Direct methanol fuel cell bubble removal mechanism using magnetic actuation

This article develops a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) with a magnet-actuated bubble removal mechanism. A micro-DC motor is used to control the bubble removal mechanism. The lower magnetic device is operated to extrude a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) runner to compress the liquid fuel in the anode flow channel, forcing the CO₂ bubbles in the runner to flow toward the outlet end. The bubble retention in the anode flow channel is thereby improved, enhancing the cell performance. The proposed mechanism stability and performance and Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) runner are also discussed.     

Microbial fuel cells: Advances in electrode modifications for improvement of system performance

There is an increasing trend to conduct the researches related to Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) in the recent years. Limited power output has been the major obstacle for the practical application and upscaling of MFCs. Attempts have been made on electrode modifications such as anode treatments, cathode modifications with catalysts and bio cathodes developments to produce varying degrees of improved output current depending upon the types of modifications. Power density and Coulombic efficiency have been considered as the important parameters to analyze the system performances. This paper overviews on the advances made in MFCs’ researches focusing on different types of electrodes modifications along with the involved methodology. Furthermore, the system performances of different modified MFCs are compared in terms of the power density and the Coulombic efficiency.     

Development of a fuel cell propulsion system for the existing Mercedes B-Class 160 of petrol driven car

This paper presents a theoretical comparison between fuel cell (FC) power train and conventional petrol driven propulsion system. FC has potential to reduce the CO₂-emissions from road. However, FC power trains require energy storing device, to meet the peak power during extreme drive situations and also able to recover the kinetic energy of the vehicle during break operation. The proposed system includes a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) based drive train and a super capacitor connected in parallel. The system is designed and dimensioned for a conventional petrol driven propulsion system of the Mercedes B-Class160. The feasibility study also includes comparison between the existing conventional systems. It is shown that although FC power train is heavier compared to existing system, urban performance is better and produces no CO₂ and other harmful emissions.     

混合基质条件下难降解有机物生物降解性能

选取几种典型的难解解杂环化合物,在混合基质条件下较为系统的地研究了其好氧生物降解性能以及难解有机物间的联合作用效果,研究结果表明,吡啶,喹啉与其同系物类似的生化降解过程及抑制机理,它们的联合作用效果为相加作用,具有不可逆抑制作用物质共存时联合作用效果为协同作用,具有不可逆抑制作用物质与可逆抑制作用物质共存时,联合作用效果为拮抗作用。     

城市污水处理厂厌氧消化污泥调理脱水性能研究

通过在污水厂实地取样,首先用阳离子聚丙烯酰胺(cationic polyacrylamide,CPAM)调理储泥池混合污泥与消化污泥,比较2种污泥投药前后的毛细吸水时间(capillary suction time,CST),发现消化污泥的CST明显小于储泥池的污泥。然后,检测这2种污泥的调理过程中Zeta电位的变化,并研究了挥发性悬浮物(volatile suspended solids,VSS)、总悬浮固体(total suspended solid,TSS)蛋白质、多糖以及胞外聚合物(extracellular polymeric substances,EPS)总量对脱水效果的影响。结果表明投药后消化污泥脱水性能优于混合污泥,最佳投药量为4‰~4.5‰;污泥中VSS/TSS越高,污泥脱水效果越差;污泥中蛋白质含量是影响污泥脱水效果的重要因素之一,其含量低于26.5%时,污泥压滤后含水率随蛋白质含量升高而升高,但当蛋白质含量高于26.5%时,无明显变化规律。     

How local environmental stewardship diversifies democracy

Although recent studies have suggested that environmental participation may be a countertrend to decreasing civic engagement in the United States, there are very few empirical studies that examine these claims. This paper studies participation in local environmental stewardship as such a countertrend. Using data collected from participants in the Watershed Stewards Academies (WSAs) of Maryland, we assess how these organisations are successful in mobilising individuals to be environmentally and civically engaged in their communities. We argue that hybrid organisations like the WSAs represent a countertrend to diminishing rates of civic engagement by offering citizens what a “paper-membership” cannot: the chance to lead their own environmental restoration projects, create tangible change in their communities, and network with other like-minded individuals. These environmental programmes serve to diversify democracy at the local level, providing a unique form of civic engagement and enriching the connections between individual citizens and their civic communities.     

Emission of intermediate volatility organic compounds from a ship main engine burning heavy fuel oil

Intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) are crucial precursors of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). In this study, gaseous IVOCs emitted from a ship main engine burning heavy fuel oil (HFO) were investigated on a test bench, which could simulate the real-world operations and emissions of ocean-going ships. The chemical compositions, emission factors (EFs) and volatility distributions of IVOC emissions were investigated. The results showed that the main engine burning HFO emitted a large amount of IVOCs, with average IVOC EFs of 20.2–201?mg/kg-fuel. The IVOCs were mainly comprised of unspeciated compounds. The chemical compositions of exhaust IVOCs were different from that of HFO fuel, especially for polycyclic aromatic compounds and alkylcyclohexanes. The volatility distributions of IVOCs were also different between HFO exhausts and HFO fuel. The distinctions in IVOC emission characteristics between HFO exhausts and HFO fuel should be considered when assessing the IVOC emission and related SOA formation potentials from ocean-going ships burning HFO, especially when using fuel-surrogate models.     

特强沙尘暴灾害性天气的研究及展望

总结特强沙尘暴天气的研究进展,梳理分析特强沙尘暴天气的基本特征以及动力学触发机制,提出进一步的研究问题,以期加深对特强沙尘暴天气过程机理的认识.分析结果表明特强沙尘暴天气事件的季节性分布特征显著,春季居多,且多发生在下午到傍晚时段,其典型特征为突发性、局地性,持续时间相对较短,对局地的大气环境质量短时产生重大影响.旺盛...     

石墨烯/聚苯胺修饰阴极对反硝化MFC性能影响

反硝化生物阴极微生物燃料电池（MFC）以电极为电子供体,在自养条件下完成硝酸盐去除过程.本研究以碳布（CC）为基底材料,分别制备获得还原氧化石墨烯修饰（rGO-CC）,聚苯胺修饰（PANI-CC）及二者复合修饰的CC电极（rGO/PANI-CC）,并考察其作为阴极材料对反硝化生物阴极MFC产电脱氮性能的影响.扫描电镜结果显示,rGO-CC和PANI-CC的碳纤维分别被片层状rGO和网状PANI覆盖,而rGO/PANI-CC表面呈现PANI在附着rGO的碳纤维上团聚的形貌,均增大了碳布的比表面积.循环伏安测试显示,rGO/PANI-CC具有最高的电化学活性.以rGO-CC,PANI-CC和rGO/PANI-CC为阴极构建MFC的产电能力分别提高了82%,24%和41%,其阴极对NO₃^--N的去除能力增强了23%,9%和13%.16S rDNA测序结果揭示修饰后电极表面微生物的多样性下降,Stappia和Pacacoccus属微生物的丰度增加.     

汽车污染与控制探讨

通过阐述汽车污染的原理，提出了汽车的防污途径有控制汽车尾气污染的方法。