Influence of soil density on gas permeability and water retention in soils amended with in-house produced biochar

Biochar has been used as an environment-friendly enhancer to improve the hydraulic properties(e.g.suction and water retention) of soil.However,variations in densities alter the properties of the soil-biochar mix.Such density variations are observed in agriculture(loosely compacted) and engineering(densely compacted) applications.The influence of biochar amendment on gas permeability of soil has been barely investigated,especially for soil with diffe rent densities.The maj or obj ective of this study is to investigate the water retention capacity,and gas permeability of biochar-amended soil(BAS) with different biochar contents under varying degree of compaction(DOC) conditions.In-house produced novel biochar was mixed with the soil at different amendment rates(i.e.biochar contents of 0%,5% and 10%).All BAS samples were compacted at three DOCs(65%,80% and 95%) in polyvinyl chloride(PVC)tubes.Each soil column was subjected to drying-wetting cycles,during which soil suction,water content,and gas permeability were measured.A simplified theoretical framework for estimating the void ratio of BAS was proposed.The experimental results reveal that the addition of biochar significantly decreased gas permeability k_g as compared with that of bare soil(BS).However,the addition of 5%biochar is found to be optimum in decreasing kg with an increase of DOC(i.e.k_(g,65%) k_(g,80%) k_(g,95%)) at a relatively low suction range(200 kPa) because both biochar and compaction treatment reduce the connected pores.     

Environmental impact assessment of bio-hydrogenated diesel from hydrogen and co-product of palm oil industry

Bio-hydrogenated diesel (BHD) is a second generation biofuel that can be produced from vegetable oil and hydrogen via hydroprocessing. BHD is considered as one of alternative and renewable energy. This work presents evaluation of environmental impacts of BHD produced from palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) compared to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). Greenhouse gas emission, energy consumption, and overall environmental impacts are assessed. System boundary is from palm oil cultivation to BHD production. The functional unit is defined as 1 kg of fuel produced at the plant. The results indicate that energy consumption of BHD-PFAD is 1.18 times higher than that of BHD-FAME, while giving GHG emission 13.56 times lower than that of BHD-FAME. The results of overall environmental impacts indicated that BHD-PFAD was 3.58 greater than that of BHD-FAME.     

Decentralized optimal tracking control for large-scale nonlinear systems with tracking error constraints

In this article, a decentralized optimal tracking control strategy is proposed for a class of nonlinear systems with tracking error constraints by utilizing adaptive dynamic programming (ADP). It should be noted that ADP technology cannot be directly used to solve decentralized optimal tracking problem of large-scale interconnected nonlinear system with nonzero equilibrium points, since that an infinite domain performance index function may result in an unsolvable solution. In addition, by introducing a smooth function, the constrained tracking error is transformed into an unconstrained one. Then, the error dynamics and a new infinite domain performance index function are designed, such that ADP technology can be used. Following the designed performance index function, the tracking error can be ensured within a small neighborhood of zero. Finally, the feasibility and the effectiveness of the proposed decentralized optimal control scheme are verified through two simulation examples.     

Modeling,design, and optimization of a cost‐effective and reliable hybrid renewable energy system integrated with desalination using the division algorithm

People in the Middle East are facing the problem of freshwater shortages. This problem is more intense for a remote region, which has no access to the power grid. The use of seawater desalination technology integrated with the generated energy unit by renewable energy sources could help overcome this problem. In this study, we refer a seawater reverse osmosis desalination (SWROD) plant with a capacity of 1.5 m³/h used on Larak Island, Iran. Moreover, for producing fresh water and meet the load demand of the SWROD plant, three different stand‐alone hybrid renewable energy systems (SAHRES), namely wind turbine (WT)/photovoltaic (PV)/battery bank storage (BBS), PV/BBS, and WT/BBS are modeled and investigated. The optimization problem was coded in MATLAB software. Furthermore, the optimized results were obtained by the division algorithm (DA). The DA has been developed to solve the sizing problem of three SAHRES configurations by considering the object function's constraints. These results show that this improved algorithm has been simpler, more precise, faster, and more flexible than a genetic algorithm (GA) in solving problems. Moreover, the minimum total life cycle cost (TLCC = 243 763$), with minimum loss of power supply probability (LPSP = 0%) and maximum reliability, was related to the WT/PV/BBS configuration. WT/PV/BBS is also the best configuration to use less battery as a backup unit (69 units). The batteries in this configuration have a longer life cycle (maximum average of annual battery charge level) than two other configurations (93.86%). Moreover, the optimized results have shown that utilizing the configuration of WT/PV/BBS could lead to attaining a cost‐effective and green (without environmental pollution) SAHRES, with high reliability for remote areas, with appropriate potential of wind and solar irradiance.     

Sulphonated (PVDF-co-HFP)-graphene oxide composite polymer electrolyte membrane for HI decomposition by electrolysis in thermochemical iodine-sulphur cycle for hydrogen production

In overall iodine-sulphur (I-S) cycle (Bunsen reaction), HI decomposition is a serious challenge for improvement in H₂ production efficiency. Herein, we are reporting an electrochemical process for HI decomposition and simultaneous H₂ and I₂ production. Commercial Nafion 117 membrane has been generally utilized as a separator, which also showed huge water transport (electro-osmosis), and deterioration in conductivity due to dehydration. We report sulphonated poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) (SCP) and sulphonated graphene oxide (SGO) composite stable and efficient polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for HI electrolysis and H₂ production. Different SCP/SGO composite PEMs were prepared and extensively characterized for water content, ion-exchange capacity (IEC), conductivity, and stabilities (mechanical, chemical, and thermal) in comparison with commercial Nafion117 membrane. Most suitable optimized SCP/SGO-30 composite PEM exhibited 6.78 × 10^?2 S cm^?1 conductivity in comparison with 9.60 × 10^?2 S cm^?1 for Nafion® 117. The electro-osmotic flux ofSCP/SGO-30 composite PEM (2.53 × 10^?4 cm s^?1) was also comparatively lower than Nafion® 117 membrane (2.75 × 10^?4 cm s^?1). For HI electrolysis experiments, SCP/SGO-30 composite PEM showed good performance such as 93.4% current efficiency (η), and 0.043 kWh/mol-H₂ power consumption (Ψ). Further, intelligent architecture of SCP/SGO composite PEM, in which hydrophilic SGO was introduced between fluorinated polymer by strong hydrogen bonding, high efficiency and performance make them suitable candidate for electrochemical HI decomposition, and other diversified electrochemical processes.     

多约束下距离加权最优滑模末制导律

为解决多约束下制导炮弹的精确制导问题,采用带有相对距离权函数的最优滑模末制导律,将权函数引入到最优制导律中,通过改变制导炮弹的运动轨迹、运动时间,进而增强制导精度。针对单权函数难以同时满足制导精度与导引头视线角、过载等约束的问题,采用不同权函数的分段加权方法解决加权最优末制导引起的制导问题。结合滑模变结构控制理论,设计分段加权最优滑模末制导律,增强制导系统的抗干扰能力。仿真验证结果表明,该末制导律既能解决过载、导引头视线角、落角等多约束情况下的精确制导问题,同时又具有一定的鲁棒性。     

高低温循环及对称冲击耦合加载下 炸药的安全性研究

基于一级轻气炮加载装置，研究了高低温循环及对称冲击耦合加载下某黑索今(RDX)基含Al炸药的安全性，计算了缺陷处的内能等参数。结果表明:高低温循环后，炸药试样出现可见的孔隙。对称碰撞加载后，不经高低温循环的试样未发生点火，应力加载峰值为835 MPa，加载时间为35 μs；而经历高低温循环的试样出现点火，点火前应力为242 MPa，加载时间11 μs。高低温循环所产生的缺陷是导致炸药点火的重要原因。     

限制失真的网格参数化方法

针对当前网格参数化效率较低、映射失真较严重的问题，提出一种限制失真的网格参数化方法。首先，预处理原始网格模型。输入原3D网格模型，采用Half-Edge数据结构来重新组织网格并切割网格模型产生相应的切缝；构建Tutte映射把3D网格映射到一个2D凸多边形域，即构建2D网格模型。然后，进行限制失真的网格参数化计算。将Tutte映射后的2D网格模型作为限制失真计算的初始数据，建立相对于原3D模型网格的失真度量函数；求得该度量函数的最小值点，即为映射后的网格坐标集合；将映射后的网格作为限制失真映射的输入网格，设定迭代终止条件，循环迭代直至迭代结束，得到收敛的最优网格坐标；在计算映射失真度时，针对等距映射失真采用Dirichlet能量函数度量，针对共形映射失真采用尽可能等距（MIPS）能量函数度量；在求解映射失真度量函数的最小值点时采用代理函数法结合组合牛顿法的最优解方法。最终，实现了该方法并开发了一个原型系统。在原型系统中，分别设计了限制等距失真和限制共形失真的网格参数化实验，对程序执行时间和失真能量下降情况进行了统计和对比，提供了相应的纹理映射效果展示。实验数据表明，所提出的方法执行效率高、映射失真能量下降快，最优值收敛质量稳定；纹理映射时纹理着色均匀、布局紧致、线条均匀，符合实际应用的标准。     

基于过程免疫力的动态电压恢复器优化配置

优质电力园区以最低成本满足用户对电能质量的特殊需求,成为解决电压暂降问题的新途径,已在国内外开展了广泛的试点应用。针对中国优质电力园区规划缺少经济高效的优化配置方法的实际情况,提出了一种基于过程免疫力的动态电压恢复器优化配置方法。基于工业过程电压暂降免疫力,以满足用户用电需求为目标,以治理设备购置费用最低为约束,采用遗传算法对园区供电质量分级制定动态电压恢复器的优化配置方案,实现工业园区电压暂降治理的经济性。对大型精密温控系统的电压暂降治理装置的优化配置方法进行仿真计算,验证了所提方法的有效性与经济性。     

Research on Circular Area Search algorithm of multi-robot service based on SOA cloud platform

Considering autonomous mobile robots with a variety of specific functions as a kind of service, when there are many types and quantities of services and the density of regional services is large, proposing an algorithm of Circular Area Search (CAS) because of the problem of multi-robot service scheduling in various areas. Firstly, Django is used as the web framework to build the Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) multi-robot service cloud platform, which is the basic platform for multi-service combination. Then, the service type, the latitude and longitude and the scoring parameters of the service are selected as the service search metrics to design the CAS algorithm that based on the existing service information registered in MySQL and the Gaode Map for screening optimal service, and then providing the service applicant with the best service. Finally, the service applicant applies for the self-driving tour service as an example to perform performance simulation test on the proposed CAS algorithm. The results show that the CAS algorithm of the multi-robot service cloud platform proposed in this paper is practical compared to the global search. And compared with the Greedy Algorithm experiment, the service search time is reduced about 58% compared with the Greedy Algorithm, which verifies the efficiency of CAS algorithm.