A test method for evaluating the thermal environment of underground coal mine refuge alternatives

Since 2009, the Mine Safety and Health Administration(MSHA) has required mines to install refuge alternatives(RAs) in underground coal mines. One of the biggest concerns with occupied RAs is the possible severity of the resulting thermal environment. In 30 CFR 7.504, the maximum allowable apparent temperature(AT) for an occupied RA is specified as 35 °C(95 °F). Manufacturers must conduct heat/humidity tests to demonstrate that their RAs meet the 35 °C(95 °F) AT limit. For these tests, heat input devices are used to input the metabolic heat of actual miners. A wide variety of test methods, sensors, and heat input devices could be used when conducting such tests. Since 2012, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) has conducted over thirty 96-hour heat/humidity tests on four different RAs. This paper discusses the test equipment and procedures used during these investigations. This information is useful for RA manufacturers conducting RA heat/humidity tests, for other researchers investigating RA heat/humidity buildup, and for those who need to assess the thermal environment of any confined space where people may be trapped or are seeking refuge.     

Preparation of fused silica membrane with high performance for high temperature gas filtration by sealing and spray coating

In order to improve the gas permeability and thermal shock resistance of the ceramic membranes applied in high temperature gas-solid separation techniques, fused silica and graphite particles were used as the primary raw material and pore-former agent, and the spray coating based-on PVA sealing was applied to prepare the separation membrane. These approaches remarkably decreases filtration resistance by increasing support permeability and reducing the intrusion of ceramic membrane forming particles into the support as well as the thickness of the membrane. The fabricated membrane had an average pore diameter of 9.85?μm and a gas permeability value of 8.2?×?10⁴?m³/(m² h bar), its dust removal efficiency reached 98.6%.     

正电子湮没研究Al、Nb共掺CaCu3Ti4O12陶瓷高介电常数机理

关于CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂陶瓷的高介电常数机理，目前广泛接受的是非本征的内阻挡层电容模型。该模型认为在多晶中元素变价、缺陷和非化学计量比等导致的半导化晶粒被绝缘晶界层，即内阻挡层所包围。其中内阻挡层的厚度对材料的介电性能影响较大，而扫描电子显微镜（SEM）测试表明样品晶界呈稀烂的果酱状，SEM难以测量晶界区域绝缘内阻挡层厚度。本文采用正电子湮没技术表征其厚度，通过对CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂陶瓷共掺不同浓度的Al、Nb（CaCu₃Ti_4-xAl_0.5xNb_0.5xO₁₂，x=0.2%、0.5%、5.0%）改变其晶粒和晶界的微观结构，研究CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂陶瓷高介电常数机理。正电子湮没结果显示，掺杂样品符合多普勒展宽谱S参数的变化趋势与平均寿命的变化趋势一致。x=0.5%掺杂样品的介电常数最高，其平均寿命、S参数和湮没长寿命成分均最小，阻挡层最薄。实验结果验证了描述CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂陶瓷高介电常数机理的内阻挡层电容模型的预测。     

Imaging the Curie Point isothermal surface and predicting its impact on the geothermal regime within the Nile Delta,Egypt

The available aeromagnetic data together with information from some available wells have been used in the current study to shed the light on the geothermal setup of the Nile Delta Province. The aeromagnetic data was reduced-to-pole and critically analyzed using the Spectral Analysis Technique through the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), to determine the expected depths to the Basement and Curie Point (CPD) surfaces. The geothermal gradient between CPD and earth's surface was estimated, and accordingly the heat flow was evaluated using the proposed thermal conductivity. Then, the Basement Surface Temperature (BST) was estimated, by which the geothermal gradient and heat flow for the igneous-rocky basement and sedimentary-rocky horizon was independently predicted. By which, it could be possible to distinguish between the heat flow contribution from each horizon separately.     

Ta含量对NiCoCrAlY涂层性能的影响

采用真空雾化的方法制备了Ta含量为0、2%及5%的NiCoCrAlYTa合金粉末,利用超音速火焰喷涂制备了三种涂层,研究了Ta对合金粉末微观组织及物相的影响,绘制了1050℃条件下涂层的高温氧化动力学曲线,研究了500h氧化试验后涂层组织和β相的分布,初步探讨了Ta元素对改善涂层抗氧化性能的作用机理。研究结果表明:Ta通过提高MCrAlY体系抗氧化元素的溶质浓度,促进了氧化膜的形成,随着Ta含量的增加,涂层的内氧化程度降低,涂层抗氧化性能提高。但含Ta涂层在长时间氧化条件下会生成CrTaO_4、AlTaO_4等尖晶石类氧化物,且Ta的氧化物PBR值较大,对涂层的抗热震性能不利。     

Temperature influence on the development of interdiffusion phenomena in MCrAlY-coated nickel-based superalloys

In this work, the interdiffusion between a MCrAlY-bond coat and two different nickel-based superalloys is evaluated at three temperatures, 950 °C, 980 °C, and 1,050 °C. Of primary interest is the evolution of Kirkendall-porosity, the β-depleted zone in the bond coat and the β’- depleted zone in the superalloy. The three phenomena arise near the interface between bond coat and superalloy as a result of interdiffusion between both materials and are detrimental to the coating-substrate system. The evolution of the interdiffusion phenomena is highly dependent on the alloy composition of the materials as well as the annealing temperature. It has been found that not only the temperature dependency of the diffusion coefficient but also the temperature dependent element activities are an important factor when evaluating the interdiffusion phenomena. It has further been shown that at lower temperatures the amount of Kirkendall-porosity per volume fraction is higher than at higher temperatures, even though the overall amount of porosity is lower. Different equilibrium concentrations of main alloying elements and a correspondingly lower over-saturation of vacancies have been identified as the main explanation.     

Efficacy of thyme oil-alginate-based coating in reducing foodborne pathogens on fresh-cut apples

In this study, the inhibition of an alginate-based edible coating (EC) containing thyme oil (0.05%, 0.35% and 0.65%) was evaluated against Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated onto fresh-cut apples. To investigate the antibacterial mechanism of thyme oil, the constituent compounds of that were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the cellular damage of pathogens was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that alginate-based EC containing thyme oil effectively inhibited the growth of pathogens on fresh-cut apples. GC-MS analysis revealed thymol (47.23%) as the major compounds in thyme oil. SEM showed that the cell membrane of foodborne pathogens was damaged by thyme oil, causing their inactivation. Treatment with alginate-based EC containing 0.05% thyme oil preserved the sensory characteristics of fresh-cut apples. Therefore, using alginate-based EC with thyme oil may represent a potential approach to preserve and enhance the safety of fresh-cut apples.     

Dual-phase rare-earth-zirconate high-entropy ceramics with glass-like thermal conductivity

A series of rare earth zirconates (RE₂Zr₂O₇) high-entropy ceramics with single- and dual-phase structure were prepared. Compared with La₂Zr₂O₇ and Yb₂Zr₂O₇, the smaller “rattling” ions (Yb³⁺, Er³⁺, Y³⁺) have been incorporated into pyrochlore lattice in (La_0.2Nd_0.2Y_0.2Er_0.2Yb_0.2)₂Zr₂O₇ (LNYEY) while larger ions (La³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺) incorporated into fluorite lattice in (La_0.2Nd_0.2Sm_0.2Gd_0.2Yb_0.2)₂Zr₂O₇ (LNSGY). Due to high-entropy lattice distortion and resonant scattering derived from smaller ions Yb³⁺, Er³⁺, and Y³⁺, LNYEY shows a lower glass-like thermal conductivity (1.62-1.59 W m^-1 K^-1, 100-600℃) than LNSGY (1.74-1.75 W m^-1 K^-1, 100-600℃). Moreover, LNYEY and LNSGY exhibit enhanced Vickers’ hardness (LNYEY, H_v = 11.47 ± 0.41 GPa; LNSGY, H_v = 10.96 ± 0.26 GPa) and thermal expansion coefficients (LNYEY, 10.45 × 10^-6 K^-1, 1000℃; LNSGY, 11.02 × 10^-6 K^-1, 1000℃). These results indicate that dual-phase rare-earth-zirconate high-entropy ceramics could be desirable for thermal barrier coatings.     

Symmetric and asymmetric membranes based on La0.5Sr0.5Fe0.7Ga0.3O3-δ perovskite with high oxygen semipermeation flux performances and identification of the rate-determining step of oxygen transport

This work focuses on identifying the rate-determining step of oxygen transport through La_0.5Sr_0.5Fe_0.7Ga_0.3O_3-δ membranes with symmetric and asymmetric architectures. The best oxygen semipermeation fluxes are 3.4 10⁻³ mol. m^-2.s^-1 and 6.3 10⁻³ mol. m^-2.s^-1 at 900 °C for the symmetric membrane and asymmetric membrane with a modified surface. The asymmetric membrane with a modified surface leads to an increase of approximately 7 times the oxygen flux compared to that obtained with the La_0.5Sr_0.5Fe_0.7Ga_0.3O_3-δ dense membrane without surface modification. This work also shows that the oxygen flux is mainly governed by gaseous oxygen diffusion through the porous support of asymmetric La_0.5Sr_0.5Fe_0.7Ga_0.3O_3-δ membranes.