Optimal design and operation of ammonia decomposition reactors

The design and steady-state operation of a packed bed reactor with tubular geometry is optimized. Direct optimal control methods are used. Two objective functions are considered: (i) minimization of the ammonia mass fraction at reactor outlet and (ii) minimization of the heat flux necessary to reach a predefined value of the ammonia mass fraction at reactor outlet. The optimization process is performed by using different controls, that is, the space distributions of (1) tube wall temperature T_w , (2) circular tube diameter D_tube , and (3) diameter d_p of the catalyst spherical particles. Results for the first objective function are as follows. The optimal distribution of T_w along the reactor consists of a constant temperature or a U-shaped space temperature distribution, respectively, depending on the allowed range of variation of T_w . The optimal space distribution of D_tube (or, in other words, the shape of the reactor tube) depends of T_w . For smaller values of T_w the tube is narrower at inlet and larger at outlet while the reverse situation happens for larger values of T_w . For lower T_w values, particles with smaller diameter d_p are placed at reactor inlet while when higher values of T_w are considered, particles with larger d_p are placed at reactor inlet. When both D_tube and d_p are used as controls, the optimization results are generally different from the results obtained from one-control optimization. Results for the second objective function are as follows. The optimal space distribution of T_w starts with high values at reactor inlet. Next, the temperature decreases abruptly towards a minimum (which is lower for longer tubes). Finally, the temperature increases smoothly towards a maximum near the reactor outlet. The required heat flux slightly decreases by increasing the tube length. The optimal D_tube ranges between its maximum allowed value (at reactor inlet) and its minimum allowed value (at reactor outlet). The best performance is obtained for catalyst particles of the smallest allowed diameter.     

基于 MPDE-EEMD 及自适应共振解调的轴承故障特征提取方法

针对滚动轴承振动信号具有非线性、非平稳性和非高斯性,并且故障特征往往淹没于系统噪声之中而难于识别的问题, 提出了以多种群差分进化(multiple population differential evolution, MPDE) 算法来改进集合经验模式分解( ensemble empirical mode decomposition, EEMD) 的 MPDE-EEMD 消噪方法,并与自适应共振解调技术( adaptive resonance demodulation technique, ARDT)相结合实现故障特征提取。 首先,为了解决 EEMD 中加入参数依靠人工选择且难以准确获取的问题,建立极值点分布 特性评价函数,利用 MPDE 来寻优获取最佳白噪声幅值,实现 EEMD 自适应分解。 然后,采用峭度与相关性相结合的准则对分 解后的 IMF 分量进行自动筛选,将满足条件的有效信号进行重构,实现对原始振动信号的降噪处理。 最后,采用 ARDT 自动确 定对消噪信号进行带通滤波的带宽和中心频率,再通过包络解调提取出滤波信号的特征频率。 将轴承仿真故障信号与实际故 障信号用于算法的验证,结果表明 MPDE-EEMD+ARDT 能有效提取出轴承故障特征。     

含锂工业废料制备电池级碳酸锂工艺研究

随着电池行业的快速发展,电池级碳酸锂的市场需求越来越大。以某公司生产电池的含锂工业废料为原料,采用碳化分解法对其进行提纯除杂,并进行多次滤液滤饼循环,最终得到符合电池级碳酸锂行业标准的产品。碳化过程优化反应条件：固液质量体积比（g/mL）为1∶50,搅拌转速为300 r/min,二氧化碳流速为10 L/min,反应温度为20 ℃,反应时间为60 min。热分解过程优化反应条件：搅拌转速为300 r/min,反应温度为95 ℃,反应时间为60 min。将碳化分解制备的碳酸锂滤饼和滤液进行5次循环反应,即可得到符合电池级碳酸锂行业标准的产品。所得碳酸锂产品纯度达到99.71%,而且其中镁、钙、钾质量分数分别降低至0.005 3%、0.005 0%、0.000 9%,产品收率保持在55%以上,产品形貌呈棒状、大小均匀、分散性良好。     

Ammonia decomposition kinetics over LiOH-promoted, α-Al2O3-supported Ru catalyst

A LiOH-promoted Ru-based catalyst was recently reported to have a high TOF of 17.7 s⁻¹ at 623 K, compared to 2.7 s⁻¹ for an un-promoted Ru-based catalyst, and has been reproduced for this study to develop further understanding of the catalyst activity under a range of conditions. The kinetic values were calculated using a Temkin-Pyzhev-like power law rate expression model. Reaction orders, pre-exponential factors (A) and activation energies (E) were calculated for two temperature ranges, 623–748 K, and 748–873 K. The TOF of this catalyst at 623 K is not similar to that previously reported, being only 1.6 s⁻¹ in this study. A follow-up CFD analysis supports the fact that the kinetic model effectively describes performance of the catalyst at a range of temperatures and pressures, and can be used in the future on similar catalysts. H₂ partial pressure has an inhibitory effect on the rate of decomposition of NH₃ at all temperatures, not just near or below 673 K as previously proposed in the literature, however equilibrium decomposition is still possible with sufficient catalyst loading.     

Hydrogen production by catalytic methane decomposition over yttria doped nickel based catalysts

Catalytic methane decomposition can become a green process for hydrogen production. In the present study, yttria doped nickel based catalysts were investigated for catalytic thermal decomposition of methane. All catalysts were prepared by sol-gel citrate method and structurally characterized with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Brunauer, Emmet and Teller (BET) surface analysis techniques. Activity tests of synthesized catalysts were performed in a tubular reactor at 500 ml/min total flow rate and in a temperature range between 390 °C and 845 °C. In the non-catalytic reaction, decomposition of methane did not start until 880 °C was reached. In the presence of the catalyst with higher nickel content, methane conversion of 14% was achieved at the temperature of 500 °C. Increasing the reaction temperature led to higher coke formation. Lower nickel content in the catalyst reduced the carbon formation. Consequently, with this type of catalyst methane conversion of 50% has been realized at the temperature of 800 °C.     

Experimental study and kinetic modeling of methane decomposition in a rotating arc plasma reactor with different cross-sectional areas

Methane decomposition into hydrogen and carbon is analyzed in a plasma reactor, with a rotating arc and different cross-sectional areas for the passing gas. This novel setup helps the arc discharge to sweep a larger fraction of the reactant which could cause a better interaction of methane molecules with plasma phase causing higher conversions. The effects of angular velocity of arc discharge, feed flow rate, and cross-sectional area for the passing gas were investigated on the reactor performance. Methane conversion increased significantly by changing the arc mode from stationary to rotating. Increasing the cross-sectional area for the passing gas causes conversion drop for stationary arc whereas a slight increase in conversion is observed for rotating arc mode. Hydrogen production rate of 100 ml/min with an energy yield of 26.8 g/kWh achieved at a methane flow rate of 150 ml/min. The residence time is estimated to be 0.2–3.9 s in the range of the present study, which is a much longer period compared to the plasma process time. Therefore, it is suggested that the mass transfer rate between the gas and plasma phase is the controlling factor for methane conversion. In this respect, an apparent reaction rate constant is derived by considering methane conversion as that fraction of gas, which is exposed to the active area of the plasma arc column.     

Proper Orthogonal Decomposition and Statistical Analysis of 2D Confined Impinging Jets Chaotic Flow

Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is shown to be a statistical operation that identifies the main characteristics of chaotic flows and separates them into a few modes. The dynamic chaotic flow is obtained from two‐dimensional (2D) computational fluid dynamics simulations, for different Reynolds numbers, of a confined impinging jets mixer. POD enables reconstruction of the dynamic flow from a few modes that are related to coherent flow structures. The POD flow reconstruction enables a large compression of the flow data set. The decomposition of the flow field into orthogonal modes related to coherent structures provides direct insight into the mixing dynamics and scales which are not accessible from flow dynamics statistic quantities, which were introduced in the context of turbulence and are here applied to chaotic flow.     

基于VMD和BSA-KELM的高陡边坡位移预测模型研究

边坡位移的时间序列曲线存在复杂的非线性特性,传统的预测模型精度不足以满足预测要求。为此提出了基于变分模态分解的鸟群优化-核极限学习机的预测模型,并用于河北省某水泥厂的边坡位移预测。该方法首先采用VMD把边坡位移序列分解为一系列的有限带宽的子序列,再对各子序列分别采用相空间重构并用核极限学习机预测,采用鸟群算法优化相空间重构的嵌入维度和KELM中惩罚系数和核参数三个数值,以取得最优预测模型。最后将各个子序列预测值叠加,得到边坡位移的最终预测值。结果表明：和KELM、BSA-KELM、EEMD-BSA-KELM模型相比,基于VMD的BSA-KELM预测精度更高,为边坡位移的预测提供一种有效的方法。     

Oxidation‐led decomposition of hexagonal boron nitride coatings on alloy substrates at 900 °C: Ti‐6Al‐4V

Hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) coatings on Ti‐6Al‐4V substrates undergo complete decomposition in air at 900 °C. This fate is similar to that of this ceramic material on chromia‐former alloys, and unlike that of a mass of powder treated in isolation. As the ceramic and alloy oxidize concurrently, outwardly diffusing aluminum (III) ions but not the predominant titanium (IV) ions react with the boron trioxide that forms around the h‐BN basal plane peripheries. Resultant aluminum borate is incorporated into the growing scale and the boron trioxide diffusion barrier is depleted. By this mechanism, the oxidation of h‐BN is maintained at an enhanced rate, until both this material and its oxide completely decompose. Liberated nitrogen from the oxidation of h‐BN can enter the underlying scale as a randomly distributed solute in rutile solid solution. The post‐coating oxide‐atmosphere interface comprises elongated aluminum borate crystallites protruding through at the boundaries between 3–5 at% nitrogen‐doped rutile grains. It differs significantly from that of oxidized, uncoated Ti‐6Al‐4V, which is occupied by a thin α‐alumina layer atop rutile. This interface does not change with an additional 72 h of heat‐treatment.