Amplitude Of Temperature Fluctuations Research Articles

Sizes of Active Galactic Nucleus Inhomogeneous Disks—Large in Microlensing, Small in Reverberation Mapping

Magnetohydrodynamic turbulence can drive significant temperature fluctuations in the accretion disk of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). As a result, the disk can be highly inhomogeneous and has a half-light radius larger than the static Shakura and Sunyaev disk (SSD), in agreement with quasar microlensing observations. Meanwhile, the accretion-disk sizes can also be determined using continuum reverberation mappings that measure interband cross-correlations and time lags. The interband time lags are often understood in the X-ray reprocessing scenario. Here we show that the interband continuum time lags of the X-ray reprocessing of an inhomogeneous disk are similar to or even smaller than those of a static SSD. Consequently, the X-ray reprocessing of an inhomogeneous disk cannot account for the recent continuum reverberation mappings of some Seyfert 1 AGNs, whose measured time lags are larger than those of a static SSD. In contrast to the tight correlation between UV/optical variations, the cross-correlation between X-ray and disk emission is rather weak in this model; this behavior is consistent with recent continuum reverberation mappings. Moreover, the time lags in this model are anticorrelated with the amplitude of disk temperature fluctuations. Our results suggest that the temperature fluctuations should be properly considered when modeling interband continuum time lags.

A novel microfluidic chip integrated with Pt micro-thermometer for temperature measurement at the single-cell level

Noninvasive and sensitive thermometry of a single cell during the normal physiological process is crucial for analyzing fundamental cellular metabolism and applications to cancer treatment. However, current thermometers generally sense the average temperature variation for many cells, thereby failing to obtain real-time and continuous data of an individual cell. In this study, we employed platinum (Pt) electrodes to construct an integrated microfluidic chip as a single-cell thermometer. The single-cell isolation unit in the microchip consisted of a main channel, which was connected to the inlet and outlet of a single-cell capture funnel. A single cell can be trapped in the funnel and the remaining cells can bypass and flow along the main channel to the outlet. The best capture ratio of a single MCF7 cell at a single-cell isolation unit was 90 % under optimal condition. The thermometer in the micro-chip had a temperature resolution of 0.007 °C and showed a good linear relationship in the range of 20–40 °C (R2 = 0.9999). Slight temperature increment of different single tumor cell (MCF7 cell, H1975 cell, and HepG2 cell) cultured on the chip was continuously recorded under normal physiological condition. In addition, the temperature variation of single MCF7 cell in-situ after exposure to a stimulus (4 % paraformaldehyde treatment) was also monitored, showing an amplitude of temperature fluctuations gradually decreased over time. Taken together, this integrated microchip is a practical tool for detecting the change in the temperature of a single cell in real-time, thereby offering valuable information for the drug screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.

Model-based prediction of frost formation inside frozen food packages under temperature fluctuations

Abstract Frozen storage of food products is widely accepted not only in the industry but also by households. Frost formation during long-term storage is recognized as a phenomenon that causes changes in product characteristics and quality losses. However, quantitative prediction and control of frost formation remains a challenge. In this study, a mathematical model was developed to predict frost formation inside frozen food products (i.e., frozen minced meat packed in a polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) film) under fluctuating temperature conditions in a domestic refrigerator. The proposed model is based on heat transfer and energy balance equations, and the amount of frost formation is estimated from the heat generated by condensation. The heat transfer coefficients were experimentally obtained and applied to the developed model. The interactions between the amplitude and frequency of temperature fluctuations and the corresponding amount of frost formation were visualized using contour plots. Both the amplitude and frequency were found to increase frost formation. For the range of fluctuations tested (temperature amplitudes of 0.5–2.5 K and cooling rates of 0.0125–0.2 K/min when connected to the compressor), the simulation predicted that the amount of frost in the packages varied up to approximately 4.5 times (0.48–2.18 g/month for packages containing 300 g of minced meat) depending on the different temperature fluctuation settings.

Complex Microlandscape as a Structural Unit of the Study of Spatiotemporal Development of an Ombrotrophic Suboceanic Bog

Ombrotrophic suboceanic bogs are distinguished by a high diversity of complex microlandscapes within the bog massif. Each complex microlandscape is a separate intrabog ecosystem with a specific set of parameters and relationships. This study aims to assess the specifics of the characteristics and parameters of the complex microlandscapes as part of an ombrotrophic suboceanic Sphagnum bog and as stages of bog morphogenesis, and to establish the internal relationships and their relationship with external environmental factors. A comprehensive multidisciplinary approach was used to assess the functioning of the complex microlandscapes. It was found that the relationship with the air temperature is closer than with the bog water table dynamics. It was shown that the morphometric parameters of perennial dwarf shrubs can serve as indicators of the stages of development of bogs. The processes of the self-regulation of complex microlandscapes are weakened with the age of the complex microlandscape, as evidenced by an increase in the amplitude of temperature fluctuations and the level of bog waters, as well as the key physicochemical parameters of the peat deposit. This leads to a gradual, slow reorientation of the physicochemical processes occurring in the deposit, from the deposition of organic matter to the decomposition of peat biomass.

Laser Weld Seam Curved Path Effect on 6063 Aluminum Alloy Strength and Temperature Distributions: COMSOL Numerical Simulation

To improve the welding performance of aluminum alloys, a thermal source model of an irregular weld seam was established. COMSOL software was used for numerical simulation of the weld seam geometry effect on the temperature and stress fields in laser welding, which results were experimentally validated. The results show that the ellipsoidal laser welding melted micropool exhibited quasi-steady-state temperature field characteristics. The temperature gradient and thermal stress showed an increase followed by a decline. The temperature fluctuation amplitude of the square-tooth-shaped weld seam exceeded that of the arc-toothshaped one. The temperature evolution of the broken line tooth-shaped weld seam showed a slightly increasing trend, except for the inflection point. The experimental average tensile strength of the weld seam was the highest, reaching about 210 MPa, i.e., roughly 85% of the base material (245 MPa), which coincided with the COMSOL-based temperature field simulation results. With increasing deformation amplitude and transition radius, the maximum tensile force, tensile strength, and elongation at fracture showed an increasing trend. However, the deformation amplitude should be below a certain limit because its increase elongates the welding path and reduces the distance between weld seams, resulting in serious heat accumulation. The tensile fracture morphology of the 6063-T6 base material was curved shear, with shallow toughness pits, small tearing edges at the edges, and small granular objects, indicating small plastic deformation during the fracture process. The tensile fracture of the welded part spanned the weld seam and the base material, and the fracture occurred along the tangent direction of the weld seam. The fracture surface was smooth, the tearing edges at the edge of the toughness pit shifted along the weld seam direction, forming many co-directional slip bands, with highly pronounced plastic deformation.

Yellow hypergiant V509 Cas -- stable in the 'yellow void'

The yellow hypergiant star V509\,Cas is currently undergoing an extreme phase of evolution. Having experienced eruptive mass-loss outbursts in the 20th century, the star's effective temperature reached record high values in the early 2000s. However, since then, the star's behaviour has displayed an unprecedented level of stability. In spite of that, the star could be traversing through the 'yellow void' instability region. To describe the current evolutionary state of V509\,Cas, we analysed its variability using photometric and spectroscopic data collected over recent years. By comparing our findings with historical records, we aim to determine whether the star's surface shows signs of stabilisation. Additionally, we investigate the variability of emission components in the wings of certain spectral lines to highlight the contribution of the circumstellar gaseous disc to this phenomenon. Our spectroscopic monitoring observations were carried out at Tartu Observatory over the course of seven years, supplemented by echelle spectra obtained at the Nordic Optical Telescope, as well as publicly available photometric data from Gaia, AAVSO, and AAVSO's Bright Star Monitor programme. We estimated the variability of effective temperature and radial velocity from the spectral time series and correlated it with the brightness variability of V509\,Cas. The results indicate that the star's average brightness level has remained stable throughout the observed period, with an amplitude of variability $ 0.1 mag. While the amplitude of short-term temperature fluctuations has decreased compared to the early 2000s, the variability of the radial velocity remains similar to historical values from the early 20th century. Moreover, we show how the variable radial velocity affects the emission components in some absorption lines (e.g. Sc II ) and how that follows the hypothesis of a disc surrounding the star.

Performance of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in responses to different amplitudes of alternating temperatures across permissive warm temperature regimes.

Climate change involves changes in the pattern of temperature fluctuations and the frequency and magnitude of thermal extremes. It is essential to investigate how insects respond to increased temperature variations, especially for species that usually experience diel temperature variations extending to thermal performance limits. To explicitly elucidate the effects of sizes of amplitudes of temperature variations, we used daily alternating temperatures with an equivalent mean of 28 °C to investigate the impact of different fluctuation amplitudes (± 0 °C, ± 2 °C, ± 4 °C, and ± 6 °C) across permissive temperature regimes on the performance of Spodoptera litura FabriciusFabricius, a highly destructive polyphagous pest of crops and vegetables in tropical and temperate climates. Amplitudes of temperature fluctuations significantly affected developmental durations, adult life spans, pupal weights, fecundity, and fertility of S. litura. The survival rates from the egg stage to the adult eclosion did not differ significantly across different temperature treatments. The developmental durations of individual life cycles significantly increased with larger amplitudes in 3 fluctuating temperature treatments. The pupal weight was significantly lower and the adult life span was significantly shorter in the ± 6 °C treatment in all treatments. Fecundity and fertility were significantly reduced in the ± 6 °C treatment, making the continuation of generations nearly impossible. The results should provide critical information for understanding the ecology of this widespread pest under diel, seasonal, and global climate changes.

Climatology of gravity wave activity based on two Martian years from ACS/TGO observations

Context. Gravity waves redistribute energy and momentum between the lower and upper atmosphere, thus providing vertical coupling between layers, and they affect the state, dynamics, and variability of the upper atmosphere. The statistics of gravity wave activity on Mars is poorly explored but is required in order to characterize the atmospheric circulation and to constrain numerical models. Aims. We present the gravity wave statistics accumulated over two Martian years: from the second half of Martian year 34 to the middle of Martian year 36 (May 2018 to February 2022). The statistics includes seasonal and latitude distributions of the wave potential energy and drag, serving to represent the wave activity and impact on the atmospheric dynamics. Methods. The observations were performed by the middle- and near-infrared spectrometers of the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite on board the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. The temperature profiles we obtained independently from both channels during simultaneous measurements show a good agreement, thus providing verification and enhancing confidence in the data. The gravity wave parameters included amplitudes of temperature fluctuations, potential energy per unit mass, and wave drag. These parameters were retrieved at altitudes up to 160 and 100 km from the middle- and near-infrared channels, respectively. Results. A comparison of the data obtained during the global dust storm of Martian year 34 with the corresponding period of Martian year 35 without a storm revealed a reduction of wave activity in mid-latitudes, which is in agreement with previous observations, and enhancement in the polar regions of the southern hemisphere, which was not predicted by simulations with a high-resolution circulation model.

Verification experiment of maximum hydraulic diameter in a novel three-dimensional asymmetric oscillating heat pipe

A novel three-dimensional asymmetric oscillating heat pipe (3DAOHP) with unequal curvature radius of upper and lower bends has been designed. Setting the basic factor of diameter from 1.9 mm to 6.2 mm, a verification experiment on the criterion of conventional maximum hydraulic diameter (MHD) has been conducted. The results show that the 3DAOHP can still perform normally and transfer heat effectively, even if the diameter exceeds the MHD by 98.1 %. And the temperature profiles at each end does not show obvious abnormalities. The thermal performance also does not show any deterioration, which still follows the rule that the larger the diameter, the stronger the heat transfer capability. The thermal resistance of the 6.2 mm 3DAOHP can reach 0.07 °C/W at 1300 W without touching the dry-out limit. Moreover, the frequency and amplitude of hot end temperature fluctuation show suppression as the diameter increases. Therefore, the conventional MHD is not a diameter limitation of oscillating heat pipe (OHP) in enhancing heat transfer. Thus, the availability of OHP in high heat loads can be improved by further increasing the tube diameter. These findings are important for the OHP application in higher heat flux.

Comparing temperature fluctuation attenuation capabilities and feasible parameter regions of indirect- and direct-contact heat exchangers for an ultra-high precision constant-temperature chilled water system: An experimental and Modelica-based study

Constant temperature and humidity rooms have widespread applications in high-end manufacturing and scientific research. Conventional wisdom primarily focuses on controlling the air temperature at the terminals, i.e., the supplied outlets. For achieving ultra-high precision (e.g., ±0.1 °C), it becomes essential to pre-control the temperature of the chilled water of the air-conditioning system. Nevertheless, there is still limited understanding of this matter. This paper investigated two common temperature fluctuation attenuators for the chilled water system: indirect- and direct-contact heat exchangers, e.g., a plate heat exchanger (PHE) and a water mixing pump (WMP), respectively, as follows. First, Modelica models of the two systems were established and validated by an experimental set-up capable of switching between the PHE and WMP loops. Second, an orthogonal analysis was conducted to evaluate the attenuation effects of four key factors. Results indicated that both attenuators can provide the required constant temperature precision with nuanced differences. The MWP system demonstrated faster settling time, primarily affected by valve adjustment accuracy. In contrast, PHE exhibited superior fluctuation control, with valve adjustment accuracy and input chilled water temperature fluctuation amplitude as critical factors. Finally, feasible parameter regions for the two types of attenuators under ultra-high precision targets were delineated and analyzed.

A phase change material based annular thermoelectric energy harvester from ambient temperature fluctuations: Transient modeling and critical characteristics

Annular thermoelectric power generator has been increasingly considered in application of ambient energy harvesting owing to the advantages of simple structure and no pollution. To improve thermal stability and energy harvesting performance of this system, the latent heat of phase change materials to improve thermal management and the high thermal conductivity of the heat sink to enhance heat transfer with the ambient are harness to annular thermoelectric power generator. Motivated by this, a phase change material based annular thermoelectric energy harvester (PCM-ATEH) with fins is developed for ambient energy harvesting and its three-dimensional transient model is also built up through jointly with thermo-electric and phase change processes. This paper considers the influence of key parameters such as temperature fluctuation amplitude, temperature fluctuation period, height ratio of PCM and thermoelectric generator (TEG) and melting temperature on liquid fraction, temperature difference, voltage and power density. Moreover, the comparison of PCM-ATEH and PCM based thermoelectric energy harvester (PCM-TEH) with/without fins is further conducted in this study to explore thermal management and energy harvesting performance. The energy harvesting characteristics of PCM-ATEH with fins is developed concerning the combination of power generation of TEG and melting process of PCM. Based on the results, it is found that the temperature difference and power density of PCM-ATEH with fins vary periodically with the sinusoidal temperature boundary, and results show that increasing temperature fluctuation period is not always feasible. Additionally, the comparative results indicate that the peak power density and energy efficiency of PCM-ATEH with fins are increased by 0.126 W/m2 and 0.02 % compared with PCM-TEH with fins, and increased by 0.195 W/m2 and 0.041 % compared with PCM-ATEH without fins. The results of energy harvesting characteristics show that a maximum of 0.77$ per watt can be reached to power generation cost of PCM-ATEH with fins. This paper can provide theoretical guidance for thermal management and energy conversion of energy harvesting system.

Various disturbances propagation analysis of district heating system based on the standardized thermal resistance method

AbstractVarious heating disturbances and faults in the heating network are necessary to be controlled and handled by some intelligent heating strategies with the increasing complexity of the heating network. This paper constructed the dynamic modeling of the heating system using standard thermal resistance and obtained a dynamic heat current model of the heating system. On this basis, we analyzed the heat transfer performance of the heating system. Five disturbances are selected, including the behavior of users, indoor heat source, heat exchanger heat transfer performance deterioration, pipe blockage, and pipe leakage. The effects of different disturbances on the overall system and user side water supply temperature were obtained by establishing a dynamic model for segmented heating pipelines. Feasible control methods for the heating network and load side are sorted out, mainly changing the water supply's temperature and the water supply's flow rate to reduce the water supply's fluctuation. Five specific control strategies are proposed for five types of disturbances. Comparing the case without control and the case with control, the results show that the fluctuation of water supply temperature is significantly reduced, and the control strategies can reduce the impact of disturbances on the heat network system and customers and improve the comfort of customers in the presence of disturbances. under the disturbance of pipeline leakage, the method proposed in this article reduces the temperature fluctuation amplitude by 75% and the fluctuation duration by 60%.

Formation mechanism of aluminum and its carbides under wobbling laser melting injection with carbon nanotubes-SiC hybrid particles

The softening problem of fusion zone (FZ) impede the widespread application of wobbling laser welding (WLW) which plays an essential role in aluminum alloy welding. The introduction of carbon nano tubes (CNTs) and SiC particles (SiCp) has the potential to alleviate this problem, whereas the mechanism of aluminum solidification and carbides synthesis under wobbling laser with multiple reinforcers is still unknown. Accordingly, CNTs-SiCp reinforced aluminum FZ is fabricated by wobbling laser melting injection (WLMI) for the first time. The numerical simulation of WLW and WLMI is incorporated in microstructure characterization, kinetic-thermodynamic calculation is innovatively carried out to determine the critical synthesis condition of carbides. The new insights into the nucleation/growth and orientations principle of aluminum with its carbides are demonstrated comprehensively. Firstly, the process of WLMI makes preferred growth of Al in FZ more diversified than that under WLW due to the undulate liquid-mushy interface. Secondly, carbides of Al4C3 and Al4SiC4 can exhibit a coupled growth in FZ edge due to high frequency and large amplitude of temperature fluctuation, rather than that have an independent growth in FZ center with relatively stable temperature. Thirdly, the coherent orientation relationships (ORs) that <0001>Al4C3//<0001>Al4SiC4 and <0001>Al4C3//<100>Al is preferred to be formed under oscillating heat-flow field of WLMI. Finally, the desired orientation of Al, Al4C3 and Al4SiC4 with fine grain can be gained in FZ, its strength has even exceeded base metal by more than 10%. This paper can be regarded as a breakthrough in strengthening FZ under WLW, by WLMI with CNTs-SiCp hybrid particles, and provide a theoretical guidance of microstructure and property optimization.

Pre-landing Assessment of the Surface and Shallow Subsurface Thermal Setting of Mare Crisium of the Moon for the Heat Flow Measurement Planned on the Blue Ghost 1 Mission

In 2024, under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, a robotic lander will touch down in Mare Crisium of the Moon and deploy a heat flow probe. Ideally, the probe should penetrate the regolith deep enough (1.5–2 m) to avoid the influence of insolation, but it is a major challenge to excavate such a hole on a robotic mission. The present study assesses the insolation-induced temperature fluctuation in the shallower subsurface of the landing site in case the heat flow probe does not reach past that depth. The assessment was based on a newly constructed, one-dimensional heat conduction model, which accounted for the history of solar heat intake at the landing site for the past 100 yr. The thermal properties of the subsurface regolith of the model were constrained by the previous surface temperature observations by flyovers of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the subsurface thermal measurement data from Apollo 17. The model showed that the amplitude of the insolation-induced annual subsurface temperature fluctuation is modulated by the 18.6 yr period precession of the Moon. The model also showed that the amplitude of this annual wave would be at (or close to) its minimum in 2024, when the mission would take place. Even though the thermal wave may be felt at depths greater than 1.5 m, because of its small amplitude, the thermal gradient in the depth range from 1 to 1.5 m would be within several percent of the gradient representative of the endogenic heat flow.

The function of relaxation and retardation phenomena on time-dependent natural convective and oscillatory flowing of dissipative Oldroyd-B fluid via an infinite vertical plate with fixed suction

Constant suction phenomenon has been executed in free convective Oldroyd-B material in an oscillatory flow mode over infinite vertical porous plate. For heat transfer, this study includes the influence of heat dissipation. The resulting governing equations are transferred into a set of dimensionless form of coupled-ordinary differential equations with appropriate non-dimensional variables. MAPLE code is developed for the regular perturbation method and executed to solve the set of non-dimensional couple-ordinary derivative equations. The impact of different embedded parameters on the mean, fluctuating, transient velocities and temperatures on the Oldroyd-B fluid have been discussed and depicted in graphical forms. The influence of some physical terms on the plate mean friction and plate heat mean gradient are computed and demonstrated in a tabular form. The attained results show that as an increase in relaxation time, greater amplitude of temperature fluctuations is observed. Remarkable enhancement is observed in all the parameters (Grashof, Prandtl and Eckert numbers) for transient temperature profiles.

Field observations on hydro-thermal regimes of loess cut slopes in cold and arid regions: A comparative study of sunny and shady slopes

In cold and arid regions, the maintenance of roadways and railways faces significant challenges due to serious spalling and sheet erosion, rill erosion, and shallow sliding of loess slopes. Moreover, the frequency and severity of these shallow failures, as well as the vegetation cover, differ greatly between sunny and shady slopes, further complicating slope maintenance. This study focuses on field observations conducted over two consecutive years along a highway at the western end of Chinese Loess Plateau, specifically examining soil temperatures and moisture content within two cut slopes. By analyzing the differences in hydro-thermal regimes within a depth of 100 cm between the sunny and shady slopes, and considering the meteorological data collected at the study site, the research aims to provide insights into these failures of loess slopes. The results indicate that the shady slope undergoes significant seasonal freeze-thaw cycles from the surface down to a depth of 100 cm. The freezing duration ranges from 96 to 120 days, with a freezing index ranging from −250 °C·d to −850 °C·d. Additionally, the shallow layer on the shady slope experiences significant daily freeze-thaw cycles in late autumn and early winter. In contrast, the sunny slope experiences minimal seasonal freeze-thaw processes. Although the shallow surface layer of the sunny slope undergoes some daily freeze-thaw cycles in late winter and early spring, the amplitudes of soil temperature fluctuations are significantly smaller compared to those on the shady slope. Given that the precipitation is concentrated in summer and autumn, the moisture content of the soil on the shady and sunny slopes exhibits noticeable seasonal changes. The soil layers on the shady slope tend to be relatively dry, while those on the sunny slope remain relatively moist. The moisture content within the observed depth on the sunny slope remains relatively consistent, while on the shady slope, a clear gradient is evident. The moisture content of the shallow slope layers within a depth25 cm primarily responses to heavy rainfall events, with a greater response observed on the shady slope compared to the sunny slope. The field-observed hydro-thermal data collected in this study serve a valuable basis for implementing revegetation strategies and enhancing the stability of loess slopes in cold and arid regions.

Numerical Evaluation of Internal Tide Characteristics Extracted from Mobile Float Observations: A Case Study near the Luzon Strait

Abstract With the development of ocean observation technology, data from specially designed mobile profiling floats have been used to study the internal tides (ITs). However, the accuracy of IT characteristics extracted from such observations has not been fully evaluated. Based on numerical simulations of ITs and background circulation with hundreds of free-moving floats near the Luzon Strait, this study examines the IT characteristics extracted from the float observations based on statistics. For the case in which only the M2 constituent is considered, the lowest error level of extracted M2 temperature fluctuation amplitudes (TFAs) is 40%–50%, which appears at 200–1500 m depth. Increasing the sampling frequency of the float from daily to hourly does not decrease the lowest error level. The quasi-daily sampling and other tidal constituents also have an impact on the extracted M2 TFAs and increase their errors. The different patterns of background currents mainly influence the errors of extracted M2 TFAs in the upper 200 m. The relation between TFA and vertical displacement of ITs and the two error sources of the TFA extracted from float observations are discussed in this study.

Dynamic modeling of a mechanically coupled organic Rankine-vapor compression system for compression heat recovery based on an improved lumped parameter model

Compression heat recovery is getting attention in cryogenic air separation units for its high energy saving potential, while the organic Rankine-vapor compression system (ORVC) is considered as an attractive technology for both compression heat recovery and air pretreatment. As the states of the compression heat inevitably change with the ambient environment, dynamic simulation of the ORVC-air compression heat recovery system (ORVC-ACS) is carried out in this paper. An improved lumped parameter model that enables to solve the dynamic model with complex structure and on large-time scale is proposed and validated. The working fluid density in the heat exchanger is treated as phase-based average in this improved model. The average relative deviations between the simulation results and experimental data are less than 6.8%. The annual dynamic characteristics and varying-duty operation performance of the ORVC-ACS are further studied. The results show that the ORVC-ACS could basically work under the design condition, with the maximum temperature fluctuation amplitude of about 6.9 °C, response time of about 4–6 min without varying-duty conditions and 8 min with duty changing. Besides, for a 60,000 Nm3/h scale ORVC-ACS, the annual energy saving reaches about 13.75 GWh, equivalent to CO2 emission reduction of about 9.9 Mt, and heat recovery ratio of about 76.4%, illustrating great energy saving and environmental protection performance. This research may benefit subsequent control scheme design and actual operation.

Effects of temperature and pressure fluctuations on exergy loss characteristics of hydrogen auto-ignition processes

Intake temperature and pressure fluctuations prior to main ignition are one of the reasons affecting the efficiency of internal combustion engines. In this study, the effects of temperature and pressure fluctuations with varied amplitudes and frequencies on the exergy loss of hydrogen auto-ignition processes were numerically investigated in an adiabatic constant-volume system at engine-relevant conditions. The results revealed that the increase in temperature fluctuation amplitudes primarily decreases the exergy loss due to chemical reactions, and the exergy loss due to incomplete combustion remains unchanged. Specifically, the total exergy loss is reduced by approximately 1.5% with a temperature fluctuation amplitude of 100 K at a frequency of 2 ms−1. Furthermore, with the same temperature fluctuation amplitude, increasing the frequency of temperature fluctuation from 2 ms−1 to 7 ms−1 leads to a 0.7% increase in the total exergy loss. On the other hand, the effects of pressure fluctuation on the exergy loss of hydrogen auto-ignition processes are negligible compared with those of temperature fluctuation. Through chemical kinetic analysis, it is found that temperature fluctuation promotes the consumption pathway of O2 to generate OH, rather than the collision with H to produce HO2. Consequently, the reduced mole fraction of HO2 inhibits the related HO2-consumption reactions, including HO2+HOH + OH and HO2+HO2H2O2+O2. Moreover, with temperature fluctuation, due to the lower fraction of third-body collision molecules, H2O, the reactivity of the third-body reaction, H + O2+M=HO2+M, is decreased. The reduced reaction rates of these reactions lead to decreased total exergy loss, indicating that the fuel energy conversion process may benefit from temperature fluctuation.

Ice recrystallization inhibition effect of cellulose nanocrystals at constant and cycling temperatures

Understanding the effects of ice recrystallization inhibitors at varying temperatures is critical for evaluating their applications. We studied the ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) effects of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) at constant and cycling temperatures. A splat assay using a 3.0 % sucrose solution showed that the IRI effect of 0.2 % CNCs decreased with increasing temperatures from −10 °C to −2 °C; the IRI effects of 0.5 % and 1.0 % CNCs remained unchanged for an increase in temperature from −10 °C to −4 °C but decreased at the temperature of −2 °C. A sandwich assay using a 25.0 % sucrose solution revealed that IRI effects increased with increasing temperatures, except in the presence of 0.2 % and 0.5 % CNCs at −5 °C and − 4 °C. A sandwich assay using a 35.0 % sucrose solution revealed that better IRI effects were observed at higher temperatures at all CNCs concentrations. At cycling temperatures, CNCs were inactive for storage times for ≤2 h, regardless of the rate, holding time, and amplitude of temperature fluctuation, but were active for storage times of 2 and 10 days. The IRI effects of CNCs at different temperatures may be related to the coverage of CNCs on ice surface, diffusion rate of CNCs to ice surface, and types of ice recrystallization.