Benchmark experiment of large-angle scattering reaction cross section of iron at 14 MeV using two shadow bars – Comparison of experimental results with ENDF/B-VIII –

ABSTRACT

It is important to perform neutron transport simulations with accurate nuclear data in the neutronics design of a fusion reactor. However, absolute values of large-angle scattering cross sections vary among nuclear data libraries even for well-examined nuclide of iron. Benchmark experiments focusing on large-angle scattering cross sections were thus performed to confirm the correctness of nuclear data libraries. The series benchmark experiments were performed at a DT neutron source facility, OKTAVIAN of Osaka University, Japan, by the unique experimental system established by the authors’ group, which can extract only the contribution of large-angle scattering reactions. This system consists of two shadow bars, target plate (iron), and neutron detector (niobium). Two types of shadow bars were used and four irradiations were conducted for one experiment, so that contribution of room-return neutrons was effectively removed and only large-angle scattering neutrons were extracted from the measured four Nb reaction rates. The obtained experimental results were compared with calculations for five nuclear data libraries including JENDL-4.0, JEFF.-3.3, FENDL-3.1, ENDF/B- VII, and recently released ENDF/B-VIII. It was found from the comparison that ENDF/B-VIII showed the best result, though ENDF/B-VII showed overestimation and others are in large underestimation at 14 MeV.     

Superconductivity in the tetragonal phase of La1.9Bi0.1CuO4+δ annealed under high oxygen pressure

We have investigated the relation between the crystal structure and superconductivity in La_1.9Bi_0.1CuO_4+δ , in which the phase separation observed in La₂CuO_4+δ is suppressed. A phase diagram in theT?δ plane is given for La_1.9Bi_0.1CuO_4+δ with excess oxygen. For very smallδ values, the crystal structure is orthorhombic, and an orthorhombic-tetragonal phase transition occurs markedly atδ ～ 0.03 in the measured temperature range between 13 and 293 K. Superconductivity is observed in the range of 0.04<δ<0.11. This is clear evidence thathigh-T _c superconductivity also appears in the tetragonal phase.     

Separation of di- and tripeptides with solvent extraction and an emulsion liquid membrane

The extraction equilibria of various di- and tripeptides with di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid (D2EHPA) were studied at low pH values. The complex extracted to organic phase consisted of one molecule of peptide and two molecules of D2EHPA dimer. The extraction constants of the peptides correlated well with the distribution coefficients of peptides between 1-octanol and water, which is a measure of hydrophobicity. The permeation rates of peptides through an emulsion liquid membrane were examined by using D2EHPA as a carrier, Span 80 as an emulsifier and kerosene as a diluent. The rates varied considerably with peptide type, depending upon the hydrophobicity.     

New balance ground relay for parallel four-circuit transmission lines

A 66-kV network generally is grounded through a neutral grounding resistor. In this network a single-phase ground-fault current is limited to as small as 100 to 400 A. There are parallel four-circuit transmission lines mounted on the same tower in the 66-kV network. In such transmission lines, the load and the fault currents could induce circulating current that flows through the lines. Since the circulating current has zero-phase-sequence and negative-phase-sequence components, it could cause unwanted operation of a balance ground relay using zero-phase-sequence current. However, it is difficult to compensate for the circulating current by the conventional vector compensation scheme. This paper presents a new balance ground relay to deal with the circulating current. In the relay from the ground-fault inception until first tripping, the difference current Δ3I_2d of negative-phase-sequence current 3I_2d of the differential current between two protected lines is used as an input current. The Δ3I_2d is the difference current of 3I_2d between, before and during faults. After the first tripping, the difference current of positive-phase-sequence load current and zero-phase-sequence current of the forementioned differential current are used as an input current. Consequently, a higher sensitivity of the ground-fault protection for these lines has been achieved. The correct operation of the new balance ground relay was confirmed when a single-phase-ground-fault occurred in the parallel four-circuit transmission lines, to which the relay is applied.     

Zeolite synthesis from paper sludge ash with addition of diatomite

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the synthesis of zeolites from paper sludge ash (PSA) with added diatomite to remove both NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3? for water purification. The PSA had low Si and significant Ca contents. Four types of diatomite: white (T‐W) and brown (T‐B) from deposits of marine origin in Takanosu, and white (S‐W) and gray (S‐G) from lacustrine deposits in Shonai, were added to NaOH solution to increase the Si content and thereby synthesize zeolites with high cation exchange capacity (CEC). RESULTS: The order of the amounts of Si extracted from the diatomite to the alkali solution was S‐W > T‐W = T‐B > S‐G, which correlates with the amorphous SiO₂ content of diatomite. The original ash without addition of diatomite yielded hydroxysodalite with CEC of about 1.0 mmol g^?1. For all samples, the addition of diatomite to the solution yielded zeolite‐P with a higher CEC, but the addition of excess Si inhibited the synthesis of zeolite‐P, and the CEC of the product was low. A product with high CEC including zeolite‐P was obtained in a solution with around 500 mmol L^?1 of Si concentration, and had the ability to remove both NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3?. CONCLUSION: Diatomite has the potential for used as an additive for the synthesis of high CEC zeolite from PSA. The product with zeolite‐P exhibited relatively high CEC, capacity for NH₄⁺ uptake, and the ability to remove PO₄^3? by precipitation, which is preferable for water purification applications. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

A reconfigurable VLSI-based double-lens tracking camera

Watching and tracking an object while seeing a much wider view is one of advantages of the eye system. We proposed and developed a tracking camera system that mimics the eyes by using double-lens modules. In the system, a wide view is captured through the wide-lens module, while the target in it is tracked and magnified through the telescopic lens module. Electronic circuits for tracking control are implemented onto the reconfigurable VLSI or FPGA in order to embed the parallelism in the tracking algorithm into the hardware. A successfully developed FPGA-based prototype performs high-speed tracking at the video-rate. This work was present in part at the 12th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 25–27, 2007     

High performance 35 nm gate length CMOS with NO oxynitride gate dielectric and Ni salicide

The 35 nm gate length CMOS devices with oxynitride gate dielectric and Ni salicide have been fabricated to study the feasibility of higher performance operation. Nitrogen concentration in gate oxynitride was optimized to reduce gate current I/sub g/ and to prevent boron penetration in the pFET. The thermal budget in the middle of the line (MOL) process was reduced enough to realize shallower junction depth in the S/D extension regions and to suppress gate poly-Si depletion. Finally, the current drives of 676 /spl mu/A//spl mu/m in nFET and 272 /spl mu/A//spl mu/m in pFET at V/sub dd/=0.85 V (at I/sub off/=100 nA//spl mu/m) were achieved and they are the best values for 35 nm gate length CMOS reported to date.     

Production of Ceramic Green Bodies Using a Microwave-Reactive Organic Binder

Because the pyrolysis of organic substances can result in the emission of harmful pollutant gases, a reduction in the use of organic binders is one aim of today's ceramics industry. A novel ceramic-forming process was developed that requires considerably less organic binder than conventional techniques. The process involves immobilizing reactive molecules on the surfaces of the particles, which on subsequent irradiation with microwaves, form bridges that bind the entire particle assembly together. The chemical forces involved produce strong bonds, resulting in a significant reduction in the amount of organic binder that is required to maintain the shape of the ceramic green body. This method will help to decrease emissions of harmful gases produced from pyrolysis of the binder.