Jiangsu University of Science & Technology

Methanol is considered as one of the most promising efficient and clean alternative fuels for marine engines.However, increased methanol energy ratio (MER) by direct injection can easily cause extended ignition delay and thereby misfiring.To maximize MER and achieve efficient and stable combustion of medium-speed diesel/methanol dual direct-injection marine engines under extremely high MER, a 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of direct-injection diesel/methanol marine engine is established using CONVERGE/3.0 code.The suitable fuel injector configurations are explored, and the injection strategy is optimized under an MER of 96.5% based on the CFD model.The findings demonstrate that the mixing rate of diesel and methanol jets is enhanced by sym. injectors compared to asym. injectors for their effects on the mechanism of spray mixing and combustion development.The indicated thermal efficiency (ITE) is increased from 45.5% to 48.3% through advancing methanol injection timing from 0°CA BTDC to 25°CA BTDC.Addnl., the optimal injection strategies characterizing the highest ITE of 48.3%, the lower global emissions, and an extremely high MER among the cases are yielded with a methanol injection duration of 40°CA and a methanol injection pressure of 56 MPa; compared to 26.4 MPa condition, ITE is improved by 15.9%.

This investigation focused on the effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and liver lipid metabolism in late-peak laying hens.Two hundred forty 43-wk-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly distributed into 4 treatments receiving 0, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg CGA for twelve weeks.Egg production rate and average egg weight were significantly elevated with 600 and 800 mg/kg CGA relative to the control group.Significant improvements were also noted in the Haugh unit, albumen height, and yolk color in both CGA groups, along with elevated levels of ovomucin in the albumen and lutein in the yolk.CGA at 600 and 800 mg/kg doses significantly reduced serum hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde levels, as well as hepatic malondialdehyde levels.Meanwhile, CGA treatment significantly upregulated hepatic Nrf2 and SOD2 gene expression while downregulating Keap1 gene expression.Addnl., 600 and 800 mg/kg CGA treatment significantly decreased serum TG, T-CHO, and LDL-C levels, as well as liver TG and T-CHO levels, while increasing serum lipoprotein lipase activity.Moreover, CGA treatment significantly decreased hepatocyte lipid droplet levels, along with a notable reduction in SREBP1, FASN, ACC, and DGAT2 gene expressions, and a significant upregulation in PPARα, ACOX1, and CPT1 gene expressions.Our findings demonstrate that CGA can improve laying performance, egg quality, and antioxidant capacity, and reduce liver lipid accumulation by inhibiting fatty acid synthesis and stimulating fatty acid oxidation in late-peak laying hens.A dietary supplement of 600-800 mg/kg CGA is recommended under the current exptl. conditions.HIGHLIGHTSDietary supplementation CGA improved the laying performance, egg quality, and antioxidant capacity in the late-peak laying hens.CGA reduced hepatic lipid accumulation by inhibiting fatty acid synthesis and stimulating fatty acid oxidationUnder the current exptl. conditions, a dietary supplemental level of 600-800 mg/kg CGA is recommended for laying hens.

The metal–carbon dioxide batteries, emerging as high-energy–density energy storage devices, enable direct CO2 utilization, offering promising prospects for CO2 capture and utilization, energy conversion, and storage. However, the electrochemical performance of M-CO2 batteries faces significant challenges, particularly at extreme temperatures. Issues such as high overpotential, poor charge reversibility, and cycling capacity decay arise from complex reaction interfaces, sluggish oxidation kinetics, inefficient catalysts, dendrite growth, and unstable electrolytes. Despite significant advancements at room temperature, limited research has focused on the performance of M-CO2 batteries across a wide-temperature range. This review examines the effects of low and high temperatures on M-CO2 battery components and their reaction mechanism, as well as the advancements made in extending operational ranges from room temperature to extremely low and high temperatures. It discusses strategies to enhance electrochemical performance at extreme temperatures and outlines opportunities, challenges, and future directions for the development of M-CO2 batteries.