Study on the gamma rays and neutrons energy response optimization of a scintillating fiber detector for EAST with Geant4

A new scintillating fiber detector inside magnetic shielding tube was designed and assembled for use in the next round of fusion experiments in the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak to provide D–T neutron yield with time resolution.In this study,Geant4 simulations were used to obtain the pulse height spectra for ideal signals produced when detecting neutrons and gamma rays of multiple energies.One of the main sources of interference was found to be low-energy neutrons below 10–5 MeV,which can generate numerous secondary particles in the detector components,such as the magnetic shielding tube,leading to high-amplitude output signals.To address this issue,a compact thermal neutron shield containing a 1-mm Cd layer outside the magnetic shielding tube and a 5-mm inner Pb layer was specifically designed.Adverse effects on the measurement of fast neutrons and the shielding effect on gamma rays were considered.This can suppress the height of the signals caused by thermal neutrons to a level below the height corresponding to neutrons above 4 MeV because the yield of the latter is used for detector calibration.In addition,the detector has relatively flat sensitivity curves in the fast neutron region,with the intrinsic detection efficiencies(IDEs)of approximately 40%.For gamma rays with energies that are not too high(<8 MeV),the IDEs of the detector are only approximately 20%,whereas for gamma rays below 1 MeV,the response curve cuts off earlier in the low-energy region,which is beneficial for avoiding counting saturation and signal accumulation.

Experimental Study on Ammonia Co-Firing with Coal for Carbon Reduction in the Boiler of a 300-MW Coal-Fired Power Station

To reduce CO_(2) emissions from coal-fired power plants,the development of low-carbon or carbon-free fuel combustion technologies has become urgent.As a new zero-carbon fuel,ammonia(NH_(3))can be used to address the storage and transportation issues of hydrogen energy.Since it is not feasible to completely replace coal with ammonia in the short term,the development of ammonia-coal co-combustion technology at the current stage is a fast and feasible approach to reduce CO_(2) emissions from coal-fired power plants.This study focuses on modifying the boiler and installing two layers of eight pure-ammonia burners in a 300-MW coal-fired power plant to achieve ammonia-coal co-combustion at proportions ranging from 20%to 10%(by heat ratio)at loads of 180-to 300-MW,respectively.The results show that,during ammonia-coal co-combustion in a 300-MW coal-fired power plant,there was a more significant change in NO_(x) emissions at the furnace outlet compared with that under pure-coal combustion as the boiler oxygen levels varied.Moreover,ammonia burners located in the middle part of the main combustion zone exhibited a better high-temperature reduction performance than those located in the upper part of the main combustion zone.Under all ammonia co-combustion conditions,the NH_(3) concentration at the furnace outlet remained below 1 parts per million(ppm).Compared with that under pure-coal conditions,the thermal efficiency of the boiler slightly decreased(by 0.12%-0.38%)under different loads when ammonia co-combustion reached 15 t·h^(-1).Ammonia co-combustion in coal-fired power plants is a potentially feasible technology route for carbon reduction.

A review of hard carbon anodes for rechargeable sodium-ion batteries

Hard carbons(HCs)are recognized as potential anode materials for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)because of their low cost,environmental friendliness,and the abundance of their precursors.The presence of graphitic domains,numerous pores,and disordered carbon layers in HCs plays a significant role in determining their sodium storage ability,but these structural features depend on the precursor used.The influence of functional groups,including heteroatoms and oxygen-containing groups,and the microstructure of the precursor on the physical and electrochemical properties of the HC produced are evaluated,and the effects of carbonization conditions(carbonization temperature,heating rate and atmosphere)are also discussed.

A Hybrid Approach for Predicting the Remaining Useful Life of Bearings Based on the RReliefF Algorithm and Extreme Learning Machine

Accurately predicting the remaining useful life(RUL)of bearings in mining rotating equipment is vital for mining enterprises.This research aims to distinguish the features associated with the RUL of bearings and propose a prediction model based on these selected features.This study proposes a hybrid predictive model to assess the RUL of rolling element bearings.The proposed model begins with the pre-processing of bearing vibration signals to reconstruct sixty time-domain features.The hybrid model selects relevant features from the sixty time-domain features of the vibration signal by adopting the RReliefF feature selection algorithm.Subsequently,the extreme learning machine(ELM)approach is applied to develop a predictive model of RUL based on the optimal features.The model is trained by optimizing its parameters via the grid search approach.The training datasets are adjusted to make them most suitable for the regression model using the cross-validation method.The proposed hybrid model is analyzed and validated using the vibration data taken from the public XJTU-SY rolling element-bearing database.The comparison is constructed with other traditional models.The experimental test results demonstrated that the proposed approach can predict the RUL of bearings with a reliable degree of accuracy.

Research on pumped storage and complementary energy development models for abandoned mines in China

Within the framework of achieving carbon neutrality,various industries are confronted with fresh challenges.The ongoing process of downsizing coal industry operations has evolved into a new phase,with the burgeoning proliferation of abandoned mines posing a persistent issue.Addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by these abandoned mines,this paper advocates for a scientific approach centered on the advancement of pumped storage energy alongside gas-oil complementary energy.Leveraging abandoned mine tunnels to establish pumped storage power stations holds significant ecological and economic importance for repurposing these sites.This initiative not only serves as an effective means to restore the ecological balance in mining regions but also provides an environmentally friendly approach to repurposing abandoned mine tunnels,offering a blueprint for economically viable pumped storage power stations.This article delineates five crucial scientific considerations and outlines seven primary models for the utilization of abandoned mine sites,delineating a novel,comprehensive pathway for energy and power development that emphasizes multi-energy complementarity and synergistic optimization within abandoned mines.

Theoretical analysis and engineering application of controllable shock wave technology for enhancing coalbed methane in soft and low‑permeability coal seams

Coalbed methane(CBM)is a significant factor in triggering coal and gas outburst disaster,while also serving as a clean fuel.With the increasing depth of mining operations,coal seams that exhibit high levels of gas content and low permeability have become increasingly prevalent.While controllable shockwave(CSW)technology has proven effective in enhancing CBM in laboratory settings,there is a lack of reports on its field applications in soft and low-permeability coal seams.This study establishes the governing equations for stress waves induced by CSW.Laplace numerical inversion was employed to analyse the dynamic response of the coal seam during CSW antireflection.Additionally,quantitative calculations were performed for the crushed zone,fracture zone,and effective CSW influence range,which guided the selection of field test parameters.The results of the field test unveiled a substantial improvement in the gas permeability coefficient,the average rate of pure methane flowrate,and the mean gas flowrate within a 10 m radius of the antireflection borehole.These enhancements were notable,showing increases of 3 times,13.72 times,and 11.48 times,respectively.Furthermore,the field test performed on the CSW antireflection gas extraction hole cluster demonstrated a noticeable improvement in CBM extraction.After antireflection,the maximum peak gas concentration and maximum peak pure methane flow reached 71.2%and 2.59 m^(3)/min,respectively.These findings will offer valuable guidance for the application of CSW antireflection technology in soft and low-permeability coal seams.

Surface evolution of thermoelectric material KCu_(4)Se_(3) explored by scanning tunneling microscopy

Novel two-dimensional thermoelectric materials have attracted significant attention in the field of thermoelectric due to their low lattice thermal conductivity.A comprehensive understanding of their microscopic structures is crucial for driving further the optimization of materials properties and developing novel functional materials.Here,by using in situ scanning tunneling microscopy,we report the atomic layer evolution and surface reconstruction on the cleaved thermoelectric material KCu_(4)Se_(3) for the first time.We clearly revealed each atomic layer,including the naturally cleaved K atomic layer,the intermediate Se^(2-)atomic layer,and the Se^(-)atomic layer that emerges in the thermodynamic-stable state.Departing from the maj ority of studies that predominantly concentrate on macroscopic measurements of the charge transport,our results reveal the coexistence of potassium disorder and complex reconstructed patterns of selenium,which potentially influences charge carrier and lattice dynamics.These results provide direct insight into the surface microstructures and evolution of KCu_(4)Se_(3),and shed useful light on designing functional materials with superior performance.

Selection of Fe as a barrier for manufacturing low-cost MgB2 multifilament wires-Advanced microscopy study between Fe and B reaction

The high cost of using the niobium(Nb)barrier for manufacturing magnesium diboride(MgB2)mono-and multi-filamentary wires for large-scale applications has become one of the barriers to replacing current commercial niobium-titanium superconductors.The potential of replacing the Nb barrier with a low-cost iron(Fe)barrier for multifilament MgB2 superconducting wires is investigated in this manuscript.Therefore,MgB2 wires with Fe barrier sintered with different temperatures are studied(from 650°C to 900°C for 1 h)to investigate the non-superconducting reaction phase of Fe-B.Their superconducting performance including engineering critical current density(Je)and n-value are tested at 4.2 K in various external magnetic fields.The best sample sintered at 650°C for 1 h has achieved a Je value of 3.64×10^(4) A cm^(−2) and an n-value of 61 in 2 T magnetic field due to the reduced formation of Fe2B,better grain connectivity and homogenous microstructure.For microstructural analysis,the focused ion beam(FIB)is utilised for the first time to acquire three-dimensional microstructures and elemental mappings of the interface between the Fe barrier and MgB2 core of different wires.The results have shown that if the sintering temperature can be controlled properly,the Je and n-value of the wire are still acceptable for magnet applications.The formation of Fe2B is identified along the edge of MgB2,as the temperature increases,the content of Fe2B also increases which causes the degradation in the performance of wires.

Accuracy validation of the deformation results of the inherent strain method based on vacuum vessel mockup

Welding is commonly employed to connect large-scale components in practical engineering.Predicting the resulting deforma-tion and residual stresses during the welding process is typically essential.The thermal-elastic-plastic method simulates the welding process by examining heat distribution and elastic-plastic stresses.Despite its high computational accuracy,this method is often time-consuming,rendering it less suitable for large component welding predictions.In contrast,the inherent strain method skips the welding process and fo-cuses on the inherent strain in the weld and joint areas post-welding.This method is fast and convenient,particularly suitable for the analysis of large and complex structures.The results show that the error rate is 4.6%when using the inherent strain method to calculate the welding deformation of the test plate.In the calculation of welded parts,the error rate is 5%,which is within the tolerance of the actual engineering.In this paper,the simulation accuracy of the deformation results of the inherent strain method is validated by simulating fusion vacuum ves-sel mockup,aiming to reduce the cost of welding analysis by using this method and to provide reference for practical welding applications.

Prospects for the transformation and development of carbon storage in abandoned mines of coal enterprises from the perspective ofcarbon neutrality

Under the carbon neutrality goal,coal enterprises must seek breakthroughs from abandoned mines,develop new resources in the new era,turn problems into countermeasures,and participate in the carbon emissions market,for contributing to the accomplishment of the national strategic goal of carbon neutrality.To this end,we investigated the relevant national policies and regulations to clarify the boundaries disclosed by the carbon information of enterprises,understood the development direction of carbon storage in abandoned mines,and clarified the transformation and development of carbon storage in aban-doned mines.We made a few suggestions:(1)China should learn from its past experience and other countries to develop the energy industry with Chinese characteristics and reform the economic system.(2)Coal enterprises must actively respond to the national carbon information disclosure policy,clarify their own responsibilities and carbon emission boundaries.(3)It is necessary to proactively obtain advanced knowledge and plan carbon storage pathways for abandoned mines.(4)Devel-opment problems of coal enterprises should be deduced using cases.The'dual carbon'goals should be achieved steadily step-by-step.(5)Three measures,i.e.improving the existing resource structure,coordinating the information of abandoned mines,and promoting the cultivation of scientific and technological talents.

Recent development of catalytic strategies for sustainable ammonia production

Presently,ammonia is an ideal candidate for future clean energy.The Haber-Bosch process has been an essential ammonia production process,and it is one of the most important technological advancements since its invention,sustaining the explosive growth of military munitions industry and fertilizers in the first half of the 20th century.However,the process is facing great challenges:the growing need for ammonia and the demands of environmental protection.High energy consumption and high CO_(2) emissions greatly limit the application of the Haber-Bosch method,and increasing research efforts are devoted to"green"ammonia synthesis.Thermocatalytic,electrocatalytic,and photocatalytic ammonia production under mild conditions and the derived chemical looping and plasma ammonia production methods,have been widely developed.Electrocatalytic and photocatalytic methods,which use low fossil fuels,are naturally being considered as future directions for the development of ammonia production.Although their catalytic efficiency of ammonia generation is not yet sufficient to satisfy the actual demands,considerable progress has been made in terms of regulating structure and morphology of catalyst and improving preparation efficiency.The chemical looping approach of ammonia production differs from the thermocatalytic,electrocatalytic,and photocatalytic methods,and is the method of reusing raw materials.The plasma treatment approach alters the overall ammonia production approach and builds up a new avenue of development in combination with thermal,photocatalytic,and electrocatalytic methods as well.This review discusses several recent effective catalysts for different ammonia production methods and explores mechanisms as well as efficiency of these catalysts for catalytic N2fixation of ammonia.

Fracture behavior and acoustic emission characteristics of sandstone samples with inclined precracks

Sandstone samples with precracks of different dip angles were collected from a coal mine roof and subjected to uniaxial compression tests,and acoustic emission(AE)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)were used to study how the crack dip angle affected the fracture mechanism.In the precracked sandstone samples,as the dip angle between the crack line and loading direction decreased,so did the peak stress and its completion time.The SEM observations revealed a fracture transition from tensile cleavage to shear slip,which was manifested by a microstructure change from aggregate to staggered.According to energy conversion,a decreased crack dip angle results in gradually decreasing total and dissipative peak energies,whose variation amplitudes at different stages are consistent with those of the peak stress of the samples.The decreased crack dip angle lowered the stress required to trigger the first appearance of AE energy peaks and ring-down counts,as well as shortening the period before the occurrence of the first AE peak signal.However,the AE energy and ring-down count during the failure stage after the stress peak increased gradually.A stepped increase was observed in the AE ring-down count curves,with each step corresponding to a jump in the stress-strain curve.From the characteristics of the AE signal of the fracture of a precracked rock sample,the occurrence of joints or faults in the rock mass can be reasonably inferred.This is expected to provide a new method and approach for predicting coal and rock dynamic disasters.

Breaking and mining-induced stress evolution of overlying strata in the working face of a steeply dipping coal seam

The breaking features and stress distribution of overlying strata in a steeply dipping coal seam(SDCS)differ significantly from those in a near-horizontal one.In this study,the laws governing the evolution of vertical stress release and shear stress concentration in the overlying strata of coal seams with different dip angles are derived via numerical simulation,rock mechanics tests,acoustic emissions,and field measurements.Thus,the stress-driven dynamic evolution of the overlying strata structure,in which a shear stress arch forms,is determined.Upon breaking the lower pari of the overlying strata,the shear stress transfers rapidly to the upper part of the working face.The damaged zone of the overlying strata migrates upward along the dip direction of the working face.The gangue in the lower part of the working face is compacted,leading to an increase in vertical stress.As the dip angle of the coal seam increases,the overlying strata fail suddenly under the action of shear stresses.Finally,the behavioral response of the overlying strata driven by shear stresses in the longwall working face of an SDCS is identified and analyzed in detail.The present research findings reveal the laws governing the behavior of mine pressure in the working face of an SDCS,which in turn can be used to establish the respective on-site guidance.

Na-MnO_(x) catalyzed aerobic oxidative cleavage of biomass-derived 1,2-diols to synthesis medium-chain furanic chemicals

Medium-chain furanic chemicals have outstanding practical potential,especially in the application of pharmaceuticals and polymers.Herein,we describe an eco-friendly and efficient heterogeneous sodium-doped porous sodium manganese oxide catalyst(Na-MnO_(x)) for oxidative cleavage of furanic 1,2-diols into medium-chain furanic aldehyde compounds.Subsequently,various high value-added chemicals(diacids and esters,diols,hydroxy acids,acrylics) were synthesized based on the widely applicable and highly selective catalytic approaches.The Na-MnO_(x) was prepared by the coprecipitation method and characterized by XRD,SEM,XPS and FT-IR,and TGA.XPS revealed that Mn species existed in the mixed oxidation states Mn~Ⅱ,Mn~Ⅲ and Mn~Ⅳ.When NaOH concentration up to 1.8 mol L^(-1) during the preparation process of the catalyst,the ratio of Mn^(4+) in the catalyst was the highest,and the yield of product(Furan-2-acrolein) in the model reaction is also optimal.Overall,this protocol developed a novel and general route for the preparation of medium-chain furanic compounds utilizing cellulose-derived platform molecules.

Design and platform testing of the compact torus central fueling device for the EAST tokamak

Compact torus(CT)injection is a highly promising technique for the central fueling of future reactor-grade fusion devices since it features extremely high injection velocity and relatively high plasma mass.Recently,a CT injector for the EAST tokamak,EAST-CTI,was developed and platform-tested.In the first round of experiments conducted with low parameter settings,the maximum velocity and mass of the CT plasma were 150 km·s^(-1)and 90μg,respectively.However,the parameters obtained by EAST-CTI were still very low and were far from the requirements of a device such as EAST that has a strong magnetic field.In future,we plan to solve the spark problem that EAST-CTI currently encounters(that mainly hinders the further development of experiments)through engineering methods,and use greater power to obtain a more stable and suitable CT plasma for EAST.

Development of a high-speed digital pulse signal acquisition and processing system based on MTCA for liquid scintillator neutron detector on EAST

In this experimental study, involving deuterium–deuterium fusion neutron emission spectroscopy measurement on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak(EAST), a liquid scintillator detector(BC501 A) was employed. This decision was based on the detector's superior sensitivity, optimal time-response, and its exceptional n–γ discrimination capability. This detector emits fast pulse signals that are as narrow as 100 ns, with high count rates that can peak at several Mcps. However, conventional nuclear circuits faced challenges in performing pulse height analysis, n–γ pulse shape discrimination, and in recording the entire pulse waveform under such high count rate conditions. To address these challenges, a high-speed digital pulse signal acquisition and processing system was designed. The system was developed around a micro-telecommunications computing architecture. Within this structure, a signal acquisition and processing(SAQP) module communicated through PCI Express links, achieving a bandwidth of up to 1.6 GB/s. To accurately capture the detailed shape of the pulses, four channels of analog-to-digital converters were used, each with a 500-MSPS sampling rate and a 14-bit resolution, ensuring an accuracy that surpassed 11 bits. An n–γ discrimination algorithm, based on the two-gate integral method, was also developed. Implemented within field programmable gate arrays, this algorithm provided a real-time n–γ discrimination spectrum for pulse height analysis. The system underwent rigorous testing in a laboratory setting and during an EAST experiment. The results confirmed that the innovative SAQP system can satisfy the demanding requirements of high-parameter experiments, manage count rates of up to 2 Mcps, execute real-time n–γ discrimination algorithms, and record entire pulse waveforms without any data loss.

Coupling mechanism of THM fields and SLG phases during the gas extraction process and its application in numerical analysis of gas occurrence regularity and effective extraction radius

The analysis of the coupling mechanism of thermal-hydraulic-mechanical(THM)fields,and solid-liquidgas(SLG)phases during gas extraction process is of profound significance to explore its numerical application in the gas occurrence regularity and its effective extraction radius.In this study,the Hudi coal mine in Qinshui basin is taken as the research area,the influencing factors of gas occurrence were analyzed,the differences in overburden load for gas pressure distribution and the factors influencing the effective extraction radius were further discussed by using the COMSOL software.The results show that the derivation of mathematical model in gas extraction shows that the process is a process the THM fields restrict each other,and the SLG phases influence each other.The longer the extraction time,the larger the influencing range of borehole,and the better the extraction effect.The larger the diameter of borehole,the larger the effective extraction radius,and the influence on gas extraction effect is smaller in the early stage and larger in the late stage.The borehole arrangement should be flexibly arranged according to the actual extraction situation.The higher the porosity,the higher the permeability,the better the gas extraction effect.The larger the overburden load of reservoir,the stronger the effective stress,which will result in the more severe the strain,and the closure of pore and fracture,which in turn will lead to the decrease of permeability and slow down the gas extraction.The relationship among extraction time,borehole diameter,negative pressure of gas extraction,permeability with effective extraction radius is exponential.This study has important theoretical and practical significance for clarifying and summarizing the gas occurrence regularity and its engineering practice.

Investigation of the compact torus plasma motion in the KTX-CTI device based on circuit analyses

Compact torus(CT)injection is one of the most promising methods for the central fuelling of next-generation reactor-grade fusion devices due to its high density,high velocity,and selfcontained magnetised structure.A newly compact torus injector(CTI)device in Keda Torus e Xperiment(KTX),named KTX-CTI,was successfully developed and tested at the University of Science and Technology in China.In this study,first,we briefly introduce the basic principles and structure of KTX-CTI,and then,present an accurate circuit model that relies on nonlinear regression analysis(NRA)for studying the current waveform of the formation region.The current waveform,displacement,and velocity of CT plasma in the acceleration region are calculated using this NRA-based one-dimensional point model.The model results were in good agreement with the experiments.The next-step upgrading reference scheme of the KTX-CTI device is preliminarily investigated using this NRA-based point model.This research can provide insights for the development of experiments and future upgrades of the device.

Numerical analysis of matrix swelling and its effect on microstructure of digital coal and its associated permeability during CO_(2)-ECBM process based on X-ray CT data

Matrix swelling effect will cause the change of microstructure of coal reservoir and its permeability,which is the key factor affecting the engineering effect of CO_(2)-ECBM technology.The Sihe and Yuwu collieries are taken as research objects.Firstly,visualization reconstruction of coal reservoir is realized.Secondly,the evolution of the pore/fracture structures under different swelling contents is discussed.Then,the influence of matrix phase with different swelling contents on permeability is discussed.Finally,the mechanism of swelling effect during the CO_(2)-ECBM process is further discussed.The results show that the intra-matrix pores and matrix-edge fractures are the focus of this study,and the contacting area between matrix and pore/fracture is the core area of matrix swelling.The number of matrix particles decreases with the increase of size,and the distribution of which is isolated with small size and interconnected with large size.The swelling effect of matrix particles with larger size has a great influence on the pore/fracture structures.The number of connected pores/fractures is limited and only interconnected in a certain direction.With the increase of matrix swelling content,the number,porosity,width,fractal dimension,surface area and volume of pores/fractures decrease,and their negative contribution to absolute permeability increases from 0.368% to 0.633% and 0.868%-1.404%,respectively.With the increase of swelling content,the number of intra-matrix pores gradually decreases and the pore radius becomes shorter during the CO_(2)-ECBM process.The matrix continuously expands to the connected fractures,and the width of connected fractures gradually shorten.Under the influence of matrix swelling,the bending degree of fluid flow increases gradually,so the resistance of fluid migration increases and the permeability gradually decreases.This study shows that the matrix swelling effect is the key factor affecting CBM recovery,and the application of this effect in CO_(2)-ECBM process can be discussed.

Evidence of vapor shielding effect on heat flux loaded on flowing liquid lithium limiter in EAST

A lithium(Li)vapour layer was formed around a flowing liquid Li limiter to shield against the plasma incident power and reduce limiter heat flux in the EAST tokamak.The results revealed that after a plasma operation of a few seconds,the layer became clear,which indicated a strong Li emission with a decrease in the limiter surface temperature.This emission resulted in a dense vapour around the limiter,and Li ions moved along the magnetic fleld to form a green shielding layer on the limiter.The plasma heat flux loaded on the limiter,measured by the probe installed on the limiter,was approximately 52%lower than that detected by a fast-reciprocating probe at the same radial position without the limiter in EAST.Additionally,approximately 42%of the parallel heat flux was dissipated directly with the enhanced Li radiation in the discharge with the liquid metal infused trenches(LIMIT)limiter.This observation revealed that the Li vapour layer exhibited an excellent shielding effect to liquid Li on plasma heat flux,which is a possible beneflt of liquid-plasma-facing components in future fusion devices.