Flame structure and flame spread rate over a solid fuel in partially premixed atmospheres

We have investigated the downward flame spread over a thin solid fuel. Hydrogen, methane, or propane, included in the gaseous product of pyrolysis reaction, is added in the ambient air. The fuel concentration is kept below the lean flammability limit to observe the partially premixing effect. Both experimental and numerical studies have been conducted. Results show that, in partially premixed atmospheres, both blue flame and luminous flame regions are enlarged, and the flame spread rate is increased. Based on the flame index, a so-called triple flame is observed. The heat release rate ahead of the original diffusion flame is increased by adding the fuel, and its profile is moved upstream. Here, we focus on the heat input by adding the fuel in the opposed air, which could be a direct factor to intensify the combustion reaction. The dependence of the flame spread rate on the heat input is almost the same for methane and propane/air mixtures, but larger effect is observed for hydrogen/air mixture. Since the deficient reactant in lean mixture is fuel, the larger effect of hydrogen could be explained based on the Lewis number consideration. That is, the combustion is surely intensified for all cases, but this effect is larger for lean hydrogen/air mixture (Le < 1), because more fuel diffuses toward the lean premixed flame ahead of the original diffusion flame. Resultantly, the pyrolysis reaction is promoted to support the higher flame spread rate.     

Numerical study of learning algorithms on Stiefel manifold

Convex optimization methods are used for many machine learning models such as support vector machine. However, the requirement of a convex formulation can place limitations on machine learning models. In recent years, a number of machine learning methods not requiring convexity have emerged. In this paper, we study non-convex optimization problems on the Stiefel manifold in which the feasible set consists of a set of rectangular matrices with orthonormal column vectors. We present examples of non-convex optimization problems in machine learning and apply three nonlinear optimization methods for finding a local optimal solution; geometric gradient descent method, augmented Lagrangian method of multipliers, and alternating direction method of multipliers. Although the geometric gradient method is often used to solve non-convex optimization problems on the Stiefel manifold, we show that the alternating direction method of multipliers generally produces higher quality numerical solutions within a reasonable computation time.     

Frequency and power dependence of ultrasonic degassing

We investigated the time variation of ultrasonic degassing for air-saturated water and degassed water with a sample volume of 100 mL at frequencies of 22, 43, 129, 209, 305, 400, 514, 1018, and 1960 kHz and ultrasonic power of 15 W. Ultrasonic degassing was evaluated by dissolved oxygen concentration. Ultrasonic degassing was also investigated at a frequency of 1018 kHz and ultrasonic powers of 5, 10, 15, and 20 W. The dissolved oxygen concentration varied with the ultrasonic irradiation time and became constant after prolonged ultrasonic irradiation. The constant dissolved oxygen concentration value depended on the frequency and ultrasonic power but not the initial dissolved oxygen concentration. The degassing rate at 101.3 kPa was higher in the frequency range of 200 kHz to 1 MHz. The frequency dependence of the degassing rate was almost the same as that of the sonochemical efficiency obtained by the potassium iodide (KI) method. Ultrasonic degassing in the frequency range of 22–1960 kHz was also investigated under reduced pressure of 5 kPa. Degassing was accelerated when ultrasonic irradiation was applied under reduced pressure. However, under a reduced pressure of 5 kPa, the lower the frequencies, the higher is the degassing rate. The sonochemical reaction rate was examined by the KI method for varying dissolved air concentrations before ultrasonic irradiation. Cavitation did not occur when the initial dissolved oxygen concentration was less than 2 mg·L⁻¹. Therefore, the lower limit of ultrasonic degassing under 101.3 kPa equals 2 mg·L⁻¹ dissolved oxygen concentration. A model equation for the time variation of dissolved oxygen concentration due to ultrasonic irradiation was developed, and the degassing mechanism was discussed.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study on surface reaction on titanium by laser irradiation in nitrogen atmosphere

The surface reaction on titanium due to pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation in a nitrogen atmosphere was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The laser, with a wavelength of 532 nm (SHG mode), was irradiated on a titanium substrate in an atmosphere-controlled chamber, and then the substrate was transported to an XPS analysis chamber without exposure to air. This in situ XPS technique makes it possible to clearly observe the intrinsic surface reaction. The characteristics of the surface layer strongly depend on the nitrogen gas pressure. When the pressure is 133 kPa, an oxynitride and a stoichiometric titanium nitride form the topmost and lower surface layers on the titanium substrate, respectively. However, only a nonstoichiometric titanium oxide layer containing a small amount of nitrogen is formed when the pressure is lower than 13.3 kPa. Repetition of laser shots promotes the formation of the oxide layer, but the formation is completed within a few laser shots. After the initial structure is formed, the chemical state of the surface layer is less influenced by the repetition of laser shots.     

A hybrid algorithm for solving the economic lot and delivery scheduling problem in the common cycle case

The ELDSP problem is a combined lot sizing and sequencing problem. A supplier produces and delivers components of different types to a consumer in batches. The task is to determine the cycle time, i.e., the time between deliveries, which minimizes the total cost per time unit. This includes the determination of the production sequence of the component types within each cycle.We investigate the computational behavior of two published algorithms, a heuristic and an optimal algorithm. With large number of component types, the optimal algorithm has long running times. We devise a hybrid algorithm, which is both optimal and efficient.     

Numerical analysis on behavior of dilute water droplets in detonation

Two-dimensional numerical simulations are conducted based on the Eulerian-Lagrangian method to model a gaseous detonation laden with monodispersed water droplets. The premixed mixture is a slightly diluted stoichiometric hydrogen oxygen mixture at low pressure. The outcome of the interactions of the droplet breakup with the cellular instabilities and the non-uniform flow behind the leading front is analyzed. The simulation results are also analyzed using instantaneous flow fields and Favre average profiles for water droplets. Breakup occurs mainly near the detonation front. The mean final diameter of the water droplets at the end of the breakup process is the same regardless of the initial strength of the leading shock or whether it is lower or greater than the Chapman-Jouguet value. The polydispersity comes from local phenomena behind the leading shock, such as forward jets coming from triple point collisions, transverse waves and a combination of both. The total breakup time is longer than that estimated from post-shock conditions and the present finding is in line with the previous experimental results on spray detonation.     

Ultrasonic assisted synthesis of two urea functionalized metal organic frameworks for phenol sensing: A comparative study

Two pillared metal-organic frameworks containing urea functional groups were synthesized by a sonochemical method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The time of sonication and concentration of starting materials have been optimized to synthesize nanoparticles of TMU-31 and TMU-32. These two frameworks are interesting candidates for a comparative fluorescence study. Thus, their potential abilities for phenol sensing were investigated. This investigation revealed the prominent roles of hydrogen bond donating urea groups inside the pore cavity in the ability of these structures in phenol sensing.     

Polydiphenylamine-dodecyl sulfate films for the simultaneous amperometric determination of electroinactive anions and cations in ion-exclusion cation-exchange chromatography

An amperometric detector with two working electrodes both modified with polydiphenylamine-dodecyl sulfate (PDPA-DS) was successfully used for the simultaneous determination of electroinactive anions (SO₄ ^2–, Cl^–, NO₃ ^–) and cations (Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺ and K⁺) in single-column ion-exclusion cation-exchange chromatography (IEC-CEC). The PDPA-DS chemical modified electrode (CME) was based on the incorporation of dodecyl sulfate (DS) into PDPA by electropolymerization of diphenylamine in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The electrochemical responses against the anions and cations at the PDPA-DS CME in differential pulse voltammetry were studied. A set of well-defined peaks of electroinactive anions and cations were obtained. The anions and cations were detected conveniently and reproducibly in a linear concentration range 0.01–5.0 mmol/L and their detection limits were in the range 5–9 μmol/L at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 (S/N = 3). The proposed method was quick, sensitive and simple and was successfully applied to the analysis of lake water samples. The working electrode was stable over one week period of operation with no evidence of chemical and mechanical deterioration.