Bubble behavior in aluminum reduction cell with inert anode

The bubble behavior is one of the key factors for the design and the process of aluminum reduction cell using inert anode.A see-through cell is constructed to investigate the bubble flow behavior and the electrolyte flow pattern induced by bubbles.The test results show that the electrolyte is driven by the bubble to move around the cathode,and also some vortices occur in local areas.The bubble generated at the anode bottom undergoes the processes of formation,growth,sliding,detachment and coalescence.However,the bubble generated at the middle of anode detaches rapidly from the anode surface and moves upward and collides with other bubbles,which results in coalescence or break-up.Most bubbles are released into the atmosphere at the liquid surface,while some other bubbles taken by the electrolyte flush to the height higher than the mean horizontal level of the liquid and then drop down and move horizontally and they are released finally.Some bubbles are kept unbroken and are sliding on the electrolyte surface.The diameter of bubble generated at inert anode is smaller than that of bubble generated at graphite anode.Moreover,the bubbles on inert anode are spherical,which was different from those in tubular or disk form on graphite anode.

Corrosion pathways in aluminium alloys

The corrosion pathways in AA2024-T3, AA5083-O and AA6082-T6 alloys have been investigated. The objective of the investigation is to further the understanding of the complex localised corrosion mechanism in aluminium alloys. The investigation was carried out by examining the corroded surfaces of the alloys after potentiodynamic polarization tests in a 3.5% NaCl solution with the aid of a scanning electron microscope, and by analysing the flow of anolyte solution using the scanning vibrating electrode technique. The results revealed that the overall corrosion pathways in the alloys are distinctively different and are influenced by the flow of anolyte solution. Also revealed, was the fact that corrosion propagates in two ways （particularly in the AA5083-O and AA6082-T6 alloys）： an overall pathway in the corrosion front （filiform-like pathway in the AA5083 alloy and organized linear pathways in AA6082 alloy）; and the crystallographic channelling along the （100） directions. These are dependent on the grain distinct features of the AA5083-O and AA6082-T6 alloys and are not influenced by the presence of coarse second phase particles in these alloys, compared with the AA2024-T3 alloy, where the corrosion pathways are more dependent on the presence of second phase particles and grain boundary character.

Effect of The Atmosphere on UVB Radiation Reaching The Earth's Surface:Dependence on Solar Zenith Angle

The atmosphere protects humans, plants, ani- mals, and microorganisms from damaging doses of ultra- violet-B （UVB） solar radiation （280-320 nm） because it modifies the UVB reaching the Earth＇s surface. This modification is a function of the solar radiation＇s path length through the atmosphere and the amount of each attenuator along the path length. The path length is deter- mined by solar zenith angle （SZA）. The present work ex- plains the dependence of hemispherical transmittance of UVB on SZA. The database used consists of five years of hourly UVB and global solar radiation measurements. From 2001 to 2005, the South Valley University （SVU） meteorological research station （26.20°N, 32.75°E） car- ried out these measurements on a horizontal surface. In addition, the corresponding extraterrestrial UVB （UVBe^d and broadband solar radiation （Gext） were estimated. Consequently, the hemispherical transmittance of UVB （KtuvB） and the hemispherical transmittance of global solar radiation （Kt） were estimated. Furthermore, the UVB redaction due to the atmosphere was evaluated. An analy- sis of the dependence between KtuvB and SZA at different ranges of Kt was performed. A functional dependence between KtuvB and SZA （KtuvB=-a（SZA）＋b） for very narrow Kt-ranges （width of ranges was 0.01） was devel- oped. The results are discussed, and the sensitivity of AKtuvB to △SZA for very narrow Kt-ranges was studied. It was found that the sensitivity of △KtUVB to ASZA slightly increases with increased Kt, which means KtuvB is sensi- tive to SZA as Kt increases. The maximum correlation （R） between KtuvB and SZA was equal to -0.83 for Kt= 0.76.

Ultrathin 3D radial tandem‐junction photocathode with a high onset potential of 1.15 V for solar hydrogen production

Combining a progressive tandem junction design with a unique Si nanowire(SiNW)framework paves the way for the development of high‐onset‐potential photocathodes and enhancement of solar hydrogen production.Herein,a radial tandem junction(RTJ)thin film water‐splitting photo‐cathode has been demonstrated experimentally for the first time.The photocathode is directly fab‐ricated on vapor‐liquid‐solid‐grown SiNWs and consists of two radially stacked p‐i‐n junctions,featuring hydrogenated amorphous silicon(a‐Si:H)as the outer absorber layer,which absorbs short wavelengths,and hydrogenated amorphous silicon germanium(a‐SiGe:H)as the inner layer,which absorbs long wavelengths.The randomly distributed SiNW framework enables highly efficient light‐trapping,which facilitates the use of very thin absorber layers of a‐Si:H(~50 nm)and a‐SiGe:H(~40 nm).In a neutral electrolyte(pH=7),the three‐dimensional(3D)RTJ photocathode delivers a high photocurrent onset of 1.15 V vs.the reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE),accompanied by a photocurrent of 2.98 mA/cm^(2) at 0 V vs.RHE,and an overall applied‐bias photon‐to‐current effi‐ciency of 1.72%.These results emphasize the promising role of 3D radial tandem technology in developing a new generation of durable,low‐cost,high‐onset‐potential photocathodes capable of large‐scale implementation。

Solar Radiation and Temperature Measurement of Solar Dish Concentrator System

Concentrating solar power （CSP） technologies could be one of the major contributor to worlds future energy needs and which would be cheap and clean sources of energy. This would improve energy utilization, higher conversion efficiency with reliable and affordable supply of electricity to the public. The proposed approach is using 18 inch diameter of solar dish concentrator to measure the solar radiation using the aluminium foil as a reflector. In this paper, solar radiation is collected to investigate the solar fraction on incoming solar energy in wet climate.

Performance of R141b Ejector with Thermal Storage for Solar Air Conditioning

This paper was designed to determine the performance of the R 141 b ejector includes analysis in economics. The first step is to determine the operating condition and ejector geometry through computer calculation program. That found at the generator temperature 84 ℃ and evaporator temperature 8 ℃, diameter of nozzle throat is 2 mm, diameter of nozzle exit is 8 mm, diameter of mixing chamber inlet is 25 mm, diameter of constant area section is 8 mm. Area of evacuated solar collector is 10 m2, thermal storage tank size is 0.33 m3, cold thermal storage size is 2.3 m3. The entrainment ratio and COP （coefficient of performance） of computer calculation program are 0.295 and 0.235, respectively. The second step ejector is fabricated and equipped to solar ejector refrigeration system, it is found that, average COP is 0.265. The economics analysis of solar ejector cooling system are invested in the investment cost was 158,158 baht. When calculating payback period was 7.73 years, the return value on a NPV （net present value） was 60,872.63 baht of lifetime of the system throughout a period of 15 years, and IRR （internal rate of return） is 13.57%.

Qingnaoyizhi decoction suppresses the formation of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells in cultured neural stem cells by inhibiting the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE: Inactivation of the Janus kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) signaling axis plays a crucial role in determining the fate of neural stem cells(NSCs).Qingnaoyizhi decoction(QNYZD) has been used for the treatment of vascular dementia and has shown to improve synaptic remodeling. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) containing QNYZD(CSF-QNYZD) on the differentiation of cultured NSCs and the involvement of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.METHODS: The protein expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), tubulin, drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein(SMAD-1), STAT3, and phosphorylated-STAT3 were detected by western immunoblot analysis in the groups: control, CSF, JAK/STAT inhibitor(AG490),CSF-QNYZD, and CSF-XDZ(CSF-Xidezhen). The differentiation of NSCs was determined by immunofluorescence staining. The proliferation of NSCs was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 proliferation assay.RESULTS: Compared with the control group,CSF-QNYZD and AG490 significantly increased the number and expression of tubulin-positive cells, reduced the number and expression of GFAP-positive cells, and down-regulated the expression of p-STAT3. However, CSF-QNYZD also decreased the expression of SMAD-1 and STAT3.CONCLUSION: Enhanced neuronal differentiation may be associated with the down-regulation of glial differentiation instead of promoting proliferationin treated NSCs. Furthermore, QNYZD may play a direct role in suppressing the formation of GFAP-positive cells and enhancing neuronal differentiation by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 activation. Overall, these results provide insights into the possible mechanism underlying QNYZD-mediated neurogenesis.