431 research outputs found
Universality in edge-source diffusion dynamics
We show that in edge-source diffusion dynamics the integrated concentration
N(t) has a universal dependence with a characteristic time-scale tau=(A/P)^2
pi/(4D), where D is the diffusion constant while A and P are the
cross-sectional area and perimeter of the domain, respectively. For the
short-time dynamics we find a universal square-root asymptotic dependence
N(t)=N0 sqrt(t/tau) while in the long-time dynamics N(t) saturates
exponentially at N0. The exponential saturation is a general feature while the
associated coefficients are weakly geometry dependent.Comment: 4 pages including 4 figures. Minor changes. Accepted for PR
Thermodiffusion in model nanofluids by molecular dynamics simulations
In this work, a new algorithm is proposed to compute single particle
(infinite dilution) thermodiffusion using Non-Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics
simulations through the estimation of the thermophoretic force that applies on
a solute particle. This scheme is shown to provide consistent results for
simple Lennard-Jones fluids and for model nanofluids (spherical non-metallic
nanoparticles + Lennard-Jones fluid) where it appears that thermodiffusion
amplitude, as well as thermal conductivity, decrease with nanoparticles
concentration. Then, in nanofluids in the liquid state, by changing the nature
of the nanoparticle (size, mass and internal stiffness) and of the solvent
(quality and viscosity) various trends are exhibited. In all cases the single
particle thermodiffusion is positive, i.e. the nanoparticle tends to migrate
toward the cold area. The single particle thermal diffusion 2 coefficient is
shown to be independent of the size of the nanoparticle (diameter of 0.8 to 4
nm), whereas it increases with the quality of the solvent and is inversely
proportional to the viscosity of the fluid. In addition, this coefficient is
shown to be independent of the mass of the nanoparticle and to increase with
the stiffness of the nanoparticle internal bonds. Besides, for these
configurations, the mass diffusion coefficient behavior appears to be
consistent with a Stokes-Einstein like law
Taylor dispersion with absorbing boundaries: A Stochastic Approach
We describe how to solve the problem of Taylor dispersion in the presence of
absorbing boundaries using an exact stochastic formulation. In addition to
providing a clear stochastic picture of Taylor dispersion, our method leads to
closed-form expressions for all the moments of the convective displacement of
the dispersing particles in terms of the transverse diffusion eigenmodes. We
also find that the cumulants grow asymptotically linearly with time, ensuring a
Gaussian distribution in the long-time limit. As a demonstration of the
technique, the first two longitudinal cumulants (yielding respectively the
effective velocity and the Taylor diffusion constant) as well as the skewness
(a measure of the deviation from normality) are calculated for fluid flow in
the parallel plate geometry. We find that the effective velocity and the
skewness (which is negative in this case) are enhanced while Taylor dispersion
is suppressed due to absorption at the boundary.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
Optimal Counter-current exchange networks
We present a general analysis of exchange devices linking their efficiency to the geometry of the exchange surface and supply network. For certain parameter ranges, we show that the optimal exchanger consists of densely packed pipes which can span a thin sheet of large area (an “active layer”), which may be crumpled into a fractal surface and supplied with a fractal network of pipes. We derive the efficiencies of such exchangers, showing the potential for significant gains compared to regular exchangers (where the active layer is flat), using parameters relevant to biological systems
Permeability and clearance views of drug absorption: A commentary
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45051/1/10928_2006_Article_BF02354289.pd
Infinite Lifetime of Underwater Superhydrophobic States
Submerged superhydrophobic (SHPo) surfaces are well known to transition from the dewetted to wetted state over time. Here, a theoretical model is applied to describe the depletion of trapped air in a simple trench and rearranged to prescribe the conditions for infinite lifetime. By fabricating a microscale trench in a transparent hydrophobic material, we directly observe the air depletion process and verify the model. The study leads to the demonstration of infinite lifetime (>50 days) of air pockets on engineered microstructured surfaces under water for the first time. Environmental fluctuations are identified as the main factor behind the lack of a long-term underwater SHPo state to date
Diffusiophoretic Focusing of Suspended Colloids
Using a microfluidic system to impose and maintain controlled, steady-state multicomponent pH and electrolyte gradients, we present systems where the diffusiophoretic migration of suspended colloids leads them to focus at a particular position, even in steady-state gradients. We show that naively superpositing effects of each gradient may seem conceptually and qualitatively reasonable, yet is invalid due to the coupled transport of these multicomponent electrolytes. In fact, reformulating the classic theories in terms of the flux of each species (rather than local gradients) reveals rather stringent conditions that are necessary for diffusiophoretic focusing in steady gradients. Either particle surface properties must change as a function of local composition in solution (akin to isoelectric focusing in electrophoresis), or chemical reactions must occur between electrolyte species, for such focusing to be possible. The generality of these findings provides a conceptual picture for understanding, predicting, or designing diffusiophoretic systems
Characteristics of Copper-based Oxygen Carriers Supported on Calcium Aluminates for Chemical-Looping Combustion with Oxygen Uncoupling (CLOU)
Eight different oxygen carriers (OC) containing CuO (60 wt %) and different mass ratios of CaO to Al2O3 as the support were synthesized by wet-mixing followed by calcination at 1000 °C. The method of synthesis used involved the formation of calcium aluminum hydrate phases and ensured homogeneous mixing of the Ca2+ and Al3+ ions in the support at the molecular level. The performance of the OCs for up to 100 cycles of reduction and oxidation was evaluated in both a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and a fluidized bed reactor, covering a temperature range of 800 to 950 °C. In these cycling experiments, complete conversion of the OC, from CuO to Cu and vice versa, was always achieved for all OCs. The reactivity of the materials was so high that no deactivation could be observed in the TGA, owing to mass transfer limitations. It was found that OCs prepared with a mass ratio of CaO to Al2O3 in the support >0.55 agglomerated in the fluidized bed, resulting in an apparent deactivation over 25 cycles for all temperatures investigated. High ratios of mass of CaO to Al2O3 in the support resulted in CuO interacting with CaO, forming mixed oxides that have low melting temperatures, and this explains the tendency of these materials to agglomerate. This behavior was not observed when the mass ratio of CaO to Al2O3 in the support was ≤0.55 and such materials showed excellent cyclic stability operating under redox conditions at temperatures as high as 950 °C.The authors thank Mohammad Ismail and Matthew Dunstan for helping with the XRD analysis and Alex Casabuena-Rodriguez and for helping with the SEM. This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC grant EP/I010912/1).This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from ACS via http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5b0117
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