Ignition wave in a two-velocity two-temperature multiphase mixture

The theory of stationary adiabatic and non-adiabatic ignition waves in magnesium aerosuspension is developed on the basis of the mathematical model based on two-velocity two-temperature approach of mechanics of heterogeneous media. Specifically, the conditions such that the particle cloud ignites under the action of an initiating shock wave (SW) are defined. An agreement between the adiabatic one-velocity model and the adiabatic two-velocity model on the ignition delay time for small particles is shown. Influence of particle size on this characteristic is compared for both models. Validation of the two-velocity model is performed on the basis of comparison with the experimental data. The unified formula for calculation of the induction period of the magnesium particle mixture in oxygen which takes into account its dependence on the SW Mach number and particle radius is found.     

深水内波条件下井喷原油扩散规律数值仿真分析

为研究深水内波条件下井喷原油扩散问题,基于计算流体动力学CFD方法,建立深水内波条件下的溢油扩散后果预测模型,研究深水溢油在内波流场中的扩散规律,评估溢油在内波流中的上浮时间、扩散距离等关键风险参数,探讨内波工况、井喷流量及海况条件对深水溢油扩散行为和后果的影响。研究表明:泄漏原油喷射涌入海水中形成射流和羽流,向下部海流出口方向偏移,上升至250m处原油破碎分散为小油滴,受内波剪切作用,扩散范围增大,并向上部海流出口方向偏移,溢出点位置位于泄漏口正上方附近;内波流速变化对原油运移至海面所需时间无明显影响,对横向扩散参数有较明显影响;泄漏速率变化对原油的溢出时间和横向扩散参数均有较明显影响;海况条件对原油溢出时间、运移过程和扩散范围均有较明显影响,其中内波条件下,井喷溢油造成的危害最大。     

Numerical simulation of the large-scale malignant environmental pollution incident

With the development of economy, the expansion in industrial production resulted in the increase in the number of malignant environmental pollution incidents. The dispersion of toxic gaseous materials was chosen for study in detail, which took the ‘12.23’ Kaixian blowout accident in Chongqing as an example. This paper firstly reviewed the ‘12.23’ Kaixian blowout accident. Then, the physical boundary conditions including initial conditions were outlined to form an integrated mathematical problem. Thirdly, the blowout accident was simulated for a period of 5 h. In term of criteria for acute poisoning, simulation results were analyzed using the concentration slices that can serve for the decision-making. Finally, based on the analysis of simulation result, four important conclusions were put forward that can be used for the design of emergency evacuation routes.     

Towards system for the management of safety on board artisanal fishing vessels: Proposal for check-lists and their application

The safety management systems applied at the international level in merchant vessels do not have their equivalent in the vessels dedicated to fishing, and much less to the most numerous sub-sector, artisanal fishing. The article presented here is based on the results of a research project conducted to assess the degree of safety existing in the artisanal fishing fleet of Andalusia, in SW Spain. It offers a set of proposals aimed at improving safety by the production and application of check-lists, as stated in the initial objectives of the project. We therefore present a series of specific working instruments for the detection and correction of the various risks that are frequently faced in the artisanal fisheries sector; these instruments have, in fact, already been applied by the Regional Authorities in the form of risk assessment models, which we present here.     

Bayesian decision support for coding occupational injury data

IntroductionStudies on autocoding injury data have found that machine learning algorithms perform well for categories that occur frequently but often struggle with rare categories. Therefore, manual coding, although resource-intensive, cannot be eliminated. We propose a Bayesian decision support system to autocode a large portion of the data, filter cases for manual review, and assist human coders by presenting them top k prediction choices and a confusion matrix of predictions from Bayesian models.MethodWe studied the prediction performance of Single-Word (SW) and Two-Word-Sequence (TW) Naïve Bayes models on a sample of data from the 2011 Survey of Occupational Injury and Illness (SOII). We used the agreement in prediction results of SW and TW models, and various prediction strength thresholds for autocoding and filtering cases for manual review. We also studied the sensitivity of the top k predictions of the SW model, TW model, and SW–TW combination, and then compared the accuracy of the manually assigned codes to SOII data with that of the proposed system.ResultsThe accuracy of the proposed system, assuming well-trained coders reviewing a subset of only 26% of cases flagged for review, was estimated to be comparable (86.5%) to the accuracy of the original coding of the data set (range: 73%–86.8%). Overall, the TW model had higher sensitivity than the SW model, and the accuracy of the prediction results increased when the two models agreed, and for higher prediction strength thresholds. The sensitivity of the top five predictions was 93%.ConclusionsThe proposed system seems promising for coding injury data as it offers comparable accuracy and less manual coding.Practical ApplicationsAccurate and timely coded occupational injury data is useful for surveillance as well as prevention activities that aim to make workplaces safer.     

室内多因素条件下香烟颗粒粒谱动态分布特征

烟颗粒粒径分布和浓度变化是探测香烟阴燃火灾初期的重要参数,研究香烟阴燃过程烟颗粒粒谱分布对火灾探测具有指导意义。实验通过在室内有风条件下展开,研究风速、位置、时间、烟源等因素对烟颗粒的粒径分布和形成规律的影响。结果表明:1随着时间的推移,GMD(Geometric Mean Diameter,几何平均直径)变大,烟颗粒数量浓度增加,但粒谱分布逐渐趋于稳定。2风速对颗粒粒谱形成的影响较为复杂,随着风速的增加,气流扰动加剧,烟颗粒浓度增加,GMD有减小的变化趋势。3在不同的位置,有风条件下烟颗粒随着气流迁移,最终在壁面处进行积累,离烟源越远位置,沿着风速方向浓度和GMD均变大。4烟颗粒的初始浓度也影响烟颗粒粒谱分布和运动特征,烟源数量越多,初始浓度越大,形成的烟颗粒浓度和GMD越大。     

Regimes and critical conditions of detonation propagation in expanding channels in gas suspensions of ultrafine aluminum particles

Under study are the regimes of detonation propagation in channels with linear expansion filled with monodisperse mixtures of oxygen and ultrafine aluminum particles of various loading; the methods of numerical simulations are used. The detonation combustion of submicron aluminum particles is described within the semi-empirical model of reduced kinetics with due regard to the transition from the diffusion-limited regime of combustion to the kinetic one. Waves of both planar and developed cellular detonation are considered as initial conditions. The characteristics of the main flow regimes are obtained and described: the subcritical (detonation failure), critical (detonation failure in some part of the channel) and supercritical (continuous detonation propagation). The maps of flow regimes in suspensions of 200-nm – 400-nm particles are presented in the plane of parameters: the channel width, expansion angle. The obtained critical conditions are similar to those observed in the gas detonation. The critical channel width linearly depends on the expansion angle up to a first critical value (35°–38°). Behind the second critical value (50°), the channel width is independent on the expansion angle. Between these values, there is an interval of nonmonotonicity similar to the detonation of micro-sized suspensions of aluminum particles. The effect of particle loading on the critical conditions in poor mixtures appears in the form of a sharp increase in the critical channel width, if the mass concentration falls below 0.25.     

Comparative assessment of respiratory and other occupational health effects among elementary workers

Objective. This study was conducted to assess hazards faced by elementary workers. Methods. A questionnaire survey and a respiratory function test (spirometry) were carried out on 150 respondents. Results. Major hazards identified related to sharp objects, heavy weight lifting, thermally harsh conditions, working at height, whole body vibration, chemicals, pathogens, increased noise levels and confined space entry. Workers suffered from upper and lower respiratory disorder symptoms, digestive problems, optical and musculoskeletal issues, etc. Spirometric measurement showed obstructive lung disorders to be highest among construction workers (CW) (48%) followed by sanitation workers (SW) (32%) and solid waste pickers (SWP) (28%). Restrictive lung pattern was dominant among SW (56%) followed by SWP (46%) and CW (42%). The observed FEV₁/FVC in diseased SWP, SW and CW ranged from 51 to 96%, from 52 to 98% and from 31 to 99% respectively while observed mean FEV₁ was 2.15, 1.79 and 1.70 L, respectively. Conclusion. The study findings show that occupational exposure can significantly influence respiratory system impairment and contribute to other ailments among elementary workers. The study recommends use of appropriate protective equipment and regular medical examination for early recognition of any health risk so that timely interventions for effective management may be undertaken.     

考虑滚动阻抗的线性接触模型离散元宏细观参数敏感性研究*

为克服无黏性土的离散元研究中未考虑颗粒间抗转动作用的缺陷,基于抗转动线性接触模型开展一系列排水固结三轴压缩模拟试验,结合随机森林算法详细探讨抗转动线性接触模型中各细观参数（有效模量、刚度比、摩擦系数、抗转动系数）与试样的宏观参数（初始弹性模量、泊松比、峰值强度）间的关系。结果表明:颗粒有效模量的提高会使试样的初始弹性模量提高而泊松比提高,权重值分别为0.695 14和0.201 57;刚度比的增加会使试样的初始弹性模量降低而泊松比提高,权重值分别为0.751和0.193 64;抗转动系数与摩擦系数提高会显著提高试样的抗剪强度,权重值分别为0.564 72和0.427 5;抗转动系数对试样的剪胀性具有显著影响。     

Simultaneous effect of shift work on blood pressure and lipid profile: a path analysis

The aim of this study was to assess the direct and indirect effects of shift work (SW) on the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and lipid profile of male workers. For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted involving 6539 male workers of Esfahan Mobarakeh Steel Company. From all of the participants, 3065 (46.8%) were day workers and the remainder were shift workers. The results of path analysis revealed that the most effective variables on SBP were body mass index, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides and SW with a total effect of 0.241, 0.095, 0.064 and 0.056, respectively.     

Bhopal gas tragedy: scientific challenges and lessons for future

Some of the challenges of BGT were answered by two multi-disciplinary projects of the ICMR on Pathology and Toxicology and Pathophysiology. Unlike other chemical disasters, the aerosol inhaled by the Bhopal victims contained a mixture of MIC and its trimers and dimers, as well as aqueous and thermal decomposition products, including HCN. A coordinated GC–MS study of the blood and autopsy tissues and chemicals in the Tank residue confirmed their role.

Autopsy studies revealed the pathological changes in the acute, sub-acute and chronic phases progressive changes of pulmonary edema and bronchiolitis, followed by chronic pulmonary fibrosis. Cerebral edema resulted in ‘acute histotoxic anoxia’. Intensive experimental studies with the help of newer tools of molecular biology might throw more light on the underlying mechanisms and newer therapeutic approaches.

The initial finding of cherry-red discoloration of lungs led to a suspicion of cyanide toxicity. Eventually, elevated blood and tissue cyanide levels confirmed the prompt therapeutic response to NaTS and accompanying increase of urinary NaSCN excretion. However, periodic clinical recurrences and relapses pointing towards ‘chronic cyanide toxicity’ remained enigmatic.

Specific changes the 2–3 DPG levels and Blood Gases were explained on the basis of N-carbamoylation of end-terminal valine residues of Hb. Soon, several other end-terminal -amino groups of tissue proteins were also found to be N-carbamoylated. Had the attempts at demonstrate S-carbamoylation of glutathione and other SH radicals of tissue enzymes like rhodanese succeeded, perhaps the underlying mechanism of chronic cyanide toxicity due to MIC might have been resolved.

Based on the practical lessons learnt in Bhopal, an attempt will be made to present the salient pathological and toxicological findings, followed by a brief outline of the principles of planned laboratory management for alleviation of human suffering from future chemical disasters.     

Detonation flows in aluminium particle gas suspensions,inhomogeneous in concentrations

A physical and mathematical model of the reduced kinetics is presented describing heterogeneous detonation in suspensions non-uniform in particle concentration. The model is based on the heterogeneous media approaches, semi-empirical laws of ignition and combustion, and data on the dependence of the detonation velocity on particle concentration. Formation of suboxides and incomplete combustion of aluminum are taken into account integrally. The dependence of the heat release of chemical reactions and the fraction of unburnt particles on the initial composition is determined from the solution of the stationary problem of the structure of the detonation wave. In the calculations of unsteady detonation flows, it is supposed to solve an additional equation for the spatial distribution of initial concentrations. The problems of initiation and development of cellular detonation in flat channels in suspensions of micron-sized aluminum particles are studied. Dependences of the cell size on particle concentration in uniform suspensions are determined. The flow patterns of cellular structures, the forms of the leading front, and the propagation velocities in channels with longitudinal or transversal gradients of particle concentration are analyzed.     

特种劳动防护用品安全标识监管与防伪系统的开发及应用

本系统将特种劳动防护用品在日常管理过程中出现的大量繁杂多变的信息转变为数字信息数据，并建立适当的数学模型，由计算机对模型进行综合分析处理，同时显示结果，从而实现特种劳动防护用品的数字化管理，实现产品的真伪辨别和产品质量的责任追溯。     

Initiation of strong reactive shocks and detonation by traveling ignition pulses

Experimental studies of detonation initiation by external stimulation of exothermic reactions closely behind a propagating shock wave (SW) are reported. Gaseous and heterogeneous fuel–air mixtures have been studied. Spatially distributed electric dischargers with properly tuned triggering times are shown to provide very short distances for shock-to-detonation transition in smooth-walled tubes. The energy of each individual discharger was shown to be smaller than the critical energy required for direct detonation initiation by a single discharger. The total energy of the dischargers appeared to be lower than the critical energy of direct detonation initiation. Available experiments with deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) in tubes with regular or irregular obstacles are also treated as detonation initiation by a traveling ignition source. In this case, instead of external stimulation of chemical activity, the localized obstacle-induced autoignition of shock-compressed gas occurs which can be closely coupled with the propagating SW. Two possible DDT scenarios are identified, namely, ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ DDT. In case the ignition timing at obstacles is closely coupled with the SW, favorable conditions for ‘fast’ DDT can occur. Otherwise, the SW decouples from the ignition pulses and ‘slow’ DDT can occur at a later stage due to cumulating of flame-induced pressure waves and ‘explosion in the explosion’ phenomenon.     

Making sense of invulnerability at work—a qualitative study of police drivers

This paper reports a qualitative study of 54 police drivers who were interviewed about their views on police driver training, driving strategies and their accident involvement. Study of the transcribed interviews indicated that officers constructed narratives of themselves as being highly aware of hazards presented by other road users and they used a variety of discursive devices to minimise their own culpability and attribute risk elsewhere. Rather than maintaining a straightforward ‘illusion of invulnerability’ they were formulating a ‘topography of risk’ in which they were responding to hazards presented by suspects or other road users. Their meticulously detailed accounts of the circumstances surrounding accidents serve to place them as knowledgeable and impartial participants and create a sense of expertise and authority. Training initiatives could profitably seek to challenge this ‘topography of risk’ and sense of authority so that drivers more fully appreciate the hazard they may present to themselves and the public.     

Structure and flame speed of dilute and dense layered coal-dust explosions

Multidimensional time-dependent simulations were performed to study the interaction of a stoichiometric methane–air detonation with layers of coal dust. The simulations solved equations representing a Eulerian kinetic-theory-based granular multiphase model applicable to dense and dilute particle volume fractions. These equations were solved using a high-order Godunov-based method for compressible fluid dynamics. Two dust layer concentrations were considered: loose with an initial volume fraction of 1%, and dense with an initial volume fraction of 47%. Each layer was simulated with two types of dust: reactive coal and inert ash. Burning of the coal particles results in a coupled complex consisting of an accelerating shock leading a coal-dust flame. The overall structure of the shock–flame complex resembles that of a premixed fast flame with length scales on the order of several meters. The large length scales are direct results of time needed to lift, mix, heat, and autoignite the particle. The flame speeds are large and much larger than the gas-phase velocity. Large spikes of flame speed are characteristic of the 47% case. These spikes and high flame speed are caused by pockets of coal dust autoigniting ahead of the flame. The flame is choked in the 1% case due to the gas-phase products exceeding the sonic velocity with respect to the flame. The 47% case is choked due to attenuation of pressure waves as they propagate through particles. Inert layers of dust substantially reduce the overpressure, impulse, and speed produced by propagating blast wave. The results also show that loose layers of dust are far more dangerous than dense layers. The shock and flame are more strongly coupled for loose layers, propagate at higher velocity, and produce large overpressures and impulses.     

不同配比下破碎岩体变质量渗透试验研究

为了分析破碎岩体不同骨架-充填物配比条件下的变质量渗透特性,揭示煤矿陷落柱、断层等含破碎岩体地质构造的突水机理,利用自主研制的可考虑颗粒迁移作用的渗透试验系统开展了不同试样配比条件下的变质量渗透试验研究,得到了破碎岩样孔隙率、渗透率、质量流失率等参量随时间的变化规律。并在试验结果的基础上,结合陷落柱突水实例,分析了充填物颗粒迁移作用下的陷落柱突水演化规律。结果表明:1)颗粒迁移作用下破碎岩体的渗透性变化可分为3个阶段,即渗流缓变阶段、渗流突变阶段和渗流稳定阶段;2)试样充填物颗粒在水流冲蚀作用下不断迁移流失,孔隙率快速增大后趋于稳定,质量流失率先快速增加后逐渐减小;3)充填物含量对破碎岩体渗透性具有重要影响,随试样中充填物比例的增加,试样的最大质量流失率不断增加,孔隙率增幅也越大,初始渗透率和渗透率增幅均呈现先增大后减小的变化规律。     

On the implementation of an International Curriculum on Hydrogen Safety Engineering into higher education

This paper describes the implementation of an International Curriculum on Hydrogen Safety Engineering into higher education. The curriculum is being developed as part of the educational and training activities of the European Network of Excellence Safety of Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier (HySafe) and has been implemented into a 1-year Postgraduate Certificate Course in Hydrogen Safety Engineering by the University of Ulster. The course is taught in the distance learning mode and comprises of two 30 CATS-point modules, namely, ‘Principles of Hydrogen Safety’ and ‘Applied Hydrogen Safety’. The first delivery of this course began in January 2007 and the second delivery will commence in September 2007.     

Carbon capture and storage-desirability from a risk management point of view

Environmental and safety risks related to carbon capture and storage concern leakages and accidental releases during transport and geological storage. Based on principles widely accepted in the EU and beyond in the discussion about the where’s and why’s of nuclear waste repositories, this paper discusses the desirability of carbon capture and storage from a risk management point of view, focusing on environmental risks on the global level (climate change). On this basis it is concluded that, if the key energy issue of coming generations, not just in Europe but all around the world, is not the abundance of fossil resources but rather an unacceptably high probability of global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions, then the solution should not include any massive hiding of the emissions but entirely focus on the avoidance based on improved technology in power plants and other industrial installations.     

Objective and subjective measurements of slipperiness in fast-food restaurants in the USA and their comparison with the previous results obtained in Taiwan

Floor slipperiness is a critical issue in slip and fall incidents which are a major source of occupational injuries. The objectives of the current study were to investigate if the protocols used in a field study conducted in Taiwan could be used in similar environments in the USA and whether consistent results could be obtained. Protocols used in the field study to investigate floor slipperiness in western-style fast-food restaurants in Taiwan included both objective and subjective measurements. Using the same methods as in Taiwan, friction was measured on tiles in six major working areas of 10 fast-food kitchens in the USA as an objective measurement of slipperiness, while the subjective measurement was employees’ ratings of floor slipperiness over the same areas. The Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficients in the USA between the averaged friction coefficients and subjective ratings for all 60 evaluated areas across 10 restaurants were 0.33 (p = 0.01) and 0.36 (p = 0.005), respectively, which were lower than the correlations of 0.49 and 0.45, respectively, obtained in Taiwan. Cultural differences, the amount of water on the floors in the sink areas and the existence of a slip resistant shoe program in one country might be contributors to the lower correlation coefficients in the USA. However, the current study confirmed the results obtained in Taiwan that average friction coefficient and perception values are in fair agreement, suggesting that both might be reasonably good indicators of slipperiness.