Decomposition driven interface evolution for layers of binary mixtures: I. Model dirivation and base states

A dynamical model is proposed to describe the coupled decomposition and profile evolution of a free surfacefilm of a binary mixture. An example is a thin film of a polymer blend on a solid substrate undergoing simultaneous phase separation and dewetting. The model is based on model-H describing the coupled transport of the mass of one component (convective Cahn-Hilliard equation) and momentum (Navier-Stokes-Korteweg equations) supplemented by appropriate boundary conditions at the solid substrate and the free surface. General transport equations are derived using phenomenological nonequilibrium thermodynamics for a general nonisothermal setting taking into account Soret and Dufour effects and interfacial viscosity for the internal diffuse interface between the two components. Focusing on an isothermal setting the resulting model is compared to literature results and its base states corresponding to homogeneous or vertically stratified flat layers are analyzed.

Polymer interaction with macroscopic carbon nanotube fibres and fabrication of nanostructured composites

El ensamblado de nanotubos de carbono (CNT) como una fibra macroscópica en la cual están orientados preferentemente paralelos entre sí y al eje de la fibra, ha dado como resultado un nuevo tipo de fibra de altas prestaciones derivadas de la explotación eficiente de las propiedades axiales de los CNTs, y que tiene un gran número de aplicaciones potenciales. Fibras continuas de CNTs se produjeron en el Instituto IMDEA Materiales mediante el proceso de hilado directo durante la reacción de síntesis por deposición química de vapores. Uno de los objetivos de esta tesis es el estudio de la estructura de estas fibras mediante técnicas del estado del arte de difracción de rayos X de sincrotrón y la elaboración de un modelo estructural de dicho material. Mediciones texturales de adsorción de gases, análisis de micrografías de electrones y dispersión de rayos X de ángulo alto y bajo (WAXS/SAXS) indican que el material tiene una estructura mesoporosa con una distribución de tamaño de poros ancha derivada del amplio rango de separaciones entre manojos de CNTs, así como una superficie específica de 170m2/g. Los valores de dimensión fractal obtenidos mediante SAXS y análisis Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) de mediciones texturales coinciden en 2.4 y 2.5, respectivamente, resaltando el carácter de red de la estructura de dichas fibras. La estructura mesoporosa y tipo hilo de las fibra de CNT es accesible a la infiltración de moléculas externas (líquidos o polímeros). En este trabajo se estudian los cambios en la estructura multiescala de las fibras de CNTs al interactuar con líquidos y polímeros. Los efectos de la densificación en la estructura de fibras secas de CNT son estudiados mediante WAXS/SAXS. El tratamiento de densificación junta los manojos de la fibra (los poros disminuyen de tamaño), resultando en un incremento de la densidad de la fibra. Sin embargo, los dominios estructurales correspondientes a la transferencia de esfuerzo mecánica y carga eléctrica en los nanotubos no son afectados durante este proceso de densificación; como consecuencia no se produce un efecto sustancial en las propiedades mecánicas y eléctricas. Mediciones de SAXS and fibra de CNT antes y después de infiltración de líquidos confirman la penetración de una gran cantidad de líquidos que llena los poros internos de la fibra pero no se intercalan entre capas de nanotubos adyacentes. La infiltración de cadenas poliméricas de bajo peso molecular tiende a expandir los manojos en la fibra e incrementar el ángulo de apertura de los poros. Los resultados de SAXS indican que la estructura interna de la fibra en términos de la organización de las capas de tubos y su orientación no es afectada cuando las muestras consisten en fibras infiltradas con polímeros de alto peso molecular. La cristalización de varios polímeros semicristalinos es acelerada por la presencia de fibras de CNTs alineados y produce el crecimiento de una capa transcristalina normal a la superficie de la fibra. Esto es observado directamente mediante microscopía óptica polarizada, y detectado mediante calorimetría DSC. Las lamelas en la capa transcristalina tienen orientación de la cadena polimérica paralela a la fibra y por lo tanto a los nanotubos, de acuerdo con los patrones de WAXS. Esta orientación preferencial se sugiere como parte de la fuerza impulsora en la nucleación. La nucleación del dominio cristalino polimérico en la superficie de los CNT no es epitaxial. Ocurre sin haber correspondencia entre las estructuras cristalinas del polímero y los nanotubos. Estas observaciones contribuyen a la compresión del fenómeno de nucleación en CNTs y otros nanocarbonos, y sientan las bases para el desarrollo de composites poliméricos de gran escala basados en fibra larga de CNTs alineados. ABSTRACT The assembly of carbon nanotubes into a macroscopic fibre material where they are preferentially aligned parallel to each other and to the fibre axis has resulted in a new class of high-performance fibres, which efficiently exploits the axial properties of the building blocks and has numerous applications. Long, continuous CNT fibres were produced in IMDEA Materials Institute by direct fibre spinning from a chemical vapour deposition reaction. These fibres have a complex hierarchical structure covering multiple length scales. One objective of this thesis is to reveal this structure by means of state-of-the-art techniques such as synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and to build a model to link the fibre structural elements. Texture and gas absorption measurements, using electron microscopy, wide angle and small angle X-ray scattering (WAXS/SAXS), and pore size distribution analysis by Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH), indicate that the material has a mesoporous structure with a wide pore size distribution arising from the range of fibre bundle separation, and a high surface area _170m2/g. Fractal dimension values of 2.4_2.5 obtained from the SAXS and BJH measurements highlight the network structure of the fibre. Mesoporous and yarn-like structure of CNT fibres make them accessible to the infiltration of foreign molecules (liquid or polymer). This work studies multiscale structural changes when CNT fibres interact with liquids and polymers. The effects of densification on the structure of dry CNT fibres were measured by WAXS/SAXS. The densification treatment brings the fibre bundles closer (pores become smaller), leading to an increase in fibre density. However, structural domains made of the load and charge carrying nanotubes are not affected; consequently, it has no substantial effect on mechanical and electrical properties. SAXS measurements on the CNT fibres before and after liquid infiltration imply that most liquids are able to fill the internal pores but not to intercalate between nanotubes. Successful infiltration of low molecular weight polymer chains tends to expand the fibre bundles and increases the pore-opening angle. SAXS results indicate that the inner structure of the fibre, in terms of the nanotube layer arrangement and the fibre alignment, are not largely affected when infiltrated with polymers of relatively high molecular weight. The crystallisation of a variety of semicrystalline polymers is accelerated by the presence of aligned fibres of CNTs and results in the growth of a transcrystalline layer perpendicular to the fibre surface. This can be observed directly under polarised optical microscope, and detected by the exothermic peaks during differential scanning calorimetry. The discussion on the driving forces for the enhanced nucleation points out the preferential chain orientation of polymer lamella with the chain axis parallel to the fibre and thus to the nanotubes, which is confirmed by two-dimensional WAXS patterns. A non-epitaxial polymer crystal growth habit at the CNT-polymer interface is proposed, which is independent of lattice matching between the polymer and nanotubes. These findings contribute to the discussion on polymer nucleation on CNTs and other nanocarbons, and their implication for the development of large polymer composites based on long and aligned fibres of CNTs.

Analysis of air flow past and through the 2415-3S airfoil for an unmanned aerial vehicle with internal propulsion system

This paper deals with the prediction of velocity fields on the 2415-3S airfoil which will be used for an unmanned aerial vehicle with internal propulsion system and in this way analyze the air flow through an internal duct of the airfoil using computational fluid dynamics. The main objective is to evaluate the effect of the internal air flow past the airfoil and how this affects the aerodynamic performance by means of lift and drag forces. For this purpose, three different designs of the internal duct were studied; starting from the base 2415-3S airfoil developed in previous investigation, basing on the hypothesis of decreasing the flow separation produced when the propulsive airflow merges the external flow, and in this way obtaining the best configuration. For that purpose, an exhaustive study of the mesh sensitivity was performed. It was used a non-structured mesh since the computational domain is three-dimensional and complex. The selected mesh contains approximately 12.5 million elements. Both the computational domain and the numerical solution were made with commercial CAD and CFD software, respectively. Air, incompressible and steady was analyzed. The boundary conditions are in concordance with experimental setup in the AF 6109 wind tunnel. The k-e model is utilized to describe the turbulent flow process as followed in references. Results allowed obtaining velocity contours as well as lift and drag coefficients and also the location of separation and reattachment regions in some cases for zero degrees of angle of attack on the internal and external surfaces of the airfoil. Finally, the selection of the configuration with the best aerodynamic performance was made, selecting the option without curved baffles.

Caracterización Dinámica de Partículas Magnéticas y su Uso en Aplicaciones Biomédicas

El uso de las partículas magnéticas ha venido a más durante los últimos 10 años. Lo anterior ha estado condicionado por factores como la amplia investigación en materiales a nivel atómico, los retos propuestos por las diferentes áreas de investigación donde los niveles nanométricos cobran importancia, la inherente innovación tecnológica que pueden aportar a la industria dichas escalas y finalmente, el impacto socioeconómico que pueden tener estos avances tecnológicos. Sin embargo, la traslación a la industria de los avances tecnológicos se ha visto limitada por la falta de estrategias, ya que el 88% del conocimiento se queda en Universidades y Centros de Investigación y el resto, 12%, pasa a la industria o es obtenido en ella. En este trabajo de investigación se ha tratado de completar el círculo de idea, conceptualización, generación de conocimiento, prototipo, prueba in vitro y prueba in vivo; todo ello para dejar el menor espacio posible entre Investigación e Industria. Se ha fabricado un recinto que permite la observación del comportamiento de las partículas magnéticas cuando están inmersas en un medio con viscosidad controlada y con una fuente magnética estática. De la observación experimental se han encontrado fenómenos magnéticos como la aglomeración y la autoorganización, que han sido aprovechados, no solo para ofrecer una solución alternativa a la corrección del desprendimiento de retina, sino también para promover las mejoras de métodos de separación y/o filtrado celular, ayuda en correcciones ortopédicas o en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de enfermedades degenerativas. Particularizando en la corrección del desprendimiento de retina, se ha desarrollado y patentado un Dispositivo Ocular cuya función es la de tapón del agujero retiniano, ayudando en la cicatrización de la retina. Dicho dispositivo ha sido evaluado en conejos albinos neozelandeses obteniéndose un éxito en la reaplicación de la retina del 80% y resultando su toxicidad en condición difusa tras evaluación anatomopatológica. Así mismo, el ferrofluido diseñado y fabricado se ha localizado en la zona de interacción magnética siempre y su disposición ha sido en el mayor de los casos en forma de placa pero también se han formado anillos; lo anterior no ha afectado en ningún sentido el éxito en la reaplicación de la retina. Por otro lado, no se han encontrado indicios de siderosis en la zona de interacción magnética, sus alrededores o el resto del globo ocular; ni las células han presentado apoptosis inducida por los materiales introducidos en el ojo. Sin embargo, se ha encontrado una fuerte necrosis inducida por la presión ejercida sobre la retina por el dispositivo ocular, evidenciando la necesidad de un mejor control de dicha presión. Tras la caracterización de los copos y la presión que éstos ejercen, se ha podido identificar que el dispositivo ocular se puede sintonizar para inducir una presión entre 0.5 y 2.5 mmHg; por tanto se puede vislumbrar que es posible minimizar la muerte celular causada en las células retinianas. Finalmente, tras la experimentación con conejos se ha observado que el dispositivo ocular resuelve los problemas inducidos por las siliconas o los gases e inclusive aporta ventajas competitivas de alto valor añadido como: no requerir de posiciones incómodas en el post-operatorio, no modifica las propiedades ópticas del ojo ya que no es necesario dejar silicona o gases en el interior del ojo, se pueden sellar múltiples agujeros retinianos, corrección de desprendimiento de retina inferior sin complicaciones asociadas, etc.; en definitiva mejora la calidad de vida domiciliaria del paciente además de solventar los problemas inducidos por las soluciones actuales. The using of magnetic particles has become more important during last 10 years. This event has been conditioned by several factors like a wide researching on materials at atomic level, the challenges proposed by different research areas where nanometric levels became important, the inherent technological innovation to the industry and finally, the socioeconomic impact of these kinds of technologies. However, the nanotechnological advances have not been well addressed to the industry since 88% of the acknowledge keeps on Universities and Research Centers, and the remaining 12% goes through the industry or is obtained in it. In this research work, we have tried to complete the entire process about idea, concept, acknowledge generation, prototyping and in vitro and in vivo testing; all to leave as little space as possible between Research and Industry. We have built an experimental hall which allows us the observation of magnetic particles' behavior when are immersing in a controlled viscous medium and under a static magnetic field. The experimental observation has been useful to identify and use two magnetic phenomena: agglomeration and self-organization; no only for retinal detachment, but also to improve cellular separation and/or filtered methods, orthopedic solutions or the diagnostic and treatment of degenerative diseases. Particularizing on retinal detachment, we have developed and patented an Ocular Device which its function is acting like a tampon of the retinal hole for helping with the scarring retina. The device has been evaluated in animals and the results show that we can achieve a success of 80% before rabbit’s death and non cell apoptosis, only necrosis, over the retina attached by the ocular device after anatomopathological evaluation. Also we have identified a diffuse toxicity after anatomopathological evaluation, so more experimenting must be proposed. Otherwise, the ferrofluid has been localized where the magnetic interaction area is located and its deposition has been in most cases plaque shape like but rings have also been observed; this has not affected in any way the successful reattachment of the retina. On the other hand, we have not found any evidence of siderosis in the magnetic interaction zone, near of or some other place of the ocular globe; and we did not find any apoptosis induced by the materials inserted within the eye. However full necrosis, exactly on the magnetic interaction zone, has been found and induced by the pressure exerted over the retina by the ocular device, evidencing the needing of its better control. After flakes’ characterization and its pressure exerted, we identified that the ocular device can be tuned in order to induce a pressure between 0.5 and 2.5 mmHg; therefore we can perceive that death caused to the retinal cells can be minimized. Finally, the experimentation has shown that the ocular device solves all problems induced by silicone or gases an even contributes with some other competitive advantages of high added value like: no uncomfortable postoperative positions, it does not modify any optical property of the eye because there is no needing of leaving silicone or gases inside the eye, many holes can be sealed, the inferior retinal detachment can be solve without any complications, etc.; definitively the ocular device improves patients’ quality of life.

Discovery of a low-mass brown dwarf companion of the young nearby star G196-3.

A substellar-mass object in orbit at about 300 astronomical units from the young low-mass star G 196-3 was detected by direct imaging. Optical and infrared photometry and low- and intermediate-resolution spectroscopy of the faint companion, hereafter referred to as G 196-3B, confirm its cool atmosphere ?15 Jupiter masses. The separation and allow its mass to be estimated at 25?10 between the objects and their mass ratio suggest the fragmentation of a collapsing cloud as the most likely origin for G 196-3B, but alternatively it could have originated from a protoplanetary disc that has been dissipated. Whatever the formation process was, the young age of the primary star (about 100 million years) demonstrates that substellar companions can form on short time scales.

Signal-to-noise ratio of the MEG signal after preprocessing

Background Magnetoencephalography (MEG) provides a direct measure of brain activity with high combined spatiotemporal resolution. Preprocessing is necessary to reduce contributions from environmental interference and biological noise. New method The effect on the signal-to-noise ratio of different preprocessing techniques is evaluated. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was defined as the ratio between the mean signal amplitude (evoked field) and the standard error of the mean over trials. Results Recordings from 26 subjects obtained during and event-related visual paradigm with an Elekta MEG scanner were employed. Two methods were considered as first-step noise reduction: Signal Space Separation and temporal Signal Space Separation, which decompose the signal into components with origin inside and outside the head. Both algorithm increased the SNR by approximately 100%. Epoch-based methods, aimed at identifying and rejecting epochs containing eye blinks, muscular artifacts and sensor jumps provided an SNR improvement of 5–10%. Decomposition methods evaluated were independent component analysis (ICA) and second-order blind identification (SOBI). The increase in SNR was of about 36% with ICA and 33% with SOBI. Comparison with existing methods No previous systematic evaluation of the effect of the typical preprocessing steps in the SNR of the MEG signal has been performed. Conclusions The application of either SSS or tSSS is mandatory in Elekta systems. No significant differences were found between the two. While epoch-based methods have been routinely applied the less often considered decomposition methods were clearly superior and therefore their use seems advisable.

Nueva tecnología para la separación de gases atmosféricos y captura de dióxido de carbono por aplicación de campos electromagnéticos y fotoionización

Son numerosos los expertos que predicen que hasta pasado 2050 no se utilizarán masivamente las energías de origen renovable, y que por tanto se mantendrá la emisión de dióxido de carbono de forma incontrolada. Entre tanto, y previendo que este tipo de uso se mantenga hasta un horizonte temporal aún más lejano, la captura, concentración y secuestro o reutilización de dióxido de carbono es y será una de las principales soluciones a implantar para paliar el problema medioambiental causado. Sin embargo, las tecnologías existentes y en desarrollo de captura y concentración de este tipo de gas, presentan dos limitaciones: las grandes cantidades de energía que consumen y los grandes volúmenes de sustancias potencialmente dañinas para el medioambiente que producen durante su funcionamiento. Ambas razones hacen que no sean atractivas para su implantación y uso de forma extensiva. La solución planteada en la presente tesis doctoral se caracteriza por la ausencia de residuos producidos en la operación de captura y concentración del dióxido de carbono, por no utilizar substancias químicas y físicas habituales en las técnicas actuales, por disminuir los consumos energéticos al carecer de sistemas móviles y por evitar la regeneración química y física de los materiales utilizados en la actualidad. Así mismo, plantea grandes retos a futuras innovaciones sobre la idea propuesta que busquen fundamentalmente la disminución de la energía utilizada durante su funcionamiento y la optimización de sus componentes principales. Para conseguir el objetivo antes citado, la presente tesis doctoral, una vez establecido el planteamiento del problema al que se busca solución (capítulo 1), del estudio de las técnicas de separación de gases atmosféricos utilizadas en la actualidad, así como del de los sistemas fundamentales de las instalaciones de captura y concentración del dióxido de carbono (capítulo 2) y tras una definición del marco conceptual y teórico (capítulo 3), aborda el diseño de un prototipo de ionización fotónica de los gases atmosféricos para su posterior separación electrostática, a partir del estudio, adaptación y mejora del funcionamiento de los sistemas de espectrometría de masas. Se diseñarán y desarrollarán los sistemas básicos de fotoionización, mediante el uso de fuentes de fotones coherentes, y los de separación electrostática (capítulo 4), en que se basa el funcionamiento de este sistema de separación de gases atmosféricos y de captura y concentración de dióxido de carbono para construir un prototipo a nivel laboratorio. Posteriormente, en el capítulo 5, serán probados utilizando una matriz experimental que cubra los rangos de funcionamiento previstos y aporte suficientes datos experimentales para corregir y desarrollar el marco teórico real, y con los que se pueda establecer y corregir un modelo físico– matemático de simulación (capítulo 6) aplicable a la unidad en su conjunto. Finalmente, debido a la utilización de unidades de ionización fotónica, sistemas láseres intensos y sistemas eléctricos de gran potencia, es preciso analizar el riesgo biológico a las personas y al medioambiente debido al impacto de la radiación electromagnética producida (capítulo 7), minimizando su impacto y cumpliendo con la legislación vigente. En el capítulo 8 se planteará un diseño escalable a tamaño piloto de la nueva tecnología propuesta y sus principales modos de funcionamiento, así como un análisis de viabilidad económica. Como consecuencia de la tesis doctoral propuesta y del desarrollo de la unidad de separación atmosférica y de captura y concentración de dióxido de carbono, surgen diversas posibilidades de estudio que pueden ser objeto de nuevas tesis doctorales y de futuros desarrollos de ingeniería. El capítulo 9 tratará de incidir en estos aspectos indicando líneas de investigación para futuras tesis y desarrollos industriales. ABSTRACT A large number of experts predict that until at least 2050 renewable energy sources will not be massively used, and for that reason, current Primary Energy sources based on extensive use of fossil fuel will be used maintaining out of control emissions, Carbon Dioxide above all. Meanwhile, under this scenario and considering its extension until at least 2050, Carbon Capture, Concentration, Storage and/or Reuse is and will be one of the main solutions to minimise Greenhouse Gasses environmental effect. But, current Carbon Capture and Storage technology state of development has two main problems: it is a too large energy consuming technology and during normal use it produces a large volume of environmentally dangerous substances. Both reasons are limiting its development and its extensive use. This Ph Degree Thesis document proposes a solution to get the expected effect using a new atmospheric gasses separation system with the following characteristics: absence of wastes produced, it needs no chemical and/or physical substances during its operation, it reduces to minimum the internal energy consumptions due to absence of mobile equipment and it does not need any chemical and/or physical regeneration of substances. This system is beyond the State of the Art of current technology development. Additionally, the proposed solution raises huge challenges for future innovations of the proposed idea finding radical reduction of internal energy consumption during functioning, as well as regarding optimisation of main components, systems and modes of operation. To achieve this target, once established the main problem, main challenge and potential solving solutions (Chapter 1), it is established an initial starting point fixing the Atmospheric Gasses Separation and Carbon Capture and Storage developments (Chapter 2), as well as it will be defined the theoretical and basic model, including existing and potential new governing laws and mathematical formulas to control its system functioning (Chapter 3), this document will deal with the design of an installation of an operating system based on photonic ionization of atmospheric gasses to be separated in a later separation system based on the application of electrostatic fields. It will be developed a basic atmospheric gasses ionization prototype based on intense radioactive sources capable to ionize gasses by coherent photonic radiation, and a basic design of electrostatic separation system (Chapter 4). Both basic designs are the core of the proposed technology that separates Atmospheric Gasses and captures and concentrates Carbon Dioxide. Chapter 5 will includes experimental results obtained from an experimental testing matrix covering expected prototype functioning regimes. With the obtained experimental data, theoretical model will be corrected and improved to act as the real physical and mathematical model capable to simulate real system function (Chapter 6). Finally, it is necessary to assess potential biological risk to public and environment due to the proposed use of units of intense energy photonic ionization, by laser beams or by non–coherent sources and large electromagnetic systems with high energy consumption. It is necessary to know the impact in terms of and electromagnetic radiation taking into account National Legislation (Chapter 7). On Chapter 8, an up scaled pilot plant will be established covering main functioning modes and an economic feasibility assessment. As a consequence of this PhD Thesis, a new field of potential researches and new PhD Thesis are opened, as well as future engineering and industrial developments (Chapter 9).

Global Stability Analysis of a Compressible Turbulent Flow around a High-Lift Configuration

The purpose of this work is to analyze a complex high lift configuration for which significant regions of separated flow are present. Current state of the art methods have some diffculty to predict the origin and the progression of this separated flow when increasing the angle of attack. The mechanisms responsible for the maximum lift limit on multi-element wing con?gurations are not clear; this stability analysis could help to understand the physics behind the phenomenon and to find a relation between the flow separation and the instability onset. The methodology presented herein consists in the computation of a steady base flow solution based on a finite volume discretization and a proposal of the solution for a generalized eigenvalue problem corresponding to the perturbed and linearized problem. The eigenvalue problem has been solved with the Arnoldi iterative method, one of the Krylov subspace projection methods. The described methodology was applied to the NACA0012 test case in subsonic and in transonic conditions and, finally, for the first time to the authors knowledge, on an industrial multi-component geometry, such as the A310 airfoil, in order to identify low frequency instabilities related to the separation. One important conclusion is that for all the analyzed geometries, one unstable mode related to flow separation appears for an angle of attack greater than the one correspondent to the maximum lift coe?cient condition. Finally, an adjoint study was carried out in order to evaluate the receptivity and the structural sensitivity of the geometries, giving an indication of the domain region that could be modified resulting in the biggest change of the flowfield.

Design of a Semi-analytical Method to Describe Plasma-Wall Interactions

Electric probes are objects immersed in the plasma with sharp boundaries which collect of emit charged particles. Consequently, the nearby plasma evolves under abrupt imposed and/or naturally emerging conditions. There could be localized currents, different time scales for plasma species evolution, charge separation and absorbing-emitting walls. The traditional numerical schemes based on differences often transform these disparate boundary conditions into computational singularities. This is the case of models using advection-diffusion differential equations with source-sink terms (also called Fokker-Planck equations). These equations are used in both, fluid and kinetic descriptions, to obtain the distribution functions or the density for each plasma species close to the boundaries. We present a resolution method grounded on an integral advancing scheme by using approximate Green's functions, also called short-time propagators. All the integrals, as a path integration process, are numerically calculated, what states a robust grid-free computational integral method, which is unconditionally stable for any time step. Hence, the sharp boundary conditions, as the current emission from a wall, can be treated during the short-time regime providing solutions that works as if they were known for each time step analytically. The form of the propagator (typically a multivariate Gaussian) is not unique and it can be adjusted during the advancing scheme to preserve the conserved quantities of the problem. The effects of the electric or magnetic fields can be incorporated into the iterative algorithm. The method allows smooth transitions of the evolving solutions even when abrupt discontinuities are present. In this work it is proposed a procedure to incorporate, for the very first time, the boundary conditions in the numerical integral scheme. This numerical scheme is applied to model the plasma bulk interaction with a charge-emitting electrode, dealing with fluid diffusion equations combined with Poisson equation self-consistently. It has been checked the stability of this computational method under any number of iterations, even for advancing in time electrons and ions having different time scales. This work establishes the basis to deal in future work with problems related to plasma thrusters or emissive probes in electromagnetic fields.

Numerical analysis of air flow past the 2415-3S airfoil for an unmanned aerial vehicle with internal propulsion system

This paper deals with the prediction of pressure and velocity fields on the 2415-3S airfoil which will be used for and unmanned aerial vehicle with internal propulsion system and in this way analyze the air flow through an internal duct of the airfoil using computational fluid dynamics. The main objective is to evaluate the effect of the internal air flow past the airfoil and how this affects the aerodynamic performance by means of lift and drag forces. For this purpose, three different designs of the internal duct were studied; starting from the base 2415-3S airfoil developed in previous investigation, basing on the hypothesis of decreasing the flow separation produced when the propulsive airflow merges the external flow, and in this way obtaining the best configuration. For that purpose, an exhaustive study of the mesh sensitivity was performed. It was used a non-structured mesh since the computational domain is tridimensional and complex. The selected mesh contains approximately 12.5 million elements. Both the computational domain and the numerical solution were made with commercial CAD and CFD software respectively. Air, incompressible and steady was analyzed. The boundary conditions are in concordance with experimental setup in the AF 6109 wind tunnel. The k-ε model is utilized to describe the turbulent flow process as followed in references. Results allowed obtaining pressure and velocity contours as well as lift and drag coefficients and also the location of separation and reattachment regions in some cases for zero degrees of angle of attack on the internal and external surfaces of the airfoil. Finally, the selection of the configuration with the best aerodynamic performance was made, selecting the option without curved baffles.