Thermal degradation of two liquid fuels and detonation tests for pulse detonation engine studies

The use of liquid fuels such as kerosene is of interest for the pulse detonation engine (PDE). Within this context, the aim of this work, which is a preliminary study, was to show the feasibility to initiate a detonation in air with liquid-fuel pyrolysis products, using energies and dimensions of test facility similars to those of PDEs. Therefore, two liquids fuels have been compared, JP10, which is a synthesis fuel generally used in the field of missile applications, and decane, which is one of the major components of standard kerosenes (F-34, Jet A1, ...). The thermal degradation of these fuels was studied with two pyrolysis processes, a batch reactor and a flow reactor. The temperatures varied from 600°C to 1,000°C and residence times for the batch reactor and the flow reactor were, respectively, between 10–30 s and 0.1–2 s. Subsequently, the detonability of synthetic gaseous mixtures, which was a schematisation of the decomposition state after the pyrolysis process, has been studied. The detonability study, regarding nitrogen dilution and equivalence ratio, was investigated in a 50 mm-diameter, 2.5 m-long detonation tube. These dimensions are compatible with applications in the aircraft industry and, more particularly, in PDEs. Therefore, JP10 and decane were compared to choose the best candidate for liquid-fuel PDE studies. This paper was based on work that was presented at the 20th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Montreal, Canada, July 31 – August 5, 2005.     

Equilibria in complexes of N-heterocyclic molecules,part XII. The reaction of hydroxide and alkoxide Ions with platinum(II) complexes of 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridyl

Summary Bis-(5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline)platinum(II) dichloride and diperchlorate have been prepared. The reaction between the parent cation and hydroxide ion has been studied using 1 FI n.m.r. spectroscopy and found to involve attack at the ligand. The bis-(2,2-bipyridyl)platinum(II) ion has been shown to be highly reactive towards methoxide ion. The dissociation of a 2,2-bipyridyl ligand is preceded by attack at the ligand.Part XI: R. D. Gillard, t.. A. P. Kane-Maguire and P. A. Williams,Transition Met. Chem., 2, 47 (1977).On leave from the University of Baghdad, Iraq.     

Addition of hydroxide to an isoelectronic series of bis-diazineplatinum(II) complex ions

Base hydrolysis of bis-bipyridylplatinum(II) occurs via a 1:1 intermediate adduct with hydroxide ion. The equilibrium constants for this 1:1 addition of hydroxide inwater to complex ions [PtL2]2+, where L=one of theisoelectronic set 2,2-bipyridyl (bpy); 2,2- bipyrazine (bpz); 3,3-bipyridazine (bpdz) and 2,2- bipyrimidine (bpym) are respectively (as log10K at 25°C): 4.23; 4.59; 3.82; 6.14. This result is rationalized in terms of addition at the 6–position of the ligand.     

Equilibria in complexes ofN-heterocyclic molecules,part XXXI. an explanation for rates of dissociation of iron(II) complexes of diimine ligands

Summary [Fe(3,3'-bipyridazine)₃]²⁺ has a negligible rate of dissociation in water at pH 7, and in 0.05 mol dm^–3 HO^– at ionic strength 1.00 mol dm^–3 (NaNO₃) at 298.2 K, the second-order rate constant involving HO_– is only 3.3 x 10^–5 dm³ mol^–1 s^–1. Examination of kinetic and other data and results for it wide variety oftris-diimine complexes of Fe^II related compounds, indicates that dissociation takes placevia attack at the ligand. The significance of the various possible intermediates is assessed and it is evident that a previously postulated intramolecular transfer of HO^– from the ligand to the metal atom, with associated metal-nitrogen bond fission, is important in the reaction. A general scheme for dissociation of these kinds of compounds is set out.Part XXX: R. D. Gillard, R. P. Houghton and J. N. Tucker,J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., submitted for publication.Present address: Department of Chemistry. University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD U.K.     

Separation des alcalino-terreux par l'edta sur resine echangeuse d'ions

The quantitative separation of a few mg of strontium and barium from several g of calcium is described. The alkaline earth carbonates are dissolved in 0.1 M EDTA, fixed at pH 4.8 on an ammoniacal Dowex column, and eluted, also with 0.1 M EDTA, calcium at pH 5.25, strontium at pH 6.0, barium at pH 9.0. The end of the calcium elution can be followed accurately by a sudden pH increase in the eluate(from 4.8 upto 5.25).     

Equilibria in complexes ofN-heterocyclic molecules,Part XXIV. The reaction of nucleophiles with tris-(2,2′-bipyrimidine)iron(II) ion and its ruthenium(II) analogue

Summary The reactions of [Fe(bipym)₃]²⁺ and [Ru(bipym)₃]²⁺ with hydroxide ion in aqueous solution have been followed. The [Ru(bipym)₃]²⁺ species undergoes nucleophilic attack at the ligand to yield [Ru(bipym)₂(pyrimidine)(OH)]⁺ and [HCO₂]^– ion, involving cleavage of one pyrimidyl ring. Intermediates can be observed in the reaction of [Fe(bipym)₃]²⁺ with HO^–, N₃ ^– and SCN^–. The kinetics of the first reaction have been followed and the results are compared with those known for the reactions of [Fe(bipy)₃]²⁺, [Fe(phen)₃]²⁺ and similar compounds.Part XXIII: P. A. Williams,Transition Met. Chem., 78/84.     

Equilibria in complexes ofN-heterocyclic molecules,part XXII. The reaction of triaquo(2,4,6-tri-(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine) copper(II) and its nickel(II) and cobalt(II) analogues with water and hydroxide ion

Summary The kinetics of the reaction of [Cu(TPT)(H₂O)₃]²⁺ and [Ni(TPT)(H₂O)₃]²⁺ with H₂O have been followed and it has been shown that the formation of covalent hydrates is important in the understanding of these systems. The [Co(TPT)(OH)₃]^– compound and its Ni analogue are attacked by HO^– initially to form pseudo-base species and in, the case of Ni , the ligand then hydrolyses to yield a compound related to the carboximate formed when HO^– reacts with [Cu(TPT)(OH)₃]^–. In this reaction too, the formation of a pseudo-base, involving attack of HO^– at the triazine ring in the ligand is significant.Part XXI, ref. 2.     

Optimization challenges in the structured low rank approximation problem

In this paper we illustrate some optimization challenges in the structured low rank approximation (SLRA) problem. SLRA can be described as the problem of finding a low rank approximation of an observed matrix which has the same structure as this matrix (such as Hankel). We demonstrate that the optimization problem arising is typically very difficult: in particular, the objective function is multiextremal even for simple cases. The main theme of the paper is to suggest that the difficulties described in approximating a solution of the SLRA problem open huge possibilities for the application of stochastic methods of global optimization.     

Using Singular Spectrum Analysis to obtain staffing level requirements in emergency units

Many operational research (OR) techniques use historical data to populate model input parameters. Although the majority of these models take into account stochastic variation of the inputs, they do not necessarily take into account seasonal variations and other stochastic effects that might arise. One of the major applications of OR lies within healthcare, where ever increasing pressure on healthcare systems is having major implications on those who plan the provision of such services. Coping with growing demand for healthcare, as well as the volatile nature of the number of arrivals at a healthcare facility makes modelling healthcare provision one of the most challenging fields of OR. This paper proposes the use of a relatively modern time series technique, Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA), to improve existing algorithms that give required staffing levels. The methodology is demonstrated using data from a large teaching hospital's emergency unit. Using time dependent queueing theory, as well as SSA, staffing levels are obtained. The performance of our technique is analysed using a weighted mean square error measure, introduced in this paper.