Simulation of a Combined Isomerization Reactor & Pressure Swing Adsorption Unit

The Total Isomerization Process developed by Union Carbide in 1970 (Gary, 1987) for the conversion of normal paraffin's to their isomers consists of a reactor followed by a PSA unit each operating at similar pressures and temperatures. The combination of these two operations in one unit in a Pressure Swing Adsorption Reactor (PSAR) process may provide an increased throughput and a significant cost saving in ancillary equipment.The simulation of a mathematical model linking the catalyst packed-bed and the adsorbent packed-bed is reported. The catalyst is a Pd/Y-zeolite and the adsorbent is 5A zeolite. The simulated feed consists of 17% each of n- and isopentane with the remainder being hydrogen. The mathematical model assumes dispersed plug-flow in both sections, constant velocity in the reactor section but varying in the adsorber, with mass transfer in the adsorber section due to external fluid film resistance and macropore diffusion in series. The fraction of the total column length occupied by the catalyst (denoted by ) is accounted for in the model by solving numerically using orthogonal collocation on finite elements. Parameters varied are the ratio of catalyst/column length (), temperature range (506–533 K), high pressure (15–20 bars), with the low pressure held constant at 2 bars. The catalyst/column ratio has a strong effect at low temperatures. The optimum catalyst/column length ratio appears to be controlled by the low pressure step and occurs at = 0.7 for the assumptions used in this work.     

FTIR studies of vitamin E-cholesterol-DPPC membrane interactions in CH2 region

Binary and ternary mixtures of alpha-tocopherol (alphaT), cholesterol and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in the form of multilamellar liposomes have been investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Investigation of frequencies, bandwidths and band shapes of CH(2) stretching and scissoring bands indicate that the effect of alphaT is dominant in comparison with cholesterol and alphaT decreases the interaction of cholesterol with phospholipid membranes.     

Synthesis, characterization and magnetic investigation of (NH4)0.5Mn1.25(H2O)2[BP2O8]·0.5H2O

A new borophosphate compound with the composition (NH₄) _χ Mn_((3?χ)/2)(H₂O)₂ [BP₂O₈]·(1?x)H₂O was prepared under mild hydrothermal conditions and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) methods. The title compound was synthesized from MnCl₂·2H₂O, H₃BO₃, and (NH₄)₂HPO₄ with variable molar ratios by heating at 180 °C for 7 days in an autoclave. The X-ray diffraction data of the water insoluble polycrystalline powder was indexed using the TREOR program in hexagonal system with the unit cell parameters of a = 9.5104, c = 15.7108 Å, Z = 6 and the space group P6₅ (No.176). (NH₄) _χ Mn_((3?χ)/2)(H₂O)₂ [BP₂O₈]·(1?x)H₂O is isostructural with (NH₄) _χ M _((3?χ) ^2)/II (H₂O)₂ [BP₂O₈]·(1?x)H₂O (M^II = Co, Cd, Mg; x = 0.5–1). Its unit cell parameters and hkl values were in good agreement with the other isostructural compounds. This is the first report presenting both the synthetic details and the indexed X-ray powder diffraction pattern of this compound along with the characterization by FTIR, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and EPR.      

Synthesis and characterization of poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) (PVTri)-barium hexaferrite nanocomposite

We present a method for the fabrication of PVTri-BaFe₁₂O₁₉ nanocomposites by in-situ polymerization of PVTri in the presence of synthesized BaFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles. Nanoparticles, polymer and nanocomposite were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, TGA, TEM, NMR, GPC and conductivity techniques for structural and physicochemical characteristics. Crystallographic analysis revealed the phase as hexaferrite and X-ray line profile fitting yielded a crystallite size of 17±5 nm. Conjugation of PVTri to nanoparticle surface was assessed to be via carbonyl groups on the polymer. TG analysis revealed that 45 wt% of nanocomposite is inorganic phase (BaFe₁₂O₁₉). It was found out that the ac conductivity of nanocomposite under a certain frequency increases with temperature.     

Propagation of laser array beams in a turbulent atmosphere

The propagation of phase-locked and non-phase-locked laser array beams of radial and rectangular symmetries in a turbulent atmosphere are investigated based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral. The beamlet used in our paper for constructing the laser array beams is of elliptical Gaussian mode. Analytical formulae for the average irradiance of phase-locked and non-phase-locked radial and rectangular laser array beams are derived through vector integration and tensor operation. The irradiance properties of these laser array beams in a turbulent atmosphere are studied numerically. It is found that both phase-locked and non-phase-locked radial and rectangular laser array beams eventually become circular Gaussian beams in a turbulent atmosphere, which is much different from their propagation properties in free space. The propagation properties are closely related to the parameters of laser array beams and the structure constant of the turbulent atmosphere. PACS 42.25.Bs; 41.85.Ew; 42.68.Ay     

Off-axis-Gaussian beam intensity in random medium

The receiver intensity profile of an off-axis-Gaussian beam travelling in random medium is formulated. By examining the related exponential terms of this intensity expression, the rules governing the receiver plane displacements are deduced. Off-axis-Gaussian beam is characterized by introducing into a Gaussian beam, complex displacement parameters that exhibit transverse source coordinate dependent attenuation and phase shifts. Our results are applied to turbulent horizontal links. Intensity plots describing the dependence on the source and propagation parameters both on the source and the receiver planes are provided. Even though the normalized intensities of the off-axis-Gaussian beam having the same source sizes but differing displacements in x- and y-directions may look the same on the source plane, they will differentiate after propagation. The views from the progress of an off-axis-Gaussian beam along the turbulent link length show that a source displaced beam will act according to rules set by related exponential terms. An asymmetrical (ellipsoidal) off-axis-Gaussian beam will initially be converted into symmetric (circular) shape at the intermediate link lengths, then it will start to expand in the other direction, thus reverting to an ellipsoid shape whose major axis is now along the transverse coordinate opposite to that of the source plane.     

Landau's theorem for biharmonic mappings

In this paper, we show the existence of Landau constant for biharmonic mappings of the form F(z)=²|z|G(z)+K(z), |z|<1, where G and K are harmonic.     

Scintillation properties of dark hollow beams in a weak turbulent atmosphere

The on-axis scintillation index for a circular dark hollow beam (DHB) propagating in a weak turbulent atmosphere is formulated, and the scintillation properties of a DHB are investigated in detail. The scintillation index for a DHB reduces to the scintillation index for a Gaussian beam, an annular beam and a flat-topped beam under certain conditions. It is found that the scintillation index of a DHB is closely related to the beam parameters and can be lower than that of a Gaussian beam, an annular beam and a flat-topped beam in a weak turbulent atmosphere at smaller waist sizes and longer propagation lengths. PACS 42.25.Bs; 42.68.Ay     

Experimental investigation into the effect of heat transfer on compressible air stream in a duct

A converging nozzle-constant area parallel passage with an outer duct encasing the constant-area passage has been built for investigating the effect of heat transfer on subsonic flow of an air stream. It is concluded experimentally as can be predicted analytically that large quantities of heat are needed in order to accelerate very slow air stream (incompressible) to sonic conditions. It is observed experimentally as confirmed analytically, that the increase in Mach number with heat addition is associated with a decrease in the local static pressure along the axis of the duct. It could be concluded that any more heat added beyond thermal choking will be accompanied by a decrease in the mass flow rate of the compressible flowing air.Nomenclature A cross-sectional area of the duct - C _{P air} specific heat of air joules/kg. °K - C _d discharge coefficient - D duct diameter - d orifice diameter m - dA _d elemental lateral area of the duct - h overall heat transfer coefficient - h head across orifice, mm. - M Mach number - m _air mass flow rate of air - P local static pressure - P _b back pressure at duct outlet - P ₀₁ stagnation pressure at duct inlet - gas density - _u air density upstream of orifice - _q incremental heat flow - T local static temperature - T ₀₁ stagnation temperature at duct inlet - T _h hot water temperature - q heat added per kg of flowing air - V flow speed