Scour and liquefaction issues for anchors and other subsea structures in floating offshore wind farms: A review

This article reviews scouring and liquefaction issues for anchor foundations of floating offshore wind farms. The review is organized in two sections: (1) the scouring issues for drag-embedment anchors (DEAs) and other subsea structures associated with DEAs such as tensioners, clump weights, and chains in floating offshore wind farms; and (2) the liquefaction issues for the same types of structures, particularly for DEAs. The scouring processes are described in detail, and the formulae and design guidelines for engineering predictions are included for quantities like scour depth, time scale, and sinking due to general shear failure of the bed soil caused by scour. The latter is furnished with numerical examples. Likewise, in the second section, the liquefaction processes are described with special reference to residual liquefaction where pore-water pressure builds up in undrained soils (such as fine sand and silt) under waves, leading to liquefaction of the bed soil and precipitating failure of DEAs and their associated subsea structures. An integrated mathematical model to deal with liquefaction around and the resulted sinking failure of DEAs, introduced in a recent study, has been revisited. Implementation of the model is illustrated with a numerical example. It is believed that the present review and the existing literatures from the “neighboring” fields form a complementary source of information on scour and liquefaction around foundations of floating offshore wind farms.     

Thermodynamic modeling of direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cells operating with syngas

In this paper a direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell (DIR-SOFC) is modeled thermodynamically from the energy point of view. Syngas produced from a gasification process is selected as a fuel for the SOFC. The modeling consists of several steps. First, equilibrium gas composition at the fuel channel exit is derived in terms mass flow rate of fuel inlet, fuel utilization ratio, recirculation ratio and extents of steam reforming and water–gas shift reaction. Second, air utilization ratio is determined according to the cooling necessity of the cell. Finally, terminal voltage, power output and electrical efficiency of the cell are calculated. Then, the model is validated with experimental data taken from the literature. The methodology proposed is applied to an intermediate temperature, anode-supported planar SOFC operating with a typical gas produced from a pyrolysis process. For parametric analysis, the effects of recirculation ratio and fuel utilization ratio are investigated. The results show that recirculation ratio does not have a significant effect for low current density conditions. At higher current densities, increasing the recirculation ratio decreases the power output and electrical efficiency of the cell. The results also show that the selection of the fuel utilization ratio is very critical. High fuel utilization ratio conditions result in low power output and air utilization ratio but higher electrical efficiency of the cell.     

Formation of BN from BCNO and the development of ordered BN structure: I. Synthesis of BCNO with various chemistries and degrees of crystallinity and reaction mechanism on BN formation

We synthesized BCNO compounds and investigated how the synthesis conditions impact i) BCNO formation, their chemistry and degree of crystallinity, and ii) BN formation from BCNO and its structural ordering. Heating boric acid (H₃BO₃) and melamine (C₃H₆N₆) mixture yields intermediate amorphous BCNO compound. Increasing the synthesis temperature, and H₃BO₃ to C₃H₆N₆ ratio promote BN formation and its structural ordering. We propose a possible reaction mechanism for BN formation from H₃BO₃ and C₃H₆N₆ mixture and we explain the observations based on thermodynamic and kinetic considerations. An increase in synthesis temperature promotes BN formation since the reactions are endothermic. An increase in H₃BO₃ to C₃H₆N₆ ratio promotes BN formation since theoretical BN formation temperature decreases with the above ratio. Furthermore, it enhances material transfer and mobility of the BN layer by forming B₂O₃ phase. We also propose a processing-structure correlation map that can help determining experimental conditions for single-phase amorphous BCNO synthesis.     

Catalytic activity of cobalt on nanotextured polymer films for hydrogen production

We describe the mechanism of cobalt and ligand binding on nanotextured poly(chloro-p-xylylene) (PPX) films as supports for catalytic release of H₂ from alkaline aqueous solutions of sodium borohydride. Cobalt catalysts are prepared on nanotextured PPX substrates via electroless plating using a Sn-free Pd(II) colloid with adsorbed pyridine ligand as an adhesion promoter. Gas physisorption studies on PPX, using N₂ and CO₂ as probe gases, indicate the presence of micropores (∼1 to 2 nm width) responsible for the adsorption and non-covalent stabilization of pyridine molecules on the nanotextured surface. The strongly adsorbed pyridine molecules promote Co adhesion onto the PPX surface during subsequent electroless deposition, thereby retaining the metal's catalytic activity for H₂ evolution even after multiple reaction cycles. In contrast, conventionally deposited PPX is devoid of any nanotexture and contains fewer micropores capable of stabilizing pyridine adsorption, resulting in poor metallization and catalytic activity for H₂ evolution. We also demonstrate the effect of patterning the PPX substrate as a means to further improve the activity of the Co catalyst to achieve H₂ evolution rates comparable to those obtained using precious metal catalysts.     

Heat-up and start-up modeling of direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cells

In this paper, a transient heat transfer model to simulate the heat-up and start-up periods of co- and counter-flow direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cells is developed and presented. In this comprehensive model, all the heat transfer mechanisms, i.e. conduction, convection, and radiation, and all the polarization nodes, i.e. ohmic, activation, and concentration, are considered. The heat transfer model is validated using the results of a benchmark test and two numerical studies obtained from the literature. After validating the model, the heat-up, start-up, and steady-state behaviors of the cell are investigated. In addition, the first principal thermal stresses are calculated to find the probability of failure of the cell during its operation. The results of the present model are in good agreement with the literature data. It is also shown for the given input data that counter-flow case yields a higher average current density and power density, but a lower electrical efficiency of the cell. For the temperature controlled heat-up and start-up strategy, the maximum probability of failure during the operation of the cell is found to be 0.068% and 0.078% for co- and counter-flow configurations, respectively.     

Improvement of microstructural and tribological properties of APS carbide coatings via PTA surface melting

ABSTRACT

In the current study, WC-Co and Cr₃C₂-NiCr coatings deposited on 90MnCrV8 steel surface via an atmospheric plasma spray (APS) system were modified by the plasma transferred arc (PTA) welding method. Microstructural defects including micro-cracks, voids, pores, and non-uniform zones were determined in the APS deposited layers. The microstructural defects were terminated by the PTA melting process due to the dissolving pool at high temperature. Strong metallurgical bonding between the coating layer and substrate and columnar dendrites and inter-dendritic precipitates were observed during the PTA melting process. Following the PTA melting process, MC, M₃C, and M₇C₃ hard phases were formed in the coating layers. The hardness and wear performance of the coating layers significantly increased due to the PTA surface modification. The main reason for the significant increases in wear performance corresponded to the newly formed hard carbide phases and elimination of microstructural defects via the PTA surface modification.     

Assessment of different bio-inspired flow fields for direct methanol fuel cells through 3D modeling and experimental studies

The performance impact of using bio-inspired interdigitated and non-interdigitated flow fields (I-FF and NI-FF, respectively) within a DMFC is investigated. These two flow fields, as well as a conventional serpentine flow field (S-FF, used as a reference), were examined as possible anode and cathode flow field candidates. To examine the performance of each of these candidates, each flow field was manufactured and experimentally tested under different anode and cathode flow rate combinations (1.3 mL/min [methanol] and 400 mL/min [oxygen], as well as 2 and 3 times these flow rates), and different methanol concentrations (0.50 M, 0.75 M, and 1.00 M). To help understand the experimental results and the underlying physics, a three dimensional numerical model was developed. Of the examined flow fields, the S-FF and the I-FF yielded the best performance on the anode and cathode, respectively. This finding was mainly due to the enhanced under-rib convection of both of these flow fields. Although the I-FF provided a higher mean methanol concentration on the anode catalyst layer surface, its distribution was less uniform than that of the S-FF. This caused the rate of methanol permeation to the cathode to increase (for the anode I-FF configuration), along with the anode and cathode activation polarizations, deteriorating the fuel cell performance. The NI-FF provided the lowest pressure drops of the examined configurations. However, the hydrodynamics within the flow field made the reactants susceptible to traveling directly from inlet to outlet, leading to several low concentration pockets. This significantly decreased the reactant uniformity across its respective catalyst layer, and caused this FFs performance to be the lowest of the examined configurations.     

Optimization of material characteristics of macro-defect free cement

Macro-defect free (MDF) cement is a high-strength cement-polymer composite produced by mixing cement (commonly calcium aluminate cement) with small amounts of polymer (commonly polyvinyl alcohol acetate) and water, applying high shear, and finally applying relatively low pressure (about 5 MPa) and modest temperature (about 80-100 °C). However, MDF cements lose considerable strength when exposed to water. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of cement and polymer compositions on flexural strength and water sensitivity. Calcium aluminate cements were used with Al₂O₃ contents between 42% and 79%. Production of MDF cement was successful with all cements, but the highest strength (268 MPa) was obtained with 70% Al₂O₃ cement. Secondly, PVAs were used that differed in their degree of hydrolysis between 73% and 99%. Of these, the one with a moderate degree of hydrolysis produced the highest strength (228 MPa). All mixtures had strength loss on exposure to water, but PVAs with moderate degrees of hydrolysis exhibited the lowest strength losses (50-60%).     

Performance of an HT‐PEMFC having a catalyst with graphene and multiwalled carbon nanotube support

In this study, the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotube and graphene nanoplatelet‐based catalyst supports on the performance of reformate gas‐fed polybenzimidazole (PBI)‐based high‐temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT‐PEMFC) was investigated. In addition, the effect of several microwave conditions on the performance of the Pt‐Ru/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)–graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) catalyst was assessed. Through X‐ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy, the catalysts' chemical structure and morphology were characterized. Cyclic voltammetry analysis was used for the electrochemical characterization of catalysts through an electrochemical cell with three electrodes connected to a potentiostat. The results showed that the best performing catalyst is the catalyst produced using 800‐W power for 40 seconds. The electrochemically active surface area values of this catalyst ranged from 54 to 45 m²/g. Single‐cell performance tests of the HT‐PEMFC were then carried out. In these tests, reformate gas mixture, consisting of H₂, CO₂, and CO, was fed to the anode side at 160°C without humidification. These tests for the best performing catalyst yielded peak power density of 0.280 W/cm² and current density (at 0.6 V) of 0.180 A/cm² in the H₂/air environment and peak power density of 0.266 W/cm² and current density (at 0.6 V) of 0.171 A/cm² in the reformate gas/air environment. As a result of the experiments, it was found that Pt‐Ru/MWCNT‐GNP hybrid material is a suitable catalyst for HT‐PEMFC.