Simulation on the Effect of Brownian Motion on Nanoparticle Trajectories in a Pulsed Microplasma Cluster Source

We describe a simulation of the nanoparticle trajectories in a pulsed cluster beam source. Clusters, formed by condensation of atomic vapor in a helium bath, and considered here as rigid spheres having a diameter of 1.5nm, were tracked during their travel inside the source cavity, an aerodynamic lens, and a cylindrical nozzle. Steady state supersonic laminar flow of helium is considered in an axi-symmetric geometry aiming to simulate, within some limitations, the conditions under which cluster formation takes place in a pulsed microplasma cluster source. In spite of the unsteady nature of the pulsed source, the time scale characterizing particle motion in the flow field is significantly smaller than the characteristic time constant for the evolution of gas pressure in the source. For this reason, a steady simulation can shed some light on the understanding of processes governing nanoparticle motion in a pulsed vaporization source. The extent to which the Brownian diffusion can affect the particle extraction from the source is investigated. Simulations have shown that the Brownian motion perturbs the clusters from the trajectories dictated by the carrier gas and increases the rate of cluster deposition on the source internal walls. However, it does not hinder the aerodynamic focalization produced by the lens even in nano-size cluster regime. This result is qualitatively confirmed by experiment.     

General capillary pressure and relative permeability expressions for through-plane fluid transport in thin fibrous sheets

The rate of fluid transport in partially saturated porous media depends on the media's instantaneous (function of saturation) relative permeability, k_r(S), and capillary pressure, P_c(S). Obtaining functional relationships for relative permeability and capillary pressure is only possible via experimentation or expensive microscale simulations, and needs to be repeated for different media having different fiber diameters, thicknesses, or porosities. In this concern, we conducted series of 3-D microscale simulations to investigate the effect of the above parameters on the relative permeability and capillary pressure of fibrous porous sheets. The results of our parameter study are utilized to develop general expressions for k_r(S) and P_c(S). Our general expressions are based on the existing empirical correlations of two-phase flow in granular media, and can easily be included in macroscale fluid transport equations to predict the rate of fluid release from partially saturated fibrous sheets in a time and cost-effective manner.     

Activities of δ-Al2O3-supported bimetallic Pt?NiO and Co?NiO catalysts for methane autoreforming: Oxidation studies

The methane oxidation activities of Pt−NiO and Co−NiO bimetallic catalysts have been investigated as part of a larger research program on the autothermal reforming of methane (combined methane oxidation and steam reforming) in a fluidized bed reactor. Experiments at atmospheric pressure and 783–1023 K for both catalysts showed that the reaction was more selective towards H₂ production at CH₄∶O₂ ratios greater than unity. Light-off temperature increased with decreasing CH₄∶O₂ ratios, but increase in gas velocity (beyond minimum fluidization) increased the light-off temperature. Co−NiO was as promising as the more expensive Pt−NiO catalyst for the oxidation.     

Influence of flow on longevity of superhydrophobic coatings

Previous studies have demonstrated the capability of superhydrophobic surfaces to produce slip flow and drag reduction, which properties hold considerable promise for a broad range of applications. However, in order to implement such surfaces for practical utilizations, environmental factors such as water movement over the surface must be observed and understood. In this work, experiments were carried out to present a proof-of-concept study on the impact of flow on longevity of polystyrene fibrous coatings. The time-dependent hydrophobicity of a submerged coating in a pressure vessel was determined while exposing the coating to a rudimentary wall-jet flow. Rheological studies were also performed to determine the effect of the flow on drag reduction. The results show that the longevity of the surface deteriorates by increasing the flow rate. The flow appears to enhance the dissolution of air into water, which leads to a loss of drag reduction.     

On the behavior of suspension of drops on an inclined surface

The flow of drops suspended on an inclined surface, are studied by numerical simulations at finite Reynolds numbers. The flow is driven by the acceleration due to gravity, and there is no pressure gradient in the flow direction. The effect of the Reynolds number, the Capillary number and density ratio on the distribution of drops and the fluctuation energy across the channel are investigated. It is found that drops tend to stay away from the channel floor, which is consistent with the behavior observed in the granular flow regime. Drops that are less deformable will stay further away from the channel floor. Also, drops appear at a larger distance from the floor as the Reynolds number increases. Simulations at large density ratios show that results are more compatible with computer simulations of granular flows. The behavior observed here resembles more the granular flow regime when the restitution coefficient is low.     

Modeling liquid porosimetry in modeled and imaged 3-D fibrous microstructures

In this paper, an analysis to distinguish the geometric and porosimetric pore size distributions of a fibrous material is presented. The work is based on simulating the intrusion of nonwetting fluid in a series of 3-D fibrous microstructures obtained from 3-D image reconstruction or virtual geometries mathematically generated according to the properties of the media. We start our study by computing the pore size distribution of two typical hydroentangled nonwoven materials and present a theoretical model for their geometric pore size distributions based on Poisson line network model of the fibrous media. It is shown that the probability density function of the geometric pore size distribution can be approximated by a two-parametric Gamma distribution. We also study connectivity of the pore space in fibrous media by computing and comparing the accessible and allowed pore volumes in the form access function graphs. It is shown that the so-called ink-bottle effect can significantly influence the fluid intrusion in a porous material. The pore space connectivity of a homogeneous fibrous media is observed to be a function of thickness, solid volume fraction (SVF), and fiber diameter. It is shown that increasing the materials' thickness or SVF, while other properties are kept constant, reduces the pore space connectivity. On the other hand, increasing the fiber diameter enhances the connectivity of the pores if all other parameters are fixed. Moreover, modeling layered fibrous microstructures; it is shown that the access function graphs can be used to detect the location of the bottle neck pores in a layered/composite porous material.     

Nonlinear Optical Crystals for Second Harmonic Generation

Crystallography Reports - Some important nonlinear optical crystal families in three spectral regions (DUV-FIR) have been discussed with reference to their anionic groups. In the M–F–IR...     

Temperature dependent photoluminescence studies of ZnSe:I single crystals grown by chemical vapor transport

The single crystal ZnSe:I sample was grown by the chemical vapor transport (CVT) method using iodine as the transporting agent. The iodine incorporates itself effectively as a donor in the lattice. The sample shows a 〈111〉 optical quality surface and has an absorption edge at 2.55 eV due to a deep impurity band nearly 0.15eV below the conduction band. The photoluminescence emission spectra of this crystal have been measured for its temperature dependence as well as for excitation energy dependence. The photoluminescence is in accordance with a donor-acceptor complex formation involving iodine activated donors and self-activated acceptors. The configuration coordinate model has been used to explain the temperature dependent changes in the peak position and the bandwidth of the emission band. The decrease in luminescence efficiency with increasing temperature is explained by using a simple model for thermal quenching. The activation energy at low temperature range (T<200K) is different from that at high temperature range (200K<T<300K).     

The effects of nozzle geometry on waterjet breakup at high Reynolds numbers

Waterjet breakup is traditionally considered to follow the Ohnesorge classification. In this classification, high Reynolds number waterjets are considered to atomize quickly after discharge. By generating a constricted waterjet where the water flow stays detached all the way through the nozzle, we have observed the first wind-induced breakup mode at high Reynolds numbers. Such a peculiar behavior, however, was not observed in non-constricted waterjets. Our results indicate that, constricted jets do not follow the Ohnesorge classification, in contrast to the non-constricted waterjets. We discuss the impact of nozzle geometry on the characteristics of waterjets and support our discussion by numerical simulations.List of symbols Z Ohnesorge number - _L water dynamic viscosity - air–water surface tension - _L water density - _g air density - d_j waterjet diameter at the nozzle outlet - d₀ nozzle capillary diameter - U_L flow velocity - We_L Weber number based on water density - We_g Weber number based on air density - Re_L Reynolds number