The Chemical Percolation Devolatilization Model Applied to the Devolatilization of Coal in High Intensity Acoustic Fields

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dynamics of gas bubbles encapsulated by a viscoelastic fluid shell under acoustic fields

The dynamics of a gas-filled microbubble encapsulated by a viscoelastic fluid shell immersed in a Newtonian liquid and subject to an external pressure field is theoretically studied. The problem is formulated by considering a nonlinear Oldroyd type constitutive equation to model the rheological behavior of the fluid shell. Heat and mass transfer across the surface bubble have been neglected but radiation losses due to the compressibility of the surrounding liquid have been taken into account. Bubble collapse under sudden increase of the external pressure as well as nonlinear radial oscillations under ultrasound fields are investigated. The numerical results obtained show that the elasticity of the fluid coating intensifies oscillatory collapse and produces a strong increase of the amplitudes of radial oscillations which may become chaotic even for moderate driving pressure amplitudes. The role played by the elongational viscosity has also been analyzed and its influence on both, bubble collapse and radial oscillations, has been recognized. According to the theoretical predictions provided in the present work, a microbubble coated by a viscoelastic fluid shell is an oscillating system that, under acoustic driving, may experience volume oscillations of large amplitude, being, however, more stable than a free bubble. Thus, it could be expected that such a system may have a suitable behavior as an echogenic agent.

Shaping acoustic fields as a toolset for microfluidic manipulations in diagnostic technologies

Ultrasonics offers the possibility of developing sophisticated fluid manipulation tools in lab-on-a-chip technologies. Here we demonstrate the ability to shape ultrasonic fields by using phononic lattices, patterned on a disposable chip, to carry out the complex sequence of fluidic manipulations required to detect the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei in blood. To illustrate the different tools that are available to us, we used acoustic fields to produce the required rotational vortices that mechanically lyse both the red blood cells and the parasitic cells present in a drop of blood. This procedure was followed by the amplification of parasitic genomic sequences using different acoustic fields and frequencies to heat the sample and perform a real-time PCR amplification. The system does not require the use of lytic reagents nor enrichment steps, making it suitable for further integration into lab-on-a-chip point-of-care devices. This acoustic sample preparation and PCR enables us to detect ca. 30 parasites in a microliter-sized blood sample, which is the same order of magnitude in sensitivity as lab-based PCR tests. Unlike other lab-on-a-chip methods, where the sample moves through channels, here we use our ability to shape the acoustic fields in a frequency-dependent manner to provide different analytical functions. The methods also provide a clear route toward the integration of PCR to detect pathogens in a single handheld system.

Determining planar multiple sound-soft obstacles from scattered acoustic fields

An inverse problem is considered where the structure of multiple sound-soft planar obstacles is to be determined given the direction of the incoming acoustic field and knowledge of the corresponding total field on a curve located outside the obstacles. A local uniqueness result is given for this inverse problem suggesting that the reconstruction can be achieved by a single incident wave. A numerical procedure based on the concept of the topological derivative of an associated cost functional is used to produce images of the obstacles. No a priori assumption about the number of obstacles present is needed. Numerical results are included showing that accurate reconstructions can be obtained and that the proposed method is capable of finding both the shapes and the number of obstacles with one or a few incident waves.

Criteria for mathematical model selection for satellite vibro-acoustic analysis depending on frequency range

Satellites and space equipment are exposed to diffuse acoustic fields during the launch process. The use of adequate techniques to model the response to the acoustic loads is a fundamental task during the design and verification phases. Considering the modal density of each element is necessary to identify the correct methodology. In this report selection criteria are presented in order to choose the correct modelling technique depending on the frequency ranges. A model satellite’s response to acoustic loads is presented, determining the modal densities of each component in different frequency ranges. The paper proposes to select the mathematical method in each modal density range and the differences in the response estimation due to the different used techniques. In addition, the methodologies to analyse the intermediate range of the system are discussed. The results are compared with experimental testing data obtained in an experimental modal test.

Theoretical investigation of mechanisms of formation and interaction of nanoparticles

In this thesis an investigation into theoretical models for formation and interaction of nanoparticles is presented. The work presented includes a literature review of current models followed by a series of five chapters of original research. This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy by publication and therefore each of the five chapters consist of a peer-reviewed journal article. The thesis is then concluded with a discussion of what has been achieved during the PhD candidature, the potential applications for this research and ways in which the research could be extended in the future. In this thesis we explore stochastic models pertaining to the interaction and evolution mechanisms of nanoparticles. In particular, we explore in depth the stochastic evaporation of molecules due to thermal activation and its ultimate effect on nanoparticles sizes and concentrations. Secondly, we analyse the thermal vibrations of nanoparticles suspended in a fluid and subject to standing oscillating drag forces (as would occur in a standing sound wave) and finally on lattice surfaces in the presence of high heat gradients. We have described in this thesis a number of new models for the description of multicompartment networks joined by a multiple, stochastically evaporating, links. The primary motivation for this work is in the description of thermal fragmentation in which multiple molecules holding parts of a carbonaceous nanoparticle may evaporate. Ultimately, these models predict the rate at which the network or aggregate fragments into smaller networks/aggregates and with what aggregate size distribution. The models are highly analytic and describe the fragmentation of a link holding multiple bonds using Markov processes that best describe different physical situations and these processes have been analysed using a number of mathematical methods. The fragmentation of the network/aggregate is then predicted using combinatorial arguments. Whilst there is some scepticism in the scientific community pertaining to the proposed mechanism of thermal fragmentation,we have presented compelling evidence in this thesis supporting the currently proposed mechanism and shown that our models can accurately match experimental results. This was achieved using a realistic simulation of the fragmentation of the fractal carbonaceous aggregate structure using our models. Furthermore, in this thesis a method of manipulation using acoustic standing waves is investigated. In our investigation we analysed the effect of frequency and particle size on the ability for the particle to be manipulated by means of a standing acoustic wave. In our results, we report the existence of a critical frequency for a particular particle size. This frequency is inversely proportional to the Stokes time of the particle in the fluid. We also find that for large frequencies the subtle Brownian motion of even larger particles plays a significant role in the efficacy of the manipulation. This is due to the decreasing size of the boundary layer between acoustic nodes. Our model utilises a multiple time scale approach to calculating the long term effects of the standing acoustic field on the particles that are interacting with the sound. These effects are then combined with the effects of Brownian motion in order to obtain a complete mathematical description of the particle dynamics in such acoustic fields. Finally, in this thesis, we develop a numerical routine for the description of "thermal tweezers". Currently, the technique of thermal tweezers is predominantly theoretical however there has been a handful of successful experiments which demonstrate the effect it practise. Thermal tweezers is the name given to the way in which particles can be easily manipulated on a lattice surface by careful selection of a heat distribution over the surface. Typically, the theoretical simulations of the effect can be rather time consuming with supercomputer facilities processing data over days or even weeks. Our alternative numerical method for the simulation of particle distributions pertaining to the thermal tweezers effect use the Fokker-Planck equation to derive a quick numerical method for the calculation of the effective diffusion constant as a result of the lattice and the temperature. We then use this diffusion constant and solve the diffusion equation numerically using the finite volume method. This saves the algorithm from calculating many individual particle trajectories since it is describes the flow of the probability distribution of particles in a continuous manner. The alternative method that is outlined in this thesis can produce a larger quantity of accurate results on a household PC in a matter of hours which is much better than was previously achieveable.

Grid-refined LES predictions for Fan-OGV broadband noise

This work forms part of a project on the use of large eddy simulation (LES) for broadband rotor-stator interaction noise prediction. In this paper, we focus on LES calculations of noise sources on and close to a blade trailing edge. We consider two test cases; one an isolated NACA0012 airfoil in flow, and the other an industry-standard rotating fan. In the first case, turbulent mean and RMS velocities and energy spectra at different locations are compared with those from experiment. 1,2The sound generated by the unsteady pressure fluctuations on the airfoil surface and by the flow turbulence will be predicted using a Ffowcs Williams Hawkings (FW-H) surface. In the second case, unsteady flow and acoustic fields around the blade passage 3 are presented for a refined mesh, and the rotor-stator tonal noise will be predicted by using the rotor-wake mean velocity profile and the methodology described in Lloyd & Peake 4. Copyright © 2009 by Qinling Li, Nigel Peake & Mark Savill.

Advancements in jet turbulence and noise modeling: accurate one-way solutions and empirical evaluation of the nonlinear forcing of wavepackets

Jet noise reduction is an important goal within both commercial and military aviation. Although large-scale numerical simulations are now able to simultaneously compute turbulent jets and their radiated sound, lost-cost, physically-motivated models are needed to guide noise-reduction efforts. A particularly promising modeling approach centers around certain large-scale coherent structures, called wavepackets, that are observed in jets and their radiated sound. The typical approach to modeling wavepackets is to approximate them as linear modal solutions of the Euler or Navier-Stokes equations linearized about the long-time mean of the turbulent flow field. The near-field wavepackets obtained from these models show compelling agreement with those educed from experimental and simulation data for both subsonic and supersonic jets, but the acoustic radiation is severely under-predicted in the subsonic case. This thesis contributes to two aspects of these models. First, two new solution methods are developed that can be used to efficiently compute wavepackets and their acoustic radiation, reducing the computational cost of the model by more than an order of magnitude. The new techniques are spatial integration methods and constitute a well-posed, convergent alternative to the frequently used parabolized stability equations. Using concepts related to well-posed boundary conditions, the methods are formulated for general hyperbolic equations and thus have potential applications in many fields of physics and engineering. Second, the nonlinear and stochastic forcing of wavepackets is investigated with the goal of identifying and characterizing the missing dynamics responsible for the under-prediction of acoustic radiation by linear wavepacket models for subsonic jets. Specifically, we use ensembles of large-eddy-simulation flow and force data along with two data decomposition techniques to educe the actual nonlinear forcing experienced by wavepackets in a Mach 0.9 turbulent jet. Modes with high energy are extracted using proper orthogonal decomposition, while high gain modes are identified using a novel technique called empirical resolvent-mode decomposition. In contrast to the flow and acoustic fields, the forcing field is characterized by a lack of energetic coherent structures. Furthermore, the structures that do exist are largely uncorrelated with the acoustic field. Instead, the forces that most efficiently excite an acoustic response appear to take the form of random turbulent fluctuations, implying that direct feedback from nonlinear interactions amongst wavepackets is not an essential noise source mechanism. This suggests that the essential ingredients of sound generation in high Reynolds number jets are contained within the linearized Navier-Stokes operator rather than in the nonlinear forcing terms, a conclusion that has important implications for jet noise modeling.

Gas concentration and temperature excited Delft turbulent jet in acoustically flames

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Experimental aspects of partially premixed pulsating combustion

The pulsating combustion process has won interest in current research due to indications that its application in energy generation can offer several advantages, such as: fuel economy, reduced pollutants formation, increased rate of convective heat transfer and reduced investment, when compared with conventional techniques. An experimental study has been conducted with the objective of investigating the effects of combustion driven acoustic oscillations in the emission rates of combustion gases, especially carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. The experiments were conducted in a water-jacketed 1-m long by 25-cm internal diameter stainless steel vertical tube. The combustor operated with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in both oscillatory and non oscillatory conditions, under the same input conditions. Part of the reactant mixture was excited acoustically, before the burner exit, by a speaker positioned strategically. The burner was aligned with the chamber longitudinal axis and positioned at its bottom. The experiments were conducted for 0.16 g/s of LPG burning in stoichiometric equivalence ratio. The main conclusions were: a) the pulsating combustion process produces more uniform fuel/air profile than the non pulsating process, b) close to stoichiometric equivalence ratio the pulsating combustion process generates higher rates of NO x; c) the frequency has a strong influence in NO x emission, but the pressure amplitude has a weak influence; d) the presence of the acoustic field may change drastically the combustion gas emissions in diffusion flames, but in pre-mixed flames the influence is not as strong.

Estudo do ultrassom de potência no pré-tratamento do material lignocelulósico de resíduos da bananeira

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determinação das melhores condições de hidrólise física com ultrassom de potência em resíduos de amendoim

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Airborne ultrasonic vortex generation using flexible ferroelectrets

Cellular ferroelectrets exhibit interesting electromechanical- acoustical characteristics. Their recent appearance and remarkable properties open up new possibilities for the design and development of ultrasonic transducers. In particular, the feasibility of fabricating ultrasonic vortex generators using ferroelectret films is demonstrated in this work. To this end, a transducer prototype was built by gluing the material onto a tangential-helical surface (outer diameter: 40 mm, pitch: 3.45 mm). Experimental results agree well with the theoretical estimation of the pressure and phase of the acoustic field in the near field and far field, which corroborates the potential of ferroelectrets to customize special acoustic fields. Furthermore, the proposed fabrication procedure is inexpensive and represents a new alternative for exploring and analyzing the special characteristics of acoustical helical wavefronts

Ultrasonic field and temperature sensor based on short in-fibre Bragg gratings

The authors demonstrate that in-fibre Bragg gratings may be successfully used to measure megahertz acoustic fields if the grating length is sufficiently short and the optical fibre is appropriately desensitised. A noise-limited pressure resolution of 4.5 × 10 –3 atm vHz was found. The capability to simultaneously act as a temperature sensor is also demonstrated.

Combined ultrasound and temperature sensor using a fibre Bragg grating

We demonstrate the feasibility of using in-fibre Bragg gratings to measure MHz acoustic fields and temperature simultaneously. We achieved a noise-limited pressure resolution of ˜4.5×10-4 Atm/vHz and a temperature resolution of 0.2°C.