Pervaporation performance analysis and prediction—using a hybrid solution-diffusion and pore-flow model

A hybrid mathematic model for pervaporation is proposed which incorporates the concepts of solution-diffusion model and pore model. The model allows performance prediction as well as the establishment of the internal concentration and pressure profiles within the membrane. The model parameters specific to the particular membrane and mixture system are determined using liquid sorption and pervaporation experimental data. The model is experimentally examined using ethanol–water mixtures and poly(dimethyl siloxane)–poly(vinyldiene fluoride) (PDMS–PVDF) composite membranes. The characteristics of flux and separation factor predicted using the model are in fair agreement with the experimental data under various feed concentrations and downstream pressures for different membrane arrangements, including single-layer, reverse single-layer and double-layer PDMS–PVDF composite membranes. Internal profiles of pressure, concentration and component mole fraction can be established using the model. Concentration polarization phenomena for ethanol and water are located at membrane interfaces and vapor–liquid interfaces, respectively. Performances of several different membrane designs are compared using the model.     

Informational Entropy: a Failure Tolerance and Reliability Surrogate for Water Distribution Networks

Evolutionary algorithms are used widely in optimization studies on water distribution networks. The optimization algorithms use simulation models that analyse the networks under various operating conditions. The solution process typically involves cost minimization along with reliability constraints that ensure reasonably satisfactory performance under abnormal operating conditions also. Flow entropy has been employed previously as a surrogate reliability measure. While a body of work exists for a single operating condition under steady state conditions, the effectiveness of flow entropy for systems with multiple operating conditions has received very little attention. This paper describes a multi-objective genetic algorithm that maximizes the flow entropy under multiple operating conditions for any given network. The new methodology proposed is consistent with the maximum entropy formalism that requires active consideration of all the relevant information. Furthermore, an alternative but equivalent flow entropy model that emphasizes the relative uniformity of the nodal demands is described. The flow entropy of water distribution networks under multiple operating conditions is discussed with reference to the joint entropy of multiple probability spaces, which provides the theoretical foundation for the optimization methodology proposed. Besides the rationale, results are included that show that the most robust or failure-tolerant solutions are achieved by maximizing the sum of the entropies.     

Collaborative representation with reduced residual for face recognition

Collaboration representation-based classification (CRC) was proposed as an alternative approach to the sparse representation method with similar efficiency. The CRC is essentially a competition scheme for the training samples to compete with each other in representing the test sample, and the training class with the minimum representation residual from the test sample wins the competition in the classification. However, the representation error is usually calculated based on the Euclidean distance between a test sample and the weighted sum of all the same-class samples. This paper exploits alternative methods of calculating the representation error in the CRC methods to reduce the representation residual in a more optimal way, so that the sample classes compete with each other in a closer range to represent the test sample. A large number of face recognition experiments on three face image databases show that the CRC methods with optimized presentation residual achieve better performance than the original CRC, and the maximum improvement in classification accuracy is up to 12 %.     

Hydrodynamic characteristics of a FCC regenerator

The hydrodynamic and gas mixing characteristics have been determined in a FCC regenerator (0.48 m I.D.x3.4 m high) with FCC particles. Solids holdup in the dense bed decreases with increasing gas velocity, but it increases in the freeboard region. The bubble/void fraction increases with an increase along the bed height at a given gas velocity and increases with increasing gas velocity at a constant bed height. Backmixed tracer gas at the wall region is higher than that at the center region of the bed. The gas backmixing coefficient decreases with increasing gas velocity.     

A generalized method for correcting instrument spreading in gel permeation chromatography

A general method of chromatogram correction for skewed instrument spreading in gel permeation chromatography is presented. The correction method is so general that there is no restriction on the shape of the spreading function. It admits nonsymmetric, non-Gaussian as well as nonconvolution type. Aspects of solution techniques are discussed and an illustrative example is given to elucidate the method.     

Strain-Induced Deformation in Magnesia–Alumina Layered Composites

Ceramic beams are induced in situ to form complex shapes at elevated temperature without the application of an external stress. This process has been demonstrated for thin alumina substrates coated with a layer of magnesia. The internal strain causing the substrates to deform at elevated temperature arises as a consequence of strain mismatch accompanying the penetration of the coating into the substrate. The magnitude of the deformation depends on the amount of coating applied, on the thickness of the substrate, on the density of the substrate, and on the temperature. During exposure of the beams to elevated temperature, the magnesia coating reacts with the alumina substrate to form the spinel phase; the resulting volume change accompanying the phase transformation is likely the predominant driving force for deformation.     

Application of structural curvature of coalbed floor on CBM development in the Zaoyuan block of the southern Qinshui Basin

Based on controls of structural style and the position in coalbed methane(CBM)development,we used a method of curvatures to study its relations with CBM development parameters.We calculated structural curvatures of contours of the No.3coal seam floor of the Shanxi Formation in the Zaoyuan block of the Qinshui Basin and analyzed its relations with development parameters of coalbed methane wells.The results show that structural curvature is negatively related to coal reservoir pressure,while positively related to permeability.With an increase in structural curvature,the average production of coalbed methane wells increases at first and then decreases,reaching the highest production at 0.02 m-1 of structural curvature.Therefore,structural curvature can be an important index for potential evaluation of coalbed methane development and provide a basis for siting coalbed methane wells.     

Molten salts/ceramic-foam matrix composites by melt infiltration method as energy storage material

A new type of high temperature energy storage material was obtained through the melt infiltration method, using compounding SiC ceramic foam as matrix and Na₂SO₄ as phase change material. The resulting composite material was measured by XRD, SEM, TG-DSC methods. The experimental results indicate that the composite is composed of silicon carbide, sodium sulfate and square quartz, and no chemical reactions occurs between Na₂SO₄ and SiC matrix. Na₂SO₄ has a good bonding with the SiC ceramic foam matrix. As the composite material is characterized by high thermal energy storage density and high thermal conductivity, it is suit for energy storage under high temperature. Funded by the “863” Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China (2008AA05Z418)     

A power-aware code-compression design for RISC/VLIW architecture

We studied the architecture of embedded computing systems from the viewpoint of power consumption in memory systems and used a selective-code-compression (SCC) approach to realize our design.Based on t...     

The optical properties of hot-pressed magnesium fluoride and single-crystal magnesium fluoride in the 0.1 to 9.0 μm range

A polycrystalline high-density magnesium fluoride, fabricated into plates or shapes by hot-pressing, exhibits high in-line transmittance from 2.5 to 6.0 m, and single-crystal magnesium fluoride extends from 0.1 to 6.0 m. The ultimate and practical transmittance of hot-pressed magnesium fluoride using intrinsic and extrinsic reflectance, absorptance and scattering mechanisms, are investigated. The intrinsic scattering mechanism due to the polycrystalline structure is basically responsible for the tremendous difference in transmittance in the short wavelength region of the spectrum. The in-line transmittance of polycrystalline and singlecrystal MgF₂ is discussed in terms of sample thickness.