Optimization of hydrogen enrichment via palladium membrane in vacuum environments using Taguchi method and normalized regression analysis

In this study, the separation of hydrogen from gas mixtures using a palladium membrane coupled with a vacuum environment on the permeate side was studied experimentally. The gas mixtures composed of H₂, N₂, and CO₂ were used as the feed. Hydrogen permeation fluxes were measured with membrane operating temperature in the range of 320–380 °C, pressures on the retentate side in the range of 2–5 atm, and vacuum pressures on the permeate side in the range of 15–51 kPa. The Taguchi method was used to design the operating conditions for the experiments based on an orthogonal array. Using the measured H₂ permeation fluxes from the Taguchi approach, the stepwise regression analysis was also employed for establishing the prediction models of H₂ permeation flux, followed by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify the significance and suitability of operating conditions. Based on both the Taguchi approach and ANOVA, the H₂ permeation flux was mostly affected by the gas mixture composition, followed by the retentate side pressure, the vacuum degree, and the membrane temperature. The predicted optimal operating conditions were the gas mixture with 75% H₂ and 25% N₂, the membrane temperature of 320 °C, the retentate side pressure of 5 atm, and the vacuum degree of 51 kPa. Under these conditions, the H₂ permeation flux was 0.185 mol s^?1 m^?2. A second-order normalized regression model with a relative error of less than 7% was obtained based on the measured H₂ permeation flux.     

Large domain-wall currents in epitaxial Au/BiFeO3/SrRuO3 thin-film capacitors with modulated oxygen vacancy and wall densities

Large domain wall (DW) conductivity in an insulating ferroelectric plays an important role in the future nanosensors and nonvolatile memories. However, the wall current was usually too small to drive high-speed memory circuits and other agile nanodevices requiring high output-powers. Here, a large domain-wall current of 67.8 μA in a high on/off ratio of ~4460 was observed in an epitaxial Au/BiFeO₃/SrRuO₃ thin-film capacitor with the minimized oxygen vacancy concentration. The studies from read current-write voltage hysteresis loops and piezo-response force microscope images consistently showed remaining of partially unswitched domains after application of an opposite poling voltage that increased domain wall density and wall current greatly. A theoretical model was proposed to explain the large wall current. According to this model, the domain reversal occurs with the appearance of head-to-head and tail-to-tail 180° domain walls (DWs), resulting in the formation of highly conductive wall paths. As the applied voltage increased, the domain-wall number increased to enhance the on-state current, in agreement with the measurements of current-voltage curves. This work paves a way to modulate DW currents within epitaxial Au/BiFeO₃/SrRuO₃ thin-film capacitors through the optimization of both oxygen vacancy and domain wall densities to achieve large output powers of modern domain-wall nanodevices.     

我国水-能源-粮食耦合关系及影响因素

为缓解我国水、能源和粮食资源紧张问题，促进资源可持续利用，构建水-能源-粮食系统，利用耦合协调度模型对我国的30个省（自治区、直辖市）进行测算,并利用空间杜宾模型分析主要影响因素。结果表明：2003—2017年，我国能源、粮食评价[JP]指数高于水资源评价指数，系统综合评价指数逐年递增；大部分省份耦合协调度处于初级协调水平且呈现逐年上升的态势，个别省份耦合协调度濒临失调；耦合协调度空间自相关性较强，虽有明显波动，但是呈现逐年加强的态势；影响耦合协调度的主要因素有从业人口数、固定资产投资额、人均生产总值、人口总数、[JP]文盲人口占比、工业污染排放、城镇化。     

Model of reactive precipitation process of preparation nano-ZnO in rotating packed bed: Contribution ratio

With excellent micromixing characteristic of rotating packed bed (RPB), many nanoparticles with small average size, narrower distribution and good morphology had been successfully and continuously prepared. To reveal complex crystal process, an empirical model were developed to simulate nano-ZnO by considering mass changed, population balance equation, growth rate G, nucleation rate B, drop sizes D_i, and resident time t. The predicted particle sizes were shown good agreement with experimental data with error of ±10%. Therefore, it was further adopted to predict the effects of rotating speed, liquid flow rate and reactant concentration on the mean particle size. To look more deeply insight in this process, their contribution ratios were further analyzed. The proposed empirical models were of great helpful to obtain suitable operation conditions for preparing much better properties of nanoparticles with fewer experiments. It was also beneficial to produce other nanoparticles in RPB.     

Farmers' preferences for adopting on-farm concentration of raw milk: Results from a discrete choice experiment in Germany

Milk concentrates are used in the manufacturing of dairy products such as yogurt and cheese or are processed into milk powder. Processes for the nonthermal separation of water and valuable milk ingredients are becoming increasingly widespread at farm level. The technical barriers to using farm-manufactured milk concentrate in dairies are minimal, hence the suspicion that the practice of on-farm raw milk concentration is still fairly uncommon for economic reasons. This study, therefore, set out to investigate farmers' potential willingness to adopt a raw milk concentration plant. The empirical analysis was based on discrete choice experiments with 75 German dairy farmers to identify preferences and the possible adoption of on-farm raw milk concentration. The results showed that, in particular, farmers who deemed the current milk price to be insufficient viewed on-farm concentration using membrane technology as an option for diversifying their milk sales. We found no indication that adoption would be impeded by a lack of trustworthy information on milk processing technologies or capital.     

Stress-deformable state of isotropic double curved shell with internal cracks and a circular hole

This work is devoted to the stress–strain state of isotropic double curved shell with defect system. The construction is weakened by two non-through thickness (internal) cracks of different length and by a circular hole located between cracks. In this study we use the line-spring model. Within the framework of this model cracks are modeled as mathematical cuts of shell’s middle surface. This leads to a two-dimensional problem. The problem is reduced to a system of eight boundary integral equations. To ensure the uniqueness of solution an additional equation is added. In the numerical solution of the problem special quadrature formulas for singular integrals of Cauchy type and the finite difference method are applied. The influence of defects on each other for double curved shell has been investigated. The given theoretical results can be used for the calculation of structural elements with holes, cracks on the strength and fracture toughness in various branches of engineering.     

大口径光学元件装夹转运结构设计及分析

为了实现大口径光学元件的安全装夹、转运,通过光学元件开槽与不开槽两种装夹方式的分析,得出开槽夹紧转运方式将带来微裂纹、应力集中、成本高等缺陷,提出了利用摩擦力克服光学零件的重力和惯性力的低应力装夹转运方案。通过对光学元件低应力夹紧结构设计,并利用有限元分析方法,得到不开槽装夹方式下,光学元件的最大主应力为1.11 MPa,最大切应力为0.73 MPa,远低于光学元件破坏的强度极限,且受力均匀,无应力集中现象。     

Human responses to high levels of carbon dioxide and air temperature

In this study, 30 subjects were exposed to different combinations of air temperature (T_a: 24, 27, and 30°C) and CO₂ level (8000, 10 000, and 12 000 ppm) in a high-humidity (RH: 85%) underground climate chamber. Subjective assessments, physiological responses, and cognitive performance were investigated. The results showed that as compared with exposure to T_a = 24°C, exposure to 30°C at all CO₂ levels caused subjects to feel uncomfortably warm and experience stronger odor intensity, while increased mental effort and greater intensity of acute health symptoms were reported. However, no significant effects of T_a on task performance or physiological responses were found. This indicated that subjects had to exert more effort to maintain their performance in an uncomfortably warm environment. Increasing CO₂ from 8000 to 12 000 ppm at all T_a caused subjects to report higher rates of headache, fatigue, agitation, and feeling depressed, although the results were statistically significant only at 24 and 27°C. The text typing performance and systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased significantly at this exposure, whereas diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and thermal discomfort increased significantly. These effects suggest higher arousal/stress. No significant interaction effect of T_a and CO₂ concentration on human responses was identified.     

Co-precipitation of nano Mg–Y/ZrO2 ternary oxide eutectic system: Effects of calcination temperature

In the family of inorganic nanomaterials, zirconia is a highly promising functional ceramic with a high refractive index, hardness, and dielectric constant, as well as excellent chemical inertness and thermal stability. These properties are enhanced in nano-zirconia ceramics, because nanopowders have a small particle size, good morphology, and uniform and dispersive distribution. In this study, a co-precipitation process was proposed to synthesise highly dispersed MgO–Y₂O₃ co-stabilized ZrO₂ nanopowders. The effects of different calcination temperatures on the crystallisation degree and particle dispersion of zirconia nanopowders were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nitrogen adsorption using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The optimum synthesis conditions were obtained as follows: 6 h of high-energy planetary grinding and calcination at 800 °C in an electric furnace. Under these optimum conditions, the average particle size of the prepared powder was 28.7 nm. This process enriches the literature on the controllable preparation of Mg–Y/ZrO₂ nanopowders obtained by the co-precipitation method.