Differential Pressure (differential + pressure)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Coaxial Aerodynamically Assisted Bio-jets: A Versatile Paradigm for Directly Engineering Living Primary Organisms

ENGINEERING IN LIFE SCIENCES (ELECTRONIC), Issue 6 2007
S. Irvine
Abstract In this paper, a coaxial jetting methodology is demonstrated as a first example (non-electric field driven) completely run by aerodynamic forces which are brought about by the application of a differential pressure for the safe handling of primary living organisms by means of jets as encapsulated droplets. Previously this jetting technique in this configuration has only been investigated for processing combinations of liquid-liquid and liquid-gas systems. These developmental studies into aerodynamically assisted jets (AAJ) have unearthed a versatile bio-jetting approach referred to here as coaxial aerodynamically assisted bio-jetting (CAABJ). In the current work, this flexible approach is demonstrated to handle two primary cell types for drop-and-placing onto several different substrates. Furthermore, the study assesses cellular viability of the post-treated cells in comparison to controls by way of flow cytometry. These first steps demonstrate the promise this protocol has in exploring the creation of biologically viable structures to form encapsulations of cells which would be useful as a direct tissue engineering to the immuno-hinding methodology in bio-repair and therapeutics. Therefore, these investigations place CAABJ into the cell jetting pursuit together with bio-electrosprays, which will undergo an explosive developmental research. [source]


Gas breakthrough experiments on fine-grained sedimentary rocks

GEOFLUIDS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1 2002
A. Hildenbrand
Abstract The capillary sealing efficiency of fine-grained sedimentary rocks has been investigated by gas breakthrough experiments on fully water saturated claystones and siltstones (Boom Clay from Belgium, Opalinus Clay from Switzerland and Tertiary mudstone from offshore Norway) of different lithological compositions. Sand contents of the samples were consistently below 12%, major clay minerals were illite and smectite. Porosities determined by mercury injection lay between 10 and 30% while specific surface areas determined by nitrogen adsorption (BET method) ranged from 20 to 48 m2 g , 1. Total organic carbon contents were below 2%. Prior to the gas breakthrough experiments the absolute (single phase) permeability (kabs) of the samples was determined by steady state flow tests with water or NaCl brine. The kabs values ranged between 3 and 550 nDarcy (3 × 10,21 and 5.5 × 10,19 m2). The maximum effective permeability to the gas-phase (keff) measured after gas breakthrough on initially water-saturated samples extended from 0.01 nDarcy (1 × 10,23 m2) up to 1100 nDarcy (1.1 × 10,18 m2). The residual differential pressures after re-imbibition of the water phase, referred to as the ,minimum capillary displacement pressures' (Pd), ranged from 0.06 to 6.7 MPa. During the re-imbibition process the effective permeability to the gas phase decreases with decreasing differential pressure. The recorded permeability/pressure data were used to derive the pore size distribution (mostly between 8 and 60 nm) and the transport porosity of the conducting pore system (10 -5,10 -2%). Correlations could be established between (i) absolute permeability coefficients and the maximum effective permeability coefficients and (ii) effective or absolute permeability coefficients and capillary sealing efficiency. No correlation was found between the capillary displacement pressures determined from gas breakthrough experiments and those derived theoretically by mercury injection. [source]


A novel direct aerodynamically assisted threading methodology for generating biologically viable microthreads encapsulating living primary cells

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 2 2008
Sumathy Arumuganathar
Abstract In a recent discovery, coaxial electrospinning was explored to encapsulate living organisms within a continuous bio-polymeric microthread from which active biological scaffolds were fabricated (Townsend-Nicholson and Jayasinghe, Biomacromolecules 2006, 7, 3364). The cells were demonstrated to have gone through all expected cellular activity without their viability being compromised. These biologically active threads and scaffolds have direct and tremendous applicability from regenerative to therapeutic medicine. Currently these post-processed cells as composite threads and scaffolds are being investigated in-depth at a cellular level to establish if the processing methodology has any affect on the cellular make-up. We now demonstrate a competing non-electric field driven approach for fabricating composite threads and scaffolds influenced only by a differential pressure. We refer to this novel composite thread to scaffold fabrication methodology as coaxial aerodynamically assisted bio-threading (CAABT). Our investigations firstly, demonstrate that this technique can process handle living organisms without biologically perturbing them in anyway. Secondly the process is elucidated as possessing the ability to form composite active threads from which biologically viable scaffolds are formed. Finally our study employs florescent activated cell sorting (FACScan), a method by which the cellular dynamics and viability are quantified on control and threaded cellular samples at two prescribed time points. In parallel with FACScan, optical comparison of cellular morphology at three time points within a period of three weeks is carried out to photographically observe any changes in the post-processed cellular phenotype. Our developmental investigations into this novel aerodynamically assisted threading methodology has unearthed a unique biomicrofabrication approach, which joins cell electrospinning in the cell threading to scaffold fabrication endeavor. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source]


The relationship between caudal differential pressure and activity of Atlantic cod: a potential method to predict oxygen consumption of free-swimming fish

JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007
M. F. Steinhausen
This study reports the first results on telemetry of caudal differential pressure during spontaneous swimming activity in cod Gadus morhua and demonstrates that tail-beat pressure may be used as a predictor of activity and swimming costs of free-swimming cod. Tail-beat pressure was monitored using a differential pressure sensor on the caudal peduncle of cod and spontaneous swimming activity was quantified using a customized video-computer tracking programme. Tail-beat pressure was found to correlate with (1) swimming speed (U) and oxygen consumption during forced swimming and (2) mean U during spontaneous activity. Based on the relationship between and the integrated pressure performed by the tail during forced swimming, it should be possible to predict during spontaneous activity. To gain precise measures of activity and thus predictions of for free-swimming fish, however, individual calibrations are necessary. [source]


Comparison of decoupling methods for analyzing pressure fluctuations in gas-fluidized beds

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2010
Yongmin Zhang
Abstract Two methods of decoupling pressure fluctuations in fluidized beds by using the incoherent part (IOP) of absolute pressure (AP) and differential pressure (DP) fluctuations are evaluated in this study. Analysis is conducted first to demonstrate their similarities, differences, and drawbacks. Then, amplitudes, power spectral densities, mean frequencies, coherence functions, and filtering indices of the IOP of AP and DP fluctuations are calculated and compared based on experimental data from a two-dimensional fluidized column of FCC particles. Derived bubble sizes are also compared with the sizes of bubbles viewed in the two-dimensional bed. The results demonstrate the similarity of these two methods in filtering out global compression wave components from absolute pressure fluctuations, especially those generated from oscillations of fluidized particles and gas flow rate fluctuations. However, both methods are imperfect. Neither can filter out all the compression wave components and retain all the useful bubble-related wave components. Their amplitudes can be used to characterize global bubble property and quality of gas,solids contacting in bed, but they do not give accurate measurement of bubble sizes. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 [source]


THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE AS A GUIDE TO THE MATURATION AND TYPING OF ORGANIC MATTER IN THE NORTH SEA

JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 1 2003
R. A. McTavish
In early electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis of North Sea wells, maturation of organic matter (OM) was expressed in terms of maximum palaeotemperature (MPT) based on North American calibrations that did not consider the influences of kerogen composition or overpressure. In the North Sea, the MPTs were anomalous in overpressured sequences and relative to other indices of OM maturation such as vitrinite reflectance, so the ESR method was abandoned there in geochemical studies. However, early empirical study of North Sea ESR data indicated that, in relation to functions that linked temperature and pore pressure, some ESR parameters were predictable without reference to MPTs. In order to re-evaluate ESR parameters as indices of OM maturation, the physical factors (temperature and pressure) which affect OM maturation are related in the present paper to the ESR parameters "g" (spectral position) and Ng (spin density) at six well locations in the northern North Sea. A third ESR parameter, W (line width), is not an effective guide to maturation levels due to its complex relationship to the physical factors and kerogen types. However, cross-plots of W versus "g" and Ng appear to be as effective as pyrolysis for kerogen typing. Levels of maturation investigated in the North Sea wells range through the equivalent vitrinite reflectance values of about 0.50,1.50%. The values of "g" and Ng have been differentiated for kerogen type, but undifferentiated values of "g" have also been studied. Regression analysis has shown that there are linear relationships between the ESR parameters "g" and Ng, and the physical factors present-day temperature (To), "effective" temperature (Te), and differential pressure (Pd). Correlation coefficients for both "g" (undifferentiated and differentiated) and Ng (differentiated) relative to the physical factors are high; the highest values are for "g" and Ng relative to Te and Pd (r =,0.950 for "g" differentiated or undifferentiated, r = 0.944,0.976 for Ng differentiated, respectively). However, correlation coefficients were lower for "g" and Ng relative to To. More frequent high correlation coefficients and larger sample populations suggest that "g" (undifferentiated) is a more reliable index of OM maturation than Ng(differentiated). However, the estimation of levels of OM maturation is improved if both indices are used together. The ESR method appears to be effective both for estimating levels of OM maturation and for kerogen typing. It has a number of potential advantages over other geochemical methods: firstly, it is more sensitive for estimating OM maturation than most other methods; secondly, it can be used to analyze organic matter which is as old as Proterozoic; thirdly, it does not destroy the samples analyzed. [source]


Estimation of the differential pressure at renal artery stenoses,

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 5 2004
Peter J. Yim
Abstract Atherosclerotic disease of the renal artery can lead to reduction in arterial caliber and ultimately to conditions including renovascular hypertension. Renal artery stenosis is conventionally assessed, using angiography, according to the severity of the stenosis. However, the severity of a stenosis is not a reliable indicator of functional significance, or associated differential pressure, of a stenosis. A methodology is proposed for estimation of the renal artery differential pressure (RADP) from MR imaging. Realistic computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are constructed from MR angiography (MRA) and phase-contrast (PC) MR. The CFD model is constructed in a semiautomated manner from the MR images using the Isosurface Deformable Model (IDM) for surface reconstruction and a Marching Front algorithm for construction of the volumetric CFD mesh. Validation of RADP estimation was performed in a realistic physical flow-through model. Under steady flow, the CFD estimate of the differential pressure across a stenosis in the physical flow-through model differed by an average of 5.5 mmHg from transducer measurements of the pressure differential, for differential pressures less than 60 mmHg. These results demonstrate that accurate estimates of differential pressure at stenoses may be possible based only on structural and flow images. Magn Reson Med 51:969,977, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Magnevad Status of Design Improvements Human Blood Results and Preliminary Sheep Trial

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 10 2005
Michael Goldowsky
Abstract: Magnevad II is an improved version of Magnevad I and both are fourth-generation axial flow left ventricular assist devices. A major simplification has been implemented and tested. Magnevad I used a magnetically suspended rotor requiring active axial control. Magnevad II is completely passive but otherwise similar. A self-washing radial hydrodynamic bearing suspends the rotor. In the axial direction, noncontact axial stiffness is provided by opposing pairs of repulsion magnets (called bumper magnets). Rotor location shifts in response to differential pressure. A low-cost position sensor measures this motion to provide pump differential pressure. This is used to create pulsating flow and physiologic control (like Magnevad I). Hemolysis of Magnevad II using human blood was very low with a normalized index of hemolysis at 0.001,0.002 g/100 L. Our first sheep trial took place in September 2004. No thrombus or deposits were found in the disassembled pump. Longer sheep trials are scheduled in March 2005 at the Foundation Cardio-Infantil in Bogota, Colombia. [source]


Dynamic modelling of passive margin salt tectonics: effects of water loading, sediment properties and sedimentation patterns

BASIN RESEARCH, Issue 3 2005
Lykke Gemmer
We investigate the evolution of passive continental margin sedimentary basins that contain salt through two-dimensional (2D) analytical failure analysis and plane-strain finite-element modelling. We expand an earlier analytical failure analysis of a sedimentary basin/salt system at a passive continental margin to include the effects of submarine water loading and pore fluid pressure. Seaward thinning sediments above a weak salt layer produce a pressure gradient that induces Poiseuille flow in the viscous salt. We determine the circumstances under which failure at the head and toe of the frictional,plastic sediment wedge occurs, resulting in translation of the wedge, landward extension and seaward contraction, accompanied by Couette flow in the underlying salt. The effects of water: (i) increase solid and fluid pressures in the sediments; (ii) reduce the head to toe differential pressure in the salt and (iii) act as a buttress to oppose failure and translation of the sediment wedge. The magnitude of the translation velocity upon failure is reduced by the effects of water. The subsequent deformation is investigated using a 2D finite-element model that includes the effects of the submarine setting and hydrostatic pore pressures. The model quantitatively simulates a 2D approximation of the evolution of natural sedimentary basins on continental margins that are formed above salt. Sediment progradation above a viscous salt layer results in formation of landward extensional basins and listric normal growth faults as well as seaward contraction. At a later stage, an allochthonous salt nappe overthrusts the autochthonous limit of the salt. The nature and distribution of major structures depends on the sediment properties and the sedimentation pattern. Strain weakening of sediment favours landward listric growth faults with formation of asymmetric extensional depocentres. Episodes of low sediment influx, with partial infill of depocentres, produce local pressure gradients in the salt that result in diapirism. Diapirs grow passively during sediment aggradation. [source]


A laboratory study of seismic velocity and attenuation anisotropy in near-surface sedimentary rocks

GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 5 2007
Angus I. Best
ABSTRACT The laboratory ultrasonic pulse-echo method was used to collect accurate P- and S-wave velocity (±0.3%) and attenuation (±10%) data at differential pressures of 5,50 MPa on water-saturated core samples of sandstone, limestone and siltstone that were cut parallel and perpendicular to the vertical borehole axis. The results, when expressed in terms of the P- and S-wave velocity and attenuation anisotropy parameters for weakly transversely isotropic media (,, ,, ,Q, ,Q) show complex variations with pressure and lithology. In general, attenuation anisotropy is stronger and more sensitive to pressure changes than velocity anisotropy, regardless of lithology. Anisotropy is greatest (over 20% for velocity, over 70% for attenuation) in rocks with visible clay/organic matter laminations in hand specimens. Pressure sensitivities are attributed to the opening of microcracks with decreasing pressure. Changes in magnitude of velocity and attenuation anisotropy with effective pressure show similar trends, although they can show different signs (positive or negative values of ,, ,Q, ,, ,Q). We conclude that attenuation anisotropy in particular could prove useful to seismic monitoring of reservoir pressure changes if frequency-dependent effects can be quantified and modelled. [source]