Symmetrizing cathode-anode response to speed up charging of nanoporous supercapacitors

Asymmetric behaviors of capacitance and charging dynamics in the cathode and anode are general for nanoporous supercapacitors. Un-derstanding this behavior is essential for the optimal design of supercapacitors. Herein, we perform constant-potential molecular dynamics simulations to reveal asymmetric features of porous supercapacitors and their effects on capacitance and charging dynamics. Our simulations show that, counterintuitively, charging dynamics can be fast in pores providing slow ion diffusion and vice versa. Unlike electrodes with single-size pores, multi-pore electrodes show overcharging and accelerated co-ion desorption, which can be attributed to the subtle interplay between the dynamics and charging mechanisms. We find that capacitance and charging dynamics correlate with how the ions respond to an applied cell voltage in the cathode and anode. We demonstrate that symmetrizing this response can help boost power density, which may find practical applications in supercapacitor optimization.     

Ergodynamics and Hybrid Intelligence Systems in the Reliability of Power Plant Operators

Based on ergodynamics and the hybrid intelligence theory, an analysis of the nuclear power plant operator’s performance is given at the levels of strategies, tactics, and actions. Special attention is paid to the strategies used in the course of severe accidents at nuclear power plants. Data from Ukrainian and Russian power plants and training centres and from accidents around the world were collected and processed. It is shown that in an emergency it is essential for the human operator to be flexible. This flexibility includes two main training and personal factors: a large set of strategies and tactics the operator manages to use, and quick transformations between the strategies (tactics). It was also found that some emergency tasks are too complicated: They require simultaneous use of different strategies, with time strictly limited by nuclear power plant dynamics. Those tasks cannot be successfully solved by any individual operator. Hybrid intelligence systems involving different specialists should be used in those cases in order to avoid failures in emergency problem solving.