Study of fuel insolubles: Formation conditions and characterization of copper compounds

The solids formed in the systems containing copper in different oxidation states, in the presence and absence of hexanoic acid and dodecanethiol, together and separately, at room temperature, were studied. The experiments were performed in a mineral oil matrix, free of sulfur compounds and metals; a diesel oil matrix; and the reagents alone, without any matrix. The deposits formed were analyzed by elemental analysis (EA), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and total copper by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), for their identification and determination of the probable structures. In samples containing both hexanoic acid and dodecanethiol, when there is copper(I), anhydrous copper(II) hexanoate is preferentially formed, but in samples of copper(II), copper(II) mercaptate is formed first. In samples of metallic copper in mineral oil matrix, no deposit formations occur. In all cases in which deposits were formed, they were the same as in diesel oil matrix.     

Project-based mechanisms for emissions reductions: balancing trade-offs with baselines

Project-based mechanisms for emissions reductions credits, like the Clean Development Mechanism, pose important challenges for policy design because of several inherent characteristics. Participation is voluntary, so it will not occur without sufficient credits. Evaluating reductions requires assigning an emissions baseline for a counterfactual that cannot be measured. Some investments have both economic and environmental benefits and might occur anyway. Uncertainty surrounds both emissions and investment returns, and parties to the project are likely to have more information than the certifying authority. The certifying agent is limited in its ability to design a contract that would reveal investment intentions. As a result, rules for benchmarking emissions may be systematically biased to overallocate, and they also risk creating inefficient investment incentives. This paper evaluates, in a situation with asymmetric information, the efficacy of the main baseline rules currently under consideration: historical emissions, an average industry emissions standard, and expected emissions.     

LPNet: A DNN based latency prediction technique for application mapping in Network-on-Chip design

Analytical models used for latency estimation of Network-on-Chip (NoC) are not producing reliable accuracy. This makes these analytical models difficult to use in optimization of design space exploration. In this paper, we propose a learning based model using deep neural network (DNN) for latency predictions. Input features for DNN model are collected from analytical model as well as from Booksim simulator. Then this DNN model has been adopted in mapping optimization loop for predicting the best mapping of given application and NoC parameters combination. Our simulations show that using the proposed DNN model, prediction error is less than 12% for both synthetic and application specific traffic. More than 108 times speedup could be achieved using DPSO with DNN model compared to DPSO using Booksim simulator.     

A CALPHAD-type Young's modulus database of Ti-rich Ti–Nb–Zr–Mo system

Accurate Young's modulus is the necessity for the design of biomedical Ti alloys. A combinatorial method of the diffusion couple, nanoindentation, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and CALculation of PHAse Diagrams (CALPHAD) techniques has been utilized to construct the Young's modulus database of Ti alloys with various compositions in the present work. Two groups of body-centered cubic (bcc) Ti–Nb–Zr–Mo quaternary diffusion couples annealed at 1273 K for 25 h were experimentally prepared. Subsequently, the composition-dependent mechanical properties in the wide compositional range of Ti-based alloys were obtained by using EPMA and nanoindentation probes. Finally, on the basis of the measured Young's moduli in the present and previous work and the modeling parameters of Young's modulus of Ti–Nb–Zr system, the Young's modulus database of bcc Ti–Nb–Zr–Mo system was established through the CALPHAD approach. The CALPHAD-type database of bcc Ti–Nb–Zr–Mo system can provide the accurate Young's moduli of Ti alloys with wide compositions.     

An efficient neural-network model for real-time fault detection in industrial machine

Neural Computing and Applications - Induction machines have extensive demand in industries as they are used for large-scale production and, therefore, vulnerable to both electrical and mechanical...     

A user's guide for evaluating the IBM token-ring

IBM's long-awaited Token-Ring network has finally arrived. Much to the dissapointment of users, however, this LAN scheme offers limited processor connectivity and is costly to implement. More importantly, one must measure the impact of this product on what lies beneath the surface. This paper will explore the Token-Ring's attributes and comment on its future direction.     

An alternate process for the recovery of uranium by ion exchange: A study of the HIMIX process

An alternative approach to the recovery of uranium by ion exchange involves the additional loading of uranium onto a partially loaded resin followed by the elution of uranium from the more highly charged resin. The conditioning of the resin in this manner provides for the possible displacement of impurities from the resin and the production of an eluate suitable for the direct precipitation of yellowcake at a reduced consumption of eluant.This paper presents the results of pilot-plant and bench-scale experiments on the conditioning and elution steps. Variables such as the initial uranium concentration of the conditioning liquor, pH, temperature, and contact time were considered in the conditioning process together with the behaviour of thorium and iron impurities. In the elution work the effects of eluant flowrate, sulphuric acid concentration, elution temperature, and initial uranium loading on eluate uranium concentration and elution time were studied. The extent to which the further adsorption of uranium onto the resin together with thorium and iron displacement can be realized is indicated. In addition it is shown that an eluate suitable for yellowcake production can be obtained at an acid consumption significantly less than in the conventional processes.     

Light scattering study of stereocomplex behaviour in solutions of poly(methyl methacrylate)

The behaviour of mixtures of iso- and syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a function of time and polymer whole concentration in several solvents has been studied by light scattering and laser light scattering. The different solvents investigated in this study are acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, dimethylformamide (DMF), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and 1,4-dioxane. We have found that the last one behaves as a weakly complexing solvent, while the others show a complexing power decreasing from acetonitrile to THF.An increase in polymer whole concentration induces a higher aggregation of the macromolecular coil, while the compaction process of stereocomplex particles is not strongly influenced. The influence of time in stereocomplex behaviour depends on the nature of the solvent employed. In strongly complexing solvents there is initially a strong increase in the aggregation process and a decrease in compaction. However, in weakly complexing solvents these kinetic processes are less important.     

Some properties of metal/insulator/semiconductor structures with BN and carbon thin layers formed by the reactive pulse plasma method on silicon or SiO2 substrates and annealing effects

Thin layers (100–300 nm) of BN and diamond-like carbon were produced by the reactive pulse plasma method. On the basis of measurements and analysis of electrical properties of metal/insulator/semiconductor (MIS) capacitors, with a BN or carbon layer acting as the dielectric and silicon as the semiconductor, operating parameters were identified for the BN/Si and C/Si structures. A double layer of thermal SiO₂ and either BN or carbon was also used as a dielectric. The structures produced were subjected to annealing at temperatures from 100 to 500°C in N₂ and O₂ atmospheres.Using the spectral investigation method, BN and carbon layers produced on quartz and KBr substrates were examined for their probable composition (IR absorption analysis), absorption coefficient α and refractive index n. After annealing at temperatures of 300–400°C, a marked improvement in the electrical performance of MIS structures was found as well as storage of charge in the double-layer dielectric structures. Hydrogen and oxygen were also found to be present in the test layers. On the basis of the analysis of the electrical characteristics it is assumed that dehydrogenation of the layers during thermal treatment is one of the reasons why their electrical properties tend to vary with time.