Classical solution for a nonlinear hybrid system modeling combustion in a multilayer porous medium

Combustion processes in porous media have been used by the petroleum engineering industry to extract heavy oil from reservoirs. This study focuses on a one-dimensional nonlinear hybrid system consisting of $n$ reaction–diffusion–convection equations coupled with $n$ ordinary differential equations, which models a combustion front moving through a porous medium with $n$ parallel layers. The state variables are the temperature and fuel concentration in each layer. Coupling occurs in both the reaction function and differential operator coefficients. We prove the existence of a classical solution, first locally and then globally over time, to an initial and boundary value problem for the corresponding system. The proof uses a new approach for combustion problems in porous media. The local solution is obtained by defining an operator in a set of Hölder continuous functions and using Schauder’s fixed-point theorem to find a fixed point as the desired solution. Using Zorn’s lemma, we extend the local solution to a global solution, proving that the first-order spatial derivative of the temperature in each layer is a bounded function.     

A rapid,spatially dispersive frequency comb spectrograph aimed at gas phase chemical reaction kinetics

This New Views article will highlight some recent advances in high sensitivity gas detection using direct infrared absorption frequency comb laser spectroscopy, with a focus on frequency comb use in chemical reaction kinetics and our own contribution to this field. Our recently implemented detection technique uses a combination of a 12.9?GHz free spectral range virtually imaged phased array and diffraction grating to spatially disperse the mid-infrared frequency comb onto a camera. Individual frequencies or ‘comb teeth’ of a 250?MHz repetition-rate frequency comb are able to be resolved. High molecular sensitivity is achieved by increasing the interaction path length using a Herriott multipass cell. High spectral resolution, broadband spectral coverage, and high molecular sensitivity are all achieved on an adjustable 1–50 µs timescale, making this frequency comb apparatus ideal for measuring chemical reaction kinetics where multiple absorbing species can be monitored simultaneously. This New Views article will also discuss some of the challenges and decisions that chemists might face in implementing this advanced physics technology in their own laboratory.

Spatially dispersed 250 MHz mid-infrared frequency comb laser, with absorption of some frequencies by a dilute sample of methane.     

Capturing the experimental behaviour of a point-absorber WEC by simplified numerical models

The paper presents a wave basin experiment of a direct-driven point-absorber wave energy converter moving in six degrees of freedom. The goal of the work is to study the dynamics and energy absorption of the wave energy converter, and to verify under which conditions numerical models restricted to heave can capture the behaviour of a point-absorber moving in six degrees of freedom. Several regular and irregular long-crested waves and different damping values of the power take-off system have been tested. We collected data in terms of power output, device motion in six degrees of freedom and wave elevation at different points of the wave basin. A single-body numerical model in the frequency domain and a two-body model in the time domain are used in the study. Motion instabilities due to parametric resonance observed during the experiments are discussed and analysis of the buoy motion in terms of the Mathieu instability is also presented. Our results show that the simplified models can reproduce the body dynamics of the studied converter as long as the transverse non-linear instabilities are not excited, which typically is the case in irregular waves. The performance of the more complex time domain model is able to reproduce both the buoy and PTO dynamics, while the simpler frequency domain model can only reproduce the PTO dynamics for specific cases. Finally, we show that the two-body dynamics of the studied wave energy converter affects the power absorption significantly, and that common assumptions in the numerical models, such as stiff mooring line or that the float moves only in heave, may lead to incorrect predictions for certain sea states.     

Nonlinear LCO “amplitude–frequency” characteristics for plates fluttering at supersonic speeds

The nonlinear aeroelastic behavior of isotropic rectangular plates in supersonic gas flow is examined. Quadratic and cubic aerodynamic nonlinearities as well as cubic geometrical nonlinearities are considered in this study. While the aerodynamic nonlinearities are the results of the expansion of the nonlinear piston-theory aerodynamics loading up to the third-order, the geometrical nonlinearities are due to stiffening effects from the panel out-of-plane deformation consistent with the von Karman’s nonlinear plate theory. While in vacuum the typical nonlinear hardening frequency vs. oscillation amplitude, one characterized by monotonically increasing amplitudes at increasing frequencies, exists, in the presence of a high-speed flow, qualitative and quantitative changes of the nonlinear relationship are expected. This paper shows how the thin-plate behavior is influenced by the high-speed flows providing the “amplitude–frequency” dependency, which describes the nonlinear oscillations of the considered aeroelastic system.     

线型离子阱中空间电荷效应的理论分析

线型离子阱中的离子在射频场作用下做宏观的久期运动,久期运动频率与实验参数有关.但当离子阱中囚禁大量同种电荷的离子时,空间电荷效应会导致离子间存在相互排斥的库仑力,使离子的运动频率发生漂移.本文通过求解泊松方程计算了空间电荷产生的附加电场的解析表达式,在小振动近似下理论计算了该附加电场对久期运动频率的影响,模拟了不同离子云中心密度下久期频率的漂移,讨论了离子云的数目、温度与实验参数之间的关系.对用离子阱进行的频标实验、碰撞实验和其他方面的研究都具有重要的指导意义.     

Combustion properties of H2/N2/O2/steam mixtures

The present work reports new experimental and numerical results of the combustion properties of hydrogen based mixtures diluted by nitrogen and steam. Spherical expanding flames have been studied in a spherical bomb over a large domain of equivalence ratios, initial temperatures and dilutions at an initial pressure of 100 kPa (T_ini = 296, 363, 413 K; N₂/O₂ = 3.76, 5.67, 9; %Steam = 0, 20, 30). From these experiments, the laminar flame speed $S_L^0$, the Markstein length L’, the activation energy Ea and the Zel'dovich β number have been determined. These parameters were also simulated using COSILAB^® in order to verify the validity of the Mével et al. [1] detailed kinetic mechanism. Other parameters as the laminar flame thickness δ and the effective Lewis number Le_eff were also simulated. These new results aim at providing an extended database that will be very useful in the hydrogen combustion hazard assessment for nuclear reactor power plant new design.     

高碳烃宽温度范围燃烧机理构建及动力学模拟

发动机中燃料点火特性以及燃烧能量的释放对于发动机设计具有非常重要的作用,为了提高燃料的燃烧效率以及减少燃料在燃烧过程中污染物的排放,基于反应动力学机理对燃料燃烧过程的模拟就显得十分必要。因此需要更加深入的认识碳氢燃料的燃烧机理,探索其在燃烧过程中十分复杂的化学反应网络。为了发展能够适用于实际燃料多工况条件(宽温度范围、宽压力范围和不同当量比)燃烧的燃烧机理,基于碳氢燃料机理自动生成程序ReaxGen构建了正癸烷燃烧详细机理(包含1499个物种,5713步反应)和正十一烷燃烧详细机理(包含1843个物种,6993步反应)。详细机理主要由小分子核心机理和高碳烃类(C5以上)机理两部分组成。为了验证机理的合理性与可靠性,本文对于高碳烃燃烧新机理在点火延时时间以及物种浓度曲线进行了动力学分析,并与实验数据及国内外同类机理进行了对比,结果表明本文提出的正癸烷和正十一烷燃烧新机理在比较宽泛的温度、压力和当量比条件下都具有较高的模拟精度,为发展精确航空煤油燃烧模型提供了基础数据。同时考虑到详细机理的复杂性以及机理分析的计算量大和时耗长,本文基于误差传播的直接关系图形(Directed Relation Graph with Error Propagation,DRGEP)方法简化得到的包含709组分2793反应的正癸烷和包含820组分3115反应的正十一烷简化机理,使用DRGEP方法时所采用的数据点选自压力范围从1.0×10~5 Pa到1.0×10~6Pa,当量比范围从0.5到2.0,初始温度范围从600到1400时恒压点火的模拟结果在点火延迟时间附近区域的抽样,同时在正癸烷机理简化中选取正癸烷、O_2和N_2作为初始预选组分,正十一烷的机理简化中主要选取正十一烷、O_2和N_2作为初始预选组分,得到的简化机理在比较宽泛的条件下的预测结果与详细机理吻合很好。最后结合敏感度分析方法分析了正癸烷和正十一烷的点火延迟敏感性,考察了机理中影响点火的关键反应。结果表明:这些机理能够合理描述正癸烷和正十一烷的自点火特性,在工程计算流体力学仿真设计中有很好的应用前景。     

The FDTD simulation for the performance of dispersive cloak devices

In this paper, we defined the scattering energy intensity based on the Poynting vector to quantitatively study the cloak effect of electromagnetic waves in the time domain. The influences of the effective working frequency bands of four kinds of electromagnetic cloak materials, incidence angle of electromagnetic waves and the number of approximately cloak layers on the cloak effect are studied. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to use the time domain method to quantitatively study the effective working frequency band and the scattering energy intensity of cloak materials.     

Direct calculation of time varying Aharonov-Bohm effect

The Aharonov-Bohm effect (ABE) for steady magnetic fields is a well known phenomenon. However, if the current in the infinite solenoid that creates the magnetic field is time-dependent, that is in the presence of both magnetic and electric fields, there is no agreement whether the effect would be present. In this note, we try to investigate time varying ABE by a direct calculation in a set-up with a weak time dependent magnetic field. We find that the electric field arising out of the time-varying magnetic field in the path of the electrons does not enter the action integral but only changes the path of the electron from the source to the slits and then on to the detector. We find a frequency dependent AB phase shift. At low frequencies the result smoothly approaches the one for a constant field as the frequency tends towards zero. On the other hand, for high frequencies such that the AB-phase induced in the path of the wave packet oscillates rapidly, the net effect will be very small which is borne out by our results.     

The fluorescence interference in Raman spectrum of raw coals and its application for evaluating coal property and combustion characteristics

Fluorescence interference in Raman spectrum is a big barrier for rapid and precise analysis of coal structures by Raman spectroscopy. Dealing with fluorescence interference suitably is one of the key tasks before efficient application of Raman spectroscopy in coal assessment. In this study, Raman spectra and coal combustion characteristics of 32 kinds of Chinese coals were respectively obtained in a micro-Raman spectrometer and Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer. The degree of fluorescence interference in Raman spectrum was firstly defined and quantified as the drift coefficient α using a simple method without curve-fitting the spectrum. The correlations between the degree of fluorescence interference and coal property, coal combustion characteristics were set up and multivariable analysis was done. The results indicate that the degree of fluorescence interference is well related to the coal structures, and it is synthetically determined by volatile, moisture and ash content in coal. With the increase of volatile, moisture content in coal, the fluorescence interference increases continuously, and it can be reduced but not eliminated by drying the moisture in coals. Significant mathematical relations between the drift coefficient α and volatile, moisture content, coal combustion characteristic temperatures have been found. Coal with more evident fluorescence interference in Raman spectrum usually has lower degree of coalification, more polar functional groups, and burns at a lower temperature. The drift coefficient α can act as an efficient probe for coal property and coal combustion characteristics. This study provided a new and simple approach for evaluating coal property and coal combustion characteristics by fluorescence interference in Raman spectrum.