Bed Voidage Correlation in Fluidized Bed Biofilm Reactor

A simple predictive correlation for bed voidage in a three-phase fluidized bed biofilm reactor (FBBR) has been proposed in this study, based on a relationship between the effective up-flow superficial liquid velocity (UL) and the corresponding up-flow superficial liquid velocity in a three-phase FBBR (UL′). The experimental observations of bed voidage both for this study as well as for experimental data from a study published by Trinet et al. for a three-phase FBBR compared reasonably well with the model predictions developed in this study, with mean deviations of 0.26% and 7%, respectively. Further, published experimental observations of bed voidage in a two-phase FBBR agreed well with the model predictions, with mean deviations of 26.4%, 5.2%, and 9.7% for studies conducted by Mulcahy and Shieh, Ngian and Martin, and Setiadi, respectively, and with a mean deviation of 18.7% for the total published experimental data (297 points) of the above researchers.     

Photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol

Contamination of the food supply from agricultural waste is an increasing concern worldwide. Numerous hazardous chemicals enter the environment from various industrial sources daily. Many of these pollutants, including 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), are water soluble, toxic, and not easily biodegradable. The solar photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-DNP was investigated in a solution of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) that was prepared to be an optically clear aqueous solution of nanosized particles of TiO(2). In order to achieve optimal efficiency of the photodegradation, the effects of light intensity and pH were conducted. All experiments were carried out in a batch mode. At a pH of 8, maximum removal of 70% of 2,4-DNP was achieved within 7h of irradiation time. The nearly homogeneous solution of 5.8nm TiO(2) particles, size determined by XDS, were very effective in the photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-DNP.     

Performance decay of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells under open circuit conditions induced by membrane decomposition

The degradation in performance of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) under open circuit conditions was investigated. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetic current density at 0.9 V was found to decrease from 36 to 4 mA cm⁻² (geometric) without significant crossover increase or loss in the electrochemically active surface area. Cyclic voltammograms for the electrodes show characteristic changes, e.g. appearance of peaks at ∼0.2 V and shift of the onset of platinum oxide formation to higher potentials. It was identified that the large ORR kinetic decay has its origins in the reduction of available Pt sites due to adsorption of anions, which are postulated to be membrane decomposition products such as sulfate ions. Procedures carried out to condense water in the fuel cell led to the expulsion of anions out of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) resulting in the partial recovery of ORR kinetic current density to 15 mA cm⁻². In order to attain complete performance recovery of the catalyst, a more effective and practical method to flush out the anions is desirable.     

Topology optimization using a continuous-time high-cycle fatigue model

Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization - We propose a topology optimization method that includes high-cycle fatigue as a constraint. The fatigue model is based on a continuous-time approach...     

Integration of copper multilevel interconnects with oxide and polymer interlevel dielectrics

Copper interconnect structures are being evaluated for 0.25 μm minimum feature size technology and below. This work focuses on fabrication of one- and two-level test structures with copper metallization and both oxide and polymer interlevel dielectrics to demonstrate the compatibility of unit processes being developed for future copper-based interconnects. Emphasis is placed on dual Damascene patterning and material and process compatibility with such patterning and the required barriers and passivation techniques required with copper. Future directions of this work are described in this invited review paper.     

Computer model for vedavati ground water basin. Part 3. Irrigation potential

An estimate of the irrigation potential over and above the existing utilisation was made based on the ground water potential in the Vedavati river basin. The estimate is based on assumed crops and cropping patterns as per existing practice in the various taluks of the basin. Irrigation potential was estimated talukwise based on the available ground water potential identified from the simulation study. It is estimated that 84,100 hectares of additional land can be brought under irrigation from ground water in the entire basin.     

Tensile cracks in polycrystalline ice under transient creep: Part II — Numerical simulations

This paper discusses predictions of a numerical model presented in the companion paper (Nanthikesan and Shyam Sunder, 1995) to analyze tensile cracks in polycrystalline ice undergoing transient creep. The numerical model is based on the internal state variable constitutive theory of transient creep in ice developed by Shyam Sunder and Wu (1989a,b, 1990). The finite element model uses the boundary layer approach of Rice (1968), in conjunction with a mid-point crack-tip element and reduced integration, to simulate the asymptotic stress and deformation fields in the vicinity of the crack tip, including incompressible creep deformations.

The problem of a stationary, traction-free, tensile (mode I) crack is analyzed to predict the size, shape and time evolution of the creep-dominated fracture process zone surrounding the crack-tip. The numerical simulations quantify the effects of transient creep, material strain hardening, fabric anisotropy, loading rate, temperature, and finite fracture test-specimen boundary on the development of the creep zone. A range of stress-intensity rates from 1 to 100 kPa s⁻¹ and temperatures from −5° to −25°C is considered in the simulations.

The results from a comprehensive numerical simulation study show that: (i) transient creep increases the creep zone size by more than an order of magnitude over that for a power-law creeping material, i.e., about 40 times for the isotropic, equiaxed granular ice tested by Jacka (1984); (ii) material strain hardening significantly affects the creep zone size, i.e., the creep zone for the transversely-isotropic columnar-grained ice tested by Sinha (1978), with the crack loaded in the plane of isotropy, is about 4 times smaller than that for the granular isotropic ice; (iii) fabric anisotropy increases the size of the creep zone by a factor of at least two for cracks in the transversely-isotropic, columnar-grained ice loaded in the plane of isotropy; (iv) the Riedel and Rice (1980) equation, which was derived for an isotropic power-law creeping material subjected to a suddenly applied constant stress-intensity, overestimates the creep zone size by a factor of 4.2 for a constant stress-intensity rate loading; and (v) as the crack size increases, linear elastic fracture mechanics becomes increasingly applicable at lower loading rates and higher temperatures.     

A combined molecular dynamics and Raman spectroscopy approach for designing ice-metal interfaces

Summary Understanding the structure and interatomic interactions of an ice-metal interface plays a fundamental role in the design of deicing coatings. This is demonstrated by a novel approach, combining vibrational results from laser Raman spectroscopy with molecular dynamics simulations to obtain insights into icing on solids which, in turn, lead to design criteria for minimizing adhesion. An atomistic model of ice-copper interaction is constructed based on electronic structure calculations and used to show that reasonable molecular geometry and binding energy at the interface can be obtained. Through molecular dynamics simulations we find that the ice layer adjacent to the copper surface is structurally more disordered than the layers further away, a result which is verified by the Raman spectra of vibrational frequencies. The primary adhesive bond is made by the adsorption of oxygen atoms at the lattice sites of the metal substrate. The information obtained by Raman spectroscopy and molecular dynamics is then exploited to arrive at specific recommendations for designing polymeric deicing coatings and materials.