Efficient atom localization via probe absorption in an inverted-Y atomic system

The behaviour of atom localization in an inverted-Y atomic system is theoretically investigated. For the atoms interacting with a weak probe field and several orthogonal standing-wave fields, their position information can be obtained by measuring the probe absorption. Compared with the traditional scheme, we couple the probe field to the transition between the middle and top levels. It is found that the probe absorption sensitively depends on the detuning and strength of the relevant light fields. Remarkably, the atom can be localized at a particular position in the standing-wave fields by coupling a microwave field to the transition between the two ground levels.     

What is the future of solar energy? Economic and policy barriers

The most important characteristics and limitations of solar energy were reviewed in this study. The analysis of different aspects indicated that the most important global challenges of solar energy development were climatic challenges, technical constraints, and unwillingness to make investments. After describing current conditions and predicting the future of solar energy, this study analyzed the policies formulated by developed countries to develop this from of energy. Accordingly, China has gotten ahead of other countries in this industry due to the technological production of solar panels and governmental supports. Finally, the economic estimation of solar energy was presented by dealing with the economic barriers to this form of energy in developed countries. According to the significant growth in the reduction of solar energy electricity production cost, this source of energy can be used as a major source in the future. It was then recommended to use a hybrid of solar energy with other sources such as wind to reduce the costs.     

Lewis acid-oxygen vacancy interfacial synergistic catalysis over SO42−/Ce0.84Zr0.16O2–WO3–ZrO2 for N,N-diethylation of aniline with ethanol

Herein, a new mechanism involving Lewis acid-oxygen vacancy interfacial synergistic catalysis for aniline N,N-diethylation with ethanol was proposed, and the SO₄²⁻/Ce_0.84Zr_0.16O₂–WO₃–ZrO₂ catalyst (SCWZ) with both Lewis acid sites and oxygen vacancies was synthesized by the hydrothermal method, which shows better catalytic activity than the reported solid acidic catalysts. Besides, the SO₄²⁻/ZrO₂ (SZ) and SO₄²⁻/WO₃–ZrO₂ (SWZ) catalysts were also prepared and compared with SCWZ to investigate the synergistic effect of each component. The SO₄²⁻ and WO₃ mainly generate Lewis acid by bonding with ZrO₂, which is beneficial for the fracture of the N–H bond in aniline. The Ce_0.84Zr_0.16O₂ solid solution mainly plays a vital role in generating the oxygen vacancies as the interface active species, which can participate in stripping –OH from ethanol, then the carbocation will also be released, which only needs 1.3805 kcal/mol energy, calculated by density functional theory (DFT), to be input. In comparison, the traditional reaction mechanism needs the Brønsted acidic sites to promote the protonation of ethanol, then dehydration and subsequent formation of carbocation followed, and 108.6846 kcal/mol energy needs to be input, which is far higher than that of the new mechanism. The apparent activation energy (E_a) over SCWZ was measured by experiment to be 34.09 kJ/mol, which is much lower than that of SWZ (47.10 kJ/mol) and SZ (54.37 kJ/mol), illustrating comparatively preferable kinetics for SCWZ than that of SWZ and SZ. Besides, the conversion of aniline and selectivity to N,N-diethylaniline over SCWZ reach almost 100% and 73%, respectively. The SCWZ can be renewed for 4 times without rapid deactivation, and the longevity of SCWZ is longer than that of SWZ and SZ, as the loaded SO₄²⁻ and tetragonal ZrO₂ are stabilized by Ce_0.84Zr_0.16O₂ and WO₃, respectively.     

基于CFD-DEM方法的净化器流场模拟与结构优化

针对空气净化器能耗高的问题，使用离散元方法(DEM)在吸附滤网中建立随机堆积柱形活性炭模型，采用计算流体力学(CFD)方法对空气净化器内部流场进行数值模拟，在模拟与实验验证的基础上，考察了压降最小、流场最均匀的吸附滤网结构。结果表明，空气净化器压降主要发生在轴向，活性炭吸附滤网中回流、沟流现象严重，流体阻力是其他两种滤网的3倍。边数对多边形填充孔结构吸附滤网内压降与流场均匀性无影响，当孔结构改为圆形时，压降减小约52 Pa，节能18.4%(49 W)；当孔直径由8 mm增至12 mm，压降减小约48 Pa，节能19.4%(45 W)；滤网间距对空气净化器压降无影响，圆形、小孔径的吸附滤网内流场最均匀。     

New insight to the oxidation kinetics of silicon-containing steel at high temperature

This study investigated the oxidation kinetics of silicon-containing steel at 1150–1300 °C using a Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer under atmospheric conditions similar to that of an industry reheating furnace. There is a critical time point for the oxidation kinetics at an oxygen concentration of 4·0 vol.-%., following which the oxidation rate constant increases with the increasing oxidation temperature. The model coefficient A in the kinetic oxidation equation was found to be constant. However, before the critical time point, the oxidation rate constant remained unchanged; the model coefficient A decreased with the increasing temperature. Therefore, the kinetic model of silicon-containing steel for isothermal oxidation was observed to be a modified one on the basis of the experimental data. In addition, the critical time point was prolonged with the increasing isothermal oxidation temperature. Moreover, the oxidation activation energy of the tested silicon-containing steel was 366·16 kJ mol^?1.     

Plasmonic Oxygen-Deficient TiO2-x Nanocrystals for Dual-Band Electrochromic Smart Windows with Efficient Energy Recycling

Dual-band electrochromic smart windows capable of the spectrally selective modulation of visible (VIS) light and near-infrared (NIR) can regulate solar light and solar heat transmittance to reduce the building energy consumption. The development of these windows is however limited by the number of available dual-band electrochromic materials. Here, plasmonic oxygen-deficient TiO_2-x nanocrystals (NCs) are discovered to be an effective single-component dual-band electrochromic material, and that oxygen-vacancy creation is more effective than aliovalent substitutional doping to introduce dual-band properties to TiO₂ NCs. Oxygen vacancies not only confer good near-infrared (NIR)-selective modulation, but also improve the Li⁺ diffusion in the TiO_2-x host, circumventing the disadvantage of aliovalent substitutional doping with ion diffusion. Consequently optimized TiO_2-x NC films are able to modulate the NIR and visible light transmittance independently and effectively in three distinct modes with high optical modulation (95.5% at 633 nm and 90.5% at 1200 nm), fast switching speed, high bistability, and long cycle life. An impressive dual-band electrochromic performance is also demonstrated in prototype devices. The use of TiO_2-x NCs enables the assembled windows to recycle a large fraction of energy consumed in the coloration process (“energy recycling”) to reduce the energy consumption in a round-trip electrochromic operation.     

烟气CO2捕集热能梯级利用节能工艺耦合优化

醇胺法捕集CO₂技术是一种较成熟的CO₂捕集技术，具有吸收速度快、脱除效果好等显著优点，但其操作费用高、解吸能耗大。本文以降低醇胺法捕集烟气中CO₂系统再生能耗为出发点，对常规醇胺法捕集CO₂工艺统进行了节能优化研究。在常规工艺流程基础上引入压缩式热泵节能技术，并利用Aspen Plus软件建立了基于压缩式热泵技术的CO₂捕集工艺流程模型。研究了压缩式热泵与机械蒸汽压缩回收（MVR）热泵、分流解吸、分布式换热、级间冷却4种节能工艺耦合，通过模拟计算与优化，结果说明了最佳节能工艺组合为“解吸塔压缩式热泵+贫液MVR热泵+分流解吸+级间冷却”耦合的CO₂捕集工艺流程，当解吸塔顶气体分流比为0.25∶0.75、冷富液分流比为0.05∶0.95、级间冷却器位于吸收塔17块塔板位置、吸收塔输入冷量为-3.0GJ/h时，系统再生能耗最低，为2.533 GJ/tCO₂，相比常规有机胺工艺（再生能耗4.204GJ/tCO₂）节能率39.748%。     

铝合金三角形波纹夹芯板对平头弹抗冲击特性数值模拟研究

为研究铝合金三角形波纹夹芯板对平头弹体的抗冲击性能及损伤特性，利用有限元软件ABAQUS/Explicit建立弹体冲击靶板的数值模拟模型，并结合实验验证了模型及其参数的有效性。基于数值计算结果，分析了三角形波纹夹芯板几何结构对其防护性能、失效模式和能量吸收的影响规律及机理，并与等面密度单层板进行对比分析，研究结果表明，靶体几何结构对其抗冲击性能存在影响，三角形波纹夹芯板抗冲击性能低于单层板抗冲击性能。此外，增加芯体拓扑结构夹角能显著提高三角形波纹夹芯板的抗冲击性能，并且靶板几何形状会对其失效模式及耗能特性存在影响。     

Domestic demand-side response with heat pumps: controls and tariffs

ABSTRACT

Electric heat pumps feature prominently in projected energy transitions in the UK and elsewhere. Owing to their high electricity consumption, heat pumps are viewed as important targets for demand-side response (DSR). Findings are presented from a field trial of a new control system that aims to optimize heat pump performance, including under time-varying tariff conditions. The trial involved monitoring 76 properties with heat pumps, but without dedicated heat storage; 31 of these received the control system. Interviews were conducted with a subsample of 12 participants. The controller successfully evened out electricity demand over the day (reducing the evening peak), but this was associated with increased late night and daytime temperatures. Interview participants reported some disturbance owing to overnight heating and noise, as well as usability issues with the controller interface and hardware. These issues present risks to the future acceptability of such systems. While the system delivered short-term demand reductions successfully, longer-term demand shifting risked causing unacceptable disturbance to occupants. Future control systems could overcome some of the issues identified in this pioneering trial through more effective zoning, using temperature caps or installing dedicated heat storage, but these may either limit the available flexibility or be challenging to achieve.