Topino: A Graphical Tool for Quantitative Assessment of Molecular Stream Separations

In molecular-stream separation (MSS), a stream of a multi-component mixture is separated into multiple streams of individual components inside a thin rectangular chamber. Despite great potential and many years of work on MSS, its analysis was underdeveloped until recently. To fill in this gap, we introduced a novel and convenient way to assess MSS by convoluting the separation zone into a simple 2D plot called angulagram. We implemented and publicly shared Python programs for the generation of angulagrams. However, we realized that Python programs create two hurdles (setting up a resembling Python environment and using a command line interface) for other researchers to try out and adopt this new approach. To make our approach more accessible to the MSS community, we introduce and present here the open-source software Topino for quantitative assessment of MSS. Topino is a user-friendly, accessible program with a graphical user interface that allows the user to assess MSS data in a fast and straightforward way (less than 2\ min). The software is available at https://github.com/Schallaven/topino.

Topino: A Graphical Tool for Quantitative Assessment of Molecular Stream Separations

In molecular-stream separation (MSS), a stream of a multi-component mixture is separated into multiple streams of individual components inside a thin rectangular chamber. Despite great potential and many years of work on MSS, its analysis was underdeveloped until recently. To fill in this gap, we introduced a novel and convenient way to assess MSS by convoluting the separation zone into a simple 2D plot called angulagram. We implemented and publicly shared Python programs for the generation of angulagrams. However, we realized that Python programs create two hurdles (setting up a resembling Python environment and using a command line interface) for other researchers to try out and adopt this new approach. To make our approach more accessible to the MSS community, we introduce and present here the open-source software Topino for quantitative assessment of MSS. Topino is a user-friendly, accessible program with a graphical user interface that allows the user to assess MSS data in a fast and straightforward way (less than 2\ min). The software is available at https://github.com/Schallaven/topino.

Numerical Study of Detonation Processes in Rotating Detonation Engine and its Propulsive Performance

Numerical studies on detonation wave propagation in rotating detonation engine and its propulsive performance with one- and multi-step chemistries of a hydrogen-based mixture are presented. The computational codes were developed based on the three-dimensional Euler equations coupled with source terms that incorporate high-temperature chemical reactions. The governing equations were discretized using Roe scheme-based finite volume method for spatial terms and second-order Runge-Kutta method for temporal terms. One-dimensional detonation simulations with one- and multi-step chemistries of a hydrogen-air mixture were performed to verify the computational codes and chemical mechanisms. In two-dimensional simulations, detonation waves rotating in a rectangular chamber were investigated to understand its flowfield characteristics, where the detailed flowfield structure observed in the experiments was successfully captured. Three-dimensional simulations of two-waved rotating detonation engine with an annular chamber were performed to evaluate its propulsive performance in the form of thrust and specific impulse. It was shown that rotating detonation engine produced constant thrust after the flowfield in the chamber was stabilized, which is a major difference from pulse detonation engine that generates repetitive and intermittent thrust.

Visualization of Streams of Small Organic Molecules in Continuous-Flow Electrophoresis

Continuous-flow electrophoresis (CFE) separates a stream of a multi-component mixture into multiple streams of individual components inside a thin rectangular chamber. CFE will be able to benefit flow chemistry when it is capable of generically detecting streams of small organic molecules. Here we propose a general approach for molecular stream visualization via analyte-caused obstruction of excitation of a fluorescent layer underneath the separation chamber – fluorescent sublayer-based visualization (FSV). We designed and fabricated a CFE device with one side made of quartz and another side made of UV-absorbing visibly-fluorescent, chemically-inert, machinable plastic. This device was demonstrated to support non-aqueous CFE of small organic molecules and quantitative detection of their streams in real-time with a limit of detection below 100 µM. Thus, CFE may satisfy conditions required for its seamless integration with continuous flow organic synthesis in flow chemistry.<br>

Visualization of Streams of Small Organic Molecules in Continuous-Flow Electrophoresis

Continuous-flow electrophoresis (CFE) separates a stream of a multi-component mixture into multiple streams of individual components inside a thin rectangular chamber. CFE will be able to benefit flow chemistry when it is capable of generically detecting streams of small organic molecules. Here we propose a general approach for molecular stream visualization via analyte-caused obstruction of excitation of a fluorescent layer underneath the separation chamber – fluorescent sublayer-based visualization (FSV). We designed and fabricated a CFE device with one side made of quartz and another side made of UV-absorbing visibly-fluorescent, chemically-inert, machinable plastic. This device was demonstrated to support non-aqueous CFE of small organic molecules and quantitative detection of their streams in real-time with a limit of detection below 100 µM. Thus, CFE may satisfy conditions required for its seamless integration with continuous flow organic synthesis in flow chemistry.<br>

Heat Transfer Analysis of Solid and Perforated Fins in Regular Arrangement

Extended surfaces are widely used in various applications like aerospace parts design, cooling and also in solar collectors for effective dissipation of heat. The present paper gives us an idea about the heat transfer analysis for solid pin fin and perforated pin fins that are fitted in a rectangular chamber. The rectangular chamber has a cross section area of 300 * 200 mm2. It is concluded from the experiment that perforated pin fin always works better as compared to solid pin fin in all conditions. Moreover, for lower range of Reynolds number, solid pin fin performs better whereas for higher range of Reynolds number, perforated pin fin performs better as compared to circular pin fin.