Transient thermo-mechanical analysis for bimorph soft robot based on thermally responsive liquid crystal elastomers

Thermally responsive liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) hold great promise in applications of soft robots and actuators because of the induced size and shape change with temperature. Experiments have successfully demonstrated that the LCE based bimorphs can be effective soft robots once integrated with soft sensors and thermal actuators. Here, we present an analytical transient thermo-mechanical model for a bimorph structure based soft robot, which consists of a strip of LCE and a thermal inert polymer actuated by an ultra-thin stretchable open-mesh shaped heater to mimic the unique locomotion behaviors of an inchworm. The coupled mechanical and thermal analysis based on the thermo-mechanical theory is carried out to underpin the transient bending behavior, and a systematic understanding is therefore achieved. The key analytical results reveal that the thickness and the modulus ratio of the LCE and the inert polymer layer dominate the transient bending deformation. The analytical results will not only render fundamental understanding of the actuation of bimorph structures, but also facilitate the rational design of soft robotics.

PREPARATION OF MICROPOROUS ULTRA HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE (UHMWPE) BY THERMALLY INDUCED PHASE SEPARATION OF A UHMWPE/LIQUID PARAFFIN MIXTURE

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with a microporous structure was prepared via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS).Liquid paraffin (LP) was used as a diluent in the preparation of microporous UHMWPE. Small angle laser light scattering (SALLS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to determine the phase separation temperatures,i.e.the cloud points and the dynamic crystallization temperatures,respectively.It was found that the cloudI points were coincident with the cryst...

Thermal stability of proteins in the presence of aprotic ionic liquids

Thermal stability of lysozyme dissolved in aqueous solutions was examined in the presence of water-miscible aprotic ionic liquids consisting of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium cation and several kinds of anions. Addition of ionic liquids to an aqueous solution containing lysozyme prevented unfolded proteins from aggregating irreversibly at high temperatures. The thermal denaturation curve of lysozyme with ionic liquids was entirely shifted to higher temperature, compared with that without ionic liquids. The remaining activity of lysozyme after the heat treatment was markedly dependent upon the kind and concentration of ionic liquids. The remaining activi-ties of lysozyme with 1.5 M 1-ethyl-3-methylimida-zolium tetrafluoroborate ([emim][BF4]) and 0.1 M 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([emim][Tf]) exhibited 88 and 68% after the heat treatment at 90oC for 30 min, respectively, although that without ionic liquids was perfectly lost.

Solvent-free Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Thermal Stability of Ionic Liquid 1-Hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium Bromide

Ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide [C16mim]Br was synthesized by solvent-free alkylation of N-methylimidzole with hexadecyl bromide. A large transparent single crystal of 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide monohydrate （[C16mim]Br·H2O）, 4 mm in length, was firstly obtained in the water-trichloromethane-toluene growth system （Vwater＇Vtrichloromethane＇Vtoluene = 0.1：1：2）. The crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. It crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with a = 5.4962（15）, b = 7.839（2）, c = 27.279（8） A, α = 94.375, β = 91.500, γ = 101.999°, Z = 2, V = 1145.2（5） A3, C20H41BrN2O, Mr = 405.46, Dc = 1.176 Mg/m3, μ = 1.804 mm^-1, F（000） = 436, the final R = 0.0523 and wR = 0.1345. The 3D supramolecular structure is constructed through weak interactions between imidazolium cations, Br- anions and lattice water molecules. The long alkyl chain to the imidazolium ring and lattice water molecules play an important role in the self-assembly process. Moreover, it is proposed that [C16mim]Br in water has aggregation behavior and the possible self-assembled structure is the interdigitated pattern. Finally, thermal stability of [C16mim][Br]·H2O was also studied by DSC and TGA analysis.

Approximate solutions for the problem of liquid film flow over an unsteady stretching sheet with thermal radiation and magnetic field

The proposed method is based on replacement of the unknown function by a truncated series of the shifted Legendre polynomial expansion. An approximate formula of the integer derivative is introduced. Special attention is given to study the convergence analysis and derive an upper bound of the error for the presented approximate formula. The introduced method converts the proposed equation by means of collocation points to a system of algebraic equations with shifted Legendre coefficients. Thus, after solving this system of equations, the shifted Legendre coefficients are obtained. This efficient numerical method is used to solve the system of ordinary differential equations which describe the thin film flow and heat transfer with the effects of the thermal radiation, magnetic field, and slip velocity.

Techno-Economic Evaluation of Thermal and Catalytic Pyrolysis Plants for the Conversion of Heterogeneous Waste Plastics to Liquid Fuels in Nigeria

Techno-economic potentials of thermal and catalytic pyrolysis plants for the conversion of waste plastics to liquid fuels have been widely studied, but it is not obvious which of the two plants is more profitable, as the existing studies used different assumptions and cost bases in their analyses, thereby making it difficult to compare the economic potentials of the two plants. In this study, industrial-scale thermal and catalytic waste plastics pyrolysis plants were designed and economically analyzed using ASPEN PLUS. Amorphous silica-alumina was considered the optimum catalyst, with 3:1 feed to catalyst ratio. Based on 20,000 tons/year of feed and 20% interest rate, the catalytic plant, having a net present value (NPV) of &#83582208 million, was found to be economically less attractive than the thermal plant, having the NPV of &#83582426.4 million. On the contrary, sensitivity analyses of the two plants at a feed rate of 50,000 tons/year gave rise to a slightly higher NPV for the catalytic plant (&#83589861 million) than the thermal plant having NPV of &#83589838 million, thereby making the former more economically attractive for processing large amounts of waste plastics into liquid fuels. Consequently, as the catalytic plant showed a better scale economy and would produce higher quality liquid fuels than the thermal plant, it is recommended for commercialization in Nigeria.

Thermal Simulation for Two-Phase Liquid Cooling 3D-ICs

This work presents an algorithm for simulating more accurate temperature distribution in two-phase liquid cooling for three-dimensional integrated circuits than the state of-the-art methods by utilizing local multi-linear interpolation techniques on heat transfer coefficients between the microchannel and silicon substrate, and considering the interdependence between the thermal conductivity of silicon and temperature values. The experimental results show that the maximum and average errors are only 9.7% and 6.7% compared with the measurements, respectively.

Modeling the Interaction between a Thermal Flow and a Liquid: Review and Future Eulerian-Lagrangian Approaches

Suspension Plasma Spraying is a complex process in which several physical mechanisms play a part. So the modeling and understanding of the interaction between a high-velocity and thermal flow and a liquid precursor phase is of major importance concerning the control and characterization of the process. The liquid droplet size distribution has a high influence on the kinetic properties of the as-sprayed nanometer particles before impacting on a target substrate. An overview of existing models is provided dealing with the penetration of the liquid phase into the thermal flame and the resulting fragmentation and vaporization of this phase before impact. The physical characteristics of the flow as well as existing Lagrangian and Eulerian modeling strategies are briefly discussed while paying attention to the physical parameters characterized and measured by numerical simulation. The potential of the various models and also their limits are intended to be highlighted. Future coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian modeling strategies are also proposed for a global and more exhaustive representation of the injection, fragmentation and dispersion part of the two-phase gas-liquid flow before particle impact on the substrate.

Thermal Decomposition of Bamboo Phyllostachys Edulis Pretreated with Ionic Liquids-Water Mixtures

The ionic liquid (IL)-water mixture pretreated bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) samples were applied in the research of thermal decomposition. [BMIM]Cl (1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride)- water and [BMIM]BF4 (1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate)-water were used in pretreatment process. Compositions of the untreated bamboo and pretreated bamboo were compared. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) were analyzed to explain the effect of ILs mixture on cellulose crystalline structure. The pretreated cellulose with [BMIM]Cl&#45 water mixture was tend to produce the more gaseous products, which were associated with the decomposition rate. The behavior of more CO and CH4 gaseous products and less tar in the thermal decomposition products could be attributed to ILs-water mixture pretreatment process. The potential and some problems of ILs-water mixture pretreatment method applied in thermal chemical conversion methods were also discussed.

PHASE STRUCTURE AND THERMAL BEHAVIOR OF LIQUID CRYSTALLINE MULTI-BLOCK COPOLYMERS,POLY[1,6-BIS(4-OXYBENZOYL-OXY)HEXANE TEREPHTHALATE]-b-BISPHENOL A POLYCARBONATE

Liquid crystalline multi-block copolymers poly[1,6-bis(4-oxybenzoyl-oxy)hexane terephthalate]-b-bisphenol A polycarbonate (PHTH-6-b-PC) with different segments of polycarbonate (PC) and thermotropic polyester PHTH-6 were synthesized in tetrachloroethane at 144 similar to 146 degrees C. The influence of segment length on the resulting phase structure and thermal behavior of block copolymers was also discussed. It is demonstrated by TEM and DMA that the resulting block copolymers show a considerable microphase separation. The degree of phase separation and the thermal behavior of the block copolymers are strongly dependent on the molecular weight of the segments incorporated.

光学舱推进剂补加过程的热分析仿真与试验研究

推进剂补加是确保光学舱在轨长寿命工作的重要功能,补加过程面临的热环境条件比以往任务恶劣,全过程热控制十分必要。针对光学舱推进剂补加过程的复杂传热新问题,建立包含压气机、液冷模块和环路热管等部件的光学舱平台集成热数学模型,进行热分析仿真研究,并开展系统级热试验。对比高温和低温2种补加条件的瞬态热分析和热试验结果,研究传热关系和温度变化规律;针对热试验中垂直热管因重力因素从不运行至运行的瞬态过程,提出一种变热导率仿真方法;提出高温补加优化设计方案并进行在轨预示。结果表明:瞬态仿真结果与试验结果吻合良好,验证了热分析方法和仿真模型的准确性和有效性;在轨补加采用压气机本体预热并启动2套环路热管,压气机的最高温度≤34.1℃,预热总功耗50 Wh,满足指标要求。研究结果对于光学舱停靠空间站期间的推进剂补加流程设计具有一定参考价值。

动力电池温度集成控制系统设计与研究

本文以非公路机械动力锂电池为研究对象,围绕动力电池低温加热与高温散热两大关键环节,开展动力电池温度集成控制系统设计与研究。鉴于温度对电池性能及寿命的影响,本文采用挤压成型的铝制型材液冷板,长圆形冷却液道截面,并行布置于模组底部与侧面的方式,实现电池模组的多方向冷却。同时,在电池模组两侧加装电阻式加热片,可使低温下的电池快速升温至适宜温度,确保动力电池发挥良好的充放电性能。动力电池温度集成控制系统能够有效解决电池模组单体电芯温差过大等问题,为动力电池安全高效工作提供强有力保障。

THERMAL DEGRADATION OF THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE TERPOLYESTERS BASED ON VANILLIC ACID, p-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID AND POLY(ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE )

Nine thermotropic liquid crystalline terpolyesters based on vaniUic acid(V), p-hydroxybenzoic acid(H) and poly(ethylene terephthalate)(E) were investigated by thermogravimetry to ascertain their thermostability and the kinetic parameters for thermal degradation. Overall activation energy data of the degradation had been calculated over the range 5 ～ 70% weight loss. The temperatures and the activation energy of the degradation lie in the ranges of 384 ～ 394 ℃ at a heating rate of 1℃/min and 176 ～ 205 KJ/mol at the weight loss of 5%, respectively, which suggests that the terpolyesters have good thermostability.

基于低损耗热压缩的新型液氢加氢站工艺系统构建

为解决国内现有液氢加氢站中核心设备短期内无法实现国产化以及液氢站加注过程中氢浪费量过大等问题,基于机械压缩增压和热压缩增压机理,构建了基于低损耗热压缩的新型液氢加氢站工艺系统,并利用Aspen HYSYS软件对该新型液氢加氢站工艺系统进行了稳态模拟,得出了系统运行工况参数,确定了优化工艺方案。在此基础上对现有液氢加氢站和新型液氢加氢站系统及其热压缩模块分别进行了能耗分析,结果表明,现有的“增压与汽化并行”式液氢加氢站系统比能耗为0.912 kWh/kg,而低损耗热压缩的新型液氢加氢站系统比能耗为0.322 kWh/kg,其比能耗比现有液氢加氢站降低了64.8%。这表明基于低损耗热压缩的新型液氢加氢站系统更节能,系统中关键部件的[火用]效率也更高。

随钻式含油钻屑无害化循环利用技术研究

废弃油基及合成基(气制油)钻井液钻屑资源回收价值高,再生循环利用技术处理含油钻屑,不仅具有经济价值,还具有明显的环境效益。针对含油岩屑特性,基于回收废水和回收基液性能、固体废渣检测和经济性评价,对撬装随钻式含油钻屑热降解循环利用装置进行评价。现场应用研究表明,使用撬装式多回程电磁加热解析技术处理含油钻屑,可以实现含油钻屑减量化、无害化和资源化,从而实现连续生产,解决了随钻含油钻屑处置及资源化利用技术难题。

热处理橡胶木中糠醛及5−甲基糠醛测定方法研究

建立高效液相色谱方法,使用C_(18)色谱柱,以甲醇-水(75∶25,V/V)为流动相,流速1.0 mL/min,糠醛和5-甲基糠醛的检测波长分别为271、284 nm,保留时间分别为4.969、9.246 min,可以同时准确测定糠醛和5-甲基糠醛的含量。结果表明:测定方法具有简便易操作、灵敏度高、重复性好的优点;优化了橡胶木中糠醛和5-甲基糠醛的提取方法,用高效液相色谱法测定了橡胶木素材和不同温度(125、155、185℃)热处理橡胶木中糠醛和5-甲基糠醛的含量变化。随着热处理温度升高,热处理橡胶木中糠醛和5-甲基糠醛的含量由3.4μg/g和1.9μg/g逐渐升高至103.5μg/g和54.1μg/g,此结果为调控热处理橡胶木工艺提供参考。

混合固液锂离子电池的热失控行为研究

混合固液电解质锂离子电池是一种具有高能量密度、高安全性的储能器件,有望短期内实现产业化。本工作选择混合固液电解质(LATP和电解液)匹配高比容量活性材料(正极NCM811和负极C@SiO)为研究体系,采用绝热加速量热仪和气相色谱仪对全SOC及不同全寿命周期下混合固液电解质锂离子电池进行热失控模拟和产气组分分析,并通过超声检测仪分析不同寿命周期下电解液含量的变化情况。研究结果显示:该体系新鲜电池随荷电态的增加而热安全性降低,产气量增大,且可燃气体的占比会增加。随着循环容量的衰减,电池样品的热失控起始温度、最高产热速率以及产气量变化有所差异,在容量保持率为70%时热稳定性有所改善,结合超声分析结果推测与电解液转化成固态电解质有关。该工作初步探究了该体系电池的热失控行为,为后期内部机理解析和电池设计提供了支撑。

Measurement Method of Compressibility and Thermal Expansion Coefficients for Density Standard Liquid at 2329 kg/m^3 based on Hydrostatic Suspension Principle

The accurate measurement on the compressibility and thermal expansion coefficients of density standard liquid at 2329kg/m3（DSL-2329） plays an important role in the quality control for silicon single crystal manufacturing. A new method is developed based on hydrostatic suspension principle in order to determine the two coefficients with high measurement accuracy. Two silicon single crystal samples with known density are immersed into a sealed vessel full of DSL-2329. The density of liquid is adjusted with varying liquid temperature and static pressure, so that the hydrostatic suspension of two silicon single crystal samples is achieved. The compression and thermal expansion coefficients are then calculated by using the data of temperature and static pressure at the suspension state. One silicon single crystal sample can be suspended at different state, as long as the liquid temperature and static pressure function linearly according to a certain mathematical relationship. A hydrostatic suspension experimental system is devised with the maximal temperature control error ±50 μK; Silicon single crystal samples can be suspended by adapting the pressure following the PID method. By using the method based on hydrostatic suspension principle, the two key coefficients can be measured at the same time, and measurement precision can be improved due to avoiding the influence of liquid surface tension. This method was further validated experimentally, where the mixture of 1, 2, 3-tribromopropane and 1,2-dibromoethane is used as DSL-2329. The compressibility and thermal expansion coefficients were measured, as 8.5′10–4 K–1 and 5.4′10–10 Pa–1, respectively.

微通道内单一/混合流体强化传热研究进展

介绍了近年来微通道换热器内冷却介质强化换热的研究进展。阐述了纳米流体、液态金属以及潜热型功能热流体强化传热的机理;探讨了影响纳米流体传热性能的因素,包括纳米颗粒的种类、体积分数和温度等;讨论了增大液态金属传热系数的方法;分析了微胶囊壁材、相变材料和微胶囊的质量分数等对潜热型功能热流体热容的影响。指出了3种冷却介质目前尚存在的缺陷及相应的改善措施,对高热流密度设备散热问题中冷却介质的选取具有一定的指导意义。

固液界面热阻的温度依赖特性模拟研究

基于非平衡态分子动力学模拟方法,研究了系统温度及固液结合强度对固液界面传热的影响规律。模拟结果表明,固液界面热阻随着系统温度的升高而降低,并且亲水性界面的界面热阻温度依赖性较弱。基于微观热流密度计算式的分析表明,随着系统温度升高,动能项和维里项的贡献均逐渐增大,因而固液界面传热增强,但是动能项占比逐渐增大,维里项占比逐渐降低;随着固液结合强度逐渐增大,界面吸附效应增强,维里项贡献明显增大,这是较强的固液相互作用能够强化界面传热的主要原因。