Elucidating enzyme-based cleaning of protein soils (gelatine and egg yolk) using a scanning fluid dynamic gauge

The enzyme-based cleaning of two model protein soils was investigated using a scanning fluid dynamic gauge (sFDG). The sFDG device allows data to be collected from more than one sample or location during a single experiment and therefore makes a range of comparative studies feasible. The sFDG was modified to allow the forces imposed on the surface to be controlled during a test. Gelatine films on stainless steel swelled in the presence of alkali at 20 °C but were not removed. Enzymes from a commercial dishwasher product interrupted swelling when the mean water volume fraction of the film reached ∼0.9 and promoted removal. The enzyme effectiveness decreased over time. Egg yolk deposits (spray dried on mica) were studied in a protease/buffer solution at 40 °C. The deposits swelled on contact with alkali, and removal started after ∼40 min. Some flow over the deposit was required to achieve complete cleaning, but the time taken to clean exhibited a weak dependence on the shear stress imposed by the flow for shear stresses above 10 Pa. The cleaning behaviour was strongly influenced by the nature of the deposit. Baking the deposit at 150 °C reduced the rate and extent of swelling as well as the rate of removal, and could result in the formation of a residual film that exhibited yield stress characteristics.     

分析无机絮凝剂混凝机理中的力化学因素

以混凝机理为基础,建立了无机絮凝剂的混凝物理模型。通过混凝物理模型与无机絮凝剂的双电层压缩机理相结合,研究无机絮凝剂和投加时的稀释比例不同产生的效果,指出无机絮凝剂的混凝机理中存在流体力化学效应。     

Enhancement of hydrocyclone performance by controlling the inside turbulence structure

A new hydrocyclone was designed with a winged core fixed below the vortex finder in this study. With the winged core, the turbulence structure characteristics inside the hydrocyclone, including time-averaged pressure, pressure fluctuation, relative pressure fluctuation characteristics, and distribution characteristics of the probability density of the turbulence pressure, were all positively controlled. By controlling the turbulence structure, the performance of the new hydrocyclone was improved effectively. Compared with the common hydrocyclone, the new hydrocyclone was featured with lower energy loss coefficient, higher reduced separation efficiency, higher separation sharpness and larger capacity.     

Combustion characteristics and flame stability at the microscale: a CFD study of premixed methane/air mixtures

A two-dimensional elliptic, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a microburner is solved to study the effects of microburner dimensions, conductivity and thickness of wall materials, external heat losses, and operating conditions on combustion characteristics and flame stability. We have found that the wall conductivity and thickness are very important as they determine the upstream heat transfer, which is necessary for flame ignition and stability, and the material's integrity by controlling the existence of hot spots. Two modes of flame extinction occur: a spatially global type for large wall thermal conductivities and/or low flow velocities and blowout. It is shown that there exists a narrow range of flow velocities that permit sustained combustion within a microburner. Large transverse and axial gradients are observed even at these small scales under certain conditions. Periodic oscillations are observed near extinction in cases of high heat loss. Engineering maps that delineate flame stability, extinction, and blowout are constructed. Design recommendations are finally made.     

钻井液的化学性能对井壁稳定性的影响研究

由于井壁垮塌、缩颈和地层破裂等井壁失稳现象所造成的卡钻憋钻、井漏井喷和钻井液大量漏失等问题会延误油气资源勘探和开发的速度,还会为石油行业带来巨大的经济损失。钻井液的化学性能会影响井壁稳定性。针对井壁失稳的类型,从钻井液所含化学物质的种类及含量,钻井液化学势,钻井液pH值三方面的化学性能对井壁稳定性的影响机理进行了研究和分析,对于解决井壁失稳问题、减少经济损失具有实际的指导意义。     

循环喷动流化床颗粒抛射高度的计算

通过对循环喷动流化床顶部封闭空间气体射流及气固运动的理论分析 ,得出了循环喷动流化床中颗粒出循环管后抛射高度的计算方法 ,所得计算结果与实测结果误差小于 8% ,为循环喷动流化床的设计提供理论依据     

Electrorheological responses of particulate suspensions and emulsions in a small-strain dynamic shear flow: Viscoelasticity and yielding phenomena

The dynamic rheological behavior of multiphase electrorheological (ER) fluids was considered, as continuation of a previous paper [Chin and Park, 2000]. Oil-in-oil emulsions, which differ in electrical conductivity and dielectric constant, were employed for an ER-active emulsion and also for a multiphase ER fluid with enhanced performance. The polyaniline particle suspension in an electric field showed viscoelastic behavior within a very limited range of strain amplitude, indicating the transition from viscoelasticity to viscoplasticity. Within the region of visco-elasticity, the linear region was restricted below the amplitude of 0.1%, whereas the ER-active emulsions showed a rather wide linear regime. Frequency dependence of the storage shear modulus in the linear viscoelastic region revealed the typical features of an elastic solid. When the fraction of emulsion drops (Ф) in multiphase ER fluids increased, the limiting strain for viscoelasticity showed a higher value.     

Design and Modeling of Plug Flow Fluid Bed Dryers

Plug flow fluid bed dryers (PFFBD) have been used for drying of particulate solids such as salts, ion exchange resins, grains, and a variety of other products. The present article describes the use of a mathematical model for the scale-up of lab-scale batch fluidization data to design an industrial-scale PFFBD. Axial dispersion theory was used in conjunction with the tanks-in-series model to describe the non-ideal flow. The model was implemented in Matlab 6.5 and it can be used for easily fluidizing particulate materials. The proposed model is capable of analyzing both the exponential falling rate and constant rate drying periods. The model predicts the required dryer dimensions for a given throughput and desired final moisture content. The model can also be used to study the effect of different process parameters such as solids feed rate, inlet air velocity, and temperature on the required dryer dimensions and it can also be used to predict the moisture and temperature profiles along the length of the PFFBD.     

Multiphase catalytic reactors: a perspective on current knowledge and future trends

ABSTRACT

Conventional and emerging processes that require the application of multiphase reactors are reviewed with an emphasis on catalytic processes. In the past, catalyst discovery and development preceded and drove the selection and development of an appropriate multiphase reactor type. This sequential approach is increasingly being replaced by a parallel approach to catalyst and reactor selection. Either approach requires quantitative models for the flow patterns, phase contacting, and transport in various multiphase reactor types. This review focuses on these physical parameters for various multiphase reactors. First, fixed-bed reactors are reviewed for gas-phase catalyzed processes with an emphasis on unsteady state operation. Fixed-bed reactors with two-phase flow are treated next. The similarities and differences are outlined between trickle beds with cocurrent gas–liquid downflow, trickle-beds with countercurrent gas–liquid flow, and packed-bubble columns where gas and liquid are contacted in cocurrent upflow. The advantages of cyclic operation are also outlined. This is followed by a discussion on conventional reactors with mobile catalysts, such as slurry bubble columns, ebullated beds, and agitated reactors. Several unconventional reactor types are reviewed also, such as monoliths for two-phase flow processing, membrane reactors, reactors with circulating solids, rotating packed beds, catalytic distillation, and moving-bed chromatographic reactors.

Numerous references are cited throughout the review, and the state-of-the-art is also summarized. Measurements and experimental characterization methods for multiphase systems as well as the role of computational fluid dynamics are not covered in a comprehensive manner due to other recent reviews in these areas. While it is evident that numerous studies have been conducted to elucidate the behavior of multiphase reactors, a key conclusion is that the current level of understanding can be improved further by the increased use of fundamentals.     

SIMULATION OF DRYING SUSPENSIONS IN SPOUT-FLUID BEDS OF INERT PARTICLES

In spouted and spout fluid bed dryers, the suspension is spread into the bed of inert particles, covering these particles with a thin layer. As the inert particles circulate, this suspension layer is dried and must become brittle enough to break off by the particle attrition. The powder produced is then carried out by air. Problems with the spout stability, particle agglomeration and powder deposits inside the column should be overcome by controlling the drying operation. The present work is aimed at modeling and simulating the drying of suspensions, such as organic and biological pastes, in conical spout-fluid beds of inert particles. A computer program has been developed combining the air flow and particle circulation models with the mass and energy balances and the drying kinetic equations in order to describe this drying process. The effect of cohesive forces is also incorporated to the fluid flow model. Simulation results are analyzed and compared with experimental data reported in the literature. Implication of these results in drying suspensions is also discussed.