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.     

Fully developed mixed convection in horizontal and inclined tubes with uniform heat flux using nanofluid

Fully developed laminar mixed convection of a nanofluid consists of water and Al₂O₃ in horizontal and inclined tubes has been studied numerically. Three-dimensional elliptic governing equations have been solved to investigate the flow behaviors over a wide range of the Grashof and Reynolds numbers. Comparisons with previously published experimental and numerical works on mixed convection in a horizontal and inclined tube are performed and good agreements between the results are observed. Effects of nanoparticles concentration and tube inclinations on the hydrodynamics and thermal parameters are presented and discussed. It is shown that the nanoparticles concentration does not have significant effects on the hydrodynamics parameters. Heat transfer coefficient increases by 15% at 4 Vol.% Al₂O₃. Skin friction coefficient continually increases with the tube inclination, but the heat transfer coefficient reaches a maximum at the inclination angle of 45°.     

Investigation of laminar plasma remelting/cladding processing

Investigation of remelting and cladding processing with laminar plasma jets on several metals has been conducted looking for possible development of a new surface modification technique. The remelting tests illustrated that the new method could evidently improve the material microstructure and properties of cast iron. The cladding was done with Al₂O₃ ceramic powder on stainless steel. The energy dispersive spectra (EDS) analysis was used to determine the distribution of the major cladding element in the plasma-processed layers, for which the microstructure observations and hardness measurements were also performed.     

Effects of Polymer Bridging and Electrostatics on the Rheological Behavior of Aqueous Colloidal Dispersions†

Effects of a low molecular weight physically adsorbed polyethylene oxide (PEO) and the range of the electrostatic repulsion on the rheological behavior of silica dispersions (as a model system) has been investigated. Particular attention is given to the evolution of the rheological behavior with increasing the polymer concentration in the system and also effectiveness of the polymer as a dispersant under extreme conditions (high ionic strength). Results indicate that at small separation distances and low polymer coverage, the polymer chains are long enough to adsorb on the surface of two particles simultaneously causing bridging flocculation in the system and hence increasing the viscosity and linear viscoelastic functions of the dispersion. A significant increase was observed in the viscosity of the dispersion at salt concentrations high enough to eliminate electrostatics between the particles. Under these conditions,the viscosity of the system increased significantly when PEO was added to the dispersion showing that at high electrolyte concentrations, a neutral polymer such as PEO is not able to stabilize the system.     

纳米悬浮液热导率测量及其预测模型的探讨

纳米颗粒悬浮液具有广泛应用于强化传热的潜在优势。本文采用加入表面活性剂的方法提高纳米悬浮液的悬浮稳定性,并用瞬态热线法测量了热导率。在分析现有理论模型和纳米悬浮液热导率影响因素研究的基础上,从弹性传动和非弹性传动两方面分析了纳米尺度效应导致纳米悬浮液热导率提高的机理。发现已有的理论公式仍然存在一定欠缺,预测值比实验值偏低,有关机理尚有待于深入探讨。     

Structural properties of charged diblock copolymer solutions

Aqueous micellar solutions of ionic/neutral block copolymers have been studied by light scattering, small angle neutron scattering and small angle X-ray scattering. We made use of a polymer comprised of a short hydrophobic block (polyethylene-propylene) PEP and of a long polyelectrolytic block (polystyrene-sulfonate) PSSNa which has been shown previously to micellize in water. The apparent polydispersity of these micelles is studied in detail, showing the existence of a few large aggregates coexisting with the population of micelles. Solutions of micelles are found to order above some threshold in polymer concentration. The order is liquid-like, as demonstrated by the evolution with concentration of the peak observed in the structure factor (), and the degree of order is found to be identical over a large range of concentrations (up to 20 wt%). Consistent values of the aggregation number of the micelles are found by independent methods. The effect of salt addition on the order is found to be weak. Received: 19 June 1997 / Received in final form: 4 September 1997 / Accepted: 9 October 1997     

Characterization of chemiluminescence from singlet oxygen under laminar flow conditions in a micro-channel and its quenching with beverages

Singlet oxygen was generated by reaction of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide in a micro-channel. The two reagent solutions were delivered into the micro-channel by a syringe pump, providing a laminar flow liquid-liquid interface. The chemiluminescence from the singlet oxygen was emitted in the collapse of the interface due to molecular diffusion under laminar flow conditions. The chemiluminescence intensity was observed continuously and stably for each combination of reagents fed into the micro-channel; while, in the normal batch-type reactor the chemiluminescence peaks from singlet oxygen were observed within ca. 5 s. The features of the chemiluminescence emitted under laminar flow conditions were examined by changing the concentrations of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide; the concentrations of 2.5 mM sodium hypochlorite and 7.5 mM hydrogen peroxide provided highest chemiluminescence intensities without bubble formation. Also, the effects of beverages, such as green tea, coffee, white wine, red wine, and sake (rice wine), on the chemiluminescence intensity as well as the concentrations of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide were examined. The chemiluminescence intensities observed with addition of the beverages to the reagents decreased in the following orders; green tea > coffee > red wine > rice wine > white wine (being added to sodium hypochlorite); coffee > white wine > green tea > red wine > rice wine (being added to hydrogen peroxide). It was found that coffee decreased the chemiluminescence intensity (ca. 33% chemiluminescence decrease) without altering the concentrations of sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide. The cause of the decrease in chemiluminescence with coffee is discussed.     

Dissipative structures formed in the course of drying the colloidal crystals of silica spheres on a cover glass

Macroscopic and microscopic dissipative structural patterns formed in the course of drying the deionized aqueous colloidal crystal suspensions of silica spheres (diameter: 103 nm) on a cover glass have been observed. Spoke-like and ring-like patterns are formed in the macroscopic scale; the former is the crack in the sphere film and the latter is the hill accumulated with spheres formed around the outside edge. The neighbored inter-spoke angle, thickness of the film, and other morphological parameters have been discussed as a function of sphere concentration, concentration of sodium chloride, and the inclined angle of the cover glass. Fractal patterns of the mud cracks are observed in the microscopic scale. Capillary forces between spheres at the air-liquid surface and the relative rates between the water flow at the drying front and the convection flow of spheres are important for the pattern formation. Electronic Publication     

Nonequilibrium Brownian dynamics simulations of shear thinning in concentrated colloidal suspensions

The effect of interparticle forces on shear thinning in concentrated aqueous and nonaqueous colloidal suspensions was studied using nonequilibrium Brownian dynamics. Hydrodynamic interactions among particles were neglected. Systems of 108 particles were studied at volume fractions of 0.2 and 0.4. For the nonaqueous systems, shear thinning could be correlated with the gradual breakup of small flocs present because of the weak, attractive secondary minimum in the interparticle potential. At the highest shear rate for=0.4, the particles were organized into a hexagonally packed array of strings. For the strongly repulsive aqueous systems, the viscosity appeared to be a discontinuous function of the shear rate. For=0.4, this discontinuity coincided with a transition from a disordered state to a lamellar structure for the suspension.     

Effect of Electrode Pattern on the Column Structure and Yield Stress of Electrorheological Fluids

For electrorheological (ER) suspensions, the aggregate structures of particles were observed in electric fields by the use of transparent cells with different electrode patterns. Although the suspension is dispersed to noninteracting particles without electric fields, many aggregates are formed on the electrode surface in electric fields. Since the dipole–dipole interactions cause chain structures of particles and equilibrium conformations of chains are always aligned with electric field, the aggregates indicate the presence of columns spanning the electrode gap. The particle concentration in columns which are developed between parallel-plate electrodes is about 22 vol %. In striped electrodes, the particles construct striped aggregates along the electrodes and no particles remain in the insulating region. The particle concentration in striped aggregates is about 35 vol %. The nonuniformity of electric field is responsible for the high particle concentration. The increase in particle concentration of column lead to the high yield stress of electrified suspension. Therefore, the ER performance of suspension as an overall response can be improved by the electrode design.