The paper examines the environmental impact of energy facilities, namely harmful emissions to the atmosphere, pollutants into the waters, and contamination of the surrounding areas. The energy facilities emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulates and CO2 as well as fine particles of ash have the most negative environmental impact. Based on the reporting data on electricity generation and emissions of energy facilities for the period from 2011 to 2015, it is determined the average number of emissions per quantity of produced energy in the region.

The development of wind power engineering in promising regions of Russia can become an alternative to traditional energy facilities. The paper evaluates the wind resources of the Lower Volga region (Astrakhan, Volgograd and Rostov regions) on the basis of long-term meteorological measurements of 5 meteorological stations for 2006-2016 taking into account the correction factors: the roughness of the underlying surface, the wind speed increase with height. Based on the ratio of the rotor diameter to the working height of the wind power plants (more than 80 models), an average value of this dependence is obtained in order to determine the correction factors taking into account the diameter of the rotor. The resulting value of possible annual electricity generation by wind power plants of various diameters allows the researchers to evaluate the effect in reducing the negative impact of thermal power plants. 

The paper deals with the urgent problem of using renewable energy sources for uninterrupted and reliable power supply of centralized and decentralized consumers. The paper gives the analysis of the features of the climatic zones of the Krasnodar Territory, taking into account the economic and energy potential of renewable energy sources.

The characteristics of the small hydropower facilities and potential of solar and wind energy in the Krasnodar Territory are estimated. The data of the System Operator of the Unified Electric Power System of Russia with the total installed capacity of Russia's solar power plants as of January 1, 2017 are given, as well as data of the centralized and isolated energy systems operating in Russia using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar radiation. The analysis of existing and projected objects of renewable energy in the territory of the Russian Federation was carried out. 

The statistical theory of phase transformations of the potassium alanate KAlH4 temperature decomposition leading to the formation of a more complex alanate K3AlH6 and potassium hydride KH and to further dehydrogenation of the latter with free hydrogen release, pure potassium and aluminum was developed on the basis of molecular-kinetic concepts. The free energies values of the decay phases are calculated, dependence of the decay phases and temperature, pressure, composition on metals, hydrogen concentration, activity of its atoms and energy parameters are found. Bialkaline alanates K2MAlH6 (M = Na, Li) and Na2LiAlH6 were also studied. A number of literary experimental graphs of the thermal decomposition processes for the alanates are given, from which the averaged values of the temperatures for the phase transformations are estimated. Plots of the free energies values of the phases at the different temperatures are plotted vs the concentration of hydrogen, the minima of which determine the equilibrium states. The possibility of two such minima appearance corresponding to the stable and metastable states of the phase is established. The temperature dependence of the equilibrium concentration for hydrogen was found, its specificity in the region of hydrogen concentration c = 0.5 was revealed. The graphs of the temperature dependence of free hydrogen releasing from each phase are obtained and such a graph for all chemical reactions of the alanate decomposition that occur also. On the latter one, fractures were found at the points of phase transitions, which can be experimentally manifested in the form of bends. Isotherms of hydrogen absorption-desorption processes and hydrogen content isoplets in phases are also constructed. The possibility of hysteresis effect is established. The results of calculations are compared with the experimental data, their qualitative correspondence is obtained.

The paper deals with one of the important directions of modern materials science, namely the development and creation of new materials suitable for use in real electrochemical devices including components of solid oxide fuel cells such as electrolytic materials. In this regard, there is the task of finding inexpensive and technological solid electrolyte with high conductivity and stability in oxidizing and reducing atmosphere. Currently, promising devices are a medium temperature SOFC (200-500oC). Medium temperatures are the most optimal region in terms of energy costs. Promising ionic and protonic conductors for this temperature range are electrolytes based on the oxygen deficient complex oxides.

The paper focuses on barium-calcium niobate which is well known oxygen-ion and proton conductor. The cationic substitution is the most common way for improving their transport properties. The anionic substitution is the new method which leads to increase the ionic and proton conductivity. Thus, the example of the proton conductor barium indium shows the principle possibility of substituting the fluoride and chloride ions for oxygen ions, that was accompanied by an improvement of the transport properties of halogenated phases with a low dopant concentration relative to the undoped matrix.

In this paper, the novel type of protonic electrolytes – chlorine-substituted barium-calcium niobate Ba2CaNbO5.5-δ/2Clδ – was obtained for the first time. The synthesis was carried out by a ceramic method with a maximum annealing temperature of 1300 °C. It was found that the complex oxide obtained was characterized by the cubic structure of a double perovskite. The introduction of chloride ions, which have a large radius relative to oxygen ions, leads to an increase of the unit cell parameter. It is proved that the composition Ba2CaNbO5.5-δ/2Clδ was capable of dissociative absorption of water from the gas phase; the water uptake was lowered compares with the matrix composition Ba2CaNbO5. 

The work is dedicated to study of crystal lattice dynamics by means of the neutron diffraction method. The neutron diffraction method studies the dependence of the averaged root-mean-square displacement of atoms in titanium carbonitrides TiCxNy at various concentrations of nonmetals – carbon and nitrogen. Anomalous dependence of the averaged root-mean-square displacement of atoms in titanium carbonitrides TiCxNy on the relative total concentration of nonmetals (C + N) / Ti is established. With decrease of the general contents of nonmetals, that is, with the deviation of the alloy composition from stoichiometry, values of the thermal factor on the neutron diffraction pattern and the averaged root-mean-square atomic displacement at first decreases to the general concentration of nonmetals (C + N) / Ti ≈ 0.80. It increases with further deviation of the composition from stoichiometry. The nonmonotonic change of the root-mean-square atomic displacement with deviation from stoichiometry allows assuming that the dynamic distortion (thermal vibrations amplitude of atoms) in the lattice predominates over the static distortion, since otherwise the overall SCS should be only increase. This, apparently, testifies to difficult concentration dependence of the interatomic interaction in titanium carbonitrides, which has a heterodesmic character characterized by the presence ionic, covalent and metallic chemical bonds.

In addition, the work determines the averaged root-mean-square displacements and the individual root-meansquare displacement of atoms and the Debye temperature in stoichiometric titanium carbonitrides TiCxNy at different nonmetallic concentrations (C and N). They are practically equal at different ratios of the carbon and nitrogen atoms concentrations. The results can be useful for materials scientists and designers engaged in instrumentation and production free tungsten structural refractory materials to predict dynamic characteristics of titanium carbonitrides and manage these characteristics. 

The paper deals with the actual problem of studying the lunar surface for the creation of an inhabited station, as well as the prevention of an asteroid hazard, including due to the drilling of wells up to a depth of ten meters. In connection, it is advisable to use the solid fuel rocket engine as a booster of a shock table. This rocket engine provides a study of the behavior of the model and the natural sample under the action of accelerations reaching 50-200, and the speed of sample input into the ground to 100-1500 m/s during overclocking.

Penetrating probes (penetrators) are tested as a model, and can be presented in different designs: inertial, single- and multi-module with solid fuel rocket engines. Penetrators with solid fuel rocket engines have a number of advantages, the main of which are high power-to-weight ratio with minimal weight, reliability and simplicity of the system.

The paper considers an algorithm for calculating the energy characteristics of the accelerating system with a solid fuel rocket engine, and proposes a schematic diagram of the shock table for penetrator research. The analysis was carried out and the parameters of the solid fuel rocket engines were determined to ensure that the samples were studied in the required range of changes in the acceleration and the speed of input into the ground. Moreover, the technique and technology of conducting experiments and studies of the motion of penetrators in model soils are given, taking into account the safety of testing.

The recommended installation for working out penetrators is designed for research in a wide range of changes in the rates of sample input into the soil. 

This research is devoted to the investigation of the toxic CO gas adsorption mechanism on the tin dioxide (SnO2) semiconductor. We used density functional theory (DFT) to describe adsorption processes, and we found out that the Mars-van Krevelen (MvK) adsorption mechanism is not responsible for adsorption on (101) and (001) surface orientations of SnO2, unlike (110) and (100), where CO2 molecule forms and desorbs from the surfaces. After adsorption on (101) and (001) surface orientations, CO molecule bound to the surfaces and transfer electrons to it. The charge transfer was calculated using Bader charge analysis, which showed the amount of charge transferred to the (101) and (001) surfaces is larger than to the (110) and (100) surfaces. In the case of (001) surface orientation, we considered half and full surface coverage. It was shown that during full surface coverage only one molecule can be adsorbed and transfer 2e charge. Electronic density of states (eDoS) calculation was done to explain the increase of surface conductance.

The paper deals with the nitric acid extraction of uranium that has one significant drawback – the lack of technology for the utilization of nitric acid from raffinate. In the overwhelming majority of the cases, spent nitric acid is neutralized by an alkaline agent, and the nitrates of alkaline or alkaline-earth metals are discharged to the tailings pond. One of the possible ways of handling raffinates is their carbamide denitration which minimizes the unproductive loss of nitric acid. However, until now, the issue of effective treatment of urea nitrate precipitate (CO(NH2)2·HNO3) has not been solved.

The paper contains the results of research aimed at solving the problem of utilization of urea nitrate. Urea nitrate can be processed into ammonium nitrate through acid hydrolysis of urea. The subject of the study is a solution containing 200 g/l urea nitrate and a solution containing 200 g/l urea nitrate and 100 g/l nitric acid. The process is studied in the temperature range 70–150 ºC at atmospheric and elevated pressures using an autoclave. IR spectra of the urea nitrate hydrolysis products confirmed the completeness of the process for 4 hours at 150 ºC and a pressure of 30 atm. The introduction of an equimolar amount of nitric acid into the reaction volume increases the rate of hydrolysis of urea nitrate by a factor of 2 and does not impede the completeness of its transformation into ammonium nitrate. The activation energy of the urea nitrate hydrolysis is 28,9 kJ/mol that is comparable to the activation energy of urea enzymatic (urease) hydrolysis.

Urea nitrate hydrolyzate (ammonium nitrate) can be used as a desorption solution in the process of uranium sorption refining of the technology of underground uranium leaching. 

The paper deals with a new concept for the design of autonomous thermal stations based on the use of the heat of the network water to generate electricity and the drive of necessary equipment, including the power supply of pumps, automation schemes, water treatment, lighting, and other consumers. This creates the conditions for the safe operation of the entire energy supply system of a residential area in case of accidents or terrorist attacks. The new power plant does not need a fuel supply such as a diesel power plant because the source for the production of electric power is hot water, supplied to the heat station from the main heating pipelines of the thermal power station. Low-boiling fire-safe working bodies such as freons are proposed as the working medium of the electric generating steam power circuit. The essence of the new approach is considered in detail with the example of the proposed plant included in the central heating station (CHS): the thermal scheme of the modernized CHS is presented; basic elements are shown that make it possible to clarify the operation principle of the plant and the method for obtaining electricity from hot water (the source of heat is hot water that flows through the supply pipe from the heat network to the heat exchanger-steam generator of the working fluid). The efficiency of the new plant is estimated using an exergy diagram. The calculations showed the high exergetic efficiency of the new power plant, which makes its implementation extremely urgent and necessary.

It is shown that in addition to increasing reliability and solving the problem of security of power supply in the district, a new power plant is economically advantageous, since the cost of a unit of electricity generated for own needs is 3- 4 times cheaper than the purchase because of the absence of intermediaries and high exergy efficiency of the plant. 

Results of computer simulation of active modification of a high speed air flow over a streamlined body are presented. Regimes with formation of isobaric regions of injected gases are considered. It is of interest to the engineers due to the prospects of its application for mitigation of energy consumption and emission of flue gases at high speed flights. The formation of the isobaric regimes was believed to require that the condition of the velocity of airflow being higher than the speed of sound of the injected gas is met, i.e. the injected gas is sufficiently light and hot. The temperature of the injected gas cannot be very high; it means that only helium and hydrogen could be used to meet this condition. However, these gases are to be stored under cryogenic conditions, which is not practical.

In this work, it is tested whether this sufficient condition is really necessary for formation of the isobaric regimes. Injection of comparatively cold and heavy gases with the speed of sound being 2–3 times less than the velocity of airflow is simulated. Besides the design mode of injection, low and high gas flow rates are studied. The excess gas flow increases the effective cross section of the body. If the flow rate is insufficient, the isobaric region covers only a part of the cross section of the body.

The main difference between the light and hot gases injection is that at injection of cold and heavy gases the flow kept very unstable during (70…100)∙t*, here t* is the characteristic period of flow along the body.

In all the cases considered, the isobaric regimes did appear. It makes it possible to apply much more sorts of gases for injection. 

The paper deals with the energy and resource conservation using waste as an alternative fuel. The object of the study is waste activated sludge which is formed at biological wastewater treatment plants and is stored on sludge lagoons that leads to the alienation of large land areas. For the waste activated sludge recycling, its preliminary dehydration is required because of its high water cut. Dosing the carbonate sludge formed at thermal power plants at the stage of liming and coagulation of natural additional water is suggested to increase the efficiency of dewatering of waste activated sludge by centrifugation. After mechanical dehydration by pelletizing with a binder, fuel pellets, which can be used as an alternative fuel to generate heat and electricity, are produced. According to the results of the study, lignosulfonate – a technical by-product of the woodworking industry – is chosen as the most effective binder.

The paper presents an elemental analysis of fuel pellets, as well as their heat of combustion, and proposes a technological scheme including the following components: mechanical dewatering (centrifugation), drying, pelletizing and incineration of waste (the incineration takes place in a fluidized bed furnace). The use of fuel pellets based on waste activated sludge and water treatment sludge makes it possible to efficiently utilize waste from industrial petrochemical and heat energy complexes and to switch from traditional energy resources to renewable ones. 

The paper deals with diffraction theory with the most of diffraction problems solved nowadays. The authors proposed and carried out experiments that couldn’t be explained in terms of diffraction theory.

The results of experiments with diffraction image contrast varies from zero to the values exceeding those observed in classical diffraction experiments have been presented. It is discussed the possibility of creating an improved theory of diffraction in which real physical processes taking place when light beams are limited by diaphragms or mirrors. One of the potential ways of enhancing the method of solving diffraction problems is introduction of dispersion factor. The developed method can be used in solving the wide range of diffraction problems, as well as in calculating soft apertures for inertial confinement fusion laser systems – one of the main directions of alternative energy sources search.

The novel view on diffraction mechanisms may lead to understanding the other light phenomena and development of specific optical tools, e.g. unique soft apertures for inertial confinement fusion purposes.