Analytical approximate solution of competitive facilitated transport of acid gases through liquid membranes

An analytical approximate solution for the competitive facilitation factor of components A and E across a liquid membrane is developed in the case of instantaneous reactions inside the liquid membranes. This analytical solution solves the dimensionless, nonlinear diffusion-reaction transport problem governing the competitive facilitated transport of two gaseous components through liquid membranes. Prediction of the facilitation factors has been obtained for the equilibrium chemical reaction regime, considering the unequal complexes diffusivities and cases of zero and nonzero permeate side solute concentrations. This mathematical solution leads to analytical expressions for the concentration profiles of the species across the liquid membrane. In comparison with the present numerical solution and also numerical calculations and experimental data from the open literature, the difference between the analytical predictions and those obtained from the numerical solution were found to be in well agreement.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of new adducts of organotin(IV) chlorides with a polydentate N,S ligand

The reaction of a polydentate N,S ligand, 1′-amino-1′-cyclohexyl 2-cyclohexylideneamino-1-cyclohexene-1-dithiocarboxylate (ACCCD), with Ph₂SnCl_2, Ph₃SnCl and Me₂SnCl₂ was investigated. The new adducts have been characterized by UV–Vis, ¹H NMR, IR, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. These data are consistent with 1:1 adducts. The ligand behaves as a bidentate and shows both nitrogen and sulfur coordination. There is also evidence that the ligand ACCCD exhibits some interest in forming possible inter-/intra-molecular hydrogen bonds through ClH₂N interactions in Me₂SnCl₂ and Ph₂SnCl₂ adducts. The UV–Vis spectra indicate that the compounds partially dissociate in chloroform.     

Characterization of coupled-domain multi-layer microplates in pull-in phenomenon, vibrations and dynamics

This paper presents a model to analyze pull-in phenomenon, vibrational behavior and dynamics of multi-layer microplates using coupled finite element and finite difference methods (FDM). First-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) is used to model dynamical system using finite element method, while FDM is applied to solve nonlinear Reynolds equation of squeeze film damping. Using this model, pull-in analysis of single- and multi-layer microplates are studied. Vibrational behavior of single- and multi-layer microplates are analyzed to compute resonance frequencies and mode shapes of the system. Also, an algorithm is presented to study dynamics of microplates under the actuation of nonlinear electrostatic force and squeeze film damping. Results for simplified single-layer microplates are validated and in good agreement with the published literature. This investigation can be implemented in the design of multi-layer microplates.     

Effects of humic acid and electrolytes on photocatalytic reactivity and transport of carbon nanoparticle aggregates in water

The effects of naturally occurring macromolecules such as humic acid (HA) and electrolytes on four fullerene nanoparticle suspensions (i.e., C₆₀, C₆₀(OH)₂₄, single- and multiwall carbon nanotubes) were explored with respect to: (1) characteristics of nanoparticle aggregates, (2) transport of the aggregates through a silica porous media, and (3) production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the photosensitized fullerene aggregates. The presence of HA and salts increased the size of aggregates and relative hydrophobicity associated with transport through silica beads, while decreasing ROS production. These data illustrate the importance that transformation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) through interactions with aquatic solutes may have in altering the environmental behavior of nanomaterials.     

An Efficient Modified HPSO-TVAC-Based Dynamic Economic Dispatch of Generating Units

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm with population reduction, which is called modified new self-organizing hierarchical PSO with jumping time-varying acceleration coefficients (MNHPSO-JTVAC). The proposed method is used for solving well-known benchmark functions, as well as non-convex and non-smooth dynamic economic dispatch (DED) problems for a 24?h time interval in two different test systems. Operational constraints including the prohibited operating zones (POZs), the transmission losses, the ramp-rate limits and the valve-point effects are considered in solving the DED problem. The obtained numerical results show that the MNHPSO-JTVAC algorithm is very suitable and competitive compared to other algorithms and have the capacity to obtain better optimal solutions in solving the non-convex and non-smooth DED problems compared to the other variants of PSO and the state of the art optimization algorithms proposed in recent literature. The source codes of the HPSO-TVAC algorithms and supplementary data for this paper are publicly available at https://github.com/ebrahimakbary/MNHPSO-JTVAC.     

YSZ electrolyte coating on NiO–YSZ composite by electrophoretic deposition for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)

A thick dense film of YSZ has been fabricated on a porous NiO–YSZ substrate from the YSZ powders in the mixtures of absolute acetyl acetone–ethanol suspensions by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. Parameters affected on substrate porosity like pre-sintering temperature and percentage of starch and parameters affected on EPD process like applied voltage and time of deposition have been investigated. Linear dependence between weights of deposition, deposition time and applied voltage were observed. A crack-free dense thick film of YSZ was obtained on porous NiO–YSZ substrate. Adhesion between the two layers was observed by SEM. The ability of ionic transfer and permeability of the YSZ electrolyte were investigated by EIS, as well.     

Effect of sintering temperature on the microstructure,roughness and electrochemical impedance of electrophoretically deposited YSZ electrolyte for SOFCs

In the present work, the microstructures of YSZ electrolyte films, which were sintered at various temperatures in the range of 1300–1600 °C, were investigated. First, a suitable and uniform film was deposited on the surface of NiO–YSZ composite by EPD. After the consequence sintering, the surfaces of deposited YSZ films were observed by SEM. In addition, other characteristics of the YSZ electrolyte films such as surface roughness and morphology of the sintered films were investigated by AFM. The ability of ionic transfer and permeability of the YSZ electrolyte was examined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at different temperatures. It seems that the YSZ electrolyte sintered at 1400 °C was appropriate for SOFCs applications, because this film had the minimum impedance, minimum roughness and the maximum conductivity. Furthermore, the temperature of 1400 °C was the minimum temperature in which a dense film of YSZ was formed uniformly on the surface of anode and coated it completely.     

Green facile thermal decomposition synthesis,characterization and electrochemical hydrogen storage characteristics of ZnAl2O4 nanostructure

The ZnAl₂O₄ spinel was synthesized by a facile thermal decomposition method using green chemistry. For the first time, the electrochemical hydrogen storage performances and mechanisms of the ZnAl₂O₄ was studied by the galvanostatic charge-discharge method in 6 M KOH aqueous medium under 1 mA current. Anionic, cationic and polymeric surfactants were used to increase of hydrogen storage and specific area of ZnAl₂O₄ spinel. The composition, structure, morphology and specific surface area of the samples were characterized. The maximum measured discharge capacities of ZnAl₂O₄, ZnAl₂O₄/CTAB, ZnAl₂O₄/PVP and ZnAl₂O₄/SDS were 1250, 3000, 3250 and 4000 mAh/g, respectively. These samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), N₂ adsorption (BET) and transmission electron microscope (TEM).