Numerical investigation of condensation of gasoline vapor with turbulent flow in vertical tubes

To investigate the characteristics of the condensation in gasoline vapor condensation recovery,the condensation process of gasoline vapor with turbulent flow in a vertical tube is simulated based on the gas-liquid two-phase flow model.An effective diffusion coefficient is used to describe mass diffusion among the species of gasoline vapor.Several variables including temperature,pressure,liquid film thickness and the variation of the Nusselt number in the tube are simulated.The effects of the inlet-to-wall temperature difference and the Reynolds number on the condensation rate and the Nusselt number are obtained by modelling.The results show that heat transfer and condensation can be enhanced significantly by increasing the inlet Reynolds number.However,the increase in the inlet-to-wall temperature difference has little effect on the condensation rate.It is also found that the gasoline vapor condensation rate is influenced greatly by the mass transfer resistance.The comparison of results from the model with previous experiments shows a good agreement.

Rapid Detection of Accelerants in Fire Debris Using a Field Portable Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade Laser Based Analyzer

Arson presents a challenging crime scene for fire investigators worldwide. Key to the investigation of suspected arson cases is the analysis of fire debris for the presence of accelerants or ignitable liquids. This study has investigated the application and method development of vapor phase mid-Infrared (mid-IR) spectroscopy using a field portable quantum cascade laser (QCL) based system for the detection and identification of accelerant residues such as gasoline, diesel, and ethanol in fire debris. A searchable spectral library of various ignitable fluids and fuel components measured in the vapor phase was constructed that allowed for real-time identification of accelerants present in samples using software developed in-house. Measurement of vapors collected from paper material that had been doused with an accelerant followed by controlled burning and then extinguished with water showed that positive identification could be achieved for gasoline, diesel, and ethanol. This vapor phase mid-IR QCL method is rapid, easy to use, and has the sensitivity and discrimination capability that make it well suited for non-destructive crime scene sample analysis. Sampling and measurement can be performed in minutes with this 7.5 kg instrument. This vibrational spectroscopic method required no time-consuming sample pretreatment or complicated solvent extraction procedure. The results of this initial feasibility study demonstrate that this portable fire debris analyzer would greatly benefit arson investigators performing analysis on-site.