Cu(In,Ga)Se2 based photovoltaic structure by electrodeposition and processing

CuIn_1−xGa_xSe₂ (CIGS) thin films were formed from an electrodeposited CuInSe₂ (CIS) precursor by thermal processing in vacuum in which the film stoichiometry was adjusted by adding In, Ga and Se. The structure, composition, morphology and opto-electronic properties of the as-deposited and selenized CIS precursors were characterized by various techniques. A 9.8% CIGS based thin film solar cell was developed using the electrodeposited and processed film. The cell structure consisted of Mo/CIGS/CdS/ZnO/MgF₂. The cell parameters such as J_sc, V_oc, FF and η were determined from I–V characterization of the cell.     

Maximum wind power generation in a power system imposed by system inertia and primary reserve requirements

Although the technology to simulate inertia or to provide primary control in wind power generators is mature, most of them are a source of power with neither inertia nor primary reserve provision mainly because it means wind spilling. Therefore, an increasing wind power penetration means a reduction in the inertia of the system and of the primary reserve due to the substitution of conventional generation. In this paper, the maximum wind power penetration focusing on system inertia and primary reserve value is assessed. The Spanish power system is used as an example for the calculation of these values. For this purpose, real Spanish scenario data are used. Results will show that high penetrations of wind power can be achieved without risking adequate values of primary reserve or inertia of the power system even if wind power does not contribute to these items. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rheological behavior in the molten state and solution of hyperbranched polyester of fourth and fifth generation

The rheological behavior in the molten state and solution of hyperbranched polyol polyesters (HBPs) obtained by one step (HBP4, HBP5), step by step (HBP4P, HBP5P), and combination of both (HBP1‐4, HBP1‐5) was studied. Under conditions of dynamic oscillatory shear, all HBPs presented a shear‐thinning behavior and under steady shear they showed a Newtonian behavior. Also, the steady shear viscosities decreased with increasing temperature. The behavior of HBPs was mainly viscous, except for the HBP4P that showed higher storage modulus and reduction of complex viscosity when increasing the angular frequency. The HBPs presented higher complex viscosity than steady shear and they did not follow the Cox‐Merz rule. The HBPs in solution presented a plateau region at shear rate lower than 40 s⁻¹ but a shear‐thickening behavior at shear rate higher than 40 s⁻¹. The viscosities of HBPs in solution (in the plateau region) and molten state increase in the following order: HBP5P > HBP1‐5 > HBP4P > HBP1‐4 > HBP4 > HBP5. These results are not in agreement with the values of the number average molar mass obtained by vapor pressure osmometry due to different interaction between HBPs molecules. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

When does a vessel become a pipe?

The conditions under which the transient outflow from a punctured pipeline may be approximated as that emanating from a vessel using a simplified analytically based vessel blowdown model (VBM) is investigated in this article. The above addresses the fundamental drawback of long computational run times associated with the numerically based techniques used for simulating pipeline puncture failures. The efficacy of the VBM is tested by comparison of its predictions against simulation data obtained using a validated rigorous but computationally demanding numerical technique based on the method of characteristics. The results show that the accuracy of the VBM increases with decreasing puncture/pipe diameter ratio, line pressure, and increasing pipeline length. Surprisingly, the VBM produces more accurate predictions for two‐phase mixtures when compared with permanent gases. This is found to be a consequence of the better applicability of the isothermal bulk fluid decompression assumption within the pipeline in the case of two‐phase mixtures. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011     

Electrochemical reduction of nitrite at poly-[Ru(5-NO2-phen)2Cl] tetrapyridylporphyrin glassy carbon modified electrode

This work describes the preparation of modified electrodes with Poly-tetraruthenated porphyrin. Also, a detailed Raman and electrochemical characterization of these surfaces is shown. Glassy carbon electrodes were modified with Ni (II), Zn (II) and metal free polymeric film of tetrapyridylporphyrin coordinated to four [Ru(5-NO₂-phen)₂Cl]⁺ moieties.These modified electrodes are very stable in aqueous solutions, and were evaluated for the electrochemical reduction of nitrite ion at pH = 5.9 in 0.1 M NaClO₄. When the solution contains 0.01 M nitrite, linear sweep voltammetry results, show an enhancement in the current from −0,3 V with the conducting polymers, compared to the bare electrode behavior. Analyses after controlled potential electrolysis experiments verify the production of hydrazine, hydroxylamine and ammonia. Hydroxylamine was the product of higher production among the three studied catalysts.The behavior of the modified electrodes allows predicting that the reduction process of nitrite takes place through reduced macrocycle ring. The electrocatalytic activity of the modified electrodes, measured as turn over frequency is dependent on the potential and the central ion in the cavity of the macrocycle. Finally, the modified electrode containing Ni²⁺ in the cavity of the macrocycle was used as an amperometric sensor toward nitrite detection. The results show a limit of detection of 9.37 × 10⁻⁶ M and a linear rage of concentration of 1.49 × 10⁻⁵ to 1.24 × 10⁻⁴ M.     

Validation of strain invariant failure analysis in an open hole off-axis specimen

We present a model that incorporates the effect of uncertainty in the microstructure of composite systems in failure analysis. The method involves a recently developed micromechanical enhancement model to integrate the effect of variability in the fiber volume fraction. The model determines the range of failure angles in an open hole off-axis specimen and the uncertainty in the critical effective shear strain in the matrix phase at failure due to uncertainties in the fiber volume fraction. A Bayesian methodology is used for model validation and the Bayes factor metric is used to quantify the confidence in the model prediction.     

Processing,spark plasma sintering,and mechanical behavior of alumina/titanium composites

This paper focuses on the study of the processing and mechanical properties, (flaw tolerance and R-curve behavior) of alumina–titanium ceramic–metal composites produced by spark plasma sintering. In order to obtain homogenously dispersed composites, a rheological study was carried out by measuring the flow behavior in different conditions of solid content, amount of dispersant and shear stress. It has been found that, with the suitable conditions (80 wt% solids and 3 wt% deflocculant), a ceramic–metal homogeneously dispersed (Al₂O₃–Ti) composite can be obtained. After sintering, the composites were mechanically tested and the cermet showed an important improvement in the flaw tolerance and R-curve behavior when compared with the monolithic material. It has been demonstrated by scanning electronic microscopy that this improvement is a consequence of the reinforcement mechanisms provided by the metallic particles that interact with the crack producing a notable increase in toughness up to ~8 MPa m^1/2.     

Input current shaper based on the series connection of a voltagesource and a loss-free resistor

A new input current shaper is proposed in this paper. The operating principle is based on the connection of a voltage source and a loss-free resistor (LFR) between the input rectifier and the bulk capacitor in a conventional switching mode power supply with no power-factor correction. Both the voltage source and the LFR are obtained as an additional output from the converter's transformer. This additional output is a forward-type one with one extra inductor. With the final topology, a good tradeoff between capacitor voltage, recycling energy, and harmonic content can be established in order to comply with IEC 1000-3-2 specifications     

Polychlorinated biphenyl partitioning in the waters of a remote mountain lake.

The dissolved-particulate phase distribution of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in the waters of a high mountain lake (Redó Lake, Pyrenees) has been studied. The lake is oligotrophic and its water hydrology is dominated by atmospheric precipitation; inputs from catchment or other sources are not significant. Samples were collected in several periods encompassing the summer and winter seasons. The PCB congener concentrations were rather uniform both in terms of water depth and seasonality showing steady state conditions. Seventy percent of the variation of the PCB particulate-dissolved phase coefficient (Kd) was correlated with temperature and log octanol-water (Kow)). Lower temperatures and hydrophobicity involved a higher association with the particulate phase. This behavior is consistent with the predominance of plankton among suspended particles following a two compartment model. Thus, temperature dependence seems mainly related to a rapid phase transfer mechanism such as surface adsorption to the cell membranes and log Kow influence could reflect steric restrictions for the uptake of these compounds upon algal ingestion.     

Occurrence of non-O157 shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in ready-to-eat food from supermarkets in Argentina

Between June 2000 and December 2001, 500 food samples were collected from supermarkets and shops selling ready-to-eat food in Rosario, Argentina, and examined for Escherichia coli. Forty-nine E. coli isolates from food samples were further characterized for virulence genes by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the stx1, stx2, stx2e, eaeA, CNF1, CNF2, Einv, LTI, STI, and STII genes in four groups. Out of 49 E. coli isolates screened by multiplex PCR, only 10 possessed Shiga toxin genes, stx1 and stx2 genes and none possessed the other genes. The Shiga toxin positive E. coli strains (STEC) were isolated from soft, cottage cheeses, chicken with sauce and vegetables mayonase. These E. coli isolates were serogrouped and belonged to O18 (two strains), O8, O57w, O79, O44, and O128; three strains were untypeable. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with XbaI generated a unique profile for each, having 10-15 bands ranging from 50 to 500 kb, except that strain ARG 20 generated small bands and was partly degraded. These strains are potential foodborne pathogens and their presence in ready-to-eat food illustrates the need to keep a careful watch for the source of pathogens and then develop methods to control them.