Heat exchanger fouling model and preventive maintenance scheduling tool

The crude preheat train (CPT) in a petroleum refinery consists of a set of large heat exchangers which recovers the waste heat from product streams to preheat the crude oil. In these exchangers the overall heat transfer coefficient reduces significantly during operation due to fouling. The rate of fouling is highly dependent on the properties of the crude blends being processed as well as the operating temperature and flow conditions. The objective of this paper is to develop a predictive model using statistical methods which can a priori predict the rate of the fouling and the decrease in heat transfer efficiency in a heat exchanger. A neural network based fouling model has been developed using historical plant operating data. Root mean square error (RMSE) of the predictions in tube- and shell-side outlet temperatures of 1.83% and 0.93%, respectively, with a correlation coefficient, R², of 0.98 and correct directional change (CDC) values of more than 92% show that the model is adequately accurate. A case study illustrates the methodology by which the predictive model can be used to develop a preventive maintenance scheduling tool.     

Challenges in spent nuclear fuel final disposal： conceptual design models

The disposal of spent nuclear fuel is a long-standing issue in nuclear technology. Mainly, UO2 and metallic U are used as a fuel in nuclear reactors. Spent nuclear fuel contains fission products and transuranium elements, which would remain radioactive for 104 to 108 years. In this brief communication, essential concepts and engineering elements related to high-level nuclear waste disposal are described. Conceptual design models are described and discussed considering the long-time scale activity of spent nuclear fuel or high level waste. Notions of physical and chemical barriers to contain nuclear waste are highlightened. Concerns regarding integrity, self-irradiation induced decomposition and thermal effects of decay heat on the spent nuclear fuel are also discussed. The question of retrievability of spent nuclear fuel after disposal is considered.     

Efficient Internet traffic delivery over wireless networks

The high demand for wireless Internet connectivity has driven the development of highly efficient radio link technologies. However, their performance can be compromised by inadvertent interactions with the higher-layer TCP flow control protocol. Maximizing the performance of wireless links requires that mechanisms operating at every layer of the protocol stack interact efficiently. This article provides a brief tutorial of some of these radio link enhancements. It then outlines how higher-layer flow control protocols should behave, and provides techniques for taming the behavior of TCP, to ensure that the performance of lower-layer enhancements is not compromised.     

MP84 expression in the urine specimens of acute rejection renal transplant recipients

MP84 is a novel protein synthesized in response to all cytokines. This antigen is expressed only in stimulated mesangial cells and decreased kidney sections, but not in the normal kidney sections (1,2). This study was performed to determine the excretion of MP84 in the urine of renal transplant recipients with acute rejection. Six persons with renal transplant acute rejection and 10 healthy persons were included. Two urine specimens from each person were collected. Dot-blot assay was performed. It was shown that 12 urine specimens from 6 persons with acute rejection revealed MP84 in the matrix dot-blot assay while there was no staining for MP84 in the urine specimens of healthy persons. This could be due to the immunological alteration during the acute rejection which could lead to autocrine and paracrine secretion of growth factors and then the excretion of MP84 in the urine. The mechanism of MP84 secretion is not clear.     

Improvement of transient stability by sequentially switched autoreclosing circuit breaker

Autoreclosing circuit breakers are frequently used to improve the transient stability limit of a power system. But the system may fail to maintain stability even after a successful reclosure for high values of prefault power transfer.A sequential switching scheme employing three fast-acting isolators in addition to the autoreclosing circuit breaker is suggested. It improves the transient stability limit of the transmission system considerably. A simple mathematical analysis reveals the extent of stability improvement. Complete constraint clauses have been formulated for the switching scheme and a block diagram of the logic circuit is presented. The proposed scheme finds its immediate application in a single circuit tie-line between two systems.     

MRAS-based sensorless control of a vector controlled five-phase induction motor drive

Multi-phase ac motor drives are nowadays considered for various applications, due to numerous advantages that they offer when compared to their three-phase counterparts. In principle, control methods for multi-phase machines are the same as for three-phase machines. Variable speed induction motor drives without mechanical speed sensors at the motor shaft have the attractions of low cost and high reliability. To replace the sensor, information of the rotor speed is extracted from measured stator currents and voltages at motor terminals. Vector controlled drives require estimating the magnitude and spatial orientation of the fundamental magnetic flux waves in the stator or in the rotor. Open-loop estimators and closed-loop observers are used for this purpose. They differ with respect to accuracy, robustness, and sensitivity against model parameter variations. This paper analyses operation of an open-loop and model reference adaptive system (MRAS)-based sensorless control of vector controlled five-phase induction machine with current control in the stationary reference frame. The MRAS-based sensorless operation of a three-phase induction machine is well established and the same principle is extended in this paper for an IRFOC five-phase induction machine. Performance, obtainable with hysteresis current control, is illustrated for a number of operating conditions on the basis of simulation results. Full decoupling of rotor flux control and torque control is realised. Dynamics, achievable with a five-phase vector controlled induction machine, are shown to be essentially identical to those obtainable with a three-phase induction machine. Experimental verification is also provided.     

Investigation of charge transport mechanism in semiconducting La<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite prepared by sol–gel method

Here in, we report the charge transport mechanism in semiconducting La_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_0.5Fe_0.5O₃ (LCMFO) polycrystalline material synthesized via sol–gel auto combustion route. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the orthorhombic phase of the prepared material. Temperature dependent resistivity and impedance spectroscopy measurements have been carried out to probe the dielectric and electrical conduction mechanism which revealed a change of Mott variable range to the small polaronic hopping conduction mechanism around 303 K. The complex impedance and modulus spectra undoubtedly showed the contribution of both grain and grain boundary effect on the conduction properties of LCMFO. An equivalent circuit [(R_gbQ_gb) (R_gQ_g)] model has been used to address the electrical parameters associated with the different phases (grains and grain boundaries) having different relaxation times. The values of resistances of two phases obtained after fitting the equivalent circuit in the nyquist plot have been analyzed which confirmed the change of conduction mechanism around 303 K. The resultant change in conduction mechanism is also supported by the conductivity plots.     

Exhaust emission profiling of fatty acid methyl esters and NOx control studies using selective synthetic and natural additives

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - The present study was focused on the optimized biodiesel production using Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) and rice bran oils, characterization, and...