Effects of the orientation of microgravity on the concentration distribution in crystallization from solution

A quasi-steady state growth and dissolution in a 2-D rectangular enclosure is numerically investigated. This paper is an extension to indicate the effects of the orientation of gravity on the concentration field in crystallization from solution under microgravity, especially on the lateral non-uniformity of concentration distribution at the growth surface. The thermal and solute convection are included in this model.

Concentration distribution in solution crystal growth: effect of moving interface conditions

The linear diffusion-reaction theory with finite interface kinetics is employed to describe the dissolution and the growth processes. The results show that it is imperative to consider the effect of the moving interfaces on the concentration distribution at the growth interface for some cases. For small aspect ratio and small gravity magnitude, the dissolution and the growth interfaces must be treated as the moving boundaries within an angle range of 0 degrees < gamma < 50 degrees in this work. For large aspect ratio or large gravity magnitude, the effect of the moving interfaces on the concentration distribution at the growth interface can be neglected except for gamma < - 50 degrees.

Comparison between weight loss of bends in a pneumatic conveyor and erosion rate obtained in a centrifugal erosion tester for the same materials

In order to find a link between results obtained from a laboratory erosion tester and tests carried out on a pneumatic conveyor, a comparison has been made between weight loss from bends on an industrial-scale pneumatic conveyor and erosion rates obtained in a small centrifugal erosion tester, for the same materials. Identical test conditions have been applied to both experiments so that comparable test results have been obtained. The erosion rate of mild steel commonly used as the wall material of conveyor pipes and pipe bends was determined individually on both test rigs. A relationship between weight loss from the bends and erosion rate determined from the tester has been developed. A discussion based on the results and their applicability to the prediction of wear in pneumatic conveyors concludes the paper. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Heat release rate measurement in turbulent flames

The dominant industrial approach for the reduction of NO x emissions in industrial gas turbines is the lean pre-mixed prevaporized concept. The main advantage of this concept is the lean operation of the combustion process; this decreases the heat release rate from the flame and results in a reduction in operating temperature. The direct measurement of heat release rates via simultaneous laser induced fluorescence of OH and CH 2O radicals using planar laser induced fluorescence. The product of the two images correlated with the forward production rate of the HCO radical, which in turn has correlated well with heat release rates from premixed hydrocarbon flames. The experimental methodology of the measurement of heat release rate and applications in different turbulent premixed flames were presented. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 7th World Congress of Chemical Engineering (Glasgow, Scotland 7/10-14/2005).

Water Content Distribution in the Surface Layer of Maoping Slope

The water content distribution in the surface layer of Maoping slope has been studied by testing the water content at 31 control sites. The water content profiles at these sites have also been determined. The water content distributions at different segments have been obtained by using the Kriging method of geostatistics. By comparing the water content distributions with the landform of the slope, it was shown that the water content is closely dependent on the landform of the slope. The water content distribution in the surface layer provided a fundamental basis for landslide predication and treatment.

Thermodynamical versus log-Poisson distribution in turbulence

The thermodynamical model of intermittency in fully developed turbulence due to Castaing (B. Castaing, J. Phys. II France 6 (1996) 105) is investigated and compared with the log-Poisson model (Z-S, She, E. Leveque, Phys. Rev. Lett. 72 (1994) 336). It is shown that the thermodynamical model obeys general scaling laws and corresponds to the degenerate class of scale-invariant statistics. We also find that its structure function shapes have physical behaviors similar to the log-Poisson's one. The only difference between them lies in the convergence of the log-Poisson's structure functions and divergence of the thermodynamical one. As far as the comparison with experiments on intermittency is concerned, they are indifferent.

Symmetrical 2-D Hermite-Gaussian square launch for high bit rate transmission in multimode fiber links

A 2-D Hermite-Gaussian square launch is demonstrated to show improved systems capacity over multimode fiber links. It shows a bandwidth improvement over both center and offset launches and exhibits ±5 μm misalignment tolerance. © 2011 Optical Society of America.

Regularity of strain distribution in short-fiber/whisker reinforced composites

Based on studies on the strain distribution in short-fiber/whisker reinforced metal matrix composites, a deformation characteristic parameter, lambda is defined as a ratio of root-mean-square strain of the reinforcers identically oriented to the macro-linear strain along the same direction. Quantitative relation between lambda and microstructure parameters of composites is obtained. By using lambda, the stiffness moduli of composites with arbitrary reinforcer orientation density function and under arbitrary loading condition are derived. The upper-bound and lower-bound of the present prediction are the same as those from the equal-strain theory and equal-stress theory, respectively. The present theory provides a physical explanation and theoretical base for the present commonly-used empirical formulae. Compared with the microscopic mechanical theories, the present theory is competent for stiffness modulus prediction of practical engineering composites in accuracy and simplicity.

Experimental investigation on bubble coalescence under nonuniform temperature distribution in reduced gravity

Results on bubble coalescences from the space experiment of thermocapillary bubble migration conducted on board the Chinese 22nd recoverable satellite are presented in this paper. Some coalescences of large spherical bubbles under microgravity are observed through bubbles staying at the upper side of the test cell. The data of bubble coalescence time are recorded and compared with theoretical predictions, which is based on a theory to describe the tendency of coalescence connected to chemical potential difference. It is implied that the theory is applicable for the experimental data of bubble coalescence. Moreover, the angle between the line of two bubble centers and temperature gradient falled mostly in the range 20 degrees-40 degrees. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The effects of coil current distribution in a cylindrical electron-cyclotron-resonance reactor

Using a 2-D hybrid model, the authors have found that external currents play an important role in the plasma parameters in the reactor. The plasma density, temperature and electrostatic potential would be significantly influenced by the applied external currents.