A distributed fibre optic approach for providing early warning of Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)

A novel fully distributed fibre optic humidity sensor technology suitable for spatially continuous monitoring of water ingress under pipeline insulation is reported. Results from controlled water ingress tests are presented, where the fibre cables were mounted on pipes insulated with air gap cell glass and aerogel insulation. The experiments revealed that the fibre optic sensor responded to water ingress equivalent to <10 ml/metre pipe, under air gap cell glass insulation. The fibre optic measurements were validated by comparison with conventional calibrated point humidity sensors. A compensation methodology using a reference optical fibre was used to effectively reduce the effect of temperature variations on the measurements. The ability of the sensor to monitor the spatial evolution of water ingress with cm scale resolution was demonstrated, as was the feasibility to make accurate water ingress measurement over 2 km fibre lengths. The technology could be used to assist targeted inspection campaigns aimed at minimizing the risk of Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI).     

Enhanced cytotoxicity of pentachlorophenol by perfluorooctane sulfonate or perfluorooctanoic acid in HepG2 cells

Chlorinated phenols and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are two kinds of pollutants which are widely present in the environment. Considering liver is the primary toxic target organ for these two groups of chemicals, it is interesting to evaluate the possible joint effects of them on liver. In this work, the combined toxicity of pentachlorophenol (PCP) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were investigated using HepG2 cells. The results indicated that PFOS and PFOA could strengthen PCP’s hepatotoxicity. Further studies showed that rather than intensify the oxidative stress or promote the biotransformation of PCP, PFOS (or PFOA) might lead to strengthening of the oxidative phosphorylation uncoupling of PCP. By measuring the intracellular PCP concentration and the cell membrane properties, it was suggested that PFOS and PFOA could disrupt the plasma membrane and increase the membrane permeability. Thus, more cellular accessibility of PCP was induced when they were co-exposed to PCP and PFOS (or PFOA), leading to increased cytotoxicity. Further research is warranted to better understand the combined toxicity of PFAAs and other environmental pollutants.     

Air quality and respiratory health in Delhi

Delhi is an instructive location for studying the impact of air pollution since it is a rapidly expanding centre of government, trade commerce and industry. We have made an attempt to (1) determine the association between environmental pollution and respiratory morbidity in Delhi for the period 1998–2004, (2) assess the impact on hospital admission of the implementation of recent governmental regulations and (3) calculate the relative risk of hospitalization due to respiratory ailments caused by air pollutants. Seven hospitals from different parts of Delhi were selected. The pollution profiles of these areas were assessed and subsequently Poisson regression model was performed for the patient population. There was a remarkable decrease in monthly average concentration of sulphur dioxide (from 17.9 to 11.1 μg m⁻³) and increase in monthly average concentration of nitrogen dioxide (from 34.2 to 49.1 μg m⁻³) after the newly introduced regulations. Particulates were observed to have marginal fall in their concentration but still remained above the permissible limits. Gaseous pollutants, in spite of being at a level lower than the permissible level, showed more consistent significant association with respiratory admissions. The relative risks of hospitalization due to respiratory diseases were in the range of 1.07–2.82 in residential cum commercial areas. Comparative study of pre and post new stringent governmental regulation showed significant positive association of NO₂ with respiratory disorders in southern (RR: 1.10; CI: 1.09–1.12) and northern regions (RR: 1.33; CI: 1.27–1.39), both mixed use areas. In spite of the improvement in the air quality, the associated health effects were found to be substantial.     

Estimating the hydraulic properties of the fracture network in a sandstone aquifer

The potential hydraulic behaviour of the fracture network in a major Triassic sandstone aquifer in the UK has been evaluated. The properties of the fracture network were determined using results from detailed scan line surveys at 10 sites, television and geophysical borehole logging, and packer testing. Six sets of discontinuities common to all sites were identified and statistically characterised (dip, strike, orientation, density, size, and estimated transmissivity). A discrete fracture network model was then used stochastically to investigate the properties of the network. In general, the network is poorly connected: it is estimated that 9% of the discontinuities intersecting boreholes are transmissive. The hydraulic behaviour of the network is generally dominated by one sub-horizontal bedding plane fracture set, although when present, a relatively infrequent north-south striking, sub-vertical set modifies the bulk flow properties significantly. Ignoring this latter set, the network's minimum representative volume is about 35 x 35 x 35 m. The upscaled permeability is anisotropic, being typically 23 times greater in the horizontal than in the vertical. Tortuosity in the north-south direction is around 1.6.     

坡地赤红壤物理退化及其机理研究──Ⅱ.土壤水分性能退化特征

探讨了坡地赤红壤水分性能退化的特征、结果表明,与地带性自然植被下坡地赤红壤比较,次生植被或人工植被下坡地赤红壤水分性能变劣：表现在导水性降低,2h饱和渗水量明显减少,自然赤红壤比耕型赤红壤的减幅大;持水能力下降,在同样吸力下,土壤持水量较少;供水能力下降,在同样吸力段,表土释放的水量较少;亚表土在低吸力段释放水量较少。     

煤层水力压裂合理参数分析与工程实践

煤层水力压裂技术是近年来应用于高瓦斯低透气性突出煤层的一种卸压增透消突技术,人们对水力压裂的卸压增透消突机理有了较充分的认识,现场工程应用的效果也较好,但有关煤层水力压裂参数是如何确定的系统分析却是很少。笔者在阐述水力压裂机理及压裂过程的基础上,系统地阐述高瓦斯低透气性突出煤层水力压裂所需的注水压力、流量、注水时间、注水速度、孔间距、封孔长度等技术参数以及煤体内在因素的影响作用;最后在义安矿FD003工作面进行了水力压裂试验研究和效果考察,得出适合义安矿的水力压裂合理注水参数。通过水力压裂,煤层瓦斯抽放量和抽放浓度得到大幅度提高,达到了卸压增透防突效果,同时起到了润湿煤体和降尘效果。     

高阶煤孔隙特征的低场核磁共振实验研究

研究孔裂隙特征对煤层中甲烷的产出及运移具有重要的意义。为了得到高阶煤的孔裂隙特征信息,采用低场核磁共振仪对高阶煤样做低场核磁共振实验,测得煤样的T2图谱,进一步分析得到了煤样的核磁渗透率、核磁孔隙度、可动流体饱和度、束缚流体饱和度以及孔径分布等参数的实验结果,并测出煤样的工业分析参数。分析结果得出:原煤中孔隙体积与煤的挥发分含量呈正比的关系;高阶煤孔隙发育而裂隙不发育,并且在孔隙中微孔和小孔占有较大的比例而中孔和大孔占有较少的比例;煤样渗透率与煤样内小孔和大孔所占的比例成正比,与煤样内微孔所占的比例成反比等结论。     

液态 CO2 相变致裂煤层增透技术布孔方式研究

液态CO2相变致裂技术是一种新颖的低透煤层增透技术。为了更好地将液态CO2相变致裂技术运用到低透气煤层增透领域中,在平煤十三矿进行了液态CO2相变致裂的穿层强化预抽煤层瓦斯现场试验,通过煤层致裂后的瓦斯抽采效果反映出的不同布孔方式下的致裂差异,确定液态CO2的爆破孔的合理布孔方式。现场试验表明液态CO2相变致裂在交错的梅花孔布置方式下由于能量分布均匀,致裂效果优于矩形孔布置方式,研究结果为该技术在煤层增透强化预抽领域的推广应用奠定了基础。     

考虑水渗流作用的顺层抽采模拟及参数优化研究

为研究水渗流作用对顺层钻孔抽采的影响,为抽采工艺参数优化提供理论依据,建立了考虑水渗流场的气水两相流固耦合方程,并利用COMSOL Multiphysics软件对赵庄矿1309工作面顺层钻孔的抽采负压与钻孔间距进行参数优化。研究结果表明:随着抽采时间增加,煤层水压与水相相对渗透率均快速下降后趋于稳定不变,气相相对渗透率先升高后不变,煤层瓦斯压力在抽采过程中逐步降低;抽采负压改变对煤层相对渗透率几乎无影响;在相同预抽时间里,抽采影响半径与抽采负压呈指数函数关系,抽采负压由15 kPa提高到27 kPa,可降低煤层瓦斯压力,有效影响半径扩散明显,超过27 kPa变化不再明显;钻孔间距设置为4.5 m可在预抽期内满足抽采要求且节约施工成本。