Dielectric and impedance characteristics of Ba(Bi0.5Nb0.5)O3 ceramics

A lead free polycrystalline material Ba(Bi_0.5Nb_0.5)O₃ was prepared using a high-temperature mixed oxide technique using high purity ingredients. The formation of the material in monoclinic crystal structure was confirmed by an X-ray structural analysis at room temperature. The nature and texture of microstructure by scanning electron microscopy show that the compound has well defined grains uniformly distributed throughout the surface of the sample. Detailed studies of dielectric and impedance properties of the material, carried out in the frequency range of (1 kHz–1 MHz) at different temperatures (30 °C to 475 °C), have shown many interesting properties. Dielectric study showed an existence of diffuse phase transition around 317 °C. The temperature dependence of impedance parameters (impedance, modulus etc.) of the material exhibits a strong correlation of its micro-structure (i.e., bulk, grain boundary, etc.) with the electrical parameters. An existence of negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) type behavior in the material similar to that of semiconductors was also observed. The complex electric modulus analysis indicates the existence of hopping conduction mechanism in the system with non-exponential type of conductivity relaxation. The nature of variation of dc conductivity with temperature confirms the Arrhenius behavior of the material. The ac conductivity spectra show a typical signature of an ionic conducting system, and are found to obey Jonscher’s universal power law. The temperature dependent pre-exponential factor (A) shows peak and frequency exponent (n) possesses a minimum at transition temperature.     

Evaluation of current status and future directions of wind energy in India

Wind energy is the fastest growing electricity generation technology. During the last decade of the 20th century, grid-connected wind capacity worldwide has doubled approximately every 3 years. Climate change is a major challenge to sustainable development worldwide and is increasingly recognized by forward-looking political and business leaders. One of the tasks we are facing is a profound transformation of our energy system over the next few decades of replacing fossil fuels with renewable energies and dramatically increasing energy efficiency. At present, wind energy is receiving considerable attention in the world. In this study, development of wind energy system and the potential of wind energy in India have been investigated. This paper presents the progress made by wind energy in the recent years, and discusses the potential of this technology. The aim of the work is to investigate the wind energy plants and projects in India. It can be concluded from this analysis that wind energy utilization in India and throughout world has sharply increased.     

电力市场环境下无功功率集中度的评估和分析

通过测量发电机有效可用的无功功率,已经实现了无功功率集中度的评估．采用基于价值的方法,考虑有功无功负载最大时所需的无功出力,计算有效可用无功功率,进而确定发电机组的无功集中度,最后分析了负荷水平对无功集中度的影响．并以IEEE24节点可靠性测试系统和印度75节点系统为例,验证了所提出的评估无功集中度方法的可行性．     

Unsteady thermally radiative and chemically reactive viscoelastic fluid flow past a vertical porous plate with a heat source

An analytical study is performed to investigate the thermal radiation effect on the unsteady two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flow of a viscoelastic incompressible fluid (Walters $B\prime$ fluid model) along an infinite hot vertical sheet embedded in a porous medium. Further, the addition of a heat source in the energy equation as well as a chemical reaction in the concentration equation renders the present analysis realistic in the field of engineering and technology. The governing equations of mass, momentum, energy, and concentration are solved with successive perturbation techniques. The effects of pertinent parameters on fluid velocity, temperature, concentration, and bounding surface coefficients are shown graphically and in tabular form. The salient feature of the present study is to impose control on magnetic field strength vis-à-vis electromagnetic force by regulating voltage in the electric circuit. The important findings are: the elasticity property of the fluid is more sensitive to heated bounding surface consequently free convection current in enhancing the velocity near the plate than the inherent property viscosity. This outcome contributes to the design requirement to control the flow near the heated surface, higher values of frequency parameters contribute to the attainment of a free stream state in temperature distribution. Besides the aforesaid outcome, the present model is conducive to thinning of boundary layer as the elasticity, magnetic as well as free convection parameters enhance the force coefficients at the bounding surface.     

Self-Healing and -Repair of Nanomechanical Damages in Lead Halide Perovskites

Recovery from damage in materials helps extend their useful lifetime and of devices that contain them. Given that the photodamages in HaP materials and based devices are shown to recover, the question arises if this also applies to mechanical damages, especially those that can occur at the nanometer scale, relevant also in view of efforts to develop flexible HaP-based devices. Here, this question is addressed by poking HaP single crystal surfaces with an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip under both ultra-high vacuum (UHV) and variably controlled ambient water vapor pressure conditions. Sequential in situ AFM scanning allowed real-time imaging of the morphological changes at the damaged sites. Using methylammonium (MA) and cesium (Cs) variants for A-site cations in lead bromide perovskites, the experiments show that nanomechanical damages on methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr₃) crystals heal an order of magnitude faster than Cs-based ones in UHV. However, surprisingly, under ≥40% RH conditions, cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr₃) shows MAPbBr₃-like fast healing kinetics. Direct evidence for ion solvation on CsPbBr₃ is presented, leading to the formation of a surface hydration layer. The results imply that moisture improves the ionic mobility of degradation components and leads to water-assisted improved healing, i.e., repair of nanomechanical damages in the HaPs.     

Study of an unsteady fluctuative MHD flow of elasticoviscous liquid past a vertical porous plate

Most flows which occur in nature/practical applications are fluctuating. The fluctuating motions superimposed on the main motion are complex. Further, the unsteadiness of the flow is an added reality to applications in various fields. The free convection flow of an electrically conducting fluid past different types of vertical bodies subjected to a magnetic field is studied because of its wide range of applications in astrophysics, geophysics, aerodynamics, electromagnetic pumps, the flow of liquid metals, and so forth. In the present analysis, an attempt has been made to study the thermal radiation effect on the unsteady magnetohydrodynamic flow of an incompressible elasticoviscous liquid (Walters-B' fluid model) along an infinite hot vertical permeable surface embedded in a porous medium with heat source and chemical reaction. The governing equations of motion, energy, and concentration are solved by an approximate analytical method, that is, the successive perturbation technique and numerical method (Runge–Kutta with shooting). The solution procedure rests upon the basic assumption that the unsteady boundary layer involves a steady basic flow superimposed on an unsteady flow. The most striking outcome is that the combined effect of oscillation outflow, the elasticity of the fluid, and thermal as well as mass buoyancy overrides the resistive electromagnetic force and suction at the plate to enhance the velocity so that high values of magnetic strength are not desired. Further, a higher value of the heat source parameter accelerates the momentum diffusion resulting in the escalation of the velocity field. Fall of concentration is relatively faster in cases of heavier species as well as destructive reactions. The heat transfer coefficient assumes positive values indicating the heat flows from the plate to the fluid (cooling of the bounding surface and heating of the fluid). These observations may have industrial (design of heat exchanges) and therapeutic bearings.