Investigating the unexposed surface temperature criteria of standard ASTM E119

Information and data were obtained to evaluate the unexposed surface temperature criteria of standard ASTM E119. The investigation consisted of: (1) reviewing literature to obtain information on the development of ASTM E119 and the unexposed surface temperature rise criteria, (2) conducting fire tests to obtain temperature data on slabs with various materials placed on the unexposed surface and (3) conducting ignition tests on these materials to obtain their approximate temperature at ignition. The information and data increased the knowledge concerning the relationship between the unexposed surface temperature rise criteria of ASTM E119 and the ignition temperature of common combustible materials.Winner of the 1985 Harry C. Bigglestone Award for Excellence in Written Communication of Fire Protection Concepts. Reference: Kenneth J. Schwartz and T. T. Lie, Investigating the Unexposed Surface Temperature Criteria of Standard ASTM E119,Fire Technology, Vol. 21, No. 3, August 1985, p. 169.     

The adsorption of various pollutants from aqueous solutions on to activated carbon

The ability of activated carbon. Filtrasorb 400, to adsorb various pollutants from aqueous solutions has been studied. The pollutants investigated are phenol, p-chlorophenol, sodium dodecyl sulphate, mercuric ions and chromic(III) ions. The saturation adsorption capacity of the activated carbon for the pollutants is 213, 434, 361, 35 and 138 mg g^?1 for phenol, p-chlorophenol, sodium dodecylsulphate, chromium(III) and mercuric(II) respectively. Equilibrium isotherm analyses were undertaken using Langmuir and Freundlich equations.     

Pan-European landscapes

As a supplement to the western European typology from Landscape and Urban Planning, 18 (3–4): 289–352 (Meeus et al., 1990), a survey is made of the landscapes of northern and eastern Europe. Thirty landscapes are identified on a continental scale. This pan-European landscape typology is based on the integration of landscape formation factors. The basis for a regionally differentiated geography, morphology and scenery of the man-made landscape is provided by land form, soil and climate on the one hand and regional culture, habits and history on the other. This typology can be used as a reference for a discussion about the actual appearance of the landscape. The map of European landscapes is only a reconnaissance and is therefore not intended as a blueprint for action, but rather as a way of looking at landscape heterogeneity, a set of principles to stimulate the discussion of landscape development throughout the continent.     

Sorption of organics on clay and synthetic humic-clay complexes simulating aquifer processes

Sorption/partition of several organic solute (contaminants) of a wide range of hydrophobicities was studied on clay and on clay-humic complexes representing aquifer-soil systems. The role of the mineral and of the organic (humic) fractions was elucidated and a model considering both fractions in the sorption process was proposed. The adsorption constants on humic (organic fraction), K_∝, were 8–20 times higher than on “pure” clay, K_m. But with soils with low to medium organic fractions (ƒ_∝ < 0.05) the contribution of the clay mineral to adsorption was quite significant, in spite of the fact that half of the sorption sites on the mineral surface were blocked by the humic. In the range of very low organic content in aquifer soil a non-linear pattern going through a minimum is observed between the overall partition coefficient and soil-organic fraction, transforming to the familiar linear relationship at higher ƒ_∝s. Both the K_∝ and K_m followed the linear-free energy relationship to the octanol-water partition coefficient K_ow.     

Spatial microclimate patterns in reconstructed and new large uninsulated loose housing cowsheds

Keeping heifers and dairy cows in uninsulated loose housing cowsheds is spreading in the cold regions of the world. During the last decade, cold cowsheds have spread into all the Scandinavian and Baltic countries. In 2002, two large cowsheds were studied: a cowshed renovated from an old collective farm cowshed to a cold building (RUC) and a newly finished one-nave steel-framed loose housing cowshed (UC). The measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity and lighting were taken indoors and outdoors.     

Radon in Private Water Supplies: The Unknown Risk

Radon gas, which is the main contributor to human radiation exposure, is easily dissolved in, and dissipated from, water. Problems with radon occur because, in addition to being ingested, it (a) becomes attached to particles which lodge in the lungs and (b) emits alpha radiation. Concentration has been found to increase inversely with the size of a water supply. Although of little problem in mains'water, private water supplies in the UK have been found to contain more than ten times the recommended US levels. Despite this, very little monitoring is carried out for radon in private supplies. Local authorities, situated in areas where the geological conditions are such that high levels of radon would be expected, should carry out a suitable sampling and monitoring programme of their private water supplies.     

Free vibration of a clamped-free circular cylindrical shell partially filled with liquid—Part I: Theoretical analysis

Theoretical analyses are presented for the linear free vibration of a clamped-free cylindrical shell partially filled with an incompressible, inviscid liquid. For the vibration of the shell itself, the dynamic version of the Donnell equations was used and the problem was solved with the modified Galerkin procedure, taking the effect of the axisymmetric deformation due to the static liquid pressure into consideration. Concerning the vibration relevant to the liquid motion, the solution for the velocity potential was assumed as a sum of two sets of linear combinations of the suitable harmonic function, the unknown parameters of which were imposed to satisfy both boundary conditions along the wetted shell wall and the free liquid surface in a sense of appropriate series expansions. The procedure stated in the foregoing leads to a determinantal equation for the determination of the natural frequencies of the present shell-liquid system. To compare with the experimental results which will be stated in a companion paper,¹⁴ detailed numerical results will be presented in another companion paper¹³ on the free vibration characteristics of the two test cylinders partially filled with water.     

Distribution and bioavailability of copper in farm effluent

Effluent and sludge samples from a number of dairy and piggery units in the North Island of New Zealand were collected and analysed for free ionic-copper (Cu(2+)) and organically-complexed Cu. The bioavailability of sludge-Cu was examined using microbial respiration and plant growth experiments. Microbial respiration was measured at various levels of Cu (0-1000 mg kg(-1)), added as copper sulfate (CuSO(4)) and sludge-Cu, using a Gilson differential respirometer. A glass house experiment was conducted to examine the transformation of Cu in soils and its subsequent uptake by ryegrass pasture. Three Cu sources were used that included fast-release CuSO(4), slow-release copper oxide (CuO) and Cu-enriched sludge. The pasture samples were analysed for Cu concentration. The transformation of Cu in the soil was monitored by analysing the soil samples for various fractions of Cu. The effluent and sludge samples collected from farms which regularly used Cu to treat lameness in dairy cattle and as a growth promoter in swine contained higher concentration of Cu. The total Cu concentration ranged from approximately 0.1 to 1.55 mg l(-1) and from 0.5 to 10.5 mg l(-1) in the piggery and diary effluent, respectively. The corresponding values for the sludge samples were 3.0-526 and 25-105 mg kg(-1). Most of the Cu in both the effluent and solid sludge material was organically complexed. The respiration measurements indicated that sludge-Cu was less toxic to soil microbial activity than CuSO(4). The results from the glass house experiment indicated that increasing the level of Cu applied through fertilisers and sludge increased Cu concentration in plants. At the same rate of application, plants took up less Cu from sludge and CuO than from CuSO(4). There was, however, a greater translocation of Cu from root to shoot at the highest rate of Cu through sludge application. The Cu fractionation study indicated that there was greater accumulation of organic bound Cu in the sludge-treated soil than the fertiliser-treated soil.     

Simulation and assessment of power variations from wind arrays during local storms

Little attention has been paid to the development of control practices for utilities with power variations resulting from wind generation. One of the reasons is that little information is available on wind power variations from wind power arrays. This study demonstrates that severe operating problems can be caused by local storms in utilities with wind penetrations exceeding 5% of the utility's capacity. It is expected that future wind generation can comprise up to 15% of a utility's capacity which points to an even greater need for the development of control practices. The study was carried out by simulating wind power variations from various configurations of MOD-2 (with a capacity of 2 MW) wind turbine arrays during local storms. An existing wind data set collected at 27 meteorological measurement sites located in a square area of 128 km on a side was used to study the effects of spatial and temporal wind speed variations during storms. Wind power variations of individual units, arrays, and a series of multiple arrays are presented. It is shown that wind power variations of single arrays will be above 60% of capacity over a period of 15 min. Widely separated arrays reduce power variations but do not eliminate a high percentage of capacity changes in a 15-min period. Cyclic variation on a single unit due to turbulence is large as a percentage of capacity but does not produce large power variations as a percentage of multiple array power capacity.