Second law analysis of wind turbine power plants: Cesme, Izmir example

In this study, the energy and exergy efficiency results of the Wind Turbine Power Plants (WTPPs) are presented. Exergy, energy and technical availability analysis are performed. The case study includes the actual system data taken from the system in Cesme, Izmir WTPP. General energy, exergy and other performance parameters are also presented. Investigated WTPP is Turkey’s first installed (1998) wind plant (1.50 MW) located in Izmir. Exergy efficiency of the power plant found to be between 0% and 68.20%. The monthly average technical availabilities are 96.11%, 98.71%, 98.52% for turbine 1, turbine 2, and turbine 3, respectively. Furthermore, authors developed some correlations, which are capable of predicting the values of exergy efficiencies of the WTPP for different power factor value.     

Solution behavior of Na sulfonated polystyrene: Dipole moment determinations

Solution behavior of Na sulfonated polystyrene (NaSPS) ionomers with different percentages of sulfonate was studied by viscosity and dipole moment measurements. Two solvents of different character were chosen, i.e. dioxane (? = 2.22) and dimethyl formamide (DMF, ? = 36) and their mixtures. The reduced viscosity as a function of concentration in polar solvents reflects the ‘polyelectrolyte’ behaviour of the ionomers. Mean-squared dipole moment (<μ²>/x) values were calculated over a temperature range of 20–100°C, in dioxane and in a mixture of 4% DMF in dioxane. The results confirm the ‘polyelectrolyte’ behavior of ionomers by the addition of a small amount of polar cosolvent. The effect of increasing temperature on <μ²>/x in the DMF-dioxane mixture is attributed to the formation of a coordination complex.     

Quantum transport of pseudospin-polarized Dirac fermions in gapped graphene nanostructures

We investigate the unusual features of the quantum transport in gapped monolayer graphene, which is in a pseudospin symmetry-broken state with a net perpendicular pseudomagnetization. Using these pseudoferromagnets (PFs), we propose a perfect pseudospin valve effect that can be used for realizing pseudospintronics in monolayer graphene. The peculiarity of the associated effects of pseudospin injection and pseudospin accumulation are also studied. We further demonstrate the determining effect of the sublattice pseudospin degree of freedom on Andreev reflection and the associated proximity effect in hybrid structures of PFs and a superconductor in S/PF and PF/S/PF geometries. In particular, we find a peculiar Andreev reflection that is associated with an inversion of the z component of the carriers pseudospin vector. Our results show that the gapped normal graphene behaves like a ferromagnetic graphene and the effect of the pseudospin degree of freedom in gapped graphene is as important as the spin in a ferromagnetic graphene.     

Valorisation of almond shell waste in ultrasonic biomordanted dyeing: alternatives to metallic mordants

An agroindustrial waste, outer green shell of almond fruit has been valorised as a novel natural dye using chemical solvent-free extraction, small amount of metallic mordants, one-bath biomordanted dyeing, ultrasonic medium, auxiliary-free dyeing and washing. The main objective of this study is to evaluate biomordants vs. metallic mordants depending on heating system both in extraction and dyeing and to reveal alternatives to metallic mordants. Effects of conventional- and ultrasound-assisted systems on dyeing and fastness properties were investigated. Wool fabrics dyed using metallic mordants (alum, iron II sulphate, copper II sulphate and potassium dichromate) were compared with the samples dyed in conjunction with biomordants [powder of valex (acorn of Quercus ithaburensis ssp. macrolepis), pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) rind, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and thuja (Thuja orientalis) leaves] in terms of colour yield, colour coordinates and fastness properties. Heating system had significant effects on dyeing and fastness results. Power ultrasound did not present any advantage in colour yield increment while it presented different effects on fastness values depending on mordant and process type of which ultrasound was applied. Some biomordants could be replaced with metallic mordants depending on their types and heating system. They could produce completely different colour gamuts just like metallic mordants.     

A facile synthesis of polyaniline/polyethylene glycol/polyaniline terpolymers: preparation of electrospun conducting nanofibers by blending of the terpolymers with polycaprolactone

The water-soluble terpolymers were synthesized in two steps, containing esterification of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and 4-amino benzoic acid without protection of its amino group, then copolymerization of aniline from both end of amine-terminated PEG via an interfacial polymerization method. The chemical structure of triblock copolymers was determined by FTIR and ¹HNMR. The thermal behavior, morphology and electroactivity of terpolymers were also investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, field emission microscope (FESEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV), respectively. Uniform nanofibers consisting of blends of (PANI)_n-b-PEG-b-(PANI)_n terpolymers and polycaprolactone (PCL) were prepared using electrospinning technique. The FESEM was also used to investigate the electrospun nanofibers produced from different molecular weight of PANI/PEG/PANI terpolymers and PCL (30/70). The CV measurements of blends confirmed the preparation of electroactive nanofibers. The presence of terpolymers enhanced the spinnability of solution and significantly reduced the bead formation. This novel system opens up new and interesting opportunities for applications such as electroactive scaffold for tissue engineering.     

Neural network control for earthquake structural vibration reduction using MRD

Structural safety of building particularly that are intended for exposure to strong earthquake loads are designed and equipped with high technologies of control to ensure as possible as its protection against this brutal load. One of these technologies used in the protection of structures is the semi-active control using a Magneto Rheological Damper device. But this device need an adequate controller with a robust algorithm of current or tension adjustment to operate which is further discussed in the following of this paper. In this study, a neural network controller is proposed to control the MR damper to eliminate vibrations of 3-story scaled structure exposed to Tōhoku 2011 and Boumerdès 2003 earthquakes. The proposed controller is derived from a linear quadratic controller designed to control an MR damper installed in the first floor of the structure. Equipped with a feedback law the proposed control is coupled to a clipped optimal algorithm to adapt the current tension required to the MR damper adjustment. To evaluate the performance control of the proposed design controller, two numerical simulations of the controlled structure and uncontrolled structure are illustrated and compared.     

An examination of people of color supervision dyads: Racial identity matters as much as race.

Considering the growing racial and ethnic diversity among supervisees, the number of clinical supervision dyads comprised of supervisees and supervisors of Color is likely to increase dramatically. Although extant research has focused on supervision that involves White supervisors paired with racial, ethnic, and linguistic minority supervisees, few authors have explored the supervisory dynamics between clinicians of color and supervisees of Color. This study used a qualitative analysis of structured survey responses provided by supervisees of Color to argue that racial identity (i.e., supervisors’ and supervisees’ psychological experiences of race), more than race is essential for managing the racial dynamics of supervisory dyads involving two people of Color. Using Helms Racial Identity Social Interaction Model (Helms, 1990, 1995), we use a directed content analysis of participants’ responses to demonstrate common themes that emerge when race is introduced into the supervision relationship. Based on supervisees’ reported experiences, implications for the practice of supervision involving people of Color are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Microwave-assisted sol–gel synthesis of alpha alumina nanopowder and study of the rheological behavior

In the present work, alpha alumina nanopowder was synthesized via a sol–gel route. After preparation of bohemite (AlOOH) sol, carbon black was added and the resultant sol was dried and calcined in microwave furnace for 10 min. XRD results showed that alpha alumina was the only crystalline phase with specific surface area, mean diameter and crystallite size of 51 m² g^?1, 100 and 25 nm, respectively. Rheological measurements revealed that the optimal content of Tiron at pH=10 is 1 and 0.1 g per 100 g nano- and micron-alumina (1.5 m² g^?1), respectively. Furthermore, the optimum solid content of the slips was determined as 35–45 and 70 wt.% for nano- and micron-alumina, respectively.