Highly Reduced Species Mechanisms for iso‐Cetane Using the Local Self‐Similarity Tabulation Method

We utilize the local self‐similarity tabulation method to drastically downsize the number of species involved in a detailed kinetic mechanism of iso‐cetane. Reduced‐species mechanisms of 20 and 15 species are constructed, out of the 1114 species involved in the detailed mechanism, with a focus on high‐pressure combustion. The performance of the two reduced mechanisms are compared to the detailed one for a lean (? = 0.5), stoichiometric (? = 1.0), and rich (? = 1.5) iso‐cetane/air mixture at initial temperatures of 900 and 1100 K and constant pressures of 20 and 40 bar. Good to very good agreement between the detailed kinetic mechanism and the two highly reduced species mechanisms are demonstrated.     

Evaluation of assumed-PDF methods in two-phase flows using direct numerical simulation

The hypothesis of uncorrelated temperature (T) and vapor-fuel mass fraction (Y_v), frequently made when modeling reaction rates using assumed-PDF models, is examined utilizing transitional databases from direct numerical simulation (DNS) of three-dimensional mixing-layers two-phase (TP) flows with evaporation. Because the databases do not contain chemical reaction, which would further correlate variables, finding here a correlation between T and Y_v is sufficient for invalidating reaction rate modeling of the joint (T, Y_v) probability distribution function (PDF) as a product of the marginal PDFs. The databases comprise four multicomponent fuels, two mass loadings and two free-stream gas temperatures. For comparison, databases for single-phase (SP) flows are also analyzed at two initial Reynolds numbers. The examination is conducted in the mixing layer excluding the free streams and in a more restricted part of the mixing layer constituting its core. The analysis is performed at the DNS and large eddy simulation (LES) scales, and subgrid scale (SGS). To obtain the LES database, the DNS database is filtered, and an evaluation of the examined correlation at the LES and SGS scales is made at two filter sizes. At the DNS scale, T and Y_v are practically uncorrelated for SP flows, showing the weak influence of the perfect-gas equation of state, whereas for TP flows the correlation is strong and increases with mass loading indicating the powerful effect of the phase change. At the LES scale, the findings emulate those at the DNS scale. The fluctuations of the SGS scale are uncorrelated for SP flows, but the product of the marginal PDFs is different from the joint PDF. For TP flows, the fluctuations are correlated and the correlation increases with temperature, casting doubt on current assumed PDFs used to model chemistry in reacting sprays. These results are independent of filter size. The joint PDFs for TP and SP fluctuations are successfully modeled.     

Experimental identification of the kink instability as a poloidal flux amplification mechanism for coaxial gun spheromak formation

The magnetohydrodynamic kink instability is observed and identified experimentally as a poloidal flux amplification mechanism for coaxial gun spheromak formation. Plasmas in this experiment fall into three distinct regimes which depend on the peak gun current to magnetic flux ratio, with (I) low values resulting in a straight plasma column with helical magnetic field, (II) intermediate values leading to kinking of the column axis, and (III) high values leading immediately to a detached plasma. Onset of column kinking agrees quantitatively with the Kruskal-Shafranov limit, and the kink acts as a dynamo which converts toroidal to poloidal flux. Regime II clearly leads to both poloidal flux amplification and the development of a spheromak configuration.     

Dynamic and stagnating plasma flow leading to magnetic-flux-tube collimation

Highly collimated, plasma-filled magnetic-flux tubes are frequently observed on galactic, stellar, and laboratory scales. We propose that a single, universal magnetohydrodynamic pumping process explains why such collimated, plasma-filled magnetic-flux tubes are ubiquitous. Experimental evidence from carefully diagnosed laboratory simulations of astrophysical jets confirms this assertion and is reported here. The magnetohydrodynamic process pumps plasma into a magnetic-flux tube and the stagnation of the resulting flow causes this flux tube to become collimated.     

Wet chemical synthesis and characterization of pure and cerium doped Dy2O3 nanoparticles

Pure and cerium doped Dy₂O₃ nanoparticles were prepared by wet chemical synthesis route. The particles were subjected to thermal, structural, morphological and optical property studies. The calcination temperature was chosen based on the decomposition of the samples revealed by TG studies. EDS and FTIR results confirmed the presence of cerium in the Dy₂O₃ system. The particle size calculated from Williamson-Hall plot was consistent with TEM results. The effect of cerium as a dopant on the UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence intensity has been studied. XRD and PL analyses demonstrate that the cerium ions uniformly substitute dysprosium sites in Dy₂O₃ lattice and hence influence the optical properties.     

Modeling of multicomponent-fuel drop-laden mixing layers having a multitude of species

A formulation representing multicomponent-fuel (MC-fuel) composition as a probability distribution function (PDF) depending on the molar mass is used to construct a model of a large number of MC-fuel drops evaporating in a gas flow, so as to assess the extent of fuel specificity on the vapor composition. The PDF is a combination of two Gamma PDFs, which was previously shown to duplicate the behavior of a fuel composed of many species during single drop evaporation. The conservation equations are Eulerian for the flow and Lagrangian for the physical drops, all of which are individually followed. The gas conservation equations for mass, momentum, species, and energy are complemented by differential conservation equations for the first four moments of the gas-composition PDF; all coupled to the perfect gas equation of state. Source terms in all conservation equations couple the gas phase to the drops. The drop conservation equations for mass, position, momentum, and energy are complemented by differential equations for four moments of the liquid-composition PDF. The simulations are performed for a three-dimensional mixing layer whose lower stream is initially laden with drops. Initial perturbations excite the layer to promote the double pairing of its four initial spanwise vortices to an ultimate vortex. The drop temperature is initially lower than that of the surrounding gas, initiating drop heating and evaporation. The results focus on both evolution and the state of the drops and gas when layers reach a momentum-thickness maximum past the double vortex pairing; particular emphasis is on the gas composition. Comparisons between simulations with n-decane, diesel, and three kerosenes show that at same initial Reynolds number and Stokes number distribution, a single-component fuel cannot represent MC fuels. Substantial differences among the MC-fuel vapor composition indicate that fuel specificity must be captured for the prediction of combustion.