Method of monitoring the shape of an atomic force (tunneling) microscope tip using backscattering spectrometry

A method is proposed to monitor the shape of an atomic force microscope tip, which can combine the operations of ion etching and shape monitoring, by using the intensity of the backscattering of ions from the same or a different beam to monitor the shape. Relationships have been obtained to monitor the shape of the probe using the measured dependence of the backscattering intensity on the parameters of the incident beam. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 23, 88–92 (June 12, 1997)     

Temperature effect on the formation of a relief of diamond-like carbon coatings and its modification by ion bombardment

Diamond-like coatings (DLCs) have been obtained on a UVNIIPA-001 unit employing the method of pulse arc sputtering of a graphite target. DLCs of about 1.5 μm thick were applied onto substrates of the R6M5 steel. The relief of the coatings that were deposited using different temperature regimes has been studied. It has been established that a temperature rise of the surface of a growing DLC (condensation at a high frequency of arc pulses f) leads to the growth of films with numerous protrusions on their surface. The deposition of films at a low frequency f is more preferable to form smooth and hard DLCs under the conditions of unfiltered beam of carbon ions. The modification of the surface of diamond-like carbon coatings after their application has been investigated upon bombardment with accelerated ions of inert gas (argon) or chemically active oxygen. It has been established that the argon-ion bombardment is more preferable to smooth out the DLC relief. It has been shown that the relief of DLCs must be taken into account when measuring their microhardness, whereas the transformation of interatomic bonds in the near-surface layers after ion irradiation should be taken into consideration when analyzing the coatings by the methods whose informative depth is several monolayers.     

An important factor affecting synergism on coprocessing of Taiheiyo coal with Athabasca oil sand bitumen

A series of mixtures of Japanese subbituminous Taiheiyo coal and Athabasca oil sand bitumen (AOB) with various coal concentrations (0–100 wt%) was coprocessed in a 70 ml autoclave at 420°C for 1 h in the presence of H₂ (50 kg/cm² at room temperature) and sulfided Ni---Mo/Al₂O₂ catalyst. The mixture containing 2 wt% coal produced the largest amount of hexane soluble fraction (HS) and the smallest amount of benzene insoluble fraction (BI). Thus, a synergistic liquid production occurred for this mixture with 2 wt% coal by suppressing the retrogressive reactions which proceeded for pure AOB. The HS obtained from mixtures with 2–30 wt% showed higher H/C ratios and lower heteroatom contents than those obtained from pure AOB and the mixtures with more than 30 wt% coal. The amounts of transferable hydrogen contained in the mixtures were estimated using anthracene as a hydrogen acceptor. The mixtures with 2–10 wt% coal contained higher amounts of donor hydrogen than pure AOB. The HS yield from the various mixtures was correlated with the amount of donor hydrogens contained in the mixtures, except for the mixture with 10 wt% coal. Thus, the important factor which results in synergism is suggested to be the amount of donor hydrogens contained in the feed mixtures.     

One-dimensional inverse thermoelasticity problems

The unique solvability of two one-dimensional inverse problems on determining the coefficients of thermoelasticity equations is established; the solution algorithm for these problems is indicated and numerical calculations are given.State Pedagogical Institute, Gynadzha. Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 65, No. 1, pp. 98–104, July, 1993.     

Increasing Raffinate Dewaxing Efficiency

The efficiency of dewaxing of wide and narrow distillation raffinates using different mixed solvents: acetone and methyl–tert–butyl ether (MTBE), acetone and toluene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and toluene, is compared. Decreasing the cutpoints from 100–140 to 50–70°C increases the filtration rate by 2 and more times and the yield of dewaxed lube oil by 2.5–5% as a function of the solvent used.     

Interconnected power systems with superconducting magnetic energy storage

The objective of this work is to discuss the concept of back‐to‐back interconnection systems with energy storage, especially with a Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) incorporated into a back‐to‐back DC link. In this case, each converter of the back‐to‐back system is used as a power conditioning system for the SMES coils. Since the AC–DC converter can be designed independently of the frequency of the power system, a two‐way switch is connected to the AC side of each converter. This two‐way switch can select the interconnected power systems. By using the two‐way switches, this system can provide the stored energy in the SMES system to each interconnected power system through two AC–DC converters. For instance, lower‐cost power of each power network can be stored through two converters during the off‐peak hours and made available for dispatch to each power network during periods of demand peak. Then this system increases the reliability of electric power networks and enables the economical operations depending on the power demand. This paper describes the unique operations of the back‐to‐back interconnection with SMES and discuses the optimal SMES configuration for a 300‐MW‐class back‐to‐back interconnection. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 164(2): 37–43, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20482     

Algebraic systems with locally varying matrices for control in electrical energetics: A solution method

Deterministic relations are used to design a method and an algorithm for solving algebraic systems of equations with locally varying coefficient matrices encountered in operational control problems in electrical energetics.     

Use of oxygen for the cleaning, passivation, and preservation of power-generating equipment at the Kharanorskaya SAPP

Studies conducted on two power-generating units at the Kharanorskaya SAPP relative to the steam-water-oxygen passivation, preservation, and partial cleaning of all boiler-heating surfaces, including the surfaces of the reheater, and passivation of the surfaces of the high-pressure heaters on the steam and water sides by the steam-oxygen method, as well as partial passivation, preservation, and cleaning of turbine blading are presented. __________ Translated from élektricheskie Stantsii, No. 6, pp. 56–64, May, 2006.