Performance analysis and multi-objective optimization of an organic Rankine cycle with binary zeotropic working fluid employing modified artificial bee colony algorithm

From a thermal point of view, zeotropic mixtures are likely to be more efficient than azeotropic fluids in low-temperature power cycles for reduction in exergy destruction occurring during heat absorption/rejection processes due to their suitable boiling characteristics. In this study, comprehensive energetic and exergetic analyses are mathematically performed for an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system employing a potential binary zeotropic working fluid, namely R717/water. For this purpose, initially mass, energy, and exergy balance equations are derived. With regard to the similarity in molar mass of R717 (17.03 g mol^?1) and water (18.01 g mol^?1), there is no need to alter the size of the ORC components such as turbine and pump. In order to achieve the optimal thermal and exergy efficiencies of the ORC system, modified version a powerful and relatively new optimization algorithm called artificial bee colony (ABC) is used taking into account different effective constraints. The main motivation behind using ABC lies on its robustness, reliability, and convergence rate speed in dealing with complicated constrained multi-objective problems. Convergence rates of the algorithm for optimal calculation of the efficiencies are presented. Subsequently, due to the importance of exergy concept in ORC systems, exergy destructions occurring in the components are computed. Finally, the impacts of pressure, temperature, mass fraction, and mass flow rate on the ORC thermal and exergy efficiencies are discussed.

     

New formulas for approximation of π and other transcendental numbers

We derive many new formulas for the approximation of π. The formulas make use of a sequence of iteration functions called the basic family; a nontrivial determinantal generalization of Taylor's theorem; other ingredients; as well as several new results presented in the present paper. In one scheme, one evaluates members of the basic family, for an appropriately selected function, all at the same input. This scheme generates almost a fixed and preselected number of digits in each successive evaluation. The computation amounts to the evaluation of a homogeneous linear recursive formula and is equivalent to the computation of special Toeplitz matrix determinants. The approximations of π obtained via this scheme are within simple algebraic extensions of the rational field. In a second scheme, the fixed-point iteration is applied to any fixed member of the basic family, while selecting an appropriate function. In this scheme for each natural number we prove convergence of order m, starting from the initial point. We report on some preliminary computational results obtained via Maple. Analogous formulas can be used to approximate other transcendental numbers. For instance, we also give a formula for the approximation of e. In fact, our results give new formulas and arbitrary high-order methods for the approximation of roots of certain analytic functions. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Gas hydrates in low water content gases: Experimental measurements and modelling using the CPA equation of state

In this communication, new experimental data are reported for the water content of methane and two synthetic gas mixtures in equilibrium with hydrates at pressures range from 5 to 40 MPa and temperature down to 251.65 K. The measurements have been made on equilibrated samples taken from a high-pressure variable volume hydrate cell using a new analyser based upon tuneable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) technology. A statistical thermodynamic approach, with the Cubic-Plus-Association equation of state, is employed to model the phase equilibria. The hydrate-forming conditions are modelled by the solid solution theory of van der Waals and Platteeuw. The thermodynamic model was used to predict the water content of methane and synthetic gases in equilibrium with gas hydrates.     

Boehmite silica sulfuric acid: as a new acidic material and reusable heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the various organic oxidation reactions

In this research, project boehmite silica sulfuric acid (Boehmite-SSA) has been applied as new acidic porous catalyst for the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and oxidative coupling of thiols to corresponding disulfides using hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent. The products have been obtained in short reaction times and high yields. Boehmite nanoparticles was prepared, coated by silica and then reacted with chlorosulfuric acid to obtain Boehmite-SSA. This catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, TGA/DTA, XRD, TEM, SEM, EDS and BET techniques. BET curve of boehmite nanoparticles identified as a typical type IV isotherm (definition by IUPAC), which are the characteristics of mesoporous material. Nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurement indicated that boehmite nanoparticles had BET surface area of about 122.8 m²/g. The catalyst was easily separated and reused for the several runs without significant loss of its catalytic efficiency.     

Palladium 2‐mercapto‐N‐propylacetamide complex anchored onto MCM‐41 as efficient and reusable nanocatalyst for Suzuki,Stille and Heck reactions and amination of aryl halides

A palladium 2‐mercapto‐N‐propylacetamide complex supported on functionalized MCM‐41 was prepared by a post‐grafting method and considered as an efficient catalyst for C? C cross‐coupling reactions between various aryl halides and sodium tetraphenylborate, phenylboronic acid, triphenyltin chloride or alkenes. Also, this catalyst shows good reactivity towards amination of aryl halides. This nanocatalyst was characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma and transmission electron microscopy techniques. Further results indicated that the heterogeneous catalyst could be recovered easily and reused several times without any loss of its catalytic activity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new Orthonormal Polynomial Series Expansion Method in vibration analysis of thin beams with non-uniform thickness

In this article, OPSEM (Orthonormal Polynomial Series Expansion Method) is developed as a new computational approach for the evaluation of thin beams of variable thickness transverse vibration. Capability of the OPSEM in assessing the free vibration frequencies and mode shapes of an Euler–Bernoulli beam with varying thickness is discussed. Multispan continuous beams with various classical boundary conditions are included. Contribution of BOPs (Basic Orthonormal Polynomials) in capturing the beam vibrations is also illustrated in numerical examples to give a quantitative measure of convergence rate. Furthermore, OPSEM is adopted for the forced vibration of a thin beam caused by a moving mass. Dynamics of beams supported by flexible elastic base like free to free beam on elastic foundation are also regarded. Verifications are made via eigenfunction expansion method and GMLSM (Generalized Moving Least Square Method). The very close observed agreement between the results of the two recently mentioned methods and that of OPSEM can be regarded as a guarantee of validity for the newly introduced technique. In comparison with eigenfunction expansion method, the simplicity and handiness of OPSEM in coping with different boundary conditions of the beam can be considered as its benefit for engineering practitioners.     

On the prime graph of <Emphasis Type="Italic">PSL</Emphasis>(2, <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>) where <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> > 3 is a prime number

Let G be a finite group. We define the prime graph Γ(G) as follows. The vertices of Γ(G) are the primes dividing the order of G and two distinct vertices p, q are joined by an edge if there is an element in G of order pq. Recently M. Hagie [5] determined finite groups G satisfying Γ(G) = Γ(S), where S is a sporadic simple group. Let p > 3 be a prime number. In this paper we determine finite groups G such that Γ(G) = Γ(PSL(2, p)). As a consequence of our results we prove that if p > 11 is a prime number and p ≢ 1 (mod 12), then PSL(2, p) is uniquely determined by its prime graph and so these groups are characterizable by their prime graph. The third author was supported in part by a grant from IPM (No. 84200024).     

On Cayley graphs of rectangular groups

In this paper, we first give a characterization of Cayley graphs of rectangular groups. Then, vertex-transitivity of Cayley graphs of rectangular groups is considered. Further, it is shown that Cayley graphs Cay(S,C) which are automorphism-vertex-transitive, are in fact Cayley graphs of rectangular groups, if the subsemigroup generated by C is an orthodox semigroup. Finally, a characterization of vertex-transitive graphs which are Cayley graphs of finite semigroups is concluded.