3,716 research outputs found
Modular converter system for low-cost off-grid energy storage using second life Li-ion batteries
Lithium ion batteries are promising for small off- grid energy storage
applications in developing countries because of their high energy density and
long life. However, costs are prohibitive. Instead, we consider 'used' Li-ion
batteries for this application, finding experimentally that many discarded
laptop cells, for example, still have good capacity and cycle life. In order to
make safe and optimal use of such cells, we present a modular power management
system using a separate power converter for every cell. This novel approach
allows individual batteries to be used to their full capacity. The power
converters operate in voltage droop control mode to provide easy charge
balancing and implement a battery management system to estimate the capacity of
each cell, as we demonstrate experimentally.Comment: Presented at IEEE GHTC Oct 10-14, 2014, Silicon Valle
Counterion Condensation on Spheres in the Salt-free Limit
A highly-charged spherical colloid in a salt-free environment exerts such a
powerful attraction on its counterions that a certain fraction condenses onto
the surface of a particle. The degree of condensation depends on the curvature
of the surface. So, for instance, condensation is triggered on a highly-charged
sphere only if the radius exceeds a certain critical radius \collrad^{*}.
\collrad^{*} is expected to be a simple function of the volume fraction of
particles. To test these predictions, we prepare spherical particles which
contain a covalently-bound ionic liquid, which is engineered to dissociate
efficiently in a low-dielectric medium. By varying the proportion of ionic
liquid to monomer we synthesise nonpolar dispersions of highly-charged spheres
which contain essentially no free co-ions. The only ions in the system are
counterions generated by the dissociation of surface-bound groups. We study the
electrophoretic mobility of this salt-free system as a function of the colloid
volume fraction, the particle radius, and the bare charge density and find
evidence for extensive counterion condensation. At low electric fields, we
observe excellent agreement with Poisson-Boltzmann predictions for counterion
condensation on spheres. At high electric fields however, where ion advection
is dominant, the electrophoretic mobility is enhanced significantly which we
attribute to hydrodynamic stripping of the condensed layer of counterions from
the surface of the particle.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures and two table
Ultraviolet writing of channel waveguides in proton-exchanged LiNbO<sub>3</sub>
We report on a direct ultraviolet (UV) writing method for the fabrication of channel waveguides at 1.55 µm in LiNbO3 through UV irradiation of surface and buried planar waveguides made by annealed proton exchange and reverse proton exchange. A systematic study of the guidance properties as a function of the UV writing conditions is presented
FiberGLAST: a scintillating fiber approach to the GLAST mission
FiberGLAST is a scintillating fiber gamma-ray detector designed for the GLAST mission. The system described below provides superior effective area and field of view for modest cost and risk. An overview of the FiberGLAST instrument is presented, as well as a more detailed description of the principle elements of the primary detector volume. The triggering and readout electronics are described, and Monte Carlo Simulations of the instrument performance are presented
Contingent Purchase Price, Contingent Liabilities and Indemnities in Taxable Acquisitions (Slides)
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