Jue Hu

A 1 kW-class multi-stage heat-driven thermoacoustic cryocooler system operating at liquefied natural gas temperature range

This article introduces a multi-stage heat-driven thermoacoustic cryocooler capable of reaching cooling capacity about 1 kW at liquefied natural gas temperature range without any moving mechanical parts. The cooling system consists of an acoustically resonant double-acing traveling wave thermoacoustic heat engine and three identical pulse tube coolers. Unlike other traditional traveling wave thermoacoustic heat engines, the acoustically resonant double-acting thermoacoustic heat engine is a closed-loop configuration consists of three identical thermoacoustic conversion units. Each pulse tube cooler is bypass driven by one thermoacoustic heat engine unit. The device is acoustically completely symmetric and therefore “self-matching” for efficient traveling-wave thermoacoustic conversion. In the experiments, with 7 MPa helium gas as working gas, when the heating temperature reaches 918 K, total cooling capacity of 0.88 kW at 110 K is obtained with a resonant frequency of about 55 Hz. When the heating tempera...

Enhanced Pt performance with H2O plasma modified carbon nanofiber support

The insufficient durability and catalytic activity in low loading of platinum (Pt) are main obstacles to the development of low-temperature fuel cells. Our study demonstrated an efficient way to simultaneously improve the durability and electro-catalytic activity of Pt catalysts on carbon supports by water vapor (H2O) plasma functionalization. We report the finding that H2O plasma modification can introduce hydroxyl groups on carbon nanofiber (CNF) surface, and at the same time, highly preserve the microstructure of carbon support. Pt/CNF-H2O electrode possesses ultra-low Pt loading and superior electro-catalytic activity, poisoning-resistance ability and stability, suggesting a good candidate for fuel cell applications.

Preparation of high-performance hydroxide exchange membrane by a novel ablation restriction plasma polymerization approach

A novel approach of ablation restriction plasma polymerization has been successfully demonstrated for the first time in hydroxide exchange membrane synthesis. The membrane possesses high hydroxide conductivity, alkaline stability, and the ability of fully encompassing catalyst particles, without solubility in low boiling point water-soluble solvents.

Plasma Discharge Process in a Pulsed Diaphragm Discharge System

As one of the most important steps in wastewater treatment, limited study on plasma discharge process is a key challenge in the development of plasma applications. In this study, we focus on the plasma discharge process of a pulsed diaphragm discharge system. According to the analysis, the pulsed diaphragm discharge proceeds in seven stages: (1) Joule heating and heat exchange stage; (2) nucleated site formation; (3) plasma generation (initiation of the breakdown stage); (4) avalanche growth and plasma expansion; (5) plasma contraction; (6) termination of the plasma discharge; and (7) heat exchange stage. From this analysis, a critical voltage criterion for breakdown is obtained. We anticipate this finding will provide guidance for a better application of plasma discharges, especially diaphragm plasma discharges.