Deactivation of V2O5-WO3-TiO2 SCR catalyst at a biomass-fired combined heat and power plant

The deactivation of a commercial type V₂O₅-WO₃-TiO₂ monolith catalyst under biomass combustion was studied at a full-scale grate-fired power plant burning straw/wood using a slip stream pilot scale reactor. The aerosols in the flue gas consisted of a mixture of potassium chloride and sulphate. Three catalyst elements were exposed at 350 °C, and one element was exposed at 250 °C for comparison. The catalyst activity was measured in the reactor at the exposure temperature by addition of NH₃ and extra NO. The activity, in terms of a first-order rate constant, dropped by 52% after about 1140 h indicating a very fast deactivation compared to coal firing. It was also found that the reactor temperature was not of importance for the deactivation rate. SEM-EDX analysis showed that particle deposition and pore blocking contributed to the deactivation by decreasing the diffusion rate of NO and NH₃ into the catalyst. However, potassium also penetrated into the catalyst wall and the resulting average K/V ratio in the catalyst structure was high enough (about 0.3–0.5) for a significant chemical deactivation. Chemisorption studies carried out in situ showed that the amount of chemisorbed NH₃ on the catalyst decreased as a function of exposure time, which reveals that Brøndsted acid sites had reacted with potassium compounds and thereby rendered inactive. When washed by 0.5 M H₂SO₄ the regenerated catalyst regains a higher activity than that of the fresh catalyst at temperatures higher than 300 °C, but even though reactivation is possible, the deactivation rate appears too high for practical use of the SCR process in straw combustion.     

Determination of volterra transfer functions of non-linear multiport networks

A method is presented to determine frequency domain Volterra transfer functions of non-linear multiport networks containing non-linear multiport subsystems (elements). the method is based on an extension of the probing method to allow arbitrary (also commensurate) frequencies. A recursively based algorithm for the determination of Volterra transfer functions of non-linear multiport networks is derived. A computer implementation of the method in a symbolic programming language is presented. This makes it possible to determine algebraic expressions of the Volterra transfer functions. Three examples are considered.     

Bone replacement in head and neck surgery: a biocompatible alternative

BACKGROUND: Defects in the skull have presented difficult reconstructive problems. Recently glass-ionomer cement and preformed. implants have been used to repair bony defects in the skull base and in cranio-facial surgery. Three patients are reported to illustrate possible applications for this new material. METHODS: Ionocap cement and Ionoroc-skull standardized implants have been used. The cement is available as a two component blister pack. When mixed and blended a gel is produced which can be worked for approximately 5 min before hardening. It can then be contoured and drilled to the required shape. The resultant material is biocompatible and biostable, is non-toxic and permanently bonds to bone with no increase in temperature or shrinkage. RESULTS: The material has been used to fill the temporal defect left by transplantation of the temporalis muscle for oral reconstruction, the anterior and lateral walls of the maxilla and following craniofacial resection, the posterior wall of the frontal sinus and anterior skull base. CONCLUSIONS: Three patients with different reconstructive problems have been presented to illustrate the use of an alloplastic material that has a tensile strength similar to bone and firmly adheres to it. The material was found to be safe and easy to use. All three patients have now been followed for 12 months with no adverse affects.     

Lipase-catalyzed esterification of lactic acid with straight-chain alcohols

Enzymatic synthesis of esters of lactic acid and straight-chain alcohols with different chain lengths (C₆–C₁₈) were investigated in batch reactions with hexadecanol (C₁₆) as the model alcohol. Cyclohexane was the best solvent for higher ester yields, and the best biocatalyst was the immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435) as well as the textile-immobilized Candida sp. lipase. A method was established to obtain ester yields in the range of 71 to 82% for the different alcohols, and the most favorable conditions for the esterification reaction using Novozym 435 were an equimolar ratio of lactic acid to alcohol, each at a concentration of 120 mM each; a 50°C reaction temperature; 190 rpm shaking speed; and the addition of 100 mg molecular sieves (4 Å) for drying. The ester yield increased with increasing lipase load, and a yield of 79.2% could be obtained after 24 h of reaction at 20 wt% of Novozym 435. The immobilized Candida sp. lipase prepared in the laboratory also could be used to produce esters of lactic acid and straight-chain alcohols, but it had a much lower activity than Novozym 435 with a temperature optimum of 40°C.     

Long Duration Persistent Photocurrent in 3 nm Thin Doped Indium Oxide for Integrated Light Sensing and In-Sensor Neuromorphic Computation

Miniaturization and energy consumption by computational systems remain major challenges to address. Optoelectronics based synaptic and light sensing provide an exciting platform for neuromorphic processing and vision applications offering several advantages. It is highly desirable to achieve single-element image sensors that allow reception of information and execution of in-memory computing processes while maintaining memory for much longer durations without the need for frequent electrical or optical rehearsals. In this work, ultra-thin (<3 nm) doped indium oxide (In₂O₃) layers are engineered to demonstrate a monolithic two-terminal ultraviolet (UV) sensing and processing system with long optical state retention operating at 50 mV. This endows features of several conductance states within the persistent photocurrent window that are harnessed to show learning capabilities and significantly reduce the number of rehearsals. The atomically thin sheets are implemented as a focal plane array (FPA) for UV spectrum based proof-of-concept vision system capable of pattern recognition and memorization required for imaging and detection applications. This integrated light sensing and memory system is deployed to illustrate capabilities for real-time, in-sensor memorization, and recognition tasks. This study provides an important template to engineer miniaturized and low operating voltage neuromorphic platforms across the light spectrum based on application demand.     

Linear-Time Self-Interpretation of the Pure Lambda Calculus

We show that linear-time self-interpretation of the pure untyped lambda calculus is possible, in the sense that interpretation has a constant overhead compared to direct execution under various execution models. The present paper shows this result for reduction to weak head normal form under call-by-name, call-by-value and call-by-need.We use a self-interpreter based on previous work on self-interpretation and partial evaluation of the pure untyped lambda calculus.We use operational semantics to define each reduction strategy. For each of these we show a simulation lemma that states that each inference step in the evaluation of a term by the operational semantics is simulated by a sequence of steps in evaluation of the self-interpreter applied to the term (using the same operational semantics).By assigning costs to the inference rules in the operational semantics, we can compare the cost of normal evaluation and self-interpretation. Three different cost-measures are used: number of beta-reductions, cost of a substitution-based implementation (similar to graph reduction) and cost of an environment-based implementation.For call-by-need we use a non-deterministic semantics, which simplifies the proof considerably.     

Casting traceability with direct part marking using reconfigurable pin-type tooling based on paraffin–graphite actuators

Green sand moulding machines for cast iron foundries are presently unable to uniquely identify individual castings. An insert tool concept is developed and tested via incremental mock-up development. The tool is part of the pattern plate and changes shape between each moulding, thus giving each mould a unique ID by embossing a Data Matrix symbol into the sand. In the process of producing the mould, each casting can be given a unique (DPM), enabling part tracking throughout the casting's life cycle. Sand embossing is achieved with paraffin-actuated reconfigurable pin-type tooling under simulated processing conditions. The marker geometry limitations have been tested using static symbol patterns, both for sand embossing and actual casting marking. The marked castings have successfully been identified with decoding software. The study shows that the function of each element of this technology can be successfully applied within the foundry industry.