Onset of buoyancy-driven convection in melting from below

When a horizontal homogeneous solid is melted from below, convection can be induced in a thermally unstable melt layer. In this study the onset of buoyancy-driven convection during time-dependent melting is investigated by using similarly transformed disturbance equations. The critical Rayleigh numbers based on the melt-layer thickness are found numerically for various conditions. For small superheats, the present predictions approach the well known results of classical Rayleigh-Bénard problems, that is, critical Rayleigh numbers are located between 1,296 and 1,708, regardless of the Prandtl number. However, for high superheats the critical Rayleigh number increases with an increase in phase change rate but with decrease in Prandtl number.     

Isothermal interphase diffusion with consecutive reactions

For multi-step heterogeneous consecutive reactions affected entirely by interphase diffusion under isothermal condition, the equations for the effectiveness factors, the surface concentrations and the point yields were derived in terms of the Damkoehler numbers or the measurables from the mass balances set up on the assumption that the mass-transfer rate balances the surface-reaction rate at steady state. From the analyses of the equations derived, the effectiveness factors for the intermediate steps and the surface concentrations of intermediates were understood to be enhanced by the measurables inclusive of the concentrations and the mass-transfer coefficients. Then the effect of the concentrations was concluded to be most significant. The effects of these measurables to the effectiveness factors and the surface concentrations were qualitatively discussed for simple consecutive reactions and also for additive consecutive reactions. Especially, as for two-step additive consecutive reactions, the effects of measurables η Da and the concentrations to the effectiveness factors were examined with graphical presentations. Finally, the brief discussion of the dependency of the Damkoehler number upon reaction time and the effect of the Renolds number and diffusivity to the extent of the mass-transfer resistance were presented.     

Reduction of loading effect by tungsten etchback in a magneticallyenhanced reactive ion etcher

The plug loading effect occurring during the etchback of tungsten was investigated in a magnetically enhanced reactive ion etcher using SF ₆/Ar mixtures. It was found that while the plug loading effect is independent of varying SF₆/Ar flow rate ratio and magnetic field intensity, it is reduced under the condition of high selectivity of tungsten relative to TiN which was achieved at high chamber pressure and low RF power. It is proposed that when TiN is used as a glue layer, the W etch rate enhancement in the plug is mainly controlled by a local loading effect. Under the optimized etchback conditions the plug loss was successfully controlled without the tungsten residue left on severe topology     

Extraction of penicillin G from simulated media by an emulsion liquid membrane process

The extraction of penicillin G from simulated media was performed by water/oil/water (w/o/w) emulsion liquid membranes (ELMs) and studied under various operational conditions in a batch system. The degree of extraction achieved was between 80% and 95% under specific conditions. A concentration of greater than nine times the initial concentration of penicillin G in the external phase was obtained in the internal phase. The pH of the internal aqueous solution, containing a basic salt, was theoretically calculated on the basis of the amount of penicillin G transported into the internal phase. The calculated results agreed with the experimental data well and were used to select a suitable type and concentration of a basic salt in the internal phase to give a pH within the range 5 to 8 where penicillin G was stable after the termination of extraction. The extraction of penicillin G was successfully performed by the ELM process with sodium carbonate in the internal phase.     

Equilibrium and crystallographic measurements of the binary tetrahydrofuran and helium clathrate hydrates

Clathrate compounds are crystalline materials formed by a physical interaction between host and relatively light guest molecules. Various types of nano-sized cages surrounded by host frameworks exist in the highly unique crystalline structures and free guest molecules are entrapped in an open host-guest network. Recently, we reported two peculiar phenomena, swapping and tuning, naturally occurring in the hydrate cages. Helium, one of the smallest light guest molecules, must be the challengeable material in the sense of physics and moreover possesses versatile applications in the field of superconductivity technology and thermonuclear industry. In this regard, we attempted for the first time to synthesize helium hydrates at moderate temperature and pressure conditions. According to inclusion phenomena, helium itself normally cannot form clathrate hydrates due to being too small molecularly without the help of hydrate former molecules (sI, sII, and sH formers). In this study, the hydrate equilibria of the binary clathrate hydrate containing tetrahydrofuran, helium, and water were determined at 2, 3, 5.56 THF mol%. Direct volumetric measurements were also carried out to confirm the exact amount of helium captured in the hydrate cages. Finally, the crystalline structure of the formed mixed hydrates was identified by powder X-ray diffraction, resulting in structure II.     

Microstructural investigation of long-term degradation mechanisms in GFRP dowel bars for jointed concrete pavement

Steel dowel bar is used to transfer loads in concrete pavement slab. However, once the steel dowel bar corrodes, it may cause faults, such as joint freezing in concrete pavement, level differences resulting from spalling or decreased efficiency of load transfer, etc., which are the same problems experienced by typical reinforcing steel. This study evaluated the applicability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) dowel bar as a substitute for steel dowel bar. A microstructural analysis was conducted to examine the decrease in durability of GFRP dowel bar exposed to deterioration environments. To analyze the deterioration mechanism of GFRP dowel bar, scanning electron microscopy was employed and the porosity was measured by the gas absorption method. It was concluded that the longer the GFRP dowel bar was exposed to deterioration environments, the more the interlaminar shear stress decreased. This result was validated by the microstructural analysis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Preparation of monodisperse poly(vinyl alcohol) microspheres by heterogeneous surface saponification and iodine complex formation

Monodisperse poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) microspheres with high molecular weight obtained by suspension polymerization of vinyl acetate were saponified in alkaline aqueous solution to keep their spherical structure. The saponification was restricted on the surface of the PVAc microspheres and obtained particles had skin/core structure. Various poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) microspheres with different diameters and degrees of saponification (DSs) were obtained. The conversion of PVAc to PVA during the heterogeneous surface saponification time were examined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and after 72 h hydrogel type PVA microspheres completely saponified were obtained. The crystal melting temperatures of the microspheres obtained by the saponification were measured a constant value of 238°C irrespective of varying DS, and the peaks became enlarged as reaction time. Iodine complexes were formed in saponified microspheres with DS of 41% and 99% by immersing them in I₂/KI aqueous solution and decomposed by the reduction of I₂ in the complexes to 2I^? using sodium sulfite to confirm whether the skin formed through the saponification was composed of PVA with high VA content. Obviously, characteristic blue color developments owing to I₅^?‐PVA complexes were observed in both saponified regions and a red in the PVAc core. Consequently, it was concluded that the PVA skins formed by heterogeneous surface saponification had high DSs. Such complexes endowed polymeric microspheres a good radiopacity which would be useful in clinical treatment of vascular diseases and were examined by X‐ray irradiation image. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Differentially coherent code acquisition in the MIMO-aided multi-carrier DS-CDMA downlink

Both differentially coherent and non-coherent code acquisition schemes designed for the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)-aided multi-carrier (MC)-DS-CDMA downlink are analysed, when communicating over uncorrelated Rayleigh channels. The attainable mean acquisition time (MAT) performance is studied as a function of both the number of multiple transmit/multiple receive antennas and that of the number of subcarriers. It is demonstrated that in contrast to the expectations, when the number of multiple transmit antennas and/or that of the subcarriers is increased in both the differentially coherent and the non-coherent code acquisition scenarios, the achievable MAT deteriorates over the entire signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR) per chip (E_c/I_o) range considered, except for the scenario of single-carrier (SC)-DS-CDMA using P = 2 transmit antennas and R = 1 receive antenna. As expected, the degree of performance degradation depends upon the specific scheme and the E_c/I_o ratio considered, although paradoxically, the correctly synchronised MIMO-aided system is capable of attaining its target bit error ratio performance at reduced SINR values.     

Eddy characteristics on mass transfer close to free interface

The velocity fluctuations in the immediate vicinity of a free interface were measured with a hot film anemometer. And mass transfer rates and eddy exposure times were analyzed by using the method of deterministic approach. These mass transfer rates were compared with the mass transfer rates by means of concentration measurements in the air-water system. The eddy exposure time distributions obtained from velocity data were skewed toward the lower time value. The contribution of eddies wi:h small exposure time was increased as the liquid became more turbulent. The mass transfer rates were mainly contributed by the Prandtl size eddies and even larger eddies. The mass transfer predictions by the single eddy model employing a deterministic method were in good agreement with the experimental results by independent measurements of concentration.     

Hydrodynamic characteristics of a FCC regenerator

The hydrodynamic and gas mixing characteristics have been determined in a FCC regenerator (0.48 m I.D.x3.4 m high) with FCC particles. Solids holdup in the dense bed decreases with increasing gas velocity, but it increases in the freeboard region. The bubble/void fraction increases with an increase along the bed height at a given gas velocity and increases with increasing gas velocity at a constant bed height. Backmixed tracer gas at the wall region is higher than that at the center region of the bed. The gas backmixing coefficient decreases with increasing gas velocity.