Engineering Commons^™

Time Dependence Of Tip Morphology During Cellular Dendritic Arrayed Growth, Hui Song, Surendra N. Tewari

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Succinonitrile-1.9 wt pct acetone has been directionally solidified in 0.7 X 0.7-cm-square cross section pyrex ampoules in order to observe the cell/dendrite tip morphologies, not influenced by the ''wall effects,'' which are present during growth in the generally used thin (about 200 mu m) crucibles. The tips do not maintain a steady-state shape, as is generally assumed. Instead, they fluctuate within a shape envelope. The extent of fluctuation increases with decreasing growth speed, as the micro structure changes from the dendritic to cellular. The influence of natural convection has been examined by comparing these morphologies with those grown, without convection, …

Analysis Of Homogeneous Combustion In Monolithic Structures, Hendrik J. Viljoen

Papers in Chemical Reactions

An analytical method is used to solve the problem of homogeneous combustion in a monolith. The solid phase acts as burner support. Heat is conducted much more effectively in the solid phase and preheating of the gas is more effective. The flame temperature exceeds the adiabatic value. Solutions are presented for different velocities and feed concentrations.

Petrochemical Analysis By Remote Fiber-Optic Raman Spectroscopy And Partial Least Squares Regression Analysis, Philip Edmund Flecher Jr.

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

A dispersive Raman system with charge coupled device (CCD) detection, distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) diode laser excitation, and a fiber optic probe has been developed for the rapid analysis of petrochemicals and fuels. Initially, mock petroleum fuels with analyte concentrations from 1.S - 16% were prepared and analyzed with the system. The inability of the original index guided diode laser to maintain a constant frequency during the mock petroleum analysis was a recurrent problem. The DBR laser was subsequently shown to have stability superior to index guided lasers, and was used in the remainder of the research.

Real gasoline samples …

An Indirect Electrochemical Oxidation Of Toluene─Catalytic Effects Of Ag(Ⅰ) On Mn(Ⅱ)/Mn(Ⅲ) Couple Transition At Pt Electrode, Zhonghua Wang, Yunan Qu, Xingguo Yan, Qngmin Hua, Guacai Chen, Zhongquan Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The Catalytic effects of Ag(Ⅰ) on toluene oxidation by Mn(Ⅲ) as well as the anodic generation of Mn(Ⅲ) were investigated. The rates of toluene oxidation were first order with respect to both Ag(Ⅰ) and Mn(Ⅲ). Ag(Ⅱ) formed on the surface of the platinum anode when Ag(Ⅰ) was present in the anolyte, which catalyic the Mn(Ⅱ) to Mn(Ⅲ) in solution.

Research On Molten Carbnate Fuel Cell, Naichao Li, Baolian Yi, Lianying Kong, Enjun Zhang, Huaxin Lin, Tianxi Qu, Yingcai Cheng

Journal of Electrochemistry

Cold-roll-milling has been evaluated as a technique for preparing porous LiAlO₂ matrices for use as a molten carbonate fuel cell electrolyte matrix. This technique produces reliable electrolyte structures with the following characteristics and advantages: ease of handling, uniform thickness, using nontoxic inorganic solvents, controlled pore size distribution, and ability to be impregnated with the alkali carbonate without fracrure.

The Molren Carbnatod Fuel Cell (MCFC) was assembled from sintered Ni electrodes and LiAlO₂ electrolyte matrix, the electrode area is 28 cm², the effect of operating conditions on cell performance was tested, it was found that the cell …

Modelling And Analysis Of The Elution Stage Of "Perfusion Chromatography" Effects Of Intraparticle Convective Velocity And Microsphere Size On System Performance, Y. Xu, Athanasios I. Liapis

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A mathematical model describing the dynamic elution (elution stage) in columns with spherical bidisperse perfusive or spherical bidisperse purely diffusive adsorbent particles is presented and its solution is obtained numerically. The desorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from spherical anion-exchange porous particles was studied for different values of the intraparticle Peclet numbers of the adsorbate, (Peintra)a, and eluent, (Peintra)e, and of the microsphere diameter, dm. It was found that as (Peintra)a increases, the asymmetry of the elution peak of the adsorbate (at the exit of the column) decreases, the peak height increases and the time, Te, required for the elution …

Heat Transfer In Rarefied Gas At A Gas-Solid Interface, Yaşar Demirel, Satish C. Saxena

Papers in Physical Chemistry

Modified expressions for the heat-transfer fluxes at the interface of a solid surface and a gas are given for different Knudsen-number regimes. These expressions for diatomic gases contain both a gas-reflection and a thermal accommodation coefficient. Parallel-plate, coaxial-cylindrical and concentric spherical surfaces are considered. A general expression for the thermal accommodation coefficient is based on experimental data. Sample numerical calculations of heat flux in different heat-transfer regimes are presented in terms of the reciprocal Knudsen number.

An Investigation Of The Mechanism Of Advanced Oxidation Processes (Aop) Involving Free Radicals And Charged Species., Yaw-Kuen Lin

Dissertations

Hydrogen peroxide is a key component in Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP). Its decomposition at different pH conditions has been studied and some interesting results were observed. When the pH value of hydrogen peroxide solution is less than 9, its rate of decomposition is independent of pH. On the other hand, in the pH range of 9-12.6, its rate of decomposition increases as pH increases, and goes through a maximum value then suddenly decreases with respect to pH. A reaction kinetic model with three rate constants in the form of beta probability function was used to describe the experimental data of …

Comparison Of Reductive Dehalogenation By Microbial Populations On Adsorptive Versus Non-Adsorptive Bioreactor Support Materials, Linda S. Colella

Theses

The overall performance of two bioreactors was studied. The reactor with a wood-based activated carbon as a biosupport completely dehalogenated a higher feed concentration of trichlorophenol than that with Manville beads. The carbon reactor was further characterized by the development of adsorption isotherms for most of the class of chlorophenols. Competitive adsorption wag investigated using an anaerobic medium, and a lignite-based carbon was studied for comparison. The order of adsorption strength on both carbons is trichloropenols> dichlorophenols> monochlorophenols, with the wood-based carbon having higher overall adsorption than the lignite-based carbon. The presence of the anaerobic medium decreased the extent of …

Determination Of Physical Parameters Affecting Biofiltration Of Vocs, Steven Matthew Wojdyla

Theses

This study dealt with the determination of physical and design parameters affecting the transient behavior of classical biofilters employed in removal of VOCs from airstreams. The column packing material consisted of a mixture of peat and perlite particles (2:3, v:v). The design parameters investigated were the density of the packing material, its porosity, and the void fraction of the filter-bed. The physical parameters investigated were the characteristics of adsorption equilibrium between VOCs and packing material, and the mass transfer coefficients of VOCs to the packing material.

The density of the packing material was found to be 0.679 x 106 g-packing/ …

An O(N) Algorithm For Stokes And Laplace Interactions Of Particles, Ashok S. Sangani, Guobiao Mo

Biomedical and Chemical Engineering - All Scholarship

A method for computing Laplace and Stokes interactions among N spherical particles arbitrarily placed in a unit cell of a periodic array is described. The method is based on an algorithm by Greengard and Rokhlin [J. Comput. Phys. 73, 325 (1987)] for rapidly summing the Laplace interactions among particles by organizing the particles into a number of different groups of varying sizes. The far-field induced by each group of particles is expressed by a multipole expansion technique into an equivalent field with its singularities at the center of the group. The resulting computational effort increases only linearly with N. The …

Tracking Thermal Saturation Fronts By A High Level Pc Programming Language, A. Erkal, Daopu Thompson Numbere

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a PC based alternative procedure for determining the water saturations within the hot water zone of a thermal project for use in analytical oil recovery calculations. Conventional analytical calculation of oil recovery under steam and hot water injection requires the tracking of the movements of the saturations advancing within the variable-temperature hot-water zone. This involves an adaptation of the Buckley-Leverett theory to this variable temperature zone after dividing it into a number of constant temperature or isothermal zones. If the number exceeds two, the calculation can become very tedious unless done with a computer program. FORTRAN programs …

A Lattice Boltzmann Subgrid Model For High Reynolds Number Flows, S. Hou, James D. Sterling, S. Chen, G. D. Doolen

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

A sub grid turbulence model for the lattice Boltzmann method is proposed for high Reynolds number fluid flow applications. The method, based on the standard Smagorinsky sub grid model and a single-time relaxation lattice Boltzmann method, incorporates the advantages of the lattice Boltzmann method for handling arbitrary boundaries and is easily implemented on parallel machines. The method is applied to a two-dimensional driven cavity flow for studying dynamics and the Reynolds number dependence of the flow structures. The substitution of other sub grid models, such as the dynamic sub grid model, in the framework of the LB method is discussed.

Modified Contactor For Experimental Studies Of Mass Transfer And Chemical Reaction Across A Liquid-Liquid Interface, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan, Charles E. Wicks

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A Modified Stirred-Cell Type Contactor Has Been Designed and Tested for its Use in Experimental Investigations of Mass Transfer and Chemical Reaction in Liquid-Liquid Systems. its Design overcomes the Shortcomings of Previously Proposed Contactors. It is Easy to Operate and Has the Ability to Investigate the Effect of a Wide Range of Operating Conditions. the Mixing Performance of the Contactor Was Tested using a Dye Injection and a Tracer Technique. Experiments to Evaluate Mass-Transfer Coefficients Across a Liquid-Liquid Interface Have Been Conducted to Determine its Effectiveness. the Results Verified that the Contactor Could Be Successfully Employed as a Useful Experimental …

Evaluation Of Trickle Bed Reactor Models For A Liquid Limited Reaction, Yuanxin Wu, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan, Mohan R. Khadilkar, Milorad P. Dudukovic

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Isothermal Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide on a CuCr Catalyst in a Laboratory Scale Trickle Bed Reactor Was Used to Test Model Predictions of the Dependence of Liquid Reactant Conversion on Space Time for Different Operating Conditions. It is Assured that the Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide is a First Order Liquid-Limited Reaction. Comparison of Model Predictions and Experimental Data Indicates that Both External Mass Transfer Effects and Incomplete External Catalyst Wetting Need to Be Accounted For. Dudukovic's (1977) Approximate Model for the Catalyst Effectiveness Factor Adequately Simulates Both Effects.

Comparison Of Trickle-Bed And Upflow Reactor Performance At High Pressure: Model Predictions And Experimental Observations, M. R. Khadilkar, Y. X. Wu, M. (Muthanna) H. Al-Dahhan, M. P. Dudukovic, M. Colakyan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Comparison of Laboratory Trickle-Bed and Up-Flow Reactors over a Range of Operating Conditions, Which Cover Both Gas and Liquid Reactant Limitations, Has Been Investigated using Hydrogenation of Alpha-Methylstyrene to Cumene in a Hexane Solvent over 2.5% Pd on Alumina Extrudate Catalyst as a Test Reaction. the Results Show that When the Reaction is Gas Limited at Low Pressure and High Liquid Feed Concentration, Trickle Bed Reactor Outperforms the Upflow Reactor. at High Pressure and Low Liquid Feed Concentration, the Reaction Becomes Liquid Limited and Upflow Reactor Performs Better. It is Concluded that the Advantage of Upflow or Downflow Depends on …

Unsteady Conjugate Mass Transfer Between A Single Droplet And An Ambient Flow With External Chemical Reaction, Leonid S. Kleinman, X. B. Reed

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Unsteady conjugate mass transfer between a spherical bubble, droplet, or particle and a surrounding fluid flow with chemical reaction in the continuous phase has been analyzed. An algorithm based on spectral methods has been developed and implemented for the simulation of the interphase mass transfer. The influence of Pe (convection) and Da (rate of external reaction), but in particular of D (diffusivity ratio) and H (distribution coefficient), which characterize the coupling features of the conjugate mass transfer, is studied in a wider range of parameters than earlier investigations. The asymptotic regime of mass transfer is investigated for long times, and …

Comparison Of Upflow And Downflow Two-Phase Flow Packed-Bed Reactors With And Without Fines: Experimental Observations, Yuanxin Wu, Mohan R. Khadilkar, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan, Milorad P. Duduković

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Study Compares the Performance of Laboratory Trickle-Bed and Upflow Reactors over a Range of Operating Conditions, using the Hydrogenation of Α-Methylstyrene to Cumene in Hexane Solvent over 2.5% Pd on Alumina Extrudate Catalyst as a Test Reaction. It is Shown that the Trickle Bed Performs Better Than the Upflow Reactor at Low Pressures When the Reaction is Gas Limited, Due to Ready Access of the Gas to the Incompletely Externally Wetted Catalyst, While the Upflow Reactor Performs Better at High Pressures When the Liquid Reactant Limitation Controls the Rate, Due to the Completely Wetted Catalyst. Comparison of the Two …

A Robust Path Tracking Algorithm For Homotopy Continuation, S. H. Choi, D. A. Harney, Neil L. Book

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Conventional path tracking algorithms used in homotopy continuation systems sometimes miss roots owing to jumping from one segment of the homotopy path to another even if there exists homotopy paths to the roots. A robust path tracking algorithm is proposed which loses significant efficiency only on those portions of the path where segment jumping is likely to occur. The method presented here basically performs the predictor-corrector procedure using the Euler predictor and the Newton corrector. Any available algorithm can be used to control the step size. Robustness is achieved by adding the following rule: control the step size so that …

Catalyst Bed Dilution For Improving Catalyst Wetting In Laboratory Trickle-Bed Reactors, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan, Milorad P. Duduković

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Catalyst Bed Dilution Technique Has Found Rather Widespread Applications as a Means of Producing Reliable and Reproducible Results for Successful Scale-Up and Scale-Down When Testing Commercially Used Catalyst Particle Sizes and Alternative Feedstocks in Small-Scale Laboratory Trickle-Bed Reactors. in Such Small-Diameter Laboratory Units When the Catalyst Used in Commercial Units is Employed as the Only Packing, Low Liquid Velocities Lead to Incomplete Catalyst Utilization Due to Incomplete External Catalyst Wetting, Liquid Maldistribution, and Wall Effects. Diluting the Bed with Fines is Recommended to Remedy These Shortcomings. the Effect of the Bed Dilution with Fines on Catalyst Wetting Efficiency, Pressure …

Gas Dynamic Unstart In Superdetonative Ram Accelerators, Kaveh Ghorbanian, James D. Sterling

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper we analyze the reflection of non-reacting shock waves as oblique detonation waves. The 2D, steady, inviscid analysis makes use of detonation polar diagrams to identify incident shock angles that lead to reflected detonations, with and without detonation Mach stem formation. The implications of the results for design and operation of superdetonative ram accelerators are explored. The influence of the projectile forebody geometry, the propellant composition, and the takeover velocity is described. We conclude with a discussion of the significance of these parameters on superdetonative ram accelerator unstart phenomena.

Enhanced Combustion Pulsejet Engines For Mach 0 To 3 Applications, J. Sterling, K. Ghorbanian, T. Sobota

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, we discuss the cyclic operation of an enhanced combustion pulsejet engine (ECPE) applicable in the Mach number range of 0 to 3. The geometry of this engine naturally provides for integration into a new combined cycle engine with ramjets. As in the operation of conventional pulsejets, an ECPE provides engine aspiration, charge compression, combustion and expansion without the use of turbomachinery. The use of modern electronics, fuel injection, and feedback control offers the potential for performance improvements that could make the ECPE a cost-effective competitor for the turbojet engine. This article describes the operating cycle of a …

Galvanostatic Pulse And Pulse Reverse Plating Of Zinc–Nickel Alloys From Sulfate Electrolytes On A Rotating Disc Electrode, Branko Popov, M. Ramasubramanian, S. N. Popova, Ralph E. White, Ken-Ming Yin

Faculty Publications

Galvanostatic pulse and pulse reverse techniques have been used to study the plating of zinc–nickel alloys in the presence of nonyl phenyl polyethylene oxide. The effects of average current density, rotation speed of disc electrode and the presence of nonyl phenyl polyethylene oxide in the electrolyte on deposition of zinc–nickel alloys were evaluated. Zinc–nickel plating bath solution chemistry was studied by determining the equilibrium concentrations at various pH levels. It was found that the alloy composition was determined by solution equilibria, mass transfer of the electroactive species within the diffusion layer and by the surface coverage of nonyl phenyl polyethylene …

Anodic Oxidation Of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid On Platinum Electrode In Alkaline Medium, S. N. R. Pakalapati, Branko N. Popov, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

The anodic oxidation of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was studied in alkaline medium on a smooth platinum electrode. Bulk electrolysis indicated that stable organic intermediates (formaldehyde and glyoxal) are formed during the oxidation of EDTA and that complete oxidation to CO₂ can be achieved. The proposed pathway suggests that the acetate groups in EDTA are initially oxidized, generating formaldehyde and ethylenediamine. The rest potential of EDTA (0.066 to 0.164 V vs. Hg/HgO) was observed to be higher than for other organic species. In alkaline medium, very little EDTA oxidation was found to occur on bare platinum. Limiting-current behavior due to …

Electrodeposition Of Copper Indium Sulfide Films From Organic Solutions, Arif Raza, Robert Engelken, Brandon Kemp, Imran Khan, Wasim Aleem, Chris Barber

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We report on organic solutions ofCuCl 2 ,InClg, and elemental sulfur for electrodepositing CuIn x Sv films. CuInS 2 and CuInSe 2 are promising solar cellmaterials; our work on CuInSg prefaces planned work on plating CuInSe 2 from nonaqueous solvents. Two promising solvent systems are (1) mixed propylcne carbonate and water and (2) mixed ethylene glycol, propionic acid, and water (Engelken et al., 1988). Gray-brown films ofCuInx Sy (nominally GuInS2 ) have been plated from both baths. Major problems include (1) reduction ofCu+2 to Cu and Cu x S by the solvent at high temperatures (T>l()0°C), hence depleting Cu+2,(2) …

Nitrogen Release During Coal Combustion, Thomas H. Fletcher, Larry L. Baxter, Reginald E. Mitchell, Robert H. Hurt

Faculty Publications

Experiments in entrained flow reactors at combustion temperatures are performed to resolve the rank dependence of nitrogen release on an elemental basis for a suite of 15 U.S. coals ranging from lignite to low-volatile bituminous. Data were obtained as a function of particle conversion, with overall mass loss up to 99 % on a dry, ash-free basis. Nitrogen release rates are presented relative to both carbon loss and overall mass loss. During devolatilization, fractional nitrogen release from low-rank coals is much slower than fractional mass release and noticeably slower than fractional carbon release. As coal rank increases, fractional nitrogen release …

Conversion Of Coal Tar To Soot During Coal Pyrolysis In A Post-Flame Environment, Thomas H. Fletcher, Jinliang Ma, Brent W. Webb

Faculty Publications

Coal pyrolysis experiments were performed in the postflame region of a CH4/H2/air flat-flame burner operating under fuel-rich conditions, where the temperature and gas compositions were similar to those in the near-burner region of a large-scale coal-fired furnace. Volatiles released from the coal particles formed a cloud of soot particles at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. The soot particles in the cloud were collected at different residence times using a water-cooled, nitrogen-quenched suction probe. Test variables included the reaction temperature and coal type. Soot yields in terms of weight percentage of dry ash-free coal were measured based on bulk …

Influence Of Formation Processes On Oblique Detonation Wave Stabilization, K. Ghorbanian, J. D. Sterling

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this article we report steady, two-dimensional, inviscid solutions for the near field and far field of a supersonic reactive flow over a variable-double-ramp geometry. The incident shock wave compresses and heats the reactants that will combust after flowing some induction length. Upon reaction, a detonation wave forms and intersects the leading wave at some distance from the ramp surface. In this article, reaction-polar diagrams are developed, and the detonation branch solutions are used to investigate the wave interaction processes that may lead to a steady three-wave structure. By considering this formation process new oblique detonation wave stabilization criteria based …

The Effects Of Multiple Electroplated Zinc Layers On The Inhibition Of Hydrogen Permeation Through An Iron Membrane, D. H. Coleman, G. Zheng, Branko N. Popov, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

The Devanathan-Stachurski permeation technique was used to investigate the rate of hydrogen permeation through an iron membrane with consecutively electroplated zinc layers. Hydrogen evolution rates and hydrogen permeation rates were followed as functions of time at different applied potentials. Hydrogen evolution and permeation decreased with each successive zinc layer until finally reaching an average decrease of 93 and 96%, respectively, as compared with bare iron. Hydrogen surface coverage, exchange current density, absorption-adsorption reaction constant, and hydrogen recombination constant were estimated on bare iron and on zinc-plated iron. It was found that the decrease in the permeation rate of hydrogen through …

Anomalous Codeposition Of Fe-Ni Alloys And Fe-Ni-Sio2 Composites Under Potentiostatic Conditions, M. Ramasubramanian, S. N. Popova, Branko N. Popov, Ralph E. White, K. M. Yin

Faculty Publications

A mathematical model has been developed to describe the electrodeposition of Fe-Ni alloys and Fe-Ni-SiO₂ composites under potentiostatic conditions. This model can be used to predict the polarization behavior, partial current densities, and alloy composition of each of the components as a function of the applied potential. Fe-Ni-SiO₂ samples were deposited on platinum rotating disk electrodes from sulfate electrolytes under potentiostatic conditions, and the results obtained were compared to the model. The model predictions were found to agree well with the experimental observations for the Fe-Ni and Fe-Ni-SiO₂ systems.