Academic literature on the topic 'Metallic channel'

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have emerged as a strong and promising candidate to replace internal combustion engines (ICE) due their high efficiency, high power density and near-zero hazardous emissions. However, their commercialization waits for solutions to bring about significant cost-reductions and significant durability for given power densities. Bipolar plate (BPP) with its multi-faceted functions is one of the essential components of the PEMFC stacks. Stainless steel alloys are considered promising materials of choice for bipolar plate (BPP) applications in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) due to their relatively low cost and commercial availability in thin sheets. Stainless steel materials build a protective passive metal oxide layer on their surface against corrosion attack. This passive layer does not demonstrate good electrical conductivity and increases interfacial electric contact resistance (ICR) between BPP and gas diffusion layer GDL in PEMFC. Lower ICR values are desired to reduce parasitic power losses and increase current density in order to improve efficiency and power density of PEMFC. This study aimed to bring about a broader understanding of manufacturing effects on the BPP contact resistance. In first stage, BPP samples manufactured with stamping and hydroforming under different process conditions were tested for their electrical contact resistance characteristics to reveal the effect of manufacturing type and conditions. As a general conclusion, stamped BPPs showed higher contact conductivity than the hydroformed BPPs. Moreover, pressure in hydroforming and geometry had significant effects on the contact resistance behavior of BPPs. Short term corrosion exposure was found to decrease the contact resistance of bipolar plates. Results also indicated that contact resistance values of uncoated stainless steel BPPs are significantly higher than the respective target set by U.S. Department of Energy. Proper coating or surface treatments were found to be necessary to satisfy the requirements. In the second stage, physical vapor deposition technique was used to coat bipolar plates with CrN, TiN and ZrN coatings at 0.1, 0.5 and 1 μm coating thicknesses. Effects of different coatings and coating thickness parameters were studied as manufactured BPPs. Interfacial contact resistance tests indicated that CrN coating increased the contact resistance of the samples. 1 µm TiN coated samples showed the best performance in terms of low ICR; however, ICR increased dramatically after short term exposure to corrosion under PEMFC working conditions. ZrN coating also improved conductivity of the SS316L BPP samples. It was found that the effect of coating material and coating thickness was significant whereas the manufacturing method and BPP channel size slightly affected the ICR of the metallic BPP samples. Finally, effect of process sequence on coated BPPs was investigated. In terms of ICR, BPP samples which were coated prior to forming exhibited similar or even better performance than coated after forming samples. Thus, continuous coating of unformed stripes, then, applying forming process seemed to be favorable and worth further investigation in the quest of making cost effective BPPs for mass production of PEMFC.

Los materiales conocidos como vidrios metálicos han sido sujeto de estudio e todo el mundo desde los años 50, por el cual se ha conseguido un progreso importante en el entendimiento del comportamiento de estos materiales. Como el nombre sugiere, son aleaciones metálicas amorfas en las que no existe el orden a largo alcance. La ausencia de este tipo de orden les dota de propiedades físicas, químicas y mecánicas que son únicas comparadas con las de otros materiales metálicos convencionales.<br/>Sin embargo, los primeros sistemas amorfos fueron obtenidos por técnicas de solidificación rápida, y requerían velocidades de enfriamiento criticas de hasta 106 K s&#8722;1. Por consiguiente, se obtenían cintas finas con un espesor limitado hasta unas decenas de micrómetro. Unos treinta a cuarenta años más tarde, una gama de aleaciones multicomponentes, las cuales requiren velocidades de enfríamiento más lentas, fueron desarrolladas, lo cual significó el nacimiento de los vidrios metálicos macizos. Entre estas aleaciones multicomponentes, las que son a base de Zr han sido protagonistas por su capacidad extraordinaria de formar vidrios. Por el mismo, se hicieron como aleaciones modelo para el estudio de propiedades fúndamentales y comportamientos característicos.<br/>Su límite de fluencia excepcionalmente alto, cerca del límite teórico, les proporciona a los vidrios metálicos macizos un potencial para ser utilizados en aplicaciones estructurales. Desafortunadamente, la deformación plástica a temperatura ambiente occure de una manera muy localizada en bandas de cizalladura. En vez de endurecimiento mécanico, los vidrios metálicos sufren un ablandamiento al deformarlos lo cual impide una deformación plástica estable. Así que, a pesar de su límite de fluencia alto, la ruptura occurirá después de una deformación macroscópica limitada. Este mecanismo de deformación inhomogénea a temperatura ambiente limita la fiabilidad de los vídrios metálicos macizos en aplicaciones estructurales. Lógicamente, la mejora de la plasticidad de estos materiales ha sido ampliamente estudiada durante la última década.<br/>El concepto más explorado para evitar la ruptura catastrófica ha sido probablemente el desarollo de una microestructura heterogenea con una segunda fase. Ésta segunda fase puede tener dimensiones tanto a escala micrómetra como la escala nanométrica y puede ser tanto una fase cristalina como una fase amorfa. Varias rutas han sido probadas para obtener ésta segunda fase en la matriz amorfa: añadir directamente una fase reforzante al material fundido, diseñar una composición adecuada que resulta en un material compuesto al solidificarla o precipitar la segunda fase durante un tratamiento térmico después de colar.<br/>Por tratamientos térmicos por debajo de la temperatura de transición vidria, cambios del orden topológico y químico a corto alcance han sido observado en la literatura. El primer efecto suele deteriorar la plasticidad por relajación de la estructura amorfa. La influencia del cambio de orden químico a corto alcanze se ha estudiado en muy poco detalle. Aparte de los tratamientos térmicos, los tratamientos mecánicos pueden inducir cambios estructurales y microestructurales. El estudio del efecto de estos dos tratamientos forma la parte parte de esta tesis.<br/>Los cambios en el orden topólogico y químico de corto alcance de vídrios metálicos a base de Zr, inducidos por tratamientos térmicos y mecánicos, han sido caracterizados por técnicas de calorimetría, difracción de rayos-X y por microscópia electrónica. Luego, la influencia de estos mismos en el comportamiento mecánico de los vídrios se ha estudiado por tests de compresión y de nanoindentación.<br/>Sin embargo, en la primera parte de ésta tesis, se demuestra que al aplicar la técnica de nanoindentación, se debería tomar en cuenta la existencia de un "size-effect", correlacionado directamente con los cambios estructurales que occuren durante la deformación. Este "size-effect" implica que la dureza y el módulo elástico bajan al aumentar la profundidad de la indentación, similar a lo que se observa normalmente para materiales cristalinos. Durante la deformación, aumenta el volumen libre del vídrio metálico. Este crecimiento del volumen libre influirá en la respuesta del material a la nanoindentación. En particular, se observa un ablandamiento dinámico cuando se aplican cargas elevadas al material. Además, concentraciones más altas de volumen libre en el estado inicial después del colado, ocasionan un ablandamiento mayor y por consecuencia, aumentan el "size-effect".<br/>Después, se hizo un estudio sistemático de los cambios de corto y medio alcance, inducido por tratamientos térmicos, en particular por tratamientos a baja temperatura. Aplicando varias técnicas de caracterización, como por ejemplo la calorimetría, difracción de rayos X y microscopía electrónica, cambios importantes de orden quimico han sido observados. Ya durante tratamientos cortos a baja temperatura, se formaban clústers de Cu en una matriz con un contenido de Cu reducido. Más adelante, el estudio se enfocó en la influencia de los cambios microestructurales en las propiedades mecánicas. Aunque los cambios observados eran moderados, su influencia en el comportamiento mecánico, y en particular en la plasticidad en compresión, es enorme cuando los cambios topológicos son todavía moderados (como es el caso durante el tratamiento térmico a baja temperatura). La plasticidad aumenta significativamente, lo que va en contra a la fragilización que suele ocurrir durante los tratamientos térmicos. Durante tratamientos a temperaturas más elevadas, los cambios topológicos empiezan a dominar (disminución del volumen libre) y forman un contrapeso para el efecto positivo de los cambios del orden químico a corto alcance. Posteriormente, se investigó en más detalle la influencia de los cambios de orden químico en la cristalización. Los clústeres de Cu que se forman durante el calentamiento se puede interpretar como fases embrionarias en el proceso de cristalización.<br/>Durante los tratamientos térmicos, se dan tanto cambios de orden topológico como de orden químico, pero tienen un efecto contradictorio en la plasticidad por lo cual puede ser difícil controlarlos. Sin embargo, los cambios beneficiosos de orden químico se pueden obtener por tratamientos mecánicos de deformación severa, por ejemplo por torsión a alta presión (TAP). La deformación no causa una reducción del volumen libre sino la aumenta incluso más. Además, TAP produce una muestra maciza bastante homogenea siempre y cuando el número de revueltas sea menor, lo que es lo contrario de lo que se sabe para materiales cristalinos. Estos materiales suelen requerir más vueltas para evitar una microestructura heterogenea.<br>Metallic glasses have been the subject of widespread research since the 1950's with significant progress in the understanding in their behavior. As the name suggests, they are amorphous metallic alloys, i.e. with the absence of long-range order. The absence of this long-range order offers them unique physical, chemical and mechanical properties compared to conventional metallic materials.<br/>However, the early amorphous systems were obtained typically by rapid quenching techniques, with critical cooling rates up to 106 K s&#8722;1, resulting typically in ribbons or thin foils with a thickness limited to a few tens of micrometer. About thirty to forty years later, a large range of multicomponent alloys was developed which required significant lower critical cooling rates leading to the birth of so-called bulk metallic glass (BMG). Among these multicomponent systems, Zr-based alloys have been key players with outstanding glass forming ability, which has made them to model alloys for the study of fundamental properties and characteristic behaviors.<br/>The exceptionally high yield strength, close to the theoretical limit, and yield strain of these amorphous metallic systems in bulk offer them potential for structural applications. However, plastic deformation at room temperature occurs in a highly localized manner by the formation of a few shear bands. Instead of work hardening, metallic glasses soften upon deformation, which prevents stable plastic elongation. Although BMGs possess a high fracture strength, once yielding has set in, early failure after a small percentage of macroscopic deformation appears. This inhomogeneous deformation mechanism at ambient temperature still limits the reliability of BMGs for structural applications. Logically, the enhancement of ductility of this type of materials has been the subject of many research works in the last decade. <br/>Probably the most explored concept to avoid catastrophic failure has been the development of a heterogeneous microstructure, with a second phase on different length scales, both crystalline and amorphous. Various routes have been tried out to obtain this second phase in the amorphous matrix: physically adding a reinforcing phase to the melt, by direct precipitation from the melt of a properly designed composition or by (partial) nano-crystallization of the glass after casting.<br/>Upon annealing below the glass transition, changes in both topological and chemical short range order have been reported. The former is believed to deteriorate plasticity due to structural relaxation of the amorphous structure. <br/>The effect of changes of the chemical short range order on plasticity has hardly been studied into detail. Besides annealing, deformation has been reported to induce structural and microstructural changes. These (micro-)structural changes, induced by annealing and deformation, form the main topic of the work presented in this thesis. <br/>Topological and chemical changes in the short range order of Zr-based bulk metallic glasses upon annealing and deformation treatments have been characterized by calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The influence of these changes on the mechanical behavior of these glasses was investigated through compression tests and nanoindentation tests. <br/>However, in a first part of this thesis, it is shown that one should be aware when applying this technique of the existence of a so-called size-effect, directly linked with the structural changes upon deformation.<br/>A decrease of hardness and elastic modulus on the maximum penetration depth was found, similar as what is typically observed for crystalline materials. Upon deformation, free volume typically increases. Due to this increase, free volume will influence the response of the material during nanoindentation testing. In particular, a dynamic softening is observed when being plastically deformed at higher loads. Larger free volume concentrations in the as-cast state result in enhanced mechanical softening and, concomitantly, more pronounced indentation size effects. <br/>Afterwards, a systematic study on changes on the short and medium range order upon annealing was performed, in particular at low temperatures. By means of various characterization techniques, like by calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, important changes in chemical ordering were found, with the formation of Cu-clusters in a more Cu-depleted matrix, already upon low temperature annealing for a short time. In a next step, the study focussed on the influence of this altered microstructures on the mechanical properties. Although the (compositional) changes observed were moderate, their influence on the mechanical behavior, and in particular plasticity under compression, is great, when the topological changes are still moderate (low temperature annealing). Plasticity is enhanced greatly, in large contrast to the generally assumed embrittlement upon annealing. A too large increase in topological short range order (free volume decrease) counterbalances the effect induced by the chemical short range order upon high temperature annealing. Finally, the influence of these changes of chemical short-range order on the crystallization behaviour was studied in more detail. The formation of the Cu-rich clusters upon annealing can thus be understood as a very embryonic phase towards crystallization.<br/>Upon annealing, topological (densification) and chemical ordering occur simultaneously, but these processes have a contradictory effect on plasticity and it might be difficult to control them. Therefore, it is interesting that the beneficial changes in chemical ordering can be achieved also upon high-deformation treatments, e.g. by high-pressure torsion (HPT). Deformation does not lead to the adverse reduction of free volume but even produces some more. HPT itself is able to produce a rather homogeneous bulky sample, in particular for a low amount of revolution - contrary to what is observed in crystalline materials, where more revolutions are necessary to overcome the undesired inhomogeneous microstructure.

Thesis (PhD) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Currently the reduction of the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) is the main goal of concentrating solar power (CSP) research. Central to a cost reduction strategy proposed by the American Department of Energy is the use of advanced power cycles like supercritical steam Rankine cycles to increase the efficiency of the CSP plant. A supercritical steam cycle requires source temperatures in excess of 620°C, which is above the maximum storage temperature of the current two-tank molten nitrate salt storage, which stores thermal energy at 565°C. Metallic phase change materials (PCM) can store thermal energy at higher temperatures, and do not have the drawbacks of salt based PCMs. A thermal energy storage (TES) concept is developed that uses both metallic PCMs and liquid metal heat transfer fluids (HTF). The concept was proposed in two iterations, one where steam is generated directly from the PCM – direct steam generation (DSG), and another where a separate liquid metal/water heat exchanger is used – indirect steam generation, (ISG). Eutectic aluminium-silicon alloy (AlSi12) was selected as the ideal metallic PCM for research, and eutectic sodium-potassium alloy (NaK) as the most suitable heat transfer fluid. Thermal energy storage in PCMs results in moving boundary heat transfer problems, which has design implications. The heat transfer analysis of the heat transfer surfaces is significantly simplified if quasi-steady state heat transfer analysis can be assumed, and this is true if the Stefan condition is met. To validate the simplifying assumptions and to prove the concept, a prototype heat storage unit was built. During testing, it was shown that the simplifying assumptions are valid, and that the prototype worked, validating the concept. Unfortunately unexpected corrosion issues limited the experimental work, but highlighted an important aspect of metallic PCM TES. Liquid aluminium based alloys are highly corrosive to most materials and this is a topic for future investigation. To demonstrate the practicality of the concept and to come to terms with the control strategy of both proposed concepts, a storage unit was designed for a 100 MW power plant with 15 hours of thermal storage. Only AlSi12 was used in the design, limiting the power cycle to a subcritical power block. This demonstrated some practicalities about the concept and shed some light on control issues regarding the DSG concept. A techno-economic evaluation of metallic PCM storage concluded that metallic PCMs can be used in conjunction with liquid metal heat transfer fluids to achieve high temperature storage and it should be economically viable if the corrosion issues of aluminium alloys can be resolved. The use of advanced power cycles, metallic PCM storage and liquid metal heat transfer is only merited if significant reduction in LCOE in the whole plant is achieved and only forms part of the solution. Cascading of multiple PCMs across a range of temperatures is required to minimize entropy generation. Two-tank molten salt storage can also be used in conjunction with cascaded metallic PCM storage to minimize cost, but this also needs further investigation.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tans is die minimering van die gemiddelde leeftydkoste van elektrisiteit (GLVE) die hoofdoel van gekonsentreerde son-energie navorsing. In die kosteverminderingsplan wat voorgestel is deur die Amerikaanse Departement van Energie, word die gebruik van gevorderde kragsiklusse aanbeveel. 'n Superkritiese stoom-siklus vereis bron temperature hoër as 620 °C, wat bo die 565 °C maksimum stoor temperatuur van die huidige twee-tenk gesmelte nitraatsout termiese energiestoor (TES) is. Metaal fase veranderingsmateriale (FVMe) kan termiese energie stoor by hoër temperature, en het nie die nadele van soutgebaseerde FVMe nie. ʼn TES konsep word ontwikkel wat gebruik maak van metaal FVM en vloeibare metaal warmteoordrag vloeistof. Die konsep is voorgestel in twee iterasies; een waar stoom direk gegenereer word uit die FVM (direkte stoomopwekking (DSO)), en 'n ander waar 'n afsonderlike vloeibare metaal/water warmteruiler gebruik word (indirekte stoomopwekking (ISO)). Eutektiese aluminium-silikon allooi (AlSi12) is gekies as die mees geskikte metaal FVM vir navorsingsdoeleindes, en eutektiese natrium – kalium allooi (NaK) as die mees geskikte warmteoordrag vloeistof. Termiese energie stoor in FVMe lei tot bewegende grens warmteoordrag berekeninge, wat ontwerps-implikasies het. Die warmteoordrag ontleding van die warmteruilers word aansienlik vereenvoudig indien kwasi-bestendige toestand warmteoordrag ontledings gebruik kan word en dit is geldig indien daar aan die Stefan toestand voldoen word. Om vereenvoudigende aannames te bevestig en om die konsep te bewys is 'n prototipe warmte stoor eenheid gebou. Gedurende toetse is daar bewys dat die vereenvoudigende aannames geldig is, dat die prototipe werk en dien as ʼn bevestiging van die konsep. Ongelukkig het onverwagte korrosie die eksperimentele werk kortgeknip, maar dit het klem op 'n belangrike aspek van metaal FVM TES geplaas. Vloeibare aluminium allooie is hoogs korrosief en dit is 'n onderwerp vir toekomstige navorsing. Om die praktiese uitvoerbaarheid van die konsep te demonstreer en om die beheerstrategie van beide voorgestelde konsepte te bevestig is 'n stoor-eenheid ontwerp vir 'n 100 MW kragstasie met 15 uur van 'n TES. Slegs AlSi12 is gebruik in die ontwerp, wat die kragsiklus beperk het tot 'n subkritiese stoomsiklus. Dit het praktiese aspekte van die konsep onderteken, en beheerkwessies rakende die DSO konsep in die kollig geplaas. In 'n tegno-ekonomiese analise van metaal FVM TES word die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat metaal FVMe gebruik kan word in samewerking met 'n vloeibare metaal warmteoordrag vloeistof om hoë temperatuur stoor moontlik te maak en dat dit ekonomies lewensvatbaar is indien die korrosie kwessies van aluminium allooi opgelos kan word. Die gebruik van gevorderde kragsiklusse, metaal FVM stoor en vloeibare metaal warmteoordrag word net geregverdig indien beduidende vermindering in GLVE van die hele kragsentrale bereik is, en dit vorm slegs 'n deel van die oplossing. ʼn Kaskade van verskeie FVMe oor 'n reeks van temperature word vereis om entropie generasie te minimeer. Twee-tenk gesmelte soutstoor kan ook gebruik word in samewerking met kaskade metaal FVM stoor om koste te verminder, maar dit moet ook verder ondersoek word.

Deployment of high temperature (>500 °C) thermal energy storage in solar power plants will make solar power more cost competitive and pave the way towards a sustainable future. In this research, a unique metallic encapsulation has been presented for thermal energy storage at high temperatures, capable of operation in aerobic conditions. This goal was achieved by employing low cost materials like carbon steel. The research work presents the unique encapsulation procedure adopted, as well as various coatings evaluated and optimized for corrosion protection. Experimental testing favored the use of 150 μm of nickel on carbon steel for corrosion protection in these conditions. These metallic encapsulations survived several thermal cycles at temperatures from 580 °C to 680 °C with one encapsulation surviving for 1700 thermal cycles.

<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this thesis is to investigate Stena Metall’s values and how they are communicated within the organization.</p><p><strong>Background: </strong>In the Fall of 2008, the world was shocked by the worst financial crisis in decades. The crisis had deep effects on the Swedish economy, and many companies suffered heavily. The recycling and environmental service company Stena Metall experienced their first negative result in 30 years, and 900 employees had to leave the company. An action program, including an altered culture was established with the purpose to adapt the operations to the new business environmental conditions. Values, which are a part of the organizational culture, were decided to be an important part of the change. To implement these in the entire organization a well-structured communication process is needed. Within these subjects; values and communication, a qualitative study at Stena Metall has been conducted.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>To fulfill the purpose, a qualitative method has been used. Thirteen interviews were conducted to collect data from different levels of the organization. The interviews were designed differently based on the employee’s level of responsibility in the organization. The theoretical framework used when analyzing the empirical material includes earlier research in the areas of culture, with emphasis on values, and communication.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Two set of values have been identified, core values and aspiration values. The findings indicate a gap in the communicational process at Stena Metall. Part of the new information communicated about Stena Metall´s values is lost on its way from the management to the lower levels in the organization. The perception of what the values mean, both core and aspiration values, differs depending on level in the organization.</p>