Modelling and experimental investigation of devolatilizing wood in a fluidized bed combustor

A two-dimensional model is developed for the determination of devolatilization time and char yield of cylindrical wood particles in a bubbling fluidized bed combustor. By using the concept of shape factor, the model is extended to particles of cuboid shape. The model prediction of the devolatilization time agrees with the measured data (present and those reported in the literature) for cylindrical and cuboidal shaped particles within ±20% while the char yield is predicted within ±17%. Influence of some important parameters namely, thermal diffusivity, external heat transfer coefficient and shrinkage, on the devolatilization time and char yield are studied. Thermal diffusivity shows noticeable influence on devolatilization time. The external heat transfer coefficient shows little influence beyond a value of 300 W/(m² K). However particle shrinkage shows negligible effect on the devolatilization time but has a significant influence on the char yield.     

Oxidation of some aliphatic polyols on anodically deposited MnO2

Galvanostatic steady state current potential measurements were carried out for oxidation of a series of aliphatic alcohols having varying number of hydroxyl groups. The anodically deposited layer of MnO₂ on platinum was used as the electrode material. The deposit was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and electrode potential measurements. The catalytic role of MnO₂ in the electro-oxidation of alcohols was indicated by the chronopotentiograms and the cyclic voltammograms. An analysis of the electrochemical data indicated a catalytic EC mechanism in which Mn (V) is generated electrochemically and consumed chemically in succession. Based on this and the hydrogen bonding interaction between alcoholic hydroxyl groups and MnO₂ layer, a mechanism was proposed which accounts for the variation in the observed electrochemical reaction orders. Tafel behaviour was found to be followed only approximately. Current efficiency of the electrochemical oxidation of polyols was studied. Replacement of platinum by carbon as current collector was found to leave the electrocatalytic activity of the MnO₂ deposit practically unaltered.     

NMR studies of poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate-co-2-vinyl pyridine)

Copolymers of 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate-2-vinyl pyridine (H/V) of different composition were synthesized by free radical bulk polymerization using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator under nitrogen atmosphere. The copolymer compositions were calculated from ¹H NMR spectra. The reactivity ratios for H/V copolymers obtained from a linear Kelen-Tudos method (KT) and nonlinear error-in-variables method (EVM) are r_H = 0.50 ± 0.10, r_V = 1.04 ± 0.08 and r_H = 0.55, r_V = 1.06 respectively. The complete spectral assignment of methine, methylene, methyl, carbonyl, and aromatic carbon regions in term of compositional and configurational sequences of H/V copolymers were done with the help of ¹³C{¹H} NMR, distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT), two-dimensional heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) along with total correlated spectroscopy (TOCSY). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Polymer transcrystallinity induced by carbon nanotubes

In this work, we provide the evidence of polymer transcrystallinity in the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The interfacial morphology of carbon nanotube fiber-polypropylene matrix is investigated by means of polarized optical microscopy (POM), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The supramolecular microstructures of polypropylene transcrystals induced by the nanotube fiber are observed in the range of isothermal crystallization temperatures from 118 °C to 132 °C. The dynamic process of transcrystallization is analyzed by using the theory of heterogeneous nucleation. Microstructure analysis shows that the nanotubes can nucleate the growth of both α- and γ-transcrystal, and α-transcrystals dominate the overall interfacial morphology. Close to the nanotube fiber surface, a cross-hatched lamellar microstructure composed of mother lamellae and daughter lamellae is observed.     

Metallurgical Investigation of a Prematurely Failed Concentric Reducer Tube Used in a Hot-Rolling Mill

A concentric reducer tube, which was a part of the top exit roughing hydraulic descaler in a hot strip mill failed prematurely under working pressure. A detailed metallurgical investigation comprising physical examination, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis was carried out to find out the genesis of the failure. Physical examination revealed cracks located symmetrically around the circumference of the tube that ran along its full length, up to the weld beads at both ends. Optical microscopy of etched samples revealed a banded ferrite-pearlite structure and the existence of forging folds near the change-in-section(160° fillets). Cracks were found to initiate from these forging folds. No structural abnormalities were found in the weld beads and heat-affected zones.     

Corrosion failure of Zn–Al detonator housing

Some batches of detonator housings made up of Chromium plated Zn–Al alloy were found in an extensively cracked condition after few months of storage at room temperature. An analysis of the failure showed that the cracks were due to intergranular corrosion facilitated by segregation of lead at the grain boundaries. Improper chromium plating further aggravated the corrosion problem. This failure case emphasises the need for strict control of chemical composition for components made from Zn–Al alloy and the process of Cr plating of the components.     

Synthesis and characterization of acidic properties of Al-SBA-15 materials with varying Si/Al ratios

Al-SBA-15 of varying Si/Al ratios in the range 11.4–78.4 was synthesized using tri-block copolymer P123. The calcined materials were examined by XRD, pore size distribution, surface area, ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy. The acidity and acid strength distribution were studied using microcalorimetric adsorption of NH₃. The acidic properties were also examined by cumene cracking reaction as a function of Si/Al ratios. Systematic variation of acidity and activity was observed as a function of Si/Al ratio. The initial heats of NH₃ adsorption correlated well with activity indicate that acid sites with ΔH > 100 kJ/mole is responsible for cumene cracking activity. Linear correlations were obtained with total acidity and cumene cracking activities. The tetrahedral aluminum was found to be responsible for the observed acidities and catalytic activities.     

Optimal operation of a multibasin reservoir system

A simulation-optimization procedure is presented for evaluating the extent of interbasin transfer of water in the Peninsular Indian river system consisting of 15 reservoirs on four river basins. A system-dependent simulation model is developed incorporating the concept of reservoir zoning to facilitate releases and transfers. The simulation model generates a larger number of solutions which are then screened by the optimization model. The Box complex nonlinear programming algorithm is used for the optimization. The performance of the system is evaluated through simulation with the optimal reservoir zones with respect to four indices, reliability, resiliency, vulnerability and deficit ratio. The results indicate that by operating the system of 15 reservoirs as a single unit the existing utilization of water may be increased significantly.