Application Of High Pressure Research Articles

STRESS ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF IMPROVED GATE VALVE CONSTRUCTION

This study explores the stress resistance of an improved valve design under high-pressure conditions, focusing on stress distribution across both the sealing element and the valve body. A 2D model of the valve was created in AutoCAD and analyzed using Python’s Matplotlib, simulating performance under pressures up to 75 MPa, 5 MPa above the operational limit. Results reveal critical stress patterns, with stress concentrations reaching up to 325 MPa along the inner radius of the sealing element and valve body. Radial, longitudinal, and circumferential stresses were evaluated, showing a gradual decrease in compressive forces from the inner to outer surfaces. The contact areas between the sealing element and valve body emerged as critical zones, with high-pressure exposure raising the risk of early material fatigue and functional degradation. Overall, the improved valve design exhibits significant resilience under high-pressure conditions. However, sustaining this performance over time will require proactive inspection and maintenance to prevent premature wear and material fatigue. This research provides valuable insights for enhancing valve designs and improving durability in high-pressure applications within the oil and gas industry. The analysis demonstrates that the improved valve design can withstand high pressures effectively, but highlights the importance of routine inspection and maintenance to prevent premature failure due to material fatigue. Continuous monitoring, particularly around the inner radius and critical contact areas, is recommended to ensure operational longevity and reliability under fluctuating pressure conditions. Keywords: Linear motion valve, body, finite element analysis, wear, seal.

Changes in the microbiota and colour of pork meat batter during refrigerated storage in relation to the application of High Hydrostatic Pressure

The aim of this work was to study the effect of High Hydrostatic Pressures (HHP) on microbial degradation pattern and colour stability of pork meat batters used to produce fresh sausages. Besides treatments at 300 or 600 MPa for 5 min, pH (5.8 vs 5.4) and nitrite addition (100 vs. 0 mg/kg) were considered as variables. A not treated control was also monitored. The different samples were stored at 4°C and periodically analysed for their microbiota and colour. At the end of shelf life (TMC > 6.5 log CFU/g) a metagenomic analysis was also carried out to better clarify the effect of the treatments on microbial spoilage patterns. The results showed that the treatment at 300 MPa slightly affected initial cell load, but slowdown growth kinetics, especially at low pH, while 600 MPa strongly reduced microbial spoilage. The application of HHP was able to prolong shelf life of meat batters, from about two weeks (control) to 40 and 80 days in the case of treatments at 300 and 600 MPa, respectively. Metagenomic analysis revealed different degradation patterns in relation to tested variables: untreated samples showed the prevalence of Brochothrix spp., while the application of HHP determined the presence also of Carnobacterium, Bacillus, and Staphylococcus, depending on the treatment and the meat batter pH. Concerning colour, differences were mainly observed in redness (a*) and were due to the presence of nitrite. These findings suggest that HHP can be a feasible strategy to stabilize fresh sausages, although further studies are needed to assess their safety.

Interrogating the Role of Stack Pressure in Transport‐Reaction Interaction in the Solid‐State Battery Cathode

AbstractAs solid‐state batteries (SSBs) emerge as leading contenders for next‐generation energy storage, chemo‐mechanical challenges and instabilities at solid‐solid interfaces remain a critical bottleneck. Ensuring sufficient interfacial contact within composite cathode architectures often requires the application of high stack pressures, posing a significant hurdle in the development of viable, large‐scale SSBs. In this work, the impact of stack pressure is investigated on the performance of solid‐state composite cathodes comprised of single‐crystal LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2 (SC‐NMC532) active material particles and a Li6PS5Cl (LPSCl) solid electrolyte phase. By unraveling the complex interplay between stack pressure and microstructure‐dependent mechanisms, the profound influence on interfacial resistances, cathode utilization dynamics, current constriction effects, and lithiation heterogeneities are revealed. Through a comprehensive examination of coupled reaction kinetics and transport interactions at the electrode and particle length scales, the implications of stack pressure at different C‐rates and microstructural arrangements are elucidated, thereby delineating the limiting mechanisms that are prevalent at low stack pressures. This work underscores the critical role of optimizing the cathode microstructure to mitigate the chemo‐mechanical challenges associated with SSB operation at low stack pressures, offering valuable insights and design guidelines for the development of high‐performance SSBs.

Pressure-controlled luminescence in fast-response barium fluoride crystals

Cross-luminescence (CL) in a barium fluoride (BaF2) scintillator arising from the recombination of a valence band electron and a core band hole results in a fast picosecond decay time. However, the CL emission wavelength in the vacuum ultraviolet region is difficult to detect, and intrinsically intense and slow nanosecond self-trapped exciton (STE) luminescence occurs. Herein, we report a redshift in the CL emission wavelength with high-pressure application. The wavelength of the CL emission shifted from 221 nm to 240 nm when 5.0 GPa was applied via a sapphire anvil cell. Increasing the pressure decreases the core-valence bandgap due to the downward expansion of the valence band, resulting in a decrease in the valence band minimum. The onset of a phase transition from a cubic crystal structure to an orthorhombic crystal structure at 3.7 GPa inhibited the recombination of conduction band electrons and self-trapped holes, leading to the disappearance of the STE emission. Manipulating the band structure of BaF2 by high-pressure application enables control of its luminescence emission, providing a pathway toward solving the problems inherent in this leading fast-response scintillator.

Effects of acoustic shock waves on the structural and optical properties of cadmium borate

Cadmium borate (CdB₂O₄), an inorganic compound combining transition metals and non-metals, has a broad range of optical applications. In this study, CdB₂O₄ was subjected to acoustic transient pressure using a semi-automatic Reddy tube, with shock pulses applied at counts of 100, 200, 300, and 400 at a Mach number of 1.5, corresponding to a transient pressure of 0.59 MPa and a temperature of 520 K. Control and shock-treated samples were analyzed using XRD, Raman, FTIR, SEM, UV-DRS, and photoluminescence spectroscopy to investigate shock wave effects. The XRD analysis revealed peak disappearance, the formation of new peaks, increased crystallinity, and instability in crystallite size. Raman spectroscopy showed peak disappearance, shifts, and broadening of lattice modes. SEM indicated increased particle size and agglomeration under shock conditions, consistent with changes in crystallinity. UV-DRS analysis shows a slight change in their band gap. Photoluminescence exhibited fluctuating trends in luminescent properties after the shock treatment. The findings reveal that CdB₂O₄'s structural and optical properties are sensitive to acoustic pressure, suggesting its potential for tailored optical behavior in specific applications. These results enhance our understanding of how acoustic pressure affects CdB₂O₄ and open new possibilities for optimizing its use in high-pressure applications.

Kinetics of Hydrolytic Depolymerization of Textile Waste Containing Polyester

Textile products comprise approximately 10% of the total global carbon footprint. Standard practice is to discard apparel textile waste after use, which pollutes the environment. There are professional collectors, charity organizations, and municipalities that collect used apparel and either resell or donate them. Non-reusable apparel is partially recycled, mainly through incineration or processed as solid waste during landfilling. More than 60 million tons of textiles are burnt or disposed of in landfills annually. The main aim of this paper is to model the heterogeneous kinetics of hydrolysis of multicomponent textile waste containing polyester (polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers), by using water without special catalytic agents or hazardous and costly chemicals. This study aims to contribute to the use of closed-loop technology in this field, which will reduce the associated negative environmental impact. The polyester part of waste is depolymerized into primary materials, namely monomers and intermediates. Reaction kinetic models are developed for two mechanisms: (i) the surface reaction rate controlling the hydrolysis and (ii) the penetrant in terms of the solid phase rate controlling the hydrolysis. A suitable kinetic model for mono- and multicomponent fibrous blends hydrolyzed in neutral and acidic conditions is chosen by using a regression approach. This approach can also be useful for the separation of cotton/polyester or wool/polyester blends in textile waste using the acid hydrolysis reaction, as well as the application of high pressure and the neutral hydrolysis of polyester to recover primary monomeric constituents.

Isolation of valuable substances from berry seeds and pomace by the green high-pressure methods, their evaluation and application in cosmetic creams

Berry seeds and pomace generated as a by-product of fruit processing contain valuable nutrients and bioactive compounds; however, nowadays it is inefficiently recycled or even discarded as a waste. Valorisation of such by-products for the development of higher value ingredients would substantially increase the sustainability of the sector. For this purpose, green extraction methods with supercritical CO2 (SFE-CO2) and pressurized liquid (PLE) extraction with hydro-ethanol were consecutively applied to strawberry, blackberry and elderberry seeds and rowanberry pomace for the isolation of lipophilic and higher polarity substances. SFE-CO2 extracts were rich in unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, 10.76 − 23.25 %; linoleic, 39.11 −59.74 %; linolenic, 1.32 − 43.83 %), tocopherols (31 – 637 μg/g), phytosterols (1992 – 3775 μg/g), carotenoids (65.06 – 2147 μg β-carotene/g) and chlorophylls (27.95 – 130.4 μg/g). Anthocyanins (22.7 – 697.6 mg cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalents/100 g), flavonoids (2.75 – 7.43 mg quercetin eqv./g), proanthocyanidins (122.2 – 199.4 catechin monohydrate eqv./g), antioxidant and antibacterial properties were evaluated for the PLE extracts. The extracts were tested in cosmetic creams at 2 % concentrations and strawberry seed extracts were selected for the evaluation of cream properties. In general, PLE extract addition had slight effect on antioxidant properties and sun protection factor of creams. However, considering the presence of high value constituents both in the lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts and the studies showing the benefits of the use of these constituents in cosmetic products, it may be expected that the extracts may be promising ingredients in developing new natural cosmetic products, including cosmeceuticals. In addition, the extracts may be promising ingredients in the formulation of nutraceuticals.

Insulating Material with Scale Components for High-Temperature and High-Pressure Water Applications.

Accurately measuring water holdup in horizontal wells is crucial for effectively using heavy oil reservoirs. The capacitance method is among the most widely used and accurate techniques. However, the absence of suitable insulating materials at high temperatures and pressures limits the effectiveness of capacitive water holdup measurement in heavy oil thermal recovery. This study introduces a new composite material based on an aviation-grade, special glass glaze as the insulating medium doped with inorganic components (CaSO4, MgSO4, Ca(OH)2, and SiO2). This new composite material demonstrates outstanding insulating performance under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions in water. A water environment with a high temperature of 350 °C and a pressure of 12 MPa considerably enhances the composite material's insulation. After 72 h of continuous use, the insulation performance remains 0.3 MΩ. The layers exhibit improved insulation and stability, maintaining integrity through five consecutive temperature shocks in 500 °C air and 20 °C water. XRD, IR, SEM, and TEM analyses reveal that the new composite material is amorphous after firing and that the addition of inorganic components improves the bonding between the glass glaze components and contributes to a denser structure. Simultaneously, SEM and TEM analyses indicate that adding inorganic components results in a smoother, crack-free, and more compact surface of the special glass glaze. This enhancement is crucial for the material's long-term stability in high-temperature and high-pressure water environments.

The structural mechanisms of pressure-induced phase transitions in the Carpy-Galy phase layered perovskites

In layered perovskites with the Carpy-Galy structural type, similar structural phase transitions occur under high pressure. These structural changes, which are crucial for the pressure-induced phase transition in layered perovskite, were analyzed based on experimental X-ray diffraction data. The tilting of the Ti-O6 octahedra and the distortion of the arrangement of rare-earth atoms were studied in detail. Changes in these structural features in layered perovskite serve as common indicators of the phase transition to the monoclinic phase that occurs under high pressure application.

Squeezing Out Nanoparticles from Perovskites: Controlling Exsolution with Pressure.

Nanoparticle exsolution has emerged as a versatile method to functionalize oxides with robust metallic nanoparticles for catalytic and energy applications. By modifying certain external parameters during thermal reduction (temperature, time, reducing gas), some morphological and/or compositional properties of the exsolved nanoparticles can be tuned. Here, it is shown how the application of high pressure (<100bar H2) enables the control of the exsolution of ternary FeCoNi alloyed nanoparticles from a double perovskite. H2 pressure affects the lattice expansion and the nanoparticle characteristics (size, population, and composition). The composition of the alloyed nanoparticles could be controlled, showing a reversal of the expected thermodynamic trend at 10 and 50bar, where Fe becomes the main component instead of Ni. In addition, pressure drastically lowers the exsolution temperature to 300°C, resulting in unprecedented highly-dispersed and small-sized nanoparticles with a similar composition to those obtained at 600°C and 10bar. The mechanisms behind the effects of pressure on exsolution are discussed, involving kinetic, surface thermodynamics, and lattice-strain factors. A volcano-like trend of the exsolution extent suggests that competing pressure-dependent mechanisms govern the process. Pressure emerges as a new design tool for metallic nanoparticle exsolution enabling novel nanocatalysts and surface-functionalized materials.

Enhanced transport properties of (Ag)x/CuTl-1223 nano-composites with the application of high pelletization pressure

Enhanced transport properties of (Ag)x/CuTl-1223 nano-composites with the application of high pelletization pressure

Application of High Hydrostatic Pressures and Refrigerated Storage on the Content of Resistant Starch in Selected Legume Seeds

Application of High Hydrostatic Pressures and Refrigerated Storage on the Content of Resistant Starch in Selected Legume Seeds

Jailed Balloon Technique Versus Jailed Wire Technique for Side Branch Ostium Protection in Bifurcation Lesions: Evidence from Three-dimensional Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis.

There is controversy regarding the effectiveness the of jailed wire technique (JWT) and jailed balloon technique (JBT) in preserving the side branch (SB) during treatment. This study compares the protective effect of JBT versus JWT on the SB ostium area in coronary bifurcation lesions using three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT). We obtained data from coronary heart disease patients who received OCT-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for bifurcation lesions. The SB protection strategies were divided into JWT and JBT, with the latter further subdivided into active JBT (A-JBT) and conventional JBT (C-JBT). The primary endpoint was the SB ostium area difference measured by 3D-OCT before and after PCI. Partial correlation analysis and propensity score matching (PSM) was used to mitigate confounding biases. A total of 207 bifurcation lesions from 191 patients were analyzed, including 136 lesions treated with JWT and 71 lesions treated with JBT. The SB ostium area was significantly greater in the JBT group compared to the JWT group (0.41 1.22 mm2 vs. -0.25 1.40 mm2, p = 0.001). Following 1:1 PSM to adjust for 60 pairs, the difference between groups was not statistically significant (0.28 1.06 mm2 vs. -0.02 1.29 mm2, p = 0.165). Subgroup analysis revealed that A-JBT provided superior protection in both true (0.47 1.22 mm2 vs. -0.10 1.10 mm2, p = 0.011) and non-true bifurcation lesions (0.56 1.43 mm2 vs. -0.38 1.62 mm2, p = 0.030) over JWT, while C-JBT provided protection similar to JWT. A positive partial correlation was observed between the diameter of the jailed balloon and the increase in SB ostium area (r = 0.296, p = 0.013). Overall, A-JBT, but not C-JBT, provided better protection in bifurcation lesions compared to JWT. The larger diameter of the jailed balloon, rather than the application of higher pressure, enhanced the SB protection.

Strain-driven magnetic transition of intercalated pressure-stabilized cobalt and cobalt oxide nanoparticles in linked graphene oxide nanoscale reactors

The study of the evolution and metamorphosis of nanoparticles under high pressure and in nanoscale confinement is a rapidly developing field that promises a diverse range of fundamental research and application opportunities. Here, we demonstrate how a linked and strained graphene oxide (GO)-based confinement system, functioning as a nanoscale reactor at high pressures, allows the evolution of the magnetic properties of an in situ generated composite cobalt (Co) nanoparticle system and further enables the retention of such properties when the pressure of the system is returned to ambient. We posit that this phenomenon is due to an ‘induced pressure’ created by strain, on the flexible planes of the 2D GO system, created by the intercalated Co-based nanoparticles. For graphene/GO this strain is characterized by shifts in the Raman “G-band”. Specifically, the studied system comprises in situ generated Co-containing nanoparticles confined between linked GO layers upon pressurization between 0 and 25 GPa. After quenching to ambient pressure, each of these samples exhibited innate ferromagnetic behaviors, demonstrating that our confinement system can be used to ‘lock in’ phase changes created by the application of transient high pressure. Importantly, while the unpressurized sample exhibited antiferromagnetic Co3O4 nanoparticles of ∼4 nm size, the samples pressurized to 10 GPa and 25 GPa, presented ferromagnetic order on the shell of an antiferromagnetic core of Co3O4 and CoO.

Performance optimization study on the thermal management system of proton exchange membrane fuel cell based on metal hydride hydrogen storage

To compare the performance differences between proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), metal hydride tank (MHT) and heat exchanger (HX) coupling configurations and optimize thermal management methods, this study investigates and compares three coupling systems, PEMFC-MHT-HX series, PEMFC-HX-MHT series, and PEMFC-MHT|HX parallel system. Results reveal that, under controlled load variables, all three systems achieve an energy efficiency of 48.1 % at the maximum net power of 41.99 kW, increased by 16.93 % compared to standalone PEMFC. Exergy efficiencies of the systems show little differences, with values of 43.65 %, 43.38 %, and 43.51 %, respectively. The PEMFC-MHT-HX system exhibits the highest hydrogen outlet pressure, which is suitable for high-pressure applications. Conversely, the PEMFC-MHT|HX system enables flexible hydrogen supply regulation through decoupled control of hydrogen outlet pressure and flow. Increasing the MHT heat transfer coefficient can enhance the outlet pressure, but this effect diminishes beyond 1500 W/(m2·K). Sensitivity analysis identifies current and stack temperature as pivotal factors, emphasizing the necessity of precise current regulation and effective thermal management strategies. Additionally, the proportion of PEMFC waste heat recovered by the MHT decreases from 36.8 % to 29.0 % as the current load rises from 100 A to 400 A, indicating potential for alternative waste heat recovery devices over HX.

Foods and their characteristics: Physical aspects

Physical properties are important food characteristics that may be very important and transcendent depending of the specific food and particular processing. These properties should be considered and controlled, no matter of the industrial transformation, some of them are color, density, flow nature, form, heat capacity, size, texture, and viscoelasticity, among others. Color and texture are more general and notably affected by processing (formulation, drying, thermal treatment), whereas flow nature, density and viscoelasticity are less known and their changes throughout pumping, evaporation and high pressure applications require deeper knowledge.

Pressure-dependent bandgap characteristics in photonic crystals with sensing applications

The present study elucidates a photonic crystal (PhC)-based pressure sensor exploiting the change in refractive index with pressure and the corresponding structural deformation of the dielectric material. The stress-sensitive refractive indices of the constituent materials of the PhC have been considered to study the effect of applied pressure on the photonic bandgap (PBG) characteristics of the structure. The designed pressure sensor, proposed using a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice arrangement of air holes in a dielectric slab, operates in the high-pressure range of 1–6 GPa. A comparative study of the PBG characteristics with the application of high pressure has been reported for three semiconducting materials—GaAs, Ge and Si, used for the dielectric slab in the proposed structure. GaAs is found to exhibit the highest sensitivity to pressure variations and shows more pronounced shifting of the midgap wavelength with pressure in comparison to Ge and Si. The largest PBG is seen in the Ge-based structure, closely followed by the GaAs and Si-based structures. The proposed structure is suitable for high-pressure sensing applications.

Oxygen concentration – A governing parameter for microstructural tailoring of duplex AlCrSiON coatings for superior mechanical, tribological, and anti-corrosion performance

This study investigates the impact of increasing oxygen levels on structure, and mechanical properties and tribological performance of duplex AlCrSiON coatings. AISI H13 steel and tungsten carbide substrates are coated using arc ion plating with increasing oxygen flow rate up to 200 sccm with varying oxygen concentration. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and three-dimensional profilometer are used to study morphological and structural evolution. Correspondingly, the coatings are assessed for hardness, adhesion strength, friction coefficient, and resistance against corrosion and wear. A 50–100 sccm oxygen flow rate is considered as an optimal range to receive lower surface roughness. Generally, the addition of oxygen has compromised hardness and friction coefficient but improve adhesion strength, wear and corrosion resistance with increasing oxygen concentration. The immersion tests have identified pitting corrosion as a dominating failure mechanism for AlCrSiON coatings when exposed to molten A380 aluminium alloy. This corrosion resistance stems from their dense microstructure, excellent thermal stability, and the presence of fcc-(Al, Cr)2O3 phase structure. This study demonstrates that controlled oxygen concentration is a crucial parameter for tuning the microstructure of AlCrSiON coatings to achieve superior mechanical, tribological, and anti-corrosion performance, particularly for high-pressure die-casting applications.

The Influence of High Hydrostatic Pressure on Selected Quality Features of Cold-Storage Pork Semimembranosus Muscle.

The primary objective of this investigation was to assess the influence of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and the duration of cold storage on the physicochemical, technological, and sensory attributes as well as the nutritional composition and shelf life of meat. The experimental framework involved utilizing samples derived from the semimembranosus muscle of pork. Each muscle obtained from the same carcass was segmented into six distinct parts, with three designated as control specimens (K) and the remaining subjected to vacuum packaging and subsequent exposure to high hydrostatic pressure (200 MPa at 20 °C for 30 min). Comprehensive laboratory analyses of the meat were conducted at 1, 7, and 10 days post slaughter. The meat was cold-stored at +3 ± 0.5 °C. The findings of the study elucidated that the application of high hydrostatic pressure exhibited a favorable impact on the extension of the raw meat's shelf life. The tests showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the total number of microorganisms compared to the control sample after 7 (K: 4.09 × 105, HHP: 2.88 × 105 CFU/g) and 10 (K: 7.40 × 105, HHP: 2.42 × 105 CFU/g) days of cold storage. It was also found that using HHP increased the pH value after 1 (K: 5.54, HHP: 5.77) and 7 (K: 5.60, HHP: 5.87) days of storage.

Phase composition and stability of Gd2−x Th x Zr2O7 under extreme conditions

Abstract Introduction of Th into synthetic disordered fluorite-type Gd2Zr2O7 induces a transition to an ordered pyrochlore-type phase at a Th concentration of 10 % at the Gd site (Gd1.8Th0.2Zr2O7 composition). The degree of order of the fluorite-type phase reaches 50 % for a Th concentration of 25 % (Gd1.5Th0.5Zr2O7 composition). Upon application of high pressure, the Gd2Zr2O7 phase retains the fluorite-type structure until 33 GPa (K 0 = 167(1) GPa), where it undergoes reversible amorphization. The Gd1.7Th0.3Zr2O7 phase was found to be stable up to at least a pressure of 25 GPa (K 0 = 169(3) GPa). Upon heating to T max of 1135 K, the Gd2Zr2O7 phase retains its disordered fluorite-type structural arrangement (α = 3.03 × 10−5 K−1). The excellent stability of the Gd2−x Th x Zr2O7 phases under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure makes Gd2Zr2O7 a promising candidate as a host matrix for radioactive elements for safe long-term underground storage of nuclear waste.