RESUMEN

Rechargeable redox flow batteries are being developed for medium and large-scale stationary energy storage applications. Flow batteries could play a significant role in maintaining the stability of the electrical grid in conjunction with intermittent renewable energy. However, they are significantly different from conventional batteries in operating principle. Recent contributions on flow batteries have addressed various aspects, including electrolyte, electrode, membrane, cell design, etc. In this review, we focus on the less-discussed practical aspects of devices, such as flow fields, stack and design considerations for developing high performance large-scale flow batteries. Finally, we provide suggestions for further studies on developing advanced flow batteries and large-scale flow battery stacks.

RESUMEN

Indium arsenide (InAs) nanowire (NW) field effect transistors (FETs) were incorporated into a microfluidic channel to detect the flow rate change as well as to harvest fluid flow energy for electric power generation. Discrete changes in the electric current through InAs NW FETs were observed upon flow rate changes at steps of 1 mL/h (equivalent to ~3 mm/s change in average linear velocity). The current also showed a sign change upon reversing flow direction. By comparing the response of the device with and without a driving voltage between source-drain electrodes, we conclude that the dominant contribution in the response is the streaming potential tuned conductance of NW. In the absence of source-drain voltage, we further demonstrate that the ionic flow could enable generation of an ~mV electrical potential (or ~nA electrical current) inside the InAs NW per mL/h increase of flow rate, most likely due to the charge dragging effect.

RESUMEN

Baked ceramic aggregates (fritted clay, arcillite) have been used for plant research both on the ground and in microgravity. Optimal control of water and air within the root zone in any gravity environment depends on physical and hydraulic properties of the aggregate, which were evaluated for 0.25-1-mm and 1-2-mm particle size distributions. The maximum bulk densities obtained by any packing technique were 0.68 and 0.64 g cm-3 for 0.25-1-mm and 1-2-mm particles, respectively. Wettable porosity obtained by infiltration with water was approximately 65%, substantially lower than total porosity of approximately 74%. Aggregate of both particle sizes exhibited a bimodal pore size distribution consisting of inter-aggregate macropores and intra-aggregate micropores, with the transition from macro- to microporosity beginning at volumetric water content of approximately 36% to 39%. For inter-aggregate water contents that support optimal plant growth there is 45% change in water content that occurs over a relatively small matric suction range of 0-20 cm H2O for 0.25-1-mm and 0 to -10 cm H2O for 1-2-mm aggregate. Hysteresis is substantial between draining and wetting aggregate, which results in as much as a approximately 10% to 20% difference in volumetric water content for a given matric potential. Hydraulic conductivity was approximately an order of magnitude higher for 1-2-mm than for 0.25-1-mm aggregate until significant drainage of the inter-aggregate pore space occurred. The large change in water content for a relatively small change in matric potential suggests that significant differences in water retention may be observed in microgravity as compared to earth.

Asunto(s)

Cerámica , Hidroponía , Reología , Agua , Silicatos de Aluminio , Arcilla , Medios de Cultivo , Sistemas Ecológicos Cerrados , Sistemas de Manutención de la Vida , Tamaño de la Partícula , Raíces de Plantas/crecimiento & desarrollo , Raíces de Plantas/metabolismo , Porosidad , Suelo , Vuelo Espacial , Ingravidez

RESUMEN

The stability problems for equilibrium standard "double bubble" and "double drop" configurations are considered. Recent work has shown that a double bubble is stable to volume-preserving perturbations. In this paper, the stability to perturbations that do not conserve the volumes of the individual bubbles is examined. It is shown that a double bubble shape is also stable to these perturbations and, thus, is stable to arbitrary perturbations. The analysis is based on the principle of minimum total energy. A variational principle is used to formulate the stability problem for an equilibrium double drop configuration formed under zero gravity by two drops of immiscible incompressible liquids.

RESUMEN

Mass and thermal diffusivity measurements conducted on Earth are prone to contamination by uncontrollable convective contributions to the overall transport. Previous studies of mass and thermal diffusivities conducted on spacecraft have demonstration the gain in precision, and lower absolute values, resulting from the reduced convective transport possible in a low-gravity environment. We have developed and extensively tested real-time techniques for diffusivity measurements, where several measurements may be obtained on a single sample. This is particularly advantageous for low gravity research were there is limited experiment time. The mass diffusivity methodology uses a cylindrical sample geometry. A radiotracer, initially located at one end of the host is used as the diffusant. The sample is positioned in a concentric isothermal radiation shield with collimation bores located at defined positions along its axis. The intensity of the radiation emitted through the collimators is measured versus time with solid-state detectors and associated energy discrimination electronics. For the mathematical algorithm that we use, only a single pair of collimation bores and detectors are necessary for single temperature measurements. However, by employing a second, offset, pair of collimation holes and radiation detectors, diffusivities can be determined at several temperatures per sample. For thermal diffusivity measurements a disk geometry is used. A heat pulse is applied in the center of the sample and the temperature response of the sample is measured at several locations. Thus, several values of the diffusivity are measured versus time. The exact analytic solution to a heat pulse in the disk geometry leads to a unique heated area and measurement locations. Knowledge of the starting time and duration of he heating pulse is not used in the data evaluation. Thus, this methodology represents an experimentally simpler and more robust scheme.

RESUMEN

Two cylindrical liquid bridges, with a conduit to facilitate flow of liquid from one bridge to the other, were levitated against gravity in a magnetic field gradient. The stability limit of the bridges subjected to near zero total body force was measured as a function of their slenderness ratios, and found to be in good agreement with theoretical predictions.