Surface and corrosion properties of modified passive layer on 304 stainless steel as bipolar plates for PEMFCs

In this study, the relation between surface chemistry and corrosion properties of modified 304 stainless steels (304SS) was investigated. 304SS samples were submitted to plasma nitriding performed at two different temperatures: 420 °C (low) and 520 °C (high). Then, a thermo reactive deposition (TRD) was used in a mixture of ferro niobium, alumina and ammonium chloride. Finally, a pickling treatment was performed to access high corrosion resistant surfaces. Surface treated samples, both before and after pickling, were investigated by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Potentiodynamic (PD) techniques. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was performed for the analysis of the surface layers of the samples after pickling.The surface layers were mostly comprised of iron and chromium oxides and hydroxides. XPS results proved the presence of a surface layer mostly constituted by iron oxides and oxyhydroxides for both the treated samples that resulted more homogenous for the sample nitrided at low temperature. Chromium was detected by XPS in the predominant form of oxide on the surface of the sample nitrided at low temperature.     

Influences of feeding conditions and objective function on the optimal design of gas flow channel of a PEM fuel cell

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is one of the promising electricity generating technologies with a wide range of applicability; however, it needs further improvements to be commercially viable. The design of a PEMFC plays a key role in its viability, and is often reduced to the design of gas flow channel (GFC) at the cathode side. In this study, it is attempted to figure out the optimal dimensions (i.e., width and height) of the rectangular cross sectional area of the cathode GFC of a PEMFC via numerical examination of various sets of dimensions. The optimization procedure is carried out for two different objective functions (the maximization of the maximum power and the maximization of the average power over a range of operating voltages) as well as for different sets of operating conditions (cell temperature, operating pressure, and stoichiometry and relative humidity of inlet gases). To the best of authors' knowledge, the following observations may be considered to be the contributions of the present work to the subject: First, the influence of cross sectional dimensions on the PEMFC performance is considerable, and this considerable influence is not limited to a specific set of operating conditions. Second, the performance of the PEMFC may both deteriorate and improve with the channel width or height, depending on its operating conditions as well as on its current dimensions. Third, there exists no single optimal cross section for different sets of operating conditions. Fourth, the polarization curves of two different cross sections may intersect, and as a result, one cross section may have a greater maximum power but at the same time lower average power in comparison to the other one. And fifth, among all the operating parameters, the relative humidity of inlet gases has the greatest effect on the optimal cross sectional dimensions.     

Effects of bed-load movement on flow resistance over bed forms

The effect of bed-load transport on flow resistance of alluvial channels with undulated bed was experimentally investigated. The experiments were carried out in a tilting flume 250mm wide and 12.5m long with glass-sides of rectangular cross-section and artificial dune shaped floor that was made from Plexi-glass. Steady flow of clear as against sediment-laden water with different flow depths and velocities were studied in the experiments with a fine sand (d ₅₀ = 0.5mm). The results indicate that the transport of fine particles (d ₅₀ = 0.5mm) can decrease the friction factor by 22% and 24% respectively for smooth and rough beds. Increasing the bed-load size (d ₅₀ = 2.84 mm) can decrease the friction factor by 32% and 39% respectively for smooth and rough beds. The decrease in flow resistance is due to filling up of the troughs of dunes. This separation zone is responsible for increasing the flow resistance. On the upstream side of dunes condition is similar to plane bed. Presence of bed-load causes to increase the shear velocity and hence increasing flow resistance. But decreasing in flow resistance is more and it causes to decrease the total flow resistance. Grains saturated the troughs in the bed topography, effectively helping in smoothening of bed irregularities.     

Preparation and characterization of P4MVPMnO4/SBA-15 as an efficient heterogeneous oxidant: An organic–inorganic hybrid polymer

This work is concerned about the preparation and characterization of MnO₄⁻ supported poly (4-methyl vinylpyridinium)/SBA-15 which was effectively employed as a heterogeneous oxidant for oxidation of aromatic alcohols. P4MVPMnO₄/SBA-15 exhibited excellent activity and selectivity under mild and solvent-less conditions.     

Adaptive nonlinear control of pH neutralization processes using fuzzy approximators

In this paper, an adaptive control scheme, based on fuzzy logic systems, for pH control is addressed. For implementation of the proposed scheme no composition measurement is required. Stability of the closed-loop system is established and it is shown that the solution of the closed-loop system is uniformly ultimately bounded and under a certain condition, asymptotical stability is achieved. Effectiveness of the proposed controller is tested through simulation and experimental studies. Results indicate that the proposed controller has good performances in set-point tracking and load rejection and much better than that of a tuned PI controller.     

Magnetic behavior of nickel–bismuth ferrite synthesized by a combined sol–gel/thermal method

The bulk NiFe_2?xBi_xO₄ ferrites with various Bi³⁺ concentration (x=0, 0.1, 0.15) were synthesized via sol–gel procedure, starting from nickel, bismuth and iron nitrate powders, followed by the conventional thermal treatment. The structural and magnetic properties of the as-prepared ferrites were studied by means of X-ray diffraction, alternating gradient force magnetometry and Faraday balance. The anisotropy constant was determined by the law of approach to saturation (LAS) model. An increasing Bi³⁺ concentration in NiFe_2?xBi_xO₄ leads to a decrease in the saturation magnetization, Néel temperature and the anisotropy constant of the material.     

Application of the differential transformation method and variational iteration method to large deformation of cantilever beams under point load

Large deflection of a cantilever beam subjected to a tip-concentrated load is governed by a non-linear differential equation. Since it is hard to find exact or closed-form solutions for this non-linear problem, this paper investigates the aforementioned problem via the differential transformation method (DTM) and the variational iteration method (VIM), which are well-known approximate analytical solutions. The mathematical formulation is yielded to a non-linear two-point boundary value problem. In this study, we compare the DTM and VIM results, with those of Adomian decomposition method (ADM) and the established numerical solution obtained by the Richardson extrapolation in order to verify the accuracy of the proposed methods. As an important result, it is depicted from tabulated data that the DTM results are more accurate in comparison with those obtained by the VIM and ADM, which is one of the objectives of this article. Moreover, the effects of dimensionless end point load, ??, on the slope of any point along the arc length and the dimensionless vertical and horizontal displacements are illustrated and explained. The results reveal that these methods are very effective and convenient in predicting the solution of such problems, and it is predicted that the DTM and VIM can find a wide application in new engineering problems.     

Effect of Postweld Heat Treatment on Microstructure, Hardness, and Tensile Properties of Laser-Welded Ti-6Al-4V

The effects of postweld heat treatment (PWHT) on 3.2-mm- and 5.1-mm-thick Ti-6Al-4V butt joints welded using a continuous wave (CW) 4-kW Nd:YAG laser welding machine were investigated in terms of microstructural transformations, welding defects, and hardness, as well as global and local tensile properties. Two postweld heat treatments, i.e., stress-relief annealing (SRA) and solution heat treatment followed by aging (STA), were performed and the weld qualities were compared with the as-welded condition. A digital image correlation technique was used to determine the global tensile behavior for the transverse welding samples. The local tensile properties including yield strength and maximum strain were determined, for the first time, for the laser-welded Ti-6Al-4V. The mechanical properties, including hardness and the global and local tensile properties, were correlated to the microstructure and defects in the as-welded, SRA, and STA conditions.     

On-line analysis of out-of-control signals in multivariate manufacturing processes using a hybrid learning-based model

Advanced automatic data acquisition is now widely adopted in manufacturing industries and it is common to monitor several correlated quality variables simultaneously. Most of multivariate quality control charts are effective in detecting out-of-control signals based upon an overall statistics in multivariate manufacturing processes. The main problem of such charts is that they can detect an out-of-control event but do not directly determine which variable or group of variables has caused the out-of-control signal and what is the magnitude of out of control. This study presents a hybrid learning-based model for on-line analysis of out-of-control signals in multivariate manufacturing processes. This model consists of two modules. In the first module using a support vector machine-classifier, type of unnatural pattern can be recognized. Then by using three neural networks for shift mean, trend and cycle it can be recognized magnitude of mean shift, slope of trend and cycle amplitude for each variable simultaneously in the second module. The performance of the proposed approach has been evaluated using two examples. The output generated by trained hybrid model is strongly correlated with the corresponding actual target value for each quality characteristic. The main contributions of this work are recognizing the type of unnatural pattern and classification major parameters for shift, trend and cycle and for each variable simultaneously by proposed hybrid model.     

Techno-economic assessment of gas pressure-based electricity generation (A case study of Iran)

The pipeline gas pressure can be recovered as electricity by installing a turbo-expander in parallel with throttle valves at pressure reduction stations. This paper aims to provide a techno-economic assessment of electricity generation at a gas pressure reduction station. Owing to the gas flow rate of the station, technical assessment showed two installation capacities of 2853 kw (Case I) and 4169 kw (Case II). As a result, NPV and IRR for Case I is calculated €1,669,623.93 and 28.95%; and for Case II, NPV and IRR is €1,393,871.91 and 23.91% respectively. The analysis indicated case I is more profitable than case II.