Effect of liquid film on decomposition of CFC-12 using dielectric barrier discharge

Dichloro-difluoro-methane (CFC-12) was decomposed with non-thermal plasma generated by dielectric barrier discharge where one electrode was covered with liquid film which could provide oxidants such as OH and also absorb acid gases produced by the decomposition. The experimental results indicated that the conversion of CFC-12 and the selectivity of CO₂ were improved by the installation of the water film at low discharge voltage, however, the installation reduced the power efficiency for the decomposition. Sodium hydroxide solution enhanced the absorption of Cl and F produced by the decomposition, while the conversion of CFC-12 was not affected. The study concluded that the simultaneous decomposition of CFC-12 and recovery of the halogenous product could be achieved using dielectric barrier discharge with liquid film electrode.     

A conceptual design of light ion beam fusion reactor—UTLIF(1)

UTLIF(1) is a conceptual design study on a light ion beam driven fusion reactor based on a concept of pin-bundle blanket. The study includes nuclear and structural analyses of the blanket, consideration on materials, tritium handling system and power conversion system designs, pellet and beam driver designs, and economic analysis of the plant. The pin-bundle blanket has been shown to be attractive for light ion beam fusion reactors. Some subjects to be developed have been pointed out from reactor engineering aspects.     

Stress concentrations in a plate with two unequal circular holes

This paper contains an exact solution for stresses which are produced in an infinite plate with two unequal circular holes by a uniform tension, an internal pressure or uniform shearing forces along a hole. Bipolar coordinates are used in the solution. Expressions of the hoop stress at the edges of holes are explicitly derived and the stress concentration factors are calculated. The stresses in an infinite plate with two contacted unequal circular holes are also discussed.     

Heat transfer in a high temperature region of spray cooling interacting with liquid film flow

We present experimental results on heat transfer distribution in the high temperature region of spray cooling interacting with subcooled liquid film flow. The results show that the flow field can be divided into the interacting and film flow regions by the heat transfer distribution. In the interacting region, the heat transfer coefficient can be correlated to the liquid-film-flow heat transfer by using a heat-transfer enhancement coefficient defined as the ratio of the droplet flow rate to liquid film velocity. In the wall region, it can be predicted from the equation obtained from a previous study, which is very similar to that of turbulent heat transfer of single-phase flow. © 1998 Scripta Technica. Heat Trans Jpn Res, 26(4): 236–248, 1997     

Hydrogen storage ability of porous carbon material fabricated from coffee bean wastes

The hydrogen storage ability at 298 and 77 K of porous carbon materials with microporous structures fabricated from coffee bean wastes through KOH activation was investigated regarding pore structure. The dependence of hydrogen storage ability on the pore structure of porous carbon materials was investigated at 298 and 77 K to clarify the storage mechanism of carbon materials. Hydrogen storage ability at 298 K was increased linearly with increasing of specific surface area increasing. The maximum amount of stored hydrogen was 0.6 wt.% on porous carbon material with 2070 m²/g specific surface area. The hydrogen storage ability at 77 K was 4.0 wt.% on the same sample. The hydrogen storage ability showed a linear relationship with the micro-pore volume size. These changes in the dependence of the hydrogen storage ability on pore size suggested that the storage configuration changed from two- to three-dimensional. The stored hydrogen densities in porous carbon materials calculated from these values were 5.7 and 69.6 mg/cm³ at 298 and 77 K, respectively. The change in density indicated that the state of stored hydrogen in porous carbon materials was filled up aggregational state, which is extremely close to the liquid state, and suggested the realizing of high hydrogen storage ability on carbon materials fabricated from agricultural waste.     

Influence of conductive additives and surface fluorination on the charge/discharge behavior of lithium titanate (Li4/3Ti5/3O4)

Effect of conductive additives and surface modification with NF₃ and ClF₃ on the charge/discharge behavior of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ (≈4.6 μm) was investigated using vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF) and acetylene black (AB). VGCF and mixtures of VGCF and AB increased charge capacities of original Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ and those fluorinated with NF₃ by improving the electric contact between Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ particles and nickel current collector. Surface fluorination increased meso-pore with diameter of 2 nm and surface area of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄, which led to the increase in first charge capacities of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ samples fluorinated by NF₃ at high current densities of 300 and 600 mA g⁻¹. The result shows that NF₃ is the better fluorinating agent for Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ than ClF₃.     

Sulfonated polyimide hybrid membranes for polymer electrolyte fuel cell applications

Sulfonated Si-MCM-41 (SMCM) with an ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 2.3 mequiv. g⁻¹ was used as a hydrophilic and proton-conductive inorganic component. Sulfonated polyimide (SPI) based on 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic dianhydride and 2,2′-bis(3-sulfophenoxy) benzidine was used as a host membrane component. The SMCM/SPI hybrid membrane (H1) with 20 wt% loading of SMCM and an IEC of 1.90 mequiv. g⁻¹ showed the high mechanical tensile strength and the slightly higher water vapor sorption than the host SPI membrane (M1) with an IEC of 1.86 mequiv. g⁻¹. H1 and M1 showed anisotropic membrane swelling with about 10 times larger swelling in thickness direction than in plane one. The proton conductivity at 60 °C of H1 was lower in water than that of M1, but comparable at 30% RH. At 90 °C, H1 showed the rather lower performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) at 82% RH than M1 and fairly better performance at 30% RH. On the other hand, at 110 °C and low humidity less than 50% RH, H1 showed the much better PEFC performance than M1 and Nafion 112. This was due to the promoted back diffusion of produced water by the superior water-holding capacity of SMCM. The SMCM/SPI hybrid membranes have high potential for PEFCs at higher temperatures and lower humidities.     

Simple polarisation-independent optical circulator for optical transmission systems

A simple polarisation-independent optical circulator has been developed. The circulator consists of a 45°Y3Fe5O12 rotator and a quartz rotator and two polarising beam-splitting cubes. Measured insertion loss was about 1.3 dB at 1.32 ?m wavelength. The circulator was connected to graded-index multimode fibres using rod lenses.