Cerium effect on the phase structure, phase stability and redox properties of Ce-doped strontium ferrates

Nanostructured perovskite-type Sr_1−aCe_aFeO_3−x, (0?a<0.15) powders have been prepared by citrate-nitrate smoldering auto-combustion. Their phase structure and stability, surface and morphological properties, reduction behavior and interaction with oxygen have been investigated by X-ray Powder Diffraction combined with Rietveld Analysis, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopies, N₂-adsorption method, Temperature Programmed Reduction and Oxidation experiments. Our results reveal that citrate-nitrate auto-combustion method is effective in obtaining single phase Sr_1−aCe_aFeO_3−x. The Sr_1−aCe_aFeO_3−x structure is cubic only for a?0.06, while for a<0.06 remains tetragonal. Moreover, for a?0.06 after semi-reductive treatment under inert gas, an expanded cubic phase is obtained instead of the brownmillerite-type structure, which is known to have ordered vacancies. Stabilization of octahedral Fe³⁺ by cerium doping appears to be the main factor in determining the structural properties of Sr_1−aCe_aFeO_3−x. The highest oxygen consumption for Ce-doped SrFeO₃ occurs for a=0.06. Preliminary impedance measurements show that Sr_0.94Ce_0.06FeO_3−x has the lowest area-specific resistance.     

Modeling of one-dimensional smoldering of polyurethane in microgravity conditions

Results are presented from a model of forward smoldering combustion of polyurethane foam in microgravity. The transient one-dimensional numerical-model is based on that developed at the University of Texas at Austin. The conservation equations of energy, species, and mass in the porous solid and in the gas phases are numerically solved. The solid and the gas phases are not assumed to be in thermal or in chemical equilibrium. The chemical reactions modeled consist of foam oxidation and pyrolysis reactions, as well as char oxidation. The model has been modified to account for new polyurethane kinetics parameters and radial heat losses to the surrounding environment. The kinetics parameters are extracted from thermogravimetric analyses published in the literature and using Genetic Algorithms as the optimization technique. The model results are compared with previous tests of forward smoldering combustion in microgravity conducted aboard the NASA Space Shuttle. The model calculates well the propagation velocities and the overall smoldering characteristics. Direct comparison of the solution with the experimental temperature profiles shows that the model predicts well these profiles at high temperature, but not as well at lower temperatures. The effect of inlet gas velocity is examined, and the minimum airflow for ignition is identified. It is remarkable that this one-dimensional model with simplified kinetics is capable of predicting cases of smolder ignition but with no self-propagation away from the igniter region. The model is used for better understanding of the controlling mechanisms of smolder combustion for the purpose of fire safety, both in microgravity and normal gravity, and to extend the unique microgravity data to wider conditions avoiding the high cost of space-based experiments.     

釉灰制备原料和工艺对其组成的影响

釉灰是我国古代独特的传统釉用核心原料,其中以景德镇生产的釉灰最具代表性和影响力,正所谓“无灰不成釉”。它不仅成就了景德镇宋元明清的制瓷盛况,而且拥有复杂、严谨且带有一丝“神秘”色彩的制备工艺,其原料选择、工艺原理、釉用机理长期以来一直是中外研究者探究我国古代制瓷“秘诀”的一个重要课题。实验采集了狼萁草等四种典型柴草和两种石灰石,分别进行了煅烧实验,并借助EDXRF和X射线衍射仪(XRD),对各原料灰化后的化学组成及不同煨烧次数所制得釉灰的化学组成和物相组成进行科学表征和对比研究,初步剖析了釉灰制备采用独特的三次煨烧工艺的科学意义。结果表明,狼萁草化学组成中Fe₂O₃和MnO含量分别高达1.41%和1.52%,而P₂O₅含量则为四者中最低的0.54% ,不仅有利于景德镇传统灰釉呈现 “白中泛青”的效果,还有利于提高釉层的透明度,促进景德镇传统釉下青花等彩绘瓷的发色。灰色石灰石不仅CaO含量低于黝黑色石灰石,且MgO含量更是高达35.79%,这正是古代制灰匠偏爱选择黝黑色石灰石的主要原因。此外,研究还发现,随着煨烧次数的增加,不仅釉灰化学组成中的K₂O,P₂O₅,MnO,Fe₂O₃的含量均呈明显递增趋势,且其物相组成中的CaCO₃含量呈递增趋势,而Ca(OH)₂含量则刚好相反,呈下降趋势,这不仅有利于景德镇瓷器呈现“颜如玉”的外观特质,也有利于克服配釉过程中釉浆因含一定量的Ca(OH)₂而引起的“作浓”现象。可见,釉灰制备选用独特的原料及其煨烧工艺,是景德镇古代灰釉独具特色并得以长期发展的技术保障之一。     

Transition from forward smoldering to flaming in small polyurethane foam samples

Experimental observations are presented of the effect of flow velocity, oxygen concentration, and a thermal radiant flux on the transition from smoldering to flaming in forward smoldering of small samples of polyurethane foam with a gas/solid interface. The experiments are part of a project studying the transition from smoldering to flaming under conditions encountered in spacecraft facilities, i.e., microgravity, low velocity variable oxygen concentration flows. Because the microgravity experiments are planned for the International Space Station, the foam samples had to be limited in size for safety and launch mass reasons. The feasible sample size is too small for smolder to self-propagate because of heat losses to the surroundings. Thus, the smolder propagation and the transition to flaming had to be assisted by reducing heat losses to the surroundings and increasing the oxygen concentration. The experiments are conducted with small parallelepiped samples vertically placed in a wind tunnel. Three of the sample lateral-sides are maintained at elevated temperature, and the fourth side is exposed to an upward flow and a radiant flux. It is found that decreasing the flow velocity and increasing its oxygen concentration, and/or increasing the radiant flux enhances the transition to flaming and reduces the time delay to transition. Limiting external conditions for the transition to flaming are reported for this experimental configuration. The results show that smolder propagation and transition to flaming can occur in relatively small fuel samples if the external conditions are appropriate. The results also indicate that transition to flaming occurs in the char region left behind by the smolder reaction, and it has the characteristics of a gas-phase ignition induced by the smolder reaction, which acts as the source of both gaseous fuel and heat. A simplified energy balance analysis is able to predict the boundaries between the transition/no transition regions.     

A 3D modeling of static and forward smoldering combustion in a packed bed of materials

A three-dimensional (3D) model based on the first principles of mass, momentum and energy was developed that numerically simulates the processes of static and forward smoldering in a porous packed bed of plant materials. The packed bed contains cellulose material or tobacco (cigarette) wrapped in a porous paper and surrounded by an ambient air. Other major characteristics of the model are including the effects of buoyancy forces in the flow field, separate treatment of solid and gas in a thermally non-equilibrium environment, and use of multi-precursor kinetic models for the pyrolysis of staring material and oxidation of char. The changes in porosity due to pyrolysis and char oxidation and the effect of porosity on the bed permeability and gas diffusivity are included. The mass, momentum, energy, and species transport equations are solved in a discretized computational domain using a commercially available computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The simulation results show that the model reasonably reproduces the major features of a burning cigarette during smoldering and puffing and are in a good agreement with the existing experimental results for cigarettes. Results include the velocity profiles, gas and solid temperatures, coal shape, burn rates, profile and transport of gas and vapor species throughout the packed bed, dilution through the wrapper paper and ventilation in the filter section, and the mass fraction of some pyrolysis and oxidation products in the mainstream and sidestream flows.     

Testing the retardancy effect of various inorganic chemicals on smoldering combustion of Pinus halepensis needles

The fire retarding performance of 28 different inorganic chemical substances was tested by measuring the relative particle fire hazard properties of Pinus halepensis needles treated with these chemicals. The tests were performed using a new method, based on a specifically designed apparatus for monitoring the forest species temperature, under precisely controlled temperature and static air atmosphere conditions. The relative ignition and smoldering combustion properties determined were: the ignition delay time, the combustion rate, the heat content and the mass residue of forest samples. The key elements for the effectiveness of fire retardants were the delay of ignition and the reduction of heat and combustion rate. The chemicals examined were: Cu, Fe, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, SiO₂·H₂O, NaHCO₃, KI, KBr, KCl, NaCl, CaCO₃, MnSO₄·5H₂O, CuSO₄·5H₂O, MgCl₂·6H₂O, Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O, Na₂HPO₄, Na₂CO₃, Na₂SiO₃, ZnSO₄·7H₂O, Zn₃(PO₄)₂·2H₂O, NH₄Br, NH₄Cl, NH₄HCO₃, (NH₄)₂CO₃, NH₄H₂PO₄ (MAP), (NH₄)₂SO₄ (AS), (NH₄)₂HPO₄ (DAP) and a commercial retardant containing both DAP and AS. Among them the best performance was exhibited by ammoniac phosphates, followed by ammoniac sulfates and silica.     

Small-scale forward smouldering experiments for remediation of coal tar in inert media

This paper presents a series of experiments conducted to assess the potential of smouldering combustion as a novel technology for remediation of contaminated land by water-immiscible organic compounds. The results from a detailed study of the conditions under which a smouldering reaction propagates in sand embedded with coal tar are presented. The objective of the study is to provide further understanding of the governing mechanisms of smouldering combustion of liquids in porous media. A small-scale apparatus consisting of a 100-mm in diameter quartz cylinder arranged in an upward configuration was used for the experiments. Thermocouple measurements and visible digital imaging served to track and characterize the ignition and propagation of the smouldering reaction. These two diagnostics are combined here to provide valuable information on the development of the reaction front. Post-treatment analyses of the sand were used to assess the amount of coal tar remaining in the soil. Experiments explored a range of inlet airflows and fuel concentrations. The smouldering ignition of coal tar was achieved for all the conditions presented here and self-sustained propagation was established after the igniter was turned off. It was found that the combustion is oxygen limited and peak temperatures in the range 800–1080 °C were observed. The peak temperature increased with the airflow at the lower range of flows but decreased with airflow at the higher range of flows. Higher airflows were found to produce faster propagation. Higher fuel concentrations were found to produce higher peak temperatures and slower propagation. The measured mass removal of coal tar was above 99% for sand obtained from the core and 98% for sand in the periphery of the apparatus.