Prediction models for multiphase-flow-induced corrosion of API X80 steel in CO2/H2S environment

In the offshore oil and gas industry, mainly focusing on the use of rigid or flexible pipes of subsea infrastructure applied to risers or flowlines, one of the greatest difficulties is the interpretation of the combined effects of the various correlated phenomena (hydrodynamic effects of intermittent flow, the effects of corrosivity of the environment in addition to variations in pressure, temperature, and dynamic loading). On the basis of this scenario, defining the degree of severity of each of the correlated system variables becomes of fundamental importance for establishing reliable criteria for selecting materials for subsea application. The established flow pattern directly affects the corrosion rate (or the pipe material mass loss), but the balance of other variables including possible changes in the physical and transported fluid chemical properties may increase the damage up to an order of magnitude, which is a piece of information normally not foreseen in design criteria. Therefore, to improve the understanding of the corrosion study influenced by multiphase flow, a testing loop was designed and assembled at the Corrosion and Protection Laboratory of the Institute for Technological Research, in which API X80 steel coupons were positioned in locations with a 0° and 45° inclinations. Tests were conducted by varying the partial pressure of the gaseous phase containing blends of CO₂ and H₂S with N₂ balance, mixed with the liquid phase containing light oil and heavy oil in water with salinity (NaCl)-simulating oil well conditions with 80% water cut. The main objective of this study is to establish models that can predict the corrosion intensity in conditions close to those obtained experimentally. To achieve results, the multiple regression and Box–Cox transformation methods were applied. These models will make possible damage prediction and optimization of matrix parameters for the multiphase-loop test.     

Determinants of the intention to use non-medical insertable digital devices: The case of Chile and Colombia

In the past, thinking of carrying electronic devices inside our bodies was only posed by non-real scenarios. The emergence of insertable devices has changed this. Since this technology is still in its initial development stages, few studies have investigated factors that influence its acceptance. This paper analyzes the predictors of the intention to use non-medical insertable devices in two Latin American contexts. We used partial least squares structural equation modeling to examine whether six constructs predicted intention to use insertable devices. A questionnaire was administered to undergraduate students located in Colombia and Chile (n = 672). We also examined whether these predictors influenced intention differently for both of them. Four common constructs significantly and positively influenced both Chilean and Colombian respondents to use insertable devices (hedonic motivation, habit, performance expectancy, and social influence). Also, the habit has a complementary mediating effect on the relationship between social influence and behavioral intention. By contrast, effort expectations were a positive and significant predictor, but only among Chilean respondents. Findings suggest that when technologies are emerging, well-known predictors of intention (e.g., performance and effort expectations) are less influential than predictors related to self-efficacy (e.g., habit and hedonic motivation). The use of insertable devices has a significant impact on society. Thus, a better understanding of what motivates their use has implications for both academia and industry.     

我国MTBE的生产使用现状及趋势分析

对我国MTBE的生产工艺及下游产品进行了详细的分析,重点分析了影响MTBE产品生产使用的各方面因素,从能源方针、车用燃料政策及环保要求等角度对我国MTBE产品的未来发展趋势进行了预测分析。结果显示,2020年以后我国汽油调和用MTBE的生产使用量将逐步降低,但此过程可能会较为平缓。     

耐高温高压封隔器胶筒性能研究

封隔器的关键元件是具有密封能力的胶筒,胶筒的高温力学性能是影响其密封能力的主要因素。预选了2种四丙氟橡胶A与B,采用变量控制实验法设计了8种组分,按照API 11D1要求,对150 ℃×96 h、200 ℃×96 h,230 ℃×96 h等不同高温条件处理后的橡胶材料的拉伸强度、100%定伸强度、扯断伸长率等力学性能进行了测定。优选出一种橡胶材料,其在经过200 ℃×96 h高温处理后,拉伸强度仍保持21 MPa,100%定伸强度为12 MPa; 用该橡胶材料制备成封隔器胶筒,成功通过了200 ℃、70 MPa油密封30 min无压降、无泄漏试验。研究结果可为耐高温高压封隔器胶筒材料的选择与性能研究提供试验依据。     

一种快速计算溶解油气比的工程实用方法

天然气在原油中的溶解度是评价油气溶解性的重要参数之一,在工程上需查取图版而得到,结果不够准确、使用不太方便,不适于现场快速应用。为了便于在实际工程中快速准确地计算该参数,在雷萨特的模型上将美国石油协会相对密度与脱气原油摩尔质量的图版进行取点拟合成函数关系,结合原雷萨特关系式将其数学模型归纳推理得到一个新模型,只需要代入绝对压力、温度、脱气原油对水的相对密度以及天然气对空气的相对密度4个已知参数,通过计算机便可快速计算出溶解油气比。研究结果表明:①较之于雷萨特相关式,新模型简化了繁琐的迭代,不仅可以一步到位计算溶解油气比,而且还可以从公式中反映出各个参数是如何影响溶解油气比的;②油气比随着绝对压力的增大而增大、随着温度的增大而减小、随着脱气原油对水相对密度的增大先增大后减小、随着天然气对空气相对密度的增大而减小。结论认为,新模型可以快速、准确地计算出溶解油气比,其计算结果与原雷萨特模型符合度高;新方法提高了工程上计算溶解油气比的效率及准确性,可以推广使用。     

广州市老年人使用空气调节设备状况及对健康影响调查

老人的健康与建筑室内环境存在重要联系，为了给适老建筑的暖通系统优化设计提供理论依据，有必要探究室内空气调节设备与老人健康的关系。对广州市104位本地老年人进行了问卷调查，收集了老年人的基本健康信息和家庭使用空气调节设备的情况，包括制冷、除湿、采暖和空气净化4种设备及其使用时长，使用习惯。收集到的信息用SPSS20.0进行了统计分析。结果包括广州市老年人家中四种设备拥有率、设备平均使用龄、设备使用时间以及常见日均使用时长；所调查的老年人健康比例达到55.8%。患病老人中心血管疾病的比例最高，其余为风湿性疾病和关节炎等疾病。相关性分析表明，广州地区夏天家庭采取制冷措施的老人患病可能性更小；制冷设备常见日均使用时长与身处空调区域时长的比值越大，老人患病的可能性越小。     

Fixed-time output feedback trajectory tracking control of marine surface vessels subject to unknown external disturbances and uncertainties

This paper proposes a novel fixed-time output feedback control scheme for trajectory tracking of marine surface vessels (MSVs) subject to unknown external disturbances and uncertainties. A fixed-time extended state observer (FESO) is proposed to estimate unknown lumped disturbances and unmeasured velocities, and the observation errors will converge to zero in fixed time. Based on the estimated values, a novel fixed-time trajectory tracking controller is designed for an MSV to track a time-varying reference trajectory by the extension of an adding a power integrator (API), and the tracking errors can converge to zero in fixed time as well. Additionally, the convergence time of the controller and the FESO is independent of initial state values. Finally, simulation results and comparisons illustrate the superiority of the proposed control scheme.     

Individual internet usage and the availability of online content of local interest: A multilevel approach

This paper illustrates whether the availability of online content of local interest affects the likelihood of individuals to connect to the internet and spend more time online. While the literature demonstrates a number of factors which push or enable individuals to spend more time online, we know little about the conditions that pull or attract individuals online. Although we know that individuals use the internet to access information, we do not know whether such attraction forces are relevant at the local scale too. Gaining a better understanding of how such mechanisms work at the local scale can assist our efforts to bridge digital divides, which tend to be geographically clustered. To explore this we utilise innovative data, which contain all the archived webpages under the UK top level domain name (.uk) and we calculate the volume of internet content of local interest at the neighbourhood level using the geolocation information included in the text of these webpages. Specifically, we calculate the radius of gyration for every archived website using the different postcodes included in the archived webpages and then we create an aggregated measure at the neighbourhood level discounting websites that have less of a local focus. We merge this measure of Local Internet Content (LIC) with a large population survey, which contains information about the frequency of internet usage in the UK and estimate the effect of LIC on the likelihood of an individual being a frequent internet user. Multilevel models are employed to utilise both individual and geographical level characteristics. Our results indicate that even after controlling for the individual and geographical characteristics, which according to previous studies affect internet usage, the availability of internet content of local interest still attracts individuals online.     

Relating video game exposure,sensation seeking,aggression and socioeconomic factors to school performance

ABSTRACT

The time displacement hypothesis has been widely used to explain the effects of media use on academic performance. This approach has been criticised for its monocausality and weak explanatory power. Utilising a combination of different theoretical perspectives is better suited than utilising only one. Considering displacement, excitement, attraction and third variable hypothesis, this paper argues that the relation between video game use and school performance is not the same for all types of gamers by considering the influence of socioeconomic, psychological and contextual factors. It investigates how gaming patterns (frequency, time of day) and psychological characteristics (sensation seeking, aggression) are related to academic performance for primary and secondary school students. Five hundred and seven students from five primary and four secondary schools in Singapore participated in a paper-pencil survey. Results showed support for a combination of displacement and third variable hypothesis, as overall time spent on video games was negatively associated with primary school children’s and active gamers’ school performances. There was no significant relationship for secondary school children. For primary school children who play games in the morning and afternoon, video game use was negatively associated with school performance. There was no support for the attraction and excitement hypotheses.