Optimization model of a structural simulation design for a CICC

The engineering design of a Cable-In-Conduit Conductor (CICC) is complicated. A model for the optimal design of a CICC based on conductor stability, AC loss and strain is proposed. The model considers the critical current density as a function of applied strain. A mathematical programming method that minimizes the AC loss of the CICC is established to yield an optimal design for the CICC structure. The optimized structure and related performance agree well with the engineering design values used for the KSTAR project.     

Hydrogen absorption behavior of TA15 alloy

The hydrogen absorption kinetics of TA15 titanium alloy at 973–1123 K was studied using a tube-type hydrogen treatment furnace. The hydrogen absorption kinetic curves obtained were analyzed according to a series of mechanism equations to reveal the kinetic parameters and mechanism of the hydrogen absorption process. The results show that both the hydrogen absorption rate and the equilibrium hydrogen pressure increase and the time to reach equilibrium is shortened with increasing temperature. It is found that only the second hydrogen absorption period exists in the hydrogen absorption process of TA15 alloy between 973 and 1123 K, and the activation energy is 54.889 kJ/mol for hydrogen absorption. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results demonstrate that δ hydride forms between 973 and 1123 K, and β phase decreases with the increase of temperature. Orthorhombic α″ martensite is generated at 1073-1123 K, and their amount increases with increasing temperature.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC-particle-strengthening tri-metal Al/Cu/Ni composite produced by accumulative roll bonding process

In this study, a multilayer Al/Ni/Cu composite reinforced with SiC particles was produced using an accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process with different cycles. The microstructure and mechanical properties of this composite were investigated using optical and scanning microscopy and hardness and tensile testing. The results show that by increasing the applied strain, the Al/Ni/Cu multilayer composite converted from layer features to near a particle-strengthening characteristic. After the fifth ARB cycle, a composite with a uniform distribution of reinforcements (Cu, Ni, and SiC) was fabricated. The tensile strength of the composite increased from the initial sandwich structure to the first ARB cycle and then decreased from the first to the third ARB cycle. Upon reaching five ARB cycles, the tensile strength of the composite increased again. The variation in the elongation of the composite exhibited a tendency similar to that of its tensile strength. It is observed that with increasing strain, the microhardness values of the Al, Cu, and Ni layers increased, and that the dominant fracture mechanisms of Al and Cu were dimple formation and ductile fracture. In contrast, brittle fracture in specific plains was the main characteristic of Ni fractures.     

Corrosion behavior of high-strength spring steel for high-speed railway

The corrosion resistance and evolution of corrosion products in medium-carbon high-strength spring steels were investigated in a neutral salt spray (5wt% NaCl solution). A formation model of γ-FeOOH and a transformation model describing the conversion of γ-FeOOH to α-FeOOH were constructed. The results indicated that, at the initial corrosion stage, the corrosion resistance was gradually improved with the addition of Cr; however, with the addition of alloying element V, the corrosion resistance decreased. These results were attributed mainly to the initial corrosion stage being closely related to the matrix microstructure parameters such as grain-boundary character and dislocation density. After the rust layer was formed at a later corrosion stage, the corrosion resistance was reinforced with the addition of Cr and V because Cr strongly influenced the composition, structure, and morphology of the corrosion products. The results presented herein show that Cr was conducive to the transformation of γ-FeOOH into α-FeOOH. Moreover, V and Cr exhibited obvious synergy and were enriched in the inner layer of the corrosion products.     

Effect of Ce addition on microstructures and mechanical properties of A380 aluminum alloy prepared by squeeze-casting

The effect of cerium (Ce) addition on the eutectic Si, β-Al₅FeSi phase, and the tensile properties of A380 alloy specimens prepared by squeeze-casting were studied by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The experimental results showed that Ce more effectively modified the eutectic Si and refined the β-Al₅FeSi. The refinement effect significantly increased under a specific pressure of 100 MPa with the addition of Ce from 0.1wt% to 0.9wt%. In contrast, the average length and the aspect ratio of the eutectic Si and β-Al₅FeSi exhibited their optimal values when the content of the added Ce was greater than 0.5wt%. Needle-like Al8Cu4Ce was precipitated with the addition of excessive Ce; hence, the mechanical properties of A380 gradually decreased with increasing Ce content in the range from 0.3wt% to 0.9wt%.     

Crystallographic texture and earing behavior analysis for different second cold reductions of double-reduction tinplate

Since the production of tinplate with non-earing properties is difficult, especially when it is produced via the double-reduction process, the optimal degree of second cold reduction is particularly important for achieving desirable drawing properties. The evolution of texture and the earing propensity of double-reduction tinplate with different extents of second reduction were investigated in this study. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe the changes in the microstructure at various extents of reduction. Two common testing methods, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron backscatter diffraction, were used to investigate the texture of the specimens, which revealed the effects of deformation percentage on the final texture development and the change in the grain boundary. The earing rate was determined via earing tests involving measurement of the height of any ear. The results obtained from both XRD analyses and earing tests revealed the same ideal value for the second cold reduction on the basis of the relationship between crystallographic texture and the degree of earing.     

Shear-thickening behavior of Fe-ZSM5 zeolite slurry and its removal with alumina/boehmites

A cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) technique was used to explore the shear-thickening behavior of Fe-ZSM5 zeolite pastes and to discover its underlying mechanism. Bare Fe-ZSM5 zeolite samples were found to contain agglomerations, which may break the flow of the pastes and cause shear-thickening behaviors. However, the shear-thickening behaviors can be eliminated by the addition of halloysite and various boehmites because of improved particle packing. Furthermore, compared with pure Fe-ZSM5 zeolite samples and its composite samples with halloysite, the samples with boehmite (Pural SB or Disperal) additions exhibited network structures in their cryo-SEM images; these structures could facilitate the storage and release of flow water, smooth paste flow, and avoid shear-thickening. By contrast, another boehmite (Versal 250) formed agglomerations rather than network structures after being added to the Fe-ZSM5 zeolite paste and resulted in shear-thickening behavior. Consequently, the results suggest that these network structures play key roles in eliminating the shear-thickening behavior.     

Electrochemical behavior of gold and its associated minerals in alkaline thiourea solutions

Electrochemical measurements were conducted to study the electrochemical behavior of gold (Au) and its commonly associated minerals in alkaline thiourea solutions. The results indicated that without addition of any stabilizer, selective dissolution of Au from stibnite and pyrite was only possible at relatively low thiourea concentrations. As Na₂SiO₃ was added, pyrite started to become active and an oxidation peak appeared; the oxidation peaks of arsenopyrite and chalcocite appeared earlier than that of Au. The chalcocite peak shifted in the positive direction and the peak current increased. Stibnite did not show an oxidation peak and its current was nearly zero. Adding Na₂SiO₃ favored the selective dissolution of Au when its minerals were associated with chalcocite and stibnite. At pH 12, the Au anode dissolution peak current increased with stabilizer concentration. At 0.38 and 0.42 V and for Na₂SiO₃ concentration below 0.09 M, the current density continuously increased with Na₂SiO₃ concentration. The Na₂SiO₃ concentration had to be adequate to stabilize thiourea. When the potential was higher than 0.42 V, the surface of the Au electrode started to passivate. With an additional increase in potential, the presence of Na₂SiO₃ could not stop the inevitable decomposition of thiourea.     

Microstructure and corrosion behavior of Al<Subscript>3</Subscript>Ti/ADC12 composite modified with Sr

In this study, we investigated the effect of the addition of Sr (0wt%, 0.1wt%, 0.2wt%, and 0.3wt%) on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of Al₃Ti/ADC12 composite by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy diffraction spectroscopy. The results reveal that the α-Al phases were nearly spherical and 40 μm in size and that the eutectic Si phases became round in the composite when the Sr content reached 0.2wt%. The Al₃Ti particles were distributed uniformly at the grain boundary. The results of the corrosion examination reveal that the Al₃Ti/ADC12 composite exhibited a minimum corrosion rate of 0.081 g·m–2·h–1 for an Sr content of 0.2wt%, which is two thirds of that of unmodified composite (0.134 g·m–2·h–1). This improved corrosion resistance was due to galvanic corrosion, which resulted from the low area ratio of the cathode to anode regions. This caused a low-density corrosion current in the composite, thereby yielding optimum corrosion resistance.     

Integrated heat and power dispatch model for wind-CHP system with solid heat storage device based on robust stochastic theory

This paper built a combined heat and power (CHP) dispatch model for wind-CHP system with solid heat storage device (SHS) aiming at minimizing system coal consumption, and set system demand-supply balance and units’ operation conditions as the operation constraints. Furthermore, robust stochastic optimization theory was used to describe wind power output uncertainty. The simulation result showed that SHS increased CHP peak-valley shifting capability and reduced abandoned wind rate from 12% to 6%, and reduced 5% coal consumption, compared with the original system operation by flexible charging electric power and heating. The payback period of employing SHS in wind-CHP system is far shorter than SHS expected service life.