Yansong Shen

Effects of Si-rich oxide layer stoichiometry on the structural and optical properties of Si QD/SiO2 multilayer films

The effects of the stoichiometry of the Si-rich oxide (SRO) layer, O/Si ratio, on the structural and optical properties of SRO/SiO2 multilayer films were investigated in this work. SRO/SiO2 multilayer films with different O/Si ratios were grown by a co-sputtering technique, and Si quantum dots (QDs) were formed with post-deposition annealing. By transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and glancing incidence x-ray diffraction (GIXRD), it was found that the Si QD size decreases with increases in O/Si ratio. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum varies with the O/Si ratio in band position, shape and intensity. In addition, it was observed that the absorption edge blue-shifts with increases in the O/Si ratio. The change in the absorption edge is consistent with strengthening quantum confinement effects in Si QDs, as indicated by TEM and GIXRD. The optical properties were also investigated by 2D photoluminescence excitation (2D-PLE) and lifetime measurements. The origin of emission and absorption is discussed based on the absorption, PL, 2D-PLE and decay time measurements.

Correlation between stress and carrier nonradiative recombination for silicon nanocrystals in an oxide matrix

Silicon nanocrystals embedded in an oxide matrix formed in a multilayer architecture were deposited by the magnetron sputtering method. By means of Raman spectroscopy we have found that compressive stress is exerted on the silicon nanocrystal core. The stress varies as a function of silicon concentration (O/Si ratio) in the silicon-rich oxide (SRO) layers, which can be attributed to the changing nanocrystal environment. By conducting the time-resolved spectroscopy experiment, we demonstrate that, depending on the nanocrystal surroundings, a different amount of nonradiative recombination sites participates in the excited carrier relaxation process, leading to changes of the relative quantum yield of photoluminescence.

Quantitative evaluation of boron-induced disorder in multilayers containing silicon nanocrystals in an oxide matrix designed for photovoltaic applications

The effect of doping by boron on optical properties of multilayers containing Si-NCs were studied by means of photoluminescence (PL), time-resolved PL, photoluminescence excitation (PLE), transmission and reflection measurements. It was found that PL decay is strongly non-single exponential and can be described by means of Laplace transform of log-normal decay rates distribution. It was also proposed that changes observed in the distribution central moments reflect the disorder induced by boron-doping.

Three-Dimensional Modeling of Flow and Thermochemical Behavior in a Blast Furnace

An ironmaking blast furnace (BF) is a complex high-temperature moving bed reactor involving counter-, co- and cross-current flows of gas, liquid and solid, coupled with heat and mass exchange and chemical reactions. Two-dimensional (2D) models were widely used for understanding its internal state in the past. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) CFX-based mathematical model is developed for describing the internal state of a BF in terms of multiphase flow and the related thermochemical behavior, as well as process indicators. This model considers the intense interactions between gas, solid and liquid phases, and also their competition for the space. The model is applied to a BF covering from the burden surface at the top to the liquid surface in the hearth, where the raceway cavity is considered explicitly. The results show that the key in-furnace phenomena such as flow/temperature patterns and component distributions of solid, gas and liquid phases can be described and characterized in different regions inside the BF, including the gas and liquids flow circumferentially over the 3D raceway surface. The in-furnace distributions of key performance indicators such as reduction degree and gas utilization can also be predicted. This model offers a cost-effective tool to understand and control the complex BF flow and performance.

Diffusion behavior and distribution regulation of MgO in MgO-bearing pellets

In this paper, the diffusion behavior between MgO and Fe2O3 (the main iron oxide in pellets) is investigated using a diffusion couple method. In addition, the distribution regulation of MgO in MgO-bearing pellets is analyzed via pelletizing experiments. The results illustrate that MgO is prone to diffuse into Fe2O3 in the form of solid solution; the diffusion rate considered here is 13.64 µm·min-1. Most MgO content distributes in the iron phase instead of the slag phase. The MF phase {(Mg1-x Fex)O·Fe2O3, x ≤ 1} is generated in the MgO-bearing pellets. However, the distribution of MgO in the radial direction of the pellets is inconsistent. The solid solution portion of MgO in the MF phase is larger in the outer layer of the pellets than in the inner layer. In this work, the approximate chemical composition of the MF phase in the outer layer of the pellets is {(Mg0.35-0.77·Fe0.65-0.23) O·Fe2O3} and in the inner layer is {(Mg0.13-0.45·Fe0.87-0.55) O·Fe2O3}.

Modeling of internal state and performance of an ironmaking blast furnace: Slot vs sector geometries

AbstractMathematical modeling is a cost-effective method to understand internal state and predict performance of ironmaking blast furnace (BF) for improving productivity and maintaining stability. In the past studies, both slot and sector geometries were used for BF modeling. In this paper, a mathematical model is described for simulating the complex behaviors of solid, gas and liquid multiphase flow, heat and mass transfers, and chemical reactions in a BF. Then the model is used to compare different model configurations, viz. slot and sector geometries by investigating their effects on predicted behaviors, in terms of two aspects: (i) internal state including cohesive zone, velocity, temperature, components concentration, reduction degree, gas utilization, and (ii) performance indicators including liquid output at the bottom and gas utilization rate at the furnace top. The comparisons show that on one hand, predictions of internal state of the furnace such as fluid flow and thermo-chemical phenomena using the slot and sector geometries are qualitatively comparable but quantitatively different. Both sector and slot geometries give a similar cohesive zone shape but the sector geometry gives a higher cohesive zone near the wall and faster reduction. On the other hand, the two geometries can produce similar performance indicators including gas utilization at the furnace top and liquid output at the bottom. Such a study is useful in selecting geometry for numerically examining BF operation with respect to different needs.

Modeling of Thermochemical Behavior in an Industrial-Scale Rotary Hearth Furnace for Metallurgical Dust Recycling

Metallurgical dusts can be recycled through direct reduction in rotary hearth furnaces (RHFs) via addition into carbon-based composite pellets. While iron in the dust is recycled, several heavy and alkali metal elements harmful for blast furnace operation, including Zn, Pb, K, and Na, can also be separated and then recycled. However, there is a lack of understanding on thermochemical behavior related to direct reduction in an industrial-scale RHF, especially removal behavior of Zn, Pb, K, and Na, leading to technical issues in industrial practice. In this work, an integrated model of the direct reduction process in an industrial-scale RHF is described. The integrated model includes three mathematical submodels and one physical model, specifically, a three-dimensional (3-D) CFD model of gas flow and heat transfer in an RHF chamber, a one-dimensional (1-D) CFD model of direct reduction inside a pellet, an energy/mass equilibrium model, and a reduction physical experiment using a Si-Mo furnace. The model is validated by comparing the simulation results with measurements in terms of furnace temperature, furnace pressure, and pellet indexes. The model is then used for describing in-furnace phenomena and pellet behavior in terms of heat transfer, direct reduction, and removal of a range of heavy and alkali metal elements under industrial-scale RHF conditions. The results show that the furnace temperature in the preheating section should be kept at a higher level in an industrial-scale RHF compared with that in a pilot-scale RHF. The removal rates of heavy and alkali metal elements inside the composite pellet are all faster than iron metallization, specifically in the order of Pb, Zn, K, and Na.

Modelling of Blast Furnace with Respective Chemical Reactions in Coke and Ore Burden Layers

The ironmaking blast furnace (BF) is an efficient chemical reactor for producing liquid iron from solid iron ore, where the solids of coke and iron ore are charged in alternative layers and different chemical reactions occur in the two solid layers as they descend. Such respective reacting burden layers have not been considered explicitly in the previous BF models. In this article, a mathematical model based on multi-fluid theory is developed for describing the multiphase reacting flows considering the respective reacting burden layers. Then, this model is applied to a BF, covering the area from the burden surface at the furnace top to the liquid surface above the hearth, to describe the inner states of a BF in terms of the multiphase flows, temperature distribution and reduction process. The results show that some key important features in the layered burden with respective chemical reactions are captured, including fluctuating iso-lines in terms of gas flow and thermochemical behaviours; particularly the latter cannot be well captured in the previous BF models. The temperature difference between gas–solid phases is found to be larger near the raceway, at the cohesive zone and at the furnace top, and the thermal reserved zone can be identified near the shaft. Three chemical reserve zones of hematite, magnetite and wustite can also be observed near the stockline, in the shaft near the wall and near centre, respectively. Inside each reserve zone, the corresponding ferrous oxides stay constantly high in alternative layers; the overall performance indicators including gas utilization efficiency and reduction degree also stay stable in an alternative-layered structure. This model provides a cost-effective tool to investigate the BF in-furnace process and optimize BF operation.