The influence of operating and device parameters on the maximum efficiency and the maximum output power of thermoelectric generator

Thermoelectric power generators are one of the promising green energy sources. The operating and the generator parameters influence the generator output performance. In the present study, the influence of the operating and the generator parameters on the maximum output power and the efficiency of the thermoelectric power generator are examined. The output power corresponding to the maximum efficiency and the maximum attainable output power of the generator are compared. It is found that the maximum power of the thermoelectric generator corresponding to the high Figure of Merit is very sensitive to the operating temperature. The maximum power attainable is larger than that its counterpart corresponding to the maximum generator efficiency. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Defining the suitability of new crushed rock aggregate source areas in the North of Kocaeli Province using GIS

This study evaluated the current crushed rock aggregate resources and defined the suitability of potential crushed rock aggregate resource areas in the north of Kocaeli Province by using the geographical information system (GIS). Evaluation of the current aggregate market showed that almost 80 % of the total annual production (14.35 million tonnes) is supplied by the quarries located in Gebze and 20 % of the total annual production (3.65 million tonnes) is supplied by the quarries located in Hereke. The commercial crushed rock aggregate is totally supplied from the limestone and dolomite type carbonate rocks in the northern Kocaeli region. Defining the suitability of potential crushed rock aggregate resource areas was achieved by using GIS methods. First, an aggregate bedrock potential map was developed by using the geological map of the area and categorized as high, moderate and low bedrock potential areas. The high potential areas, which comprised almost 25 % of the northern Kocaeli region, contain carbonate rocks with varying physical, chemical and engineering properties. Secondly, the suitability of the bedrock potential areas was checked by considering the land-use, distance to the county centres and distance to major roads and highways layers in the weighted overlay function of the GIS. The resulting final map contained not suitable, low suitability and suitable areas for crushed rock aggregate. The suitable areas were grouped into three zones according to their geographic distributions. Further, the most promising crushed rock aggregate areas were defined based on the previous field work and surveys in the suitable areas.     

The influence of nitrogen doping on reduced graphene oxide as highly cyclable Li-ion battery anode with enhanced performance

A straightforward, one-step route has been established to fabricate reduced- (rGO) and nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (NrGO) with remarkable lithium-ion storage properties. The graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized as starting material by improved Hummers’ method. Thereafter, thermally annealing GO with NH₃ at elevated temperature to synthesize NrGO was yielded a more open structure with nitrogen sites suitable for enhanced Li intercalation. NrGO exhibited a reversible capacity of 240 mAhg^?1 at 10 Ag^-1 after 500 cycles with 90% capacity retention, which is the best result achieved among graphene oxide-based anodes at this current density. In contrast to rGO, NrGO cells exhibited a gradually increasing capacity profile, reaching up to 114% of the initial capacity at 0.1, 2, and 10 Ag^-1 current densities. Results showed that high occupancy of pyridinic N within NrGO enhanced battery performance and cell kinetics upon cycling which offers long-time operability at high current density.     

Synthesis, characterization, electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry of novel soluble porphyrazines bearing unsaturated functional groups

Metalloporphyrazines with a 2-methyl-2-pentenyl group fused to each pyrrole unit were synthesized starting with the corresponding unsaturated dicarbonitrile derivative. The new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis together with FTIR, ¹H-NMR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy and via voltammetric and spectrochemical methods. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical measurements demonstrate that while metal-free and magnesium porphyrazines gave common porphyrazine (Pz) ring-based electron-transfer reactions, incorporating redox active metal center, Co^II, into the porphyrazine core extended the redox activity of the ring system with reversible metal-based reduction and oxidation couples of the metal center in addition to the common Pz ring-based electron transfer processes. The unsaturated functional groups of the porphyrazines did not alter the common electrochemical behavior of the complexes. An in situ electrocolorimetric method, based on the 1931 CIE (Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage) system of colorimetry, was applied to investigate the color of the electro-generated anionic and cationic forms of the complexes for possible electrochromatic applications.     

Polymerization of epoxides catalyzed by a mixed‐valent iron trifluoroacetate [Fe3O(O2CCF3)6(H2O)3]

The readily available mixed‐valent iron trifluoroacetate complex [Fe₂^IIIFe^II(µ₃‐O)(O₂CCF₃)₆(H₂O)₃] is an effective catalyst for the polymerization of epoxides. A very small amount of the catalyst (1.0–0.01 mol%) could initiate the polymerization of cyclohexene oxide, cyclopentene oxide and epichlorohydrin. Based on quantitative end‐group analysis by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, a Lewis acid (LA^⊕) catalyzed anionic reaction mechanism is proposed. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Investigation of engineering properties for usability of Lefke stone (Osmaneli/Bilecik) as building stone

Lefke stone is a sandstone that has been widely used in mosques, madrasas, churches, and houses as building stone. The geological features and engineering properties of Lefke stone outcropped in the southern part of Osmaneli/Bilecik were investigated in field and laboratory studies. Samples acquired during the fieldwork were tested to determine the physical, mechanical, durability, and hygrothermal properties in the laboratory. The mean physico-mechanical properties of Lefke stone yielded apparent density of 2.38 g/cm³, specific gravity of 2.68 g/cm³, total porosity of 11.26%, 2.93% water absorption by weight, uniaxial compressive strength of 94 MPa, flexure strength of 11.45 MPa, a 3.90 MPa point load strength, 4.5–5 Mohs hardness, and field Schmidt hammer rebound value of 36. According to durability tests, Lefke stone is resistant to CaCl₂ salt mist but has low resistance to SO₂ aging. Salt crystals placed in the discontinuities of the rock caused slight crack growth. The stone’s resistance to crystallization of sodium sulphate salt is low, and an increase in the volume of salts crystallized in the rock results in low corner strengths. A capillary water-absorption value of 0.0016 kg/m².h places Lefke stone into the category of very low water absorption capacity and permeability. The water vapor diffusion resistance factor (μ) less than 1 indicates that the sandstone has high breathability. Its performance in historical buildings, field observations, and values obtained through laboratory tests confirm that Lefke sandstone can be used as a building stone.

     

Kinetic Investigation of Reaction Between Mineral Ulexite and Citric Acid

In this study, the dissolution kinetics of ulexite, a sodium-calcium-borate hydrate (Na₂O·2CaO·5B₂O₃·16H₂O) in citric acid solutions was investigated in a batch reactor. The rate of dissolution can be expressed according to surface chemical reaction controlling with changing fluid reactant concentration. The activation energy of the process was found to be 39.4 kJ/mol.     

Implementation of La(Fe,Co)13−xSix materials in magnetic refrigerators: Practical aspects

In this paper, we report some practical aspects concerning the application of La(Fe, Co)_13?xSi_x based materials in the magnetic cooling technology. For this purpose, two blocks of La(Fe, Co)_13?xSi_x with different Curie temperature were considered for this study. Before implementing the new refrigerants in the magnetic cooling machine, we have measured directly their magnetocaloric properties in practical conditions around room temperature. The obtained magnetocaloric effect values were corrected taking into account the demagnetization effect. The influence of the demagnetization field on the magnetocaloric performances of La(Fe, Co)_13?xSi_x is analyzed and discussed. A composite material based on La(Fe, Co)_13?xSi_x compounds was tested directly in our recently developed magnetic cooling system and a comparison with the gadolinium was made. Encouraging results were obtained showing the high potential of the studied materials in magnetic cooling application. In addition, the poor corrosion resistance of the intermetallics can compromise the potential of these materials. In this paper, we also present the corrosion tests performed on different samples of La(Fe, Co)_13?xSi_x using several heat transfer fluids.