Mitigating impact/blast energy via a novel nanofluidic energy capture mechanism

To effectively mitigating intense impact and blast waves, a novel protection mechanism is proposed in this study where a significant amount of the incident energy can be temporarily captured as potential energy in a nonwetting liquid-nanoporous material system, thereby weakening the peak pressure and elongating the impact pulse. When the pressure of a compressive wave traveling in a liquid overcomes the capillary resistance, the liquid molecules quickly intrude into nanopores while retaining highly compressed form. The incident energy is thus captured (temporarily stored) in nanopores in the form of potential energy of intercalated water molecules, and then gradually released upon unloading (which makes the system reusable). Comparing with other energy absorption materials, the present system has the unique advantage of low activation pressure and high energy density. Using comprehensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the effects of several key parameters (e.g., impact velocity, nanopore size, and pore composition) on energy capture are investigated, and the molecular mechanism is elucidated. The findings are qualitatively validated by a parallel blast experiment on a zeolite/water system.     

Theory of sorption hysteresis in nanoporous solids: Part I: Snap-through instabilities

The sorption–desorption hysteresis observed in many nanoporous solids, at vapor pressures low enough for the liquid (capillary) phase of the adsorbate to be absent, has long been vaguely attributed to some sort of ‘pore collapse’. However, the pore collapse has never been documented experimentally and explained mathematically. The present work takes an analytical approach to account for discrete molecular forces in the nanopore fluid and proposes two related mechanisms that can explain the hysteresis at low vapor pressure without assuming any pore collapse nor partial damage to the nanopore structure. The first mechanism, presented in Part I, consists of a series of snap-through instabilities during the filling or emptying of non-uniform nanopores or nanoscale asperities. The instabilities are caused by non-uniqueness in the misfit disjoining pressures engendered by a difference between the nanopore width and an integer multiple of the thickness of a monomolecular adsorption layer. The wider the pore, the weaker the mechanism, and it ceases to operate for pores wider than about 3 nm. The second mechanism, presented in Part II, consists of molecular coalescence, or capillary condensation, within a partially filled surface, nanopore or nanopore network. This general thermodynamic instability is driven by attractive intermolecular forces within the adsorbate and forms the basis for developing a unified theory of both mechanisms. The ultimate goals of the theory are to predict the fluid transport in nanoporous solids from microscopic first principles, determine the pore size distribution and internal surface area from sorption tests, and provide a way to calculate the disjoining pressures in filled nanopores, which play an important role in the theory of creep and shrinkage.     

Comprehensive Seepage Simulation of Fluid Flow in Multi-scaled Shale Gas Reservoirs

Shale gas seepage behaviour is a multi-field/-scale problem and makes transient pressure analysis a very challenging task. Non-Darcy flow in nanopores is prominent due to the broken of continuity hypothesis. Slippage effect and Knudsen diffusion are two important seepage mechanisms in nanopores, while recent studies show surface diffusion is another important transporting mechanism on surface of nanopores. Porous kerogen system contains large amounts of dissolved gas, which should not be overlooked. In this study, a comprehensive mathematical model was established by pseudo-quadruple porosity medium conception, coupling the effects of slippage flow, Knudsen diffusion, surface diffusion, ad-/desorption and gas transferring from kerogen to nanopore system, while fluid flow in fractures/macropores is described by Darcy’s law. Transient pressure behaviours of a multiple fractured horizontal well in box-shaped shale gas reservoir were studied, with nine possible flow regimes divided and parameters sensitivity analysed. Adsorbed constant and dissolved constant were defined to reflect the amount of adsorbed gas and dissolved gas, respectively. Research shows that adsorbed gas and dissolved gas are two important gas storage forms, neither of which should be neglected. The study can not only help us understand fluid flow mechanisms in nanopores from microscopic perspective, but enable us to analyse production performance and determine key operational parameters from macroscopic perspective.     

Theory of sorption hysteresis in nanoporous solids: Part II Molecular condensation

Motivated by the puzzle of sorption hysteresis in Portland cement concrete or cement paste, we develop in Part II of this study a general theory of vapor sorption and desorption from nanoporous solids, which attributes hysteresis to hindered molecular condensation with attractive lateral interactions. The classical mean-field theory of van der Waals is applied to predict the dependence of hysteresis on temperature and pore size, using the regular solution model and gradient energy of Cahn and Hilliard. A simple “hierarchical wetting” model for thin nanopores is developed to describe the case of strong wetting by the first monolayer, followed by condensation of nanodroplets and nanobubbles in the bulk. The model predicts a larger hysteresis critical temperature and enhanced hysteresis for molecular condensation across nanopores at high vapor pressure than within monolayers at low vapor pressure. For heterogeneous pores, the theory predicts sorption/desorption sequences similar to those seen in molecular dynamics simulations, where the interfacial energy (or gradient penalty) at nanopore junctions acts as a free energy barrier for snap-through instabilities. The model helps to quantitatively understand recent experimental data for concrete or cement paste wetting and drying cycles and suggests new experiments at different temperatures and humidity sweep rates.     

Understanding Oil and Gas Flow Mechanisms in Shale Reservoirs Using SLD–PR Transport Model

More and more attention has been paid to the oil and gas flow mechanisms in shale reservoirs. The solid–fluid interaction becomes significant when the pores are in the nanoscale. The interaction changes the fluid’s physical properties and leads to different flow mechanisms in shale reservoirs from those in conventional reservoirs. By using a Simplified Local Density–Peng Robinson transport model, we consider the density and viscosity profiles, which result from solid–fluid interaction. Gas rarefaction effect is negligible at high pressure, so we assume it is viscous flow. Considering the density- and viscosity-changing effects, we proposed a slit permeability model. The velocity profiles are obtained by this newly established model. This proposed model is validated by matching the density profile and velocity profile from molecular dynamic simulation. Then, the effects of pressure and pore size on gas and oil flow mechanisms are also studied in this work. The results show that both gas and oil exhibit enhanced flow rates in nanopores. Gas-phase flow in nanopores is dominated by the density-changing effect (adsorption), while the oil-phase flow is mainly controlled by the viscosity-changing effect. Both gas and oil permeability quickly decrease to the Darcy permeability when the slit aperture becomes large. The results reported in this work are representative and should significantly help us understand the mechanisms of oil and gas flow in shale reservoirs.     

激波诱导含灰气体边界层中的粒子分布

本文研究当激波沿着一个固体表面等速地穿越含灰气体运动时所诱导的层流边界层特性。考虑了作用在气体边界层中球形粒子的 Saffman 升力,建议了一种计算近壁区中弥散相密度剖面的方法,并给出了数值计算结果。本文结果表明:在激波后方存在着一个弯曲的薄层区域,其中的粒子密度可以比其波前原始值增加许多倍。这种粒子聚集效应对于工业中粉尘爆炸等实际问题具有重要意义。     

One-dimensional compression of bounded volumes of a self-gravitating gas

Unsteady plane and spherically-symmetric self-gravitating gas flows are analytically and numerically studied. It is assumed that the gas is enclosed in a plane layer of finite thickness or in a bounded spherical volume. Two characteristic compression patterns are established, namely, a quasiperiodic regime in which gravitational equilibrium is attained and a fast compression regime with a many orders increase in the density. The quasiperiodic regime is realized when the layer thickness is fairly small as compared with the Jeans length. The fast compression occurs when the layer thickness is greater than the Jeans length.     

Prediction of turbulent gas–solids flow in curved ducts using the Eulerian–Lagrangian method

The flow of particulate two‐phase flow mixtures occur in several components of solid fuel combustion systems, such as the pressurised fluidised bed combustors (PFBC) and suspension‐fired coal boilers. A detailed understanding of the mixture characteristics in the conveying component can aid in refining and optimising its design. In this study, the flow of an isothermal, dilute two‐phase particulate mixture has been examined in a high curvature duct, which can be representative of that transporting the gas–solid mixture from the hot clean‐up section to the gas turbine combustor in a PFBC plant. The numerical study has been approached by utilising the Eulerian–Lagrangian methodology for describing the characteristics of the fluid and particulate phases. By assuming that the mixture is dilute and the particles are spherical, the governing particle momentum equations have been solved with appropriately prescribed boundary conditions. Turbulence effects on the particle dispersion were represented by a statistical model that accounts for both the turbulent eddy lifetime and the particle transit time scales. For the turbulent flow condition examined it was observed that mixtures with small particle diameters had low interphase slip velocities and low impaction probability with the pipe walls. Increasing the particle diameters (>50 μm) resulted in higher interphase slip velocities and, as expected, their impaction probability with the pipe walls was significantly increased. The particle dispersion is significant for the smaller sizes, whereas the larger particles are relatively insensitive to the gas turbulence. The main particle impaction region, and locations most prone to erosion damage, is estimated to be within an outer duct length of two to six times the duct diameter, when the duct radius of curvature to the duct diameter ratio is equal to unity. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The distribution of particles in a shock-induced boundary layer of a dusty gas over a solid surface

The laminar boundary layer behind a constant-speed shock wave moving through a dusty gas along a solid surface is studied. The Saffman lift force acting on a spherical particle in a gas boundary layer is taken into account. A method for calculating the density profile of dispersed phase near the wall is proposed and some numerical results are given. It is shown that behind the shock wave, there exists a curved thin layer where the density of particles is many times higher than the original one. This dust collection effect may be of essential importance to the problem of dust explosion in industry.     

Extended thermodynamics of molecular ideal gases

The objective of extended thermodynamics of molecular ideal gases is the determination of the 17 fields ofmass density, velocity, energy density, pressure deviator, heat flux, intrinsic energy density and intrinsic heat flux. The intrinsic energy represents the rotational or the vibrational energy of the molecules. The necessary field equations are based upon balance laws and the system of equations is closed by constitutive relations which are characteristic for the gas under consideration. The generality of the constitutive relations is restricted by theprinciple of material frame indifference, and by the entropy principle. These principles reduce the constitutive coefficients of all fluxes to the thermal and caloric equation of state of the gas and provide inequalities for the transport coefficients. The transport coefficients can be related to the shear viscosity, the heat conductivity, and the coefficients of self-diffusion and attenuation of sound waves, so that the field equations become quite specific. The theory is in perfect agreement with the kinetic theory of molecular gases. It is shown that in non-equilibrium the temperature is discontinuous at thermometric walls. The dynamic pressure and the volume viscosity, are discussed and it is shown how extended thermodynamics and ordinary thermodynamics are related.     

Use of the Monte Carlo method to calculate the flow of a highly rarefied gas in systems with arbitrary wall configuration

A method is described for modeling collisions of gas molecules with the walls of a system whose geometry is given numerically in the computer memory from a graphical representation of the walls (for example, from their working drawings). When changing from the calculation of one system to another only the information on the wall changes; the computational program remains the same. The method is applicable to problems of rarefied gasdynamics which are solvable by the Monte Carlo method; in the following it is used to calculate the conductance of elements of high vacuum lines and the compression ratio created by molecular vacuum pumps, and also to calculate the forces acting on a body which rotates in a cavity filled with a highly rarefied gas.In conclusion the authors wish to thank Yu. I. Neimark for formulating the problem and discussions of the results obtained.     

Calculation of laminar flow of compressible gas in the presence of heat transfer in two-dimensional curvilinear channels

Numerical solution of the complete system of Navier-Stokes equations is used to investigate laminar (Re ? 1000) subsonic flows of a compressible gas in the presence of heat transfer (cooled walls) in two-dimensional channels containing a bend section (for different curvature parameters). The appearance of closed separation regions of the flow on the channel walls, their deformation as the parameters of the problem are changed, and the loss of pressure are studied. The sections of the channel walls with maximal and minimal heat fluxes are determined, and the connection between these sections and the separation regions is elucidated.     

Sublimation of a crystal slowed by sorption of foreign molecules from a gaseous medium

Numerical simulation of the sublimation of the surface of an ice crystal has shown that the presence of a non-condensable gas substantially reduces the sublimation rate. It has been found that the slowing of the sublimation due to the adsorption of gas molecules on the crystal surface that fill the vacancies during sublimation prevents the formation of vacancy islands on the surface of the crystal required for evaporation of the surface molecular layer. The available results of studies that explain the slowing of the sublimation by the presence of a diffusion layer formed in the vapor medium near the sublimating surface are supplemented with new data showing that molecular processes on the crystal surface play an equally important role as the diffusion layer. Cases have been found where crystal sublimation is accelerated by the sorption of gas molecules. The obtained results refining the theory of sublimation can be used to develop methods for controlling sublimation.     

Effect of heat exchange on the interfacial instability of gas-liquid jet

IntroductionInrecentyears,theprosperityofmetalpowdermarket[1] andthedevelopmentofsprayformingtechniquesmakeitnecessarytostudythemechanismofjetatomization .Freelyfallinghightemperaturemetalliquid ,impactedbyhighspeedgasaround ,breaksintodropletsofdifferentsizes,whichprocedureiscalledair_blastatomizationorsprayatomization .Infact,thisprocesshasawiderengineeringapplications,rangingfromfuelinjectorsingasturbinesandjetengines,totwo_phaseflowchemicalreactors ,spraydrying ,andsoon .OnthebasisofKelvi…     

考虑中性层位置变化的微悬臂梁气体传感器静态模型的分析

微悬臂梁是一种高灵敏度的生化传感器。本文考虑吸附表面应力引起的中性层位置的变化,采用能量法建立了微悬臂梁在单层分子吸附稳定后的静态弯曲模型,并以表面吸附有水蒸汽分子的微悬臂梁为例,研究了微悬臂梁曲率半径随其厚度、杨氏模量及吸附分子间距的变化规律以及中性层位置变化对微悬臂梁传感器性能预测的影响,结果发现：1)微悬臂梁的曲率半径与其杨氏模量、厚度及吸附分子间距之间可以近似用一次、二次和八次函数关系表示;2）中性层变化导致的曲率半径计算误差,随着微悬臂梁厚度、杨氏模量的增加而减小,但影响较小,而吸附分子间距会对该相对误差产生明显影响;3）中性层位置变化会对微悬臂梁传感器灵敏度和表面应变预测产生明显的影响。     

Wake-boundary layer interaction subject to convex and concave curvatures and adverse pressure gradient

Measurements of mean velocity and turbulent quantities have been carried out when the wake of a symmetrical airfoil interacts with the boundary layer on the (i) walls of a straight duct/diffuser and (ii) convex and concave walls of a curved duct/diffuser. The effects of adverse pressure gradient and of curvatures on the interaction are studied separately and in combination. Six cases are considered, viz. with (i) neither pressure gradient nor curvature, (ii) adverse pressure gradient and no curvature, (iii) and (iv) convex curvature with zero and adverse pressure gradients, respectively, (v) and (vi) concave curvature with zero and adverse pressure gradients, respectively. For the flows with curvature, the curvature parameter δ/R is 0.023, and for the flows with adverse pressure gradient, the Clauser pressure gradient parameter β is 0.62. The individual influences of adverse pressure gradient and convex and concave curvatures on the boundary layer are similar to those observed by earlier investigations. It is further observed that the combined effect of concave/convex curvature and the adverse pressure gradient causes higher turbulence intensities than the sum of the individual effects. The effect of curvature is to make the wake asymmetric, and in combination with adverse pressure gradient the asymmetry increases. It is observed that the adverse pressure gradient causes faster wake–boundary-layer interaction. Comparing measurements in a straight duct, a curved duct, a curved diffuser and a straight diffuser, it is seen that the convex curvature reduces the boundary layer thickness. The asymmetry in wake development compensates for this effect and the wake–boundary-layer interaction on a convex surface is almost the same as that on a straight surface. In the case of interaction with the boundary layer on a concave surface, the curvature increases the boundary layer thickness and causes enhanced turbulence intensities. However, the asymmetry in wake is such that the extent of wake is lower towards the boundary layer side. As a result, the wake–boundary-layer interaction on concave surface is almost the same as on a straight surface. The interaction is faster in the presence of adverse pressure gradient. Received: 16 June 2000 / Accepted: 17 May 2001     

Marangoni instability in a liquid layer confined between two concentric spherical surfaces under zero-gravity conditions

A liquid layer containing a single solute is bounded on the outside by a rigid spherical surface and on the inside by a concentric gas/liquid interface. The solute evaporates from the liquid to the gas phase and, if the surface tension depends on the solute concentration, surface-tension driven convective flows may arise (Marangoni instability). Assuming zero-gravity conditions and using a normal-mode approach, we study the linear stability of the time-dependent, spherically-symmetric concentration profiles in a motionless liquid. Numerical results are presented for Marangoni numbers and perturbation wave numbers in the case of neutral stability. It turns out that the system's stability properties are strongly dependent on the curvature of the interface and on the mass-transfer Biot number.     

Physicochemical Model of Hypersonic Rarefied Gas Flow past Bodies

The effect of the internal molecular degrees of freedom on the flow field and heat transfer in hypersonic rarefied gas flow past a cylinder or sphere is investigated using the direct statistical simulation (Monte-Carlo) method. The variable-diameter rough spherical molecule model (VRS-model) is generalized to include the case of energy exchange between the translational and vibrational degrees of freedom. The interaction between diatomic molecules with allowance for vibrational degrees of freedom is simulated as the interaction of classical or quantum-mechanical harmonic and anharmonic oscillators in the external force approximation. A model of the dissociation of a diatomic gas is proposed.     

A new approach for the limit to tree height using a liquid nanolayer model

Liquids in contact with solids are submitted to intermolecular forces inferring density gradients at the walls. The van der Waals forces make liquid heterogeneous, the stress tensor is not any more spherical as in homogeneous bulks and it is possible to obtain stable thin liquid films wetting vertical walls up to altitudes that incompressible fluid models are not forecasting. Application to micro tubes of xylem enables to understand why the ascent of sap is possible for very high trees like sequoias or giant eucalyptus.      

Investigation of scalar measurement error in diffusion and mixing processes

In variable density, multi-fluid and reacting flows, the degree of molecular mixing is a critical component of turbulent transfer and mixing models. Also, in many microflows and low Reynolds number flows, scalar diffusion length- and time-scales play a significant role in the mixing dynamics. Characterization of such molecular mixing processes requires scalar measurement devices with a small probe volume size. Spatial averaging, which occurs due to finite probe volume size, can lead to errors in resolving the density or scalar gradients between pockets of unmixed fluids. Given a probe volume size and a priori knowledge of the functional profile of the diffusion layer being measured, we obtain an estimate for the measurement error due to spatial averaging and make the corrections accordingly. An analytical model for the measure of scalar mixing is developed as a predictor for the growth of scalar gradients in a variable scalar flow. The model is applied to a buoyancy-driven mixing layer with a Prandtl number of 7. Measurements within the mixing layer have shown that initial entrainment of unmixed fluid causes a decrease in the measured amount of molecular mixing at the centerplane. Following this period of initial entrainment, the fluids within the mixing layer exhibit an increase in the degree of molecular mixing.