Photodegradation mechanism and stabilization of polyphenylene oxide and rigid‐rod polymers

Poly(2,4‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO), poly(benzo[1,2‐d:5,4‐d′]bisoxazole‐2,6‐diyl‐1,4‐phenylene) (PBO) and poly(benzo[1,2‐d:4,5‐d′]bisthiazole‐2,6‐diyl‐1,4‐phenylene) (PBZT), which are polymers with extended conjugated structures, undergo a self‐sensitized photo‐induced electron‐transfer reaction. A second component is not required. This article presents many similar observations on these polymers when they are exposed to light and evidence to support the proposed photo‐induced electron‐transfer mechanism. Methods to stabilize these polymers against photo‐oxidation are also described. Workers investigating other conjugated polymeric systems may find the experimental methods, observations and polymer stabilization approaches discussed in this review useful. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

A simplified method for modelling the effect of blinds on window thermal performance

An approximate method is presented for predicting the effect of a louvered blind on the centre‐glass thermal performance of a fenestration. The method combines a one‐dimensional heat transfer model with data from a numerical simulation of the window and blind. Sample results for a blind mounted on the indoor surface of a window show the effect of blind slat angle on heat transmission. Both summer and winter conditions are considered. The results show that a louvered blind can improve the U‐value of a standard double‐glazed window by up to 37%. Also, the radiation heat exchange with the room can be dramatically reduced (by up to 60%), which will improve the level of occupant comfort. However, there was found to be a trade‐off between U‐value and occupant comfort; placing the blind closer to the window improves the U‐value, but increases the radiation heat exchange with the room. The predictions from the present simplified method compare well with results from a full two‐dimensional computational fluid dynamics solution of the conjugate blind/window interaction. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of branched polyacrylonitrile through self‐condensing vinyl copolymerization

Branched polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was prepared through a self‐condensing vinyl copolymerization of acrylonitrile and 2‐(2‐bromopropionyloxy)ethyl acrylate (BPEA). The branched architecture of the product was confirmed by NMR spectra and the average degree of branching (DB ) was estimated. Through a comparison of the intrinsic viscosity of the product with that of its linear analogue, the contraction factor g′ was calculated. It was found that the viscosity of the branched PAN was obviously lower that that of linear PAN. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Continuous hydrogen evolution from cyclohexanes over platinum catalysts supported on activated carbon fibers

The continuous production of hydrogen from cyclohexanes is achieved effectively using Pt/ACF (ACF = activated carbon fiber) catalysts in a fixed-bed flow reactor. The Pt catalysts are more effective than a Pd/ACF catalyst for the reaction. Besides cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, 1,4-dimethylcyclohexane, and p-menthane can also be employed as hydrogen source in the reaction system.     

Pulsating Jet Impingement Heat Transfer Enhancement

This article presents results from a numerical study of pulsating jet impingement heat transfer. The motivation is to seek conditions offering a significant enhancement compared to steady flow impingement drying. The CFD software package FLUENT was used for simulating slot-type pulsating jet impingement flows with confinement. The parameter study included velocity amplitude ratio, mean jet velocity, and pulsation frequency. The distance from nozzle exit to surface was three times the hydraulic diameter of the nozzle. The Reynolds number based on the nozzle hydraulic diameter and jet temperature was 2,460 with a mean jet velocity of 30 m/s, which is the base case of the numerical experiments. Results showed that time-averaged surface heat transfer increased with increasing velocity amplitude for the same mean jet velocity. Large velocity amplitudes helped enhance heat transfer by two mechanisms: high jet velocity during the positive cycle and strong recirculating flows during the negative cycle. For the cases with different mean jet velocities but the same maximum velocity, time-averaged surface heat flux decreased with decreasing mean jet velocity. As for the effects of pulsation frequency, with high-velocity amplitude ratio, time-averaged surface heat fluxes were at the same level regardless of frequency. However, at low-velocity amplitude ratio, high frequency caused stronger recirculating flows resulting in greater heat transfer compared to the cases with a lower frequency.     

Hydrogen production from methane in a dielectric barrier discharge using oxide zinc and chromium as catalyst

The hydrogen fuel cell is a promising option as a future energy resource; however, the nature of the gas is such that the conversion process of other fuels to hydrogen on board is necessary. Among the raw fuel resources, methane could be the best candidate as it is plentiful. In this experiment, the possibility of producing hydrogen with less carbon formation from methane by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was investigated. Without the addition of a catalyst, the formation of hydrogen reached between 30% and 35% at methane residence time of 0.22 min and supplied powers in the range of 60-130 W. The hydrogen selectivity increased at higher supplied power, but the process efficiency, defined as a ratio of the produced hydrogen to the supplied power, decreased slightly. In order to boost the hydrogen production with less carbon formation, a mixed oxide catalyst of zinc and chromium was added to the reactor. It was shown that the production of hydrogen was ca. 40% higher than the non-catalytic plasma process.     

管内覆丝网强化对流换热及阻力特性的实验研究

通过实验对管内覆丝网管进行了强迫对流换热和阻力特性研究。结果表明：管内覆丝网使换热明显增强，阻力也相应增长。菱形丝网对角线距离与平行边距离之比对换热效果有决定作用，丝网厚度对换热的影响比较小，而丝网网格的大小对换热几乎没有影响，在相同的泵功率和几何条件下，换热系数最大增加２１％。     

Calculation methods for comparing the performance of pure and mixed working fluids in heat pump applications

Three methods for comparing cycle performance of working fluids, pure as well as non-azeotropic mixtures, are investigated for two applications and for two mixture pairs, HCFC22-CFC114 and HCFC22-HCFC142b, and their pure components. The methods differ in the way of calculating the heat exchange processes. They assume, respectively, equal minimum approach temperatures, equal mean temperature differences and equal heat transfer areas. Changes of coefficient of performance (COP) with composition are explained for all methods. It is shown that transport properties must be taken into account when making rigorous comparisons between working fluids. To predict the relations between fluids with high accuracy, one must use the method with equal heat transfer areas. By the method with equal mean temperature differences, the COP can be estimated with the same accuracy for mixtures as for pure fluids, and can be used for rough estimations of the COP level with different fluids. The method of equal minimum approach temperatures should be avoided for non-azeotropic mixtures.     

Ionic mass transfer measurements in the case of submerged multijets impinging on to a flat surface

In the case of submerged multijets impinging on to a flat surface, the limiting current densities were measured at microelectrodes, fixed flush with the target surface using diffusion controlled electrode reactions (i.e. reduction of ferricyanide ion). The height of the multijet distributor from the target surface (Y) was varied from 5 to 9 cm. The numbers of holes of the distributor (N) studied were 76 and 141. The variation of mass transfer data with radial distance reveals the existence of two different regions, i.e. the impingement region and the wall jet region. The mass transfer rate increased with increase in Y in the impingement region. The effect of Y is negligible in the wall jet region. Decrease in N decreases the mass transfer rate in both the regions. The data are correlated separately for the two regions.     

Artificial Neural Network Modeling of Osmotic Dehydration Mass Transfer Kinetics of Fruits

Artificial neural network (ANN) models were developed for the prediction of transient moisture loss (ML) and solid gain (SG) in osmotic dehydration of fruits using process kinetics data from the literature. ANN models for ML and SG were developed based on data over a broad range of operating conditions and ten common processing variables: temperature and concentration of osmotic solution, immersion time, initial water and solid content of the fruit, porosity, surface area, characteristic length, solution-to-fruit mass ratio, and agitation level. The trained models were able to accurately predict the outputs with associated regression coefficients (r) of 0.96 and 0.93, respectively, for ML and SG. These ANN models performed much better than those obtained from linear multivariate regression analysis. The large number of process variables and their wide ranges considered along with their easy implementation in a spreadsheet make them very useful and practical for process design and control.