Water droplet flow paths and droplet deposition in low pressure steam turbines

The complex three-dimensional two-phase flow in a low pressure steam turbine is investigated with comprehensive numerical flow simulations. In addition to the condensation process, which already takes place in the last stages of steam turbines, the numerical flow model is enhanced to consider the drag forces between the droplets and the vapour phase. The present paper shows the differences in the flow path of the phases and investigates the effect of an increasing droplet diameter. For the flow simulations a performance cluster is used because of the high effort for such multi-momentum two-phase flow calculations. In steam turbines the deposition of small water droplets on the stator blades or on parts of the casing is responsible for the formation of large coarse water droplets and these may cause additional dissipation as well as damage due to blade erosion. A method is presented that uses detailed CFD data to predict droplet deposition on turbine stator blades. This simulation method to detect regions of droplet deposition can help to improve the design of water removal devices. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.

Effect of critical thickness on structural and optical properties of InxGa1-xN/GaN multiple quantum wells

InGaN/GaN multiquantum-well (MQW) structures grown by metalorganic chemical-vapor deposition on n-type GaN and capped by p-type GaN were investigated by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, double crystal x-ray diffraction, and temperature-dependent photoluminescence. For the sample with strained-layer thicknesses greater than the critical thicknesses, a high density of pure edge type threading dislocations generated from MQW layers and extended to the cap layer was observed. These dislocations result from a relaxation of the strained layers when their thicknesses are beyond the critical thicknesses. Because of indium outdiffusion from the well layers due to the anneal effect of Mg-doped cap layer growth and defects generated from strain relaxation, the PL emission peak was almost depressed by the broad yellow band with an intensity maximum at 2.28 eV. But for the sample with strained-layer thicknesses less than the critical thicknesses, it has no such phenomenon. The measured critical thicknesses are consistent with the calculated values using the model proposed by Fischer, Kuhne, and Richter. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.

Geometry parameter optimization of large cross-sectional S-shaped bent rib waveguides for silicon based optical switches

地址: Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Semicond, State Key Lab Integrated Optoelect, Beijing 100083, Peoples R China

Different transfer paths for thermally activated electrons and holes in self-organized Ge/Si(001) islands in a multilayer structure

We investigated the temperature dependence (10-250 K) of the photoluminescence (PL) emission spectrum of self-organized Ge/Si(001) islands in a multilayer structure. With elevated temperature, we find that the thermally activated holes and electrons are gathered by the Ge islands in different ways. The holes drift from the wetting layer into the islands, while the electrons, confined in Si due to type-II band alignment, leak into the Ge islands by the electrostatic interaction with the holes accumulated there. It results in an increase of the integrated intensity of island-related PL at a certain temperature range and a reduction of the phonon energy in the phonon-assisted PL of the islands by involving a type-I transition into a type-II transition. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.

an efficient method to generate feasible paths for basis path testing

Basis path testing is a very powerful structural testing criterion. The number of test paths equals to the cyclomatic complexity of program defined by McCabe. Traditional test generation methods select the paths either without consideration of the constraints of variables or interactively. In this note, an efficient method is presented to generate a set of feasible basis paths. The experiments show that this method can generate feasible basis paths for real-world C programs automatically in acceptable time.

Stability shear stress and equilibrium cross-sectional geometry of sheltered tidal channels

This study relates tidal channel cross-sectional area (A) to peak spring discharge (Q) via a physical mechanism, namely the stability shear stress ( tau sub(S)) just necessary to maintain a zero gradient in net along-channel sediment transport. It is assumed that if bed shear stress ( tau ) is greater than tau sub(S), net erosion will occur, increasing A, and reducing tau similar to (Q/A) super(2) back toward tau sub(S). If tau < tau sub(S) there will be net deposition, reducing A and increasing tau toward tau sub(S). A survey of the literature allows estimates of Q and A at 242 sections in 26 separate sheltered tidal systems. Assuming a single value of tau sub(S) characterizes the entire length of a given tidal channel, it is predicted that along-channel geometry will follow the relation Ah sub(R) super(1) super(/) super(6) similar to Q. Along-channel regressions of the form Ah sub(R) super(1) super(/) super(6) similar to Q super( beta ) give a mean observed value for beta of 1.00 plus or minus 0.06, which is consistent with this concept. Results indicate that a lower bound on tau sub(S) (and an upper bound on A) for stable channels is provided by the critical shear stress ( tau sub(C)) just capable of initiating sediment motion. Observed tau sub(S) is found to vary among all systems as a function of spring tidal range (R sub(sp)) according to the relation tau sub(S) approximately 2.3 R sub(sp) super(0.79) tau sub(C). Observed deviations from uniform tau sub(S) along individual channels are associated with along-channel variation in the direction of maximum discharge (i.e., flood-versus ebb-dominance).

Thermal barrier coating of lanthanum-zirconium-cerium composite oxide made by electron beam-physical vapor deposition

Lanthanum-zirconium-cerium composite oxide (La-2(Zr0.7Ce0.3)(2)O-7, LZ7C3) as a candidate material for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) was prepared by electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD). The composition, crystal structure, thermophysical properties, surface and cross-sectional morphologies and cyclic oxidation behavior of the LZ7C3 coating were studied. The results indicated that LZ7C3 has a high phase stability between 298 K and 1573 K, and its linear thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) is similar to that of zirconia containing 8 wt% yttria (8YSZ). The thermal conductivity of LZ7C3 is 0.87 W m(-1) K-1 at 1273 K, which is almost 60% lower than that of 8YSZ. The deviation of coating composition from the ingot can be overcome by the addition of excess CeO2 and ZrO2 during ingot preparation or by adjusting the process parameters.

Dominant kinetic paths on biomolecular binding-folding energy landscape

The identification of kinetic pathways is a central issue in understanding the nature of flexible binding. A new approach is proposed here to study the dynamics of this binding-folding process through the establishment of a path integral framework on the underlying energy landscape. The dominant kinetic paths of binding and folding can be determined and quantified. In this case, the corresponding kinetic paths of binding are shown to be intimately correlated with those of folding and the dynamics becomes quite cooperative. The kinetic time can be obtained through the contributions from the dominant paths and has a U-shape dependence on temperature.

Quantifying the kinetic paths of flexible biomolecular recognition

Biomolecular recognition often involves large conformational changes, sometimes even local unfolding. The identification of kinetic pathways has become a central issue in understanding the nature of binding. A new approach is proposed here to study the dynamics of this binding-folding process through the establishment of a path-integral framework on the underlying energy landscape. The dominant kinetic paths of binding and folding can be determined and quantified. The significant coupling between the binding and folding of biomolecules often exists in many important cellular processes. In this case, the corresponding kinetic paths of binding are shown to be intimately correlated with those of folding and the dynamics becomes quite cooperative. This implies that binding and folding happen concurrently. When the coupling between binding and folding is weak (strong), the kinetic process usually starts with significant folding (binding) first, with the binding (folding) later proceeding to the end. The kinetic rate can be obtained through the contributions from the dominant paths. The rate is shown to have a bell-shaped dependence on temperature in the concentration-saturated regime consistent with experiment. The changes of the kinetics that occur upon changing the parameters of the underlying binding-folding energy landscape are studied.