Options and methods for instrumentation of Test Blanket Systems for experiment control and scientific mission

Europe is currently developing two reference breeder blankets concepts for DEMO reactor specifications that will be tested in ITER under the form of Test Blanket Modules (TBMs): the Helium-Cooled Lithium-Lead (HCLL) concept which uses the eutectic Pb-16Li as both breeder and neutron multiplier; the Helium-Cooled Pebble-Bed (HCPB) concept which features lithiated ceramic pebbles as breeder and beryllium pebbles as neutron multiplier. Each TBM is associated with several sub-systems required for their operation; together they form the Test Blanket System (TBS). This paper presents the state of HCLL and HCPB TBS instrumentation design. The discussion is based on the systems functional analysis, from which three main categories of instrumentation are defined: those relevant to safety functions; those relevant to interlock functions; those designed for the control and scientific exploitation of the devices based on the TBM program objectives.     

Effect of acidic additives on the structure and performance of TiO2 films prepared by a commercial nanopowder for dye-sensitized solar cells

This work comprises an experimental study on the effect of various dispersing agents on the morphology of mesoporous TiO₂ films prepared by the doctor blade method and on the performance of the resulting dye-sensitized solar cells. TiO₂ films were prepared using a commercial nanopowder, Degussa P25, which was ground in a mortar, with different dispersing agents and under continuous grinding, in order to break the large agglomerates (>1 μm), present in the powder. These additives can be different acids or bases and must prevent also re-agglomeration of the nanoparticles, by forming a surface charge.Two strong acids (hydrochloric, HCl and nitric, HNO₃), a weak one (acetic acid, CH₃COOH) and a ketone (acetylacetone, C₅H₈O₂) were used in turn. The properties of the films were dependent on the concentration and the kind of the acid. With increasing concentration the coagulation of the nanoparticles also increases, thus affecting the efficiency of the devices. Of all the additives used, HNO₃ gave the best results and a 40% increment in efficiency was observed, compared to the standard dispersing agent that is acetylacetone. The improved homogeneity of the nanoparticle size (24 nm for anatase and 21.5 nm for rutile) and the better connectivity between them were responsible for the improvement in efficiency.     

Noise measurement of a preamplifier with high input impedance using an NMR console

This article describes the noise measurement of a preamplifier with high input impedance designed for experiments with receive coils in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The noise of the preamplifier was determined in two ways. A circuital analysis of the preamplifier provided an equation for the preamplifier noise calculation and the noise voltage was measured with an NMR console and in accordance with known theory the measured analogue noise signal was modified to a discrete noise signal. An objective function with noise parameters of the preamplifier as variables was created. The noise parameters of the preamplifier were calculated with an optimization procedure and the results of the calculation and of the measurement compared. Qualitative and quantitative agreement was good. It was proved that the noise parameters of a preamplifier for NMR experiments can be measured with an NMR console and derived theory.     

Influence of surface oxidation on electric potential measurements in MHD liquid metal flows

Experimental investigations for magnetohydrodynamic flows in rectangular ducts are performed using GaInSn as model fluid. Measurements of electric potential on channel walls and inside the flow show reproducible discrepancies compared to analytical results. These discrepancies can be ascribed to the formation of oxide layers causing a contact resistance between the electrically conducting duct walls and the liquid metal. An exact analytical solution for pressure drop, velocity and potential distributions has been derived taking into account the presence of a contact resistance. Analytical results for velocity and potential profiles and for pressure drop are discussed for different values of contact resistance and strength of the applied magnetic field. A comparison of measured potential with data from the analytical solution allows estimating the order of magnitude of the contact resistance in the present experiments.     

Synthesis,structures, and photoluminescent properties of two uranium complexes constructed by a flexible zwitterion ligand

Two novel uranium complexes were constructed by using a tripodal flexible zwitterion ligand 1,1′,1″-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)-tris(methylene)-tris(pyridine-4-carboxylic acid) trichlorine (H₃LCl₃). Reaction of uranyl acetate dihydrate and H₃LCl₃ in aqueous solution affords (UO₂)₄L₂Cl₄(μ₃-O)₂^.4H₂O (1), which contains tetranuclear motifs, resulting in the two dimensional structure. UO₂L₂^.2NO₃^.H₂O (2) obtained via the reaction of H₃LCl₃ and uranyl nitrate hexahydrate, which displays a three dimensional structure. The structures were detected by single crystal X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis (EA), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Furthermore, luminescent properties were also investigated.     

In Vivo Studies of Nanostructure‐Based Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Cancer Therapy

Animal models, particularly rodents, are major translational models for evaluating novel anticancer therapeutics. In this review, different types of nanostructure‐based photosensitizers that have advanced into the in vivo evaluation stage for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer are described. This article focuses on the in vivo efficacies of the nanostructures as delivery agents and as energy transducers for photosensitizers in animal models. These materials are useful in overcoming solubility issues, lack of tumor specificity, and access to tumors deep in healthy tissue. At the end of this article, the opportunities made possible by these multiplexed nanostructure‐based systems are summarized, as well as the considerable challenges associated with obtaining regulatory approval for such materials. The following questions are also addressed: (1) Is there a pressing demand for more nanoparticle materials? (2) What is the prognosis for regulatory approval of nanoparticles to be used in the clinic?     

Comparative study on different annealing methods and choice of solvent in organic field effect transistors based on Poly(3-hexylthiophene)

A simple approach to study the effect of processing on the charge carrier mobility in an organic field effect transistor (OFET) based on regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (RR P3HT) is investigated in this paper. It is found that different processing conditions can induce different degrees of hysteresis, which is well correlated with the charge mobility where lower hysteresis represents higher stability and hence higher charge mobility. Solvent annealing tends to create large nano-scale pinholes in P3HT which degrade the mobility.     

Quantifying wave and yaw effects on a scale tidal stream turbine

The behaviour of Tidal Stream Turbines (TST) in the dynamic flow field caused by waves and rotor misalignment to the incoming flow (yaw) is currently unclear. The dynamic loading applied to the turbine could drive the structural design of the power capture and support subsystems, device size and its proximity to the water surface and sea bed. In addition, the strongly bi-directional nature of the flow encountered at many tidal energy sites may lead to devices omitting yaw drives; accepting the additional dynamic loading associated with rotor misalignment and reduced power production in return for a reduction in device capital cost. Therefore it is imperative to quantify potential unsteady rotor loads so that the TST device design accommodates the inflow conditions and avoids an unacceptable increase in maintenance action or, more seriously, suffers sudden structural failure.The experiments presented in this paper were conducted using a 1:20th scale 3-bladed horizontal axis TST at a large towing tank facility. The turbine had the capability to measure rotor thrust and torque whilst one blade was instrumented to acquire blade root strain, azimuthal position and rotational speed all at high frequency. The maximum out-of-plane bending moment was found to be as much as 9.5 times the in-plane bending moment. A maximum loading range of 175% of the median out-of-plane bending moment and 100% of the median in-plane bending moment was observed for a turbine test case with zero rotor yaw, scaled wave height of 2 m and intrinsic wave period of 12.8 s.A new tidal turbine-specific Blade-Element Momentum (BEM) numerical model has been developed to account for wave motion and yawed flow effects. This model includes a new dynamic inflow correction which is shown to be in close agreement with the measured experimental loads. The gravitational component was significant to the experimental in-plane blade bending moment and was also included in the BEM model. Steady loading on an individual blade at positive yaw angles was found to be negligible in comparison to wave loading (for the range of experiments conducted), but becomes important for the turbine rotor as a whole, reducing power capture and rotor thrust. The inclusion of steady yaw effects (using the often-applied skewed axial inflow correction) in a BEM model should be neglected when waves are present or will result in poor load prediction reflected by increased loading amplitude in the 1P (once per revolution) phase.     

Synthetic double sampling np control chart for attributes

The quality of a product, based on the number of non-conforming items can be controlled using the np chart. This paper proposes a synthetic double sampling (DS) np chart which comprises two sub-charts, i.e. the DS np and conforming run length (CRL) sub-charts. For the zero-state case, the synthetic DS np chart surpasses its standard counterpart, i.e. the synthetic np and the basic DS np chart, and other np type charts like the standard np, combined synthetic and np (Syn-np), variable sample size (VSS) np, exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) np and cumulative sum (CUSUM) np charts, for detecting increases in the fraction of non-conforming items p, for most shift sizes. The synthetic DS np chart also performs reasonably well in the steady-state case in comparison with other charts mentioned above. Thus, among the competing charts, the synthetic DS np chart stands out as one of the best charts.