No description available.

Supported Ni and Rh catalysts were developed for the reforming of two greenhouse gases, methane and carbon dioxide to syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide). This is an endothermic, equilibrium limited reaction. To overcome the thermodynamic limitations, a commercially available porous membrane (Vycor glass) was used in a combined reactor-separator configuration. This was to selectively remove one or more of the products from the reaction chamber, and consequently shift the equilibrium to the right. However, the separation mechanism in this membrane involved Knudsen diffusion, which provided only partial separations. Consequently, there was some transport of reactants across the membrane and this led to only marginal improvements in performance. To overcome this limitation, a new membrane was developed by modifying the Vycor substrate by the chemical vapor deposition of a silica precursor. This new membrane, termed Nanosil, provided high selectivity to hydrogen at permeabilities comparable to the support material. Application of this membrane in the combined reactor-separator unit provided higher conversions than that obtained using the Vycor membrane. / Ph. D.

Combustion designers have considered back-side impingement cooling as the solution for modern DLE combustors. The idea is to provide more cooling to the deserved local hot spots and reserve unnecessary coolant air from local cold spots. Therefore, if accurate heat load distribution on the liners can be obtained, then an intelligent cooling system can be designed to focus more on the localized hot spots. The goal of this study is to determine the heat transfer and pressure distribution inside a typical can-annular gas turbine combustor. This is one of the first efforts in the public domain to investigate the convective heat load to combustor liner due to swirling flow generated by swirler nozzles. An experimental combustor test model was designed and fitted with a swirler nozzle provided by Solar Turbines Inc. Heat transfer and pressure distribution measurements were carried out along the combustor wall to determine the thermo-fluid dynamic effects inside a combustor. The temperature and heat transfer profile along the length of the combustor liner were determined and a heat transfer peak region was established. Constant-heat-flux boundary condition was established using two identical surface heaters, and the Infrared Thermal Imaging system was used to capture the real-time steady-state temperature distribution at the combustor liner wall. Analysis on the flow characteristics was also performed to compare the pressure distributions with the heat transfer results. The experiment was conducted at two different Reynolds numbers (Re 50,000 and Re 80,000), to investigate the effect of Reynolds Number on the heat transfer peak locations and pressure distributions. The results reveal that the heat transfer peak regions at both the Reynolds numbers occur at approximately the same location. The results from this study on a broader scale will help in understanding and predicting swirling flow effects on the local convective heat load to the combustor liner, thereby enabling the combustion engineer to design more effective cooling systems to improve combustor durability and performance. / Master of Science

Current methods to reduce the native microbiota and potential pathogens on spices include steam treatments and ethylene oxide (EtO) fumigation. The objectives of this research were to identify the effectiveness of a lab-scale steam apparatus and a commercial EtO process on the inactivation of Salmonella enterica or Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 inoculated whole black peppercorns and cumin seeds. Peppercorns and cumin seeds were inoculated with Salmonella or Enterococcus and processed in a lab-scale steam apparatus at 16.9 PSIA and two references temperatures (165°F and 180°F) and in a commercial ethylene oxide fumigation chamber using a standard commercial EtO fumigation process. Cells were enumerated by serial dilution and plating onto TSA with a thin overlay of selective media. Inoculation preparation influenced inactivation of Salmonella on peppercorns with greater reductions reported for TSA-grown cells compared to within a biofilm. To achieve an assured 5-log reduction of TSA-inoculated Salmonella on peppercorns exposure for 125s and 100s at 165°F and 180°F, respectively is required. For cumin seeds temperatures of 165°F for 110s were needed or 65s at 180°F to assure 5 log reduction. EtO fumigation significantly reduced both microorganisms on both spices (p<0.05), however significant variation existed between bags in the same process run. Reductions of Enterococcus were comparable or less than that of Salmonella under the majority of conditions, however a direct linear relationship cannot be used to compare the microbes. This study demonstrates that the effectiveness of Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 as a surrogate for Salmonella can vary between spices and processes. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

According to the United Nations, 55% of the world's population currently lives in urban areas and which is projected to increase to 67% by 2050. Thus, it is imperative that effective strategies are developed to mitigate urban pollution. Complementing field experiments, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses are becoming an effective strategy for identifying critical factors that influence urban pollution and its mitigation. This thesis focuses on two scales of the urban micro-climate environment: (i) evaluation of LES simulations with a simplified grid for modeling pollution dispersion in a street canyon and (ii) investigation of the effects of leaf surface micro-characteristics, wind speed, and particle sizes on the dry deposition of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The first of these studies focuses on reproducing the pollution dispersion in a street canyon measured in a wind tunnel at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany. A simplified grid with the Large Eddy Simulations (LES) approach for canyon ratio W/H = 1 is proposed with the goal to reduce the computational cost by eliminating the need to model the entire canyon while striving to preserve the mixing induced by individual jets used to model vehicle emission in the experiment. LES is also capable of providing transient flow field and pollution concentration data not available with widely-used steady approaches such as RANS. The time-dependent information is crucial for pollution mitigation since pedestrians are usually exposed to pollution on a short-time basis. The predictions are in satisfactory agreement with the experiment for W/H = 1, yielding the Pearson correlation coefficient R = 0.81, with better performance near the leeward wall. Due to the small span modeled, three-dimensional instabilities fail to develop which could probably explain the overprediction of pollution concentration near ground level. However, other LES investigations where the full canyon was modeled also observed over-predictions. The use of a discrete emission source was not observed to provide benefits. The current model could be further improved by using a larger spanwise domain with a continuous line source to allow large wavelength instabilities to develop and increase turbulent diffusion. The second part of this thesis investigates the impact of trichome morphology and wind speed on the deposition of 0.3 μm and 1.0 μm particles on leaves. Using the one-way coupling approach to predict the fluid-particle interactions with the assumption that all particles that impact the leaf or trichome surface deposit, trichomes of 5 μm and 20 μm in diameter are modeled as equally spaced and uniform cylinders on an infinitely large plane. The results show that trichome diameter, density, and wind speed have a favorable impact on deposition velocity. Comparing to the smooth leaf, the presence of the thicker 20 μm hairs increases the deposition velocity by 1.5 – 4 times, whereas, the presence of short 5um trichomes reduces the deposition by 15 - 45%. Increasing trichome height from H/D = 20 to 30 shows benefits for the thinner trichomes but lowers the deposition for the densely packed thicker trichomes. Less aerosol deposition is also observed when the particle diameter increases from 0.3 μm to 1.0 μm. Due to the non-uniform contributions of these various traits, a non-dimensional ratio Rhp is proposed to model the aerosol deposition on leaf surface at wind speed of 1 m/s which yields a satisfactory linear correlation coefficient of 0.89 for 0 < R_hp < 0.3. Comparing to other published field and wind tunnel experiments conducted on a much larger scale, the deposition velocities predicted are at the lower end (U_dep^* = 0.002 to 0.012 cm/s) because of the idealized conditions. Nonetheless, the results still offer valuable insight into the effects of trichome morphology on pollutant deposition in isolation from other macro-factors. / Master of Science / According to the United Nations, 55% of the world’s population currently lives in urban areas and which is projected to increase to 67% by 2050. Thus, it is imperative that effective strategies are developed to mitigate urban pollution. Complementing field experiments, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses are becoming an effective strategy for identifying critical factors that influence urban pollution and its mitigation. This thesis focuses on two scales of the urban micro-climate environment: (i) evaluation of Large Eddy Simulation (LES) with a simplified method for modeling pollution dispersion in a street canyon and (ii) investigation of the effects of leaf surface micro-characteristics, wind speed, and particle sizes on the dry deposition of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The first of these studies focuses on reproducing the pollution dispersion in a street canyon measured in a wind tunnel at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany. A simplified grid with the LES approach for canyon ratio W/H = 1 is proposed. The goal of this study is to reduce the computational cost by modelling the canyon with a very thin span instead of the entire canyon while providing time-dependent information which is crucial for pollution mitigation since pedestrians are usually exposed to pollution on a short-time basis. The predictions are in satisfactory agreement with the experiment for W/H = 1 with better performance near the leeward wall (i.e. the left wall) and overprediction of pollution concentration near ground level – as observed by other LES investigations. The current model could be further improved by using a larger spanwise domain with a continuous line source to allow instabilities to develop, thus improve prediction accuracy. The second part of this thesis investigates the impact of trichome (i.e. a hair or an outgrowth from leaf surface) morphology and wind speed on the deposition of 0.3 mm and 1.0 mm particles on leaves. The results show that trichome diameter, density, and wind speed have a favorable impact on deposition velocity. Less aerosol deposition is also observed when the particle diameter increases from 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm. No clear effects is observed by altering the trichome height. Due to the non-uniform contributions of these various traits, a non-dimensional ratio D∗ �D∗ �2 Rhp = hair hair is proposed to model the aerosol deposition on leaf surface at wind speed of D∗ H∗ S∗ p hair hair 1 m/s which yields a satisfactory linear correlation coefficient of 0.89 for 0 < Rhp < 0.3. This ratio includes trichome diameter (D∗ ), height (H∗ ), spacing (S∗ ) as well as the ratio of hair hair hair trichome diameter to particle diameter (D∗ /D∗ ). The results offer valuable insight into the hair p effects of trichome morphology on pollutant deposition in isolation from other macro-factors.

The buildings people inhabit everyday frame their existence and provide a backdrop for life. This relationship is inextricable and, as such, begs the question as to whether buildings can function as more than mere containers for life or whether they, at some point or in some capacity, can begin to bare influence over the life or quality of life of their patrons. This project is an intention to explore this qualitative, unquantifiable aspect of building. Through a manipulation of volume and mass, constriction and expansion, solid and void, light and shadow, and the qualities of interiority and exteriority an occupied space will begin to impress itself upon the user. The main objective of this project is to use these architectural properties to create a place that fosters introspection through self awareness. By choosing presence over practicality and content over convention, the construct proposed in this thesis attempts to create spaces that are imposing and unfamiliar yet somehow emotionally reminiscent. Confronted by these contradictions and juxtapositions, this building will stand as an object, in opposition to the occupant, and through that opposition inspire and promote a greater awareness of, and possibly a reflection upon, normally unconscious thought processes. / Master of Architecture

Curcuminoids have strong anticancer activities but have low bioavailability. The highest rate of cancer deaths comes from lung tumours; therefore, inhaled curcuminoids could treat lung cancer locally. To date, there are no nebulised formulations of curcuminoids, and there are no inhalable curcuminoids particles without excipients using air jet mill and sonocrystallisation methods for DPI formulations. It is the first time; the aerodynamic parameters of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin were measured individually using NGI. The size, shape, free surface energy, and the crystal polymorphism of the produced inhalable curcuminoid particles were characterised using laser diffraction, SEM, IGC, DSC and XRPD, respectively. Several DPI formulations with a variable particle size of curcuminoids were prepared in two drug-carrier ratios (1:9 and 1:67.5). The best performance of the DPI formulations of the sonocrystallised particles, which exist in crystal structure form1, were obtained from ethanol- heptane, as illustrated FPF 43.4%, 43.6% and 43.4% with MMAD of 3.6µm, 3.5µm and 3.4µm, whereas the best DPI formulation of the air jet milled particles was presented FPF 38.0%, 38.9%, and 39.5% with MMAD of 3.6µm, 3.4µm and 3.2µm for curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, respectively. Nebulised curcuminoids using nanoemulsion and microsuspension formulations were prepared. The physical properties, such as osmolality, pH and the viscosity of the aerosolised nanoemulsion and the microsuspension formulations were determined. The FPF% and MMAD of nebulised nanoemulsion ranged from 44% to 50% and from 4.5µm to 5.5µm respectively. In contrast, the FPF% of microsuspension ranged from 26% to 40% and the MMAD from 5.8µm to 7.05µm. A HPLC method was developed and validated in order to be used in the determination of curcuminoids from an aqueous solution.

Recent work in microbial ecology has focused on elucidating controls over biogeographic patterns and connecting microbial community composition to ecosystem function. My objective was to investigate the relative influences of landscape legacies and contemporary environmental factors on the distribution of soil microbial communities and their contribution to ecosystem processes across a glacial till sequence in Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Within each till unit, I sampled from dry areas and areas with visible evidence of recent surface water movement generated by seasonal melting of ephemeral snow packs and hillslope ground ice. Using T-RFLP 16S rRNA gene profiles of microbial communities, I analyzed the contribution of till and environmental factors to community similarity, and assessed the functional potential of the microbial community using extracellular enzyme activity assays. Microbial communities were influenced by geochemical differences among both tills and local environments, but especially organized by variables associated with water availability as the first axis of an NMDS ordination was strongly related to shifts in soil moisture content. CCA revealed that tills explained only 3.4% of the variability in community similarity among sites, while geochemical variables explained 18.5%. Extracellular enzyme activity was correlated with relevant geochemical variables reflecting the influence of nutrient limitation on microbial activity. In addition, enzyme activity was related to changes in community similarity, particularly in wet environments with a partial Mantel correlation of 0.32. These results demonstrate how landscape history and environmental conditions can shape the functional potential of a microbial community mediated through shifts in microbial community composition. / Master of Science

A comparison study between axial and radial swirler performance in a gas turbine can combustor was conducted by investigating the correlation between combustor flow field geometry and convective heat transfer at cold flow conditions for Reynolds numbers of 50,000 and 80,000. Flow velocities were measured using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) along the center axial plane and radial cross sections of the flow. It was observed that both swirlers produced a strong rotating flow with a reverse flow core. The axial swirler induced larger recirculation zones at both the backside wall and the central area as the flow exits the swirler, and created a much more uniform rotational velocity distribution. The radial swirler however, produced greater rotational velocity as well as a thicker and higher velocity reverse flow core. Wall heat transfer and temperature measurements were also taken. Peak heat transfer regions directly correspond to the location of the flow as it exits each swirler and impinges on the combustor liner wall. Convective heat transfer was also measured along the liner wall of a gas turbine annular combustor fitted with radial swirlers for Reynolds numbers 210000, 420000, and 840000. The impingement location of the flow exiting from the radial swirler resulted in peak heat transfer regions along the concave wall of the annular combustor. The convex side showed peak heat transfer regions above and below the impingement area. This behavior is due to the recirculation zones caused by the interaction between the swirlers inside the annulus. / Master of Science

The terrestrial ecosystem is an integral component of the Earth System. Constant atmosphere-biosphere exchanges of energy and material affect both the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere. While the general roles of terrestrial ecosystems in regulating ozone and particulate matter air pollution have long been acknowledged, our understanding at both individual process and system level are far from perfect. Also, new process-level discoveries about terrestrial atmosphere-biosphere exchanges are not timely incorporated in numerical models routinely used to study and forecast air quality. These hinder our ability to understand how air quality respond to environmental changes and variabilities. Chapter 1 of this dissertation provides a brief overview on these topics. In Chapter 2 of this dissertation (Wong et al., 2019), we conduct global long-term simulations of ozone dry deposition velocity with four different types of dry deposition parameterizations. We find that none of the tested parameterizations universally stands out in terms of matching observed ozone deposition velocity over different land cover types. Combining this with sensitivity simulations from a global 3-D atmospheric chemistry model (GEOS-Chem), we find that the choice of dry deposition parameterizations can affect the mean, trend and variability of simulated surface O3 level. In Chapter 3 of this dissertation (Wong et al., 2022), we analyze long-term ozone flux observation from three field sites to examine the effects of extreme heat and dryness on ozone deposition. We find that non-stomatal ozone uptake tends to increase during hot days, which either partially offsets or dominates over the reduction in stomatal ozone uptake anticipated by ecophysiological theory. While the response of ozone deposition to dryness is more varied, changes in non-stomatal deposition are usually important. Current dry deposition parameterizations often fail to capture such changes in non-stomatal ozone uptake, resulting in considerable potential error in simulated surface ozone level during hot and dry days. In Chapter 4 of this dissertation (Wong and Geddes, 2021), we conduct global GEOS-Chem numerical experiments with anthropogenic emission inventories and land surface remote sensing products to compare the effects land cover versus land management changes on O3 and fine particulate matter air quality over 1992 – 2014. We find that land cover has stronger effects on O3, while land management has stronger effects on fine particulate matter pollution. We also find that land management has significantly altered regional and global nitrogen deposition, and therefore the risk of critical load exceedance. Chapter 5 of this dissertation includes the concluding remarks and suggestions for future work. In addition, I outline and present the preliminary result from a project examining the future of soil reactive nitrogen emissions and their impacts on air quality.