Basic model for membrane electrode assembly design for direct methanol fuel cells

This research proposes a model that predicts the effect of the anode diffusion layer and membrane properties on the electrochemical performance and methanol crossover of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) membrane electrode assembly (MEA). It is an easily extensible, lumped DMFC model. Parameters used in this design model are experimentally obtainable, and some of the parameters are indicative of material characteristics. The quantification of these material parameters builds up a material database. Model parameters for various membranes and diffusion layers are determined by using various techniques such as polarization, mass balance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and interpretation of the response of the cell to step changes in current. Since the investigation techniques cover different response times of the DMFC, processes in the cell such as transport, reaction and charge processes can be investigated separately. Properties of single layers of the MEA are systematically varied, and subsequent analysis enables identification of the influence of the layer's properties on the electrochemical performance and methanol crossover. Finally, a case study indicates that the use of a membrane with lower methanol diffusivity and a thicker anode micro-porous layer (MPL) yields MEAs with lower methanol crossover but similar power density.     

Electrical properties of Mg-doped Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95 under different sintering conditions

Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 with various Mg doping contents was synthesized by citric acid-nitrate low temperature combustion process and sintered under different conditions. The crystal structures, microstructures and electrical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and ac impedance spectroscopy. Low solubility of Mg²⁺ in Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 lattice was evidenced by XRD and FESEM micrographs. The samples sintered at 1300 °C exhibited the higher total conductivity than those sintered at 1100 and 1500 °C, with the maximum value of 1.48 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ (measured at 600 °C) at the Mg doping content of 6 mol%, corresponding to the minimum total activation energy (E_tol) of 0.84 eV (150–400 °C). The effect of Mg doping on the electrical conductivity was significant particularly at higher sintering temperatures. At the sintering temperature of 1500 °C, the addition of Mg (10 mol%) enhanced the grain boundary conductivity by over 10² times comparing with that of undoped Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95, which may be explained by the optimization of space charge layer due to the segregation of Mg²⁺ to the grain boundaries.     

Partial-differential-equation-constrained amplitude-based shape detection in inverse acoustic scattering

In this article we discuss a formal framework for casting the inverse problem of detecting the location and shape of an insonified scatterer embedded within a two-dimensional homogeneous acoustic host, in terms of a partial-differential-equation-constrained optimization approach. We seek to satisfy the ensuing Karush–Kuhn–Tucker first-order optimality conditions using boundary integral equations. The treatment of evolving boundary shapes, which arise naturally during the search for the true shape, resides on the use of total derivatives, borrowing from recent work by Bonnet and Guzina [1–4] in elastodynamics. We consider incomplete information collected at stations sparsely spaced at the assumed obstacle’s backscattered region. To improve on the ability of the optimizer to arrive at the global optimum we: (a) favor an amplitude-based misfit functional; and (b) iterate over both the frequency- and wave-direction spaces through a sequence of problems. We report numerical results for sound-hard objects with shapes ranging from circles, to penny- and kite-shaped, including obstacles with arbitrarily shaped non-convex boundaries. Partial support for this work was provided by the US National Science Foundation under grant award CMS-0348484.     

Remarks on the existence of solutions to the average cost optimality equation in Markov decision processes

Necessary conditions are given for the existence of a bounded solution to the optimality equation arising in Markov decision processes, under a long-run, expected average cost criterion. The relationships of some of our results to known sufficient conditions are also shown.     

Linguistic Applications of First Order Intuitionistic Linear Logic

In this paper we will discuss the first order multiplicative intuitionistic fragment of linear logic, MILL1, and its applications to linguistics. We give an embedding translation from formulas in the Lambek Calculus to formulas in MILL1 and show this translation is sound and complete. We then exploit the extra power of the first order fragment to give an account of a number of linguistic phenomena which have no satisfactory treatment in the Lambek Calculus. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Accelerated life-test experiments on low-power rectifier diodes

Low-power rectifier diodes were stressed by different forward currents I_F, reverse voltages U_R, and ambient temperatures _a for a time interval (0, t*) in order to analyse the resulting distributions. Owing to the limitations in the test time, t*, the gathering of comprehensive information about their performance requires high stress levels without exceeding either physical limits or the limits for initiating thermal runaway. First, the results of lifetime experiments related to the middle stress region were described by a Weibull distribution with constant shape parameter and stress-dependent scale parameter. This model, however, did not fit sufficiently the typical features of the real-life distribution. Therefore a non-parametric measure called the average initial reliability in (O,t*) was defined using the experimental results. Its stress dependence was estimated. The results are guiding figures of stress conditions both for accelerated tests and for circuits with high demands on reliability.     

Physicochemical and sensory analysis of dry bean landraces in conjunction with multivariate analysis: an exploratory approach

Five landraces of Greek common dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), were analysed for thirteen physico‐chemical and eighteen sensory variables. Brightness, acceptance, odour and hardness were the most important sensory variables for the overall acceptability of the cooked product. Application of principal component analysis revealed a rather weak relationship between the sensory attributes and the physico‐chemical variables. However, a certain grouping of cultivars with corresponding properties [(PC1 vs. PC2, Kastoria with saltiness, hardness, grassiness, intensity, protein and metal; Byzitsa bushy with fat, odour and sourness; Ksanthi and Belestino with tenaciousness, chroma, pH and overall impression), (PC1 vs. PC3 Byzitsa bushy with odour and acridness; Ksanthi with metal, hardness and pH; Kastoria with colour, protein and intensity)] was made. On the contrary, cluster analysis showed a much more satisfactory grouping of dry bean varieties based on their geographical origin. The multiple regression equation explained 72.3% of the variation in total acceptance of dry beans. The relative importance of brightness, acceptance, smell and hardness in predicting the overall impression of dry beans was 13%, 13.7%, 26% and 10%, respectively. These results may indicate that smell, brightness and acceptance are the most important factors determining dry bean total acceptability, so effort should be directed at improving these attributes in an attempt to satisfy consumer experience.     

广东省水文局GPRS水文数据召测项目--佛山分中心系统的安装与调试

防洪和抗旱在经济发快速发展的今天占据越来越重要的地位，广东省水文局以三防指挥系统建设为契机，进行了以GPRS水文数据召测项目的建设，佛山分中心建设为该项目第一期工程。简单介绍了佛山分中心系统的准备工作，详细介绍了测站的安装和调试工作，佛山分中心的应用使水情信息的采集和传输达到目前国内先进水平。     

曝气生物滤池工艺中丝状菌孽生的成因和防治措施

分析了曝气生物滤池(BAF)工艺在运行过程中的丝状茵孽生与进水水质,工艺问题以及运行条件等之间的关系,结合相关理论和工程实践,提出了控制BAF工艺中丝状菌孽生的措施,如环境调控、改进设备及填料性能、投加药剂,补充元素和生物选择器等.