Epifluorescence microscopy study of a quadruple node of triple junctions of grain boundaries in a Eu2+‐doped Kcl:Kbr solid solution by using the doping ion as a fluorochrome

A typical quadruple node (QN) of triple junctions (TJs) of grain boundaries (GBs) in a Eu²⁺‐doped KCl_0.52Br_0.48 solid solution is investigated from the geometrical point of view by epifluorescence microscopy using the doping ion as a fluorochrome. The excitation and fluorescence optical properties of the fluorochrome were previously characterised by spectrophotometry whereas the structural nature of the studied material as well as its Bravais lattice type, unit cell size and long‐range translational order degree was determined by X‐ray diffraction. A three‐dimensional reconstruction was built from the microscopy images of different optical cross‐sections of the studied arrangement of crystal defects. In the close vicinity of the QN, the studied arrangement of crystal defects adopts the geometry of a collapsed tristetrahedron which, centred at the QN, has its legs along the TJs and, hence, has its faces as collapsed in pairs into the GBs. The angles defined by different TJ couples as well as the dihedral angles defined by the different GB couples meeting in every TJ were measured at the QN site. All, the image recording and stacking as well as the measuring procedures are carefully described. The measured TJ angles (97°, 117°, 95°, 117°, 99° and 130° ± 2°) depart from the characteristic angle (109.47°) of a tetrahedron whereas the measured GB angles (101°, 119°, 140°; 125°, 127°, 108°; 133°, 109°, 119°; 129°, 99° and 132° ± 2°) depart from the angular argument (120°) of a 3‐fold symmetry rotation indicating that, in the close neighbourhood of the QN, the studied arrangement of crystal defects is structurally unstable. Such an instability is associated with an observed mismatch in orientation (by angles of 20°, 15°, 33° and 30° ± 2°) between the TJs and some <111> zone axis matrix lattice crystallographic directions ([], [11], [11] and [11]), respectively). Local variations in anionic composition, existing within the solid solution matrix, are discussed to be responsible for this mismatching and, therefore, for the observed structural instability.     

A self‐calibrated delay‐locked loop with low static phase error

In conventional delay‐locked loop circuits, the charge and discharge of the charge pump result in mismatched current reflecting the size of the static phase error. The static phase error between feedback clock and reference clock is likely to be within tens or hundreds of picoseconds (ps). We thus propose an approach using digital calibration methods to reduce the charge pump current mismatch by means of the setup time of the D‐type flip flop. The setup time of D‐type flip flop is determined and duplicated to detect the phase error between the reference clock and feedback clock. It results in a very small static phase error between the reference clock and feedback clock. This paper used a 0.18 µm CMOS process design, with a reference frequency of 700 ~ 900 MHz. The active area is 0.031 mm², and the phase error after correction is less than 5 ps. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mathematical Simulation of Flow Field for Molten Steel in an 80–ton Single Snorkel Vacuum Refining Furnace

The three–dimensional flow field of molten steel in an 80–ton single snorkel vacuum refining furnace has been mathematically simulated to attain the optimal configuration and operation parameters, such as the bottom blowing Ar flow rate, the eccentric position of bottom blowing Ar port at ladle bottom, the single snorkel inner diameter, and the single snorkel immersion depth into molten steel. The mathematical simulation results show that a stable flow field of molten steel can be achieved in 70–second; meanwhile, the maximal circulation intensity of molten steel in the 80–ton single snorkel vacuum refining furnace can be found on a cross–section with y as 0 mm based on the middle of ladle bottom as circular point of the Cartesian space coordinate under the condition of injecting Ar gas on x coordinate considering the asymmetry of flow field for molten steel in the single snorkel vacuum refining furnace. The recommended parameters of the 80–ton single snorkel vacuum refining furnace with ideal circulation intensity as 970.1 kg/s are the bottom blowing Ar flow rate as 450–500 Nl/min, the eccentric position of bottom blowing Ar port as 250 mm, the single snorkel inner diameter as 1000 mm, and the single snorkel immersion depth as 500 mm.     

A module‐integrated isolated solar micro‐inverter without electrolytic capacitors

This paper presents a module‐integrated isolated solar micro‐inverter. The studied grid‐tied micro‐inverters can individually extract the maximum solar power from each photovoltaic (PV) panel and transfer to the AC utility system. A harmonic suppression technique is used to reduce the DC‐bus capacitance. Electrolytic capacitors are not needed in the studied solar micro‐inverter. High conversion efficiency, high maximum power point tracking accuracy and long lifespan can be achieved. The operation principles and design considerations of the studied PV inverter are analyzed and discussed. A laboratory prototype is implemented and tested to verify its feasibility. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design and implementation of a high‐efficiency LiFePO4 battery charger for electric vehicle applications

This letter studies and implements a high‐efficiency LiFePO₄ battery charger. The modular design can satisfy the requirements of series/parallel charging for electric vehicle applications. A CC‐CC‐CV charging scheme is also realized to meet the characteristics of LiFePO₄ battery stacks. A 2 kW laboratory prototype is built and tested. The experimental results are shown to verify the feasibility of the proposed scheme. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Study of Structure Evolution in Pearlitic Steel Wire at Increasing Plastic Deformation

In this work was studied the influence of the plastic deformation's intensity under deep drawing on microstructures of a pearlitic steel containing 0.8% C. Varying the levels of deformation causes diverse dislocation movements as well as modified structural states in the individual phases of the pearlitic eutectoid steel. It is shown that in the course of plastic deformation there is a reduction of interlamellar distance in a pearlite and increase in dislocation density. In some parts partial spheroidisation cementite plates is observed. The bands formed in dislocation structure are found out. The analysis of failure mechanisms of steel with pearlite structure after plastic deformation is carried out. During the deformation of pearlite, the increase in stress at the phase boundary, owing to the elastic strain incompatibility between the ferrite and cementite phases, resembles the stress concentration at grain boundaries. Pores form at the interface between the surface of the ferritic matrix and the spheroidised carbide particles. Such micro pores occur by means of plastic deformation of the ferrite's interstices around the stronger cementite owing to the reduction of the ferritic interstices and their subsequent cracking.