Gaseous emissions from compressed natural gas buses in urban road and highway tests in China

The natural gas vehicle market is rapidly developing throughout the world, and the majority of such vehicles operate on compressed natural gas(CNG). However, most studies on the emission characteristics of CNG vehicles rely on laboratory chassis dynamometer measurements, which do not accurately represent actual road driving conditions. To further investigate the emission characteristics of CNG vehicles, two CNG city buses and two CNG coaches were tested on public urban roads and highway sections. Our results show that when speeds of 0–10 km/hr were increased to 10–20 km/hr, the CO_2, CO, nitrogen oxide(NO_x), and total hydrocarbon(THC) emission factors decreased by(71.6 ± 4.3)%,(65.6 ± 9.5)%,(64.9 ± 9.2)% and(67.8 ± 0.3)%, respectively. In this study, The Beijing city buses with stricter emission standards(Euro Ⅳ) did not have lower emission factors than the Chongqing coaches with Euro Ⅱ emission standards. Both the higher emission factors at 0–10 km/hr speeds and the higher percentage of driving in the low-speed regime during the entire road cycle may have contributed to the higher CO_2 and CO emission factors of these city buses. Additionally, compared with the emission factors produced in the urban road tests, the CO emission factors of the CNG buses in highway tests decreased the most(by 83.2%), followed by the THC emission factors, which decreased by 67.1%.     

The role of conjugation in the gene-individual-population relationships in increasing eco-exergy

The genotypic and phenotypic processes were incorporated into one system in the gene-individual-population relationships under the framework of Individual based models (IBMs). The gene types addressing different degrees of metabolic efficiency and toxin susceptibility were provided as attributes in the individuals. Subsequently ecological processes such as food competition and movement were allowed concurrently on the 2-D space to determine the suitable species adapted to the system. The integrative gene-individual-population model accordingly responded to gene exchanges between the neighboring individuals through conjugation. At a substantially low level of gene exchange, system heterogeneity increased to produce high levels of eco-exergy, being presented by species diversity and total population size in the system. The issues related to genetic and ecological effects in the integrative gene-individual-population relationships were further discussed.     

辐射热流作用下树叶样品的燃烧特征研究

研究植物叶样在外部热辐射和值班火源作用下的燃烧现象特征并探索其成因和物理及化学本质。采用锥形量热仪开展实验,热辐射强度分别设定为35kW m-2、55kW m-2、70kW m-2和85kW m-2。实验样品为针阔叶树种共13种,其含水率在45%至79%间变化。实验表明,样品表现出不同的着火模式,有的为明火,有的则为阴燃,取决于树种和设定的辐射强度。样品出现有焰燃烧现象的最低热释放速率峰值(PHRR)在22.3kW m-2至35.6kW m-2之间,反映了形成气相火焰所需最低挥发分质量流率。气相产物CO2产生速率的峰值与PHRR呈高度线性性,表明了不同样品间气相燃烧或固相表面氧化(阴燃燃烧)反应的相似性。进一步分析表明,出现的独特热释放速率尖锐峰形是样品分层特性以及树叶的物理属性和热物性共同作用的结果。具有热薄特性的样品表层,在实验初期是接受外部辐射热的主体,其热解的产物是形成气相火焰的物质来源;在其转变为焦炭层后,对辐射热流向内层的渗透具有阻挡作用。建立起来的认识对于评估分层样品的燃烧性有一定的指导意义。     

A Semianalytical Solution for Residual Drawdown at a Finite Diameter Well in a Confined Aquifer

After the end of pumping the water level in the observation well starts to recover and the reduced drawdown during the recovery period is named as the residual drawdown. Traditional approaches in analyzing the data of residual drawdown for estimating the aquifer hydraulic parameters are mostly based on the application of superposition principle and Theis equation. In addition, the effect of wellbore storage is commonly ignored in the evaluation even if the test well has a finite diameter. In this article, we develop a mathematical model for describing the residual drawdown with considering the wellbore storage effect and the existing drawdown distribution produced by the pumping part of the test. The Laplace‐domain solution of the model is derived using the Laplace transform technique and the time‐domain result is inverted based on the Stehfest algorithm. This new solution shows that the residual drawdown associated with the boundary and initial conditions are related to the well drawdown and the aquifer drawdown, respectively. The well residual drawdown will be overestimated by the Theis residual drawdown solution in the early recovery part if neglecting the wellbore storage. On the other hand, the Theis residual drawdown solution can be used to approximate the present residual drawdown solution in the late recovery part of the test.     

Toxicity of Selected Pharmaceuticals to the Anostracan Crustacean Thamnocephalus platyurus - Comparison of Sublethal and Lethal Effect Levels with the 1h Rapidtoxkit and the 24h Thamnotoxkit Microbiotests

- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1065/espr2006.01.005 Background, Aims and Scope In view of the limited amount of information on the potential hazard of the ever increasing amounts of drugs in surface waters to aquatic biota, a study was undertaken to determine the effect levels of 28 selected pharmaceuticals to the crustacean test species Thamnocephalus platyurus. The drugs belong to 5 different groups: non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, biocides, cardiovascular compounds, nervous system drugs and purine alkaloids. Methods Toxicity tests were carried out with the 1h Rapidtoxkit and the 24h Thamnotoxkit microbiotests in order to make a comparison of sublethal effects (visible as stress through absence of feeding) measured after a very short time of exposure (1h) and lethal effects after prolonged exposure (24h). Dilution series starting at 200 mg l–1 were prepared and applied, and median effects levels were calculated and transformed into Toxic Units (TU) for easy data comparison. Results and Discussion The toxic effects found have been ranked into 4 arbitrary toxicity classes: not toxic (TU<0.2), low toxicity (0.2<TU<1.0), toxic (1.0<TU<10) and very toxic (TU>10). The toxicity levels noted ranged from virtually no effects for a few of the pharmaceuticals, at the highest concentration tested out, to LC50's below 1 mg l–1 (>100 TU) for 3 nervous system drugs (Amitryptiline, Thioridazine and Chlorpromazine). According to the toxicity classification, 17 of the 28 compounds (i.e. 67%), belong to the same class for the lethal and the sublethal tests. More pronounced differences in effect levels between the two assays were observed mainly for the pharmaceuticals which were either not toxic or only slightly toxic at the 200 mg l–1 level. For 90% of the toxic drugs the ratio between the toxicity values for both tests is below 5. Conclusion An overall correlation coefficient of 0.96 was found between the 2 microbiotests, confirming the good predictive potential of the 1h stress-based Rapidtoxkit in revealing important biological effects (mortality) after more prolonged exposure of the crustacean test species to chemical compounds. Recommendation and Outlook The present study clearly shows that new microbiotests such as the 1h Rapidtoxkit and the 24h Thamnotoxkit are attractive tools for rapid cost-effective screening of 'new' pollutants such as drugs which may threaten the biological communities of the aquatic environment.     

真空热试验红外加热笼运动驱动系统设计

目的解决在航天器真空热试验中,单纯依靠红外加热笼自身设计,无法兼顾高、低温工况外的热流模拟需求问题。方法设计一套运动驱动系统,并应用于型号试验,通过调整红外加热笼的相对位置,调节不同工况下外热流模拟能力。结果该系统满足空间环境模拟器机械和电接口要求,克服了真空热试验环境高真空、超低温等因素的影响,实现了红外加热笼的平稳可靠移动,使其最大、最小辐射热流密度等指标得到显著提升。结论真空热试验中,通过运动驱动系统适时调整红外加热笼的相对位置,可以使其更好地适应不同工况需求,并提高外热流模拟整体能力。     

环境试验顺序的选择

文章首先介绍了环境试验的目的及其重要性,再通过环境试验对产品的影响以及试验项目之间的相互关系,阐述环境试验顺序应遵循的一般原则,说明合理的安排试验顺序的重要性.     

Radionuclide release and transport from nuclear underground tests performed at Mururoa and Fangataufa — predictions under uncertainty

In the context of a study by the International Geomechanical Commission (IGC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the effects of nuclear tests at the atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa, release to the biosphere is estimated for 35 radionuclides originating from 147 nuclear underground tests. Based on a qualitatively characterised hydrogeological situation of atolls and relatively scarce site-specific data, a model chain was developed to conservatively estimate the radionuclide fluxes via groundwater, from their sources, the explosion cavities, towards the biosphere, the ocean or lagoon.Finite element hydro-thermal modelling was used to describe water flow. Parameters were calibrated by a very few measured pre-test temperature profiles in bore holes. The impact of the tests on groundwater flow and mechanical impact on rock was considered. Estimates were made to quantify spatial extensions and temporal evolution of impact by using measurements on refilling rate of the cavities. Tests were categorised according to their specific yield and location although detailed data were missing. A base case parameter set was defined for the hydraulic conditions and for the initial radionuclide inventory of individual tests. Models were used to describe the concentration of radionuclides in the cavities as a function of time. Radionuclide transport from the cavities to the biosphere was represented by two different approaches: a double porosity model for the fractured volcanic rock and a single porosity model for the overlaying, highly porous carbonates. Results consist of conservative estimates on radionuclide release into the environment, or concentration in the lagoon or ocean water. Their sensitivity was investigated using different models and parameters. A few measured data (concentrations in a few cavities, in the deep carbonates and in the lagoons for selected radionuclides, such as ³H, ¹⁴C, ³⁶Cl, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹²⁹I, ¹³⁷Cs²³⁹, ²⁴⁰Pu and ²⁴¹Am) were available for a comparison with the calculations. In view of the lack and uncertainty of site-specific data, the agreement is of acceptable quality.     

ESTIMATING AQUIFER PARAMETERS FROM A HORIZONTAL WELL PUMPING TEST IN AN UNCONFINED AQUIFER1

ABSTRACT: A pumping test on a phreatic glacial till aquifer was performed near Ames, Iowa, in November 1990. The head in a horizontal well was pumped down rapidly and then held constant for the duration of the 30-hour test. Throughout the test, the flow rate at the pumped well and the head at an adjacent vertical observation well were recorded. The pumping test data were used to determine the hydraulic conductivity and specific yield of the aquifer. The results indicate a hydraulic conductivity of 2.23 × 10^?5 cm/s and a representative specific yield of 0.03. Hydraulic conductivity was calculated by a simple integration of Darcy's Law after extrapolating the data to steady state. Specific yield was determined by use of several methods from the literature and a new method proposed by the author. The results show that specific yield increases with time, and that each method is within an order of magnitude of the others.