scholarly journals Experimental Investigations on Electric-Field-Induced Crystallization in Erythritol

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 5110
Author(s):  
Jean-Luc Dauvergne ◽  
Artem Nikulin ◽  
Stefania Doppiu ◽  
Elena Palomo del Barrio

The objective of this experimental study was to develop a method to induce crystallization of sugar alcohols using an electric field for its future implementation in latent heat thermal energy storage systems. To better understand the mechanisms behind this approach, the first step of this work was dedicated to the replication, continuation, and consolidation of promising results on erythritol reported by another research group. In the second step, a second experimental configuration, previously used to electrically control the supercooling of other phase change materials, was tested with the same sugar alcohol. For both configurations, the influence of the type of current (DC and AC at different frequencies), its amplitude, and time of exposure were studied. However, none of these tests allowed influencing the crystallization of erythritol. Even if surprising at first glance, the difficulty in reproducing experiments and interpreting the results is not new in the field of electric-field-induced crystallization, as shown in particular by the abundant literature reviews concerning water. Currently, to the best of our knowledge, we consider that electric fields could be an attractive option to initiate and accelerate the crystallization of erythritol, but this solution must be considered with caution.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 6677
Author(s):  
Ulf Zimmermann ◽  
Cathérine Ebner ◽  
Yukun Su ◽  
Thomas Bender ◽  
Yogesh Deepak Bansod ◽  
...  

Presently, total joint replacement (TJR) is a standard procedure in orthopedic surgery. Adequate osseointegration of the implant components still remains a clinical issue. However, active stimulation of bone tissue to enhance bone ongrowth at the implant surfaces has not been widely investigated so far. For the last several years, invasive electromagnetically induced osseotherapy has been employed in clinical practice, e.g., for the treatment of avascular necrosis, femoral neck fractures, and pseudarthrosis. In the present study, the approach of exploiting the electric stimulation effect was transferred to the field of TJR. Therefore, a commercially available total hip stem was instrumented with an electrode on its surface in order to generate an electric field supporting the regeneration of the surrounding bone tissue. The objective was to conduct numerical simulations validated by experimental investigations as a proof of concept for an instrumented electro-stimulative total hip stem. The results revealed that the calculated electric field around a total hip stem fulfills the requirements to stimulate adjacent bone tissue when using clinically applied electric voltages. The derived numerical and experimental data of electric potentials and corresponding electric fields are encouraging for the implementation of active electrical stimulation in uncemented total hip stems to enhance their osseointegration.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes P. Dürholt ◽  
Babak Farhadi Jahromi ◽  
Rochus Schmid

Recently the possibility of using electric fields as a further stimulus to trigger structural changes in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has been investigated. In general, rotatable groups or other types of mechanical motion can be driven by electric fields. In this study we demonstrate how the electric response of MOFs can be tuned by adding rotatable dipolar linkers, generating a material that exhibits paralectric behavior in two dimensions and dielectric behavior in one dimension. The suitability of four different methods to compute the relative permittivity κ by means of molecular dynamics simulations was validated. The dependency of the permittivity on temperature T and dipole strength μ was determined. It was found that the herein investigated systems exhibit a high degree of tunability and substantially larger dielectric constants as expected for MOFs in general. The temperature dependency of κ obeys the Curie-Weiss law. In addition, the influence of dipolar linkers on the electric field induced breathing behavior was investigated. With increasing dipole moment, lower field strength are required to trigger the contraction. These investigations set the stage for an application of such systems as dielectric sensors, order-disorder ferroelectrics or any scenario where movable dipolar fragments respond to external electric fields.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1967
Author(s):  
Gaurav Kumar Roy ◽  
Marco Pau ◽  
Ferdinanda Ponci ◽  
Antonello Monti

Direct Current (DC) grids are considered an attractive option for integrating high shares of renewable energy sources in the electrical distribution grid. Hence, in the future, Alternating Current (AC) and DC systems could be interconnected to form hybrid AC-DC distribution grids. This paper presents a two-step state estimation formulation for the monitoring of hybrid AC-DC grids. In the first step, state estimation is executed independently for the AC and DC areas of the distribution system. The second step refines the estimation results by exchanging boundary quantities at the AC-DC converters. To this purpose, the modulation index and phase angle control of the AC-DC converters are integrated into the second step of the proposed state estimation formulation. This allows providing additional inputs to the state estimation algorithm, which eventually leads to improve the accuracy of the state estimation results. Simulations on a sample AC-DC distribution grid are performed to highlight the benefits resulting from the integration of these converter control parameters for the estimation of both the AC and DC grid quantities.


Photonics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
Haichao Yu ◽  
Feng Tang ◽  
Jingjun Wu ◽  
Zao Yi ◽  
Xin Ye ◽  
...  

In intense-light systems, the traditional discrete optical components lead to high complexity and high cost. Metasurfaces, which have received increasing attention due to the ability to locally manipulate the amplitude, phase, and polarization of light, are promising for addressing this issue. In the study, a metasurface-based reflective deflector is investigated which is composed of silicon nanohole arrays that confine the strongest electric field in the air zone. Subsequently, the in-air electric field does not interact with the silicon material directly, attenuating the optothermal effect that causes laser damage. The highest reflectance of nanoholes can be above 99% while the strongest electric fields are tuned into the air zone. One presentative deflector is designed based on these nanoholes with in-air-hole field confinement and anti-damage potential. The 1st order of the meta-deflector has the highest reflectance of 55.74%, and the reflectance sum of all the orders of the meta-deflector is 92.38%. The optothermal simulations show that the meta-deflector can theoretically handle a maximum laser density of 0.24 W/µm2. The study provides an approach to improving the anti-damage property of the reflective phase-control metasurfaces for intense-light systems, which can be exploited in many applications, such as laser scalpels, laser cutting devices, etc.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie C. Lefevre ◽  
Gerwin Dijk ◽  
Attila Kaszas ◽  
Martin Baca ◽  
David Moreau ◽  
...  

AbstractGlioblastoma is a highly aggressive brain tumor, very invasive and thus difficult to eradicate with standard oncology therapies. Bioelectric treatments based on pulsed electric fields have proven to be a successful method to treat cancerous tissues. However, they rely on stiff electrodes, which cause acute and chronic injuries, especially in soft tissues like the brain. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of delivering pulsed electric fields with flexible electronics using an in ovo vascularized tumor model. We show with fluorescence widefield and multiphoton microscopy that pulsed electric fields induce vasoconstriction of blood vessels and evoke calcium signals in vascularized glioblastoma spheroids stably expressing a genetically encoded fluorescence reporter. Simulations of the electric field delivery are compared with the measured influence of electric field effects on cell membrane integrity in exposed tumor cells. Our results confirm the feasibility of flexible electronics as a means of delivering intense pulsed electric fields to tumors in an intravital 3D vascularized model of human glioblastoma.


Crystals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 298
Author(s):  
Yannick Minet ◽  
Hans Zappe ◽  
Ingo Breunig ◽  
Karsten Buse

Whispering gallery resonators made out of lithium niobate allow for optical parametric oscillation and frequency comb generation employing the outstanding second-order nonlinear-optical properties of this material. An important knob to tune and control these processes is, e.g., the linear electro-optic effect, the Pockels effect via externally applied electric fields. Due to the shape of the resonators a precise prediction of the electric field strength that affects the optical mode is non-trivial. Here, we study the average strength of the electric field in z-direction in the region of the optical mode for different configurations and geometries of lithium niobate whispering gallery resonators with the help of the finite element method. We find that in some configurations almost 100% is present in the cavity compared to the ideal case of a cylindrical resonator. Even in the case of a few-mode resonator with a very thin rim we find a strength of 90%. Our results give useful design considerations for future arrangements that may benefit from the strong electro-optic effect in bulk whispering gallery resonators made out of lithium niobate.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3821
Author(s):  
Kassianne Tofani ◽  
Saeed Tiari

Latent heat thermal energy storage systems (LHTES) are useful for solar energy storage and many other applications, but there is an issue with phase change materials (PCMs) having low thermal conductivity. This can be enhanced with fins, metal foam, heat pipes, multiple PCMs, and nanoparticles (NPs). This paper reviews nano-enhanced PCM (NePCM) alone and with additional enhancements. Low, middle, and high temperature PCM are classified, and the achievements and limitations of works are assessed. The review is categorized based upon enhancements: solely NPs, NPs and fins, NPs and heat pipes, NPs with highly conductive porous materials, NPs and multiple PCMs, and nano-encapsulated PCMs. Both experimental and numerical methods are considered, focusing on how well NPs enhanced the system. Generally, NPs have been proven to enhance PCM, with some types more effective than others. Middle and high temperatures are lacking compared to low temperature, as well as combined enhancement studies. Al2O3, copper, and carbon are some of the most studied NP materials, and paraffin PCM is the most common by far. Some studies found NPs to be insignificant in comparison to other enhancements, but many others found them to be beneficial. This article also suggests future work for NePCM and LHTES systems.


2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Ergun ◽  
L. Andersson ◽  
C. W. Carlson ◽  
D. L. Newman ◽  
M. V. Goldman

Abstract. Direct observations of magnetic-field-aligned (parallel) electric fields in the downward current region of the aurora provide decisive evidence of naturally occurring double layers. We report measurements of parallel electric fields, electron fluxes and ion fluxes related to double layers that are responsible for particle acceleration. The observations suggest that parallel electric fields organize into a structure of three distinct, narrowly-confined regions along the magnetic field (B). In the "ramp" region, the measured parallel electric field forms a nearly-monotonic potential ramp that is localized to ~ 10 Debye lengths along B. The ramp is moving parallel to B at the ion acoustic speed (vs) and in the same direction as the accelerated electrons. On the high-potential side of the ramp, in the "beam" region, an unstable electron beam is seen for roughly another 10 Debye lengths along B. The electron beam is rapidly stabilized by intense electrostatic waves and nonlinear structures interpreted as electron phase-space holes. The "wave" region is physically separated from the ramp by the beam region. Numerical simulations reproduce a similar ramp structure, beam region, electrostatic turbulence region and plasma characteristics as seen in the observations. These results suggest that large double layers can account for the parallel electric field in the downward current region and that intense electrostatic turbulence rapidly stabilizes the accelerated electron distributions. These results also demonstrate that parallel electric fields are directly associated with the generation of large-amplitude electron phase-space holes and plasma waves.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1065
Author(s):  
Houssem Eddine Nechmi ◽  
Michail Michelarakis ◽  
Abderrahmane (Manu) Haddad ◽  
Gordon Wilson

Negative and positive partial discharge inception voltages and breakdown measurements are reported in a needle-plane electrode system as a function of pressure under AC voltage for natural gases (N2, CO2, and O2/CO2), pure NovecTM gases (C4F7N and C5F10O) and NovecTM in different natural gas admixtures. For compressed 4% C4F7N–96% CO2 and 6% C5F10O–12% O2–82% CO2 gas mixtures, the positive-streamer mode is identified as the breakdown mechanism. Breakdown and negative partial discharge inception voltages of 6% C5F10O–12% O2–82% CO2 are higher than those of 4% C4F7N–96% CO2. At 8.8 bar abs, the breakdown voltage of 6% C5F10O–12% O2–82% CO2 is equal to that of 12.77% O2–87.23% CO2 (buffer gas). Synergism in negative partial discharge inception voltage/electric field fits with the mean value and the sum of each partial pressure individually component for a 20% C4F7N–80% CO2 and 6% C5F10O–12% O2–82% CO2, respectively. In 9% C4F7N–91% CO2, the comparison of partial discharge inception electric fields is Emax (CO2) = Emax(C4F7N), and Emax (12.77% O2–87.23% CO2) = Emax(C5F10O) in 19% C5F10O–81%(12.77% O2–87.23% CO2). Polarity reversal occurs under AC voltage when the breakdown polarity changes from negative to positive cycle. Polarity reversal electric field EPR was quantified. Fitting results show that EPR (CO2) = EPR(9% C4F7N–91% CO2) and EPR(SF6) = EPR (22% C4F7N–78% CO2). EPR (4% C4F7N–96% CO2) = EPR (12.77% O2–87.23% CO2) and EPR (6% C5F10O–12% O2–82% CO2) < EPR (4% C4F7N–96% CO2) < EPR (CO2).


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