A Thermoelectric Generator Using Engine Coolant for Light-Duty Internal Combustion Engine-Powered Vehicles

We proposed and fabricated a thermoelectric generator (TEG) using the engine water coolant of passenger vehicles. The experimental results revealed that the maximum output power from the proposed thermoelectric generator was ~75 W, the calculated thermoelectric module efficiency of the TEG was ~2.1%, and the overall efficiency of electric power generation from the waste heat of the engine coolant was ~0.3% in the driving mode at 80 km/h. The conventional radiator can thus be replaced by the proposed TEG without additional devices or redesign of the engine water cooling system of the existing radiator.     

Higher order structures and toughening mechanisms for simultaneously polymerized polymethacrylate/polyurethane

Amorphous polymer/crystalline polymer blends can be prepared via the simultaneous polymerization of polymethacrylate/polyurethane combinations. The relationship between higher order structures and fracture mechanisms in these blends must be uncovered to elucidate the source of the increased fracture toughness of such materials. The present work involves the production of blended polymethacrylate/polyurethane and assess the internal structures of these specimens using optical and electron microscopy. These observations reveal the presence of both spherulites and elastomeric phases. The spherulites consisting of the polyurethane and are several micrometers in diameter whereas the phase-separated polyurethane elastomeric domains are approximately 100 nm in size. Multiple cracks, crack bridging and plastic deformation around the precrack tips of loaded specimens are evidently responsible for the increased toughness of these blends. The former two phenomena are attributed to the presence of spherulites while the plastic deformation of the methacrylate matrix is ascribed to cavitation of the polyurethane elastomeric phases in response to loading.     

The effects of propofol, isoflurane, and sevoflurane on oxygenation and shunt fraction during one-lung ventilation

Propofol's effect on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction during one-lung ventilation (OLV) has not been determined. Twenty patients who had long-term OLV for esophageal surgery were allocated randomly to one of two study groups; one in which isoflurane administration preceded propofol, and another in which sevoflurane administration preceded propofol. Arterial and mixed venous blood samples and hemodynamics were measured as follows: before OLV, during OLV, OLV at 4 cm of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), OLV after conversion from volatile anesthetics to propofol, OLV at 4 cm of PEEP, and after OLV. After the application of 4 cm of PEEP during propofol anesthesia, PaO2 increased significantly in both groups. The shunt fraction (Qs/Qt) increased significantly after the initiation of OLV in both groups and decreased significantly after the conversion from volatile anesthetics to propofol in both groups. Propofol can be used safely during OLV because PaO2 increased after the application of 4 cm of PEEP during propofol anesthesia, and Qs/Qt decreased significantly after the conversion from inhaled anesthetics to propofol anesthesia. IMPLICATIONS: During one-lung ventilation, the arterial partial pressure of oxygen values with propofol were greater than those with isoflurane and sevoflurane, and shunt fraction values with propofol were lower than those with both volatile anesthetics. Propofol improved oxygenation and shunt fraction during one-lung ventilation compared with volatile anesthetics.     

Application of Ni-free high nitrogen stainless steel for bipolar plates of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Ni-free 23Cr-1N stainless steel was examined as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Corrosion resistance of the 23Cr-1N stainless steel was better relative to 22Cr stainless steel in the simulated cathodic environments. As confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the polarized 22Cr and 23Cr-1N stainless steels at pH 2.3 presented predominantly chromium oxide in the outer passive layers. At pH 4.3, the passive layer of the polarized 22Cr stainless steel changed to iron oxides dominant. Interestingly, on the other hand, the polarized 23Cr-1N stainless steel preserved chromium oxide rich outer passive layer, which provides good corrosion resistance. As a result, although the initial cell voltage was slightly lower (∼40 mV), the 23Cr-1N stainless steel bipolar plates employing cell showed better cell voltage stability up to 1000 h, compared with the 22Cr stainless steel employing cell. The operation voltage became further higher through a surface modification of the 23Cr-1N stainless steel with TiN nanoparticles. It seems that the corrosion resistive Ni-free 23Cr-1N is possible to apply for bipolar plates of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.     

Contribution of Invariant Natural Killer T Cells to the Clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Skin Wounds

Chronic infections are considered one of the most severe problems in skin wounds, and bacteria are present in over 90% of chronic wounds. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is frequently isolated from chronic wounds and is thought to be a cause of delayed wound healing. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, unique lymphocytes with a potent regulatory ability in various inflammatory responses, accelerate the wound healing process. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of iNKT cells in the host defense against P. aeruginosa inoculation at the wound sites. We analyzed the re-epithelialization, bacterial load, accumulation of leukocytes, and production of cytokines and antimicrobial peptides. In iNKT cell–deficient (Jα18KO) mice, re-epithelialization was significantly decreased, and the number of live colonies was significantly increased, when compared with those in wild-type (WT) mice on day 7. IL-17A, and IL-22 production was significantly lower in Jα18KO mice than in WT mice on day 5. Furthermore, the administration of α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), a specific activator of iNKT cells, led to enhanced host protection, as shown by reduced bacterial load, and to increased production of IL-22, IL-23, and S100A9 compared that of with WT mice. These results suggest that iNKT cells promote P. aeruginosa clearance during skin wound healing.     

Effect of dehydration and urea on stability of homosulfamine in solid states

In the presence of urea in solid states, the stability of unpulverized homosulfamine hydrate (phase I; UHH) is significantly decreased whereas that of unpulverized homosulfamine anhydrate (UHA) is not. The stability of UHH is decreased slightly more by pulverization (PHH). The major objective of this study was to investigate the effects of urea, dehydration, and pulverization on the stability of homosulfamine in solid states. Binary mixtures of UHH and urea, PHH and urea, and UHA and urea in a ratio of 1:1 (wt/wt) were prepared as physical mixtures and were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to study their appearance and structural changes before and after storage. PXRD analysis revealed that physical mixtures comprising UHH and urea and PHH and urea have the same diffraction pattern as that of the mixture of UHA and urea after preparation. The dehydration rate of the crystal water of UHH was accelerated by the presence of urea in addition to pulverization. Moreover, the PXRD patterns of the physical mixtures of UHH/urea and PHH/urea were significantly altered during storage, whereas that of UHA/urea was not, which was consistent with the SEM and FTIR results. The particle shape and appearance of UHH varied significantly as a result of pulverization. The stability of homosulfamine was influenced not only by the presence of urea and dehydration but also by the surface state and particle size of the crystalline form.     

Influence of clays on the shrinkage and cracking tendency of SCC

The influence of different types of clay on the shrinkage and cracking tendency of fly ash modified self-consolidating concrete (SCCF) for the application of slipform paving were investigated in this study. The mortar phase of each mix was tested for autogenous shrinkage, total free shrinkage under drying and restrained shrinkage cracking. The mechanical properties (flexural strength, compressive strength, and modulus) were studied to supplement the results of the shrinkage and cracking tests. The plain SCCF mix was compared against the clay-modified SCCF mixes, as well as conventional SCC and slipform concrete (SFC) mixes. The results showed that the very early-age autogenous shrinkage of SCCF mortar was increased by the addition of clays due to adsorption effects. The effects of the clays on total shrinkage under long-term drying were found to depend mainly on the pozzolanic reactivity, but these effects were very slight at low dosages of about 1% by mass of binder. The early-age cracking tendency was aggravated by the clays composed of purified magnesium alumino silicate and metakaolin, but little influenced by the clay composed of kaolinite, illite and silica. Overall, the SCC mixture modified with both fly ash and a small amount of clay showed comparable shrinkage and early-age cracking performances as conventional SFC.     

Effects of colloidal nanoSiO2 on fly ash hydration

The influences of colloidal nanoSiO₂ (CNS) addition on fly ash hydration and microstructure development of cement–fly ash pastes were investigated. The results revealed that fly ash hydration is accelerated by CNS at early age thus enhancing the early age strength of the materials. However, the pozzolanic reaction of fly ash at later age is significantly hindered due to the reduced CH content resulting from CNS hydration and the hindered cement hydration, as well as due to a layer of dense, low Ca/Si hydrate coating around fly ash particles. The results and discussions explain why the cementitious materials containing nanoSiO₂ had a lower strength gain at later ages. Methods of mitigating the adverse effect of nanoSiO₂ on cement/FA hydration at later ages were proposed.     

Global,nonparametric, noniterative optimization of time-averaged quantities under small,time-varying forcing: An application to a thermal convection field

Abstract

This study demonstrates a global, nonparametric, noniterative optimization of time-mean value of a kind of index vibrated by time-varying forcing. It is based on the fact that the (steady) forced vibration of nonautonomous ordinary differential equation systems is well approximated by an analytical solution when the amplitude of forcing is sufficiently small and its base state without forcing is linearly stable and steady. It is applied to optimize a time-averaged heat-transfer rate on a two-dimensional thermal convection field in a square cavity with horizontal temperature difference, and the globally optimal way of vibrational forcing, i.e. the globally optimal, spatial distribution of vibrational heat and vorticity sources, is first obtained. The maximized vibrational thermal convection corresponds well to the state of internal gravity wave resonance. In contrast, the minimized thermal convection is weak, keeping the boundary layers on both sidewalls thick.