Hydroliquefaction of low-sulfur coals using iron carbonyl complexes—Sulfur as catalysts

Hydroliquefaction of low-sulfur Australian coals (Wandoan and Yallourn) was studied using iron carbonyl complexes as catalyst. The addition of Fe(CO)₅ (2.8 wt% Fe of coal) increased coal conversion from 48.6 to 85.2% for Wandoan coal, and from 36.7 to 69.7% for Yallourn coal in 1-methylnaphthalene at 425°C under an initial hydrogen pressure of 50 kg cm^?2. When molecular sulfur was added to iron carbonyls (Fe(CO)₅, Fe₂(CO)₉ and Fe₃(CO)₁₂), higher coal converions ( > 92%) and higher oil yields (>46%) were obtained, along with an increase in the amount of hydrogen transferred to coal from the gas phase (0.2 to 2.8%, d.a.f. coal basis). In the liquefaction studies using a hydrogen donor solvent, tetralin, Fe(CO)₅S catalyst increased the amount of hydrogen absorbed from the gaseous phase and decreased the amount of naphthalene dehydrogenated from tetralin. The direct hydrogen transfer reaction from molecular hydrogen to coal fragment radicals seems to be a major reaction pathway. Organic sulfur compounds, dimethyldisulfide and benzothiophene, and inorganic FeS₂ and NiS were found to be good sulfur sources to Fe(CO)₅. From X-ray diffraction analyses of liquefaction residues, it is concluded that Fe(CO)₅ was converted into pyrrhotite (Fe_1?xS) when sulfur was present, but into Fe₃O₄ in the absence of sulfur.     

Neutronic and thermodynamic feasibility of UF6-NpF6 fueled transmutation reactor

Transmutation of neptunium, which is contained in radioactive wastes discharged from nuclear reactors, was investigated as a substitutional method for geologic disposal. We proposed a transmutation reactor fueled with a mixture of gaseous ²³³UF₆ and ²³⁷NpF₆. Neutronic and thermodynamic analysis of the reactor revealed the feasibility of the concept. The reactor has two principal advantages: (1) use of the fuel gas enables on-line reprocessing, (2) ²³⁷Np can be transmuted by a high neutron flux. Our calculation indicated that the transmutation rate of ²³⁷Np was 335 g/year/MW_th, which is much larger than the annual yield of ²³²Np in PWR (6.19 g/year/MW_th).     

Effects of partial recrystallization on high-cycle fatigue deformation and crack generation of a nitrogen-strengthened 32Mn-7Cr austenitic steel at liquid-nitrogen temperature

To achieve higher fatigue resistance against subsurface crack generation, both the refinement of grain structure and the introduction of mobile dislocations on various slip systems have been shown to be effective in the 32Mn-7Cr austenitic steel. A novel treatment which consisted of cold grooved rolling and partial recrystallization was introduced to modify the microstructure. High-cycle fatigue properties and fatigue-crack generation were investigated for both the solution-treated (ST) and the partially recrystallized (PR) materials at 77 K. The PR material displayed higher fatigue strength than the ST material, especially in the high-cycle regime. No subsurface crack generation was detected for the PR material; however, it appeared in the lower peak stress and/or in the longer-life range for the ST material. Intergranular facets formed a subsurface crack initiation site in the ST material. Since the dislocation structure that developed in the fatigued PR material assisted homogeneous and multidirectional plastic deformation, the localized deformation and/or the stress concentration at the grain boundaries by coplanar arrays were believed to be relieved. Therefore, intergranular cracking due to incompatibility at a grain boundary may disappear.     

Present status and future prospects of PV activities in Japan

The photovoltaic (PV) power systems in Japan made great strides in the past decade. The PV industry in the 1990s greatly depended on the research projects and dissemination programs carried out by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. However, the industrial structure for full-scale deployment of the PV system is currently being established by the manufacturers’ continuous efforts to reduce the PV system cost and the government’s consecutive supports to create the initial market. It is expected that the synergetic effect of the cost reduction and incentives for introduction will activate the PV industry and its market more and more toward achieving 5000 MW of the capacity in FY 2010.     

Relation between microstructure, properties and spark plasma sintering (SPS) parameters of pure ultrafine WC powder

A combined experimental/numerical methodology is developed to fully consolidate pure ultrafine WC powder under a current-control mode. Three applied currents, 1900, 2100 and 2700 A, and a constant pressure of 20 MPa were employed as process conditions. The developed spark plasma sintering (SPS) finite-element model includes a moving-mesh technique to account for the contact resistance change due to sintering shrinkage and punch sliding. The effects of the heating rate on the microstructure and hardness were investigated in detail along the sample radius from both experimental and modeling points of view. The maximum hardness (2700 HV10) was achieved for a current of 1900 A at the core sample, while the maximum densification was achieved for 2100 and 2700 A. A direct relationship between the compact microstructure and both the sintering temperature and the heating rate was established.     

Premixed flame propagating into a narrow channel at a high speed, part 2: Transient behavior of the properties of the flowing gas inside the channel

The behavior of a premixed flame propagating from a chamber into a narrow channel at a high speed was examined using high speed and instantaneous schlieren photography, ion current measurement with electrostatic probes, and temperature measurement with an optical method. From detailed measurements of flames passing through the channel, flame extinguishment in the channel, no matter whether transient or not, was found to occur due to quenching of the reacting gas by rapid turbulent mixing with cold fresh mixture at the downstream of the contraction region and by heat transfer to the cold channel walls. Extinguishment must occur when these heat losses exceed the heat released by the chemical reaction of the flowing mixture.     

Cognitive model of team cooperation in en-route air traffic control

Since controller teams are in charge of en-route air traffic control, team cooperation is a key issue for good control performance. We conducted ethnographic field observation at the Tokyo Area Control Center and then analyzed the obtained data to develop a cognitive model of team cooperation in en-route air traffic control. We segmented conversational records, behavioral records, and so on by control unit, and then clarified relations between the segments and identified expert knowledge and judgment behind them. Cognitive processes of controller teams were reconstructed based on a concept of distributed cognition. The analysis revealed that the mutual belief model is applicable to team cooperation processes, the role assignment of tasks within a controller team is implicit and that control plans are implemented smoothly once team situation awareness has been established. A cognitive model of controllers?? team cooperation has been constructed based on these findings.     

Preparation of spherical fine ZnO particles by the spray pyrolysis method using ultrasonic atomization techniques

An ultrasonic atomizer was used in the spray pyrolysis method to prepare fine, spherical and uniform ZnO particles. Almost spherical particles were obtained successfully which had a mean particle size of 0.15 m and had a very narrow particle size distribution. By using alcohol as the solvent, it was found that the particles do not have hollow shell layers which could usually be observed in the spray pyrolysis process by using water as the solvent. The morphology of the ZnO particles was strongly affected by the concentration of the starting solution.     

Pulsed NMR study in nuclear ordered solid3He

The nuclear spin dynamics in nuclear spin ordered solid³He in low magnetic fields on the melting curve has been studied by pulsed NMR down to 0.6 mK. The free induction decay signals (FID) were measured in single crystals of solid³He at three operating frequencies of 920, 1380, and 1840 kHz. The FIDs were nonexponential and dependent on the rf pulse strength _p H ₁ t _w , where is the gyromagnetic ratio,H ₁ is the rf field strength, andt _w is the pulse width. At small _p they decayed almost linearly in time with a small exponential tail at the end. When _p was further increased they became shorter and neither exponential nor linear in time. At large _p they decayed very rapidly and sometimes could not be observed at all because of the dead time of the NMR detection system. Such behavior of the FID was observed in many different single crystals in the given temperature range at 920 kHz. Tsubota and Tsuneto have shown by solving the nonlinear equations of motion numerically that the motion of the nuclear spin becomes chaotic when the tipping angle exceeds a critical value. Comparing their result with our experimental results, we concluded that some of the results of the rapid decay of the FID at large _p might be attributed to the onset of the chaotic motion. At 1840 kHz it is expected that the nonlinear effects in the equations of motion become less effective than that at 920 kHz. In fact, at this operating frequency the FIDs even at large _p and the tipping angle-dependent frequency shift could be observed. These frequency shifts were in rather good agreement with Namaizawa's theory provided an effective tipping angle was taken into account.     

One-Step Generation of Multiple Gene-Edited Pigs by Electroporation of the CRISPR/Cas9 System into Zygotes to Reduce Xenoantigen Biosynthesis

Xenoantigens cause hyperacute rejection and limit the success of interspecific xenografts. Therefore, genes involved in xenoantigen biosynthesis, such as GGTA1, CMAH, and B4GALNT2, are key targets to improve the outcomes of xenotransplantation. In this study, we introduced a CRISPR/Cas9 system simultaneously targeting GGTA1, CMAH, and B4GALNT2 into in vitro-fertilized zygotes using electroporation for the one-step generation of multiple gene-edited pigs without xenoantigens. First, we optimized the combination of guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting GGTA1 and CMAH with respect to gene editing efficiency in zygotes, and transferred electroporated embryos with the optimized gRNAs and Cas9 into recipient gilts. Next, we optimized the Cas9 protein concentration with respect to the gene editing efficiency when GGTA1, CMAH, and B4GALNT2 were targeted simultaneously, and generated gene-edited pigs using the optimized conditions. We achieved the one-step generation of GGTA1/CMAH double-edited pigs and GGTA1/CMAH/B4GALNT2 triple-edited pigs. Immunohistological analyses demonstrated the downregulation of xenoantigens; however, these multiple gene-edited pigs were genetic mosaics that failed to knock out some xenoantigens. Although mosaicism should be resolved, the electroporation technique could become a primary method for the one-step generation of multiple gene modifications in pigs aimed at improving pig-to-human xenotransplantation.