The mechanism of energy storage by shearing the solar magnetic field

In this paper, a complete set of MHD equations have been solved by numerical calculations in an attempt to study the dynamical evolutionary processes of the initial equilibrium configuration and to discuss the energy storage mechanism of the solar atmosphere by shearing the magnetic field. The initial equilibrium configuration with an arch bipolar potential field obtained from the numerical solution is similar to the configuration in the vicinity of typical solar flare before its eruption. From the magnetic induction equation in the set of MHD equations and dealing with the non-linear coupling effects between the flow field and magnetic field, the quantitative relationship has been derived for their dynamical evolution. Results show that plasma shear motion at the bottom of the solar atmosphere causes the magnetic field to shear; meanwhile the magnetic field energy is stored in local regions. With the increase of time the local magnetic energy increases and it may reach an order of 4×10^25 J during a day. Thus the local storage of magnetic energy is large enough to trigger a big solar flare and can be considered as the energy source of solar flares. The energy storage mechanism by shearing the magnetic field can well explain the slow changes in solar active regions.

Preparation and characterization of microencapsulated hexadecane used for thermal energy storage

Polyurea microcapsules about 2.5 mum in diameter containing phase change material for thermal energy storage application were synthesized and characterized by interfacial polycondensation method with toluene-2,4-diisocyanate and ethylenediamine as monomers in an emulsion system. Hexadecane was used as a phase change material and OP, which is nonionic surfactant, and used as an emulsifier. The chemical structure and thermal behavior of the microcapsules were investigated by FTIR and thermal analysis respectively. The results show encapsulated hexadecane has a good potential as a solar energy storage material.

Microencapsulation of n-eicosane as energy storage material

For heat energy storage application, polyurea. microcapsules containing phase change material, n-eicosane, were synthesized by using interfacial polymerization method with toluene- 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) and diethylenetriamine (DETA) as monomers in an emulsion system. Poly(ethylene glycol)octyl-phenyl ether (OP), a nonionic surfactant, was the emulsifier for the system. The experimental result indicates that TDI was reacted with DETA in a mass ratio of 3 to 1. FT-IR spectra confirm the formation of wall material, polyurea, from the two monomers, TDI and DETA. Encapsulation efficiency of n-eicosane is about 75%. Microcapsule of n-eicosane melts at a temperature close to that of n-eicosane, while its stored heat energy varies with core material n-eicosane when wall material fixed. Thermo-gravimetric analysis shows that core material n-eicosane, micro-n-eicosane and wall material polyurea can withstand temperatures up to 130, 170 and 250 degreesC, respectively.

Study of a high power density sodium polysulfide/bromine energy storage cell

Nickel catalyst supported on carbon was made by reduction of nickelous nitrate with hydrogen at high temperature. Ni/ C catalyst characterization was carried out by XRD. It was found that the crystal phase of NiS and NiS2 appeared in the impregnated catalyst. Ni/ C and Pt/ C catalysts gave high performance as the positive and negative electrodes of a sodium polysulfide/ bromine energy storage cell, respectively. The overpotentials of the positive and negative electrodes were investigated. The effect of the electrocatalyst loading and operating temperature on the charge and discharge performance of the cell was investigated. A power density of up to 0.64 W cm(-2) ( V = 1.07 V) was obtained in this energy storage cell. A cell potential efficiency of up to 88.2% was obtained when both charge and discharge current densities were 0.1 A cm(-2).

Energy conversions and storage caused by an unsteady poloidal flow in active solar regions

In this paper we discuss coupling processes between a magnetic field and an unsteady plasma motion, and analyze the features of energy storage and conversions in active region. It is pointed out that the static force-free field is insufficient for a discussion of storage processes, and also the pure unsteady plasma rotation is not a perfect approach. In order to analyze the energy storage, we must consider the addition of poloidal plasma motion. The paper shows that because the unsteady poloidal flow is added and coupling occurs between the magnetic field and both the toroidal and the poloidal plasma flows, an unsteady process is maintained which changes the force-free factor with time. Hence, the energy in the lower levels can be transferred to the upper levels, and a considerable energy can be stored in the active region. Finally, another storage process is given which is due to the pure poloidal flow. The article shows that even if there is no twisted magnetic line of force, the energy in the lower levels may still be transferred to the upper levels and stored there.

A voltage-adjustable three-phase rectifier with constant power flow

An three phase adjustable output voltage rectifier with constant power flow based on waveform gap patching principle is resented. By patching the gapes in the phase currents in parallel way as well as the ripple of the output voltage in series way, it implements the constant power flow from the three-phase line to the DC output without using any line frequency (and its harmonics) energy storage components. Principally, by treating only 22.4% power of the needed power output, this rectifier can supply constant power flow with adjustable output voltages without bring about any harmonic interferences to the power utility and achieve unite power factor.

Processing network models of energy/environment systems

Processing networks are a variant of the standard linear programming network model which are especially useful for optimizing industrial energy/environment systems. Modelling advantages include an intuitive diagrammatic representation and the ability to incorporate all forms of energy and pollutants in a single integrated linear network model. Added advantages include increased speed of solution and algorithms supporting formulation. The paper explores their use in modelling the energy and pollution control systems in large industrial plants. The pollution control options in an ethylene production plant are analyzed as an example. PROFLOW, a computer tool for the formulation, analysis, and solution of processing network models, is introduced.

Criterion of aerodynamic performance of large-scale offshore horizontal axis wind turbines

With the background of offshore wind energy projects, this paper studies aerodynamic performance and geometric characteristics of large capacity wind turbine rotors ( 1 to 10 MW), and the main characteristic parameters such as the rated wind speed, blade tip speed, and rotor solidity. We show that the essential criterion of a high-performance wind turbine is a highest possible annual usable energy pattern factor and a smallest possible dimension, capturing the maximum wind energy and producing the maximum annual power. The influence of the above-mentioned three parameters on the pattern factor and rotor geometry of wind turbine operated in China's offshore meteorological environment is investigated. The variation patterns of aerodynamic and geometric parameters are obtained, analyzed, and compared with each other. The present method for aerodynamic analysis and its results can form a basis for evaluating aerodynamic performance of large-scale offshore wind turbine rotors.

Dual Confocal Laser-Induced Fluorescence/Moveable Contactless Conductivity Detector For Capillary Electrophoresis Microchip

A new dual simultaneous detector was developed for capillary electrophoresis microchip. Confocal laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and moveable contactless conductivity detection (MCCD) were combined together for the first time. The two detection systems shared a common detection cell and could respond simultaneously. They were mutually independent and advantageous in analyses of mixtures containing organic and inorganic ions. The confocal LIF had high sensitivity and the MCCD could move along the separation channel and detect in different positions of the channel. The detection conditions of the dual detector were optimized. Rhodamine B was used to evaluate the performance of the dual detector. The limit of detection of the confocal LIF was < 5 nM, and that of the MCCD was 0.1 mu M. The dual detector had highly sensitivity and could offer response easily, rapidly and simultaneously. 

Micromachining Of Passive Planar Micromixer On Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) Substrate With Excimer Laser Ablation

Excimer laser ablation technique was introduced into this work to fabricate a passive planar micromixer on the PMMA substrate. T-junction shaped and width-changed S-shaped microchannels were both designed in this micromixer to enhance mixing effect. The mixing experiment of distilled water and Rhodamine B with injection flow rate of 500 and 1,500 mu m/s validates the mixing effectivity of this micromixer, and indicates the feasibility of excimer laser ablation in the microfabrication of mu-TAS device.

Numerical research of heat generation in flashlamp-pumped Nd : glass disk amplifiers

The heat generation in a flashlamp-pumped Nd:glass disk amplifier is studied by the simulation of the whole pumping process, which is based on the ray-tracing method. The results of temperature rise distribution as well as gain distribution are presented. The evolution of heat generation in disk during the pumping process is discussed in detail. Some main factors related with the thermal effect, such as the quantum efficiency, fluorescence lifetime, and pulse duration, are investigated through studying the ratio of the heat generation to energy storage in the gain medium. The influence of each parameter on heat generation is studied carefully, and the results provide ways to decrease the heat generation during the pumping process. (c) 2005 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Analytical method of predicating the instabilities of a micro arch-shaped beam under electrostatic loading

An arch-shaped beam with different configurations under electrostatic loading experiences either the direct pull-in instability or the snap-through first and then the pull-in instability. When the pull-in instability occurs, the system collides with the electrode and adheres to it, which usually causes the system failure. When the snap-through instability occurs, the system experiences a discontinuous displacement to flip over without colliding with the electrode. The snap-through instability is an ideal actuation mechanism because of the following reasons: (1) after snap-through the system regains the stability and capability of withstanding further loading; (2) the system flips back when the loading is reduced, i.e. the system can be used repetitively; and (3) when approaching snap-through instability the system effective stiffness reduces toward zero, which leads to a fast flipping-over response. To differentiate these two types of instability responses for an arch-shaped beam is vital for the actuator design. For an arch-shaped beam under electrostatic loading, the nonlinear terms of the mid-plane stretching and the electrostatic loading make the analytical solution extremely difficult if not impossible and the related numerical solution is rather complex. Using the one mode expansion approximation and the truncation of the higher-order terms of the Taylor series, we present an analytical solution here. However, the one mode approximation and the truncation error of the Taylor series can cause serious error in the solution. Therefore, an error-compensating mechanism is also proposed. The analytical results are compared with both the experimental data and the numerical multi-mode analysis. The analytical method presented here offers a simple yet efficient solution approach by retaining good accuracy to analyze the instability of an arch-shaped beam under electrostatic loading.