Uncertainties in QRA: Analysis of losses of containment from piping and implications on risk prevention and mitigation

Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) is commonly used in the chemical industry to support decision-making. Common practices are based on standard methods, such as fault tree, event tree, etc.; in this frame, risk is a function of frequency of events (probability) and associated consequences (negative outcomes), but relevant uncertainties often are not properly taken into account in the derived results. This paper presents the application of an extended risk analysis of loss of containments for a case-study with the following aims: firstly, the uncertainties related to the results of the analysis, which derive from assumption in the application of the standard models, are qualitatively assessed; secondly the application allows evaluating the impact of the uncertainties on the trustworthiness of the results and, finally, commenting about their use in the risk prevention and mitigation.     

Morphological characteristics of flashing jet throughout superheated liquid release

Many release problems involve two-phase releases of hazardous materials of superheated liquids with high energy into the atmosphere. Such accidents are accompanied by violent phase transition and form catastrophic flashing jets. In this work, experimental and theoretical analyses were conducted to investigate dynamic characteristics of flashing jet morphology and their dependence on pressure-decay dynamics under different storage pressures, superheats, and nozzle diameters. Flashing jet morphology and angle throughout two-phase releases were captured by a high-speed camera, and the corresponding source pressure in the superheated liquid tank was measured simultaneously. Results show that three typical phases, expansion, stabilization, and decay, are characterized throughout two-phase release based on the evolution of flashing jet morphology. The jet initially expands gradually due to the enhancement of phase transition intensity, and then keeps stable when the intensity reaches its maximum, and terminally decays rapidly due to the depletion of superheated liquid. Phase transition intensity at the nozzle exit is mainly controlled by the pressure-decay dynamics. Bubbles nucleation inception sites gradually move upstream of the nozzle during the pressure decay process increasing the phase transition intensity. The increase of storage pressure, superheat and nozzle diameter promotes the mechanical and thermodynamic effects on the jet breakup. The significant increase of mechanical and thermodynamic effects effectively accelerates droplets evaporation and further affects flashing jet morphology.     

不同pH值对磷矿废石磷素浸出特性影响的实验研究

采用EPA 1314pH酸碱预滴定实验和pH浸出实验,研究了pH对磷矿废石磷元素浸出特性的影响,以及磷矿废石的酸碱缓冲容量。实验结果表明:磷矿废石的碱缓冲容量小,pH从8.75上升到13.50消耗了0.1mmol/g的NaOH,磷矿废石酸的缓冲容量较大,pH从5.50到1.00,共消耗2.2mmol/g的H2SO4;浸提液的酸碱性是影响磷矿废石中磷元素浸出的重要参数,酸性条件下很大程度上促进了磷元素的浸出,随着H+离子浓度的增加,总磷浓度随之升高。相反在碱性条件下的反应过程中,OH-阻碍磷元素的浸出,消耗正磷酸根离子和羟基磷酸根离子,使其生成沉淀,有一定的固磷作用,为磷元素的固化提供了更多途径。     

外源有机酸添加对风化煤矸石污染释放及重金属有效性的影响

为评价不同类型有机酸对风化煤矸石污染释放的影响,通过在风化煤矸石中添加不同种类的外源有机酸(腐殖酸、柠檬酸、草酸、水杨酸)进行处理,分析稳定7d后煤矸石浸出液的特征污染组分及TCLP提取态重金属含量。结果表明:对照处理组的风化煤矸石浸出液具有典型的酸性矿山废水特征。添加少量柠檬酸、草酸和水杨酸能显著(p0.05)降低风化煤矸石浸出液的pH和Eh值、明显增加浸出液的盐度、亚铁、总铁和硫酸盐含量,然而腐殖酸处理对浸出液pH、EC、Eh无明显影响,且可降低浸出液硫酸盐含量。少量外源有机酸添加均能不同程度促进风化煤矸石中Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn元素溶出,其中水杨酸处理对4种金属元素的溶出量较大。然而4种外源有机酸处理则能有效抑制Pb溶出,其中柠檬酸、水杨酸处理抑制效果最明显。有机酸添加对风化煤矸石的重金属有效性影响表现为4种外源有机酸处理均能明显增加风化煤矸石中Mn元素的有效性,降低Zn元素的有效性,但对Fe元素的有效性影响不明显。4种外源有机酸添加对煤矸石中Cu元素有效性具有不同程度的影响,其中腐殖酸、草酸处理能明显降低Cu元素有效性,而柠檬酸和水杨酸处理则明显增加Cu的有效性。     

微孔曝气与覆盖对城市重污染河道底泥磷形态分布及释放过程的影响

采用自行研发的泥-水界面微孔曝气系统,开展了底泥表面曝气和覆盖对城市重污染河道底泥磷释放及形态分布规律的影响研究.结果表明,微孔曝气能够有效提高上覆水的溶解氧(DO)和沉积物的氧化还原电位(Eh),能够将泥-水界面Eh维持在-100 m V左右,DO提高到6 mg·L-1以上.与对照比较,原位覆盖处理的上覆水DO和Eh有一定提高,但仍明显低于微孔曝气处理.与对照相比较,微孔曝气处理均有效降低上覆水中总磷(TP)和溶解性正磷酸盐(PO3-4)的含量.试验结束时,微孔曝气(A)和微孔曝气+原位覆盖处理(A+C)上覆水中TP含量由初始的0.201 mg·L-1分别降至0.062 mg·L-1和0.050 mg·L-1;上覆水中PO3-4含量由0.086 mg·L-1和0.078 mg·L-1分别降至0.026 mg·L-1和0.023 mg·L-1.与对照相比,微孔曝气处理明显降低了底泥间隙水中TP的浓度,在整个培养期间,其TP含量平均下降38.8%(A)和47.9%(A+C).底泥原位覆盖处理对抑制泥-水界面磷释放能力要弱于微孔曝气处理,而且在试验后期(50 d),上覆水中TP和PO3-4的含量均有所反弹.不管有无覆盖,泥-水界面微孔曝气处理均显著改变了表层底泥磷形态分布特征,显著降低了底泥中铁铝结合态磷(Fe/Al-P)组分比例,而钙结合态磷(Ca-P)含量比例却出现明显增加.单一的表面覆盖处理对底泥磷形态分布特征没有显著影响(P0.05).研究表明,与单一的处理效果相比较,泥-水界面纳米微孔曝气处理,并结合底泥原位覆盖,更有利于抑制城市重污染河道泥-水界面中磷的释放风险.     

烧结砖中重金属释放特性研究

通过向黏土中添加重金属试剂,模拟煅烧试验制作烧结砖.采用酸消解试验研究烧结砖中重金属的总量,采用欧盟NEN7371方法测试烧结砖中重金属的有效释放量,采用NEN7375方法进行块状烧结砖浸出试验,研究烧结砖样品中Cr、Ni、As、Cd和Pb的释放特性.结果表明:烧结砖中重金属的有效释放量低于总量,释放率从大到小为Cd、As、Pb、Ni、Cr;在块状浸出过程中,Cr、Ni、As累积释放量达到平衡的时间为16 d,Pb为4d,而Cd的累积释放量一直有上升的趋势;Cr、Ni、As的释放机理主要为扩散控制,Cd为溶解作用,Pb为表面冲刷作用;5种重金属释放速率从大到小为Ni、Cr、Pb、As、Cd.     

液化四氟乙烷小孔泄漏试验研究

采用高速摄影技术,考察了液化四氟乙烷发生小孔泄漏时,其水平泄漏和垂直泄漏的初始云团演化行为、泄漏的质量流率、喷射速度和喷射角,并与理论计算公式进行了对比。结果表明:水平喷射两相云团尾部出现涡流,涡流大幅加快了云团向空气中扩散的速率;垂直喷射的两相云团在地面形成液池,液池大幅增加了液化气体向空气中蒸发的速率。水平泄漏试验的喷射角与容器内超压变化规律相似,泄放初期喷射角逐渐增大,经历一段平坦期,到泄放末期喷射角减小。水平泄漏和垂直泄漏的初始喷射速度分别为25 m/s和20 m/s,与理论值26.6 m/s基本吻合。水平泄漏的质量流率的试验值和理论值分别为0.0598 kg/s和0.0684 kg/s,垂直泄漏的分别为0.0472 kg/s和0.059 6 kg/s,结果对比基本吻合,推荐的泄漏质量流率和小孔喷射速度公式可以用于液化四氟乙烷小孔泄漏。     

Controlling cyanobacterial blooms by managing nutrient ratio and limitation in a large hypereutrophic lake: Lake Taihu, China

Excessive nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading of aquatic ecosystems is a leading cause of eutrophication and harmful algal blooms worldwide, and reducing nutrient levels in water has been a primary management objective. To provide a rational protection strategy and predict future trends of eutrophication in eutrophic lakes, we need to understand the relationships between nutrient ratios and nutrient limitations. We conducted a set of outdoor bioassays at the shore of Lake Taihu. It showed that N only additions induced phytoplankton growth but adding only P did not. Combined N plus P additions promoted higher phytoplankton biomass than N only additions, which suggested that both N and P were deficient for maximum phytoplankton growth in this lake (TN:TP = 18.9). When nutrients are present at less than 7.75-13.95 mg/L TN and 0.41-0.74 mg/L TP, the deficiency of either N or P or both limits the growth of phytoplankton. N limitation then takes place when the TN:TP ratio is less than 21.5-24.7 (TDN:TDP was 34.2-44.3), and P limitation occurs above this. Therefore, according to this ratio, controlling N when N limitation exists and controlling P when P deficiency is present will prevent algal blooms effectively in the short term. But for the long term, a persistent dual nutrient (N and P) management strategy is necessary.     

The effects of temperature on decomposition and allelopathic phytotoxicity of boneseed litter

Decomposition of plant litter is a fundamental process in ecosystem function, carbon and nutrient cycling and, by extension, climate change. This study aimed to investigate the role of temperature on the decomposition of water soluble phenolics(WSP), carbon and soil nutrients in conjunction with the phytotoxicity dynamics of Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera(boneseed) litter. Treatments consisted of three factors including decomposition materials(litter alone, litter with soil and soil alone), decomposition periods and temperatures(5–15, 15–25and 25–35°C(night/day)). Leachates were collected on 0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 60 th days to analyse physico-chemical parameters and phytotoxicity. Water soluble phenolics and dissolved organic carbon(DOC) increased with increasing temperature while nutrients like SO-24 and NO-13 decreased. Speed of germination, hypocotyl and radical length and weight of Lactuca sativa exposed to leachates were decreased with increasing decomposition temperature. All treatment components had significant effects on these parameters. There had a strong correlation between DOC and WSP, and WSP content of the leachates with radical length of test species. This study identified complex interactivity among temperature, WSP, DOC and soil nutrient dynamics of litter occupied soil and that these factors work together to influence phytotoxicity.     

Recent application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in process safety and loss prevention: A review

In recent years, significant progress has been made to ensure that process industries are among the safest workplaces in the world. However, with the increasing complexity of existing technologies and new problems brought about by emerging technologies, a strong need still exists to study the fundamentals of process safety and predict possible scenarios. This is attained by conducting the corresponding consequence modeling and risk assessments. As a result of the continuous advancement of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools and exponentially increased computation capabilities along with better understandings of the underlying physics, CFD simulations have been applied widely in the areas of process safety and loss prevention to gain new insights, improve existing models, and assess new hazardous scenarios. In this review, 126 papers from 2010 to 2020 have been included in order to systematically categorize and summarize recent applications of CFD for fires, explosions, dispersions of flammable and toxic materials from accidental releases, incident investigations and reconstructions, and other areas of process safety. The advantages of CFD modeling are discussed and the future of CFD applications in this research area is outlined.