Plume Condensation Research Articles

Pyrocumulonimbus Firepower Threshold: Assessing the Atmospheric Potential for pyroCb

AbstractPyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) clouds are difficult to predict and can produce extreme and unexpected wildfire behavior that can be very hazardous to fire crews. Many forecasters modify conventional thunderstorm diagnostics to predict pyroCb potential, by adding temperature (Δθ) and moisture increments (Δq) to represent smoke plume thermodynamics near the expected plume condensation level. However, estimating these Δθ and Δq increments is a highly subjective process that requires expert knowledge of all factors that might influence future fire size and intensity. In this paper, instead of trying to anticipate these Δθ and Δq increments for a particular fire, the minimum firepower required to generate pyroCb for a given atmospheric environment is considered. This concept, termed the pyroCb firepower threshold (PFT) requires only atmospheric information, removing the need for subjective estimates of the fire contribution. A simple approach to calculating PFT is presented that incorporates only basic plume-rise physics, yielding an analytic solution that offers important insight into plume behavior and pyroCb formation. Minimum increments of Δθ and Δq required for deep, moist convection, plus a minimum cloud-base height (zfc), are diagnosed on a thermodynamic diagram. Briggs’s plume rise equations are used to convert Δθ, zfc, and a mean horizontal wind speed U to a measure of the PFT: the minimum heat flux entering the base of the plume. This PFT is proportional to the product of U, Δθ, and the square of zfc. Plume behavior insights provided by the Briggs’s equations are discussed, and a selection of PFT examples presented.

Thermodynamics of Pyrocumulus: A Conceptual Study

Abstract In favorable atmospheric conditions, fires can produce pyrocumulonimbus cloud (pyroCb) in the form of deep convective columns resembling conventional thunderstorms, which may be accompanied by strong inflow, dangerous downbursts, and lightning strikes that can produce dangerous changes in fire behavior. PyroCb formation conditions are not well understood and are difficult to forecast. This paper presents a theoretical study of the thermodynamics of fire plumes to better understand the influence of a range of factors on plume condensation. Plume gases are considered to be undiluted at the fire source and approach 100% dilution at the plume top (neutral buoyancy). Plume condensation height changes are considered for this full range of dilution and for a given set of factors that include environmental temperature and humidity, fire temperature, and fire-moisture-to-heat ratios. The condensation heights are calculated and plotted as saturation point (SP) curves on thermodynamic diagrams. The position and slope of the SP curves provide insight into how plume condensation is affected by the environment thermodynamics and ratios of fire heat to moisture production. Plume temperature traces from large-eddy model simulations added to the diagrams provide additional insight into plume condensation heights and plume buoyancy at condensation. SP curves added to a mixed layer lifting condensation level on standard thermodynamic diagrams can be used to identify the minimum plume condensation height and buoyancy required for deep, moist, free convection to develop, which will aid pyroCb prediction.

Growth Mechanisms and Structural Properties of Lead Chalcogenide Films Grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Three lead chalcogenide films, PbTe, PbSe, and PbS, with a high structural quality were grown by pulsed lased deposition (PLD). The films were grown on single crystal substrates (Si, KCl, Al2O3) and on Si covered with a Si3N4 buffer layer. The Si3N4 layer latter facilitated the lead chalcogenide layer nucleation during the first growth stages and resulted in a more homogeneous surface morphology and a lower surface roughness. The surface geometry (roughness) of the films grown on Si3N4 was studied by means of the power spectral density analysis. Different growth modes, ranging from plasma plume condensation to bulk diffusion, resulting in observed film morphologies were identified. The investigations were complemented by electrical characterization of the chalcogenide films.

Synthesis of Yb nanoparticles by laser ablation of ytterbium target in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate reverse micellar solution

Abstract Surfactant-coated ytterbium nanoparticles were produced by Nd:YAG laser ablation of a Yb bulk target immersed in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT)/ n -heptane micellar solution. In our experimental conditions, as highlighted by IR spectroscopy, AOT molecules are not decomposed by the intense laser pulses but play a pivotal role in the stabilisation of Yb nanoparticles. The formation of Yb nanoparticles in the liquid phase was monitored by UV–Vis spectroscopy whereas the Yb/AOT composites obtained by evaporation of the organic solvent were characterised by XPS and TEM. Data analysis consistently shows the presence of surfactant-coated, nearly spherical and non-interacting Yb nanoparticles of mean diameter of 3 nm. Moreover, the presence of bigger polycrystalline nanoparticles (about 30%) in coexistence with smaller mono crystalline ones indicates that, after the rapid formation of the pristine Yb nanoparticles from plume condensation, two processes effectively compete for their size distribution: nanoparticle agglomeration and surfactant adsorption.

Thermal characterization of the Vulcano fumarole field

Ground-based thermal infrared surveys can contribute to complete heat budget inventories for fumarole fields. However, variations in atmospheric conditions, plume condensation and mixed-pixel effects can complicate vent area and temperature measurements. Analysis of vent temperature frequency distributions can be used, however, to characterise and quantify thermal regions within a field. We examine this using four thermal infrared thermometer and thermal image surveys of the Vulcano Fossa fumarole field (Italy) during June 2004 and July 2005. These surveys show that regions occupied by low temperature vents are characterised by distributions that are tightly clustered around the mean (i.e., the standard deviation is low), highly peaked (positive kurtosis) and skewed in the low temperature direction (negative skewness). This population is associated with wet fumaroles, where boiling controls maximum temperature to cause a narrow distribution with a mode at 90–100°C. In contrast, high temperature vent regions have distributions that are widely spread about the mean (i.e., the standard deviation is high), relatively flat (negative kurtosis) and skewed in the high temperature direction (positive skewness). In this dry case, fumaroles are water-free so that maximum temperatures are not fixed by boiling. As a result greater temperature variation is possible. We use these results to define two vent types at Vulcano on the basis of their thermal characteristics: (1) concentrated (localized) regions of high temperature vents, and (2) dispersed low temperature vents. These occur within a much larger region of diffuse heat emission across which surfaces are heated by steam condensation, the heat from which causes elevated surface temperatures. For Vulcano's lower fumarole zone, high and low temperature vents occupied total areas of 3 and 6 m2, respectively, and occurred within a larger (430 m2) vent-free zone of diffuse heat emission. For this lower zone, we estimate that 21–43 × 103 W of heat was lost by diffuse heat emission. A further 4.5 × 103 W was lost by radiation from high temperature vents, and 6.5 × 103 W from low temperature vents. Thus, radiative heat losses from high and low temperature vents within Vulcano's lower fumarole zone respectively account for 10% and 15% of the total heat lost from this zone. This shows that radiation from open vents can account for a non-trivial portion of the total fumarole field heat budget.

Possible Water Vapor Condensation in Rocket Exhaust Plumes

In an attempt to explain the observed radiance in the exhaust plume of an Apollo engine, the possibilities of any condensation by homogeneous nucleation under the conditions in the plume flowfield are examined. It was found that only H2O could condense, the other species present in the exhaust, H2, remained unsaturated. Under the assumption of steady-state homogeneous nucleation, the accumulation of condensate as a function of the streamline coordinate has been computed from the Oswatitsch integral with empirical information gathered in previous experiments. Condensation is thus estimated to occur at about 45 m downstream of the nozzle exit. However, it has been found that the steady-state nucleation assumption may not be valid here, and the previous estimate may be too optimistic. Condensation under nonsteady homogeneous nucleation conditions would result in delayed condensation onset or none at all. A potentially useful alternative way of estimating condensation in plumes is outlined. Finally, keeping in mind that condensation may be induced by binary or heterogeneous nucleation, both of which favor earlier condensation onset, we conclude that condensation is not impossible in this exhaust plume.