A Preliminary Study on Intensive Curing with Alcohol-based Fuels

The research investigated application effects of alcohol-based fuels in in- tensive curing. The results showed that alcohol-based fuels allow flexible adjustment of temperature and heat supplying. What＇s more, in treatment A, the cured tobac- cos are softer and brighter, with more oil content and higher proportion of first-class tobaccos. Per leaf weight increased by 0.13 g and output value per kang （a heat- able brick bed） deducting energy cost grew by 188.66 yuan. In addition, the con- tents of reducing sugar and potassium enhanced within the ranges of high-quality tobacco, and chemical components are more coordinated.

Preparation and properties of high-energy-density aluminum/boroncontaining gelled fuels

Energetic nanofluid fuel has caught the attention of the field of aerospace liquid propellant for its high energy density(HED), but it suffers from the inevitable solid-liquid phase separation problem. To resolve this problem, herein we synthesized the high-Al-/B-containing(up to 30%(mass)) HED gelled fuels, with low-molecular-mass organic gellant Z, which show high net heat of combustion(NHOC), density, storage stability, and thixotropic properties. The characterizations indicate that the application of energetic particles to the gelled fuels obviously destroys their fibrous network structures but can provide the new particle-gellant gelation microstructures, resulting in the comparable stability between 1.0%(mass) Z/JP-10 + 30%(mass) Al or B and pure JP-10 gelled fuel. Moreover, the gelled fuels with high-content Al or B exhibit high shear-thinning property, recovery capability, and mechanical strength, which are favorable for their storage and utilization. Importantly, the prepared 1.0%(mass) Z/JP-10 + 30%(mass) B(or 1.0%(mass) Z/JP-10 + 30%(mass) Al) shows the density and NHOC 1.27 times(1.30) and 1.43 times(1.21)higher than pure JP-10, respectively. This work provides a facile and valid approach to the manufacturing of HED gelled fuels with high content of energetic particles for gel propellants.

Catalyst design and structure control for photocatalytic refineries of cellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals

Lignocellulosic biomass is the largest renewable hydrocarbon resource on earth.Converting cellulose,one of the major components of lignocellulose,powered by solar energy is a promising way of providing lowcarbon-footprint energy chemicals such as H_(2),HCOOH,CO,and transportation fuels.State-of-the-art biorefineries target the full use of biomass feedstocks as they have a maximum collection radius of 75-100 km,requesting efficient and selective photocatalysts that significantly influence the outcome of photocatalytic biorefineries.Well-performed photocatalysts can harvest a broad solar spectrum and are active in breaking the chemical bonds of cellulose,decreasing the capital investments of biorefineries.Besides,photocatalysts should control the selectivity of cellulose conversion,originating target products to level down separation costs.Charge separation in photocatalysts and interfacial charge transfer between photocatalysts and cellulose affect the activity and selectivity of cellulose refineries to H2 and carbonaceous chemicals.To account for the challenges above,this review summarizes photocatalysts for the refineries of cellulose and downstream platform molecules based on the types of products,with the structure features of different types of photocatalysts discussed in relation to the targets of either improving the activity or product selectivity.In addition,this review also sheds light on the methods for designing and regulating photocatalyst structures to facilitate photocatalytic refineries of cellulose and platform molecules,meanwhile summarizing proposed future research challenges and opportunities for designing efficient photocatalysts.

Tandem hydroalkylation and deoxygenation of lignin-derived phenolics to synthesize high-density fuels

Lignin is the most abundant naturally phenolic biomass,and the synthesis of high-performance renewable fuel from lignin has attracted significant attention.We propose the efficient synthesis of high-density fuels using simulated lignin cracked oil in tandem with hydroalkylation and deoxygenation reactions.First,we investigated the reaction pathway for the hydroalkylation of phenol,which competes with the hydrodeoxygenation form cyclohexane.And then,we investigated the effects of metal catalyst types,the loading amount of metallic,acid dosage,and reactant ratio on the reaction results.The phenol hydroalkylation and hydrodeoxygenation were balanced when 180℃ and 5 MPa H_(2)with the alkanes yield of 95%.By extending the substrate to other lignin-derived phenolics and simulated lignin cracked oil,we obtained the polycyclic alkane fuel with high density of 0.918 g·ml^(-1)and calorific value of41.2 MJ·L^(-1).Besides,the fuel has good low-temperature properties(viscosity of 9.3 mm^(2)·s^(-1)at 20℃ and freezing point below-55℃),which is expected to be used as jet fuel.This work provides a promising way for the easy and green production of high-density fuel directly from real lignin oil.

Effects of nano-metal oxide additives on ignition and combustion properties of MICs-boron rich fuels

Boron has been considered a promising powdered metal fuel for enhancing composite propellants'energy output due to its high energy density.However,the high ignition temperature and low combustion efficiency limit the application of boron powder due to the high boiling point of the boron oxide layer.Much research is ongoing to overcome these shortcomings,and one potential approach is to introduce a small quantity of metal oxide additives to promote the reaction of boron.This study prepared boron-rich fuels with 10 wt%of eight nano-metal oxide additives by mechanical ball milling.The effect of metal oxides on the thermo-oxidation,ignition,and combustion properties of boron powder was comprehensively studied by the thermogravimetric analysis(TG),the electrically heated filament setup(T-jump),and the laser-induced combustion experiments.TG experiments at 5 K/min found that Bi_(2)O_(3),MoO_(3),TiO_(2),Fe_(2)O_(3),and CuO can promote thermo-oxidation of boron.Compared to pure boron,Tonsetcan be reduced from 569℃to a minimum of 449℃(B/Bi_(2)O_(3)).Infrared temperature measurement in T-jump tests showed that when heated by an electric heating wire at rates from 1000 K/s to 25000 K/s,the ignition temperatures of B/Bi_(2)O_(3) are the lowest,even lower than the melting point of boron oxide.Ignition images and SEM for the products further showed that the high heating rate is beneficial to the rapid reaction of boron powder in the single-particle combustion state.Fuels(B/Bi_(2)O_(3),B/MoO_(3),and B/CuO)were mixed with the oxidant AP and ignited by laser to study the combustion performance.The results showed that B/CuO/AP has the largest flame area,the highest BO_(2) characteristic spectral intensity,and the largest burn rate for powder lines.To combine the advantages of CuO and Bi_(2)O_(3),binary metal oxide(CBO,mass ratio of 3:1)was prepared and the test results showed that CBO can very well improve both ignition and combustion properties of boron.Especially B/CBO/AP has the highest burn rate compared with all fuels containing other additives.It was found that multi-component metal-oxide additive can more synergistically improve the reaction characteristics of boron powder than unary additive.These findings contribute to the development of boron-rich fuels and their application in propellants.

CO_(2) conversion to solar fuels and chemicals:Opening the new paths

This future article discusses the new prospects and directions of CO_(2)conversion via the photo-electrocatalytic(PEC)route.The second(2nd)generation solar fuels and chemicals(SFs)are generated directly in PEC systems via electrons/protons reactions without forming molecular H_(2)as an intermediate,overcoming the thermodynamics limitations and practical issues encountered for electro-fuels produced by multistep thermocatalytic processes(i.e.CO_(2)conversion with H_(2)coming from water electrolysis).A distributed and decentralized production of SFs requires very compact,highly integrated,and intensified technologies.Among the existing reactors of advanced design(based on artificial leaves or photosynthesis),the integrated photovoltaic plus electrocatalytic(PV-EC)device is the only system(demonstrated at large scale)to produce SFs with high solar-to-fuel(STF)efficiency.However,while the literature indicates STF efficiency as the main(and only)measure of process performance,we remark here the need to refer to productivity(in terms of current density)and make tests with reliable flow PEC systems(with electrodes of at least 5–10 cm^(2))to accelerate the scaling-up process.Using approaches that minimize downstream separation costs is also mandatory.Many limitations exist in PEC systems,but most can be overcome by proper electrode and cell engineering,thus going beyond the properties of the electrocatalysts.As examples of current developments,we present the progress of(i)artificial leaf/tree devices for green H_(2)distributed production and(ii)a PEC device producing the same chemicals at both cathode and anode parts without downstream operations for green solvent distributed production.Based on these developments,future directions,such as producing fertilizers and food components from the air,are outlined.The aim is to provide new ideas and research directions from a personal perspective.

Past, Present and Future: A Role for Liquid Biofuels in Transitioning to Net Zero?

Over the last decade, the uptake rate of first-generation biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) has decelerated as low blend limits have increased only slowly and extreme volatility in oil prices has limited investment in biofuels production infrastructure. Concerns over the environmental impacts of large-scale biofuels production combined with tariff barriers have greatly restricted the global trade in biofuels. First-generation biofuels produced either by fermentation of sugars from maize or sugarcane (ethanol) or transesterification of triglycerides (biodiesel) presently contribute less than 4% of terrestrial transportation fuel demand and techno-economic modelling foresees this only slowly increasing by 2035. With internal combustion and diesel engines widely anticipated as being phased out in favour of electric power for motor vehicles, a much-reduced market demand for biofuels is likely if global demand for all liquid fuels declines by 2050. However, second-generation, thermochemically produced and biomass-derived fuels (renewable diesel, marine oils and sustainable aviation fuel) have much higher blend limits;combined with policies to decarbonise the aviation and marine industries, major new markets for these products in terrestrial, marine and aviation sectors may emerge in the second half of the 21st century.

Explosion characteristics of aluminum-based activated fuels containing fluorine

Measuring the dust explosion characteristics of aluminum-based activated fuels was a prerequisite for developing effective prevention and control measures.In this paper,ignition sensitivity,flame propagation behaviors and explosion severity of aluminum/polytetrafluoroethylene(Al/PTFE)compositions including 2 PT(2.80 wt.%F),4 PT(7.18 wt.%F)and 8 PT(11.90 wt.%F)were studied.When the content of F increased from 2.80 wt.%to 11.90 wt.%,the minimum explosive concentration MEC decreased from380 g/m^(3)to 140 g/m^(3),due to the dual effects of increased internal active aluminum and enhanced reactivity.The average flame propagation velocities increased as the percentage of F increased.The maximum explosion pressure Pmof 500 g/m3aluminum-based activated fuels increased from 247 k Pa to299 kPa.Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that with the increase of PTFE content,the reaction was more complete.On this basis,the explosion mechanism of aluminum-based activated fuels was revealed.

Nutrition impacts of non-solid cooking fuel adoption on under-five children in developing countries

This paper examines the nutrition impacts of using non-solid cooking fuel on under-five children in developing countries.We draw on data from more than 1.12 million children in 62 developing countries from the Demographic and Health Surveys(DHS).Results from both fixed effects(FE)and instrumental variable(IV)estimates show that using non-solid cooking fuel significantly improves the nutrition outcomes of under-five children.Compared with their peers from households mainly using solid fuel,children from households mainly using non-solid fuel exhibit a lower probability of experiencing stunting(by 5.9 percentage points)and being underweight(by 1.2 percentage points).Our further investigation provides evidence for several underlying mechanisms,such as improved indoor air quality,induced reduction in children’s respiratory symptoms,benefits on maternal health,and reduction in maternal time spent on fuel collection or cooking.Heterogenous analyses suggest that the nutrition benefits of using non-solid cooking fuel are more prominent among boys,children above three years old,and those from households of lower socioeconomic status,rural areas,and Southeast Asia.

Recent progresses in the development of tubular segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells:Experimental and numerical study

Solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs)have attracted a great deal of interest because they have the highest efficiency without using any noble metal as catalysts among all the fuel cell technologies.However,traditional SOFCs suffer from having a higher volume,current leakage,complex connections,and difficulty in gas sealing.To solve these problems,Rolls-Royce has fabricated a simple design by stacking cells in series on an insulating porous support,resulting in the tubular segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells(SIS-SOFCs),which achieved higher output voltage.This work systematically reviews recent advances in the structures,preparation methods,perform-ances,and stability of tubular SIS-SOFCs in experimental and numerical studies.Finally,the challenges and future development of tubular SIS-SOFCs are also discussed.The findings of this work can help guide the direction and inspire innovation of future development in this field.

Harnessing dimethyl ether and methyl formate fuels for direct electrochemical energy conversion

In this work,the oxidation of a mixture of dimethyl ether(DME) and methyl formate(MF) was studied in both an aqueous electrochemical cell and a vapor-fed polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell(PEMFC)utilizing a multi-metallic alloy catalyst,Pt_(3)Pd_(3)Sn_(2)/C,discovered earlier by us.The current obtained during the bulk oxidation of a DME-saturated 1 M MF was higher than the summation of the currents provided by the two fuels separately,suggesting the cooperative effect of mixing these fuels.A significant increase in the anodic charge was realized during oxidative stripping of a pre-adsorbed DME+MF mixture as compared to DME or MF individually.This is ascribed to greater utilization of specific catalytic sites on account of the relatively lower adsorption energy of the dual-molecules than of the sum of the individual molecules as confirmed by the density fu nctional theory(DFT) calculations.Fuel cell polarization was also conducted using a Pt_(3)Pd_(3)Sn_(2)/C(anode) and Pt/C(cathode) catalysts-coated membrane(CCM).The enhanced surface coverage and active site utilization resulted in providing a higher peak power density by the DME+MF mixture-fed fuel cell(123 mW cm^(-2)at 0.45 V) than with DME(84mW cm^(-2)at 0.35 V) or MF(28 mW cm^(-2)at 0.2 V) at the same total anode hydrocarbon flow rate,temperature,and ambient pressure.

Synthesis of high density and low freezing point jet fuels range cycloalkanes with cyclopentanone and lignin-derived vanillins

In this work,a“cyclopentanone-vanillin”strategy was proposed for the preparation of jet fuel range cycloalkanes from lignocellulose-derived ketones and lignin-derived aldehydes via aldol condensation and hydrodeoxygenation(HDO).Ethanolamine lactate ionic liquid(LAIL)exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the aldol condensation of cyclopentanone and vanillin.Desired mono-condensation and bicondensation products were obtained with yield of 95.2%at 100℃.It is found that the synergy effects between amino group of ethanolamine and hydroxyl group of lactic acid play a key role in the aldol condensation.The condensation products were converted into cycloalkanes by HDO over 5%Pd/Nb_(2)O_(5)catalyst.The density of the obtained HDO products is 0.89 g/cm^(3)and the freezing point is lower than-60℃.These results suggest that the resulted cycloalkanes can be used as additives to improve the density and low-temperature fluidity of the jet fuels.

Model reduction of fractional impedance spectra for time–frequency analysis of batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors

Joint time–frequency analysis is an emerging method for interpreting the underlying physics in fuel cells,batteries,and supercapacitors.To increase the reliability of time–frequency analysis,a theoretical correlation between frequency-domain stationary analysis and time-domain transient analysis is urgently required.The present work formularizes a thorough model reduction of fractional impedance spectra for electrochemical energy devices involving not only the model reduction from fractional-order models to integer-order models and from high-to low-order RC circuits but also insight into the evolution of the characteristic time constants during the whole reduction process.The following work has been carried out:(i)the model-reduction theory is addressed for typical Warburg elements and RC circuits based on the continued fraction expansion theory and the response error minimization technique,respectively;(ii)the order effect on the model reduction of typical Warburg elements is quantitatively evaluated by time–frequency analysis;(iii)the results of time–frequency analysis are confirmed to be useful to determine the reduction order in terms of the kinetic information needed to be captured;and(iv)the results of time–frequency analysis are validated for the model reduction of fractional impedance spectra for lithium-ion batteries,supercapacitors,and solid oxide fuel cells.In turn,the numerical validation has demonstrated the powerful function of the joint time–frequency analysis.The thorough model reduction of fractional impedance spectra addressed in the present work not only clarifies the relationship between time-domain transient analysis and frequency-domain stationary analysis but also enhances the reliability of the joint time–frequency analysis for electrochemical energy devices.

Boosting oxygen reduction activity and CO_(2) resistance on bismuth ferrite-based perovskite cathode for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells below 600℃

Developing efficient and stable cathodes for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells(LT-SOFCs) is of great importance for the practical commercialization.Herein,we propose a series of Sm-modified Bi_(0.7-x)Sm_xSr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ) perovskites as highly-active catalysts for LT-SOFCs.Sm doping can significantly enhance the electrocata lytic activity and chemical stability of cathode.At 600℃,Bi_(0.675)Sm_(0.025)Sr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ)(BSSF25) cathode has been found to be the optimum composition with a polarization resistance of 0.098 Ω cm^2,which is only around 22.8% of Bi_(0.7)Sr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ)(BSF).A full cell utilizing BSSF25 displays an exceptional output density of 790 mW cm^(-2),which can operate continuously over100 h without obvious degradation.The remarkable electrochemical performance observed can be attributed to the improved O_(2) transport kinetics,superior surface oxygen adsorption capacity,as well as O_(2)p band centers in close proximity to the Fermi level.Moreover,larger average bonding energy(ABE) and the presence of highly acidic Bi,Sm,and Fe ions restrict the adsorption of CO_(2) on the cathode surface,resulting in excellent CO_(2) resistivity.This work provides valuable guidance for systematic design of efficient and durable catalysts for LT-SOFCs.

Study on concentration distribution and detonation characteristics for non-axisymmetric fuel dispersal

The study of non-axisymmetric fuel dispersal and detonation can provide reference for the prevention of industrial cloud explosion accidents and the design of fuel air explosive(FAE).The concentration and detonation fields of 85 kg cylindrical and fan-shaped fuel are investigated by experiments and numerical simulations.A dynamic model of the whole process for fuel dispersal and detonation is built.The concentration distribution of fuel is used as the initial condition to calculate the detonation stage,thus solving the initial value problem of detonation field.The phase and component changes of fuel cloud at different locations are compared.The fuel cloud is divided into directions of 0°,90°,135°and 180°.The results show that the maximum cloud radius is 20.94 m in 135°and the minimum is 12.04 m in 0°.The diameter of the detonation fireball is 53.6 m,and the peak temperature is 3455 K.The highest peak overpressure is 3.44 MPa in 0°and the lowest is 2.97 MPa in 135°.The proportion of liquid phase in 0°is22.90%,and the fuel loss is 11.8% and 9% higher than that in 135°and cylindrical charge,respectively.The stable propagation distance of blast wave in 135°is 42.50% longer than 0°and 28.37% longer than cylindrical charge.

Enhancing layered perovskite ferrites with ultra-high-density nanoparticles via cobalt doping for ceramic fuel cell anode

Nanoparticles anchored on the perovskite surface have gained considerable attention for their wide-ranging applications in heterogeneous catalysis and energy conversion due to their robust and integrated structural configuration.Herein,we employ controlled Co doping to effectively enhance the nanoparticle exsolution process in layered perovskite ferrites materials.CoFe alloy nanoparticles with ultra-high-density are exsolved on the(PrBa)_(0.95)(Fe_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Nb_(0.1))2O_(5+δ)(PBFCN_(0.1))surface under reducing atmosphere,providing significant amounts of reaction sites and good durability for hydrocarbon catalysis.Under a reducing atmosphere,cobalt facilitates the reduction of iron cations within PBFCN_(0.1),leading to the formation of CoFe alloy nanoparticles.This formation is accompanied by a cation exchange process,wherein,with the increase in temperature,partial cobalt ions are substituted by iron.Meanwhile,Co doping significantly enhance the electrical conductivity due to the stronger covalency of the Cosingle bondO bond compared with Fesingle bondO bond.A single cell with the configuration of PBFCN_(0.1)-Sm_(0.2)Ce_(0.8)O_(1.9)(SDC)|SDC|Ba_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)Co_(0.8)Fe_(0.2)O_(3−δ)(BSCF)-SDC achieves an extremely low polarization resistance of 0.0163Ωcm^(2)and a high peak power density of 740 mW cm^(−2)at 800℃.The cell also shows stable operation for 120 h in H_(2)with a constant current density of 285 mA cm^(−2).Furthermore,employing wet C_(2)H_(6)as fuel,the cell demonstrates remarkable performance,achieving peak power densities of 455 mW cm^(−2)at 800℃and 320 mW cm^(−2)at 750℃,marking improvements of 36%and 70%over the cell with(PrBa)_(0.95)(Fe_(0.9)Nb_(0.1))_(2)O_(5+δ)(PBFN)-SDC at these respective temperatures.This discovery emphasizes how temperature influences alloy nanoparticles exsolution within doped layered perovskite ferrites materials,paving the way for the development of high-performance ceramic fuel cell anodes.

Al^(3+) doped CeO_(2) for proton conducting fuel cells

Developing high ionic conducting electrolytes is crucial for applying proton-conducting fuel cell(PCFCs)practically.The cur-rent study investigates the effect of alumina on the structural,morphological,electrical,and electrochemical properties of CeO_(2).Lattice oxygen vacancies are induced in CeO_(2) by a general doping concept that enables fast ionic conduction at low-temperature ranges(300-500℃)for PCFCs.Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction(XRD)patterns established the pure cubic fluorite structure of Al-doped CeO_(2)(ADC)samples and confirmed Al ions’fruitful integration in the CeO_(2) lattice.The electronic structure of the alumina-doped ceria of the materials(10ADC,20ADC,and 30ADC)has been investigated.As a result,it was found that the best composition of 30ADC-based electrolytes induced maximum lattice oxygen vacancies.The corresponding PCFC exhibited a maximum power output of 923 mW/cm^(2)at 500℃.Moreover,the investigation proves the proton-conducting ability of alumina-doped ceria-based fuel cells by using an oxide ion-blocking layer.

Correction to:Assembly-level analysis on temperature coefficient of reactivity in a graphite-moderated fuel salt reactor fueled with low-enriched uranium

Following publication of the original article,the authors observed that both Fig.5 and Fig.4 depict the same image.Figure 5 was inaccurately referenced and displayed.The correct Fig.5 is copied below:The original article has been updated.

A thermodynamic perspective on electrode poisoning in solid oxide fuel cells

A critical challenge to the commercialization of clean and high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC)technology is the insuf-ficient stack lifespan caused by a variety of degradation mechanisms,which are associated with cell components and chemical feedstocks.Cell components related degradation refers to thermal/chemical/electrochemical deterioration of cell materials under operating conditions,whereas the latter regards impurities in feedstocks of oxidant(air)and reductant(fuel).This article provides a thermodynamic perspective on the understanding of the impurities-induced degradation mechanisms in SOFCs.The discussion focuses on using thermodynamic ana-lysis to elucidate poisoning mechanisms in cathodes by impurity species such as Cr,CO_(2),H_(2)O,and SO_(2) and in the anode by species such as S(or H_(2)S),SiO_(2),and P_(2)(or PH_(3)).The author hopes the presented fundamental insights can provide a theoretical foundation for search-ing for better technical solutions to address the critical degradation challenges.

Relationship between hydrogenation degree and pyrolysis performance of jet fuel

Understanding the relationship between the chemical composition and pyrolysis performance of endothermic hydrocarbon fuel(EHF) is of great significance for the design and optimization of advanced EHFs. In this work, the effect of deep hydrogenation on the pyrolysis of commercial RP-3 is investigated.Fuels with different hydrogenation degrees were obtained by the partially and completely catalytic hydrogenation and their pyrolysis performances were investigated using an apparatus equipped with an electrically heated tubular reactor. The results show that with the increase of hydrogenation degree, fuel conversion almost remains constant during the pyrolysis process(500-650°C, 4 MPa);however, the heat sink increases slightly, and the anti-coking performance significantly improves, which are highly related to their H/C ratios. Detailed characterisations reveal that the difference of the pyrolysis performance can be ascribed to the content of aromatics and cycloalkanes: the former are prone to initiate secondary reactions to form coking precursors, while the latter could act as the hydrogen donor and release hydrogen, which will terminate the radical propagation reactions and suppress the coke deposition. This work should provide the guidance for upgrading EHFs by modulating the composition of EHFs.