Mg gas infiltration for the fabrication of MgB2 pellets using nanosized and microsized B powders

MgB₂ superconductor pellets were synthesized through Mg gas infiltration method using nanosized- and microsized B powders. There was a marked difference in the superconducting properties of the two samples, particularly in the pinning force and dominant pinning mechanism. The microstructures of the samples were observed using HR-TEM and STEM-HAADF, and the results showed that the primary reason for the difference in the superconducting properties is the distribution of the nanosized second-phase particle MgO. Additionally, a feasible reaction model for the Mg gas infiltration method was established. Compared to the Mg liquid infiltration method, the gas infiltration showed better penetrability ability with a small amount of residual Mg. This study presents a novel synthesis process to fabricate an MgB₂ pellet with superior density and superconducting properties. This method can be used in multiple applications such as superconducting bearings, compact superconductor magnets, and magnetic shielding.     

Stability assessment of 3D reinforced soil structures under steady unsaturated infiltration

Internal stability assessment of geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures (GRSSs) has been commonly carried out assuming plane-strain conditions and dry backfills. However, failures of GRSSs usually show three-dimensional (3D) features and occur under unsaturated conditions. A procedure based on the kinematic limit-analysis method is proposed herein to assess 3D effects and the role of steady unsaturated infiltration on the required geosynthetic strength for GRSSs. A suction stress-based framework is used to describe the soil stress behavior under steady unsaturated infiltration. Based on the principle of energy-work balance, the required geosynthetic strength is determined. A comparison analysis with the prior research is conducted to verify the developed method. Two kinds of backfills, i.e., high-quality backfill and marginal backfill, are considered for comparison in this work. It is shown that accounting for 3D effects and the role of unsaturated infiltration considerably reduces the required geosynthetic strength. The 3D effects are primarily affected by the width-to-height ratio of GRSSs, and the contribution of unsaturated infiltration is mainly influenced by the soil type, flow rate, GRSS's height, and location of the water table.     

Effect of preparation method on the mechanism for oxidation of C/C-BN composites

C/C-BN composites and C_f/BN/PyC composites exhibiting different structures for pyrolytic carbon (PyC) and boron nitride (BN) were studied comparatively to determine their oxidation behavior. This study used five types of samples. Porous C/C composites were modified with silane coupling agents (APS) and then fully impregnated in water-based slurry of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN); the resulting C/C-BN preforms were densified by depositing PyC by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI), resulting in three types of C/C-BN composites. The other two C_f/BN/PyC composites were obtained by depositing a BN interphase and PyC in carbon fiber preforms by CVI; one was treated with heat, and the other was not. This study was focused on determining how the PyC deposition mechanism, morphology and pore structure were affected by the method of BN introduction. In the 600–900 °C temperature range, the C_f/BN/PyC composites and C/C composites underwent oxidation via a mixed diffusion/reaction mode. The C/C-BN composites had a different pore structure due to the formation of nodules comprising h-BN particles; both interfacial debonding and cracking were reduced, resulting in higher resistance to gas diffusion, lower oxidation rate and larger activation energy (Ea) in the temperature range 600–800 °C. In addition, the mechanism for oxidation of C/C-BN composites gradually exhibited diffusion control at 800–900 °C because the formation of h-BN oxidation products healed the defects. The oxidation mechanism was more dependent on pore structure than on BN structure or content.     

华北土石山区典型小流域土壤水文特征与模拟研究

土壤水文特征是研究区域水土资源合理配置的基础支撑要素,根据华北土石山区土壤的地貌分异规律,综合考虑地质、植被、土地利用等因素,采用野外调查取样法、环刀法等,研究了易县崇陵流域5种典型植被(油松、侧柏、银杏、刺槐、荆条)条件下的土壤物理性质、土壤水分特征曲线、土壤入渗过程等土壤水文特征。结果表明,同一植被条件下,土壤容重随土壤深度增加逐渐增大,同一深度条件下,荆条覆盖下的土壤容重最小,其他植被覆盖条件下的土壤容重差别不显著;同一植被条件下,随深度增加,饱和含水率逐渐减小,同一植被不同深度条件下的土壤水吸力随土壤含水率的增加逐渐减小;对土壤水分特征曲线进行拟合时,发现Gardner模型适用于油松和银杏,而张景略模型适用于侧柏、刺槐和荆条;土壤入渗过程的渗润阶段发生在土壤入渗开始的前10min内,渗漏阶段持续100~120min;侧柏最佳入渗模型为Kostiakov模型,而油松、银杏、刺槐及荆条最佳入渗模型为蒋定生模型。     

超高层楼房雨水资源水力发电系统设计研究

为了改善城市生态环境,提高城市自然资源利用率,首先提出了超高层建筑雨水资源利用水力发电的总体架构设计(包括管路设计和涡轮机选型);其次基于流体力学基本方程,构建了涡轮机水流模型,分别应用流体力学模拟、试验和数值解的方法研究了涡轮机出力情况及其设计实体模型的数值解问题;最后选择我国南方某城市的一座50层210m高的楼房为例,对雨水资源利用发电出力进行了研究。结果表明,利用高层楼房雨水水力发电可行,年降水量在1 600mm的条件下,平均1.0×104 m2的超高层楼房雨水蓄积可实现年发电量为271.3×104 kW·h。     

陕西省宝鸡市日月耦合降水随机序列模拟

为了生成可同时保持日、月尺度的关键统计特性的降水序列,提出一种日、月尺度耦合方法使模拟序列可在日、月尺度上均保持实测序列均值、方差和变差系数,该方法利用一阶马尔科夫链模拟干湿期,以两参数Gamma分布模拟降水量,并使用比例调整算法。对陕西省宝鸡市降水序列模拟的结果表明,耦合方法较好地保留了日、月尺度上原有的统计特性,且比例调整算法对日序列的调整较小。同时,耦合方法简单、适用性强,可用于其他尺度间的尺度耦合。     

Fabrication of SiC whisker-reinforced SiC ceramic matrix composites based on 3D printing and chemical vapor infiltration technology

Spray drying, binder jetting and chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) were used in combination for the first time to fabricate SiC whisker-reinforced SiC ceramic matrix composites (SiC_W/SiC). Granulated needle-shaped SiC_W was spray dried into SiC_W spherical particles to increase flowability and thereby increase printability. Then, binder jetting was employed to print a novel SiC_W preform with two-stage pores using the SiC_W spherical particles. The subsequent CVI technology produced pure, dense, and continuous SiC matrix with high modulus and strength. Consequently, SiC_W/SiC with appropriate mechanical properties was obtained. Finally, the challenges of the novel method and the ways to improve the mechanical properties of SiC_W/SiC are discussed.     

Recent progress in integration of reforming catalyst on metal-supported SOFC for hydrocarbon and logistic fuels

The metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell (MS-SOFC) is of current research interest in the clean energy field due to its high performance, quick start-up, thermal cycle stability, and lower raw material cost compared to the conventional cermet-based SOFC. To efficiently operate a MS-SOFC using complex hydrocarbon and logistic fuels, it is required to introduce an internal reforming catalyst within the anode metal scaffold. This review article discusses some examples of the performance of MS-SOFCs under hydrocarbon and logistic fuels with and without an additional reforming catalyst. We also discuss the performance improvement of conventional cermet-based SOFCs by adding reforming catalysts via the infiltration method. This information can be directly applied to future MS-SOFC applications. Furthermore, this review article proposes possible novel methods such as direct precursor infiltration, catalyst-anode premixing, and atomic layer deposition methods to introduce the reforming catalyst into a MS-SOFC for improving its initial electrochemical performance and long-term stability under hydrocarbon and logistics fuel.