Methane/natural gas storage and delivered capacity for activated carbons in dry and wet conditions

Methane/natural gas storage and delivered capacity for three different activated carbons in dry and wet conditions were measured. In all tests the temperature of the bed was maintained constant at 277.15 K and pressure was increased up to 10 MPa. Natural gas storage capacity was less than methane storage capacity in dry conditions for all the three activated carbons tested, while the gas delivery was almost the same. One of activated carbon tested (NC120) showed the possibility of hydrate forming for pressures higher than 4 MPa but the amount of gas stored still was less than the amount stored in dry conditions over the whole range of pressure. The analysis of the gas delivered at each pressure steps shows that considerable amount of heavy components do not come out from the bed even at very low pressures in both dry and wet condition tests. Repeatability of the sorption/desorption processes - vital for possible commercial/industrial use - has been examined over various cycles.     

Synthesis,characterization, and study of thermal properties of methyl-substituted arylene sulfone ether polyimides,polyamides, and poly(amide–imides)

A number of methyl-substituted bis[(phenyleneoxy) sulfone] dianilines were synthesized and reacted with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA), terephthaloyl chloride (TPC), isophthaloyl chloride (IPC), and trimellitic anhydride acid chloride (TMAC) to prepare a series of polyimides, polyamides, and poly(amide–imides), respectively. Low temperature solution and interfacial polymerization techniques were utilized to prepare the above polymers. Most of the polymers prepared formed tough, transparent flexible films. The prepared polymers were characterized by solution viscosity, thermal gravimetric analysis (dynamic and isothermal), and differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of the number and the ring substitution of methyl groups on polymer properties is discussed.     

Carnosinemia. First French case

Serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, total serum cholesterol and triglycerides were determined in twenty men before, immediately after, and 1, 2 and 4 days after a 70 km cross-country ski race. HDL cholesterol increased by 12% of the pre-race level immediately after the race, rose further to 17% above the initial level on the following day, and was still elevated 4 days after the race. LDL + VLDL cholesterol, however, showed a tendency to decrease immediately after the race and was reduced by 17% and 11% of the pre-race level on the following 2 days. Triglycerides were reduced by 30% of the initial level immediately after the race, were still low on the following day, but were restored to normal 2 days after the race. It is concluded that a single exposure to prolonged heavy exercise induces changes in the HDL metabolism, showing that the physical exercise per se plays an important role for the increased HDL level seen in well-trained athletes.     

Development of a New Alpha Function for the Peng–Robinson Equation of State: Comparative Study of Alpha Function Models for Pure Gases (Natural Gas Components) and Water-Gas Systems

Numerous modifications have been suggested for the temperature dependence of the attractive term of the Peng–Robinson equation of state (PR-EOS), through the alpha function. In this work, a new alpha function combining both exponential and polynomial forms is proposed. Pure-compound vapor pressures for different molecular species were fitted and compared using different alpha functions including the Mathias–Copeman and Trebble–Bishnoi alpha functions. The new alpha function allows significant improvements of pure compound vapor pressure predictions (about 1.2% absolute average percent deviations) for all the systems considered, starting from a reduced temperature of 0.4. In addition, a generalization of the classical Mathias–Copeman alpha function was proposed as a function of the acentric factor. These alpha functions were used for VLE calculations on water+various gases including gaseous hydrocarbons. A general procedure is presented to fit experimental VLE data. The corresponding thermodynamic approach is based on the Peng–Robinson equation of state with the above cited alpha functions. It includes the classical mixing rules for the vapor phase and a Henry's law approach to treat the aqueous phase.     

Separation and capture of carbon dioxide from CO2/H2 syngas mixture using semi-clathrate hydrates

The relation between anthropogenic emissions of CO₂ and its increased levels in the atmosphere with global warming and climate change has been well established and accepted. Major portion of carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere, originates from combustion of fossil fuels. Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) offers a promising fossil fuel technology considered as a clean coal-based process for power generation particularly if accompanied by precombustion capture. The latter includes separation of carbon dioxide from a synthesis gas mixture containing 40 mol% CO₂ and 60 mol% H₂.A novel approach for capturing CO₂ from the above gas mixture is to use gas hydrate formation. This process is based on selective partition of CO₂ between hydrate phase and gas phase and has already been studied with promising results. However high-pressure requirement for hydrate formation is a major problem.We have used semiclathrate formation from tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) to experimentally investigate CO₂ capture from a mixture containing 40.2 mol% of CO₂ and 59.8 mol% of H₂. The results shows that in one stage of gas hydrate formation and dissociation, CO₂ can be enriched from 40 mol% to 86 mol% while the concentration of CO₂ in equilibrium gas phase is reduced to 18%. While separation efficiency of processes based on hydrates and semi-clathrates are comparable, the presence of TBAB improves the operating conditions significantly. Furthermore, CO₂ concentration could be increased to 96 mol% by separating CO₂ in two stages.     

Some comments on post extrusion swelling phenomena: Die entrance or die passage

The mechanistic origins of the post extrusion swelling phenomenon have been the subject of considerable debate. Conflicting theories have postulated that it is caused either by (1) deformations at the die entrance which are recovered upon die exit as a consequence of viscoelastic memory or (2) elastic enorgy, which is stored during capillary flow by the action of normal stress, and subsequently released upon die exit or by both (1) and (2). We have described these situations by mathematical models and show that the resulting equations are similar despite different origins. The difficulties in interpreting the results mechanistically are discussed. Empirically, the results can be described as being exponential in capillary residence irrespective of cause.     

The detection of structure in amorphous polymers by electron microscopy: Particle flow

During the last several years there has been considerable interest in the occurrence of structure in certain bulk polymers normally thought to be structurally homogeneous. Specifically, it has been proposed that polymers produced by emulsion polymerization may retain a particle structure in the bulk state. This has been demonstrated by both rheological measurements and by electron microscopy. In this work we show conclusively that at least part of the particle structure observed by electron microscopy for polystyrene is an intrinsic feature of the fracture surface and is in no way related to the history of the sample.     

Semi-stiff chain aromatic polyamides: New candidates for thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers

A spectrum of newly synthesized polyamides have been characterized with the intent of elucidating crystalline and possible liquid crystalline behavior. The different polymers contained various rotatable linkages in the main chain as well as substituent methyl groups in some cases. These were deemed as important variables for controlling the propensity to form ordered morphologies in these polymers. Methods of characterization included: X-ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and optical birefringence.     

Giant Barocaloric Effect at the Spin Crossover Transition of a Molecular Crystal

The first experimental evidence for a giant, conventional barocaloric effect (BCE) associated with a pressure‐driven spin crossover transition near room temperature is provided. Magnetometry, neutron scattering, and calorimetry are used to explore the pressure dependence of the SCO phase transition in polycrystalline samples of protonated and partially deuterated [FeL₂][BF₄]₂ [L = 2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine] at applied pressures of up to 120 MPa (1200 bar). The data indicate that, for a pressure change of only 0–300 bar (0–30 MPa), an adiabatic temperature change of 3 K is observed at 262 K or 257 K in the protonated and deuterated materials, respectively. This BCE is equivalent to the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) observed in gadolinium in a magnetic field change of 0–1 Tesla. The work confirms recent predictions that giant, conventional BCEs will be found in a wide range of SCO compounds.     

Bimodal model for predicting the emulsion-hydrate mixture viscosity in high water cut systems

For many production operations, particularly deepwater fields, those requiring long tiebacks, water flooded and mature reservoirs (where water cuts can be very high), the traditional techniques to prevent hydrate problem may not be economical and/or logistically practical. Thus the industry needs improved techniques to tackle flow assurance problems for such challenging conditions.Preventing hydrate agglomeration and transportation of hydrate slurry could be a new solution. The rheological behaviour of hydrate slurry has mainly been investigated in low water cut systems where water is the limiting factor. In high water cut systems, hydrate former components are the limiting factor and therefore the rheological behaviour of hydrate slurry has to be study in water–oil emulsion and this has a significant role on the viscosity of the system.In this communication, a model to predict the viscosity of water–oil emulsion in the presence of hydrate particles in high water cut systems using the concept for a bimodal mixture is proposed. In the model, water–oil emulsion and hydrate particles in the liquid continuous phase are treated separately as unimodal models. In addition, a modification has been applied to the Mills (1985) model to calculate the viscosity of unimodal hydrate suspensions. The model has been validated using experimental data for high water cut systems (above 50%) in the presence of different anti-agglomerant (AA) concentrations. The predictions of the proposed model are in good agreement with experimental data for both oil-in-water and water-in-oil hydrate mixtures.