Flow batteries possess several attractive features including long cycle life, flexible design, ease of scaling up, and high safety. They are considered an excellent choice for large-scale energy storage. Carbon felt (CF) electrodes are commonly used as porous electrodes in flow batteries. In vanadium flow batteries, both active materials and discharge products are in a liquid phase, thus leaving no trace on the electrode surface. However, zinc-based flow batteries involve zinc deposition/dissolution, structure and configuration of the electrode significantly determine stability and performance of the battery. Herein, fabrication of a compressed composite using CF with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is investigated in a Zn-Fe flow battery (ZFB). Graphene (G) is successfully introduced in order to improve its electrochemical activity towards zinc reactions on the negative side of the ZFB. A compressed composite CF electrode offers more uniform electric field and lower nucleation overpotential (NOP) of zinc than a pristine CF, resulting in higher zinc plating/stripping efficiency. Batteries with modified electrodes are seen to provide lower overpotential. Particularly, the G-PVDF-CF electrode demonstrates maximum discharge capacity of 39.6 mAh cm-2 with coulombic efficiency and energy efficiency over 96% and 61%, respectively. Finally, results lead to increased efficiency and cycling stability for flow batteries.
These techniques have their own advantages and disadvantages, particularly in their effectiveness, required time for completion, and levels of risk involved to the artifact in question. Since 2003 conservators, scientists, and engineers at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in Charleston, SC have been developing a new technique called the subcritical treatment. Altering the temperature and pressure of the water, properties such as viscosity, surface tension, and density will change. By modifying these properties water becomes much more effective in penetrating very small cracks and pores in the iron artifacts and allows the extraction of salts much quicker than water at atmospheric conditions ever could. Subcritical water effectively reduces stabilization time from years to weeks.
Subcritical water is heated under the appropriate pressures between its atmospheric pressure boiling temperature of 100C and critical temperature (Tc) of 374C while still remaining in a liquid state. Water that is heated beyond its critical point of 374C, and over 220.5 bar is supercritical water.
Prior to this research conducted at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, there were no reference points to go on in the use of super or subcritical fluids in the stabilization of iron archeological artifacts.
The development of equations-of-state and transport models in areas such as shock compression and fusion energy science is critical to DOE programs. Notable shortcomings in these activities are phase transitions in highly compressed metals. Fully characterizing high energy density phenomena using pulsed power facilities is possible only with complementary numerical modeling for design, diagnostics, and data interpretation.
This team constructed a multiscale simulation framework based on a combination of high-fidelity electronic structure data, ML, and molecular dynamics enabling quantum-accurate, computationally efficient predictions. This provides kinetics of magneto-structural phase transitions along shock Hugoniots and ramp compression paths in the equations of state, and transport properties such as viscosity, electrical and thermal conductivities. Findings from this project were published in the Journal of Material Science and npj Computational Materials.
The most respected brands in the world count on Waupaca Foundry for consistently high-quality gray iron, ductile iron, high strength ductile iron and austempered ductile iron castings. Waupaca is a valued partner in the supply chain because we deliver consistent, high quality cast and machined iron casting components with a proven record of solving the toughest supply chain challenges.
We collaborate with OEMs and their Tier 1 suppliers on VA/VE support, additive manufacturing, parts weight reduction through smart lightweighting strategies, and assessing when to convert fabrications and weldments to iron castings.
Our U.S. machining and foundry operations follow a IATF and ISO management systems including quality, healthy and safety, environmental, and energy. This continuous improvement of operations and processes combines a rich legacy of innovation and lean manufacturing principles with process control that has enabled automation and technology to consistently deliver high quality iron casting solutions.
There are so many different kinds of compressed air pipes on the market today and you need help to do compressed air system installation. It can be a bit confusing to decide which one is best for your use. There are steel pipes, plastic pipes, stainless steel pipes, and many other materials available online. Then, there are a thousand different makes and types of piping and couplings. How do you pick the right one?
The latest technology is push-to-connect aluminum piping systems for compressed air lines (such as Parker Transair). Aluminum is light-weight, making it easy to work with compared to other piping. Also, it is highly recommended for clean air applications. It is non-corrosive and remains leak-free unlike black pipe systems. Considering the high cost of producing compressed air, reducing leaks in your system by using aluminum piping may be the best option for you.
Black pipe is the most commonly used pipe recommended for compressed air systems. It is easy to get your hands on, it is strong and durable, and most people are familiar with how to install it. However, it will produce rust contamination that damages pneumatic tooling.
Copper pipe is commonly recommended for clean air. Mostly because it works very well and it is of high quality. Copper pipe makes for an aesthetically pleasing installation, but the soldering of joints is time consuming and requires skill. Since the combination of copper and water does not create any corrosion or rusting, the air delivered to pneumatic tools is clean and free of particulates
Galvanized piping is commonly used for water distribution and for general plumbing. However, it is not recommended for use with compressed air. Galvanized coating resists moisture in compressed air but pieces of the coating will flake off and end up in your tools. The debris will cause severe damage to cylinders, pneumatic tools, and other components. Even more importantly, when exiting a blow gun, little flakes can cause serious bodily harm.
The use of PVC pipe is common but not recommended for use with compressed air. The biggest reason is because it is against OSHA Regulations to utilize PVC and plastic pipes in the United States for compressed air usage.
It is, however, often used because it is readily available, inexpensive, and easy to install. However, as with many plastics, PVC gets brittle over time and can crack, break, or even shatter. The presence of air compressor oils in the line and heat from the compressed air accelerates the degradation of PVC. These failures, combined with air under pressure, are potentially fatal due to the airborne, razor-sharp shrapnel.
More recently compacted graphite iron has been used for diesel engine blocks. It has proven to be useful in the manufacture of V topology diesel engines where the loading on the block is very high between the cylinder banks, and for heavy goods vehicles which use diesel engines with high combustion pressures.
The core strength of this powerful air compressor is its slow-turning all cast iron piston compressor pump, which was originally designed for 7.5hp motors. Running at reduced RPM with a 5HP motor, the RCP-C581VS offers a reliable operation while generating significantly less heat compared to other compressors in its class. This unique configuration not only extends the lifespan of the machine but also minimizes water condensation in your compressor lines.
Strike quality, horizontal spin loft, speed etc. all make a difference too. The article above discusses a very important element to maximizing distance with irons in a way that is beneficial to strike quality and consistency too.
Compared with conventional superconductors, which must be chilled to near absolute zero (-273C) to release their superconducting powers, iron-based superconductors can conduct electricity without resistance at unusually high temperatures. They are also relatively easy to bend and can carry electrical current efficiently in different directions under high magnetic fields before superconductivity becomes suppressed.
Now, a team of scientists has come up with a way to double the amount of electrical current an iron-based material can carry without losing its superconducting properties, while increasing the material's critical temperature. Their method, reported in a paper in Nature Communications, makes use of a readily-available technology that could be used to improve the performance of superconducting wires and tapes.
In the case of the iron-based material the team studied, low-energy protons did the trick. Using electron microscopes, the scientists took images of thin films (about 100nm thick) of the iron-based material, which they prepared themselves, before and after they hit the films with low-energy protons.
In a performance check, the scientists measured the amount of electrical current running through the films in low and high magnetic fields. In high fields, the irradiated films carried more current than any low-temperature superconductor. This result suggests that the defects and local lattice strain must be strongly pinning the magnetic vortices that would otherwise impede the flow of current.
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