Predictive process mapping for laser powder bed fusion: A review of existing analytical solutions

One of the main challenges in the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process is making dense and defect-free components. These porosity defects are dependent upon the melt pool geometry and the processing conditions. Power-velocity (PV) processing maps can aid in visualizing the effects of LPBF processing variables and mapping different defect regimes such as lack-of-fusion, under-melting, balling, and keyholing. This work presents an assessment of existing analytical equations and models that provide an estimate of the melt pool geometry as a function of material properties. The melt pool equations are then combined with defect criteria to provide a quick approximation of the PV processing maps for a variety of materials. Finally, the predictions of these processing maps are compared with experimental data from the literature. The predictive processing maps can be computed quickly and can be coupled with dimensionless numbers and high-throughput (HT) experiments for validation. The present work provides a boundary framework for designing the optimal processing parameters for new metals and alloys based on existing analytical solutions.     

The effect of biomass feeding location on rice husk gasification for hydrogen production

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of biomass feeding location on rice husk gasification for hydrogen production. By comparing the results between top-feed and bottom-feed of the feedstock of the fluidized bed biomass gasification at the reaction temperature between 600～1000 °C and ER = 0.2, 0.27, and 0.33 without steam, the optimum low heating value was increase by 2.35 kJ/g-rice husk by the top-feed to gasifier. Although the yield of hydrogen was decreased by 42% for the rice husk gasification by the top-feed operation, the yield of CO, CO2, and CH4 were highly increased, which enhancing the heating value of the effluent gas. The study results suggested the potential route of the biomass gasification at the different feeding location.     

Applications of high-gravity technologies in gas purifications: A review

The traditional gas purification techniques such as wet gas desulfurization, with their advantages of large-scale implementation and maturity, have still been widely used. However, the main drawback of these techniques is the low transfer efficiency, which normally needs towers as tall as tens of meters to remove the pollutants. Therefore, new technologies which could enhance the mass transfer efficiency and are less energy-intensive are highly desirable. As a process intensification technology, high-gravity technology, which is carried out in a rotating packed bed(RPB), has recently demonstrated great potential for industrial applications due to its high mass transfer efficiency, energy-saving, and smaller volume. This consequently provides higher efficiency in toxic gas removal, and can significantly reduce the investment and operation costs. In this review, the mechanism,characteristics, recent developments, and the industry applications of high-gravity technologies in gas purifications, such as hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and nanoparticle removal are discussed, most of the demonstration projects and practical application examples in gas purification come from China. The perspective and prospective of this technology in gas purification and other fields are also briefly discussed.     

Advances in reduction of NOx and N2O1 emission formation in an oxy-fired fluidized bed boiler

Fossil fuel combustion is one of the major means to meet the mounting global energy demand. However, the increasing NO_x and N₂O emissions arising from fossil fuel combustion process have hazardous effects. Thus, mitigating these gases is vital to attain a sustainable environment. Interestingly, oxy-fuel combustion in fluidized bed for carbon capture and minimized NO_x emissions is strongly sustainable compare to the other approaches. It was assessed that NO_x formation and fuel-N conversion have significant limitation under oxy-fluidized bed compared to air mode and the mechanism of NO_x formation is still deficient and requires further development. In addition, this review paper discussed the potential of primary measure as low emission process with others supplementary techniques for feasible NO_x reduction. The influences of combustion mode, operating parameters, and reduction techniques such as flue gas recirculation, oxygen staging, biomass co-firing, catalyst, influence of fluidized bed design and structure, decoupling combustion and their merges are respectively evaluated. Findings show that significant minimization of NO_x emission can be achieved through combination of primary and secondary reduction techniques.     

Additive manufacturing of bipolar plates for hydrogen production in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis cells

Water electrolysis is a process that can produce hydrogen in a clean way when renewable energy sources are used. This allows managing large renewable surpluses and transferring this energy to other sectors, such as industry or transport. Among the electrolytic technologies to produce hydrogen, proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis is a promising alternative. One of the main components of PEM electrolysis cells are the bipolar plates, which are machined with a series of flow distribution channels, largely responsible for their performance and durability. In this work, AISI 316L stainless steel bipolar plates have been built by additive manufacturing (AM), using laser powder bed fusion (PBF-L) technology. These bipolar plates were subjected to ex-situ corrosion tests and assembled in an electrolysis cell to evaluate the polarization curve. Furthermore, the obtained results were compared with bipolar plates manufactured by conventional machining processes (MEC). The obtained experimental results are very similar for both manufacturing methods. This demonstrates the viability of the PBF-L technology to produce metal bipolar plates for PEM electrolyzers and opens the possibilities to design new and more complex flow distribution channels and to test these designs in initial phases before scaling them to larger surfaces.     

An experimental study on the spray characteristics of pressure nozzle in a fluid bed granulation

The particles with a narrow size distribution are proper products in a fluid bed granulation and coating. As well, the process efficiency is one of the most important parameters, and the wall deposition of sprayed liquid reduces it. The modality of spray volume distribution is a key parameter in the definition of particle size distribution and process efficiency. This work is done in two steps: In the first step, an experimental study on spray characteristics including spray flux distribution, spray cone angle, and discharge coefficient is conducted. Based on the experimental data, the curves of liquid volume flux versus nozzle pressure and height are obtained. The results indicate that the flux distribution changes significantly with even small pressure and height changes. In the second step, the granulation process is carried out in a semi-industrial conical fluid bed, and the particles size distribution curves and the deposited mass on the bed wall are obtained. The results show that the precise determination of the spray flux distribution is an appropriate way to predict the well-advised nozzle pressure/height in order to achieve the narrow particle size distribution and high efficiency of the process.     

变径组合提升管内团聚物持续时间的分析

在固气比［Gs/（ρg?Ug）］为2.13～47.95的范围内，对循环流化床变径组合提升管内团聚物持续时间进行了测量与分析，结果表明：单个团聚物持续时间为0.001 28～0.601 60 s，局部位置团聚物平均持续时间为0.014 32～0.160 64 s；在数量上，持续时间小于0.064 00 s的低浓度团聚物占87.69%，持续时间大于0.064 00 s 的高浓度团聚物占12.31%；在固气比较低时，主要由低浓度团聚物主导平均持续时间；在固气比较高时，临近边壁区域主要由高浓度团聚物主导平均持续时间。时间多尺度分析结果表明：低浓度团聚物中，在数量上主要以持续时间为0.001 28～0.038 40 s 的团聚物为主，在对平均持续时间的影响上主要以持续时间为0.012 80～0.038 40 s 的团聚物为主；高浓度团聚物中，在数量和对平均持续时间的影响上，均主要以持续时间为0.064 00～0.128 00 s 的团聚物为主。     

脉冲喷动床微波冻干方便面品质与能耗研究

以湿面条为实验原料,进行脉冲喷动床微波冻干(PSBMFD)面饼品质与能耗研究,并与传统电加热冻干(CFD)方式进行对比分析。研究表明:PSBMFD面饼的复水时间、复水比及复水前后硬度值分别为150 s、3.07、4 692.36 g、520.45 g,水分、色差及收缩率的均匀度分别为94.51%、94.31%、92.23%,感观评价总分为8.2,干燥时间为3.5 h,干燥产品总耗能为8.05 kWh/kg。PSBMFD技术不仅提高冻干面饼的干燥均匀度,改善冻干面饼的品质,而且与CFD相比,能够明显地缩短冻干时间(58.83%),降低冻干能耗(66.63%)。     

负压差对固体进料系统压力分布和气固两相流动规律的影响

A series of experiments on a solid feed system was performed to investigate the effects of negative pressure gradient on the gas-solid flow pattern and hydrodynamic characteristics. Based on the non-fluidized gas-solid two phase flow and particulate mechanics in the standpipe, a method for predicting the pressure of the air passing through the recycle chamber and the pressure drop through the loop seal slit in these systems is also presented. The predicted pressure profile along the negative pressure gradient from the proposed model exhibits a good agreement with the experimental data. The experimental data show that the gas flow in the standpipe is always upward in the negative pressure gradients, while the direction of gas cannot be changed by the drag force. The solid flow rate, the materiel bed height in the recycle chamber (Hf), the pressure drop across the slit (△Pg） decrease with an increasing negative pressure gradient. At a given negative pressure gradient, the superficial gas velocity through the recycle chamber of the loop seal does not affect the pressure drop in standpipe. It increases with an increasing negative pressure gradient.