A new method for determining dynamic grain structure evolution during hot aluminum extrusion

In this paper, a new method for analyzing the microstructure evolution of aluminum during deformation at elevated temperatures by extrusion is presented, which is entirely separated from secondary restoration effects viz. static recrystallization and grain growth. In order to observe the development of grains and their orientation under severe plastic deformation, a small-scale forward extrusion setup was designed which allows quenching the extrusion butt together with the die and the container immediately after extrusion to preserve the grain structure evolved during the deformation. The forming path and the forming history of a selected material point were calculated by numerical simulation. The evolution of the microstructure along the forming path was analyzed using electron backscatter diffraction. A database for the development of physically based phenomenological models for predicting and simulating the evolution of microstructure during the hot deformation of EN AW-6082 alloy is provided.     

A new inrush detection method for transformer differential protection

Contents The long-used restraining principle, based on the detection of 2nd harmonics in the currents, can not always satisfactorily meet the demand of blocking the transformer differential protection for all three phases, because the line currents are not the direct image of the core saturation. The differential protection may become inadequate. A transformer can however be switched on for all cases, without the false or fail-safe tripping, when the harmonic restraint is derived from the magnetic field strength of the core.If a delta-connected winding is present, the magnetic field strengths can not be easily recognized in the line currents, because their zero-sequence component is distorted. A new method is presented, which can estimate the fundamental and the 2nd harmonic of this zero-sequence component. The components of the magnetic field strength can therefore be determined in currents only, whose ratio is known to be characteristic for the core saturation.The proposed method was implemented on an industrial protection system based on a microprocessor and was tested on data obtained from computer-simulation and a model transformer in a laboratory. It turned out that the proposed method performed well on all cases.

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Eine neue Methode der Einschalterkennung für den Transformator-Differentialschutz

Übersicht Die üblicherweise benützte Blockierung beim Einschalten eines Transformators beruht auf der Bewertung der zweiten Harmonischen in den Strömen. Dieses Prinzip kann nicht immer den Transformatorvergleichsschutz in allen drei Phasen blockieren. Dagegen kann ein Transformator in allen Fällen ohne Fehlauslösung eingeschaltet werden, wenn die Blockierung aus der Harmonischen der magnetischen Feldstärke des Kerns abgeleitet wird.Eine neue Methode wird vorgestellt, wie die Homopolarkomponente der Grundschwingung und der zweiten Harmonischen näherungsweise berechnet werden kann. Die benötigten Anteile der Feldstärken können damit aus den Differenzströmen ermittelt werden.Das vorgeschlagene Verfahren wurde auf einer industriell gefertigten Schutzkarte implementiert. Die Überprüfung des Verfahrens erfolgte mit Berechnungsverfahren und durch Messungen im Labor.

     

Selective Oxidation of Propene with Air to Propylene Oxide,a Case Study of Autoxidation Versus Catalytic Oxidation with AMM-Catalysts

The formation of propylene oxide from propene by direct oxidation with air has been studied with a series of new microporous amorphous catalysts containing isolated active sites. Although the materials showed good activities as heterogeneous oxidation catalysts, the formation of acroleine dominated in the gas phase. Oxidation selectivities of the various catalysts are reported. Significant PO-formation was only observed under reaction conditions involving pressures larger 5 bar. Promoting effects of solvents or additives like acetaldehyde could be excluded. Best results were observed in continuous gas phase flow experiments. All catalysts studied proved detrimental to the PO-yield and control experiments pointed to catalyst free autoxidation conditions. A factorial design followed by an optimization of the reaction conditions provided PO-selectivities of 60 % at propene conversion of 11.4 % (T = 290 °C; pressure = 25 bar; propene content = 75 %; total feed = 39.5 ml/min) at continuous reaction conditions. By passivating the inner reactor surfaces with gold, a PO-selectivity of 62.8 % at a propene conversion of 15.1 % could be obtained, indicating, that autoxidation of propene may become a serious contender in the search for improved production processes. This work is a case study of attempted catalyzed selective oxidation with air illustrating potential pitfalls and misleading interpretations.     

SiC ceramic micropatterns from polycarbosilanes

Micropatterned SiC ceramics were fabricated from polycarbosilanes applying a softlithographic replication technique. A polydimethylsiloxane mould replicated from a photolithographic microstructured silicon wafer was used as master structure. The polydimethylsiloxane mould was coated with a solution containing a mixture of two different polycarbosilanes in n-octane. After treatment at 200–400 °C the cross-linked polycarbosilane films were debonded and pyrolysed at 900 °C in nitrogen and subsequently crystallised at temperatures up to 1500 °C in argon. The cross-linking and thermal degradation behaviour of the polycarbosilanes was investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray diffractrometry showed the expected development of a nanocrystalline β-SiC (3 nm) as the main phase with increasing temperature. However, traces of α-SiO₂ derived from the polycarbosilane precursors were also detected by X-ray analysis. Removal of the α-SiO₂ dioxide with hydrofluoric acid in the pyrolysed samples and subsequent increased the crystallite size to 7 nm. The Young's modulus determined by nanoindentation was increased from 3 GPa after cross-linking to 110 GPa after crystallisation. Scanning electron microscopy revealed, that the initial micropatterns were fully retained in the pyrolysed and crystallised SiC ceramics. The micropatterned cross-linked and crystallised β-SiC based substrates exhibited light scattering characteristics, which qualify them as promising candidates for diffractive optical elements in microoptical applications.     

CuInS2-Poly(3-(ethyl-4-butanoate)thiophene) nanocomposite solar cells: Preparation by an in situ formation route, performance and stability issues

In this contribution we present an in situ method for the preparation of CuInS₂-poly(3-(ethyl-4-butanoate)thiophene) (P3EBT) nanocomposite layers and their application in nanocomposite solar cells. A precursor solution containing copper and indium salts, thiourea and the conjugated polymer was prepared in pyridine, which was coated onto glass/ITO substrates followed by a heating step at 180 °C. The heating step induced the formation of the CuInS₂ nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed in the conjugated polymer matrix. The formation of the nanocomposite was investigated in situ by X-ray scattering techniques and TEM methods showing that nano-scaled CuInS₂ was formed. By addition of small amounts of zinc salt to the precursor solution, zinc containing CuInS₂ (ZCIS) was formed. ZCIS-P3EBT active layers exhibited higher V_OC than CuInS₂-P3EBT layers and showed efficiencies of about 0.4%. Additionally the stability of the solar cells was tested over a time scale of 172 h.     

The application of dynamic insulation in buildings

Dynamic insulation, a form of ‘Breathing Wall’ construction which allows the movement of air and moisture through the external walls of a building, was seen as one possible method for reducing building envelope heat losses and achieving high indoor air quality. A research investigation was conducted to provide a firm scientific understanding of dynamic insulation. An important outcome of the work will be the development of building envelope designs which effectively and economically employ dynamic insulation in cold climates. This paper presents some general conclusions, confirming that the energy saving produced by dynamic insulation alone is small relative to that obtained in conjunction with conventional air heat recovery methods.     

Simulation of packed-bed chromatography utilizing high-resolution flow fields: comparison with models

A computer simulation of a section of the interior region of a liquid chromatographic column is performed. The detailed fluid flow profile is provided from a microscopic calculation of low Reynolds number flow through a random packed bed of nonporous spherical particles. The fluid mechanical calculations are performed on a parallel processor computer utilizing the lattice Boltzmann technique. Convection, diffusion, and retention in this flow field are calculated using a stochastic-based algorithm. This computational scheme provides for the ability to reproduce the essential dynamics of the chromatographic process from the fundamental considerations of particle geometry, particle size, flow velocity, solute diffusion coefficient, and solute retention parameters when retention is utilized. The simulation data are fit to semiempirical models. The best agreement is found for the "coupling" model of Giddings and the four-parameter Knox model. These models are verified over a wide range of particle sizes and flow velocities at both low and high velocity. The simulations appear to capture the essential dynamics of the chromatographic flow process for non-dimensional flow velocities (Péclet number) less than 500. Since the same packing geometry is utilized for different particle size studies, the interpretation of the parameter estimates from these models can be extended to the physical column model. The simulations reported here agree very well with a number of experiments reported previously.     

Serum and urinary zinc levels in urolithiasis

Zinc has an important place amongst inhibitors of crystallisation and crystal growth. These views are supported by in vivo and in vitro studies which suggest that the urinary zinc level is a significant factor in urolithiasis. Some recent studies have given contradictory results. Blood serum and urinary zinc levels were measured in 30 normal healthy controls and 42 stone forming patients (renal, ureteric and vesical). Statistically significant levels were found in all groups, varying according to the number of calculi. Increased urinary zinc levels and decreased serum zinc levels appear to be secondary to the process of stone formation. The role of zinc as an inhibitor of urolithiasis is questionable.