High energy-storage performance of lead-free AgNbO3 antiferroelectric ceramics fabricated via a facile approach

AgNbO₃ lead free AFE ceramics are considered as one of the promising alternatives to energy storage applications. In the majority of studies concerning the preparation of AgNbO₃ AFE ceramics, an oxygen atmosphere is required to achieve high performance, increasing the complexity of the fabrication process. Herein, a facile approach to preparing AgNbO₃ ceramics in the ambient air was reported, in which the AgNbO₃ ultrafine powder with stable perovskite structure was synthesized by hydrothermal method instead of the conventional ball milling process, leading to a lower temperature of phase formation and thus smaller grain size. The resulting ceramics sintered at 940 °C displayed high breakdown strength (216 kV/cm) and a recoverable energy density of 3.26 J/cm³ with efficiency of 53.5 %. Also, the high thermal stability of recoverable energy density (with minimal variation of ≤20 %) and efficiency (≤ 10 %) over 30–150℃, enables AgNbO₃ ceramics achieved to be a promising candidate for energy storage applications.     

The impact of the ICT4D project on sustainable rural development using a capability approach: Evidence from Bangladesh

Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) projects have shown a great promises in recent years. However, simply materializing of ICT4D projects is not enough for minimizing the prevalent digital divide in rural areas in developing countries. For the success of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) intervention, it is important to consider the capabilities of users, who are responsible for converting ICT resources into outcome. While most of the ICT-related studies are focused on the adoption of actual technologies and influences of different internal and external factors on intervention outcomes, very few studies are focused on evaluating intervention outcomes and redesigning intervention strategies. In this study, I opted for using a conceptual framework following the Capability Approach that simultaneously identifies the influence factors for intervention outcome as well as evaluates the outcome based on Noble Laureate Amartya Sen’s five freedoms concept. A qualitative technique has been chosen to conduct the study. As part of the impact evaluation of an ICT4D intervention, a project known as Union Digital Centres (UDCs) in Bangladesh was selected. A total of ten themes are identified indicating that the outcome of the intervention is contributing to socio-economic and human development. However, the study has revealed that lack of capabilities of users (e.g. prior knowledge and financial inability) bar the UDC programs to fulfill their goals at highest level. This study would practically help the UDC policy makers to adjust the UDC intervention design by addressing the shortcomings of the users to yield higher UDC program outcome. Additionally, this study theoretically contributes in ICT adoption literature by showing that there is a mutual influence between users’ capabilities and ICT-related project outcomes. Finally, using specific case study (ICT4D project in Bangladesh), this study contextualizes Amartya Sen’s five freedoms concept in the ICT-specific context.     

Hydrogen gas production from food wastes by electrohydrolysis using a statical design approach

Hydrogen gas production was investigated by electrohydrolysis of food waste due to its high organic content. Different voltages generated by DC power supply were applied to food waste in order to produce hydrogen gas. Effects of the DC voltage, reaction time and initial solid content on cumulative hydrogen gas production, hydrogen gas content in the gas phase and total organic carbon (TOC) removal were investigated by using a Box-Behnken statistical experiment design approach. The most suitable voltage/reaction time/solid content values resulting in the highest hydrogen gas content (99%), the highest cumulative hydrogen gas formation (7000 mL) and total organic carbon removal (33%) were determined as 5 V/75 h/20%. The results indicated that food wastes constitute a good source for H₂ gas production by electrohydrolysis. Hydrogen gas produced by electrohydrolysis of food waste can be directly used in fuel cells due to its high putrity.     

基于数字单元法的三维正交织物微观几何结构建模

为了反映织物内部纱线的空间构型和微观几何结构,针对在织物建模过程中,因忽略纤维间的相互作用而引起的纱线截面形状变化的问题,基于数字单元法理论,提出了一种计算纤维间摩擦力的方法。通过纱线纤维化离散,用数值模拟和仿真方法模拟三维正交织物成型过程,建立了5种精度递进的微观几何结构数值模型。5种模型中的每根纱线分别由4、7、12、19和37根数字纤维表征。研究结果表明:随着纱线纤维化离散程度的提高,仿真时间延长,织物厚度减小,纤维体积分数增大,节点平均作用力下降速度变缓,势能变小;当每根纱线由19根数字纤维组成时,所建织物的微观几何结构数值模型与真实织物样本在显微镜下的内部切片图像较为吻合。     

浅谈在矿山供电课程中如何高效利用慕课mooc和混合式教学

伴随着人类社会的向前推进,信息技术已经渗透到我们生活的方方面面,深刻地改变了教育事业,慕课就是在信息时代下诞生的一种新兴教学工具。但是,如何利用好这一工具却仍然是个值得研究的课题。本文从慕课的内涵出发,分析了将混合式教学模式应用于慕课这一教学平台的重要意义。并且,就混合式教学模式在慕课平台中的应用进行了分析。希望能够给相关工作者以一定的启发。     

Analysis and optimisation of particle mixing performance in fluid phase resonance mixers based on Euler/Lagrange calculations

A novel mixing principle utilising oscillating liquid columns was analysed numerically with regard to particle dispersion characteristics. For producing fluid oscillations a pipe (diameter 100 mm) was immersed centrally into a vessel (diameter 450 mm) filled with liquid (filling height 700 mm) and periodically pressurised (frequency 1.2 Hz). The outlet geometry of the central pipe, just ending near the vessel bottom, has a strong effect on mixing and was optimised in this study. The principle of a FPR-mixer does not require rotating stirrers and in the turbulent regime it has power numbers comparable to propellers. The numerical calculations were conducted by a Euler/Lagrange approach neglecting two-way coupling as well as inter-particle collisions for clarity in order to only focus on the effect of interfacial forces on particle dispersion. The continuous phase was calculated in an unsteady way based on the Reynolds-averaged equations combined with the k-ω-SST (shear stress transport) turbulence model. Lagrangian tracking was conducted considering all relevant forces; drag, gravity/buoyancy, fluid inertia, added mass, Basset force and transverse lift forces due to shear and particle rotation. The importance of these forces was analysed with respect to the turbulent particle Stokes number (considered range 0.004 < St < 10.0) and particle/liquid density ratio (i.e. 1.05, 1.5 and 2.5). Finally, the significance of Basset force and shear-rotation lift force (i.e. Magnus effect) on the dispersion process was quantified by mixing parameters.     

腔室截面形状对扩张室液压脉动衰减器滤波特性的影响

将气体消声器设计理论中的格林函数法扩展到计算和分析具有矩形、正方形截面的扩张室液压脉动衰减器的滤波特性，在平面波截止频率范围内，这两种截面型式脉动衰减器的插入损失理论曲线与实验测量结果吻合较好，证明了该方法同样可用于计算矩形和正方形截面的扩张室压力脉动衰减器的滤波特性。而针对圆形截面，为避免坐标系变换带来的麻烦，引入消声器声学特性研究中最常使用的一维解析法，其计算结果也与实验测量值吻合良好。通过对这三种不同截面扩张室脉动衰减器插入损失的比较，可以得出：控制扩张室腔体截面周长一定的前提下，在2 kHz测试频带内，圆形截面具有最优的滤波特性，正方形截面次之，而矩形截面脉动衰减性能最差。     

Value drivers of blockchain technology: A case study of blockchain-enabled online community

There is growing recognition that blockchain technology has significant potential to alter how organizations and people work and communicate. However, theoretical guidance concerning how organizations leverage blockchain technology to enhance value creation for users is still limited. Grounded in the socio-technical perspective and leveraging the rich data obtained from case analyses of blockchain-enabled online communities, this paper develops a theoretical model to identify the core value drivers that blockchain enables for online communities. The core value drivers include: a reputation-value system, data ownership mechanisms, and verification & tracking mechanisms. Our findings suggest that these three value drivers enhance value creation of online communities by motivating participation and protecting contributions.     

Effect of different control strategies on rapid cold start-up of a 30-cell proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack

Many places experience extreme temperatures below −30 °C, which is a great challenge for the fuel cell vehicle (FCV). The aim of this study is to optimize the strategy to achieve rapid cold start-up of the 30-cell stack at different temperature conditions. The test shows that the stack rapidly starts within 30 s at an ambient temperature of −20 °C. Turning on the coolant at −25 °C show stability of the cell voltage at both ends due to the end-plate heating, however, voltage of intermediate cells fluctuates sharply, and successful start-up is completed after 60 s. The cold start strategy changes to load-voltage cooperative control mode when the ambient temperature reduced to −30 °C, the voltage of multiple cells in the middle of the stack fluctuate more drastic, and start-up takes 113 s. The performance and consistency of the stack did not decay after 20 cold start-up experiments, which indicates that our control strategies effectively avoided irreversible damage to the stack caused by freeze-thaw process.     

Multi-objective optimization of hybrid PEMFC/Li-ion battery propulsion systems for small and medium size ferries

Hybrid Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells/Lithium-ion battery powertrains are a promising solution for zero-local-emissions marine propulsion. The present study aims to optimize the design and operation of such hybrid powertrain for small-size passenger ferries, taking into account the performance degradation of both fuel cells and batteries. A Mixed-Integer Linear-Programming approach and a hierarchical method are adopted to concurrently minimize the fuel cells degradation, the capital expenditure and the operating expenditure, while constraints are included in the model to limit the battery degradation. The results show that the proposed multi-objective optimization can lead to a reduction of fuel cells degradation by up to 65% compared to a cost-minimization only. However, this can imply an increase in the battery capacity by up to 136%. The proposed method has general validity, and it is a useful tool for both preliminary design and choice of the optimal energy management strategy for ships energy systems.