Engineering Commons^™

Water Management: Partnerships For Future Directions (Research And Testing Education Support Outreach), Mac Mckee

Reports

The UWRL is uniquely positioned to form collaborations with USU departments, other academic institutions and water centers, government, and private sector organizations involved in addressing water issues. The strong and consistent support of the State of Utah illustrates the importance of water and the creation of knowledge to manage water in Utah and the surrounding western states. The scope of projects ranges from multimillion dollar partnerships related to soil and groundwater remediation with national impacts, to small scale projects related to outreach to a specific city or county public sector audience. The UWRL mission, the strategy used to accomplish the …

Chaotic Free-Space Laser Communication Over Turbulent Channel, N. F. Rulkov, Mikhail Vorontsov, L. Illing

Electro-Optics and Photonics Faculty Publications

The dynamics of errors caused by atmospheric turbulence in a self-synchronizing chaos-based communication system that stably transmits information over a ∼5  km free-space laser link is studied experimentally. Binary information is transmitted using a chaotic sequence of short-term pulses as a carrier. The information signal slightly shifts the chaotic time position of each pulse depending on the information bit. We report the results of an experimental analysis of the atmospheric turbulence in the channel and the impact of turbulence on the bit-error-rate performance of this chaos-based communication system.

A Performance Study Of Lam And Mpich On An Smp Cluster, Brian Patrick Kearns

Dissertations and Theses

Many universities and research laboratories have developed low cost clusters, built from Commodity-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components and running mostly free software. Research has shown that these types of systems are well-equipped to handle many problems requiring parallel processing. The primary components of clusters are hardware, networking, and system software. An important system software consideration for clusters is the choice of the message passing library.

MPI (Message Passing Interface) has arguably become the most widely used message passing library on clusters and other parallel architectures, due in part to its existence as a standard. As a standard, MPI is open for anyone …

Investigation Of The Corrosion Of Steel By Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (Lbe) Using Scanning Electron Microscopy And X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Daniel Koury

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Lead Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) has been proposed for use in programs for accelerator transmutation of waste. LBE is the leading candidate material as a spallation target and an option for the sub-critical blanket coolant. The corrosion of 316 and 316L stainless steels by LBE has been studied using UNLV's facilities for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). We have compared exposed and unexposed samples and studied the differences. Some amount of surface contamination is present on the samples and has been removed by ionbeam etching. The unexposed samples reveal typical stainless steel characteristics: a chromium oxide passivation …

Interactive Learning Tools: Animating Statics, Nancy Hubing, David B. Oglesby, Timothy A. Philpot, Vikas Yellamraju, Richard H. Hall, Ralph E. Flori

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Computer-Based Modules for Engineering Instruction Must Be Concise, Flexible, Educational and Engaging in Order to Effectively Supplement Traditional Classroom Teaching Tools. a Computer Example that Takes More Time Than a Chalkboard Presentation is Not Likely to Be Useful in Today's Engineering Classroom. Flexible Navigation is Necessary So that the Instructor Can Quickly and Easily Respond to Student Questions. Useful Modules Must Also Improve Problem-Solving Skills or Clarify Troublesome Concepts in Order to Be Considered Worthy of Inclusion in the Limited Class Time Available. Finally, and Perhaps Most Importantly, Effective Computer-Based Modules Must Meet the Challenge of Holding the Student's Attention. …

Upper Spokane River Model: Boundary Conditions And Model Setup, 2001, Spencer Slominski, Robert Leslie Annear, Chris Berger, Scott A. Wells

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Washington Department of Ecology is interested in a water quality model for the Upper Spokane River system for use in developing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). The goals of this modeling effort are to:

• Gather data to construct a computer simulation model of the Spokane River system including Long Lake Reservoir and the pools behind Nine Mile dam, Upper Falls dam and Upriver dam for 2001 based on the calibration conducted for 1991 and 2000 data sets, (Annear et al, 2001).

• Ensure that the model accurately represents the system hydrodynamics and water quality (flow, temperature, dissolved oxygen …

On Clustering And Retrieval Of Video Shots Through Temporal Slices Analysis, Chong-Wah Ngo, Ting-Chuen Pong, Hong-Jiang Zhang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Based on the analysis of temporal slices, we propose novel approaches for clustering and retrieval of video shots. Temporal slices are a set of two-dimensional (2-D) images extracted along the time dimension of an image volume. They encode rich set of visual patterns for similarity measure. In this paper, we first demonstrate that tensor histogram features extracted from temporal slices are suitable for motion retrieval. Subsequently, we integrate both tensor and color histograms for constructing a two-level hierarchical clustering structure. Each cluster in the top level contains shots with similar color while each cluster in bottom level consists of shots …

Motion Retrieval By Temporal Slices Analysis, Chong-Wah Ngo, Chong-Wah Ngo, Hong-Jiang Zhang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this papel; we investigate video shots retrieval based on the analysis of temporal slice images. Temporal slices are a set of2D images extracted along the time dimension of image sequences. They encode rich set of motion clues for shot similarity measure. Because motion is depicted as texture orientation in temporal slices, we utilize various texture features such as tensor histogram, Gabor feature, and the statistical feature of co-occurrence matrix extracted directly from slices for motion description and retrieval. In this way, motion retrieval can be treated in a similar way as texture retrieval problem. Experimental results indicate that the …

Lithium Intercalation Performance Of P-Doped Phenolic Resin Pyrolysis Carbon, Bao-Hua Li, Kai-Xi Li, Yonggen Lv, Chun-Xiang Lv, Dong Wu, Li-Cheng Ling

Journal of Electrochemistry

Phosphorus-doped phenolic resin carbon was prepared by low temperature (700 ℃) pyrolysis of thermoplastic phenolic resin containing different amounts of phosphorus pentoxide after curing. X-ray diffraction pattern and the constang-current charge-discharge properties of phenolic resin carbon were studied. The results showed that the phenolic resin carbon microstructure became out of order with increasing of content phosphorus pentoxide, otherwise, the first discharge reversible capacities increased firstly and then decreased. The first discharge reversible capacity of phenolic resin carbon containing 9wt% phosphorus pentoxide was 528 mA·h·g^-1 which was higher than that of non-phosphorus doped phenolic resin carbon(230 mA·h·g^-1) did.

Studies On The Inhibition Of Yki-05 Corrosion Inhibitor To 907a Steel In Different Immersed Environments, Hui Yu, Jian-Hua Wu, Hong-Ren Wang, Jian-Hua Qian, Guang-Zhang Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

The inhibition of YKI-05 Corrosion inhibitor in different conditions was studied using potentiodynamic polarization technique. The resuled shown that (i) the inhibitor film layer was formed stably on the surface of 907A steel electrode when it was persistently immersed in static seawater and the inhibition efficiency reached 90% or so. The inhibition mechanism is negative catalytic effect. (ii) the inhibitior film layer was not stable when the electrode was periodically immersed in seawater and was destroyed more significantly with the increase of electrode exposing time. The film was only a covered layer on the surface of electrode and it retarded …

Preparation And Performance Of Lifeo2 Coated Nickel Oxide Cathode For Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells, Chun-Ming Wang, Fei Li, Ke-Ao Hu

Journal of Electrochemistry

A novel cathode for molten carbonate fuel cells was prepared by coating LiFeO₂ over the surface of porous NiO cathode by a simple combustion process. The analytical results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that the LiFeO₂ coating on the surface of NiO particles consisted of nonometer-sized LiFeO₂ grains and sintered tightly with the NiO particles. The LiFeO₂ coating dramatically reduced the contacting area of NiO with the carbonate melts, thus the solubility of NiO in the carbonate melts was decreased. Meanwhile, …

Review Of Mathematical Model For Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, Shan-Hai Ge, Bao-Lian Yi, Hua-Min Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

In the review with 49 references, the mathematical models for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) were summarized. The mechanistic model and empirical model were introduced. Transfer in the membrane, catalyst layer, diffusion layer and flow field of PEMFC were described. The importance of water and heat management was analyzed. The dimension, complexity and solving methods of the PEMFC model were discussed. The importance and validity to develop a model with time dimension are put forward.

Detection And Analysis Of Sec1 Immunological Reaction By Afm And Electrochemical Method, Sa-Ying Dong, Hong-Ren Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The goals of this work were to demonstrate the ability of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to detect various immunological processes between antibodies and antigens.A sensor was designed by covalently linking the antibody of staphylococcal enterotoxin Cl (SEC1) on the self-assembled gold surface. This sensor permitted detection of antibody-antigen recognition events which were highly correlated with the topography under different conditions. The statistic data of AFM were analysed. As control experiments, nonspecific antigens and lower concentration SEC1 antigens were directly observed. In addition, an acidic solution was used to break the antigen-antibody pair and made the sensor reuse. Electrochemical evidence was …

Mechanistic Study Of Oxidation Of Hypophosphite On Pt Electrodes By Sniftirs, Tai-Xiang Jiang, Hui-Huang Wu

Journal of Electrochemistry

The oxidation of hypophosphite on a polycrystalline platinum electrode was studied by SNIFTIRS and cyclic voltammetry, the in-situ IR spectra were analyzed as a function of Pt electrode potentials in the solution of 0.5 mol/L H₂SO₄+0.1 mol/L NaH₂PO₂. It was found that the dissociative adsorption of hypophosphite ions occurs on Pt surface, and the oxidation product is H₃PO₄, rather than H₂PO₃^- which was considered to produce on Ni electrodes, thereby a new insight into mechanism of hypophosphite oxidation on Pt in acidic media was …

Preparation And Electrochemical Lithium Intercalation Performance Of Different Shaped Carbon Nanotube, Mao-Hui Chen, Zhen-Cai Huang, Guo-Tao Wu, Jin-Kua You, Zu-Geng Lin

Journal of Electrochemistry

In the present work, different shaped carbon nanotubes were produced by the general CVD and the template method at different temperature (600 ℃,700 ℃) with the reaction gas of acetylene. The morphology, structure and the electrochemical lithium intercalation performance were comparatively studied and characterized by TEM, HRTEM, SEM, XRD, Raman techniques and Charge/Discharge Test. It was found that the different preparation methods and temperatures all had an obvious effect on these properties of carbon nanotubes. In our samples, with the increase of preparation temperature, the degree of crystallinity decreased, and the reversible specific capacity increased respectively.

Nano-Sized Cobalt-Based Oxides As Negative Electrode For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Feng Huang, Zheng-Yong Yuan, Yun-Hong Zhou, Ju-Tang Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

Nanosized cobalt-based oxide (Co₃O₄, CoB_1.36O_2.8 and CoB_0.5Al_0.1O_1.5) samples were prepared by rheological phase method and were tested as anodes in secondary lithium batteries. The cells were cycled between 0.01V and 3.00 V. The best electrochemical performance was obtained from the Co₃O₄ cell, which retained 95% of its initial capacity (931 mAh/g) after 30 cycles. The doping of B, Al reduced the reversible capacity during the first discharge/charge cycle, and the quantity of reversible capacity reduced with B, Al increasing. The modifying structures at difference …

Properties Of Domestic Natural Graphite Used For Li-Ion Batteries, Cui-Wei Du, Yu-Juan Zhao, Gang Zhang, Yin-Shun Wu, Qing-Guo Liu

Journal of Electrochemistry

The structure, physical characteristics and electrochemical properties of the natural graphite produced in Shandong province have been studied. The result of X-ray diffraction showed that the graphite consisted of hexagonal structure and rhombic structure (30% rhombic structure). It was fine crystal graphite. Used as a negative material of Lithium ion battery, the natural graphite showed excellent voltage and high energy capacity, but poor compatibility with electrolyte solution containing propylene carbonate (PC) for its own structure limitation.

Effect Of Dissolved Oxygen On The Corrosion Behavior Of Coalesced Copper And Stainless Steel-206 In Acetic Solutions, Rong-Zong Hu, Xiong-Cao Zhao, Yu-Hua Weng, Chang-Jian Lin

Journal of Electrochemistry

Linear sweeping technique and dissolving oxygen sensor were used to study the effect of dissolved oxygen and relating factors on the corrosion behavior of coalesced copper and stainless steel-206 in acetic solutions. It was found: 1. The existing of dissolved oxygen is one of the important factors, which strongly influenced the corrosion behavior of coalesced copper and stainless steel-206 in acetic solution. 2. The existing of dissolved oxygen is benefitial to the preventing stainless steel-206 from corrosion in acetic solutions, but damage to the preventing coalesced copper from corrosion. 3. At the high temperature since the dissolved oxygen was escaping …

Electrocatalytic Oxidation Of Formic Acid On Molybdate-Modified Platinum Electrode, Jun-Hua Du, Xue-Hui Xu, Hong Li, Hong-Yu Cheng, Wei-Shan Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electrochemical behavior of molybdates on a platinum electrode in H₂SO₄ solutions with different H₂SO₄ concentrations was studied by cyclic voltammetry and double chronoamperometry. Molybdates were reduced to adsorb hydrogen molybdenum bronzes on the platinum electrode in H₂SO₄ solutions during cathodically potential sweep. The hydrogen molybdenum bronzes were oxidized to different forms of hydrogen molybdenum bronzes with less hydrogen, depending on the H₂SO₄ concentration. Platinum electrode was modified by these hydrogen molybdenum bronzes. However, this modified electrode was not stable in H₂SO₄ solutions. The modified …

Improvement Of The Low Temperature Electrochemical Performance Of Ab5-Type Hydrogen Storage Alloy, Hui Ye, Zhu Wu, Zhi-Lin Li, Hong Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Optimizing the rare earth composition and doping with boron have been used to improve the low temperature performance of AB₅ hydrogen storage alloy. The results show that Ce-rich alloy with a proper amount of boron is suitable for Ni/MH battery with the lower-limit temperature down to 238 K under smaller current density (≤120 mA/g). The improvement of low temperature performance of hydrogen storage alloy is well consistent with its microstructure, thermodynamic and kinetic properties.

Manufacture Of 1 Kw Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Stack, Sheng Sui, Xin-Jian Zhu, Zheng-Yu Fan, Guang-Yi Cao

Journal of Electrochemistry

A molten carbonate fuel cell stack with an active area of 240 mm×140 mm consisted of 30 cells. The gas feed system works via interior manifolds, and the stack placed in a couple of self-chest, coupled with a heater at the bottom and other fours surrounded,to keep uniformity of temperature.Under ambient pressure and 650 ℃, fed with hydrogen and air as anode and cathode gases respectively, the stack gave a current density of 150 mA/cm² at an average cell voltage of 0.7 V. The peak output of the stack was 1.06 kW during its performance of 300 h.

Electrochemical Preparation And Reaction Mechanism Of Nanocrystalline Nio, Jia-Shan Gu, Ai-Jie Han, Xing-Fu Zhou, Dao-Bao Chu, Chang-Jian Lin

Journal of Electrochemistry

Metallic nickel was electrochemically dissolved in absolute ethanol and acetylacetone mixed solutions and in the presence of Bu₄NBr (as an electron-conductive additive). The electrolyte solution containing the precursor was then directly hydrolyzed to obtain nanocrystalline NiO. The precursor was characterized by FTIR, HNMR, Raman spectra and the nano-powder was characterized by XRD and TEM. The results showed that the NiO powder after calcined at 450 ℃ had formed the cubic NaCl structure and the nanocrystalline NiO prepared by this method had narrow size distribution of 10～15 nm. Moreover, the product yield could be improved by controlling temperature below …

Steady State Simulation Of Ysz Intermediate-Temperature Fuel Cell, Zi-Jing Lin, Ye Gu, Xiao-Hua Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

With a coupled 2D electrochemical and thermal modeling software, the characteristics of the steady state operation of the intermediate-temperature fuel cell with thin yttria-stabilized zirconia(YSZ) electrolyte was analyzed. The parameters of I-V equation were obtained from fitting the experiment results and the choice of grid points was determined by balancing the accuracy requirement and computational efficiency. The temperature fields at different operation circumstances such as flow designs, material choices for interconnect, were examined. The dependences of the output power and cell efficiency on the operating voltage at different temperatures were studied. Based upon the analysis of the temperature profile, it …

Development Of A Systems Engineering Model Of The Chemical Separations Process: Quarterly Progress Report 8/16/02- 11/15/02, Yitung Chen, Randy Clarksean, Darrell Pepper

Separations Campaign (TRP)

Two activities are proposed in this Phase I task: the development of a systems engineering model and the refinement of the Argonne code AMUSE (Argonne Model for Universal Solvent Extraction). The detailed systems engineering model is the start of an integrated approach to the analysis of the materials separations associated with the AAA Program. A second portion of the project is to streamline and improve an integral part of the overall systems model, which is the software package AMUSE. AMUSE analyzes the UREX process and other related solvent extraction processes and defines many of the process streams that are integral …

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 19, Number 2, November 2002, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

An eight page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

Tmdls: Statistical Correlations Or Mechanistic Modeling?, Scott A. Wells, Thomas M. Cole

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In developing TMDL waste-load allocations for the Snake River-Reservoir system in Western Idaho and Eastern Oregon, determinations of the assimilative capacity of the system and the impact of pollutant reduction strategies has been performed using both a statistical-correlation approach and a mechanistic modeling approach. The system included the Lower Snake River, Brownlee Reservoir, Oxbow Reservoir, and Hells Canyon Reservoir with the focus was on Brownlee Reservoir.

The statistical approach used on Brownlee Reservoir divided the system into riverine and lacustrine zones. Field data were then averaged over season and location to provide statistical correlations, such as between total phosphorus (TP) …

Corrosion Of Steel By Lead Bismuth Eutectic: Quarterly Report August September October 2002, John Farley

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

We continued with sputter depth profiling of 316 and 316L steel samples that have been exposed to LBE. We also calibrated the sputter depth profiling using a sample of SiO₂ on Si, and the SEM. This is a valuable independent determination of the thickness of oxide layers.

In the laboratory, progress continues using the XPS machine. Experiments have been performed on steel samples using Argon ions to mill away the surface of the sample, thereby making measurements as a function of depth. This "ion beam milling" proceeds slowly through the oxide layer that covers the steel sample. We are …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic: Quarterly Progress Report (Aug. 01 – Oct. 31, 2002), Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu, Woosoon Yim

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

After two month intensive work in LANL, some preliminary sensor calibration curves have been obtained. Further data analysis shall be performed to assess the theoretical and measured data. Also, a new experimental apparatus shall be designed and located in UNLV to continue the left work.

Technical Progress:

• A set of calibration curves of voltage vs. temperature ranging from 300⁰C to 500⁰C under various oxygen concentrations in liquid LBE for the YSZ oxygen sensor has been obtained and has been reported in one paper.

• A meeting with LBE committee and other faculty members in AAA …

Distributions Of Nobel Metal Pd And Pt In Mesoporous Silica, J. Arbiol, A. Cabot, J. R. Morante, Fanglin Chen, Meilin Liu

Faculty Publications

Mesoporous silicananostructures have been synthesized and loaded with Pd and Pt catalytic noble metals. It is found that Pd forms small nanoclusters (3–5 nm) on the surface of the mesoporous structure whereas Pt impregnation results in the inclusion of Pt nanostructures within the silica hexagonal pores (from nanoclusters to nanowires). It is observed that these materials have high catalyticproperties for CO–CH₄CO–CH₄CO–CH₄ combustion, even in a thick film form. In particular, results indicate that the Pt and Pd dispersed in mesoporous silica are catalytically active as a selective filter for gas sensors.

University Of Nevada, Las Vegas Advanced Accelerator Applications University Participation Program: Quarterly Report, First Quarter Year 2 (March 2002 To May 2002), Anthony Hechanova

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

This Quarterly Report is a primary deliverable from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA) University Participation Program (UPP) Director to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as described in the UNLV AAA proposal, and Statement of Work for the First Quarter Year 2 and AAA FY02 Work Package.

The UNLV AAA UPP Director implements the program’s administration using staff from the Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies (HRC) to ensure that work conducted under the UNLV AAA UPP meets program objectives. The UNLV AAA program consists of four components: Program Support, Research Infrastructure Augmentation, International …