Extraterrestrial Variables in Boule Formation Process ickman (2) has been studying boules (small drops
H of liquid that float evanescently on calm superheated liquid) and he has reported (7) that, at certain times, boule formation did not occur although no overt changes had been made in experimental conditions. This small section of the report caught our attention, since we are engaged in studies of the effect of nonstandard variables such as electromagnetic energy fields on the stability of colloidal systems. One source of such fields is solar activity variation. We secured from Dr. Hickman data on the ease of formation, size, and stability of water boules formed on 30 days between 28 August 1964 and 8 March 1965. Unfortunately, roughly half of the data was numerical and the other half in the form of descriptive comments. We assigned numerical ratings to the latter, but could not feel confident that these were strictly comparable to the more objective data. After this procedure, a rating was assigned to each day and this rating was correlated with various geophysical parameters by a nonparametric approximate correlation test similar to the more common sign test ( 3 ) . The geophysical data were taken from the “Geomagnetic and Solar Data” regularly published by J. Virginia Lincoln in the Journal of Geophysical Research. Additional data were kindly furnished by Dorothy Trotter of the High Altitude Observatory of NCAR. No correlations were found for the terrestrial magnetic indices C,, C,, A , ; or with the occurrences of solar calcium plages; or with cosmic ray intensities; or with
the index of solar flare occurrences; or with the intensity of 2800 MHz radio noise from the sun. A possible effect of the terrestrial magnetic index K , was indicated. A positive correlation at the 5% significance level was found with the Wolf sunspot number R,. A negative correlation at the 5y0 significance level was found with the intensity of the 5303 A. green line in the solar corona. Encouraged by these initial findings, we asked for more data. By that time, Hickman had improved his apparatus and was employing a recorder to count and to time boule formation, so that the subjective content of the data was much reduced. The new equipment, however, never gave boules as large as those reported in the previous experiment. Recorder data covering substantially all the hours between 1800 on 24 September 1965 and 1200 on 29 October 1965 were very kindly furnished us by Dr. Hickman. During this time, 17,363 boules were formed. T h e lifetime of each boule was measured. For each 3-hr. period, the number of boules formed, their total lifetime, and their average lifetime were tabulated. Similar daily data were also tabulated. Plots of pairs of these three quantities (nurpber of boules, average boule life, and total boule life) showed a “whale’s tail” form in that, at small numbers of boules, there might be either small or large average lifetimes or total lifetimes, while at large numbers of boules the lifetimes were intermediate. This indicates that upsets VOL. 5 9
NO. 1 0 O C T O B E R 1 9 6 7
87
nucleation phenomena Brings together in book form eight articles published serially in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry from September 1965 to April 1966. It is the second in a series of state-of-the-art books growing out of summer symposia sponsored jointly in IE&C and the Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. The book offers much that is unusual and provocative to the ”pure” scientist and to the chemical engineer, as well as much that wili surely be of use in areas of practical importance. Alan S. Michaels, President of Amicon Corp. and Symposium chairman, contributed the introductory “Chemical Engineer’s Assessment.” Chapter titles and the roster o f authors appear below. Energetics of Nucleation .
. .D. R. Uhlmann, M.I.T. B. Chalmers, Harvard
Homogeneous Nucleation from the Vapor Phase , , , , , , . . . . . . . . , , , , , R. P. Andres, Princeton
. . .,
Nucleation in the Atmosphere Nucleation from the Melt
, ,
, , ,
,
. . . , .Horace
R. Byers, Texas A & M
, ,
. , . . , . , . , , . . , , .Kenneth A. Jackson, Bell Telephone Labs.
Nucleation from Boiling H Transfer . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warren M. Rohsenow, M.I.T.
Nucleation in Polymers , . . , , . . . . , , , . . ,John D. Hoffman, N.B.S. Fred Gornick, U. of Va. Nucleation in Glasses . , , , . , , . . , . , . . , , . , , ,John F. MacDowell, Corning Glass Works Nucleation with Crystalline Phases . . . . , . . . . , , .John E. Hilliard, Northwestern
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY Special Issues Sales / 1155 Sixteenth Street, N. W. / Washington, D. C. 20036 Please send-copies of NUCLEATION PHENOMENA a t $5.75 each. pages (9x12) with index. Clothbound. An I&EC Reprint. (2nd I&EC Division Summer Symposium) Check enclosed (to American Chemical Society). Send bill.
NAME
in the system show up as either many small boules or a few large boules. The authors interpret this to mean that some variable affects the stability of the system in opposite ways at opposite ends of its range of variation, The question arises, “What is this variable?” Dr. Hickman has a very stable system in terms of thermal and mass transport variables ; meteorological variables are beyond his control; and geophysical variables are normally not even considered in well run chemical laboratories. I n view of our interests and our previous findings, however, we wished to pursue the possible effects of some of the geophysical variables. Each of the three quantities, on a daily basis, was correlated with various geophysical parameters. Since we had previously found correlations with R, and the 5303 A. corona line and possible effect of K,, these were first evaluated together with K , (which is similar to K but is determined in Maryland rather than in Germany, as is K,). No correlations were found. Since K, and K , are available for 3-hr. periods as well as daily, the 3-hr. values of the three quantities were evaluated. No correlation was found between K , and K , and the number of boules formed in 3-hr. periods or with total lifetime of boules in 3-hr. periods. When we considered the average lifetime of boules in 3-hr. periods, K , again showed a suggestive but not quite significant effect; however, K,? was found to be positively correlated at the 1% significance level. The monthly geophysical data from the Journel of Geophysical Research are segregated into categories of 5 quiet days, 10 quiet days, and 5 disturbed days. These are relative rankings, not absolute, so that what would be a quiet day in one month might be a disturbed day in another month, depending upon the general level of solar activity. However this may be, the three quantities for 17 such days in the data reported on here (6 disturbed days, 6 very quiet days, and 5 quiet days) were collected and subjected to a Spearman rank correlation coefficient test whose significance is evaluated by Student’s well known “ t ” test (4). This analysis showed that both K , and K , were positively correlated with total boule lifetime at the 5% significance l e ~ e l . Furthermore, average boule lifetime and K , were similarly correlated on disturbed days only. We are now in a position to postulate that some factor influences the boule-forming process. This factor may well be fluctuations in the terrestrial magnetic field, but it equally well may be some extraterrestrial factor which is affecting both magnetic field and boule formation. Whale-tail distribution of boule lifetimes and the positive statistical correlations, only, indicate an extraterrestrial influence, as yet unidentified. REFERENCES
MAILING A D D R E S S
CITY
STATE-ZIP
CODE-
SIGNATURE
88
I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G CHEMISTRY
(1) IIickman, K. C.D., IND.ENC.CHEM.5 6 ( 6 ) , 18-31 (1964). (2) Hickman, K. C. D., h’ature 201, 985-7 (1964). (3) Siegel, S . , “ Non-Parametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences,” p. 6 8 , McGraw-Hill, New York, 1956. (4) Ibid., p. 212.
W. H. FISCHER J. P. LODGE, JR. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, C O ~ O .
NEW PRODUCTS Equipment
MIST FILTERS T w o Dynapure mist filter models, designed to clean aerosol contaminated air in power generating plants and in the chemical, food, a n d petroleum processing industries, have been developed by the Electro Dynamic division OF General Dynamics. First of the new Dynapure filters is Model P-250, driven by a twohorsepower, 220/440-volt motor and capable of handling a rated flow of 250 cu. ft./inin. A smaller unit, Model P-140, also is available. It handles a rated flow of 140 cu. f t . finin. Unlike conventional filters, the Dynapure mist filters are electrically driven, centrifugal-type units that combine high efficiency with simplicity and safety. Liquid particles are removed from the atmosphere by a centrifuging and impacting action. I n continuous efficient), tests, Model P-250 has scored more than 99% efficiency on a weight basis and more than 90% on a particle c:ount basis, based on particles of 0.5 or more. T h e unit will remove particles as fine as 0.2 p, but at a somewhat lowered efficiency. A micron particle is 0.001 of a millimeter, or 1 /25400th of an inch, and i t takes 50 of thein to lie seen b y the unaided eye. Model P-250 measures 44 x 18 x 231/2 in. and sells for $788. T h e smaller P-140 measures 22 x 18 x 22 in. and sells for 5475. Both models have standard ASME 150lb., 4-in. flanges for inlet and outlet connections. Their cylinders are fitted with drain holes for either horizontal or vertical installations.
The Dyndpuie models are the latest in a line of filtering units that tound its origin in General Dynamics’ involvement with ihe nuclear submarine program. Critical specifi~ationsencountered in tenting submarine engine room gearboxes called for filters that would be efficient, quiet, and self-cleaning. T h e resulting systems are foreiunners of today’s Dynapure line which includes models equally effective in iemoving lube oil mist units, condenser or gearbox vents, spray coating oversprays, ventilation exhaust stacks, 01 other mist generaling sources. These filters used in conjunction with other air purification units
will significantly reduce pollution. Also, this unit may find application in clean loom facilities, laboratories, assembly rooms where particle control in the air must be taken into consideration for quality control purposes. These units are cas) to install, operate and maintain. In addition to Dynapure mist centrifugal filters, Electro Dynamic dlso manufactures large a x . motors (250-5000 h.p.), d.c. motors (2-200 h.p.), frequency converters, T ane‘ixial blowers, and Dynapak high 1 elocity impact metal working ma(Iiines. General Dynamics Coi p. 201
VOL. 5 9
NO. 1 0 O C T O B E R 1 9 6 7
89
