Investigation of Mycelium Growth Network As a Thermal Transpiration Membrane for Thermal Transpiration Based Pumping and Power Generation

Author(s):  
Aliza M. Willsey ◽  
Alexander R. Hartwell ◽  
Thomas S. Welles ◽  
Daekwon Park ◽  
Paul D. Ronney ◽  
...  

Abstract Micro combustion and power generation systems have increasingly been investigated as potential alternatives to electrochemical energy storage thanks to hydrocarbon fuel’s high energy density, but electrical componentry for pumping significantly limits the overall system efficiency. These components must be eliminated to allow for widespread adoption of micro combustion and power generation systems, and so the development of an alternative pumping technique is required. By taking advantage of the thermal transpiration phenomenon, small-scale pumping can be obtained in the presence of a temperature gradient. Initial work has been done to investigate the efficacy of this system, but a major issue has arisen due to the lack of low-cost thermal transpiration membranes with desirable pore characteristics. Research has revealed that vessel hyphae present in the roots of mushrooms (mycelium) form a network which could meet the requirements of an effective thermal transpiration membrane. Proper growing conditions could also allow for an application specific mycelium structure providing a highly effective and low-cost thermal transpiration membrane for micro combustion systems.

Author(s):  
Sheida Sarafan ◽  
Priti Wanjara ◽  
Henri Champliaud ◽  
Denis Thibault ◽  
Louis Mathieu

Sustainable manufacturing for assembly of turbines used in hydro power generation systems is driving the development of advanced technologies targeted to reduce life-cycle costs whilst assuring high performance over the prolonged product life-span. The turbine runner, a critical component in hydro power generation systems, requires weld assembly between the crown, band and blade sub-components. With due consideration of the thick-gauge sections involved, design and fabrication of a turbine runner that would integrate a high energy density technology for assembly, such as vacuum electron beam welding (EBW), has marked potential to achieve deep penetration with a low heat input, thereby rendering a weldment with narrow heat-affected zones (HAZ) and low distortion. In this study, the weldability of thick-gauge section AISI 415 martensitic stainless steels that are widely utilized in hydro turbine manufacturing was investigated by EBW. Particularly, bead-on-plate (BOP) welding of 88 mm-thick AISI 415 plate was carried out using a 42 kW high vacuum EBW system. The characteristics of the weldments, such as fusion zone (FZ) and HAZ microstructures and hardness were evaluated. The microstructural constituents across the weldment for process conditions that rendered near-complete penetration were studied and related to the microhardness evolution.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Renwei Lu ◽  
Xiaolong Ren ◽  
Chong Wang ◽  
Changzhen Zhan ◽  
Ding Nan ◽  
...  

Lithium-ion hybrid capacitors (LICs) are regarded as one of the most promising next generation energy storage devices. Commercial activated carbon materials with low cost and excellent cycling stability are widely used as cathode materials for LICs, however, their low energy density remains a significant challenge for the practical applications of LICs. Herein, Na0.76V6O15 nanobelts (NaVO) were prepared and combined with commercial activated carbon YP50D to form hybrid cathode materials. Credit to the synergism of its capacitive effect and diffusion-controlled faradaic effect, NaVO/C hybrid cathode displays both superior cyclability and enhanced capacity. LICs were assembled with the as-prepared NaVO/C hybrid cathode and artificial graphite anode which was pre-lithiated. Furthermore, 10-NaVO/C//AG LIC delivers a high energy density of 118.9 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 220.6 W kg−1 and retains 43.7 Wh kg−1 even at a high power density of 21,793.0 W kg−1. The LIC can also maintain long-term cycling stability with capacitance retention of approximately 70% after 5000 cycles at 1 A g−1. Accordingly, hybrid cathodes composed of commercial activated carbon and a small amount of high energy battery-type materials are expected to be a candidate for low-cost advanced LICs with both high energy density and power density.


Nanoscale ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenxi Gao ◽  
Jiawei Wang ◽  
Yuan Huang ◽  
Zixuan Li ◽  
Jiyan Zhang ◽  
...  

Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted significant attention owing to their high safety, high energy density, and low cost. ZIBs have been studied as a potential energy device for portable and...


2021 ◽  
Vol 415 ◽  
pp. 128509
Author(s):  
Qihang Yu ◽  
Wu Tang ◽  
Yang Hu ◽  
Jian Gao ◽  
Ming Wang ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuaki Kisu ◽  
Sangryun Kim ◽  
Takara Shinohara ◽  
Kun Zhao ◽  
Andreas Züttel ◽  
...  

AbstractHigh-energy-density and low-cost calcium (Ca) batteries have been proposed as ‘beyond-Li-ion’ electrochemical energy storage devices. However, they have seen limited progress due to challenges associated with developing electrolytes showing reductive/oxidative stabilities and high ionic conductivities. This paper describes a calcium monocarborane cluster salt in a mixed solvent as a Ca-battery electrolyte with high anodic stability (up to 4 V vs. Ca2+/Ca), high ionic conductivity (4 mS cm−1), and high Coulombic efficiency for Ca plating/stripping at room temperature. The developed electrolyte is a promising candidate for use in room-temperature rechargeable Ca batteries.


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