Chaotropic Anion Based “Water-in-Salt” Electrolyte Realizes a High Voltage Zn–Graphite Dual-Ion Battery

Aqueous Zn-based batteries are promising candidates for grid energy storage due to their low cost, intrinsic safety, and environmental friendliness. Nevertheless, they suffer from limited energy density due to the...

Using FPGA reconfigurable integrated circuits for monitoring, controlling and managing industrial processes in potentially explosive atmospheres

The implementation of calculation architectures, data acquisition and processing systems, VLSI type integrated circuits within driving systems shows and increased trend in the industry, due to the advantages of such circuits compared to microcontrollers and ASIC’s. In the first part of the paper is presented functional aspects of reconfigurable integrated circuits for monitoring, controlling and managing industrial processes. Compact RIO is a device developed by National Instruments and which is intended for monitoring and controlling industrial processes. This is also an “embedded” type system, which comprises a FPGA device, a processor with real-time operating system (RTOS) and various input-output modules which have to be attached by the user. Applications using such devices, usually also use an HMI (human machine interface) for creating a graphical interface with the user. The second part of the paper is allocated for establishing the requirements for using of such system in the explosive atmospheres. The practical achievement consists in the construction of a wirelessly PC-controlled robot and the analysis of measurements achieved, respectively data acquired from sensors and video recordings. Among conclusions is highlighted the opportunities brought by the use of the intrinsic safety and flame proof types of protection.

High strength hydrogels enable dendrite-free Zn metal anodes and high-capacity Zn-MnO2 batteries via a modified mechanical suppression effect

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (RAZIBs) have some inherent advantages such as intrinsic safety, low-cost and theoretically high energy density, making them a current topic of interest. However, the phenomenon of...

Horizontally arranged zinc platelet electrodeposits modulated by fluorinated covalent organic framework film for high-rate and durable aqueous zinc ion batteries

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (RZIBs) provide a promising complementarity to the existing lithium-ion batteries due to their low cost, non-toxicity and intrinsic safety. However, Zn anodes suffer from zinc dendrite growth and electrolyte corrosion, resulting in poor reversibility. Here, we develop an ultrathin, fluorinated two-dimensional porous covalent organic framework (FCOF) film as a protective layer on the Zn surface. The strong interaction between fluorine (F) in FCOF and Zn reduces the surface energy of the Zn (002) crystal plane, enabling the preferred growth of (002) planes during the electrodeposition process. As a result, Zn deposits show horizontally arranged platelet morphology with (002) orientations preferred. Furthermore, F-containing nanochannels facilitate ion transport and prevent electrolyte penetration for improving corrosion resistance. The FCOF@Zn symmetric cells achieve stability for over 750 h at an ultrahigh current density of 40 mA cm−2. The high-areal-capacity full cells demonstrate hundreds of cycles under high Zn utilization conditions.

Study on coking of High Moisture Lignite in coal fired boiler

The coking problem of coal-fired boiler seriously affects the economy and safety of the boiler. At the same time, the work of poking coke after coking in the boiler poses a great threat to the personal safety of poking coke personnel, which violates the purpose of establishing “intrinsic safety” in the power industry. Therefore, it is very important to analyze the factors affecting the coking of coal-fired boiler and effectively prevent the coking of coal-fired boiler. This paper studies the coking situation of High Moisture Lignite in a certain type of coal-fired boiler, calculates the characteristics of lignite, analyzes the causes of coking, and puts forward the optimization scheme of blending combustion and the research direction of burner adjustment in operation, so as to improve the coking situation in the process of operation.

Cause and Mitigation of Lithium-Ion Battery Failure—A Review

Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are seen as a viable option to meet the rising demand for energy storage. To meet this requirement, substantial research is being accomplished in battery materials as well as operational safety. LiBs are delicate and may fail if not handled properly. The failure modes and mechanisms for any system can be derived using different methodologies like failure mode effects analysis (FMEA) and failure mode methods effects analysis (FMMEA). FMMEA is used in this paper as it helps to identify the reliability of a system at the component level focusing on the physics causing the observed failures and should thus be superior to the more data-driven FMEA approach. Mitigation strategies in LiBs to overcome the failure modes can be categorized as intrinsic safety, additional protection devices, and fire inhibition and ventilation. Intrinsic safety involves modifications of materials in anode, cathode, and electrolyte. Additives added to the electrolyte enhance the properties assisting in the improvement of solid-electrolyte interphase and stability. Protection devices include vents, circuit breakers, fuses, current interrupt devices, and positive temperature coefficient devices. Battery thermal management is also a protection method to maintain the temperature below the threshold level, it includes air, liquid, and phase change material-based cooling. Fire identification at the preliminary stage and introducing fire suppressive additives is very critical. This review paper provides a brief overview of advancements in battery chemistries, relevant modes, methods, and mechanisms of potential failures, and finally the required mitigation strategies to overcome these failures.

Realizing Stretchable Aqueous Zn–Based Batteries by Material and Structural Designs

The increasing demands on stretchable power supply for wearable electronics accelerate the development of stretchable batteries. Zn-based batteries are promising to be applied in wearable electronics due to their outstanding performance, intrinsic safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness. Recently, stretchable Zn-based batteries are designed to demonstrate the capability of delivering excellent electrochemical performance, meanwhile maintaining their mechanical stability. This review provides an overview of different strategies and designs to realize stretchability in different Zn-based battery components. The general strategies to realize stretchability are first introduced, followed by the specific designs on the cathode, anode, and electrolytes of Zn batteries. Moreover, current issues and possible strategies are also highlighted.

Continuous Hydrogenation: Triphasic System Optimization at Kilo Lab Scale Using a Slurry Solution

Despite their widespread use in the chemical industries, hydrogenation reactions remain challenging. Indeed, the nature of reagents and catalysts induce intrinsic safety challenges, in addition to demanding process development involving a 3-phase system. Here, to address common issues, we describe a successful process intensification study using a meso-scale flow reactor applied to a hydrogenation reaction of ethyl cinnamate at kilo lab scale with heterogeneous catalysis. This method relies on the continuous pumping of a catalyst slurry, delivering fresh catalyst through a structured flow reactor in a continuous fashion and a throughput up to 54.7 g/h, complete conversion and yields up to 99%. This article describes the screening of equipment, reactions conditions and uses statistical analysis methods (Monte Carlo/DoE) to improve the system further and to draw conclusions on the key influential parameters (temperature and residence time).