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Vehicles with hybrid drive systems, are increasingly more often being equipped with solutions that increase the drive systems efficiency. One of such solutions is to use an increased supply voltage for electric motors of such vehicles. The battery voltage is increased several times in the inverter system in order to increase the electrical power supplied to the electric motor. This article presents possible uses of such voltage amplification (called boost) in urban traffic conditions. The tests used the latest models of vehicles with hybrid drive systems equipped with the same drive units: Lexus NX 300h and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The study analyses the conditions of starting such a system and the characteristics of its operation. It has been shown that the amplification of the voltage powering the electrical machinery in both vehicles occurs at high torque values. The maximum voltage amplification–almost threefold (up to 650 V) allows a two-fold increase in the torque of the drive system.

Abstract The results of an investigation into the interdependence between the loading conditions and the number of physically possible load flows in a power system are presented. The physical interpretation of various solutions of load flow is given. The relation between practically acceptable load flows and the multiplicity of load flow solutions of 4 nonlinear load flow equations is given.

Abstract The supercritical power plant analyzed in this paper consists of the following elements: a steam turbine, a hard-coal-fired oxy-type pulverized fuel boiler, an air separation unit with a four-end-type high-temperature membrane and a carbon dioxide capture unit. The electrical power of the steam turbine is 600 MW, the live steam thermodynamic parameters are 650°C/30 MPa, and the reheated steam parameters are 670°C/6 MPa. First of all the net efficiency was calculated as functions of the oxygen recovery rate. The net efficiency was lower than the reference efficiency by 9–10.5 pp, and a series of actions were thus proposed to reduce the loss of net efficiency. A change in the boiler structure produced an increase in the boiler efficiency of 2.5–2.74 pp. The range of the optimal air compressor pressure ratio (19–23) due to the net efficiency was also determined. The integration of all installations with the steam turbine produced an increase in the gross electric power by up to 50.5 MW. This operation enabled the replacement of the steam regenerative heat exchangers with gas–water heat exchangers. As a result of these alterations, the net efficiency of the analyzed power plant was improved to 5.5 pp less than the reference efficiency.

Abstract Stable aqueous TiO2 nanofluids with different particle (agglomerate) sizes and concentrations are formulated and measured for their static thermal conductivity and rheological behaviour. The nanofluids are then measured for their heat transfer and flow behaviour upon flowing upward through a vertical pipe in both the laminar and turbulent flow regimes. Addition of nanoparticles into the base liquid enhances the thermal conduction and the enhancement increases with increasing particle concentration and decreasing particle (agglomerate) size. Rheological measurements show that the shear viscosity of nanofluids decreases first with increasing shear rate (the shear thinning behaviour), and then approaches a constant at a shear rate greater than ∼100 s−1. The constant viscosity increases with increasing particle (agglomerate) size and particle concentration. Given the flow Reynolds number and particle size, the convective heat transfer coefficient increases with nanoparticle concentration in both the laminar and turbulent flow regimes and the effect of particle concentration seems to be more considerable in the turbulent flow regime. Given the particle concentration and flow Reynolds number, the convective heat transfer coefficient does not seem to be sensitive to the average particle size under the conditions of this work. The results also show that the pressure drop of the nanofluid flows is very close to that of the base liquid flows for a given Reynolds number.

Abstract Efficiency of the earth-to-air heat exchangers depends not only on their thermal performance but also on the total pressure losses that are the cost of harvesting a geothermal heat. In this paper the sensitivity analysis of the flow characteristics to the change of multi-pipe exchanger geometry is presented. Experimental investigation and CFD simulation results present total pressure losses in the considered exchangers and airflows in each branch-pipes. Considered geometrical structures varies in the number of parallel pipes, pipes length, main pipes diameters and supply type. The experimental investigations were conducted on the exchangers models in a scale 1:4. To investigate the real size exchangers, validated CFD flow performance model was used. A costless modification of heat exchanger supply-type from Z-type to U-type structure (change in air inlet location) is verified as a simple method of decreasing total pressure losses by 6–36% and improving airflow division uniformity by 11–80%. It is shown that main pipes diameter that are 1.4 times bigger than parallel pipes diameter can result in diminished total pressure losses by 56–73% and improved airflow division uniformity by 6–59%. The least significant effect on the flow characteristics has the branch-pipe length. Total pressure losses of long branch-pipes exchangers can be 15–32% higher than for short ones and the airflow division uniformity can be 8–35% higher. Results can be used for choosing the proper geometry of multi-pipe earth-to-air heat exchangers from the flow performance point of view. Presented flow characteristics can be used in detailed analysis and energy assessment of exchangers cooperating with the mechanical ventilation system in building.

Abstract The direct carbon fuel cells with solid oxide electrolyte (DC-SOFC) and anodes deposited by inject printing (EM/DCIJP) were studied. The cells were fed with carbon fuel obtained by the direct RF plasma splitting of methane. Since the (EM/DCIJP)M/DCIJP technology allows easy modification of electrode material, the effect of Cu addition to the Ni–YSZ anode was investigated. The significant improvement of the cell performance with the new anode was observed.

Hydrogen ingress into a metal has been observed at cavitation in distilled water and in 3% NaCl solution at open circuit potential. The measurements of hydrogen permeation rate have been made using an ultrasonic cavitation facility with an attached Devanathan-Stachurski double cell. Increase in vibration amplitude has been associated with the increase in amplitude of electrochemical voltage and current pulses and with the modification of hydrogen permeation rate. Hydrogen behavior within the metal has been affected by the cavitation induced dynamic stresses and metal deformation hardening, ascertained on the basis of the appearance of hydrogen permeation transients at cavitation in comparison with those recorded for the unstressed state. Metal damage has been a resultof associated effects of cavitation and hydrogen.

The study of the biological mechanisms of ethanol reward has greatly suffered from problems to obtain ethanol-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats. In the present study, CPP was obtained in genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats, derived from Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats, following intragastric (IG) ethanol administration by means of a permanent IG catheter, but not after intraperitoneal (IP) injection or IG gavage. Rats with permanent IG catheter, received IG administration of 0.35, 0.7, 1.5 or 2.8 g/kg ethanol, as a 10% v/v solution. In ethanol-experienced rats 0.7 or 1.5, but not 0.35 or 2.8 g/kg ethanol significantly increased in comparison to controls the time spent in the ethanol-associated previously non-preferred compartment, which became preferred in the post-conditioning test. In ethanol-naive rats, only 0.7 g/kg ethanol significantly increased the time spent in the ethanol-associated compartment. On the other hand, no effect was observed in alcohol-experienced rats following IG gavage, or IP injection of 0.35, 0.7 or 1.5 g/kg ethanol. The present results provide evidence that ethanol possesses postingestive rewarding properties in msP rats, and that it can reliably induce CPP in them, provided that an appropriate method of administration is adopted.