A multi-zone chemistry mapping approach for direct numerical simulation of auto-ignition and flame propagation in a constant volume enclosure

A direct numerical simulation (DNS) coupling with multi-zone chemistry mapping (MZCM) is presented to simulate flame propagation and auto-ignition in premixed fuel/air mixtures. In the MZCM approach, the physical domain is mapped into a low-dimensional phase domain with a few thermodynamic variables as the independent variables. The approach is based on the fractional step method, in which the flow and transport are solved in the flow time steps whereas the integration of the chemical reaction rates and heat release rate is performed in much finer time steps to accommodate the small time scales in the chemical reactions. It is shown that for premixed mixtures, two independent variables can be sufficient to construct the phase space to achieve a satisfactory mapping. The two variables can be the temperature of the mixture and the specific element mass ratio of H atom for fuels containing hydrogen atoms. An aliasing error in the MZCM is investigated. It is shown that if the element mass ratio is based on the element involved in the most diffusive molecules, the aliasing error of the model can approach zero when the grid in the phase space is refined. The results of DNS coupled with MZCM (DNS-MZCM) are compared with full DNS that integrates the chemical reaction rates and heat release rate directly in physical space. Application of the MZCM to different mixtures of fuel and air is presented to demonstrate the performance of the method for combustion processes with different complexity in the chemical kinetics, transport and flame–turbulence interaction. Good agreement between the results from DNS and DNS-MZCM is obtained for different fuel/air mixtures, including H₂/air, CO/H₂/air and methane/air, while the computational time is reduced by nearly 70%. It is shown that the MZCM model can properly address important phenomena such as differential diffusion, local extinction and re-ignition in premixed combustion.     

Ultrasonic study on organic liquid and binary organic liquid mixtures by using Schaaffs＇ collision factor theory

Based on Schaaff's collision factor theory (CFT) in liquids, the equations for nonlinear ultrasonic parameters in both organic liquid and binary organic liquid mixtures are deduced. The nonlinear ultrasonic parameters, including pressure coefficient, temperature coefficients of ultrasonic velocity, and nonlinear acoustic parameter B/A in both organic liquid and binary organic liquid mixtures, are evaluated for comparison with the measured results and data from other sources. The equations show that the coefficient of ultrasonic velocity and nonlinear acoustic parameter B/A are closely related to molecular interactions. These nonlinear ultrasonic parameters reflect some information of internal structure and outside status of the medium or mixtures. From the exponent of repulsive forces of the molecules, several thermodynamic parameters, pressure and temperature of the medium, the nonlinear ultrasonic parameters and ultrasonic nature of the medium can be evaluated. When evaluating and studying nonlinear acoustic parameter B/A of binary organic liquid mixtures, there is no need to know the nonlinear acoustic parameter B/A of the components. Obviously, the equation reveals the connection between the nonlinear ultrasonic nature and internal structure and outside status of the mixtures more directly and distinctly than traditional mixture law for B/A, e.g. Apfel's and Sehgal's laws for liquid binary mixtures.     

Mixture models with weak micro-heterogeneity

Weakly micro-heterogeneous binary systems are modelled as a mixture of a simple Lennard-Jones liquid and water-like models with reduced partial charges, hence named ‘weak-waters’. Such mixtures do not have the statistic problems of the usual micro-heterogeneous mixtures, and they allow to test how well liquid state integral equation theories are able to describe locally heterogeneous structures. It is found that such theories describe quite well the short-range structure, but fail to reproduce the heterogeneous structure in the nanometer range. In particular, it is found that the theories are not able to distinguish between micro-segregation and concentration fluctuations, a flaw apparent through the small wave vector behaviour of the structure factors. This finding helps provide further insight into both the nature of the micro-heterogeneity of aqueous mixtures in general, and the routes to improve the ability of integral equation theories to describe such mixtures.     

Raman signatures of strong and weak hydrogen bonds in binary mixtures of phenol with acetonitrile,benzene and orthodichlorobenzene

The present study aims at investigating the effect of hydrogen bonds of phenol in binary mixtures of phenol with three solvents viz. acetonitrile, orthodichlorobenzene and benzene respectively in order of decreasing hydrogen bond strength. Raman spectroscopy in correlation with density functional theory (DFT) calculations has led to a profound understanding of changes in structure, energy, dipole moment and other physical and chemical properties of phenol pertaining to hydrogen bond formation in solution. The spectral variation in wavenumber and linewidth of ring deformation, ring stretching, C≡N stretching and C―H stretching modes have been analyzed in detail. The breaking of self association of phenol in solution and formation of strong or weak hydrogen bonds depending on the nature of the solvent has been discussed by comparing the Raman and DFT results for three different solvents. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical investigation of the phase behaviour of model ternary mixtures containing n-alkanes,perfluoro-n-alkanes,and perfluoroalkylalkane diblock surfactants

We have used the hetero-SAFT-VR approach developed by McCabe and collaborators [Mol. Phys. 104, 571 (2006)] to investigate the phase equilibria of a number of binary and ternary mixtures of n-alkanes, perfluoro-n-alkanes, and perfluoroalkylalkane diblock surfactants. We focused our work on the understanding of the microscopic conditions that control the phase behaviour of these mixtures, with a particular emphasis of the effect on the liquid–liquid separation and the stabilisation of n-alkane + perfluoro-n-alkane mixtures when a diblock surfactant is added. We used very simple molecular models for n-alkanes, and perfluoro-n-alkanes that describe the molecules as chains with tangentially bonded segments with molecular parameters taken from the literature. In the particular case of semifluorinated alkanes or SFA surfactants, we used an hetero-segmented diblock chain model where the parameters for the alkyl and perfluoroalkyl segments taken from the corresponding linear alkanes and perfluoroalkanes, as shown in our previous work [J. Phys. Chem. B 111, 2856 (2007)]. Our goal was to identify the main effects on the phase behaviour when different perfluoroalkylalkane surfactants are added to mixtures of n-alkanes and perfluoro-n-alkanes. We selected the n-heptane + perfluoromethane binary mixture, and studied the changes on the phase behaviour when a symmetric (same number of alkyl and perfluoroalkyl chemical groups) or an asymmetric (different number of alkyl and perfluoroalkyl chemical groups) diblock surfactants is added to the binary mixture. We have obtained the phase diagrams of a wide range of binary and ternary mixtures at different thermodynamic conditions. We have found a variety of interesting behaviours as we modify the alkyl or/and the perfluoroalkyl chain-length of the diblock surfactants: the usual changes in the vapour–liquid phase separation, changes in the type of phase diagrams (typically from type I to type V phase behaviour according to the Scott and Konynenburg classification), azeotropy, and Bancroft points. We noted that the main effect of adding a symmetric or an asymmetric surfactant to the n-heptane + perfluoromethane mixture is to stabilise the system, i.e. to decrease the two-phase (liquid–liquid) immiscibility region of the ternary diagram as the surfactant concentration is increased. This effect becomes larger as the chain length of the surfactant is increased, which is consistent with a higher number of alkyl–alkyl and perfluoroalkyl–perfluoroalkyl favourable interactions in the mixture.     

Nonlinear ultrasonic nature of organic liquid and organic liquid mixture

Based on Jacobson's molecular free length theory in liquids and the relationship between ultrasonic velocity and the molecular free length in organic liquids, this paper deduces the equations for pressure coefficient and temperature coefficient of ultrasonic velocity and nonlinear acoustic parameter B/A in both of organic liquid and organic liquid binary mixtures. These nonlinear acoustic parameters are evaluated against the measured results and data from other sources. The equations reveal the connections between the nonlinear acoustic parameters and some internal structural of the medium or mixtures e.g. the sizes of molecule, several thermodynamic physical parameters and outside status e.g. condition of pressure and temperature of the liquid or liquid mixture. With the equations the nonlinear acoustic parameter B/A of organic liquid binary mixtures, which is impossible to know without the nonlinear acoustic parameter B/A of the tow components before, can be calculated based on the structural and physical parameters of organic liquid and organic liquid binary mixtures.     

An Infrared Spectroscopic Study of Rotational Diffusion and Intermolecular Interactions In Acetonitrile

Several recent reviews^1–3 have emphasised the current interest in the study of infrared band shapes in condensed phases. Potentially such data can provide very valuable information^4–7 about the nature of the rotational and translational motions of individual molecules and about the intermolecular forces between them.⁷ However, because of the possible ambiguities arising in the interpretation of such data, (for example, there may be several contributions to the overall band shape^7c,d) it is clear that detailed studies on simple, symmetrical molecules are required before studies on more complex systems are attempted. This has been generally recognised and a number of simple (mostly linear and symmetric top) molecules have now been studied^4–10 in the compressed gas, liquid and solution phases. We have started a systematic study of simple nitriles and their weak molecular complexes. We report here some interesting data for the symmetric top molecule acetonitrile in the pure liquid and in solution in the “inert” solvent carbon tetrachloride. As far as we are aware the only previous work published on rotational diffusion in acetonitrile is the magnetic resonance work of Bopp.¹¹     

Structure evolution and mechanical properties enhancement of Al/AlN multilayer

A set of Al/AlN multilayers with various modulation periods were prepared using DC magnetron sputtering method. Low angle X-ray diffraction (LAXRD) was used to analyze the layered structure of multilayers. The phase structure of the films was investigated with grazing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD). LAXRD results indicate that well-defined multilayer modulation structures are formed for the relatively larger modulation periods. However, the loss of mutilayered structure is detected in the multilayer with low modulation period. A very wide amorphous peak is observed in multilayer with modulation period of 4 nm. The multilayers show obvious crystallization at larger modulation periods, however, the diffraction peaks are much wider than the Al single layer because of the interruption of the continuous columnar grain growth by alternating deposition processes. Nanoindentation experiments were performed to study the mechanical properties as a function of multilayer modulation period. It is found that the hardness of the multilayers is greater than the hardness calculated from rule of mixtures. With the modulation periods adjusted, the multilayers are even harder than its hard component (AlN). A maximum hardness of 24.9 GPa, about 1.9 times larger than its hard component (AlN) and 3.7 times larger than the hardness calculated from the rule of mixtures, is found at the multilayer with modulation period of 16 nm. The wear test results show that the multilayers possess lower and stable friction coefficient, and superior wear properties.     

Formation of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis products in Ti-Ni and Ti-Co systems

The structure and phase composition of specimens from mixtures of titanium powders with nickel and cobalt, hardened during combustion, are investigated in this paper. It is shown that under selected conditions dissolution of the components in the liquid phase is the guiding stage of combustion wave propagation.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 75–78, December, 1981.     

Complex chemistry simulations of spark ignition in turbulent sprays

Three-dimensional DNS of two-phase flows with the point-source approximation and with complex chemistry for n-heptane has been used to extract physical information on the structure of igniting kernels following localised heat deposition in turbulent monodisperse sprays. Consistent with experiment, small sparks fail to ignite and sprays ignite later than premixed gaseous mixtures. Reaction rates are intense in spherical zones near droplets and much lower in the interdroplet spacing, resulting in a highly wrinkled flame surface. The propagation of these reaction zones was observed. The flame shows a locally non-premixed character, with reactions proceeding at a wide range of mixture fractions, which increases as evaporation progresses. The distribution of various chemical species is presented. The results constitute a database for model validation and physical analysis.     

Absolute Orientation of Molecules with Competing Hydrophilic Head Groups at the Air/Water Interface Probed with Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy

和频振动光谱(SFG-VS)研究中由基团在界面上取向所引起的光谱增强或相消的干涉现象为研究分子在界面上的绝对取向提供了一种直接的测量方法. 这一方法比SFG实验中复杂的相位测量方法更为直接和简单可行. 以在空气/水界面取向已知的对羟基苯腈(PCP)分子的氰基(-CN)基团为相位参考来获得3,5-二甲基对羟基苯腈(35DMHBN)和2,6-二甲基对羟基苯腈(26DMHBN)分子在空气/水界面的取向信息. 通过对这三种分子的水溶液和它们两两混合溶液界面上-CN基团和频振动光谱强度的比较,发现在空气/水界面的3     

Influence of dispersive long-range interactions on properties of vapour–liquid equilibria and interfaces of binary Lennard-Jones mixtures

The influence of dispersive long-range interactions on properties of vapour–liquid equilibria and interfaces of six binary Lennard-Jones (LJ) mixtures was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density gradient theory (DGT). The mixtures were investigated at a constant temperature T, at which the low-boiling component, which is the same in all mixtures, is subcritical. Two different high-boiling components were considered: one is subcritical, the other is supercritical at T. Furthermore, the unlike dispersive interaction was varied such that mixtures with three different types of phase behaviour were obtained: ideal, low-boiling azeotrope, and high-boiling azeotrope. In a first series of simulations, the full LJ potential was used to describe these mixtures. To assess the influence of the long-range interactions, these results were compared with simulations carried out with the LJ truncated and shifted (LJTS) potential applying the corresponding states principle. The dispersive long-range interactions have a significant influence on the surface tension and the interfacial thickness of the studied mixtures, whereas the relative adsorption and the enrichment are hardly affected. Furthermore, the influence of the long-range interactions on Henry's law constants and the phase envelopes of the vapour–liquid equilibrium was investigated. The long-range interactions have practically no influence on the composition dependency of the investigated mixture properties.     

Thermodiffusion of rigid particles in pure liquids

Thermodiffusion of particles suspended in a pure liquid is a thorny problem which has not yet received a solution admitted by all the different communities interested in. We approach the subject with macroscopic tools exclusively, hydrodynamics and irreversible thermodynamics. These tools have proved their relevance for molecular mixtures and the Soret effect, and we here extend them to suspensions of particles with supra-molecular size. In particular, we obtain the momentum balance of the particulate phase from which are deduced all the physical phenomena inducing a migration of the particles relative to the carrier fluid. Focussing on thermodiffusion, we show that the osmotic pressure is irrelevant and that thermodiffusion cannot have but two distinct origins : the temperature dependence of the stress associated with the distorted particle microstructure and a fluid-particle interaction force involving the temperature gradient. For deformable particles, it is well known that the origin of the fluid-particle temperature gradient force is the temperature dependence of the surface tension. For rigid particles, we suggest it stems from the temperature dependence of the small density jump, the carrier liquid displays close to the particle’s surface.     

Thermodynamic properties of gold–water nanolayer mixtures using molecular dynamics

The physical behavior of a fluid in contact with solid layers is still not fully understood. The present work focuses on the study and understanding of thermodynamic and structural properties of gold–water nanolayer mixtures using molecular dynamics simulations. Two different systems are considered, where approximately 1,700 water molecules are confined between gold nanolayers with separations of 7.4 and 6.2 nm, respectively. Novelties of the present work are in the use of accurate force fields for modeling the inter- and intra-molecular interactions of the components, and providing comprehensive thermodynamic properties of the mixtures. The results are validated by examination of the pure fluid and pure solid properties. Results indicate that the thermodynamics of the system does not behave as an ideal mixture. The structure of the pure fluid is also analyzed and compared against the structure of the confined fluid in the mixture. Anisotropicity is observed in the fluid structure close to the surface of the nanolayer. Higher ordering and higher flux are detected in the fluid molecules close to the fluid–solid interface. Unusual thermodynamic behavior, anisotropicity, liquid layering, and higher interfacial fluid flux could be just some of the factors leading to the enhanced energy transport observed in mixtures involving at least one nanoscale component, such as nanofluids.     

Sound velocity in binary liquid mixtures and the statistical mechanical theories

Sound velocity in three binary liquid mixtures benzene+cyclohexane (I), cyclohexane+carbontetrachloride (II) and benzene+carbontetrachloride (III) has been measured. Significant structure and Flory — Patterson theories have been employed to evaluate ultrasonic velocity in the systems. The values are in good agreement with the experimental ones. A comparative study of significant structure theory and Flory-Patterson Theory has been made. Both the theories give satisfactory results for the three liquid mixtures.     

Ionic liquid confined in silica nanopores: molecular dynamics in the isobaric–isothermal ensemble

Molecular dynamics simulations in the isobaric–isothermal ensemble are used to investigate the structure and dynamics of an ionic liquid confined at ambient temperature and pressure in hydroxylated amorphous silica nanopores. The use of the isobaric–isothermal ensemble allows estimating the effect of confinement and surface chemistry on the density of the confined ionic liquid. The structure of the confined ionic liquid is investigated using density profiles and structural order parameters while its dynamics is assessed by determining the mobility and ionic conductivity of the confined phase. Despite the important screening of the electrostatic interactions (owing to the small Debye length in ionic liquids), the local structure of the confined ionic liquid is found to be mostly driven by electrostatic interactions. We show that both the structure and dynamics of the confined ionic liquid can be described as the sum of a surface contribution arising from the ions in contact with the surface and a bulk-like contribution arising from the ions located in the pore centre; as a result, most properties of the confined ionic liquid are a simple function of the surface-to-volume ratio of the host porous material. In contrast, the ionic conductivity of the confined ionic liquid, which is a collective dynamical property, is found to be similar to the bulk. This study sheds light on the complex behaviour of hybrid materials made up of ionic liquid confined in inorganic porous materials.     

The synthesis of the chiral non-mesogenic d-seco estrone derivatives and their influence on the phase transitions of cholesteric liquid crystals

The synthesis of new chiral seco-estrone derivatives is presented, as well as their influence on the phase transition of binary mixtures of cholesteryc liquid crystals. The new chiral derivatives do not posses any liquid crystalline phases and were synthesized in several synthetic steps, starting from estrone. We have studied the mixtures of cholesteryl non-anoate (40%) with cholesteryl myristate (40%) and addition of new chiral derivatives 3 4, or 5 (20%). It was concluded that the addition of chiral derivative 3 to the binary mixture stabilizes smectic A and cholesteric phase and shifts the phase transition temperature with respect to pure binary mixture for about 5°C towards lower temperatures. The extension of the temperature range of the cholesteric phase from 5°C to 15°C was established in the case when the derivatives 3 and 4 are added to the binary mixture of cholesteryl nonanoate with cholesteryl myristate. The phase diagrams of investigated compounds are formed on the basis of data obtained by the optical microscopy. Using X-ray diffraction on the crystalline powder of unoriented samples we have determined the molecular parameters: the thickness of smectic and cholesteric layers and average distance between the long axes of neighboring molecules.     

Patterning silver nanocubes in monolayers using phase separated lipids as templates

Strategies for assembling silver nanocubes (NCs) into distinct 2D patterns on Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films are demonstrated using two different lipid mixtures as vehicles: (1) raft mixtures containing 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), sphingomyelin (SPM), and cholesterol in different mole ratios (2:2:1 and 1:1:1) and (2) 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC) at a 1:3 mol ratio. Atomic force microscopy was employed to unveil the mechanisms of such pattern formation in the LB film. The results demonstrate that aggregation of NCs into round-like pattern is governed by preferential localization of NCs within the liquid condensed (LC) domains of DOPC/SPM/Cholesterol mixture. Cholesterol was found to govern the size and shape of the rounded islands. On the other hand, incorporation of NCs within the liquid expanded (LE) phase of DPPC/DLPC mixture produced linear-branched chains, oriented normal to the Langmuir film transfer direction. The as engineered patterns of silver NCs exhibited characteristic plasmonic signatures. Our results reveal the potential in assembling plasmonic metal nanoparticles into diverse patterns on solid substrates by exploiting their preferential localization either in LC or LE phase of appropriate lipid mixture in Langmuir film.     

On some liquid crystalline phases exhibited by compounds made of bent-core molecules and their mixtures with rod-like molecules

In most homologous series of compounds made of bent-core (BC) molecules, the B₂ B₁ and B₆ phases occur as the chain length decreases. We have studied binary mixtures of the compound 1,3-phenylene bis[4-(3-methylbenzoyloxy)]4-n-dodecylbiphenyl 4’-carboxylate (BC12) which exhibits the B₂ phase with the compound 4-biphenylyl 4’-n-undecyloxybenzoate (BO11) made of rod-like (R) molecules. We find the above sequence of occurrence of the B phases with increasing concentration of BOH. In this paper we describe the physical origin for the formation of these phases in both pure compounds and in the mixtures. We have also found the occurrence of the biaxial smectic A phase when the BO11 concentration is increased to 87–95.5 mol%. We also report on another binary system composed of BC12 and 4-n-octyloxy 4’- cyanobiphenyl (8OCB) made of R molecules. This system exhibits the biaxial smectic A phase down to 30°C. Using polarized infrared spectroscopy we find that the mutual orientation of the R and BC molecules in the SmA_db liquid crystal is such that the arrow axes of the BC molecules are along the layer normal of the partial bilayer smectic structure formed by the rods. We also describe unusual growth patterns obtained when the nematic phase transforms to the SmA_db phase in a mixture with 24 mol% of BC12.