Experimental study and model predictions on helium release in an enclosure with single or multiple vents

This paper presents experiments performed at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) to examine the dispersion behaviour of helium in a polycarbonate enclosure that was representative of a residential parking garage. The purpose was to gain a better understanding of the effect of buoyancy- or wind-driven natural ventilation on hydrogen dispersion behaviour. Although hydrogen dispersion studies have been reported extensively in the literature, gaps still exist in predictive methods for hazard analysis. Helium, a simulant for hydrogen, was injected near the centre of the floor with a flow rate ranging from 5 to 75 standard litres per minute through an upward-facing nozzle, resulting in an injection Richardson number ranging between 10^?1 and 10². The location of the nozzle varied from the bottom of the enclosure to near the ceiling to examine the impact of the nozzle elevation on the development of a stratified layer in the upper region of the enclosure. When the injection nozzle was placed at a sufficiently low elevation, the vertical helium profile always consisted of a homogenous layer at the top overlaying a stratified layer at the bottom. To simulate outdoor environmental conditions, a fan was placed in front of each vent to examine the effect of opposing or assisting wind on the dispersion. The helium transients in the uniform layer predicted with analytical models were in good agreement with the measured transients for most tests. Model improvements are required for adequately predicting transients with primarily stratified profiles or strong opposing wind.     

A comparative study of NdY-Fe-B magnet and NdCe-Fe-B magnet

Low cost and high abundance rare earth elements Y and Ce have attracted tremendous interests of the industrial and scientific societies for fabricating the highly cost-performance efficient rare earth permanent magnets. However, the effect of separate replacement of Nd by Y or Ce on the performances of NdFeB-type magnet under the same atomic ratio and preparation conditions is still unclear. In this work, we systematically investigated the magnetic properties, thermal stabilities and service performances of (Nd_0.8Y_0.2)_13.80Fe_balAl_0.24Cu_0.1B_6.04 (atomic fraction, denoted as 20Y) and (Nd_0.8Ce_0.2)_13.80Fe_balAl_0.24Cu_0.1B_6.04 (atomic fraction, denoted as 20Ce) magnets. The results demonstrate that the μ₀M_r, μ₀H_c and (BH)_max of 20Y magnet are respectively 1.325 T, 1.173 T and 343.467 kJ/m³, which are comprehensively higher than those of 20Ce magnet (μ₀M_r = 1.310 T, μ₀H_c = 0.948 T, (BH)_max = 321.105 kJ/m³). Moreover, the 20Y magnet has higher thermal stability compared with 20Ce magnet which is favorable for the magnetic performances at elevated temperatures. The investigation of microstructure and elemental distribution indicates that the excellent magnetic performances of NdY-Fe-B magnet can be attributed not only to the preferable intrinsic properties 4πM_s, H_a and T_c of Y₂Fe₁₄B, but also to the in-situ core–shell structure of the 2:14:1 matrix phase grain with Y-rich core and Nd-rich shell, along with the thicker grain boundary layer between the adjacent matrix phase grains in NdY-Fe-B magnet. Furthermore, the 20Y magnet exhibits better mechanical property and higher corrosion resistance than 20Ce magnet, which are helpful for prolonging the service life of the magnet in practical application.     

Experimental study on prediction model of wet gas pressure drop across single-orifice plate in horizontal pipes in the low gas phase Froude number region

The pressure drop prediction of wet gas across single-orifice plate in horizontal pipes had been solved satisfactorily under an annular-mist flow in the upstream of orifice plates. However, this pressure drop prediction is still not clearly determined when the upstream is in an intermittent flow or stratified flow, which is corresponding to a region of low Fr_G (gas phase Froude number) in the flow pattern map of wet gases. In this study, the wet gas pressure drop across a single-orifice plate was experimentally investigated in the low Fr_G region. By the experiment, the flow pattern transition in the downstream of single-orifice plates, as well as the effects of Fr_G and Fr_L (liquid phase Froude number) on Φ_G (gas phase multiplier), were determined and compared when the upstream is in the flow pattern transition and the stratified flow region, respectively. Prediction performances were examined on the available pressure drop models. It was found that no model could be capable of jointly predicting the wet gas pressure drop in the low Fr_G region with an acceptable accuracy. With a new method of correlating Fr_G and Fr_L simultaneously, new correlations were proposed for the low Fr_G region. Among which the modified Chisholm model shows the best prediction accuracies, with the prediction deviations of Φ_G being within 7% and 3% when the upstream is in flow pattern transition and stratified flow region, respectively.     

Vertical cyclic loading response of geosynthetic-encased stone column in soft clay

Dynamic responses of the geosynthetic-encased stone column (GESC) supported embankment under traffic loads have become a hot topic. This study investigates the responses of GESC improved ground under vertical cyclic loading. A series of laboratory tests in a designed model test tank have been carried out with different loading parameters (varied loading amplitudes and frequencies), different column dimensions (varied encasement lengths and column diameters). In the tests, the soil-column stress distribution, accumulated settlement of loading plate, excess pore water pressure in the surrounding soil and lateral bulging of the stone column are monitored. Experimental results indicate that the vertical stress on the stone column increases with the increment of encasement length, and decreases with the increment of column diameter, loading amplitude and loading frequency. The increasing stress on the surrounding soil leads to a greater accumulated settlement of the loading plate and excess pore water pressure, while the increasing stress on the column leads to larger lateral bulging of the column. Excess pore water pressure dissipates effectively through vertical and horizontal drainage channels provided by the stone column and the sand bed. The geosynthetic encasement prevents the clay from obstructing the drainage channel by filtration and guarantees the drainage effect.     

Artificial pancreas under stable pulsatile MPC: Improving the closed-loop performance

This work presents a pulsatile Zone Model Predictive Control (pZMPC) for the control of blood glucose concentration (BGC) in patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). The main novelties of the algorithm – in contrast to other existing strategies – are: (i) it controls the patient glycemia by injecting short duration insulin boluses for both, the basal and bolus infusions, in an unified manner, (ii) it performs the predictions and estimations (critical to anticipate both, hypo and hyperglycemia) based on a physiological individualized long-term model, (iii) it employs disturbance observers to compensate plant-model mismatches, (iv) it ensures, under standard assumptions, closed-loop stability, and (v) it can be used – under minor modifications – as an optimal basal–bolus calculator to emulate conventional therapies. Because of the latter characteristic, a significantly better performance is achieved, not only in terms of classical indexes (time in the normoglycemia zone, avoidance of hypoglycemia in the short term, avoidance of hyperglycemia in the long term) but also in terms of its applicability (use of the pump or injections). Such a performance is tested in a cohort of in-silico patients from the FDA-accepted UVA/Padova simulation platform, considering the most challenging scenarios.     

OPM3要素对项目组合管理能力影响的SD建模与仿真

根据组织项目管理成熟度模型（OPM3），确定影响项目组合管理能力的OPM3要素，分析OPM3要素与项目组合管理能力的因果关系，构建系统动力学模型，仿真模拟OPM3要素对项目组合管理能力的影响。仿真结果表明：OPM3要素与项目组合管理能力正相关；OPM3要素对项目组合管理能力的影响在短期内并不显著；在OPM3要素中，对项目组合管理能力影响较为显著的是战略执行与规划、组织领导能力和信息分析。     

Concise dynamic model to accurately calculate the hydrogen yield during the reaction process

Estimation of hydrogen production rate and the total amount hydrogen during any reaction process require an accurate and concise dynamic model to describe the variation of hydrogen production rate with reaction time. There must be two comprehensive features of such model, the first one is that the hydrogen production rate calculated by this model is zero at the initial time is zero and the second one is that the integration of this model over time result in an explicit function. In this paper, we present a comprehensive model which meets above two requirements via amendments to the shifted logistic model. The model is validated against measured results through comparison of 25 experimental and theoretical hydrogen production rate. The experimentally validated model is used to calculate the total amount hydrogen during each reaction process. The impact of some experimental conditions on the total hydrogen production was mathematically explained for the first time, and this result reveal the excellent predictive ability of framework suggested in this paper. In addition, that is for an experimental condition history, predictions are achieved by developing a set of “secondary models” that describe some experimental conditions dependence of the “primary models” parameters. The method to obtain the parameters in “secondary models” described in this paper indicated that another major departure from the conventional models is the notion that the “secondary models” do not need to follow any preconceived formula and that they can be derived solely from the observed growth patterns. The presented framework can help the hydrogen production industry.     

CFD model for tubular SOFC directly fed by biomass

The coupling between biomass gasification and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells can represent a sustainable and efficient system for electricity production. This work aims to develop a preliminary model for the operation of a tubular, electrolyte-supported fuel cell (SOFC) fed by a syngas mixture. The fuel required by the SOFC system is produced inside the energy generator box from an integrated biomass gasification system. This study stems from the European DB-SOFC project, that proposed the exploitation of the abundant biomasses deriving from agricultural residues for energetic purposes (as from olive oil and wine production). In this study, the main processes have been simulated to find a possible configuration to obtain a power value of 200 W. 25 cells were used in the model to produce the required power. The results showed that at 0.7 V it is possible to achieve 12.3 W, when the biomass gasification was integrated into the SOFC box, while it was possible to achieve 9.6 W when the system was fed by externally produced syngas.