Pulse Frequency Research Articles

Flow and heat transfer behavior of acoustically excited pulsating air jet impinging on a flat surface

Experiments are carried out to understand the flow and thermal behavior of a pulsating jet. The pulsating jet is generated using acoustic excitation. The study considered variations in Reynolds number (Re = 2800, 4900, and 6800), Strouhal number (St = 0–0.84), pulsation amplitude (A = 0–60 %), and nozzle-to-surface distance (z/d = 1–8). Findings revealed that the potential core length of the pulsating jet is shorter compared to the steady jet. The potential core length initially decreases with an increase in St up to 0.42, then begins to increase. Pulsating jets improve thermal performance in the wall jet region due to greater entrainment and mixing from the surrounding fluid. Results demonstrated that pulsating jets could increase average heat transfer rate by up to 58 % at Re = 2800 compared to the steady jet. Although heat transfer rates are higher in pulsating jets, changes in pulsation frequency or amplitude had a minimal effect. The enhancement in average heat transfer rate diminishes as the Reynolds number increases for the same Strouhal number. Each tested Reynolds number showed at least a 10 % improvement in heat transfer in pulsating jet over steady jet. The improved thermal performance of the acoustically pulsating chamber offers the potential for enhanced thermal management in various applications.

Research on Process Characteristics and Properties in Deep-Penetration Variable-Polarity Tungsten Inert Gas Welding of AA7075 Aluminum Alloy

In this study, a new deep-penetration variable-polarity tungsten inert gas (DP-VPTIG) welding process, which is performed by a triple-frequency-modulated pulse, was employed in the welding fabrication of 8 mm AA7075 aluminum plates. The electric signal, arc shape, and weld pool morphology of the welding process were obtained by means of high-speed photography and an electric signal acquisition system under varying parameters of the intermediate frequency (IF) pulse current. The principle of the arc characteristics and the dynamic mechanism of the weld melting during the process are explained. In addition, the macroforming, microstructure, and microhardness of the welded joints were investigated. The results indicate that, with an intermediate frequency pulse of 750 Hz, the arc displayed a higher energy density and a more effective arc contraction, which improved weld appearance and penetration. Moreover, the impact and stirring action of the arc refined the microstructure grains of the weld center. Therefore, this new welding method is feasible for welding medium-thickness aluminum alloy plates without a groove.

Molecular Information Processing in a Chemical Reaction Network Using Surface‐Mediated Polyelectrolyte Complexation

AbstractBiochemical communication is ubiquitous in life. Biology uses chemical reaction networks to regulate concentrations of myriad signaling molecules. Recent advances in supramolecular and systems chemistry demonstrate that feedback mechanisms of such networks can be rationally designed but strategies to transmit and process information encoded in molecules are still in their infancy. Here, we designed a polyelectrolyte reaction network maintained under out‐of‐equilibrium conditions using pH gradients in flow. The network comprises two weak polyelectrolytes (polyallylamine, PAH, and polyacrylic acid, PAA) in solution and one immobilized on the surface (poly‐l‐lysine, PLL). We chose PAH and PAA as their complexation process is known to be history‐dependent (i. e., the preceding state of the system can determine the next state). Surprisingly, we found that the hysteresis diminished as the PLL‐coated surface supported rather than perturbed the formation of the complex. PLL‐coated surfaces are further exploited to establish that reversible switching between the assembled and disassembled state of polyelectrolytes can process signals encoded in the frequency and duration of pH pulses. We envision that the strategy employed to modulate information in this polyelectrolyte reaction network could open novel routes to transmit and process molecular information in biologically relevant processes.

Chemogenetic Activation of RFRP Neurons Reduces LH Pulse Frequency in Female but not Male Mice.

The neuropeptide RFRP-3 (RFamide-related peptide-3) is thought to play a role in the negative regulation of fertility. However, the exogenous administration of RFRP-3 yields varying results depending on the dose and route of administration, sex of the subject, and many other variables. Manipulation of in vivo neuronal activity using DREADDs (designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs) technology enables investigation of cell type-specific neuronal activation in a manner that better reflects endogenous neuronal activity. To test the effects of RFRP neuronal activation on pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. We generated mice expressing the stimulatory hM3Dq designer receptor exclusively in RFRP cells using 2 different Cre-loxP-mediated approaches: (1) we bred mice to express hM3Dq in all Rfrp-Cre-expressing cells, including some that transiently expressed Rfrp-Cre neonatally (RFRP × hM3Dq mice), and (2) we stereotaxically injected Cre-dependent hM3Dq into the dorsomedial nucleus of RFRP-Cre mice to drive hM3Dq expression exclusively in a subpopulation of adult Rfrp-Cre neurons (RFRP-AAV-hM3Dq mice). We then investigated the effects of acute hM3Dq activation on LH pulse frequency in RFRP × hM3Dq mice, RFRP-AAV-hM3Dq mice, and their respective controls. In both female RFRP × hM3Dq and RFRP-AAV-hM3Dq mice, chemogenetic activation of Cre-driven hM3Dq led to a significant 35% to 50% reduction in LH pulse frequency compared with controls, while no differences in pulse amplitude or mean LH concentration were observed. In marked contrast, RFRP activation did not cause any changes to LH pulse dynamics in male mice. These data show for the first time that activation of neurons that have expressed Rfrp, or of a subset of adult RFRP neurons, can independently suppress LH pulsatility in female, but not male mice.

Inertial Confinement Fusion Propulsion for the Massive Ra World Ship Model – Part 2

A strategy for sending humans around other stars will be to acquire the ability to construct large World Ships which are of order ~1011-1012 tons in mass, ~100 km in length and host large populations of millions of people over many generations of lifetime. This paper presents such a concept but driven by inertial confinement fusion engines utilising very large pellets of order 230 g in mass augmented with 4.85 kg/pellet of expellant propellant for increased mass flow rate and thrust generation. A mission architecture is constructed for a 1 million population carrying capacity growing to 10 million, based on an original 1984 published model which achieved a cruise speed of 1,500 km/s or 0.5% for a 1,000 year trip time. Calculations show that propulsion of such a vast construction will require hundreds of engines operating in parallel thrust mode and at moderately high pulse frequency for an elongated burn time of order half a century. The purpose of this study was to examine whether it was possible to drive an interstellar world ship using ICF engines using similar assumptions to a 1984 study for a Mk2A design. The conclusion of this study is that although an architecture does appear to be possible, there are practical reasons why it may be better to pursue alternative propulsion methods for this specific application such as via external nuclear pulse propulsion as adopted for the original studies. This paper is a follow-up to an earlier one which discussed some of the assumptions of the study. Keywords: World Ships, Interstellar Studies, Fusion Propulsion

Tailoring Mechanical and Optical Properties of Sputtered SiNx/BN Coatings.

The swift evolution of contemporary electronics products, such as flexible screens and wearable electronic devices, highlights the significance of flexible protective coatings, which combine superior mechanical and optical properties. Even though the recently developed polymer protective coatings can satisfy requirements for flexibility and transparency, their intrinsic nature often results in a hardness below 1 GPa, rendering them susceptible to scratches. On the other hand, traditional inorganic coatings, known for their high hardness and transparency, fall short of meeting flexibility requirements. In the present study, a SiNx/BN periodical nanolayered coatings (PNCs) structure has been tailored to achieve high mechanical durability, transparency, and flexibility. In SiNx/BN PNCs, the optical and mechanical properties of the single-layer SiNx film are crucial to the overall performance of the PNCs. Therefore, pulse direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering was optimized first to enhance the ionization efficiency of Si and N, thereby promoting their reaction and diminishing the presence of elemental silicon in SiNx. The effects of the pulse frequency and duty cycle on SiNx were evaluated. Additionally, the influence of the thickness ratio and modulation periods on the overall performance of the SiNx/BN PNCs was investigated. As a result, a SiNx/BN coating with sapphire-grade hardness, almost no optical absorption in the visible-near-infrared (vis-NIR) range, high wear resistance, and exceptional flexibility was demonstrated.

Influence factors and improvement scheme on the breakdown behavior of pseudospark switch

Abstract High-power pulse generators are widely used in civil and military fields. The main switch directly determines the output characteristics of the high-power pulse generators, such as the voltage front time (tf). Pseudospark switches (PSS) show a promising future for middle voltage, high repetitive frequency pulse power applications. However, how to further improve the breakdown behavior without reducing its advantages is a challenging task. In this paper, the influence of operating parameters (anode voltage UA and gas pressure p) and structural parameter (number of cathode holes) on the breakdown behavior are investigated, the related mechanism are explained, and specific improvement schemes are proposed. It is found that the tf of the single channel PSS (SCPSS) decreased significantly with increasing p, but hardly varied with UA under moderate p. However, it is not a sound solution to increase the p excessively to reduce tf. Besides, increasing the number of cathode holes can obtain a shorter tf at low pressures (which implies superior repetition frequency performance). However, at 25 Pa, the jitter (which is defined as the standard deviation of tf in multiple tests) of the 2-channel PSS is larger than that of the SCPSS. And the jitter of the 4-channel and 8-channel PSS is also greater than 6 ns and 2 ns, respectively. Through experimental and simulation analyses, it can be explained as the stepwise penetration of the virtual anode and the non-simultaneous ignition of the channels. A scheme to increase the trigger energy (ε) has been adopted to improve the simultaneous ignition probability, while shortening tf and reducing jitter. After optimization, the good ignition probability of the 4-channel PSS has been improved to 82% and the jitter has been reduced to less than 1 ns at 25 Pa and 14.7 mJ.

Effect of the pulse frequency on the structure, mechanical and tribological properties of Ti-Al-Ta-N coatings deposited by HiPIMS

Columnar microstructure significantly deteriorates performance of Ti-Al-Ta-N coatings obtained by physical vapor deposition. The present work is focused on studying the possibility to hinder the growth of columnar grains in the Ti-Al-Ta-N coatings using short-pulse high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS). The change of the pulse length is carried out by varying the pulse frequency f from 0.5 to 10 kHz at a constant duty cycle of 10 %. This results in decreasing the pulse length from 200 to 10 μs. It is found that the pulse frequency affects the parameters of magnetron discharge and ion flux at the substrate. Short-pulse HiPIMS realized at higher pulse frequencies (2–10 kHz) provides an increase in the ion flux arriving at the substrate compared to the HiPIMS processes at lower frequencies (0.5 and 1 kHz). The increased ion flux bombarding the growing coatings leads to evolution of their microstructure from the open columnar structure observed at f < 2 kHz to the dense microstructure containing only small columnar fragments at f ≥ 2 kHz. The microstructure modification provides improved mechanical properties and wear resistance of the Ti-Al-Ta-N coatings obtained at f ≥ 2 kHz. The maximum hardness and wear resistance were found in the coating deposited at 5 kHz.

Low-Cost, High-Efficiency Aluminum Zinc Oxide Synaptic Transistors: Blue LED Stimulation for Enhanced Neuromorphic Computing Applications.

Neuromorphic devices are electronic devices that mimic the information processing methods of neurons and synapses, enabling them to perform multiple tasks simultaneously with low power consumption and exhibit learning ability. However, their large-scale production and efficient operation remain a challenge. Herein, we fabricated an aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) synaptic transistor via solution-based spin-coating. The transistor is characterized by low production costs and high performance. It demonstrates high responsiveness under UV laser illumination. In addition, it exhibits effective synaptic behaviors under blue LED illumination, indicating high-efficiency operation. The paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) index measured from optical stimulus modulation was 179.6%, indicating strong synaptic connectivity and effective neural communication and processing. Furthermore, by modulating the blue LED light pulse frequency, an excitatory postsynaptic current gain of 4.3 was achieved, demonstrating efficient neuromorphic functionality. This study shows that AZO synaptic transistors are promising candidates for artificial synaptic devices.

Experimental and theoretical study on the burning and pulsation behaviors of hydrogen-containing and hydrocarbon jet flames

Hydrogen-containing and hydrocarbon fuels have been widely used in industrial production. Jet fires involving these fuels emerge frequently after leakage or explosion accidents for gas pipelines and processing equipments. To reveal the influencing mechanisms of inclination angle on the pulsation behaviors of jet fires, the burning experiments of hydrogen, syngas, methane and propane jet fires with a nozzle diameter (D) of 15 mm, inclination angles (θ0) of 0°∼90°, fuel flow rates (Qf)of 2.5–40 L/min were conducted. The variations of the global and spatial pulsation frequencies with inclination angle and fuel flow rate are sensitive to the fuel types. Subharmonic pulsation was found at large fuel flow rates (Qf>Qcri). For hydrogen-containing jet flame, a transition from natural pulsation to subharmonic pulsation occurs at a critical inclination angle (θcri). In this case, the transition height where the local pulsation frequency begins to be dominated by subharmonic pulsation, increases with the inclination angle. The local Richardson number (Riy) at the transition height is close to 1. The interaction between the inner and outer vortices increases with the decrease of inclination angle, resulting in decreased natural frequency at the nozzle exit. With the theoretical velocity and flame width at y/D = 2, a unified dimensionless model of natural pulsation frequency was developed, Sty=0.411/Fry0.5, reasonably predicting the natural pulsation frequency of jet flames under different conditions.

Label-free functional imaging of vagus nerve stimulation-evoked potentials at the cortical surface

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an FDA-approved stimulation therapy to treat patients with refractory epilepsy. In this work, we use a coherent holographic imaging system to characterize vagus nerve-evoked potentials (VEPs) in the cortex in response to VNS stimulation paradigms without electrode placement or any genetic, structural, or functional labels. We analyze stimulation amplitude up to saturation, pulse width up to 800 μs, and frequency from 10 Hz to 30 Hz, finding that stimulation amplitude strongly modulates VEPs response magnitude (effect size 0.401), while pulse width has a moderate modulatory effect (effect size 0.127) and frequency has almost no modulatory effect (effect size 0.009) on the evoked potential magnitude. We find mild interactions between pulse width and frequency. This non-contact label-free functional imaging technique may serve as a non-invasive rapid-feedback tool to characterize VEPs and may increase the efficacy of VNS in patients with refractory epilepsy.

A Nanosecond level current pulse capture taper optical fiber probe based on micron level NV color center diamond

Abstract This work demonstrates a micron-sized nanosecond current pulse probe using a quantum diamond magnetometer. A micron-sized diamond crystal affixed to a fiber tip is integrated on the end of a conical waveguide. We demonstrate real-time visualization of a single 100 nanosecond pulse and discrimination of two pulse trains of different frequencies with a coplanar waveguide and a home-made PCB circuits. This technique finds promising applications in the display of electronic stream and to be used as a pulse discriminator to Simultaneously receive and demodulate multiple pulse frequencies. This method of detecting pulse current is expected to provide further detailed analysis of the internal working state of the chip.

Improved frequency shift compensation technique and pulse sequence for multi-loop atom interference experiments

With the rapid development of atom interference technology, multi-loop atom interferometers are widely used in the high-precision measurement of various physical constants and testing of various gravity-related effects. However, in ground-based multi-loop atom interference experiments, the systematic error contribution by classical effects is an important factor that affects the experimental measurement accuracy and gravitational effect detection. Based on this, we used the atomic wave-function evolution-phase accumulation method to provide a high-order interference phase of multi-loop atom interferometers in an inhomogeneous gravitational field containing Earth’s rotation. Furthermore, we propose a new scheme that combines optimised frequency-shift compensation technology with an improved pulse sequence to eliminate systematic errors due to the gravity gradient, Earth’s rotation, and their coupling effect with the pulse duration, as well as the coupling effect of laser detuning with the pulse duration. This study lays a theoretical foundation for experiments on multi-loop atom interferometers with higher precision.

Self-excited oscillation characteristics and mechanisms of supercritical CO2 flowing in a Helmholtz oscillator for enhancing heat transfer

The drastic variations in thermal properties of supercritical CO2 near its pseudo-critical point induce the formation of complex boundary layer structures within pipelines, rendering it susceptible to heat transfer deterioration under the influence of buoyancy forces. The Helmholtz self-excited cavity can generate self-excited pulsating jets, enhancing the intermixing between fluids inside the heat exchanger tubes, disrupting the thermal boundary layer, and suppressing heat transfer deterioration. In this study, the characteristics and mechanisms of self-excited oscillations of supercritical CO2 flowing vertically upward in the Helmholtz self-excited cavity were investigated using the large eddy simulation (LES) method. A detailed analysis of cavitation and vortex evolution within the cavity was conducted, along with an exploration of the influence of inlet pressure and structural parameters on the frequency characteristics of pulsations. The results indicate a close relationship between cavitation and vortex interactions and the pulsation frequency. An increase in inlet pressure leads to a significant cavitation phenomenon near the jet shear layer and an increase in vortex frequency. Dimensionless cavity length (Lc/d1) enlargement results in an increase in outlet pulsation frequency but a decrease in pulsation amplitude. The critical dimensionless ratio of cavity diameter (Dc/d1) plays a crucial role in maintaining the desired pulsation frequency and amplitude. Within the working range outlined in this paper, practical insights for system design and operation are provided by the optimal parameters of Lc/d1 = 3 and Dc/d1 = 10.

Research on laser polishing process of zirconia ceramic surface

Abstract In order to investigate the polishing results of carbon dioxide pulsed laser on the surface of zirconia ceramics, this paper analyzes the significance of the influence of each process parameter on the surface roughness in the laser polishing process based on the experimental design of the response surface method and taking the surface roughness as the optimization objective. And the best combination of process parameters for the laser polishing process is predicted by establishing a surface roughness prediction model. The results of the experiments show that among the laser polishing process parameters, the scanning speed and laser power have an extremely significant effect on surface roughness, while the pulse frequency has a more significant effect on surface roughness. The model predicts the optimum combination of working parameters as: laser power P = 75W, pulse frequency f = 4 kHz, scanning speed v = 380 mm/s. Under the optimum combination of process parameters, surface roughness Ra = 0.595μm of the material, which is 76% lower than that of the original surface roughness of 2.479μm after laser polishing.

Atomic-scale understanding of microstructural evolution in electrochemical additive manufacturing of metallic nickel

Atomic-level manufacturing is fundamentally concerned with the precise removal, addition, and migration of material at the atomic and close-to-atomic scale (ACS). Tip-based electrochemical deposition, a quintessential ACS electrochemical additive manufacturing technique, offers promising prospects for achieving bottom-up fabrication of metallic micro/nano structures. However, the complex physicochemical reactions involved in electrodes lead to a limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying atomic electrodeposition and structural evolution. For the first time, this study proposes electric double-layer controlled electrochemical kinetics and investigates the effect of direct current (DC) and pulse current (PC) on nickel atomic electrodeposition using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The findings reveal that compared to DC electrodeposition, PC electrodeposition results in more orderly deposition morphology, improved surface smoothness, reduced dislocation density, and lower crystal distortion, with these effects being particularly pronounced under low pulse duty ratio conditions. In addition, the pulse frequency significantly influences the morphology and structure of the deposit. The high pulse frequency yields smoother surfaces with local protrusions, while the low frequency favors the formation of orderly and dense structures excepting slightly increased roughness. This study provides critical insights into understanding the microscopic mechanisms of atomic-scale electrodeposition processes and achieving atomically controlled tip-based electrochemical additive manufacturing of micro/nanodevices.

Numerical Investigation of Ultrasound-Induced Bubble Motion and Coalescence

Abstract Ultrasound-induced bubble motion and coalescence can be a unique approach to neutralize cavitation clouds in many biomedical applications. However, the detailed mechanisms of bubbles’ collective behaviours have not been fully understood. This work aims to develop an Eulerian-Lagrangian computational framework to simulate the bubble motion and coalescence driven by an ultrasound field. Specifically, the bubbles are modeled as oscillating spheres governed by the Keller-Miksis equation and are tracked as Lagrangian particles moving through the background Eulerian mesh. Several forces that drive bubble dynamics are modeled, including primary and secondary Bjerknes forces, drag force. As two bubbles contacting with each other, coalescence may happen and the film drainage model is applied to simulate the process. Using the new framework, the effects of pulse amplitude, frequency and length on the motion and coalescence of bubbles with different sizes and void fraction are investigated. The new knowledge can be applied to identify the optimal pulse parameters to better control the bubble motion and coalescence, improving the effectiveness of relevant ultrasound techniques.

Fabrication of superhydrophobic titanium surfaces: impact of different micropatterns

ABSTRACT Offshore and nuclear power plants use titanium condensers to cool exhaust steam from turbines. Preparation of robust superhydrophobic Titanium surfaces is necessary to protect these condensers from fouling and pitting phenomena. This study investigates the impact of various laser-textured Titanium grade 2 surface configurations followed by silicone oil heat treatment on enhancing its wettability and tribological properties. Seven distinct micropatterns were fabricated using a fiber laser with a laser power of 7.5 W, a scanning speed of 300 mm/s, a scan loop of 10, and a pulse frequency of 20 kHz. Patterned surfaces were characterized using different techniques, namely, micro-hardness, surface morphology, wettability, elemental analysis and wear. Improvement in wetting property was observed in laser textured samples after heating with silicone oil due to the adsorption of nonpolar groups (C=O, –CH3) resulting in a low energy surface. The grid pattern surface exhibited the highest water contact angle (WCA) of 151.01° due to a dense microstructure.

An integrated dual-frequency IVUS system with interleaved sampling and parallel signal processing based on FPGA

Abstract Due to the lack of high voltage and low frequency pulse transmission channels, commercial high frequency IVUS imaging system cannot meet the hardware requirements of ultrasound angiography. Therefore, it is of great research significance to develop a dual-frequency IVUS rotary imaging system with high integration, high sampling rate and sampling accuracy. In this work, an integrated dual-frequency IVUS system with interleaved sampling and parallel signal processing based on FPGA was developed. The central frequency of low-frequency channel is up to 10MHz, and the peak voltage range is 80-200V. The central frequency of the high-frequency channel is up to 60MHz, and the voltage peak-to-peak range is 40-80V. The acquisition channel is 500MHz and 12bit, which is realized by interleaved sampling of two ADC. The motor controlled ultrasonic transducer acquires 400-800 lines per turn, and eventually form a 360-degree IVUS hybrid imaging successfully.

Blade redesign based on inverse design method for energy performance improvement and hydro-induced vibration suppression of a multi-stage centrifugal pump

As the urgency of the global energy crisis escalates and environmental protection standards become more stringent, the industrial sector is placing increased emphasis on enhancing energy efficiency and advancing vibration control technologies. Within this context, multi-stage centrifugal pumps (MSCPs), pivotal in energy systems, play a crucial role in influencing both system performance and environmental impact. This paper embarked on employing an inverse design method (IDM) to innovate the redesign of MSCP blades, introducing a steady-state index for characterizing the intensity of unsteady pressure fluctuations, thereby streamlining optimization costs. Optimization techniques utilizing an artificial neural network model and a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm were employed to achieve an optimal balance between maximizing energy efficiency and reducing hydro-induced vibrations. The optimized MSCP enhanced not only boosting performance but also a 2.75 % increase in weighted efficiency, significantly widening the high-efficiency operation zone. The improvement in vibration characteristics was manifested by an average reduction of more than 25 % in the amplitude of the primary frequency of pressure pulsations within the double volute, with a maximum reduction reaching 50.9 %. Furthermore, the research delved into the analysis of the internal energy dissipation mechanisms of MSCPs, drawing upon the entropy production theory and the enstrophy concept. This analysis reveals that energy dissipation in the mainstream zones is predominantly affected by shear enstrophy, whereas, in the wall regions, it is primarily governed by fluid velocity. The comprehensive performance enhancement of the optimized model is significantly credited to the refinement of the blade profile.