DOE and ANN models for powder mixture packing

Design of experiments (DOE) and artificial neural network (ANN) techniques were used to study packing of fused alumina powders composed of three different sizes of particles. The first is the mixture design technique that produces a polynomial model of the powder-packing system. While, the ANN technique is extensively used to model complex systems in many fields. The methodological approach used is mixture design, which can be used to study the influences of two or more additives. It is a structured and organized method for determining the relationship between the components and the output of that process. The mixture design approach permits optimization of size distribution to obtain a target value of porosity. Sensitivity analysis involves the use of the developed ANN model to predict outputs (porosity) at varying levels of the input factor effects

A critical review of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell systems for automotive applications: Components, materials, and comparative assessment

The development of innovative technologies based on employing green energy carriers, such as hydrogen, is becoming high in demand, especially in the automotive sector, as a result of the challenges associated with sustainable mobility. In the present review, a detailed overview of the entire hydrogen supply chain is proposed, spanning from its production to storage and final use in cars. Notably, the main focus is on Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) as the fuel-cell type most typically used in fuel cell electric vehicles. The analysis also includes a cost assessment of the various systems involved; specifically, the materials commonly employed to manufacture fuel cells, stacks, and hydrogen storage systems are considered, emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of the selected strategies, together with assessing the solutions to current problems. Moreover, as a sought-after parallelism, a comparison is also proposed and discussed between traditional diesel or gasoline cars, battery-powered electric cars, and fuel cell electric cars, thus highlighting the advantages and main drawbacks of the propulsion systems currently available on the market

Evaluation of Distillery Fractions in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells and Screening of Reaction Products

Fuel cells represent an appealing avenue for harnessing eco-friendly energy. While their fuel supply traditionally stems from water electrolysis, an environmentally conscious approach also involves utilizing low-weight alcohols like methanol and ethanol. These alcohols, concentrated from sustainable sources within the enological by-product distillation process, offer a noteworthy contribution to the circular economy. This study delved into evaluating the efficacy of distillery fractions in powering methanol fuel cells. Beyond their energy-generation potential, the performed GC-MS analysis unveiled appreciable quantities of acetic acid resulting from the partial oxidation of ethanol. This revelation opens the door to intriguing possibilities, including the recovery and repurposing of novel compounds such as short-chain fatty acids (predominantly acetic acid), ketones, and aldehydes—establishing a link between sustainable energy production and the emergence of valuable by-product applications

Hydrogen production from aluminum reaction with NaOH/H2O solution: Experiments and insight into reaction kinetics

Hydrogen as a clean energy carrier is a promising candidate for a shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources. Since hydrogen shall be separated from other elements, various chemical processes may be exploited to this end, including the reaction between aluminum and alkaline solutions. The chemical kinetics of the reaction between aluminum and NaOH/water solution was investigated experimentally in a setup relying on the Dietrich-Frühling method. The parametric analysis encompassed aluminum surface area available for interaction, NaOH concentration and operating temperature, including subzero conditions. Hydrogen production aligned with that predicted through stoichiometric calculations. Moreover, it was demonstrated that reaction rate increases with temperature, concentration and specific surface area of the aluminum samples, also showing how an increase in one of those parameters counterbalances the effect by decreasing another. Finally, activation energy was calculated for the involved reaction as equal to about 50 kJ mol−1, together with Arrhenius coefficient (20526 s−1)

Fracture behaviour of refractory ceramics after cyclic thermal shock

Two commercially available refractory ceramic materials primary used as substrates for fast firing of porcelain stoneware were investigated. The first one, commercially known as CONC, contains cordierite and mullite in the ratio 50:50. The REFO refractory composite material with coarser microstructure compared to CONC has a cordierite-to-mullite ratio of 50:45 and the balance is filled by quartz. Both materials were exposed to water-quench tests from 1250 degrees C, applying various numbers of thermal cycles (shocks). Subsequently the fracture toughness was evaluated on both as-received and shocked samples using the Chevron notched specimen technique. The results were analysed with respect to the microstructure damage caused by the thermal loading. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyse both microstructure and fracture surfaces in samples with different thermal loading history

Graphite/epoxy composite for building Bipolar Plates

Bipolar plates (BPs) are important components of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). Graphite-epoxy composites, having a better corrosion resistance than metal-based BPs and better mechanical properties than graphite BPs, are a promising alternative. In this study, we tried to develop graphite-epoxy composites meeting the technical US DOE targets for 2020, with a proper choice of manufacturing conditions that ensure a good compromise between conductivity, flexural strength, and gas permeability. In particular, we studied the influence of the filler to binder ratio, changed the molding temperature and time, and investigated the effects of increasing pressure both on in-plane conductivity and on helium permeability. We found that both formulation and molding pressure are crucial in determining the permeability of the graphite-epoxy composites, whereas molding temperature and time seem to play a minor role

Reologìa de suspensiones de esmaltes cerámicos para monococción: estudio de la influencia de los aditivos utilizados.

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados obtenidos a partir de la caracterización y el estudio del comportamiento reológico de suspensiones de fritas cerámicas para la elaboración de esmaltes para baldosas de monococión porosa.En particular se evidencian los efectos que los distintos componentes y aditivo, ejercen sobre los parámetros reológicos que oontrolan las fases de preparacion y de aplicació

Gres porcelanico: aplicaciones arquitectonicas, procesado ypropiedades fisico - mecanicas [Porcelainized stoneware: architectural, processing and physico-mechanical properties]

Porcelainized stoneware is an extremely hard and homogeneous unglazed ceramic material obtained by fast-firing of kaolinitic ceramic bodies containing a large amount of fluxes. The obtained tiles, available in a large variety of colours, shape size and surface finish, are characterized by very low porosity (<0.3wt% expressed as wafer absorption) and are ideal for heavy-traffic areas subject to mechanical and chemical stresses. Porcelainized stoneware tiles offer alternative valid (and in many cases necessary) solutions to the traditional glazed tiles either for interiors or for exteriors both in modem or classic constructions for flooring and covering.Porcelainized stoneware is an extremely hard and homogeneous unglazed ceramic material obtained by fast-firing of kaolinitic ceramic bodies containing a large amount of fluxes. The obtained tiles, available in a large variety of colours, shape size and surface finish, are characterized by very low porosity (<0.3wt% expressed as wafer absorption) and are ideal for heavy-traffic areas subject to mechanical and chemical stresses. Porcelainized stoneware tiles offer alternative valid (and in many cases necessary) solutions to the traditional glazed tiles either for interiors or for exteriors both in modem or classic constructions for flooring and covering.El gres porcelanico es un material ceramico muy duro yhomogeneo, no vidriado en su superficie, obtenido porcoccion rapida de composiciones ricas en caolinita,conteniendo una gran cantidad de fundentes. Las plaquetasde pavimentos que se obtienen son de una variedad muyextensa en aspectos, disenos y colores, caracterizandose,fundamentalmente, por su muy baja porosidad (<0,3wt%,expresado en porcentaje de capacidad de absorcion deagua). Estos material es son ideal es para trafico pesado enareas sujetas a intensas tensiones mecanicas y quimicas. Elgres porcelanico ofrece altemativas vdlidas (y, en muchoscasos, soluciones necesarias) a los pavimentos vidriadostradicionales, en interiores o para usos exteriores, amboscon decoraciones modernas o clasicas para suelos orecubrimientos de paredes

Effect of the suspension composition on the microstructural properties of high velocity suspension flame sprayed (HVSFS) Al2O3 coatings

Seven different Al2O3-based suspensions were prepared by dispersing two nano-sized Al2O3 powders (having analogous size distribution and chemical composition but different surface chemistry), one micron-sized powder and their mixtures in a water+isopropanol solution. High velocity suspension flame sprayed (HVSFS) coatings were deposited using these suspensions as feedstock and adopting two different sets of spray parameters. The characteristics of the suspension, particularly its agglomeration behaviour, have a significant influence on the coating deposition mechanism and, hence, on its properties (microstructure, hardness, elastic modulus). Dense and very smooth (Ra ~ 1.3 μm) coatings, consisting of well- flattened lamellae having a homogeneous size distribution, are obtained when micron-sized (~1 -2 μm) powders with low tendency to agglomeration are employed. Spray parameters favouring the break-up of the few agglomerates present in the suspension enhance the deposition efficiency (up to >50%), as no particle or agglomerate larger than ~2.5 μm can be fully melted. Nano-sized powders, by contrast, generally form stronger agglomerates, which cannot be significantly disrupted by adjusting the spray parameters. If the chosen nanopowder forms small agglomerates (up to few microns), the deposition efficiency is satisfactory and the coating porosity is limited, although the lamellae generally have a wider size distribution, so that roughness is somewhat higher. If the nanopowder forms large agglomerates (on account of its surfacechemistry), poor deposition efficiencies and porous layers are obtained. Although suspensions containing the pure micron-sized powder produce the densest coatings, the highest deposition efficiency (~70%) is obtained by suitable mixtures of micron-and nano-sized powders, on account of synergistic effect