Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics （volume of fluid） modelling coupled with a stochastic discrete phase model for the performance analysis of an invert trap experimentally validated using field sewer solids

Invert traps are used to trap sewer solids flowing into a sewer drainage system, The performance of the invert trap in an open rectangular channel was experimentally and numerically analysed using field sewer solids collected from a sewer drain. Experiments showed that the free water surface rises over the central opening （slot） of the invert trap, which reduces the velocity near the slot and allows more sediment to be trapped in comparison with the case for the fixed-lid model （assuming closed conduit flow with a shear-free top wall） used by earlier investigators. This phenomenon cannot be modelled using a closed conduit model as no extra space is provided for the fluctuation of the water surface, whereas this space is provided in the volume of fluid （VOF） model in the form of air space in ANSYS Fluent 14.0 software. Additionally, the zero atmospheric pressure at the free water surface cannot be modelled in a fixed-lid model. In the present study, experimental trap efflciencies of the invert trap using field sewer solids were fairly validated using a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model （VOF model） coupled with a stochastic discrete phase model. The flow field （i.e., velocities） predicted by the VOF model were compared with experimental velocities obtained employing particle image velocimetry. The water surface profile above the invert trap predicted by the VOF model was found to be in good agreement with the experimentally measured profile. The present study thus showed that the VOF model can be used with the stochastic discrete phase model to well predict the performance of invert traps.

Inverted polymer solar cells with Zn_2SnO_4 nanoparticles as the electron extraction layer

In this study, we report narrow-size distribution Zn_2SnO_4（ZSO） nanoparticles, which are produced by low-temperature solution-processed used as the electron extraction layer（EEL） in the inverted polymer solar cells（i-PSCs）. Moreover, poly[（9,9-bis（30-（N,N-dimethylamino）propyl）-2,7-fluorene）-alt-2,7-（9,9-dioctylfluorene）]（PFN） is used to modify the surface properties of ZSO thin film. By using the ZSO NPs/PFN as the EEL, the i-PSCs fabricated by poly[4,8-bis（2-ethylhexyloxyl）benzo[1,2-b：4,5-b0] dithio-phene-2,6-diyl-altethylhexyl-3-fluorothithieno [3,4-b]thiophene-2-carboxylate-4,6-diyl]（PTB7） blended with（6,6）-phenyl-C_（71）-butyric acid methylester（PC_（71）BM） bulk heterojunction（BHJ） composite, exhibits a power conversion efficiency（PCE） of 8.44%, which is nearly 10% enhancement as compared with that of7.75% observed from the i-PSCs by PTB7：PC_（71）BM BHJ composite using the ZnO/PFN EEL. The enhanced PCE is originated from improved interfacial contact between the EEL with BHJ active layer and good energy level alignment between BHJ active layer and the EEL. Our results indicate that we provide a simple way to boost efficiency of i-PSCs.