Hybrid integral transform analysis of supercooled droplets solidification

The freezing phenomena in supercooled liquid droplets are important for many engineering applications. For instance, a theoretical model of this phenomenon can offer insights for tailoring surface coatings and for achieving icephobicity to reduce ice adhesion and accretion. In this work, a mathematical model and hybrid numerical–analytical solutions are developed for the freezing of a supercooled droplet immersed in a cold air stream, subjected to the three main transport phenomena at the interface between the droplet and the surroundings: convective heat transfer, convective mass transfer and thermal radiation. Error-controlled hybrid solutions are obtained through the extension of the generalized integral transform technique to the transient partial differential formulation of this moving boundary heat transfer problem. The nonlinear boundary condition for the interface temperature is directly accounted for by the choice of a nonlinear eigenfunction expansion base. Also, the nonlinear equation of motion for the freezing front is solved together with the ordinary differential system for the integral transformed temperatures. After comparisons of the solution with previously reported numerical and experimental results, the influence of the related physical parameters on the droplet temperatures and freezing time is critically analysed

Residence time control in micromixers with vortex shedding

Residence time control is an important indicator of micromixer design. When using vortex shedding to enhance mixing efficiency in a micromixer, the relationship between residence time and vortex shedding becomes important; if residence time is shorter than shedding time, the fluid elements flow through the channel too quickly with no contribution of vortex shedding to mixing. Both residence time and vortex shedding depend on geometrical and flow parameters and hence in order to optimize micromixer design the effect of these parameters on mixing need to be well understood. Furthermore, the onset of vortex shedding in confined flows such as those encountered in micromixers need be elucidated. In this work, the flow field past a single cylindrical pin in a microchannel is studied experimentally using a high-speed PIV system. The effects of confinement on vortex formation are examined. Vortex shedding was observed for a channel height of two pin diameters and the shedding frequency increased with increasing lateral confinement (i.e. upon decrease in channel width at the same pin diameter). Therefore, controlling residence time via wake oscillations in pin microchannels is highly dependent on confinement

An improved lumped model for freezing of a freely suspended supercooled water droplet in air stream

This work deals with the mathematical modeling of the transient freezing process of a supercooled water droplet in a cold air stream. The aim is to develop a simple yet accurate lumped-differential model for the energy balance for a freely suspended water droplet undergoing solidification, that allows for cost effective computations of the temperatures and freezing front evolution along the whole process. The complete freezing process was described by four distinct stages, namely, supercooling, recalescence, solidification, and cooling. At each stage, the Coupled Integral Equations Approach (CIEA) is employed, which reduces the partial differential equation for the temperature distribution within the spherical droplet into coupled ordinary differential equations for dimensionless boundary temperatures and the moving interface position. The resulting lumped-differential model is expected to offer improved accuracy with respect to the classical lumped system analysis, since boundary conditions are accounted for in the averaging process through Hermite approximations for integrals. The results of the CIEA were verified using a recently advanced accurate hybrid numerical-analytical solution through the Generalized Integral Transform Technique (GITT), for the full partial differential formulation, and comparisons with numerical and experimental results from the literature. After verification and validation of the proposed model, a parametric analysis is implemented, for different conditions of airflow velocity and droplet radius, which lead to variations in the Biot numbers that allow to inspect for their influence on the accuracy of the improved lumped-differential formulation

Hybrid Approach in Microscale Transport Phenomena: Application to Biodiesel Synthesis in Micro-reactors

A hybrid engineering approach to the study of transport phenomena, based on the synergy among computational, analytical, and experimental methodologies is reviewed. The focus of the chapter is on fundamental analysis and proof of concept developments in the use of nano- and micro-technologies for energy efficiency and heat and mass transfer enhancement applications. The hybrid approach described herein combines improved lumped-differential modeling, hybrid numericalanalytical solution methods, mixed symbolic-numerical computations, and advanced experimental techniques for micro-scale transport phenomena. An application dealing with micro-reactors for continuous synthesis of biodiesel is selected to demonstrate the instrumental role of the hybrid approach in achieving improved design and enhanced performance

Non-destructive imaging of buried electronic interfaces using a decelerated scanning electron beam

Recent progress in nanotechnology enables the production of atomically abrupt interfaces in multilayered junctions, allowing to increase the number of transistors in a processor, as known as Moore’s law, for example. However, uniform electron transport has never been achieved across the entire interfacial area in junctions due to the existence of local defects, causing local heating and reduction in transport efficiency. To date, junction uniformity has been predominantly assessed by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, which requires slicing and milling processes with potentially introducing additional damage and deformation. It is therefore essential to develop an alternative non-destructive method. Here we show a non-destructive technique using scanning electron microscopy to map buried junction properties. By controlling the electron-beam energy, we demonstrate the contrast imaging of local junction resistances at a controlled depth. This technique can be applied to any buried junctions, from conventional semiconductor and metal devices to organic devices

The relation between the producer and consumer price indices: a two-country study

© 2017, Macmillan Publishers Ltd., part of Springer Nature. Marketing managers are often in a dilemma about which pricing index to rely on while calculating the annual increase in the prices for their product. To provide insights that can reduce this dilemma, a critical comparison of the Producer Price index and consumer price index is called for. In this study, the relation between the Producer Price Index (PPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) was investigated through a comparison between Turkey and UK. Unlike many other previous studies, this study tried to determine the dominant pricing approach in an economy by examining the relation between the producer and consumer prices. In this context, VAR, impulse-response, variance decomposition, and Granger causality tests were used for the analyses of time series data. The results of study showed that there was bidirectional causality between the producer and consumer prices in both countries. Therefore, it was asserted that businesses in both countries generally apply mixed pricing approach. The results thus provide some interesting insights that can aid marketing managers in their pricing decisions

Nursing students motivation toward their studies – a survey study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study focuses on Swedish nursing students' motivation toward their studies during their three year academic studies. Earlier studies show the importance of motivation for study commitment and result. The aim was to analyze nursing students' estimation of their degree of motivation during different semester during their education and to identify reasons for the degree of motivation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A questionnaire asking for scoring motivation and what influenced the degree of motivation was distributed to students enrolled in a nursing programme. 315 students who studied at different semesters participated. Analyzes were made by statistical calculation and content analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean motivation score over all semesters was 6.3 (ranked between 0–10) and differed significantly during the semesters with a tendency to lower score during the 5th semester. Students (73/315) with motivation score <4 reported explanations such as negative opinion about the organisation of the programme, attitude towards the studies, life situation and degree of difficulty/demand on studies. Students (234/315) with motivation score >6 reported positive opinions to becoming a nurse (125/234), organization of the programme and attitude to the studies. The mean score value for the motivation ranking differed significantly between male (5.8) and female (6.8) students.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Conclusions to be drawn are that nursing students mainly grade their motivation positive distributed different throughout their entire education. The main motivation factor was becoming a nurse. This study result highlights the need of understanding the students' situation and their need of tutorial support.</p

Sphincter saving anorectoplasty (SSARP) for the reconstruction of Anorectal malformations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This report describes a new technique of sphincter saving anorectoplasty (SSARP) for the repair of anorectal malformations (ARM).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty six males with high ARM were treated with SSARP. Preoperative localization of the center of the muscle complex is facilitated using real time sonography and computed tomography. A soft guide wire is inserted under image control which serves as the route for final pull through of bowel. The operative technique consists of a subcoccygeal approach to dissect the blind rectal pouch. The separation of the rectum from the fistulous communication followed by pull through of the bowel is performed through the same incision. The skin or the levators in the midline posteriorly are not divided. Postoperative anorectal function as assessed by clinical Wingspread scoring was judged as excellent, good, fair and poor. Older patients were examined for sensations of touch, pain, heat and cold in the circumanal skin and the perineum. Electromyography (EMG) was done to assess preoperative and postoperative integrity of external anal sphincter (EAS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The patients were separated in 2 groups. The first group, Group I (n = 10), were newborns in whom SSARP was performed as a primary procedure. The second group, Group II (n = 16), were children who underwent an initial colostomy followed by delayed SSARP. There were no operative complications. The follow up ranged from 4 months to 18 months. Group I patients have symmetric anal contraction to stimulation and strong squeeze on digital rectal examination with an average number of bowel movements per day was 3–5. In group II the rate of excellent and good scores was 81% (13/16). All patients have an appropriate size anus and regular bowel actions. There has been no rectal prolapse, or anal stricture. EAS activity and perineal proprioception were preserved postoperatively. Follow up computed tomogram showed central placement the pull through bowel in between the muscle complex.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The technique of SSARP allows safe and anatomical reconstruction in a significant proportion of patients with ARM's without the need to divide the levator plate and muscle complex. It preserves all the components contributing to superior faecal continence, and avoids the potential complications associated with the open posterior sagittal approach.</p