Counterflow isotachophoresis in a monolithic column

This study describes stationary counterflow isotachophoresis (ITP) in a poly(acrylamide‐co‐N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide) monolithic column as a means for improving ITP processing capacity and reducing dispersion. The flow profile in the monolith was predicted using COMSOL's Brinkman Equation application mode, which revealed that the flow profile was mainly determined by monolith permeability. As monolith permeability decreases, the flow profile changes from a parabolic shape to a plug shape. An experimental monolithic column was prepared in a fused‐silica capillary using an ultraviolet‐initiated polymerization method. A monolithic column made from 8% (wt.) monomer was chosen for the stationary counterflow ITP experiments. Counterflow ITP in the monolithic column showed undistorted analyte zones with significantly reduced dispersion compared to the severe dispersion observed in an open capillary. Particularly, for r‐phycoerythrin focused by counterflow ITP, its zone width in the monolithic column was only one‐third that observed in an open capillary. These experiments demonstrate that stationary counterflow ITP in monoliths can be a robust and practical electrofocusing method.     

Transient soot dynamics in turbulent nonpremixed ethylene-air counterflow flames

The dynamics of soot formation in turbulent ethylene-air nonpremixed counterflow flames is studied using direct numerical simulation (DNS) with a semi-empirical soot model and the discrete ordinate method (DOM) as a radiation solver. Transient characteristics of soot behavior are studies by a model problem of flame interaction with turbulence inflow at various intensities. The interaction between soot and turbulence reveals that the soot volume fraction depends on the combined effects of the local conditions of flow, temperature, and fuel concentration, while the soot number density depends predominantly on the high temperature regions. Depending on the relative strength between mixing and reaction, the effects of turbulence on the soot formation lead to three distinct paths in deviating the data points away from the laminar flame conditions. It is found that turbulence has twofold effects of increasing the overall soot yield by generating additional flame volume and of reducing soot by dissipating soot pockets out of high-temperature regions. The relative importance between the two effects depends on the relative length scales of turbulence and flame, suggesting that a nonmonotonic response of soot yield to turbulence level may be expected in turbulent combustion.     

Synthesis of carbon nanotubes on Ni-alloy and Si-substrates using counterflow methane–air diffusion flames

We have conducted an experimental study to investigate the synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in counterflow methane–air diffusion flames, with emphasis on effects of catalyst, temperature, and the air-side strain rate of the flow on CNTs growth. The counterflow flame was formed by fuel (CH₄ or CH₄ + N₂) and air streams impinging on each other. Two types of substrates were used to deposit CNTs. Ni-alloy (60% Ni + 26% Cr + 14% Fe) wire substrates synthesized curved and entangled CNTs, which have both straight and bamboo-like structures; Si-substrates with porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanotemplates synthesized well-aligned, self-assembled CNTs. These CNTs grown inside nanopores had a uniform geometry with controllable length and diameter. The axial temperature profiles of the flow were measured by a 125 μm diameter Pt/10% Rh–Pt thermocouple with a 0.3 mm bead junction. It was found that temperature could affect not only the success of CNTs synthesis, but also the morphology of synthesized CNTs. It was also found, against previous general belief, that there was a common temperature region (1023–1073 K) in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and counterflow diffusion flames where CNTs could be produced. CNTs synthesized in counterflow flames were significantly affected by air-side strain rate not through the residence time, but through carbon sources available for CNTs growth. Off-symmetric counterflow flames could synthesize high-quality CNTs because with this configuration carbon sources at the fuel side could easily diffuse across the stagnation surface to support CNTs growth. These results show the feasibility of using counterflow flames to synthesize CNTs for particular applications such as fabricating nanoscale electronic devices.     

Influences of stoichiometry on steadily propagating triple flames in counterflows

Most studies of triple flames in counterflowing streams of fuel and oxidizer have been focused on the symmetric problem in which the stoichiometric mixture fraction is 1/2. There then exist lean and rich premixed flames of roughly equal strengths, with a diffusion flame trailing behind from the stoichiometric point at which they meet. In the majority of realistic situations, however, the stoichiometric mixture fraction departs appreciably from unity, typically being quite small. With the objective of clarifying the influences of stoichiometry, attention is focused on one of the simplest possible models, addressed here mainly by numerical integration. When the stoichiometric mixture fraction departs appreciably from 1/2, one of the premixed wings is found to be dominant to such an extent that the diffusion flame and the other premixed flame are very weak by comparison. These curved, partially premixed flames are expected to be relevant in realistic configurations. In addition, a simple kinematic balance is shown to predict the shape of the front and the propagation velocity reasonably well in the limit of low stretch and low curvature.     

On the chemical characteristics and dynamics of n-alkane low-temperature multistage diffusion flames

We demonstrate experimentally, perhaps for the first time, the existence of low-temperature multistage diffusion flames of n-alkanes. Multistage diffusion flames of n-heptane, n-decane, and n-dodecane are established in an atmospheric counterflow burner. Planar laser-induced fluorescence, chemiluminescence, and thermometry are used to probe the structures of such flames. In the first flame zone, the majority of the fuel is partially oxidized via low-temperature peroxy chemistry. In the second flame zone, the intermediate species produced are further oxidized via intermediate-temperature chemistry. The two stages of the flame are coupled such that significant fuel and oxidizer leakage occur, respectively, from the first and second reaction zones. The fuel is then further consumed, in the second stage, after the radical pool is replenished by the oxidation of the intermediates. The structure of the n-alkane multistage flame is found to be consistent with that previously observed for acyclic ethers. Owing to the different classes of temperature-dependent chemistries dominating the first and second stages, the reaction zone structure of multistage diffusion flames is dramatically influenced by the reactant concentrations and flame temperatures. The first stage is relatively favored at lower temperatures whereas the second stage is favored at elevated temperatures. Moreover, near extinction where the flame temperature is low, the multistage flame dynamics are controlled by the first oxidation stage, governed by peroxy chemistry, whereas the second oxidation stage, governed by intermediate chemistry, is dominant near high-temperature ignition conditions. Finally, by doping the oxidizer with ozone, we demonstrate the role of ozone doping on the multistage flame structure and the existence of a separate low-temperature ozone-assisted burning mode.     

Experimental and numerical determination of heat release in counterflow premixed laminar flames

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study of heat release in atmospheric laminar counterflow premixed flames. The measurements are based on simultaneous planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of OH and HCHO. These measurements are compared to numerical results obtained using detailed chemistry and multicomponent transport properties. A low Mach number formulation along the stagnation streamline is employed to describe the reactive flow. The conservation equations are completed with CHEMKIN and EGLIB packages. They are solved using finite differences, Newton iterations, and an adaptive gridding technique. The comparison is done along the burner axis for both, maximum heat release location and heat release profile width. It is shown that the product of OH and HCHO concentrations yields a result closely related to the heat release. These comparisons lead to the conclusion that the experimental method used seems to be a good tool for the determination of heat release in flames.     

氢、碳氢燃料对向扩散火焰

对氢、正烷烃碳氢燃料与氧的对向扩散火焰,其中正烷烃包含了在工业用燃料中广泛应用的C_nH_2n+2正烷烃CH₄～C1₆H₃₄,对这些燃料的火焰结构进行了分析和比较,系统地分析了压力和拉伸率对火焰行为和热释放率等的影响,其中包含了2115个组分8157个可逆反应．研究结果表明,所有燃料的火焰厚度和热释放率与压力和拉伸率的乘积的平方根成线性关系．在相同工况下,氢的火焰厚度总是大于所有的碳氢燃料,而CH₄～C1₆H₃₄所有的碳氢燃料在相同工况下总是具有几乎相同的燃烧温度分布、燃烧产物分布、火焰厚度和热释放率,该结果表明由这些碳氢燃料组成的混合燃料具有同样的火焰特性.     

Quantitative assessment of flow and electric fields for electrophoretic focusing at a converging channel entrance with interfacial electrode

The electric field and flow field gradients near an electrified converging channel are amenable to separating and focusing specific classes of electrokinetic material, but the detailed local electric field and flow dynamics in this region have not been thoroughly investigated. Finite elemental analysis was used to develop a model of a buffer reservoir connected to a smaller channel to simulate the electrophoretic and flow velocities (which correspond directly to the respective electric and flow fields) at a converging entrance. A detailed PTV (Particle Tracking Velocimetry) study using charged fluorescent microspheres was performed to assess the model validity both in the absence and presence of an applied electric field. The predicted flow velocity gradient from the model agreed with the PTV data when no electric field was present. Once the additional forces that act on the large particles required for tracing (dielectrophoresis) were included, the model accurately described the velocity of the charged particles in electric fields.     

氢、碳氢燃料对向扩散火焰

A comprehensive analysis of hydrogen/oxygen and hydrocarbon/oxygen counterflow diffu-sion flames has been conducted using corresponding detailed reaction mechanisms. The hydrocarbon fuels contain n-alkanes from CH₄ to C₁₆H₃₄. The basic diffusion flame struc-tures are demonstrated, analyzed, and compared. The effects of pressure, and strain rate on the flame behavior and energy-release rate for each fuel are examined systematically. The de-tailed chemical kinetic reaction mechanisms from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory(LLNL) are employed, and the largest one of them contains 2115 species and 8157 reversible reactions. The results indicate for all of the fuels the flame thickness and heat release rate correlate well with the square root of the pressure multiplied by the strain rate. Under the condition of any strain rate and pressure, H₂ has thicker flame than hydrocarbons, while the hydrocarbons have the similar temperature and main products distributions and almost have the same flame thickness and heat release rate. The result indicates that the fuels composed with these hydrocarbons will still have the same flame properties as any pure n-alkane fuel.