Numerical Study of Solar Receiver Tube With Modified Surface Roughness for Enhanced and Selective Absorptivity in Concentrated Solar Power Tower

Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a reliable renewable energy source that is progressively lowering its cost of energy. However, the heat loss due to reflected and emitted radiation hinders the maximum achievable thermal efficiency for solar receiver tubes on the solar tower. Current solar selective coatings cannot withstand the high temperatures that come with state-of-the-art CSP towers often needing to be recoated soon after initial operation. We intend to use Inconel 718 with different additive manufacturing (AM) practices to construct surfaces that allow for more light-trapping to occur. By adjusting printing parameters, we can tailor a surface to allow for more absorption while diminishing emitted radiation heat loss. By using COMSOL Multiphysics, we can generate these theoretical surfaces to emulate a printed surface, and using the coupled Multiphysics we can simulate how the surface dictates radiation properties. Our results show that by having a rougher surface we can enhance the absorptivity of Inconel 718 (IN718) by 38.8%. We expect this work to transform how solar absorber tubes are manufactured without using selective coatings and supplement the US Department of Energy (DOE) 2030 SunShot Initiative

Near-Optimal Entrywise Anomaly Detection for Low-Rank Matrices with Sub-Exponential Noise

We study the problem of identifying anomalies in a low-rank matrix observed with sub-exponential noise, motivated by applications in retail and inventory management. State of the art approaches to anomaly detection in low-rank matrices apparently fall short, since they require that non-anomalous entries be observed with vanishingly small noise (which is not the case in our problem, and indeed in many applications). So motivated, we propose a conceptually simple entrywise approach to anomaly detection in low-rank matrices. Our approach accommodates a general class of probabilistic anomaly models. We extend recent work on entrywise error guarantees for matrix completion, establishing such guarantees for sub-exponential matrices, where in addition to missing entries, a fraction of entries are corrupted by (an also unknown) anomaly model. Viewing the anomaly detection as a classification task, to the best of our knowledge, we are the first to achieve the min-max optimal detection rate (up to log factors). Using data from a massive consumer goods retailer, we show that our approach provides significant improvements over incumbent approaches to anomaly detection

Understanding the role of the hydrogen bond donor of the deep eutectic solvents in the formation of the aqueous biphasic systems

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have been proposed as phase-forming compounds of aqueous biphasic systems (ABS). However, due to DES nature and the high water content of the ABS, their nature and behavior remains controversial. To foster the understanding of DES-based ABS, the present work uses the relative hydrophilicity of the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) as a descriptor to clarify its role on ABS for- mation and phase properties. Dipotassium phosphate (K2HPO4)-based ABS phase diagrams composed of cholinium chloride ([N111(2OH)]Cl), as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA), and several HBD (alcohols and sugars) were compared in molality units and the saturation solubility point for each binodal curve determined. The results here reported establish the HBD role as function of its relative hydrophilicity: very hydrophilic HBD act only as an adjuvant in the formation of ABS; HBD of intermediate hydrophilicity influence the ABS formation; while the most hydrophobic HBD tend to form organic-aqueous two-phase systems, where the HBA acts as an adjuvant to the system.publishe

Molecular Dynamic Simulation of Diffusion in the Melt Pool in Laser Additive Alloying Process of Co-Ni-Cr-Mn-Fe High Entropy Alloy

High entropy alloys (HEAs) can be manufactured in many conventional ways, but it becomes difficult of fabricating heterogeneous materials and structures. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) method generally melts pure elemental powders or prefabricated alloy powders without alloying process. In-situ alloying in SLM, which is also called Laser Additive Alloying (LAA), using pure elemental powders becomes a promising method for creating HEA with heterogeneous structures. However, the effect of the diffusion of elements in the molten pool on the formation of HEA remains unclear. In this paper, the well-discussed Cantor HEA was studied in an in-situ alloying situation, where pure elemental powders (Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Fe) distributed on a powder bed were irradiated by laser and were subsequently allowed to cool back to room temperature. The diffusion of specific elements, with respect to their original clusters, was tracked via Mean Square Displacement (MSD) as well as the final composition of key locations. Our model was verified by showing a good agreement with the overall average diffusion rates of each element in the Cantor HEA qualitatively in other works from literature. Results initially showed that as the energy density increases, better diffusion was observed through a pixel overlay analysis about the mixing of different elements. The best-case scenario of diffusion from the pixel overlay map indicated a strong presence of 3 to 4 elements after the laser scanning. Given the conditions in the MD simulation, there was no apparent segregation of elements during the alloying process. In addition, we also conducted a simulation by implementing a 0.03 nm/ps laser scanning in a meander 2-track scan in order to completely melt the powder bed. After cooling and equilibration, Polyhedral Template Analysis was applied to analyze the crystal structure of the solidified powder bed in the presence of increasing components. When the powders of Cantor HEA were alloyed using LAA approach, all elements experienced a complex diffusion behavior, elements like Cr also experienced a relatively rapid diffusion compared to other elements. Despite this, Cr only diffused for a short period and diffused minimally during the in-situ alloying process. The analysis of element-specific behavior, such as diffusion, can provide a framework for the LAA production of HEA. This MD study provides a detailed analysis about the effect of diffusion on the formation of HEA system if in-situ alloying is adopted, the findings of this study can be used to guide the material design and the appropriate parameters for manufacturing process of new HEAs. This study can also be extended to analyze the effect of diffusion on the thermomechanical properties of HEAs

Correlating the photocatalytic activity and the optical properties of LiVMoO6 photocatalyst under the UV and the visible region of the solar radiation spectrum

© 2014 Elsevier B.V.This study presents a simplified method for the evaluation of the optical properties of photocatalytic powders and in particular LiVMoO6, including the extinction (β), absorption (κ) and scattering (σ) coefficients. The optical properties of LiVMoO6 were determined by applying the six-flux radiation absorption-scattering model applied to a photocell geometry and through simple spectrophotometric measurements of diffuse reflectance, diffuse transmittance and collimated transmittance of aqueous suspensions of LiVMoO6. Once the optical properties were determined, the spatial distribution of the local volumetric rate of photon absorption (LVRPA) in an experimental reactor was calculated for the two cases when either ultraviolet light or visible light was used. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy of the LiVMoO6 resulted in a brannerite type structure of the catalyst. The optimum conditions and catalyst concentration for the degradation and mineralization of a model water contaminant in aqueous suspensions of LiVMoO6, under either UV or visible light irradiation in the experimental reactor, were predicted from the calculated optical properties and by applying the six-flux radiation absorption-scattering model. The photoactivity of LiVMoO6 was compared with that of commercial anatase TiO2 Degussa P25. The highest percentage of organic removal and mineralization was obtained when LiVMoO6 was irradiated with visible light

A Novel Genome-Wide Association Study Approach Using Genotyping by Exome Sequencing Leads to the Identification of a Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Associated Inversion Disrupting ADAMTS17

Closed breeding populations in the dog in conjunction with advances in gene mapping and sequencing techniques facilitate mapping of autosomal recessive diseases and identification of novel disease-causing variants, often using unorthodox experimental designs. In our investigation we demonstrate successful mapping of the locus for primary open angle glaucoma in the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen dog breed with 12 cases and 12 controls, using a novel genotyping by exome sequencing approach. The resulting genome-wide association signal was followed up by genome sequencing of an individual case, leading to the identification of an inversion with a breakpoint disrupting the ADAMTS17 gene. Genotyping of additional controls and expression analysis provide strong evidence that the inversion is disease causing. Evidence of cryptic splicing resulting in novel exon transcription as a consequence of the inversion in ADAMTS17 is identified through RNAseq experiments. This investigation demonstrates how a novel genotyping by exome sequencing approach can be used to map an autosomal recessive disorder in the dog, with the use of genome sequencing to facilitate identification of a disease-associated variant

An atlas of cortical circular RNA expression in Alzheimer disease brains demonstrates clinical and pathological associations.

Parietal cortex RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data were generated from individuals with and without Alzheimer disease (AD; ncontrol = 13; nAD = 83) from the Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (Knight ADRC). Using this and an independent (Mount Sinai Brain Bank (MSBB)) AD RNA-seq dataset, cortical circular RNA (circRNA) expression was quantified in the context of AD. Significant associations were identified between circRNA expression and AD diagnosis, clinical dementia severity and neuropathological severity. It was demonstrated that most circRNA-AD associations are independent of changes in cognate linear messenger RNA expression or estimated brain cell-type proportions. Evidence was provided for circRNA expression changes occurring early in presymptomatic AD and in autosomal dominant AD. It was also observed that AD-associated circRNAs co-expressed with known AD genes. Finally, potential microRNA-binding sites were identified in AD-associated circRNAs for miRNAs predicted to target AD genes. Together, these results highlight the importance of analyzing non-linear RNAs and support future studies exploring the potential roles of circRNAs in AD pathogenesis

In situ interlayer hot forging arc-based directed energy deposition of Inconel® 625: process development and microstructure effects

The typical as-built coarse and cube-oriented microstructure of Inconel® 625 parts fabricated via arc-based directed energy deposition (DED) induces anisotropic mechanical behavior, reducing the potential applications of arc-based DEDed Inconel® 625 in critical components. In this sense, the present work aimed to reduce the grain size and texture by applying an in situ interlayer hot forging (HF) combined with post-deposition heat treatments (PDHT). The produced samples were characterized through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with electron backscatter diffraction, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and Vickers microhardness. Also, a dedicated deformation tool was designed and optimized via a finite element method model considering the processing conditions and thermal cycle experienced by the material. It is shown that the in situ interlayer deformation induced a thermo-mechanical-affected zone (dynamic recrystallized + remaining deformation, with a height of ˜ 1.2 mm) at the bead top surface, which resulted in thinner aligned grains and lower texture index in relation to as-built DED counterpart. In addition, the effects of solution (1100 °C/ 1 h) and stabilization (980 °C/ 1 h) PDHTs on the Inconel® 625 HF-DEDed parts were also analyzed, which promoted fine and equiaxed static recrystallized grains without cube orientation, comparable to wrought material. Therefore, the HF-DED process significantly refined the typical coarse and highly oriented microstructure of Ni-based superalloys obtained by arc-based DED.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version