A study of the effects of the location of flashing inception on maximum and minimum critical two-phase flow rates:: Part II: analysis and modelling

A general unified model is developed to predict one-component critical two-phase pipe flow. An extension of the Henry [Henry, R.E., 1970. The Two-Phase Critical Discharge of Initially Saturated or Subcooled Liquid. Nucl. Sci. Eng. 41, 336-342.] and Henry and Fauske [Henry, R.E., Fauske, H.K., 1970. The two-Phase critical Flow of One-Component Mixtures in Nozzles; Orifices and Short Tubes, ASME J. Heat Transfer, May 1970.] models to incorporate the effects of wall friction and the location of flashing inception is proposed. Modelling of the two-phase flow is accomplished by describing the evolution of the flow between the location of flashing inception and the exit (critical) plane. The model approximates the nonequilibrium phase change process via thermodynamic equilibrium paths. Included are the relative effects of varying the location of flashing inception, pipe geometry, fluid properties and length to diameter ratio. The model predicts that a range of critical mass fluxes exist and is bound by a maximum and minimum value for a given thermodynamic state. This range is more pronounced at lower subcooled stagnation states and can be attributed to the variation in the location of flashing inception. The model is based on the experimental study of critical two-phase flow rates of saturated and subcooled water through long tubes given in Part I of this work. In that study, the location of flashing inception was accurately controlled and adjusted through the use of a new device. The data obtained revealed that for fixed stagnation conditions, the maximum critical mass fluxes occurred with flashing inception located near the pipe exit; while minimum critical mass fluxes occurred with the flashing front located further upstream. The results of the present study, as well as available data since 1970 are compared with the model predictions. These data cover a wide range of conditions and include test section L/D ratios from 25 to 302 and a temperature and pressure range of 110-280°C and 0.16-6.9 Mpa, respectively. The predicted maximum and minimum critical mass fluxes show an excellent agreement with the range observed in the experimental data.     

Safe and effective navigation of autonomous robots in hazardous environments

The development of autonomous mobile machines to perform useful tasks in real work environments is currently being impeded by concerns over effectiveness, commercial viability and, above all, safety. This paper introduces a case study of a robotic excavator to explore a series of issues around system development, navigation in unstructured environments, autonomous decision making and changing the behaviour of autonomous machines to suit the prevailing demands of users. The adoption of the Real-Time Control Systems (RCS) architecture (Albus, 1991) is proposed as a universal framework for the development of intelligent systems. In addition it is explained how the use of Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes (POMDP) (Kaelbling et al., 1998) can form the basis of decision making in the face of uncertainty and how the technique can be effectively incorporated into the RCS architecture. Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring that the resulting behaviour is both task effective and adequately safe, and it is recognised that these two objectives may be in opposition and that the desired relative balance between them may change. The concept of an autonomous system having “values” is introduced through the use of utility theory. Limited simulation results of experiments are reported which demonstrate that these techniques can create intelligent systems capable of modifying their behaviour to exhibit either ‘safety conscious’ or ‘task achieving’ personalities.     

Risk Assessment in Construction

This study is concerned with the assessment of risk for major construction activities. Risk has been defined as a measure of the probability, the severity, and the exposure of all hazards of an activity. A risk assessor model (RAM) was developed and computerized to determine the risk associated with a particular activity and the justification factor for a proposed remedy. Knowing the value of risk would help contractors identify the high risk of major construction activities and would enable them to allocate safety precautions in a more efficient manner.     

核电厂应急计划中若干问题和概念的讨论

本文讨论了我国核电厂应急计划和应急准备中新所关心的若干问题，阐述了应急计划中一些基本概念；弄清这些问题和概念，对推动和恰当地进行应急准备可能是重要的。     

Encapsulation of PV modules using ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer as a pottant: A critical review

The primary purpose of this work is to review the literature about what is and is not known about using ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA0 copolymer as the encapsulant (or pottant) material in photovoltaic (PV) modules. Secondary purposes include elucidating the complexity of the encapsulation problem, providing an overview about encapsulation of PV cells and modules, providing a historical overview of the relevant research and development on EVA, summarizing performance losses reported for PV systems deployed since ca. 1981, and summarizing the general problems of polymer stability in a solar environment. We also provide a critical review of aspects of reported work for cases that we believe are important.Failure modes resolved in the early work to establish reliability of deployed modules and the purposes and properties of pottants, are summarized. Typical performance losses in large field-deployed, large-scale systems ranging from 1% to 10% per year are given quantitatively, and qualitative reports of EVA discoloration are summarized with respect to ultraviolet (UV), world-wide location and site dependence.The general stability of polymers and their desirable bulk properties for solar utilization are given. The stabilization formulation for EVA, its effectiveness, and changes in it during degradation are discussed. The degradation mechanisms for the base resin, e.g., unstabilized Elvax 150^TM, and stabilized EVA are indicated for literature dating to the early 1950s, and the role played by unsaturated chromophores is indicated. The limited number of studies relating discoloration and PV cell efficiency are summarized.Observed degradation of EVA or the unstabilized base resin in the laboratory and examples used to measure the degradation are summarized in sections entitled: (1) thermally-induced degradation; (2) photodegradation and photothermal degradation of EVA in different temperature regimes; (3) photobleaching and photodegradation of the UV absorber and cross-linking agent; (4) acetic acid and metal and metal-oxide catalyzed oxidative degradation; and (5) discolaration and PV cell efficiency losses.Processing effects/influences on EVA stability are discussed in sections entitled: (1) EVA raw materials and extruded, uncured films; (2) thermal encapsulation processes; (3) effects of lamination, curing, and curing peroxide on gel content and chromophores formed; and (4) incomplete shielding of curing-generated chromophores. A summary is given for the limited number of accelerated lifetime testing efforts and examples of erroneous service lifetime predictions for EVA are discussed. The known factors that effect the discoloration rate of several EVA formulations are discussed in which the reduction in rate by using UV-absorbing superstrates is a prime example. A summary is given of what is and is not known about EVA degradation mechanisms, degradation from exposures in field-deployed modeules and/or laboratory testing, and factors that contribute to EVA stability or degradation. Finally, conclusions about using Elvax 150 in EVA formulations are summarized, and future prospects for developing the next-generation pottant for encapsulating PV modules are discussed.     

浅谈ispLSI及其应用

本文以ｉｓｐＬＩＳＩ１０００系列为例，对ｉｓｐ技术及ｉｓｐＬＳＩ器件进行了较为详细的介绍，并结合具体设计实例，介绍ｉｓｐＬＳ开发工具的使用。     

Safety,liveness and fairness in temporal logic

In this paper we present syntactic characterization of temporal formulas that express various properties of interest in the verification of concurrent programs. Such a characterization helps us in choosing the right techniques for proving correctness with respect to these properties. The properties that we consider include safety properties, liveness properties and fairness properties. We also present algorithms for checking if a given temporal formula expresses any of these properties.This work is partly supported by NSF grant CCR-9212183. A preliminary version of this paper appeared in the Fourth ACM Symposium on Principles of Distributed Computing.     

Formal methods: The next generation of system design tools

Because of the growing demand for increasingly complex computer-based systems there is now an urgent need to provide tools to assist during the design of such systems. Formal specifications and formal methods provide such assistance but their widespread adoption has been hindered by the so-called ‘math fear’ and the perception that the tools are too difficult, too time consuming and too costly to use in a commercial environment. The aim of this article is to dispel the mystery surrounding the topic and to explain what formal methods are, how and why they are used, the benefits that accrue and why the technology should be accepted on a broader front. The application of formal methods to the design of computer-based systems will be discussed without resorting to jargon or mathematics. The discussion will concentrate more on the software content of systems but the arguments apply equally well to hardware. Some of the available tools will also be introduced.     

中国先进研究堆堵流事故分析

堵流事故是板状燃料研究堆发生概率相对较高的一种事故。本文进行CARR堵流事故分析时,假定额定功率运行下,1盒燃料组件的入口全部堵塞。用Relap5\Scdapsim\Mod3．2程序分析堵流事故时反应性、堆功率、压力、流量和温度等的变化,并分析发生堵流的标准燃料组件对周边燃料组件的影响。结果表明,发生堵流的燃料组件将烧毁,但不向相邻的组件扩展。CARR设计采取的安全措施可以把堵流事故后果控制在可接受范围之内。     

核电厂运行安全指标

本文着重介绍了 IAEA 所制定的核电厂运行安全指标,同时也介绍了美国所制定的类似指标。这些指标为定量地评估和比较各国核电厂运行安全提供了可靠的依据。