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At least 1,531 records · Page 85

A non-intrusive optical (NIO) approach to characterize heliostats in utility-scale power tower plants: Methodology and in-situ validation

No reliable in-situ optical characterization tool is available that can efficiently and accurately measure various optical errors of individual heliostats in a utility-scale power-tower plant. Here, an innovative non-intrusive optical (NIO) approach is proposed to measure mirror surface slope error, mirror facet canting error, and heliostat tracking error based on reflection images using the natural target—the tower—in a heliostat field. The NIO approach adopts various techniques in photogrammetry, reflectometry, and geometrical optics to first determine the camera position and the actual tower position with respect to the heliostat. Then, Snell’s law is applied to find the surface normal at the reflection point or line of a reflection image and derive the surface slope error, mirror facet canting error, and heliostat tracking error accordingly. In addition, an in-situ validation is performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the NIO approach. Analysis with multiple sets of reflection images on one single heliostat of interest demonstrates that the NIO method can achieve a measurement uncertainty of 0.22 mrad for mirror facet slope error (root-mean-square) at the given test conditions. The sensitivity of measurement uncertainty to various parameters will be presented in a separate work. In the future, state-of-the-art unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are planned to perform the efficient image collection with a goal to complete the survey across a utility-scale field of over 10,000 heliostats within one or a few days depending on the number of UASs. The development of the NIO approach is expected to fill the critical gap for successful solar-field operation and maintenance, which is necessary for the global growth of the solar power-tower technology. The NIO approach can also be applied to any relevant industry requiring high-precision mirror surface shape characterization.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Use of a Be-dome holder for texture and strain characterization of Li metal thin films via sin 2 (ψ) methodology

Residual strain in electrodeposited Li films may affect safety and performance in Li metal battery anodes, so it is important to understand how to detect residual strain in electrodeposited Li and the conditions under which it arises. To explore this Li films, electrodeposited onto Cu metal substrates, were prepared under an applied pressure of either 10 or 1000 kPa and subsequently tested for the presence or absence of residual strain via sin 2 (ψ) analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of Li films required preparation and examination within an inert environment; hence, a Be-dome sample holder was employed during XRD characterization. Results show that the Li film grown under 1000 kPa displayed a detectable presence of in-plane compressive strain (–0.066%), whereas the Li film grown under 10 kPa displayed no detectable in-plane strain. Here, the underlying Cu substrate revealed an in-plane residual strain near zero. Texture analysis via pole figure determination was also performed for both Li and Cu and revealed a mild fiber texture for Li metal and a strong bi-axial texture of the Cu substrate. Experimental details concerning sample preparation, alignment, and analysis of the particularly air-sensitive Li films have also been detailed. This work shows that Li metal exhibits residual strain when electrodeposited under compressive stress and that XRD can be used to quantify that strain.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Liquid scintillation counting methodology for 99 Tc analysis. A remedy for radiopharmaceutical waste

This paper presents a new approach for liquid scintillation counting (LSC) analysis of single-radionuclide samples containing appreciable organic or inorganic quench. This work offers better analytical results than existing LSC methods for technetium-99 ( 99g Tc) analysis with significant savings in analysis cost and time. The method was developed to quantify 99g Tc in environmental liquid and urine samples using LSC. Method efficiency was measured in the presence of 1.9 to 11,900 ppm total dissolved solids. The quench curve was proved to be effective in the case of spiked 99g Tc activity calculation for deionized water, tap water, groundwater, seawater, and urine samples. Counting efficiency was found to be 91.66% for Ultima Gold LLT (ULG-LLT) and Ultima Gold (ULG). Relative error in spiked 99g Tc samples was ±3.98% in ULG and ULG-LLT cocktails. Minimum detectable activity was determined to be 25.3 mBq and 22.7 mBq for ULG-LLT and ULG cocktails, respectively. A pre-concentration factor of 1000 was achieved at 100°C for 100% chemical recovery.

Cocktail↗

Identification and Optimization of Novel Small c-Abl Kinase Activators Using Fragment and HTS Methodologies

Abelson kinase (c-Abl) is a ubiquitously expressed, nonreceptor tyrosine kinase which plays a key role in cell differentiation and survival. It was hypothesized that transient activation of c-Abl kinase via displacement of the N-terminal autoinhibitory “myristoyl latch”, may lead to an increased hematopoietic stem cell differentiation. This would increase the numbers of circulating neutrophils and thus be an effective treatment for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. This paper describes the discovery and optimization of a thiazole series of novel small molecule c-Abl activators, initially identified by a high throughput screening. Subsequently, a scaffold-hop, which exploited the improved physicochemical properties of a dihydropyrazole analogue, identified through fragment screening, delivered potent, soluble, cell-active c-Abl activators, which demonstrated the intracellular activation of c-Abl in vivo.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗