Surface acoustic wave gas sensor of the sorption type sensitive to the thermal properties of gases

The basic principles of a new surface acoustic wave (SAW) gas sensor are described. Being essentially a sensor of the sorption type, the proposed device possesses certain features of the thermometric SAW sensors and is not only sensitive to the vapors of volatile substances, but capable of detecting gases by their thermal properties as well. In contrast to the known thermometric SAW sensors, the proposed sensor is characterized by high temperature stability and fast response. A variant of the sensor based on a LiNbO₃ SAW delay line is described and some results of the test for detecting propane-butane mixtures are presented.     

Dependence of the Parameters of an Electronuclear System on the Composition of Mixed Uranium–Plutonium Fuel

Mathematical simulation is used to study the dependence of the parameters of an electronuclear system with uranium–plutonium mixed fuel on the amount of plutonium and ²⁴⁰Pu admixture in the fuel. As an example, a 10–20 kW(t) experimental system built at Dubna on the basis of a synchrocyclotron with 660 MeV protons is examined. A 2% admixture of ²⁴⁰Pu decreases the neutron multiplication factor from 0.95 to 0.9 and decreases the neutron yield and heat released by almost a factor of 2. This decrease can be compensated by increasing the plutonium content in the mixed fuel from 25 to 27%.     

The Scientific Research Seminar on Computer Algebra in 2000–2001

An annual report on meetings of the scientific research seminar on computer algebra is presented.     

New One-Generator Quasi-cyclic Codes over GF(7)

Let [n,k,d] _q codes be linear codes of length n, dimension k, and minimum Hamming distance d over GF(q). In this paper, seventeen new codes are constructed, which improve the known lower bounds on minimum distance.     

Correlation analysis of geothermal data in North America

Correlation studies of the geothermal parameters have been carried out for Michigan Basin and the results are interpreted with the help of observed relations between heat flow, geological age and crustal thickness for North America. Heat flow and geothermal gradient are found to decrease with thermal conductivity, while they are positively correlated with each other, supporting the earlier findings of Negi et al. (1974). It is noted that, to some extent, these associations can be explained with the help of variations in crustal thickness.     

Characterization of hydrogen concentration in Zircaloy-4 using ultrasonic techniques

The relationship between hydrogen concentration precipitated as hydride particles and ultrasonic parameters, such as velocity and attenuation, was examined in Zircaloy-4 samples for potential applications in the Non-Destructive Test Field. Different amounts of hydrogen (up to 517 ppm) were introduced in the samples by gaseous charging. Ultrasonic attenuation measurements were performed with compressive waves at frequencies of 10 and 30 MHz, and propagation velocity measurements were performed at 10 MHz. Ultrasonic velocity showed an approximately linear increase with hydrogen concentration and it could be used as an assessment parameter when the hydrogen level is high enough. Attenuation versus hydrogen concentration has been fitted by a logarithmic equation at 10 MHz. At 30 MHz a fluctuating behavior of the attenuation prevented measurement of the hydrogen concentration.     

Virtual teamwork in very large undergraduate classes

Collaborative work is an important part of tertiary education but it is very difficult to arrange and supervise for extremely large classes of students in their first year. The possibility that computer-mediated communication can be used to facilitate this type of learning is appealing from a pragmatic organisational point of view. This paper explains in detail what a ‘virtual team’ is in the educational context. It reports on an interpretive field study where students taking an introductory course were allowed to choose where and when they did the required collaborative work. The paper discusses the factors that should be taken into account when offering students the option of working as a virtual team. These include factors that influence the students’ choice. The project cannot be considered to have been successful but indicates reasons for the lack of success and suggests contexts in which it would be valuable to repeat the project. The importance of extensive preparation in terms of teaching the students necessary social and technological skills cannot be over emphasised.     

Microwave Demulsification in Removing Naphthenic Acids from Diesel Oil

Emulsification is an undesired phenomenon in the refining of highly acidic oil by alkali-washing electro-refining. In this article, a novel microwave method is applied for demulsification in the removing of naphthenic acid from diesel oil. The internal heating is attributed to molecular rotation and ionic conduction. The decrease of interface zeta-potential and the viscosity of diesel oil are responsible for the demulsification with microwave irradiation. The results exhibited that the demulsification rate is maximized when the optimum microwave irradiation power, exposure time, and irradiation pressure for Anshan and Liaohe diesel oil are deemed to be 375 W, 5/6 min and 0.05 MPa, respectively.