Metal oxide photoelectrodes for hydrogen generation using solar radiation-driven water splitting

Metal oxide semiconductors are today the most promising materials for photoelectrochemical production of hydrogen by the method of the photoelectrolysis of water as the problems of the stability of photoelectrodes are basically solved only for such materials. The aim of this short review paper is the presentation of results in this field obtained both worldwide and by the authors of this paper. The factors determining the efficiency of photoelectrolysis and possible ways to increase the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor photoelectrodes are analyzed. It is shown that the development of new photoelectrodes made of solid solutions and more complicated multicomponent compositions are most promising. Possibilities to use porous and nanocrystalline oxide photoelectrodes in photoelectrochemistry are also discussed. Photoelectrolysis setups for the photoelectrochemical conversion of solar energy into hydrogen are briefly described.     

Surface movements in Bologna (Po Plain — Italy) detected by multitemporal DInSAR

We studied the surface deformations affecting the southeastern sector of the Po Plain sedimentary basin, in particular the area of Bologna. To this aim an advanced DInSAR technique, referred to as DInSAR-SBAS (Small BAseline Subset), has been applied. This technique allows monitoring the temporal evolution of a deformation phenomenon, via the generation of mean deformation velocity maps and displacement time series from a data set of acquired SAR images. In particular, we have processed a set of SAR data acquired by the European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS) sensors and compared the achieved results with optical levelling measurements, assumed as reference. The surface displacements detected by DInSAR SBAS from 1992 to 2000 are between 10 mm/year in the historical part of Bologna town, and up to 59 mm/year in the NE industrial and agricultural areas. Former measurements from optical levelling referred to 1897 show 2-3 mm/year vertical movements. This trend of displacement increased in the second half of the 20th century and the subsidence rate reached 60 mm/year. We compared the more recent levelling campaigns (in 1992 and late 1999) and DInSAR results from 1992 to 1999. The standard deviation of the difference between levelling data, projected onto the satellite Line Of Sight, and DInSAR results is 2 mm/year. This highlights a good agreement between the measurements provided by two different techniques. The explanation of soil movements based on interferometric results, ground data and geological observations, allowed confirming the anthropogenic cause (surface effect due to the overexploitation of the aquifers) and highlights a natural, tectonic, subsidence.     

Iodide mediated electrolysis of acidic coke/coal suspension

Hydrogen is among the emerging energy vectors that are being developed to replace nonrenewable hydrocarbon energy sources. The preferred method to produce hydrogen without generating greenhouse gases is the electrolysis of water using renewable energy. The reduction of energy during the water electrolysis process is a desirable goal regardless of the source of electric power. Similar to ferrous/ferric mediation, iodide can be used as a mediator in the electrolysis of an acidic suspension of coke or coal. The iodide ion is oxidized at a far lower anodic potential than the alternative oxygen evolution reaction. This reduces the cell electrolysis voltage and, consequently, reduces electricity use. The iodide consumed at the anode is continuously regenerated by chemical reaction with the coke/coal in suspension.     

Water management in the Flemish steel industry: the Arcelor Gent case

Steel production is an energy- and water-intensive process: large quantities of water are used for cooling, process and environmental-technical applications. In the mid-1990s, Arcelor Gent, a large integrated carbon steel producing company in Flanders (Belgium), started a number of water-related projects: the existing water infrastructure was adapted: the water from the coke plant was biologically treated; canal water was demineralised using reverse osmosis; waste water from the blast furnaces was neutralised with alkaline water from the steel plant. As a result of these projects, the quantity of discharged waste water was reduced by a factor of 2 (water recycling doubled from a factor of 10 to a factor of 20), and the discharge of pollutants decreased. Also resource consumption decreased: lime used in the steel plant, could be recovered to precipitate Zn in the waste water of the blast furnaces. Arcelor Gent obtained for these projects several Environmental Awards.     

Excavation and support design of the Dicle–Kralkizi water tunnel: an overview

Tunneling projects have their uniqueness in terms of engineering problems. The expertise gained from analyzing these projects establishes a sound basis for future application. This paper conveys experiences gained during the construction and support of the design of the Dicle–Kralkizi water tunnel, Turkey. Tunnel stability problems including overbreaks and surface subsidence are evaluated. An analysis of the breakdowns, factors controlling advance rate and the overall performance of tunnel are covered. The accumulated information presented here is believed to be useful and reliable for a successful tunnel excavation in similar formations.     

Pulsating Jet Impingement Heat Transfer Enhancement

This article presents results from a numerical study of pulsating jet impingement heat transfer. The motivation is to seek conditions offering a significant enhancement compared to steady flow impingement drying. The CFD software package FLUENT was used for simulating slot-type pulsating jet impingement flows with confinement. The parameter study included velocity amplitude ratio, mean jet velocity, and pulsation frequency. The distance from nozzle exit to surface was three times the hydraulic diameter of the nozzle. The Reynolds number based on the nozzle hydraulic diameter and jet temperature was 2,460 with a mean jet velocity of 30 m/s, which is the base case of the numerical experiments. Results showed that time-averaged surface heat transfer increased with increasing velocity amplitude for the same mean jet velocity. Large velocity amplitudes helped enhance heat transfer by two mechanisms: high jet velocity during the positive cycle and strong recirculating flows during the negative cycle. For the cases with different mean jet velocities but the same maximum velocity, time-averaged surface heat flux decreased with decreasing mean jet velocity. As for the effects of pulsation frequency, with high-velocity amplitude ratio, time-averaged surface heat fluxes were at the same level regardless of frequency. However, at low-velocity amplitude ratio, high frequency caused stronger recirculating flows resulting in greater heat transfer compared to the cases with a lower frequency.     

建筑意--中国雕版印刷博物馆及扬州博物馆设计

本文以中国雕版印刷博物馆及扬州博物馆设计为例，从空间意象、理水设计、造形元素等方面对特定历史条件、自然条件下的建筑创作进行了探讨。     

超低渗广谱油层保护技术在板深51区块的应用

板深51区块存在压力敏感地层，在非目的层井段存在大段高渗低压砂岩，而目的层又属于高压低渗地层，属于难采油气田。室内进行的砂床滤失量、砂床封堵带承压能力、岩心封堵带的承压能力及油气层保护效果实验表明，在超低渗钻井液中增加固相含量，能够提高超低渗透膜结构强度，提高地层承压能力，降低砂床侵入深度，增强保护油气层效果，而且有选择性地增加有用固相效果更佳。基于这一理论，研究成功了超低渗广谱屏蔽暂堵油层保护技术，并在板深51区块长22—15井和长23—17K井进行了试验应用。该技术的关键是依据地层特性确定复配暂堵剂。长22-15井和长23-17K井射孔后未经过压裂、酸化、排液处理，获自喷高产，尤其是长22-15井形成自喷油流，创油田单井试采产量最高记录。应用结果表明，超低渗广谱保护油气层钻井液技术封堵隔层的承压能力强，很大程度地提高了漏失层的承压能力和破裂压力，较好地解决了含多套压力层系长裸眼段钻井过程中发生的漏失、井喷、卡钻、油气层保护等技术难题。     

Preliminary results of ENVISAT RA-2-derived water levels validation over the Amazon basin

Since the launch of the ENVISAT satellite in 2002, the Radar Altimetry Mission provides systematic observations of the Earth topography. Among the different goals of the ENVISAT Mission, one directly concerns land hydrology: the monitoring of the water levels of lakes, wetlands, and rivers. The ENVISAT Geophysical Data Records products contain, over different type of surfaces, altimeter ranges derived from four specialized algorithms or retrackers. However, none of the retrackers are intended to the processing of the radar echoes over continental waters. A validation study is necessary to assess the performances of the different ENVISAT-derived water levels to monitor inland waters. We have selected four test-zones over the Amazon basin to achieve this validation study. We compare first the performances of these retracking algorithms to deliver reliable water levels for land hydrology. Comparisons with in-situ gauge stations showed that Ice-1 algorithm, based on the Offset Centre of Gravity technique, provides the more accurate water stages. Second, we examine the potentiality to combine water levels derived from different sensors (Topex/Poseidon, ERS-1 and -2, GFO).     

管内覆丝网强化对流换热及阻力特性的实验研究

通过实验对管内覆丝网管进行了强迫对流换热和阻力特性研究。结果表明：管内覆丝网使换热明显增强，阻力也相应增长。菱形丝网对角线距离与平行边距离之比对换热效果有决定作用，丝网厚度对换热的影响比较小，而丝网网格的大小对换热几乎没有影响，在相同的泵功率和几何条件下，换热系数最大增加２１％。