A homogeneous cooling scheme investigation for high power slab laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Jianguo; Lin, Weiran; Fan, Zhongwei; Chen, Yanzhong; Ge, Wenqi; Yu, Jin; Liu, Hao; Mo, Zeqiang; Fan, Lianwen; Jia, Dan

2017-10-01

The forced convective heat transfer with the advantages of reliability and durability is widely used in cooling the laser gain medium. However, a flow direction induced temperature gradient always appears. In this paper, a novel cooling configuration based on longitudinal forced convective heat transfer is presented. In comparison with two different types of configurations, it shows a more efficient heat transfer and more homogeneous temperature distribution. The investigation of the flow rate reveals that the higher flow rate the better cooling performance. Furthermore, the simulation results with 20 L/min flow rate shows an adequate temperature level and temperature homogeneity which keeps a lower hydrostatic pressure in the flow path.

Schlieren flow visualization of helium atmospheric plasma jet and influence of the gas flow rate and applied voltage frequency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borghei, S. M.; Vaziri, N.; Alibabaei, S.

2018-03-01

We used schlieren photography to visualize the influence of gas flow rates of 1, 2.5, 5, 10 L/min and of the applied voltage frequency on a helium atmospheric plasma jet induced at the nozzle of a capillary tube. The expansion of the gas in the surrounding medium (air) was analyzed in the two different modes – plasma on/plasma off. Changes in the above parameters affect the gas flow regime and the hydrodynamics of the jet.

A concentrated solar cavity absorber with direct heat transfer through recirculating metallic particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sarker, M. R. I., E-mail: islamrabiul@yahoo.com; Saha, Manabendra, E-mail: manabendra.saha@adelaide.edu.au, E-mail: manab04me@gmail.com; Beg, R. A.

A recirculating flow solar particle cavity absorber (receiver) is modeled to investigate the flow behavior and heat transfer characteristics of a novel developing concept. It features a continuous recirculating flow of non-reacting metallic particles (black silicon carbide) with air which are used as a thermal enhancement medium. The aim of the present study is to numerically investigate the thermal behavior and flow characteristics of the proposed concept. The proposed solar particle receiver is modeled using two phase discrete particle model (DPM), RNG k-flow model and discrete ordinate (DO) radiation model. Numerical analysis is carried out considering a solar receiver withmore » only air and the mixture of non-reacting particles and air as a heat transfer as well as heat carrying medium. The parametric investigation is conducted considering the incident solar flux on the receiver aperture and changing air flow rate and recirculation rate inside the receiver. A stand-alone feature of the recirculating flow solar particle receiver concept is that the particles are directly exposed to concentrated solar radiation monotonously through recirculating flow inside the receiver and results in efficient irradiation absorption and convective heat transfer to air that help to achieve high temperature air and consequently increase in thermal efficiency. This paper presents, results from the developed concept and highlights its flow behavior and potential to enhance the heat transfer from metallic particles to air by maximizing heat carrying capacity of the heat transfer medium. The imposed milestones for the present system will be helpful to understand the radiation absorption mechanism of the particles in a recirculating flow based receiver, the thermal transport between the particles, the air and the cavity, and the fluid dynamics of the air and particle in the cavity.« less

Fixed-bed biosorption of cadmium using immobilized Scenedesmus obliquus CNW-N cells on loofa (Luffa cylindrica) sponge.

PubMed

Chen, Bor-Yann; Chen, Chun-Yen; Guo, Wan-Qian; Chang, Hao-Wei; Chen, Wen-Ming; Lee, Duu-Jong; Huang, Chieh-Chen; Ren, Nan-Qi; Chang, Jo-Shu

2014-05-01

A continuous fixed-bed biosorption process was established for cadmium (Cd) removal by Scenedesmus obliquus CNW-N (isolated from southern Taiwan) cells immobilized onto loofa sponge. This immobilized-cell biosorption process allows better recovery and reusability of the microalgal biomass. The growth of microalgae on the matrix support with appropriate nutrient supplementation could enhance the overall metal removal activity. Major operating parameters (e.g., feeding flow rate, cycle number of medium replacement, and particle diameter of the sponge) were studied for treatability evaluation. The most promising cell growth on the sponge support was obtained at a flow rate of 0.284 bed volume (BV)/min, sponge particle diameter of 1 cm, and with one cycle of medium replacement. The performance of fixed-bed biosorption (adsorption capacity of 38.4 mg, breakthrough time at 15.5 h) was achieved at a flow rate of 5 ml/min with an influent concentration of 7.5 mg Cd/l. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aerosol deposition in the human lung following administration from a microprocessor controlled pressurised metered dose inhaler.

PubMed Central

Farr, S. J.; Rowe, A. M.; Rubsamen, R.; Taylor, G.

1995-01-01

BACKGROUND--Gamma scintigraphy was employed to assess the deposition of aerosols emitted from a pressurised metered dose inhaler (MDI) contained in a microprocessor controlled device (SmartMist), a system which analyses an inspiratory flow profile and automatically actuates the MDI when predefined conditions of flow rate and cumulative inspired volume coincide. METHODS--Micronised salbutamol particles contained in a commercial MDI (Ventolin) were labelled with 99m-technetium using a method validated by the determination of (1) aerosol size characteristics of the drug and radiotracer following actuation into an eight stage cascade impactor and (2) shot potencies of these non-volatile components as a function of actuation number. Using nine healthy volunteers in a randomised factorial interaction design the effect of inspiratory flow rate (slow, 30 l/min; medium, 90 l/min; fast, 270 l/min) combined with cumulative inspired volume (early, 300 ml; late, 3000 ml) was determined on total and regional aerosol lung deposition using the technique of gamma scintigraphy. RESULTS--The SmartMist firing at the medium/early setting (medium flow and early in the cumulative inspired volume) resulted in the highest lung deposition at 18.6 (1.42)%. The slow/early setting gave the second highest deposition at 14.1 (2.06)% with the fast/late setting resulting in the lowest (7.6 (1.15)%). Peripheral lung deposition obtained for the medium/early (9.1 (0.9)%) and slow/early (7.5 (1.06)%) settings were equivalent but higher than those obtained with the other treatments. This reflected the lower total lung deposition at these other settings as no difference in regional deposition, expressed as a volume corrected central zone:peripheral zone ratio, was apparent for all modes of inhalation studied. CONCLUSIONS--The SmartMist device allowed reproducible actuation of an MDI at a preprogrammed point during inspiration. The extent of aerosol deposition in the lung is affected by a change in firing point and is promoted by an inhaled flow rate of up to 90 l/min-that is, the slow and medium setting used in these studies. PMID:7638806

Handpiece coolant flow rates and dental cutting.

PubMed

von Fraunhofer, J A; Siegel, S C; Feldman, S

2000-01-01

High-speed handpieces incorporate water coolant sprays to remove cutting debris and minimize thermal insult to the pulp. Little data exists on optimal coolant flow rates during clinical procedures. This study compared the effect of different coolant flow rates on diamond stone cutting efficiency. Cutting studies were performed on Macor machinable ceramic using a previously developed test regimen--a KaVo high-speed handpiece at a cutting force of 91.5 g (0.9 N). Cutting was performed with round end tapered medium grit diamond stones under cooling water flow rates of 15, 20, 25, 30 and 44 ml/min, with cutting rates determined as the time to transect the 13 mm square cross-section of the Macor bar. Each bur was used for five cuts, with six burs used for each flow rate, for a total of 150 measurements. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with a post hoc Scheffé test. The cutting studies indicated that diamond stone cutting rates increased with higher coolant flow rates over the range of 15-44 ml/min. The data suggest that higher coolant flow rates promote cutting efficiency.

Strain Rate Effect on Tensile Flow Behavior and Anisotropy of a Medium-Manganese TRIP Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alturk, Rakan; Hector, Louis G.; Matthew Enloe, C.; Abu-Farha, Fadi; Brown, Tyson W.

2018-06-01

The dependence of the plastic anisotropy on the nominal strain rate for a medium-manganese (10 wt.% Mn) transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel with initial austenite volume fraction of 66% (balance ferrite) has been investigated. The material exhibited yield point elongation, propagative instabilities during hardening, and austenite transformation to α'-martensite either directly or through ɛ-martensite. Uniaxial strain rates within the range of 0.005-500 s-1 along the 0°, 45°, and 90° orientations were selected based upon their relevance to automotive applications. The plastic anisotropy ( r) and normal anisotropy ( r n) indices corresponding to each direction and strain rate were determined using strain fields obtained from stereo digital image correlation systems that enabled both quasistatic and dynamic measurements. The results provide evidence of significant, orientation-dependent strain rate effects on both the flow stress and the evolution of r and r n with strain. This has implications not only for material performance during forming but also for the development of future strain-rate-dependent anisotropic yield criteria. Since tensile data alone for the subject medium-manganese TRIP steel do not satisfactorily determine the microstructural mechanisms responsible for the macroscopic-scale behavior observed on tensile testing, additional tests that must supplement the mechanical test results presented herein are discussed.

Strain Rate Effect on Tensile Flow Behavior and Anisotropy of a Medium-Manganese TRIP Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alturk, Rakan; Hector, Louis G.; Matthew Enloe, C.; Abu-Farha, Fadi; Brown, Tyson W.

2018-04-01

The dependence of the plastic anisotropy on the nominal strain rate for a medium-manganese (10 wt.% Mn) transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel with initial austenite volume fraction of 66% (balance ferrite) has been investigated. The material exhibited yield point elongation, propagative instabilities during hardening, and austenite transformation to α'-martensite either directly or through ɛ-martensite. Uniaxial strain rates within the range of 0.005-500 s-1 along the 0°, 45°, and 90° orientations were selected based upon their relevance to automotive applications. The plastic anisotropy (r) and normal anisotropy (r n) indices corresponding to each direction and strain rate were determined using strain fields obtained from stereo digital image correlation systems that enabled both quasistatic and dynamic measurements. The results provide evidence of significant, orientation-dependent strain rate effects on both the flow stress and the evolution of r and r n with strain. This has implications not only for material performance during forming but also for the development of future strain-rate-dependent anisotropic yield criteria. Since tensile data alone for the subject medium-manganese TRIP steel do not satisfactorily determine the microstructural mechanisms responsible for the macroscopic-scale behavior observed on tensile testing, additional tests that must supplement the mechanical test results presented herein are discussed.

Photoacoustic thermal flowmetry with a single light source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Wei; Lan, Bangxin; Hu, Leo; Chen, Ruimin; Zhou, Qifa; Yao, Junjie

2017-09-01

We report a photoacoustic thermal flowmetry based on optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) using a single laser source for both thermal tagging and photoacoustic excitation. When an optically absorbing medium is flowing across the optical focal zone of OR-PAM, a small volume of the medium within the optical focus is repeatedly illuminated and heated by a train of laser pulses with a high repetition rate. The average temperature of the heated volume at each laser pulse is indicated by the photoacoustic signal excited by the same laser pulse due to the well-established linear relationship between the Grueneisen coefficient and the local temperature. The thermal dynamics of the heated medium volume, which are closely related to the flow speed, can therefore be measured from the time course of the detected photoacoustic signals. Here, we have developed a lumped mathematical model to describe the time course of the photoacoustic signals as a function of the medium's flow speed. We conclude that the rising time constant of the photoacoustic signals is linearly dependent on the flow speed. Thus, the flow speed can be quantified by fitting the measured photoacoustic signals using the derived mathematical model. We first performed proof-of-concept experiments using defibrinated bovine blood flowing in a plastic tube. The experiment results have demonstrated that the proposed method has high accuracy (˜±6%) and a wide range of measurable flow speeds. We further validated the method by measuring the blood flow speeds of the microvasculature in a mouse ear in vivo.

Cultivation of animal cells in a reticulated vitreous carbon foam.

PubMed

Kent, B L; Mutharasan, R

1992-02-01

A reticulated vitreous carbon foam (RVCF) was used as a surface to cultivate a model anchorage-dependent animal cell line, 3T6 (mouse embryo fibroblast). This fixed-surface bioreactor provided a low-shear, chemically-inert, and reusable environment for cell growth. An external medium recirculation loop allowed aeration, nutrient monitoring, and medium replacement without disturbing the cells. Optimal flow rates for the attachment and growth phases were determined. Growth rates comparable to static (T-flask and petri dish) cultures and agitated microcarrier cultures were achieved with appropriately high medium recirculation rates. Metabolic parameters were shown to be useful indicators of cell mass, although specific glucose consumption rates were considerably higher for cultures in the RVCF reactor. Oxygen supply was shown to be the most likely limiting factor for scaleup.

Development of Fundamental Technologies for Micro Bioreactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Kiichi; Kitamori, Takehiko

This chapter reviews the development of fundamental technologies required for microchip-based bioreactors utilizing living mammalian cells and pressure driven flow. The most important factor in the bioreactor is the cell culture. For proper cell culturing, continuous medium supply from a microfluidic channel and appropriate modification of the channel surface to accommodate cell attachment is required. Moreover, the medium flow rate should be chosen carefully, because shear stress affects cell activity. The techniques presented here could be applied to the development of micro bioreactors such as microlivers, pigment production by plant cells, and artificial insemination.

Better Gas-Gap Thermal Switches For Sorption Compressors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bhandari, Pradeep; Rodriguez, Jose

1995-01-01

Gas-gap thermal switches associated with sorption compressors of some heat pumps and cryogenic systems designed for higher performance, according to proposal, by introducing controlled turbulent flows into gas gaps. Utilizes convection in turbulent flow to transfer heat at greater rate. Design takes advantage of flow of working fluid. Working fluid also serve as heat transfer medium in gas gap.

Foam flows through a local constriction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chevalier, T.; Koivisto, J.; Shmakova, N.; Alava, M. J.; Puisto, A.; Raufaste, C.; Santucci, S.

2017-11-01

We present an experimental study of the flow of a liquid foam, composed of a monolayer of millimetric bubbles, forced to invade an inhomogeneous medium at a constant flow rate. To model the simplest heterogeneous fracture medium, we use a Hele-Shaw cell consisting of two glass plates separated by a millimetric gap, with a local constriction. This single defect localized in the middle of the cell reduces locally its gap thickness, and thus its local permeability. We investigate here the influence of the geometrical property of the defect, specifically its height, on the average steady-state flow of the foam. In the frame of the flowing foam, we can observe a clear recirculation around the obstacle, characterized by a quadrupolar velocity field with a negative wake downstream the obstacle, which intensity evolves systematically with the obstacle height.

Porous media heat transfer for injection molding

DOEpatents

Beer, Neil Reginald

2016-05-31

The cooling of injection molded plastic is targeted. Coolant flows into a porous medium disposed within an injection molding component via a porous medium inlet. The porous medium is thermally coupled to a mold cavity configured to receive injected liquid plastic. The porous medium beneficially allows for an increased rate of heat transfer from the injected liquid plastic to the coolant and provides additional structural support over a hollow cooling well. When the temperature of the injected liquid plastic falls below a solidifying temperature threshold, the molded component is ejected and collected.

Flow-controlled magnetic particle manipulation

DOEpatents

Grate, Jay W [West Richland, WA; Bruckner-Lea, Cynthia J [Richland, WA; Holman, David A [Las Vegas, NV

2011-02-22

Inventive methods and apparatus are useful for collecting magnetic materials in one or more magnetic fields and resuspending the particles into a dispersion medium, and optionally repeating collection/resuspension one or more times in the same or a different medium, by controlling the direction and rate of fluid flow through a fluid flow path. The methods provide for contacting derivatized particles with test samples and reagents, removal of excess reagent, washing of magnetic material, and resuspension for analysis, among other uses. The methods are applicable to a wide variety of chemical and biological materials that are susceptible to magnetic labeling, including, for example, cells, viruses, oligonucleotides, proteins, hormones, receptor-ligand complexes, environmental contaminants and the like.

Effect of unsteady oscillatory MHD flow through a porous medium in porous vertical channel with chemical reaction and concentration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chitra, M.; Suhasini, M.

2018-04-01

In this paper, we investigate the effect of chemical reaction on the unsteady oscillatory MHD flow through porous medium in a porous vertical channel in the presence of suction velocity. The flow is assumed to be incompressible electrically conducting and radiating viscoelastic fluid in the presence of uniform magnetic flied applied perpendicular to the plane of the plates of the channel. The closed forms of analytical solution are obtained for the momentum, energy and concentration equation. The effect of various flow parameters like Schmidt number, chemical radiation parameter, Grashof number, solutal Grashof number on velocity profile, temperature, concentration, wall shear stress, and the rate of heat and mass transfer are obtained and their behaviour are discussed graphically.

Foam Flow Through a 2D Porous Medium: Evolution of the Bubble Size Distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meheust, Y.; Géraud, B.; Cantat, I.; Dollet, B.

2017-12-01

Foams have been used for decades as displacing fluids for EOR and aquifer remediation, and more recently as carriers of chemical amendments for remediation of the vadose zone. Bulk foams are shear-thinning fluids; but for foams with bubbles of order at least the typical pore size of the porous medium, the rheology cannot be described at the continuum scale, as viscous dissipation occurs mostly at the contact between soap films and solid walls. We have investigated the flow of an initially monodisperse foam through a transparent 2D porous medium[1]. The resulting complex flow phenomenology has been characterized quantitatively from optical measurements of the bubble dynamics. In addition to preferential flow path and local flow intermittency, we observe an irreversible evolution of the probability density function (PDF) for bubbles size as bubbles travel along the porous medium. This evolution is due to bubble fragmentation by lamella division, which is by far the dominant mechanism of film creation/destruction. We measure and characterize this evolution of the PDF as a function of the experimental parameters, and model it numerically based on a fragmentation equation, with excellent agreement. The model uses two ingredients obtained from the experimental data, namely the statistics of the bubble fragmentation rate and of the fragment size distributions[2]. It predicts a nearly-universal scaling of all PDFs as a function of the bubble area normalized by the initial mean bubble area. All the PDFs measured in various experiments, with different mean flow velocities, initial bubble sizes and foam qualities, collapse on a master distribution which is only dependent on the geometry of the medium.References:[1] B. Géraud, S. A. Jones, I. Cantat, B. Dollet & Y. Méheust (2016), WRR 52(2), 773-790. [2] B. Géraud, Y. Méheust, I. Cantat & B. Dollet (2017), Lamella division in a foam flowing through a two-dimensional porous medium: A model fragmentation process, PRL 118, 098003.

Bio-oil production from fast pyrolysis of waste furniture sawdust in a fluidized bed.

PubMed

Heo, Hyeon Su; Park, Hyun Ju; Park, Young-Kwon; Ryu, Changkook; Suh, Dong Jin; Suh, Young-Woong; Yim, Jin-Heong; Kim, Seung-Soo

2010-01-01

The amount of waste furniture generated in Korea was over 2.4 million tons in the past 3 years, which can be used for renewable energy or fuel feedstock production. Fast pyrolysis is available for thermo-chemical conversion of the waste wood mostly into bio-oil. In this work, fast pyrolysis of waste furniture sawdust was investigated under various reaction conditions (pyrolysis temperature, particle size, feed rate and flow rate of fluidizing medium) in a fluidized-bed reactor. The optimal pyrolysis temperature for increased yields of bio-oil was 450 degrees C. Excessively smaller or larger feed size negatively affected the production of bio-oil. Higher flow and feeding rates were more effective for the production of bio-oil, but did not greatly affect the bio-oil yields within the tested ranges. The use of product gas as the fluidizing medium had a potential for increased bio-oil yields.

LASERS: Efficient chemical oxygen — iodine laser with a high total pressure of the active medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zagidullin, M. V.; Nikolaev, V. D.; Svistun, M. I.; Khvatov, N. A.; Heiger, G. D.; Madden, T. J.

2001-01-01

A new concept of obtaining a high total pressure of the active medium of a chemical oxygen — iodine laser (OIL) is proposed and verified. The nozzle unit of the laser consists of the alternating vertical arrays of cylindrical nozzles to produce high-pressure nitrogen jets, plane slotted nozzles for the flow of O2(1Δ) oxygen, and vertical arrays of cylindrical nozzles to inject the N2 — I2 mixture between the first two streams. For a molar chlorine flow rate of 39.2 mmol s-1, the output power was 700 W and the chemical efficiency was 19.7 %. The combined use of the ejector nozzle unit proposed to obtain the active medium and a super-sonic diffuser allows a significant simplification of the ejection system for the exhaust active medium of the OIL.

Tank cultivation of the red algae Palmaria mollis: Effects of nutrients on growth rate, biochemical quality, and epiphytic growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ben, D.; Langdon, C. J.

2016-02-01

Pacific dulse (Palmaria mollis) is a candidate for aquaculture production in Oregon due to its high protein content, fast growth rate, and ability to fare in cold water conditions. Current cultivation methods use the F/2 medium to supply nutrients to macroalgae cultures. The F/2 medium is a costly mixture of nitrate, phosphate, trace metals and vitamins. The F/2 medium has been the standard for microalgae cultivation, but research has lacked on the necessity of all or part of this mixture for macroalgae cultivation. This study is designed to contribute to the development of Pacific dulse cultivation by measuring how different fertilizer regimens affect the growth, biochemical composition, and quality of Palmaria mollis (C-3 variety) in hopes to reduce the production cost. I hypothesis that dulse will not require additional nutrients during summer cultivation, due to summer upwelling conditions. Experiments were conducted in a flow-through water system, controlling for flow rate, stocking density, and nutrient supplementation. To test this, two replicates of four nutrient regimes were organized: no supplemental nutrients, all nutrients (standard F/2 medium), nitrate/phosphate only, and nitrate/phosphate with trace metals. Each tank was monitored weekly for color quality, epiphytic growth, specific growth rate, production and a final biochemical analysis. This study has preliminarily concluded that supplemental nutrients have no significant effect on production or biochemical quality, but does have an effect quality of epiphytic growth.

Hall effects on unsteady MHD reactive flow of second grade fluid through porous medium in a rotating parallel plate channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krishna, M. Veera; Swarnalathamma, B. V.

2017-07-01

We considered the transient MHD flow of a reactive second grade fluid through porous medium between two infinitely long horizontal parallel plates when one of the plate is set into uniform accelerated motion in the presence of a uniform transverse magnetic field under Arrhenius reaction rate. The governing equations are solved by Laplace transform technique. The effects of the pertinent parameters on the velocity, temperature are discussed in detail. The shear stress and Nusselt number at the plates are also obtained analytically and computationally discussed with reference to governing parameters.

Design and evaluation of a flow-to-frequency converter circuit with thermal feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pawlowski, Eligiusz

2017-05-01

A novel thermal flow sensor with a frequency output is presented. The sensor provides a pulse-train output whose frequency is related to the fluid flow rate around a self-heating thermistor. The integrating properties of the temperature sensor have been used, which allowed for realization of the pulse frequency modulator with a thermal feedback loop, stabilizing the temperature of the sensor placed in the flowing medium. The system assures a balance of the amount of heat supplied in the impulses to the sensor and the heat given up by the sensor in a continuous way to the flowing medium. Therefore the frequency of output pulse-train is proportional to the medium flow velocity around the sensor. The special feature of the presented solution is the total integration of the thermal sensor with the measurement signal conditioning system. i.e. the sensor and conditioning system are not separate elements of the measurement circuit, but constitute a whole in the form of a thermal heat-balance mode flow-to-frequency converter. The frequency signal from the converter may be directly connected to the microprocessor digital input, which with use of the standard built-in counters may convert the frequency into a numerical value of high precision. The sensor has been experimentally characterized as a function of the average flow velocity of air at room temperature.

Influence of flow velocity on motor behavior of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus.

PubMed

Pan, Yang; Zhang, Libin; Lin, Chenggang; Sun, Jiamin; Kan, Rentao; Yang, Hongsheng

2015-05-15

The influence of flow velocity on the motor behavior of the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus was investigated in the laboratory. Cameras were used to record sea cucumber movements and behavior analysis software was used to measure the distance traveled, time spent, upstream or downstream of the start position and the speed of movements. In general, the mean velocity of A. japonicus was below 0.7mms(-1). The maximum velocity recorded for all the sea cucumbers tested was for a large individual (89.25±17.11g), at a flow rate of 4.6±0.5cms(-1). Medium sized (19.68±5.53g) and large individuals moved significantly faster than small individuals (2.65±1.24g) at the same flow rate. A. japonicus moved significantly faster when there was a moderate current (4.6±0.5cms(-1) and 14.7±0.3cms(-1)), compared with the fast flow rate (29.3±3.7cms(-1)) and when there was no flow (0cms(-1)). Sea cucumbers did not show positive rheotaxis in general, but did move in a downstream direction at faster current speeds. Large, medium and small sized individuals moved downstream at the fastest current speed tested, 29.3±3.7cms(-1). When there was no water flow, sea cucumbers tended to move in an irregular pattern. The movement patterns show that the sea cucumber, A. japonicus can move across the direction of flow, and can move both upstream and downstream along the direction of flow. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Study of the effect of wind speed on evaporation from soil through integrated modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer and shallow subsurface.

PubMed

Davarzani, Hossein; Smits, Kathleen; Tolene, Ryan M; Illangasekare, Tissa

2014-01-01

In an effort to develop methods based on integrating the subsurface to the atmospheric boundary layer to estimate evaporation, we developed a model based on the coupling of Navier-Stokes free flow and Darcy flow in porous medium. The model was tested using experimental data to study the effect of wind speed on evaporation. The model consists of the coupled equations of mass conservation for two-phase flow in porous medium with single-phase flow in the free-flow domain under nonisothermal, nonequilibrium phase change conditions. In this model, the evaporation rate and soil surface temperature and relative humidity at the interface come directly from the integrated model output. To experimentally validate numerical results, we developed a unique test system consisting of a wind tunnel interfaced with a soil tank instrumented with a network of sensors to measure soil-water variables. Results demonstrated that, by using this coupling approach, it is possible to predict the different stages of the drying process with good accuracy. Increasing the wind speed increases the first stage evaporation rate and decreases the transition time between two evaporative stages (soil water flow to vapor diffusion controlled) at low velocity values; then, at high wind speeds the evaporation rate becomes less dependent on the wind speed. On the contrary, the impact of wind speed on second stage evaporation (diffusion-dominant stage) is not significant. We found that the thermal and solute dispersion in free-flow systems has a significant influence on drying processes from porous media and should be taken into account.

Study of the effect of wind speed on evaporation from soil through integrated modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer and shallow subsurface

PubMed Central

Davarzani, Hossein; Smits, Kathleen; Tolene, Ryan M; Illangasekare, Tissa

2014-01-01

In an effort to develop methods based on integrating the subsurface to the atmospheric boundary layer to estimate evaporation, we developed a model based on the coupling of Navier-Stokes free flow and Darcy flow in porous medium. The model was tested using experimental data to study the effect of wind speed on evaporation. The model consists of the coupled equations of mass conservation for two-phase flow in porous medium with single-phase flow in the free-flow domain under nonisothermal, nonequilibrium phase change conditions. In this model, the evaporation rate and soil surface temperature and relative humidity at the interface come directly from the integrated model output. To experimentally validate numerical results, we developed a unique test system consisting of a wind tunnel interfaced with a soil tank instrumented with a network of sensors to measure soil-water variables. Results demonstrated that, by using this coupling approach, it is possible to predict the different stages of the drying process with good accuracy. Increasing the wind speed increases the first stage evaporation rate and decreases the transition time between two evaporative stages (soil water flow to vapor diffusion controlled) at low velocity values; then, at high wind speeds the evaporation rate becomes less dependent on the wind speed. On the contrary, the impact of wind speed on second stage evaporation (diffusion-dominant stage) is not significant. We found that the thermal and solute dispersion in free-flow systems has a significant influence on drying processes from porous media and should be taken into account. PMID:25309005

Hall effects on unsteady MHD oscillatory free convective flow of second grade fluid through porous medium between two vertical plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

VeeraKrishna, M.; Subba Reddy, G.; Chamkha, A. J.

2018-02-01

The effects of radiation and Hall current on an unsteady magnetohydrodynamic free convective flow in a vertical channel filled with a porous medium have been studied. We consider an incompressible viscous and electrically conducting incompressible viscous second grade fluid bounded by a loosely packed porous medium. The fluid is driven by an oscillating pressure gradient parallel to the channel plates, and the entire flow field is subjected to a uniform inclined magnetic field of strength Ho inclined at an angle of inclination α with the normal to the boundaries in the transverse xy-plane. The temperature of one of the plates varies periodically, and the temperature difference of the plates is high enough to induce the radiative heat transfer. The effects of various parameters on the velocity profiles, the skin friction, temperature field, rate of heat transfer in terms of their amplitude, and phase angles are shown graphically.

Reactive multiphase flow at the pore-scale: the melting of a crystalline framework during the injection of buoyant hot volatiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrea, P.; Huber, C.; Bachmann, O.; Chopard, B.

2010-12-01

Multiphase reactive flows occur naturally in various environments in the shallow subsurface, e.g. CO2 injections in saturated reservoirs, exsolved methane flux in shallow sediments and H20-CO2 volatiles in magmatic systems. Because of their multiphase nature together with the nonlinear feedbacks between reactions (dissolution/melting or precipitation) and the flow field at the pore-scale, the study of these dynamical processes remains a great challenge. In this study we focus on the injection of buoyant hot volatiles exsolved from a magmatic intrusion underplating a crystal-rich magma (porous medium). We use some simple theoretical models and a pore-scale multiphase reactive lattice Boltzmann model to investigate how the heat carried by the volatile phase affects the evolution of the porous medium spatially and temporally. We find that when the reaction rate is relatively slow and when the injection rate of volatiles is large (high injection Capillary number), the dissolution of the porous medium can be described by a local Peclet number (ratio of advective to diffusive flux of heat/reactant in the main gas channel). When the injection rate of volatile is reduced, or when the reaction rate is large, the dynamics transition to more complex regimes, where subvertical gas channels are no longer stable and can break into disconnected gas slugs. For the case of the injection of hot volatiles in crystal-rich magmatic systems, we find that the excess enthalpy advected by buoyant volatiles penetrates the porous medium over distances ~r Pe, where r is the average radius of the volatile channel (~pore size). The transport of heat by buoyant gases through a crystal mush is therefore in most cases limited to distances < meters. Our results also suggest that buoyant volatiles can carry chemical species (Li,F, Cl) far into a mush as their corresponding local Peclet number is several orders of magnitude greater than that for heat, owing to their low diffusion coefficients.

Simulation of the Flow Through Porous Layers Composed of Converging-Diverging Capillary Fissures or Tubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walicka, A.

2018-02-01

In this paper, a porous medium is modelled by a network of converging-diverging capillaries which may be considered as fissures or tubes. This model makes it necessary to consider flows through capillary fissures or tubes. Therefore an analytical method for deriving the relationships between pressure drops, volumetric flow rates and velocities for the following fluids: Newtonian, polar, power-law, pseudoplastic (DeHaven and Sisko types) and Shulmanian, was developed. Next, considerations on the models of pore network for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids were presented. The models, similar to the schemes of central finite differences may provide a good basis for transforming the governing equations of a flow through the porous medium into a set of linear or quasi-linear algebraic equations. It was shown that the some coefficients in these algebraic equations depend on the kind of the capillary convergence.

Comparison of coal reactivityduring conversion into different oxidizing medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korotkikh, A. G.; Slyusarskiy, K. V.; Larionov, K. B.; Osipov, V. I.

2016-10-01

Acoal conversion process of different coal samples into three different types of oxidizing medium (argon, air and steam) were studied by means of thermogravimetry. Two coal types with different metamorphism degree (lignite and bituminous coal) were used. The experimental procedure was carried out in non-isothermal conditions in temperature range from 373 K to 1273 K with 20 K/min heating rate. Purge gas consisted of argon and oxidizer with volumetric ratio 1:24 and had 250 ml/min flow rate.The ignition and burnout indexes were calculated to evaluate sample reactivity at different oxidizing mediums. The highest reactivity coefficient values in same atmosphere were obtained for lignite. It was caused by higher particle special surface area and volatile matter content.

Heat and mass transfer analysis of unsteady MHD nanofluid flow through a channel with moving porous walls and medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zubair Akbar, Muhammad; Ashraf, Muhammad; Farooq Iqbal, Muhammad; Ali, Kashif

2016-04-01

The paper presents the numerical study of heat and mass transfer analysis in a viscous unsteady MHD nanofluid flow through a channel with porous walls and medium in the presence of metallic nanoparticles. The two cases for effective thermal conductivity are discussed in the analysis through H-C model. The impacts of the governing parameters on the flow, heat and mass transfer aspects of the issue are talked about. Under the patronage of small values of permeable Reynolds number and relaxation/contraction parameter, we locate that, when wall contraction is together with suction, flow turning is encouraged close to the wall where the boundary layer is shaped. On the other hand, when the wall relaxation is coupled with injection, the flow adjacent to the porous walls decreased. The outcome of the exploration may be beneficial for applications of biotechnology. Numerical solutions for the velocity, heat and mass transfer rate at the boundary are obtained and analyzed.

Evaluation of Pump Pulsation in Respirable Size-Selective Sampling: Part III. Investigation of European Standard Methods

PubMed Central

Soo, Jhy-Charm; Lee, Eun Gyung; Lee, Larry A.; Kashon, Michael L.; Harper, Martin

2015-01-01

Lee et al. (Evaluation of pump pulsation in respirable size-selective sampling: part I. Pulsation measurements. Ann Occup Hyg 2014a;58:60–73) introduced an approach to measure pump pulsation (PP) using a real-world sampling train, while the European Standards (EN) (EN 1232-1997 and EN 12919-1999) suggest measuring PP using a resistor in place of the sampler. The goal of this study is to characterize PP according to both EN methods and to determine the relationship of PP between the published method (Lee et al., 2014a) and the EN methods. Additional test parameters were investigated to determine whether the test conditions suggested by the EN methods were appropriate for measuring pulsations. Experiments were conducted using a factorial combination of personal sampling pumps (six medium- and two high-volumetric flow rate pumps), back pressures (six medium- and seven high-flow rate pumps), resistors (two types), tubing lengths between a pump and resistor (60 and 90 cm), and different flow rates (2 and 2.5 l min−1 for the medium- and 4.4, 10, and 11.2 l min−1 for the high-flow rate pumps). The selection of sampling pumps and the ranges of back pressure were based on measurements obtained in the previous study (Lee et al., 2014a). Among six medium-flow rate pumps, only the Gilian5000 and the Apex IS conformed to the 10% criterion specified in EN 1232-1997. Although the AirChek XR5000 exceeded the 10% limit, the average PP (10.9%) was close to the criterion. One high-flow rate pump, the Legacy (PP = 8.1%), conformed to the 10% criterion in EN 12919-1999, while the Elite12 did not (PP = 18.3%). Conducting supplemental tests with additional test parameters beyond those used in the two subject EN standards did not strengthen the characterization of PPs. For the selected test conditions, a linear regression model [PPEN = 0.014 + 0.375 × PPNIOSH (adjusted R2 = 0.871)] was developed to determine the PP relationship between the published method (Lee et al., 2014a) and the EN methods. The 25% PP criterion recommended by Lee et al. (2014a), average value derived from repetitive measurements, corresponds to 11% PPEN. The 10% pass/fail criterion in the EN Standards is not based on extensive laboratory evaluation and would unreasonably exclude at least one pump (i.e. AirChek XR5000 in this study) and, therefore, the more accurate criterion of average 11% from repetitive measurements should be substituted. This study suggests that users can measure PP using either a real-world sampling train or a resistor setup and obtain equivalent findings by applying the model herein derived. The findings of this study will be delivered to the consensus committees to be considered when those standards, including the EN 1232-1997, EN 12919-1999, and ISO 13137-2013, are revised. PMID:25053700

Distributions of Li+, Na+ K+, Rb+, and Cs+ tracer ions in erythrocytes at 38 degrees C in relation to entry rates of these ions into cells at 0 degree C.

PubMed

Salminen, S; Ekman, A; Rastas, J

2000-01-01

Forces that are able to transport Na+ and K+ into two compartments were investigated. A modified Nernst-Planck equation for coupled flows of electric current, water, and ions was integrated. The result shows that if alkali ions in the ion channel of the cell membrane are separated by their electric-current-induced inward flows against an electro-osmotic outward flow of water, the logarithms of the stationary cell/medium distributions of these ions should be proportional to the inverse of their diffusion mobilities. The relationship was tested in human erythrocytes. From inward and outward movements of tracer alkali ions, calculations were made to obtain their stationary distributions at infinite time. The cell/medium distributions determined in this way at 38 degrees C are Li+ = 0.59, 22Na+ = 0.044, 42K+ = 10.0, 86Rb+ = 11.9, and 137Cs+ = 3.07. The entry rates of ions into the cell at 0 degrees C are understood to represent their diffusion mobilities in the pump channel. The entry rates are Li+ = 1.44, 2Na+ = 1, 42K+ = 2.22, 86Rb+ = 2.39, and 137Cs+ = 1.72 relative to that of 22Na+. There is an expected negative correlation between the logarithms of the stationary cell/ medium distributions at 38 degrees C and the inverse of the entry rates into the cell at 0 degrees C for the five ions. It is suggested that the proposed physical forces cause the separation of alkali ions in the channel of Na,K-ATPase.

Post-Dryout Heat Transfer to a Refrigerant Flowing in Horizontal Evaporator Tubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mori, Hideo; Yoshida, Suguru; Kakimoto, Yasushi; Ohishi, Katsumi; Fukuda, Kenichi

Studies of the post-dryout heat transfer were made based on the experimental data for HFC-134a flowing in horizontal smooth and spiral1y grooved (micro-fin) tubes and the characteristics of the post-dryout heat transfer were c1arified. The heat transfer coefficient at medium and high mass flow rates in the smooth tube was lower than the single-phase heat transfer coefficient of the superheated vapor flow, of which mass flow rate was given on the assumption that the flow was in a thermodynamic equilibrium. A prediction method of post-dryout heat transfer coefficient was developed to reproduce the measurement satisfactorily for the smooth tube. The post dryout heat transfer in the micro-fin tube can be regarded approximately as a superheated vapor single-phase heat transfer.

Effect of air velocity and direction for indirect evaporative cooling in tropical area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayodha Ajiwiguna, Tri; Nugraha Rismi, Fadhlin; Ramdlan Kirom, Mukhammad

2017-06-01

In this research, experimental study of heat absorption rate caused by indirect evaporative cooling is performed by varying the velocity and direction of air. The ambient is at average temperature and relative humidity of 28.7 °C and 78% respectively. The experiment is conducted by attaching wet medium on the top of material reference plate with the dimension of 14 x 8 cm with 5 mm thickness. To get evaporative cooling effect, the air flow is directed to the wet medium with velocity from 1.6 m/s to 3.4 m/s with the increment of 0.2 m/s. The direction of air is set 0° (parallel), 45° (inclined), and 90° (perpendicular) to the wet medium surface. While the experiment is being performed, the air temperature, top and bottom of plate temperature are measured simultaneously after steady state condition is established. Based on the measurement result, heat absorption is calculated by analysing the heat conduction on the material reference. The result shows that the heat absorption rate is increased by higher velocity. Perpendicular direction of air flow results the highest cooling capacity compared with other direction. The maximum heat absorption rate is achieved at 13.9 Watt with 3.4 m/s velocity and perpendicular direction of air.

Microspheres as resistive elements in a check valve for low pressure and low flow rate conditions.

PubMed

Ou, Kevin; Jackson, John; Burt, Helen; Chiao, Mu

2012-11-07

In this paper we describe a microsphere-based check valve integrated with a micropump. The check valve uses Ø20 μm polystyrene microspheres to rectify flow in low pressure and low flow rate applications (Re < 1). The microspheres form a porous medium in the check valve increasing fluidic resistance based on the direction of flow. Three check valve designs were fabricated and characterized to study the microspheres' effectiveness as resistive elements. A maximum diodicity (ratio of flow in the forward and reverse direction) of 18 was achieved. The pumping system can deliver a minimum flow volume of 0.25 μL and a maximum flow volume of 1.26 μL under an applied pressure of 0.2 kPa and 1 kPa, respectively. A proof-of-concept study was conducted using a pharmaceutical agent, docetaxel (DTX), as a sample drug showing the microsphere check valve's ability to limit diffusion from the micropump. The proposed check valve and pumping concept shows strong potential for implantable drug delivery applications with low flow rate requirements.

Polymer as Permeability Modifier in Porous Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parsa, S.; Weitz, D.

2017-12-01

Polymer flow through porous media is of particular interest in applications such as enhanced oil recovery and ground water remediation. We measure the effects of polymer flow on the permeability and local velocity distribution of a single phase flow in 3D micromodel of porous media using confocal microscopy and bulk permeability measurement. Our measurements show considerable reduction in permeability and increased velocity fluctuations with fluid velocities being diverted in some pores after polymer flow. We also find that the average velocity in the medium at constant imposed flow rate scales with the inverse square root of permeability.

The Influence of Oscillatory Fractions on Mass Transfer of Non-Newtonian Fluid in Wavy-Walled Tubes for Pulsatile Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Donghui; Bian, Yongning

2018-03-01

The shape of pipeline structure, fluid medium and flow state have important influence on the heat transfer and mass effect of fluid. In this paper, we investigated the mass transfer behavior of Non-Newtonian fluid CMC solution with 700ppm concentration in five different-sized axisymmetric wave-walled tubes for pulsatile flow. It is revealed that the effect of mass transfer is enhanced with the increase of oscillatory fractions P based on the PIV measurements. Besides, mass transfer rate was measured by the electrochemical method in the larger oscillatory points rate range. It is observed that mass transfer rate increases with the increase in P and reached the maximum mass transfer rate at the most optimal oscillatory fractions P opt. After reaching the optimal oscillatory fractions P opt, the mass transfer rate decreases with increasing P.

Analysis of Fractional Flow for Transient Two-Phase Flow in Fractal Porous Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Ting; Duan, Yonggang; Fang, Quantang; Dai, Xiaolu; Wu, Jinsui

2016-03-01

Prediction of fractional flow in fractal porous medium is important for reservoir engineering and chemical engineering as well as hydrology. A physical conceptual fractional flow model of transient two-phase flow is developed in fractal porous medium based on the fractal characteristics of pore-size distribution and on the approximation that porous medium consist of a bundle of tortuous capillaries. The analytical expression for fractional flow for wetting phase is presented, and the proposed expression is the function of structural parameters (such as tortuosity fractal dimension, pore fractal dimension, maximum and minimum diameters of capillaries) and fluid properties (such as contact angle, viscosity and interfacial tension) in fractal porous medium. The sensitive parameters that influence fractional flow and its derivative are formulated, and their impacts on fractional flow are discussed.

Quenching of a highly superheated porous medium by injection of water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fichot, F.; Bachrata, A.; Repetto, G.; Fleurot, J.; Quintard, M.

2012-11-01

Understanding of two-phase flow through porous medium with intense phase change is of interest in many situations, including nuclear, chemical or geophysical applications. Intense boiling occurs when the liquid is injected into a highly superheated medium. Under such conditions, the heat flux extracted by the fluid from the porous medium is mainly governed by the nucleation of bubbles and by the evaporation of thin liquid films. Both configurations are possible, depending on local flow conditions and on the ratio of bubble size to pore size. The present study is motivated by the safety evaluation of light water nuclear reactors in case of a severe accident scenario, such as the one that happened in Fukushima Dai-ichi plant in March, 2011. If water sources are not available for a long period of time, the reactor core heats up due to the residual power and eventually becomes significantly damaged due to intense oxidation of metals and fragmentation of fuel rods resulting in the formation of a porous medium where the particles have a characteristic length-scale of 1 to 5 mm. The coolability of the porous medium will depend on the water flow rate which can enter the medium under the available driving head and on the geometrical features of the porous matrix (average pore size, porosity). Therefore, it is of high interest to evaluate the conditions for which the injection of water in such porous medium is likely to stop the progression of the accident. The present paper addresses the issue of modelling two-phase flow and heat transfers in a porous medium initially dry, where water is injected. The medium is initially at a temperature well above the saturation temperature of water. In a first part, a summary of existing knowledge is provided, showing the scarcity of models and experimental data. In a second part, new experimental results obtained in an IRSN facility are analysed. The experiment consists in a bed of steel particles that are heated up to 700°Cbefore injecting water. The facility is briefly described. The velocity of the "quench front" (location where particles are quickly cooled down) and the total pressure drop across the medium are estimated. The dependencies of those quantities with respect to the inlet water flow rate, the initial temperature of the medium and the diameter of particles are obtained. In a third part, a model is proposed, based on a previously developed model which is improved in order to take into account intense boiling regimes (in particular nucleate boiling). The model includes a function that takes into account the contact area between water and the particles which depends on the temperature of particles and on the void fraction. That function affects the local intensity of phase change. The model involves a few parameters which cannot be evaluated analytically. Those parameters are bounded, following the analysis of experimental data. Finally, the model is assessed by comparison of calculations with those new experimental data. The satisfactory agreement shows that the model is almost predictive in the range of parameters studied. The experimental results also show that the quench front becomes unstable under certain conditions. This is also analysed and compared with the predictions of the model.

Study of the Effect of Wind Speed on Evaporation from Soil Through Integrated Modeling of Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Shallow Subsurface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smits, K. M.; Davarzani, H.; Illangasekare, T. H.

2012-12-01

The study of the interaction between the land and atmosphere is paramount to our understanding of many emerging problems to include climate change and the movement of green house gases such as possible leaking of sequestered CO2. Soil moisture distribution in the shallow subsurface becomes a critical factor in these problems. The heat and mass flux in the form of soil evaporation across the land surface couples the atmospheric boundary layer to the shallow subsurface. The coupling between land and the atmosphere leads to highly dynamic interactions between the porous media properties, transport processes and boundary conditions, resulting in dynamic evaporative behavior. However, the coupling at the land-atmospheric interface is rarely considered in most current models and their validation for practical applications. This is due to the complexity of the problem in field scenarios and the scarcity of field or laboratory data capable of testing and refining coupled energy and mass transfer theories. In most efforts to compute evaporation from soil, only indirect coupling is provided to characterize the interaction between non-isothermal multiphase flows under realistic atmospheric conditions even though heat and mass flux are controlled by the coupled dynamics of the land and the atmospheric boundary layer. In earlier drying modeling concepts, imposing evaporation flux (kinetic of relative humidity) and temperature as surface boundary condition is often needed. With the goal of improving our understanding of the land/atmospheric coupling, we developed a model based on the coupling of Navier-Stokes free flow and Darcy flow in porous medium. The model consists of the coupled equations of mass conservation for the liquid phase (water) and gas phase (water vapor and air) in porous medium with gas phase (water vapor and air) in free flow domain under non-isothermal, non-equilibrium conditions. The boundary conditions at the porous medium-free flow medium interface include dynamical, thermal and solutal equilibriums, and using the Beavers-Joseph slip boundary condition. What is unique about this model is that the evaporation rate and soil surface temperature conditions come directly from the model output. In order to experimentally validate the numerical results, we developed and used a unique two dimensional wind tunnel placed above a soil tank equipped with a network of different sensors. A series of experiments under varying boundary conditions were performed. Precision data under well-controlled transient heat and wind boundary conditions was generated. Results from numerical simulations were compared with experimental data. Results demonstrate that the coupling concept can predict the different stages of the drying process in porous media with good accuracy. Increasing the wind speed increases the first stage evaporation rate and decreases the transition time at low velocity values; then, at high values of wind speed the evaporation rate becomes less dependent of flow in free fluid. In the opposite, the impact of the wind speed on the second stage evaporation (diffusion dominant stage) is not significant. The proposed theoretical model can be used to predict the evaporation process where a porous medium flow is coupled to a free flow for different practical applications.

Chandra Observations of MS0440.5+0204 & MS0839.9+2938: Cooling Flow Clusters in Formation?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNamara, Brian

2000-09-01

We propose to observe two redshift z~0.2 clusters, MS0839.9+2938 and MS0440+0204, discovered as bright X-ray sources in the Einstein Medium Sensitivity Survey. The cluster cores are structured in the X-ray and optical bands, and they harbor large cooling flows. Their central cluster galaxies contain luminous nebular emission systems, active star formation, and strong radio sources. Using the Chandra data, we will determine whether the large discrepancies between the X-ray cooling rates and optical star formation rates can be reconciled, and we will test the hypothesis that cooling flows form as cool, dense groups accrete into massive clusters.

Numerical studies of asymmetric adiabatic accretion flow - The effect of velocity gradients

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taam, Ronald E.; Fryxell, B. A.

1989-01-01

A numerical study of the time variation of the angular momentum and mass capture rates for a central object accreting from a uniform medium with a velocity gradient transverse to the direction of the mean flow is presented, covering a range of velocity asymmetries and Mach numbers in the incident flow. It is found that the mass accretion rate in a given evolutionary sequence varies in an irregular manner, with the matter accreting onto the central object from either a continuously moving accretion wake or from an accretion disk. The implications of the results from the study of short-term fluctuations observed in the pulse period and luminosity of X-ray pulsars are discussed.

A Comparative study between MPC and PI controller to control vacuum distillation unit for producing LVGO, MVGO, and HVGO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wahid, A.; Prasetyo, A. P.

2018-03-01

This study describes the selection of controllers in the vacuum distillation unit (VDU) between a model predictive control (MPC) and a proportional-integral (PI) controller by comparing the integral square error (ISE) values. Design of VDU in this simulation is based on modified Metso Automation Inc. scheme. Controlled variables in this study are feed flow rate, feed temperature, top stage pressure, condenser level, bottom stage temperature, LVGO (light vacuum gas oil), MVGO (medium vacuum gas oil), and HVGO (heavy vacuum gas oil) flow rate. As a result, control performance improvements occurred as using MPC compared to PI controllers, when testing a set-point change, of feed flow rate control, feed temperature, top-stage pressure, bottom-stage temperature and flow rate of LVGO, MVGO, and HVGO, respectively, 36%, 6%, 92%, 53%, 90%, 96% and 88%. Only on condenser level control PI performs much better than the MPC. So PI controller is used for level condenser control. While for the test of disturbance rejection, by changing feed flow rate by 10%, there is improvement of control performance using MPC compared to PI controller on feed temperature control, top-stage pressure, bottom-stage temperature and flow rate LVGO, MVGO and HVGO 0.3%, 0.7%, 14%, 2.7%, 10.6% and 4.3%, respectively.

Studies with sample conductivity, insertion rates, and particle deflection in a continuous flow electrophoresis system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, G., Jr.

1982-01-01

The continuous flow electrophoresis system makes electrophoresis possible in a free-flowing film of aqueous electrolyte medium. The sample continuously enters the electrolyte at the top of the chamber and is subjected to the action of a lateral dc field. This divides the sample into fractions since each component has a distinctive electrophoretic mobility. Tests were made using monodisperse polystyrene latex microspheres to determine optimum sample conductivity, insertion rates and optimum electric field applications as baseline data for future STS flight experiments. Optimum sample flow rates for the selected samples were determined to be approximately 26 micro-liters/min. Experiments with samples in deionized water yielded best results and voltages in the 20 V/cm to 30 V/cm range were optimum. Deflections of formaldehyde fixed turkey and bovine erythrocytes were determined using the continuous flow electrophoresis system. The effects of particle interactions on sample resolution and migration in the chamber was also evaluated.

Excitation of nonlinear wave patterns in flowing complex plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaiswal, S.; Bandyopadhyay, P.; Sen, A.

2018-01-01

We describe experimental observations of nonlinear wave structures excited by a supersonic mass flow of dust particles over an electrostatic potential hill in a dusty plasma medium. The experiments have been carried out in a Π- shaped experimental (DPEx) device in which micron sized Kaolin particles are embedded in a DC glow discharge Argon plasma. An equilibrium dust cloud is formed by maintaining the pumping speed and gas flow rate and the dust flow is induced either by suddenly reducing the height of a potential hill or by suddenly reducing the gas flow rate. For a supersonic flow of the dust fluid precursor solitons are seen to propagate in the upstream direction while wake structures propagate in the downstream direction. For flow speeds with a Mach number greater than 2 the dust particles flowing over the potential hill give rise to dispersive dust acoustic shock waves. The experimental results compare favorably with model theories based on forced K-dV and K-dV Burger's equations.

Experimental study of microbubble drag reduction on an axisymmetric body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Wuchao; Wang, Cong; Wei, Yingjie; Zhang, Xiaoshi; Wang, Wei

2018-01-01

Microbubble drag reduction on the axisymmetric body is experimentally investigated in the turbulent water tunnel. Microbubbles are created by injecting compressed air through the porous medium with various average pore sizes. The morphology of microbubble flow and the size distribution of microbubble are observed by the high-speed visualization system. Drag measurements are obtained by the balance which is presented as the function of void ratio. The results show that when the air injection flow rate is high, uniformly dispersed microbubble flow is coalesced into an air layer with the larger increment rate of drag reduction ratio. The diameter distributions of microbubble under various conditions are submitted to normal distribution. Microbubble drag reduction can be divided into three distinguishable regions in which the drag reduction ratio experiences increase stage, rapid increase stage and stability stage, respectively, corresponding to the various morphologies of microbubble flow. Moreover, drag reduction ratio increases with the decreasing pore sizes of porous medium at the identical void ratio in the area of low speeds, while the effect of pore sizes on drag reduction is reduced gradually until it disappears with the increasing free stream speeds, which indicates that smaller microbubbles have better efficiency in drag reduction. This research results help to improve the understanding of microbubble drag reduction and provides helpful references for practical applications.

Numerical study of entropy generation due to coupled laminar and turbulent mixed convection and thermal radiation in an enclosure filled with a semitransparent medium.

PubMed

Goodarzi, M; Safaei, M R; Oztop, Hakan F; Karimipour, A; Sadeghinezhad, E; Dahari, M; Kazi, S N; Jomhari, N

2014-01-01

The effect of radiation on laminar and turbulent mixed convection heat transfer of a semitransparent medium in a square enclosure was studied numerically using the Finite Volume Method. A structured mesh and the SIMPLE algorithm were utilized to model the governing equations. Turbulence and radiation were modeled with the RNG k-ε model and Discrete Ordinates (DO) model, respectively. For Richardson numbers ranging from 0.1 to 10, simulations were performed for Rayleigh numbers in laminar flow (10⁴) and turbulent flow (10⁸). The model predictions were validated against previous numerical studies and good agreement was observed. The simulated results indicate that for laminar and turbulent motion states, computing the radiation heat transfer significantly enhanced the Nusselt number (Nu) as well as the heat transfer coefficient. Higher Richardson numbers did not noticeably affect the average Nusselt number and corresponding heat transfer rate. Besides, as expected, the heat transfer rate for the turbulent flow regime surpassed that in the laminar regime. The simulations additionally demonstrated that for a constant Richardson number, computing the radiation heat transfer majorly affected the heat transfer structure in the enclosure; however, its impact on the fluid flow structure was negligible.

Numerical Study of Entropy Generation due to Coupled Laminar and Turbulent Mixed Convection and Thermal Radiation in an Enclosure Filled with a Semitransparent Medium

PubMed Central

Goodarzi, M.; Safaei, M. R.; Oztop, Hakan F.; Karimipour, A.; Sadeghinezhad, E.; Dahari, M.; Kazi, S. N.; Jomhari, N.

2014-01-01

The effect of radiation on laminar and turbulent mixed convection heat transfer of a semitransparent medium in a square enclosure was studied numerically using the Finite Volume Method. A structured mesh and the SIMPLE algorithm were utilized to model the governing equations. Turbulence and radiation were modeled with the RNG k-ε model and Discrete Ordinates (DO) model, respectively. For Richardson numbers ranging from 0.1 to 10, simulations were performed for Rayleigh numbers in laminar flow (104) and turbulent flow (108). The model predictions were validated against previous numerical studies and good agreement was observed. The simulated results indicate that for laminar and turbulent motion states, computing the radiation heat transfer significantly enhanced the Nusselt number (Nu) as well as the heat transfer coefficient. Higher Richardson numbers did not noticeably affect the average Nusselt number and corresponding heat transfer rate. Besides, as expected, the heat transfer rate for the turbulent flow regime surpassed that in the laminar regime. The simulations additionally demonstrated that for a constant Richardson number, computing the radiation heat transfer majorly affected the heat transfer structure in the enclosure; however, its impact on the fluid flow structure was negligible. PMID:24778601

Unsteady resurgence flows in karstic media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adler, Pierre; Drygas, Piotr; Mityushev, Vladimir

2017-04-01

Geological porous media are heterogeneous materials which in addition contain discontinuities such as fractures and conduits which facilitate fluid transport. Fractures are relatively plane objects which strongly interact with the surrounding porous medium because of their large contact surface. A different situation occurs in karsts where distant regions of the medium can be connected by relatively thin conduits which have little if any hydrodynamic interaction with the porous medium that they cross, except at their ends. This phenomenon is called resurgence because of the obvious analogy with rivers which suddenly disappear underground and go out at the ground surface again. Similar ideas have already been developed in other fields, such as Physics with random networks and Geophysics with electrical tomography. Media with resurgences are addressed in the following way. They consist of a double structure. The first one is the continuous porous medium described by the classical Darcy law. The second one is composed by the resurgences modeled by conduits with impermeable walls which relate distant points of the continuous medium. When non steady regimes are considered, it appears necessary to confer a capacity to these conduits in addition to their hydrodynamic resistance. Therefore, the conduits are able to store some quantity of fluid. In addition, two kinds of resurgence are addressed, namely punctual and extended; in the second case, the dimensions of the ends of the conduit are not negligible compared to the characteristic length scales of the embedding porous medium. Capacities and extended resurgences are new features which were not taken into account in our previous studies. The punctual resurgence is described by a spatial network with a finite number of conduits embedded in a continuous porous medium. The flow in the network is described by the classical Kirchhoff law (including capacities). The equations for flow in the network and in the continuous medium are related by the unknown flow rates jn(t) (n = 1,2, …, N) depending on time at the nth vertices of the network. Application of the conservation law at the vertices yields a system of integral equations for jn(t). The structure of this system depends on the structure of the network. The Laplace transformation yields a linear algebraic system. When this system is solved, the flow rates jn(t) can be constructed by the inverse Laplace transform. Extended resurgences are modeled as extensions of punctual resurgences when instead of two vertices at each edge two domains are connected point by point by an uncountable number of edges. Another type of extended resurgence is described by a non local integral operator. A numerical finite difference method is also applied to solve the equations. Examples of network with two and more vertices are detailed. The mathematical aspects will be kept to a minimum during the presentation and emphasis will be put on the physics and on several illustrative examples.

Evaluation of pump pulsation in respirable size-selective sampling: Part III. Investigation of European standard methods.

PubMed

Soo, Jhy-Charm; Lee, Eun Gyung; Lee, Larry A; Kashon, Michael L; Harper, Martin

2014-10-01

Lee et al. (Evaluation of pump pulsation in respirable size-selective sampling: part I. Pulsation measurements. Ann Occup Hyg 2014a;58:60-73) introduced an approach to measure pump pulsation (PP) using a real-world sampling train, while the European Standards (EN) (EN 1232-1997 and EN 12919-1999) suggest measuring PP using a resistor in place of the sampler. The goal of this study is to characterize PP according to both EN methods and to determine the relationship of PP between the published method (Lee et al., 2014a) and the EN methods. Additional test parameters were investigated to determine whether the test conditions suggested by the EN methods were appropriate for measuring pulsations. Experiments were conducted using a factorial combination of personal sampling pumps (six medium- and two high-volumetric flow rate pumps), back pressures (six medium- and seven high-flow rate pumps), resistors (two types), tubing lengths between a pump and resistor (60 and 90 cm), and different flow rates (2 and 2.5 l min(-1) for the medium- and 4.4, 10, and 11.2 l min(-1) for the high-flow rate pumps). The selection of sampling pumps and the ranges of back pressure were based on measurements obtained in the previous study (Lee et al., 2014a). Among six medium-flow rate pumps, only the Gilian5000 and the Apex IS conformed to the 10% criterion specified in EN 1232-1997. Although the AirChek XR5000 exceeded the 10% limit, the average PP (10.9%) was close to the criterion. One high-flow rate pump, the Legacy (PP=8.1%), conformed to the 10% criterion in EN 12919-1999, while the Elite12 did not (PP=18.3%). Conducting supplemental tests with additional test parameters beyond those used in the two subject EN standards did not strengthen the characterization of PPs. For the selected test conditions, a linear regression model [PPEN=0.014+0.375×PPNIOSH (adjusted R2=0.871)] was developed to determine the PP relationship between the published method (Lee et al., 2014a) and the EN methods. The 25% PP criterion recommended by Lee et al. (2014a), average value derived from repetitive measurements, corresponds to 11% PPEN. The 10% pass/fail criterion in the EN Standards is not based on extensive laboratory evaluation and would unreasonably exclude at least one pump (i.e. AirChek XR5000 in this study) and, therefore, the more accurate criterion of average 11% from repetitive measurements should be substituted. This study suggests that users can measure PP using either a real-world sampling train or a resistor setup and obtain equivalent findings by applying the model herein derived. The findings of this study will be delivered to the consensus committees to be considered when those standards, including the EN 1232-1997, EN 12919-1999, and ISO 13137-2013, are revised. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society 2014.

Effect of impact stress on microbial recovery on an agar surface.

PubMed Central

Stewart, S L; Grinshpun, S A; Willeke, K; Terzieva, S; Ulevicius, V; Donnelly, J

1995-01-01

Microbial stress due to the impaction of microorganisms onto an agar collection surface was studied experimentally. The relative recovery rates of aerosolized Pseudomonas fluorescens and Micrococcus luteus were determined as a function of the impaction velocity by using a moving agar slide impactor operating over a flow rate range from 3.8 to 40 liters/min yielding impaction velocities from 24 to 250 m/s. As a reference, the sixth stage of the Andersen Six-Stage Viable Particle Sizing Sampler was used at its operating flow rate of 28.3 liters/min (24 m/s). At a collection efficiency of close to 100% for the agar slide impactor, an increase in sampling flow rate and, therefore, in impaction velocity produced a significant decline in the percentage of microorganisms recovered. Conversely, when the collection efficiency was less than 100%, greater recovery and lower injury rates occurred. The highest relative rate of recovery (approximately 51% for P. fluorescens and approximately 62% for M. luteus) was obtained on the complete (Trypticase soy agar) medium at 40 and 24 m/s (6.4 and 3.8 liters/min), respectively. M. luteus demonstrated less damage than P. fluorescens, suggesting the hardy nature of the gram-positive strain versus that of the gram-negative microorganism. Comparison of results from the agar slide and Andersen impactors at the same sampling velocity showed that recovery and injury due to collection depends not only on the magnitude of the impaction velocity but also on the degree to which the microorganisms may be embedded in the collection medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:7747946

Injection Characteristics of Non-Swirling and Swirling Annular Liquid Sheets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harper, Brent (Technical Monitor); Ibrahim, E. A.; McKinney, T. R.

2004-01-01

A simplified mathematical model, based on body-fitted coordinates, is formulated to study the evolution of non-swirling and swirling liquid sheet emanated from an annular nozzle in a quiescent surrounding medium. The model provides predictions of sheet trajectory, thickness and velocity at various liquid mass flow rates and liquid-swirler angles. It is found that a non-swirling annular sheet converges toward its centerline and assumes a bell shape as it moves downstream from the nozzle. The bell radius, and length are more pronounced at higher liquid mass flow rates. The thickness of the non-swirling annular sheet increases while its stream-wise velocity decreases with an increase in mass flow rate. The introduction of swirl results in the formation of a diverging hollow-cone sheet. The hollow-cone divergence from its centerline is enhanced by an increase in liquid mass flow rate or liquid-swirler angle. The hollow- cone sheet its radius, curvature and stream-wise velocity increase while its thickness and tangential velocity decrease as a result of increasing the mass flow rate or liquid-swirler angle. The present results are compared with previous studies and conclusions are drawn.

Clustering in the stellar abundance space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boesso, R.; Rocha-Pinto, H. J.

2018-03-01

We have studied the chemical enrichment history of the interstellar medium through an analysis of the n-dimensional stellar abundance space. This work is a non-parametric analysis of the stellar chemical abundance space. The main goal is to study the stars from their organization within this abundance space. Within this space, we seek to find clusters (in a statistical sense), that is, stars likely to share similar chemo-evolutionary history, using two methods: the hierarchical clustering and the principal component analysis. We analysed some selected abundance surveys available in the literature. For each sample, we labelled the group of stars according to its average abundance curve. In all samples, we identify the existence of a main enrichment pattern of the stars, which we call chemical enrichment flow. This flow is set by the structured and well-defined mean rate at which the abundances of the interstellar medium increase, resulting from the mixture of the material ejected from the stars and stellar mass-loss and interstellar medium gas. One of the main results of our analysis is the identification of subgroups of stars with peculiar chemistry. These stars are situated in regions outside of the enrichment flow in the abundance space. These peculiar stars show a mismatch in the enrichment rate of a few elements, such as Mg, Si, Sc and V, when compared to the mean enrichment rate of the other elements of the same stars. We believe that the existence of these groups of stars with peculiar chemistry may be related to the accretion of planetary material on to stellar surfaces or may be due to production of the same chemical element by different nucleosynthetic sites.

Laminar film condensation along a vertical plate embedded in an anisotropic porous medium with oblique principal axes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Degan, Gérard; Sanya, Arthur; Akowanou, Christian

2016-10-01

This work analytically investigates the problem of steady film condensation along a vertical surface embedded in an anisotropic porous medium filled with a dry saturated vapor. The porous medium is anisotropic in permeability whose principal axes are oriented in a direction which is oblique to the gravity vector. On the basis of the generalized Darcy's law and within the boundary layer approximations, similar solutions have been obtained for the temperature and flow patterns in the condensate. Moreover, closed form solutions for the boundary layer thickness and heat transfer rate have been obtained in terms of the governing parameters of the problem.

Preliminary characterization of a water vaporizer for resistojet applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morren, W. Earl

1992-01-01

A series of tests was conducted to explore the characteristics of a water vaporizer intended for application to resistojet propulsion systems. The objectives of these tests were to (1) observe the effect of orientation with respect to gravity on vaporizer stability, (2) characterize vaporizer efficiency and outlet conditions over a range of flow rates, and (3) measure the thrust performance of a vaporizer/resistojet thruster assembly. A laboratory model of a forced-flow, once-through water vaporizer employing a porous heat exchange medium was built and characterized over a range of flow rates and power levels of interest for application to water resistojets. In a test during which the vaporizer was rotated about a horizontal axis normal to its own axis, the outlet temperature and mass flow rate through the vaporizer remained steady. Throttlability to 30 percent of the maximum flow rate tested was demonstrated. The measured thermal efficiency of the vaporizer was near 0.9 for all tests. The water vaporizer was integrated with an engineering model multipropellant resistojet. Performance of the vaporizer/thruster assembly was measured over a narrow range of operating conditions. The maximum specific impulse measured was 234 s at a mass flow rate and specific power level (vaporizer and thruster combined) of 154 x 10(exp-6)kg/s and 6.8 MJ/kg, respectively.

Maximum Plant Uptakes for Water, Nutrients, and Oxygen Are Not Always Met by Irrigation Rate and Distribution in Water-based Cultivation Systems.

PubMed

Blok, Chris; Jackson, Brian E; Guo, Xianfeng; de Visser, Pieter H B; Marcelis, Leo F M

2017-01-01

Growing on rooting media other than soils in situ -i.e., substrate-based growing- allows for higher yields than soil-based growing as transport rates of water, nutrients, and oxygen in substrate surpass those in soil. Possibly water-based growing allows for even higher yields as transport rates of water and nutrients in water surpass those in substrate, even though the transport of oxygen may be more complex. Transport rates can only limit growth when they are below a rate corresponding to maximum plant uptake. Our first objective was to compare Chrysanthemum growth performance for three water-based growing systems with different irrigation. We compared; multi-point irrigation into a pond (DeepFlow); one-point irrigation resulting in a thin film of running water (NutrientFlow) and multi-point irrigation as droplets through air (Aeroponic). Second objective was to compare press pots as propagation medium with nutrient solution as propagation medium. The comparison included DeepFlow water-rooted cuttings with either the stem 1 cm into the nutrient solution or with the stem 1 cm above the nutrient solution. Measurements included fresh weight, dry weight, length, water supply, nutrient supply, and oxygen levels. To account for differences in radiation sum received, crop performance was evaluated with Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) expressed as dry weight over sum of Photosynthetically Active Radiation. The reference, DeepFlow with substrate-based propagation, showed the highest RUE, even while the oxygen supply provided by irrigation was potentially growth limiting. DeepFlow with water-based propagation showed 15-17% lower RUEs than the reference. NutrientFlow showed 8% lower RUE than the reference, in combination with potentially limiting irrigation supply of nutrients and oxygen. Aeroponic showed RUE levels similar to the reference and Aeroponic had non-limiting irrigation supply of water, nutrients, and oxygen. Water-based propagation affected the subsequent cultivation in the DeepFlow negatively compared to substrate-based propagation. Water-based propagation resulted in frequent transient discolorations after transplanting in all cultivation systems, indicating a factor, other than irrigation supply of water, nutrients, and oxygen, influencing plant uptake. Plant uptake rates for water, nutrients, and oxygen are offered as a more fundamental way to compare and improve growing systems.

Maximum Plant Uptakes for Water, Nutrients, and Oxygen Are Not Always Met by Irrigation Rate and Distribution in Water-based Cultivation Systems

PubMed Central

Blok, Chris; Jackson, Brian E.; Guo, Xianfeng; de Visser, Pieter H. B.; Marcelis, Leo F. M.

2017-01-01

Growing on rooting media other than soils in situ -i.e., substrate-based growing- allows for higher yields than soil-based growing as transport rates of water, nutrients, and oxygen in substrate surpass those in soil. Possibly water-based growing allows for even higher yields as transport rates of water and nutrients in water surpass those in substrate, even though the transport of oxygen may be more complex. Transport rates can only limit growth when they are below a rate corresponding to maximum plant uptake. Our first objective was to compare Chrysanthemum growth performance for three water-based growing systems with different irrigation. We compared; multi-point irrigation into a pond (DeepFlow); one-point irrigation resulting in a thin film of running water (NutrientFlow) and multi-point irrigation as droplets through air (Aeroponic). Second objective was to compare press pots as propagation medium with nutrient solution as propagation medium. The comparison included DeepFlow water-rooted cuttings with either the stem 1 cm into the nutrient solution or with the stem 1 cm above the nutrient solution. Measurements included fresh weight, dry weight, length, water supply, nutrient supply, and oxygen levels. To account for differences in radiation sum received, crop performance was evaluated with Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) expressed as dry weight over sum of Photosynthetically Active Radiation. The reference, DeepFlow with substrate-based propagation, showed the highest RUE, even while the oxygen supply provided by irrigation was potentially growth limiting. DeepFlow with water-based propagation showed 15–17% lower RUEs than the reference. NutrientFlow showed 8% lower RUE than the reference, in combination with potentially limiting irrigation supply of nutrients and oxygen. Aeroponic showed RUE levels similar to the reference and Aeroponic had non-limiting irrigation supply of water, nutrients, and oxygen. Water-based propagation affected the subsequent cultivation in the DeepFlow negatively compared to substrate-based propagation. Water-based propagation resulted in frequent transient discolorations after transplanting in all cultivation systems, indicating a factor, other than irrigation supply of water, nutrients, and oxygen, influencing plant uptake. Plant uptake rates for water, nutrients, and oxygen are offered as a more fundamental way to compare and improve growing systems. PMID:28443129

Technological effect of vibroprocessing by flows of organic granular media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lebedev, V. A.; Shishkina, A. P.; Davydova, I. V.; Morozova, A. V.

2018-03-01

The analysis of approaches to modeling of vibrational processing by granulated media is carried out. The vibroprocessing model which provides effective finishing of the surfaces of the parts due to the stone fruit organic media granules is developed. The model is based on the granule flow energy impact on the surface being treated. As the main characteristic of the organic media processing, a specific volumetric metal scrap is used, the physical meaning of which is the increase rate in the thickness of the material removed from the surface at a given velocity and pressure of the medium. It is shown that the metal scrap depends on the medium flow velocity, the height of the loading column of the granular medium, and the conditions for the formation of a medium stationary circulation motion. Based on the analysis of the results of experimental studies of the influence of amplitude-frequency characteristics on the removal of metal in the process of vibroprocessing with abrasive granules, the dependence of the specific volume metal removal is proposed for organic media processing, taking into account the threshold amplitude and frequency of oscillations of the working chamber, at which the effect of surface treatment is observed. The established set of relationships describing the effective conditions for vibroprocessing with stone organic media was obtained using experimental data, which allows us to assume that the model obtained is valid.

Development of optimal models of porous media by combining static and dynamic data: the permeability and porosity distributions.

PubMed

Hamzehpour, Hossein; Rasaei, M Reza; Sahimi, Muhammad

2007-05-01

We describe a method for the development of the optimal spatial distributions of the porosity phi and permeability k of a large-scale porous medium. The optimal distributions are constrained by static and dynamic data. The static data that we utilize are limited data for phi and k, which the method honors in the optimal model and utilizes their correlation functions in the optimization process. The dynamic data include the first-arrival (FA) times, at a number of receivers, of seismic waves that have propagated in the porous medium, and the time-dependent production rates of a fluid that flows in the medium. The method combines the simulated-annealing method with a simulator that solves numerically the three-dimensional (3D) acoustic wave equation and computes the FA times, and a second simulator that solves the 3D governing equation for the fluid's pressure as a function of time. To our knowledge, this is the first time that an optimization method has been developed to determine simultaneously the global minima of two distinct total energy functions. As a stringent test of the method's accuracy, we solve for flow of two immiscible fluids in the same porous medium, without using any data for the two-phase flow problem in the optimization process. We show that the optimal model, in addition to honoring the data, also yields accurate spatial distributions of phi and k, as well as providing accurate quantitative predictions for the single- and two-phase flow problems. The efficiency of the computations is discussed in detail.

Developing dissolution testing methodologies for extended-release oral dosage forms with supersaturating properties. Case example: Solid dispersion matrix of indomethacin.

PubMed

Tajiri, Tomokazu; Morita, Shigeaki; Sakamoto, Ryosaku; Mimura, Hisahi; Ozaki, Yukihiro; Reppas, Christos; Kitamura, Satoshi

2015-07-25

The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro dissolution test method with discrimination ability for an extended-release solid dispersion matrix of a lipophilic drug using the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Apparatus 4, flow-through cell apparatus. In the open-loop configuration, the sink condition was maintained by manipulating the flow rate of the dissolution medium. To evaluate the testing conditions, the drug release mechanism from an extended-release solid dispersion matrix containing hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers was investigated. As the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) maintained concentrations of indomethacin higher than the solubility in a dissolution medium, the release of HPMC into the dissolution medium was also quantified using size-exclusion chromatography. We concluded that the USP Apparatus 4 is suitable for application to an in vitro dissolution method for orally administered extended-release solid dispersion matrix formulations containing poorly water-soluble drugs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of the effect of wind speed on evaporation from soil through integrated modeling of atmospheric boundary layer and shallow subsurface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davarzani, Hossein; Smits, Kathleen; Tolene, Ryan; Illangasekare, Tissa

2013-04-01

The study of the interaction between the land and atmosphere is paramount to our understanding of many emerging problems to include climate change, the movement of green house gases such as possible leaking of sequestered CO2 and the accurate detection of buried objects such as landmines. Soil moisture distribution in the shallow subsurface becomes a critical factor in all these problems. The heat and mass flux in the form of soil evaporation across the land surface couples the atmospheric boundary layer to the shallow subsurface. The coupling between land and the atmosphere leads to highly dynamic interactions between the porous media properties, transport processes and boundary conditions, resulting in dynamic evaporative behavior. However, the coupling at the land-atmospheric interface is rarely considered in most current models and their validation for practical applications. This is due to the complexity of the problem in field scenarios and the scarcity of field or laboratory data capable of testing and refining coupled energy and mass transfer theories. In most efforts to compute evaporation from soil, only indirect coupling is provided to characterize the interaction between non-isothermal multiphase flows under realistic atmospheric conditions even though heat and mass flux are controlled by the coupled dynamics of the land and the atmospheric boundary layer. In earlier drying modeling concepts, imposing evaporation flux (kinetic of relative humidity) and temperature as surface boundary condition is often needed. With the goal of improving our understanding of the land/atmospheric coupling, we developed a model based on the coupling of Navier-Stokes free flow and Darcy flow in porous medium. The model consists of the coupled equations of mass conservation for the liquid phase (water) and gas phase (water vapor and air) in porous medium with gas phase (water vapor and air) in free flow domain under non-isothermal, non-equilibrium conditions. The boundary conditions at the porous medium-free flow medium interface include dynamical, thermal and solutal equilibriums, and using the Beavers-Joseph slip boundary condition. What is unique about this model is that the evaporation rate and soil surface temperature conditions come directly from the model output. In order to experimentally validate the numerical results, we developed and used a unique two dimensional wind tunnel placed above a soil tank equipped with a network of different sensors. A series of experiments under varying boundary conditions, using a test sand for which the hydraulic and thermal properties were well characterized, were performed. Precision data for soil moisture, soil and air temperature and relative humidity, and also wind velocity under well-controlled transient heat and wind boundary conditions was generated. Results from numerical simulations were compared with experimental data. Results demonstrate that the coupling concept can predict the different stages of the drying process in porous media with good accuracy. Increasing the wind speed increases the first stage evaporation rate and decreases the transition time at low velocity values; then, at high values of wind speed the evaporation rate becomes less dependent of flow in free fluid. In the opposite, the impact of the wind speed on the second stage evaporation (diffusion dominant stage) is not significant. The proposed theoretical model can be used to predict the evaporation process where a porous medium flow is coupled to a free flow for different practical applications.

9 CFR 381.303 - Critical factors and the application of the process schedule.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AGENCY ORGANIZATION AND TERMINOLOGY; MANDATORY MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION AND VOLUNTARY INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION REGULATIONS.../air ratio; and (2) Heating medium flow rate. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under...

9 CFR 381.303 - Critical factors and the application of the process schedule.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AGENCY ORGANIZATION AND TERMINOLOGY; MANDATORY MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION AND VOLUNTARY INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION REGULATIONS.../air ratio; and (2) Heating medium flow rate. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under...

9 CFR 381.303 - Critical factors and the application of the process schedule.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AGENCY ORGANIZATION AND TERMINOLOGY; MANDATORY MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION AND VOLUNTARY INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION REGULATIONS.../air ratio; and (2) Heating medium flow rate. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under...

9 CFR 381.303 - Critical factors and the application of the process schedule.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AGENCY ORGANIZATION AND TERMINOLOGY; MANDATORY MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION AND VOLUNTARY INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION REGULATIONS.../air ratio; and (2) Heating medium flow rate. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under...

AGN self-regulation in cooling flow clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cattaneo, A.; Teyssier, R.

2007-04-01

We use three-dimensional high-resolution adaptive-mesh-refinement simulations to investigate if mechanical feedback from active galactic nucleus jets can halt a massive cooling flow in a galaxy cluster and give rise to a self-regulated accretion cycle. We start with a 3 × 109 Msolar black hole at the centre of a spherical halo with the mass of the Virgo cluster. Initially, all the baryons are in a hot intracluster medium in hydrostatic equilibrium within the dark matter's gravitational potential. The black hole accretes the surrounding gas at the Bondi rate, and a fraction of the accretion power is returned into the intracluster medium mechanically through the production of jets. The accretion, initially slow (~2 × 10-4 Msolaryr-1), becomes catastrophic, as the gas cools and condenses in the dark matter's potential. Therefore, it cannot prevent the cooling catastrophe at the centre of the cluster. However, after this rapid phase, where the accretion rate reaches a peak of ~0.2Msolaryr-1, the cavities inflated by the jets become highly turbulent. The turbulent mixing of the shock-heated gas with the rest of the intracluster medium puts a quick end to this short-lived rapid-growth phase. After dropping by almost two orders of magnitudes, the black hole accretion rate stabilizes at ~0.006 Msolaryr-1, without significant variations for several billions of years, indicating that a self-regulated steady state has been reached. This accretion rate corresponds to a negligible increase of the black hole mass over the age of the Universe, but is sufficient to create a quasi-equilibrium state in the cluster core.

Production of acids and alcohols from syngas in a two-stage continuous fermentation process.

PubMed

Abubackar, Haris Nalakath; Veiga, María C; Kennes, Christian

2018-04-01

A two-stage continuous system with two stirred tank reactors in series was utilized to perform syngas fermentation using Clostridium carboxidivorans. The first bioreactor (bioreactor 1) was maintained at pH 6 to promote acidogenesis and the second one (bioreactor 2) at pH 5 to stimulate solventogenesis. Both reactors were operated in continuous mode by feeding syngas (CO:CO 2 :H 2 :N 2 ; 30:10:20:40; vol%) at a constant flow rate while supplying a nutrient medium at different flow rates of 8.1, 15, 22 and 30 ml/h. A cell recycling unit was added to bioreactor 2 in order to recycle the cells back to the reactor, maintaining the OD 600 around 1 in bioreactor 2 throughout the experimental run. When comparing the flow rates, the best results in terms of solvent production were obtained with a flow rate of 22 ml/h, reaching the highest average outlet concentration for alcohols (1.51 g/L) and the most favorable alcohol/acid ratio of 0.32. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Size-Based Separation of Particles and Cells Utilizing Viscoelastic Effects in Straight Microchannels.

PubMed

Liu, Chao; Xue, Chundong; Chen, Xiaodong; Shan, Lei; Tian, Yu; Hu, Guoqing

2015-06-16

Viscoelasticity-induced particle migration has recently received increasing attention due to its ability to obtain high-quality focusing over a wide range of flow rates. However, its application is limited to low throughput regime since the particles can defocus as flow rate increases. Using an engineered carrier medium with constant and low viscosity and strong elasticity, the sample flow rates are improved to be 1 order of magnitude higher than those in existing studies. Utilizing differential focusing of particles of different sizes, here, we present sheathless particle/cell separation in simple straight microchannels that possess excellent parallelizability for further throughput enhancement. The present method can be implemented over a wide range of particle/cell sizes and flow rates. We successfully separate small particles from larger particles, MCF-7 cells from red blood cells (RBCs), and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria from RBCs in different straight microchannels. The proposed method could broaden the applications of viscoelastic microfluidic devices to particle/cell separation due to the enhanced sample throughput and simple channel design.

Corrugated walls analysis in microchannels through porous medium under Electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rashid, M.; Shahzadi, Iqra; Nadeem, S.

2018-06-01

This study looks for corrugated walls analysis in microchannels through porous medium under the impact of Electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) effects. The incompressible and electrically conducting second grade fluid is considered between the two slit microparallel plates. The periodic sinusoidal waves are described for the small amplitude either in phase or out of phase for the corrugations of two wavy walls. By employing mathematical computation, we evaluated the corrugation effects on velocity for EMHD flow. By using perturbation technique, we investigated the analytical solutions of the velocity and volume flow rate. The influence of all parameters on velocity and the mean velocity profiles have been analyzed through graphs. The important conclusion from the analysis is that the small value of amplitude ratio parameter reduces the unobvious wave effect on the velocity.

Phase Field Model of Hydraulic Fracturing in Poroelastic Media: Fracture Propagation, Arrest, and Branching Under Fluid Injection and Extraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santillán, David; Juanes, Ruben; Cueto-Felgueroso, Luis

2018-03-01

The simulation of fluid-driven fracture propagation in a porous medium is a major computational challenge, with applications in geosciences and engineering. The two main families of modeling approaches are those models that represent fractures as explicit discontinuities and solve the moving boundary problem and those that represent fractures as thin damaged zones, solving a continuum problem throughout. The latter family includes the so-called phase field models. Continuum approaches to fracture face validation and verification challenges, in particular grid convergence, well posedness, and physical relevance in practical scenarios. Here we propose a new quasi-static phase field formulation. The approach fully couples fluid flow in the fracture with deformation and flow in the porous medium, discretizes flow in the fracture on a lower-dimension manifold, and employs the fluid flux between the fracture and the porous solid as coupling variable. We present a numerical assessment of the model by studying the propagation of a fracture in the quarter five-spot configuration. We study the interplay between injection flow rate and rock properties and elucidate fracture propagation patterns under the leak-off toughness dominated regime as a function of injection rate, initial fracture length, and poromechanical properties. For the considered injection scenario, we show that the final fracture length depends on the injection rate, and three distinct patterns are observed. We also rationalize the system response using dimensional analysis to collapse the model results. Finally, we propose some simplifications that alleviate the computational cost of the simulations without significant loss of accuracy.

Discrete Morse flow for Ricci flow and porous medium equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Li; Witt, Ingo

2018-06-01

In this paper, we study the discrete Morse flow for the Ricci flow on the American football, which is the 2-sphere with the north and south poles removed and equipped with a metric g0 of constant scalar curvature, and for the porous medium equation on a bounded regular domain in the plane. We show that under suitable assumptions on the initial metric g(0) one has a weak approximate discrete Morse flow for the approximated Ricci flow and porous medium equation on any time interval.

Experimental study of porous media flow using hydro-gel beads and LED based PIV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harshani, H. M. D.; Galindo-Torres, S. A.; Scheuermann, A.; Muhlhaus, H. B.

2017-01-01

A novel experimental approach for measuring porous flow characteristics using spherical hydro-gel beads and particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique is presented. A transparent porous medium consisting of hydro-gel beads that are made of a super-absorbent polymer, allows using water as the fluid phase while simultaneously having the same refractive index. As a result, a more adaptable and cost effective refractive index matched (RIM) medium is created. The transparent nature of the porous medium allows optical systems to visualize the flow field by using poly-amide seeding particles (PSP). Low risk light emitting diode (LED) based light was used to illuminate the plane in order to track the seeding particles’ path for the characterization of the flow inside the porous medium. The system was calibrated using a manually measured flow by a flow meter. Velocity profiles were obtained and analysed qualitatively and quantitatively in order to characterise the flow. Results show that this adaptable, low risk experimental set-up can be used for flow measurements in porous medium under low Reynolds numbers. The limitations of using hydro-gel beads are also discussed.

Computational investigation of fluid flow and heat transfer of an economizer by porous medium approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babu, C. Rajesh; Kumar, P.; Rajamohan, G.

2017-07-01

Computation of fluid flow and heat transfer in an economizer is simulated by a porous medium approach, with plain tubes having a horizontal in-line arrangement and cross flow arrangement in a coal-fired thermal power plant. The economizer is a thermal mechanical device that captures waste heat from the thermal exhaust flue gasses through heat transfer surfaces to preheat boiler feed water. In order to evaluate the fluid flow and heat transfer on tubes, a numerical analysis on heat transfer performance is carried out on an 110 t/h MCR (Maximum continuous rating) boiler unit. In this study, thermal performance is investigated using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation using ANSYS FLUENT. The fouling factor ε and the overall heat transfer coefficient ψ are employed to evaluate the fluid flow and heat transfer. The model demands significant computational details for geometric modeling, grid generation, and numerical calculations to evaluate the thermal performance of an economizer. The simulation results show that the overall heat transfer coefficient 37.76 W/(m2K) and economizer coil side pressure drop of 0.2 (kg/cm2) are found to be conformity within the tolerable limits when compared with existing industrial economizer data.

Hydrothermal fluid flow and deformation in large calderas: Inferences from numerical simulations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hurwitz, S.; Christiansen, L.B.; Hsieh, P.A.

2007-01-01

Inflation and deflation of large calderas is traditionally interpreted as being induced by volume change of a discrete source embedded in an elastic or viscoelastic half-space, though it has also been suggested that hydrothermal fluids may play a role. To test the latter hypothesis, we carry out numerical simulations of hydrothermal fluid flow and poroelastic deformation in calderas by coupling two numerical codes: (1) TOUGH2 [Pruess et al., 1999], which simulates flow in porous or fractured media, and (2) BIOT2 [Hsieh, 1996], which simulates fluid flow and deformation in a linearly elastic porous medium. In the simulations, high-temperature water (350??C) is injected at variable rates into a cylinder (radius 50 km, height 3-5 km). A sensitivity analysis indicates that small differences in the values of permeability and its anisotropy, the depth and rate of hydrothermal injection, and the values of the shear modulus may lead to significant variations in the magnitude, rate, and geometry of ground surface displacement, or uplift. Some of the simulated uplift rates are similar to observed uplift rates in large calderas, suggesting that the injection of aqueous fluids into the shallow crust may explain some of the deformation observed in calderas.

Analysis of trickle-bed reactor for ethanol production from syngas using Clostridium ragsdalei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Devarapalli, Mamatha

The conversion of syngas components (CO, CO2 and H2) to liquid fuels such as ethanol involves complex biochemical reactions catalyzed by a group of acetogens such as Clostridium ljungdahlii, Clostridium carboxidivorans and Clostridium ragsdalei. The low ethanol productivity in this process is associated with the low solubility of gaseous substrates CO and H2 in the fermentation medium. In the present study, a 1-L trickle-bed reactor (TBR) was analyzed to understand its capabilities to improve the mass transfer of syngas in fermentation medium. Further, semi-continuous and continuous syngas fermentations were performed using C. ragsdalei to evaluate the ability of the TBR for ethanol production. In the mass transfer studies, using 6-mm glass beads, it was found that the overall mass transfer coefficient (kLa/V L) increased with the increase in gas flow rate from 5.5 to 130.5 sccm. Further, an increase in the liquid flow rate in the TBR decreased the kLa/VL due to the increase in liquid hold up volume (VL) in the packing. The highest kLa/VL values of 421 h-1 and 178 h-1 were achieved at a gas flow rate of 130.5 sccm for 6-mm and 3-mm glass beads, respectively. Semi-continuous fermentations were performed with repetitive medium replacement in counter-current and co-current modes. In semi-continuous fermentations with syngas consisting of 38% CO, 5% N2, 28.5% CO2 and 28.5% H2 (by volume), the increase in H2 conversion (from 18 to 55%) and uptake (from 0.7 to 2.2 mmol/h) were observed. This increase was attributed to more cell attachment in the packing that reduced CO inhibition to hydrogenase along the column length and increased the H2 uptake. The maximum ethanol produced during counter-current and co-current modes were 3.0 g/L and 5.7 g/L, respectively. In continuous syngas fermentation, the TBR was operated at dilution rates between 0.006 h-1and 0.012 h -1 and gas flow rates between 1.5 sccm and 18.9 sccm. The highest ethanol concentration of 13 g/L was achieved at dilution and gas flow rates of 0.012 h-1 and 18.9 sccm, respectively. The molar ratio of ethanol to acetic acid of 4:1 was obtained during continuous fermentation which was 7.7 times higher than in semi-continuous fermentations. The improvement of the reactor performance in continuous mode gives scope to explore the TBR as a potential bioreactor design for large scale biofuels production.

Life and Times of the X-Ray Gas in Elliptical Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Renzini, Alvio

2000-09-01

The global gas flows in elliptical galaxies are initiated by stellar mass loss and their diagnostics rely on X-ray observations. The flows are controlled by a number of factors, including supernova heating, the depth and shape of the potential well as determined by the amount and distribution of bright and dark matter, AGN fueling and its feedback effects, interaction with the intracluster medium, and star formation. As a result no steady-state solution can satisfactorily describe the complex, evolutionary behavior of the gas flows, which can experience supersonic wind, subsonic outflow, and inflow phases, and transitions between one such flow regime to another. Having identified heating by Type Ia SN's as one of the key factors controlling the flows, constraints on its evolution with cosmological time are derived by considering the total amount of iron contained in whole clusters of galaxies, while the iron abundance in individual galaxy flows can set constraints on the present rate of SNIa's in ellipticals. The central issue of the problem remains the fate of the gas. It is argued that in one way or another, via SN-driven winds, ram pressure stripping, or AGN violent ejection, most of the gas is ultimately expelled from galaxies thus joining the intracluster medium.

Ultrasonic measurements of the bulk flow field in foams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nauber, Richard; Büttner, Lars; Eckert, Kerstin; Fröhlich, Jochen; Czarske, Jürgen; Heitkam, Sascha

2018-01-01

The flow field of moving foams is relevant for basic research and for the optimization of industrial processes such as froth flotation. However, no adequate measurement technique exists for the local velocity distribution inside the foam bulk. We have investigated the ultrasound Doppler velocimetry (UDV), providing the first two-dimensional, non-invasive velocity measurement technique with an adequate spatial (10 mm ) and temporal resolution (2.5 Hz ) that is applicable to medium scale foam flows. The measurement object is dry aqueous foam flowing upward in a rectangular channel. An array of ultrasound transducers is mounted within the channel, sending pulses along the main flow axis, and receiving echoes from the foam bulk. This results in a temporally and spatially resolved, planar velocity field up to a measurement depth of 200 mm , which is approximately one order of magnitude larger than those of optical techniques. A comparison with optical reference measurements of the surface velocity of the foam allows to validate the UDV results. At 2.5 Hz frame rate an uncertainty below 15 percent and an axial spatial resolution better than 10 mm is found. Therefore, UDV is a suitable tool for monitoring of industrial processes as well as the scientific investigation of three-dimensional foam flows on medium scales.

Method and apparatus for adapting steady flow with cyclic thermodynamics

DOEpatents

Swift, Gregory W.; Reid, Robert S.; Ward, William C.

2000-01-01

Energy transfer apparatus has a resonator for supporting standing acoustic waves at a selected frequency with a steady flow process fluid thermodynamic medium and a solid medium having heat capacity. The fluid medium and the solid medium are disposed within the resonator for thermal contact therebetween and for relative motion therebetween. The relative motion is produced by a first means for producing a steady velocity component and second means for producing an oscillating velocity component at the selected frequency and concomitant wavelength of the standing acoustic wave. The oscillating velocity and associated oscillating pressure component provide energy transfer between the steady flow process fluid and the solid medium as the steady flow process fluid moves through the resonator.

Dynamic control of gold nanoparticle morphology in a microchannel flow reactor by glucose reduction in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution.

PubMed

Ishizaka, Takayuki; Ishigaki, Atsushi; Kawanami, Hajime; Suzuki, Akira; Suzuki, Toshishige M

2012-02-01

Continuous flow synthesis of gold nanoparticles was demonstrated using a microchannel reactor with glucose reduction in aqueous alkaline medium. Particle size, morphology, and visual/optical properties of the dispersion liquid were controlled dynamically by tuning of the rate of NaOH addition. Characteristic star-like nanoparticles formed spontaneously as a quasi-stable state, but they changed the morphology to round shape and showed spectral change over time. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Determination of the herbicide benfuresate by its photo-induced chemiluminescence using flow multicommutation methodology.

PubMed

Albert-García, J R; Calatayud, J Martínez

2008-05-15

The present paper deals with an analytical strategy based on coupling photo-induced chemiluminescence in a multicommutation continuous-flow methodology for the determination of the herbicide benfuresate. The solenoid valve inserted as small segments of the analyte solution was sequentially alternated with segments of the NaOH solution for adjusting the medium for the photodegradation. Both flow rates (sample and medium) were adjusted to required time for photodegradation, 90 s; and then, the resulting solution was also sequentially inserted as segments alternated with segments of the oxidizing solution system, hexacyanoferrate (III) in alkaline medium. The calibration range from 1 microg L(-1) to 95 mg L(-1), resulted in a linear behaviour over the range 1 microg L(-1) to 4 mg L(-1) and fitting the linear equation: I=4555.7x+284.2, correlation coefficient 0.9999. The limit of detection was 0.1 microg L(-1) (n=5, criteria 3 sigma) and the sample throughput was 22 h(-1). The consumption of solutions was very small; per peak were 0.66 mL, 0.16 mL and 0. 32 mL sample, medium and oxidant, respectively. Inter- and intra-day reproducibility resulted in a R.S.D. of 3.9% and 3.4%, respectively. After testing the influence of a large series of potential interferents the method is applied to water samples obtained from different places, human urine and to one formulation.

Color screening and regeneration of bottomonia in high-energy heavy-ion collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, X.; He, M.; Rapp, R.

2017-11-01

The production of ground-state and excited bottomonia in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions is investigated within a kinetic-rate equation approach including regeneration. We augment our previous calculations by an improved treatment of medium effects, with temperature-dependent binding energies and pertinent reaction rates, B -meson resonance states in the equilibrium limit near the hadronization temperature, and a lattice-QCD based equation of state for the bulk medium. In addition to the centrality dependence of the bottomonium yields, we compute their transverse-momentum (pT) spectra and elliptic flow with momentum-dependent reaction rates and a regeneration component based on b -quark spectra from a nonperturbative transport model of heavy-quark diffusion. The latter has noticeable consequences for the shape of the bottomonium pT spectra. We quantify how uncertainties in the various modeling components affect the predictions for observables. Based on this we argue that the Υ (1 S ) suppression is a promising observable for mapping out the in-medium properties of the QCD force, while Υ (2 S ) production can help to quantify the role of regeneration from partially thermalized b quarks.

Elimination of veterinary antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes from swine wastewater in the vertical flow constructed wetlands.

PubMed

Liu, Lin; Liu, Chaoxiang; Zheng, Jiayu; Huang, Xu; Wang, Zhen; Liu, Yuhong; Zhu, Gefu

2013-05-01

This paper investigated the efficiency of two vertical flow constructed wetlands characterized by volcanic (CW1) and zeolite (CW2) respectively, at removing three common antibiotics (ciprofloxacin HCl, oxytetracycline HCl, and sulfamethazine) and tetracycline resistance (tet) genes (tetM, tetO, and tetW) from swine wastewater. The result indicated that the two systems could significantly reduce the wastewater antibiotics content, and elimination rates were in the following sequence: oxytetracycline HCl>ciprofloxacin HCl>sulfamethazine. The zeolite-medium system was superior to that of the volcanic-medium system vis-à-vis removal, perhaps because of the differing pH values and average pore sizes of the respective media. A higher concentration of antibiotics accumulated in the soil than in the media and vegetation, indicating that soil plays the main role in antibiotics removal from wastewater in vertical flow constructed wetlands. The characteristics of the wetland medium may also affect the antibiotic resistance gene removal capability of the system; the total absolute abundances of three tet genes and of 16S rRNA were reduced by 50% in CW1, and by almost one order of magnitude in CW2. However, the relative abundances of target tet genes tended to increase following CW1 treatment. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Permeation of 70% isopropyl alcohol through surgical gloves: comparison of the standard methods ASTM F739 and EN 374.

PubMed

Mäkelä, Erja A; Vainiotalo, Sinikka; Peltonen, Kimmo

2003-06-01

Standard test methods ASTM F739 and EN 374 were compared by assessing the permeation of 70% isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol) through seven brands of surgical gloves. The two standards differ in the flow rates of the collection medium and in the chemical permeation rate at which the breakthrough time (BTT) is detected, the EN detection level being 10 times higher than the permeation rate used by ASTM. In a departure from the EN standard method, a 4 h testing time was used instead of 8 h. All of the tested gloves were from the same manufacturer and were made from either natural rubber (NR) (six brands) or chloroprene rubber (CR) (one brand). Two of the NR glove brands were double layered. For the thin NR gloves (0.22, 0.28 and 0.27 mm) the permeation rates were higher throughout the tests with a flow rate of 474 ml/min (EN) of the collection medium (nitrogen) compared with the permeation rates obtained with a flow rate of 52 ml/min (ASTM). These resulted in BTTs of 4.6, 6.5 and 7.6 min (EN) and 4.8, 6.5 and 9.1 min (ASTM), respectively. No statistical difference could be observed between the BTT values obtained with the two standard methods for any of the thin gloves. Thus, although the ASTM standard has a lower criterion for the detection of permeation, it does not necessarily produce shorter BTTs. For the better barriers the methods yielded more equivalent permeation rate curves and thus the EN BTTs were longer than the ASTM BTTs: the EN results were 21, 80, 122 and >240 min compared with the ASTM results of 12, 32, 38 and 103 min for glove thicknesses of 0.37 (NR), 0.22 + 0.22 (double layered NR), 0.31 + 0.29 (double layered NR) and 0.19 mm (CR), respectively.

Pyrolysis of cassava rhizome in a counter-rotating twin screw reactor unit.

PubMed

Sirijanusorn, Somsak; Sriprateep, Keartisak; Pattiya, Adisak

2013-07-01

A counter-rotating twin screw reactor unit was investigated for its behaviour in the pyrolysis of cassava rhizome biomass. Several parameters such as pyrolysis temperature in the range of 500-700°C, biomass particle size of <0.6mm, the use of sand as heat transfer medium, nitrogen flow rate of 4-10 L/min and nitrogen pressure of 1-3 bar were thoroughly examined. It was found that the pyrolysis temperature of 550°C could maximise the bio-oil yield (50 wt.%). The other optimum parameters for maximising the bio-oil yield were the biomass particle size of 0.250-0.425 mm, the nitrogen flow rate of 4 L/min and the nitrogen pressure of 2 bar. The use of the heat transfer medium could increase the bio-oil yield to a certain extent. Moreover, the water content of bio-oil produced with the counter-rotating twin screw reactor was relatively low, whereas the solids content was relatively high, compared to some other reactor configurations. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Strategies for Enhancing the Accumulation and Retention of Extracellular Matrix in Tissue-Engineered Cartilage Cultured in Bioreactors

PubMed Central

Shahin, Kifah; Doran, Pauline M.

2011-01-01

Production of tissue-engineered cartilage involves the synthesis and accumulation of key constituents such as glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen type II to form insoluble extracellular matrix (ECM). During cartilage culture, macromolecular components are released from nascent tissues into the medium, representing a significant waste of biosynthetic resources. This work was aimed at developing strategies for improving ECM retention in cartilage constructs and thus the quality of engineered tissues produced in bioreactors. Human chondrocytes seeded into polyglycolic acid (PGA) scaffolds were cultured in perfusion bioreactors for up to 5 weeks. Analysis of the size and integrity of proteoglycans in the constructs and medium showed that full-sized aggrecan was being stripped from the tissues without proteolytic degradation. Application of low (0.075 mL min−1) and gradually increasing (0.075–0.2 mL min−1) medium flow rates in the bioreactor resulted in the generation of larger constructs, a 4.0–4.4-fold increase in the percentage of GAG retained in the ECM, and a 4.8–5.2-fold increase in GAG concentration in the tissues compared with operation at 0.2 mL min−1. GAG retention was also improved by pre-culturing seeded scaffolds in flasks for 5 days prior to bioreactor culture. In contrast, GAG retention in PGA scaffolds infused with alginate hydrogel did not vary significantly with medium flow rate or pre-culture treatment. This work demonstrates that substantial improvements in cartilage quality can be achieved using scaffold and bioreactor culture strategies that specifically target and improve ECM retention. PMID:21858004

Convergence of Defect-Correction and Multigrid Iterations for Inviscid Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Diskin, Boris; Thomas, James L.

2011-01-01

Convergence of multigrid and defect-correction iterations is comprehensively studied within different incompressible and compressible inviscid regimes on high-density grids. Good smoothing properties of the defect-correction relaxation have been shown using both a modified Fourier analysis and a more general idealized-coarse-grid analysis. Single-grid defect correction alone has some slowly converging iterations on grids of medium density. The convergence is especially slow for near-sonic flows and for very low compressible Mach numbers. Additionally, the fast asymptotic convergence seen on medium density grids deteriorates on high-density grids. Certain downstream-boundary modes are very slowly damped on high-density grids. Multigrid scheme accelerates convergence of the slow defect-correction iterations to the extent determined by the coarse-grid correction. The two-level asymptotic convergence rates are stable and significantly below one in most of the regions but slow convergence is noted for near-sonic and very low-Mach compressible flows. Multigrid solver has been applied to the NACA 0012 airfoil and to different flow regimes, such as near-tangency and stagnation. Certain convergence difficulties have been encountered within stagnation regions. Nonetheless, for the airfoil flow, with a sharp trailing-edge, residuals were fast converging for a subcritical flow on a sequence of grids. For supercritical flow, residuals converged slower on some intermediate grids than on the finest grid or the two coarsest grids.

Flow regions of granules in Dorfan Impingo filter for gas cleanup

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuo, J.T.; Smid, J.; Hsiau, S.S.

1999-07-01

Inside a two-dimensional model of the louvered Dorfan Impingo panel with transparent front and rear walls the flow region of filter granules without gas cross flow were observed. The white PE beads were used as filter granules. Colored PE beads served as tracers. Filter granules were discharged and circulated to the bed. The flow rate of filter medium was controlled by the belt conveyor. The image processing system including a Frame Grabber and JVC videocamera was used to record the granular flow. Every image of motion was digitized and stored in a file. The flow patterns and the quasi-stagnant zonesmore » history in the moving granular bed were evaluated. The experiment showed fast central moving region (flowing core) of filter granules and quasi-stagnant zones close to louver walls.« less

Turbulent flow reduces oxygen consumption in the labriform swimming shiner perch, Cymatogaster aggregata.

PubMed

van der Hoop, Julie M; Byron, Margaret L; Ozolina, Karlina; Miller, David L; Johansen, Jacob L; Domenici, Paolo; Steffensen, John F

2018-06-12

Fish swimming energetics are often measured in laboratory environments which attempt to minimize turbulence, though turbulent flows are common in the natural environment. To test whether the swimming energetics and kinematics of shiner perch, Cymatogaster aggregata (a labriform swimmer), were affected by turbulence, two flow conditions were constructed in a swim-tunnel respirometer. A low-turbulence flow was created using a common swim-tunnel respirometry setup with a flow straightener and fine-mesh grid to minimize velocity fluctuations. A high-turbulence flow condition was created by allowing large velocity fluctuations to persist without a flow straightener or fine grid. The two conditions were tested with particle image velocimetry to confirm significantly different turbulence properties throughout a range of mean flow speeds. Oxygen consumption rate of the swimming fish increased with swimming speed and pectoral fin beat frequency in both flow conditions. Higher turbulence also caused a greater positional variability in swimming individuals (versus low-turbulence flow) at medium and high speeds. Surprisingly, fish used less oxygen in high-turbulence compared with low-turbulence flow at medium and high swimming speeds. Simultaneous measurements of swimming kinematics indicated that these reductions in oxygen consumption could not be explained by specific known flow-adaptive behaviours such as Kármán gaiting or entraining. Therefore, fish in high-turbulence flow may take advantage of the high variability in turbulent energy through time. These results suggest that swimming behaviour and energetics measured in the lab in straightened flow, typical of standard swimming respirometers, might differ from that of more turbulent, semi-natural flow conditions. © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Structured-illumination photoacoustic Doppler flowmetry of axial flow in homogeneous scattering media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ruiying; Yao, Junjie; Maslov, Konstantin I.; Wang, Lihong V.

2013-08-01

We propose a method for photoacoustic flow measurement based on the Doppler effect from a flowing homogeneous medium. Excited by spatially modulated laser pulses, the flowing medium induces a Doppler frequency shift in the received photoacoustic signals. The frequency shift is proportional to the component of the flow speed projected onto the acoustic beam axis, and the sign of the shift reflects the flow direction. Unlike conventional flowmetry, this method does not rely on particle heterogeneity in the medium; thus, it can tolerate extremely high particle density. A red-ink phantom flowing in a tube immersed in water was used to validate the method in both the frequency and time domains. The phantom flow immersed in an intralipid solution was also measured.

Condition of Development of Channeled Flow in Analogue Partially Molten Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takashima, S.; Kumagai, I.; Kurita, K.

2003-12-01

Melt migration in partially molten medium is conceptually classified into two contrasting models; homogeneous permeable flow and localized channeled flow. The transition from homogeneous flow to localized one is promoted with advance of melting and deformation of the medium, but the physics behind this transition is not yet clarified well. Here we show two kinds of experimental results which are mutually related. One is a development of the channeled flow in a so-called Rayleigh-Taylor Instability experiments. Dense viscous fluid is poured at the top of the matrix fluid; homogeneous mixture of soft transparent gel and viscous fluid having equal density. Liquid fraction is varied for this matrix fluid to see how the fraction controls the development. At the intermediate gel fraction (between70% to about 40%) the dense fluid at first migrates through the grain boundary as permeable flow. But local heterogeneity in the gel fraction induces relative movement of solid phase, which in turns enhances the localization of the flow and deformation. We measured the motion of fluid phase and solid phase separately by PIV/PTV methods. Estimated relative motion and divergence of velocity field of the solid phase show that the state in the relative movement of the solid phase could cause heterogeneous distribution of the solid fraction. The deformation-induced compaction plays an important role. The second experimental result is rheology of the dense suspension of soft gel and viscous fluid. Deformation experiment with concentric cylinders shows that the mixture system has yield strength at the intermediate gel fraction. In the stress state above the yield strength the region where deformation rate is large has low viscosity and its internal structure evolves to the state in heterogeneous distribution of viscosity. We would like to show that this nature is critical in the development of flow from homogeneous one to localized one.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies of a miniaturized dissolution system.

PubMed

Frenning, G; Ahnfelt, E; Sjögren, E; Lennernäs, H

2017-04-15

Dissolution testing is an important tool that has applications ranging from fundamental studies of drug-release mechanisms to quality control of the final product. The rate of release of the drug from the delivery system is known to be affected by hydrodynamics. In this study we used computational fluid dynamics to simulate and investigate the hydrodynamics in a novel miniaturized dissolution method for parenteral formulations. The dissolution method is based on a rotating disc system and uses a rotating sample reservoir which is separated from the remaining dissolution medium by a nylon screen. Sample reservoirs of two sizes were investigated (SR6 and SR8) and the hydrodynamic studies were performed at rotation rates of 100, 200 and 400rpm. The overall fluid flow was similar for all investigated cases, with a lateral upward spiraling motion and central downward motion in the form of a vortex to and through the screen. The simulations indicated that the exchange of dissolution medium between the sample reservoir and the remaining release medium was rapid for typical screens, for which almost complete mixing would be expected to occur within less than one minute at 400rpm. The local hydrodynamic conditions in the sample reservoirs depended on their size; SR8 appeared to be relatively more affected than SR6 by the resistance to liquid flow resulting from the screen. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gravity assisted recovery of liquid xenon at large mass flow rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Virone, L.; Acounis, S.; Beaupère, N.; Beney, J.-L.; Bert, J.; Bouvier, S.; Briend, P.; Butterworth, J.; Carlier, T.; Chérel, M.; Crespi, P.; Cussonneau, J.-P.; Diglio, S.; Manzano, L. Gallego; Giovagnoli, D.; Gossiaux, P.-B.; Kraeber-Bodéré, F.; Ray, P. Le; Lefèvre, F.; Marty, P.; Masbou, J.; Morteau, E.; Picard, G.; Roy, D.; Staempflin, M.; Stutzmann, J.-S.; Visvikis, D.; Xing, Y.; Zhu, Y.; Thers, D.

2018-06-01

We report on a liquid xenon gravity assisted recovery method for nuclear medical imaging applications. The experimental setup consists of an elevated detector enclosed in a cryostat connected to a storage tank called ReStoX. Both elements are part of XEMIS2 (XEnon Medical Imaging System): an innovative medical imaging facility for pre-clinical research that uses pure liquid xenon as detection medium. Tests based on liquid xenon transfer from the detector to ReStoX have been successfully performed showing that an unprecedented mass flow rate close to 1 ton per hour can be reached. This promising achievement as well as future areas of improvement will be discussed in this paper.

Homogeneous-heterogeneous reactions in curved channel with porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayat, T.; Ayub, Sadia; Alsaedi, A.

2018-06-01

Purpose of the present investigation is to examine the peristaltic flow through porous medium in a curved conduit. Problem is modeled for incompressible electrically conducting Ellis fluid. Influence of porous medium is tackled via modified Darcy's law. The considered model utilizes homogeneous-heterogeneous reactions with equal diffusivities for reactant and autocatalysis. Constitutive equations are formulated in the presence of viscous dissipation. Channel walls are compliant in nature. Governing equations are modeled and simplified under the assumptions of small Reynolds number and large wavelength. Graphical results for velocity, temperature, heat transfer coefficient and homogeneous-heterogeneous reaction parameters are examined for the emerging parameters entering into the problem. Results reveal an activation in both homogenous-heterogenous reaction effect and heat transfer rate with increasing curvature of the channel.

Analysis of cell flux in the parallel plate flow chamber: implications for cell capture studies.

PubMed Central

Munn, L L; Melder, R J; Jain, R K

1994-01-01

The parallel plate flow chamber provides a controlled environment for determinations of the shear stress at which cells in suspension can bind to endothelial cell monolayers. By decreasing the flow rate of cell-containing media over the monolayer and assessing the number of cells bound at each wall shear stress, the relationship between shear force and binding efficiency can be determined. The rate of binding should depend on the delivery of cells to the surface as well as the intrinsic cell-surface interactions; thus, only if the cell flux to the surface is known can the resulting binding curves be interpreted correctly. We present the development and validation of a mathematical model based on the sedimentation rate and velocity profile in the chamber for the delivery of cells from a flowing suspension to the chamber surface. Our results show that the flux depends on the bulk cell concentration, the distance from the entrance point, and the flow rate of the cell-containing medium. The model was then used in a normalization procedure for experiments in which T cells attach to TNF-alpha-stimulated HUVEC monolayers, showing that a threshold for adhesion occurs at a shear stress of about 3 dyn/cm2. Images FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2 PMID:7948702

Method and apparatus for high-efficiency direct contact condensation

DOEpatents

Bharathan, D.; Parent, Y.; Hassani, A.V.

1999-07-20

A direct contact condenser having a downward vapor flow chamber and an upward vapor flow chamber, wherein each of the vapor flow chambers includes a plurality of cooling liquid supplying pipes and a vapor-liquid contact medium disposed thereunder to facilitate contact and direct heat exchange between the vapor and cooling liquid. The contact medium includes a plurality of sheets arranged to form vertical interleaved channels or passageways for the vapor and cooling liquid streams. The upward vapor flow chamber also includes a second set of cooling liquid supplying pipes disposed beneath the vapor-liquid contact medium which operate intermittently in response to a pressure differential within the upward vapor flow chamber. The condenser further includes separate wells for collecting condensate and cooling liquid from each of the vapor flow chambers. In alternate embodiments, the condenser includes a cross-current flow chamber and an upward flow chamber, a plurality of upward flow chambers, or a single upward flow chamber. The method of use of the direct contact condenser of this invention includes passing a vapor stream sequentially through the downward and upward vapor flow chambers, where the vapor is condensed as a result of heat exchange with the cooling liquid in the contact medium. The concentration of noncondensable gases in the resulting condensate-liquid mixtures can be minimized by controlling the partial pressure of the vapor, which depends in part upon the geometry of the vapor-liquid contact medium. In another aspect of this invention, the physical and chemical performance of a direct contact condenser can be predicted based on the vapor and coolant compositions, the condensation conditions, and the geometric properties of the contact medium. 39 figs.

Method and apparatus for high-efficiency direct contact condensation

DOEpatents

Bharathan, Desikan; Parent, Yves; Hassani, A. Vahab

1999-01-01

A direct contact condenser having a downward vapor flow chamber and an upward vapor flow chamber, wherein each of the vapor flow chambers includes a plurality of cooling liquid supplying pipes and a vapor-liquid contact medium disposed thereunder to facilitate contact and direct heat exchange between the vapor and cooling liquid. The contact medium includes a plurality of sheets arranged to form vertical interleaved channels or passageways for the vapor and cooling liquid streams. The upward vapor flow chamber also includes a second set of cooling liquid supplying pipes disposed beneath the vapor-liquid contact medium which operate intermittently in response to a pressure differential within the upward vapor flow chamber. The condenser further includes separate wells for collecting condensate and cooling liquid from each of the vapor flow chambers. In alternate embodiments, the condenser includes a cross-current flow chamber and an upward flow chamber, a plurality of upward flow chambers, or a single upward flow chamber. The method of use of the direct contact condenser of this invention includes passing a vapor stream sequentially through the downward and upward vapor flow chambers, where the vapor is condensed as a result of heat exchange with the cooling liquid in the contact medium. The concentration of noncondensable gases in the resulting condensate-liquid mixtures can be minimized by controlling the partial pressure of the vapor, which depends in part upon the geometry of the vapor-liquid contact medium. In another aspect of this invention, the physical and chemical performance of a direct contact condenser can be predicted based on the vapor and coolant compositions, the condensation conditions. and the geometric properties of the contact medium.

Coupled fluid and solid mechanics study for improved permeability estimation of fines' invaded porous materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirabolghasemi, M.; Prodanovic, M.

2012-12-01

The problem of fine particle infiltration is seen in fields from subsurface transport, to drug delivery to industrial slurry flows. Sediment filtration and pathogen retention are well-known subsurface engineering problems that have been extensively studied through different macroscopic, microscopic and experimental modeling techniques Due to heterogeneity, standard constitutive relationships and models yield poor predictions for flow (e.g. permeability) and rock properties (e.g. elastic moduli) of the invaded (damaged) porous media. This severely reduces our ability to, for instance, predict retention, pressure build-up, newly formed flow pathways or porous medium mechanical behavior. We chose a coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) - discrete element modeling (DEM) approach to simulate the particulate flow through porous media represented by sphere packings. In order to minimize the uncertainty involved in estimating the flow properties of porous media on Darcy scale and address the dynamic nature of filtration process, this microscopic approach is adapted as a robust method that can incorporate particle interaction physics as well as the heterogeneity of the porous medium.. The coupled simulation was done in open-source packages which has both CFD (openFOAM) and DEM components (LIGGGHTS). We ran several sensitivity analyses over different parameters such as particle/grain size ratio, fluid viscosity, flow rate and sphere packing porosity in order to investigate their effects on the depth of invasion and damaged porous medium permeability. The response of the system to the variation of different parameters is reflected through different clogging mechanism; for instance, bridging is the dominant mechanism of pore-throat clogging when larger particles penetrate into the packing, whereas, in case of fine particles which are much smaller than porous medium grains (1/20 in diameter), this mechanism is not very effective due to the frequent formation and destruction of particle bridges. Finally, depending on the material and fluids that penetrate into the porous medium, the ionic forces might play a significant role in the filtration process. We thus also report on influence of particle attachment (and detachment) on the type of clogging mechanisms. Pore scale simulations allow for visualization and understanding of fundamental processes, and, further, the velocity fields are integrated into a distinctly non-monotonic permeability-porosity/(depth of penetration) relationship.

Dynamics of clogging in drying porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaplan, C. Nadir; Mahadevan, L.

2014-11-01

Drying in porous media pervades a range of phenomena from brine evaporation arrested in porous bricks, causing efflorescence, i.e. salt aggregation on the surface where vapor leaves the medium, to clogging of reservoir rocks via salt precipitation when carbon dioxide is injected for geological storage. During the process of drying, the permeability and porosity of the medium may change due to the solute accumulation as a function of the particle concentration, in turn affecting the evaporation rate and the dynamics of the fluid flow imposed by it. To examine the dynamics of these coupled quantities, we develop a multiphase model of the particulate flow of a saline suspension in a porous medium, induced by evaporation. We further provide dimensional arguments as to how the salt concentration and the resulting change in permeability determine the transition between efflorescence and salt precipitation in the bulk. This research was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) under Award FA9550-09-1-0669-DOD35CAP and the Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology at Harvard University.

Couette flow of an incompressible fluid in a porous channel with mass transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niranjana, N.; Vidhya, M.; Govindarajan, A.

2018-04-01

The present discussion deals with the study of couette flow through a porous medium of a viscous incompressible fluid between two infinite horizontal parallel porous flat plates with heat and mass transfer. The stationary plate and the plate in uniform motion are subjected to transverse sinusoidal injection and uniform suction of the fluid. Due to this type of injection velocity, the flow becomes three dimensional. The analytical solutions of the nonlinear partial differential equations of this problem are obtained by using perturbation technique. Expressions for the velocity, temperature fields and the rate of heat and mass transfers are obtained. Effects of the following parameters Schmidt number (Sc), Modified Grashof number (Gm) on the velocity, temperature and concentration fields are obtained numerically and depicted through graphs. The rate of heat and mass transfer are also analyzed.

Modeling solute transport in a heterogeneous unsaturated porous medium under dynamic boundary conditions on different spatial scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cremer, Clemens; Neuweiler, Insa; Bechtold, Michel

2013-04-01

Understanding transport of solutes/contaminants through unsaturated soil in the shallow subsurface is vital to assess groundwater quality, nutrient cycling or to plan remediation projects. Alternating precipitation and evaporation conditions causing upward and downward flux with differing flow paths, changes in saturation and related structural heterogeneity make the description of transport in the unsaturated zone near the soil-surface a complex problem. Preferential flow paths strongly depend, among other things, on the saturation of a medium. Recent studies (e.g. Bechtold et al., 2011) showed lateral flow and solute transport during evaporation conditions (upward flux) in vertically layered sand columns. Results revealed that during evaporation water and solute are redistributed laterally from coarse to fine media deeper in the soil, and towards zones of lowest hydraulic head near to the soil surface. These zones at the surface can be coarse or fine grained depending on saturation status and evaporation flux. However, if boundary conditions are reversed and precipitation is applied, the flow field is not reversed in the same manner, resulting in entirely different transport patterns for downward and upward flow. Therefore, considering net-flow rates alone is misleading when describing transport in the shallow unsaturated zone. In this contribution, we analyze transport of a solute in the shallow subsurface to assess effects resulting from the superposition of heterogeneous soil structures and dynamic flow conditions on various spatial scales. Two-dimensional numerical simulations of unsaturated flow and transport in heterogeneous porous media under changing boundary conditions are carried out using a finite-volume code coupled to a particle tracking algorithm to quantify solute transport and leaching rates. In order to validate numerical simulations, results are qualitatively compared to those of a physical experiment (Bechtold et al., 2011). Numerical simulations differ in lateral scale reaching from 0.2 m to 1.5 m, while the height of the domain is kept constant to 1.5m. Strong material heterogeneity is realized through vertical layers of coarse and fine sand. Both materials remain permanently under liquid-flow-dominated ('stage1') evaporation conditions. Spatial moments as well as the dilution index (Kitanidis, 1994) are used for quantification of transport behaviour. Results show that, while all simulations led to anomalous transport, infiltration-evaporation cycles lead to faster solute leaching rates than solely infiltration at the same net-infiltration rate in both homogeneous and heterogeneous media. Flow and transport-paths significantly differed between infiltration and evaporation, resulting in lateral water fluxes and hence lateral solute transport. Variation of the width of the model domain shows faster leaching rates for domains with small horizontal extent.

Physiological Signal Analysis for Evaluating Flow during Playing of Computer Games of Varying Difficulty.

PubMed

Tian, Yu; Bian, Yulong; Han, Piguo; Wang, Peng; Gao, Fengqiang; Chen, Yingmin

2017-01-01

Flow is the experience of effortless attention, reduced self-consciousness, and a deep sense of control that typically occurs during the optimal performance of challenging tasks. On the basis of the person-artifact-task model, we selected computer games (tasks) with varying levels of difficulty (difficult, medium, and easy) and shyness (personality) as flow precursors to study the physiological activity of users in a flow state. Cardiac and respiratory activity and mean changes in skin conductance (SC) were measured continuously while the participants ( n = 40) played the games. Moreover, the associations between self-reported psychological flow and physiological measures were investigated through a series of repeated-measures analyses. The results showed that the flow experience is related to a faster respiratory rate, deeper respiration, moderate heart rate (HR), moderate HR variability, and moderate SC. The main effect of shyness was non-significant, whereas the interaction of shyness and difficulty influenced the flow experience. These findings are discussed in relation to current models of arousal and valence. The results indicate that the flow state is a state of moderate mental effort that arises through the increased parasympathetic modulation of sympathetic activity.

Physiological Signal Analysis for Evaluating Flow during Playing of Computer Games of Varying Difficulty

PubMed Central

Tian, Yu; Bian, Yulong; Han, Piguo; Wang, Peng; Gao, Fengqiang; Chen, Yingmin

2017-01-01

Flow is the experience of effortless attention, reduced self-consciousness, and a deep sense of control that typically occurs during the optimal performance of challenging tasks. On the basis of the person–artifact–task model, we selected computer games (tasks) with varying levels of difficulty (difficult, medium, and easy) and shyness (personality) as flow precursors to study the physiological activity of users in a flow state. Cardiac and respiratory activity and mean changes in skin conductance (SC) were measured continuously while the participants (n = 40) played the games. Moreover, the associations between self-reported psychological flow and physiological measures were investigated through a series of repeated-measures analyses. The results showed that the flow experience is related to a faster respiratory rate, deeper respiration, moderate heart rate (HR), moderate HR variability, and moderate SC. The main effect of shyness was non-significant, whereas the interaction of shyness and difficulty influenced the flow experience. These findings are discussed in relation to current models of arousal and valence. The results indicate that the flow state is a state of moderate mental effort that arises through the increased parasympathetic modulation of sympathetic activity. PMID:28725206

Influence of biogas flow rate on biomass composition during the optimization of biogas upgrading in microalgal-bacterial processes.

PubMed

Serejo, Mayara L; Posadas, Esther; Boncz, Marc A; Blanco, Saúl; García-Encina, Pedro; Muñoz, Raúl

2015-03-03

The influence of biogas flow rate (0, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 m(3) m(-2) h(-1)) on the elemental and macromolecular composition of the algal-bacterial biomass produced from biogas upgrading in a 180 L photobioreactor interconnected to a 2.5 L external bubbled absorption column was investigated using diluted anaerobically digested vinasse as cultivation medium. The influence of the external liquid recirculation/biogas ratio (0.5 < L/G < 67) on the removal of CO2 and H2S, and on the concentrations of O2 and N2 in the upgraded biogas, was also evaluated. A L/G ratio of 10 was considered optimum to support CO2 and H2S removals of 80% and 100%, respectively, at all biogas flow rates tested. Biomass productivity increased at increasing biogas flow rate, with a maximum of 12 ± 1 g m(-2) d(-1) at 1.2 m(3) m(-2) h(-1), while the C, N, and P biomass content remained constant at 49 ± 2%, 9 ± 0%, and 1 ± 0%, respectively, over the 175 days of experimentation. The high carbohydrate contents (60-76%), inversely correlated to biogas flow rates, would allow the production of ≈100 L of ethanol per 1000 m(3) of biogas upgraded under a biorefinery process approach.

Numerical Computation of Flame Spread over a Thin Solid in Forced Concurrent Flow with Gas-phase Radiation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jiang, Ching-Biau; T'ien, James S.

1994-01-01

Excerpts from a paper describing the numerical examination of concurrent-flow flame spread over a thin solid in purely forced flow with gas-phase radiation are presented. The computational model solves the two-dimensional, elliptic, steady, and laminar conservation equations for mass, momentum, energy, and chemical species. Gas-phase combustion is modeled via a one-step, second order finite rate Arrhenius reaction. Gas-phase radiation considering gray non-scattering medium is solved by a S-N discrete ordinates method. A simplified solid phase treatment assumes a zeroth order pyrolysis relation and includes radiative interaction between the surface and the gas phase.

Coal char oxidation kinetics in air medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slyusarskiy, K. V.; Jankovskiy, S. A.; Korotkikh, A. G.; Sorokin, I. V.

2017-01-01

Research on oxidation in air medium process of three different coal chars with various carbon content was presented. The anthracite, T-grade bituminous coal and 2B-grade lignite char powders with particle size less than 80 µm were studied. The coal char oxidation was studied by isothermal method using coupled TG-DSC analyzer Netzsch STA 449 Jupiter F3 in the temperature range 1000-1200 °C. Experiments were carried out at ambient pressure. Volumetric flow rate of oxidation medium into analyzer chamber was 250 ml/min and consisted of oxygen and argon with volumetric ratio 24:1. Based on experimental data, the average rate of carbon oxidation reaction values were defined at each temperature. Kinetic constants (frequency factor and activation energy) of reaction were defined as well via 1st order Arrhenius equation. Activation energy values are in good agreement with the data presented in the literature. Activation energy values for anthracite char are 1.6-1.7 times higher than those for bituminous coal and lignite chars, respectively.

Visualization studies of turbulent transition flows in a porous medium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bilardo, V. J.

1983-01-01

Results are reported for flow-visualization studies of the flow regimes of water passing through a porous medium consisting of cylindrical glass and plexiglas rods arranged in a complex and fixed three-dimensional geometry. The Reynolds number (Re) varied from 50 to 700; the flow was visualized by injecting a 5% potassium permanganate dye solution into the pores and photographing the resulting dye streaklines with both a still camera and a movie camera. The results indicate that four distinct flow regimes exist in the porous medium: (1) Darcy or creeping flow up to Re = 3; (2) steady inertia-dominated laminar flow for Re = 3-150; (3) unsteady transitional laminar flow for Re = 150-250; and (4) fully turbulent flow for Re greater than 250. It is concluded that a laminar wake instability mechanism typical of the external flow about bluff bodies may be responsible for the overall transition from laminar to turbulent flow in porous media.

[Effect of IGF-1 on proliferation and differentiation of primary human embryonic myoblasts].

PubMed

Cen, Shiqiang; Zhang, Junmei; Huang, Fuguo; Yang, Zhiming; Xie, Huiqi

2008-01-01

To investigate the effect of IGF-1 on the growth of primary human embryonic myoblasts. The method of incorporation of 3H-TdR was used to evaluate the ability of proliferation of myoblasts. The count per minute (CPM) values of myoblasts at different concentrations (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 ng/mL) of IGF-1 were measured, and dose-effect curves were drawn to choose the optional concentration of IGF-1 to promote the proliferation. Then the experimental group of myoblasts received the addition of the optional concentration of IGF-1 in the growth medium, the control group just received the growth medium. The flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle. The method of incorporation of 3H-TdR was used to measure the peak-CPM. The myotube fusion rate was measured in myoblasts withdifferent concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 ng/mL) of IGF-1 in fusion medium, the dose-effect curves were also drawn, so as to decided the optional concentration of IGF-1 in stimulating differentiation. Fusion medium with optional concentration of IGF-1 was used in experimental group, and the control group just with fusion medium. The fusion rate of myotube and the synthesis of creatine kinase (CK) were detected in both groups. The optional concentration of 5 ng/mL IGF-1 was chosen for stimulating proliferation. It was shown that the time of cell cycle of control was 96 hours, but that of the experimental group was reduced to 60 hours. The results of flow cytometry showed that the time of G1 phase, S phase and G2M phase was 70.03, 25.01 and 0.96 hours respectively in control group, and were 22.66, 16.47 and 20.87 hours respectively in experimental group. The time-CPM value curves showed that the peak-CPM emerged at 96 hours in control group and 48 hours in experimental group, whichwas in agreement with the results of the flow cytometry. The optional concentration stimulating proliferation was 20 ng/mL IGF-1. Compared with control, the quantity of CK was increased by 2,000 mU/mL and the fusion rate was elevated by 30% in experimental group. The concentrations of 20 ng/mL IGF-1 can elevat obviously the fusion rate and the quantity of CK. IGF-1 can enhance the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts via inducing the number of myoblasts at G1 phase and increasing the number of myoblasts at S and G2M phases.

Hot Deformation Behavior and Dynamic Recrystallization of Medium Carbon LZ50 Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Shiwen; Chen, Shuangmei; Song, Jianjun; Li, Yongtang

2017-03-01

Hot deformation and dynamic recrystallization behaviors of a medium carbon steel LZ50 were systematically investigated in the temperature range from 1143 K to 1443 K (870 °C to 1170 °C) at strain rates from 0.05 to 3s-1 using a Gleeble-3500 thermo-simulation machine. The flow stress constitutive equation for hot deformation of this steel was developed with the two-stage Laasraoui equation. The activation energy of the tested steel was 304.27 KJ/mol, which was in reasonable agreement with those reported previously. The flow stress of this steel in hot deformation was mainly controlled by dislocation climb during their intragranular motion. The effect of Zener-Hollomon parameter on the characteristic points of the flow curves was studied, and the dependence of critical strain on peak strain obeyed a linear equation. Dynamic recrystallization was the most important softening mechanism for the tested steel during hot deformation. Kinetic equation of this steel was also established based on the flow stress. The austenite grain size of complete dynamic recrystallization was a power law function of Zener-Hollomon parameter with an exponent of -0.2956. Moreover, the microstructures induced under different deformation conditions were analyzed.

Improvement of parameters of freezing medium and freezing protocol for bull sperm using two osmotic supports.

PubMed

Chaveiro, A; Machado, L; Frijters, A; Engel, B; Woelders, H

2006-06-01

The aim of this study was to improve the freezing protocol of bull sperm, by investigating the influence on sperm viability after freeze/thawing of different freezing medium components, as well as the effect of cooling rates in the different stages of the cooling protocol, in single factor experiments. The experimental variables were: (1) salt-based versus a sugar-based medium (Tris versus sucrose); (2) glycerol concentration; (3) detergent (Equex) concentration; (4) presence of bicarbonate; (5) rate of cooling from 22 degrees C to holding temperature (CR1); (6) holding temperature (HT); (7) rate of cooling from holding temperature to -6 degrees C (CR2); (8) rate of cooling from -10 to -100 degrees C (CR3). All experiments were performed using five bulls per experiment (three ejaculates per bull). Sperm motility after freezing and thawing was assessed by CASA system, and sperm membrane integrity was assessed by flow cytometry. Sucrose-based medium did not offer a clear significant benefit compared to Tris medium. The concentration of Equex that gave the best results in Tris-based media group and sucrose-based media group was in a range between 2-7 and 4-7 g/l, respectively. In both media groups, a glycerol concentration of 800 mM was the best in any post-thaw viability parameters. In the Tris media group, the presence of bicarbonate had a negative effect on sperm viability. CR1 and CR2 had no significant effect on any of the post-thaw sperm viability parameters, but a CR1=0.2 degrees C/min and CR2=4 degrees C/min appeared to give better results in both media. The holding temperature (HT) that gave the best results was found to be in the range of 5-9 degrees C. There was a significant disadvantage of using a low CR3 of 10 degrees C/min, while 150 degrees C/min appeared to be the best cooling rate for either medium.

Theory for source-responsive and free-surface film modeling of unsaturated flow

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nimmo, J.R.

2010-01-01

A new model explicitly incorporates the possibility of rapid response, across significant distance, to substantial water input. It is useful for unsaturated flow processes that are not inherently diffusive, or that do not progress through a series of equilibrium states. The term source-responsive is used to mean that flow responds sensitively to changing conditions at the source of water input (e.g., rainfall, irrigation, or ponded infiltration). The domain of preferential flow can be conceptualized as laminar flow in free-surface films along the walls of pores. These films may be considered to have uniform thickness, as suggested by field evidence that preferential flow moves at an approximately uniform rate when generated by a continuous and ample water supply. An effective facial area per unit volume quantitatively characterizes the medium with respect to source-responsive flow. A flow-intensity factor dependent on conditions within the medium represents the amount of source-responsive flow at a given time and position. Laminar flow theory provides relations for the velocity and thickness of flowing source-responsive films. Combination with the Darcy-Buckingham law and the continuity equation leads to expressions for both fluxes and dynamic water contents. Where preferential flow is sometimes or always significant, the interactive combination of source-responsive and diffuse flow has the potential to improve prediction of unsaturated-zone fluxes in response to hydraulic inputs and the evolving distribution of soil moisture. Examples for which this approach is efficient and physically plausible include (i) rainstorm-generated rapid fluctuations of a deep water table and (ii) space- and time-dependent soil water content response to infiltration in a macroporous soil. ?? Soil Science Society of America.

Simultaneous Multiple-Location Separation Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenblatt, David (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A method of controlling a shear layer for a fluid dynamic body introduces first periodic disturbances into the fluid medium at a first flow separation location. Simultaneously, second periodic disturbances are introduced into the fluid medium at a second flow separation location. A phase difference between the first and second periodic disturbances is adjusted to control flow separation of the shear layer as the fluid medium moves over the fluid dynamic body.

The Features of Fracture Behavior of an Aluminum-Magnesium Alloy AMg6 Under High-Rate Straining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skripnyak, N. V.

2015-09-01

The results of investigation of fracture dynamics of rolled sheet specimens of an AMg6 alloy are presented for the range of strain rates from 10-3 to 103 s-1. It is found out that the presence of nanostructured surface layers on the thin AMg6 rolled sheets results in improved strength characteristics within the above range of strain rates. A modified model of a deforming medium is proposed to describe the plastic flow and fracture of the AMg6 alloy.

Dynamic shear-stress-enhanced rates of nutrient consumption in gas-liquid semi-continuous-flow suspensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belfiore, Laurence A.; Volpato, Fabio Z.; Paulino, Alexandre T.; Belfiore, Carol J.

2011-12-01

The primary objective of this investigation is to establish guidelines for generating significant mammalian cell density in suspension bioreactors when stress-sensitive kinetics enhance the rate of nutrient consumption. Ultra-low-frequency dynamic modulations of the impeller (i.e., 35104 Hz) introduce time-dependent oscillatory shear into this transient analysis of cell proliferation under semi-continuous creeping flow conditions. Greater nutrient consumption is predicted when the amplitude A of modulated impeller rotation increases, and stress-kinetic contributions to nutrient consumption rates increase linearly at higher modulation frequency via an application of fluctuation-dissipation response. Interphase mass transfer is required to replace dissolved oxygen as it is consumed by aerobic nutrient consumption in the liquid phase. The theory and predictions described herein could be important at small length scales in the creeping flow regime where viscous shear is significant at the interface between the nutrient medium and isolated cells in suspension. Two-dimensional flow around spherically shaped mammalian cells, suspended in a Newtonian culture medium, is analyzed to calculate the surface-averaged magnitude of the velocity gradient tensor and modify homogeneous rates of nutrient consumption that are stimulated by viscous shear, via the formalism of stress-kinetic reciprocal relations that obey Curie's theorem in non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Time constants for stress-free free and stress-sensitive stress nutrient consumption are defined and quantified to identify the threshold (i.e., stress,threshold) below which the effect of stress cannot be neglected in accurate predictions of bioreactor performance. Parametric studies reveal that the threshold time constant for stress-sensitive nutrient consumption stress,threshold decreases when the time constant for stress-free nutrient consumption free is shorter. Hence, stress,threshold depends directly on free. In other words, the threshold rate of stress-sensitive nutrient consumption is higher when the stress-free rate of nutrient consumption increases. Modulated rotation of the impeller, superimposed on steady shear, increases stress,threshold when free is constant, and stress,threshold depends directly on the amplitude A of these angular velocity modulations.

System and method for treatment of a medium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singh, Surinder Prabhjot; Acharya, Harish Radhakrishna; Perry, Robert James

2017-05-23

A system and method for treatment of a medium is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of separator zones and a plurality of heat transfer zones. Each of the separator zone and the heat transfer zone among the plurality of separator zones and heat transfer zones respectively, are disposed alternatively in a flow duct. Further, each separator zone includes an injector device for injecting a sorbent into the corresponding separator zone. Within the corresponding separator zone, the injected sorbent is reacted with a gaseous medium flowing in the flow duct, so as to generate a reacted gaseous medium and amore » reacted sorbent. Further, each heat transfer zone exchanges heat between the reacted gaseous medium fed from the corresponding separator zone and a heat transfer medium.« less

ASTM F739 method for testing the permeation resistance of protective clothing materials: critical analysis with proposed changes in procedure and test-cell design.

PubMed

Anna, D H; Zellers, E T; Sulewski, R

1998-08-01

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Method F739-96 specifies a test-cell design and procedures for measuring the permeation resistance of chemical protective clothing. Among the specifications are open-loop collection stream flow rates of 0.050 to 0.150 L/min for a gaseous medium. At elevated temperatures the test must be maintained within 1 degree C of the set point. This article presents a critical analysis of the effect of the collection stream flow rate on the measured permeation rate and on the temperature uniformity within the test cell. Permeation tests were conducted on four polymeric glove materials with 44 solvents at 25 degrees C. Flow rates > 0.5 L/min were necessary to obtain accurate steady-state permeation rate (SSPR) values in 25 percent of the tests. At the lower flow rates the true SSPR typically was underestimated by a factor of two or less, but errors of up to 33-fold were observed. No clear relationship could be established between the need for a higher collection stream flow rate and either the vapor pressure or the permeation rate of the solvent, but test results suggest that poor mixing within the collection chamber was a contributing factor. Temperature gradients between the challenge and collection chambers and between the bottom and the top of the collection chamber increased with the water-bath temperature and the collection stream flow rate. Use of a test cell modified to permit deeper submersion reduced the gradients to < or = 0.5 degrees C. It is recommended that all SSPR measurements include verification of the adequacy of the collection stream flow rate. For testing at nonambient temperatures, the modified test cell described here could be used to ensure temperature uniformity throughout the cell.

Ovum pick-up in sheep: a comparison between different aspiration devices for optimal oocyte retrieval.

PubMed

Rodríguez, C; Anel, L; Alvarez, M; Anel, E; Boixo, J C; Chamorro, C A; de Paz, P

2006-04-01

In vivo ovum pick-up (OPU) in sheep may be improved with a proper choice of aspiration elements (needle and tubing) and aspiration vacuum pressure. In the present study, two experiments were carried out. In Expt 1, visible follicles in ovaries of slaughtered ewes (treated separately according to their diameters: small<3 mm, medium 3-5 mm and large>5 mm) were aspirated using different combinations of the three studied factors such as aspiration flow rate (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ml water/min), needle gauge (18 and 20 G) and tubing inner diameter (1, 2 or 3 mm internal diameter). In Expt 2, a study with two 18 G needles of different lengths (18 G: 82 mm; 18 GL: 600 mm) was carried out, using ovaries obtained post-mortem, and performing in vivo laparoscopic follicular aspiration on ewes. We considered good quality oocytes as those with both complete compact cumulus and a homogeneous cytoplasm. Recovery rate, proportion of good quality oocytes (good quality oocytes/100 oocytes recovered) and overall efficiency (good quality oocytes/100 follicles aspirated) were noted. In Expt 1, aspiration flow rate affect remarkable proportion of good quality oocytes (69.5%, 50.5%, 44.8%, 36.5% and 28.3% for flows from 10 to 50 ml/min respectively, p<0.05). Needle gauge did not affect aspiration device efficiency. Thin and intermediate tubings were more effective (overall efficiency rates: 34.9%, 32.3% and 28.1% for 1, 2 and 3 mm respectively, p<0.05). Follicle size did not affect recovery rate, but proportion of good quality oocytes was higher for large (77.9%) and medium (64.4%) follicles (p<0.05). Finally, some combinations of the aspiration device showed greater effectiveness. In Expt 2, needle length did not influence recovery rate, but good quality oocytes rate was significantly modified both post-mortem and in vivo (good quality rate for 18 G vs 18 GL needles: 69.5% vs 47.7% and 58.1% vs 25.4%, post-mortem and in vivo respectively, p<0.05). We conclude that low-aspiration flow rates (10 and 20 ml/min) with thin or intermediate tubings (1 and 2 mm), and any short needle (18 G or 20 G) are the most adequate aspiration factors for OPU in sheep.

Global sensitivity analysis of the BSM2 dynamic influent disturbance scenario generator.

PubMed

Flores-Alsina, Xavier; Gernaey, Krist V; Jeppsson, Ulf

2012-01-01

This paper presents the results of a global sensitivity analysis (GSA) of a phenomenological model that generates dynamic wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent disturbance scenarios. This influent model is part of the Benchmark Simulation Model (BSM) family and creates realistic dry/wet weather files describing diurnal, weekend and seasonal variations through the combination of different generic model blocks, i.e. households, industry, rainfall and infiltration. The GSA is carried out by combining Monte Carlo simulations and standardized regression coefficients (SRC). Cluster analysis is then applied, classifying the influence of the model parameters into strong, medium and weak. The results show that the method is able to decompose the variance of the model predictions (R(2)> 0.9) satisfactorily, thus identifying the model parameters with strongest impact on several flow rate descriptors calculated at different time resolutions. Catchment size (PE) and the production of wastewater per person equivalent (QperPE) are two parameters that strongly influence the yearly average dry weather flow rate and its variability. Wet weather conditions are mainly affected by three parameters: (1) the probability of occurrence of a rain event (Llrain); (2) the catchment size, incorporated in the model as a parameter representing the conversion from mm rain · day(-1) to m(3) · day(-1) (Qpermm); and, (3) the quantity of rain falling on permeable areas (aH). The case study also shows that in both dry and wet weather conditions the SRC ranking changes when the time scale of the analysis is modified, thus demonstrating the potential to identify the effect of the model parameters on the fast/medium/slow dynamics of the flow rate. The paper ends with a discussion on the interpretation of GSA results and of the advantages of using synthetic dynamic flow rate data for WWTP influent scenario generation. This section also includes general suggestions on how to use the proposed methodology to any influent generator to adapt the created time series to a modeller's demands.

Control of Growth Rate by Initial Substrate Concentration at Values Below Maximum Rate

PubMed Central

Gaudy, Anthony F.; Obayashi, Alan; Gaudy, Elizabeth T.

1971-01-01

The hyperbolic relationship between specific growth rate, μ, and substrate concentration, proposed by Monod and used since as the basis for the theory of steady-state growth in continuous-flow systems, was tested experimentally in batch cultures. Use of a Flavobacterium sp. exhibiting a high saturation constant for growth in glucose minimal medium allowed direct measurement of growth rate and substrate concentration throughout the growth cycle in medium containing a rate-limiting initial concentration of glucose. Specific growth rates were also measured for a wide range of initial glucose concentrations. A plot of specific growth rate versus initial substrate concentration was found to fit the hyperbolic equation. However, the instantaneous relationship between specific growth rate and substrate concentration during growth, which is stated by the equation, was not observed. Well defined exponential growth phases were developed at initial substrate concentrations below that required for support of the maximum exponential growth rate and a constant doubling time was maintained until 50% of the substrate had been used. It is suggested that the external substrate concentration initially present “sets” the specific growth rate by establishing a steady-state internal concentration of substrate, possibly through control of the number of permeation sites. PMID:5137579

The Einstein viscosity with fluid elasticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Einarsson, Jonas; Yang, Mengfei; Shaqfeh, Eric S. G.

2017-11-01

We give the first correction to the suspension viscosity due to fluid elasticity for a dilute suspension of spheres in a viscoelastic medium. Our perturbation theory is valid to O (Wi2) in the Weissenberg number Wi = γ . λ , where γ is the typical magnitude of the suspension velocity gradient, and λ is the relaxation time of the viscoelastic fluid. For shear flow we find that the suspension shear-thickens due to elastic stretching in strain `hot spots' near the particle, despite the fact that the stress inside the particles decreases relative to the Newtonian case. We thus argue that it is crucial to correctly model the extensional rheology of the suspending medium to predict the shear rheology of the suspension. For uniaxial extensional flow we correct existing results at O (Wi) , and find dramatic strain-rate thickening at O (Wi2) . We validate our theory with fully resolved numerical simulations.

Einstein viscosity with fluid elasticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Einarsson, Jonas; Yang, Mengfei; Shaqfeh, Eric S. G.

2018-01-01

We give the first correction to the suspension viscosity due to fluid elasticity for a dilute suspension of spheres in a viscoelastic medium. Our perturbation theory is valid to O (ϕ Wi2) in the particle volume fraction ϕ and the Weissenberg number Wi =γ ˙λ , where γ ˙ is the typical magnitude of the suspension velocity gradient, and λ is the relaxation time of the viscoelastic fluid. For shear flow we find that the suspension shear-thickens due to elastic stretching in strain "hot spots" near the particle, despite the fact that the stress inside the particles decreases relative to the Newtonian case. We thus argue that it is crucial to correctly model the extensional rheology of the suspending medium to predict the shear rheology of the suspension. For uniaxial extensional flow we correct existing results at O (ϕ Wi ) , and find dramatic strain-rate thickening at O (ϕ Wi2) . We validate our theory with fully resolved numerical simulations.

CRLH-TL Sensors for Flow Inhomogeneties Detection of Pneumatic Conveyed Pulverized Solids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angelovski, Aleksandar; Penirschke, Andreas; Jakoby, Rolf

2011-08-01

This paper presents an application of a Composite Right/Left-Handed (CRLH) Transmission Line resonator for a compact mass flow detector which is able to detect inhomogeneous flows. In this concept, series capacitors and shunt inductors are used to synthesize a medium with simultaneously negative permeability and permittivity - the so called metamaterial. The helix shape of the cylindrical CRLH-TL sensor offers the possibility to detect flow inhomogeneities within the pipeline which can be used to correct the detected massflow rate. A combination of two CRLH-TL structures within the same cross-section of the pipeline can improve the angular sensitivity of the sensor. A prototype was realized and tested in a dedicated measurement setup to prove the concept.

Normal and reverse flow injection–spectrophotometric determination of thiamine hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparations using diazotized metoclopramide

PubMed Central

Al Abachi, Mouayed Q.; Hadi, Hind

2012-01-01

Simple and sensitive normal and reverse flow injection methods for spectrophotometric determination of thiamine hydrochloride (THC) at the microgram level were proposed and optimized. Both methods are based on the reaction between THC and diazotized metoclopramide in alkaline medium. Beer’s law was obeyed over the range of 10–300 and 2–90 μg/mL, the limits of detection were 2.118 and 0.839 μg/mL and the sampling rates were 80 and 95 injections per hour for normal and reverse flow injection methods respectively. The application of both methods to commercially available pharmaceuticals produced acceptable results. The flow system is suitable for application in quality control processes. PMID:29403765

Setting accelerated dissolution test for PLGA microspheres containing peptide, investigation of critical parameters affecting drug release rate and mechanism.

PubMed

Tomic, I; Vidis-Millward, A; Mueller-Zsigmondy, M; Cardot, J-M

2016-05-30

The objective of this study was development of accelerated in vitro release method for peptide loaded PLGA microspheres using flow-through apparatus and assessment of the effect of dissolution parameters (pH, temperature, medium composition) on drug release rate and mechanism. Accelerated release conditions were set as pH 2 and 45°C, in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) 0.02M. When the pH was changed from 2 to 4, diffusion controlled phases (burst and lag) were not affected, while release rate during erosion phase decreased two-fold due to slower ester bonds hydrolyses. Decreasing temperature from 45°C to 40°C, release rate showed three-fold deceleration without significant change in release mechanism. Effect of medium composition on drug release was tested in PBS 0.01M (200 mOsm/kg) and PBS 0.01M with glucose (380 mOsm/kg). Buffer concentration significantly affected drug release rate and mechanism due to the change in osmotic pressure, while ionic strength did not have any effect on peptide release. Furthermore, dialysis sac and sample-and-separate techniques were used, in order to evaluate significance of dissolution technique choice on the release process. After fitting obtained data to different mathematical models, flow-through method was confirmed as the most appropriate for accelerated in vitro dissolution testing for a given formulation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Natural convection in annular cone: Influence of radius ratio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmed, N. J. Salman; Kamangar, Sarfaraz; Al-Rashed, Abdullah A. A. A.; Govindaraju, Kalimuthu; Khan, T. M. Yunus

2018-05-01

The viscous dissipation in the fluid flow refers to the transformation of the kinetic energy to the internal energy due to the viscosity of the fluid. The current work investigates the effect of viscous dissipation and radius ratio on the heat transfer characteristics and fluid flow behavior in an annular cone embedded with the porous medium. It is observed that the viscous dissipation effect leads to the decrease in the heat transfer rate from the external wall of the cone to the inner region of the geometry.

Tracing Thermal Creep Through Granular Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinpilz, Tobias; Teiser, Jens; Koester, Marc; Schywek, Mathias; Wurm, Gerhard

2017-08-01

A temperature gradient within a granular medium at low ambient pressure drives a gas flow through the medium by thermal creep. We measured the resulting air flow for a sample of glass beads with particle diameters between 290 μ m and 420 μ m for random close packing. Ambient pressure was varied between 1 Pa and 1000 Pa. The gas flow was quantified by means of tracer particles during parabolic flights. The flow varies systematically with pressure between 0.2 cm/s and 6 cm/s. The measured flow velocities are in quantitative agreement to model calculations that treat the granular medium as a collection of linear capillaries.

Branched hybrid vessel: in vitro loaded hydrodynamic forces influence the tissue architecture.

PubMed

Kobashi, T; Matsuda, T

2000-01-01

This study was conducted to investigate how a continuous load of hydrodynamic stresses influences the tissue architecture of a branched hybrid vessel in vitro. Tubular hybrid medial tissue of small (3 mm) and large (6 mm) diameters, prepared by thermal gelation of a cold mixed solution of bovine smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and type I collagen in glass molds, was assembled into a branched hybrid medial tissue by end-to-side anastomosis. After a 2-week culture period, bovine endothelial cells (ECs) were seeded onto the luminal surface. The branched hybrid vessel was connected to a mock circulatory loop system and tested for two modes of flow: 1) low flow rate for 24 h, 2) high flow rate for 24 or 72 h. After exposure to a low flow rate for 24 h, cobblestone appearance of the ECs was dominant. After exposure to a high flow rate, EC alignment in the direction of flow was observed in the branch region, except at the region of predicted flow separation where ECs retained their polygonal configuration. Elongation of SMCs with no preferential orientation was observed in the case of vessels exposed to a high flow rate for 24 h, and circumferential orientation was prominent in those exposed to a high flow rate for 72 h. On the other hand, collagen fibrils exhibited no preferential orientation in either case. After injection of Evans blue-albumin conjugate into the circulating medium, the luminal surface of the hybrid vessel exposed to a high flow rate for 24 h was examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The fluorescence intensity was low at the high shear zone in the branch region, while at the flow separation region it was very high, indicating the increased albumin permeability at the latter region. These findings reflect region-specific tissue architecture in the branch region, in response to the local flow pattern, and may provide an in vitro atherosclerosis model as well as a fundamental basis for the development of functional branched hybrid grafts.

Influence of clay particles on microfluidic-based preparation of hydrogel composite microsphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Joung Sook

2016-05-01

For the successful fabrication of a hydrogel composite microsphere, this study aimed to investigate the influence of clay particles on microsphere formation in a microfluidic device which has flow focusing and a 4.5:1 contraction channel. A poly alginic acid solution (2.0 wt.%) with clay particles was used as the dispersed phase to generate drops in an oil medium, which then merged with drops of a CaCl2 solution for gelation. Drop generations were observed with different flow rates and particles types. When the flow rate increased, drop generation was enhanced and drop size decreased by the build-up of more favorable hydrodynamic flow conditions to detach the droplets. The addition of a small amount of particles insignificantly changed the drop generation behavior even though it reduced interfacial tension and increased the viscosity of the solution. Instead, clays particles significantly affected hydro-gelation depending on the hydrophobicity of particles, which produced further heterogeneity in the shape and size of microsphere.

Shear-induced orientational dynamics and spatial heterogeneity in suspensions of motile phytoplankton

PubMed Central

Barry, Michael T.; Rusconi, Roberto; Guasto, Jeffrey S.; Stocker, Roman

2015-01-01

Fluid flow, ubiquitous in natural and man-made environments, has the potential to profoundly impact the transport of microorganisms, including phytoplankton in aquatic habitats and bioreactors. Yet, the effect of ambient flow on the swimming behaviour of phytoplankton has remained poorly understood, largely owing to the difficulty of observing cell–flow interactions at the microscale. Here, we present microfluidic experiments where we tracked individual cells for four species of motile phytoplankton exposed to a spatially non-uniform fluid shear rate, characteristic of many flows in natural and artificial environments. We observed that medium-to-high mean shear rates (1–25 s−1) produce heterogeneous cell concentrations in the form of regions of accumulation and regions of depletion. The location of these regions relative to the flow depends on the cells' propulsion mechanism, body shape and flagellar arrangement, as captured by an effective aspect ratio. Species having a large effective aspect ratio accumulated in the high-shear regions, owing to shear-induced alignment of the swimming orientation with the fluid streamlines. Species having an effective aspect ratio close to unity exhibited little preferential accumulation at low-to-moderate flow rates, but strongly accumulated in the low-shear regions under high flow conditions, potentially owing to an active, behavioural response of cells to shear. These observations demonstrate that ambient fluid flow can strongly affect the motility and spatial distribution of phytoplankton and highlight the rich dynamics emerging from the interaction between motility, morphology and flow. PMID:26538558

Stability of plasma cylinder with current in a helical plasma flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leonovich, Anatoly S.; Kozlov, Daniil A.; Zong, Qiugang

2018-04-01

Stability of a plasma cylinder with a current wrapped by a helical plasma flow is studied. Unstable surface modes of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) oscillations develop at the boundary of the cylinder enwrapped by the plasma flow. Unstable eigenmodes can also develop for which the plasma cylinder is a waveguide. The growth rate of the surface modes is much higher than that for the eigenmodes. It is shown that the asymmetric MHD modes in the plasma cylinder are stable if the velocity of the plasma flow is below a certain threshold. Such a plasma flow velocity threshold is absent for the symmetric modes. They are unstable in any arbitrarily slow plasma flows. For all surface modes there is an upper threshold for the flow velocity above which they are stable. The helicity index of the flow around the plasma cylinder significantly affects both the Mach number dependence of the surface wave growth rate and the velocity threshold values. The higher the index, the lower the upper threshold of the velocity jump above which the surface waves become stable. Calculations have been carried out for the growth rates of unstable oscillations in an equilibrium plasma cylinder with current serving as a model of the low-latitude boundary layer (LLBL) of the Earth's magnetic tail. A tangential discontinuity model is used to simulate the geomagnetic tail boundary. It is shown that the magnetopause in the geotail LLBL is unstable to a surface wave (having the highest growth rate) in low- and medium-speed solar wind flows, but becomes stable to this wave in high-speed flows. However, it can remain weakly unstable to the radiative modes of MHD oscillations.

A multilayer microdevice for cell-based high-throughput drug screening

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chong; Wang, Lei; Xu, Zheng; Li, Jingmin; Ding, Xiping; Wang, Qi; Chunyu, Li

2012-06-01

A multilayer polydimethylsiloxane microdevice for cell-based high-throughput drug screening is described in this paper. This established microdevice was based on a modularization method and it integrated a drug/medium concentration gradient generator (CGG), pneumatic microvalves and a cell culture microchamber array. The CGG was able to generate five steps of linear concentrations with the same outlet flow rate. The medium/drug flowed through CGG and then into the pear-shaped cell culture microchambers vertically. This vertical perfusion mode was used to reduce the impact of the shear stress on the physiology of cells induced by the fluid flow in the microchambers. Pear-shaped microchambers with two arrays of miropillars at each outlet were adopted in this microdevice, which were beneficial to cell distribution. The chemotherapeutics Cisplatin (DDP)-induced Cisplatin-resistant cell line A549/DDP apoptotic experiments were performed well on this platform. The results showed that this novel microdevice could not only provide well-defined and stable conditions for cell culture, but was also useful for cell-based high-throughput drug screening with less reagents and time consumption.

Quadratic Convective Flow of a Micropolar Fluid along an Inclined Plate in a Non-Darcy Porous Medium with Convective Boundary Condition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

RamReddy, Ch.; Naveen, P.; Srinivasacharya, D.

2017-06-01

The objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of nonlinear variation of density with temperature and concentration on the mixed convective flow of a micropolar fluid over an inclined flat plate in a non-Darcy porous medium in the presence of the convective boundary condition. In order to analyze all the essential features, the governing non-dimensional partial differential equations are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations using a local non-similarity procedure and then the resulting boundary value problem is solved using a successive linearisation method (SLM). By insisting the comparison between vertical, horizontal and inclined plates, the physical quantities of the flow and its characteristics are exhibited graphically and quantitatively with various parameters. An increase in the micropolar parameter and non-Darcy parameter tend to increase the skin friction and the reverse change is observed in wall couple stress, mass and heat transfer rates. The influence of the nonlinear concentration parameter is more prominent on all the physical characteristics of the present model, compared with that of nonlinear temperature parameter.

Fabrication and characterization of superporous cellulose bead for high-speed protein chromatography.

PubMed

Wang, Dong-Mei; Hao, Gang; Shi, Qing-Hong; Sun, Yan

2007-03-30

Novel superporous cellulose (SC) matrix has been fabricated by water-in-oil emulsification-thermal regeneration using granules of calcium carbonate as porogenic agents. As a control, microporous cellulose (MC) bead was fabricated in the absence of calcium carbonate. Simultaneously, double cross-linking was applied to enhance the mechanical strength of the particles. The photographs by scanning electron microscopy of the SC bead illustrated that there were more "craters" of several microns scattering on the surface of the beads. It led to a higher water content and effective porosity of the SC medium. The two beads were then modified with diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) group to prepare anion exchangers. The dynamic uptake results of bovine serum albumin (BSA) exhibited that the pore diffusivity of BSA in the DEAE-SC bead was two to three times larger than that in the DEAE-MC bead. In addition, the column packed with the DEAE-SC showed lower backpressure, higher column efficiency and dynamic binding capacity than the column packed with the DEAE-MC at a flow rate range of 150-900cm/h. Moreover, the column efficiency of the DEAE-SC column was independent of flow velocity up to a flow rate of 1200cm/h. All the results exhibited the superior characteristics of the SC bead as a potential medium for high-speed protein chromatography.

Pore scale simulations for the extension of the Darcy-Forchheimer law to shear thinning fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tosco, Tiziana; Marchisio, Daniele; Lince, Federica; Boccardo, Gianluca; Sethi, Rajandrea

2014-05-01

Flow of non-Newtonian fluids through porous media at high Reynolds numbers is often encountered in chemical, pharmaceutical and food as well as petroleum and groundwater engineering and in many other industrial applications (1 - 2). In particular, the use of shear thinning polymeric solutions has been recently proposed to improve colloidal stability of micro- and nanoscale zerovalent iron particles (MZVI and NZVI) for groundwater remediation. In all abovementioned applications, it is of paramount importance to correctly predict the pressure drop resulting from non-Newtonian fluid flow through the porous medium. For small Reynolds numbers, usually up to 1, typical of laboratory column tests, the extended Darcy law is known to be applicable also to non Newtonian fluids, provided that all non-Newtonian effects are lumped together into a proper viscosity parameter (1,3). For higher Reynolds numbers (eg. close to the injection wells) non linearities between pressure drop and flow rate arise, and the Darcy-Forchheimer law holds for Newtonian fluids, while for non-Newtonian fluids, it has been demonstrated that, at least for simple rheological models (eg. power law fluids) a generalized Forchheimer law can be applied, even if the determination of the flow parameters (permeability K, inertial coefficient β, and equivalent viscosity) is not straightforward. This work (co-funded by European Union project AQUAREHAB FP7 - Grant Agreement Nr. 226565) aims at proposing an extended formulation of the Darcy-Forchheimer law also for shear-thinning fluids, and validating it against results of pore-scale simulations via computational fluid dynamics (4). Flow simulations were performed using Fluent 12.0 on four different 2D porous domains for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids (Cross, Ellis and Carreau models). The micro-scale flow simulation results are analyzed in terms of 'macroscale' pressure drop between inlet and outlet of the model domain as a function of flow rate. The results of flow simulations show the superposition of two contributions to pressure drops: one, strictly related to the non-Newtonian properties of the fluid, dominates at low Reynolds numbers, while a quadratic one, arising at higher Reynolds numbers, is dependent only on the porous medium properties. The results suggest that, for Newtonian flow, the porous medium can be fully described by two macroscopic parameters, namely permeability K and inertial coefficient β. Conversely, for non-Newtonian flow, an additional parameter is required, represented by the shift factor α, which depends on the properties of both porous medium and fluid, which is not easy to be determined in laboratory tests, but can be in turn calculated from 2D or 3D pore-scale flow simulations, following the approach which was adopted in this work. References 1. Sorbie, K.S. Polymer-improved oil recovery; Blackie ; CRC Press: Glasgow, Boca Raton, Fla., 1991. 2. Xue, D.; Sethi, R. Viscoelastic gels of guar and xanthan gum mixtures provide long-term stabilization of iron micro- and nanoparticles. J Nanopart Res 2012, 14(11). 3. Bird, R.B.; Armstrong, R.C.; Hassager, O. Dynamics of polymeric liquids. Volume 1. Fluid mechanics; John Wiley and Sons Inc.: New York - NY, 1977. 4. Tosco, T.; Marchisio, D.L.; Lince, F.; Sethi, R. Extension of the Darcy-Forchheimer Law for Shear-Thinning Fluids and Validation via Pore-Scale Flow Simulations. Transport in Porous Media 2013, 96(1), 1-20.

Experimental analysis of the flow near the boundary of random porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Zhenxing; Mirbod, Parisa

2018-04-01

The aim of this work is to experimentally examine flow over and near random porous media. Different porous materials were chosen to achieve porosity ranging from 0.95 to 0.99. In this study, we report the detailed velocity measurements of the flow over and near random porous material inside a rectangular duct using a planar particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. By controlling the flow rate, two different Reynolds numbers were achieved. We determined the slip velocity at the interface between the porous media and free flow. Values of the slip velocity normalized either by the maximum flow velocity or by the shear rate at the interface and the screening distance K1/2 were found to depend on porosity. It was also shown that the depth of penetration inside the porous material was larger than the screening length using Brinkman's prediction. Moreover, we examined a model for the laminar coupled flow over and inside porous media and analyzed the permeability of a random porous medium. This study provided detailed analysis of flow over and at the interface of various specific random porous media using the PIV technique. This analysis has the potential to serve as a first step toward using random porous media as a new passive technique to control the flow over smooth surfaces.

Simulations of turbulent rotating flows using a subfilter scale stress model derived from the partially integrated transport modeling method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chaouat, Bruno

2012-04-01

The partially integrated transport modeling (PITM) method [B. Chaouat and R. Schiestel, "A new partially integrated transport model for subgrid-scale stresses and dissipation rate for turbulent developing flows," Phys. Fluids 17, 065106 (2005), 10.1063/1.1928607; R. Schiestel and A. Dejoan, "Towards a new partially integrated transport model for coarse grid and unsteady turbulent flow simulations," Theor. Comput. Fluid Dyn. 18, 443 (2005), 10.1007/s00162-004-0155-z; B. Chaouat and R. Schiestel, "From single-scale turbulence models to multiple-scale and subgridscale models by Fourier transform," Theor. Comput. Fluid Dyn. 21, 201 (2007), 10.1007/s00162-007-0044-3; B. Chaouat and R. Schiestel, "Progress in subgrid-scale transport modelling for continuous hybrid non-zonal RANS/LES simulations," Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow 30, 602 (2009), 10.1016/j.ijheatfluidflow.2009.02.021] viewed as a continuous approach for hybrid RANS/LES (Reynolds averaged Navier-Stoke equations/large eddy simulations) simulations with seamless coupling between RANS and LES regions is used to derive a subfilter scale stress model in the framework of second-moment closure applicable in a rotating frame of reference. This present subfilter scale model is based on the transport equations for the subfilter stresses and the dissipation rate and appears well appropriate for simulating unsteady flows on relatively coarse grids or flows with strong departure from spectral equilibrium because the cutoff wave number can be located almost anywhere inside the spectrum energy. According to the spectral theory developed in the wave number space [B. Chaouat and R. Schiestel, "From single-scale turbulence models to multiple-scale and subgrid-scale models by Fourier transform," Theor. Comput. Fluid Dyn. 21, 201 (2007), 10.1007/s00162-007-0044-3], the coefficients used in this model are no longer constants but they are some analytical functions of a dimensionless parameter controlling the spectral distribution of turbulence. The pressure-strain correlation term encompassed in this model is inspired from the nonlinear SSG model [C. G. Speziale, S. Sarkar, and T. B. Gatski, "Modelling the pressure-strain correlation of turbulence: an invariant dynamical systems approach," J. Fluid Mech. 227, 245 (1991), 10.1017/S0022112091000101] developed initially for homogeneous rotating flows in RANS methodology. It is modeled in system rotation using the principle of objectivity. Its modeling is especially extended in a low Reynolds number version for handling non-homogeneous wall flows. The present subfilter scale stress model is then used for simulating large scales of rotating turbulent flows on coarse and medium grids at moderate, medium, and high rotation rates. It is also applied to perform a simulation on a refined grid at the highest rotation rate. As a result, it is found that the PITM simulations reproduce fairly well the mean features of rotating channel flows allowing a drastic reduction of the computational cost in comparison with the one required for performing highly resolved LES. Overall, the mean velocities and turbulent stresses are found to be in good agreement with the data of highly resolved LES [E. Lamballais, O. Metais, and M. Lesieur, "Spectral-dynamic model for large-eddy simulations of turbulent rotating flow," Theor. Comput. Fluid Dyn. 12, 149 (1998)]. The anisotropy character of the flow resulting from the rotation effects is also well reproduced in accordance with the reference data. Moreover, the PITM2 simulations performed on the medium grid predict qualitatively well the three-dimensional flow structures as well as the longitudinal roll cells which appear in the anticyclonic wall-region of the rotating flows. As expected, the PITM3 simulation performed on the refined grid reverts to highly resolved LES. The present model based on a rational formulation appears to be an interesting candidate for tackling a large variety of engineering flows subjected to rotation.

A new numerical benchmark for variably saturated variable-density flow and transport in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guevara, Carlos; Graf, Thomas

2016-04-01

In subsurface hydrological systems, spatial and temporal variations in solute concentration and/or temperature may affect fluid density and viscosity. These variations could lead to potentially unstable situations, in which a dense fluid overlies a less dense fluid. These situations could produce instabilities that appear as dense plume fingers migrating downwards counteracted by vertical upwards flow of freshwater (Simmons et al., Transp. Porous Medium, 2002). As a result of unstable variable-density flow, solute transport rates are increased over large distances and times as compared to constant-density flow. The numerical simulation of variable-density flow in saturated and unsaturated media requires corresponding benchmark problems against which a computer model is validated (Diersch and Kolditz, Adv. Water Resour, 2002). Recorded data from a laboratory-scale experiment of variable-density flow and solute transport in saturated and unsaturated porous media (Simmons et al., Transp. Porous Medium, 2002) is used to define a new numerical benchmark. The HydroGeoSphere code (Therrien et al., 2004) coupled with PEST (www.pesthomepage.org) are used to obtain an optimized parameter set capable of adequately representing the data set by Simmons et al., (2002). Fingering in the numerical model is triggered using random hydraulic conductivity fields. Due to the inherent randomness, a large number of simulations were conducted in this study. The optimized benchmark model adequately predicts the plume behavior and the fate of solutes. This benchmark is useful for model verification of variable-density flow problems in saturated and/or unsaturated media.

Energy flow along the medium-induced parton cascade

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Blaizot, J.-P., E-mail: jean-paul.blaizot@cea.fr; Mehtar-Tani, Y., E-mail: ymehtar@uw.edu

2016-05-15

We discuss the dynamics of parton cascades that develop in dense QCD matter, and contrast their properties with those of similar cascades of gluon radiation in vacuum. We argue that such cascades belong to two distinct classes that are characterized respectively by an increasing or a constant (or decreasing) branching rate along the cascade. In the former class, of which the BDMPS, medium-induced, cascade constitutes a typical example, it takes a finite time to transport a finite amount of energy to very soft quanta, while this time is essentially infinite in the latter case, to which the DGLAP cascade belongs.more » The medium induced cascade is accompanied by a constant flow of energy towards arbitrary soft modes, leading eventually to the accumulation of the initial energy of the leading particle at zero energy. It also exhibits scaling properties akin to wave turbulence. These properties do not show up in the cascade that develops in vacuum. There, the energy accumulates in the spectrum at smaller and smaller energy as the cascade develops, but the energy never flows all the way down to zero energy. Our analysis suggests that the way the energy is shared among the offsprings of a splitting gluon has little impact on the qualitative properties of the cascades, provided the kernel that governs the splittings is not too singular.« less

Porous medium acoustics of wave-induced vorticity diffusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Müller, T. M.; Sahay, P. N.

2011-02-01

A theory for attenuation and dispersion of elastic waves due to wave-induced generation of vorticity at pore-scale heterogeneities in a macroscopically homogeneous porous medium is developed. The diffusive part of the vorticity field associated with a viscous wave in the pore space—the so-called slow shear wave—is linked to the porous medium acoustics through incorporation of the fluid strain rate tensor of a Newtonian fluid in the poroelastic constitutive relations. The method of statistical smoothing is then used to derive dynamic-equivalent elastic wave velocities accounting for the conversion scattering process into the diffusive slow shear wave in the presence of randomly distributed pore-scale heterogeneities. The result is a simple model for wave attenuation and dispersion associated with the transition from viscosity- to inertia-dominated flow regime.

Focusing and alignment of erythrocytes in a viscoelastic medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Go, Taesik; Byeon, Hyeokjun; Lee, Sang Joon

2017-01-01

Viscoelastic fluid flow-induced cross-streamline migration has recently received considerable attention because this process provides simple focusing and alignment over a wide range of flow rates. The lateral migration of particles depends on the channel geometry and physicochemical properties of particles. In this study, digital in-line holographic microscopy (DIHM) is employed to investigate the lateral migration of human erythrocytes induced by viscoelastic fluid flow in a rectangular microchannel. DIHM provides 3D spatial distributions of particles and information on particle orientation in the microchannel. The elastic forces generated in the pressure-driven flows of a viscoelastic fluid push suspended particles away from the walls and enforce erythrocytes to have a fixed orientation. Blood cell deformability influences the lateral focusing and fixed orientation in the microchannel. Different from rigid spheres and hardened erythrocytes, deformable normal erythrocytes disperse from the channel center plane, as the flow rate increases. Furthermore, normal erythrocytes have a higher angle of inclination than hardened erythrocytes in the region near the side-walls of the channel. These results may guide the label-free diagnosis of hematological diseases caused by abnormal erythrocyte deformability.

Surface deformation and shear flow in ligand mediated cell adhesion.

PubMed

Sircar, Sarthok; Roberts, Anthony J

2016-10-01

We present a unified, multiscale model to study the attachment/detachment dynamics of two deforming, charged, near spherical cells, coated with binding ligands and subject to a slow, homogeneous shear flow in a viscous, ionic fluid medium. The binding ligands on the surface of the cells experience both attractive and repulsive forces in an ionic medium and exhibit finite resistance to rotation via bond tilting. The microscale drag forces and couples describing the fluid flow inside the small separation gap between the cells, are calculated using a combination of methods in lubrication theory and previously published numerical results. For a selected range of material and fluid parameters, a hysteretic transition of the sticking probability curves (i.e., the function [Formula: see text]) between the adhesion phase (when [Formula: see text]) and the fragmentation phase (when [Formula: see text]) is attributed to a nonlinear relation between the total nanoscale binding forces and the separation gap between the cells. We show that adhesion is favoured in highly ionic fluids, increased deformability of the cells, elastic binders and a higher fluid shear rate (until a critical threshold value of shear rate is reached). Within a selected range of critical shear rates, the continuation of the limit points (i.e., the turning points where the slope of [Formula: see text] changes sign) predict a bistable region, indicating an abrupt switching between the adhesion and the fragmentation regimes. Although, bistability in the adhesion-fragmentation phase diagram of two deformable, charged cells immersed in an ionic aqueous environment has been identified by some in vitro experiments, but until now, has not been quantified theoretically.

Turbine stator vane segment having internal cooling circuits

DOEpatents

Jones, Raymond Joseph; Burns, James Lee; Bojappa, Parvangada Ganapathy; Jones, Schotsch Margaret

2003-01-01

A turbine stator vane includes outer and inner walls each having outer and inner chambers and a vane extending between the outer and inner walls. The vane includes first, second, third, fourth and fifth cavities for flowing a cooling medium. The cooling medium enters the outer chamber of the outer wall, flows through an impingement plate for impingement cooling of the outer band wall defining in part the hot gas path and through openings in the first, second and fourth cavities for flow radially inwardly, cooling the vane. The spent cooling medium flows into the inner wall and inner chamber for flow through an impingement plate radially outwardly to cool the inner wall. The spent cooling medium flows through the third cavity for egress from the turbine vane segment from the outer wall. The first, second or third cavities contain inserts having impingement openings for impingement cooling of the vane walls. The fifth cavity provides air cooling for the trailing edge.

Covariant kaon dynamics and kaon flow in heavy ion collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Yu-Ming; Fuchs, C.; Faessler, Amand; Shekhter, K.; Yan, Yu-Peng; Kobdaj, Chinorat

2004-03-01

The influence of the chiral mean field on the K+ transverse flow in heavy ion collisions at SIS energy is investigated within covariant kaon dynamics. For the kaon mesons inside the nuclear medium a quasiparticle picture including scalar and vector fields is adopted and compared to the standard treatment with a static potential. It is confirmed that a Lorentz force from spatial component of the vector field provides an important contribution to the in-medium kaon dynamics and strongly counterbalances the influence of the vector potential on the K+ in-plane flow. The FOPI data can be reasonably described using in-medium kaon potentials based on effective chiral models. The information on the in-medium K+ potential extracted from kaon flow is consistent with the knowledge from other sources.

Radiative Effects on a Free Convective MHD Flow past a Vertically Inclined Plate with with Heat Source and Sink

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sambath, P.; Pullepu, Bapuji; Kannan, R. M.

2018-04-01

The impact of thermal radiation on unsteady laminar free convective MHD flow of a incompressible viscous fluid passes through a vertically inclined plate under the persuade of heat source and sink is presented here.Plate surface is considered to have variable wall temperature. The fluid regarded as gray absorbing / emitting, but non dispersing medium. The periphery layer dimensionless equations that administer the flow are evaluated by a finite difference implicit method called Crank Nicolson method. Numerical solutions are carried out for velocity, temperature, local shear stress, heat transfer rate for various values of the parameters (Pr, λ, Δ M, Rd ) are presented.

Evaporation effect on two-dimensional wicking in porous media.

PubMed

Benner, Eric M; Petsev, Dimiter N

2018-03-15

We analyze the effect of evaporation on expanding capillary flow for losses normal to the plane of a two-dimensional porous medium using the potential flow theory formulation of the Lucas-Washburn method. Evaporation induces a finite steady state liquid flux on capillary flows into fan-shaped domains which is significantly greater than the flux into media of constant cross section. We introduce the evaporation-capillary number, a new dimensionless quantity, which governs the frontal motion when multiplied by the scaled time. This governing product divides the wicking behavior into simple regimes of capillary dominated flow and evaporative steady state, as well as the intermediate regime of evaporation influenced capillary driven motion. We also show flow dimensionality and evaporation reduce the propagation rate of the wet front relative to the Lucas-Washburn law. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Experimental and numerical investigations of effect of column length on retardation factor determination: a case study of cesium transport in crushed granite.

PubMed

Li, Ming-Hsu; Wang, Tsing-Hai; Teng, Shi-Ping

2009-02-15

This study investigated breakthrough curves (BTCs) from a series of column experiments, including different column lengths and flow rates, of a conservative tracer, tritium oxide (HTO), and a radionuclide, cesium, in crushed granite using a reactive transport model. Results of the short column, with length of 2cm, showed an underestimation of the retardation factor and the corresponding HTO BTCs cannot be successfully modeled even with overestimated fluid dispersivity. Column supporting elements, including filters and rings, on both ends of packed granite were shown to be able to induce additional dispersive mixing, thus significantly affecting BTCs of short columns while those of the long column, with length of 8cm, were less affected. By increasing flow rates from 1mL/min to 5mL/min, the contribution of structural dispersive mixing to the false tilting of short column BTCs still cannot be detached. To reduce the influence of structural dispersivity on BTCs, the equivalent pore volume of column supporting materials should be much smaller than that of packed porous medium. The total length of column supporting structures should be greatly shorter than that of porous medium column.

Nanoparticle transport in water-unsaturated porous media: effects of solution ionic strength and flow rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prédélus, Dieuseul; Lassabatere, Laurent; Louis, Cédric; Gehan, Hélène; Brichart, Thomas; Winiarski, Thierry; Angulo-Jaramillo, Rafael

2017-03-01

This paper presents the influence of ionic strength and flow on nanoparticle (NP) retention rate in an unsaturated calcareous medium, originating from a heterogeneous glaciofluvial deposit of the region of Lyon (France). Laboratory columns 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm in length were used. Silica nanoparticles (Au-SiO2-FluoNPs), with hydrodynamic diameter ranging from 50 to 60 nm and labeled with fluorescein derivatives, were used to simulate particle transport, and bromide was used to characterize flow. Three flow rates and five different ionic strengths were tested. The transfer model based on fractionation of water into mobile and immobile fractions was coupled with the attachment/detachment model to fit NPs breakthrough curves. The results show that increasing flow velocity induces a decrease in nanoparticle retention, probably as the result of several physical but also geochemical factors. The results show that NPs retention increases with ionic strength. However, an inversion of retention occurs for ionic strength >5.10-2 M, which has been scarcely observed in previous studies. The measure of zeta potential and DLVO calculations show that NPs may sorb on both solid-water and air-water interfaces. NPs size distribution shows the potential for nanoparticle agglomeration mostly at low pH, leading to entrapment in the soil pores. These mechanisms are highly sensitive to both hydrodynamic and geochemical conditions, which explains their high sensitivity to flow rates and ionic strength.

Volume requirements for aerated mud drilling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guo, B.; Rajtar, J.M.

1995-09-01

Aerated mud drilling has been recognized as having many advantages over conventional mud drilling, such ass higher penetration rate, less formation damage, minimized lost circulation, and lower drilling cost. In some areas, the use of aerated mud as a circulating medium for drilling oil and gas wells is becoming an attractive practice. Maintaining an optimum combination of liquid and air flow rates is important in aerated drilling operations. However, most drilling operators are unclear on what constitutes the ``optimum combination of the liquid and air flow rates.`` Guo et al. presented a mathematical approach to determining the flowing bottomhole pressuremore » (BHP) for aerated mud drilling. This paper addresses the use of Guo et al.`s mathematical model to determine liquid and air volume requirements considering wellbore stability, pipe sticking, and formation damage as well as the cuttings-carry capacity of the aerated mud. For a formation-damage-prevention point of view, the liquid fraction in the fluid stream should e as low as possible. However, a sufficient mud flow rate is always required to make the hole stable and to maintain the cuttings-carrying capacity of the aerated mud without injecting much air volume. This paper provides a simple approach to determining the liquid and air volume requirements for aerated mud drilling.« less

Time of travel and dispersion in a selected reach of Roberts Creek, Clayton County, Iowa

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kolpin, D.W.; Kalkhoff, S.J.

1992-01-01

Time of travel was determined by dye tracing, using rhodamine WT as the tracer. One dyeinjection site and three sampling sites were used to measure time of travel. Two dye-tracing tests were conducted at discharges having flow-duration values of 48 and 80 percent. The discharges at the time of the two dye-tracing tests approximated medium- and low-flow conditions. The average stream velocity in the study area was 0.23 foot per second during medium-flow conditions, March 20 to 22,1990, and 0.07 foot per second during low-flow conditions, April 30 to May 12, 1990. The injected dye dispersed in a plume that lasted about 18 hours during medium flow and about 64 hours during low flow at the downstream site.

Monolithic multigrid method for the coupled Stokes flow and deformable porous medium system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, P.; Rodrigo, C.; Gaspar, F. J.; Oosterlee, C. W.

2018-01-01

The interaction between fluid flow and a deformable porous medium is a complicated multi-physics problem, which can be described by a coupled model based on the Stokes and poroelastic equations. A monolithic multigrid method together with either a coupled Vanka smoother or a decoupled Uzawa smoother is employed as an efficient numerical technique for the linear discrete system obtained by finite volumes on staggered grids. A specialty in our modeling approach is that at the interface of the fluid and poroelastic medium, two unknowns from the different subsystems are defined at the same grid point. We propose a special discretization at and near the points on the interface, which combines the approximation of the governing equations and the considered interface conditions. In the decoupled Uzawa smoother, Local Fourier Analysis (LFA) helps us to select optimal values of the relaxation parameter appearing. To implement the monolithic multigrid method, grid partitioning is used to deal with the interface updates when communication is required between two subdomains. Numerical experiments show that the proposed numerical method has an excellent convergence rate. The efficiency and robustness of the method are confirmed in numerical experiments with typically small realistic values of the physical coefficients.

Operational parameters and their influence on particle-side mass transfer resistance in a packed bed bioreactor.

PubMed

Hussain, Amir; Kangwa, Martin; Yumnam, Nivedita; Fernandez-Lahore, Marcelo

2015-12-01

The influence of internal mass transfer on productivity as well as the performance of packed bed bioreactor was determined by varying a number of parameters; chitosan coating, flow rate, glucose concentration and particle size. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were immobilized in chitosan and non-chitosan coated alginate beads to demonstrate the effect on particle side mass transfer on substrate consumption time, lag phase and ethanol production. The results indicate that chitosan coating, beads size, glucose concentration and flow rate have a significant effect on lag phase duration. The duration of lag phase for different size of beads (0.8, 2 and 4 mm) decreases by increasing flow rate and by decreasing the size of beads. Moreover, longer lag phase were found at higher glucose medium concentration and also with chitosan coated beads. It was observed that by increasing flow rates; lag phase and glucose consumption time decreased. The reason is due to the reduction of external (fluid side) mass transfer as a result of increase in flow rate as glucose is easily transported to the surface of the beads. Varying the size of beads is an additional factor: as it reduces the internal (particle side) mass transfer by reducing the size of beads. The reason behind this is the distance for reactants to reach active site of catalyst (cells) and the thickness of fluid created layer around alginate beads is reduced. The optimum combination of parameters consisting of smaller beads size (0.8 mm), higher flow rate of 90 ml/min and glucose concentration of 10 g/l were found to be the maximum condition for ethanol production.

Extension of Viscoplasticity Based on Overstress to Capture the Effects of Prior Aging on the Time Dependent Deformation Behavior of a High-Temperature Polymer: Experiments and Modeling

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-01

the standard model characterization procedure is based on creep and recovery tests, where loading and unloading occurs at a fast rate of 1.0 MPa/s...σ − g[ǫ] and on d̊g[ǫ] dǫ = E, where g̊ is defined as the equilibrium stress g[ ] for extremely fast loading. For this case, the stress-strain curves...Strain S tr es s Strain Rate Slow Strain Rate Medium Strain Rate Fast Plastic Flow Fully Established Figure 2.10: Stress Strain Curve Schematic

From medium heterogeneity to flow and transport: A time-domain random walk approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hakoun, V.; Comolli, A.; Dentz, M.

2017-12-01

The prediction of flow and transport processes in heterogeneous porous media is based on the qualitative and quantitative understanding of the interplay between 1) spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity, 2) groundwater flow and 3) solute transport. Using a stochastic modeling approach, we study this interplay through direct numerical simulations of Darcy flow and advective transport in heterogeneous media. First, we study flow in correlated hydraulic permeability fields and shed light on the relationship between the statistics of log-hydraulic conductivity, a medium attribute, and the flow statistics. Second, we determine relationships between Eulerian and Lagrangian velocity statistics, this means, between flow and transport attributes. We show how Lagrangian statistics and thus transport behaviors such as late particle arrival times are influenced by the medium heterogeneity on one hand and the initial particle velocities on the other. We find that equidistantly sampled Lagrangian velocities can be described by a Markov process that evolves on the characteristic heterogeneity length scale. We employ a stochastic relaxation model for the equidistantly sampled particle velocities, which is parametrized by the velocity correlation length. This description results in a time-domain random walk model for the particle motion, whose spatial transitions are characterized by the velocity correlation length and temporal transitions by the particle velocities. This approach relates the statistical medium and flow properties to large scale transport, and allows for conditioning on the initial particle velocities and thus to the medium properties in the injection region. The approach is tested against direct numerical simulations.

Computational method to predict thermodynamic, transport, and flow properties for the modified Langley 8-foot high-temperature tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Venkateswaran, S.; Hunt, L. Roane; Prabhu, Ramadas K.

1992-01-01

The Langley 8 foot high temperature tunnel (8 ft HTT) is used to test components of hypersonic vehicles for aerothermal loads definition and structural component verification. The test medium of the 8 ft HTT is obtained by burning a mixture of methane and air under high pressure; the combustion products are expanded through an axisymmetric conical contoured nozzle to simulate atmospheric flight at Mach 7. This facility was modified to raise the oxygen content of the test medium to match that of air and to include Mach 4 and Mach 5 capabilities. These modifications will facilitate the testing of hypersonic air breathing propulsion systems for a wide range of flight conditions. A computational method to predict the thermodynamic, transport, and flow properties of the equilibrium chemically reacting oxygen enriched methane-air combustion products was implemented in a computer code. This code calculates the fuel, air, and oxygen mass flow rates and test section flow properties for Mach 7, 5, and 4 nozzle configurations for given combustor and mixer conditions. Salient features of the 8 ft HTT are described, and some of the predicted tunnel operational characteristics are presented in the carpet plots to assist users in preparing test plans.

Unsteady MHD Mixed Convection Slip Flow of Casson Fluid over Nonlinearly Stretching Sheet Embedded in a Porous Medium with Chemical Reaction, Thermal Radiation, Heat Generation/Absorption and Convective Boundary Conditions

PubMed Central

Ullah, Imran; Bhattacharyya, Krishnendu; Shafie, Sharidan; Khan, Ilyas

2016-01-01

Numerical results are presented for the effect of first order chemical reaction and thermal radiation on mixed convection flow of Casson fluid in the presence of magnetic field. The flow is generated due to unsteady nonlinearly stretching sheet placed inside a porous medium. Convective conditions on wall temperature and wall concentration are also employed in the investigation. The governing partial differential equations are converted to ordinary differential equations using suitable transformations and then solved numerically via Keller-box method. It is noticed that fluid velocity rises with increase in radiation parameter in the case of assisting flow and is opposite in the case of opposing fluid while radiation parameter has no effect on fluid velocity in the forced convection. It is also seen that fluid velocity and concentration enhances in the case of generative chemical reaction whereas both profiles reduces in the case of destructive chemical reaction. Further, increase in local unsteadiness parameter reduces fluid velocity, temperature and concentration. Over all the effects of physical parameters on fluid velocity, temperature and concentration distribution as well as on the wall shear stress, heat and mass transfer rates are discussed in detail. PMID:27776174

An In-Well Point Velocity Probe for the rapid determination of groundwater velocity at the centimeter-scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osorno, Trevor C.; Devlin, J. F.; Firdous, Rubina

2018-02-01

The In-Well Point Velocity Probe (IWPVP) is a novel device designed for obtaining rapid, initial measurements of groundwater velocity at the centimeter-scale using a standard monitoring well to access the subsurface. IWPVP measurements of groundwater speed are quantified on the basis of a mini-tracer test that is conducted within the body of the probe. Information regarding horizontal flow directions is obtained from differential responses at detectors placed in the four quadrants of the probe. The viability of the IWPVP design was confirmed by (1) numerical modeling that accounted for laminar flow in the porous medium outside the well and turbulent flow inside the well (and probe), and (2) a series of laboratory tank experiments in which the probe was calibrated to quantify seepage rates in a medium-grain sand. Laboratory tests were completed in less than 20 min in all cases, when seepage velocity was between 50 and 400 cm/day. The magnitude of the groundwater velocity was determined with a precision of ±7% on average, and accuracy of ±11% for seepage velocities up to 400 cm/day. The flow direction was determined within ±15°. The IWPVP appears to be a viable tool for rapid assessment of groundwater velocity.

Cooling/heating augmentation during turbine startup/shutdown using a seal positioned by thermal response of turbine parts and consequent relative movement thereof

DOEpatents

Schmidt, Mark Christopher

2000-01-01

In a turbine rotor, a thermal mismatch between various component parts of the rotor occurs particularly during transient operations such as shutdown and startup. A thermal medium flows past and heats or cools one part of the turbine which may have a deleterious thermal mismatch with another part. By passively controlling the flow of cooling medium past the one part in response to relative movement of thermally responsive parts of the turbine, the flow of thermal medium along the flow path can be regulated to increase or reduce the flow, thereby to regulate the temperature of the one part to maintain the thermal mismatch within predetermined limits.

Purification of inulinases by changing the ionic strength of the medium and precipitation with alcohols.

PubMed

Golunski, Simone; Silva, Marceli F; Marques, Camila T; Rosseto, Vanusa; Kaizer, Rosilene R; Mossi, Altemir J; Rigo, Diane; Dallago, Rogério M; DI Luccio, Marco; Treichel, Helen

2017-01-01

The present study evaluated the purification of inulinase by changing the ionic strength of the medium by addition of NaCl and CaCl2 followed by precipitation with n-propyl alcohol or iso-propyl alcohol. The effects of the concentration of alcohols and the rate of addition of alcohols in the crude extract on the purification yield and purification factor were evaluated. Precipitation caused an activation of enzyme and allowed purification factors up to 2.4-fold for both alcohols. The purification factor was affected positively by the modification of the ionic strength of the medium to 0.5 mol.L-1 NaCl before precipitation with the alcohol (n-propyl or iso-propyl). A purification factor of 4.8-fold and an enzyme yield of 78.1 % could be achieved by the addition of 0.5 mol.L-1 of NaCl to the crude extract, followed by the precipitation with 50 % (v/v) of n-propyl alcohol, added at a flow rate of 19.9 mL/min.

Laboratory Experiments on Meandering Meltwater Channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernandez, R.; Berens, J.; Parker, G.; Stark, C. P.

2017-12-01

Meandering channels of all scales and flowing over a wide variety of media have common planform patterns. Although the analogy in planform suggests there is a common underlying framework, the constitutive relations driving planform evolution through vertical incision/deposition and lateral migration differ from medium to medium. The driving processes in alluvial and mixed bedrock-alluvial meandering channels have been studied substantially over the last decades. However, this is not the case for meandering channels in other media such as ice or soluble rock. Here we present results from experiments conducted at the Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on meltwater meandering channels. A rivulet is carved into an ice block and water is allowed to flow at a constant discharge. Planform evolution is analyzed with time lapse imaging and complemented with rubber molds of the channel once the experiment is over. These molds give us the full 3D structure of the meandering, including incisional overhang. Vertical incision rates are measured throughout the run by taking elevations along the channel, and these measurements are complemented with analysis from the molds. We show examples of meandering of intense amplitude with deep overhangs. Features resembling scroll bars document cyclically punctuated melting. We report on lateral migration rates, incision rates, sinuosity, channel depths, channel widths, reach averaged velocities, bend wavelengths and amplitudes and compare them to values reported in the literature for alluvial rivers.

How does the wetting dynamics affect capillary trapping in heterogeneous soil: Neutron imaging study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sacha, Jan; Snehota, Michal; Trtik, Pavel; Vontobel, Peter

2017-04-01

The wetting dynamics of the water infiltration into a porous soil system has a strong influence on the amount of entrapped air inside the soil. Simultaneously, a higher volume of entrapped air obstructs a water flow in the medium. This effect is more noticeable in soils with preferential pathways because the soil matrix has a higher capillary forces and therefore the air is accumulated in preferential pathways. In the presented study, two experiments were conducted on the same sample. The first experiment was performed under the constant water level condition (CWL) and the second experiment was carried out under the constant water flux condition (CWF) at the top of the sample. The sample was composed of coarse and medium coarse fractions of sand and fine porous ceramics. Materials were packed into the quartz glass column of the inner diameter of 29 mm. The coarse sand represented a highly conductive region connected from the top to the bottom of the sample with the exception of three thin (2-3 mm) separation layers made up of the medium coarse sand. Three discs of fine ceramics formed slow flow regions. Infiltration experiments were monitored by neutron radiography at two different beamlines to produce two-dimensional (2D) projections. The CWL experiment was monitored at NEUTRA station with an acquisition time of 16 seconds per projection and the CWF experiment was visualized at BOA station with an acquisition time of 0.25 seconds per projection. Both stations are located at the Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland. The acquired radiograms of the dry sample were subtracted from all subsequent radiograms to determine the water thickness in projections. From series of corrected radiograms taken at the different angles three-dimensional (3D) image was reconstructed for steady state stage of the CWL experiment and for the entire CWF experiment. Then the series of 3D images mapped the wetting of the porous system over the corresponding phase of infiltration process. The results show a higher steady state infiltration rate during the CWL experiment. In this case, the air was mostly pushed out from the sample by the moving wetting front. The infiltration rate was continuously decreasing during the infiltration up to the value of steady state infiltration rate. When the wetting front has reached the bottom of the sample the air was moving from matrix domain to preferential domain. Infiltration rate was still higher than during CWF. On the contrary, during the CWF the water infiltrated into the fine ceramics first and then into the medium coarse sand attracted by forces that were stronger in comparison to the coarse sand. Due to this effect a significant amount of air was trapped in preferential pathways, and consequently blocked the water flow primarily due to the presence of medium coarse sand regions.

Thermal non-equilibrium in porous medium adjacent to vertical plate: ANN approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmed, N. J. Salman; Ahamed, K. S. Nazim; Al-Rashed, Abdullah A. A. A.; Kamangar, Sarfaraz; Athani, Abdulgaphur

2018-05-01

Thermal non-equilibrium in porous medium is a condition that refers to temperature discrepancy in solid matrix and fluid of porous medium. This type of flow is complex flow requiring complex set of partial differential equations that govern the flow behavior. The current work is undertaken to predict the thermal non-equilibrium behavior of porous medium adjacent to vertical plate using artificial neural network. A set of neurons in 3 layers are trained to predict the heat transfer characteristics. It is found that the thermal non-equilibrium heat transfer behavior in terms of Nusselt number of fluid as well as solid phase can be predicted accurately by using well-trained neural network.

Modeling of Autovariator Operation as Power Components Adjuster in Adaptive Machine Drives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balakin, P. D.; Belkov, V. N.; Shtripling, L. O.

2018-01-01

Full application of the available power and stationary mode preservation for the power station (engine) operation of the transport machine under the conditions of variable external loading, are topical issues. The issues solution is possible by means of mechanical drives with the autovaried rate transfer function and nonholonomic constraint of the main driving mediums. Additional to the main motion, controlled motion of the driving mediums is formed by a variable part of the transformed power flow and is implemented by the integrated control loop, functioning only on the basis of the laws of motion. The mathematical model of the mechanical autovariator operation is developed using Gibbs function, acceleration energy; the study results are presented; on their basis, the design calculations of the autovariator driving mediums and constraints, including its automatic control loop, are possible.

Parametric study of thermal storage containing rocks or fluid filled cans for solar heating and cooling, phase 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saha, H.

1981-01-01

The test data and an analysis of the heat transfer characteristics of a solar thermal energy storage bed utilizing water filled cans and standard bricks as energy storage medium are presented. This experimental investigation was initiated to find a usable heat intensive solar thermal storage device other than rock storage and water tank. Four different sizes of soup cans were stacked in a chamber in three different arrangements-vertical, horizontal, and random. Air is used as transfer medium for charging and discharge modes at three different mass flow rates and inlet air temperature respectively. These results are analyzed and compared, which show that a vertical stacking and medium size cans with Length/Diameter (L/D) ratio close to one have better average characteristics of heat transfer and pressure drop.

An automated cell analysis sensing system based on a microfabricated rheoscope for the study of red blood cells physiology.

PubMed

Bransky, Avishay; Korin, Natanel; Nemirovski, Yael; Dinnar, Uri

2006-08-15

An automated rheoscope has been developed, utilizing a microfabricated glass flow cell, high speed camera and advanced image-processing software. RBCs suspended in a high viscosity medium were filmed flowing through a microchannel. Under these conditions, RBCs exhibit different orientations and deformations according to their location in the velocity profile. The rheoscope system produces valuable data such as velocity profile of RBCs, spatial distribution within a microchannel and deformation index (DI) curves. The variation of DI across the channel height, due to change in shear stress, was measured carrying implications for diffractometry methods. These curves of DI were taken at a constant flow rate and cover most of the relevant shear stress spectrum. This is an improvement of the existing techniques for deformability measurements and may serve as a diagnostic tool for certain blood disorders. The DI curves were compared to measurements of the flowing RBCs velocity profile. In addition, we found that RBCs flowing in a microchannel are mostly gathered in the center of the flow and maintain a characteristic spatial distribution. The spatial distribution in this region changes slightly with increasing flow rate. Hence, the system described, provides means for examining the behavior of individual RBCs, and may serve as a microfabricated diagnostic device for deformability measurement.

Automated contrast medium monitoring system for computed tomography--Intra-institutional audit.

PubMed

Lauretti, Dario Luca; Neri, Emanuele; Faggioni, Lorenzo; Paolicchi, Fabio; Caramella, Davide; Bartolozzi, Carlo

2015-12-01

The aim of this study was to analyze the usage and the data recorded by a RIS-PACS-connected contrast medium (CM) monitoring system (Certegra(®), Bayer Healthcare, Leverkusen, Germany) over 19 months of CT activity. The system used was connected to two dual syringe power injectors (each associated with a 16-row and a high definition 64-row multidetector CT scanner, respectively), allowing to manage contrast medium injection parameters and to send and retrieve CT study-related information via RIS/PACS for any scheduled contrast-enhanced CT examination. The system can handle up to 64 variables and can be accessed via touchscreen by CT operators as well as via a web interface by registered users with three different hierarchy levels. Data related to CM injection parameters (i.e. iodine concentration, volume and flow rate of CM, iodine delivery rate and iodine dose, CM injection pressure, and volume and flow rate of saline), patient weight and height, and type of CT study over a testing period spanning from 1 June 2013 to 10 January 2015 were retrieved from the system. Technical alerts occurred for each injection event (such as system disarm due to technical failure, disarm due to operator's stop, incomplete filling of patient data fields, or excessively high injection pressure), as well as interoperability issues related to data sending and receiving to/from the RIS/PACS were also recorded. During the testing period, the CM monitoring system generated a total of 8609 reports, of which 7629 relative to successful injection events (88.6%). 331 alerts were generated, of which 40 resulted in injection interruption and 291 in CM flow rate limitation due to excessively high injection pressure (>325 psi). Average CM volume and flow rate were 93.73 ± 17.58 mL and 3.53 ± 0.89 mL/s, and contrast injection pressure ranged between 5 and 167 psi. A statistically significant correlation was found between iodine concentration and peak IDR (rs=0.2744, p<0.0001), as well as between iodine concentration and iodine dose (rs=0.3862, p<0.0001) for all CT studies. Automated contrast management systems can provide a full report of contrast use with the possibility to systematically compare different contrast injection protocols, minimize errors, and optimize organ-specific contrast enhancement for any given patient and clinical application. This can be useful to improve and harmonize the quality and consistency of contrast CT procedures within the same radiological department and across the hospital, as well as to monitor potential adverse events and overall costs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Advective transport of CO2 in permeable media induced by atmospheric pressure fluctuations: 1. An analytical model

Treesearch

W. J. Massman

2006-01-01

Advective flows within soils and snowpacks caused by pressure fluctuations at the upper surface of either medium can significantly influence the exchange rate of many trace gases from the underlying substrate to the atmosphere. Given the importance of many of these trace gases in understanding biogeochemical cycling and global change, it is crucial to quantify (as much...

Close association between oral Candida species and oral mucosal disorders in patients with xerostomia.

PubMed

Shinozaki, S; Moriyama, M; Hayashida, J-N; Tanaka, A; Maehara, T; Ieda, S; Nakamura, S

2012-10-01

Heightened interest in oral health has lead to an increase in patients complaining of xerostomia, which is associated with various oral mucosal disorders. In this study, we investigated the relationship between Candida species and oral mucosal disorders in patients with xerostomia. We evaluated whole salivary flow rate and presence of oral mucosal disorders in 48 patients with xerostomia and 15 healthy controls. The number of Candida species was measured as colony-forming units after propagation on selective medium. Identification of Candida at the species level was carried out by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. We then examined the relationship between Candida species and oral mucosal symptoms. Compared with controls, patients with xerostomia exhibited significantly decreased whole salivary flow rate, increased rate of oral mucosal symptoms, and higher numbers of Candida. Salivary flow rate negatively correlated with the number Candida. Among patients with oral candidiasis, Candida albicans was isolated from the tongue mucosa and Candida glabrata was isolated from the angle of the mouth. These results suggest that particular Candida species are involved in the pathogenesis of oral mucosal disorders in patients with xerostomia. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Performance of Azolla caroliniana Willd. and Salvinia auriculata Aubl. on fish farming effluent.

PubMed

Toledo, J J; Penha, J

2011-02-01

The increasing release of untreated fish farming effluents into water courses that flow to the Pantanal wetlands in Mato Grosso (Brazil) may drive this ecosystem to eutrophication. Therefore, the growth of Azolla caroliniana Willd. and Salvinia auriculata Aubl. in fish farming effluent and their effect on its quality were evaluated for 48 days in a greenhouse. The results were compared to those obtained in a nutrient rich solution (Hoagland ½ medium). Azolla caroliniana showed lower relative growth rate in fish farming effluent (0.020 d-1) than in Hoagland ½ medium (0.029 d-1). However, S. auriculata grew slightly better in fish farming effluent (0.030 d-1) than in Hoagland ½ medium (0.025 d-1). The species apparently contributed to reduce nitrate and phosphate concentration in Hoagland ½ medium. However, in fish farming effluent, only electrical conductivity and pH were reduced by plants compared to the control without plants. Thus, A. caroliniana and S. auriculata show low potential for improving effluent quality.

Gas block mechanism for water removal in fuel cells

DOEpatents

Issacci, Farrokh; Rehg, Timothy J.

2004-02-03

The present invention is directed to apparatus and method for cathode-side disposal of water in an electrochemical fuel cell. There is a cathode plate. Within a surface of the plate is a flow field comprised of interdigitated channels. During operation of the fuel cell, cathode gas flows by convection through a gas diffusion layer above the flow field. Positioned at points adjacent to the flow field are one or more porous gas block mediums that have pores sized such that water is sipped off to the outside of the flow field by capillary flow and cathode gas is blocked from flowing through the medium. On the other surface of the plate is a channel in fluid communication with each porous gas block mediums. The method for water disposal in a fuel cell comprises installing the cathode plate assemblies at the cathode sides of the stack of fuel cells and manifolding the single water channel of each of the cathode plate assemblies to the coolant flow that feeds coolant plates in the stack.

An in vitro test bench reproducing coronary blood flow signals.

PubMed

Chodzyński, Kamil Jerzy; Boudjeltia, Karim Zouaoui; Lalmand, Jacques; Aminian, Adel; Vanhamme, Luc; de Sousa, Daniel Ribeiro; Gremmo, Simone; Bricteux, Laurent; Renotte, Christine; Courbebaisse, Guy; Coussement, Grégory

2015-08-07

It is a known fact that blood flow pattern and more specifically the pulsatile time variation of shear stress on the vascular wall play a key role in atherogenesis. The paper presents the conception, the building and the control of a new in vitro test bench that mimics the pulsatile flows behavior based on in vivo measurements. An in vitro cardiovascular simulator is alimented with in vivo constraints upstream and provided with further post-processing analysis downstream in order to mimic the pulsatile in vivo blood flow quantities. This real-time controlled system is designed to perform real pulsatile in vivo blood flow signals to study endothelial cells' behavior under near physiological environment. The system is based on an internal model controller and a proportional-integral controller that controls a linear motor with customized piston pump, two proportional-integral controllers that control the mean flow rate and temperature of the medium. This configuration enables to mimic any resulting blood flow rate patterns between 40 and 700 ml/min. In order to feed the system with reliable periodic flow quantities in vivo measurements were performed. Data from five patients (1 female, 4 males; ages 44-63) were filtered and post-processed using the Newtonian Womersley's solution. These resulting flow signals were compared with 2D axisymmetric, numerical simulation using a Carreau non-Newtonian model to validate the approximation of a Newtonian behavior. This in vitro test bench reproduces the measured flow rate time evolution and the complexity of in vivo hemodynamic signals within the accuracy of the relative error below 5%. This post-processing method is compatible with any real complex in vivo signal and demonstrates the heterogeneity of pulsatile patterns in coronary arteries among of different patients. The comparison between analytical and numerical solution demonstrate the fair quality of the Newtonian Womersley's approximation. Therefore, Womersley's solution was used to calculate input flow rate for the in vitro test bench.

Simultaneous destraction and desulfurization of Illinois coals with supercritical ethanol

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, B.C.

1983-01-01

Various Illinois coals (with Illinois number6 being the main one) are liquefied with various supercritical solvents (ethanol being the main solvent) at 543-598 K, system pressures of 6.99-24.23 MPa, flow rates of 3.0-7.5 ml/min, reaction time of 0-180 minutes, and coal particle sizes of 0.36-0.85 mm to 1.00-2.36 mm to systematically investigate the effects of flow rates, reaction time, coal particle size, temperature, pressure, coal characteristics (by using different Illinois coals), supercritical medium (by using different solvents), and the addition of potassium hydroxide. The % weight loss of coal and the % sulfur removal during destraction and desulfurization of coalmore » are functions of the flow rate, the reaction time, the coal particle size, temperature, pressure and the supercritical solvent. Temperature, pressure and the supercritical medium are the most important parameters in controlling the % weight loss of coal and the % sulfur removal. The % weight loss of coal can be related to a power law and fits quite nicely into a second order kinetic model. The % sulfur removal also follows a second order kinetic model. A secondary reaction is observed during the destraction process, which implies that destraction, and possibly desulfurization, of coal is a multistep reaction including a physical extraction step where the major portion of the coal and sulfur was removed and then followed by a chemical reaction. Supercritical ethanol definitely enhances the removal of sulfur compounds from coal. The enhanced selectivity by supercritical ethanol is greatest at a pressure just above the critical pressure of ethanol. Finally, addition of a base such as potassium hydroxide enhances both % weight loss of coal and the % sulfur removal.« less

A flow paradigm in heavy-ion collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Li

2018-04-01

The success of hydrodynamics in high energy heavy-ion collisions leads to a flow paradigm, to understand the observed features of harmonic flow in terms of the medium collective expansion with respect to initial state geometrical properties. In this review, we present some essential ingredients in the flow paradigm, including the hydrodynamic modeling, the characterization of initial state geometry and the medium response relations. The extension of the flow paradigm to small colliding systems is also discussed. Supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Steady boundary layer slip flow along with heat and mass transfer over a flat porous plate embedded in a porous medium.

PubMed

Aziz, Asim; Siddique, J I; Aziz, Taha

2014-01-01

In this paper, a simplified model of an incompressible fluid flow along with heat and mass transfer past a porous flat plate embedded in a Darcy type porous medium is investigated. The velocity, thermal and mass slip conditions are utilized that has not been discussed in the literature before. The similarity transformations are used to transform the governing partial differential equations (PDEs) into a nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The resulting system of ODEs is then reduced to a system of first order differential equations which was solved numerically by using Matlab bvp4c code. The effects of permeability, suction/injection parameter, velocity parameter and slip parameter on the structure of velocity, temperature and mass transfer rates are examined with the aid of several graphs. Moreover, observations based on Schmidt number and Soret number are also presented. The result shows, the increase in permeability of the porous medium increase the velocity and decrease the temperature profile. This happens due to a decrease in drag of the fluid flow. In the case of heat transfer, the increase in permeability and slip parameter causes an increase in heat transfer. However for the case of increase in thermal slip parameter there is a decrease in heat transfer. An increase in the mass slip parameter causes a decrease in the concentration field. The suction and injection parameter has similar effect on concentration profile as for the case of velocity profile.

Steady Boundary Layer Slip Flow along with Heat and Mass Transfer over a Flat Porous Plate Embedded in a Porous Medium

PubMed Central

Aziz, Asim; Siddique, J. I.; Aziz, Taha

2014-01-01

In this paper, a simplified model of an incompressible fluid flow along with heat and mass transfer past a porous flat plate embedded in a Darcy type porous medium is investigated. The velocity, thermal and mass slip conditions are utilized that has not been discussed in the literature before. The similarity transformations are used to transform the governing partial differential equations (PDEs) into a nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The resulting system of ODEs is then reduced to a system of first order differential equations which was solved numerically by using Matlab bvp4c code. The effects of permeability, suction/injection parameter, velocity parameter and slip parameter on the structure of velocity, temperature and mass transfer rates are examined with the aid of several graphs. Moreover, observations based on Schmidt number and Soret number are also presented. The result shows, the increase in permeability of the porous medium increase the velocity and decrease the temperature profile. This happens due to a decrease in drag of the fluid flow. In the case of heat transfer, the increase in permeability and slip parameter causes an increase in heat transfer. However for the case of increase in thermal slip parameter there is a decrease in heat transfer. An increase in the mass slip parameter causes a decrease in the concentration field. The suction and injection parameter has similar effect on concentration profile as for the case of velocity profile. PMID:25531301

Modelling rating curves using remotely sensed LiDAR data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nathanson, Marcus; Kean, Jason W.; Grabs, Thomas J.; Seibert, Jan; Laudon, Hjalmar; Lyon, Steve W.

2012-01-01

Accurate stream discharge measurements are important for many hydrological studies. In remote locations, however, it is often difficult to obtain stream flow information because of the difficulty in making the discharge measurements necessary to define stage-discharge relationships (rating curves). This study investigates the feasibility of defining rating curves by using a fluid mechanics-based model constrained with topographic data from an airborne LiDAR scanning. The study was carried out for an 8m-wide channel in the boreal landscape of northern Sweden. LiDAR data were used to define channel geometry above a low flow water surface along the 90-m surveyed reach. The channel topography below the water surface was estimated using the simple assumption of a flat streambed. The roughness for the modelled reach was back calculated from a single measurment of discharge. The topographic and roughness information was then used to model a rating curve. To isolate the potential influence of the flat bed assumption, a 'hybrid model' rating curve was developed on the basis of data combined from the LiDAR scan and a detailed ground survey. Whereas this hybrid model rating curve was in agreement with the direct measurements of discharge, the LiDAR model rating curve was equally in agreement with the medium and high flow measurements based on confidence intervals calculated from the direct measurements. The discrepancy between the LiDAR model rating curve and the low flow measurements was likely due to reduced roughness associated with unresolved submerged bed topography. Scanning during periods of low flow can help minimize this deficiency. These results suggest that combined ground surveys and LiDAR scans or multifrequency LiDAR scans that see 'below' the water surface (bathymetric LiDAR) could be useful in generating data needed to run such a fluid mechanics-based model. This opens a realm of possibility to remotely sense and monitor stream flows in channels in remote locations.

Pulsed photoacoustic flow imaging with a handheld system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van den Berg, Pim J.; Daoudi, Khalid; Steenbergen, Wiendelt

2016-02-01

Flow imaging is an important technique in a range of disease areas, but estimating low flow speeds, especially near the walls of blood vessels, remains challenging. Pulsed photoacoustic flow imaging can be an alternative since there is little signal contamination from background tissue with photoacoustic imaging. We propose flow imaging using a clinical photoacoustic system that is both handheld and portable. The system integrates a linear array with 7.5 MHz central frequency in combination with a high-repetition-rate diode laser to allow high-speed photoacoustic imaging-ideal for this application. This work shows the flow imaging performance of the system in vitro using microparticles. Both two-dimensional (2-D) flow images and quantitative flow velocities from 12 to 75 mm/s were obtained. In a transparent bulk medium, flow estimation showed standard errors of ˜7% the estimated speed; in the presence of tissue-realistic optical scattering, the error increased to 40% due to limited signal-to-noise ratio. In the future, photoacoustic flow imaging can potentially be performed in vivo using fluorophore-filled vesicles or with an improved setup on whole blood.

Thermal buoyancy on magneto hydrodynamic flow over a vertical saturated porous surface with viscous dissipation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nirmala, P. H.; Saila Kumari, A.; Raju, C. S. K.

2018-04-01

In the present article, we studied the magnetohydro dynamic flow induced heat transfer from vertical surface embedded in a saturated porous medium in the presence of viscous dissipation. Appropriate similarity transformations are used to transmute the non-linear governing partial differential equations to non-linear ODE. To solve these ordinary differential equations (ODE) we used the well-known integral method of Von Karman type. A comparison has been done and originates to be in suitable agreement with the previous published results. The tabulated and graphical results are given to consider the physical nature of the problem. From this results we found that the magnetic field parameter depreciate the velocity profiles and improves the heat transfer rate of the flow.

The potential of flow-through microdialysis for probing low-molecular weight organic anions in rhizosphere soil solution.

PubMed

Sulyok, Michael; Miró, Manuel; Stingeder, Gerhard; Koellensperger, Gunda

2005-08-01

In this paper, flow-through microdialysis is presented as a novel analytical tool for automatic sampling of low molecular weight organic anions (LMWOA), such as oxalate and citrate, in solid samples of environmental concern. The microsampling methodology involves the implantation of dedicated capillary-type probes offering unrivalled spatial resolution (ca. 200μm) in definite soil sites. These passive samplers are aimed at monitoring local processes, such as the release of organic acids occurring in the rhizosphere environment, in nearly real-time. The influence of chemical and physical variables (composition and flow rate of the perfusion liquid, ionic strength and pH of the outer medium and presence of metal ions therein) was assessed in vitro using liquid-phase assays. On the other hand, the resistance of the external solid medium to mass transfer, and the actual applicability of in vivo calibration methods were investigated using quartz sand as an inert model soil. Microdialysers furnished with 3cm long semipermeable tubular membranes were perfused with 0.01M NaNO 3 at a flow rate of 2.0μl/min, yielding dialysis recoveries ≥45% for both assayed LMWOAs in simulated background soil electrolyte solutions, and ≥24% in the interstitial liquid of complex solid samples. Full knowledge of the fate of LMWOAs in soils was obtained through the application of stimulus-response approaches that mimic the discrete exudation pulses of roots. Highly time-resolved microdialysates were used to discern readily available species such as free carboxylic anions and LMW metal-organic acid complexes from adsorbed, precipitated or mineralised analyte species in a variety of soil samples containing variable amounts of organic matter, exchangeable cations and different levels of metal pollution.

Dynamics of drinking water biofilm in flow/non-flow conditions.

PubMed

Manuel, C M; Nunes, O C; Melo, L F

2007-02-01

Drinking water biofilm formation on polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) was followed in three different reactors operating under stagnant or continuous flow regimes. After one week, a quasi-steady state was achieved where biofilm total cell numbers per unit surface area were not affected by fluctuations in the concentration of suspended cells. Metabolically active cells in biofilms were around 17-35% of the total cells and 6-18% were able to form colony units in R(2)A medium. Microbiological analysis showed that the adhesion material and reactor design did not affect significantly the biofilm growth. However, operating under continuous flow (0.8-1.9 Pa) or stagnant water had a significant effect on biofilm formation: in stagnant waters, biofilm grew to a less extent. By applying mass balances and an asymptotic biofilm formation model to data from biofilms grown on PVC and HDPE surfaces under turbulent flow, specific growth rates of bacteria in the biofilm were found to be similar for both materials (around 0.15 day(-1)) and much lower than the specific growth rates of suspended bacteria (around 1.8 day(-1)).

Spectroscopic Doppler analysis for visible-light optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shu, Xiao; Liu, Wenzhong; Duan, Lian; Zhang, Hao F.

2017-12-01

Retinal oxygen metabolic rate can be effectively measured by visible-light optical coherence tomography (vis-OCT), which simultaneously quantifies oxygen saturation and blood flow rate in retinal vessels through spectroscopic analysis and Doppler measurement, respectively. Doppler OCT relates phase variation between sequential A-lines to the axial flow velocity of the scattering medium. The detectable phase shift is between -π and π due to its periodicity, which limits the maximum measurable unambiguous velocity without phase unwrapping. Using shorter wavelengths, vis-OCT is more vulnerable to phase ambiguity since flow induced phase variation is linearly related to the center wavenumber of the probing light. We eliminated the need for phase unwrapping using spectroscopic Doppler analysis. We split the whole vis-OCT spectrum into a series of narrow subbands and reconstructed vis-OCT images to extract corresponding Doppler phase shifts in all the subbands. Then, we quantified flow velocity by analyzing subband-dependent phase shift using linear regression. In the phantom experiment, we showed that spectroscopic Doppler analysis extended the measurable absolute phase shift range without conducting phase unwrapping. We also tested this method to quantify retinal blood flow in rodents in vivo.

Conceptual model for transport processes in the Culebra Dolomite Member, Rustler Formation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Holt, R.M.

1997-08-01

The Culebra Dolomite Member of the Rustler Formation represents a possible pathway for contaminants from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant underground repository to the accessible environment. The geologic character of the Culebra is consistent with a double-porosity, multiple-rate model for transport in which the medium is conceptualized as consisting of advective porosity, where solutes are carried by the groundwater flow, and fracture-bounded zones of diffusive porosity, where solutes move through slow advection or diffusion. As the advective travel length or travel time increases, the nature of transport within a double-porosity medium changes. This behavior is important for chemical sorption, becausemore » the specific surface area per unit mass of the diffusive porosity is much greater than in the advective porosity. Culebra transport experiments conducted at two different length scales show behavior consistent with a multiple-rate, double-porosity conceptual model for Culebra transport. Tracer tests conducted on intact core samples from the Culebra show no evidence of significant diffusion, suggesting that at the core scale the Culebra can be modeled as a single-porosity medium where only the advective porosity participates in transport. Field tracer tests conducted in the Culebra show strong double-porosity behavior that is best explained using a multiple-rate model.« less

Uniform, stable supply of medium for in vitro cell culture using a robust chamber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Juan; Liu, Chong; Jiang, Yang; Liu, Tao; Chen, Li; Liu, Bo; Li, Jingmin

2018-06-01

A uniform, stable supply of medium is important for in vitro cell culture. In this paper, a microfluidic device is presented for culturing cells inside a robust chamber with continuous perfusion of medium. The device consists of a main channel, two bifurcated channels and a culture chamber. The culture chamber connects to the bifurcated channels via multiple paths, and distributes symmetrically on the main channel, to improve the efficiency of medium exchange. Furthermore, regular polygonal chambers with various numbers of edges have been designed, to study the effects of chamber shape on flow fields. The finite element method has been employed to predict the effects of multiple paths on the uniformity and stability of flow fields in the culture chamber. Particle tracking technology has been used to evaluate the flow fields in the chambers, and PC-12 cells have been cultured using the microfluidic device, to test its validity. The results of simulation and experiment indicate that the microfluidic design could provide a continuous interstitial-like flow microenvironment, with a relatively stable and uniform supply of medium.

Heat and Mass Transfer on MHD Free convective flow of Second grade fluid through Porous medium over an infinite vertical plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dastagiri Babu, D.; Venkateswarlu, S.; Keshava Reddy, E.

2017-08-01

In this paper, we have considered the unsteady free convective two dimensional flow of a viscous incompressible electrically conducting second grade fluid over an infinite vertical porous plate under the influence of uniform transverse magnetic field with time dependent permeability, oscillatory suction. The governing equations of the flow field are solved by a regular perturbation method for small amplitude of the permeability. The closed form solutions for the velocity, temperature and concentration have been derived analytically and also its behavior is computationally discussed with reference to different flow parameters with the help of profiles. The skin fiction on the boundary, the heat flux in terms of the Nusselt number and rate of mass transfer in terms of Sherwood number are also obtained and their behavior computationally discussed.

Insulin and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor synergistically promote astrocyte survival and proliferation in serum-free medium.

PubMed

Jia, Mei; Shi, Zhongfang; Yan, Xu; Xu, Lixin; Dong, Liping; Li, Jiaxin; Wang, Yujiao; Yang, Shaohua; Yuan, Fang

2018-06-08

In vitro systems allowing maintenance and experimentation on primary astrocyte cultures have been used for decades. Astrocyte cultures are most maintained in serum-containing medium which has been found to alter the morphology and gene profiles of astrocytes. Here, we reported a new serum-free medium for astrocyte culture, which consisted of DMEM and NB media supplemented with insulin and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) (SF-I-H medium). Meanwhile FBS-containing (FBS) medium composed of DMEM medium containing 10% FBS were used for comparison study. Cerebral cortex was harvested from postnatal day 1 Wistar rats and brain cells were isolated and seeded to poly-L-lysine coated culture dishes after 15 min differential velocity adherence. Compared with FBS medium, astrocytes in SF-I-H medium are smaller and exhibited process bearing morphologies. MTT assays showed that cell density and proliferation rate were higher in SF-I-H medium than in FBS medium all the time, and flow cytometry analysis revealed that SF-I-H medium promoted cell mitosis in a manner comparable to FBS medium. Consistently, western blot analysis further revealed that insulin and HB-EGF synergistically activated the PI3K-AKT and MAPK-ERK1/2 signaling cascades as FBS. Astrocytes cultured in SF-I-H medium grow faster than FBS medium. Taken together, our results indicated that SF-I-H medium, in which cell morphology was similar with astrocytes in brain, was more effective for astrocyte survival and proliferation than FBS medium, providing a new cell model to study astrocyte functions without the interference of serum. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Modeling of Flow, Transport and Controlled Sedimentation Phenomena during Mixing of Salt Solutions in Complex Porous Formations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skouras, Eugene D.; Jaho, Sofia; Pavlakou, Efstathia I.; Sygouni, Varvara; Petsi, Anastasia; Paraskeva, Christakis A.

2015-04-01

The deposition of salts in porous media is a major engineering phenomenon encountered in a plethora of industrial and environmental applications where in some cases is desirable and in other not (oil production, geothermal systems, soil stabilization etc). Systematic approach of these problems requires knowledge of the key mechanisms of precipitating salts within the porous structures, in order to develop new methods to control the process. In this work, the development and the solution of spatiotemporally variable mass balances during salt solution mixing along specific pores were performed. Both analytical models and finite differences CFD models were applied for the study of flow and transport with simultaneous homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation (by crystal growth on the surface of the pores) in simple geometries, while unstructured finite elements and meshless methods were developed and implemented for spatial discretization, reconstruction, and solution of transport equations and homogeneous / heterogeneous reactions in more complex geometries. At initial stages of this work, critical problem parameters were identified, such as the characteristics of the porosity, the number of dissolved components, etc. The parameters were then used for solving problems which correspond to available experimental data. For each combination of ions and materials, specific data and process characteristics were included: (a) crystal kinetics (nucleation, growth rates or reaction surface rates of crystals, critical suspension concentrations), (b) physico-chemical properties (bulk density, dimensions of generated crystals, ion diffusion coefficients in the solution), (c) operating parameters (macroscopic velocity, flow, or pressure gradient of the solution, ion concentration) (d) microfluidic data (geometry, flow area), (e) porosity data in Darcy description (initial porosity, specific surface area, tortuosity). During the modeling of flow and transport in three-dimensional pore network, the dependence of the mass balance in all major directions is taken into account, either as a three-dimensional network of pores with specific geometry (cylinders, sinusoidal cells), or as a homogeneous random medium (Darcy description). The distribution of the crystals along the porous medium was calculated in the case of selective crystallization on the walls, which is the predominant effect to date in the experiments. The crystals distribution was also examined in the case where crystallization was carried out in the bulk solution. Salts sedimentation experiments were simulated both in an unsaturated porous medium and in a medium saturated with an oil phase. A comparison of the simulation results with corresponding experimental results was performed in order to design improved selective sedimentation of salts systems in porous formations. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research was partially funded by the European Union (European Social Fund-ESF) and Greek National Funds through the Operational program "Education and Lifelong Learning" under the action Aristeia II (Code No 4420).

Experimental design data for the biosynthesis of citric acid using Central Composite Design method.

PubMed

Kola, Anand Kishore; Mekala, Mallaiah; Goli, Venkat Reddy

2017-06-01

In the present investigation, we report that statistical design and optimization of significant variables for the microbial production of citric acid from sucrose in presence of filamentous fungi A. niger NCIM 705. Various combinations of experiments were designed with Central Composite Design (CCD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for the production of citric acid as a function of six variables. The variables are; initial sucrose concentration, initial pH of medium, fermentation temperature, incubation time, stirrer rotational speed, and oxygen flow rate. From experimental data, a statistical model for this process has been developed. The optimum conditions reported in the present article are initial concentration of sucrose of 163.6 g/L, initial pH of medium 5.26, stirrer rotational speed of 247.78 rpm, incubation time of 8.18 days, fermentation temperature of 30.06 °C and flow rate of oxygen of 1.35 lpm. Under optimum conditions the predicted maximum citric acid is 86.42 g/L. The experimental validation carried out under the optimal values and reported citric acid to be 82.0 g/L. The model is able to represent the experimental data and the agreement between the model and experimental data is good.

Momentum transfer conduits -- A new microscopic look at porous media

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moaveni, S.

In this paper, the flow of fluid through porous media is investigated on a microscopic scale by representing a porous medium by an assemblage of hypothetical conduits through which the fluid momentum is transferred across the medium. It is shown that the rate of transfer of fluid momentum depends on the geometrical structure of the conduits such as the number density of momentum transfer conduits (MTCs), the length distribution and the directional distribution of these hypothetical conduits. In addition an expression for the total number of momentum transfer conduits reaching an arbitrary areal element is developed. Finally, an average heightmore » normal to an arbitrary areal element at which the MTCs were last discharged is formulated. This idea leads to definition of momentum thickness, which in turn may be used to define an effective (pseudo) viscosity for a given porous medium.« less

Hyperactive α-amylase production by Aspergillus oryzae IFO 30103 in a new bioreactor.

PubMed

Dey, T B; Banerjee, R

2012-02-01

  To improve the α-amylase production in solid-state fermentation (SSF) condition utilizing a new bioreactor (NB) system.   In NB system, 20 g of wheat bran moistened with liquid medium in 1:1 ratio (w/v) was taken on the tray present inside the upper vessel and an additional 80 ml medium was supplemented into the lower vessel. Oxygen uptake rate was improved by supplying compressed air that lifted the liquid medium into the upper vessel and touched the substrate bed. This condition probably facilitated the heat transfer to liquid medium, reduce water loss and catabolite repression. With 1% glucose supplementation, maximum α-amylase activity of 22 317 Ugds(-1) was produced by Aspergillus oryzae IFO 30103 within a very short incubation period (48 h) at 2-cm bed height with air flow rate of 0·1 l min(-1)  g(-1) wheat bran at 32°C and initial medium pH of 6.   Within a short incubation period, significantly high α-amylase activity was obtained and it is higher than those reported to date at bioreactor scale operating with a fungal strain.   The reactor is novel and can overcome some of the major problems associated with SSF process. A. oryzae IFO 30103 is reported as the best fungal source for α-amylase production. © 2011 The Authors. Letters in Applied Microbiology © 2011 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Instability of evaporation fronts in the interstellar medium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Jeong-Gyu; Kim, Woong-Tae, E-mail: jgkim@astro.snu.ac.kr, E-mail: wkim@astro.snu.ac.kr

2013-12-10

The neutral component of the interstellar medium is segregated into the cold neutral medium (CNM) and warm neutral medium (WNM) as a result of thermal instability. It was found that a plane-parallel CNM-WNM evaporation interface, across which the CNM undergoes thermal expansion, is linearly unstable to corrugational disturbances, in complete analogy with the Darrieus-Landau instability (DLI) of terrestrial flames. We perform a full linear stability analysis as well as nonlinear hydrodynamic simulations of the DLI of such evaporation fronts in the presence of thermal conduction. We find that the DLI is suppressed at short length scales by conduction. The lengthmore » and time scales of the fastest growing mode are inversely proportional to the evaporation flow speed of the CNM and its square, respectively. In the nonlinear stage, the DLI saturates to a steady state where the front deforms to a finger-like shape protruding toward the WNM, without generating turbulence. The evaporation rate at nonlinear saturation is larger than the initial plane-parallel value by a factor of ∼2.4 when the equilibrium thermal pressure is 1800 k {sub B} cm{sup –3} K. The degrees of front deformation and evaporation-rate enhancement at nonlinear saturation are determined primarily by the density ratio between the CNM and WNM. We demonstrate that the Field length in the thermally unstable medium should be resolved by at least four grid points to obtain reliable numerical outcomes involving thermal instability.« less

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Modeling of Gravity Currents on a Dry Porous Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daly, E.; Grimaldi, S.; Bui, H.

2014-12-01

Gravity currents flowing over porous media occur in many environmental processes and industrial applications, such as irrigation, benthic boundary layers, and oil spills. The coupling of the flow over the porous surface and the infiltration of the fluid in the porous media is complex and difficult to model. Of particular interest is the prediction of the position of the runoff front and the depth of the infiltration front. We present here a model for the flow of a finite volume of a highly viscous Newtonian fluid over a dry, homogenous porous medium. The Navier-Stokes equations describing the runoff flow are coupled to the Volume Averaged Navier-Stokes equations for the infiltration flow. The numerical solution of these equations is challenging because of the presence of two free surfaces (runoff and infiltration waves), the lack of fixed boundary conditions at the runoff front, and the difficulties in defining appropriate conditions at the surface of the porous medium. The first two challenges were addressed by using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics, which is a Lagrangian, mesh-free particle method particularly suitable for modelling free surface flows. Two different approaches were used to model the flow conditions at the surface of the porous medium. The Two Domain Approach (TDA) assumes that runoff and infiltration flows occur in two separate homogenous domains; here, we assume the continuity of velocity and stresses at the interface of the two domains. The One Domain Approach (ODA) models runoff and infiltration flows as occurring through a medium whose hydraulic properties vary continuously in space. The transition from the hydraulic properties of the atmosphere and the porous medium occur in a layer near the surface of the porous medium. Expressions listed in literature were used to compute the thickness of this transition layer and the spatial variation of porosity and permeability within it. Our results showed that ODA led to slower velocities of the runoff front and enhanced infiltration when compared to the implemented formulation of TDA. In the ODA, depending on the description of the transition layer, the maximum distances travelled by the runoff front and the maximum depth of infiltration varied over a range of ±15% and ±50% when compared to their respective averaged values.

Chemiluminescence from an oxidation reaction of rhodamine B with cerium(IV) in a reversed micellar medium of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride in 1-hexanol-cyclohexane/water.

PubMed

Hasanin, Tamer H A; Tsunemine, Yusuke; Tsukahara, Satoshi; Okamoto, Yasuaki; Fujiwara, Terufumi

2011-01-01

The chemiluminescence (CL) emission, observed when rhodamine B (RB) in 1-hexanol-cyclohexane was mixed with cerium(IV) sulfate in sulfuric acid dispersed in a reversed micellar medium of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) in 1-hexanol-cyclohexane/water, was investigated using a flow-injection system. The CL emission from the oxidation reaction of RB with Ce(IV) was found to be stronger in the CTAC reversed micellar solution compared with an aqueous solution. Bearing on the enhancement effect of the CTAC reverse micelles on the RB-Ce(IV) CL, several studies including stopped-flow, fluorescence and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometries were performed. Rapid spectral changes of an intermediate in the RB-Ce(IV) reaction in the aqueous and reversed micellar solutions were successfully observed using a stopped-flow method. The effect of the experimental variables, i.e., oxidant concentration, sulfuric acid concentration, the mole fraction of 1-hexanol, water-to-surfactant molar concentration ratio, flow rate, upon the CL intensity was evaluated. Under the experimental conditions optimized for a flow-injection determination of RB based on the new reversed micellar-mediated CL reaction with Ce(IV), a detection limit of 0.08 µmol dm(-3) RB was achieved, and a linear calibration graph was obtained with a dynamic range from 0.5 to 20 µmol dm(-3). The relative standard deviation (n = 6) obtained at an RB concentration of 3 µmol dm(-3) was 3%.

Modeling of flowing gas diode pumped alkali lasers: dependence of the operation on the gas velocity and on the nature of the buffer gas.

PubMed

Barmashenko, B D; Rosenwaks, S

2012-09-01

A simple, semi-analytical model of flowing gas diode pumped alkali lasers (DPALs) is presented. The model takes into account the rise of temperature in the lasing medium with increasing pump power, resulting in decreasing pump absorption and slope efficiency. The model predicts the dependence of power on the flow velocity in flowing gas DPALs and checks the effect of using a buffer gas with high molar heat capacity and large relaxation rate constant between the 2P3/2 and 2P1/2 fine-structure levels of the alkali atom. It is found that the power strongly increases with flow velocity and that by replacing, e.g., ethane by propane as a buffer gas the power may be further increased by up to 30%. Eight kilowatt is achievable for 20 kW pump at flow velocity of 20  m/s.

Stokes Approach to Preferential Flow at the Darcy-Scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Germann, Peter; Bogner, Christina

2017-04-01

Preferential Flow in soils is fast, limited to infiltration and occupies but a small portion of porosity. However, how fast is it, how much water is involved, what is its flow rate, and how far is it carried? Supported with numerous measurements a Stokes approach to preferential flow provides the answers at the operational Darcy-scale. The approach to preferential flow in permeable media (pm) stresses momentum dissipation during viscous flow. Thus, a laminar water film percolates through a pm. The dynamic film is initially determined by the thickness F (m) and the specific contact area L (m2 m-3) per unit volume of the medium. Input to the medium's surface is a pulse with volume flux density q (ms-1) that starts and ends at times TB and TE. A specific pulse and the intrinsic properties of a pm determine F and L. A water content wave (WCW) envelops the spatio-temporal evolution of a water film. A WCW is completely described with a set of analytical relationships that are based on F, L, and the water's viscosity. The approach is an extension of Hagen-Poiseuille's law of flow in concentric conduits. It also evolves seamlessly from extending Darcy's law into non-saturated pm. Experimental determination of F and L follows either from drainage flow or from rapid soil moisture recordings during the passing of a WCW, for instance, with TDR-equipment. Parameters from numerous infiltration experiments in the field, in soil columns, in sand boxes, and lysimeters demonstrate the approach's broad applicability, thus framing the spatio-temporal extensions, velocities and volume flux densities of preferential flows. The specific contact area L is considered the locus of water, heat, particle and solute transfer between a WCW and the sessile parts of a pm. A recent analysis of delayed Br-breakthrough with respect to drainage flow supports the feasibility of the Stokes approach to preferential flow at the Darcy-scale. A perspective of modeling sequences of input pulses will conclude the presentation.

Optimization of flowrate for expansion of human embryonic stem cells in perfusion microbioreactors.

PubMed

Titmarsh, Drew; Hidalgo, Alejandro; Turner, Jennifer; Wolvetang, Ernst; Cooper-White, Justin

2011-12-01

Microfluidic systems create significant opportunities to establish highly controlled microenvironmental conditions for screening pluripotent stem cell fate. However, since cell fate is crucially dependent on this microenvironment, it remains unclear as to whether continual perfusion of culture medium supports pluripotent stem cell maintenance in feeder-free, chemically defined conditions, and further, whether optimum perfusion conditions exist for subsequent use of human embryonic stem cell (hESCs) in other microfludic systems. To investigate this, we designed microbioreactors based on resistive flow to screen hESCs under a linear range of flowrates. We report that at low rates (conditions where glucose transport is convection-limited with Péclet number <1), cells are affected by apparent nutrient depletion and waste accumulation, evidenced by reduced cell expansion and altered morphology. At higher rates, cells are spontaneously washed out, and display morphological changes which may be indicative of early-stage differentiation. However, between these thresholds exists a narrow range of flowrates in which hESCs expand comparably to the equivalent static culture system, with regular morphology and maintenance of the pluripotency marker TG30 in >95% of cells over 7 days. For MEL1 hESCs the optimum flowrate also coincided with the time-averaged medium exchange rate in static cultures, which may therefore provide a good first estimate of appropriate perfusion rates. Overall, we demonstrate hESCs can be maintained in microbioreactors under continual flow for up to 7 days, a critical outcome for the future development of microbioreactor-based screening systems and assays for hESC culture. Copyright © 2011 Crown in the right of Canada.

Compton scattering of the microwave background by quasar-blown bubbles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Voit, G. Mark

1994-01-01

At least 10% of quasars drive rapid outflows from the central regions of their host galaxies. The mass and energy flow rates in these winds are difficult to measure, but their kinetic luminosities probably exceed 10(exp 45) ergs/s. This kind of outflow easily sunders the interstellar medium of the host and blows a bubble in the intergalactic medium. After the quasar shuts off, the hot bubble continues to shock intergalactic gas until its leading edge merges with the Hubble flow. The interior hot gas Compton scatters microwave background photons, potentially providing a way to detect these bubbles. Assuming that quasar kinetic luminosities scale with their blue luminosities, we integrate over the quasar luminosity function to find the total distortion (y) of the microwave background produced by the entire population of quasar wind bubbles. This calculation of y distortion is remarkably insensitive to the properties of the intergalactic medium (IGM), quasar lifetimes, and cosmological parameters. Current Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) limits on y constrain the kinetic luminosities of quasars to be less than several times their bolometric radiative luminosities. Within this constraint, quasars can still expel enough kinetic luminosity to shock the entire IGM by z = 0, but cannot heat and ionize the IGM by z = 4 unless omega(sub IGM) much less than 10(exp -2).

Generation of a medium vacuum pressure by using two different pumping methods in the KRISS dynamic flow-control system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, S. S.; Lim, J. Y.; Khan, W.

2014-02-01

Pumping systems with large vacuum chambers have numerous applications in the process industry: for example, mixing of various types of gases as in the semiconductor industry, the calibration of vacuum gauges, the measurement of outgassing rates of various materials in the field of space technology, etc. Most often, these systems are used in the medium vacuum range (10-1 Pa-102 Pa) and in the dynamically-generated pressure mode. We have designed and developed a new dynamic flow system at the KRISS (Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science) that can be used for such applications with reliability in the range from 0.1 Pa - 133 Pa. In this report, the design philosophy, operational procedure and experimental data for the generated stable pressure points in the chamber of the system are discussed. The data consist the pressure points generated in the medium vacuum range while pumping the chamber of the system by using two different methods: first by using a dry scroll pump and then by using a combination of a turbomolecular pump backed by the same scroll pump. The relative standard deviations in the pressure points were calculated and were found to be greater than 1.5% for the scroll pump and less than 0.5% for the turbomolecular pump.

A tale of tails: Photon rates and flow in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions

DOE PAGES

McLerran, Larry; Schenke, Björn

2016-02-01

We consider the possibility that quark and gluon distributions in the medium created in high energy heavy ion collisions may be modified by a power law tail at energies much higher than the temperature. We parametrize such a tail by Tsallis distributions with an exponent motivated by phenomenology. These distributions are characterized by an effective temperature scale that we assume to evolve in time like the temperature for thermal distributions. We find that including such a tail increases the rates for photon production and significantly delays the emission times for photons of a fixed energy. Finally, we argue that thesemore » effects should modify photon yields and flow patterns in a way that will help the agreement of theoretical calculations with data from LHC and RHIC experiments.« less

Experiment T001: Entry communication on the Gemini 3 mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schroeder, L. C.; Sims, T. E.; Cuddihy, W. F.

1971-01-01

Water addition to the Gemini 3 exhaust plasma was studied to determine its effectiveness in the establishment of communication links during the entry portion of the flight. Attenuation levels were measured with and without water injection at uhf frequencies of 230.4 and 296.8 megahertz and at the C-band frequency of 5690 megahertz. Ultrahigh frequency signals that had been blacked out were restored to significant levels, during early portions of the water-injection sequence, by the high flow rate injection. The C-band signal was enhanced by medium and high flow rate injections during the latter portion of the injection period. The uhf signal recovered during water injection resulted in an antenna pattern that was beamed in the radial direction of injection from the spacecraft. Postflight analysis showed that the uhf recovery data were consistent with injection-penetration theory.

A follow-up study of neonatal interatrial shunt with echocardiography until twelve to fifteen months of age.

PubMed

Ho, Chi-Lin; Jan, Sheng-Ling; Lin, Ming-Chih; Fu, Yun-Ching

2008-12-01

To assess the incidence and natural history of full-term neonates with interatrial shunt (IAS). A follow-up study of 1389 neonates who received screening echocardiography between 2003 and 2006. Babies with IAS at 2 to 4 days of life underwent follow-up echocardiography at 2 to 4 months, 6 to 9 months and 12 to 15 months of age until closure of IAS. The ratio of IAS was 68.3% initially. No significant demographic differences were identified between infants with and without initial IAS. Among 949 neonates with initial IAS, 84.5% infants had a left-to-right interatrial shunt, 13.5% had bidirectional shunt and 2% had predominantly right-to-left shunt. The persistence rate of IAS at 12 to 15 months of age was 3.8% (44/1166). The initial size of IAS ranged from 1.2 to 7.7mm (4.3+/-1.1 mm) detected by color Doppler flow mapping and cases were divided into three groups: small (< or =5 mm), medium (5 to 8 mm) and large group (> or =8 mm). There were 74.6% infants in the small group and 25.4% in the medium group initially. The neonates in the initial small group would always see their IAS close or else they would remain in the small group. Those in the final medium and large size groups always came from the initial medium group. The late closure rate of IAS was 93.9% of infants with initial IAS. The closure curves of initial small and medium sized groups were significantly different, and their late closure rates were 95.1% and 90.4%, respectively. IAS was very common during early neonatal stage, but most cases would close after 1 year. The late closure rate of initial IAS was different if using a cutpoint of 5 mm.

Preferential paths in yield stress fluid flow through a porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guasto, Jeffrey; Waisbord, Nicolas; Stoop, Norbert; Dunkel, Jörn

2016-11-01

A broad range of biological, geological, and industrial materials with complex rheological properties are subjected to flow through porous media in applications ranging from oil recovery to food manufacturing. In this experimental study, we examine the flow of a model yield stress fluid (Carbopol micro-gel) through a quasi-2D porous medium, fabricated in a microfluidic channel. The flow is driven by applying a precisely-controlled pressure gradient and measured by particle tracking velocimetry, and our observations are complemented by a pore-network model of the yield stress fluid flow. While remaining unyielded at small applied pressure, the micro-gel begins to yield at a critical pressure gradient, exhibiting a single preferential flow path that percolates through the porous medium. As the applied pressure gradient increases, we observe a subsequent coarsening and invasion of the yielded, fluidized network. An examination of both the yielded network topology and pore-scale flow reveal that two cooperative phenomena are involved in sculpting the preferential flow paths: (1) the geometry of the porous microstructure, and (2) the adhesive surface interactions between the micro-gel and substrate. NSF CBET-1511340.

Optimal Concentrations in Transport Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jensen, Kaare; Savage, Jessica; Kim, Wonjung; Bush, John; Holbrook, N. Michele

2013-03-01

Biological and man-made systems rely on effective transport networks for distribution of material and energy. Mass flow in these networks is determined by the flow rate and the concentration of material. While the most concentrated solution offers the greatest potential for mass flow, impedance grows with concentration and thus makes it the most difficult to transport. The concentration at which mass flow is optimal depends on specific physical and physiological properties of the system. We derive a simple model which is able to predict optimal concentrations observed in blood flows, sugar transport in plants, and nectar feeding animals. Our model predicts that the viscosity at the optimal concentration μopt =2nμ0 is an integer power of two times the viscosity of the pure carrier medium μ0. We show how the observed powers 1 <= n <= 6 agree well with theory and discuss how n depends on biological constraints imposed on the transport process. The model provides a universal framework for studying flows impeded by concentration and provides hints of how to optimize engineered flow systems, such as congestion in traffic flows.

Optimal concentrations in transport systems

PubMed Central

Jensen, Kaare H.; Kim, Wonjung; Holbrook, N. Michele; Bush, John W. M.

2013-01-01

Many biological and man-made systems rely on transport systems for the distribution of material, for example matter and energy. Material transfer in these systems is determined by the flow rate and the concentration of material. While the most concentrated solutions offer the greatest potential in terms of material transfer, impedance typically increases with concentration, thus making them the most difficult to transport. We develop a general framework for describing systems for which impedance increases with concentration, and consider material flow in four different natural systems: blood flow in vertebrates, sugar transport in vascular plants and two modes of nectar drinking in birds and insects. The model provides a simple method for determining the optimum concentration copt in these systems. The model further suggests that the impedance at the optimum concentration μopt may be expressed in terms of the impedance of the pure (c = 0) carrier medium μ0 as μopt∼2αμ0, where the power α is prescribed by the specific flow constraints, for example constant pressure for blood flow (α = 1) or constant work rate for certain nectar-drinking insects (α = 6). Comparing the model predictions with experimental data from more than 100 animal and plant species, we find that the simple model rationalizes the observed concentrations and impedances. The model provides a universal framework for studying flows impeded by concentration, and yields insight into optimization in engineered systems, such as traffic flow. PMID:23594815

Modeling the Impact of Deformation on Unstable Miscible Displacements in Porous Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santillán, D.; Cueto-Felgueroso, L.

2014-12-01

Coupled flow and geomechanics is a critical research challenge in engineering and the geosciences. The simultaneous flow of two or more fluids with different densities or viscosities through deformable media is ubiquitous in environmental, industrial, and biological processes, including the removal of non-aqueous phase liquids from underground water bodies, the geological storage of CO2, and current challenges in energy technologies, such as enhanced geothermal systems, unconventional hydrocarbon resources or enhanced oil recovery techniques. Using numerical simulation, we study the interplay between viscous-driven flow instabilities (viscous fingering) and rock mechanics, and elucidate the structure of the displacement patterns as a function of viscosity contrast, injection rate and rock mechanical properties. Finally, we discuss the role of medium deformation on transport and mixing processes in porous media.

Investigation of the Klinkenberg effect in a micro/nanoporous medium by direct simulation Monte Carlo method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Guang; Weigand, Bernhard

2018-04-01

The pressure-driven gas transport characteristics through a porous medium consisting of arrays of discrete elements is investigated by using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. Different porous structures are considered, accounting for both two- and three-dimensional arrangements of basic microscale and nanoscale elements. The pore scale flow patterns in the porous medium are obtained, and the Knudsen diffusion in the pores is studied in detail for slip and transition flow regimes. A new effective pore size of the porous medium is defined, which is a function of the porosity, the tortuosity, the contraction factor, and the intrinsic permeability of the porous medium. It is found that the Klinkenberg effect in different porous structures can be fully described by the Knudsen number characterized by the effective pore size. The accuracies of some widely used Klinkenberg correlations are evaluated by the present DSMC results. It is also found that the available correlations for apparent permeability, most of which are derived from simple pipe or channel flows, can still be applicative for more complex porous media flows, by using the effective pore size defined in this study.

Axial flow heat exchanger devices and methods for heat transfer using axial flow devices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Koplow, Jeffrey P.

Systems and methods described herein are directed to rotary heat exchangers configured to transfer heat to a heat transfer medium flowing in substantially axial direction within the heat exchangers. Exemplary heat exchangers include a heat conducting structure which is configured to be in thermal contact with a thermal load or a thermal sink, and a heat transfer structure rotatably coupled to the heat conducting structure to form a gap region between the heat conducting structure and the heat transfer structure, the heat transfer structure being configured to rotate during operation of the device. In example devices heat may be transferredmore » across the gap region from a heated axial flow of the heat transfer medium to a cool stationary heat conducting structure, or from a heated stationary conducting structure to a cool axial flow of the heat transfer medium.« less

Blackbody emission from light interacting with an effective moving dispersive medium.

PubMed

Petev, M; Westerberg, N; Moss, D; Rubino, E; Rimoldi, C; Cacciatori, S L; Belgiorno, F; Faccio, D

2013-07-26

Intense laser pulses excite a nonlinear polarization response that may create an effective flowing medium and, under appropriate conditions, a blocking horizon for light. Here, we analyze in detail the interaction of light with such laser-induced flowing media, fully accounting for the medium dispersion properties. An analytical model based on a first Born approximation is found to be in excellent agreement with numerical simulations based on Maxwell's equations and shows that when a blocking horizon is formed, the stimulated medium scatters light with a blackbody emission spectrum. Based on these results, diamond is proposed as a promising candidate medium for future studies of Hawking emission from artificial, dispersive horizons.

Leveraging Understanding of Flow of Variable Complex Fluid to Design Better Absorbent Hygiene Products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krautkramer, C.; Rend, R. R.

2014-12-01

Menstrual flow, which is a result of shedding of uterus endometrium, occurs periodically in sync with a women's hormonal cycle. Management of this flow while allowing women to pursue their normal daily lives is the purpose of many commercial products. Some of these products, e.g. feminine hygiene pads and tampons, utilize porous materials in achieving their goal. In this paper we will demonstrate different phenomena that have been observed in flow of menstrual fluid through these porous materials, share some of the advances made in experimental and analytical study of these phenomena, and also present some of the unsolved challenges and difficulties encountered while studying this kind of flow. Menstrual fluid is generally composed of four main components: blood plasma, blood cells, cervical mucus, and tissue debris. This non-homogeneous, multiphase fluid displays very complex rheological behavior, e. g., yield stress, thixotropy, and visco-elasticity, that varies throughout and between menstrual cycles and among women due to various factors. Flow rates are also highly variable during menstruation and across the population and the rheological properties of the fluid change during the flow into and through the product. In addition to these phenomena, changes to the structure of the porous medium within the product can also be seen due to fouling and/or swelling of the material. This paper will, also, share how the fluid components impact the flow and the consequences for computer simulation, the creation of a simulant fluid and testing methods, and for designing products that best meet consumer needs. We hope to bring to light the challenges of managing this complex flow to meet a basic need of women all over the world. An opportunity exists to apply learnings from research in other disciplines to improve the scientific knowledge related to the flow of this complex fluid through the porous medium that is a sanitary product.

Energy efficient engine: Fan test hardware detailed design report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sullivan, T. J.

1980-01-01

A single stage fan and quarter stage booster were designed for the energy efficient engine. The fan has an inlet radius ratio of 0.342 and a specific flow rate of 208.9 Kg/S sq m (42.8 lbm/sec sq ft). The fan rotor has 32 medium aspect ratio (2.597) titanium blades with a partspan shroud at 55% blade height. The design corrected fan tip speed is 411.5 M/S (1350 ft/sec). The quarter stage island splits the total fan flow with approximately 22% of the flow being supercharged by the quarter stage rotor. The fan bypass ratio is 6.8. The core flow total pressure ratio is 1.67 and the fan bypass pressure ratio is 1.65. The design details of the fan and booster blading, and the fan frame and static structure for the fan configuration are presented.

Effects of variable properties on MHD heat and mass transfer flow near a stagnation point towards a stretching sheet in a porous medium with thermal radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

M. Salem, A.; Rania, Fathy

2012-05-01

The effect of variable viscosity and thermal conductivity on steady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) heat and mass transfer flow of viscous and incompressible fluid near a stagnation point towards a permeable stretching sheet embedded in a porous medium are presented, taking into account thermal radiation and internal heat genberation/absorbtion. The stretching velocity and the ambient fluid velocity are assumed to vary linearly with the distance from the stagnation point. The Rosseland approximation is used to describe the radiative heat flux in the energy equation. The governing fundamental equations are first transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations using a scaling group of transformations and are solved numerically by using the fourth-order Rung—Kutta method with the shooting technique. A comparison with previously published work has been carried out and the results are found to be in good agreement. The results are analyzed for the effect of different physical parameters, such as the variable viscosity and thermal conductivity, the ratio of free stream velocity to stretching velocity, the magnetic field, the porosity, the radiation and suction/injection on the flow, and the heat and mass transfer characteristics. The results indicate that the inclusion of variable viscosity and thermal conductivity into the fluids of light and medium molecular weight is able to change the boundary-layer behavior for all values of the velocity ratio parameter λ except for λ = 1. In addition, the imposition of fluid suction increases both the rate of heat and mass transfer, whereas fluid injection shows the opposite effect.

Evidence of reversible bradycardia and arrhythmias caused by immunogenic proteins secreted by T. cruzi in isolated rat hearts.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Angulo, Héctor O; Toro-Mendoza, Jhoan; Marques, Juan A; Concepción, Juan L; Bonfante-Cabarcas, Rafael; Higuerey, Yoliver; Thomas, Luz E; Balzano-Nogueira, Leandro; López, José R; Mijares, Alfredo

2015-02-01

Chagas cardiomyopathy, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is characterized by alterations in intracellular ion, heart failure and arrhythmias. Arrhythmias have been related to sudden death, even in asymptomatic patients, and their molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effect of proteins secreted by T. cruzi on healthy, isolated beating rat heart model under a non-damage-inducing protocol. We established a non-damage-inducing recirculation-reoxygenation model where ultrafiltrate fractions of conditioned medium control or conditioned infected medium were perfused at a standard flow rate and under partial oxygenation. Western blotting with chagasic patient serum was performed to determine the antigenicity of the conditioned infected medium fractions. We observed bradycardia, ventricular fibrillation and complete atrioventricular block in hearts during perfusion with >50 kDa conditioned infected culture medium. The preincubation of conditioned infected medium with chagasic serum abolished the bradycardia and arrhythmias. The proteins present in the conditioned infected culture medium of >50 kDa fractions were recognized by the chagasic patient sera associated with arrhythmias. These results suggest that proteins secreted by T. cruzi are involved in Chagas disease arrhythmias and may be a potential biomarker in chagasic patients.

Evidence of Reversible Bradycardia and Arrhythmias Caused by Immunogenic Proteins Secreted by T. cruzi in Isolated Rat Hearts

PubMed Central

Rodríguez-Angulo, Héctor O.; Toro-Mendoza, Jhoan; Marques, Juan A.; Concepción, Juan L.; Bonfante-Cabarcas, Rafael; Higuerey, Yoliver; Thomas, Luz E.; Balzano-Nogueira, Leandro; López, José R.; Mijares, Alfredo

2015-01-01

Rationale Chagas cardiomyopathy, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is characterized by alterations in intracellular ion, heart failure and arrhythmias. Arrhythmias have been related to sudden death, even in asymptomatic patients, and their molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Objective The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effect of proteins secreted by T. cruzi on healthy, isolated beating rat heart model under a non-damage-inducing protocol. Methods and Results We established a non-damage-inducing recirculation-reoxygenation model where ultrafiltrate fractions of conditioned medium control or conditioned infected medium were perfused at a standard flow rate and under partial oxygenation. Western blotting with chagasic patient serum was performed to determine the antigenicity of the conditioned infected medium fractions. We observed bradycardia, ventricular fibrillation and complete atrioventricular block in hearts during perfusion with >50 kDa conditioned infected culture medium. The preincubation of conditioned infected medium with chagasic serum abolished the bradycardia and arrhythmias. The proteins present in the conditioned infected culture medium of >50 kDa fractions were recognized by the chagasic patient sera associated with arrhythmias. Conclusions These results suggest that proteins secreted by T. cruzi are involved in Chagas disease arrhythmias and may be a potential biomarker in chagasic patients. PMID:25647069

The influence of wetting dynamics on the residual air distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sacha, J.; Snehota, M.; Trtik, P.; Vontobel, P.

2016-12-01

The amount and distribution of the residual air during the infiltration into a porous soil system has a strong influence on the infiltration rate. Concurrently, the amount of residual air is dependent on the wetting dynamics. In the presented study, two experiments were conducted on the same sample. The first experiment was performed under the constant water level condition (CWL) and the second under the constant water flux condition (CWF) at the top of the sample. The sample that composed of coarse and medium coarse fractions of sand and fine porous ceramics was packed into the quartz glass columns of the inner diameter of 29 mm. The coarse sand represented a highly conductive region connected from the top to the bottom of the sample with the exception of three low (2-3 mm) separation layers made up of the medium coarse sand. Three discs of fine ceramic formed slow flow regions. Infiltration experiments were monitored by neutron radiography on two different beamlines to produce two-dimensional (2D) projections. The CWL experiment was monitored by NEUTRA station with an acquisition time of 16 seconds per projection and the CWF experiment was visualized at BOA station with an acquisition time of 0.25 seconds per projection. Both stations are located at the Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland. The acquired radiograms of the dry sample were subtracted from all subsequent radiograms to determine the water thickness in projections. From series of corrected radiograms taken at the different angles three-dimensional (3D) image was reconstructed for steady state part of the experiment CWL and for entire experiment CWF. Then the series of 3D images mapped the wetting of the porous system over the corresponding phase of infiltration process. The results showed a faster steady state infiltration rate during the CWL. In this case, the air was mostly pushed out from the sample by moving wetting front. On the contrary, during the CWF the water infiltrated into the fine ceramics first and then into the medium coarse sand attracted by stronger capillary forces in comparison to the coarse sand. Due to this effect a significant amount of air was trapped in preferential pathways, and consequently blocking the water flow. The presence of medium coarse sand regions had a crucial impact on the water flow and amount of air trapping.

An investigation into the stability of commercial versus MG63-derived hepatocyte growth factor under flow cultivation conditions.

PubMed

Meneghello, Giulia; Storm, Michael P; Chaudhuri, Julian B; De Bank, Paul A; Ellis, Marianne J

2015-03-01

The scale-up of tissue engineering cell culture must ensure that conditions are maintained while also being cost effective. Here we analyse the stability of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to investigate whether concentrations change under dynamic conditions, and compare commercial recombinant human HGF as an additive in 'standard medium', to HGF secreted by the osteosarcoma cell line MG63 as a 'preconditioned medium'. After 3 h under flow conditions, HGF in the standard medium degraded to 40% of its original concentration but HGF in the preconditioned medium remained at 100%. The concentration of secreted HGF was 10 times greater than the working concentration of commercially-available HGF. Thus HGF within this medium has increased stability; MG63-derived HGF should therefore be investigated as a cost-effective alternative to current lyophilised powders for use in in vitro models. Furthermore, we recommend that those intending to use HGF (or other growth factors) should consider similar stability testing before embarking on experiments with media flow.

Surf-zone Underwater Robotic Demonstration Platform

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

dynamically advantageous shape for a robotic system. To address locomotive factors ARA completed a research and technical study based on an Archimedes ...effective hull shape. To study mobility and traction a propulsion system based on an Archimedes screw drive was used. A drive design based on an... Archimedes screw was chosen because of its ability to operate in various mediums with varying flow rates. A test bed was designed and assembled in order to

Numerical models of jet disruption in cluster cooling flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loken, Chris; Burns, Jack O.; Roettiger, Kurt; Norman, Mike

1993-01-01

We present a coherent picture for the formation of the observed diverse radio morphological structures in dominant cluster galaxies based on the jet Mach number. Realistic, supersonic, steady-state cooling flow atmospheres are evolved numerically and then used as the ambient medium through which jets of various properties are propagated. Low Mach number jets effectively stagnate due to the ram pressure of the cooling flow atmosphere while medium Mach number jets become unstable and disrupt in the cooling flow to form amorphous structures. High Mach number jets manage to avoid disruption and are able to propagate through the cooling flow.

Renormalization group theory outperforms other approaches in statistical comparison between upscaling techniques for porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanasoge, Shravan; Agarwal, Umang; Tandon, Kunj; Koelman, J. M. Vianney A.

2017-09-01

Determining the pressure differential required to achieve a desired flow rate in a porous medium requires solving Darcy's law, a Laplace-like equation, with a spatially varying tensor permeability. In various scenarios, the permeability coefficient is sampled at high spatial resolution, which makes solving Darcy's equation numerically prohibitively expensive. As a consequence, much effort has gone into creating upscaled or low-resolution effective models of the coefficient while ensuring that the estimated flow rate is well reproduced, bringing to the fore the classic tradeoff between computational cost and numerical accuracy. Here we perform a statistical study to characterize the relative success of upscaling methods on a large sample of permeability coefficients that are above the percolation threshold. We introduce a technique based on mode-elimination renormalization group theory (MG) to build coarse-scale permeability coefficients. Comparing the results with coefficients upscaled using other methods, we find that MG is consistently more accurate, particularly due to its ability to address the tensorial nature of the coefficients. MG places a low computational demand, in the manner in which we have implemented it, and accurate flow-rate estimates are obtained when using MG-upscaled permeabilities that approach or are beyond the percolation threshold.

Fixed-target protein serial microcrystallography with an x-ray free electron laser

PubMed Central

Hunter, Mark S.; Segelke, Brent; Messerschmidt, Marc; Williams, Garth J.; Zatsepin, Nadia A.; Barty, Anton; Benner, W. Henry; Carlson, David B.; Coleman, Matthew; Graf, Alexander; Hau-Riege, Stefan P.; Pardini, Tommaso; Seibert, M. Marvin; Evans, James; Boutet, Sébastien; Frank, Matthias

2014-01-01

We present results from experiments at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) demonstrating that serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) can be performed to high resolution (~2.5 Å) using protein microcrystals deposited on an ultra-thin silicon nitride membrane and embedded in a preservation medium at room temperature. Data can be acquired at a high acquisition rate using x-ray free electron laser sources to overcome radiation damage, while sample consumption is dramatically reduced compared to flowing jet methods. We achieved a peak data acquisition rate of 10 Hz with a hit rate of ~38%, indicating that a complete data set could be acquired in about one 12-hour LCLS shift using the setup described here, or in even less time using hardware optimized for fixed target SFX. This demonstration opens the door to ultra low sample consumption SFX using the technique of diffraction-before-destruction on proteins that exist in only small quantities and/or do not produce the copious quantities of microcrystals required for flowing jet methods. PMID:25113598

Cooling flows and X-ray emission in early-type galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sarazin, Craig L.

1990-01-01

The X-ray properties of normal early-type galaxies and the limited theoretical understanding of the physics of the hot interstellar medium in these galaxies are reviewed. A number of simple arguments about the physical state of the gas are given. Steady-state cooling flow models for these galaxies are presented, and their time-dependent evolution is discussed. The X-ray emission found in early-type galaxies indicates that they contain significant amounts of hot interstellar gas, and that they are not the gas-poor systems they were previously thought to be. In the brighter X-ray galaxies, the amounts of hot gas observed are consistent with those expected given the present rates of stellar mass loss. The required rates of heating of the gas are consistent with those expected from the motions of gas-losing stars and supernovae. The X-ray observations are generally more consistent with a lower rate of Type I supernovae than was previously thought.

Acoustic-wave-damping experimental study in x-ray preionized high-repetition rate XeCl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Canarelli, Patrick; Sentis, Marc L.; Delaporte, Philippe C.; Fontaine, Bernard L.; Forestier, Bernard M.

1990-08-01

To increase the pulse repetition frequency, the average power, and the beam quality of excimer laser systems, damping of the strong acoustic waves induced by the active medium excitation must be solve. In order to achieve this goal different electrodes and acoustic damping configuration have been studied. Excitation of active medium (energy deposition : 50 to 150 J/l) at high repetition rate (up to 1 000 Hz) in a subsonic loop (flow velocity : up to 65 m/s) is achieved by means of a classical discharge, through transfers capacitors. The discharge is preionized by X-Ray generated by a wire ion plasma gun. Previous studies done at I.M.F.M. have shown that the density perturbations, induced by successive excitations at high repetition rate (up to 1000 Hz), can involve output energy decrease. Here, we will present and discuss the density or pressure perturbation maximum level which don't involve this laser energy decrease; acoustic and thermal effects have been notably took account. We will study the possibilities of fast pressure perturbations damping.

Flow of foams in two-dimensional disordered porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dollet, Benjamin; Geraud, Baudouin; Jones, Sian A.; Meheust, Yves; Cantat, Isabelle; Institut de Physique de Rennes Team; Geosciences Rennes Team

2015-11-01

Liquid foams are a yield stress fluid with elastic properties. When a foam flow is confined by solid walls, viscous dissipation arises from the contact zones between soap films and walls, giving very peculiar friction laws. In particular, foams potentially invade narrow pores much more efficiently than Newtonian fluids, which is of great importance for enhanced oil recovery. To quantify this effect, we study experimentally flows of foam in a model two-dimensional porous medium, consisting of an assembly of circular obstacles placed randomly in a Hele-Shaw cell, and use image analysis to quantify foam flow at the local scale. We show that bubbles split as they flow through the porous medium, by a mechanism of film pinching during contact with an obstacle, yielding two daughter bubbles per split bubble. We quantify the evolution of the bubble size distribution as a function of the distance along the porous medium, the splitting probability as a function of bubble size, and the probability distribution function of the daughter bubbles. We propose an evolution equation to model this splitting phenomenon and compare it successfully to the experiments, showing how at long distance, the porous medium itself dictates the size distribution of the foam.

Structure reactivity and thermodynamic analysis on the oxidation of ampicillin drug by copper(III) complex in aqueous alkaline medium (stopped-flow technique)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shetti, Nagaraj P.; Hegde, Rajesh N.; Nandibewoor, Sharanappa T.

2009-07-01

Oxidation of penicillin derivative, ampicillin (AMP) by diperiodatocuprate(III) (DPC) in alkaline medium at a constant ionic strength of 0.01-mol dm -3 was studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction between DPC and ampicillin in alkaline medium exhibits 1:4 stoichiometry (ampicillin:DPC). Intervention of free radicals was observed in the reaction. Based on the observed orders and experimental evidences, a mechanism involving the protonated form of DPC as the reactive oxidant species has been proposed. The oxidation reaction in alkaline medium has been shown to proceed via a DPC-AMP complex, which decomposes slowly in a rate determining step to yield phenyl glycine (PG) and free radical species of 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA), followed by other fast steps to give the products. The two major products were characterized by IR, NMR, LC-MS and Spot test. The reaction constants involved in the different steps of the mechanism were calculated. The activation parameters with respect to slow step of the mechanism were computed and discussed and thermodynamic quantities were also determined.

The rate of percutaneous permeation of xylene, measured using the "perfused pig ear" model, is dependent on the effective protein concentration in the perfusing medium.

PubMed

de Lange, J; van Eck, P; Bruijnzeel, P L; Elliott, G R

1994-08-01

In order to study the dermal permeation of compounds through the skin, an in vitro model was developed which utilized pig ears perfused with autologous pig blood (de Lange, J., van Eck, P., Elliott, G. R., de Kort, W. L. A. M., and Wolthuis, O. L. (1992). J. Pharmacol. Toxicol. Methods 27, 71-77). In the present article we investigated to what extent the rate of permeation of xylene through pig ear skin is dependent on the perfusion medium used. Pig ears were exposed to xylene (10 cm2 area) for a 4-hr period (30 degrees C, relative humidity of 40-60%) and the perfusate was analyzed for xylene using gas chromatography. The rates of permeation of xylene for whole blood, blood depleted of white blood cells, and a buffer containing 4.5% albumin were similar (+/- 300 ng/min/cm2). The rate of penetration was fivefold higher when pig plasma was used and ninefold lower when albumin was excluded from the buffer. Using the buffer, we found that the rate of permeation of xylene was proportional to flow (constant protein concentration) and protein concentration (constant flow). Our data demonstrate that the measured permeation rate for xylene is, to a large degree, dependent on the effective protein concentration (mg/min) passing through the ear. Differences in this parameter could explain the variations in rates of permeation found using the different perfusion media. To avoid problems associated with the choice of receptor fluid for permeation experiments, we suggest that full blood remains the vehicle of choice, although the practical perfusion period is limited to about 6 hr. If longer perfusion periods are required, then it should be possible to reproduce results obtained with whole blood by choosing an appropriate buffer.

Mercury Transport Modeling of the Carson River System, Nevada: An Investigation of Total and Dissolved Species and Associated Uncertainty

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carroll, R. W.; Warwick, J. J.

2009-12-01

Past mercury modeling studies of the Carson River-Lahontan Reservoir (CRLR) system have focused on total Hg and total MeHg transport in the Carson River, most of which is cycled through the river via sediment transport processes of bank erosion and over bank deposition during higher flow events. Much less attention has been given to low flow events and dissolved species. Four flow regimes are defined to capture significant mechanisms of mercury loading for total and dissolved species at all flow regimes. For extremely low flows, only gradient driven diffusion of mercury from the bottom sediments occurs. At low flows, diffusional loads are augmented with turbulent mixing of channel bed material. Mercury loading into the river during medium to higher flows is driven by bank erosion process, but flows remain within the confines of the river’s channel. Finally, mercury cycling during overbank flows is dominated by both bank erosion as well as floodplain deposition. Methylation and demethylation are allowed to occur in the channel and reservoir bed sediments as well as in channel bank sediments and are described by the first order kinetic equations using observed methylation and demethylation rates. Calibration and verification is divided into geomorphic as well as mercury geochemical and transport processes with evaluation done for pre- and post- 1997 flood conditions to determine systematic changes to mercury cycling as a result of the January 1997 flood. Preliminary results for a Monte Carlo simulation are presented. Monte Carlo couples output uncertainty due to ranges in bank erosion rates, inorganic mercury in the channel banks, floodplain transport capacity during over bank flows, methylation and demethylation rates and diffusional distance in the reservoir bottom sediments. Uncertainty is compared to observed variability in water column mercury concentrations and discussed in the context of flow regime and reservoir residence time.

In vitro reconstruction of hybrid vascular tissue. Hierarchic and oriented cell layers.

PubMed

Kanda, K; Matsuda, T; Oka, T

1993-01-01

Hybrid vascular tissue was hierarchically reconstructed in vitro. A hybrid medial layer composed of type I collagen gel, in which SMCs derived from a mongrel dog were embedded, was formed on the inner surface of a compliant porous polyurethane graft (internal diameter = 3 mm). Endothelial cells (ECs) from the same animal were seeded and cultured on the hybrid media to build an intimal layer. Subsequently, hierarchically structured grafts constructed in this manner were subjected to pulsatile flow (flow rate: 8.5 ml/min; frequency: 60 rpm; amplitude: 5% of graft outer diameter) of culture medium (Medium 199 supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum). After stress loading for as long as 10 days, tissues were morphologically investigated with a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Inner surfaces of the hybrid tissues were covered with EC monolayers that aligned along the direction of the flow (i.e., longitudinally). However, SMCs beneath the intima aligned in the circumferential direction. These cellular orientations resembled those in native muscular arteries. The pulsatile stress loaded hybrid tissue mimicked native muscular arteries with respect to hierarchic structure and cellular orientation. In vitro mechanical stress loading on a hybrid graft might provide a high degree of integrity in terms of tissue structure that promises high tolerance toward hydrodynamic stress and regulation of vasomotor tone upon implantation.

An Amorphous Network Model for Capillary Flow and Dispersion in a Partially Saturated Porous Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simmons, C. S.; Rockhold, M. L.

2013-12-01

Network models of capillary flow are commonly used to represent conduction of fluids at pore scales. Typically, a flow system is described by a regular geometric lattice of interconnected tubes. Tubes constitute the pore throats, while connection junctions (nodes) are pore bodies. Such conceptualization of the geometry, however, is questionable for the pore scale, where irregularity clearly prevails, although prior published models using a regular lattice have demonstrated successful descriptions of the flow in the bulk medium. Here a network is allowed to be amorphous, and is not subject to any particular lattice structure. Few network flow models have treated partially saturated or even multiphase conditions. The research trend is toward using capillary tubes with triangular or square cross sections that have corners and always retain some fluid by capillarity when drained. In contrast, this model uses only circular capillaries, whose filled state is controlled by a capillary pressure rule for the junctions. The rule determines which capillary participate in the flow under an imposed matric potential gradient during steady flow conditions. Poiseuille's Law and Laplace equation are used to describe flow and water retention in the capillary units of the model. A modified conjugate gradient solution for steady flow that tracks which capillary in an amorphous network contribute to fluid conduction was devised for partially saturated conditions. The model thus retains the features of classical capillary models for determining hydraulic flow properties under unsaturated conditions based on distribution of non-interacting tubes, but now accounts for flow exchange at junctions. Continuity of the flow balance at every junction is solved simultaneously. The effective water retention relationship and unsaturated permeability are evaluated for an extensive enough network to represent a small bulk sample of porous medium. The model is applied for both a hypothetically randomly generate network and for a directly measured porous medium structure, by means of xray-CT scan. A randomly generated network has the benefit of providing ensemble averages for sample replicates of a medium's properties, whereas network structure measurements are expected to be more predictive. Dispersion of solute in a network flow is calculate by using particle tracking to determine the travel time breakthrough between inflow and outflow boundaries. The travel time distribution can exhibit substantial skewness that reflects both network velocity variability and mixing dilution at junctions. When local diffusion is not included, and transport is strictly advective, then the skew breakthrough is not due to mobile-immobile flow region behavior. The approach of dispersivity to its asymptotic value with sample size is examined, and may be only an indicator of particular stochastic flow variation. It is not proven that a simplified network flow model can accurately predict the hydraulic properties of a sufficiently large-size medium sample, but such a model can at least demonstrate macroscopic flow resulting from the interaction of physical processes at pore scales.

Continuous aryl alcohol oxidase production under growth-limited conditions using a trickle bed reactor.

PubMed

Pardo-Planas, Oscar; Atiyeh, Hasan K; Prade, Rolf A; Müller, Michael; Wilkins, Mark R

2018-05-01

An A. nidulans strain with a pyridoxine marker was used for continuous production of aryl alcohol oxidase (AAO) in a trickle bed reactor (TBR). Modified medium with reduced zinc, no copper, and 5 g/L ascorbic acid that reduced melanin production and increased AAO productivity under growth limited conditions was used. Two air flow rates, 0.11 L/min (0.1 vvm) and 1.1 L/min (1.0 vvm) were tested. More melanin formation and reduced protein productivity were observed with air flow rate of 1.1 L/min. Three random packings were used as support for the fungus inside the TBR column, two of which were hydrophobic and one which was hydrophilic, and three different dilution rates were tested. The use of GEA BCN 030 hydrophobic packing resulted in greater AAO yield and productivity than the other packings. Increasing dilution rates favored melanin formation and citric, lactic and succinic acid accumulation, which decreased AAO yield and productivity. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development of steady-state model for MSPT and detailed analyses of receiver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuasa, Minoru; Sonoda, Masanori; Hino, Koichi

2016-05-01

Molten salt parabolic trough system (MSPT) uses molten salt as heat transfer fluid (HTF) instead of synthetic oil. The demonstration plant of MSPT was constructed by Chiyoda Corporation and Archimede Solar Energy in Italy in 2013. Chiyoda Corporation developed a steady-state model for predicting the theoretical behavior of the demonstration plant. The model was designed to calculate the concentrated solar power and heat loss using ray tracing of incident solar light and finite element modeling of thermal energy transferred into the medium. This report describes the verification of the model using test data on the demonstration plant, detailed analyses on the relation between flow rate and temperature difference on the metal tube of receiver and the effect of defocus angle on concentrated power rate, for solar collector assembly (SCA) development. The model is accurate to an extent of 2.0% as systematic error and 4.2% as random error. The relationships between flow rate and temperature difference on metal tube and the effect of defocus angle on concentrated power rate are shown.

Experimental study of pressure pulsations in the flow duct of a medium-size model hydroelectric generator with Francis turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Platonov, D. V.; Maslennikova, A. V.; Dekterev, D. A.; Minakov, A. V.; Abramov, A. V.

2018-01-01

In the present study, we report on the results of an experimental study of pressure pulsations in the flow duct of a medium-scale hydrodynamic bench with Francis turbine. In various regimes, integral and pulsation characteristics of the turbine were measured. With the help of high-speed filming, the structure of the flow behind the turbine runner was analyzed, and the influence of this structure on the intensity and frequency of pressure pulsations in the flow duct was demonstrated.

The technique of numerical research of cooling medium flow in the water jacket of self-lubricated bearing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raikovskiy, N. A.; Tretyakov, A. V.; Abramov, S. A.; Nazmeev, F. G.; Pavlichev, S. V.

2017-08-01

The paper presents a numerical study method of the cooling medium flowing in the water jacket of self-lubricating sliding bearing based on ANSYS CFX. The results of numerical calculations have satisfactory convergence with the empirical data obtained on the testbed. Verification data confirm the possibility of applying this numerical technique for the analysis of coolant flowings in the self-lubricating bearing containing the water jacket.

Fem Formulation of Heat Transfer in Cylindrical Porous Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azeem; Khaleed, H. M. T.; Soudagar, Manzoor Elahi M.

2017-08-01

Heat transfer in porous medium can be derived from the fundamental laws of flow in porous region ass given by Henry Darcy. The fluid flow and energy transport inside the porous medium can be described with the help of momentum and energy equations. The heat transfer in cylindrical porous medium differs from its counterpart in radial and axial coordinates. The present work is focused to discuss the finite element formulation of heat transfer in cylindrical porous medium. The basic partial differential equations are derived using Darcy law which is the converted into a set of algebraic equations with the help of finite element method. The resulting equations are solved by matrix method for two solution variables involved in the coupled equations.

Amplification and gas-dynamic parameters of the active oxygen-iodine medium produced by an ejector nozzle unit

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zagidullin, M V; Nikolaev, V D; Svistun, M I

2001-08-31

The gain, the temperature, and the absolute velocity of the supersonic active oxygen-iodine medium produced by an ejector nozzle unit were determined by the technique of high-resolution diode laser spectroscopy. The gain in the active medium is formed at less than 44 mm from the nozzle unit for an absolute flow velocity {nu} {approx} 600 m s{sup -1}. Upon dilution of oxygen by primary nitrogen in the ratio of 1 : 6.9, the gain of the active medium amounts to 7x10{sup -3} cm{sup -1}, the temperature of the active medium to 200 K, the absolute flow velocity to 580 mmore » s{sup -1}, and the pressure to 58 Torr. As the dilution is increased to 1 : 13.5, the gain reduces to 4.5x10{sup -3} cm{sup -1}, the temperature lowers to 180 K, the velocity of the active medium increases to 615 m s{sup -1}, and the pressure increases to 88 Torr. The increase in the initial content of water vapour in the oxygen flow results in an increase in the temperature and a decrease in the gain of the active medium. (active media)« less

Central venous catheter integrity during mechanical power injection of iodinated contrast medium.

PubMed

Macha, Douglas B; Nelson, Rendon C; Howle, Laurens E; Hollingsworth, John W; Schindera, Sebastian T

2009-12-01

To evaluate a widely used nontunneled triple-lumen central venous catheter in order to determine whether the largest of the three lumina (16 gauge) can tolerate high flow rates, such as those required for computed tomographic angiography. Forty-two catheters were tested in vitro, including 10 new and 32 used catheters (median indwelling time, 5 days). Injection pressures were continuously monitored at the site of the 16-gauge central venous catheter hub. Catheters were injected with 300 and 370 mg of iodine per milliliter of iopamidol by using a mechanical injector at increasing flow rates until the catheter failed. The infusion rate, hub pressure, and location were documented for each failure event. The catheter pressures generated during hand injection by five operators were also analyzed. Mean flow rates and pressures at failure were compared by means of two-tailed Student t test, with differences considered significant at P < .05. Injections of iopamidol with 370 mg of iodine per milliliter generate more pressure than injections of iopamidol with 300 mg of iodine per milliliter at the same injection rate. All catheters failed in the tubing external to the patient. The lowest flow rate at which catheter failure occurred was 9 mL/sec. The lowest hub pressure at failure was 262 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) for new and 213 psig for used catheters. Hand injection of iopamidol with 300 mg of iodine per milliliter generated peak hub pressures ranging from 35 to 72 psig, corresponding to flow rates ranging from 2.5 to 5.0 mL/sec. Indwelling use has an effect on catheter material property, but even for used catheters there is a substantial safety margin for power injection with the particular triple-lumen central venous catheter tested in this study, as the manufacturer's recommendation for maximum pressure is 15 psig.

Pretest analysis of natural circulation on the PWR model PACTEL with horizontal steam generators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kervinen, T.; Riikonen, V.; Ritonummi, T.

A new tests facility - parallel channel tests loop (PACTEL)- has been designed and built to simulate the major components and system behavior of pressurized water reactors (PWRs) during postulated small- and medium-break loss-of-coolant accidents. Pretest calculations have been performed for the first test series, and the results of these calculations are being used for planning experiments, for adjusting the data acquisition system, and for choosing the optimal position and type of instrumentation. PACTEL is a volumetrically scaled (1:305) model of the VVER-440 PWR. In all the calculated cases, the natural circulation was found to be effective in removing themore » heat from the core to the steam generator. The loop mass flow rate peaked at 60% mass inventory. The straightening of the loop seals increased the mass flow rate significantly.« less

Description of a flow optimized oxygenator with integrated pulsatile pump.

PubMed

Borchardt, Ralf; Schlanstein, Peter; Arens, Jutta; Graefe, Roland; Schreiber, Fabian; Schmitz-Rode, Thomas; Steinseifer, Ulrich

2010-11-01

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a well-established therapy for several lung and heart diseases in the field of neonatal and pediatric medicine (e.g., acute respiratory distress syndrome, congenital heart failure, cardiomyopathy). Current ECMO systems are typically composed of an oxygenator and a separate nonpulsatile blood pump. An oxygenator with an integrated pulsatile blood pump for small infant ECMO was developed, and this novel concept was tested regarding functionality and gas exchange rate. Pulsating silicone tubes (STs) were driven by air pressure and placed inside the cylindrical fiber bundle of an oxygenator to be used as a pump module. The findings of this study confirm that pumping blood with STs is a viable option for the future. The maximum gas exchange rate for oxygen is 48mL/min/L(blood) at a medium blood flow rate of about 300mL/min. Future design steps were identified to optimize the flow field through the fiber bundle to achieve a higher gas exchange rate. First, the packing density of the hollow-fiber bundle was lower than commercial oxygenators due to the manual manufacturing. By increasing this packing density, the gas exchange rate would increase accordingly. Second, distribution plates for a more uniform blood flow can be placed at the inlet and outlet of the oxygenator. Third, the hollow-fiber membranes can be individually placed to ensure equal distances between the surrounding hollow fibers. © 2010, Copyright the Authors. Artificial Organs © 2010, International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Apparatus for separating particles utilizing engineered acoustic contrast capture particles

DOEpatents

Kaduchak, Gregory; Ward, Michael D

2014-10-21

An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.

Apparatus for separating particles utilizing engineered acoustic contrast capture particles

DOEpatents

Kaduchak, Gregory [Los Alamos, NM; Ward, Michael D [Los Alamos, NM

2011-12-27

An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.

Rigorous derivation of the effective model describing a non-isothermal fluid flow in a vertical pipe filled with porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beneš, Michal; Pažanin, Igor

2018-03-01

This paper reports an analytical investigation of non-isothermal fluid flow in a thin (or long) vertical pipe filled with porous medium via asymptotic analysis. We assume that the fluid inside the pipe is cooled (or heated) by the surrounding medium and that the flow is governed by the prescribed pressure drop between pipe's ends. Starting from the dimensionless Darcy-Brinkman-Boussinesq system, we formally derive a macroscopic model describing the effective flow at small Brinkman-Darcy number. The asymptotic approximation is given by the explicit formulae for the velocity, pressure and temperature clearly acknowledging the effects of the cooling (heating) and porous structure. The theoretical error analysis is carried out to indicate the order of accuracy and to provide a rigorous justification of the effective model.

Solids-based concentrated solar power receiver

DOEpatents

None

2018-04-10

A concentrated solar power (CSP) system includes channels arranged to convey a flowing solids medium descending under gravity. The channels form a light-absorbing surface configured to absorb solar flux from a heliostat field. The channels may be independently supported, for example by suspension, and gaps between the channels are sized to accommodate thermal expansion. The light absorbing surface may be sloped so that the inside surfaces of the channels proximate to the light absorbing surface define downward-slanting channel floors, and the flowing solids medium flows along these floors. Baffles may be disposed inside the channels and oriented across the direction of descent of the flowing solids medium. The channels may include wedge-shaped walls forming the light-absorbing surface and defining multiple-reflection light paths for solar flux from the heliostat field incident on the light-absorbing surface.

Performance evaluation of a dual-flow recharge filter for improving groundwater quality.

PubMed

Samuel, Manoj P; Senthilvel, S; Mathew, Abraham C

2014-07-01

A dual-flow multimedia stormwater filter integrated with a groundwater recharge system was developed and tested for hydraulic efficiency and pollutant removal efficiency. The influent stormwater first flows horizontally through the circular layers of planted grass and biofibers. Subsequently, the flow direction changes to a vertical direction so that water moves through layers of pebbles and sand and finally gets recharged to the deep aquifers. The media in the sequence of vegetative medium:biofiber to pebble:sand were filled in nine proportions and tested for the best performing combination. Three grass species, viz., Typha (Typha angustifolia), Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides), and St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), were tested as the best performing vegetative medium. The adsorption behavior of Coconut (Cocos nucifera) fiber, which was filled in the middle layer, was determined by a series of column and batch studies.The dual-flow filter showed an increasing trend in hydraulic efficiency with an increase in flowrate. The chemical removal efficiency of the recharge dual-flow filter was found to be very high in case of K+ (81.6%) and Na+ (77.55%). The pH normalizing efficiency and electrical conductivity reduction efficiency were also recorded as high. The average removal percentage of Ca2+ was moderate, while that of Mg2+ was very low. The filter proportions of 1:1 to 1:2 (plant:fiber to pebble:sand) showed a superior performance compared to all other proportions. Based on the estimated annual costs and returns, all the financial viability criteria (internal rate of return, net present value, and benefit-cost ratio) were found to be favorable and affordable to farmers in terms of investing in the developed filtration system.

Characterization of Calcite Mineral Precipitation Process by EICP in Porous Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, D.; Mahabadi, N.; Hall, C.; Jang, J.; van Paassen, L. A.

2017-12-01

One of the most prevalent ground improvement techniques is injection of synthetic materials, such as cement grout or silicates into the pore space to create cementing bonds between soil particles. Besides these traditional ground improvement methods, several biological processes have been developed to improve soil properties. Enzyme induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) is a biological process in which urea hydrolyzes into ammonia and inorganic carbon, and promotes carbonate mineral precipitation. Different morphologies and patterns of calcite mineral precipitation, such as particle surface coating, pore filling, and soil particles bonding, have been observed in the previous studies. Most of the researches have detected precipitated minerals after the completion of the treatment using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) imaging and XRD (X-ray Diffractometer) structural analysis. In this research, an EICP reaction medium is injected into a microfluidic chip to observe the entire process of carbonate precipitation through several cycles of EICP treatment in the porous medium. Once the process of mineral precipitation is completed, water is injected into the microfluidic chip with different flow rates to evaluate the stability of carbonates during fluid flow injection.

Unsteady magnetohydrodynamic free convection flow of a second grade fluid in a porous medium with ramped wall temperature.

PubMed

Samiulhaq; Ahmad, Sohail; Vieru, Dumitru; Khan, Ilyas; Shafie, Sharidan

2014-01-01

Magnetic field influence on unsteady free convection flow of a second grade fluid near an infinite vertical flat plate with ramped wall temperature embedded in a porous medium is studied. It has been observed that magnitude of velocity as well as skin friction in case of ramped temperature is quite less than the isothermal temperature. Some special cases namely: (i) second grade fluid in the absence of magnetic field and porous medium and (ii) Newtonian fluid in the presence of magnetic field and porous medium, performing the same motion are obtained. Finally, the influence of various parameters is graphically shown.

Counterbalancing hydrodynamic sample distortion effects increases resolution of free-flow zone electrophoresis.

PubMed

Weber, G; Bauer, J

1998-06-01

On fractionation of highly heterogeneous protein mixtures, optimal resolution was achieved by forcing proteins to migrate through a preestablished pH gradient, until they entered a medium with a pH similar but not equal to their pIs. For this purpose, up to seven different media were pumped through the electrophoresis chamber so that they were flowing adjacently to each other, forming a pH gradient declining stepwise from the cathode to the anode. This gradient had a sufficiently strong band-focusing effect to counterbalance sample distortion effects of the flowing medium as proteins approached their isoelectric medium closer than 0.5 pH units. Continuous free-flow zone electrophoresis (FFZE) with high throughput capability was applicable if proteins did not precipitate or aggregate in these media. If components of heterogeneous protein mixtures had already started to precipitate or aggregate, in a medium with a pH exceeding their pI by more than 0.5 pH units, the application of interval modus and media forming flat pH gradients appeared advantageous.

Comparison of Series of Vugs and Non-vuggy Synthetic Porous Media on Formation Damage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, H.; DiCarlo, D. A.; Prodanovic, M.

2017-12-01

Produced water reinjection (PWRI) is an established cost-effective oil field practice where produced water is injected without any cleanup, for water flooding or disposal. Resultantly the cost of fresh injection fluid and/or processing produced water is saved. A common problem with injection of unprocessed water is formation damage in the near injection zone due to solids (fines) entrapment, causing a reduction in permeability and porosity of the reservoir. Most studies have used homogeneous porous media with unimodal grain sizes, while real world porous media often has a wide range of pores, up to and including vugs in carbonaceous rocks. Here we fabricate a series of vugs in synthetic porous media by sintering glass beads with large dissolvable inclusions. The process is found to be repeatable, allowing a similar vug configuration to be tested for different flow conditions. Bi-modal glass bead particles (25 & 100 micron) are injected at two different flow rates and three different injection concentrations. Porosity, permeability and effluent concentration are determined using CT scanning, pressure measurements and particle counting (Coulter counter), respectively. Image analysis is performed on the CT images to determine the change in vug size for each flow condition. We find that for the same flow conditions, heterogeneous media with series of vugs have an equal or greater permeability loss compared to homogeneous porous media. A significant change in permeability is observed at the highest concentration and flow rate as more particles approach the filter quickly, resulting in a greater loss in permeability in the lower end of the core. Image analysis shows the highest loss in vug size occurs at the low flow rate and highest concentration. The lower vug is completely blocked for this flow case. For all flow cases lower values of porosity are observed after the core floods. At low flow rate and medium concentration, a drastic loss in porosity is observed in the lower part of the core, after the vuggy zone. This trough is also distinctly clear in the homogeneous core for the same flow conditions. This study focuses on understanding the effect of pore heterogeneity on formation damage. We conclude that more damage is done deeper in vuggy formations at high flow rates, resulting in shorter injection cycle prior to clean up.

Experimental study on the performance of the vapor injection refrigeration system with an economizer for intermediate pressures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moon, Chang-Uk; Choi, Kwang-Hwan; Yoon, Jung-In; Kim, Young-Bok; Son, Chang-Hyo; Ha, Soo-Jung; Jeon, Min-Ju; An, Sang-Young; Lee, Joon-Hyuk

2018-04-01

In this study, to investigate the performance characteristics of vapor injection refrigeration system with an economizer at an intermediate pressure, the vapor injection refrigeration system was analyzed under various experiment conditions. As a result, the optimum design data of the vapor injection refrigeration system with an economizer were obtained. The findings from this study can be summarized as follows. The mass flow rate through the compressor increases with intermediate pressure. The compression power input showed an increasing trend under all the test conditions. The evaporation capacity increased and then decreased at the intermediate pressure, and as such, it became maximum at the given intermediate pressure. The increased mass flow rate of the by-passed refrigerant enhanced the evaporation capacity at the low medium pressure range, but the increased saturation temperature limited the subcooling degree of the liquid refrigerant after the application of the economizer when the intermediate pressure kept rising, and degenerated the evaporation capacity. The coefficient of performance (COP) increased and then decreased with respect to the intermediate pressures under all the experiment conditions. Nevertheless, there was an optimum intermediate pressure for the maximum COP under each experiment condition. Therefore, the optimum intermediate pressure in this study was found at -99.08 kPa, which is the theoretical standard medium pressure under all the test conditions.

A High Precision $3.50 Open Source 3D Printed Rain Gauge Calibrator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez Alcala, J. M.; Udell, C.; Selker, J. S.

2017-12-01

Currently available rain gauge calibrators tend to be designed for specific rain gauges, are expensive, employ low-precision water reservoirs, and do not offer the flexibility needed to test the ever more popular small-aperture rain gauges. The objective of this project was to develop and validate a freely downloadable, open-source, 3D printed rain gauge calibrator that can be adjusted for a wide range of gauges. The proposed calibrator provides for applying low, medium, and high intensity flow, and allows the user to modify the design to conform to unique system specifications based on parametric design, which may be modified and printed using CAD software. To overcome the fact that different 3D printers yield different print qualities, we devised a simple post-printing step that controlled critical dimensions to assure robust performance. Specifically, the three orifices of the calibrator are drilled to reach the three target flow rates. Laboratory tests showed that flow rates were consistent between prints, and between trials of each part, while the total applied water was precisely controlled by the use of a volumetric flask as the reservoir.

Salivary characteristics of children and its relation to oral microorganism and lip mucosa dryness.

PubMed

Alamoudi, Najlaa; Farsi, Najat; Faris, Jamila; Masoud, Ibrahim; Merdad, Khaled; Meisha, Dalia

2004-01-01

The aim of this paper was to present baseline data on various saliva properties among a group of Saudi children aged 5 to 11 years and to study the relationship of these properties to some oral micro-organisms as well as to lip and oral mucosa dryness. The results showed a mean of resting and stimulated flow rate of 0.54 +/- 0.40 and 1.23 +/- 0.59 respectively and mean pH value of 7.27 +/- 0.38 and 7.5 +/- .035 respectively. Fluoride concentration was estimated to be 0.151 +/- 0.07 and 0.145 +/- 0.06 in resting and stimulated saliva respectively. Children with dry lip represented 33.9% of the sample population, whereas, those with dry mucosa represented only 0.8%. No significant sex difference was evident in all parameters. 59.1% of children showed medium buffering capacity in the resting saliva, whereas, the majority of children (73.7%) showed high stimulated buffering capacity. Children showed generally high Lactobacillus counts (Lb) in the resting and stimulated saliva (57.9% and 60.5% of children). The presence of yeast also in resting and stimulated saliva seemed high in general (40% and 53% of children had high count). However, Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) counts showed no discriminating trend in both types of saliva. The data showed no significant association between flow rate and Lb counts in both resting and stimulated saliva although there was a trend toward higher counts associated with low flow rate. The same trend was observed in resting saliva although not significant. Similarly, low resting buffering capacity was associated with high counts of Lb among a high proportion of children (68.6% of children) although not significant. A significant reverse relation was evident between S. mutans counts and stimulated flow rate (p=0.049). The majority of children with normal level of saliva pH showed no yeast colonization (62.1%). The association was significant (p=.024). Similarly, the same association was observed in the medium and high buffering group (66.2%) (p=.040). It was concluded that salivary Lb count seems to be primarily affected by some local factors other than salivary properties, such as diet. Significant inverse relationship was found between S. mutans and stimulated salivary flow. Children in general showed high percentage of yeast reflecting the affect of poor diet among the studied population group. Buffering capacity and pH had an important role in yeast colonization.

Characteristics of transonic spherical symmetric accretion flow in Schwarzschild-de Sitter and Schwarzschild anti-de Sitter backgrounds, in pseudo-general relativistic paradigm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Shubhrangshu; Banik, Prabir

2015-07-01

In this paper, we present a complete work on steady state spherically symmetric Bondi type accretion flow in the presence of cosmological constant (Λ) in both Schwarzschild-de Sitter (SDS) and Schwarzschild anti-de Sitter (SADS) backgrounds considering an isolated supermassive black hole (SMBH), with the inclusion of a simple radiative transfer scheme, in the pseudo-general relativistic paradigm. We do an extensive analysis on the transonic behavior of the Bondi type accretion flow onto the cosmological BHs including a complete analysis of the global parameter space and the stability of flow, and do a complete study of the global family of solutions for a generic polytropic flow. Bondi type accretion flow in SADS background renders multiplicity in its transonic behavior with inner "saddle" type and outer "center" type sonic points, with the transonic solutions forming closed loops or contours. There is always a limiting value for ∣Λ∣ up to which we obtain valid stationary transonic solutions, which correspond to both SDS and SADS geometries; this limiting value moderately increases with the increasing radiative efficiency of the flow, especially correspond to Bondi type accretion flow in SADS background. Repulsive Λ suppresses the Bondi accretion rate by an order of magnitude for relativistic Bondi type accretion flow for a certain range in temperature, and with a marginal increase in the Bondi accretion rate if the corresponding accretion flow occurs in SADS background. However, for a strongly radiative Bondi type accretion flow with high mass accretion rate, the presence of cosmological constant do not much influence the corresponding Bondi accretion rate of the flow. Our analysis show that the relic cosmological constant has a substantial effect on Bondi type accretion flow onto isolated SMBHs and their transonic solutions beyond length-scale of kiloparsecs, especially if the Bondi type accretion occurs onto the host supergiant ellipticals or central dominant (CD) galaxies directly from ambient intercluster medium (ICM). However, for high mass accretion rate, the influence of cosmological constant on Bondi accretion dynamics, generically, diminishes. As active galactic nuclei (AGN)/ICM feedback can be advertently linked to Bondi type spherical accretion, any proper modeling of AGN feedback or megaparsecs-scale jet dynamics or accretion flow from ICM onto the central regions of host galaxies should take into account the relevant information of repulsive Λ, especially in context to supergiant elliptical galaxies or CD galaxies present in rich galaxy clusters. This could also explore the feasibility to limit the value of Λ, from the kinematics in local galactic-scales.

Very low temperature (450 °C) selective epitaxial growth of heavily in situ boron-doped SiGe layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aubin, J.; Hartmann, J. M.; Veillerot, M.; Essa, Z.; Sermage, B.

2015-11-01

We have investigated the feasibility of selectively growing SiGe:B layers at 450 °C, 20 Torr in a 300 mm industrial reduced pressure chemical vapor deposition tool. A reduced H2 carrier gas mass-flow has been used in order to have acceptable growth rates at such a temperature, which is very low indeed. We have first of all studied on blanket Si wafers the in situ boron doping of SiGe with Si2H6, GeH4 and B2H6. A growth rate increase by a factor close to 7 together with a Ge concentration decrease from 53% down to 32% occurred as the diborane mass-flow increased. Very high B+ ion concentrations were obtained in layers that were single crystalline and smooth. Their concentration increased almost linearly with the B2H6 mass-flow, from 1.8 up to 8.3 × 1020 cm-3. The associated resistivity dropped from 0.43 down to 0.26 mΩ cm. We have then tested whether or not selectivity versus SiO2 could be achieved by adding various amounts of HCl to Si2H6 + GeH4 +B2H6. Single crystalline growth rates of intrinsic SiGe(:B) on Si were very similar to poly-crystalline growth rates on SiO2-covered substrates irrespective of the HCl flow. Straightforward selectivity was thus not feasible with a co-flow approach. As a consequence, a 450 °C deposition/etch (DE) process was evaluated. Growth occurred at 20 Torr with the above-mentioned chemistry, while the selective etch of poly-SiGe:B versus c-SiGe:B was conducted at 740 Torr with a medium HCl mass-flow (F(HCl)/F(H2) = 0.2) and a high H2 flow. A 2.2 etch selectivity was achieved while retaining single crystalline if slightly rough SiGe:B layers.

Changes in Bedform Shape at the Transition Between Upper Plane-Bed and Sheet-Flow Bedload Transport Regimes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernandez Moreira, R. R.; Huffman, B.; Vautin, D.; Viparelli, E.

2015-12-01

The interactions between flow hydrodynamics and bedform characteristics at the transition between upper plane-bed bedload transport regime and sheet-flow have not yet been thoroughly described and still remain poorly understood. The present study focuses on the experimental study of this transition in open channel mode. The experiments were performed in the hydraulic laboratory of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the University of South Carolina in a sediment-feed flume, 9-m long by 19-cm wide with uniform material sediment of geometric mean grain size diameter of 1.11 mm. Sediment feed rates ranged between 0.5 kg/min and 20 kg/min with two different flow rates of 20 l/s and 30 l/s. We recorded periodic measurements of water surface and bed elevation to estimate the global flow parameters, e.g. mean flow velocity and bed shear stress, and to determine when the flow and the sediment transport reached conditions of mobile bed equilibrium. We define mobile bed equilibrium as a condition in which the mean bed elevation does not change in time. At equilibrium, measurements of bed elevation fluctuations were taken with an ultrasonic transducer system at six discrete locations. In the runs with low and medium feed rates, i.e. smaller than ~12 kg/min, the long wavelength and small amplitude bedforms typical of the upper plane bed regime, which were observed in previous experimental work, formed and migrated downstream. In particular, with increasing feed rates, the amplitude of the bedforms decreases and their geometry changes, from well-defined triangular shapes, to rounded shapes to flat bed with very small amplitude, long wavelength undulations. The decrease in amplitude corresponds to a decrease in form drag and an increase in the thickness of the bedload layer. The ultrasonic measurements are analyzed to statistically describe the observed transition in terms of probability distribution functions of the bed elevation fluctuations.

Numerical simulation of failure behavior of granular debris flows based on flume model tests.

PubMed

Zhou, Jian; Li, Ye-xun; Jia, Min-cai; Li, Cui-na

2013-01-01

In this study, the failure behaviors of debris flows were studied by flume model tests with artificial rainfall and numerical simulations (PFC(3D)). Model tests revealed that grain sizes distribution had profound effects on failure mode, and the failure in slope of medium sand started with cracks at crest and took the form of retrogressive toe sliding failure. With the increase of fine particles in soil, the failure mode of the slopes changed to fluidized flow. The discrete element method PFC(3D) can overcome the hypothesis of the traditional continuous medium mechanic and consider the simple characteristics of particle. Thus, a numerical simulations model considering liquid-solid coupled method has been developed to simulate the debris flow. Comparing the experimental results, the numerical simulation result indicated that the failure mode of the failure of medium sand slope was retrogressive toe sliding, and the failure of fine sand slope was fluidized sliding. The simulation result is consistent with the model test and theoretical analysis, and grain sizes distribution caused different failure behavior of granular debris flows. This research should be a guide to explore the theory of debris flow and to improve the prevention and reduction of debris flow.

Computational investigation of the flow field contribution to improve electricity generation in granular activated carbon-assisted microbial fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Lei; Li, Jian; Battaglia, Francine; He, Zhen

2016-11-01

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer an alternative approach to treat wastewater with less energy input and direct electricity generation. To optimize MFC anodic performance, adding granular activated carbon (GAC) has been proved to be an effective way, most likely due to the enlarged electrode surface for biomass attachment and improved mixing of the flow field. The impact of a flow field on the current enhancement within a porous anode medium (e.g., GAC) has not been well understood before, and thus is investigated in this study by using mathematical modeling of the multi-order Butler-Volmer equation with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. By comparing three different CFD cases (without GAC, with GAC as a nonreactive porous medium, and with GAC as a reactive porous medium), it is demonstrated that adding GAC contributes to a uniform flow field and a total current enhancement of 17%, a factor that cannot be neglected in MFC design. However, in an actual MFC operation, this percentage could be even higher because of the microbial competition and energy loss issues within a porous medium. The results of the present study are expected to help with formulating strategies to optimize MFC with a better flow pattern design.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jabbari, M.; Hattel, J. H.; Jambhekar, V. A.

Evaporation of water from a ceramic layer is a key phenomenon in the drying process for the manufacturing of tape cast ceramics. This process contains mass, momentum and energy exchange between the porous medium and the free–flow region. In order to analyze such interaction processes, a Representative Elementary Volume (REV)–scale model concept is presented for coupling non–isothermal multi–phase compositional porous–media flow and single–phase compositional laminar free–flow. The preliminary results show the typical expected evaporation behaviour from a porous medium initially saturated with water, and its transport to the free–flow region according to the existent results from the literature.

Dynamic measurements in non-uniform flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ershov, A. P.

2017-12-01

The response of gauges registering the flow velocity and pressure in highly non-uniform media (for example, a powder under shock compression or powdered low-density explosive) is simulated. The modeling employs an acoustic approach. Against the average level of the signal, the fluctuations generated by the heterogeneity of the medium are observed which may distort the results completely. For reliable measurements, gauges larger than the characteristic scale of the medium non-uniformity are required. Under this condition, electromagnetic flow measurements and the velocity interferometer system for any reflector (VISAR) produce quite similar flow velocity profiles with small level of noise.

Hall effects on MHD flow of heat generating/absorbing fluid through porous medium in a rotating parallel plate channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swarnalathamma, B. V.; Krishna, M. Veera

2017-07-01

We studied heat transfer on MHD convective flow of viscous electrically conducting heat generating/absorbing fluid through porous medium in a rotating channel under uniform transverse magnetic field normal to the channel and taking Hall current. The flow is governed by the Brinkman's model. The diagnostic solutions for the velocity and temperature are obtained by perturbation technique and computationally discussed with respect to flow parameters through the graphs. The skin friction and Nusselt number are also evaluated and computationally discussed with reference to pertinent parameters in detail.

Dynamic measurements in non-uniform flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ershov, A. P.

2018-07-01

The response of gauges registering the flow velocity and pressure in highly non-uniform media (for example, a powder under shock compression or powdered low-density explosive) is simulated. The modeling employs an acoustic approach. Against the average level of the signal, the fluctuations generated by the heterogeneity of the medium are observed which may distort the results completely. For reliable measurements, gauges larger than the characteristic scale of the medium non-uniformity are required. Under this condition, electromagnetic flow measurements and the velocity interferometer system for any reflector (VISAR) produce quite similar flow velocity profiles with small level of noise.

Turbine blade cooling

DOEpatents

Staub, F.W.; Willett, F.T.

1999-07-20

A turbine rotor blade comprises a shank portion, a tip portion and an airfoil. The airfoil has a pressure side wall and a suction side wall that are interconnected by a plurality of partition sidewalls, defining an internal cooling passageway within the airfoil. The internal cooling passageway includes at least one radial outflow passageway to direct a cooling medium flow from the shank portion towards the tip portion and at least one radial inflow passageway to direct a cooling medium flow from the tip portion towards the shank portion. A number of mixing ribs are disposed on the partition sidewalls within the radial outflow passageways so as to enhance the thermal mixing of the cooling medium flow, thereby producing improved heat transfer over a broad range of the Buoyancy number. 13 figs.

Systems and methods for separating particles utilizing engineered acoustic contrast capture particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaduchak, Gregory; Ward, Michael D.

An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minimamore » for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.« less

Apparatus for separating particles utilizing engineered acoustic contrast capture particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaduchak, Gregory; Ward, Michael D

An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minimamore » for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.« less

Turbine blade cooling

DOEpatents

Staub, Fred Wolf; Willett, Fred Thomas

1999-07-20

A turbine rotor blade comprises a shank portion, a tip portion and an airfoil. The airfoil has a pressure side wall and a suction side wall that are interconnected by a plurality of partition sidewalls, defining an internal cooling passageway within the airfoil. The internal cooling passageway includes at least one radial outflow passageway to direct a cooling medium flow from the shank portion towards the tip portion and at least one radial inflow passageway to direct a cooling medium flow from the tip portion towards the shank portion. A number of mixing ribs are disposed on the partition sidewalls within the radial outflow passageways so as to enhance the thermal mixing of the cooling medium flow, thereby producing improved heat transfer over a broad range of the Buoyancy number.

Turbine blade cooling

DOEpatents

Staub, Fred Wolf; Willett, Fred Thomas

2000-01-01

A turbine rotor blade comprises a shank portion, a tip portion and an airfoil. The airfoil has a pressure side wall and a suction side wall that are interconnected by a plurality of partition sidewalls, defining an internal cooling passageway within the airfoil. The internal cooling passageway includes at least one radial outflow passageway to direct a cooling medium flow from the shank portion towards the tip portion and at least one radial inflow passageway to direct a cooling medium flow from the tip portion towards the shank portion. A number of mixing ribs are disposed on the partition sidewalls within the radial outflow passageways so as to enhance the thermal mixing of the cooling medium flow, thereby producing improved heat transfer over a broad range of the Buoyancy number.

Spatial patterns of cyanobacterial mat growth on sand ripples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mariotti, G.; Klepac-Ceraj, V.; Perron, J. T.; Bosak, T.

2016-02-01

Photosynthetic microbial mats produce organic matter, cycle nutrients, bind pollutants and stabilize sediment in sandy marine environments. Here, we investigate the influence of bedforms and wave motion on the growth rate, composition and spatial variability of microbial mats by growing cyanobacterial mats on a rippled bed of carbonate sand in a wave tank. The tank was forced with an oscillatory flow with velocities below the threshold for sediment motion yet able to induce a porewater flow within the sediment. Different spatial patterns developed in mats depending on the initial biochemistry of the water medium. When growing in a medium rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and micronutrients, mats grew faster on ripple troughs than on ripple crests. After two months, mats covered the bed surface uniformly, and the microbial communities on the crests and in the troughs had similar compositions. Differences in bed shear stress and nutrient availability between crests and troughs were not able to explain the faster growth in the troughs. We hypothesize that this growth pattern is due to a "strainer" effect, i.e. the suspended bacteria from the inoculum were preferentially delivered to troughs by the wave-induced porewater flow. In the experiments initiated in a medium previously used up by a microbial mat and thus depleted in nutrients, mats grew preferentially on the ripple crests. This spatial pattern persisted for nearly two years, and the microbial composition on troughs and crests was different. We attribute this pattern to the upwelling of porewater in the crests, which increased the delivery of nutrients from sediment to the cyanobacteria on the bed surface. Thus, the macroscopic patterns formed by photosynthetic microbial mats on sand ripples may be used to infer whether mats are nutrient-limited and whether they are recently colonized or older than a month.

Three-dimensional hydrodynamic Bondi-Hoyle accretion. 2: Homogeneous medium at Mach 3 with gamma = 5/3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ruffert, Maximilian; Arnett, David

1994-01-01

We investigate the hydrodynamics of three-dimensional classical Bondi-Hoyle accretion. Totally absorbing spheres of varying sizes (from 10 down to 0.01 accretion radii) move at Mach 3 relative to a homogeneous and slightly perturbed medium, which is taken to be an ideal gas (gamma = 5/3). To accommodate the long-range gravitational forces, the extent of the computational volume is 32(exp 3) accretion radii. We examine the influence of numerical procedure on physical behavior. The hydrodynamics is modeled by the 'piecewise parabolic method.' No energy sources (nuclear burning) or sinks (radiation, conduction) are included. The resolution in the vicinity of the accretor is increased by multiply nesting several (5-10) grids around the sphere, each finer grid being a factor of 2 smaller in zone dimension that the next coarser grid. The largest dynamic range (ratio of size of the largest grid to size of the finest zone) is 16,384. This allows us to include a coarse model for the surface of the accretor (vacuum sphere) on the finest grid, while at the same time evolving the gas on the coarser grids. Initially (at time t = 0-10), a shock front is set up, a Mach cone develops, and the accretion column is observable. Eventually the flow becomes unstable, destroying axisymmetry. This happens approximately when the mass accretion rate reaches the values (+/- 10%) predicted by the Bondi-Hoyle accretion formula (factor of 2 included). However, our three-dimensional models do not show the highly dynamic flip-flop flow so prominent in two-dimensional calculations performed by other authors. The flow, and thus the accretion rate of all quantities, shows quasi-periodic (P approximately equals 5) cycles between quiescent and active states. The interpolation formula proposed in an accompanying paper is found to follow the collected numerical data to within approximately 30%. The specific angular momentum accreted is of the same order of magnitude as the values previously found for two-dimensional flows.

Upscaling mixing in porous media from an experimental quantification of pore scale Lagrangian deformation statistics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turuban, R.; Jimenez-Martinez, J.; De Anna, P.; Tabuteau, H.; Meheust, Y.; Le Borgne, T.

2014-12-01

As dissolved chemical elements are transported in the subsurface, their mixing with other compounds and potential reactivity depends on the creation of local scale chemical gradients, which ultimately drive diffusive mass transfer and reaction. The distribution of concentration gradients is in turn shaped by the spatial gradients of flow velocity arising from the random distribution of solid grains. We present an experimental investigation of the relationship between the microscale flow stretching properties and the effective large scale mixing dynamics in porous media. We use a flow cell that models a horizontal quasi two-dimensional (2D) porous medium, the grains of which are cylinders randomly positioned between two glass plates [de Anna et al. 2013]. In this setup, we perform both non diffusive and diffusive transport tests, by injecting respectively microsphere solid tracers and a fluorescent dye. While the dye front propagates through the medium, it undergoes in time a kinematic stretching that is controlled by the flow heterogeneity, as it encounters stagnation zones and high velocity channels between the grains. The spatial distribution of the dye can then be described as a set of stretched lamellae whose rate of diffusive smoothing is locally enhanced by kinematic stretching [Le Borgne et al., 2013]. We show that this representation allows predicting the temporal evolution of the mixing rate and the probability distribution of concentration gradients for a range of Peclet numbers. This upscaling framework hence provides a quantification of the dynamics of effective mixing from the microscale Lagrangian velocity statistics. References:[1] P. de Anna, J. Jimenez-Martinez, H. Tabuteau, R. Turuban, T. Le Borgne, M. Derrien,and Yves Méheust, Mixing and reaction kinetics in porous media : an experimental pore scale quantification, Environ. Sci. Technol. 48, 508-516, 2014. [2] Le Borgne, T., M. Dentz, E. Villermaux, Stretching, coalescence and mixing in porous media, Phys. Rev. Lett., 110, 204501 (2013)

Advances in membrane technology for the NASA redox energy storage system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ling, J. S.; Charleston, J.

1980-01-01

Anion exchange membranes used in the system serve as a charge transferring medium as well as a reactant separator and are the key enabling component in this storage technology. Each membrane formulation undergoes a series of screening tests for area-resistivity, static (non-flow) diffusion rate determination, and performance in Redox systems. The CDIL series of membranes has, by virtue of its chemical stability and high ion exchange capacity, demonstrated superior properties in the redox environment. Additional resistivity results at several acid and iron solution concentrations, iron diffusion rates, and time dependent iron fouling of the various membrane formulations are presented in comparison to past standard formulations.

Combined effects of heat and mass transfer to magneto hydrodynamics oscillatory dusty fluid flow in a porous channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Govindarajan, A.; Vijayalakshmi, R.; Ramamurthy, V.

2018-04-01

The main aim of this article is to study the combined effects of heat and mass transfer to radiative Magneto Hydro Dynamics (MHD) oscillatory optically thin dusty fluid in a saturated porous medium channel. Based on certain assumptions, the momentum, energy, concentration equations are obtained.The governing equations are non-dimensionalised, simplified and solved analytically. The closed analytical form solutions for velocity, temperature, concentration profiles are obtained. Numerical computations are presented graphically to show the salient features of various physical parameters. The shear stress, the rate of heat transfer and the rate of mass transfer are also presented graphically.

Effect of Medium pH on Rhodosporidium toruloides NCYC 921 Carotenoid and Lipid Production Evaluated by Flow Cytometry.

PubMed

Dias, Carla; Silva, Corália; Freitas, Claudia; Reis, Alberto; da Silva, Teresa Lopes

2016-07-01

The effect of the culture medium pH (3.5-6.0) on the carotenoid and lipid (as fatty acids) production by the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides NCYC 921 was studied. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the yeast's physiological response to different culture medium pH values. The yeast biomass concentration and lipid content were maxima at pH 4.0 (5.90 g/L and 21.85 % w/w, respectively), while the maximum carotenoid content (63.37 μg/g) was obtained at pH 5.0. At the exponential phase, the yeast cell size and internal complexity were similar, at different medium pH. At the stationary phase, the yeast cell size and internal complexity decreased as the medium pH increased. At the exponential phase, the proportion of cells with polarized membranes was always high (>80 %) but at the stationary phase, the proportion of yeast cells with depolarized membranes was dominant (>65 %) and increased with the medium pH increase. The results here reported may contribute for yeast bioprocesses optimization. For the first time, multiparameter flow cytometry was used to evaluate the impact of medium pH changes on the yeast cell physiological status, specifically on the yeast membrane potential, membrane integrity, cell size and internal complexity.

FIBER AND INTEGRATED OPTICS. OTHER TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: Determination of the saturation parameter in a fast-flow CO2 active medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lebedev, V. F.; Lysikov, A. Yu; Ryazanova, A. V.; Shalygin, S. V.

1990-05-01

A diagnostic method was developed for determination of such an important characteristic of a CO2 active medium as the energy stored in the vibrational degrees of freedom of molecules, which can be determined directly from the experimentally measured powers of probe beams without the need for any additional information on the medium and without any numerical calculations. Measurements were carried out using a real fast-flow system, which satisfied the conditions of validity of the proposed diagnostic method, and the correctness of the approach was confirmed. The results obtained demonstrated the efficiency of the excitation of the medium when the pump conditions were varied.

Three-dimensional rotational plasma flows near solid surfaces in an axial magnetic field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gorshunov, N. M., E-mail: gorshunov-nm@nrcki.ru; Potanin, E. P., E-mail: potanin45@yandex.ru

2016-11-15

A rotational flow of a conducting viscous medium near an extended dielectric disk in a uniform axial magnetic field is analyzed in the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) approach. An analytical solution to the system of nonlinear differential MHD equations of motion in the boundary layer for the general case of different rotation velocities of the disk and medium is obtained using a modified Slezkin–Targ method. A particular case of a medium rotating near a stationary disk imitating the end surface of a laboratory device is considered. The characteristics of a hydrodynamic flow near the disk surface are calculated within the model ofmore » a finite-thickness boundary layer. The influence of the magnetic field on the intensity of the secondary flow is studied. Calculations are performed for a weakly ionized dense plasma flow without allowance for the Hall effect and plasma compressibility. An MHD flow in a rotating cylinder bounded from above by a retarding cap is considered. The results obtained can be used to estimate the influence of the end surfaces on the main azimuthal flow, as well as the intensities of circulating flows in various devices with rotating plasmas, in particular, in plasma centrifuges and laboratory devices designed to study instabilities of rotating plasmas.« less

Integrated Microfluidic Flow-Through Microbial Fuel Cells

PubMed Central

Jiang, Huawei; Ali, Md. Azahar; Xu, Zhen; Halverson, Larry J.; Dong, Liang

2017-01-01

This paper reports on a miniaturized microbial fuel cell with a microfluidic flow-through configuration: a porous anolyte chamber is formed by filling a microfluidic chamber with three-dimensional graphene foam as anode, allowing nutritional medium to flow through the chamber to intimately interact with the colonized microbes on the scaffolds of the anode. No nutritional media flow over the anode. This allows sustaining high levels of nutrient utilization, minimizing consumption of nutritional substrates, and reducing response time of electricity generation owing to fast mass transport through pressure-driven flow and rapid diffusion of nutrients within the anode. The device provides a volume power density of 745 μW/cm3 and a surface power density of 89.4 μW/cm2 using Shewanella oneidensis as a model biocatalyst without any optimization of bacterial culture. The medium consumption and the response time of the flow-through device are reduced by 16.4 times and 4.2 times, respectively, compared to the non-flow-through counterpart with its freeway space volume six times the volume of graphene foam anode. The graphene foam enabled microfluidic flow-through approach will allow efficient microbial conversion of carbon-containing bioconvertible substrates to electricity with smaller space, less medium consumption, and shorter start-up time. PMID:28120875

Transitioning from a single-phase fluid to a porous medium: a boundary layer approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalwadi, Mohit P.; Chapman, S. Jon; Oliver, James M.; Waters, Sarah L.

2014-11-01

Pressure-driven laminar channel flow is a classic problem in fluid mechanics, and the resultant Poiseuille flow is one of the few exact solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations. If the channel interior is a porous medium (governed by Darcy's law) rather than a single-phase fluid, the resultant behaviour is plug flow. But what happens when these two flow regions are coupled, as is the case for industrial membrane filtration systems or biological tissue engineering problems? How does one flow transition to the other? We use asymptotic methods to investigate pressure-driven flow through a long channel completely blocked by a finite-length porous obstacle. We analytically solve for the flow at both small and large Reynolds number (whilst remaining within the laminar regime). The boundary layer structure is surprisingly intricate for large Reynolds number. In that limit, the structure is markedly different depending on whether there is inflow or outflow through the porous medium, there being six asymptotic regions for inflow and three for outflow. We have extended this result to a wide class of 3D porous obstacles within a Hele-Shaw cell. We obtain general boundary conditions to couple the outer flows, and find that these conditions are far from obvious at higher order.

Integrated Microfluidic Flow-Through Microbial Fuel Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Huawei; Ali, Md. Azahar; Xu, Zhen; Halverson, Larry J.; Dong, Liang

2017-01-01

This paper reports on a miniaturized microbial fuel cell with a microfluidic flow-through configuration: a porous anolyte chamber is formed by filling a microfluidic chamber with three-dimensional graphene foam as anode, allowing nutritional medium to flow through the chamber to intimately interact with the colonized microbes on the scaffolds of the anode. No nutritional media flow over the anode. This allows sustaining high levels of nutrient utilization, minimizing consumption of nutritional substrates, and reducing response time of electricity generation owing to fast mass transport through pressure-driven flow and rapid diffusion of nutrients within the anode. The device provides a volume power density of 745 μW/cm3 and a surface power density of 89.4 μW/cm2 using Shewanella oneidensis as a model biocatalyst without any optimization of bacterial culture. The medium consumption and the response time of the flow-through device are reduced by 16.4 times and 4.2 times, respectively, compared to the non-flow-through counterpart with its freeway space volume six times the volume of graphene foam anode. The graphene foam enabled microfluidic flow-through approach will allow efficient microbial conversion of carbon-containing bioconvertible substrates to electricity with smaller space, less medium consumption, and shorter start-up time.

Cytotoxicity of cancer HeLa cells sensitivity to normal MCF10A cells in cultivations with cell culture medium treated by microwave-excited atmospheric pressure plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Yohei; Taki, Yusuke; Takeda, Keigo; Hashizume, Hiroshi; Tanaka, Hiromasa; Ishikawa, Kenji; Hori, Masaru

2018-03-01

Cytotoxic effects of human epithelial carcinoma HeLa cells sensitivity to human mammary epithelial MCF10A cells appeared in incubation with the plasma-activated medium (PAM), where the cell culture media were irradiated with the hollow-shaped contact of a continuously discharged plasma that was sustained by application of a microwave power under Ar gas flow at atmospheric pressure. The discharged plasma had an electron density of 7  ×  1014 cm-3. As the nozzle exit to the plasma source was a distance of 5 mm to the medium, concentrations of 180 µM for H2O2 and 77 µM for NO2- were generated in the PAM for 30 s irradiation, resulting in the control of irradiation periods for aqueous H2O2 with a generation rate of 6.0 µM s-1, and nitrite ion (NO2- ) with a rate of 2.2 µM s-1. Effective concentrations of H2O2 and NO2- for the antitumor effects were revealed in the microwave-excited PAM, with consideration of the complicated reactions at the plasma-liquid interfaces.

Maintenance and Control of Erosion and Sediment Along Secondary Roads and Tertiary Trails.

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-07-01

abuse. Figure 3-4. Culverts located on natural channels. 36 USACERL SR 97/108 handle the base flow of the channel. They permit 0 Slag : A byproduct of...largely on the aggregate deep used. Aggregates may be classified as talus, pit- S!F: run, quarry rock, crushed rock, or slag . The fol- MEDIUM SEVERITY... slag , or stone aggregate is then wastes of the wood-pulping process. Variations spread over the treated area. The rate of appli- include calcium ligno

Mathematical modelling of cell layer growth in a hollow fibre bioreactor.

PubMed

Chapman, Lloyd A C; Whiteley, Jonathan P; Byrne, Helen M; Waters, Sarah L; Shipley, Rebecca J

2017-04-07

Generating autologous tissue grafts of a clinically useful volume requires efficient and controlled expansion of cell populations harvested from patients. Hollow fibre bioreactors show promise as cell expansion devices, owing to their potential for scale-up. However, further research is required to establish how to specify appropriate hollow fibre bioreactor operating conditions for expanding different cell types. In this study we develop a simple model for the growth of a cell layer seeded on the outer surface of a single fibre in a perfused hollow fibre bioreactor. Nutrient-rich culture medium is pumped through the fibre lumen and leaves the bioreactor via the lumen outlet or passes through the porous fibre walls and cell layer, and out via ports on the outer wall of the extra-capillary space. Stokes and Darcy equations for fluid flow in the fibre lumen, fibre wall, cell layer and extra-capillary space are coupled to reaction-advection-diffusion equations for oxygen and lactate transport through the bioreactor, and to a simple growth law for the evolution of the free boundary of the cell layer. Cells at the free boundary are assumed to proliferate at a rate that increases with the local oxygen concentration, and to die and detach from the layer if the local fluid shear stress or lactate concentration exceed critical thresholds. We use the model to predict operating conditions that maximise the cell layer growth for different cell types. In particular, we predict the optimal flow rate of culture medium into the fibre lumen and fluid pressure imposed at the lumen outlet for cell types with different oxygen demands and fluid shear stress tolerances, and compare the growth of the cell layer when the exit ports on the outside of the bioreactor are open with that when they are closed. Model simulations reveal that increasing the inlet flow rate and outlet fluid pressure increases oxygen delivery to the cell layer and, therefore, the growth rate of cells that are tolerant to high shear stresses, but may be detrimental for shear-sensitive cells. The cell layer growth rate is predicted to increase, and be less sensitive to the lactate tolerance of the cells, when the exit ports are opened, as the radial flow through the bioreactor is enhanced and the lactate produced by the cells cleared more rapidly from the cell layer. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Simulation of water flow in fractured porous medium by using discretized virtual internal bond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Shujun; Zhang, Zhennan; Li, Chunfang; He, Guofu; Miao, Guoqing

2017-12-01

The discretized virtual internal bond (DVIB) is adopted to simulate the water flow in fractured porous medium. The intact porous medium is permeable because it contains numerous micro cracks and pores. These micro discontinuities construct a fluid channel network. The representative volume of this fluid channel network is modeled as a lattice bond cell with finite number of bonds in statistical sense. Each bond serves as a fluid channel. In fractured porous medium, many bond cells are cut by macro fractures. The conductivity of the fracture facet in a bond cell is taken over by the bonds parallel to the flow direction. The equivalent permeability and volumetric storage coefficient of a micro bond are calibrated based on the ideal bond cell conception, which makes it unnecessary to consider the detailed geometry of a specific element. Such parameter calibration method is flexible and applicable to any type of element. The accuracy check results suggest this method has a satisfying accuracy in both the steady and transient flow simulation. To simulate the massive fractures in rockmass, the bond cells intersected by fracture are assigned aperture values, which are assumed random numbers following a certain distribution law. By this method, any number of fractures can be implicitly incorporated into the background mesh, avoiding the setup of fracture element and mesh modification. The fracture aperture heterogeneity is well represented by this means. The simulation examples suggest that the present method is a feasible, simple and efficient approach to the numerical simulation of water flow in fractured porous medium.

Non-Darcy Forchheimer flow of ferromagnetic second grade fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayat, T.; Ahmad, Salman; Khan, M. Ijaz; Alsaedi, A.

This article discusses impacts of thermal radiation, viscous dissipation and magnetic dipole in flow of second grade fluid saturating porous medium. Porous medium is characterized by nonlinear Darcy-Forchheimer relation. Relevant nonlinear ordinary differential systems after using appropriate transformations are solved numerically. Shooting technique is implemented for the numerical treatment. Temperature, velocity, skin fraction and Nusselt number are analyzed.

Numerical simulation of heat transfer and fluid flow of Water-CuO Nanofluid in a sinusoidal channel with a porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nazari, Saman; Toghraie, Davood

2017-03-01

This study has compared the convection heat transfer of Water-based fluid flow with that of Water-Copper oxide (CuO) nanofluid in a sinusoidal channel with a porous medium. The heat flux in the lower and upper walls has been assumed constant, and the flow has been assumed to be two-dimensional, steady, laminar, and incompressible. The governing equations include equations of continuity, momentum, and energy. The assumption of thermal equilibrium has been considered between the porous medium and the fluid. The effects of the parameters, Reynolds number and Darcy number on the thermal performance of the channel, have been investigated. The results of this study show that the presence of a porous medium in a channel, as well as adding nanoparticles to the base fluid, increases the Nusselt number and the convection heat transfer coefficient. Also the results show that As the Reynolds number increases, the temperature gradient increases. In addition, changes in this parameter are greater in the throat of the flow than in convex regions due to changes in the channel geometry. In addition, porous regions reduce the temperature difference, which in turn increases the convective heat transfer coefficient.

Experiment and Lattice Boltzmann numerical study on nanofluids flow in a micromodel as porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meghdadi Isfahani, A. H.; Afrand, Masoud

2017-10-01

Al2O3 nanofluids flow has been studied in etched glass micromodel which is idealization of porous media by using a pseudo 2D Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). The predictions were compared with experimental results. Pressure drop / flow rate relations have been measured for pure water and Al2O3 nanofluids. Because the size of Al2O3 nanoparticles is tiny enough to permit through the pore throats of the micromodel, blockage does not occur and the permeability is independent of the nanofluid volume fraction. Therefore, the nanofluid behaves as a single phase fluid, and a single phase LBM is able to simulate the results of this experiment. Although the flow in micromodels is 3D, we showed that 2D LBM can be used provided an effective viscous drag force, representing the effect of the third dimension, is considered. Good qualitative and quantitative agreement is seen between the numerical and experimental results.

A multi-commuted flow injection system with a multi-channel propulsion unit placed before detection: Spectrophotometric determination of ammonium.

PubMed

Oliveira, Sara M; Lopes, Teresa I M S; Tóth, Ildikó V; Rangel, António O S S

2007-09-26

A flow system with a multi-channel peristaltic pump placed before the solenoid valves is proposed to overcome some limitations attributed to multi-commuted flow injection systems: the negative pressure can lead to the formation of unwanted air bubbles and limits the use of devices for separation processes (gas diffusion, dialysis or ion-exchange). The proposed approach was applied to the colorimetric determination of ammonium nitrogen. In alkaline medium, ammonium is converted into ammonia, which diffuses over the membrane, causing a pH change and subsequently a colour change in the acceptor stream (bromothymol blue solution). The system allowed the re-circulation of the acceptor solution and was applied to ammonium determination in surface and tap water, providing relative standard deviations lower than 1.5%. A stopped flow approach in the acceptor stream was adopted to attain a low quantification limit (42 microgL(-1)) and a linear dynamic range of 50-1000 microgL(-1) with a determination rate of 20 h(-1).

Intracellular microrheology of motile Amoeba proteus.

PubMed

Rogers, Salman S; Waigh, Thomas A; Lu, Jian R

2008-04-15

The motility of Amoeba proteus was examined using the technique of passive particle tracking microrheology, with the aid of newly developed particle tracking software, a fast digital camera, and an optical microscope. We tracked large numbers of endogeneous particles in the amoebae, which displayed subdiffusive motion at short timescales, corresponding to thermal motion in a viscoelastic medium, and superdiffusive motion at long timescales due to the convection of the cytoplasm. Subdiffusive motion was characterized by a rheological scaling exponent of 3/4 in the cortex, indicative of the semiflexible dynamics of the actin fibers. We observed shear-thinning in the flowing endoplasm, where exponents increased with increasing flow rate; i.e., the endoplasm became more fluid-like. The rheology of the cortex is found to be isotropic, reflecting an isotropic actin gel. A clear difference was seen between cortical and endoplasmic layers in terms of both viscoelasticity and flow velocity, where the profile of the latter is close to a Poiseuille flow for a Newtonian fluid.

Intracellular Microrheology of Motile Amoeba proteus

PubMed Central

Rogers, Salman S.; Waigh, Thomas A.; Lu, Jian R.

2008-01-01

The motility of Amoeba proteus was examined using the technique of passive particle tracking microrheology, with the aid of newly developed particle tracking software, a fast digital camera, and an optical microscope. We tracked large numbers of endogeneous particles in the amoebae, which displayed subdiffusive motion at short timescales, corresponding to thermal motion in a viscoelastic medium, and superdiffusive motion at long timescales due to the convection of the cytoplasm. Subdiffusive motion was characterized by a rheological scaling exponent of 3/4 in the cortex, indicative of the semiflexible dynamics of the actin fibers. We observed shear-thinning in the flowing endoplasm, where exponents increased with increasing flow rate; i.e., the endoplasm became more fluid-like. The rheology of the cortex is found to be isotropic, reflecting an isotropic actin gel. A clear difference was seen between cortical and endoplasmic layers in terms of both viscoelasticity and flow velocity, where the profile of the latter is close to a Poiseuille flow for a Newtonian fluid. PMID:18192370

Intracellular Microrheology of Motile Amoeba proteus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogers, S.; Waigh, T.; Lu, J.

2008-04-01

The motility of motile Amoeba proteus was examined using the technique of passive particle tracking microrheology, with the aid of newly-developed particle tracking software, a fast digital camera and an optical microscope. We tracked large numbers of endogeneous particles in the amoebae, which displayed subdiffusive motion at short time scales, corresponding to thermal motion in a viscoelastic medium, and superdiffusive motion at long time scales due to the convection of the cytoplasm. Subdiffusive motion was characterised by a rheological scaling exponent of 3/4 in the cortex, indicative of the semiflexible dynamics of the actin fibres. We observed shear-thinning in the flowing endoplasm, where exponents increased with increasing flow rate; i.e. the endoplasm became more fluid-like. The rheology of the cortex is found to be isotropic, reflecting an isotropic actin gel. A clear difference was seen between cortical and endoplasmic layers in terms of both viscoelasticity and flow velocity, where the profile of the latter is close to a Poiseuille flow for a Newtonian fluid.

The calcium paradox phenomenon: a flow rate and volume response study of calcium-free perfusion.

PubMed

Oksendal, A N; Jynge, P; Sellevold, O F; Rotevatn, S; Saetersdal, T

1985-10-01

A dose-response study concerning the importance of the flow rate (0.5 to 12 ml/min) and volume (2.5 to 60 ml) of calcium-free coronary perfusion (duration 5 min) in the induction of a calcium paradox on reperfusion (duration 15 min) with calcium-containing medium has been performed in the isolated rat heart (37 degrees C). On the basis of enzymatic, physiological, and metabolic assessments three different levels of tissue injury were identified: a minimal paradox at 1.0 ml/min or 5 ml, a subtotal paradox at 2 ml/min or 10 ml and a total paradox at 9 ml/min or 45 ml. Ultrastructural examination revealed that cellular injury following calcium repletion was always severe, and that an increase in the flow rate and volume of calcium-free perfusion increased the number of severely injured cells. During calcium-free perfusion the external lamina largely remained intact over the surface coat of the sarcolemma, but variable degrees of separation of intercalated discs were observed. It is concluded that the calcium paradox model of myocardial injury presents a rather sharp threshold related to the flow rate or volume of calcium-free coronary perfusion and that on trespassing this threshold there is a narrow zone characterized by a decreasing number of viable cells. Furthermore, the study indicates that a separation of the external lamina from the surface coat of the sarcolemma is not a prerequisite for the induction of a calcium paradox, and that cell injury may occur in the presence of intact intercalated discs.

Surface Colonization and Activity of the 2,6-Dichlorobenzamide (BAM) Degrading Aminobacter sp. Strain MSH1 at Macro- and Micropollutant BAM Concentrations.

PubMed

Sekhar, Aswini; Horemans, Benjamin; Aamand, Jens; Sørensen, Sebastian R; Vanhaecke, Lynn; Bussche, Julie Vanden; Hofkens, Johan; Springael, Dirk

2016-09-20

Aminobacter sp. MSH1 uses the groundwater micropollutant 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) as a C and N source and is a potential catalyst for biotreatment of BAM-contaminated groundwater in filtration units of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). The oligotrophic environment of DWTPs including trace pollutant concentrations, and the high flow rates impose challenges for micropollutant biodegradation in DWTPs. To understand how trace BAM concentrations affect MSH1 surface colonization and BAM degrading activity, MSH1 was cultivated in flow channels fed continuously with BAM macro- and microconcentrations in a N- and C-limiting medium. At all BAM concentrations, MSH1 colonized the flow channel. BAM degradation efficiencies were concentration-dependent, ranging between 70 and 95%. Similarly, BAM concentration affected surface colonization, but at 100 μg/L BAM and lower, colonization was similar to that in systems without BAM, suggesting that assimilable organic carbon and nitrogen other than those supplied by BAM sustained colonization at BAM microconcentrations. Comparison of specific BAM degradation rates in flow channels and in cultures of suspended freshly grown cells indicated that starvation conditions in flow channels receiving BAM microconcentrations resulted into MSH1 biomasses with 10-100-times reduced BAM degrading activity and provided a kinetic model for predicting BAM degradation under continuous C and N starvation.

A Massive, Cooling-Flow-Induced Starburst in the Core of a Highly Luminous Galaxy Cluster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McDonald, M.; Bayliss, M.; Benson, B. A.; Foley, R. J.; Ruel, J.; Sullivan, P.; Veilleux, S.; Aird, K. A.; Ashby, M. L. N.; Bautz, M.;

Electron-ion dissociative recombination rate constants relevant to the Titan atmosphere and the Interstellar Medium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Osborne, David; Lawson, Patrick; Adams, Nigel, E-mail: ngadams@uga.edu

Following the arrival of Cassini at Titan in 2004, the Titan atmosphere has been shown to contain large complex polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons. Since Cassini has provided a great deal of data, there exists a need for kinetic rate data to help with modeling this atmosphere. One type of kinetic data needed is electron-ion dissociative recombination (e-IDR) rate constants. These data are not readily available for larger compounds, such as naphthalene, or oxygen containing compounds, such as 1,4 dioxane or furan. Here, the rate constants for naphthalene, 1,4 dioxane, and furan have been measured and their temperature dependencies are determined when possible,more » using the University of Georgia's Variable Temperature Flowing Afterglow. The rate constants are compared with those previously published for other compounds; these show trends which illustrate the effects which multi-rings and oxygen heteroatoms substitutions have upon e-IDR rate constants.« less

Electron-ion dissociative recombination rate constants relevant to the Titan atmosphere and the Interstellar Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osborne, David; Lawson, Patrick; Adams, Nigel

2014-01-01

Following the arrival of Cassini at Titan in 2004, the Titan atmosphere has been shown to contain large complex polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons. Since Cassini has provided a great deal of data, there exists a need for kinetic rate data to help with modeling this atmosphere. One type of kinetic data needed is electron-ion dissociative recombination (e-IDR) rate constants. These data are not readily available for larger compounds, such as naphthalene, or oxygen containing compounds, such as 1,4 dioxane or furan. Here, the rate constants for naphthalene, 1,4 dioxane, and furan have been measured and their temperature dependencies are determined when possible, using the University of Georgia's Variable Temperature Flowing Afterglow. The rate constants are compared with those previously published for other compounds; these show trends which illustrate the effects which multi-rings and oxygen heteroatoms substitutions have upon e-IDR rate constants.

[Characteristics of growth and changes in the ultrafine structure of bacteria in the course of continuous cultivation on media containing ethanol].

PubMed

Kvasnikov, E I; Gavrilenko, M N; Sumnevich, V G; Stepaniuk, V V; Eluseeva, G S; Stognii, I P

1977-01-01

A large number of bacterial strains assimilating chemical ethanol has been isolated using an original technique. Active growth of strains belonging to the genera Pseudomonas and, particularly, Acinetobacter was registered on mineral media containing ethanol. A mathematical model was constructed select a strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus K-9 during its continuous cultivation on media containing ethanol. The model makes it possible to determine conditions for producing a present amount of the biomass, the percentage of its yield, and the produc;iveness as a function of the dilution rate, temperature, and the concentration of ethanol and phosphoric acid in the medium. The main characteristics of the growth process in the studied factor space were established. The optimum conditions were calculated for growth of the strain with respect to each of the criteria. Under various conditions of bacterial growth, changes in the morphology and ultra-fine structure of the cells correlated with their physiological activity. The volume of the cells increased with the rate of dilution of the medium: the process can be described by a saturation curve. The presence of mesosomal structures is typical of the cells growing at low flow rates.

Preferential flow occurs in unsaturated conditions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nimmo, John R.

2012-01-01

Because it commonly generates high-speed, high-volume flow with minimal exposure to solid earth materials, preferential flow in the unsaturated zone is a dominant influence in many problems of infiltration, recharge, contaminant transport, and ecohydrology. By definition, preferential flow occurs in a portion of a medium – that is, a preferred part, whether a pathway, pore, or macroscopic subvolume. There are many possible classification schemes, but usual consideration of preferential flow includes macropore or fracture flow, funneled flow determined by macroscale heterogeneities, and fingered flow determined by hydraulic instability rather than intrinsic heterogeneity. That preferential flow is spatially concentrated associates it with other characteristics that are typical, although not defining: it tends to be unusually fast, to transport high fluxes, and to occur with hydraulic disequilibrium within the medium. It also has a tendency to occur in association with large conduits and high water content, although these are less universal than is commonly assumed. Predictive unsaturated-zone flow models in common use employ several different criteria for when and where preferential flow occurs, almost always requiring a nearly saturated medium. A threshold to be exceeded may be specified in terms of the following (i) water content; (ii) matric potential, typically a value high enough to cause capillary filling in a macropore of minimum size; (iii) infiltration capacity or other indication of incipient surface ponding; or (iv) other conditions related to total filling of certain pores. Yet preferential flow does occur without meeting these criteria. My purpose in this commentary is to point out important exceptions and implications of ignoring them. Some of these pertain mainly to macropore flow, others to fingered or funneled flow, and others to combined or undifferentiated flow modes.

Scanning two-photon continuous flow lithography for synthesis of high-resolution 3D microparticles.

PubMed

Shaw, Lucas A; Chizari, Samira; Shusteff, Maxim; Naghsh-Nilchi, Hamed; Di Carlo, Dino; Hopkins, Jonathan B

2018-05-14

Demand continues to rise for custom-fabricated and engineered colloidal microparticles across a breadth of application areas. This paper demonstrates an improvement in the fabrication rate of high-resolution 3D colloidal particles by using two-photon scanning lithography within a microfluidic channel. To accomplish this, we present (1) an experimental setup that supports fast, 3D scanning by synchronizing a galvanometer, piezoelectric stage, and an acousto-optic switch, and (2) a new technique for modifying the laser's scan path to compensate for the relative motion of the rapidly-flowing photopolymer medium. The result is an instrument that allows for rapid conveyor-belt-like fabrication of colloidal objects with arbitrary 3D shapes and micron-resolution features.

Flow regimes for fluid injection into a confined porous medium

DOE PAGES

Zheng, Zhong; Guo, Bo; Christov, Ivan C.; ...

2015-02-24

We report theoretical and numerical studies of the flow behaviour when a fluid is injected into a confined porous medium saturated with another fluid of different density and viscosity. For a two-dimensional configuration with point source injection, a nonlinear convection–diffusion equation is derived to describe the time evolution of the fluid–fluid interface. In the early time period, the fluid motion is mainly driven by the buoyancy force and the governing equation is reduced to a nonlinear diffusion equation with a well-known self-similar solution. In the late time period, the fluid flow is mainly driven by the injection, and the governingmore » equation is approximated by a nonlinear hyperbolic equation that determines the global spreading rate; a shock solution is obtained when the injected fluid is more viscous than the displaced fluid, whereas a rarefaction wave solution is found when the injected fluid is less viscous. In the late time period, we also obtain analytical solutions including the diffusive term associated with the buoyancy effects (for an injected fluid with a viscosity higher than or equal to that of the displaced fluid), which provide the structure of the moving front. Numerical simulations of the convection–diffusion equation are performed; the various analytical solutions are verified as appropriate asymptotic limits, and the transition processes between the individual limits are demonstrated.« less

Instability of fluid flow over saturated porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyubimova, Tatyana; Kolchanova, Ekaterina; Lyubimov, Dmitry

2013-04-01

We investigate the stability of a fluid flow over a saturated porous medium. The problem is of importance due to the applications to washing out of contaminants from the bottom layer of vegetation, whose properties are similar to the properties of porous medium. In the case of porous medium with the relatively high permeability and porosity the flow involves a part of the fluid saturating the porous medium, with the tangential fluid velocity drop occurring because of the resistance of the solid matrix. The drop leads to the instability analogous to Kelvin-Helmholtz one accompanied by the formation of travelling waves. In the present paper we consider a two-layer system consisting of a pure fluid layer and a porous layer saturated by the fluid located underneath. The system is bounded by a rigid surface at the bottom and a non-deformable free surface at the top. It is under the gravity and inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal axis. The boundary conditions at the interface between the fluid and porous layers are the continuity of fluid velocities and the balance of normal and tangential stresses taking into account the resistance of the solid matrix with respect to the fluid flow near the interface [1-2]. The problem is solved in the framework of the Brinkman model applying the classical shooting algorithm with orthogonalization. The stability boundaries of the stationary fluid flow over the saturated porous medium with respect to the small oscillatory perturbations are obtained for the various values of the Darcy number and the ratio of the porous layer thickness to the full thickness of the system d. It was shown that at the d > 0.5 with increasing the porous layer thickness (or with decreasing of the fluid layer thickness) the stability threshold rises. This is because of the fact that the instability is primarily caused by perturbations located in the fluid layer. At the d < 0.5 the reduction of the porous layer thickness leads to the stability threshold growth. The numerical calculations were also conducted for nonlinear regimes of the flow applying the finite-element method. Flow characteristics are determined at supercritical values of parameters. The work was made under the financial support of Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant 12-01-00795). 1. Ochoa-Tapia J. A. and Whitaker S. Momentum transfer at the boundary between a porous medium and a homogeneous fluid-I. Theoretical development. Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer. 1995. N 38. P. 2635-2646. 2. Ochoa-Tapia J. A. and Whitaker S. Momentum transfer at the boundary between a porous medium and a homogeneous fluid-II. Comparison with experiment. Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer. 1995. N 38. P. 2647-2655.

An ecological model of the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea: Analysis of ecosystem structure and fishing impacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coll, Marta; Santojanni, Alberto; Palomera, Isabel; Tudela, Sergi; Arneri, Enrico

2007-08-01

A trophic mass-balance model was developed to characterise the food web structure and functioning of the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea and to quantify the ecosystem impacts of fishing during the 1990s. Forty functional groups were described, including target and non-target fish and invertebrate groups, and three detritus groups (natural detritus, discards and by-catch of cetaceans and marine turtles). Results highlighted that there was an important coupling between pelagic-benthic production of plankton, benthic invertebrates and detritus. Organisms located at low and medium trophic levels, (i.e. benthic invertebrates, zooplankton and anchovy), as well as dolphins, were identified as keystone groups of the ecosystem. Jellyfish were an important element in terms of consumption and production of trophic flows within the ecosystem. The analysis of trophic flows of zooplankton and detritus groups indirectly underlined the importance of the microbial food web in the Adriatic Sea. Fishing activities inflicted notable impacts on the ecosystem during the 1990s, with a high gross efficiency of the fishery, a high consumption of fishable production, high exploitation rates for various target and non target species, a low trophic level of the catch and medium values of primary production required to sustain the fishery. Moreover, the analysis of Odum's ecological indicators highlighted that the ecosystem was in a low-medium developmental stage. Bottom trawling ( Strascico), mid-water trawling ( Volante) and beam trawling ( Rapido) fleets had the highest impacts on both target and non target ecological groups. On the contrary, purse seining ( Lampara) showed medium to low impacts on the ecosystem; cetaceans, marine turtles and sea birds were not significantly involved in competition with fishing activity.

Performance optimization of plate heat exchangers with chevron plates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Muley, A.; Manglik, R.M.

1999-07-01

The enhanced heat transfer performance of a chevron plate heat exchanger (PHE) is evaluated employing (1) energy-conservation based performance evaluation criteria (PECs), and (2) the second-law based minimization of entropy generation principle. Single-phase laminar and turbulent flow convection for three different chevron-plate arrangements are considered. The influence of plate surface corrugation characteristics and their stack arrangements on the heat exchanger's thermal-hydraulic performance is delineated. Based on the different figures of merit, the results show that the extent of heat transfer enhancement increases with flow Re and chevron angle {beta} in laminar flow, but it diminishes with increasing Re in turbulentmore » flows. With up to 2.9 times higher Q, 48% lower A, and entropy generation number N{sub s,a} {lt} 1, relative to an equivalent flat-plate pack, chevron plates are found to be especially suitable in the low to medium flow rates range (20 {le} Re {le} 2,000). Also, there appears to be no significant advantage of using a mixed-plate over a symmetric-plate arrangement.« less

Prediction of fingering in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhi; Feyen, Jan; Elrick, David E.

1998-09-01

Immiscible displacement, involving two fluids in a porous medium, can be unstable and fingered under certain conditions. In this paper, the original linear instability criterion of Chuoke et al. [1959] is generalized, considering wettability of two immiscible fluids to the porous medium. This is then used to predict 24 specific flow and porous medium conditions for the onset of wetting front instability in the subsurface. Wetting front instability is shown to be a function of the driving fluid wettability to the medium, differences in density and viscosity of the fluids, the magnitude of the interfacial tension, and the direction of flow with respect to gravity. Scenarios of water and nonaqueous-phase liquid infiltration into the vadose zone are examined to predict preferential flow and contamination of groundwater. The mechanisms of finger formation, propagation, and persistence in the vadose zone are reviewed, and the existing equations for calculating the size, the number and velocity of fingers are simplified for field applications. The analyses indicate that fingers initiate and propagate according to spatial and temporal distribution of the dynamic breakthrough (water- or air-entry) pressures in the porous medium. The predicted finger size and velocity are in close agreement with the experimental results.

Acrivos Award Talk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Datta, Sujit Sankar

2015-11-01

Filtering water and brewing coffee are familiar examples of forcing a fluid through a porous material. Such flows are also crucial to many technological applications, including oil recovery, groundwater remediation, waste CO2 sequestration, and even transporting nutrients through mammalian tissues. I will present an experimental approach by which we directly visualize flow within a disordered 3D porous medium over a broad range of length scales, from the scale of individual pores to that of the entire medium. I will describe how we use this approach to learn about fluctuations and instabilities in single-phase and multi-phase flows.

Bubble pump: scalable strategy for in-plane liquid routing.

PubMed

Oskooei, Ali; Günther, Axel

2015-07-07

We present an on-chip liquid routing technique intended for application in well-based microfluidic systems that require long-term active pumping at low to medium flowrates. Our technique requires only one fluidic feature layer, one pneumatic control line and does not rely on flexible membranes and mechanical or moving parts. The presented bubble pump is therefore compatible with both elastomeric and rigid substrate materials and the associated scalable manufacturing processes. Directed liquid flow was achieved in a microchannel by an in-series configuration of two previously described "bubble gates", i.e., by gas-bubble enabled miniature gate valves. Only one time-dependent pressure signal is required and initiates at the upstream (active) bubble gate a reciprocating bubble motion. Applied at the downstream (passive) gate a time-constant gas pressure level is applied. In its rest state, the passive gate remains closed and only temporarily opens while the liquid pressure rises due to the active gate's reciprocating bubble motion. We have designed, fabricated and consistently operated our bubble pump with a variety of working liquids for >72 hours. Flow rates of 0-5.5 μl min(-1), were obtained and depended on the selected geometric dimensions, working fluids and actuation frequencies. The maximum operational pressure was 2.9 kPa-9.1 kPa and depended on the interfacial tension of the working fluids. Attainable flow rates compared favorably with those of available micropumps. We achieved flow rate enhancements of 30-100% by operating two bubble pumps in tandem and demonstrated scalability of the concept in a multi-well format with 12 individually and uniformly perfused microchannels (variation in flow rate <7%). We envision the demonstrated concept to allow for the consistent on-chip delivery of a wide range of different liquids that may even include highly reactive or moisture sensitive solutions. The presented bubble pump may provide active flow control for analytical and point-of-care diagnostic devices, as well as for microfluidic cells culture and organ-on-chip platforms.

Steady-state heat transfer in transversely heated porous media with application to focused solar energy collectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nichols, L. D.

1976-01-01

A fluid flowing in a porous medium heated transversely to the fluid flow is considered. This configuration is applicable to a focused solar energy collector for use in an electric power generating system. A fluidized bed can be regarded as a porous medium with special properties. The solutions presented are valid for describing the effectiveness of such a fluidized bed for collecting concentrated solar energy to heat the working fluid of a heat engine. Results indicate the advantage of high thermal conductivity in the transverse direction and high operating temperature of the porous medium.

Comparative study of hadron- and γ-triggered azimuthal correlations in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

DOE PAGES

Ma, Guo -Lang; Wang, Xin -Nian

2012-01-01

In the framework of a multi-phase transport model, initial fluctuations in the transverse parton density lead to all orders of harmonic flows. Hadron-triggered azimuthal correlations include all contributions from harmonic flows, hot spots, and jet-medium excitations, which are isolated by using different initial conditions. We found that different physical components dominate different pseudorapidity ranges of dihadron correlations. Because γ-triggered azimuthal correlations can only be caused by jet-medium interactions, a comparative study of hadron- and γ -triggered azimuthal correlations can reveal more dynamics about jet-medium interactions.

Source model of volcanic tremor: two-phase flow instability in a pipe-valve system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujita, E.

2003-12-01

Volcanic tremor at a shallow depth beneath the volcano is inferred to link to hydrothermal activities powered by heat supply from magma. In this study, we developed numerical simulations of the instabilities of the water-steam two-phase flow in a pipe-valve system and considered the source mechanism of volcanic tremor. The experiments of two-phase flow by Veziroglu and Lee [1968] revealed the two kinds of oscillating modes, density wave oscillation with the period of a few seconds and pressure drop oscillation with the period of dozens of seconds. These modes were mainly controlled by the pressure difference between inlet and outlet, flux rate of fluid and heat supply rate. Especially, the former mode appears when the flux rate is small and the latter does when the pressure difference and heat supply rate are larger. We performed some preliminary numerical simulation of these oscillations in water-steam flow in a cylindrical conduit. As an example, we assume the flow in conduit of 4 m length with the valves at inlet and outlet with the conditions of non-slip at the wall. As initial conditions, the inlet and outlet pressures are fixed to be 1.2E5 Pa and 1.0E5 Pa, respectively, water temperature of 370 K, heat supply of 1.0E6 - 2.0E7W/m3. The friction except the valve area is assumed to be 1000kg/m3. After the heating condition becomes stable, we shut the valve at the outlet and detect the significant oscillation. In case of the heat supply of 1.1E7W/m3, density drop oscillation with the period of 0.16s has appeared. In this model, the oscillation originates from the density change due to vaporization, and its information arrives at the outlet with the velocity of two-phase flow. The cycle of heating and boiling controls the interval of the tremor occurrence and the period is determined by the length of the pipe and the flow velocity. The shut of valve physically corresponds to geometrical narrowing, choking, and non-linear effect of flow and/or surrounding medium.

Capturing poromechanical coupling effects of the reactive fracturing process in porous rock via a DEM-network model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ulven, Ole Ivar; Sun, WaiChing

2016-04-01

Fluid transport in a porous medium has important implications for understanding natural geological processes. At a sufficiently large scale, a fluid-saturated porous medium can be regarded as a two-phase continuum, with the fluid constituent flowing in the Darcian regime. Nevertheless, a fluid mediated chemical reaction can in some cases change the permeability of the rock locally: Mineral dissolution can cause increased permeability, whereas mineral precipitation can reduce the permeability. This might trigger a complicated hydro-chemo-mechanical coupling effect that causes channeling of fluids or clogging of the system. If the fluid is injected or produced at a sufficiently high rate, the pressure might increase enough to cause the onset and propagation of fractures. Fractures in return create preferential flow paths that enhance permeability, localize fluid flow and chemical reaction, prevent build-up of pore pressure and cause anisotropy of the hydro-mechanical responses of the effective medium. This leads to a complex coupled process of solid deformation, chemical reaction and fluid transport enhanced by the fracture formation. In this work, we develop a new coupled numerical model to study the complexities of feedback among fluid pressure evolution, fracture formation and permeability changes due to a chemical process in a 2D system. We combine a discrete element model (DEM) previously used to study a volume expanding process[1, 2] with a new fluid transport model based on poroelasticity[3] and a fluid-mediated chemical reaction that changes the permeability of the medium. This provides new insights into the hydro-chemo-mechanical process of a transforming porous medium. References [1] Ulven, O. I., Storheim, H., Austrheim, H., and Malthe-Sørenssen, A. "Fracture Initiation During Volume Increasing Reactions in Rocks and Applications for CO2 Sequestration", Earth Planet. Sc. Lett. 389C, 2014a, pp. 132 - 142, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2013.12.039. [2] Ulven, O. I., Jamtveit, B., and Malthe-Sørenssen, A., "Reaction-driven fracturing of porous rock", J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 119, 2014b, doi:10.1002/2014JB011102. [3] Ulven, O. I., and Sun, W.C., "A locally mass-conserving dual-graph lattice model for fluid-driven fracture", in prep.

Interaction of the accretion flows in corona and disk near the black hole in active galactic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer-Hofmeister, E.; Liu, B. F.; Qiao, E.

2017-11-01

Context. Accretion flows toward black holes can be of a quite different nature, described as an optically thick cool gas flow in a disk for high accretion rates or as a hot coronal optically thin gas flow for low accretion rates, possibly affected by outflowing gas. Aims: The detection of broad iron emission lines in active galactic nuclei (AGN) indicates the coexistence of corona and disk. The appearance and relative strength of such flows essentially depends on their interaction. Liu et al. suggested that condensation of gas from the corona to the disk allows to understand accretion flows of comparable strength of emission. Matter inflow due to gravitational capture of gas is important for the condensation process. We discuss observational features predicted by the model. Methods: Data from simultaneous observations of AGN with Swift's X-ray and UV-optical telescopes are compared with the theoretical predictions. Results: The frequent detection of broad iron Kα emission lines and the dependence of the emitted spectra on the Eddington ratio, described by the values of the photon index Γ and the two-point spectral index αox are in approximate agreement with the predictions of the condensation model; the latter, however, with a large scatter. The model further yields a coronal emission concentrated in a narrow inner region as is also deduced from the analysis of emissivity profiles. Conclusions: The accretion flows in bright AGN could be described by the accretion of stellar wind or interstellar medium and its condensation into a thin disk.

Modeling the VARTM Composite Manufacturing Process

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Song, Xiao-Lan; Loos, Alfred C.; Grimsley, Brian W.; Cano, Roberto J.; Hubert, Pascal

2004-01-01

A comprehensive simulation model of the Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Modeling (VARTM) composite manufacturing process has been developed. For isothermal resin infiltration, the model incorporates submodels which describe cure of the resin and changes in resin viscosity due to cure, resin flow through the reinforcement preform and distribution medium and compaction of the preform during the infiltration. The accuracy of the model was validated by measuring the flow patterns during resin infiltration of flat preforms. The modeling software was used to evaluate the effects of the distribution medium on resin infiltration of a flat preform. Different distribution medium configurations were examined using the model and the results were compared with data collected during resin infiltration of a carbon fabric preform. The results of the simulations show that the approach used to model the distribution medium can significantly effect the predicted resin infiltration times. Resin infiltration into the preform can be accurately predicted only when the distribution medium is modeled correctly.

Effect of viscous dissipation and radiation in an annular cone

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ahmed, N. J. Salman; Kamangar, Sarfaraz; Khan, T. M. Yunus, E-mail: yunus.tatagar@gmail.com

The viscous dissipation is an effect due to which heat is generated inside the medium. The presence of radiation further complicates the heat transfer behavior inside porous medium. The present paper discusses the combined effect of viscous dissipation and radiation inside a porous medium confined in an annular cone with inner radius r{sub i}. The viscous dissipation and radiation terms are included in the energy equation thereby solving the coupled momentum and energy equations with the help of finite element method. The results are presented in terms of isothermal and streamline indicating the thermal and fluid flow behavior of porousmore » medium. It is found that the combination of viscous dissipation and radiation parameter and the cone angle has significant effect on the heat transfer and fluid flow behavior inside the porous medium. The fluid velocity is found to increase with the increase in Raleigh number.« less

Treatment of ferrous-NTA-based NO x scrubber solution by an up-flow anaerobic packed bed bioreactor.

PubMed

Chandrashekhar, B; Sahu, Nidhi; Tabassum, Heena; Pai, Padmaraj; Morone, Amruta; Pandey, R A

2015-06-01

A bench scale system consisting of an up-flow packed bed bioreactor (UAPBR) made of polyurethane foam was used for the treatment and regeneration of aqueous solution of ferrous-NTA scrubbed with nitric oxide (NO). The biomass in the UAPBR was sequentially acclimatized under denitrifying and iron reducing conditions using ethanol as electron donor, after which nitric oxide (NO) gas was loaded continuously to the system by absorption. The system was investigated for different parameters viz. pH, removal efficiency of nitric oxide, biological reduction efficiency of Fe(II)NTA-NO and COD utilization. The Fe(II)NTA-NO reduction efficiency reached 87.8 % at a loading rate of 0.24 mmol L(-1) h(-1), while the scrubber efficiency reached more than 75 % with 250 ppm NO. Stover-Kincannon and a Plug-flow kinetic model based on Michaelis-Menten equation were used to describe the UAPBR performance with respect to Fe(II)NTA-NO and COD removal. The Stover-Kincannon model was found capable of describing the Fe(II)NTA-NO reduction (R m = 8.92 mM h(-1) and K NO = 11.46 mM h(-1)) while plug-flow model provided better fit to the COD utilization (U m = 66.62 mg L(-1) h(-1), K COD = 7.28 mg L(-1)). Analyses for pH, Fe(III)NTA, ammonium, nitrite concentration, and FTIR analysis of the medium samples indicated degradation of NTA, which leads to ammonium and nitrite accumulation in the medium, and affect the regeneration process.

Finite element computation of multi-physical micropolar transport phenomena from an inclined moving plate in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shamshuddin, MD.; Anwar Bég, O.; Sunder Ram, M.; Kadir, A.

2018-02-01

Non-Newtonian flows arise in numerous industrial transport processes including materials fabrication systems. Micropolar theory offers an excellent mechanism for exploring the fluid dynamics of new non-Newtonian materials which possess internal microstructure. Magnetic fields may also be used for controlling electrically-conducting polymeric flows. To explore numerical simulation of transport in rheological materials processing, in the current paper, a finite element computational solution is presented for magnetohydrodynamic, incompressible, dissipative, radiative and chemically-reacting micropolar fluid flow, heat and mass transfer adjacent to an inclined porous plate embedded in a saturated homogenous porous medium. Heat generation/absorption effects are included. Rosseland's diffusion approximation is used to describe the radiative heat flux in the energy equation. A Darcy model is employed to simulate drag effects in the porous medium. The governing transport equations are rendered into non-dimensional form under the assumption of low Reynolds number and also low magnetic Reynolds number. Using a Galerkin formulation with a weighted residual scheme, finite element solutions are presented to the boundary value problem. The influence of plate inclination, Eringen coupling number, radiation-conduction number, heat absorption/generation parameter, chemical reaction parameter, plate moving velocity parameter, magnetic parameter, thermal Grashof number, species (solutal) Grashof number, permeability parameter, Eckert number on linear velocity, micro-rotation, temperature and concentration profiles. Furthermore, the influence of selected thermo-physical parameters on friction factor, surface heat transfer and mass transfer rate is also tabulated. The finite element solutions are verified with solutions from several limiting cases in the literature. Interesting features in the flow are identified and interpreted.

Motion through a non-homogeneous porous medium: Hydrodynamic permeability of a membrane composed of cylindrical particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Pramod Kumar

2018-01-01

The present problem is concerned with the flow of a viscous steady incompressible fluid through a non-homogeneous porous medium. Here, the non-homogeneous porous medium is a membrane built up by cylindrical particles. The flow outside the membrane is governed by the Stokes equation and the flow through the non-homogeneous porous membrane composed by cylindrical particles is governed by Darcy's law. In this work, we discussed the effect of various fluid parameters like permeability parameter k0, discontinuity coefficient at fluid-non homogeneous porous interface, viscosity ratio of viscous incompressible fluid region and non-homogeneous porous region, etc. on hydrodynamic permeability of a membrane, stress and on velocity profile. The comparative study for hydrodynamic permeability of membrane built up by non-homogeneous porous cylindrical particles and porous cylindrical shell enclosing a cylindrical cavity has been studied. The effects of various fluid parameters on the streamlines flow patterns are also discussed.

Mixed Convection Opposing Flow in a Vertical Porous Annulus-Two Temperature Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Rashed, Abdullah A. AA; J, Salman Ahmed N.; Khaleed, H. M. T.; Yunus Khan, T. M.; NazimAhamed, K. S.

2016-09-01

The opposing flow in a porous medium refers to a condition when the forcing velocity flows in opposite direction to thermal buoyancy obstructing the buoyant force. The present research refers to the effect of opposing flow in a vertical porous annulus embedded with fluid saturated porous medium. The thermal non-equilibrium approach with Darcy modal is considered. The boundary conditions are such that the inner radius is heated with constant temperature Tw the outer radius is maintained at constant temperature Tc. The coupled nonlinear partial differential equations such as momentum equation, energy equation for fluid and energy equation for solid are solved using the finite element method. The opposing flow variation of average Nusselt number with respect to radius ratio Rr, Aspect ratioAr and Radiation parameter Rd for different values of Peclet number Pe are investigated. It is found that the flow behavior is quite different from that of aiding flow.

Natural convection in square cavity filled with ferrofluid saturated porous medium in the presence of uniform magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Javed, Tariq; Mehmood, Z.; Abbas, Z.

2017-02-01

This article contains numerical results for free convection through square enclosure enclosing ferrofluid saturated porous medium when uniform magnetic field is applied upon the flow along x-axis. Heat is provided through bottom wall and a square blockage placed near left or right bottom corner of enclosure as a heat source. Left and right vertical boundaries of the cavity are considered insulated while upper wall is taken cold. The problem is modelled in terms of system of nonlinear partial differential equations. Finite element method has been adopted to compute numerical simulations of mathematical problem for wide range of pertinent flow parameters including Rayleigh number, Hartman number, Darcy number and Prandtl number. Analysis of results reveals that the strength of streamline circulation is an increasing function of Darcy and Prandtl number where convection heat transfer is dominant for large values of these parameters whereas increase in Hartman number has opposite effects on isotherms and streamline circulations. Thermal conductivity and hence local heat transfer rate of fluid gets increased when ferroparticles are introduced in the fluid. Average Nusselt number increases with increase in Darcy and Rayleigh numbers while it is decreases when Hartman number is increased.

Gas flows in the circumgalactic medium around simulated high-redshift galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitchell, Peter D.; Blaizot, Jérémy; Devriendt, Julien; Kimm, Taysun; Michel-Dansac, Léo; Rosdahl, Joakim; Slyz, Adrianne

2018-03-01

We analyse the properties of circumgalactic gas around simulated galaxies in the redshift range z ≥ 3, utilizing a new sample of cosmological zoom simulations. These simulations are intended to be representative of the observed samples of Lyman α (Ly α) emitters recently obtained with the multi unit spectroscopic explorer (MUSE) instrument (halo masses ˜1010-1011 M⊙). We show that supernova feedback has a significant impact on both the inflowing and outflowing circumgalactic medium (CGM) by driving outflows, reducing diffuse inflow rates, and by increasing the neutral fraction of inflowing gas. By temporally stacking simulation outputs, we find that significant net mass exchange occurs between inflowing and outflowing phases: none of the phases are mass-conserving. In particular, we find that the mass in neutral outflowing hydrogen declines exponentially with radius as gas flows outwards from the halo centre. This is likely caused by a combination of both fountain-like cycling processes and gradual photoionization/collisional ionization of outflowing gas. Our simulations do not predict the presence of fast-moving neutral outflows in the CGM. Neutral outflows instead move with modest radial velocities (˜50 km s-1), and the majority of the kinetic energy is associated with tangential rather than radial motion.

Analytical and numerical solutions for heat transfer and effective thermal conductivity of cracked media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tran, A. B.; Vu, M. N.; Nguyen, S. T.; Dong, T. Q.; Le-Nguyen, K.

2018-02-01

This paper presents analytical solutions to heat transfer problems around a crack and derive an adaptive model for effective thermal conductivity of cracked materials based on singular integral equation approach. Potential solution of heat diffusion through two-dimensional cracked media, where crack filled by air behaves as insulator to heat flow, is obtained in a singular integral equation form. It is demonstrated that the temperature field can be described as a function of temperature and rate of heat flow on the boundary and the temperature jump across the cracks. Numerical resolution of this boundary integral equation allows determining heat conduction and effective thermal conductivity of cracked media. Moreover, writing this boundary integral equation for an infinite medium embedding a single crack under a far-field condition allows deriving the closed-form solution of temperature discontinuity on the crack and particularly the closed-form solution of temperature field around the crack. These formulas are then used to establish analytical effective medium estimates. Finally, the comparison between the developed numerical and analytical solutions allows developing an adaptive model for effective thermal conductivity of cracked media. This model takes into account both the interaction between cracks and the percolation threshold.

Chemotaxis and flow disorder shape microbial dispersion in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Anna, Pietro; Yawata, Yutaka; Stocker, Roman; Juanes, Ruben

2017-04-01

Bacteria drive a plethora of natural processes in the subsurface, consuming organic matter and catalysing chemical reactions that are key to global elemental cycles. These macro-scale consequences result from the collective action of individual bacteria at the micro-scale, which are modulated by the highly heterogeneous subsurface environment, dominated by flow disorder and strong chemical gradients. Yet, despite the generally recognized importance of these microscale processes, microbe-host medium interaction at the pore scale remain poorly characterized and understood. Here, we introduce a microfluidic model system to directly image and quantify the role of cell motility on bacterial dispersion and residence time in confined, porous, media. Using the soil-dwelling bacterium Bacillus subtilis and the common amino acid serine as a resource, we observe that chemotaxis in highly disordered and confined physico-chemical environment affords bacteria an increase in their ability to persistently occupy the host medium. Our findings illustrate that the interplay between bacterial behaviour and pore-scale disorder in fluid velocity and nutrient concentration directly impacts the residence time, transport and bio-geo-chemical transformation rates of biota in the subsurface, and thus likely the processes they mediate.

Radio mode feedback: Does relativity matter?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perucho, Manel; Martí, José-María; Quilis, Vicent; Borja-Lloret, Marina

2017-10-01

Radio mode feedback, associated with the propagation of powerful outflows in active galaxies, is a crucial ingredient in galaxy evolution. Extragalactic jets are well collimated and relativistic, both in terms of thermodynamics and kinematics. They generate strong shocks in the ambient medium, associated with observed hotspots, and carve cavities that are filled with the shocked jet flow. In this Letter, we compare the pressure evolution in the hotspot and the cavity generated by relativistic and classical jets. Our results show that the classical approach underestimates the cavity pressure by a factor ≥2 for a given shocked volume during the whole active phase. The tension between both approaches can only be alleviated by unrealistic jet flow densities or gigantic jet areas in the classical case. As a consequence, the efficiency of a relativistic jet heating the ambient is typically ∼20 per cent larger compared with a classical jet, and the heated volume is 2 to 10 times larger during the time evolution. This conflict translates into two substantially disparate manners, both spatially and temporal, of heating the ambient medium. These differences are expected to have relevant implications on the star formation rates of the host galaxies and their evolution.

Chemical evolution in spiral and irregular galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Torres-Peimbert, S.

1986-01-01

A brief review of models of chemical evolution of the interstellar medium in our galaxy and other galaxies is presented. These models predict the time variation and radial dependence of chemical composition in the gas as function of the input parameters; initial mass function, stellar birth rate, chemical composition of mass lost by stars during their evolution (yields), and the existence of large scale mass flows, like infall from the halo, outflow to the intergalactic medium or radial flows within a galaxy. At present there is a considerable wealth of observational data on the composition of HII regions in spiral and irregular galaxies to constrain the models. Comparisons are made between theory and the observed physical conditions. In particular, studies of helium, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen abundances are reviewed. In many molecular clouds the information we have on the amount of H2 is derived from the observed CO column density, and a standard CO/H2 ratio derived for the solar neighborhood. Chemical evolution models and the observed variations in O/H and N/O values, point out the need to include these results in a CO/H2 relation that should be, at least, a function of the O/H ratio. This aspect is also discussed.

Influence of mantle viscosity structure and mineral grain size on fluid migration pathways in the mantle wedge.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cerpa, N. G.; Wada, I.; Wilson, C. R.; Spiegelman, M. W.

2016-12-01

We develop a 2D numerical porous flow model that incorporates both grain size distribution and matrix compaction to explore the fluid migration (FM) pathways in the mantle wedge. Melt generation for arc volcanism is thought to be triggered by slab-derived fluids that migrate into the hot overlying mantle and reduce its melting temperature. While the narrow location of the arcs relative to the top of the slab ( 100±30 km) is a robust observation, the release of fluids is predicted to occur over a wide range of depth. Reconciling such observations and predictions remains a challenge for the geodynamic community. Fluid transport by porous flow depends on the permeability of the medium which in turn depends on fluid fraction and mineral grain size. The grain size distribution in the mantle wedge predicted by laboratory derived laws was found to be a possible mechanism to focusing of fluids beneath the arcs [Wada and Behn, 2015]. The viscous resistance of the matrix to the volumetric strain generates compaction pressure that affects fluid flow and can also focus fluids towards the arc [Wilson et al, 2014]. We thus have developed a 2D one-way coupled Darcy's-Stokes flow model (solid flow independent of fluid flow) for the mantle wedge that combines both effects. For the solid flow calculation, we use a kinematic-dynamic approach where the system is driven by the prescribed slab velocity. The solid rheology accounts for both dislocation and diffusion creep and we calculate the grain size distribution following Wada and Behn [2015]. In our fluid flow model, the permeability of the medium is grain size dependent and the matrix bulk viscosity depends on solid shear viscosity and fluid fraction. The fluid influx from the slab is imposed as a boundary condition at the base of the mantle wedge. We solve the discretized governing equations using the software package TerraFERMA. Applying a range of model parameter values, including slab age, slab dip, subduction rate, and fluid influx, we quantify the combined effects of grain size and compaction on fluid flow paths.

Laser radiation in active amplifying media treated as a transport problem - Transfer equation derived and exactly solved

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, S. R. D.; Gupta, Santanu D.

1991-10-01

The flow of laser radiation in a plane-parallel cylindrical slab of active amplifying medium with axial symmetry is treated as a problem in radiative transfer. The appropriate one-dimensional transfer equation describing the transfer of laser radiation has been derived by an appeal to Einstein's A, B coefficients (describing the processes of stimulated line absorption, spontaneous line emission, and stimulated line emission sustained by population inversion in the medium) and considering the 'rate equations' to completely establish the rational of the transfer equation obtained. The equation is then exactly solved and the angular distribution of the emergent laser beam intensity is obtained; its numerically computed values are given in tables and plotted in graphs showing the nature of peaks of the emerging laser beam intensity about the axis of the laser cylinder.

Travelling waves above the canopy of aquatic vegetation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyubimov, D.; Lyubimova, T.; Baidina, D.

2012-04-01

When fluid moves over a saturated porous medium with high permeability and porosity, the flow partially involves the fluid in porous medium, however, because of the great resistance force there arises sharp drop of tangential velocity. This leads to the development of instability similar to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability on discontinuity surface of the tangential velocities of homogeneous fluids. Analogy becomes even more complete if we take into account the deformability of porous medium under the influence of pressure changes. Intensive vortices above the canopy of aquatic vegetation can lead to the coherent oscillations of vegetation, such traveling waves are called monami [1]. In the present paper we investigate stability of steady flow over a saturated porous medium. The importance of this problem is related to the applications to the dynamics of pollutants in the bottom layer of vegetation: the accumulation at low flow and salvo emissions with increasing velocity. We consider a two-layer system consisting of a layer of a viscous incompressible fluid and porous layer saturated with the same fluid located underneath. The lower boundary of the system is assumed to be rigid, the upper boundary - free and non-deformable. Weak slope of the river is taken into account. The problem is solved within the framework of single approach in which a two-layer system is described by a single system of equations for saturated porous medium and the presence of two layers is modeled by introducing variable permeability and porosity, depending on vertical coordinate. The flow in a saturated porous medium is described by the Brinkman model. Solution of the problem for steady flow shows that the velocity profile has two inflection points, which leads to the instability. The neutral curves are obtained for different values of the ratio d of porous layer thickness to full thickness. It is found that the dependence of critical Reynolds number on d is non-monotonic and the wave number of most dangerous perturbations increases monotonically with d. The effect of the deformability of porous medium on linear stability conditions is also investigated. Non-linear flow regimes are studied numerically by finite difference method. The calculations are performed for the rectangular domains whose length is taken to be equal to the wavelength of most dangerous perturbations according to linear stability theory. The calculations show that for low values of Reynolds number the stationary uni-directional flow is realized. Starting from a certain Reynolds number, the stationary oscillations are established with amplitude and frequency depending on the parameters. Analysis of the velocity fields corresponding to different phases of the oscillation period, shows that the observed waves travel in the direction of the basic flow. The work was made under financial support of Russian Foundation for Basic Research. 1. Ghisalberti, M., Nepf, H.M., 2002, Mixing layers and coherent structures in vegetated aquatic flows, J. of Geophysical Research. 107, C2.

Effects of Medium Temperature and Industrial By-Products on the Key Hardened Properties of High Performance Concrete.

PubMed

Safiuddin, Md; Raman, Sudharshan N; Zain, Muhammad Fauzi Mohd

2015-12-10

The aim of the work reported in this article was to investigate the effects of medium temperature and industrial by-products on the key hardened properties of high performance concrete. Four concrete mixes were prepared based on a water-to-binder ratio of 0.35. Two industrial by-products, silica fume and Class F fly ash, were used separately and together with normal portland cement to produce three concrete mixes in addition to the control mix. The properties of both fresh and hardened concretes were examined in the laboratory. The freshly mixed concrete mixes were tested for slump, slump flow, and V-funnel flow. The hardened concretes were tested for compressive strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity after exposing to 20, 35 and 50 °C. In addition, the initial surface absorption and the rate of moisture movement into the concretes were determined at 20 °C. The performance of the concretes in the fresh state was excellent due to their superior deformability and good segregation resistance. In their hardened state, the highest levels of compressive strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity were produced by silica fume concrete. In addition, silica fume concrete showed the lowest level of initial surface absorption and the lowest rate of moisture movement into the interior of concrete. In comparison, the compressive strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, initial surface absorption, and moisture movement rate of silica fume-fly ash concrete were close to those of silica fume concrete. Moreover, all concretes provided relatively low compressive strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity when they were exposed to 50 °C. However, the effect of increased temperature was less detrimental for silica fume and silica fume-fly ash concretes in comparison with the control concrete.

Effects of Medium Temperature and Industrial By-Products on the Key Hardened Properties of High Performance Concrete

PubMed Central

Safiuddin, Md.; Raman, Sudharshan N.; Zain, Muhammad Fauzi Mohd.

2015-01-01

The aim of the work reported in this article was to investigate the effects of medium temperature and industrial by-products on the key hardened properties of high performance concrete. Four concrete mixes were prepared based on a water-to-binder ratio of 0.35. Two industrial by-products, silica fume and Class F fly ash, were used separately and together with normal portland cement to produce three concrete mixes in addition to the control mix. The properties of both fresh and hardened concretes were examined in the laboratory. The freshly mixed concrete mixes were tested for slump, slump flow, and V-funnel flow. The hardened concretes were tested for compressive strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity after exposing to 20, 35 and 50 °C. In addition, the initial surface absorption and the rate of moisture movement into the concretes were determined at 20 °C. The performance of the concretes in the fresh state was excellent due to their superior deformability and good segregation resistance. In their hardened state, the highest levels of compressive strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity were produced by silica fume concrete. In addition, silica fume concrete showed the lowest level of initial surface absorption and the lowest rate of moisture movement into the interior of concrete. In comparison, the compressive strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, initial surface absorption, and moisture movement rate of silica fume-fly ash concrete were close to those of silica fume concrete. Moreover, all concretes provided relatively low compressive strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity when they were exposed to 50 °C. However, the effect of increased temperature was less detrimental for silica fume and silica fume-fly ash concretes in comparison with the control concrete. PMID:28793732

Mass Transfer And Hydraulic Testing Of The V-05 And V-10 Contactors With The Next Generation Solvent

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Herman, D. T.; Duignan, M. R.; Williams, M. R.

The Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction (CSSX) Unit (MCU) facility is actively pursuing the transition from the current BOBCalixC6 based solvent to the Next Generation Solvent (NGS)-MCU solvent. To support this integration of NGS into the MCU facilities, Savannah River Remediation (SRR) requested that Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) perform testing of a blend of the NGS (MaxCalix based solvent) with the current solvent (BOBCalixC6 based solvent) for the removal of cesium (Cs) from the liquid salt waste stream. This testing differs from prior testing by utilizing a blend of BOBCalixC6 based solvent and the NGS with the full (0.05more » M) concentration of the MaxCalix as well as a new suppressor, tris(3,7dimethyloctyl) guanidine. Single stage tests were conducted using the full size V-05 and V-10 centrifugal contactors installed at SRNL. These tests were designed to determine the mass transfer and hydraulic characteristics with the NGS solvent blended with the projected heel of the BOBCalixC6 based solvent that will exist in MCU at time of transition. The test program evaluated the amount of organic carryover and the droplet size of the organic carryover phases using several analytical methods. Stage efficiency and mass distribution ratios were determined by measuring Cs concentration in the aqueous and organic phases during single contactor testing. The nominal cesium distribution ratio, D(Cs) measured for extraction ranged from 37-60. The data showed greater than 96% stage efficiency for extraction. No significant differences were noted for operations at 4, 8 or 12 gpm aqueous salt simulant feed flow rates. The first scrub test (contact with weak caustic solution) yielded average scrub D(Cs) values of 3.3 to 5.2 and the second scrub test produced an average value of 1.8 to 2.3. For stripping behavior, the “first stage” D Cs) values ranged from 0.04 to 0.08. The efficiency of the low flow (0.27 gpm aqueous) was calculated to be 82.7%. The Spreadsheet Algorithm for Stagewise Solvent Extraction (SASSE) predicted equivalent DF for MCU from this testing is greater than 3,500 assuming 95% efficiency during extraction and 80% efficiency during scrub and strip. Hydraulically, the system performed very well in all tests. Target flows were easily obtained and stable throughout testing. Though some issues were encountered with plugging in the coalescer, they were not related to the solvent. No hydraulic upsets due to the solvent were experienced during any of the tests conducted. The first extraction coalescer element used in testing developed high pressure drop that made it difficult to maintain the target flow rates. Analysis showed an accumulation of sodium aluminosilicate solids. The coalescer was replaced with one from the same manufacturer’s lot and pressure drop was no longer an issue. Concentrations of Isopar™ L and Modifier were measured using semi-volatile organic analysis (SVOA) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine the amount of solvent carryover. For low-flow (0.27 gpm aqueous) conditions in stripping, SVOA measured the Isopar™ L post-contactor concentration to be 25 mg/L, HPLC measured 39 mg/L of Modifier. For moderate-flow (0.54 gpm aqueous) conditions, SVOA measured the Isopar™ L postcontactor to be ~69 mg/L, while the HPLC measured 56 mg/L for Modifier. For high-flow (0.8 gpm aqueous) conditions, SVOA measured the Isopar™ L post-contactor to be 39 mg/L. The post-coalescer (pre-decanter) measurements by SVOA for Isopar™ L were all less than the analysis detection limit of 10 mg/L. The HPLC measured 18, 22 and 20 mg/L Modifier for the low, medium, and high-low rates respectively. In extraction, the quantity of pre-coalescer Isopar™ L carryover measured by SVOA was ~280-410 mg/L at low flow (4 gpm aqueous), ~400-450 mg/L at moderate flow (8 gpm aqueous), and ~480 mg/L at high flow (12 gpm aqueous). The amount of post coalescer (pre-decanter) Isopar™ L carryover measured by SVOA was less than 45 mg/L for all flow rates. HPLC results for Modifier were 182, 217 and 222 mg/L for the post-contactor low, medium and high flow rates. The post-coalescer (pre-decanter) samples were measured to contain 12, 10 and 22 mg/L Modifier for the low, medium, and high flow rates. The carryover results and droplet size measurements were used to determine the decanter performance utilizing the decanter model developed by the ARES Corporation. Results show for the targeted salt flow rate of approximately 8 gpm, that over 93% of the solvent carryover from stripping is predicted to be recovered and over 96% solvent carryover from extraction is predicted to be recovered. This translates to a predicted solvent carryover of <3 ppm from stripping and <20 ppm solvent carryover from extraction. This projected performance at MCU is expected to be well within the operating limits and the historical performance for the baseline BOBCalixC6 based solvent. Droplet-size data obtained by MicroTrac™ S3400 analyzer consistently shows that the droplet size post-oalescer is significantly greater than the post-contactor or pre-coalescer samples. Increased flow rates did not show a consistent impact to the droplet size results. For the extraction testing, droplet size analysis showed that the post-contactor and pre-coalescer samples were essentially the same. The mean droplet sizes post-coalescer were less than the mean droplet sizes pre-coalescer with a very slight upward trend in the mean droplet size as the flow rate was increased. This result is probably due to the method of sampling. The larger post-coalescer drops immediately rise to the surface after leaving the coalescer element. The downstream sampling point was horizontally in-line with the element and therefore would only capture those organic droplets well mixed in the flowing aqueous stream.« less

Mathematical modeling of Kluyveromyces marxianus growth in solid-state fermentation using a packed-bed bioreactor.

PubMed

Mazutti, Marcio A; Zabot, Giovani; Boni, Gabriela; Skovronski, Aline; de Oliveira, Débora; Di Luccio, Marco; Rodrigues, Maria Isabel; Maugeri, Francisco; Treichel, Helen

2010-04-01

This work investigated the growth of Kluyveromyces marxianus NRRL Y-7571 in solid-state fermentation in a medium composed of sugarcane bagasse, molasses, corn steep liquor and soybean meal within a packed-bed bioreactor. Seven experimental runs were carried out to evaluate the effects of flow rate and inlet air temperature on the following microbial rates: cell mass production, total reducing sugar and oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide and ethanol production, metabolic heat and water generation. A mathematical model based on an artificial neural network was developed to predict the above-mentioned microbial rates as a function of the fermentation time, initial total reducing sugar concentration, inlet and outlet air temperatures. The results showed that the microbial rates were temperature dependent for the range 27-50 degrees C. The proposed model efficiently predicted the microbial rates, indicating that the neural network approach could be used to simulate the microbial growth in SSF.

Simulations to verify horizontal flow measurements from a borehole flowmeter.

PubMed

James, Scott C; Jepsen, Richard A; Beauheim, Richard L; Pedler, William H; Mandell, Wayne A

2006-01-01

This paper reports on experiments and simulations of subsurface flow from a slotted acrylic tube deployed in a sand-tank flow chamber for two different purposes. In the first instance, the slotted tube is used to represent a single fracture intersected by an uncased well. In the second instance, the slotted tube is used to represent a multislot well screen within a porous medium. In both cases, the scanning colloidal borescope flowmeter (SCBFM) measures ground water velocity within the well by imaging colloids traveling through a well to measure their speed and direction. Measurements are compared against model simulations. For the case of a slotted tube representing a single fracture, SCBFM and model results agree with respect to the flow direction and to within a factor of 1.5 for the speed near the well's center. Model and experimental agreement lend confidence that for an uncased well drilled in a fractured-rock medium, a calibrated SCBFM could be used to identify and quantify flowing features. Next, the SCBFM was deployed in a four-column multislotted casing with slots aligned with the flow direction. Another numerical model was developed to estimate the flow field within this well screen to evaluate the potential usefulness of employing the SCBFM in a screened well to estimate flow speed and direction in the surrounding porous medium. Results indicate that if the slots are not aligned with the flow, the SCBFM may only provide order-of-magnitude speed measurements and direction measurements with an uncertainty of approximately +/-25 degrees .

Medium power hydrogen arcjet performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Curran, Francis M.; Bullock, S. Ray; Haag, Thomas W.; Sarmiento, Charles J.; Sankovic, John M.

1991-01-01

An experimental investigation was performed to evaluate hydrogen arcjet operating characteristics in the range of 1 to 4 kW. A series of nozzles were operated in modular laboratory thrusters to examine the effects of geometric parameters such as constrictor diameter and nozzle divergence angle. Each nozzle was tested over a range of current and mass flow rates to explore stability and performance. In the range of mass flow rates and power levels tested, specific impulse values between 650 and 1250 sec were obtained at efficiencies between 30 and 40 percent. The performance of the two larger half angle (20, 15 deg) nozzles was similar for each of the two constrictor diameters tested. The nozzles with the smallest half angle (10 deg) were difiicult to operate. A restrike mode of operation was identified and described. Damage in the form of melting was observed in the constrictor region of all the nozzle inserts tested. Arcjet ignition was also difficult in many tests and a glow discharge mode that prevents starting was identified.

Continuous xylanase production with Aspergillus nidulans under pyridoxine limitation using a trickle bed reactor.

PubMed

Müller, Michael; Prade, Rolf A; Segato, Fernando; Atiyeh, Hasan K; Wilkins, Mark R

2015-01-01

A trickle bed reactor (TBR) with recycle was designed and tested using Aspergillus nidulans with a pyridoxine marker and over-expressing/secreting recombinant client xylanase B (XynB). The pyridoxine marker prevented the fungus from synthesizing its own pyridoxine and fungus was unable to grow when no pyridoxine was present in the medium; however, enzyme production was unaffected. Uncontrolled mycelia growth that led to clogging of the TBR was observed when fungus without a pyridoxine marker was used for XynB production. Using the fungus with pyridoxine marker, the TBR was operated continuously for 18 days and achieved a XynB output of 41 U/ml with an influent and effluent flow rate of 0.5 ml/min and a recycle flow rate of 56 ml/min. Production yields in the TBR were 1.4 times greater than a static tray culture and between 1.1 and 67 times greater than yields for SSF enzyme production stated in the literature. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Medium power hydrogen arcjet performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Curran, Francis M.; Bullock, S. R.; Haag, Thomas W.; Sarmiento, Charles J.; Sankovic, John M.

1991-01-01

An experimental investigation was performed to evaluate hydrogen arcjet operating characteristics in the range of 1 to 4 kW. A series of nozzles were operated in modular laboratory thrusters to examine the effects of geometric parameters such as constrictor diameter and nozzle divergence angle. Each nozzle was tested over a range of current and mass flow rates to explore stability and performance. In the range of mass flow rates and power levels tested, specific impulse values between 650 and 1250 sec were obtained at efficiencies between 30 and 40 percent. The performance of the two larger half angle (20, 15 deg) nozzles was similar for each of the two constrictor diameters tested. The nozzles with the smallest half angle (10 deg) were difficult to operate. A restrike mode of operation was identified and described. Damage in the form of melting was observed in the constrictor region of all the nozzle inserts tested. Arcjet ignition was also difficult in many tests and a glow discharge mode that prevents starting was identified.

Regulation of glottal closure and airflow in a three-dimensional phonation model: Implications for vocal intensity control

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhaoyan

2015-01-01

Maintaining a small glottal opening across a large range of voice conditions is critical to normal voice production. This study investigated the effectiveness of vocal fold approximation and stiffening in regulating glottal opening and airflow during phonation, using a three-dimensional numerical model of phonation. The results showed that with increasing subglottal pressure the vocal folds were gradually pushed open, leading to increased mean glottal opening and flow rate. A small glottal opening and a mean glottal flow rate typical of human phonation can be maintained against increasing subglottal pressure by proportionally increasing the degree of vocal fold approximation for low to medium subglottal pressures and vocal fold stiffening at high subglottal pressures. Although sound intensity was primarily determined by the subglottal pressure, the results suggest that, to maintain small glottal opening as the sound intensity increases, one has to simultaneously tighten vocal fold approximation and/or stiffen the vocal folds, resulting in increased glottal resistance, vocal efficiency, and fundamental frequency. PMID:25698022

Recovery of Extracellular Lipolytic Enzymes from Macrophomina phaseolina by Foam Fractionation with Air

PubMed Central

Germani, José Carlos

2013-01-01

Macrophomina phaseolina was cultivated in complex and simple media for the production of extracellular lipolytic enzymes. Culture supernatants were batch foam fractionated for the recovery of these enzymes, and column design and operation included the use of P 2 frit (porosity 40 to 100 μm), air as sparging gas at variable flow rates, and Triton X-100 added at the beginning or gradually in aliquots. Samples taken at intervals showed the progress of the kinetic and the efficiency parameters. Best results were obtained with the simple medium supernatant by combining the stepwise addition of small amounts of the surfactant with the variation of the air flow rates along the separation. Inert proteins were foamed out first, and the subsequent foamate was enriched in the enzymes, showing estimated activity recovery (R), enrichment ratio (E), and purification factor (P) of 45%, 34.7, and 2.9, respectively. Lipases were present in the enriched foamate. PMID:23738054

Determination of relationship between sensory viscosity rating and instrumental flow behaviour of soluble dietary fibers.

PubMed

Arora, Simran Kaur; Patel, A A; Kumar, Naveen; Chauhan, O P

2016-04-01

The shear-thinning low, medium and high-viscosity fiber preparations (0.15-1.05 % psyllium husk, 0.07-0.6 % guar gum, 0.15-1.20 % gum tragacanth, 0.1-0.8 % gum karaya, 0.15-1.05 % high-viscosity Carboxy Methyl Cellulose and 0.1-0.7 % xanthan gum) showed that the consistency coefficient (k) was a function of concentration, the relationship being exponential (R(2), 0.87-0.96; P < 0.01). The flow behaviour index (n) (except for gum karaya and CMC) was exponentially related to concentration (R(2), 0.61-0.98). The relationship between k and sensory viscosity rating (SVR) was essentially linear in nearly all cases. The SVR could be predicted from the consistency coefficient using the regression equations developed. Also, the relationship of k with fiber concentration would make it possible to identify the concentration of a particular gum required to have desired consistency in terms of SVR.

Fluidized bed heat treating system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ripley, Edward B; Pfennigwerth, Glenn L

Systems for heat treating materials are presented. The systems typically involve a fluidized bed that contains granulated heat treating material. In some embodiments a fluid, such as an inert gas, is flowed through the granulated heat treating medium, which homogenizes the temperature of the heat treating medium. In some embodiments the fluid may be heated in a heating vessel and flowed into the process chamber where the fluid is then flowed through the granulated heat treating medium. In some embodiments the heat treating material may be liquid or granulated heat treating material and the heat treating material may be circulatedmore » through a heating vessel into a process chamber where the heat treating material contacts the material to be heat treated. Microwave energy may be used to provide the source of heat for heat treating systems.« less

Evaluation of an active humidification system for inspired gas.

PubMed

Roux, Nicolás G; Plotnikow, Gustavo A; Villalba, Darío S; Gogniat, Emiliano; Feld, Vivivana; Ribero Vairo, Noelia; Sartore, Marisa; Bosso, Mauro; Scapellato, José L; Intile, Dante; Planells, Fernando; Noval, Diego; Buñirigo, Pablo; Jofré, Ricardo; Díaz Nielsen, Ernesto

2015-03-01

The effectiveness of the active humidification systems (AHS) in patients already weaned from mechanical ventilation and with an artificial airway has not been very well described. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of an AHS in chronically tracheostomized and spontaneously breathing patients. Measurements were quantified at three levels of temperature (T°) of the AHS: level I, low; level II, middle; and level III, high and at different flow levels (20 to 60 L/minute). Statistical analysis of repeated measurements was performed using analysis of variance and significance was set at a P<0.05. While the lowest temperature setting (level I) did not condition gas to the minimum recommended values for any of the flows that were used, the medium temperature setting (level II) only conditioned gas with flows of 20 and 30 L/minute. Finally, at the highest temperature setting (level III), every flow reached the minimum absolute humidity (AH) recommended of 30 mg/L. According to our results, to obtain appropiate relative humidity, AH and T° of gas one should have a device that maintains water T° at least at 53℃ for flows between 20 and 30 L/m, or at T° of 61℃ at any flow rate.

Hemodynamic Performance of a Novel Right Ventricular Assist Device (PERKAT).

PubMed

Kretzschmar, Daniel; Schulze, P Christian; Ferrari, Markus W

Acute right ventricular failure (RVF) is an increasing clinical problem and a life-threatening condition. Right ventricular assist devices represent a reasonable treatment option for patients with refractory RVF. We here present a novel percutaneously implantable device for right ventricular support. The PERKAT device is based on a nitinol stent cage, which is covered with valve-carrying foils. A flexible outlet trunk with a pigtail tip is connected to the distal part. The device is driven by an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) drive unit, which inflates/deflates a standard IABP-balloon placed within the stent cage. In-vitro evaluation was done in a liquid bath containing water or blood analog. The PERKAT device was tested in different afterload settings using two different IABP-balloons and varying inflation/deflation rates. We detected flow rates ranging from 1.97 to 3.93 L/min depending on the afterload setting, inflation/deflation rate, balloon size, and the medium used. Flow rates between water and blood analog were nearly comparable, and in the higher inflation/deflation rate settings slightly higher with water. Based on this promising in vitro data, the innovative percutaneously implantable PERKAT device has a potential to become a therapeutic option for patients with RVF refractory to medical treatment.

Exergy optimization in a steady moving bed heat exchanger.

PubMed

Soria-Verdugo, A; Almendros-Ibáñez, J A; Ruiz-Rivas, U; Santana, D

2009-04-01

This work provides an energy and exergy optimization analysis of a moving bed heat exchanger (MBHE). The exchanger is studied as a cross-flow heat exchanger where one of the phases is a moving granular medium. The optimal MBHE dimensions and the optimal particle diameter are obtained for a range of incoming fluid flow rates. The analyses are carried out over operation data of the exchanger obtained in two ways: a numerical simulation of the steady-state problem and an analytical solution of the simplified equations, neglecting the conduction terms. The numerical simulation considers, for the solid, the convection heat transfer to the fluid and the diffusion term in both directions, and for the fluid only the convection heat transfer to the solid. The results are compared with a well-known analytical solution (neglecting conduction effects) for the temperature distribution in the exchanger. Next, the analytical solution is used to derive an expression for the exergy destruction. The optimal length of the MBHE depends mainly on the flow rate and does not depend on particle diameter unless they become very small (thus increasing sharply the pressure drop). The exergy optimal length is always smaller than the thermal one, although the difference is itself small.

Characteristics of Non-Cohesive Embankment Failure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yusof, Z. M.; Wahab, A. K. A.; Ismail, Z.; Amerudin, S.

2018-04-01

Embankments are important infrastructure built to provide flood control. They also present risks to property and life due to their potential to fail and cause catastrophic flooding. To mitigate these risks, authorities and regulators need to carefully analyse and inspect dams to identify potential failure modes and protect against them. This paper presents morphology of an embankment study and its sediment behaviour of different grain sizes after the embankment fails. A few experiments were carried out for the embankment size of 1V:3H with different sediment grain sizes; medium and coarser sand. The embankment material used is non-cohesive soil with the embankment height of 0.1 m. The embankment is tested with inflows rate of Q = 0.8 L/s. Experimental results showed the peak discharge for the same inflow rate is affected by the shape of embankment breached. The peak discharge of medium grain size of the embankment is highest, which gave 3.63 L/s in comparison with a coarser embankment. This concludes that the embankment morphology patterns are dissimilar to each other. The flow and dimension of embankment are shown to influence the characteristics of embankment failure.

Handling of boar spermatozoa during and after flow cytometric sex-sorting process to improve their in vitro fertilizing ability.

PubMed

del Olmo, D; Parrilla, I; Gil, M A; Maside, C; Tarantini, T; Angel, M A; Roca, J; Martinez, E A; Vazquez, J M

2013-09-01

The objective of this study was to develop an adequate sperm handling protocol in order to obtain a sex-sorted sperm population with an optimal fertilizing ability. For this purpose, different aspects of the sorting procedure were examined. The effects of the high dilution rates (experiment 1), type of collection medium used (experiment 2), and sheath fluid composition (experiment 3) on sorted boar sperm quality and function were evaluated. Sperm quality was assessed by motility and viability tests, whereas sperm function was evaluated by an in vitro fertilization assay which determined the penetration and polyspermy rates as well as the mean number of sperm penetrating each oocyte. In experiment 1, the results obtained indicated that the high dilution rates did not cause a decrease either in the sperm quality parameters evaluated or the in vitro fertilization ability of spermatozoa. In experiment 2, although sperm quality was not affected, fertilizing ability was compromised after sorting, regardless of the collection medium that was used. In the experiment 3, all groups displayed adequate sperm quality values, but higher in vitro fertility parameters were obtained for spermatozoa sorted in presence of EDTA in the sheath fluid and egg yolk (EY) in the collection media when compared with those sorted in absence of these protective agents. No differences in penetration rates between unsorted highly diluted (control) and sorted sperm in the presence of EDTA and EY were observed. In conclusion, fertilizing ability was compromised in sex-sorted sperm. The addition of EDTA to sheath fluid and EY to collection medium improved boar sperm fertilizing ability, and both agents should be included as essential media components in future studies. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Intermittent Lagrangian velocities and accelerations in three-dimensional porous medium flow.

PubMed

Holzner, M; Morales, V L; Willmann, M; Dentz, M

2015-07-01

Intermittency of Lagrangian velocity and acceleration is a key to understanding transport in complex systems ranging from fluid turbulence to flow in porous media. High-resolution optical particle tracking in a three-dimensional (3D) porous medium provides detailed 3D information on Lagrangian velocities and accelerations. We find sharp transitions close to pore throats, and low flow variability in the pore bodies, which gives rise to stretched exponential Lagrangian velocity and acceleration distributions characterized by a sharp peak at low velocity, superlinear evolution of particle dispersion, and double-peak behavior in the propagators. The velocity distribution is quantified in terms of pore geometry and flow connectivity, which forms the basis for a continuous-time random-walk model that sheds light on the observed Lagrangian flow and transport behaviors.

[Transformation of attached cells derived from fetal umbilical cord blood induced by conditional medium of hepatoma cells].

PubMed

Zhang, Xiao-Dong; Cai, Na; Wang, Hong-Hui; Guo, Shi-Yi; Ye, Li-Hong

2006-01-01

Stem cells derived from fetal umbilical cord blood are of undifferentiated at early stage. They are sensitive to stimulations from the environment, and may be transformed under the effects of carcinogenic factors. This study was to explore the sensitivity of stem cells derived from fetal umbilical cord blood to carcinogenic factors. Mononuclear cells were isolated from fetal umbilical cord blood, and the attached cells were cultured in the medium containing 10% conditional medium of HepG2 hepatoma cells. A new cell line was gained, termed H-UCB. The biological features of H-UCB cells were detected by electron microscopy, karyotype analysis, cell cytometry, Western blot, and colony formation assay. H-UCB cells proliferated faster after passage 3. The cells were fibroblast-like and hepatocyte-like, with the ratio of nucleus to cytoplasm increased. Under electron microscope, many microvilli on the surface and numbers of vacuoles in the cytoplasm of the cells were observed, the nuclei were large and irregular, endocytosis phenomena were noticed. Karyotype analysis indicated that the cells were heteroploid, and the number of chromosomes was between 50 and 70. Flow cytometry data indicated that the proliferation period was 22.9 h, and the karyotype was between diploid and tetraploid. Western blot showed that c-Myc protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were overexpressed in H-UCB cells. According to flow cytometry, the positive rates of surface markers of H-UCB cells were 79.0% for CD105, 1.2% for CD34, and 12.2% for CD106; those of control HepG2 cells were 15.0% for CO105, 9.8% for CD34, and 1.4% for CD106. The colony formation rate of H-UCB cells in soft agar was (13.2+/-2.6)%. H-UCB cells are derived from endothelial cells, and are transformed as malignant cells with tumor cell characteristics.

Minimum data requirement for neural networks based on power spectral density analysis.

PubMed

Deng, Jiamei; Maass, Bastian; Stobart, Richard

2012-04-01

One of the most critical challenges ahead for diesel engines is to identify new techniques for fuel economy improvement without compromising emissions regulations. One technique is the precise control of air/fuel ratio, which requires the measurement of instantaneous fuel consumption. Measurement accuracy and repeatability for fuel rate is the key to successfully controlling the air/fuel ratio and real-time measurement of fuel consumption. The volumetric and gravimetric measurement principles are well-known methods for measurement of fuel consumption in internal combustion engines. However, the fuel flow rate measured by these methods is not suitable for either real-time control or real-time measurement purposes because of the intermittent nature of the measurements. This paper describes a technique that can be used to find the minimum data [consisting of data from just 2.5% of the non-road transient cycle (NRTC)] to solve the problem concerning discontinuous data of fuel flow rate measured using an AVL 733S fuel meter for a medium or heavy-duty diesel engine using neural networks. Only torque and speed are used as the input parameters for the fuel flow rate prediction. Power density analysis is used to find the minimum amount of the data. The results show that the nonlinear autoregressive model with exogenous inputs could predict the particulate matter successfully with R(2) above 0.96 using 2.5% NRTC data with only torque and speed as inputs.

Measurements of charm hadron production and anisotropic flow in Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV with the STAR experiment at RHIC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radhakrishnan, Sooraj

2018-02-01

Heavy flavor quarks, owing to their large masses, are predominantly produced through initial hard parton scatterings in heavy-ion collisions, and thus are excellent probes to study properties of the strongly coupled Quark Gluon Plasma (sQGP) medium produced in these collisions. Measurements of anisotropic flow harmonics of heavy flavor hadrons can provide information on the properties of the medium, including the heavy flavor transport coefficient. Charm quark hadronization mechanism in the sQGP medium can be studied through measurements of yields of different charm hadrons. In these proceedings we report on the measurements of elliptic and triangular flow harmonics of D0 mesons as well as the yield ratios of D±s/D0 and Λ±c/D0 in Au+Au collisions at = 200 GeV at RHIC with the STAR detector. These measurements use the STAR Heavy Flavor Tracker (HFT) to reconstruct charm hadrons via their hadronic decay channels. Results are compared to model calculations and the implications on the understanding of charm quark dynamics in the medium are discussed.

Numerical study to assess sulfur hexafluoride as a medium for testing multielement airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bonhaus, Daryl L.; Anderson, W. Kyle; Mavriplis, Dimitri J.

1995-01-01

A methodology is described for computing viscous flows of air and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The basis is an existing flow solver that calculates turbulent flows in two dimensions on unstructured triangular meshes. The solver has been modified to incorporate the thermodynamic model for SF6 and used to calculate the viscous flow over two multielement airfoils that have been tested in a wind tunnel with air as the test medium. Flows of both air and SF6 at a free-stream Mach number of 0.2 and a Reynolds number of 9 x 10(exp 6) are computed for a range of angles of attack corresponding to the wind-tunnel test. The computations are used to investigate the suitability of SF6 as a test medium in wind tunnels and are a follow-on to previous computations for single-element airfoils. Surface-pressure, lift, and drag coefficients are compared with experimental data. The effects of heavy gas on the details of the flow are investigated based on computed boundary-layer and skin-friction data. In general, the predictions in SF6 vary little from those in air. Within the limitations of the computational method, the results presented are sufficiently encouraging to warrant further experiments.

A note on conservative transport in anisotropic, heterogeneous porous media in the presence of small-amplitude transients

USGS Publications Warehouse

Naff, R.L.

1998-01-01

The late-time macrodispersion coefficients are obtained for the case of flow in the presence of a small-scale deterministic transient in a three-dimensional anisotropic, heterogeneous medium. The transient is assumed to affect only the velocity component transverse to the mean flow direction and to take the form of a periodic function. For the case of a highly stratified medium, these late-time macrodispersion coefficients behave largely as the standard coefficients used in the transport equation. Only in the event that the medium is isotropic is it probable that significant deviations from the standard coefficients would occur.

Consequences of covariant kaon dynamics in heavy ion collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuchs, C.; Kosov, D. S.; Faessler, Amand; Wang, Z. S.; Waindzoch, T.

1998-08-01

The influence of the chiral mean field on the kaon dynamics in heavy ion reactions is investigated. Inside the nuclear medium the kaons are described as dressed quasi-particles carrying effective masses and momenta. A momentum dependent part of the interaction which resembles a Lorentz force originates from spatial components of the vector field and provides an important contribution to the in-medium kaon dynamics. This contribution is found to counterbalance the influence of the vector potential on the K+ in-plane flow to a strong extent. Thus it appears to be difficult to restrict the in-medium potential from the analysis of the corresponding transverse flow.

LASER APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE: Analysis of distortions in the velocity profiles of suspension flows inside a light-scattering medium upon their reconstruction from the optical coherence Doppler tomograph signal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bykov, A. V.; Kirillin, M. Yu; Priezzhev, A. V.

2005-11-01

Model signals from one and two plane flows of a particle suspension are obtained for an optical coherence Doppler tomograph (OCDT) by the Monte-Carlo method. The optical properties of particles mimic the properties of non-aggregating erythrocytes. The flows are considered in a stationary scattering medium with optical properties close to those of the skin. It is shown that, as the flow position depth increases, the flow velocity determined from the OCDT signal becomes smaller than the specified velocity and the reconstructed profile extends in the direction of the distant boundary, which is accompanied by the shift of its maximum. In the case of two flows, an increase in the velocity of the near-surface flow leads to the overestimated values of velocity of the reconstructed profile of the second flow. Numerical simulations were performed by using a multiprocessor parallel-architecture computer.

The effect of spatially varying velocity field on the transport of radioactivity in a porous medium.

PubMed

Sen, Soubhadra; Srinivas, C V; Baskaran, R; Venkatraman, B

2016-10-01

In the event of an accidental leak of the immobilized nuclear waste from an underground repository, it may come in contact of the flow of underground water and start migrating. Depending on the nature of the geological medium, the flow velocity of water may vary spatially. Here, we report a numerical study on the migration of radioactivity due to a space dependent flow field. For a detailed analysis, seven different types of velocity profiles are considered and the corresponding concentrations are compared. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of the autonomous problem about coupled active non-Newtonian multi-seepage in sparse medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Shuxian; Li, Hongen

2017-10-01

The flow field of non-Newtonian fluid in sparse medium was analyzed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The results show that the axial velocity and radial velocity of the non-Newtonian fluid are larger than those of the Newtonian fluid due to the coupling of the viscosity of the non-Newtonian fluid and the shear rate, and the tangential velocity is less than that of the Newtonian fluid. These differences lead to the difference in the sparse medium Non-Newtonian fluids are of a special nature. The influence of the weight function on the global existence and blasting of the problem is discussed by analyzing the non-Newtonian percolation equation with nonlocal and weighted non-local Dirichlet boundary conditions. According to the non-Newtonian percolation equation, we define the weak solution of the problem and expound the local existence of the weak solution. Then we construct the test function and prove the weak comparison principle by using the Grown well inequality. The overall existence and blasting are analyzed by constructing the upper and lower solutions.

Method for analyzing the chemical composition of liquid effluent from a direct contact condenser

DOEpatents

Bharathan, Desikan; Parent, Yves; Hassani, A. Vahab

2001-01-01

A computational modeling method for predicting the chemical, physical, and thermodynamic performance of a condenser using calculations based on equations of physics for heat, momentum and mass transfer and equations of equilibrium thermodynamics to determine steady state profiles of parameters throughout the condenser. The method includes providing a set of input values relating to a condenser including liquid loading, vapor loading, and geometric characteristics of the contact medium in the condenser. The geometric and packing characteristics of the contact medium include the dimensions and orientation of a channel in the contact medium. The method further includes simulating performance of the condenser using the set of input values to determine a related set of output values such as outlet liquid temperature, outlet flow rates, pressures, and the concentration(s) of one or more dissolved noncondensable gas species in the outlet liquid. The method may also include iteratively performing the above computation steps using a plurality of sets of input values and then determining whether each of the resulting output values and performance profiles satisfies acceptance criteria.

Optimising Cell Aggregate Expansion in a Perfused Hollow Fibre Bioreactor via Mathematical Modelling

PubMed Central

Chapman, Lloyd A. C.; Shipley, Rebecca J.; Whiteley, Jonathan P.; Ellis, Marianne J.; Byrne, Helen M.; Waters, Sarah L.

2014-01-01

The need for efficient and controlled expansion of cell populations is paramount in tissue engineering. Hollow fibre bioreactors (HFBs) have the potential to meet this need, but only with improved understanding of how operating conditions and cell seeding strategy affect cell proliferation in the bioreactor. This study is designed to assess the effects of two key operating parameters (the flow rate of culture medium into the fibre lumen and the fluid pressure imposed at the lumen outlet), together with the cell seeding distribution, on cell population growth in a single-fibre HFB. This is achieved using mathematical modelling and numerical methods to simulate the growth of cell aggregates along the outer surface of the fibre in response to the local oxygen concentration and fluid shear stress. The oxygen delivery to the cell aggregates and the fluid shear stress increase as the flow rate and pressure imposed at the lumen outlet are increased. Although the increased oxygen delivery promotes growth, the higher fluid shear stress can lead to cell death. For a given cell type and initial aggregate distribution, the operating parameters that give the most rapid overall growth can be identified from simulations. For example, when aggregates of rat cardiomyocytes that can tolerate shear stresses of up to are evenly distributed along the fibre, the inlet flow rate and outlet pressure that maximise the overall growth rate are predicted to be in the ranges to (equivalent to to ) and to (or 15.6 psi to 15.7 psi) respectively. The combined effects of the seeding distribution and flow on the growth are also investigated and the optimal conditions for growth found to depend on the shear tolerance and oxygen demands of the cells. PMID:25157635

Electro-kinetically driven peristaltic transport of viscoelastic physiological fluids through a finite length capillary: Mathematical modeling.

PubMed

Tripathi, Dharmendra; Yadav, Ashu; Bég, O Anwar

2017-01-01

Analytical solutions are developed for the electro-kinetic flow of a viscoelastic biological liquid in a finite length cylindrical capillary geometry under peristaltic waves. The Jefferys' non-Newtonian constitutive model is employed to characterize rheological properties of the fluid. The unsteady conservation equations for mass and momentum with electro-kinetic and Darcian porous medium drag force terms are reduced to a system of steady linearized conservation equations in an axisymmetric coordinate system. The long wavelength, creeping (low Reynolds number) and Debye-Hückel linearization approximations are utilized. The resulting boundary value problem is shown to be controlled by a number of parameters including the electro-osmotic parameter, Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity (maximum electro-osmotic velocity), and Jefferys' first parameter (ratio of relaxation and retardation time), wave amplitude. The influence of these parameters and also time on axial velocity, pressure difference, maximum volumetric flow rate and streamline distributions (for elucidating trapping phenomena) is visualized graphically and interpreted in detail. Pressure difference magnitudes are enhanced consistently with both increasing electro-osmotic parameter and Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity, whereas they are only elevated with increasing Jefferys' first parameter for positive volumetric flow rates. Maximum time averaged flow rate is enhanced with increasing electro-osmotic parameter, Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity and Jefferys' first parameter. Axial flow is accelerated in the core (plug) region of the conduit with greater values of electro-osmotic parameter and Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity whereas it is significantly decelerated with increasing Jefferys' first parameter. The simulations find applications in electro-osmotic (EO) transport processes in capillary physiology and also bio-inspired EO pump devices in chemical and aerospace engineering. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Drying regimes in homogeneous porous media from macro- to nanoscale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thiery, J.; Rodts, S.; Weitz, D. A.; Coussot, P.

2017-07-01

Magnetic resonance imaging visualization down to nanometric liquid films in model porous media with pore sizes from micro- to nanometers enables one to fully characterize the physical mechanisms of drying. For pore size larger than a few tens of nanometers, we identify an initial constant drying rate period, probing homogeneous desaturation, followed by a falling drying rate period. This second period is associated with the development of a gradient in saturation underneath the sample free surface that initiates the inward recession of the contact line. During this latter stage, the drying rate varies in accordance with vapor diffusion through the dry porous region, possibly affected by the Knudsen effect for small pore size. However, we show that for sufficiently small pore size and/or saturation the drying rate is increasingly reduced by the Kelvin effect. Subsequently, we demonstrate that this effect governs the kinetics of evaporation in nanopores as a homogeneous desaturation occurs. Eventually, under our experimental conditions, we show that the saturation unceasingly decreases in a homogeneous manner throughout the wet regions of the medium regardless of pore size or drying regime considered. This finding suggests the existence of continuous liquid flow towards the interface of higher evaporation, down to very low saturation or very small pore size. Paradoxically, even if this net flow is unidirectional and capillary driven, it corresponds to a series of diffused local capillary equilibrations over the full height of the sample, which might explain that a simple Darcy's law model does not predict the effect of scaling of the net flow rate on the pore size observed in our tests.

Process and apparatus for analyzing specimens for the presence of microorganisms therein

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vannest, Richard D. (Inventor); Meyer, Michael C. (Inventor); Gibson, Sandra F. (Inventor); Keyser, George F. (Inventor); Jones, Paul W. (Inventor); Aldridge, Jr., Clifton (Inventor); Holen, James T. (Inventor)

1980-01-01

Microorganisms in a specimen are detected, identified, and enumerated by introducing the specimen into a sampling cartridge and diluting the specimen with a known volume of water within the cartridge. The cartridge has a manifold and several cassettes attached to the manifold. Each cassette contains a serpentine flow channel having a series of filters therein and a detection cell located downstream from each filter. The flow channel in each cassette also contains a culture medium which is freeze dried and is highly selective in the sense that it promotes the growth of one type of microorganism, but not others. The mixture of the specimen and water flows from the manifold into the flow channel of each cassette where it rehydrates the culture medium therein and further flows through the filters. Each filter removes a known proportion of the microorganisms from the mixture of specimen, water and medium, thereby effecting a serial dilution. After the cassettes are heated to incubate the microoganisms, the detection cells are observed for growth of the microorganisms therein which is manifested in a change in the light transmitting characteristics of the mixtures within the cells.

Tortuosity correction of Kozeny's hydraulic diameter of a porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, C.

2017-02-01

The hydraulic diameter of a porous medium is the most important characteristic parameter governing porous flow aspects. Kozeny's hydraulic diameter has been used as the representative definition ever since he proposed it in 1927. However, it seems likely that this definition does not perfectly reflect the porous flow features even if the geometric relations of porous media are reasonably considered. Here we reviewed its definition by introducing Darcy's friction flow relation, and discovered that the term "tortuosity" should be included in the definition to more accurately characterize porous flows. Thus, the definition of "Tortuous Hydraulic Diameter (THD)," which corrects Kozeny's hydraulic diameter using tortuosity, is newly presented. Moreover, computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed to check the validity and applicability of the THD approach. As a result, it is seen that the THD demonstrates very low errors, with an average of 1.67%, whereas Kozeny's definition has relatively large errors, with an average of 12.8%. Accordingly, it is confirmed that the THD relation is the more accurate hydraulic diameter definition for a porous medium. Ultimately, the corrected definition can contribute to more reliable determinations of the other characteristic parameters and more reasonable porous flow analyses.

Electrokinetic Control of Viscous Fingering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirzadeh, Mohammad; Bazant, Martin Z.

2017-10-01

We present a theory of the interfacial stability of two immiscible electrolytes under the coupled action of pressure gradients and electric fields in a Hele-Shaw cell or porous medium. Mathematically, our theory describes a phenomenon of "vector Laplacian growth," in which the interface moves in response to the gradient of a vector-valued potential function through a generalized mobility tensor. Physically, we extend the classical Saffman-Taylor problem to electrolytes by incorporating electrokinetic (EK) phenomena. A surprising prediction is that viscous fingering can be controlled by varying the injection ratio of electric current to flow rate. Beyond a critical injection ratio, stability depends only upon the relative direction of flow and current, regardless of the viscosity ratio. Possible applications include porous materials processing, electrically enhanced oil recovery, and EK remediation of contaminated soils.

Acoustic Pump

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heyman, Joseph S.

1993-01-01

Pump uses acoustic-radiation forces. Momentum transferred from sound waves to sound-propagating material in way resulting in net pumping action on material. Acoustic pump is solid-state pump. Requires no moving parts, entirely miniaturized, and does not invade pumped environment. Silent, with no conventional vibration. Used as pump for liquid, suspension, gas, or any other medium interacting with radiation pressure. Also used where solid-state pump needed for reliability and controllability. In microgravity environment, device offers unusual control for low flow rates. For medical or other applications in which contamination cannot be allowed, offers noninvasive pumping force.

The Isolated Perfused Rat Liver and its use in the Study of Chemical Kinetics: Quality and Performance Parameters

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-04-01

atrium , the inferior vena cava was closed with a silk ligature and the liver was carefully excised. 2.4 Liver...withdraw needle. 5.5.10 Secure tip of cannula with ligature and connect medium at lowest flow rate (5 mL/min). 5.5.11 Cut inferior vena cava below the...heart. 5.5.14 Cannulate the superior vena cava via an incision in the right atrium , secure with ligature. 5.5.15 Close ligature around inferior vena cava

Kinetics Analysis of Synthesis Reaction of Struvite With Air-Flow Continous Vertical Reactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edahwati, L.; Sutiyono, S.; Muryanto, S.; Jamari, J.; Bayuseno, dan A. P.

2018-01-01

Kinetics reaction is a knowledge about a rate of chemical reaction. The differential of the reaction rate can be determined from the reactant material or the formed material. The reaction mechanism of a reactor may include a stage of reaction occurring sequentially during the process of converting the reactants into products. In the determination of reaction kinetics, the order of reaction and the rate constant reaction must be recognized. This study was carried out using air as a stirrer as a medium in the vertical reactor for crystallization of struvite. Stirring is one of the important aspects in struvite crystallization process. Struvite crystals or magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrates (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) is commonly formed in reversible reactions and can be generated as an orthorhombic crystal. Air is selected as a stirrer on the existing flow pattern in the reactor determining the reaction kinetics of the crystal from the solution. The experimental study was conducted by mixing an equimolar solution of 0.03 M NH4OH, MgCl2 and H3PO4 with a ratio of 1: 1: 1. The crystallization process of the mixed solution was observed in an inside reactor at the flow rate ranges of 16-38 ml/min and the temperature of 30°C was selected in the study. The air inlet rate was kept constant at 0.25 liters/min. The pH solution was adjusted to be 8, 9 and 10 by dropping wisely of 1 N KOH solution. The crystallization kinetics was examined until the steady state of the reaction was reached. The precipitates were filtered and dried at a temperature for subsequent material characterization, including Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and XRD (X-Ray diffraction) method. The results show that higher flow rate leads to less mass of struvite.

On Analysis of Stationary Viscous Incompressible Flow Through a Radial Blade Machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neustupa, Tomáš

2010-09-01

The paper is concerned with the analysis of the two dimensional model of incompressible, viscous, stationary flow through a radial blade machine. This type of turbine is sometimes called Kaplan's turbine. In the technical area the use is either to force some regular characteristic to the flow of the medium going through the turbine (flow of melted iron, air conditioning) or to gain some energy from the flowing medium (water). The inflow and outflow part of boundary are in general a concentric circles. The larger one represents an inflow part of boundary the smaller one the outflow part of boundary. Between them are regularly spaced the blades of the machine. We study the existence of the weak solution in the case of nonlinear boundary condition of the "do-nothing" type. The model is interesting for study the behavior of the flow when the boundary is formed by mutually disjoint and separated parts.

Toward an asymptotic behaviour of the ABC dynamo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouya, Ismaël; Dormy, Emmanuel

2015-04-01

The ABC flow was originally introduced by Arnol'd to investigate Lagrangian chaos. It soon became the prototype example to illustrate magnetic-field amplification via fast dynamo action, i.e. dynamo action exhibiting magnetic-field amplification on a typical timescale independent of the electrical resistivity of the medium. Even though this flow is the most classical example for this important class of dynamos (with application to large-scale astrophysical objects), it was recently pointed out (Bouya Ismaël and Dormy Emmanuel, Phys. Fluids, 25 (2013) 037103) that the fast dynamo nature of this flow was unclear, as the growth rate still depended on the magnetic Reynolds number at the largest values available so far (\\text{Rm} = 25000) . Using state-of-the-art high-performance computing, we present high-resolution simulations (up to 40963) and extend the value of \\text{Rm} up to 5\\cdot105 . Interestingly, even at these huge values, the growth rate of the leading eigenmode still depends on the controlling parameter and an asymptotic regime is not reached yet. We show that the maximum growth rate is a decreasing function of \\text{Rm} for the largest values of \\text{Rm} we could achieve (as anticipated in the above-mentioned paper). Slowly damped oscillations might indicate either a new mode crossing or that the system is approaching the limit of an essential spectrum.

Preliminary findings on the correlation of saliva pH, buffering capacity, flow rate and consistency in relation to waterpipe tobacco smoking.

PubMed

Khemiss, Mehdi; Ben Khelifa, Mohamed; Ben Saad, Helmi

2017-12-01

The aim of the present comparative study was to compare some salivary characteristics between exclusive waterpipe smokers (EWPS) and non-smokers. 72 males (36 EWPS) were recruited. The volume of stimulated saliva was determined and divided by the duration of saliva collection. The pH was measured directly using a pH meter. The buffering capacity was determined using a quantitative method which involved the addition of 10 µl HCl. Up to a total of 160 µL was titrated up to obtain a pH titration curve. At 50 µL of titrated HCl, buffering capacity was ranked into three categories: high, medium and low. EWPS and non-smoker groups had similar flow rates (1.81 ± 0.79 and 1.78 ± 1.14 mL min-1) and similar baseline pH (6.60 ± 0.37 and 6.76 ± 0.39). Statistically significant differences in the two groups' pH were observed from 30 to 160 µL of titrated up HCl. At 50 µL of titrated up HCl, the EWPS group compared to the non-smoker group had a significantly higher pH (4.79 ± 0.72 vs. 5.32 ± 0.79). To conclude, waterpipe tobacco smoking alters the buffering capacity but does not alter either salivary flow rates or the baseline pH and consistency.

Flow currents and ventilation in Langstroth beehives due to brood thermoregulation efforts of honeybees.

PubMed

Sudarsan, Rangarajan; Thompson, Cody; Kevan, Peter G; Eberl, Hermann J

2012-02-21

Beekeepers universally agree that ensuring sufficient ventilation is vital for sustaining a thriving, healthy honeybee colony. Despite this fact, surprisingly little is known about the ventilation and flow patterns in bee hives. We take a first step towards developing a model-based approach that uses computational fluid dynamics to simulate natural ventilation flow inside a standard Langstroth beehive. A 3-D model of a Langstroth beehive with one brood chamber and one honey super was constructed and inside it the honeybee colony was distributed among different clusters each occupying the different bee-spaces between frames in the brood chamber. For the purpose of modeling, each honeybee cluster was treated as an air-saturated porous medium with constant porosity. Heat and mass transfer interactions of the honeybees with the air, the outcome of metabolism, were captured in the porous medium model as source and sink terms appearing in the governing equations of fluid dynamics. The temperature of the brood that results from the thermoregulation efforts of the colony is applied as a boundary condition for the governing equations. The governing equations for heat, mass transport and fluid flow were solved using Fluent(©), a commercially available CFD program. The results from the simulations indicate that (a) both heat and mass transfer resulting from honeybee metabolism play a vital role in determining the structure of the flow inside the beehive and mass transfer cannot be neglected, (b) at low ambient temperatures, the nonuniform temperature profile on comb surfaces that results from brood incubation enhances flow through the honeybee cluster which removes much of the carbon-dioxide produced by the cluster resulting in lower carbon-dioxide concentration next to the brood, (c) increasing ambient (outside) air temperature causes ventilation flow rate to drop resulting in weaker flow inside the beehive. Flow visualization indicates that at low ambient air temperatures the flow inside the beehive has an interesting 3-D structure with the presence of large recirculating vortices occupying the space between honey super frames above the honeybee clusters in the brood chamber and the structure and strength of the flow inside and around the honeybee clusters changes as we increase the ambient air temperature outside the beehive. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Convective transport resistance in the vitreous humor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Penkova, Anita; Sadhal, Satwindar; Ratanakijsuntorn, Komsan; Moats, Rex; Tang, Yang; Hughes, Patrick; Robinson, Michael; Lee, Susan

2012-11-01

It has been established by MRI visualization experiments that the convection of nanoparticles and large molecules with high rate of water flow in the vitreous humor will experience resistance, depending on the respective permeabilities of the injected solute. A set of experiments conducted with Gd-DTPA (Magnevist, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany) and 30 nm gadolinium-based particles (Gado CELLTrackTM, Biopal, Worcester, MA) as MRI contrast agents showed that the degree of convective transport in this Darcy-type porous medium varies between the two solutes. These experiments consisted of injecting a mixture of the two (a 30 μl solution of 2% Magnevist and 1% nanoparticles) at the middle of the vitreous of an ex vivo whole bovine eye and subjecting the vitreous to water flow rate of 100 μl/min. The water (0.9% saline solution) was injected at the top of the eye, and was allowed to drain through small slits cut at the bottom of the eyeball. After 50 minutes of pumping, MRI images showed that the water flow carried the Gd-DTPA farther than the nanoparticles, even though the two solutes, being mixed, were subjected to the same convective flow conditions. We find that the convected solute lags the water flow, depending on the solute permeability. The usual convection term needs to be adjusted to allow for the filtration effect on the larger particles in the form (1- σ) u . ∇ c with important implications for the modeling of such systems.

Solute transport with time-variable flow paths during upward and downward flux in a heterogeneous unsaturated porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cremer, Clemens; Neuweiler, Insa; Bechtold, Michel; Vanderborght, Jan

2014-05-01

To acquire knowledge of solute transport through the unsaturated zone in the shallow subsurface is decisive to assess groundwater quality, nutrient cycling or to plan remediation strategies. The shallow subsurface is characterized by structural heterogeneity and strongly influenced by atmospheric conditions. This leads to changing flow directions, strong temporal changes in saturation and heterogeneous water fluxes during infiltration and evaporation events. Recent studies (e.g. Lehmann and Or, 2009; Bechtold et al.,2011) demonstrated the importance of lateral flow and solute transport during evaporation conditions (upward flux). The heterogeneous structure in these studies was constructed using two types of sand with strong material contrasts and arranged in parallel with a vertical orientation. Lateral transport and redistribution of solute from coarse to fine media was observed deeper in the soil column and from fine to coarse close to the soil surface. However, if boundary conditions are reversed due to precipitation, the flow field is not necessarily reversed in the same manner, resulting in entirely different transport patterns for downward and upward flow. Therefore, considering net-flow rates alone is misleading when describing transport under those conditions. In this contribution we analyze transport of a solute in the shallow subsurface to assess effects resulting from the temporal change of heterogeneous soil structures due to dynamic flow conditions. Two-dimensional numerical simulations of unsaturated flow and transport are conducted using a coupled finite volume and random walk particle tracking algorithm to quantify solute transport and leaching rates. Following previous studies (Lehmann and Or, 2009; Bechtold et al., 2011), the chosen domain is composed of two materials, coarse and fine sand, arranged in parallel with a vertical orientation. Hence, one sharp interface of strong material heterogeneity is induced. During evaporation both sands are assumed to stay under liquid-flow dominated evaporation conditions ("stage 1"). Simulations considering dynamic (infiltration-evaporation) and steady (solely infiltration) boundary conditions are carried out. The influence of dynamic boundary conditions (intensity and duration of precipitation and evaporation events) is examined in a multitude of simulations. If flow rates smaller than the saturated hydraulic conductivity of both materials are chosen to be applied as boundary condition, simulation results indicate that the flow field within the domain is exactly reversed. However, if applied flow rates exceed the saturated hydraulic conductivity of one material, the flow field is not just reversed, but different flow paths during downward and upward flow are observed. Results show the tendency of faster solute leaching under dynamic boundary conditions compared to steady infiltration conditions with the same net-infiltration rate. We use a double domain transport method as an upscaled model to reproduce vertically averaged concentration profiles with net flux only and compare the model parameters for information about flow dynamics and soil heterogeneity.

An analysis of oscillatory hydromagnetic couette flow through a porous medium in a rotating system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajesh, K.; Govindarajan, A.; Vidhya, M.; Siva, E. P.

2018-04-01

Analysis of an exact solution of oscillatory Ekman boundary layer flow through a porous medium bounded by two horizontal flat plates is found. One of the plates is at rest and the other one is oscillating in its own plane. The whole of the system rotates about an axis normal to the plates. The effects of Coriolis force and the permeability of the porous medium on the flow field are studied. It is seen that even in the special case of resonance (w = 2Ω) the solution obtained by Mazumder is incorrect as contended by Ganapathy. It is found that the amplitude of the resultant velocity |A0| for the steady part increases with either an increase in the permeability parameter k0 (or) an increase in the rotation parameter R. But the above profiles have a reverse trend when there is an increase in the Hartmann number.

Influence of process fluids properties on component surface convective heat emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanova, T. N.; Korshunov, A. I.; Zavialov, P. M.

2018-03-01

When grinding with metal-working process fluid, a thin layer of inhibited liquid is formed between the component and the grinding wheel under the action of viscous forces. This can be defined as a hydrodynamic boundary layer or a thermal boundary layer. In this work, the thickness of the layers is studied depending on the viscosity of the fluid, inertia forces, velocity and pressure of the flow; also the causes of their occurrence are identified. It is established that under turbulent flow, the viscosity of the flow and the diffusion rate are much higher than in laminar flow, which also affects heat emission. Calculation of heat transfer in a single-phase chemically homogeneous medium of process liquids has shown that their properties, such as viscosity, thermal conductivity, density and heat capacity are of primary importance. The results of experimental studies of these characteristics are presented. When determining the heat transfer coefficient, functional correlations between the physical variables of the process fluid and the change in time and space have been established. As a result of the studies carried out to determine the heat transfer coefficient of a plate immersed in the process fluid, it is established that the intensification of the cooling process of the treated surface immersed in the coolant is more intense than with other methods of coolant supplying. An increase in the pulsation rate of the process liquid flow and the length of the flow displacement path leads to an increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the treated surface and a decrease in the temperature that arises during grinding.

The effects of spatial inhomogeneities on flow through the endothelial surface layer.

PubMed

Leiderman, Karin M; Miller, Laura A; Fogelson, Aaron L

2008-05-21

Flow through the endothelial surface layer (the glycocalyx and adsorbed plasma proteins) plays an important but poorly understood role in cell signaling through a process known as mechanotransduction. Characterizing the flow rates and shear stresses throughout this layer is critical for understanding how flow-induced ionic currents, deformations of transmembrane proteins, and the convection of extracellular molecules signal biochemical events within the cell, including cytoskeletal rearrangements, gene activation, and the release of vasodilators. Previous mathematical models of flow through the endothelial surface layer are based upon the assumptions that the layer is of constant hydraulic permeability and constant height. These models also assume that the layer is continuous across the endothelium and that the layer extends into only a small portion of the vessel lumen. Results of these models predict that fluid shear stress is dissipated through the surface layer and is thus negligible near endothelial cell membranes. In this paper, such assumptions are removed, and the resultant flow rates and shear stresses through the layer are described. The endothelial surface layer is modeled as clumps of a Brinkman medium immersed in a Newtonian fluid. The width and spacing of each clump, hydraulic permeability, and fraction of the vessel lumen occupied by the layer are varied. The two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations with an additional Brinkman resistance term are solved using a projection method. Several fluid shear stress transitions in which the stress at the membrane shifts from low to high values are described. These transitions could be significant to cell signaling since the endothelial surface layer is likely dynamic in its composition, density, and height.

Evaluation of contrast-enhanced power Doppler imaging for measuring blood flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ansaloni, Sara; Arger, Peter H.; Cary, Ted W.; Sehgal, Chandra M.

2005-04-01

Power Doppler ultrasound enhanced by microbubble contrast agent has been used to image tissue vascularity and blood flow for the assessment of antivascular therapies. We have proposed a multigating technique that measures bubble concentration as a function of ultrasound exposure for deriving tumor blood flow and vascularity.1 Techniques using ultrasound contrast agent are known to be sensitive to the choice of imaging parameters like mechanical index and tissue attenuation. In this paper, the roles of mechanical index (MI) and tissue attenuation were evaluated experimentally in a rubber tubing flow phantom connected to a mixing chamber and a variable speed pump. The contrast was injected in the mixing chamber and the flow rate was measured using power Doppler imaging. The measurements were repeated at different MIs (0.1 to 1.3), and at different levels of attenuation, obtained with solutions of glycerol-water (10-20%). True flow was measured by collecting liquid flowing out of the phantom over a fixed duration. At low MI (<0.5), the grayscale and Doppler signal were weak, making these images unsuitable for analysis. At higher MI (> 0.8), there was a well-defined enhancement by contrast agent resulting in reproducible flow measurements at variable MIs. A balance between the number of bubbles destroyed and the echo they generate must be achieved for optimal imaging. The increased attenuation of ultrasound by the overlying medium did not influence the flow measurements.

Novel Software-Assisted Hemodynamic Evaluation of Pelvic Flow During Chemoperfusion of Pelvic Arteries for Bladder Cancer: Double- Versus Single-Balloon Technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yamamoto, Kiyohito, E-mail: rad105@poh.osaka-med.ac.jp; Yamamoto, Kazuhiro, E-mail: rad043@poh.osaka-med.ac.jp; Nakai, Go, E-mail: rad091@poh.osaka-med.ac.jp

2016-06-15

PurposeApproximately 83 % of patients with bladder cancer have achieved a complete response after undergoing a novel bladder preservation therapy involving balloon-occluded intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy (BOAI) using a four-lumen double-balloon catheter, known as the Osaka Medical College regimen. This study aimed to show the quantitative difference in hemodynamics of the bladder arteries using syngo iFlow (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany), which provides an automatic tool for quantitative blood flow analysis between double BOAI (D-BOAI) and conventional single BOAI (S-BOAI).Materials and MethodsFifty patients were included. The catheters were introduced into both posterior trunks of the internal iliac arteries via contralateral femoral artery access.more » A side hole between the distal and proximal balloons was placed at the origin of each bladder artery to allow clear visualization of angiographic flow of the injected agent into the urinary bladder. Digital subtraction angiography was used during analysis with the syngo iFlow to evaluate the hemodynamics of the contrast medium in the pelvic arteries during BOAI. The comparative change in the amount of contrast medium in the bladder arteries between D-BOAI and S-BOAI was assessed using syngo iFlow.ResultsOne-hundred pelvic sides were analyzed. The amount of contrast medium in the bladder arteries using D-BOAI was more than twice that using S-BOAI (right, 3.03-fold; left, 2.81-fold).ConclusionThe amount of contrast medium in the bladder arteries using D-BOAI was higher than that using conventional S-BOAI. This may increase the anticancer drug concentration in the affected bladder, leading to a good clinical response.« less

Airflow structures and nano-particle deposition in a human upper airway model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Z.; Kleinstreuer, C.

2004-07-01

Considering a human upper airway model, or equivalently complex internal flow conduits, the transport and deposition of nano-particles in the 1-150 nm diameter range are simulated and analyzed for cyclic and steady flow conditions. Specifically, using a commercial finite-volume software with user-supplied programs as a solver, the Euler-Euler approach for the fluid-particle dynamics is employed with a low-Reynolds-number k- ω model for laminar-to-turbulent airflow and the mass transfer equation for dispersion of nano-particles or vapors. Presently, the upper respiratory system consists of two connected segments of a simplified human cast replica, i.e., the oral airways from the mouth to the trachea (Generation G0) and an upper tracheobronchial tree model of G0-G3. Experimentally validated computational fluid-particle dynamics results show the following: (i) transient effects in the oral airways appear most prominently during the decelerating phase of the inspiratory cycle; (ii) selecting matching flow rates, total deposition fractions of nano-size particles for cyclic inspiratory flow are not significantly different from those for steady flow; (iii) turbulent fluctuations which occur after the throat can persist downstream to at least Generation G3 at medium and high inspiratory flow rates (i.e., Qin⩾30 l/min) due to the enhancement of flow instabilities just upstream of the flow dividers; however, the effects of turbulent fluctuations on nano-particle deposition are quite minor in the human upper airways; (iv) deposition of nano-particles occurs to a relatively greater extent around the carinal ridges when compared to the straight tubular segments in the bronchial airways; (v) deposition distributions of nano-particles vary with airway segment, particle size, and inhalation flow rate, where the local deposition is more uniformly distributed for large-size particles (say, dp=100 nm) than for small-size particles (say, dp=1 nm); (vi) dilute 1 nm particle suspensions behave like certain (fuel) vapors which have the same diffusivities; and (vii) new correlations for particle deposition as a function of a diffusion parameter are most useful for global lung modeling.

Unsteady MHD blood flow through porous medium in a parallel plate channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Latha, R.; Rushi Kumar, B.

2017-11-01

In this study, we have analyzed heat and mass transfer effects on unsteady blood flow through parallel plate channel in a saturated porous medium in the presence of a transverse magnetic field with thermal radiation. The governing higher order nonlinear PDE’S are converted to dimensionless equations using dimensionless variables. The dimensionless equations are then solved analytically using boundary conditions by choosing the axial flow transport and the fields of concentration and temperature apart from the normal velocity as a function of y and t. The effects of different pertinent parameters appeared in this model viz thermal radiation, Prandtl number, Heat source parameter, Hartmann number, Permeability parameter, Decay parameter on axial flow transport and the normal velocity are analyzed in detail.

Dynamics of foam flow in porous media in the presence of oil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shokri, N.; Osei-Bonsu, K.

2016-12-01

Foams demonstrate great potential for fluid displacement in porous media which is important in a number of subsurface operations such as the enhanced oil recovery and soil remediation. The application of foam in these processes is down to its unique ability to reduce gas mobility by increasing its effective viscosity and to divert gas to un-swept low permeability zones in porous media [1-4]. To investigate the fundamental aspects of foam flow in porous media, we have conducted a systematic series of experiment using a well-characterised porous medium manufactured by a high resolution 3D printer. This enabled us to design and control the properties of porous media with high accuracy. The model porous medium was initially saturated with oil. Then the pre-generated foam was injected into the model at well-defined injection rates to displace oil. The dynamics of foam-oil displacement in porous media was recorded using a digital camera controlled by a computer [5]. The recorded images were analysed in MATLAB to determine the dynamics of foam-oil displacement under different boundary conditions. Effects of the type of oil, foam quality and foam flow rate were investigated. Our results reveal that generation of stable foam is delayed in the presence of light oil in the porous medium compared to the heavy oil. Furthermore, higher foam quality appears to be less stable in the presence of oil lowering its recovery efficiency. Pore-scale inspection of foam-oil patterns formed during displacement revealed formation of a more stable front in the case of lower foam quality which affected the oil recovery efficiency. This study extends the physical understanding of governing mechanisms controlling oil displacement by foam in porous media. Grassia, P., E. Mas-Hernandez, N. Shokri, S.J. Cox, G. Mishuris, W.R. Rossen (2014), J. Fluid Mech., 751, 346-405. Grassia, P., C. Torres-Ulloa, S. Berres, E. Mas-Hernandez, N. Shokri (2016), European Physical Journal E, 39 (4), 42. Mas-Hernandez, E., P. Grassia, N. Shokri (2015), Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects, 473, 123-132. Osei-Bonsu, K., N. Shokri, P. Grassia (2015), Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects, 481, 514-526. Osei-Bonsu, K., N. Shokri, P. Grassia (2016), J. Colloid Interface Sci., 462, 288-296.

A modified shark-fin test simulating the single-step/double-mix technique: A comparison of three groups of elastomers.

PubMed

Huettig, Fabian; Chekhani, Usama; Klink, Andrea; Said, Fadi; Rupp, Frank

2018-06-08

The shark-fin test was modified to convey the clinical application of a single-step/double-mix technique assessing the behavior of two viscosities applied at one point in time. A medium and light body polyether (PE), a medium and light body polyvinylsiloxane (PVS), and a medium as well as heavy and light body vinyl polyether silicone (PVXE) impression material were analyzed solely, and in a layered mixture of 1:1 and 3:1 at working times of 50, 80, and 120 s. The fin heights were measured with a digital ruler. The wettability was measured 50 and 80 s after mixing by drop shape analysis. The results showed a synergistic effect of the medium and light body PE. This was not observed in PVXE and PVS. Interestingly, PVXE showed an antagonistic flow behavior in 3:1 mixture with medium body. PVXE was more hydrophilic than PE and PVS. Future rheological studies should clarify the detected flow effects.

Biological hydrogen production by Clostridium acetobutylicum in an unsaturated flow reactor.

PubMed

Zhang, Husen; Bruns, Mary Ann; Logan, Bruce E

2006-02-01

A mesophilic unsaturated flow (trickle bed) reactor was designed and tested for H2 production via fermentation of glucose. The reactor consisted of a column packed with glass beads and inoculated with a pure culture (Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824). A defined medium containing glucose was fed at a flow rate of 1.6 mL/min (0.096 L/h) into the capped reactor, producing a hydraulic retention time of 2.1 min. Gas-phase H2 concentrations were constant, averaging 74 +/- 3% for all conditions tested. H2 production rates increased from 89 to 220 mL/hL of reactor when influent glucose concentrations were varied from 1.0 to 10.5 g/L. Specific H2 production rate ranged from 680 to 1270 mL/g glucose per liter of reactor (total volume). The H2 yield was 15-27%, based on a theoretical limit by fermentation of 4 moles of H2 from 1 mole of glucose. The major fermentation by-products in the liquid effluent were acetate and butyrate. The reactor rapidly (within 60-72 h) became clogged with biomass, requiring manual cleaning of the system. In order to make long-term operation of the reactor feasible, biofilm accumulation in the reactor will need to be controlled through some process such as backwashing. These tests using an unsaturated flow reactor demonstrate the feasibility of the process to produce high H2 gas concentrations in a trickle-bed type of reactor. A likely application of this reactor technology could be H2 gas recovery from pre-treatment of high carbohydrate-containing wastewaters.

An exploratory study on scientific investigations in homeopathy using medical analyzer.

PubMed

Mishra, Nirupama; Muraleedharan, K Charan; Paranjpe, Akalpita Sriniwas; Munta, Devendra Kumar; Singh, Hari; Nayak, Chaturbhuja

2011-08-01

The action of homeopathic medicines, in ultra-high dilution, is not directly observable. An attempt was made to explore autonomic response of selective homeopathic medicines, in healthy persons, using Medical Analyzer System (Electronics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India). The objective of the study was to observe the action of homeopathic medicines on physiologic variability of heart rate and blood flow. Pre- and postinterventional variability spectra of heart rate and blood flow of 77 subjects were recorded with the Medical Analyzer System, administering homeopathic preparations of Aconitum napellus (6c, 10M), Arsenicum album (200c, 1M), Gelsemium sempervirens (200c, 1M), Phosphorus (200c, 1M), Pulsatilla nigricans (200c) and Sulphur (200c, 1M) versus placebo control. The amplitude of the peaks viz. low-frequency, medium-frequency, and high-frequency was measured for postintervention analysis. An increase in the amplitude of any valid peak by 100% or a decrease by 50% was considered as significant change. Aconitum napellus produced a response in heart rate variability (HRV) with 30c potency and in blood flow variability with 1M potency. Sulphur 200c and 1M, Gelsemium 200c and Pulsatilla 200c, produced a 62.5% response in HRV against the placebo response of 16.6%. Gelsemium, Phosphorus, and Sulphur produced a response in blood flow variability with a 1M potency, similar to the response of Aconitum napellus 1M. These data suggest that it is possible to record the response of homeopathic medicines on physiologic parameters of the autonomic nervous system.

Hydraulic characterization of overpressured tuffs in central Yucca Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Halford, Keith J.; Laczniak, Randell J.; Galloway, Devin L.

2005-01-01

A sequence of buried, bedded, air-fall tuffs has been used extensively as a host medium for underground nuclear tests detonated in the central part of Yucca Flat at the Nevada Test Site. Water levels within these bedded tuffs have been elevated hundreds of meters in areas where underground nuclear tests were detonated below the water table. Changes in the ground-water levels within these tuffs and changes in the rate and distribution of land-surface subsidence above these tuffs indicate that pore-fluid pressures have been slowly depressurizing since the cessation of nuclear testing in 1992. Declines in ground-water levels concurrent with regional land subsidence are explained by poroelastic deformation accompanying ground-water flow as fluids pressurized by underground nuclear detonations drain from the host tuffs into the overlying water table and underlying regional carbonate aquifer. A hydraulic conductivity of about 3 x 10-6 m/d and a specific storage of 9 x 10-6 m-1 are estimated using ground-water flow models. Cross-sectional and three-dimensional ground-water flow models were calibrated to measured water levels and to land-subsidence rates measured using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar. Model results are consistent and indicate that about 2 million m3 of ground water flowed from the tuffs to the carbonate rock as a result of pressurization caused by underground nuclear testing. The annual rate of inflow into the carbonate rock averaged about 0.008 m/yr between 1962 and 2005, and declined from 0.005 m/yr in 2005 to 0.0005 m/yr by 2300.

Peristaltic transport of copper-water nanofluid saturating porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abbasi, F. M.; Hayat, T.; Ahmad, B.

2015-03-01

Prime goal of present study is to model the problem for peristaltic transport of copper-water nanofluid in an asymmetric channel. The fluid fills porous space. Analysis is carried out in the presence of mixed conviction, viscous dissipation and heat generation/absorption. Long wavelength and low Reynolds number approximations are utilized in problem formulation. Numerical computations are presented for the axial velocity, pressure gradient, streamlines, temperature and heat transfer rate at the boundary. Graphical analysis is carried out to examine the effects of sundry parameters on flow quantities of interest. Results revealed that the axial velocity of copper-water nanofluid decreases with an increase in the nanoparticle volume fraction. Copper nanoparticles prove effective coolant since they sufficiently reduce the fluid temperature and show increase in the heat transfer between the fluid and solid boundary. Moreover temperature of the fluid decreases by increasing the permeability of porous medium.

Laser Radiation in Active Amplifying Media Treated as a Transport Problem - Transfer Equation Derived and Exactly Solved

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das Gupta, Santanu; Das Gupta, S. R.

1991-10-01

The flow of laser radiation in a plane-parallel cylindrical slab of active amplifying medium with axial symmetry is treated as a problem in radiative transfer. The appropriate one-dimensional transfer equation describing the transfer of laser radiation has been derived by an appeal to Einstein'sA, B coefficients (describing the processes of stimulated line absorption, spontaneous line emission, and stimulated line emission sustained by population inversion in the medium) and considering the ‘rate equations’ to completely establish the rational of the transfer equation obtained. The equation is then exactly solved and the angular distribution of the emergent laser beam intensity is obtained; its numerically computed values are given in tables and plotted in graphs showing the nature of peaks of the emerging laser beam intensity about the axis of the laser cylinder.

Controlled graft copolymerization of lactic acid onto starch in a supercritical carbon dioxide medium.

PubMed

Salimi, Kouroush; Yilmaz, Mehmet; Rzayev, Zakir M O; Piskin, Erhan

2014-12-19

This work presents a new approach for the synthesis of a starch-g-poly L-lactic acid (St-g-PLA) copolymer via the graft copolymerization of LA onto starch using stannous 2-ethyl hexanoate (Sn(Oct)2) as a catalyst in a supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) medium. The effects of several process parameters, including the pressure, temperature, scCO2 flow rate and reaction time, on the polymerization yield and grafting degree were studied. Amorphous graft St-g-PLA copolymers with increased thermal stability and processability were produced with a high efficiency. The maximum grafting degree (i.e., 52% PLA) was achieved with the following reaction conditions: 6h, 100°C, 200 bar and a 1:3 (w/w) ratio of St/LA. It was concluded that these low cost biobased graft biopolymers are potential candidates for several environment-friendly applications. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Physiology of spermatozoa at high dilution rates: the influence of seminal plasma.

PubMed

Maxwell, W M; Johnson, L A

1999-12-01

Extensive dilution of spermatozoa, as occurs during flow-cytometric sperm sorting, can reduce their motility and viability. These effects may be minimized by the use of appropriate dilution and collection media, containing balanced salts, energy sources, egg yolk and some protein. Dilution and flow-cytometric sorting of spermatozoa, which involves the removal of seminal plasma, also destabilizes sperm membranes leading to functional capacitation. This membrane destabilization renders the spermatozoa immediately capable of fertilization in vitro, or in vivo after deposition close to the site of fertilization, but shortens their lifespan, resulting in premature death if the cells are deposited in the female tract distant from the site of fertilization or are held in vitro at standard storage temperatures. This functional capacitation can be reversed in boar spermatozoa by inclusion of seminal plasma in the medium used to collect the cells from the cell sorter and, consequently, reduces their in vitro fertility. It has yet to be determined whether seminal plasma would have similar effects on flow cytometrically sorted spermatozoa of other species, and what its effects might be on the in vivo fertility of flow sorted boar.

Thermodynamically Constrained Averaging Theory (TCAT) Two-Phase Flow Model: Derivation, Closure, and Simulation Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weigand, T. M.; Miller, C. T.; Dye, A. L.; Gray, W. G.; McClure, J. E.; Rybak, I.

2015-12-01

The thermodynamically constrained averaging theory (TCAT) has been usedto formulate general classes of porous medium models, including newmodels for two-fluid-phase flow. The TCAT approach provides advantagesthat include a firm connection between the microscale, or pore scale,and the macroscale; a thermodynamically consistent basis; explicitinclusion of factors such as interfacial areas, contact angles,interfacial tension, and curvatures; and dynamics of interface movementand relaxation to an equilibrium state. In order to render the TCATmodel solvable, certain closure relations are needed to relate fluidpressure, interfacial areas, curvatures, and relaxation rates. In thiswork, we formulate and solve a TCAT-based two-fluid-phase flow model. We detail the formulation of the model, which is a specific instancefrom a hierarchy of two-fluid-phase flow models that emerge from thetheory. We show the closure problem that must be solved. Using recentresults from high-resolution microscale simulations, we advance a set ofclosure relations that produce a closed model. Lastly, we solve the model using a locally conservative numerical scheme and compare the TCAT model to the traditional model.

Aerosol mobility size spectrometer

DOEpatents

Wang, Jian; Kulkarni, Pramod

2007-11-20

A device for measuring aerosol size distribution within a sample containing aerosol particles. The device generally includes a spectrometer housing defining an interior chamber and a camera for recording aerosol size streams exiting the chamber. The housing includes an inlet for introducing a flow medium into the chamber in a flow direction, an aerosol injection port adjacent the inlet for introducing a charged aerosol sample into the chamber, a separation section for applying an electric field to the aerosol sample across the flow direction and an outlet opposite the inlet. In the separation section, the aerosol sample becomes entrained in the flow medium and the aerosol particles within the aerosol sample are separated by size into a plurality of aerosol flow streams under the influence of the electric field. The camera is disposed adjacent the housing outlet for optically detecting a relative position of at least one aerosol flow stream exiting the outlet and for optically detecting the number of aerosol particles within the at least one aerosol flow stream.

Role of medium heterogeneity and viscosity contrast in miscible flow regimes and mixing zone growth: A computational pore-scale approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afshari, Saied; Hejazi, S. Hossein; Kantzas, Apostolos

2018-05-01

Miscible displacement of fluids in porous media is often characterized by the scaling of the mixing zone length with displacement time. Depending on the viscosity contrast of fluids, the scaling law varies between the square root relationship, a sign for dispersive transport regime during stable displacement, and the linear relationship, which represents the viscous fingering regime during an unstable displacement. The presence of heterogeneities in a porous medium significantly affects the scaling behavior of the mixing length as it interacts with the viscosity contrast to control the mixing of fluids in the pore space. In this study, the dynamics of the flow and transport during both unit and adverse viscosity ratio miscible displacements are investigated in heterogeneous packings of circular grains using pore-scale numerical simulations. The pore-scale heterogeneity level is characterized by the variations of the grain diameter and velocity field. The growth of mixing length is employed to identify the nature of the miscible transport regime at different viscosity ratios and heterogeneity levels. It is shown that as the viscosity ratio increases to higher adverse values, the scaling law of mixing length gradually shifts from dispersive to fingering nature up to a certain viscosity ratio and remains almost the same afterwards. In heterogeneous media, the mixing length scaling law is observed to be generally governed by the variations of the velocity field rather than the grain size. Furthermore, the normalization of mixing length temporal plots with respect to the governing parameters of viscosity ratio, heterogeneity, medium length, and medium aspect ratio is performed. The results indicate that mixing length scales exponentially with log-viscosity ratio and grain size standard deviation while the impact of aspect ratio is insignificant. For stable flows, mixing length scales with the square root of medium length, whereas it changes linearly with length during unstable flows. This scaling procedure allows us to describe the temporal variation of mixing length using a generalized curve for various combinations of the flow conditions and porous medium properties.

830 nm laser irradiation induces varicosity formation, reduces mitochondrial membrane potential and blocks fast axonal flow in small and medium diameter rat dorsal root ganglion neurons: implications for the analgesic effects of 830 nm laser.

PubMed

Chow, Roberta T; David, Monique A; Armati, Patricia J

2007-03-01

We report the formation of 830 nm (cw) laser-induced, reversible axonal varicosities, using immunostaining with beta-tubulin, in small and medium diameter, TRPV-1 positive, cultured rat DRG neurons. Laser also induced a progressive and statistically significant decrease (p<0.005) in MMP in mitochondria in and between static axonal varicosities. In cell bodies of the neuron, the decrease in MMP was also statistically significant (p<0.05), but the decrease occurred more slowly. Importantly we also report for the first time that 830 nm (cw) laser blocked fast axonal flow, imaged in real time using confocal laser microscopy and JC-1 as mitotracker. Control neurons in parallel cultures remained unaffected with no varicosity formation and no change in MMP. Mitochondrial movement was continuous and measured along the axons at a rate of 0.8 microm/s (range 0.5-2 microm/s), consistent with fast axonal flow. Photoacceptors in the mitochondrial membrane absorb laser and mediate the transduction of laser energy into electrochemical changes, initiating a secondary cascade of intracellular events. In neurons, this results in a decrease in MMP with a concurrent decrease in available ATP required for nerve function, including maintenance of microtubules and molecular motors, dyneins and kinesins, responsible for fast axonal flow. Laser-induced neural blockade is a consequence of such changes and provide a mechanism for a neural basis of laser-induced pain relief. The repeated application of laser in a clinical setting modulates nociception and reduces pain. The application of laser therapy for chronic pain may provide a non-drug alternative for the management of chronic pain.

Recolonization of laser-ablated bacterial biofilm.

PubMed

Nandakumar, Kanavillil; Obika, Hideki; Utsumi, Akihiro; Toshihiko, Ooie; Yano, Tetsuo

2004-01-20

The recolonization of laser-ablated bacterial monoculture biofilm was studied in the laboratory by using a flow-cytometer system. The marine biofilm-forming bacterium Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora was used to develop biofilms on titanium coupons. Upon exposure to a low-power pulsed irradiation from an Nd:YAG laser, the coupons with biofilm were significantly reduced both in terms of total viable count (TVC) and area cover. The energy density used for a pulse of 5 ns was 0.1 J/cm(2) and the durations of irradiation exposure were 5 and 10 min. When placed in a flow of dilute ZoBell marine broth medium (10%) the laser-destructed bacterial film in a flow-cytometer showed significant recovery over a period of time. The flow of medium was regulated at 3.2 ml/min. The increase in area cover and TVC, however, was significantly less than that observed for nonirradiated control (t-test, P< 0.05). The coupons were observed for biofilm area cover and TVC at different intervals (3, 6, and 9 h) after irradiation. While the biofilm in the control coupon at the end of 9 h of exposure showed 95.6 +/- 4.1% cover, the 5- and 10-min irradiated samples after 9 h showed 60.3 +/- 6.5 and 37.4 +/- 12.1% area cover, respectively. The reduced rate of recolonization compared to control was thought be due to the lethal and sublethal impacts of laser irradiation on bacteria. This observation thus provided data on the online recolonization speed of biofilm, which is important when considering pulsed laser irradiation as an ablating technique of biofilm formation and removal in natural systems. Copyright 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Unsteady stokes flow of dusty fluid between two parallel plates through porous medium in the presence of magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sasikala, R.; Govindarajan, A.; Gayathri, R.

2018-04-01

This paper focus on the result of dust particle between two parallel plates through porous medium in the presence of magnetic field with constant suction in the upper plate and constant injection in the lower plate. The partial differential equations governing the flow are solved by similarity transformation. The velocity of the fluid and the dust particle decreases when there is an increase in the Hartmann number.

Simulation of Two-Phase Flow Based on a Thermodynamically Constrained Averaging Theory Flow Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weigand, T. M.; Dye, A. L.; McClure, J. E.; Farthing, M. W.; Gray, W. G.; Miller, C. T.

2014-12-01

The thermodynamically constrained averaging theory (TCAT) has been used to formulate general classes of porous medium models, including new models for two-fluid-phase flow. The TCAT approach provides advantages that include a firm connection between the microscale, or pore scale, and the macroscale; a thermodynamically consistent basis; explicit inclusion of factors such as interfacial areas, contact angles, interfacial tension, and curvatures; and dynamics of interface movement and relaxation to an equilibrium state. In order to render the TCAT model solvable, certain closure relations are needed to relate fluid pressure, interfacial areas, curvatures, and relaxation rates. In this work, we formulate and solve a TCAT-based two-fluid-phase flow model. We detail the formulation of the model, which is a specific instance from a hierarchy of two-fluid-phase flow models that emerge from the theory. We show the closure problem that must be solved. Using recent results from high-resolution microscale simulations, we advance a set of closure relations that produce a closed model. Lastly, we use locally conservative spatial discretization and higher order temporal discretization methods to approximate the solution to this new model and compare the solution to the traditional model.

Biofilm growth in porous media: Experiments, computational modeling at the porescale, and upscaling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peszynska, Malgorzata; Trykozko, Anna; Iltis, Gabriel; Schlueter, Steffen; Wildenschild, Dorthe

2016-09-01

Biofilm growth changes many physical properties of porous media such as porosity, permeability and mass transport parameters. The growth depends on various environmental conditions, and in particular, on flow rates. Modeling the evolution of such properties is difficult both at the porescale where the phase morphology can be distinguished, as well as during upscaling to the corescale effective properties. Experimental data on biofilm growth is also limited because its collection can interfere with the growth, while imaging itself presents challenges. In this paper we combine insight from imaging, experiments, and numerical simulations and visualization. The experimental dataset is based on glass beads domain inoculated by biomass which is subjected to various flow conditions promoting the growth of biomass and the appearance of a biofilm phase. The domain is imaged and the imaging data is used directly by a computational model for flow and transport. The results of the computational flow model are upscaled to produce conductivities which compare well with the experimentally obtained hydraulic properties of the medium. The flow model is also coupled to a newly developed biomass-nutrient growth model, and the model reproduces morphologies qualitatively similar to those observed in the experiment.

On the determination of a generalized Darcy equation for yield stress fluid in porous media using a LB TRT scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talon, Laurent; Chevalier, Thibaud

2014-11-01

Non-Newtonian fluids have practical applications in very different domains. Indeed, polymer mixture, paints, slurries, colloidal suspensions, emulsions, foams or heavy oil present complex rheologies. Among the large number of different non-Newtonian fluids an important class of behavior is represented by the yield-stress fluids, viz. fluids that require a minimum of stress to flow. Yield stress fluids are usually modelled as a Bingham fluid or by the Herschel-Bulkley equation. However, simulating flow of a Bingham fluid in porous media still remains a challenging task as the yield stress may significantly alter the numerical stability and precision. In the present work, we use a Lattice-Boltzmann TRT scheme to determine this type of flow in a synthetic porous medium or fracture. Different pressure drops ΔP have been applied in order to derive a generalization of the Darcy's equation. Three different scaling regimes can be distinguished when plotting the dimensionless flow rate q as function of the distance to the critical pressure ΔP - ΔPc . In this presentation, we will investigate the importance of the heterogeneities on those flowing regimes. ANR-12-MONU-0011.

Application of a transient heat transfer model for bundled, multiphase pipelines

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, T.S.; Clapham, J.; Danielson, T.J.

1996-12-31

A computer model has been developed which accurately describes transient heat transfer in pipeline bundles. An arbitrary number of internal pipelines containing different fluids, flowing in either direction along with the input of heat to one or more of the fluids can be accommodated. The model is coupled to the transient, multiphase flow simulator OLGA. The lines containing the multiphase production fluids are modeled by OLGA, and the heat transfer between the internal lines, carrier pipe, and surroundings is handled by the bundle model. The model has been applied extensively to the design of a subsea, heated bundle system formore » the Britannia gas condensate field in the North Sea. The 15-km bundle system contains a 14{double_prime} production line, an 8{double_prime} test line, a 3{double_prime} methanol line, and a 12{double_prime} internal heating medium line within a 37.25{double_prime} carrier. The heating medium (water) flows in the internal heating medium line and in the annulus at 82,500 BPD. The primary purpose of the bundle system is to avoid the formation of hydrates. A secondary purpose is to avoid the deposition of paraffin. The bundle model was used to (1) compare the merits of two coaxial lines vs. a single bundle; (2) optimize the insulation levels on the carrier and internal lines; (3) determine the minimum time required to heat up the bundle; (4) determine heat input requirements to avoid hydrates throughout the field life, (5) determine temperature profiles along the lines for a range of production rates; (6) study ruptures of the production line into the bundle annulus; (7) determine minimum temperatures during depressurization; and (8) determine cool-down times. The results of these studies were used to size lines, select insulation levels, assess erosion potential, design for thermal expansion-induced stresses, and to select materials of construction.« less

Characteristics and degradation of chitosan/cellulose acetate microspheres with different model drugs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Hui-yun; Chen, Xi-guang

2008-12-01

In this study, chitosan/cellulose acetate microspheres (CCAM) were prepared by W/O/W emulsification and solvent evaporation as a drug delivery system. The microspheres were spherical, free-flowing and non-aggregated. The CCAM had good flow and suspension ability. The loading efficiency of different model drugs increased with the increasing hydrophobicity of the drug. The loading efficiency of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) was more than 30% whereas that of ranitidine hydrochloride (RT) or acetaminophen (ACP) was only 10%. The pH values of solution affected the swelling ability of CCAM and the relative humidity had little effect on the characteristics of CCAM when it was not more than 75%. The CCAM system had a good effect on the controlled release of different model drugs. However, the release rate became slower with the increase of the hydrophobicity of drugs. The release rate of CCAM loaded with hydrophilic RT was almost 60% during 48 h and the release rate of CCAM loaded with hydrophobic drug of 6-MP was not more than 30%. In the meantime, the CCAM system was degradable in vitro and the degradation rate was faster in lysozyme solution than that in the medium of PBS. So the CCAM system was a degradable promising drug delivery system especially for hydrophobic drugs.

Unsteady boundary layer flow over a sphere in a porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohammad, Nurul Farahain; Waini, Iskandar; Kasim, Abdul Rahman Mohd; Majid, Nurazleen Abdul

2017-08-01

This study focuses on the problem of unsteady boundary layer flow over a sphere in a porous medium. The governing equations which consists of a system of dimensional partial differential equations is applied with dimensionless parameter in order to attain non-dimensional partial differential equations. Later, the similarity transformation is performed in order to attain nonsimilar governing equations. Afterwards, the nonsimilar governing equations are solved numerically by using the Keller-Box method in Octave programme. The effect of porosity parameter is examined on separation time, velocity profile and skin friction of the unsteady flow. The results attained are presented in the form of table and graph.

Viability and membrane integrity of spermatozoa after dilution and flow cytometric sorting in the presence or absence of seminal plasma.

PubMed

Maxwell, W M; Welch, G R; Johnson, L A

1996-01-01

Boar, bull and ram spermatozoa were examined after staining with the DNA-permeant Hoechst 33342 fluorochrome and flow cytometric sorting in the presence or absence of seminal plasma. Spermatozoa were assessed for viability with flow cytometry using the live cell nucleic acid stain SYBR-14 and propidium iodide (PI), and for membrane integrity using fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Pisum sativum (FITC-PSA) and PI; motility and acrosome integrity were estimated by microscopy. Flow cytometric sorting was compared with pipette dilution of boar and bull spermatozoa into: (1) medium [boar: Test buffer containing 2% yolk (TY) or Beltsville thawing solution (BTS); bull: TY or HEPES buffer containing 0.1% bovine serum albumin (HEPES-BSA)] with or without 10% (v/v) seminal plasma; or (2) an empty tube containing no medium. Sorted spermatozoa were either not centrifuged or centrifuged before assessment during a 4-h holding period. The viability, motility and membrane integrity of boar, bull and ram spermatozoa centrifuged after sorting were also examined when seminal plasma was present or absent from the staining extender and/or the TY collection medium. The results indicate that the viability and membrane integrity of spermatozoa in vitro would be improved if: (1) seminal plasma (10%) was routinely included in the BTS and HEPES-BSA staining extenders for boar spermatozoa and ram spermatozoa, respectively, when used in preparation for flow cytometric sorting; and (2) 10% and 50% seminal plasma were included in the TY collection medium for boar or bull spermatozoa and ram spermatozoa respectively.

Evaluation of porous ceramic as microbial carrier of biofilter to remove toluene vapor.

PubMed

Lim, J S; Park, S J; Koo, J K; Park, H

2001-01-01

Three kinds of porous ceramic microbe media are fabricated from fly ash, diatomite and a mixture of fly ash and diatomite powders. Water holding capacity, density, porosity, pore size and distribution, compressive strength and micro-structure of each of the fabricated media are measured and compared. The fly ash and diatomite mixture ceramic is evaluated as the best biofilter medium among the three media because of its high compressive strength. It is selected as an experimental biofilter medium inoculated with thickened activated sludge. The laboratory scale biofilter was operated for 42 days under various experimental conditions varying in inlet toluene concentration and flow rate of contaminated air stream. The experimental result shows that the removal efficiency reaches up to 96.6% after 4 days from the start-up. Nutrient limitation is considered as a major factor limiting biofilter efficiency. Biofilter efficiency decreases substantially at the build-up of backpressure, which is largely due to the accumulation of excess VSS within the media. Periodic backwashing of the biofilter is necessary to remove excess biomass and attain stable long-term high removal efficiency. The bed needs to be backwashed when the overall pressure drop becomes greater than 460.6 Pa at space velocity of 100 h-1. A maximum flow rate of 444.85 g m-3hr-1 of toluene elimination by the mixture ceramic biofilter, which is higher than the previously reported values. This indicates that the fly ash and diatomite mixture ceramic biofilter can be effectively applied for removing toluene vapor.

Thermal heat-balance mode flow-to-frequency converter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pawlowski, Eligiusz

2016-11-01

This paper presents new type of thermal flow converter with the pulse frequency output. The integrating properties of the temperature sensor have been used, which allowed for realization of pulse frequency modulator with thermal feedback loop, stabilizing temperature of sensor placed in the flowing medium. The system assures balancing of heat amount supplied in impulses to the sensor and heat given up by the sensor in a continuous way to the flowing medium. Therefore the frequency of output impulses is proportional to the heat transfer coefficient from sensor to environment. According to the King's law, the frequency of those impulses is a function of medium flow velocity around the sensor. The special feature of presented solution is total integration of thermal sensor with the measurement signal conditioning system. Sensor and conditioning system are not the separate elements of the measurement circuit, but constitute a whole in form of thermal heat-balance mode flow-to-frequency converter. The advantage of such system is easiness of converting the frequency signal to the digital form, without using any additional analogue-to-digital converters. The frequency signal from the converter may be directly connected to the microprocessor input, which with use of standard built-in counters may convert the frequency into numerical value of high precision. Moreover, the frequency signal has higher resistance to interference than the voltage signal and may be transmitted to remote locations without the information loss.

Stagnation point flow on bioconvection nanofluid over a stretching/shrinking surface with velocity and thermal slip effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Sze Qi; Aman, Fazlina; Mansur, Syahira

2017-09-01

Nanofluid containing nanometer sized particles has become an ideal thermal conductivity medium for the flow and heat transfer in many industrial and engineering applications due to their high rate of heat transfer. However, swimming microorganisms are imposed into the nanofluid to overcome the instability of nanoparticles due to a bioconvection phenomenon. This paper investigates the stagnation point flow on bioconvection heat transfer of a nanofluid over a stretching/shrinking surface containing gyrotactic microorganisms. Velocity and thermal slip effects are the two conditions incorporated into the model. Similarity transformation is applied to reduce the governing nonlinear partial differential equations into the nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The transformed equations are then solved numerically. The results are displayed in the form of graphs and tables. The effects of these governing parameters on the skin friction coefficient, local Nusselt number, local Sherwood number and the local density of the motile microorganisms are analysed and discussed in details.

Imaging of volcanic activity on Jupiter's moon Io by Galileo during the Galileo Europa Mission and the Galileo Millennium Mission

USGS Publications Warehouse

Keszthelyi, L.; McEwen, A.S.; Phillips, C.B.; Milazzo, M.; Geissler, P.; Turtle, E.P.; Radebaugh, J.; Williams, D.A.; Simonelli, D.P.; Breneman, H.H.; Klaasen, K.P.; Levanas, G.; Denk, T.; Alexander, D.D.A.; Capraro, K.; Chang, S.-H.; Chen, A.C.; Clark, J.; Conner, D.L.; Culver, A.; Handley, T.H.; Jensen, D.N.; Knight, D.D.; LaVoie, S.K.; McAuley, M.; Mego, V.; Montoya, O.; Mortensen, H.B.; Noland, S.J.; Patel, R.R.; Pauro, T.M.; Stanley, C.L.; Steinwand, D.J.; Thaller, T.F.; Woncik, P.J.; Yagi, G.M.; Yoshimizu, J.R.; Alvarez, Del; Castillo, E.M.; Belton, M.J.S.; Beyer, R.; Branston, D.; Fishburn, M.B.; Mueller, B.; Ragan, R.; Samarasinha, N.; Anger, C.D.; Cunningham, C.; Little, B.; Arriola, S.; Carr, M.H.; Asphaug, E.; Moore, J.; Morrison, D.; Rages, K.; Banfield, D.; Bell, M.; Burns, J.A.; Carcich, B.; Clark, B.; Currier, N.; Dauber, I.; Gierasch, P.J.; Helfenstein, P.; Mann, M.; Othman, O.; Rossier, L.; Solomon, N.; Sullivan, R.; Thomas, P.C.; Veverka, J.; Becker, T.; Edwards, K.; Gaddis, L.; Kirk, R.; Lee, E.; Rosanova, T.; Sucharski, R.M.; Beebe, R.F.; Simon, A.; Bender, K.; Chuang, F.; Fagents, S.; Figueredo, P.; Greeley, R.; Homan, K.; Kadel, S.; Kerr, J.; Klemaszewski, J.; Lo, E.; Schwarz, W.; Williams, K.; Bierhaus, E.; Brooks, S.; Chapman, C.R.; Merline, B.; Keller, J.; Schenk, P.; Tamblyn, P.; Bouchez, A.; Dyundian, U.; Ingersoll, A.P.; Showman, A.; Spitale, J.; Stewart, S.; Vasavada, A.; Cunningham, W.F.; Johnson, T.V.; Jones, T.J.; Kaufman, J.M.; Magee, K.P.; Meredith, M.K.; Orton, G.S.; Senske, D.A.; West, A.; Winther, D.; Collins, G.; Fripp, W.J.; Head, J. W.; Pappalardo, R.; Pratt, S.; Procter, L.; Spaun, N.; Colvin, T.; Davies, M.; DeJong, E.M.; Hall, J.; Suzuki, S.; Gorjian, Z.; Giese, B.; Koehler, U.; Neukum, G.; Oberst, J.; Roatsch, T.; Tost, W.; Schuster, P.; Wagner, R.; Dieter, N.; Durda, D.; Greenberg, R.J.; Hoppa, G.; Jaeger, W.; Plassman, J.; Tufts, R.; Fanale, F.P.; Gran,

2001-01-01

The Solid-State Imaging (SSI) instrument provided the first high- and medium-resolution views of Io as the Galileo spacecraft closed in on the volcanic body in late 1999 and early 2000. While each volcanic center has many unique features, the majority can be placed into one of two broad categories. The "Promethean" eruptions, typified by the volcanic center Prometheus, are characterized by long-lived steady eruptions producing a compound flow field emplaced in an insulating manner over a period of years to decades. In contrast, "Pillanian" eruptions are characterized by large pyroclastic deposits and short-lived but high effusion rate eruptions from fissures feeding open-channel or open-sheet flows. Both types of eruptions commonly have ???100-km-tall, bright, SO2-rich plumes forming near the flow fronts and smaller deposits of red material that mark the vent for the silicate lavas. Copyright 2001 by the American Geophysical Union.

The Soil Foam Drainage Equation - an alternative model for unsaturated flow in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Assouline, Shmuel; Lehmann, Peter; Hoogland, Frouke; Or, Dani

2017-04-01

The analogy between the geometry and dynamics of wet foam drainage and gravity drainage of unsaturated porous media expands modeling capabilities for capillary flows and supplements the standard Richards equation representation. The governing equation for draining foam (or a soil variant termed the soil foam drainage equation - SFDE) obviates the need for macroscopic unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function by an explicit account of diminishing flow pathway sizes as the medium gradually drains. Potential advantages of the proposed drainage foam formalism include direct description of transient flow without requiring constitutive functions; evolution of capillary cross sections that provides consistent description of self-regulating internal fluxes (e.g., towards field capacity); and a more intuitive geometrical picture of capillary flow across textural boundaries. We will present new and simple analytical expressions for drainage rates and volumes from unsaturated porous media subjected to different boundary conditions that are in good agreement with the numerical solution of the SFDE and experimental results. The foam drainage methodology expands the range of tools available for describing and quantifying unsaturated flows and provides geometrically tractable links between evolution of liquid configuration and flow dynamics in unsaturated porous media. The resulting geometrical representation of capillary drainage could improve understanding of colloid and pathogen transport. The explicit geometrical interpretation of flow pathways underlying the hydraulic functions used by the Richards equation offers new insights that benefit both approaches.

Spiral Flows in Cool-core Galaxy Clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keshet, Uri

2012-07-01

We argue that bulk spiral flows are ubiquitous in the cool cores (CCs) of clusters and groups of galaxies. Such flows are gauged by spiral features in the thermal and chemical properties of the intracluster medium, by the multiphase properties of CCs, and by X-ray edges known as cold fronts. We analytically show that observations of piecewise-spiral fronts impose strong constraints on the CC, implying the presence of a cold, fast flow, which propagates below a hot, slow inflow, separated by a slowly rotating, trailing, quasi-spiral, tangential discontinuity surface. This leads to the nearly logarithmic spiral pattern, two-phase plasma, ρ ~ r -1 density (or T ~ r 0.4 temperature) radial profile, and ~100 kpc size, characteristic of CCs. By advecting heat and mixing the gas, such flows can eliminate the cooling problem, provided that a feedback mechanism regulates the flow. In particular, we present a quasi-steady-state model for an accretion-quenched, composite flow, in which the fast phase is an outflow, regulated by active galactic nucleus bubbles, reproducing the observed low star formation rates and explaining some features of bubbles such as their Rb vpropr size. The simplest two-component model reproduces several key properties of CCs, so we propose that all such cores harbor a spiral flow. Our results can be tested directly in the next few years, for example by ASTRO-H.

Study of the Effect of Turbulence and Large Obstacles on the Evaporation from Bare Soil Surface through Coupled Free-flow and Porous-medium Flow Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, B.; Smits, K. M.

2017-12-01

Evaporation is a strongly coupled exchange process of mass, momentum and energy between the atmosphere and the soil. Several mechanisms influence evaporation, such as the atmospheric conditions, the structure of the soil surface, and the physical properties of the soil. Among the previous studies associated with evaporation modeling, most efforts use uncoupled models which simplify the influences of the atmosphere and soil through the use of resistance terms. Those that do consider the coupling between the free flow and porous media flow mainly consider flat terrain with grain-scale roughness. However, larger obstacles, which may form drags or ridges allowing normal convective air flow through the soil, are common in nature and may affect the evaporation significantly. Therefore, the goal of this work is to study the influence of large obstacles such as wavy surfaces on the flow behavior within the soil and exchange processes to the atmosphere under turbulent free-flow conditions. For simplicity, the soil surface with large obstacles are represented by a simple wavy surface. To do this, we modified a previously developed theory for two-phase two-component porous-medium flow, coupling it to single-phase two-component turbulent flow to simulate and analyze the evaporation from wavy soil surfaces. Detailed laboratory scale experiments using a wind tunnel interfaced with a porous media tank were carried out to test the modeling results. The characteristics of turbulent flow across a permeable wavy surface are discussed. Results demonstrate that there is an obvious recirculation zone formed at the surface, which is special because of the accumulation of water vapor and the thicker boundary layer in this area. In addition, the influences of both the free flow and porous medium on the evaporation are also analyzed. The porous medium affects the evaporation through the amount of water it can provide to the soil surface; while the atmosphere influences the evaporation through the gradients formed within the boundary layer. This study gives a primary cognition on the evaporation from bare soil surface with obstacles. Ongoing work will include a deep understanding of the mechanisms which may provide the basis for land-atmosphere study on field scale.

Percolation and permeability of heterogeneous fracture networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adler, Pierre; Mourzenko, Valeri; Thovert, Jean-François

2013-04-01

Natural fracture fields are almost necessarily heterogeneous with a fracture density varying with space. Two classes of variations are quite frequent. In the first one, the fracture density is decreasing from a given surface; the fracture density is usually (but not always see [1]) an exponential function of depth as it has been shown by many measurements. Another important example of such an exponential decrease consists of the Excavated Damaged Zone (EDZ) which is created by the excavation process of a gallery [2,3]. In the second one, the fracture density undergoes some local random variations around an average value. This presentation is mostly focused on the first class and numerical samples are generated with an exponentially decreasing density from a given plane surface. Their percolation status and hydraulic transmissivity can be calculated by the numerical codes which are detailed in [4]. Percolation is determined by a pseudo diffusion algorithm. Flow determination necessitates the meshing of the fracture networks and the discretisation of the Darcy equation by a finite volume technique; the resulting linear system is solved by a conjugate gradient algorithm. Only the flow properties of the EDZ along the directions which are parallel to the wall are of interest when a pressure gradient parallel to the wall is applied. The transmissivity T which relates the total flow rate per unit width Q along the wall through the whole fractured medium to the pressure gradient grad p, is defined by Q = - T grad p/mu where mu is the fluid viscosity. The percolation status and hydraulic transmissivity are systematically determined for a wide range of decay lengths and anisotropy parameters. They can be modeled by comparison with anisotropic fracture networks with a constant density. A heuristic power-law model is proposed which accurately describes the results for the percolation threshold over the whole investigated range of heterogeneity and anisotropy. Then, the data for transmissivity are presented. A simple parallel flow model is introduced. The flow properties of the medium vary with the distance z from the wall. However, the macroscopic pressure gradient does not depend on z, and the flow lines are in average parallel to the wall. Hence, the overall transmissivity is tentatively estimated by a parallel flow model, where a layer at depth z behaves as a fractured medium with uniform properties corresponding to the state at this position in the medium. It yields an explicit analytical expression for the transmissivity as a function of the heterogeneity and anisotropy parameters, and it successfully accounts for all the numerical data. Graphical tools are provided from which first estimates can be quickly and easily obtained. A short overview of the second class of heterogeneous media will be given. [1] Barton C.A., Zoback M.D., J. Geophys. Res., 97B, 5181-5200 (1992). [2] Bossart P. et al, Eng. Geol., vol. 66, 19-38 (2002). [3] Thovert J.-F. et al, Eng. Geol., 117, 39-51 (2011). [4] Adler P.M. et al, Fractured porous media, Oxford U. Press, 2012.

ISM stripping from cluster galaxies and inhomogeneities in cooling flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Soker, Noam; Bregman, Joel N.; Sarazin, Craig L.

1990-01-01

Analyses of the x ray surface brightness profiles of cluster cooling flows suggest that the mass flow rate decreases towards the center of the cluster. It is often suggested that this decrease results from thermal instabilities, in which denser blobs of gas cool rapidly and drop below x ray emitting temperatures. If the seeds for the thermal instabilities are entropy perturbations, these perturbations must enter the flow already in the nonlinear regime. Otherwise, the blobs would take too long to cool. Here, researchers suggest that such nonlinear perturbations might start as blobs of interstellar gas which are stripped out of cluster galaxies. Assuming that most of the gas produced by stellar mass loss in cluster galaxies is stripped from the galaxies, the total rate of such stripping is roughly M sub Interstellar Matter (ISM) approx. 100 solar mass yr(-1). It is interesting that the typical rates of cooling in cluster cooling flows are M sub cool approx. 100 solar mass yr(-1). Thus, it is possible that a substantial portion of the cooling gas originates as blobs of interstellar gas stripped from galaxies. The magnetic fields within and outside of the low entropy perturbations can help to maintain their identities, both by suppressing thermal conduction and through the dynamical effects of magnetic tension. One significant question concerning this scenario is: Why are cooling flows seen only in a fraction of clusters, although one would expect gas stripping to be very common. It may be that the density perturbations only survive and cool efficiently in clusters with a very high intracluster gas density and with the focusing effect of a central dominant galaxy. Inhomogeneities in the intracluster medium caused by the stripping of interstellar gas from galaxies can have a number of other effects on clusters. For example, these density fluctuations may disrupt the propagation of radio jets through the intracluster gas, and this may be one mechanism for producing Wide-Angle-Tail radio galaxies.

Instability of supersonic cold streams feeding galaxies - I. Linear Kelvin-Helmholtz instability with body modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandelker, Nir; Padnos, Dan; Dekel, Avishai; Birnboim, Yuval; Burkert, Andreas; Krumholz, Mark R.; Steinberg, Elad

2016-12-01

Massive galaxies at high redshift are predicted to be fed from the cosmic web by narrow, dense streams of cold gas that penetrate through the hot medium encompassed by a stable shock near the virial radius of the dark-matter halo. Our long-term goal is to explore the heating and dissipation rate of the streams and their fragmentation and possible breakup, in order to understand how galaxies are fed, and how this affects their star formation rate and morphology. We present here the first step, where we analyse the linear Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) of a cold, dense slab or cylinder in 3D flowing supersonically through a hot, dilute medium. The current analysis is limited to the adiabatic case with no gravity. By analytically solving the linear dispersion relation, we find a transition from a dominance of the familiar rapidly growing surface modes in the subsonic regime to more slowly growing body modes in the supersonic regime. The system is parametrized by three parameters: the density contrast between stream and medium, the Mach number of stream velocity with respect to the medium and the stream width with respect to the halo virial radius. A realistic choice for these parameters places the streams near the mode transition, with the KHI exponential-growth time in the range 0.01-10 virial crossing times for a perturbation wavelength comparable to the stream width. We confirm our analytic predictions with idealized hydrodynamical simulations. Our linear estimates thus indicate that KHI may be effective in the evolution of streams before they reach the galaxy. More definite conclusions await the extension of the analysis to the non-linear regime and the inclusion of cooling, thermal conduction, the halo potential well, self-gravity and magnetic fields.

Turbine inter-disk cavity cooling air compressor

DOEpatents

Little, David Allen

2001-01-01

A combustion turbine may have a cooling circuit for directing a cooling medium through the combustion turbine to cool various components of the combustion turbine. This cooling circuit may include a compressor, a combustor shell and a component of the combustion turbine to be cooled. This component may be a rotating blade of the combustion turbine. A pressure changing mechanism is disposed in the combustion turbine between the component to be cooled and the combustor shell. The cooling medium preferably flows from the compressor to the combustor shell, through a cooler, the component to the cooled and the pressure changing mechanism. After flowing through the pressure changing mechanism, the cooling medium is returned to the combustor shell. The pressure changing mechanism preferably changes the pressure of the cooling medium from a pressure at which it is exhausted from the component to be cooled to approximately that of the combustor shell.

Shopping-Center in deutschen Mittelstädten und ihr Einfluss auf die Zentralitätsentwicklung. Eine Untersuchung unter der Verwendung von Einzelhandelskennzahlen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eckhardt, Yannick

2017-06-01

Shopping-centers have been subject to intense analysis from various angles. Due to by the growing number of shopping-centers located in medium-sized cities, a change of money flows within the municipal boundaries is expected. On a multi-level basis this article shows key retail figures of medium-sized cities with shopping-centers in comparison to ones without. The final result reveals that the retail turnover of medium-sized cities with a shopping-center reaches a significantly higher level than cities without a shopping-center. Furthermore, the evaluation of data shows a rise of the retail centrality in medium sized towns as a consequence of the opening of a shopping-center. This means the construction of shopping-centers doesn't only cause a shift of money flows within the city boundaries but also leads to an additional influx of money from outside the municipalities.

Evaluation of an Active Humidification System for Inspired Gas

PubMed Central

Roux, Nicolás G.; Villalba, Darío S.; Gogniat, Emiliano; Feld, Vivivana; Ribero Vairo, Noelia; Sartore, Marisa; Bosso, Mauro; Scapellato, José L.; Intile, Dante; Planells, Fernando; Noval, Diego; Buñirigo, Pablo; Jofré, Ricardo; Díaz Nielsen, Ernesto

2015-01-01

Objectives The effectiveness of the active humidification systems (AHS) in patients already weaned from mechanical ventilation and with an artificial airway has not been very well described. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of an AHS in chronically tracheostomized and spontaneously breathing patients. Methods Measurements were quantified at three levels of temperature (T°) of the AHS: level I, low; level II, middle; and level III, high and at different flow levels (20 to 60 L/minute). Statistical analysis of repeated measurements was performed using analysis of variance and significance was set at a P<0.05. Results While the lowest temperature setting (level I) did not condition gas to the minimum recommended values for any of the flows that were used, the medium temperature setting (level II) only conditioned gas with flows of 20 and 30 L/minute. Finally, at the highest temperature setting (level III), every flow reached the minimum absolute humidity (AH) recommended of 30 mg/L. Conclusion According to our results, to obtain appropiate relative humidity, AH and T° of gas one should have a device that maintains water T° at least at 53℃ for flows between 20 and 30 L/m, or at T° of 61℃ at any flow rate. PMID:25729499

Debris flow risk mapping on medium scale and estimation of prospective economic losses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blahut, Jan; Sterlacchini, Simone

2010-05-01

Delimitation of potential zones affected by debris flow hazard, mapping of areas at risk, and estimation of future economic damage provides important information for spatial planners and local administrators in all countries endangered by this type of phenomena. This study presents a medium scale (1:25 000 - 1: 50 000) analysis applied in the Consortium of Mountain Municipalities of Valtellina di Tirano (Italian Alps, Lombardy Region). In this area a debris flow hazard map was coupled with the information about the elements at risk to obtain monetary values of prospective damage. Two available hazard maps were obtained from GIS medium scale modelling. Probability estimations of debris flow occurrence were calculated using existing susceptibility maps and two sets of aerial images. Value to the elements at risk was assigned according to the official information on housing costs and land value from the Territorial Agency of Lombardy Region. In the first risk map vulnerability values were assumed to be 1. The second risk map uses three classes of vulnerability values qualitatively estimated according to the debris flow possible propagation. Risk curves summarizing the possible economic losses were calculated. Finally these maps of economic risk were compared to maps derived from qualitative evaluation of the values of the elements at risk.

An exact solution on unsteady MHD free convection chemically reacting silver nanofluid flow past an exponentially accelerated vertical plate through porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumaresan, E.; Vijaya Kumar, A. G.; Rushi Kumar, B.

2017-11-01

This article studies, an exact solution of unsteady MHD free convection boundary-layer flow of a silver nanofluid past an exponentially accelerated moving vertical plate through aporous medium in the presence of thermal radiation, transverse applied amagnetic field, radiation absorption and Heat generation or absorption with chemical reaction are investigated theoretically. We consider nanofluids contain spherical shaped nanoparticle of silverwith a nanoparticle volume concentration range smaller than or equal to 0.04. This phenomenon is modeled in the form of partial differential equations with initial boundary conditions. Some suitable dimensional variables are introduced. The corresponding dimensionless equations with boundary conditions are solved by using Laplace transform technique. The exact solutions for velocity, energy, and species are obtained, also the corresponding numerical values of nanofluid velocity, temperature and concentration profiles are represented graphically. The expressions for skin friction coefficient, the rate of heat transfer and mass transfer are derived. The present study finds applications involving heat transfer, enhancement of thermal conductivity and other applications like transportation, industrial cooling applications, heating buildings and reducing pollution, energy applications and solar absorption. The effect of heat transfer is found to be more pronounced in a silver-water nanofluid than in the other nanofluids.

Black hole feedback in a multiphase interstellar medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourne, Martin A.; Nayakshin, Sergei; Hobbs, Alexander

2014-07-01

Ultrafast outflows (UFOs) from supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are thought to regulate the growth of SMBHs and host galaxies, resulting in a number of observational correlations. We present high-resolution numerical simulations of the impact of a thermalized UFO on the ambient gas in the inner part of the host galaxy. Our results depend strongly on whether the gas is homogeneous or clumpy. In the former case all of the ambient gas is driven outward rapidly as expected based on commonly used energy budget arguments, while in the latter the flows of mass and energy de-couple. Carrying most of the energy, the shocked UFO escapes from the bulge via paths of least resistance, taking with it only the low-density phase of the host. Most of the mass is however in the high-density phase, and is affected by the UFO much less strongly, and may even continue to flow inwards. We suggest that the UFO energy leakage through the pores in the multiphase interstellar medium (ISM) may explain why observed SMBHs are so massive despite their overwhelmingly large energy production rates. The multiphase ISM effects reported here are probably under-resolved in cosmological simulations but may be included in prescriptions for active galactic nuclei feedback in future simulations and in semi-analytical models.

Tuning the heat transfer medium and operating conditions in magnetic refrigeration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ghahremani, Mohammadreza, E-mail: mghahrem@shepherd.edu; Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington DC 20052; Aslani, Amir

A new experimental test bed has been designed, built, and tested to evaluate the effect of the system’s parameters on a reciprocating Active Magnetic Regenerator (AMR) near room temperature. Bulk gadolinium was used as the refrigerant, silicon oil as the heat transfer medium, and a magnetic field of 1.3 T was cycled. This study focuses on the methodology of single stage AMR operation conditions to get a high temperature span near room temperature. Herein, the main objective is not to report the absolute maximum attainable temperature span seen in an AMR system, but rather to find the system’s optimal operatingmore » conditions to reach that maximum span. The results of this research show that there is a optimal operating frequency, heat transfer fluid flow rate, flow duration, and displaced volume ratio in any AMR system. By optimizing these parameters in our AMR apparatus the temperature span between the hot and cold ends increased by 24%. The optimized values are system dependent and need to be determined and measured for any AMR system by following the procedures that are introduced in this research. It is expected that such optimization will permit the design of a more efficient magnetic refrigeration system.« less

Unsteady magnetohydrodynamics mixed convection flow in a rotating medium with double diffusion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiann, Lim Yeou; Ismail, Zulkhibri; Khan, Ilyas

2015-05-15

Exact solutions of an unsteady Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) flow over an impulsively started vertical plate in a rotating medium are presented. The effects of thermal radiative and thermal diffusion on the fluid flow are also considered. The governing equations are modelled and solved for velocity, temperature and concentration using Laplace transforms technique. Expressions of velocity, temperature and concentration profiles are obtained and their numerical results are presented graphically. Skin friction, Sherwood number and Nusselt number are also computed and presented in tabular forms. The determined solutions can generate a large class of solutions as special cases corresponding to different motions withmore » technical relevance. The results obtained herein may be used to verify the validation of obtained numerical solutions for more complicated fluid flow problems.« less

Unsteady Heat and Mass Transfer of Chemically Reacting Micropolar Fluid in a Porous Channel with Hall and Ion Slip Currents

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

This paper presents an incompressible two-dimensional heat and mass transfer of an electrically conducting micropolar fluid flow in a porous medium between two parallel plates with chemical reaction, Hall and ion slip effects. Let there be periodic injection or suction at the lower and upper plates and the nonuniform temperature and concentration at the plates are varying periodically with time. The flow field equations are reduced to nonlinear ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations and then solved numerically by quasilinearization technique. The profiles of velocity components, microrotation, temperature distribution and concentration are studied for different values of fluid and geometric parameters such as Hartmann number, Hall and ion slip parameters, inverse Darcy parameter, Prandtl number, Schmidt number, and chemical reaction rate and shown in the form of graphs. PMID:27419211

Performance of the University of Denver Low Turbulence, Airborne Aerosol Inlet in ACE-Asia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lafleur, B.; Wilson, J. C.; Seebaugh, W. R.; Gesler, D.; Hilbert, H.; Mullen, J.; Reeves, J. M.

2002-12-01

The University of Denver Low Turbulence Inlet (DULTI) was flown on the NCAR C-130 in ACE-Asia. This inlet delivered large sample flows at velocities of a few meters per second at the exit of the inlet. This flow was slowed from the true air speed of the aircraft (100 to 150 m/s) to a few meters per second in a short diffuser with porous walls. The flow in the diffusing section was laminar. The automatic control system kept the inlet operating at near isokinetic intake velocities and in laminar flow for nearly all the flight time. The DULTI permits super micron particles to be sampled and delivered with high efficiency to the interior of the aircraft where they can be measured or collected. Because most of the air entering the inlet is removed through the porous medium, the sample flow experiences inertial enhancements. Because these enhancements occur in laminar flow, they are calculable using FLUENT. Enhancement factors are defined as the ratio of the number of particles of a given size per unit mass of air in the sample to the number of particles of that size per unit mass of air in the ambient. Experimenters divide measured mixing ratios of the aerosol by the enhancement factor to get the ambient mixing ratio of the particles. The diffuser used in ACE-Asia differed from that used in PELTI (2000), TexAQS2000 (2000) and ITCT (2002). In this poster, the flow parameters measured in the inlet in flight are compared with those calculated from FLUENT. And enhancement factors are presented for flight conditions. The enhancement factors are found to depend upon the Stokes number of particles in the entrance to the inlet and the ratio of the mass flow rate of air removed by suction to the mass flow rate delivered as sample.

Improved sulfide mitigation in sewers through on-line control of ferrous salt dosing.

PubMed

Ganigué, Ramon; Jiang, Guangming; Liu, Yiqi; Sharma, Keshab; Wang, Yue-Cong; Gonzalez, José; Nguyen, Tung; Yuan, Zhiguo

2018-05-15

Water utilities worldwide spend annually billions of dollars to control sulfide-induced corrosion in sewers. Iron salts chemically oxidize and/or precipitate dissolved sulfide in sewage and are especially used in medium- and large-size sewers. Iron salt dosing rates are defined ad hoc, ignoring variation in sewage flows and sulfide levels. This often results in iron overdosing or poor sulfide control. Online dosing control can adjust the chemical dosing rates to current (and future) state of the sewer system, allowing high-precision, stable and cost-effective sulfide control. In this paper, we report a novel and robust online control strategy for the dosing of ferrous salt in sewers. The control considers the fluctuation of sewage flow, pH, sulfide levels and also the perturbation from rainfall. Sulfide production in the pipe is predicted using auto-regressive models (AR) based on current flow measurements, which in turn can be used to determine the dose of ferrous salt required for cost-effective sulfide control. Following comprehensive model-based assesment, the control was successfully validated and its effectiveness demonstrated in a 3-week field trial. The online control algorithm controlled sulfide below the target level (0.5 mg S/L) while reducing chemical dosing up to 30%. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Velocity dependence of biphasic flow structuration: steady-state and oscillating flow effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tore Tallakstad, Ken; Jankov, Mihailo; Løvoll, Grunde; Toussaint, Renaud; Jørgen Mâløy, Knut; Grude Flekkøy, Eirik; Schmittbuhl, Jean; Schäfer, Gerhard; Méheust, Yves; Arendt Knudsen, Henning

2010-05-01

We study various types of biphasic flows in quasi-two-dimensional transparent porous models. These flows imply a viscous wetting fluid, and a lowly viscous one. The models are transparent, allowing the displacement process and structure to be monitored in space and time. Three different aspects will be presented: 1. In stationary biphasic flows, we study the relationship between the macroscopic pressure drop (related to relative permeability) and the average flow rate, and how this arises from the cluster size distribution of the lowly viscous fluid [1]. 2. In drainage situations, we study how the geometry of the invader can be explained, and how it gives rise to apparent dynamic capillary effects. We show how these can be explained by viscous effects on evolving geometries of invading fluid [2]. 3. We study the impact of oscillating pressure fields superimposed to a background flow over the flow regimes patterns [3]. Steady-State Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media: Statistics and Transport Properties. First, in stationary flow with a control of the flux of both fluids, we show how the pressure drop depends on the flow rate. We will show that the dynamics is dominated by the interplay between a viscous pressure field from the wetting fluid and bubble transport of a less viscous, nonwetting phase. In contrast with more studied displacement front systems, steady-state flow is in equilibrium, statistically speaking. The corresponding theoretical simplicity allows us to explain a data collapse in the cluster size distribution of lowly viscous fluid in the system, as well as the relation |?P|∞√Ca--. This allows to explain so called relative permeability effects by the morphological changes of the cluster size distribution. Influence of viscous fingering on dynamic saturation-pressure curves in porous media. Next, we study drainage in such models, and investigate the relationship between the pressure field and the morphology of the invading fluid. This allows to model the impact of the saturation changes in the system over the pressure difference between the wetting and non wetting phase. We show that the so-called dynamic effects referred in the hydrology literature of experimentally measured capillary pressure curves might be explained by the combined effect of capillary pressure along the invasion front of the gaseous phase and pressure changes caused by viscous effects. A detailed study of the structure optically followed shows that the geometry of the invader is self-similar with two different behaviors at small and large scales: the structure corresponds to the ones of invasion percolation models at small scales (capillary fingering structures with fractal dimension D=1.83), whereas at large scales, viscous pressure drops dominate over the capillary threshold variations, and the structures are self-similar fingering structures with a fractal dimension corresponding to Dielectric Breakdown Models (variants of the DLA model), with D ≠ƒ 1.5. The cross-over scale is set by the scale at which capillary fluctuations are of the order of the viscous pressure drops. This leads physically to the fact that cross-over scale between the two fingering dimensions, goes like the inverse of the capillary number. This study utilizes these geometrical characteristics of the viscous fingers forming in dynamic drainage, to obtain a meaningfull scaling law for the saturation-pressure curve at finite speed, i.e. the so-called dynamic capillary pressure relations. We thus show how the micromechanical interplay between viscous and capillary forces leads to some pattern formation, which results in a general form of dynamic capillary pressure relations. By combining these detailed informations on the displacement structure with global measures of pressure, saturation and controlling the capillary number Ca, a scaling relation relating pressure, saturation, system size and capillary number is developed. By applying this scaling relation, pressure-saturation curves for a wide range of capillary numbers can be collapsed. Effects of pressure oscillations on drainage in an elastic porous medium: The effects of seismic stimulation on the flow of two immiscible fluids in an elastic synthetic porous medium is experimentally investigated. A wetting fluid is slowly evacuated from the medium, while a pressure oscillation is applied on the injected non-wetting fluid. The amplitude and frequency of the pressure oscillations as well as the evacuation speed are kept constant throughout an experiment. The resulting morphology of the invading structure is found to be strongly dependent on the interplay between the amplitude and the frequency of the applied pressure oscillations and the elasticity of the porous medium. Different combinations of these properties yield morphologically similar structures, allowing a classification of structures that is found to depend on a proposed dimensionless number. [1] Tallakstad, K.T., H.A. Knudsen, T. Ramstad, G. Løvoll, K.J. Maløy, R. Toussaint and E.G. Flekkøy , Steady-state two-phase flow in porous media: statistics and transport properties, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 074502 (2009). doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.074502 [2] Løvoll, G., M. Jankov, K.J. Maløy, R. Toussaint, J. Schmittbuhl, G. Schaefer and Y. Ḿ eheust, Influence of viscous fingering on dynamic saturation-pressure curves in porous media, submitted to Transport In Porous Media, (2010) [3] Jankov, M., G. Løvoll, H.A. Knudsen, K.J. Maløy, R. Planet, R. Toussaint and E.G. Flekkøy; Effects of pressure oscillations on drainage in an elastic porous medium, Transport In Porous Media, in press (2010).

Heat transfer at microscopic level in a MHD fractional inertial flow confined between non-isothermal boundaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shoaib Anwar, Muhammad; Rasheed, Amer

2017-07-01

Heat transfer through a Forchheimer medium in an unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) developed differential-type fluid flow is analyzed numerically in this study. The boundary layer flow is modeled with the help of the fractional calculus approach. The fluid is confined between infinite parallel plates and flows by motion of the plates in their own plane. Both the plates have variable surface temperature. Governing partial differential equations with appropriate initial and boundary conditions are solved by employing a finite-difference scheme to discretize the fractional time derivative and finite-element discretization for spatial variables. Coefficients of skin friction and local Nusselt numbers are computed for the fractional model. The flow behavior is presented for various values of the involved parameters. The influence of different dimensionless numbers on skin friction and Nusselt number is discussed by tabular results. Forchheimer medium flows that involve catalytic converters and gas turbines can be modeled in a similar manner.

Feedback-induced phase transitions in active heterogeneous conductors.

PubMed

Ocko, Samuel A; Mahadevan, L

2015-04-03

An active conducting medium is one where the resistance (conductance) of the medium is modified by the current (flow) and in turn modifies the flow, so that the classical linear laws relating current and resistance, e.g., Ohm's law or Darcy's law, are modified over time as the system itself evolves. We consider a minimal model for this feedback coupling in terms of two parameters that characterize the way in which addition or removal of matter follows a simple local (or nonlocal) feedback rule corresponding to either flow-seeking or flow-avoiding behavior. Using numerical simulations and a continuum mean field theory, we show that flow-avoiding feedback causes an initially uniform system to become strongly heterogeneous via a tunneling (channel-building) phase separation; flow-seeking feedback leads to an immuring (wall-building) phase separation. Our results provide a qualitative explanation for the patterning of active conducting media in natural systems, while suggesting ways to realize complex architectures using simple rules in engineered systems.

Evidence of linked biogeochemical and hydrological processes in homogeneous and layered vadose zone systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGuire, J. T.; Hansen, D. J.; Mohanty, B. P.

2010-12-01

Understanding chemical fate and transport in the vadose zone is critical to protect groundwater resources and preserve ecosystem health. However, prediction can be challenging due to the dynamic hydrologic and biogeochemical nature of the vadose zone. Additional controls on hydrobiogeochemical processes are added by subsurface structural heterogeneity. This study uses repacked soil column experiments to quantify linkages between microbial activity, geochemical cycling and hydrologic flow. Three “short” laboratory soil columns were constructed to evaluate the effects of soil layering: a homogenized medium-grained sand, homogenized organic-rich loam, and a sand-over-loam layered column. In addition, two “long” columns were constructed using either gamma-irradiated (sterilized) or untreated sediments to evaluate the effects of both soil layers and the presence of microorganisms. The long columns were packed identically; a medium-grained sand matrix with two vertically separated and horizontally offset lenses of organic-rich loam. In all 5 columns, downward and upward infiltration of water was evaluated to simulate rainfall and rising water table events respectively. In-situ colocated probes were used to measure soil water content, matric potential, Eh, major anions, ammonium, Fe2+, and total sulfide. Enhanced biogeochemical cycling was observed in the short layered column versus the short, homogeneous columns, and enumerations of iron and sulfate reducing bacteria were 1-2 orders of magnitude greater. In the long columns, microbial activity caused mineral bands and produced insoluble gases that impeded water flow through the pores of the sediment. Capillary barriers, formed around the lenses due to soil textural differences, retarded water flow rates through the lenses. This allowed reducing conditions to develop, evidenced by the production of Fe2+ and S2-. At the fringes of the lenses, Fe2+ oxidized to form Fe(III)-oxide bands that further retarded water flux. No such mineral bands developed in the sterilized column. As a consequence, water content in the lenses of the sterilized column was half that of the other column and flow rates through the lenses were an order of magnitude lower. This flow impedance limited the interaction and mixing of groundwater with infiltrating vadose zone water and led to the formation of geochemically distinct water masses residing in relatively close proximity to one another. Results provide a specific examples of the direct impact of biogeochemical cycling on water flow in the vadose zone and vice versa. In addition, these demonstrate that the presence of layers in vadose zone environments may be an important control on overall chemical fate and transport in subsurface systems.

Axisymmetric flows from fluid injection into a confined porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Bo; Zheng, Zhong; Celia, Michael A.; Stone, Howard A.

2016-02-01

We study the axisymmetric flows generated from fluid injection into a horizontal confined porous medium that is originally saturated with another fluid of different density and viscosity. Neglecting the effects of surface tension and fluid mixing, we use the lubrication approximation to obtain a nonlinear advection-diffusion equation that describes the time evolution of the sharp fluid-fluid interface. The flow behaviors are controlled by two dimensionless groups: M, the viscosity ratio of displaced fluid relative to injected fluid, and Γ, which measures the relative importance of buoyancy and fluid injection. For this axisymmetric geometry, the similarity solution involving R2/T (where R is the dimensionless radial coordinate and T is the dimensionless time) is an exact solution to the nonlinear governing equation for all times. Four analytical expressions are identified as asymptotic approximations (two of which are new solutions): (i) injection-driven flow with the injected fluid being more viscous than the displaced fluid (Γ ≪ 1 and M < 1) where we identify a self-similar solution that indicates a parabolic interface shape; (ii) injection-driven flow with injected and displaced fluids of equal viscosity (Γ ≪ 1 and M = 1), where we find a self-similar solution that predicts a distinct parabolic interface shape; (iii) injection-driven flow with a less viscous injected fluid (Γ ≪ 1 and M > 1) for which there is a rarefaction wave solution, assuming that the Saffman-Taylor instability does not occur at the reservoir scale; and (iv) buoyancy-driven flow (Γ ≫ 1) for which there is a well-known self-similar solution corresponding to gravity currents in an unconfined porous medium [S. Lyle et al. "Axisymmetric gravity currents in a porous medium," J. Fluid Mech. 543, 293-302 (2005)]. The various axisymmetric flows are summarized in a Γ-M regime diagram with five distinct dynamic behaviors including the four asymptotic regimes and an intermediate regime. The implications of the regime diagram are discussed using practical engineering projects of geological CO2 sequestration, enhanced oil recovery, and underground waste disposal.

Probing the effect of tip pressure on fungal growth: Application to Aspergillus nidulans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González-Bermúdez, Blanca; Li, Qingxuan; Guinea, Gustavo V.; Peñalva, Miguel A.; Plaza, Gustavo R.

2017-08-01

The study of fungal cells is of great interest due to their importance as pathogens and as fermenting fungi and for their appropriateness as model organisms. The differential pressure between the hyphal cytoplasm and the bordering medium is essential for the growth process, because the pressure is correlated with the growth rate. Notably, during the invasion of tissues, the external pressure at the tip of the hypha may be different from the pressure in the surrounding medium. We report the use of a method, based on the micropipette-aspiration technique, to study the influence of this external pressure at the hyphal tip. Moreover, this technique makes it possible to study hyphal growth mechanics in the case of very thin hyphae, not accessible to turgor pressure probes. We found a correlation between the local pressure at the tip and the growth rate for the species Arpergillus nidulans. Importantly, the proposed method allows one to measure the pressure at the tip required to arrest the hyphal growth. Determining that pressure could be useful to develop new medical treatments for fungal infections. Finally, we provide a mechanical model for these experiments, taking into account the cytoplasm flow and the wall deformation.

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) Microscopy Visualizes Pharmaceutical Tablets During Dissolution

PubMed Central

Fussell, Andrew L.; Kleinebudde, Peter; Herek, Jennifer; Strachan, Clare J.; Offerhaus, Herman L.

2014-01-01

Traditional pharmaceutical dissolution tests determine the amount of drug dissolved over time by measuring drug content in the dissolution medium. This method provides little direct information about what is happening on the surface of the dissolving tablet. As the tablet surface composition and structure can change during dissolution, it is essential to monitor it during dissolution testing. In this work coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy is used to image the surface of tablets during dissolution while UV absorption spectroscopy is simultaneously providing inline analysis of dissolved drug concentration for tablets containing a 50% mixture of theophylline anhydrate and ethyl cellulose. The measurements showed that in situ CARS microscopy is capable of imaging selectively theophylline in the presence of ethyl cellulose. Additionally, the theophylline anhydrate converted to theophylline monohydrate during dissolution, with needle-shaped crystals growing on the tablet surface during dissolution. The conversion of theophylline anhydrate to monohydrate, combined with reduced exposure of the drug to the flowing dissolution medium resulted in decreased dissolution rates. Our results show that in situ CARS microscopy combined with inline UV absorption spectroscopy is capable of monitoring pharmaceutical tablet dissolution and correlating surface changes with changes in dissolution rate. PMID:25045833

Deformation and Rotation of a Drop in a Uniform Electric Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salipante, Paul; Hanna, James; Vlahovska, Petia

2009-11-01

Drop deformation in uniform electric fields is a classic problem. The pioneering work of G.I.Taylor demonstrated that for weakly conducting media, the drop fluid undergoes a toroidal flow and the drop adopts a prolate or oblate spheroidal shape, the flow and shape being axisymmetrically aligned with the applied field. However, recent studies have revealed a nonaxisymmetric rotational mode for drops of lower conductivity than the surrounding medium, similar to the rotation of solid dielectric particles observed by Quincke in the 19th century. We will present an experimental and theoretical study of this phenomenon in DC fields. The critical electric field, drop inclination angle, and rate of rotation are measured. For small, high viscosity drops, the threshold field strength is well approximated by the Quincke rotation criterion. Reducing the viscosity ratio shifts the onset for rotation to stronger fields. The drop inclination angle increases with field strength. The rotation rate is approximately given by the inverse Maxwell-Wagner polarization time. We also observe a hysteresis in the tilt angle for low-viscosity drops. The effects of AC fields and surfactants are also explored.

Experimental Study of Hysteresis behavior of Foam Generation in Porous Media.

PubMed

Kahrobaei, S; Vincent-Bonnieu, S; Farajzadeh, R

2017-08-21

Foam can be used for gas mobility control in different subsurface applications. The success of foam-injection process depends on foam-generation and propagation rate inside the porous medium. In some cases, foam properties depend on the history of the flow or concentration of the surfactant, i.e., the hysteresis effect. Foam may show hysteresis behavior by exhibiting multiple states at the same injection conditions, where coarse-textured foam is converted into strong foam with fine texture at a critical injection velocity or pressure gradient. This study aims to investigate the effects of injection velocity and surfactant concentration on foam generation and hysteresis behavior as a function of foam quality. We find that the transition from coarse-foam to strong-foam (i.e., the minimum pressure gradient for foam generation) is almost independent of flowrate, surfactant concentration, and foam quality. Moreover, the hysteresis behavior in foam generation occurs only at high-quality regimes and when the pressure gradient is below a certain value regardless of the total flow rate and surfactant concentration. We also observe that the rheological behavior of foam is strongly dependent on liquid velocity.

Investigation of isochronal annealing on the optical properties of HWCVD amorphous silicon nitride deposited at low temperatures and low gas flow rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muller, T. F. G.; Jacobs, S.; Cummings, F. R.; Oliphant, C. J.; Malgas, G. F.; Arendse, C. J.

2015-06-01

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride (a-SiNx:H) is used as anti-reflection coatings in commercial solar cells. A final firing step in the production of micro-crystalline silicon solar cells allows hydrogen effusion from the a-SiNx:H into the solar cell, and contributes to bulk passivation of the grain boundaries. In this study a-SiNx:H deposited in a hot-wire chemical vapour deposition (HWCVD) chamber with reduced gas flow rates and filament temperature compared to traditional deposition regimes, were annealed isochronally. The UV-visible reflection spectra of the annealed material were subjected to the Bruggeman Effective Medium Approximation (BEMA) treatment, in which a theoretical amorphous semiconductor was combined with particle inclusions due to the structural complexities of the material. The extraction of the optical functions and ensuing Wemple-DeDomenici analysis of the wavelength-dependent refractive index allowed for the correlation of the macroscopic optical properties with the changes in the local atomic bonding configuration, involving silicon, nitrogen and hydrogen.

The numerical study of the rake angle of impeller blade in centrifugal compressor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drozdov, A.; Galerkin, Y.

2017-08-01

Investigated impellers have blade surfaces formed by straight generatrix. Blade profiles on shroud and disc surfaces are optimized by velocity diagram control (inviscid, quasi-three dimensional calculations). The blade profiles at hub and shroud blade-to-blade surfaces must be coordinated. A designer can choose the generatrix position at a trailing edge for it. The position is defined by the rake angle that is the angle between a trailing edge generatrix and a meridional plane. Two stages with 3D impellers, vaneless diffusers and return channels were investigated. Seven candidates of impellers of these stages with rake angles in range plus-minus 30 degrees were designed and investigated by quasi-three-dimensional inviscid calculation. CFD-calculations were made for the stages with these impellers. The optimal rake angle is minus 20 degrees for the high flow rate impeller due to lesser blade surface area and favorable meridian velocity field. Zero rake angle is optimal for the medium flow rate impeller where blade surface area is not so important. The combination of inviscid and viscid calculations is the informative instrument for further studies.

Continued development of a semianalytical solution for two-phase fluid and heat flow in a porous medium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Doughty, C.; Pruess, K.

1991-06-01

Over the past few years the authors have developed a semianalytical solution for transient two-phase water, air, and heat flow in a porous medium surrounding a constant-strength linear heat source, using a similarity variable {eta} = r/{radical}t. Although the similarity transformation approach requires a simplified geometry, all the complex physical mechanisms involved in coupled two-phase fluid and heat flow can be taken into account in a rigorous way, so that the solution may be applied to a variety of problems of current interest. The work was motivated by adverse to predict the thermohydrological response to the proposed geologic repository formore » heat-generating high-level nuclear wastes at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, in a partially saturated, highly fractured volcanic formation. The paper describes thermal and hydrologic conditions near the heat source; new features of the model; vapor pressure lowering; and the effective-continuum representation of a fractured/porous medium.« less

A time-domain Kirchhoff formula for the convective acoustic wave equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghorbaniasl, Ghader; Siozos-Rousoulis, Leonidas; Lacor, Chris

2016-03-01

Kirchhoff's integral method allows propagated sound to be predicted, based on the pressure and its derivatives in time and space obtained on a data surface located in the linear flow region. Kirchhoff's formula for noise prediction from high-speed rotors and propellers suffers from the limitation of the observer located in uniform flow, thus requiring an extension to arbitrarily moving media. This paper presents a Kirchhoff formulation for moving surfaces in a uniform moving medium of arbitrary configuration. First, the convective wave equation is derived in a moving frame, based on the generalized functions theory. The Kirchhoff formula is then obtained for moving surfaces in the time domain. The formula has a similar form to the Kirchhoff formulation for moving surfaces of Farassat and Myers, with the presence of additional terms owing to the moving medium effect. The equation explicitly accounts for the influence of mean flow and angle of attack on the radiated noise. The formula is verified by analytical cases of a monopole source located in a moving medium.

Dynamic domains of the Derviche Tourneur sodium experiment: Simulations of a spherical magnetized Couette flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaplan, E. J.; Nataf, H.-C.; Schaeffer, N.

2018-03-01

The Derviche Tourneur sodium experiment, a spherical Couette magnetohydrodynamics experiment with liquid sodium as the medium and a dipole magnetic field imposed from the inner sphere, recently underwent upgrades to its diagnostics to better characterize the flow and induced magnetic fields with global rotation. In tandem with the upgrades, a set of direct numerical simulations were run to give a more complete view of the fluid and magnetic dynamics at various rotation rates of the inner and outer spheres. These simulations reveal several dynamic regimes, determined by the Rossby number. At positive differential rotation there is a regime of quasigeostrophic flow, with low levels of fluctuations near the outer sphere. Negative differential rotation shows a regime of what appear to be saturated hydrodynamic instabilities at low negative differential rotation, followed by a regime where filamentary structures develop at low latitudes and persist over five to ten differential rotation periods as they drift poleward. We emphasize that all these coherent structures emerge from turbulent flows. At least some of them seem to be related to linear instabilities of the mean flow. The simulated flows can produce the same measurements as those that the physical experiment can take, with signatures akin to those found in the experiment. This paper discusses the relation between the internal velocity structures of the flow and their magnetic signatures at the surface.

Design of experiment for optimization of plasma-polymerized octafluorocyclobutane coating on very high aspect ratio silicon molds.

PubMed

Yeo, L P; Yan, Y H; Lam, Y C; Chan-Park, Mary B

2006-11-21

As-fabricated deep reactive ion etched (DRIE) silicon mold with very high aspect ratio (>10) feature patterns is unsuitable for poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) replication because of the strong interaction between the Si surface and the replica and the corrugated mold sidewalls. The silicon mold can be conveniently passivated via plasma polymerization of octafluorocyclobutane (C4F8), which is also employed in the DRIE process itself, to enable the mold to be used repeatedly. To optimize the passivation conditions, we have undertaken a Box-Behnken experimental design on the basis of three passivation process parameters (plasma power, C4F8 flow rate, and deposition time). The measured responses were fluorinated film thickness, demolding status/success, demolding force, and fluorine/carbon ratio on the fifth replica surface. The optimal passivation process conditions were predicted to be an input power of 195 W, a C4F8 flow rate of 57 sccm, and a deposition time of 364 s; these were verified experimentally to have high accuracy. Demolding success requires medium-deposited film thickness (66-91 nm), and the thickness of the deposited films correlated strongly with deposition time. At moderate to high ranges, increased plasma power or gas flow rate promoted polymerization over reactive etching of the film. It was also found that small quantities of the fluorinated surface were transferred from the Si mold to the PDMS at each replication, entailing progressive wear of the fluorinated layer.

Preliminary findings on the correlation of saliva pH, buffering capacity, flow rate and consistency in relation to waterpipe tobacco smoking

PubMed Central

Khemiss, Mehdi; Ben Khelifa, Mohamed; Ben Saad, Helmi

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The aim of the present comparative study was to compare some salivary characteristics between exclusive waterpipe smokers (EWPS) and non-smokers. 72 males (36 EWPS) were recruited. The volume of stimulated saliva was determined and divided by the duration of saliva collection. The pH was measured directly using a pH meter. The buffering capacity was determined using a quantitative method which involved the addition of 10 µl HCl. Up to a total of 160 µL was titrated up to obtain a pH titration curve. At 50 µL of titrated HCl, buffering capacity was ranked into three categories: high, medium and low. EWPS and non-smoker groups had similar flow rates (1.81 ± 0.79 and 1.78 ± 1.14 mL min-1) and similar baseline pH (6.60 ± 0.37 and 6.76 ± 0.39). Statistically significant differences in the two groups’ pH were observed from 30 to 160 µL of titrated up HCl. At 50 µL of titrated up HCl, the EWPS group compared to the non-smoker group had a significantly higher pH (4.79 ± 0.72 vs. 5.32 ± 0.79). To conclude, waterpipe tobacco smoking alters the buffering capacity but does not alter either salivary flow rates or the baseline pH and consistency. PMID:28266252

Simulation of freshwater-saltwater interfaces in the Brooklyn-Queens aquifer system, Long Island, New York

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kontis, Angelo L.

1999-01-01

The seaward limit of the fresh ground-water system underlying Kings and Queens Counties on Long Island, N.Y., is at the freshwater-saltwater transition zone. This zone has been conceptualized in transient-state, three-dimensional models of the aquifer system as a sharp interface between freshwater and saltwater, and represented as a stationary, zero lateral-flow boundary. In this study, a pair of two-dimensional, four-layer ground-water flow models representing a generalized vertical section in Kings County and one in adjacent Queens County were developed to evaluate the validity of the boundary condition used in three-dimensional models of the aquifer system. The two-dimensional simulations used a model code that can simulate the movement of a sharp interface in response to transient stress. Sensitivity of interface movement to four factors was analyzed; these were (1) the method of simulating vertical leakage between freshwater and saltwater; (2) recharge at the normal rate, at 50-percent of the normal rate, and at zero for a prolonged (3-year) period; (3) high, medium, and low pumping rates; and (4) pumping from a hypothetical cluster of wells at two locations. Results indicate that the response of the interfaces to the magnitude and duration of pumping and the location of the hypothetical wells is probably sufficiently slow that the interfaces in three-dimensional models can reasonably be approximated as stationary, zero-lateral- flow boundaries.

Strategies to overcome oxygen transfer limitations during hairy root cultivation of Azadiracta indica for enhanced azadirachtin production.

PubMed

Srivastava, Smita; Srivastava, Ashok Kumar

2012-07-01

The vast untapped potential of hairy root cultures as a stable source of biologically active chemicals has focused the attention of scientific community toward its commercial exploitation. However, the major bottleneck remains its successful scale-up. Due to branching, the roots form an interlocked matrix that exhibits resistance to oxygen transfer. Thus, present work was undertaken to develop cultivation strategies like optimization of inlet gas composition (in terms of % (v/v) O(2) in air), air-flow rate and addition of oxygen vectors in the medium, to curb the oxygen transfer limitations during hairy root cultivation of Azadirachta indica for in vitro azadirachtin (a biopesticide) production. It was found that increasing the oxygen fraction in the inlet air (in the range, 20-100% (v/v) O(2) in air) increased the azadirachtin productivity by approximately threefold, to a maximum of 4.42 mg/L per day (at 100% (v/v) O(2) in air) with respect to 1.68 mg/L per day in control (air with no oxygen supplementation). Similarly, increasing the air-flow rate (in the range, 0.3-2 vvm) also increased the azadirachtin productivity to a maximum of 1.84 mg/L per day at 0.8 vvm of air-flow rate. On the contrary, addition of oxygen vectors (in the range, 1-4% (v/v); hydrogen peroxide, toluene, Tween 80, kerosene, silicone oil, and n-hexadecane), decreased the azadirachtin productivity with respect to control (1.76 mg/L per day).

Bioclogging in Porous Media: Preferential Flow Paths and Anomalous Transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holzner, M.; Carrel, M.; Morales, V.; Derlon, N.; Beltran, M. A.; Morgenroth, E.; Kaufmann, R.

2016-12-01

Biofilms are sessile communities of microorganisms held together by an extracellular polymeric substance that enables surface colonization. In porous media (e.g. soils, trickling filters etc.) biofilm growth has been shown to affect the hydrodynamics in a complex fashion at the pore-scale by clogging individual pores and enhancing preferential flow pathways and anomalous transport. These phenomena are a direct consequence of microbial growth and metabolism, mass transfer processes and complex flow velocity fields possibly exhibiting pronounced three-dimensional features. Despite considerable past work, however, it is not fully understood how bioclogging interacts with flow and mass transport processes in porous media. In this work we use imaging techniques to determine the flow velocities and the distribution of biofilm in a porous medium. Three-dimensional millimodels are packed with a transparent porous medium and a glucose solution to match the optical refractive index. The models are inoculated with planktonic wildtype bacteria and biofilm cultivated for 60 h under a constant flow and nutrient conditions. The pore flow velocities in the increasingly bioclogged medium are measured using 3D particle tracking velocimetry (3D-PTV). The three-dimensional spatial distribution of the biofilm within the pore space is assessed by imaging the model with X-Ray microtomography. We find that biofilm growth increases the complexity of the pore space, leading to the formation of preferential flow pathways and "dead" pore zones. The probability of persistent high and low velocity regions (within preferential paths resp. stagnant flow regions) thus increases upon biofilm growth, leading to an enhancement of anomalous transport. The structural data seems to indicate that the largest pores are not getting clogged and carry the preferential flow, whereas intricated structures develop in the smallest pores, where the flow becomes almost stagnant. These findings may be relevant for applications such as bioremediation of contaminated aquifers, groundwater injection wells for geothermal or drinking water purposes, tertiary oil recovery.

Schlieren System and method for moving objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weinstein, Leonard M. (Inventor)

1995-01-01

A system and method are provided for recording density changes in a flow field surrounding a moving object. A mask having an aperture for regulating the passage of images is placed in front of an image recording medium. An optical system is placed in front of the mask. A transition having a light field-of-view and a dark field-of-view is located beyond the test object. The optical system focuses an image of the transition at the mask such that the aperture causes a band of light to be defined on the image recording medium. The optical system further focuses an image of the object through the aperture of the mask so that the image of the object appears on the image recording medium. Relative motion is minimized between the mask and the transition. Relative motion is also minimized between the image recording medium and the image of the object. In this way, the image of the object and density changes in a flow field surrounding the object are recorded on the image recording medium when the object crosses the transition in front of the optical system.

Effects of the in-medium nucleon-nucleon cross section on collective flow and nuclear stopping in heavy-ion collisions in the Fermi-energy domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Pengcheng; Wang, Yongjia; Li, Qingfeng; Guo, Chenchen; Zhang, Hongfei

2018-04-01

With the newly updated version of the ultrarelativistic quantum molecular dynamics (UrQMD) model, a systematic investigation of the effects of in-medium nucleon-nucleon (NN ) elastic cross section on the collective flow and the stopping observables in 197Au+197Au collisions at beam energies from 40 to 150 MeV/nucleon is performed. Simulations with the medium correction factors F =σNN in -medium/σNN free=0.2 ,0.3 ,0.5 and the one obtained with the FU3FP1 parametrization which depends on both the density and the momentum are compared to the FOPI and INDRA experimental data. It is found that, to best fit the experimental data of the slope of the directed flow and the elliptic flow at midrapidity as well as the nuclear stopping, the correction factors of F =0.2 and 0.5 are required for reactions at beam energies of 40 and 150 MeV/nucleon, respectively. Whereas calculations with the FU3FP1 parametrization can simultaneously reproduce these experimental data reasonably well. And, the observed increasing nuclear stopping with increasing beam energy in experimental data can also be reproduced by using the FU3FP1 parametrization, whereas the calculated stopping power in Au + Au collisions with beam energies from 40 to 150 MeV /nucleon almost remains constant when taking F equal to a fixed value.

Magnetosheath quasi-trapped distributions and ion flows associated with reconnection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neff, J. E.; Speiser, T. W.; Williams, D. J.

1987-01-01

Using a sample of ISEE 1 and 2 magnetopause crossings previously identified as times of quasi-steady reconnection, flows of medium energy ions in the magnetosheath are identified. The paper then investigates the particle pitch angle distribution immediately before and after each of these events for the signature of quasi-trapped distributions of energetic ions. Several of the ion flows identified were observed simultaneously with previously identified flux transfer events (FTEs). While FTEs identified from the magnetometer tracings typically show evidence of ion flows, the converse is not necessarily true. However, all properties of the magnetosheath ion flows are the same regardless of whether an FTE can be identified from the magnetometer data. Evidence is found for small-scale reconnection processes (FTEs, ion flows) embedded within a larger region of interconnected field, which is traced out by the quasi-trapped particles. Quasi-trapped distributions of medium-energy ions are seen to sandwich reconnection-associated ion flows in the magnetosheath. The results of this survey have been used to suggest a morphology for reconnection events that incorporates both large- and small-scale features.

Inhibition of basolateral cAMP permeability in the toad urinary bladder.

PubMed

Boom, A; Golstein, P E; Frerotte, M; Sande, J V; Beauwens, R

2000-10-01

1. The effect of sulphonylurea drugs on hydrosmotic flow across toad urinary bladder epithelium was re-evaluated in the present study. Glibenclamide, added to the basolateral medium, significantly enhanced the osmotic flow induced by low doses of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or forskolin (FK), while it inhibited the effect of exogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) or its non-hydrolysable bromo derivative, 8-Br-cAMP, added to the basolateral medium. These opposite effects of glibenclamide on the transepithelial osmotic flow can be explained by a reduction of cAMP permeability across the basolateral membrane of the epithelium. The decrease in cAMP permeability leads, according to the direction of the cAMP gradient, to firstly an enhanced osmotic flow when cAMP is generated intracellularly by addition of ADH and FK, glibenclamide reducing cAMP exit from the cell, and secondly a decreased osmotic flow in response to cAMP (and 8-Br-cAMP) added to the basolateral medium, glibenclamide inhibiting, in this case, their entry into the cell. 2. The demonstration that glibenclamide actually inhibits the basolateral cAMP permeability rests on the fact that firstly it decreases the release of cAMP into the basolateral medium by about 40 %, at each concentration of ADH or forskolin tested, secondly it increases the cAMP content of paired hemibladders incubated in the presence of ADH or FK, when intracellular degradation was prevented by phosphodiesterase inhibition, and thirdly it decreases also the uptake of basolateral 8-Br-[3H]cAMP into paired toad hemibladders. 3. Taken together, the present data demonstrate that glibenclamide inhibits the toad urinary bladder basolateral membrane permeability to cAMP, most probably by a direct interaction with a membrane protein not yet indentified but distinct from the sulphonylurea receptor.

Multi-component fluid flow through porous media by interacting lattice gas computer simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cueva-Parra, Luis Alberto

In this work we study structural and transport properties such as power-law behavior of trajectory of each constituent and their center of mass, density profile, mass flux, permeability, velocity profile, phase separation, segregation, and mixing of miscible and immiscible multicomponent fluid flow through rigid and non-consolidated porous media. The considered parameters are the mass ratio of the components, temperature, external pressure, and porosity. Due to its solid theoretical foundation and computational simplicity, the selected approaches are the Interacting Lattice Gas with Monte Carlo Method (Metropolis Algorithm) and direct sampling, combined with particular collision rules. The percolation mechanism is used for modeling initial random porous media. The introduced collision rules allow to model non-consolidated porous media, because part of the kinetic energy of the fluid particles is transfered to barrier particles, which are the components of the porous medium. Having gained kinetic energy, the barrier particles can move. A number of interesting results are observed. Some findings include, (i) phase separation in immiscible fluid flow through a medium with no barrier particles (porosity p P = 1). (ii) For the flow of miscible fluids through rigid porous medium with porosity close to percolation threshold (p C), the flux density (measure of permeability) shows a power law increase ∝ (pC - p) mu with mu = 2.0, and the density profile is found to decay with height ∝ exp(-mA/Bh), consistent with the barometric height law. (iii) Sedimentation and driving of barrier particles in fluid flow through non-consolidated porous medium. This study involves developing computer simulation models with efficient serial and parallel codes, extensive data analysis via graphical utilities, and computer visualization techniques.

Packed Bed Bioreactor for the Isolation and Expansion of Placental-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

PubMed Central

Osiecki, Michael J.; Michl, Thomas D.; Kul Babur, Betul; Kabiri, Mahboubeh; Atkinson, Kerry; Lott, William B.; Griesser, Hans J.; Doran, Michael R.

2015-01-01

Large numbers of Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are required for clinical relevant doses to treat a number of diseases. To economically manufacture these MSCs, an automated bioreactor system will be required. Herein we describe the development of a scalable closed-system, packed bed bioreactor suitable for large-scale MSCs expansion. The packed bed was formed from fused polystyrene pellets that were air plasma treated to endow them with a surface chemistry similar to traditional tissue culture plastic. The packed bed was encased within a gas permeable shell to decouple the medium nutrient supply and gas exchange. This enabled a significant reduction in medium flow rates, thus reducing shear and even facilitating single pass medium exchange. The system was optimised in a small-scale bioreactor format (160 cm2) with murine-derived green fluorescent protein-expressing MSCs, and then scaled-up to a 2800 cm2 format. We demonstrated that placental derived MSCs could be isolated directly within the bioreactor and subsequently expanded. Our results demonstrate that the closed system large-scale packed bed bioreactor is an effective and scalable tool for large-scale isolation and expansion of MSCs. PMID:26660475

Packed Bed Bioreactor for the Isolation and Expansion of Placental-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.

PubMed

Osiecki, Michael J; Michl, Thomas D; Kul Babur, Betul; Kabiri, Mahboubeh; Atkinson, Kerry; Lott, William B; Griesser, Hans J; Doran, Michael R

2015-01-01

Large numbers of Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are required for clinical relevant doses to treat a number of diseases. To economically manufacture these MSCs, an automated bioreactor system will be required. Herein we describe the development of a scalable closed-system, packed bed bioreactor suitable for large-scale MSCs expansion. The packed bed was formed from fused polystyrene pellets that were air plasma treated to endow them with a surface chemistry similar to traditional tissue culture plastic. The packed bed was encased within a gas permeable shell to decouple the medium nutrient supply and gas exchange. This enabled a significant reduction in medium flow rates, thus reducing shear and even facilitating single pass medium exchange. The system was optimised in a small-scale bioreactor format (160 cm2) with murine-derived green fluorescent protein-expressing MSCs, and then scaled-up to a 2800 cm2 format. We demonstrated that placental derived MSCs could be isolated directly within the bioreactor and subsequently expanded. Our results demonstrate that the closed system large-scale packed bed bioreactor is an effective and scalable tool for large-scale isolation and expansion of MSCs.

Teaching Verbal Chains Using Flow Diagrams and Texts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holliday, William G.

1976-01-01

A discussion of the recent diagram and attention theory and research surprisingly suggests that a single flow diagram with instructive questions constitutes an effective learning medium in terms of verbal chaining. (Author)

Vascularization of liver tumors - preliminary results with Coded Harmonic Angio (CHA), phase inversion imaging, 3D power Doppler and contrast medium-enhanced B-flow with second generation contrast agent (Optison).

PubMed

Jung, E M; Kubale, R; Jungius, K-P; Jung, W; Lenhart, M; Clevert, D-A

2006-01-01

To investigate the dynamic value of contrast medium-enhanced ultrasonography with Optison for appraisal of the vascularization of hepatic tumors using harmonic imaging, 3D-/power Doppler and B-flow. 60 patients with a mean age of 56 years (range 35-76 years) with 93 liver tumors, including histopathologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [15 cases with 20 lesions], liver metastases of colorectal tumors [17 cases with 33 lesions], metastases of breast cancer [10 cases with 21 lesions] and hemangiomas [10 cases with 19 lesions] were prospectively investigated by means of multislice CT as well as native and contrast medium-enhanced ultrasound using a multifrequency transducer (2.5-4 MHz, Logig 9, GE). B scan was performed with additional color and power Doppler, followed by a bolus injection of 0.5 ml Optison. Tumor vascularization was evaluated with coded harmonic angio (CHA), pulse inversion imaging with power Doppler, 3D power Doppler and in the late phase (>5 min) with B-flow. In 15 cases with HCC, i.a. DSA was performed in addition. The results were also correlated with MRT and histological findings. Compared to spiral-CT/MRT, only 72/93 (77%) of the lesions could be detected in the B scan, 75/93 (81%) with CHA and 93/93 (100%) in the pulse inversion mode. Tumor vascularization was detectable in 43/93 (46%) of lesions with native power Doppler, in 75/93 (81%) of lesions after administering contrast medium in the CHA mode, in 81/93 (87%) of lesions in the pulse inversion mode with power Doppler and in 77/93 (83%) of lesions with contrast-enhanced B-flow. Early arterial and capillary perfusion was best detected with CHA, particularly in 20/20 (100%) of the HCC lesions, allowing a 3D reconstruction. 3D power Doppler was especially useful in investigating the tumor margins. Up to 20 min after contrast medium injection, B-flow was capable of detecting increased metastatic tumor vascularization in 42/54 (78%) of cases and intratumoral perfusion in 17/20 (85%) of HCC cases. All 19 hemangiomas were correctly classified by phase inversion imaging. Contrast medium-enhanced ultrasound investigation of liver tumors with Optison allowed reliable detection of tumor foci and, in most cases, appraisal of tumor vascularization. The time available for evaluation of tumor margin vascularization was substantially longer in B-flow.

Pore-level influence of micro-fracture parameters on visco-capillary behavior of two-phase displacements in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rokhforouz, M. R.; Akhlaghi Amiri, H. A.

2018-03-01

In this work, coupled Cahn-Hilliard phase field and Navier-Stokes equations were solved using finite element method to address the effects of micro-fracture and its characterizations on water-oil displacements in a heterogeneous porous medium. Sensitivity studies at a wide range of viscosity ratios (M) and capillary numbers (Ca), and the resultant log Ca-log M stability phase diagram, revealed that in both media, with/without fracture, the three regimes of viscous fingering, capillary fingering and stable displacement similarly occur. However, presence of the fracture caused water channeling phenomenon which resulted in reduction of the number of active fingers and hence the final oil recovery factor. At high Ca (especially in the stable regime, with log Ca ≥ -2.5 and log M ≥ 0), recovery factor for the fractured medium was relatively identical with the non-fractured one. At log M ≥ 0, the fracture was fully swept, but flow instabilities were observed inside the fracture at lower M values, especially for log Ca > -4.6. In the case of the fractured medium at log Ca = -4.6 and log M = 0 (capillary dominant flow), it is observed that the primary breakthrough took place by a finger progressed through the matrix, not those channeled through the fracture. Geometrical properties of the fracture, including length, aperture and orientation, highly affected both displacement profile and efficiency. The fracture length inversely influenced the oil recovery factor. It was observed that there is a critical fracture width (almost half of the medium average pore diameter) at which the recovery factor of the medium during displacement is minimum, compared to the media having thinner and thicker fractures. Minor channeling effect in the media with thinner fracture and larger fracture swept volume as well as high fracture/matrix cross flow in the media with thicker fracture were detected as the main cause of this non-monotonic behavior. In the models with thick fractures (with the thickness higher than the average pore diameter), considerable trapped oil volumes were observed inside the fracture at low M values. The fracture orientation had the most impressive effect on oil recovery compared to the other studied parameters; where the oil recovery factor incremented more than 20% as the fracture rotated 90° from flow direction. Due to the dominant effect of the channeling phenomenon, the change in the medium wettability from slightly oil-wet to slightly water-wet, did not considerably affect the displacement profile in the fractured medium. However, oil recovery factor increased as the medium became more water-wet. The fracture area was fully swept by the injected water in the oil-wet and neutral-wet media. However, flow instabilities were observed inside the fracture of the water-wet medium due to counter-current imbibition between fracture/matrix. Micro-scale mechanisms of pore doublet effect, interface coalesce, snap-off and reverse movements were captured during the studied unstable displacements.

Test stand for gas-discharge chamber of TEA CO2 lasers with pulse-periodical energy supply

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shorin, Vladimyr P.; Bystrov, N. D.; Zhuravlyov, O. A.; Nekrasov, V. V.

1997-05-01

Test stand for function optimization (incomposition of gas- dynamic circuit (GDC) of operating characteristics of full- size discharge chamber of flowing TEA carbon-dioxide lasers (power up to 100 kW) was created in Samara State Aerospace University (former Kuibyshev Aviation Institute). Test stand includes an inside-type GDC, low inductive generators of voltage pulses of preionization and main discharges, two-flow rate system of gas supply and noise immunity diagnostic system. Module construction of units of GDC, power supplies of preionization and main discharges allows to change configuration of stand's systems for providing given properties of gas flow and its energy supply. This test stand can also be used in servicing of laser system. The diagnostic system of this stand allows us to analyze energy properties of discharge by means of oscillographic measurements of voltage and current with following processing of discharges' volt- ampere characteristics by means of a computer; rate of non- stationary gas-dynamic disturbances in discharge gap of discharge chamber was measured by means of pulse holographic system (UlG-1M) with data processing of schliren- and interferogram (density fluctuation sensitivity approximately 10-2) and sensor measurement system of gas-dynamic shock and acoustics process with resonance frequency exceeding 100 kHz. Research results of process of plasma plate wave and channel structures interaction with mediums, including actuation non-stationary gas-dynamic flows, cavitation erosion of preionization electrodes' dielectric substructure, ancillary heating of channels by main volumetric discharge are presented as well.

Heating production fluids in a wellbore

DOEpatents

Orrego, Yamila; Jankowski, Todd A.

2016-07-12

A method for heating a production fluid in a wellbore. The method can include heating, using a packer fluid, a working fluid flowing through a first medium disposed in a first section of the wellbore, where the first medium transfers heat from the packer fluid to the working fluid. The method can also include circulating the working fluid into a second section of the wellbore through a second medium, where the second medium transfers heat from the working fluid to the production fluid. The method can further include returning the working fluid to the first section of the wellbore through the first medium.

Effect of intermittent shear stress on corneal epithelial cells using an in vitro flow culture model.

PubMed

Hampel, Ulrike; Garreis, Fabian; Burgemeister, Fabian; Eßel, Nicole; Paulsen, Friedrich

2018-04-27

The aim of this study was to establish and to evaluate an in vitro model for culturing human telomerase-immortalized corneal epithelial (hTCEpi) cells under adjustable medium flow mimicking the movements of the tear film on the ocular surface. Using an IBIDI pump system, cells were cultured under unidirectional, continuous or oscillating, discontinuous medium flow. Cell surface and cytoskeletal architecture were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence. Gene expression of e-cadherin, occludin, tight junction protein (TJP), desmoplakin, desmocollin and mucins was investigated by real-time PCR. Protein expression of desmoplakin, TJP, occludin and e-cadherin was analyzed by western blot and localization was detected by immunofluorescence. Rose bengal staining was used to assess mucin (MUC) barrier integrity. MUC1, -4 and -16 proteins were localized by immunofluorescence. Medium flow-induced shear stress dramatically changed cellular morphology of hTCEpi. Cells subjected to discontinuous shear stress displayed the typical flattened, polygonal cell shape of the superficial layer of stratified squamous epithelia. Cell surfaces showed less bulging under shear stress and less extracellular gaps. The mRNA expression of E-cadherin, occludin and TJP were increased under oscillatory medium flow. Desmoplakin and occludin protein were upregulated under oscillatory shear stress. Stress fiber formation was not aligned to flow direction. MUC1, -4, and -16 protein were localized under all culture conditions, a regulation on mRNA expression was not detectable. Rose Bengal uptake was diminished under unidirectional conditions. Our findings suggest that shear stress as it occurs at the ocular surface during blinking exerts marked effects on corneal epithelial cells, such as changes in cellular morphology and expression of cell junctions. The described model may be useful for in vitro investigations of ocular surface epithelia as it represents a much more physiologic reproduction of the in vivo situation than the commonly applied static culture conditions. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Validation of Perfusion Quantification with 3D Gradient Echo Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using a Blood Pool Contrast Agent in Skeletal Swine Muscle

PubMed Central

Hindel, Stefan; Sauerbrey, Anika; Maaß, Marc; Maderwald, Stefan; Schlamann, Marc; Lüdemann, Lutz

2015-01-01

The purpose of our study was to validate perfusion quantification in a low-perfused tissue by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) with shared k-space sampling using a blood pool contrast agent. Perfusion measurements were performed in a total of seven female pigs. An ultrasonic Doppler probe was attached to the right femoral artery to determine total flow in the hind leg musculature. The femoral artery was catheterized for continuous local administration of adenosine to increase blood flow up to four times the baseline level. Three different stable perfusion levels were induced. The MR protocol included a 3D gradient-echo sequence with a temporal resolution of approximately 1.5 seconds. Before each dynamic sequence, static MR images were acquired with flip angles of 5°, 10°, 20°, and 30°. Both static and dynamic images were used to generate relaxation rate and baseline magnetization maps with a flip angle method. 0.1 mL/kg body weight of blood pool contrast medium was injected via a central venous catheter at a flow rate of 5 mL/s. The right hind leg was segmented in 3D into medial, cranial, lateral, and pelvic thigh muscles, lower leg, bones, skin, and fat. The arterial input function (AIF) was measured in the aorta. Perfusion of the different anatomic regions was calculated using a one- and a two-compartment model with delay- and dispersion-corrected AIFs. The F-test for model comparison was used to decide whether to use the results of the one- or two-compartment model fit. Total flow was calculated by integrating volume-weighted perfusion values over the whole measured region. The resulting values of delay, dispersion, blood volume, mean transit time, and flow were all in physiologically and physically reasonable ranges. In 107 of 160 ROIs, the blood signal was separated, using a two-compartment model, into a capillary and an arteriolar signal contribution, decided by the F-test. Overall flow in hind leg muscles, as measured by the ultrasound probe, highly correlated with total flow determined by MRI, R = 0.89 and P = 10−7. Linear regression yielded a slope of 1.2 and a y-axis intercept of 259 mL/min. The mean total volume of the investigated muscle tissue corresponds to an offset perfusion of 4.7mL/(min ⋅ 100cm3). The DCE-MRI technique presented here uses a blood pool contrast medium in combination with a two-compartment tracer kinetic model and allows absolute quantification of low-perfused non-cerebral organs such as muscles. PMID:26061498

Validity of Darcy's law under transient conditions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mongan, C.E.

1985-01-01

Darcy 's Law, which describes fluid flow through porous materials, was developed for steady flow conditions. The validity of applying this law to transient flows has been mathematically verified for most ground-water flow conditions. The verification was accomplished through application of Hankel transforms to linearized Navier-Stokes equations which described flow in a small diameter cylindrical tube. The tube was chosen to represent a single pore in a porous medium. (USGS)

Edge Fracture in Complex Fluids.

PubMed

Hemingway, Ewan J; Kusumaatmaja, Halim; Fielding, Suzanne M

2017-07-14

We study theoretically the edge fracture instability in sheared complex fluids, by means of linear stability analysis and direct nonlinear simulations. We derive an exact analytical expression for the onset of edge fracture in terms of the shear-rate derivative of the fluid's second normal stress difference, the shear-rate derivative of the shear stress, the jump in shear stress across the interface between the fluid and the outside medium (usually air), the surface tension of that interface, and the rheometer gap size. We provide a full mechanistic understanding of the edge fracture instability, carefully validated against our simulations. These findings, which are robust with respect to choice of rheological constitutive model, also suggest a possible route to mitigating edge fracture, potentially allowing experimentalists to achieve and accurately measure flows stronger than hitherto possible.

Extended range heat pump system and centrifugal compressor for use therewith

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shoemaker, J.F.

1988-04-26

Improvements in heat pump systems having indoor and outdoor heat exchangers and at least two compressors for supplying a refrigerant medium under pressure thereto, and means for circulating the medium through the heat exchangers, the improvement is described comprising a selector valve associated with each of the compressors. The selector valves provide that any combination and any one or more of the compressors can be selected for operation, each of the selector valves having a first operating condition placing the associated compressor in series with the heat exchangers and a second operating condition whereby the associated compressor is bypassed, whenmore » the selector valves for at least two of the compressors are simultaneously in their first positions a flow path is established through the associated compressors and through the heat exchangers all in series, a two position changeover valve and associated conduit means. The changeover valve has a first position wherein at least one of the compressors is connected in series with the first and second heat exchangers to produce flow of the medium in one direction therethrough and a second position whereby at least one compressor is connected to produce flow of the medium in the opposite direction through the heat exchangers.« less

Rate of deoxygenation modulates rheologic behavior of sickle red blood cells at a given mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration.

PubMed

Kaul, D K; Liu, X D

1999-01-01

Although the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) plays a dominant role in the rheologic behavior of deoxygenated density-defined sickle red blood cells (SS RBCs), previous studies have not explored the relationship between the rate of deoxygenation and the bulk viscosity of SS RBCs at a given MCHC. In the present study, we have subjected density-defined SS classes (i.e., medium-density SS4 and dense SS5 discocytes) to varying deoxygenation rates. This approach has allowed us to minimize the effects of SS RBC heterogeneity and investigate the effect of deoxygenation rates at a given MCHC. The results show that the percentages of granular cells, classic sickle cells and holly leaf forms in deoxygenated samples are significantly influenced by the rate of deoxygenation and the MCHC of a given discocyte subpopulation. Increasing the deoxygenation rate using high K+ medium (pH 6.8), results in a greater percentage of granular cells in SS4 suspensions, accompanied by a pronounced increase in the bulk viscosity of these cells compared with gradually deoxygenated samples (mainly classic sickle cells and holly leaf forms). The effect of MCHC becomes apparent when SS5 dense cells are subjected to varying deoxygenation rates. At a given deoxygenation rate, SS5 dense discocytes show a greater increase in the percentage of granular cells than that observed for SS4 RBCs. Also, at a given deoxygenation rate, SS5 suspensions exhibit a higher viscosity than SS4 suspensions with fast deoxygenation resulting in maximal increase in viscosity. Although MCHC is the main determinant of SS RBC rheologic behavior, these studies demonstrate for the first time that at a given MCHC, the rate of deoxygenation (hence HbS polymerization rates) further modulates the rheologic behavior of SS RBCs. Thus, both MCHC and the deoxygenation rate may contribute to microcirculatory flow behavior of SS RBCs.

Oscillatory flow past a slip cylindrical inclusion embedded in a Brinkman medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palaniappan, D.

2015-11-01

Transient flow past a circular cylinder embedded in a porous medium is studied based on Brinkman model with Navier slip conditions. Closed form analytic solution for the stream-function describing slow oscillatory flow around a solid cylindrical inclusion is obtained in the limit of low-Reynolds-number. The key parameters such as the frequency of oscillation λ, the permeability constant δ, and the slip coefficient ξ dictate the flow fields and physical quantities in the entire flow domain. Asymptotic steady-state analysis when δ --> 0 reveals the paradoxical behavior detected by Stokes. Local streamlines for small times demonstrate interesting flow patterns. Rapid transitions including flow separations and eddies are observed far away from the solid inclusion. Analytic expressions for the wall shear stress and the force acting on the cylinder are computed and compared with existing results. It is noted that the slip parameter in the range 0 <= ξ <= 0 . 5 has a significant effect in reducing the stress and force. In the limit of large permeability, Darcy (potential) flow is recovered outside a boundary layer. The results are of some interest in predicting maximum wall stress and pressure drop associated with biological models in fibrous media.

A biochemo-mechano coupled, computational model combining membrane transport and pericellular proteolysis in tissue mechanics

PubMed Central

Vuong, A.-T.; Rauch, A. D.

2017-01-01

We present a computational model for the interaction of surface- and volume-bound scalar transport and reaction processes with a deformable porous medium. The application in mind is pericellular proteolysis, i.e. the dissolution of the solid phase of the extracellular matrix (ECM) as a response to the activation of certain chemical species at the cell membrane and in the vicinity of the cell. A poroelastic medium model represents the extra cellular scaffold and the interstitial fluid flow, while a surface-bound transport model accounts for the diffusion and reaction of membrane-bound chemical species. By further modelling the volume-bound transport, we consider the advection, diffusion and reaction of sequestered chemical species within the extracellular scaffold. The chemo-mechanical coupling is established by introducing a continuum formulation for the interplay of reaction rates and the mechanical state of the ECM. It is based on known experimental insights and theoretical work on the thermodynamics of porous media and degradation kinetics of collagen fibres on the one hand and a damage-like effect of the fibre dissolution on the mechanical integrity of the ECM on the other hand. The resulting system of partial differential equations is solved via the finite-element method. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first computational model including contemporaneously the coupling between (i) advection–diffusion–reaction processes, (ii) interstitial flow and deformation of a porous medium, and (iii) the chemo-mechanical interaction impelled by the dissolution of the ECM. Our numerical examples show good agreement with experimental data. Furthermore, we outline the capability of the methodology to extend existing numerical approaches towards a more comprehensive model for cellular biochemo-mechanics. PMID:28413347

Predictive performance modeling framework for a novel enclosed particle receiver configuration and application for thermochemical energy storage

DOE PAGES

Martinek, Janna; Wendelin, Timothy; Ma, Zhiwen

2018-04-05

Concentrating solar power (CSP) plants can provide dispatchable power with a thermal energy storage capability for increased renewable-energy grid penetration. Particle-based CSP systems permit higher temperatures, and thus, potentially higher solar-to-electric efficiency than state-of-the-art molten-salt heat-transfer systems. This paper describes a detailed numerical analysis framework for estimating the performance of a novel, geometrically complex, enclosed particle receiver design. The receiver configuration uses arrays of small tubular absorbers to collect and subsequently transfer solar energy to a flowing particulate medium. The enclosed nature of the receiver design renders it amenable to either an inert heat-transfer medium, or a reactive heat-transfer medium that requires a controllable ambient environment. The numerical analysis framework described in this study is demonstrated for the case of thermal reduction of CaCr 0.1Mn 0.9O 3-more » $$\\delta$$ for thermochemical energy storage. The modeling strategy consists of Monte Carlo ray tracing for absorbed solar-energy distributions from a surround heliostat field, computational fluid dynamics modeling of small-scale local tubular arrays, surrogate response surfaces that approximately capture simulated tubular array performance, a quasi-two-dimensional reduced-order description of counter-flow reactive solids and purge gas, and a radiative exchange model applied to embedded-cavity structures at the size scale of the full receiver. In this work we apply the numerical analysis strategy to a single receiver configuration, but the framework can be generically applicable to alternative enclosed designs. In conclusion, we assess sensitivity of receiver performance to surface optical properties, heat-transfer coefficients, solids outlet temperature, and purge-gas feed rates, and discuss the significance of model assumptions and results for future receiver development.« less

Investigation of foam flow in a 3D printed porous medium in the presence of oil.

PubMed

Osei-Bonsu, Kofi; Grassia, Paul; Shokri, Nima

2017-03-15

Foams demonstrate great potential for displacing fluids in porous media which is applicable to a variety of subsurface operations such as the enhanced oil recovery and soil remediation. The application of foam in these processes is due to its unique ability to reduce gas mobility by increasing its effective viscosity and to divert gas to un-swept low permeability zones in porous media. The presence of oil in porous media is detrimental to the stability of foams which can influence its success as a displacing fluid. In the present work, we have conducted a systematic series of experiments using a well-characterised porous medium manufactured by 3D printing technique to evaluate the influence of oil on the dynamics of foam displacement under different boundary conditions. The effects of the type of oil, foam quality and foam flow rate were investigated. Our results reveal that generation of stable foam is delayed in the presence of light oil in the porous medium compared to heavy oil. Additionally, it was observed that the dynamics of oil entrapment was dictated by the stability of foam in the presence of oil. Furthermore, foams with high gas fraction appeared to be less stable in the presence of oil lowering its recovery efficiency. Pore-scale inspection of foam-oil dynamics during displacement revealed formation of a less stable front as the foam quality increased, leading to less oil recovery. This study extends the physical understanding of oil displacement by foam in porous media and provides new physical insights regarding the parameters influencing this process. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Predictive performance modeling framework for a novel enclosed particle receiver configuration and application for thermochemical energy storage

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martinek, Janna; Wendelin, Timothy; Ma, Zhiwen

Concentrating solar power (CSP) plants can provide dispatchable power with a thermal energy storage capability for increased renewable-energy grid penetration. Particle-based CSP systems permit higher temperatures, and thus, potentially higher solar-to-electric efficiency than state-of-the-art molten-salt heat-transfer systems. This paper describes a detailed numerical analysis framework for estimating the performance of a novel, geometrically complex, enclosed particle receiver design. The receiver configuration uses arrays of small tubular absorbers to collect and subsequently transfer solar energy to a flowing particulate medium. The enclosed nature of the receiver design renders it amenable to either an inert heat-transfer medium, or a reactive heat-transfer medium that requires a controllable ambient environment. The numerical analysis framework described in this study is demonstrated for the case of thermal reduction of CaCr 0.1Mn 0.9O 3-more » $$\\delta$$ for thermochemical energy storage. The modeling strategy consists of Monte Carlo ray tracing for absorbed solar-energy distributions from a surround heliostat field, computational fluid dynamics modeling of small-scale local tubular arrays, surrogate response surfaces that approximately capture simulated tubular array performance, a quasi-two-dimensional reduced-order description of counter-flow reactive solids and purge gas, and a radiative exchange model applied to embedded-cavity structures at the size scale of the full receiver. In this work we apply the numerical analysis strategy to a single receiver configuration, but the framework can be generically applicable to alternative enclosed designs. In conclusion, we assess sensitivity of receiver performance to surface optical properties, heat-transfer coefficients, solids outlet temperature, and purge-gas feed rates, and discuss the significance of model assumptions and results for future receiver development.« less

Intestinal absorption and liver uptake of medium-chain fatty acids in non-anaesthetized pigs.

PubMed

Guillot, E; Vaugelade, P; Lemarchal, P; Rérat, A

1993-03-01

In order to study the rate of intestinal absorption and hepatic uptake of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), six growing pigs, mean body weight 65 kg, were fitted with a permanent fistula in the duodenum and with three catheters in the portal vein, carotid artery and hepatic vein respectively. Two electromagnetic flow probes were also set up, one around the portal vein and one around the hepatic artery. A mixture of octanoic and decanoic acids, esterified as medium-chain triacylglycerols, together with maltose dextrine and a nitrogenous fraction was continuously infused for 1 h into the duodenum. Samples of blood were withdrawn from the three vessels at regular intervals for 12 h and further analysed for their non-esterified octanoic and decanoic acid contents. The concentration of non-esterified octanoic and decanoic acids in the portal blood rose sharply after the beginning of each infusion and showed a biphasic time-course with two maximum values, one after 15 min and a later one between 75 and 90 min. Only 65% of octanoic acid infused into the duodenum and 54% of decanoic acid were recovered in the portal flow throughout each experiment. The amounts of non-esterified MCFA taken up per h by the liver were close to those absorbed from the gut via the portal vein within the same periods of time, showing that the liver is the main site of utilization of MCFA in pigs. These results have been discussed with a special emphasis laid on the possible mechanisms of the biphasic time-course of MCFA absorption and the incomplete recovery in the portal blood of the infused fatty acids.

Hydrodynamic implications of textural trends in sand deposits of the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka

USGS Publications Warehouse

Morton, R.A.; Goff, J.R.; Nichol, S.L.

2008-01-01

Field observations and sediment samples at a coastal-plain setting in southeastern Sri Lanka were used to document the erosional and depositional impacts of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and to interpret the hydrodynamic processes that produced an extensive sand-sheet deposit. Tsunami deposit thicknesses ranged from 6 to 22??cm with thickness being controlled partly by antecedent topography. The deposit was composed of coarse to medium sand organized into plane-parallel laminae and a few laminasets. Vertical textural trends showed an overall but non-systematic upward fining and upward thinning of depositional units with an upward increase in heavy-mineral laminations at some locations. Repeated patterns in the vertical textural trends (upward fining, upward coarsening, uniform) were used to subdivide and correlate the deposit into five hydro-textural stratigraphic units. The depositional units were linked to hydrodynamic processes and upcurrent conditions, such as rates of sediment supply and composition of the sediment sources. Vertical changes in grain-size distributions recorded the depositional phases associated with flow acceleration, initial unsteady pulsating flow, relatively stable and uniform flow, flow deceleration, slack water, and return flow or flow redirection. Study results suggest that vertical textural trends from multiple cross-shore sections can be used to interpret complex tsunami flow histories, but at the location examined, interpretation of the lateral textural trends did not provide a basis for identifying the correct sediment transport pathways because flow near the landward boundary was multidirectional.

MPS solidification model. Analysis and calculation of macrosegregation in a casting ingot

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Poirier, D. R.; Maples, A. L.

1985-01-01

Work performed on several existing solidification models for which computer codes and documentation were developed is presented. The models describe the solidification of alloys in which there is a time varying zone of coexisting solid and liquid phases; i.e., the S/L zone. The primary purpose of the models is to calculate macrosegregation in a casting or ingot which results from flow of interdendritic liquid in this S/L zone during solidification. The flow, driven by solidification contractions and by gravity acting on density gradients in the interdendritic liquid, is modeled as flow through a porous medium. In Model 1, the steady state model, the heat flow characteristics are those of steady state solidification; i.e., the S/L zone is of constant width and it moves at a constant velocity relative to the mold. In Model 2, the unsteady state model, the width and rate of movement of the S/L zone are allowed to vary with time as it moves through the ingot. Each of these models exists in two versions. Models 1 and 2 are applicable to binary alloys; models 1M and 2M are applicable to multicomponent alloys.

Green roof hydrologic performance and modeling: a review.

PubMed

Li, Yanling; Babcock, Roger W

2014-01-01

Green roofs reduce runoff from impervious surfaces in urban development. This paper reviews the technical literature on green roof hydrology. Laboratory experiments and field measurements have shown that green roofs can reduce stormwater runoff volume by 30 to 86%, reduce peak flow rate by 22 to 93% and delay the peak flow by 0 to 30 min and thereby decrease pollution, flooding and erosion during precipitation events. However, the effectiveness can vary substantially due to design characteristics making performance predictions difficult. Evaluation of the most recently published study findings indicates that the major factors affecting green roof hydrology are precipitation volume, precipitation dynamics, antecedent conditions, growth medium, plant species, and roof slope. This paper also evaluates the computer models commonly used to simulate hydrologic processes for green roofs, including stormwater management model, soil water atmosphere and plant, SWMS-2D, HYDRUS, and other models that are shown to be effective for predicting precipitation response and economic benefits. The review findings indicate that green roofs are effective for reduction of runoff volume and peak flow, and delay of peak flow, however, no tool or model is available to predict expected performance for any given anticipated system based on design parameters that directly affect green roof hydrology.

Unified pipe network method for simulation of water flow in fractured porous rock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Feng; Ma, Guowei; Wang, Yang; Li, Tuo; Zhu, Hehua

2017-04-01

Rock masses are often conceptualized as dual-permeability media containing fractures or fracture networks with high permeability and porous matrix that is less permeable. In order to overcome the difficulties in simulating fluid flow in a highly discontinuous dual-permeability medium, an effective unified pipe network method is developed, which discretizes the dual-permeability rock mass into a virtual pipe network system. It includes fracture pipe networks and matrix pipe networks. They are constructed separately based on equivalent flow models in a representative area or volume by taking the advantage of the orthogonality of the mesh partition. Numerical examples of fluid flow in 2-D and 3-D domain including porous media and fractured porous media are presented to demonstrate the accuracy, robustness, and effectiveness of the proposed unified pipe network method. Results show that the developed method has good performance even with highly distorted mesh. Water recharge into the fractured rock mass with complex fracture network is studied. It has been found in this case that the effect of aperture change on the water recharge rate is more significant in the early stage compared to the fracture density change.

Using Self Potential and Multiphase Flow Modeling to Optimize Groundwater Pumping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gasperikova, E.; Zhang, Y.; Hubbard, S.

2008-12-01

Numerical and field hydrological and geophysical studies have been conducted to investigate the impact of groundwater pumping on near-river hydrology for a segment of the Russian River at the Wohler Site, California, which is a riverbed filtration system managed by the Sonoma County Water Agency. Groundwater pumping near streams can cause a creation of unsaturated regions and hence reduce the pumping capacity and change the flow paths. A three-dimensional multiphase flow and transport model can be calibrated to the temperature, and water levels at monitoring wells based on known pumping rates, and the river stage. Streaming (self) potential (SP) is one of the electrokinetic processes that describes the coupled behavior of hydraulic and electrical flow within a porous medium, and is easily measured on the surface or in boreholes. Observing temporal and spatial variations in geophysical signatures provides a powerful approach for monitoring changes in the natural systems due to natural or forced (pumping) system perturbations. Geophysical and hydrological data were collected before, during and after a pumping experiment at the Wohler Site. Using this monitoring dataset, we illustrate how loose coupling between hydrogeological and geophysical (SP) processes and data can be used to calibrate the flow model and to optimize pumping schedules as needed to guide sustainable water resource development.

Benchmarking variable-density flow in saturated and unsaturated porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guevara Morel, Carlos Roberto; Cremer, Clemens; Graf, Thomas

2015-04-01

In natural environments, fluid density and viscosity can be affected by spatial and temporal variations of solute concentration and/or temperature. These variations can occur, for example, due to salt water intrusion in coastal aquifers, leachate infiltration from waste disposal sites and upconing of saline water from deep aquifers. As a consequence, potentially unstable situations may exist in which a dense fluid overlies a less dense fluid. This situation can produce instabilities that manifest as dense plume fingers that move vertically downwards counterbalanced by vertical upwards flow of the less dense fluid. Resulting free convection increases solute transport rates over large distances and times relative to constant-density flow. Therefore, the understanding of free convection is relevant for the protection of freshwater aquifer systems. The results from a laboratory experiment of saturated and unsaturated variable-density flow and solute transport (Simmons et al., Transp. Porous Medium, 2002) are used as the physical basis to define a mathematical benchmark. The HydroGeoSphere code coupled with PEST are used to estimate the optimal parameter set capable of reproducing the physical model. A grid convergency analysis (in space and time) is also undertaken in order to obtain the adequate spatial and temporal discretizations. The new mathematical benchmark is useful for model comparison and testing of variable-density variably saturated flow in porous media.

Sub-1min separation in sequential injection chromatography for determination of synthetic water-soluble dyes in pharmaceutical formulation.

PubMed

Davletbaeva, Polina; Chocholouš, Petr; Bulatov, Andrey; Šatínský, Dalibor; Solich, Petr

2017-09-05

Sequential Injection Chromatography (SIC) evolved from fast and automated non-separation Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA) into chromatographic separation method for multi-element analysis. However, the speed of the measurement (sample throughput) is due to chromatography significantly reduced. In this paper, a sub-1min separation using medium polar cyano monolithic column (5mm×4.6mm) resulted in fast and green separation with sample throughput comparable with non-separation flow methods The separation of three synthetic water-soluble dyes (sunset yellow FCF, carmoisine and green S) was in a gradient elution mode (0.02% ammonium acetate, pH 6.7 - water) with flow rate of 3.0mLmin -1 corresponding with sample throughput of 30h -1 . Spectrophotometric detection wavelengths were set to 480, 516 and 630nm and 10Hz data collection rate. The performance of the separation was described and discussed (peak capacities 3.48-7.67, peak symmetries 1.72-1.84 and resolutions 1.42-1.88). The method was represented by validation parameters: LODs of 0.15-0.35mgL -1 , LOQs of 0.50-1.25mgL -1 , calibration ranges 0.50-150.00mgL -1 (r>0.998) and repeatability at 10.0mgL -1 of RSD≤0.98% (n=6). The method was used for determination of the dyes in "forest berries" colored pharmaceutical cough-cold formulation. The sample matrix - pharmaceuticals and excipients were not interfering with vis determination because of no retention in the separation column and colorless nature. The results proved the concept of fast and green chromatography approach using very short medium polar monolithic column in SIC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cell culture chamber with gas supply for prolonged recording of human neuronal cells on microelectrode array.

PubMed

Kreutzer, Joose; Ylä-Outinen, Laura; Mäki, Antti-Juhana; Ristola, Mervi; Narkilahti, Susanna; Kallio, Pasi

2017-03-15

Typically, live cell analyses are performed outside an incubator in an ambient air, where the lack of sufficient CO 2 supply results in a fast change of pH and the high evaporation causes concentration drifts in the culture medium. That limits the experiment time for tens of minutes. In many applications, e.g. in neurotoxicity studies, a prolonged measurement of extracellular activity is, however, essential. We demonstrate a simple cell culture chamber that enables stable culture conditions during prolonged extracellular recordings on a microelectrode array (MEA) outside an incubator. The proposed chamber consists of a gas permeable silicone structure that enables gas transfer into the chamber. We show that the culture chamber supports the growth of the human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived neurons both inside and outside an incubator. The structure provides very low evaporation, stable pH and osmolarity, and maintains strong signaling of hESC-derived neuronal networks over three-day MEA experiments. Existing systems are typically complex including continuous perfusion of medium or relatively large amount of gas to supply. The proposed chamber requires only a supply of very low flow rate (1.5ml/min) of non-humidified 5% CO 2 gas. Utilizing dry gas supply makes the proposed chamber simple to use. Using the proposed culture structure on top of MEA, we can maintain hESC-derived neural networks over three days outside an incubator. Technically, the structure requires very low flow rate of dry gas supporting, however, low evaporation and maintaining the pH of the culture. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Eruption processes and deposit characteristics at the monogenetic Mt. Gambier Volcanic Complex, SE Australia: implications for alternating magmatic and phreatomagmatic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Otterloo, Jozua; Cas, Raymond A. F.; Sheard, Malcolm J.

2013-08-01

The ˜5 ka Mt. Gambier Volcanic Complex in the Newer Volcanics Province, Australia is an extremely complex monogenetic, volcanic system that preserves at least 14 eruption points aligned along a fissure system. The complex stratigraphy can be subdivided into six main facies that record alternations between magmatic and phreatomagmatic eruption styles in a random manner. The facies are (1) coherent to vesicular fragmental alkali basalt (effusive/Hawaiian spatter and lava flows); (2) massive scoriaceous fine lapilli with coarse ash (Strombolian fallout); (3) bedded scoriaceous fine lapilli tuff (violent Strombolian fallout); (4) thin-medium bedded, undulating very fine lapilli in coarse ash (dry phreatomagmatic surge-modified fallout); (5) palagonite-altered, cross-bedded, medium lapilli to fine ash (wet phreatomagmatic base surges); and (6) massive, palagonite-altered, very poorly sorted tuff breccia and lapilli tuff (phreato-Vulcanian pyroclastic flows). Since most deposits are lithified, to quantify the grain size distributions (GSDs), image analysis was performed. The facies are distinct based on their GSDs and the fine ash to coarse+fine ash ratios. These provide insights into the fragmentation intensities and water-magma interaction efficiencies for each facies. The eruption chronology indicates a random spatial and temporal sequence of occurrence of eruption styles, except for a "magmatic horizon" of effusive activity occurring at both ends of the volcanic complex simultaneously. The eruption foci are located along NW-SE trending lineaments, indicating that the complex was fed by multiple dykes following the subsurface structures related to the Tartwaup Fault System. Possible factors causing vent migration along these dykes and changes in eruption styles include differences in magma ascent rates, viscosity, crystallinity, degassing and magma discharge rate, as well as hydrological parameters.

Mapping and quantifying sediment transfer between the front of rapidly moving rock glaciers and torrential gullies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kummert, Mario; Delaloye, Reynald

2018-05-01

The sedimentary connection which may occur between the front of active rock glaciers and torrential channels is not well understood, despite its potential impact on the torrential activity characterizing the concerned catchments. In this study, DEMs of difference (DoDs) covering various time intervals between 2013 and 2016 were obtained from LiDAR-derived multitemporal DEMs for three rapidly moving rock glaciers located in the western Swiss Alps. The DoDs were used to map and quantify sediment transfer activity between the front of these rock glaciers and the corresponding underlying torrential gullies. Sediment transfer rates ranging between 1500 m3/y and 7800 m3/y have been calculated, depending on the sites. Sediment eroded from the fronts generally accumulated in the upper sectors of the torrential gullies where they were occasionally mobilized within small to medium sized debris flow events. A clear relation between the motion rates of the rock glaciers and the sediment transfer rates calculated at their fronts could be highlighted. Along with the size of the frontal areas, rock glacier creep rates influence thus directly sediment availability in the headwaters of the studied torrents. The frequency-magnitude of debris flow events varied between sites and was mainly related to the concordance of local factors such as topography, water availability, sediment availability or sediment type.

Comparison Study of Subsonic and Transonic Mixing in a Multi-Kw Grid-Nozzle Supersonic Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vyskubenko, Oleg; Sugimoto, Daichi; Watanabe, Goro; Tei, Kazuyoku; Nanri, Kenzo; Fujioka, Tomoo

2005-05-01

The present study compares the laser medium properties for subsonic and transonic iodine injection schemes of a multi-kW grid-nozzle supersonic chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL). Two supersonic nozzles of similar geometry having subsonic or transonic iodine injectors were investigated in the present study. Small signal gain (SSG) and internal cavity temperature (ICT) were experimentally measured as a function of the iodine flow rate and coordinate in the direction of the gas flow. Dissociated fraction of iodine F and the number N of O2(1Δ) molecules consumed for the dissociation of one iodine molecule were estimated by an analytical method, utilizing SSG and ICT as input parameters. Both gain and temperature were measured by diode laser spectroscopy. Pressure broadening of the spectroscopic line of iodine atom was taken into account when calculating the gas temperature in the cavity.

Log law of the wall revisited in Taylor-Couette flows at intermediate Reynolds numbers.

PubMed

Singh, Harminder; Suazo, Claudio Alberto Torres; Liné, Alain

2016-11-01

We provide Reynolds averaged azimuthal velocity profiles, measured in a Taylor-Couette system in turbulent flow, at medium Reynolds (7800 < Re < 18000) number with particle image velocimetry technique. We find that in the wall regions, close to the inner and outer cylinders, the azimuthal velocity profile reveals a significant deviation from classical logarithmic law. In order to propose a new law of the wall, the profile of turbulent mixing length was estimated from data processing; it was shown to behave nonlinearly with the radial wall distance. Based on this turbulent mixing length expression, a law of the wall was proposed for the Reynolds averaged azimuthal velocity, derived from momentum balance and validated by comparison to different data. In addition, the profile of viscous dissipation rate was investigated and compared to the global power needed to maintain the inner cylinder in rotation.

Experimental characterization of 3-dimensional gravity-driven fingering in a porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalbe, Marie-Julie; Juanes, Ruben

2017-11-01

When water infiltrates a dry porous media, a gravity-driven instability can be observed. Water will penetrate the porous media along preferential paths, called fingers. This gravity-driven unstable multiphase flow has important implications for natural phenomena such as rainwater infiltration in soil and secondary oil migration in reservoir rocks. While several experimental and numerical studies have described the instability in 2-dimensional (2D) settings, fundamental questions remain on the morphodynamics of gravity fingering in 3D. We developed a 3D experimental set-up based on planar laser-induced fluorescence of index-matched fluids that allows us to image this phenomenon dynamically. We study the impact of some crucial parameters such as rainfall rate or grain size on the finger size and velocity. In addition, experiments in stratified media reveal interesting dynamics of finger flow across material interfaces, an essential aspect towards the understanding of water infiltration in soils.

Physical modelling of Czochralski crystal growth in horizontal magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grants, Ilmārs; Pal, Josef; Gerbeth, Gunter

2017-07-01

This study addresses experimentally the heat transfer, the temperature azimuthal non-uniformity and the onset of oscillations in a low temperature physical model of a medium-sized Czochralski crystal growth process with a strong horizontal magnetic field (HMF). It is observed that under certain conditions the integral heat flux may decrease with increasing magnetic field strength at the same time as the flow velocity increases. The azimuthal non-uniformity of the temperature field in the melt near the crystal model rim is only little influenced by its rotation rate outside of a narrow range where the centrifugal force balances the buoyant one. The flow oscillation onset has been observed for two values of the HMF strength. Conditions of this onset are little influenced by the crystal rotation. The critical temperature difference of the oscillation onset considerably exceeds that of the Rayleigh-Bénard (RB) cell in a strong HMF.

Simple predictions of maximum transport rate in unsaturated soil and rock

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nimmo, John R.

2007-01-01

In contrast with the extreme variability expected for water and contaminant fluxes in the unsaturated zone, evidence from 64 field tests of preferential flow indicates that the maximum transport speed Vmax, adjusted for episodicity of infiltration, deviates little from a geometric mean of 13 m/d. A model based on constant‐speed travel during infiltration pulses of actual or estimated duration can predict Vmax with approximate order‐of‐magnitude accuracy, irrespective of medium or travel distance, thereby facilitating such problems as the prediction of worst‐case contaminant traveltimes. The lesser variability suggests that preferential flow is subject to rate‐limiting mechanisms analogous to those that impose a terminal velocity on objects in free fall and to rate‐compensating mechanisms analogous to Le Chatlier's principle. A critical feature allowing such mechanisms to dominate may be the presence of interfacial boundaries confined by neither solid material nor capillary forces.

An experimental study of the transient regime to fluidized chimney in a granular medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Philippe, Pierre; Mena, Sarah; Brunier-Coulin, Florian; Curtis, Jennifer

2017-06-01

Localized fluidization within a granular packing along an almost cylindrical chimney is observed when an upward fluid-flow, injected through a small port diameter, exceeds a critical flow-rate. Once this threshold reached, a fluidized area is first initiated in the close vicinity of the injection hole before gradually growing upward to the top surface of the granular layer. In this work, we present an experimental investigation specifically dedicated to the kinetics of chimney fluidization in an immersed granular bed. Two different transient regimes are identified depending on wether the expansion of the fluidized area is rather fast and regular, reaching the final chimney state typically in less than 10 seconds, or, on the contrary, slow and very progressively accelerated, giving rise to transient duration up to 1 hour or even more. Some systematic investigations allow to propose several empirical scaling relations for the kinetics of chimney fluidization in the fast regular regime.

Hall effect in a moving liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Lieto, Alberto; Giuliano, Alessia; Maccarrone, Francesco; Paffuti, Giampiero

2012-01-01

A simple experiment, suitable for performing in an undergraduate physics laboratory, illustrates electromagnetic induction through the water entering into a cylindrical rubber tube by detecting the voltage developed across the tube in the direction transverse both to the flow velocity and to the magnetic field. The apparatus is a very simple example of an electromagnetic flowmeter, a device which is commonly used both in industrial and physiological techniques. The phenomenology observed is similar to that of the Hall effect in the absence of an electric current in the direction of motion of the carriers. The experimental results show a dependence on the intensity of the magnetic field and on the carrier velocity, in good agreement with the theory. Discussion of the system, based on classical electromagnetism, indicates that the effect depends only on the flow rate, and is independent both of the velocity profile and of the electrical conductivity of the medium.

Couette flow through a porous medium with heat and mass transfer in the presence of tranverse magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawanya, T.; Vidhya, M.; Govindarajan, A.

2018-04-01

This present paper deals with the investigation of couette flow of a viscous electrically conducting incompressible fluid three dimensionally through a porous medium in presence of transverse magnetic field. Approximate Solution of equations of motion and energy equations are derived using series solution method. Hartmann number, Schmidt number and Grashoff number (or) modified Grashoff number for mass transfer on the velocity and temperature distribution are numerically discussed and shown graphically. The Nusselt number and skin friction coefficients atthe plate are derived and their numerical values are shown graphically. It is seen that in the main flow direction the velocity profiles decreases due to either an increase in Schmidt number (Or) Hartmann number.

Gene expression responses of HeLa cells to chemical species generated by an atmospheric plasma flow

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yokoyama, Mayo, E-mail: yokoyama@plasma.ifs.tohoku.ac.jp; Johkura, Kohei, E-mail: kohei@shinshu-u.ac.jp; Sato, Takehiko, E-mail: sato@ifs.tohoku.ac.jp

2014-08-08

Highlights: • Response of HeLa cells to a plasma-irradiated medium was revealed by DNA microarray. • Gene expression pattern was basically different from that in a H{sub 2}O{sub 2}-added medium. • Prominently up-/down-regulated genes were partly shared by the two media. • Gene ontology analysis showed both similar and different responses in the two media. • Candidate genes involved in response to ROS were detected in each medium. - Abstract: Plasma irradiation generates many factors able to affect the cellular condition, and this feature has been studied for its application in the field of medicine. We previously reported that hydrogenmore » peroxide (H{sub 2}O{sub 2}) was the major cause of HeLa cell death among the chemical species generated by high level irradiation of a culture medium by atmospheric plasma. To assess the effect of plasma-induced factors on the response of live cells, HeLa cells were exposed to a medium irradiated by a non-lethal plasma flow level, and their gene expression was broadly analyzed by DNA microarray in comparison with that in a corresponding concentration of 51 μM H{sub 2}O{sub 2}. As a result, though the cell viability was sufficiently maintained at more than 90% in both cases, the plasma-medium had a greater impact on it than the H{sub 2}O{sub 2}-medium. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed fundamentally different cellular responses between these two media. A larger population of genes was upregulated in the plasma-medium, whereas genes were downregulated in the H{sub 2}O{sub 2}-medium. However, a part of the genes that showed prominent differential expression was shared by them, including an immediate early gene ID2. In gene ontology analysis of upregulated genes, the plasma-medium showed more diverse ontologies than the H{sub 2}O{sub 2}-medium, whereas ontologies such as “response to stimulus” were common, and several genes corresponded to “response to reactive oxygen species.” Genes of AP-1 proteins, e.g., JUN and FOS, were detected and notably elevated in the plasma-medium. These results showed that the medium irradiated with a non-lethal level of plasma flow altered various gene expressions of HeLa cells by giving not only common effects with H{sub 2}O{sub 2} but also some distinctive actions. This study suggests that in addition to H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, other chemical species able to affect the cellular responses exist in the plasma-irradiated medium and provide unique features for it, probably increasing the oxidative stress level.« less

Stochastic analysis of three-dimensional flow in a bounded domain

USGS Publications Warehouse

Naff, R.L.; Vecchia, A.V.

1986-01-01

A commonly accepted first-order approximation of the equation for steady state flow in a fully saturated spatially random medium has the form of Poisson's equation. This form allows for the advantageous use of Green's functions to solve for the random output (hydraulic heads) in terms of a convolution over the random input (the logarithm of hydraulic conductivity). A solution for steady state three- dimensional flow in an aquifer bounded above and below is presented; consideration of these boundaries is made possible by use of Green's functions to solve Poisson's equation. Within the bounded domain the medium hydraulic conductivity is assumed to be a second-order stationary random process as represented by a simple three-dimensional covariance function. Upper and lower boundaries are taken to be no-flow boundaries; the mean flow vector lies entirely in the horizontal dimensions. The resulting hydraulic head covariance function exhibits nonstationary effects resulting from the imposition of boundary conditions. Comparisons are made with existing infinite domain solutions.

Cast-to-shape electrokinetic trapping medium

DOEpatents

Shepodd, Timothy J.; Franklin, Elizabeth; Prickett, Zane T.; Artau, Alexander

2004-08-03

A three-dimensional microporous polymer network material, or monolith, cast-to-shape in a microchannel. The polymer monolith, produced by a phase separation process, is capable of trapping and retaining charged protein species from a mixture of charged and uncharged species under the influence of an applied electric field. The retained charged protein species are released from the porous polymer monolith by a pressure driven flow in the substantial absence of the electric field. The pressure driven flow is independent of direction and thus neither means to reverse fluid flow nor a multi-directional flow field is required, a single flow through the porous polymer monolith can be employed, in contrast to prior art systems. The monolithic polymer material produced by the invention can function as a chromatographic medium. Moreover, by virtue of its ability to retain charged protein species and quantitatively release the retained species the porous polymer monolith can serve as a means for concentrating charged protein species from, for example, a dilute solution.

Cast-to-shape electrokinetic trapping medium

DOEpatents

Shepodd, Timothy J [Livermore, CA; Franklin, Elizabeth [Rolla, MO; Prickett, Zane T [Golden, CO; Artau, Alexander [Pleasanton, CA

2006-05-30

A three-dimensional microporous polymer network material, or monolith, cast-to-shape in a microchannel. The polymer monolith, produced by a phase separation process, is capable of trapping and retaining charged protein species from a mixture of charged and uncharged species under the influence of an applied electric field. The retained charged protein species are released from the porous polymer monolith by a pressure driven flow in the substantial absence of the electric field. The pressure driven flow is independent of direction and thus neither means to reverse fluid flow nor a multi-directional flow field is required, a single flow through the porous polymer monolith can be employed, in contrast to prior art systems. The monolithic polymer material produced by the invention can function as a chromatographic medium. Moreover, by virtue of its ability to retain charged protein species and quantitatively release the retained species the porous polymer monolith can serve as a means for concentrating charged protein species from, for example, a dilute solution.

Tissue expansion and fluid absorption by skin tissue following intradermal injections through hollow microneedles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrestha, Pranav; Stoeber, Boris

2017-11-01

Hollow microneedles provide a promising alternative to conventional drug delivery techniques due to improved patient compliance and the dose sparing effect. The dynamics of fluid injected through hollow microneedles into skin, which is a heterogeneous and deformable porous medium, have not been investigated extensively in the past. We have introduced the use of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for real-time visualization of fluid injections into excised porcine tissue. The results from ex-vivo experiments, including cross-sectional tissue images from OCT and pressure/flow-rate measurements, show a transient mode of high flow-rate into the tissue followed by a lower steady-state infusion rate. The injected fluid expands the underlying tissue and causes the external free surface of the skin to rise, forming a characteristic intradermal wheal. We have used OCT to visualize the evolution of tissue and free surface deformation, and advancement of the boundary between regions of expanding and stationary tissue. We will show the effect of different injection parameters such as fluid pressure, viscosity and microneedle retraction on the injected volume. This work has been supported through funding from the Collaborative Health Research Program by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Health Research Institute, and through the Canada Research Chairs program.

An electromagnetic microvalve for pneumatic control of microfluidic systems.

PubMed

Liu, Xuling; Li, Songjing

2014-10-01

An electromagnetic microvalve for pneumatic control of microfluidic devices has been designed, fabricated, and tested. The microvalve is composed of two parts: a miniature electromagnetic actuator and a valve body. The electromagnetic actuator consists mainly of a thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based elastomer, which acts as the valve diaphragm. The diaphragm, used as a solid hydraulic medium, converts the large contact area of a valve core into a small contact area of valve head while maintaining a large stroking force. This microvalve remains closed because of a compressed mechanical spring force generated by the actuator. On the other hand, when a voltage is applied, the valve core moves up, relaxing the thin PDMS membrane, opening the microvalve. The fast open response (~17 ms) of the valve was achieved with a leak rate as low as 0.026 sccm at 200 KPa (N2) pressure. We tested the pertinent dynamic parameters such as flow rate in on/off mode, flow rate of duty cycles, and actuated frequencies in pulse width modulation (PWM) mode. Our method provides a simple, cheap, and small microvalve that avoids the bulky and expensive external pressure control solenoid manifold. This allows it to be easily integrated into portable and disposable devices. © 2014 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening.

Cytotoxicity of four denture adhesives on human gingival fibroblast cells.

PubMed

Lee, Yoon; Ahn, Jin-Soo; Yi, Young-Ah; Chung, Shin-Hye; Yoo, Yeon-Jee; Ju, Sung-Won; Hwang, Ji-Yun; Seo, Deog-Gyu

2015-02-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the cytotoxicity of four denture adhesives on human gingival fibroblast cells. Immortalized human gingival fibroblasts were cultured with one of four different denture adhesives, Polident, Protefix, Staydent or Denfix-A, which was placed in insert dishes (10% w/v concentration) for 48 h. The MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay and flow cytometric apoptosis assay were used to evaluate cell viability and apoptosis rates. The fibroblasts were also examined under a scanning electron microscope. The MTT assay showed that all denture adhesives resulted in a significantly lower cell viability compared to the control cells propagated in normal culture medium (p < 0.05), with Staydent demonstrating the lowest cell viability. According to the flow cytometric apoptosis assay, Staydent and Protefix showed significantly higher apoptosis rates than the control group (p < 0.05), whereas Polident and Denfix-A did not demonstrate any significant differences (p > 0.05). Staydent showed the highest apoptosis rate. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the cells of the Staydent group underwent cytoplasmic membrane shrinkage, with cell free areas containing residual fragments of the membrane of dead cells. The four denture adhesives evaluated in this study imparted cytotoxic effects on human gingival fibroblast cells. Staydent showed the highest toxicity.

Fertility and flow cytometry study of frozen-thawed sperm in cryopreservation medium supplemented with soybean lecithin.

PubMed

Masoudi, R; Sharafi, M; Zareh Shahneh, A; Towhidi, A; Kohram, H; Esmaeili, V; Shahverdi, A; Davachi, N Dadashpour

2016-08-01

Semen cryopreservation can provide genetic resources for a large number of females from a small number of superior males. Optimization of cryopreservation media to achieve the highest quality of post-thaw semen is crucial. Soybean lecithin has evaluated as a plant-based cryoprotectant for substitution of egg yolk in ram semen extender. Flow cytometric and fertility assessments were applied following cryopreservation procedure in two experimental groups (SL group: extender containing 1% w/v soybean lecithin and EY group: extender containing 20% v/v egg yolk). The higher percentage of live sperm and the lower percentage of dead sperm were obtained in SL (47.66 ± 1.38, 52.33 ± 1.69, respectively) extender compared to EY (41.16 ± 1.38, 58.83 ± 1.69). For motion characteristics, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity and mitochondria activity, no significant difference was observed between SL and EY extenders. In artificial insemination experiment, there was no significant difference in pregnancy rate, lambing rate and twining rate between SL and EY extenders. It can be concluded that SL extender can be an efficient alternative extender to preserve ram sperm during cryopreservation procedure without adverse effects. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Soft-tissue tumor differentiation using 3D power Doppler ultrasonography with echo-contrast medium injection.

PubMed

Chiou, Hong-Jen; Chou, Yi-Hong; Chen, Wei-Ming; Chen, Winby; Wang, Hsin-Kai; Chang, Cheng-Yen

2010-12-01

We aimed to evaluate the ability of 3-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography to differentiate soft-tissue masses from blood flow and vascularization with contrast medium. Twenty-five patients (mean age, 44.1 years; range, 12-77 years) with a palpable mass were enrolled in this study. Volume data were acquired using linear and convex 3-dimensional probes and contrast medium injected manually by bolus. Data were stored and traced slice by slice for 12 slices. All patients were scanned by the same senior sonologist. The vascular index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascular-flow index (VFI) were automatically calculated after the tumor was completely traced. All tumors were later confirmed by pathology. The study included 8 benign (mean, 36.5 mL; range, 2.4-124 mL) and 17 malignant (mean, 319.4 mL; range, 9.9-1,179.6 mL) tumors. Before contrast medium injection, mean VI, FI and VFI were, respectively, 3.22, 32.26 and 1.07 in benign tumors, and 1.97, 29.33 and 0.67 in malignant tumors. After contrast medium injection, they were, respectively, 20.85, 37.33 and 8.52 in benign tumors, and 40.12, 41.21 and 17.77 in malignant tumors. The mean differences between with and without contrast injection for VI, FI and VFI were, respectively, 17.63, 5.07 and 7.45 in benign tumors, and 38.15, 11.88 and 16.55 in malignant tumors. Tumor volume, VI, FI and VFI were not significantly different between benign and malignant tumors before and after echo-contrast medium injection. However, VI, FI and VFI under self-differentiation (differences between with and without contrast injection) were significantly different between malignant and benign tumors. Three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound is a valuable tool for differential diagnosis of soft-tissue tumors, especially with the injection of an echo-contrast medium. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of flow rate and gas mixture on the welfare of weaned and neonate pigs during gas euthanasia.

PubMed

Sadler, L J; Hagen, C D; Wang, C; Widowski, T M; Johnson, A K; Millman, S T

2014-02-01

The objectives of this study were to assess efficacy and welfare implications of gas euthanasia when applied to weaned and neonate pigs. Parameters associated with welfare, which were measured before loss of consciousness, included open-mouth breathing, ataxia, righting response, and escape attempts. Two age groups (weaned and neonate) were assessed in 9 gas treatments arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial design, with 2 gas types (CO2 = 100% CO2 and 50:50 = 50:50 CO2:argon) and 4 flow rates (box volume exchange/min: slow = 20%; medium = 35%; fast = 50%; prefill = prefilled followed by 20%) and a control treatment in which ambient air was passed through the box. Pig pairs (10/treatment) were placed in a modified Euthanex AgPro system (Euthanex Corp., Palmer, PA). Behavioral and physiological responses were observed directly and from video recordings for latency, duration, prevalence (percent of pigs affected), and frequency (number of occurrences/pig). Data were analyzed as linear mixed models or with a Cox proportional hazard model as appropriate. Piglet pair was the experimental unit. For the weaned pig, welfare was superior with CO2 relative to 50:50 within 1 or more flow rates on the basis of reduced duration of open-mouth breathing, duration of ataxia, frequency of escape attempts, and duration and frequency of righting response (P < 0.05). No measured parameters indicated superior welfare with the use of 50:50, whereas latencies to loss of posture and last movement favored CO2 (P < 0.05). Faster flow rates were associated with reduced (P < 0.05) duration or frequency of open-mouth breathing, ataxia, and righting response, as well as superior (P < 0.05) indicators of efficacy, including latencies to loss of posture, gasping, and last movement, relative to slower flow rates. Weaned pigs were more likely to defecate (P < 0.01), display nasal discharge (P < 0.05), and display longer (P < 0.001) latencies to loss of posture and last movement than neonates. Duration of ataxia was the only parameter for which neonates were superior (P < 0.01) to weaned pigs during euthanasia. As such, a 50:50 CO2:argon gas mixture and slower flow rates should be avoided when euthanizing weaned or neonate pigs with gas methods. Neonate pigs succumb to the effects of gas euthanasia quicker than weaned pigs and display fewer signs of distress.