Academic literature on the topic 'Electrical low pressure impactor'

L’incendie reste un des sujets redoutés par les industries, les services et autres moyens de production. Ce phénomène par définition incontrôlé dans le temps et dans l’espace est souvent responsable de perte de vies et de biens. Deux types d’agression peuvent être répertoriés en cas d’incendie l’agression thermique par suite de génération de chaleur engendrant la destruction des matériaux et l’agression liée aux fumées toxiques et/ou corrosives, capables de se répandre au-delà du foyer incendie. Pour approfondir les connaissances sur le comportement au feu de matériaux tel que les câbles électriques, cette étude consiste à mettre au point un banc expérimental par couplage Mass Loss Cone, Spectrométrie Infrarouge à Transformée de Fourier et Impacteur Basse Pression (MLC/FTIR/ELPI). Dans l’optique de caractériser simultanément les paramètres physiques de dégradation (taux de dégagement de chaleur, flux critique, chaleur effective de combustion), les gaz et suies (qualitativement et quantitativement) dans les fumée d’incendie. Après la conception du couplage MLC/FTIR/ELPI, le développement des méthodologies compatibles avec l’analyse qualitative et quantitative des gaz et des suies : la justesse, la fiabilité et la répétabilité du banc ont été démontrées avec l’éthylène vinyle acétate/Aluminium tri-hydroxyde comme matériaux de références. Le couplage MLC/FTIR/ELPI a été ensuite appliqué sur un cas réel de câble électrique non halogéné. Il est apparu comme une proposition complète pour la caractérisation du comportement au feu des matériaux et répondre à des questions de sûreté incendie et de recherche et développement
A bench-scale test combining mass loss cone, Fourier transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Electrical Low Pressure Impactor (MLC/FTIR/ELPI) was developed to enable simultaneous evaluation of the flammability parameters, the gases evolved (qualitative and quantitative evaluation) and the smoke particles (size distribution and concentration) generated by the combustion of the studied materials. This bench test is designed specifically to investigate the fire behaviour of manufactured products such as electric cables, as it is difficult to fully examine the latter with bench tests of the type thermogravimetry or pyrolysis - gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, which can only hold small quantities of sample (from µg to a few mg). After setting up the MLC/FTIR/ELPI coupling, methodologies were established for qualitative and quantitative analysis of evolved gases and smoke particles. Experimental trials conducted on ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and ethylene vinyl acetate/aluminium trihydroxide (EVA/ATH) as reference materials demonstrated that the bench test provides accurate, meaningful and repeatable results

Electrostatics of aerosols for inhalation is a relatively new research area. Charge properties of these particles are largely unknown but electrostatic forces have been proposed to potentially influence lung deposition. Investigation on the relationship between formulation and aerosol charging is required to understand the fundamental mechanisms. A modified electrical low pressure impactor was employed to measure the particles generated from metered dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers. This equipment provides detailed size and charge information of the aerosols. The particles were sized by impaction onto thirteen stages. The net charges in twelve of the size fractions were detected and recorded by sensitive electrometers. The drug deposits were quantified by chemical assay. The aerosol charge profiles of commercial metered dose inhalers were product-dependent, which was due to differences in the drug, formulation, and valve stem material. The calculated number of elementary charges per drug particle of size ≤ 6.06 μm ranged from zero to several ten thousands. The high charge levels on particles may have a potential effect on the deposition of the aerosol particles in the lung when inhaled. New plastic spacers marketed for use with metered dose inhalers were found to possess high surface charges on the internal walls, which was successfully removed by detergent-coating. Detergent-coated spacer had higher drug output than the new ones due to the reduced electrostatic particle deposition inside the spacer. Particles delivered from spacers carried lower inherent charges than those directly from metered dose inhalers. Those with higher charges might be susceptible to electrostatic forces inside the spacers and were thus retained. The electrostatic low pressure impactor was further modified to disperse two commercial Tubuhaler® products at 60 L/min. The DPIs showed drug-specific responses to particle charging at different RHs. The difference in hygroscopicity of the drugs may play a major role. A dual mechanistic charging model was proposed to explain the charging behaviours. The charge levels on drug particles delivered from these inhalers were sufficiently high to potentially affect deposition in the airways when inhaled. Drug-free metered dose inhalers containing HFA-134a and 227 produced highly variable charge profiles but on average the puffs were negatively charged, which was thought to be due to the electronegative fluorine atoms in the HFA molecules. The charges of both HFAs shifted towards neutrality or positive polarity with increasing water content. The spiked water might have increased the electrical conductivity and/or decreased the electronegativity of the bulk propellant solution. The number of elementary charges per droplet decreased with decreasing droplet size. This trend was probably due to the redistribution of charges amongst small droplets following electrostatic fission of a bigger droplet when the Raleigh limit was reached.

PhD
Electrostatics of aerosols for inhalation is a relatively new research area. Charge properties of these particles are largely unknown but electrostatic forces have been proposed to potentially influence lung deposition. Investigation on the relationship between formulation and aerosol charging is required to understand the fundamental mechanisms. A modified electrical low pressure impactor was employed to measure the particles generated from metered dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers. This equipment provides detailed size and charge information of the aerosols. The particles were sized by impaction onto thirteen stages. The net charges in twelve of the size fractions were detected and recorded by sensitive electrometers. The drug deposits were quantified by chemical assay. The aerosol charge profiles of commercial metered dose inhalers were product-dependent, which was due to differences in the drug, formulation, and valve stem material. The calculated number of elementary charges per drug particle of size ≤ 6.06 μm ranged from zero to several ten thousands. The high charge levels on particles may have a potential effect on the deposition of the aerosol particles in the lung when inhaled. New plastic spacers marketed for use with metered dose inhalers were found to possess high surface charges on the internal walls, which was successfully removed by detergent-coating. Detergent-coated spacer had higher drug output than the new ones due to the reduced electrostatic particle deposition inside the spacer. Particles delivered from spacers carried lower inherent charges than those directly from metered dose inhalers. Those with higher charges might be susceptible to electrostatic forces inside the spacers and were thus retained. The electrostatic low pressure impactor was further modified to disperse two commercial Tubuhaler® products at 60 L/min. The DPIs showed drug-specific responses to particle charging at different RHs. The difference in hygroscopicity of the drugs may play a major role. A dual mechanistic charging model was proposed to explain the charging behaviours. The charge levels on drug particles delivered from these inhalers were sufficiently high to potentially affect deposition in the airways when inhaled. Drug-free metered dose inhalers containing HFA-134a and 227 produced highly variable charge profiles but on average the puffs were negatively charged, which was thought to be due to the electronegative fluorine atoms in the HFA molecules. The charges of both HFAs shifted towards neutrality or positive polarity with increasing water content. The spiked water might have increased the electrical conductivity and/or decreased the electronegativity of the bulk propellant solution. The number of elementary charges per droplet decreased with decreasing droplet size. This trend was probably due to the redistribution of charges amongst small droplets following electrostatic fission of a bigger droplet when the Raleigh limit was reached.

Important d'étudier le dépôt sec des aérosols en milieu rural. Le manque de données expérimentales en milieu rural sur la vitesse de dépôt sec des particules ayant une taille inférieure à 1 μm conduit à des incertitudes au vu des modèles et de leurs différences, qui vont jusqu'à dépasser un ordre de grandeur. Le but de cette étude est de développer une mesuredirecte de la vitesse de dépôt sec des aérosols (Vd), notamment en utilisant un impacteur à bassepression (Electrical Low Pressure Impactor, ELPI, DEKATI), à travers des mesures expérimentales in situ. L'originalité de la méthode est le calcul des flux de dépôt par corrélation turbulente. Les vitesses de dépôt sec ont été obtenues pour des aérosols atmosphériques de tailles comprises entre 7 nm et 2 μm, sur un terrain plat dans le sud-ouest de la France, sous différentes conditions atmosphériques, ainsi que sur différents couverts (maïs, herbe, sol nu). Vd est analysée en fonction du diamètre des particules et l'impact des conditions micro météorologiques est étudié.

This thesis investigates the application of solar water heating in South Africa. The solar water heating system investigated work on the thermosiphoning effect or natural convection. An extensive literature study has been undertaken to investigate this phenomena. The three partial differential equations (governing equations) are non-dimensionalized and a similarity solution is applied to obtain two coupled non-linear ordinary differential equations. These equations are then solved in MATLAB to obtain the velocity and temperature profiles. Two scenarios were considered, a vertical wall with a constant wall temperature and a vertical wall with a constant heat flux. LP SWH systems use vacuum tubes to absorb solar radiation and transfer it to the water, which is similar to the vertical wall with a constant heat flux. A simulation model has been developed for a LP SWH system which is able to simulate the system performance for a given geographical location, where the user can specify the system component attributes. Experiments on the system were conducted to validate the simulation model. The simulation model accompanies a 6-Step Design Guide developed to assist the user to design a system able to satisfy the consumer's hot water demand. The 6-Step Design Guide developed can be used in future design considerations for LP SWH systems in South Africa.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-51).
Successfully integrating graphene in standard processes for applications in electronics relies on the synthesis of high-quality films. In this work we study Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (LPCVD) growth of bilayer graphene on the outside surface of copper enclosures. The effect of several parameters on bilayer growth rate and domain size was investigated and high-coverage bilayers films were successfully grown. Furthermore, the quality of the bilayer was confirmed using Raman spectroscopy. Finally, we consider future studies that may reveal the underlying mechanisms behind bilayer growth.
by Wenjing Fang.
S.M.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2007.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 238-249).
In order to facilitate the integration of photonic systems onto an electronic chip, near infrared photodiodes utilizing novel materials such as germanium must be monolithically integrated onto the Si CMOS platform. Such near-infrared photodiodes can be utilized for a plethora of applications such as optoelectronic ADCs, optical interconnects, photonic integrated circuits, and near infrared cameras. In this work, the major focus is on investigating processes utilizing a Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (LPCVD) Applied Materials Epi CenturaTM system to deposit germanium onto silicon substrates (Ge-on-Si). A growth space is identified to deposit blanket and selective epitaxial 1 to 3 rim-thick Ge-on-Si films via a two-step process. These deposited Ge-on-Si films have a low root-mean-square surface roughness (below 2 nm) and a moderate threading dislocation density (- 107 cm-2) after an annealing process. Utilizing these Ge-on-Si films, vertically illuminated Ge-on-Si pin photodiodes are fabricated in a CMOS compatible process. The best photodiodes fabricated in this work have low dark current values (below 10 mA/cm2), high responsivity (- 0.45 A/W at 1.55 pim wavelengths) and 3-dB frequency response in the gigahertz range.
(cont.) Due to the importance of the photodiode reverse bias leakage current for circuit applications, the reverse bias leakage current is investigated and characterized in detail for various Ge-on-Si pin photodiodes. Trap assisted tunneling was found to be the dominant reverse bias leakage mechanism. These Ge-on-Si films show great promise for leveraging the integration of photonic devices onto the Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) platform, and once there is improved reproducibility in the fabrication process, specifically the passivation of germanium surface states, the promise of these Ge-on-Si films can be fully realized.
by Oluwamuyiwa Oluwagbemiga Olubuyide
Ph.D.

Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminate is very sensitive to an impact. Even a low impact creates a delamination, which deteriorates the compression strength of the laminate. Monitoring for delamination is indispensable to maintain the reliability of CFRP structures. Electric potential change method (EPCM) has been applied for CFRP as a nondestructive testing method although it has not yet been reported for the successful application to a quasi-isotropic CFRP laminate which is commonly used for various applications. Strong electrical anisotropy and inhomogenity of the laminate makes simple application of the method difficult. In this paper, a new concept was introduced to resolve the problem of the conventional method. The new method utilizes the piezoresistivity of CFRP woven fabric. Variation of strain on laminate surface due to delamination was measured as electric potential change of CFRP woven fabric. As CFRP woven fabric is generally stacked on the laminate on purpose to protect laminate surface, no additional sensor is required in the method. Delaminations were estimated from the electric potential changes as an inverse problem. Finite element studies were performed to investigate the applicability of the method. The simulation results indicated the validity of the method for delamination identification in quasi-isotropic CFRP laminate.

Abstract The thermal spray process melts powder at very high temperatures and propels the molten material to the substrate to produce a coherent deposit. This heating produces a certain amount of vaporization of the feedstock. Upon exiting the plasma plume the fast cooling conditions lead to condensation of the vapor. An electrical low pressure impactor was used to monitor the concentration of ultra-fine particles at various radial and axial distances. Metal, namely iron powder, showed very high concentration levels which increase with distance. Ultra-fine particles from ZrO2-8Y2O3 reached a peak concentration at 6 cm. Use of an air barrier during spraying decreases the population of ultra-fine particles facilitating the production of a stronger coating.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) products have been widely used for industrial sealing applications due to their outstanding chemical resistance as well as their electrical, anti-stick, impact resistance and low friction properties. Diverse PTFE flat gaskets production methods are available in the industry, which include the combination of a selected Resin Type and a determined manufacturing process, being able to provide a wide range of several types of PTFE gaskets, with different mechanical characteristics. The production method has significant impact on the mechanical properties of the PTFE gaskets, especially the creep relaxation property at elevated temperatures. Therefore, the gasket behavior at high temperatures and, consequently, the bolted flanged joint (BFJ) performance, directly depends on both selected Resin Type and gasket manufacturing process. One of the most used PTFE gasket types is produced from multiaxially expanded PTFE sheets. As it is known, different types of stretching, among other factors, confer to the gasket particular mechanical characteristics. This type of gasket exhibits a very low gasket seating stress, and it is the preferred type for most low bolt load flanges. This paper presents a study of the creep relaxation property at room and elevated temperatures of expanded PTFE gaskets manufactured by different Resin Types and processes of expanding PTFE materials. Experimental results are presented comparing EN 13555 [1] Qsmax, PQR and ΔeGc parameters of the produced PTFE gaskets.

In order to minimize fuel consumption, resulting in reduced operating costs and lower environmental impact, turbofan engines must be of high overall efficiency. The design of the low pressure turbine (LPT) plays a significant role in the development of such engines. During a flight mission changing operating conditions (spool speeds, temperatures, pressures, etc.) cause altering magnitudes of the LPT tip clearance, leading to a decrease in LPT performance. As minimum clearances usually do not occur in steady state cruise condition — the major flight condition concerning fuel consumption — active measures to minimize radial tip clearance (ACC – active clearance control) must be incorporated to achieve a considerable reduction in fuel consumption over the whole flight mission. Actively minimizing radial tip clearance by manipulating the turbine casing requires energy in terms of cooling air (thermal ACC), electrical or hydraulical power (mechanical ACC). The cooling air or the power respectively must be provided by the engine itself, thus partly compensating the benefit gained through the improved LPT behavior. This paper investigates the potential of ACC systems from a whole engine perspective. The approach uses a performance model of a state-of-the-art high bypass turbofan engine with a thermal LPT-ACC system to assess the different benefits and detriments of an enhanced ACC. The overall benefit in TSFC for the simulated engine is compared to measured data of other engines indicating an increase of ACC effectiveness with increasing bypass ratios. To compensate deterioration losses due to single rub-in events, closed-loop controls are required. A tip clearance sensor allows the ACC to adapt to an individual engine. As thermal ACC systems show an optimum benefit with a corresponding optimum ACC cooling air flow, the additional TSFC benefit by compensating deterioration is limited. The achievable overall performance improvement is evaluated for different control loops. Mechanical ACC systems bear the highest potential of eliminating clearance losses, while only minor improvements can be made for thermal ACC systems.

The present paper describes particulate-matter (PM) emissions from a model gas turbine combustor at atmospheric pressure, focusing on the effects fuel-nozzle configurations have on PM emissions. In this experiment, three types of fuel nozzles were employed: standard, annular, and multi-type. The annular and multi-type were designed as low-PM-emission fuel nozzles, based on our preliminary experimental results using the standard nozzle. Gas oil and fuel oil containing 0.2 wt% of carbon residue were used as the test fuels. The PM concentrations and particle-size distributions were measured with an electrical low-pressure impactor. The experimental results revealed that the PM concentrations for the annular and multi-type were dramatically reduced compared with that for the standard nozzle, demonstrating their PM-reducing effect. We found that the high-concentration regions seemed to be formed by soot aggregation, from the spatial-profile measurements of PM emissions from gas oil combustion. The high-concentration regions for the low-PM-emission fuel nozzles were located further upstream and they were on a smaller scale than that for the standard nozzle. This suggests that their PM-reducing effect may be due to their upstream location and the smaller-scale of their high-concentration regions.

Clean forms of renewable energy with low to no environmental impact are highly desirable. Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) has been a growing form of “Blue Energy” [1], a renewable energy medium involving mixing bodies of salt and fresh water. PRO systems take advantage of the pressure difference seen between freshwater and seawater by forcing fresh water across a semipermeable membrane into a body of saltwater. This transfer, through the means of forward osmosis, yields an increase in pressure on the saltwater side of the membrane. This observable increase in pressure can be used for generating electricity. A popular thought proposed has involved taking a part of this newly created pressure and diverting it back into the system with the use of a pressure exchanger. Residual pressure would then be devoted to the generation of electricity. If done correctly, a net gain can be seen between the electricity gleaned from the output of the system, and the energy consumed to run the pumps necessary for operation. The group’s aim is to design and construct a variant of the traditional PRO system for the purpose of analysis in a laboratory setting. The design proposed consists of a compact, two-membrane system that allows for the testing and analysis of forward osmosis in a closed system. While the system is not intended for actual electrical generation, it provides a medium for future experimentation.

1.1 Macroeconomic summary Economic recovery has consistently outperformed the technical staff’s expectations following a steep decline in activity in the second quarter of 2020. At the same time, total and core inflation rates have fallen and remain at low levels, suggesting that a significant element of the reactivation of Colombia’s economy has been related to recovery in potential GDP. This would support the technical staff’s diagnosis of weak aggregate demand and ample excess capacity. The most recently available data on 2020 growth suggests a contraction in economic activity of 6.8%, lower than estimates from January’s Monetary Policy Report (-7.2%). High-frequency indicators suggest that economic performance was significantly more dynamic than expected in January, despite mobility restrictions and quarantine measures. This has also come amid declines in total and core inflation, the latter of which was below January projections if controlling for certain relative price changes. This suggests that the unexpected strength of recent growth contains elements of demand, and that excess capacity, while significant, could be lower than previously estimated. Nevertheless, uncertainty over the measurement of excess capacity continues to be unusually high and marked both by variations in the way different economic sectors and spending components have been affected by the pandemic, and by uneven price behavior. The size of excess capacity, and in particular the evolution of the pandemic in forthcoming quarters, constitute substantial risks to the macroeconomic forecast presented in this report. Despite the unexpected strength of the recovery, the technical staff continues to project ample excess capacity that is expected to remain on the forecast horizon, alongside core inflation that will likely remain below the target. Domestic demand remains below 2019 levels amid unusually significant uncertainty over the size of excess capacity in the economy. High national unemployment (14.6% for February 2021) reflects a loose labor market, while observed total and core inflation continue to be below 2%. Inflationary pressures from the exchange rate are expected to continue to be low, with relatively little pass-through on inflation. This would be compatible with a negative output gap. Excess productive capacity and the expectation of core inflation below the 3% target on the forecast horizon provide a basis for an expansive monetary policy posture. The technical staff’s assessment of certain shocks and their expected effects on the economy, as well as the presence of several sources of uncertainty and related assumptions about their potential macroeconomic impacts, remain a feature of this report. The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, continues to affect the public health environment, and the reopening of Colombia’s economy remains incomplete. The technical staff’s assessment is that the COVID-19 shock has affected both aggregate demand and supply, but that the impact on demand has been deeper and more persistent. Given this persistence, the central forecast accounts for a gradual tightening of the output gap in the absence of new waves of contagion, and as vaccination campaigns progress. The central forecast continues to include an expected increase of total and core inflation rates in the second quarter of 2021, alongside the lapse of the temporary price relief measures put in place in 2020. Additional COVID-19 outbreaks (of uncertain duration and intensity) represent a significant risk factor that could affect these projections. Additionally, the forecast continues to include an upward trend in sovereign risk premiums, reflected by higher levels of public debt that in the wake of the pandemic are likely to persist on the forecast horizon, even in the context of a fiscal adjustment. At the same time, the projection accounts for the shortterm effects on private domestic demand from a fiscal adjustment along the lines of the one currently being proposed by the national government. This would be compatible with a gradual recovery of private domestic demand in 2022. The size and characteristics of the fiscal adjustment that is ultimately implemented, as well as the corresponding market response, represent another source of forecast uncertainty. Newly available information offers evidence of the potential for significant changes to the macroeconomic scenario, though without altering the general diagnosis described above. The most recent data on inflation, growth, fiscal policy, and international financial conditions suggests a more dynamic economy than previously expected. However, a third wave of the pandemic has delayed the re-opening of Colombia’s economy and brought with it a deceleration in economic activity. Detailed descriptions of these considerations and subsequent changes to the macroeconomic forecast are presented below. The expected annual decline in GDP (-0.3%) in the first quarter of 2021 appears to have been less pronounced than projected in January (-4.8%). Partial closures in January to address a second wave of COVID-19 appear to have had a less significant negative impact on the economy than previously estimated. This is reflected in figures related to mobility, energy demand, industry and retail sales, foreign trade, commercial transactions from selected banks, and the national statistics agency’s (DANE) economic tracking indicator (ISE). Output is now expected to have declined annually in the first quarter by 0.3%. Private consumption likely continued to recover, registering levels somewhat above those from the previous year, while public consumption likely increased significantly. While a recovery in investment in both housing and in other buildings and structures is expected, overall investment levels in this case likely continued to be low, and gross fixed capital formation is expected to continue to show significant annual declines. Imports likely recovered to again outpace exports, though both are expected to register significant annual declines. Economic activity that outpaced projections, an increase in oil prices and other export products, and an expected increase in public spending this year account for the upward revision to the 2021 growth forecast (from 4.6% with a range between 2% and 6% in January, to 6.0% with a range between 3% and 7% in April). As a result, the output gap is expected to be smaller and to tighten more rapidly than projected in the previous report, though it is still expected to remain in negative territory on the forecast horizon. Wide forecast intervals reflect the fact that the future evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant source of uncertainty on these projections. The delay in the recovery of economic activity as a result of the resurgence of COVID-19 in the first quarter appears to have been less significant than projected in the January report. The central forecast scenario expects this improved performance to continue in 2021 alongside increased consumer and business confidence. Low real interest rates and an active credit supply would also support this dynamic, and the overall conditions would be expected to spur a recovery in consumption and investment. Increased growth in public spending and public works based on the national government’s spending plan (Plan Financiero del Gobierno) are other factors to consider. Additionally, an expected recovery in global demand and higher projected prices for oil and coffee would further contribute to improved external revenues and would favor investment, in particular in the oil sector. Given the above, the technical staff’s 2021 growth forecast has been revised upward from 4.6% in January (range from 2% to 6%) to 6.0% in April (range from 3% to 7%). These projections account for the potential for the third wave of COVID-19 to have a larger and more persistent effect on the economy than the previous wave, while also supposing that there will not be any additional significant waves of the pandemic and that mobility restrictions will be relaxed as a result. Economic growth in 2022 is expected to be 3%, with a range between 1% and 5%. This figure would be lower than projected in the January report (3.6% with a range between 2% and 6%), due to a higher base of comparison given the upward revision to expected GDP in 2021. This forecast also takes into account the likely effects on private demand of a fiscal adjustment of the size currently being proposed by the national government, and which would come into effect in 2022. Excess in productive capacity is now expected to be lower than estimated in January but continues to be significant and affected by high levels of uncertainty, as reflected in the wide forecast intervals. The possibility of new waves of the virus (of uncertain intensity and duration) represents a significant downward risk to projected GDP growth, and is signaled by the lower limits of the ranges provided in this report. Inflation (1.51%) and inflation excluding food and regulated items (0.94%) declined in March compared to December, continuing below the 3% target. The decline in inflation in this period was below projections, explained in large part by unanticipated increases in the costs of certain foods (3.92%) and regulated items (1.52%). An increase in international food and shipping prices, increased foreign demand for beef, and specific upward pressures on perishable food supplies appear to explain a lower-than-expected deceleration in the consumer price index (CPI) for foods. An unexpected increase in regulated items prices came amid unanticipated increases in international fuel prices, on some utilities rates, and for regulated education prices. The decline in annual inflation excluding food and regulated items between December and March was in line with projections from January, though this included downward pressure from a significant reduction in telecommunications rates due to the imminent entry of a new operator. When controlling for the effects of this relative price change, inflation excluding food and regulated items exceeds levels forecast in the previous report. Within this indicator of core inflation, the CPI for goods (1.05%) accelerated due to a reversion of the effects of the VAT-free day in November, which was largely accounted for in February, and possibly by the transmission of a recent depreciation of the peso on domestic prices for certain items (electric and household appliances). For their part, services prices decelerated and showed the lowest rate of annual growth (0.89%) among the large consumer baskets in the CPI. Within the services basket, the annual change in rental prices continued to decline, while those services that continue to experience the most significant restrictions on returning to normal operations (tourism, cinemas, nightlife, etc.) continued to register significant price declines. As previously mentioned, telephone rates also fell significantly due to increased competition in the market. Total inflation is expected to continue to be affected by ample excesses in productive capacity for the remainder of 2021 and 2022, though less so than projected in January. As a result, convergence to the inflation target is now expected to be somewhat faster than estimated in the previous report, assuming the absence of significant additional outbreaks of COVID-19. The technical staff’s year-end inflation projections for 2021 and 2022 have increased, suggesting figures around 3% due largely to variation in food and regulated items prices. The projection for inflation excluding food and regulated items also increased, but remains below 3%. Price relief measures on indirect taxes implemented in 2020 are expected to lapse in the second quarter of 2021, generating a one-off effect on prices and temporarily affecting inflation excluding food and regulated items. However, indexation to low levels of past inflation, weak demand, and ample excess productive capacity are expected to keep core inflation below the target, near 2.3% at the end of 2021 (previously 2.1%). The reversion in 2021 of the effects of some price relief measures on utility rates from 2020 should lead to an increase in the CPI for regulated items in the second half of this year. Annual price changes are now expected to be higher than estimated in the January report due to an increased expected path for fuel prices and unanticipated increases in regulated education prices. The projection for the CPI for foods has increased compared to the previous report, taking into account certain factors that were not anticipated in January (a less favorable agricultural cycle, increased pressure from international prices, and transport costs). Given the above, year-end annual inflation for 2021 and 2022 is now expected to be 3% and 2.8%, respectively, which would be above projections from January (2.3% and 2,7%). For its part, expected inflation based on analyst surveys suggests year-end inflation in 2021 and 2022 of 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. There remains significant uncertainty surrounding the inflation forecasts included in this report due to several factors: 1) the evolution of the pandemic; 2) the difficulty in evaluating the size and persistence of excess productive capacity; 3) the timing and manner in which price relief measures will lapse; and 4) the future behavior of food prices. Projected 2021 growth in foreign demand (4.4% to 5.2%) and the supposed average oil price (USD 53 to USD 61 per Brent benchmark barrel) were both revised upward. An increase in long-term international interest rates has been reflected in a depreciation of the peso and could result in relatively tighter external financial conditions for emerging market economies, including Colombia. Average growth among Colombia’s trade partners was greater than expected in the fourth quarter of 2020. This, together with a sizable fiscal stimulus approved in the United States and the onset of a massive global vaccination campaign, largely explains the projected increase in foreign demand growth in 2021. The resilience of the goods market in the face of global crisis and an expected normalization in international trade are additional factors. These considerations and the expected continuation of a gradual reduction of mobility restrictions abroad suggest that Colombia’s trade partners could grow on average by 5.2% in 2021 and around 3.4% in 2022. The improved prospects for global economic growth have led to an increase in current and expected oil prices. Production interruptions due to a heavy winter, reduced inventories, and increased supply restrictions instituted by producing countries have also contributed to the increase. Meanwhile, market forecasts and recent Federal Reserve pronouncements suggest that the benchmark interest rate in the U.S. will remain stable for the next two years. Nevertheless, a significant increase in public spending in the country has fostered expectations for greater growth and inflation, as well as increased uncertainty over the moment in which a normalization of monetary policy might begin. This has been reflected in an increase in long-term interest rates. In this context, emerging market economies in the region, including Colombia, have registered increases in sovereign risk premiums and long-term domestic interest rates, and a depreciation of local currencies against the dollar. Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in several of these economies; limits on vaccine supply and the slow pace of immunization campaigns in some countries; a significant increase in public debt; and tensions between the United States and China, among other factors, all add to a high level of uncertainty surrounding interest rate spreads, external financing conditions, and the future performance of risk premiums. The impact that this environment could have on the exchange rate and on domestic financing conditions represent risks to the macroeconomic and monetary policy forecasts. Domestic financial conditions continue to favor recovery in economic activity. The transmission of reductions to the policy interest rate on credit rates has been significant. The banking portfolio continues to recover amid circumstances that have affected both the supply and demand for loans, and in which some credit risks have materialized. Preferential and ordinary commercial interest rates have fallen to a similar degree as the benchmark interest rate. As is generally the case, this transmission has come at a slower pace for consumer credit rates, and has been further delayed in the case of mortgage rates. Commercial credit levels stabilized above pre-pandemic levels in March, following an increase resulting from significant liquidity requirements for businesses in the second quarter of 2020. The consumer credit portfolio continued to recover and has now surpassed February 2020 levels, though overall growth in the portfolio remains low. At the same time, portfolio projections and default indicators have increased, and credit establishment earnings have come down. Despite this, credit disbursements continue to recover and solvency indicators remain well above regulatory minimums. 1.2 Monetary policy decision In its meetings in March and April the BDBR left the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.75%.

Heat pumps are an excellent solution to supply heating and cooling for indoor space conditioning and domestic hot water production. Conventional heat pumps are typically electrically driven and operate with a vapour-compression thermodynamic cycle of refrigerant fluid to transfer heat from a cold source to a warmer sink. This mature technology is cost-effective and achieves appreciable coefficients of performance (COP). The heat pump market demand is driven up by the urge to improve the energy efficiency of building heating systems coupled with the increase of global cooling needs for air-conditioning. Unfortunately, the refrigerants used in current conventional heat pumps can have a large greenhouse or ozone-depletion effect. Alternative gaseous refrigerants have been identified but they present some issues regarding toxicity, flammability, explosivity, low energy efficiency or high cost. However, several non-vapour-compression heat pump technologies have been invented and could be promising alternatives to conventional systems, with potential for higher COP and without the aforementioned refrigerant drawbacks. Among those, the systems based on the so-called “caloric effects” of solid-state refrigerants are gaining large attention. These caloric effects are characterized by a phase transition varying entropy in the material, resulting in a large adiabatic temperature change. This phase transition is induced by a variation of a specific external field applied to the solid refrigerant. Therefore, the magnetocaloric, elastocaloric, electrocaloric and barocaloric effects are adiabatic temperature changes in specific materials when varying the magnetic field, uniaxial mechanical stress, electrical field or hydrostatic pressure, respectively. Heat pump cycle can be built from these caloric effects and several heating/cooling prototypes were developed and tested over the last few decades. Although not a mature technology yet, some of these caloric systems are well suited to become new efficient and sustainable solutions for indoor space conditioning and domestic hot water production. This technical report (and the paper to which this report is supplementary materials) aims to raise awareness in the building community about these innovative caloric systems. It sheds some light on the recent progress in that field and compares the performance of caloric systems with that of conventional vapour-compression heat pumps for building applications.