Efficiency of magnetic coupled boost DC‐DC converters mainly dedicated to renewable energy systems: influence of the coupling factor

This paper presents a specific analysis of an individual basic magnetically coupled direct current‐to‐direct current (DC–DC) converter specially designed for integration in a distributed architecture of renewable energy generators for smart grid applications. In such distributed architecture dedicated for renewable energy, parallel high‐voltage DC presents many advantages over the classical centralized one. We show that in such setup, high voltage can be advantageously produced using a specific magnetically coupled boost converter, and we point out the influence of the coupling factor, generally considered equal to one, on the overall performance of the converter and on the global energy efficiency of the installation. In this study, the generalized concepts of system energy parameters of DC–DC converters are introduced and applied to the transient analysis. Consequently, the operation of a magnetic coupled DC–DC converter with a recovery stage is modeled. The simulation results are compared with those of the behavioral study, deduced from the model pointing out the large influence of the coupling factor value on the global behavior and mainly on the value of the recovery voltage, in all the various parts of the switching cycle. The renewable energy generator operating parameters, such as current and voltage values, can then be predicted in a more useful way to compute new similar DC–DC converter systems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Urban flood risk assessment using sewer flooding databases

Sustainable water management is a global challenge for the 21st century. One key aspect remains protection against urban flooding. The main objective is to ensure or maintain an adequate level of service for all inhabitants. However, level of service is still difficult to assess and the high-risk locations difficult to identify. In this article, we propose a methodology, which (i) allows water managers to measure the service provided by the urban drainage system with regard to protection against urban flooding; and (ii) helps stakeholders to determine effective strategies for improving the service provided. One key aspect of this work is to use a database of sewer flood event records to assess flood risk. Our methodology helps urban water managers to assess the risk of sewer flooding; this approach does not seek to predict flooding but rather to inform decision makers on the current level of risk and on actions which need to be taken to reduce the risk. This work is based on a comprehensive definition of risk, including territorial vulnerability and perceptions of urban water stakeholders. This paper presents the results and the methodological contributions from implementing the methodology on two case studies: the cities of Lyon and Mulhouse.     

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell contamination model: Competitive adsorption followed by a surface segregated electrochemical reaction leading to an irreversibly adsorbed product

A generic, transient fuel cell kinetic loss mathematical model was developed for the case of contaminants that partially cover the catalyst surface with irreversibly adsorbed products. The model was derived using step changes in contaminant concentration, constant operating conditions and disregarding liquid water scavenging effects. The closed form solutions were validated using H₂S, SO₂ and COS data from a single source. The model needs to be validated against other data sets and transient operating conditions more representative of automotive applications. A method is proposed to determine kinetic rate constants and relies on tests with a reactant, a contaminant and, a reactant and a contaminant mixture. The method is useful to evaluate the presence of interactions between reactant and contaminant related adsorbates, and, to minimize electrode potential variations during controlled cell voltage measurements. Model parameters were similar for all contaminants suggesting a common adsorbate configuration. The model also expands the number of previously derived cases. All models in this inventory, derived with the assumption that the reactant is absent, lead to different dimensionless current vs. time behaviors similar to a fingerprint. These model characteristics facilitate contaminant mechanism identification. Model predictions include a limit of 0.7 ppb contaminant concentration in the reactant stream to minimize cell performance losses during the 5000 h automotive application life. This tolerance limit represents a worse case scenario because it does not take into account performance recovery resulting from drive cycle operation or the addition of mitigation strategies. A cell performance loss increase of 40% is also predicted for a catalyst loading decrease from 0.4 to 0.1 mg Pt cm⁻².     

Simulation and experimental investigation of solar absorption cooling system in Reunion Island

With the development of technologies and the fast increase of our population we will need to adjust the conventional electrical source to meet the continuous increasing demand. Since the energy cost as well as the environmental awareness is growing fast, technologies using renewable energies appear as an interesting alternative. The aim of this research is to present a solar-driven 30 kW LiBr/H₂O single-effect absorption cooling system which has been designed and installed at Institut Universitaire Technologique of Saint Pierre. The first part of this article deals with the simulation of the solar thermal plant. A pilot plant has been setup as part of RAFSOL which is a research program managed by the national research agency (ANR).     

Experimental study about the effects of disc chipper settings on the distribution of wood chip size

Nowadays wood should be of principal sources of biomass. This wood is transformed into chips in order to increase automatic operations and to decrease the technical effort needed at the energy conversion plant. Typical high quality chips, which are used to feed small woodchip boilers, vary in size from 10 × 10 × 5 mm to 15 × 15 × 8 mm. Chips that are relatively square and flat are easily conveyed, augured, and fed into the system smoothly. We are mainly interested in the raw material of inferior quality. A disc chipper test bench was constructed in our laboratory to study the chipping process in cutting conditions which are similar to those used in the industry. The test bench design allows many factors to be varied include cutting speed, feed per tooth, cutting angles, anvil height and cutting direction. In this paper, we attempt to understand the effect of several factors on chip size distribution. Four feeds per tooth, four cutting angles, two sharpness angles and three cutting speeds were chosen to cut wet logs of oak and fir wood, while the other factors remained constant. The results are similar for both oak and fir. The proportion of small chips decreases when we increase the feed per tooth, the cutting angle and the sharpness angle, whereas it increases when the cutting speed is increased. The feed per tooth and the cutting speed have a linear effect on the variations in the size distribution, while the cutting angle has a non-linear effect on these variations.     

“Dark” Singlet Oxygenation of Hydrophobic Substrates in Environmentally Friendly Microemulsions

The molybdate‐catalyzed “dark” singlet oxygenation of hydrophobic compounds with hydrogen peroxide proceeds efficiently with low catalyst loadings (10 ^–3 mol %) in chlorine‐free w/o microemulsions. These micro‐heterogeneous systems are composed of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/n‐butanol/water/organic phase, the latter being either a ”green” solvent such as ethyl acetate or a liquid substrate, such as α‐terpinene or β‐citronellol. Very high reactor yields with improved product/SDS ratio can be obtained for the ”dark” singlet oxygenation of such liquid substrates.     

Dual‐Action Cancer Therapy with Targeted Porous Silicon Nanovectors

There is a pressing need to develop more effective therapeutics to fight cancer. An idyllic chemotherapeutic is expected to overcome drug resistance of tumors and minimize harmful side effects to healthy tissues. Antibody‐functionalized porous silicon nanoparticles loaded with a combination of chemotherapy drug and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are developed. These nanocarriers are observed to selectively deliver both payloads, the chemotherapy drug and AuNCs, to human B cells. The accumulation of AuNCs to target cells and subsequent exposure to an external electromagnetic field in the microwave region render them more susceptible to the codelivered drug. This approach represents a targeted two‐stage delivery nanocarrier that benefits from a dual therapeutic action that results in enhanced cytotoxicity.     

Constrained Sintering of a Low‐Fire,Polycrystalline Bi2(Zn1/3Nb2/3)2O7 Dielectric

The densification behavior of a low‐fire, polycrystalline Bi₂(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)₂O₇ (BZN) dielectric under constrained sintering at 800°C–900°C is investigated. Although the constrained densification is retarded in relative to free sintering, a high sintered density of >95% is obtained at 900°C. No significant anisotropy with similar grain sizes is developed under free and constrained sintering. The densification behavior and stress development during constrained sintering of BZN is thus analyzed by using the well‐known isotropic constitutive laws.     

Local Electronic Structure of Molecular Heterojunctions in a Single‐Layer 2D Covalent Organic Framework

The synthesis of a single‐layer covalent organic framework (COF) with spatially modulated internal potentials provides new opportunities for manipulating the electronic structure of molecularly defined materials. Here, the fabrication and electronic characterization of COF‐420: a single‐layer porphyrin‐based square‐lattice COF containing a periodic array of oriented, type II electronic heterojunctions is reported. In contrast to previous donor–acceptor COFs, COF‐420 is constructed from building blocks that yield identical cores upon reticulation, but that are bridged by electrically asymmetric linkers supporting oriented electronic dipoles. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy reveals staggered gap (type II) band alignment between adjacent molecular cores in COF‐420, in agreement with first‐principles calculations. Hirshfeld charge analysis indicates that dipole fields from oriented imine linkages within COF‐420 are the main cause of the staggered electronic structure in this square grid of atomically–precise heterojunctions.     

Spermine Derivatives of Indole-3-carboxylic Acid,Indole-3-acetic Acid and Indole-3-acrylic Acid as Gram-Negative Antibiotic Adjuvants

The discovery of new antibiotic adjuvants is an attractive option for overcoming antimicrobial resistance. We have previously reported the discovery of a bis-6-bromoindolglyoxylamide derivative of spermine as being able to enhance the action of antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria but suffers from being cytotoxic and red-blood cell haemolytic. A series of analogues was prepared exploring variation of the indolglyoxylamide unit, to include indole-3-acrylic, indole-3-acetic and indole-3-carboxylate units, and evaluated for antibiotic enhancing properties against a range of Gram-negative bacteria, and for intrinsic antimicrobial, cytotoxic and haemolytic properties. Two spermine derivatives, bearing 5-bromo-indole-3-acetic acid ( 17 ) and 5-methoxy-indole-3-acrylic acid ( 14 ) end groups were found to exhibit good to moderate antibiotic adjuvant activities for doxycycline towards the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, but with more modest intrinsic antimicrobial activity and greatly reduced cytotoxic and haemolytic properties. The mechanism of action of the latter derivative identified its ability to disrupt the outer membranes of bacteria and to inhibit the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump directly or by inhibiting the proton gradient.