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AbstractTo estimate the life cycle cost of thermal power equipments in engineering, this paper established a comprehensive evaluation model of life cycle cost with the life cycle breakdown and cost breakdown structure. Based on the model, this paper defined the cost elements of the thermal power equipment, analyzed influences of the thermal power equipment. Finally, the model is applied to an instance to estimate various cost categories in each life phase, which were summed up to the life cycle cost of the thermal power equipment.

A template‐agent can affect defect formation as well as influence interface properties, due to the rapid growth of perovskite film from the solution. Herein, diethylammonium iodide (DAI) is used as an effective template‐agent to control the perovskite crystallization during preparation. It is found that a very small amount of DAI in chlorobenzene (CB) can slow down the perovskite growth of the CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) film with more large grain size and compacted crystal‐grains resulting in the lesser grain boundaries (GBs) in favor of carrier transport in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Moreover, some redundant PbI2 can be digested to form DA2PbI4. One part of DA2PbI4 can form the sub‐grains with the composition of (DA2PbI4)0.2(PbI2)0.8 to passivate the GB defects, and other part can cover the surface to passivate the surface defects in large MAPbI3 grains. Using an optimized DAI concentration of 0.5 mg mL−1 in CB solution, the corrsponding MAPbI3 PSC achieves an increased power conversion efficiency of 20.31% with suppressed current–voltage hysteresis. This DAI passivation strategy provides a simple approach to effectively assist the grain‐growth for improved device performance.

The rapid development of advanced metering infrastructure provides a new data source—building electrical load profiles with high temporal resolution. Electric load profile characterization can generate useful information to enhance building energy modeling and provide metrics to represent patterns and variability of load profiles. Such characterizations can be used to identify changes to building electricity demand due to operations or faulty equipment and controls. In this study, we proposed a two-path approach to analyze high temporal resolution building electrical load profiles: (1) time-domain analysis and (2) frequency-domain analysis. The commonly adopted time-domain analysis can extract and quantify the distribution of key parameters characterizing load shape such as peak-base load ratio and morning rise time, while a frequency-domain analysis can identify major periodic fluctuations and quantify load variability. We implemented and evaluated both paths using whole-year 15-minute interval smart meter data of 188 commercial office building in Northern California. The results from these two paths are consistent with each other and complementary to represent full dynamics of load profiles. The time- and frequency-domain analyses can be used to enhance building energy modeling by: (1) providing more realistic assumptions about building operation schedules, and (2) validating the simulated electric load profiles using the developed variability metrics against the real building load data.

Abstract The prime purpose of this work is to prepare a novel kind of Pickering interfacial solid catalysts for biodiesel production to meet the requirements of highly efficiency and environmental benign. To achieve this goal, the core–shell P[xSPA-yDABCO]@SiO2@Fe3O4 composite materials with a shell of photo-responsive and base catalytic sites were manufactured by means of layer-by-layer fabrication method. The modified materials, entirely characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and magnetization versus magnetic (VSM) techniques, demonstrated sufficient catalytic active sites and photo-responsive sites. Among all the so-prepared catalysts, P[3SPA-2DABCO]@SiO2@Fe3O4 performs extremely well and can stabilize soybean oil-in-methanol Pickering emulsion for 24 h, achieving a biodiesel yield up to 98.2% at a catalyst dosage of 5 wt% after the reaction time of 5 h at 60 °C. Furthermore, the double responsive solid catalyst can be readily separated from the mixture of reaction by an external magnet and UV irradiation, and still presented superior catalytic activity after 6 cycles.

Building, bridge or wind turbine maintenance requires manual dexterity tasks by a specialist rope-access trained workforce via two principal means: harness suspension of individual workers from above, or deployment of a suspended platform or cradle from which workers access the structure to be maintained. Currently no published research compares accuracy and efficiency of simulated maintenance tasks between these modalities. This study investigated manual dexterity task performance of peg placement and shape delineation in seated, standing and suspended environments in 16 healthy controls and 26 professional rope-access trained individuals. Both seated and standing assessments were superior to those suspended, and height of suspension, total mass and years of experience had no influence on the task outcome. These findings suggest that, where feasible, cradle suspension mechanisms which permit standing maintenance are favourable in terms of task efficacy and where feasible, should be considered for deployment in wind energy and other engineering applications.

The electro-hydraulic servo pump control system (EHSPCS) is a volume control system that uses a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with a fixed displacement pump to directly drive and control the hydraulic cylinder. The energy transmission law of the system is very complicated due to the transformation of electrical, mechanical and hydraulic energy as well as other energy fields, and qualitative analysis of the energy transfer efficiency is difficult. Energy transfer analysis of the EHSPCS under different working conditions and loads is proposed in this paper. First, the energy flow transfer mechanism was analyzed, and the mathematical and energy transfer models of the key components of the system were established to explore the energy characteristic state transition rule. Second, a power bond diagram model was built, its state equation and state matrix were deduced, and a system simulation model was built. Finally, combined with the EHSPCS experimental platform, simulation experiments were carried out on the dynamic position following and steady-state position holding conditions of the system, and the variation rules of the power of each energy characteristic state and the system energy transfer efficiency under different loads were obtained. The research results provide a foundation for the study of power matching and energy-saving mechanism of the EHSPCS.

AbstractRevolutionary changes in energy storage technology have put forward higher requirements on next‐generation anode materials for lithium‐ion battery. Recently, a new class of materials with complex stoichiometric ratios, high‐entropy oxide (HEO), has gradually emerging into sight and embracing the prosperity. The ideal elemental adjustability and attractive synergistic effect make HEO promising to break through the integrated performance bottleneck of conventional anodes and provide new impetus for the design and development of electrochemical energy storage materials. Here, the research progress of HEO anodes is comprehensively reviewed. The driving force behind phase stability, the role of individual cations, potential mechanisms for controlling properties, as well as state‐of‐the‐art synthetic strategies and modification approaches are critically evaluated. Finally, we envision the future prospects and related challenges in this field, which will bring some enlightening guidance and criteria for researchers to further unlock the mysteries of HEO anodes.image

Abstract This paper presented a novel method of dissipating solar photovoltaic heat based on the technology of micro-heat-pipe array and the utilization of photovoltaic-cell waste heat. This novel technology solved the problems of low PV electrical efficiency and thermal failure caused by high cell temperature, greatly increased the comprehensive utilization efficiency of solar energy, and extended the service life of photovoltaic modules. One-year experiments were conducted to investigate the electrical and thermal performance of a forced-circulation, household-type photovoltaic/thermal system based on micro-heat-pipe array in Beijing, China. Test results showed that on the four typical days in different seasons, the average electrical efficiencies were 13.76%, 11.92%, 13.71%, and 14.65%; the average thermal efficiencies were 31.62%, 33.07%, 24.99%, and 17.24%; and the average total efficiencies were 45.38%, 44.99%, 38.70%, 31.89%, respectively. The system met the demand of power supply on sunny days and the demand of hot water between March and November, except in cloudy days. These experimental results can provide basis and reference for practical applications of the system.