The flow within different cross sections of T-shaped pipes is analyzed using experimental measurements using particle image velocimetry technology and simulation modeling at different fluid velocities and outlet diameters. The study shows that the flow within the pipes predominantly exhibits multiple vortex patterns, with the evolution of the vortex patterns at different cross sections showing similar patterns and some degree of periodicity. It is also found that as the pipe diameter increases, the flow pattern in the main pipeline is relatively stable, although vortices form on the underside of the outlet pipe walls. Conversely, if the pipe diameter is smaller, vortices will not form within the outlet pipe, and the vortex patterns within the blind pipe will be unstable. In particular, as the velocity increases and the diameter of the outlet pipe decreases, the period of the vortex oscillation shortens. The research establishes a numerical equation relating the dominant frequency of vortex oscillations to the velocity and outlet pipe diameter, further demonstrating the mathematical relationship between the three in the outlet pipe.
Abstract The substitution of natural gas hydrates with CO 2 offers a compelling dual advantage by enabling the extracting of CH 4 while simultaneously sequestering CO 2 . This process, however, is intricately tied to the mechanical stability of CO 2 -CH 4 heterohydrates. In this study, we report the mechanical properties and cage transformations in CO 2 -CH 4 heterohydrates subjected to uniaxial straining via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and machine learning (ML). Results indicate that guest molecule occupancy, the ratio of CO 2 to CH 4 and their spatial arrangements within heterohydrate structure greatly dictate the mechanical properties of CO 2 –CH 4 heterohydrates including Young’s modulus, tensile strength, and critical strain. Notable, the introduction of CO 2 within clathrate cages, particularly within 5 12 small cages, weakens the stability of CO 2 –CH 4 heterohydrates in terms of mechanical properties. Upon critical strains, unconventional clathrate cages form, contributing to loading stress oscillation before fracture of heterohydrates. Intriguingly, predominant cage transformations, such as 5 12 6 2 –4 1 5 10 6 3 or 4 2 5 8 6 4 and 5 12 –4 2 5 8 6 1 cages, are identified, in which 4 1 5 10 6 2 appears as primary intermediate cage that is able to transform into 4 1 5 10 6 3 , 4 2 5 8 6 2 , 4 2 5 8 6 3 , 5 12 and 5 12 6 2 cages, unveiling the dynamic nature of heterohydrate structures under straining. Additionally, ML models developed using MD data well predict the mechanical properties of heterohydrates, and underscore the critical influence of the spatial arrangement of guest molecules on the mechanical properties. These newly-developed ML models serve as valuable tools for accurately predicting the mechanical properties of heterohydrates. This study provides fresh insights into the mechanical properties and cage transformations in heterohydrates in response to strain, holding significant implications for environmentally sustainable utilization of CO 2 –CH 4 heterohydrates.
Modulating surface wrinkling is important for a variety of engineering applications. It has been known for more than two decades that the wavelength of surface wrinkles occurring in a metal film–soft polymer system scales linearly with the deposited film thickness. In the current experimental study of ultrathin gold film (0.2–8 nm) deposition on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), an unexplored thickness-dependent wrinkling phenomenon is found. By manipulating the deposition sequence as a degree of freedom for tailoring surface topography, we discovered a morphology memory effect where the wrinkle evolution in the subsequent deposition step inherits the surface pattern already formed in the previous step. Moreover, a stepwise deposition targeting 1 nm thick film can lead to 1 order of magnitude higher surface roughness than the one in the continuous deposition. By programming the sequences within 8 nm Au deposition, a surface strain map varying drastically from 0.2% to 27% is realized. Instructed by the strain map, we show the great potentials of tailored wrinkles in alternating surface wettability, enhancing surface Raman scattering, and on-demand tuning of surface adhesion.
This review focuses on the progress in fiber-shaped self-powered perovskite devices, the benefits of the fiber geometry in optoelectronics, the challenges facing perovskites, and the possible recycling pathways of the material.
In view of the difficulty of producing heavy oil from carbonate reservoirs, the surfactant SDY-1 was synthesized by homogeneous solution polymerization with a homogeneous solution polymerization technique using aliphatic amine polyoxyethylene ether (PAEn) H(OCH2CH2)nNR(CH2CH2O)nH as the raw material, epichlorohydrin as the reaction intermediate, tetrabutylammonium bromide and pentamethyldivinyltriamine as the promoters, and alkylphenol as the catalyst. Based on the analysis of reservoir fluid and rock properties, the performance of the surfactant SDY-1 was evaluated in terms of its heat resistance, its salinity tolerance, its ability to change the heavy oil–water interfacial tension and rock wettability and its oil washing efficiency. The results show that when the salinity of the formation water is 2.23 × 105 mg/L, the addition of surfactant SDY-1 can lower the super-heavy oil–water interfacial tension with an asphaltene concentration of 30.19 wt.%, which is aged at a temperature of 140 °C for 3 days, from 22.41 to 0.366 mN/m. In addition, the surfactant SDY-1 can change the contact angle of super-heavy oil–water–rock from 129.7 to 67.4° and reduce the adhesion of crude oil to the rock surface by 99.26%. The oil displacement experiment indicates that the oil washing efficiency of the surfactant SDY-1 can reach 78.7% after ageing at a temperature of 140 °C for 3 days. Compared with petroleum sulfonate flooding, the addition of SDY-1 can improve the displacement efficiency by 33.6%, and the adsorption loss is only 0.651 mg/g oil sand. It has broad application prospects for heavy oil reservoirs with high temperatures, high pressures and high asphaltene contents.
Abstract Resourceful beyond-graphene two-dimensional (2D) carbon crystals have been proposed/synthesized; however, the fundamental knowledge of their melting thermodynamics remains lacking. Here, the structural and thermodynamic properties of nine contemporary 2D carbon crystals upon heating are investigated using first-principle-based ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations. Those 2D carbon crystals show distinct evolution of energetic and Lindemann index that distinguish their thermal stabilities. There are two or three critical temperatures at which structural transformation occurs for non-hexagon-contained 2D carbon allotropes. Analysis of polygons reveals that non-hexagon-contained 2D carbon crystals show thermally induced hex-graphene transitions via mechanisms such as bond rotations, dissociation, and reformation of bonds. The study provides new insights into the thermodynamics and pyrolysis chemistry of 2D carbon materials, as well as structural transitions, which is of great importance in the synthesis and application of 2D materials in high-temperature processing and environment.
Microemulsions have been attracting great attention for their importance in various fields, including nanomaterial fabrication, food industry, drug delivery, and enhanced oil recovery. Atomistic insights into the self-microemulsifying process and the underlying mechanisms are crucial for the design and tuning of the size of microemulsion droplets toward applications. In this work, coarse-grained models were used to investigate the role that droplet sizes played in the preliminary self-microemulsifying process. Time evolution of liquid mixtures consisting of several hundreds of water/surfactant/oil droplets was resolved in large-scale simulations. By monitoring the size variation of the microemulsion droplets in the self-microemulsifying process, the dynamics of diameter distribution of water/surfactant/oil droplets were studied. The underlying mass transport mechanisms responsible for droplet size evolution and stability were elucidated. Specifically, temperature effects on the droplet size were clarified. This work provides the knowledge of the self-microemulsification of water-in-oil microemulsions at the nanoscale. The results are expected to serve as guidelines for practical strategies for preparing a microemulsion system with desirable droplet sizes and properties.
Heat input is one of the most important process parameters during additive manufacturing (AM). It is of great significance to understand the effect of heat input on the microstructure and nanomechanical properties, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Wire-arc additive manufactured (WAAM-ed) Al 4047 alloys under different heat inputs were produced and studied in this work. The as-manufactured Al alloys showed hypoeutectic microstructure that consisted of primary Al (α-Al) dendrite and ultrafine Al–Si eutectic. The effect of heat input on hardness and strain rate sensitivity (SRS) were investigated through nanoindentation. The nanohardness decreased with the increasing heat input, in accordance with the trend of yield strength and microhardness in the previous studies, in which the mechanism was usually explained by the grain growth model and Hall-Petch relationship. This work suggests a distinct mechanism regarding the effect of heat input on nanohardness, which is the enhanced solid solution strengthening produced by lower heat input. In addition, the heat input had little effect on the SRS and activation volume. It is hoped that this study leads to new insights into the understanding of the relation between heat input and nanomechanical properties, and further benefits to improve the targeted mechanical properties and engineering applications of the AM-ed materials.