Synthesis of fine composite particles for hydrogen storage, starting from Mg-YNi2 mixture

We synthesized new composite particles for hydrogen storage on the basis of an idea of “particle designing”. As starting materials, powders of Mg and YNi₂ were selected. Fine composite particles containing mainly Mg₂Ni could be designed by repetitive hydriding and dehydriding cycles at 673 K. In the synthesis process of the composite particles, the following two points were found to be essential for this technique. The first point is that, after being activated by the sequential processes of hydrogenation, amorphization and disproportionation, YNi₂ reacts effectively with Mg. The second point is that evaporated Mg, which occurs during dehydriding, adheres to the surface of the activated YNi₂ and accelerates a diffusion reaction to form Mg₂Ni at the interface. In these composite particles, Mg₂NiH₄ is formed, even at 373 K, under a hydrogen pressure of 5 MPa.     

Die Langzeit-Korrosionsgeschwindigkeit des passiven Eisens in anaeroben alkalischen Lösungen

The long-term corrosion rate of passive iron in anaerobic alcaline solutions Gas generation is an important issue in safety assessments of low and intermediate level radioactive repositories. In this connection the hydrogen production from corrosion of passive iron in saturated calcium hydroxide, in dilute alkali hydroxide and cement porewater solutions has been determined. The measurements were performed manometrically using fusion sealed glass cells, the measurement periods being between 275 and 560 days. In 0.1 M and 0.04 M alkali hydroxide solutions the initial hydrogen generation rate was 12 mmol/m²yr corresponding to a linear corrosion rate of 64 nm/yr. The reaction rate decreases with time. The smallest value obtained after 330 days is 0.3 mmol/m²yr corresponding to 1.5 nm/yr. The influence on iron of the saturated calcium hydroxide solution and the calcic porewater solutions differs from that of the alkali hydroxide solutions. At pH 12.5 the hydrogen generation rate remains practically constant up to breaking off the experiment, the value being about 1 mmol/m²yr corresponding to 5 nm/yr.     

A problem of pursuit and evasion

A trajectory problem of pursuit and evasion on a plane is considered for the case of equal absolute velocities of the players. Exact solutions are obtained for fixed initial conditions.Translated from Kibernetika i Sistemnyi Analiz, No. 3, pp. 138–143, May–June, 1992.     

Bisensors for amino acids

Two kinds of biosensors for amino acids (one with nonspecific enzyme as bioelement, the other with specific enzyme(s) as bioelement), including their principles, applications, recent researches and future trends were discussed in detail. 61 references were given. A part of work for gaining Ph. D in chemical and biochemical application at FPMs (Mons, Belgique) Synopsis of the first author Xia Jinlan, Male, born in 1963, now at Facult’e Polytechnique de Mons, Belgique     

Optimality of the sequential probability ratio test fornonstationary observations

Bayesian analysis is used to show that Wald's sequential probability ratio test with varying thresholds is optimal for the nonstationary situation, where the observed samples are independent but not identically distributed. Some important properties useful for the design of the test thresholds are discussed. Wald's lower bound, generalized to the nonstationary situation, is also presented. The results have important applications in situations where the observed signal is time-varying. such as in radar signal processing, image processing, and spread spectrum communications     

Low-dimensional modelling of dynamics via computer algebra

I describe a method, particularly suitable to implementation by computer algebra, for the derivation of low-dimensional models of dynamical systems. The method is systematic and is based upon centre manifold theory. Computer code for the algorithm is relatively simple, robust and flexible. The method is applied to two examples: one a straightforward pitchwork bifurcation, and one being the dynamics of thin fluid films.     

Simple approximations of the DC flux influence on the core losspower electronic ferrites and their use in design of magnetic components

The effect of DC flux on the core loss is examined for the practical range of power and frequency. Relevant core loss equations are derived and applied to an optimization algorithm to determine the minimum core loss at a given ratio of s (DC flux density to AC peak flux density). It has been found that the curves of hysteresis loss density versus the ratio of s exhibit a peak at a critical ratio. Below or above this critical ratio, the loss density decreases drastically. On the other hand, the curves of eddy-current loss density versus the ratio of s exhibits a minimum point at a critical ratio. Below or above this critical ratio, the loss density increases gradually     

Novel miniature integrated optical goniometers

A new principle and arrangement for directly determining the angle of incidence of an optical beam on an object are proposed and demonstrated. The novelty of the approach lies in the realization of a ‘smart object’, which extracts a portion of the incident beam's power into an optical waveguide attached to the object's surface or embedded in its body for converting the angle of incidence into the position of a guided beam with finite lateral extent. This ‘integrated optical light pointer’ beam is accomplished by means of creating additional degrees of freedom on the target in two different ways. While a first type is based on introducing spatial variations of the waveguide thickness, a second type makes use of a chirp of the grating periodicity. The feasibility for practical applications has been experimentally demonstrated by a direct comparison with a commercial high-resolution encoder, resulting in an r.m.s. error of <30′'. Measurements have been performed for chips fabricated based on replicated polycarbonate substrates and with no external optics, showing the great potential of this approach for realizing low-cost yet high-performance miniature goniometers.