Simulation Studies of Nanomagnet-Based Architecture

We report a simulation study on interacting ensembles of Co nanomagnets that can perform basic logic operations and propagate logic signals, where the state variable is the magnetization direction. Dipole field coupling between individual nanomagnets drives the logic functionality of the ensemble and coordinated arrangements of the nanomagnets allow for the logic signal to propagate in a predictable way. Problems with the integrity of the logic signal arising from instabilities in the constituent magnetizations are solved by introducing a biaxial anisotropy term to the Gibbs magnetic free energy of each nanomagnet. The enhanced stability allows for more complex components of a logic architecture capable of random combinatorial logic, including horizontal wires, vertical wires, junctions, fanout nodes, and a novel universal logic gate. Our simulations define the focus of scaling trends in nanomagnet-based logic and provide estimates of the energy dissipation and time per nanomagnet reversal

Metamaterials with negative compressibility – a novel concept with a long history

Metamaterials with negative compressibility are a very promising group of novel materials with a wide variety of potential application. A recent model proposed the construction of structures with three-dimensional negative compressibility by utilizing successive destabilization of stable or metastable states and inducing phase transitions mimicking negative compressibility. Here, we would like to show that similar concept is used by the Nature and a nice example for this kind of metamaterial can be seen even in a glass of water

Typical curvature behaviour of bodies of constant width

It is known that an n-dimensional convex body, which is typical in the sense of Baire category, shows a simple, but highly non-intuitive curvature behaviour: at almost all of its boundary points, in the sense of measure, all curvatures are zero, but there is also a dense and uncountable set of boundary points at which all curvatures are infinite. The purpose of this paper is to find a counterpart to this phenomenon for typical convex bodies of given constant width. Such bodies cannot have zero curvatures. A main result says that for a typical n-dimensional convex body of constant width 1 (without loss of generality), at almost all boundary points, in the sense of measure, all curvatures are equal to 1. (In contrast, note that a ball of width 1 has radius 1/2, hence all its curvatures are equal to 2.) Since the property of constant width is linear with respect to Minkowski addition, the proof requires recourse to a linear curvature notion, which is provided by the tangential radii of curvature. © 2014 Elsevier Inc

Physical-chemical Background of the Potential Phase Transitions during Loss of Coolant Accidents in the Supercritical Water Loops of Various Generation IV Nuclear Reactor Types

Loss of coolant accidents (LOCA) are a serious type of accidents for nuclear reactors, when the integrity of the liquid-loop breaks. While in traditional pressurized water reactors, pressure drop can cause flash boiling, in Supercritical-Water Cooled reactors, the pressure drop can be terminated by processes with fast phase transition (flash boiling or steam collapse) causing pressure surge or the expansion can go smoothly to the dry steam region. Modelling the pressure drop of big and small LOCAs as isentropic and isenthalpic processes and replacing the existing reactor designs with a simplified supercritical loop, limiting temperatures for various outcomes will be given for 24.5 and 25 MPa initial pressure. Using the proposed method, similar accidents for chemical reactors and other equipment using supercritical fluids can be also analyzed, using only physical-chemical properties of the given supercritical fluid

Cold Energy Utilization in LNG Regasification System Using Organic Rankine Cycle and Trilateral Flash Cycle

"Cold energy" refers to a potential to generate power by utilizing the exergy of cryogenic systems, like Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), using it as the cold side of a thermodynamic cycle, while the hot side can be even on the ambient temperature. For this purpose, the cryogenic Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is one type of promising solution with comprehensive benefits to generate electricity. The performance of this cycle depends on the applied working fluid. This paper focuses on the applicability of some natural working fluids and analyzes their performance upon cold energy utilization in the LNG regasification system. An alternative method, the cryogenic Trilateral Flash Cycle (TFC), is also presented here. The selection of working fluid is a multi-step process; the first step uses thermodynamic criteria, while the second one is addressing environmental and safety issues. It will be shown that in LNG regasification systems, single cryogenic ORC performs higher net output power and net efficiency compared to single cryogenic TFC. Propane as working fluid in the single cryogenic ORC generates the highest net output power and net efficiency. It is demonstrated, that concerning 26 novel LNG terminals, a net power output around 320 MW could be recovered from the cold energy by installing a simple cycle, namely a single-step cryogenic ORC unit using propane as working fluid

(n,m)-fold covers of spheres

A well-known consequence of the Borsuk-Ulam theorem is that if the d-dimensional sphere Sd is covered with less than d + 2 open sets, then there is a set containing a pair of antipodal points. In this paper we provide lower and upper bounds on the minimum number of open sets, not containing a pair of antipodal points, needed to cover the d-dimensional sphere n times, with the additional property that the northern hemisphere is covered m > n times. We prove that if the open northern hemisphere is to be covered m times, then at least ⌈(d − 1)/2⌉ + n + m and at most d + n + m sets are needed. For the case of n = 1 and d ≥ 2, this number is equal to d + 2 if m ≤ ⌊d/2⌋ + 1 and equal to ⌊(d − 1)/2⌋ + 2 + m if m > ⌊d/2⌋ + 1. If the closed northern hemisphere is to be covered m times, then d + 2m − 1 sets are needed; this number is also sufficient. We also present results on a related problem of independent interest. We prove that if Sd is covered n times with open sets not containing a pair of antipodal points, then there exists a point that is covered at least ⌈d/2⌉ + n times. Furthermore, we show that there are covers in which no point is covered more than n + d times. © 2015, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

Investigation of Corrosion Resistance of Alloys with Potential Application in Supercritical Water-cooled Nuclear Reactors

The Supercritical Water Cooled Reactor (SCWR) is one of the Generation IV reactor types, which has improved safety and economics, compared to the present fleet of pressurized water reactors. For nuclear applications, most of the traditional materials used for power plants are not applicable, therefore new types of materials have to be developed. For this purpose corrosion tests were designed and performed in a supercritical pressure autoclave in order to get data for the design of an in-pile high temperature and high-pressure corrosion loop. Here, we are presenting some results, related to corrosion resistance of some potential structural and fuel cladding materials