Charakterisierung der Leistungsfähigkeit von PEM-Wasser-Elektrolysezellen, die mit und ohne Strömungskanäle arbeiten, basierend auf experimentell validierten semi-empirischen gekoppelten physikalischen Modellen

PEM water electrolysis is a clean technology for hydrogen production. In spite of its many advantages, the costs of the conventional PEM electrolysis cell makes it commercially less competitive vis-à-vis its peers. An alternative cell design has been proposed which has up to a 25 % costs advantage over the conventional cell. In this alternative cell design, the flow channel plate which bears the most costs in the conventional cell design has been replaced with a 3-D Porous Transport Layer (PTL) structure. It has however, been observed that the conventional cell by far out performs the low cost cell at high current density operations, due to increased mass transport limitation in the later. Industrial and commercial hydrogen production efforts are focused towards high current density operation (> 3 A/cm²), so the alternative cell design must be optimized for mass transport limitation. PEM water electrolysis is a clean technology for hydrogen production. In spite of its many advantages, the costs of the conventional PEM electrolysis cell makes it commercially less competitive vis-à-vis its peers. An alternative cell design has been proposed which has up to a 25 % costs advantage over the conventional cell. In this alternative cell design, the flow channel plate which bears the most costs in the conventional cell design has been replaced with a 3-D Porous Transport Layer (PTL) structure. It has however, been observed that the conventional cell by far out performs the low cost cell at high current density operations, due to increased mass transport limitation in the later. Industrial and commercial hydrogen production efforts are focused towards high current density operation (> 3 A/cm²), so the alternative cell design must be optimized for mass transport limitation. This work seeks to understand the source of, and to eliminate the mass transport losses in the alternative cell design to get it performing at least as good as the conventional cell at current densities up to 5 A/cm². A 2-D non-isothermal semi-empirical fully-coupled models of both cell designs have been developed and experimentally validated. The developed validated models were then used as tools to simulate and predict the best operating conditions, design parameters and micro-structural properties of the PTL at which the mass transport issues in the alternate cell will be at its minimum, at high current densities. The models are based on a multi-physics approach in which thermodynamic, electrochemical, thermal and mass transport sub-models are coupled and solved numerically, to predict the cell polarization and individual overpotentials, as well as address heat and water management issues. The most unique aspect of this work however, is the development of own semi-empirical equations for predicting the mass transport overpotential imposed by the gas phase (bubbles) at high current densities. For the very first time, calculated polarization curves up to 5 A/cm² have been validated by own experimental data. The results show that, the temperature and pressure, water flowrate and thickness of the PTL are the critical parameters for mitigating mass transport limitation. It was found that, for the size of the cells studied (25 cm² active area each), when both cells are operating at the same temperature of 60 °C, alternative design will have a comparable performance to the conventional designed cell even at 5 A/cm² current density when; the operating pressure is ≥ 5 bar, the feed water flowrate is ≥ 0.024l/min∙cm², PTL porosity is 50 %, PTL pore size is ≥ 11 µm and PTL thickness is 0.5 mm. At these operating, design and micro-structural conditions, the predicted difference between the polarizations of both cells will be only ~10 mV at 5 A/cm² operating current density.Die PEM Wasser Elektrolyse gilt als effiziente Technologie zur Herstellung von sauberem Wasserstoff zur Energiespeicherung. Trotz der vielen Vorteile führen hohe Kosten für die Produktion konventioneller Komponenten und Stacks zu einer nicht konkurrenzfähigen Technologie. Ein alternatives und kostengünstiges Zelldesign wurde vorgestellt, das, verglichen mit einem konventionellen Design, einen Kostenvorteil von bis zu 25 % hervorbringt. Bei diesem alternativen Zelldesign wird die Platte mit Strömungskanälen, die den größten Kostenanteil birgt, durch eine 3-D poröse Struktur (PTL) ersetzt. Bei hohen Stromdichten zeigt aber ein Design ohne Strömungskanäle niedrigere Leistungsdaten, was durch eine gesteigerte Limitierung des Massentransportes erklärt werden kann. Da sich die industrielle und kommerzielle Wasserstoffproduktion in Richtung hoher Stromdichten (> 3 A/cm²) entwickelt, scheint das erforderliche Verständnis von Massentransporteffekten offensichtlich das kosteneffiziente Design gegenüber dem konventionellen Design voran zu treiben. Diese Arbeit versucht den Ursprung von Massentransportlimitierung des kostengünstigen Zelldesigns zu verstehen und zu eliminieren. Um diese Zielvorgabe zu erreichen, wurden 2-D nicht-isotherme, semi-empirische, vollständig gekoppelte Modelle beider Zelldesigns entwickelt und experimentell validiert. Die entwickelten und validierten Modelle wurden als Werkzeug zur Simulation und Vorhersage der am besten geeigneten Betriebs- und Designparameter, sowie Eigenschaften der Mikrostrukur der PTL verwendet. Die hierin entwickelten Modelle basieren auf einem multiphysikalischen Ansatz, worin thermodynamische, elektrische und thermische Effekte sowie Massentransportuntermodelle gekoppelt und gelöst wurden, um sowohl die Zellpolarisation und individuelle Überpotentiale vorherzusagen, als auch Wärme- und Wassermanagement zu adressieren. Das Alleinstellungsmerkmal dieser Arbeit ist jedoch die Entwicklung von semi-empirischen Gleichungen, um die Überpotentiale der Massentransporthemmung, ausgehend von Gasblasen, vorhersagen zu können. Ebenso wurden zum ersten Mal berechnete PEM Wasser Elektrolyse Polarisationskurven bis zu einer Stromdichte von 5 A/cm² mit eigenen Daten validiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Temperatur und Druck, sowie Wasserflußrate und Dicke der PTL die kritischen Parameter sind, um Massentransportlimitierung zu vermeiden. Es wurde sogar gezeigt, dass bei der verwendeten Zellgröße (aktive Fläche = 25 cm²) vergleichbare Leistungsdaten bei 60 °C und 5 A/cm² erreicht werden können, sofern der Betriebsdruck 5 bar übersteigt, die Wasserflussrate größer als 0.024 l/min ist, die Porosität der PTL 50 % übersteigt, die Porendurchmesser größer als 11 µm sind und die PTL Dicke bei 0.5 mm liegt. Bei diesen Parametern wurden Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Zelldesigns von etwa 10 mV bei 5 A/cm² vorhergesagt

Fluorescence-based remote irradiation sensor in liquid-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber

We report an irradiation sensor based on a fluorescent “flying particle” that is optically trapped and propelled inside the core of a water-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. When the moving particle passes through an irradiated region, its emitted fluorescence is captured by guided modes of the fiber core and so can be monitored using a filtered photodiode placed at the fiber end. The particle speed and position can be precisely monitored using in-fiber Doppler velocimetry, allowing the irradiation profile to be measured to a spatial resolution of ~10 $\mu$m. The spectral response can be readily adjusted by appropriate choice of particle material. Using dye-doped polystyrene particles, we demonstrate detection of green (532 nm) and ultraviolet (340 nm) light.Richard Zeltner acknowledges funding from the Cluster of Excellence “Engineering of Advanced Materials” (www.eam.uni-erlangen.de) at the University of ErlangenNuremberg.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from AIP Publishing via http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.495359

Fluorescence-based flying-particle sensor in liquid-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber

© 2016 OSA. We present a novel irradiation sensor based on a fluorescent microparticle that is optically guided inside the core of a liquid-filled photonic crystal fiber. We demonstrate irradiance measurements with spatial resolution of ∼10 μm

Polarization-selective out-coupling of whispering gallery modes

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators are an important platform for linear, nonlinear and quantum optical experiments. In such experiments, independent control of in- and out-coupling rates to different modes can lead to higher conversion efficiencies and greater flexibility in the generation of non-classical states based on parametric down conversion. In this work, we introduce a scheme that enables selective out-coupling of WGMs belonging to a specific polarization family, while the orthogonally polarized modes remain largely unperturbed. Our technique utilizes material birefringence in both the resonator and the coupler such that a negative (positive) birefringence allows for polarization-selective coupling to TE (TM) WGMs. We formulate a new coupling condition suitable for describing the case where the refractive indices of the resonator and the coupler are almost the same, from which we derive a criterion for polarization-selective coupling. Finally, we experimentally demonstrate our proposed method using a lithium niobate disk resonator coupled to a lithium niobate prism, where we show a \SI{22}{dB} suppression of coupling to TM modes relative to TE modes

Effects of economic crises on population health outcomes in Latin America, 1981-2010: an ecological study

OBJECTIVES: The relative health effects of changes in unemployment, inflation and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita on population health have not been assessed. We aimed to determine the effect of changes in these economic measures on mortality metrics across Latin America. DESIGN: Ecological study. SETTING: Latin America (21 countries), 1981–2010. OUTCOME MEASURES: Uses multivariate regression analysis to assess the effects of changes in unemployment, inflation and GDP per capita on 5 mortality indicators across 21 countries in Latin America, 1981–2010. Country-specific differences in healthcare infrastructure, population structure and population size were controlled for. RESULTS: Between 1981 and 2010, a 1% rise in unemployment was associated with statistically significant deteriorations (p<0.05) in 5 population health outcomes, with largest deteriorations in 1–5 years of age and male adult mortality rates (1.14 and 0.53 rises per 1000 deaths respectively). A 1% rise in inflation rate was associated with significant deteriorations (p<0.05) in 4 population health outcomes, with the largest deterioration in male adult mortality rate (0.0033 rise per 1000 deaths). Lag analysis showed that 5 years after rises in unemployment and inflation, significant deteriorations (p<0.05) occurred in 3 and 5 mortality metrics, respectively. A 1% rise in GDP per capita was associated with no significant deteriorations in population health outcomes either in the short or long term. β coefficient comparisons indicated that the effect of unemployment increases was substantially greater than that of changes in GDP per capita or inflation. CONCLUSIONS: Rises in unemployment and inflation are associated with long-lasting deteriorations in several population health outcomes. Unemployment exerted much larger effects on health than inflation. In contrast, changes in GDP per capita had almost no association with the explored health outcomes. Contrary to neoclassical development economics, policymakers should prioritise amelioration of unemployment if population health outcomes are to be optimised

Effects of Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibition on Alveolarization and Hyperoxia Toxicity in Newborn Rats

International audienceBACKGROUND: Prolonged neonatal exposure to hyperoxia is associated with high mortality, leukocyte influx in airspaces, and impaired alveolarization. Inhibitors of type 4 phosphodiesterases are potent anti-inflammatory drugs now proposed for lung disorders. The current study was undertaken to determine the effects of the prototypal phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor rolipram on alveolar development and on hyperoxia-induced lung injury. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS: Rat pups were placed under hyperoxia (FiO2>95%) or room air from birth, and received rolipram or its diluent daily until sacrifice. Mortality rate, weight gain and parameters of lung morphometry were recorded on day 10. Differential cell count and cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage and cytokine mRNA levels in whole lung were recorded on day 6. Rolipram diminished weight gain either under air or hyperoxia. Hyperoxia induced huge mortality rate reaching 70% at day 10, which was prevented by rolipram. Leukocyte influx in bronchoalveolar lavage under hyperoxia was significantly diminished by rolipram. Hyperoxia increased transcript and protein levels of IL-6, MCP1, and osteopontin; rolipram inhibited the increase of these proteins. Alveolarization was impaired by hyperoxia and was not restored by rolipram. Under room air, rolipram-treated pups had significant decrease of Radial Alveolar Count. CONCLUSIONS: Although inhibition of phosphodiesterases 4 prevented mortality and lung inflammation induced by hyperoxia, it had no effect on alveolarization impairment, which might be accounted for by the aggressiveness of the model. The less complex structure of immature lungs of rolipram-treated pups as compared with diluent-treated pups under room air may be explained by the profound effect of PDE4 inhibition on weight gain that interfered with normal alveolarization

Exchange of functional domains between a bacterial conjugative relaxase and the integrase of the human adeno-associated virus

Endonucleases of the HUH family are specialized in processing single-stranded DNA in a variety of evolutionarily highly conserved biological processes related to mobile genetic elements. They share a structurally defined catalytic domain for site-specific nicking and strand-transfer reactions, which is often linked to the activities of additional functional domains, contributing to their overall versatility. To assess if these HUH domains could be interchanged, we created a chimeric protein from two distantly related HUH endonucleases, containing the N-terminal HUH domain of the bacterial conjugative relaxase TrwC and the C-terminal DNA helicase domain of the human adeno-associated virus (AAV) replicase and site-specific integrase. The purified chimeric protein retained oligomerization properties and DNA helicase activities similar to Rep68, while its DNA binding specificity and cleaving-joining activity at oriT was similar to TrwC. Interestingly, the chimeric protein could catalyse site-specific integration in bacteria with an efficiency comparable to that of TrwC, while the HUH domain of TrwC alone was unable to catalyze this reaction, implying that the Rep68 C-terminal helicase domain is complementing the TrwC HUH domain to achieve site-specific integration into TrwC targets in bacteria. Our results illustrate how HUH domains could have acquired through evolution other domains in order to attain new roles, contributing to the functional flexibility observed in this protein superfamily.This work was supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) grant MR/N022890/1 to EH and grant 1001764 to RML; National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant RO1-GM09285 to CRE; Spanish Ministry of Economy and competitiveness (MINECO) grant BIO2013-46414-P to ML and AFM is supported by a Doc.Mobility fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

The 2018 GaN power electronics roadmap

Gallium nitride (GaN) is a compound semiconductor that has tremendous potential to facilitate economic growth in a semiconductor industry that is silicon-based and currently faced with diminishing returns of performance versus cost of investment. At a material level, its high electric field strength and electron mobility have already shown tremendous potential for high frequency communications and photonic applications. Advances in growth on commercially viable large area substrates are now at the point where power conversion applications of GaN are at the cusp of commercialisation. The future for building on the work described here in ways driven by specific challenges emerging from entirely new markets and applications is very exciting. This collection of GaN technology developments is therefore not itself a road map but a valuable collection of global state-of-the-art GaN research that will inform the next phase of the technology as market driven requirements evolve. First generation production devices are igniting large new markets and applications that can only be achieved using the advantages of higher speed, low specific resistivity and low saturation switching transistors. Major investments are being made by industrial companies in a wide variety of markets exploring the use of the technology in new circuit topologies, packaging solutions and system architectures that are required to achieve and optimise the system advantages offered by GaN transistors. It is this momentum that will drive priorities for the next stages of device research gathered here