Gases diffusivity

Different combinations of stable xenon isotopes have been sealed into each of the fuel elements in fission reactors as tags so that should one of the elements later develop a leak, it could be identified by analyzing the xenon isotope pattern in the reactor s cover gas (4). Historically, the sensitive helium mass spectrometer devices for leak detection were developed as a cmcial part of building the gas-diffusion plant for uranium isotope separation at Oak Ridge, Tennessee (129), and heHum leak detection equipment is stiU an essential tool ia auclear technology (see Diffusion separation methods). 

In addition to oxidation itself, gas diffusion into the base metal can be more damaging than the actual loss of metal from the surface. Thus the loss in mechanical properties owing to diffusion of oxygen into niobium makes it more difficult to protect niobium against oxidation damage than molybdenum, even though molybdenum has less resistance to normal oxidation effects than niobium. 

Besides water vapor and gas diffusion, other requirements for good edge sealants are water resistance, uv resistance, heat/cold resistance (—40 to 80°C), adhesion to glass and metal, and good characteristics for appHcation. Polysulfide sealants have maintained an exceUent record in use since the 1950s. Development of new polysulfides and sealant formulations continues in order to meet market needs of the 1990s. 

Foams are thermodynamically unstable. To understand how defoamers operate, the various mechanisms that enable foams to persist must first be examined. There are four main explanations for foam stabiUty (/) surface elasticity (2) viscous drainage retardation effects (J) reduced gas diffusion between bubbles and (4) other thin-film stabilization effects from the iateraction of the opposite surfaces of the films. 

Gas Diffusivity For prediction of the gas diffusivity of binary hydrocarbon-hyarocarbon gas systems at low pressures (below about 500 psia [3.5 MPa]) the method of Gilliland given by Eq. (2-150) is recommended. 

In the late 1800s, the development of the kinetic theory of gases led to a method for calculating mmticomponent gas diffusion (e.g., the flux of each species in a mixture). The methods were developed simnlta-neonsly by Stefan and Maxwell. The problem is to determine the diffusion coefficient D, . The Stefan-Maxwell equations are simpler in principle since they employ binary diffnsivities ... 

Surface Area Determination The surface-to-volume ratio is an important powder property since it governs the rate at which a powder interacts with its surroundings. Surface area may be determined from size-distribution data or measured directly by flow through a powder bed or the adsorption of gas molecules on the powder surface. Other methods such as gas diffusion, dye adsorption from solution, and heats of adsorption have also been used. It is emphasized that a powder does not have a unique surface, unless the surface is considered to be absolutely smooth, and the magnitude of the measured surface depends upon the level of scrutiny (e.g., the smaller the gas molecules used for gas adsorption measurement the larger the measured surface). 

Foam Coalescence Coalescence is of two types. The first is the growth of the larger foam bubbles at the expense of the smaller bubbles due to interbubble gas diffusion, which results from the smaller bubbles having somewhat higher internal pressures (Adamson, The Physical Chemlstiy of Suifaces, 4th ed., Wiley, New York, 1982). Small bubbles can even disappear entirely. In principle, the rate at which this type of coalescence proceeds can be estimated [Ranadive and Lemhch,y. Colloid Inteiface Sci., 70, 392 (1979)]. 

In this derivation, the diffusion coefficient which is used is really a parameter, since it is not certain which gas diffusion rate is controlling, that of hydrogen into a pore, or that of water vapour out of die pore. The latter seems to be the most probable, but the path of diffusion will be vety tormous drrough each pore and drerefore the length of the diffusion path is ill-defined. 

Halitsky, J., Gas diffusion near buildings, in "Meteorology and Atomic Energy—1966" (D. Slade, ed.), TID-24190. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Oak Ridge, TN, 196ft, pp, 221- ... 

DIffusIvltles. The simplest gas diffusivity relationship is the Gilliland relationship. 

Reaction of a solid with a liquid (or solute) As with solid and gas Diffusion in the liquid may be important, particularly where no barrier layer is formed... 

In a discussion of these results, Bertrand et al. [596,1258] point out that S—T behaviour is not a specific feature of any restricted group of hydrates and is not determined by the nature of the residual phase, since it occurs in dehydrations which yield products that are amorphous or crystalline and anhydrous or lower hydrates. Reactions may be controlled by interface or diffusion processes. The magnitudes of S—T effects observed in different systems are not markedly different, which indicates that the controlling factor is relatively insensitive to the chemical properties of the reactant. From these observations, it is concluded that S—T behaviour is determined by heat and gas diffusion at the microdomain level, the highly localized departures from equilibrium are not, however, readily investigated experimentally. 

In reviewing reported values of E for calcite decompositions, Beruto and Searcy [121] find that most are close to the dissociation enthalpy. They suggest, as a possible explanation, that if product gas removal is not rapid and complete, readsorption of C02 on CaO may establish dissociation equilibria within the pores and channels of the layer of residual phase. The rate of gas diffusion across this barrier is modified accordingly and is not characteristic of the dissociation step at the interface. 

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