Germany’s wind energy: The potential for fossil capacity replacement and cost saving

Wind energy has become the major renewable energy source in Germany with an installed capacity of more than 20 GW and an annual output of about 40 TW h in 2007. In this paper we analyze the extent to which wind energy can replace fossil capacities based on wind injection and demand data for 2006 through June 2008. The results indicate that the wind potential in Germany will not allow a significant reduction of fossil capacities. We also assess the potential savings due to wind energy. The German market is modeled with and without wind input to estimate the net savings of fossil fuels in the observation period. We find that the cost-saving potential for electricity production is quite significant and exceeds the subsidies.     

Coal lumps vs. electrons: How do Chinese bulk energy transport decisions affect the global steam coal market?

This paper demonstrates the ways in which different Chinese bulk energy transport strategies affect the future steam coal market in China and in the rest of the world. An increase in Chinese demand for steam coal will lead to a growing need for additional domestic infrastructure as production hubs and demand centers are spatially separated, and domestic transport costs could influence the future Chinese steam coal supply mix. If domestic transport capacity is available only at elevated costs, Chinese power generators could turn to the global trade markets and further increase steam coal imports. Increased Chinese imports could then yield significant changes in steam coal market economics on a global scale. This effect is analyzed in China, where coal is mainly transported by railway, and in another setting where coal energy is transported as electricity. For this purpose, a spatial equilibrium model for the global steam coal market has been developed. One major finding is that if coal is converted into electricity early in the supply chain, worldwide marginal costs of supply are lower than if coal is transported via railway. Furthermore, China's dependence on international imports is significantly reduced in this context. Allocation of welfare changes particularly in favor of Chinese consumers while rents of international producers decrease.     

Emerging View on the Molecular Functions of Sec62 and Sec63 in Protein Translocation

Most secreted and membrane proteins are targeted to and translocated across the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane through the Sec61 protein-conducting channel. Evolutionarily conserved Sec62 and Sec63 associate with the Sec61 channel, forming the Sec complex and mediating translocation of a subset of proteins. For the last three decades, it has been thought that ER protein targeting and translocation occur via two distinct pathways: signal recognition particle (SRP)-dependent co-translational or SRP-independent, Sec62/Sec63 dependent post-translational translocation pathway. However, recent studies have suggested that ER protein targeting and translocation through the Sec translocon are more intricate than previously thought. This review summarizes the current understanding of the molecular functions of Sec62/Sec63 in ER protein translocation.     

Strain Softening and Hardening Behavior in AZ61 Magnesium Alloy

The deformation behavior of AZ61 Mg alloy during hot deformation has been investigated in wide temperature and strain rate range by a Gleeble simulator. Specimens are deformed in compression in the temperature range of 523～673 K and at strain rates of 0.001～1 s-1. It is found that the flow curves exhibit a peak and then decrease towards steady-state of classical DRX, which decrease with rising temperature and decreasing strain rate. The deformation behavior of the specimens can be attributed to the occurrence of strain hardening and softening. As stress decreases, the strain hardening rate declines at a fast rate when temperature rises or strain rate decreases. The shapes of θ-σ curves indicate some important features such as subgrain formation, the critical stress, the peak stress and steady stress. The onset of DRX can be determined by the point of inflection on θ-σ or Inθ-σ curves.     

熔体处理温度对自孕育法制备AZ61半固态浆料的影响

采用自孕育法制备AZ61变形镁合金半固态浆料,研究了熔体处理温度对制备AZ61变形镁合金半固态浆料的影响。结果表明,自孕育铸造法制备AZ61半固态浆料在液相线以下凝固成形,可以获得近球状的初生相。适宜的熔体处理温度为700℃,对应的平均晶粒尺寸为39.8μm。熔体处理温度过低时,组织中的树枝晶减少的同时细小的近球状晶增多,但是其晶粒尺寸大小分布不均匀。熔体处理温度过高时,组织中树枝晶增多,晶粒平均尺寸显著变大。     

Mg-6wt%Zn-1wt%Mn镁合金均匀化处理研究

利用差热分析仪(DSC)、金相显微镜(OM)、扫描电镜(SEM)、能谱分析仪(EDS)和显微硬度测试仪,对不同的均匀化热处理工艺下铸态ZM61镁合会组织转变和成分均匀化效果进行了表征.并采用求显微硬度方差大小的方法对均匀化过程中的两个重要参数--温度和时间进行了深入探讨.结果表明:铸态ZM61镁合金显微组织中存在严重的枝晶偏析,枝晶问有粗大的呈网状分布的Mg-Zn相,枝晶内部和枝晶臂间也存在大块状化合物;温度是均匀化过程中的主导因素,过度延长保温时间对均匀化作用不大;ZM61镁合会较优的均匀化工艺:330℃×16h+420℃×2h.     

镀镍对镁合金AZ61耐腐蚀性能的影响

采用X射线衍射仪(XRD)、带有电子能谱仪(EDS)的扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等,研究了化学镀镍镁合金AZ61在NaCl溶液中的耐腐蚀性能。结果表明,化学镀镍在镁合金基体表面沉积了一层致密、均匀的镍-磷合金镀层,依靠镍-磷合金镀层的耐腐蚀性能来保护镁合金基体。腐蚀形貌与腐蚀速率的测定结果具有一致性。经化学镀镍后,镁合金AZ61的耐腐蚀性能有明显提高。     

Influence of Heat Treatment on Damping Behaviour of the Magnesium Wrought Alloy AZ61

The effect of isochronal heat treatments for 1h on variation of damping, hardness and microstructural change of the magnesium wrought alloy AZ61 was investigated. Damping and hardness behaviour could be attributed to the evolution of precipitation process. The influence of precipitation on damping behaviour was explained in the framework of the dislocation string model of Granato and Lücke.     

Y对AZ61镁合金金相组织和力学性能的影响

研究了Y对AZ61镁合金金相组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明：Y能细化合金的组织,使AZ61中连续分布的β—Mg17A112相变成断网状分布,并在合金中形成块状的A12Y新相。少量的Y能提高合金的室温力学性能,当Y达到1％时合金的力学性能最佳,继续加Y后使合金的组织变的粗大,力学性能下降。