Microstructure and hydrogen absorption/desorption properties of Mg24Y3M (M = Ni,Co, Cu,Al) alloys

Ternary alloys with the nominal composition of Mg₂₄Y₃M (M = Ni, Co, Cu, Al) have been fabricated by using vacuum induction melting method. Their microstructure and phase composition are characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The isothermal hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics are measured by a Sievert's-type apparatus. The dehydrogenation behaviors of the full hydrogenated alloys are also analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. Results show that each and every alloy has a distinct multiphase structure containing the main phase Mg₂₄Y₅ and some amount of Mg. Intermetallic compounds of YCo₂ and Al₂Y are detected in the M = Co and M = Al alloy, while long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase can be also observed in M = Ni and M = Cu alloy. The hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics shows a decreased trend in the following order: (M = Ni) > (M = Al) > (M = Co) > (M = Cu). The M = Ni alloy has the best hydrogen storage performance among the investigated alloys. The dehydrogenation activation energy (E_a) of the M = Ni alloy decreases to 66 kJ/mol, and its decomposition peak temperature is also reduced to 313 °C. Moreover, the p–c–T (pressure-composition isotherms) curves of the studied alloys are also discussed.     

Review of the phase change material (PCM) usage for solar domestic water heating systems (SDWHS)

The shortage in energy resources combined with the climb in greenhouse emissions is the main incentive beyond the deployment of solar energy resource in various applications. One of the most successful applications is the utilization of solar energy in the domestic water heating systems (DWHS) because 70% of the consumed energy in the residential segment is utilized for space heating and appliances in cold climates 1 . However, the full deployment of solar energy in domestic water heating is only possible when an energy storage system with acceptable price is available. Recently a new tendency for deploying phase change materials (PCMs) as an energy storage system is introduced in several solar DWHS. These systems are known as integrated PCM in solar DWHS and offer several advantages including high storage capacity, low storage volume, and isothermal operation during the charging and discharging phases. The present study reviews various techniques utilized for integrating the PCM in solar water heating systems and the utilized methods for enhancing the heat transfer characteristics of the PCM through the usage of extended surfaces and high conductive additives. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于复合相变材料的梯级组合蓄热特性研究

针对潜热蓄热装置内部相变材料（PCM）导热系数偏小，蓄热速率过低的问题，对基于复合相变材料的两级串联式梯级蓄热装置的相变过程进行了数值研究。通过对不同热物性PCM工况的对比与分析，得到了装置在不同工况下的蓄热特性。结果表明，存在最佳的热扩散系数，使固定熔点的PCM实现“均匀等速相变”。同时，增大PCM的热扩散系数可以有效降低加热面温度，但随着热扩散系数的增大，加热面温度降低幅度减小。通过分析Stefan数，得到了装置最佳的参数，使工况蓄热效果最佳。最后，通过Stefan数为2.88时的实验工况验证了相关规律的正确性。     

两种多层穿梭车系统的性能比较分析

物流配送中心订单响应速度的加快,对订单拣选系统提出了更高的要求。多层穿梭车系统因其柔性强、效率高等特点,近年来得到了广泛应用。多层穿梭车系统具有两种形式--基于转载车和基于环形输送线,二者均可实现货物的快速拣选,但在系统吞吐量和订单完成周期方面存在差异,致使企业决策者难以进行系统选择。基于上述原因,本文比较两种多层穿梭车系统的性能差异。建立两个系统的开环排队网络模型,然后求解系统吞吐量、订单完成周期,通过仿真验证了排队论模型的准确性,通过试验对两种系统的性能进行对比分析。结果表明,系统吞吐量与层数、巷道数相关,层数越多,巷道数越少,转载车系统相对于环线系统优势越显著;订单完成周期与层数、订单到达率相关,层数越多,订单到达率越低,转载车系统相对于环线系统越具优势。     

Extended preservation of raw beef and pork meat by hyperbaric storage at room temperature

Hyperbaric storage (HS) was evaluated as a new food preservation methodology at room temperature (RT) for beef and pork meat, both minced and in pieces, and compared to refrigeration (RF) storage. The meat samples were stored at 50, 75 and 100 MPa and variable RT up to 60 days. HS at 75 and 100 MPa could not only inhibit microbial growth but also inactivate microorganisms. Regarding physicochemical analyses, an overall equal to better pH maintenance in HS samples was achieved, and similar colour differences between HS and RF were observed. Generally, similarities in moisture content and drip loss between HS (mostly 75 and 100 MPa) and RF were detected (tendency for lower values in the former and higher values in the latter for the higher pressure level). Protein solubility revealed a decrease of sarcoplasmic protein values during storage with a pressure level dependency in some samples.     

Modeling and analysis of multiple access channel capacity based on hybrid energy storage and energy harvesting

Energy harvesting (EH) has been considered as a promising technology to solve the constrained energy problem in the devices of IoT with its advantages of flexible deployment and sustainable energy supply.For multiple access channel with energy harvesting,a hybrid energy storage structure model composed by super capacitor and battery was proposed for the devices of IoT.According to the peculiarities of medium access channel and energy harvesting system,an optimized energy allocation strategy with exponential-type decline (ETD) was presented,the upper and lower bounds of the average throughput were deduced,in particular,the gap of two bounds was derived to be a constant.The channel capacity was further obtained by utilizing the relationship between the average throughput and the channel capacity.In the simulations,the effect of harvested energy,storage capacity and the number of nodes on the channel capacity were analyzed respectively.Experiment results show that compared with the conventional wireless node with single battery storage,the proposed hybrid energy storage structure can improve the harvested energy value and increase the multiple access channel capacity by using adaptive modulation scheme when transmitting the signals.     

A comprehensive evaluation of energy storage options for better sustainability

Due to ever increasing global energy demand and the limited nature of fossil fuel reserves, there has been tremendous research and development studies in the literature, focusing on alternative and clean energy resources and systems. Renewables are the promising choice when it comes to addressing some critical energy issues such as climate change and energy security. However, renewables have intermittent and discontinuous supplies; hence, they need to be stored in ways that are affordable, reliable, flexible, clean, safe, and efficient. As a result, energy storage is becoming a crucial step to build innovative energy systems for a sustainable future. Energy can be stored in many forms, from electrical to chemical (eg, hydrogen), or electrochemical, thermal, electromagnetic, etc. Each form consists of different technologies, some of which are already commercially mature while others are at early research and development stages. Each of these options can be tailored to meet different end users' needs at different scales. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive review on the most recent status of energy storage options, along with the requirements of various end users, and characteristics of smart energy storage systems. The main objective is to summarize the performance evaluation statuses of mechanical, electrochemical, chemical, thermal, and electromagnetic energy storage technologies. The selected performance measures are capacity flexibility, energy arbitrage, system balancing, congestion management, environmental impact, and power quality. In the end, some key recommendations and future directions for energy storage systems are provided.     

A Complexing Agent to Enable a Wide-Temperature Range Bromine-Based Flow Battery for Stationary Energy Storage

Bromine-based flow batteries (Br-FBs) are considered one of the most promising energy storage systems due to their features of high energy density and low cost. However, they generally suffer from uncontrolled diffusion of corrosive bromine particularly at high temperatures. That is because the interaction between polybromide anions and the commonly used complexing agent (N–methyl–N–ethyl–pyrrolidinium bromide [MEP]) decreases with increasing temperatures, which causes serious self-discharge and capacity fade. Herein, a novel bromine complexing agent, 1–ethyl–2–methyl–pyridinium bromide (BCA), is introduced in Br-FBs to solve the above problems. It is proven that BCA can combine with polybromide anions very well even at a high temperature of 60 °C. Moreover, the BCA contributes to decreasing the electrochemical polarization of Br⁻/Br₂ couple, which in turn improves their power density. As a result, a zinc–bromine flow battery with BCA as the complexing agent can achieve a high energy efficiency of 84% at 40 mA cm⁻², even at high temperature of 60 °C and it can stably run for more than 400 cycles without obvious performance decay. This paper provides an effective complexing agent to enable a wide temperature range Br-FB.     

Hydrogen storage properties of Mg98.5Gd1Zn0.5 and Mg98.5Gd0.5Y0.5Zn0.5 alloys containing LPSO phases

In this work, the as-cast Mg-rich Mg_98.5Gd₁Zn_0.5 and Mg_98.5Gd_0.5Y_0.5Zn_0.5 alloys are prepared by the semi-continuous casting method, and their hydrogen storage performance and catalytic mechanisms are investigated by experimental and first-principles calculations approaches. The results show that the LPSO phases decompose and in-situ form the RE(Gd/Y)H_x(x = 2,3) nano-hydrides upon hydrogenation. These nano-hydrides not only serve as the in-situ catalysts to promote the hydrogen ab/desorption of Mg matrix, but also present the pinning effect to inhibit the growth of Mg/MgH₂ grains during hydrogenation and dehydrogenation. Comparatively, the two alloys exhibit the similar hydrogen absorption kinetics, while the hydrogen desorption kinetics of Mg_98.5Gd₁Zn_0.5 is superior to that of Mg_98.5Gd_0.5Y_0.5Zn_0.5. The first-principles calculations reveal that the GdH₂ and YH₂ hydrides exhibit different catalytic effects on weakening the bond strength of H–H within H₂ and Mg–H within MgH₂, which interprets well the differences in the hydrogen ab/desorption kinetics between Mg_98.5Gd₁Zn_0.5 and Mg_98.5Gd_0.5Y_0.5Zn_0.5 alloys.