Achieving excellent energy storage density of Pb0.97La0.02(ZrxSn0.05Ti0.95-x)O3 ceramics by the B-site modification

The applications of antiferroelectric (AFE) materials in miniaturized and integrated electronic devices are limited by their low energy density. To address the above issue, the antiferroelectricity of the reinforced material was designed to improve its AFE-ferroelectric (FE) phase transition under electric fields. In this present study, the composition of Zr⁴⁺ (0.72 Å) and Ti⁴⁺ (0.605 Å) at B-site of Pb_0.97La_0.02(Zr_xSn_0.05Ti_0.95-x)O₃ ceramics with orthogonal reflections are synthesized via the tape-casting method. These ceramics are modified to enhance their antiferroelectricity by reducing their tolerance factor. A recoverable energy storage density W_rec 12.1 J/cm³ was obtained for x = 0.93 under 376 kV/cm, which is superior value than reported until now in lead-based energy storage systems. Moreover, the discharge energy density can reach 10.23 J/cm³, and 90 % of which can be released within 5.66 μs. This work provides a new window and potential materials for further industrialization of pulse power capacitors.     

Effects of Silicon on Growth,Yield and Fruit Quality of Cantaloupe under Drought Stress

Silicon - Silicon (Si) plays an important role in mitigating adverse effects of various biotic and abiotic stresses including drought. Polyhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of...     

A method of tracking the peak power points for a variable speed wind energy conversion system

In this paper, a method of tracking the peak power in a wind energy conversion system (WECS) is proposed, which is independent of the turbine parameters and air density. The algorithm searches for the peak power by varying the speed in the desired direction. The generator is operated in the speed control mode with the speed reference being dynamically modified in accordance with the magnitude and direction of change of active power. The peak power points in the P-/spl omega/ curve correspond to dP/d/spl omega/=0. This fact is made use of in the optimum point search algorithm. The generator considered is a wound rotor induction machine whose stator is connected directly to the grid and the rotor is fed through back-to-back pulse-width-modulation (PWM) converters. Stator flux-oriented vector control is applied to control the active and reactive current loops independently. The turbine characteristics are generated by a DC motor fed from a commercial DC drive. All of the control loops are executed by a single-chip digital signal processor (DSP) controller TMS320F240. Experimental results show that the performance of the control algorithm compares well with the conventional torque control method.     

MILD HYDROCRACKING — A STATE OF THE ART

ABSTRACT

This paper is a brief, but not exhaustive review of the literature of the catalytic mild hydrocracking processes. It includes data characterizing reactivities, reaction network and kinetics of mild hydrocracking reactions. This review is designed for use as a reference for further research and development work in the field of mild hydrocracking.     

Antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella serovars isolated from imported foods

A total of 187 Salmonella isolates representing 82 serotypes recovered from 4072 imported foods in the year 2000 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration field laboratories were tested for their susceptibility to 17 antimicrobials of human and veterinary importance. Fifteen (8%) isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, and five (2.7%) were resistant to three or more antimicrobials. Most of the isolates (n=9) exhibited resistance to tetracycline. Four isolates from catfish or tilapia from Taiwan or Thailand also demonstrated resistance to nalidixic acid. These nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella isolates possessed a point mutation at the Ser83 or Asp87 position in DNA gryase, resulting in amino acid substitutions to phenylalanine, tyrosine, or asparagine. One Salmonella Derby isolated from frozen anchovies imported from Cambodia was resistant to six antimicrobials including ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Of seven isolates displaying resistance to sulfonamides, only one S. Derby and one Salmonella Agona contained class 1 integrons that were further shown to possess the aadA and pse-1 genes conferring resistance to streptomycin and ampicillin, respectively. This study indicates that antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella are present in imported foods, primarily of seafood origin, and stresses the need for continued surveillance of foodborne zoonotic bacterial pathogens from imported foods entering the United States.     

Multiphase and multicomponent transport with phase change during meat cooking

A multiphase model based on unsaturated flow in a hygroscopic porous medium, which accounts for the important physical phenomena that take place during thermal treatment of meat, is developed. Frozen meat is considered as a porous solid comprising of water, fat and protein with gas trapped in its pores. As it is heated, water and fat melt, and, are gradually released from the solid protein matrix to the pore space. With further rise in temperature, liquid water evaporates. Since four fluid components (liquid water phase, liquid fat phase, water vapor and air) are present in the pore space, a mass balance equation is written for each component. Local thermal equilibrium assumption leads to one energy balance equation for the whole system. The model is validated for double-sided contact heating of hamburger patties by comparing temperature and moisture profiles with experimental studies. Dominant modes of transport are identified.     

Solar and wind energy potential and utilization in Pakistan

Pakistan needs substantial amount of energy to develop its industry and to increase the agricultural productivity. The available indigenous energy resources are limited. The only option which the country has to pursue is renewable energy. This paper identifies the potentials of solar and wind energy. The prime sites for wind are coastal area, arid zone and hill terrains. Solar energy is abundant over most part of the country, maximum being received over Quetta valley.     

Effect of ash on maximum thickness of plastic layer of coals

A study of the effect of ash yield on the maximum thickness of the plastic layer (MTPL) of some coking coals (as measured by the Sapozhnikov plastometer) has revealed that with an increase in the former the latter in general decre?es. A rectilinear relation approximately exists between the ash percentage (dry basis) and log MTPL values of coals. For the samples studied, a multiple correlation incorporating the rank factor was found to be unnecessary. Higher Fe₂O₃ and SO₃ contents from the coal were found to be associated with higher MTPL values.     

Scanning electron microscopy and ultrasonic studies of drawn polypropylenes

Ultrasonic measurements and scanning electron microscope studies are reported on a series of drawn samples of polypropylene. The ultrasonic measurements were performed over the frequency range 15 to 35 MHz and over a temperature range 283 to 343K. The scanning electron microscope observations confirmed the predictions from density data that the ‘void’ content initially increases on drawing and then decreases. The acoustic measurements on the samples with the highest draw ratios indicated that severe restriction of the motion of the polymer occurs when the fibrous structure is formed.