Thermal Model for a Li-Ion Cell

A thermal model for a lithium-ion cell is presented and used to predict discharge performance at different operating temperatures. The results from the simulations are compared to experimental data obtained from lithium-ion pouch cells. The model includes a set of parameters (and their concentration and temperature dependencies) that has been obtained for a lithium-ion cell composed of a mesocarbon microbead anode, LiCoO2 cathode in 1 M LiPF6 salt, in a mixture of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, ethyl-methyl carbonate, and diethyl carbonate electrolyte. The parameter set was obtained by comparing the model predictions to the experimental discharge profiles obtained at various temperatures and rates. The concentration and temperature dependence of the extracted parameters were correlated through empirical expressions. Also, the effect of including the thermal dependence of various parameters in the model on the simulated discharge profiles is discussed

Parameter Estimation and Life Modeling of Lithium-Ion Cells

Lithium-ion pouch cells were cycled at five different temperatures (5, 15, 25, 35, and 45°C ), and rate capability studies were performed after every hundred cycles. The data were used with a simple physics-based model to estimate parameters that capture the capacity fade in the cell, with cycling. The weight of active material within each electrode was estimated as a function of time, using rate capability data at the C/33 rate. The C-rate for these cells is 1.656 A. The capacity fade due to the loss of active material and that due to the loss of cyclable lithium were quantified. It was found that while the loss of cyclable lithium is the limiting cause for the capacity decay of the cell during the first 200 cycles, the loss of active carbon, which is the anode material, becomes limiting for these cells. The loss of active material leads to a drastic decrease in cell capacity at higher temperatures

A Mathematical Model for a Lithium–Sulfur Cell

A mathematical model is presented for a complete lithium–sulfur cell. The model includes various electrochemical and chemical (precipitation) reactions, multicomponent transport phenomena in the electrolyte, and the charge transfer within and between solid and liquid phases. A change in the porosity of the porous cathode and separator due to precipitation reactions is also included in the model. The model is used to explain the physical reasons for the two-stage discharge profiles that are typically obtained for lithium–sulfur cells

Studies on anode mass composition and cathode flow field design for small-scale to large-scale direct methanol fuel cell stack systems

In this research, the performance studies of a single cell Direct Methanol Fuel Cell with three different mass compositions (20%, 40%, and 60%) of platinum at anode infused in NiTiO3/C and multiple cathode flow fields, such as serpentine, parallel, and sinuous, with 25 cm2 active area. 40% platinum mass composition has been reported with a maximum power density of 24.42 mW/cm2, which is 26.8% and 10.4% higher than the performance observed in 20% and 60% platinum mass composition, respectively, on serpentine flow field. Among the various cathode flow fields, sinuous flow field provided the maximum power density of 28.69 mW/cm2, which is 17.48% and 53.83% higher in performance than that of serpentine and parallel flow fields, respectively. The best-performing catalyst mass composition and flow field, viz., 40% mass composition and sinuous flow field are scaled up to a 100 cm2 active area, and the results showed 16% lower performance compared to a 25 cm2 active area. A three-cell stack is fabricated with the best performing combination with the 100 cm2 active area that delivered a peak power output of 5.8 W, which resulted in 19.4% lower performance than 100 cm2. The stack was tested for stability for 48 h at constant voltage mode and was found that 0.002 W deviation for the entire period

THE VIABILITY OF YOGHURT PROBIOTIC CULTURE IN MICROENCAPSULATED IRON FORTIFIED YOGHURT

Abstract: A study was designed to develop microencapsulated whey protein-chelated iron (Fewp) using ferrous sulphate as the iron source that could be used in the development of iron fortified yoghurt. Influence of iron on survival of yoghurt culture, TBA values of yoghurt and sensory properties of yoghurt were tested by control, free iron and encapsulated iron fortification. Statistically no significant (P>0.05) difference was noticed in count of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus between control and different iron fortified yoghurt treatments on 0, 7, 14 and 21 days. During storage period, the count of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus significantly (P<0.05) decreased both in control and as well as in iron fortified yoghurt and thus the fortified iron did not affect the viability of yoghurt bacteria. The TBA values of unencapsulated iron fortified yoghurt was significantly (P<0.05) higher when compared to control and encapsulated iron fortified yoghurt. Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in oxidized flavour at 0, 7, 14 and 21 st day of storage between control and different treatments of yoghurt. In addition, significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in overall preference at 0, 7, 14 and 21 st day of storage between control and different treatments of yoghurt and between different storage periods. The present study demonstrated that microencapsulated whey protein chelated iron can be added up to a level of 80 mg per litre of yoghurt using ferrous sulphate without affecting the viability of yoghurt probiotic culture

Fuel Cell Products for Sustainable Transportation and Stationary Power Generation: Review on Market Perspective

The present day energy supply scenario is unsustainable and the transition towards a more environmentally friendly energy supply system of the future is inevitable. Hydrogen is a potential fuel that is capable of assisting with this transition. Certain technological advancements and design challenges associated with hydrogen generation and fuel cell technologies are discussed in this review. The commercialization of hydrogen-based technologies is closely associated with the development of the fuel cell industry. The evolution of fuel cell electric vehicles and fuel cell-based stationary power generation products in the market are discussed. Furthermore, the opportunities and threats associated with the market diffusion of these products, certain policy implications, and roadmaps of major economies associated with this hydrogen transition are discussed in this review

Metal(loid) speciation and transformation by aerobic methanotrophs

Abstract: Manufacturing and resource industries are the key drivers for economic growth with a huge environmental cost (e.g. discharge of industrial effluents and post-mining substrates). Pollutants from waste streams, either organic or inorganic (e.g. heavy metals), are prone to interact with their physical environment that not only affects the ecosystem health but also the livelihood of local communities. Unlike organic pollutants, heavy metals or trace metals (e.g. chromium, mercury) are non-biodegradable, bioaccumulate through food-web interactions and are likely to have a long-term impact on ecosystem health. Microorganisms provide varied ecosystem services including climate regulation, purification of groundwater, rehabilitation of contaminated sites by detoxifying pollutants. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of methanotrophs, a group of bacteria that can use methane as a sole carbon and energy source, to transform toxic metal (loids) such as chromium, mercury and selenium. In this review, we synthesise recent advances in the role of essential metals (e.g. copper) for methanotroph activity, uptake mechanisms alongside their potential to transform toxic heavy metal (loids). Case studies are presented on chromium, selenium and mercury pollution from the tanneries, coal burning and artisanal gold mining, respectively, which are particular problems in the developing economy that we propose may be suitable for remediation by methanotrophs. 6g_ZKsLH11vt1AExshJzH4Video Abstrac

Evaluation of clustering role versus Brownian motion effect on the heat conduction in nanofluids: A novel approach

In this study, the temperature and viscosity-dependent methods were used to identify the main heat conduction mechanism in nanofluids. Three sets of experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of Brownian motion and aggregation. Image processing approach was used to identify detailed configurations of different nanofluids microstructures. The thermal conductivity of the nanofluids was measured with respect to the dynamic viscosity in the temperature range between 0 and 55 °C. The results clearly indicated that the nanoparticle Brownian motion did not play a significant role in heat conduction of nanofluids, which was also supported by the observation that a more viscous sample rendered a higher thermal conductivity. Moreover, the microscopic pictures and the differences in the viscosity between theoretical and experimental values suggested the major role of particle aggregation and clustering

Functional Genomic investigation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARG) mediated transcription response in gastric cancer

Cancer is a complex and progressive multi-step disorder that results from the transformation of normal cells to malignant derivatives. Several oncogenic signaling pathways are involved in this transformation. PPARG (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) mediated transcription and signaling is involved in few cancers. We have investigated the PPARG in gastric tumors. The objective of the present study was to investigate the PPARG mediated transcriptional response in gastric tumors. Gene-set based and pathway focused gene-set enrichment analysis of available PPARG signatures in gastric tumor mRNA profiles shows that PPARG mediated transcription is highly activated in intestinal sub-type of gastric tumors. Further, we have derived the PPARG associated genes in gastric cancer and their expression was identified for the association with the better survival of the patients. Analysis of the PPARG associated genes reveals their involvement in mitotic cell cycle process, chromosome organization and nuclear division. Towards identifying the association with other oncogenic signaling process, E2F regulated genes were found associated with PPARG mediated transcription. The current results reveal the possible stratification of gastric tumors based on the PPARG gene expression and the possible development of PPARG targeted gastric cancer therapeutics. The identified PPARG regulated genes were identified to be targetable by pioglitazone and rosiglitazone. The identification of PPARG genes also in the normal stomach tissues reveal the possible involvement of these genes in the normal physiology of stomach and needs to be investigated