The effect of additives on the thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride)

The effect of a range of organic additives on the thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride), both with and without a chloroparaffin extender, was studied using a number of experimental techniques. Of the additives used the best overall balance was provided by pentaerythritol, which increased stability when the extender was present and had no effect when it was absent. The congo red test emerged as the most suitable technique, being consistent and inexpensive and able to screen several additives simultaneously. Isothermal differential thermal analysis correlated with the congo red test but required more expensive equipment, was time-consuming and demanded good mixing of the poly(vinyl chloride) compound to give reproducible results. Thermogravimetry was not sufficiently sensitive and the heat stability test was the least useful of all.     

Thermal degradation of cinnamoylated poly(vinyl alcohol)

Thermogravimetry and pyrolysis in combination with gas chromatography and infrared spectroscopy were the experimental techniques applied to the thermal degradation of cinnamoylated poly(vinyl alcohol) samples, constituted from vinyl alcohol-vinyl cinnamate photocrosslinkable copolymers. The thermal decomposition products include gases, liquids and solids. The gases are formed from saturated and unsaturated volatile hydrocarbons C₁? C₄, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The liquid fraction includes aromatic hydrocarbons and some oxygenated organic compounds. The solid product identified in the greatest amount was cinnamic acid. The content in the thermal decomposition products varies considerably both with copolymer composition and temperature.     

确定异常高压气藏地质储量和可采储量的新方法

基于文献[1]的定容，封闭，异常高压气藏的物质平衡方程式，提出了确定异常高压气藏原始地质储量，可采储量和采收率的新方法，通过实例的应用和对比表明，提供的新方法是适用的有效的。     

Adaptive predictive control algorithm based on Laguerre Functional Model

Laguerre Functional Model has many advantages such as good approximation capability for the variances of system time‐delay, order and other structural parameters, low computational complexity, and the facility of online parameter identification, etc., so this model is suitable for complex industrial process control. A series of successful applications have been gained in linear and non‐linear predictive control fields by the control algorithm based on Laguerre Functional Model, however, former researchers have not systemically brought forward the theoretical analyses of the stability, robustness, and steady‐state performance of this algorithm, which are the keys to guarantee the feasibility of the control algorithm fundamentally. Aimed at this problem, we introduce the principles of the Incremental Mode Linear Laguerre Predictive Control (IMLLPC) algorithm, and then systemically propose the theoretical analyses and proofs of the stability and robustness of the algorithm, in addition, we also put forward the steady‐state performance analysis. At last, the control performances of this algorithm on two different physical industrial plants are presented in detail, and a number of experimental results validate the feasibility and superiority of IMLLPC algorithm. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Open‐cycle OTEC systems with freshwater product: Effects of noncondensable gases on performance of condenser

An open‐cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OC‐OTEC) system is one of the energy conversion methods used to generate electricity from ocean thermal energy. For the OC‐OTEC system, steam evaporated from the surface seawater due to flash evaporation drives the turbine. At that time, dissolved gas such as air is introduced into the low‐pressure system (OC‐OTEC system) as the noncondensable gas, which degrades the performance of condensation heat transfer. In this paper, a small‐scale OC‐OTEC experimental unit experimentally investigates the effect of noncondensable gas on the heat transfer performance in a condenser. The experimental results are discussed in comparison with theoretical estimation by the Sparrow–in method. It is shown that the condensation is occupied by heat and mass transfer near a condensation surface and that the condensation efficiency is affected by exhaust quantity of noncondensable gas at a relatively high concentration ratio of condensable gas. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 154(1): 29–35, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20179     

Application of SiC-Si functionally gradient material to thermoelectric energy conversion device

Because of its high–temperature chemical stability, SiC ceramic is a promising material for high-temperature device applications such as thermoelectric energy converters. However, the electrical conductivity of SiC ceramic is too low for it to be used as a thermoelectric energy converter at the cold junction. Therefore, we propose a SiC-Si functionally gradient material (FGM) in order to improve the electrical conductivity of the SiC ceramic at the cold junction. An SiC rod was fired in a temperature gradient furnace. One end of the SiC rod was maintained at 2473 K and the other end was maintained at 1973 K for 30 min. After firing, the porous SiC edge fired at 1973 K was dipped into molten Si in order to infiltrate molten Si into the porous SiC. The microstructure of the FGM is classified into three regions: the SiC-Si composite material; the porous SiC ceramic; and the densified SiC ceramic. The electrical conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient and the thermal conductivity for each region of SiC-Si FGM was measured at 300 K; a figure of merit was calculated. The figure of merit of the SiC-Si FGM at the cold junction, at room temperature, was 10⁸ times higher than that of a nongradient SiC ceramic.     

Effect of water inlet velocity on thermal stratification in a mantled hot water storage tank

Thermal stratification in a mantled hot water storage tank is analysed numerically for different water inlet velocities. The aim is to obtain higher thermal stratification and supply hot water for usage as long as possible. Twelve different water inlet velocities to the hot water storage tank are considered. The numerical method is validated by comparing its results against experimental and numerical results from the literature. It turned out that the results obtained from the numerical analysis have shown very good agreements with the results from previous works. As a result, the water temperature in the tank increases with the increase of the water inlet velocities to the mantle but this increment is not proportional. After a period of operation of 7.2 h, which corresponds to the average sunshine duration in Turkey, temperature increments of 6.5 and 35 K have been estimated for the hot water inlet velocities of 0.01 and 0.3 m s^?1, respectively, at a radial distance of 0.1 m and a height of 1 m inside the storage tank. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

TRVs and fault clearing stresses in extra-high-voltage radial networks

To cope with the high rate of increase of power demand in the main industrialized districts in Japan, 550-kV transmission systems covering the districts have been reinforced, with most of the main power plants connected directly to these systems. Through 550-/300-kV substations, the majority of power to the districts is supplied by 300-kV systems. To limit the excess short-circuit capacity in the 300-kV systems, they tend to be reconstructed as so-called radial networks. In radial networks with high short-circuit capacity and relatively small number of transmission lines connected to the substation busbars, the rate of rise of TRV can be far higher than standard value. This paper analyzes the transient recovery voltages (TRV) in such extra-high-voltage radial networks in Japan, together with the relevant stresses to circuit-breakers during fault clearings. Future system conditions have also been introduced. As the typical rate of rise of the TRV values, more than twice that of today's standard ones are probable.     

The thermal ignition of lignocellulosics in infinite slab and cubic geometries

Wood shaving samples were heated in both cubic baskets and in a previously described system realising the conditions of the ‘infinite slab’ in thermal ignition. Results from the two sets of experiment were found to be totally consistent with each other.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel diimide–dinaphthols and resulting poly(urethane–imide)s

Novel diols containing imide groups were prepared via condensation of aromatic dianhydrides with 5‐amino‐1‐naphthol. The diimide–dinaphthols prepared were characterized by conventional methods and used to synthesize new poly(urethane–imide)s (PUIs). All the polymers were characterized and their physical properties, such as solubility, solution viscosity, thermal stability, and thermal behaviour were studied. The polymers obtained showed more thermal stability than typical polyurethanes because of the presence of the imide groups. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry