Application of artificial neural network method to predict the breakage properties of PGE bearing chromite ore

In the present investigation, systematic grinding experiments were conducted in a laboratory ball mill to determine the breakage properties of low-grade PGE bearing chromite ore. The population balance modeling technique was used to study the breakage parameters such as primary breakage distribution (B_{i, j}) and the specific rates of breakage (S_i). The breakage and selection function values were determined for six feed sizes. The results stated that the breakage follows the first-order grinding kinetics for all the feed sizes. It was observed that the coarser feed sizes exhibit higher selection function values than the finer feed size. Further, an artificial neural network was used to predict breakage characteristics of low-grade PGE bearing chromite ore. The predicted results obtained from the neural network modeling were close to the experimental results with a correlation of determination R² = 0.99 for both product size and selection function.     

Experimental and numerical investigations on the heat production and thermal storage characteristics of rapid preparation amorphous powder activated coke

The heat production and thermal storage characteristics of rapid-preparation amorphous powder activated coke (RAC) were investigated. RAC was prepared by using a drop-tube reactor system. The natural oxidation characteristics of RAC were studied through combined TG–FTIR analysis and temperature-programmed experiment. Experimental results showed that CO and CO₂ were the main oxidation products of RAC in air, and that the oxidation reaction was in accordance with the Arrhenius equation and law of mass action. Thermal storage characteristics were studied through computational fluid dynamics simulation. The maximum excess temperature θ_max increases linearly with the increase of the initial temperature. The concentration fields of the products show that CO₂ is mainly concentrated in the upper part of the coke bin, and the CO generated by CO₂ at high temperature is mainly concentrated in the central part of the coke bin.     

Locating wind farm for power and hydrogen production based on Geographic information system and multi-criteria decision making method: An application

Hydrogen generation from renewable energy resources is considered as a suitable solution to solve the problems related to the energy sector and the reduction of greenhouse gases. The aim of this study is to provide an integrated framework for identifying suitable areas for the construction of wind farms to produce hydrogen. For this purpose, a combined method of Geographic Information System (GIS) and multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) has been used to locate the power plant in Yazd province. The GIS method in the present study consisted of two parts: constraints and criteria. The constraint section included areas that were unsuitable for the construction of wind farms to produce power and hydrogen. In the present study, various aspects such as physical, economic and environmental had been considered as constraints. In the criteria section, eight different criteria from technical aspects (including average wind speed, hydrogen production potential, land slope) and economic aspects (including distance to electricity grid, distance to urban areas, distance to road, distance to railway and distance to centers of High hydrogen consumption) had been investigated. The MCDM tool had been used to weigh the criteria and identify suitable areas. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique was used for weighting the criteria. The results of AHP weighting method showed that economic criteria had the highest importance with a value of 0.681. The most significant sub-criterion was the distance to urban areas and the least significant sub-criterion was the distance to power transmission lines. The results of GIS-MCDM analysis had shown that the most proper areas were in the southern and central sectors of Yazd province. In addition, the feasibility of hydrogen production from wind energy had shown that this province had the capacity to generate hydrogen at the rate of 53.6–128.6 tons per year.     

Optimization and efficiency analysis of methanol SOFC-PEMFC hybrid system

In order to improve the power generation efficiency of fuel cell systems employing liquid fuels, a hybrid system consisting of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is proposed. Utilize the high temperature heat generated by SOFC to reform as much methanol as possible to improve the overall energy efficiency of the system. When SOFC has a stable output of 100 kW, the amount of hydrogen after reforming is changed by changing the methanol flow rate. Three hybrid systems are proposed to compare and select the best system process suitable for different situations. The results show that the combined combustion system has the highest power generation, which can reach 350 kW and the total electrical efficiency is 57%. When the power of the tail gas preheating system is 160 kW, the electrical efficiency can reach 75%. The PEM water preheating system has the most balanced performance, with the electric power of 300 kW and the efficiency of 66%.     

Natural hydrogen emanations in Namibia: Field acquisition and vegetation indexes from multispectral satellite image analysis

Natural hydrogen exploration is now active in various places of the world. Onshore, correlation between natural H₂ generation and the presence of iron rich rocks especially from Archean and Neoproterozoic cratons have been observed. Emanations and accumulations of H₂ have already been confirmed in such geological settings in Australia, South Africa and Brazil. The geological similitude and the presence of numerous sub circular depressions that are a good proxy for hydrogen emanations suggest that hydrogen resources may also exist in Namibia. We present here the results of a data acquisition campaign which allowed us to confirm the presence of natural hydrogen in this country in the vicinity of Neoproterozoic Banded Iron Formation. The H₂ content in the soil, as in Brazil, is variable within the depressions in time and space and is particularly time sensitive across the day. Comparison of the H₂ signal versus time within these two regions shows a similar behavior of the soils with an increase of the H₂ flow at the middle of the day. In addition, these new data allow us to better constrain the morphological characteristics of such H₂-emiting depressions. By using satellite images and digital elevation model we propose a new proxy to differentiate potentially H₂-emiting features from other type of depressions such as Salt Pan. The Landsat multispectral images and their processing through NDVI and SAVI indexes, that highlight a ring of healthy vegetation around the sub circular area with scarce vegetation already observed appear able to discriminate between H₂ emitting structures and other soft depressions.     

Real time power management strategy for fuel cell hybrid electric bus based on Lyapunov stability theorem

The fuel cell/battery durability and hybrid system stability are major considerations for the power management of fuel cell hybrid electric bus (FCHEB) operating on complicated driving conditions. In this paper, a real time nonlinear adaptive control (NAC) with stability analyze is formulated for power management of FCHEB. Firstly, the mathematical model of hybrid power system is analyzed, which is established for control-oriented design. Furthermore, the NAC-based strategy with quadratic Lyapunov function is set up to guarantee the stability of closed-loop power system, and the power split between fuel cell and battery is controlled with the durability consideration. Finally, two real-time power management strategies, state machine control (SMC) and fuzzy logic control (FLC), are implemented to evaluate the performance of NAC-based strategy, and the simulation results suggest that the guaranteed stability of NAC-based strategy can efficiently prolong fuel cell/battery lifespan and provide better fuel consumption economy for FCHEB.     

关于多功能液压支架拖运车的电控系统设计

本文简介多功能液压支架拖运车的电控系统,包括电控箱的设计和主要电气元件的性能和选择依据。此电控系统能够一般电控系统的各种功能和保护,而且能够通过摄像头做到操作盲区和使用遥控器进行远程控制,从而提高液压支架的拖运效率、降低劳动强度和提高安全保障。     

Inhibitory effects of curcumin and piperine on fluorescent advanced glycation end products formation in a bovine serum albumin–fructose model

This study investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin and piperine on fluorescent advanced glycation end products (fAGEs) formation in a bovine serum albumin (BSA)–fructose model. Model systems of BSA and fructose were prepared, and curcumin or piperine was added. fAGEs and BSA oxidation product (dityrosine, kynurenine and N'-formylkynurenine) contents were determined. The results showed that fAGEs content decreased with increasing concentration of curcumin and piperine (P < 0.05). Addition of curcumin and piperine at 160 µg mL⁻¹ could inhibit fluorescent AGEs by 100% and 93% respectively. Dityrosine and N'-formylkynurenine contents decreased as curcumin and piperine concentration increased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the result of principal component analysis indicated that curcumin and piperine markedly impeded BSA oxidation, resulting in a lower level of fAGEs in model systems. Therefore, adding curcumin and piperine may facilitate reduced fAGEs levels in BSA–fructose model.     

江西省水系连通及水美乡村建设试点县实施方案编制存在的问题及对策

为提高水系连通及水美乡村建设试点县实施方案编制质量，更好地参加全国竞争性立项，本文分析研究了江西省55个水系连通及水美乡村建设试点县实施方案和相应的专家评审意见，对实施方案编制过程中存在的符合性、完整性不够，实施范围情况调查不准等七个方面突出问题进行梳理剖析，并提出相应对策，可为实施方案编制提供参考。     

Development of a stakeholder identification and analysis method for human factors integration in work system design interventions – Change Agent Infrastructure

In any work system design intervention—for example, a physical workplace re-design, a work process change, or an equipment upgrade—it is often emphasized how important it is to involve stakeholders in the process of analysis and design, to gain their perspectives as input to the development, and ensure their future acceptance of the solution. While the users of an artifact or workplace are most often regarded as being the most important stakeholders in a design intervention, in a work-system context there may be additional influential stakeholders who influence and negotiate the design intervention's outcomes, resource allocation, requirements, and implementation. Literature shows that it is uncommon for empirical ergonomics and human factors (EHF) research to apply and report the use of any structured stakeholder identification method at all, leading to ad-hoc selections of whom to consider important. Conversely, other research fields offer a plethora of stakeholder identification and analysis methods, few of which seem to have been adopted in the EHF context. This article presents the development of a structured method for identification, classification, and qualitative analysis of stakeholders in EHF-related work system design intervention. It describes the method's EHF-related theoretical underpinnings, lessons learned from four use cases, and the incremental development of the method that has resulted in the current method procedure and visualization aids. The method, called Change Agent Infrastructure (abbreviated CHAI), has a mainly macroergonomic purpose, set on increasing the understanding of sociotechnical interactions that create the conditions for work system design intervention, and facilitating participative efforts.