Transient natural ventilation of a space with localised heating

The natural ventilation of a well-mixed, pre-heated room with a point source of heating, and openings at the base and roof is investigated. The transient draining associated with the room being warmer than the exterior combined with the convective ow produced by the point source of heat leads to a fascinating series of transient ow regimes as the system evolves to the two-layer steady-state regime described by Linden, Lane-Ser_ and Smeed [1]. As the room begins to ventilate, a turbulent plume rises from the point source of heat to the ceiling, and typically forms a deepening layer of hot air. However, with a weak heat source, then at some point the ascending plume will intrude beneath the layer of original uid. Otherwise, the ascending plume always reaches the top of the room as the system evolves to a steady state. We develop a simpli_ed model of the transient evolution and test this with some new laboratory experiments. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our results for real buildings.

A comparison of winter pre-heating requirements for natural displacement and natural mixing ventilation

In winter, natural ventilation can be achieved either through mixing ventilation or upward displacement ventilation (P.F. Linden, The fluid mechanics of natural ventilation, Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics 31 (1999) pp. 201-238). We show there is a significant energy saving possible by using mixing ventilation, in the case that the internal heat gains are significant, and illustrate these savings using an idealized model, which predicts that with internal heat gains of order 0.1 kW per person, mixing ventilation uses of a fraction of order 0.2-0.4 of the heat load of displacement ventilation assuming a well-insulated building. We then describe a strategy for such mixing natural ventilation in an atrium style building in which the rooms surrounding the atrium are able to vent directly to the exterior and also through the atrium to the exterior. The results are motivated by the desire to reduce the energy burden in large public buildings such as hospitals, schools or office buildings centred on atria. We illustrate a strategy for the natural mixing ventilation in order that the rooms surrounding the atrium receive both pre-heated but also sufficiently fresh air, while the central atrium zone remains warm. We test the principles with some laboratory experiments in which a model air chamber is ventilated using both mixing and displacement ventilation, and compare the energy loads in each case. We conclude with a discussion of the potential applications of the approach within the context of open plan atria type office buildings.

Heating characteristics of blunt swept fin-induced shock wave turbulent boundary layer interaction

An experimental study was conducted on shock wave turbulent boundary layer interactions caused by a blunt swept fin-plate configuration at Mach numbers of 5.0, 7.8, 9.9 for a Reynolds number range of (1.0.similar to 4.7) x 10(7)/m. Detailed heat transfer and pressure distributions were measured at fin deflection angles of up to 30 degrees for a sweepback angle of 67.6 degrees. Surface oil flow patterns and liquid crystal thermograms as well as schlieren pictures of fin shock shape were taken. The study shows that the flow was separated at deflection of 10 degrees and secondary separation were detected at deflection of theta greater than or equal to 20 degrees. The heat transfer and pressure distributions on flat plate showed an extensive plateau region followed by a distinct dip and local peak close to the fin foot. Measurements of the plateau pressure and heat transfer were in good agreement with existing prediction methods, but pressure and heating peak measurements at M greater than or equal to 6 were significantly lower than predicted by the simple prediction techniques at lower Mach numbers.

Measurement of Microscopic Deformation in a Cualni Single Crystal Alloy by Nanoindentation with a Heating Stage

Thermally induced recovery of nanoindents in a CUAINi single crystal shape memory alloy was studied by nanoindentation in conjunction with a heating stage. Nanoindents formed by a Berkovich indenter at room temperature were heated to 40, 70 and 100 degrees C. Partial recovery was observed for the nanoindents. The recovery ratio depended on the heating temperature. Indentation of CuAlNi can induce inelastic deformation via dislocation motion and a stress-induced matensitic transformation. The percentages of dislocation-induced plastic strain would affect the thermal deformation of CuAlNi, because the induced dislocations could stabilize stress-induced martensite plates even when the temperature above austenite finish temperature, A(f). When the applied indentation load is low (less than 10,000 mu N), the shape recovery strain is predominant, compared with the dislocation-induced plastic strain. Therefore, the degree of indent recovery in the depth direction, delta(D), is high (about 0.7-0.8 at 100 degrees C).

Theoretical interpretation on ion heating experiments in reverse field pinch devices

A new set of equations for the energies of the mean magnetic field and the mean plasma velocity is derived taking the dynamo effects into account, by which the anomalous phenomenon, T(i) > T(e), observed in some reversed field pinches (RFP's) is successfully explained.

Heating, current drive and confinement regimes with the JET ICRH and lhcd systems

During its 1990 operation, 2 large RF systems were available on JET. The Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH) system was equipped with new beryllium screens and with feedback matching systems. Specific impurities generated by ICRH were reduced to negligible levels even in the most stringent H-mode conditions. A maximum power of 22 MW was coupled to L-mode plasmas. High quality H-modes (tau-E greater-than-or-equal-to 2.5 tau-EG) were achieved using dipole phasing. A new high confinement mode was discovered. It combines the properties of the H-mode regime to the low central diffusivities obtained by pellet injection. A value of n(d) tau-E T(i) = 7.8 x 10(20) m-3 s keV was obtained in this mode with T(e) approximately T(i) approximately 11 keV. In the L-mode regime, a regime, a record (140 kW) D-He-3 fusion power was generated with 10 - 14 MW of ICRH at the He-3 cyclotron frequency. Experiments were performed with the prototype launcher of the Lower Hybrid Current Drive (LHCD) systems with coupled power up to 1.6 MW with current drive efficiencies up to < n(e) > R I(CD)/P = 0.4 x 10(20) m-2 A/W. Fast electrons are driven by LHCD to tail temperatures of 100 keV with a hollow radial profile. Paradoxically, LHCD induces central heating particularly in combination with ICRH. Finally we present the first observations of the synergistic acceleration of fast electrons by Transit Time Magnetic Pumping (TTMP) (from ICRH) and Electron Landau Damping (ELD) (from LHCD). The synergism generates TTMP current drive even without phasing the ICRH antennae.

Income risk of EU coal-fired power plants after Kyoto

Coal-fired power plants may enjoy a significant advantage relative to gas plants in terms of cheaper fuel cost. Still, this advantage may erode or even turn into disadvantage depending on CO2 emission allowance price. This price will presumably rise in both the Kyoto Protocol commitment period (2008-2012) and the first post-Kyoto years. Thus, in a carbon-constrained environment, coal plants face financial risks arising in their profit margins, which in turn hinge on their so-called "clean dark spread". These risks are further reinforced when the price of the output electricity is determined by natural gas-fired plants' marginal costs, which differ from coal plants' costs. We aim to assess the risks in coal plants' margins. We adopt parameter values estimated from empirical data. These in turn are derived from natural gas and electricity markets alongside the EU ETS market where emission allowances are traded. Monte Carlo simulation allows to compute the expected value and risk profile of coal-based electricity generation. We focus on the clean dark spread in both time periods under different future scenarios in the allowance market. Specifically, bottom 5% and 10% percentiles are derived. According to our results, certain future paths of the allowance price may impose significant risks on the clean dark spread obtained by coal plants.

Depletion of the heaviest stable N isotope is associated with NH4 +/NH3 toxicity in NH4 +-fed plants

Background: In plants, nitrate (NO(3)(-)) nutrition gives rise to a natural N isotopic signature (delta(15)N), which correlates with the delta(15)N of the N source. However, little is known about the relationship between the delta(15)N of the N source and the (14)N/(15)N fractionation in plants under ammonium (NH(4)(+)) nutrition. When NH(4)(+) is the major N source, the two forms, NH(4)(+) and NH(3), are present in the nutrient solution. There is a 1.025 thermodynamic isotope effect between NH(3) (g) and NH(4)(+)(aq) which drives to a different delta(15)N. Nine plant species with different NH(4)(+)-sensitivities were cultured hydroponically with NO(3)(-) or NH(4)(+) as the sole N sources, and plant growth and delta(15)N were determined. Short-term NH(4)(+)/NH(3) uptake experiments at pH 6.0 and 9.0 (which favours NH(3) form) were carried out in order to support and substantiate our hypothesis. N source fractionation throughout the whole plant was interpreted on the basis of the relative transport of NH(4)(+) and NH(3). -- Results: Several NO(3)(-)-fed plants were consistently enriched in (15)N, whereas plants under NH(4)(+) nutrition were depleted of (15)N. It was shown that more sensitive plants to NH(4)(+) toxicity were the most depleted in (15)N. In parallel, N-deficient pea and spinach plants fed with (15)NH(4)(+) showed an increased level of NH(3) uptake at alkaline pH that was related to the (15)N depletion of the plant. Tolerant to NH(4)(+) pea plants or sensitive spinach plants showed similar trend on (15)N depletion while slight differences in the time kinetics were observed during the initial stages. The use of RbNO(3) as control discarded that the differences observed arise from pH detrimental effects. -- Conclusions: This article proposes that the negative values of delta(15)N in NH(4)(+)-fed plants are originated from NH(3) uptake by plants. Moreover, this depletion of the heavier N isotope is proportional to the NH(4)(+)/NH(3) toxicity in plants species. Therefore, we hypothesise that the low affinity transport system for NH(4)(+) may have two components: one that transports N in the molecular form and is associated with fractionation and another that transports N in the ionic form and is not associated with fractionation.

The Fossil higher plants from the Canal Zone

Fossil flora described in the present report is too limited for purposes of exact correlation, which may be expected to be settled by the marine faunas present at most horizons in the Isthmian region. Accompanying table of distribution will show that from the oldest (Hohio) to the youngest (Gatun) plant-bearing formations there is no observable difference in floral facies. This so-called Oligocence series of formations does not represent any great interval of time. (39 page document)