Andreas Manz Boeken

When you are buried alive, you learn a lot about yourself, the meaning of your past experiences and the future that you would like to have, if you get the chance to live it. When Ben, a middle-aged professional who seemingly has it all, the money, the cars, the family, reaches a crossroads in his life and, the things that once stimulated him now become causes of stress and fatigue, he decides to step out of his existence and find out more about himself and what he would like to do for the rest of his days. His journey encounters, Carla, a busy, stressed out business woman whose schedule is in control of her and not the other way around, she is also looking for answers that cannot be Googled or found in books. Their united search for clarity, truth and purpose sees them meeting extraordinary people and taking in extraordinary lands. In a juxtaposition of life and death it is only at the point that they face their own mortality that they understand the purpose of their life and want to live with this knowledge of what it is they are here to do. This book is the exploration of the meaning of life, how to find your purpose and then when you find that enlightening moment, how to then focus upon achieving it.

Downsizing of modern gasoline engines with direct injection is a key concept for achieving future CO2₂ emission targets. However, high power densities and optimum efficiency are limited by an uncontrolled autoignition of the unburned air-fuel mixture, the so-called spark knock phenomena. By a combination of three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (3D-CFD) and experiments incorporating optical diagnostics, this work presents an integral approach for predicting combustion and autoignition in Spark Ignition (SI) engines. The turbulent premixed combustion and flame front propagation in 3D-CFD is modeled with the G-equation combustion model, i. e. a laminar flamelet approach, in combination with the level set method. Autoignition in the unburned gas zone is modeled with the Shell model based on reduced chemical reactions using optimized reaction rate coefficients for different octane numbers (ON) as well as engine relevant pressures, temperatures and EGR rates. The basic functionality and sensitivities of improved sub-models, e. g. laminar flame speed, are proven in simplified test cases followed by adequate engine test cases. It is shown that the G-equation combustion model performs well even on unstructured grids with polyhedral cells and coarse grid resolution. The validation of the knock model with respect to temporal and spatial knock onset is done with fiber optical spark plug measurements and statistical evaluation of individual knocking cycles with a frequency based pressure analysis. The results show a good correlation with the Shell autoignition relevant species in the simulation. The combined model approach with G-equation and Shell autoignition in an active formulation enables a realistic representation of thin flame fronts and hence the thermodynamic conditions prior to knocking by taking into account the ignition chemistry in unburned gas, temperature fluctuations and self-acceleration effects due to pre-reactions. By the modeling approach and simulation methodology presented in this work the overall predictive capability for the virtual development of future knockproof SI engines is improved.

"WHAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE BIG, WILL BE SMALL", a word by an engineer at a recent conference on chips technology. This sentence is particularly true for chemistry. Microfabrication technology emerged from microelectronics into areas like mechanics and now chemistry and biology. The engineering of micron and submicron sized features on the surface of silicon, glass and polymers opens a whole new world. Micromotors smaller than human hair have been fabricated and they work fine. It is the declared goal of the authors to bring these different worlds together in this volume. Authors have been carefully chosen to guarantee for the quality of the contents. An engineer, a chemist or a biologist will find new impulses from the various chapters in this book.

Direkt am kleinen, trubeligen Marktplatz von Gingst auf der schönen Insel Rügen hat sich die Rüganerin Petra Dittrich ihren Lebenstraum erfüllt: Nach zwanzig turbulenten Jahren in der Großstadt eröffnet sie hier ihre erste eigene Buchhandlung – trotz Risiken und Nebenwirkungen. Ihr Laden wird zu einem Wohnzimmer, für sie selbst sowie für all die Menschen, die sie hier besuchen und sich von ihr inspirieren lassen. Nach einem Morgenspaziergang am Meer bei Sturm und Regen wärmt sie sich mit einer Tasse Tee im Laden auf und begrüßt ihre Kundschaft mit einem Glas Sanddornlikör. Die Buchhändlerin hat für alle Lebenslagen das richtige Buch parat. Zu ihren Kund*innen gehören liebe und schräge Buchliebhaber*innen – eingefleischte Insulaner*innen ebenso wie Tourist*innen. Belohnt wird sie mit Marmelade aus Nachbars Garten, persönlichen Gesprächen und mit dem Deutschen Buchhandelspreis – zweifach! Und wenn Petra Dittrich mal frei hat, genießt sie den ganz besonderen Charme der Insel und zieht sich zum Lesen in die Dünen zurück.