Using CFD Modeling to Improve the Inlet Hydraulics and Performance of a Storm-Water Clarifier

The feasibility of high-rate treatment of storm water achieving total suspended solids (TSS) removals in the range from 60 to 80% was studied using an available clarifier. The clarifier (3?m long, 1.4?m wide, and 2?m deep) was fitted with a removable lamella pack and had a limited flow capacity (surface load rate of 35?m/h). To achieve the desired removals of TSS, the clarifier required polymer feed (4?mg/L), which caused maintenance problems during intermittent storm-water treatment—laborious and costly cleaning of lamella plates after individual storm events. This problem posed the following challenge: was it feasible to avoid costly maintenance by removing the lamella pack and at the same time to retain the high TSS removals by improving the clarifier hydraulics by internal structural changes? The purpose of the paper is to evaluate such changes by focusing on different inlet configurations designed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. This analysis resulted in adopting a U-tube duct inlet (inserted into the outer box of the original clarifier) with two special features: (1) three horizontal slot openings (width = 0.1?m) releasing flow into the clarifier and (2) a narrow slot opening in the bottom U bend allowing removal of grit. The flow release slots in the rising leg of the U tube were fitted, along the upper edge, with horizontal trailing plates protruding 0.15?m into the clarifier and forcing the flow to move horizontally. This clarifier design performed well, but storm-water grit accumulated at the bottom of the U tube, which had to be cleaned out after individual storms to avoid plugging. This issue was resolved by allowing grit to move into the sludge storage compartment of the clarifier through a narrow tilted slot opening in the U-tube bottom. The final clarifier design with polymer feed, without lamellas, produced TSS removals comparable to those in the original lamella clarifier (almost 80%), but at a higher surface loading rate (43?m/h, which was limited by the feed pump capacity). CFD modeling, in comparison to conventional methods of hydraulic design, served as a flexible and powerful tool providing distinct advantages with respect to the speed, efficiency and reduced cost of analysis, and a better understanding of the clarifier operation.     

Investigation of the gas inlet velocity distribution in a fixed granular bed filter

Granular bed filter (GBF) technology can be applied for high-temperature gas cleanup in integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) and pressurized fluidized-bed combustion (PFBC) advanced coal-fired power plants. The design of the gas inlet component of the granular bed filter is important to achieve a uniform gas distribution and higher usage rate of the filter media. Previous studies show that the gas velocity at the inlet is not uniformly distributed. This non-uniformity may lead to a lower usage rate of the filter media. In this study a baffle device is introduced to the inlet system in order to achieve a more uniform gas velocity distribution. A more uniform gas inlet distribution can be obtained by adjustment of the lengths and angles of the baffles. The gas velocities along the inlet and filtration surfaces are measured using a pitot tube. The uniformity of the gas velocity distribution can be characterized by looking at the distributions of the standard deviation of the gas velocity and the differences in the mean velocities between the two filtration surfaces.     

Exhaust hood for steam turbines-single-flow arrangement

In the past, increased attention was given to the development of an optimal shape for the inlet part of LP turbine casings in SKODA POWER. A double-flow design is typically used for high power output turbines. An optimized shape for the internal diffuser has been found, which transforms the kinetic energy of steam into increased pressure, thus effectively increasing the thermodynamic efficiency of the stage. Some conclusions have been drawn from laboratory experiments, others derived directly from on-site measurements at power plants. The conclusions from the development of double-flow turbines form the basis for the design of the single-flow turbine arrangement. Single-flow design is typically used for lower output turbines. There are still some limitations in applying this arrangement. The designer needs to resolve the bearing position and how to ensure access to them. Reinforcing the ribs and supports are used, therefore, to ensure the rigidity of the entire casing. The optimization of the single-flow diffuser shape is therefore the subject of the study presented below.     

A Novel Nanoprobe for Multimodal Imaging Is Effectively Incorporated into Human Melanoma Metastatic Cell Lines

To facilitate efficient drug delivery to tumor tissue, several nanomaterials have been designed, with combined diagnostic and therapeutic properties. In this work, we carried out fundamental in vitro and in vivo experiments to assess the labeling efficacy of our novel theranostic nanoprobe, consisting of glycogen conjugated with a red fluorescent probe and gadolinium. Microscopy and resazurin viability assays were used to study cell labeling and cell viability in human metastatic melanoma cell lines. Fluorescence lifetime correlation spectroscopy (FLCS) was done to investigate nanoprobe stability. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to study T₁ relaxivity in vitro, and contrast enhancement in a subcutaneous in vivo tumor model. Efficient cell labeling was demonstrated, while cell viability, cell migration, and cell growth was not affected. FLCS showed that the nanoprobe did not degrade in blood plasma. MRI demonstrated that down to 750 cells/μL of labeled cells in agar phantoms could be detected. In vivo MRI showed that contrast enhancement in tumors was comparable between Omniscan contrast agent and the nanoprobe. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that a non-toxic glycogen-based nanoprobe may effectively visualize tumor cells and tissue, and, in future experiments, we will investigate its therapeutic potential by conjugating therapeutic compounds to the nanoprobe.     

Combined exposure to cyanobacterial biomass, lead and the Newcastle virus enhances avian toxicity

Under environmental conditions, wild birds can be exposed to multiple stressors including natural toxins, anthropogenic pollutants and infectious agents at the same time.This experimental study was successful in testing the hypothesis that adverse effects of cyanotoxins, heavy metals and a non-pathogenic immunological challenge combine to enhance avian toxicity. Mortality occurred in combined exposures to naturally occurring cyanobacterial biomass and lead shots, lead shots and Newcastle vaccination as well as in single lead shot exposure. Mostly acute effects around day 10 were observed. On day 30 of exposure, there were no differences in the liver accumulation of lead in single and combined exposure groups. Interestingly, liver microcystin levels were elevated in birds co-exposed to cyanobacterial biomass together with lead or lead and the Newcastle virus. Significant differences in body weights between all Pb-exposed and Pb-non-exposed birds were found on days 10 and 20. Single exposure to cyanobacterial biomass resulted in hepatic vacuolar dystrophy, whereas co-exposure with lead led to more severe granular dystrophy. Haematological changes were associated with lead exposure, in particular. Biochemical analysis revealed a decrease in glucose and an increase in lactate dehydrogenase in single and combined cyanobacterial and lead exposures, which also showed a decreased antibody response to vaccination.The combined exposure of experimental birds to sub-lethal doses of individual stressors is ecologically realistic. It brings together new pieces of knowledge on avian health. In light of this study, investigators of wild bird die-offs should be circumspect when evaluating findings of low concentrations of contaminants that would not result in mortality on a separate basis. As such it has implications for wildlife biologists, veterinarians and conservationists of avian biodiversity.     

Magnetically Controllable Silver Nanocomposite with Multifunctional Phosphotriazine Matrix and High Antimicrobial Activity

A recently developed multi‐functional phosphotriazine‐based polymer is used as a matrix for embedding γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles as well as a suitable chemical template for surface modification with silver nanoparticles. For the primary magnetic modification, maghemite nanoparticles are surface modified with oleic acid in order to render them organophilic and to prevent the aggregation of the nanoparticles. This aggregation could occur as the polymer synthesis, based on reaction of phosphonitrilic chlorine and 1,4‐phenylenediamine, takes place in toluene. The surface active amine units of the polymer structure enable the reduction of silver cations to silver nanoparticles, which are well attached and finely dispersed on its surface. The developed nanocomposite represents one of the few magnetically controllable antibacterial agents based on silver nanoparticles. Magnetic measurements reveal the completely suppressed interactions among maghemite nanoparticles because of their perfect surface coating with an organic surfactant and fine dispersion inside the polymer matrix. This magnetic nanocomposite exhibits a high antibacterial and antifungal activity as proven by tests with nine bacterial strains and four candida (yeast genus) species. For the majority of the tested species, the minimum‐inhibition concentrations are below 100 mg L^?1, which is comparable to their equivalent minimum‐inhibition concentrations in colloidal silver systems.     

An adsorptive transfer technique coupled with brdicka reaction to reveal the importance of metallothionein in chemotherapy with platinum based cytostatics

The drugs based on platinum metals represent one of the oldest, but also one of the most effective groups of chemotherapeutic agents. Thanks to many clinical studies it is known that resistance of tumor cells to drugs is a frequent cause of chemotherapy failure. With regard to platinum based drugs, multidrug resistance can also be connected with increased expression of low-molecular weight protein metallothionein (MT). This study aimed at investigating the interactions of MT with cisplatin or carboplatin, using the adsorptive transfer technique coupled with differential pulse voltammetry Brdicka reaction (AdTS DPV Brdicka reaction), and a comparison of in vitro results with results obtained in vivo. The results obtained from the in vitro study show a strong affinity between platinum based drugs and MT. Further, we analyzed extracts of neuroblastoma cell lines treated with cisplatin or carboplatin. It is clear that neuroblastoma UKF-NB-4 cisplatin-resistant and cisplatin-sensitive cell lines unlikely respond to the presence of the platinum-based cytostatics cisplatin and carboplatin. Finally, we determined the level of MT in samples from rabbits treated with carboplatin and patients with retinoblastoma treated with the same drug.     

MODDE分析软件用于桉木硫酸盐法蒸煮的研究

使用MODDE实验设计与分析软件对桉木硫酸盐法蒸煮的主要影响因素进行了研究,蒸煮条件为:有效碱用量17%～23%,硫化度25%～45%,最高温度150～160℃,保温时间45～135min。实验结果显示:有效碱用量、硫化度、温度和时间对成浆性质都有明显影响;蒸煮所得浆料的各项性能很难同时达到最佳。使用MODDE对实验结果进行优化,当目标卡伯值范围在15～25时,最适宜的蒸煮条件为:有效碱用量20%,硫化度45%,最高温度151℃,保温时间99min;MODDE显示该条件下所得浆料的卡伯值、细浆得率、白度和黏度分别为16、48.5%、46.4%和1498mL/g。