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At least 559 records · Page 31

An Investigation of the Icing and Heated-air De-icing Characteristics of the R-2600-13 Induction System

A laboratory investigation was made on a Holley 1685-HB carburetor mounted on an R-2600-13 supercharger assembly to determine the icing characteristics and the heated-air de-icing requirements of this portion of the B-25D airplane induction system. Icing has been found to be most prevalent at relatively small throttle openings and, consequently, all runs were made at simulated 60-percent normal rated power condition. Icing characteristics were determined during a series of 15-minute runs over a range of inlet-air conditions. For the de-icing investigation severe impact ice was allowed to form in the induction system and the time required for the recovery of 95 percent of the maximum possible air flow at the original throttle setting was then determined for a range of wet-bulb temperatures. Results of these runs showed that ice on the walls of the carburetor adapter and on the rim of the impeller-shroud portion of the supercharger diffuser plate did not affect engine operation at 60-percent normal rated power. Ice that adversely affected the air flow and the fuel-air ratio was formed only on the central web of the carburetor and then only when the inlet air was saturated or contained free moisture in excess of saturation. No serious ice formations were observed at inlet-air temperatures above 66 0 F or with an inlet-air enthalpy greater than 34 Btu per pound. The maximum temperature at. which any trace of icing could be detected was 1110 F with a relative humidity of approximately 28 percent, The air-flow recovery time for emergency de-icing was 0.3 minute for.an enthalpy of 35 Btu per pound or wet-bulb temperature of 68 0 F. Further increase in enthalpy and wet-bulb temperature above these values resulted in very slight improvement in recovery time. The fuel-air ratio restored by a 5-Minute application of heated air was approximately 7 percent less than the initial value for cold-air conditions.

Chapman, Gilbert E.↗

An experimental system and procedure of unsteady-state relative permeability test for gas hydrate-bearing sediments

Reliable estimations of the relative permeability of gas and water in hydrate-bearing sediments (HBS) and the dependency of the relative permeability on hydrate saturation are critical to predict the productivity of a hydrate reservoir. Yet, this remains poorly estimated owing to lack of experimental data associated with difficulties in conducting multiphase flow experiments in HBS. Recognizing the experimental challenges, this study intends to develop and validate a new experimental system and procedure of unsteady-state relative permeability test that can generate reliable and reproducible flow measurements in HBS. Furthermore, gas hydrate is considered as a part of solid matrix in the sediment, so one of the challenges is to maintain a constant hydrate saturation, which is achieved in this experimental study using tight pressure-temperature (P-T) control near the hydrate stability boundary. The measured differential pressure across the specimen, methane injection flow rate, and volume of displaced brine are used to calculate the relative permeability by adopting a conventional Buckley-Leverett theory-based interpretation method. Residual brine saturation calculated for the hydrate-bearing specimen is higher than that of hydrate-free specimen, presumably due to decrease in pore size, increase in heterogeneity of solid matrix, and increase in size distribution of solid matrix and pore in the presence of hydrates. Further studies are necessary to represent the results of the unsteady-state flow experiment in HBS with a gas hydrate-dependent relative permeability model.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Solar and stellar radio spikes - Limits on the saturation of the electron-cyclotron maser

The solar millisecond radio 'spikes' have been explained in terms of X-mode radiation generated by a maser near the electron gyrofrequency, acting on fast coronal electrons with a loss cone. This maser is a phenomenon described by quasi-linear theory. It is sensitive to the small first-relativistic correction to the gyrofrequency. Thus, it might be disrupted rather easily by nonlinear effects. The maximum radiation density that can be reached before the radiation entrains (phase-locks) the electrons and saturates the maser is discussed. If the observed durations of solar radio spikes are a measure of the rate of scattering into the loss-cone, then the inferred energy density is at least two orders of magnitude less than the energy density at which entrainment sets in. Also, maser emission from auroral kilometric radiation does not reach wave energies critical for electron entrainment. Maser emissions from flare stars, however, show 3-4 orders of magnitude higher radio fluxes and brightness temperatures than for the solar case and are likely to be saturated by entrainment.

Wentzel, Donat G.↗

Homogeneous ice nucleation and supercooled liquid water in orographic wave clouds

This study investigates ice nucleation mechanisms in cold lenticular wave clouds, a cloud type characterized by quasi-steady-state air motions and microphysical properties. It is concluded that homogeneous ice nucleation is responsible for the ice production in these clouds at temperatures below about -33 C. The lack of ice nucleation observed above -33 C indicates a dearth of ice-forming nuclei, and hence heterogeneous ice nucleation, in these clouds. Aircraft measurements in the temperature range -31 to -41 C show the following complement of simultaneous and abrupt changes in cloud properties that indicate a transition from the liquid phase to ice: disappearance of liquid water; decrease in relative humidity from near water saturation to ice saturation; increase in mean particle size; change in particle concentration; and change in temperature due to the release of latent heat. A numerical model of cloud particle growth and homogeneous ice nucleation is used to aid in interpretation of our in situ measurements. The abrupt changes in observed cloud properties compare favorably, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with results from the homogeneous ice nucleation model. It is shown that the homogeneous ice nucleation rates from the measurements are consistent with the temperature-dependent rates employed by the model (within a factor of 100, corresponding to about 1 C in temperature) in the temperature range -35 deg to -38 C. Given the theoretical basis of the modeled rates, it may be reasonable to apply them throughout the -30 to -50 C temperature range considered by the theory.

Heymsfield, Andrew J.↗

Water balance response of permafrost-affected watersheds to changes in air temperatures

Abstract Observations show increases in river discharge to the Arctic Ocean especially in winter over the last decades but the physical mechanisms driving these changes are not yet fully understood. We hypothesize that even in the absence of a precipitation increase, permafrost degradation alone can lead to increased annual river runoff. To test this hypothesis we perform 12 millennium-long simulations over an idealized hypothetical watershed (1 km 2 ) using a distributed, physically based water balance model (Water flow and Balance Simulation Model, WaSiM). The model is forced by both a hypothetical warming defined by an air temperature increase of 7.5 ∘ C over 100 years, and a corresponding cooling scenario. To assess model sensitivity we vary soil saturated hydraulic conductivity and lateral subsurface flow configuration. Under the warming scenario, changes in subsurface water transport due to ground temperature changes result in a 7%–14% increase in annual runoff accompanied by a 6%–20% decrease in evapotranspiration. The increase in runoff is most pronounced in winter. Hence, the simulations demonstrate that changes in permafrost characteristics due to climate warming and associated changes in evapotranspiration provide a plausible mechanism for the observed runoff increases in Arctic watersheds. In addition, our experiments show that when lateral subsurface moisture transport is not included, as commonly done in global-scale Earth System Models, the equilibrium water balance in response to the warming or cooling is similar to the water balance in simulations where lateral subsurface transport is included. However, the transient changes in water balance components prior to reaching equilibrium differ greatly between the two. For example, for high saturated hydraulic conductivity only when lateral subsurface transport is considered, a period of decreased runoff occurs immediately after the warming. This period is characterized by a positive change in soil moisture storage caused by the soil moisture deficit developed during prior cooling.

Debolskiy, Matvey V. (ORCID:0000000296343627)↗

Pore-scale observations of natural hydrate-bearing sediments via pressure core sub-coring and micro-CT scanning

Abstract Both intra-pore hydrate morphology and inter-pore hydrate distribution influence the physical properties of hydrate-bearing sediments, yet there has been no pore-scale observations of hydrate habit under pressure in preserved pressure core samples so far. We present for the first time a pore-scale micro-CT study of natural hydrate-bearing cores that were acquired from Green Canyon Block 955 in UT-GOM2-1 Expedition and preserved within hydrate pressure–temperature stability conditions throughout sub-sampling and imaging processes. Measured hydrate saturation in the sub-samples, taken from units expected to have in-situ saturation of 80% or more, ranges from 3 ± 1% to 56 ± 11% as interpreted from micro-CT images. Pore-scale observations of gas hydrate in the sub-samples suggest that hydrate in silty sediments at the Gulf of Mexico is pore-invasive rather than particle displacive, and hydrate particles in these natural water-saturated samples are pore-filling with no evidence of grain-coating. Hydrate can form a connected 3D network and provide mechanical support for the sediments even without cementation. The technical breakthrough to directly visualize particle-level hydrate pore habits in natural sediments reported here sheds light on future investigations of pressure- and temperature-sensitive processes including hydrate-bearing sediments, dissolved gases, and other biochemical processes in the deep-sea environment.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

A numerical simulation of soil temperature and moisture variations for a bare field

The diurnal variations of soil temperature and moisture content were simulated for a bare agricultural field in the San Joaquin Valley in California. The simulation pertained to the first 72 hours of drying, from saturation, of a sandy, clay loam soil. The results were compared with measurements of soil temperature and moisture content made at the field. Calculated and measured values of soil temperature trends agreed in general, but model results of moisture trends did not replicate observed diurnal effects evident at depths 4 centimeters or more below the surface.

Schieldge, J. P.↗

Hydrothermal catalytic conversion of oleic acid to heptadecane over Ni/ZrO 2

There is growing interest in the substitution of expensive noble metal catalysts with low-cost earth-abundant metals in applications targeting biofuels production from waste organic feedstocks. Here, nickel (Ni) catalysts supported on zirconium dioxide (ZrO 2 ), both with and without copper (Cu) as a co-metal, were tested in hydrothermal reactions of unsaturated and saturated C18 fatty acids as models for waste oil feedstocks. In contrast to recent reports, this study showed no enhancement of nickel's activity for fatty acid conversion to alkane products when Cu was present. Ni/ZrO 2 prepared by metal coprecipitation methods converted 100% of oleic acid with 25% selectivity to heptadecane after 5h of reaction at 350 °C using methanol as a hydrogen donor source, increasing to 41% heptadecane after 20 h. Lower yields were observed with catalysts prepared by wet impregnation and using alternative hydrogen donor sources (glycerol, formic acid). Greater selectivity to heptadecane was also observed at higher temperatures (370 °C) and when the initial fatty acid had greater saturation. Longer term exposure to hydrothermal media led to metal sintering and catalyst deactivation. Findings support a path forward to the development of earth-abundant metal catalysts for the upgrading of waste organic feedstocks.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Thermodynamic modeling of calcium carbonate scale precipitation: aqueous Na + -Ca 2+ -Cl – -HCO 3 – -CO 3 2– -CO 2 system

To allow for accurate calculations of calcium carbonate scaling in highly saline produced waters, we present a comprehensive thermodynamic model based on the electrolyte nonrandom two-liquid (eNRTL) activity coefficient equation for the aqueous Na ⁺ -Ca ²⁺ -Cl – -HCO 3 – -CO 3 ²– -CO 2 system. The eNRTL binary interaction parameters for the H 2 O:(Na ⁺ -CO 3 2– ) pair, the H 2 O:(Na ⁺ -HCO 3 – ) pair, the (Na⁺-Cl–):(Na ⁺ -CO 3 2– ) pair, and the (Na ⁺ -Cl – ):(Na ⁺ -HCO 3 – ) pair are identified in this work via the regression of thermodynamic, calorimetric, and phase equilibria experimental data. The binary interaction parameters associated with the H 2 O:(Na ⁺ -Cl – ) pair, the CO 2 :(Na ⁺ -Cl – ) pair, the H 2 O:(Ca ²⁺ -Cl – ) pair, and the (Na ⁺ -Cl – ):(Ca ²⁺ -Cl – ) pair are retrieved from the literature. The remaining binary interaction parameters are retrieved from Aspen Plus or set to zero. In addition, the solubility product constants are identified for Na 2 CO 3 ·10H 2 O (s) , Na 2 CO 3 · 7H 2 O (s) , Na 2 CO 3 ·H 2 O (s) , Na 2 CO 3 ·NaHCO 3 2H 2 O (s) , Na 2 CO 3 ·3NaHCO 3 (s) , and CaCO 3(s) via regression of solubility data. Here, the model is capable of accurately calculating all phase equilibria and calorimetric properties at temperatures up to 473.15 K and salt concentrations up to saturation.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Structure and Magnetic Properties of Homoleptic Trivalent Tris(alkyl)lanthanides

Six new solvent-free, homoleptic paramagnetic tris(alkyl)lanthanides Ln{C(SiHMe 2 ) 3 } 3 (1Ln) and Ln{C(SiHMe 2 ) 2 Ph} 3 (2Ln) (Ln = Gd, Dy, and Er) were synthesized to investigate the magnetic properties of 4f organometallic compounds stabilized by secondary Ln←H–Si and benzylic interactions. The unit cell of 1Gd contains one independent molecule (Z = 2), while 1Dy and 1Er crystallize with four independent isostructural molecules per unit cell (Z = 16). In all molecules, as in other 1Ln compounds, the three tris(dimethylsilyl)methyl ligands form a trigonal planar LnC 3 core, and six secondary interactions involving Ln←H–Si bonding in Ln{C(SiHMe 2 ) 3 } 3 form above and below the equatorial plane. Two and five crystallographically independent molecules of each 2Ln (2Gd, Z = 8; 2Dy, Z = 20) form with three π-coordinated phenyl groups in addition to either one or two secondary Ln←H–Si interactions per molecule. The packing of these midseries organolanthanide compounds contrasts the single crystallographically unique molecules in previously reported La{C(SiHMe 2 ) 3 } 3 (1La, Z = 2, Z' = 1) and La{C(SiHMe 2 ) 2 Ph} 3 (2La, Z = 2, Z' = 1/3). 2La doped with 2Dy can adopt the crystallographic structure of 2La, which promotes magnetic properties, namely a higher χ m T value at low temperatures as well as stronger magnetic anisotropy. The ac susceptibility data for 10% 2Dy doped into 2La suggests slow relaxation at low temperatures with a relaxation barrier of ~45 K. The computed saturated magnetization of 1Er (M ≈ 4.5 μ B ) and 1Dy (M ≈ 6 μ B ) matches the experimental values, while the computed value for 2Dy better matches the value measured for 2Dy diluted in 2La (M ≈ 5 μ B ). Gas-phase calculations predict that the ground-state and first excited-state multiplet separations are larger for 1Er than 2Er, while the ordering for dysprosium is 1Dy > 2Dy.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Hydrogen desorption from the surface and subsurface of cobalt

The influence of coverage on the diffusion of hydrogen into the subsurface of cobalt was studied using density functional theory (DFT) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). DFT calculations show that as the hydrogen coverage on Co(0001) increases, the barrier for hydrogen diffusion into the bulk decreases by 20%. Additionally, subsurface hydrogen on a hydrogen covered surface was found to be more stable when compared to a clean cobalt surface. To test these theoretical findings experimentally, excited hydrogen was used in an ultra-high vacuum environment to access higher hydrogen coverages. Here, our TPD studies showed that at high hydrogen coverages, a sharp low temperature feature appeared, indicating the stabilization of subsurface hydrogen. Further DFT calculations indicate that this sharp low temperature feature results from associative hydrogen desorption from a hydrogen saturated surface with a population of subsurface hydrogen. Microkinetic modelling was used to model the TPD spectra for hydrogen desporption from cobalt with and without subsurface hydrogen, showing reasonable agreement with experiment.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Vapor detection and vapor pressure measurements of fentanyl and fentanyl hydrochloride salt at ambient temperatures

There is a need for non-contact, real-time vapor detection of drugs to combat illicit transportation and help curb the opioid epidemic. The low-volatility of drugs, like fentanyl, makes room temperature vapor detection of illicit drugs challenging, but feasible by atmospheric flow tube-mass spectrometry (AFT-MS). AFT-MS is a non-contact vapor detection approach capable of ultra-trace detection of drugs, including fentanyl and its analogs at low parts-per-quadrillion (ppqv) levels. The determination of vapor pressure values of fentanyl is necessary to understand potential vapor concentrations that may be available for detection. In this paper, vapor pressures of fentanyl free base and fentanyl hydrochloride salt (a common form of the illicit drug) were measured as a function of temperature at or near ambient conditions using the transpiration (gas saturation) method and AFT-MS. Based on our measurements, the vapor pressure of fentanyl at 25 °C is 9.0 × 10-14 atm (90 ppqv), and the vapor pressure of fentanyl hydrochloride at 25 °C is 1.8 x 10-17 atm (0.018 ppqv). We also demonstrate non-contact, real-time vapor detection of fentanyl. Preconcentration of vapors can further extend the detection capabilities. The collection, desorption, and detection of fentanyl vapors at ambient conditions was demonstrated for sampling times of seconds to an hour resulting in increased signal. AFT-MS is a viable detection method of fentanyl and other drugs for screening of packages and cargo.

atmospheric flow tube-mass spectrometry (AFT-MS), ↗

A study of DC electrical breakdown in liquid helium through analysis of the empirical breakdown field distributions

Here we report results from a study on electrical breakdown in liquid helium using near-uniform-field stainless steel electrodes with a stressed area of ~0.7cm 2 . The distribution of the breakdown field is obtained for temperatures between 1.7 K and 4.0 K, pressures between the saturated vapor pressure and 626 Torr, and with electrodes of different surface polishes. A data-based approach for determining the electrode-surface-area scaling of the breakdown field is presented. The dependence of the breakdown probability on the field strength as extracted from the breakdown field distribution data is used to show that breakdown is a surface phenomenon closely correlated with Fowler–Nordheim field emission from asperities on the cathode. We show that the results from this analysis provide an explanation for the supposed electrode gap-size effect and also allow for a determination of the breakdown-field distribution for arbitrary shaped electrodes. Most importantly, the analysis method presented in this work can be extended to other noble liquids to explore the dependencies for electrical breakdown in those media.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

A Deep Potential model for liquid–vapor equilibrium and cavitation rates of water

Computational studies of liquid water and its phase transition into vapor have traditionally been performed using classical water models. Here, we utilize the Deep Potential methodology—a machine learning approach—to study this ubiquitous phase transition, starting from the phase diagram in the liquid–vapor coexistence regime. The machine learning model is trained on ab initio energies and forces based on the SCAN density functional, which has been previously shown to reproduce solid phases and other properties of water. Here, we compute the surface tension, saturation pressure, and enthalpy of vaporization for a range of temperatures spanning from 300 to 600 K and evaluate the Deep Potential model performance against experimental results and the semiempirical TIP4P/2005 classical model. Moreover, by employing the seeding technique, we evaluate the free energy barrier and nucleation rate at negative pressures for the isotherm of 296.4 K. Further, we find that the nucleation rates obtained from the Deep Potential model deviate from those computed for the TIP4P/2005 water model due to an underestimation in the surface tension from the Deep Potential model. From analysis of the seeding simulations, we also evaluate the Tolman length for the Deep Potential water model, which is (0.091 ± 0.008) nm at 296.4 K. Finally, we identify that water molecules display a preferential orientation in the liquid–vapor interface, in which H atoms tend to point toward the vapor phase to maximize the enthalpic gain of interfacial molecules. We find that this behavior is more pronounced for planar interfaces than for the curved interfaces in bubbles. This work represents the first application of Deep Potential models to the study of liquid–vapor coexistence and water cavitation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Growth and characterization of La 0.67 Sr 0.33 MnO 3 /YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7- δ bilayers

Understanding the interplay of ferromagnets and superconductors requires high quality interfaces. To this end, we have fabricated heterostructures of the cuprate superconductor YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) with the metallic ferromagnet La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) via pulsed laser deposition on SrTiO3 (STO) (001) and (LaAlO3)0.3(Sr2TaAlO6)0.7 (LSAT) (001) substrates. By varying the YBCO thickness from 1.7-13.6 nm while keeping the LSMO thickness at 12 nm, we have studied the interplay between ferromagnetism and superconductivity in the in-plane transport and magnetic properties of the bilayers. X-ray reflectivity data indicate the presence of a 2-3 nm thick interfacial layer between the LSMO and YBCO layers in all heterostructures. In-plane transport measurements exhibit suppression of the superconducting transition temperature from bulk YBCO values. Magnetometry measurements indicate high LSMO saturation magnetization values for samples grown on STO substrates and even higher (bulk-like) magnetization for bilayers grown on LSAT substrates. Together these results indicate that the interdiffused layer is largely attributed to a modified YBCO layer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Development of high temperature gallium phosphide rectifiers

Large area high performance, GaP rectifiers were fabricated by means of Zn diffusion into vapor phase epitaxial GaP. Devices with an active area of 0.01 sq cm typically exhibit forward voltages of 3 volts for a bias current of 1 ampere and have reverse breakdown voltages of 300 volts for temperatures from 27 C to 400 C. Typical device reverse saturation current at a reverse bias of 150 volts is less than 10 to the minus 9th power amp at 27 C and less than 0.000050 amp at 400 C.

Craford, M. G.↗

Technique for direct measurement of magnetic entropy of solids: Results for dysprosium titanium oxide

A measurement technique was devised which permits direct observation of the magnetic entropy of solids as a function of applied magnetic field. Measurements were made of the magnetic entropy, in the temperature range 2 to 20 K, of polycrystalline samples of dysprosium titanium oxide (Dy2Ti2O7) to determine its suitability for use as the working substance of a magnetic refrigerator. Magnetization measurements were also made at 4.2 K and below to provide additional information on the nature of the compound. The measurements indicated that crystalline electric fields perturbed the ground state of the dysprosium ions, removed the 16-fold degeneracy predicted by Hund's rules, and left only a twofold degeneracy in its place. A positive, temperature independent contribution to the magnetization was observed in the saturation region, which indicated that the doublet ground-state wave function was perturbed by a nearby unpopulated upper energy level.

Flood, D. J.↗