Exergy analysis and experimental study of a vapor compression refrigeration cycle

This article presents a detailed experimental analysis of 2TR (ton of refrigeration) vapor compression refrigeration cycle for different percentage of refrigerant charge using exergy analysis. An experimental setup has been developed and evaluated on different operating conditions using a test rig having R22 as working fluid. The coefficient of performance, exergy destruction, and exergetic efficiency for variable quantity of refrigerant has been calculated. The present investigation has been done by using 2TR window air conditioner and the results indicate that the losses in the compressor are more pronounced, while the losses in the condenser are less pronounced as compared to other components, i.e., evaporator and expansion device. The total exergy destruction is highest when the system is 100% charged, whereas it is found to be least when the system is 25% charged.     

The enhanced green fluorescent protein as a tool for the analysis of protein dynamics and localization: local fluorescence study at the single-molecule level

The green fluorescent protein (GFP) has emerged, in recent years, as a powerful reporter molecule for monitoring gene expression, protein localization and protein-protein interaction. Several mutant variants are now available differing in absorption, emission spectra and quantum yield. Here we present a detailed study of the fluorescence properties of the Phe-64-->Leu, Ser-65-->Thr mutant down to the single molecule level in order to assess its use in quantitative fluorescence microscopy and single-protein trafficking. This enhanced GFP (EGFP) is being used extensively as it offers higher-intensity emission after blue-light excitation with respect to wild-type GFP. By means of fluorescence spectroscopy we demonstrate the absence of the neutral form of the chromophore and the lack of photobleaching recovery after ultraviolet light irradiation. Furthermore, we show that the EGFP spectral properties from isolated to densely packed molecules are highly conserved. From these experiments EGFP emerges as an ideal molecule for quantitative studies of intra and intercellular tagged-protein dynamics and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, but not for monitoring single-protein trafficking over extended periods of time.     

A facile synthesis and spectral (ir, 1H, 13C, 31P nmr) studies of 2,10-dichloro-6-aryloxy-12H-dibenzo[d,g][1,3,2]dioxaphosphocin 6-sulfides

The synthesis of new 2,10-dichloro-6-aryloxy-12H-dibenzo[d,g][1,3,2]dioxaphosphocin 6-sulfides 4 was achieved in two steps with high yields from the simple materials 5,5′-dichloro-2,2′-dihydroxydiphenyl-methane (1) and thiophosphoryl chloride (2) which produced the key intermediate 2,6,10-trichloro-12H-dibenzo[d,g][1,3,2]dioxaphosphocin 6-sulfide (3) . Treatment of 3 with substituted phenols under phase transfer catalytic (PTC) conditions led to members of 4 . Long range coupling [⁵J_(P,H) = 3.6 Hz] was observed between phosphorus and one of the bridged methylene protons in 4 . A ¹³C nmr analysis revealed ²J_(P,O,C), ³J_(P,O,C) ⁴J(P,O,C) and ⁵J(P,O,C) couplings. All ³¹P nmr chemical shifts for thirteen members of these new heterocycles are reported for the first time. The nmr data are not totally definitive to confirm a boat-chair as the major conformer for the central eight-membered dioxaphosphocin ring, but such a conformer is tentatively suggested as favored.     

Realization of an advanced nozzle concept for compact chemical oxygen iodine laser

Conventional supersonic chemical oxygen–iodine lasers (SCOIL) are not only low-pressure systems, with cavity pressure of 2–3 Torr and Mach number of approximately 1.5, but also are high-throughput systems with a typical laser power per unit evacuation capacity of nearly 1 J/l, thus demanding high capacity vacuum systems which mainly determine the compactness of the system. These conventional nozzle-based systems usually require a minimum of a two-stage ejector system for realization of atmospheric pressure recovery in a SCOIL. Typically for a 500 W class SCOIL, a first stage requires a motive gas flow (air) of 120 gm/s to entrain a laser gas flow of 3 g/s and is capable of achieving the pressure recovery in the range of 60–80 Torr. On the other hand, the second stage ejector requires 4.5 kg/s of motive gas (air) to achieve atmospheric pressure recovery. An advanced nozzle, also known as ejector nozzle, suitable for a 500 W-class SCOIL employing an active medium flow of nearly 12 g/s, has been developed and used instead of a conventional slit nozzle. The nozzle has been tested in both cold as well as hot run conditions of SCOIL, achieving a typical cavity pressure of nearly 10 Torr, stagnation pressure of approximately 85 Torr and a cavity Mach number of 2.5. The present study details the gas dynamic aspects of this ejector nozzle and highlights its potential as a SCOIL pressure recovery device. This nozzle in conjunction with a diffuser is capable of achieving pressure recovery equivalent to a more cumbersome first stage of the pressure recovery system used in the case of a conventional slit nozzle-based system. Thus, use of this nozzle in place of a conventional slit nozzle can achieve atmospheric discharge using a single stage ejector system, thereby making the pressure recovery system quite compact.     

Nonbonded interactions in membrane-active cyclic biopolymers. III. Analogs of valinomycin

Several analogs of valinomycin have been simulated. These are analogs obtained by changing the configuration of the amino acid and hydroxy acid residues one at a time. Nonbonded interactions have been calculated for three conformations of each analog. The electrostatic and polarization contributions to the energy are conformation selective, whereas the Pauli repulsion is the only component which is isomer selective. For the ring chirality considered here the analog of valinomycin having all the three L -valyl residues replaced by D -valyl residues is predicted to be frozen in a “top open” conformation.     

The dynamics of unfolded versus folded tRNA: the role of electrostatic interactions

The dynamics of RNA contributes to its biological functions such as ligand recognition and catalysis. Using quasielastic neutron scattering spectroscopy, we show that Mg(2+) greatly increases the picosecond to nanosecond dynamics of hydrated tRNA while stabilizing its folded structure. Analyses of the atomic mean-squared displacement, relaxation time, persistence length, and fraction of mobile atoms showed that unfolded tRNA is more rigid than folded tRNA. This same result was found for a sulfonated polystyrene, indicating that the increased dynamics in Mg(2+) arises from improved charge screening of the polyelectrolyte rather than specific interactions with the folded tRNA. These results are opposite to the relationship between structural compactness and internal dynamics for proteins in which the folded state is more rigid than the denatured state. We conclude that RNA dynamics are strongly influenced by the electrostatic environment, in addition to the motions of local waters.     

Concomitant degradation of bisphenol A during ultrasonication and Fenton oxidation and production of biofertilizer from wastewater sludge

Degradation of bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, from wastewater sludge (WWS) has attracted great interest recently. In the present study, the effects of different pre-treatment methods, including ultrasonication (US), Fenton's oxidation (FO) and ferro-sonication (FS) was assessed in terms of increase in solubilization of WWS and simultaneous degradation of BPA. Among US, FO and FS pre-treatment, higher suspended solids (SS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and soluble organic carbon (SOC) solubilization (39.7%, 51.2%, 64.5% and 17.6%, respectively) was observed during a ferro-sonication pre-treatment process carried out for 180 min, resulting in higher degradation of BPA (82.7%). In addition, the effect of rheological parameters (viscosity and particle size) and zeta potential on the degradation of BPA in raw and different pre-treated sludges were also investigated. The results showed that a decrease in viscosity and particle size and an increase in zeta potential resulted in higher degradation of BPA. BPA degradation by laccases produced by Sinorhizobium meliloti in raw and pre-treated sludge was also determined. Higher activity of laccases (207.9 U L(-1)) was observed in ferro-sonicated pre-treated sludge (180 min ultrasonic time), resulting in higher removal of BPA (0.083 μg g(-1)), suggesting concomitant biological degradation of BPA.     

Performance studies of compact GGAG:Ce,B thermal neutron detector coupled to Si-based photosensors

Pramana - This work concerns the modelling of the dynamics of polarisation of a centrosymmetric material subjected to an amplitude-modulated excitation (AME). The dynamic equation obtained for the...     

Organic dyes containing indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline as a donor: synthesis,optical and photovoltaic properties

New organic dyes containing indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline donor have been synthesized for application in dye sensitized solar cells as sensitizers. The dyes exhibited interesting optical properties tuneable by the nature of the conjugation bridge. Origin of the optical transitions in the dyes was corroborated by the TDDFT computations. The LUMO and HOMO of the dyes were found to be favourable for electron injection into the conduction band of TiO₂ and the regeneration of the dye by the redox shuttle in the electrolyte, respectively. Since the dyes exhibited solvent dependent absorption properties, DSSC were fabricated from two different dye bath solutions, DCM and acetonitrile/tert-butanol/dimethylsulphoxide mixture. The dyes adsorbed from the later bath solution led to better device performance owing to the comparatively less charge transfer resistance arising from the well-spaced dye packing. Among all dyes, a dye containing thiophene in the π-spacer exhibited the highest device efficiency.     

Exergy and thermoeconomic analysis of cream pasteurisation plant

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Cream is a milk derivative comparatively rich in fat, present in the form of emulsion of fat in skimmed milk, and acquired by physical extraction from...