Thermal conductivity of a dendritic ice layer

Measurements of the thermal conductivities of the frozen layer of aqueous binary solutions have been performed using the transient hot-wire method. Solutions of ethylene glycol and sodium chloride were utilized as the testing fluids, and they were frozen up in the test section in which the platinum wires 40 m in diameter and 170 mm in length were strung. Measurements were carried out under equilibrium at a variety of both the initial concentration of the solution and the temperature of the frozen layer. The expressions of the thermal conductivity of the frozen layer were determined. It was found that the thermal conductivity of the dendritic ice layer was favorably assessed with the Lichteneker's model by introducing the solid fraction under an assumption of the equililbrium within the range of parameters examined.Paper presented at the Tenth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 20–23, 1988, Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.A.     

Screening model for assessing ‘cost’ of minimum flow requirements in the Svartå River,Sweden

The minimum flow requirements in the Svartå River in Sweden are directed at maintaining fishlife and providing suitable dilution for waste flows. The implications of varying the minimum flow requirements in the river are examined using a mixed integer optimisation model. The model is formulated as a modified method-of-weights technique with the economic issues of hydro-electricity generation, irrigation and urban water supply placed in the objective function and the minimum flows specified within the constraint set. The integer component of the model is required to model the operating policy at the major flow regulation facility in the system and the restricted validity of the irrigation permits. Application of the model shows that in dry years where competition between minimum flow levels and the other economic uses, is most intense, the levels achieved by the various economic objectives are only slightly reduced even with significant increases in the minimum flow requirements. Variations in minimum flow requirements of up to 45% only produce changes of 10% or less in the economic objectives. The lack of sensitivity of the objective levels is due primarily to the level of control exerted indirectly on the whole system in dry years by the release regulation policy and the restricted validity of the irrigation permits. In normal to wet years these policies are not as restrictive and more choice is available. In such years, however, there is generally sufficient water to satisfy all requirements and allocation is not a critical issue. The model itself is formulated generally so that a range of scenarios beyond those examined specifically in the paper can be considered.     

On the determination of the thermal diffusion factor from column measurements

A new method for experimental determination of the thermal diffusion factor _T for binary gas mixtures with a thermal diffusion column (TDC) is developed, based on A. M. Rozen's equation of TDC. The experimental results for _T are obtained in a reduced form in this approximation. An experimental reference point, determined in the same TDC with a standard gas mixture, is used for the transformation of the results for _T in absolute units. The proposed method is applicable for arbitrary gas mixtures, irrespective of the mass difference of the components.     

Thermal conductivity of liquid n-alkanes

The thermal conductivity of liquids has been shown in the past to be difficult to predict with a reasonable accuracy, due to the lack of accurate experimental data and reliable prediction schemes. However, data of a high accuracy, and covering wide density ranges, obtained recently in laboratories in Boulder, Lisbon, and London with the transient hot-wire technique, can be used to revise an existing correlation scheme and to develop a new universal predictive technique for the thermal conductivity of liquid normal alkanes. The proposed correlation scheme is constructed on a theoretically based treatment of the van der Waals model of a liquid, which permits the prediction of the density dependence and the thermal conductivity of liquid n-alkanes, methane to tridecane, for temperatures between 110 and 370 K and pressures up to 0.6 MPa, i.e., for 0.3T/T _c0.7 and 2.4P/P _c3.7, with an accuracy of ±1%, given a known value of the thermal conductivity of the fluid at the desired temperature. A generalization of the hard-core volumes obtained, as a function of the number of carbon atoms, showed that it was possible to predict the thermal conductivity of pentane to tetradecane±2%, without the necessity of available experimental measurements.     

Thermal transport behavior of van der Waals solids and liquids in the neighborhood of the solid-liquid phase transition

The thermal conductivity, , is one of the few transport coefficients which shows a relatively small change at the solid-liquid phase transition, and hence it is a property that can be used in comparing dynamic properties of both ordered and disordered systems. Although the discontinuity in can be accounted for largely by the difference in density, , of solid and liquid at the phase transition, its volume dependence is examined more closely. The thermal diffusivity, which is known to dominate the dynamic structure factor of liquid argon, has been determined around the phase transition also; the sound velocity has been considered in addition. The results are discussed and a comparison is made with these properties in solid and liquid benzene and cyclohexane.Paper presented at the Ninth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 24–27, 1985, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

Thermal expansion of molybdenum in the range 1500–2800 K by a transient interferometric technique

The linear thermal expansion of molybdenum has been measured in the temperature range 1500–2800 K by means of a transient (subsecond) interferometric technique. The molybdenum selected for these measurements was the Standard Reference Material SRM 781 (a high-temperature enthalpy and heat capacity standard). The results are expressed by the relation where T is in K and l ₀ is the specimen length at 20°C. The maximum error in the reported values of thermal expansion is estimated to be about 1% at 2000 K and not more than 2% at 2800 K.Paper presented at the Ninth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 24–27, 1985, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

Thermal expansion of Pyros from 20 to 1273 K

Pyros, which is a Ni-base alloy (82% Ni, 8% Cr, 4% W, 3% Mn, and 3% Fe), has been used extensively in France since 1926 as a temperature sensor and as a reference material for thermal expansion measurements. In this paper we present recent data on the expansion and expansivity of Pyros from 20 to 1273 K. Expansivity results, obtained by taking the derivative of a cubic-spline polynomial fitting performed to the L/L experimental data, show that Pyros is a stable material in the 20 to 1273 K temperature range. Furthermore, since the expansivity values are similar to those of steels, Pyros should be of special interest to laboratories which are concerned with expansion measurements on steels. Therefore, we suggest that Pyros be considered as a suitable reference material for thermal expansion measurements on steels, and until more accurate results are obtained, we propose our results as reference data between 20 and 1273 K.Paper presented at the Ninth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 24–27, 1985, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

Thermal accommodation coefficient of gases on controlled solid surfaces: Argon-tungsten system

The knowledge of the thermal accommodation coefficient for gases on well-controlled surfaces as a function of temperature is imperative to understanding the mechanism of interphase heat transfer on the microscopic level. With this goal in view, a heat transfer column instrument is designed, fabricated, assembled, and tested for the specific case a argon—tungsten system. With 99.9999%, pure argon, six sets of data are taken in the rarefied gas region in the maximum temperature range of 500–1500 K. Four sets of these measurements are in the temperature-jump region and are analyzed by the constant-power method to compute the thermal accommodation coefficient of argon on a controlled tungsten surface. The other two sets are taken under free-molecular flow conditions and are interpreted in accordance with the man-free-path kinetic theory for the low-pressure regime. These data are compared and discussed in the context of reported data in the literature and interpreted in the light of the surface condition and finish of the tungsten wire.Nomenclature A area of the solid surface - C _j constants in Eq. (3); j=0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 - E _i incident energy flux - E _r reflected energy flux - E _s reflected energy flux when the interaction between the gas and the solid atoms is complete - g temperature-jump distance - L half-length of the metal wire - M molecular weight of the gas - P gas pressure - Q _H total thermal energy conducted by the gas per unit time from the hot surface - Q_KT total thermal energy conducted by the gas per unit time if the striking gas molecules were to attain thermal equilibrium with the hot surface - R molar gas constant - r radial coordinate - r _f radius of the hot wire - S sticking coefficient - S_o initial sticking coefficient - T temperature - T _e linearly extrapolated gas temperature on the hot-wire surface - T _g temperature of the impinging gas molecules - T _H temperature of the hot surface - T _i temperature of the incident gas stream - T _r temperature of the gas molecules receding after collision with the solid surface - T _s temperature of the solid surface Greek Symbols thermal accommodation coefficient for the gas—solid surface - resistivity of the metal wire - gas coverage on the solid surface For an explanation of symbols, see Nomenclature.     

Thermal diffusivity of fluids in a broad region around the critical point

Dynamic light scattering is a suitable method for the investigation of transport properties such as the thermal diffusivity of optically transparent fluids. The main advantages of the method are its quickness, the fact of the thermodynamic state of equilibrium of the sample (gradients are not required), and the relatively simple evaluation of data without the necessity of calibration. However, an insufficient production of intensity of scattered light may be a limiting effect. For that reason the vicinity of the gas-liquid critical point represents the classical range of application. In this paper, it is shown that by means of an appropriate choice of experimental apparatus, measurements are also feasible in an extended range of states. Broad regions around critical points of three pure fluids (sulfur hexafluoride, SF₆; ethane, C₂H₆; nitrous oxide, N₂O) over temperature ranges ¦T-T _c¦ of 0.02 to 50 K and density ranges (/_c) of 0.2 to 2 were investigated. In this region the thermal diffusivity shows great variations with temperature and density and cannot be described by means of ideal-gas behavior or relations for liquids. The measurements were carried out along the coexistence curve for both phases, along the critical isochore and along some isotherms with TT _c. The measured or calculated density, pressure, and thermal diffusivity data as well as some correlations are presented.     

Protecting the infrastructure with thermal spray coatings—Technical note

Thermal sprayed aluminum and zinc provide long-term (> 20 years to first maintenance) corrosion control coatings. However, this application is usually more expensive than painting or galvanizing if thermal spraying (metallizing) is not integrated into the design and fabrication phases of new construction and repair projects. Aluminum and zinc metallized coatings are tough enough to withstand fabrication, transportation, and assembly operations. The improved capabilities and productivity of metallizing equipment for aluminum and zinc spraying are a major factor in their current cost competitiveness. The net result is that the cost difference between metallizing, paint, and galvanizing is getting closer every day. Even though the initial application cost of metallizing may be higher, the life cycle cost (LCC) and average equivalent annual costs (AEAC) are lower than paint coating systems. Metallizing LCCs, when properly engineered into the construction schedule, are equal to or less than paint coating LCCs. This article summarizes some metallizing considerations for installing improved corrosion control coating systems in new construction and in maintenance and repair of infrastructure. Editor’s Note: The following constants have been used to convert between English and Metric dimensions: 1ft²-0.0929 m²; 1lb/ft²-4.89 kg/m²; 1 mil=0.025mm. Presented at the 5th National Thermal Spray Conference (NTSC-93), Infrastructure Maintenance and Repair Session, 10 June 1993, Anaheim, CA.