A Bayesian Approach for Estimating the Thinning Corrosion Rate of Steel Heat Exchanger in Hydrodesulfurization Plants

Fuel consumption has been increasing in recent years, especially that of diesel and jet fuel. For this reason, the necessity to build new plants to reduce their sulfur content has arisen. Sometimes, just revamping existing plants is feasible, but determining which pieces of equipment are in the appropriate condition to be reused is also necessary. In order to select the equipment, it is essential to have information about the wall thickness of vessels. Sometimes, the information is limited; consequently, the application of advanced statistical techniques is needed. ,e Bayesian Data Analysis (BDA) used in this study has the goal of determining a more accurate, unobserved thinning rate distribution for existing heat exchangers, taking into consideration all the information available about the thinning rate of the heat exchangers that cool down the effluent of the hydrotreating reactors in Mexican oil refineries. ,e information obtained from BDA was compared with existing shell wall thickness obtaining favorable results

Do ecosystem insecurity and social vulnerability lead to failure of water security?

Achieving water security for humans and ecosystems is a pervasive challenge globally. Extensive areas of the Americas are at significant risk of water insecurity, resulting from global-change processes coupled with regional and local impacts. Drought, flooding, and water quality challenges pose significant threats, while at the same time, rapid urban expansion, competing water demands, river modifications, and expanding global markets for water-intensive agricultural products drive water insecurity. This paper takes a social-ecological systems perspective, aiming to identify examples and pathways towards resilient ecosystems and social development. It draws on lessons from two science-policy network projects, one focusing on water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions of Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Mexico and the United States; and the second addressing river and lake basins as sentinels of climate variability and human effects on water quantity and quality in Canada, the United States, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile. Together, these ?complementary contrasts? provide an analytical basis to empirically examine stakeholder engagement, knowledge co-production and science-policy interaction supporting decision-making to achieve water security. The paper identifies four tenets for decision-making based on water-security-focused global-change science in the Americas: 1) Decision makers should focus on protecting ecosystems because water security (along with food and energy security) depend on them; 2) Water-use and allocation decisions ought to be made considering future environmental and societal vulnerabilities, especially climate projections; 3) Holistic approaches (at basin or other appropriate levels) are best suited to ensure social-ecological system resilience and reduce vulnerability; and 4) It is essential to support local/traditional livelihoods, and underserved populations to achieve equitable water security and ecosystem resilience.Fil: Scott, Christopher A.. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Zilio, Mariana Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Harmon, Thomas Christopher. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Zuniga Teran, Adriana. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Díaz Caravantes, Rolando. El Colegio de Sonora; MéxicoFil: Hoyos, Natalia. Universidad del Norte; ColombiaFil: Perillo, Gerardo Miguel E.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Meza, Andrés Francisco. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; ChileFil: Varady, Robert G.. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Neto, Alfredo Ribeiro. Universidade Federal da Bahia; BrasilFil: Velez, Maria Isabel. University Of Regina; CanadáFil: Martin, Facundo Damian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Escobar, Jaime. Universidad del Norte; ColombiaFil: Piccolo, Maria Cintia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mussetta, Paula Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Montenegro, Suzana. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Rusak, James A.. Ontario Ministry Of The Environment; CanadáFil: Pineda, Nicolas. El Colegio de Sonora; Méxic

Solution-Processed Transition Metal Oxides for Organic Solar Cells

Las celdas solares orgánicas se han convertido en una promesa para la producción de energía a bajo costo, y su potencial se refleja en los enormes esfuerzos para mejorar su eficiencia. En los últimos 30 años, esta tecnología ha crecido enormemente, con prototipos de laboratorio mostrando eficiencia mayor que 10 % . El continuo desarrollo de polímeros semiconductores, materiales de amortiguamiento, y el conocimiento profundo sobre el intercambio electrónico en las interfaces, han sido las principales razones de este crecimiento. Sin embargo, la mejora de esta tecnología a estados de producción de bajo coste como tecnologías de impresión R2R es el objetivo, y el desarrollo de materiales de procesamiento de baja temperatura es el reto a superar. En este trabajo, se ha explorado en profundidad la aplicación de los óxidos de metales de transición como capas tampón electrónicos como TiO2 , ZnO como capas de transporte de electrones , y V2O5 , NiO como capas de transporte de huecos. También muestra el desarrollo de una tinta base agua con procesamiento a baja temperatura de V2O5 para aplicaciones R2R, así como la aplicación de película de NiO sinterizado a baja temperatura (350oC) y la caracterización mediante diferentes técnicas espectroscópicas. Además se muestran los estudios de estabilidad a largo plazo, como en interiores y al aire libre, la realización de estudios de degradación de los diferentes dispositivos desarrollados.Organic Solar Cells (OSCs) have emerged as a promise for low cost energy production, and its potential is reflected in the huge efforts to improve their efficiencies. In the last 30 years, this technology has grown enormously; nowadays the state of the art is showing efficiencies higher than 10%. The continuous development of semiconducting polymers, buffer materials, and the depth knowledge about the electronic exchange at the interfaces, have been the principal reasons of this growing. Nevertheless, upgrading this technology to low cost production states like roll to roll printing technologies is the goal, and the development of low temperature processing materials is the challenge to overcome. In this work, it has explored in depth the application of Transition Metal Oxides (TMOs) as electronic buffer layers like TiO2, ZnO as electron transport layers, and V2O5, NiO as hole transport layers. Also shows the development of a water base low temperature solution-processed V2O5 ink for R2R applications, as well as the application of NiO film sintered at low temperature (350oC) and the characterization by distinct techniques. As well, the long-term stability studies, like indoor and outdoor; carrying out degradation studies for the different architecture devices tested

Solution-Processed Transition Metal Oxides for Organic Solar Cells

Las celdas solares orgánicas se han convertido en una promesa para la producción de energía a bajo costo, y su potencial se refleja en los enormes esfuerzos para mejorar su eficiencia. En los últimos 30 años, esta tecnología ha crecido enormemente, con prototipos de laboratorio mostrando eficiencia mayor que 10 % . El continuo desarrollo de polímeros semiconductores, materiales de amortiguamiento, y el conocimiento profundo sobre el intercambio electrónico en las interfaces, han sido las principales razones de este crecimiento. Sin embargo, la mejora de esta tecnología a estados de producción de bajo coste como tecnologías de impresión R2R es el objetivo, y el desarrollo de materiales de procesamiento de baja temperatura es el reto a superar. En este trabajo, se ha explorado en profundidad la aplicación de los óxidos de metales de transición como capas tampón electrónicos como TiO2 , ZnO como capas de transporte de electrones , y V2O5 , NiO como capas de transporte de huecos. También muestra el desarrollo de una tinta base agua con procesamiento a baja temperatura de V2O5 para aplicaciones R2R, así como la aplicación de película de NiO sinterizado a baja temperatura (350oC) y la caracterización mediante diferentes técnicas espectroscópicas. Además se muestran los estudios de estabilidad a largo plazo, como en interiores y al aire libre, la realización de estudios de degradación de los diferentes dispositivos desarrollados.Organic Solar Cells (OSCs) have emerged as a promise for low cost energy production, and its potential is reflected in the huge efforts to improve their efficiencies. In the last 30 years, this technology has grown enormously; nowadays the state of the art is showing efficiencies higher than 10%. The continuous development of semiconducting polymers, buffer materials, and the depth knowledge about the electronic exchange at the interfaces, have been the principal reasons of this growing. Nevertheless, upgrading this technology to low cost production states like roll to roll printing technologies is the goal, and the development of low temperature processing materials is the challenge to overcome. In this work, it has explored in depth the application of Transition Metal Oxides (TMOs) as electronic buffer layers like TiO2, ZnO as electron transport layers, and V2O5, NiO as hole transport layers. Also shows the development of a water base low temperature solution-processed V2O5 ink for R2R applications, as well as the application of NiO film sintered at low temperature (350oC) and the characterization by distinct techniques. As well, the long-term stability studies, like indoor and outdoor; carrying out degradation studies for the different architecture devices tested

The use of polyurethane as encapsulating method for polymer solar cells—An inter laboratory study on outdoor stability in 8 countries

A new encapsulation method for organic solar cells has been tested on flexible solar modules and cells embedded in polyurethane, sandwiched between a tempered glass plate and a polycarbonate plate. Panels, each containing 10 organic solar modules/cells, were fabricated and installed for outdoor exposure in eight different countries for 4½ months. In order to minimize potential deviations in procedures and equipment, one person was responsible for the fabrication, installation and initial and final IV-measurements of the panels using the same equipment for all measurements and calibrations. The encapsulated modules/cells showed significantly reduced degradation compared with previous studies, with final average efficiencies around 40% of the original after 4½ months outdoor exposure. Photodegradation was furthermore found not to be the primary source of degradation.This work was supported by: The Danish Strategic Research Council (DSF2104-07-0022) and EUDP (64009-0050and64011-0002). The European Commission as part of the Framework 7 ICT 2009 collaborative project HIFLEX (Grant agreement no.248678), the Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI Project no.678) and by Agentschap NL within the project OZOFAB (grant no. EOSLT1002). AM and EAK a financial support from the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreementno.261936. The UK Big Lottery Fund/OPAL project for the London pyronometer data.Peer Reviewe

The ISOS-3 inter-laboratory collaboration focused on the stability of a variety of organic photovoltaic devices

status: publishe

Combined Characterization Techniques to Understand the Stability of a Variety of Organic Photovoltaic Devices - the ISOS-3 inter- laboratory collaboration

Trabajo presentado como comunicación al "Reliability of Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, Components, and Systems V" celebrada del 13 al 16 de Agosto del 2012 en San Diego (USA).-- et al.This work is part of the inter-laboratory collaboration to study the stability of seven distinct sets of state-of-the-art organic photovoltaic (OPVs) devices prepared by leading research laboratories. All devices have been shipped to and degraded at the Danish Technical University (DTU, formerly RISO-DTU) up to 1830 hours in accordance with established ISOS-3 protocols under defined illumination conditions. In this work we present a summary of the degradation response observed for the NREL sample, an inverted OPV of the type ITO/ZnO/P3HT:PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/Ag/Al, under full sun stability test. The results reported from the combination of the different characterization techniques results in a proposed degradation mechanism. The final conclusion is that the failure of the photovoltaic response of the device is mainly due to the degradation of the electrodes and not to the active materials of the solar cell. © (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.Peer Reviewe