Sputtered Ir–Ru based catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction: Study of iridium effect on stability

Magnetron sputtered low-loading iridium-ruthenium thin films are investigated as catalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction at the anode of the Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer. Electrochemical performance of 50 nm thin catalysts (Ir pure, Ir–Ru 1:1, Ir–Ru 1:3, Ru pure) is tested in a Rotating Disk Electrode. Corresponding Tafel slopes are measured before and after the CV-based procedure to compare the activity and stability of prepared compounds. Calculated activities prior to the procedure confirm higher activity of ruthenium-containing catalysts (Ru pure > Ir–Ru 1:3 > Ir–Ru 1:1 > Ir pure). However, after the procedure a higher activity and less degradation of Ir–Ru 1:3 is observed, compared to Ir–Ru 1:1, i.e. the sample with a higher amount of unstable ruthenium performs better. This contradicts the expected behavior of the catalyst. The comprehensive chemical and structural analysis unravels that the stability of Ir–Ru 1:3 sample is connected to RuO₂ chemical state and hcp structure. Obtained results are confirmed by measuring current densities in a single cell.     

Pilot Plant Study of Simultaneous Sewage Sludge Digestion and Metal Leaching

This research is related to a preindustrial pilot scale study of the performance of the simultaneous sewage sludge digestion and metal leaching (SSDML) process for decontamination and stabilization of sewage sludge. Ten batch tests were carried out in two 4?m3 bioreactors under various conditions of operation. Results indicated that the addition of 1.0 to 1.5?g?S0/L, which is the equivalent of approximately 30 to 50?kg?S0 per tons dry sludge, is sufficient to obtain conditions of acidity (pH<2.5) and oxido-reduction potential greater than 500 mV necessary for an effective solubilization of toxic metals. The final average of metal solubilization in the output sludge during the SSDML process varied in the following ranges: 25–78% Cd, 9–32% Cr, 48–100% Cu, 77–99% Mn, 15–53% Ni, 12–47% Pb, and 66–100% Zn. The N, P, and K contents were also preserved in the decontaminated sludge. Moreover, the use of low concentrations of elemental sulfur makes it possible to obtain decontaminated sludge with a low total sulfur content (1.4–1.5% S) compatible with agricultural use. The suspended solids removal calculated for the SSDML process was slightly lower, (2.5±0.4)% volatile suspended solids per day, than those reached using standard aerobic digestion. Finally, the SSDML process was found to be effective in removing bad odors and in the destruction (99–100%) of indicator bacteria.     

On a large-gain theorem

The aim of this paper is to give a general quantitative requirement which the loop gain must satisfy in order to stabilize a given unstable (possibly nonlinear and time-varying) plant, namely that the gain must exceed one.     

Stabilization of fixed modes in expansions of LTI systems

The objective of this note is to propose a method for stabilization of structurally fixed modes in expansions of LTI dynamic systems in the scope of overlapping decentralized control design based on the expansion/contraction framework, enabling successful design for a broader class of problems than considered so far. The method is based on a judicious choice of complementary matrices in the expanded space. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate simplicity and efficiency of the proposed approach.     

Stabilizing decentralized model predictive control of nonlinear systems

This note presents a stabilizing decentralized model predictive control (MPC) algorithm for nonlinear discrete time systems. No information is assumed to be exchanged between local control laws. The stability proof relies on the inclusion of a contractive constraint in the formulation of the MPC problem.     

Feedback tuning of bifurcations

The present paper studies a feedback regulation problem that arises in at least two different biological applications. The feedback regulation problem under consideration may be interpreted as an adaptive control problem for tuning bifurcation parameters, and it has not been studied in the control literature. The goal of the paper is to formulate this problem and to present some preliminary results.     

PI control of discrete linear repetitive processes

Repetitive processes are a distinct class of 2D systems (i.e. information propagation in two independent directions) of both systems theoretic and applications interest. They cannot be controlled by direct extension of existing techniques from either standard (termed 1D here) or 2D systems theory. In this paper, we exploit their unique physical structure to show how two term, i.e. proportional plus integral (or PI) action, can be used to control these processes to produce desired behavior (as opposed to just stability).     

泡沫在井壁的物理化学作用

泡沫存在着向井壁吸附、聚集的趋势。气泡在井壁的粘着吸附分为四个过程,即接触发生、水层减薄、水层破裂、最终形式是形成三相润湿周边,产生具有疏水性、粘弹性的泡沫吸附壁,从而起到抑制井壁表面水化的作用。     

二氧化碳对油井水泥石的腐蚀及其防护措施

在湿环境下,油气构造中富含的CO_2对水泥石产生碳化腐蚀,碳化结果使水泥石渗透率变大、抗压强度减小,诱发流体窜流、塑性地层井壁垮塌等事故,造成巨大的经济损失。介绍了在不同温度下的水泥水化产物及其碳化产物。从化学角度分析了CO_2在不同温度下对油井水泥环碳化腐蚀的机理、影响因素及防护措施。在低于110℃的温室下,CO_2的腐蚀速度受扩散控制,其影响因素包括水泥浆密度和水泥石渗透率及水泥石孔隙液中Ca(OH)_2的含量,在水泥中掺加活性硅灰或提高水泥浆密度可预防碳化腐蚀。在大于110℃的高温下,碳化腐蚀速度受水泥水化产物中Ca(OH)_2含量和水泥石碳化后渗透率大小的影响。正确的防腐工艺是在水泥石中加入10％—15％的石英砂,或者在纯水泥中加3％—8％的膨润土。