Prototype Fault Current Limiter Using Transformer and a Modular Device of YBCO Coated Conductor

A superconducting fault current limiter (SCFL) consisted of a transformer with low reactance connected to the power line and with the secondary winding short-circuited by a modular superconducting limiter device with 16 elements connected in series was constructed and tested. The designed coupling transformer has low dispersion reactance in order to limit the voltage drop in the power line within the range of 5 % to 10 %. The experimental results showed that an insertion of a 0.125 Omega resistance limited the peak current to a factor of 2.5 times of the unlimited current. The power dissipation reached 39 kW during 100 ms, with an energy density of 380 J/cm(3). Based on these results, the SCFL will be further tested in a 3 MVA (15 kV/380 V) generator for currents up to 10 kA.

Benzoxazine resin and their nanostructured composites cure kinetic by DSC

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Understanding the Function of Conserved Variations in the Catalytic Loops of Fungal Glycoside Hydrolase Family 12

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Chicken hatchlings prefer ambient temperatures lower than their thermoneutral zone

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Quantitative phase analysis from X-ray diffraction in Y-TZP dental ceramics: A critical evaluation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Therapeutic Delivery of miR-200c Enhances Radiosensitivity in Lung Cancer

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ce0.97Cu0.03O2 Nanocatalysts Synthesized via Microwave-assisted Hydrothermal Method: Characterization and CO-PROX Catalytic Efficiency

In the work presented here, Ce0.97Cu0.03O2 nanoparticles were synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method under different synthesis temperatures. The obtained nanoparticles were tested as catalysts in preferential oxidation of CO to obtain CO-free H2 (PROX reaction). The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). X-ray diffraction measurements detected the presence of pure cubic CeO2 for all synthesized samples. TEM images of the Ce0.97Cu0.03O2 nanoparticles revealed that samples synthesized at 80°C are composed mainly of nanospheres with an average size of 20 nm. The formation of some nanorods with an average diameter of 8 nm and 40 nm in length, and the size reduction of the nanoparticles from 20 to approximately 15 nm is observed with increasing synthesis temperature. EPR spectra indicated that copper is found well dispersed in sample synthesized at 160°C, located predominant in surface sites of ceria. For samples synthesized at 80 and 120°C, the species are less dispersed than in the other one, resulting in the formation of Cu2+−Cu2+ dimmers at the surface of ceria. TPR profiles presented two reduction peaks, one below 400°C attributed to the reduction of different copper species and a second peak around 800°C attributed to the reduction of Ce4+→ Ce3+ species located in the volume of the nanoparticles. The peak related to the reduction of copper species shifts to lower temperatures with increasing synthesis temperature, i.e., the sample synthesized at 160°C is more easily reduced than the ones synthesized at 120 and 80°C. The nanoparticles showed active as catalysts for the CO-PROX reaction. The microwave-assisted method revealed efficient for the synthesis of Ce0.97Cu0.03O2 nanoparticles with copper species selective for the CO-PROX reaction, which reaches CO conversions up to 92% for the sample synthesized at 160°C.

Influence of the preparation route on the structural, morphological and spectroscopic properties of SrTiO3 and SrTiO3:eu3+ powders

This research shows the influence of the synthesis route in the structural and morphological characteristics as well as in the luminescent properties of doped with europium and pure SrTiO3 (STO) powders prepared by microwave assisted hydrothermal synthesis, MWH, and by the polymeric precursor method, PPM. The XRD at room temperature of the STO powders nominally pure obtained by PPM at 700°C for 3 hours, as well as by the MWH at 190°C by 30 minutes present all the reflection peaks for the cubic perovskite structure (JCPDS-ICDD 35-734). The morphology varies according to the synthesis route. The particles of pure STO obtained by PPM presents morphology in the form of plates and the morphology of the particles synthesized by MWH is spherical with approximately 150 nm. The photoluminescent analysis shows for pure STO wide bands associated with the transition of charge transfer from the titanates group (TiO3)2- that are centered on 450 nm. In both preparation methods the emission bands obtained in the composites spectra were found to be asymmetric and low intense. However, in the case of the STO prepared by the PPM a bigger FWHM of the band can be observed. The excitation of the samples was done using a laser (Coherent Innova) with wavelength of 350 nm.

Synthesis and characterization of NaNbO3 mesostructure by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

In the present work, we report the synthesis and characterization of NaNbO3 particles obtained by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method from Nb2O5 and NaOH. The synthesis was made at different periods at 180 °C and 300W. The crystallization of NaNbO3 structures produced Na2Nb2O6.H2O in the intermediate phase with fiber-like morphology, and this is associated with the synthesis time. Pure orthorhombic NaNbO3 with cube-like morphology originates after synthesizing for 240 minutes. To verify the remnant polarization of particles, films were obtained by electrophoresis process and sintered at 800°C for 10 minutes in a microwave furnace. The films characterization indicated that films of niobate with fiber-like morphology present remaining polarization, and the morphology of cubes did not show remaining polarization. Considering these results, it can be concluded that the morphology implemented ferroelectric property of NaNbO3.

Electrical Properties at Grain Boundaries Influenced by Cr3+ Diffusion in SnO2.ZnO.Nb2O5-Films Varistor Prepared by Electrophoresis Deposition

SnO2-based varistors are strong candidates to replace the ZnO-based varistors due to ordering fewer additives to improve its electrical behavior as well as by showing similar nonlinear characteristics of ZnO varistors. In this work, SnO2-nanoparticles based-varistors with addition of 1.0 %mol of ZnO and 0.05 %mol of Nb2O5 were synthesized by chemical route. SnO2.ZnO.Nb2O5-films with 5 μm of thickness were obtained by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of the nanoparticles on Si/Pt substrate from alcoholic suspension of SnO2-based powder. The sintering step was carried out in a microwave oven at 1000 °C for 40 minutes. Then, Cr3+ ions were deposited on the films surface by EPD after the sintering step. Each sample was submitted to different thermal treatments to improve the varistor behavior by diffusion of ions in the samples. The films showed a nonlinear coefficient (α) greater than 9, breakdown voltage (VR) around 60 V, low leakage current (IF ≈ 10-6 A), height potential barrier above 0.5 eV and grain boundary resistivity upward of 107 Ω.cm.

Recovery Tests of an Hybrid Current Limiter Composed of a SFCL in Parallel to an Air-Core Power Reactor

The resistive-type superconducting fault current limiters (RSFCL) prototypes using YBCO-coated conductors have shown current limitation for medium voltage class applications for acting time up to 80 ms. By connecting an air-core reactor in parallel with the RSFCL, thus making an hybrid current limiter, one can extend the acting time for up to 1 s. In this work, we report the performance of a hybrid current limiter subjected to an AC peak fault current of 2 kA during 1 s for which within the first 80 ms the SFCL limits the current concurrently with the air-core reactor, and for the remaining 920 ms, only the air-core reactor limits the current. In order to evaluate the actual conditions for subsequent reconnection of RSFCL to the power grid, the hybrid fault current limiter was tested varying the time interval for recovery from 900 ms and 1.2 s, followed again by the concurrent operation of the hybrid limiter during 1 s (SFCL during 80 ms). From this evaluation test, the recovery time can be measured and compared using the voltage peak generated in superconducting module from the first and second fault test. The recovery time was also determined through the pulsed current method (PCM) on short-length sample test. The results showed that the fault current was limited from 1.9 kA down to 514 A after 1 cycle of 60 Hz frequency, with recovery time lower than 1.2 s for two subsequent fault current tests.

Efficiency comparison of hyperbranched polymers as toughening agents for a one-part epoxy resin

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Phytochemical characterization, antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant potential of Equisetum hyemale L. (Equisetaceae) extracts

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Serological evidence of Infection by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (Synonym: Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi) in free-ranging wild mammals in a nonendemic region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Raman and infrared investigations of glass and glass-ceramics with composition 2Na2O·1CaO·3SiO2

Precursor glass and glass-ceramics with molar composition 2Na2O·1CaO·3SiO2 are studied by infrared, conventional, and microprobe Raman techniques. The Gaussian deconvoluted Raman spectrum of the glass presents bands at 625 and 660 cm-1, attributed to bending vibrations of Si-O-Si bonds, and at 860, 920, 975, and 1030 cm-1, attributed to symmetric stretching vibrations of SiO4 tetrahedra with 4, 3, 2, and 1 nonbridging oxygens, respectively. The Raman microprobe spectrum of a highly crystallized sample presents two narrow and intense bands at about 590 and 980 cm-1, associated with vibrations of SiO4 tetrahedra with two nonbridging oxygens, in agreement with the predicted chain-like structure of crystalline metasilicates. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the crystals distributed in partially crystallized samples have a spherical shape, built up by radially oriented needle-like single crystals. The Raman microprobe spectra of these spherulites show that they still contain residual amorphous material. A comparison of Raman and infrared spectra of amorphous and highly crystallized samples is presented.