Current Flow Research Articles

Evaluation of short-circuited electrodes in combination with dark fermentation for promoting biohydrogen production process

Short-circuited electrodes, in combination with dark fermentation, were evaluated in a biohydrogen production process. The system is based on an innovative design of a non-compartmented electromicrobial bioreactor with a conductive tubular membrane as cathode and a graphite felt as anode. In particular, the electrode specialization occurred when the bioreactor was inoculated with manure as the whole medium and when a vacuum was applied in the tubular membrane, for allowing continuous extraction of gaseous species (H2, CH4, CO2) from the bioreactor. This specialization of the electrodes as anode and cathode was further confirmed by microbial ecology analysis of biofilms and by cyclic voltammetry measurements. In these experimental conditions, the potential of the electrochemical system (short-circuited electrodes) reached values as low as −320 mV vs. SHE, associated with a significant bioH2 production. Moreover, a higher bioH2 production occurred and a potential of the electrochemical system as low as −429 mV vs SHE was temporarily observed, when additional heat treatments of the whole manure were applied in order to remove methanogen microorganisms (i.e., hydrogen consumers). In the bioreactor, the higher production of bioH2 would be promoted by electrofermentation from the current flow observed between short-circuited anode and cathode.

Technical principles of ablation therapy

Catheter ablation is astandard procedure in modern cardiology. It can significantly improve the quality of life and life expectancy of cardiac arrhythmia patients. Besides cardiac mapping, ablation itself is afundamental step tosuccessfully treat cardiac arrhythmias. There are various ablation technologies at hand: In traditional radiofrequency (RF) ablation, electrical current flow generates coagulation necrosis. When understanding the biophysical principles of RF ablation, the investigator is capable to adapt lesion geometry and size to the requirements of the procedure and vary them individually. In addition, lesion metric indices evaluate and integrate important parameters such as power, duration, impedance and contact force to standardize and control RF lesions. Cryoablation induces ice crystals within myocardial tissue, which lead to destruction and electrical scarring of the treated tissue. Histologically, cryolesions are well-delineated with preserved tissue architecture and intact endocardium. Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is anovel rising technology, particularly used for pulmonary vein isolation. In contrast to classic thermal technologies (RF and cryoablation), PFA uses pulsed electrical fields to electroporate cardiac tissue and thereby creates damage on acellular level only.

Design And Development Of Automated Electrical Circuit Fault Protector With Alarm System

In response to the critical need for fire and accident prevention in homes and establishments, this research presents an automated electrical circuit fault protector with an alarm system. The device automatically interrupts current flow upon detecting short circuits and overloads, safeguarding against potential hazards. Objectives include assessing sensitivity to faults, evaluating wireless remote-control performance, examining sound clarity, and ensuring voltage stability post-fault events. Equipped with a resettable system, the device allows manual or remote control. Using a developmental research method, data collection employed researcher-made observation and evaluation sheets. Thirty expert evaluators assessed the device. Micro testing revealed that the device was sensitive to faults and automatically triggered the alarm. With an overload rating of 1,500-3,000 watts, the device shuts off power automatically after the overload occurs and back to normal with a stable voltage once the problem was fixed, though this device was primarily designed only for micro-testing this device was customizable to user needs. Its alarm system boasts an audible range of up to 20 meters the same is through with remote control operation. Overall, the device effectively detects faults, incorporates an audible alarm, and supports remote operation, serving as a crucial safety measure against electrical mishaps and very acceptable in terms of design, composition, safety, and operating performance.

Design and Fabrication of a Solar-Powered Lawn Mower for Health Facility Landscaping

In recent times, the entire world has been in consistent search of cleaner and safer ways of generating and producing energy. Due to continuous industrialization in different parts of the world, there has been a huge deterioration in the natural state of the environment. This is reflective in different areas and the most prominent has to be Climate change. This paper therefore focuses on the exploitation of the abundant solar energy from the sun to drive a lawn mower. The designed solar powered lawn mower comprises of electric motor, a charge controller, battery (12V), Solar Panel (30W), rotational blade and a control switch. The entire operation frame work is achieved using the electric motor which is able to provide the necessary torque needed for the rotation of the blade which is mounted to the shaft of the motor. The solar powered lawn mower is operated by a switch on the board which closes the circuit and allows current flow to the motor and ultimately, causing the actuation of the blade. Under a very sunny condition battery charges and operates simultaneously, taking a longer time to discharge. Finally, the performance evaluation of the battery was carried out with the machine and it was found to have a theoretical efficiency of 85%.

A multifunctional smart field-programmable radio frequency surface

Antennas that can operate across multiple communication standards have remained a challenge. To address these limitations, we propose a Field-Programmable Radio Frequency Surface (FPRFS), which is based on manipulating current flow on its surface to achieve desirable RF characteristics. In this work, we demonstrate that substantial enhancements in radiation efficiency can be achieved while preserving the high reconfigurability of antenna structures implemented on the FPRFS. This is accomplished by utilizing an asymmetric excitation, directing the excitation to the low-loss contiguous surface, and dynamically manipulating the imaged return current on a segmented ground plane by switches. This important insight allows for adaptable antenna performance that weakly depends on the number of RF switches or their loss. We experimentally validate that FPRFS antennas can achieve efficiencies comparable to traditionally implemented antenna counterparts. This permits the FPRFS to be effectively utilized as a productive antenna and impedance-matching network with real-time reconfigurability.

Optimized coil and current flow designs for wireless charging containers with improved even magnetic flux density distribution

AbstractThis paper introduces three different shapes of wireless charging containers (i.e. quadrangular prism, octagonal prism, and hexagonal prism) and presents optimal current flow designs for the coils to enhance the uniformity of magnetic flux distribution inside the containers. Additionally, the concept of folded coil design is introduced to further improve the even distribution of magnetic flux density within the containers. The performance of these designs is evaluated through simulations and practical experiments.

Significance of chemical reaction and viscous dissipation on magnetized-Marangoni convective flow of dusty Casson hybrid (AA7072+AA7075/sodium alginate) nanofluid with Soret and Dufour effects

ABSTRACT In the current study, mass and heat transfer flow of radiated Casson hybrid nanofluid with nanoparticles and dust deferment over sheet are explored. The Soret and Dufour effects, activation energy and microorganisms in the hybrid nanofluid model are described. Marangoni convection, a prominent occurrence in microgravity caused by surface tension gradients. It can be used for many different things, such as the creation of molten crystals, thin-film diffusion, the generation of vapour bubbles during nucleation, and semiconductor manufacturing. In sodium alginate, we wondered about the aluminium alloys AA7072 and AA7075. The aluminium alloys included in this study are specially made materials with improved heat transmission characteristics. aluminium and zinc are combined in AA7072 alloy in the ratios of 98 & 1, respectively, with the addition of silicon, ferrous metals, and copper. Similarly, AA7075 is a blend of aluminium, magnesium, zinc, and copper in the proportions of ~ 90, ~3, ~6, and ~ 1, respectively, with silicon ferrous and magnesium as additional metals. The controlling PDEs are transformed into nonlinear ODEs with the aid of a new set of similarity variables. These ODEs are then numerically solved using the RKF-45th method. The findings show that when the Marangoni convection parameter increases, the concentration, temperature, and microbiological characteristics drop while the velocity profile increases for both the dust and fluid phases.

Electrochemical Hydrogen Peroxide Generation and Removal of Moxifloxacin by Electro-Fenton Process

In this study, the removal of moxifloxacin, an antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone group, from aqueous solutions was investigated using the electro-Fenton process. As the efficiency of the electro-Fenton process is highly dependent on the amount of H2O2 produced during process, the formation of H2O2 under acidic conditions was also investigated. In this context, the effects of applied current, cathode type and O2 flow rate on H2O2 production were investigated using boron-doped diamond anode. The highest H2O2 production was achieved using the boron-doped diamond anode and the graphite felt cathode. In addition, the optimum conditions for the applied current and oxygen flow rate for H2O2 production were determined to be 0.25 A and 0.1 L min−1, respectively. The effects of applied current and Fe2+ concentration in the electro-Fenton process on the removal of moxifloxacin were investigated. It was found that the moxifloxacin removal rate increased with increasing applied current. The highest H2O2 accumulation was observed at 0.25 A applied current, and moxifloxacin removal also reached 93.6% after 60 min. The moxifloxacin removal rate reached the highest value at Fe2+ concentration of 0.01 mM. This study provides promising results for the efficient treatment of moxifloxacin-containing wastewater by the electro-Fenton process without the addition of H2O2 using boron-doped diamond anode anode and graphite felt cathode.

Highly Efficient Conversion of Salinity Difference to Electricity in Nanofluidic Channels Boosted by Variable Thickness Polyelectrolyte Coating.

The inherent limits of the current produced by imposing salinity gradients along a nanofluidic channel having "hard" boundary walls heavily constrain the resulting energy harvesting efficacy, acting as major hindrances against the practicability of harnessing high power density from the mixing of water having different salinities. In this work, the infusion of variable-thickness polyelectrolyte layer of a conical shape is projected to augment salinity gradient power generation in nanochannels. Such a progressive thickening of a charged interfacial layer on account of axially declining ion concentration facilitates the shedding of enhanced numbers of mobile ions, bearing a net charge of equal and opposite to the surface-bound ions, into the mainstream current flow. We show that the proposed design can convert energy at a higher efficiency as compared to both solid-state and available polyelectrolyte layer (PEL)-covered nanochannels. The same is true for the maximum power density at moderate and high concentration ratios including natural salt gradient conditions for which more than 50% increase is achievable. The maximum values achieved for efficiency and power density read 50.3% and 6.6 kW/m2, respectively. Our results provide fundamental insights on strategizing variable-thickness polyelectrolyte layer grafting on the nanochannel interfaces, toward realizing high-performance osmotic power generators by altering the local ionic clouds alongside the grafted layers and enhancing the ionic mobility by inducing a driving potential gradient concomitantly. These findings open up a new strategy of efficient conversion of the power of the salinity difference of seawater and river water into electricity in a nanofluidic framework, surpassing the previously established limits of blue energy harvesting technologies.

About the Current Flow in a Discharge Tube with a Metal Section. Analysis of the Thermal Balance

About the Current Flow in a Discharge Tube with a Metal Section. Analysis of the Thermal Balance

An integrated low-cost automatic pipetting used in nucleic acid detection PCR instrument and clinical detection

Purpose This paper aims to introduce a custom-designed integrated nucleic acid detection polymerase chain reaction (PCR) instrument for clinical detection applications. Design/methodology/approach The PCR instrument can make rapid, sensitive, low-cost and quantitative molecular diagnosis compared with the current routine test flow from the pipette, series reagent to RT-PCR by manual manipulation. By integrating the multichannel automatic pipetting module, heat amplification module and real-time fluorescence detection module for the first time, the custom-designed integrated nucleic acid detection PCR instrument can achieve sample collection, subpackage, mixing, extracting, measuring and result presentation. Findings The multichannel automatic pipetting module was assembled with an accuracy of 0.4% (2 microliters) for accuracy measurement. Besides, the accuracy and sensitivity of nucleic acid using integrated low-cost nucleic acid detection PCR instruments were checked with COV-2019 virus (staining method) and African swine fever virus (probe method) under different concentrations. Practical implications Because of its high cost, complex system and bulky laboratory settings, including sample subpackage, mixing, extracting, measuring and finally result in presentation, the current nucleic acid detection system is not suitable for field operation and disease diagnosis in remote areas. The group independently designed and assembled an integrated low-cost multichannel nucleic acid detection PCR instrument, including a multichannel automatic pipetting module, a heat amplification module and a real-time fluorescence detection module. Originality/value The above equipment showed better reliability compared with commercial qPCR. These results can lay the foundation for functional, fast and low-cost PCR equipment for trace measurements.

Temporal changes in the microplankton community due to Kuroshio branch current inflow

Inflow from the Kuroshio Current into coastal areas stimulates biological production. However, to date there are no detailed reports on its temporal changes. In the target area of this study, Kagoshima Bay, Japan, the time of inflow of the Kuroshio branch current can be identified a posteriori based on water temperature data. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the Kuroshio branch current inflow from the surface layer and phytoplankton bloom at the mouth of the bay during the mixing season. Therefore, we compiled data from ship observations in the Kagoshima Bay from 2016 to 2019 to examine changes in water quality (temperature, salinity, and nutrients), microphytoplankton, and microzooplankton versus time since current inflow. In this study, significant relationships were obtained for microplankton in terms of both biomass and cell abundance, and specific growth rates (0.060 to 0.079 d–1) comparable to that of chlorophyll a. In addition, the current inflow provided nutrients to the surface in the absence of strong wind and waves. Over time, phytoplankton, mostly athecate dinoflagellates, as well as microzooplankton, mainly naked ciliates, proliferated and were quickly preyed upon by mesozooplankton. Over the study period, such events could be observed once every two weeks in most years, suggesting that these frequent phytoplankton blooms support the high biomass of mesozooplankton and larval fish found in this area.

6σ Robust Lightweight Design of the GIL/GIS Bus Based on Co‐Simulation of Insulation, Current Flow, and Mechanical Stress

GIL/GIS bus is widely used in the field of power transmission and distribution, and the demand for lightweight is becoming more and more prominent. To reduce the weight of the bus and ensure the safety and reliability of the structure, a new 6σ robust design method of the GIL/GIS bus based on electric‐thermal‐mechanical co‐simulation is proposed. Taking a 550 kV/5000A bus as the initial structure, considering the uncertainty of product size and performance, a 6σ robust lightweight model of bus insulation electric field strength, current temperature rise, and mechanical stress multi‐performance co‐simulation is established. The finite element numerical calculation method is used to calculate and analyze the performance parameters of the bus. The Kriging surrogate model is used to form the response surface, and the optimal bus structure is obtained by genetic algorithm. The results show that after the robustness optimization, the performance of the bus meets the design requirements, the weight per meter decreased from 65.11 to 39.12 kg, and the lightweight effect is remarkable. Compared with the traditional deterministic optimization design, the reliability of the structure is improved. The new method of the GIL/GIS bus lightweight design proposed in this study has high feasibility and application prospects, which can provide new ideas for the development of gas‐insulated electrical equipment. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Multi-response optimisation of wire-arc additive manufacturing process parameters for AISI 4130 steel during remanufacturing process

Wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has emerged as a critical tool for remanufacturing industrial components. A limited understanding of this technique for quality product manufacturing has hindered its utilisation for industrial applications. This study reports on the optimisation of WAAM process parameters for AISI 4130 steel towards remanufacturing of high-quality products for industrial applications. AISI 4130 steel was selected for this study due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent weldability, and suitability for the WAAM process. Taguchi’s Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) used four factors and three levels in the multiple response optimisation process. The study considered process parameters voltage, current, travel speed and gas flow in the gas metal arc welding (GMAW)-based WAAM technique. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results show that voltage, travel speed and gas flow significantly affect material deposition. Voltage had the highest significance (31.61%) compared to other parameters. The optimised process parameters were found to be: voltage –23 V, current –100 A, travel speed −350 mm min−1, and gas flow −10 L min−1. These parameters resulted in tensile residual stresses of 25 ± 74 MPa, microhardness of 171.4 ± 12.2 HV0.3, and a relative density of 98.21%. The microstructural analysis reveals the existence of predominant ferritic and pearlitic colonies. This is due to compounded thermal stresses during the deposition process and alloy composition resulting in tailored microstructure and mechanical properties. The study provides some insights into the WAAM remanufacturing process for producing highly quality industrial components.

Experimental Investigation of PEM Water Electrolyser Stack Performance Under Dynamic Operation Conditions

Water electrolysis has been used to produce green hydrogen, for which identifying optimum operation parameters is crucial to improve its energy efficiency and energy consumption. This paper used a commercial proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyser stack (180 W) to demonstrate the correlation between operating current change, temperature, and water flow rate and their impact on the thermal and electrical performance of the stack. It was found that the current control regime and temperature control can offset the voltage ageing in a long-term operating electrolyser with no negative impact on the H2 production rate. For a controlled decreasing current path, in the medium range of operating current, the stack’s energy efficiency was improved by 5%, and 3.7% specific energy consumption can be saved comparing to the standard operation (57.8 kWh·kg−1H2). The results provide insights into the potential optimisation in operation conditions to further increase cell energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption. This new finding sheds light on developing an energy- and cost-saving operating method for long-term green hydrogen production via water electrolysis.

Virtual power plant optimal dispatch considering power-to-hydrogen systems

Power-to-Hydrogen (P2H) clean systems have been increasingly adopted for Virtual Power Plant (VPP) to drive system decarbonization. However, current models for the joint operation of VPP and P2H often disregard the full impact on grid operation or hydrogen supply to multiple consumers. This paper contributes with a VPP operating model considering a full Alternating Current Optimal Power Flow (AC OPF) while integrating different paths for the use of green hydrogen, such as supplying hydrogen to a Combined Heat and Power (CHP), industry and local hydrogen consumers. The proposed framework is tested using a 37-bus distribution grid and the results illustrate the benefits that a P2H plant can bring to the VPP in economic, grid operation and environmental terms. An important conclusion is that depending on the prices of the different hydrogen services, the P2H plant can increase the levels of self-sufficiency and security of supply of the VPP, decrease the operating costs, and integrate more renewables.

Optimal sizing and placement of battery energy storage system for maximum variable renewable energy penetration considering demand response flexibility: A case in Lombok power system, Indonesia

Indonesia is a tropical climate country with considerable renewable electrical energy source prospects, including photovoltaic (PV) and wind energies. Nevertheless, several variable renewable energy sources (VREs) have exhibited uncertain attributes and substantial reliance on natural conditions, leading to unstable load-related power supply risks. Hence, integrating battery energy storage systems (BESSs) with VRE generators is a dependable approach to bolster renewable energy generator applications on a large-scale grid while providing load demand flexibility. This study determined adequate sizing and placement of the BESS to achieve maximum VRE generator penetration while considering the demand response flexibility. Key indicators, including technical minimum load and system ramp capacity, were identified to achieve maximum penetration of thermal generators. This study also combined a unit commitment procedure with direct current optimal power flow (DC-OPF) as a novel approach to determine the maximum VRE penetration level. An optimization problem model concerning mixed integer linear programming (MILP) was subsequently employed in this study using the CPLEX solver in the general algebraic modeling system (GAMS). The study is based on the IEEE RTS-24 system modified and a real-life case study of the Lombok energy system in Indonesia. Results from the simulated Lombok power system highlighted that optimal sizing and placement of the BESS could lower system costs by 37.66%, 33.63%, and 22.26% compared to the current system conditions during the weekday, weekend, and the lowest day scenarios, respectively. The VRE penetrations of the generators were also higher than the current system conditions by 83%, 51%, and 39% during the weekday, weekend, and the lowest day scenarios, respectively.

Explicit observation of tertiary magnetic field in TDEM transients; plausible explanation towards induced polarization effect in geophysical prospecting

In time domain electromagnetic central loop sounding or coincidence loop measurements often a sign reversal is observed in the recorded decay transients. These negative decay transients are generally attributed to induced polarization effect. We observed a similar sign reversal in the decay transients recorded with SQUID as a receiver in central loop sounding measurements at later decay times. The magnitude of the secondary magnetic field observed in the negative decay transients is considerably high and the SQUID output never reaches its noise floor even at decay times of >155 ms. This observation stimulated us to record the current flow in the transmitter loop and therefore a small resistor is connected in series with the transmitter loop. Decay transients have been recorded simultaneously across the resistor and the SQUID which is located at the centre of the transmitter loop. To our surprise, the time at which the sign reversal occurred in the recorded decay transients with SQUID and across the resistor confirmed that the SQUID is recording the magnetic field produced by the flow of the induced current in the transmitter loop in addition to the decay of the secondary magnetic field from the ground. A novel hypothesis has been proposed to explain the flow of induced current in the transmitter loop and extensive laboratory experimental simulations have been performed to prove it. The proposed novel hypothesis explains the occurrence of sign reversal in TEM systems not only in single loop but also in coincidence loop and central loop TEM configurations. In all cases, the sign reversal is due to the self induced tertiary magnetic fields. In this work, a set of transient measurements have been carried out with different targets and different thicknesses. The experiments have been repeated by locating the targets at different depths in order observe the response of the tertiary magnetic field in the decay transients. The experimental data and subsequent analysis confirmed our hypothesis that the self induced tertiary magnetic field is responsible for the sign reversals rather than the induced polarization effects.

Modeling Bias Current Flow in SQAs in the Presence of Magnetic Fields

Modeling Bias Current Flow in SQAs in the Presence of Magnetic Fields

A case study for optimization of power system load flow analysis using ETAP software

This research report explores the optimization of power system load current analysis by integrating Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software and Single Line Diagram (SLD) representation. Load current analysis is essential for the reliable and efficient operation of power grids, and the use of advanced software tools such as ETAP offers significant opportunities to improve analysis capabilities. The integration of SLD with ETAP enables more intuitive and comprehensive visualization of energy system elements and their connections, improving the modelling and analysis process. The article presents a case study that demonstrates the practical application of this integrated approach using a typical power system model to estimate load current characteristics under various operating conditions. The methodology involves building a powerful system model in ETAP and includes SLD representations to improve system visualization and analysis. The system simulation experiments evaluate the performance and accuracy of the integrated ETAPSLD approach, focusing on key parameters such as voltage profiles, current flows, enabling more efficient load current analysis and providing valuable information for power system engineers and operators. Overall, this study contributes to the field of energy system analysis by using advanced software tools for advanced modelling and optimization.