Orientation of liquid crystalline materials by using carbon nanotubes

The solution of some problems, where the initial black field is necessary for the regime of light transmission through the electrooptical organic nematic liquid crystal structures has been considered via a homeotropic alignment of liquid crystal molecules on the substrate covered by carbon nanotubes. The results of this investigation can be used to develop optical elements for displays with vertical orientations of nematic liquid crystal molecules (for example, for MVA-display technology)

Have mirror micrometeorites been detected?

Slow-moving ($v \sim 15$ km/s) 'dark matter particles' have allegedly been discovered in a recent experiment. We explore the possibility that these slow moving dark matter particles are small mirror matter dust particles originating from our solar system. Ways of further testing our hypothesis, including the possibility of observing these dust particles in cryogenic detectors such as NAUTILUS, are also discussed.Comment: Few changes, about 8 pages lon

Modelling of Thermal Behavior of Borehole Heat Exchangers of Geothermal Heat Pump Heating Systems

This article reports results of comparing the accuracy of the software package “INSOLAR.GSHP.12”, modeling non-steady thermal behavior of geothermal heat pump heating systems (GHCS) and of the similar model “conventional” using finite difference methods for solving spatial non-steady problems of heat conductivity. The software package is based on the method of formulating mathematical models of thermal behavior of ground low-grade heat collection systems developed by INSOLAR group of companies. Equations of mathematical model of spatial non-steady thermal behavior of ground mass of low-grade heat collection system obtained by the developed method have been solved analytically that significantly reduced computing time spent by the software complex “INSOLAR.GSHP.12” for calculations. The method allows to turn aside difficulties associated with information uncertainty of mathematical models of the ground thermal behavior and approximation of external factors affecting the ground. Use of experimentally obtained information about the ground natural thermal behavior in the software package allows to partially take into account the whole complex of factors (such as availability of groundwater, their velocity and thermal behavior, structure and arrangement of ground layers, the Earth’s thermal background, precipitation, phase transformations of moisture in the pore space, and more), significantly influencing the formation of thermal behavior of the ground mass of a low-grade geothermal heat collection system. Numerical experiments presented in the article confirmed the high convergence of the results obtained through the software package “INSOLAR.GSHP.12” with solutions obtained by conventional finite-difference methods

Simulation of the Low-Emissive Coatings Influence on Double-Glazed Windows Thermal Parameters

This paper presents a one-dimensional dynamical model, based on the heat balance equations and calculations of thermal parameters for triple-glazed windows with various low-emissive coatings. The described study was performed with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. Contract ID RFMEFI57614X0034

Simulation of the Low-Emissive Coatings Influence on Double-Glazed Windows Thermal Parameters

This paper presents a one-dimensional dynamical model, based on the heat balance equations and calculations of thermal parameters for triple-glazed windows with various low-emissive coatings. The described study was performed with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. Contract ID RFMEFI57614X0034

Assessment of impact of borehole heat exchanger design on heat extraction/rejection efficiency

The article considers the impact of design of borehole heat exchanger (BHE) as one of the main elements of a geothermal heat pump system on its efficiency in the ground heat extraction/rejection. Four BHE modifications are considered: coaxial with metal and polyethylene outside tube as well as single and double U-shaped structures of polyethylene tubes. Numerical modeling resulted to data on the efficiency of these BHE modifications for rejection heat into ground (heat pump system in cooling mode), and ground heat extraction (heat pump system in heating mode). Numerical values were obtained and BHEs were ranked according to their efficiency in both operation modes. Besides, additional calculations were made for the most common modification - double U-shaped design - in the ground heat extraction mode for various tube sizes with various wall thicknesses

The method for Determining the Effectiveness of Low-Grade Geothermal Heat Usage under the Conditions of the Russian Climate

This paper reports the results of study on the effectiveness of using low-grade ground heat in heat pump systems under the climatic conditions of Russia. The study was performed to collect data for using the software package "INSOLAR.GSHP.12", which simulates the non-stationary thermal conditions of ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) over several years of operation.The described study was performed with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. Contract ID RFMEFI57914X0026

Zoning of the Territory of Russia According to the Efficiency of the Use of Low-Grade Ground Heat for Heating

This paper reports the results of study on the effectiveness of using low-grade ground heat in heat pump systems under the climatic conditions of Russia. The study was performed using the software package “INSOLAR.GSHP.12”, which simulates the non-stationary thermal conditions of ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) over several years of operation. The paper presents the results of the zoning of the territory of Russia according to the effectiveness of using low-grade ground heat in heat pump systems. The zoning was performed with consideration of the decrease of the soil temperatures over several years of heat collection system operation. The soil temperatures expected on the fifth year of operation were considered to be the design temperatures. The described study was performed with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. Contract ID RFMEFI57914X0026

Zoning of the Territory of Russia According to the Efficiency of the Use of Low-Grade Ground Heat for Heating

This paper reports the results of study on the effectiveness of using low-grade ground heat in heat pump systems under the climatic conditions of Russia. The study was performed using the software package “INSOLAR.GSHP.12”, which simulates the non-stationary thermal conditions of ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) over several years of operation. The paper presents the results of the zoning of the territory of Russia according to the effectiveness of using low-grade ground heat in heat pump systems. The zoning was performed with consideration of the decrease of the soil temperatures over several years of heat collection system operation. The soil temperatures expected on the fifth year of operation were considered to be the design temperatures. The described study was performed with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. Contract ID RFMEFI57914X0026