Forging furnace with thermochemical waste-heat recuperation by natural gas reforming: Fuel saving and heat balance

This paper considers thermochemical recuperation (TCR) of waste-heat using natural gas reforming by steam and combustion products. Combustion products contain steam (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and ballast nitrogen (N₂). Because endothermic chemical reactions take place, methane steam-dry reforming creates new synthetic fuel that contains valuable combustion components: hydrogen (H₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and unreformed methane (CH₄). There are several advantages to performing TCR in the industrial furnaces: high energy efficiency, high regeneration rate (rate of waste-heat recovery), and low emission of greenhouse gases (CO₂, NO_x). As will be shown, the use of TCR is significantly increasing the efficiency of industrial furnaces – it has been observed that TCR is capable of reducing fuel consumption by nearly 25%. Additionally, increased energy efficiency has a beneficial effect on the environment as it leads to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.     

Do metal grain silos benefit women in Kenya,Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe?

Metal silos can reduce maize losses during storage in smallholder farm systems, contributing towards international goals of reducing food waste and moving towards Sustainable Development Goal 2, Zero Hunger. However, technologies are introduced into farming systems with complex sets of relationships. These may differentially affect the ability of women and men to secure the expected benefits of metal silos. This, in turn, may affect adoption rates and expected outcomes. To better understand these relationships, a mixed methods study was conducted in Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia where metal silos were introduced through the Effective Grain Storage Project (EGSP). EGSP distributed 1717 metal silos across the four countries.Quantitative surveys using random sampling were conducted in Kenya (124 respondents) and Malawi (100 respondents) with metal silo owners. Qualitative surveys, using purposive sampling, were conducted in all four countries covering 14 ethnic groups using focus group discussions (360 respondents), key informant interviews (62 respondents), and household case studies (62 respondents). The aim was to understand gendered post-harvest management and storage strategies in traditional systems and to map changes when metal silos were introduced.The findings suggest roles and responsibilities regarding the ownership and management of storage structures are strongly gendered with some differences between ethnic groups and countries. Men benefit more than women from the introduction of metal silos. Ownership of the grain storage facility, and the benefits attached to ownership, can switch from women to men with women having less scope for bargaining over their rights to use the stored grain for their own needs and the benefit of all household members. Women and men fail to fully follow guidelines for effective use of metal silos. They differ in their preferred attributes for their ideal storage system. Whilst some attributes are shared, women’s preferences were sharply differentiated from men in others.     

Colostrum source and passive immunity transfer in dairy bull calves

Colostrum is essential for good neonate health; however, it is not known whether different calves absorb the nutrients from colostrum equally well. In this study, the absorption of protein, IgG, and γ-glutamyl transferase was compared in newborn dairy bull calves for 1 wk after feeding colostrum from different sources. Thirty-five Holstein-Friesian bull calves were randomly allocated into 3 groups and fed colostrum within 4 h after birth. Group A calves (n = 12) were bottle fed colostrum from their own dam for 3 d. Colostrum from these group A cows was also used as foster cow colostrum for the group B calves (n = 12), such that each group A and B calf pair received identical colostrum from each milking of the respective group A dam (10% of birth weight per day). The group C calves (n = 11) were fed 1 bottle (2 L) of pooled colostrum and transition milk (referred to as pooled colostrum), as was the standard practice on the dairy farm. The pooled colostrum was collected from the other dairy cows on the farm 0 to 4 d postpartum and stored at 4°C for less than 12 h. Blood was sampled from calves before the first feeding and at 1, 2, 3, and 7 d after birth. Levels of total solids, total protein, and IgG were higher in the dam colostrum than in the pooled colostrum. At birth, there were no differences between the calf groups for any measurements, and all calves had very low IgG levels. After receiving colostrum, the glucose, plasma γ-glutamyl transferase, serum total protein, and IgG concentrations increased significantly in all calves. There were no differences in any blood measurements at any time point between the pairs of group A and group B calves that received colostrum from the same cow except for the IgG concentration 2 d after birth. However, the group A calves had a higher total serum protein level and IgG concentration than the group C calves for all the time points after the first feeding. The group B calves had a higher IgG concentration than the group C calves on d 1, 2, and 7 after birth. Compared with groups A and B, there was no difference in the proportion of calves in group C that failed to have passive immunity transferred adequately based on the IgG threshold (<10 g/L). Thus, the calves receiving identical colostrum from the same cow had the same levels of IgG, and even the pooled colostrum provided sufficient transfer of IgG as the calves were fed within 4 h after birth.     

哈尔滨典型街谷空间PM2.5分布场与绿色界面指数相关性 研究

在城市化快速进程的背景下，城市 街区PM2.5污染日益严重，本文选取哈尔滨 在不同季节的典型街谷空间，对以叶面积密 度（LA D）、叶面积指数（LAI）为实测要素 的绿色界面指数以及PM2.5浓度进行实测对 比研究。通过对实测数据的分析和挖掘，最 终得出如下结论：首先，典型街谷空间PM2.5 时段浓度呈现上午比下午平均高37.75%，冬 季比夏季高4.7倍的特征；其次，街谷空间的 灌木界面对PM2.5浓度场平均积极贡献率为 18.62%；最后，对PM2.5的衰减率与实测街 谷绿色界面的叶面积密度（LAD）与叶面积 指数（LAI）进行相关性分析，结果显示街谷 绿色界面对PM2.5浓度的衰减作用与叶面积 密度（LAD）呈显著负相关关系，与叶面积指 数（LAI）的相关性程度较弱。     

Simulation studies on a rotating ring disk electrode: Effects of ionic migration with kinetic complication-disk results

In continuation to my previous work (Guha S. AIChE J. 2013;59(4):1390-1399), in this work, effects of ionic migration are evaluated for disk region of a rotating ring disk electrode system by numerically solving complex differential equations, developed for mass transfer along with kinetic complication in presence of ionic migration under limiting current condition. The system for simulation is 0.01 M Fe₂(SO₄)₃ solution with H₂SO₄ as supporting electrolyte. Simulation cases are presence and absence of ionic migration with kinetic complication (oxidation of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ under O₂ pressure). Results show that concentration boundary layer thickness of reactant Fe³⁺ reduces appreciably and steady-state disk current reduces substantially in presence of migration. Simulated steady-state disk current in absence of migration case agrees well with published data. Results indicate higher Fe²⁺ concentration in presence of migration and thereby higher rate of oxidation of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ at all rate constant values.     

《物理化学》课程思政建设的探索与实践

"立德树人"是高等教育的根本任务,思政教育能培养青年大学生树立正确的价值观。以近三年的《物理化学》课程教学实践为基础,举例说明《物理化学》课程的思政元素提炼,讨论了如何在授课教学环节有机融入课程思政内容。结果表明,思政元素的融入不仅能有效提高教学质量,更能激发学生的爱国热情,培养学生的辩证思维,有利于培养有理想、有素养的高素质人才。     

Large electrocaloric effect in two-step-SPS processed Pb(Sc0.25In0.25Nb0.25Ta0.25)O3 medium-entropy ceramics

Ferroelectric ceramic with a large electrocaloric (EC) effect at a very low electric field is very attractive in the next solid state refrigeration technology. In this work, two Pb(Sc_0.25In_0.25Nb_0.25Ta_0.25)O₃ (PSINT) medium-entropy ceramics were successfully synthesized by a spark plasma sintering (SPS) technology, including one-step-SPS processed and two-step-SPS processed samples. A large EC effect (△T ～ 0.85 K) with a high EC strength (△T/△E ～ 0.021 K cm/kV) around room temperature are obtained at a very low electric field (～40 kV/cm) in the two-step-SPS processed sample. Moreover, the working temperature range is very broad (～120 K), which can be responsible for the high relaxation degree of the dielectric peak. It can be believed that the PSINT medium-entropy ceramics can be promising candidates for application in the next-generation EC cooling devices.     

Improvement in the properties of low carbon MgO-C refractories through the addition of graphite-SiC micro-composite

Graphite–SiC micro-composites have been prepared in–house by carbothermal reduction process. Controlling the process parameters including the weight ratio of SiO₂ to graphite as well as carbothermal reduction temperature during the micro-composite preparation favors the homogeneous formation of SiC with preferred morphologies like ribbons and whiskers/fibers. The micro-composite modified low carbon MgO-C refractories have exhibited significantly improved bulk properties over the standard composition. To understand the beneficial role of SiC reinforcement on hot strength performance under air oxidizing conditions, we propose a scaling parameter known as strength factor (fs) based on the ratio of hot strength (HMOR) to cold strength (CCS). Correlating the strength factor data (fs) with oxidative damage provides new insights into the reinforcing effects of distinct SiC morphologies in this new class of micro-composite fortified refractory systems over the standard compositions.     

Effect of sintering temperature on the transport properties of La2Ce2O7 ceramic materials

La₂Ce₂O₇ (LCO) based materials are of a paramount importance since they can be utilized for ammonium production, thermal barrier application, catalysts, hydrogen production and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In this work, a nano crystalline LCO powder was prepared using glycine-nitrate combustion method and then its properties were comprehensively characterized. The structural analysis of the synthesized LCO was carried out using conventional X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. In a disordered phase, LCO is a biphasic mixture composed of C- and F-type phases. Densification studies were performed by sintering LCO pellets at different sintering temperatures. A densification of ≥95% was observed in all the samples with a very little variation. Sintering temperature had a marked effect on the electrical conductivity of LCO. The LCO sintered at 1100 °C showed the highest conductivity (3.68 mS/cm at 700 °C in air). The electrical conductivity was found to be decreasing with an increase in sintering temperature from 1100 to 1400 °C. To understand the behavior, the analysis of distribution function of relaxation times (DFRTs) utilized for correct separation of grain and grain boundary resistances. The presence of C- and F- type phases calculated from Raman spectra plays a crucial role in deciding conduction behavior of LCO. The results suggest a strong relationship between history of the ceramics preparation and their electrical properties.     

Notwendigkeit und Vermarktung von Flexibilitätsoptionen im Energiesystem der Zukunft

Demands on production, distribution and consumption of electrical energy change fundamentally with the energy revolution. Energy purchasing costs for inflexible consumers are rising and proceeds of inflexible producers are sinking. Companies are able to reduce costs by marketing operational flexibility options. This article sets out the need of flexibility in the energy system and the new marketing options. Flexibility potentials within infrastructure plants of a chemical park are analyzed, evaluated regarding marketing and activated in the presented research project FlexChemistry.