Search results for "ELECTRICITY"

Concepts for medium-high to high temperature thermoelectric heat-to-electricity conversion: a review of selected materials and basic considerations o…

2015

Within the last decade, novel materials concepts and nanotechnology have resulted in a great increase of the conversion efficiency of thermoelectric materials. Despite this, a mass market for thermoelectric heat-to-electricity conversion is yet to be opened up. One reason for this is that the transfer of the lab records into fabrication techniques which enable thermoelectric generator modules is very challenging. By closing the gap between record lab values and modules, broad industrial applications may become feasible. In this review, we compare three classes of materials, all designed for medium-high to high temperature applications in the field of waste heat recovery: skutterudites, half…

Vertical Separation v. Independent Downstream Entry in the Spanish Electricity Network: An Experimental Approach

2007

We present experimental results from a series of sessions organized using the Power Market simulator; a software designed to realistically replicate the Spanish Electricity Market. In the experiments reported here we compare the status quo to two alternative treatments which represent alternative market structures. In one of them, labeled as vertical separation, we assume that power generating firms and electricity distributors-endsuppliers belong to separate business groups. In the second, we study the effect of entry by independent end-suppliers. Both alternative scenarios dominate the status quo in terms of market efficiency, whereas the latter of them dominates the former.

The domain structure in PLZT (6-8)/65/35 and spontaneous ferroelectric-relaxor phase transition

1995

Abstract In order to test the hypothesis proposed in Reference 10 about a spontaneous relaxor-ferroelectric phase transition in PLZT (6-7)/65/35 the hysteresis loops and domain structure measurements were carried out. The results confirm this hypothesis. The appearance of the ferroelectric long range order in PLZT with decreasing concentration of La ions is explained by a larger coupling between the feroelectrically active BO6 octahedrons due to smaller concentration of defects and higher dielectric constant.

Actual physical and chemical problems of ferroelectrics

1991

Ferroelectric-based nanocomposites : towards multifunctional materials

2007

Nanoparticle technologies open the routes for nanostructured materials which combine individual physical properties or generate new functions. In the field of ferroelectric materials the development of dense nanocomposites requires breakthroughs in the elaboration step. Here, we propose a flexible process to obtain ferroelectric−magnetic nanostructured materials using the assembly of superparamagnetic nanoparticles around ferroelectric cores. The appropriate shaping and sintering of these nanocomposites called nanoraspberries enables a tuning of the physical properties of the resulting dense composite:  coexistence between ferroelectricity, piezoelectricity, and superparamagnetism is clearl…

Shape transitions of giant liposomes induced by an anisotropic spontaneous curvature

2000

International audience; We explore how a magnetic field breaks the symmetry of an initially spherical giant liposome filled with a magnetic colloid. The condition of rotational symmetry along the field axis leads either to a prolate or to an oblate ellipsoid. We demonstrate that an electrostatic interaction between the nanoparticles and the membrane triggers the shape transition. PACS numbers: 75.

Financial measures for supporting wind power systems in Europe: A comparison between green tags and feed’in tariffs

2008

Distributed Generation demonstrates to be able to significantly influence the electric power system, bringing considerable benefits to the quality of service and improving the energetic efficiency of the distribution network. In particular, in the last few years, Distributed Generation from renewable energy sources is considerably increased thanks to the many support policies promoted worldwide with the aim of facing the environmental issue and the problem of the permanent rise of prices of the fossil energy. In this contest, after a brief review on the financing strategies carried out in Europe in the last decade for promoting the recourse to renewable energy, the paper presents a comparis…

Modeling the electromechanical impedance technique for the assessment of dental implant stability

2015

We simulated the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique to assess the stability of dental implants. The technique consists of bonding a piezoelectric transducer to the element to be monitored. When subjected to an electric field, the transducer induces structural excitations which, in turn, affect the transducer's electrical admittance. As the structural vibrations depend on the mechanical impedance of the element, the measurement of the transducer's admittance can be exploited to assess the element's health. In the study presented in this paper, we created a 3D finite element model to mimic a transducer bonded to the abutment of a dental implant placed in a host bone site. We simulate…

Redds of brown trout in the deep channels of a hydroelectric power station

2019

Investigation of design strategies and quantification of energy flexibility in buildings: A case-study in southern Italy

2021

Abstract The need for nearly (net) zero energy buildings in the current European landscape does not merely refer to energy balances: the aim to investigate the interaction between generation and load and find sources of technical-economic energy efficiency is marking the rise in interest throughout research and practice of energy flexibility solutions in buildings. In this regard, the study aims at enhancing the energy flexibility of a building in southern Italy through Rule-Based Control algorithms for the control of the space heating system and the charge and discharge of an electricity storage. The influence of electricity pricing and the thermal comfort conditions on flexibility is also…