The paper researches the influence of front surfaces texturing and a thickness of basic polycrystalline and multicrystalline silicon on the main photoelectric parameters of photoelectric converters. We have compared the virtual and experimental results of dependence of photoelectric parameters on a thickness of base.

In experiments, we have employed the planar diffuse technology. As a base material, the silicon single-layered epitaxial layers with resistivity of 1÷3 Om·sm which have been grown up on substrates from silicon with resistivity of 0.001 Om·sm are used. Formation emitter areas has been carried out by high-temperature diffusion. The concentration of an alloying impurity (phosphorus) in an emitter layer is 1019 ÷ 1021 sm-3 .

We have made calculations of optical characteristics of a front surface the Solar cell (SC) and their voltagecurrent characteristics at illumination by a sunlight simulator and merge together the calculations results of the basic photoelectric parameters of experimental and virtual SC depending on a base silicon thickness. The settlement analysis of influence of a thickness of base on a Silicon SC photocurrent with diffuse p-n-junction shows that if to use a way of front surface texturing, it is possible to receive high values of a current at essentially smaller values of a thickness. Calculations of some physical parameters of radiation absorption in silicon are made, in particular, calculation of dependence of radiation absorption depth on its wave length. Settlement values of a factor of reflexing from a silicon surface approximately corresponds to the experimental data received for silicon SC. The results obtained are confirmed due to the peculiarities of changing the depth of absorption of solar radiation in the silicon volume after interaction with a surface relief or texture.

It is represent expedient to consider results of the work as the certificate for working out of a method of the further decrease in a thickness of silicon base for creation of effective photoelectric converters of energy that has important prospect on the economic point of view.

Aqueous hydrazine bisborane H₃B–N₂H₄–BH₃ (HBB) might be a possible liquid-state chemical H storage material at the conditions that the compound totally dehydrogenates in mild conditions. Herein we demonstrate such a potential. We report for the first time a work about the dehydrogenation of aqueous HBB. The compound is not stable in water. Its stability is even lower in alkaline conditions because of the likely formation of the unstable intermediate [H₃BOH]– . The use of a metal-based catalyst accelerates the hydrolysis of the BH₃ groups but the bimetallic NiPt catalyst is more active, being also able to decompose the N₂H₄ moiety. The best kinetics is observed at 70 °C and in alkaline conditions. However, the dehydrogenation is not total, reaching a limit of 80% of conversion. Unfortunately the reason of that is not understood yet. As things stand, there are some challenges ahead, but HBB has shown to be a possible liquid-state chemical H storage material.

Ammonia borane NH₃BH₃ (AB) and nickel (Ni) have been considered together as an all-solid and all-in-one material for H₂ generation by hydrolysis at 20–50 °C. Our novel approach, denoted Ni/AB, consists of AB nanoparticles within a Ni matrix. Upon contact with water, Ni/AB readily hydrolyzes and liberates H₂ with a turnover frequency of 13.8 mol(H₂)  моль^-1_Ni min^–1 at 43.3 °C. The apparent activation energy, determined over the temperature range 23.5–50.4 °C, is low, with 19.5 ± 4.1 kJ mol^–1 . These results imply that such a Ni matrix embedding AB acts as an effective catalyst. Beyond the catalytic performance, this is the first report of the successful utilization of an all-solid and allin-one approach for the hydrolysis of AB, and the work brings unique perspectives for one-shot catalytic systems.

In this study, methane assisted high temperature steam/CO₂ co-electrolysis process is performed on symmetrical cells with a configuration of SFM-SDC/LSGM/SFM-SDC to produce high-quality synthesis gas (syngas, a mixture of H₂ and CO). The Nernst potential has been evaluated for solid oxide cells in the methane assisted mode, which is reduced by nearly one order of magnitude through substituting the anode atmosphere from air to methane. The open circuit voltage (OCV) is –0.06 V at 800 °C, and an electrolysis current density of –242 mAcm^–2 has been obtained at 850 °C and 0.3 V. Effects of operating conditions on products composition have been revealed by using the chemical equilibrium co-electrolysis model and HSC software. High-quality syngas with high conversion rate of CO₂ to CO as well as ideal H₂/CO molar ratio of 2 could be achieved in both electrode sides by adjusting appropriate operating conditions. The short-term cell voltage is slightly fluctuant less than 0.05 V at 850 °C and –120 mAcm^–2 , in which condition carbon deposition has been observed in the SFM-SDC anode due to the low O^2– /CH₄ ratio.

The development of both thermal and nuclear energy in the 21st century has led to a significant increase in water resources demand for removal of low-grade heat into the environment from power plants operating on the Rankine thermodynamic cycle. The evaporative systems (cooling towers, spray basins) form the basis of modern technologies for cooling condensers of steam turbines. Water that evaporates in a significant volume requires constant replenishment from water sources available on the territory, and water vapor forms in the zone where the power plants are located, increased atmospheric humidity and creates an additional condition for the occurrence of a “greenhouse effect”. The development of cooling technologies with low water consumption is one of the important tasks of modern energy.

The paper performs the experimental investigations of heat transfer from cylindrical elements in a staggered arrangement inside a rectangular channel with a fine water aerosol. We have obtained the heat transfer coefficients depending on the Reynolds number and the degree of flow moistening for each row of cylinders. A physical model is proposed for the flow around the surface of cylindrical elements that contains water aerosol particles. This model makes it possible to evaluate their deposition on a heated surface. We have estimated the relative mass of droplet moisture deposited on the cylinder's surface depending on the irrigation density for rows 1, 2 and 3 and obtained a criterion equation that generalizes the experimental data in the form of Nusselt number, operating parameters (Reynolds and Weber numbers), and the position of the elements in the channel. Micro-droplet humidification of the airflow is shown to make it possible to increase the heat transfer efficiency by 1.5–3.5 times. The greatest increase in efficiency occurs in the first two rows of cylindrical elements, which requires the construction of a heat exchanger with a low number of rows, or an additional micro-droplet intermediate water inlet in front of subsequent rows in the direction of airflow.

The paper presents a cogeneration power unit based on a gas turbine engine with an external heat supply to the working fluid-air. Aluminum powder or boron are used as fuel, and air is used as an oxidizing agent. On the basis of the chemical thermodynamics equations, we have calculated the heat of aluminum powder oxidation at 31,005 kJ per 1kg of aluminum and 26,283 kJ per 1kg of boron. The fuel utilization factor by a power plant operating on the aluminum is 0.578 and on the boron is 0.501. Specific consumption of conventional fuel at the operation of the power unit on aluminium in the production of electric energy is 163.6 gOE/(kWh), and on the boron is 185 gOE/ (kWh), and thermal energy – 67.6 and 76.49 kgOE/GJ respectively. Specific production of the electrical energy by external heat consumption when working on aluminum and boron are 136.5 and 136.5 kWh/(GJ), respectively. The paper gives specific fuel costs for a power plant without using the exhaust heat after the gas turbine for heating network water. The data obtained are compared with those power plants working on organic fuels. Material and thermal balances are summarized. In gas turbines, it is preferable to use aluminum as a fuel. Boron shows the worst specific parameters.

Biomimetic and efficient: Mixed calcium manganese(III) oxides (see structure; Ca green, Mn red, O white) with elemental compositions and structures mimicking the active site of photosystem II were found to be highly active catalysts for the oxidation of water to molecular oxygen. As for PS II, the presence of Ca²⁺ greatly enhances the catalyst performance in comparison to the related manganese‐only system Mn₂O₃.