Direct Heating Research Articles

X-ray and optical observations of the millisecond pulsar binary PSR J1431–4715

We present the first X-ray observation of the energetic millisecond pulsar binary PSR J1431−4715, performed with XMM-Newton and complemented with fast optical multi-band photometry acquired with the ULTRACAM instrument at ESO-NTT. It is found as a faint X-ray source without a significant orbital modulation. This contrasts with the majority of systems that instead display substantial X-ray orbital variability. The X-ray spectrum is dominated by non-thermal emission and, due to the lack of orbital modulation, does not favour an origin in an intrabinary shock between the pulsar and companion star wind. While thermal emission from the neutron star polar cap cannot be excluded in the soft X-rays, the dominance of synchrotron emission favours an origin in the pulsar magnetosphere that we describe at both X-ray and gamma-ray energies with a synchro-curvature model. The optical multi-colour light curve folded at the 10.8 h orbital period is double-humped and dominated by ellipsoidal effects, but also affected by irradiation. The ULTRACAM light curves are fit with several models encompassing direct heating and a cold spot, or heat redistribution after irradiation either through convection or convection plus diffusion. Despite the inability to constrain the best irradiation models, the fits provide consistent system parameters, giving an orbital inclination of 59 ± 6° and a distance of 3.1 ± 0.3 kpc. The companion is found to be an F-type star, underfilling its Roche lobe (fRL = 73 ± 4%) with a mass of 0.20 ± 0.04 M⊙, confirming the redback status, but hotter than the majority of redbacks. The stellar dayside and nightside temperatures of 7500 K and 7400 K, respectively, indicate a weak irradiation effect on the companion, likely due to its high intrinsic luminosity. Although the pulsar mass cannot be precisely derived, a heavy (1.8−2.2 M⊙) neutron star is favoured.

Deposition of Titanium Dioxide Particles on Kanthal Coils by Direct Heating Technique for Photodegradation of Methylene Blue Solution

Organic dyes are extensively used in textile and batik industry. Dispose of untreated dye effluent into water system is hazardous to human and environment. Advanced oxidation process (AOPs) based on heterogeneous TiO2 photocatalyst is proven for effluent treatment. Immobilization of TiO2 photocatalyst on supporting substrate is one of the research focuses to realize its application in industry to minimize the loss of TiO2 photocatalyst over time during effluent treatment. Many synthesis techniques have been used to grow TiO2 photocatalyst on supporting substrates. However, these synthesis techniques are either time- or cost-consuming. In this work, a novel direct heating (DH) technique has been developed for the first time to deposit TiO2 particles on kanthal coils. The optimum deposition of TiO2 particles was achieved in 15 min using 60 W. The TiO2 particles contained mixture of anatase (82.7%) and brookite (17.3%), with an average particle size of 167.36±15.37 nm. The surface coverage of TiO2 particles on kanthal wire was good, with minimum agglomeration. The TiO2 particles deposited on kanthal coils recorded 43.7% of photodegradation efficiency in methylene blue removal under UV light.

Design and evaluation of an active vineyard heating system to simulate temperature increase in the context of climate change

The current study introduces an innovative direct and active heating system designed for precise temperature control in vineyards. This system serves as a valuable tool for investigating the influence of climate change on grapevine physiology and, consequently, the characteristics of the resulting wine. The research took place in an experimental vineyard located in Mendoza, Argentina, with V. vinifera cvs. trained to a vertical shoot positioning trellis system over two consecutive growing seasons. The system design utilized electric hot water tanks and polypropylene pipes attached to the foliage catch wires. Over two growing seasons, the system consistently elevated the ambient air temperatures within the canopy by 2.5 ± 0.12 °C compared to the control group. This temperature increase emulated the temperature projections for Mendoza as forecasted by the IPCC by the end of this century. The system displayed heating uniformity, as evidenced by the absence of both vertical and horizontal temperature gradients. Additionally, the significant variation in mean daytime and night-time temperatures between the control and heated treatments highlighted the effectiveness of the system in modifying temperature conditions on a diurnal basis. The heated treatment applied with this system proved to have an effective biological impact on the physiology of grapevines. In both seasons, plants under the heated treatment advanced their bud break and harvest dates. The study showed a significant growth enhancement in the heated treatment, with apical shoots extending significantly longer than those in the control treatment. Additionally, the total soluble solids content increased in the heating treatment, while yield decreased, for both experimental seasons. These results illustrate the robust performance of the system throughout the entire growth period, regardless of fluctuations in atmospheric conditions. This study establishes a new foundation for future research on grapevine responses to climate change. It also opens the door to the implementation of effective adaptation strategies in vineyards, promising a more resilient and adaptable future for grape cultivation.

Selection of refrigerant for use in chillers

BACKGROUND: Chillers (chillers) are essential components in various industrial processes. They are primarily used when direct cooling through direct heat exchange between the boiling coolant and the cooled medium is not feasible. This could be attributed to the cost of the refrigerant, especially when a large amount of expensive substances for long refrigerant lines is needed, or the risks associated with using toxic and flammable refrigerants, which could be hazardous in case of leaks. Chillers are typically classified into three types based on their temperature applications: high-temperature chillers for uses like plastic manufacturing and data centers, medium-temperature chillers for air conditioning systems, etc.) and low-temperature chillers for applications like ice fields and food storage. Given their widespread use and high production volume, designing efficient chillers is an important task. AIMS: Substantiating refrigerant use in terms of efficiency and service life of refrigeration equipment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chillers are designed for various industrial applications, with specific inlet and outlet temperatures for the evaporator: +26°С / + 20°С (ВТ); +12°С / +7°С (ST); −10°С / −13°С (НТ)). These chillers operate using refrigerants R134a, R410A, R404A, and R1270, evaluated through an entropy-statistical method of thermodynamic analysis [1]. R1270 is highlighted as a promising refrigerant for monoblock chillers, since there are no filling restrictions for these chillers when installed in open space [2]. RESULTS: Among the refrigerant reviewed, R1270 demonstrates the highest thermodynamic efficiency in BT mode, outperforming R404A by 11.97%, R134a by 2.15%, and R410A by 5.48%. In CT mode, R1270 also leads,–with a 14.13% advantage over R404A, 3.04% over R134a, and 3.41% over R410A. Similarly, in HT mode, R1270 shows superior thermodynamic performance, being 21.95% more efficient than R404A, 29.73% more than R134a, and 11.44% more than R410A. The use of R410A and R134a in NT mode is limited owing to high discharge temperatures during compression, namely 116.94°C for R410A and 114.63°C for R134a, potentially reducing equipment lifespan. The lowest discharge temperature during actual compression, 84.63°C, is achieved using R404A coolant. However, despite its efficiency, this refrigerant results in a relatively high discharge temperature of 96.84°C. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis highlights specific applications for various refrigerants in chillers and underscores the potential of natural refrigerant R1270, which is produced in the Russian Federation.

A negative-carbon planning method for agricultural rural industrial park integrated energy system considering biomass energy and modern agricultural facilities

Biomass energy, recognized as a “zero-carbon” energy, has gradually become a crucial approach to promoting the low-carbon transformation of agricultural rural industrial parks (ARIP). Meanwhile, modern agricultural facilities (MAF) can play a significant role in adjusting agricultural load. Therefore, this paper proposes a negative-carbon planning method for the ARIP integrated energy system (IES). Firstly, carbon activities occurring during the operation of ARIP are sorted out and modeled based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, especially modeling the “zero-carbon” and “negative-carbon” benefits of biomass energy. At the same time, the models of both agricultural irrigation systems and straw bundling direct combustion heating are constructed in the ARIP planning. Then, a negative-carbon planning model for ARIP IES is established with the goal of minimizing the annualized total cost, where carbon emission reduction is integrated into the optimization objectives through carbon trading. On this basis, a two-stage distributionally robust optimization (DRO) planning model is constructed, where a box-like set and comprehensive norm constraints are used to model the seasonal differences of agricultural industry loads and the uncertainty of probability distribution in photovoltaic (PV) scenarios. Especially, a box set with adjustable uncertainty coefficients is introduced to simulate fluctuations of output in PV scenario. Finally, the CPLEX solver is used to solve the planning model. verify the effectiveness of the proposed planning method in enhancing the economic and environmental effects of ARIP. Results indicate that the proposed planning model can reduce the total cost by 49.584 × 104 $. Besides, the annual carbon emissions can be reduced from 37533.98 t CO2-eq to −15834.5 t CO2-eq. Especially, the carbon sequestration effect of biochar is the key link in achieving “negative carbon” in ARIP.

Constraints on dark matter from dynamical heating of stars in ultrafaint dwarfs. I. MACHOs and primordial black holes

We place limits on dark matter made up of compact objects significantly heavier than a solar mass, such as MACHOs or primordial black holes (PBHs). In galaxies, the gas of such objects is generally hotter than the gas of stars and will thus heat the gas of stars even through purely gravitational interactions. Ultrafaint dwarf galaxies (UFDs) maximize this effect. Observations of the half-light radius in UFDs thus place limits on MACHO dark matter. We build upon previous constraints with an improved heating rate calculation including both direct and tidal heating, and consideration of the heavier mass range above 104M⊙. Additionally we find that MACHOs may lose energy and migrate in to the center of the UFD, increasing the heat transfer to the stars. UFDs can constrain MACHO dark matter with masses between about 10M⊙ and 108M⊙ and these are the strongest constraints over most of this range. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Precision-induced localized molten liquid metal stamps for damage-free transfer printing of ultrathin membranes and 3D objects

Transfer printing, a crucial technique for heterogeneous integration, has gained attention for enabling unconventional layouts and high-performance electronic systems. Elastomer stamps are typically used for transfer printing, where localized heating for elastomer stamp can effectively control the transfer process. A key challenge is the potential damage to ultrathin membranes from the contact force of elastic stamps, especially with fragile inorganic nanomembranes. Herein, we present a precision-induced localized molten technique that employs either laser-induced transient heating or hotplate-induced directional heating to precisely melt solid gallium (Ga). By leveraging the fluidity of localized molten Ga, which provides gentle contact force and exceptional conformal adaptability, this technique avoids damage to fragile thin films and improves operational reliability compared to fully liquefied Ga stamps. Furthermore, the phase transition of Ga provides a reversible adhesion with high adhesion switchability. Once solidified, the Ga stamp hardens and securely adheres to the micro/nano-membrane during the pick-up process. The solidified stamp also exhibits the capability to maneuver arbitrarily shaped objects by generating a substantial grip force through the interlocking effects. Such a robust, damage-free, simply operable protocol illustrates its promising capabilities in transfer printing diverse ultrathin membranes and objects on complex surfaces for developing high-performance unconventional electronics.

Experimental study on the operating characteristics of multiple collector direct expansion solar-assisted heat pump

Solar thermal application is one of the most important ways to replace fossil energy. The discontinuous heating character and low heating efficiency are two key factors that limit the large-scale promotion of solar thermal application. Large-scale direct expansion solar heat pump systems (DX-SAHP) can provide high efficiency and low-cost continuous heating. However, the characteristics of multiple collector arrays and the system's performance still need more research and exploration. In this paper, a DX-SAHP system with multiple solar collectors was constructed and the work process of the system under different operation conditions was expressed. An experimental platform with two DX-SAHP system was built and studied, and each system contained a 10HP compressor, 16 set solar collectors and one fin evaporator in parallel. The results show that the coefficient of performance (COP) of the system running with solar collectors was nearly 30 % higher than that with the fin evaporator under constant frequency mode, and nearly 45 % under variable frequency mode, indicating that such a system has better performance under variable frequency operation mode. The refrigerant in the collector/evaporators were distributed uniformly in equal-path connection mode, which was beneficial in promoting the system's performance. The heating performance of the system under sunny and cloudy weather conditions was analyzed and discussed, respectively. The test results indicated that the COP of the system on sunny or cloudy days was higher than 4.0, and the maximum hourly COP can reach 11.3 and the maximum hourly heating capacity was 27 kW.

An Investigation of Oxides of Tantalum Produced by Pulsed Laser Ablation and Continuous Wave Laser Heating.

Recent progress has seen multiple Ta2O5 polymorphs generated by different synthesis techniques. However, discrepancies arise when these polymorphs are produced in widely varying thermodynamic conditions and characterized using different techniques. This work aimed to characterize and compare Ta2O5 particles formed at high and low temperatures using nanosecond pulsed laser ablation (PLA) and continuous wave (CW) laser heating of a local area of tantalum in either air or an 18O2 atmosphere. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy of the micrometer-sized particles generated by PLA were consistent with either a localized amorphous Ta2O5 phase or a similar, but not identical, crystalline β-Ta2O5 phase. The Raman spectrum of the material formed at the point of CW laser impingement was in good agreement with the previously established ceramic "H-Ta2O5" phase. TEM and electron diffraction analysis of these particles indicated the phase structure matched an oxygen-vacated superstructure of monoclinic H-Ta2O5. Further from the point of laser impingement, CW heating produced particles with a Raman spectrum that matched β-Ta2O5. We confirmed that the high-temperature ceramic phase characterized in previous work by Raman spectroscopy was the same monoclinic phase characterized in different work by TEM and could be produced by direct laser heating of metal in air.

Experimental study on electricity generation performance of T‐type direct‐expansion solar PVT heat pump system

AbstractFocusing on the electricity generation performance of a direct expansion solar PVT heat pump system, a novel T‐type optimized collector/evaporator was designed. The experiment used refrigerant R410a as the working medium and was conducted under the average winter ambient temperature of 16°C in Fuzhou. Through experimental comparison, the differences in panel temperature, electricity generation, and efficiency under different radiation intensities were tested against traditional PV panels and honeycomb PVT panels. The experimental results showed that the T‐type PVT system exhibited significant advantages under various weather conditions. The back panel temperature was reduced by 12.74, 8.52, and 13.06°C compared to traditional PV panels and honeycomb PVT panels, respectively, and it maintained a stable increase in electricity generation. The maximum instantaneous electricity output increased by 56.6% relatively, and the total electricity generation increased by 9.3% to 14.5% compared to traditional PV panels. The photoelectric efficiency reached 21.54% and 22.6%, surpassing traditional PV panels and honeycomb PVT panels, with measured values relatively increased by 1.7%, 2.38%, and 2.76%, respectively. Economic evaluation indicated that the T‐type PVT system could save on self‐generated electricity costs, achieving savings of up to 386.50 and 210.81 yuan/year compared to traditional PV panels and honeycomb PVT panels. The T‐type PVT system demonstrated clear advantages in self‐generated electricity costs, significantly reducing costs for application scenarios and providing strong support for the practical application of renewable energy technologies.

Towards sustainable hydrogen production: Integrating electrified and convective steam reformer with carbon capture and storage

This work reports the design of a process for hydrogen production based on electrified steam methane reforming (e-SMR) coupled with a convective reforming (convective SMR) and carbon capture and storage (CCS) as an alternative to conventional fuel-fired reforming to reduce natural gas (NG) consumption as well as carbon dioxide emissions. The energy required by the reforming reaction is supplied by direct electric heating instead of burning fossil fuel in the radiant section of a furnace, saving 35 % NG and reducing CO2 emission by 29 %. Implementing convective SMR reduces the electric load of the main e-SMR reactor and ensures a slightly higher thermal efficiency (80.2 %) compared to conventional fuel-fired reforming (78.9 %). Further CO2 emissions (85 %) and NG consumption reduction (50 %) are possible by adopting amine-based CO2 capture. If coupled with an energy integration scheme, it is possible to capture 75 % of the CO2 produced, preserving high energy efficiency (79.4 %). This requires only a 14 % increase in capital costs, which is strongly beneficial compared to applying CO2 capture to flue gases of the fuel-fired reforming (69.8 % efficiency and 80 % more capital costs).The process based on e-SMR coupled with convective SMR and CO2 capture ensures a levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of 0.281 € Nm−3 H2, which is much lower than the conventional fuel-fired reforming with CO2 capture applied to flue gases (0.309 € Nm−3 H2). Moreover, it has comparable CO2 emissions (1.59 vs 0.99 kg CO2 emitted kg−1 H2) but produces lower CO2 (6.39 vs 9.88 CO2 produced kg−1 H2) compared to fuel-fired reforming due to using renewable electricity as energy source for the SMR. Compared to conventional fuel-fired reforming, the same process provides similar LCOH (0.283 vs 0.282 € Nm−3 H2) but with drastically lower CO2 emissions (1.59 vs 8.99 kg CO2 emitted kg−1 H2).

Process integration and electrification through multiple heat pumps using a Lorenz efficiency approach

This paper introduces a novel method for targeting the minimum shaft work required for process electrification employing principles of Pinch Analysis and detailed heat pump performance estimations. The method deviates from conventional Pinch Analysis by dividing the grand composite curve (GCC) into net heat sink and source profiles to enable the placement of heat pumps exploiting the heat pockets of the GCC. Additionally, it employs Lorenz efficiency over exergy efficiency, offering an accurate description of heat pump performance and highlighting the importance of integration between processes. The method is applied to two case studies. The first case, milk evaporator, focused on the placement of heat pumps in the heat pockets of the GCC. The results showed that while the maximum direct heat recovery was 20,447 kW, the optimal configuration limited the heat recovery to 12,199 kW, reducing the shaft work from 1,930 kW to 1,010 kW. The second, a spray dryer case, focused on the integration of electric boilers and the partial process electrification when available excess heat is limited. In this case, 1,520 kW out of 4,640 kW were covered by an electric boiler, with a biomass boiler replacing the electric boiler to cover 3,570 kW if available.

Numerical simulation on directional solidification and heat treatment processes of turbine blades

Numerical simulation on directional solidification and heat treatment processes of turbine blades

Research on gas-liquid interface parameters related to thermal performance of frost-free evaporator of air source heat pump

Direct spray frost-free air source heat pumps (FFASHPs) base on liquid desiccant solutions are a more promising renewable energy technology for developing net-zero emission buildings. In order to improve the thermal performance of the frost-free evaporator, a numerical mode was established based on the penetration theory and the two-film theory to reveal the interfacial heat and mass transfer mechanism of LiCl solution falling film absorption on the air side of the frost-free evaporator. The distribution characteristics of temperature, water vapor concentration, effective diffusion coefficient, morphology, velocity and pressure at the interface under different air Reynolds numbers and temperatures were analyzed. The results show that the distribution uniformity of interface parameters has a greater effect on heat transfer performance than its average value. The critical Reynolds number is 391.0 under the present study, and the distribution uniformity of interface parameters and the intensity of interface fluctuation are improved, and the thermal performance reaches the peak. The COP of FFASHP system can be improved effectively when the frost-free evaporator is operated under the critical condition matching its parameters. The purpose of the study is to provide theoretical support for the performance improvement and efficient operation of frost-free evaporators.

Optimal design and dispatch of phosphoric acid fuel cell hybrid system with direct heat recovery through coupled calculation and artificial intelligence-based optimization

A phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) is the first-generation of modern fuel cells that can use waste heat in various ways. This study presents a PAFC hybrid system with direct heat recovery. Direct heat recovery uses PAFC cooling water as the working fluid for the steam turbine, simplifying the system and improving performance. The PAFC in this hybrid system acts as a power generator and evaporator. The hybrid system operates in power generation mode (mode_pg) and combined heat and power mode (mode_chp). The overall behavior of the hybrid system was analyzed using a coupled calculation method. Under mode_pg, the electric power and efficiency of the hybrid system were 37.0% and 10.5% higher, respectively, than those of a conventional system. The thermal power and CHP efficiency in mode_chp were 35.7% and 8.8%p higher, respectively, than those of a conventional system. The optimal dispatch was obtained using an artificial intelligence-based optimization framework that considered two scenarios. As a result, the optimal demand was 25.8% higher when the hybrid system with the optimal dispatch was used. In addition, the economic and environmental indices were 7.3% and 6.8% lower, respectively, than the conventional system, highlighting the feasibility and eco-friendliness of the hybrid system.

High-pressure core meltdown and hydrogen generation during In-vessel and Ex-vessel phases of VVER-1000 nuclear reactor and effect of heat structures

Following unprecedented Fukushima Daiichi severe accident, which significantly amplify the production of hydrogen and the associated risk of explosions, particularly in accidents like station blackout (SBO) that jeopardize containment integrity and reactor safety, a thorough investigation and comprehension of the phenomenon known as high-pressure melt ejection (HPME) are necessary. This study examines how the SBO accident develops without operator intervention or access to emergency diesel generators through full nuclear power plant simulation, including containment, core, primary, and secondary circuits. Accurate time step selection is crucial for the simulation to produce reliable results for high-pressure melt ejection processes. While the process is faster and easier under Low Pressure Melt Ejection (LPME) conditions, time step tuning can significantly lengthen the (HPME) simulation (approximately one month for each scenario). After thorough examinations and analysis of various simulation findings, three cases were evaluated for the ex-vessel phase, illustrating the most likely scenarios of high-pressure molten material splashing into the cavity. The findings demonstrate that during the in-vessel phase, 578 kg of hydrogen is created. Additionally, during the ex-vessel phase, there is a significant increase in the containment’s temperature and pressure due to the high-temperature hydrogen and significant water and steam leakage. The temperature and pressure inside the containment rise well above the safety criteria due to the leakage of 1529 kg of hydrogen from the cavity and lead to hydrogen explosion due to MELCOR message. The calculated amount of hydrogen gas is within the explosion limit range of 18.3% to 59% of the containment atmospheric pressure volume. Moreover, the height and diameter of the cavity alter due to the direct heating and corrosion of the cavity walls, ultimately compromising the integrity of the plant in the alpha mode. Based on the results obtained, it can be seen that if a large portion of the molten material is deposited on the concrete surface (case III) instead of dispersed in the cavity atmosphere (case I), the rate of hydrogen production and therefore the total amount of hydrogen (and its related energy) produced will be increased and could lead to deflagration to detonation situation.

Investigations of inlet arrangement strategies and particle parameters on thermochemical performance in falling particle solar reactors

The reformation of methane to hydrogen and steam in a falling particle solar reactor (FPSR) is a promising method to use the solar energy, which converts solar energy into chemical energy. FPSR has higher operation temperature, higher pressure bearing capacity and more direct heat energy storage than those of traditional reactor. However, due to the short residence time of the particles, hydrogen production efficiency is reduced. Thus, inlet arrangement strategies and particle catalysts should be carefully designed to improve the thermochemical reaction performance of FPSR. In this contribution, the Eulerian-Eulerian model in CFD program (Fluent 2020 R2) is used to explore the effects of different particle inlet arrangement strategies, non-uniform particle mass flow inlet and particle size on the performance enhancement of methane steam reforming reaction. The results indicate that the two arrangement strategies show different trends in influencing hydrogen production efficiency. Besides, non-uniform particle mass flow rate also has a significant impact on hydrogen production efficiency, with the optimal arrangement conditions increasing the hydrogen production rate by 2.4831 mol/m−3(−|-) s−1. Additionally, smaller particle size demonstrates better hydrogen production efficiency, with a 0.15 mm particle size catalyst showing a 14.02 % improvement in hydrogen production efficiency compared to a 0.75 mm particle size. This contribution can provide a guidance for optimizing the heat and mass transfer performance of the falling particle solar reactor.

A generalized refined Moore–Gibson–Thompson thermoelastic model based on the concept of memory-dependent higher-order derivatives

The inclusion of memory-dependent derivatives (MDD) in constitutive models improves the ability to predict and analyze time-dependent responses of materials, providing a more detailed depiction of their mechanical properties and structural changes. In this paper, a new thermoelasticity model is created that combines the Moore-Gibson-Thompson (MGT) equation with higher-order memory-dependent derivatives (MDD), any optional kernel function, and time delay. The objective of this model is to provide a more accurate mathematical depiction of the thermal and mechanical reactions of materials, particularly those that exhibit complex behaviors over time. A theoretical study was conducted to provide additional clarification of the proposed concept. For this purpose, thermal-mechanical waves were studied in a semi-infinite region, surrounded by a magnetic field, and exposed to a direct heat source uniformly distributed on its outer surface. To solve the coupled partial differential equations governing the system, the Laplace transform methodology was used. The effects of different kernel functions, time delays, and higher-order (HO) derivatives on the behavior of thermoelastic materials are discussed and illustrated using figures and tables.

Circulation of self-supplied water for significant energy recovery through heat integration

This study introduces an overhead heat-integrated distillation column (OHIDiC), a novel approach that maximizes heat recovery by multiple heat exchanges and product circulation. By utilizing the overhead vapor as a direct heat source, low-temperature feed and product water were used as cooling agents, thereby significantly reducing the condenser duty and reliance on cooling utilities. Additionally, the heated feed transfers heat to the column, leading to a substantial reduction of reboiler heat duty. Some of the heated product water is recycled back to the decanter for product cycling, while the rest is released as the final product. This circulation process ensures a continuous coolant supply, which contributes the reduction of condenser duty. Two processes were considered in this study, utilizing the water product from a non-reactive, and from a reactive separation within the system. When applied to the separation of a water-dodecanol mixture, OHIDiC reduced the condenser duty by 69.21% compared to a traditional distillation column, with a 31.46% reduction in the total utility consumption. When reactive distillation was incorporated into the OHIDiC, the higher overhead vapor temperature facilitated high heat transfer in the multiple heat exchange sections, thereby significantly reducing the total thermal load. This resulted in a reduction of up to 46.96% in total heat duty and a 36.06% decrease in CO2 emissions. These findings confirm that the OHIDiC achieves significant energy savings through the utilization of process-derived substances, with pronounced benefits when the temperature of the overhead vapor becomes higher.

Microstructure and property evolution of CuCr50 alloy prepared by aluminum thermal reduction-electromagnetic casting during hot forging process

To address the problems of low performance and density in CuCr50 alloys prepared by aluminum thermal reduction-electromagnetic casting, a synergistic process involving hot forging deformation to eliminate micropores in the alloy and heat treatment to modify the alloy was proposed. The effect of hot forging temperature on the microstructure evolution and performance strengthening of CuCr50 alloys during heat treatment was studied. The results show that the properties of CuCr50 alloys forged at different temperatures after heat treatment are better than those after direct heat treatment. After heat treatment, the conductivity of CuCr50 alloys forged at 800 °C reaches 22.41 MS/m, the density reaches 7.94 g/cm3, and the hardness reaches 112 HB, which are 73.59 %, 4.75 % and 37.59 % greater than those of the as-cast alloy, respectively. The microstructure analysis showed that the nano-Cr phase precipitated during the aging process of CuCr50 alloys after hot forging at 750 °C–850 °C had a semi-coherent relationship with the Cu matrix, which played a role in coherent strengthening. After hot forging at 900 °C, the precipitated Cr phase has an incoherent relationship with the Cu matrix, which played a role of dispersion strengthening. The performance test of 40.5 kV simulated vacuum interrupter shows that the breaking and chopping performance of the prepared CuCr50 contact material is obviously better than that of commercial products, which is expected to become a new process for the preparation of high performance CuCr contact materials.