Temperature separation and friction losses in vortex tube

The process of energy separation and friction losses in a vortex tube is studied in detail. The hot and cold exit air temperatures were measured. Experiments have been conducted at inlet pressure of 3.5, 5, 7.5 and 9 bar, at inlet temperature of 292.15 and 298.15 K and at cold air mass ratio from 0 to1. The results demonstrate that the hot air temperature reaches its maximum value at a cold air mass ratio of nearly 0.82, while the minimum value of cold air temperature is found at a cold air mass ratio of 0.3. Based on energy and mass balances as well as on the definition of internal energy and on experimental results a new model for the determination of hot and cold exit gas temperature has been developed. The model includes the relevant primary parameters and predicts the experimental results as well as the data published in the literature sufficiently accurate for engineering purposes.A cross-section area m³ - D diameter of the pipe m - F model parameter - f friction factor - L length of the tube m - m mass flow rate kg/s - y cold air mass ratio - P static pressure Pa - T temperature K - t thickness of the orifice m - R gas constant J/kg K - v velocity of fluid m/s - density of the fluid kg/m³ - friction factor for pipe - friction factor for orifice and tee junction - 1 inlet of compressed gas - 2 exit of hot gas - 3 exit of cold gas - atm atmospheric pressure - c cold exit gas - f friction - h hot exit gas - o orifice plate - T tee junction     

Ethnobotanical study of some aromatic and medicinal plants in the Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco

By the diversity of its soil and climatic factors, Morocco offers a flora particularly rich in aromatic and medicinal plants (MAP). In order to obtain the most information about the flora (flowering times, fruiting, harvesting and their main uses in traditional medicine), a study was conducted in the mountainous Khenifra region. A survey of users of MAP (rural population, herbalists arborists) has been undertaken and was completed by field observations and sampling at different stages of growth. The results showed a range of indigenous and diversified MAP belonging to 10 botanical families (Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Papaveraceae, Caryophyllaceae, Cupressaceae, Rutaceae, Anacardiaceae and Zygophyllaceae). The flowering period of all species, according to the local community surveyed, spread from February (2%) to September (12%), with a significant concentration from April to June (65%).The highest rate of fructification occurred in June-July (64%). The harvesting period of the main MAP from this mountain area stretches mainly from March to April (61%). The mode of propagation stated varied among species, and concerned mainly replication by seeds (53%) and cuttings (24%). Regarding the use of these indigenous MAP as traditional medicines, all plant parts are used, especially leaves, flowers and stems.     

Gas–liquid pressure drop in vertical internally wavy 90° bend

Experiments of air water two-phase flow pressure drop in vertical internally wavy 90° bend have been carried out. The tested bends are flexible and made of stainless steel with inner diameter of 50 mm and various curvature radiuses of 200, 300, 400 and 500 mm. The experiments were performed under the following conditions of two-phase parameters; mass flux from 350 to 750 kg/m² s. Gas quality from 1% to 50% and system pressure from 4 to 7.5 bar. The results demonstrate that the effect of the above-mentioned parameters is very significant at high ranges of mass flow quality. Due to the increasing of two-phase flow resistance, energy dissipations, friction losses and interaction of the two-phases in the vertical internally wavy 90° bend the total pressure drops are perceptible about 2–5 times grater than that in smooth bends. Based on the mass and energy balance as well as the presented experimental results, new empirical correlation has been developed to calculate the two-phase pressure drop and hence the two-phase friction factor of the tested bends. The correlation includes the relevant primary parameter, fit the data well, and is sufficiency accurate for engineering purposes.     

Experimental investigation of critical pressure ratio in orifices

To determine the value of the critical pressure ratio in orifices, critical mass flow rate of air through straight-bore orifices and knife orifices was measured. The straight-bore test orifices with varying orifice diameters of 4, 7, 10 and 12 mm were installed in a 20-mm pipe. The knife or sharp-edged test orifices with orifice diameters of 10, 15 and 18 mm were installed in a 40-mm pipe. The test orifices with diameter ratio from 0.2 to 0.6 exhibited a constancy of discharge at ratios of the downstream to upstream pressures of less than 0.17, which is considerably lower than the theoretical critical pressure ratio for an ideal nozzle. An empirical expression to calculate the value of the critical pressure ratio, which includes the relevant primary parameters and which fits the data well, is suggested for engineering design purposes.     

Visco-elastic fluid flow past an infinite vertical porous plate in the presence of first-order chemical reaction

An analysis has been developed to study the unsteady free convection flow of an incompressible visco-elastic fluid on a continuously moving vertical porous plate in the presence of a first-order chemical reaction. The governing equations are solved numerically using an implicit finite difference technique. The obtained numerical solutions are compared with the analytical solutions. The velocity profiles are presented. A parametric analysis is performed to illustrate the influences of the visco-elastic parameter, the dimensionless chemical reaction parameter, and the plate moving velocity on the steady state velocity profiles, the time dependent friction coefficient, the Nusselt number, and the Sherwood number.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation on the discharge characteristic of stratified two-phase flow

New measurements of the axial velocity profile of gas/liquid stratified mixture have been carried out. The results demonstrated that there are different types of velocity profiles and different maximum velocities inside the gas and the liquid layers. Simple correlation to determine the average velocity was obtained to characterize the very common mixture in typical industrial pipeline systems. The correlation fits the data well, and it is suggested for engineering purposes.