Using solvents to control hydrogen adsorption on skeletal nickel

The results from adsorption-calorimetric studies of hydrogen adsorption on skeletal nickel are generalized. The thermodynamic characteristics of adsorbed hydrogen are calculated according to the model of an ideal surface with discrete heterogeneity. It is shown that the states of surface layers in solutions, formed upon hydrogen adsorption on skeletal and porous nickel, depend on the nature and composition of the solvent. Based on the resulting data, the possibility of using a solvent to control adsorption in a skeletal nickel-hydrogen system is confirmed.     

The Mixed Convection Boundary Layer on a Vertical Melting Front in a Non-Darcian Porous Medium

The effect of surface melting on the dual solutions that can arise in the problem of the mixed convection boundary-layer flow past a vertical surface embedded in a non-Darcian porous medium is considered. The problem is described by M, melting parameter, \(\lambda \), mixed convection parameter, and \(\gamma \), the flow inertia coefficient, numerical results being obtained in terms of these three parameters. It is seen that the melting phenomenon reduces the heat transfer rate and enhances the boundary-layer separation at the solid–liquid interface. Asymptotic solutions for the forced convection, \(\lambda =0\), and free convection, large \(\lambda \), limits are derived.     

A similarity solution for the flow and heat transfer over a moving permeable flat plate in an external free stream: case of strong injection

The previous work of Bachok et al. (Heat Mass Transf. 47:1643–1649, 2011) on the forced convection heat transfer on an isothermal moving surface in an external free stream is extended to the case when fluid injection through the surface, characterized by the parameter γ, is large. The asymptotic solution derived in this limit shows that the boundary layer has a double region structure, with an inviscid inner region of thickness O(γ) and an outer shear layer. Some further aspects of the original problem not treated in Bachok et al. (Heat Mass Transf. 47:1643–1649, 2011) are discussed as well as the analogous problem for a constant surface heat flux, where relatively small injection rates are seen to give rise to large increases in the surface temperature.     

Mixed Convection Boundary-Layer Flow on a Vertical Surface in a Porous Medium with a Constant Convective Boundary Condition

The mixed convection boundary-layer flow on a vertical surface heated convectively is considered when a constant surface heat transfer parameter is assumed. The problem is seen to be chararterized by a mixed convection parameter $\gamma $ γ . The flow and heat transfer near the leading edge correspond to forced convection solution and numerical solutions are obtained to determine how the solution then develops. The solution at large distances is obtained and this identifies a critical value $\gamma _c$ γ c of the parameter $\gamma $ γ . For $\gamma > \gamma _c$ γ > γ c a solution at large distances is possible and this is approached in the numerical integrations. For $\gamma <\gamma _c$ γ < γ c the numerical solution breaks down at a finite distance along the surface with a singularity, the nature of which is discussed.     

Mixed Convection Boundary-Layer Flow in a Porous Medium Filled with Water Close to its Maximum Density

The steady mixed convection boundary-layer flow over a vertical impermeable surface in a porous medium saturated with water close to its maximum density is considered for uniform wall temperature and outer flow. The problem can be reduced to similarity form and the resulting equations are examined in terms of a mixed convection parameter λ and a parameter δ which measures the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature at the maximum density. Both assisting (λ > 0) and opposing flows (λ < 0) are considered. A value δ₀ is found for which there are dual solutions for a range λ_c < λ < 0 of λ (the value of λ_c dependent on δ) and single solutions for all λ ≥ 0. Another value of δ₁ of δ, with δ₁ > δ₀, is found for which there are dual solutions for a range 0 < λ < λ_c of positive values of λ, with solutions for all λ≤ 0. There is also a range δ₀ <  δ < δ₁ where there are solutions only for a finite range of λ, with critical points at both positive and negative values of λ, thus putting a finite limit on the range of existence of solutions.     

Analysis of the electrolyte diode. Electro-diffusion and chemical reaction within a hydrogel reactor

A reaction–diffusion system describing the electrolyte diode is investigated. This consists of a chemically crosslinked polyvinylalcohol (PVA) hydrogel cylinder in which a pH gradient is provided by having an acid and a base maintained at constant concentrations in reservoirs at each end of the one-dimensional reactor. A potential difference of a given strength is also applied across the gel cylinder. Previous experimental studies of the current–voltage characteristics (CVC) have shown two distinct cases, depending on whether a positive or negative potential difference was applied. The slopes of the linear current–voltage response curve are substantially different in the two cases, that in the 'forward' case being typically several orders of magnitude greater than that in the 'backward' case. Thus the system behaves like a semiconductor diode. The stationary concentration distribution for the different ions is described by a system of reaction–diffusion equations involving migration caused by the electric field. An approximate solution of these equations, using a simplified model, is presented and compared with results obtained by solving the full system numerically. The concentration profiles obtained from the numerical solution confirm the validity of the simplified model.     

Modulation-spectral method for analyzing the amplitude-phase structure of optical inhomogeneities of objects

An original solution to the phase problem in optics is considered as applied to the problems of recording and analysis of the amplitude-phase structure of optical fields used for studying fine structures and inhomogeneities in steady-state objects producing effects to fractions of the wavelength period. The problem is solved by probing objects using radiation with a known structure. Intensity distributions of the probing field are detected at the exit from the object by using the modulation-spectral method directly for the spatial frequency spectrum and for the spatial frequency spectrum subjected to additional modulation formed in a special way, which is realized in the plane under study and provides visualization of the phase information contained in the light field in some form. The intensity distributions obtained make it possible to calculate the two-dimensional amplitude-phase structure of the field analyzed and, hence, the fine structure of the optical inhomogeneities of the object analyzed for the chosen probing direction. For steady-state objects, probing in a number of directions is possible. Information on the bulk structure of the inhomogeneities under study can be obtained by using the information available on the symmetry of the object. Two variants of action of the medium on probing radiation are considered. In the first one, the action is related to spatial field modulation (described by the multiplication operation); in the second one, the action leads to redistribution of radiation in the plane studied (described by the convolution operation).     

Radical cyclization of sugar-derived beta-(alkynyloxy)acrylates: synthesis of novel fused ethers

[formula: see text] Tributyltin radical mediated cyclization of carbohydrate-derived beta-(alkynyloxy)acrylates leading to highly functionalized cis- and trans-fused bicyclic ethers of various ring sizes is described. The efficacy of the radical cyclization is nicely illustrated in the iterative construction of a trans-fused tricyclic tetrahydropyran.