Modeling-based optimization of a fixed-bed industrial reactor for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

An industrial scale propylene production via oxidative dehydrogenation of propane(ODHP)in multi-tubular reactors was modeled.Multi-tubular fixed-bed reactor used for ODHP process,employing 10000 of small diameter tubes immersed in a shell through a proper coolant flows.Herein,a theory-based pseudo-homogeneous model to describe the operation of a fixed bed reactor for the ODHP to correspondence ole fin over V_2O_5/γ-Al_2O_3catalyst was presented.Steady state one dimensional model has been developed to identify the operation parameters and to describe the propane and oxygen conversions,gas process and coolant temperatures,as well as other parameters affecting the reactor performance such as pressure.Furthermore,the applied model showed that a double-bed multitubular reactor with intermediate air injection scheme was superior to a single-bed design due to the increasing of propylene selectivity while operating under lower oxygen partial pressures resulting in propane conversion of about 37.3%.The optimized length of the reactor needed to reach 100%conversion of the oxygen was theoretically determined.For the single-bed reactor the optimized length of 11.96 m including 0.5m of inert section at the entrance region and for the double-bed reactor design the optimized lengths of 5.72m for the first and 7.32 m for the second reactor were calculated.Ultimately,the use of a distributed oxygen feed with limited number of injection points indicated a signi ficant improvement on the reactor performance in terms of propane conversion and propylene selectivity.Besides,this concept could overcome the reactor runaway temperature problem and enabled operations at the wider range of conditions to obtain enhanced propylene production in an industrial scale reactor.     

“Split-phase” Glycolysis of Flexible PUF Wastes and Application of Recovered Phases in Rigid and Flexible Foams Production

The uses of polyurethane foams have been increased too much as new abilities are known for these polymers. This increments lead to an ecological problem. They have low density, occupying large spaces and not easy degradable. This causes environmental pollution that is a disadvantage of artificial materials. In this study, waste flexible polyurethane foams based on MDI with a trans-esterification process were converted to new material containing OH functional groups in “split-phase glycolysis” (SPG) condition. In this process, products are separated in two phases that could be reused in the production process of new PUFs. This process is one of the best solutions for ecological problem and applicable for every PU structure polymer with its proper variations. This process has the capability to produce flexible and rigid polyols which can be used to make PU foams with high recyclate content. The similarity of upper and lower phases to the virgin one has been characterized, using FTIR, GPC, and other instrumental methods. Both phases of recyclate were introduced in new PUF formulation, comparing the results with original foam.     

Numerical simulation of tire/soil interaction using a verified 3D finite element model简

The compaction and stress generation on terrain were always investigated based on empirical approaches or testing methods for tire/soil interaction.However,the analysis should be performed for various tires and at different soil strengths.With the increasing capacity of numerical computers and simulation software,finite element modeling of tire/terrain interaction seems a good approach for predicting the effect of change on the parameters.In this work,an elaborated 3D model fully complianning with the geometry of radial tire 115/60R13 was established,using commercial code Solidwork Simulation.The hyper-elastic and incompressible rubber as tire main material was analyzed by Moony-Rivlin model.The Drucker-Prager yield criterion was used to model the soil compaction.Results show that the model realistically predicts the laboratory tests outputs of the modeled tire on the soft soil.     

Modelling-based Optimisation of the Direct Synthesis of Dimethyl Ether from Syngas in a Commercial Slurry Reactor

In the present study, we developed a multi-component one-dimensional mathematical model for simulation and optimisation of a commercial catalytic slurry reactor for the direct synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) from syngas and CO₂, operating in a churn-turbulent regime. DME productivity and CO conversion were optimised by tuning operating conditions, such as superficial gas velocity, catalyst concentration, catalyst mass over molar gas flow rate (W/F), syngas composition, pressure and temperature. Reactor modelling was accomplished utilising mass balance, global kinetic models and heterogeneous hydrodynamics. In the heterogeneous flow regime, gas was distributed into two bubble phases: small and large. Simulation results were validated using data obtained from a pilot plant. The developed model is also applicable for the design of large-scale slurry reactors.     

Detection of Mycosphaerella graminicola in Wheat Leaves by a Microsatellite Dinucleotide Specific-Primer

Early detection of infection is very important for efficient management of Mycosphaerella graminicola leaf blotch. To monitor and quantify the occurrence of this fungus during the growing season, a diagnostic method based on real-time PCR was developed. Standard and real-time PCR assays were developed using SYBR Green chemistry to quantify M. graminicola in vitro or in wheat samples. Microsatellite dinucleotide specific-primers were designed based on microsatellite repeats of sequences present in the genome of M. graminicola. Specificity was checked by analyzing DNA of 55 M. graminicola isolates obtained from different geographical origins. The method appears to be highly specific for detecting M. graminicola; no fluorescent signals were observed from 14 other closely related taxa. Primer (CT) 7 G amplified a specific amplicon of 570 bp from all M. graminicola isolates. The primers did not amplify DNA extracted from 14 other fungal species. The approximate melting temperature (Tm) of the (CT) 7 G primer was 84.2 °C. The detection limit of the real-time PCR assay with the primer sets (CT) 7 G is 10 fg/25 μL, as compared to 10 pg/25 μL using conventional PCR technology. From symptomless leaves, a PCR fragment could be generated two days after inoculation. Both conventional and real-time PCR could successfully detect the fungus from artificially inoculated wheat leaves. However, real-time PCR appeared much more sensitive than conventional PCR. The developed quantitative real-time PCR method proved to be rapid, sensitive, specific, cost-effective and reliable for the identification and quantification of M. graminicola in wheat.     

Image processing of non-thermal glow discharge plasma during gas ionization process as a novel hydrogen detection system at parts per billion levels

A new hydrogen (H₂) detection system is introduced based on the image processing of non-thermal glow-discharge plasma of the ionization of H₂ at parts per billion (ppb) levels based on gas ionization process under vacuum condition (∼8 torr). The system setup consists of a charge coupled device camera as detector. For this purpose, the blue component of the photographic image related to ionization-generated plasma is analyzed during applying a 853-V direct current potential to a two-electrode system including Al disk as cathode (diameter: 2.4 ± 0.1 mm) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes-modified disk (diameter: 6.5 ± 0.1 mm) as cathode with 700 ± 10 μm inter-electrode distance. Figures of merits of the fabricated sensor reveal two linear dynamic ranges between 5–36 and 36–180 ppb. Relative standard deviation of at most five replicate analyses during introduction of 90 ppb of H₂ standard solution (in air as solvent) is found as 2.29%. Also, the detection limit was evaluated to ∼2.25 ppb. Except acetylene, no significant interfering effect is observed when introducing at least 1000 folds excess (mass/mass) of different foreign species. Reliability of the sensor is also evaluated via determination of H₂ in different industrial gas samples.     

FRP增强钢筋混凝土梁损伤的振动监测

采用试验数据,识别钢筋混凝土梁模态。对9个混凝土梁的破坏过程和动态参数进行监测,当荷载到达预期破坏荷载一半时,对6个梁采用外贴碳纤维布进行加固。基于所测模态参数,对识别方法进行研究并对识别方法的效率进行分析。这些方法包括频率变化、模态确证准则(MAC)、坐标模态确证准则(COMAC)和模态曲率。通过比较这些方法可知,频率变化不能完全监测损伤以及预测加固的潜力;模态确证准则的值能够揭示荷载变化过程中梁的刚度变化;对梁每个自由度的刚度变化可采用坐标模态确证准则进行评估;模态曲率方法是对梁进行损伤识别的最好方法。     

Experimental investigation of R-ratio effects on fatigue crack growth of adhesively-bonded pultruded GFRP DCB joints under CA loading

A series of fatigue experiments was performed in order to investigate the effect of the R-ratio on the fatigue/fracture behavior of adhesively-bonded pultruded GFRP double cantilever beam joints. Constant amplitude fatigue experiments were carried out under displacement control with a frequency of 5 Hz in ambient laboratory conditions. Three different R-ratios were applied: R = 0.1, R = 0.5 and R = 0.8. The crack length was determined by means of crack gages and a dynamic compliance method. The dominant failure mode was a fiber-tear failure that occurred in the mat layers of the pultruded laminates. The depth of the crack location significantly affected the energy dissipated for the fracture under cyclic loading. Short-fiber and roving bridging increased the fracture resistance during crack propagation. Fatigue crack growth curves were derived for each R-ratio and each observed crack path location. The fatigue threshold and slope of the fatigue crack growth curve significantly increased with increased R-ratio.