Optimal sizing of energy storage system for microgrids

Microgrids (MGs) are Low Voltage distribution networks comprising various distributed generators (DG), storage devices and controllable loads that can operate either interconnected or isolated from the main distribution grid as a controlled entity. Energy storage system (ESS) is a vital part of an MG. In this paper, a methodology is proposed for the optimal allocation and economic analysis of ESS in MGs on the basis of net present value (NPV). As the optimal operation of an MG strongly depends on the arrangement and allocation of its ESS, economic operation strategies and optimal allocation methods of the ESS devices are required for the MG. Self-adaptive Bee Swarm Optimization (SBSO) algorithm is applied to optimize the operation strategies and capacities of ESS in MGs in order to find maximal NPV, the generation schedule of ESS and distributed generation sources. This paper is to suggest, among those available ESS, the optimal sizes and types of them and their optimal arrangement, such that the total NPV achieved during the system operational lifetime period is maximized. After introducing the methodology, a case study is presented for illustration.     

Crystal–Glass High-Entropy Nanocomposites with Near Theoretical Compressive Strength and Large Deformability

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) and metallic glasses (MGs) are two material classes based on the massive mixing of multiple-principal elements. HEAs are single or multiphase crystalline solid solutions with high ductility. MGs with amorphous structure have superior strength but usually poor ductility. Here, the stacking fault energy in the high-entropy nanotwinned crystalline phase and the glass-forming-ability in the MG phase of the same material are controlled, realizing a novel nanocomposite with near theoretical yield strength (G/24, where G is the shear modulus of a material) and homogeneous plastic strain above 45% in compression. The mutually compatible flow behavior of the MG phase and the dislocation flux in the crystals enable homogeneous plastic co-deformation of the two regions. This crystal–glass high-entropy nanocomposite design concept provides a new approach to developing advanced materials with an outstanding combination of strength and ductility.     

Robust multi-objective optimization for energy production scheduling in microgrids

In order to achieve better economic and environmental benefits of microgrids (MGs) under multiple uncertainties in renewable energy resources and loads, a novel energy production scheduling method is proposed based on robust multi-objective optimization with minimax criterion. Firstly, a mixed integer minimax multi-objective formulation is developed to capture uncertainties as well as minimize economic and environmental objectives. Secondly, the primal problem is decomposed into a bi-level optimization problem, which attempts to seek robust scheduling scheme set under the worst-case realization of uncertainties in a multi-objective framework. Finally, a hierarchical meta-heuristic solution strategy, including multi-objective cross entropy algorithm and δ+ indicator, is designed to solve the reconstructed problem. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed scheduling method can effectively attenuate the disturbance of uncertainties as well as reduce energy costs and emissions, as compared with single-objective robust optimization and multi-objective optimization scheduling approaches. This study could offer useful insights which help decision-makers balance robustness and comprehensive benefits in the operation of MGs.     

Al基块体金属玻璃的研究进展

Al基金属玻璃具有高强度、高韧性、良好的耐蚀性,特别是其比强度高达330kN·m/kg,作为新结构材料在航空航天领域具有潜在的应用前景。近年不仅研发出了具有大过冷液相区以及能形成块体金属玻璃的Al基合金,还通过粉体温热固化成形工艺实现了Al基金属玻璃的大块体化,推动了其在实际生产中的应用。简述了有关Al基金属玻璃合金的玻璃形成能力、过冷液体热稳定性、力学性能及其粉末烧结体的组织和性能等方面的最新研究进展,并对其发展存在的问题进行了探讨。     

Composition and size dependent torsion fracture of metallic glasses

The fracture of metallic glasses(MGs)of different compositions and sizes down to micrometers under torsion loading were systematically investigated.Contrary to the flat shear fracture along the circumfer-ential plane as commonly supposed under torsion,we find that the torsion fracture of metallic glasses can deviate from flat shear plane,and the fracture angle is closely dependent on the composition and the size of MG samples.With a conversion method,we show that the torsion fracture of both millimeter-and micrometer-sized MGs can be described by the ellipse fracture criterion as originally proposed for the tension fracture.The deviation from the circumferential shear plane under torsion is further shown to intrinsically relate to the fracture toughness of MGs.The tougher MG tends to have a smaller fracture angle with respect to the maximum shear plane,and vice versa,indicating a correlation between the fracture toughness and pressure/normal stress sensitivity in MGs.Our results provide new insights on the fracture mechanism and are helpful to design and control the deformation and fracture behavior of MGs under torsion loading.     

Nanosecond Laser “Pulling” Patterning of Micro–Nano Structures on Zr-Based Metallic Glass

Flexible and controllable fabrication of micro–nano structures on metallic glasses (MGs) endow them with more functional applications, but it is still challenging due to the unique mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of MGs. In this study, inspired by a new physical phenomenon observed in the nanosecond laser–MG interaction (i.e., the surface structure is transformed from the normally observed microgroove into the micro–nano bulge at a critical peak laser power intensity), a nanosecond laser “pulling” method is proposed to pattern the MG surface. The formation mechanism and evolution of the micro–nano bulge are investigated in detail, and accordingly, various micro–nano structures including the unidirectional stripe, pillar, cross-hatch patterns, “JLU”, circle, triangle, and square, are derived and created on the MG surface, which affects the surface optical diffraction. Overall, this study provides a highly flexible and controllable method to fabricate micro–nano structures on MGs.     

Fe-based metallic glass: An efficient and energy-saving electrode material for electrocatalytic degradation of water contaminants

Excessive consumption of electrical energy has hampered the widespread application of electrochemical technology for degradation of various contaminants. In this paper, a Fe-based metallic glass (MG) was demonstrated as a new type of electrocatalyst to effectively and economically degrade an azo dye. In comparison to other typical electrodes, Fe-based MG electrodes exhibit a minimized degradation time, and the specific energy is 4–6 orders of magnitude lower than that of dimensionally stable anode (DSA), metal-like boron-doped diamond (BDD) and other electrodes. As sacrificial electrode materials, Fe-based MGs have less specific electrode mass consumption than iron electrodes. The use of Fe-based MGs will promote the practical application of electrochemical technology and the use of MGs as functional materials.     

Thermoplastic micro-formability of TiZrHfNiCuBe high entropy metallic glass

High entropy metallic glasses (MGs) have attracted tremendous attentions owing to high entropy that benefits the probing of new MG-forming systems. However, the micro-formability of high entropy MGs is lack of investigation in comparison with these conventional MG counterparts, which is crucial to the development of this kind of metallic alloys. In this work, the thermoplastic mciro-formability of TiZrHfNiCuBe high entropy MG was systemically investigated. Time-Temperature-Transformation (TTT) curve was first constructed based on isothermal crystallization experiments, which provides thermoplastic processing time of the supercooled high entropy MGs. By comparison with the deformation map, Newtonian flow was found beneficial to the thermoplastic formability. While the thermoplastic forming becomes arduous with reducing mould size to tens micrometer, because of the strong supercooled TiZrHfNiCuBe high entropy MG (fragility = 27). Fortunately, the micro-formability of TiZrHfNiCuBe high entropy MG could be improved by vibration loading, as demonstrated by finite-element-method simulation. Our findings not only systemically evaluate the thermoplastic micro-formability of high entropy MG, but also provide fundamental understanding of the phenomenon.     

Mechanism and kinetics of treatment of acid orange II by aged Fe-Si-B metallic glass powders

The mechanism and kinetics of acid orange II(AOII) treated by aged gas-atomized Fe-Si-B metallic glass(MG) powders were investigated in this study. The decolorization reaction is shown to obey the pseudofirst-order kinetic model, and the treatment processes could be divided into two stages: a slow step followed by a rapid one. This observation is in accordance with the following results, the azo dye is simply adsorbed onto the Fe-based MG powders in the initial stage, because the oxide layer coated on the powder surface depresses the degradation reaction by covering the activity sites, and then the degradation occurs with the desquamation of the powders. The AOII could be degraded with a rapid reaction rate when the Fe-based MG powders are applied to the treatment process again, because of the consumption of the oxide layer and the unchanged core of the Fe-based MGs. These findings will promote the practical application of MGs in degrading azo dyes.     

Rapid screening of potential metallic glasses for biomedical applications

This paper presents a rapid screening process to select potential titanium and zirconium based metallic glasses (MGs) for bio-material applications. Electrochemical activity of 7 MGs including 6 bulk metallic glasses and 1 thin-film deposited MG in simulation body and human serum is first inspected. A low-voltage potential state test is also developed to simulate the cell membrane potential that the implant MGs will suffer. Results show that the MGs composed of Ti₆₅Si₁₅Ta₁₀Zr₁₀ and Ta₅₇Zr₂₃Cu₁₂Ti₈ exhibit excellent electrochemical stability in both simulation body fluid and human serum. In addition, the copper content in the MGs plays an important role on the electrochemical activity. MGs with the copper content higher than 17.5% show significant electrochemical responses. The cytotoxicity of the solid MG samples and the corrosion released ions are also evaluated by an in-vitro MTT test utilizing the murine bone marrow stem cells. Results indicate that all the solid MG samples show no acute cytotoxicity yet the corrosion released ions show significant toxicity for murine bone marrow stem cells. The rapid screening process developed in the present study suggests that the Ti₆₅Si₁₅Ta₁₀Zr₁₀ metallic glass has high potential for biomedical applications due to its good electrochemical stability and very low cytotoxicity.     

Simulated body-fluid tests and electrochemical investigations on biocompatibility of metallic glasses

This paper presents the in-vitro and electrochemical investigations of four metallic glasses (MGs) for finding potential MG-based bio-materials. The simulation body-fluid Hanks solution is utilized for testing the corrosion resistance of MGs, and microorganisms of Escherichia coli are used in testing the bio-toxicity. In addition, a simple cyclic voltammetry method is used for rapid verification of the potential electrochemical responses. It is found that the Zr-based MG can sustain in the body-fluid, exhibiting the best corrosion resistance and electrochemical stability. The microbiologic test shows that E. coli can grow on the surface of the Zr-based metallic glass, confirming the low cell toxicity of this Zr-based MG.     

Atomic-level structure and structure-property relationship in metallic glasses

The structure of metallic glasses (MGs) has been a long-standing mystery. On the one hand, MGs are amorphous materials with no long-range structural order; on the other hand, topological and chemical short-to-medium range order is expected to be pronounced in these alloys, due to their high atomic packing density and the varying chemical affinity between the constituent elements. The unique internal structure of MGs underlies their interesting properties, which render MGs potentially useful for various applications. While more and more glass-forming alloys have been developed in recent years, fundamental knowledge on the structural aspect of MGs remains seriously lacking. For example, how atoms pack on the short-to-medium range, how the structure differs in different MGs and changes with composition, temperature, and processing history, and more importantly, how the structure influences the properties of MGs, are still unresolved questions. In this paper, we review the tremendous efforts over the past 50 years devoted to unraveling the atomic-level structure of MGs and the structural origin of their unique behaviors. Emphasis will be placed on the progress made in recent years, including advances in structural characterization and analysis of prototypical MGs, general structural models and fundamental principles, and the correlations of thermodynamic, kinetic, and mechanical properties with the MG structures. Some widely observed property-property correlations in MGs are also examined from the structural perspective. The insights summarized are shown to shed light on many intriguing behaviors of the MG-forming alloys and expected to impact the development of MGs. Outstanding questions in this important research area will also be outlined.     

Path synthesis of four-bar mechanisms using synergy of polynomial neural network and Stackelberg game theory

In this article, a novel approach based on game theory is presented for multi-objective optimal synthesis of four-bar mechanisms. The multi-objective optimization problem is modelled as a Stackelberg game. The more important objective function, tracking error, is considered as the leader, and the other objective function, deviation of the transmission angle from 90° (TA), is considered as the follower. In a new approach, a group method of data handling (GMDH)-type neural network is also utilized to construct an approximate model for the rational reaction set (RRS) of the follower. Using the proposed game-theoretic approach, the multi-objective optimal synthesis of a four-bar mechanism is then cast into a single-objective optimal synthesis using the leader variables and the obtained RRS of the follower. The superiority of using the synergy game-theoretic method of Stackelberg with a GMDH-type neural network is demonstrated for two case studies on the synthesis of four-bar mechanisms.     

Effects of Li addition on the corrosion behaviour and biocompatibility of Mg(Li)–Zn–Ca metallic glasses

Magnesium alloys with suitable corrosion behaviour and good mechanical properties are desired for biodegradable materials. In the current study, novel Mg–Li-based metallic glasses (MGs) demonstrate potential clinical applications as implantable biodegradable materials. The amorphous structure of MGs provides suitable elastic modulus with human bone. The enhanced corrosion resistance of MGs realises a uniform corrosion process, as well as maintains a stable acid-based environment, and increases cell proliferation. A schematic model is proposed to illustrate the corrosion mechanisms of MGs. Adding Li significantly improves the corrosion resistance of MGs. Both the indirect cytotoxicity and direct cell culture assays are conducted using transfected osteoblasts (hFOB) cells. Results show that the novel Mg–Li–Zn–Ca MGs have good biocompatibility.     

An Improved Unsupervised Image Segmentation Method Based on Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization Clustering Algorithm

Most image segmentation methods based on clustering algorithms use single-objective function to implement image segmentation. To avoid the defect, this paper proposes a new image segmentation method based on a multi-objective particle swarm optimization (PSO) clustering algorithm. This unsupervised algorithm not only offers a new similarity computing approach based on electromagnetic forces, but also obtains the proper number of clusters which is determined by scale-space theory. It is experimentally demonstrated that the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed multi-objective PSO clustering algorithm.     

Intelligent secondary control in smart microgrids: an on-line approach for islanded operations

Dealing with islanded microgrids (MGs), this paper aims at improving the secondary control process to restrict the fluctuations in both the voltage and frequency signals. With the aim of retrieving these parameters at the nominal values, an intelligent control scheme is devised to adjust the corresponding control parameters. To do so, an on-line self-optimizing control approach is embedded in the MG’s central controller. In the tuning process, evolutionary-based techniques such as genetic algorithms provide proper initial adjustment for the parameters. Subsequently, an artificial neural network (ANN) is triggered to provide accurate online modification of the control parameters. Specifically, the training capability of the ANN mechanism along with its extensibility feature avoids the dependency of the controller on the operating point conditions and accommodates different changes and uncertainty reflections. Detailed simulation studies are conducted to investigate the performance of the proposed approach, and the results are discussed in depth.     

Micro injection of metallic glasses parts under ultrasonic vibration

This work investigates the evolution of structure and mechanical performance of metallic glasses(MGs)under a proposed rapid forming approach. Through the unique ultrasonic-assisted micro injection method, micro MGs parts with fine dimensional accuracy were successfully fabricated. The temperature during the micro injection is higher than the glass transition temperature and lower than the crystallization temperature. Differential scanning calorimeter curve and X-ray diffraction pattern show that the MGs micro parts keep the amorphous nature after the ultrasonic-assisted micro injection. Our results propose a novel route for the fast forming of MGs and have promising applications in the rapid fabrication of micro scale products and devices.     

Reentrant glass transition leading to ultrastable metallic glass

Polyamorphs are often observed in amorphous matters, and a representative example is the reentrant glass transition in colloid systems. For metallic amorphous alloys, however, the cases reported so far are limited to metallic glasses (MGs) that undergo electronic transitions under gigapascal applied pressure, or the presence of two liquids at the same composition. Here we report the first observation of a reentrant glass transition in MGs. This unusual reentrant glass transition transforms an MG from its as-quenched state (Glass I) to an ultrastable state (Glass II), mediated by the supercooled liquid of Glass I. Specifically, upon heating to above its glass transition temperature under ambient pressure, Glass I first transitions into its supercooled liquid, which then transforms into a new Glass II, accompanied by an exothermic peak in calorimetric scan, together with a precipitous drop in volume, electrical resistance and specific heat, as well as clear evidence of local structural ordering on the short-to-medium-range scale revealed via in-situ synchrotron X-ray scattering. Atomistic simulations indicate enhanced ordering of locally favored motifs to establish correlations in the medium range that resemble those in equilibrium crystalline compounds. The resulting lower-energy Glass II has its own glass transition temperature higher than that of Glass I by as much as 50 degrees. This route thus delivers a thermodynamically and kinetically ultrastable MG that can be easily retained to ambient conditions.     

Mechanical property and structural changes by thermal cycling in phase-separated metallic glasses

Nondestructive cryogenically thermal cycling has been a simple but effective treatment to enhance mechanical properties of glassy materials.However,how the structural heterogeneities on nanometer scales are affected by thermal cycling is still an issue.Here,we report the response of spatial hetero-geneities in three selected Ti41Zr25Be28Fe6,Zr56Co14Cu14Al16 and Zr42Y14Co22Al22(at.％)metallic glasses(MGs)with different compositions to the thermal cycling,which show significantly different structure and properties after the same treatments and could be ascribed to the joint contribution of relaxation and rejuvenation induced by thermal cycling.The rejuvenation is initially prevailed in a Zr-Y-containing MG,whereas the relaxation is dominant in a Cu-Co-containing MG,both eventually entering into a dynamic equilibrium state.By employing nanometer-scale structural models,the intrinsic correlation between the spatial heterogeneity and thermal cycling is proposed.The discovery could provide the fundamental understanding of the role of spatial heterogeneity in influencing the macroscopic properties of MGs via thermal cycling and help design high-performance glassy materials by tailoring their atomic structures with suitable thermal treatments.     

Molecular Glass Resists as High‐Resolution Patterning Materials

The success of the semiconductor industry is based on the ability to fabricate hundreds of millions of devices on a single chip. In order to fulfill the ever‐shrinking feature sizes, the industry requires new patternable materials in order to operate in the sub‐50 nm regime. Molecular glass (MG) resists are a new type of patterning material that has gained considerable attention over the past few years. This Research News article describes the chemical and structural aspects of MGs as well as important concepts of MG resist design. We also highlight some of the recent advances in high‐resolution patterning capabilities with next‐generation imaging tools.