Ex-situ Spectroscopic Characterization of Residual Effects of Thermomechanical Loading on Polyurea

The residual effect of thermally and mechanically loaded polyurea samples was investigated in this study using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS), operating in the transmission mode. Samples of different thicknesses were submerged in liquid nitrogen and reached cryogenic isothermal condition before equilibrating at room temperature. Another set of samples were extracted from quasi-statically loaded strips. All samples were then interrogated using THz-TDS since terahertz waves exhibit nonionizing interactions with polymers, eliminating the need for any post-loading preparatory steps of the samples. The time-domain terahertz signals were used to extract the optical and electrical properties as a function of sample thickness and loading conditions. The residual effect was prominent in the mechanically loaded samples compared to a nearly negligible presence in thermally loaded ones. On average, the thermally loaded polyurea results were subtle compared to the results of the unloaded samples, whereas samples that were mechanically stretched showed a considerable difference. Spectral analysis reported the frequency-dependent, complex refractive index of virgin and loaded polyurea as a function of thickness and spectral peaks associated with fundamental vibrational modes of the polyurea structure. The spectral peaks were in good agreement with previous research while elucidating the residual effect via the disappearance of three peaks in the low terahertz regime for mechanically loaded samples. In general, the refractive index was dependent on the loading conditions. Terahertz spectroscopy was shown to be a promising tool for future in situ and in operando investigations of field-dependent polymer responses.

Rapid detection of Enterococcus and vancomycin resistance using recombinase polymerase amplification

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), especially Enterococcus faecium, have been a global concern, often causing serious healthcare-associated infections. We established a rapid approach for detecting E. faecium and vancomycin-resistance genes (vanA and vanB) in clinical samples using isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with a lateral-flow (LF) strip. Specific RPA primer sets and probes for ddl (to identify the presence of E. faecium) vanA and vanB genes were designed. The RPA reaction was performed under isothermal condition at 37 °C within 20 min and read using the LF strip within a further 5 min. A total of 141 positive blood-cultures and 136 stool/rectal swab samples were tested using RPA-LF method compared to the conventional PCR method. The RPA-LF method exhibited 100% sensitivity in both blood-culture (60 E. faecium; 35 vanA type and two vanB type) and stool/rectal-swab samples (63 E. faecium and 36 vanA type) without cross-reaction (100% specificity). The lower detection limit of the RPA-LF was approximately 10 times better than that of the conventional PCR method. The RPA-LF method is an alternative rapid method with excellent sensitivity and specificity for detecting E. faecium, vanA, and vanB, and it has the potential to be used as a point-of-care device for VRE therapy and prevention.

Integrated Acid Fracture Model with Reservoir Simulation Under Non-Isothermal Condition

Modeling of acid fracturing process is challenging because of the coupled complex effects of flow through porous media and fractures, chemical reaction in a geostatistical base, wormhole propagation, and reservoir heterogeneity. To avoid the complexity, decoupled approaches are commonly used; the reservoir effect is represented by leakoff with a constant leakoff coefficient, and analytical solutions for heat flux from a reservoir is used to avoid complexity. An acid fracturing numerical model is presented that is coupled with a single-phase black oil reservoir simulator for a vertical well in the carbonate reservoir. The coupled acid fracturing model considers fracture propagation, acid transport, and heat transfer. After simulating acid fracturing, the conductivity of the fracture is calculated using empirical correlations, and the productivity is computed by simulating the flow to the well. Non-isothermal condition is assumed to simulate the flow in both the fracture and reservoir because the acid reaction is temperature sensitive. Leakoff from fracture to reservoir is simulated with a reservoir flow model for pressure and leakoff velocity as functions of time and location. Wormhole propagation from the fracture is considered by using empirical equations for wormhole propagation based on leakoff velocity estimated from the reservoir simulation. The benefits of coupled modeling are evaluated by comparing the conventional acid fracturing model which uses a decoupled approach to the numerical acid fracturing model developed in this study. The results show that the coupling reservoir model improves the accuracy of estimated in fracture conductivity. It has been shown that the analytical equations for heat from a reservoir used in literature overestimates the final acid fracture conductivity. Thus, it is suggested to use fully numerically solve fluid flow and energy balance in a fracture and a reservoir. Complex leakoff due to pressure and temperature change with time and wormhole propagation was implemented in the simulator. The wormhole effect was added and the distribution of leakoff coefficient was reasonable. A comparison of simulation results with and without wormholes showed that the significant difference was not observed in acid concentration, but ideal width distribution was lower with wormholes. It is concluded based on the observation of the study that the leakoff from acid fracture represented by a reservoir model with wormhole propagation is important to correctly understand acid fracture efficiency. Simply using a constant leakoff coefficient can lead to significant error and misleading conclusions.

Validation of MATLAB algorithm to implement a two-step parallel pyrolysis model for the prediction of maximum %char yield

Numerical modeling of biomass pyrolysis is becoming a cost and time-saving alternative for experimental investigations, also to predict the yield of the by-products of the entire process. In the present study, a two-step parallel kinetic model was used to predict char yield under isothermal condition. MATLAB ODE45 function codes were employed to solve a set of differential equations that predicts the %char at varying residence times and temperatures. The code shows how the various kinetic parameters and mass of pyrolysis products were determined. Nevertheless, the algorithm used for the prediction was validated with experimental data and results from past works. At 673.15 K, the numerical simulation using ODE45 function gives a char yield of 27.84%. From 573.15 K to 673.15 K, char yield ranges from 31.7 to 33.72% to 27.84% while experimental yield decreases from 44 to 22%. Hence, the error between algorithm prediction and experimental data from literature is − 0.26 and 0.22. Again, comparing the result of the present work with the analytical method from the literature showed a good agreement.

Thermal and evaporative resistance measured in a vertically and a horizontally oriented air gap by Permetest skin model

This paper is a study of the correlation of the thermal resistance (Rct ) and the evaporative resistance (Ret ) in vertically and horizontally oriented air gaps by using the portable Permetest skin model. Experiments were done in a climatic chamber; an isothermal condition for Ret tests and non-isothermal condition for Rct tests. Foamed polyethylene air gap distance rings were prepared with a thickness of 2, 4 and 5 mm and their combinations to simulate the air gap distance from 0 to 16 mm which is more than the expected average gap in clothing systems. Test samples were woven fabric of 100 percent cotton, 100 percent polyester and their blends plus 100 percent of polypropylene, all have similar weight and structure. Results showed that with the increasing thickness of the air gap, Rct increased in a polynomial trend and Ret in a linear proportional rate up to 12 mm then started to change due to the effect of free convection and the different properties of materials. The surprising positive observation is that results from the horizontally and vertically oriented air gaps are very similar, and most of the results from the vertical air gap are slightly lower than the results from the horizontal air gap in all materials.

Finite Element Analysis of Mixing Flow in a Circular Vessel with Concentric Three Blade Agitator

This study is to investigate the optimisation of the mixing process in two folds, such as, homogenisation of material and to predict the power consumption. This research work is extension of other studies conducted by different researchers. In all other research investigations, no one had employed agitator. The geometry features a cylindrical vessel fixed with a mechanically revolving stirrer along with fixed agitator. The flow is modelled for incompressible constant viscosity Newtonian fluid with isothermal condition. Simulated numerical predictions are achieved through so called a finite element algorithm. The governing equations considered here are two–dimensional equation continuity and time–dependent Navier–Stokes equation in cylindrical polar coordinates. Employed numerical scheme is constructed in multiple–stages. Where, time derivative is discretised in two step quadratic approximation of Taylor series expansion. Whereas, Galerkin approximation is employed for spatial discretisation. Whilst, at second step pressure correction is adopted through projection method. Whilst, implicitness is applied on only diffusion term to make algorithm in semi– implicit form of TGPC. The influences of inertia will be analysed through fluid inertia using dimensionless Reynolds number. The effects of rotational speed of stirrer with agitator will be explored. The computed results will be illustrated for pressure by isobars and flow structure through streamline contours plots. The keyaim of the numerical study is to estimate the improved possible design of the blenders, that enhance the mixing process

CO2 fracturing using the phase field approach for the brittle fracture

<p>To simulate CO<sub>2</sub> fracturing under an isothermal condition, we propose a phase field model. We take advantage of the ability of the phase field approach to predict fracture initiation and branching, as well as to avoid tracking the fracture path. We model the CO<sub>2</sub> as a compressible fluid by modifying Darcy's law. In particular, we assume that the permeability is correlated to the value of the phase field by the exponential function. The dependence of the CO<sub>2</sub> density as a function of the pressure is captured by the Span-Wagner state equation. The computed pressure breakdown values show good agreement with analytical solutions and experimental results.</p>

Pyrolysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate Granules in Presence of Lewis Brønsted Acid Sites Catalysts

Among municipal polymer wastes, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a unique agent because of its widespread usage and broad range of gaseous products in its catalytic cracking process. Pyrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in a semi-batch reactor was investigated using a Lewis Brønsted acid sites catalysts. Experiments were performed under isothermal condition to determine reaction kinetic parameters, product compositions, catalyst/PET mass ratio and temperature effect on the conversion. The products of reaction consist of gas, solid, and liquid phase with a maximum liquid product of 6% at 350 ºC. The optimal catalyst/PET mass ratio and temperature were determined. Additionally, the reaction order and activation energy for the reaction were detected.