Merozoite surface proteins have been implicated in the initial attachment to the host red blood cell membrane that begins the process of invasion, an important step in the lifecycle of the malaria...Full Text Available
Metazoan lifecycles can be complex in different ways. A number of diverse phenotypes and reproductive events can sequentially occur along the cycle, and at certain stages a variety of developmental...Full Text Available
A lifecycle assessment was performed to quantify the non-renewable (fossil) energy use and global warming potential (GWP) in electricity generation from a typical gas fired combined cycle power plant in Singapore. The cost of electricity generation was estimated using a lifecycle cost analysis (LCCA) tool. The lifecycle assessment (LCA) of a 367.5 MW gas fired combined cycle power plant operating in Singapore revealed that hidden processes consume about 8% additional energy in addition to the fuel embedded energy, and the hidden GWP is about 18%. The natural gas consumed during the operational phase accounted for 82% of the lifecycle cost of electricity generation. An empirical relation between plant efficiency and lifecycle energy ...
A lifecycle assessment was performed to quantify the non-renewable (fossil) energy use and global warming potential (GWP) in electricity generation from a typical gas fired combined cycle power plant in Singapore. The cost of electricity generation was estimated using a lifecycle cost analysis (LCCA) tool. The lifecycle assessment (LCA) of a 367.5 MW gas fired combined cycle power plant operating in Singapore revealed that hidden processes consume about 8% additional energy in addition to the fuel embedded energy, and the hidden GWP is about 18%. The natural gas consumed during the operational phase accounted for 82% of the lifecycle cost of electricity generation. An empirical relation between plant efficiency and lifecycle energy ...
Long lifecycles covering more than one year are known for all orders of insects. There are different mechanisms of prolongation of the lifecycle: (1) slow larval development; (2) prolongation of the adult stage with several reproduction periods; (3) prolongation of diapause; (4) combination of these mechanisms in one lifecycle. Lasting suboptimal conditions (such as low temperature, low quality of food or instability of food resources, natural enemies, etc.) tend to prolong lifecycles of all individuals in a population. In this case, the larvae feed and develop for longer than a year, and the active periods are interrupted by dormancy periods. The nature of this dormancy is unknown: in some cases it appears to be simple quiescence, in others it has been experimentally shown to be a tru...
Cytoadherence or sequestration is essential for the pathogenesis of the most virulent human malaria species, Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum). Similar to leukocyte-endothelium...Full Text Available
The hydrozoa lifecycle is characterized, in normal conditions, by the alternation of a post-larval benthic polyp and an adult pelagic medusa; however, some species of Hydrozoa react to environmental stress by reverting their lifecycle: i.e. an adult medusa goes back to the juvenile stage of polyp. This very uncommon lifecycle could be considered as some sort of inverted metamorphosis. A morphological study of different stages during the reverted lifecycle of Turritopsis nutricula led to the characterization of four different stages: healthy medusa, unhealthy medusa, four-leaf clover and cyst. The ultrastructural study of the cellular modifications (during the lifecycle reversion of T. nutricula) showed the presence of both degenerative and apoptotic processes. Degeneration ...
The determinants of the velocity of money have been examined based on life-cycle hypothesis. The velocity of money can be expressed by reciprocal of the average value of holding time which is defined as interval between participating exchanges for one unit of money. This expression indicates that the velocity is governed by behavior patterns of economic agents and open a way to constructing micro-foundation of it. It is found that time pattern of income and expense for a representative individual can be obtained from a simple version of life-cycle model, and average holding time of money resulted from the individual's optimal choice depends on the expected length of relevant planning periods.
This Memorandum, after summarizing the lifecycle of the different species of human schistosome, reviews the present knowledge of the immunology of schistosomiasis. Each stage of the parasite contains...Full Text Available
BackgroundRecent studies have shown associations between size and body proportions at birth and health outcomes throughout the lifecycle, but there are few data...Full Text Available
A small fleet of classic London Taxis (Black cabs) equipped with hydrogen fuel cell power systems is being prepared for demonstration during the 2012 London Olympics. This paper presents a LifeCycle Analysis for these vehicles in terms of energy consumption and CO2 emissions, focusing on the impacts of alternative vehicle technologies for the Taxi, combining the fuel lifecycle (Tank-to-Wheel and Well-to-Tank) and vehicle materials Cradle-to-Grave. An internal combustion engine diesel taxi was used as the reference vehicle for the currently available technology. This is compared to battery and fuel cell vehicle configurations. Accordingly, the following energy pathways are compared: diesel, electricity and hydrogen (derived from natural gas steam reforming). Full LifeCycle Analysis, usin...
BackgroundSenescence is integral to the flowering plant life-cycle. Senescence-like processes occur also in non-angiosperm land plants, algae and photosynthetic prokaryotes. Increasing...Full Text Available
The U.S. Department of Energy`s (DOE) Environmental Management Office of Science and Technology (EM-50) authorized studies on alternative systems for treating contact-handled DOE mixed low-level radioactive waste (MLLW). The on-going Integrated Thermal Treatment Systems` (ITTS) and the Integrated Nonthermal Treatment Systems` (INTS) studies satisfy this request. EM-50 further authorized supporting studies including this technology and subsystem cost sensitivity analysis. This analysis identifies areas where technology development could have the greatest impact on total lifecycle system costs. These areas are determined by evaluating the sensitivity of system lifecycle costs relative to changes in lifecycle component or phase costs, subsystem costs, contingency allowance, facility capacity, operating life, and disposal costs. For all ...
This report contains preconceptual designs and planning level life-cycle cost estimates for managing hazardous waste. The report`s information on treatment, storage, and disposal modules can be integrated to develop total life-cycle costs for various waste management options. A procedure to guide the US Department of Energy and its contractor personnel in the use of cost estimation data is also summarized in this report.
The method of life-cycle assessment (LCA) has been applied to cars with different power trains. As an example, the results for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are presented. They show possibilities and limits for the reduction of these emissions in the transportation sector by means of advanced technology. (author) 2 figs., 4 refs.
The mechanisms underlying life machinery are still not completely understood. Something is known, something is ?probably? known, other things are still unknown. Scientists all over the world are working very hard to clarify the processes regulating the cell lifecycle and bioinformaticians try to support them by developing specialized automated tools. Within the plethora of applications devoted to the study of life mechanisms, tools for the analysis and comparison of biological networks are catching the attention of many researchers. It is interesting to investigate why.
BackgroundThe pathogenicity of Plasmodium falciparum is in part due to the ability of the parasitized red blood cell (pRBC) to adhere to intra-vascular host cell...Full Text Available
BackgroundPlasmodium falciparum morbid and fatal risks are considerably higher in areas supporting parasite prevalence ≥25%, when compared with low transmission...Full Text Available
BackgroundNaturally acquired immune responses against sexual stages of P. falciparum can reduce the transmission of malaria from humans to mosquitoes. These antigens...Full Text Available
The in vivo sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine was evaluated in children under 5 years of age in two areas of southern Nigeria in 1987. A modification...Full Text Available
Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of human malaria, invades host erythrocytes using several proteins on the surface of the invasive merozoite, which have been proposed...Full Text Available
BackgroundPregnant women are more susceptible to severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria, which can lead to poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Few data exist on the...Full Text Available
A serodiagnostic test has been developed for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum in infected blood. Using parasite antigens and infected red blood cells from in vitro...Full Text Available
The extensive diversity of Plasmodium falciparum antigens is a major obstacle to a broadly effective malaria vaccine but population genetics has rarely been used to guide vaccine design....Full Text Available
There is growing epidemiological and molecular evidence that ABO blood group affects host susceptibility to severe Plasmodium falciparum infection. The high frequency of common...Full Text Available
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum utilizes molecules present on the surface of uninfected red blood cells (RBC) for rosette formation, and a dependency on ABO antigens has...Full Text Available
Naturally acquired immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria in malaria holoendemic areas is characterized by the gradual, age-related development of protection against high-density...Full Text Available
Abs are central to malaria immunity, which is only acquired after years of exposure to Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). Despite the enormous worldwide burden of malaria,...Full Text Available
For the development of a rechargeable zinc/air battery, La{sub 0.6}Ca{sub 0.4}CoO{sub 3}-catalyzed (perovskite) bifunctional oxygen electrodes and pasted zinc electrodes were prepared and tested in monopolar zinc/air cells. The cells were cycled in moderately alkaline electrolyte. The maximum power as well as the cyclelife of the cells were investigated. Up to 450 cycles could be reached, and attractive specific energies and powers were obtained. (author) 3 figs., 4 refs.
Summary: The small DNA tumor viruses have provided a very long-lived source of insights into many aspects of the lifecycle of eukaryotic cells. In recent years, the emphasis has been on cancer-related...Full Text Available
Although integration generally is considered a critical step in the retrovirus lifecycle, it has been reported that visna virus, which causes degenerative neurologic disease in sheep, can productively...Full Text Available
BackgroundSchistosomiasis japonica remains a major public health problem in China. Its pathogen, Schistosoma japonicum has a complex lifecycle and a unique repertoire...Full Text Available
Inco Ltd., a primary producer of nickel and an important producer of copper, cobalt, precious metals and sulphur products, initiated a project in 1997 to conduct eco-profiles of its worldwide metal production in an effort to improve its internal processing, marketing and environmental management. The study made it possible to recognize some internal and external benefits including the opportunity to gain operating efficiencies and improved process/product design, the development of better environmental performance indicators to guide decision making, and the availability of comprehensive product related environmental data to meet the informational needs of customers, designers, engineers and governments. This paper described the lifecycle assessment (LCA) process used by Inco to conduct the study. A lifecycle inventory (LCI) was used to quantitatively calculate resource requirements and environmental ...
The low cycle fatigue testing was carried out to provide a basis for comparison of the behavior of the two kinds of Alloy 800 (low carbon Alloy 800 and high carbon Alloy 800H). The testing was done at temperatures of 500"0C and 650"0C either with or without hold. The results obtained were as follows: (1) At 650"0C, the low-cycle fatigue life was essentially the same for the two alloys on the basis of strain amplitude, but Alloy 800H had a longer life on the basis of stress amplitude. (2) At 500"0C, the two alloys exhibited longer lives than at 650"0C, with Alloy 800 exhibiting 2-3 times longer life than Alloy 800H when compared on the basis of plastic strain range. At this temperature the stress range showed the maximum for Alloy 800H. (3) When a creep effect was introduced either by way of a hold time or a reduced frequency, Alloy 800 exhibited a greater reduction in ...
This report summarizes the results of research conducted during the sixteen month continuation of a program to develop rechargeable zinc-air batteries for electric vehicles. The zinc-air technology under development incorporates a metal foam substrate for the zinc electrode, with flow of electrolyte through the foam during battery operation. In this ``soluble`` zinc electrode the zincate discharge product dissolves completely in the electrolyte stream. Cycle testing at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, where the electrode was invented, and at MATSI showed that this approach avoids the zinc electrode shape change phenomenon. Further, electrolyte flow has been shown to be necessary to achieve significant cyclelife (> 25 cycles) in this open system. Without it, water loss through the oxygen electrode results in high-resistance failure of the cell. The Phase I program, which focused entirely on the zinc ...
This report summarizes the results of research conducted during the sixteen month continuation of a program to develop rechargeable zinc-air batteries for electric vehicles. The zinc-air technology under development incorporates a metal foam substrate for the zinc electrode, with flow of electrolyte through the foam during battery operation. In this soluble'' zinc electrode the zincate discharge product dissolves completely in the electrolyte stream. Cycle testing at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, where the electrode was invented, and at MATSI showed that this approach avoids the zinc electrode shape change phenomenon. Further, electrolyte flow has been shown to be necessary to achieve significant cyclelife (> 25 cycles) in this open system. Without it, water loss through the oxygen electrode results in high-resistance failure of the cell. The Phase I program, which focused entirely ...
The Systems Design Study (SDS) identified technologies available for the remediation of low-level and transuranic waste stored at the Radioactive Waste Management Complex's Subsurface Disposal Area at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. The SDS study intentionally omitted the costs of transportation and disposal of the processed waste and the cost of decommissioning the processing facility. This report provides a follow-on analysis of the SDS to explore the basis for life-cycle cost segments of transportation, disposal, and facility decommissioning; to determine the sensitivity of the cost segments; and to quantify the life-cycle costs of the 10 ex situ concepts of the Systems Design Study.
The Systems Design Study (SDS) identified technologies available for the remediation of low-level and transuranic waste stored at the Radioactive Waste Management Complex`s Subsurface Disposal Area at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. The SDS study intentionally omitted the costs of transportation and disposal of the processed waste and the cost of decommissioning the processing facility. This report provides a follow-on analysis of the SDS to explore the basis for life-cycle cost segments of transportation, disposal, and facility decommissioning; to determine the sensitivity of the cost segments; and to quantify the life-cycle costs of the 10 ex situ concepts of the Systems Design Study.
The key component for improving the energy efficiency and cyclelife of the electrically rechargeable zinc-air battery is the bifunctional air electrode. The air electrodes described in this paper contained different types of carbon black as the substrate for the perovskite catalyst (La{sub 0.6}Ca{sub 0.4}CoO{sub 3}). Morphological and physical properties of the carbon substrates play an important role in enhancing the activity and stability of the bifunctional air electrode. Current-potential curves and cycle-life tests were applied in order to gather information on the activity and stability of these electrodes. (authors)
In combined cycle turbine power stations, soft material compensators are used which, if the full pressure fails, also withstand a small external pressure. Innovative forms of construction which guarantee useful life, are presented in relation to the design. Damaging effects, which limit the life of these special soft material compensators, are discussed. (orig.)
Giving many examples, the contribution shows how pump operators may influence the life, efficiency and overall cost of their pumps. Further, it is shown that both the detection of unfavourable or non-optimal operating conditions and the identification of causes necessitate extensive knowledge and experience. (orig.)
Certain transition metal chalcogenides are promising materials for use as cathodes in nonaqueous lithium batteries involving the intercalation into these layered compounds. The electrochemical behavior of the chalcogenides depends on various properties such as structure, stoichiometry, electrical conductivity, crystal morphology, etc. The influence of these properties and of the ultimate practical application of the battery on the selection of cathode material is discussed. Battery performance of selected cathode materials is discussed and life limitations due to the limited cyclelife of lithium anodes are outlined. 15 refs.
Experimental data on the material characteristics of structures subjected to thermal and mechanical cycling are needed for designing structural parts for creep and creep-fatigue interaction. Moreover, high-temperature low-cycle fatigue data are not sufficient to predict the fatigue creep lifetime. In order to check the reliability of steam generators, tests on pipe materials are conducted under cyclic thermal loading. The tests have been performed on an iron-nickel chromium alloy (alloy 800). Isothermal low-cycle fatigue tests have been conducted at 550 C. 15 refs.
This presentation describes a method for analyzing, quantifying, and minimizing the total cost of fossil, combined cycle, and pumped hydro power plant cycling operation. The method has been developed, refined, and applied during engineering studies at some 160 units in the United States and 8 units at the Irish Electric Supply Board (ESB) generating system. The basic premise of these studies was that utilities are underestimating the cost of cycling operation. The studies showed that the cost of cycling conventional boiler/turbine fossil power plants can range from between $2,500 and $500,000 per start-stop cycle. It was found that utilities typically estimate these costs by factors of 3 to 30 below actual costs and, thus, often significantly underestimate their true cycling costs. Knowledge of the actual, or total, cost of cycling will ...
During the last 15 years cycles with CO{sub 2} capture have been in focus, due to the growing concern over our climate. Often, a natural gas fired combined cycle with a chemical absorption plant for CO{sub 2} capture from the flue gases have been used as a reference in comparisons between cycles. Neither the integration of the steam production for regeneration of amines in the combined cycle nor the off-design behaviour of such a plant has been extensively studied before. In this paper, the integration of steam production for regeneration of the amines is modelled at design load and studied in off-design conditions for a combined cycle. Different ambient conditions and part-load strategies and their influence on the cycle performance are also examined. Of particular interest is a novel strategy with the possibility of longer life of gas ...
BackgroundPlasmodium falciparum is the most malignant agent of human malaria. It belongs to the taxon Laverania, which includes other ape-infecting Plasmodium...Full Text Available
With the spread of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum the control of malaria has become increasingly complex. In recent years, particular concern has arisen over how best to prevent malaria...Full Text Available
Uniaxial low-cycle fatigue and creep-fatigue tests have been carried out on hollow alloy 800 specimens that were either filled with air or with a molten mixture of sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate and an oxidizer. Low-cycle fatigue tests were carried out at 1200/sup 0/F and 650/sup 0/F by cycling the strain continuously between equal mangitude of tensile and compressive values at a rate of 4 x 10/sup -3/sec/sup -1/ until failure. The creep-fatigue tests were carried out at 1200/sup 0/F. The loading cycle differed from that of low-cycle fatigue testing only in the imposition of a hold at the peak compressive strain in each cycle. Cracks always initiated on the inner surface of the hollow specimen, and therefore, corrosive effects on crack propagation and initiation were controlled by the environment within the specimen cavity. In common with tests carried out ...
Energy storage can be a cost-effective component of hybrid remote power systems. Storage serves the special role of taking advantage of intermittent renewable power sources. Traditionally this role has been played by lead-acid batteries, which have high life-cycle costs and pose special disposal problems. Hydrogen or zinc-air storage technologies can reduce life-cycle costs and environmental impacts. Using projected data for advanced energy storage technologies, LLNL ran an optimization for a hypothetical Arctic community with a reasonable wind resource (average wind speed 8 m/s). These simulations showed the life-cycle annualized cost of the total energy system (electric plus space heating) might be reduced by nearly 40% simply by adding wind power to the diesel system. An additional 20 to 40% of the wind-diesel cost might be saved by adding hydrogen storage or zinc-air fuel cells to the system. Hydrogen produced by ...
ABSTRACT Shallow-lacustrine delta deposits of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation form the most important petroleum reservoir sandstone units in the Ordos Basin, China. Recent hydrocarbon exploration and outcrop studies demonstrated that shallow-lacustrine sand-rich deltas developed extensively along the gentle flanks and central part of the basin. The vertical succession of facies indicates that the Yanchang Formation records the entire lacustrine lifecycle of the Late Triassic Ordos Basin. Four third-order transgressive-regressive cycles and two larger shallow-lacustrine deltaic cycles have been recognized. A process-based depositional model, derived in part from the modern Ganjiang delta in Poyang Lake, China, is used to infer the origins of the sand-rich lacustrine delta deposits. S...
The metabolism of pentose-phosphate was investigated in Plasmodium falciparum-infected normal and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient human red blood cells in vitro. 5'-Phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate...Full Text Available
Shut-off rod drive mechanism forms a safety critical system of a nuclear reactor. It is the space constraints for the given reactor layout, which makes design of shut-off rod drive mechanism (SRDM) a custom built design. Design of SRDM adopts fail-safe, replaceability and the simplicity criterion ensuring very high reliability of its operation. Shut-off rod drive mechanism for TAPP-3 and 4 and 'Critical Facility' have been recently designed and developed at Division of Remote Handling and Robotics (DRHR), BARC. These are designed with a number of advanced features and these are significantly different than those used in Dhruva and 220 MWe PHWRs. Design of SRDM is qualified through proto typing and lifecycle testing on a full-scale test set-up. This paper gives details of qualification and lifecycle test data for prototype SRDM for TAPP-3 and 4 and 'Critical Facility' and reliability assessment. ...
The share of peat in the primary energy supply in Finland in 1996 was about 6.5 % and the area used for peat production was about 535 km"2, corresponding to about 0.5 % of the original peatland area of Finland. Fuel peat production is hence a significant form of using natural resources. About 1.4 % of the total peatland area has been reserved for peat production. Approximately 95 % of the peat excavated in Finland is used as fuel peat, and 5 % as horticultural peat. As raw material and fuel peat can be considered to be slowly renewable material. The environmental impacts of fuel peat production, transportation and peat combustion were evaluated in this research by methods used in life-cycle assessment. Preparation and production phases of peat production areas, fuel peat transportation to power plants, combustion of peat in power plants, and disposal of the ashes formed the basis for the investigation. Data collected in 1994-1996 was used as the basic material in ...
The basic principle of the green building philosophy is to design buildings that consider environmental performance. Residential and commercial buildings in Canada consume about 30 per cent of the total secondary energy use and are responsible for approximately 29 per cent of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions and many other wastes. An optimization model was developed which minimizes lifecycle cost and lifecycle environmental impact. The model distinguishes different energy sources and incorporates their impacts, such as resource depletion, global warming and acidification. The model also considers design variables such as window type, orientation, building orientation, window-to-wall ratio, wall type and roof type. The model can be used to identify optimum green building designs for given conditions. The model uses expanded cumulative exergy consumption as the indicator for ...
Two different methods for streamlined lifecycle assessment (LCA) are described: the MECO-method and SLCA. Both methods are tested on an already made case-study on cars fuelled with petrol or ethanol, and electric cars with electricity produced from hydro power or coal. The report also contains some background information on LCA and streamlined LCA, and a deschption of the case study used. The evaluation of the MECO and SLCA-methods are based on a comparison of the results from the case study as well as practical aspects. One conclusion is that the SLCA-method has some limitations. Among the limitations are that the whole life-cycle is not covered, it requires quite a lot of information and there is room for arbitrariness. It is not very flexible instead it difficult to develop further. We are therefore not recommending the SLCA-method. The MECO-method does in comparison show several attractive features. It is also ...
The accurate prediction of local hot spot during normal operation is important to ensure core thermal margin in a very high temperature gas-cooled reactor because of production of its high temperature output. The active cooling of the reactor core determining local hot spot is strongly affected by core bypass flows through the inter-column gaps between graphite blocks and the cross gaps between two stacked fuel blocks. The bypass gap sizes vary during core lifecycle by the thermal expansion at the elevated temperature and the shrinkage/swelling by fast neutron irradiation. This study is to investigate the impacts of the variation of bypass gaps during core lifecycle as well as core restraint mechanism on the amount of bypass flow and thus maximum fuel temperature. The core thermo fluid analysis is performed using the GAMMA+ code for the PMR200 block-core design. For the analysis not only are some ...
The accurate prediction of local hot spot during normal operation is important to ensure core thermal margin in a very high temperature gas-cooled reactor because of production of its high temperature output. The active cooling of the reactor core determining local hot spot is strongly affected by core bypass flows through the inter-column gaps between graphite blocks and the cross gaps between two stacked fuel blocks. The bypass gap sizes vary during core lifecycle by the thermal expansion at the elevated temperature and the shrinkage/swelling by fast neutron irradiation. This study is to investigate the impacts of the variation of bypass gaps during core lifecycle as well as core restraint mechanism on the amount of bypass flow and thus maximum fuel temperature. The core thermo fluid analysis is performed using the GAMMA+ code for the PMR200 block-core design. For the analysis not only are some ...
The E6 oncoproteins of high-risk human papillomaviruses provide important functions not only for malignant transformation but also in the productive viral lifecycle. E6 proteins have been shown to bind to a number of cellular factors, but only a limited number of analyses have investigated the effects of these interactions on the viral lifecycle. In this study, we investigated the consequences of HPV 31 E6 binding to E6TP1, a putative Rap1 GAP protein. HPV 16 E6 has been shown to bind as well as induce the rapid turnover of E6TP1, and similar effects were observed with HPV 31 E6. Mutation of amino acid 128 in HPV 31 E6 was found to abrogate the ability to bind and degrade E6TP1 but did not alter binding to another ?-helical domain protein, E6AP. When HPV 31 genomes containing mutations a...
During the service in nuclear power plants, steam generator (SG) tubing will suffer from a vibration with a frequency from 30-40 Hz. This means that SG tubing will undergo a very high cycle fatigue process during the design life time (25 years=about 3x10{sup 10}cycles). The material degradation and the very high cycle fatigue life of SG tubing materials due to the vibration are therefore of concern. In this investigation, the fatigue properties of Alloy 690 and Alloy 800 SG tubing in the very high cycle fatigue regime (higher than 10{sup 7} cycles) and strain controlled fatigue at temperatures up to 330{sup o}C have been investigated. The fatigue properties of SG tubing of Alloy 690 are comparable to that of wrought material. The strain controlled fatigue properties of Alloy 690 and Alloy 800 are slightly better at 288{sup o}C than at room ...
During the service in nuclear power plants, steam generator (SG) tubing will suffer from a vibration with a frequency from 30-40 Hz. This means that SG tubing will undergo a very high cycle fatigue process during the design life time (25 years=about 3x10"1"0cycles). The material degradation and the very high cycle fatigue life of SG tubing materials due to the vibration are therefore of concern. In this investigation, the fatigue properties of Alloy 690 and Alloy 800 SG tubing in the very high cycle fatigue regime (higher than 10"7 cycles) and strain controlled fatigue at temperatures up to 330"oC have been investigated. The fatigue properties of SG tubing of Alloy 690 are comparable to that of wrought material. The strain controlled fatigue properties of Alloy 690 and Alloy 800 are slightly better at 288"oC than at room temperature (RT). At ...
Basic properties and battery performances of the novel high temperature stable lithium salt (Li{sub 2}B{sub 12}F{sub 12}, Dilithium Dodecafluorododecaborate; Li{sub 2}DFB) were studied using a Mn-based cathode and anode composed of a hard carbon and graphite mixture. The effect of co-solvents (mainly linear carbonate in electrolyte formulation of PC/EC/co-solvent (5/30/65 vol% mixture)) on conductivity, viscosity, charge-discharge capacities, rate performance, temperature performance, cyclelife and storage life at 60 C was investigated. Conductivity of Li{sub 2}DFB electrolyte increased with reducing its viscosity by changing co-solvent and increasing the volume of the higher dielectric solvent. Li{sub 2}DFB electrolytes showed comparable discharge capacity and columbic efficiency against LiPF{sub 6} electrolyte. Li{sub 2}DFB electrolytes improved the storage life and cycle ...
At 650"0C, the low-cycle fatigue life was essentially the same for the two alloys on the basis of strain amplitude, but Alloy 800H had a longer life on the basis of stress amplitude. A 500"0C, Alloy 800 and 800H exhibited longer fatigue lifetime than at 650"0C, with Alloy 800 exhibiting a 2-3 times longer life than Alloy 800H when compared on the basis of plastic strain range, whereas the difference was less pronounced when compared on the basis of stress amplitude. When a creep effect was introduced either by way of a hold time or a reduced frequency, Alloy 800 exhibited a greater reduction in life than did Alloy 800H. The dislocation structure changed from planar to cellular with increase in strain range, and extensive precipitation of M_2_3C_6 was noted within the grains for Alloy 800H and along grain boundaries for both alloys. (Auth.).
Although various legislation and regulations have been adopted to promote the use of alternative-fuel vehicles for curbing urban air pollution problems, there is a lack of systematic comparisons of emission control cost-effectiveness among various alternative-fuel vehicle types. In this paper, life-cycle emission reductions and life-cycle costs were estimated for passenger cars fueled with methanol, ethanol, liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, and electricity. Vehicle emission estimates included both exhaust and evaporative emissions for air pollutants of hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and air-toxic pollutants of benzene, formaldehyde, 1,3-butadiene, and acetaldehyde. Vehicle life-cycle cost estimates accounted for vehicle purchase prices, vehicle life, fuel costs, and vehicle maintenance costs. Emission control cost-effectiveness presented in dollars per ton of emission ...
This report describes the LIFECC computer program developed for the purpose of calculating the cost of energy produced by wind systems according to the principles of lifecycle costing (LCC). Following a brief explanation of the LCC concept and its advantages, input variables to the program and their importance to various program users, including manufacturers and designers, utilities, various institutions and consumers, are explained. A detailed user's guide to the program is then provided, together with a sensitivity analysis which discusses the impact of key variables on wind system cost of energy and the importance of cash flow to the wind system purchaser. Sample cases of program output and an LIFECC program listing are provided.
The application of multi-objective genetic algorithms for green building design in two phases were presented in order to better help designers in the decision-making process. The purpose is to minimize two conflicting criteria: the life-cycle cost and the life-cycle environmental impact. Environmental impact criteria examined include energy and non-energy natural resources, global warming, and acidification. Variables focus on building envelope-related parameters. The application of multi-objective genetic algorithms is divided into two phases. The first phase intends to help designers in understanding the trade-off relationship between the two conflicting criteria. The second phase intends to refine the performance region that is of the designer's interest. The results after the two-phase application of the multi objective genetic algorithm were then presented. 13 refs., 4 tabs., 3 figs.
For the development of a long-lived, electrically rechargeable zinc-air battery the structure and wettability of pasted zinc electrodes were optimized. Pasted zinc electrodes containing 1 to 10% cellulose, but having almost the same nominal capacities, were prepared and tested in zinc/oxygen cells. The effect of discharge rate on cell voltage and delivered capacity, as well as the maximum power, were measured. Furthermore, cell charge-discharge behaviour and cyclelife were examined. After different times of operation, the porosity and the pore size distribution of the pasted zinc electrodes were measured by means of mercury porosimetry. The lifecycle and peak power drain capability of the Zn/oxygen battery could be substantially improved by the addition of 10 wt% cellulose to the pasted zinc electrode. (author)
Background, Aim, and Scope The identification and assessment of environmental tradeoffs is a strongpoint of lifecycle assessment (LCA). A tradeoff made in many product systems is the exchange of potential for occupational accidents with the additional use of energy and materials. Net benefits of safety measures with respect to human health are best illustrated if the consequences avoided and health impacts induced by additional emissions are assessed using commensurable metrics. Our aim is to develop a human health impact indicator for offshore crane lifts. Crane lifts are a major cause of accidents on offshore oil and gas (O & G) rigs, and health impacts from crane lift accidents should be included in comparative LCA of O & G technologies if the alternatives differ in the use of crane li...
Introduction Alternative ways and means of transportation are necessary in order to reduce the environmental impacts of mobility. In the recent years, biofuels were first seen as a main option and then LCA showed also possible hazards of this development. Recently, public interest is rapidly shifting towards electromobility. Therefore it is necessary to also gain better knowledge about the environmental impacts of this technology. This includes a modelling of the pathways of the necessary increase in electricity supply and an appropriate modelling of battery manufacture. Summary of data presented At this forum most recent results of lifecycle assessment studies of electric car driving compared to driving fossil- and agro-fuelled cars were presented. The environmental performance of indivi...
The paper considers research carried out on the topic of lifecycle (LC) modelling of industrial processes with emphasis upon energy utilisation and gaseous emissions. The aim of the work is to investigate existing LC assessment codes, in particular for their outputs and decision making potential, and to develop the characteristics of new software as appropriate. The paper focuses on a comparison of two methods for LC modelling: use of ''SimaPro 5'' with ECO-indicators and logical-information modelling. The considered approaches require attention to dynamic modelling having features for decision making; for example, in areas of costs, sensitivity analysis and optimisation of LC process parameters to economically reduce the total environmental load. Brick making is chosen as an energy intensive process for model application. (orig.)
Documentation and use of various economic analysis tools, especially the SOLFIN 2, KRUNCH, LSAP, and SIPP computer programs, are provided. The report deals with the use of these tools to perform the social economic analysis which underlies building standards. A brief description of life-cycle cost methodology is presented. The documentation of SOLFIN 2 is included. Description of first cost calculations and life-cycle cost sensitivity analysis are given. A detailed account of the general description of how electricity costs are calculated is given in an appendix. Program listings for KRUNCH, SIPP, and LSAP are given in Appendix B. Fuel costs for low, medium, and high conservation scenarios are presented in Appendix C. (MCW)
Electrode areas, for the bifunctional O{sub 2}-electrodes and the pasted Zn-electrodes, have been successfully scaled up from 25 cm{sup 2} up to 250 cm{sup 2}. A filter press type cell was used to measure the cyclelife of larger electrodes (100 cm{sup 2}). Up to now, more than 100 charge-discharge cycles (900 hours) with these scaled up Zn/O{sub 2}-cells could be demonstrated. (author) 2 figs., 2 refs.
MCrAlY coatings are widely used on hot section components of gas turbines to provide hot corrosion and/or oxidation protection by formation of an oxide layer on the surface. As the protective oxide scale exfoliates during service, aluminum from the coating diffuses outward for reformation of the protective scale. Aluminum may also diffuse inward due to the differences in composition between the coating and the substrate. Thus, the coatings degrade due to oxidation, oxide scale spallation, and inward and outward diffusion of aluminum. Service life of these coatings is controlled by the aluminum content in the coating, operating temperature and start- shutdown cycles. In-service degradation of CoCrAlY and CoNiCrAlY coatings is presented. A procedure to predict the remaining service life of coatings under oxidizing conditions is discussed. (orig.) 12 refs.
High temperature components of power plants are in many cases subjected to variable loading conditions such as cyclic creep or strain cycling. Therefore the cyclic behaviour of important heat resistant steels has been investigated under stress control and to a smaller extent under strain control. The behaviour under cyclic creep rupture conditions was determined in long term experiments covering a wide range of loading conditions. This behaviour can be described with the modified life fraction rule and a factor concept of relative life for single stage cycles and additionally with a multistep hypothesis for multi-stage cycles. The description can be adapted to estimate the life consumption under service type random conditions. The strain cycling behaviour was investigated in regard to the conditions of the heated surface of large components. ...
The primary objective of the Air Force Continuous Acquisition and Life-cycle Support (CALS) Test Network (AFCTN) is to evaluate the effectiveness of the CALS standards for technical data interchange and to demonstrate the technical capabilities and operat...
This Standards/Requirements Identification Document (S/RID) sets forth the Environmental Safety and Health (ESH) standards/requirements for the Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP). This S/RID is applicable to the appropriate lifecycle phases of design, construction, operation, and preparation for decommissioning. These standards/requirements are adequate to ensure the protection of the health and safety of workers, the public, and the environment.
This fact sheet describes NREL's accomplishments in accurately modeling costs for fuel cell-based combined heat, hydrogen, and power systems. Work was performed by NREL's Hydrogen Technologies and Systems Center.
This paper looks at the various battery technologies available for use in solar assist plug-in hybrid electric tractors In this context, solar assist plug-in hybrid electric tractors are those that may be used in light-duty agricultural operations. To determine the most suitable battery, four common technologies are analyzed looking at the environmental life-cycle effects and costs.
Viral protein 40 (VP40) of Ebola virus appears equivalent to matrix proteins of other viruses, yet little is known about its role in the viral lifecycle. To elucidate the functions of VP40, we investigated...Full Text Available
The primary objective of the Air Force Continuous Acquisition and Life-cycle Support (CALS) Test Network (AFCTN) is to evaluate the effectiveness of the CALS standards for technical data interchange and to demonstrate the technical capabilities and operat...
Discussion is presented of world CO{sub 2} emissions and the effect rising population and population distribution has on this. Possible ways of decreasing emissions are presented, including potential for heat recovery, exhaust-air purification as an energy supply, shared power supply in industry, the use of cogeneration, and multiple use of heat in industry. 9 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.
This paper discusses the characteristics and needed improvements/enhancements required for the expansion of the grid-tied residential power systems market. The purpose of the paper is to help establish a common understanding, between the technical community and the customers of the technology, of value and costs and what is required in the longer term for reaching the full potential of this application.
Summary Background There is a need for new artemisinin-based combination therapies that are convenient, effective, and safe. We compared the efficacy and safety of pyronaridine-artesunate with that of artemether-lumefantrine for treatment of uncomplicated P falciparum malaria. Methods This phase 3, parallel-group, double-blind, randomised, non-inferiority trial was undertaken in seven sites in Africa and three sites in southeast Asia. In a double-dummy design, patients aged 3-60 years with uncomplicated P falciparum malaria were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive pyronaridine-artesunate once a day or artemether-lumefantrine twice a day, orally for 3 days, plus respective placebo. Randomisation was done by computer-generated randomisation sequence in blocks of nine by study centre....
This paper presents the conceptual framework that is being used to define quantification of margins and uncertainties (QMU) for application in the nuclear weapons (NW) work conducted at Sandia National Laboratories. The conceptual framework addresses the margins and uncertainties throughout the NW lifecycle and includes the definition of terms related to QMU and to figures of merit. Potential applications of QMU consist of analyses based on physical data and on modeling and simulation. Appendix A provides general guidelines for addressing cases in which significant and relevant physical data are available for QMU analysis. Appendix B gives the specific guidance that was used to conduct QMU analyses in cycle 12 of the annual assessment process. Appendix C offers general guidelines for addressing cases in which appropriate models are available for use in QMU analysis. Appendix D contains an example that highlights the ...
Using the complete genome of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 which has 14 chromosomes as an example, we have examined the distribution functions for the amount of C or G and A or T consecutively...Full Text Available
BackgroundIndividuals living in malaria endemic areas generally harbour multiple parasite strains. Multiplicity of infection (MOI) can be an indicator of immune status. However,...Full Text Available
BackgroundArtemisinin-based combination therapy, currently considered the therapy of choice for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in endemic countries,...Full Text Available
BackgroundImproving the understanding of childhood malarial anaemia may help in the design of appropriate management strategies.MethodsA...Full Text Available
The development of rapid and specific diagnostic tests to identify individuals infected with malaria is of paramount importance in efforts to control the severe public health impact of this disease....Full Text Available
BackgroundAn artemisinin-based combination therapy, artesunate (AS) plus sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), was compared to SP monotherapy to provide evidence of further treatment...Full Text Available
BackgroundIn sub-Saharan Africa, Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnancy presents an enormous diagnostic challenge. The epidemiological and clinical relevance...Full Text Available
Mechanisms for differential regulation of gene expression may underlie much of the phenotypic variation and adaptability of malaria parasites. Here we describe transcriptional variation among culture-adapted...Full Text Available
BackgroundObtaining single parasite clones is required for many techniques in malaria research. Cloning by limiting dilution using microscopy-based assessment for parasite growth...Full Text Available
Cerebral malaria is the most severe complication of human infection with Plasmodium falciparum. It was shown that Plasmodium berghei ANKA-induced cerebral malaria was...Full Text Available
BackgroundBlood group O has been significantly associated with increased placental malaria infection in primiparae and reduced risk of infection in multiparae in the Gambia, an area...Full Text Available
Because of its high energy density, compatibility with aqueous electrolytes and the low toxicity of its active materials, the zinc-air battery system is an interesting candidate for electric vehicle applications. The use of O{sub 2} from the air as a reactant requires a partially open cell construction and a technologically challenging air interface. This report describes the research and development program at the Paul Scherrer Institute which finally led to the demonstration of a durable, electrically rechargeable zinc-oxygen battery. In a first phase the research program was focused on the development of bifunctional oxygen diffusion electrodes and pasted zinc electrodes. The current-potential behaviour and the cyclelife performance of anodes and cathodes was tested in single electrode measurements (three-electrode arrangements) as well as in complete monopolar zinc-oxygen and zinc-air cells. La{sub 0.6}Ca{sub 0.4}CoO{sub 3}-activated ...
There is now an acute need to optimize maintenance to improve both reliability and competitiveness of nuclear power plant operation. There is an increasing tendency to move from the preventive (time based) maintenance concept to one dependent on plant and component conditions. In this context, various on-line and off-line condition monitoring and diagnostics, nondestructive inspection techniques and surveillance are used. Component selection for condition based maintenance, parameter selection for monitoring condition, evaluation of condition monitoring results are issues influencing the effectiveness of condition based maintenance. All these selections of components and parameters to be monitored, monitoring and diagnostics techniques to be used, acceptance criteria and trending for condition evaluation, and the economic aspect of predictive maintenance and condition monitoring should be incorporated into an integrated, effective condition based maintenance programme, which is part of ...
Scientific and technological communities have a significant role to play and responsibility for the evolution of global sustainability (continuously improving quality of life into the indefinite future). Sustainability is not possible without a substantially improved science and technology basis for industrial ecology. Society needs data and understanding of complex ecological issues to govern itself in a sustainable manner. We should: support and develop multi-disciplinary programs which create the scientific basis for understanding natural and anthropogenic complex systems and for developing environmentally and economically efficient technology; demonstrate a systems-based approach to science and technology issues which is life-cycle comprehensive, integrates environmental considerations, and promotes conservation of natural resources; and encourage development of responsible, technically and scientifically valid, cost-effective environmental ...
This paper shows how molecular theory paves the way for accelerated aging tests of safety-related equipment in nuclear power plants, as required by NRC qualification programs. Arrhenius' model, based on an equation, provides useful information regarding the extent of molecular change as a function of time and temperature. Critical to determining the aging characteristics and qualified life of organic materials is the activation energy concept, which is derived from information gathered when the molecular reaction of the material is documented over the entire lifecycle. In accelerated-aging applications, the importance of the model lies in characterizing the chemical related reactions of materials. The problem with the Arrhenius approach is that, in generating a testing period of reasonable duration, a rather high test temperature must be selected which may lead to an added and unrelated environmental effect.
Nuclear battery produces electricity by converting radiation energy into electrical energy. Energy carried by particles emitted by a radioisotope nuclei is much higher than that released in chemical reaction. Reaction with nuclei can potentially produce electricity thousand to million times higher than that of chemical reaction. Unlike NPP that produces large scale alternating current using thermodynamic cycle such as Rankine or Brayton cycles, nuclear battery is designed like other battery or fuel cell, to produce direct current (DC). However, both battery utilize the energy or particles radiating from nuclei of a radioisotope. In this paper, several types of nuclear battery as an energy converter are discussed, including their working mechanisms and examples. Nuclear battery is potential to become a long-life power source for use in wide range of applications, including in medical areas and for instruments in remote areas ...
This study presents a full cost approach to determine the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 14 electricity generation technologies. It encompasses costs incurred at all stages of the fuel cycle, including those that are traditionally omitted from economic evaluations of generation technologies. Incorporating these 'externalities' increases the likelihood of developing the most economical and sustainable power resource from a societal perspective. The following externalities are included in this analysis: damage from air pollution, energy security, transmission and distribution costs, and other environmental impacts. Incorporating externalities has a large impact on the LCOE and the relative attractiveness of electricity generation options. Results indicate that clean and efficient generation technologies are the most attractive when all options are examined using a full cost, levelized approach. (author)
For the development of a rechargeable zinc/air battery, La[sub 0.6]Ca[sub 0.4]CoO[sub 3]-catalyzed (perovskite) bifunctional oxygen electrodes and pasted zinc electrodes were prepared and tested in monopolar zinc/air cells. In addition, a bipolar Zn/air stack was tested using reticulated copper foam as substrate for the zinc deposit. The cells were cycled in moderately alkaline ZnO-saturated electrolyte with KF as an electrolyte additive. The maximum power as well as the cyclelife of the cells was investigated. The differences in porosity of the zinc electrode before and after the long-term test were analyzed using mercury porosimetry. (author) 8 figs., 13 refs.
ObjectivesWe have developed a lifecycle perspective inspired conceptual model (CM) that suggests the importance of terrestrial ecosystems as a major repository of ZnO, TiO2, and Ag (Tier 1) manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) introduced via the land application of MNM-containing biosolids. We propose to investigate the transport, fate, behavior, bioavailability, and effects of MNMs in(to) agroecosystems under environmentally realistic scenarios organized around three key hypotheses: Hypothesis (H1) Surface [continued...]DescriptionWe have developed a lifecycle perspective inspired conceptual model (CM) that suggests the importance of terrestrial ecosystems as a major repository of ZnO, TiO2, and Ag (Tier 1) manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) introduced via the land application of MNM-containing biosolids. We propose to investigate the transport, fate, behavior, bioavailability, and effects of MNMs in(to) ...
Computerized descriptions of isothermal, multi-stage creep fatigue load were established for one melt each of steels of the type 1%CrMoNiV and 12%CrMoV and were implemented in the service life prediction program SARA 2. SARA 2 predicts the time and number of cycles to incipient cracking for a given number of part cycles on the basis of rules for description of cyclic deformation and damage and of a generalized damage accumulation hypothesis. [German] Fuer je eine Schmelze der Staehle vom Typ 1%CrMoNiV and 12%CrMoV wurde eine rechnergestuetzte Beschreibung fuer isotherme mehrstufige Kriechermuedungsbeanspruchung erstellt und in ein Lebensdauerzaehlerprogramm SARA 2 implementiert. Auf der Grundlage von Regeln zur Beschreibung von zyklischer Verformung und Schaedigung unter Anwendung der verallgemeinerten Schadensakkumulationshypothese ermittelt SARA 2 fuer beliebig vorgebbare Teilzyklen einen Vorhersagewert fuer die ...
Anaerobic digestion of slurry represents an environmental opportunity for both slurry management and renewable energy production in countries with high animal density. This study evaluated the environmental impacts of 4 biogas production alternatives in which slurry was the only input in the process, without supplementary addition of easily degradable carbon. This was achieved by exposing the slurry to different separation technologies. The biomass mixture input for biogas production included solid fraction from slurry separation as well as raw slurry, proportioned in order to achieve economical methane yield. The separation processes considered in this study were mechanical separation; mechanical separation combined with the addition of flocculants; and mechanical separation combined with a thermal treatment. Four biogas alternatives were compared to a reference slurry management scenario, notably to use the slurry as a fertilizer without prior treatment. The modelling was based on ...
This paper reported on a lifecycle assessment (LCA) study that compared the environmental impacts of business-as-usual manure management with those of a manure management operation incorporating anaerobic digestion with combined heat and power generation. The case study was based on a medium sized dairy farm in northern New York State. The study identified the benefits resulting from the displacement of fossil fuels, and reduction of related emissions. Although anaerobic digestion of dairy manure with energy recovery through biogas combustion is viewed as a positive environmental approach to increase the use of renewable energy, there are potential negative impacts that can counteract the environmental benefits. The negative impacts are associated with emissions of methane and nitrogen species during digestion and after spreading of digester effluent. The environmental impacts and their causes should be evaluated in order to promote best ...
Wetlands have important ecological values and functions. It is estimated that 80 percent of the Nation's coastal fisheries are dependent on wetlands for spawning, nursery areas, and food sources. Both coastal and inland wetlands provide essential breeding, nesting, feeding, and predator escape habitats for millions of waterfowl, other birds, mammals, and reptiles. Well over one-third of the 564 plant and animal species listed as threatened or endangered in the United States utilize wetland habitats during some portion of their lifecycle. Wetlands Stewardship is intended as a resource for everyone interested in wetlands protection.
The primary objective of the Air Force Continuous Acquisition and Life-Cycle Support (CALS) Test Network (AFCTN) is to evaluate the effectiveness of the CALS standards for technical data interchange and to demonstrate the technical capabilities and operat...
The primary objective of the Air Force Continuous Acquisition and Life-cycle Support (CALS) Test Network (AFCTN) is to evaluate the effectiveness of the CALS standards for technical data interchange and to demonstrate the technical capabilities and operat...
The primary objectives of the Air Force Continuous Acquisition and Life-cycle Support (CALS) Test Network (AFCTN) is to evaluate the effectiveness of the CALS standards for technical data interchange and to demonstrate the technical capabilities and opera...
The primary objective of the Air Force Continuous Acquisition and Life-cycle Support (CALS) Test Network (AFCTN) is to evaluate the effectiveness of the CALS standards for technical data interchange and to demonstrate the technical capabilities and operat...
Polymeric waste materials should be considered resources for the manufacture of new products through recycling processes, with a similar status to virgin fossil-based plastics and biopolymers from renewable resources. Several efforts can be made to achieve this qualitative quantum leap in plastics recycling, and consequently introduce recycled products, with competitive performance, to the market. Scientific knowledge about the degradation processes during the lifecycle and the development of fast and reliable analytical methods for the quality assessment of recycled plastics are fundamental to guarantee their performance in new applications. Different strategies-restabilisation, rebuilding, compatibilisation, and addition of elastomers and fillers-can be used to upgrade the structure and...
For the development of a long-lived electrically rechargeable zinc/air battery, the structure and wettability of pasted zinc electrodes were optimized. Pasted zinc electrodes, having the same nominal capacities but containing 1% to 10% cellulose, were prepared and tested under defined charge and discharge conditions in zinc-oxygen cells. The maximum power as well as the cyclelife of these cells were measured. After different times of operation, the porosity and the pore size distribution of the pasted zinc electrodes were measured by means of mercury porosimetry. (author) 4 figs., 1 tab., 6 refs.
A technique is presented for the analyss of DNA histograms which is an extension of earlier discrete Gaussian summing methods. It alleviates the problems encountered with previous methods by extending the S-phase portions of the distribution under the G/sub 1/ and G/sub 2/ + M peaks. The resuts obtained by this method for the fraction of cells in the G/sub 1/, S, and G/sub 2/ + M phases of the lifecycle are compared with autoradiographic results. With one or two exceptions which are discussed, agreement between autoradiography and the analytical method is good.
Electrochemical properties of thermally structurized polyacrylonitrile (TSPAN) have been investigated as a function of the preparation conditions. The best charge storage capacity has been found for highly porous semiconducting materials with specific surface areas of about 1000-1200 m{sup 2}/g and a specific conductivity of 0.1-0.2 S/cm. This material can be both oxidized and reduced with high reversibility, effectivity and cyclelife and is suitable for application in various charge storage devices. (orig.).
Taconite tailings and their component asbestiform minerals in Lake Superior water had no demonstrable effect on the chronic toxicity of cadmium to the flagfish, Jordanella floridae. Maximum acceptable toxicant concentrations determined in lifecycle tests, where effects on survival, growth, reproduction, and bioconcentration were used as endpoints, were between 3.3 to 7.4, 3.0 to 6.5, and 3.4 to 7.3 micrograms cadmium/liter at 0.004, 0.08, and 0.95 mg/liter taconite tailings concentrations, respectively.
Commonly used EV battery tests are not very suitable for testing hybrid vehicle batteries, which may be primarily intended to supply vehicle acceleration power. The capacity of hybrid vehicle batteries will be relatively small, they will typically operate over a restricted range of states-of-charge, and they may seldom if ever be fully recharged. Further, hybrid propulsion system designs will commonly impose a higher regeneration content than is typical for electric vehicles. New test methods have been developed for use in characterizing battery performance and life for hybrid vehicle use. The procedures described in this paper were developed from the requirements of the government-industry cooperative Partnership for A New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) program; however, they are expected to have broad application to the testing of energy storage devices for hybrid vehicles. The most important performance measure for a high power battery is its pulse power ...
Presently, industrial maturity can be claimed for two fuel cycle strategies, viz. the 'Once Through Fuel Cycle' (OTC), and the 'Reprocessing Fuel Cycle' (RFC) in which plutonium and very limited uranium quantities are being recycled. It is helpful to recall some key data that set the stage for any discussion of fuel cycle options: 1. Worldwide, the annual spent fuel discharge is in the range of 10500-11000 t heavy-metal (HM), while the industrial reprocessing capacity amounts to #approx# 5000 t HM (OECD NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY, Accelerator-driven Systems (ADS) and Fast Reactors (FR) in Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles: a Comparative Study, Paris, 2002). Hence, less than 1/2 of the discharged spent fuel can be processed. 2. Worldwide, the cumulative inventory of stored spent fuel is estimated to be #approx# 190000 t HM, and the amount of reprocessed spent fuel is estimated to be #approx# ...
The Coal Fired Combined Cycle (CFCC) is the unique powerplant concept developed under the leadership of the General Electric Company to provide a direct coal-burning gas turbine and steam turbine combined cycle powerplant. On the basis of previous studies and confirming work under this contract, General Electric continues to believe that the CFCC approach offers important advantages over alternate approaches: higher powerplant efficiency in the combustor temperature range of interest; reduced combustor/steam generator corrosion potential, due to low fluid-bed tube temperature (as contrasted to the air in tube cycle); and increased gas turbine bucket life from improved material protection systems. The objective of this program is to evaluate the coal fired combined cycle powerplant conceptual design, and to conduct a supporting development program. The supporting development is ...
Restructured power markets require concepts not only for extending the lifetime of existing plants, but also concepts for reducing the life-cycle costs of existing older steam power plants in order to remain competitive with the most modern and advanced power generation technology such as combined cycle power plants. Out of the broad range of methods to extend service life and increase availability, and to increase power output and efficiency, this paper focuses on full repowering. Full repowering replaces the old fired boiler with gas turbine(s) and heat-recovery steam generators (HRSG) as heat input to the existing bottoming cycle and reuses the steam turbine (ST) condenser and further balance of plant (BOP) equipment. The potential offered by this concept is demonstrated. Repowering and modernization projects are executed if they result in economic benefits for the operator. Investment decisions need ...
BackgroundThe Plasmodium falciparum pre-erythrocytic stage candidate vaccine RTS,S is being developed for protection of young children against...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe present study evaluated the SD Bioline Malaria Ag 05FK40 (SDFK40), a three-band RDT detecting Plasmodium falciparum-specific parasite lactate dehydrogenase...Full Text Available
BackgroundSeveral studies have demonstrated the efficacy of artemisinin-combination therapy (ACT) across malaria zones of the world. Fixed dose ACT with shorter courses and fewer...Full Text Available
To study the fatigue life of extruded AZ31 (3%Al, 1%Zn, 0.3%Mn, Mg - the rest), AM50 (5%Al, 0.4%Mn, Mg - the rest) and ZK60 (5%Zn, 0.5%Zr, Mg - the rest) Mg alloys in air and NaCl-based solutions, corrosion fatigue tests were carried out using a rotating beam type fatigue machine. For the analysis of the corrosion fatigue behavior of Mg alloys in different environments, fitted N{sub sol}/N{sub air} ratio considered as a relative corrosion fatigue life is used. Here N{sub sol} and N{sub air} are the numbers of cycles to failure in the solution and in air, respectively. An extruded ZK60 alloy shows very high fatigue and corrosion fatigue properties in comparison with other alloys. However, ZK60 shows the lowest values of the relative fatigue life (N{sub sol}/N{sub air} {proportional_to}10{sup -3}-10{sup -2}) compared to that for AM50 and AZ31 alloys (N{sub sol}/N{sub air} {proportional_to}10{sup -2} - ...
Two austenitic steels, 316 Stainless Steel and Alloy 800, have been examined under conditions of both isothermal low cycle fatigue (LCF) and thermomechanical fatigue (TMF). The TMF tests were conducted between 649 and 360/sup 0/C with a carefully controlled triangular waveform. The LCF tests were performed at 649/sup 0/C and both kinds of tests were subjected to a strain range of 0.5%. TMF shortened life to 40% for 316 Stainless Steel and to 5% for Alloy 800. The microstructural evolution occurring in both alloys has been examined and we conclude these do not play a role in the life shortening caused by TMF. The TMF does produce asymmetric hysteresis loops with large tensile peak stresses in tests where the maximum temperature corresponded with the peak compressive stress. The influence of TMF on fatigue crack growth rates has been measured and it was found that TMF accelerated crack growth in Alloy 800 and slowed it down ...
The performance and lifetime of energy storage in batteries are an important part of many renewable based energy systems. Not only do batteries impact on the system performance but they are also a significant expenditure when considering the whole lifecycle costs. Poor prediction of lifetime can, therefore, lead to uncertainty in the viability of the system in the long term. This report details the work undertaken to investigate and develop two different battery life prediction methodologies with specific reference to their use in hybrid renewable energy systems. Alongside this, results from battery tests designed to exercise batteries in similar modes to those that they experience in hybrid systems have also been analysed. These have yielded battery specific parameters for use in the prediction software and the first results in the validation process of the software are also given. This work has been part of the European ...
The conservation of energy through the use of the optimum economic thickness of insulation has clear benefits for industry in the U.S. Potential energy savings have been estimated to be the equivalent of 250 million of barrels of oil per year over the next decade. As is the case with any capital expenditure, the dollars spent for insulation must be expected to provide the plant owner with a certain return on his investment. This manual provides data and guidelines for estimating dollar costs and insulation life which enable the user to specify the least-cost insulation thickness based on minimum lifecycle cost and required percentage return on investment. A large degree of design flexibility is provided for, so that specific economic and design criteria may be taken into account. A number of useful working aids are provided, including sample problems, forms and worksheets, and nomographs which may be used to simplify ...
Nuclear energy will have to cope more and more with a rapid changing environment due to economic competitive pressure and the deregulatory progress. In current economic environment, utilities will have to focus strongly on the reduction of their total generation costs, covering the fuel cycle costs, which are only partly under their control. Developments in the fuel cycle will be in the short-term rather evolutionary addressing the current needs of utilities. However, within the context of sustainable development and more and more inclusion of externalities in energy generation costs, more performing developments in the fuel cycle could become important and feasible. A life-cycle design approach of the fuel cycle will be requested in order to cover all factors in order to decrease significantly the nuclear energy generation cost to complete with other alternative fuels in the ...
The need to operate electric vehicles in warm, summer conditions and also provide for long periods of standby in cold climates is a challenging problem for any battery system. All advanced batteries of high specific energy require active cooling systems because adiabatic heating will raise the temperature to a level that is deleterious to cyclelife. This cooling requires efficient paths for escape of heat to cooled surfaces; cooling the exterior of modules is insufficient. If a battery is heated by its own energy, and insulated to withstand exposure to a cold climate, only vacuum insulation will afford an appreciable reduction (>10{degrees}C) in the ambient temperature that can be tolerated. Standard insulations are of little use for this purpose because the heat loss rate causes too high a drain on the battery energy even for near-ambient temperature batteries.
Energy in general is essential for economic and social development, prosperity, health and security of citizens. of the other hand, world population over the last 10 years has increased by more than 12%, and now it is exactly about 6.4 billion people and it means more demand for energy. Meanwhile, global primary energy consumption has seen an increase of 20%. Energy supply has some sources and unfortunately most of them have impact on lifecycle in biosphere. However, the developed countries, that are only 16% in the population in 2000, consume the energy of 80%. This article deals with the threat of global climate change and its implications throughout the world.
The report presents the results of a Gas Research Institute (GRI) program to evaluate the technical and economic aspects of design options proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for reducing the energy consumption of residential ranges and ovens as mandated by the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) of 1987. The study shows that none of the proposed DOE design options are justified except electric ignition for stand-alone cooktops, based on life-cycle costs, loss of consumer utility, safety, technical considerations, or food quality considerations. An individual range uses so little gas during the year (approximately $14/year for a self-cleaning range) that it is difficult to justify any design modification, since the cost of even a simple modification could not be recovered on the basis of gas saved.
Recently, sustainable materials have attracted attention because of the need to alleviate environmental problems. Bamboo, in particular, has attracted attention as a sustainable material because it has the fastest natural growth rate among various natural materials. A self-bonding fiberboard using high quality bamboo fiber extracted with a machining center has been enabled to be fabricated by hot press forming. Therefore, we propose a sustainable manufacturing system that focuses on bamboo. An environmental impact of our system was evaluated by lifecycle assessment (LCA), comparing with a glass fiber reinforced plastic production. Additionally, based on the LCA result, higher efficient fiber extraction process was proposed by an application of in-situ measurement of uninformed bamboo shape with irregularity.
Pipelines are normally made in low-alloyed steels and the design is based on technical and economical criteria. For the transportation of corrosive fluids, a corrosion evaluation will determine what materials can be used. In the event that stainless steel must be used, investment costs will increase significantly. Use of lifecycle cost evaluation may also apply, but we may question how often that is used properly. One must, furthermore, differ between onshore and offshore pipelines, because of differences in pipe laying conditions and in maintenance and repair costs. The consequences of a rupture may differ dramatically between onshore pipelines, too, i.e. a large gas pipeline in a populated area and a small oil pipeline in a nonpopulated area. (author)
Collectively, the organizations participating in the Site Operator Program have over forty years of EV experience and have operated electric vehicles (EVs) for over 600,000 miles, providing the most extensive EV operating and knowledge base in the country. The Site Operator Program is intended to provide financial and technical support and organizational resources to organizations active in the advancement of electric vehicles. Support is provided for the demonstration of vehicles and the test and evaluation of vehicles, components, and batteries. Support is also provided for the management and support of the program for the participating organizations. The Program provides a forum for participants to exchange information among the group, as well as with vehicle and equipment manufacturers and suppliers, and the public. A central data base at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory provides a repository for-data on the vehicles being operated by the Program participants. Data ...
Collectively, the organizations participating in the Site Operator Program have over forty years of EV experience and have operated electric vehicles (EVs) for over 600,000 miles, providing the most extensive EV operating and knowledge base in the country. The Site Operator Program is intended to provide financial and technical support and organizational resources to organizations active in the advancement of electric vehicles. Support is provided for the demonstration of vehicles and the test and evaluation of vehicles, components, and batteries. Support is also provided for the management and support of the program for the participating organizations. The Program provides a forum for participants to exchange information among the group, as well as with vehicle and equipment manufacturers and suppliers, and the public. A central data base at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory provides a repository for-data on the vehicles being operated by the Program participants. Data ...
High energy consumption and the world population increase will lead to a shrinking use of fossil fuels. The combustion of Fossil fuel leads to the increase of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere which leads to the probable increase of global warming. Therefore, concerns about carbon dioxide emissions may discourage widespread dependence on fossil fuels and encourage the development and use of renewable energy systems employing a variety of technologies Renewable energy systems have themselves an environmental impact. Land use and material employed are two areas that may have an adverse impact to the positive environmental picture of the renewable energy systems. The objective of this paper is to analyze these impacts with the use of a very powerful tool, the LifeCycle Assessment. (author)
A rapid and cost-effective assessment was required to provide advice to management on the connectivity between juvenile and adult lifecycle stages of Baldchin Groper Choerodon rubescens, a labrid endemic to the west coast of Australia, which has high social value, but relatively low commercial fishery importance. To minimise costs we used laser ablation ICP-MS to analyse levels of a small suite of elements (Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Sr, Rb, Ba and Pb) at the margin (adult phase) and core (juvenile phase) of the same otoliths of adult C. rubescens, collected at ten locations in five management zones. The elemental composition of both otolith margins and cores differed significantly among management zones and in some cases among locations within zones. Similarity of the pattern of among-zone elem...
The paper describes the latest approach to quality engineering in the design process as applied by Ontario Hydro throughout the various phases of the project lifecycle for Ontario Hydro generating stations and related facilities. Ontario Hydro has long recognized that the high quality and performance required in nuclear generating stations start in the design process and can best be achieved through an adequate and proper quality engineering programme in design. The current approach has evolved over a period of six years and represents a meaningful and effective series of requirements, functions and activities, which are used to ensure safety, reliability, economy and environmental acceptability of nuclear generating stations. (author).
A prerequisite for a sensible estimate of moisture induced stresses in timber members is an accurate prediction of the members' moisture states during their service life. There are, however, an infinite number of possible moisture states for an arbitrary timber member in a natural varying climate. The naturally varying humidity is possible to describe as harmonic cycles, with different periods, superimposed. This work presents realizations of envelop curves over the possible moisture states in a timber member for some carefully chosen harmonic humidity variations. The calculations, on which the realizations were made, are based on a fully coupled transport model including a model for the influential sorption hysteresis of wood. A format containing required information suitable for assessin...
This book applies the Los Alamos Solar Load Ratio (SLR) method to the design of passive solar heating systems, with an emphasis on the average annual heating energy consumption. Recommendations are given on minimizing heating energy consumption by appropriate choices of conservation level and solar system parameters. Analytical methods and supporting tables are presented which enable simple, fast estimates of the heating energy consumption as part of the design process. Topics considered include SLR correlations, the load collector ratio (LCR) method, sensitivity data, cooling considerations, conservation formulas, design procedure, life-cycle costs, high-mass direct gain buildings, low-mass sun-tempered buildings, sunspaces, off-reference night insulation, correlation equations, and mixed systems.
The effect of the wind on the sustain of extreme water waves is investigated experimentally and numerically. A series of experiments conducted in the Large Air-Sea Interactions Facility (LASIF) showed that a wind blowing over a strongly nonlinear short wave group due to the linear focusing of a modulated wave train may increase the life time of the extreme wave event. The expriments suggested that the air flow separation that occurs on the leeward side of the steep crests may sustain longer the maximum of modulation of the focusing-defocusing cycle. Based on a Boundary-Integral Equation Method and a pressure distribution over the steep crests given by the Jeffreys'sheltering theory, similar numerical simulations have confirmed the experimental results
New results for two types of nano-size silicon, prepared via thermal vapour deposition either with or without a graphite substrate are presented. Their superior reversible charge capacity and cyclelife as negative electrode material for lithium-ion batteries have already been shown in previous work. Here the lithiation reaction of the materials is investigated more closely via different electrochemical in situ techniques: Raman spectroscopy, dilatometry and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS). The Si/graphite compound material shows relatively high kinetics upon discharge. The moderate relative volume change and low gas evolution of the nano silicon based electrode, both being important points for a possible future use in real batteries, are discussed with respect to a standard graphite electrode. (author)
In today's maturing consumer markets, emphasis is shifting from straightforward sales to a more holistic approach to customer lifecycle management, with a stronger emphasis on how sales are generated and service provided all along the customer journey. Effectively managing these different marketing, sales and service channels poses a significant challenge. Companies need new strategies, structures, processes and tools to deliver customer value across all channels. A multi-channel, integrative customer model that delivers customer value and significant return on investment (ROI) requires both a strong understanding of customer preferences and behaviours and a robust IT architecture that supports the overarching customer relationship management (CRM) strategy. Even those organizations that ...
Over the decades, basic research in life sciences has profited greatly from the study of the small unicellular fungal species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This yeast turned out to be key for the identification and understanding of molecular mechanisms that underlay the basic functions of all eukaryotic cells. These include, but are not limited to, the regulatory mechanisms behind cellular reproduction (cell cycle control), cellular morphogenesis (cell polarity, cytoskeleton and membrane trafficking) and the management of cellular information (chromosome biology, transcription and translation). Rapid access to genomic information of many yeast species, combined with bioinformatics analyses, provide information on the evolutionary history of yeasts and the molecular ancestry of their constituen...
Significant new nuclear-specific software standards have recently been adopted under the sponsorship of the American Nuclear Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The interest of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has also been expressed through their issuance of NUREG/CR-4640. These efforts all indicate a growing awareness of the need for thorough, referenceable expressions of the way to build in and evaluate quality in nuclear software. A broader professional perspective can be seen in the growing number of software engineering standards sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society. This family of standards represents a systematic effort to capture professional consensus on quality practices throughout the software development lifecycle. The only omission-the implementation phase-is treated by accepted American National Standards Institute or de facto standards for ...
Methodology, characteristics, features and results obtained for greenhouse gases within the recent Swiss LCA study 'Environmental Life-Cycle Inventories of Energy Systems' are presented. The focus of the study is on existing average Full Energy Chains (FENCHs) in the electricity generation mixes in Europe and in Switzerland. The systems, including coal (hard coal and lignite), oil, natural gas, nuclear and hydro, are discussed one by one as well as part of the electricity mixes. Photovoltaic systems are covered separately since they are not included in the electricity mixes. A sensitivity analysis on methane leakage during long-range transport via pipeline is shown. Whilst within the current study emissions are not attributed to specific countries, the main sectors contributing to the total GHGs emissions calculated for the various FENCHs are specified. (author). 10 refs, 10 figs, 9 tabs.
California and the Northeast states have passed laws requiring 2% of 1998 cars be `0` emissions vehicles such as electric cars. Electric vehicle technology also can move emissions to less crowd and less polluted locations. However, some other problems remain. The authors focus on the environmental consequences of producing and reprocessing large quantities of batteries to power electric cars, including discussions of both characteristics of Electric Vehicles and batteries and the lifecycle of lead and the problems of environmental releases. The authors conclude that electric vehicles will not be in the public interest until they pose no greater threat to public health and the environment than do alternative technologies such as vehicles using low-emission gasoline. 19 refs., 1 tab.
Diurnal and seasonal thermal constancy, a greatly delayed seasonal temperature maximum, and summer cool and winter warm conditions characterize the stream environment below a deep-release dam in Colorado. Low diversity index and equitability values and changes in macroinvertebrate species composition may result from failure of the temperature regime to provide the thermal stimuli essential for various life-cycle phenomena. It is hypothesized that the following sublethal effects, directly or indirectly resulting from the modified temperature regime, may further alter macroinvertebrate community structure: reduction of niche overlap and a shift toward an equilibrium community as a consequence of reduced environmental fluctuation; more intense competition associated with greater productivity; elimination of major invertebrate predators; and failure of the limited temperature range to provide optimal temperatures for various physiological processes. Effects of the ...
We are developing a refuelable zinc/air battery (6-cells) for evaluation under the five USABC `core` test protocols. In the first half of the two year project ($1OOK, FY1997), an advanced refuelable design was developed, fabricated and tested at power levels up to 415 W. Performance matched or exceeded that of earlier multicell systems. A computer program was developed for automated data acquisition and drive cycle simulation. Small mockup cells (80 cm 2) were constructed for rapid testing of components. In the follow-on effort (FY1998, $1OOK) we will make minor advances in system design and fabrication efficiency, and seek to improve cathode performance and life, before delivery of two final units for test at DOE laboratory.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Pollution Prevention (EM-77) created is successful internally competed program to fund innovative projects based on projected returns. This is called the Return-on-Investment (ROI) program. EM-77 conducted a successful ROI pilot, developed and implemented sound management practices, and successfully transferred the program to several Operations Offices. Over the past 4 years sites have completed 262 ROI projects (costing $18.8 million) with claimed first-year savings of $88 million and claimed lifecycle savings exceeding $300 million. EM-77 requested that Oak Ridge National Laboratory perform an independent evaluation of the site-led, DOE-HQ-funded pollution prevention (P2) ROI program to assist the Department in determining whether claimed savings are real.
Following comprehensive research nanomaterials or products which were either still in a re-search/development status or are already available in the marketplace were identified for the water and air sectors. Based on lifecycle assessments for two case studies, it was checked how the potential benefits and impacts on the environment for nanotechnology products or processes compare with those for conventional solutions. The first case study deals with the solar treatment of water contami-nated with tetrachloroethylene, comparing nanoscale titanium dioxide (photo-catalysis) and a photo-Fenton process. The second case study on air filtration compares a passenger car cabin-air filter with nanofibres and a conventional filter. (orig.)
The goal of this project is to demonstrate that, by combining state-of-the-art technology, highly efficient plant operation and maintenance capabilities and by-product gypsum sales, significant reductions of SO{sub 2} emissions can be achieved at approximately one-half the lifecycle cost of a conventional Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) system. Further, this emission reduction is achieved without generating solid waste and while minimizing liquid wastewater effluent. Basically, this project entails the design, construction and operation of a nominal 600 MWe AFGD facility to remove SO{sub 2} from coal-fired power plant flue gas at the Northern Indiana Public Service Company`s Bailly Generating Station.
Tolerancing of assembly mechanisms is a major interest in the product lifecycle. One can distinguish several models with growing complexity, from 1-dimensional (1D) to 3-dimensional (3D) (including form deviations), and two main tolerancing assumptions, the worst case and the statistical hypothesis. This paper presents an approach to 3D statistical tolerancing using a new acceptance criterion. Our approach is based on the 1D inertial acceptance criterion that is extended to 3D and form acceptance. The modal characterisation is used to describe the form deviation of a geometry as the combination of elementary deviations (location, orientation and form). The proposed 3D statistical tolerancing is applied on a simple mechanism with lever arm. It is also compared to the traditional worst-case tolerancing using a tolerance zone.
For satisfaction of international growing demand for electrical energy it is impossible to ignore contribution of nuclear power. With an expected lifespan for nuclear plants estimated to 50-60 years of operation (years for decommissioning added), there is a need for a steady multi-generational stream of competent staff to ensure safe operations of nuclear plants. It is incumbent to governments to invest in education, research, and training for the three to five generations of people who will construct, operate and eventually decommission nuclear plants over the duration of their lifecycle. To develop sustained nuclear programs it is necessary to carry out a lot of major problems, but three of them look like as most important: 1. Training a qualified and competent personal to ensure all nuclear activities; 2. Multilateral approach for nuclear fuel cycle, with a guaranteed framework for ensuring the supply of NPP owners with ...
Combined energy plants operating on the Brayton-Rankine cycle have gained wide acceptance as the most efficient energy conversion system. The technology is well proven and numerous research activities are underway to develop it further past its present plateau of performance. In developed and emerging economies alike, the current situation in the global economic market has caused the liberalisation of the energy industry in some countries, and in others it is causing a rethink of economic and energy policies. A result is that electric utility companies that have enjoyed a monopoly in power generation and distribution are seeing this privilege being eroded. This is opening up opportunities for independent power production and, consequently, for gas/steam turbine plants because of the technical merits of the technology and its ability to fill the vacuum being created in the energy industry. An economic model has been developed for carrying out ...
The successful development of coal-fired combined cycle power generation systems require that all component parts are manufactured from appropriate materials and that these materials give predictable in-service performance. High temperature corrosion resulting from coal-derived particulates, deposition and gaseous species, is potentially life limiting for many components in these systems. Realistic laboratory test methods are outlined for gasifier and gas turbine environments and these have been combined with a materials assessment method based on accurate dimensional metrology. Such tests have allowed the production of models of materials performance as well as accurate comparisons between laboratory and plant derived data. These initial models predict the performance of materials well in the gas turbine environment, but tend to under-predict the damage observed in real gasifier environments. The differences found between materials ...
This report describes a neutron fluence assessment performed for the Kori Unit 3 pressure vessel beltline region based on the guidance specified in Regulatory Guide 1.190. In this assessment, maximum fast neutron exposures expressed in terms of fast neutron fluence (E>1 MeV) and iron atom displacements (dpa) were established for the beltline region of the pressure vessel. After Cycle 16 of reactor operation, 2nd Ex-Vessel Neutron Dosimetry Program was instituted at Kori Unit 3 to provide continuous monitoring of the beltline region of the reactor vessel. The use of the Ex-Vessel Neutron Dosimetry Program coupled with available surveillance capsule measurements provides a plant specific data base that enables the evaluation of the vessel exposure and the uncertainty associated with that exposure over the service life of the unit. Ex-Vessel Neutron Dosimetry has been evaluated at the conclusion of Cycle 17
Various electrochemical capacitors (ultracapacitors) are being developed for hybrid vehicles as candidate power assist devices for the fast response engine. The primary functions of the ultracapacitor are to level the dynamic power loads on the primary propulsion device and recover available energy from regenerative breaking during off-peak power periods. Ultracapacitors show promise toward being able to accept high regenerative pulses while exhibiting very high cyclelife. This paper will present test data from selected US Department of Energy (DOE) supported ultracapacitor projects designed to meet the fast response engine requirements. Devices containing carbon, conducting polymers, and metal oxide electrode materials in combination with aqueous or organic electrolytes are being supported by the DOE. This paper will present and discuss testing data obtained from recent prototype capacitors supplied by Maxwell Energy Products, Inc., SAFT ...
The economics of renewable energy are the largest barrier to renewable penetration. Nevertheless, the strong desire to reduce environmental emissions is considered a great support for renewable energy sources. In this paper, a full analysis for the cost of the kWh of electricity generated from different systems actually used in Egypt is presented. Also renewable energy systems are proposed and their costs are analyzed. The analysis considers the external cost of emissions from different generating systems. A proposed large scale PV plant of 3.3 MW, and a wind farm 11.25 MW grid connected at different sites are investigated. A lifecycle cost analysis for each system was performed using the present value criterion. The comparison results showed that wind energy generation has the lowest cost, followed by a combined cycle-natural gas fired system. A photovoltaic system still uses comparatively expensive technology for ...
A new type of zinc electrode is matched with new bifunctional air electrodes to produce a zinc-air battery of a novel design. The zinc electrode is a flow-thru type made from copper foam-metal. The air electrode uses corrosion resistant carbon black as a high area support for a highly dispersed spinel oxide electrocatalyst. The battery design employs flowing electrolyte, 12 M KOH saturated or supersaturated with zincate. Single cells as large as 200 cm{sup 2} (1/5 EV design scale) having a capacity of 20 AH have been tested with C/4--C/16 constant current cycling. More extensive and realistic lifecycle testing was done with 2 Ah cells, including the Simplified Federal Urban Driving Schedule (SFUDS) cycle. This testing has confirmed that these cells can provide the necessary transient power response required for urban EV applications. The cells achieved an average of 72 SFUDS repetitions (7.2 hrs) per ...
Studies are made of optimum materials and methods for manufacturing low-carbon fuels for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. When their thermal dynamic limits and the technological maturity are considered, it is inferred that no extensive improvement will be achieved by merely improving on the efficiency of the existing fuels. The use of various high-efficiency driving power sources utterly different in mechanism from the conventional ones, such as those for fuel cell-powered automobiles, and the promotion of the use of low-carbon fuels such as methanol and methane for all kinds of driving power sources including those for the said fuel cell-powered automobiles, will become necessary. The use will also be necessary of recyclable materials. The biomass resources, in particular, since they absorb CO2 gas in their growing process by virtue of photosynthesis, may be said to be free of CO2 gas emissions. They have their own problems, however, which involve the economy of energy consumed ...
Breeding populations of Great Tit Parus major and Pied Flycatcher Ficedida hypoleuca was studied to determine radionuclide ({sup 137}Cs, {sup 90}Sr) concentrations in bodies and foods (contents of gastrointestinal tracts) at different stages of the life-cycle and radiation effects upon the populations. The study was carried out in 1989--1992 near Chernobyl (in two areas with differed contamination levels: 90 Ci/km{sup 2}, 5 Ci/km{sup 2}) and East-Ural radioactive trace (Russia) (1,500 Ci/km{sup 2}, 2 Ci/km{sup 2}). Concentrations of {sup 90}Sr in egg shells of Great Tit collected near Chernobyl were 65 times higher in the more radioactive area than in the less contaminated area and varied from 56.6 to 79.7 Bq/g. Concentration of {sup 90}Sr in the contents of gastrointestinal tracts were from 0 to 10.8 Bq/g. Concentrations of radionuclides in the food increased in the sequence ``nestlings < fledglings < adults``. However, the accumulation declined from ...
This paper builds upon previous work [Sprigg and Ehlen, 2004] by introducing a bond market into a model of production and employment. The previous paper described an economy in which households choose whether to enter the labor and product markets based on wages and prices. Firms experiment with prices and employment levels to maximize their profits. We developed agent-based simulations using Aspen, a powerful economic modeling tool developed at Sandia, to demonstrate that multiple-firm economies converge toward the competitive equilibria typified by lower prices and higher output and employment, but also suffer from market noise stemming from consumer churn. In this paper we introduce a bond market as a mechanism for household savings. We simulate an economy of continuous overlapping generations in which each household grows older in the course of the simulation and continually revises its target level of savings according to a life-cycle hypothesis. Households ...
Cereal straw, a by-product in the production of agricultural crops, is considered as a potentially large source of energy supply with an estimated value of 47 x 10{sup 18} J worldwide. However, there is some debate regarding the actual amounts of straw which could be removed from arable soils without jeopardizing their quality, as well as the potential trade-offs in the overall straw-to-energy chain compared to the use of fossil energy sources. Here, we used a deterministic model of C and N dynamics in soil-crop systems to simulate the effect of straw removal under various sets of soil, climate and crop management conditions in northeastern France. Model results in terms of nitrate leaching, soil C variations, nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions were subsequently inputted into the life-cycle assessment (LCA) of a particular bio-energy chain in which straw was used to generate heat and power in a plant producing bio-ethanol from wheat grains. Straw removal had ...
The objective of this paper is to reveal to what degree bio-based jet fuels (bio-jet) can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the US aviation sector. A model of the supply and demand chain of bio-jet involving farmers, bio-refineries, airlines, and policymakers is developed by considering factors that drive the decisions of actors (i.e. decision-makers and stakeholders) in the lifecycle stages. Two kinds of feedstock are considered: oil-producing feedstock (i.e. camelina and algae) and lignocellulosic biomass (i.e. corn stover, switchgrass, and short rotation woody crops). By factoring in farmer/ feedstock producer and bio-refinery profitability requirements, land availability and suitability, as well as a time delay factor, a more realistic estimate of the level of bio-jet supply and emissions reduction can be developed under different oil price assumptions. Factors that drive bio-jet GHG emissions and unit production costs from each ...
Nowadays, unlike in the past, companies have to operate in a context of sustainable development, in which the economic and social development, production and consumption have to take into account the medium and long term impact on environment. The article sets forth some considerations about these subjects, which are assuming a growing importance in the management of companies: the variable environment may for instance be a factor of discrimination between being competitive or not. In order to characterise the context within which the environmental management has to be applied, some basic concepts about environmental management systems, LifeCycle Assessment, and Eco labeling are illustrated. As an example of application of the methodology described, a brief reference to the Italgas Group Environmental Report is given. [Italian] Oggi, a differenza del passato, le imprese si trovano ad operare in un contesto di sviluppo sostenibile, nel quale ...
Energy balances are analysed from a life-cycle perspective for biogas systems based on 8 different raw materials. The analysis is based on published data and relates to Swedish conditions. The results show that the energy input into biogas systems (i.e. large-scale biogas plants) overall corresponds to 20-40% (on average approximately 30%) of the energy content in the biogas produced. The net energy output turns negative when transport distances exceed approximately 200 km (manure), or up to 700 km (slaughterhouse waste). Large variations exist in energy efficiency among the biogas systems studied. These variations depend both on the properties of the raw materials studied and on the system design and allocation methods chosen. The net energy output from biogas systems based on raw materials that have high water content and low biogas yield (e.g. manure) is relatively low. When energy-demanding handling of the raw materials is required, the energy input increases ...
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is now evaluating its facility requirements in support of its cleanup mission at Hanford. One of the early findings is that the 200-Area steam plants, constructed in 1943, will not meet future space heating and process needs. Because the 200 Area will serve as the primary area for waste treatment and long-term storage, a reliable steam supply is a critical element of Hanford operations. This Analysis and Decision Document (ADD) is a preliminary review of the steam supply options available to the DOE. The ADD contains a comprehensive evaluation of the two major acquisition options: line-term versus privatization. It addresses the life-cycle costs associated with each alternative, as well as factors such as contracting requirements and the impact of market, safety, security, and regulatory issues. Specifically, this ADD documents current and future steam requirements for the 200 Area, describes alternatives available to DOE for ...
The Chinese government has enacted policies to promote alternative vehicle fuels (AVFs) and alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), including city bus fleets. The lifecycle (LC), energy savings (ES) and GHG reduction (GR) profiles of AVFs/AFVs are critical to those policy decisions. The well-to-wheels module of the Tsinghua-CA3EM model is employed to investigate actual performance data. Compared with conventional buses, AFVs offer differences in performance in terms of both ES and GR. Only half of the AFVs analyzed demonstrate dual benefits. However, all non-oil/gas pathways can substitute oil/gas with coal. Current policies seek to promote technology improvements and market creation initiatives within the guiding framework of national-level diversification and district-level uniformity. Combined with their actual LC behavior and in keeping with near- and long-term strategies, integrated policies should seek to (1) apply hybrid electric technology ...
The challenge for truck engine product engineering is not only to fulfill increasingly stringent emission requirements, but also to improve the engine's economical viability in its role as the backbone of our global economy. While societal impact and therefore emission limit values are to be reduced in big steps, continuous improvement is not enough but technological quantum leaps are necessary. The introduction and refinement of electronic control of all major engine systems has already been a quantum leap forward. Maximizing the benefits of these technologies to customers and society requires full use of parameter optimization and other enabling technologies. The next big step forward will be widespread use of exhaust aftertreatment on all transportation related diesel engines. While exhaust gas aftertreatment has been successfully established on gasoline (Otto cycle) engines, the introduction of exhaust aftertreatment especially for heavy-duty diesel ...
The first of three scheduled poolside fuel examinations at the Oyster Creek reactor conducted during February/March 1980, was directed at one of the four symmetrically loaded ENC 8 x 8 lead assemblies that had achieved a burnup of approx. 25,000 MWd/MTU. Forty-five of the fuel rods in assembly UD3-109 were removed and examined. In general, the individual fuel rods were in excellent condition. The average fuel rod diameter continued to decrease during the last cycle was assembly burnup increased from 19,500 to 25,700 MWd/MTU. The creepdown since the beginning of life (BOL) in the center of the fuel rods is about 0.003 in. The fuel rods bore no indication of cladding ridging. Fuel rod growth continued at a linear rate of about 0.02% per GWd/MTU burnup since BOL. Preliminary eddy current test data showed that the cladding was free of significant defects. Visual examination of fuel rods, spacers, and tie plate revealed no unusual conditions. An ...
In this review we attempt to reconstruct the evolutionary history of hominin life history from extant and fossil evidence. We utilize demographic life history theory and distinguish life history variables,...Full Text Available
The objective of the ''Waste Handling Building Conceptual Study'' is to develop proposed design requirements for the repository Waste Handling System in sufficient detail to allow the surface facility design to proceed to the License Application effort if the proposed requirements are approved by DOE. Proposed requirements were developed to further refine waste handling facility performance characteristics and design constraints with an emphasis on supporting modular construction, minimizing fuel inventory, and optimizing facility maintainability and dry handling operations. To meet this objective, this study attempts to provide an alternative design to the Site Recommendation design that is flexible, simple, reliable, and can be constructed in phases. The design concept will be input to the ''Modular Design/Construction and Operation Options Report'', which will address the overall program objectives and ...
The meeting was arranged into the following sessions: introductory; advanced ceramics and ceramic composites; ceramic and metal matrix composites; electronic materials and devices; acoustoelasticity, stress, and texture; composites-porosity, strength, and UT propagation; process modeling and monitoring; thermal wave physics; material properties, composites, surfaces, and interfaces; acoustic emission; ferromagnetic materials; new sensors; NDE reliability assessment; elastic wave scattering and propagation; image analysis, data storage, and signal processing; UT transducers; weldments and bonded materials; eddy current models; unified lifecycle engineering; x rays, CT, and NMR; eddy current probes and instruments; acoustic microscopy imaging, and reconstruction; signal processing, measurement techniques, and systems; NDE applications of artificial intelligence; crack behavior influenced by history; inversion procedures for UT and EC; process ...
The Department of Defense (DoD) has long depended on military support functions enabled by space reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) assets. Future generation satellite capabilities will further push technologies in space - if the right technologies are deployed in the right numbers and with the right payloads. Modeling and simulation play major parts in developing and deploying such assets: 1) system and operational requirements determination, and 2) assessment of military utility of such assets. Each area is critical in a system"s lifecycle. Requirements determination cuts across the issues of doctrine, organizations, training, materiel, leader development, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF). Military utility assessments are necessary to explore and quantify the military worth/benefit of space RSTA assets to operational commanders. Each of these areas requires relevant modeling/simulation tools which span the ...
Objectives1) To develop and test a simple yet effective management tool which the Chemical Process Industry can~%~ incorporate into its Environmental Management Systems linking LifeCycle Assessment with Sustainable~%~ Development and through Risk Assessment produce a Methodology which will allow companies to~%~ prioritize their moves towards a more sustainable business practice.~%~~%~ 2) Through this network on sustainable processing practice establish an inter-disciplinary li [continued...]Description~%~'Sustainable Development is a network of Sustainable Processing Routes, or ways of doing things' (Boron, Murray,2000)~%~~%~We should like to explore this concept, through the network of academic colleagues listed, supported by key companies who have already established EMAS /ISO accreditation portfolios (letters attached), and through collaboration with other like-minded practitioners in the field (SIGMA), ...
A lightweight, low permeability liner for graphite epoxy composite compressed gas storage vessels. The liner is composed of polymers that may or may not be coated with a thin layer of a low permeability material, such as silver, gold, or aluminum, deposited on a thin polymeric layer or substrate which is formed into a closed bladder using torispherical or near torispherical end caps, with or without bosses therein, about which a high strength to weight material, such as graphite epoxy composite shell, is formed to withstand the storage pressure forces. The polymeric substrate may be laminated on one or both sides with additional layers of polymeric film. The liner may be formed to a desired configuration using a dissolvable mandrel or by inflation techniques and the edges of the film seamed by heat sealing. The liner may be utilized in most any type of gas storage system, and is particularly applicable for hydrogen, gas mixtures, and oxygen used for vehicles, fuel cells or regenerative ...
A lightweight, low permeability liner for graphite epoxy composite compressed gas storage vessels. The liner is composed of polymers that may or may not be coated with a thin layer of a low permeability material, such as silver, gold, or aluminum, deposited on a thin polymeric layer or substrate which is formed into a closed bladder using torispherical or near torispherical end caps, with or without bosses therein, about which a high strength to weight material, such as graphite epoxy composite shell, is formed to withstand the storage pressure forces. The polymeric substrate may be laminated on one or both sides with additional layers of polymeric film. The liner may be formed to a desired configuration using a dissolvable mandrel or by inflation techniques and the edges of the film seamed by heat sealing. The liner may be utilized in most any type of gas storage system, and is particularly applicable for hydrogen, gas mixtures, and oxygen used for vehicles, fuel cells or regenerative ...
Topics related to aerospace power are discussed, taking into account trends and issues of military space power systems technology, space station power system advanced development, the application and use of nuclear power for future spacecraft, the current status of advanced solar array technology development, the application of a parabolic trough concentrator to space station power needs, life test results of the Intelsat-V nickel-cadmium battery, and metal hydride hydrogen storage in nickel hydrogen batteries. Other subjects explored are concerned with alternative fuels, biomass energy, biomedical power, coal gasification, electric power cycles, and electric propulsion. Attention is given to an advanced terrestrial vehicle electric propulsion systems assessment, fuel cells as electric propulsion power plants, a sinewave synthesis for high efficiency dc-ac conversion, steam desulfurization of coal, leadless transfer of energy into the body to ...
The data and information collected for the Public Service Electric and Gas Company`s (PSE&G) electric vehicle demonstration program were intended to support and enhance DOE`s Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Site Operator Program. The DOE Site Operator Program is focused on the lifecycle and reliability of Electric Vehicles (EVs). Of particular interest are vehicles currently available with features that are likely to be put into production or demonstrate new technology. PSE&G acquired eight GMC Electric G-Vans in 1991, and three TEVans in 1993, and conducted a program plan to test and assess the overall performance of these electric vehicles. To accomplish the objectives of DOE`s Site Operator`s test program, a manual data collection system was implemented. The manual data collection system has provided energy use and mileage data. From September 1991 to October 1994 PSE&G logged 69,368 miles on eleven test vehicles. PSE&G also ...
Proof-of-principle experiments are reported for a new concept in electrically rechargeable zinc-air battery. The zinc electrode is a porous flow-thru type using a copper foam metal substrate with zinc deposition onto the foam metal from concentrated zincate electrolyte (as used in zinc-slurry type batteries). The bifunctional air electrode employs low-cost materials, being fabricated entirely from carbon-based precursors and small amounts of nickel and/or cobalt oxide. Corrosion measurements on the graphite materials in the air electrode indicate sufficient corrosion resistance for 8000 h life on charge. A prototype single cell was constructed having 1.5 Ah capacity producing 1.2 V discharge -2.0 charge at the three hour rate and has produced stable voltages for more than 150 cycles. Based on the 1.5 Ah prototype characteristics, design calculations for a 32 kWh battery project an energy density of about 110 Wh/kg, peak power density of 140 ...
This report summarizes work performed by Argonne National Laboratory on fatigue and environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) in light water reactors from January 1997 to June 1997. Topics that have been investigated include (a) fatigue of carbon, low-alloy, and austenitic stainless steels (SSs) used in reactor piping and pressure vessels, (b) irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking of Types 304 and 304L SS, and (c) EAC of Alloys 600 and 690. Fatigue tests were conducted on ferritic and austenitic SSs in water that contained various concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO) to determine whether a slow strain rate applied during various portions of a tensile-loading cycle is equally effective in decreasing fatigue life. Slow-strain-rate-tensile tests were conducted in simulated boiling water reactor (BWR) water at 288 C on SS specimens irradiated to a low fluence in the Halden reactor and the results were compared with similar data from a ...
With regard to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), there is few scientific knowledge on the emission patterns into the environment and exposure pathways to humans, and basic information is insufficient to consider what measures effective are. For the purpose of promoting risk reduction of target substances more effectively and efficiently, it is desirable to comprehend accurately the causal chain from the target substances utilization to the risk intake, and to evaluate the measures covering the whole applications of target substances. As the existing researches on the PBDE emission inventory, there are EU risk assessment report (European Chemical Bureau 2000, 2002, 2003), Danish EPA (1999), Palm et al.(2002) and Alcock et al. (2003). In addition, emissions of DecaBDE are published in TRI (Toxic Release Inventory) of US EPA. However, the primary information of the previous inventories is often the same and estimations based on the measured values are few. In light of the situation, ...
A cost study is described which compared the economics of four dry/wet cooling systems to use at the existing Raft River Geothermal Plant. The results apply only at this site and should not be generalized without due consideration of the complete geothermal cycle. These systems are: the Binary Cooling Tower, evaporative condenser, Combin-aire, and a metal fin-tube dry cooling tower with deluge augmentation. The systems were evaluated using cooled, treated geothermal fluid instead of ground or surface water in the cooling loops. All comparisons were performed on the basis of a common plant site - the Raft River 5 MWe geothermal plant in Idaho. The Binary Cooling Tower and the Combin-aire cooling system were designed assuming the use of the isobutane/water surface condenser currently installed at the Raft River Plant. The other two systems had the isobutane ducted to the evaporative condensers. Capital credit was not given to the system employing the direct ...
There are many factors contributing to the changes taking place within the electric utility industry. The environmental pressures on the industry are substantial and include the global warming issue, hazardous and nuclear waste challenges, air toxicities, and the electromagnetic field controversy. An issue of special concern is deregulation of the industry, which brought with it retail wheeling, wholesale wheeling, transmission access, and market-based pricing, all of which have greatly shaken the industry. The changes are expected to happen quickly. This is quite different from the 31 years it took to deregulate the telecommunications industry, the 15 to 20 years for railroads, the 9 years for the natural gas industry, and the 2 years for the airline industry. Historically there has been a general willingness among the utilites to share information through collaborative research. Research and development is viewed as a cost and not an investment in the electric utility business. This ...
The development of a silicon carbide (SiC) heat exchanger is a critical step in the development of the Externally-Fired Combined Cycle (EFCC) power system. SiC is the only material that provides the necessary combination of resistance to creep, thermal shock, and oxidation. While the SiC structure materials provide the thermomechanical and thermophysical properties needed for an efficient system, the mechanical properties of the SiC tubes are severely degraded through corrosion by the coal combustion products. To obtain the necessary service life of thousands of hours at temperature, a protective coating is needed that is stable with both the SiC tube and the coal combustion products, resists erosion from the particle laden gas stream, is thermal shock resistant, adheres to SiC during repeated thermal shocks (start-up, process upsets, shut-down), and allows the EFCC system to be cost competitive. This demanding set of technical performance and ...
Solid polymer fuel cell (SPFC) systems are compared to spark ignition (SI) engine power systems for utility vehicle applications. Utility vehicles provide crew and payload transport and electrical power at work sites lacking grid supply. The methodology emphasizes comparison on an equal service basis. Using power system component models and numerical analysis, power systems are designed using SI engine and SPFC technologies. The power systems are compared on the basis of fuel energy consumed and lifecycle cost (LCC). Gasoline is the fuel for the SI engines, while liquid hydrogen is used for the SPFC. Three types of SPFC power system configurations are studied. The superior SPFC in terms of LCC is a fuel cell/battery hybrid where the fuel cell is sized to provide average driving power. Using today's technology, SPFC power systems have a lower fuel consumption but have higher capital costs and consequently lose to SI engine power ...
Waste management has gone through a history of shifting problems, demands, and strategies over the years. In contrast to the long prevailing view that the problem could be solved by hiding or moving it, waste is now viewed as a problem ranging from local to global concern, and as being an integral part of several sectors in society. Decisive for this view has been society's increasing complexity and thus the increasing complexity of waste, together with a general development of environmental consciousness, moving from local focus on point emission sources, to regional and global issues of more complex nature. This thesis is about the development and application ORWARE; a model for computer aided environmental systems analysis of municipal waste management. Its origin is the hypothesis that widened perspectives are needed in waste management decision-making to avoid severe sub-optimisation of environmental performance. With a strong foundation in life ...
The basic biology of the menstrual cycle is a complex, coordinated sequence of events involving the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, ovary, and endometrium. The menstrual cycle with all its...Full Text Available
We study the daily incidence of myocardial infarction deaths in Mexico for 4 years (1996-99) with a total of 129 917 cases in all the country, collected at the General Directorate of Epidemiology (National Ministry of Health). We divided the cases by sex and age and perform two kinds of analysis. First, we did an spectral analysis using the Maximum Entropy Method, considering the complete period, and minimum and maximum epochs of solar activity. The results show that the most persistent periodicity at higher frequencies in the myocardial infarction death occurrence is that of seven days. Considering the solar cycle phases, we found that during solar minimum times some frequencies are not detectable compared with solar maximum epochs, particularly that of seven days. Biological rhythms close to seven days, the circaseptans, are in general thought to be only the result of the social organization of life. However, this cannot be the only ...
The study examines the isothermal fatigue properties of novel ODS iron-base or nickel-base superalloys at temperatures of 850 C and 1050 C. The materials are different in grain structure and texture, so that particularly the effects of grain structures and textures can be studied. In order to also perform examinations of creep-fatigue interactions, various load cycles are applied. It is shown that the LCF-affected life of the grain structures of both alloy types is determined by the elastic modulus. The cyclic lifetimes determined by the conventional Manson-Coffin method for both alloy types exhibit differences of up to two orders of magnitude. Using the product of the total strain range and the elastic modulus, however, will yield precise life predictions. Under conditions of LCF stress only, the grain structure has no effect on the materials` service life, other than in the case of creep-fatigue, but ...
The FFTF is a 400-MWt sodium-cooled fast neutron flux test reactor located on the US government-owned Hanford Site in southeastern Washington state. The reactor is operated for the US Department of Energy by the Westinghouse Hanford Company. Since FFTF started routine operation in 1982, the commercially fabricated driver fuel has performed flawlessly to well beyond the design goal peak burnup of 80 MWd/kgM. The core average discharge exposure is now some 60% beyond the original design expectations and attests to the ruggedness and reliability of the mixed oxide fuel system. In Cycle 9 sixteen long-life assemblies were installed to begin the irradiation of mixed oxides in the advanced low-swelling alloy HT-9 as the Core Demonstration Experiment (CDE). Operation of the plant from initial startup testing to ten cycles of operation has confirmed that the nuclear characteristics are well within the design predictions, and all ...
Silicon is an attractive alloy-type anode material because of its highest known capacity (4200 mAh/g). However, lithium insertion into and extraction from silicon are accompanied by a huge volume change, up to 300%, which induces a strong strain on silicon and causes pulverization and rapid capacity fading due to the loss of the electrical contact between part of silicon and current collector. Si nanostructures such as nanowires, which are chemically and electrically bonded to the current collector, can overcome the pulverization problem, however, the heavy metal current collectors in these systems are larger in weight than Si active material. Herein we report a novel anode structure free of heavy metal current collectors by integrating a flexible, conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) network into a Si anode. The composite film is free-standing and has a structure similar to the steel bar reinforced concrete, where the infiltrated CNT network functions as both mechanical support and ...
The assessment of greenhouse gas impacts in the US shows that against a baseline gasoline vehicle, the impact of including the full fuel cycle generally reduces the relative advantages of alternative transportation fuels. While a switch to diesel is estimated to save 30% as compared to gasoline, the savings from natural gas/LPG are (around 20%), for ethanol from corn (8%) and for battery electricity vehicles using power from coal (6%) are much smaller. This is largely due to the use of LCA rather than end-use comparisons. However, the results also show that there would be large savings from the use of ethanol from fuel cells using methanol (39%) or natural gas (50%), while ethanol from wood in a conventional engine appears to have the greatest savings (63%). In external costs of motor vehicle use, analysis results were presented for both air pollution and energy security impacts (including SPR, military expenditures, macro-economic costs and pecuniary costs) as ...
This report provides a chronological history of policies and practices relating to the management of radioactive waste for which the US Atomic Energy Commission and its successor agencies, the Energy Research and Development Administration and the Department of Energy, have been responsible since the enactment of the Atomic Energy Act in 1946. The defense programs and capabilities that the Commission inherited in 1947 are briefly described. The Commission undertook a dramatic expansion nationwide of its physical facilities and program capabilities over the five years beginning in 1947. While the nuclear defense activities continued to be a major portion of the Atomic Energy Commission`s program, there was added in 1955 the Atoms for Peace program that spawned a multiplicity of peaceful use applications for nuclear energy, e.g., the civilian nuclear power program and its associated nuclear fuel cycle; a variety of industrial applications; and medical research, ...
Some motor operated valves now have higher torque switch settings due to regulatory requirements to ensure valve operability with appropriate margins at design basis conditions. Verifying operability with these settings imposes higher stem loads during periodic inservice testing. These higher test loads increase stresses in the various valve internal parts which may in turn increase the fatigue usage factors. This increased fatigue is judged to be a concern primarily in the valve disks, seats, yokes, stems, and stem nuts. Although the motor operators may also have significantly increased loading, they are being evaluated by the manufacturers and are beyond the scope of this study. Two gate valves representative of both relatively weak and strong valves commonly used in commercial nuclear applications were selected for fatigue analyses. Detailed dimensional and test data were available for both valves from previous studies at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Finite element ...
A new 500 kV one cycle electric circuit breaker with a mininum interrupting time of 12.5 m sec is described. The breaker, associated with a 1/4 cycle relay, insures a one cycle interruption. 5 refs.
The ODS superalloys MA 6000 and MA 760 were investigated with regard to their behaviour under non-isothermal fatigue stress. For this purpose, strain-controlled thermomechanical and bithermal experiments with different phase relationships between strain and temperature were carried out on the one hand; on the other hand, the deformation behaviour under thermomechanical stress was modelled on the basis of isothermal cyclic creep data. The fatigue experiments show that a diamond-shaped cycle derived from the stress pattern of a turbine blade is clearly less critical than in-phase and out-of-phase cycles. The life of the diamond-shaped cycle is determined by oxidation-induced crack initiation and propagation and can be predicted easily with a suitable damage model. Important damage parameters required by the model can be obtained by the less complicated bithermal fatigue tests. Modelling of the TMF ...
Some hypo-stoichiometric Zr-based Laves phase alloys were prepared and studied from a viewpoint of discharge capacity for electrochemical application. After careful alloy design of ZrMn{sub 2}-based hydrogen storage alloys through changing their stoichiometry while substituting or adding some alloying elements, the Zr(Mn{sub 0.2}V{sub 0.2}Ni{sub 0.6}){sub 1.8} alloy reveals relatively good properties with regard to hydrogen storage capacity, hydrogen equilibrium pressure and electrochemical discharge capacity. In order to improve the discharge capacity and rate-capability, Zr is partially replaced by Ti. The discharge capacity of Zr{sub 1-x}Ti{sub x}(Mn{sub 0.2}V{sub 0.2}Ni{sub 0.6}){sub 1.8} (x=0.0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.6) alloy electrodes at 30 C reaches a maximum value and decreases as the Ti fraction increases. In view of electrochemical and thermodynamic characteristics, the occurrence of a maximal phenomenon of the electrochemical discharge capacity of the alloy is attributed to a ...
Ethnobotanical and chemotaxonomical studies for antiparasitic activity of Colombian Annonaceae were carried out. In vitro antiprotozoal activity of 36 extracts obtained from six different species was determined against promastigotes of three Leishmania species, epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi and both chloroquine sensitive (F32) and resistant (W2) Plasmodium falciparum. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated in U-937 cells. Active extracts were selected according their selectivity index (SI). Extracts from Annona muricata, Rollinia exsucca, Rollinia pittieri and Xylopia aromatica were active against Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi showing IC50 values lower than 25mg/ml. Hexane extract from Rollinia pittieri leaves was the most selective against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. (IS=...
The methanol and aqueous extracts of 10 plant species (Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Carissa edulis, Fagaropsis angolensis, Harrissonia abyssinica, Myrica salicifolia, Neoboutonia macrocalyx, Strychnos heningsii, Withania somnifera and Zanthoxylum usambarensis) used to treat malaria in Meru and Kilifi Districts, Kenya, were tested for brine shrimp lethality and in vitro anti-plasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum (NF54 and ENT30). Of the plants tested, 40% of the methanol extracts were toxic to the brine shrimp (LD5050N. macrocalyx had the highest toxicity to brine shrimp nauplii (LD50 21.04+-1.8mg/ml). Methanol extracts of the rest of the plants exhibited mild or no brine shrimp toxicity (LD50>50mg/ml). The aqueo...
Objective:To evaluate the impact of avoidable mortality on the changes in life expectancy at birth in Spain.Methods:Standard life table techniques...Full Text Available
Life history theory proposes that early-life cues induce highly integrated responses in traits associated with energy partitioning, maturation, reproduction, and aging such that the individual phenotype...Full Text Available
Molecular life science is one of the fastest-growing fields of scientific and technical innovation, and biotechnology has profound effects on many aspects of daily life—often with deep, ethical...Full Text Available
Life-history theory predicts that traits involved in maturity, reproduction and survival correlate along a fast–slow continuum of life histories. Evolutionary theories and empirical results...Full Text Available
This paper reports on steam injection cycle which is similar to supplementary fired combined cycle, but for the utilized steam medium produced by HRSG, its temperature is higher and pressure is lower than in the combined cycle. In comparison with the thermodynamic advantage of the two cycles, a clear understanding of physical concept can be gotten simply by energy balance. The difference of total power output between them is subtraction of enthalpy difference of exhaust steam and feed water of HRSG in steam injection cycle from the rejected heat by water coolant of condenser in combined cycle, when using the identical gas turbine and the same amount of total fuel consumption. In general case, formulas and data are given to indicate this comparison by the ratio of steam mass flow supplied by HRSG of the two cycles. The analysis of Cheng ...
Purpose. Formation of a tracheoinnominate artery fistula (TIF) and consecutive hemorrhage is a rare and life-threatening complication with high mortality. Warning symptoms can...Full Text Available
The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) program intends to develop new designs for automobiles that will reduce fuel consumption by two thirds but otherwise have price, comfort, safety, and other measures of performance similar to the typical automobile now on the market. PNGV vehicle designs are expected to substitute lightweight materials, such as aluminum, magnesium, carbon-reinforced polymer composites, glass-reinforced polymer composites, and ultra- light steel, for heavier materials such as steel and iron in automobile components. The target mass of a PNGV vehicle is 1,960 pounds, as compared to the average current vehicle that weights 3,240 pounds. Other changes could include the use of different ferrous alloys, engineering changes, or incorporation of advanced ceramic components. Widespread adoption of these vehicle designs would affect materials markets and require concurrent development and adoption of supporting technologies to supply the materials and to use ...
The US National Energy Policy of 2001 advocated the development of advanced fuel and fuel cycle technologies that are cleaner, more efficient, less waste-intensive, and more proliferation resistant. The need for advanced fuel development is emphasized in on-going DOE-supported programs, e.g., Global Nuclear Energy Initiative (GNEI), Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI), and GEN-IV Technology Development. The Directorates of Energy & Environment (E&E) and Chemistry & Material Sciences (C&MS) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are interested in advanced fuel research and manufacturing using its multi-disciplinary capability and facilities to support a design concept of a small, secure, transportable, and autonomous reactor (SSTAR). The E&E and C&MS Directorates co-sponsored this Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) Project on Mono-Uranium Nitride Fuel Development for SSTAR ...
The effective half-life based on urine bioassay results of Wolsung NPP's worker was calculated. The effective half-life for tritiated water vapour obtained was 5 {approx} 9 days. In comparison to 10 days reported for ICRP-30, it is lower than the corresponding half-life for Reference Man. Also, the half-life was calculated based on intake amount of daily water. According to this result, the metabolism was reviewed.
We describe the architecture of LifeCode® (A-Life Medical, Inc.), a natural language processing system for free-text clinical information extraction, our methodology in applying LifeCode®...Full Text Available
The Battery Life Estimator (BLE) Manual has been prepared to assist developers in their efforts to estimate the calendar life of advanced batteries for automotive applications. Testing requirements and procedures are defined by the various manuals previously published under the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC). The purpose of this manual is to describe and standardize a method for estimating calendar life based on statistical models and degradation data acquired from typical USABC battery testing.
Alloy 800 has been used for steam generator (SG) tubing for more than 30 years, primarily in CANDU reactors and in reactors in Germany. The grade of Alloy 800 tubing used for this service has a controlled Ti/C ratio ({>=}12 for CANDU SGs), and this specification is sometimes termed Alloy 800 M or Alloy 800 NG . There have been very few corrosion-related flaws detected in this material in SG service, and, until recently, no incidences of cracking. There has been extensive R and D carried out on Alloy 800 tubing, both in Canada and elsewhere, under a variety of operating conditions, including shutdowns, which show that it has excellent resistance to corrosion-related degradation under specified and appropriate operating conditions. These R and D findings are reflected in the in-service experience. It has been shown from the R and D that Alloy 800 is susceptible to corrosion under acidic conditions, in particular those that can arise as a consequence of phosphate water treatment or ...
Alloy 800 has been used for steam generator (SG) tubing for more than 30 years, primarily in CANDU reactors and in reactors in Germany. The grade of Alloy 800 tubing used for this service has a controlled Ti/C ratio (#>=#12 for CANDU SGs), and this specification is sometimes termed Alloy 800 M or Alloy 800 NG . There have been very few corrosion-related flaws detected in this material in SG service, and, until recently, no incidences of cracking. There has been extensive R and D carried out on Alloy 800 tubing, both in Canada and elsewhere, under a variety of operating conditions, including shutdowns, which show that it has excellent resistance to corrosion-related degradation under specified and appropriate operating conditions. These R and D findings are reflected in the in-service experience. It has been shown from the R and D that Alloy 800 is susceptible to corrosion under acidic conditions, in particular those that can arise as a consequence of phosphate water treatment or ...
The Heat Cycle Research Facility (HCRF) is an experimental binary-cycle facility used to investigate different concepts and/or components for generating electrical power from a geothermal resource. This report briefly desc
A fuel cycle economic analysis was performed on four fuel cycles to provide a baseline for initial cost comparison using the Gen IV Economic Modeling Work Group G4 ECON spreadsheet model, Decision Programming Language software, the 2006 Advanced Fuel Cycle Cost Basis report, industry cost data, international papers, the nuclear power related cost study from MIT, Harvard, and the University of Chicago. The analysis developed and compared the fuel cycle cost component of the total cost of energy for a wide range of fuel cycles including: once through, thermal with fast recycle, continuous fast recycle, and thermal recycle.
The central features of the mechanical cycle that drives the contraction of muscle are two translational steps: the working stroke, whereby an attached myosin crossbridge moves relative to the actin...Full Text Available
Low operating power and short cyclelife are 2 of the main draw-backs of zinc-air batteries, despite the fact that various attempts have been made to develop improved zinc (Zn) anodes. This study investigated the performance of a Zn anode with a substantial addition of aluminium (Al). Rolled sheets of Zn-Al alloys of varying amounts of Zn and Al were used to prepare the anodes. Results of the study showed that the cells had higher open circuit voltages (OCV) values as well as a higher specific anode capacity. It was observed that specific anode capacity increased with higher current loading. The Zn{sub 59}Al{sub 41} and Zn{sub 67}Al{sub 33} sheets showed the highest performance with high OCV values of between 1540 and 1560 mV, as well as the largest specific anode capacity of 750-800 mAh per g at a discharge current of 200 mA. The 2-phase structure of the Zn-Al sheets was considered to be useful in reducing anode-passivation, and increasing ...
Studies were conducted of the bifunctional oxygen electrode. The development of a rechargeable metal-oxygen (air) cell has been hampered to a great extent by the lack of a stable and cost effective oxygen electrode capable of use during both charge and discharge. The first type of bifunctional electrode consists of two distinct catalytifc layers. The oxygen reduction catalyst layer containing a supported gold catalyst is in contact with a hydrophilic nickel layer in which evolution of oxygen takes place. Loadings of gold from 0.5 to 1.0 mg/cm/sup 2/ were investigated; carbon, graphite, metal, and spinel oxides were evaluated as substrates. The second part of the research effort was centered on developing a reversible oxygen electrode containing only one catalytic layer for both reduction and evolution of oxygen. The work was directed specifically to the study of perovskite type of oxides with the composition AA/sup 1/BO/sub 3/ where A is an element of the lanthanide series, A/sup 1/ is ...
The objectives of this research were (1) to analyze the transfers of 137Cs and 60Co in a retention pond, with emphasis on aquatic insects and (2) to determine if detectable concentrations of these radionuclides are exported by emerging aquatic insects. We analyzed the radionuclide concentrations in the following components: water solution, bottom sediments, suspended particulate matter, plankton, floating mats of filamentous algae, benthic macroinvertebrates, and emerging aquatic insects. Samples were collected quarterly from June 1981 to April 1982. The lowest concentrations (in picocuries per milliliter) occurred in solution (range: 1.4 X 10(2) to 3.2 X 10(2) for 137Cs and 8.1 X 10(-1) to 2.2 X 10(0) for 60Co). The highest concentrations (in picocuries per gram dry weight) occurred in the sediments (range: 1.5 X 10(4) to 1.1 X 10(8) for 137Cs and 1.0 X 10(2) to 4.3 X 10(6) for 60Co). The primary producers and aquatic insect consumers had concentrations of both radionuclides that were ...
As recently as 1950, 30% of the world's population lived in urban areas. By the year 2030, 60% of the world's population will live in cities, according to the United Nations 'World Population Prospects Revision Report' (2001). Urbanization is quickly transitioning communities from natural rural vegetation to man-made urban engineered infrastructure. This anthropogenic-induced change has manifested itself in microscale and mesoscale increases in temperatures in comparison to adjacent rural regions which is known as the Urban Heat Island Effect. The resultant change causes potentially adverse consequences for local and global communities. One of the great challenges facing our current generation of scientists and engineers is how to support the growth of new and existing urban centers in a sustainable manner. This is even more pronounced in arid regions, which will sustain the greatest rate of urbanization. This article is focused on understanding the ...
Sulfur poisoning from engine fuel and lube is one of the most recognizable degradation mechanisms of a NOx adsorber catalyst system for diesel emission reduction. Even with the availability of 15 ppm sulfur diesel fuel, NOx adsorber will be deactivated without an effective sulfur management. Two general pathways are currently being explored for sulfur management: (1) the use of a disposable SOx trap that can be replaced or rejuvenated offline periodically, and (2) the use of diesel fuel injection in the exhaust and high temperature de-sulfation approach to remove the sulfur poisons to recover the NOx trapping efficiency. The major concern of the de-sulfation process is the many prolonged high temperature rich cycles that catalyst will encounter during its useful life. It is shown that NOx adsorber catalyst suffers some loss of its trapping capacity upon high temperature lean-rich exposure. With the use of a disposable SOx trap to remove large ...
Oestfold Research has trough the project 'Climate accounts for disposal' for Waste Norway developed a model for calculation of net greenhouse gas emissions at the disposal of various waste types. The model is based on lifecycle methodology according to the standard IS014044. This model has been used for plastic packaging in the project by adapting the basic values of specific conditions in the municipality of Fredrikstad. Oestfold Research has made an assessment of greenhouse gas emissions for the recycling and material recovery of plastic packaging from households in the district on assignment from Fredrikstad municipality and compared with the current solution where plastic packaging together with residual waste is used for energy utilisation. Based on the population in Fredrikstad and estimated amount of plastic packaging waste arising per household per year the difference in climate impact was analyzed and these scenarios ...
Nuclear power in Romania was initiated on the basis of CANDU reactor type technology, an option found to fulfill the requirements for a sustainable economic development, to support the electric energy demand of the country and to ensure the population and environment protection. The construction of the Cernavoda NPP was heavily based on the Romanian industry participation and basic and applied nuclear research national resources. The experience acquired from Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 will be fructified in the construction of Units 2-5 to be built. The Romanian Ministry of Education and Research implemented a nuclear national program for research and development taking into account the European Union requirements and recommendations, the cooperation with the IAEA - Vienna and the Romanian government policy on short and medium terms in the nuclear field. The research-development program targeted: the reactor physics and nuclear fuel management; the operation safety of Cernavoda NPP Unit 1; ...
Percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses are being investigated as an alternative strategy to attach prosthetic limbs to patients. Although the use of these implants has shown to be promising in clinical trials, the ability to maintain a skin seal around an osseointegrated implant interface is a major challenge to prevent superficial and deep periprosthetic infections. The specific aim of this study was to establish a translational load-bearing ovine model to assess postoperative limb compensation and gait symmetry following a percutaneous osseointegrated implant. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) the animals would return to pre-amputation limb loads within 12-months; (2) the animals would return to a symmetrical gait pattern (stride length and time in stance) within 12-months. The results demonstrated that one month following surgery, the sheep loaded their amputated limb to a mean value of nearly 80% of their pre-amputation loading condition; by 12-months, this mean had dropped ...
The paper is based on a NEA study entitled `Past Trends and Current State of Nuclear Research Institutes`, which has been published in 1996. The evolution of nuclear research institutes (NRIs) in NEA countries is described from their establishment in the early fifties to present. The objectives, missions, purposes, and competences of NRIs are highlighted. Further, the resources (budget, qualified manpower, equipment such as research reactors and laboratories) are analysed, emphasising the role of the government. Country specific examples are given to illustrate different aspects of the historic evolution, present status and trends of NRIs. It is expected that the future role of NRIs will reflect the progress in nuclear science and technology and the evolving requirements of the nuclear industry with regard to safety enhancement, fuel cycle optimisation, plant life time management and extension, decommissioning of nuclear facilities and ...
The paper is based on a NEA study entitled 'Past Trends and Current State of Nuclear Research Institutes', which has been published in 1996. The evolution of nuclear research institutes (NRIs) in NEA countries is described from their establishment in the early fifties to present. The objectives, missions, purposes, and competences of NRIs are highlighted. Further, the resources (budget, qualified manpower, equipment such as research reactors and laboratories) are analysed, emphasising the role of the government. Country specific examples are given to illustrate different aspects of the historic evolution, present status and trends of NRIs. It is expected that the future role of NRIs will reflect the progress in nuclear science and technology and the evolving requirements of the nuclear industry with regard to safety enhancement, fuel cycle optimisation, plant life time management and extension, decommissioning of nuclear facilities and ...
The US Department of Energy (DOE) Mixed Waste Integrated Program (MWIP) has as one of its tasks the identification of a decision methodology and key decision criteria for the selection methodology. The aim of a multicriteria analysis is to provide an instrument for a systematic evaluation of distinct alternative projects. Determination of this methodology will clarify (1) the factors used to evaluate these alternatives, (2) the evaluator`s view of the importance of the factors, and (3) the relative value of each alternative. The selected methodology must consider the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) decision-making criteria for application to the analysis technology subsystems developed by the DOE Office of Technology Development. This report contains a compilation of several decision methodologies developed in various national laboratories, institutions, and universities. The purpose of these methodologies may vary, but the core of the ...
The primary objective of this project is to investigate the effects of global change on the biodiversity of aphid communities in Western Europe. Biodiversity has been examined at 3 levels: total number of species, phenology and reproductive strategy. Data were provided by EXAMINE, the European suction traps network which has been now operating for 35 years. 392 different species have been identified. At each location, total number of species has been regularly increasing, one additional species being caught every 1 or 2 years depending on location. This is due to introduced species but also to warming which favours rare species. No general trend of increasing density has been detected, but phenological earliness of almost all species (annual date of first appearance in suction traps) is strongly correlated with temperature and especially with mean daily temperature (during more or less long periods of time lying principally in February and March) or number of days below 0 C. Strong ...
An outline of Manitoba Hydro's Earth Power program was presented. Details of the heat pump market in Manitoba were provided, including details of residential and commercial sales. Total residential heat pump sales amounted to 577 units in 2004, equivalent to over $11.2 million in sales. Commercial installations amounted to approximately $12.7 million. An outline of industry players was presented. The goals of Manitoba Hydro were outlined in relation to geothermal energy and the Power Smart program. Their objectives included increasing awareness of geothermal energy, making heat pumps more accessible, and improving industry infrastructure. Other objectives included educating the public about life-cycle cost implications, residential loans and commercial incentives. To date, the residential power loan has provided financing to over 300 Manitoba home owners for installations, with electrical savings of over 1.34 Gwh and natural gas savings of 279,425 m"3. The program ...
Radioactive waste has been stored in large underground storage tanks at the Hanford Site since 1944. Approximately 212 million liters of waste containing approximately 240,000 metric tons of processed chemicals and 177 mega-curies of radionuclides are now stored in 177 tanks. These caustic wastes are in the form of liquids, slurries, saltcakes, and sludge. In 1991, the Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS) Program was established to manage, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of these wastes in a safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective manner. The Department of Energy (DOE) has believes that it is feasible to privatize portions of the TWRS Program. Under the privatization strategy embodied in the Request for Proposal (RFP), DOE will purchase services from a contractor-owned, contractor-operated facility under a fixed-price contract. Phase I of the TWRS privatization strategy is a proof-of-concept/commercial demonstration-scale effort. The objectives of Phase I are to ...
To realise the Dutch objectives of energy saving and emission reductions in the built environment, the use of 'Low Valued Energy' will be necessary in the future. Low Valued Energy is available from residual, ambient heat and renewable sources. Using Low Valued Energy for space heating in commercial and residential buildings requires adjusting the design of the installations, i.e. lowering the design supply temperature of the heating system from 90C to 55C or less. Appropriate heat distribution systems, e.g. floor or wall heating and radiators, have a lifecycle of 40 to 50 years. The application (on a large scale in buildings), however, requires an enormous change in the installation and building branch. To enable the application of low temperature sources in the future, the building and installation designs should be based on low temperature distribution systems. Being aware of this need, a broad implementation programme has ...
The advent of light metal alloys and advanced materials (polymer, composites, etc.) have brought the possibility of achieving important energy reductions into the full lifecycle of these materials, especially in transportation applications. 1 These materials have gained acceptance in the aerospace industry but use of light metal alloys needs to gain wider acceptance in other commercial transportation areas. Among the main reasons for the relatively low use of these materials are the lack of manufacturability, insufficient mechanical properties, and increased material costs due to processing inefficiencies. Considering the enormous potential energy savings associated with the use of light metal alloys and advanced materials in transportation, there is a need to identify R&D opportunities in the fields of materials fabrication and forming aimed at developing materials with high specific mechanical properties combined with energy ...
An initial review was conducted of the current treatment operations for remediation of groundwater contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) at the Fort lewis Logistics Center. Results from this review indicate the two pump-and-treat systems are effectively containing the TCE plume within the upper unconfined aquifer (Vashon Drift). However, mass balance calculations show the existing treatment systems alone will not accomplish the remedial action objective of cleaning up the aquifer to drinking water standards within 30 years as specified in the Record of Decision (ROD). This conclusion is based on the estimated mass of TCE at the source term (51,000 kg), the calculated mass of TCE in the aquifer (4,900 kg), and the removal rate of the pump-and-treat systems that currently ranges from 324 to 667 kg of TCe per year. Four areas within the TCE plume have been identified where enhancements could be made to the existing treatment operations. These are, Area 1 -- the vadose zone source, Area ...
A a result of its former role as a producer of nuclear weapons components, the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS), Golden, Colorado accumulated a variety of plutonium-contaminated materials. When the level of contamination exceeded a predetermined level (the economic discard limit), the materials were classified as residues rather than waste and were stored for later recovery of the plutonium. Although large quantities of residues were processed, others, primarily those more difficult to process, remain in storage at the site. It is planned for the residues with lower concentrations of plutonium to be disposed of as wastes at an appropriate disposal facility, probably the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Because the plutonium concentration is too high or because the physical or chemical form would be difficult to get into a form acceptable to WIPP, it may not be possible to dispose of a portion of the residues at WIPP. The pyrochemical salts are among the residues ...
Norway is a member of Annex 29, 'Ground-Source Heat Pump Systems Overcoming Technical and Market Barriers' (2004-2006), organized under the umbrella of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the IEA Heat Pump Programme (HPP). The 7 participating countries are Austria (Operating Agent), Canada, Japan, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the USA. The Norwegian participation is financed by ENOVA SF, and SINTEF Energy Research is responsible for planning and carrying out the Norwegian activities. This report provides a status for ground-source heat pump (GSHP) systems in Norway with regard to state-of-the-art technology, installation examples, geological data, costs and market opportunities. A Norwegian Internet home page for ground-source heat pump systems (www.energy.sintef.no/prosjekt/Annex29) is also presented. GSHP systems in Norway are classified as direct systems (groundwater and soil/ground) and indirect closed-loop systems (vertical-rock and horizontal-soil/ground). The vast majority of ...
The set of activities performed by SENTECH, Inc. addressed the specific recommendations provided to the Department of Energy (DOE) by its advisors, including the Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel and the review panel members of the DOE Annual Hydrogen Program Review. SENTECH`s efforts were conducted under five tasks: Task 1: Technology and Process Analysis; Task 2: Hydrogen Information Development and Transfer; Task 3: Educational Products; Task 4: Systems Analysis; and Task 5: LifeCycle Costs. SENTECH activities were executed in two broad areas--analysis and technology transfer. The analytical tasks undertaken in FY97 were focused on two types of analysis--systems analysis and technical/economic assessments. These analytical activities benefit DOE by providing data that allow it to define the strategic goals of the hydrogen R and D program. By collecting analysis of the energy efficiency, environmental externality, and economic ...
The main businesses of the Aker Group were outlined. The Aker Group has an operating revenue of 51.7 billion with operational experience in deepwater floaters, subsea infrastructure, onshore oil and gas plants, fixed offshore platforms, petrochemical refining, power generation, pulping, and mining. The company plans and executes capital projects, provides technology solutions and life-cycle operations, service and maintenance. The Aker Group owns 50 per cent of the Aker Kvaener offshore drilling rig located in the North Sea. This presentation outlined the challenges of working in a harsh environment. The area is characterized by a short productive season, low temperatures and limited sunlight. The direct environmental issues include spills and the impact of oil and gas infrastructure. Indirect issues include lowering the entry barriers for other kinds of resource exploitation. Other challenges of field development in Arctic areas include ice conditions, extreme ...
This report is the first of four volumes that identify and assess the environmental, health, and safety issues involved in using sodium-sulfur (Na/S) battery technology as the energy source in electric and hybrid vehicles that may affect the commercialization of Na/S batteries. This and the other reports on recycling, shipping, and vehicle safety are intended to help the Electric and Hybrid Propulsion Division of the Office of Transportation Technologies in the US Department of Energy (DOE/EHP) determine the direction of its research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) program for Na/S battery technology. The reports review the status of Na/S battery RD&D and identify potential hazards and risks that may require additional research or that may affect the design and use of Na/S batteries. This volume covers cell design and engineering as the basis of safety for Na/S batteries and describes and assesses the potential chemical, electrical, and thermal hazards and risks of Na/S ...
This report is the first of four volumes that identify and assess the environmental, health, and safety issues involved in using sodium-sulfur (Na/S) battery technology as the energy source in electric and hybrid vehicles that may affect the commercialization of Na/S batteries. This and the other reports on recycling, shipping, and vehicle safety are intended to help the Electric and Hybrid Propulsion Division of the Office of Transportation Technologies in the US Department of Energy (DOE/EHP) determine the direction of its research, development, and demonstration (RD D) program for Na/S battery technology. The reports review the status of Na/S battery RD D and identify potential hazards and risks that may require additional research or that may affect the design and use of Na/S batteries. This volume covers cell design and engineering as the basis of safety for Na/S batteries and describes and assesses the potential chemical, electrical, and thermal hazards and risks of Na/S cells ...
This paper reported on a study in which a lifecycle assessment (LCA) of cotton production in Australia was conducted to evaluate energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from tillage to export shipping. The study showed that on-farm indirect cotton-farming is the most energy consuming component, consuming nearly 32.36 GJ/ha of energy. On-farm indirect cotton-farming is the most GHG emitting component, emitting about 1.64 tonne of carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2})/ha. Energy use and the emissions by off-farm direct cotton-farming were calculated as 5.09 GJ/ha and 0.14 tonne CO{sub 2}/ha respectively. Energy consumed by off-farm indirect farming was found to be 0.036 GJ/ha or 0.002 tonne CO{sub 2}/ha. The total energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions in the Australian cotton farming system were estimated to be 46.43 GJ/ha and 2.42 tonnes CO{sub 2}/ha for on-farm, and 5.13 GJ/ha and 0.145 tonne CO{sub 2}/ha for the off-farm sections. In total, ...
The suitability of the sunflower for biodiesel production was discussed in terms of the reference values on carbon dioxide equivalents (CO{sub 2eq}) emissions for every phase of the biofuels chain as indicated in the European Union (EU) Directive on renewable energies. A lifecycle analysis performed on the agricultural phase of the sunflower showed that CO{sub 2eq} emissions from the cultivation phase exceeded the EU reference value. This paper highlighted the relevance of allocation methods to spread out energy consumption and CO{sub 2eq} emissions among sunflower biodiesel and oilcake. Allocation was made according to the principles of mass content, energy content and the economic value of co-products. The CO{sub 2eq} reductions obtained with the 3 methods were approximately 60, 50 and 25 per cent, respectively when compared to a case without allocation. Since these methods did not distinguish the different functionality of co-products in ...
Lifecycle oriented methods are increasingly used for environmental assessments (EAs) of the built environment. However, many assumptions are made in such assessments, potentially influencing the results and making the assessment more ambiguous. To increase the reliability of EAs, consequences of the assumptions made have to be better understood. Since energy use in the operation and maintenance phase is an important factor decisive for the overall environmental performance of a building, the purpose of this study is to investigate how the selection of heat and electricity mix affects the assessed environmental performance of buildings. It also aims to suggest how to choose heat and electricity data in EAs of the built environment in general. Applying four different modes of electricity production and two different modes of heat production in a case study of three different buildings with different technical solutions for heat and electricity ...
The electrochemical capacitor devices described in this report were deliverables from the US Department of Energy--Idaho Operations Office (DOE-ID) Contract No. DE-AC07-92ID13404 as part of the US Department of Energy`s (DOE) High Power Energy Storage Program. The Idaho national Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) has responsibility for technical management, testing, and evaluation of high-power batteries and electrochemical capacitors under this Program. The DOE has developed various electrochemical capacitors as candidate power assist devices for the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) fast response engine requirement. This contract with Maxwell Energy Products, Inc. (Maxwell) was intended to develop a high-energy-density, high-power-density ultracapacitor that is capable of load leveling batteries in electric vehicles. The performance criteria for this device are delivery of 5 W {center_dot} h/kg of useful energy that can be used by the vehicle at an ...
One of the main requirements to use Be as a candidate for plasma facing component in ITER is providing a reliable joint between Be and Cu-alloy heat sink structure. In this work authors present the results of recent activity on this way. To create Be/CuCrZr joints the unique fast e-beam brazing technology was developed in Russia. The numbers of Be/CuCrZr mock-ups were manufactured in Efremov Institute by fast e-beam brazing using Cu-Sn-In-Ni brazing alloy. These mock-ups were tested by Sandia Laboratory at the EBTS electron beam facility. The goals of the tests were to define the allowable dimensions of the armour tiles for the heat loads of more than 10 MW/m{sup 2}, to find the limit of bond strength for the Be/CuCrZr joint and response to heat loads and to estimate the life time of the brazed tiles by thermo-cyclic testing. The screening and thermal fatigue results are presented. With the aim to check the applicability of developed fast brazing process to DS-Cu ...
Quantification of the downed woody materials that comprise forest fuels has gained importance in Caribbean forest ecosystems due to the increasing incidence and severity of wildfires on island ecosystems. Because large-scale assessments of forest fuels have rarely been conducted for these ecosystems, forest fuels were assessed at 121 US Department of Agriculture forest service inventory plots on Puerto Rico, Vieques, and the US Virgin Islands. Results indicated that fuel loadings averaged 24.05 Mg ha(-1) in 2004-2006. Forest litter decreased from wetter to drier forest life zones. These island forests showed a paucity of coarse woody fuels (CWD) (2.91 Mg ha(-1)) and relatively greater quantities of smaller-sized fine woody fuels (FWD) (10.18 Mg ha(-1) for FWD and 10.82 Mg ha(-1) for duff/litter) when compared to continental tropical forests. Between 2001 and 2006, CWD fuel loads decreased, while fine fuels and litter increased, such that total fuel loads remained ...
The most important factor in assessing radiologic risk is ensuring scientific means for evaluation of the radioactive release impact upon humans and organisms. To evaluate quantitatively this impact not only knowledge of radioactivity distribution in these dynamical systems is necessary but also understanding the transfer mechanisms between ecosystem components is needed. Thus a complete radioecologic study appear to be very complex and needs defining the source term, dynamic description of radionuclides behavior in the ecosystem, estimation of radiation doses in the major components of the ecosystem and finally the effects of radiation doses upon different parts of the systems. A diagram of the steps implied in evaluation of the effects due to radioactive effluent release in the environment is presented and discussed. The following steps are described: - identification of radioactive sources, as well as their input rate. Presence of noxious materials such as heavy metals or some ...
Some of the methodologies, techniques, dependencies and lessons learned regarding the year 2000 (Y2K) project currently underway at PanCanadian are described. The Y2K problem, which is a date related malfunction associated with the turn of the century, may affect computers and automated control systems. The cost of fixing this world wide problem ranges from $52 billion to $2 trillion. At PanCanadian, central to ensuring that the entire corporation is ready for the Year 2000 is a dedicated project team in the information technology (IT) department who manage all the life-cycle software for the company. IT staff purchase, install and remove all obsolete software and data. Inventory, testing and remediation of all software, hardware and embedded systems are the basis of the plan of action adopted by the I.T. Y2K project team. Dealing with Y2K problems of business partners, and planning for business interruption are special problems for which different approaches have ...
In response to the 1990 Clean Air Act, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) developed a compliance plan known as the Low Emission Vehicle Program. An integral part of that program was a sales mandate to the top seven automobile manufacturers requiring the percentage of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) sold in California to be 2% in 1998, 5% in 2001 and 10% by 2003. Currently available ZEV technology will probably not meet customer demand for range and moderate cost. A potential option to meet the CARB mandate is to use two Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) technologies, namely, zinc-air refuelable batteries (ZARBs) and electromechanical batteries (EMBs, i. e., flywheels) to develop a ZEV with a 384 kilometer (240 mile) urban range. This vehicle uses a 40 kW, 70 kWh ZARB for energy storage combined with a 102 kW, 0.5 kWh EMB for power peaking. These technologies are sufficiently near-term and cost-effective to plausibly be in production by the 1999-2001 time frame for ...
A review of current daylighting design tools indicates that over 30 tools are now available, including nomographs, protractors, overlays, and programs for micro-, mini-, and mainframe computers. Computer-based tools allow testing and analyzing of more design alternatives under a wider variety of conditions than was previously practical with slower techniques, but they have not fundamentally changed the information available to the design professional. These tools are applicable to certain limited functions of the design process and do not address the varying information needs of the designer at various points in the design process. We describe a concept for a computer-based building envelope design tool that is structured to overcome many of the limitations of the existing tools. The tool would address daylighting design in the context of the overall building envelope design, covering a range of environmental quality issues in addition to quantitative aspects of lighting and energy ...
Under 10CFR50 Appendix B, utilities have a commitment to establish and maintain material control programs to assure the safety and reliability of their power plants. The guidelines in this report discuss methods of establishing, maintaining, and extending the shelf life of limited life items. In addition, these guidelines establish justifiable shelf lives for a sample of 70 items and review the effects of environmental conditions. Moreover, the guidelines are consistent with utility qualification test documentation and provide for evaluation of items with expired shelf lives. These guidelines set precedent by indicating that the shelf life is greater than previously available for many items. This increase in shelf life has been established through natural and accelerated aging tests.
This study was designed to identify the relationship between free time management and quality of life, exploring whether the amount of free time or the way people using their free time relates to their quality of life. Data were collected from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan. Of the 500 questionnaires distribute, 403 usable questionnaires were received with an 81% response rate. The result has found a positive relationship between free time management and quality of life. Contrary to this, there was no significant relationship between time allocation and quality of life. Results might indicate that people who manage their free time well lead to better quality of life. Suggestions based on the observed relationship and directions for future researches were d...
The safety analysis checklist scope and the criteria of key parameters needed to be checked for Daya bay reload cycles are introduced. The INCORE code package was used for the safety evaluation of Daya bay unit 2 cycle 2. The method and the contents can not only be applicable for Daya Bay reload cycles but also for Qinshan 600 MW and Qinshan 300 MW reload cycles.
This paper presents an investigation into the feasibility and potential advantages of a small scale Miller cycle natural gas engine for applications such as domestic combined heat and power systems. The Miller cycle engine is compared to a standard Otto cycle engine using cycle analyses and multidimensional simulation, and basic engine design implications are discussed. It is found that the Miller cycle engine has a potential for improved fuel efficiency, but at the cost of a reduced power to weight ratio. A fuel efficiency advantage of 5{yields}10% compared to a standard Otto cycle engine appears possible, however it is stated that further investigations, in particular into the topic of engine friction, are required in order to validate the findings. (author)
This paper presents an investigation into the feasibility and potential advantages of a small scale Miller cycle natural gas engine for applications such as domestic combined heat and power systems. The Miller cycle engine is compared to a standard Otto cycle engine using cycle analyses and multidimensional simulation, and basic engine design implications are discussed. It is found that the Miller cycle engine has a potential for improved fuel efficiency, but at the cost of a reduced power to weight ratio. A fuel efficiency advantage of Formula Not Shown compared to a standard Otto cycle engine appears possible, however it is stated that further investigations, in particular into the topic of engine friction, are required in order to validate the findings.
Deteriorating air quality in urban areas is leading bus manufacturers to look for cleaner drives of urban buses. Various new systems are now available, but it is difficult to compare them and verify their effects without having a driving cycle accurately representing contemporary average urban bus use. The idealized form (engine cycle, passenger car cycle or different kW/tonnes ratio and traffic conditions) of existing driving cycles disqualifies them for the purpose. For this reason, it was decided to attempt the development of a new driving cycle for urban buses. To this end, measurements were carried out on buses in service in four major Dutch towns. The resulting data were combined to produce a reference cycle comprising all data relating to urban bus use. Statistical methods were then used to compare a large number of 15-20 minute ...
A public health emergency such as an influenza pandemic will lead to shortages of mechanical ventilators, critical care beds, and other potentially life saving treatments. This will raise difficult...Full Text Available
The study of the origin of life covers many areas of expertise and requires the input of various scientific communities. In recent years, this research field has often been viewed as part of a broader...Full Text Available
BackgroundThere has been substantial research on psychosocial and health care determinants of health disparities in the United States (US) but less on the role of modifiable risk...Full Text Available
ObjectivesThe objective of this paper is to describe the complex mixed-methods design of a study conducted to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe aim of this study is to validate the questionnaire ECOS-16 (Assessment of health related quality of life in osteoporosis) for the evaluation of health related quality...Full Text Available
Depending on the species, the end of flower life span is characterized by petal wilting or by abscission of petals that are still fully turgid. Wilting at the end of petal life is due to programmed...Full Text Available
A mild reduction in mitochondrial respiration extends the life span of many species, including C. elegans. We recently showed that hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is required for...Full Text Available
BackgroundHeterogeneous results for research investigating health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients undergoing sphincter-ablating procedures for rectal cancer...Full Text Available
BackgroundQuality of Life measurements are necessary tools for effectively evaluating health services. In the population of patients afflicted with war-related blindness in Iran,...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the psychosocial effects on the quality of life (QOL) of adults with head and neck cancer (HNC) and any gender variations with predictive factors that may influence...Full Text Available
Probabilistic sensitivities using the score function method are developed for a lifing analysis of an alpha + beta titanium alloy in a round bar under axial fatigue load. Sensitivities with respect to the statistical inputs of the crack initiation size (a...
ObjectiveTo report the outcome of children with life-threatening asthma (LTA) admitted to a university Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).MethodsRetrospective...Full Text Available
BackgroundAlthough considerable progress has been made in the treatment of chronic kidney disease, compromised quality of life continues to be a significant problem for patients...Full Text Available
BackgroundIn a previous study conducted at the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center of the European Ramazzini Foundation (CMCRC/ERF), we demonstrated for the first time that aspartame...Full Text Available
BackgroundHealth related quality of life (HRQoL) is one of the most important outcomes to measure effectiveness of an intervention, especially for islet transplantation...Full Text Available
There is increasing evidence for an empiric link between late-life depression and Alzheimer disease (AD). The neuropathology of AD, previously only confirmed at autopsy, may now be detectable...Full Text Available
Hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia accelerate both aging and cancer. Antidiabetic biguanides such as metformin decrease glucose, insulin and IGF-1 level. Metformin increases lifespan and prevents cancer...Full Text Available
BackgroundMigrants everywhere face several demands for health and maintaining good health and quality of life could be challenging. Iraqis are the second largest refugee group that...Full Text Available
Individuals from families recruited for the Long Life Family Study (LLFS) (n= 4559) were examined and compared to individuals from other cohorts to determine whether the recruitment targeting longevity...Full Text Available
Studies in mammals have led to the suggestion that hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia are important factors both in aging and in the development of cancer. It is possible that the life-prolonging effects...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe aim of the study was to develop a menopause-specific, preference-based health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) index reflecting both menopausal symptoms and potential...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVES: To assess the subjective quality of life (QOL) of family caregivers of Sudanese type-1 and type-2 diabetic outpatients, using the WHO 26-item QOL instrument, compared with a general population...Full Text Available
The ethical dimension of treating the elderly, including risk–benefit analysis, focuses mainly on quality of life and end-of-life issues. These include arguments on advance directives and the...Full Text Available
Introduction:Although radical prostatectomy (RP) is an effective treatment for prostate cancer, it has potentially deleterious effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL)....Full Text Available
BackgroundThe effects of intervention programs on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with hip fracture have not been well studied. We hypothesized that older patients...Full Text Available
BackgroundParents of chronically ill children are at risk for a lower Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Insight in the dynamics of factors influencing parental HRQoL is necessary...Full Text Available
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) is a 400 MWt sodium-cooled fast reactor operated by Westinghouse Hanford Company for the US Department of Energy to conduct fuels and materials testing in support of the US Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor programme. Early in 1982, the FFTF began its first 100 day irradiation cycle. Since that time the plant has operated very well, achieving a cycle capacity factor of 94 per cent in the most recent irradiation cycle. The authors describe the results achieved in the first three cycles of operation and carrying through to the fourth reactor cycle which began in January 1984. (author).
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. has developed a gas turbine combined cycle and cogeneration plant computer aided engineering (CAE) system, which creates cycle heat balance automatically on given configurations of gas turbines, heat recovery boilers, steam turbines and auxiliaries. The system can predict the performance of the plant as a function of control set points, loads, process steam requirements and ambient conditions, which enables accurate and fast design of gas turbine combined cycle and cogeneration plants. (author)
Abstract Ionizing radiation is a ubiquitous feature of the Cosmos, from exogenous cosmic rays (CR) to the intrinsic mineral radioactivity of a habitable world, and its influences on the emergence and persistence of life are wide-ranging and profound. Much attention has already been focused on the deleterious effects of ionizing radiation on organisms and the complex molecules of life, but ionizing radiation also performs many crucial functions in the generation of habitable planetary environments and the origins of life. This review surveys the role of CR and mineral radioactivity in star formation, generation of biogenic elements, and the synthesis of organic molecules and driving of prebiotic chemistry. Another major theme is the multiple layers of shielding of planetary surfaces from th...
Power system components, especially components failure, can significantly affect the reliability of a power system. Data about failure rate in electrical products were obtained from products life testing and analyzed in order to predict reliability. The distribution curve fitting method was used to estimate failure probability. Ten relays of different life times have been used to illustrate the validity of this analytical technique. 3 refs., 3 tabs.
The radiation life time of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) is the most important limiting factor for the term of exploitation of the whole power unit. The main degradation mechanism of RPV metal is the neutron induced embrittlement. Processes of radiation ageing running in RPV metal lead to fracture toughness decrease and to increased probability of brittle fracture of the vessel under thermal shocks. This explains the importance of RPV integrity assessment and rest life time management
This study examined the life histories of a group of emerging scholars in the field of mathematics education who identify themselves as having a particular interest in and concern for issues of equity and diversity. Experiences of being the "other," "bearing witness" to "othering experiences," and "orienting experiences" in relation to issues of equity proved to be prominent themes in participants' life histories. These experiences were then linked to the positionality that these scholars now have in relation to their research in mathematics education.
This paper describes a maintenance problem in a fusion power plant. The problem is to specify which life limited parts should be replaced when there is an opportunity. The objective is to minimize the cost rate of replacement parts and of maintenance actions while satisfying a power plant availability constraint. The maintenance policy is to look ahead and replace all parts that will reach their life limits within a time called a screen. Longer screens yield greater system availabilities because more parts are replaced prior to their life limits.
"1"0"1Mo is an important radionuclide to determine the burn-up of nuclear fuels, but its half-life reference values had marked differences. It is described in detail the principles and processes of the position normalization method by two high purity germanium detectors to determinate the half-life of "1"0"1Mo. (authors)
This report summarizes the research and development activities of Los Alamos National Laboratory's Life Sciences Division for the calendar year 1988. Technical reports related to the current status of projects are presented in sufficient detail to permit the informed reader to assess their scope and significance. Summaries useful to the casual reader desiring general information have been prepared by the Group Leaders and appear in each group overview. Investigators on the staff of the Life Sciences Division will be pleased to provide further information.
The need for cost effective, high performance, long life capacitors with improved reliability is discussed. It is shown that a low cost, miniature aluminum capacitor, with improved reliability and proven life, can be produced with existing technology. It is further shown that the capacitor can be specified for 125 C life and shelf test requirements, and meet established standards for their parametric performance.
A work on the world of astrophysics primarily for lay readers. The author writes only about the discoveries he ''experienced'' during the past 25 years (before 1979). Illustrated somewhat in color plus a set of superb colar plates. Contents, abridged: The long life of stars. The life story of the sun. The life story of massive stars. The end of stars. How stars are born. Planets and their inhabitants.
On 7 May 2009, the Ministry of the Environment set up a working group to evaluate the possible use of biodegradable waste and other biodegradable material flows for energy production and obstacles to promoting their use in the whole production cycle. The deadline for the working group was 31 January 2010. According to its mandate, the working group had to make proposals for the measures needed to promote the energy use of biodegradable waste in order to fulfil the targets of the Government Foresight Report on Long-term Climate and Energy Policy. The working group proposes thirteen measures to be put into operation so that the investments aimed at the energy use of biodegradable waste would grow significantly from the present level. The most important measure is a full ban on depositing biodegradable waste in landfills. The working group sees that the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from landfills should, in any case, be made more effective and that the ...
The present article describes the features of the fully-fired combined cycles and the outline of the plant. Hitachi has optimized fully-fired combined cycle systems by executing a heat recovery type combined cycle. For the fully-fired combined cycles, it is possible to raise plant efficiency through the selection of adequate gas turbine types and cycles. It is possible to apply existing boiler facilities, fuel combustion systems, and stacks. It is possible to execute civil and architectural works on existing plants in-service as well as modification works during routine inspections. The NOx increment by gas turbine unit installations can be reduced by denitration plant modifications. Examples of the fully-fired combined cycles under planning are also introduced. Furthermore, the relational technique and operational characteristics are mentioned, as for ...
A unified model is presented for a class of combined energy systems, in which the systems mainly consist of a heat engine, a combustor and a counter-flow heat exchanger and the heat engine in the systems may have different thermodynamic cycle modes such as the Brayton cycle, Carnot cycle, Stirling cycle, Ericsson cycle, and so on. Not only the irreversibilities of the heat leak and finite-rate heat transfer but also the different cycle modes of the heat engine are considered in the model. On the basis of Newton's law, expressions for the overall efficiency and power output of the combined energy system with an irreversible Brayton cycle are derived. The maximum overall efficiency and power output and other relevant parameters are calculated. The general characteristic curves of the system are presented for some given parameters. ...
The fatigue life variability of the #alpha#+#beta# titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo increased with decreasing stress level. The variability in life was found to be due to segregation of lives due to two failure mechanisms. A bimodal cumulative distribution model was shown to accurately describe the combined failure modes. The nominal failure processes for the two regimes were similar, with crack nucleation occurring in equiaxed #alpha#p particles, irrespective of life or stress level. However the variability in life was not controlled by the size of the crack-nucleating #alpha#p, but rather by the ability of the material to distribute deformation and avoid early crack nucleation.
Given the important role of parent-youth communication in adolescent well-being and quality of life, we sought to examine the relationship between specific communication variables and youth perceived quality of life in general and as a deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) individual. A convenience sample of 230 youth (mean age = 14.1, standard deviation = 2.2; 24% used sign only, 40% speech only, and 36% sign + speech) was surveyed on communication-related issues, generic and DHH-specific quality of life, and depression symptoms. Higher youth perception of their ability to understand parents' communication was significantly correlated with perceived quality of life as well as lower reported depressive symptoms and lower perceived stigma. Youth who use speech as their single mode of communication ...
Summary 1. A primary goal of evolutionary ecology is to understand factors selecting for the diversity of life histories. Life-history components, such as time-to-reproduction, adult survivorship and fecundity, might differ among species because of variation in direct and indirect benefits of these life histories in different environments or might have lower-than-expected variability because of phylogenetic constraints. Here, we present a phylogenetic examination of demography and life histories using a data base of 204 terrestrial plant species. 2. Overall, statistical models without phylogeny were preferred to models with phylogeny for vital rates and elasticities, suggesting that they lacked phylogenetic signal and are evolutionarily labile. However, the effect of phylogeny was signific...
ABSTRACT This research examined whether the Internet improves life satisfaction. The study surveyed 195 college students, and a structural model was built to explain effects of the Internet on school life satisfaction using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In line with social cognitive theory and literature on social effects of the Internet, current data supported the hypotheses that Internet use, perceived online social support, and online social self-efficacy had direct positive impacts on school life satisfaction. Offline extroversion, online extroversion, online social self-efficacy, and online social outcome expectations influenced school life satisfaction indirectly: offline extroversion acted through social online self-efficacy and online extroversion; online social self-effica...
In order to improve the well-known short operational life time of BF3 counters, three potential adsorbents for impurity gases (graphite, activated charcoal and a zirconium-aluminum mixture) were introduced into BF3 counters in the form of coating on the aluminum cathode surface. Tests in el fields revealed that a partial coating of activated charcoal provides the best result. The improvement of their operational life in el fields was about three orders of magnitude in terms of tolerable exposure. Many counters with a partial coating of activated charcoal were further tested from the following viewpoints: background noise, vibration and shock, el pulse discrimination, operational life in a neutron field and non-operational in-reactor exposure life. The results were satisfactory for reactor control and protection usage. (author).
The use of natural energy sources and their conversion to secondary forms of energy are a crucial base for the development of our society with its continuous change of requirements due to an increase in population and the broadening of the needs in our modern life. As a consequence the consumption of primary energy resources rose drastically worldwide during the last 5 decades in particular in the industrialized regions such as Europe. Parallel in time the increasing awareness of negative effects of fuel dependent pollution on the environment and the introduction of stringent emission control regulations about 3 decades ago initiated extensive development and retrofit activities resulting in the today applied high level state of the art. As an additional challenge the worldwide debate about the potential effects of the emission of the s.c green house gases on the global climate in particular carbon dioxide from the use of predominantly fossil fuels have initiated ...
Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils that have been chemically modified by esterification; an example is rapeseed oil methyl ester (RME), made by treating rapeseed oil with methanol. Biodiesel can be burned directly in diesel engines. Oil from the rapeseed variety known as 00 was the first type of vegetable oil used for transesterification to produce biodiesel. Many other oils have been used successfully as biodiesel feedstock including sunflower oil in Southern France and Italy, soybean oil in the USA, and palm oil in Malaysia. Biodiesel can be made from a wide range of feedstock and multi-feedstock blends. Compared to conventional diesel biodiesel has some environmentally friendly advantages, e.g. biodiesel is reported to release fewer solid particles. Potentially even more important is the low level of carbon dioxide generation associated with biodiesel, at a time when CO{sub 2} emissions are falling in every industrial sector except transport. Life-cycle ...
This paper makes a case for "good politics for good education", with special reference to Nigeria. It surveys the impact of good and bad politics on the attainment of Meaningful Access to education with special focus on Nigeria's Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme. Good politics is to be likened to what the French call "la politique au sense noble du terme" (politics in the noble sense of the term--or statesmanship) while bad politics is to be likened to a "politique politicienne" (mere divisive politicking, or politics in its raw form). Politics in its raw form is concerned with seeking power for self-aggrandisement while politics in its noble form is concerned with seeking power for public good. In situations where good politics prevails, educational policies, programmes and delivery processes tend to produce the desirable outcome of "children passing through school and the school also passing through them". By combining the seven exclusion zones used in the work of CREATE ...
Thirty-seven patients with primary nonresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (57% with prior treatment and/or metastasis) were prospectively treated with external radiation, chemotherapy, and "1"3"1I labelled anti-CEA. Therapy began in all trials with whole liver irradiation (21.0 Gy, 3.0 Gy/Fx, 4 days/week, 10 MV photons) with alternate treatment day chemotherapy (Adriamycin, 15 mg + 5-FU, 500 mg). One month after external beam therapy, chemotherapy was given (Adriamycin, 15 mg + 5-FU, 500 mg) followed the next day by the first administration of "1"3"1I anti-CEA. The treatment schedule used was 20 mCi day 0; 10 mCi day 5 as an outpatient. This schedule was derived from tumor dose estimates which indicated that 20 mCi (8-10 mCi/mg IgG) was sufficient to achieve tumor saturation with a tumor effective half-life of 3 to 5 days, depending upon the species of animal from which the antibody was obtained. The median tumor dose for the 20 mCi + 10 mCi regimen was 6.2 ...
The extensive research and development effort was initiated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 2002 at West Virginia University (WVU) in order to investigate practical ways of reducing the structural weight and increasing the durability of heavy vehicles through the judicious use of lightweight composite materials. While this project was initially focused on specific Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) material, namely Aluminum/Silicon Carbide (Al/SiC) commercially referenced as ''LANXIDE'', the current research effort was expanded from the component level to the system level and from MMC to other composite material systems. Broadening the scope of this research is warranted not only by the structural and economical deficiencies of the ''LANXIDE'' MMC material, but also by the strong coupling that exists between the material and the geometric characteristics of the structure. Such coupling requires a truly ...
Herbivores and pathogens impact the species composition, ecosystem function, and socioeconomic value of forests. Herbivores and pathogens are an integral part of forests, but sometimes produce undesirable effects and a degradation of forest resources. In the United States, a few species of forest pests routinely have significant impacts on up to 20 million ha of forest with economic costs that probably exceed $1 billion/year. Climatic change could alter patterns of disturbance from herbivores and pathogens through: (1) direct effects on the development and survival of herbivores and pathogens; (2) physiological changes in tree defenses; and (3) indirect effects from changes in the abundance of natural enemies (e.g. parasitoids of insect herbivores), mutualists (e.g. insect vectors of tree pathogens), and competitors. Because of their short lifecycles, mobility, reproductive potential, and physiological sensitivity to temperature, even modest ...
Storing electrical energy in batteries is not a viable option for sustaining a country's energy economy. The mass and volume, as well as the costs, of electrochemical components required for this would be beyond all reason. Nevertheless, in certain applications the storage of electrical energy does have significant advantages over other technologies. For example, electrically powered road vehicles emit no exhaust fumes and very little noise at their place of operation. In this way they contribute substantially to air and noise pollution control in urban areas. Photovoltaic applications permit environmentally friendly electricity applications in places remote from the public grid where conventional solutions are prohibitively expensive. More than in the past, battery systems today have to meet a wide range of technical, economic and ecological requirements in order to be marketable. This is why the ''Zoxy'' zinc-air battery system was ...
This study explored adolescents' sexual self-disclosure in real life and cyberspace, as well as gender differences of sexual self-disclosure in cyberspace. There were 115 male and 92 female adolescents who participated in this pretest and posttest survey. In general, the depth of sexual self-disclosure in real life was greater than in cyberspace, but the breadth of sexual selfdisclosure in both real life and cyberspace was equivalent. The cross-lagged panel analysis indicated that adolescents who were willing to self-disclose sexual topics in real life also selfdisclosed them more in cyberspace, and vice versa. Furthermore, sexual self-disclosure in both disclosing environments was mutually predicted by each other. The findings also indicated that cyberspace might not be a substitute channel of compensatory gratification for sexual self-disclosure in real life. As for gender ...
An Otto cycle engine with internal and external irreversibilities of friction and heat leakage, in which the heat transfer between the working fluid and the environment obeys linear phenomenological heat transfer law [q ?? ?(T ?1)], is studied in this paper. The optimal piston motion trajectory for maximizing the work output per cycle is derived for the fixed total cycle time and fuel consumed per cycle. Optimal control theory is applied to determine the optimal piston trajectories for the cases of with and without piston acceleration constraint on each stroke and the optimal distribution of the total cycle time among the strokes. The optimal piston motion with acceleration constraint for each stroke consists of three segments, including initial maximum acceleration and final maximum decel...
Many aspects of cellular motility and mechanics are cyclic in nature such as the extension and retraction of lamellipodia or filopodia. Inherent to the cycles of extension and retraction that test the environment is the production of mechano-chemical signals that can alter long-term cell behavior, transcription patterns, and cell fate. We are just starting to define such cycles in several aspects of cell motility, including periodic contractions, integrin cycles of binding and release as well as the normal oscillations in motile activity. Cycles of local cell contraction and release are directly coupled to cycles of stressing and releasing extracellular contacts (matrix or cells) as well as cytoplasmic mechanotransducers. Stretching can alter external physical properties or sites exposed b...
The advantage of high-resolution sequence stratigraphy, which takes base-levels as reference, is that it can be applied to continental depositional basins controlled by multiple factors and can effectively improve the accuracy and resolution of sequential stratigraphic analysis. Moreover, the principles of base-level cycles are also suitable for analyzing sequential stratigraphy in continental coal-bearing basins because of their accuracy in forecasting distribution of coal measures. By taking the Dongsheng coalfield in the Ordos basin as an example, the extensive application of base-level cycles in exploration and exploitation of coal is analyzed. The result shows that the Yan'an formation in the Dongsheng area is a long-term base-level cycle which is bordered by nonconformities and made up of five mid-term cycles and 13 short-term cycles. The long-term ...
Vulnerability to xylem embolism by freeze-thaw cycles and water stress was quantified in ring-porous (Quercus gambelii Nutt.), diffuse-porous (Populus tremuloides Michx.,...Full Text Available
We show here sodium ion cycling between complex I from Klebsiella pneumoniae and the F1F0 ATP synthase from Ilyobacter tartaricus in a reconstituted...Full Text Available
Most genetic changes that promote tumorigenesis involve dysregulation of G1 cell cycle progression. A key regulatory site in G1 is a growth factor–dependent restriction point (R) where cells...Full Text Available
This paper presents part-load evaluation of a natural gas-fired chemical looping combustion (CLC) combined cycle with CO2 capture. The novel combined cycle employs an air-based gas turbine, a CO2-turbine and a steam turbine cycle. In this combined cycle, the CLC reactors replace combustion chamber of the gas turbine. The proposed combined cycle has a net plant efficiency of about 52.2% at full-load, including CO2 compression to 200 bar. The part-load evaluation shows that reducing the load down to 60% results in an efficiency drop of 2.6%-points. However, the plant shows better relative part-load efficiency compared to conventional combined cycles. The pressure in CLC-reduction and -oxidation reactors is balanced by airflow control, using a compressor equipped with variable guide vanes. A combination of control strategies is discussed for plant start-up and ...
The hair follicle cycle successively goes through the anagen, catagen, telogen, and latency phases, which correspond, respectively, to hair growth, arrest, shedding, and absence before a new anagen...Full Text Available
Microstructural evolution due to thermal effects was studied in micro solder joints (55 {+-} 5 {micro}m). The composition of the Sn/Pb solder studied was found to be hypereutectic with a tin content of 65--70 wt%.This was determined by Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis and confirmed with quantitative stereology. The quantitative stereological value of the surface-to-volume ratio was used to characterize and compare the coarsening during thermal cycling from 0--160 C to the coarsening during annealing at 160 C. The initial coarsening of the annealed samples was more rapid than the cycled samples, but tapered off as time to the one-half as expected. Because the substrates to which the solder was bonded have different thermal expansion coefficients, the cycled samples experienced a mechanical strain with thermal cycling. The low-strain cycled samples had a 2.8% strain imposed on the ...
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) was designed to test fast-reactor fuels and other nonfuel materials. In its 37 reactor cycles of operations, the FFTF reactor has performed very well and successfully completed all the irradiation testings with an operating efficiency factor as high as 98%. Since FFTF is an experimental reactor, its core loading changed from cycle to cycle. Depending on the number of test assemblies in the core and their location, the core loading can change significantly from an essentially homogeneous core loading to a relatively nonhomogeneous or even highly localized heterogeneous loading. Consequently, the core reload design and initial criticality analyses were required for each operating cycle. The zero power initial critical control rod bank height was predicted before each reactor startup. The initial critical prediction depends on the reactivity conditions at the end of the ...
The major driver to enhance the efficiency of the simple gas turbine cycle has been the increase in process conditions through advancements in materials and cooling methods. Thermodynamic cycle developments or cycle integration are among the possible ways to further enhance performance. The current paper presents the possibilities and advantages from the LOTHECO natural gas-fired combined cycle concept. In the LOTHECO cycle, low-temperature waste heat or solar heat is used for the evaporation of injected water droplets in the compressed air entering the gas turbine's combustion chamber. Following a description of this innovative cycle, its advantages are demonstrated by comparison between different gas turbine power generation systems for small and large-scale applications, including thermodynamic and economic analysis. A commercial gas turbine (ALSTOM GT10C) ...
The photosynthetic activity of the green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda was investigated during synchronous growth in light/dark cycles. The rate of O2 evolution increased...Full Text Available
SummaryFor mammalian somatic cells the importance of microtubule cytoskeleton integrity in interphase cell cycle progression is uncertain. The loss, diminishment, or stabilization...Full Text Available
In this paper we have proposed a novel gas turbine cycle with hydrogen-fueled chemical-looping combustion, and the system study on two hydrogen-fueled power plants, the new gas turbine cycle and an advanced gas turbine cycle with H{sub 2}/O{sub 2} combustion, has been investigated with the aid of exergy principle (EUD methodology). The hydrogen fueled chemical-looping combustion in the new gas turbine cycle consists of two successive reactions: hydrogen fuel is reacted with metal oxide (reduction of metal oxide), and then instead of air or pure oxygen, the reduced metal is successively oxidized by the saturated air. As a result, the new hydrogen-fueled gas turbine cycle has a breakthrough performance, with at least about 12 percentage-point higher efficiency compared to the gas turbine cycle with H{sub 2}/O{sub 2} combustion, and will be environmentally superior ...
Rocket-Based Combined-Cycle (RBCC) engines intended for missiles and/or space launch applications incorporate features of rocket propulsion systems operating in concert with airbreathing engine cycles. Performance evaluation of these types of engines, which are intended to operate from static sea level take-off to supersonic cruise or accerlerate to orbit, requires ground test capabilities which integrate rocket component testing with airbreathing engine testing. A combined cycle engine test facility has been constructed in the General Applied Science Laboratories, Inc. (GASL) Aeropropulsion Test Laboratory to meet this requirement. The facility was designed to support the development of an innovative combined cycle engine concept which features a rocket based ramjet combustor. The test requirements included the ability to conduct tests in which the propulsive force was generated by rocket only, the ...
An experimental study was conducted to determine the effects of ply thickness in composite laminates on thermally induced cracking and changes in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). After a few thermal cycles, laminates with thick-plies cracked, resulting in large changes in CTE. CTE`s of the thin-ply laminates were unaffected by microcracking during the first 500 thermal cycles, whereas, the CTE`s of the thick-ply laminates changed significantly. After about 1500 cycles, microdamage had also reduced the CTE of the thin-ply laminates to a value of about half of their initial value.
The cell cycle-regulatory transcription factor E2F-1 is regulated by interactions with proteins such as the retinoblastoma gene product and by cell cycle-dependent alterations in E2F-1 mRNA abundance....Full Text Available
The possibility of having properly designed multinational fuel cycle agreements which would contribute to public acceptance of nuclear energy are explored. The advantages of existing international cooperation in the field of uranium enrichment and nuclear waste disposal and reprocessing are discussed. The possible forms of multinational co-operation under an international organisation, committed the non-proliferation and operating under international law and covering storage facilities, security of raw materials and the nuclear fuel cycle are summarised in model form. (U.K.).
A 5 V glassy carbon capacitor stack was built consisting of four bipolar and two end-plate electrodes. More than 100,000 charging/discharging cycles were applied to test the stability of the double-layer capacitor. Low and high frequency resistances were measured as a function of the number of cycles. (author) 2 figs., 1 ref.
The fuel management study on 18-months fuel cycle project is introduced for Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station. Station from the selection of the objective of fuel management for 18-months cycle, the method used and the analysis done are explained in detail to reach the final loading pattern chosen
The state of chromatin during the cell cycle was examined using synchronized cultures of CHO hamster cells. Results support Mazia's dynamic chromosome cycle model and indicate that DNA-interactive chemotherapeutic agents elicit different types of kinetic responses in treated cells, suggesting a degree of specificity of interaction between various alkylating and intercalating agents and the genome. Effects of sarkosyl crystals, heparin, and chemotherapeutic agents, neocarzinostatin and adriamycin, on chromation are discussed. (HLW)
We propose a dynamical model for business cycle based on an optimal DI model. In the model there exists a conserved quantity, which corresponds to the total energy in a dynamical system. We found that the business cycle with the period 6 or 7 years is nicely reproduced, since the model predicts a periodic motion in the conservative system.
Laser-Doppler anemometry was used to investigate mean flow and turbulence fields in a direct injection diesel engine, motored at speeds of 1500, 2250 and 3000 rev/min. Both cycle-resolved and ensemble-averaged measurements were made in the upper part of the cylinder during the inlet and compression strokes. The cycle-resolved measurements in the inlet stroke are discussed in this paper.
18-Months cycle reload design verifications of Daya Bay NPS is briefly described. It was attempted giving the description of analysis scope and key technology for a nuclear power plant which will be changed fuel management strategy from one year to 18-months cycle
The origin of life and the origin of the universe represent two of the most important problems of science. Both are resolved by hydro-gravitational dynamics (HGD) cosmology (Gibson 1996, Schild 1996, Gibson 2009ab), which predicts frozen primordial hydrogen-helium gas planets in clumps as the dark matter of galaxies. Merging Earth-mass planets formed stars, moons and comets to incubate and cosmically seed the first life. Cometary panspermia (Hoyle and Wickramasinghe 1981, 1982; Wickramasinghe et al. 2009) occurs naturally by HGD mechanisms. Comets and moons are fragments from mergers of stardust covered frozen gas planets in their step-wise growth to star mass. Supernovae from stellar over-accretion of planets produce stardust (C, N, O, P etc.) chemical fertilizer. Planets collect this infected radioactive dust gravitationally, to provide liquid water domains in contact with life nutrients seeded with ...
An explanation is given of life estimation of CV cable and OF cable which are generally used as high-voltage power cable. CV cable uses XLPE (crosslined polyethylene) and OF cable uses oil-immersed paper as electrical insulators. Relating to CV cable, voltage deterioration due to partial discharge and electric treeing occurs in a high electric field, and by extrapolating the data of up to the actually used electric field in this high electric field, the life is estimate (there is an n-power deterioration law which is V{sup n} = t between breakdown voltage V and electric applied time t). Validity of this extrapolation, however, is a future issue. Further, in the use under the immersion condition, water tree deterioration phenomena influenced by water content and the electric field which are characteristic of CV cable are seen even in the actually used low electric field, and the life index becomes considerably small. ...
Biomass is one of the main natural resources in Sweden. The present low-CO{sub 2} emission characteristics of the Swedish electricity production system (hydro and nuclear) can be retained only by expansion of biofuel applications for energy purposes. Domestic Swedish biomass resources are vast and renewable, but not infinite. They must be utilized as efficiently as possible, in order to make sure that they meet the conditions for sustainability in the future. Application of efficient power generation cycles at low costs is essential for meeting this challenge. This applies also to municipal solid waste incineration with energy extraction, which should be preferred to its dumping in landfills. Hybrid dual-fuel combined cycle units are a simple and affordable way to increase the electric efficiency of biofuel energy utilization, without big investments, uncertainties or loss of reliability arising from complicated technologies. Configurations of ...
We present the results obtained from tests and studies carried out on the model of tube bundles for a PGV-1000 horizontal steam generator that were conducted for experimentally substantiating the design service life of a steam generator tube bundle intended for use at new nuclear power stations equipped with a PGV-1000MKP steam generator. Measures taken to minimize the incipience and development of local corrosion damage to the heat-transfer tubes and ensure their design service life are substantiated and confirmed.
This study was initiated to provide empirical data and analyses on the dam passage timing, travel rate, survival, and life history variation of fall Chinook salmon that are produced in the Clearwater River. The area of interest for this study focuses on the lower four miles of the Clearwater River and its confluence with the Snake River because this is an area where many fish delay their seaward migration. The goal of the project is to increase our understanding of the environmental and biological factors that affect juvenile life history of fall Chinook salmon in the Clearwater River. The following summaries are provided for each of the individual chapters in this report.
Hope is an essential dimension of life. Hope, according to Marcel?s thinking, is the act by which the temptation to despair is actively overcome. Hope comes alive when confronting life?s trials, darkness, illness and separation. Marcel differentiates ?I hope? from ?I hope that?. Hope as a central construct for nursing has been analysed, defined, and studied by the nursing theorist Jean Watson in her Theory of Human Caring, and Kaye Herth with her strategies (Herth Hope Index). These strategies are based on Marcel?s existential notion that human beings have an endless possibility of improving their own being.
The fatigue properties of EP539LM alloy with an Al-Nb-Si fused slurry coating and a Co-Cr-Al-Y electron-beam coating are investigated experimentally in vacuum and in air at 900 C. It is found that the protective coatings reduce the fatigue life of the specimens both in vacuum and in air, with the electron-beam coating affecting the fatigue life of the alloy to a lesser degree than the fused slurry coating. The negative effect of the coatings on the fatigue life of the alloy is attributed largely to the properties of the coating material. 7 references.
In order to investigate the influence of grain boundary cavities on the life time of Alloy 800 H various fatigue tests have been performed at 800/sup 0/C. Cavity formation has been observed only in asymmetrical tests. Compared to the corresponding symmetrical tests, the cyclic life time is shorter. As the cavitation damage increases, the ratio of life times in vacuum and in air steadily decreases from an initial value of 5. In extreme cases it can reach a value close to 1. In this case, cavitation damage dominates over the usual damage mechanism, which is cracks from the surface.
Abstract The creation of chirality on Earth and the development of chiral life have been discussed in this highlight. Convincing evidence for the introduction of chirality on Earth is still fragmentary. We believe that by a combination of chiral crystallization and formation of helical polymers with preferred chiral conformational structure is the key to this question. This concept of macromolecular asymmetry has inspired ideas and resulted in possible rules for how chiral life as we know it, could have been introduced. These investigations needed the understanding of the requirements for chiral crystallization, for the stereochemistry of the initial formation of helical polymers, the measurements of optical activity of solids and their coordination with the fundamentals of chirality. Spac...
Many sunspot cycles are double peaked. In 1967 Gnevyshev suggested that actually all cycles have two peaks generated by different physical mechanisms, but sometimes the gap between them is too short for the maxima to be distinguished in indices of the total sunspot activity. Here we show that indeed all cycles have two peaks easily identified in sunspot activity in different latitudinal bands. We study the double peaks in the last 12 sunspot cycles and show that they are manifestation of the two surges of toroidal field - the one generated from the poloidal field advected all the way on the surface to the poles, down to the tachocline and equatorward to sunspot latitudes, and another one generated from the poloidal field diffused at midlatitudes from the surface to the tachocline and transformed there into toroidal field. The existence of these two surges of toroidal field is due to the relative ...
Concepts involving combined gas-turbine/steam-turbine power-generation plants, in which the fuel gas for the gas turbine is produced via the gasification of coal, are now extremely advanced. This technology already permits efficiencies of around 50% current development targets view 65% as achievable. In conventional technology, efficiencies are tied to conditions, such as air and cooling-water temperatures, at the particular location. In combined-cycle power plants, the properties of the fuel coal also play an important part. There are, in face, coals which can be more advantageously used in a combined-cycle power plant than in a conventional one. These differences, combined with advantageous concepts for coal-fired combined-cycle power-generating plants, are presented and analyzed. Particular attention is devoted to individual losses occurring at coal conversion, thermodynamic cycles, integration of ...
A series of hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycles have been performed on palladium wire samples, stressed by a constant mechanical tension, in order to investigate the changes in electrical and mechanical properties. A large increase of palladium electrical resistivity has been reported due to the combined effects of the production of defects linked to hydrogen insertion into the host lattice and the stress applied to the sample. An increase of the palladium sample strain due to hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycles in ????? phase transitions is observed compared to the sample subjected to mechanical tension only. The loss of initial metallurgical properties of the sample occurs already after the first hydrogen cycle, i.e. a displacement from the initial metallic behavior (increase of the resistivity and decrease of thermal coefficient of resistivity) to a worse one occurs already after the first hydrogen ...
A new process engineering flowsheet reflecting an improved design of the LASL Bismuth Sulfate thermochemical cycle is presented. The design is based on laboratory data that indicate a lowered endothermic heat load for a partial decomposition of the solid bismuth sulfate. A small electrical energy demand should result from operation of the sulfur dioxide electrolytic step at lower acid concentration, in principle. The results of the flowsheeting analysis yield a thermal efficiency of 50% for the cycle when coupled to a conceptual fusion energy heat source at 1500/sup 0/K. A parametric analysis shows a slight drop in efficiency as the temperature of the heat source is decreased. The LASL Bismuth Sulfate thermochemical cycle appears to have potential as a means of producing hydrogen from high-temperature heat sources such as fusion, fission, and solar energy; it also appears to be competitive with alternative thermochemical ...
This study describes the construction of a simple mathematical model its validation through the simulation in transient state of a real cycle performed by a solar refrigerator based on physical adsorption using an activated carbon/methanol pair. The deviation from experimental results was 4% for the cycled mass of methanol, 2.2 % for maximum collector average temperature, and 3 x 10{sup -3} for the theoretical cycle coefficient of performance. Additional simulations of the same cycle inputting values representing different types and larger amounts of activated carbon showed the possibility of increasing the cycled methanol mass up to about 150%. (author) 26 refs., 16 figs., 9 tabs.
The closed-cycle hydrogen-oxygen PEM regenerative fuel cell (RFC) at Nasa Glenn Research Center has successfully demonstrated closed-cycle operation at rated power for multiple charge/discharge cycles. During the charge cycle the RFC has absorbed input electrical power simulating a solar day cycle ranging from zero to 15 kWe peak, and delivered steady 5 kWe output power for periods exceeding 8 h. Orderly transitions from charge to discharge mode, and return to charging after full discharge, have been accomplished without incident. The RFC is beginning to demonstrate its potential as an energy storage device for aerospace solar power systems such as solar electric aircraft, lunar and planetary surface installations - any airless environment where minimum system weight is critical. This hard...
Tunable output wavelength is an important character of a free electron laser (FEL). As generally understood, to alter the wavelength of a high-gain harmonic generation (HGHG) FEL laser, the seed laser must be tunable. A few-cycle, high intensity laser obtained by optical compression usually has pretty broad bandwidth in the spectral domain, which can be used as the seed laser of a HGHG and may open the possibility to approach a HGHG scheme with fully tunable wavelength. In this paper, a HGHG FEL seeded by a few-cycle laser is theoretically discussed and numerically investigated. A few-cycle seed laser significantly influences HGHG FEL performance, especially in output wavelength tuning. For a HGHG FEL seeded by a 4-cycle 786 nm laser, output wavelength tunability range up to 14.9% of the central wavelength 262 nm is observed by adjusting the resonant condition.
The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of heat loss characterized by a percentage of the fuel's energy, friction and variable specific heats of working fluid on the performance of an air standard Otto cycle with a restriction of maximum cycle temperature. A more realistic and precise relationship between the fuel's chemical energy and the heat leakage that is based on a pair of inequalities is derived through the resulting temperature. The variations in power output and thermal efficiency with compression ratio, and the relations between the power output and the thermal efficiency of the cycle are presented. The results show that the power output as well as the efficiency where maximum power output occurs will increase with increase of the maximum cycle temperature. The temp...
Japan's basic nuclear policy is to reprocess spent fuel and to effectively use the recovered plutonium and uranium. MOX fuel utilization in LWRs is promoted in 16-18 reactors by FY2015. Commercial operation of Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant is planned to start in 2012. Prototype reactor 'Monju' restarted operation in May 2010. From FY 2007, Fast Reactor Cycle Technology Development Project (FaCT project) started which focuses more toward the commercialization stage FBR cycle. Basic scenario of Japan's R and D aims for realization of demonstration FBR by around 2025 and introducing commercial FBRs before 2050. Smooth transition from LWR fuel cycle to FBR one is an important point. For nuclear fuel cycle which requires long term R and D, human resources development and keeping is vitally important. (author)
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) core loading during its ninth operating cycle was significantly different from that of previous cycles because of the presence of the Core Demonstration Experiment (CDE). The CDE consists of a number of axially blanketed fuel assemblies and internal blankets prototypic of advanced oxide cores in Liquid Metal Reactors (LMR). In preparation for the Cycle 9 reload design effort, a careful assessment of control rod worth and reactivity calculations for Cycles 1 through 8 was made. The goal of this study was to establish calculational biases and reduce uncertainties factored into the reload design calculations. These analyses helped assure that the operational objectives for Cycle 9 were met.
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) core loading during its ninth operating cycle was significantly different from that of previous cycles because of the presence of the Core Demonstration Experiment (CDE). The CDE consists of a number of axially blanketed fuel assemblies and internal blankets prototypic of advanced oxide cores in Liquid Metal Reactors (LMR). In preparation for the Cycle 9 reload design effort, a careful assessment of control rod worth and reactivity calculations for Cycles 1 through 8 was made. The goal of this study was to establish calculational biases and reduce uncertainties factored into the reload design calculations. These analyses helped assure that the operational objectives for Cycle 9 were met.
In this article based on extensive ethnographic interviewing of eighty-six Japanese adults, I analyze the different ways in which they understand life after death, and consider the societal implications of their views. I examine senses of life after death as based in communion with departed family members as linked to practices of ancestor veneration and ideologies of Japaneseness. I consider heaven/hell or reincarnation as linked, through the idea of impartial judgment of the individual, to meritocracy and the examination system. I examine agnosticism and relativism in senses of life after death as linked to the idea that individual freedom of choice may exist in the next world if not necessarily within the constraints of this Japanese world. I examine disbelief in any realm beyond the gr...
... P ) FERS 4 ... i 25. Opportunity for better fringe benefits 1 outside of the Federal Sector (eg, sick leave, _ annual leave, health or life insurance) .... ...
Although the life expectancy of thalassemia patients has markedly improved over the last few decades, patients still suffer from many complications of this congenital disease. The presence of a high...Full Text Available
The Nobel lecture of Chandrasekhar is printed in which he describes the basic processes that determine the life history of a star with particular emphasis on the roles of stellar mass and radiation pressure. (AIP)
Regional Information: Quality of Life Sports and Recreation. Professional Sports Teams. New Orleans Saints - National Football League; New Orleans Hornets ...
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a life-threatening reaction of neuroleptic medication. The estimated incidence rate of neuroleptic malignant syndrome is between 1% and 1.5% of patients treated with...Full Text Available
Southam, G., Rothschild, L. & Westall, F. (2007). The geology and habitability of terrestrial planets: fundamental requirements for life.. In: K.E. Fishbaugh, P. ...
The presentation describes the status of modern weld overlay technology for refurbishment, upgrading and life extension of boilers. The approaches to life extension of boilers include field overlay application, shop-fabricated panels for replacement of the worn, corroded waterwall and shop-fabricated overlay tubing for replacement of individual tubes in superheaters, generating banks and other areas. The characteristics of weld overlay products are briefly described. Also discussed are successful applications of various corrosion-resistant overlays for life extension of boiler tubes in waste-to-energy boilers, coal-fired boilers and chemical recovery boilers. Types of corrosion and selection of weld overlay alloys in these systems are also discussed. (orig.) 14 refs.
This presentation details how wind turbine gearboxes fail to meet 20-year design life and how the Gearbox Reliability Collaborative (GRC) is addressing the challenges.
To predict the fatigue life of fiber reinforced composites, fatigue process of CFRP laminates of [0 /90 ]{sub s} is investigated and the influence of damages occurring at fiber, matrix and fiber/matrix interface on the various critical strengths and the relationship between residual critical strength and failure are discussed. As a result, it was shown that fatigue strength (i.e. fatigue life) consisted of residual critical strength and stresses occurring at each layer (0 and 90 layers) and interlayer. Moreover, the fatigue failure occurred because the residual critical strength of each layer and interlayer decreased with dependence of their microdamage densities, so that the fatigue life can be predicted by evaluating microdamage behavior in fatigue process. (orig.) 14 refs.
... asymmetric versions of two different methods of joining GRP composite sandwich panels 3with steel were obtained (see Figure 1.7), the idea being ...
... content of the environment) are significant factors affecting the useful service life of adhesive bonded plastic composite sandwich panels at 650 F ...
J.V. Poplawski and Associates, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Effect of Roller Profile on Cylindrical. Roller Bearing Life Prediction. NASA/TM2000-210368 ...
The dynamic response characteristics of the VAWT rotor are important factors governing the safety and fatique life of VAWT systems. The principal problems are ...
The necessity of supporting more and more social interaction (and not only the mere information sharing) in online environments is the disruptive force upon which phenomena ascribed to the Web2.0 paradigm continuously bud. People interacting in online socio-technical environments mould technology on their needs, seamlessly integrating it into their everyday life. MUVEs (Multi User Virtual Environments) are no exception and, in several cases, represent the new frontier in this field. In this work we analyze if and how MUVEs can be considered a mean for augmenting communities (and more in general people) life. We trace a framework of analysis based on four main observations, and through these lenses we look at Second Life and at several projects we are currently developing in that synthetic world.
... C14 and C15 are special aluminum electrolytic capacitors manufactured by Cornell-Dubilier and designed for high-frequency capability, long life ...
Uniaxial low-cycle fatigue and creep-fatigue tests have been carried out on hollow alloy 800 specimens that were filled with steam. Two testing temperatures were employed, each with its own steam condition. These temperatures and steam conditions were 650/sup 0/F with saturated steam (5% liquid, 95% vapor) and 1200/sup 0/F with superheated steam at 2200 psi. The low-cycle fatigue tests were carried out at both 650/sup 0/F and 1200/sup 0/F by cycling the strain between equal tensile and compressive magnitudes until specimen failure or until it was no longer practical to continue the test. The creep-fatigue tests were carried out to failure by cycling the strain in the same fashion as in the low-cycle fatigue tests but with holds imposed at either the peak tensile strain or the peak compressive strain or at both peak tensile and compressive strains in each loading ...
The LiMnO{sub 2} lamellar oxide, obtained by exchange reaction from its sodium homologue {alpha}-NaMnO{sub 2}, has been used as a positive electrode for lithium batteries. After the first electrochemical cycle, the shape of the potential-composition curve changes and indicates a change in the structure. This modification changes imperceptibly at each cycle and after about 40 cycles, a stationary state is reached. Powder spectra refinement using the Rietvelt method shows a migration of manganese ions from the thin sheets towards the inter-sheet space. After a single cycle, 8% of the manganese ions are already present in the lithium site and this rate reaches 13% after 3 cycles. During long cycling, a redistribution of ions and vacancies inside the cfc oxygenated pile leads to a structure very similar to the LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} spinel. This structure evolution is ...
Characteristic study for the recycled fuel cycle, MOX fuel and Th-MOX fuel in PWR was performed with the comparison of 4 w/o UO2 fuel. It was assumed that there are no limit in reprocessing and no technical difficulty in recycling of spent fuel. The effect of recycling, plutonium composition, conversion ratio, MTC, FTC was investigated to each cycle. (Th+Pu)O_2 recycle option was advantageous because the loading amount of plutonium could be reduced from 8.3 w/o at once-through cycle to 3.5 w/o. (Th+Pu)O_2 recycled fuel was known to be higher Pu-239 consumption rate and more Pu-240(242) production rate. The (Th+U)O2 and (U+Pu)O2 once-through fuel cycle revealed high conversion ratio. The (U+Pu)O_2 recycled fuel cycle, however, showed low conversion ratio. Safety of each cycle was ensured by negative MTC and FTC
Measurements using radioactive targets are important for the determination of key reaction path ways associated with the synthesis of the elements in nuclear astrophysics (sprocess), advanced fuel cycle initiative (transmutation of radioactive waste), and stockpile stewardship. High precision capture cross-section measurements are needed to interpret observations, predict elemental or isotopical ratios, and unobserved abundances. There are two new detector systems that are presently being commissioned at Los Alamos National Laboratory for very precise measurements of (n,{gamma}) and (n,f) cross-sections using small quantities of radioactive samples. DANCE (Detector for Advanced Neutron-Capture Experiments), a 4 {pi} gamma array made up of 160 BaF{sub 2} detectors, is designed to measure neutron capture cross-sections of unstable nuclei in the low-energy range (thermal to {approx}500 keV). The high granularity and high detection efficiency of DANCE, combined with ...
The goal of this DOE Vision-21 project work scope is to develop an integrated suite of software tools that can be used to simulate and visualize advanced plant concepts. Existing process simulation software does not meet the DOE's objective of ''virtual simulation'' which is needed to evaluate complex cycles. The overall intent of the DOE is to improve predictive tools for cycle analysis, and to improve the component models that are used in turn to simulate the cycle. Advanced component models are available; however, a generic coupling capability that will link the advanced component models to the cycle simulation software remains to be developed. In the current project, the coupling of the cycle analysis and cycle component simulation software will be based on an existing suite of programs. The challenge is to ...
Epidemiological studies of psychopathology in the first years of life are few, and the association between mental health problems in infancy and psychiatric disturbances later in life has not been systematically investigated. The aim of the present project was to study mental health problems and possibilities of intervention from infancy and onward.
Various diagnostics techniques for condition monitoring and life prediction of fluid power components and system are discussed. Though some of the techniques are very promising but may not be accepted because of increase in the instrumentation, it is planned to implement these techniques on various circuits of Fluid Power Lab for further improving and developing these for direct implementation in various fluid power circuits of power reactors. (author). 6 figs.
The major purpose of the Police Family Life Education Project (FLEP) is 'to develop and deliver a program that will provide police recruits and their immediate family members with stress management education that focuses on the role and responsibilities o...
The paper discusses the role of the Life Management Programme in ensuring a safe operation of the Dukovany nuclear power plant. The Programme involves the following major items: (i) primary circuit materials degradation assessment, (ii) pipeline damage control by the Flow Assisted Corrosion Monitoring and Prediction Programme, and (iii) the DIALIFE diagnostic system. (author)
A thesis is presented on improving the understanding of the fatigue properties of wood and fatigue failure mechanisms in the design of wind turbine blades. Three main areas were researched: the effect of R ratio on fatigue life, the effect of moisture on fatigue life and the development of cumulative damage laws. Tests were carried out on mainly four-ply laminates. Recommendations to future work are outlined. (U.K.).
Abstract This article advocates that some form of personal immortality is not only taught in F.D.E. Schleiermacher's Glaubenslehre but is also necessary for the coherence of the same work. The combination of a naturalized account of redemption, a commitment to universal salvation and the realist observation that some never know Christ in this life causes Schleiermacher to posit a certain but content-free afterlife to account for the discrepancy.
A multiple comparison approach using whole genome transcriptional arrays was used to identify genes and pathways involved in calorie restriction/dietary restriction (DR) life span extension in Drosophila....Full Text Available
Specifications of the PGV-1000 steam generators applied at the WWER-1000 NPP power units, operational experience and data on damages at the 'cold' heat carriers of steam generators are considered and their results are presented. Developed and introduced measures aimed at improving reliability and operational life of the PGV-1000 collectors are described.
The impact of a single seizure on cognition remains controversial. We hypothesized that a single early life seizure (sELS) on rat post-natal day (P) 7 would alter only hippocampal-dependent...Full Text Available
This study was performed to assess the possibility that patient age may independently affect improvements in health-related quality of life following percutaneous coronary intervention. One hundred five patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention at a single tertiary referral center between January 10, 2001 and January 6, 2002 were enrolled and prospectively evaluated. Health-related quality of life was assessed before and 1 year following percutaneous coronary intervention using Short Form-12 and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire. For the purpose of analysis, patients were divided according to age (younger than 60, 60-70, and older than 70 years). One hundred patients (95%) completed both questionnaires. Baseline characteristics among the age groups were similar in terms of gender, cardiac risk factors, and procedural details. All health-related quality-of-life indices demonstrated improvements with at ...
The purpose of this study is to determine the thermal reliability of stearic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid and lauric acid as latent heat energy storage materials with respect to various numbers of thermal cycles. The fatty acids, as phase change materials (PCMs), of industrial grade (purity between 90% and 97%) were subjected to accelerated thermal cycle tests. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis technique was applied to the PCMs after 0, 120, 560, 850 and 1200 melt/freeze cycles in order to measure the melting temperatures and the latent heats of fusion of the PCMs. The DSC results indicated that the change in melting temperature for the PCMs was in the range of 0.07-7.87 {sup o}C, and the change in latent heat of fusion was -1.0% to -27.7%, except for stearic acid between 560 and 1200 melt/freeze cycles. However, the decrease in the latent heats of fusion for all the PCMs was ...
The purpose of this study is to determine the thermal reliability of stearic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid and lauric acid as latent heat energy storage materials with respect to various numbers of thermal cycles. The fatty acids, as phase change materials (PCMs), of industrial grade (purity between 90% and 97%) were subjected to accelerated thermal cycle tests. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis technique was applied to the PCMs after 0, 120, 560, 850 and 1200 melt/freeze cycles in order to measure the melting temperatures and the latent heats of fusion of the PCMs. The DSC results indicated that the change in melting temperature for the PCMs was in the range of 0.07-7.87 deg. C, and the change in latent heat of fusion was -1.0% to -27.7%, except for stearic acid between 560 and 1200 melt/freeze cycles. However, the decrease in the latent heats of fusion for all the PCMs was not ...
We continue our discussion of the general bosonic prototype of the new orbifold-string theories of permutation-type. Supplementing the extended physical-state conditions of the previous paper, we construct here the extended Virasoro generators with cycle central charge $\\hat{c}_j(\\sigma)=26f_j(\\sigma)$, where $f_j(\\sigma)$ is the length of cycle $j$ in twisted sector $\\sigma$. We also find an equivalent, reduced formulation of each physical-state problem at reduced cycle central charge $c_j(\\sigma)=26$. These tools are used to begin the study of the target space-time dimension $\\hat{D}_j(\\sigma)$ of cycle $j$ in sector $\\sigma$, which is naturally defined as the number of zero modes (momenta) of each cycle. The general model-dependent formulae derived here will be used extensively in succeeding papers, but are evaluated in this paper only for the simplest case of the "pure" ...
There are various interesting semantics' (extensions) designed for argumentation frameworks. They enable to assign a meaning, e.g., to odd-length cycles. Our main motivation is to transfer semantics' proposed by Baroni, Giacomin and Guida for argumetation frameworks with odd-length cycles to logic programs with odd-length cycles through default negation. The developed construction is even stronger. For a given logic program an argumentation framework is defined. The construction enables to transfer each semantics of the resulting argumentation framework to a semantics of the given logic program. Weak points of the construction are discussed and some future continuations of this approach are outlined.
In most industrial processes operating at elevated temperatures, protective oxide layers perform a vital duty in protecting the underlying metallic alloys from process gases. Coal-fired combined cycle power generation systems present a number of process conditions in which the properties of the protective oxide layers are particularly important. This paper discusses two of these particular conditions: (1) `erosion/corrosion` of in-bed heat exchanger tubing and (2) thermal cycling of hot gas path components. For both these situations, the desirable properties of protective scales are outlined. The behaviour of scales in practice are highlighted. 33 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.
The restricted temperature stability of the synthetic thermal oil which is used as heat carrier fluid in parabolic trough collectors so far limits the live steam parameters in the steam cycle to approximately 375 Celsius. In order to break through this limit, already for quite some time it is researched to replace the thermal oil by boiler feeding waters and to accomplish the evaporation in the collectors. The contribution under consideration gives an overview on the direct evaporation concept and summarizes the past operational experiences. Moreover, the challenges with the integration of this technology in a steam turbine cycle are elaborated.
National Power is building its first gas turbine combined cycle power station at Killingholme, situated to the south of the River Humber in the East of England. NEI ABB Gas Turbines Limited was awarded the turnkey contract in July 1990 to build a nominal 650 MW combined cycle power station based around three Asea Brown Boveri GT13E gas turbines. The project is outlined in this article. The plant is due for completion in July 1993. (author)
This contribution describes our research and development effort towards an electrically rechargeable zinc/air battery which is capable of meeting the demands of a scaled power profile (driving-cycle tests). The power profiles DST (Dynamic Stress Test) and ECE15-L (European Driving Cycle for alkaline Batteries) were applied to our 200 and 50 cm{sup 2} electrically rechargeable Zn/O{sub 2} cells with nominal capacities of 30 and 7.5 Ah, respectively. (authors)
According to China's 'Medium- and Long-term Nuclear Power Development Program (2005-2020)', nuclear energy development in China will take the technical line of closed nuclear fuel cycle. This paper discusses the significance of closed nuclear fuel cycle, and briefly introduces development trends in the world. This article also discusses the opportunity to construct spent fuel reprocessing plant; equilibrium of plutonium production and consumption; adaptability and economics to use MOX fuel in the thermal neutron reactor. Some suggestions are put forward to the overall development of nuclear energy in China. (authors)
The design of a solar heated cavity receiver transferring 60 MW of thermal energy to the working medium (air) for a closed-cycle gas turbine is described. The gas turbine plant with its cycle layout is presented. Then the tubes for the receiver are designed taking into account thermal and mechanical loads. It is shown how the occurring stresses are influenced by the destribution of the locally absorbed hat flux. Calculations for an existing coal fired air heater of a closed-cycle gas turbine give a first impression of the long-term behaviour to be expected of the receiver tubes.
Condensing curves are presented for a number of two-component mixed hydrocarbon working fluids which are potentially usable in binary geothermal cycles. Performance of geothermal thermodynamic cycles incorporating these fluids has been evaluated under separate cover; two figures summarizing the results of those evaluations have been included here for continuity. The purpose of this report is: first, to document the condensing curves which were used in the mixed fluid cycle analyses, and second, to provide background useful in the preliminary evaluation of heat rejection systems for advanced geothermal electric power plants utilizing mixed hydrocarbon working fluids. Some concluding remarks are presented.
Calcium stannate (CaSnO3) powders with the distorted perovskite structure have been synthesized by solid state and the sol-gel methods and their electrochemical performance was compared. The sol-gel CaSnO3 shows stable cycling performance with a reversible capacity of 430-440 mAh/g (0.005-1.0 V; 60 mA/g) up to 50 cycles. The role of preparatory conditions, morphology and cycling conditions (current density and potential window) on the anodic performance of the compounds are addressed.
Desiccant cooling is a potentially environmentally friendly technology that can be used to condition the internal environment of buildings. Unlike conventional air conditioning systems, which rely on electrical energy to drive the cooling cycle, desiccant cooling is a heat-driven cycle. This paper follows on from an initial study by the authors, and uses real meteorological data to evaluate the potential in the United Kingdom of using solar energy to drive the desiccant cooling cycle. Through the use of parametric studies, the paper investigates the energy consumption and costs associated with desiccant cooling. (author)
Microscopy and chemotaxonomy from HPLC analysis of phytoplankton pigments initiated in 2003 suggest that Noctiluca miliaris blooms are becoming more intense ...
This article describes how a natural gas-fired combined cycle with increased firing temperature, reduced cooling air usage, improved component efficiencies, and cycle enhancements could achieve a lower heating value plant efficiency of greater than 60%. Today's gas turbine systems feature high fuel-to-electricity efficiencies. Efficiencies, on a lower-heating-value (LHV) basis, for large natural gas-fired combined-cycle systems for the utility market have been demonstrated at 54%. Even though manufacturers will make improvements in the 1990s, efficiency levels will reach a plateau. Cycle innovations and gas turbine design changes will achieve LHV efficiencies in the 60% range for natural gas-fired utility machines.
The Integral Fast Reactor is an innovative liquid metal reactor concept that is being developed by Argonne National Laboratory. It takes advantage of the properties of metallic fuel and liquid metal cooling to offer significant improvements in reactor safety, operation, fuel cycle economics, environmental protection, and safeguards. The plans for demonstrating the IFR fuel cycle, including its waste processing options, by processing irradiated fuel from the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II fuel in its associated Fuel Cycle Facility have been developed for the first refining series. This series has been designed to provide the data needed for the further development of the IFR program. An important piece of the data needed is the recovery of TRU material during the reprocessing and waste operations.
The Integral Fast Reactor is an innovative liquid metal reactor concept that is being developed by Argonne National Laboratory. It takes advantage of the properties of metallic fuel and liquid metal cooling to offer significant improvements in reactor safety, operation, fuel cycle economics, environmental protection, and safeguards. The plans for demonstrating the IFR fuel cycle, including its waste processing options, by processing irradiated fuel from the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II fuel in its associated Fuel Cycle Facility have been developed for the first refining series. This series has been designed to provide the data needed for the further development of the IFR program. An important piece of the data needed is the recovery of TRU material during the reprocessing and waste operations.
Simple hydroxamic acids are shown to be useful reagents for the separation of Np and Pu from U within simplified, single cycle Purex flowsheets. They are compatible with the use of centrifugal contactors and laboratory scale flowsheet trials with aceto-hydroxamic acid have demonstrated high actinide recoveries and decontamination factors on products for active feeds of up to 40 wt.% Pu. They therefore show many ideal characteristics for Pu and Np recovery within flowsheet options for actinide recovery in advanced fuel cycles. Furthermore, in order to optimise the routing of Np with the Pu product in advanced flowsheets, additional studies of Np extraction in the primary co-decontamination contactor, prior to U/Pu partition, have been undertaken, combining experiment, modelling and flowsheet tests. (author)
The removal of toxic metals and alkalis from gas streams at high temperatures was investigated. This is important for the development of coal-fired combined cycle power generation systems.
Many nations and international agencies are working to develop improved technology and industrial capability for neuclear fuel cycle and waste management operations. The effort in some countries is limited to research in university laboratories on treating low-level waste from reactor plant operations. In other countries, national nuclear research institutes are engaged in major programs in all phases of the fuel cycle and waste management, and there is a national effort to commercialize fuel cycle operations. Since late 1976, staff members of Pacific Northwest Laboratory have been working under US Department of Energy sponsorship to assemble and consolidate openly available information on foreign and international nuclear waste management programs and technology. This report summarizes the information collected on the status of fuel cycle and waste management programs in selected countries making major ...
Knowledge about retinal photoreceptor signal transduction and the visual cycle required for normal eyesight has expanded exponentially over the past decade. Substantial progress in human genetics...Full Text Available
In order to investigate the charging mode of an in-series assembly of lithium-carbon battery cells, a test has been performed on 5 commercial cells (18650) of 0.95 Ah nominal capacity. Results show that it is possible to cycle the cells at 80% of their output capacities during more than 2000 cycles. The management of the battery consists in maintaining a constant battery voltage as soon as a cell reaches its limit voltage during constant current charging. The initial dispersion of cells has been maintained practically constant during the cycling and the charge state of all cells has decreased progressively. (J.S.)
Questionnaires and twice daily peak expiratory flow measurements were used to evaluate the effects of the menstrual cycle in asthmatic women. Forty per cent of women reported premenstrual deterioration...Full Text Available
These include, but are not limited to: stellar winds and outflows, post-main- sequence stellar evolution, binary/multiple star evolution, globular cluster ...
These include, but are not limited to: stellar winds and outflows, post-main- sequence star evolution, binary star evolution, globular cluster structure and ...
... of electronic systems (satellite terminals, radio and ... helps organizations investigate the stochastic nature of ... cycle time, maximum queue lengths, and ...
Urban heritage areas throughout the world have experienced cycles of neglect and upgrade that were at times intentional and at other times due to economic difficulties or an unbalanced ideological focus on technological, social or political developments. Modernism of the early and mid-1900s was clearly against keeping heritage areas as they were perceived to hinder future developments. Postmodernist thinking afterwards was more sympathetic to heritage as a means of countering the 'placelessness' of the modern city. Global appreciation of urban heritage and the world's cultural diversity at the end of the century made the occurrence of 'physical neglect' cycles very unlikely in the future. This research paper takes the stand that urban planners and designers face cycles of higher or lower u...
Proliferating cells have been immunophenotypically characterized in lymph node and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples obtained from patients with active and inactive sarcoidosis with the cell-cycle-related...Full Text Available
The Heat Cycle Research Program, which is conducted for the Department of Energy, has as its objective the development of the technology for effecting the improved utilization of moderate temperature geothermal resources. The current testing involves the investigation of binary power cycle performance utilizing mixtures of non-adjacent hydrocarbons as the working fluids, with supercritical vaporization and in-tube condensation of the working fluid. The utilization of these concepts verified here will improve the net geofluid effectiveness (net watt hours plant output per pound of geofluid) about 20% over that of a conventional binary power plant. The major effect in this improvement is the ability to achieve integral, countercurrent condensation. Results are presented for the recent testing including those tests examining the performance of the countercurrent condenser at different tube inclinations and comparison with new design-base computer ...
This paper addresses fuel cycle cost comparisons for a generic 10 MW reactor with HEU aluminide fuel and with LEU oxide and silicide fuels in several fuel element geometries. The intention of this study is to provide a consistent assessment of various design options from a cost point of view. Fuel cycle cost benefits could result if a number of reactors were to utilize fuel elements with the same number or different numbers of the same standard fuel plate. Data are presented to quantify these potential cost benefits. This analysis shows that there are a number of fuel element designs using LEU oxide or silicide fuels that have either the same or lower total fuel cycle costs than the HEU design. Use of these fuels with the uranium densities considered requires that they are successfully demonstrated and licensed.
Field studies among diverse biomes demonstrate that nitrogen concentration (% N) at leaf- and canopy-scales is strongly related to carbon uptake and cycling ...
A test program was conducted under contract to Sandia National Laboratories to investigate water/steam effects on elevated temperature low cycle fatigue and creep-fatigue of Alloy 800. This report presents interpretation and analysis of the test results. Tubular specimens with water sealed inside were cycled to failure under strain control. Tests were conducted to 616K (650/sup 0/F) and 922K (1200/sup 0/F); some at 922K included tensile or compressive hold periods to simulate creep-fatigue conditions. The tubular specimens showed significantly lower lives than solid bar specimens cycled at equivalent strain ranges. Rough internal surfaces contributed to early crack initiation with these specimens. Inclusion of hold periods caused further large reductions in cycles to failure.
A feature of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) is that fuel assemblies can be stored within the reactor vessel, either for future use in the core or for temporary storage of spent fuel. Due to the close proximity of fuel assemblies stored in the in-vessel storage (IVS) locations to the ex-vessel flux monitors (EVFMs), neutrons originating in the stored fuel can result in significant contributions to the total EVFM signals. The paper shows EVFM-induced electronic current data during operation at full power for FFTF power cycles 1 through 7. The data were obtained early in each cycle so that signal drift due to core burnup could be ignored. The differences in currents are attributed to differences in cycle-to-cycle core and stored fuel loadings. At the beginning of cycle 1 there were no fuel assemblies stored in IVS. Subsequent to cycle 1, the EVFM currents have been higher than ...
Atterberg limits, free swell, and hydraulic conductivity tests were conducted to assess how wet-dry cycling affects the plasticity and swell of bentonite, and the hydraulic conductivity of geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) hydrated with deionized (DI) water (pH 6.5), tap water (pH 6.8), and 0.0125-M CaCl{sub 2} solution (pH 6.2). The plasticity of bentonite hydrated with DI water increased during each wetting cycle, whereas the plasticity of bentonite hydrated with tap water and CaCl{sub 2} decreased during each wetting cycle. Wet-dry cycling in DI water and tap water had little effect on swelling of the bentonite, even after seven wet-dry cycles. However, swelling decreased dramatically after two wetting cycles with CaCl{sub 2} solution. Hydraulic conductivity of GCL specimens remained low during the first four wetting cycles ...
The critical part of the trimetallic transition joint (type 304 stainless steel/Alloy 800/2.25 Cr-1 Mo steel), the Alloy 800/2.25 Cr-1 Mo steel joint welded with Inconel 182, was subjected to thermal cycling between room temperature and 873 K. The thermal cycling test procedure used produces accelerated failures in transition joints similar to those observed in steam generators of operating power plants. On thermal cycling, precipitation at the weld/ferritic steel interface decreased on post-weld heat treatment. This precipitation increased with increased prior ageing and applied stress. The results of these tests indicated a considerable improvement in performance of the trimetallic transition joint compared to the direct (bimetallic) transition joint. (orig.).
The first member of the Qingshankou Formation recovered by CCSD-SK-Is borehole (China Cretaceous Continental Scientific Drilling-SongkeI-the south borehole) is 81.41 m long, and the recovery of cores is 100%. The age of the member is approximately Turonian. The sequence and process of lithology-lithofacies and cyclic stratigraphy were revealed by a detailed core description. 6 rock types (mudstone, dolomite, marl, limestone, ostracode limestone, and volcanic ash) comprise the sedimentary strata. Deposition occurred in a deep lake, including 6 sedimentary microfacies: mudstone, sandy turbidite, dolomite, marl, limestone, and volcanic ash microfacies. The first member of the Qingshankou Formation represents 81 meter-scale cycles (sixth-order cycle), 25 fifth-order cycles, 6 fourth-order cycl...
We investigate the chemical and observational implications of repetitive transient dense core formation in molecular clouds. We allow a transient density fluctuation to form and disperse over a period of 1 Myr, tracing its chemical evolution. We then allow the same gas immediately to undergo further such formation and dispersion cycles. The chemistry of the dense gas in subsequent cycles is similar to that of the first, and a limit cycle is reached quickly (2 - 3 cycles). Enhancement of hydrocarbon abundances during a specific period of evolution is the strongest indicator of previous dynamical history. The molecular content of the diffuse background gas in the molecular cloud is expected to be strongly enhanced by the core formation and dispersion process. Such enhancement may remain for as long as 0.5 Myr. The frequency of repetitive core formation should strongly determine the level of background ...
This paper focuses on the application and features of a unified multi-machine train condition monitoring and diagnostic system as applied to a 340 MW repowered combined cycle power plant. Modifications during repowering of the plant required the addition of gas turbines, and design changes to the boiler and steam turbine. Operational procedure during startup also had to be developed. In order to improve the economics of operation, enhancement of both plant operational efficiency and availability were required. Thus it was decided to implement an on-line plant-wide multi-machine Condition Monitoring System. In this paper, the details of the condition monitoring system and some of the design details of the power plant are presented. Requirements of a condition monitoring system applicable to a combined cycle plant are also covered. Salient system design features are explained. The system has been implemented in a combined ...
Considering beryllium as plasma facing armour this paper presents recent results obtained in Russia. A special process of joining beryllium to a Cu-alloy material structure is described and recent results of thermal cycling tests of such joints are presented. Summarizing the results, the authors show that a Cu-alloy heat sink structure armoured with beryllium can survive high heat fluxes ({>=}10 MW/m{sup 2}) during 1000 heating/cooling cycles without serious damage to the armour material and its joint. The principal feasibility of thermal cycling of beryllium grades and their joints directly in the core of a nuclear reactor is demonstrated and the main results of this test are presented. The paper also describes the thermal cycling of different beryllium grades having cracks initiated by previously applied high heat loads simulating plasma disruptions. (orig.)
A process has been proposed to increase the efficiency of an ideal Otto cycle via a quantum heat engine that has no cooler reservoir. We show that such a process is not feasible.
A process for separation of actinides and technetium from reprocessing high level liquid waste has been developed, the CTH-process. The main parts are three consecutive solvent extraction cycles followed by an optional step for sorption on inorganic ion exchangers. The first extraction cycle removes and recovers uranium, neptunium, and plutonium by extraction with HDEHP. The second extraction cycle separates technetium and nitric acid from the waste using TBP. In the third extraction cycle Am and Cm are separated from the waste using HDEHP. The actinide free waste is then passed through inorganic ion exchangers to remove most of remaining radionuclides. The process has been tested on an authenic HLLW solution. A decontamination factor > 10/sup 5/ for alpha emitters was measured for the solvent extraction process and the sorption on inorganic ion exchangers gave a decontamination factor > 3x10/sup ...
Hamed, A. and A. Mohamed, "Assessment of Shock Induced Flow Separation and ...... AGARD Symposium on Combined Cycle Propulsion for Hypersonic Application, ...
Recent field observations have shown that the atmospheric plumes of quiescently degassing volcanoes are chemically very active, pointing to the role of chemical cycles involving halogen species and...Full Text Available
Research in concentrated thermal solar power plants of all types and, in particular, those based on central receiver, namely solar tower plants, has experienced great impetus in the last decade, reaching full commercial operation with the PS10 plant in Spain. In spite of previous demonstration plants testing different receivers and power cycle layouts, this first commercial power plant adopted a cavity receiver generating saturated steam and therefore penalising cycle efficiency in order to gain plant reliability. According to the experience gained, if a competitive Levelised Cost of Electricity is to be reached, capital and maintenance costs must be reduced and efficiencies must be increased. To achieve these goals, modifying the power cycle is deemed essential, whether using superheated ...
... of the cycle shows that the separation area ea. ... with suitable flow solvers based on the Reynolds ... AGARD 75th Fluid Dynamics Panel Meeting and ...
High Cycle Fatigue Initiative Workshop -Active Vibration. Control/Engine. Health Monitoring Session December 10,. 1996. The presentation was titled "Active ...
Experiment was conducted to study the effect of gamma irradiation, growth retardants and coatings (coconut oil, mustard oil and liquid paraffin) on shelf life of winter guava fruits during storage. The results revealed that the superiority of coconut oil coating over other post harvest treatments. Physiological loss in weight (7.1%), marketable fruits retained over control (86.7%), total soluble solid (16.1%), ascorbic acid (195 mg/100 g pulp) and total sugar (10%) of fruit were positively influenced by coconut oil coating up to 12 days of storage. The treatment was found significantly effective in increasing the post harvest life of fruits for 12 days over control without adversely affecting the fruit quality. Coconut oil coating gave highest consumer acceptability while, maintaining suff...
Aims.- To examine the relationships between depression, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and quality of life in Taiwanese adults from a cardiovascular department of a major hospital in Taiwan. Background.- Research suggests associations between depression, metabolic syndrome and quality of life. Despite this fact, few studies have investigated these relationships among Taiwanese. Design.- A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used to conduct this study. Methods.- A convenience sample of 140 adults participated in the study. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Pearson-s correlations, hierarchical regression and t-tests. Results.- Almost a half of the subjects (465%) had metabolic syndrome. The most common combination of metabolic synd...