Exergoeconomic analysis of a thermochemical copper–chlorine cycle for hydrogen production using specific exergy cost (SPECO) method

The manner is investigated in which exergy-related parameters can be used to minimize the cost of a copper–chlorine (Cu–Cl) thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production. The iterative optimization technique presented requires a minimum of available data and provides effective assistance in optimizing thermal systems, particularly in dealing with complex systems and/or cases where conventional optimization techniques cannot be applied. The principles of thermoeconomics, as embodied in the specific exergy cost (SPECO) method, are used here to determine changes in the design parameters of the cycle that improve the cost effectiveness of the overall system. The methodology provides a reasonable approach for improving the cost effectiveness of the Cu–Cl cycle, despite the fact that it is still in development. It is found that the cost rate of exergy destruction varies between $1 and $15 per kilogram of hydrogen and the exergoeconomic factor between 0.5 and 0.02 as the cost of hydrogen rises from $20 to $140 per GJ of hydrogen energy. The hydrogen cost is inversely related to the exergoeconomic factor, plant capacity and exergy efficiency. The results are expected to assist ongoing efforts to increase the economic viability and to reduce product costs of potential commercial versions of this process. The impact of the results are anticipated to be significant since thermochemical water splitting with a copper–chlorine cycle is a promising process that could be linked with nuclear reactors to produce hydrogen with no greenhouse gases emissions, and thereby help mitigate numerous energy and environment concerns.     

Experimental investigation of the effects of length to diameter ratio and nozzle number on the performance of counter flow Ranque–Hilsch vortex tubes

In this experimental study, performance of counter flow type Ranque-Hilsch vortex tubes (RHVT), with a length to diameter ratio of 10, 15 and 18, were investigated with 2, 4, 6 nozzles. The measure of performance was chosen as the difference between the temperatures of hot output stream and cold output stream. The performances of RHVTs were experimentally tested by making use of velocity and temperature measurements of the input and output streams. It was determined that the difference between the temperatures of these streams, changed between 9 and 56 K. When all the results were assessed, it was concluded that the best performance was obtained when the ratio of vortex tube’s length to the diameter was 15 and the nozzle number was at least four, and the inlet pressure was as high as possible. Desired performance could be obtained by controlling the rate of the hot output stream.     

Preparation and probe analysis of Langmuir–Blodgett films with metal-containing dendritic and cluster structures

We aim to reveal the influence of?pH values of the working solution on spatial arrangement of metal-containing inclusions in the monolayer coatings prepared by Langmuir?CBlodgett (LB) technology and transferred to solid substrates with consequent modification of surface electrical properties. Consequently, films with inclusions in the form of dendrites and cluster shapes have been obtained. Submicron and micron lead-containing formations in Langmuir?CBlodgett films have been characterized by using the atomic force microscopy, Kelvin probe microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy methods. The results show that increasing?pH value of the subphase has caused the significant changes in the shape and composition of the inclusions in Langmuir?CBlodgett films. The synthesized inclusions on the solid substrate surface resulted in formation of the regions with the local electric fields and, as consequence, to significant modification of the structure and electrical properties. The location and length of the regions with surface potential disturbance depend on the shape of inclusions, and consequently, on?pH value of the subphase used in LB technology.     

A novel bidentate ligand containing oxime,hydrazone and indole moieties and its BF2+ bridged transition metal complexes and their efficiency against prostate and breast cancer cells

In this study, a novel bidentate ligand containing oxime, hydrazone, and indole moieties and its BF₂⁺-bridged transition metal complexes [Ni(II), Cu(II), and Co(II)] were synthesized and their cytotoxic activities against prostate and breast cancer cells were investigated. The vic-dioxime ligand bearing indole–hydrazone side groups was synthesized by reacting antiglyoximehydrazine (GH₂) with 3-methoxy indole. The ligand forms mononuclear complexes with a metal-to-ligand ratio of 1:2 with M = Co(II)(H₂O)₂, Ni(II), and Cu(II). These metal complexes were then reacted with BF₃(C₂H₅)₂O to obtain BF₂⁺-bridged transition metal complexes. The Co(II) complex of the ligand is proposed to be octahedral with water molecules as axial ligands, whereas the Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes are proposed to be square planar. Spectral studies showed that the ligand bonded to the metal ion in a neutral bidentate fashion through the azomethine nitrogen atom and the imine oxime group. Structural assignments are supported by a combination of ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ¹³C NMR, Fourier-transform infrared, LC/MS, elemental analyses, and magnetic susceptibility testing. For determining the cytotoxic effects of the novel anticancer products, cancer cells were cultured. The antiproliferative effects were determined using the MCF-7 breast cancer and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines. The antiproliferative effects of the products were analyzed and their apoptotic or necrotic effects were determined with the Hoechst/propidium iodide double staining method in both cancer cell lines. Paclitaxel was used as the positive control (1 μm ). The results indicated that the newly synthesized compounds are effective on both cell lines between concentrations of 5 and 40 μm and show their effects by apoptotic mechanisms. Besides, these products were found to be more effective on the MCF-7 cell line. The cytotoxic efficiency of the newly synthesized products was more than that of paclitaxel (depending on concentration), which is a chemotherapeutic agent used in cancer therapy.     

Modelling for heat and mass transfer parameters in deep-frying of products

In this paper, the development of new models to determine heat and mass transfer parameters (HMTPs) in terms of the thermal diffusivity, heat transfer coefficient, moisture diffusivity and moisture transfer coefficient for slab, cylindrical, and spherical products being deep-fried was presented. In the model development, two cases of the Biot number, i.e., 0<Bi<100, and Bi≥100 in the transient heat and mass transfer were considered. In order to verify the models, frying experiments were performed using the cylindrically shaped potatoes as test samples, and these samples were fried in a deep fryer at 180°C. The lag factor and frying coefficient for a frying process, which affect heat and mass transfer parameters, were first-defined and considered most important process parameters. By using the temperature and moisture measurements, the frying coefficient and lag factor were determined and incorporated into the models. The HMTPs were determined in a simple and effective manner. In this respect, we can conclude that the present models are useful tools for determining the HMTPs for the products during frying and will be beneficial to the practical applications.     

Heat transfer and thermal management of electric vehicle batteries with phase change materials

This paper examines a passive thermal management system for electric vehicle batteries, consisting of encapsulated phase change material (PCM) which melts during a process to absorb the heat generated by a battery. A new configuration for the thermal management system, using double series PCM shells, is analyzed with finite volume simulations. A combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and second law analysis is used to evaluate and compare the new system against the single PCM shells. Using a finite volume method, heat transfer in the battery pack is examined and the results are used to analyse the exergy losses. The simulations provide design guidelines for the thermal management system to minimize the size and cost of the system. The thermal conductivity and melting temperature are studied as two important parameters in the configuration of the shells. Heat transfer from the surroundings to the PCM shell in a non-insulated case is found to be infeasible. For a single PCM system, the exergy efficiency is below 50%. For the second case for other combinations, the exergy efficiencies ranged from 30–40%. The second shell content did not have significant influence on the exergy efficiencies. The double PCM shell system showed higher exergy efficiencies than the single PCM shell system (except a case for type PCM-1). With respect to the reference environment, it is found that in all cases the exergy efficiencies decreased, when the dead-state temperatures rises, and the destroyed exergy content increases gradually. For the double shell systems for all dead-state temperatures, the efficiencies were very similar. Except for a dead-state temperature of 302 K, with the other temperatures, the exergy efficiencies for different combinations are well over 50%. The range of exergy efficiencies vary widely between 15 and 85% for a single shell system, and between 30–80% for double shell systems.     

Monte Carlo simulation of electron swarms in nitrogen in uniformE×B fields

The motion of electrons in nitrogen in uniform E× B fields is simulated using the Monte Carlo technique for 240⩽E/N⩽600 Td (1 Td=1×10^-17 V cm²) and 0⩽B/N⩽0.45×10^-17 T cm³ . The electron-molecule collision cross sections adopted are the same cross sections as those used previously for the numerical solution of the Boltzmann equation. The swarm parameters obtained from the Monte Carlo simulation are compared with the Boltzmann solution and with the experimental data available in the literature. In relation to E×B fields, it is concluded that the Monte Carlo approach provides an independent method of substantiating the validity of the equivalent electric-field approach     

Determination of surface heat transfer coefficients from measured temperature data for spherical and cylindrical bodies during cooling

In this paper which is a combination of the methodological and experimental aspects, models were developed for determining surface heat transfer coefficients for spherical and cylindrical bodies from their center temperature measurements during forced-cooling. Experiments involved the cooling of the individual spherical and cylindrical products as test samples in the air flow. The cooling parameters in terms of the cooling coefficients and lag factors were also determined to use in the present models. The results show that the surface heat transfer coefficients of the individual spherical and cylindrical products increased with an increase in the flow velocities from 1 to 2 m/s. It can be concluded that the present models have the capabilities of determining the surface heat transfer coefficients for spherical and cylindrical bodies with a single transient experiment.