A surface-wave-excited plasma (SWP) source was applied to improvement of the surface hydrophilicity of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The contact angle of PTFE surface was observed to be drastically decreased by the SWP treatment within a very short time less than 5 s. The total ion dose in the PTFE sample is one of very important parameters to determine the change in the PTFE surface hydrophilicity by the plasma treatment. From X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement, drastic changes in the surface atomic composition, i.e., decrease in F atomic composition and increase in N and 0 atomic compositions were observed after the plasma treatment. Atomic force microscope (AFM) measurement indicated that the increase in the surface roughness after the plasma treatment. As origins of the hydrophilicity improvement, increases in both hydrophilic chemical bonds (C-O, C=O) and surface roughness were pointed out.
The utilization of alternative energy is being strongly promoted in order to prevent the progression of climate change due to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, in our previous study, the carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) hydrate engine generator (CHEG), which converts unutilized energy to electrical energy, has been proposed as a way to produce alternative energy. CHEG uses the heat cycle of a CO 2 hydrate which is generated by a small temperature difference using heat from such unutilized energy sources as low-temperature exhaust heat from home heating appliances, difference in temperature between day and night, geothermal heat, etc. In previous works, the theoretical validity of the CHEG as an alternative energy for homes has been analyzed. However, the control method of power output for changing heat source temperature and power load has not been investigated. Therefore, the dynamic model of the CHEG is constructed to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the control method of power output.
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