Experimental Study on the Mechanical Properties of Friction, Collision and Compression of Tiger Nut Tubers

The mechanical properties of agricultural materials can provide the basis for the design and optimisation of agricultural machinery. There are currently very few studies on the mechanical properties of tiger nut tubers, which is not conducive to the design and development of machinery for their harvesting and processing. To obtain the mechanical parameters of tiger nut tubers, this study investigated the effects of variety (Zhong Yousha 1 and Zhong Yousha 2), moisture content (8%, 16%, 24%, 32% and 40%), contact material (steel, aluminium, plexiglass and polyurethane), release height (170 mm, 220 mm, 270 mm and 320 mm), loading speed (5 mm/min, 10 mm/min, 15 mm/min and 20 mm/min), compression direction (vertical and horizontal) on the friction, collision and compression mechanical properties of the tubers. The results were as follows: Both moisture content and contact material had a significant effect (p < 0.01) on the sliding friction coefficient (0.405–0.652) of the tubers; both variety and moisture content had a significant effect (p < 0.01) on the angle of repose (27.96–36.09°); contact material, moisture content, release height and variety all had a significant effect (p < 0.01) on the collision recovery coefficient (0.376–0.672) of tubers; variety, loading speed, moisture content and compression direction all had significant effects (p < 0.01) on the damage force (87.54–214.48 N), deformation (1.25–6.12 mm) and damage energy (82.38–351.08 mJ) of the tubers; only moisture content and compression direction had significant effects (p < 0.01) on the apparent elastic modulus (12.17–120.88 MPa) of the tubers. The results of this study can provide a reference for the design and optimisation of machinery for the harvesting and processing of tiger nut tubers.

LaNi0.6Co0.4−xFexO3−δ as Air-Side Contact Material for La0.3Ca0.7Fe0.7Cr0.3O3−δ Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrodes

The goal of the current work was to identify an air-side-optimized contact material for La0.3Ca0.7Fe0.7Cr0.3O3−δ (LCFCr) electrodes and a Crofer22APU interconnect for use in reversible solid oxide fuel cells (RSOFCs). LaNi0.6Co0.4−xFexO3 (x = 0–0.3) perovskite-type oxides were investigated in this work. The partial substitution of Co by Fe decreased the thermal expansion coefficient values (TEC) closer to the values of the LCFCr and Crofer 22 APU interconnects. The oxides were synthesized using the glycine–nitrate method and were characterized using X-ray thermodiffraction and 4-probe DC electrical conductivity measurements. Based on the materials characterization results from the Fe-doped oxides investigated here, the LaNi0.6Co0.2Fe0.2O3−δ composition was selected as a good candidate for the contact material, as it exhibited an acceptable electrical conductivity value of 395 S·cm−1 at 800 °C in air and a TEC value of 14.98 × 10−6 K−1 (RT-900 °C).

First-Principles Calculation of Conductivity of Ce-C Codoped SnO2 Contacts

The contact is the core element of the vacuum interrupter of the mechanical DC circuit breaker. The electrical conductivity and welding resistance of the material directly affect its stability and reliability. AgSnO2 contact material has low resistivity, welding resistance, and so on. This material occupies an important position of the circuit breaker contact material. This research is based on the first-principles analysis method of density functional theory. The article calculated the lattice constant, enthalpy change, energy band, electronic density of state, charge density distribution, population, and conductivity of Ce, C single-doped, and Ce-C codoped SnO2 systems. The results show that Ce, C single doping, and Ce-C codoping all increase the cell volume and lattice constant. When the elements are codoped, the enthalpy change is the largest, and the thermal stability is the best. It has the smallest bandgap, the most impurity energy levels, and the least energy required for electronic transitions. The 4f orbital electrons of the Ce atom and the 2p orbital electrons of C are the sources of impurity energy near the Fermi level. When the elements are codoped, more impurity energy levels are generated at the bottom of the conduction band and the top of the valence band. Its bandgap is reduced so conductivity is improved. From the charge density and population analysis, the number of free electrons of Ce atoms and C atoms is redistributed after codoping. It forms a Ce-C covalent bond to further increase the degree of commonality of electrons and enhance the metallicity. The conductivity analysis shows that both single-doped and codoped conductivity have been improved. When the elements are codoped, the conductivity is the largest, and the conductivity is the best.