Two-Phase Flow In Microchannels: Morphology And Interface Phenomena

The existence and morphology, as well as the dynamics of micro-scale gas-liquid interfaces is investigated numerically and experimentally. These studies can be used to assess liquid management issues in microsystems such as PEMFC gas flow channels, and are meant to open new research perspectives in two-phase flow, particularly in film deposition on non-wetting surfaces. For example the critical plug volume data can be used to deliver desired length plugs, or to determine the plug formation frequency. The dynamics of gas-liquid interfaces, of interest for applications involving small passages (e.g. heat exchangers, phase separators and filtration systems), was investigated using high-speed microscopy - a method that also proved useful for the study of film deposition processes. The existence limit for a liquid plug forming in a mixed wetting channel is determined by numerical simulations using Surface Evolver. The plug model simulate actual conditions in the gas flow channels of PEM fuel cells, the wetting of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) side of the channel being different from the wetting of the bipolar plate walls. The minimum plug volume, denoted as critical volume is computed for a series of GDL and bipolar plate wetting properties. Critical volume data is meant to assist in the water management of PEMFC, when corroborated with experimental data. The effect of cross section geometry is assessed by computing the critical volume in square and trapezoidal channels. Droplet simulations show that water can be passively removed from the GDL surface towards the bipolar plate if we take advantage on differing wetting properties between the two surfaces, to possibly avoid the gas transport blockage through the GDL. High speed microscopy was employed in two-phase and film deposition experiments with water in round and square capillary tubes. Periodic interface destabilization was observed and the existence of compression waves in the gas phase is discussed by taking into consideration a naturally occurring convergent-divergent nozzle formed by the flowing liquid phase. The effect of channel geometry and wetting properties was investigated through two-phase water-air flow in square and round microchannels, having three static contact angles of 20, 80 and 105 degrees. Four different flow regimes are observed for a fixed flow rate, this being thought to be caused by the wetting behavior of liquid flowing in the corners as well as the liquid film stability. Film deposition experiments in wetting and non-wetting round microchannels show that a thicker film is deposited for wetting conditions departing from the ideal 0 degrees contact angle. A film thickness dependence with the contact angle theta as well as the Capillary number, in the form h_R ~ Ca^(2/3)/ cos(theta) is inferred from scaling arguments, for contact angles smaller than 36 degrees. Non-wetting film deposition experiments reveal that a film significantly thicker than the wetting Bretherton film is deposited. A hydraulic jump occurs if critical conditions are met, as given by a proposed nondimensional parameter similar to the Froude number. Film thickness correlations are also found by matching the measured and the proposed velocity derived in the shock theory. The surface wetting as well as the presence of the shock cause morphological changes in the Taylor bubble flow.

Two-phase change in CO2, Antarctic temperature and global climate during Termination II

The end of the Last Glacial Maximum (Termination I), roughly 20 thousand years ago (ka), was marked by cooling in the Northern Hemisphere, a weakening of the Asian monsoon, a rise in atmospheric CO2 concentrations and warming over Antarctica. The sequence of events associated with the previous glacial–interglacial transition (Termination II), roughly 136 ka, is less well constrained. Here we present high-resolution records of atmospheric CO2 concentrations and isotopic composition of N2—an atmospheric temperature proxy—from air bubbles in the EPICA Dome C ice core that span Termination II. We find that atmospheric CO2 concentrations and Antarctic temperature started increasing in phase around 136 ka, but in a second phase of Termination II, from 130.5 to 129 ka, the rise in atmospheric CO2 concentrations lagged that of Antarctic temperature unequivocally. We suggest that during this second phase, the intensification of the low-latitude hydrological cycle resulted in the development of a CO2 sink, which counteracted the CO2 outgassing from the Southern Hemisphere oceans over this period.

Design of a Two-Phase buck converter with fourth-order output filter for envelope amplifiers of limited bandwidth

The use of techniques such as envelope tracking (ET) and envelope elimination and restoration (EER) can improve the efficiency of radio frequency power amplifiers (RFPA). In both cases, high-bandwidth DC/DC converters called envelope amplifiers (EA) are used to modulate the supply voltage of the RFPA. This paper addresses the analysis and design of a modified two-phase Buck converter optimized to operate as EA. The effects of multiphase operation on the tracking capabilities are analyzed. The use of a fourth-order output filter is proposed to increase the attenuation of the harmonics generated by the PWM operation, thus allowing a reduction of the ratio between the switching frequency and the converter bandwidth. The design of the output filter is addressed considering envelope tracking accuracy and distortion caused by the side bands arising from the nonlinear modulation process. Finally, the proposed analysis and design methods are supported by simulation results, as well as demonstrated by experiments obtained using two 100-W, 10-MHz, two-phase Buck EAs capable of accurately tracking a 1.5-MHz bandwidth OFDM signal.

Transgene organization in rice engineered through direct DNA transfer supports a two-phase integration mechanism mediated by the establishment of integration hot spots

Organization of transgenes in rice transformed through direct DNA transfer strongly suggests a two-phase integration mechanism. In the “preintegration” phase, transforming plasmid molecules (either intact or partial) are spliced together. This gives rise to rearranged transgenic sequences, which upon integration do not contain any interspersed plant genomic sequences. Subsequently, integration of transgenic DNA into the host genome is initiated. Our experiments suggest that the original site of integration acts as a hot spot, facilitating subsequent integration of successive transgenic molecules at the same locus. The resulting transgenic locus may have plant DNA separating the transgenic sequences. Our data indicate that transformation through direct DNA transfer, specifically particle bombardment, generally results in a single transgenic locus as a result of this two-phase integration mechanism. Transgenic plants generated through such processes may, therefore, be more amenable to breeding programs as the single transgenic locus will be easier to characterize genetically. Results from direct DNA transfer experiments suggest that in the absence of protein factors involved in exogenous DNA transfer through Agrobacterium, the qualitative and/or quantitative efficiency of transformation events is not compromised. Our results cast doubt on the role of Agrobacterium vir genes in the integration process.

Applicability of two mathematical models to the batch settling of activated sludge.

"Supported by Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, U.S. Department of the Interior. Research project WP-01011."

Prediction of wave refraction and shoaling using two numerical models /

"August 1981."

An experimental investigation of liquid distribution and surface character in horizontal annular two-phase flow. OOR Project no. 2117. Contract DA-30-115-ORD-992. Interim report no. 1

Mode of access: Internet.

Proceedings of the second Joint USAEC-EURATOM Two-Phase Flow Meeting. Held at USAEC, Germantown, Maryland, April 29, 30, and May 1, 1964.

At head of title: United States Atomic Energy Commission - USAEC. European Atomic Energy Community - EURATOM.

Evaluation and performance of once-through, zero-gravity boiler tubes with two-phase water /

"Contract AT(30-1)-2789."

Two-phase anaerobic digestion for enhanced stabilization and methanation of sewage sludge /

"ILENR/AE-92/02."

Quantitative prediction of phase diagrams for polymer partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems

Published polymer distribution data for aqueous poly(ethylene glycol)/dextran mixtures have been reassessed to illustrate the feasibility of their quantitative characterization in terms of the Flory-Huggins theory of polymer thermodynamics. Phase diagrams predicted by this characterization procedure provide better descriptions of the experimental data than those based on an earlier, oversimplified treatment in similar terms. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.