A fuzzy DEMATEL method to evaluate critical operational hazards during gas freeing process in crude oil tankers

Gas freeing process in crude oil tanker ships is widely recognized one of the most hazardous aspects of shipboard operations. Although the process provides practical benefits to ship by removing the explosive or poisonous gases from the cargo tanks and raising the oxygen level up to 21 percent, the consequences of failure may cause serious damage to human health, marine environment and cargo. Therefore, the crew exercise utmost care and become aware of the potential hazards in gas freeing process. In this context, this paper provides a fuzzy DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) method to evaluate critical operational hazards in gas freeing process. While the DEMATEL method enables to identify and analyse the potential hazards of gas freeing process with respect to causal–effect relation diagram, fuzzy sets deal with the uncertainty in decision-making and human judgements through the DEMATEL. Thus, the hybrid approach provides smart solution for safety practitioners to prevent critical hazards in gas freeing process. The results of the research will contribute to maritime safety at sea and prevention of environment pollution as well as loss of life on-board crude oil tankers ships.     

Solid phase microextraction applied to the analysis of organophosphorus insecticides in fruits

Trace amounts of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) were determined in various fruits by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography–nitrogen phosphorous detection (GC-NPD). Sampling from the headspace enhanced method selectivity, whereas at the same time improved fiber life time and method sensitivity. Diazinon, parathion, methyl parathion, malathion and fenithrothion were determined in various fruits: more than 150 samples of 21 types of fruits were studied. SPME-GC-NPD provided a useful and very efficient analytical tool: method linearity ranged from 1.2 to 700 ng/ml. Limits of detection (LODs) and quantitation (LOQs) ranged from 0.03 to 3 ng/ml and 0.12 to 10 ng/ml respectively, values well below the residue limits set by the EU. Less than 2% of the samples were found positive containing amounts higher than the EU limits. The effect of fruit peeling and washing was also investigated.     

Research and application of drainage parameters for gas accumulation zone in overlying strata of goaf area

While coal seam is being mined, an annular fissure circle with gas accumulation will be formed in the fissure zone as a result of desorption, dissipation and permeation of gas in the goaf area and overlying strata due to fissures from rock caving and mitigation in the roof. The methods for computation of spatial locations of the fissure circle are researched in this paper. Based on these methods, gas drainage technique for the fissure zone is optimized. By applying drill hole returning water method of variables, the height of caving zone that most affects the drainage effects of inclined high dip drill hole was measured on the site. Due to the consistency of the expected height with the computed height of caving lines at different positions, the correctness of the theoretical computation method is further validated. Meanwhile, the parameters of the inclined high dip drill hole at #3311 working face of Hexi Coal Mine are determined by a case study.     

The influence of gas storage parameters on gas emission rate from borehole

Gas emission rate from borehole is one of the most important indexes for the coal and gas outburst prediction. The mathematical model of gas flow in the coal seam, gas flow into the measuring chamber, gas pressure change in the measuring chamber, and gas flow out of the chamber through the pipe is established. Gas migration in the coal seam, gas pressure in borehole chamber and gas flow in pipe is simulated using the finite difference method. Gas emission rate is obtained under dynamic boundary conditions. The influence of gas storage parameters on gas emission rate from borehole is analyzed. Results show that: the gas pressure and the permeability coefficient have great impacts on the value of gas flow quantity in borehole. The larger the original gas pressure of coal seam and the permeability coefficient of coal seam are, the greater the maximum value of gas emission rate form borehole and the later the maximum appears.     

Real-time response system for the prediction of the atmospheric transport of hazardous materials

Human urge of exploiting earth resources has resulted into unprecedented industrial development in the last century resulting into production of large quantities of hazardous chemicals. Chemical, petrochemical, nuclear, biomedical and pharmaceutical industrial accidents release large quantities of hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere. The accidental discharge during production or storage or transportation have subjected the population to be exposed to exceptionally high concentration levels of hazardous chemicals, taking them by surprise, unprepared with fatal consequences. An emergency planning organization has to be trained to combat this situation in the shortest possible time to minimize the number of causalities. The present paper focuses on computation of dispersion model, using emission source, accident location and online metrological data near to the sources, to provide necessary and accurate results swiftly. The predicted ground level concentrations with the hazardous nature of the chemical, speed and direction of plume, the emergency team will be supplied with all the information in graphical easy to grasp form, superimposed over a GIS map or the latest satellite image of the area.

The emergency team has to be trained for all past scenarios and their preparedness, response and actions must be practiced regularly to be able to abate chemical releases accidentally or intentionally.

Accidental releases of chlorine and ammonia gases in residential and industrial areas are simulated. The predicted ground level concentrations in the effected areas are shown after different time intervals. For low vapor pressure chemical, the dispersion time is large and concentration levels are low but persist for prolonged time while for volatile chemical, the concentrations are high in short time and recovering to safe environment is quick.     

瓦斯爆炸火焰波在分叉管路中的传播规律

笔者在研究分叉管路中瓦斯爆炸火焰波传播特征的基础上,分析了管路分叉对瓦斯爆炸过程中火焰传播规律的重要影响。研究结果表明,管道分叉时,管道分叉处为一扰动源,诱导附加湍流,气流湍流度增大,使瓦斯爆炸过程中火焰的传播速度迅速提高,分叉管路支管中火焰在前端是增大的,然后迅速减小;而分叉管直管端口封闭反射对直管管段火焰传播影响很小(端口距各测点较远),火焰在分叉管路直管管段范围是加速的。因此,在矿井开拓中,应尽可能减少不必要的巷道分叉。在巷道分叉处采取保护措施,减少爆炸造成的损失。研究结果对指导现场如何防治瓦斯爆炸,减轻瓦斯爆炸的威力具有重要作用。     

Recovery Trajectories After In Situ Burning of an Oiled Wetland in Coastal Louisiana,USA

The high degree of physical disturbance associated with conventional response options to oil spills in wetlands is driving the investigation of alternative cleanup methodologies. In March 1995, a spill of gas condensate in a brackish marsh at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Louisiana was remediated through the use of in situ burning. An assessment of vegetation recovery was initiated in three treatment marshes: (1) oil-impacted and burned, (2) oil impacted and unburned, and (3) a nonoiled unburned reference. We compared percent cover, stem density, and biomass in the treatment marshes to define ecological recovery of the marsh vegetation and soil hydrocarbon content to determine the efficacy of in situ burning as a cleanup technique. Burning led to a rapid decrease in soil hydrocarbon concentrations in the impacted-and-burned marsh to background levels by the end of the first growing season. Although a management fire accidentally burned the oil-impacted-and-unburned and reference marshes in December 1995, stem density, live biomass, and total percent cover values in the oil-impacted-and-burned marsh were equivalent to those in the other treatment marshes after three years. In addition, plant community composition within the oil-impacted-and-burned marsh was similar to the codominant mix of the grasses Distichlis spicata (salt grass) and Spartina patens (wire grass) characteristic of the surrounding marsh after the same time period. Rapid recovery of the oil-impacted-and-unburned marsh was likely due to lower initial hydrocarbon exposure. Water levels inundating the soil surface of this grass-dominated marsh and the timing of the in situ burn early in the growing season were important factors contributing to the rapid recovery of this wetland. The results of this in situ burn evaluation support the conclusion that burning, under the proper conditions, can be relied upon as an effective cleanup response to hydrocarbon spills in herbaceous wetlands.     

综放面风量调节范围与安全评价的数值模拟分析

结合实际算例 ,用迎风有限元方法 ,从理论上得出了采空区瓦斯绝对涌出量与工作面风量呈指数关系 ,采空区氧化带宽度与工作面风量呈负指数关系。按排放瓦斯要求和工作面生产的供风要求 ,确定风量下限 ,从防止采空区自然发火的角度 ,确定风量的上限 ,由此 ,得出合理的风量范围。引入了范围极差的概念 ,当风量极差越大 ,安全情况越好 ,反之 ,采空区的自然发火与瓦斯涌出二者是不可调和的 ,必须采取防治措施来提高风量极差值。     

地壳突发性放气与水灾行为关系的研究

本文阐述了由于１９９４年９月１４日台湾海峡７．３级地震孕震应力场作用而引起大面积突发性放气，导致１９９４年第２４号台风行为不规律的机制。地震本身可给人类造成灾难，而在某些条件下也可能引起其它灾难。     

硫化氢气体的监控和防护

叙述了海上低凝固点及气液比很小的稠油试生产中对硫化氢气体的监控和防护概况。指出油、气、水流程均应采取全密闭式，其监控系统应包括硫化氢探测装置和报警系统，防止人体伤害的防护系统应有多种设备、仪器。此外，还应注意凡上岗工作人员均应事先加以培训，合格后才可正式工作。在采取以上所有监控防护措施后，在日常的安全生产中，未停产一次，也未伤一人。