4,331 research outputs found
Discontinuous gradient constraints and the infinity Laplacian
Motivated by tug-of-war games and asymptotic analysis of certain variational
problems, we consider a gradient constraint problem involving the infinity
Laplace operator. We prove that this problem always has a solution that is
unique if a certain regularity condition on the constraint is satisfied. If
this regularity condition fails, then solutions obtained from game theory and
-approximation need not coincide
High-temperature molten salt thermal energy storage systems for solar applications
Alkali and alkaline earth carbonate latent-heat storage salts, metallic containment materials, and thermal conductivity enhancement materials were investigated to satisfy the high temperature (704 to 871 C) thermal energy storage requirements of advanced solar-thermal power generation concepts are described. Properties of the following six salts selected for compatibility studies are given: three pure carbonates, K2CO3, Li2CO3 and Na2CO3; two eutectic mixtures, BaCO3/Na2CO3 and K2CO3/NaCO3, and one off-eutectic mixture of Na2CO3/K2CO3
Loading of bosons in optical lattices into the p band
We present a method for transferring bosonic atoms residing on the lowest
s-band of an optical lattice to the first excited p-bands. Our idea hinges on
resonant tunneling between adjacent sites of accelerated lattices. The
acceleration effectively shifts the quasi-bound energies on each site such that
the system can be cast into a Wannier-Stark ladder problem. By adjusting the
acceleration constant, a situation of resonant tunneling between the s- and
p-bands is achievable. Within a mean-field model, considering 87Rb atoms, we
demonstrate population transfer from the s- to the p-bands with around 95 %
efficiency. Nonlinear effects deriving from atom-atom interactions, as well as
coupling of the quasi bound Wannier-Stark states to the continuum, are
considered.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Exponential torsion growth for random 3-manifolds
We show that a random 3-manifold with positive first Betti number admits a tower of cyclic covers with exponential torsion growth
Long term ordering kinetics of the two dimensional q-state Potts model
We studied the non-equilibrium dynamics of the q-state Potts model in the
square lattice, after a quench to sub-critical temperatures. By means of a
continuous time Monte Carlo algorithm (non-conserved order parameter dynamics)
we analyzed the long term behavior of the energy and relaxation time for a wide
range of quench temperatures and system sizes. For q>4 we found the existence
of different dynamical regimes, according to quench temperature range. At low
(but finite) temperatures and very long times the Lifshitz-Allen-Cahn domain
growth behavior is interrupted with finite probability when the system stuck in
highly symmetric non-equilibrium metastable states, which induce activation in
the domain growth, in agreement with early predictions of Lifshitz [JETP 42,
1354 (1962)]. Moreover, if the temperature is very low, the system always gets
stuck at short times in a highly disordered metastable states with finite life
time, which have been recently identified as glassy states. The finite size
scaling properties of the different relaxation times involved, as well as their
temperature dependency are analyzed in detail.Comment: 10 pages, 17 figure
High-temperature molten salt thermal energy storage systems
The results of comparative screening studies of candidate molten carbonate salts as phase change materials (PCM) for advanced solar thermal energy storage applications at 540 to 870 C (1004 to 1600 F) and steam Rankine electric generation at 400 to 540 C (752 to 1004 F) are presented. Alkali carbonates are attractive as latent heat storage materials because of their relatively high storage capacity and thermal conductivity, low corrosivity, moderate cost, and safe and simple handling requirements. Salts were tested in 0.1 kWhr lab scale modules and evaluated on the basis of discharge heat flux, solidification temperature range, thermal cycling stability, and compatibility with containment materials. The feasibility of using a distributed network of high conductivity material to increase the heat flux through the layer of solidified salt was evaluated. The thermal performance of an 8 kWhr thermal energy storage (TES) module containing LiKCO3 remained very stable throughout 5650 hours and 130 charge/discharge cycles at 480 to 535 C (896 to 995 F). A TES utilization concept of an electrical generation peaking subsystem composed of a multistage condensing steam turbine and a TES subsystem with a separate power conversion loop was defined. Conceptual designs for a 100 MW sub e TES peaking system providing steam at 316 C, 427 C, and 454 C (600 F, 800 F, and 850 F) at 3.79 million Pa (550 psia) were developed and evaluated. Areas requiring further investigation have also been identified
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