Combustion properties of H2/N2/O2/steam mixtures

The present work reports new experimental and numerical results of the combustion properties of hydrogen based mixtures diluted by nitrogen and steam. Spherical expanding flames have been studied in a spherical bomb over a large domain of equivalence ratios, initial temperatures and dilutions at an initial pressure of 100 kPa (T_ini = 296, 363, 413 K; N₂/O₂ = 3.76, 5.67, 9; %Steam = 0, 20, 30). From these experiments, the laminar flame speed $S_L^0$, the Markstein length L’, the activation energy Ea and the Zel'dovich β number have been determined. These parameters were also simulated using COSILAB^® in order to verify the validity of the Mével et al. [1] detailed kinetic mechanism. Other parameters as the laminar flame thickness δ and the effective Lewis number Le_eff were also simulated. These new results aim at providing an extended database that will be very useful in the hydrogen combustion hazard assessment for nuclear reactor power plant new design.     

Onset of detonation in polydispersed fuel–air mixtures

Investigations of detonation onset in pulverized fuel–air mixtures were carried out. Combustion and detonation processes in sprays differ greatly from that in homogeneous mixtures, because not only chemical reactions, but physical processes of combustible mixture formation take place within the combustion zone (droplets atomization and evaporation). The polydispersed character of mixture and non-uniformity of droplet spatial distribution strongly affects spray combustion and detonation onset. The present paper contains the results of theoretical and experimental investigations of detonation onset peculiarities in polydispersed non-uniform hydrocarbon–air mixtures.     

Thermoanalytical characterization of carbon/carbon hybrid material, Apple Woodceramics

Woodceramics, a carbon/carbon composite of plant-originated carbon reinforced by glassy carbon from phenolic resin, was prepared from apple pomace at carbonizing temperatures of 1073 K (AWC800) and 1473 K (AWC1200), and characterized by thermoanalytical methods and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TG) showed complicated overlapping reactions similar to those of coal. The initial temperature of pyrolysis was obtained by fitting logistic functions to observed TG data. The results suggested that AWC1200 contained more volatile matter than AWC800. In an inert atmosphere, complicated devolatilization takes place. In an oxidizing atmosphere, thermal change occurs roughly in four steps: desorption of physically adsorbed matter; pyrolysis into aliphatic and aromatic fragments; ignition; combustion of char. The oxidation resistance of AWC1200 was superior to AWC800.     

XPS analysis of the effect of Pt addition to Pd catalysts for complete benzene oxidation

Pt-Pd bimetallic catalysts were prepared in order to develop and investigate catalysts having excellent activity and stability for benzene destruction. The effect of Pt addition to Pd catalysts is studied by XPS analysis. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis, characterization, photoluminescence and EPR investigations of Mn doped MgAl2O4 phosphors

MgAl₂O₄:Mn phosphors have been prepared at 500 °C by combustion route. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated the presence of mono-MgAl₂O₄ phase. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the powder particle crystallites are mostly angular. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of AlO₆ group which makes up the MgAl₂O₄ spinel. Photoluminescence studies showed green/red emission indicating that two independent luminescence channels in this phosphor. The green emission at 518 nm is due to ⁴T₁ → ⁶A₁ transition of Mn²⁺ ions. The emission at 650 nm is due to the charge-transfer deexcitation associated with the Mn ion. EPR spectrum exhibits allowed and forbidden hyperfine structure at g=2.003. The g≈2.00 is due to Mn²⁺ ion in an environment close to tetrahedral symmetry. It is observed that N and χ increase with decrease of temperature obeying the Boltzmann law. The variation of zero-field splitting parameter (D) with temperature is evaluated and discussed.     

燃烧催化剂中LaAlO3作为第2载体的研究

在载体堇青石表面涂覆一层LaAlO3作为第二载体，用浸渍法制备负载型LaMnO3、LaCoO3等钙钛矿型燃烧催化剂时，发现能促进LaMnO3等活性相的生长，从而提高了二甲苯完全氧化的催化活性；对于负载型LaCo3O3催化剂，可避免因用γ－Al2O35作第二载体而生成的低活性CoAl2O4类尖晶石相，因而有利于提高催化剂的耐热性。     

热重质谱联用(TG/MS)系统的建立和应用

将两种商品型分析仪器热重（TG）和质谱（MS）联用，并将这一热重质谱联用系统（TG／MS）应用于含酚废水的催化氧化和煤燃烧的过程研究，在获取样品重量变化的同时对逸出气相产物进行了在线检测，获取了苯酚氧化反应的历程和煤燃烧过程中氮、硫氧化物的逸出信息。     

Theoretical mechanistic studies on oxidation reactions of some saturated and unsaturated organic molecules

This account describes the results collected by our group during the last years on some themes of environmental/mechanistic interest. Theoretical quantum-mechanical investigations have been carried out to help clarifying the mechanism of some oxidation reactions, which involve mainly unsaturated but also saturated organics as substrates, and, as reactive oxidants, triplet or singlet dioxygen, hydroxyl, ozone, and nitrogen oxides. Depending on the problem, the calculations are either multi-configurational (as CAS-MCSCF, CAS-PT2, MC-QDPT2), or based on the Density Functional Theory for the heavier systems. Research work has thus been developed along the following lines: hydrocarbon oxidations under atmospheric or combustion conditions; definition of a model for soot particles and their interaction with species as HO, O₂, O₃, NO, NO₂, NO₃, etc.; investigation on the reaction mechanism of ¹Δ_g dioxygen with organic unsaturated systems (cycloaddition and ene reactions).     

Pure and doped lanthanum cobaltites obtained by combustion method

We report the synthesis of La_1−xSr_xCoO₃ nanopowders by solution combustion method using metal nitrates and -alanine (alanine method) or urea (urea method) as fuel. The influence of metal nitrates/organic substance molar ratio and the type of fuel was investigated. The isolated complex precursors were characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), FT-IR spectra and DTA–TG analysis. The La_1−xSr_xCoO₃ (x = 0–0.3) powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM–EDX), as well as by specific surface area measurements. XRD patterns indicate the formation of single-phase LaCoO₃ (rhombohedral) when as-synthesized powders were calcined at 873 K, 3 h in the case of the alanine method and at 1073 K, 3 h for urea-based system. Also, strontium doped lanthanum cobaltites obtained by both methods at 1273 K are single phase with rhombohedral perovskite-like structure as XRD data have proved. SEM investigation of pure and doped lanthanum cobaltites reveal that the samples prepared by both methods have fine particles with tendency of agglomerates formation with different shapes, spongy aspect and high porosity. La_1−xSr_xCoO₃ nanopowders obtained by alanine method have larger specific surface area values than those prepared by urea method.     

Synchrotron diffraction studies of TiC/FeTi cermets obtained by SHS

TiC/FeTi composites have been obtained in situ by Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) of an intimate mixture of compacted powders of elemental carbon, titanium and iron. The reaction has been followed in real time by X-ray diffraction at the ESRF. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed in terms of the formation of a liquid phase corresponding to the eutectic of the Fe/Ti system prior to the TiC synthesis. Temperatures of reaction have been estimated by correlating thermal expansion coefficients with diffraction peaks shifts. The microstructures obtained by this method, suitable for cutting tools and wear resistant applications, are presented.