Continuous collection of soluble atmospheric particles with a wetted hydrophilic filter

Approximately one-third of the area (14-mm diameter of a 25-mm diameter) of a 5-microm uniform pore size polycarbonate filter is continuously wetted by a 0.25 mL/min water mist. The water forms a continuous thin film on the filter and percolates through it. The flowing water substantially reduces the effective pore size of the filter. At the operational air sampling flow rate of 1.5 standard liters per minute, such a particle collector (PC) efficiently captures particles down to very small size. As determined by fluorescein-tagged NaCl aerosol generated by a vibrating orifice aerosol generator, the capture efficiency was 97.7+% for particle aerodynamic diameters ranging from 0.28 to 3.88 microm. Further, 55.3 and 80.3% of 25- and 100-nm (NH4)2SO4 particles generated by size classification with a differential mobility analyzer were respectively collected by the device. The PC is integrally coupled with a liquid collection reservoir. The liquid effluent from the wetted filter collector, bearing the soluble components of the aerosol, can be continuously collected or periodically withdrawn. The latter strategy permits the use of a robust syringe pump for the purpose. Coupled with a PM2.5 cyclone inlet and a membrane-based parallel plate denuder at the front end and an ion chromatograph at the back end, the PC readily operated for at least 4-week periods without filter replacement or any other maintenance.     

Measurement of diffusive flux of ammonia from water

An instrument was developed for the measurement of gaseous ammonia concentration, NH(3(sw,eq)), in equilibrium with surface waters, notably ocean water. The instrument measures the ammonia flux from a flowing water surface under defined conditions and allows the calculation of NH(3(sw,eq)) from the principles of Fickian diffusion. The flux collector resembles a wetted parallel plate denuder previously developed for air sampling. The sample under study runs on one plate of the device; the ammonia released from the sample is collected by a slow flow of a receptor liquid on the other plate. The NH(3) + NH(4)(+) (hereinafter called N(T)) in the effluent receptor liquid is preconcentrated on a silica gel column and subsequently measured by a fluorometric flow injection analysis (FIA) system. With a 6-min cycle (4-min load, 2-min inject), the analytical system can measure down to 0.3 nM N(T) in the receptor liquid. Coupled with the flux collector, it is sufficiently sensitive to measure the ammonia flux from seawater. The instrument design is such that it is little affected by ambient ammonia. In both laboratory (N(T) 0.2-50 μM), and field investigations (N(T) 0.18-1.7 μM) good linearity between the ammonia flux and the N(T) concentration in seawater (spiked, synthetic, natural) was observed, although aged seawater, with depleted N(T) content, behaves in an unusual fashion upon N(T) addition, showing the existence of an "ammonia demand". NH(3(sw,eq)) levels from ocean water measured in the Coconut Island Laboratory, HI, ranged from 6.6 to 33 nmol/m(3) with an average of 17.4 ± 6.9 nmol/m(3), in comparison to 2.8-21 nmol/m(3) (average 10 ± 7 nmol/m(3)) NH(3(sw,eq)) values previously reported for the Central Pacific Ocean (Quinn, P. K.; et al. J. Geophys. Res. 1990, 95, 16405-16416).     

Mass production of ZnO nanotetrapods by a flowing gas phase reaction method

We have developed a flowing gas phase reaction method for synthesizing ZnO nanotetrapods. The synthesis was carried out in a tube furnace under air pressure using air and nitrogen as reactive and carrying gases. The zinc precursor was provided by carbothermal reduction of ZnO powder. The source material transformation efficiency is higher than 90%. ZnO nanotetrapods were nucleated and grown in the gas phase via a vapor-solid mechanism. The reaction occurred at a temperature controlled to 1050-1200?°C and gas flow rate controlled to 0.7-2?L/min. The high flow rate suppressed the diffusion of growth precursors and productions towards the tube wall, and localized them into a gas phase pipe. The harvested ZnO nanotetrapods were carried by the flowing gas and collected outside of the furnace. The sizes of the nanotetrapods range from several hundred nanometers to more than 10?μm with leg diameters of 30-200?nm. The flowing gas phase reaction method provides a relatively uniformity environment for nanotetrapod growth and simplifies the product collection procedure compared with other techniques. This technique is simple and inexpensive, which is promising for realizing continuous mass production of ZnO nanotetrapods on a factory scale.     

ESTIMATING FILM FLOW RATE IN A VENTURI SCRUBBER

An empirical design correlation has been developed to predict the fraction of liquid flowing on the wall as a film in a Venturi scrubber. This correlation takes into account primary operating variables such as Liquid to Gas Ratio, and Throat Gas Velocity and design variables such as nozzle diameter and Venturi throat width in the direction of liquid injection. Data for the design correlation were obtained on a pilot plant scale Venturi scrubber using operating variables ranges that are normally encountered with industrial size units.     

汽-气液滴形管与圆管外凝结换热的研究

为了研究管型对汽-气凝结换热的影响和强化汽-气凝结换热过程,建立了汽-气在液滴形管与圆管外凝结换热所形成的气液膜的厚度及换热系数沿管壁分布的综合数学模型。通过有限差分的方法,以天然气燃烧产生的烟气为例对两种管型进行了计算比较。在有效换热面积相等的情况下,与圆管相比,液滴形管上半部分管径小,压力梯度大,有利于排液,下半部分表面曲率大,亦有利于排液;液滴形管表面形成的气膜薄,液膜亦薄,珠状凝结区域大,液珠尺寸小,凝结换热系数大;液滴形管对显热传递亦有一定的强化作用。通过实验对计算结果进行了比较验证,结果表明该模型亦适用于椭圆管和其它汽-气混合流体种类。     

Liquid film and droplet flow behaviour and heat transfer characteristics of herringbone microfin tubes

Cross-sectional liquid flow rate distribution of vapour liquid two phase flow of R123 in different herringbone microfin tubes has been measured. Droplet and liquid film flow rates are calculated with the measured data and assumptions for droplet distribution and slip ratio. Heat transfer coefficients of evaporation and condensation in herringbone microfin tubes have been measured using R22. Heat transfer enhancement mechanism by the herringbone microfins is discussed by using the measured data and numerically obtained cross-sectional flow field of a single phase flow. Flow rate of thin liquid film flowing on tube sides is affected by the helix angle and fin height. Larger helix angle and higher fin give thinner film. Liquid film flow rates in tube top and bottom are higher than tube sides. Droplet flow rate is increased with increase of helix angle and fin height, although the effect of fin height is not as pronounced as helix angle. Droplet radial mass velocity to tube side walls is increased with helix angle.     

Hybrid microfabricated device for field measurement of atmospheric sulfur dioxide

A miniaturized planar-membrane-based gas collector of 800 nL internal liquid volume was integrated with a microfabricated conductivity detector to measure atmospheric SO2. This device is operated with a dilute H2SO4/ H202/2-propanol absorber for a finite integration period (typically, 1.5 min) without liquid flow. During this period, sulfuric acid is formed from SO2 that diffuses into the liquid and accumulates therein. The increase in conductivity with ongoing sampling is measured. The absorber is then replaced with fresh solution, and the process starts anew. The most important factors that govern sensitivity and the detection limit are the choice of the membrane, the nature of the internal collector solution, and the thickness of the solution layer. A porous polypropylene membrane with some 2-propanol (IPA) incorporated in the internal solution was found to be the best combination. The sensitivity was inversely proportional to the solution layer thickness, and a layer thickness of 100 microm resulted in a practical device with good performance characteristics. Greater applied pressure on the gas phase relative to the liquid side also can improve device performance. The system is operated with 12 V DC and does not require a liquid pump. Under optimized conditions, the LOD is 0.7-1.0 ppbv for a sampling period of 1.5 min. The device was field-tested around Mt. Aso in Japan. Changes in ambient SO2 concentrations could be followed with good time resolution. The results are compared with data obtained by a collocated macroscale instrument.     

Structural, optical and gas sensing properties of spin coated nanocrystalline zinc oxide thin films

Synthesis of nanocrystalline zinc oxide thin films by sol gel spin coating technique and its application as ammonia gas sensor is presented in this paper. The synthesized sample is pure zinc oxide with hexagonal wurtzite structure. The lattice parameters are: a = 3.2568 Å and c = 5.210 Å. Average crystallite size is of the order of 58 nm. SEM studies show that growth of the film takes place with folded structure, increasing the open surface area of the film. Optical study revealed that band gap of ZnO is 3.25 eV with direct band to band transitions. Gas sensing characteristics showed that ZnO film is sensitive as well as fast responding to ammonia gas at 573 K. A high sensitivity for ammonia gas indicates that the ZnO films are selective for this gas. The rise time and recovery time are 25 and 80 s, respectively. The mechanism of gas sensing is explained adequately.     

基于横纹管氨水溶液垂直管外降膜吸收性能的变化规律

针对三根不同尺寸规格的横纹管,通过实验研究提高其吸收效率,选择吸收性能最优的管型。实验结果表明,随着压差和管内冷却水流速的增大,溶液吸收氨气的量增加,管外溶液传质系数增大。当管外氨水溶液喷淋密度从小变大时,光滑管和横纹管的传质系数均先增加后减小,过程中出现了最大值。该系列实验的结果表明横纹管比相同工况的光滑管有更高的强化传热和传质能力,当溶液喷淋密度为479.6kg/(m?h)时,横纹管比光滑管的传质系数增大了97.8%。三组实验中均发现一个共同的规律,横纹管的传质系数随凹槽尺寸变化而改变,2号横纹管表现出更强的吸收氨气能力。该管凹槽宽度与横纹管外径的比值为0.0814。通过对凹槽内溶液流动模型分析,比较了溶液通过凹槽时掺混和涡流的流动形态,得出了不同尺寸规格横纹管吸收性能差异的一个原因。     

Modeling Iron Pentacarbonyl Vaporization Accompanied by Vapor Condensation on a Flowing Down Liquid Film

Using iron pentacarbonyl distillation as an example, we analyze the vaporization process in a closed vaporization–condensation system where vapor condenses on a flowing down liquid film. We jointly analyze the mechanisms behind vaporization, vapor transport, condensation, and flowing of the condensate on the inner surface of a vertical tube. We calculate the thickness of the flowing down liquid film, determine the vaporization coefficient for a closed system using experimentally determined temperature dependences of the vaporization rate and saturated vapor pressure, and present the vaporization rate as a function of the vaporization and condensation temperatures, the radius and height of the condensation tube, and the vaporization area of the still residue.     

Modeling and simulation of ammonia removal from purge gases of ammonia plants using a catalytic Pd-Ag membrane reactor

In this work, the removal of ammonia from synthesis purge gas of an ammonia plant has been investigated. Since the ammonia decomposition is thermodynamically limited, a membrane reactor is used for complete decomposition. A double pipe catalytic membrane reactor is used to remove ammonia from purge gas. The purge gas is flowing in the reaction side and is converted to hydrogen and nitrogen over nickel-alumina catalyst. The hydrogen is transferred through the Pd-Ag membrane of tube side to the shell side. A mathematical model including conservation of mass in the tube and shell side of reactor is proposed. The proposed model was solved numerically and the effects of different parameters on the rector performance were investigated. The effects of pressure, temperature, flow rate (sweep ratio), membrane thickness and reactor diameter have been investigated in the present study. Increasing ammonia conversion was observed by raising the temperature, sweep ratio and reducing membrane thickness. When the pressure increases, the decomposition is gone toward completion but, at low pressure the ammonia conversion in the outset of reactor is higher than other pressures, but complete destruction of the ammonia cannot be achieved. The proposed model can be used for design of an industrial catalytic membrane reactor for removal of ammonia from ammonia plant and reducing NO(x) emissions.     

Postcolumn concentration in liquid chromatography. On-line eluent evaporation and analyte postconcentration in ion chromatography

On-line sample concentration by evaporation through a narrow-bore membrane tube is described. The device can be deployed just prior to the detector or the sample may be concentrated prior to injection. As solution flows through a solvent-permeable membrane tube, (heated) drying gas (nitrogen/air) flows outside it to remove the solvent. The removal rate increases with increasing sample residence time, drying gas flow rate, and temperature. Various membranes and three concentrator designs (a rectangular maze, a serpentine and a filament-filled helix, the last performing the best) were fabricated and tested for post- and preseparation applications in suppressed anion chromatography. An order of magnitude concentration factors are readily obtained. The present system involves active mass transport radially outward through the walls of a tube. This is a system in which many of the traditional paradigms of flow through a tubular conduit no longer hold true. Because the flow rate continuously varies along the tube, residence time does not scale linearly with residence volume or conduit length. The effects of such mass transport on the parabolic velocity profile of laminar flow remain unknown.     

Thimble glass frit nebulizer for atomic spectrometry

A thimble-shaped glass frit nebulizer has been developed for atomic spectrometry. The thimble glass frit was pressurized internally by gases such as helium (He) or argon (Ar) while the test solution was applied externally to the frit. The pressurized gas exited through the pores of the glass frit and shattered the thin liquid film flowing on the surface of the thimble-shaped device to form small droplets. A small spray chamber surrounded the nebulizer to remove the large droplets. Small droplets were then introduced into inductively coupled plasmas (ICP) sustained in either Ar or He. To reduce the memory effect noted in the frit-type nebulizers, a clean-out system was also devised. Detection limits, signal-to-background ratios (S/B), precision, memory effects, noise power spectra (NPS), and particle size distributions measured with the new nebulizer were compared to those of disk and cylindrical glass frit nebulizers and the commonly used pneumatic nebulizer for Ar ICP atomic emission spectrometry (AES). Analytical performance was also measured for He ICP by using frit-type nebulizers and an ultrasonic nebulizer.     

A photothermal interferometer for gas-phase ammonia detection

Detection of gas-phase ammonia is particularly challenging because ambient ammonia concentrations may be less than 1 ppb (molecules of NH(3) per 10(9) molecules of air), ammonia sticks to many materials commonly used to sample air, and particles containing ammonium may interfere with gas-phase measurements. We have built a new and sensitive photothermal interferometer to detect gas-phase ammonia in situ, under typical atmospheric conditions. Ammonia molecules in sampled air absorb infrared radiation from a CO(2) laser at 9.22 μm, with consequent collisional heating, expansion, and refractive index change. This change in refractive index is detected as a phase shift in one arm of a homodyne interferometer. Measurements of vibrational and electrical noise in the interferometer correlate to an instrumental lower limit of detection of 6.6 ppt ammonia in 1 s. The CO(2) laser output is modulated at 1.2 kHz, and the ac signal from the interferometer is measured with a lock-in amplifier. The detector is zeroed by sampling through a H(3)PO(4)-coated denuder tube and is calibrated by dynamic dilution of two permeation tube outputs and by standard addition. Signal gain is insensitive to CO(2) or H(2)O in the sample, and the signal is linear over 5 orders of magnitude. The instrument 2σ precision is 31 ppt when the signal is integrated for 100 s and 250 ppt with a 1-s integration time. The windowless sample cell and inlet is fabricated entirely of glass to minimize sample loss and hysteresis. The instrument response time is demonstrated to be about 1 s.     

STW gas sensors using plasma-polymerized allylamine

Gas sensors generally consist of two major components: a gas recognition element which provides the specificity and selectivity of the measurement and a physical transducer which translates the gas absorption or desorption event into electronic signal. In this paper, plasma polymerized allylamine (PPAa) film is used as a gas recognition element and a surface transverse wave (STW) device is used as a physical transducer. It is confirmed that STW sensor devices coated with PPAa films provide high sensitivity for moisture. The STW sensor device with a 63 nm PPAa film provided twenty four times higher sensitivity than that of a non-coated STW device. In addition, the chemical structure of PPAa films is characterized by the FT-IR and the contact angle measurement.     

Kinetics of gas-liquid reaction between NO and Co(NH3)6(2+)

Wet ammonia desulphurization process can be retrofitted for combined removal of SO2 and NO from the flue gas by adding soluble cobalt(II) salts into the aqueous ammonia solutions. The Co(NH3)6(2+) formed by ammonia binding with Co2+ is the active constituent of scrubbing NO from the flue gas streams. A stirred vessel with a plane gas-liquid interface was used to measure the chemical absorption rates of nitric oxide into the Co(NH3)6(2+) solution under anaerobic and aerobic conditions separately. The experiments manifest that the nitric oxide absorption reaction can be regarded as instantaneous when nitric oxide concentration levels are parts per million ranges. The gas-liquid reaction becomes gas film controlling as Co(NH3)6(2+) concentration exceeds 0.02 mol/l. The NO absorption rate is proportional to the nitric oxide inlet concentration. Oxygen in the gas phase is favorable to the absorption of nitric oxide. But it is of little significance to increase the oxygen concentration above 5.2%. The NO absorption rate decreases with temperature. The kinetic equation of NO absorption into the Co(NH3)6(2+) solution under aerobic condition can be written as.     

汽气混合流凝结液膜形成机理研究

汽气混合流体凝结放热过程中凝结所形成的液膜厚度对换热效果的影响较大,因此通过探讨液膜厚度沿管壁的变化,有利于分析强化换热过程。以圆管为例,对汽气混合流体凝结所形成的液膜机理、沿管壁的分布规律及换热性能进行分析,并建立相应的物理及数学模型。通过给定初始条件进行计算,结果表明：液膜沿管壁向下流动过程中其厚度逐渐增加、换热性能逐渐降低;同时分析了管壁温度、汽气混合流体速度及管径等主要参数对液膜的形成及换热性能的影响,为强化凝结换热过程提供了理论基础。     

梭式窑内烟气温度测量装置的研究

烟气温度是梭式窑运行的一个重要工艺条件，对产品的质量、产量以及设备的使用寿命等均有重要意义。针对梭式窑内烟气具有温度高，不易测量的特点，提出了一种以热电偶为测温元件的温度测量装置，深入窑内测量的部分均采用碳化硅耐火材料制成，在窑外使用不锈钢水冷套管对烟气进行冷却，两段用法兰连接，使用双层遮热罩和风机抽气的方式来提高测量的精度，并可通过该装置实现对烟气的取样和窑内压力的测量。     

In Situ Environmental TEM in Imaging Gas and Liquid Phase Chemical Reactions for Materials Research

Gas and liquid phase chemical reactions cover a broad range of research areas in materials science and engineering, including the synthesis of nanomaterials and application of nanomaterials, for example, in the areas of sensing, energy storage and conversion, catalysis, and bio‐related applications. Environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) provides a unique opportunity for monitoring gas and liquid phase reactions because it enables the observation of those reactions at the ultra‐high spatial resolution, which is not achievable through other techniques. Here, the fundamental science and technology developments of gas and liquid phase TEM that facilitate the mechanistic study of the gas and liquid phase chemical reactions are discussed. Combined with other characterization tools integrated in TEM, unprecedented material behaviors and reaction mechanisms are observed through the use of the in situ gas and liquid phase TEM. These observations and also the recent applications in this emerging area are described. The current challenges in the imaging process are also discussed, including the imaging speed, imaging resolution, and data management.     

Realtime stable isotope monitoring of natural waters by parallel-flow laser spectroscopy

A parallel-flow H(2)O(liquid)-H(2)O(vapor) equilibration and laser spectroscopy method provides a new way to monitor the hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic composition of water from rivers or lakes or in hydrologic tracer tests in real time. Two custom-built equilibrator devices and one commercial membrane device were tested to determine if they could be used to convert natural water samples (lakes, rivers, groundwater) to a H(2)O gas phase for continuous online δ(18)O and δD isotopic analysis by laser spectroscopy. Both the commercial minimodule device and the marble-filled equilibrator produced water vapor in isotopic equilibrium with the flowing liquid water, suggesting that unattended field measurement using these devices is possible. Oxygen isotope disequilibrium was indicated using the minimodule device at low temperatures.