To improve semiconductor productivity, efficient operation of the overhead hoist transport (OHT) system, which is an automatic wafer transfer device in a semiconductor fabrication plant (“fab”), is very important. A large amount of data is being generated in real time on the production line through the recent production plan of a smart factory. This data can be used to increase productivity, which in turn enables companies to increase their production efficiency. In this study, for the efficient operation of the OHT, the problem of OHT congestion prediction in the fab is addressed. In particular, the prediction of the OHT transport time was performed by training the deep convolutional neural network (CNN) using the layout image. The data obtained from the simulation of the fab and the actual logistics schedule data of a Korean semiconductor factory were used. The data obtained for each time unit included statistics on volume and speed. In the experiment, a layout image was created and... [more]

The capacity fading and thermal safety issues caused by the volume effect of Si-based anodes and unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) films during long-term cycling limit its large-scale application. In this study, silane polymer compound (2-cyanoethyl) triethoxysilane (TCN) was selected as an electrolyte additive to improve the reversibility and thermal safety of Si-based anode lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). TCN prevented the thermal interaction between the vitiated anode and electrolyte, and the onset temperature of the thermal reaction increased from 122.22 to 127.07 °C, as demonstrated by the results of thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal stability of lithiated anodes containing various electrolytes was then assessed using a range of thermo-kinetic models. The results revealed that the activation energy of Si-based lithiated anodes increased from 68.46 to 91.32 kJ/mol, while the thermal hazard greatly decreased. Additionally, the elec... [more]

Multiscale fractal analysis of the pore system for coal is necessary to obtain more inner information. The techniques of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) are combined to characterize the pore structure of natural coal. A total of eight coal samples, of a different rank and coalification degree, are prepared for experiments. Methods of SEM image processing, piecewise curve-fitting and correction of intrusion data are adopted to obtain more useful results. According to the pore size range of the MIP probe, pores in coal are classified as seepage pore (pore size ≥ 1000 nm), transition pore (pore size ≥ 50 nm and <1000 nm) and mesopore (pore size < 50 nm). Variations of multi-scale fractal dimensions are studied from the perspective of coalification degree or coal rank. Fractal dimension from SEM data (D1) and fractal dimensions of seepage pore, transition pore and mesopore (D2, D′2 and D″2) from MIP data are calculated by fitting curves, and... [more]

Traditional power systems usually rely on synchronous generators to provide inertia and maintain grid stability. However, with the continuous development of new energy power generation technologies, more and more converter power supplies provide voltage and frequency support for the power grid. The synchronizing instability issue of a converter-dominated power system becomes increasingly relevant, which exists in both grid-following (GFL) and grid-forming (GFM) converters. In this paper, the transient synchronizing stability of grid-forming (GFM) converters with droop-control during a grid fault is studied, with the influence of current saturation limitation considered especially. The current saturation limitation applied to limit overcurrent during grid faults brings transient voltage-source/current-source switched mode of the converter, which significantly influences the transient behavior. Considering the influence, an equivalent motion model similar to the rotor motion of a synchro... [more]

The plastics business has grown rapidly in recent years, with annual growth rates ranging from 16% to 18% each year (second only to the telecommunications and textile industries). The plastic industry is regarded as a dynamic industry in the Vietnamese economy due to its rapid development rate. Its high growth stems from a big market with significant expansion potential, since Vietnam’s plastic sector is still in its early stages in comparison to the rest of the globe and plastic goods are pushed and utilized in many aspects of life. In order to ensure sustainable development and comply with the provisions of the Law on Environment Protection, plastic manufactures and importers must ensure to fulfill two responsibilities: (1) proper product and packaging recycling—applicable to products and packaging with recyclable value; and (2) the collection and treatment of waste—applicable to products and packaging containing hazardous substances, difficult to recycle, causing difficulties for wa... [more]

The imbalance in the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and lysyl oxidases (LOXs) in synovial fibroblasts (SFs) caused by mechanical injury and inflammatory response prevents injured anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) from self-healing. However, research on the effect of growth factors on SFs on regulating the microenvironment is limited. In this study, mechanical injury and exogenous transform growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were employed to mimic a joint-cavity microenvironment with ACL trauma. The function of the NF-κB transcription factor was further studied. The study found that the gene expression of LOXs (except LOXL-1), MMP-1, -2, and -3 in SFs was promoted by the combination of injurious mechanical stretching and TGF-β1 and that the upregulation of MMPs was higher than that of LOXs. In addition, MMP-2 activity induced by the combination of injurious stretch and TGF-β1 was inhibited by NF-κB inhibitors such as Bay11-7082 and Bay11-7085. The findings concluded that the syn... [more]

Currently, reducing energy consumption and fossil fuel emissions are key factors placed in the first position on the European agenda. District heating technology is an attractive solution, able to satisfy the energy and environmental goals of policymakers and designers. In line with this, a different approach to planning a district heating grid based on the optimization of building clusters is presented. The case study is Wilhelmsburg, a district of Hamburg city. This approach also investigates the usage of industrial waste heat as the grid’s heat source, which is CO2-neutral. First, the data acquisition regarding the buildings’ location and heat demand are described in detail. Based on the derived data and the source of the industrial waste heat, the district heating grid is created by clustering the buildings and connecting the obtained nodes. Furthermore, the grid’s efficiency is improved by eliminating nodes, which are too distant from the heat source, or have lower heat demand. Fi... [more]

Ni-rich layered cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries have received widespread attention due to their large capacity and low cost; however, the structural stability of the material needs to be improved. Herein, F-doped and undoped cathode materials prepared with an advanced co-precipitation method were used to measure the effect of F doping on the material. Compared to the undoped sample, the F-doped cathode materials exhibited an improved rate performance, because the porous structure of F-doped cathode materials is favorable for the infiltration of the electrolyte and the material, and the F-doped cathode material has a larger (003) crystal plane and a smaller Li+ migration barrier energy. This simple F-doping treatment strategy provides a promising way to improve the performance of Ni-rich layered cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

The consumption of functional beverages is rapidly increasing. The improvement in the functional properties of whey after the application of ultrasound is due to the release of bioactive peptides that have antioxidant properties, among others. Bioactive peptides with antioxidant activity have also been found in oats, stimulating the study of whey beverages formulated with oats to obtain functional products. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of ultrasound (24 kHz) at 20 °C for 15 min at 23 W and 154 W on the quality and functional properties of whey−oat (50:50 v/v) beverages and compare it with pasteurization at 65 °C for 30 min (LTLT). Non-significant effect (p > 0.05) of ultrasound intensity (23 W and 154 W) was observed on the physicochemical characteristics and the proximal composition of the whey−oat beverages. The sonicated beverages showed a greater tendency to green and yellow color (p < 0.05), higher fat content (p < 0.05), and less ash and carbohydrate... [more]

Numerical modeling is a widely used method in geotechnical engineering to understand the interactive responses of infrastructures with soils or/and rocks in both civil and mining engineering [...]

The structural fracture of the compressor blade is the main cause of fatigue failure. The novelty of this paper is the creative application of bent swept-back modeling to the blade of the turbocharger impeller. This paper is based on a compressor impeller satisfying the k-ε turbulence model. A simulation model was established in ANSYS software, the fluid−structure interaction was calculated in the three models before and after improvement, and the results were compared and analyzed. The optimized blade could improve the blade structure, reduce stress and deformation, and improve the pressurization ratio. In this paper, the optimization scheme of different parameters was discussed in line with the optimal solution. Based on the combination of fuzzy and grey correlation theory, it was concluded that the correlation between pressure and total deformation was higher than that of equivalent stress, and these two values reached 0.8596 and 0.8001, respectively. The results showed that the pre... [more]

This article presents the synthesis and sorption characteristics of novel microspheres based on 4-vinylbenzene chloride (VBCl) with divinylbenzene (DVB) or ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate (EGDMA). To confirm the chemical structure of the homo- and co-polymers attenuated total reflectance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used. The presence of characteristic functional groups (−OH, −CH, −CH2, C−O, C=O and C−O−C) in obtained microspheres was confirmed. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis confirms the good thermal resistance of the polymers. The decomposition of microspheres is closely related to the chemical structure of the monomers used. DVB-derived materials decompose in one step, whereas the decomposition of EGDMA derivatives is multi-stage. Obtained polymeric microspheres were applied for auramine O (AO) basic dye removal form aqueous solutions. Equilibrium studies confirmed that the Freundlich model described the system better than Langmuir or Te... [more]

As the mining depth increases, in underground tunnels, caverns or pillar goaf, a rock burst is one of the important accidents that threaten mine safety. Drilling pressure relief becomes one of the main means of preventing rock bursts, which affect the mechanical properties and stability of the coal and rock in underground excavations. However, the surrounding rock of the roadway or the coal body is usually broken, and the pressure relief of the large-diameter borehole will affect its support. A segmented hole-reaming technology is proposed and applied in a coal mine in China. A pressure-relief mechanic model of segmented hole reaming was built. The coal sample had an elastic modulus of 0.35 GPa, the UCS and UTS were 17.4 MPa and 1.41 MPa, the Poisson ratio was 0.27, the cohesive force was 2.81 MPa, and the friction was 23.7°. The pressure relief range of the boreholes with different diameters, horizontal in situ stress coefficients, cohesive forces, and friction angles were analyzed. W... [more]

High efficiency removal of methyl orange (MO) and bromothymol blue (BT) dyes from contaminated water has been reported using magnetic mesoporous nanoparticles modified with cationic polymer brush (poly(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride solution) (Fe3O4-MSNs-PMETAC). Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was utilized to grow the polymer chains on the magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles. The chemical surface modifications were confirmed using IR, TGA, SEM and TEM. The results show that the obtained Fe3O4-MSNs-PMETAC materials were nearly spherical in shape with approximately 30 nm magnetic core, and silica shell thicknesses ranged from 135 to 250 nm. The adsorption performance of the material was found to be unaffected by the pH (3-9) of the media, with a removal efficiency of 100% for both dyes. The adsorption of BT and MO on the surface of Fe3O4-MSNs-PMETAC was found to follow Freundlich and Langmuir models, respectively. Since the synthesized nanocomposite... [more]

Based on a combination of physical and simulation experiments, a set of basic physical characteristic parameters and contact parameters suitable for granular fungal fertilizers were calibrated, which up to now have received little attention. The physical morphological characteristic parameters (overall dimension, 1000 grain weight, density, and moisture content), mechanical characteristic parameters (Poisson’s ratio, elastic modulus, and shear modulus), and contact parameters (static friction coefficient, rolling friction coefficient and recovery coefficient) of particles were measured through physical experiments. The parameters were screened for significance using the Plackett−Burman test. The results showed that the impact recovery coefficient, static friction coefficient, and rolling friction coefficient for the granular fungal fertilizer particles had a significant effect on the repose angle. The best range for the three parameters was determined using the steepest climbing test.... [more]

The argon-stirred ladle is a standard piece of steelmaking refining equipment. The molten steel quality will improve when a good argon-stirred process is applied. In this paper, a Multiphysics model that contained fluid flow, bubble transport, alloy transport, bubble heat flux, alloy heat flux, alloy melting, and an alloy concentration species transport model was established. The fluid model and bubble transport model that were used to calculate the fluid velocity were verified by the hydraulic model of the ladle that was combined with particle image velocimetry measurement results. The numerical simulation results of the temperature fields and steel−slag interface shape were verified by a ladle that contained 25 t of molten steel in a steel plant. The velocity difference between the hydraulic model and numerical model decreased when the CL (integral time-scale constant) increased from 0 to 0.3; then, the difference increased when the CL increased from 0.3 to 0.45. The results showed t... [more]

To obtain quality variables that cannot be measured in real time during the production process but reflect information on the quality of the final product, the batch production process has the characteristics of a strong time-varying nature, non-Gaussian data distribution and high nonlinearity. A locally weighted partial least squares regression quality prediction model (KICA-JITL-LWPLS), based on wavelet kernel function independent meta-analysis with immediate learning, is proposed. The model first measures the similarity between the normalized input data and the historical data and assigns the input data to the group of historical data with high similarity to it, based on the posterior probability of the Bayesian classifier; subsequently, wavelet kernel functions are selected and kernel learning methods are introduced into the independent meta-analysis algorithm. An independent meta-analysis, based on the wavelet kernel function, is performed on the classified input data to obtain pr... [more]

Slag and Al/Mg oxide modified Douglas fir biochar (AMOB) were compared for their phosphate adsorbing abilities for use individually or in combination for simulated agriculture run-off remediation in wetlands. Aqueous batch and column sorption experiments were performed for both low-cost materials. AMOB was prepared in bulk using a novel green method. Material analyses included XRD, elemental analysis, SEM, EDX, and BET. Biochar and slag have different phosphate removal mechanisms. In short residence times (≤2 h), adsorption phenomena dominate for both adsorbents. Surface area likely plays a role in adsorption performance; slag was measured to be 4.1 m2/g while biochar’s surface area was 364.1 m2/g. In longer residence times (>2 h), the slow leaching of metals (Ca, Al, and Mg) from slag continue to remove phosphate through the precipitation of metal phosphates. In 24 h, slag removed more free phosphate from the solution than AMOB. Preliminary fixed bed column adsorption of slag or AMOB... [more]

This paper presents a new conceptualization of complex nonlinear mechanical systems and develops new and novel computational methods for determining their response to given applied forces and torques. The new conceptualization uses the idea of including particles of zero mass to describe the dynamics of such systems. This leads to simplifications in the development of their equations of motion and engenders a straightforward new computational approach to simulate their behavior. The purpose of the paper is to develop a new analytical and computational methodology to handle complex systems and to illustrate it through the study of an old unsolved problem in classical mechanics, that of a non-uniform rigid spherical shell rolling, without slipping, under gravity on an arbitrary dimpled bowl-shaped rigid surface. The new conceptualization provides the explicit equations of motion for the system, the analytical determination of the reaction forces supplied by the surface, and a straightfor... [more]

The massive increase in disposable plastic globally can be addressed through effective recovery methods, and one of these methods is pyrolysis. R software may be used to statistically model the composition and yield of pyrolysis products, such as oil, gas, and waxes to deduce an effective pyrolysis mechanism. To date, no research reports have been documented employing the Arrhenius equation in R software to statistically forecast the kinetic rate constants for the pyrolysis of high-density plastics. We used the Arrhenius equation in R software to assume two series of activation energies (Ea) and pre-exponential factors (Ao) to statistically predict the rate constants at different temperatures to explore their impact on the final pyrolysis products. In line with this, MATLAB (R2020a) was used to predict the pyrolysis products of plastic in the temperature range of 370−410 °C. The value of the rate constant increased with the temperature by expediting the pyrolysis reaction due to the re... [more]

In this paper, the fracture zone of the Chunxuan Road Tunnel in Jinan, Shandong Province, China was selected for the engineering background. With reference to the field monitoring data, a finite element model was established based on the strength reduction method. With the aid of this model, the influences of different initial support parameters (including lining, bolt and steel arch) on the tunnel deformation in the fracture zone were analyzed to obtain reasonable initial support parameters. The results show that the tunnel deformation under the original initial support is severe. Among the initial support methods, such as lining, bolt, and steel arch, the parameters of the lining and steel arch significantly influence the tunnel deformation in the fracture zone. Therefore, selecting appropriate initial support parameters can effectively control the tunnel deformation in the fracture zone. After the optimized support scheme is adopted, failure instability no longer occurs in the tunne... [more]

Banana is the most cultivated fruit plant in the world. It is produced in Latin America, Asia and Africa. India and China are the world’s largest banana producers, with almost 41% of the world’s production. This fruit reaches a total world production of 158.3 million tons per year. However, during their production cycle, the banana agroindustry produces large volumes of solid waste derived from overripe fruit. It contributes between 8−20 percent of the waste (around 100 kg of banana waste for every ton of banana produced). Therefore, the use of overripe banana waste represents a huge opportunity for bioenergy production. This work demonstrates that banana waste can be further used for power generation using a microbial fuel cell (MFC) coupled with anaerobic digestion (AD). First, the maximum methane production (MMP), methane production rate (MPR) and biochemical methane potential (BMP) were measured using an anaerobic batch bioreactor for 64 days of monitoring. Finally, the digestate g... [more]

Nowadays, upcycling coal gangue into aggregates has become a popular method; nevertheless, the utilization of coal gangue fines (CGFs), a secondary waste generated during the production of coal gangue aggregates, is rarely concerned. This paper attempted to upcycle calcined CGFs at 800 °C as the partial substitution of slag to prepare alkali-activated cement (AAC). The variation in macroscopic compressive strength of AAC was studied, and the hydration mechanism of AAC was explored in depth by microstructure. AAC with CGFs shows tremendous advantages in compressive strength and hydration products. In the 10% calcined CGF content, the 3 d, 7 d, and 28 d compressive strengths of AAC displayed pronounced increases of 8%, 25%, and 13%, respectively. The study results showed that CGFs could replace the small amount of slag in AAC while providing a new theoretical guide and technical support for upcycling CGF into helpful material.

ZnAlCO3 hydrotalcite materials modified by Cu2+ ions were synthesized by the co-precipitation method according to the molar ratios of (Cu2+ + Zn2+):Al3+ as 7:3. Thus, the modified materials contain various molar ratios of Cu2+ from 0−3.5 in the samples. The synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), FT−IR, EDS, SEM, the N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm (BET), and UV−Vis DRS spectrum. The synthesized materials were characterized by a layered double hydroxide structure—such as hydrotalcite. The specific surface area BET increases slightly, corresponding to the increasing Cu2+ molar ratios, and the bandgap energy Eg decreases accordingly. Especially, these material samples have a high phenol red (PR) adsorption capacity at a concentration of 100 ppm and PR was degraded under a 30 W LED light with over 90% of conversion efficiency in the presence of 1.2 mL of 30% H2O2 solution. In addition, the CuH−3.5 material sample maintained stability after four times... [more]

Molecular diffusion determines the time to reach local equilibrium in a reservoir. It can be a main production mechanism in scenarios such as production from fractured reservoirs or tight formation. However, there is a lack of high-pressure diffusion coefficients for reservoir fluids and its related systems. Many correlations exist, but there is no consensus on their accuracy for these systems. We provide a systematic review of the available data for systems related to reservoir fluids, as well as a comprehensive comparison of five commonly used correlations for hydrocarbon mixtures, including the extended Sigmund, Riazi-Whitson, Leahy-Dios-Firoozabadi, Wilke−Chang, and the Hayduk−Minhas correlations. We collected extensive data of diffusion coefficients in binary mixtures related to petroleum fluids and established a database of over 80 binaries and 1600 data points. We also collected the data for gas diffusion in different oils and reservoir fluids, but the data in high-pressure live... [more]