Improving the cold flow properties of biodiesel from waste cooking oil by ternary blending with bio-based alcohols and diesel from direct coal liquefaction

The utilization and popularization of biodiesel are always limited by its poor cold flow properties. Both bio-based alcohol and diesel from direct coal liquefaction (DDCL) has potential to enhance the cold flow properties of biodiesel. In this study, ternary blends of waste cooking oil biodiesel (BWCO) with DDCL and bio-based ethanol (ET) or 1-butanol (BT) were conducted to improve the cold flow properties of biodiesel. The pour point (PP), cold filter plugging point (CFPP), and cloud point (CP) of BWCO-ET, BWCO-BT, and BWCO-DDCL binary blends, and BWCO-ET-DDCL and BWCO-BT-DDCL ternary blends were comparatively assessed. Ternary phase diagrams were also applied to analyze the blending effect of the three components on the cold flow properties of biodiesel. Results showed that both DDCL, ET, and BT can remarkably enhance the cold flow properties of BWCO. When the ternary blends contain 20 vol.% BWCO and less than 40 vol.% ET or BT, DDCL together with ET or BT exerted positive effects on enhancing the low-temperature flow properties of BWCO, especially on the CP and CFPP. For ternary blends in 20:10:70 blending ratio, BWCO-BT-DDCL exhibited the lowest PP, CFPP, and CP of −23, −19, and −17°C, respectively. The crystallization behavior and crystal morphology of blended fuels are also observed via a polarizing optical microscope, and find that DDCL together with BT in biodiesel can effectively retard the aggregation of large crystals and inhibit crystals growth.     

Effect of hollow glass beads on density and mechanical properties of silicone rubber composites

In this work, low density hollow glass beads (HGB)/silicon rubber (SR) composites were prepared by solution method and flocculation process. The prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile test, and friction test. The results show that the densities of SR composites decrease from 1.140 to 0.792 g/cm³ with the addition of HGB. By comparing theoretical density with true density, it can be estimated that the ratio of shattered HGB increase from 8.79% to 24.76%. Especially, the mechanical properties of SR composites were improved by surface modification of HGB. By adding surface-modified HGB at 5 and 10 wt%, the tensile strengths of SR composites were enhanced by 17.8% and 28.2%, respectively. In addition, tear strength, shore A hardness, compression set, and friction property were significantly ameliorated. Furthermore, the mechanism of surface-modified HGB in mechanical properties was analyzed.     

A (4-fluorophenyl)(phenyl)phosphine oxide-modified epoxy resin with improved flame-retardancy,hydrophobicity, and dielectric properties

The compound (4-fluorophenyl)(phenyl) phosphine oxide (4-FPO) was designed, synthesized, and used in the modification of epoxy resin (EP). The 4-FPO-modified EP was prepared by curing the reaction mixture of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 4-FPO in the presence of 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS). Compared with the unmodified EP, the limiting oxygen index value of the EP/4-FPO-0.6 (4-FPO-modified EP with 0.6 wt% of phosphorus) increased to 31.6%, and the sample achieved UL-94 V-0 rating. The peak of the heat release rate, average of the heat release rate, and total heat release of EP/4-FPO-0.6 were reduced by 39, 24, and 19%, respectively. Mechanism study showed that the quenching effect in the gas and barrier effect in the condensed phase were responsible for the enhanced flame-retardant properties of the 4-FPO-modified EP. The results showed that hydrophobicity and dielectric properties of the modified EP were clearly improved.     

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) authentication and batch-to-batch consistency for different types of paints using benchtop and handheld FTIR spectrophotometers for oil and gas industry

Standardization of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) fingerprint region for paints and assessment on the reproducibility using different spectrophotometers were investigated. While selective fingerprint regions may be confusing for technicians/analysts who are non-chemists, we attempt to generalize these regions (e.g., 1300–1000 cm⁻¹ for Epoxy part A and 1400–1000 cm⁻¹ for Epoxy part B) by choosing a universal region (2000–900 cm⁻¹) that works for different paints. Comparison result using a paired student t-test shows that the degree of similarity (r) values from the studied regions are not statistically different. The paint fails the screening analysis occasionally on-site when analyzed using handheld FTIR due to the higher level of noise that gives low r values (r < 0.900 ± 0.002). The same samples were analyzed using a benchtop FTIR and the r values are above 0.900 ± 0.002. While the screening may lead to a false rejection of the sample on-site, there could be occurrence of false acceptance. The on-site screening of EPZ part A with different formulations, for instance, shows that the r values over the entire IR spectrum are above 0.900 ± 0.002 when analyzed using handheld FTIR. After the samples were analyzed using the benchtop, the r values fall below 0.900 ± 0.002.     

One-step creation of hierarchical fractal structures

Relatively recently, we advanced a route to create, in a controlled fashion, combined horizontal and vertical stratified structures by simple and energy-efficient processing operations employing static mixing elements. While in state-of-the-art static mixing the focus is on layer multiplication, here the aim is to create hierarchical fractal structures. Therefore, the main question addressed in this article is how structures, rather than layers, can be multiplied. The key aspect is the addition of layers on the sides or in the midplane of the flow during the process; every addition step increases the hierarchy by one level. This article derives the general formalism for forming fractal structures with controlled hierarchy, and we develop the language required to design and construct the dies. The main part of the article addresses this main topic and is based on the splitting serpentine static mixer geometry that can be easily made on the parting surfaces of a mold on both the micro- and the macroscale. The second part of the article addresses the strategy to minimize the number of mirroring steps, eventually avoiding mirroring completely, and is based on the rotation-free multiflux static mixer geometry. With the design language derived, complex hierarchical fractal structures can be generated simply by changing the number and sequence of operators within extrusion dies or molds, providing a one-step solution to produce material structures for potential use in diverse applications ranging from advanced mechanical systems to photovoltaic devices, where controlled assembly of dissimilar materials, and the realization of huge interfaces and genuine cocontinuity throughout the cross section, is critical.     

区块链在分布式电力交易中的研究领域及现状分析

国家发改委、能源局陆续指出:要全面放开经营性电联用户发电计划,支持中小用户参与市场化交易,健全全面放开经营性发电计划后的价格形成机制。行政引导市场,市场发展技术,基于区块链技术的电力交易研究迎来了前所未有的行政和市场机遇。区块链以分布、公开、不可篡的区域共治模式,为社会和市场提出了一套全新的商业解决方案。该文依托区块链技术,探讨了基于分布式交易的电力交易市场、产消者以及相关服务产业的需求和行业现状,分析了区块链电力交易的发展趋势;归纳了电力交易领域区块链追求创新实验的主要方向,研究了电力交易区块链的总体架构设计创新、电力交易场景应用创新和区块链性能提升研究创新等内容;最后通过文献综述和百余个区块链电力交易系统实施案例,梳理了区块链技术在电力交易行业面临的挑战与应用前景。以期通过该文综述对分布式电力交易领域的未来研究有一定贡献。     

电磁层析成像技术在刹车盘缺陷检测中的应用

针对列车刹车盘缺陷检测的实际需求,提出采用电磁层析成像技术(electromagnetic tomography,EMT)对刹车盘进行缺陷检测,检测得到的数据经过图像重建后对缺陷的位置、形状和大小等分布信息进行显示。根据列车刹车盘的结构特点,设计平板型传感器线圈阵列,通过电磁场仿真软件对不同缺陷的刹车盘模型进行仿真,并使用不同算法进行缺陷成像。通过评价指标对比了不同算法的图像重建质量,仿真结果验证了电磁层析成像技术用于列车刹车盘缺陷检测的可行性;搭建了刹车盘缺陷检测的EMT实验系统,对刹车盘缺陷进行数据采集与成像实验。实验结果表明,电磁层析成像技术在高速列车刹车盘缺陷检测中具有很好的应用前景。     

高电压磷酸钴锂正极材料性能调控研究

高性能、高安全储能电池的迫切需求加速了橄榄石型高电压正极材料的研究步伐。为了改善高电压磷酸钴锂(LiCoPO₄)的综合电化学性能,采用溶剂热法研究了溶剂比、过渡元素(Fe、Mn)单掺杂和双掺杂(掺杂元素总量占10%)对正极材料形貌、尺寸、反位缺陷和电化学性能的影响。结果表明,当溶剂比为2.3时,未掺杂LiCoPO₄在0.1C下表现出163.1 mAh·g^-1的最高理论比容量;双掺杂LiCo_0.9Mn_0.05Fe_0.05PO₄正极材料具有突出的循环性能,在0.5C电流密度下,循环100圈后的容量保持率为78.9%,循环稳定性得到明显改善。     

带束层膨胀对轮胎接地印痕的影响研究

研究带束层膨胀对轮胎接地印痕的影响。对比多种普通带束层膨胀的钢丝帘线角度变化法则,分析普通带束层膨胀对轮胎接地印痕仿真准确性的影响;探讨0°带束层钢丝帘线的特性,提出考虑0°带束层预应变的轮胎性能仿真方法,并分析0°带束层预应变对轮胎接地印痕的影响。本研究结果可为轮胎的结构设计、工艺设计和仿真分析方面提供指导。     

改性高岭土纳米管对天然橡胶/氯丁橡胶/氯化丁基橡胶并用胶性能的影响

采用异丙基三油酸酰氧基钛酸酯(偶联剂HY-105)对高岭土纳米管表面改性,制备改性高岭土纳米管,并用其补强天然橡胶/氯丁橡胶/氯化丁基橡胶并用胶,研究改性高岭土纳米管对并用胶性能的影响。结果表明:与添加高岭土纳米管的并用胶相比,添加改性高岭土纳米管的并用胶的储能模量(G′)增大,ΔG′减小,Payne效应减弱,填料在橡胶基体中的分散性改善,并用胶的F_(max)-F_L明显增大,物理性能明显提高;随着改性高岭土纳米管用量的增大,并用胶的t_(10)和t_(90)均延长,加工安全性改善,FL,F_(max)和F_(max)-F_L均增大,拉伸强度、拉断伸长率和撕裂强度均先提高后降低;当改性高岭土纳米管用量为10份时,并用胶的物理性能最佳。