Low Concentration Polymer Solutions Research Articles

Особенности согласованного изменения сопротивления трения и профиля скорости течения в трубах при проявлении эффекта Томса

Object and purpose of research. Relationships between friction resistance coefficient and velocity distributions in the turbulent boundary layer of low-concentrated polymer solutions are investigated. These relationships are different from water because in polymer solutions the friction resistance at constant Reynolds numbers is additionally changed with solution concentrations. Materials and methods. The known experimental data on variations of the friction resistance coefficient and the velocity profiles in turbulent flows in circular tubes at changes in polymer solution concentrations. Main results. The general law of coordinated variations in friction resistance coefficient λ and flow velocity profile in the turbulent boundary layer depending on Reynolds number and polymer solution concentration. The flow models are validated, which describe the laws of velocity variations in all characteristic sections of boundary layer: laminar sublayer, buffer and logarithmic flow areas. A new non-dimensional number is introduced, which characterizes the ability of low concentrated water solutions of polymers to reduce the friction resistance. It is called the Toms effect parameter in the work. Conclusion. Results of the investigation will be useful in developing the theoretical methods for estimation of boundary layer characteristics in polymer solutions.

Intense Quench Process in Slow Agitated Water Salt and Polymer Solutions

In the paper it is shown that quenching in slow agitated water salt solution of optimal concentration and in low concentration of inverse solubility polymers is intensive quenching creating maximal temperature gradients at the beginning of cooling. The evidence to support such idea were collected by analyzing quenching process in liquid media where any film boiling process was completely absent. In this case, surface temperature at the beginning of cooling drops closely to saturations temperature of a liquid within the interval 1–2 seconds, independently on nature of water solution, and then during transient nucleate boiling process maintains at the level of boiling point of a liquid which is often called self–regulated thermal process. The computer modeling of such cooling processes provided Kondrat’ev numbered Kn which are strongly linear function of time. At the beginning of cooling Kondrat’ev number is almost equal to 1 while average Kondrat’ev number Kn≥0.8. According to US Patent, intensive quenching starts when Kn=0.8. Based on achieved results, it is possible to perform intensive quenching in slow agitated of low concentration water salt and polymer solutions, usually initiated by hydrodynamic emitters. Along with liquid agitation, emitters generate resonance wave effect which destroys film boiling processes making cooling very uniform and intensive. The proposed IQ process works perfectly when martensite starts temperature Ms>Ts. If saturation temperature Ts≥Ms, intensive austempering process via cold liquids can be successfully performed to replace slow cooling of molten salts and alkalis by intensive quenching in liquid media.

Ordered porous conjugated poly(p-phenylene)s films self-assembled through alcohol-controlled breath figure method

Because of their wide applications, the polymer porous films with regular patterned structure have attracted more and more attention. Herein, the porous films created from the poly(p-phenylene)s/CHCl3 solutions have been self-assembled in an alcohol-water mixed vapor atmosphere. The results show that the patterns of the films depend on the polymer concentration and the ratio of alcohols to water. The introduction of a small amount of alcohols can improve the regular pore patterns of the porous films. Using the mixed water/methanol droplets as soft templates, the ordered porous films can be obtained from a high-concentration polymer solution. The low-concentration polymer solution and a high ratio of alcohol to water lead to form large pores in the films. The alcohol-controlled breath figure method is a facile way to design and fabricate ordered porous films based on a conjugated polymer.

Stable and unstable miscible displacement of a shear-thinning fluid at low Reynolds number

We present the results of experiments performed for the displacement of an aqueous low-concentration polymer solution that initially fills a capillary tube (diameter < 1 mm), using water. Aqueous carboxymethyl-cellulose polymer solutions were prepared at initial concentration 0.5 < c0 < 0.75 (w/w). Polymer concentrations are low such that the displaced fluids may be considered shear-thinning. We measured the shear viscosity of the aqueous polymer solutions and obtained values for Carreau shear-thinning fluid model parameters at each polymer concentration. Separately, we measured the average bulk diffusivity for each solution. The estimates of the residual film using penetrating fluid tip and mean velocities were measured as a function of the Peclet (Pe), Reynolds (Re), Carreau (Cu0), and viscous Atwood number based on zero shear-rate viscosity (At0) where the latter two were computed using c0. For Cu0 > 1, we observe a corkscrew type instability where the wavelength increases as diffusion is diminished but requires a finite amount of diffusion to appear.

Template-Assisted Preparation of Micrometric Suspended Membrane Lattices of Photoluminescent and Non-Photoluminescent Polymers by Capillarity-Driven Solvent Evaporation: Application to Microtagging

In this work, the bottom-up template-assisted preparation of high-density lattices (up to 11 · 106 membranes/cm2) of suspended polymer membranes with micrometric size (in the order of few μm2) and sub-micrometric thickness (in the order of hundreds of nm) is demonstrated for both photoluminescent and non-photoluminescent polymers by capillarity-driven solvent evaporation. Solvent evaporation of low concentration polymer solutions drop-cast on an array of open-ended micropipes is shown to lead to polymer membrane formation at the inlet of the micropipes thanks to capillarity. The method is proven to be robust with high-yield (>98%) over large areas (1 cm2) and of general validity for both conjugated and non-conjugated polymers, e.g. poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole (F8BT), poly[2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV), polystyrene (PS), thus breaking a new ground on the controlled preparation of polymer micro and nanostructures. Angle dependence and thermal stability of photoluminescence emission arising from F8BT membrane lattices was thorough investigated, highlighting a non-Lambertian photoluminescence emission of membrane lattices with respect to F8BT films. The method is eventually successfully applied to the preparation of both photoluminescent and non-photoluminescent micro Quick Response (μQR) codes using different polymers, i.e. F8BT, MDMO-PPV, PS, thus providing micrometric-sized taggants suitable for anti-counterfeiting applications.

Pressure Transient Behavior for Alternating Polymer Flooding in a Three-zone Composite Reservoir

Alternating polymer flooding has achieved great attractions recently in oil industry, however, the research of pressure analysis in alternating polymer flooding reservoir is rare. This work presents a numerical pressure analysis method of three-zone composite model for formation evaluation. A new numerical pressure analysis model (three-zone composite model) is established by considering diffusion, convection, shear, and inaccessible pore volume, which is based on the rheology experiments. Based on this model, the type curves are then developed and sensitivity analysis is further conducted. The type curves have seven regimes in three-zone composite model. The characteristic is the obvious upturn of pressure derivative curve in transient regime between low concentration and high concentration polymer solution. Formation parameters can be interpreted by history matching and formation evaluation can be conducted based on this model. As an important part of formation evaluation, formation damage as a result of adsorption of polymers in porous media is evaluated by comparing the interpreted permeability with the original value before polymer flooding. The field test data proves that this proposed method can accurately evaluate reservoir characteristics in alternating polymer flooding reservoirs, which emphasizes the potential application of this method in petroleum industry.

Measurement of relaxation times in extensional flow of weakly viscoelastic polymer solutions

The characterization of the extensional rheology of polymeric solutions is important in several applications and industrial processes. Filament stretching and capillary breakup rheometers have been developed to characterize the extensional properties of polymeric solutions, mostly for high-viscosity fluids. However, for low concentration polymer solutions, the measurements are difficult using available devices, in terms of the minimum viscosity and relaxation times that can be measured accurately. In addition, when the slow retraction method is used, solvent evaporation can affect the measurements for volatile solvents. In this work, a new setup was tested for filament breakup experiments using the slow retraction method, high-speed imaging techniques, and an immiscible oil bath to reduce solvent evaporation and facilitate particle tracking in the thinning filament. Extensional relaxation times above around 100 μs were measured with the device for dilute and semi-dilute polymer solutions. Particle tracking velocimetry was also used to measure the velocity in the filament and the corresponding elongation rate, and to compare with the values obtained from the measured exponential decay of the filament diameter.

Emulsion electrospinning of polycaprolactone: influence of surfactant type towards the scaffold properties

Producing uniform nanofibers in high quality by electrospinning remains a huge challenge, especially using low concentrated polymer solutions. However, emulsion electrospinning assists to produce nanofibers from less concentrated polymer solutions compared to the traditional electrospinning process. The influence of individual surfactants towards the morphology of the emulsion electrospun poly (ɛ-caprolactone)/bovine serum albumin (PCL/BSA) nanofibers were investigated by using (i) non-ionic surfactant sorbitane monooleate (Span80); (ii) anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS); and (iii) cationic benzyltriethylammonium chloride, and poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer Pluronic F108 of different concentrations. The morphology, along with the chemical and mechanical properties of the fibers, was evaluated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, water contact angle, and tensile tester. With the addition of surfactants, the electrospinnability of dilute PCL solution was enhanced, with either branched or uniform fibers were obtained. Electrospinning of an emulsion containing 0.4% (w/v) SDS produced the smallest and the most uniform nanofibers (167 ± 39 nm), which was attributed to the high conductivity of the solution. Analysis revealed that the emulsion electrospun nanofibers containing different surfactants and surfactant concentrations differ in fiber morphology and mechanical properties. Results suggest that surfactants have the ability to modulate the fiber morphology via electrostatic and hydrogen bonding, depending on their chemical structure.

Optimal feedback control in the stationary mathematical model of low concentrated aqueous polymer solutions

In this article we will consider the feedback control problem in the stationary model of motion of low concentrated aqueous polymer solutions. We demonstrate the solvability of an approximating problem, using some a priori estimates and the topological degree theory. Then the convergence (in some generalized sense) of solutions of approximating problems to a solution of the given problem is proved. Moreover, we show the existence of a solution minimizing a given convex, lower semicontinuous functional.

Numerical Calculation of Viscous-Elastic Fluid Flooding Residual Oil Film in the Complex Pore

In order to analyze the stress and deformation of different permeability of residual oil film in the complex pore, which are affected by the viscous-elasticity of the fluid, the hydrodynamic displacement mechanism is explored from the stand-point of hydrodynamics, that is, the residual oil film displaced by alternating injection of different concentrations of the polymer solution, viscous-elastic fluid flow equation is established in the complex pore by choosing continuity equation, motion equation and the upper convected Maxwell constitutive equation. The flow field is computed by using the method of numerical analysis. Not only the stress and deformation of residual oil film on the different permeability of micro pores, but also the analysis of the flooding mechanism of alternating injection of different concentrations of the polymer solution is got. The results show that the larger the viscous-elasticity of polymer solution is, the bigger the normal deviatoric stress acting on the residual oil film is; the distribution of normal deviatoric stress has the abrupt change. The stronger the viscous-elasticity of the polymer solution is, the bigger the horizontal stress difference acting on the residual oil film is and the more obvious the deformation is; the high-concentration polymer solution is suitable for high-permeability micro pores. Low-concentration polymer solution is suitable for medium and low-permeability micro pores. Alternating injection of polymer solution can improve Volumetric Sweep Efficiency and increase the deformation of residual oil film, which is conducive to enhancing oil recovery.

Simulation of the turbulent-energy redistribution in a diluted polymer solution

A model of transfer of the Reynolds stresses in a turbulent flow of a low-concentration aqueous polymer solution, taking into account the weight of the polymer and its concentration in this solution, is proposed. The influence of a polymer additive in such a solution on the turbulent diffusion and the redistribution of turbulent energy between the Reynolds-stress tensor components was numerically investigated. It is shown that a high-molecular-weight polymer additive in the indicated flow plays a crucial role in changing the intensity of the energy exchange between the turbulent-stress components, which manifests itself as an increase in the anisotropy of the solution and a decrease in the turbulent-energy production and leads to a decrease in the friction drag in the flow.

Optimal Feedback Control in the Mathematical Model of Low Concentrated Aqueous Polymer Solutions

We consider the feedback control problem in the model of motion of low concentrated aqueous polymer solutions. We demonstrate the solvability of an approximating problem, using some a priori estimates and the topological degree theory. Then the convergence (in some generalized sense) of solutions of approximating problems to a solution of the given problem is proved. Moreover, we show the existence of a solution minimizing a given convex, lower semicontinuous functional.

Turbostratic graphite nanofibres from electrospun solutions of PAN in dimethylsulphoxide

Homogenous graphitic nanofibres (GNFs) have been synthesised by heat treatment of electrospun polyacrylonitrile in dimethylsulphoxide, offering a new solution route of low toxicity to manufacture sub-60 nm diameter GNFs. Fibre beading resulting from the spinning of low-concentration polymer solutions can be reduced with the addition of surfactant or sodium chloride. Characterisation techniques including X-ray diffraction, scanning- and transmission electron microscopy have been used to quantify the effect of the graphitisation process, by heat treatment up to 3000 deg. C, on the weight, diameter and structural morphology of the nanofibres. The GNFs have an entangled micro-fibril structure with graphitic ordering of up to 40 graphene layers after treatment at 3000 deg. C. There is little difference in the degree of graphitisation of GNFs prepared with a 250 deg. C oxidation step compared with those prepared without, but oxidised GNFs retain more of their original mass after heating under argon flow.

Effect of hyperbranched poly(ester amine) additive on electrospinning of low concentration poly(methyl methacrylate) solutions

AbstractElectrospinning of low concentration polymer solutions has the advantage of producing fibers with small diameters, but unfortunately beaded fibers are often observed. This article reports the use of hyperbranched poly(ester amine) (PEA) as an additive for low concentration polymer solutions to eliminate beads and improve the fiber uniformity. Electrospinning of low concentration poly(methyl methacrylate) solutions was investigated. With only 1 wt % hyperbranched PEA, the fiber uniformity was significantly improved. The principle of improvement was investigated by measuring the solution properties, and it is inferred that the improvement is attributed to the significant increase in solution conductivity. The solution viscosity and surface tension only change slightly. The versatility of this approach was demonstrated by electrospinning low concentration solutions of two other polymers: polystyrene and polyoxymethylene. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010

Critical Conditions for Effective Sand-Sized Solids Transport in Horizontal and High-Angle Wells

Summary Effective removal of small, sand-sized solids is critical for successful drilling and completion operations in sand reservoirs. Recent experience in extended-reach drilling also indicates that inefficient transport of smaller cuttings is a main factor for excessive drag and torque. This study was undertaken to determine two critical conditions for efficient transport of small solids. The two conditions are represented by the critical resuspension velocity (CRV), the minimum fluid velocity necessary to initiate solids-bed erosion, and the critical deposition velocity (CDV), the minimum fluid velocity required to prevent bed formation. Experiments were conducted in a field-scale flow loop (8 × 4.5 in., 100 ft long) to determine CRV and CDV for 0.45-mm and 1.4-mm sands in different fluids over a range of bed heights and hole inclinations. The results show that, depending on sand size and fluid properties, CDV is approximately two to three times larger than CRV. Water is more effective than low-concentration polymer solutions for bed erosion. However, polymer solutions are more helpful than water in preventing bed formation. This indicates the need for different drilling fluids for cleanout and drilling operations. A mechanistic model was developed to predict CRV for a solids bed. Both experimental and theoretical results indicate the importance of interparticle forces that are incorporated into the model. The model accounts for drillpipe eccentricity in any direction in an annulus, which is consistent with experimental observations. The model predictions are in good agreement with experimental results. Existing CDV correlations developed for larger cuttings were verified by experimental data for sands. The differences are approximately 25%. Results in this study will be useful not only in drilling and completion through sand reservoirs, but also in extended-reach drilling and sand control.

Associative Polymer Facilitated Electrospinning of Nanofibers

Electrospun nanofibers present an exciting avenue for development of novel materials with well-defined functionalities; however, broadening the scope of electrospinning to a diverse range of polymers remains a major challenge. In particular, a recurring issue in this field is the inability to spin polymers at lower concentrations in order to achieve smaller fiber diameters. This work explores the use of associative polymers as a means to overcome this limiting factor that prevents the electrospinnning of nanofibers from low-concentration polymer solutions. Hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble emulsion (HASE) polymers are comblike associative polymers with pendant hydrophobes that form a network in aqueous media consisting of both intra- and intermolecular hydrophobic junctions. Rheological measurements reveal that addition of HASE polymers in small amounts to poly(ethylene oxide) solutions leads to considerable increase in viscosity as well as dynamic moduli of the system. More importantly, these rheol...

Polymer and surface roughness effects on the drag crisis for falling spheres

. We make time resolved velocity measurements of steel spheres in free fall through liquid using a continuous ultrasound technique. We explore two different ways to induce large changes in drag on the spheres: 1) a small quantity of viscoelastic polymer added to water and 2) altering the surface of the sphere. Low concentration polymer solutions and/or a pattern of grooves in the sphere surface induce an early drag crisis, which may reduce drag by more than 50% compared to smooth spheres in pure water. On the other hand, random surface roughness and/or high concentration polymer solutions reduce drag progressively and suppress the drag crisis. We also present a qualititative argument which ties the drag reduction observed in low concentration polymer solutions to the Weissenberg number and normal stress difference.

Vortex shedding in flows of dilute polymer solutions

Experiments on vortex shedding from a cylinder placed in uniform flows of low concentration polymer solutions are reported for Reynolds numbers from 50 to 150. The fluids used were aqueous solutions of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and Weissenberg numbers were O ( 1 0 − 1 ). It is shown that even small amounts of PEO have a significant stabilizing effect on the von Kármán instability which is in turn destabilized by shear-thinning at higher concentrations. The presence of PEO is also observed to reduce the saturated vortex shedding frequency and cause a redistribution of velocity fluctuations in the attached shear layers. At higher concentrations further changes in the velocity fluctuations are noted in the wake. Downstream of the cylinder an overshoot in the time-average streamwise velocity is measured for the polymer solutions and an analogy is drawn to the negative wake behind a sphere falling in a viscoelastic fluid.

Design for DNA Separation Medium Using Bacterial Cellulose Fibrils

In this paper, we present a novel DNA separation medium using bacterial cellulose fibrils. Bacterial cellulose has an intrinsic three-dimensional micrometer- to nanometer-scale network structure. Addition of this material to a low-concentration polymer solution (<5 cP) enables high-resolution electrophoretic separation of DNA, even for fragments of 10-100-bp or single-nucleotide polymorphism. The newly designed medium consists of a double mesh: a 10-nm flexible mesh derived from a conventional polymer medium containing 10-nm to 1-microm rigid pores made up of 10-microm bacterial cellulose fragments.

Capillary electrophoresis with polymeric separation media: considerations for theory.

The theory of capillary electrophoresis with polymeric separation media is reviewed. Some of the major theories of gel electrophoresis are examined in terms of the experimental observations that they support. The considerations and difficulties in applying these theories to capillary electrophoresis with polymeric separation media are investigated, particularly the use of high electric field strengths and low concentration polymer solutions. Recent advances in this area, including some empirically-derived relationships and models currently found in the literature, and future directions for theory development are discussed.