Ultrahigh Loading Copper Single Atom Catalyst for Palladium-free Wacker Oxidation

Wacker oxidation is an industry-adopted process to transform olefins into value-added epoxides and carbonyls. However, traditional Wacker oxidation involves the use of homogeneous palladium and copper catalysts for the olefin addition and reductive elimination. Here, we demonstrated an ultrahigh loading Cu single atom catalyst(14% Cu, mass fraction) for the palladium-free Wacker oxidation of 4-vinylanisole into the corresponding ketone with N-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride as an additive under mild conditions. Mechanistic studies by ¹⁸O and deuterium isotope labelling revealed a hydrogen shift mechanism in this palladium-free process using N-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride as the oxygen source. The reaction scope can be further extended to Kucherov oxidation. Our study paves the way to replace noble metal catalysts in the traditional homogeneous processes with single atom catalysts.     

基于内聚力模型的快速荷载下CFRP-混凝土界面剪切剥离模拟

鉴于纤维增强复合材料(Fiber Reinforced Polymer, FRP)已在混凝土结构加固中普遍应用, 能有效提高结构的承载和变形能力. 为揭示动载作用下FRP-混凝土界面的剥离机理, 本文基于ABAQUS平台, 采用内聚力模型模拟CFRP-混凝土界面层, 实现了快速荷载下CFRP-混凝土界面剥离的高效模拟. 结果表明: CFRP表面应变在加载过程中由加载端向自由端方向传递, 随着加载速率的提高, 界面承载能力也随之提高; 界面峰值剪应力也存在显著的应变率效应; 模拟结果与试验结果基本吻合, 说明了新方法的有效性.     

铅基堆超临界CO2复合循环发电系统热力学分析

本文对比了再压缩超临界CO2 (S-CO2)循环、蒸汽朗肯循环、He布雷顿循环分别应用于铅基堆的最优热学性能,明确了S-CO2循环与铅基堆结合较传统循环的热力学优势。为进一步提高再压缩S-CO2循环的效率,以跨临界CO2 (T-CO2)循环为底循环构建了再压缩S-CO2/T-CO2复合循环,探讨了不同顶循环透平入口温度、压力和压缩机入口温度条件下系统性能的变化规律,对比了S-CO2/T-CO2复合循环和S-CO2循环的热学性能。结果表明:铅基堆再压缩S-CO2循环发电系统较传统循环形式具有更高的热效率;构建的S-CO2/T-CO2复合循环能够有效提高S-CO2循环的效率,在所研究参数范围内,S-CO2/T-CO2复合循环的热效率和效率比S-CO2循环分别最大可提高约4.8%和8.3%;再压缩S-CO2循环和S-CO2/T-CO2复合循环热学性能随顶循环关键参数变化规律具有一致性。     

Rate sensitivity and deformation mechanism of semi-crystalline polymers during instrumented indentation

Instrumented indentation tests using both constant loading rate (CLR) and continuous stiffness measurement (CSM) operation modes were performed to investigate the deformation mechanism and their sensitivity to the deformation rate in semi-crystalline polymers through the quantitative analysis of load-depth loading and unloading curves. The strain rate was constant during the CSM tests, while the strain rate decreased with the increasing of loading time in CLR tests. The mechanical response mechanism of the semi-crystalline polymers to these tests was very complicated because of the combined effects of strain-hardening in the crystal phase and strain-softening in the amorphous phase. Results show that the loading index m reflects the strain-hardening or strain-softening response during indentation. When m > 2, the mechanical response was due to the strain-hardening, and when m < 2, the response was due to strain-softening. A method based on the measured contact hardness was proposed to obtain the unloading stiffness, and the other mechanical parameters could then be determined according to the unloading stiffness.     

Efficient monooleoyl glycerol synthesis employing hybrid ultrasonic-infrared-wave promoted reactor: Concurrent catalytic and noncatalytic esterification kinetics

For the first time, intensification of monooleoyl glycerol (MOG) synthesis has been investigated in an ultrasonic-infrared-wave (USIRW) promoted batch reactor. Esterification of octadecanoic acid (ODA) with glycerol (Gl) has been conducted [using Amberlyst 36 wet catalyst] in three different reactors, namely traditional batch reactor (TBR), infrared wave promoted batch reactor (IRWPBR), and USIRW-promoted batch reactor (USIRWPBR) to assess the relative efficacy. The energy-efficient USIRWPBR remarkably intensifies the ODA-Gl esterification as manifested through superior ODA conversion (92.5 ± 1.25%) compared to that achieved in IRWPBR (79.8 ± 1.2%) and TBR (36.39 ± 1.25%). The most favorable reaction condition for optimum ODA conversion and maximum MOG yield was identified through statistical optimization over a selected parametric range, namely 3-5 Gl/ODA mole ratio, 0.004-0.006 g/mL Amberlyst 36 catalyst concentration, 300-700 rpm impeller speed, and 333-353 K reaction temperature. The present study also reports the formulation and validation of an innovative reaction kinetics, that is, concurrent noncatalytic and heterogeneously catalyzed (CNCHC) reaction mechanism in addition to the conventional heterogeneous kinetic models (LH and Eley-Rideal mechanisms). Under combined USIRW, the CNCHC esterification mechanism could best describe ODA-Gl esterification (R² = 0.98) compared to LH (R² = 0.97) and Eley-Rideal (R² = 0.88) mechanisms. The optimal product (MOG) was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis to assess its crystallization property and thermal stability for possible application as plasticizer/fuel additives.     

Flume testing of passively adaptive composite tidal turbine blades under combined wave and current loading

The tidal energy industry is progressing rapidly, but there are still barriers to overcome to realise the commercial potential of this sector. Large magnitude and highly variable loads caused by waves acting on the turbine are of particular concern. Composite blades with in-built bend-twist elastic response may reduce these peak loads, by passively feathering with increasing thrust. This could decrease capital costs by lowering the design loads, and improve robustness through the mitigation of pitch mechanisms. In this study, the previous research is extended to examine the performance of bend-twist blades in combined wave–current flow, which will frequently be encountered in the field. A scaled 3 bladed turbine was tested in the flume at IFREMER with bend-twist composite blades and equivalent rigid blades, sequentially under current and co-directional wave–current cases. In agreement with previous research, when the turbine was operating in current alone at higher tip speed ratios the bend-twist blades reduced the mean thrust and power compared to the rigid blades. Under the specific wave–current condition tested the average loads were similar on both blade sets. Nevertheless, the bend-twist blades substantially reduced the magnitudes of the average thrust and torque fluctuations per wave cycle, by up to 10% and 14% respectively.     

An experimental investigation into non-linear wave loading on horizontal axis tidal turbines

Tidal turbines are subject to large hydrodynamic loads from combinations of currents and waves, which contribute significantly to fatigue, extreme loading and power flow requirements. Physical model testing enables these loads and power fluctuations to be assessed and understood in a controlled and repeatable environment. In this work, a 1:15 scale tidal turbine model is utilised to further the fundamental understanding of the influence of waves on tidal turbines. A wide range of regular waves are generated in both following-current and opposing-current conditions. Wave frequencies range from 0.31 Hz to 0.55 Hz & wave heights from 0.025 m to 0.37 m in a fixed 0.81 m/s current velocity. Waves are selected and programmed specifically to facilitate frequency domain analysis, and techniques are employed to isolate the effect of non-linear waves on turbine power and thrust.Results demonstrate that wave action induces large variations in turbine power and thrust compared to current only conditions. For the range of conditions tested, peak values of thrust and power exceed current-only values by between 7%–65% and 13%–160% respectively. These wave-induced fluctuations are shown to increase with wave amplitude and decrease with wave frequency. Following wave conditions exhibit greater variations than opposing for waves with the same wave height and frequency due to the lower associated wavenumbers.A model is developed and presented to aid the understanding of the high-order harmonic response of the turbine to waves, which is further demonstrated using steady state coefficients under assumptions of pseudo-stationarity. This approach is proven to be effective at estimating wave-induced power and thrust fluctuations for the combinations of waves, currents and turbine state tested. The outcome of which shows promise as a rapid design tool that can evaluate the effect of site-specific wave–current conditions on turbine performance.     

In vitro antioxidant/prooxidant effects of combined use of flavonoids

The present study was undertaken to investigate the individual and combined antioxidant or prooxidant effects of genistein, daidzein and quercetin in human erythrocytes and rat microsomes in vitro. Their reducing potential against oxidation of a redox sensitive fluorescent probe, their protective effect against H₂O₂-induced membrane lipid peroxidation and their inhibitory effect on AAPH-induced hemolysis were evaluated. Genistein and daidzein were prooxidant in erythrocytes but antioxidant in microsomes where their metabolites might have been formed which suggests the importance of metabolic capacity in in vitro models to predict the physiological situation. Quercetin showed antioxidant effects in all models and conditions. Prooxidant effect of ‘genistein–daidzein mixture’, at their concentrations reflecting the real life, was suppressed by addition of quercetin to the mixture. Our study shows that flavonoids can exert prooxidant effects depending on the conditions, but the mixture effect should be considered while assessing their effects and safety in humans.     

基于八面体理论的岩石循环加-卸载本构模型及修正

探究岩石的受力特点及破坏特性是研究岩石地下工程安全性的关键,诸多学者都期望能在岩石本构模型的研究上取得突破性进展。在此背景下,提出了一种能够描述循环加-卸载条件下岩石的本构模型。首先,假设岩石的微元强度服从八面体剪应力理论并且微元破坏服从Weibull概率公式,将岩石本构中的损伤变量以及岩石微元强度表达式里包含的损伤因子进行本构变换,得到关于应力、应变等其他表现加-卸载下岩石损伤本构模型的参数,表示出岩石微元强度和损伤变量,再将得到的岩石微元强度和损伤变量代入所提出的岩石本构模型中,并进行等式变换得到一个函数表达式。通过将其与实验数据进行拟合对比分析,得出修正后的拟合参数,将其代入函数式中,得到损伤本构模型的修正式。最后将拟合参数进行必要的敏感性分析,得出各拟合参数的实际物理意义。     

采用组合引导磁场的多注二极管设计

分析了采用单一同轴磁场时强流相对论多注阴极的侧端发射问题,研究了在不同磁场内半径和多注漂移管长度情况下多注电子束的传输效率。研究发现:由于引导磁场尺寸有限,高压下多注阴极杆及多注阴极柱的电子束发射是影响多注电子束传输效率的主要因素,且该部分电子束对多注漂移管入口管壁的轰击直接影响了多注速调管的重频能力。设计了采用永磁铁和同轴磁场组合工作的强流相对论多注二极管,理论分析和模拟计算证明:基于组合磁场的多注二极管可明显减弱甚至抑制多注阴极发射球头以外的电子束发射,并且组合磁场的磁场位形和强度可满足强流相对论多注电子束的高效、稳定传输。