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At least 649 records · Page 36

Experimental and kinetic analysis for particle scale modeling of a CuO-Fe 2 O 3 -Al 2 O 3 oxygen carrier during reduction with H 2 in chemical looping combustion applications [Experimental and kinetic analysis for particle scale modeling of a CuO-Fe 2 O 3 -Al 2 O 3 oxygen carrier during reduction with CO in chemical looping combustion applications]

A kinetic analysis of the H 2 reduction of a CuO-Fe 2 O 3 -Al 2 O 3 oxygen carrier in gas phase fueled Chemical Looping Combustion of synthesis gas was utilized to derive particle scale representation. An experimentally driven study was carried out to provide an array of operational data sets for kinetic modelling approaches. The impact of key operational variables on the kinetics of the novel oxygen carrier were examined, with emphasis on the application of reliable phenomena driven particle scale models to describe the reduction behavior. Due to the novel nature of the material, a series of experimental studies were carried out to provide a fundamental understanding of how the material changed as oxygen was depleted from the structure due to reduction with H 2 . This include quantification of the complex mixed metal oxide phase and changes due to lattice oxygen depletion. It was found that H 2 reduction occurs in a multistep process where CuFeAlO 4 → Cu 0+ + FeAl 2 O 4 → Cu 0+ + Fe 0+ + Al 2 O 3 as oxygen is depleted from the structure. This multistep process was successfully emulated through the use of a two interface Grainy pellet model in which reaction (kinetic) control was the main rate limiting step. This is validated through the examination of other potential rate limiting resistances. In conclusion, the model emulates changes in key operation variables with good accuracy.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Scalable methodology for large scale building energy improvement: Relevance of calibration in model-based retrofit analysis

The increasing interest in retrofitting of existing buildings is motivated by the need to make a major contribution to enhancing building energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption and CO2 emission by the built environment. This paper examines the relevance of calibration in model-based analysis to support decision-making for energy and carbon efficiency retrofits of individual buildings and portfolios of buildings. The authors formulate a set of real retrofit decision-making situations and evaluate the role of calibration by using a case study that compares predictions and decisions from an uncalibrated model with those of a calibrated model. The case study illustrates both the mechanics and outcomes of a practical alternative to the expert- and time-intense application of dynamic energy simulation models for large-scale retrofit decision-making under uncertainty.

Heo, Yeonsook↗

Microstructural analysis of recycled concrete using X-ray microtomography

This paper reports an investigation of the recycled concrete (RC) microstructure using synchrotron microtomography (μCT) at the Advanced Light Source combined with Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis. The study evaluated the influence of 50% of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and its water absorption compensation on the RC microstructure. The following variables were studied: a) the compressive strength of the original concrete used to obtain the RCA (40 and 80 MPa) and b) the initial moisture condition of the RCA (Saturated Surface Dry and Oven Dry). The microtomographic images showed the mixtures cast with RCA in the dry condition developed an evident macropore network surrounding the RCA particle that was not observed in the mixtures using RCA in the SSD condition. SEM images confirmed the initial findings from μCT and showed that the thickness of the interfacial transition zone in RC is in the same order of magnitude as the reference concrete.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Play Fairway analysis of geothermal resources across the State of Hawai‘i: 4. Updates with new groundwater chemistry, subsurface stress analysis, and focused geophysical surveys

This paper is the fourth in a series on a play fairway analysis of geothermal resources across the State of Hawai‘i. Here we describe recent exploration activities that include groundwater sampling in ten locations statewide, as well as geophysical surveys on Lana‘i, across the SW rift of Haleakala Volcano (Maui), and surrounding Mauna Kea Volcano (Hawai‘i Island). We derive a first-order method for computing topographic stress using Green’s functions, finding that topography can induce appreciable crustal stress. We develop a new method for incorporating depth information about resistivity, density, and topographic stresses into our previously published equations to calculate resource probability and confidence. We incorporate newly collected and modeled data into our calculations to update statewide maps of probability and confidence. Lana‘i Island and southeast Mauna Kea are identified as the top targets for exploratory drilling. The east rift of Haleakala Volcano, the southern-most region of Mauna Loa’s SW rift (Hawai‘i Island), and central Kauai are identified as targets for geophysical surveying.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Predictive Factor Analysis of Response-Adapted Radiation Therapy for Chemotherapy-Sensitive Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma: Analysis of the Children's Oncology Group AHOD 0031 Trial

Purpose: To evaluate whether clinical risk factors could further distinguish children with intermediate-risk Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) with rapid early and complete anatomic response (RER/CR) who benefit significantly from involved-field RT (IFRT) from those who do not, and thereby aid refinement of treatment selection. Methods and Materials: Children with intermediate-risk HL treated on the Children's Oncology Group AHOD 0031 trial who achieved RER/CR with 4 cycles of chemotherapy, and who were randomized to 21-Gy IFRT or no additional therapy (n=716) were the subject of this study. Recursive partitioning analysis was used to identify factors associated with clinically and statistically significant improvement in event-free survival (EFS) after randomization to IFRT. Bootstrap sampling was used to evaluate the robustness of the findings. Result: Although most RER/CR patients did not benefit significantly from IFRT, those with a combination of anemia and bulky limited-stage disease (n=190) had significantly better 4-year EFS with the addition of IFRT (89.3% vs 77.9% without IFRT; P=.019); this benefit was consistently reproduced in bootstrap analyses and after adjusting for other prognostic factors. Conclusion: Although most patients achieving RER/CR had favorable outcomes with 4 cycles of chemotherapy alone, those children with initial bulky stage I/II disease and anemia had significantly better EFS with the addition of IFRT as part of combined-modality therapy. Further work evaluating the interaction of clinical and biologic factors and imaging response is needed to further optimize and refine treatment selection.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Multimodal Analysis of Spatially Heterogeneous Microstructural Refinement and Softening Mechanisms in Three-Pass Friction Stir Processed Al4Si Alloy

Multiple thermally and thermomechanically induced microstructural refinement mechanisms can be activated in metallic alloys when subjected to solid phase processing methods such as friction stir processing (FSP). In this work, we provide detailed descriptions of the relationship between region-specific microstructural refinement mechanisms and the variation in microhardness, through a systematic and multimodal microstructural characterization of an FSP-processed 75% cold-rolled Al-4 at.% Si model binary alloy. Spatially resolved high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction, electron backscattered diffraction, and scanning transmission electron microscopy were used to understand the spatially heterogeneous microstructural evolution due to FSP. Results provide insights into how mechanisms such as static recovery, static recrystallization, dynamic recovery and recrystallization, geometric and continuous dynamic recrystallization, and particle-stimulated static or dynamic grain nucleation may occur heterogeneously in the microstructure as a function of the distance from the stir zone in processed alloys, directly influencing the degree of softening. The systematic analysis of microstructures and hardness in the FSP-processed model binary alloy given in this work highlights the rich microstructural domains that can be uniquely harnessed through solid phase processing of metallic alloys.

Al4Si, Friction Stir Processing, Geometric Dynamic↗

Analysis of several high-resolution infrared bands of perdeutero-spiropentane, C5D8

Perdeutero-spiropentane (C5D8) has been synthesized and infrared spectra were taken from 400 to 4000 cm-1 at low sample pressures in a 22 meter multipass cell. The spectral resolution (0.0015 cm-1) reveals thousands of individual rovibrational transitions for several fundamental bands occurring in the spectral region of 500 to 1100 cm-1. C5D8 ground state constants reported in a previous study of a ?15 parallel band at 1054 cm-1 [1] were improved significantly in the present work by adding combination-differences derived from ?16 parallel and ?24 perpendicular band analyses. The larger data set at higher J values also allowed determination of the ground state K? = 2 splitting constant (?2? = 0.76(2) ×10-9 cm-1). For ?16, the band origin is 847.16933(5) cm-1 and changes in upper state rotational constants are ?A = –0.0013411(5) and ?B = –0.0002021(1) (in units of cm-1). Overlapping, and in Fermi resonance with ?16, is a second parallel band which, from Gaussian calculations at the anharmonic level, is assigned as the b2 combination ?8+?12, with band origin of 840.5434(1) and ?A = –0.0003500(7) and ?B = –0.0003502(1) cm-1. For ?24 analogous values are 556.41453(2) and ?A = –0.00032295(9) and ?B = –0.00016782(4) cm-1. The analyses also yields accurate values for the changes in both quartic and sextic centrifugal distortion constants and, for ?24, values for the l-doubling constants q+ and q-. Theoretical calculations of the rovibrational parameters aided in the analysis and the numerical values are in good agreement with experimental results.

Nibler, Joseph W.↗

Crystallographic and Compositional Analysis of impurity phase: U2MoSi2C in UMo Alloys

Minor impurity elements in metallic nuclear materials can critically influence the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties, making it crucial to understand the structure, composition and distribution of the impurity phases. Using Transmission Electron Microscopy, Atom Probe Tomography and ab-initio calculations we provide the atomic scale crystallographic structural and compositional analysis of a new impurity phase: U2MoSi2C in an important nuclear fuel U-10Mo alloy. We identify the new phase to have tetragonal symmetry with lattice parameters of a=6.67Å, c=4.33Å, and space group P4/mbm (No.127). Ab-initio calculations were performed to verify structural stability and to perform atom positions refinement.

Kovarik, Libor↗

Structural analysis of highly porous γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}

Two highly porous γ-aluminas, a commercial catalyst obtained from the calcination of boehmite and a highly mesoporous product obtained from amorphous aluminum (oxy)hydroxide via a sol–gel-based process were investigated by {sup 27}Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of synchrotron powder diffraction data. NMR data showed for both materials a distribution of tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated Al at a 0.30:0.70 ratio, which is typical for γ-aluminas. TEM studies revealed that rod-shaped particles with about 5 nm in thickness are the building blocks of the porous structure in both materials. These particles often extend to a length of 50 nm in the commercial catalyst and are considerably shorter in the sol–gel-based material, which has a higher surface area. Refinement of PDFs revealed the presence of a ∼1 nm scale local structure and the validity of a tetragonal average structure for both materials. This tetragonal average structure contains a substantial fraction of non-spinel octahedral Al atoms. It is argued that the presence of local structure is a general feature of γ-alumina, independent of precursor and synthesis conditions. The concentration of “non-spinel” Al atoms seems to correlate with surface properties, and increases with increasing pore size/surface area. This should have implications to the catalytic properties of porous γ-alumina. - Graphical abstract: Boehmite-derived and sol–gel synthesized porous γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} possess identical structural properties, featuring a nm scale local structure and a tetragonal average structure. - Highlights: • Porous γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} generally possesses a nm-scale local structure. • The tetragonal average structure contains a substantial fraction of “non-spinel” Al atoms. • The concentration of “non-spinel” Al atoms correlates with surface properties.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Fast neutron background characterization with the Radiological Multi-sensor Analysis Platform (RadMAP)

In an effort to characterize the fast neutron radiation background, 16 EJ-309 liquid scintillator cells were installed in the Radiological Multi-sensor Analysis Platform (RadMAP) to collect data in the San Francisco Bay Area. Each fast neutron event was associated with specific weather metrics (pressure, temperature, absolute humidity) and GPS coordinates. Furthermore, the expected exponential dependence of the fast neutron count rate on atmospheric pressure was demonstrated and event rates were subsequently adjusted given the measured pressure at the time of detection. Pressure adjusted data was also used to investigate the influence of other environmental conditions on the neutron background rate. Using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) coastal area lidar data, an algorithm was implemented to approximate sky-view factors (the total fraction of visible sky) for points along RadMAPs route. In the three areas we analyzed, San Francisco, Downtown Oakland, and Berkeley, all demonstrated a suppression in the background rate of over 50% for the range of sky-view factors measured. This effect, which is due to the shielding of cosmic-ray produced neutrons by surrounding buildings, was comparable to the pressure influence which yielded a 32% suppression in the count rate over the range of pressures measured.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗