisible”

effect is useful for storefronts that advertise various products

as well as any other architectural application where glass is

used for sound and climate barrier, but is rendered optically

invisible, such as VIP boxes at stadiums and arenas .

The increased light transmittance effect is achieved due

to the reducing reflection on the both sides of the glass

pane, by coating the thin film on both surfaces, using high-

tech vacuum sputtering technology .

Approximately 15% of Near Infra-Red Radiation is reflected by GroGlass AR resulting in >5% overall heat reduction in a greenhouse

PAR Heat

Contact person

Juris Oļeiņiks

GroGlass, Ltd . Katlakalna street 4b, Riga, LV-1073, LatviaTel .: +371 7502910Fax: +371 7502911E-mail: info@groglass .lvhttp://www .groglass .lv


17

Activated Rubber Powder HTR-RP W-40HTR-RP W-40 is designed for excellent process ability for

compositions of Thermoplastic Elastomers application and

Vulcanization Compounds, for extrusion and injection

molding or processing by other techniques .

Typical Applications: Tire treed compound, TPV com-

pounds, PU and Acrylic coating components, Epoxy resin

filer, Anti Corrosion Pipe Coating; Pipe and Profile; Automo-

tive parts; Household and Electric goods, Sport playground,

Asphalt modifier and Asphalt cement component and so

on .

Contact person

Raitis Kubuliņš

HIGH TECH RUBBER, Ltd . Torņa street 4/1b – 202, Riga, LV-1050, LatviaTel .: +371 29427774E-mail: Kubulins2@inbox .lv

Ion-Plasma Coatings for Protection and Reconditioning of Precision Friction Pair PartsTechnology of reconditioning of precision pair parts, which

are manufactured from metallic materials – valves, plungers

and injectors of vehicle fuel pumps and hydraulic motors,

water power devices, etc ., is elaborated The technology

stipulates creation of a special coating, which is deposited

applying the method of ion-plasma sputtering and possesses

some improved performance characteristics (increased

wear-resistance, oxidation and hold resistance, corrosion

resistance and decrease of friction coefficient) .

Development application area: diesel engines of railway

and auto transport, diesel and gas turbine engines of river

and marine vessels, gas turbine engines of aircrafts, engines

of electric power plants, gas-transfer stations, agricultural

machinery, road construction machinery as well as water

power devices of lifting and transportation equipment .

Contact person

Aleksandrs Urbahs

Riga Technical UniversityInstitute of Transport Vehicles Technologies

Kaļķu street 1, Riga, LV-1050, LatviaTel .: +371 67089948Fax: +371 67089968E-mail: Aleksandrs .Urbahs@rtu .lvhttp://www .tti .rtu .lv


18

Method calculation of wear based on 3D surface characteristicsWorked-out statistical model of destruction of friction sur-

faces and experimentally-theoretical calculation method of

wear-out . The method is based on experimental data of

wear-out in finishing period of friction coupla, and wear-out

calculation in normal exploitation time of friction coupla,

and conformity to natural laws of fatigue theory .

Made the method of wear-out prognostication and engi-

neer methods of calculation for little-charged plane slide

friction couplas in working regimes that are close to oiling

border case: friction coefficient ƒ ≤ 0,1, relative motion

speed of surface υ≤0,2 m/s, load on surfaces p≤1 MPa .

The methodology allows to prognosticate the little-

charged lifetime of slide friction couplas (guide of devices,

guide of bench, slide mechanisms, etc .) not doing time-

consuming and expensive wear-out experiments .

Contact person

Janis Rudzitis

Riga Technical UniversityMechanical Engineering Institute

Ezermalas street 6, Riga, LV-1006, LatviaTel .: +371 67089701, +371 29425510Fax: +371 67089739E-mail: arai@latnet .lvhttp://www .tmf .rtu .lv/mti

High-Temperature Ceramic MaterialsThe high-temperature ceramics (Fig .) – the leaders in the

field of high-temperature materials in a variety of ceramic

composites such as aluminium oxides, zirconia oxides, mul-

lite, cordierite, forsterite, enstatite, etc .

This product includes ceramic pyrometry tubes, swich-

fuse gear insulators,electrical heater&thermostat parts,

ceramic wear-resistant lining tiles, refractory coatings, ceram-

ic milling media .

The product is produced by conventional ceramic pro-

cessing including preparation of starting composition by

ball-milled process in planetary ball mill, as well as by using

of hydrothermal procedure to obtain the starting powders

with the wide scale (50 to 1000 nm) particles, shaping of

intended product form from powders by pressing/extrusion

and high-temperature sintering in temperature ranged from

1200 to 1400 �C .

A different feature of proposed ceramic product is the

using of small amount of illite clay and/or dolomite to start-

ing composition to lower the sintering temperature .

The main characteristics of high-temperature mullite-

corundum-zirconia (tetragonal) ceramics includes the high

degree of densification (up to 99%), bulk density 2 .90–

3 .25 g/cm3, bending strength 95–100 MPa and pressure

strenth up to 300 MPa .

Contact person

Gaida Sedmale

Riga Technical UniversityInstitute of Silicate Materials

Āzenes street 14/24, Riga, LV-1048, LatviaTel .: +371 67089257, +371 26403286Fax: +371 67615765E-mail: gsedmale@ktf .rtu .lvhttp://www .rtu .lv

L i f e S c i e n c e s & M e d i c i n e

19

Textile Threads with Anti-Thrombogenic FeaturesAs the result of the research methodology and technology

was developed for thread coating with amber . On the basis

of the developed technological procedure threads with

amber coating had been introduced with permanent anti-

thrombogenic and antibacterial features . In the world there

is no analogue for such amber threads and methodologies

for technological procedure in order to manufacture such

threads .

The obtained amber threads are produced for manufac-

turing of artificial blood-vessels implants or threads . Amber

acid, an amber composite, is a powerful donor of electrons,

which supplies energy to cell membranes . Research proved

that cell membranes are protected from internal and exter-

nal negative impact, including infections (viruses and bacte-

ria); however, only in such cases when strictly defined elec-

tric potential is maintained in them . In case of lower electric

potential the structure of biochemical composites of mem-

branes, ferments and cells is disarranged which leads to cell

disintegration . Living potential impulse is maintained by

negatively loaded amber acid electrons . Thus here goes an

explanation for healing power of amber acid .

Research carried out by In vitro proved that electro-

negative charge of amber acid oxygen atoms influence

aggregation and adhesion of thrombocytes . As the result

blood clots development process on amber plates is

1 .3 times slower in comparison with existing artificial blood-

vessels implant materials .

Contact person

Inga Ļašenko

Riga Technical University Riga Biomaterials Innovation and Development Centre

Pulka street 3/3, Riga, LV-1007, LatviaTel .: +371 2 9436384Fax: +371 6 7089631E-mail: Inga .lasenko@inbox .lvhttp://www .lza .lv/scientists/lyashenko .htm

20


Digital Water Descaler – 500Digital Water Descaler – 500 is a multifunctional newest

generation electronic scale crusher with an integrated, pro-

grammable microcontroller . By generating electromagnetic

impulses of various frequencies, the device eliminates scale

(CaCO3 + Fe2O3 + other insoluble substances) in water sup-

ply system, and prevents it from forming again . Water

treated in this way has antibacterial properties .

The device created by us – WLux – is an environment-

friendly product for home use, as it prevents scale from

forming on home appliances, pipes and boilers . WLux pre-

serves calcium in water and eliminates bacteria . WLux is an

indispensable device for anyone whose home water supply

system is burdened with scale deposit problems .

Digital Water Descaler – 500 is a universal model for

installation in apartments, private houses and companies

with water consumption levels from 0 .3 to 4 .4 m3/h and

pipeline diameter up 32 mm (1 ″) .

The functioning of Wlux Digital Water Descaler – 500

is maintained by a control program . The program helps you

choose from three various types of electromagnetic impuls-

es and two power modes .

Effects

The effects of the WLux device appear after a certain

period, which depends on several factors: chemical composi-

tion of water, amount of water consumption, condition and

physical processes of the treated system . For pipes with

small diameters, the first results appear during the first two

weeks; for larger pipes – after a month; complete cleansing

of the system is performed in a longer period (three to four

months) .

It is known that the devices changes only the physical

properties of water (the state of CaCO3 is changed), so when

testing the device efficiency, the common chemical meth-

ods of determining water hardness may not be accurate .

The following factors indicate the efficiency of the WLux

device:

1 . If water hardness in various places of the system is con-

stant, then calcium deposits are not forming .

2 . For systems ‘’overgrown’’ with scale, water hardness at

the outputs of the protected devices (boilers, heat

exchange systems, etc .) may be higher than before the

installation of the device, because the previously formed

deposits on the protected devices will gradually

disappear .

Advantages of Wlux Devices

Calcium and salt deposits completely disappear from

water supply pipes, faucets, baths, showers, heating system

pipes and radiators . The device efficiency is increasing by

saving energy (4 mm of deposits reduce heat supply effi-

ciency by 25%);

Washing powder will work more effectively (you will be

able to use 10–25% less washing powder and fabric soften-

er); the clothes will be cleaner and softer .

Results/Benefits

Lower costs in comparison with many other types of

water treatment (no additional investments required during

operation) .

Technological lifetime of the device is at least 8 years .

Lower electricity consumption .

Technological Description of the Device

The device WLux has been produced based on more

than 50 years of experience in of the leading companies of

the world and company VIDTECH in this field . WLux is a

digital scale-crushing device that is designed for elimination

of scale in water supply systems of both apartments and

private houses, with a controllable program . The device

complies with laws and regulations on electrical safety and

electromagnetic compatibility in European Union and the

Republic of Latvia . The device has been manufactured using

lead-free technology RoHs and in accordance with directives

73/23EEC and 89/336 EEC . WLux has received a SVA comp-

liance certificate No . 51 .

Wlux devices have three-year warranty .

The device has been designed and tested in collaboration

with the experts from Latvian Institute of Physical Energetics

(IPE) .

Contact person

Egils Griķis

VIDTECH, Ltd .

Vladislavs Pugačevs

Institute of Physical Energetics

Baltezera street 1/1 – 11, Riga, LV-1024, LatviaTel .: +371 29 212990Fax: +371 67 200133E-mail: sanita@openlatvia .lv

Aizkraukles street 21, Riga, LV-1006, LatviaTel .: +371 67 558 684; +371 29 151 274Fax: +371 67 550 839E-mail: magneton@edi .lvhttp://www .innovation .lv/fei

Digital Water Descaler - 500

21


Mercury Pollution Determination in Air Using Zeeman Atomic Absorption Spectrometer RA 915+The portable LUMEX RA 915+ analyzer is intended for quan-

titative mercury determination in different samples . Opera-

tional principle is based on differential Zeeman atomic

absorption spectrometry using high frequency modulation

of light polarization (ZAAS-HFM) . The use of the ZAAS-

HFM and a multi-path cell allows direct measuring of mer-

cury in the air at the background level, i . e ., around 2 ng/m3

with response time of 1 sec .

When LUMEX RA 915+ is used together with GPS, mea-

surement results can be assigned to particular measurement

places . Such solution is portable and can be used when walk-

ing or from a driving car . The solution gives a possibility to

establish a digitalized pollution database for different geo-

graphic coordinates in different times .

It is the most rapid and effective method of detection

and identification of active sources of mercury emission into

atmosphere . It can be applied for rapid analysis of mercury

in liquid and solid samples like soils, rocks, and waters too .

Contact person

Egils Bogans

University of Latvia Institute of Atomic Physics and Spectroscopy

Šķūņu street 4, Riga, LV-1050, LatviaTel .: +371 67225907Fax: +371 67228249E-mail: egils .bogans@gmail .com http://www .atomic-physics .lv


22

Hydrofoul Assisted TrimaranThe Man and the Sea . For lots of people this ancient link

means sailing . Combating with the wind and waves is a

breathtaking and attractive sport . Modern materials and

technologies allow building faster yachts and achieving new

speed records . The fastest yachts have one drawback . They

are huge and expensive . For most of the sailors they can be

enjoyed just on TV screens .

An alternative has been made to make speed sailing pos-

sible for everybody . After hydrofoil stability research with

proa type yacht in 1982 the world speed record in 500 m

distance was broken . Further research and experiments

made it possible to use the new ideas for serial built trimaran

type yachts . New yacht movement type was developed –

hydrofoil surfing . With the new CATRI hydrofoil system,

yachts do not fly over the waves but glide upon it with mini-

mal contact . As a result yacht speed, as well as safety and

stability increase .

Unlike other hydrofoil systems, conducted by water sur-

face sensors, main stabilizing hydrofoils of CATRI trimarans

are disposed abaft close to water surface . This provides auto-

matic stabilization without sensors, reduce construction

costs, and increase stability effectiveness and yacht safety .

Other hydrofoil systems cause many exploitation inconve-

niences and are effective only in a narrow range of wind and

wave conditions, but CATRI trimarans are pre eminent in

every quality under all circumstances . Largest CATRI modifi-

cations have another invention of sailing in order to increase

safety – automatic release of sails during sudden gust and

dangerous heel .

CATRI hydrofoil assisted trimarans are patented in four

European countries, the USA and Canada . After the first

demonstration of Catri 26 in Amsterdam, in 1997, techno-

logies of construction have been significantly improved . The

newest modification of Catri 24 has been certified to CE

labeling .

The invention relates to a hydrofoil system of a sailing

trimaran having a central hull and two outriggers . Inclined,

retractable foils are placed in a front part of each outrigger,

forward of the center of area of the sail and from the center

of gravity of the trimaran . Two additional hydrofoils are

arranged each on the stern of an outrigger . A third addi-

tional hydrofoil is arranged on a rudder in the stern of the

central hull . Patents: LV 11603B, EP 0855984B1, US 006024041,

CA 2235340 .

Contact person

Aldis Eglajs

CATRI, Ltd . Maskavas street 291/5 – 26, Riga, LV-1063, LatviaTel .: +371 67258427, +371 28309377Fax: +371 67258427E-mail: aldis@catri .lvhttp://www .catrigroup .comhttp://www .catri .lv


23

“DigCarbMin” – Baldones Schmidt Telescope Astroplates Digitization and Further CCD Surveys of Carbon Stars and Smaller Solar System Objects in Selected Sky RegionsFor more than 30 years observations of selected sky regions

have been conducted at the Astrophysical Observatory of

the Institute of Astronomy, the University of Latvia . Current

archive consists of approximately 22’000 photographic

astroplates containing significant amount of information

including yet uncharted comets, asteroids, variables and

further objects . Digitization of the current archive would

allow revealing this hidden information for world-wide

access enabling further research and review .

After renovation of the main mirror and installation of

new observation device in 2006, the Scmidt telescope of the

observatory allows determining rough chemical composi-

tion of faint (up to magnitude 14) late type stars . This

enables not only to classify stars currently recorded on the

plates, but also to find additional peculiar objects including

carbon stars .

It was confirmed during observations in 2007 that 39

new carbon stars were found and in period from August

2007 to March 2008 five new asteroids have been discov-

ered . Current asteroid observations are part of European

Spaceguard and world-wide NEO (Near Earth Object) pro-

grams . Ongoing observations are very important for human

civilization, especially now that possibilities to deflect real

threats are within realm of practicality .

The choice can be formulated as dedicating reasonable

funding for further research versus endangering human

civilization .

Contact person

Ilgmars Eglitis

University of Latvia Institute of Astroniomy

Raiņa blvd . 19, Riga, LV-1596, LatviaTel .: +371 67932863Fax: +371 67034582E-mail: ilgmars@latnet .lvhttp://www .astr .lu .lv

Portable Wireless Optical Monitor of Cardiovascular SignalsWireless prototype device for detection, monitoring and

processing of the tissue-remitted optical signals has been

developed . The device can be embedded also in clothing,

e . g ., hat or glove . The advantages of the device are small

weight, low power consumption, high adaptability to a wide

range of applications .

Features:

The detector consists of optical probe, electronic ampli-

fying/processing and Bluetooth units .

Specifications:

Battery powered; operation time 8h without recharging .

Range – 10 m

Weight – 100 g

Software – Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Mobile, Symbian

Contact person

Renars Erts

University of LatviaInstitute of Atomic Physics and Spectroscopy

Šķūņu street 4, Riga, LV-1050, LatviaTel .: +371 67228249Fax: +371 67228249E-mail: Renars .erts@lu .lv

24


Real Time Wireless Transmission Technologies of Human Physiological InformationModern medical data acquisition systems (DAS) in general

consist of two parts – a digital signal registration device and

a personal computer or Pocket PC linked with the data

transmission cable . There are many cases when the cable link

causes problems due to limited distance or even makes

impossible application of DAS in case of moving objects, like

in distance monitoring, sports medicine, etc . Our offer is a

technological solution (know-how) for real-time human

physiological transmission using wireless link based on Blue-

tooth or WLAN technologies . The technology is field tested

for full 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) transmission using

special data format to minimize possible information loss in

process . It may be successfully used also for other applica-

tions like transfer of neurophysiologic data, blood pressure

and respiration monitoring and others .

Solution using WLAN allows to utilize existing LAN infra-

structure in establishments, and gives real mobility to

objects in research in WLAN covered area .

The technology is applicable in other areas where dis-

tance data acquisition or monitoring is required . Contact person

Zigurds Markovičs, Juris Lauznis

Riga Technical UniversityFaculty of Computer Science and Information Technology

Meža street 1/4, Riga, LV-1048, LatviaTel .: +371 67089562; +371 67089092E-mail: Zigurds .Markovics@rtu .lv; juris .lauznis@rtu .lvhttp://www .ditf .rtu .lvhttp://www .rtu .lv

High-Potency Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Final Dosage Forms Development Service1 . We develop technologies for freeze-dried sterile inject-

ables and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) .

2 . We are able to produce in small batches a wide range of

injectables, including high-potency products, such like

anticancer, etc .

3 . We develop both for internal use and for external custo-

mers on contract basis the following products/techno-

logies:

a) dossiers for final dosage forms in CTD format for

tablets, capsules, injectables:

• full development, including technology, validation,

stability, etc .;

• upgrade of non-CTD dossiers to CTD format, includ-

ing additional analytical support .

b) active substance master files (ASMF) for human, vet-

erinary APIs:

• full development, including technology, validation,

stability, etc .;

• upgrade of non-CTD DMFs to ASMF-CTD format,

including additional analytical support;

• development of registration dossiers for homeopathy

APIs .

4 . We have access to huge scientific potential from our

universities and institutes:

• University of Latvia

• Riga Technical University

• Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis

• Biomedical Center

Contact person

Juris Skrīvelis

Pharmidea, Ltd . Vietalvas street 1, Riga, LV-1009, LatviaTel .: +371 29166301Fax: +371 67040714E-mail: juris@pharmidea .lvhttp://www .pharmidea .lv

25

E n v i r o n m e n t F r i e n d l y T e c h n o l o g i e s

Energy Certification of Buildings by Total Energy ConsumptionInstitute of Heat, Gas and Water Technology of Riga Techni-

cal University developed the scheme of energy certification

of buildings by total energy consumption using the unique

criterion standardized specific energy consumption:

, kWh/m2 year

where: qst – standardized total energy consumption, kWh/

m2 per year; qheat – measured actual annual specific heat

consumption for space heating, kWh/m2 per year; qhw –

measured actual annual specific heat consumption for hot

water needs, kWh/m2 per year; Gst – number of degree-days

in a standard year; G – number of degree-days in a rating

year; A – total heated space, m2; 30 – standardized occu-

pancy level, m2/person; n – actual number of occupants,

person; qel . – electricity consumption for household needs,

kWh/m2 per year; qel . c – electricity consumption for com-

mon utilities, kWh/m2 per year; qg – gas consumption, kWh/

m2 per year .

The developed buildings’ energy performance evaluation

scale (Figure 1), which is harmonized with GBC2000 struc-

ture, is based on measured annual total energy consumption

adjusted to the influence of weather conditions and differ-

ence in occupancy level . The numerical values of the scale

are based on two main consumptions: common energy

consumption and best present consumption for which level

of LBN 002-01 (Latvian Building Code “Thermal Performance

of Building Envelope” 2001) was taken .

The scheme provides the possibility not only to evaluate

energy performance of buildings, but also stimulates inhabit-

ants to more rational energy use by means of specially

designed mechanism of buildings’ energy labels .

Current scheme was successfully implemented in Ogre

town during EU LIFE ENCERB Project in 2004–2006, proving

that:

– the scheme may be easily implemented for the buildings

receiving heat from district heating systems;

– combined with information campaign it will lead to

5–10% reduction of energy consumption in comparison

to the situation prior to the energy certification .

Contact person

Anatolijs Borodiņecs

Riga Technical UniversityInstitute of Heat, Gas and Water Technology

P .O .Box 526, Riga, LV-1010, LatviaTel .: +371 26079655Fax: +371 7615191E-mail: anatolijs .borodinecs@rtu .lv; kreslins@bf .rtu .lvhttp://www .bf .rtu .lv/~encerb

26


Pyrolytic bio-oilFast pyrolysis is one of the prospective trends of obtaining

liquid fuel – pyrolytic bio-oil from solid biomass . Wood

processing waste, peat and different agricultural residues,

for example, rape and grain-crop straw, etc . can be used

as a raw material for producing bio-oil . Fast pyrolysis of bio-

mass is a thermal process, in which wood is rapidly

(~ 500 °C/sec) heated at the temperature 400–600 °C . Vola-

tile products are cooled and condensed fast, and a dark

brown mobile liquid, which is called bio-oil, is formed . It is

possible to obtain a high bio-oil yield up to 60–70% (from

wood), heat capacity 17–20 MJ/kg . In fast pyrolysis, carbon-

isate (solid product) and non-condensable gases are formed

as by-products . Carbonisates can be used as a solid fuel

(combustion heat 30 MJ/kg) or, by activating, to produce

active carbon for purification of liquids and gases, etc . Non-

condensable gases (15–20 MJ/nm3) can be used directly in

the technological process to maintain the drying and pyroly-

sis of the raw material .

Experiments were carried out in an ablation type vertical

reactor, ensuring the drying and pyrolysis of the raw material

in 2 successively connected chambers . Conditions of drying

and pyrolysis regimes for obtaining bio-oil were established .

The chemical compositions of softwood and hardwood bio-

oils and their thermal-physical properties were studied by

the GC/MS method . Besides the energy purposes, the use of

bio-oil for obtaining chemical products, for example, pyro-

lytic lignin, levulinic acid, anhydrosaccharides, etc . is con-

sidered .

Change in the yield of bio-oil upon pyrolysis of wood versus the temperature of drying and pyrolysis (drying time 90 min)

Contact person

Gaļina Dobele


Dzērbenes street 27, Riga, LV-1006, LatviaTel .: +371 67545142Fax: +371 67550635E-mail: gdobele@edi .lv

Wood, Metal, Glass Cutting Optimization TechnologyOne of the most important tasks related with material pro-

cessing is residual waste materials minimization . There are

standard approaches for this task solution based on packing

theory, but wide variety of cutting conditions as usual do

not allow to use standard methods without modification .

We suggest technology which gives the possibility to

minimize residual waste materials in wood, metal, glass and

other materials cutting procedures . Technology was created

initially by a request from a wood processing company, but

can be applied for other materials also . Technology consists

of set of related algorithms, which gives the possibility to

solve a wide class of one-dimensional and two-dimensional

tasks . The technology is based on real industrial task solu-

tion and its characteristic features are determined by the

possibility to take into account many realistic restrictions of

real industrial process . Product consists of GUI software,

where input and output data can be presented as Excel or

XML files .

Contact person

Gaļina Hiļķeviča

Ventspils University CollegeEngineering Research Centre

Inženieru street 101a, Ventspils, LV-3600, LatviaTel .: +371 63629654Fax: +371 63629660E-mail: mmn@venta .lvhttp://www .venta .lv

27


Digital Signal Processing Technology for Recognition of Events in Oil PipelinesStandard task for many systems of automated control is

event recognition and in many cases it is impossible to solve

this task by simple threshold method . When technical sys-

tem works under conditions of significant technological

noise it is necessary to use more sophisticated methods for

events recognition .

We suggest digital signal processing technology for rec-

ognition of events in oil pipelines, which uses sophisticated

data processing algorithms for events recognition . This tech-

nology recognizes not only leaks in the pipeline under inten-

sive noise, but also allows identifying the place of leaks with

high accuracy .

Algorithms are realized in Matlab, but can be modified

for other environments .

Contact person




MÁDARA EcocosmeticsMÁDARA is ecocosmetics, produced in Latvia from plants

and herbs collected in the Baltic meadows and forests .

Plants are organic, biodynamic or wild harvested . Locally

developed formulations of active ingredients ensure superb

product effect . No harmful ingredients, such as petroleum

products, parabens, synthetic preservatives or fragrances are

used . Products contain only ingredients from plant sources,

such as extracts, oils, waxes, aromas, plant pigments, natural

preservatives . The product range includes facial care line,

consisting of cleansing soaps, toners, creams, and body care

line, as well as decorative care products . All packaging and

print materials are environmentally friendly .

Contact person

Zane Rugina

Skin Laboratory, Ltd . Pulka street 3/3, Riga, LV-1007, LatviaTel .: +371 67470243Fax: +371 67470244E-mail: zane@madara-cosmetics .lvhttp://www .madara-cosmetics .lv


28

Integrated Airborne LIDAR and Hyperspectral Remote Sensing for Environmental ApplicationsSIA Forest Owners Consulting Center uses integrated air-

borne LIDAR (light detection and ranging) and hyperspec-

tral remote sensing systems for various environmental

applica tions .

Airborne laser scanning or LiDAR (light detection and

ranging) is an active remote sensing technology that utilizes

high-frequency, pulsed laser light to measure the location

and 3-D geometry of objects on the ground . Hyperspectral

RS is an emerging and complementary technology that cap-

tures a nearly continuous reflected shortwave energy spec-

trum ranging from the visible to shortwave infrared (400–

2500 nm) using an airborne imaging spectrometer .

Integration of LiDAR and hyperspectral data therefore pro-

vides both a spatially and spectrally rich data set, with LiDAR

contributing a third spatial dimension (height) to the hori-

zontally and spectrally continuous imagery generated by

hyperspectral imaging sensors .

There are many applications which can take advantage

of LIDAR and hyperspectral remote sensing:

• ecosystem, habitat, species distribution;

• crop growth and yield estimation;

• plant stress (nitrogen; water);

• forest inventories;

• carbon sequestration;

• ecosystem resilience and services, etc .

Contact person

Gundars Skudriņš

Forest Owners Consulting Center, Ltd . “Lidlauks”, Priekuļu pagasts, Cesis district, LV-4101, LatviaAspazijas blvd . 24, Riga, LV-1050, LatviaTel .: +371 64127951, +371 67228835Fax: +371 64127955, +371 67228835E-mail: mikc@mikc .lvhttp://www .mikc .lv

Glass-Ceramic Composite Materials from Industrial WasteThe dense glass-ceramic composite materials (bulk density

from 2 .3 to 2 .9 g/cm3; water uptake from 0 .15 to 0 .6%) were

produced from Latvian inorganic waste, glass from glass fibre

production and clay from Liepa deposit . These materials

meet the BI group requirements stated in the LVS EN 176

standard .

In general the technical features of the composite mate-

rials tested met the requirements for building ceramics and

they are suitable for production of durable building materi-

als as well as for encapsulation of hazardous industrial waste

as the new materials are inert enough to be environ mental-

ly friendly .

Contact person

Ineta Rozenštrauha

Riga Technical UniversityInstitute of Applied Chemistry

Āzenes street 14/24, Riga, LV-1048, LatviaTel .: +371 67089277E-mail: ineta@ktf .rtu .lv


29

New Lignin-Based Soil Stabiliser for Sustainable ForestryThe application of peat containers for planting or regenera-

tion of pine forest is currently increasing rapidly . However, it

has its own drawbacks . The first, it is possible drying out of

the peat container surface in the hot summer time and, the

second, containerized seedlings are ensured with the neces-

sary nutrients only during one year after planting . The use of

the soil stabiliser with adhesive properties jointly with the

organic mulch may be considered as one of the most effi-

cient methods for improving the temperature-moisture and

nutrition conditions for the development and growth of the

pine containerized seedlings on forest eroded soils . A new

soil stabiliser composition on the basis of technical lignin

and a method for its obtaining have been developed, apply-

ing a low-energy spontaneous chemical process . The techni-

cal lignin, a by-product of chemical wood processing, is an

environmentally friendly, water-soluble, easy-to-handle and

very cost-effective polymeric substance . The obtaining of

the soil stabilizer on its basis proceeds in a water solution at

room temperature . It does not produce any waste and does

not release harmful substances in environment . From the

chemical viewpoint, the soil stabilizer represents one of the

lignin-based interpolymer complexes . The content of the

introduced nitrogen with prolonged action and microele-

ments (Fe3+, Cu2+, Zn2+, etc .) in the stabiliser composition

may be varied, depending on the properties of the soil and

mulch . The waste of mechanical or chemical processing of

wood, for example, chips, bark or hydrolysis lignin may be

recommended as the organic mulch for the joint use with

the lignin stabiliser .

Dissolved water solutions of the lignin soil stabiliser are

applied to the surface of the wood mulch applying a spray-

ing device . After drying, a porous and water-resistant com-

posite coating, which easy passes through water and air in

both directions, is formed on the mulch surface . This coat-

ing prevents the drying and blow-off of the mulch upper

layers, and accelerates its biodegradation .

A plant flow and technological regulations for producing

the lignin soil conditioner have been developed .

The application of the lignin soil stabiliser solutions on

the mulch upper layers ensures:

• creation of favourable temperature and moisture condi-

tions for containerized pine seedlings growth and deve-

lopment;

• resistance of the mulch upper layer to blow-off and

dehumidification;

• favourable effect on the micro- and macroaggregate

composition of the upper layers of eroded soil;

• control of the soil filtration ability;

• improvement of the nutrition conditions for container-

ized pine seedlings as a result of the accelerated bio-

chemical degradation of wood mulch .

Contact person

Gaļina Šulga


Dzērbenes street 27, Riga, LV-1006, LatviaTel .: +371 67 545139Fax: +371 67 550635E-mail: shulga@junik .lvhttp://www .kki .lv


30

Computer Based Hydrogeological Modelling of Baltezers, Rembergi and Zakumuiza Water Supply ComplexThe computer based hydrogeological model of Baltezers,

Rembergi and Zakumuiza water supply complex (it provides

the Riga City with drinking water) has been notably

improved . The model enables to investigate complicated

transient groundwater flows . The new knowledge will help

to achieve a reasonable compromise between such contra-

dictory criteria, as low water price, high quality of water,

protection of the complex against contamination, the ability

to provide (even for a short time) an extra amount of water

to cover possible short-term loss of other water sources (for

example, water taken from the Daugava river) .

Contact person

Aivars Spalviņš

Riga Technical UniversityEnvironment Modelling Centre

Meža street 1/4, Riga, LV-1048, LatviaTel .: +371 67089511Fax: +371 67089531E-mail: emc@cs .rtu .lv

System for Background Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field MeasurementsLow frequency range includes MHz, KHz as well as 50–60 Hz

electromagnetic (EM) field radiation . The main part of back-

ground there is generated by electrical power transmission

lines and various technical EM devices . Background in

50–60 Hz range is of specific interest because rhythmical

processes in living organism (α, b, D rhythm) are very close

to those frequencies and biological effects are not com-

pletely clear .

The products are systems for detecting background EM

field in low frequencies range using resonance sensor .

As detector the known measuring systems can be used

(voltmeter, oscillograph and others) .

• Resonant sensors for various low frequency EM field

detections

• Measuring method for definite frequencies range

• Research activities to produce new metamaterials exam-

ples using resonant sensors as elements of periodic

structure .

Development Stage

Experimental models for product were done . Testing mea-

surements for low frequency EM field were realized .

Cooperation Tasks

• Search for partners to develop market product and per-

form manufacturing activities

• Search for collaboration to perform future research

activities to made metamaterials examples .

Contact person

Jānis Valdmanis

University of LatviaInstitute of Physics

Miera street 32, Salaspils-1, LV-2169, LatviaTel .: +371 67944653Fax: +371 67901214E-mail: jvaldman@sal .lvhttp://www .iph .sal .lv


31

Co-firing of Renewable with Fossil Fuel for Clean and Effective Heat Energy ProductionThe results of experimental research of the wood biomass

(pellets, logs, chips, etc .) co-fire with a small amount of pro-

pane (up to 20–25% from the total heat production) are

used and analyzed to develop a small-scale boiler with appli-

cation to private house heating systems for the clean and

effective heat energy production, promoting stabilization of

combustion and emission characteristics during the burn-

out of wood fuel at different moisture content and struc-

ture . The experimental research is carried out in the Institute

of Physics, University of Latvia with financial support of

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2 .5 .1 . The

main parts of a boiler AK-005S with simultaneous use of

renewable wood and fossil gaseous (propane) fuels for the

heat energy production are: a furnace with heat surface, a

gas burner “BENTON”, an air supply fan CAL-120-2T and a

wood fuel storage tank KAPB-100 . The boiler is supplied

with control panel for automatic wood fuel, propane and air

feeding into a furnace .

Technical data of the heat and hot water boiler

AK-005S:

Characteristics Parameters

1 . Capacity 40 kW

2 . Fuels Wood/propane

3 . Heating surface 2,3 m3

4 . Water capacity 147 l

5 . Maximal water temperature 95 ľC

6 . Water pressure 1 bar

7 . Cross-section surface of chimney 525 cm2

8 . Weigh of boiler 300 kg

9 . Boiler efficiency 80%

10 . Gas burner “BENTON” BG100 7–41 kW

Contact person

Maija Zaķe

University of LatviaInstitute of Physics

Miera street 32, Salaspils-1, LV-2169, LatviaTel .: +371 7945838Fax: +371 7901214E-mail: mzfi@sal .lvhttp://www .ipul .lv/main/index_lat .html?nav=combustion

Thin Film Coating Technology and Equipment for Solar Cells IndustryJoint Stock Company “Sidrabe” deals with development of

vacuum coating technology and development of first-of-a-

kind customized vacuum coating equipment and thin film

materials . Sidrabe’s latest developments are related to

advanced solar cell technologies and equipment including

vacuum coating equipment for CIGS, a-Si and TCO and

antireflective coatings onto different substrate materials .

Thermal evaporation and magnetron sputtering of Cu/In

layers were realized on commercial coaters and in R&D

department .

Sidrabe was involved in European projects, participating

as a manufacturer of materials for front and back contacts

for solar cells .

Industrial coaters for metal coatings for back electrodes

and TCO coatings (ITO, ZAO) for front electrodes of solar

cells have been developed .

Se deposition technology has been developed in R&D

department . Different types of coaters realize PECVD pro-

cesses on metallic foils and AR coating on glass substrates

for solar material industry .

Contact person

Andrejs Balabkins

Sidrabe, JSC Krustpils street 17, Riga, LV-1073, LatviaTel .: + 371 67 249 806Fax: + 371 67 139 506E-mail: balabkins@sidrabe .euhttp://www .Sidrabe .com


32

Stratifier of Solar CombisystemsSolar combisystems are generally defined as solar heating

installations providing space heating as well as domestic hot

water for the inhabitants of the building . The primary energy

sources are solar energy and an auxiliary source such as bio-

mass, gas, oil and electricity . The solar fraction, i . e ., the part

of the heating demand supplied by solar energy varies

depending in particular on the size of the solar collector

surface, the storage tank, the heat load and the climate .

One of the parameter affecting the efficiency of solar

collectors, and consequentially the solar fraction that a par-

ticular solar combisystem can reach, is the supply tempera-

ture to the collector, in the collector loop . This supply

temperature should be as low as possible . In order to keep

this temperature low it is important to have good thermal

stratification in the storage tank of the solar system .

When using water storage tank, stratification can be

enhanced in different ways . The most advanced way is using

devices called “stratifiers” . These devices are designed to

address water incoming at a certain temperature at the right

temperature level in the storage tank .

Research is undergoing in the Institute of Energy System

and Environment on designing, modeling and testing a new

generation of “dynamic stratifiers” .

Prototype of solar combisystem at the laboratory of RTU-IESE during installation

Tranpsarent tank for testing the perfroamnce of stratifiers

Detail of tank 2 with vacuum insulation

Test results

Simulation

Solar Store Unit Technical Unit

HW

CW

Space Heating

Collector

Loop

S

Radiators

Floor

Heating

S

Domestic

Hot Water

(V5)

(V4) (V3)

(V2)

(V1)

(P1)

(P5)

(P2)

(P6) (P4)

Boiler

4

1

2

3 5

(P3)

Comparison of the results from test on tank 1 and simulation with TRNSYS. Test time period 56 hours, set temperature 60 ľC dead band ±5 ľC

Prototype of solar combisystem

Contact person

Marika Rošā

Riga Technical UniversityInstitute of Energy Systems and Environment

Kronvalda blvd . 1, Riga, LV-1010, LatviaTel .: +371 29712389Fax: +371 67089908E-mail: Marika .Rosa@rtu .lvhttp://www .videszinatne .lv

Tank 1 and tank 3 at RTU-IESE


33

Digital RadiographyTo test welds or other surfaces for quality assessment Radi-

ography is common method of Non Destructive Testing

(NDT) and widely used for decades . Usual testing process

involves testing area exposure to high power targeted X-ray

source and image is captured on ordinary photo film . After

that in laboratory the film is developed and image

examined .

AS Inspecta Latvia is the first company in Latvia that for

NDT purposes uses Digital Radiography . The basic difference

in this method is that instead of photo film there, is used

imaging plate . This plate is processed with PC without devel-

oping process and disposable chemicals . As the main advan-

tages there are:

1 . Less X-ray power – means more safe for people and

environment;

2 . No films and developing chemicals – less environment

pollution and more safety for people;

3 . More speed – test report will be ready immediately in

digital format;

4 . More useful result – image in digital format has better

possibility for evaluation and client can transfer this

information for other stakeholders .

Contact person

Pēteris Druķis

Inspecta Latvia, JSC Slokas street 13, Riga, LV-1048, LatviaTel .: +371 67607900Fax: +371 67607901E-mail: info@inspecta .lvhttp://www .inspecta .lv

Monitoring of the Environment Temperature and Relative HumidityThe climate monitoring system has been developed for grain

warehousing and drying . It performs temperature registra-

tion in range from –20 °C up to +85 °C with fluctuations of

0 .5 °C and registration of relative humidity in range 0% up to

100% with fluctutations of 0 .64% . This system was designed

on the base of five DS1923 Hydrochron Temperature/

Humidity Logger iButtons . Such logger has no any own

means of indication and control . Therefore all functions on

its service and information exchange with it are carried out

at contact between its case and supporting device using

1-Wire protocol . This system allows us tracing current situa-

tion on a computer in real time, as collecting the saved data

a posteriori . It provides controlling of logger’s parameters,

storing and graphic representation of the data fixed by the

loggers .

Scope of applying of such system is, first of all, monitor-

ing sensitive to temperature and/or the humidity foods,

pharmaceutical and medical reagents and preparations, etc .

at their transportation, storage and processing .

Contact person

Alberts Kristiņš

University of LatviaInstitute of Solid State Physics

Ķengaraga street 8, Riga, LV-1063, LatviaTel .: +371 67260 856Fax: +371 67132 778E-mail: kristin@latnet .lvhttp://www .cfi .lv


34

Cold Jet Dry Ice Blasting Technology – the Rising Star in Industrial Cleaning ApplicationsCold Jet dry ice blasting technology is an efficient and cost-

effective way for industries to maximize production capabil-

ity and quality . Dry ice blasting is similar to sand blasting,

plastic bead blasting, or soda blasting where a medium is

accelerated in a pressurized air stream to impact a surface to

be cleaned or prepared . But that’s where the similarity ends .

Instead of using hard abrasive media to grind on a surface

(and damage it), dry ice blasting uses soft dry ice, accelerated

at supersonic speeds, and creates mini-explosions on the

surface to lift the undesirable item off the underlying

substrate .

Dry ice blasting has many unique and superior benefits

over traditional blasting media .

Dry ice blasting:

• is a non-abrasive, nonflammable and nonconductive

cleaning method

• is environmentally-friendly and contains no secondary

contaminants such as solvents or grit media

• is clean and approved for use in the food industry

• allows most items to be cleaned in place without time-

consuming disassembly

• can be used without damaging active electrical or

mechanical parts or creating fire hazards

• can be used to remove production residues, release

agents, contaminants, paints, oils and biofilms

• can be as gentle as dusting smoke damage from books or

as aggressive as removing weld slag from tooling

• can be used for many general cleaning applications

Cold Jet dry ice blasting uses compressed air to acceler-

ate frozen carbon dioxide (CO2) “dry ice” pellets to a high

velocity . A compressed air supply of 80 PSI/50 scfm can be

used in this process . Dry ice pellets can be made on-site or

supplied . Pellets are made from food grade carbon dioxide

that has been specifically approved by the FDA, the EPA and

the USDA .

Carbon dioxide is a non-poisonous, liquefied gas, which

is both inexpensive and easily stored at work sites .

Cold Jet is the number 1 worldwide in dry ice blasting

technology and provides cleaning solutions for hundreds of

companies worldwide . With Cold Jet equipment is possible

to reduce cleaning time by as much as 70% and more . New

applications are being discovered daily in various industries

around the world .

Contact person

Andris Vērdiņš

Vērdiņa Sausais Ledus, Ltd . Rūpnīcu street 4 (Nordic Industrial Park), Olaine, LV-2114, LatviaTel .: +371 29124888Fax: +371 67069817E-mail: birojs@sausaisledus .lvhttp://www .coldjet .com


35

Design, Manufacture, Installation and Maintenance of Heat Engineering Equipment and Boiler HousesJSC Komforts designs and manufactures water heating boil-

ers (capacity from 20 kW to 10 MW) for biofuel (fire wood,

chippings, woodchips, pellets, peat bricks, crumbed bark),

angular running grate extended furnaces (controllable with

processor) – capacity from 100 kW to 10 MW), chimneys of

different diameters and heights (with traces, without traces),

multicyclones, water boilers, accumulation containers, fuel

storages, module type storehouses, free-flowing fuel feeders,

fuel feeding conveyers . JSC Komforts provides full range of

services – from development of design to putting of boiler-

houses into operation .

Contact person

Rudīte Redko

Komforts, JSC Lielā street 59, Tukums, LV-3101, LatviaTel .: +371 63125057Fax: +371 63181203E-mail: komforts@comfort .lvhttp://www .komforts .lv

Monolithic Concrete Thermo-Panels for External WallsThe goal of the research work was to create a new system of

external walls structure and a new construction technology

for the ecological dwelling housing with the energy con-

sumption very lower like in the Building Codes of the Nordic

Countries is required .

The result of this scientific work was a system of new wall

structures containing a reinforced concrete lattice cast in a

permanent formwork made of the plastic foam heat insulat-

ing material protected by hard facing slabs on both surfaces .

The shape and the geometry of the wall’s internal structure

was optimized for the minimal cost of the load bearing

capacity of the said lattice and minimization the wall’s total

heat losses . The system provides a very simple process for

assembling the complete set of factory-made formwork

panels on the foundation or on the cast before wall’s sur-

face . After this the internal channels in the form work panel

is filled with reinforced concrete and hardened in condition

protected against any environmental influence .

An experimental pilot-project house for testing the new

system and technology was built . The benefit of the new

created wall structures and technology are ~ 205 times low-

ered construction cost for the building and ~ 2,6 times

lowered the cost of the wall’s heat resistance . The firs one is

the gain for the developer or for construction company, the

second one is the money saved for costumes from the low-

ered heating expenses . An ecological benefit will be come

out of the environment protection against CO2 and smoke

pollution .

References: Latvian patents No . 11203, No . 11350 and

No . 13573 .

Contact person

Vidvuds Ārijs Lapsa

Riga Technical University Division of Building Machines and Building Machanisation, Institute of Building Production

Āzenes street 16/20, Riga, LV-1048, LatviaTel .: +371 7089296, +371 29151884Fax: +371 7089083E-mail: valapsa@latnet .lv

36


Mobile SMS for Microsoft Dynamics™ NAVMobile SMS is software add-on for Microsoft Dynamics™

NAV system . You can use it for sending SMS from Microsoft

Dynamics NAV to mobile phones . This add-on is integrated

with CRM module and allows using segments functionality

for sending SMS to your contact persons, customers, ven-

dors and employees . SMS is a new channel for communica-

tions, which can be used for such information as reminders,

invitations, advertisements, etc . Mobile SMS add-on allows

automatic as well as manual generation of messages and

selection of recipients .

Contact person

Dairis Kuciks

Informatics, Ltd .VHTP Business Incubator

Inženieru street 101, Ventspils, LV-3600, LatviaTel .: +371 63629661Fax: +371 63629662E-mail: dairis@informatics .lvhttp://www .informatics .lv

GrinS®Integrated business accounting software suite GrinS® con-

tains Finances, Inventory, Payroll, Fixed Assets, Human

Resources modules and several add-ons . Each GrinS module

can be used both as a standalone program, and as a part of

a suite .

GrinS is targeted at small and medium-sized companies .

By Year 2008 GrinS software suite has been implemented at

more than 1000 companies of various branches around

Latvia .

All GrinS modules share common features:

• multiple languages support (Latvian and Russian as stan-

dard) in input screens, messages, menus, help windows,

and manuals, English, Lithuanian and Estonian in user

interface and reports

• SQL-queries with a possibility to export the results

• built-in custom report generator

• multicurrency support .

LatInSoft provides GrinS customers a set of advanced

support services: HelpDesk and remote services, on-site con-

sultant support, service level agreements .

Contact person

Sergejs Simonovs

LATINSOFT, Ltd . Mihoelsa street 56, Daugavpils, LV-5403, LatviaTel .: +371 65407209Fax: +371 65423288E-mail: simonov@latinsoft .lvhttp://www .latinsoft .lv

TeleHelp®TeleHelpTM – the first nationwide remote PC technical

support service in Latvia . TeleHelp is targeted at small office

and home users that need a quick, skilled and affordable

service .

There is no need to schedule an in-home visit or to take

a computer to a local repair shop . LatInSoft TeleHelp certi-

fied technicians interact with the customer’s computer

directly through the Internet and can complete the work in

much less time and at a lower price . More about TeleHelp:

www .telehelp .lv .

Contact person

Sergejs Simonovs

LATINSOFT, Ltd . Mihoelsa street 56, Daugavpils, LV-5403, LatviaTel .: +371 65407209Fax: +371 65423288E-mail: simonov@latinsoft .lvhttp://www .latinsoft .lv

37

C o m m u n i c a t i o n & I n f o r m a t i o n T e c h n o l o g i e s

mTourmTour is a computerized audio guide system . The product

has several types:

1 . mTour-IVR: or “Audio Guide in Your Phone” is a product

offering stories of the audio guide for any user of a cel-

lular phone – call number X, choose language Y, enter

object code Z and listen! For the time being this has been

introduced as a charged service in Ventspils .

2 . mTour-GPS: is a product which gives an opportunity for

operators of excursion boats to offer their visitors fully

computerized, qualitative audio guide . An equipped

boat has 2 services:

• public audio guide – a public audio guide can be

switched on in X language on loudspeakers of the

boat aboard (useful for excursion groups)

• private audio guide – tourists have an opportunity to

listen on special wireless headphones stories of audio

guide

For the time being this has been introduced as a charged

service in Ventspils on tourist boat “Hercogs Jēkabs” .

3 . mTour-Player: audio guide solution for exhibitions,

museums, walks – enter object code (if they are func-

tioning on distance sensor stations) and receive a com-

plete multimedia (audio+video) guide . The product is

under implementation .

Contact person

Andis Dembovskis

Mobilās Sistēmas, Ltd . Inženieru street 101c – 304, Ventspils, LV-3600, LatviaTel .: +371 28785798Fax: +371 636 64934E-mail: andis .dembovskis@xmcontrols .comhttp://www .xmcontrols .com

System for Tracking Kids – ROKOROKO is intended to provide parents with an opportunity

to know where their kids are by means of GPS receiver and

GPRS transmitter . The data acquired by the GPS processor

is sent over the mobile network to a server where the data

is stored to present it later graphically to the clients using

real life maps .

The GPS/GPRS modules used by the system give the

location of the user every 5 minutes with the precision of

10 meters . The client is able not only to observe the current

location but also to access graphic reports which cover a

time period as old as a month .

After testing and stabilizing ROKO in Latvia, Dynamic

Research, Ltd . is planning to expand it to all Baltic States and

develop further products based on this one .

Contact person

Armands Balodis

Dynamic Research, Ltd . Inženieru street 101, Ventspils, LV-3601, LatviaTel .: +371 28458018E-mail: armands .balodis@gmail .com


38

Software for Adaptive Approximation and Surrogate ModellingSoftware has been developed for adaptive approximation of

multidimensional empirical data from tasks of surrogate

modelling of complex and expensive simulation models as

well as from results of experimental researches . The software

implements state-of-the-art heuristic regression model

building methods .

Traditionally, for the approximation of multidimensional

empirical data, fixed models are used or the search for an

adequate model is done via stepwise subset selection meth-

ods . These two approaches are also implemented in most

statistical software packages requiring user to predefine a

number of parameters (e . g ., the maximal order of the

model, the significance threshold for term inclusion/dele-

tion, etc .) and often lacking the desired elasticity and effi-

ciency . Additionally, in many cases the necessary values of

the parameters are unknown and need to be guessed, result-

ing in a non-trivial (and long) trial and error process .

Our software implements a different approach – letting

the model building algorithm construct regression models

adaptively using a heuristic search in an infinite model space

without restricting oneself to a small finite subjectively cho-

sen set of candidates and without requiring the user to set

any hyperparameters . It is also possible to build model com-

binations for even higher predictive performance .

Empirical experiments have shown that, efficiently trad-

ing-off model simplicity and predictive performance, the

developed software is a competitive tool for approximation

and surrogate modelling tasks .

Contact person

Gints Jēkabsons

Riga Technical UniversityInstitute of Applied Computer Systems

Meža street 1/3, Riga, LV-1048, LatviaTel .: +371 29858438E-mail: gintsj@cs .rtu .lv

Re-Reference System for GPS User Device Functionality ControlRe-reference system consists of an outdoor antenna, an

amplifier and an indoor antenna . Coordinates of outdoor

antenna are measured with high precision (2–6 cm) . This

allows use device for GPS user device functionality control

and also for place determination precision control .

Users’ Devices provide data in the NMEA-0183 protocol

format . For data recording in the text file form the software

Visual GPS is used . The software provides the visualization of

the results of the experiment and recording of text files with

testing results . The initial processing of obtained frames is

made by special software written in C++ language . The main

purpose of given software is to simplify reading and format-

ting of text files, so that it can be processed with use of

electronic tables and other tools .

Re-reference system for GPS user device functionality

control provides testing of all kinds of user devices .

Re-reference system

Receiving antenna of Re-re fe-rence system

Indoor antenna of Re-reference system

Contact person

Ansis Kluga

Riga Technical UniversityDepartment of Transport Electronics and Telematics

Lomonosova street 1/5 – 213, Riga, LV-1019, LatviaTel .: +371 67089949Fax: +371 7089992http://www .tet .rtu .lv


39

GPS User Device Testing EquipmentGPS user device testing equipment can be used for control

parameters of all kinds of user devices in static and dynamic

mode . GPS user devices testing systems scheme is shown in

Fig . 1 . Satellite signals are formed with stimulator STR4500 .

GPS receiver control system

Testing device imitates 12 satellite signals on frequency

L1 (1575 .42 MHz) and provides following error imitation:

• Multipath (multiple types)

• Terrain Obscuration

• Reception Antenna Gain patterns

• Antenna site lever arm and associated effects

• Ionospheric delay

• Tropospheric delay

• Satellite failures and data errors

• Ephemeris errors

• Wave effects for ships

Imitated signals precision is following:

• Pseudorange ±0 .1 m (MSE) including interchannel bias

• Pseudorange rate ±0 .01 m/s (MSE)

• Pseudorange acceleration ±0 .005 m/s2 (MSE over >1 s)

• Pseudorange jerk ±0 .02 m/s3 (MSE over >1 s)

• Satellite signal level step 1 .0 dB per channel nominal level

±15 dB

• Carrier Frequency +8 Hz to +158 Hz at L1 after 1 year

(absolute)

• Master Clock Stability +1 × 10–8 over temp range .

Users’ Devices provide data in the NMEA-0183 protocol

format . For data recording in the text file form the software

Visual GPS is used . The software provides the visualization

results of the experiment and recording of text files with

testing results . The initial processing of obtained frames is

made by special software written in C++ language . The main

purpose of given software is to simplify reading and format-

ting of text files, so that it can be processed with electronic

tables and other tools .

Satellite signal stimulator STR4500

Contact person

Ansis Kluga

Riga Technical UniversityDepartment of Transport Electronics and Telematics

Lomonosova street 1/5 – 213, Riga, LV-1019, LatviaTel .: +371 67089949Fax: +371 7089992http://www .tet .rtu .lv


40

IVR – Interactive Voice Response SystemNew telecom solutions promote tourism business .

IVR (Interactive Voice Response) is a phone technology

that allows a computer to detect voice and touch tones

using a normal phone call . The IVR system can respond with

pre-recorded or dynamically generated audio to further

direct callers on how to proceed . IVR systems can be used

to control almost any function where the interface can be

broken down into a series of simple menu choices . Once

constructed IVR systems generally scale well to handle large

call volumes .

New technology – audio guide solution has several com-

petitive advantages and could be easily implemented for

various industrial applications and commercial use, like

phone call controlled automation system diagnosis and

remote control by interfacing external hardware controllers .

The current system provides tourism information for visitors

and travelers and is integrated with GPS service .

The system itself is easy to manage, adapt, and it has defi-

nite advantages compared to similar available commercial

products as the software platform supports variety of differ-

ent hardware architectures thus giving the new product

flexibility to be applied in specialized environments accord-

ing customer requirements and needs where such approach

is needed (e . g ., rugged environments) .

Contact person

Romass Pauliks


Inženieru street 101a, Ventspils, LV-3600, Latvia Tel .: +371 26555505Fax: +371 36 29660E-mail: romass@venta .lv http://www .venta .lv

IVR – Interactive Voice Response SystemResearch of various network traffic types provides that it is

non-stationary and so-called self-similar . Non-stationarity

and self-similarity influence on communication devices leads

to decrease of their functioning quality .

The main goal of this project is to formulate recom-

mendations for network optimization based on results of a

traffic analysis by measurements and new mathematical

models of non-stationary and self-similar traffic, especially

for wireless and mobile networks .

Presented system for traffic measurement and network

performance evaluation was developed in Laboratory for

performance evaluation of Electronics and Telecom mu ni-

cation Faculty .

Contact person

Ernests Pētersons

Riga Technical UniversityDepartment ot Transport Electronics and Telematics

Kaļķu street 1, Riga, LV-1658, LatviaTel .: +371 67089954E-mail: ernests .petersons@rtu .lvhttp://www .rtu .lv


41

Methodology for Computer Simulation of Complex Systems and its Implementation for Analysis and Operation Improvement of Real-World SystemsSimulation is a process of designing a model of a real system

and conducting experiments with this model for the pur-

pose of understanding the behaviour of the system and/or

evaluating various strategies for the operation of the system .

Examples of investigated systems include logistics, transport,

manufacturing, service, banking and information systems .

Simulation has become a very important tool for designing

and analysing complex systems and policies before imple-

mentation . In some cases, simulation is aimed to optimise a

system by improving a value of the chosen optimisation

criterion .

Success of a simulation study is highly dependent on

correct use of a corresponding methodology . High-tech

product development possibilities are offered in the follow-

ing field:

• Discrete-event simulation models

• Methodology of discrete-event simulation on MS Excel

spreadsheets

• Methodology of simulation-based metamodelling

• Intelligent simulation tools

• Visualisation of the simulation process

• Simulation in engineering

• Simulation in education and training

Examples of recent and current activities include:

• Development of simulation tools for analysing and

plann ing of logistics systems . For instance, resource opti-

mal location (e . g ., drug distribution analysis in a hospi-

tal), increasing carrying capacity of logistics network

nodes (e . g ., a container terminal at the Riga Commercial

Harbour) .

• Risk management analysis through simulation . Applica-

tion of simulation methods for analysis of agricultural

risks .

• Supply chain dynamics analysis and optimisation through

simulation . Simulation-based evaluation of supply chain

operation effectiveness under different supply chain

structures and information sharing strategies .

• Methodology development of determination of the best

inventory control policy through simulation . Evaluation

of different inventory control policies profitability

through simulation .

Simnulation Model of the Baltic Container Terminal

Contact person

Jurijs Merkurjevs

Riga Technical UniversityDepartment of Modelling and Simulation

Kaļķu street 1, Riga, LV-1658, LatviaTel .: +371 67089514Fax: +371 67089513E-mail: jurijs .merkurjevs@itl .rtu .lvhttp://www .itl .rtu .lv/mik/


42

Wireless PKI (Mobile Signature)Lattelecom Technology, the market leader in IT solutions,

offers a convenient but highly secure access method for

online service providers – the mobile signature .

A mobile signature is equivalent to a conventional,

legally binding signature on a paper contract . In this respect,

the mobile phone can be considered to be a signing tool –

the electronic equivalent of a pen . A mobile signature is

creat ed by typing a secret code, your signing PIN, into your

mobile phone . This secret code, in combination with your

key storage token (SIM card) and a chosen text, triggers a

cryp tographic algorithm to generate a (digital) signature .

Each of your mobile/digital signatures can be linked to a

digital certificate (an electronic record) that vouches for

your identity .

What makes the mobile signature solution more secure

is that it relies on something you own (the private key of

your digital signature that is securely carried on your SIM

card) and something only you know (the secret code) . Upon

the mobile phone operator’s activation request, the SIM

card itself creates the secret keys . This on-board key genera-

tion (OBKG) process is performed after the SIM card is

personalised and issued to the consumer . It allows mobile

signature customers to generate secret keys based on their

own secret code, with the highest degree of privacy .

Mobile signatures enable users to extend and control

their identity using their existing mobile phone anytime and

anywhere .

Thus, the mobile signature is a unique tool for:

• proving your identity to third parties without face-to-

face communication, when accessing banking and pay-

ment services, internal corporate applications or govern-

ment services;

• making a legally binding commitment by sending a con-

firmed message to another party;

• solving security problems with identity confirmation in

the online world .

For instance, subscribers can access a banking site from

their mobile phone, home PC or an Internet café, and enter

their customer ID to login or conduct a transaction . The

bank then sends an authentication request that prompts

the user to enter the secret code they chose when they

activated the mobile signature service, using their GSM

phone . The SIM card then checks the secret code, creates

the digital signature and sends it back to the bank to autho-

rise the corresponding account transaction .

Contact person

Aigars Laizāns

Lattelecom Technology, Ltd . Skanstes street 13, Riga, LV-1013, LatviaTel .: +371 29112327Fax: +371 67020009E-mail: Aigars .laizans@lattelecom .lvhttp://www .lattelecom .technology .lv


43

The Computer Based Exercise Generation and Evaluation System GenexisGenExis is a program that generates exercises from database

objects . The system supports electronic input, combination

and use of any knowledge-based educational material . The

system can be used both in class and individually outside

the school for learning the subject and evaluation of the

results and generation of examination tests .

The main characteristics of GENEXIS are:

• generation of exercises corresponding to topics, they

aren’t prepared previously;

• numerous exercises could be generated to each type of

exercises;

• detailed solution of each exercises could be

demonstrated;

• all generated exercises could be saved and printed out if

necessary;

• system is provided with training mode, individual con-

trolling mode, group controlling mode with one com-

puter, as well as controlling mode in the network;

• results of training and controlling could be saved and

demonstrated if necessary;

• flexible structure of system provides possibility to

enhance and add menus quickly and easily .

Contact person

Linda Mazure

DATA PRO GRUPA, Ltd . Aspazijas blvd . 24, Riga, LV-1050, LatviaTel .: +371 67214422Fax: +371 67214425E-mail: dpg@dataprogrupa .comhttp://www .dataprogrupa .com

Rapid Prototyping – New DimensionsSolid experience help to optimise your products and make

them more demanded! Proved competence combined with

advanced equipment results in demanded knowledge inten-

sive computer aided services for manufacturing industries,

architects, software companies and designers . Knowledge of

engineering aspects of customer needs allied with a very

practical understanding of manufacturing technologies pro-

vides additional value added and spillovers to your business

and help to transform the design of prototypes in a quick,

inexpensive, cost-efficient and visually attractive and flexible

process .

CAD/CAM Designing department offers to its customers

comprehensive 3D design and printing services in the fol-

lowing areas:

• Rapid Prototypes/CAD

- Concept Models

- Functional Testing

- Presentation Models

- Finite Element Analysis

- Packaging

• Architecture

• Training

• Geospatial

• Healthcare

• Molecular Modeling

• Entertainment/Retail

Contact person

Egils Vītols


Inženieru street 101a, Ventspils, LV-3601, LatviaGSM: +371 2927 4026Fax: +371 36 29660E-mail: cadcam@venta .lv

44


Technology to Deposit Electrical Charge on Insulator Hydrogen Affinity SurfaceTechnology by non-contact way deposits electrical charge

on the surface of insulators similar to hydrogen . The tech-

nology uses a non contact approach and could be in use to

functionalize a surface with a complicated relief .

The technology promotes control of the surface wetta-

bility, adhesion of molecules, quality of implants, their bio-

compatibility, etc .

Contact person

Yuri Dekhtyar

Riga Technical UniversityBiomedical Engineering and Nanotechnologies Institute

Kaļķu street 1, Riga, LV-1050, LatviaTel .: +371 67089383Fax: +371 67089383E-mail: dekhtyar@latnet .lvhttp://www .bimi .vip .lv

Dynamic Model for Power Network Development OptimizationThe main target of model is ensuring a possibility for differ-

ent level managers to make decisions based on objective

facts, not on experts’ opinions . Therefore Laboratory of Elec-

tric Power System Simulation worked out software of Lat-

vian Dynamic Model (LDM) family . The main functions:

• Technical and economic estimation of the present state

of the network .

• Define economically appropriate activities from the

given set of alternative activities (construction, recon-

struction or elimination of network elements) and terms

of their realization .

• Estimate power supply quality and define the most effec-

tive activities for improvement .

• Provide risk analysis as a decision-making tool under

information uncertainty .

• Calculations such as load flow, voltage drops, fault cur-

rent, energy and power losses, reliability estimates, annual

and total costs for particular network, as well as invest-

ment pay-back times are also provided .

• Dynamic optimization and analysis uses data together

with development conditions and alternative actions as

an input data base . NPV of total network costs (invest-

ments, cost of losses, cost of energy not supplied) is used

as an optimization criterion .

Software LDM-VZ

Software LDM-VZ performs investment efficiency analy-

sis of reconstruction and new construction of low voltage

network objects and also of transformer substations (20/0 .4

or 10/0 .4 kV) under uncertainty, using a criterion of net pres-

ent value (NPV) and dynamic optimization of network .

Software LDM-AVE

Software LDM-AVE performs investment efficiency anal-

ysis of reconstruction and new construction of 330–110–

20–10–6 kV network objects including local power stations,

using technical economical calculation methods and dynam-

ic optimization of network . The LDM is foreseen for rein-

forcement planning of MV and LV distribution net work

under information uncertainty .

Software ZUDUMI (LOSSES)

ZUDUMI (LOSSES) is designed for calculations of techni-

cal losses in low voltage network . With ZUDUMI and LDM-

VZ several measures could be analysed, for instance:

• replacement of existing transformers by respective power

transformers and in such a way to reduce idle losses;

• replacement of existing wires by bigger cross-section

wires;

• Construction of new MV transformer substations (trans-

former nodes) .

Contact person

Anna Mutule

Institute of Physical Energetics, Laboratory of Electric Power System Simulation

Aizkraukles street 21, Riga, LV-1006, LatviaTel .: +37167558616Fax: +37167550839E-mail: amutule@edi .lvhtpp://www .innovation .lv/fei

45

P o w e r E n g i n e e r i n g & E l e c t r o n i c s

DC to DC Power Electronic Converter for Hydrogen Fuel CellHigh energy conversion efficiency and environmental pro-

tection provide wide range of future applications for fuel cell

technologies in alternative power systems . Fuel cell gener-

ates variable and low DC voltage from hydrogen . To connect

them to the industrial grid 220 V 50 Hz, a DC to DC step-up

converter and an inverter are necessitated .

DC to DC Power Electronic Converter is the first electri-

cal energy conversion stage in fuel cell system, where the fuel

cell output voltage is converted to stable 360 VDC . Design

closely follows to research analysis and technical data of

1 .2 kW hydrogen fuel cell by following criteria – high effi-

ciency and size .

Contact person

Arturs Purvins

Riga Technical University Kronvalda blvd . 1, room 321, Riga, LV-1010, LatviaTel .: +371 6708 9933E-mail: Arturs .purvins@eef .rtu .lv

Alone Placed Conducting Body’s Electric Self-Capacity Measuring MethodThe electric self capacity measuring method of alone placed

conducting body allows obtaining electric self capacity’s

parameter of a conducting body of any configuration . Mea-

suring unit is built by using a single wire electric circuit,

where the unit and conducting body are connected by the

single wire . Conducting body’s electrical potential is consid-

ered against the free space . This measuring method is pat-

ented and doesn’t have any analogues in the world .

Contact person

Janis Voitkans

Riga Technical University Upes avenue 1a – 3, Ogre, LV-5001, LatviaTel .: +371 67089944E-mail: voitkans@eef .rtu .lv

Water Fuelled Boiler System for Heat and Electricity GenerationSteam boilers are well known in the prior art . For years they

have been operated by oil fuels such as kerosene, light oils,

and natural gases . Wood and coal are other sources of fuel

for steam boilers . Environmentally, it is destructive to con-

tinue to burn oil fuels and natural gas, since they pollute the

atmosphere . In addition, it is wasteful to use wood, natural

gas and oil as fuels, as there are many more useful products

that these products can be used to produce, such as plastics,

wooden articles, and the like . The present invention relates

to water fuelled steam boiler which uses electrolysis to con-

vert water to burning gases and next to steam, and collects

the electricity and heat from steam condensation . Invention

is applied to Latvian Patent on 2007 by SIA “Hydro Energo” .

Contact person

Jānis Kleperis

Hydro Energo, Ltd . Grēcinieku street 1, Riga, LV-1050, LatviaTel .: +371 2814700Fax: +371 67814702 E-mail: kleperis@latnet .lvhttp://www .hydroenergo .lv


46

Electromagnetic Induction Pumps for Liquid MetalsThe design concept of electromagnetic induction pumps

with permanent magnets have been developed which have

many advantages in comparison with traditional pumps

based on 3-phase inductors . In the proposed pumps the

needed alternating travelling magnetic field for inducing

pumping forces in liquid metal is generated by system of

moving (rotating) permanent magnets with alternating

polarity .

The main advantage of pumps design concept is the fact

that there are no windings in pumps at all . From this main

advantage another important advantages follow: no electri-

cal isolation problems at high temperatures, simpler

construc tion, smaller overall dimensions and weight, higher

efficiency . For power supply to traditional inductor pumps

there is a need for additional rather expensive devices –

3-phase variable voltage transformers . For the driving of

pumps based on permanent magnets the standard AC

motors can be used with power supply through standard

frequency converter allowing adjusting the needed produc-

tivity of the pump by adjusting rotation speed of the

motor .

At the Institute of Physics of the University of Latvia

many models of pumps were tested demonstrating their

efficiency . Real pumps for eutectic alloy Pb-Bi and Pb-Li at

operating temperatures up to 400 °C have been produced

and are operated successfully in liquid metal plants for stud-

ies related to development of Neutron Spallation Sources

(Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden) . Also pumps for pure

Pb have been constructed for operating temperatures up to

500 °C .

Such EMIP design concept of pumps can be used also in

metallurgy for pumping metals having relatively low melting

temperatures and high electrical conductivity, such as Al, Zn

and Mg . The temperature of liquid metal being pumped

may be much higher than operating temperature of mag-

nets, as the magnetic system has no contact with the walls

of the channel of the pump and due to rotation it can pro-

vide sufficient self-cooling by around turbulent air flows

forced air ventilation .

Contact person

Imants Bucenieks

University of Latvia Institute of Physics

Miera street 32, Salaspils, LV-2169, LatviaTel .: +371 26407570Fax: +371 67901214E-mail: imants@sal .lvhttp://www .ipul .lv

Integrated AC Drive with Matrix ConverterThe proposed drive consists of a squirrel-cage rotor AC

induction motor with a power matrix frequency converter

integrated into the motor . The system solves typical prob-

lems of AC drives: speed regulation by means of its fre-

quency changing, torque regulation, as soon as protection

and alarm functions . However, when compared with tradi-

tional drive configurations, the given drive gives some addi-

tional benefits: smaller overall size and weight of the system,

smaller total harmonic distortion of the input current, pos-

sibility of control of reactive power on the grid side, as well

as smaller radiated and conducted electro-magnetic inter-

ference . At the given time 1 kW drive is avail able . Bigger

drives are being developed .

Traditional drive Integrated drive

Contact person

Iļja Galkins

Riga Technical University Kronvalda blvd . 1 – 324, Riga, LV-1050, LatviaTel .: +371 6708 9918Fax: +371 6708 9941E-mail: gia@avene .eef .rtu .lv


47

Longitudinal Differential Protection (LDP) of High Voltage LinesPower transmission lines complex protection includes dif-

ferential current protection of 110–220 kV lines, distance

protection from short circuits of any type, protection of

earth current, maximum current protection from interphase

short circuits and overload protection . The complex protec-

tion is equipped with automotive functions (three-phase

automotive repetitive switch with synchronism and voltage

control, reservations in case of failure due to switch

damage) .

The equipment has been developed on the basis of tech-

nical elements of microprocessors and thus for processing of

information digital principles of information processing are

applied . There is an opportunity to connect the device to

the computers of power grid relay service through phone

communications channels .

Principles of Functioning

Protection of line differential current is comprised of two

semicomplects installed at both ends of the line and a com-

munications channel joins them with each other . Protection

has been developed after principle “Master/Master” – both

semicomplects are equal . For calculations of differential

current, phase current vectors at both ends of the line are

used . Data exchange between semicomplects is ensured

through digital optical communications channel with speed

64 kbit/s .

With the help of synchronization signal from GPS mod-

ule LDP semicomplect measurements can be synchronized,

switching off impact of time delay and asymmetry of com-

munications channels . Main scheme of longitudinal differen-

tial protection with GPS synchronization is depicted in the

picture .

GPS module receives information from earth satellites

and releases synchronization impulse and signals of accurate

time . At the moment of receipt of GPS module synchroniza-

tion impulse both semicomplects of differential protection

LDP1 and LDP2 are processing controllable values (current

and voltage) . In this way both semicomplects exchange

phase current orthogonal components synchronized in

time . GPS module is sending synchronization impulses every

10 ms, thus, in case delay of information transmission from

one semicomplect to the other is less than 10 ms, this delay

does not impact functioning of differential protection . Pro-

tection is continuously controlled by existence of GPS syn-

chronization and, if at any of semicomplects synchroniza-

tion impulse is not received, protection automatically

switches to the regime in which time delay of communica-

tions channel is calculated . When synchronization signals are

in both semicomplects again protection automatically

switches to regime of synchronized data exchange . Thus

existence/disappearance of GPS does not influence protec-

tion’s readiness for functioning .

Contact person

Andrejs Utans

Riga technical universityInstitute of power engineering

Kronvalda blvd . 1 – 224, Riga, LV-1010, LatviaTel .: +371 67089935Fax: +371 67089931E-mail: utan@eef .rtu .lvhttp://www .eef .rtu .lv


48

Universal Computer Modeling System for Applied Non-Stationary Problems of Aero-Gas-ThermodynamicsUniversal computer modeling system was developed with

purpose to model and research complex three-dimensional

unsteady flows of gas inside and outside of moving solids

and elements of machines . System can be used for solving of

following tasks:

• two- and three-dimensional modelling and computation

of flow around solid body and heat exchange in non-

stationary gas (liquid) flow;

• modelling and computation of gas dynamic processes in

centrifugal air blowers (pumps) and in devices using aero

dynamical screw;

• analysis of intensification of heat exchange processes, in

case of acting on solid body by means of pulsing gas flow;

• optimisation of gas dynamic parameters of devices with

complicated geometry and mobile or immobile channels .

With the system a user can create a geometrical model

of a researched body, choose mathematical model of fluid,

and set a material of a body and boundary conditions, solve

a task and visualize results by colored pictures of the distri-

bution of the parameters in the sections and on the surfaces,

graphs and tables, and also print out Reports . Developed

computer modeling system differs from similar systems with

its universality, possibility to analyze aerothermodynamic

parameters of mobile solids in gas media, uniform logic of

method of solution for different types of tasks – from archi-

tectural aerodynamics to aerodynamics of a ventilator or a

mobile car .

The system can be used as a virtual experimental stand,

which allows receiving much more information about

researched parameters at much smaller financial expenses in

comparison with physical experimental stands, in particular,

at the initial stages of development of products which

demand numerous experiments in search for optimum

alternative .

Contact person

Valerijs Ušakovs

Riga Technical UniversityAviation Institute

Kaļķu street 1, Riga, LV-1658, LatviaTel .: +371 67089895Fax: +371 67089990E-mail: valery_ushakov@inbox .lv

Shunt Active Power FilterShunt active power filters are applicable to any nonlinear

system in order to perform harmonic current and/or reac-

tive power compensation . The typical applications of shunt

active power filters include harmonic current and reactive

power compensation of high power three-phase diode or

thyristor rectifiers and harmonic damping in power distribu-

tion systems .

The shunt active power filter elaborated for a specified

three-phase symmetrical nonlinear load is applicable for

both – increasing the efficiency of the load and meeting the

requirements of standards regarding the electromagnetical

compatibility of electrical equipment (IEC 555-2, IEEE STD

519) .

Contact person

Oskars Krievs

Riga Technical UniversityInstitute of Industrial Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Pērnavas street 65 – 39, Riga, LV-1009, LatviaTel .: +371 29197306Fax: +371 67089941E-mail: oskars@eef .rtu .lvhttp://www .rtu .lv/etdv


49

SKYBRAKE DD2+New generation immobilizer SKYBRAKE DD2+ created by

team of constructors from “Autonams” is an excellent com-

bination of microelectronics and the new technology Dou-

ble Dialogue . SKYBRAKE DD2+ immobilizer is an indepen-

dent auto anti-theft device which prevents cars from

stealing . The management is performed by a remote radio

transmitter, the distance of operation and the small size of

which allows managing the system easily and unnoticeably .

It is essential that SKYBRAKE DD2+ allows starting the

engine of the car, but as soon as unauthorized movement is

taken, the engine is blocked and the car does not operate

anymore . Double Dialogue, patented by technological labo-

ratories of SKYBRAKE, ensures information exchange, friend-

ly to the electronics of the car and disturbance protected,

among several elements of the system placed in the car . The

core of the technology is the regular dialogue or two-way

radio signal which is extremely short (0,0003 s) and fast (till

2 Mbit/s), thus ensuring maximum security .

Contact person

Edvīns Panders

Autonams, Ltd . Skanstes street 9a, Riga, LV-1013, LatviaTel .: +371 67501850Fax: +371 67501840E-mail: autonams@autonams .lvhttp://www .autonams .lvhttp://www .skybrake .com

Soft Start Devices with Three-Phase ControlSoft start devices with three-phase control are used to con-

trol industrial electric motors during startup/stopping . The

main functioning principle of the soft start device is chang-

ing of the thyristor’s opening degree, it means that thyris-

tor’s opening time isn’t always in full period, but only par-

tially, and this part is increasing/decreasing during startup/

stopping of the engine . For soft start devices with three-

phase control, it is necessary to control two phases at the

same time . Usage of the soft start devices gives following

benefits:

• Minimizes starting current of the electric engine;

• Maximizes starting time of the electric engine, it is good

for the engine’s mechanic parts;

• Starting torque can be regulated according to the load;

• Minimizes heating of the electric engine .

The soft start devices, produced by ISSP in collaboration

with Ltd . “Fonons”, not only produce control impulses for

startup/stopping of the engine, but also measure thyristor’s

opening time for each phase . That allows the soft start

device to fit different load types automatically .

Contact person

Alberts Kristiņš

University of LatviaInstitute of Solid State Physics

Ķengaraga street 8, Riga, LV-1063, LatviaTel .: +371 67260 856Fax: +371 67132 778E-mail: kristin@latnet .lvhttp://www .cfi .lv

Single Wire Electric Energy Transmission LineThe opeation of the single wire electric energy transmission

line depends on the application of self-capacity of electric

conducting bodies . It is limited only by the technical param-

eters of transmission system . Electrical power transmission

frequencies are f = 1 ÷ 50 kHz, and the applied line’s voltage

is in kilovolts . It is possible to use the wire with very small

diameter (0 .05 mm and less), however wire material type

can’t be copper, and steel can be an option .

Contact person

Janis Voitkans

Riga Technical University Upes avenue 1a – 3, Ogre, LV-5001, LatviaTel .: +371 67089944E-mail: voitkans@eef .rtu .lv


50

Acoustic Emission Monitoring of Fatigue DamageA technology of early detection and growth control of

fatigue damage of vital constructions (for example, aviation)

based on acoustic emission (AE) method is offered . AE

method allows:

• to fix the moment of microcrack formation;

• to define stages of crack propagation, fixing moments

when they cease and continue to propagate;

• to measure speed of crack propagation;

• to determine location of cracks, etc .

A characteristic peculiarity of the offered control meth-

od is a possibility of detection of those cracks, which appear

on the internal surfaces and hard-to-reach places of a

construc tion where the application of other methods is

impossible .

Contact person

Aleksandrs Urbahs



Model of Bidirectional Power Flow Regulator for Traction Substations of an Electrical TransportA model of bidirectional power flow regulator is developed

for researching base of new scientific solutions how to save

electrical energy in traction substations of tram car net-

works . Model consists of one six-phase power transformer

with power scheme (based on thyristors) and impulse regu-

lator (buck converter) . It provides bidirectional power flow

regulation in traction substations of tram car networks . It

means that electrical energy of tram car during acceleration

regimes is supplied through bidirectional power flow con-

troller from AC power network to DC electrical network .

During braking regimes recuperated energy is successfully

returned back in the AC power network .

Contact person

Ivars Raņķis,Aigars Vītols

Riga Technical University Faculty of Power and Electrical Engineering

Kronvalda blvd . 1, Riga, LV-1010, LatviaTel .: +371 7089917Fax: +371 7089905E-mail: rankis@eef .rtu .lvhttp://www .eef .rtu .lv


51

Water Waves Motion Energy Conversion Device “R.A.W.E.S.”Floating system using Pump for the creation of water pres-

sure and electricity R .A .W .E .S . (pronounce “rouzs”) patented

in Latvia Nr . LV 12054 B .

1 . The prototype Floating Island and the Lifeboat is a

typical example of what the R .A .W .E .S . system can do . On

March 6th, 2002 a floating power station measuring 4 mtrs ×

4 mtrs and had 32 small pumps was designed to pump salty

water at a pressure of 25 bars . That means from the sea level

water can be pumped through pipe work 250 meters high:

i . e . higher than Heops pyramid in Egypt about 2 times .

The platform was designed to use the available water

volume to turn a wheel to produce a small amount of elec-

tricity from a small generator and shoot a spout of water

into the air . The pumps began to operate at a wave height

of three centimeters . (to look foto Nr . 1 .)

Larger floating power stations with larger pumps would

be able to pump fluids/air at 800 bars or more and the sys-

tem is versatile as to volume of fluids to pressure ratio and

also create electricity for the clients’ needs . Submersible

cables/pipes can be used to supply the electrical power/liq-

uids or air to the land . Submersible cables/pipes can be used

to supply the electrical power/liquids or air to the land .

Lifeboat, which can also be adapted to be used as a Plea-

sure Boat with inside electrical supply . (to loo poster& in

future floating hotel)

2 . R .A .W .E .S . can be installed in any location near to a

body of water with waves move moment and doesn’t need

to occupy valuable land space . (to look foto Nr . 2 .)

3 . R .A .W .E .S . is environment friendly technologie use for

energy production water only .

Contact person

Rims Vaitkus

arreCONCEPTS, Ltd . Kapseļu street 7 – 44, Riga, LV-1046, LatviaTel .: +371 29943734Fax: +371 67410233 E-mail: rimis_v@inbox .lv, info@arreconcepts .com http://www .arreconcepts .com

Composite Material and Container for Hydrogen StorageEfficient use of bulk and surface of a material makes it pos-

sible to store large amounts of hydrogen in solid carriers . For

this purpose composite materials are most promising, since

they combine both absorption and adsorption properties to

reach the H2 storage density, that is required for vehicular

applications . The AB5 and AB5/grinded glass samples were

studied by gravimetric, volumetric and thermogravimetric

methods . The X-ray diffraction analysis has shown that the

beta-phase of alloy hydride occurs much faster in a hydroge-

nated composite sample than in an AB5 alloy . The results of

gravimetric and volumetric analysis samples have shown

that the composite is able to absorb more hydrogen as

individual parts separately . The following mechanism is

deduced – the hydrogen chemisorbs at the surface sites

found on the AB5 and the bridges between the catalyst and

glass particles allow the chemisorbed hydrogen to migrate

onto the glass surface . Original composition of composite

and container construction is proposed to be used for

hydrogen storage in the solid phase .

Contact person

Līga Grīnberga


Ķengaraga street 8, Riga, LV-1063, LatviaTel .: +371 67262145Fax: +371 67132778 E-mail: ligagr@cfi .lu .lvhttp://www .cfi .lv


52

New Method for Hydrogen Generation Using Advanced Electrolysis TechniqueFree hydrogen does not exist on Earth; therefore more than

95% of the hydrogen generated worldwide is prepared from

fossil fuels by steam reformation . This only increases global

emissions of carbon dioxide worldwide . The water electroly-

sis is considered as an important method for large-scale

pro duction of “green” hydrogen . In our method the AC cur-

rent and only water was used for electrolysis in the cylindri-

cal cells made from steel electrodes . Different forms of sepa-

rated pulses and groups of pulses were applied to cell, and it

is proposed that water splitting occurs by a different

mechan ism from the conventional DC electrolysis . When

short pulse voltage of several microseconds is applied to a

water electrolysis cell, the changes of potential is so fast

neither the electric double layer nor the diffusion layer can

be stably formed in the vicinity of electrodes . During sharp

voltage pulses the electrons are collected on the surface of

the cathode electrode like as in a capacitor and are quickly

transferred to hydrogen ions circulating with water under

influence of magnetic field . Hydrogen molecules are gener-

ated and in the form of very small bubbles are transferred to

the surface of electrolyte . The volume of generated gases is

larger as in case of traditional electrolysis .

Contact person

Mārtiņš Vanags


Ķengaraga street 8, Riga, LV-1063, LatviaTel .: +371 67262145Fax: +371 67132778E-mail: sf11053@cfi .lu .lvhttp://www .cfi .lv

Novel Double Cross-linked Proton Conducting Membrane and the MethodsProton conductive membranes find application in many

commercial electrochemical systems – sustainable energy

conversion: proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells,

direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), hydrogen electrolysers;

water purification systems; sensors, etc . Over the last decade,

membranes based on polyetheretherketone (PEEK) have

shown considerable promises . These membranes were

found to possess good thermal stability, appropriate

mechanical strength, and high proton conductivity, which

depend on their degree of sulfonation .

Our invention relates to double cross-linked proton con-

ducting membrane and the novel approach to the double

cross-linked S-PEEK in order to simplify synthesis, improve the

stability of membrane, and it electrochemical performance in

fuel cells . According to the new method the crosslinked chlo-

rosulfonated and sufonated PEEK (CCSPEEK) is simply pre-

pared via an only step . Simple technology and good mechani-

cal, chemical and electrical properties of final product – proton

conducting polymer membrane are essential scope of our

proposal which is applied for Latvian patent on 2007 .

Contact person

Jānis Kleperis


Ķengaraga street 8, Riga, LV-1063, Latvia Tel .: +371 67262145 Fax: +371 67132778 E-mail: kleperis@latnet .lv http://www .cfi .lv

T r a n s p o r t

53

Efficiency Analysis of Transport Information Systems and Their Application in Transportation Systems Planning and OptimizationEuropean road networks represent a significant investment

and priority for governments across the continent . The

management of transportation systems, especially in urban

environments where dense concentration of vehicles affects

large numbers of Europeans, is paramount to the social,

physical and economic welfare of Europe .

The main idea is to develop and evaluate a simple, cost-

effective but powerful infrastructure that will facilitate trans-

port systems management . To gather the required data,

primarily GPS data are collected . These data can be sup ple-

ment ed optionally with data from fixed detectors . The main

objectives of the research can be listed as follows:

• Using different types of onboard GPS sensor-enabled

devices to collect vehicle position data;

• Implementation of software infrastructure to collect and

store position data in form of databases;

• Estimation of model parameters on the base of GPS data,

model filtering and data error elimination; recon struc-

tion of full traffic flows (intensities) on the base on partial

information (historical and real-time) from taxis and

other vehicles;

• Estimation of traffic characteristics such as distributions

and parameters of queuing length, waiting time, etc ., traf-

fic local optimization using control of green traffic lights;

• Application of suitable environmental pollution models

to simulate the impact to the environment;

• Implementation of software infrastructure for the pur-

poses of selective and parametric data visualisation

through appropriate queries (on-line, web, off-line);

• Predictive modelling using reconstructed flows and pro-

grammable events such as traffic signal timing, road

blockages, etc . for the models validation .

Contact person

Maksims Fiošins

Riga Technical UniversityInstitute of Transport Vehicle Technology

Lomonosova street 1, Riga, LV-1019, LatviaTel .: +371 67089980Fax: +371 67089893E-mail: maksims .fiosins@rtu .lvhttp://www .tti .rtu .lv

Transport Tasks Solution TechnologyThe necessity to optimize the traffic of city transport is com-

mon task for many cities, even small . The main problem of

traffic optimization task is that in all realistic cases the set of

restrictions is very complicated – there are legislation restric-

tions (time of driver work, dinner breaks), technological

restrictions (available transport resources), social restrictions

(morning and day peaks), etc .

We suggest transport task solution technology, which

gives the possibility to take into account a wide set of real-

istic restrictions for transport task solution . Technology

consists of set of algorithms and gives the possibility to take

into account many variations of motion condition .

Contact person




54


Technology of Aircraft Structural Health Assessment Bases of technology and techniques of aircraft structural

health assessment of an aging aircraft from an aluminum

alloy are developed . Technology is based on use of proper-

ties of ultrasonic surface Lamb’s waves . The system of piezo-

ceramic gauges integrated into a structure together with the

autonomous equipment of excitation, reception and the

analysis of the diagnostic information provides the continu-

ous monitoring of thin-walled structural elements and reli-

able detecting of defects of a structure (cracks, corrosion) .

Development includes component of results of the research-

es executed together with partners of 6FP Pro ject AISHA .

Contact person

Vitalijs Pavelko

Riga Technical University Lomonosova street 1b – B 119, Riga, LV-1019, LatviaTel .: +371 7 089961Fax: +371 7 089990E-mail: Vitalijs .Pavelko@rtu .lv

Electro transport sustainable control systemTechnology allows controlling electric energy consumption

in real time that could provide study of power effectively of

the existed transport system and industrial electronics . The

proposal for the energy consumption optimization is con-

nected with the development and investigation of intelli-

gent agents . Intelligent agents are used for advanced on-line

system control . The developed technology allows decreasing

power consumption by 10–20%, providing the necessary

volume of the transportations, as well as suggestions for the

following development .

Contact person

Nadežda Kuņicina

Riga Technical University Institute of Industrial Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Kaļķu street 1, Riga, LV-1658, LatviaTel .: +371 7089051Fax: +371 7089039E-mail: nadezda .kunicina@rtu .lv http://www .rtu .lv

Information Infrastructure Model for Virtual Logistics Centre to Ensure Management of Multimodal and Intermodal Transportation in International Transport CorridorsThe information infrastructure model of virtual logistics

centres is oriented to ensure interoperability of railway tran-

sit business participants in international transport corridors .

Integrated solutions for information systems are acceptable

along transport logistics chain, as well as for railway chains

crossing borders . The development of XML & Java-based

specifications for interaction between distributed business

structures, especially in cases of multimodal and intermodal

transportation, should be considered . The problems of infor-

mation resources integration are of interest to everybody

whose business is built on logistics principles and in the first

place, to transit business . The virtual logistics centre pro-

vides integrating of heterogeneous information resources for

a whole transport logistics chain into a united information

space . It may be applied to control multimodal and inter-

modal transportation in international transport corridors, as

well as to decrease an influence of the geographic factor .

Contact person

Ludmila Sergejeva

Riga Technical UniversityInstitute of Railway

Indriķa street 8a, Riga, LV-1004, LatviaTel .: +371 7089650Fax: +371 670899668E-mail: sla@latnet .lvhttp://www .tmf .rtu .lv/dzat

55

T r a n s p o r t

Electronic AutoCAD-Library of Standard Components for Automated Designing of Railway Signaling, Centralization and Blocking SystemsAn electronic library of standard components for automat-

ed designing of railway signaling, centralization and blocking

systems has been created . The library can be easily placed

into the automated designing system AutoCAD . Using of

the library considerably increases efficiency of the engineer-

ing work for the new systems development, as well as for

their modernization .

Contact person

Ludmila Sergejeva

Riga Technical UniversityInstitute of Railway

Indriķa street 8a, Riga, LV-1004, LatviaTel .: +371 7089650Fax: +371 670899668E-mail: sla@latnet .lvhttp://www .tmf .rtu .lv/dzat

Leak Control Technology in Pressure VesselsTechnology of acoustic emission (AE) control of liquid leak

from pressure vessels such as fuel, oil, water, and other stor-

age tanks is elaborated . The technology provides the possi-

bility of detection liquid leakages through cracks, holes,

fractures, joint openings and suchlike formations, which

appear as a result of deformation under the effect of differ-

ent external and internal loads . Apart from that, the method

gives an opportunity to detect liquid leakages through con-

trol elements of hydraulic systems (valves, gates and other),

as well as to assess the leak tightness of blinds and flanges .

The offered control method has higher interference pro-

tection in comparison with the methods based, for instance,

on the use of acoustic radar .

Basic properties:

• frequency band of AE registered signals – 5…150 kHz;

• threshold sensitivity of the method – more than 80 l/hr;

• distance to a leak spot – up to 30…50 m .

Contact person

Aleksandrs Urbahs

Riga Technical University, Institute of Transport Vehicles Technologies

Kaļķu street 1, Riga, LV-1658, LatviaTel .: +371 67089948Fax: +371 67089968 E-mail: Aleksandrs .Urbahs@rtu .lvhttp://www .tti .rtu .lv

56


Folding a Wheelchair with an Electric ActuatorMultipurpose folding wheelchair is elaborated to be used

both in urban and rural conditions and inside buildings and

flats .

The wheelchair is equipped with a combined actuator

and is driven:

• in manual mode with two round levers at the expense of

the muscular power of a passenger;

• in motor mode with an electric actuator of the right rear

wheel .

On the steering pillars of the wheelchair there are control

and monitoring elements, hand throttle, brake arms, a head-

light, and a rear mirror .

The wheelchair is additionally equipped with an accumula-

tor battery with a charger, a battery discharge indicator,

electric signal, parking and main brakes, a steering wheel lock,

an indicator and signalling devices of turning and braking .

When it is necessary, the wheelchair can be comfortably

and compactly folded and transported in a car truck, lift, or

public transport .

The wheelchair moves noiselessly and runs easily over

small grades, irregularities, and obstacles . On even road sur-

face it can gather speed up to 10 km/h and travel the dis-

tance up to 30 km without the accumulator recharging .

The wheelchair is elaborated in cooperation with JSC

“METALSERVISS” with a financial support of the Riga City

Council .

Contact person

Aleksandrs Urbahs

Riga Technical University, Institute of Transport Vehicles Technologies

Kaļķu street 1, Riga, LV-1658, LatviaTel .: +371 67089948Fax: +371 67089968 E-mail: Aleksandrs .Urbahs@rtu .lvhttp://www .tti .rtu .lv

Folding Electric ScooterElectric scooter is a light-sized, low-noise, environmentally

friendly private vehicle, which is specially designed for reduc-

tion of noise level and pollution in streets . The scooter is

mainly meant for the use in “Park & Ride” system with the

aim to decrease private motor car traffic intensity and the

load of streets as much as possible .

The construction of the scooter is the best compromise

between steerability and comfort .

The vehicle is equipped with an accumulator battery,

which is recharged from the ordinary 220 W power supply

network during parking, and an electric engine with a chain

gear . The time of battery charging is only three hours .

On the steering pillar of the vehicle there is an ignition

key, handles of accelerator and brake, a headlight with a

wide angle of entrance, a rear mirror, as well as turning indi-

cator, sound signal and headlight keys . On the main dash

panel there are all necessary things: a speedometer, a power

network voltage detector and a number of warning lamps .

The sound signal, turning indicators and stop-light are

above the back driving wheel . Increased wheel diameter

gave an opportunity to improve the stability of the new

scooter when turning . Driving at maximum speed, up to

20 km/h, the performance of the scooter is perfect .

The frame of the scooter is split, and thanks to special

pivot joints it can be easily folded . It gives an opportunity to

carry the folded scooter in a trunk of any medium-class

motor car as well as in public transport .

The scooter is elaborated in cooperation with JSC

“METAL SERVISS” with a financial support of JSC “GE

Money” .

Contact person

Aleksandrs Urbahs



The outlook for Latvian technology “High Tech in Latvia 2008” is řnancially supported by Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia.www.izm.gov.lv

Editorial BoardPēteris Reihmanis, LTP

Laila Eliņa, LTP

Publisher

Latvia Technology Park

www.ltp.lv

In Cooperation withRiga Technical University

Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre

www.rtu.lv

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High Tech in Latvia

high tech 2008

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