Thermodynamic analysis of a novel fossil-fuel–free energy storage system with a trans-critical carbon dioxide cycle and heat pump

This paper presents and analyzes a novel fossil-fuel–free trans-critical energy storage system that uses CO2 as the working fluid in a closed loop shuttled between two saline aquifers or caverns at different depths: one a low-pressure reservoir and the other a high-pressure reservoir. Thermal energy storage and a heat pump are adopted to eliminate the need for external natural gas for heating the CO2 entering the energy recovery turbines. We carefully analyze the energy storage and recovery processes to reveal the actual efficiency of the system. We also highlight thermodynamic and sensitivity analyses of the performance of this fossil-fuel–free trans-critical energy storage system based on a steady-state mathematical method. It is found that the fossil-fuel–free trans-critical CO2 energy storage system has good comprehensive thermodynamic performance. The exergy efficiency, round-trip efficiency, and energy storage efficiency are 67.89%, 66%, and 58.41%, and the energy generated of per unit storage volume is 2.12 kW·h/m3, and the main contribution to exergy destruction is the turbine reheater, from which we can quantify how performance can be improved. Moreover, with a higher energy storage and recovery pressure and lower pressure in the low-pressure reservoir, this novel system shows promising performance

On the exceptional damage-tolerance of gradient metallic materials

An experimental study is described on the fracture toughness and micro-mechanisms associated with the initiation and propagation of cracks in metallic nickel containing marked gradients in grain size, ranging from ∼30 nm to ∼4 μm. Specifically, cracks are grown in a gradient structured (GS) nickel with grain-size gradient ranging from the coarse macro-scale to nano-scale (CG → NG) and vice versa (NG → CG), with the measured crack-resistance R-curves compared to the corresponding behavior in uniform nano-grained (NG) and coarse-grained (CG) materials. It is found that the gradient structures display a much-improved combination of high strength and toughness compared to uniform grain-sized materials. However, based on J-integral measurements in the gradient materials, the crack-initiation toughness is far higher for cracks grown in the direction of the coarse-to-nano grained gradient than vice versa, a result which we ascribe primarily to excessive crack-tip blunting in the coarse-grained microstructure. Both gradient structures, however, display marked rising R-curve behavior with exceptional crack-growth toughnesses exceeding 200 MPa.m½

Comparison of Proanthocyanidins with Different Polymerisation Degrees among Berry Skins of ‘Shiraz’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’, and ‘Marselan’

Proanthocyanidins in grape berries are synthesised mainly before véraison, and very little attention ispaid to the evolution of proanthocyanidins (PAs) in grapes from véraison to harvest. The present studyfocused on the changes of flavan-3-ols with different degrees of polymerisation in grape skins and thedifference in proanthocyandin composition of ‘Shiraz’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ and ‘Marselan’ grapes (Vitisvinifera L.). The results show that the content of flavan-3-ols, the percentage of prodelphinidins (%P)and mean degree polymerisation (mDP) found in ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ berry skins at post-véraison werehigher than those in ‘Shiraz’ and ‘Marselan’ skins. Only monomeric, dimeric, trimeric and polymericflavan-3-ols were detected in the three grape cultivars. Polymers with more than tenfold flavan-3-ol unitsaccounted for a relatively high proportion in grape berry skins, and the content in the three cultivarsdeclined continuously during ripening. Principal component analysis showed that proanthocyanidincontent, composition and mDP at grape harvest stage depended strongly on grape cultivar. This studyprovides some useful information for understanding the accumulation of PAs during berry maturationand this information can be used to improve wine quality

Comparison of two cardiac output monitors, qCO and LiDCO, during general anesthesia

Background: Optimization of cardiac output (CO) has been evidenced to reduce postoperative complications and to expedite the recovery. Likewise, CO and other dynamic cardiac parameters can describe the systemic blood flow and tissue oxygenation state and can be useful in different clinical fields. This study aimed to validate the qCO monitor (Quantium Medical, Barcelona, Spain), a new device to estimate CO and other related parameters in a continuous, fully non-invasive way using advanced digital signal processing of impedance cardiography. Methods: The LiDCOrapidv2 (LiDCO Ltd, London, UK) was used to compare the performance of the qCO in 15 patients during major surgery under general anesthesia. Full surgeries were recorded and cardiac output obtained by both devices was compared by using correlation and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: The Bland-Altman analysis showed sufficient agreement with a mean bias of -0.03 ± 0.71 L/min. Conclusions: The findings showed that both systems offered comparable values and thus the non-invasive measurement of CO with qCO is a promising, feasible method. Further investigation will be required to validate this new device against calibrated devices and outcome studies would also be highly recommended.Postprint (author's final draft

Differential Expression ESTs Associated with Fluorosis in Rats Liver

The fluoride has volcanic activity and abundantly exists in environment combining with other elements as fluoride compounds. Recent researches indicated that the molecular mechanisms of intracellular fluoride toxicity were very complex. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects on gene expression of chronic fluoride-induced damage is unknown, especially the detailed regulatory process of mitochondria. In the present study, we screened the differential expression ESTs associated with fluorosis by DDRT-PCR in rat liver. We gained 8 genes, 3 new ESTs, and 1 unknown function sequence and firstly demonstrated that microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1 (MGST1), ATP synthase H+ transporting mitochondrial F0 complex subunit C1, selenoprotein S, mitochondrial IF1 protein, and mitochondrial succinyl-CoA synthetase alpha subunit were participated in mitochondria metabolism, functional and structural damage process caused by chronic fluorosis. This information will be very helpful for understanding the molecular mechanisms of fluorosis

Spatial distribution and temporal variations of atmospheric sulfur deposition in Northern China: insights into the potential acidification risks

Atmospheric sulfur (S) deposition via precipitation, particles and gases was investigated at ten sites in Northern China. Measurements were performed continuously between December 2007 and November 2010. The total S deposition flux in the target area ranged from 35.0 to 100.7 kg S ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, noticeably higher than the values documented in Europe, North America, and East Asia. The ten-site, 3-yr average total S deposition was 64.8 kg S ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, with 68% attributed to dry deposition (mainly SO<sub>2</sub>) and the rest to wet deposition. Consequently, the spatial distribution of the total flux was consistent to that of dry deposition, that is, higher values were observed at industrial and urban sites than at agricultural and rural sites. However, the seasonal variation in the total S deposition was not obvious across the entire year because of opposite seasonal trends in wet and dry deposition. It was found that the wet deposition, without significant spatial and interannual differences, was influenced by the volume of precipitation, the air-column concentrations of S compounds and in-cloud scavenging. Similar to the wet deposition, the dry-deposited sulfate was also less dependent on the surface concentration. Nevertheless, the regional differences in SO<sub>2</sub> dry deposition were mostly explained by the ambient concentration, which is closely associated with local emissions. As expected, the spatial pattern of total S deposition resembled that of the emission inventory, indicating the dramatic anthropogenic imprints on the regional S budget. Although at most of the study sites the "acid equivalents" deposition of S was comparable to that of nitrogen (N), the importance of S in the acidification risks was more pronounced at the industrial sites. The ten-site, 3-yr mean total "acid equivalents" deposition of S and N was estimated to be 8.4 (range: 4.2–11.6) keq ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, which exceeds the critical loads for natural ecosystems in Northern China. Taking these findings and our previous studies together, a multi-pollutant perspective and joint mitigation strategies to abate SO<sub>2</sub> and NH<sub>3</sub> simultaneously in the target area are recommended to protect natural ecosystems from excess acid deposition

The Friedmann equation in modified entropy-area relation from entropy force

According to the formal holographic principle, a modification to the assumption of holographic principle in Verlinder's investigation of entropy force is obtained. A more precise relation between entropy and area in the holographic system is proposed. With the entropy corrections to the area-relation, we derivate Newton's laws and Einstein equation with a static spherically symmetric holographic screen. Furthermore we derived the correction terms to the modified Friedmann equation of the FRW universe starting from the holographic principle and the Debye model.Comment: Mod. Phys. Lett. A26, 489-500 (2011