Experimental investigation of oil retention in air conditioning systems

In air conditioning and refrigeration systems a small amount of oil is carried with the refrigerant and is retained in the system components. Oil retention characteristics in the condenser, evaporator, liquid and suction lines were measured and are presented and discussed here. Refrigerants R22, R410A, and R134a with miscible and non-miscible lubricants were considered to investigate oil retention physics in the widest possible range of transport properties. A parametric analysis in the suction line showed that oil retention depends on the oil mass fraction, vapor refrigerant mass flux, mixture viscosity ratio and orientation of the pipe. In the suction line, an increase in mixture viscosity of about 55% caused a rise in oil retention in the range of 50%, depending on the oil mass fraction. Oil retention in the upward vertical suction line is about 50% higher than in the horizontal line at similar conditions.     

Spectrophotometric determination of ferrate (Fe(VI)) in water by ABTS

A new method for the determination of low concentrations (0.03-35 microM) of the aqueous ferrate (Fe(VI)) was developed. The method is based on the reaction of Fe(VI) with 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) which forms a green radical cation (ABTS(+)) that can be measured spectrophotometrically at 415 nm (ABTS method). The reaction of Fe(VI) with ABTS has a stoichiometry of 1 : 1 in excess of ABTS (73 microM). The increase in absorbance at 415 nm for ABTS*+ generation was linear with respect to Fe(VI) added (0.03-35 microM) in buffered solutions (acetate/phosphate buffer at pH = 4.3) and was (3.40+/-0.05) x 10(4) M(-1) cm(-1). The reaction of Fe(VI) with ABTS was very rapid with a half-life time below 0.01 s at pH 4.3 and 73 microM of ABTS. This enables the ABTS method to measure Fe(VI) selectively. The residual absorbance of ABTS*+ was found to be stable in several water matrices (synthetic buffer solution and natural waters) and concentrations of Fe(VI) spiked in natural waters could be determined with high accuracy. The ABTS method can also be used as a tool to determine rate constants of reactions of Fe(VI). The second-order rate constant for the reaction of phenol with Fe(VI) was determined to be 90 M(-1) s(-1) at pH 7.     

Corrosion and inhibition process of carbon steel in LiBr-H2O solution

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - Lithium bromide (LiBr)-H2O triple-effect absorption chillers are supposed to have a much higher carbon steel corrosion rate under high temperature...     

Effects of inter-electrode insertion on the performance and thermal flow fields of a hollow-electrode plasma torch

The effects of inter-electrode insertion on the performance of a hollow-electrode plasma torch have been investigated by numerical analysis. Simulation results revealed that when inter-electrodes are inserted, the arc voltages and plasma powers increase due to the increase in the arc length. In addition,it was predicted that thermal efficiency can be improved with the increase in plasma power by injecting plasma gases through the gaps between inter-electrodes. These unique effects of inter-electrode insertion are a result of the plasma temperatures adjusting themselves to increase arc voltages when the arc column is contracted radially by increasing gas-flow rate or decreasing inter-electrode diameter.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) degradation by UV/H(2)O(2) process

The objective of this study was to elucidate the degradation pathways of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) during its mineralization caused by UV/H(2)O(2) treatment. In order to accomplish this, we measured the concentration time-profiles of DMSO and its degradation intermediates during the UV/H(2)O(2) treatment. In addition, we proposed a kinetic model that could account for the degradation pathways of DMSO during its UV/H(2)O(2) treatment. The results show that the degradation of DMSO by the UV/H(2)O(2) treatment can be classified into two major pathways, and this is supported by both the analysis of the intermediates and total organic carbon (TOC) measurements. Firstly, DMSO was degraded into sulfate (SO(4)(2-)) through the formation of methansulfinate (CH(3)SO(2)(-)) and methansulfonate (CH(3)SO(3)(-)) as sulfur-containing intermediates. One of the two carbon constituents of DMSO was highly resistant to mineralization, due to the formation of methansulfonate, which reacted very slowly with (.-)OH k = 0.8 x 10(7) M(-1)s(-1)). Secondly, the other carbon constituent of DMSO was relatively easily mineralized through the formation of formaldehyde (HCHO) and formate (HCO(2)(-)) as non-sulfur-containing intermediates. The kinetic model proposed in this study for the degradation of DMSO by (.-)OH in the UV/H(2)O(2) process was able to successfully predict the patterns of concentration time-profiles of all components during the UV/H(2)O(2) treatment of DMSO.     

Comparison of R-290 and two HFC blends for walk-in refrigeration systems

To help provide a clear understanding of the relative performance potential of HFCs (R-404A and R-410A) as compared to R-290 for walk-in refrigeration systems representing direct expansion commercial refrigeration systems with small charge, an experimental evaluation of the three refrigerants was investigated. To compare the environmental impact of refrigerants over the entire life cycle of fluid and equipment, including power consumption, the life cycle climate performance (LCCP) of the three refrigerants were evaluated based on measured data. The estimated LCCPs at various emission rates indicate that the LCCP of R-290 is always lower than that of R-404A. The LCCP of R-410A is lower than that of R-290 as long as the annual emission is kept below 10%. It was concluded that R-410A has less or equivalent environmental impact as compared to R-290 when safety (toxicity and flammability), environmental impact (climate change), cost and performance (capacity and COP) are considered.     

Friction stir butt welding of A5052-O aluminum alloy plates

Friction stir butt welding (FSW) between A5052-O aluminum alloy plates with a thickness of 2 mm was performed.The rotation speeds of the welding tool were 2000 and 3000 r/min,respectively.The traverse speed was ranged from 100 mm/min to 900 mm/min.The defect-free welds with the very smooth surface morphology were successfully obtained,except for at the welding condition of 3000 r/min and 100 mm/min.The onion ring structure was observed in the friction-stir-welded zone (SZ) at the condition of 2000 r/min and 100 mm/min.For all the welding conditions,the grain size of the SZ was smaller than that of the base metal,and was decreased with the decrease of the tool rotation speed and with the increase of the tool traverse speed.The stir zone exhibited higher average hardness than the base metal.The decrease of the tool rotation speed and the increase of the tool traverse speed resulted in the increase in the average hardness of the SZ.The tensile strength of the FSWed plates was similar to that of the base metal,except for at the welding condition of 3000 r/min and 100 mm/min.The total elongation of the FSWed plates was lower than that of the base metal.     

Preparation and properties of poly(urethane acrylate) (PUA) and tetrapod ZnO whisker (TZnO‐W) composite films

Tetrapod zinc oxide whiskers (TZnO‐Ws) were successfully synthesized via a thermal oxidation method and confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. A series of poly(urethane acrylate) (PUA)/TZnO‐W composite films with various TZnO‐W contents were prepared via a UV curing method and their physical properties were investigated to understand their possible use as packaging materials. The morphological, thermal, mechanical, antibacterial and barrier properties of the PUA/TZnO‐W composite films were interpreted as a function of TZnO‐W content. The thermal stability, barrier properties and antibacterial properties of the composite films, which were strongly dependent upon their chemical and morphological structure, were enhanced as the TZnO‐W content increased. The oxygen transmission rate and water vapor transmission rate decreased from 614 to 161 cm³ m^?2 per day and 28.70 to 28.16 g m^?2 per day, respectively. However, the mechanical strength of the films decreased due to the low interfacial interaction and poor dispersion with high TZnO‐W loading. The enhanced barrier properties and good antibacterial properties of the PUA/TZnO‐W composite films indicate that these materials are potentially suitable for many packaging applications. However, further studies are needed to increase the compatibility of polymer matrix and filler. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Etching characteristics of thin SiON films using a liquefied perfluorocarbon precursor of C6F12O with a low global warming potential

Perfluorocarbon gas is widely used in the semiconductor industry. However, perfluorocarbon has a negative effect on the global environment owing to its high global warming potential (GWP) value. An alternative solution is essential. Therefore, we evaluated the possibility of replacing conventional perfluorocarbon etching gases such as CHF₃ with C₆F₁₂O, which has a low GWP and is in a liquid state at room temperature. In this study, silicon oxynitride (SiON) films were plasma-etched using inductively coupled CF₄ +C₆F₁₂O+O₂ mixed plasmas. Subsequently, the etching characteristics of the film, such as etching rate, etching profile, selectivity over Si, and photoresist, were investigated. A double Langmuir probe was used and optical emission spectroscopy was performed for plasma diagnostics. In addition, a contact angle goniometer and x-ray photoelectron spectroscope were used to confirm the change in the surface properties of the etched SiON film surface. Consequently, the etching characteristics of the C₆F₁₂O mixed plasma exhibited a lower etching rate, higher SiON/Si selectivity, lower plasma damage, and more vertical etched profiles than the conventional CHF₃ mixed plasma. In addition, the C₆F₁₂O gas can be recovered in the liquid state, thereby decreasing global warming. These results confirmed that the C₆F₁₂O precursor can sufficiently replace the conventional etching gas.