Pressure relief sizing of reactive system using DIERS simplified methods and dynamic simulation method

Incidents involving uncontrolled chemical reactions continue to result in fatality, injury and economic loss. These incidents are often the result of inadequate pressure relief system designs due to a limited knowledge of the chemical reactivity hazard. A safe process design requires knowledge of the chemical reactivity of desired as well as undesired chemical reactions due to upset conditions. Simplified, cost effective methods to relief system sizing are presented by The Design Institute of Emergency Relief Systems (DIERS). They require multiple experiments, and sizing is only valid for the system composition and thermal inertia represented by the small scale experiments. Results are often conservative, especially for gassy systems. Detailed, dynamic computer simulation is highly accurate and can be used for iterative design and multiple scenario evaluation.In this study, an accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC^®) and a low thermal inertia calorimeter (automatic pressure tracking adiabatic calorimeter – APTAC™) were used to collect chemical reactivity data for the dicumyl peroxide and toluene system. Results of the pressure relief system sizing using the dynamic simulation method are presented and compared with DIERS simplified methods.     

Unified correlations for vent sizing of enclosures at atmospheric and elevated pressures

Innovative vent sizing technology is presented for explosion safety design of equipment at atmospheric and elevated initial pressures. Unified correlations for vent sizing are suggested. They are modifications of previously reported correlations verified thoroughly for experimental data on vented gaseous deflagrations under different conditions but only at initial atmospheric pressure. Suggested correlations are based on experimental data on vented deflagrations of quiescent and turbulent propane–air mixtures at initial pressures up to 0.7 MPa. Typical values of turbulence factor and deflagration–outflow interaction number are obtained for experimental vented deflagrations at initial pressures higher than atmospheric.

“Blind” examination of new vent sizing technology on another set of experiments with methane–air and propane–air mixtures has shown that predictions by suggested vent sizing technology are better than by the NFPA 68 guide for “Venting of Deflagrations”.

In the development of recently reported results for initial atmospheric pressure it has been concluded that the innovative vent sizing technology is more reliable compared to the NFPA 68 guide at elevated initial pressures as well. Moreover it is crucial that the calculation procedure remains the same for arbitrary deflagration conditions.     

Scientific Gear as a Vector for Non-Native Species at Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents

The fauna of deep-sea hydrothermal vents are among the most isolated and inaccessible biological communities on Earth. Most vent sites can only be visited by subsea vehicles, which can and do move freely among these communities. Researchers assume individuals of the regionally homogeneous vent fauna are killed by the change in hydrostatic pressure the animals experience when the subsea vehicles, which collected them, rise to the surface. After an Alvin dive, we found 38 apparently healthy individuals of a vent limpet in a sample from a hydrothermally inactive area. Prompted by our identification of these specimens as Lepetodrilus gordensis, a species restricted to vents 635 km to the south of our dive site, we tested whether they were from a novel population or were contaminants from the dive made 36 h earlier. The 16S gene sequences, morphology, sex ratio, bacterial colonies, and stable isotopes uniformly indicated the specimens came from the previous dive. We cleaned the sampler, but assumed pressure changes would kill any organisms we did not remove and that the faunas of the 2 areas were nearly identical and disease-free. Our failure to completely clean the gear on the subsea vehicle meant we could have introduced the species and any diseases it carried to a novel location. Our findings suggest that the nearly inaccessible biological communities at deep-sea vents may be vulnerable to anthropogenic alteration, despite their extreme physical conditions.     

浅谈石油储运工作中的环保问题及对策

介绍在轻质油灌装、内浮顶储罐运行和油罐区地面雨水排放等油品储运作业中存在的烃类对环境的污染问题。提出采用油气回收、泵体密闭排放等措施解决上述问题的设想。     

Reaction mechanism and pathway for the hydrothermal electrolysis of organic compounds

In this study, hydrothermal electrolysis experiments using glucose (a biorelated substance) as a starting material were carried out using a specially designed autoclave at 250°C. We could understand the fundamental reaction behavior of glucose under these conditions through various kinds of experiments and product analyses. Another series of experiments using pressurized CO₂ as an electrolyte was conducted to discover whether it is possible to use CO₂ as an alternative electrolyte to the conventional KCl electrolyte, with a view to lowering the environmental impact of the process. It was found that pressurized CO₂ was useful as an environmentally friendly electrolyte, although there were still some problems in terms of the reaction efficiency.     

轨顶排烟口对地铁地下车站火灾排烟效果影响研究

为了研究取消轨顶风口对地铁地下车站火灾防排烟的影响，采用CFD方法，针对全封闭站台门系统和全高站台门系统2种典型地铁车站，模拟车站公共区火灾和车站列车火灾发生时，有无轨顶风口对车站内排烟效果的影响。研究结果表明:针对车站公共区火灾，无论是全封闭站台门还是全高站台门系统，取消轨顶排烟口对公共区烟气温度、可见度、CO浓度等影响较低；但针对车站列车火灾，取消轨顶排烟口对公共区烟气温度、可见度、CO浓度均具有较大影响，排烟效果下降较多。     

隧道火灾集中排烟模式下的排烟效率研究

排烟效率是衡量集中排烟火灾通风方案排烟效果的重要指标。为合理分析排烟效率的变化特性,结合某隧道集中排烟系统设计,借助CFD技术,对设置有排烟道的隧道进行了火灾烟气控制的模拟分析,研究了排烟阀开启个数、开口面积和设置间距对双向排烟和单向排烟两种集中排烟模式下不同排烟阀设置方案中总排烟效率和各个排烟阀的排烟效率的影响。结果表明,集中排烟模式可有效将火灾烟气排出隧道。当排烟阀对称开启时,双向排烟模式下,减少排烟阀开启个数,单个排烟阀的排烟效率升高,但总排烟效率降低;当开口面积较小时,增大面积,总排烟效率升高明显,继续增大开口面积时总排烟效率升高效果减弱;增大间距有利于隧道排烟。单向排烟模式下,当排烟阀开启个数较多或开口面积较大时,距离风机最远的排烟阀排烟效率降低,并出现烟流流出排烟道的现象,排烟阀失效,可考虑在非排烟侧开启少量排烟阀,增大间距,使总排烟效率升高。     

Effect of solvent on the hydrothermal liquefaction of macro algae Ulva fasciata

Hydrothermal liquefaction is an attractive approach for the conversion of aquatic biomass like algae as it does not require the energy intensive drying steps. The objective of the study is to understand the effect of various solvents (H₂O, CH₃OH and C₂H₅OH) on product distribution and nature of products of hydrothermal liquefaction of macro algae Ulva fasciata (MAUF). Hydrothermal liquefaction of MAUF was performed using subcritical H₂O (300 °C) as well as supercritical organic solvents CH₃OH and C₂H₅OH (300 °C). The use of alcoholic solvents significantly increased the bio-oil yield. The bio-oil yield was 44% and 40% in case of liquefaction with CH₃OH and C₂H₅OH respectively whereas the bio-oil yield was 11% with H₂O. Use of alcoholic solvents converted the acids obtained in bio-oil to the corresponding methyl and ethyl esters. ¹H NMR data showed that use of alcoholic solvents (C₂H₅OH and CH₃OH) increased aliphatic content of bio-oil1 (ether/methanol/ethanol fraction). FTIR and SEM results showed the difference in the bio residue obtained using alcoholic solvents and H₂O. The results showed that liquefaction with supercritical alcohols is an effective way to produce functional hydrocarbons for chemical feedstock.     

泄爆面特征参数对天然气爆炸超压峰值的影响规律

为揭示泄爆面特征参数对大尺度受限空间内天然气爆炸超压峰值结构的影响机制,基于典型房间特征,借助计算流体动力学技术研究不同泄爆面开启压力、开启时间以及泄压比等参数条件下室内天然气泄爆超压峰值结构的分布规律。研究结果表明:峰值Pb随开启压力和开启时间增加均呈线性增长趋势,而泄压比对Pb影响较小;峰值Pmfa与室内最大火焰面积有关,随开启压力、开启时间的增加和泄压比的减小,气体出流速度增大,进而产生更强的湍流,导致室内火焰面积和气体燃烧率增加,最终Pmfa增大;峰值Pext随泄压比增加呈快速降低趋势,同时开启压力和开启时间对Pext影响具有协同效应,共同促进Pext快速增加。     

High levels of natural radioactivity in biota from deep-sea hydrothermal vents: a preliminary communication

Hydrothermal deep-sea vent fauna is naturally exposed to a peculiar environment enriched in potentially toxic species such as sulphides, heavy metals and natural radionuclides. It is now well established that some of the organisms present in such an environment accumulate metals during their lifespan. Though only few radionuclide measurements are available, it seems likely that hydrothermal vent communities are exposed to high natural radiation doses. Various archived biological samples collected on the East Pacific Rise and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in 1996, 2001 and 2002 were analysed by ICP-MS in order to determine their uranium contents (²³⁸U, ²³⁵U and ²³⁴U). In addition ²¹⁰Po–Pb were determined in 2 samples collected in 2002. Vent organisms are characterized by high U, and Po–Pb levels compared to what is generally encountered in organisms from outside hydrothermal vent ecosystems. Though the number of data is low, the results reveal various trends in relation to the site, the location within the mixing zone and/or the organisms' trophic regime.