Explosion suppression of porous materials in a pipe-connected spherical vessel

To study the suppression of different porous materials on the explosion of combustible gas, some experiments were implemented. The porous materials were categorized into three kinds, including six subcategories, and the explosion suppression characteristics of the thin iron hoop, one-layer porous materials, two-layer composite porous materials, and three-layer composite porous materials were studied and analyzed. The results show that a rarefaction wave appears in the spherical vessel during the rapid development stage of combustion explosion. Further, the thin iron hoop could enhance the gas explosion intensity. And the explosion intensity suppression effect of the porous materials is obvious, the best effects of one-layer, two-layer and three-layer porous materials are from Fe–Ni 10 mm/40 PPI, Fe–Ni 10 mm/90 PPI + Al₂O₃ 10 mm/30 PPI, and Al₂O₃ 10 mm/50 PPI + Fe–Ni 10 mm/40 PPI + SiC 20 mm/20 PPI, respectively. According to the surface morphology of the porous materials, the anti-sintering ability of the three categories of porous materials follows the order of Al₂O₃ > SiC > Fe–Ni. Besides, the thickness and pore size of the combined porous material was changed, which has a great influence on the explosion pressure and the explosion intensity.     

Characterization of Ti powders mixed with TiO2 powders: Thermal and kinetic studies

The fire and explosion risks of metal powders admixed with solid inertants have been extensively investigated for many years. However, it remains unclear why such solid mixtures have high potential fire and explosion risk even when mixed with high percentages of non-combustible solids. This paper investigates how to interpret these risks, from a microscopic perspective, with thermal and kinetic parameters including initial ignition temperature, mass unit exothermic energy, activation energy and risk index of spontaneous combustion. The results show that the initial ignition temperature based on TG (Thermogravimetry) analysis is related to ignition sensitivity, and increased with percentage of admixed solid inertant. The unit mass exothermic energy based on DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) analysis is related to flame spread velocity. Activation energy and the risk index of spontaneous combustion can be used to explain the reactivity and spontaneous combustion hazard, respectively, of metal powders. We conclude that thermal and kinetic parameters may provide another way to describe the fire and explosion risk of combustible powders, especially for nano metal powders due to the laboratory safety in the normative tests for explosion parameter determination.     

Mitigation performance of the process protection system on the accident consequences of H2S-containing natural gas release and explosion

Toxic loads and explosion overpressure loads pose grave threats to the offshore oil and gas industry. Many safety measures are adopted to prevent and mitigate the adverse impacts caused by toxic loads and explosion overpressure loads. As a general safety barrier, the process protection system has been widely used but rarely evaluated. In order to assess the barrier ability, the mitigation performance of the process protection system is concerned in this study. Firstly, several chain accidents of H₂S-containing natural gas leakage and explosion are simulated by varying the response time of the process protection system with CFD code FLACS. Qualitative assessment is conducted based on the variation of the dangerous load profiles. Furthermore, the quantitative assessment of the mitigation performance is accomplished by considering its ability in reducing the probability of fatality. Emergency evacuation and no emergency evacuation are considered respectively in the quantitative assessment. The results prove that the process protection system takes effect on mitigating the toxic impact and explosion overpressure impact. The results also demonstrate that although the emergency evacuation may result in a severer explosion load to the operator, the process protection system can mitigate the adverse impacts regardless of whether the emergency evacuation is conducted or not.     

A path analysis model for explaining unsafe behavior in workplaces: the effect of perceived work pressure

Background. Unsafe behavior is closely related to occupational accidents. Work pressure is one the main factors affecting employees’ behavior. The aim of the present study was to provide a path analysis model for explaining how work pressure affects safety behavior. Methods. Using a self-administered questionnaire, six variables supposed to affect safety employees’ behavior were measured. The path analysis model was constructed based on several hypotheses. The goodness of fit of the model was assessed using both absolute and comparative fit indices. Results. Work pressure was determined not to influence safety behavior directly. However, it negatively influenced other variables. Group attitude and personal attitude toward safety were the main factors mediating the effect of work pressure on safety behavior. Among the variables investigated in the present study, group attitude, personal attitude and work pressure had the strongest effects on safety behavior. Conclusion. Managers should consider that in order to improve employees’ safety behavior, work pressure should be reduced to a reasonable level, and concurrently a supportive environment, which ensures a positive group attitude toward safety, should be provided. Replication of the study is recommended.     

Evaluation of give kids a boost: A school-based program to increase booster seat use among urban children in economically disadvantaged areas

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a series of 1-year multifaceted school-based programs aimed at increasing booster seat use among urban children 4–7 years of age in economically disadvantaged areas.

Methods: During 4 consecutive school years, 2011–2015, the Give Kids a Boost (GKB) program was implemented in a total of 8 schools with similar demographics in Dallas County. Observational surveys were conducted at project schools before project implementation (P₀), 1–4 weeks after the completion of project implementation (P₁), and 4–5 months later (P₂). Changes in booster seat use for the 3 time periods were compared for the 8 project and 14 comparison schools that received no intervention using a nonrandomized trial process.

The intervention included (1) train-the-trainer sessions with teachers and parents; (2) presentations about booster seat safety; (3) tailored communication to parents; (4) distribution of fact sheets/resources; (5) walk-around education; and (6) booster seat inspections.

The association between the GKB intervention and proper booster seat use was determined initially using univariate analysis. The association was also estimated using a generalized linear mixed model predicting a binomial outcome (booster seat use) for those aged 4 to 7 years, adjusted for child-level variables (age, sex, race/ethnicity) and car-level variables (vehicle type). The model incorporated the effects of clustering by site and by collection date to account for the possibility of repeated sampling.

Results: In the 8 project schools, booster seat use for children 4–7 years of age increased an average of 20.9 percentage points between P₀ and P₁ (P₀ = 4.8%, P₁ = 25.7%; odds ratio [OR] = 6.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.5, 8.7; P < .001) and remained at that level in the P₂ time period (P₂ = 25.7%; P < .001, for P₀ vs. P₂) in the univariate analysis. The 14 comparison schools had minimal change in booster seat use. The multivariable model showed that children at the project schools were significantly more likely to be properly restrained in a booster seat after the intervention (OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 2.2, 3.3) compared to the P₀ time period and compared to the comparison schools.

Conclusion: Despite study limitations, the GKB program was positively associated with an increase in proper booster seat use for children 4–7 years of age in school settings among diverse populations in economically disadvantaged areas. These increases persisted into the following school year in a majority of the project schools. The GKB model may be a replicable strategy to increase booster seat use among school-age children in similar urban settings.     

Validation of a booted finite element model of the WIAMan ATD lower limb in component and whole-body vertical loading impacts with an assessment of the boot influence model on response

Objective: A novel anthropomorphic test device (ATD) representative of the 50th percentile male soldier is being developed to predict injuries to a vehicle occupant during an underbody blast (UBB). The main objective of this study was to develop and validate a finite element (FE) model of the ATD lower limb outfitted with a military combat boot and to insert the validated lower limb into a model of the full ATD and simulate vertical loading experiments.

Methods: A Belleville desert combat boot model was assigned contacts and material properties based on previous experiments. The boot model was fit to a previously developed model of the barefoot ATD. Validation was performed through 6 matched pair component tests conducted on the Vertically Accelerated Loads Transfer System (VALTS). The load transfer capabilities of the FE model were assessed along with the force-mitigating properties of the boot. The booted lower limb subassembly was then incorporated into a whole-body model of the ATD. Two whole-body VALTS experiments were simulated to evaluate lower limb performance in the whole body.

Results: The lower limb model accurately predicted axial loads measured at heel, tibia, and knee load cells during matched pair component tests. Forces in booted simulations were compared to unbooted simulations and an amount of mitigation similar to that of experiments was observed. In a whole-body loading environment, the model kinematics match those recorded in experiments. The shape and magnitude of experimental force–time curves were accurately predicted by the model. Correlation between the experiments and simulations was backed up by high objective rating scores for all experiments.

Conclusion: The booted lower limb model is accurate in its ability to articulate and transfer loads similar to the physical dummy in simulated underbody loading experiments. The performance of the model leads to the recommendation to use it appropriately as an alternative to costly ATD experiments.     

晋牛矿1303综放面采空区注氮方案研究及数值模拟

为了合理设计采空区注氮防灭火方案,以晋牛煤矿1303综放工作面为研究对象,通过在采空区进、回风侧布置束管监测系统,连续测定采空区气体浓度变化,划分采空区自燃“三带”分布区域,并基于采空区自燃“三带”划分标准和数值模拟的方法,利用流体力学COMSOL计算软件,研究不同注氮量、注氮位置下采空区氧化自燃带的分布规律。研究结果表明:注氮量和注氮位置参数的变化,对氧化自燃带上界限的影响并不显著,而对氧化自燃带的下界限影响比较显著;最合适的注氮位置应该在距离切顶线30 m左右,运用Origin软件得出注氮量与氧化自燃带宽度呈指数关系,由拟合式计算出最优注氮量为386 m3/h,此时氧化自燃带的宽度为31.5 m。     

我国机动车污染防治行业2009年发展综述

综述了2009年我国机动车污染防治行业的发展环境及市场特点、主要(骨干)企业发展情况,分析了2009年行业发展中存在的主要问题,提出了解决对策和建议,并对行业的发展进行了展望。     

河北省海岸带土壤盐渍化研究

在当今土地资源日益短缺的年代,作为一种土地资源,盐渍化土地越来越重要,越来越受到社会的普遍关注。本文通过分层采集土样,对整个河北省海岸带的土壤盐渍化进行了研究,在借鉴国内外先进经验的基础上,提出了土壤盐渍化防治和综合利用应视各国、各地具体情况而定,并指出盐渍土未来的研究趋势应以利用新技术、探寻新的改良方法及与农业生态和环境保护研究密切线合这三个方面为主。     

论焦化行业环境风险防范措施及应急预案

本文对焦化行业的原辅材料及产品的理化性质、生产过程中潜在的环境风险进行了识别,并在此基础上有针对性的提出了焦化行业环境风险防范措施及应急预案。