Analysis of Plasma Reaction for Decomposition of CHF3 in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge

The decomposition of CHF₃ in a mixture with O₂ and Ar was investigated in a coaxial dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure. CHF₃ decomposition increased linearly in regard to specific energy input (SEI), whereas energy efficiency decreased. The main product was CO_2, and its selectivity increased with high SEI and the presence of O₂ in the feed, but an increase of O₂ in the feed led to a decrease in decomposition rate. An increase in total flow rate led to an increase of the absolute amount of CHF₃ decomposition and energy efficiency; however, the decomposition of CHF₃ decreased. A complete CHF₃ decomposition occurred under an SEI of 1.54 kJ/L with the selectivity of CO₂ and CO as 89.87% and 7.00%, respectively. Optical emission spectroscopic analysis could explain the available reaction pathways for CHF₃ decomposition in the CHF₃/O₂/Ar atmospheric plasma and show the possibility of F₂ and HF formation.     

Extrapolating wind speed time series vs. Weibull distribution to assess wind resource to the turbine hub height: A case study on coastal location in Southern Italy

Increasing knowledge on wind shear models to strengthen their reliability appears as a crucial issue, markedly for energy investors to accurately predict the average wind speed at different turbine hub heights, and thus the expected wind energy output. This is particularly helpful during the feasibility study to abate the costs of a wind power project, thus avoiding installation of tall towers, or even more expensive devices such as LIDAR or SODAR.The power law (PL) was found to provide the finest representation of wind speed profiles and is hence the focus of the present study. Besides commonly used for vertical extrapolation of wind speed time series, the PL relationship between “instantaneous” wind profiles was demonstrated by Justus and Mikhail to be consistent with the height variation of Weibull distribution. Therefore, in this work a comparison is performed between these two different PL–based extrapolation approaches to assess wind resource to the turbine hub height: (i) extrapolation of wind speed time series, and (ii) extrapolation of Weibull wind speed distribution. The models developed by Smedman–Högström and Högström (SH), and Panofsky and Dutton (PD) were used to approach (i), while those from Justus and Mikhail (JM) and Spera and Richards (SR) to approach (ii). Models skill in estimating wind shear coefficient was also assessed and compared.PL extrapolation models have been tested over a flat and rough location in Apulia region (Southern Italy), where the role played by atmospheric stability and surface roughness, along with their variability with time and wind characteristics, has been also investigated. A 3-year (1998–2000) 1–h dataset, including wind measurements at 10 and 50 m, has been used. Based on 10–m wind speed observations, the computation of 50–m extrapolated wind resource, Weibull distribution and energy yield has been made. This work is aimed at proceeding the research issue addressed within a previous study, where PL extrapolation models were tested and compared in extrapolating wind resource and energy yield from 10 to 100 m over a complex–topography and smooth coastal site in Tuscany region (Central Italy). As a result, wind speed time series extrapolating models proved to be the most skilful, particularly PD, based on the similarity theory and thus addressing all stability conditions. However, comparable results are returned by the empirical JM Weibull distribution extrapolating model, which indeed proved to be preferable as being: (i) far easier to be used, as z₀–, stability–, and wind speed time series independent; (ii) more conservative, as wind energy is underpredicted rather than overpredicted.     

Influence of atmospheric pressure plasma jet on the structure of microcrystalline starch with different relative crystallinity

This study demonstrated the effect on microcrystalline starch (MS) with different relative crystallinity (RC) by atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) treatment for 1, 3, 5 or 7 min. The morphology of MS granules was destroyed according to Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. APPJ treatment did not change the crystalline type of MS, but obviously decreased the RC of MS. Short-range molecular order of MS was clearly decreased after APPJ treatment though the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. Notably, the effect of APPJ on crystalline and short-range order structure of MS was gradually increased with the increase of RC, which revealed that the crystalline region of MS might be destroyed by APPJ. Furthermore, the pH of MS was decreased while water binding capacity (WBC) and swelling volume (SV) of MS were increased. Therefore, the APPJ treatment could be used as an alternative physical technology for starch modification.     

Discharge characteristic of nanosecond-pulse DBD in atmospheric air using magnetic compression pulsed power generator

Dielectric barrier discharge driven by repetitive nanosecond pulses can offer highly efficient non-thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure and is widely used for plasma applications. In this paper, the discharge is generated using a compact pulsed power generator based on one-stage magnetic compression. The output pulse can be up to 30 kV with a rise time of about 40 ns and a full width at half maximum of 70 ns. The electrical characteristics of the discharge parameters are studied by the measurement of voltage and current waveforms. The effects of applied voltage amplitude, voltage polarity, pulse repetition frequency, and barrier dielectric on discharge characteristics are investigated, respectively. The experimental results show that the discharge current, discharge power and electron density increase with the increase of the applied voltage, and the pulse repetition frequency has a slight effect on the electrical parameters. Moreover, the discharge current is influenced by the dielectric barrier, but it is not varied with the polarity of applied pulses.     

Characterization by Stm and Electrical Conductivity of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) prepared by a DC-Arc-Discharge and purified by a hydrothermal treatment followed by several steps of procedures including heating, burning, extracting and acid-washing are investigated by a conventional STM technique morphologically and spectroscopically. The electical resistivities of compacted pellets (mats) of SWCNT are measured as a function of temperature in the range from the room-temperature to 1.5K. The behaviors seems to be essentially originated in the metallic nature of individual SWCNT.     

Effects of different drying methods on the physical characteristics and flavor of dried hawthorns (Crataegus spp.)

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to compare the physical characteristics and flavor of dried hawthorns obtained by freeze-drying (FD), microwave freeze-drying (MFD), atmospheric freeze-drying (AFD), and heat pump drying (HPD). The parameters including moisture content, product temperature, rehydration ratio, chroma, hue angle, yellowness index, total color difference, and energy consumption were investigated. The use of fuzzy reasoning for the sensory evaluation of hawthorn quality was also performed. As expected, AFD, FD, and MFD produced better accepted dried hawthorn products than did HPD. Nevertheless, FD consumed the highest energy and had a long drying time, but its product was the best; AFD had a similar energy cost as HPD, but its drying time was the longest; and MFD had a higher energy cost and longer drying time than HPD, but its product quality was similar to that of FD products. As a result, MFD and AFD had potential to replace FD to yield dried hawthorns with high product quality and relatively low cost.     

Effect of scandia content on the thermal shock behavior of SYSZ thermal sprayed barrier coatings

Nanostructured 4SYSZ (scandia (3.5 mol%) yttria (0.5 mol%) stabilized zirconia) and 5.5 SYSZ (5 mol% scandia and 0.5 mol% yttria) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) were deposited on nickel-based superalloy using NiCrAlY as the bond coat by plasma spraying process. The thermal shock response of both as-sprayed TBCs was investigated at 1000 °C. Experimental results indicated that the nanostructured 5.5SYSZ TBCs have better thermal shock performance in contrast to 4SYSZ TBCs due to their higher tetragonal phase content and higher fracture toughness of this coating     

Fibrous porous ceramics with devisable phenolic resin reinforcing layer

Fibrous porous ceramics with devisable phenolic resin reinforcing layer were fabricated using low cost atmospheric impregnation technology at room temperature. In combination with additional sealing method, phenolic resin reinforcing layer with controllable thickness could be obtained on the surface of fibrous porous ceramics. Typical gradient profile was observed along the thickness direction of impregnation. The effects of the phenolic resin reinforcing layer on mechanical properties and thermal insulation properties were studied. The results revealed that compressive strength increased from 1.70?MPa to 2.61?MPa, tensile strength increased from 0.78?MPa to 0.91?MPa, and flexural strength increased from 9.55?MPa to 10.89?MPa with the phenolic resin layer increasing from 0?mm to 9?mm. Simultaneously, room-temperature thermal conductivity increased from 0.051?W/(m·K) to 0.055?W/(m·K). In addition, the impact resistance of the surface of the material was obviously improved. The contact angel of the surface of the material exceeded 125°, which effectively improved the environmental adaptability.     

Bi-modal trend in the long-term corrosion of aluminium alloys

A wide range of literature data including in situ immersion, tidal, coastal atmospheric and industrial exposures is used to show that the trend for longer term corrosion of aluminium alloys is nearly always more consistent with a bi-modal model than with the classical power-law function. It is proposed the bi-modal characteristic results from the accumulation of corrosion products causing localised anoxic conditions. These permit a change from predominantly cathodic oxygen reduction to hydrogen ion reduction under anoxic autocatalytic conditions within pits. This mechanism is consistent with established theory for pitting corrosion in aluminium.     

PMetro: Measurement of urban aerosols on a mobile platform

PMetro is an innovative time/space resolved urban aerosol monitoring and data management system. The core of the monitoring system is a customized optical particle counter (OPC) integrated on a cabin of the metro urban transport system in Perugia (Central Italy). This peculiar arrangement and setup allow regular, real-time measurement of aerosol particles on a well defined path through the city all over the day. The performances of the prototype OPC system have been customized and finally inter-compared with those of similar commercial devices placed at fixed points along the metro line. Data from the mobile system are integrated with environmental measurements from fixed monitoring stations along the metro path in order to attain models of the evolution of urban aerosol pollutants.