The Thermodynamic Performance of a Double-Acting Traveling-Wave Thermoacoustic Engine with Liquid-Water Piston

A double-acting traveling-wave thermoacoustic engine with liquid-water piston (DTTELP) was proposed by the authors. This article conducted numerical simulation on its performance for the cases of with and without acoustical loads. The effects of mean working pressure and water-piston mass on its non-load performance were firstly discussed. Then, the output performance of this novel thermoacoustic engine under fixed heating temperature was analyzed. Also, influences of different heating temperatures on the performance of this engine were discussed. According to the simulation, the novel double-acting thermoacoustic heat engine (TTHE) is very efficient and a maximum thermal efficiency can reach about 51% when the heating temperature is 1500 K.     

Impact of nonuniform reactant flow rate on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks

ABSTRACT

In this study, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack composed of five cells in series is numerically investigated to study the impact of the nonuniform reactant flow rate on the performance of the stack. A comparison of the water concentration, temperature, reaction heat source, and current density of change rule of two groups of fuel cell stacks with uniform and nonuniform reactant flow rate reveals the performance degradation mechanism caused by nonuniform reactant flow. The results indicate that while operating under low-voltage conditions, the nonuniform reactant flow rate will cause the accumulation of excess liquid water near the PEM that is near the cathode exhaust outlet, and the local area reacts strongly on the catalyst, whereas the local area reacts slowly. When the average voltage of the stack is 0.55 V, the current density under the nonuniform reactant flow rate condition is 12.9% lower than that of the uniform reactant flow rate condition. In the case of uniform and nonuniform reactant flow rate at low current densities, the performance difference is not evident, but it is expected to be pronounced with the increase in current density. The simulation results are compared with the experimental data reported in the literature through a polarization curve, and they turn out to be well correlated with the experimental results.     

Effect of PCM on temperature fluctuation during the door opening of a household refrigerator

Temperature fluctuation inside the cabinet of a household refrigerator significantly affects the quality of preserved food. Phase change material (PCM) is a latent heat storage system that can store and release the heat energy by changing its phase from liquid to solid and solid to liquid respectively. Therefore, use of PCM inside the refrigerator cabinet has the potential for minimizing the temperature fluctuation during the door opening and the power failure. However, very few studies in the literature were dedicated to investigating the role of PCM to reduce the temperature fluctuation. The aim of this work is to experimentally investigate the effects of PCM on temperature fluctuation inside the cabinet of a household refrigerator during the door opening and power failure. The results found that a significantly lower temperature fluctuation can be obtained using PCM. It was found that during the door opening condition the air temperature in the cabinet rose rapidly. However, when a PCM container was used, temperature variation was reduced to 3–5°C. During the power failure, the system with PCM maintained a lower temperature inside the storage chamber for a long period of time (about 2 hours). Moreover, the test results indicate that PCM maintains more stable temperature in the foodstuffs inside the refrigerator. This reduction of temperature fluctuation ultimately improves the quality of preserved food.     

天然橡胶减震垫减震性能研究分析

采用相同结构的两种天然橡胶减震垫,进行了三种条件下的冲击试验和一种条件的振动试验,研究了减震材料硬度、产品质量对减震性能的影响.承受60g以上冲击时,使用该减震垫的产品经受的冲击能量可衰减50%以上,谐振频率在20Hz～40Hz的产品不宜使用该减震垫.     

德国电子废弃物循环利用体系的调查与思考

德国主要电子废弃物冰箱、显像管和灯管的循环利用技术和体系以及现行的法律法规，对我国电子废弃物的循环利用具有借鉴意义，因而应尽快建立生活垃圾和电子废弃物分类收集体系，充分利用可回收资源。     

Present status of the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Korea

In Korea due to rapid economical growth followed by urbanisation, breakage of large traditional families into small nuclear families, continuous changes in equipment features and capabilities causes tremendous increase in sale of new electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and decrease in sale of used EEE. Subsequently, the ever-increasing quantity of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become a serious social problem and threat to the environment. Therefore, the gradual increase in the generation of WEEE intensifies the interest for recycling to conserve the resources and protect the environment. In view of the above, a review has been made related to the present status of the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Korea. This paper describes the present status of generation and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment, namely TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, personal computers and mobile phones in Korea. The commercial processes and the status of developing new technologies for the recycling of metallic values from waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) is also described briefly. Since 1998, three recycling centers are in full operation to recycle WEEE such as refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners, having the total capacity of 880,000 units/year. All waste TVs are recently recycled on commission basis by several private recycling plants. The recycling of waste personal computers and mobile phones is insignificant in comparison with the amount of estimated obsolete those. Korea has adopted and enforced the extended producer responsibility (EPR) system. Korea is making consistent efforts to improve the recycling rate to the standards indicated in the EU directives for WEEE. Especially environmentally friendly and energy-saving technologies are being developed to recycle metal values from PCBs of WEEE.     

建立有效回收网络,防治危险废物污染环境

工业废弃物中，废酸碱、重金属、废矿物油等都属于危险废物，我们日常生活中的废电池、灯管、显像管、空调、冰箱等都含有大量成分的危险废物。开展危险废物的有效回收，建立有效回收网络，才能从根本上防治危险废物进入环境，防治危险废物给人类与环境造成严重灾难。     

Does an energy efficiency label alter consumers' purchasing decisions? A latent class approach based on a stated choice experiment in Shanghai

In this paper we conducted a hypothetical choice experiment in Shanghai, China, to examine whether the China Energy Efficiency Label influences consumers' choices of air conditioners and refrigerators. A latent class approach was applied to observe both heterogeneities among the respondents and product brands. Our results suggested that consumers in Shanghai were well aware of the China Energy Efficiency Label and tended to pay more attention to products with such labels. In addition, air conditioners and refrigerators affixed with a hypothetical label that indicates saving in electricity bills compared with a standard model received significant preferences, which suggested that the more information manufacturers provide, the more their products would be preferred by consumers. Finally, weighted by class probability, the willingness to pay values for more energy efficient refrigerators were higher than those for more energy efficient air conditioners, implying that Shanghai consumers have greater incentive to pay more for appliances they use more frequently.     

废电冰箱的环保处理及污染防治

通过对废电冰箱隔热泡沫材料的构成、数量、污染物类型及对大气层的污染破坏机理的分析，提出了废电冰箱这种特殊固体废弃物的环保处理技术方法和工艺特点，并介绍了发达国家和地区正在使用的成熟的工艺技术路线及技术指标。     

The Impact of a Change in Collection Frequency on Kerbside Recycling Behaviours

The research monitors the changes in recycling performance indicators arising from halving the collection frequency of a kerbside newspaper collection scheme. The changes in the performance parameters are explained in terms of the underlying behavioural changes that could have occurred within the community. This interpretation is aided by a computer simulation of the kerbside recycling activity of the community. Moving from a 2-week collection to a 4-week collection did not substantially affect the number of households recycling, nor the overall weights collected. A small weight loss, however, may have occurred, from a small minority of households, unable to accommodate the extra storage demand of the new regime. Model predictions were consistent with the observed performance data. It is postulated that the scheme could withstand considerable intervention before significant behavioural changes are induced. It demonstrates that cost-cutting interventions can be undertaken without significantly compromising individual participations. The case-study also highlights the caution needed in the interpretation of the recycling performance indicators themselves.     

Analysis of an intermediate-temperature proton-conducting SOFC hybrid system

The performance of an intermediate-temperature proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell (pSOFC) hybrid system is investigated in this work. The hybrid system consists of a 20-kW pSOFC, a micro gas turbine (MGT), and heat exchangers. Heat exchangers are used to recover waste heat from pSOFC and MGT. The performance of the system is analyzed by using Matlab/Simulink/Thermolib. Flow rates of air and hydrogen are controlled by assigning different stoichiometric ratio (St). St considered in this study is between 2 and 3.5 for air, and between 1.25 and 1.45 for hydrogen. Results show that the combined heat and power (CHP) efficiency increases as the fuel St decreases or air St increases. This is because lowering fuel St means fewer fuel will be wasted from the fuel cell stack, so the CHP efficiency increases. On the other hand, as air St increases, the amount of recovered waste heat increases, so does the CHP efficiency.     

熵法估参在环境监测数据频率分析中的应用

以最大信息熵原理为理论基础的熵法估参方法，是一种具有严格物理和数学意义的新型参数估计方法，本文针对珠江广州河段主要污染物含量长年监测数据，对比熵法与传统方法矩法对四参数Г分布的估参结果，并以频率绝对离盖和最小为准则进行判定，结果表明，熵法估参结果与矩法总体上相当接近，且大部分样本的熵法估计参数优于矩法，在环境监测数据频率分析中具有实用性和推广价值。     

泡沫聚合物保温材料的研究进展及其应用

综述了以聚氨酯泡沫、聚乙烯泡沫和酚醛泡沫塑料为代表的轻质聚合物泡沫保温材料的发展状况。     

Multi-effects of gravity and geometric flow channel on the performance of continuous microbial fuel cells

Nowadays microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a rapidly evolving field and studied extensively because of their simultaneous dual functions of decomposing organic waste matter and eco-power generation. Now, facing their low power density, multiple effects including various gravity conditions ranging from 0 G to 2 G and three kinds of geometric flow channel (serpentine channel, serpentine tapered channel and bio-mixer channel) in MFCs were studied because of their ability to significantly impact the performance of MFCs.Numerical simulation technology, with its significant lessening of time needed and saving experimental costs required was used in this study. Results show that a better power performance was found at a condition of 0.125 G and Reynolds number Re = 41.3 regardless of flow channel in MFCs. In addition, the bio-mixer channel of the flow channels in MFCs will have a better performance than the other two channels because of its lower pressure drop and higher power generation. These findings will provide useful information on enhancing the performance of MFCs, especially with the application of low gravity conditions in the future.     

LONGITUDINAL SUCCESSION IN IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF RIVER SYSTEM FISH COMMUNITIES1

ABSTRACT: Longitudinal succession indicates that diversity and species richiess of fish communities increases with increasing river size (increasing habitat complexity and environmental stability). Cultural impacts tend to decrease diversity, species richness, and evenness. To assess the impacts of cultural events on the fish community of a river system, the bias caused by longitudinal succession was removed by normalizing diversity indices and species richness values for river size. The relationships between an impact index and the community parameters of evenness, normalized diversity, and normalized species richness were determined by regression analysis. Similar relationships were determined using nonnormalized data, and the results compared. The two sets of regressions were similar in terms of variance explained. Evenness, which is unaffected by longitudinal sucession, appears to be the most impact sensitive parameter. A major source of error and confusion rsults from introduced species which are simultaneously sources of biological impact and a component of the community. Numbers of introduced species tend to increase with both impact and river size.     

A two-dimensional analytical model of PEMFC with dead-ended anode

ABSTRACT

When the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) works in the mode of dead-ended anode (DA), the water and the nitrogen in the cathode flow channel will diffuse, and accumulate, to the anode flow channel resulting in fuel starvation on the anode side as well as the performance degradation of PEMFC, which has an important impact on the durability and working state of PEMFC. Because the PEMFC performance is closely related to the cathode working parameters, in order to study the influence of the cathode working parameters on the performance of the PEMFC with DA, a two-dimensional analytical model of PEMFC with DA is established in this article, and the parameters in the model are corrected by experiments. The effects of humidity, stoichiometric ratio and working pressure of cathode gas on the performance of PEMFC with DA are studied by model and experiment, as well as the effects of these working parameters on the accumulation process and distribution of water vapor and nitrogen on the anode side, and the relative performance of PEMFC with DA under different cathode working parameters is obtained. This model is of great significance to guide the practical work of the PEMFC with DA.     

Canopy slope effect on the performance of the solar chimney power plant

Solar chimney power plants constitute an impressive construction by its size and its output seems low for its dimensions. Although many works have been carried out on the subject, there is still much scientific and technical improvement to be done. In the present work, we consider the modeling of turbulent flow under the effect of natural convection within a solar chimney power plant (SCPP) by performing numerical simulation using the Saturne Code coupled with Syrthes code. The objective of the study is the analysis of the collector cover slope influence on the performance of the SCPP in two cases. In the first case, the storage system considered is composed solely of the ground under the collector. For the second case, the storage system is made, in addition to the ground, of a 10 cm thick tub filled with water, covering the entire surface of the collector. The concept of minimizing the entropy production is also studied with the objective of optimizing the geometric configuration as well as the effect of the collector cover slope on the efficiency of SCPP. The boundary conditions are defined according to the meteorological data for a typical day available on the site of Adrar, Algeria. The results allow us to focus on the storage system influence on the SCPP performance and the duration of its operation after sunset. This leads to the improvement of the global efficiency of the SCPP. Results show the positive impact of the extra storage media use and the configuration which improves the velocity at the chimney entrance.     

废弃电池能否进入废弃电器电子产品处理目录(第二批)管理的筛选评估分析

2009年2月,国务院发布《废弃电器电子产品回收处理管理条例》,成为我国废弃电器电子产品回收处理的纲领性文件。在《废弃电器电子产品处理目录(第一批)》中,明确将电视机、电冰箱、洗衣机、房间空调器、微型计算机等5种产品纳入第一批目录。同时,为了为了能够及时、客观地与经济发展、技术进步以及电器电子产品行业的发展变化等相适应,《目录》管理委员会起草了《制订和调整废弃电器电子产品处理目录的若干规定》,明确随着经济发展变化及电子产品废弃形势调整电器电子产品处理目录的原则。废弃电池在近几年来在我国增长速度很大,将来的管理形势十分紧迫。本文在此分析我国几种废弃电池(铅酸电池、镍氢电池及锂电池)的产生量、再生处理处置情况及管理政策导向。并在目录一批筛选原则的基础上利用权重分析法,筛选评估废弃电池能否进入废弃电器电子产品处理目录(第二批)管理的可能,研究显示铅酸电池已具备进入管理目录的资质。