Harness High-Temperature Thermal Energy via Elastic Thermoelectric Aerogels

Despite notable progress in thermoelectric(TE)materials and devices,developing TE aerogels with high-temperature resistance,superior TE performance and excellent elasticity to enable self-powered high-temperature monitoring/warning in industrial and wearable applications remains a great challenge.Herein,a highly elastic,flame-retardant and high-temperature-resistant TE aerogel,made of poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/single-walled carbon nanotube(PEDOT:PSS/SWCNT)composites,has been fabricated,displaying attractive compression-induced power factor enhancement.The as-fabricated sensors with the aerogel can achieve accurately pressure stimuli detection and wide temperature range monitoring.Subsequently,a flexible TE generator is assembled,consisting of 25 aerogels connected in series,capable of delivering a maximum output power of 400μW when subjected to a temperature difference of 300 K.This demonstrates its outstanding high-temperature heat harvesting capability and promising application prospects for real-time temperature monitoring on industrial high-temperature pipelines.Moreover,the designed self-powered wearable sensing glove can realize precise wide-range temperature detection,high-temperature warning and accurate recognition of human hand gestures.The aerogel-based intelligent wearable sensing system developed for firefighters demonstrates the desired self-powered and highly sensitive high-temperature fire warning capability.Benefitting from these desirable properties,the elastic and high-temperature-resistant aerogels present various promising applications including self-powered high-temperature monitoring,industrial overheat warning,waste heat energy recycling and even wearable healthcare.

Enhanced High-Temperature Energy Storage Performance of All-Organic Composite Dielectric via Constructing Fiber-Re in forced Structure

Optimizing the high-temperature energy storage characteristics of energy storage dielectrics is of great significance for the development of pulsed power devices and power control systems.Selecting a polymer with a higher glass transition temperature(T_(g))as the matrix is one of the effective ways to increase the upper limit of the polymer operating temperature.However,current high-T_(g)polymers have limitations,and it is difficult to meet the demand for high-temperature energy storage dielectrics with only one polymer.For example,polyetherimide has high-energy storage efficiency,but low breakdown strength at high temperatures.Polyimide has high corona resistance,but low high-temperature energy storage efficiency.In this work,combining the advantages of two polymer,a novel high-T_(g)polymer fiber-reinforced microstructure is designed.Polyimide is designed as extremely fine fibers distributed in the composite dielectric,which will facilitate the reduction of high-temperature conductivity loss for polyimide.At the same time,due to the high-temperature resistance and corona resistance of polyimide,the high-temperature breakdown strength of the composite dielectric is enhanced.After the polyimide content with the best high-temperature energy storage characteristics is determined,molecular semiconductors(ITIC)are blended into the polyimide fibers to further improve the high-temperature efficiency.Ultimately,excellent high-temperature energy storage properties are obtained.The 0.25 vol%ITIC-polyimide/polyetherimide composite exhibits high-energy density and high discharge efficiency at 150℃(2.9 J cm^(-3),90%)and 180℃(2.16 J cm^(-3),90%).This work provides a scalable design idea for high-performance all-organic high-temperature energy storage dielectrics.

TiN/Fe_(2)N/C composite with stable and broadband high-temperature microwave absorption

Facing the complex variable high-temperature environment,electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorbing materials maintaining high stability and satisfying absorbing properties is essential.This study focused on the synthesis and EMW absorbing performance evaluation of TiN/Fe_(2)N/C composite materials,which were prepared using electrostatic spinning followed by a high-temperature nitridation process.The TiN/Fe_(2)N/C fibers constructed a well-developed conductive network that generates considerable conduction loss.The heterogeneous interfaces between different components generated a significant level of interfacial polarization.Thanks to the synergistic effect of stable dielectric loss and optimized impedance matching,the TiN/Fe_(2)N/C composite materials demonstrated excellent and stable absorption performance across a wide temperature range(293-453 K).Moreover,TiN/Fe_(2)N/C-15 achieved a minimum reflection loss(RL)of−48.01 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)of 3.64 GHz at 2.1 mm and 373 K.This work provides new insights into the development of high-efficiency and stabile EMW absorbing materials under complex variable high-temperature conditions.

HZSM-5 zeolites undergoing the high-temperature process for boosting the bimolecular reaction in n-heptane catalytic cracking

High-temperature treatment is key to the preparation of zeolite catalysts.Herein,the effects of hightemperature treatment on the property and performance of HZSM-5 zeolites were studied in this work.X-Ray diffraction,N2physisorption,27Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance(MAS NMR),and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia results indicated that the hightemperature treatment at 650℃ hardly affected the inherent crystal and texture of HZSM-5zeolites but facilitated the conversion of framework Al to extra-framework Al,reducing the acid site and enhancing the acid strength.Moreover,the high-temperature treatment improved the performance of HZSM-5 zeolites in n-heptane catalytic cracking,promoting the conversion and light olefins yield while inhibiting coke formation.Based on the kinetic and mechanism analysis,the improvement of HZSM-5 performance caused by high-temperature treatment has been attributed to the formation of extra-framework Al,which enhanced the acid strength,facilitated the bimolecular reaction,and promoted the entropy change to overcome a higher energy barrier in n-heptane catalytic cracking.

Synergistic effect of Zr and Mo on precipitation and high-temperature properties of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys

This study focuses on finding a solution to the sharp decline in mechanical properties of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys due to rapid coarsening of traditional intermediate phases at high temperature.A new type of modified al oy,to be used in automobile engines at high temperatures,was prepared by adding Zr and Mo into Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy.The synergistic effects of Zr and Mo on the microstructure evolution and high-temperature mechanical properties were studied.Results show that the addition of Zr and Mo generates a series of intermetallic phases dispersed in the alloy.They can improve the strength of the alloy by hindering dislocation movement and crack propagation.In addition,some nano-strengthened phases show coherent interfaces with the matrix and improve grain refinement.The addition of Mo greatly improves the heat resistance of the alloy.The extremely low diffusivity of Mo enables it to improve the thermal stability of the intermetallic phases,inhibit precipitation during aging,reduce the size of the precipitates,and improve the heat resistance of the alloy.

A review of in-situ high-temperature characterizations for understanding the processes in metallurgical engineering

For the rational manipulation of the production quality of high-temperature metallurgical engineering,there are many challenges in understanding the processes involved because of the black box chemical/electrochemical reactors.To overcome this issue,various in-situ characterization methods have been recently developed to analyze the interactions between the composition,microstructure,and solid-liquid interface of high-temperature electrochemical electrodes and molten salts.In this review,recent progress of in-situ hightemperature characterization techniques is discussed to summarize the advances in understanding the processes in metallurgical engineering.In-situ high-temperature technologies and analytical methods mainly include synchrotron X-ray diffraction(s-XRD),laser scanning confocal microscopy,and X-ray computed microtomography(X-rayμ-CT),which are important platforms for analyzing the structure and morphology of the electrodes to reveal the complexity and variability of their interfaces.In addition,laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy,high-temperature Raman spectroscopy,and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy provide microscale characterizations of the composition and structure of molten salts.More importantly,the combination of X-rayμ-CT and s-XRD techniques enables the investigation of the chemical reaction mechanisms at the two-phase interface.Therefore,these in-situ methods are essential for analyzing the chemical/electrochemical kinetics of high-temperature reaction processes and establishing the theoretical principles for the efficient and stable operation of chemical/electrochemical metallurgical processes.

Research progress and future prospects in the service security of key blast furnace equipment

The safety and longevity of key blast furnace(BF)equipment determine the stable and low-carbon production of iron.This pa-per presents an analysis of the heat transfer characteristics of these components and the uneven distribution of cooling water in parallel pipes based on hydrodynamic principles,discusses the feasible methods for the improvement of BF cooling intensity,and reviews the pre-paration process,performance,and damage characteristics of three key equipment pieces:coolers,tuyeres,and hearth refractories.Fur-thermoere,to attain better control of these critical components under high-temperature working conditions,we propose the application of optimized technologies,such as BF operation and maintenance technology,self-repair technology,and full-lifecycle management techno-logy.Finally,we propose further researches on safety assessments and predictions for key BF equipment under new operating conditions.

An Improved Solov2 Based on Attention Mechanism and Weighted Loss Function for Electrical Equipment Instance Segmentation

The current existing problem of deep learning framework for the detection and segmentation of electrical equipment is dominantly related to low precision.Because of the reliable,safe and easy-to-operate technology provided by deep learning-based video surveillance for unmanned inspection of electrical equipment,this paper uses the bottleneck attention module(BAM)attention mechanism to improve the Solov2 model and proposes a new electrical equipment segmentation mode.Firstly,the BAM attention mechanism is integrated into the feature extraction network to adaptively learn the correlation between feature channels,thereby improving the expression ability of the feature map;secondly,the weighted sum of CrossEntropy Loss and Dice loss is designed as the mask loss to improve the segmentation accuracy and robustness of the model;finally,the non-maximal suppression(NMS)algorithm to better handle the overlap problem in instance segmentation.Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves an average segmentation accuracy of mAP of 80.4% on three types of electrical equipment datasets,including transformers,insulators and voltage transformers,which improve the detection accuracy by more than 5.7% compared with the original Solov2 model.The segmentation model proposed can provide a focusing technical means for the intelligent management of power systems.

Natural Lignin:A Sustainable and Cost-Effective Electrode Material for High-Temperature Na-Ion Battery

Rechargeable sodium-ion batteries usually suffer from accelerated electrode destruction at high temperatures and high synthesis costs of electrode materials.Therefore,it is highly desirable to explore novel organic electrodes considering their cost-effectiveness and large adaptability to volume changes.Herein,natural biomass,pristine lignin,is employed as the sodium-ion battery anodes,and their sodium storage performance is investigated at room temperature and 60℃.The lignin anodes exhibit excellent high-temperature sodium-ion battery performance.This mainly results from the generation of abundant reactive sites(C=O)due to the high temperature-induced homogeneous cleavage of the C_(β)-O bond in the lignin macromolecule.This work can inspire researchers to explore other natural organic materials for large-scale applications and high-value utilization in advanced energy storage devices.

Project⁃based Pollutant Emission Control of Diesel Construction Equipment

This paper examines project⁃based policies and regulations implemented globally to control and mitigate emissions from diesel⁃powered construction equipment.This study systematically reviews and analyzes various managerial,regulatory,and technical measures adopted across countries and regions,mostly of advanced economy.Key strategies of control include setting emission thresholds,idling restrictions,perform remote online monitoring,operational time limits,setting low emission zones,and enforced registration systems.The review highlights the rationale,implementation details,and experiences gained from these localized approaches,reduces localized emission sources,improve urban air quality and environmental management efficiency.

Simplified prediction models for acoustic installation effects of train-mounted equipment

Acoustic models of railway vehicles in standstill and pass-by conditions can be used as part of a virtual certification process for new trains.For each piece of auxiliary equipment,the sound power measured on a test bench is combined with meas-ured or predicted transfer functions.It is important,however,to allow for installation effects due to shielding by fairings or the train body.In the current work,fast-running analytical models are developed to determine these installation effects.The model for roof-mounted sources takes account of diffraction at the corner of the train body or fairing,using a barrier model.For equipment mounted under the train,the acoustic propagation from the sides of the source is based on free-field Green’s functions.The bottom surfaces are assumed to radiate initially into a cavity under the train,which is modelled with a simple diffuse field approach.The sound emitted from the gaps at the side of the cavity is then assumed to propagate to the receivers according to free-field Green’s functions.Results show good agreement with a 2.5D boundary element model and with measurements.Modelling uncertainty and parametric uncertainty are evaluated.The largest variability occurs due to the height and impedance of the ground,especially for a low receiver.This leads to standard deviations of up to 4 dB at low frequencies.For the roof-mounted sources,uncertainty over the location of the corner used in the equivalent barrier model can also lead to large standard deviations.

Power equipment vibration visualization using intelligent sensing method based on event-sensing principle

Vibration measurements can be used to evaluate the operation status of power equipment and are widely applied in equipment quality inspection and fault identification.Event-sensing technology can sense the change in surface light intensity caused by object vibration and provide a visual description of vibration behavior.Based on the analysis of the principle underlying the transformation of vibration behavior into event flow data by an event sensor,this paper proposes an algorithm to reconstruct event flow data into a relationship correlating vibration displacement and time to extract the amplitude-frequency characteristics of the vibration signal.A vibration measurement test platform is constructed,and feasibility and effectiveness tests are performed for the vibration motor and other power equipment.The results show that event-sensing technology can effectively perceive the surface vibration behavior of power and provide a wide dynamic range.Furthermore,the vibration measurement and visualization algorithm for power equipment constructed using this technology offers high measurement accuracy and efficiency.The results of this study provide a new noncontact and visual method for locating vibrations and performing amplitude-frequency analysis on power equipment.

Hybrid 2D/3D Graphitic Carbon Nitride-Based High-Temperature Position-Sensitive Detector

Ultraviolet position-sensitive detectors(PSDs)are expected to undergo harsh environments,such as high temperatures,for a wide variety of applications in military,civilian,and aerospace.However,no report on relevant PSDs operating at high temperatures can be found up to now.Herein,we design a new 2D/3D graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))/gallium nitride(GaN)hybrid heterojunction to construct the ultraviolet high-temperature-resistant PSD.The g-C_(3)N_(4)/GaN PSD exhibits a high position sensitivity of 355 mV mm^(-1),a rise/fall response time of 1.7/2.3 ms,and a nonlinearity of 0.5%at room temperature.The ultralow formation energy of-0.917 eV atom^(-1)has been obtained via the thermodynamic phase stability calculations,which endows g-C_(3)N_(4)with robust stability against heat.By merits of the strong built-in electric field of the 2D/3D hybrid heterojunction and robust thermo-stability of g-C_(3)N_(4),the g-C_(3)N_(4)/GaN PSD delivers an excellent position sensitivity and angle detection nonlinearity of 315 mV mm^(-1)and 1.4%,respectively,with high repeatability at a high temperature up to 700 K,outperforming most of the other counterparts and even commercial silicon-based devices.This work unveils the high-temperature PSD,and pioneers a new path to constructing g-C_(3)N_(4)-based harsh-environment-tolerant optoelectronic devices.

Dynamic Response of Foundations during Startup of High-Frequency Tunnel Equipment

The specialized equipment utilized in long-line tunnel engineering is evolving towards large-scale,multifunctional,and complex orientations.The vibration caused by the high-frequency units during regular operation is supported by the foundation of the units,and the magnitude of vibration and the operating frequency fluctuate in different engineering contexts,leading to variations in the dynamic response of the foundation.The high-frequency units yield significantly diverse outcomes under different startup conditions and times,resulting in failure to meet operational requirements,influencing the normal function of the tunnel,and causing harm to the foundation structure,personnel,and property in severe cases.This article formulates a finite element numerical computation model for solid elements using three-dimensional elastic body theory and integrates field measurements to substantiate and ascertain the crucial parameter configurations of the finite element model.By proposing a comprehensive startup timing function for high-frequency dynamic machines under different startup conditions,simulating the frequency andmagnitude variations during the startup process,and suggesting functions for changes in frequency and magnitude,a simulated startup schedule function for high-frequency machines is created through coupling.Taking into account the selection of the transient dynamic analysis step length,the dynamic response results for the lower dynamic foundation during its fundamental frequency crossing process are obtained.The validation checks if the structural magnitude surpasses the safety threshold during the critical phase of unit startup traversing the structural resonance region.The design recommendations for high-frequency units’dynamic foundations are provided,taking into account the startup process of the machine and ensuring the safe operation of the tunnel.

A Novel Fracturing Fluid with High-Temperature Resistance for Ultra-Deep Reservoirs

Ultra-deep reservoirs play an important role at present in fossil energy exploitation.Due to the related high temperature,high pressure,and high formation fracture pressure,however,methods for oil well stimulation do not produce satisfactory results when conventional fracturing fluids with a low pumping rate are used.In response to the above problem,a fracturing fluid with a density of 1.2~1.4 g/cm^(3)was developed by using Potassium formatted,hydroxypropyl guanidine gum and zirconium crosslinking agents.The fracturing fluid was tested and its ability to maintain a viscosity of 100 mPa.s over more than 60 min was verified under a shear rate of 1701/s and at a temperature of 175℃.This fluid has good sand-carrying performances,a low viscosity after breaking the rubber,and the residue content is less than 200 mg/L.Compared with ordinary reconstruction fluid,it can increase the density by 30%~40%and reduce the wellhead pressure of 8000 m level reconstruction wells.Moreover,the new fracturing fluid can significantly mitigate safety risks.

Novel Method for Evaluating the Aging of Aviation Turbine Engine Oils via High-Temperature Bearing Deposit Tests

Aviation turbine engine oils require excellent thermal-oxidative stability because of their high-temperature environments.High-temperature bearing deposit testing is a mandatory method for measuring the thermal-oxidative performance of aviation lubricant oils,and the relevant apparatus was improved in the present study.Two different commercial aviation turbine engine oils were tested,one with standard performance(known as the SL oil)and the other with high thermal stability,and their thermal-oxidative stability characteristics were evaluated.After 100 h of high-temperature bearing testing,the SL oil was analyzed by using various analytical techniques to investigate its thermal-oxidative process in the bearing test,with its thermal-oxidative degradation mechanism also being discussed.The results indicate that the developed high-temperature bearing apparatus easily meets the test requirements of method 3410.1 in standard FED-STD-791D.The viscosity and total acid number(TAN)of the SL oil increased with the bearing test time,and various deposits were produced in the bearing test,with the micro-particles of the carbon deposits being sphere-like,rod-like,and sheet-like in appearance.The antioxidant additives in the oil were consumed very rapidly in the first 30 h of the bearing test,with N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine being consumed faster than dioctyldiphenylamine.Overall,the oil thermal-oxidative process involves very complex physical and chemical mechanisms.

VR-based digital twin for remote monitoring of mining equipment:Architecture and a case study

Background Traditional methods for monitoring mining equipment rely primarily on visual inspections,which are time-consuming,inefficient,and hazardous.This article introduces a novel approach to monitoring mission-critical systems and services in the mining industry by integrating virtual reality(VR)and digital twin(DT)technologies.VR-based DTs enable remote equipment monitoring,advanced analysis of machine health,enhanced visualization,and improved decision making.Methods This article presents an architecture for VR-based DT development,including the developmental stages,activities,and stakeholders involved.A case study on the condition monitoring of a conveyor belt using real-time synthetic vibration sensor data was conducted using the proposed methodology.The study demonstrated the application of the methodology in remote monitoring and identified the need for further development for implementation in active mining operations.The article also discusses interdisciplinarity,choice of tools,computational resources,time and cost,human involvement,user acceptance,frequency of inspection,multiuser environment,potential risks,and applications beyond the mining industry.Results The findings of this study provide a foundation for future research in the domain of VR-based DTs for remote equipment monitoring and a novel application area for VR in mining.

High-performance and robust high-temperature polymer electrolyte membranes with moderate microphase separation by implementation of terphenyl-based polymers

Acid loss and plasticization of phosphoric acid(PA)-doped high-temperature polymer electrolyte membranes(HT-PEMs)are critical limitations to their practical application in fuel cells.To overcome these barriers,poly(terphenyl piperidinium)s constructed from the m-and p-isomers of terphenyl were synthesized to regulate the microstructure of the membrane.Highly rigid p-terphenyl units prompt the formation of moderate PA aggregates,where the ion-pair interaction between piperidinium and biphosphate is reinforced,leading to a reduction in the plasticizing effect.As a result,there are trade-offs between the proton conductivity,mechanical strength,and PA retention of the membranes with varied m/p-isomer ratios.The designed PA-doped PTP-20m membrane exhibits superior ionic conductivity,good mechanical strength,and excellent PA retention over a wide range of temperature(80–160°C)as well as satisfactory resistance to harsh accelerated aging tests.As a result,the membrane presents a desirable combination of performance(1.462 W cm^(-2) under the H_(2)/O_(2)condition,which is 1.5 times higher than that of PBI-based membrane)and durability(300 h at 160°C and 0.2 A cm^(-2))in the fuel cell.The results of this study provide new insights that will guide molecular design from the perspective of microstructure to improve the performance and robustness of HT-PEMs.

Radiographic Equipment and Accessories as a Potential Source of Nosocomial Infection

Background: Nosocomial infections have become a major challenge in healthcare facilities as they affect the quality of medical care. Radiological imaging plays a crucial role in medical diagnosis. However, the equipment and accessories used increase the risk of transmission of nosocomial bacteria. Objective: This study aims to reveal the extent and nature of microbiological contamination in four hospital diagnostic imaging departments to determine their potential role in the spread of nosocomial bacteria and to evaluate the effectiveness of routine daily disinfection practices in controlling microorganisms in diagnostic imaging departments. Methods & Results: In each department, swabs were taken from the surfaces of selected parts of the equipment and accessories three times a day (early morning, noon, and evening) for five consecutive days. Bacteria were isolated from 65 swabs (36.1% of all samples). The bacteria were isolated 3 times (4.6%) in the morning, 16 times (24.6%) at midday, and 46 times (70.7%) in the evening. The bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli (isolated 34 times;52.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (20 times;30.8%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (6 times;9.3%), and Klebsiella species (5 times;7.7%). Discussion & Conclusion: Findings demonstrated that radiology equipment and accessories are not free of bacteria and further improvements in the sterilization and disinfection of radiology equipment and accessories are needed to protect staff and patients from nosocomial infections.

Issue of Managing Waste Computer Equipment in Conakry City (Republic of Guinea)

The digitization of administrative activities is a technique that not only optimizes resources, but also professionalizes the working methods of public and private services. This dematerialization process involves technologies based on computer equipment, which, after use, becomes cumbersome waste. The aim targeted consisted of taking stock of the management of waste computer equipment imported into the Republic of Guinea, with a view of proposing a mode of environmentally sustainable management methods in a short time. To achieve this, the data was collected through investigation methods (observations, interviews, and questionnaires). This study reveals an excess of imports of electrical and electronic equipment in general, and computer equipment in particular, over the last ten years (2009-2019), With an import rate ranging from 4.03 to 54.45%. This study demonstrated the different ways in which computer and electronic equipment of all kinds are managed, with her failings. This study demonstrated the different ways in which computer and electronic equipment of all kinds are managed, as well as their failings. For this purpose, the different ways in which electronic waste is managed by different users were identified as storage, recycling, or rejection into nature or at waste storage points, often mixed with household waste. Companies specializing in the management of this type of waste and the presence of a certain number of regulatory texts almost do not exist. One company is only for the entire country but unknown to the majority of users.