Existing Production Lines Research Articles

Characterization of rear-side potential-induced degradation in bifacial p-PERC solar modules

Bifacial solar modules are increasingly preferred over monofacial modules to maximize the solar power output within a limited space. Owing to their high efficiency and compatibility with existing production lines, bifacial p-type passivated emitter and rear contact (p-PERC) solar modules have dominated the market since their commercialization. This study analyzes the influence of Al2O3, a passivation layer of p-PERC solar cells, on the PID and its underlying mechanism. Experiments were conducted on bifacial p-PERC module samples to analyze their electrical properties. Additionally, cell-like samples were fabricated to measure characteristics, for example, carrier lifetime, that are difficult to assess in full modules. To accelerate module degradation, experiments were conducted at 85 °C and 85 % humidity, while a voltage of −1000 V was applied to investigate the PID phenomenon. The results reveal degradation at the rear of the module caused by polarization effects, which were confirmed through changes in solar cell parameters and recombination current. The proposed mechanism indicates that the degradation in bifacial p-PERC solar modules is caused by the field-effect deterioration of the Al₂O₃ layer caused by alkali ions diffusing from the glass. This is observed through changes in the carrier concentration within Si and the detection of alkali ions within Al2O3. Our analysis considers both module and cell structure samples to delineate the influence of Al2O3 on the PID, which has not been previously reported. This study enhances the understanding of the polarization effect in bifacial p-PERC solar cells, thus contributing to the advancement of solar cell passivation strategies.

Parametric Optimization of Structural Frame Design for High Payload Hexacopter

For drones, the use of which has been increasing recently for load carrying, lightweight drone frame design is significant for increased flight time and payload capacity. Drones are produced in different configurations with three, four or six rotors, and in different sizes depending on the purpose of use. While agility is more important in three and four rotor drone applications, six-rotor and relatively large-bodied drones are preferred in cases such as load carrying. When the body structure has to be large, lightening the design becomes very critical. Lightweight designs can be achieved by two commonly used methods for structural optimization: topology optimization and parametric optimization. Topology optimization is an advanced method that can significantly reduce weight but is expensive and time-consuming. Parametric optimization is a more practical approach for conventional manufacturing methods and was used in this study. This study aims to first simplifying the hexacopter frame model and defining key geometric parameters for mass-decreasing optimization. Finite element analysis simulations were used to evaluate the strength and deformation of the frame under various design scenarios. The results showed that parametric optimization successfully reduced the weight of the hexacopter frame while maintaining structural integrity. The maximum Von Mises stress was found as approximately one quarter of the yield strength of the frame material. The maximum total deformation was achieved below 0.3 mm, and deformation under 1 mm is considered safe in the literature. As a result, the optimized design offers a lighter drone structure in line with conventional manufacturing methods, providing better flight time and payload capacity while maintaining cost effectiveness. In future studies, comparisons can be made based on this study by performing weight optimizations suitable for current methods such as topology optimization or generative design. the cost factor and the availability of existing production lines should be taken into consideration when comparing the mentioned methods with parametric optimization.

The awkward relations between EU innovation policies and environmental law

AbstractThe European Union is actively advancing the green and digital transformation of its industries by seeking to integrate disruptive and novel technologies to enhance efficiency in existing production lines. However, the introduction of these technologies, pivotal for this transformation, has encountered challenges within the current regulatory framework. This article systematically examines the legal framework to understand how authorisation procedures, influenced by environmental legislation interpreted in conjunction with the precautionary principle, might hinder the adoption of disruptive and novel technologies. Additionally, the article evaluates the effectiveness of experimentation rules, such as legal sandboxes, in addressing scientific uncertainties linked to these technologies. Despite tensions between innovation policies and environmental regulations, embracing the precautionary principle in decision‐making procedures could facilitate the adoption of sustainable innovations while prioritising long‐term environmental and societal well‐being.

Constructing flame retardant microspheres for safe and stable poly (ethylene oxide) based All-Solid-State batteries at high voltage

The development of all-solid-state polymer electrolytes (ASSPE) based on poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) is facing a series of challenges, such as poor ionic conductivity, low Li+ transference number, flammability, and the limited electrochemical windows of 4 V. Herein, we report our recent effort to meet these challenges by introducing flame retardant microspheres (TH) into PEO-based ASSPE to form stable solid cathode electrolyte interface (CEI) films and enhance safety performance. TH is constructed by reacting tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBA) with hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP). With the presence of only 5 wt% TH, the LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NCM811)//Li cell achieves a high capacity retention rate of 77.61 % after 100 cycles at the cutoff voltage of 4.3 V and 0.5C, and achieves a capacity retention of 75.7 % at the voltage range of 3–4.5 V after 50 cycles at 0.5C. In addition, the PEO-based ASSPE with TH (TH-PEO/PE) shows excellent flame retardancy, which endows the NCM811//Li pouch cell with good resistance to fire and mechanical abuse. This simple process is compatible with the existing production lines in the battery industry, which exhibits enormous promise in manufacturing commercialized all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs) with high energy density and safety capabilities.

Diagnostics and characterization of a novel multi gas layer RF atmospheric pressure plasma jet for polymer processing

The quest to employ cold plasma sources at atmospheric pressure in polymer processing has emerged as a potent driving force behind their development. Atmospheric pressure operation of plasma jets provides potential cost reductions as well as easier handling and maintenance. In addition, their unique advantage of remote operation allows the substrate to be placed outside the source boundaries. This latter feature makes it easier to process complex three-dimensional objects and to integrate plasma jets into existing production lines. Although conventional atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) sources have undergone significant advancements in their design and construction, they have reached their technical and technological thresholds in several domains, thereby also impeding further enhancements in material processing applications. To cope with this issue, this work introduces a promising APPJ (named MPPJ3) working in a three co-axial gas layer geometry, incorporating the capability of aerosol and shield gas introduction leading to a configuration rich in reactive plasma species with controllable size and suitable temperature for polymer processing. A parametric study on the novel MPPJ3 device is carried out and plasma characteristics, such as reactive plasma species and temperatures, are determined by means of optical emission spectroscopy (OES), laser scattering, and infrared (IR) camera imaging whereas the fluid dynamics are analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) and Schlieren imaging. The obtained promising results clearly show the flexibility and adaptability of the MPPJ3 device for polymer processing applications.

Influence of Moisture on the Electrochemical Performance of Prelithiated C/SiOx Composite Anodes for Li-Ion Batteries

Prelithiation of Si containing anodes has commonly been acknowledged as a potential solution to the challenge of the high irreversible lithium losses that still hinder the widespread adoption of this next-generation anode active material. However, upscaling and implementation in the process chain remain major hurdles for most proposed prelithiation processes. A significant part of this comes down to the high reactivity of prelithiation agents and prelithiated electrodes towards moisture. In industrial scale electrode production, dry rooms with dew point controlled atmospheres are already in use, but are a significant cost factor. Therefore, the compatibility of prelithiated electrodes with dry room conditions is a major factor for the implementation of prelithiation into existing production lines.In this work C/SiOx composite anodes are electrochemically prelithiated and subsequently subjected to industry relevant moisture levels. The influence of dew point and exposure time is examined. After exposure, the anodes are assembled into half-cells and their electrochemical performance during the first lithiation/delithiation cycle is analysed using a 3-electrode setup. The evaluation of the specific capacities and the potential curves provides information about the extent of the damage to the electrode. The results indicate a promising stability window for dew points of up to -40° C and realistic exposure times of up to one hour. Additional aging investigations in full cells against NMC622-based cathodes confirm these findings. Furthermore, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, XPS and ToF-SIMS measurements are performed to elucidate the effect of moisture exposure on the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) composition. The results suggest the development of a double-layered SEI structure, where the first layer forms during prelithiation and is altered by moisture exposure, while the second layer forms on top of the first layer during formation. Figure 1

Improved Light Extraction in Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes via Semiconductor Dilution

AbstractIncreasing the internal light extraction efficiency of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) is key to improving their performance for solid‐state lighting applications; however, it is challenging to do this in a way that is compatible with high volume manufacturing. Here, it is shown that the outcoupling efficiency of OLEDs can be improved by diluting their hole transport layer (HTL) with the low refractive index material trifluoropropyl oligomeric silsesquioxane (F‐POSS). Specifically, co‐evaporating 40 vol.% F‐POSS in the HTL of single and multi‐stack phosphorescent OLEDs decreases its refractive index by Δn ≈ 0.2, which in turn yields a ≈12% increase in their outcoupling efficiency with no impact on electrical performance or operational lifetime. This result is significant because F‐POSS is a small molecule that sublimes cleanly, does not aggregate, and is compatible with state‐of‐the‐art HTL materials, making it a realistic path to increase light extraction in commercial OLEDs manufactured on existing production lines.

Nanoporous Substrates to Advance CAR-T Cell Production for Advanced Cell Therapies

Background: CAR-T cell therapy has transformed blood cancer treatment with promising clinical trial outcomes. However, access to this therapy has been limited due lengthy and complex CAR-T cell production process, resulting in a very costly therapy. To enhance patient welfare, establishment of innovative point-of-care solutions with a simplified and shortened manufacturing processes is crucial to ensure higher cell quality and a shorter vein to vein time. immUni technology, a novel nano-engineered substrate will allow to combine and enhance key steps of the CAR-T production - from T cell activation, gene transfer to expansion. immUni platform integrates a unique combination of biochemical and physical stimulation. The biophysical activation is achieved without the need for a TCR agonist, resulting in a striking balance between robust T cell activation and proliferation as well as T cell effector function and a less differentiated phenotype required for CAR-T cell therapy. immUni technology is an easy-to-use platform that minimizes benchwork. Aims: To provide a novel technology to produce optimal CAR-T cell therapies. Methods: Human naïve pan T cells isolated from healthy donors were used for the following experiments. After 24h Il-2 secretion was measured using an ELISA assay and CD69 expression via flowcytometry as a readout for activation. The gene transfer of the CD19-specific 2 nd generation CAR construct was conducted 48 hours after activation, employing both lentiviral transduction and non-viral CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing into the TRAC locus. For T cell culture and expansion, the medium was supplemented with IL-7 and IL-15. CAR expression was measured 6 days post activation. The T cell phenotype was identified and quantified after 10 days of expansion with markers against CD95, CD45RA, CCR7 as well as CD4, CD8 and CD3. Results: For a head-to-head comparison between immUni substrates and established activation methods for CAR-T production, we benchmarked our solely aCD28-antibody coated immUni surface, against Dynabeads TM (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and against aCD3/aCD28 antibodies immobilized on flat surfaces When measuring CD69 expression after activation on immUni substrates, T cells showed high percentages of CD69 expressing cells (>80%) while maintaining lower MFI values compared to the two other activation methods. In contrast, Il-2 secretion was significantly enhanced on immUni substrates (120%, Fig. 1A). Furthermore, we conducted T cell expansion and differentiation experiments, which demonstrated a remarkable 3x higher fold expansion after 10 days when activated on immUni substrates compared to activation via Dynabeads TM. On top of their outstanding effector functions, 80% of the T cells maintain a less differentiated CCR7 positive phenotype (Fig. 1B). This outcome holds great promise for long-term tumor control. To further validate this novel activation method for CAR-T cell production, we measured gene transfer efficiency using lentiviral transduction and non-viral CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing via electroporation. Lentiviral transduction resulted in at least 90% more CD19 CAR-positive CAR-T cells after 6 days post activation (n=2) compared to Dynabeads TM and flat substrates. CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in to the TRAC locus resulted in an improvement of 50% when compared to antibody-coated flat substrates (n=2), holding a great promise in further combining activation and gene transfer steps. Conclusion: Our preliminary data strongly supports the potential of our innovative immUni technology to enhance CAR-T cell production. Comparative studies against Dynabeads TM demonstrate that our technology outperforms current methods with abbreviated T cell activation time, enhanced gene transfer, and robust cytokine production. The accelerated expansion of CAR-T cells, coupled with the retention of a memory-related phenotype, holds great promise for effective tumor eradication, currently under preclinical validation. immUni user-friendly, off-the-shelf product is ready for R&D use in this field. A seamless integration into existing production lines, enhancing accessibility and adoption is currently under development.

Technology Criteria for the Manufacturing of Rebamipide Film-coated Tablets

Introduction. The current growth of the pharmaceutical market and stiff competition require from drug manufacturers make a more detailed and thorough fine-tuning of existing production lines. Direct compression technology is a modern and cost-effective technology for solid dosage form drug manufacturing. Roll-compaction tehnology (dry granulation) can be an alternative approach to optimize the manufacturing of formulations, for which the use of wet granulation or direct compression technologies is not possible due to their physical and chemical properties.Aim. The goal of this work is to investigate the possibility of manufacturing Rebamipide tablets by using direct compression technology and dry granulation technology (roll-compaction), avoiding such complicated and more ex-pensive technology as wet granulation. Also aim of this work is study the impact of production methods on such quality factors as disintegration and dis-solution time.Materials and methods. In this study were used such materials as Rebamipide substance (α-[(4-Chlorobenzoyl)amino]-1,2-dihydro-2-oxo-4-quinolinepropanoic acid) (experimental sample), MCC-102 (J. Rettenmaier & Söhne (JRS), Germany), Starch pregelatinized (Colorcon LTD., England), Kollidone SR (BASF, Germany), Croscarmellose sodium (J. Rettenmaier & Söhne (JRS), Germany), Anhydrous citric acid (Scharlau), Sodium lauryl sulfate (BASF, Germany), Aerosil 200 vv Pharma (Evonik Industries AG, Germany), Sodium stearyl fumarate (J. Rettenmaier & Söhne (JRS), Germany), Calcium stearate (FACI, Italy), Film coating VIVACOAT® PA-1P-000 (J. Rettenmaier & Söhne (JRS), Germany). Also were used such equipment as Y shape blender («AZT FARMA K.B.», Russia), roll compactor LGC100 (Beijing Gylongli Automation Tech. Co., Ltd, China), rotary tablet press PG16G (Beijing Gylongli Automation Tech. Co., Ltd, China), tablet coating system Labcoat™ M (O'Hara Technologies lnc, Canada), ionising air gun Simco Cobra (SimcoIon, Netherlands), flowability tester ERWEKA GT (ERWEKA GmbH, Germany), powder density tester ERWEKA SVM 122 (ERWEKA GmbH, Germany), vibrating sieve CISA RP 200N (CISA Cedaceria Industrial S.L., Spain), tablet hardness, thickness and height tester SOTAX HT 10 (SOTAX AG, Switzerland), dissolution tester DT 626/1000HH (ERWEKA GmbH, Germany) and disintegration tester ZT321 (ERWEKA GmbH, Germany).Results and discussion. In a series of experiments were obtained tablet’s cores and film coated tablets by direct compression and roll-compaction methods. Experimentally it was found, that in tablets with similar formulations roller compaction technology provides slower disintegration and dissolution time, compared to direct compression method. This fact should be taken into account during drug development when planning the rate of release of the active ingredient.Conclusion. As a result of the experiments it was shown a direct correlation between the use of a certain technology and its impact in such quality indicators as disintegration and dissolution time of tablets. It was also found that dry granulation technology provides a more technologically suitable tablet mass.

Exhaust gas aftertreatment to minimize NOX emissions from hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines

Hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines are a promising CO2-free and zero-impact emission alternative to battery or fuel cell electric powertrains. Advantages include long service life, robustness against fuel impurities and a strong infrastructural base with existing production lines and workshop stations. In order to make hydrogen engines harmless in terms of pollutant emissions as well, NOX emissions at the tailpipe must be reduced as low as the zero-impact emission level. Here, the application of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts is a promising solution that can be rapidly adopted from conventional diesel engines.This paper therefore investigates the influences of the hydrogen concentration in the raw exhaust gas, of the NO2/NOX ratio and of the space velocity on the performance of two different SCR technologies. The results show that both types of SCR, copper-zeolite and vanadium-based, have their advantages and drawbacks. Copper-based SCR catalysts have an early light-off temperature and reach maximum efficiencies of up to >99%. On the other hand, vanadium systems promise almost no secondary N2O emissions. As a result, we combined both approaches to create a superior solution with high efficiency and lowest secondary emissions.

Robotics applied in the module for fabrication and refabrication of dense mixed uranium-plutonium fuel of the pilot demonstration energy complex of «SCP» JSC. Decommissioning of nuclear and radiation hazardous facilities as a driver of Russia’s and world robotics markets

The article is devoted to the topic of great current interest that is the issue of using robots in the nuclear industry, in particular, in the module for fabrication and refabrication (MFR) of dense mixed uranium-plutonium fuel of the Pilot Demonstration Energy Complex (PDEC) of “SCP” JSC. The author attributes this to the danger or impossibility of direct participation of a person in some operations associated with adverse effects of high radiation burden and toxicity on the human body. Therefore, the author emphasizes the need to use technologies for indirect control of a number of processes or their automation, partial or complete. Particular attention is paid to the fact that robots are not introduced into existing production lines, but the robotic fabrication of fuel is implemented from the very outset, i.e. at the design stage. The author predicts that one of the benefits gained from the employment of robots will be the ability to ensure product quality at a more stable level. The article clarifies that, at the MFR, robotic manipula-tors, automated guided carts (AGC), and transfer carts will be used in the principal process in operations con-cerned with the fabrication of fuel assemblies, when handling radioactive waste, and in automated transport sys-tem lines. The growing need to solve the problems of decommissioning of nuclear energy facilities (NEF) requires new approaches to their implementation, including the minimization of human work directly in conditions of in-creased radiation background. As such an approach, it is suggested to use modern robotic technologies that make it possible to efficiently resolve problems at all stages of decommissioning of nuclear energy facilities, thereby adopting a comprehensive problem-solving approach and laying the groundwork for the future. The introduction of robotic complexes within the framework of the federal project not only has practical value for the NEF decommis-sioning in terms of resource efficiency, cost optimization and speed of project work, but also enables the imple-mentation of Russia’s strategic tasks in the social and economic spheres.

A digital twin-driven flexible scheduling method in a human-machine collaborative workshop based on hierarchical reinforcement learning.

Under the influence of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for medical equipment and epidemic prevention materials has increased significantly, but the existing production lines are not flexible and efficient enough to dynamically adapt to market demand. The human-machine collaboration system combines the advantages of humans and machines, and provides feasibility for implementing different manufacturing tasks. With dynamic adjustment of robots and operators in the production line, the flexibility of the human-machine collaborative production line can be further improved. Therefore, a parallel production line is set up as a parallel community, and the digital twin community model of the intelligent workshop is constructed. The fusion and interaction between the production communities enhance the production flexibility of the manufacturing shop. Aiming at the overall production efficiency and load balancing state, a digital twin-driven intra-community process optimization algorithm based on hierarchical reinforcement learning is proposed, and as a key framework to improve the production performance of production communities, which is used to optimize the proportion of human and machine involvement in work. Finally, taking the assembly process of ventilators as an example, it is proved that the intelligent scheduling strategy proposed in this paper shows stronger adjustment ability in response to dynamic demand as well as production line changes.

Editorial: Passivating contact solar cells

In the last decade, significant attention has been given to the concept of passivating contact solar cells. Such cells are characterised by very low contact recombination and low contact resistance, a combination that is challenging to achieve with conventional diffused silicon layers. These cells demonstrate a very high open-circuit voltage and therefore higher efficiency. Passivating contacts can be classified into three main technologies according to the material used for the charge-carrier selection: (i) doped amorphous silicon; (ii) doped polycrystalline silicon; and (iii) metal compounds and organic materials. Due to the impressive progress of passivating contacts and the wide variety of technologies and approaches, Progress in Photovoltaic decided to dedicate an entire issue to reviewing the status of this concept. The issue starts with a review of the three main technologies of passivating contacts, summarising their current efficiencies and discussing their distinctive features, advantages, and limitations. While doped amorphous silicon has been used for the manufacturing of industrial heterojunction solar cells for decades, polycrystalline silicon-based solar cells have only recently entered mass production. Interestingly, this technology was introduced to bipolar transistors as early as the 1970s and adapted into silicon solar cells in the 1980s. However, because some aspects other than the contacts limited the obtainable solar cell efficiencies, this technology was not actively investigated until 2013. Nevertheless, since then, a substantial amount of research has been done by several research institutes and companies, enhancing the performance of polycrystalline silicon-based solar cells to efficiencies above 26%. More importantly, significant effort has been made to commercialise this technology with significant progress already reported by several photovoltaic companies. As doped polycrystalline silicon seems to be the most mature passivating contact technology, we review the status of the three leading approaches: The POLO of ISFH, the TOPCon of Fraunhofer ISE, and the monoPoly of SERIS. With several large manufacturers announcing their plans to transfer polycrystalline silicon-based technology into mass production, we also review the activities that have been taken to push the boundaries of this technology and enabled its integration into existing production lines. Manufacturing options, as well as necessary technological advances in cell metallisation and module integration, are discussed from the industrial perspective. We then review the progress of passivating contact technologies that employ metal compounds as the carrier-selective layer. The interest in this technology has recently increased with a few promising families of materials having demonstrated excellent results, specifically alkali/alkaline-earth metal compounds and transition-metal oxides. The number of successful demonstrations of selective-contact materials within these families is increasing fast, with the best solar cell efficiencies now exceeding 23%. The challenges of this technology to be considered for industrial adoption are then discussed, together with its prospects in the context of silicon photovoltaics. In a separate paper, we provide a detailed techno-economic analysis of the use of atomic layer deposited transition-metal oxides for the fabrication of silicon solar cells. The special issue concludes with a paper discussing the challenges and opportunities in the metallisation of industrial perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. We want to thank all the authors for their great contributions. It was a pleasure to work with such a talented and diverse group of researchers. Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Optical inspection of the braid formation zone during manufacturing of preforms from reinforcement fibers for defect detection purposes

Braiding is a highly automated process for manufacturing preforms directly from reinforcement yarns at large production volumes. The quality of braided textiles and the stability of the process can however be negatively affected by defects that occur during braiding. If such defects can be detected from fine process anomalies early during their formation, the process can be interrupted and countermeasures can be introduced before the defect aggravates and gets braided into the product. Current sensor modules for defect detection during braiding however involve problems of either late response times, process impairments or a lack of applicability to braiding of composite parts. In an effort to overcome these drawbacks, the paper at hand proposes to optically monitor the braid formation zone by means of a single camera (no process impairments). An associated image analysis algorithm creates a measure for the angular distance of each individual braiding yarn to its neighboring yarns and tracks the yarns as they rotate around the overbraidable mandrel (typical for braiding of composite parts). Since braiding yarns typically exhibit distinct curvatures as they span from the bobbins towards the center of the braiding machine due to frictional yarn-yarn interaction, a change in yarn curvature and thus in angular yarn distance is an early sign of a defect-characteristic anomaly in yarn tension (early response). If implemented on a real-time capable computing device, an apparatus according to the presented method can be retrofitted to existing production lines for braiding process monitoring. It then contributes to the reduction of error correction times since countermeasures are quicker to implement as long as the defect has not aggravated, yet. Furthermore, scrap material rates can be reduced as anomalies can be detected before they manifest in the braided structure.

The role of the ERP system in the rapid increase of production

ERP systems can play a crucial role in the company’s ability to adapt to new situations and unexpected changes. This paper deals with the example of a company that unexpectedly, after several years of stagnation, got the opportunity to double its production. The main challenge was not only the increase in production but also the additional requirements for the traceability of individual packages of raw materials and individual packages of finished products. An additional request was a completely different method of product costing and production order settlement than previously used. The management reacted quickly and took all the necessary steps to adjust the existing production lines and the existing ERP system to the new requirements. While local managers took care of the adjustment of production lines, an experienced SAP consultant was hired to work on the necessary adjustments to the ERP system and design the interface with external systems. He took over all communication with developers of external systems. A central project team was formed, which decided on the way in which the change of all parts of the ERP system will take place, primarily in terms of the time planning of the necessary actions. The plan was completely successful. In just 5 months, the production lines were technically adjusted and prepared for the new production method. At the same time, the ERP system was completely revised and supplemented with requested new functionalities, including the creation of all necessary interfaces with external systems for scanning individual packages. The management’s final assessment is that this would not have been possible without first having a fast and robust ERP system.

Influence of the pressing temperature of halurgic potassium chloride on the operating conditions of the granulation plants

The regularities of the influence of the pressing temperature in the roll compactors of halurgic fine-grained potassium chloride on the performance of the granulation process and the physical and mechanical properties of the granulate under the conditions of the Sylvinite Processing Plant of JSC “Belaruskali” are determined. It is shown that an increase in the pressing temperature from 120 °C to 142 °C significantly enhances the intensity of the processes of particles recrystallization and melt formation at the particles’ contact points in the zone of plastic deformation, which provides greater strength of interparticle contact bonds due to the formation of additional bonds of the crystallization type. At the same time, the particle size distribution of the granulate practically does not change. Only a slight decrease in the dynamic strength of the granulate was revealed as a result of a small increase in the number of cavities and cracks in the granules, which is not critical for obtaining a high-quality finished product. In general, an increase in the pressing temperature of halurgic fine-grained potassium chloride up to 140–145 °C enables to enhance the capacity of granulation plants up to 130 % without reconstruction of existing production lines while maintaining the high strength and granulometric characteristics of finished products. At the same time, the switch to higher pressing temperatures requires solving the problem of intensive salt caking on the working surfaces of the rolls of roll compactors based on the technical modernization of the existing compacting plants, taking into account the recommendations developed.

Efficient Near-Infrared PbS Quantum Dot Solar Cells Employing Hydrogenated In2 O3 Transparent Electrode.

Infrared solar cells are regarded as candidates for expanding the solar spectrum of c-Si cells, and the window electrodes are usually transparent conductive oxide (TCO) such as widely used indium tin oxide material. However, due to the low transmittance of the TCO in the near-infrared region, most near-infrared light cannot penetrate the electrode and be absorbed by the active layer. Here, the propose a simple procedure to fabricate the window materials with high near-infrared transmittance and high electrical conductivity, namely the hydrogen-doped indium oxide (IHO) films prepared by room temperature magnetron sputtering. The low-temperature annealed IHO conductive electrodes exhibit high mobility of 98 cm2 V-1 s-1 and high infrared transmittance of 85.2% at 1300nm, which endows thelead quantum dot infrared solar cell with an improved short-circuit current density of 37.2mA cm-2 and external quantum efficiency of 70.22% at 1280nm. The proposed preparation process is simple and compatible with existing production lines, which gifts the IHO transparent conductive film great potential in broad applications that simultaneously require high infrared transmittance and high conductivity.

Laser Modified Glass for High-Performance Photovoltaic Module

The solar module output power is the power generated by all individual cells in their specific electrical circuit configuration, multiplied by the cell-to-module power ratio. The cell-to-module power ratio thus reflects the sum of the losses and gains produced by the structure of the module. The biggest process change in module design during the last few years was the introduction of half cells. Another important trend is the use of bifacial cells to build bifacial modules. These two trends increase parts of the module that correspond to the intercell gaps, and the light does not meet the cell in its path. This part of the radiation is therefore not used efficiently. Scientific efforts focus on the texturing surface of covering glass and cells, and the introduction of narrower ribbons and encapsulation materials with improved UV performance, etc. The concept of a diffusor that actively redirects light from the intercell space into the cell was proposed in the past, in the form of a micro-structured prismatic film, but this is not applicable for bifacial modules. The conclusion is that losses caused by the incidence of light on the areas of the photovoltaic panel not covered with solar cells yet are to be explored further. A sawtooth-shaped reflecting diffusor placed between cells is proposed. This article addresses the issue in a novel way, primarily because the theoretical range of the optimum sawtooth profile is defined. In the experimental part of the study, the possibility of producing such a profile directly on glass using a CO2 laser is demonstrated. The theoretical model enables discrimination between advantageous and disadvantageous sawtooth profiles. As a proof of concept, minimodules based on the optimum parameters were built and tested for their electrical performance. The result confirms that the proposed sawtooth-shaped reflecting diffusor placed between cells creates cell-to-module power gain. The proposed laser technology can be incorporated into existing production lines, and can increase the output of any photovoltaic technology, including and beyond silicon.

Nanosys CEO Jason Hartlove's Quest for Quantum Dot Supremacy

Nanosys CEO Jason Hartlove's Quest for Quantum Dot Supremacy

Adsorption of Polyphenols from Almond Blanching Water by Macroporous Resin.

The almond processing industry generates large volumes of effluent after the blanching process. Blanching water is one of the main by-products with a potential source of polyphenols. However, before being used or discharged, this by-product requires pretreatment. This work was aimed at paving the way toward using adsorption on XAD-7 HP macroporous resin for wastewater treatment. This promising technique could be easily scaled up and integrated into existing production lines. Adsorption was carried out with a fixed bed in counterflow, while desorption was performed by acetone in downflow. With this approach, it was possible to concentrate up to five times the phenolic content of the initial blanching water. The resulting extract was analyzed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), identifying more than 89% procyanidins, in addition to catechin, epicatechin, and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside. Applications such as spray-drying and prilling techniques were suggested to improve the efficiency of polyphenols by preserving their stability, bioactivity, and bioavailability.