Pulsed interfermetric holography of laser-produced air breakdown

Air breakdown at pressures of 300 and 753 torr was produced by a 28J, 40 ns FWHM neodymium glass laser focused with a 100 mm focal length lens. The breakdown region was observed by recording infinite fringe, interferometric, diffuse holograms with a single-mode ruby laser of 100 ns FWHM pulse length. The two lasers were synchronized to examine the time region from < 1–38 μs after initiation. Shock wave velocities of about Mach 2 were typical at these times and the shock front was virtually spherical. The R-t diagram was found to be in excellent agreement with the weak spherical blast wave theory of Sakurai. The radial density profile of the shock wave was determined by an Abel inversion of the fringe pattern. Both the R-t function and the density profile were calculated using a one-dimensional, hydrodynamic model and good agreement was obtained.     

Detailed measurements of transient two-stage ignition and combustion processes in high-pressure spray flames using simultaneous high-speed formaldehyde PLIF and schlieren imaging

This study investigates the low- and high-temperature ignition and combustion processes in a high-pressure spray flame of n-dodecane using simultaneous 50-kHz formaldehyde (HCHO) planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and 100-kHz schlieren imaging. The PLIF measurements were facilitated through the use of a pulse-burst-mode Nd:YAG laser, producing a 355-nm pulse-train with 300 pulses at 70 mJ/pulse, separated by 20-µs, in a 6-ms burst. The high-speed HCHO PLIF signal was imaged using a non-intensified CMOS camera with dynamic background emission correction. The acquisition rate of this HCHO PLIF diagnostic is unique to the research community, and when combined with high-speed schlieren imaging, provides unprecedented opportunity for analysis of the spatiotemporal evolution of fuel jet penetration and low- and high-temperature ignition processes relevant to internal combustion engine conditions. The present experiments are conducted in the Sandia constant-volume preburn vessel equipped with a new Spray A injector. The influences of ambient conditions are examined on the ignition delay times of the two-stage ignition events, HCHO structures, and lift-off length values. Consistent with past studies of traditional Spray A flames, the formation of HCHO is first observed in the jet peripheries where the equivalence ratio (Φ) is expected to be leaner and hotter and then grows in size and in intensity downstream into the jet core where Φ is expected to be richer and colder. The measurements demonstrate that the formation and propagation of HCHO from the leaner to richer region leads to high-temperature ignition events, supporting the identification of a phenomenon coined “cool-flame wave propagation” during the transient ignition process. Subsequent high-temperature ignition is found to consume the previously formed HCHO in the jet head, while the formation of HCHO persists in the fuel-rich zone near the flame base over the entire combustion period.     

Alternating extraction/injection well interactions forin situ bioremediation

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The success ofin situ biological contaminant destruction depends on the distribution of microorganisms through a flow field. Using numerical tools, a...     

Effects of slight variations in nutrient loadings on pore plugging in soil columns

The high nutrient concentrations that would exist near the nutrient injection well during the application of cometabolicin situ bioremediation may lead to the development of significant quantities of biomass at this point in the subsurface. This biomass can decrease the porosity of the soil to such an extent that nutrient injection is no longer possible. In this work, experiments were conducted using a porous media biofilm reactor, operated under constant substrate loading conditions, such that the pressure drop across the reactor was allowed to increase to maintain a constant volumetric flow rate through the reactor. Results suggest that biomass production, and hence biofilm thickness, near the injection feed port is highly sensitive to substrate loading. In addition, these variations in biofilm thickness produce dramatic differences in the pressure drop that is attained across the reactor. Use of the Kozeny-Carman equation can be used to predict that once a critical depth has been exceeded, the pressure drop across the bed will increase exponentially within biofilm depth. This result means that pressure is not a reliable indicator of the onset of pore plugging.     

Examining the feasibility of using a modelling tool to assess resilience across a health-care system and assist with decisions concerning service reconfiguration

Changes in medical practice, demographic shifts and financial pressures are all examples of factors that may contribute to demand for periodic changes in the configuration of health services. When reconfiguring a service, health planners often take into account projected demand for services, patient access criteria and budgetary constraints (among other things), but typically give little consideration regarding its resilience to deliver services during and after external disruptions to its capability to deliver. In this paper we discuss a study conducted in response to a direct request from the National Health Service (NHS) Resilience Project within the Department of Health to explore the feasibility of assessing resilience across local services within the NHS and developing a computer software tool to assess resilience of different service reconfigurations. We give an account of the modelling process used, including the analytical framework we developed using both optimisation and heuristic methods, and an illustrative example of usage of a prototype software tool. We also highlight the key lessons that emerged during this project, which may be helpful to OR analysts working on similar projects regarding resilience in the public sector.     

Evaluation of bacterial detachment rates in porous media

The ability of published biomass detachment rate expressions to describe experimental data obtained from porous media reactors usingPseudomonas aeruginosa grown aerobically on glucose was evaluated. A first-order rate expression on attached biomass concentration best reflected effluent substrate concentration for combined data sets. Detachment rate coefficientk _d1 was dependent on initial substrate concentration. Simulation of porous media reactor experiments indicated that responses using higher influent substrate concentrations possessed greater sensitivity to variations ink _d1. Simulations of field bioremediation systems suggest the use of accurate biofilm development kinetics is important in the prediction of well bore biofouling.     

An investigation of transmission coefficients for finite and semi-infinite coupled plate structures

This paper introduces a method for determining the transmission coefficient for finite coupled plates using an analytical waveguide model combined with a scattering matrix. In the scattering matrix method, the amplitudes of the structural waves impinging on a junction are separated into incident, reflected, and transmitted components. The energy flow due to each of these waves is obtained using a wave impedance method, which is subsequently used to determine the transmission coefficient. Transmission coefficients for semi-infinite and finite L-shaped plates are investigated for single and multiple point force excitations, and for controlled incident wave sources. It is shown that the transmission coefficients can also be calculated from details of the modal transmission coefficients and the modal composition of the energy incident on the junction. Results show that the modal transmission coefficients are largely independent of whether the plates have finite or semi-infinite boundary conditions, and are only dependent on the details of the coupling. Finally, frequency averaged transmission coefficients are compared for semi-infinite and finite structures. In the cases considered, it is found that the semi-infinite system is a good approximation for finite systems after frequency averaging, especially if the system is excited with multiple point force excitation.     

Use of a mathematical model for prediction of optimum feeding strategies forin situ bioremediation

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Liquid wastes containing radioactive, hazardous, and regulated chemicals have been generated throughout the 40 + years of operations at the US Department of...     

Effect of perchloroethylene (PCE) on methane and acetate production by a methanogenic consortium

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The effects of perchloroethylene (PCE) concentration in the range of 0–100 mg/L on methane and acetate production by a methanol-enriched methanogenic...