Mixed convection over a semi-infinite vertical flat plate

The problem of mixed convection over a semi-infinite vertical flat plate is studied by the method of series truncation for both cases when buoyancy adds and opposes the main flow. The present analysis is valid from leading edge to far downstream. The solutions show that the results are very accurate over an entire flow regime spanning from pure forced convection to moderately large free convection flows. In the buoyancy dominated limit the heat transfer is underestimated by 4 percent and skin friction is overestimated by 22 percent.

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Zusammenfassung Das Problem der gemischten Konvektion entlang einer vertikalen ebenen Platte wurde untersucht mit Hilfe der Methode der abgebrochenen Reihen, um Ergebnisse für kleine und mittlere Reynoldszahlen zu geben, verglichen mit den Grenzschicht-Resultaten in der Literatur, die fürRe gültig sind. Es wurde gefunden, dass die Methode gute Ergebnisse gibt für alle drei Regionen (erzwungene Konvektion dominierend im Nahgebiet, freie Konvektion dominierend im Ferngebiet, und das Zwischengebiet) in die das Strömungsfeld bei Grenzschichtrechnungen aufgeteilt worden ist; nicht nur für genügend grosseR _x sondern auch für sehr kleine Werte vonR _x .

     

Synthesis and kinetic modeling of biomass‐derived renewable polyesters

The biomass‐derived polyesters poly(1,3‐propylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) (PPF), poly(1,3‐propylene succinate) (PPS) and poly(1,3‐propylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate‐co‐1,3‐propylene succinate) (PPFPS) have been synthesized via a two‐step process involving polycondensation and azeotropic distillation. The kinetic parameters were obtained by fitting the experimental data from a batch polymerization reactor to three different kinetic models for polyesterification reactions. The activation energies of the all monomer systems were obtained by Arrhenius plots. Given the increasing availability of biomass‐derived monomers their use in renewable polyesters as substitutes for fossil fuel derived chemicals becomes a distinct possibility. The kinetic modeling of the uncatalyzed polyesterification reactions will enable further integrative process simulation of the studied bioderived polymers and provide a reference for future practical study or industrial applications of catalyzed polyesterification reactions and other bioderived monomer systems. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2876–2887     

Magnetic Field Treatments Improves Sunflower Yield by Inducing Physiological and Biochemical Modulations in Seeds

Magnetic seed enhancement has been practicing as a promising tool to improve germination and seedling growth of low vigor seeds stored under suboptimal conditions, but there is still ambiguity regarding the prospects for magnetism in oilseeds. Present study elucidates the potential of magnetic seed stimulation to improve sunflower germination, growth and yield. Germination and emergence tests were performed to optimize the strength of the magnetic field to sunflower seed enhancement. The seeds were directly exposed to magnetic field strengths of 50, 100 and 150 millitesla (mT) for 5, 10 and 15 min (min) and then standard germination tests were performed. Secondly, the emergence potential of untreated seeds was compared with seed exposed to hydropriming, priming with 3% moringa leaf extract (MLE), priming with magnetically treated water (MTW) for 10 min and priming with 3% MLE solution prepared in magnetically treated water (MTW + MLE). Germination, emergence, seedling growth and seed biochemical properties were used to select the best treatment for field evaluation. The results of the study revealed that magnetic seed treatment with 100 mT for 10 min and seed priming with 3% MLE solution in magnetically treated water (MTW + MLE) significantly improved emergence, crop growth rate and sunflower yield.     

Volumetric properties of (piperidine + water) binary system: Measurements and modeling

Densities of pure piperidine (CAS No.: 110-89-4) and of its mixtures with water have been measured over the whole range of compositions at temperatures from 283.15 K to 347.15 K using Anton Paar? digital vibrating tube densimeter. The density of this system has been found increasing with mass fraction of water. Excess molar volumes have been calculated using the measured experimental densities and correlated using the Redlich–Kister equation. Redlich–Kister equation parameters have been adjusted on experimental data. In addition, partial molar volumes and partial excess molar volumes at infinite dilution have been calculated for each component.     

Hydrothermally synthesized highly efficient binary silver strontium sulfide (AgSrS) for high-performance supercapattery applications

The increasing demand for sustainable energy has diverted researchers’ intentions toward electrochemical storage devices. This research aims to combine supercapacitors’ characteristics with batteries to create high-performance hybrid energy storage devices. The hydrothermal approach is used to synthesize silver sulfide (Ag₂S), strontium sulfide (SrS), and their composite silver strontium sulfide (AgSrS). XRD is used to evaluate the crystallinity, SEM is used to study the surface morphology, and XPS is used to determine the elemental composition of AgSrS. The BET measurements show a higher surface area of 22.23 m²g⁻¹ for AgSrS. The highest achieved specific capacity with AgSrS is 494.5 C g⁻¹ (137.36 mAh-g⁻¹). The best-tuned material, AgSrS, is then used as the anode in a powered hybrid device with activated carbon (A.C.) as the cathode terminal. This device provides an energy of 26.32 Wh-kg⁻¹ at a power of 800 W kg⁻¹. The device was also put through a durability test, which included 5000 consecutive cycles. After 5000 cycles, a columbic efficiency of 82% was achieved, with 96% capacity retention. This research shows that the composite material AgSrS can be utilized commercially for hybrid energy storage devices in the future.

     

SER estimation method for 56 GBaud PAM-4 transmission system

In this Letter, we have proposed a generalized Gaussian probability density function(GGPDF)-based method to estimate the symbol error ratio(SER) for pulse amplitude modulation(PAM-4) in an intensity modulation/direct detection(IM/DD) system. Furthermore, a closed form expression of SERGGDfor PAM-4 has been derived. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated through simulation as well as experimental work.The fitting of probability density functions of the received signal is applied via GGPDF and shape parameters P1 and P2 associated with different PAM-4 levels are determined. The optimum single value of shape parameter P is then calculated to estimate the SER. The mathematical relationship of P with different received optical powers and receiver bandwidths has been determined and verified. The proposed method is a fast and accurate method to estimate SER of a PAM-4 system, which is more reliable and in agreement with the error counting method.     

Wake layer in a thermal turbulent boundary layer with pressure gradient

The open equations of thermal turbulent boundary layer subjected to pressure gradient have been analysed by method of matched asymptotic expansions at large Reynolds number. The flow is divided into outer wake layer and inner wall layer. The asymptotic expansions are matched by Millikan-Kolmogorov hypothesis. The temperature profile in overlap region yields composite law which reduce to log. law for moderate pressure gradient and inverse half power law for strong adverse pressure gradient. In case of a shallow thermal wake, the matching result of outer wake layer reduces to composite temperature defect law, which is more general than the classical log. law. The comparison of data for thermal boundary layer with strong adverse pressure gradient is also considered. Received on 26 May 1998     

Analysis of Soil by Magnetic Field Assisted Calibration-Free Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) and Laser Ablation – Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (LA-TOF-MS)

The qualitative and quantitative analysis of soil samples collected from Sialkot, Pakistan (which contains leather industrial plants), has been performed using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation time of flight mass spectrometry (LA-TOF-MS). The focused beam of a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser (532?nm) was used to ablate the soil samples in air at atmospheric pressure. The optical emission spectra demonstrate the presence of the spectral lines of Si, Fe, Al, Ca, Ti, K, Cr, Mg, Na, Ba, and Li in all of the samples. The emission lines intensities, electron number densities, and excitation temperatures were significantly enhanced in the presence of an external 0.3 T magnetic field applied perpendicular to the plasma plume. A maximum enhancement factor of approximately 8 was observed in the emission intensity. The emergence of several additional lines has also been detected using the magnetic field-assisted LIBS approach. The elemental composition determined using calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS), with and without magnetic field, reveals that the external magnetic field only adjusts the laser-generated plasma dynamics without affecting the quantitative analysis of the samples. Importantly, the toxic and heavy elements such as chromium and barium were detected and quantified in all of the soil samples by both of these techniques. The variations in the compositional analysis using CF-LIBS with and without the applied magnetic field and LA-TOF-MS were less than 10%.     

A novel natural source Vicia faba L. membranes as colourant: development and optimisation of the extraction process using response surface methodology (RSM)

In this research paper, an eco-friendly extraction process of dyes from Vicia faba L. membranes was developed. In this regard, the influence of independent process factors like the weight of material, the extraction time, the temperature and the sodium hydroxide concentration on the natural dye extraction from Vicia faba membranes was investigated. The optimisation of the extraction conditions and the effect evaluation of the different operating parameters were carried out using a Box–Behnken design under response surface methodology. The optimum conditions were found to be 66 °C, 90 min, 5 g and 0.1628 mol·L^?1 for extraction temperature, time, mass of the material and sodium hydroxide concentration, respectively. The efficiency of this extraction process under these optimum conditions was evaluated by measuring the total phenolic content (TPC), the total flavonoid content and the relative colour yield (K/S). In these operating conditions, good fastness ratios were observed for the dyed fabrics.     

Three-dimensional MHD flow over a shrinking sheet: Analytical solution and stability analysis

The magnetohydrodynamic(MHD) steady and unsteady axisymmetric flows of a viscous fluid over a two-dimensional shrinking sheet are addressed. The mathematical analysis is carried out in the presence of a large magnetic field. The steady state problem results in a singular perturbation problem having an infinite domain singularity. The secular term appearing in the solution is removed and a two-term uniformly valid solution is derived using the Lindstedt–Poincaré technique. This asymptotic solution is validated by comparing it with the numerical solution. The solution for the unsteady problem is also presented analytically in the asymptotic limit of large magnetic field. The results of velocity profile and skin friction are shown graphically to explore the physical features of the flow field. The stability analysis of the unsteady flow is made to validate the asymptotic solution.