Study on estimating electric potential in space between parallel electrodes

We have been studying on estimating distribution of permittivity between measurement electrodes using capacitance and electric potential. Two arc electrodes were separated by long distance and there electrodes were surrounded by additional electrodes respectively. In past research work, we carried out numerical electric analysis for calculating the capacitance and electric potential using Finite Element Method (FEM) and compared with experimental and numerical results. The capacitance values were almost agreed with experimental and numerical results. However, the electric potential values were different between experimental and numerical results in conventional studies. In this paper, we proposed an equivalent circuit including the stray capacity and measurement method for capacitance, the electric potential in space between long distance electrodes was estimated.     

Pressureless all-solid-state sodium-ion battery consisting of sodium iron pyrophosphate glass-ceramic cathode and β″-alumina solid electrolyte composite

In recent years, the expansion of demand for lithium ion batteries has resulted in soaring prices of the constituent resources. From the viewpoint of safety, studies on all-solid-state batteries are actively being carried out. In this study, we succeeded in driving all-solid-state batteries derived from nontoxic oxide glasses at room temperature without requiring scarce resources such as lithium and cobalt. The main structure of the ceramic batteries with a simple structure in which Na₂FeP₂O₇ crystallized glass and β″-alumina solid solution are joined by pressureless cofiring at 550°C. During the crystallization of Na₂O-Fe₂O₃-P₂O₅ glass, fusion with the β″-alumina solid solution is achieved. Reversible charge and discharge of 80 mAh/g were achieved at room temperature. It is not necessary to apply pressure during cell preparation or the use of the batteries. Furthermore, the strong junction at the cathode and electrolyte interface does not peel off during charge and discharge over a long period of 623 cycles. Ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed partial Fe⁴⁺ induction and a reversible charge and discharge reaction even after overcharging to 9 V. It was demonstrated that Na₂FeP₂O₇ is very stable against overcharging to 9 V.     

Measurement of vertical and horizontal vibrations of a probe for acoustic evaluation of food texture

Two‐dimensional (vertical and horizontal) vibrations of a wedge‐type probe upon food rupture were evaluated separately using two accelerometers placed perpendicular to a guide rod of a swing‐arm device for texture evaluation of the flesh of three varieties of apples and three types of potato chips. Voltage signals from the accelerometers were filtered using a half‐octave band‐pass filter. The energy texture index (ETI), based on kinetic energy of the vertical or horizontal probe vibrations, was calculated over low to high frequency bands (no. 1–21). The spectra for the flesh of the three varieties of apples included two common peaks for vertical ETI at band no. 11 (1,120–1,600 Hz) and 19 (17,920–25,600 Hz) and horizontal ETI at band no. 1 (0–10 Hz) and 15 (4,480–6,400 Hz). The spectra for the three types of potato chips had a common ETI peak at band no. 11 (1,120–1,600 Hz) for horizontal ETI and at no. 15 (4,480–6,400 Hz) for vertical ETI. The three apple varieties gave rise to different intensities of vertical and horizontal ETIs while the two peaks were maintained. The thick potato chip type had higher vertical and horizontal ETIs than the thin and soft varieties in most bands; however, the thin type had the highest vertical ETIs only in lower bands (0–200 Hz). The soft type had the lowest vertical and horizontal ETI. The above results suggest that different food textures can be distinguished by two‐dimensional vibration analyses of probe insertion into a food sample based on frequency bands.     

Quantitative risk assessment using a Japanese hydrogen refueling station model

Although hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) are becoming widespread across Japan and are essential for the operation of fuel cell vehicles, they present potential hazards. A large number of accidents such as explosions or fires have been reported, rendering it necessary to conduct a number of qualitative and quantitative risk assessments for HRSs. Current safety codes and technical standards related to Japanese HRSs have been established based on the results of a qualitative risk assessment and quantitative effectiveness validation of safety measures over ten years ago. In the last decade, there has been much development in the technologies of the components or facilities used in domestic HRSs and much operational experience as well as knowledge to use hydrogen in HRSs safely have been gained through years of commercial operation. The purpose of the present study is to conduct a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) of the latest HRS model representing Japanese HRSs with the most current information and to identify the most significant scenarios that pose the greatest risks to the physical surroundings in the HRS model. The results of the QRA show that the risk contours of 10^?3 and 10^?4 per year were confined within the HRS boundaries, whereas the risk contours of 10^?5 and 10^?6 per year are still present outside the HRS. Comparing the breakdown of the individual risks (IRs) at the risk ranking points, we conclude that the risk of jet fire demonstrates the highest contribution to the risks at all of the risk ranking points and outside the station. To reduce these risks and confine the risk contour of 10^?6 per year within the HRS boundaries, it is necessary to consider risk mitigation measures for jet fires.     

Cold-start performance of an ammonia-fueled spark ignition engine with an on-board fuel reformer

This work demonstrated the first-ever cold-start operation of an ammonia (NH₃)-fueled four-cylinder spark ignition engine with an on-board fuel reformer, applying autothermal reforming. In this system, an electrically heated NH₃-air mixture was provided to a reforming catalyst and approximately 3 s was found to elapse between the start of engine rotation and the onset of combustion. Stable fast idle operation in conjunction with a cold start was realized with a H₂-to-NH₃ molar ratio of 2:1. Nearly zero NH₃ emissions were achieved during cold start and fast idle until the engine warmed up, by adsorbing unburned NH₃ passing through a three-way catalyst before the catalyst was sufficiently warmed up. The NH₃ adsorption capacity of this system could be regenerated during the engine warm-up when the engine was running under lean conditions.     

Reduction of Ripple Current Loss by Electromagnetic Coupling of Air‐Core Reactors

To reduce the loss due to ripple current in a multiphase current‐reversible chopper, we investigated electromagnetic coupling of an air‐core reactor. We derived the relationship between the amplitude of the ripple current, the duty factor, and the electromagnetic coupling coefficient, and used the results to estimate the effects of electromagnetic coupling in the design of a train energy storage system. We built reactors with electromagnetic coupling coefficients of 0.93 and 0.60. These reactors employed a new winding structure that provides an optimal electromagnetic coupling coefficient. The mass of the former type of reactor was increased by 4.4% over the conventional design, and that of the latter type of reactor was decreased by 17%. Finally, we tested the new reactors. When the chopper employs the former type of reactor and operates with equal‐phase switching and cumulative coupling, the loss due to ripple current is decreased by 11%. When the chopper employs the latter type of reactor and operates with shift‐phase switching and differential coupling, the loss is decreased to 31%. The test showed that the calculated relationships agreed with the measured values.     

Bactericidal effect of cationic hydrogels prepared from hydrophilic polymers

This study investigated whether hydrogels comprising hydrophilic cationic polymers have similar bactericidal effects. Bacteria were seeded on hydrogels and agar and their viability was assessed with time. Cationic hydrogels displayed bactericidal effects upon long-term bacterial contact. Furthermore, we assessed the areal density of cationic monomer unit of the cationic hydrogels, water content, and the initial elastic modulus. We examined correlations between each factor and bacterial death ratios; consequently, the bacterial death ratios were strongly correlated with the areal density of cationic hydrogel monomers. Elastic energy (W_el) generated at the cytomembrane ion-binding region and the cationic hydrogel and the cytomembrane interfacial energy (W_f) were estimated; consequently, W_el exceeded W_f at higher contact areas. The cationic hydrogel may extract cytomembranes with a reasonable adsorption area. Therefore, cationic hydrogels may be used as probes for ultrasonic echo to sterilize medical equipment.     

Deoxidation of Ti Melt by Newly Developed Two-Step Plasma Arc Melting Process Using Hydrogen

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - A two-step plasma arc melting process, comprising a first step under Ar-30 pct H2 gas flow and the second step under Ar gas flow, has been...