A closer look at BLEVE overpressure

The overpressure produced by the boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE) is still not well understood. Various methods have been published on the overpressure modeling in the far field. They mostly differ by the modeling of the expansion energy, used to scale the distance to the source where the overpressure needs to be calculated. But these methods usually include a experimentally fitted reduction factor, and are mostly overestimating the overpressures. Today there is a growing interest in modeling the BLEVE overpressure in the near field, for studying the blast effect on critical infrastructure such as bridges and buildings. This requires a much better understanding of the BLEVE blast. This paper goes deeper in the understanding of the physical phenomenon leading to the BLEVE blast wave generation and propagation. First, mid-scale BLEVE experiments in addition to new experimental data for near field blast from a small scale supercritical BLEVE are analyzed. And second, an analysis method of the shocks observed in the experiments is presented based on fundamental gas dynamics, and allows the elaboration of a new modeling approach for BLEVE overpressure, based on the calculation of the initial overpressure and radius of the blast.     

A new leak location method based on leakage acoustic waves for oil and gas pipelines

In order to study a new leak detection and location method for oil and natural gas pipelines based on acoustic waves, the propagation model is established and modified. Firstly, the propagation law in theory is obtained by analyzing the damping impact factors which cause the attenuation. Then, the dominant-energy frequency bands of leakage acoustic waves are obtained through experiments by wavelet transform analysis. Thirdly, the actual propagation model is modified by the correction factor based on the dominant-energy frequency bands. Then a new leak detection and location method is proposed based on the propagation law which is validated by the experiments for oil pipelines. Finally, the conclusions and the method are applied to the gas pipelines in experiments. The results indicate: the modified propagation model can be established by the experimental method; the new leak location method is effective and can be applied to both oil and gas pipelines and it has advantages over the traditional location method based on the velocity and the time difference. Conclusions can be drawn that the new leak detection and location method can effectively and accurately detect and locate the leakages in oil and natural gas pipelines.     

Safety-related conclusions for the application of ultrasound in explosive atmospheres

International safety regulations such as EN 1127-1 consider ultrasound to be an ignition source. Currently, applications of ultrasound in explosive atmospheres have to comply with a threshold value of 1 mW/mm². However, it is unclear as to how this intensity has to be measured and, therefore, this threshold value is poorly defined. Moreover, it is based on theoretical estimations in analogy to other ignition sources and there are no publications or significant records on these estimations. Within a research project at PTB, it has now been investigated experimentally in relation to worst-case considerations including airborne ultrasound, focused MHz ultrasound in liquids and acoustic cavitation. On the basis of the results of the research it is now possible to revise the current regulations and to specify measures for safe operation of ultrasonic applications in explosive atmospheres. In this context, for ultrasound coupled directly to gaseous atmospheres a new threshold value of 170 dB (re. 20 μPa) can be suggested, and for ultrasonic applications in liquids, an augmentation can be made to the threshold to 400 mW/mm².     

Diagnosis,surveillance, and treatment of the anemic fetus using middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity measurement

The in utero course of the anemic fetus has improved dramatically, owing to early diagnosis and cordocentesis transfusion. In utero invasive procedures such as amnio- and cordocentesis have become important modalities in the evaluation and treatment of anemic fetuses. However, they carry risks for both the mother and fetus. A valid and sensitive noninvasive means of following the anemic fetus is the evaluation of changes in the middle cerebral artery peak systolic flow velocity (MCA-PSV). This is a sensitive tool for both the evaluation of fetal anemia and response to treatment. Intracerebral vessels respond earliest to the fetal anemic state, and are readily accessible for ultrasound examination. We describe the methodology and evolving clinical applications of MCA-PSV measurement in the fetus, through an overview of the literature describing the development and application of MCA-PSV measurement in fetuses at risk of fetal anemia of various immune and nonimmune etiologies, illustrated by index cases from our center. MCA-PSV measurement is essential in the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of cases of fetal anemia. The use of this modality lessens the need for invasive procedures. The method is readily accessible and should be integrated into the repertoire of all obstetric ultrasound centers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Climate hazards: Lessons from recent events in the United States

Three recent cases of climate extremes are studied to identify human impacts and response strategies and to identify common characteristics that may help illuminate the nature of climate hazards. The 1980 heat wave in the central United States, 1981 cold wave in Boston, Massachusetts, and recent flooding and lake level rise in northern Utah, illustrate several important aspects of climate hazards that separate them from the more traditional set of catastrophic events (e.g. tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes) usually dealt with by hazards research and management. Among those characteristics are an emphasis on health impacts rather than physical damage, accumulative effects rather than short shocks, a tendency for impacts to accrue to certain socio-economic classes, and relatively slow onset. The management and research implications of these hazard characteristics are explored.     

高温条件下高速碰撞试验技术研究

目的建立高温条件下结构的高速碰撞试验技术。方法基于理论和试验方法,研究影响试样加热/保温、碰靶速度和姿态的关键因素,利用次口径发射技术和电炉技术实现试样的加热、保温和加速。采用间接方法测试试样碰靶时的温度,联合应用次口径发射技术和靶体,控制试样的碰靶姿态,并利用高速摄影技术对其进行测试。通过薄壁圆柱筒的高温高速碰靶验证高温试验技术的有效性。结果建立了加热、加速和姿态控制一体化的高温高速碰撞试验技术,获得了不同尺寸薄壁圆柱筒不同姿态碰靶时的高温冲击动力学响应。正碰时,撞击端镦粗,尾端收缩,尾端的凹陷大于碰撞端的变形;侧碰时,圆筒呈马鞍状;角碰时的变形为楔形。随着圆筒的强度和刚度的降低,圆筒的变形增加,整体发生坍塌,出现大量的皱褶。结论建立的试验技术切实有效,可以用于高温条件下结构高速碰撞效应的研究。     

镉─邻菲啰啉配合物吸附波的研究与应用

在ｐＨ３．３的盐酸－醋酸钠介质中．镉－邻菲啉配合物在－０．６５Ｖ（ｖＳ．ＳＣＥ）处产生一灵敏的吸附波，其二次导数波高与镉浓度在０．０００６～０．１ｍｇ／Ｌ范围内呈良好的线性关系，检出下限达０．０００３ｍｇ／Ｌ。极谱波性质的研究表明该波具有配合物吸附波的特征。方法已用于环境水样中微量错的测定，结果与其它方法吻合。     

大气细菌,霉菌数量与风速相关性初探

通过对大气细菌数量、霉菌数量与风速相关性的研究,得出齐市地区冬季气候寒冷,无相关性;春季气候干燥,风沙大,有相关性;雨后大气细菌数量与风速无相关性,大气霉菌数量与风速相关。     

超声与紫外光协同氧化法处理染料废水的工艺研究

对超声波、紫外光协同氧化方法处理碱性红B染料废水进行了研究，探讨了水样初始浓度、初始pH值对其脱色效率的影响。并在各条件下，对超声波、紫外光单独作用和两者协同作用下的结果进行了对比。结果表明，超声波与紫外光的协同作用效果明显，染料的降解过程符合准一级动力学方程，在温度30℃、初始浓度50m/L、pH＝1．5、饱和气体为氧气、紫外光波长为253．7nm时，酸性工B经协同处理60min，脱色率可达99．1％。     

斜管沉淀池应用中存在问题的探讨

斜管沉淀池是目前广泛使用的污水物化处理工艺。针对实际应用所遇到的问题，如沉淀池进口布水不均匀，致使出水水质下降，从沉淀的基础理论，通过水力学的分析，较深入地说明了斜管沉淀池矾花泛起，水质恶化的原因。并提出了应用斜管沉淀池应注意的事项。