Optimization of the reflux ratio for methanol–water stage distillation column

In this paper, the enthalpy-concentration method was applied in order to model a steady-state continuous methanol–water mixture distillation column. This work includes three steps; first, to develop a code in MATLAB v.7.6 to apply to the mathematical model of the column. The second step is to simulate the column using HYSIS v.3.2. While the third is the calculation of the optimized reflux ratio to minimize the operating cost. For a distillation tower such as the methanol–water splitter in this study, there are relatively few degrees of freedom that can be manipulated in order to minimize operating costs; the reflux ratio can influence the steady-state operating point and therefore the daily costs. In this paper, we have discussed the trade-offs between reflux ratios and operating costs. A correlation is derived to define the optimum value of the reflux ratio as an exponential function of a certain economic parameter of energy prices and depreciation costs. We demonstrate that, at low energy prices or high equipment depreciation costs, the optimum reflux factor is high.     

Estimation of concrete compressive strength by a fuzzy logic model

Concrete mix design is a process of proportioning the ingredients in right proportions. The aim of this study is to design a fuzzy logic model for determination of the compressive strength of a concrete. The datasets which have been loaded into a fuzzy logic model contain 1,030 concrete mixtures. Input fields of the fuzzy expert system are weight percent of cement, water, blast furnace slag, fly ash, super plasticizer, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and age of the concrete. Output field is concrete compressive strength. Finally, 897 rules used for this fuzzy logic modeling.     

Estimation of sodium bicarbonate crystal size distributions in a steady-state bubble column reactor

Sodium bicarbonate is a substance which is produced in the middle stages of the soda ash production process. In this precipitation process, carbon dioxide gas is continuously injected into the bubble column reactor, which contains carbonate and bicarbonate solutions. This work deals with the study of the gas?Cliquid mass transfer, coupled with chemical reactions, and the liquid?Csolid mass transfer, coupled with crystallization. In this mathematical model, a mole balance has been instituted on flows and components through the bubble column, which also utilized a nucleation and growth formula for the solid phase and the Danckwerts?? theory for mass transfer between the gas and liquid phases. The mathematical model can predict the effects of several parameters on the sodium bicarbonate crystal size distributions. We computed the mathematical simulation model results with the experimental results of the bubble column reactor of the Shiraz Petrochemical Complex for validating the model and investigated the effects of different parameters on the sodium bicarbonate crystal size distributions.     

BL-general fuzzy automata and accept behavior

In this note, we focus on behavior of BL-general fuzzy automata (for simplicity BL-GFA) and we obtain the free realization for a given behavior, that is, a BL-general fuzzy automaton whose behavior is given behavior. Then we find the realization with the minimum number of states. The minimization takes two steps: at first discard all superfluous states, and then we merge all pairs of states which have the same behavior. Moreover we prove some theorems. In particular, we show that the minimal reduction of the reachable part of an BL-GFA is the minimal realization of the behavior it. Finally we give some examples to clarify these notions.     

Numerical study of aerosol particle deposition in simple and converging-diverging micro-channels with a slip boundary condition at the wall

The design of micro-devices involving aerosol transport requires the study of the deposition of aerosols in micro-channels. In this study, the slip and no-slip boundary conditions for the gas flow regime were applied to the Navier-Stokes equations to obtain the particle deposition in simple and converging-diverging micro-channels. The equation of particle motion included inertial, viscous, Brownian, and gravity terms. It was found that the ratio of gravity to inertial effects controls the deposition of particles with diameters of 0.1-1 μm, and the ratio of diffusion to inertial effects controls the deposition of particles with diameters of 0.01-0.001 i~m. Comparison between the no-slip and slip flow regimes showed that the deposition of 0.1- to 1-μm-diameter particles was less and the deposition of 0.01- to 0.001-1μm-diameter particles was greater for the slip flow regime. There was no significant difference between slip and no-slip flow regimes for the deposition of 0.01- to 0.1-μm-diameter particles. Finally, it was shown that the stagnated gas in the corners of the converging-diverging micro-channel produced similar gas velocity profiles under the slip and no-slip flow regimes.     

A novel theoretical model for calculating the effective diffusivity of gases in a porous pellet composed of two different grains

Effective diffusivity of gases is an important property when modeling the physicochemical processes occurring in a pellet. Calculating effective diffusivity in a pellet composed of a mixture of particles is a difficult task. In this paper, a theoretical model is presented in order to describe the diffusion of gases in a porous pellet made up of a mixture of two kinds of solid grain. Solid grains can either be fully dense and thus non-porous or contain pores, with a grain being sub-divided into sub-grains. The results predicted by the model have been evaluated and validated by use of experimental data obtained by reduction of cuprous sulfide in the presence of lime. Finally, the effects of structural properties and operating conditions on the effective diffusivity of the gases in the pellet have been evaluated.