A hybrid EDC/Flamelet approach for modelling biomass combustion of grate-firing furnace

This paper proposes a new combustion model for the simulation of biomass combustion. It is developed based on the framework of the well-known Eddy Dissipation Concept (EDC) approach, which has the ability to incorporate chemical kinetics in turbulent reacting flows and thus makes it suitable for modelling gas-phase combustion. However, its high computational cost when using detailed chemistry has made it impractical for modelling large/industrial setups. To address this handicap, the proposed approach decouples the real-time calculation of chemical and mixing processes by importing a pre-calculated steady laminar flamelet library into EDC. The development of this new model is performed based on a modified version of EDC (called Extended EDC), which is capable of modelling the gas-phase of biomass combustion over a wide range of turbulent flow conditions. The proposed model is validated by simulating the well-documented experiment of the piloted jet flames of Barlow and Frank. The performance of the model is then evaluated by simulating a small-scale grate firing biomass furnace. The results show that, overall, the proposed model can be used to model biomass combustion at substantially low computational cost.     

Chaos analysis in attitude dynamics of a flexible satellite

Nonlinear Dynamics - In this paper, we analytically and numerically investigate chaos in attitude dynamics of a flexible satellite composed of a rigid body and two identical rigid panels attached...     

Artificial neural network for quantitative determination of total protein in yogurt by infrared spectrometry

A method has been introduced for quantitative determination of protein content in yogurt samples based on the characteristic absorbance of protein in 1800-1500 cm^− 1 spectral region by mid-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics. Successive Projection Algorithm (SPA) wavelength selection procedure, coupled with feed forward Back-Propagation Artificial Neural Network (BP-ANN) model was the benefited chemometric technique. Relative Error of Prediction (REP) in BP-ANN and SPA-BP-ANN methods for training set was 7.25 and 3.70 respectively. Considering the complexity of the sample, the ANN model was found to be reliable, while the proposed method is rapid and simple, without any sample preparation step.     

LMI-based stabilization of a class of fractional-order chaotic systems

Based on the theory of stabilization of fractional-order LTI interval systems, a simple controller for stabilization of a class of fractional-order chaotic systems is proposed in this paper. We consider the structure of the chaotic systems as fractional-order LTI interval systems due to the limited amplitude of chaotic trajectories. We introduce a simple feedback controller for the interval system and then, based on a recently established theorem for stabilization of interval systems, we reach to a linear matrix inequality (LMI) problem. Solving the LMI yields an appropriate decoupling feedback control law which suffices to bring the chaotic trajectories to the origin. Several illustrative examples are given which show the effectiveness of the method.     

Preparation, nano purification, quality control and labeling optimization of [64Cu]-5,10,15,20-tetrakis (penta fluoro phenyl) porphyrin complex as a possible imaging agent

Cu-64 was produced via the ⁶⁸Zn (p,αn)⁶⁴Cu nuclear reaction (≈200 mCi, >95 % chemical yield at 180 μA for 1.1 h irradiation, (radionuclidic purity >96 %, copper-67 as impurity) followed by purification with amino functionalized nano magnetic oxide, Fe₃O₄ aiming to remove trace amount of heavy metal ions from aqueous media due to achieve ultra pure [⁶⁴Cu] CuCl₂ for labeling step. [⁶⁴Cu] labeled 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(penta fluoro phenyl) porphyrin ([⁶⁴Cu]-TFPP) was prepared using freshly prepared [⁶⁴Cu] CuCl₂ (Cu-64; T _1/2 = 12.7 h) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(penta fluoro phenyl)porphyrin (H₂TFPP) for 60 min at 100 °C under reflux condition (radiochemical purity: >97 % ITLC, >98 % HPLC, specific activity: 14–16 GBq/mmol). Stability of the complex was checked in final formulation and human serum for 24 h. The partition coefficient was calculated for the compound (log P = 0.73). The biodistribution of the labeled compound in vital organs of wild-type rats was studied using scarification studies and PET imaging up in 2 and 4 h after injection. A detailed comparative pharmacokinetic study performed for ⁶⁴Cu cation and [⁶⁴Cu]-TFPP. The complex is mostly washed out from the circulation through kidneys and liver and can be an interesting tumor imaging/targeting agent due to high specific uptake and rapid excretion through the urinary tract.     

Numerical study of the effect of turbulence on rate of reactions in the MILD combustion regime

In this paper, the importance of fluctuations in flow field parameters is studied under MILD combustion conditions. In this way, a turbulent non-premixed CH₄+H₂ jet flame issuing into a hot and deficient co-flow air is modeled using the RANS Axisymmetric equations. The modeling is carried out using the EDC model to describe the turbulence-chemistry interaction. The DRM-22 reduced mechanism and the GRI2.11 full mechanism are used to represent the chemical reactions of H₂/methane jet flame. Results illustrate that although the fluctuations in temperature field are small and the reaction zone volume are large in the MILD regime, the fluctuations in temperature and species concentrations are still effective on the flow field. Also, inappropriate dealing with the turbulence effect on chemistry leads to errors in prediction of temperature up to 15% in the present flame. By decreasing of O₂ concentration of hot co-flow air, the effect of fluctuations in flow field parameters on flame characteristics are still significant and its effect on species reaction rates does not decrease. On the other hand, although decreasing of jet inlet Reynolds number at constant inlet turbulence intensity addresses to smaller fluctuations in flow filed, it does not lead to lower the effect of turbulence on species distribution and temperature field under MILD combustion conditions.     

A Novel Bacterial Route to Synthesize Cu Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Activity

Journal of Cluster Science - This report focuses on a facile and one-pot way to synthesize stable Cu nanoparticles (NPs) through a bacterial approach using an inexpensive and non-toxic copper salt...     

Carbohydrate-based nanostructured catalysts: applications in organic transformations

The requirement of green and sustainable materials to prepare heterogeneous catalysts has intensified for practical reasons over the past few decades. Carbohydrates are possibly the most plentiful and renewable organic materials in nature with inimitable physiochemical properties, plausible low-cost and large-scale production, and sustainability features could be exploited in the generation of nanostructured heterogeneous catalysts. This review article outlines the organic transformations catalyzed by diverse carbohydrate-based nanostructured catalysts in greener and environmentally friendly processes. Selected examples are highlighted for a variety of organic reactions exploiting the proposed catalysts’ reactivity and reusability, and interactions with the intrinsic nature of the applied carbohydrate supports; advantages and speculated challenges of the introduced catalysts are deliberated as well.