Effect of mass transfer on the deactivation model and GPLE parameters of Co/γ-Al2O3 catalysts in the Fischer Tropsch synthesis

The activity of catalysts with various sizes was compared in a fixed-bed Fischer–Tropsch reactor under similar operating conditions by determining the deactivation model. Catalyst size had no impact on the type of deactivation model. The smaller catalyst showed a smaller deactivation constant of catalyst (k_d) and a lower deactivation rate in the initial stage. The decline in the activities of the catalyst with a mesh size of 40 was lower than the other catalysts, suggesting its higher long-term stability (a_ss). Larger catalyst sizes led to the fouling of carbon and heavy hydrocarbons, decreasing the specific surface of the catalyst, thus increasing the pore diffusion resistance and further decrementing the catalyst activities.     

Experimental investigation of gas-liquid flow in a vertical venturi installed downstream of a horizontal blind tee flow conditioner and the flow regime transition

A venturi device is commonly used as an integral part of a multiphase flowmeter (MPFM) in real-time oil-gas production monitoring. Partial flow mixing is required by installing the venturi device vertically downstream of a blind tee pipework that conditions the incoming horizontal gas-liquid flow (for an accurate determination of individual phase fraction and flow rate). To study the flow-mixing effect of the blind tee, high-speed video flow visualization of gas-liquid flows has been performed at blind tee and venturi sections by using a purpose-built transparent test rig over a wide range of superficial liquid velocities (0.3–2.4 m/s) and gas volume fractions (10–95%). There is little ‘homogenization’ effect of the blind tee on the incoming intermittent horizontal flow regimes across the tested flow conditions, with the flow remaining intermittent but becoming more axis-symmetric and predictable in the venturi measurement section. A horizontal (blind tee) to vertical (venturi) flow-pattern transition map is proposed based on gas and liquid mass fluxes (weighted by the Baker parameters). Flow patterns can be identified from the mean and variance of a fast electrical capacitance holdup measured at the venturi throat.     

Feasibility study of large-scale mass customization 3D printing framework system with a case study on Nanjing Happy Valley East Gate

At present, the development and implementation of digital transformation are the keys to promoting high-quality industry development. The new digital fabrication method of robotic 3D printing is a research area being studied by many to tackle the issue of the declining productivity of traditional construction methods. Although many studies have been done, most of the current 3D printing projects are facing limitations in terms of scale. In order to bridge the gap, this article proposed a mass customization 3D printing framework system for large-scale projects. This article discusses how mass customization is made possible through the joint operation of the FUROBOT software and 3D printing hardware. By taking the east gate of Nanjing Happy Valley Plaza as a case study, the article demonstrates and studies the feasibility of the large-scale mass customization 3D printing framework system.     

烟道流量计量标准装置

为了解决我国烟道流量计的量值溯源问题,中国计量科学研究院建立了烟道流量计量标准装置。装置使用可溯源至标准转盘的激光多普勒测速仪作为原级标准器,采用激光多普勒流速剖面扫描和超声流量计波动修正的方式测量标准流量,经校准的8声道超声流量计为工作级标准表,具备了908~104840m3/h的测量能力,扩展不确定度为0.62%(k=2),可对最大口径为1m的流量计进行校准。装置下游测试段包括圆形管段和矩形管段,能够开展烟道流量计测量性能的研究。     

Enhanced graphitic domains of unreduced graphene oxide and the interplay of hydration behaviour and catalytic activity

Previous studies indicate that the properties of graphene oxide (GO) can be significantly improved by enhancing its graphitic domain size through thermal diffusion and clustering of functional groups. Remarkably, this transition takes place below the decomposition temperature of the functional groups and thus allows fine tuning of graphitic domains without compromising with the functionality of GO. By studying the transformation of GO under mild thermal treatment, we directly observe this size enhancement of graphitic domains from originally ≤40 nm² to >200 nm² through an extensive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study. Additionally, we confirm the integrity of the functional groups during this process by a comprehensive chemical analysis. A closer look into the process confirms the theoretical predicted relevance for the room temperature stability of GO and the development of the composition of functional groups is explained with reaction pathways from theoretical calculations. We further investigate the influence of enlarged graphitic domains on the hydration behaviour of GO and the catalytic performance of single atom catalysts supported by GO. Additionally, we show that the sheet resistance of GO is reduced by several orders of magnitude during the mild thermal annealing process.     

Automated and Continuous Production of Microstructured Metallic Plates via Cold Embossing

Many critical issues need to be addressed when microstructured reactors are manufactured in large unit volumes. The most crucial of these are cost, ease of production, and reliability. The lack of breakthrough manufacturing technology to provide high‐efficiency, low‐cost, high‐precision plates is a hindrance to the early market implementation of systems requiring metallic microstructured plates. This contribution focuses on the development and optimization of a combined embossing and bending tool for the quick and continuous manufacture of easily machined plates.     

Simultaneous determination of mycotoxin in commercial coffee

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi that usually contaminate food products. Coffee is a natural product susceptible to mycotoxin contamination. The present study evaluates the presence of nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, T-2 and HT-2 Toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, aflatoxin B₁, aflatoxin B₂, aflatoxin G₁, aflatoxin G₂, fumonisin B₁, fumonisin B₂, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, enniatin A, enniatin A₁, enniatin B, enniatin B₁, and beauvericin in coffee samples, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The results show that zearalenone was not present in any sample. In the positive samples the contents of fumonisins ranged from 58.62 to 537.45 μg/kg, emerging mycotoxins ranged from 0.10 to 3569.92 μg/kg, aflatoxins ranged from 0.25 to 13.12 μg/kg, and trichothecenes, excepting nivalenol, ranged from 5.70 to 325.68 μg/kg. Nivalenol presented the highest concentrations, from 0.40 to 25.86 mg/kg. Ochratoxin A ranged from 1.56 to 32.40 μg/kg, and five samples exceeded the maximum limit established by the European Commission.     

Synthesis,structure, stability and phase diagrams of selected bimetallic silver- and nickel-based nanoparticles

An overview of the research on silver-based (Ag-Sn, Ag-Cu, Ag-Ni) and nickel-based (Cu-Ni, Au-Ni, Ni-Pt) bimetallic nanoparticles is presented. The investigated nanoparticles in this review are formed by elements that represent an important group of metals revealing fcc lattice under macro-sized conditions (with the exception of Sn). The effects of surface stabilizing layer of the alloy nanoparticles are also described. Our experience with synthesis, characterization and stabilization of alloy nanoparticles is summarized. The development of the nanoparticle synthesis represents an important and mandatory part of the experimental nanoalloy research. Main synthetic routes under focus are the low temperature borohydride reduction method, the high temperature oleylamine synthesis, and the high pressure method in autoclave. The subsequent structural studies are focused on both nanoparticle core and outer stabilizing layer. The cores of the nanoparticles are studied mainly by electron microscopy techniques. The phase stability of the nanoparticle core is investigated by thermal analysis. The Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry was applied for studies of stabilizing organic molecules that can be found on the surface of the nanoparticles. The presented overview of the experimental results is complemented by thermodynamic calculations of phase diagrams by the CALPHAD method.     

Mass Transfer in a Flat Gas/Liquid Interface using non‐Newtonian Media

Gas/liquid mass transfer has been investigated using a stirred vessel gas/liquid contactor using non‐Newtonian media and carbon dioxide as absorbent and gas phase, respectively. The volumetric mass transfer coefficients at different operational variables have been determined. Non‐Newtonian media (liquid phase) were prepared as aqueous solutions of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose salt. The influence of the rheological properties, polymer concentration, stirring rate, and gas flow rate on mass transfer was studied for these liquid phases. Kinematic viscosity and density experimental data were used to calculate the average molecular weight corresponding to the polymer employed. The Ostwald model has been used to fit the rheological behavior of aqueous solutions of the polymer employed as absorbent phase. Reasonably good agreement was found between the predictions of the proposed models and the experimental data of mass transfer coefficients.     

Vapor absorption by LiBr aqueous solution in vertical smooth tubes

Heat and mass transfer in a falling film vertical in-tube absorber was studied experimentally with LiBr aqueous solution. The presented results include the effect of solution flow rate, solution subcooling and cooling water temperature on the absorption in a smooth copper tube 16.05 mm I.D. and 400 mm long. The experimental data in the previous report for a 1200-mm-long tube was also re-examined and compared. It was demonstrated by the observation of the flow in the tube that the break down of the liquid film into rivulets leads to deterioration of heat and mass transfer at lower film Reynolds number or in longer tubes. An attempt to evaluate physically acceptable heat and mass transfer coefficients that are defined with estimated temperature and concentration at the vapor–liquid interface was also presented.