Study of deep transportation and plugging performance of deformable gel particles in porous media

Deformable gel particles(DGPs) possess the capability of deep profile control and flooding. However, the deep migration behavior and plugging mechanism along their path remain unclear. Breakage, an inevitable phenomenon during particle migration, significantly impacts the deep plugging effect. Due to the complexity of the process, few studies have been conducted on this subject. In this paper, we conducted DGP flow experiments using a physical model of a multi-point sandpack under various injection rates and particle sizes. Particle size and concentration tests were performed at each measurement point to investigate the transportation behavior of particles in the deep part of the reservoir. The residual resistance coefficient and concentration changes along the porous media were combined to analyze the plugging performance of DGPs. Furthermore, the particle breakage along their path was revealed by analyzing the changes in particle size along the way. A mathematical model of breakage and concentration changes along the path was established. The results showed that the passage after breakage is a significant migration behavior of particles in porous media. The particles were reduced to less than half of their initial size at the front of the porous media. Breakage is an essential reason for the continuous decreases in particle concentration, size, and residual resistance coefficient. However, the particles can remain in porous media after breakage and play a significant role in deep plugging. Higher injection rates or larger particle sizes resulted in faster breakage along the injection direction, higher degrees of breakage, and faster decreases in residual resistance coefficient along the path. These conditions also led to a weaker deep plugging ability. Smaller particles were more evenly retained along the path, but more particles flowed out of the porous media, resulting in a poor deep plugging effect. The particle size is a function of particle size before injection, transport distance, and different injection parameters(injection rate or the diameter ratio of DGP to throat). Likewise, the particle concentration is a function of initial concentration, transport distance, and different injection parameters. These models can be utilized to optimize particle injection parameters, thereby achieving the goal of fine-tuning oil displacement.

Mass transfer enhancement and hydrodynamic performance with wire mesh coupling solid particles in bubble column reactor

It is of vital significance to investigate mass transfer enhancements for chemical engineering processes.This work focuses on investigating the coupling influence of embedding wire mesh and adding solid particles on bubble motion and gas-liquid mass transfer process in a bubble column.Particle image velocimetry(PIV)technology was employed to analyze the flow field and bubble motion behavior,and dynamic oxygen absorption technology was used to measure the gas-liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient(kLa).The effect of embedding wire mesh,adding solid particles,and wire mesh coupling solid particles on the flow characteristic and kLa were analyzed and compared.The results show that the gas-liquid interface area increases by 33%-72%when using the wire mesh coupling solid particles strategy compared to the gas-liquid two-phase flow,which is superior to the other two strengthening methods.Compared with the system without reinforcement,kLa in the bubble column increased by 0.5-1.8 times with wire mesh coupling solid particles method,which is higher than the sum of kLa increases with inserting wire mesh and adding particles,and the coupling reinforcement mechanism for affecting gas-liquid mass transfer process was discussed to provide a new idea for enhancing gas-liquid mass transfer.

Electric field and force characteristic of dust aerosol particles on the surface of high-voltage transmission line

High-voltage transmission lines play a crucial role in facilitating the utilization of renewable energy in regions prone to desertification. The accumulation of atmospheric particles on the surface of these lines can significantly impact corona discharge and wind-induced conductor displacement. Accurately quantifying the force exerted by particles adhering to conductor surfaces is essential for evaluating fouling conditions and making informed decisions. Therefore, this study investigates the changes in electric field intensity along branched conductors caused by various fouling layers and their resulting influence on the adhesion of dust particles. The findings indicate that as individual particle size increases, the field strength at the top of the particle gradually decreases and eventually stabilizes at approximately 49.22 k V/cm, which corresponds to a field strength approximately 1.96 times higher than that of an unpolluted transmission line. Furthermore,when particle spacing exceeds 15 times the particle size, the field strength around the transmission line gradually decreases and approaches the level observed on non-adhering surface. The electric field remains relatively stable. In a triangular arrangement of three particles, the maximum field strength at the tip of the fouling layer is approximately 1.44 times higher than that of double particles and 1.5 times higher compared to single particles. These results suggest that particles adhering to the transmission line have a greater affinity for adsorbing charged particles. Additionally, relevant numerical calculations demonstrate that in dry environments, the primary adhesion forces between particles and transmission lines follow an order of electrostatic force and van der Waals force. Specifically, at the minimum field strength, these forces are approximately74.73 times and 19.43 times stronger than the gravitational force acting on the particles.

Extending homogeneous fluidization flow regime of Geldart-A particles by exerting axial uniform and steady magnetic field

The homogeneous/particulate fluidization flow regime is particularly suitable for handling the various gas–solid contact processes encountered in the chemical and energy industry.This work aimed to extend such a regime of Geldart-A particles by exerting the axial uniform and steady magnetic field.Under the action of the magnetic field,the overall homogeneous fluidization regime of Geldart-A magnetizable particles became composed of two parts:inherent homogeneous fluidization and newly-created magnetic stabilization.Since the former remained almost unchanged whereas the latter became broader as the magnetic field intensity increased,the overall homogeneous fluidization regime could be extended remarkably.As for Geldart-A nonmagnetizable particles,certain amount of magnetizable particles had to be premixed to transmit the magnetic stabilization.Among others,the mere addition of magnetizable particles could broaden the homogeneous fluidization regime.The added content of magnetizable particles had an optimal value with smaller/lighter ones working better.The added magnetizable particles might raise the ratio between the interparticle force and the particle gravity.After the magnetic field was exerted,the homogeneous fluidization regime was further expanded due to the formation of magnetic stabilization flow regime.The more the added magnetizable particles,the better the magnetic performance and the broader the overall homogeneous fluidization regime.Smaller/lighter magnetizable particles were preferred to maximize the magnetic performance and extend the overall homogeneous fluidization regime.This phenomenon could be ascribed to that the added magnetizable particles themselves became more Geldart-A than-B type as their density or size decreased.

Influence of syngas components and ash particles on the radiative heat transfer in a radiant syngas cooler

Radiant syngas cooler(RSC)is widely used as a waste heat recovery equipment in industrial gasification.In this work,an RSC with radiation screens is established and the impact of gaseous radiative property models,gas components,and ash particles on heat transfer is investigated by the numerical simulation method.Considering the syngas components and the pressure environment of the RSC,a modified weighted-sum-of-gray-gases model was developed.The modified model shows high accuracy in validation.In computational fluid dynamics simulation,the calculated steam production is only 0.63%in error with the industrial data.Compared with Smith's model,the temperature decay along the axial direction calculated by the modified model is faster.Syngas components are of great significance to heat recovery capacity,especially when the absorbing gas fraction is less than 10%.After considering the influence of particles,the outlet temperature and the proportion of radiative heat transfer are less affected,but the difference in steam output reaches 2.7 t·h^(-1).The particle deposition on the wall greatly reduces the heat recovery performance of an RSC.

Platelet-derived microparticles and their cargos: The past, present and future

All eukaryotic cells can secrete extracellular vesicles, which have a double-membrane structure and are important players in the intercellular communication involved in a variety of important biological processes. Platelets form platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) in response to activation, injury, or apoptosis. This review introduces the origin, pathway, and biological functions of PMPs and their importance in physiological and pathological processes. In addition, we review the potential applications of PMPs in cancer, vascular homeostasis, thrombosis, inflammation, neural regeneration, biomarkers, and drug carriers to achieve targeted drug delivery. In addition, we comprehensively report on the origin, biological functions, and applications of PMPs. The clinical transformation, high heterogeneity, future development direction, and limitations of the current research on PMPs are also discussed in depth. Evidence has revealed that PMPs play an important role in cell-cell communication, providing clues for the development of PMPs as carriers for relevant cell-targeted drugs. The development history and prospects of PMPs and their cargos are explored in this guidebook.

Cryptanalysis of efficient semi-quantum secret sharing protocol using single particles

In paper[Chin.Phys.B 32070308(2023)],Xing et al.proposed a semi-quantum secret sharing protocol by using single particles.We study the security of the proposed protocol and find that it is not secure,that is,the three dishonest agents,Bob,Charlie and Emily can collude to obtain Alice's secret without the help of David.

Evaluation of the Oxidation Reactivity and Behavior of Exhaust Soot Particles from Diesel Engines with Different Emission Levels

The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidation reactivity and behavior of exhaust particulate matter(PM)from diesel engines.PM samples from two diesel engines(1K,CY4102)with different emission levels were collected by a thermophoretic system and a quartz filter.The oxidation reactivity,oxidation behaviors,and physicochemical properties of the PM samples were analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis(TGA),high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM),Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry(FTIR),and Raman spectroscopy.The results showed that there was a great difference in the oxidation reactivity of soot particles emitted by the two different diesel engines.A qualitative analysis of the factors influencing oxidation reactivity showed that the nanostructure,degree of graphitization,and relative concentration of aliphatic C—H functional groups were the most important factors,whereas no significant correlation was found between the primary particle size and activation energy of the diesel soot.Based on the oxidation behavior analysis,the diesel soot particles exhibited both internal and surface oxidation modes during the oxidation process.Surface oxidation was dominant during the initial stage,and as oxidation progressed,the mode gradually changed to internal oxidation.Internal oxidation mode of soot particles from the 1K engine was significantly higher than that of CY4102.

Modeling analysis of cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles

The influences of particle size,shape,and catalyst distribution on the reactivity and hydrocarbon product selectivity of a cobalt-based catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis were investigated in the present work.A self-consistent kinetic model for Fischer-Tropsch reaction proposed here was found to correlate experimental data well and hence was used to describe the consumption rates of reactants and formation rates of hydrocarbon products.The perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory equation of state was used to describe vapor-liquid equilibrium behavior associated with Fischer-Tropsch reaction.Local interaction between intraparticle diffusion and Fischer-Tropsch reaction was investigated in detail.Results showed that in order to avoid the adverse influence of intraparticle diffusional limitations on catalyst reactivity and product selectivity,the use of small particles is necessary.Large eggshell spherical particles are shown to keep the original catalyst reactivity and enhance the selectivity of heavy hydrocarbon products.The suitable layer thickness for a spherical particle with a diameter of 2 mm is nearly 0.15 mm.With the same outer diameter of 2 mm,the catalyst reactivity and heavy product selectivity of hollow cylindrical particles with a layer thickness of 0.25 mm are found to be larger than eggshell spherical particles.From the viewpoint of catalytic performance,hollow cylindrical particles are a better choice for industrial applications.

Passive particles driven by self-propelled particle:The wake effect

This work focuses on numerically studying hydrodynamic interaction between a passive particle and a self-propelled particle,termed a squirmer,by using a two-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method(LBM).It is found that the squirmer can capture a passive particle and propel it simultaneously,provided the passive particle is situated within the squirmer's wake.Our research shows that the critical capture distance,which determines whether the particle is captured,primarily depends on the intensity of the squirmer's dipolarity.The stronger dipolarity of squirmer results in an increased critical capture distance.Conversely,the Reynolds number is found to have minimal influence on this interaction.Interestingly,the passive particle,when driven by the squirmer's wake,contributes to a reduction in the squirmer's drag.This results in a mutual acceleration for both particles.Our findings can provide valuable perspectives for formulating the principles of reducing the drag of micro-swimmers and help to achieve the goal of using micro-swimmers to transport goods without physical tethers.

Unified Description of the Three Stable Particles in Self-Action Allows Determination of Their Relative Masses

The Dirac equation γμ(δμ-eAμ)Ψ=mc2Ψ describes the bound states of the electron under the action of external potentials, Aμ. We assumed that the fundamental form of the Dirac equation γμ(δμ-Sμ)Ψ=0 should describe the stable particles (the electron, the proton and the dark-matter-particle (dmp)) bound to themselves under the action of their own potentials Sμ. The new equation reveals that self energy is consequence of self action, it also reveals that the spin angular momentum is consequence of the dynamic structure of the stable particles. The quantitative results are the determination of their relative masses as well as the determination of the electromagnetic coupling constant.

Dark Matter Particles May Never Be Directly Detected by Instruments—A Dark Matter Mechanism That Does Not Exceed the Standard Model Framework

A dark matter mechanism within the framework of the standard model (SM) of particle physics is proposed in this article that the essence of dark matter may be the excited virtual particle field by the gravitational field of ordinary matter, which contains virtual photons, virtual positive and negative electron pairs, virtual gluons, virtual positive and negative quark pairs, virtual neutrinos etc. In this mechanism, there are two basic assumptions: 1) the stronger the gravitational field of ordinary matter, the greater the excited energy (mass) density of virtual particle field;2) The excited virtual particle field is generally very weak in self-interaction. The virtual particle field excited by gravity can exhibit the properties of dark matter and may become a dark matter candidate. Based on this new dark matter mechanism, the hydrodynamic equations and cosmic perturbation equations describing cosmic matter are improved, and this may be meaningful for solving the challenges faced by the standard cosmological model (Lambda-CDM or LCDM) and developing and perfecting LCDM model.

The Substructure of Elementary Particles Demonstrated by the I-Theory

Present studies in physics assume that elementary particles are the building blocks of all matter, and that they are zero-dimensional objects which do not occupy space. The new I-Theory predicts that elementary particles do indeed have a substructure, three dimensions, and occupy space, being composed of fundamental particles called I-particles. In this article we identify the substructural pattern of elementary particles and define the quanta of energy that form each elementary particle. We demonstrate that the substructure comprises two classes of quanta which we call “attraction quanta” and “repulsion quanta”. We create a model that defines the rest-mass energy of each elementary particle and can predict new particles. Lastly, in order to incorporate this knowledge into the contemporary models of science, a revised periodic table is proposed.

Mathematical modeling and simulations of stress mitigation by coating polycrystalline particles in lithium-ion batteries

A chemo-mechanical model is developed to investigate the effects on the stress development of the coating of polycrystalline Ni-rich LiNixMnyCo_(z)O_(2)(x≥0.8)(NMC)particles with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)(PEDOT).The simulation results show that the coating of primary NMC particles significantly reduces the stress generation by efficiently accommodating the volume change associated with the lithium diffusion,and the coating layer plays roles both as a cushion against the volume change and a channel for the lithium transport,promoting the lithium distribution across the secondary particles more homogeneously.Besides,the lower stiffness,higher ionic conductivity,and larger thickness of the coating layer improve the stress mitigation.This paper provides a mathematical framework for calculating the chemo-mechanical responses of anisotropic electrode materials and fundamental insights into how the coating of NMC active particles mitigates stress levels.

Impact of transparent exopolymer particles on the dynamics of dissolved organic carbon in the Amundsen Sea,Antarctica

The Southern Ocean is an important carbon sink pool and plays a critical role in the global carbon cycling.The Amundsen Sea was reported to be highly productive in inshore area in the Southern Ocean.In order to investigate the influence of transparent exopolymer particles(TEP)on the behavior of dissolved organic carbon(DOC)in this region,a comprehensive study was conducted,encompassing both open water areas and highly productive polynyas.It was found that microbial heterotrophic metabolism is the primary process responsible for the production of humic-like fluorescent components in the open ocean.The relationship between apparent oxygen utilization and the two humic-like components can be accurately described by a power-law function,with a conversion rate consistent with that observed globally.The presence of TEP was found to have little impact on this process.Additionally,the study revealed the accumulation of DOC at the sea surface in the Amundsen Sea Polynya,suggesting that TEP may play a critical role in this phenomenon.These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics and surface accumulation of DOC in the Amundsen Sea Polynya,and provide valuable insights into the carbon cycle in this region.

Effect of Marine Planktonic Algal Particles on the Communication Performance of Underwater Quantum Link

As one of the main application directions of quantum technology,underwater quantum communication is of great research significance.In order to study the influence of marine planktonic algal particles on the communication performance of underwater quantum links,based on the extinction characteristics of marine planktonic algal particles,the influence of changes in the chlorophyll concentration and particle number density of planktonic algal particles on the attenuation of underwater links is explored respectively,the influence of marine planktonic algal particles on the fidelity of underwater quantum links,the generation rate of the security key,and the utilization rate of the channel is analyzed,and simulation experiments are carried out.The results show that with the increase in chlorophyll concentration and particle density of aquatic planktonic algal particles,quantum communication channel link attenuation shows a gradually increasing trend.In addition,the security key generation rate,channel fidelity and utilization rate are gradually decreasing.Therefore,the performance of underwater quantum communication channel will be interfered by marine planktonic algal particles,and it is necessary to adjust the relevant parameter values in the quantum communication system according to different marine planktonic algal particle number density and chlorophyll concentration to improve the performance of quantum communication.

Creating burdock polysaccharide-oleanolic acid-ursolic acid nanoparticles to deliver enhanced anti-inflammatory effects:fabrication,structural characterization and property evaluation

This study explored the potential of polysaccharides from Actium lappa(ALPs)as natural wall materials for producing ALP-based nanoparticles to deliver poorly water-soluble oleanolic acid(OA)and ursolic acid(UA).Encapsulating OA+UA with ALPs(ALP:OA+UA,50:1;OA:UA,1:1)changed the crystalline nature to a more amorphous state through hydrogen bonding and involving O-H/C-O/O-C-O groups.ALP-OA/UA nanoparticles had a particle size and zeta potential(in water)of 199.1 nm/-7.15 mV,with a narrow unimodal size distribution,and excellent pH,salt solution,temperature and storage stability.Compared with ALPs,ALPOA/UA nanoparticles showed enhanced anti-inflammatory activity(especially at a dose of 100μg/mL)in a CuSO-induced zebrafish inflammation model via down-regulating the NF-κB signalling pathway and gene expression of associated transcription factors and cytokines(TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-8).Therefore,ALP-based nanoparticles are natural and anti-inflammatory carriers for hydrophobic bioactive molecules.

3D Raman mapping as an analytical tool for investigating the coatings of coated drug particles

The properties of dry-coated paracetamol particles(fast-dissolving model drug)with carnauba wax particles as the coating agent(dissolution retardant)were investigated.Raman mapping technique was used to non-destructively examine the thickness and homogeneity of coated particles.The results showed that the wax existed in two forms on the surface of the paracetamol particles,forming a porous coating layer:i)whole wax particles on the surface of paracetamol and glued together with other wax surface particles,and ii)deformed wax particles spread on the surface.Regardless of the final particle size fraction(between 100 and 800 mm),the coating thickness had high variability,with average thickness of 5.9±4.2 mm.The ability of carnauba wax to decrease the dissolution rate of paracetamol was confirmed by dissolution of powder and tablet formulations.The dissolution was slower for larger coated particles.Tableting further reduced the dissolution rate,clearly indicating the impact of subsequent formulation processes on the final quality of the product.

Microfluidic assisted 90%loading CL-20 spherical particles:Enhancing self-sustaining combustion performance

The performance of the chemical fuel determines the altitude,range and longevity of spacecraft in air and space exploration.Promising alternatives(e.g.,hypergolic ionic liquids or high-energy composites)with high-energy density,heat of formation and fast initial rate are considered as potential chemical fuels.As the high-energy density material,hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane(CL-20)often serves as secondary explosive with poor self-propagating combustion behaviors.Herein,90%loading CL-20 microspheres with uniform particle sizes are precisely prepared by microfluid method,which exhibit unique hierarchical structure.The morphology,thermal behaviors,as well as combustion performance were further investigated.The results demonstrated that as-prepared spherical particles exhibit prominent thermal compatibility,and the enhanced self-sustaining combustion performance.This work provides an efficient method achieving the uniform high-energy density particles with excellent self-sustaining combustion performance.

A further investigation to mechanism of the electrorheological effect of waxy oils:Behaviors of charged particles under electric field

Exposing waxy oils to an electric field may significantly improve their cold flowability.Our previous study has shown that interfacial polarization,i.e.,charged particle accumulation on the wax particle surface,is the primary mechanism of the electrorheological behavior of waxy oils.However,the way that charged particles interact with wax particles under an electric field remains unknown.In this study,we found no viscosity and impedance change for two waxy crude oils after their exposure to a high-voltage electric field.However,the yield stresses were reduced obviously.We thus proposed that the collision of colloidal particles such as resins and asphaltenes with the wax particles could be an essential mechanism that the wax particle structure was weakened.To verify this hypothesis,a series of ad hoc experiments were carried out,i.e.,by performing electrorheological tests on model waxy oils containing additives removable under an electric field,including electrically-neutral colloidal particles(Fe3O4),charged colloidal particles(resins),and oil-soluble electrolyte(C22H14CoO4),respectively,and demonstrated that upon application of a high-voltage electric field,charged particles in a waxy oil may move and thus collide with wax particles,and consequently adhere to the wax particle surface.The particle collision results in damage to the wax particle network,and the electrostatic repulsion arising from the adhesion of the charged particle on the wax particle diminishes attraction between wax particles.This study clarifies the process of interfacial polarization.