Study on collection and retention efficiencies of a new integrated collector storage solar water heating system using a planar thermal diode: an experimental study.

Thermal diodes are a novel method to rectify the heat transfer mechanism and help reduce heat losses in solar thermal collectors during non-collection periods. The current study introduces and analyzes a new planar thermal diode integrated collector storage (ICS) solar water heating system using an experimental approach. This thermal diode ICS system has a simple, affordable structure composed of two parallel plates. Water serves as a phase change material to transfer heat through evaporation and condensation inside the diode. Three scenarios were considered to assess the dynamics of the thermal diode ICS: atmospheric pressure, depressurized thermal diodes, and Ppartial = 0, - 0.2, and - 0.4 bar. The water temperature reached 40 °C, 46 °C, and 42 °C in Ppartial = 0, - 0.2, and - 0.4 bar, respectively. The heat gain coefficients are 38.61, 40.65, and 39.26 W/K, while the heat loss coefficients are 9.56, 5.16, and 7.03 W/K in Ppartial = 0, - 0.2, and - 0.4 bar, respectively. The optimum heat collection and retention efficiencies are 45.3% and 33.5% in Ppartial = - 0.2 bar. Hence, there is an optimum partial pressure to achieve the best performance, equal to - 0.2 bar. The acquired results illustrate the robustness of the planar thermal diode in reducing heat losses and rectifying the heat transfer mechanism. Furthermore, despite the simple structure of the planar thermal diode, its efficiency is as high as that of other types of thermal diodes analyzed in recent studies.

An innovative idea and design scheme of continuous arterial blood glucose monitoring equipment / 中华危重病急救医学

Hyperglycemia is a common complication of critical patients. Currently, clinical assessment of the changes in the blood glucose of critical patients is mainly based on the intermittent monitoring of peripheral blood glucose at a certain time point. This method cannot get the true blood glucose fluctuation, and it is more difficult to find asymptomatic hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, so the guiding value of blood glucose control is limited. Arterial blood is the most accurate sample of blood glucose monitoring, so it is urgent to ensure the accuracy of arterial blood sample. A continuous arterial blood glucose monitoring equipment was independently developed by general surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, and National Utility Model Patent of China was obtained. It could greatly improve the efficiency of medical staff, and provide accurate and dynamic statistic data that would be an important basis for doctors' clinical decision-making. The continuous arterial blood glucose monitoring equipment was mainly composed of arterial pressure measuring monitor, program-controlled dynamic blood glucose meter, wire, electric switch, integrated collecting syringe, electric clip, rotary electric bracket, and blood glucose test strips, etc., which could be continuously and dynamically monitor patient blood glucose levels and perform various additional value-added functions such as automatic recording and alarming.