Life cycle cost and energy analysis of a Net Zero Energy House with solar combisystem

The Net Zero Energy House (NZEH) presented in this paper is an energy efficient house that uses available solar technologies to generate at least as much primary energy as the house uses over the course of the year. The computer simulation results show that it is technically feasible to reach the goal of NZEH in the cold climate of Montreal. In terms of the life cycle energy use, which considers the operating and embodied energy of the house, the energy payback time is 8.4–8.7 years, when the NZEH is compared with an average house that complies with the provincial code. The energy payback ratio of the combisystem is 3.5–3.8 compared with the heating system of conventional house. By converting solar energy, the combisystem supplies at least 3.5 times more energy than the energy invested for manufacturing and shipping the system. The life cycle cost analysis of the NZEH shows, however, that due to the high cost of the solar technologies and the low cost of electricity in Montreal, financial payback is never achieved.     

Life cycle assessment of alternatives for hydrogen production from renewable and fossil sources

New processes under development for producing hydrogen have been assessed using a life cycle methodology and compared to conventional ones. The aim of this paper is to determine the main obstacles to be beaten or the critical aspects to be addressed to ensure the feasibility of these processes. Water photosplitting, solar two-step thermochemical cycles and automaintained methane decomposition with different lay-outs were studied. They have been compared to methane steam reforming with CCS and electrolysis with different electricity sources.     

Determination of gust action stress cycle counts for fatigue checking of line-like steel structures

The classical spectral analysis of structural response to a gusty wind is applied to the prediction of fatigue damage as expressed by the rate of accumulation of Miner's quotient, using the rainflow algorithm to establish stress-range cycle counts. A general solution in chart form is given for the effect of the broad-band (quasi-static) part of the response spectrum, together with an algebraic formulation for its combination with the effect of narrow-band (quasi-resonant) response.A procedure for integration of the long-term expectation of Miner's quotient is indicated. It is concluded that quasi-static response alone is unlikely to pose a serious fatigue problem. With generally anticipated levels of dynamic response, fatigue damage is greatly increased, but can be controlled at acceptable levels by care to avoid features especially sensitive to fatigue.     

塔里木盆地顺托果勒地区志留系柯坪塔格组米兰科维奇旋回沉积记录

塔里木盆地志留系柯坪塔格组主要沉积于盆地构造活动相对稳定期的潮坪环境,是盆地内典型的海相碎屑岩地层之一,由多层中-细砂岩和泥岩频繁互相叠置而成,地层分布上具有明显的三段特性。根据前人已有研究成果,柯坪塔格组在国际地层表上对应于特列奇阶、埃隆阶及鲁丹阶,沉积时限应介于8.1~12.7 Ma。然而目前对其米兰科维奇高频地层旋回格架划分鲜有探讨,通过选择顺托果勒地区顺9井自然伽马测井曲线作为替代指标,运用频谱分析法进行计算。结果表明顺9井柯坪塔格组记录并保存了完整的米兰科维奇旋回,天文旋回周期在地层沉积过程中对旋回厚度具有明显的控制作用。其中旋回厚度16.73 m对应于405 ka长偏心率周期;5.24 m和3.92 m分别对应于125 ka和95 ka的短偏心率周期;1.59 m和1.26 m分别对应于38.1 ka和31.1 ka的斜率周期。地层平均沉积速率为4.15 cm/ka,沉积时限为10.4 Ma,通过经验模态分解法建立了顺9井柯坪塔格组"浮动"天文年代标尺。柯坪塔格组共记录了83个125 Ka短偏心率旋回,334个31.1 ka周期斜率旋回。最后结合Fischer图解法,以125 ka短偏心率周期作为控制的五级旋回划分的标准模式,分析各个高频旋回之间的叠加差异及成因。该结果为盆地内或类似盆地海相碎屑岩高频旋回划分提供了一种统一的,不受人为影响且行之有效的新方法。     

Facile synthesis and electrochemical performances of hollow graphene spheres as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

The hollow graphene oxide spheres have been successfully fabricated from graphene oxide nanosheets utilizing a water-in-oil emulsion technique, which were prepared from natural flake graphite by oxidation and ultrasonic treatment. The hollow graphene oxide spheres were reduced to hollow graphene spheres at 500°C for 3 h under an atmosphere of Ar(95%)/H₂(5%). The first reversible specific capacity of the hollow graphene spheres was as high as 903 mAh g^-1 at a current density of 50 mAh g^-1. Even at a high current density of 500 mAh g^-1, the reversible specific capacity remained at 502 mAh g^-1. After 60 cycles, the reversible capacity was still kept at 652 mAh g^-1 at the current density of 50 mAh g^-1. These results indicate that the prepared hollow graphene spheres possess excellent electrochemical performances for lithium storage. The high rate performance of hollow graphene spheres thanks to the hollow structure, thin and porous shells consisting of graphene sheets.

PACS

81.05.ue; 61.48.Gh; 72.80.Vp     

High-rate characteristics of novel anode Li4Ti5O12/polyacene materials for Li-ion secondary batteries

In recent years, spinel lithium titanate (Li₄Ti₅O₁₂) as a superior anode material for energy storage battery has attracted a great deal of attention because of the excellent Li-ion insertion and extraction reversibility. However, the high-rate characteristics of this material should be improved if it is used as an active material in large batteries. One effective way to achieve this is to prepare electrode materials coated with carbon. A Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/polyacene (PAS) composite were first prepared via an in situ carbonization of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin route to form carbon-based composite. The SEM showed that the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ particles in the composite were more rounded and smaller than the pristine one. The PAS was uniformly dispersed between the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ particles, which improved the electrical contact between the corresponding Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ particles, and hence the electronic conductivity of composite material. The electronic conductivity of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/PAS composite is 10⁻¹ S cm⁻¹, which is much higher than 10⁻⁹ S cm⁻¹ of the pristine Li₄Ti₅O₁₂. High specific capacity, especially better high-rate performance was achieved with this Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/PAS electrode material. The initial specific capacity of the sample is 144 mAh/g at 3 C, and it is still 126.2 mAh/g after 200 cycles. By increasing the current density, the sample still maintains excellent cycle performance.     

自动调节策略和工程优化设计

本文是"相位-工作周期方法"的第一篇介绍短文。讨论了自动调节策略的设计方法现状及存在的问题;指出了系统理论中的数学模型与工程控制系统结构的差异;介绍了某些基本概念;概述了控制误差的来源,及不同环节的相位、动态增益的计算方法。这些计算公式是相位-工作周期方法的一个基础性工作。     

Boosting discharge capability of α-Ni(OH)2 by cobalt doping based on robust spherical structure

α-Ni(OH)₂ is a promising candidate of the currently commercialized β-Ni(OH)₂ due to its higher theoretical discharge capacity in alkaline solution; however, its instability and poor conductivity plague the practical application. Herein, we propose α-Ni(OH)₂ with Co doping and spherical structure to strengthen the stability and enhance the conductivity and use it as the cathode for nickel-metal hydride batteries. Studies show that proper Co doping promotes the electrochemical reaction between the active materials and the electrolyte due to the spherical α-Ni(OH)₂ with enlarged interlayer distance and abundant hole channels, as well as high conductivity of Co, therefore, the obtained spherical α-Ni(OH)₂ with 7 mol% Co doping delivers significantly improved discharge capability, which is 384.6 mAh g^?1 at 70 mA g^?1 (0.2 C), increased by 54.3 mAh g^?1 compared with pure α-Ni(OH)₂, and at a high current of 5 C, it still gives 269.4 mAh g^?1, in contrast 218.5 mA g^?1 for the pure α-Ni(OH)₂. Besides, the cycling stability of the α-Ni(OH)₂ with 7 mol% Co doping maintains 340 cycles at a capacity retention of 80% (1C), which is extended 110 cycles in contrast to the pure α-Ni(OH)₂. These results provide the underpinning platform of α-Ni(OH)₂ for battery applications with high discharge ability and cycle life.     

Enhanced hydrogen desorption kinetics and cycle durability of amorphous TiMgVNi3-doped MgH2

MgH₂ is considered as a promising hydrogen storage material for on-board applications. In order to improve hydrogen storage properties of MgH₂, the amorphous TiMgVNi₃-doped MgH₂ is prepared by ball milling under hydrogen atmosphere. It is found that the catalytic (Ti,V)H₂ and Mg₂NiH₄ nanoparticles are in situ formed after activation. As a result, the amorphous TiMgVNi₃-doped MgH₂ exhibits enhanced dehydrogenation kinetics (the activation energy for hydrogen desorption is 94.4 kJ mol^?1 H₂) and superior cycle durability (the capacity retention rate is up to 92% after 50 cycles). These results demonstrate that the in situ formation of highly dispersed catalytic nanoparticles from an amorphous phase is an effective pathway to enhance hydrogen storage properties of MgH₂.     

Effects of Al doping on the electrochemical performances of LiNi0.83Co0.12Mn0.05O2 prepared by coprecipitation

The Ni-rich LiNi_0.83Co_0.12Mn_0.05O₂ (NCM83) cathode materials have drawn intensive attention due to the high energy density and low cost. However, Ni-rich LiNi_1-x-yCo_xMn_yO₂ still has the fatal weakness of poor cycle stability, limiting its further wide application. Bulk doping is an effective means to enhance the cycle stability, yet the electrochemical performances are very sensitive to the doping quantity. Here a facile method of co-precipitation is adopted to coat (Ni_0.4Co_0.2Mn_0.4)_1-xAl_x(OH)_2+x on precursor particles of NCM83. Al ions diffuse evenly in the NCM83 particles after sintering. The cells are operated at a high cut-off voltage of 4.5 V. The discharge capacity of NCM83 is 187.8 mAh g^?1, and decays fast with cycles. The doped sample even exhibits a higher discharge capacity of 195 mAh g^?1, and the capacity retention is improved to 83.8% after 200 cycles.