Origin of Self-preservation Effect for Hydrate Decomposition: Coupling of Mass and Heat Transfer Resistances
Gas hydrates could show an unexpected high stability at conditions out of thermodynamic equilibrium, which is called the self-preservation effect. The mechanism of the effect for methane hydrates is here investigated via molecular dynamics simulations, in which an NVT/E method is introduced to represent different levels of heat transfer resistance. Our simulations suggest a coupling between the mass transfer resistance and heat transfer resistance as the driving mechanism for self-preservation effect. We found that the hydrate is initially melted from the interface, and then a solid-like water layer with temperature-dependent structures is formed next to the hydrate interface that exhibits fractal feature, followed by an increase of mass transfer resistance for the diffusion of methane from hydrate region. Furthermore, our results indicate that heat transfer resistance is a more fundamental factor, since it facilitates the formation of the solid-like layer and hence inhibits the further dissociation of the hydrates. The self-preservation effect is found to be enhanced with the increase of pressure and particularly the decrease of temperature. Kinetic equations based on heat balance calculations is also developed to describe the self-preservation effect, which reproduces our simulation results well and provides an association between microscopic and macroscopic properties.
Anomalous Preservation of Pure Methane Hydrate at 1 atm
Direct measurement of decomposition rates of pure, polycrystalline methane hydrate reveals a thermal regime where methane hydrate metastably “preserves” in bulk by as much as 75 K above its nominal equilibrium temperature (193 K at 1 atm). Rapid release of the sample pore pressure at isothermal conditions between 242 and 271 K preserves up to 93% of the hydrate for at least 24 h, reflecting the greatly suppressed rates of dissociation that characterize this regime. Subsequent warming through the H2O ice point then induces rapid and complete dissociation, allowing controlled recovery of the total expected gas yield. This behavior is in marked contrast to that exhibited by methane hydrate at both colder (193−240 K) and warmer (272−290 K) test conditions, where dissociation rates increase monotonically with increasing temperature. Anomalous preservation has potential application for successful retrieval of natural gas hydrate or hydrate-bearing sediments from remote settings, as well as for temporary low-pre...
Actuating Principle of Online Automatic Balancer with Counter Weight Driven by Magnetic Force
Kinematic precept of mass block in automatic balancer is proposed following the principle of online automatic dynamic balancing.By combination of electromagnet and permanent magnet,the magnetic circuit of the balancer with ring coil and rare earth permanent magnet is designed.Actuating process of the balancer is discussed and then a step drive voltage waveform is defined.For the high-speed grinding motorized spindle 170MD12Y16,the mechanical structure and dimensions of the balancer are schemed out.The electromagnetic simulations for the designed balancer are conducted and the better coil ampere-turns and reluctance adjusting ring thickness are then determined.The validity of simulation results is verified by a balancer driving experiment and the desired voltage value and its duration time are also determined.the designed balancer has a stable operation process without out-of-step and fluctuation around balanced position when the ampere-turns are considered as 1 kA,the reluctance adjusting ring thickness 0.2 mm,the driving voltage 12.4 V and the voltage duration time 120 ms.