A novel flow field with controllable pressure gradient to enhance mass transport and water removal of PEM fuel cells

An easily machined novel flow field with controllable pressure gradient across adjacent channels was designed and a two dimensional, across-the-channel, two-phase model was developed to study the gas transport and water removal of the novel configuration. The effect of channel-rib width ratio, GDL thickness and pressure gradient on the profiles of oxygen concentration and water saturation within the GDL were investigated. Special attention was paid to the mechanisms of the promoted mass transport and water removal rates under a pressure gradient. The model was validated by experiments with various channel-rib ratios and GDL thicknesses at different operating pressure. The results revealed that, oxygen concentration was increased, and the water saturation was reduced under the rib with a pressure gradient generated across the adjacent channels. The optimal pressure gradient is between 0.1 to 0.2 atm for the studied channel geometry and configuration. The mechanisms of the improved cell performance were elucidated.     

Study on wax precipitation characteristics of wax deposit in pipes

Wax deposit properties are a significant concern in pipeline pigging during waxy crude oil transportation. In the present work, the impacts of flow conditions and oil properties on the wax precipitation characteristics of wax deposits are investigated. A flow loop apparatus was developed to conduct wax deposition experiments using four crude oils collected from different field pipes. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique was employed to observe the wax precipitation characteristics of crude oil and wax deposit. The results show that the wax content and the wax appearance temperature (WAT) of the deposits increase with shear stress and radial temperature gradient, and decrease with radial wax molecule concentration gradient near the pipe wall. The DSC tests on the wax deposits revealed that the deposit wax content is strongly correlated to the oil wax content. Furthermore, an empirical correlation was developed to predict the wax content and the WAT of the wax deposit. Verification of the empirical correlation using the different oils indicated that the average relative error of the wax content prediction and average absolute error of WAT prediction were 13.2% and 3.6°C, respectively.     

Investigations on Selectivity of Gas-Liquid Reactions in Capillaries

Biocatalysis offers a broad spectrum of possible ecological and economic advantages over conventional chemical catalysis processes, e.g., lower energy consumption and high enantio selectivity. The focus of this work is on gas-liquid reactions. These are of great importance in the chemical and biochemical industry and subject of current research since they are often limited by mass transfer or show low selectivity. Different suitable biocatalytically gas-liquid reaction systems were tested in capillary reactor designs in order to obtain information about the interaction between reaction and fluid mechanics. Furthermore, an optical measuring method was established. The experiments were performed in batch mode in a glass beaker with a flow cuvette for UV/Vis measurement of product concentration.     

复杂流道结构料仓的下料流率预测

在实验室搭建的有机玻璃料仓下料平台上，分别以自由流动粉体玻璃微珠和黏附性粉体煤粉和聚氯乙烯为实验介质，针对无改流体(No-In)、封闭改流体(Con-In)和开放改流体(Ucon-In)三种情况所形成的不同流道结构，开展了粉体料仓下料及其流率建模研究，定量分析了改流体对粉体下料流率的促进作用，对比给出了玻璃微珠、煤粉和聚氯乙烯在不同流道结构料仓内的下料特性。研究表明，改流体的引入有利于提高料仓下料流率，Con-In促进流动效果最明显，对于流动性弱的煤粉，下料流率提升幅度达到最大的58%。基于剪切摩擦区的概念，提出流率校正因子F对最小能量理论方程进行了修正，将理想的料仓下料模型拓展至实际下料过程。进一步，对于Con-In，根据流道结构特征结合对粉体的受力分析，修正了模型中的锥角项；对于Ucon-In，基于粉体下料流动竞争机制，提出分阶段下料模式并关联了内层和夹层的下料流率，最终建立了复杂流道结构料仓的下料流率预测模型。该模型综合考虑了粉体物性、下料流型和流道结构的影响，可有效预测自由流动粉体和黏附性粉体流经传统料仓(No-In)和改流体料仓(包括Con-In和Ucon-In)的粉体下料流率，且预测偏差<10%。     

Robust proton exchange membrane for vanadium redox flow batteries reinforced by silica-encapsulated nanocellulose

High ion selectivity and mechanical strength are critical properties for proton exchange membranes in vanadium redox flow batteries. In this work, a novel sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) hybrid membrane reinforced by core-shell structured nanocellulose (CNC-SPES) is prepared to obtain a robust and high-performance proton exchange membrane for vanadium redox flow batteries. Membrane morphology, proton conductivity, vanadium permeability and tensile strength are investigated. Single cell tests at a range of 40–140 mA cm⁻² are carried out. The performance of the sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) membrane reinforced by pristine nanocellulose (NC-SPES) and Nafion® 212 membranes are also studied for comparison. The results show that, with the incorporation of silica-encapsulated nanocellulose, the membrane exhibits outstanding mechanical strength of 54.5 MPa and high energy efficiency above 82% at 100 mA cm⁻², which is stable during 200 charge-discharge cycles.     

Process and joint quality of ultrasonic vibration enhanced friction stir lap welding

In order to improve the process effectiveness and joint quality, ultrasonic vibrations were integrated with friction stir lap welding. Effect of ultrasonic exertion on the process and joint quality of AA 6061-T6 were investigated. Upon ultrasonic exertion, joints owned larger effective lap width, shorter hooks and improved strength. Weld fracture mode changed from a ductile–brittle mixed mode to a more ductile mode while the fracture path shifted from lap interface to beyond the stir zone. Material flow and interface defects were characterised using lap welded dissimilar aluminium alloy joints. Ultrasonic vibration improved the material flow and reduced the interfacial defects. Variations in failure load of joints were found in accordance with the variations in material flow and interfacial defects.     

Measurement of Consumed Energy Due to the Two-Phase Pressure Drop in a Pulsed Semi-Industrial Column: Effect of Geometry

This article deals with the evaluation of pressure drop and consumption of energy for a steady-state solvent extraction in a horizontal pulsed sieve-plate column, which are important for the design and optimization of the periodic-flow processes for industrial applications. In this study, the pressure drop and the position of loading points are investigated. Moreover, a mathematical evaluation on the energy consumption in the case of a pulsed flow is conducted, and besides the influence of pulsation intensity, the effect of geometrical parameters including the plate spacing and plate-free area is investigated as well. The results of this study are helpful for optimization of column geometry targeted to higher performance and lower energy consumption.     

Numerical Investigation on Granular Flow from a Wedge‐Shaped Feed Hopper Using the Discrete Element Method

The discharge process of granular material from a wedge‐shaped feed hopper was numerically simulated using a 3D discrete element method. The effects of particle size, feed pipe, side and rear wedge angle on the discharge performance were investigated in terms of flow pattern, discharge rate, and stability. The results show that with larger particle size the granular flow pattern gradually transforms from mass flow to edge flow where the flow rate decreases and the discharging integrity and stability become worse. The presence of the feed pipe reduces the discharge rate and stability. The increase of the feed pipe diameter will diminish the discharge rate and enhance the discharge stability. Both the side and the rear wedge angle have a certain effect on the discharge performance. The effects of feed pipe, side and rear wedge angle on the discharge stability become more significant with larger particle size.     

水下循迹航行器水动力学性能数值研究

为了研究低速水下循迹监测航行器的水动力学性能数值计算问题,采用FLUENT软件和SST剪切应力输运模型,通过雷诺时均N-S方程分析流速一定的情况下,取不同攻角、不同水平舵角作为来流条件,研究未安装推进器以及安装推进器且其安装位置不同时,航行器的升力系数、俯仰力矩系数、表面压力分布和流场速度的变化规律。结果表明:在未安装推进器以及推进器的安装位置不同时,随着攻角的变化,升力系数呈线性变化,俯仰力矩系数呈非线性变化;随着水平舵角的变化,升力系数和俯仰力矩系数呈线性变化。当推进器安装在航行器头部时,对航行器流场压力和流场速度变化影响最大;当安装在航行器尾部时,对二者影响最小。对于低速航行器,应尽量将推进器安装在中间靠后位置,以提高航行器的水动力性能。升力系数的试验结果与数值仿真结果之间最大相差7. 51%,阻力系数的试验结果与数值仿真结果最大相差5. 84%,均吻合较好。研究结果可以为低速水下循迹航行器的优化设计和发展提供理论参考。     

柱塞副微观表面对间隙油膜压力的影响

根据分形理论中的W-M函数建立柱塞与缸体孔表面三维形貌数学模型,并利用MATLAB软件编写程序,分析分形维数对表面微观形貌的影响。将柱塞副间隙油膜沿轴向展成平面,建立油膜厚度及压力分布计算模型,采用有限体积法求解二维雷诺方程,分析粗糙度对柱塞副间隙油膜压力分布的影响。结果表明:随着分形维数的增加,柱塞表面粗糙度呈增加趋势,且表面粗糙度越大,压力峰值越大。