Experimental Evaluation of an Innovative Non-Metallic Flat Plate Solar Collector

The present article deals with the concept of the non-metallic flat plate liquid solar collector and its evaluation. The innovative concept lies in the elimination of metal parts of the solar collector and their replacement by the foam glass block, which significantly reduces the energy and material demands of the production process. The evaluation of the collector took place in two phases, the first was focused on the numerical evaluation, which resulted in the compilation of a theoretical curve of the efficiency of the solar collector. The second phase was focused on verifying the basic functionality of the concept based on the results obtained from experimental tests of the collector, which confirmed the functionality of the concept and revealed several areas that will need to be addressed in the further development of the prototype.

Alpha dose rate and decay dose impacts on the long-term alteration of HLW nuclear glasses

In the prospect of deep geological disposal, the long-term behavior of high-level nuclear glasses has to be investigated regarding alpha radiation induced by long-life minor actinides. The present study focuses on the effects of alpha radiation on the long-term chemical reactivity of R7T7-type glasses, by separately considering the alpha dose rate and the alpha decay dose. Old SON68 glasses doped with 238/239PuO2 or 244CmO2 were studied to simulate high alpha dose rates corresponding to an early water ingress and a high level of alpha decay doses corresponding to long-term disposal conditions. A part of the 238/239Pu-doped glass block was annealed to fully recover the irradiation-induced damage accumulated since the glass was fabricated and to dissociate the effect of the alpha dose rate from that of the alpha decay dose. The glasses were then leached under static conditions at 90 °C for several years. The results showed that the residual alteration rate is not affected by the alpha dose rate over a wide range of dose rate values expected under disposal conditions: this glass remained relatively insensitive to the alpha radiolysis phenomena at the glass–water interface. However, over the duration of the experiments, the residual alteration rate of the damaged 238/239Pu-doped glass was enhanced compared to that of the annealed glass. This result is in agreement with those obtained on the 244Cm-doped glass and with reported values in the literature on simplified externally irradiated glasses, indicating that the ballistic effects of the recoil nuclei are responsible for this increase in the residual alteration rate.

A BLOCK OF THERMAL INSULATION MATERIALS WITH PROTECTIVE AND DECORATIVE COATINGS

scientific and technological principles of alternative plasma technology for the production of two-layer heat-resistant glass-like decorative coating were developed. The compositions of the intermediate heat-resistant layer and the technology of its application to the surface of the enclosing block of foam glass are proposed. The optimal parameters of plasma melting of heat-resistant and decorative coating layers were determined. The influence of high-speed characteristics of plasma jet thermal melting on the formation of texture and performance of two-layer heat-resistant coating is established. The features of the formation of amorphous vitreous and glass-crystalline phases of a two-layer heat-resistant coating are presented. Using x-ray phase analysis, the features of the phase composition of different layers of heat-resistant coating, as well as the laws of formation of its structural elements are studied. Based on the analysis of significant experimental material, it was concluded that the formation of the upper amorphous layer with liquating regions and minor gas inclusions. The conducted researches allowed to reveal and justify the features of the structure of the layers lying under the amorphous liquating. It was found that the two-layer protective and decorative coating had high physico-chemical and physico-mechanical properties: adhesion strength to the matrix of the foam glass block-1.25 ± 0.05 MPa, microhardness-785 HV, heat resistance-122°C, acid resistance – 98.5%, alkali resistance – 95.4%.

Block Foam Glass with Plasma Protective and Decorative Coatings

An innovative energy-saving technology for producing block foam glass with a protective decorative coating has been developed, including the preliminary application of an intermediate heat resistant coating followed by the application of the main coating and the plasma jet melting. The optimal composition of the intermediate heat resistant coating, its preparation technology and laying on the front surface of the foam glass block are determined. It is shown that the main factor shaping the quality of the foam glass insulating block with a protective decorative coating is the speed of the plasma burner movement with a plasma jet on the front surface of the foam block glass with a preliminary applied two-layer heat resistant protective decorative coating. The formation regularity of the front layer texture of a protective and decorative coating on the plasma jet speed to the enclosing foam glass block has been established. It is shown that at the optimum plasma processing speed of 10 mm/s, a continuous, high-quality protective and decorative coating is formed. The features of the phase composition and microstructure of a multilayer heat resistant protective decorative coating are investigated. It is established that the surface layer is represented by an amorphous vitreous phase.

PLASMACHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF THERMAL INSULATED BLOCKS WITH DECORATIVE COATING

The impact of plasma of an arc plasmatron on plasmochemical modification of a two-layer heat-resistant decorative covering on the protecting foam glass blocks is investigated. The optimum technological parameters of plasma processing of such blocks with a preliminary basis of finely divided glass containers and high-quality glass breakage are determined. It is shown that the texture and quality of a two-layer heat-resistant decorative covering are affected by speed characteristics of the plasma torch. It is established experimentally that when the arc-plasma reflow rate is 5 mm /s, a continuous wavy coating is formed on the surface of the foam glass block, and at 10 mm /s – a continuous coating with even spill. Intermediate heat-resistant and basic compositions of decorative two-layer coating for plasma-chemical modification of enclosing blocks of heat-insulating materials have been developed. The intermediate heat-resistant structure includes the following ingredients: heat-resistant aluminous cement, crushed and fractioned high-aluminous refractory material, liquid glass. The basic structure includes mixture of fine ground glass powder of tare and high-quality glasses with the crushed high-aluminous refractory material. The following performance indicators are investigated: adhesion strength of the coating with the matrix, frost resistance, microhardness, acid resistance, water resistance, abrasion resistance, moisture resistance and resistance to neutral salt spray test.

THE ROLES OF GLASS BLOCK APERTURES IN NATURAL LIGHT DISTRIBUTION FOR THE PRODUCTION ACTIVITY OF CV. EVERGREEN BUANA SANDANG

Abstract- A factory within the industrial field is both productive and commercial, with profit as its main orientation of activity. One of the efforts to minimize production cost in a factory is electricity saving through optimizing the utilization of natural lightning as a substitute for the use of lamplight. The lighting design in a factory area of production has to concur with specific activities conducted. The level of illumination and sufficient illumination comfort may improve both workers’ eyesight and concentration. Glass blocks form one of the commonly chosen materials to be applied as natural light apertures. From an economic point of view, glass block material has an edge in terms of low production cost and maintenance. CV. Evergreen Buana Prima Sandang, as children’s clothing factory utilizes natural lighting through glass block apertures, applied to the entire production area and all production stages from beginning to end. Based on theoretical study, they cannot be used to optimize natural lighting in a room, because there is no control over the direction and quality of incoming light. As a host of different activities, the factory’s production area requires a differing quantity of lighting. The research was conducted with the descriptive method and the quantitative approach, starting from initial observation of the study object, the medium of interviews and study of the relevant background literature derived from numerous sources. This was followed by direct measurement in the field as well as design simulation of natural lighting. In the analytical process, the influence of conditions around the spot on the intensity of the light source is described along with the role of glass-block apertures in fulfilling the requirement of light intensity illuminating work space, the influence of types and properties of glass blocks, as well as the influence of position and dimension of the apertures on natural light distribution covering each area of production. Keywords: glass block, natural light, production area, children’s clothing company