Reducing energy-related CO2 emissions using accelerated weathering of limestone

The use and impacts of accelerated weathering of limestone (AWL; reaction: CO₂+H₂O+CaCO₃→Ca²⁺+2(HCO₃⁻) is explored as a CO₂ capture and sequestration method. It is shown that significant limestone resources are relatively close to a majority of CO₂-emitting power plants along the coastal US, a favored siting location for AWL. Waste fines, representing more than 20% of current US crushed limestone production (>10⁹ tonnes/yr), could provide an inexpensive or free source of AWL carbonate. With limestone transportation then as the dominant cost variable, CO₂ mitigation costs of $3-$4/tonne appear to be possible in certain locations. Perhaps 10–20% of US point–source CO₂ emissions could be mitigated in this fashion. It is experimentally shown that CO₂ sequestration rates of 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁵ moles/sec per m² of limestone surface area are achievable, with reaction densities on the order of 10⁻² tonnes CO₂ m⁻³day⁻¹, highly dependent on limestone particle size, solution turbulence and flow, and CO₂ concentration. Modeling shows that AWL would allow carbon storage in the ocean with significantly reduced impacts to seawater pH relative to direct CO₂ disposal into the atmosphere or sea. The addition of AWL-derived alkalinity to the ocean may itself be beneficial for marine biota.     

Analysis of low load transients for the Vandellòs-II NPP: Application to operation and control support

The Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) has been jointly working with the Asociación Nuclear Ascó-Vandellòs (ANAV) for a number of years in order to establish, qualify and use best estimate (BE) models for the reactors under the control of ANAV. ANAV is the consortium that is responsible for operation of the Ascó and Vandellòs-II reactors. The reactors are Westinghouse-design three-loop PWRs with an approximate electrical power of 1000 MW. The existing integral plant models for each plant are currently used for many different purposes among which are support of plant operation and control. Quite a number of studies have been done in order to improve both safety and plant competitiveness. Most of these dynamic analyses were carried out in relation to transients starting at nominal full power or at least, very close to full power. This paper develops a specific use of the Vandellòs-II plant model for operation and control support at low power involving new ranges of system actuation parameters. It also examines scenarios that are somewhat different from those typically analysed. The study starts showing the results of an assessment case, which is a start-up test and provides some additional qualification, and subsequently attempts to establish calculations to support both an improvement in feed water controls and to set up operating recommendations for low-load manual operation of feed water turbo-pump. Both results hopefully, will produce an outcome, which leads to an improvement in safety and reduces reactor trip probability.     

基于面积流测量原理的一种新型流量测量装置

流量测量装置在自动化系统中应用非常广泛,在热力发电厂中流体的流量直接反映负荷高低、工作状况和运行效率。基于不同测量原理的装置其应用场合也不尽一样,在风量控制领域近几年也出现了十几种形式各异的产品,各种产品都有其自身的优缺点。分析了各种装置的原理及优缺点,重点介绍了一种新型的基于面积流测量原理的测量装置。     

FACTORS AFFECTING THE SOIL MICROBIAL QUALITY MEASUREMENTS OF BIOMASS QUOTIENT AND RESPIRATION QUOTIENT

The soil microbial biomass quotient (expressed as a percentage of the total soil organic carbon) and the specific rate of carbon-dioxide production by soil microbes (respiration quotient) are often used as indicators of stress on soil microbial populations. A low biomass quotient or a high respiration quotient is considered to be an indication of stress from, for example, toxicity from metals in sewage sludge applied to soils. These metabolic quotients are affected by a wide variety of other factors such as the biodegradability of soil organic-carbon amendments, plant inputs of organic carbon into soils, natural variations in microbial population sizes with depth, and in the rhizosphere of plants. These variations could be sufficiently large to make interpretation of changes in biomass quotient and respiration quotient, as a response to stress, problematical.     

先进的控制室报警系统研究

先进的报警系统是核电厂先进的控制室中重要的系统之一，阐述了核电厂先进的报警系统的重要性、功能和特点，并且比较详细地论述了报警信号的处理方法和显示方式。     

在役生产装置安全评价存在的职业卫生问题

分析了在役生产装置安全评价存在的职业卫生问题,提出了如何做好重点生产装置职业病预防工作的建议。     

制氧(全)系统停车的迅速恢复和预防

介绍了安阳钢铁公司制氧厂结合实际总结出的制氧 (全 )系统停车的迅速恢复的操作方案和预防停车的措施 ;分析了经济效益。现机组自启动到送氧只需 2 3个小时 ,比设计值减少约 2 5小时。     

水电厂设备故障诊断系统实时数据库的一种简捷实现

实时数据库及时准确地从现场获取数据并有效地组织和管理，是水电厂 设备故障诊断系统进行故障诊断的首要条件。文中在分析了现有的实时数据库实现方法后， 用C++ Builder 5.0和SQL Server 7.0完成了实时数 据库实现的一种简洁方法，它不但能够满足工程需要，而且具有关系数据库所具有的一切强 大的数据库管理和维护功能，实现也很简单，极大地节省了实时数据库开发的人力和物力。 实验表明，该方法是可行的。     

Analytical investigations of transitional operating modes of the second circuit of units at NPP with water-moderated reactors with consideration of control systems

A mathematical model for analysis of process parameters of equipment in the second circuit of nuclear power plants is presented, and the structure of the program and principles used for analysis of the equipment are described. A mathematical model for analysis of the deaerator and steam generator is described in detail. A computational analysis of several transitional modes, which is made possible on the basis of the mathematical model in question, is also presented in this paper, and a comparison is made with test data. __________ Translated from élektricheskie Stantsii, No. 3, March 2007, pp. 16–22.     

Neural networks modeling signal responses and taxol production of cultured Taxus chinensis cells induced by bio-elicitor

Quantitatively describing the signal transduction process is important for understanding the mechanism of signal regulation in cells, and thus, poses both a challenge and an opportunity for chemical and biochemical engineers. An artificial neural network (ANN), in which we took the signal molecules as neural nodes, was constructed to simulate the generation of active oxygen species (AOS) in Taxus chinensis cells induced by a bio-elicitor. The relative contents of AOS in cells predicted by the ANN model agreed well with the experimental data and three notable stages of AOS increase were observed from the 3D figure of AOS generation. The robustness of AOS trajectories indicated that signal regulation in vivo was an integral feedback control model that ensured the adaptation of Taxus chinensis to environmental stress. The artificial neural network was able to predict taxol production as well as determine the optimal concentration of oligosaccharides needed for it.