21. A rapid thermal-radiation-assisted sintering strategy for Nd-Fe-B-type magnetsTomaž Tomše, Aljaž Iveković, Andraž Kocjan, Sašo Šturm, Kristina Žužek Rožman, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The green transition has spiked demand for high-performance sintered Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets, necessitating advanced powder consolidation technologies to enhance production efficiency. This study explores the rapid sintering methodology for an Nd-Fe-B powder using a radiation-assisted sintering approach. The case study material is an industrially used powder, prepared through strip-casting, hydrogen decrepitation, and jet milling, with a mean particle size of 5.5 µm. The powder is sintered to full density in a modified Spark Plasma Sintering furnace, achieving pressureless conditions and eliminating electrical currents in the sample to preserve grain alignment and prevent decomposition of the hard-magnetic phase. Fully-dense samples are obtained with heating rates ranging from 10 to 200 °C/min and up to 5 minutes of dwell time at 1100 °C. Rapid heating results in grain size and microstructure comparable to conventionally sintered magnets prepared from the same powder, without compromising magnetic performance after post-sinter annealing at 520 °C for 120 minutes. This sintering method contributes to a novel strategy for optimizing magnet production by utilizing efficient thermal-radiation heat transfer. The combination of rapid heating and pressureless sintering drastically reduces heat-up and dwell times, providing a fundamental advantage over slow conventional sintering. Keywords: rapid sintering, finite-element modeling Published in DiRROS: 28.03.2025; Views: 94; Downloads: 30
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22. Design of organosolv lignin fractionation : influence of temperature, antisolvent, and source on molecular weight, structure, and functionality of lignin fragmentsEdita Jasiukaityte, Tina Ročnik, Giorgio Tofani, Britt Segers, Philippe Nimmegeers, Pieter Billen, Rok Pogorevc, Blaž Likozar, Miha Grilc, 2025, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 28.03.2025; Views: 121; Downloads: 56
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23. Effects of thermal demagnetization in air on the microstructure and organic contamination of NdFeB magnetsLaura Grau, Rosario Moreno López, Pierre Kubelka, Fabian Burkhardt, Tomaž Tomše, Spomenka Kobe, Carlo Burkhardt, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Demagnetization is an essential step for the demounting and safe handling of end-of-life NdFeB. Thermal demagnetization in air is a straightforward option to demount adhesive-fixed or segmented magnets. However, this process is suspected to increase the uptake of contaminants like O, C and Zn from coatings and adhesives, potentially degrading the recyclate quality. This study tests the effects of thermal demagnetization in air at 400 °C for 15 to 240 min on variously coated samples with different initial oxidation levels. Furthermore, the possible reversal of the contaminant uptake is explored. Samples with low previous oxidation levels showed significant uptake in oxygen with a minimal diffusion depth, while the uptake depended on the used coating. The best protectiveness was achieved with NiCuNi with an increase in oxygen of only around 30%. Epoxy (up to ~130% O uptake) and Zn coatings (up to ~80% O uptake) disintegrated during the treatment and offered less protection but still made a difference compared to uncoated samples (up to ~220% O uptake). Samples with high initial oxidation levels show no clear tendency towards further oxygen uptake and the carbon uptake is generally low, likely due to contemporary epoxy coatings featuring a passivation underneath as a barrier layer. Zn infiltration, which carried organic debris, was observed. Short demagnetization times proved to be favorable for limiting the depth of the diffusing contaminants. Mechanical coating removal after thermal demagnetization in air can mitigate the contaminant uptake, producing clean, recyclable end-of-life material. Keywords: magnetic scrap, thermal demagnetization, organic contamination Published in DiRROS: 28.03.2025; Views: 128; Downloads: 44
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24. Magnetic performance and anticorrosion coating stability of thermally demagnetized Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets for reuse applicationsTomaž Tomše, Pierre Kubelka, Rosario Moreno López, Peter Fleissner, Laura Grau, Matej Zaplotnik, Carlo Burkhardt, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Nd-Fe-B-type permanent magnets, containing approximately 30% critical rare-earth elements by weight, are essential components in renewable energy systems (e.g., wind turbines, hydroelectric generators) and electric vehicles. They are also critical for consumer electronics and electric motors in products like energy-efficient air conditioners and home appliances. In light of advancing sustainability goals, the direct reuse of magnets from end-of-life devices offers a promising alternative to energy-intensive and costly recycling methods based on hydro- and pyrometallurgical processes, as well as modern short-loop recycling through hydrogen processing. However, Nd-Fe-B magnets must be demagnetized before they can be extracted from devices. This study explores the effects of thermal demagnetization, performed either in air or a vacuum, on the stability of anticorrosion coatings and the magnetic performance of remagnetized magnets. Corrosion tests were conducted to assess the compatibility of various coatings with thermal demagnetization, identifying those most suitable for future applications involving magnet reuse. Keywords: thermal demagnetization, microstructure Published in DiRROS: 28.03.2025; Views: 122; Downloads: 60
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26. Multi-fluid simulation of pool scrubbing in the bubble rise region of PECA experimentMatic Kunšek, Leon Cizelj, Ivo Kljenak, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Theoretical simulations of dispersed solid particle behaviour inside a scrubbing pool within the bubble rise region are presented. The goal is to evaluate the decontamination factor of the particles during the pool scrubbing process. The basic phenomena of pool scrubbing are described. The setup used for the simulation validation is presented. Then, the boundary and initial conditions of the PECA experiments, which were performed at CIEMAT (Madrid, Spain) and were used for simulations, are presented. The subgrid model for decontamination through transfer of particles from gas bubbles to the surrounding liquid is described. The calculation results are evaluated and compared with the part of the PECA experimental results to which the proposed modelling is applicable Published in DiRROS: 28.03.2025; Views: 53; Downloads: 28
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27. Benchmark DEBORA : Assessment of MCFD compared to high-pressure boiling pipe flow measurementsGuillaume Bois, P. Fillion, Alan Burlot, A. Ben Hadj Ali, A. Khaware, J. Sanyal, M. Rehm, B. Farges, Aljoša Gajšek, Matej Tekavčič, Boštjan Končar, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: A benchmark activity on two-fluid simulations of high-pressure boiling upward flows in a pipe is performed by 12 participants using different MCFD (Multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics) codes and closure relationships. More than 30 conditions from DEBORA experiment conducted by CEA are considered. Each case is characterised by the flow rate, inlet temperature, wall heat flux and outlet pressure. High-pressure Freon (R12) at 14 bar and 26 bar is boiled in a 19.2 mm pipe heated over 3.5 m. Flow rates range from 2000 kg m−2 s −1 to 5000 kg m−2 s −1 and exit quality � ranges from single-phase conditions to � = 0.1 which leads to a peak void fraction of � = 70%. In these high pressure conditions, bubbles remain small and there is no departure from the bubbly flow regime (François et al., 2011; Hösler, 1968). However, different kind of bubbly flows are observed: wall-peak, intermediate peak or core-peak, depending on the case considered. Measurements along the pipe radius near the end of the heated section are compared to code predictions. They include void fraction, bubble mean diameter, vapour velocity and liquid temperature. The benchmark covered two phases. In the first phase of the benchmark activities, experimental data were given to the participants, allowing to compare the simulation results and to develop, to select or to adjust the models in the CMFD codes. The second phase included blind cases where the participants could not compare to the measurements. In between the two phases, possible additional model adjustments or calibrations were performed. Overall, the benchmark involved very different closures and a wide range of models’ complexity was covered. Yet, it is extremely difficult to have a robust closure for all conditions considered, even knowing experimental measurements. The wall-to-core peak transition is not captured consistently by the models. The degree of subcooling and the void fraction level are also difficult to assess Published in DiRROS: 28.03.2025; Views: 77; Downloads: 42
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28. Replacement strategy of the EU-DEMO and CFETR breeding blanket pipesRocco Mozzillo, Christian Bachmann, Günter Janeschitz, Vincenzo Claps, Oriol Costa Garrido, Pan Hongtao, Fei Li, Donato Sorgente, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Both EU-DEMO and CFETR need a workable replacement scheme for their tritium breeding blanket (BB). The radioactive environment dictates that all associated operations must be carried out through remotely controlled tools. Accessing and extracting the large BB segments requires their feeding pipes to be removed first from the upper vessel port and later re-installed. In the current design, each of the 80 BB segments is connected with four feeding pipes, two for cooling and two for tritium extraction. Thus, in the process of BB maintenance operation, 320 pipes must be cut, removed and rewelded. The developed concept for this task is presented here. It aims at reducing the associated plant downtime, thereby increasing the overall plant availability. Features underpinning this integrated BB pipe service concept are: (i) parallel pipe service operations, (ii) pipes in each upper port are grouped in a pipe forest and handled as a single component, (iii) the configuration of the individual pipes is standardized such that cutting and joining locations are aligned and with good accessibility from the top, (iv) the number of pipe sizes is limited to two, reducing the number of required tool sets, and (v) the same pipe configuration is adopted in each of the 16 upper ports. The paper will present design solutions and the progress on the manufacturing of prototypes developed for the challenging cutting and welding tasks from both within and outside, as well as the leak detection methodology and pipe stub handling. Prototypes will be used to perform design validation and verification on dedicated test benches currently being implemented in close collaboration between European laboratories and the Comprehensive Research fAcility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT) at ASIPP in China. Keywords: fusion, test reactors, remote maintenance, breeding blanket, feeding pipes Published in DiRROS: 28.03.2025; Views: 110; Downloads: 42
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29. Paving the way toward treatment solutions for CTNNB1 syndrome : a patient organization perspectiveŠpela Miroševič, Shivang Khandelwal, Emily Amerson, Effie Parks, Mariana Parks, Lauren Cochran, Nina Žakelj, Duško Lainšček, Vida Forstnerič, Petra Sušjan, Matea Maruna, Roman Jerala, Damjan Osredkar, 2025, review article Published in DiRROS: 28.03.2025; Views: 146; Downloads: 71
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