Engineering Commons^™

Removal Of Volatile Organic Compounds (Voc's) Acetone And Ethyl Alcohol Emitted In The Manufacture Of A Multi-Base Propellant, Yih-Leu Liu

Theses

The Production Base Modernization Activity located at Picatinny Arsenal, initiated this study for the removal of the low concentrations of VOC's, acetone and ethyl alcohol emitted from the mixer operation and the forced air dry unit in the manufacture of a multi -base propellant. Air pollution requirements necessitate 85 % removal of the VOC's prior to discharge of the vent gases into the atmosphere. Because of the availability of sulfuric acid, it is proposed to use 70 percent or stronger acid as the absorbing agent in a recirculating acid absorption tower.

Vapor - Liquid Equilibrium ( VLE ) data were …

Analysis Of Heat Pump Cycles Using Thermodynamic Equations Of State, Stephen C. Ericson

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In this study, thermal performance of heat pump cycles is analyzed by employing several equations of state. The analysis presented here is particularly useful for applications where refrigerant properties need to be calculated from a thermodynamic equation of state. Such a situation, for example, would arise during a long-term numerical simulation of a solar-assisted heat pump system. In these cases, the direct use of thermodynamic property tables of refrigerants would not be possible in a computational procedure. The approach of using equations of state to predict thermodynamic properties is also useful for applications where new refrigerants or blends of refrigerants …

Transient Simulation Of A Trombe Wall Passive Heating System Coupled To A Thermally Stratified Room, Ali Saleh Kheireddine

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Thermal performance of a Trombe-wall space heating system has been studied numerically for one-day and multiple-day periods. This study analyzes the system performance by simultaneously considering the coupled nature of the channel convection, wall heat conduction and transient room energy balance. A computer program has been written and implemented to assess the effects of system parameters, weather conditions and peak temperature control strategies on the system performance.

The system performance is influenced by such system parameters as the storage wall thickness, channel width and the temperature stratification in the room. Increasing the wall thickness decreases the temperature swings considerably, but …

Diffraction In The Binary Encounter Electron Peak Observed In Collisions Of 0.6 Mev Amu⁻¹ I7+, I23+ And Au11+ Projectiles With He And Ar, W. Wolff, J. L. Shinpaugh, H. E. Wolff, Ronald E. Olson, Jee-Ching Wang, S. Lencinas, D. Piscevic, R. Herrmann, H. Schmidt-Böcking

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Relative double differential cross sections for electron emission from collisions of 0.6 MeV amu^-1I⁷⁺and I²³⁺ projectiles with Ar and Au¹¹⁺projectiles with He were measured for electron energies from 100 eV to 2000 eV and for angles from 0° to 50°. Experimentally observed sudden shifts of the position of the binary encounter peak were interpreted as resulting from quantum interference in the scattering of target electrons from the partially stripped projectile ion. To this end calculations for the elastic scattering of free electrons initially at rest in the laboratory reference frame from the screened …

Product Distributions In The Co2-Nh3-H2o System From Liquid Conductivity Measurements, James E. Pelkie, P. John Concannon, David B. Manley, Bruce E. Poling

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The objective of this work was to illustrate how liquid conductivity measurements could be used to provide information about the extent of ionization and the amounts of the various ionic products that are formed in the liquid phase in the CO₂-NH₃-H₂O system. To accomplish this, pressures and liquid-phase conductivities for the CO₂-NH₃-H₂O system were measured at 25 °C and over a range of pressures and concentrations. In order to acquire the desired information from bulk conductivity measurements, calibration curves were established from measurements with several potassium salts. These …

Modeling Of A-Si : H Deposition In A Dc Glow Discharge Reactor, Dariusz Orlicki, Vladimir Hlavacek, Hendrik J. Viljoen

Papers in Reaction Kinetics

PECVD reactors are increasingly used for the manufacturing of electronic components. This paper presents a reactor model for the deposition of amorphous hydrogenated silicon in a dc glow discharge of Ar-SiH₄ The parallel-plate configuration is used in this study. Electron and positive ion densities have been calculated in a self-consistent way. A macroscopic description that is based on the Boltzmann equation with forwardscattering is used to calculate the ionization rate. The dissociation rate constant of SiH₄ requires knowledge about the electron energy distribution function. Maxwell and Druyvesteyn distributions are compared and the numerical results show that the deposition …

In Vitro Development Of Zygotes From Prepubertal Gilts After Microinjection Of Dna, B. L. Williams, J. L. Johnson, A. E.T. Sparks, R. S. Canseco, J. W. Knight, William H. Velander, R. L. Page, W. N. Drohan, J. M. Young, R. E. Pearson, T. D. Wilkins, F. C. Gwazdauskas

Papers in Biotechnology

The effect of pronuclear microinjection of DNA and culture in excised mouse oviducts on the development of porcine zygotes was assessed in this study. Precocious ovulation was induced in prepubertal gilts with pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin and hCG. Zygotes received either pronuclear microinjection of buffer alone, buffer containing a DNA construct, or no microinjection. Zygotes were cultured in vitro in either modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium (KRBI for 144 h or in mouse oviduct (MO) explant culture with KRB for 48, 72, 96, or 120 h. Pronuclear microinjection of DNA resulted in a lower (P < .05) cleavage index (CII than did buffer or no microinjection (CI 2.16 k .10 vs 2.80 f .13 and 2.93 f .lo). The CI loss was greatest for DNA-injected zygotes at the two-cell stage of development. Coculture of zygotes in MO resulted in a higher CI (P < .01) than did culture in KRB. Culture in MO for 72 h was the most beneficial system compared with MO for 48, 96, or 120 h (P < .05; CI 3.25 k .12 vs 2.66 k .18, 2.79 f .14, and 2.40 .14, respectively). Microinjection of DNA, not merely the mechanical procedure, was detrimental to early zygote development and may be the cause of low pregnancy rates.

Prediction Of Paper Color: A Process Simulation Approach, Mayank Chaturvedi

Masters Theses

A simulation model was developed for a dye mixing process and for the prediction of the optical properties of the paper. The model was integrated with the MAPPS (Modular Analysis of Pulp and Paper Systems) simulation software package. The model was validated using dyed handsheets made in a laboratory and dyed paper made on a pilot papermachine. Validation comprised of prediction of the optical properties of the handsheets and the machine-made paper which contained various combinations of three non-fluorescent dyes. Sheet reflectances were predicted at 20 nanometer intervals for discrete light wavelength range of 400 to 700 nanometers and verified …

A Study Of The Effect Of Water-Soluble Polymers On Water Holding And Binder Migration Tendencies Of Coatings, Joginder S. Malik

Masters Theses

Water-soluble polymers are being used in the paper coating industry for a variety of purposes including the development of water holding, viscosity control, structure and binder migration control. This study was designed to evaluate the degree that selected types of water-soluble polymers (carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinyl alcohol and a polyacrylate) influence these properties. The methodology comprised of recently developed techniques in which water holding, immobilization solids and binder migration could all be measured for similar coatings applied on a paper-like porous substrate. The results illustrated that watersoluble polymers affect both the water-loss rate and binder migration, but reduce the …

Kinetic Studies Of Photo-Initiated Oxidation Of Toxic Organic Pollutants Including The Formation And The Destruction Of Intermediates, Yuan-Shen Li

Dissertations

The photo-initiated oxidation process, using hydrogen peroxide or ozone under ultraviolet radiation, has been proven to be an effective treatment method for toxic organic pollutants in wastewater. Most of the recent kinetic studies of the process were concentrated on the breakdown mechanisms of the pollutant itself. The formation and the destruction of intermediates were seldom investigated. Also the mechanisms and their reaction rate constants of free radical formation and destruction in the O₃/UV or H₂O₂/UV reactor were seldom studied.

The objective of this research is to study the kinetics of photo-initiated oxidation of toxic …

Thermal Desorption And Decomposition Of Hazardous Organic Compound I: Mass Transfer Of Benzene And Chlorobenzene In Soil Matrices Ii: Oxidation And Pyrolysis Of 1,1,1-Trichloroethane In Methane/Oxygen/Argon, Yo-Ping Wu

Dissertations

I: Mass Transfer of Benzene and Chlorobenzene in Soil Matrices

Experimental measurements on several apparatus were used in conjunction with chromatographic theory to study the thermal adsorption and desorption of organic vapors on soil with different particle sizes for analysis mass transfer parameters and heat of adsorption. Benzene (C₆H₆) and chlorobenzene (C₆H₅Cl) were tested on soil with 0.55, 0.46, 0.36, and 0.225 mm average particle sizes. Sample injection volumes for organic compounds were studied to ensure linearity of gas chromatography. Equilibrium constants were strongly dependent on temperature but not on particle size. …

Pure Strong Competition For Two Microbial Populations In A Chemostat, Efthimios Ioannis Banias

Theses

The dynamics of pure, strong, double competition between two microbial populations in an ideal chemostat have been investigated by using mathematical and numerical analysis. The two nutrients competed for have been assumed to be complementary for both competitors. Inter active models have been used for the specific growth rates. Two cases have been considered; one in which neither of the two substrates exerts inhibitory effects on the growth of either one of the competing populations, and one in which the growth of one population is inhibited by only one of the two substrates. The primary focus of this investigation was …

Evaluating The Homogeneity Of Solidification/Stabilization Treated Waste Soils By Chemical Analysis Method, Mei Liu

Theses

Solidification/Stabilization technology has been widely used for waste treatment, especially for heavy metals, non-volatile wastes, radioactive wastes and soils. Homogeneity is a very important criterion for this kind of technology.

This study focuses on the development of a method to evaluate the homogeneity of S/S treated soil. A chemical analysis method, atomic absorbance, is employed to evaluate the distribution of S/S reagent in a soil-cement mixture and thus the uniformity of the soil-cement mixture. Also, a fluorescent tracer method is discussed in this study, which can be used to estimate the homogeneity of the soil-cement surface. The fluorescent tracer method …

Inability Of Phanerochaete Chrysosporium To Degrade Polychlorinated Biphenyls In Sand, Pankaj Pankaj

Theses

The white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium has been previously found to successfully degrade a wide spectrum of chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons (some of them in soil or sand matrices). In this research, it was tested if the fungus could also degrade a very recalcitrant class of pollutant, i.e. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in sand at a concentration of 100 ppm (w/w PCB to sand). For this purpose, a number of experiments were performed, in which several operating parameters, such as nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and glucose), amount of initial biomass, aeration, and degree of chlorination of the PCBs were varied. The results obtained …

Optimal Selection Of Metabolic Fluxes For In Vivo Measurement. Ii. Application To Escherichia Coli And Hybridoma Cell Metabolism, Joanne M. (Savinell) Belovich, Berhard O. Palsson

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

A method of analysis was presented in part I of this series for determining the fluxes in a biochemical network that are the optimal choices for experimental measurement. This algorithm is applied to two important biological models: Escherichia coli and a hybridoma cell line (167.4G5.3). Our results show that potentially poor choices for in vivo measurement of metabolic fluxes exist for both model systems. For the subset of reactions in E. coli that was studied, the condition number of the augmented stoichiometric matrix reveals that a 60-fold amplification of experimental error during computations is possible. The biochemical network of the …

Optimal Selection Of Metabolic Fluxes For In Vivo Measurement. I. Development Of Mathematical Methods, Joanne M. (Savinell) Belovich, Bernhard O. Palsson

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

The measurement of uptake and secretion rates is often not sufficient to allow the calculation of all internal metabolic fluxes. Measurements of internal fluxes are needed and these additional measurements are used in conjunction with mass-balance equations to calculate the complete metabolic flux map. A method is presented that identifies the fluxes that should be selected for experimental measurement, and the fluxes that can be computed using the mass-balance equations. The criterion for selecting internal metabolic fluxes for measurement is that the values of the computed fluxes should have low sensitivity to experimental error in the measured fluxes. A condition …

Note On The Number Dependence Of Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of The Viscosity Of Structured Molecules, Richard L. Rowley, James F. Ely

Faculty Publications

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations have been performed for a system of 512 four-site models representing n-butane molecules. The results are compared to simulations previously reported for 125 molecules to check a recently reported number dependence in such simulations. A small system size dependence was observed at low shear rates, but the rheological behavior is not affected. Considerably greater certainty is obtained using larger systems.

Temperature Oscillations Of Alternating-Current-Heated Thin Filaments In Ceramic Fiber Production, Hendrik J. Viljoen, Vladimir Hlavacek

Papers in Reaction Kinetics

Resistively heated filaments are used to manufacture ceramic fibers. When an ac power source is used for heating, the temperature of the filament oscillates. These oscillations influence the deposition rate on the surface of the filament. An analysis of this problem is presented, and it is also shown that these oscillatory effects diminish as the filament gauge increases. The analysis can help to decide whether an ac or a dc power source should be used.

A Mathematical Model And Simulation Of Natural Circulation Loop Thermalhydraulics, Nihad E. Daidzic

Aviation Department Publications

In this work, a simple, nonlinear, seventh-order mathematical model with lumped parameter analysis of the thermalhydraulic processes in a natural circulation steam boiler loop is presented. Digital simulation has been performed in order to predict open loop transients in severe accidental situations. Parts of the circulation loop such as the steam drum, downcomer, and riser were modelled separately on the basis of the integral balance equations. The two-phase flow in the steam drum and in the riser was modelled with the aid of a homogeneous-equilibrium, two-phase flow model. Special care was taken to ensure the stability of the numerical scheme, …

Network Analysis Of Intermediary Metabolism Using Linear Optimization. I. Development Of Mathematical Formalism, Joanne M. (Savinell) Belovich, Bernhard O. Palsson

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Analysis of metabolic networks using linear optimization theory allows one to quantify and understand the limitations imposed on the cell by its metabolic stoichiometry, and to understand how the flux through each pathway influences the overall behavior of metabolism. A stoichiometric matrix accounting for the major pathways involved in energy and mass transformations in the cell was used in our analysis. The auxiliary parameters of linear optimization, the so-called shadow prices, identify the intermediates and cofactors that cause the growth to be limited on each nutrient. This formalism was used to examine how well the cell balances its needs for …

Effect Of Co2 On The Processing Of Y-Ba-Cu-O Superconductors, C. Zhang, Guna S. Selvaduray

Faculty Publications

The superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O6+x reacted with various known ratios of O2/CO2 gas mixtures during sintering at different temperatures were studied. Jc was found to decrease drastically upon reaction with CO2, becoming zero at certain CO2 activities. The stability region for the 123 superconductor, as a function of CO2 activity and temperature, was empirically formulated as follows: log pCO2 < (−45,000)/T + 33.4. The grain boundaries in sintered samples with Jc = 0 were investigated with HRTEM in conjunction with EDS. Two distinct types of grain boundaries were observed. Approximately 10% of the grain boundaries were wet by a thin layer of a second phase, deduced to be BaCuO2. The remaining boundaries were sharp grain boundaries. The grain structure near the sharp grain boundaries was tetragonal. These two types of grain boundaries are thought to be responsible for Jc being zero.

Biodegradation Of Phenol And Benzoic Acid In Batch And Sequencing Batch Reactors, Stephane Reynaud

Theses

A pure culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( ATCC 10145 ) was used for the biodegradation of phenol and benzoic acid. Two sets of small scale (shaker flask) experiments were originally performed: in the first set, phenol was the only carbon source present while in the second, benzoic acid was the sole carbon source. These experiments revealed the kinetics of benzoic acid degradation (they were found to be described by a Monod, non-inhibitory model), as well as of phenol biodegradation (they were found to be described by Andrews'inhibitory model) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The kinetic expressions from the small scale experiments …

High Temperature Alloys Synthesis By Electro-Discharge Compaction, Kenji Okazaki

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Patents

A method is provided for synthesizing high temperature alloys from elemental powders. The method includes the steps of placing the elemental powders to be processed in a die. A relatively high pressure is then applied to the powders. Substantially simultaneously, an electrical discharge is applied to the powders. The discharge is of relatively high voltage and current density to provide alloying. A product fabricated by the present method is also described and claimed.

Some Observations Of Bispectral Behavior Of Large Ensembles Of Exact Solutions To The Burgers Equation For Random Initial Conditions, Weiguo Zheng, X. B. Reed

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accurate bispectra for the Burgers equation have been computed into the high wave-number domain. Although only the imaginary part ib(k,l) contributes to spectral transfer, new insights having implications for three-dimensional turbulence can be gained by incorporating the real part a(k,l). For fixed l, for instance, the modulus of the bispectrum of the Burgers equation manifests a power-law subrange corresponding to the inertial subrange of the energy spectrum and an exponential subrange corresponding to the viscous cutoff of the energy spectrum. © 1992 American Institute of Physics.

Triallylphosphine Plasma Polymerization And Reaction Of The Product With Volatile Transition Metal Compounds, S. D. Clymer, Nicholas C. Morosoff, A. L. Crumbliss

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The plasma polymerization of triallyl phosphine in order to form a crosslinked polymer thin film is described. The plasma polymer thin film has been characterized and shown to contain a high proporation of C=C and P groups conserved from the monomer. The accessibility of the phosphine groups has been demonstrated by reaction with O₂, NO, Ni(CO)₄, and Fe(CO)₅. Reaction with O₂, and NO results in a P=O moiety formation. Reaction with the gaseous metal carbonyls results in fixation of the metal via complexation by the P groups as a result of exchange …

Preparation Of A Plasma Polymer Containing Phosphine Complexed Nickel By Concurrent Nickel Evaporation, N. (Nicholas) C. Morosoff, S. D. Clymer, A. L. Crumbliss

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This article describes one of the first examples of concurrent metal evaporation and substituted hydrocarbon plasma polymerization as a general method for preparing thin films containing a metal coordinated to a plasma polymer. In this report, the evaporation of Ni into a triallyl phosphine (TAP) glow discharge is described Deposition of a plasma polymer with concurrent reaction of Ni atoms with phosphine groups forms nickel containing triallyl phosphine plasma polymer, NiTAPPP. The chemical nature of the product is derived on the basis of infrared spectra taken of the film as formed and after reaction with air, CO, and NO. The …

Thermal Mathematical Modeling Of A Multicell Common Pressure Vessel Nickel-Hydrogen Battery, Junbom Kim, T. V. Nguyen, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

A two-dimensional and time-dependent thermal model of a multicell common pressure vessel (CPV) nickel-hydrogen battery was developed. A finite element solver called PDE/Protran was used to solve this model. The model was used to investigate the effects of various design parameters on the temperature profile within the cell. The results were used to help find a design that will yield an acceptable temperature gradient inside a multicell CPV nickel-hydrogen battery. Steady-state and unsteady-state cases with a constant heat generation rate and a time-dependent heat generation rate were solved.

Comparison Of Heat-Fin Materials And Design Of A Common-Pressure-Vessel Nickel-Hydrogen Battery, Junbom Kim, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

A two-dimensional, axisymmetric, and time-dependent thermal model was developed to study the temperature behavior of the cylindrically shaped common-pressure-vessel nickel-hydrogen cell. A differential-energy-balance equation was used as the governing equation. A finite-element software package called PDE/Protran was used to solve this model. Different materials such as copper, copper beryllium, silver, and sterling silver were compared as heat-fin materials. The heat-fin geometry (thickness and height) and spacing were tested to find a design that yielded an acceptable temperature gradient inside a nickel-hydrogen cell. Pulse heat-generation rates were tested and correlated with the time-dependent heat-generation cases.

Mathematical Modeling Of A Primary Zinc/Air Battery, Z. Mao, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

The mathematical model developed by Sunu and Bennion has been extended to include the separator, precipitation of both solid ZnO and K₂Zn(OH)₄, and the air electrode, and has been used to investigate the behavior of a primary Zn-Air battery with respect to battery design features. Predictions obtained from the model indicate that anode material utilizationis predominantly limited by depletion of the concentration of hydroxide ions. The effect of electrode thickness on anode material utilization is insignificant, whereas material loading per unit volume has a great effect on anode material utilization; a higher loading lowers both the …

Removal Of Mercury From Waste Water: Large-Scale Performance Of An Ion Exchange Process, James A. Ritter, J. P. Bibler

Faculty Publications

Duolite™ GT-73 ion exchange resin routinely reduces the mercury content of a waste water stream to less than the permitted level of 10 ppb. Effluent concentrations from the ion exchange facility (IEF) are consistently between 1 to 5 ppb, even though the feed contains a varying concentration of mercury (0.2 to 70 ppm). Two operational problems have been encountered at that facility, however. Firstly, the stated capacity of the resin for mercury was not being achieved. The abnormally low capacity was traced to analytical laboratory waste which was intermittently treated by the resin. That waste contained hydrochloric acid, stannous chloride, …