Comparison of Laminar and Turbulent Thermal Plasma Jet Characteristics—A Modeling Study

Modeling results are presented to compare the characteristics of laminar and turbulent argon thermal plasma jets issuing into ambient air. The combined-diffusion-coefficient method and the turbulence-enhanced combined-diffusion-coefficient method are employed to treat the diffusion of ambient air into the laminar and turbulent argon plasma jects, respectively. It is shown that since only the molecular diffusion mechanism is involved in the laminar plasma jet, the mass flow rate of ambient air entrained into the laminar plasma jet is comparatively small and less dependent on the jet inlet velocity. On the other hand, since turbulent transport mechanism is dominant in the turbulent plasma jet, the entrainment rate of ambient air into the turbulent plasma jet is about one order of magnitude larger and almost directly proportional to the jet inlet velocity. As a result, the characteristics of laminar plasma jets are quite different from those of turbulent plasma jets. The length of the high-temperature region of the laminar plasma jet is much longer and increases notably with increasing jet inlet velocity or inlet temperature, while the length of the high-temperature region of the turbulent plasma jet is short and less influenced by the jet inlet velocity or inlet temperature. The predicted results are reasonably consistent with available experimental observation by using a DC arc plasma torch at arc currents 80–250 A and argon flow rates (1.8–7.0)×10⁻⁴ kg/s.     

A comprehensive three-dimensional modeling of an internal reforming planar solid oxide fuel cell with different interconnect designs

Development of low-emission or zero-emission power generation systems is one of the most important subjects humanity is dealing with. Among different under development technologies and energy systems, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an efficient and low-emission energy conversion device that is passing its research and development career. The current study aims to investigate a hydrocarbon fueled anode-supported planar-type SOFC due to simpler geometry, higher power density, and low overpotentials. In this study, electric performance of a SOFC with different interconnect designs under different operating conditions, such as operating voltage, channel inlet temperature, pre-reforming rate of methane, and inlet fuel and air velocity, has been investigated by use of a three-dimensional model considering complicated systems of equations: species mass conservation, first law of thermodynamics, conservation of momentum, and non-linear electrochemical models including multi-specious diffusion. It has been concluded that at a given voltage, inlet temperature, inlet air and fuel velocity, and pre-reforming rate, wider gas channels help to more uniform distribution and better penetration of reactant gases. Therefore, considering low-concentration polarization as an object, narrow ribs are preferred over wide ribs. By increasing the rate of the electrochemical reaction, the current and power density and subsequently the temperature difference increase but the fuel consumption in all cases has almost a decreasing trend. Also, it has been found that increasing inlet air velocity has little effect on current and power density but because of more cooling effect, it reduces the temperature difference and fuel consumption coefficient. On the other hand, increasing the inlet temperature has no meaningful effect on the temperature difference along the channels.

     

Temperature‐dependent location of a weakly segregated block copolymer in binary blends of block copolymers

The phase behaviors of binary blends of poly(styrene‐b‐butadiene) block copolymers were investigated by a small‐angle X‐ray scattering technique. The blends were composed of weakly segregated one in a random micellar phase and the other in a cylindrical phase with similar molecular weights and complementary volume fractions. Morphologies, domain spacings, and order–disorder transition temperatures of the blends indicated that the junctions of the constituent block copolymers share the interface at low temperatures. The domain spacing decreased as temperature increased in a blend with a small amount of the weakly segregated block copolymer. In the cases of the blends with a large amount of the weakly segregated constituent, domain spacing increased with increasing temperature. These results implied that some of the weakly segregated block copolymer moved from the interface to one microdomain at higher temperatures. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 470–476     

Modeling of a DC Plasma Torch in Laminar and Turbulent Flow

A mathematical 2D representation is developed describing the temperature and the velocity profiles in a DC plasma torch and in the resulting plume. It is based on the resolution of conservation equations using the Simple method after Patankar. In the first part, we illustrate the effects of the turbulence, using, on the one hand, two Prandtl's mixing length models and, on the other hand, a standard k – model. We also show the influence of physical parameters like the inlet mass flow rate, the current intensity, and the kind of gas (argon or air) on the characteristics of the plasma. The second part of this study presents a comparison of the model with experimental results encountered in the literature. The profiles obtained at the exit of the torch are compared to the mathematical formulation used as boundary condition by the models taking into account only the plasma jet.     

Some perspectives on the modeling of plasma jets

A mathematical representation is developed describing the temperature and the velocity profiles and mixing in a plasma jet discharging into ambient air. In the model, realistic allowance is made for turbulent behavior, the temperature-dependent property values, and also for the boundary conditions, including entrainment. The more precise definition of the boundary conditions, mixing, and entrainment are thought to be important novel features of this work. The theoretical predictions were found to be in good agreement with measurements reported by Vardelle regarding the behavior of a nitrogen plasma, but the agreement was less satisfactory for an argon plasma jet. Possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed.Notation C ₁,C ₂,C _D constants inK- turbulence model - h enthalpy - H ₁ length of integration region - H ₂ width of integration region - K turbulent kinetic energy per unit mass - m mass concentration of plasma - Q _f mass flow rate of plasma gas for flat inlet profiles - Q _P mass flow rate of plasma gas for parabolic inlet profiles - P _w torch power - r radial coordinate - R ₀ internal radius of torch exit - S source term for dependent variable - S _R radiation loss per unit volume of plasma - T _a ambient temperature - T _m maximum temperature - T _t torch tip temperature - u velocity inz-direction - u _{C 1} velocity at and in the direction of the symmetry axis of the flow - u _m velocity of plasma atr=0 andz=0 (maximum velocity) - u axial direction velocity difference across the width of the mixing region - v velocity in r direction - Y radial width of the mixing region - z axial coordinate - density - , _e, _t molecular, effective, and turbulent viscosities, respectively - dissipation rate of turbulence energy - thermal efficiency of plasma torch - Prandtl/Schmidt number forh, K, , andm Visiting Fulbright Scholar and Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, on leave from the Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Punjab University, Lahore-20, Pakistan.     

Parameters controlling the generation and properties of plasma sprayed zirconia coatings

D.C. plasma jets temperature and velocity distributions as well as the arc root fluctuations at the anode were studied for Ar-H₂ (25 vol%) plasma forming gases. The parameters were the arc current up to 700 A, the total gas flow rate up to 100 slm, and the nozzle diameter which was varied from 6 to 10 mm. The trajectories of partially stabilized zirconia particles into the jet were studied by a 2D laser imaging technique and two fast (100 ns) two color pyrometers. The results have revealed the difficulty to inject small particles into the plasma flow since most were found to by-pass the jet rather than penetrate it. The results also show the broad trajectory distribution within the jet and the influence of the arc root fluctuations on the mean particle trajectory distribution within the jet. Beside the measurements of the particle surface temperature and velocity distributions in flight, the particle flattening and the cooling of the resulting splats were studied statistically for single particles all over the spray cone. Such studies have emphasized the drastic influence of the substrates or previously deposited layers temperature on the contact between them and the splats. At 200–300°C this contact is excellent (cooling rates of the order of 100 K/μs for 1 μm thick splats) and it results in a columnar growth within the splats and the layered splats of a bead (up to 500 layered splats). This growth can be observed through passes provided the bead surface temperature has not cooled too much (a few tens of K) before the next bead covers it. A/C values up to 60 MPa were achieved with PSZ coatings. The effect of impact velocity of the particles, of substrate preheating temperature, of relative movments torch to substrate, of substrate oxidation on A/C values and splat formation were also studied.     

Sampling techniques for SFC using peak focusing by pressure and/or temperature programming

In analogy to the focusing effective in capillary GC, performed with temperature programming but also with sectional cooling of the column inlet as in multidimensional capillary GC, peak focusing can easily be attained in SFC by adjustment of the mobile phase pressure as well as the column temperature. This may be of practical use in connection with sampling techniques giving poor, i.e. broad and unsymmetrical, peak shapes. Such disturbances may occur, for example, in time controlled valve sampling over longer switching times. Generally, all other negative influences on peak shape can be suppressed or compensated by trapping within the column inlet. Special trapping devices and “retention gaps” may also be coupled to the column inlet in order to create narrow starting plug widths. Positive pressure (density) and negative temperature programs give rise to peak compression besides the increase of peak capacity of the separation.     

Periodic crystallisation of magnesium hydroxide in agar-agar gel. Influence of temperature

The influence of temperature on periodic crystallisation of magnesium hydroxide in agar-agar gel has been studied. The increase in velocity constant with temperature is attributed to the increase in the diffusion constant with temperature. The activation energy for diffusion of aqueous ammonia is calculated from the temperature — velocity constant correlation. The solubility of Mg(OH)₂ decreases with temperature. The decrease in the spacing coefficient and fiocculation value of Mg(OH)₂ with temperature is also explained because of the increase in temperature. Matalon and Packter’s equation correlating the spacing coefficient and concentration of the inner electrolyte is suitably modified to satisfy the temperature dependence of the spacing coefficient.     

A partial phase diagram for a mixture of polystyrene with a low molecular weight styrene-dimethylsiloxane block copolymer

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to examine the miscibility of polystyrene (PS), mol. wt. 10⁵, with a phase-separated styrene-dimethylsiloxane (S-DMS) diblock copolymer, M_n = 3800, 86 wt% S. Mixtures whose S content varied from 4 to 96 wt% PS were examined at a 10 K min^?1 heating rate following a 200 K min^?1 cooling rate from temperatures varying from 403 to 573 K. At some compositions, two glass transition temperatures, T_gs, corresponding to PS transitions were observed; at others only a single T_g was observed. When it was assumed that the 200 K min^?1 cooling rate corresponded to quenching from the starting temperature, and when the heat capacity changes at the S glass transitions were used to calculate the percentage of S repeat units undergoing each glass transition, it was possible to calculate an approximate partial phase diagram for this mixture. At 96 wt% PS, there was evidence for a small amount of mixed S phase, possibly block copolymer micelles, in equilibrium with PS; from about 60 to 90 wt% PS, the S repeat units from the block copolymer appeared to be completely mixed with the PS. At lower wt% PS, unmixed block copolymer was in equilibrium with block copolymer whose S segments were mixed with the PS. The phase diagram appeared to vary only slightly with temperature.     

Chemical constituents and cytotoxic activity from the wood-decaying fungus Xylaria sp. SWUF08-37

Abstract

A new cyclic pentapeptide, pentaminolarin (1), and a new cytochalasin, xylochalasin (2), along with thirteen known compounds (3–15) were isolated from the wood-decaying fungus Xylaria sp. SWUF08-37. The absolute configurations of 1 were determined by a combination of Marfey’s method and TDDFT ECD calculation and the absolute configurations of 2 were established by TDDFT ECD calculation. Compound 12 showed moderate cytotoxicity against HeLa (IC₅₀?=?19.60?µg/mL), HT29 (IC₅₀?=?17.31?µg/mL), HCT116 (IC₅₀?=?14.28?µg/mL), MCF-7 (IC₅₀?=?15.38?µg/mL), and Vero (IC₅₀?=?24.97?µg/mL) cell lines by MTT assay. Compounds 1 and 2 showed slight cytotoxicity against all tested cancer cell lines.     

Synthesis and phase‐separation behavior of α,ω‐difunctionalized diblock copolymers

A series of diblock copolymers of n‐pentyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate (PPMA/PMMA BCP) with one or two terminal functional groups was prepared by sequential anionic polymerization of PMA and MMA using an allyl‐functionalized initiator and/or and end‐capping with allyl bromide. Allyl functional groups were successfully converted into OH groups by hydroboration. The morphology in bulk was examined by temperature‐dependent small‐angle X‐ray measurements (T‐SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showing that functional groups induced a weak change in d‐spacings L₀ as well as in the thermal expansion behavior. T‐SAXS proved that the lamellar morphologies were stable over multiple heating/cooling cycles without order‐disorder transition (ODT) until 300 °C. While non‐functionalized BCP formed parallel lamellae morphologies, additional OH‐termination at the PMMA block forced in very thin films (ratio between film thickness and lamellar d‐spacing below 1) the generation of perpendicular lamellae morphology through the whole film thickness, as shown by Grazing‐incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering experiments (GISAXS) measurements. Functionalized BCP were successfully used in thin films as templates for silica nanoparticles in an in‐situ sol–gel process. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Visualization and quantification of chaotic mixing for helical-type micromixers

The paper presents a micro mixer structures fabricated by an interesting technique of embedded twisted threads in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which is polymerized and cured. After removing the threads carefully, the remaining channel structure is studied concerning the flows and mixing characteristics. Three-, four-, and six-strand-helical fluid microchannels (d _h ?=?100?μm, L?=?3?mm) with a specified helix angle (θ?=?22°) were used to conduct the experiments. The electroosmotic flow, inlet velocity, local velocity at specified positions, and sample concentration distribution along a downstream direction were measured via microparticle image velocimetry and laser-induced fluorescence techniques, respectively. Local mixing efficiency and mixing length were obtained at very low Reynolds numbers (≤0.0242) and low Peclet numbers (≤65.8). Results show that four-strand micromixer has the best mixing performance. Finally, a correlation of mixing length with Pe was developed, which might be applicable to a microbiomedical device design.     

Shell-crosslinked nanoparticles through self-assembly of thermoresponsive block copolymers by RAFT polymerization

A reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent, the methyl-2-(n-butyltrithiocarbonyl)propanoate (MBTTCP) has shown to be efficient in controlling the polymerization of N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA), N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and N-acryloyloxysuccinimide (NAS). Two different strategies have been studied to synthesize block copolymers based on one PNIPAN block and the other a random copolymer of DMA and NAS. When a PNIPAM trithiocarbonate-terminated is used as macromolecular chain transfer agent for the polymerization of a mixture of NAS and DMA, well-defined P(NIPAM-b-(NAS-co-DMA)) block copolymers were obtained with a low polydispersity index. These thermoresponsive block copolymers dissolved in aqueous solution at 25 °C and self-assembled into micelles when the temperature was raised above the LCST of the PNIPAM block. The micelle shell containing NAS units was further crosslinked using a primary diamine in order to get shell-crosslinked nanoparticles. Upon cooling below the LCST of PNIPAM this structure may easily reorganize to form nanoparticles with a water filled hydrophilic core.     

Synthesis and characterisation of strontium carboxylates formed at room temperature and under hydrothermal conditions

A novel method was developed for the synthesis of highly pure strontium complexes in high yield. Syntheses proceeded along three pathways with optimum conditions being at T?=?120–140°C, a base?:?acid ratio of 1.2 and 15?min reaction-time in an autoclave vessel. Large crystals were readily obtained within hours. The crystal structures of strontium R-glutamate hexahydrate (I) and strontium di(hydrogen S-glutamate) pentahydrate (II) were determined by X-ray powder diffraction methods at 295?K with Rietveld refinement (I: Space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z?=?4, a?=?7.3519(2), b?=?8.7616(2), c?=?20.2627(5)?Å; II: Space group P2₁, Z?=?2, a?=?8.7243(1), b?=?7.2635(1), c?=?14.6840(2)?Å, β?=?100.5414(7)°). Synthesis at room temperature provided four additional new strontium compounds that may be applicable as constituents of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of bone conditions.     

Periodic precipitation of cobalt(II) oxinate

The conditions for obtaining periodic precipitation of cobalt(II) oxinate in agar-agar gel are investigated. The dependence of the nature of periodic precipitation on the concentrations of inner and outer electrolytes is studied in detail. The spacing law of Jablczynski and the time law of Morse and Pierce are verified in this system. The dependence of velocity constant (K) and the spacing coefficient (p) on the concentrations of inner and outer electrolytes has been studied. The velocity constant shows a nonlinear variation with the concentrations of the inner and outer electrolytes. The spacing coefficient (p) is inversely proportional to the concentrations of the inner and outer electrolytes. According to Shouji Shinohara's revised flocculation theory, the flocculation values are computed. The dependence of the flocculation value on the concentrations of the outer and inner electrolytes is studied.     

Numerical Modeling of an Impinging and Compressible Dusted Plasma Jet Controlled by a Magnetic Field

The present study has been conducted to clarify the magnetic control characteristics of a particle-laden compressible plasma jet impinging on a substrate for the improvement of a low-pressure plasma spraying process and its controllable optimization. The plasma jet is described by an Eulerian approach and each injected particle is described by a Lagrangian approach, respectively, taking into account the compressible effect, variable transport properties, and plasma–particle interactions, coupled with the Maxwell's equations. The effects of the location of an applied rf electromagnetic field and of the injected particle size on the plasma jet characteristics and the particle behavior are clarified by numerical simulation. It is concluded that the particle dispersion is effectively influenced and, furthermore, the plasma temperature and the particle temperature can be strongly controlled by applying the rf electromagnetic field to the nozzle. The reasonable agreement of particle velocity between calculation and experiment is obtained.     

Modeling Study on the Entrainment of Ambient Air into Subsonic Laminar and Turbulent Argon Plasma Jets

Modeling study is performed to reveal the special features of the entrainment of ambient air into subsonic laminar and turbulent argon plasma jets. Two different types of jet flows are considered, i.e., the argon plasma jet is impinging normally upon a flat substrate located in atmospheric air surroundings or is freely issuing into the ambient air. It is found that the existence of the substrate not only changes the plasma temperature, velocity and species concentration distributions in the near-substrate region, but also significantly enhances the mass flow rate of the ambient air entrained into the jet due to the additional contribution to the gas entrainment of the wall jet formed along the substrate surface. The fraction of the additional entrainment of the wall jet in the total entrained-air flow rate is especially high for the laminar impinging plasma jet and for the case with shorter substrate standoff distances. Similarly to the case of cold-gas free jets, the maximum mass flow-rate of ambient gas entrained into the turbulent impinging or free plasma jet is approximately directly proportional to the mass flow rate at the jet inlet. The maximum mass flow-rate of ambient gas entrained into the laminar impinging plasma jet slightly increases with increasing jet-inlet velocity but decreases with increasing jet-inlet temperature.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and structural characterization of a zigzag-chain polymer of {[ p -MeBzlPh3P][ZnCl2(NA)]} n (NA = nicotinic acid)

A metal-organic coordination polymer, { [p-MeBzlPh₃P][ZnCl₂(NA)]} _n (1) (NA?=?nicotinic acid), has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by IR, UV-Vis, TG analysis, elemental analysis, fluorescence analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c, a?=?10.1049(3)?Å, b?=?25.3888(6)?Å, c?=?14.7244(3)?Å, β?=?129.2740(10)°, V?=?2924.31(13)?ų, Z?=?4, R ₁?=?0.0639, wR ₂?=?0.1695 and S?=?1.133. The structure of 1 has a one-dimensional structure with [p-MeBzlPh₃P]⁺ counter-cations alternately residing on both sides of the one-dimensional anionic chains of the zigzag-chain polymer. Compound 1 exhibits strong fluorescence in solid state at room temperature.     

Synthesis,structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 nanoparticles

In this work, we reported a detailed study on the synthesis, structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃. The synthesized nanoparticles were prepared using a sol–gel method and characterized using X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscope. The average particle size was found in the range from 40 to 45 nm. The magnetization versus temperature M(T) measurements as well as magnetization field dependence M(H) have been investigated using vibrating-sample magnetometer. The magnetization as a function of temperature M(T) indicated a broad second-order magnetic phase transition from ferromagnetic state to paramagnetic state in the Curie temperature region (320–340 K). The magnetocaloric effect of the sample has been estimated and presented a maximum magnetic entropy change |ΔS_M|_max?=?0.86 J kg^?1 K^?1 with relative cooling power?=?62.12 J kg^?1 at magnetic field (H)?=?2T. Based on the result of magnetocaloric properties, the investigated sample could be considered as a good refrigerant material for near room temperature magnetic refrigeration.

     

Photoinitiated Thiol-ene Reactions of Enoses: A Powerful Tool for Stereoselective Synthesis of Glycomimetics with Challenging Glycosidic Linkages

Thioglycosides and C-glycosides represent pharmacologically useful classes of glycomimetics that possess a high degree of biological stability. One emerging tool for the stereoselective synthesis of thioglycosides is the photoinitiated addition of thiols to unsaturated sugars. Moreover, thiyl radical-mediated reactions of exo-glycals and 1-substituted endo-glycals offer facile routes to β-C-glycosidic structures. This Concept article summarizes the thiol-ene coupling strategies developed recently by our group and Somsák's group for the synthesis of several kinds of glycomimetics which are difficult to synthesize by conventional methods. One unusual characteristic of the thiol-ene reactions of endo-glycals is that heating inhibits, whereas cooling promotes the reaction. This unique temperature dependence as well as the effects of the enose structures and thiol configurations on the efficacy and stereoselectivity of the reactions are also discussed.