Effect of transition metal doping on the sintering and electrochemical properties of GDC buffer layer in SOFCs

A dense Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2−d (GDC) interlayer is an essential component of the SOFCs to inhibit interfacial elemental diffusion between zirconia-based electrolytes (eg YSZ) and cathodes. However, the characteristic high sintering temperature of GDC (>1400°C) makes it challenging to fabricate an effective highly dense interlayer owing to the formation of more resistive (Zr,Ce)O₂ interfacial solid solutions with YSZ at those temperatures. To fabricate a useful GDC interlayer, we studied the influence of transition metal (TM) (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, & Zn) doping on the sintering and electrochemical properties of GDC. Dilatometry data showed dramatic drops in the necking and final sintering temperatures for the TM-doped GDCs, improving the densification of the GDC in the order of Fe > Co > Mn > Cu > Zn. However, the electrochemical impedance data showed that among various transition metal dopants, Mn doping resulted in the best electrochemical properties. Anode supported SOFCs with Mn-doped, nano, and commercial-micron GDC interlayers were compared with regard to their performance and stability levels. Although all of the SOFCs showed stable performance, the SOFC with the Mn-doped GDC interlayer showed the highest power density of 1.14 W cm⁻² at 750°C. Hence, Mn-doped GDC is suggested for application as an effective diffusion barrier layer in SOFCs.     

Structure and Properties of Nonstoichiometric Y1-xNbxO1.5+x for Thermal Barrier Coatings

Understanding the effect of nonstoichiometry on material properties is of critical importance for the Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) application. In this work, the effect of nonstoichiometry was systematically investigated in Y₃NbO₇, a recently identified promising TBCs material for next-generation gas turbine engines. The results show that the nonstoichiometry effect mediates the microstructure, mechanical properties, thermophysical properties, oxygen ionic conductivity and optical transmittance. The results suggest that the oxygen ionic conductivity is correlated to the mass diffusion in the oxygen-deficient fluorite oxides Y_1-xNb_xO_1.5+x. The stoichiometric composition Y₃NbO₇, with the lowest thermal conductivity and slowest mass diffusion in Y_1-xNb_xO_1.5+x series, is optimal for the TBCs application, which can be of relevance for TBCs material design and coating fabrication.     

高压并联电抗器噪声影响因素及其控制措施研究

文中针对变电站高压并联电抗器噪声对环境的影响问题及其控制要求,通过实验研究了高压并联电抗器噪声的影响因素及其控制措施。文中采用改进声强法实测了湖北省内15座变电站37组共111台500 kV高压并联电抗器声功率级,并对其进行了分析。测试结果表明,随着运行年限的增加,电抗器最大声功率级逐步增大。由于设备额定容量与额定电压的提高,使用新的绝缘材料和设计方案后,在一定程度上会起到减震降噪作用。同时,电抗器采用散热片四周布置方式,也能实现对噪声的控制。针对高压电抗器的噪声控制,文中从声源控制、传播过程控制角度,提出相应的控制措施。其中,声源主要通过改善材料和设计进行控制。以某500 kV变电站的降噪处理为例,利用SoundPLAN噪声分析软件,提出了隔声屏障控制方案,使噪声平均声压级降低约6 dB(A),从而满足噪声控制的要求。文中的研究内容对于指导变电站的设计及降噪处理具有重要意义。     

Lower down both ohmic and cathode polarization resistances of solid oxide fuel cell via hydrothermal modified gadolinia doped ceria barrier layer

Hydrothermal reaction in Cerium and Gadolinium solution as an optimization method is developed and first reported for the densification of gadolinia doped ceria, the barrier layer between Zirconia electrolyte and (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O_3-δ cathode. This method is based on the hydrothermal reaction for nano particles in-situly grown on porous surface, to improve barrier layer density, alongside the sintering of cathode at 1075 °C. As a result, the ohmic resistance is prominently decreased by ～16.4 % at 750 °C for electrolyte supported symmetrical cell. Whereas, the cathode polarization resistance is decreased by as much as a factor of ～3 from 0.3702 Ω·cm² to 0.1325 Ω·cm² at 750 °C and $p_{O_2}=0.21atm$. Furthermore, the anode supported cell exhibits higher open circuit voltage, smaller area specific resistance, elevated performance output and less degradation. And this modified barrier layer shows reduced Sr migration in 300 h operation at 750 °C. The hydrothermal reaction is demonstrated to prepare denser and sintering-active barrier layer with faster oxygen ion transfer and better interface connection, with large-scale application prospects and cost-competitiveness.     

Phase composition,microstructure and thermophysical properties of the Srx(Zr0.9Y0.05Yb0.05)O1.95+x ceramics

Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7) ceramics were prepared by solid state reaction sintering. The sintered Sr_1.0(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_2.95 is a single-phase solid solution while the sintered Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=0.9?0.7) are composites, and a significant grain growth inhibition is observed in the sintered Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9). Rare-earth elements distribution in the bulk materials indicates that Yb and Y preferentially substitute Zr-sites in SrZrO₃, and the highest solubility of RE₂O₃ in pure SrZrO₃ is ～0.8 mol%. The sintered Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x have high thermal expansion coefficients up to ～11.0×10^?6 K^-1 (1200°C). Sr_0.8(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_2.75 has the lowest thermal conductivity of 1.38 W·m^-1·K^-1 at 800°C. Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9, 0.8) show no phase transition from 600 to 1400°C, whereas Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=0.9, 0.8) have excellent high-temperature phase stability over the whole investigated temperature range. Therefore, Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9, 0.8) are considered as promising TBCs materials that might be operated at higher temperatures compared to YSZ.     

Orthorhombic to tetragonal polymorphic transformation of YTa3O9 and its inhibition through the design of high-entropy (Y0.2La0.2Ce0.2Nd0.2Gd0.2)Ta3O9

To explore the mechanism of phase transformation, YTa₃O₉ was prepared by an integrated one-step synthesis and sintering method at 1500 °C using Y₂O₃ and Ta₂O₅ powders as starting materials. High-temperature XRD patterns and Raman spectra showed that a phase transformation from orthorhombic to tetragonal took place in YTa₃O₉ through the bond length and angle changes at 300–400 °C, which caused a thermal conductivity rise. To inhibit the phase transformation, a high-entropy (Y_0.2La_0.2Ce_0.2Nd_0.2Gd_0.2)Ta₃O₉ (HE RETa₃O₉) was designed and synthesized at 1550 °C using the integrated solid-state synthesis and sintering method. In tetragonal structured HE RETa₃O₉, phase transformation was inhibited by the high-entropy effect. Furthermore, HE RETa₃O₉ exhibited low thermal conductivity, and its tendency to increase with temperature was alleviated (1.69 W/m·K, 1073 K). Good phase stability, low thermal conductivity and comparable fracture toughness to YSZ make HE RETa₃O₉ promising as a new thermal barrier coating material.     

High-temperature water-vapor reaction mechanism of barium strontium aluminosilicate (BSAS)

Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) are used in commercial turbine engine applications as protection for ceramic matrix composites, yet the high-temperature water vapor reaction mechanism for EBC materials is not fully understood. Here, the water vapor reaction mechanism for barium strontium alumino-silicate (BSAS), an early generation EBC candidate, was determined from the time and temperature dependences of material loss. BSAS water vapor exposures were performed at 1200 °C, 1300 °C, and 1400 °C for 24, 48, and 72 h, at maximum gas velocities of ~ 240 m/s. FactSage thermodynamic calculations were shown to support the experimental findings, where the steam reaction mechanism consisted of volatilization of all BSAS oxide constituents as gaseous metal hydroxide species, i.e. Ba(OH)₂, Sr(OH)₂, Al(OH)₃, and Si(OH)₄ (g).     

Preparation and characterization of polynorbornene/sepiolite hybrid nanocomposite films

Polynorbornene/sepiolite hybrid nanocomposite films were prepared using polynorbornene dicarboximide and modified sepiolite with 3‐ aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3‐APTES). Exo‐N‐(3,5‐dichlorophenylnorbornene)‐5,6‐dicarboxyimide (monomer) and their copolymers were synthesized via ring‐opening polymerization using ruthenium catalysts. Subsequently, the surface‐modified sepiolite by 3‐APTES was mixed with the polynorbornene copolymers to prepare hybrid nanocomposite films. The modified sepiolite particles were well dispersed in N,N‐dimethylacetamide and distributed randomly throughout the polynorbornene matrix in the hybrid films, which enhanced the dimensional stability and mechanical and oxygen barrier properties of the polynorbornene/sepiolite hybrid nanocomposite films. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

石化企业地下污水管道防渗设计

根据近几年来国家对地下水资源污染防控要求,新建石油化工项目、已建成装置可能产生渗漏、泄漏污染的地下污水管道均需采取防渗措施。为了保护地下水资源,结合工程经验,简单介绍了工程设计中常选择的几种地下污水管道防渗方式,防渗膜、防渗管沟及防渗套管。并叙述了这几种防渗方式的适用条件、优缺点,以及管道发生渗漏后能及时被发现的措施。     

UV-polymerisable,phosphorus-containing,flame-retardant surface coatings for glass fibre-reinforced epoxy composites

A vinyl phosphonic acid based flame retardant coating has been applied on the surface of a glass-fibre reinforced epoxy (GRE) composite substrate using a UV polymerisation technique. On exposure to heat the poly (vinyl phosphonic acid) (PVPA) coating thus obtained, intumesces and acts as a thermal insulator, providing active fire protection to the composite structure. Samples with ∼300 and 500 μm thick coatings were prepared. The fire performance of the coated GRE composite was studied by cone calorimetry at 35 and 50 kW/m² heat fluxes. While the sample with ∼500 μm thick coating did not ignite at both heat fluxes, the one with the ∼300 μm thick coating ignited at 50 kW/m², however the time-to-ignition was delayed from 60 s in the uncoated sample to 195 s and the peak heat release rate reduced from 572 kW/m² to 86 kW/m². The coatings did not peel off when subjected to a tape pull test and resisted cracking/debonding during an impact drop test of up to 5 J energy. However, the coatings are hydrophilic, showing significant mass loss in a water soak test. The improvement of the hydrophobicity of these coatings is a focus of our future research.