Bromination of Aromatic Compounds using Bromine in a Microreactor

2,4,5‐Trifluorobromobenzene is a valuable intermediate with important application in the synthesis of biologically active peptides and fluorescent reagents. A continuous‐flow system has been successfully developed for the synthesis of 2,4,5‐trifluorobromobenzene in a microreactor using FeBr₃ as a catalyst, which is steadily generated in situ from the reaction of Br₂ and Fe. The procedure is efficient and easy‐to‐handle, and 2,4,5‐trifluorobromobenzene can be obtained within minutes in high yields.     

Energy Savings through Microwave Selective Heating of Pd/AC Catalyst Particulates in a Fixed‐Bed Reactor

Microwave radiation is a novel energy source to drive chemical reactions. In conventional reactors, however, the heat created either escapes through uninsulated reactor walls, or the microwave radiation is attenuated by insulated walls. Here, microwave selective heating of Pd catalyst particles supported on activated carbon particulates was examined in a fixed‐bed reactor using a novel vacuum‐filled Dewar‐like double‐walled continuous‐flow reactor. This reactor was developed toward energy savings in performing such organic reactions as the transformation of the hydride methyl cyclohexane to toluene.     

阀门开度对环状流结构的影响研究

研究环状流在阀门中流动结构的变化对石油水环运输稳定性具有重要意义。采用VOF模型与CSF模型进行油水环状流在球阀内的流动模拟,比较不同阀门开度对环状流结构的影响,结果表明,球阀的开度越小,对环状流结构影响越大,并容易导致环状流失稳。     

An effective heuristic for adaptive control of job sequences subject to variation in processing times

Variation in sequential task processing times is common in manufacturing systems. This type of disturbance challenges most scheduling methods since they cannot fundamentally change job sequences to adaptively control production performance as jobs enter the system because actual processing times, are not known in advance. Some research literature indicates that simple rules are more suitable than algorithmic scheduling methods for adaptive control. In this work, a ‘state space – average processing time’ (SS-APT) heuristic is proposed and compared to four most commonly used scheduling rules and two well-established heuristics based on Taillard’s benchmarks. It is shown that the adaptive control is made possible under variation in processing times given the flexibility and strong performance of the SS-APT heuristic, especially for work-in-process inventory control.     

Approach to monitor large two-phase LNG flows

A new version of a system to monitor the average void fraction, φ, the quality, x, and the mass flow rate, G, of two-phase liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows is offered. It is based on a combination of a gamma-densitometer with a Cs-137 radioactive source and a narrowing device. The metrological characteristics of this system are estimated and its practical realization is substantiated. A model of ID =100 mm has been manufactured and tested at the State Primary Special Standard of the Unit of Mass Flow Rate of Gas-Liquid Mixtures GET 195-2011 (Kazan, Russia) with simulated two-phase flows “Exxsol – compressed air”. The offered system can be used for pipelines up to ID =500 mm by applying a gamma source with the necessary activity. The experiments on GET 195–2011 have shown that the void fraction error and the relative mass flow rate error for Exxsol do not exceed 5% and 2%, respectively, at φ<50%. It appears to be suitable for practical application. If one adds a second gamma-source (for example, Am-241) to the proposed system, it can serve as a separationless three-phase flow-meter for mixtures “oil-gas-formation water”.     

Total pressure fluctuations and two-phase flow turbulence in self-aerated stepped chute flows

Current knowledge in high-velocity self-aerated flows continues to rely upon physical modelling. Herein a miniature total pressure probe was successfully used in both clear-water and air-water flow regions of high-velocity open channel flows on a steep stepped channel. The measurements were conducted in a large size facility (θ=45°, h=0.1 m, W=0.985 m) and they were complemented by detailed clear-water and air-water flow measurements using a Prandtl-Pitot tube and dual-tip phase-detection probe respectively in both developing and fully-developed flow regions for Reynolds numbers within 3.3×10⁵ to 8.7×10⁵. Upstream of the inception point of free-surface aeration, the clear-water developing flow was characterised by a developing turbulent boundary layer and an ideal-flow region above. The boundary layer flow presented large total pressure fluctuations and turbulence intensities, with distributions of turbulence intensity close to intermediate roughness flow data sets: i.e., intermediate between d-type and k-type. The total pressure measurements were validated in the highly-aerated turbulent shear region, since the total pressure predictions based upon simultaneously-measured void fraction and velocity data agreed well with experimental results recorded by the total pressure probe. The results demonstrated the suitability of miniature total pressure probe in both monophase and two-phase flows. Both interfacial and water phase turbulence intensities were recorded. Present findings indicated that the turbulence intensity in the water phase was smaller than the interfacial turbulence intensity.     

In situ assessment of carbon nanotube flow and filtration monitoring through glass fabric using electrical resistance measurement

Filtration of nanofillers into porous fabric media is still an issue during the preparation of advanced fiber-reinforced composites. The assessment of resin/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) flow, MWCNT filtration, and the cure monitoring of glass fiber/carbon nanotube-polyester composites by means of the measurement of the electrical resistance was introduced. The vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding technique was used. The electrical resistances measured over the span of a composite were qualitatively correlated with MWCNT flow and the degree of MWCNT filtration. It was found that while the complexity of the fabrics could likely introduce preferential deposition of MWCNTs, their filtration is mainly affected by their dispersion state in the resin suspension. Relationships among critical parameters such as the lengths and diameters of MWCNTs, the inter- and intra-tow dimensions of glass fabrics, the dispersion level of MWCNTs, and the viscosity of nanocomposite samples are discussed and correlated to the filtration, cure, and flow phenomena. We showed that our method can also serve as an early warning to obviate defects in the resulting composite.