Effect of crystal structure on polarization reversal and energy storage of ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-chlorotrifluoroethylene) thin films

A series of ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-chlorotrifluoroethylene) films with different crystallite sizes have been obtained by varying the film processing conditions. The impact of the crystallite size on the dipole switching and the electric energy density has been systematically studied by the electric displacement–electric field hysteresis loop measurements. The films with smaller crystallite sizes display larger polarizability, as evidenced by higher maximum polarization and lower dipole switching field in the charging process. Small crystals also facilitate fast dipole depolarization during the discharging process. Consequently, superior released energy densities have been achieved in the films containing small sizes of the ferroelectric crystallite domains. On the other hand, large crystallite sizes are beneficial for the dielectric breakdown strength and the Weibull distribution of the breakdown field of the films. This study sheds new fundamental light on the optimization of the crystal structures of the ferroelectric polymers for high electric energy storage applications.     

Integrated data reconciliation with generic model control for the steel pickling process

To implement an advanced control algorithm, measurements of process outputs are usually used to determine control action to a process. Nevertheless, measurements of process outputs are often subjected to measuring and signal errors as well as noise. Therefore, in this work, Generic Model Control (GMC), an advanced control technique, with data reconciliation technique has been applied to control the pH of the pickling process consisting of three pickling and three rinsing baths. Here, the data reconciliation problem involves six nodes and fourteen streams. The presence of errors in the data set is determined and identified via measurement test, In addition, the measurement error covariance is initially assumed to be a known variance matrix and is updated every iteration. Simulation results have shown that the reconciled process data give a better view of the true states of the process than raw measuring data. With these reconciled process data, the GMC controller can control the process at a desired set point with great success.     

Optimization and nonlinear control of a batch crystallization process

Crystallization process has been widely used for separation in many chemical industries due to its capability to provide high purity product. To obtain the desired quality of crystal product, an optimal cooling control strategy is studied in the present work. Within the proposed control strategy, a dynamic optimization is first preformed with the objective to obtain the optimal cooling temperature policy of a batch crystallizer, maximizing the total volume of seeded crystals. Two different optimization problems are formulated and solved by using a sequential optimization approach. Owing to the complex and nonlinear behavior of the batch crystallizer, the nonlinear control strategy which is based on a generic model control (GMC) algorithm is implemented to track the resulting optimal temperature profile. The optimization integrated with nonlinear control strategy is demonstrated on a seeded batch crystallizer for the production of potassium sulfate.     

The use of a partially simulated exothermic reactor to test nonlinear algorithms

Two nonlinear control algorithms for controlling nonlinear systems include the receding horizon method and the nonlinear neural network inverse model methods. These methods have been found to be useful in dealing with difficult-to-control nonlinear systems, especially in simulated systems. However although much simulation work has been performed with these methods, simulation only is inadequate to guarantee that these algorithms could be successfully implemented in real plants. For this reason, a relatively low cost and simple online experimental configuration of a partially simulated continuous reactor has been devised which allows for the realistic testing of a wide range of nonlinear estimation and control techniques i.e. receding horizon control and neural network inverse model control methods. The results show that these methods are viable and attractive nonlinear methods for real-time application in chemical reactor systems.     

Continuous surface modification process with ultraviolet/ozone for improving interfacial adhesion of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/epoxy composites

This study proposed a continuous UV/ozone surface modification process for the production of polymeric fiber‐reinforced polymer composite. A gas phase photoreactor using the conventional low‐pressure mercury UV lamps and the economically made ozone generators were designed and constructed. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers and epoxy resin were chosen as a reinforcement and a matrix, respectively. The synergistic effects of UV and various gas species (nitrogen, air, oxygen, air/ozone, and oxygen/ozone) exposure as well as the effects of exposure time, i.e., 2, 5, and 10 min, on the morphology and chemistry of PET‐fiber surfaces were investigated by using a scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive x‐ray analysis (SEM/EDX). The tensile testing and analysis of fractography of the resulted composites were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the process. The SEM/EDX results showed that the effects of the treatment were dependent on both the concentration of reactive species present in the gases and the exposure time. The PET fibers treated under UV/O₂ + O₃ exposure for 5 min yielded the resulting composite with the highest tensile strength value. Under this condition, the tensile strength of the composite can be increased up to 63% in comparison with that of the untreated PET fiber/epoxy composite. The results are of interest for application as an in‐line surface modification for composite productions. POLYM. COMPOS., 27:484–490, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Nafion/Analcime and Nafion/Faujasite composite membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

The Nafion/zeolite composite membranes were synthesized for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFCs) by adding zeolite in the matrix of Nafion polymer. Two kinds of zeolites, Analcime and Faujasite, having different Si/Al ratio were used. The physico-chemical properties of the composite membranes such as water uptake, ion-exchange capacity, hydrogen permeability, and proton conductivity were determined. The fabricated composite membranes showed the significant improvement of all tested properties compared to that of pure Nafion membrane. The maximum proton conductivity of 0.4373 S cm⁻¹ was obtained from Nafion/Analcime (15%) at 80 °C which was 6.8 times of pure Nafion (0.0642 S cm⁻¹ at 80 °C). Conclusively, Analcime exhibited higher improvement than Faujasite.     

Model predictive control of an industrial pyrolysis gasoline hydrogenation reactor

This study focuses on the implementation of a nonlinear model predictive control (MPC) algorithm for controlling an industrial fixed-bed reactor where hydrogenations of raw pyrolysis gasoline occur. An orthogonal collocation method is employed to approximate the original reactor model consisting of a set of partial differential equations. The approximate model obtained is used in the synthesis of a MPC controller to control the temperature rising across a catalyst bed within the reactor. In the MPC algorithm, a sequential optimization approach is used to solve an open-loop optimal control problem. Feedback information is incorporated in the MPC to compensate for modeling error and unmeasured disturbances. The control studies are demonstrated in cases of set point tracking and disturbance rejection.     

Devise of a W serpentine shape tube heat exchanger in a hard chromium electroplating process

In a hard chromium electroplating process, a heat exchanger is employed to remove the heat produced from the high current intensity in an electroplating bath.Normally, a conventional U shape heat exchanger is installed in the bath, but it provides low heat removal.Thus, this study designs a novel W serpentine shape heat exchanger with identical heat transfer area to the conventional one for increasing heat removal performance.The performance of the heat exchange is tested with various flow velocities in a cross-section in range of 1.6 to 2.4 m·s~(-1).Mathematical models of this process have been formulated in order to simulate and evaluate the heat exchanger performance.The results show that the developed models give a good prediction of the plating solution and cooling water temperature, and the novel heat exchanger provides better results at any flow velocity.In addition, the W serpentine shape heat exchanger has been implemented in a real hard chromium electroplating plant.Actual data collected have shown that the new design gives higher heat removal performance compared with the U shape heat exchanger with identical heat transfer area; it removes more heat out of the process than the conventional one of about 23%.     

Model-based control strategies for a chemical batch reactor with exothermic reactions

Batch reactor control provides a very challenging problem for the process control engineer. This is because a characteristic of its dynamic behavior shows a high nonlinearity. Since applicability of the batch reactor is quite limited to the effectiveness of an applied control strategy, the use of advanced control techniques is often beneficial. This work presents the implementation and comparison of two advanced nonlinear control strategies, model predictive control (MPC) and generic model control (GMC), for controlling the temperature of a batch reactor involving a complex exothermic reaction scheme. An extended Kalman filter is incorporated in both controllers as an on-line estimator. Simulation studies demonstrate that the performance of the MPC is slightly better than that of the GMC control in nominal case. For model mismatch cases, the MPC still gives better control performance than the GMC does in the presence of plant/model mismatch in reaction rate and heat transfer coefficient.     

Synthesis of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 anisotropic particles with grain orientation by conversion of Na0.5Bi4.5Ti4O15 crystals

Abstract

A novel method for synthesizing Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ (BNT) anisotropic particles with grain orientation is reported. Anisotropically shaped particles of BNT were prepared by conversion of Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅ (NBT15) single crystals. Platelet NBT15 was produced by molten-salt synthesis. They were converted to BNT by second molten-salt synthesis at 800—1200 ?C. NBT15 single-crystal platelets were transformed into platelet particles of polycrystalline BNT. The reaction is topotaxial, those recrystallized BNT were oriented with (h 0 0) plane parallel to the platelet. The use of converted BNT particles as seed was confirmed by performing templated grain growth (TGG) of BNT with 5% grain-oriented, anisotropic particles of BNT.