Multiparametric analysis within the proper generalized decomposition framework

Optimization campaigns, which are being launched more and more often, require the execution of many parametric studies which can make the approach very costly in terms of computation time. Here, in order to reduce these computation times, we undertake to develop a multiparametric strategy using the LATIN method along with Proper Generalized Decomposition. This approach is compared to other common strategies, especially those based on POD.     

Osmotic Dehydration Kinetics of Pomegranate Seeds Using Date Juice as an Immersion Solution Base

Pomegranate seeds were osmodehydrated using date juice added with sucrose (final °Brix, 55) as immersion solution. The kinetics of osmotic dehydration showed that the most significant changes of mass transfer took place during the first 20 min of the process, regardless of date juice varieties. During this time, seed water loss and solid gain were estimated to be ∼39% and ∼6%, respectively. After 20 min of the process, the percentage of water loss and solid gain varied slightly and ranged on average close to ∼40% and ∼9%, respectively. During osmotic dehydration, there was a leaching of natural solutes from seeds into the solution, which is quantitatively not negligible, and might have an important impact on the sensorial and nutritional value of seeds and date juices. Both scanning electron microscopy and texture (compression) analysis revealed that osmotic dehydration process induced modifications of seed texture and cell structure. Sucrose was found to be the essential element which influences the texture of seed and the viscosity of date juice. Additionally, natural sugar present in date juice permits substituting 35% of the total quantity of sucrose added to the osmotic solution.     

Experimental Data Highlighting the Role of Surface Fracture Energy in Quasi-Static Confined Comminution

Since the pioneering work of Griffith, Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics has been widely experimentally validated and successfully developed in solid mechanics modeling. However, recent theoretical models applying the energy balance found in Griffith theory specifically for quasi-static confined comminution have until now not been systematically confronted to experiments. In this study, we analyze data of compression tests on crushable sand, where grain breakage has been triggered by flooding the initially dry material at constant stresses. We consider a partition of the dissipation between surface fracture energy and the rearrangement of fragments and grains surrounding crushed particles. Our results show that the role of the surface fracture energy is stressdependent and that its influence becomes less significant at high stresses.     

Interfacial bonding of Flax fibre/Poly(l-lactide) bio-composites

The use of glass fibre reinforced polyester composites raises many health and safety and environmental questions. One alternative is the development of high performance bio-based bio-composites with low environmental impact. Improved understanding of interfacial properties is essential to optimise the mechanical properties and durability of these materials, but so far few data are available. The present work describes the interfacial characterization of Flax fibre/Poly(lactic) acid (PLLA) system at the micro-scale using the microbond test. Different thermal treatments have been carried out (cooling rate and annealing) in order to evaluate the influence of matrix and interfacial morphologies as well as residual stress on interfacial properties. Micromechanical models have been used to determine the interfacial shear strength. When cooling rate is slow, improved interfacial properties are observed.     

A Multiplexed Four Channel On-Line Iodine Monitor

Abstract

A robust autonomous system is described for the spectrophotometric determination of aqueous elemental iodine in multiple flowing process streams. The quantitative methodology uses characteristic absorbance at 460 nm, corrected for baseline drift using absorbance at 600 nm. Linear dynamic ranges of 0.2 - 25 mg/L, 0.4 - 45 mg/L, and 2 - 250 mg/L have been attained using path lengths of 1 cm, 5 cm, and 10 cm respectively. The multiplexed iodine monitor has proven capable of continuous operation for periods of up to eighteen months.     

XRD Analysis of the Role of Cesium in Sodium‐Based Geopolymer

The purpose of this work was to study the role of cesium in sodium‐based geopolymer and its thermal stability for nuclear waste management. A series of mixed sodium and cesium geopolymer samples (Na_1?x Cs _x )₂O·Al₂O₃·SiO₂·12H₂O (referred to as (Na_{1? x} Cs _x )‐GP, where x = 0, 0.08, 0.15, 0.42, 1) have been prepared. All geopolymer samples were heated at 1100°C for 24 h. Pollucite (CsAlSi₂O₆) and feldspathoid (CsAlSiO₄) were crystallized from Cs‐GP. Nepheline (NaAlSiO₄) and a small amount of crystallized silica were obtained from Na‐GP. The other geopolymers (Na_{1? x} Cs _x )‐GP (x = 0.08, 0.15, 0.42) led to pollucite and nepheline main phases. Amorphous silica phase was observed in all the geopolymer samples with various amounts. Phase quantification and scanning electron microscope revealed that higher Cs concentrations in Na‐GP tend to decrease the amorphous phase while improving pollucite and nepheline phase quantification. The amorphous geopolymers have also been studied by pair distribution function analysis. Tetrahedral chains formed by T–O bonding (with T = Si, Al) were shown to be more tighten around Cs⁺ than around Na⁺. It led to shorter Cs–T bond than Na–T bond matching the higher solvation property of Na⁺. Furthermore, thermal study analysis pointed out the fact that geopolymer samples (Na_{1? x} Cs _x )‐GP, can be considered as solid solutions.     

Silver versus white sheet as a back reflector for microcrystalline silicon solar cells deposited on LPCVD‐ZnO electrodes of various textures

We compare the performance of two back reflector designs on the optoelectrical properties of microcrystalline silicon solar cells. The first one consists of a 5‐µm‐thick low‐pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD)‐ZnO electrode combined with a white sheet; the second one incorporates an Ag reflector deposited on a thin LPCVD‐ZnO layer (with thickness below 200 nm). For this latter design, the optical loss in the nano‐rough Ag reflector can be strongly reduced by smoothing the surface of the thin underlying ZnO layer, by means of an Ar‐plasma treatment. Because of its superior lateral conductivity, the thin‐ZnO/Ag back reflector design provides a higher fill factor than the dielectric back reflector design. When decreasing the roughness of the front electrode with respect to our standard front LPCVD‐ZnO layer, the electrical cell performance is improved; in addition, the implementation of the thin‐ZnO/Ag back reflector leads to a significant relative gain in light trapping. Applying this newly optimized combination of front and back electrodes, the conversion efficiency is improved from 8.9% up to 9.4%, for cells with an active‐layer thickness of only 1.1 µm. We thereby highlight the necessity to optimize simultaneously the front and back electrodes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.