Fault detection and diagnostics of a three-phase separator

A high demand of oil products on daily basis requires oil processing plants to work with maximum efficiency. Oil, water and gas separation in a three-phase separator is one of the first operations that are performed after crude oil is extracted from an oil well. Failure of the components of the separator introduces the potential hazard of flammable materials being released into the environment. This can escalate to a fire or explosion. Such failures can also cause downtime for the oil processing plant since the separation process is essential to oil production. Fault detection and diagnostics techniques used in the oil and gas industry are typically threshold based alarm techniques. Observing the sensor readings solely allows only a late detection of faults on the separator which is a big deficiency of such a technique, since it causes the oil and gas processing plants to shut down.A fault detection and diagnostics methodology for three-phase separators based on Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN) is presented in this paper. The BBN models the propagation of oil, water and gas through the different sections of the separator and the interactions between component failure modes and process variables, such as level or flow monitored by sensors installed on the separator. The paper will report on the results of the study, when the BBNs are used to detect single and multiple failures, using sensor readings from a simulation model. The results indicated that the fault detection and diagnostics model was able to detect inconsistencies in sensor readings and link them to corresponding failure modes when single or multiple failures were present in the separator.     

Spectroscopic behavior of oxygenated combustion by-products

The oxygenated species, massively produced in the energy production plants based on combustion processes, constitute one of the most numerous categories of hazardous air pollutants. Therefore, development of real time diagnostic tools are needed in order to study their formation during combustion processes and to reveal their presence both in the exhaust and in the atmosphere. In this work, oxygenated compounds were identified inside fuel-rich premixed ethylene/air flames by means of ultraviolet fluorescence spectroscopy with the support of qualitative chemical analysis of the sampled combustion gases.

Strong band progression, typical of aldehydic functionality, were recognized in fluorescence spectra (λ_exc=355 nm) measured in the early oxidation region of premixed flames varying the equivalence ratio from 3.0 up 21.6. Downstream of the oxidation region, spectroscopic signatures of pyrolytic species were found to prevail on those peculiar of oxygenated compound. The position and the extension of the two main flame zones were found to depend on the flame conditions (C/O ratio) due to the effect of the C/O ratio on the temperature history along the flame axis. This correlation was interpreted on the basis of the measured axial temperature profiles.     

Duckweeds for water remediation and toxicity testing

The presence of toxic substances in wastewaters and outdoor bodies of water is an important ecotoxicological issue. The aim of this review is to illustrate how duckweeds, which are small, simply constructed, floating aquatic plants, are well suited to addressing this concern. The ability of duckweeds to grow rapidly on nutrient-rich water and to facilitate the removal of many substances from aqueous solution comprises the potential of these macrophytes for the remediation of wastewater and polluted aqueous reservoirs, while producing usable biomass containing the unwanted substances having been taken up. Their ease of cultivation under controlled and even sterile conditions makes duckweeds excellent test organisms for determining the toxicity of water contaminants, and duckweeds are important as model aquatic plants in the assessment of ecotoxicity. Duckweeds are also valuable for establishing biomarkers for the toxic effects of water contaminants on aquatic higher plants, but the current usefulness of duckweed biomarkers for identifying toxicants is limited. The recent sequencing of a duckweed genome holds the promise of combining the determination of water contaminant toxicity with toxicant diagnostics by means of gene expression profiling via DNA microarrays.     

Low or absent unconjugated estriol in pregnancy: an indicator for steroid sulfatase deficiency detectable by fluorescence in situ hybridization and biochemical analysis

It has been previously reported that a low or absent maternal serum unconjugated estriol (uE3) level is associated with placental steroid sulfatase (STS) deficiency. Here we report a correlation between patients who present with a very low or absent maternal serum uE3 and a deletion of the STS gene as assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). We studied nine prenatal cases that presented to the clinical laboratory with an abnormal triple screen, specifically low or absent maternal serum uE3 and a 46,XY karyotype. FISH analysis showed complete deletion of a probe containing the STS gene in six cases and one case had a partial deletion (reduced but not absent signal). The remaining two cases were not deleted for the STS probe. All mothers tested whose fetus showed a deletion were shown to be STS deletion carriers using FISH. Biochemical analysis was performed on 7/9 prenatal specimens. All fetuses deleted for the STS probe were also found to be deficient for STS by biochemical analysis of cultured amniotic fluid (5/5). Of the two fetuses not deleted for the STS probe, one was deficient for STS activity, while the other had a normal result. The abnormal result of enzyme deficiency by biochemical analysis in a non-deletion case likely represents a mutation in the STS gene, not detectable by this FISH assay. Postnatal FISH confirmation of the STS deletion was performed in 1/7 cases. Clinical follow-up was available for 4/9 cases following birth. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种在线监测机动车尾气超标排放的有效方法

分析机动车尾气污染现状和国内外有效的监测治理方法,对利用汽车OBD尾气监控系统判别车辆尾气超标的方法进行了探讨,并对移动污染源(机动车)的动态监测和管理提出见解,认为运用这个方法可以减少机动车尾气污染和降低排放总量。     

三种农作物秸秆燃烧颗粒态多环芳烃排放特征

收集3种农作物秸秆玉米,水稻和小麦露天燃烧排放的颗粒物样品,并利用气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)对样品中的34种多环芳烃(PAHs)进行分析,研究颗粒态PAHs的排放因子及可用于源解析的诊断参数.结果表明,3种秸秆燃烧总PAHs的排放因子为644.18~1798.13μg/kg;其中4环PAHs在秸秆燃烧样品中含量最高,约占38.8%~58.8%,6环PAHs所占比例相对较小,约占5.72%~15.17%.PAHs中部分单体具有相对较强致癌性,对环境和人体健康的影响不可忽视.首次检测分子量为300的高分子多环芳烃二苯并[a,e]荧蒽.在玉米、水稻和小麦秸秆燃烧排放颗粒物中的排放因子分别为6.70,2.77和2.92μg/kg.此外,研究发现BaP/BghiP, Phe/Phe+Ant和Flu/(Flu + Pyr)比值可以作为较好的区分秸秆燃烧与其他来源的诊断参数.     

Surface measurements of global warming causing atmospheric constituents in Korea

The expansion of the industrial economy and the increase of population in Northeast Asian countries have caused much interestin climate monitoring related to global warming. However, new techniques and better platforms for the measurement of globalwarming and regional databases are still old-fashioned and arenot being developed sufficiently. With respect to this agenda,since 1993, at the request of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), to monitor functions of global warming, theKorea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has set up a Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) Station on the western coast of Korea(Anmyun-do) and has been actively monitoring global warming overNortheast Asia. In addition, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) has been measured for a similar KMA global warmingprogram at Kosan, Cheju Island since 1990. Aerosol and radiationhave also been measured at both sites as well as in Seoul. Theobservations have been analyzed using diagnostics of climate change in Northeast Asia and also have been internationally compared. Results indicate that greenhouse gases are in good statistic agreement with the NOAA/Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory (CMDL) long-term trends of monthly meanconcentrations and seasonal cycles. Atmospheric particulatematter has also been analyzed for particular Asian types interms of optical depth, number concentration and size distribution.     

Bayesian spatial prediction

This paper presents a complete Bayesian methodology for analyzing spatial data, one which employs proper priors and features diagnostic methods in the Bayesian spatial setting. The spatial covariance structure is modeled using a rich class of covariance functions for Gaussian random fields. A general class of priors for trend, scale, and structural covariance parameters is considered. In particular, we obtain analytic results that allow easy computation of the predictive distribution for an arbitrary prior on the parameters of the covariance function using importance sampling. The computations, as well as model diagnostics and sensitivity analysis, are illustrated with a set of precipitation data.     

德州、北京重污染过程PM2.5中PAHs污染特征及来源分析

为探讨华北地区秋冬季重污染过程PM_2.5（细颗粒物）中PAHs（多环芳烃）的污染水平、分布特征及来源,分别采集2018年11月17日—2019年1月19日德州市和北京市PM_2.5样品,利用气相色谱-质谱法测量两个站点6次重污染过程中26种PAHs浓度水平,分析PAHs污染特征、分子组成分布及其来源,并利用毒性当量因子估算了PAHs毒性.结果表明:①6次重污染过程中,德州站点∑₂₆PAHs浓度为62~191 ng/m3,北京站点为61~129 ng/m3.②单位质量PM_2.5中PAHs的浓度北京站点更高.③两个站点PAHs分子组成分布较为一致,萘、蒽、芴等低分子量的PAHs浓度较低,高分子量PAHs浓度较高,浓度最高的分别为苯并[b]荧蒽、苯并[a]芘、苯并[a]蒽和甲基荧蒽等.④特征比值结果显示,PAHs来源包括柴油车尾气、燃煤和生物质燃烧,德州站点受生物质燃烧影响更为显著.⑤毒性当量计算结果表明,德州站点毒性当量浓度（TEQ）高于北京站点,6次重污染过程中两个站点PAHs的TEQ平均值在6.5~17.2 ng/m3之间,低于国内其他一些地区,但苯并[a]芘的浓度在5.2~13.1 ng/m3之间,超过了GB 3095—2012《环境空气质量标准》日均值的标准限值（2.5 ng/m3）,对人体健康存在潜在危害.研究显示:秋冬季重污染过程中,北京站点单位质量PM_2.5中PAHs的浓度较高,两个点位PAHs分子组成分布特征及来源较为相似,且均对人体健康存在潜在危害;应进一步加强对PAHs浓度水平的控制,这不仅有利于持续改善PM_2.5污染,也有助于减轻人体潜在的健康风险.      

Neural tube defects in the sample of genetic counselling

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the major demographic details, diagnostical and clinical features, as well as the risk of recurrence of cases with the major types of neural tube defects (NTD). We also examined the efficiency of ultrasonography based on autopsy examinations during 26 years. Methods The investigations were made into the sample of 743 NTD diagnosed between 1 January 1976 and 31 December 2002. A computerized database was used to sum up the available information about the individual cases; in addition to surveying the couples' major demographic details, we also had the opportunity to collect detailed information about the history, diagnostics (ultrasound) and outcome of the pregnancies as well as the results of the autopsies during the investigation. Results In the 743 cases of NTD, maternal and paternal median ages turned out to be 23.7 years (±5.22 years) and 28.7 years (±5.81 years), respectively. The male:female ratio was 0.78. Comparable samples of anencephaly and spina bifida allowed for the conclusion that a positive genetic history was equally often found while a positive obstetrical history was almost twice as common in anencephaly. The sensitivity of the maternal serum-alpha fetoprotein (AFP) screening test is the highest in anencephaly and lowest in encephalocele. While the majority of cases of anencephaly were diagnosed before the 24th gestational week, examples of diagnosing spina bifida and encephalocele at a later time could also be found. Among the associated malformations other than those of the central nervous system special mentioning should be made of fetal pyelectasia, cleft palate as well as diaphragmatic herniation. No pathological karyotypes were found in association with encephalocele or spina bifida, but anencephaly was accompanied with trisomy 21 and trisomy 18 in one case each. Anencephaly was found to have the highest risk of recurrence in both nervous system malformations and malformations other than those of the nervous system. Sonography proved to be the most reliable method in cases of enecephalocele. Conclusion The respective median values of maternal and paternal age show that aetas has no role in the occurrence of NTDs. NTDs are more common among girls. Positive genetic, obstetrical and medical findings are of great importance in the incidence of NTDs. Although reliable to only a limited extent, maternal serum-AFP tests are considered to be useful and necessary in screening NTDs, while sonography is the gold standard method in recognizing these frequent malformations. The knowledge of the eventual associated malformations is mainly important in certain cases of spina bifida, which may also yield a good post-natal prognosis. Our data obtained from the sample of 26 years also confirm that the periconceptional administration of folic acid reduces the incidence and risk of recurrence of NTDs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.