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At least 667 records · Page 37

Thermodynamic perspectives and the origin of life

A qualitative appraisal of a recently enlarged laboratory model for macromolecular and cellular origins is given. The experiments were performed under geologically relevant conditions, i.e., with irreversible thermodynamics, emphasizing open systems and changes in phase. It was found that heating appropriate nonneutral alpha-amino acids with other alpha-amino acids yields partly branched, mainly linear, copolymeric peptides incorporating some of the alpha-amino acids that would of themselves decompose. The resultant copolyamino acids display a high degree of internal order, enzymelike activities, enzymelike characteristics, and a tendency to form a kind of cell having many of the properties of contemporary cells.

Fox, S. W.↗

Sodium sulfate - Vaporization thermodynamics and role in corrosive flames

Mass spectrometer experiments were conducted to determine the thermodynamic properties of gaseous Na2SO4, and these data were used in a computer program to calculate equilibrium flame compositions and temperatures for representative turbine engine and burner rig flames. The work is important in that sodium sulfate is the major phase recovered from turbine surfaces after instances of corrosion, due to the presence of sulfur in fuels and sodium chloride in intake air.

Kohl, F. J.↗

Thermodynamic, transport, and flow properties of gaseous products resulting from combustion of methane-air-oxygen

Results of calculations to determine thermodynamic, transport, and flow properties of combustion product gases are presented. The product gases are those resulting from combustion of methane-air-oxygen and methane-oxygen mixtures. The oxygen content of products resulting from the combustion of methane-air-oxygen mixtures was similiar to that of air; however, the oxygen contained in products of methane-oxygen combustion ranged from 20 percent by volume to zero for stoichiometric combustion. Calculations were made for products of reactant mixtures with fuel percentages, by mass, of 7.5 to 20. Results are presented for specific mixtures for a range of pressures varying from 0.0001 to 1,000 atm and for temperatures ranging from 200 to 3,800 K.

Klich, G. F.↗

Tables and charts of equilibrium thermodynamic properties of carbon dioxide for temperatures from 100 K to 25,000 K

Equilibrium thermodynamic properties for pure carbon dioxide are presented in tabulated and graphical form for temperatures from 100 K to 25,000 K and pressures from 40 mN/sq m to 1 GN/sq m. Properties include pressure, temperature, density, enthalpy, speed of sound, entropy, molecular weight ratio, specific heat at constant pressure, specific heat at constant volume, isentropic exponent, and species mole fractions.

Miller, C. G., III↗

Correlation between nonequilibrium thermodynamic theory and V-I curves of a thermionic converter

The methods of irreversible thermodynamics are used as a basis for developing a transport theory applicable to thermionic cesium diodes. This theory is applied in describing certain aspects of experimental voltage-current (V-I) characteristic curves of a thermionic diode. Emphasis is placed on the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of the V-I curves. Experimental results show that the open-circuit voltage is essentially independent of the interelectrode spacing, whereas the short-circuit current varies inversely with the interelectrode separation. The inverse dependence is in agreement with the results of the present analysis and also with results expected from diffusion theory, which has been used in other analyses. In fact, the theory used in this investigation reduces to diffusion theory under special assumptions. Deviations from diffusion theory, which were found in experimental results, can be accounted for using the theory developed in this paper.

Robinson, L. B.↗

A theoretical investigation of thermodynamic effects on developed cavitation

The results of a theoretical investigation of thermodynamic effects on developed cavitation are presented. An approximate solution to the conservation equations for a two-phase laminar boundary layer is obtained. This analysis produces an expression for the temperature difference between the liquid and vapor phases which can be applied to developed cavity flows. Experimental data of cavity temperature depressions are correlated using this result. In addition, a theoretical estimate of the Nusselt number for the cavity is made using a turbulent boundary layer cavity model proposed by Brennen. The result agrees in part with empirically determined expressions for the cavity Nusselt number.

Weir, D. S.↗

Thermodynamics of two-dimensional plasmas or discrete line vortex fluids

The equilibrium properties of a two-dimensional plasma are examined theoretically within the framework of the random-phase approximation. The guiding-center case is of most interest because of the formal equivalence to two-dimensional discrete-line vortex fluids and because of the formal admissibility of negative temperatures. Using a judicious treatment of the periodic boundary conditions, extensive thermodynamics for nonnegative temperatures and a new value for the energy at which the temperature becomes negative are found. An explicit form for the structure function is derived and compared with the result of a Monte Carlo calculation. Good agreement is found for the negative-temperature-threshold prediction and for the general shape of the structure function. An equilibrium energy spectrum is calculated, which for positive temperatures, is the Debye-Hueckel result; for negative temperatures, it predicts an enhanced excitation of the lowest mode, corresponding to macroscopic charge separation.

Seyler, C. E., Jr.↗

Thermodynamics of a solar mixture of molecular hydrogen and helium at high pressure

The thermodynamic properties of a model molecular hydrogen and helium mixture are calculated in the strongly interacting region of 0.005 to 0.3 per cu cm for a range of temperatures that are of interest for the envelopes of the Jovian planets. Computed adiabats fit the gravity data and boundary conditions from model atmospheres of Jupiter.

Slattery, W. L.↗

Comparative thermodynamic performance of some Rankine/Brayton cycle configurations for a low-temperature energy application

Various configurations combining solar-Rankine and fuel-Brayton cycles were analyzed in order to find the arrangement which has the highest thermal efficiency and the smallest fuel share. A numerical example is given to evaluate both the thermodynamic performance and the economic feasibility of each configuration. The solar-assisted regenerative Rankine cycle was found to be leading the candidates from both points of energy utilization and fuel conservation.

Lansing, F. L.↗

Thermodynamic analysis of alternate energy carriers, hydrogen and chemical heat pipes

The paper discusses the production concept and efficiency of two new energy transmission and storage media intended to overcome the disadvantages of electricity as an overall energy carrier. These media are hydrogen produced by water-splitting and the chemical heat pipe. Hydrogen can be transported or stored, and burned as energy is needed, forming only water and thus obviating pollution problems. The chemical heat pipe envisions a system in which heat is stored as the heat of reaction in chemical species. The thermodynamic analysis of these two methods is discussed in terms of first-law and second-law efficiency. It is concluded that chemical heat pipes offer large advantages over thermochemical hydrogen generation schemes on a first-law efficiency basis except for the degradation of thermal energy in temperature thus providing a source of low-temperature (800 K) heat for process heat applications. On a second-law efficiency basis, hydrogen schemes are superior in that the amount of available work is greater as compared to chemical heat pipes.

Cox, K. E.↗

Thermodynamics of Thomas-Fermi screened Coulomb systems

We obtain in closed analytic form, estimates for the thermodynamic properties of classical fluids with pair potentials of Yukawa type, with special reference to dense fully ionized plasmas with Thomas-Fermi or Debye-Hueckel screening. We further generalize the hard-sphere perturbative approach used for similarly screened two-component mixtures, and demonstrate phase separation in this simple model of a liquid mixture of metallic helium and hydrogen.

Firey, B.↗

A method for the selection of a functional form for a thermodynamic equation of state using weighted linear least squares stepwise regression

A method was developed for establishing a rational choice of the terms to be included in an equation of state with a large number of adjustable coefficients. The methods presented were developed for use in the determination of an equation of state for oxygen and nitrogen. However, a general application of the methods is possible in studies involving the determination of an optimum polynomial equation for fitting a large number of data points. The data considered in the least squares problem are experimental thermodynamic pressure-density-temperature data. Attention is given to a description of stepwise multiple regression and the use of stepwise regression in the determination of an equation of state for oxygen and nitrogen.

Jacobsen, R. T.↗

Some physical and thermodynamic properties of rocket exhaust clouds measured with infrared scanners

Measurements using infrared scanners were made of the radiation from exhaust clouds from liquid- and solid-propellant rocket boosters. Field measurements from four launches were discussed. These measurements were intended to explore the physical and thermodynamic properties of these exhaust clouds during their formation and subsequent dispersion. Information was obtained concerning the initial cloud's buoyancy, the stabilized cloud's shape and trajectory, the cloud volume as a function of time, and it's initial and stabilized temperatures. Differences in radiation intensities at various wavelengths from ambient and stabilized exhaust clouds were investigated as a method of distinguishing between the two types of clouds. The infrared remote sensing method used can be used at night when visible range cameras are inadequate. Infrared scanning techniques developed in this project can be applied directly to natural clouds, clouds containing certain radionuclides, or clouds of industrial pollution.

Gomberg, R. I.↗

Thermodynamic and related properties of oxygen from the triple point to 300 K at pressures to 1000 bar

The results of an experimental program are presented in the form of PVT data in the temperature range 58 to 300 K at pressures up to 800 bar. Tables of the derived thermodynamic properties on isobars to 1000 bar are given, including density, internal energy, enthalpy, entropy, specific heats at constant volume and constant pressure, velocity of sound, and the surface derivatives (delta P/delta T) sub rho and (delta P/delta Rho) sub T. Auxiliary tables in engineering units are also given. The accuracy of the data is discussed and comparisons are made with previous data.

Weber, L. A.↗

Computer program for obtaining thermodynamic and transport properties of air and products of combustion of ASTM-A-1 fuel and air

A computer program for determining desired thermodynamic and transport property values by means of a three-dimensional (pressure, fuel-air ratio, and either enthalpy or temperature) interpolation routine was developed. The program calculates temperature (or enthalpy), molecular weight, viscosity, specific heat at constant pressure, thermal conductivity, isentropic exponent (equal to the specific heat ratio at conditions where gases do not react), Prandtl number, and entropy for air and a combustion gas mixture of ASTM-A-1 fuel and air over fuel-air ratios from zero to stoichiometric, pressures from 1 to 40 atm, and temperatures from 250 to 2800 K.

Hippensteele, S. A.↗

Tabulation and summary of thermodynamic effects data for developed cavitation on ogive-nosed bodies

Thermodynamic effects data for developed cavitation on zero and quarter caliber ogives in Freon 113 and water are tabulated and summarized. These data include temperature depression (delta T), flow coefficient (C sub Q), and various geometrical characteristics of the cavity. For the delta T tests, the free-stream temperature varied from 35 C to 95 C in Freon 113 and from 60 C to 125 C in water for a velocity range of 19.5 m/sec to 36.6 m/sec. Two correlations of the delta T data by the entrainment method are presented. These correlations involve different combinations of the Nusselt, Reynolds, Froude, Weber, and Peclet numbers and dimensionless cavity length.

Holl, J. W.↗

Thermodynamic processes induced by coherent radiation

It is shown by quantum statistics that under certain stated conditions the entropy of coherent radiation is zero and it is still negligible for multimode laser operation. This makes possible gas kinetic processes which, to a small extent, have already been observed or even utilized, but which can be greatly enhanced by an optimized choice of molecular structures and radiation conditions. Radiative cooling of gases is discussed in detail. The conditions for maximum heat withdrawal are derived, and it is proposed that the processes of cooling and relaxation heating can be sufficiently separated in time to achieve certain effects and thermodynamic cycles. One of these is the complete conversion, possible in principle, of coherent radiation into work. This concept is based on a heat pump process followed by heat-to-work conversion, the heat rejected being just equal to that withdrawn by radiation. The conditions for complete conversion turn out to be the same as for maximum heat withdrawal. The feasibility of these processes depends on the degree to which practical conditions can be met, and on the validity of certain assumptions which have to await experimental verification.

Garbuny, M.↗