Polyaniline/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites Obtained by In Situ Intercalation and Oxidative Polymerization in Cationic Modified-Clay (Sodium, Copper and Iron)

Polyaniline/montmorillonite nanocomposites (PANI/M) were obtained by intercalation of aniline monomer into M modified with different cations and subsequent oxidative polymerization of the aniline. The modified-clay was prepared by ion exchange of sodium, copper and iron cations in the clay (Na–M, Cu–M and Fe–M respectively). Infrared spectroscopy confirms the electrostatic interaction between the oxidized PANI and the negatively charged surface of the clay. X-ray diffraction analysis provides structural information of the prepared materials. The nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and their thermal degradation was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The weight loss suggests that the PANI chains in the nanocomposites have higher thermal stability than pure PANI. The electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites increased between 12 and 24 times with respect to the pure M and this increase was dependent on the cation-modification. The electrochemical behavior of the polymers extracted from the nanocomposites was studied by cyclic voltammetry and a good electrochemical response was observed.     

Two-Variable Refined Plate Theory for Thermoelastic Bending Analysis of Functionally Graded Sandwich Plates

The thermoelastic bending analysis of functionally graded sandwich plates using the two-variable refined plate theory is presented in this paper. Unlike any other theory, the number of unknown functions involved is only four, as against five in case of other shear deformation theories. The theory presented is variationally consistent, has strong similarity with classical plate theory in many aspects, does not require shear correction factor, and gives rise to transverse shear stress variation such that the transverse shear stresses vary parabolically across the thickness satisfying shear stress free surface conditions. The sandwich plate faces are assumed to have isotropic, two-constituent material distribution through the thickness, and the modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio of the faces, and thermal expansion coefficients are assumed to vary according to a power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The core layer is still homogeneous and made of an isotropic ceramic material. Several kinds of sandwich plates are used taking into account the symmetry of the plate and the thickness of each layer. The influences played by the transverse shear deformation, thermal load, plate aspect ratio, and volume fraction distribution are studied. Numerical results for deflections and stresses of functionally graded metal–ceramic plates are investigated. It can be concluded that the proposed theory is accurate and simple in solving the thermoelastic bending behavior of functionally graded plates.     

Prediction-based Deadbeat Control for Grid-connected Inverter with L-filter and LCL-filter

Abstract—In this article, an improved deadbeat control algorithm suitable for digital signal processor-based circuit implementation is proposed. The control algorithm allows the derivation of a nearly sine wave output current with a fixed switching frequency of a current-controlled voltage source inverter. Two low-pass output filters configurations are considered in this study: a simple inductance filter and an LCL-filter. By taking advantage of prior knowledge of the state variables’ shape, the improved deadbeat control algorithm is based on a simple prediction model to derive the expected duty cycle needed to switch on and off the power switches. The control study of the grid-connected inverter with L and LCL output filters has been considered using a co-simulation approach with (Powersim Inc., Rockville, Maryland, USA) and MATLAB software (The MathWorks, Natick, Massachusetts, USA). The obtained results show the improvement of both shape quality and tracking accuracy of the output current quantified by low ripple content and a nearly unity power factor.     

A mashup based framework for multi level healthcare interoperability

Healthcare delivery is evolving from disease-centered to patient-centered care delivery where patients are active participants in their healthcare delivery. This calls for more communication and collaboration among all healthcare actors. There is also an increasing demand for personalized healthcare systems that provide effective information management, facilitate communication and collaboration, and support applications to meet user requirements. To address these challenges, we need to advance the integration and interoperability of healthcare applications in a controlled manner. Drawing upon a conceptual model from a collaborative care case study, we identified a set of interoperability requirements and developed a Mashup based interoperability framework. Our framework allows patients and other healthcare actors to engage in collaborative processes through online applications facilitated by mashups. We then use proof-of-concept implementations to demonstrate how our framework is able to facilitate different types of interoperability. We believe that collaborative technologies such as mashups can implement process interoperability requirements to support collaborative care delivery, particularly for asynchronous care delivery.     

Temperature dependent optical properties of single, hierarchically self-assembled GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dots

We report on the experimental observation of bright photoluminescence emission at room temperature from single unstrained GaAs quantum dots (QDs). The linewidth of a single-QD ground-state emission (≈ 8.5 meV) is comparable to the ensemble inhomogeneous broadening (≈ 12.4 meV). At low temperature (T  ≤  40 K) photon correlation measurements under continuous wave excitation show nearly perfect single-photon emission from a single GaAs QD and reveal the single photon nature of the emitted light up to 77 K. The QD emission energies, homogeneous linewidths and the thermally activated behavior as a function of temperature are discussed.     

Feasibility study of hydrogen production from wind power in the region of Ghardaia

A feasibility study on hydrogen production from wind power on the site of Ghardaia is carried out. This study is based on the estimation of the hydrogen rate produced by a 5 kW electrolyser fed by the electricity provided by a 10 kW wind turbine.Wind speed data were used to study the monthly variation of the wind power delivered and its variation according to the height of the wind turbine tower.The obtained results show that it is possible to improve the system output by increasing the height of the wind turbine tower. Indeed, it has been obtained 3200 Nm³ of hydrogen production for a 30 m wind turbine height and 4200 Nm³ at 60 m.In addition, it has been noticed that hydrogen production varies strongly with the months of the year. Thus, the production has reached a maximum of 395 Nm³ in May and a minimum of 187 Nm³ during November and October.     

Multi-objective sustainable process plan generation in a reconfigurable manufacturing environment: exact and adapted evolutionary approaches

Achieving competitiveness in nowadays manufacturing market goes through being cost and time-efficient as well as environmentally harmless. Reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) is a paradigm that is able to meet these challenges due to its scalability and integrability. In this paper, we aim to solve the multi-objective sustainable process plan generation problem in a reconfigurable environment. In addition to the total production cost and the completion time, we use the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted during the manufacturing process as a sustainability criterion. We propose an iterative multi-objective integer linear programming (I-MOILP) approach and its comparison with adapted versions of the two well-known evolutionary algorithms, respectively, the Archived Multi-Objective Simulated Annealing (AMOSA) and the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II). Moreover, we study the influence of the probabilities of genetic operators on the convergence of the adapted NSGA-II. To illustrate the applicability of the three approaches, an example is presented and obtained numerical results analysed.     

Thermophysical and thermomechanical properties of Norland Optical Adhesives and liquid crystal composites

Thermophysical and thermomechanical properties of UV-cured Norland Optical Adhesives (NOA65) and low molecular weight Liquid Crystal E7 systems were investigated. Thin films of Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal were prepared by Polymerization Induced Phase Separation and UV-curing. Phase diagrams were established using Polarized Optical Microscopy and DSC to determine the lines of nematic to isotropic phase transition as well as the glass transition temperature changes with the system composition. Mechanical measurements were performed in the static and dynamic modes to determine the moduli in terms of the curing time, the temperature and the amount of low molecular weight liquid crystal molecules. Thermomechanical measurements were found to overestimate the glass transition temperature as compared to calorimetric data. Variations of the Young's modulus and the molecular weight defining the mesh size of the network were analyzed in terms of the curing time and liquid crystal concentration. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Development and characterisation of (Ni, Cu, Co)-YSZ and Cu-Co-YSZ cermets anode materials for SOFC application

To improve the internal reforming reactions at SOFC anode, alternative (Ni, Cu, Co) -YSZ and Cu-Co-YSZ anode cermets materials are coated by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). The spray parameters including carrying gas flow rate, spraying distance, argon flow rate and hydrogen flow rate were investigated by an orthogonal experiment to fabricate gas-permeable anode cermets coatings. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction are used to characterise the morphology and structure of coated films respectively. The porosity was deduced by the statistical image analysis. By proper selection of the spray parameters to decrease the particles velocity and temperature, the sprayed coatings monometallic and bimetallic ones show that the cross porosity is dependent of metal weight ratio. In fact, when the metal percentage increases, the porosity decreases. Monometallic Ni-YSZ, Cu-YSZ and Co-YSZ cermets with a weight ratio of (3:2) appear to be less porous than those with (1:1) and (2:3) ones respectively, to reach a maximum porosity of 21.57% for Co-YSZ cermet of (2:3) weight ratio. Cu-Co-YSZ bimetallic cermet coating with weight ratio of (0.5:1:2.5) is more porous than those with (1:2:3) and (2:1:2) weight ratios respectively. Its porosity is about 19.15% which is closed to that of Ni-YSZ (2:3) coating. The X-ray diffraction results showed that the metal content in the cermets have a negligible influence on the crystalline phase structure. Such bimetallic materials anode are very interesting because Co diffuses in Cu lattice offering thus, best electronic conductivity, thermal stability and an avoided carbon formation, by replacing Ni with an electron conductor such as Cu that does not catalyze carbon formation.     

Systematic procedures for sizing photovoltaic pumping system,using water tank storage

In this work, the performances of the photovoltaic pumping destined to supply drinking water in remote and scattered small villages have been studied. The methodology adopted proposes various procedures based on the water consumption profiles, total head, tank capacity and photovoltaic array peak power. A method of the load losses probability (LLP) has been used to optimize sizing of the photovoltaic pumping systems with a similarity between the storage energy in batteries and water in tanks. The results were carried out using measured meteorological data for four localities in Algeria: Algiers and Oran in the north, Bechar and Tamanrasset in the south. The results show that the performance of the photovoltaic pumping system depends deeply on the pumping total head and the peak power of the photovoltaic array. Also, for the southern localities, the LLP method shows that the size of the photovoltaic array varies versus LLP on a small scale. On the other hand, for the northern localities, the sizing of the photovoltaic array is situated on a large scale power. Because of the current high crud-oil price, the photovoltaic pumping still to be the best adopted energy resource to supply drinking water in remote and scattered villages.