Assessment of energetic heterogeneity of coals for gas adsorption and its effect on mixture predictions for coalbed methane studies

This study explains the single-component and binary mixture adsorption studies on two different coals from the Zonguldak Basin (Northwestern Turkey). Assessment of energetic heterogeneity of coal surface and its effect on the equilibrium binary gas adsorption are discussed. Single component adsorption tests were performed using methane and carbon dioxide at 30°C. Binary mixtures prepared with 10, 15 and 20% carbon dioxide were also tested at the same temperature. Various single-component adsorption isotherms were fitted to the experimental data of single gases. The data obtained from these models were interpreted to determine the energetic heterogeneity of the coals towards adsorption of methane and carbon dioxide. Ideal adsorbed solution (IAS) theory was used to predict the data and discrepancies between experimental data, and the model predictions were interpreted. Results showed that coals exhibit a heterogeneous behavior in gas adsorption. This heterogeneity can be different for each coal–gas pair and the extent of the heterogeneity makes the binary gas predictions differ from the experimental data. The deviations between IAS and experimental data increase as the amount of gas, to which the coal shows high heterogeneity, increases in the mixture.     

Colour changes of heat‐treated woods of red‐bud maple,European hophornbeam and oak

Colour evolution and colour changes were analyzed from small specimens of three heat treated wood species using the CIE L*a*b* colour space. Upon heat exposure, the wood substance became darker of species; this was accompanied by a steady reduction in lightness. As treatment conditions (e.g., time and temperature) increase, various shades of yellow were favoured for the surface of red‐bud maple wood (Δb = 1.22–9.79). For European hophornbeam wood, increased times at elevated temperatures make a blue (?b) colour the better choice. The total colour difference (ΔE) of the surfaces of wood substrates appear to be well correlated with the treatment temperature and time. The FTIR spectra suggest that the level of modification was insufficient for removing the major cell wall constituents of the wood substrates. All heat‐treated samples showed much less stability against colour difference in outdoor conditions. For red‐bud maple, the greatest improvement was achieved for samples that were treated at 150°C for 2 h (ΔE = 3.12). However, heat‐treated oak wood hadmuch less stability of colour difference for treatment conditions of 150°C for 10 h. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2010.     

Influences of annealing temperature on anti-reflective performance of amorphous Ta2O5 thin films

Influences of thermal annealing on structural, optical and morphological properties of the tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅) thin films were investigated and anti-reflective performances were discussed in detail. The Ta₂O₅ thin films were deposited onto Corning Glass (CG), Si, GaAs and Ge substrates by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering technique using Ta₂O₅ ceramic target. The obtained secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) analysis results showed that uniform Ta and O distribution have formed throughout depth of the films deposited on substrates. The X-Ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the annealed Ta₂O₅ thin films at 100, 200, 300 and 500?°C have exhibited amorphous (a-Ta₂O₅) characteristic. The increased temperature has resulted in increasing the surface roughness from 0.67 to 1.60?nm. The optical transmittance of the annealed thin films has increased from 70.85 to 80.32% with increasing temperature. Spectroscopic ellipsometer (SE) measurement results demonstrated that the increased temperature has increased the refractive index of the Ta₂O₅ thin film from 2.11 to 2.18. The Ta₂O₅ thin film has reduced the average optical reflectivity of the Si, GaAs and Ge substrates by 78, 55 and 70%, respectively. In addition, thermal annealing process has decreased the optical reflectivity of the film. The obtained experimental results showed that single-layer Ta₂O₅ thin films can be used as anti-reflective layer in optical and optoelectronic applications. The best optical transmittance and anti-reflective performance were obtained at the annealing temperature of 500?°C.     

Influence of substrate temperature on structural and optical properties of RF sputtered ZnMnO thin films

The ZnMnO thin films were deposited on glass substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering method. The properties of ZnMnO thin films were investigated by high-resolution x-ray diffractometer (HRXRD),atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Vis spectrometer and room temperature photoluminescence (PL), under the influence of substrate temperature. The substrate temperature was varied from 300, 400 and 500°C. With increasing the substrate temperature, the structure of the films changed from cubic to hexagonal. The cubic ZnMnO thin films grown along [210] direction, while the hexagonal ones grown along [002] direction. The changes in surface morphology provided a proof on the structural transition. Also, decrease and increase of optical band gap is associated with cubic or hexagonal structure of the films.

     

Failure analysis of support during profile cutting process using horizontal milling machine

In this study, the effects of cutting forces on the support of horizontal woodworking milling machine are examined during profile cutting process using both experimental and analytical approaches. The support modeled in 3D using SolidWorks software is a crucial component of the horizontal milling machine used to locate and fix the wood workpiece during the cutting process on the workbench. The effects of cutting forces on the support specimens are measured experimentally considering vibration and failure analyses. Analytical stresses and modal analyses of the support were also calculated using finite element-based analysis approach. Chatter vibration forces of the cutting tool which resulted from cutting forces in x-, y-, and z-directions were calculated analytically during the profile cutting process. The results showed that both cutting and chatter forces are highly effective on the support component failure of the woodworking milling machines.     

The influence of annealing treatment on the molecular structure and the mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene fibers

An investigation was carried out on the effects of annealing treatment on the molecular structure and the mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene fibers annealed in an air heated environment at temperatures ranging from 60 to 140°C. Analysis of the equatorial X‐ray diffraction traces showed the presence of a three phase system of amorphous‐smectic‐monoclinic forms and revealed the transformation of the metastable smectic form to the highly stable monoclinic form as the annealing temperature is increased, resulting in an enhanced degree of crystallinity and the crystallite size. The improvements in the degree of crystallinity and the crystallite size became more remarkable above 120°C. Evaluation of the crystallinity was carried out using an analysis of density, infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction methods whereas the state of the molecular orientation was evaluated using polarized infrared spectroscopy measurements only. Polarized infra‐red spectroscopy measurements after the curve fitting procedure showed a slight increase of the molecular orientation of the helical chain segments present in the crystalline phase represented by the IR bands at 841 and 998 cm^?1 whereas the amorphous structure represented by the IR band at 974 cm^?1 showed no significant change with increasing annealing temperature. The improvement in the molecular orientation of the crystalline phase became more remarkable above 120°C. Tensile strength of the annealed fibers increased with increasing annealing temperature but the elongation at break and the initial modulus were not affected as much as the tensile strength. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011.     

Evaluation of the relative importance of coalbed reservoir parameters for prediction of methane inflow rates during mining of longwall development entries

This study presents a reservoir modeling approach to investigate the relative effects of different coalbed parameters on the migration of methane into development entries. A base coalbed reservoir model of a three-entry development section, where grids were dynamically controlled to simulate the advance of mining at a constant section advance rate, was created and calibrated for a Pittsburgh Coalbed mine in the Southwestern Pennsylvania section of the Northern Appalachian Basin. The values of coalbed parameters were varied to evaluate their effects on predicted methane emissions for various development distances.The results of these parametric simulations were then used to derive linear expressions relating these parameters to methane emissions into the workings. These models were analyzed to assess their significance and adequacy for predictive purposes. This work shows that coupling reservoir simulations with linear modeling yield a technique that can be applicable to different coalbeds. The reservoir parameters used by the linear models (coalbed thickness, pressure, sorption time constant, Langmuir parameters, permeability) can be determined by running relatively simple laboratory tests, such as adsorption equilibrium and permeability determination, on coal samples obtained either from the mining operation or from the exploratory boreholes drilled ahead of mining.     

Irrigation Management in GAP

The multisectoral Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) is the largest regional developmentplan for one of the less developed parts of Turkey. The GAP project includes the irrigation of 1.7 million ha of land and generation of 27 billion kWh of hydroelectric power with an installed capacity of 7500 MW. In order to optimize the benefits to be obtained from irrigation and to ensure sustainable irrigation in the GAP area, the Government of Turkey has commissioned the GAP Management, and Operation Maintenance study (GAP MOM). The overall MOM model provides an institutional and organizational framework that promotes the most effective development of irrigated agriculture in the GAP region. This goal can be expressed as three major objectives: maximize net benefits, ensure sustainability and be implementable and flexible.