The simultaneous synthesis of hydrogen-rich gas and oxidation of fine metal particles in water vapour plasma

Atmospheric pressure water vapor plasma technology was developed, tested and implemented for the experimental research of fuel conversion processes. The present study offers a methodology for production of hydrogen-rich gas and additional deposition of small metal oxide dispersed particles by the employment of nonequilibrium water vapour arc plasma at atmospheric pressure. The results of the present study enables constructing a specific device which allows a highly efficient production of the synthetic gas containing an increased amount of hydrogen and its use in the production of second generation fuels. The injection of copper dispersed particles causes the oxidation and removal of dissociated oxygen and simultaneous synthesis of fine particles. The relation between the yield of hydrogen in an exhaust gaseous product, the arc current, particle material, and water vapor flow rate in the plasma torch was determined.Разработана, испытана и внедрена плазменная технология атмосферного давления водяного пара для экспериментального исследования процессов преобразования топлив. Данное исследование представляет метод для производства обогащенного водородом синтез-газа, а также одновременное осаждение дисперсных частиц окиси металла при использовании атмосферного давления неравновесной электродуговой плазмы водяного пара. Результаты исследования позволяют создать установку для высокоэффективного производства синтетического газа, содержащего повышенное количество водорода, для его использования в производстве второго поколения топлив. Исследования показали, что введение в плазменный поток дисперсных частиц меди вызывает их окисление и удаление диссоциированного кислорода. Установлено, что существует связь между выходом водорода в выхлопных газах, силой тока дуги, материалом частиц и паров, расходом потока через плазмотрон.Розроблена, випробувана і впроваджена плазмова технологія атмосферного тиску водяної пари для експериментального дослідження процесів перетворення палива. Дане дослідження представляє метод для виробництва збагаченого воднем синтез-газу, а також одночасне осадження дисперсних частинок окису металу при використанні атмосферного тиску нерівноважної електродугової плазми водяної пари. Результати дослідження дозволяють створити обладняння для високоефективного виробництва синтетичного газу, що містить підвищену кількість водню, для використання його у виробництві другого покоління палив. Дослідження показали, що введення в плазмовий потік дисперсних частинок міді викликає їх окислення та видалення дисоційованого кисню. Встановлено, що існує зв'язок між виходом водню у вихлопних газах, силою струму дуги, матеріалом частинок і парів, витратами потоку через плазмотрон

Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Weather Conditions

Background: Weather is a well-known factor worldwide in psychiatric problems such as depression, with the elderly and females being particularly susceptible. The aim of this study was to detect associations between the risk of depressive symptoms (DS) and weather variables. Methods: 6937 participants were assessed in the baseline survey of the Health Alcohol Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) study during 2006–2008. To assess the risk of DS, a multivariate logistic model was created with predictors such as socio-demographic factors, health behaviors, and weather variables. Results: DS were found in 23.4% of the respondents, in 15.6% of males and in 29.9% in females. A higher risk of DS (by 25%) was associated with November–December, a rising wind speed, and relative humidity (RH) 14.2◦ C) predominant during May–September had a protective impact. A higher risk of DS in males was associated with lower atmospheric pressure (<1009 hPa) 2 days before. Females were more sensitive to the monthly variation, snowfall, and RH. Conclusions: The findings of our study suggest that some levels of weather variables have a statistically significant effect on DS

Electrically Switchable Photonic Molecule Laser

We have studied the coherent intercavity coupling of the evanescent fields of the whispering gallery modes of two terahertz quantum-cascade lasers implemented as microdisk cavities. The electrically pumped single-mode operating microcavities allow to electrically control the coherent mode coupling for proximity distances of the cavities up to 30-40 \mu\m. The optical emission of the strongest coupled photonic molecule can be perfectly switched by the electrical modulation of only one of the coupled microdisks. The threshold characteristics of the strongest coupled photonic molecule demonstrates the linear dependence of the gain of a quantum-cascade laser on the applied electric field.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Experimental Investigation of Resistive Sensor for High Power Millimetre Wave Pulse Measurement

An experimental investigation of a high power millimetre wave pulse sensor is presented. Two groups of sensors with a flat frequency response were fabricated according to results of the optimisation. The frequency response and voltage standing wave ratio were measured and compared with results of the electrodynamical simulations. The largest measured sensitivity variation of the best sensors within waveguide frequency range was±8%. The reasonable agreement between measured and simulated values of the sensitivity was obtained

Experimental Investigation of Resistive Sensor for High Power Millimetre Wave Pulse Measurement

An experimental investigation of a high power millimetre wave pulse sensor is presented. Two groups of sensors with a flat frequency response were fabricated according to results of the optimisation. The frequency response and voltage standing wave ratio were measured and compared with results of the electrodynamical simulations. The largest measured sensitivity variation of the best sensors within waveguide frequency range was±8%. The reasonable agreement between measured and simulated values of the sensitivity was obtained

Resistive Sensor for Short High-Power Microwave Pulse Measurement in Millimeter Wave Range

We report on the numerical investigation of the resistive sensor for the 78-118 GHz range. A three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method was applied to simulate the wave propagation within a waveguide segment with the semiconductor sensor attached to a wider wall of the wave-guide. The electric field distribution, voltage standing-wave ratio and the average electric field dependences on frequency have been determined for several sets of dimensions and specific resistances of the sample. It is demonstrated that a proper selection of the dimensions and specific resistance of the sample can compensate the waveguide dispersion and the decrease of the electron heating effect with frequency. Therefore, a nearly constant sensitivity of the sensor can be obtained for the entire frequency range