Effect of AlF3, CaF2 and MgF2 on hot-pressed hydroxyapatite-nanophase alpha-alumina composites

Nanophase alpha-alumina and hydroxyapatite composites (with and without 5 wt% AlF₃, CaF₂ or MgF₂, added separately) were hot pressed at 1100 °C and 1200 °C to investigate their mechanical properties and phase stability. Hydroxyapatite slightly decomposed to tri-calcium-phosphate when there was no F⁻ present. With the addition of AlF₃, CaF₂ or MgF₂ into the composite, it improved its thermal stability and mechanical properties. Substitution of OH⁻ by F⁻ ions in hydroxyapatite was verified by the change in hydroxyapatite's hexagonal lattice parameters and unit cell volume. A fracture toughness of 2.8 MPa  and μ-hardness of 8.25 GPa were calculated for the composite containing CaF₂ after the hot pressing at 1200 °C.     

A study of class I partial response signaling for magneticrecording

Using a semianalytic technique based on the work of Agazzi and Seshadri, we compare the performance of PR1, PR4, and EPR4 partial response schemes on a magnetic recording channel. The technique includes the effect of imperfect equalization and, in the PR4 case, the effect of employing two interleaved Viterbi detectors. Assuming the Lorentzian channel model and superposition, we use this technique to compare these signaling schemes at medium and high recording densities. It is observed that, even with the trivial DC-free code employed, PR1 is superior to PR4 at recording densities beyond about S_c=2.4 and superior to EPR4 beyond about S_c=2.9. In addition, PR1 lends itself to difference metric Viterbi detection. Our analytical results are supported by computer simulations     

Aeroelastic tailoring using lamination parameters

The aim of the present work is to passively reduce the induced drag of the rear wing of a Formula One car at high velocity through aeroelastic tailoring. The angle-of-attack of the rear wing is fixed and is determined by the required downforce needed to get around a turn. As a result, at higher velocity, the amount of downforce and related induced drag increases. The maximum speed on a straight part is thus reduced due to the increase in induced drag. A fibre reinforced composite torsion box with extension-shear coupled upper and lower skins is used leading to bending-torsion coupling. Three-dimensional static aeroelastic analysis is performed loosely coupling the Finite Element code Nastran and the Computational Fluid Dynamics panel code VSAERO using ModelCenter. A wing representative of Formula One rear wings is optimised for minimum induced drag using a response surface methodology. Results indicate that a substantial induced drag reduction is achievable while maintaining the desired downforce during low speed turns.     

Vic-dioximes: A new class of sensitive materials for chemical gas sensing

Vic-dioximes, a class of organic chemical compounds, are proposed and characterized for the first time as sensitive materials for volatile organic compound sensing with sorption based chemical gas sensors. Their peculiar sensing properties described in this work originate in the oxime functional group which is a powerful H bond donor interacting strongly but reversibly with H bond acceptors. These specific interactions result in a high preferential enrichment of analyte molecules with H bonding acceptor capabilities in the sensitive material. Accordingly, sensitivity and selectivity for these compounds of vic-dioxime based sensors are high. The advantageous sensing properties are demonstrated in this work with quartz crystal microbalance sensors using 11 selected volatile organic compounds and a set of vic-dioximes varied in their substituents. Vic-dioximes with short alkylthiol substituents were found highly sensitive to such H bond acceptors as organic amines, alcohols, and esters with partition coefficients up to 26,000. At the same time they showed low affinity for aromatic compounds and chlorocarbons. Vic-dioximes are considered powerful sensing materials and interesting for practical use in chemical gas sensor arrays.     

An experimental study for the effect of different clearances on burr, smooth-sheared and blanking force on aluminium sheet metal

In this study, an experimental study was carried out to examine the effect of different clearances on smooth-sheared depth, burr height and blanking force. Aluminium sheet metals with 0.8, 1, and 1.5 mm thicknesses were used in the experiments. These experiments were carried out in circular blanking dies to 6, 8, 10, and 12 mm diameters. Six different clearances (0.009, 0.064, 0.12, 0.175, 0.231 and 0.287 mm) were used for every material and diameter. The results of the experiment show that burr, smooth-sheared and punch force is strongly related to the clearance value. The results are in agreement with the results of previous theoretical and experimental work in the literature.     

THE EFFECT ON THE THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF LIME ADDED TO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER FOR RETENTION ON SULPHUR

ABSTRACT

In order to prevent the emission of SO_x, with the flue gas, certain amount of the sulphur of the coal can be retained by adding an adequate amount of lime in the combustion chamber. In this study, two series of experiments were conducted by adding lime at the molar ratios of CaO/S = 0·5 to 2·0 using Ankara-Beypazan lignites, which have around 5 % sulphur content as received form. In one of the series lime was added directly in to the lump coal, and in the other, coal was briquetted together with lime using molasses as binder. It was observed from the experimental results that the increase in the lime ratio leads to an increase in the retained sulphur percentage while it leads to a considerable decrease in thermal efficiency. In order to retain 50 % of sulphur, it was necessary to add lime into lump coal at a CaO/S molar ratio of at least 1,1. This minimum ratio was 0·70 for briquetted coal. When lime was added at these ratios, the thermal efficiencies in the first case dropped to as low as 82 % and to 92 % in the second.     

Leaching kinetics of colemanite by aqueous EDTA solutions

The dissolution kinetics of colemanite, a boron-containing mineral, in aqueous disodium EDTA solutions were studied. The effects of concentration and pH of the solution, particle size, and temperature were examined. A decrease in pH and particle size increased the dissolution rate, while an increase in the concentration of the solution and temperature increased the rate. The activation energy and pre-exponential factor were calculated as 50.6 kJ mol^-1 and 5.14 x 10⁷ m s^-1, respectively. Mahir Alkan, Assistant Professor, formerly with Atatürk University, Kazim Karabekir Faculty of Education     

Turkish aggregate electricity demand: An outlook to 2020

This paper investigates the relationship between Turkish aggregate electricity consumption, GDP and electricity prices in order to forecast future Turkish aggregate electricity demand. To achieve this, an aggregate electricity demand function for Turkey is estimated by applying the structural time series technique to annual data over the period 1960 to 2008. The results suggest that GDP, electricity prices and a UEDT (Underlying Energy Demand Trend) are all important drivers of Turkish electricity demand. The estimated income and price elasticities are found to be 0.17 and −0.11 respectively with the estimated UEDT found to be generally upward sloping (electricity using) but at a generally decreasing rate. Based on the estimated equation, and different forecast assumptions, it is predicted that Turkish aggregate electricity demand will be somewhere between 259 TWh and 368 TWh in 2020.     

Industrial electricity demand for Turkey: A structural time series analysis

This research investigates the relationship between Turkish industrial electricity consumption, industrial value added and electricity prices in order to forecast future Turkish industrial electricity demand. To achieve this, an industrial electricity demand function for Turkey is estimated by applying the structural time series technique to annual data over the period 1960 to 2008. In addition to identifying the size and significance of the price and industrial value added (output) elasticities, this technique also uncovers the electricity Underlying Energy Demand Trend (UEDT) for the Turkish industrial sector and is, as far as is known, the first attempt to do this. The results suggest that output and real electricity prices and a UEDT all have an important role to play in driving Turkish industrial electricity demand. Consequently, they should all be incorporated when modelling Turkish industrial electricity demand and the estimated UEDT should arguably be considered in future energy policy decisions concerning the Turkish electricity industry. The output and price elasticities are estimated to be 0.15 and − 0.16 respectively, with an increasing (but at a decreasing rate) UEDT and based on the estimated equation, and different forecast assumptions, it is predicted that Turkish industrial electricity demand will be somewhere between 97 and 148 TWh by 2020.