Management of the sulfur content in the gasoline transport logistics chain in a multi-product pipeline

Abstract

The authors’ objective is to manage sulfur content in gasoline over a multi-product pipeline using data derived from a correlation study. Sulfur content is analyzed by ultraviolet fluorescence or monochromatic wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in three different sampling points by three laboratories. At the same time, this study evaluates the homogeneity between laboratories/methods and if the analytical results of data vary in different sampling points of the pipeline. By means of two-way analysis of variance with interaction, the results show that there are variations along the multi-product pipeline besides differences between methods and laboratories.     

SAR interferometry for detecting the effects of earthquakes on buildings

In this paper, the authors describe an innovative application of radar interferometric techniques aimed at monitoring the structural changes induced by earthquakes on buildings. The application is based on the use of a ground-based instrumentation, able to operate as interferometric synthetic aperture radar. The working principle is demonstrated by performing radar measurements on a physical model of building, scaled down by one half, that underwent a series of severe earthquakes reproduced through a three-axial shaking table.     

Analysis of Energy Saving Achievable through Solar Photovoltaic Systems on School Roofs： A Case of the City of Rome

Embracing renewable energy technology makes a lot of sense for the public sectors and schools as it meets the government sustainability goals and provides a financially viable means of achieving carbon savings while offering income potential. This study is aimed to quantify the achievable energy saving by spread use ofphotovoltaic systems on public building stock in the city of Rome. The installation of PV （photovoltaic） systems in the historic center depends on the feasibility conditions, generally more complex compared to the cases examined in the consolidated city, because they require compliance with the formal and aesthetic characteristics of the buildings, so the choice must be made between compatible components, which allow to minimize the transformation. The suburbs are characterized by large plane roofs in bad conditions and belonging to isolated buildings, so the useful surface, according to shading condition, offers a big potential for renewable technologies. The research provides an evaluation of maximum production of solar energy and the subsequent energy saving and reduction of greenhouse gasses, using parametric data, and an evaluation of the cost-effectiveness, with a rough calculation of return on investment.     

3D finite-element determination of stray losses in power transformer

This paper presents a three-dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) analysis of eddy current losses generated in the tank walls and yoke clamps of a three-phase 40 MV A power transformer. The time harmonic FE model is used to compute the magnetic leakage field in the case of a short circuit condition of the power transformer. Three cases are analyzed to study the impact of modeling tank walls and yoke clamp plates in FE context in estimation of their losses. The load loss test was carried out on an experimental transformer to validate the simulation.     

四川盆地川中古隆起震旦系—下古生界天然气勘探新认识及勘探潜力

四川盆地川中古隆起安岳气田被发现后,在与其具有相似沉积背景的现今古隆起北斜坡震旦系—下古生界寻求天然气勘探发现便成为努力的目标。随着风险探井PT1井于川中古隆起北斜坡(以下简称北斜坡)上震旦统灯影组二段获得天然气勘探突破,以及JT1井在灯四段和下寒武统沧浪铺组发现天然气勘探新苗头,证实了北斜坡同样具备形成规模大气区的优越条件。为了进一步明确川中古隆起震旦系—下古生界天然气勘探潜力并指导后续勘探部署,对北斜坡震旦系—下古生界含油气地质条件进行了分析。研究结果表明:①北斜坡震旦系灯二段、灯四段两期台缘带在平面上基本分离,并且无论是台缘宽度还是沉积厚度均优于高磨地区,具备天然的沉积优势;②北斜坡震旦系灯影组储层储集条件较高磨地区更优,并且震旦系—寒武系纵向上发育多套优质储层;③北斜坡震旦系灯影组天然气成藏要素配置关系较好,岩性圈闭发育且累计面积较大,JT1井、PT1井已分别证实灯四段、灯二段岩性圈闭内含气,发育斜坡背景下的大型岩性圈闭气藏。结论认为,北斜坡震旦系—下古生界含油气地质条件比高磨地区更佳,并且具备纵向上多层系立体勘探的优势,展现出巨大的天然气勘探潜力和广阔的勘探前景,是该盆地常规...     

四川盆地寒武系沧浪铺组油气勘探重大发现及其启示

近期，中国石油西南油气田公司风险探井——JT1井在四川盆地中部磨溪地区北斜坡下寒武统沧浪铺组测试获得51.62×104 m3/d 的高产气流，实现了继下寒武统龙王庙组气藏之后寒武系又一层系的天然气勘探重大突破。为了加深对于该层系的认识，基于区域地质背景和气藏勘探历程，结合该盆地沧浪铺组的油气地质条件，对其天然气成藏条件进行了综合分析。研究结果表明：①早寒武世沧浪铺期四川盆地及周缘总体处于浅水陆棚沉积体系，沧浪铺早期德阳—安岳裂陷还未填平，受古地貌和物源控制，裂陷东部以清水陆棚碳酸盐岩沉积为主，云化颗粒滩相发育；②受滩相叠加溶蚀作用的影响，沧浪铺组一段发育白云岩孔隙型储层，岩性主要为残余鲕粒云岩、砂屑云岩和粉晶云岩、灰质云岩、云质鲕粒灰岩，储集空间类型主要有粒间溶孔、晶间溶孔、晶间孔，平均孔隙度为4.1%；③地震刻画川中—川北地区沧浪铺组一段发育多个大型滩体，横向上受滩间致密岩性遮挡、纵向上受沧浪铺组二段泥质岩的封盖，在现今单斜背景下具备形成构造—岩性复合圈闭的条件，刻画有利勘探面积逾3 200 km2；④沧浪铺组一段滩相储层直接覆盖于下寒武统筇竹寺组优质烃源岩之上，形成下生上储源储组合，蓬莱—射洪—阆中一带靠近德阳—安岳裂陷区寒武系生烃中心，天然气成藏条件优越。结论认为，JT1 井沧浪铺组油气勘探首次战略突破，证明了四川盆地寒武系具有较大的油气勘探潜力，对于推进该盆地奥陶系以及寒武系高台组、洗象池组等新领域、新层系的油气勘探工作具有指导意义。     

Vitamin D Deficiency Induces Chronic Pain and Microglial Phenotypic Changes in Mice

The bioactive form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D3), exerts immunomodulatory actions resulting in neuroprotective effects potentially useful against neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. In fact, vitamin D deficiency status has been correlated with painful manifestations associated with different pathological conditions. In this study, we have investigated the effects of vitamin D deficiency on microglia cells, as they represent the main immune cells responsible for early defense at central nervous system (CNS), including chronic pain states. For this purpose, we have employed a model of low vitamin D intake during gestation to evaluate possible changes in primary microglia cells obtained from postnatal day(P)2-3 pups. Afterwards, pain measurement and microglia morphological analysis in the spinal cord level and in brain regions involved in the integration of pain perception were performed in the parents subjected to vitamin D restriction. In cultured microglia, we detected a reactive—activated and proliferative—phenotype associated with intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Oxidative stress was closely correlated with the extent of DNA damage and increased β-galactosidase (B-gal) activity. Interestingly, the incubation with 25D3 or 1,25D3 or palmitoylethanolamide, an endogenous ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated-receptor-alpha (PPAR-α), reduced most of these effects. Morphological analysis of ex-vivo microglia obtained from vitamin-D-deficient adult mice revealed an increased number of activated microglia in the spinal cord, while in the brain microglia appeared in a dystrophic phenotype. Remarkably, activated (spinal) or dystrophic (brain) microglia were detected in a prominent manner in females. Our data indicate that vitamin D deficiency produces profound modifications in microglia, suggesting a possible role of these cells in the sensorial dysfunctions associated with hypovitaminosis D.     

Parametric Study of the Errors Obtained from the Measurement of the Oscillating Movement of a Bridge Using Image Processing

The movement of a pedestrian bridge retrieved by means of image processing technique has been analysed in this paper. An optical target has been attached to the deck and its oscillation has been tracked with fast cameras. The movement of the bridge has also been measured with a radar interferometer and this result has been taken as the reference signal. Using these data, a parametric study of the errors introduced by the image-based methods has been performed. The influence of some variables in the measurement error such as the distance to the target, the image size, the type of camera or the movement amplitude has been analysed for four different distances, and two types of excitations. Results show that the relative error decreases with the amplitude and the target diameter and it increases with the target distance. Additionally, the maximum relative error obtained in most of the analysed cases is below 10 %.