Equatorial airglow depletions induced by thermospheric winds

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95355/1/grl2948.pd

A Direct Comparison between a Central Inverter and Microinverters in a Photovoltaic Array

Microinverters, successfully introduced to the market in 2008, have the potential to transform the PV landscape. They offer many advantages over central inverter topologies, including potentially increased power output compared to a central inverter. Many manufacturers claim up to 25% energy enhancement. The largest claimed enhancements are under conditions of partial shading. These claims have yet to be verified in peer-reviewed literature. This research effort used a total of eight Sharp NE-170U1 PV panels in conjunction with a single SMA Sunny Boy 700U central inverter and two Enphase D380 microinverters. All panels were on a pole mounted rack with a clear view of the southern sky in Boone, North Carolina. AC power output and POA irradiance (direct and diffuse) were logged for over two months. The experiment was conducted under both unobstructed and partial shade conditions. Conclusions from the experiment are similar to a 2011 Enphase study. Preliminary results suggest that when irradiance is greater than 650 W/m2, microinverters outperform central inverters by 20% and 26% in unshaded and shaded conditions, respectively

Mapping the wind in the polar thermosphere a case study within the CEDAR Program

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95064/1/eost7749.pd

A New Innovative Spherical Cermet Nuclear Fuel Element to Achieve an Ultra-Long Core Life for use in Grid-Appropriate LWRs

Spherical cermet fuel elements are proposed for use in the Atoms For Peace Reactor (AFPR-100) concept. AFPR-100 is a small-scale, inherently safe, proliferation-resistant reactor that would be ideal for deployment to nations with emerging economies that decide to select nuclear power for the generation of carbon-free electricity. The basic concept of the AFPR core is a water-cooled fixed particle bed, randomly packed with spherical fuel elements. The flow of coolant within the particle bed is at such a low rate that the bed does not fluidize. This report summarizes an approach to fuel fabrication, results associated with fuel performance modeling, core neutronics and thermal hydraulics analyses demonstrating a ~20 year core life, and a conclusion that the proliferation resistance of the AFPR reactor concept is high

Identifying the physical features of marina infrastructure associated with the presence of non-native species in the UK

Marine invasive non-native species (NNS) are one of the greatest threats to global marine biodiversity, causing significant economic and social impacts. Marinas are increasingly recognised as key reservoirs for invasive NNS. They provide submersed artificial habitat that unintentionally supports the establishment of NNS introduced from visiting recreational vessels. While ballast water and shipping vectors have been well documented, the role of recreational vessels in spreading NNS has been relatively poorly studied. Identification of the main physical features found within marinas, which relate to the presence of NNS, is important to inform the development of effective biosecurity measures and prevent further spread. Towards this aim, physical features that could influence the presence of NNS were assessed for marinas throughout the UK in July 2013. Thirty-three marine and brackish NNS have been recorded in UK marinas, and of the 88 marinas studied in detail, 83 contained between 1 and 13 NNS. Significant differences in freshwater input, marina entrance width and seawall length were associated with the presence of NNS. Additionally, questionnaires were distributed to marina managers and recreational vessel owners to understand current biosecurity practices and attitudes to recreational vessel biosecurity. The main barriers to biosecurity compliance were cited as cost and time. Further work identifying easily distinguished features of marinas could be used as a proxy to assess risk of invasion. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00227-016-2941-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users