Model-based temperature control of a diesel oxidation catalyst

The problem studied in this article is the control of a DOC (diesel oxidation catalyst) as used in aftertreatment systems of diesel vehicles. This system is inherently a distributed parameter system due to its elongated geometry where a gas stream is in contact with a spatially distributed catalyst. A first contribution is a model for the DOC system. It is obtained by successive simplifications justified either experimentally (from observations, estimates of orders of magnitude) or by an analysis of governing equations (through asymptotic developments and changes of variables). This model can reproduce the complex temperature response of DOC output to changes in input variables. In particular, the effects of gas velocity variations, inlet temperature and inlet hydrocarbons are well represented. A second contribution is a combination of algorithms (feedback, feedforward, and synchronization) designed to control the thermal phenomena in the DOC. Both contributions have been tested and validated experimentally. In conclusion, the outcomes are evaluated: using the approach presented in this article, it is possible to control, in conditions representative of vehicle driving conditions, the outlet temperature of the DOC within ±15 °C.     

Drag Power Loss Investigation in Cylindrical Roller Bearings Using CFD Approach

In high-speed rolling element bearings, the drag forces can be prominent and it is demonstrated in this investigation that the classical models may not be appropriate for correctly estimating this power loss contribution. A modification of the models is thus proposed, including the usual drag forces formulation relying upon the drag coefficient to be evaluated from a numerical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. A three-dimensional approach that considers both the rings and the cylinder ends seems the only adequate approach to be used because a two-dimensional approach predicts a drag coefficient value that is too low. When using the former computed drag coefficient for the evaluation of the total power losses, high values of oil volume fraction must be employed to recover the measured power losses.     

Highly resolved numerical simulation of combustion in supersonic hydrogen–air coflowing jets

The present study is focused on the analysis of non-premixed combustion in high-velocity (supersonic) flows. The computations make use of a large eddy simulation (LES) model, which has been recently introduced to address combustion in high Reynolds number turbulent flows featuring moderate Damköhler values. We expect that the corresponding closure is able to account for the specificities encountered in high Mach number turbulent reactive flows featuring chemical reaction time scales with the same order of magnitude as flow time scales. The model takes finite-rate chemistry and micro-mixing effects into account within the framework of the partially stirred reactor (PaSR) concept, it is hereafter denoted by U-PaSR (unsteady partially stirred reactor). (i) In a first step of the present investigation, the capabilities of the U-PaSR closure hence proposed are evaluated through a detailed comparison performed between numerical results and the data obtained from an experimental study devoted to non-premixed combustion in supersonic co-flowing jets of hydrogen and vitiated air. The simulated test case corresponds to a well-documented experimental database that includes Raman scattering and laser-induced pre-dissociative fluorescence measurements. The comparisons performed between computational results and experimental data establish that the physical processes are well-described by the performed simulation. (ii) In a second step of this study, the flame structure and associated stabilization zone are analysed in the light of numerical simulation results. The post-processing to the computational results indeed confirms the importance of self-ignition processes, as well as the relevance of diagnostic tools recently introduced by Boivin et al. [1,2]. Considering the stabilization zone, it also emphasizes the essential importance of the pressure dynamics associated with the discharge of compressible coflowing jets into the atmosphere – an importance that was not so clearly evidenced from previous numerical simulations conducted on the same experimental benchmark.     

Microbiome of free-living amoebae isolated from drinking water

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are protozoa that can be found in water networks where they prey on bacteria within biofilms. Most bacteria are digested rapidly by phagocytosis, however some are able to survive within amoebae and some are even able to multiply, as it is the case for Legionella pneumophila. These resisting bacteria are a potential health problem as they could also resist to macrophage phagocytosis. Several publications already reported intra-amoebal bacteria but the methods of identification did not allow metagenomic analysis and are partly based on co-culture with one selected amoebal strain. The aim of our study was to conduct a rRNA-targeted metagenomic analysis on amoebae and intra-amoebal bacteria found in drinking water network, to provide the first FLA microbiome in environmental strains. Three sites of a water network were sampled during four months. Culturable FLA were isolated and total DNA was prepared, allowing purification of both amoebal and bacterial DNA. Metagenomic studies were then conducted through 18S or 16S amplicons sequencing. Hartmannella was by far the most represented genus of FLA. Regarding intra-amoebal bacteria, 54 genera were identified, among which 21 were newly described intra-amoebal bacteria, underlying the power of our approach. There were high differences in bacterial diversity between the three sites. Several genera were highly represented and/or found at least in two sites, underlying that these bacteria could be able to multiply within FLA. Our method is therefore useful to identify FLA microbiome and could be applied to other networks to have a more comprehensive view of intra-amoebal diversity.     

The heat treatment and the gelation are strong determinants of the kinetics of milk proteins digestion and of the peripheral availability of amino acids

This study aimed to determine the kinetics of milk protein digestion and amino acid absorption after ingestion of four dairy matrices by six minipigs: unheated or heated skim milk and corresponding rennet gels. Digestive contents and plasma samples were collected over a 7 h-period after meal ingestion. Gelation of milk slowed down the outflow of the meal from the stomach and the subsequent absorption of amino acids, and decreased their bioavailability in peripheral blood. The gelled rennet matrices also led to low levels of milk proteins at the duodenum. Caseins and β-lactoglobulin, respectively, were sensitive and resistant to hydrolysis in the stomach with the unheated matrices, but showed similar digestion with the heated matrices, with a heat-induced susceptibility to hydrolysis for β-lactoglobulin. These results suggest a significant influence of the meal microstructure (resulting from heat treatment) and macrostructure (resulting from gelation process) on the different steps of milk proteins digestion.     

Phase Separation and Spatial Morphology in Sodium Silicate Glasses by AFM,Light Scattering and NMR

The morphological and structural properties of sodium silicate (Na₂O–SiO₂) glasses were analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and light scattering following thermal treatments. AFM observations indicated that the glass surface microstructure evolves during the phase separation mechanisms from continuous interpenetrating phases in the spinodal decomposition process to separated droplets embedded in a continuous matrix for the nucleation/growth one. Raman mapping gave evidence of a phase separation through the nucleation/growth process with formation of silica‐rich clusters characterized by higher polymerization degree as separate droplets. The variations in inhomogeneities versus temperature investigated by Brillouin are exponential for spinodal decomposition and linear in the case of nucleation/growth mechanism. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate the spatial distribution of the various Q_n species present in thermally treated glasses and allows determining fractal dimension between two and three.     

Modular Functionalization of Electrodes by Cross‐Coupling Reactions at Their Surfaces

Due to the increasing importance of modified electrodes for many applications in nanotechnology, including molecular electronics, bioelectronics, and sensors, there is a need to find ways to chemically attach suitable molecular films onto the electrodes. Combining the electroreduction of aryl diazonium salts with the Sonogashira cross‐coupling reaction, a new modular technique to modify electrodes is presented. The new technique allows a wide range of functional groups to be introduced onto electrode surfaces with high surface coverage by the functional subunit. Various organic subunits, including redox chromophores, are successfully attached to platinum electrodes. The corresponding films are characterized using cyclic voltammetry, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and contact‐angle measurements. The electroreduction of diazonium salts is successfully achieved on a broad variety of conducting and semiconducting surfaces, which shows that the technique is applicable to a broad variety of substrates.     

Spark Plasma Sintering of fine alpha-silicon nitride ceramics with LAS for spatial applications

Many space systems such as satellite mirrors and their supporting structures require to be made from very low-thermal expansion materials combining both high hydrostability and relatively high mechanical properties. In this study, we have applied the “composite concept” in order to explore the possibility of fabricating near zero thermal expansion silicon nitride based ceramics. Consequently, a negative thermal expansion material belonged to the lithium aluminosilicate family (LAS powder crystallized under de β-eucryptite structure) was introduced in an alpha-silicon nitride fine powder (5 and 20 vol% of LAS) and the resulting composite system was sintered by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) at 1400 and 1500 °C. In the case of 20 vol% LAS compositions, relatively well-densified ceramics (94.4% of the theoretical density) were produced without adding any further sintering additive. The addition of yttria and alumina oxides allowed enhancing the densification level up to 98.2% (20 vol% LAS compositions) or from 62.3% up to 96.7% of the theoretical density in 5 vol% LAS materials. Nevertheless, it was impossible to full consolidate silicon nitride/LAS composite ceramics at temperatures lower than the temperature at which β-eucryptite melts, even by using SPS technology. Moreover, because of the relatively low temperatures involved in SPS, the α to β-Si₃N₄ transformation was avoided, resulting in microstructures composed of fine equiaxed α-Si₃N₄ grains (<200 nm) and of a glassy phase. Even if the effect of having a very large negative thermal expansion material was lost during the sintering step (because of the β-eucryptite melting), ceramics containing only 20 vol% of LAS-based phase exhibited very interesting values as regards of mechanical properties (strength, hardness, toughness, and Young's modulus), thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient. We discuss in this work why we are so interested in developing dense silicon nitride/LAS ceramics sintered without any further additive addition, even though β-eucryptite is melted during the process and the transformation to the β phase is avoided.