Effect of heat transfer on the transient dynamics of temperature swing adsorption process

The effect of radial heat transfer on temperature swing adsorption (TSA) was studied by using an air-drying TSA experiment. The experimental dynamics of water adsorption and thermal regeneration in a fixed bed packed with zeolite 13X were used to evaluate the predicted results from the developed models. One-and two-dimensional models for energy balance with various equations describing internal velocity were compared in terms of the prediction of transient dynamics of TSA. Since the heat effect in adsorption step depended on the isosteric heat of adsorption, a dynamic simulation was performed under adiabatic, near-adiabatic, and constant wall temperature conditions. A comparison between one-and two-dimensional models was also made under near-adiabatic condition, which reflected on the experimental condition. There was little difference between adsorption breakthrough curves predicted by the one- and two-dimensional models because the radial distribution of temperature was negligible at the adsorption step. In the case of the regeneration step, a small difference between two models was expected just at the early period of time because the radial effect disappeared with time. One-dimensional model could provide an adequate prediction of the transient dynamics in this system when the wall energy balance was included.     

Hydrophobicity and transparency of Al2O3-based poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene composite thin films using aerosol deposition

Alumina and polytetrafluoroethylene (Al₂O₃-PTFE) composite films were fabricated by a simple aerosol deposition (AD) process, to confirm its applicability for various display screens requiring water resistant, anti-smudge and easy-to-clean properties. The surface morphologies, hydrophobic properties, and transparencies of the composite films with different PTFE contents, varying from 0.01 to 1?wt% were investigated. As a result, the composite films with over 0.3?wt% PTFE showed a sudden rise in surface roughness and low transmittance, despite having the highest contact angle of 128° at a PTFE content of 0.3?wt%. From the energy dispersive spectrometer analysis, the crash-cushioning effect of PTFE and agglomerated PTFE particles were determined to be major causes of surface roughness and opacity. In contrast, the transmittance showed a tendency to be enhanced, with an increasing PTFE content in the range of 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1?wt% PTFE, respectively. Especially, the film with 0.1?wt% of PTFE had contact angle of 111° and exhibited a high transmittance of over 75%, which was inferred to be an appropriate amount of PTFE, with a high elongation filling up the surface and the internal defects, leading to an enhancement of transparency. Consequently, these results implied that the AD-prepared Al₂O₃-PTFE composite coatings are promising candidates for various display applications.     

Epoxy resins toughened with in situ azide–alkyne polymerized polysulfones

To simultaneously improve the fracture toughness and heat resistance of a cured toughened epoxy resin along with a reduction in its viscosity during the mixing process, two novel polysulfone‐type polymers are synthesized via azide–alkyne polymerization for use as toughening agents. The epoxy resin toughened with these polymers by in situ azide–alkyne polymerization during the cure process, which shows excellent processibility and based on the significantly lower viscosity (61 and 62 cP) during epoxy mixing process than that of commonly commercial polyethersulfone (PES, 127,612 cP). The novel polysulfone‐type polymer toughened epoxy resin showed the advantage in excellent fracture toughness than the PES toughened epoxy. In addition, the glass transition temperature of the novel polysulfone‐type polymer toughened epoxy resin is similar to that of the neat one (～230 °C) and does not decrease, which implies excellent heat resistance of the toughened epoxy. These phenomena can be attributed to the formation of semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks comprising the epoxy network and the linear polysulfone‐type polymers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45790.     

Gasification of food waste with steam in fluidized bed

Biomass has became an important renewable alternative energy resource. Million tons of food sludge, which is difficult to handle because of its rank smell and water content, is generated in Korea. Thermochemical conversion is one way to convert biomass to energy; it can be divided into carbonization, liquefaction, and gasification. Carbonization of food waste was carried out in a conventional stainless steel autoclave of 2 L capacity at different temperatures. Since gasification produces hydrogen-rich synthesis gas, which can be used for methanol synthesis, gasification of carbonized solid was studied in the fluidized-bed gasifier. The reaction parameters in the gasification of carbonized solids were investigated. Presented at the Int’l Symp. on Chem. Eng. (Cheju, Feb. 8–10, 2001), dedicated to Prof. H. S. Chun on the occasion of his retirement from Korea University.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Formation Mechanisms of Lanthanum Tin Pyrochlore Oxide

Well-defined La₂Sn₂O₇ with a phase-pure pyrochlore structure was produced by hydrothermal synthesis at temperatures as low as 200°C. Production of phase-pure La₂Sn₂O₇ requires a pH above 10, and higher pH accelerates the crystallization process. The synthesis produced spherical particles of average particle size ∼0.59 μm (±0.12) and surface area ∼14.1 m²/g. SEM and TEM observation for morphologic evolution and kinetic analysis during crystallization indicated that La₂Sn₂O₇ formation probably proceeds via a two-step reaction. First a transient dissolution–precipitation occurs. Then the primary crystallites aggregate because of their colloidal instability, and heterocoagulation with the lanthanum hydrous oxide precursor particles also occurs. The sluggish reaction rate at the later stage of reaction is characterized by an in situ transformation, where the soluble tin species is diffused through the porous La₂Sn₂O₇ aggregates to react with entrapped lanthanum precursors.     

Superstructure of yOTs-the network-based chemical process operator training system for multiple trainees

OTS (Operator Training System) is becoming popular for the safe and effective operation of chemical processes and control systems. This paper outlines the total hardware system superstructure and software modules of yOTS (Yonsei Operator Training System) which we developed. yOTS is a network based multi-training system composed of a workstation-based server module and PC-based user modules. The user module has a DCS-like user interface and sends data to OM (yOTS Manager) over the network. Reliability and stability are essential for the successful development of distributed OTS.State-of-the-art technologies of efficiency and stability are mainly considered in this paper. yOTS is superior to other OTS in its ease of handling discrete events, managing process models, expanding module functionality and multi-training over the network. The structure of yOTS and core algorithm for a multiple trainer over the network is also presented. A batch process example is used to illustrate the proposed advantages of yOTS.     

Evidence of Correlation between Electronic Density and Surface Acidity of Sulfated TiO2

Correlation between the electronic structure and surface acidity of TiO₂–SO₄ ^2– with different SO₄ ^2– amounts has been investigated by means of NH₃-TPD, NH₃-FT-IR and XPS. With the increase of sulfate loadings, the shift of binding energies of O 1s in hydroxyl and Ti 2p_2/3 increases and is proportional to total acidity. A linear relation is obtained between Ti 2p binding energy shift and Lewis acid sites, while the shift in O 1s binding energy is attributed both to the generation of NH₃ hydrogen bond and of Brønsted acid sites. Accordingly, the results obtained from XPS measurements provide evidence that the ammonia adsorption sites are attributed to the decrease of electron density of O 1s in hydroxyl (Brønsted type and H bonded) and Ti 2p_2/3 (Lewis type) by inductive effect of the neighboring sulfate ion.     

Effects of bimetallic catalyst composition and growth parameters on the growth density and diameter of carbon nanotubes

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesized by catalytic decomposition of acetylene over Fe, Ni and Fe-Ni bimetallic catalysts supported on alumina under various controlled conditions. The growth density and diameter of CNTs were markedly dependent on the activation time of catalysts in H₂ atmosphere, reaction time, reaction temperature, flow rate of acetylene, and catalyst composition. Bimetallic catalysts were apt to produce narrower diameter of CNTs than single metal catalysts. For the growth of CNTs at 600 ‡C under 10/100 seem flow of C₂H₂/H₂ mixture, the narrowest diameter about 20 nm was observed at the reaction time of 1 h for 20Fe : 20Ni : 60Al₂O₃ catalyst, but at that of 1.5 h for 10Fe : 30Ni : 60Al₂O₃ catalyst. It was considered that the diameter and density of CNTs decreased with the increase of the growth time mainly due to hydrogen etching. The growth of CNTs followed the tip growth mode.     

Functional polymer–polymer/carbon nanotube bi-component fibers

Bi-component fibers typically combine multiple functions that arise from at least two distinct components. As a result, these fibers can incorporate carbon nanotubes, which impart specific and controllable mechanical, electrical, and thermal transport properties to the fibers. Using gel spinning, sheath-core polyacrylonitrile–polyacrylonitrile/carbon nanotube bi-component fibers with a diameter of less than 20 μm and carbon nanotube concentrations of up to 10 wt% were produced. In these fibers, the carbon nanotubes were well dispersed and aligned along the fiber axis. The fibers exhibited a tensile strength as high as 700 MPa, and a tensile modulus as high as 20 GPa, as well as enhanced electrical and thermal conductivities when compared to the fibers without carbon nanotubes.     

The effect of pre-annealing on the microstructure of (K,Na)NbO3 ceramics

The effects of pre-annealing on the microstructure development and piezoelectric properties for 0.95(K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃–0.05LiSbO₃ (0.95KNN–0.05LS) ceramics were investigated. The pre-annealing suppressed the abnormal grain growth in both the undoped and Mn-doped 0.95KNN–0.05LS ceramics. The pre-annealed samples possessed smaller abnormal grains, larger matrix grains, and a broader grain size distribution compared to the samples sintered without a pre-annealing step. The pre-annealed samples presented better dielectric and piezoelectric properties, a larger dielectric constant (ε_r) and electromechanical coupling factor (k_p), and a smaller dielectric loss factor (tan δ).