The corrosion behaviour of NiAl in Molten Carbonate at 650°C

In Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC) the separator plates in a stack are exposed to severe conditions. The normal operating temperature of a MCFC is 650°C, while the electrolyte consists of an eutectic mixture of 62/38 Li₂CO₃/K₂CO₃. On one side the separator plate material is in contact with a reducing atmosphere and on the other side it is an oxidising atmosphere. Due to the application of a wet seal the material is also in contact with the molten carbonate. A wide range of materials is therefore being investigated to enable a justified materials selection either as base material or as coating. NiAl is one of the investigated materials, which has promising properties, due to the possible formation of a protective oxide LiAlO₂ layer. A comparison will be made with data available for pure Ni, with special emphasis on the protective character of the oxide layer based on quasi-stationary polarisation curves, exposure tests at open circuit potential and quenching experiments, incorporating earlier published results obtained on Ni with impedance measurements. All experiments were performed in molten carbonate, while the gas composition over the melt was 64% H₂, 16% CO₂, and 20% H₂O.     

The effect of the gas void distribution on the ohmic resistance during water electrolytes

Due to the presence of gas bubbles on the electrode surface and in the interelectrode gap during water electrolysis, the ohmic resistance in the cell increases. The main aim of this investigation is to obtain insight into the effect of the gas void distribution on the ohmic resistance in the electrolysis cell. The gas void distribution perpendicular to the electrode surface has been determined at various current densities, solution flow velocities and heights in the cell, taking high speed motion pictures. From these measurements it follows that two bubble layers can be distinguished. The current density distribution and the ohmic resistance in the electrolysis cell have been determined using a segmented nickel electrode. The current density decreases at increasing height in the cell. The effect is more pronounced at low solution flow velocities and high current densities. A new model to calculate the ohmic resistance in the cell is proposed.Nomenclature A _l electrolyte area (m²) - c constant (–) - d _wm distance between the working electrode and the diaphragm resp. the tip of the Luggin capillary (m) - E voltage of an operating cell (V) - f gas void fraction (–) - F Faraday constant (C/mol) - f ₀ gas void fraction at the electrode surface (–) - f _b gas void fraction in the bulk electrolyte (–) - h height from the bottom of the working electrode (m) - h _r reference height (= 1 cm) (m) - H total height of the electrode (m) - i current density (A m^–2) - i _av average current density (A m^–2) - i _r reference current density (= 1 kA m^–2) (A m^–2) - R resistance () - R specific resistance (_m) - R unit surface resistance (m²) - R ₁ resistance of the first bubble layer () - R ₂ resistance of the second bubble layer () - R _cell ohmic resistance in the cell () - R _b bubble radius (m) - s _l degree of screening by bubbles in the electrolyte (–) - _l liquid flow velocity (m s^–1) - _{1, r} reference liquid flow velocity (= l m s^–1) (m s^–1) - V _M molar gas volume (m³ mol^–1) - w width of the electrode (m) - x distance from the electrode surface (m) - thickness of the bubble layer adjacent to the electrode (m) - number of bubbles generated per unit surface area and unit time (m^–2 s^–1) Paper presented at the International Meeting on Electrolytic Bubbles organised by the Electrochemical Technology Group of the Society of Chemical Industry, and held at Imperial College, London, 13–14 September 1984.     

Sustainability of biofuels in Latin America: Risks and opportunities

Several Latin American countries are setting up biofuel programmes to establish alternative markets for agricultural commodities. This is mainly triggered by the current success of Brazilian bioethanol production for the domestic market and for export. Furthermore, the global biofuel market is expected to increase due to ambitious biofuel programmes in the EU and in the USA. Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Guatemala are focusing on bioethanol production from sugarcane whereas biofuel production in Argentina is based on soy biodiesel. Recent developments of the biofuel sector take place extremely rapid especially in Argentina, which became one of the five largest biodiesel producers in the world in 2008. Till date no specific biofuel sustainability certification systems have been implemented in Latin American, as well as on global level. This fact and the predominant use of food crops for biofuel production raise concerns about the sustainability of biofuel production related to environmental and social aspects. This paper provides an overview of the hotspots of conflicts in biofuel production in Latin America. It investigates presently available sustainability tools and initiatives to ensure sustainable biofuel production in Latin America. Finally, it provides an outlook on how to integrate sustainability in the Latin American biofuel sector.     

Comparison of wind turbine wake properties in non‐sheared inflow predicted by different computational fluid dynamics rotor models

The wake of the 5MW reference wind turbine designed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is simulated using computational fluid dynamics with a fully resolved rotor geometry, an actuator line method and an actuator disc method, respectively. Simulations are carried out prescribing both uniform and turbulent inflows, and the wake properties predicted by the three models are compared. In uniform inflow, the wake properties predicted by the actuator disc and line methods are found to be in very close agreement but differ significantly from the wake of the fully resolved rotor, which is characterized by much higher turbulence levels. In the simulations with turbulent inflow, the wake characteristics predicted by the three methods are in close agreement, indicating that the differences observed in uniform inflow do not play an important role if the inflow is turbulent. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Process Pattern Model for Tackling and Improving Big Data Quality

Data seldom create value by themselves. They need to be linked and combined from multiple sources, which can often come with variable data quality. The task of improving data quality is a recurring challenge. In this paper, we use a case study of a large telecom company to develop a generic process pattern model for improving data quality. The process pattern model is defined as a proven series of activities, aimed at improving the data quality given a certain context, a particular objective, and a specific set of initial conditions. Four different patterns are derived to deal with the variations in data quality of datasets. Instead of having to find the way to improve the quality of big data for each situation, the process model provides data users with generic patterns, which can be used as a reference model to improve big data quality.     

Measuring the External Quantum Efficiency of Two‐Terminal Polymer Tandem Solar Cells

Tandem configurations, in which two cells are stacked and connected in series, offer a viable approach to further increase the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells. To enable the future rational design of new materials it is important to accurately assess the contributions of individual subcells. Such accurate measurement of the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of the subcells of two‐terminal organic or polymer tandem solar cells poses specific challenges, caused by two characteristics of these cells, i.e. a sub‐linear light intensity dependence of the current and a field‐assisted charge collection. These properties necessitate that EQE experiments are carried out under representative illumination conditions and electrical bias to maintain short‐circuit conditions for the addressed subcell. We describe a method to determine the magnitudes of the bias illumination and bias voltage during EQE measurements, based on the behavior of single junction cells and optical modeling. The short‐circuit current densities of the subcells obtained by convolution of the EQE with the AM1.5G solar spectrum are consistent with those obtained from optical modeling and correctly predict the current density–voltage characteristics of the tandem cell under AM1.5G conditions.     

Influence of pasteurisation,freezing and storage on properties of egg products made from eggs stored for 7 and for 28 days

The influence of the age of eggs before breaking, pasteurisation, freezing and storage at —17°c and the method of whipping on the foaming power, foam stability and viscosity of liquid egg albumen and liquid whole egg were studied. The foaming power (relative volume of foam) and the foam stability were determined with the aid of a Hobart whipping machine N 50. The viscosity was measured with a Brookfield viscometer type LV. Liquid egg albumen from 28-day-old eggs had a better foaming power with better stability than that from 7-day-old eggs. The viscosity of the liquid egg albumen from 7-day-old eggs was higher than that from 28-day-old eggs. When pasteurised with aluminium sulphate, the foaming power and the foam stability of all liquid egg albumens increased. When pasteurised without aluminium sulphate, both properties increased for liquid egg albumen from 7-day-old eggs and decreased for that from 28-day-old eggs. During the first weeks of storage of the egg white at −17°C, the foaming power, foam stability and viscosity gradually increased. Whipping for 1 min at setting 2 and 2 mill at setting 3 yielded a higher foaming power and a higher stability of the foam than whipping for 1 min at setting 2 and then a few minutes at position 3 until visually the optimum had been reached. These differences were significant (P < 0·01) for the foaming power and foam stability. There was no significant difference between the foaming power and stability of the foam for liquid whole egg prepared from 7-day-old eggs and that from 28-day-old eggs. Pasteurisation (3 min at 65°c) gave a decrease in foaming power and foam stability and an increase in viscosity. These differences were significant (P < 0·07) for the foaming power and viscosity. Storage resulted in lower foaming power and higher foam stability. In this case, higher viscosity values were also obtained. The whipping method did not give any significant differences.     

Electrodeionisation 3: The removal of nickel ions from dilute solutions

The removal of nickel ions from dilute solutions using a process that combines an ion-exchange bed with electrodialysis has been studied. The main aspects include: the concentration of nickel ions in the diluate, the voltage over the cell and the current density distribution along the ion-exchange bed. The current density distribution provides insight into the state of the bed as it is simultaneously loaded with Ni²⁺ and regenerated with an electric potential difference applied perpendicular to it. A simple model is used to describe the state of the bed and the quantity of nickel removed from it as a function of time. Under specific conditions the precipitation of metal hydroxides is observed in the compartment containing the ion-exchange bed. The results show that hydroxide precipitation is related to the nickel concentration in solution and the electric potential gradient across the bed.