Analysis of Combined Systems of Two Endoreversible Engines

A single endoreversible engine can operate as a cooler, a true heat engine, a heat pump, or a refrigerator. We investigate how many different modes of operation a combined system of two endoreversible engines may display. Special attention is paid to the independent combined system which neither consumes nor supplies power.     

Development of a predictive model for polymer/solvent diffusion coefficient calculations

A new calculation procedure for free‐volume parameters is considered in this work by using viscosity prediction methods and the Levenberg‐Marquardt calculation scheme. All parameters used in the Vrentas–Duda free‐volume theory can be estimated from pure component properties. The prediction results are compared with experimental data for some polymer/solvent systems. The diffusion coefficient calculated by Vrentas–Duda theory can be used in the modeling of membrane separation processes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Lifetime Measurements on a High-Reliability RF-MEMS Contact Switch

Radio frequency microelectromechanical systems (RF MEMS) cantilever contact switches have been tested for lifetime. The mean cycles-to-failure measured on an ensemble of switches was 430 billion switch cycles. The longest lifetime exhibited without degradation of the switch was 914 billion switch cycles. The devices were switched at 20 kHz with an incident RF frequency of 10 GHz and an incident RF power of 20 dBm. Testing was performed continuously over a period of approximately 18 months. The switches were operated in a cold-switched mode.     

An Investigation of the Reduction and Reoxidation of Isolated Vanadate Sites Supported on MCM-48

The reduction and subsequent reoxidation of isolated vanadate species supported on silica was investigated using temperature-programmed reduction and oxidation, along with in-situ XANES and Raman spectroscopy. Approximately 70–80% of the vanadium was reduced to V³⁺ after reduction in H₂ at temperatures up to 923 K. Upon reduction, the vanadyl oxygen was removed and the three remaining V–O bonds are lengthened by 0.2 Å. The vanadate species are rapidly reoxidized when exposed to O₂, with the amount of oxygen uptake matching well with the amount removed during reduction. In-situ Raman spectroscopy during reoxidation in ¹⁸O₂ showed that significant scrambling occurs between gas phase oxygen and surface oxygen species during the reoxidation of the vanadate species.     

The lipid composition of selected tissues from a Mediterranean monk seal,Monachus monachus

The lipid composition of blubber, brain, muscle and heart from a Mediterranean monk sealMonachus monachus (an endangered species) were examined to allow comparisons with more common species of seals. Only neutral lipids (mainly triacylglycerols) were detectable in the blubber lipids, whereas polar lipids predominated in the heart and in the brain. Neutral and polar lipids comprised almost equal proportions in both liver and muscle. Choline glycerophospholipids (CGP) were the major polar lipids, followed by ethanolamine glycerophospholipids (EGP) in the liver, heart and muscle. Cerebrosides accounted for 28.8% of the brain lipids. All lipid classes of the liver contained high levels (31–47%) of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), with the exception of phosphatidylserine. The total proportion of n−6 PUFA exceeded that of n−3 PUFA in all lipid classes of the liver, due mainly to the high levels of 20∶4n−6. The highest level of 20∶4n−6 occurred in phosphatidylinositol, where it comprised 32.4% of the total fatty acids. The CGP and EGP of the brain contained lower levels of PUFA than those of the liver, muscle and heart. Alkenyl ethers accounted for 35.8% of the total long-chain moieties in brain EGP. The fatty acid composition of blubber triacylglycerols differed from those of the lipid classes from other tissues in that it had a very low ratio of n−6 to n−3 PUFA (0.3) as a result of a lower content of 20∶4n−6.     

Mechanical simulations of SANDIA II tests OECD ISP 48 benchmark

This paper illustrates the work carried out by EDF within the framework of ISP 48 post-test analysis of NUPEC/NRC 1:4-scale model of a prestressed pressure containment vessel of a nuclear power plant [Hessheimer, M.F., Klamerus, E.W., Rightly, G.S., Lambert, L.D., Dameron, R.A., 2003. Overpressurization test of a 1:4-scale prestressed concrete containment vessel model. NUREG/CR-6810, SAND2003-0840P. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM]. EDF as a participant of the International Standard Problem no. 48 [Mathet, E., Hessheimer, M., Ali, S., Tegeler, B., 2005. An international standard problem: analysis of 1:4-scale prestressed concrete containment vessel model under severe accident conditions. Proceedings of 18th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology. SMiRT 18. Beijing, China] has participated in this program, within the framework of its research and development program on the simulation of non-linear behaviour of nuclear power plant prestressed concrete pressure containment vessels. EDF performed several simulations to determine the ultimate response of the scale model. To determine the most influent parameters in such an analysis several studies were carried out. A full 3D mesh of the entire structure was then created. The mesh was built using a parametric tool to measure the influence of discretization on results. To represent the cracking of concrete, two material laws were then used. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the ultimate behaviour of SANDIA II model obtained by Code_Aster^® finite element platform, with comparison to tests records, and also to share the lessons learned from the parametric computations and underline precautions that must be taken in such studies.     

Six Synthesis Methods for Reversible Logic

The (2 ^w )! reversible transformations on w wires, i.e. reversible logic circuits with w inputs and w outputs, together with the action of cascading, form a group, isomorphic to the symmetric group S ₂ ^w . Therefore, we investigate the group S _n as well as one of its subgroups isomorphic to S _n/2 × S _n/2. We then consider the left cosets, the right cosets, and the double cosets generated by the subgroup. Each element of a coset can function as the representative of the coset. The coset can then be considered as the set of all group elements that differ from the representative by merely multiplying (either to the left or to the right or to both sides) by an arbitrary element of the subgroup. Different choices of the coset space and different choices of the coset representatives lead to six different syntheses for implementing an arbitrary reversible logic operation into hardware. Evaluation of all six methods, by means of three different cost functions (gate cost, switch cost, and quantum cost), leads to a best choice.     

An automated, parallel processing approach to biomolecular sample preparation

Sample preparation for DNA and RNA assays is a prime candidate for laboratory automation. A novel, parallel processing device that performs the three separate liquid-handling functions necessary for such sample preparation-dispensing, pipetting, and pressurizing-is presented. The device comprises an array of fine nozzles connected by fluidic channels to automatically and precisely distribute flow between one source and an array of points. The design principles, as well as the experimental and computational methods used to develop the device, are described. Test results, including accuracy, uniformity, volume range, and timing, are presented. The functionality of the device is demonstrated by performing a solid-phase extraction of DNA with two types of microcolumns.     

Influence of Carbon on SOx Emissions from Glass Processing

Carbon reacts with Na₂SO₄ in glass batches, influencing SO _x emissions. To study the role of carbon active surface area (ASA) in the decomposition phenomena, Na₂SO₄ is reacted with three carbons with a wide ASA range. The decomposition behavior was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and evolved gas analysis via mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Higher carbon ASA yields lower decomposition temperatures. SO _x emissions are realized at temperatures as low as 773 K. Isothermal Na₂SO₄–C decomposition initiates via the nucleation of Na₂S. The rate constants for the nucleation regime are normalized against ASA, yielding an activation energy of 275 kJ/mol for nucleation.     

Nickel Activation for Hydrogenolysis Reaction on USY Zeolite

The effects of the SAR (14 and 38) and of the methodology of introduction of nickel (wetness impregnation and ion exchange) on catalyst activation were investigated in Ni/USY model catalysts submitted to two activation treatments: reduction (A) and reduction/calcination/reduction, successively (B). the catalysts prepared by wetness impregnation, a marked increase in the catalytic activity after treatment B was observed. On the basis of the catalyst efficiency toward ethane hydrogenolysis, the lower SAR catalyst presents a threefold higher activity. On the contrary, the catalysts prepared by ion exchange, as well as a model catalyst prepared by wetness impregnation over a USY exhaustively exchanged with nickel ions, do not present measurable increasing of the catalytic activity under the same activation conditions. Monitoring the catalyst activation by EXAFS indicates the formation of nickel clusters in the impregnated catalysts after activation treatment B, which should be responsible for the high catalytic activity. However, TEM images reveal a bimodal particle size distribution, with large (ca. 20 nm) and small nickel particles. Temperature-programmed reduction performed under the same conditions of catalyst activation suggests that only the small nickel particles are activated under the experimental conditions adopted in this work.