Modeling nitrate aerosol distributions and its direct radiative forcing in East Asia with RAMS-CMAQ

The geographical and seasonal characteristics in nitrate aerosol and its direct radiative forcing over East Asia are analyzed by using the air quality modeling system RAMS-CMAQ coupled with an aerosol optical properties/radiative transfer module. For evaluating the model performance, nitrate ion concentration in precipitation, and mixing ratios of PM₁₀, and some gas precursors of aerosol during the whole year of 2007 are compared against surface observations at 17 stations located in Japan, Korea, and China, and the satellite retrieved NO₂ columns. The comparison shows that the simulated values are generally in good agreement with the observed ones. Simulated monthly averaged values are mostly within a factor of 2 of the measurements at the observation stations. The distribution patterns of NO₂ from simulation and satellite measurement are also similar with each other. Analysis of the distribution features of monthly and yearly averaged mass concentration and direct radiative forcing (DRF) of nitrate indicates that the nitrate aerosol could reach about 25–30% of the total aerosol mass concentration and DRF in Sichuan Basin, Southeast China, and East China where the high mass burden of all major aerosols concentrated. The highest mass concentration and strongest DRF of nitrate could exceed 40 μg/m³ and ?5 W/m², respectively. It also indicates that other aerosol species, such as carbonaceous and mineral particles, could obviously influence the nitrate DRF for they are often internally mixed with each other.     

Multiyear analyses of ground-level air contaminants over Paris metropolitan region using real-time observations and air mass backward trajectories

For the years 2008–2013, particles of diameter <10 and 2.5 μm (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, respectively), NO_x, SO₂, and O₃ concentrations at urban, suburban, rural, and traffic sites in the Paris metropolitan area were analyzed. Strong spatial variability at traffic and rural sites and relatively uniform profiles at urban and suburban sites for PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and O₃ were observed. The O₃ weekend effect was induced by lower NO_x emissions during the weekend, and favored volatile organic compounds (VOCs)-limited atmospheric conditions. In conjunction with low ambient temperature, these conditions could also favor increased formation of secondary particulate nitrates in winter. Winter air pollution events were associated with multiple pollutants, whereas those observed in spring were caused by high PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 levels. Backward trajectory analyses showed the contribution of sources in Western and Central Europe on days with high PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and O₃, and a local/national component for NO_x and SO₂.     

Influence of heat and mass transfer on the ignition and NOx formation in single droplet combustion

The effect of heat and mass transfer on the ignition, and in a second step on the nitrogen oxide (NO _x ) generation, of single burning droplets is examined in a numerical study. Spherical symmetry with no gravity and no forced convection is presumed; ambient temperature is set at 500 K, below the auto-ignition point. The essentials of a forced droplet ignition by an external energy source are introduced. Two methods are applied: heat introduction at a fixed radial position r and heat introduction at a fixed local equivalence ratio ϕ _r . This study’s distinctiveness compared to previous research is its focus on and its combination of partially pre-vaporized droplets and detailed chemistry, both being technically relevant in kerosene and diesel fuel combustion. The fuel of choice is n-decane (C₁₀H₂₂), and NO _x production is studied exemplarily as a representative group of pollutant emissions. The conducted simulations show a decrease of NO _x formation with an increase of the pre-vaporization rate \Uppsi. \Uppsi. This decrease is generally valid for both methods of heat introduction. However, results on flame stabilization and NO _x production reveal a high sensitivity to parameters of the ignition model. The burning behavior during the initial stages is dominated by the ignition position. Extracting heat from the exhaust gas region of burning droplets shows no impact on the flame position nor on the relative NO _x production. As a consequence, a well-founded modeling of the investigated droplet regime needs to resort to an iterative adaptation of the heat introduction parameters based on the findings of droplet burning and exhaust gas production.     

Seasonal characteristics and provenance of organic aerosols in the urban atmosphere of Liaocheng in the North China Plain: Significant effect of biomass burning

To better understand the seasonal characteristics of urban organic aerosol (OA) in the North China Plain (NCP), PM_2.5 samples in the urban atmosphere of Liaocheng were collected and analyzed. The molecular distribution of the organic markers in the urban atmosphere of Liaocheng reveals that n-alkanes (39.3%) was the most abundant species all year round, followed by saccharides (28.2%), phthalic acids (Ph, 20.8%), biogenic secondary organic aerosol (BSOA) tracers (9.4%), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs, 2.3%). PM_2.5, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and primary organic markers exhibit the highest concentrations in winter, due largely to the increased biomass burning and coal combustion for house heating in local and surrounding regions. However, the concentration and relative abundance of BSOA are significantly higher in summer than other seasons, induced by the more favorable meteorological conditions that would promote the emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and the secondary production of BSOA. The ratios of OC/EC and 3-methyl-1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid to cis-pinic acid plus cis-pinonic acid (MBTCA/(PA + PNA) are higher in the warm seasons than those in the cold seasons, indicating that the oxidation of OA is sensitive to air temperature. Compared to 2017, the concentration level of PAHs during wintertime decreased by 40.8%, confirming that the stringent regulation of coal burning is effective. The highest concentration of high molecular weight (HMW) n-alkanes and three anhydrosugars in winter, and the close correlation of levoglucosan with HMW n-alkanes suggests that the impact of biomass burning was more significant in winter. The same seasonal characteristic of the ratios of high-/low-NO_x products with NO_x and the strong correlation of high-/low-NO_x products with levoglucosan indicate that the formation of isoprene SOA (SOA_I) tracers was significantly influenced by anthropogenic emissions. The molecular compositions, the distributions of fire spots, backward trajectories of air masses, and correlation analysis suggest that air pollution events in spring were primarily resulted from biomass burning and secondary oxidation, while pollution events in winter were largely driven by the increased combustion sources, and promoted aqueous secondary formation. Our results suggest that the reduction of biomass and coal combustion should be taken into account to improve the urban air quality in the NCP.     

Investigations of the reduction of NO to N2 by reaction with Fe under fuel-rich and oxidative atmosphere

The limitation of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions from stationary combustion chambers is still an important issue in the field of the natural environment protection. This paper describes the reduction of NO_x in the presence of iron. A few new aspects of research describing the utilization of iron as an additive that influences NO_x reduction at high temperatures are presented. In particular, the influence of the excess air number (λ) on the NO_x removal efficiency in the presence of Armco iron was determined. A >50 % increase in the efficiency was achieved at λ = 0.6. The research was conducted using N₂/NO mixed with a flue gas from carbon monoxide combustion. In addition, a correction factor (Arrhenius-type empirical equation) was determined, which enabled the calculation of the oxygen influence on the inhibition of the de-NO_x reaction in the presence of iron. The NO_x reduction was also tested using bearing steel samples. Finally, the use of iron in de-NO_x processes under different combustion conditions is briefly reviewed and analyzed.     

Chemical components of PM2.5 in different seasons in Harbin,China

The seasonal characteristics of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) were investigated from October 2020 to April 2021 (spreading fall, winter and spring) in Harbin, a city located in northeast China. The mass concentrations of PM_2.5 in winter were significantly higher than those in fall and spring. Moreover, our results indicated that various aerosol species had obvious seasonality. The proportions of secondary components were higher in winter than other two seasons. In contrast, the ratios of nitrate to sulfate (NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻) showed lower levels in winter, which was because both the ratios of nitrogen dioxide to sulfur dioxide (NO₂/SO₂) and the ratios of nitrogen oxidation ratio to sulfur oxidation ratio (NOR/SOR) exhibited lower values in winter than in fall and spring. With PM_2.5 increased, the NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratios showed increasing trends in all three seasons, which was mainly attributed to the increase of NOR/SOR ratios in fall and spring, and the increase of both NO₂/SO₂ and NOR/SOR ratios in winter. This result highlighted that nitrate was more important than sulfate as a driver for the growth of PM_2.5 during the period of heavy air pollution. Additionally, the sources of organic aerosol (OA) in different seasons were also distinctly different. Overall, the sum of biomass burning OA (BBOA) and secondary OA (SOA) contributed >70% of OA in three seasons. The fractional contributions of BBOA to total OA, notably, exhibited higher levels in fall and spring, because of intensive open agricultural fires. The SOA fractions in OA were larger in winter, likely due to higher relative humidity which facilitated the secondary formation. A large increase in the proportions of BBOA was observed during polluted days in fall and spring compared to clean days. In comparison, during heavily-polluted periods, secondary formation made a dominant contribution to organic matter in winter.     

Preparation and characterization of LiAl_xCo_yNi_1-x-yO₂ particles

Lithium-aluminum-cobalt-nickel oxide LiAlxCoyNi1xyO2 particles, generally used as cathode of lithium battery, were prepared by chemical coprecipitation from an aqueous solution of LiOH, Al(NO3)3, Co(NO3)2 and Ni(NO3)2 with NH4OH. XRD, SEM and FTIR were used to examine the effect of nickel content on the product. FTIR patterns showed that increase in nickel content decreased the absorption strength of the peak of spinel structure of the product, attributed to the occupation by nickel in the aluminum sites. Particle size and electrical properties of the lithium-aluminum-cobalt-nickel oxide (abbreviated as LACNO) particles were also determined.     

Synthesis of spherical Y2O3:Er emitting particles with variable radial composition by controlled double-jet precipitation of layered precursors

Spherical (Y_0.98Er_0.02)₂(OH)₅(NO₃)·xH₂O particles were synthesized by controlled double-jet precipitation, with a “core” of pure layered yttrium hydroxide nitrate, and a “shell” of co-precipitated yttrium-erbium layered hydroxide nitrates. With an increase in precipitation pH from 7 to 9.5, the size of layered “building units” decreases and the architecture of their assemblies changes from flower-like through network-like spherical to irregular agglomerates. From there, spherical particles gradually increase their diameter due to the continuous uniform growth of curved layered sheets on their surface. It was established that such growth behavior and network-like architecture of spherical particles was retained even when yttrium was replaced by erbium ions in the layered host lattice during the formation of an Er-enriched “shell”. Analysis of SEM, EDS, XPS, photoluminescence spectra and concentration quenching effects of heat-treated Y₂O₃:Er (2 at.%) particles indicate that the radial distribution of erbium in particles is most controllable in a narrow pH range of co-precipitation of layered precursors (pH 8). Вy widely varying the elemental composition of “building units” during co-precipitation, one can simultaneously finely control the composition of layered hydroxides in the radial direction of the spherical particles and grow multicomponent “multi-shell” powders with desired properties.     

The effect of polymer additives on the components of the energy balance of a turbulent flow

On the basis of the experimental data obtained, an analysis is made of the effect of polymer additives directly on the generation of turbulent energy, on the dissipation of the energy of the averaged motion, and on the density of the flux of the kinetic energy of the turbulence. The presence of polymer additives in the turbulent flow significantly changes the relationship between the generation of the turbulent energy and the dissipation of the energy of the averaged motion. Under the action of polymer additives, the density of the flux of kinetic energy decreases over the depth of the channel, which, in turn, brings about a decrease in the influx of energy from the averaged motion to the pulsed motion. The following definitions are adopted below: the x₁ axis of a Cartesian system of coordinates coincides with the horizontal axis of symmetry of the channel and with the direction of the averaged motion of the liquid; the x₂ axis is directed upward; the x₃ axis is perpendicular to the lateral wall of the channel; the origin of coordinates, O, coincides with the lower plane (bottom) of the channel. Further, U₀ is the mean velocity of the flow of liquid in the channel; U_i is the local component of the averaged velocity (i=1, 2, 3); H is the height of the channel; z=2x₂/H; Re is the Reynolds number of the averaged flow;v is the coefficient of kinematic viscosity; u_i is the pulsation component of the velocity (i=1, 2, 3); u_* is rate of dynamic friction; A=(₀–_p0 ^–1 is the coefficient of the lowering of the friction resistance with the flow of polymer solutions; ₀ and _p are the coefficients of the friction resistance with the motion of water and polymer solutions in a channel, respectively; c is the weight concentration of the polymer solution (%); ₀ is the friction stress at the wall; U₊ is the velocity of the flow at the axis of the channel.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 53–58, January–February, 1973.     

Effect of an electric field on the nitrogen oxide emission and structure of a laminar propane diffusion flame

The effect of an electric field E on the structure and nitrogen oxide NO_x emission of an individual laminar propane diffusion flame is experimentally investigated. The current-voltage characteristics of the flame, its deformation, the fuel-air ratio and the NO_x emission are determined for positive and negative burner polarities. A reduction in NO_x emission (up to 30% with respect to the emission index) is demonstrated in the case of negative burner polarity. A cause-and-effect relationship between the processes in the flame is proposed: the presence in the flame of positively charged ions and soot particles; the motion of the ions in the E field and the onset of an induced electrohydrodynamic flow directed towards the negatively charged burner; the retention and increase in the concentration of soot particles in the lower region of the flame, which leads to an increase in soot particle radiation and hence to a decrease in the temperature of the flame front and a corresponding reduction in NO_x emission. The electrohydrodynamic aspects of the problem are subjected to a qualitative analysis.Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 13–23, March–April, 1995.     

Experimental and modeling investigation of the effect of air preheat on the formation of NOx in an RQL combustor

The Rich-burn/Quick–mix/Lean-burn (RQL) combustor concept has been proposed to minimize the formation of oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) in gas turbine systems. The success of this low-NO_x combustor strategy is dependent upon the links between the formation of NO_x, inlet air preheat temperature, and the mixing of the jet air and fuel-rich streams. Chemical equilibrium and kinetics modeling calculations and experiments were performed to further understand NO_x emissions in an RQL combustor. The results indicate that as the temperature at the inlet to the mixing zone increases (due to preheating and/or operating conditions) the fuel-rich zone equivalence ratio must be increased to achieve minimum NO_x formation in the primary zone of the combustor. The chemical kinetics model illustrates that there is sufficient residence time to produce NO_x at concentrations that agree well with the NO_x measurements. Air preheat was found to have very little effect on mixing, but preheating the air did increase NO_x emissions significantly. By understanding the mechanisms governing NO_x formation and the temperature dependence of key reactions in the RQL combustor, a strategy can be devised to further reduce NO_x emissions using the RQL concept.     

Effect of material nonhomogeneities on the HRR dominance

This work studies the asymptotic stress and displacement fields near the tip of a stationary crack in an elastic–plastic nonhomogeneous material with the emphasis on the effect of material nonhomogeneities on the dominance of the crack tip field. While the HRR singular field still prevails near the crack tip if the material properties are continuous and piecewise continuously differentiable, a simple asymptotic analysis shows that the size of the HRR dominance zone decreases with increasing magnitude of material property gradients. The HRR field dominates at points that satisfy |α⁻¹ ∂α/∂x_δ|1/r, |α⁻¹ ∂²α/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/r², |n⁻¹ ∂n/∂x_δ|1/[r|ln(r/A)|] and |n⁻¹ ∂²n/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/[r²|ln(r/A)|], in addition to other general requirements for asymptotic solutions, where α is a material property in the Ramberg–Osgood model, n is the strain hardening exponent, r is the distance from the crack tip, x_δ are Cartesian coordinates, and A is a length parameter. For linear hardening materials, the crack tip field dominates at points that satisfy |E_tan⁻¹ ∂E_tan/∂x_δ|1/r, |E_tan⁻¹ ∂²E_tan/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/r², |E⁻¹ ∂E/∂x_δ|1/r, and |E⁻¹ ∂²E/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/r², where E_tan is the tangent modulus and E is Young’s modulus.     

Influence of Inlet Dilution of Reactants on Premixed Combustion in a Recuperative Furnace

This paper presents a numerical study by RANS modeling that investigates the effect of external dilution on the premixed combustion occurring in a recuperative furnace. Calculations are performed using the detailed GRI-Mech 3.0 mechanism to ensure the accuracy of the modeling. Results of the in-furnace flow, temperature, and concentrations of OH, O₂, CO₂ and NO _x are provided. It is found that the external dilution with the inert gas CO₂ plays a significant role in establishing the premixed MILD (Moderate or Intense Low-oxygen Dilution) combustion. Externally diluting the reactant mixture not only reduces the initial concentration of O₂ but also ensures a stronger internal dilution by recirculation of more hot combustion products. Importantly, the latter effect is more significant for achieving the MILD regime. There is a critical mass fraction of the diluent CO₂ present, below which MILD combustion cannot occur. While the traditional premixed flame produces much more NO _x than the MILD combustion, the emission of NO _x appears to result most from the thermal-NO route and least from the N₂O route no matter which mode occurs. Moreover, the present simulation demonstrates that the MILD mode occurs over a wider range of initial reactant conditions for premixed combustion than for diffusion combustion.     

A complete expression of the asymptotic solution of differential equation with three-turning points

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Degradation of nylon-6/clay nanocomposites in NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

Nylon-6 is an important engineering polymer that, in its fully spherulitic (bulk) form, has many applications in gears, rollers, and other long life cycle components. In 1993, Toyota commercialized a nylon-6/clay nanocomposite out of which it produced the timing belt cover for the Camry. Although these hybrid nanocomposites show significant improvements in their mechanical response characteristics, including yield strength and heat distortion temperature, little is known about the degradation of these properties due to environmental pollutants like NO _x . Nylon-6 fibers are severely degraded by interaction with NO _x and other pollutants, showing a strong synergy between applied load and environmental degradation. While the nanocomposites show a significant reduction in permeability of gases and water due to the incorporation of lamellar clay, their susceptibility to nondiffusional mechano-chemical degradation is unknown. The fracture toughness of these nylon-6/clay nanocomposites increases, not as a function of clay content, but as a function of the volume of nylon-6 polymer chains influenced by the clay lamellae surfaces. Both the clay and the constrained volume offer the nanocomposites some protection from the deleterious effects of NO _x . The time-to-failure at a given stress intensity factor as a function of clay content and constrained volume is discussed along with fracture toughness of the materials.     

Variability of SO2 in an intensive fog in North China Plain: Evidence of high solubility of SO2

A field experiment was conducted in an intensive fog event between November 5 and November 8, 2009, in a heavily SO₂-polluted area in North China Plain (NCP), to measure SO₂ and other air pollutants, liquid water content (LWC) of fog droplets, and other basic meteorological parameters. During the fog period, the concentrations of SO₂ showed large variability, which was closely related to the LWC in the fog droplets. The averaged concentration of SO₂ during non-fog periods was about 25 ppbv, while during the fog period, it rapidly reduced to about 4–7 ppbv. Such large reduction of SO₂ suggested that a majority of SO₂ (about 70%–80%) had reverted from gas to aqueous phase on account of the high solubility of SO₂ in water in the fog droplets. However, the calculated gas to aqueous phase conversion was largely underestimated by merely using the Henry's Law constant of SO₂, thus suggesting that aqueous reaction of SO₂ in fog droplets might play some important role in enhancing the solubility of SO₂. To simplify the phenomenon, an “effective solubility coefficient” is proposed in this study. This variability of SO₂ measurement during the extensive fog event provides direct evidence of oxidation of SO₂ in fog droplets, thus providing important implications for better understanding of the acidity in clouds, precipitation, and fogs in NCP, now a central environmental focus in China due to its rapid economic development.     

Existence of Solutions with the Prescribed Flux of the Navier–Stokes System in an Infinite Cylinder

The existence and uniqueness of a solution to the nonstationary Navier–Stokes system having a prescribed flux in an infinite cylinder is proved. We assume that the initial data and the external forces do not depend on x₃ and find the solution (u, p) having the following form

Impact of a bead on a rotating wall

We study experimentally the impact of a plastic bead on a rotating wall made of steel (velocity Ω; radial position x₀). The results show that the restitution coefficient is directly function of the impact velocity x₀Ω and is invariant by changing frame reference. The influence of the height of release of the particle on its angular velocity after impact is also studied. We observe an increase of the angular velocity with height followed by a saturation. We propose an interpretation for this evolution considering that the particle may roll without sliding during all the impact. This physical feature is not always taken into account in existing models of impact between rigid bodies. To cite this article: F. Rioual et al., C. R. Mecanique 336 (2008).     

On the Nonexistence of Some Special Eigenfunctions for the Dirichlet Laplacian and the Lamé System

Let Ω be a bounded Lipschitz domain in ℝ ⁿ with n ≥ 3. We prove that the Dirichlet Laplacian does not admit any eigenfunction of the form u(x) =ϕ(x′)+ψ(x _n) with x′=(x1, ..., x _n−1). The result is sharp since there are 2-d polygonal domains in which this kind of eigenfunctions does exist. These special eigenfunctions for the Dirichlet Laplacian are related to the existence of uniaxial eigenvibrations for the Lamé system with Dirichlet boundary conditions. Thus, as a corollary of this result, we deduce that there is no bounded Lipschitz domain in 3-d for which the Lamé system with Dirichlet boundary conditions admits uniaxial eigenvibrations. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nonsimilarity solutions for non-Darcy mixed convection from horizontal surfaces in a porous medium

Non-Darcy mixed convection in a porous medium from horizontal surfaces with variable surface heat flux of the power-law distribution is analyzed. The entire mixed convection regime is divided into two regions. The first region covers the forced convection dominated regime where the dimensionless parameter ζ _f =Ra^* _x /Pe² _x is found to characterize the effect of buoyancy forces on the forced convection with K ^′ U _∞/ν characterizing the effect of inertia resistance. The second region covers the natural convection dominated regime where the dimensionless parameter ζ _n =Pe _x /Ra^*1/2 _x is found to characterize the effect of the forced flow on the natural convection, with (K ^′ U _∞/ν)Ra^*1/2 _x /Pe _x characterizing the effect of inertia resistance. To obtain the solution that covers the entire mixed convection regime the solution of the first regime is carried out for ζ _f =0, the pure forced convection limit, to ζ _f =1 and the solution of the second is carried out for ζ _n =0, the pure natural convection limit, to ζ _n =1. The two solutions meet and match at ζ _f =ζ _n =1, and R ^* _h =G ^* _h . Also a non-Darcy model was used to analyze mixed convection in a porous medium from horizontal surfaces with variable wall temperature of the power-law form. The entire mixed convection regime is divided into two regions. The first region covers the forced convection dominated regime where the dimensionless parameter ξ _f =Ra _x /Pe _x ^3/2 is found to measure the buoyancy effects on mixed convection with Da _x Pe _x /ɛ as the wall effects. The second region covers the natural convection dominated region where ξ _n =Pe _x /Ra _x ^2/3 is found to measure the force effects on mixed convection with Da _x Ra _x ^2/3/ɛ as the wall effects. Numerical results for different inertia, wall, variable surface heat flux and variable wall temperature exponents are presented. Received on 8 July 1996