Experimental,CFD simulation and parametric studies on modified solar chimney for building ventilation

The solar chimney is a passive solar system which can be used for enhance the natural ventilation and space conditioning of a building. A solar chimney design is modified and installed at CBRI Roorkee (29.87° N 77.88° E), India. A Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software is used for prediction of velocity and temperature in Modified solar chimney (MSC) and evaluating the Air Change per hour (ACH), which is validated through experimental and theoretical counterpart and found a good agreement between them. From the result of thermal performance analysis, it is found that MSC generates 2.39–7.13 ACH in experimental room in month of May 2013, when outdoor solar radiation was in the range of 250–612 W/m². Due to this ACH, the room temperature is dropped by 2–4°C as compared to reference room temperature. The parametric study shows that the optimum glass tilt angle estimated by 5 degree for highest performance consideration of MSC. The air gap is optimised by 60 mm and air gap to inlet opening height ratio is optimised by 0.2.     

Organic nitrogen transformations in a 4-stage Bardenpho nitrogen removal plant and bioavailability/biodegradability of effluent DON

Nitrogen species, specifically, the fate and occurrence of organic nitrogen (ON) within a 4-stage Bardenpho process bioreactor producing low total nitrogen (TN) effluents were investigated in this study. The results showed release of ON in primary anoxic zone and no ON release in the first aerobic zone of the process. The research included investigation of biodegradability/bioavailability of wastewater-derived effluent dissolved ON (DON). The final-effluent DON utilization was evaluated by two different bioassay protocols in the presence and absence of nitrate. About 28–57% of the effluent DON was bioavailable/biodegradable. Bioavailable (to algae and bacteria) DON (ABDON) and biodegradable (to bacteria) DON (BDON) results did not show significant differences in terms of quantity, but DON utilization rates by ABDON (0.13 day⁻¹) protocol were higher than that of the BDON (0.04 day⁻¹) protocol in the nitrate-removal samples. As a result, ABDON requires a shorter time to exert the bioavailable fraction due to symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria. In the nitrate-containing samples, it appears that nitrate competes with labile DON as a nitrogen source to microorganisms in both ABDON and BDON protocols. The first order decay rate of DON in the presence of nitrate was 0.11 day⁻¹ and 0.02 day⁻¹ for ABDON and BDON, respectively.     

Aminotetryls: Synthesis,spectral characterization,thermal decomposition and explosive properties

This paper describes the synthesis and spectral investigations of two amino derivatives of N-methyl-N-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)nitramine (tetryl). Also discussed are the results from thermal decomposition studies on the three explosives, viz. tetryl, 3-aminotetryl (3 AT) and 3,5-diaminotetryl (3,5 DAT) and preliminary work on the explosive properties of the last two compounds. The aminotetryls have been prepared by the amination of the corresponding chlorotetryls. The yield was 87% for 3 AT, but was only 33% for 3,5 DAT, probably due to steric crowding around the benzene nucleus. The mass spectra show interesting differences in the electron impact fragmentation patterns of the three tetryls with the M⁺ ion relative intensities following the order 3,5 DAT > 3 AT > tetryl, which could be due to (a) resonance stabilization and (b) hydrogen bonding effects. Evidence for the latter is also found in the infrared spectra of these compounds. Arrhenius kinetic parameters derived from thermal decomposition studies of the three compounds are presented and show that 3,5 DAT is thermally less stable than 3 AT. Explosive sensitiveness tests indicate that the diamino compound is the most sensitive, the trend being 3,5 DAT > 3 AT > tetryl. This is contrary to the generally found desensitizing influence of NH₂ groups on the thermal stability and explosive sensitiveness of trinitroaromatic energetic molecules. Mechanisms to account for the observed thermal decomposition behaviour and explosive sensitiveness patterns are discussed.     

Fed batch enzymatic saccharification of newspaper cellulosics improves the sugar content in the hydrolysates and eventually the ethanol fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The newspaper is comprised of (w w^?1) holocellulose (70.0%) with substantial amount of lignin (16.0%). Bioconversion of the carbohydrate component of newspaper to sugars by enzymatic saccharification, and its fermentation to ethanol was investigated. Of various enzymatic treatments using cellulase, xylanase and laccase, cellulase enzyme system was found to deink the newspaper most efficiently. The saccharification of deinked paper pulp using enzyme cocktail containing exoglucanase (20 U g^?1), β-glucosidase (60 U g^?1) and xylanase (80 U g^?1) resulted in 59.8% saccharification. Among additives, 1% (v v^?1) Tween 80 and 10 mol m^?3 CoCl₂ improved the enzymatic hydrolysis of newspaper maximally, releasing 14.64 g L^?1 sugars. The fed batch enzymatic saccharification of the newspaper increased the sugar concentration in hydrolysate from 14.64 g L^?1 to 38.21 g L^?1. Moreover, the batch and fed batch enzymatic hydrolysates when fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae produced 5.64 g L^?1 and 14.77 g L^?1 ethanol, respectively.     

A new method of determination of series and shunt resistances of silicon solar cells

A new method of measurement of series resistance R_s and shunt resistance R_sh of a silicon solar cell is presented. The method is based on the single exponential model and utilizes the steady state illuminated I–V characteristics in third and fourth quadrants and the V_oc–I_sc characteristics of the cell. It enables determination of values of R_sh and R_s with the intensity of illumination. For determination of R_s it does not require R_sh to be assumed infinite and realistic values of R_sh can be used. The method is very convenient to use and in the present study it has been applied to silicon solar cells having finite values of R_sh. We have found that R_sh is independent of intensity but the R_s decreases with both the intensity of illumination and the junction voltage.     

Palladium dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotube based hydrogen sensor for fuel cell applications

Palladium nanocatalysts supported on surface-oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were prepared by the aqueous solution reduction of _PdCl2${\mathrm{PdCl}}_2$. MWNT have been synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) technique. Pyrolysis of acetylene using a fixed-bed catalytic reactor over rare earth (RE) based _AB2${\mathrm{AB}}_2$ alloy hydride catalyst, obtained through hydrogen decrepitation technique, has been performed to synthesize MWNT. Structural, morphological and vibrational characterizations have been carried out using XRD, SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. In situ electrical resistance measurements for thin films of MWNT obtained by spin coating samples were carried out by two-probe technique in a chamber with provision to introduce known concentration of hydrogen in constant air flow. Investigations of hydrogen sensing properties of Pd–MWNT ensembles have been carried out. The stability of Pd–MWNT thin films after several cycles of adsorption and desorption was studied. The change in electrical resistance due to hydrogen adsorption is reversible, with increase to saturation on exposure to hydrogen gas. The results demonstrate that chemically treated MWNT functionalized with nanostructured Pd show good _H2${\mathrm{H}}_2$ sensing response at room temperature.     

Laser diagnostics of soot precursors in a heavy-duty diesel engine at low-temperature combustion conditions

To better understand in-cylinder soot formation processes for modern, low-emissions, low-temperature combustion (LTC) operating conditions in diesel engines, soot and its precursors are imaged by laser diagnostics in a heavy duty optical engine. Virtually simultaneous images of planar laser-induced incandescence of soot (soot-PLII) using 1064 nm excitation and combined soot-PLII and planar laser-induced fluorescence of poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH-PLIF) using 532 nm excitation reveal the temporal and spatial evolution of soot and its precursors during combustion. With increasing dilution of the intake air stream by various levels of nitrogen to simulate the use of exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) to achieve LTC, the residence time of PAH increases as soot formation is delayed. At zero dilution (21% intake oxygen), soot appears nearly simultaneously with PAH, while at higher dilution (12.7% or 9.5% intake oxygen), soot formation is delayed by hundreds of microseconds to a millisecond or more. At all dilution levels, at its onset, PAH rapidly fills most of the downstream cross-section of the jet, with a relatively uniform fluorescence intensity distribution. The spatial evolution of soot, however, shifts from a relatively rapid filling of the downstream head of the jet at low dilution, to inception at the midstream periphery of the jet followed by a gradual progression downstream at high dilution. Effects of fuel-bound aromatics are also explored by comparing soot and PAH formation for a representative diesel fuel containing 27% aromatics by weight to that for neat n-heptane. The residence time of PAH before the onset of soot is slightly longer with the non-aromatic fuel, but otherwise the spatial and temporal evolution of PAH-PLIF and soot-PLII are indistinguishable from that of the diesel fuel at LTC conditions. Spectral analysis shows a characteristic soot emission spectra from 1064 nm excitation, while 532 nm excitation yields significant short-wavelength emission that cannot be attributed solely to soot incandescence, and is likely due to fluorescence of large PAH soot precursors. No narrow spectral features, such as from C2 or C3 emission, are apparent in the spectra, even at high laser fluence.     

Hall current effects on MHD flow of chemically reacting fluid through a porous medium with heat source

We considered the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) free convective flow of an incompressible electrically conducting viscous fluid past an infinite vertical permeable porous plate with a uniform transverse magnetic field, heat source and chemical reaction in a rotating frame taking Hall current effects into account. The momentum equations for the fluid flow during absorbent medium are controlled by the Brinkman model. Through the undisturbed state, both the plate and fluid are in a rigid body rotation by the uniform angular velocity perpendicular to an infinite vertical plate. The perpendicular surface is subject to the homogeneous invariable suction at a right angle to it and the heat on the surface varies about a non-zero unvarying average whereas the warmth of complimentary flow is invariable. The systematic solutions of the velocity, temperature, and concentration distributions are acquired systematically by utilizing the perturbation method. The velocity expressions consist of steady-state and fluctuating situations. It is revealed that the steady part of the velocity field has a three-layer characteristic while the oscillatory part of the fluid field exhibits a multi-layer characteristic. The influence of various governing flow parameters on the velocity, temperature, and concentration are analyzed graphically. We also discuss computational results for the skin friction, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number in the tabular forms.     

3D and simplified pseudo-2D modeling of single cell of a high temperature solid oxide fuel cell to be used for online control strategies

In the current study, a single cell of a planar SOFC is firstly modeled in 3D using commercial SOFC module of ANSYS Fluent and the results are validated against the experimental investigations in the literature. Many researchers have used ANSYS Fluent for simulating solid oxide fuel cells. However, there is a huge gap in the literature on explaining the detailed procedure that should be followed in order to use this software effectively. A thorough step-by-step approach is presented to provide a deep insight into the software. Thereafter, a simplified quasi-2D method with infinitely shorter computational time is developed and the results are compared with the 3D model. It is found that the reduced model is capable of being utilized as an alternate method for both online diagnosis and designing active control strategies.     

Pluronic lecithin organogel of 5-aminosalicylic acid for wound healing

5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is an aminosalicylate anti-inflammatory drug, which is also known as mesalazine or mesalamine. Currently employed in treating inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, inflamed anus or rectum, and maintain remission in Crohn's disease. Evidence from the researchers highlighted its significant re-epithelization in allergic asthma, aphthous, and gastric ulcerative conditions. The objective of the study was to formulate the pluronic lecithin organogel (PLO) containing 5-ASA and evaluate its wound-healing ability in a full thickness excision wound rat model. The data obtained from in silico docking studies revealed 5-ASA is having an affinity towards the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) specifically towards beta1. Among various formulations prepared (F1 to F8), F1, and F6 have shown a maximum in vitro drug release with optimum pH and viscosity. From MTT assay it was found that selected PLO formulations showed no toxicity and enhanced cell proliferation in HaCaT cell lines. In vivo wound-healing studies in albino Wistar rats has revealed that PLO accelerates wound closure and reepithelization to the statistically significant level on day 3 (p?相似文献