Search results for "Scientific method"
showing 10 items of 138 documents
Solvent hydrodynamics speed up crystal nucleation in suspensions of hard spheres
2014
We present a computer simulation study on the crystal nucleation process in suspensions of hard spheres, fully taking into account the solvent hydrodynamics. If the dynamics of collodial crystallization were purely diffusive, the crystal nucleation rate densities would drop as the inverse of the solvent viscosity. However, we observe that the nucleation rate densities do not scale in this way, but are enhanced at high viscosities. This effect might explain the large discrepancy between the nuclation rate densities obtained by simulation and experiment that have reported in the literature so far.
A model of biomass char gasification describing the change in catalytic activity of ash
2012
A comprehensive description of catalytic effects during char gasification under various conditions relevant to biomass gasification was made. A three-parallel reaction model was proposed to describe the dynamic change in catalytic activity of ash during gasification of biomass char particles. Three different regimes of conversion were identified by analyzing char reactivity experiments conducted in a vertical TGA with nine biomasses under a wide range of operating conditions (temperature: 1023–1123 K, pressure: 0.1–3.0 MPa and gasification mixtures of CO2–CO–H2O–H2): (1) catalytic char gasification with deactivation of catalyst, (2) non-catalytic char gasification, and (3) catalytic char ga…
Seed- and wall-induced heterogeneous nucleation in charged colloidal model systems under microgravity
2011
Understanding the process that drives an undercooled fluid to the crystal state is still a challenging issue for condensed matter physics and plays a key role in designing new materials. The crystallization kinetics and the resulting polycrystalline morphology are given by a complex interplay of crystal nucleation, growth, and ripening. A great deal of progress has been made in recent years using colloidal suspensions as model systems in the study of crystallization. Close analogies to atomic systems are observed which can be exploited to address questions not accessible in atomic solidification. Here we present systematic measurements of the crystallization kinetics of a charged colloidal …
Colloidal lithography and Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition process integration to fabricate ZnO nanohole arrays
2010
A complete set up of optimal process conditions for an effective colloidal lithography/catalyst assisted MOCVD process integration is presented. It mainly focuses on the determination of the deposition temperature threshold for ZnO Metal-Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition (MOCVD) as well as the concentration of metal-organic silver (Ag) catalyst. Indeed, the optimization of such process parameters allows to tailor the ZnO film morphology in order to make the colloidal lithography/catalyst assisted MOCVD approach a valuable bottom up method to fabricate bi-dimensional ordered ZnO nanohole arrays. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Numerical model of macro-segregation during directional crystallization process
1998
Abstract In the paper the mathematical model of macro-segregation proceeding during the directional crystallization process is presented. The boundary-initial problem considered is discussed. Next the numerical approximation constructed on the basis of the boundary element method supplemented by a procedure called the artificial heat source method is described. The boundary condition on the solidification front resulting from the alloy component balance is introduced, while in finally the practical aspects of computations concerning the course of the process are discussed.
Nitrogen recovery using a membrane contactor: Modelling nitrogen and pH evolution
2020
[EN] A hollow fibre membrane contactor has been applied for nitrogen recovery from anaerobic digestion supernatant at different operating conditions obtaining nitrogen recovery efficiencies over 99 %. A mathematical model able to represent the time evolution of pH and nitrogen concentration during the recovery process is presented in this paper. The developed model accurately reproduced the results obtained in 26 experiments carried out at different pH values (from 9 to 11), temperatures (from 25 to 35 degrees C), membrane surfaces (from 1.2 to 2.4 m(2)) and feed flow rates (from 0.33 x 10(-5) to 5.83 x 10(-5) m(3)/s) predicting the variations in nitrogen recovery rates measured at the diff…
A post-synthetic approach triggers selective and reversible sulphur dioxide adsorption on a metal-organic framework.
2018
We report the application of a post-synthetic solid-state cation-exchange process to afford a novel 3D MOF with hydrated barium cations hosted at pores able to trigger selective and reversible SO2 adsorption. Computational modelling supports the full reversibility of the adsorption process on the basis of weak supramolecular interactions between SO2 and coordinated water molecules.
Special applications of reverse electrodialysis
2016
Reverse electrodialysis (RED) is a process for direct electricity production from salinity gradients, based on the use of suitable exchange membranes. To develop the RED process on an applicative scale and to add value to the overall process, a key role is entrusted to the selection of electrodic system, redox species, and electrode materials. In particular, it was shown that a proper selection of redox processes allows the use of a RED cell for the wastewater treatment of organic and inorganic pollutants resistant to conventional biological methods and for the synthesis of chemicals without energy supply. The utilization of microbial reverse electrodialysis cells was also proposed to incre…
Nonclassical crystallization in vivo et in vitro (I): Process-structure-property relationships of nanogranular biominerals.
2016
A distinct nanogranular fine structure is shared by a wealth of biominerals from several species, classes and taxa. This nanoscopic organization affects the properties and behavior of the biogenic ceramic material and confers on them attributes that are essential to their function. We present a set of structure-relationship properties that are rooted in the nanogranular organization and we propose that they rest on a common pathway of formation, a colloid-driven and hence nonclassical mode of crystallization. With this common modus operandi, we reveal the most fundamental and wide spread process-structure-property relationship in biominerals. With the recent increase in our understanding of…
Non-Isothermal Mathematical Model of Wood and Paper Drying
2002
A mathematical model of wood or paper drying based on a detailed consideration of both heat and moisture transport phenomena is proposed. By averaging we express the model as a sequence of initial value problems for systems of two first order nonlinear ordinary differential equations. This mathematical model makes it possible to efficiently investigate the drying process of a thin wood plate or paper sheet for varying temperature and humidity conditions in the surroundings. In particular, we have considered the optimization of the heat regime over a series of steam-heated cylinders in a papermaking machine.