Measurement Of Particle Distribution Research Articles

Comprehensive design and performance validation of a wind tunnel for advanced respirable dust deposition investigations

This study presents the comprehensive design and performance validation of a wind tunnel specifically developed for advanced investigations into respirable dust deposition pertinent to coal mining environments. The design integrates a constant particle delivery system engineered to maintain uniform particle dispersion, which is critical for replicating real-world conditions in coal mines. Our methodology involved using ANSYS Fluent for the design and optimization of a blowing-type wind tunnel, with a focus on controlling turbulence levels and minimizing pressure drops, which are crucial for accurate dust behaviour simulation. The core of our research emphasizes the deployment of the Aerosol Lung Deposition Apparatus (ALDA) alongside a custom dust injection system to measure particle distributions within the test section. This setup enabled us to simulate the inhalation of coal dust particles, providing a realistic scenario for assessing potential hazards to miners. Validation of the tunnel’s performance was achieved through extensive testing with dust sensors and a hot-wire anemometer, which verified the airflow velocity and turbulence against the initial design specifications. The findings affirm the wind tunnel's capability to effectively model dust deposition and its impacts, thereby offering opportunities for enhancing miner safety and health standards.

Determination of the Neutron Skin of ^{208}Pb from Ultrarelativistic Nuclear Collisions.

Emergent bulk properties of matter governed by the strong nuclear force give rise to physical phenomena across vastly different scales, ranging from the shape of atomic nuclei to the masses and radii of neutron stars. They can be accessed on Earth by measuring the spatial extent of the outer skin made of neutrons that characterizes the surface of heavy nuclei. The isotope ^{208}Pb, owing to its simple structure and neutron excess, has been in this context the target of many dedicated efforts. Here, we determine the neutron skin from measurements of particle distributions and their collective flow in ^{208}Pb+^{208}Pb collisions at ultrarelativistic energy performed at the Large Hadron Collider, which are mediated by interactions of gluons and thus sensitive to the overall size of the colliding ^{208}Pb ions. By means of state-of-the-art global analysis tools within the hydrodynamic model of heavy-ion collisions, we infer a neutron skin Δr_{np}=0.217±0.058 fm, consistent with nuclear theory predictions, and competitive in accuracy with a recent determination from parity-violating asymmetries in polarized electron scattering. We establish thus a new experimental method to systematically measure neutron distributions in the ground state of atomic nuclei.

Preparation of Ammonium Oleic Acid Salts and Their Evaluation as Shale Swelling Inhibitors in Water-Based Drilling Fluid

Abstract In this paper, ammonium oleic acid salts (AOS) were prepared from oleic acid and amines and investigated as low molecular weight shale swelling inhibitors. First, the inhibitory effect of AOS was investigated using the linear expansion test of bentonite. The results show that the inhibitor prepared from oleic acid and tetraethylene pentamine with a molar ratio of 1:2 (AOS-8) has an excellent inhibitory effect on the hydration expansion of bentonite. The inhibitory effect of AOS-8 on bentonite was further investigated in subsequent work steps using various methods, including the linear swelling test of clay and particle distribution measurement. The results show that AOS-8 has superior performance in inhibiting hydration swelling and dispersion of bentonite. With 0.5% AOS-8, the swelling rate was reduced to 37.7%, and the particle size of bentonite in water could be controlled with AOS-8. Finally, the inhibition mechanism of AOS-8 was determined in detail by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In water-based drilling fluid, AOS-8 is compatible with conventional additives. It can also significantly improve the lubricating capacity of the mud cake after ageing at 120°C.

Design and Experiments with a Robot-Driven Underwater Holographic Microscope for Low-Cost In Situ Particle Measurements

Microscopic analysis of microparticles in situ in diverse water environments is necessary for monitoring water quality and localizing contamination sources. Conventional sensors such as optical microscopes and fluorometers often require complex sample preparation, are restricted to small sample volumes, and are unable to simultaneously capture all pertinent details of a sample such as particle size, shape, concentration, and three-dimensional motion. This paper proposes a novel and cost-effective robotic system for mobile microscopic analysis of particles in situ at various depths which are fully controlled by the robot system itself. A miniature underwater digital in-line holographic microscope (DIHM) performs high-resolution imaging of microparticles (e.g., algae cells, plastic debris, sediments) while movement allows measurement of particle distributions covering a large area of water.

Electron Energization and Energy Dissipation in Microscale Electromagnetic Environments

Abstract Particle energization and energy dissipation in electromagnetic environments are longstanding topics of intensive research in space, laboratory, and astrophysical plasmas. One challenge is to understand these conversion processes at smaller and smaller spatial/temporal scales. In this Letter, with very high cadence measurements of particle distributions from the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft, we report evidence of evolution of an identified microscale (i.e., electron gyro-scale) magnetic cavity structure and reveal within it a unique energization process that does not adhere to prevailing adiabatic invariance theory. Our finding indicates that this process is largely energy dependent, and can accelerate/decelerate charged particles inside the trapping region during their gyromotion, clearly altering the particle distribution.

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnONPs) Photocatalyst using Pulse Laser Ablation Method for Antibacterial in Water Polluted

Synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles by pulse laser ablation method has been successed carried out. Synthesis was carried out in aquades medium with a repetition rate variation of 5 Hz, 10 Hz and 15 Hz pulse laser yielding brown colloids. The higher laser repetition rate, the colloidal color will be more dark brown. Characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles includes UV-Vis, SEM-EDX, FTIR and XRD. The image of SEM shows that zinc oxide nanoparticles have a round shape. Measurement of particle distribution with imageJ software from SEM images showed that ZnO nanoparticles were 23.63 nm, 12.13 nm and 5.59 nm for 5 Hz, 10 Hz and 15 Hz shots. The EDX spectrum analysis results show that only Zn and O atoms in the ZnO nanoparticles colloid are synthesized. FTIR results showed that sprocket ZnO was formed at wave number 457 cm-1 and 545 cm-1. The XRD analysis results also show some peaks known as the ZnO phase. This indicates that ZnO nanoparticles have been formed. The testing of the antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles using a liquid dilution method with nanoparticle concentrations of 40 ppm, 60 ppm and 80 ppm. The test results showed the percentage of degradation of Escherichia coli bacteria at concentrations of 40 ppm, 60 ppm and 80 ppm respectively at 89.60%, 97.76% and 98, 70%.

Electrostatic Spacecraft Potential Structure and Wake Formation Effects for Characterization of Cold Ion Beams in the Earth's Magnetosphere

AbstractCold plasma (up to few tens of electron volts) of ionospheric origin is present most of the time, in most of the regions of the Earth's magnetosphere. However, characterizing it using in situ measurements is difficult, owing to spacecraft electrostatic charging, as often this charging is at levels comparable to or even higher than the equivalent energy of the cold plasma. To overcome this difficulty, active potential control devices are usually placed on spacecraft that artificially reduce spacecraft charging. The electrostatic potential structure around the spacecraft is often assumed to be spherically symmetric, and corrections are applied to the measured particle distribution functions. In this work, we show that large deviations from the spherical model are present, owing to the presence of long electric field booms. We show examples using Magnetospheric MultiScale spacecraft measurements of the electrostatic potential structure and its effect on the measurement of cold ion beams. Overall, we find that particle detectors underestimate the cold ion density under certain conditions, even when their bulk kinetic energy exceeds the equivalent spacecraft potential energy and the ion beam reaches the spacecraft. Active potential control helps in reducing this unwanted effect, but we show one event with large cold ion density (∼10 cm−3) where particle detectors provide density estimates a factor of 3–5 below the density estimated from the plasma frequency. Understanding these wake effects indirectly constrains some properties of the magnetospheric cold ion component, such as their drift energy, direction, and temperature.

Structure of Electron‐Scale Plasma Mixing Along the Dayside Reconnection Separatrix

AbstractInteractions between magnetic reconnection inflows and outflows can result in a violent mixing process. In Magnetospheric MultiScale observations of asymmetric, low guide‐field reconnection, highly sheared electron flow paired with sharp density and temperature gradients have been found in association with bursts of strong (≥100 mV/m) electric fields parallel to the ambient magnetic field. It is likely that large spikes in E‖ are part of a dynamic, small‐scale structure which results from mixing between plasmas. In this study, a 1‐D Vlasov simulation with parameters directly comparable to the observed plasma environment and interaction timescale is used to demonstrate that mixing at a sharp boundary between magnetospheric and magnetosheath electrons is qualitatively consistent with measured particle distributions and signatures in E‖. Properties of mixing structures such as net electric potential are estimated and found capable of accelerating electron beams toward the electron diffusion region but are not necessarily sufficient to generate the strongest observed jets. Obliquely propagating lower hybrid drift waves are also present and likely provide most of the energy for acceleration. Drift waves may be responsible for cross‐field transport required to begin the mixing process. We conclude that parallel mixing primarily acts to mediate plasma boundaries, thermalizing electron beams contributing to the high anisotropy (Te‖>Te⊥) electron distributions found in the dayside reconnection magnetospheric inflow region.

Investigation of the riser cross-sectional aspect ratio effect on the flow dynamics in circulating fluidized beds by electrical capacitance tomography

With the increase of capacity, most of the circulating fluidized beds (CFB) risers are constricted to have rectangular cross section. Therefore, it is important to find out the cross-sectional aspect ratio effect on the gas-solids flow characteristics. In this study, a lab-scale CFB with two rectangular risers, which have the aspect ratio of 1:1 and 3:1, respectively, were studied by the electrical capacitance tomography (ECT), with the aided of pressure measurements and computational particle fluid dynamics (CPFD) simulation. Key issues related with ECT sensor design and image reconstruction, such as sensitivity map and excitation frequency, are also discussed. The results show that ECT image quality is affected by the sensitivity map and excitation frequency, and high excitation frequency and voltage are not equivalent of high image quality. In the riser bottom region, cross-sectional aspect ratio has big effect on ECT measured particle distribution and pressure drop, fewer particles are brought away from the bottom when the aspect ratio is larger. Multiple bubbles exist in the bottom region at Ve= 2.7 m/s, and bubble size decreases in the rectangular riser with larger cross-sectional aspect ratio. Static bed height influences the bubble behaviour that bubbles with smaller size scattered around and behave collapse or coalescence in the moving process when the static bed height is high.

High‐Resolution Measurements of the Cross‐Shock Potential, Ion Reflection, and Electron Heating at an Interplanetary Shock by MMS

AbstractThe Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft obtained unprecedented high‐time resolution multipoint particle and field measurements of an interplanetary shock event on 8 January 2018. The spacecraft encountered the supercritical forward shock of a forward/reverse shock pair in the pristine solar wind upstream of the bow shock near the subsolar point as they neared apogee at ~25 RE. The high‐time resolution measurements from the four spacecraft, separated by only ~20 km, allowed direct measurement of particle distributions revealing evidence of electron heating and near specularly reflected ions. The cross‐shock potential is calculated directly from 3‐D electric field measurements. This is the first reported direct high temporal resolution (<1 s) observation at an interplanetary shock of near specularly reflected ions. Calculation of the cross‐shock potential yields a potential jump significant enough to reflect at least some of the protons from the incident solar wind beam. The cross‐shock potential calculated here is consistent with previous estimations based on particle measurements and numerical/analytical simulations. The ambipolar contribution to the cross‐shock potential calculated from the four‐spacecraft divergence of the electron pressure tensor is somewhat higher than that inferred form the Liouville‐mapped electron energy gain across the shock. Furthermore, the high‐time‐resolution 3‐D electric field measurements reported here reveal small‐scale nonlinear structures embedded in the shock layer that contribute to the nonmonotonic shock transition.

Diffusing up the Hill: Dynamics and Equipartition in Highly Unstable Systems.

Stochastic motion of particles in a highly unstable potential generates a number of diverging trajectories leading to undefined statistical moments of the particle position. This makes experiments challenging and breaks down a standard statistical analysis of unstable mechanical processes and their applications. A newly proposed approach takes advantage of the local characteristics of the most probable particle motion instead of the divergent averages. We experimentally verify its theoretical predictions for a Brownian particle moving near an inflection in a highly unstable cubic optical potential. The most likely position of the particle atypically shifts against the force, despite the trajectories diverging in the opposite direction. The local uncertainty around the most likely position saturates even for strong diffusion and enables well-resolved position detection. Remarkably, the measured particle distribution quickly converges to a quasistationary one with the same atypical shift for different initial particle positions. The demonstrated experimental confirmation of the theoretical predictions approves the utility of local characteristics for highly unstable systems which can be exploited in thermodynamic processes to uncover energetics of unstable systems.

Investigation of ammonium–lauric salt as shale swelling inhibitor and a mechanism study

In this work, a series of ammonium–lauric salts (ALS) was prepared with lauric acid and amines as small molecular shale swelling inhibitor. The inhibitors were screened by the linear expansion test first, and the result shows that the inhibitor prepared by lauric acid and diethylenetriamine with the mole ratio of 2:1 (ALS-2) displays excellent inhibition effect on the hydration expansion of bentonite. The inhibition of ALS-2 to bentonite was fully evaluated by various methods in the following work, including clay linear swelling test and particle distribution measurement. The results show that ALS-2 has superior performance to inhibit the hydration swelling and dispersion of bentonite, and the swelling rate of bentonite in 0.5% ALS-2 was reduced to 29.7%. In water-based drilling fluid, ALS-2 is compatible with the conventional additives, and it can improve the lubricity of the mud cake obviously after aged under 120°C. Besides, it can control the particle size of bentonite in water. The inhibition mechanism of the ammonium–lauric salts was discussed in detail through physical adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Electron Dynamics in Magnetosheath Mirror‐Mode Structures

AbstractMirror‐mode structures are widely observed in space plasma environments. Although plasma features within the structures have been extensively investigated in theoretical models and numerical simulations, relatively few observational studies have been made, due to a lack of high‐cadence measurements of particle distributions in previous space missions. In this work, electron dynamics associated with mirror‐mode structures are studied based on Magnetospheric Multiscale observations of electron pitch angle distributions. We define mirror‐mode peaks/troughs as the region where the magnetic field strength is greater/smaller than the mean field. The observations show that most electrons are trapped inside the mirror‐mode troughs and display a donut‐like pitch angle distribution configuration. Besides the trapped electrons in mirror‐mode troughs, we find that electrons are also trapped between ambient mirror‐mode peaks and coexisting untrapped electrons within the mirror‐mode structure. Analysis shows that the observed donut‐like electron distributions are the result of betatron cooling and the spatial dependence of electron pitch angles within the structure.

Preparation and Application of a New Crosslinked Polyammonium as a Shale Inhibitor.

Despite the fact that a number of traditional shale inhibitors have been utilized widely in drilling operations, the same additive may be unfavorable for different drilling due to environmental protection requirements which limit scales of use. Hence, a series of polyammonium compounds was prepared from dimethylamine, epichlorohydrin, and melamine (DEM). To concentrate our efforts, we used both standard and extra methods to investigate the inhibitive properties of a melamine crosslinking agent using mud balls immersion tests, linear expansion measurements, laser particle distribution measurements, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The anti-swelling rate of DEM-8 reached up to 92.3% when its concentration reached 0.8%. DEM-8 has strong inhibitive capability to bentonite hydration swelling. DEM-8 can affect the bentonite particle size at a large scale. It may adsorb on the surface of clay through hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interaction by an anchoring effect and a hydrophobic effect. Compared with a blank solution, DEM-8 displays high inhibitive ability against the hydration and swelling of clay. The mud ball is more stable in DEM-8 solution and its swelling degree is very low compared with that of the control test. The inhibition mechanism of DEM-8 to shale can be deduced in that hydrogen bonding, ion exchange, and anchoring effect help to control the hydration and swelling.

Investigation of melamine derived quaternary as ammonium salt potential shale inhibitor

Melamine, sodium chloroacetate and sodium hydroxide were used as raw materials to synthesize a kind of neutral quaternary ammonium salt (NQAS) as potential clay swelling inhibitor and water-based drilling fluid additive, and the reaction conditions were screened based on the linear expansion rate of bentonite. The inhibitive properties of NQASs were investigated by various methods, including montmorillonite (MMT) linear expansion test, mud ball immersing test, particle distribution measurement, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy etc. The results indicate that NQAS can inhibit expansion and dispersion of clay in water effectively. At the same condition, the bentonite linear expansion rate in NQAS-6 solution is much lower than those of others, and the hydration expansion degree of the mud ball in 0.5% NQAS-6 solution is appreciably weaker than the control test. The compatibility test indicates NQAS-6 could be compatible with the conventional additives in water-based drilling fluids, and the temperature resistance of modified starch was improved effectively. Meanwhile, the inhibitive mechanism was discussed through the particle distribution measurement.

Improving precursor adsorption characteristics in ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with a ZrO2 nanoparticle coating

Nanoparticles were applied to a crystal surface to increase its precursor adsorption efficiency in an attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectrometer. Nanoparticles with varying dispersion stabilities were employed and the resulting precursor adsorption characteristics were assessed. The size of the nanoparticles was <100 nm (TEM). In order to vary the dispersion stability, ZrO2 nanoparticles were dispersed in aqueous solutions of different pH. The ZrO2 dispersion solutions were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) while particle distribution measurements were analyzed using electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. ZrO2 nanoparticles dispersed in solutions of pH 3 and 11 exhibited the most stable zeta potentials (≥+30 or ≤−30 mV); these observations were confirmed by SEM analysis and particle distribution measurements. Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) was used as a precursor for ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Consequently, when ZrO2 nanoparticle solutions with the best dispersion stabilities (pH 3 and 11) were applied to the adsorption crystal surface, the measurement efficiency of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy improved by ∼200 and 300%, respectively.

Observations of kinetic‐size magnetic holes in the magnetosheath

AbstractMagnetic holes (MHs), with a scale much greater than ρi (proton gyroradius), have been widely reported in various regions of space plasmas. On the other hand, kinetic‐size magnetic holes (KSMHs), previously called small‐size magnetic holes, with a scale of the order of magnitude of or less than ρi have only been reported in the Earth's magnetospheric plasma sheet. In this study, we report such KSMHs in the magnetosheath whereby we use measurements from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, which provides three‐dimensional (3‐D) particle distribution measurements with a resolution much higher than previous missions. The MHs have been observed in a scale of 10–20 ρe (electron gyroradii) and lasted 0.1–0.3 s. Distinctive electron dynamics features are observed, while no substantial deviations in ion data are seen. It is found that at the 90° pitch angle, the flux of electrons with energy 34–66 eV decreased, while for electrons of energy 109–1024 eV increased inside the MHs. We also find the electron flow vortex perpendicular to the magnetic field, a feature self‐consistent with the magnetic depression. Moreover, the calculated current density is mainly contributed by the electron diamagnetic drift, and the electron vortex flow is the diamagnetic drift flow. The electron magnetohydrodynamics soliton is considered as a possible generation mechanism for the KSMHs with the scale size of 10–20 ρe.

Preparation and performance of amine-tartaric salt as potential clay swelling inhibitor

A series of small molecular clay swelling inhibitor was prepared with tartaric acid and amines, presented as amine-tartaric salts (ATS). The inhibitor was screened based on the linear expansion rate of bentonite. The results show that the inhibitor prepared with tartaric acid and triethylenetetramine with the mole ratio of 1:1 (named as ATS-4) is the best inhibitor of the hydration expansion and dispersion of bentonite. The inhibitive properties of ATS-4 were evaluated by various methods, including clay linear swelling tests, anti-swelling tests, mud ball immersing tests, mud-making inhibition experiments and particle distribution measurements etc. The results show that ATS-4 has superior performance to inhibit the hydration swelling and dispersion of clays by controlling the particle size of clay. On the other hand, the bentonite linear expansion rate in 0.5% ATS-4 aqueous solution is much lower than that of others, and the hydration expansion degree of the mud ball in ATS-4 aqueous solution is appreciably weaker than the control test, and it is compatible with the conventional additives in water-based drilling fluids. Then, the inhibition mechanism of the amine-tartaric salt was well discussed based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), single crystal X-ray diffraction and ion exchange tests.

Understanding formation mechanism of heterogeneous porous structure of catalyst layer in polymer electrolyte fuel cell

In order to elucidate a porous structure consisting of carbon aggregate and ionomers, the agglomeration mechanism of carbon black in CL is examined based on the experimental results of particle diameter distribution of carbon black in CL ink with or without an ionomer and the transmission electron microscopy image of carbon black dispersion. A theoretical model of the attraction and repulsion between carbon particles is also discussed, and compared with experimental results. From this model and the measured particle distribution data, it is supposed that the structure with large isolated pores results from carbon black dispersion in CL slurry, and the interaction phenomenon of each carbon black particle depends on the weight ratio of ionomer and carbon. Furthermore, the carbon black aggregate and the agglomerate structure in CL are reproduced numerically, and the effects of the heterogeneous structure on gas diffusion performance are examined by simulations. These results suggest that gas diffusion performance depends on pore size and ionomer adhesion. In particular, ionomer migration near large pores strongly affects gas diffusion performance because of the existence of isolated pores. In addition, better gas diffusion needs a certain amount of pores of non-uniform sizes.

Particle Distribution Measurement of SiO2-based Phase Change and Humidity Controlling Composite Material with Fine Particle Size by Laser Particle Size Analyzer

Particle Distribution Measurement of SiO2-based Phase Change and Humidity Controlling Composite Material with Fine Particle Size by Laser Particle Size Analyzer