Optimally growing boundary layer disturbances in a convergent nozzle preceded by a circular pipe

We report the findings from a theoretical analysis of optimally growing disturbances in an initially turbulent boundary layer. The motivation behind this study originates from the desire to generate organized structures in an initially turbulent boundary layer via excitation by disturbances that are tailored to be preferentially amplified. Such optimally growing disturbances are of interest for implementation in an active flow control strategy that is investigated for effective jet noise control. Details of the optimal perturbation theory implemented in this study are discussed. The relevant stability equations are derived using both the standard decomposition and the triple decomposition. The chosen test case geometry contains a convergent nozzle, which generates a Mach 0.9 round jet, preceded by a circular pipe. Optimally growing disturbances are introduced at various stations within the circular pipe section to facilitate disturbance energy amplification upstream of the favorable pressure gradient zone within the convergent nozzle, which has a stabilizing effect on disturbance growth. Effects of temporal frequency, disturbance input and output plane locations as well as separation distance between output and input planes are investigated. The results indicate that optimally growing disturbances appear in the form of longitudinal counter-rotating vortex pairs, whose size can be on the order of several times the input plane mean boundary layer thickness. The azimuthal wavenumber, which represents the number of counter-rotating vortex pairs, is found to generally decrease with increasing separation distance. Compared to the standard decomposition, the triple decomposition analysis generally predicts relatively lower azimuthal wavenumbers and significantly reduced energy amplification ratios for the optimal disturbances.     

On Quantum Markov Chains on Cayley Tree III: Ising Model

In this paper, we consider the classical Ising model on the Cayley tree of order \(k\) ( \(k\ge 2\) ), and show the existence of the phase transition in the following sense: there exists two quantum Markov states which are not quasi-equivalent. It turns out that the found critical temperature coincides with the classical critical temperature.     

Oxide semiconductors for solar to chemical energy conversion: nanotechnology approach

The present work considers the application of oxide semiconductors in the conversion of solar energy into the chemical energy required for water purification (removal of microbial cells and toxic organic compounds from water) and the generation of solar hydrogen fuel by photoelectrochemical water splitting. The first part of this work considers the concept of solar energy conversion by oxide semiconductors and the key performance-related properties, including electronic structure, charge transport, flat band potential and surface properties, which are responsible to the reactivity and photoreactivity of oxides with water. The performance of oxide systems for solar energy conversion is briefly considered in terms of an electronic factor. The progress of research in the formation of systems with high performance is considered in terms of specific aspects of nanotechnology, leading to the formation of systems with high performance. The nanotechnology approach in the development of high-performance photocatalysts is considered in terms of the effect of surface energy associated with the formation of nanostructured system on the formation of surface structures that exhibit outstanding properties. The unresolved problems that should be tackled in better understanding of the effect of nanostructures on properties and performance of oxide semiconductors in solar energy conversion are discussed. This part is summarised by a list of unresolved problems of crucial importance in the formation of systems with enhanced performance. This work also formulates the questions that must be addressed in order to overcome the hurdles in the formation of oxide semiconductors with high performance in water purification and the generation of solar fuel. The research strategy in the development of oxide systems with high performance, including photocatalysts for solar water purification and photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting, is considered. The considerations are focused on the systems based on titanium dioxide of different defect disorder as well as its solid solutions and composites.     

Effect of Satureja khuzestanica essential oil on oxidative stability of sunflower oil during accelerated storage

In this study, the application of various concentrations (0.02%, 0.04%, 0.06% and 0.08%) of Satureja khuzestanica essential oil (EO) was examined on the oxidative stability of sunflower oil and compared to butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) during storage at 60°C. Gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry analyses of the oils revealed that carvacrol (87.7%) was the major component of EO. Peroxide value and anisidine value measurements in sunflower oil showed that all concentrations of EO had antioxidant effects in comparison to BHA. Oil samples supplemented with EO concentration of 0.08% were the most stable during storage (p?相似文献   

A new branch and bound algorithm for cell formation problem

Cell formation (CF) is the first and the most important problem in designing cellular manufacturing systems. Due to its non-polynomial nature, various heuristic and metaheuristic algorithms have been proposed to solve CF problem. Despite the popularity of heuristic algorithms, few studies have attempted to develop exact algorithms, such as branch and bound (B&B) algorithms, for this problem. We develop three types of branch and bound algorithms to deal with the cell formation problem. The first algorithm uses a binary branching scheme based on the definitions provided for the decision variables. Unlike the first algorithm, which relies on the mathematical model, the second one is designed based on the structure of the cell formation problem. The last algorithm has a similar structure to the second one, except that it has the ability to eliminate duplicated nodes in branching trees. The proposed branch and bound algorithms and a hybrid genetic algorithm are compared through some numerical examples. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the modified problem-oriented branch and bound algorithm in solving relatively large size cell formation problems.     

Emission from a slab of resonant two-level atoms induced by a delta-pulse excitation

Using eigenmode analysis I calculate in the linear regime the emission characteristics from a slab of two-level resonant atoms excited by a delta-pulse propagating normal to the surface of the slab. I show that the qualitative features of the emitted spectra in the forward and backward directions to be different from each other; I also find the effects of the total linewidth of the resonance line and of the deviation in the spatial periodicity of the initial atomic polarization from k ₀, where k ₀ = ω₀/c and ω₀ is the two level resonant frequency, on the spectra. The dominant spatial mode of the system is identified as the key parameter for determining the forward emission spectral width.     

Kinetic investigation of redox reaction between vitamin C and ferric chloride hexahydrate in acidic medium

The kinetics of the reaction between vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) and ferric chloride hexahydrate was investigated in acidic medium at pH 3 spectrophotometrically. The order of the reaction was established by applying different methods, such as initial rate method, integration method and half-life method. The results obtained from each method were correlated with each other and consistency in all methods was observed. The order of the reaction with respect to each reactant was found first and the overall second order was recommended for the reaction.     

Preparation and characterization of zinc oxide nanoflakes using anodization method and their photodegradation activity on methylene blue

In this work, we report the formation of leaf-like ZnO nanoflakes by anodization of zinc foil in a mixture of ammonium sulfate and sodium hydroxide electrolytes under various applied voltage and concentration of sodium hydroxide. The morphology and structure of ZnO nanoflakes were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of the prepared nanoflakes zinc oxide was evaluated in the photodegradation of organic dye methylene blue (MB) solution under UV irradiation. It was found that zinc oxide prepared under high concentration of sodium hydroxide and high voltage showed better performance in the photodegradation of methylene blue.     

Entropy generation in flow field subjected to a porous block in a vertical channel

Entropy generation in the flow field subjected to a porous block situated in a vertical channel is examined. The effects of channel inlet port height (vertical height between channel inlet port and the block center), porosity, and block aspect ratio on the entropy generation rate due to fluid friction and heat transfer in the fluid are examined. The governing equations of flow, heat transfer, and entropy are solved numerically using a control volume approach. Air is used as the flowing fluid in the channel. A uniform heat flux is considered in the block and natural convection is accommodated in the analysis. It is found that entropy generation rate due to fluid friction increases with increasing inlet port height, while this increase becomes gradual for entropy generation rate due to heat transfer for the inlet port height exceeding 0.03 m. The porosity lowers entropy generation rate due to fluid friction and heat transfer. The effect of block aspect ratio on entropy generation rate is notable; in which case, entropy generation rate increases for the block aspect ratio of 1:2.     

Highly Effective Proton-Conduction Matrix-Mixed Membrane Derived from an -SO3H Functionalized Polyamide

Developing a low-cost and effective proton-conductive electrolyte to meet the requirements of the large-scale manufacturing of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is of great significance in progressing towards the upcoming “hydrogen economy” society. Herein, utilizing the one-pot acylation polymeric combination of acyl chloride and amine precursors, a polyamide with in-built -SO₃H moieties (PA-PhSO₃H) was facilely synthesized. Characterization shows that it possesses a porous feature and a high stability at the practical operating conditions of PEM fuel cells. Investigations of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements revealed that the fabricated PA-PhSO₃H displays a proton conductivity of up to 8.85 × 10⁻² S·cm⁻¹ at 353 K under 98% relative humidity (RH), which is more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of its -SO₃H-free analogue, PA-Ph (6.30 × 10⁻⁴ S·cm⁻¹), under the same conditions. Therefore, matrix-mixed membranes were fabricated by mixing with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in different ratios, and the EIS analyses revealed that its proton conductivity can reach up to 4.90 × 10⁻² S·cm⁻¹ at 353 K and a 98% relative humidity (RH) when the weight ratio of PA-PhSO₃H:PAN is 3:1 (labeled as PA-PhSO₃H-PAN (3:1)), the value of which is even comparable with those of commercial-available electrolytes being used in PEM fuel cells. Additionally, continuous tests showed that PA-PhSO₃H-PAN (3:1) possesses a long-life reusability. This work demonstrates, using the simple acylation reaction with the sulfonated module as precursor, that low-cost and highly effective proton-conductive electrolytes for PEM fuel cells can be facilely achieved.