A thermoelectric generator comprising selenium-doped bismuth telluride on flexible carbon cloth with n-type thermoelectric properties

Carbon cloth was used as a flexible substrate for bismuth telluride (Bi₂Te₃) particles to provide flexibility and improve the overall thermoelectric performance. Bi₂Te₃ on carbon cloth (Bi₂Te₃/CC) was synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction with various reaction times. After over 12 h, the Bi₂Te₃ particles showed a clear hexagonal shape and were evenly adhered to the carbon cloth. Selenium (Se) atoms were doped into the Bi₂Te₃ structure to improve its thermoelectric performance. The electrical conductivity increased with increasing Se-dopant content until 40% Se was added. Moreover, the maximum power factor was 1300 μW/mK² at 473 K for the 30% Se-doped sample. The carbon cloth substrate maintained its electrical resistivity and flexibility after 2000 bending cycles. A flexible thermoelectric generator (TEG) fabricated using the five pairs of 30% Se-doped sample showed an open-circuit voltage of 17.4 mV and maximum power output of 850 nW at temperature difference ΔT = 30 K. This work offers a promising approach for providing flexibility and improving the thermoelectric performance of inorganic thermoelectric materials for wearable device applications using flexible carbon cloth substrate for low temperature range application.     

Economic competitiveness of compact steam methane reforming technology for on-site hydrogen supply: A Foshan case study

On-site hydrogen production through steam-methane reforming (SMR) from city gas or natural gas is believed to be a cost-effective way for hydrogen-based infrastructure due to high cost of hydrogen transportation. In recent years, there have been a lot of on-site hydrogen fueling stations under design or construction in China. This study introduces current developments and technology prospects of skid-mounted SMR hydrogen generator. Also, technical solutions and economic analysis are discussed based on China's first on-site hydrogen fueling station project in Foshan. The cost of hydrogen product from skid-mounted SMR hydrogen generator is about 23 CNY/kg with 3.24 CNY/Nm³ natural gas. If hydrogen price is 60 CNY/kg, IRR of on-site hydrogen fueling station project reaches to 10.8%. While natural gas price fall to 2.3 CNY/Nm³, the hydrogen cost can be reduced to 18 CNY/kg, and IRR can be raised to 13.1%. The conclusion is that skid-mounted SMR technology has matured and is developing towards more compact and intelligent design, and will be a promising way for hydrogen fueling infrastructures in near future.     

Machine fault diagnosis with small sample based on variational information constrained generative adversarial network

In actual engineering scenarios, limited fault data leads to insufficient model training and over-fitting, which negatively affects the diagnostic performance of intelligent diagnostic models. To solve the problem, this paper proposes a variational information constrained generative adversarial network (VICGAN) for effective machine fault diagnosis. Firstly, by incorporating the encoder into the discriminator to map the deep features, an improved generative adversarial network with stronger data synthesis capability is established. Secondly, to promote the stable training of the model and guarantee better convergence, a variational information constraint technique is utilized, which constrains the input signals and deep features of the discriminator using the information bottleneck method. In addition, a representation matching module is added to impose restrictions on the generator, avoiding the mode collapse problem and boosting the sample diversity. Two rolling bearing datasets are utilized to verify the effectiveness and stability of the presented network, which demonstrates that the presented network has an admirable ability in processing fault diagnosis with few samples, and performs better than state-of-the-art approaches.     

A Voltage Control Method for a Distributed Line Feeder by means of Multiagent Approach

This paper proposes a method for the coordinated control of power factor by means of a multiagent approach. The proposed multiagent system consists of two types of agent: single feeder agent (F_AG) and bus agent (B_AG). In the proposed system, an F_AG plays as an important role, which decides the power factors of all distributed generators by executing the load flow calculations repeatedly. The voltage control strategies are implemented as the class definition of Java into the system. In order to verify the performance of the proposed method, it has been applied to a typical distribution model system. The simulation results show that the system is able to control very violent fluctuation of the demands and the photovoltaic (PV) generations.     

Designed damping controller for SSSC to improve stability of a hybrid offshore wind farms considering time delay

This paper presents the stability improvement results of hybrid doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based and permanent magnet generator (PMG)-based offshore wind farms (OWFs) using a static synchronous series compensator (SSSC). An adaptive-network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) controller of the proposed SSSC is designed to render adequate damping characteristics to the studied system. A frequency-domain approach based on a linearized system model using eigenvalue technique analysis is performed. A time-domain scheme based on a nonlinear system model subject to a three-phase short circuit fault at infinite bus with variations in the signal transmission delays has also been investigated to compare the damping of the studied system in cases of with and without controller. The simulation results with MATLAB/SIMULINK toolbox have been presented. It can be concluded from the simulation results that the proposed SSSC joined with the designed ANFIS damping controller can offer adequate damping performance to the studied hybrid DFIG-based and PMG-based OWFs under severe disturbance.     

Study on the non-uniform contact during ELID groove grinding

This paper introduces the potential feasibility that ELID (electrolytic in-process dressing) grinding replaces superfinishing in bearing manufacturing, but ELID grinding will bring new challenges. Different regions present distinguish surface profile due to the non-uniform contact in ELID groove grinding. However, few reports explaining the non-uniform contact are available. This article explores the mechanisms of the non-uniform contact during ELID groove grinding. Experiments on the non-uniform contact between bearing raceway and grinding wheel have been carried out under different conditions. The results show that non-uniform contact exists in ELID groove grinding process and it exerts influence on the profile of the raceway surface. Non-uniform contact influences the Rsk and Rku value all the time, but it influences the Ra value occasionally. Improvement strategies of eliminating the non-uniform contact are also discussed based on the experimental study.     

Design and Fabrication of Concentration‐Gradient Generators with Two and Three Inlets in Microfluidic Chips

A simple and low‐cost method for designing and fabricating concentration‐gradient generators with two and three inlets is proposed which can generate different concentration gradients at varying flow velocities. The microchannel structure was designed in S‐shape and left‐right symmetry. The concentration‐gradient generator was simulated based on the finite element method. The microchannels were processed on a computer numerical control (CNC) engraving and milling machine on poly(methylmethacrylate) substrate, and then two concentration‐gradient generators were fabricated by hot bonding technology. The results of experiment and simulation were compared to prove the feasibility of the method. Flow velocity was an important factor for generating different concentration gradients. The concentration‐gradient profiles of the generators with two and three inlets present approximately linear and quadratic curves.     

测井资料在优选压裂层位中的应用

压裂是低孔、低渗油层改造的主要增产措施。根据常规测井资料、岩石物理实验分析数据及试油成果。研究储层四性关系，确定区块的低孔、低渗储层评价标准。进一步对油层进行分类，有针对性地为油层压裂提供施工层位和准确的储层参数。通过商543区块实例，阐述了选择压裂层位的方法。     

大同市水资源开发利用状况与承载能力的思考

文中分析了大同市水资源开发利用的状况，并对水资源承载能力的有关问题进行了讨论。     

水资源承载力及其研究

文章简要介绍了我国水资源情况,分析了我国水资源承载力与可持续发展的关系,并阐述了水资源承载力 研究的特点和方法。