Tungsten(VI) oxide supported rhodium nanoparticles: Highly active catalysts in hydrogen generation from ammonia borane

Herein, we report the use of tungsten(VI) oxide (WO₃) as support for Rh⁰ nanoparticles. The resulting Rh⁰/WO₃ nanoparticles are highly active and stable catalysts in H₂ generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB). We present the results of our investigation on the particle size distribution, catalytic activity and stability of Rh⁰/WO₃ catalysts with 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0% wt. Rh loadings in the hydrolysis reaction. The results reveal that Rh⁰/WO₃ (0.5% wt. Rh) is very promising catalyst providing a turnover frequency of 749 min^?1 in releasing 3.0 equivalent H₂ per mole of AB from the hydrolysis at 25.0 °C. The high catalytic activity of Rh⁰/WO₃ catalyst is attributed to the reducible nature of support. The report covers the results of kinetics study as well as comparative investigation of activity, recyclability, and reusability of colloidal(0) nanoparticles and Rh⁰/WO₃ (0.5 % wt. Rh) catalyst in the hydrolysis reaction.     

An experimental study of the exergetic performance of an underground air tunnel system for greenhouse cooling

The present study highlights the exergetic performance characteristics of an underground air tunnel for greenhouse cooling with a 47 m horizontal, 56 cm nominal diameter U-bend buried galvanized ground heat exchanger. This system was designed and installed in the Solar Energy Institute, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Underground air tunnel systems, also known as earth-to-air heat exchangers, are recognized to be outstanding heating, cooling and air heating systems. On the other hand, they have not been used yet in the Turkish market. Greenhouses also have important economical potential in Turkey’s agricultural sector. Greenhouses should be cooled during the summer or hot days. In order to establish optimum growth conditions in greenhouses, renewable energy sources should be utilized as much as possible. It is expected that effective use of underground air tunnels with a suitable technology in the modern greenhouses will play a leading role in Turkey in the foreseeable future. The exergy transports between the components and the destructions in each of the components of the system are determined for the average measured parameters obtained from the experimental results. Exergetic efficiencies of the system components are determined in an attempt to assess their individual performances and the potential for improvements is also presented. The daily maximum cooling coefficient of performances (COP) values for the system are also obtained to be 15.8. The total average COP in the experimental period is found to be 10.09. The system COP was calculated based on the amount of cooling produced by the air tunnel and the amount of power required to move the air through the tunnel, while the exergetic efficiency of the air tunnel is found to be in a range among 57.8–63.2%. The overall exergy efficiency value for the system on a product/fuel basis is found to be 60.7%.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of poly(styrene-co-ally alcohol)-graft-stearic acid copolymers as novel solid–solid PCMs for thermal energy storage

A series of poly(styrene-co-allyalcohol)-graft-stearic acid copolymers were synthesized as novel polymeric solid–solid phase change materials (SSPCMs). The graft copolymerization reactions between poly(styrene-co-allyalcohol) and stearoyl chloride were verified by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy techniques. The crystal morphology of the SSPCMs was investigated using polarized optical microscopy (POM) technique. Thermal energy storage properties of the synthesized SSPCMs were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The POM results showed that the crystalline phase of the copolymers transformed to amorphous phase above their phase transition temperatures. Thermal energy storage properties of the synthesized SSPCMs were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and found that they had typical solid–solid phase transition temperatures in the range of 27–30 °C and high latent heat enthalpy between 34 and 74 J/g. Especially, the copolymer with the mole ratio of 1/1 (poly(styrene-co-allyalcohol)/stearoyl chloride) is the most attractive one due to the highest latent heat storage capacity among them. The results of DSC and FT-IR analysis indicated that the synthesized SSPCMs had good thermal reliability and chemical stability after 5000 thermal cycles. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis results suggested that the synthesized SSPCMs had high thermal resistance. In addition, thermal conductivity measurements signified that the synthesized PCMs had higher thermal conductivity compared to that of poly(styrene-co-allyalcohol). The synthesized copolymers as novel SSPCMs have considerable potential for thermal energy storage applications such as solar space heating and cooling in buildings and greenhouses.     

Monitoring of energy exergy efficiencies and exergoeconomic parameters of geothermal district heating systems (GDHSs)

In this work, the monitoring energy and exergy efficiency results of the last heating seasons of operation of the geothermal district heating systems (GDHSs) and their technical availability analysis and monitoring exergoeconomic parameters are presented. The case studies cover the actual system data taken from the systems in Afyon and Salihli GDHSs, Turkey. General energy, exergy, technical availability, and exergoeconomic analysis of the GDHSs are introduced. Furthermore, the average technical availability, real availability, capacity factor and energy and exergy efficiencies value of GDHSs have been analyzed.     

Effect of Annealing on the Surface Morphology and Current–Voltage Characterization of a CZO Structure Prepared by RF Magnetron Sputtering

Semiconductors - In this study, we investigated the Cu-doped ZnO (CZO) structure. This structure was deposited on the Si and glass substrates using the RF magnetron sputtering technique....