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Operational Data (operational + data)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Engineering	55%
Chemistry	22%

Selected Abstracts

Analysis of Soil Vapor Extraction Data to Evaluate Mass-Transfer Constraints and Estimate Source-Zone Mass Flux

GROUND WATER MONITORING & REMEDIATION, Issue 3 2010
Mark L. Brusseau
Methods are developed to use data collected during cyclic operation of soil vapor extraction (SVE) systems to help characterize the magnitudes and time scales of mass flux associated with vadose zone contaminant sources. Operational data collected at the Department of Energy's Hanford site are used to illustrate the use of such data. An analysis was conducted of carbon tetrachloride vapor concentrations collected during and between SVE operations. The objective of the analysis was to evaluate changes in concentrations measured during periods of operation and nonoperation of SVE, with a focus on quantifying temporal dynamics of the vadose zone contaminant mass flux, and associated source strength. Three mass flux terms, representing mass flux during the initial period of an SVE cycle, during the asymptotic period of a cycle, and during the rebound period, were calculated and compared. It was shown that it is possible to use the data to estimate time frames for effective operation of an SVE system if a sufficient set of historical cyclic operational data exists. This information could then be used to help evaluate changes in SVE operations, including system closure. The mass flux data would also be useful for risk assessments of the impact of vadose zone sources on groundwater contamination or vapor intrusion. [source]

Life cycle of the QBO-modulated 11-year solar cycle signals in the Northern Hemispheric winter

THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 641 2009
Hua Lu
Abstract This paper provides some insights on the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) modulated 11-year solar cycle (11-yr SC) signals in Northern Hemisphere (NH) winter temperature and zonal wind. Daily ERA-40 Reanalysis and ECMWF Operational data for the period of 1958,2006 were used to examine the seasonal evolution of the QBO-solar cycle relationship at various pressure levels up to the stratopause. The results show that the solar signals in the NH winter extratropics are indeed QBO-phase dependent, moving poleward and downward as winter progresses with a faster descent rate under westerly QBO than under easterly QBO. In the stratosphere, the signals are highly significant in late January to early March and have a life span of ,30,50 days. Under westerly QBO, the stratospheric solar signals clearly lead and connect to those in the troposphere in late March and early April where they have a life span of ,10 days. As the structure changes considerably from the upper stratosphere to the lower troposphere, the exact month when the maximum solar signals occur depends largely on the altitude chosen. For the low-latitude stratosphere, our analysis supports a vertical double-peaked structure of positive signature of the 11-yr SC in temperature, and demonstrates that this structure is further modulated by the QBO. These solar signals have a longer life span (,3,4 months) in comparison to those in the extratropics. The solar signals in the lower stratosphere are stronger in early winter but weaker in late winter, while the reverse holds in the upper stratosphere. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society [source]

Analysis of Soil Vapor Extraction Data to Evaluate Mass-Transfer Constraints and Estimate Source-Zone Mass Flux

Performance improvements for olive oil refining plants

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 6 2010
Elif Bozoglan
Abstract The main objective of this study, which is conducted for the first time to the best of the authors' knowledge, is to identify improvements in olive oil refinery plants' performance. In the analyses, the actual operational data are used for performance assessment purposes. The refinery plant investigated is located in Izmir Turkey and has an oil capacity of 6250,kg,h,1. It basically incorporates steam generators, several tanks, heat exchangers, a distillation column, flash tanks and several pumps. The values for exergy efficiency and exergy destruction of operating components are determined based on a reference (dead state) temperature of 25°C. An Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software program is utilized to do the analyses of the plant. The exergy transports between the components and the consumptions in each of the components of the whole plant are determined for the average parameters obtained from the actual data. The exergy loss and flow diagram (the so-called Grassmann diagram) are also presented for the entire plant studied to give quantitative information regarding the proportion of the exergy input that is dissipated in the various plant components. Among the observed components in the plant, the most efficient equipment is found to be the shell- and tube-type heat exchanger with an exergy efficiency value of 85%. The overall exergetic efficiency performance of the plant (the so-called functional exergy efficiency) is obtained to be about 12%, while the exergy efficiency value on the exergetic fuel,product basis is calculated to be about 65%. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Dynamic energy and exergy analyses of an industrial cogeneration system

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2010
Yilmaz Yoru
Abstract The study deals with the energetic and exergetic analyses of a cogeneration (combined heat and power, CHP) system installed in a ceramic factory, located in Izmir, Turkey. This system has three gas turbines with a total capacity of 13,MW, six spray dryers and two heat exchangers. In the analysis, actual operational data over one-month period are utilized. The so-called CogeNNexT code is written in C++ and developed to analyze energetic and exergetic data from a database. This code is also used to analyze turbines, spray dryers and heat exchangers in this factory. Specifications of some parts of system components have been collected from the factory. Based on the 720,h data pattern (including 43,200 data), the mean energetic and exergetic efficiency values of the cogeneration system are found to be 82.3 and 34.7%, respectively. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Statistical analysis of catalyst degradation in a semi-continuous chemical production process

JOURNAL OF CHEMOMETRICS, Issue 8 2001
Eleftherios Kaskavelis
Abstract The effect of decaying catalyst efficacy in a commercial-scale, semi-continuous petrochemical process was investigated. The objective was to gain a better understanding of process behaviour and its effect on production rate. The process includes a three-stage reaction performed in fixed bed reactors. Each of the three reaction stages consists of a number of catalyst beds that are changed periodically to regenerate the catalyst. Product separation and reactant recycling are then performed in a series of distillation columns. In the absence of specific measurements of the catalyst properties, process operational data are used to assess catalyst decay. A number of statistical techniques were used to model production rate as a function of process operation, including information on short- and long-term catalyst decay. It was found that ridge regression, partial least squares and stepwise selection multiple linear regression yielded similar predictive models. No additional benefit was found from the application of non-linear partial least squares or Curds and Whey. Finally, through time series profiles of total daily production volume, corresponding to individual in-service cycles of the different reaction stages, short-term catalyst degradation was assessed. It was shown that by successively modelling the process as a sequence of batches corresponding to cycles of each reaction stage, considerable economic benefit could be realized by reducing the maximum cycle length in the third reaction stage. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

MANAGEMENT OF FLOOD CONTROL SUMPS AND POLLUTANT TRANSPORT,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 1 2001
Edward H. Smith
ABSTRACT: Levee sump systems are used by many riverine communities for temporary storage of urban wet weather flows. The hydrologic performance and transport of stormwater pollutants in sump systems, however, have not been systematically studied. The objective of this paper is to present a case study to demonstrate development and application of a procedure for assessing the hydraulic performance of flood control sumps in an urban watershed. Two sumps of highly variable physical and hydraulic characteristics were selected for analysis. A hydrologic modeling package was used to estimate the flow hydrograph for each outfall as part of the flow balance for the sump. To validate these results, a water balance was used to estimate the total runoff using sump operational data. The hydrologic model calculations provide a satisfactory estimate of the total runoff and its time-distribution to the sump. The model was then used to estimate pollutant loads to the sump and to the river. Although flow of stormwater through a sump system is regulated solely by flood-control requirements, these sumps may function as sedimentation basins that provide purification of stormwater. A sample calculation of removals of several conventional pollutants in the target sumps using a mass balance approach is presented. [source]

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS FOR A SAMPLE OF MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS IN INDIA

ANNALS OF PUBLIC AND COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS, Issue 2 2008
Alain De CROMBRUGGHE
ABSTRACT,:,We use regression analysis to study the determinants of self-sustainability of a sample of microfinance institutions in India. These institutions stand out by their ability and willingness to report financial and operational data to Sa Dhan, a know-how sharing organization. We investigate particularly three aspects of sustainability: cost coverage by revenue, repayment of loans and cost-control. Our results suggest that the challenge of covering costs on small and partly unsecured loans can indeed be met, without necessarily increasing the size of the loans or raising the monitoring cost. The analysis suggests other ways to improve the financial results, like a better targeting of the interest rate policy or increasing the number of borrowers per field officer especially in collective delivery models. [source]

Membrane Technology for Water Treatment

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 8 2010
Th. Peters
Abstract Membrane processes have become very important tools in water management and water related environmental engineering, because their efficiency has been proven from a technical and economical, as well as an ecological, point of view. This situation is partially based on results obtained during the operation of reverse osmosis systems that were developed in the early days of this technology for the desalination of seawater. Details regarding the theoretical background of these pressure driven membrane processes, examples of their application in water treatment, limiting factors, operational data and results for the purification efficiency are considered as the basis for the discussion of decision-supporting criteria for the selection of these technologies for possible applications, and as basis for the evaluation of future developments. [source]