Synchronized EPI phase contrast velocimetry in a mixing reactor

Notwithstanding its widespread use in cardiovascular and functional MRI studies, Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) has only recently been subjected to systematic validation studies. Most velocity measurement studies employing such ultrafast MRI methods involve the use of phantoms characterized by rigid or deformable solid motion. The current implementation involves a rotating phantom (angular velocity up to 10.5 rpm) with a superimposed swirling liquid flow (with axial velocities ranging between 0.145 and 0.27 cm/s) of water doped with copper sulfate. The standard implementation of single-shot EPI with phase contrast velocity encoding allows the complete mapping of the Eulerian velocity field in slices perpendicular to the rotation axis following a subtractive procedure requiring the synchronized acquisition of each velocity component on each selected transverse slice during two revolutions of the rotor. The image acquisition time is 100 ms (per velocity component) at each 64 x 64 slice. In addition to acquiring full-field velocity data for future direct comparisons with other techniques, EPI is employed here for the first time to reconstruct the three-dimensional flow field between the blades of a partitioned pipe mixer.     

垃圾气化分析及其对中国实现碳中和与无废城市建设的贡献

气化是实现化学利用碳资源(尤其是煤)生产化学品和燃料的关键工艺.目前,全球拥有超过272套气化装置,主要应用于煤化工,尤其在中国.由于在一个化工厂通过技术集成达到工业规模的集中生产可实现减少二氧化碳排放并促进碳密集型行业的循环经济,如废物管理、化学和交通行业,因此,近年来全球对垃圾气化的兴趣日益浓厚,尤其是那些在煤气化...     

Al-Mn-Ce quasicrystalline composites: Phase formation and mechanical properties

Aluminium-based composites with quasicrystalline particles as reinforcements were synthesized via the powder metallurgy processing route. In order to obtain bulk samples with a nanoscale microstructure most equivalent to that resulting from rapid solidification, powders of Al-Mn-Ce alloys were prepared by pulverization of melt-spun ribbons using a planetary ball mill. Significant differences in the phase formation upon quenching, composite microstructure and thermal stability of the microstructure were found for different alloy compositions. Severe grain growth during the subsequent consolidation by hot extrusion caused the formation of a micrometre-scale composite instead of the nanoscale phase mixture initially existing after rapid solidification. After hot extrusion, the specimens were deformed by compression at a constant compression rate at room temperature. With an ultimate strength of up to 975 MPa and a ductility of more than 4% the material yields excellent properties compared with conventionally produced aluminium-based alloys.     

A mixed hp FEM for the approximation of fourth‐order singularly perturbed problems on smooth domains

We consider fourth‐order singularly perturbed problems posed on smooth domains and the approximation of their solution by a mixed Finite Element Method on the so‐called Spectral Boundary Layer Mesh. We show that the method converges uniformly, with respect to the singular perturbation parameter, at an exponential rate when the error is measured in the energy norm. Numerical examples illustrate our theoretical findings.     

Counterflow of electrons in two isolated quantum point contacts

We study the interaction between two adjacent but electrically isolated quantum point contacts (QPCs). At high enough source-drain bias on one QPC, the drive QPC, we detect a finite electric current in the second, unbiased, detector QPC. The current generated at the detector QPC always flows in the opposite direction than the current of the drive QPC. The generated current is maximal, if the detector QPC is tuned to a transition region between its quantized conductance plateaus and the drive QPC is almost pinched-off. We interpret this counterflow phenomenon in terms of an asymmetric phonon-induced excitation of electrons in the leads of the detector QPC.     

Formation of “Quasi” Contact or Solvent‐separated Ion Pairs in the Local Environment of Probe Molecules Dissolved in Ionic Liquids

The change from “quasi” contact to “quasi” solvent‐separated ion‐pair configuration in the local environment of a probe molecule in ionic liquids depends on the varying interaction strength of the chosen anions. The ion speciation in these Coulomb fluids could be shown by combining infrared spectroscopy, density functional theory calculations, and natural bond orbital analysis using a low‐self‐clustering probe molecule.     

Crystal and molecular structure of 2.2′-dihydroxyazobenzene

C₁₂H₁₀N₂O₂; monoclinic, space group P1 2₁/c 1 (Z = 2), 826 observed independent reflexions, R = 0.043; lattice dimensions at 25 °C, a = 975.8(3) pm, b = 466.8(1) pm, c = 1186.8(2) pm, β = 108.51(1)°.