Effect of storage medium on thermal properties of packed beds

The present paper is concerned with studying the effects of storage medium properties on the thermal behaviour of packed beds during charging. A transient one-dimensional two-phase model is used to describe the temperature fields in the air and solid media constituting the bed. The numerical solution of the resulting two-coupled partial differential equations is obtained, and the variation of thermal energy stored with time is computed. Solutions are obtained for a wide range of storage media (the solid phase) properties, namely density, thermal conductivity and specific heat. The results show that increasing either the density or specific heat increases the rate and capacity of energy storage, and decreases the rate of temperature rise throughout the storage medium. On the other hand, increasing the thermal conductivity is found to markedly increase the rate of temperature rise and energy stored inside the bed up to a certain time during charging, beyond which this trend completely reverses. In addition, the thermal storage properties of aluminum, steel and rock-packed beds are computed and compared.     

Numerical analysis of three-dimensional flow and thermal behaviour in a scraped-surface heat exchanger

In the present work, heat transfer from a jacketed wall of a scraped-surface heat exchanger (SSHE) is numerically simulated. With the purpose to analyse the hydrodynamic and thermal behaviour under various operating and geometrical conditions, the three-dimensional form of the Navier-Stokes and energy equations are discretized using the controlled-volume method. The hydrodynamic and thermal behaviour can take a variety of possible configurations depending on the number, shape, size of the scrapers and the ratio of rotation to the axial Reynolds numbers. Stagnation points can be easily located, which may be of interest for improving temperature-sensitive processes. The rate of heat transfer is also numerically determined in order to optimize operating and geometrical conditions.     

Characterization of Powder Beds by Thermal Conductivity: Effect of Gas Pressure on the Thermal Resistance of Particle Contact Points

The thermal conductivity of ceramic powder packed beds was measured at temperatures below 100 °C for various powder sizes and compositions and under different gas atmospheres. Measurements at low pressures (down to 10 Pa) combined with a theoretical model allowed the elucidation of geometrical and thermal resistance parameters for the contact points between granules. The gap thickness and contact point size were found to be well correlated with the mean particle size. The thermal conductivities of all powders at low pressure were found to differ at most by a factor of two, whereas the solid‐phase conductivities of the powder materials differed by more than one order of magnitude. A theoretical model accounting for the size‐dependence of contact point conductivity is incorporated to rationalize this trend.     

Strahlungsenergietransport mit Absorption in zylindrischen Bögen

For temperatures above 12,000 °K the contribution of non-transparent radiation becomes very important for the energy transport in argon and nitrogen arc plasmas. Formulas for the radiation flux and the difference between emission and absorption of radiation per unit volume and time are given generally and furthermore for arcs of cylindrical symmetry. For argon arcs at normal pressure with axial temperatures between 10,000 and 16,000 °K the radiative behaviour is investigated and the share of transparent and non-transparent radiation on the total energy flux is computed. The influence of different assumptions made on the amount of emission and absorption on theE(I)-characteristic and the radial temperature distributions is shown.     

Characteristic analysis of low-velocity gas filtration combustion in an inert packed bed

This paper investigates the low-velocity filtration combustion of lean methane–air mixtures occurring in inert packed beds by using a modified one-temperature model, considering the axial thermal diffusion owing to the convective gas–solid heat transfer. Based on the scaling analysis of various transport terms in different conservation equations, a high-activation energy asymptotic method is applied in the flame zone and results in a set of powerful analytical solutions for combustion macrocharacteristics under the fully developed conditions. These are then combined with the eigenvalue method of the modified one-temperature model in the whole flow region to study the flame behaviour analytically and numerically. Our results have shown that the combustion wave velocity is a key characteristic parameter in the filtration combustion process. Compared with other existing theoretical results, the present analytical solutions demonstrate the intricate relationships among the combustion wave velocity, the flame speed, the peak flame temperature and the effects of the variable thermo-physical properties, and show better prediction performance for the combustion wave velocity, the flame speed and the peak flame temperature. Excellent agreements with experimental results have been observed, especially for very lean filtration combustion with stream-wise propagating combustion fronts.     

球形堆积床蓄冷空调系统实验性能研究

文中对球形堆积床蓄冷空调系统的蓄冷和放冷特性进行实验研究。在实验过程中,测量堆积床内流体温度、蓄冷时蒸发器进出口温度、放冷时换热器进出口温度以及室内机组进风和出风温度。通过测量的数据,得出蓄冷和放冷过程中的蓄冷、放冷速率和蓄冷、放冷量随时间的变化。在放冷时,出风温度稳定在16℃。因此,该系统可以用于空调系统的蓄冷和放冷过程,既有利于电力负荷"移峰填谷",又能满足室内温度调节的需求。     

Behavior of Volatile Elements in the Graphite Furnace in the Presence of Silver as Matrix Modifier

The effect of silver, as an aqueous solution of AgNO₃, on the pretreatment and atomization behaviour of As, Cd, Bi, Hg, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn and Tl during electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry has been investigated. The presence of silver in the graphite furnace leads to thermal stabilisation of all investigated volatile elements to allow higher pyrolysis temperatures. The maximum, loss‐free, pretreatment temperatures (°C) in the presence of 100 µg Ag by atomization from the wall or from a platform are respectively: As (1500°C, –); Cd (800°C, 800°C); Bi (700°C, 700°C); Hg (250°C, –); Pb (600°C, 900°C); Sb (1200°C, 1200°C); Se (1400°C, 1400°C); Sn (1100°C, 1100°C) and Tl (1000°C, 1100°C). Also, silver facilitates a relatively low atomization temperature (°C) from the wall for Cd (1300°C), Bi (1700°C), Pb (1400°C), Se (1900°C) and Tl (1400°C). In addition, silver enhances the measurement sensitivity by a factor of 1.2–1.8.     

Combined experimental and computational study of laminar, axisymmetric hydrogen–air diffusion flames

We investigate the structure of two-dimensional, axisymmetric, laminar hydrogen–air flames in which a cylindrical fuel stream is surrounded by coflowing air, using laser-diagnostic and computational methods. Spontaneous Raman scattering and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) are used to measure the distributions of major species and temperature. Computationally, we solve the governing conservation equations for mass, momentum, energy, and species, using detailed chemistry and transport. The fuel is diluted with nitrogen (1:1) to reduce heat transfer to the burner, to match the zero temperature gradient at the fuel exit. Three average fuel exit velocities are studied: 18, 27, and 50 cm/s. Comparisons of the measured and computed results are performed for radial profiles at a number of axial positions, and along the axial centerline. Peak major species mole fractions and temperatures are quantitatively predicted by the computations, and the axial species profiles are predicted to within the experimental uncertainty. In the radial profiles studied, base-case computations excluding thermal diffusion of light species were in excellent agreement with the measurements. While the addition of thermal diffusion led to some discrepancy with the measured results, the magnitude of the differences was no more than 25%. The computations predicted the axial centerline profiles from the burner exit to the maximum temperature well, though the experimental temperatures in the downstream mixing region decreased somewhat faster than the computed profiles. Radiative losses are seen to be negligible in these flames, and changes in transport properties and variations in initial flow velocities generally led to only modest changes in the axial profiles. The results also show that the detailed axial profiles of major species and temperature at different fuel jet velocities scale quantitatively with the jet velocity.     

Study of interface reactions between Ti/Al/Ni/Au metallization and AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

The electrical characteristics, and the range of interface metal-semiconductor reactions of Ti/Al/Ni/Au metallization with AlGaN/GaN heterostructures at various annealing temperatures ranging from 715°C to 865°C, have been investigated. The relation between the depth of the interface solid state reaction and the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the ohmic contact, have been studied. It was observed, that the transition from nonlinear to linear I-V behaviour occurred after the annealing at 805°C. The structural changes in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures beneath the metallic contact after the thermal treatment, were investigated. After removing the metallization by etching, the atomic force microscope profiles and scanning electron microscope images, were studied to define the depth to which the interfacial solid state reactions between the metallization and the semiconductor structure take place. It was observed, that the changes in the heterostructures, caused by the interface m-s reactions, were observed up to a depth of 180 nm at 865°C. In the worst case, this could result in the complete removal of the two-dimensional electron gas under the metallization of the ohmic contacts. To study the influence of the annealing process parameters on the properties of the two-dimensional electron gas, the van der Pauw Hall mobility measurement was performed.     

The use of calcination in exposing the entrapped Fe particles from multi-walled carbon nanotubes grown by chemical vapour deposition

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized a by chemical vapour deposition method. The effect of calcination at temperatures ranging from 300 to 550°C in exposing the metal nanoparticles within the nanotube bundles was studied. The degree of degradation of the structural integrity of the MWCNTs during the thermal process was studied by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The thermal behaviour of the as-prepared and calcined samples was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Calcination in air, at 400°C for 1 h, was found to be an efficient and simple method to extract metallic impurities from the amorphous carbon shells with minimal damage to the tube walls and lengths. The nanotubes were observed to be damaged at temperatures higher than 450°C.     

Computational and experimental study of oxygen-enhanced axisymmetric laminar methane flames

Three axisymmetric laminar coflow diffusion flames, one of which is a nitrogen-diluted methane/air flame (the ‘base case’) and the other two of which consist of nitrogen-diluted methane vs. pure oxygen, are examined both computationally and experimentally. Computationally, the local rectangular refinement method is used to solve the fully coupled nonlinear conservation equations on solution-adaptive grids. The model includes C2 chemistry (GRI 2.11 and GRI 3.0 chemical mechanisms), detailed transport, and optically thin radiation. Because two of the flames are attached to the burner, thermal boundary conditions at the burner surface are constructed from smoothed functional fits to temperature measurements. Experimentally, Raman scattering is used to measure temperature and major species concentrations as functions of the radial coordinate at various axial positions. As compared to the base case flame, which is lifted, the two oxygen-enhanced flames are shorter, hotter, and attached to the burner. Computational and experimental flame lengths show excellent agreement, as do the maximum centreline temperatures. For each flame, radial profiles of temperature and major species also show excellent agreement between computations and experiments, when plotted at fixed values of a dimensionless axial coordinate. Computational results indicate peak NO levels in the oxygen-enhanced flames to be very high. The majority of the NO in these flames is shown to be produced via the thermal route, whereas prompt NO dominates for the base case flame.     

Kinetic analysis of the thermal decomposition of pristine and γ-irradiated zinc uranyl acetate

Thermal decomposition of pristine and γ-irradiated zinc uranyl acetate was investigated in air using isothermal and dynamic thermogravimetric techniques. The decomposition proceeded via one major process with the formation of triuranates ZnU₃O₁₀ as solid residues. Kinetic analysis of isothermal data, when compared with various solid-state reaction models, showed that the decomposition reaction is best fitted by the phase-boundary model. Kinetic analysis of the dynamic TG curves was discussed with reference to integral methods of modified Coats and Redfern equations. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were calculated and evaluated. IR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction techniques were employed to follow the chemical composition of solid residue at different calcination temperatures. The results display that the triuranate ZnU₃O₁₀ starts forming by calcination of zinc uranyl acetate at temperatures?>?300 °C and undergoes decomposition at higher temperatures (>600 °C) with the formation of U₃O₈. The results were evaluated regarding the utilization of zinc uranyl acetate as an important source of diuranates and triuranates.     

Interparticle forces in silica nanoparticle agglomerates

To improve the understanding of the poor dispersability of fumed silica nanoparticle agglomerates, the stability of highly defined agglomerated model particles was investigated. The high temperature synthesis conditions for fumed silica were simulated by tempering. Along with electron-microscopical analysis of the sintering necks, the interparticle forces were investigated by energy resolved fragmentation analysis based on low pressure impaction. At temperatures above 1,000 °C the fragmentability of the agglomerates rapidly decreased while the energy necessary for fragmentation increased. The development of sintering necks was observed for temperatures exceeding 1,300 °C. Comparison of the experimental data with the fragmentation behaviour of a commercially produced fumed silica indicated solid state contacts (sintering necks) as being most numerous in the agglomerates resulting in limited fragmentability.     

Evolution of phase transformations after multiple steps of marforming in Ti-rich Ni-Ti SMA

The phase transformations associated with Shape Memory Effect (SME) can be one step, B19' (martensite) ↔ B2 (austenite), or two/multiple steps which include the intermediate R phase, depending on the thermal and thermomechanical history of the alloy. The transformation temperatures are generally observed above room temperature in Ti-rich Ni-Ti alloys, while those observed in Ni-rich alloys occur below room temperature. The goal of the present work is to investigate the phase transformations evolution in Ti-Rich Ni-Ti SMA (Ni-51 at % Ti) when subjected to two distinct thermal treatments (500°C for 30 minutes in air and 800°C for 300 minutes in vacuum) and subsequently multiple steps of marforming thermomechanical treatments intercalated with thermal treatments (500°C for 30 minutes in air) and subsequent four distinct final thermal treatments (400, 450, 500 or 600°C for 30 minutes in air). Further, the stability of phase transformations in the initial ten thermal cycles of these thermomechanically treated samples is also studied. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) were used to identify the transformation temperatures and the phases that are present after the thermomechanical treatments.     

Combustion synthesis of YAG:Ce and related phosphors

YAG:Ce is an important phosphor having applications in various fields ranging from solid state lighting to scintillation detectors. YAG phosphors doped with activators are mainly synthesized by solid state reaction techniques that require high sintering temperatures (above 1500°C) to eliminate YAM and YAP phases. Though several soft chemical routes have been explored for synthesis of YAG, most of these methods are complex and phase pure materials are not obtained in one step, but prolonged annealing at temperatures around 1000°C or above become necessary. One step combustion synthesis of YAG:Ce³⁺ and related phosphors carried out at 500°C furnace temperature is reported here. Activation with Ce³⁺ could be achieved during the synthesis without taking recourse to any post-combustion thermal treatment. LEDs prepared from the combustion synthesized YAG:Ce³⁺, exhibited properties comparable to those produced from the commercial phosphor.     

Effect of thermal annealing on optical properties of CR-39 polymeric track detector

The samples of CR-39 polymer (TASTRAK, Bristol, England) were annealled thermally at various temperatures ranging from 100°C to 180°C for 1 hour, in air. FTIR spectroscopy reveals the structural degradation of CR-39 polymer due to thermal annealing above its glass transition temperature. Optical band gap of pristine and thermally annealed samples has been determined using UV-Visible absorption spectra. It has been observed that the optical band gap decreases continuously as a result of annealing.      

A comparative study of H2-air premixed flame in micro combustors with different physical and boundary conditions

A numerical study of H₂-air premixed combustion in the micro channels with a detailed chemical reaction mechanism is performed by solving the two-dimensional fully elliptic governing equations of continuity, momentum, energy and species, coupled with the energy equation in the solid wall. A reference case is defined as the combustion in a cylindrical tube with 0.8 mm inner diameter and 8 mm length with a non-slip wall and a uniform velocity profile at the inlet plane. Different physical and boundary conditions have been applied in order to investigate their respective effects on the flame temperature. The conditions studied in the current paper include the combustor size and geometry, inlet velocity profile, axial heat conduction in the solid wall and slip-wall and temperature jump at the gas–solid interface. It is noted that effects of Knudsen number (slip-wall and temperature jump) on the thermal and fluid field are not very significant in a d = 0.4 mm micro combustor. Furthermore, the qualitative effects of Knudsen number on the flame temperature are analysed. The results of this paper indicate that these various boundary and physical conditions have effects on the flame temperature to different extent and should be carefully monitored when applied for different applications.     

Effect of thermal annealing on disorder and optical properties of Cr/Si bilayer thin films

Chromium/silicon bilayers are deposited by sequential electron beam evaporation on quartz substrates. The bilayers consisting of Cr and Si layers of 50 and 400 nm thicknesses, respectively, are subjected to post-deposition annealing at temperatures from 200 to 700 °C. The thermal annealing results in the interdiffusion between Cr and Si, as evidenced by cross-section scanning electron micrographs and the line profiles obtained from energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It is inferred from the compositional line profiles that the films are a combination of silicon-rich oxide, chromium oxide and unreacted Cr up to 500 °C. Chromium disilicide forms at temperatures greater than 500 °C with decrease in chromium oxide content. The refractive index value and extinction coefficient values are 2.1 and 0.12 in the as-deposited case which increase to 3.5 and 0.24 at 400 °C. These values decrease to 2.1 and 0.12 at 500 °C. At the same temperatures, the band gap values are 2.21, 2.40 and 2.28, respectively. Thus, the refractive index, absorption coefficient and the optical band gap of the films peak at an annealing temperature of 400 °C and decrease thereafter. Significantly, this is accompanied by increase in Urbach energy which is an indication of increase in disorder in the system. There is decrease in Urbach energy as well as the optical constants at temperatures >400 °C.     

Mössbauer study of MnZn ferrite formation under low oxygen pressure conditions

The solid state reaction of ferrite formation was studied under low oxygen partial pressure (10^-3% O₂) by Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and density measurements. At temperatures below 500°C, a Mn ferrite was formed, whereas the Zn ferrite formation starts later at the same temperature than in air sintering. The appearance of an intermediate Mn ferrite is caused by the low valency state of Mn ions under such strong reducing conditions. The MnZn ferrite formation is completed by 800°C.No direct correlation was found between ferrite formation and densification.