Inert Mass Research Articles

Design of Adsorption Heat Pump for Permanent Lunar Base

The design of an adsorption heat pump for a permanent lunar habitat is described herein. The adsorbent-refrigerant pair is chopped carbon fiber and methanol. The adsorption vessels are shell-and-tube with innovations to enhance conductance. The tubes have both radial internal and annular external fins, with metal wool loosely packed between the annular fins. Shell, tubes, fins, and wool are aluminum alloy. Carbon particles are vibratory compacted to 50% porosity between the annular fins and around the wool. An analytical model is presented for predicting efficiency and validated against a state-of-the-art prototype reported in the literature. The new design is compared with three of the highest efficiency prior designs on the basis of a figure of merit, which roughly correlates to efficiency, and is defined as the number of transfer units for the adsorption vessel's internal heat exchanger multiplied by the ratio of adsorbent to inert thermal mass. The new design has a predicted coefficient of performance for cooling of 1.5, 25% greater than previously reported. Specific cooling power is 355 W ·kg -1 of adsorbent or 141 W ·kg -1 of total mass (carbon, methanol, aluminum, and ethylene glycol heat transfer fluid), requiring106 kg of adsorbent vessels to provide 15 kW of cooling.

Coupled heat and mass transfer during nonisothermal absorption by falling droplet with internal circulation

We considered mass and heat transfer during nonisothermal absorption of a gas by a falling droplet with internal circulation. Gas phase is assumed to be free of inert admixtures and mass transfer is liquid phase controlled. Mass flux is directed from a gaseous phase to a droplet, and the interfacial shear stress causes a fluid flow inside the droplet. Droplet deformation under the influence of interface shear stress is neglected. Absorbate accumulation and temperature increase in the bulk of liquid phase are taken into account. The problem is solved in the approximations of a thin concentration and temperature boundary layers in the liquid phase. The thermodynamic parameters of the system are assumed constant. The system of transient partial parabolic differential equations of convective diffusion and energy balance with time-dependent boundary conditions is solved by combining the similarity transformation method with Duhamel's theorem, and the solution is obtained in a form of Volterra integral equation of the second kind which is solved numerically. Theoretical results are compared with available experimental data for water vapor absorption by falling droplets of aqueous solution of LiBr.

Inactivation of NADPH oxidase organizer 1 Results in Severe Imbalance

Otoconia are biominerals of the vestibular system that are indispensable for the perception of gravity. Despite their importance, the process of otoconia genesis is largely unknown. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized for their toxic effects in antimicrobial host defense as well as in aging and carcinogenesis. Enzymes evolved for ROS production belong to the recently discovered NADPH oxidase (Nox) enzyme family . Here we show that the inactivation of a regulatory subunit, NADPH oxidase organizer 1 (Noxo1), resulted in the severe balance deficit seen in the spontaneous mutant "head slant" (hslt) mice whose phenotype was rescued by Noxo1 transgenes. Wild-type Noxo1 was expressed in the vestibular and cochlear epithelia and was required for ROS production by an oxidase complex. In contrast, the hslt mutation of Noxo1 was biochemically inactive and led to an arrest of otoconia genesis, characterized by a complete lack of calcium carbonate mineralization and an accumulation of otoconial protein, otoconin-90/95 (OC-90/95). These results suggest that ROS generated by a Noxo1-dependent vestibular oxidase are critical for otoconia formation and may be required for interactions among otoconial components. Noxo1 mutants implicate a constructive developmental role for ROS, in contrast to their previously described toxic effects.

A general description of detachment for multidimensional modelling of biofilms

A general method for describing biomass detachment in multidimensional biofilm modelling is introduced. Biomass losses from processes acting on the entire surface of the biofilm, such as erosion, are modelled using a continuous detachment speed function F(det). Discrete detachment events, i.e. sloughing, are implicitly derived from simulations. The method is flexible to allow F(det) to take several forms, including expressions dependent on any state variables such as the local biofilm density. This methodology for biomass detachment was integrated with multidimensional (2D and 3D) particle-based multispecies biofilm models by using a novel application of the level set method. Application of the method is illustrated by trends in the dynamics of biofilms structure and activity derived from simulations performed on a simple model considering uniform biomass (case study I) and a model discriminating biomass composition in heterotrophic active mass, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and inert mass (case study II). Results from case study I demonstrate the effect of applied detachment forces as a fundamental factor influencing steady-state biofilm activity and structure. Trends from experimental observations reported in literature were correctly described. For example, simulation results indicated that biomass sloughing is reduced when erosion forces are increased. Case study II illustrates the application of the detachment methodology to systems with non-uniform biomass composition. Simulations carried out at different bulk concentrations of substrate show changes in biofilm structure (in terms of shape, density and spatial distribution of biomass components) and activity (in terms of oxygen and substrate consumption) as a consequence of either oxygen-limited or substrate-limited growth.

Evaluation of a novel method for measuring tissue blood flow and gases

In clinical practice a method for assessment of tissue vitality is a sought-after tool. We have developed a new sensor principle, which is able to register changes in tissue concentration of O2 and tissue flow. The technique is based on diffusion of inert gases and mass spectrometer detection of gaseous metabolites. It was hypothesized that the new sensor could register changes in vital parameters after induction and release of an ischaemic insult to muscular tissue. The sensor performance was evaluated in ten anaesthetized pigs subjected to local muscular ischaemia. Preliminary data from this study indicate the validity of registered hypoxia and reduction in tissue flow as a consequence of compromised blood supply. It was concluded that although precise calibration of the technique is not yet established, it holds promise as a technique that can be used to monitor changes in tissue vitality.

Two-dimensional cellular automaton model for mixed-culture biofilm

Structural and microbial heterogeneity occurs in almost any type of biofilm system. General approaches for the design of biofilm systems consider biofilms as homogeneous and of constant thickness. In order to improve the design of biofilms systems, models need to incorporate structural heterogeneity and the effect of inert microbial mass. We have improved a 2D biofilm model based on cellular automata (CA) and used it to simulate multidimensional biofilms with active and inert biomass including a self-organizing development. Results indicate that the presence of inert biomass within biofilm structures does not change considerably the substrate flux into the biofilm because the active biomass is located at the surface of the biofilm. Long-term simulations revealed that although the biofilm system is highly heterogeneous and the microstructure is continuously changing, the biofilm reaches a dynamic steady-state with prediction of biofilm thickness and substrate flux stabilizing on a delimited range.

He‐Ar Isotopic Systematics of Fluid Inclusions in Pyrites from PGE‐polymetallic Deposits in Lower Cambrian Black Rock Series, South China

Abstract He‐Ar isotopic compositions of fluid inclusions trapped in pyrites from some representative PGE‐polymetallic deposits in Lower Cambrian black rock series in South China were analyzed by using an inert gas isotopic mass spectrometer. The results show that the ore‐forming fluids possess a low 3He/4He ratio, varying from 0.43×10−8 to 26.39×10−8, with corresponding R/Ra value of 0.003‐0.189. The 40Ar/36Ar ratios are 258–287, close to those of air‐saturated water (ASW). He‐Ar isotopic indicator studies show that the ore‐forming fluids were mainly derived from the formation water or basinal hot brine and sea water, while the content of mantle‐derived fluid or deep‐derived magmatic water might be negligible. The PGE‐polymetallic mineralization might be related to the evolution of the Caledonian miogeosynclines distributed along the southern margin of the Yangtze Craton. During the Early Cambrian, the formation water or basinal hot brine trapped in Caledonian basins which accumulated giant thick sediments was expelled and migrated laterally along strata because of the pressure generated by overlying sediments. The basinal hot brine ascended along faults, mixed with sea water and finally deposited ore minerals.

In vitro biosynthesis of plasma proteins under ischemic conditions of closed-circuit perfusion of healthy and intoxicated rabbit liver

We are elaborating on the kinetics and mechanisms of septic rabbit liver to de novo biosynthesize acute-phase response (APR) proteins under in vitro conditions of deepening ischemia in reference to their in vivo prevalence in serum and cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) collected at predetermined times. The significance of the data is interpreted as relevant to grafting cadaveric liver into end-stage liver diseased patients and APR-induced ischemic heart diseases (IHD). Hepatic APR was induced by CCl 4-intubation, and the administration of cholera toxin (CT) or scorpion venom (SV), or both, to rabbits. Hepatic functional efficiency, in terms of biosynthesis of APR proteins in closed circuit perfusion of the isolated intoxicated liver with oxygenated saline or L-15 media paralleled the two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis (2D-IEP) spectrum of APR serum proteins at time of liver isolation. We are suggesting: (a) in vitro biosynthesis of plasma proteins by isolated perfused liver is the result of in vivo decoded and retained APR inflammatory signals; and (b) decoded inflammatory signals are expressed not withstanding the perfusate's organic composition. Furthermore, 90 min of ischemic perfusion in saline or L-15 medium precipitated mitochondrial aberrations which resulted in further deterioration of de novo biosynthesis of APR plasma proteins. Regardless of the nature of the inflammatory stimuli, mitochondrial aberrations rendered the perfused organ a biologically inert tissue mass that was incapable of resuming biological function upon perfusion with oxygenated L-15 medium. This is most likely due to ischemia-induced irreversible hepatic necrosis. Thus, in vitro aberrations of mitochondrial function(s) critically limit the capability of the isolated liver to resume its organic function to sustain biosynthesis of de novo plasma proteins. Extrapolation of these results to the surgical management of end-stage liver diseases points to the importance of the status and the handling protocol(s) of the cadaver donor liver prior to successful grafting. We conclude that although histology of a cadaver liver may reveal well-preserved hepatic cellular organelles with at least minimal intra- and intercellular communication required for viable hepatic function, we deem it essential to further define acceptable minimal capabilities to de novo biosynthesize plasma proteins by a cadaver liver as a measure of its functional viability and suitability for transplantation. Ultimately, this measure may improve the success of liver transplants with minimal surgical and drug interventions.

Scanning the structure of ill‐known spaces: Part 3. Distribution of topological structures at elementary and cosmic scales

The distribution of the deformations of elementary cells is studied in an abstract lattice constructed from the existence of the empty set. One combination rule determining oriented sequences with continuity of set‐distance function in such spaces provides a particular kind of space‐time‐like structure which favors the aggregation of such deformations into fractal forms standing for massive objects. A correlative dilatation of space appears outside the aggregates. At large scale, this dilatation results in an apparent expansion, while at submicroscopic scale the families of fractal deformations give rise to families of particle‐like structure. The theory predicts the existence of classes of spin, charges and magnetic properties, while quantum properties associated with mass have previously been shown to determine the inert mass and the gravitational effects. When applied to our observable space‐time, the model would provide the justifications for the existence of the creation of mass in a specified kind of void, and the fractal properties of the embedding lattice extend the phenomenon to formal justifications of big‐bang‐like events without any need for supply of an extemporaneous energy.

Hygroscopic properties of mixed ammonium sulfate and carboxylic acids particles

AbstractThe hygroscopic growth of internally mixed ammonium sulfate and carboxylic acid particles was measured as a function of relative humidity by using a tandem differential mobility analyzer (TDMA). In TDMA experiments the organic compounds with different solubilities act in several ways, ranging from the behavior of totally insoluble substance to that of soluble compounds. The hygroscopic properties for mixtures containing either adipic acid or phthalic acid together with ammonium sulfate indicate that the organic fraction of the particles behaves as an inert mass and does not contribute to water uptake. The mixtures involving malonic acid or succinic acid increased the water uptake of the ammonium sulfate part only. The results indicate that the solubility of the organic fraction in individual aerosol particles clearly influences the aerosol–water interaction.

Lower limb alactic anaerobic power output assessed with different techniques in morbid obesity.

Short-term alactic anaerobic performance in jumping (5 consecutive jumps with maximal effort), sprint running (8 m) and stair climbing (modified Margaria test) were measured in 75 obese subjects (BMI: 40.3+/-5.0 kg/m2) and in 36 lean control subjects (BMI: 22.4+/-3.2 kg/m2) of the same age and gender distribution. The results show that obese subjects attained a significantly lower specific (per unit body mass) power output both in jumping (W(spec,j); p<0.001) and stair climbing (W(spec,s); p<0.001) and run at a significantly lower average velocity (v; p<0.001) during sprinting. In spite of the different motor skillfulness required to accomplish the jumping and climbing tests, W(spec,s) (and hence the vertical velocity in climbing, v(v)) was closely correlated with W(spec,j) (R2=0.427, p<0.001). In jumping, although the average force during the positive work phase was significantly higher in obese subjects (p<0.001), no difference between the 2 groups was detected in absolute power. In stair climbing the absolute power output of obese resulted significantly higher (18%) than that of lean controls (p<0.001). In sprint running, the lower average horizontal velocity attained by obese subjects also entailed a different locomotion pattern with shorter step length (L(s); p<0.001), lower frequency (p<0.001) and longer foot contact time with ground (T(c,r); p<0.001). W(spec,j) seems to be a determinant of the poorer motor performance of obese, being significantly correlated with: I) the vertical displacement of the centre of gravity (R2=0.853, p<0.001) in jumping; II) with v(v) in stair climbing; and III) with T(c,r) (R2=0.492, p<0.001), L(s) (R2=0.266, p<0.001) and v (R2=0.454, p<0.001) in sprinting. The results suggest that obese individuals, although partially hampered in kinetic movements, largely rely on their effective specific power output to perform complex anaerobic tasks, and they suffer from the disproportionate excess of inert mass of fat. Furthermore, in view of the sedentary style of life and the consequent degree of muscle de-conditioning accompanying this condition, it may prove useful to implement rehabilitation programs for obesity with effective power training protocols.

Studying the new media

Studies of the impact of the media on people have not produced stable results, because they operate with an unrealistic view of audience members as an inert mass of passive “recipients” of what is aimed at them. Observation of television viewers in France, and the examples of amateur photography and pornography, show the importance of a more realistic view, taking account of the active participation of people in the creation of communication works and the worlds of arts that are not conventionally studied.

Influence of adsorption cycle limitations on the system performance

The economics of heat driven heat pumps are governed by two thermodynamic quantities: the performance on the one hand and the size of the heat exchangers, which is required to obtain this performance, on the other hand. The aim of this paper is to discuss the influence of the main features of adsorption cycles in comparison to absorption cycles on these quantities. In our case, a Zeolite UCC16×40-type 13X has been taken as the adsorbent. The analysis has already been used for absorption heat pumps. In the case of adsorption and other solid sorption chillers, additional limitations appear, e.g. identical design of all adsorbers, incomplete heat recovery between adsorbers, cycling of inert mass, etc., which all contribute to a lowering of the system performance or to an increase of the exchange area required. To show the basic differences between absorption and adsorption cycle optimization, and also to show the impact of physical or technical limitations on the adsorption chiller performance, a detailed analysis has been performed. It is confirmed that it is mainly the lack of a solution heat exchanger which lowers the adsorption system COP and not physical properties of the working pair, so there is still a lot of room for improvement in the solid-sorption of heat pumps.

A novel mechanism of body mass regulation.

While significant attention has been devoted to the identification of hormonal factors that control body mass, little attention has been paid to the role of mechanical loading on animal mass. Here, we provide evidence that intraperitoneal implantation of metabolically inert mass results in a compensatory reduction in tissue mass. Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were surgically implanted with weights of 1, 2 or 3 g. There was a resulting loss of tissue mass (total body mass minus implant mass) that was proportional to the mass of the implant. This reduction in tissue mass followed a reduction in food intake in animals with 3 g implants. Evaluation of body composition failed to identify any single component that contributed to the loss of tissue mass. Removal of implants led to a transient restoration of body mass to levels similar to the total body mass of those control animals in which the implant had not been removed. However, within 12 days of implant removal, body mass again declined to the level seen before implant removal. These results suggest the existence of a set point that is sensitive to changes in the perception of mass and that is transduced via neural pathways.

Properties and structures of diamond-like carbon film deposited using He, Ne, Ar/methane mixture by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have been deposited by a magnetically enhanced plasma (MEP) chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system. The properties and structures of DLC films deposited by MEP-CVD using various gases (methane, He/methane, Ne/methane, and Ar/methane) were studied. The mechanical properties in terms of hardness, Young’s modulus and stress, and optical properties in terms of optical band gap and refractive index were enhanced by adding inert gas in methane plasma. The magnitude of the effects on the properties for various inert gases was found as Ne, Ar, and He, on the surface roughness was found as Ar, Ne, and He. The Raman characteristic shows a dependence of the bias voltage and inert-gas/methane ratio, as well as the inert gases dilution. The Raman spectroscopy analysis indicates that the changes of properties of the DLC films are due to the structural changes, such as sp2 and sp3 content in the films prepared under various deposition conditions. The films deposited in Ne/methane show the lowest disordered (D) peak to graphitic (G) peak intensity ratio, the D and G peak positions; highest stress, hardness, Young’s modulus, optical band gap, and lowest reflective index. The films deposited in Ar/methane show the lowest surface roughness. This was proposed due to the optimum balance in the inert gas ionization potential and atomic mass.

The effect of organic coatings on the cloud condensation nuclei activation of inorganic atmospheric aerosol

Atmospheric aerosols have mixed chemical composition, with a variety of inorganic (e.g., sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, and sodium) and organic species often present in a single particle. In the present study, we investigate experimentally the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation of submicron aerosol consisting of an inorganic core (e.g., ammonium sulfate) coated by an organic film, at typical atmospheric supersaturations. We use two types of organic coatings on the (NH4)2SO4 particles. The first is glutaric acid, a CCN active organic found in the atmosphere, and the second species is dioctylphthalate (DOP), a nonhygroscopic organic. The CCN activation of (NH4)2SO4‐glutaric acid particles was measured at a supersaturation of 0.3%, for different inorganic core sizes and organic film thickness. We found that a coating of glutaric acid increases the CCN activation of an (NH4)2SO4 particle and that this behavior can be predicted by Köhler theory. The deviation from Köhler theory for the mixed aerosol was determined by comparing theoretical and experimental CCN activation diameters for the particles and was found to be within experimental error. A thick coating of DOP (at least 70% by mass) did not hinder the activation of (NH4)2SO4 particles at supersaturations of 0.5 and 1.0%. The values for the measured activation diameters for the DOP coated (NH4)2SO4 particles were within the experimental error determined by the pure inorganic experiments, indicating that DOP was most likely acting as inert mass during activation.

Effects of diffusional water removal and heat transfer in nylon 6 reactors

AbstractThe effects of diffusional water removal and heat transfer on the polymerization of ε‐caprolactam were investigated by solving the systems of differential mass and energy balance equations using a finite difference method. Two types of contacting scheme between inert gas and reaction mass have been chosen for study. One is a hollow sphere system and the other is a wetted‐wall type hollow cylinder system. The reaction system was designed to be in equilibrium with respect to monomer conversion. The interfacial area per unit volume and the diffusional depth have profound effects on the water content and the temperature of the reaction mass, and consequently on the molecular weight of the polymer produced. Larger interfacial area per unit volume and smaller diffusional depth lead to a higher rate of water removal and heat transfer. In case of larger interfacial area per unit volume, the higher interfacial temperature gives rise to higher molecular weight polymer. For the interfacial area per unit volume of 26.67 m2/m3, the number average chain length reaches as high as 277 and the polydispersity as high as 2.06 when the interfacial temperature is 270°C. The heat transfer greatly affects the content of cyclic dimer in the product so that the hollow cylinder type reactor is preferred, because it is easier to control the temperature of the later portion of the reactor.

Transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation of the morphologic and hemodynamic cardiac changes during ventricular fibrillation

To analyze cardiac motion during ventricular fibrillation (VF), we used transesophageal echocardiography to study nine male subjects, aged 44 ± 7 years, affected by heart disease who have poor left ventricular function, during implantation of an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, when VF is induced several times to determine the defibrillation threshold. Wall and valvular motion, transmitral and transaortic blood flow, and blood echoreflectivity were evaluated in all patients. Moreover, in basal conditions, during VF, 1 and 5 minutes after restoration of basal rhythm, we calculated the left ventricular end-diastolic volume (EDLVV) and area (EDLVA), the left ventricular end-systolic volume and area, the ejection fraction, and the fractional area change with a four-chamber echocardiographic view. At the onset of VF, the myocardium and valves exhibited a chaotic motion. About 10 seconds later the oscillatory movement of the heart walls became more ample and regular; the mitral valve showed a cyclic closure and opening with a forward flow, and the aortic valve exhibited similar behavior, although at a lower intensity. A spontaneous echo contrast appeared inside the atrial and ventricular cavities, gradually becoming an inert homogeneous mass that was completely flushed away with the restoration of the basal rhythm. When VF started, EDLVV (286 ± 98 ml) and EDLVA (50 ± 16.5 cm 2) decreased abruptly (EDLVV = 182 ± 65 ml, p < 0.02; EDLVA = 38 ± 9.2 cm 2, p < 0.05); so did ejection fraction (31.8% ± 15% versus 11% ± 5%; p < 0.003) and fractional area change (25.8% ± 6.5% versus 7% ± 3.4%; p < 0.001). When the basal rhythm was restored, the heart extended again and EDLVV, EDLVA, ejection fraction, and fractional area change after 1 and 5 minutes were similar to those calculated before induction of VF. This behavior was observed during both the first and last induced VF. Thus during VF, great variations of heart morphology and dynamics, as well as blood echoreflectivity, occur; the heart seems to make attempts to organize its dynamics during the arrhythmia. Repeated episodes of VF and defibrillation with low energies do not seem to worsen left ventricular dynamics even in impaired hearts.

Control of Drying Process in Mechanically Spouted Bed Dryer

ABSTRACT The continuously operated Mechanically Spouted Bed (MSB) dryer of high evaporative capacity can be advantageously used to produce fine powder from paste-like materials, slurries, suspensions and sludges. Due to the thin layer formed on the surface of the spherical inert particles intensive heat and mass transfer occur and the drying process takes place in the constant rate period. Steady state drying conditions can be achieved when the total operational time of partial processes of inert bed drying does not exceed the cycle time of the inert particles. A laboratory scale MSB dryer has been equipped with a computerised measuring, data acquisition and control system. In the knowledge of the hydrodynamic characteristics of the MSB and giving the enthalpy and mass balances over the dryer a calculation method has been developed for control of drying process.

Performance optimization of two-bed closed-cycle solid-sorption heat pump systems

The performance of two-bed, closed-cycle solid-sorption heat pumps are affected by the switching frequencies at which the sorbent beds are cycled between the regeneration and adsorption processes. However, there always exists a switching frequency that optimizes the system performance (i.e., thermal COP) for given design and operating conditions. In this paper, the performance of two-bed, closed-cycle solidsorption heat pumps are optimized based on the switching frequency and the effect of the design and operating parameters on the optimum performance are investigated. The effect of the sorbent bedNTU, the thermal resistance within the sorbent, the contact resistance between the sorbent and the tube wall of the heat transfer fluid, the fraction of inert mass within the sorbent bed heat exchanger, and amount of fluid resident within the heat exchanger, on the optimum system performance is documented.