Husky Oil Operations Ltd (Husky) is considering the development of the South White Rose Expansion (SWRX) area, located approximately 4 km south of the current Southern Glory Hole (SGH) in approximately 120 m of water. Within the new glory hole, one new drill centre will be constructed with wells tied back and into the SGH manifolds. The SWRX drill centre will comprise three horizontal production wells and two horizontal water injection wells with expansion capacity for eight wells. Husky is intending to submit a Development Plan Amendment to the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) as part of the development. This document presented the results of a study that assessed the potential impact of the new development on existing White Rose safety studies. The study reviewed existing safety studies that were developed for the White Rose project to determine the potential impact of the new SWRX development. These studies included Mobile ...
Remote, offshore gas reserves have long been a challenging deepwater petroleum resource to tap. Natural gas in many offshore regions is plentiful, but lacks access to the market because of the logistical challenges and costs. Most large offshore gas discoveries are capped, and gas associated with oil production is re-injected into the reservoir or is flared. A more attractive option is to convert the gas into a liquid product on a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel. However, some conventional process technologies are not well suited for operation on floating vessels that are highly space and weight constrained and may challenge vessel stability during inclement weather. Microchannel process technology units under development offer intensified processes that are suit...
On ships, tankers and similar vessels structural defects such as cracks and corrosion damage are typically repaired by welding. However, welding is unwanted hotwork on floating offshore units (FOUs) such as floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) and floating, storage and offloading (FSO) vessels because it requires shutdown of parts of the vessel thus resulting in expensive production delays. Bonded fibre composite material patch repairs can be used as an alternative to overcome the hazards of hotwork associated with welding. The patches are bonded over the defect and the integrity of the original structure is hence restored. The patch repair technology can also be utilised to provide upgrades, such as life extensions and higher design requirements. A recommended practice (RP)...
Mobile offshore drilling rigs are used to drill, complete and workover wellbores in marine environments. The fleet that exists today consists of a wide variety of vessels built to various specifications over the past three decades, and because they operate in harsh, corrosive environments, they wear out structurally and require periodic maintenance. Rig designs have evolved with changes in operating requirements and new technology and rigs are frequently modified and upgraded, depending upon market conditions, operator preferences and other factors. The construction and replacement costs of offshore rigs are often used for management planning, financial valuation and insurance analysis, and because of the wide variety of designs, specifications and upgrades, cost estimates vary widely. In ...
A procedure for lowering an offshore rig support block into water, one with water displacement elements, including transfering a structure ready for installation from construction supports onto the grillage that has been set up on the slide, and then lowering the structure together with the grillage into the water. With the goal of dereasing the volume of hydrotechnical operations, the slides have been extended only to the waterline, and the water-displacing elements of the support block are mounted or the structure in a manner whereby the following conditions are fulfilled: Msigmaless than or equal toM /SUB wi/ sigma-W/Lless than or equal toq where Msigma, M /SUB w/ - are the mass moments of the support block and bouyancy forces correspond to the threshhold; sigma and W - the weight force and bouyancy; L - the support length of the block on the grillage; q - ...
The use of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels to develop UK offshore oil fields looks certain to increase. Of the 64 new offshore fields due for development in the next few years, 15 are expected to use FPSO vessels for their production. Most of these are small, short-life fields in the central North Sea which would not justify investment in a fixed platform. Three, however, are large fields west of Shetland, and one, the Foinaven field, is scheduled to be the first commercial development in this area, perhaps setting a precedent. Floating production systems with substantial storage capacity can be the best option in deepwater locations which are remote from existing infrastructure, where the cost of an export pipeline would be prohibitive. (author)
A historical review of floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) systems for marginal fields is presented. The areas in which such systems are operating, ranges of model tests, and current applicability of mooring systems are reviewed to present capabilities of these concepts. Limitations are reviewed to assess the applicability of these concepts to similar sites. Consideration of processing operations on floating vessels are identified. Particularly, the effects of vessel motion on the processing equipment, gas disposal, and crude offloading are addressed. It will be shown that operations are becoming well understood and routine. Future problem areas and solutions under development are identified. Specific examples are cited and design refinements are noted. While various floating production systems have been in operation for only a few years, their potential for solving the problems of producing small offshore ...
Pile foundations are extensively used to supportoff-shore and on-shore structures. Under dynamic loads, the behavior of single pile is well understood. However the soil-pile-soil interaction studies are confusing, on which account the analyses do not necessarily predict response of the systems which may match satisfactorily with the performances. In this paper, the nature of dynamic loads is described, and solutions for soil-pile and pile-soil-pile interaction solutions by several authors are presented and a critical evaluation is made.
The purpose of the invention is to simplify assembly and to reduce labor intensity. This is achieved by the fact that the assembly shaft is positioned in a hawser, while its wall which is turned towards the body of the installation is combined with the hawser wall, where a U shaped opening is made in the wall of the assembly shaft, along the edges of which there is a hermetically sealing device, while the bottom of the body of the offshore drilling rig is equipped with a rigid insert attached with the capability of adjoining it with the hermetically sealing device.
Authors already reported the integrated system so called SODAS (System Of Design and Assembling for Shipbuilding) which was based on product model concept. And products in shipbuilding industry today are not limited to ship structures alone. Therefore, it is desirable that a more global product model which can describe another products such as offshore structures should be considered. In this paper, a product model of offshore structures is discussed. Compared with the case of ship structures, the distinctive feature in the design stage of offshore structures lies in the initial design stage. Thus in this paper, some of the new model in initial design stage are introduced. Some of them are `Function Element Model` which expresses functional concept by designers. In the other design stage, product information such as `Room` and `Part` which were already introduced in SODAS are used effectively for a product model of ...
As its indigenous gas supplies decline, the UK will need to import more gas. In November 2006, the Department of Trade and Industry issued a consultation on revising the consent regime for offshore gas storage and offshore liquefied natural gas unloading. A total of 27 responses had been received by the closing date of 16 February 2007 from a variety of interest parties including developers and their representative organisations, consultants, environmental organisations, maritime organisations, heritage organisations and other public bodies. This report presents the Government's response to the views expressed by these respondents. The majority of respondents supported the Government's proposals to put in place new legislation to permit offshore gas storage activities. Many believed new legislation was necessary to provide the legal certainty necessary ro encourage ...
In January 2001, Husky Oil Operations Limited (Husky), in joint-venture with Petro-Canada, submitted a Benefits Plan for the White Rose Development to the Canada- Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB). This revised document provided the case for requesting an increase in the facility maximum daily production rate and the average annual production rate for the White Rose field from 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) as stated in the approved White Rose Development Plan to 140,000 bpd. In order to determine the potential for increasing oil production through the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, two things were considered, namely the proper reservoir management of the White Rose field to ensure optimum resource recovery, and the capacity of the FPSO topsides processing system and supporting utilities to accommodate increased production. This document presented a detailed review of ...
One of the most complicated tasks during the assembly of the Wendelstein W7-X is the installation of the superconductive coil system. The entire magnet system is enclosed between the Outer Vessel and the plasma vessel in high vacuum at 4 K. The coils are supported by a support structure, the Central Support Structure (CSS). The CSS carries all 70 coils, and it is designed as a closed ring made of 5 modules (10 half modules). The whole structure is supported by 10 Cryolegs which rest on the machine base. This paper describes the final design and manufacture of these Cryolegs.
A project is underway at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to design, test, and install a cold neutron source facility in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). This new cold source employs supercritical hydrogen at cryogenic temperatures both as the medium for neutron moderation and as the working fluid for removal of internally-generated nuclear heating. The competing design goals of minimizing moderator vessel mass and providing adequate structural integrity for the vessel motivated the requirement of detailed multidimensional thermal-hydraulic analyses of the moderator vessel as a critical design subtask. This paper provides a summary review of the HFIR cold source moderator vessel design and a description of the thermal-hydraulic studies that were carried out to support the vessel development.
A modified boundary element approach was used to analyze the response of offshore piles subjected to external soil movements. The computer model employed to solve the pile-soil problem was able to model pile head and tip loading, and loading caused by lateral movement of soil. A nonlinear pile-soil interface element with the ability to represent a hardening or softening plastic response prior to reaching an ultimate state was incorporated. With the program, 4 failure modes can be determined: flow of the soil slide past an intact stationary pile; rotation of the pile with the soil at failure along the full pile length; translation of the pile with the sliding soil, resulting in failure of the supporting soil; and the long-pile mode, in which the maximum bending moment in the pile reaches the yield moment of the pile before complete development of the other 3 modes. Theoretical solutions for a realistic hypothetical offshore ...
The Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge Deepwater Port project was commissioned in 2005 and is based on a proprietary energy bridge shipboard regasification technology. The offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility will be located in federal waters 13 miles southeast of Gloucester and was designed to cope with the extreme weather of the Massachusetts Bay. A dual-buoy system will be capable of ensuring continuous delivery of natural gas. Throughput capacity will range from 400 to over 800 MMcf/d. Vessels used at the port have capacities of 138,000 m{sup 3} and 150,900 m{sup 3} with peak sendout rates of 600 MMcf/d. The vessels have the capacity to rapidly increase and decrease their delivery rates. During periods of peak demand, 2 vessels can be simultaneously accommodated at the port, which has been designed to accommodate larger vessels to maximize future throughput. This ...
The Offshore Comet is a modern offshore drilling rig with a hydraulic-cylinder-actuated jacking (raising and lowering) system. Hydraulic-cylinder jacking provides a safe and efficient method for placing the rig at the desired height above the water and insuring that it can withstand the expected heavy loads imposed by machinery, supplies, and the ocean environment. The drilling rig consists of a steel-hulled barge that is floated to the site and then supported during drilling operations by four steel triangular-cross-section lattice legs. The legs are planted firmly on the ocean bottom by a procedure called preloading. Each leg with its integral footing weighs 657 tons. The barge with its deck load can weigh up to 9200 tons.
More details about the construction of the Terra Nova floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel are provided. The vessel was built in the Daewoo shipyard in South Korea, and is now undergoing final fitting at Bull Arm, near St. John's, Newfoundland. When complete, the vessel will operate 350 km offshore, southeast of St. John's. It is 291 metres long and 45.5 metres wide and has a capacity of 960,000 barrels of oil. Although the FPSO will hold less than half of the last giant supertanker which sailed for Irving Oil, it has a crew of 81, four times the size of the supertanker, reflecting the technical uniqueness of the vessel and the intense pre-occupation with safety associated with the combination of winds, ice, waves, and shallow water around the Grand Banks. Also described is the alliance system of partnership between the oil companies and the ...
BHP Petroleum (BHPP) has now operated the 164 tonne per day Methanol Research Plant (MRP) located on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia for over one year. This plant was commissioned in 1994 making first methanol on 17th October and has operated since then, selling product by pipeline to two local customers, ICI Adhesives and Borden Australia. The plant is based on the Leading Concept Methanol technology (LCM) licensed from ICI Katalco. Since 1985 BHPP has been involved in the development of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) technology for the production of oil and gas offshore. In order to utilize the gas associated with oil on remote offshore oil production facilities the combination of gas conversion to methanol and existing FPSO technology is being investigated. The LCM technology being commercialized at the MRP is part of the strategy to demonstrate and develop LCM technology such that it could be located on the deck of ...
The development of the Aasgard field complex off mid Norway represents one of the largest technical and economic challenges yet faced by the Norwegian offshore industry. The article deals briefly with this development. The project comprises a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for the oil production, and a large semisubmersible for the gas phase. More than 60 subsea completed wells for production and injection on 15 seabed templates are planned, with some 300 km of seabed pipelines also to be installed on the field which will produce for 30 years. The total investment will be NOK 31 billion. 1 fig.
The state of exploration in the Terra Nova field offshore Newfoundland, and the progress in constructing the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) at Bull Arm, the assembly site west of St. John's for the Terra Nova vessel, are described. Comparisons are made between the excitement created by the first production well at Leduc in Western Canada in 1947, and the offshore developments currently underway and accelerating offshore Newfoundland. It is estimated that exploration and development offshore had barely touched the surface, with only 160 wells of all types drilled to date, of which 48 exploration wells have uncovered 1.7 billion barrels of oil. The area is practically unexplored; the source rock is there, and the current estimate is that there are a number of basins in the offshore area that are several times the size of the Jeanne ...
The objective of this research was to determine improved thermal, epithermal, and fast fluxes and several responses at mechanical test surveillance location keys 2, 4, 5, and 7 of the pressure vessel of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) for the beginning of the fuel cycle. The purpose of the research was to provide essential flux data in support of radiation embrittlement studies of the pressure vessel shell and beam tubes at some of the important locations.
The Terra Nova offshore oil project is described, with emphasis on the construction of the Terra Nova Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, the first such vessel constructed for the harsh environment of the North Atlantic off Newfoundland, the site of an oil field that is expected to produce 125,000 to 150,000 barrels of oil per day starting in 2001. The vessel has a double-hull, made of 3,000 tons of reinforced steel to protect it from ice in the form of massive icebergs or crusty 'packs'. The vessel has the world's largest quick release turret, meaning that the vessel can be quickly disconnected from its turret and mooring in the event of an encroaching iceberg, and then reconnected in an environmentally sound way. Apart from its extremely rugged construction, protecting the FPSO vessel ...
The South White Rose oilfield, offshore Newfoundland, owned jointly by Husky Oil (82.5 per cent ) and Petro-Canada (17.5 per cent) is being developed using a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) system. Some industry stakeholders claim that the oil should be produced using a concrete gravity base system as used in the Hibernia Field. However, Husky Oil officials are confident that the choice of the FPSO is well justified, based on its cost effectiveness and economic viability. Several production facility options have been assessed, taking into account feasibility, deliverability, economic attributes. risk and safety . The assessment results clearly pointed to FPSO as the preferred system based on its commercial and technical flexibility, proven track record in harsh environments, its ability to produce both oil and gas in sequential development, its promise of production at full capacity earlier than a gravity base system, and easier decommissioning ...
An overview is presented of the FFTF reactor and plant together with descriptions of core components, core internals, core system, primary and secondary control rod system, reactor instrumentation, reactor vessel and closure head, and supporting test programs. (DG)
An overview is presented of the FFTF reactor and plant together with descriptions of core components, core internals, core system, primary and secondary control rod system, reactor instrumentation, reactor vessel and closure head, and supporting test programs.
An integrated multiwell floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) facility was successfully installed at the Tazerka field offshore Tunisia in 1982. Because there is good reason to believe that the installation techniques developed for the Tazerka FPSO can be applied to even larger systems in deeper waters, this paper presents the design and step-by-step installation procedures developed at Tazerka.
On March 28, 1979, the Pennsylvania Three Mile Island nuclear power plant Unit 2 (TMI-2) suffered a partial fuel-melt accident. During this accident, over 20,000 lb of molten fuel flowed through holes melted through the baffle plates and through the lower-core support assembly (LCSA). The molten fuel subsequently resolidified in the bottom of the reactor vessel. The lower-core support assembly of the TMI-2 reactor was not structurally damaged during the accident. In order to permit defueling of that region of the core, the LCSA was cut to permit access. A five-axis teleoperator was developed to deliver plasma arc cutting, rotary grinding and abrasive waterjet cutting of end effectors to the LCSA. Complex geometry sectioning was completed in a mock-up facility at chemistry and pressure conditions simulating those of the vessel, prior to actual in-vessel operations. ...
Oil, in various forms, has been used for thousands of years and has even been recommended as a medicinal product. Starting in the mid-19. century, however, mineral oil production became an economic, political, social and scientific gold mine. Subterranean and offshore drilling rigs have created colossal fortunes among multinationals and made certain nations extremely wealthy. Starting in the 1920's, oil companies began to explore the possibilities of undersea drilling, but it was only in 1947 that the first offshore drilling rig was set up. With three-quarters of the planet covered by water, it was inevitable that oil companies would turn to offshore drilling - especially as sub-sea oil fields may cover as much as 84 million square kilometres. Drilling rigs now go deeper than ever and are able to operate in up to 3000 meters water depth. This paper will present the technical merits of two similar all-electric ...
A pipeless batch plant is a batch processing production system using mobile vessels. The plant performances depend on both hardware of equipment and software of operation. So the plant includes many design factors such as number of vessels, stations and AGVS, layout of stations, vessel moving rules, job scheduling and so on. In this paper, the characteristics of pipeless batch plant design are considered to handle the problem by the systems engineering approach. Then, a practical design method known as design-by-analysis is applied to solve such a complex design problem. Based on this concept, a design support system composed of modeling, simulation and evaluation subsystems is developed. This system enables rational decision making through performance evaluation for proposed design of a pipeless batch plant. The usefulness of the system is illustrated by industrial examples. 12 refs., 8 figs., 6 tabs.
The report presents selected highlights of how research has contributed to the regulatory effort. It explains the research role of the NRC and nuclear safety research contributions in the areas of: pressure vessel integrity, piping, small- and large-break loss-of-coolant accidents, hydrogen and containment, source term analysis, seismic hazards and high-level waste management. The report also provides a summary of current and future research directions in support of regulation.
The current status of the ZTH vacuum liner design is covered by this report. ZTH will be the first experiment to be installed in the CPRF (Confinement Physics Research Facility) at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and is scheduled to be operational at the rated current of 4 MA in 1992. The vacuum vessel has a 2.4 m major radius and a 40 cm minor radius. Operating parameters which drive the vacuum vessel mechanical design include a 300 C bakeout temperature, an armour support system capable of withstanding 25 kV, a high toroidal resistance, 1250 kPa magnetic loading, a 10 minute cycle time, and high positional accuracy with respect to the conducting shell. The vacuum vessel design features which satisfy the operating parameters are defined. The liner is constructed of Inconel 625 and has a geometry which alternates sections of thin walled bellows with rigid ribs. These composite sections span between ...
Fuel assemblies in a reactor pressure vessel are disposed in a reactor core shroud. The own weight of the fuel assembly is supported by a reactor core support plate, and is supported, for the horizontal direction, by an upper lattice plate and the reactor core support plate. A support portion for the upper portion of the fuel assembly is disposed above the fuel assembly, and a support portion for the support portion described above is joined to a shroud head by welding. The support portion for the upper portion of the fuel assembly has a network-like portion which absorbs and disperses rising force which exerted on the fuel assembly when the fuel assembly is risen by seismic forces. The rising force exerted on the fuel assembly absorbed by the network-like portion is effectively transferred to the ...
There are at present 116 floating production systems and 60 storage vessels dotting the oceans involved in hydrocarbon exploration and production activities. Although concentrated mostly in the North Sea, they can be found also off the coast of Australia, eastern Canada, Brazil, some African nations and the Gulf of Mexico. They range from converted tankers to purpose built rigs. The most adaptable of the various systems is the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, first developed as a cost-effective means of developing fields in Brazil's very deep offshore areas. Still being tested and modified for work in widely different environments, FPSOs appear to have met all requirements in producing expenditure efficiencies, maximizing profits, and protecting workers. One of the most efficient and most technically advanced is a 292-metre long FPSO built for the Terra Nova Alliance by Daewoo Shipyards in ...
A system and method for installing a fluid flow controller and telescoping spools beneath an offshore bottom supported drilling rig rotary table is disclosed. Upper and lower telescoping spools are provided for initially connecting a Diverter/BOP convertible fluid flow controller between structural casing in the well and a permanent housing beneath the drilling rig rotary table. Clamp means are provided for clamping the rig vent line to an opening in the housing wall of the fluid flow controller during drilling of the borehole through the structural casing in preparation for setting and cementing the conductor casing. In that mode, the system is adapted as a diverter system. After the well is drilled for the conductor casing and the conductor casing is cemented and cut off at its top, a mandrel is fitted at the top of the conductor casing to which the lower end of the lower spool may be connected. The system may be used in this configuration as ...
The Cambro-Ordovician platform was formed along the margin of the old super-continent of Laurentia approximately 470 million years ago, and is a prolific producer of hydrocarbons. This presentation provided a geological review of the region as well as estimates of the amounts of oil in place. A simplified geological cross-section of the formation was presented, as well as a chart of the Anticosti Basin of western Newfoundland. Details of exploration wells targeting the Cambro-Ordovician carbonate platform and current west coast land holdings were provided. An outline of the area's petroleum system included details of source rock, reservoirs, traps and seals and migration and timing. Offshore prospects for the platform were estimated to be in the region of 100 to 200 million barrels. Onshore prospects were estimated to be in the region of 30 million to 150 million barrels. It was noted that limited coverage by onshore seismic data may mean that larger ...
Calls for containers to transport compressed natural gas, and a ship or barge to house some 200 employees in the Terra Nova offshore oilfield while the oil field's floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) system is undergoing a major overhaul, are attracting attention on Canada's east coast offshore oilpatch. The FPSO is located offshore, 350 km east of St. John's, Newfoundland. Petro-Canada, operators of the FPSO anticipate that by having all required personnel nearby, the total shutdown time for the overhaul could be minimized. The CNG container was designed by Trans Ocean Gas Inc. in response to an invitation by Husky Oil and Petro-Canada, the White Rose field partners. Trans Ocean Gas strongly believes that CNG will become the technology of choice for getting natural gas ashore and to markets from stranded hydrocarbon pools in Atlantic Canada and the rest of the world where pipeline ...
The work reported here encompasses analyses of specific potential spill scenarios for oil exploration activity planned offshore of Namibia. The analyses are carried out with the SINTEF Oil Spill Contingency and Response (OSCAR) 3-dimensional model systems. A spill scenario using 150 m{sup 3} of marine diesel demonstrates the rapidity with which such a spill will dissipate naturally, even in light winds. Vertical and horizontal mixing bring subsurface hydrocarbon concentrations to background levels within a few days. A hypothetical 10 day blowout scenario releasing 11,000 bbl per day of light crude oil is investigated in terms of the potential for delivering oil to selected bird and marine mammal areas along the Namibian coast. Worst case scenarios are selected to investigate the potential mitigating effects of planned oil spill response actions. Mechanical recovery significantly reduces, and in some cases eliminates, potential environmental consequences of these ...
This Health and Safety (HSE) document offers technical information on the design of foundations for supports in offshore installations, and relates particularly to the North Sea. It is based largely on guidance offered earlier in Section 20 of the Fourth Edition of the Health and Safety Executive's 'Offshore Installations; Guidance on Design, Construction and Certification', which was withdrawn in 1998. The document contains a general section on foundations and the rest of the document comprises sections on: (a) piled foundations (planning, problems, pile make-up, steel stresses, design of pile foundations, axial pile capacity, factors of safety for piled foundations, load-deflection of piles, and piles for tethered buoyant structures); (b) foundations for gravity structures (foundation types, loads and reactions during installation, operating loads and reactions, foundation problems, cyclic load ...
An offshore drilling rig is described for use in drilling into a formation below a body of water comprising a barge hull having a drilling slot extending inwardly from the peripheral boundary of the barge hull, means for supporting the barge hull in a position above the water, a cantilever structure mounted on the barge hull and movable horizontally with respect to such barge hull, the cantilever structure being so located relative to the drilling slot as to be movable horizontally into a position in vertical alignment with the drilling slot, a derrick and drilling machinery mounted to the cantilever structure and movable into a position above the drilling slot whereby well drilling operations may be conducted through the drilling slot, the cantilever structure also being movable horizontally to a position which locates the derrick and the drilling machinery outboard of the peripheral boundary of the barge hull, whereby a drilling operations ...
We have investigated the hemostatic properties of the free-electron laser (FEL) and compared these properties to the most commonly used commercial lasers in neurosurgery, CO_2 and Nd:YAG, using an acute canine model. Arterial and venous vessels, of varying diameters from 0.1 to 1.0 mm, were divided with all three lasers. Analysis of five wavelengths of the FEL (3.0, 4.5, 6.1, 6.45, and 7.7 microns) resulted in bleeding without evidence of significant coagulation, regardless of whether the vessel was an artery or vein. Hemorrhage from vessels less than 0.4 mm diameter was subsequently easily controlled with Gelfoam registered (topical hemostatic agent) alone, whereas larger vessels required bipolar electrocautery. No significant charring, or contraction of the surrounding parenchyma was noted with any of the wavelengths chosen from FEL source. The CO_2 laser, in continuous mode, easily coagulated ...
Argentina has two operating PHWR nuclear power plants. Atucha I NPP is a pressure vessel type heavy water reactor of 360 MW e with 25 years of operation and Embalse NPP is a pressure tube type CANDU-600 reactor of 640 MW e. Atucha II, a third plant of 600 MW e of the pressure vessel type similar to Atucha I, is being constructed. NASA (Nucleoelectrica Argentina S.A.) currently operates both nuclear power plants. The National Atomic Energy Commission (Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica - CNEA) provides operational support to the plants, including research and development assistance, and actual technical services and maintenance work in different areas. The Chemistry Department, formerly the Reactor Chemistry Department has carried out project and support activities to the plants during the past 20 years. The aim of this work is to describe the present organization and the activities in reactor ...
In January 2001, Husky Oil Operations Limited (Husky), in joint-venture with Petro-Canada submitted a Development Application (DA) to the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) for the White Rose Development. This DA was prepared following the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Newfoundland and Labrador Act. In December 2001, the C-NLOPB approved the White Rose DA. This document outlined a proposed amendment to the original Development Plan involving an expansion of its White Rose Development in the Jeanne d'Arc Basin on the Grand Bank. The expansion will consist of a subsea tie-back to the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel through the existing Southern Glory Hole (SGH) and utilizing a new glory hole constructed approximately 4 km south of the SGH. The document presented an overview of the ...
At the Huizhou oil field in China the FPSO Munin of Bluewater completely relies on five computer controlled propulsion screws to position itself, a so-called Dynamic Positioning (DP) system. In this article report is given of training given to the crew of the FPSO Munin. A floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit is a floating vessel used by the offshore industry for the processing and storage of oil and gas. [Dutch] Op het Huizhou oileveld in China vertrouwt de FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading unit) Munin van Bluewater uitsluitend op een vijftal computergestuurde voorstuwingsschroeven om zichzelf in positie te houden, een zogenaamd Dynamisch Positionering (DP) systeem. In dit artikel wordt verslag gedaan van en uitleg gegeven over trainingen die zijn gegeven aan de bemanning van de FPSO Munin.
Preparations are under way for the initial startup and testing of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). The FFTF Reactor Characterization Program is that part of the startup test plan that deals with the determination of the neutron, gamma ray and thermal hydraulic characteristics of the reactor. This program encompasses measurements and calculations of: neutron spectra, flux and fluence; gamma-ray spectra, dose and heating; fission rate distributions; capture rate distributions; other reaction rates of interest; fission product yields; and thermal hydraulic data. Measurements of these parameters will be made in the reactor core and reflectors, will extend vertically downward to the vicinity of the core support structure and upward to the top of the sodium pool, and will extend radially outward to include in-vessel fuel storage locations and the cavity between the reactor vessel and the concrete wall.
This bibliography deals with the foundation of offshore structures like drilling or working platforms (oil and gas exploitation) or offshore tanks. Different kinds of foundations, e.g. pile foundations or shallow foundations, are described. Aspects of soil-structure interaction, engineering geology and soil mechanics are also discussed. (orig.).
This spring, Newfoundland will send off a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to the offshore Terra Nova field. The Terra Nova will proceed southeast through Bull Arm, then northeast out of Trinity Bay, then heads southeast to the Jeanne d'Arc Basin on the Grand Banks. The Terra Nova is expected to produce 115,000 barrels of oil per day for six years, when it reaches full capacity. The consortium, headed by Petro-Canada as senior ownership partner and operator, built an environment protection program into every aspect of the project. Some of the features of the environment protection program include glory holes excavated on the ocean floor for the protection of production equipment from icebergs, to a flare stack on the platform, which has four legs to provide stability in rough seas. The FPSO was designed to withstand sea ice, icebergs, and severe winter storms. Flow lines are also protected, and in the event ...
Friede and Goldman Ltd. of New Orleans, Louisiana has a successful drilling rig, the L-780 jack-up series. The triangular-shaped drilling vessel measures 180 x 176 ft. and is equipped with three 352 ft legs including spud cans. It is designed to work in up to 250 ft waters and drill to 20,000 ft depths. The unit is scheduled to begin initial drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico for Arco. Design features are included for the unit. Davie Shipbuilding Ltd. has entered the Mexican offshore market with the signing of a $40,000,000 Canadian contract for a jack-up to work in 300 ft water depths. Baker Marine Corporation has contracted with the People's Republic of China for construction of two self-elevating jack-ups. The units will be built for Magnum Marine, headquartered in Houston. Details for the two rigs are given. Santa Fe International Corporation has ordered a new jack-up rig to work initially in the Gulf of Suez. The newly ...
Husky Oil received approval from the government to begin development of its White Rose properties located in the Jean d'Arc Basin, 350 km east of St. John's, offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. First oil is expected by the end of 2005. The South Avalon Pool was discovered in 1988 and is estimated to contain approximately 200-250 million barrels of oil. Husky Oil and Petro-Canada filed a development application with the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board in January 2001. Approval of the $2.35 billion project was received in December 2001. The development plan is based on a newly-built floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. Initial development will focus on the South Avalon Pool that has been tested in excess of 5,000 barrels per day. The pool will be developed using eight production wells, 11 water injection wells and two gas injection wells. An estimated 150 million cubic feet ...
This patent describes a system adapted for alternative use as a diverter or a blowout preventer for a bottom supported drilling rig and adapted for positioning beneath a rotary table of the drilling rig, the system comprising: a fluid flow controller having a controller housing with a lower opening and an upper opening and a vertical flow path therebetween and an outlet passage provided in its housing wall, and at least two bases. A method is described for installing a system adapted for alternative connection as a diverter or a blowout preventer for a bottom supported drilling rig positioned beneath a rotary table of the drilling rig after structural casing has been set in a borehole. The method comprises: positioning a first telescoping spool having a lower end and an upper end below the rotary table, the first spool having a first base disposed at its upper end, the first base having a port disposed in its wall; aligning a fluid flow ...
Abstract Ecosystem processes function at many scales, and capturing these processes is a challenge for ecosystem models. Nevertheless, it is a necessary step for considering many management issues pertaining to shelf and coastal systems. In this paper, we explore one method of modeling large areas with a focus at a range of scales. We develop an ecosystem model that can be used for strategic management decision support by modeling the waters off southeastern Australia using a polygon telescoping approach, which incorporates fine-scale detail at the coastal zone, increasing in scale to a very coarse scale in the offshore areas. This telescoping technique is a useful tool for incorporating a wide range of habitats at different scales into a single model.
AREVA is the world leader in the design and construction of nuclear power plants, the manufacture of heavy components, and the supply of nuclear fuel and nuclear services such as maintenance and inspection. The Equipment Division provides the widest range of nuclear components and equipment, manufactured at its two facilities in Jeumont, northern France, and St. Marcel, in Burgundy. The St. Marcel plant, set on 35 ha (87.5 acres) near Chalon-sur-Saone, was established in 1973 in a region with a long history of specialized metalworking and mechanical activities to meet the demand for non-military nuclear requirements in France. The site offers two advantages: - excellent facilities for loading and transporting heavy components on the Saone river, - it's proximity to other group sites. Since its completion in 1975, the Chalon/St. Marcel facility has manufactured all the heavy components for French pressurized water reactors (PWRs) ranging from 900 MW to 1500 MW. It has also ...
Petro-Canada's Terra Nova offshore oil platform was designed with the expectation that its Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel would be taken off location for maintenance and modifications work within the first 10 years of operation. Petro-Canada's 2006 extended Turnaround project was initiated to prepare for the maintenance and transport of the FPSO. The project aimed to execute an extended turnaround in approximately 90 days. The cost of the project was estimated at $190.5 million. Shutdown occurred early on May 7, 2006 due to the failure of a generator gearbox. Staff were increased from 80 to 120 to complete critical preparation work. On June 17, the FPSO was disconnected and departed for Conception Bay. A turret cover plate was installed, and the FPSO began its voyage to a Rotterdam shipyard in the Netherlands. In order to complete the journey, a comprehensive marine transit manual and emergency ...
In the WWER-440 reactor the primary piping consists of six horizontal loops going radially from the pressure vessel, each loop having a horizontal steam generator. In this reactor type the relatively long primary piping with many curved sections requires special attention in order to successfully eliminate the consequences of the design basis accident. Emergency supports are located in appropriate places to restrict the movements of the pipe in 1, 2, 3 or 4 directions depending on the geometry of the pipe near the support. Under normal conditions there is a gap of some centimeters between the pipe and a support so that the pipe can be deformed freely under changing loads. In order to analyse the behaviour of the broken piping system with the support structures a computer code called PIPEBREAK has been written. The main objects in the analyses have been to calculate the deformations ...
The invention concerns an integrated nuclear reactor comprising natural convection cooling of the supporting skirt on which rests the shield closing the reactor vessel. Cooling is achieved by making the air circulate from the bottom to the top around the skirt and removing this air by a stack. The air can be atmospheric air or air taken from the low parts of the reactor. In the latter case, the stack emerges near a metal roof releasing its heat to the atmosphere by radiation, the air then dropping to the low parts. Application to fast nuclear reactors.
A brief overview is given of the developments in the Dutch offshore industry where new offshore sites appear to be retrofitted or recycled platforms and contractors take over the work from petroleum companies (e.g. as so-called Floating Production Storage Offloading or FPSO). It is expected that in ten years from now a large number of oil platforms will be disappeared or transported to the Chinese Bohai Sea where a new oil field will be explored.
... harassment, incidental to construction and operation of an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. Under the Marine Mammal Protection ... ...
This book discusses problems and topics important for the design and construction of fixed offshore platforms used for drilling and producing petroleum from beneath the sea. A general description of offshore platforms serves as an introduction to the whole problem of offshore structures. A chapter on the hydrodynamic analysis of fixed offshore platforms gives the basis for the layout and construction of such structures. A guide to soil investigation methods essential for the geotechnical analysis of foundation designs for all types of offshore structures concentrates on the instrumentation equipment actually used. Detailed information is given on pile foundations with special emphasis on steel jacket platforms. The behaviour of gravity platforms during the final construction stage is analysed. The basis for the design of subsea pipelines and their stability is treated as well as the ...
In order to perform the structural analysis and stress evaluation for frame structures in the nuclear power plants, ADAMS (AIJ Design Analysis and Modules System) has been developed by the addition of the following functions to the ICES-STRUDL system. 1. Load combination and stress evaluation on the basis of specifications for designing steel structure (issued by the Architecture Institute of Japan). 2. Combination of load and stress evaluation of piping support on the basis of the regulations of Ministry of International Trade and Industry. 3. Addition of other functions than that described above. ADAMS enables structural analysis and stress evaluation exactly and efficiently not only for a large scale structure such as the pipe whip protection structure installed inside of the primary containment vessel for many loading cases but also for a large number of structures such as piping support. This system can be applied not ...
In the WWER-440 reactor the primary piping consists of six horizontal loops going radially from the pressure vessel, each loop having a horizontal steam generator. In this reactor type the relatively long primary piping with many curved sections requires special attention in order to successfully eliminate the consequences of the design basis accident. Emergency supports are located in appropriate places to restrict the movements of the pipe. Under normal conditions there is a gap of some centimeters between the pipe and a support so that in the pipe can be deformed freely under changing loads. This paper deals with those energy-absorbing structures used at the Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant for protection against impact loading. Places and circumstances where energy-absorbing structures are employed are specified. Development and design of impact absorber elements are discussed and impact tests are described. (Auth.).
Since 1992, the fruitful collaboration of the Russian and Western-European technical support organizations (TSOs) is being continued due to the support of the European Commission. There are two main areas of activities. The first one is more of methodological assistance and enhancing RF TSOs capabilities to support Rostekhnadzor decision making process. Experience and knowledge acquired in this area projects increase RF TSOs capabilities regarding a wide spectrum of safety related issues assessment, in particular safety analyses, reactor vessel embrittlement, application of 'leak before break' concept, severe accident and accident management, fire risk evaluation, etc. The second area is focused on licensing related assessments of EC financed on site assistance projects (modernisations). This area projects promote implementation in Russia a licensing process based on a technical dialogue between ...
The White Rose Oil Project, located in the Jeanne d'Arc Basin 350 km east of St. John's, is reported to continue paying benefits for the oil and gas industry in eastern Canada. The operator, Husky Energy, is said to be on target and expects first oil from the project in late 2005 or early 2006. Peak production for the White Rose Field is projected at 100,000 bbl/d. The project has a total capital cost of $2.35 billion. The first phase of the project, comprised of four wells, including an oil producer, was completed in July. The estimated productive capacity of this well is between 25,000 and 35,000 bbl/d. Other major milestones achieved at the White Rose project include movement of the topside modules onto the Sea Rose floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, consisting of 17 lifts during the seven-week program. Individual lifts up to 1,250 tons were carried by the Lampson 2600 Trans-lift crane at the Cow Head Fabrication ...
A cryocondensation pump was designed for the baffle chamber of General Atomics DIII-D tokamak and will be installed in the fall of 1992. The purpose of the pump is to study plasma density control by pumping the divertor. The pump is toroidally continuous, approximately 10 m long and located in the lower outer corner of the vacuum chamber of the machine. It consists of a 1 m{sup 2} liquid helium-cooled surface surrounded by a liquid nitrogen-cooled shield to limit the heat load on the helium-cooled surface. The liquid nitrogen-cooled surface is surrounded by a radiation/particle shield to prevent energetic particles from impacting and releasing condensed water molecules. A thermal enhancement coating was applied to the nitrogen shell to lower the maximum temperature of the shell. The coating is non-continuous to keep the toroidal electrical resistance high. The whole pump is supported off the water-cooled vacuum vessel wall. ...
Five corrosion probes were received from West Valley Nuclear Services for evaluation in simulated tank 8D-2 3rd-stage sludge wash slurry. The same waste slurry simulated was also used in a series of ongoing corrosion studies assessing the effects of in-tank sludge washing on the integrity of tank 8D-2. Two of the corrosion probes were installed in the coupon corrosion test vessels operating at {approximately}150{degrees}F to compare performance of the probes with that observed by coupon tests conducted in the same vessels. Corrosion rate data calculated from electrical resistance measurements of the corrosion probes were evaluated for this study using two slightly different approaches. One approach uses the total length of exposure of the probe to give a ``time-averaged`` value of the corrosion rate. The other approach uses a shorter period of time (relative to the length of the test) in the calculation of corrosion rate, and is referred to as ...
Work on this coke oven gas cleaning demonstration project (CCT-II) this quarter has been focused on Phase IIB tasks, and include engineering, procurement, construction, and training. Additionally, plans for changes in the operating schedule of the coke plant that affect the demonstration project are described. Engineering efforts are nearly complete. Remaining to be finalized is an assessment of electrical heat tracing/insulation needs for pipe lines, assessment of fire protection requirements, and instrument modifications. Procurement of all major equipment items is complete, except for possible additions to fire fighting capabilities. Major focus is on expediting pipe and structural steel to the project site. Civil construction is complete except for minor pads and bases as required for pipe supports, etc. Erection of the hydrogen sulfide and ammonia scrubber vessels is complete. Installation of scrubber vessel internals ...
A highly reliable control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) installed inside the reactor vessel has developed for use of an advanced marine reactor. This CRDM contributes to compactness and simplicity of the reactor system, and it can eliminate the possibility of a rod ejection accident. The CRDM works in the high temperature and high pressure water - 310degC and 12 MPa, the same atmosphere as the primary loop. Driving force is produced by a synchronous motor with the rotor of a permanent magnet, which has been developed. An innovative latch mechanism using separable ball nuts can latch driving shaft connecting the control rod and de-latch it for scram. The rod position detector using a magnetostrictive wire type sensor on the principle of Wiedeman effect has been developed, accuracy of which is verified to have a detecting error within 1.2 mm. Ball bearings for thrust and radial supports in rotation have been developed to be capable of working under ...
...Heinz Dahl: presenting offshore wind energy for Australia NexTgen Wind. Next month, Heinz L Dahl will speak about offshore wind energy and its prospects for Australia. Skip to the navigation. Skip to the content. Events Models Movements Opinion Policies Research SCRT Videos Seeking ... August guest speaker: Heinz Dahl, managing director, NexTgen Wind. Next month, Heinz L Dahl will speak about offshore wind energy and its prospects for Australia. Heinz is the managing director of NexTgen Wind, a leading edge company that is focused on the cost ...
The Army Reactor Area (ARA) II was constructed in the late 1950s as a test site for the Stationary Low Power Reactor No. 1 (SL-1). The SL-1 was a prototype power and heat source developed for use at remote military bases using a direct cycle, boiling water, natural circulation reactor designed to operate at a thermal power of 3,000 kW. The ARA II compound encompassed 3 acres and was comprised of (a) the SL-1 Reactor Building, (b) eight support facilities, (c) 50,000-gallon raw water storage tank, (d) electrical substation, (e) aboveground 1,400-gallon heating oil tank, (f) underground 1,000-gallon hazardous waste storage tank, and (g) belowground power, sewer, and water systems. The reactor building was a cylindrical, aboveground facility, 39 ft in diameter and 48 ft high. The lower portion of the building contained the reactor pressure vessel surrounded by gravel shielding. Above the pressure vessel, in the center portion ...
In January 2001, Husky Oil Operations Limited (Husky), in joint-venture with Petro-Canada, submitted a Benefits Plan for the White Rose Development to the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB). It was prepared following the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation (Newfoundland) Act. In December 2001, the C-NLOPB approved the White Rose Benefits Plan. This document described the work that Husky proposes to undertake within its significant discovery license areas 1043 and 1044 for the development of the South White Rose Extension (SWRX) Tie-back to the White Rose Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel as it will require an amendment to the original White Rose Development Plan and is subject to the review and approval of the C-NLOPB. The statutory requirements as well as the actual policies and ...
This paper describes the development, design, and fabrication of the crude oil process facilities, and the conversion of an existing tanker for use at the Liuhua 11-1 Field. Over a 16-month period spanning 1994 and 1995, Amoco Orient Petroleum Company, and partners, China Offshore Oil Nanhai East Corporation (CONHE), and Kerr-McGee China Petroleum Ltd., converted a crude oil tanker originally built in 1975 to the Nanhai Sheng Li, the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility for the Liuhua 11-1 Field. The FPSO will process up to 65,000 BOPD produced from 20 subsea wells located 1.7 miles away. In addition to the processing facilities for produced oil and water, the FPSO has a processed crude oil storage capacity of 715,000 bbls. The ship`s propulsion system was removed during the conversion, because the FPSO is permanently moored at site by means of a 10-point, ``soft`` mooring. The mooring system was designed to survive the 100-year-return-period ...
This book presents the papers given at a conference on offshore platforms. Topics considered in this book include risk assessment, crack propagation, fracture control, stress corrosion, the reliability of pile foundations, the thermal conductivity of offshore pipeline coating material, economic analysis, hydrodynamics, simulation, Arctic structure design, composite materials, buoys, deep water drilling, corrosion protection, pollution control equipment, and subsea exhaust gas compressors.
The EPA proposed effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the offshore segment of the oil and gas industry on August 26, 1985. On November 26, 1990, and March 13, 1991, the Agency reproposed effluent limitations guidelines and standards for both drilling and production wastes. The report is primarily concerned with the total annualized cost incurred by the offshore oil and gas industry in complying with the regulations.
A description of LOOP covers the single point mooring (SPM) system; the offshore pipelines connecting each SPM to the pumping platform; the offshore platform complex, a pumping platform and a control platform; the onshore pipelines; and the Clovelly Dome storage terminal.
The decommissioning of the Sodium Reactor Experiment is essentially complete. Contaminated materials, equipment, and soil were removed, decreasing the residual radioactivity to levels acceptable for future unrestricted use of the site. The fuel was removed and declad, tooling and techniques to support the decommissioning were developed, bulk sodium and residual sodium films were removed, coolant systems were dismantled, the reactor vessel was dissected, the interior surfaces of the facilities were decontaminated, and waste materials were packaged and shipped to burial sites. Radiation exposure to workers and the public was within the guidelines and as low as reasonably achievable. In performing the project, new decontamination techniques were tested, decontamination equipment was evaluated, and waste disposal methods were developed.
The renovation programme of the Phenix nuclear power plant (fast neutrons reactor situated at Marcoule) has for objective to ensure the reactor operation lengthening. In this frame, expertise and monitoring operation in situ of materials have been started. The presence of sodium and a temperature at the cold breakdown of the primary circuit between 150 and 180 degrees (Celsius) imply, for fast reactors, very special conditions. In this context, Framatome has realised three intervening in the area of nondestructive testing: the inspection of the cone-shaped support ring, the monitoring of the upper part of the primary vessel and the monitoring of the intermediary exchanger equipment. (N.C.)
In the revised GCFR Safety Program Plan a quantitative risk limit line has been adopted to establish requirements for the safety related functions and systems. The risk limit line is derived from an interpretation of NRC established licensing requirements, including those for LMFBR's. Multiple barriers to the progression of accident sequences are defined in the form of six Lines of Protection (LOPs). LOPs-1 to 3 are dedicated to accident prevention and represent the normal operating systems, the dedicated safety systems and the inherent design features, respectively. LOPs-4 to 6 are dedicated to the mitigation of core melt accident consequences and include in-vessel accident containment, secondary containment integrity and radiological attenuation, respectively. Cumulative frequency limits and consequence limits are established for each LOP. Design features associated with each LOP are described and the results of supporting safety analyses are ...
An investigation of current dual-fuel natural gas/diesel engine design, performance, and emissions was conducted. The most pressing technological problems associated with dual-fuel engine use were identified along with potential solutions. It was concluded that dual-fuel engines can achieve low NOx and particulate emissions while retaining fuel-efficiency and BMEP levels comparable to those of diesel engines. The investigation also examined the potential economic impact of dual-fuel engines in diesel-electric locomotives, marine vessels, farm equipment, construction, mining, and industrial equipment, and stand-alone electricity generation systems. Recommendations for further additional funding to support research, development, and demonstration in these applications were then presented.
To analyze the effect of containment spray on gas mixing and depressurization, two experiments (ST3_1 and ST3_2) were performed with two interconnected vessels. These experiments were conducted in the frame of the OECD/SETH-2 project using the PANDA facility. The vessels were preconditioned such that a helium-rich layer is formed in the upper section of the first vessel, henceforth referred to as Vessel-1. In the case of the first experiment (ST3_1), the remaining volume of Vessel-1 and the entirety of the second vessel, Vessel-2, were filled with pure steam. For ST3_2, the second experiment presented here, pure steam was replaced with a steam-air mixture instead. Water was injected from the top of Vessel-1 with a spray nozzle projecting downwards. Transient behavior of system pressure, as...
This study assesses the feasibility of removing the FFTF reactor vessel from its current location in the reactor cavity inside the Containment vessel to a transporter for relocation to a burial pit in the 200 Area.
Insulated pressure vessels are cryogenic-capable pressure vessels that can be fueled with liquid hydrogen (LIQ) or ambient-temperature compressed hydrogen (CH2). Insulated pressure vessels offer the advantages of liquid hydrogen tanks (low weight and volume), with reduced disadvantages (lower energy requirement for hydrogen liquefaction and reduced evaporative losses). This paper shows an evaluation of the applicability of the insulated pressure vessels for light-duty vehicles. The paper shows an evaluation of evaporative losses and insulation requirements and a description of the current experimental plans for testing insulated pressure vessels. The results show significant advantages to the use of insulated pressure vessels for light-duty vehicles.
The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) engaged in numerous projects outlined under the scope of work discussed in the United States Department of Energy (DOE) grant number DE-FG26-01BC15336 awarded to the IOGCC. Numerous projects were completed that were extremely valuable to state oil and gas agencies as a result of work performed utilizing resources provided by the grant. There are numerous areas in which state agencies still need assistance. This additional assistance will need to be addressed under another grant because funding resources have been exhausted under The scope of work objectives for the eight projects covered under this grant is as follows: (1) Improve uniformity within state oil and gas data management efforts. (2) Conduct environmental compliance workshops and related educational projects on natural gas and oil exploration and production. (3) Improve regulatory efficiency through partnering opportunities provided by the Appalachian Illinois Basin ...
A system is described adapted for alternative use as a diverter or a blowout preventer for a bottom supported drilling rig and adapted for connection to a permanent housing attached to rig structural members beneath a drilling rig rotary table, the permanent housing having an outlet connectable to a rig fluid system flow line. The system consists of: a fluid flow controller having a controller housing with a lower cylindrical opening and an upper cylindrical opening and a vertical path therebetween and a first outlet passage and a second outlet passage provided in its wall, a packing element disposed within the controller housing, and annular piston means adapted for moving from a first position to a second position, whereby in the first position the piston means wall prevents interior fluid from communicating with the outlet passages in the controller housing wall and in the second position the piston means wall allows fluid communication of interior fluid with ...
Floating Production, Offshore Storage and Offloading (FPSO) of hydrocarbons is not new. However, offshore crude oil development has to face the increasing need of the geopolitical interests to develop smaller or difficult reservoir in remote areas in deeper water and harsher environment. Such a trend can only be sustained if the offshore technology provides the right tools at the right time and at an acceptable price. This article will attempt to describe the relative merits of FPSO systems and discuss its main components. An overview of the present world situation shows the excellent performance of the FPSO with the type of development strategy undertaken in P.R.C.
The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 amended the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 to permit the construction of offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals. Terminals with environmentally destructive open-loop regasification systems were quickly approved in the Gulf of Mexico. This study analyzed the political methods of the George W. Bush administration to determine how it developed offshore LNG. Findings showed that the Bush administration worked closely with the energy industry to promote national energy security and limited the role of certain federal and state agencies through a centralized policy process.
The article presents briefly the plans of the British Petroleum Oil Company for a new hydrogen power plant that includes an offshore platform in the North Sea.
On April 20, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig located in the Gulf of Mexico experienced an explosion resulting in at least 11 deaths and creating ...
Safety in general and harmonization of International Maritime Organization rules on mobile offshore drilling rig operation in particular are discussed. The improvement of the industry's safety record is also discussed.
The offshore and inshore wave energy resource in Asturias (N Spain) is studied using wave buoy data and a hindcast dataset spanning 44 years (1958-2001). Offshore average wave power and annual wave energy values are found to exceed 30 kW/m and 250 MWh/m, respectively, at 7 of the 11 study sites. This substantial resource is characterised in terms of the sea states involved. Most of the energy is provided by IV quadrant waves with significant wave heights between 2 m and 5 m and energy periods between 11 s and 13 s. After analysing the offshore resource, numerical modelling is used to investigate the inshore wave patterns. A coastal wave model is validated with wave buoy data and applied to three case studies representative of storm, winter and summer conditions. Inshore wave energy concent...
Jan 12, 2010 ... Visual simulation of offshore liquefied natural gas (lng) terminals in a decision-making context. Baird, Brian E.; Sheppard, Stephen R. J.; ...
May 13, 2010 ... Abstract: On April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred on the semi-submersible offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, ...
Due to the advantages of the flexibility and economics in exploration and production of offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG), the floating production storage and offloading unit for liquefied natural gas (LNG-FPSO) has attracted wide attentions in recent years. The offloading system for LNG transportation from LNG-FPSO to LNG carrier is one of the most important parts in LNG-FPSO. The influences of the main parameters such as the mass flow rate and the height difference of the pipeline. on the performance of LNG offloading in offshore associated gas fields were investigated. A model based on a typical offshore LNG offloading system was first established and simulations were conducted. The governing equations were then used to evaluate the effects of parameters together with the simulation ...
ContextCost advantage has been one of the primary drivers of successful offshoring engagements of Indian software and services companies. However, the emphasis has shifted to the ability of the vendors to provide high quality over cost advantage in delivering software products and services. Meeting high quality requirements of the clients is a challenge due to the very nature of development and delivery of software through offshoring. ObjectiveThe objective of this research paper is to identify and evaluate the key determinants of quality in the case of software projects delivered through offshoring model. MethodA detailed survey was conducted among project managers/project leaders (leads) of a leading midsize Indian IT services company to evaluate the relationship of the determinants on t...
IntroductionFocusing on people and organizations, this paper aims to contribute to offshore safety assessment by proposing a methodology to model causal relationships.MethodThe methodology is proposed in a general sense that it will be capable of accommodating modeling of multiple risk factors considered in offshore operations and will have the ability to deal with different types of data that may come from different resources. Reason's ?Swiss cheese?? model is used to form a generic offshore safety assessment framework, and Bayesian Network (BN) is tailored to fit into the framework to construct a causal relationship model. The proposed framework uses a five-level-structure model to address latent failures within the causal sequence of events. The five levels include Root causes level, Tr...
These ten chapters present an overview of floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels, and examines deep water developments; hydrostatic stability; production, storage and offloading systems; the configuration and structure of flexible risers and umbilicals; the structural and global dynamic analysis of flexible riser and umbilicals; verification of FPSO structural integrity; vessel global loading and rigid body response; environmental loading and vessel response; and mooring systems. (UK)
Regional arterial CO2 tension (PaCO2) reactivity of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the effect of PaCO2 on the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of CBF were investigated by using autoradiographically determined CBF in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model after a 2-h period under pentobarbital anesthesia to clarify the relation between PaCO2 reactivity, CBF heterogeneity, and the temporal cycling of CBF. PaCO2 was adjusted to one of four levels. CBF was determined in four cortical areas and white matter using the tissue fractionation of [14C]iodoantipyrine [( 14C]IAP) in combination with vessel mapping using in vivo 4% thioflavine S. Specific PaCO2 reactivity and CBF were normal in the nonischemic cortex, normal, although slightly depressed, in the border zone far from the ischemic core area, and depressed in the border zone adjacent to the ischemic core area (P less than 0.001) and the ischemic core (P less than 0.001). In normocapnic and hypocapnic ...
A post-irradiation annealing study was conducted with use of reactor pressure vessel(RPV) steel A533B C1.1 base metal irradiated to a dose of 4.84x10"1"8 n/cm"2 at about 380 deg C. Microhardness and positron annihilation (PA) methods were used to obtain better understanding of the recovery of radiation hardening. Isochronal anneal experiments indicated that two recovery processes occur during annealing of irradiated specimens. The first recovery process occurs in the temperature of 280-305 deg C. The variations of Ip, Iw and R parameters indicated that the formation of vacancy clusters by vacancy aggromeration and the annihilation parameters measured indicated that the dissolution of carbon atoms decorated around vacancy-type defects and possible precipitates, and the annihilation of monovacancies give rise to the second recovery process. It was further indicated that radiation anneal hardening (RAH) in the range of 305-405 deg C between the temperature ranges for ...
SMART (System integrated Modular Advanced ReacTor) , is under development at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). SMART is an integral type pressurized water reactor which contains a pressurizer, 4 reactor coolant pumps (RCPs), and 8 steam generator cassettes(S/Gs) in a single reactor vessel. This reactor has substantially enhanced its safety with an integral layout of its major components, 4 trains of safety injection system (SIS), and an adoption of 4 trains of passive residual heat removal system (PRHRS) instead of an active auxiliary feedwater system . The thermal power is 330 MWth. During the conceptual design stage, a preliminary PSA was performed. PSA results identified that a steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) is one of the most important initiating events which results in a high core damage frequency. Clear understanding of accident progression with various combinations of the safety systems helps to develop an event tree of SGTR accident ...
A preliminary guideline for the design and evaluation of LMR high temperature structure is presented based upon ASME B and PV Code, Section III, Subsection NH. The main contents of this guideline are the materials, general design, vessel, piping, core support structure, pumps, valves, fabrication, examination, and testing for the class 1 components. The ratcheting evaluation, enhanced creep assessment, welds design and evaluation, inelastic analysis approach, piping design alternatives, and bellows design method are described in appendices. A user of this guideline should follow the essential procedures and may refer to other pertinent codes, standards, laws, regulations, or other pertinent documents when this guideline does not lead to proper design of the structure. While this guideline adopts major procedures of Subsection NH, it refers to the RCC-MR and/or DDS in some amount for the items where these codes have excellency to improve this ...
The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has introduced a risk based approach into Section XI that covers Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components. The risk based approach requires application of the probabilistic risk assessments (PRA). Because no industry consensus standard existed for PRAs, ASME has developed a standard to evaluate the quality level of an available PRA needed to support a given risk based application. The paper describes the PRA standard, Section XI application of PRAs, and plans for broader applications of PRAs to other ASME nuclear codes and standards. The paper addresses several specific topics of interest to Section XI. Important consideration are special methods (surrogate components) used to overcome the lack of PRA treatments of passive components in PRAs. The approach allows calculations of conditional core damage probabilities ...
The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has introduced a risk based approach into Section XI that covers Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components. The risk based approach requires application of the probabilistic risk assessments (PRA). Because no industry consensus standard existed for PRAs, ASME has developed a standard to evaluate the quality level of an available PRA needed to support a given risk based application. The paper describes the PRA standard, Section XI application of PRAs, and plans for broader applications of PRAs to other ASME nuclear codes and standards. The paper addresses several specific topics of interest to Section XI. Important consideration are special methods (surrogate components) used to overcome the lack of PRA treatments of passive components in PRAs. The approach allows calculations of conditional core damage probabilities both for ...
The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has introduced a risk based approach into Section XI that covers Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components. The risk based approach requires application of the probabilistic risk assessments (PRA). Because no industry consensus standard existed for PRAs, ASME has developed a standard to evaluate the quality level of an available PRA needed to support a given risk based application. The paper describes the PRA standard, Section XI application of PRAs, and plans for broader applications of PRAs to other ASME nuclear codes and standards. The paper addresses several specific topics of interest to Section XI. Important consideration are special methods (surrogate components) used to overcome the lack of PRA treatments of passive components in PRAs. The approach allows calculations of conditional core damage probabilities both for ...
This report provides an assessment of the designs of turret and swivel systems for floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels and floating storage Units (FSU) which are either purpose built or converted from tankers. Use of FPSO and FSO in the North Sea with the move to subsea and deepwater production is discussed, and the background to FPSO and FSU turret systems is traced. Details are given of general issues relating to ship structure, systems affecting the turret, swivel systems, mooring systems, turret loading, scaffolding and support structure, on-board personnel, and construction standards. Turret system components and types are described, and failure modes, operation and safety relevant components are examined. Inspection and maintenance, examples of good and poor practice, and applicable regulations are considered. Annexes list UK installations and present information on individual turret design, fluid transfer systems, ...
On 24th of July 2007 Westinghouse Electric Co. signed landmark contracts with China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC), to provide four AP1000 nuclear power plants in China. The AP1000 is a two-loop 1117 MWe Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR). It is based on proven technology, but with an emphasis on safety features that rely on natural driving forces, such as pressurized gas, gravity flow, natural circulation flow and convection. Ansaldo Nucleare has provided a significant support to the passive plant technology development and, starting from 2000, is cooperating with Westinghouse to development of the AP1000 Plant. In the frame of the AP1000 Chinese agreement, Ansaldo Nucleare, in Joint Venture with Mangiarotti Nuclear, has signed a contract with Westinghouse for the design and the supply of innovative components to be installed in the first AP1000 unit to be constructed at the Sanmen site. The contract includes: the design of the steel containment ...
The model was based on a SEDCO 700 series semi-submersible offshore drilling rig used for operations in the North Sea. This report supplements earlier work on wind-heeling moments which are required to establish stability criteria on semi-submersibles. Wi...
Wind-tunnel measurements were taken of the time-average aerodynamic forces and moments on a notional model of a semi-submersible offshore drilling rig at two heights and at various attitudes to the wind. Attempts were made to analyze the separate effects ...
The position paper will provide the basis for further strategies on offshore wind power development in consideration of ecological and conservation aspects. [German] Das Positionspapier des Bundesministeriums fuer Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit (BMU) einschliesslich des Umweltbundesamtes (UBA) und des Bundesamtes fuer Naturschutz (BfN) ist Ergebnis der Arbeiten der BMU-Projektgruppe 'Windenergienutzung im Offshore-Bereich im Hinblick auf die BMU-Anliegen'. Es beschreibt den derzeitigen Stand einer Strategie zur umwelt- und naturvertraeglichen Erschliessung der Windenergienutzung auf See (Offshore). Es bildet die Grundlage fuer die Weiterentwicklung dieser Strategie und dabei insbesondere zur Abstimmung mit den Anliegen anderer Bundesressorts und den Kuestenlaendern, sowie zur intensiveren Einbeziehung beteiligter Verbaende und Fachkreise. Vor dem Hintergrund der zur Genehmigung eingereichten ...
The invention deals with an offshore drilling or production platform in particular designed for quake-active areas. The platform rests on the sea bed with a low-gravitational weight and anchored to stabilized pile foundations absorbing the horizontal and vertical acting forces from earthquakes. The platform including pillars can be made of different materials, prestressed concrete in particular. 3 figs.
This book shows the severe environmental price we pay for offshore oil drilling, and shows how citizens can take action to protect the nation's shores. This is a handbook for anyone with a stake in the health of the environment. It includes alternatives for decreasing our reliance on offshore drilling, and guidelines for citizens who want to make their opposition heard.
Clastic sediments of Albian age provide hydrocarbon source rocks, reservoirs and seals. Major reservoirs occur in sandstones to the north, and have a limited reservoir potential in offshore Qatar. Distal shales are a major seal in offshore Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Local source-rock potential exists in the northern part of the Arabian Gulf and in the extreme SE of Saudi Arabia (in the Rub Al Khali Basin). (author)
An increased use of floating production facilities for offshore oil production in the past fifteen years was due in part to advances in technology, the opening of new frontiers and the increased emphasis on value driven development. Throughout the world, a total of 121 floating production systems were in operation in February 2001, and orders had been placed for an additional 27. Located near the nose of the Grand Banks, approximately 350 kilometres east-southeast of St. John's, Newfoundland is the Terra Nova development. Twelve years elapsed between the discovery of the field in 1984 and the granting of the approval for development in 1996. The decision was made to use a floating production system as the Terra Nova was not considered robust enough to support a gravity base, ice resistant structure development concept, especially considering that it came on the heels of the Hibernia development. The first Floating Production, Storage ...
The Georges Bank, off southwestern Nova Scotia, is one of the most biologically productive continental shelf ecosystems in the world. It supports a wide diversity of species, including many seabirds. In 1988, federal and provincial legislation placed a moratorium on petroleum exploration and drilling on the Georges Bank, directing the ministers of Natural Resources Canada, and of the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources to make a decision regarding the moratorium by January 1, 2000. This report by the Ecology Action Centre (EAC) asks the Georges Bank Review Panel to recommend extending the moratorium on Georges Bank and adjacent areas until 2012, in part to match the American moratorium. Other reasons why the panel made this recommendation were explored. The principal reason is the EAC concern that when the moratorium is lifted, several oil and gas developments will proceed in this ecologically significant offshore area that could result ...
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 ...
BackgroundThere is a strong inverse relationship between final vessel diameter and subsequent risk of treatment failure after coronary stent deployment. The aim of this study was...Full Text Available
A reflux condensing start-up system includes a steam generator, a start-up vessel connected parallel to the steam generator, a main steam line connecting steam outlets of the steam generator and start-up vessel to a steam turbine, a condenser connected to an outlet of the turbine and a feedwater return line connected between the condenser and inlets of the steam generator and start-up vessel. The start-up vessel has one or more heaters at the bottom thereof for heating feedwater which is supplied over a start-up line to the start-up vessel. Steam is thus generated to pressurize the steam generator before the steam generator is supplied with a heat transfer medium, for example liquid sodium, in the case of a liquid metal fast breeder reactor. The start-up vessel includes upper and lower bulbs with a smaller diameter mid-section to act as water and steam ...
Xylem vessels in grapevines Vitis labrusca L. and Vitis riparia Michx. growing in New England contained air over winter and yet filled with xylem sap and recovered...Full Text Available
Nearly a decade after the small boat attacks against the USS Cole (in 2000) and M/V Limburg (in 2002) in Yemen, small vessels continue to pose a security threat. In part, this is due to the ease of camouflage and the high frequency of small vessels operat...
Cervical cancer is known to metastasize primarily by the lymphatic system. Dissemination through lymphatic vessels represents an early step in regional tumor progression, and the presence of lymphatic...Full Text Available
A technique is described for displaying distinct tissue layers of large blood vessel walls as well as measuring their mechanical strain. The technique is based on deuterium double-quantum-filtered (DQF)...Full Text Available
Background and AimsXylem vessels containing gases (embolized) must be refilled with water if they are to resume transport of water through the plant, so refilling is of great importance...Full Text Available
In this paper, an investigation was performed on a failure pressure vessel, which was as an anti-freezing heater for General Gas Storage and Distribution (SGZ) system. Evident and serious deformation was observed on the body of the vessel. A metallurgical investigation was conducted to establish the mechanism and cause of deformation of the anti-freezing heater at Daya Bay PWR station in China. The investigation, which was performed on specimens cut from the most serious area deformed of the vessel, included macroscopic examination and microscopy examination. The results of the examinations showed that some lamellar pearlite in the microstructure were already spheroidized. It was confirmed that the vessel was operated at high temperature. Stress analysis for the vessel was conducted. And it was confirmed that, in ideal conditions, the vessel would be deformed at ...
BackgroundDuring surgery, controlled haemostasis to prevent blood loss is vital for a successful outcome. It can be difficult to ligate vessels located deep in the abdomen. A device...Full Text Available
Generally, Hardening and irradiated brominating phenomena are occurred in the reactor vessel under operation conditions by atomic cavities and creation of impurity atoms which are led by high fast neutron flux. To assure the mechanical integrity of pressure vessel until the end of power plant life after monitoring the sample specimens on the vessel inside, a series of tests is performed over the retrieved surveillance capsule to examine the changes according to the plant operation in accordance with regulations. Monitoring surveillance capsules attached to neutron shield wall of outer core are consists of impact sample, tensile sample and temperature monitor
The repeated use and limited lifetime of a composite tiring vessel compel a need to survey techniques for monitoring the structural integrity of the vessel in order to determine when it should be retired. Various nondestructive techniques were researched and evaluated based on their applicability to the vessel. The methods were visual inspection, liquid penetrant testing, magnetic particle testing, surface mounted strain gauges, thermal inspection, acoustic emission, ultrasonic testing, radiography, eddy current testing, and embedded fiber optic sensors. It was determined that embedded fiber optic sensor is the most promising technique due to their ability to be embedded within layers of composites and their immunity to electromagnetic interference.
Background, Aim, and Scope The identification and assessment of environmental tradeoffs is a strongpoint of life cycle 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...
The PARLOC Pipeline and Incident Databases provide the most complete information available on North Sea pipelines and risers from 1975. The database information enables the frequency of incidents which either result, or have a potential to result, in loss of containment to be related to the pipeline population as a whole or expressed as a function of particular pipeline characteristics. The importance of the PARLOC study in risk assessments of offshore pipelines is acknowledged worldwide and it is recognized as having contributed positively to their safer operation. Continuing improvements ensure that it remains a key reference in risk assessment studies. This paper describes the improvements which are being made to the study and shows how PARLOC is being used by the offshore industry in the consideration of pipeline safety. The rationalization of current arrangements for regulating pipeline safety presented in the new UK Pipeline Safety ...
The completed ribbon-winding theory, including temperature loading of the high-pressure compound vessel, was proposed. The influence of the bending stress in the wound ribbon is taken into account. Internal core of the compound vessel consists of matrix and ring, made of different materials. The relations were derived in analytical form, describing the radial distribution of necessary tangential prestressing.
A fluidic pump comprises a two-diode pump having a first displacement vessel, a third diode connected to receive output from the two-diode pump through a delivery line and discharge to an outlet, and a second displacement vessel connected to the delivery line. There is a feed tank at a greater height than the two-diode pump, and a drive unit for alternately pressurising and venting the first and second displacement vessels. The drive pressure required to operate the pump can be of the order of half that for a single stage 2-diode pump. (author).
The results of research on the evaluation of the half-bead weld repair method for use on nuclear reactor components are reviewed from data obtained on thick-section test pieces and intermediate-size pressure vessels. Material properties, the magnitude of residual stresses and the structural behavior of flawed pressure vessels are being obtained to determine the adequacy of the weld repair method for application in thick-section components.
The integrity of the RPV head and reactor internals was assessed by means of fluid-structural analyses using a coupled method to evaluate the water hammer phenomenon arising from high burnup fuel failure under RIA conditions. The fluid viscosity effect on the water column burst as well as the complex three-dimensional flow paths caused by a core shroud and standpipes were considered in this study. The three analysis scenarios were designed to investigate the above mentioned influential factors separately. In the first scenario, a two-dimensional axisymmetric reactor vessel model without any reactor internals was modeled to assess the influence of the fluid dynamics in the NSC RIA regulatory evaluation. This model has an actual RPV geometry and can be simply separated from other influential factors in order to concentrate only on investigation of the fluid viscosity effect. In the second scenario, a two-dimensional axisymmetric reactor vessel ...
In 1982 the semi-submersible drilling unit Ocean Ranger capsized and sank off the Grand Banks, resulting in the loss of the entire 84-man crew. A Royal Commission was set up to conduct an enquiry into the incident, and to carry out a process of research and opinion-gathering towards providing recommendations to both federal and Newfoundland governments. The primary purpose of the Commission was to determine why the Ocean Ranger sank, why none of the crew were saved, and how to avoid similar disasters. A number of studies and seminars were held to focus expert knowledge and opinion in several key fields and to update studies and fill gaps in the data base. Summaries of selected study reports and the seminar proceedings are presented in the following areas: the environment, including ice, marine climatology, weather forecasting services, wave climatology, oceanographic information, and seabed information; design, including mobile offshore drilling rig design ...
Apr 25, 2010... oil per day were leaking from an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico in late April, following an explosion at an offshore drilling rig on April 20, 2010. ...
The first offshore wind farm in Sweden; Bockstigen, consists of five 500 kW stall controlled wind turbines on mono pile foundations. The main objectives of the technical evaluation are to verify the original design assumptions made for a load carrying mono pile and bedrock, investigate offshore power production versus onshore ditto as well as to determine park effects and analyse meteorological multi-mast statistics which serve as reference data to a newly developed computer code for offshore wind energy potential mapping. The 'main' measurement system has continuously been acquiring data at 1 and 20 Hz/channel since the summer of 1998. A 40 m meteorological mast was built within the wind farm in the summer of 1999 in order to acquire relatively undisturbed wind speed data from 'free' sectors as well as to enable wake measurements. The mono pile and tower of one of the turbines are ...
Oil and gas resources in the offshore areas of the US constitute a significant portion of US recoverable hydrocarbon resources. The exploration, development and production of these offshore resources in California, however, could have significant air quality implications for coastal air basins. This study was developed to address a problem that frequently arises with offshore air quality assessments. Typically, such assessments are performed for a specific activity scenario (e.g., a Federal OCS Lease Sale involving a projected number of drilling rigs, platforms, pipelines, etc.) and assume a projected (but uncertain) level of recoverable oil and gas resources. This study enables interested parties to estimate air emissions and impacts for a wide range of OCS-related development scenarios. The modular emission calculation procedure and the generic impact assessment provide for maximum flexibility in reassessing the emissions ...
Field campaigns were conducted in 1981 and 1982/83 on the Dutch coast near Egmond. Measurements were made of surface elevations, water velocities and sediment concentrations in 3 to 8 surf zone locations and 2 to 5 offshore locations simultaneously. A des...
Due to the advantages of the flexibility and economics in exploration and production of offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG), the floating production storage and offloading unit for liquefied natural gas (LNG-FPSO) has attracted wide attentions in recent years. The offloading system for LNG transportation from LNG-FPSO to LNG carrier is one of the most important parts in LNG-FPSO. The influences of the main parameters such as the mass flow rate and the height difference of the pipeline. on the performance of LNG offloading in offshore associated gas fields were investigated. A model based on a typical offshore LNG offloading system was first established and simulations were conducted. The governing equations were then used to evaluate the effects of parameters together with the simulation results. It was found that there was an economic mass flow rate for practical design on balance of the cost in pump head and BOG. The ...
Studies technological safety of installing a water spray pressure vessel between electrostatic dedusters and coal sludge ducts. These sprays are in use elsewhere for steam generator ash removal. Dust ignition and explosion tests were carried out to examine flame and pressure wave propagation through the vessel into ducts. Water jet diameter, amount of water sprayed and coal dust removed were varied. Pressure waves exceeded 250 Pa. Test results show the vessel to be suitable for installation in briquetting plants due to its flame and explosion barrier effect and extermination of smoldering dust fires. The only disadvantage of the vessel is seen as its water and electric power consumption; about 8/sup 3//h of water and 1.5 kW/h of power per vessel serving dedusters of a 2,200 m/sup 2/ rotary brown coal dryer.
The authors study technological safety of installing a water spray pressure vessel between electrostatic deduster and coal sludge ducts. These sprays are in use elsewhere for steam generator ash removal. Dust ignition and explosion tests were carried out to examine flame and pressure wave propagation through the vessel into ducts. Water jet diameter, amount of water sprayed and coal dust removed were varied. Pressure waves exceeded 250 Pa. Test results show the vessel to be suitable for installation in briquetting plants due to its flame and explosion barrier effect and extermination of smoldering dust fires. The only disadvantage of the vessel is seen as its water and electric power consumption: about 8 m/sup 3//h of water and 1.5 kW/h of power per vessel serving dedusters of a 2,200 m/sup 2/ rotary brown coal dryer. (MOS).
In summary, a scaling analysis of a water-cooled Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS) system was performed based on generic information on the RCCS design of PBMR. The analysis demonstrates that the water-cooled RCCS can be simulated at the ANL NSTF facility at a prototypic scale in the lateral direction and about half scale in the vertical direction. Because, by necessity, the scaling is based on a number of approximations, and because no analytical information is available on the performance of a reference water-cooled RCCS, the scaling analysis presented here needs to be 'validated' by analysis of the steady state and transient performance of a reference water-cooled RCCS design. The analysis of the RCCS performance by CFD and system codes presents a number of challenges including: strong 3-D effects in the cavity and the RCCS tubes; simulation of turbulence in flows characterized by natural circulation, high Rayleigh numbers and low Reynolds numbers; validity of heat transfer ...
Independent drilling contractors own all offshore drilling rigs, which they lease to oil and gas companies for use in their pursuit of their exploration and development plans. Oil and gas companies' demand for these rigs can vary quickly and dramatically in response to changes in the world market for oil and natural gas. As a result, drilling contractors often try to manage excess capacity by idling rigs (known in the industry as "stacking" a rig), reactivating them when demand recovers. This paper examines these decisions over the course of a price cycle in 1998-2000 to investigate the role of firm and rig heterogeneity in determining drillers' decisions about idling and reactivating capacity.
A shock absorber mechanism and method for use on the leg structure of a jack-up offshore drilling rig is described. It is mounted on the bottom of each existing leg of a drilling rig and comprises a pointed piston member which is positioned on the bottom of the leg structure and projects downwards through the can/footing of the rig leg. The piston member is held in place by a resilient tension member which is designed to absorb shock forces during vertical/axial impact of the leg structure when contact is made with the ocean floor. (author).
Procedures followed in designing for offshore production rigs in the Northeastern Areas of the Campos Basin are presented. Various advantages afforded by the mast in the performance of required tasks are analyzed, along with all calculation premises and methods for adequate sizing. Standards covering mast design, materials used in manufacture, and test routines are also examined. (author). 16 figs., 3 tabs., 11 refs
This paper describes the safety system and training for personnel on board the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO II) currently working in the Cadlao Field, offshore Palawan in the Philippine Islands. (See Figure 1). The crude oil being produced has wellstream hydrogen sulfide concentrations up to 6000 PPM. Concentrations of hydrogen sulfide at 700 PPM or higher can be immediately dangerous to life and every effort must be made to ensure personnel safety.
This paper demonstrates that a commercial-scale facility for encapsulating krypton-85 in zeolite-5A or glass at a 2000 MTHM per year nuclear fuel reprocessing plant can be designed to contain fragments and the 340 to 850 kCi krypton-85 inventory from an assumed catastrophic failure of the high pressure vessel. The vessel failure was assumed as a worst case and was not based on a detailed design evaluation or operating experience. The process design is based on existing commercial hot isostatic pressing technology operated at up to 40 times the scale required for krypton encapsulation. From the calculated process gas inventory in the pressure vessel and vessel design, the maximum explosive energy of 8.4 kg TNT and resulting vessel plug and fragment velocities were calculated. The facility Containment Cell housing the high pressure vessel was designed to contain ...
This patent describes a nuclear system comprising a containment airspace in which a nuclear reactor pressure vessel is disposed there being a reactor core within the pressure vessel. It comprises a heat exchanger elevated a distance above the pressure vessel; a pool of water surrounding the heat exchanger; means for venting the pool of water to an environment outside the containment; a heat exchanger entry conduit within the containment, the entry conduit having an open lower end communicating with the containment space, and an upper end connected to the heat exchanger, water-containing heated fluid present in the containment airspace incident a pressure vessel loss of coolant event entering and flowing through the entry conduit into the heat exchanger for cooling the fluid to convert water vapor therein to a condensate and separate non-condensable gasses therefrom; a gravity driven cooling water ...
The Mittelplate oilfield is located in the Waddensea tidelands 8 km off the north sea coast and represents Germany's largest oilfield. Since Mittelplate oil production has started in 1987, RWE Dea AG being the operator in a 50/50 joint venture with Wintershall AG, has continually implemented and improved the sophisticated technology required to exploit natural resources by using safe and environmentally compatible means in the sensitive tideland environment of Mittelplate. Besides the sucessful offshore operations from the man-made Mittelplate Drilling and Production Island, further onshore development has started in 2000 by producing from high-tech ERD wells drilled from onshore locations. The offshore oil production had been transported so far by specially designed tug and tow barges and had been restricted by weather and tide. To overcome this bottleneck and to enable an accelerated offshore drilling and ...
On Day 363, a negative 360-degree roll turn with spacecraft ... Ill. DSN Support Assessment. As an indication of the high level support provided by the ...
The following paragraphs summarize the progress of each research project funded under the WVU Cooperative Agreement during the third quarter of 1997 (July - September 1997). The projects are arranged according to their 1997 WVU task number. WVU Focus Area 1.0: Subsurface Contaminants, Containment and Remediation Task No. 1.1: Project discontinued. Task No. 1.2: Development of Standard Test Protocols and Barrier Design Models for Desiccation Barriers (K. Amininan & S. Ameri): A number of experiments were preformed this period to evaluate the ability of the dried sand-packs to act as a barrier to liquids. Water infiltration tests were done with a constant head, dispersing 80 ml of water, and by adding water in small increments. Results indicate that when the water is spilled over the sand-pack, it has the tendency to channel through the sand-pack, significantly reducing the capacity of the dried zone to retain liquid contaminants. This appears to be largely influenced by particle ...
Carbon monoxide can be produced in severe accidents from interaction of ex-vessel molten core with concrete. Depending on the particular core-melt scenario, the type of concrete and geometric factors affecting the interaction, the quantities of carbon monoxide produced can vary widely, up to several volume percent in the containment. Carbon monoxide is a combustible gas. The carbon monoxide thus produced is in addition to the hydrogen produced by metal-water reactions and by radiolysis, and represents a possibly significant contribution to the combustible gas inventory in the containment. Assessment of possible accident loads to containment thus requires knowledge of the combustion properties of both CO and H_2 in the containment atmosphere. Extensive studies have been carried out and are still continuing in the nuclear industry to assess the threat of hydrogen in a severe reactor accident. However the contribution of carbon monoxide to the combustion threat has ...
Full text of publication follows: The TUV NORD e.V. is an independent Technical Support Organisation (TSO) performing safety assessments in almost every field of technology. In nuclear safety the TUV can look back on more than 40 years of experience. In the last years in Germany PWR safety analyses were focussed on boron dilution events with the potential of reactivity transients. The possibility of coolant with a low boron concentration collected in localized areas of the reactor coolant system (RCS) can be caused by injection of coolant with less boron content from interfacing systems (external dilution) as well as separation of borated reactor coolant into highly concentrated and diluted fractions (inherent dilution). Inherent dilution can e.g. occur after reflux-condenser heat transfer after a small break loss of coolant accident (SBLOCA) with a limited operability of the emergency core cooling (ECC) systems. The TUV Nord e.V. was charged by German supervisory ...
The Control Rod Drive(CRD) nozzles for PWR nuclear power plants(NPP) house the control rod drives. The number of nozzle penetrations range from the mid-30's to over 100 in each reactor head. The integrity of CRD nozzles is very important, because the primary pressure boundary is established with the J-groove weld joining the nozzle to the head clad surface. The Alloy 600 PWSC CRD nozzle leaks discovered in the fall of 2000 and spring of 2001 in several US plants. Therefore the NRC has recommended a more proactive effort by US utilities to inspect similarly susceptible nozzles in all US plants. The primary safety concern is circumferential cracks that can permit the nozzles to separate from the head at high velocity and produce a large-break leak in the reactor vessel. A secondary concern is head leakage from any through-wall cracks in the nozzle or J-groove weld area. Numerous inspection and repair tools have been developed to address CRD nozzle inspection ...
The 1977 version of the Simpson-Puls-Dutton model appears to be the most amenable with respect to utilizing known or readily estimated quantities. The Pardee-Paton model requires extensive calculations involving estimated quantities. Recent observations by Koike and Suzuki on vanadium support the general assumption that crack growth in hydride forming metals is determined by the rate of hydride formation, and their hydrogen atmosphere-displacive transformation model is of potential interest in explaining hydrogen embrittlement in ferrous alloys as well as hydride formers. The discontinuous nature of cracking due to hydrogen embrittlement appears to depend very strongly on localized stress intensities, thereby pointing to the role of microstructure in influencing crack initiation, fracture mode and crack path. The initiation of hydrogen induced failures over relatively short periods of time can be characterized with fair reliability using measurements of the ...
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are developing high-performance explosive firing vessels to contain (one time) explosive detonations that contain toxic metals and hazardous gases. The filament-wound polymer composite vessels are designed to contain up to 80 lb (TNT equivalent) explosive in a 2-meter sphere without leakage. So far, two half-scale (1-meter diameter) vessels have been tested; one up to 150% of the design explosive limit. Peak dynamic pressures in excess of 280 MPa (40 Ksi) in the vessel were calculated and measured. Results indicated that there was a small amount of gas and particle leakage past the first two of the seven o-ring seals. However, the remaining five seals prevented any transient leakage of the toxic gases and particulates out of the vessel. These results were later confirmed by visual inspection and particulate analysis of swipes ...
A new separation process of saturated fatty acids (lauric acid-myristic acid) using crystallization from an aqueous ethanol solution has been examined. There were two vessels in this separation process: an extraction vessel and a crystallization vessel. The fatty acids in the aqueous phase were first extracted from their organic phase (melt) in the extraction vessel. The fatty acids in the aqueous phase were continuously introduced to the crystallization vessel, and then the fatty acids were crystallized there. The crystals of the fatty acids were collected continuously above the aqueous phase in the crystallization vessel. In this process, the yield and the purity of the crystals over time were measured, and it was found that the purity of lauric acid increased unsteadily up to 0.98 mole fraction of lauric acid with an increase in the yield of the low yield ...
The Melt Vessel Interaction (MVI) project is concerned with the consequences of the interactions that a core melt, generated during a postulated severe accident in a light water reactor, may have with the pressure vessel. In particular, the issues concerned with the failure of the vessel bottom head are the focus of the research. The specific objectives of the project are to obtain data and develop validated models, which could be applied to prototypic plants, and accident conditions, for resolution of issues related to the melt vessel interactions. The project work has been performed by nine partners having varied responsibility. The work included a large number of experiments, with simulant materials, whose observations and results are employed, respectively, to understand the physical mechanisms and to develop validated models. Applications to the prototypic geometry and conditions have also been ...
Debris coolability in the lower plenum of the reactor pressure vessel is an important factor for evaluation of debris in-vessel retention. The debris coolability analysis module is developed for the accurate prediction of the safety margin of the present reactor vessels in a severe accident. The module calculates debris spreading and cooling through melting and solidification in combination with a temperature distribution and failure evaluation of the vessel wall. Debris spreading is solved by the explicit method on a quasi-three-dimensional scheme and debris coolability is solved on the basis of natural convection analysis. The calculation for spreading is compared with a water spreading experiment on the floor and the calculation for coolability is compared with a n-octadecane melting experiment in a rectangular vessel. The comparisons show capabilities for predictions of ...
Debris coolability in the lower plenum of the reactor pressure vessel is an important factor for evaluation of debris in-vessel retention. The debris coolability analysis module is developed for the accurate prediction of the safety margin of the present reactor vessels in a severe accident. The module calculates debris spreading and cooling through melting and solidification in combination with a temperature distribution and failure evaluation of the vessel wall. Debris spreading is solved by the explicit method on a quasi-three-dimensional scheme and debris coolability is solved on the basis of natural convection analysis. The calculation for spreading is compared with a water spreading experiment on the floor and the calculation for coolability is compared with a n-octadecane melting experiment in a rectangular vessel. The comparisons show capabilities for predictions of ...
A prototype hydride storage bed, using LaNi{sub 4.25}Al{sub 0.75} as the storage material, was fitted with strain gages to measure strains occurring in the stainless steel bed vessel caused by expansion of the storage powder upon uptake of hydrogen. The strain remained low in the bed as hydrogen was added, up to a bed loading of about 0.5 hydrogen to metal atom ratio (H/M). The strain then increased with increasing hydrogen loading ({approximately} 0.8 H/M). Different locations exhibited greatly different levels of maximum strain. In no case was the design stress of the vessel exceeded.
This paper presents the results of a series of experiments performed to study the effect of initial pressure vessel conditions on the extent of melt dispersal from scaled reactor cavities and describes progress in development of a mathematical model which is designed to predict the melt mass dispersed from reactor cavities as a function of reactor vessel initial conditions and on the vessel breach area. The model, which is being developed to also characterize the heat transfer and chemical reaction phenomena which would take place within the reactor cavity, is designed to be incorporated into a lumped-parameter containment analysis computer code.
The recent definition of a postulated thermal shock accident followed promptly by system repressurization, termed an overcooling or pressurized thermal shock accident, has set a large analysis and research effort into motion. The essential elements are concerned with defining the accident transients, evaluating the instrumentation and controls that cause the postulated accidents, and evaluating the metallurgical and structural mechanics aspects of the reactor vessel with respect to its failure potential. This paper poses the question faced by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the vessel steel embrittlement, annealing, and surveillance dosimetry facets of this postulated accident and provides information on our plans for study of this problem as well as current status.
Several fast neutral pressure gauges have been installed on NSTX [National Spherical Torus Experiment] to measure the vessel and divertor pressure during inductive and coaxial helicity injected (CHI) plasma operations. Modified, PDX [Poloidal Divertor Experiment]-type Penning gauges have been installed on the upper and lower divertors. Neutral pressure measurements during plasma operations from these and from two shielded fast Micro ion gauges at different toroidal locations on the vessel mid-plane are described. A new unshielded ion gauge, referred to as the In-vessel Neutral Pressure (INP) gauge is under development.
The Eiric Raude offshore drilling rig is a powerful machine that is suitable for drilling in harsh environments in ultra deep water. It has a total drilling depth of 8,200 to 10,000 metres and an operational displacement of 53,400 mt. The rig complies with the regulatory regimes of Norway, the United Kingdom and Canada. The Eiric Raude has drilled 5 deepwater wells offshore eastern Canada, 1 well offshore Cuba, 1 well west of Shetland, and 3 offshore Norway. The environmental criteria for extreme weather conditions consider wave, current and wind forces. The general operational guidelines were discussed along with key areas for prevention of environmental impact, including emissions from well testing, air emissions from diesel engines, cooling water, bunkering operations, discharges from drilling, accidental discharges, drain water, and domestic sewage. It was noted that the zero discharge philosophy is ...
For almost 150 years, the two monotypic genera Trochodendron and Tetracentron (Trochodendraceae) have been considered to share an unusual and primitive feature in angiosperms - the lack of vessels in their wood. Therefore, they have been classified in a basal position in the angiosperms. Our observations by light microscopy, low-vacuum environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and high-vacuum scanning electron microscopy (SEM) both in fresh and FAA-fixed materials consistently showed the presence of tracheary elements differentiated into two types in both genera. In Trochodendron, the tracheary elements can be divided into perforate vessel elements and imperforate fiber-tracheids and tracheids. The vessel elements show end and lateral walls. The pits on the end walls are elongate- ...
My assignment on the SP-100 Vacuum Vessel Vacuum System Team was to perform a transient pump down analysis for the vacuum vessel that will house the SP-100 reactor during testing. Pump down time was calculated for air and helium. For all cases the proposed vacuum system will be able to pump down the vessel within the required time. The use of a larger rotary piston pump (DUO250) improves the pump down time by 35 minutes and therefore should be considered. The 6-inch duct for the roughing line is optimal, however, because all cases are well below the 24 hour time frame, the 4-inch duct is sufficient. The use of the single turbomolecular pump during pump down is sufficient. A pump down with helium in the vessel and a helium inleakage delays the time to achieve the base pressure marginally and is acceptable.
... second way in which social science dif- fers from the ... it would have been better to leave it intact ... to deploy, returning with worn vessels and sick crews ...
In order to investigate the role of mononuclear cells in infiltrates during the initial stages of atherogenesis, the authors have studied by immunohistochemical methods the aortas and coronary vessels...Full Text Available
A full-scale model of a rigid sectorial ring and a set of bellows which was covered with a temperature control layer and a coolant supply equipment was constructed to verify the adequacy of the heating and cooling system designed for JT-60. To cool and heat it effectively and to decrease the temperature differences among the various parts in the vacuum vessel, heater units and cooling pipes were located on the surface of the ring. The temperature control layer is to heat the vessel to 500/degree/sub //C within 70 hours and to maintain it at the temperature for 48 hours for simulating the state of bakeout. Subsequently the vessel is cooled down within about the same time as in heating. Prior to the series of tests, numerical analyses were performed to predict the cooling and heating efficiencies on the model and to examine the method of the temperature regulation.
... 2008. Characterizing the relative contributions of large vessels to total ocean noise fields: a case study using the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank ...
The regulation of blood vessel formation is of fundamental importance to many physiological processes, and angiogenesis is a major area for novel therapeutic approaches to diseases from ischemia to...Full Text Available
... Deepwater Program is a 25-year, $24 billion plan to replace or modernize its fleet of vessels, aircraft, and information management capabilities. ...
ARIES-AT is a 1000MWe conceptual fusion power plant design with a very low projected cost of electricity. The design contains many innovative features to improve both the physics and engineering performance of the system. From the safety and environmental perspective, there is greater depth to the overall analysis than in past ARIES studies. For ARIES-AT, the overall spectrum of off-normal events to be examined has been broadened. They include conventional loss of coolant and loss of flow events, an ex-vessel loss of coolant, and in-vessel off-normal events that mobilize in-vessel inventories (e.g., tritium and tokamak dust) and bypass primary confinement such as a loss of vacuum and an in-vessel loss of coolant with bypass. This broader examination of accidents improves the robustness of ...
The High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is one of the world's most powerful research reactors. In 1996, one year after the demise of the Advanced Neutron Source Project, the U.S. Department of Energy embarked on an aggressive program to upgrade the neutron scattering facilities at the HFIR. These upgrades, which are now in progress, include the installation of larger beam tubes, a high-performance hydrogen cold source, and additional neutron guides and neutron scattering instruments. An extensive analysis effort was performed over the past 4 yr to support the design of the modified beamlines and new user facilities and to assess the impact of the upgrades on the integrity of the existing reactor system. The results of three of these analyses are summarized here. Specifically, results are presented for analyses related to the design of the new cold neutron source (CNS), the assessment of beam tube changes on the anticipated ...
The Hebron offshore drilling project in Atlantic Canada was discontinued in 2002 due to economic challenges. Chevron-Texaco has conducted small-scale studies to find ways to improve the project's viability. One of the main challenges facing this offshore drilling project is the issue of iceberg scour and its effect on seafloor equipment. This paper demonstrates how advances in ice engineering have resulted in new and cost-effective development concepts for: central gravity base structures; wellhead gravity base structures; floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) subsea facilities; and, long subsea tieback and trench optimization. New studies have provided a better understanding of ice contact pressures, drift velocities, iceberg management and interaction processes. New designs for gravity base structures can reduce wave loads. The selection of a new development concept is determined by economic viability, capital cost, ...
The results of an extensive, detailed geologic and geophysical evaluation of the offshore South Florida basin show this area to have considerable hydrocarbon exploration potential. Geophysical mapping on six key horizons identified numerous structural closures at Dollar Bay through Bone Island mapping levels. Geologic evaluation indicated at least four viable potential reservoir horizons, including the Sunniland formation - the main producing unit onshore in what is called the Sunniland trend. Mature, organic rich carbonate source rocks are found in several stratigraphic intervals throughout the basin, and extensively developed seals consisting of micritic limestones and anhydrites are also common in the stratigraphic section. All the critical factors for hydrocarbon accumulation - source, reservoir, trap, and seal - appear to be present in the offshore Pulley ridge area of the South Florida basin. Using high-resolution seismic data, additional ...
Recent organic geochemical studies differ radically in their interpretation of the origin of the Gulf coast oils. However all studies since (and including) Thompson, et al. 1989, emphasize the considerable geographic variation in genetic oil types and are in generalized agreement as to the genetic oil types present and their spatial and stratigraphic relationships. In particular it is accepted that the Gulf rim (both north and south) is encircled by a ring of Mesozoic carbonate-sourced oils and that there is also at least one major deep water trend of carbonate-sourced oils in the northern Gulf. It is also generally agreed that many of the Gulf rim oils are of Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian age, though some, like the Sunniland oils of Florida, are of lower Cretaceous origin. Major disagreement still occurs over the sources of the Louisiana offshore oils and onshore Wilcox reservoired oils. One {open_quotes}school of thought{close_quotes} assigns all these oils to Mesozoic ...
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a cost-effectiveness (CE) analysis to estimate the incremental cost of complying with the proposed effluent limitation guidelines (ELGs) for the coastal oil and gas industry (EPA 1995a). EPA`s CE analysis calculates the pounds of each pollutant that would be removed if the chosen discharge option is selected. In 1993, EPA issued final ELGs for the offshore oil and gas industry and published an offshore CE analysis. The chemical characteristics of produced water from the offshore region are essentially the same as those of produced water from the coastal region. It was surprising, therefore, that EPA chose a much longer list of pollutants and generally stricter weighting factors for the coastal CE analysis. This report reviews the data, assumptions, and analyses used in EPA`s coastal CE analysis and identifies alternate data, assumptions, and analyses that could lead to ...
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 ...
Before expanding on the development of the Terra Nova oilfield, the author discussed the overall business strategy of Petro-Canada and identified where the Terra Nova and offshore Newfoundland oil have their place within this strategy. The principal basins and oilfields offshore Newfoundland were reviewed, then the emphasis shifted to rest on the Terra Nova development project. A whole range of topics were brought up, including the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility, the modules layout, the FPSO located at Bull Arm, and the floating production systems. The physical environment of the Grand Banks was highlighted, and the next few sections were devoted to the Terra Nova FPSO, FPSO and drill centres, the Turret General Arrangement, and Spider buoy including the disconnect/reconnect. The last four sections dealt with the animation of riser movement, the wellhead protection animation, Henry Goodrich, and operations ...
This paper considers the technical progress in offshore pipeline construction with limitation to some general subjects covering pipeline design, installation and start-up. In future the use of limit state pipeline design philosophy, may be implemented as an alternative to the stress based design commonly used to day giving a potential for further optimisation of the pipeline design and consequently reduction of the initial investment. Comprehensive research and development efforts in Norway in the second half of the 1970`s, made it technically feasible to cross the deep water Norwegian Trench in the 1980`s. In addition, the development of several offshore pipeline systems until to day including gas distribution systems to the European continent, have brought Norway to the forefront of technical expertise
The moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.2 was occurred at the offshore Uljin on the 29 May 2004. The magnitude of the event is the largest one which is equal to that of the Sokrisan earthquake on the 16 September 1978 since the beginning of the instrumental recording by the Korean Metrological Administration (KMA) in 1978. The magnitude of the event was large enough to be felt in a wide area of the southern Korea. It did not affect the safety of the Uljin nuclear power plant (NPP) site which is about 80 km away from the epicenter. In this article, we estimate source parameters of the event and evaluate preliminary seismic safety of the Uljin NPP site regarding the event as an empirical Green's function (EGF)
The phased field development of the Lion and Panthere fields, offshore the Ivory Coast, includes a small floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) tanker with minimal processing capability as an early oil production system (EPS). For the long-term production scheme, the FPSO will be replaced by a converted jack up mobile offshore production system (MOPS) with full process equipment. The development also includes guyed-caisson well platforms, pipeline export for natural gas to fuel an onshore power plant, and a floating storage and offloading (FSO) tanker for oil export. Pipeline export for oil is a future possibility. This array of innovative strategies and techniques seldom has been brought together in a single project. The paper describes the development plan, early oil, jack up MOPS, and transport and installation.
The purpose of this rulemaking is to amend the effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the control of discharges of certain pollutants associated with the use of synthetic-based drilling fluids (SBFs) and other non-aqueous drilling fluids in portions of the Offshore Subcategory and Cook Inlet portion of the Coastal Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category. These proposed limitations apply to discharges or effluent generated when oil and gas wells are drilled using SBFs or other non-aqueous drilling fluids (collectively referred to simply as SBFs) in coastal and offshore regions in locations where drilling wastes may be discharged.
The Jeanne d`Arc Basin is located 320 km offshore in the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. It is a Mesozoic failed-rift basin with recoverable oil reserves of about 2 billion barrels. Its huge Hibernia Field will be in production by late 1997. The basin has been reappraised using sequence stratigraphic concepts, and renewed exploration in the area is expected. The Upper Jurassic - Lower Cretaceous sedimentary accumulation in the Basin was formed by the extensional tectonics that created the North Atlantic Ocean. The sedimentary packages were placed in chronostratigraphic order by calibrating the biostratigraphy of the Oxfordian to Maastrichtian section to the detailed ammonite zonation from the North Sea.
ObjectivesThe practical exploitation of tidal stream energy is limited by man's activities in coastal waters: navigation, fishing and~%~leisure pursuits. It is important therefore to make the best use of the sites, which are available. The main objective of the~%~Proposed study is to assess the limits imposed by waves on the performance of tidal stream rotors, and to investigate way:~%~in which these limits might be related by refinements in rotor design and the control of operating conditions. Secondary~ [continued...]DescriptionHorizontal aids wind turbines have been recognised as one of the most successful renewable energy saving devices. The use of the similar concept as a 'tidy stream rotor' in offshore environment appears to be even more compelling. However, the application of this concept will require the confirmation of various operational and environmental limitations due to complexities of offshore environment compared to those of on ...
Various theories and examples of modelling, forecasting and optimization designing in the different parts of the petroleum and gas industries are presented, stochastic programming for long term planning in the refining industry, stochastic model for gasoline blending, feedstock optimization, location and sizing for offshore platforms, hydrocarbon exploration simulation rapid method, valuation of oil field development leases, economic models for petroleum allocation, models for oil supply market, trade embargo game theory, stochastic programming of gas contract portfolio management, scheduling transportation of oil and gas, strategic planning in an oil pipeline company, simulation of offshore oil terminal systems, hierarchical selection of oil and gas distribution systems.
Corrosion is said to be the most dominant factor which affects the physical life of ships and offshore structures. In order to secure the structural safety of ships and offshore structures, it is necessary to take measures to corrosion based on the prediction of condition of progressive corrosion. But such prediction is difficult because the behavior of corrosion`s progress is probabilistic. In this paper, probabilistic model, which could evaluate the degradation of coatings and the successive corrosion of steel members, was proposed in order to explain the tendency of the actual corrosion conditions of existing ships. Then, statistical inferences on the proposed model were made by applying the actual data on plate thickness measurements of Bulk Carriers` Cargo Hold. And validity of the proposed model was verified.
VWS Westgarth, a subsidiary of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies (VWS), has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co (DSME), under which it will design, supply and deliver two treatment units for use on a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.
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
In order to evacuate the residual power in a nuclear reactor, a thermal valve system is presented for the modification of the heat exchange conditions at the pool exchanger level, which avoids the use of mechanical valves on the pipes. The system involves a vessel containing the exchanger, with openings at the upper end of the vessel and means for feeding the fluid at the lower end, and means for controlling the opening width.
In 2005, the American Medical Informatics Association undertook a set of activities relating to clinical decision support (CDS), with support from the office of the national coordinator and the Agency...Full Text Available
Concerning the transient phenomenon of solid-gas two-phase flow, an attempt was made to visualize and measure a flow phenomenon in which three-dimensional bubbles occurred, grew and collapsed in the vicinity of a gas injection nozzle while solid particles were circulating. Such a phenomenon could not or hardly be visualized and measured by conventional methods. Such two-phase flow was visualized using neutron radiography, its characteristics measured and the usefulness of the visualization by neutron radiography confirmed. For this purpose, three-dimensional fluidized bed vessels, rectangular or cylindrical-shaped, made of steel or aluminum sheet, were prepared. Polyethylene or glass beads were used as solid particles and activated carbon particles as the tracer. In the experiment, nitrogen gas was blown into the vessel from one nozzle and distributors provided at the bottom of the vessel and exhausted from the top via the ...
This presentation explored the use of marine biodiesel in the Puget Sound region. Marine vessels are now adopting biodiesel fuels as a means of expressing corporate commitments to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the environmental impacts of hydrocarbons released into marine environments. Various biodiesel blends have been designed for use in small commercial, recreational, and research vessels. Biodiesel has also been adopted by charter and whale watching vessels in the Puget Sound. The Guemes Island Ferry has recently been re-configured to use biodiesel fuels, with 2 fuel tanks capable of receiving 2200 gallons at a time. The ferry adopted biodiesel after receiving soot complaints from marinas, and hopes to serve as a model for other vessels in the region. Four fueling docks supply the biodiesel blend to marine vessels. The sale of biodiesel has doubled in some marinas ...
As need for development of marginal and deepwater oil fields grows, demand increases for floating production vessels (FPVs) such as floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) units; spread-moored production semi-submersibles; and turret-moored production vessels. The FPV may be purpose-built; or an existing vessel such as an exploration drilling semi-sub or ship-shape vessel may be modified to suit the purpose. In either case, requirements for tensioning systems for the mooring lines on the FPV are quite unique, and are not without the potential for problems when traditional chain windlasses or wire rope systems are employed. This two-part article discusses the range of available technologies and systems for tensioning mooring lines on FPVs. It examines problems of size, weight and safety associated with some available designs; and it considers in detail a specific family of new units. Part 1, ...
The Four years of the IMPACT, 'Integrated Modular Plant Analysis and Computing Technology', project Phase 1 have been completed. The verification study of Severe Accident Analysis Code SAMPSON prototype developed in Phase 1 was conducted in two steps. First, each analysis module was run independently and analysis results were compared and verified against separate-effect test data with good results. Second, with the Simulation Supervisory System, up to 11 analysis modules were executed concurrently in the parallel environment (currently, NUPEC uses IBM-SP2 with 72 process elements), to demonstrate the code capability and integrity. The target plant was Surry as a typical PWR and the initiation events were a 10-inch cold leg failure. The analysis is divided to two cases; one is in-vessel retention analysis when the gap cooling is effective (In-vessel scenario test), the other is analysis of phenomena event is extended to ...
The stand is designed to test supports of development workings. To expand the test range for various types of supports, the cross pieces have fixing devices in the form of winches interacting by cables through blocks fastened to the stand body with the support hinges.
HOAI und Vergabe - erste Erfahrungen mit den Novellen 29. Stahlbauseminar INTAB+ Seminar 2010 Verbundbrucken mit integralen Widerlagern Hamburg Offshore Wind Conference 2010Perfect know-HOW Leichtbausysteme aus Stahl fur Dach und Fassade. Energie- und kosteneffiziente Losungen fur Neu- und Bestandsbau Lubecker Bautag
An atlas series about the offshore northern Gulf of Mexico will group gas and oil reservoirs into subregional plays and will display reservoir data on a computerized geographical information system. The atlas series will provide critically compiled reservoir engineering data to help the private sector explore and develop hydrocarbons and to help the public sector analyze the hydrocarbon endowment in this basin. In this report, we cover aspects of the play-analysis procedure and provide specific examples of lower Miocene plays from the upper Texas coast and Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Play analysis emphasizes using broad classes of structural style, depositional style and environments, and defining attributes to group reservoirs into plays. To date, we have identified 4 Oligocene and 25 Miocene plays in Texas State offshore waters and 115 plays in the Federal OCS. Texas State offshore plays are gas prone ...
This book provides discusses recent developments in oil pollution control instrumentation. Some of the topics covered are as follows: 1. Technical requirements of the IMCO International Performance and Test Specification A393x concerning oil content meters; and 2. Oil in water detection; and 3. Methods for the disposal of recovered oil and oily sludge; and 4. Oil content monitoring at ballast water treatment facilities and offshore production platforms.
CETCO Oilfield Services, suppliers of environmental systems, have undertaken a project to treat contaminated water returns on a Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility in the North Sea. The solution sees fluids treated during oil well clean-up operations, reducing the potential for overboard oil discharges, and resulting production upsets.
Separate abstracts were prepared for 20 papers in this conference report and includes all papers in the ''engineering'' section (program E). Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), moorings, cables, corrosion protection, corrosion testing, coatings, offshore platforms, pipelines, OTEC models and pilot plants, and energy transfer are topics discussed.
In 1994, after four years of preparation, the first off-shore wind farm in the Netherlands was erected. The ``Lely`` wind farm comprises four NedWind 500 kW wind turbines, of rotor diameter 40.77 m. The turbines are placed on unique single-pile foundations. An interesting engineering aspect of the project is the interaction between the foundations and the turbine. (author)
A case study of a hypothetical offshore production fixed leg platform facility is presented. The purpose of the case study is to demonstrate the advantages offered by modern, fuel efficient large gas turbines in central power generation service for offshore production. The case study was presented using the Rolls- Royce RB211 large gas turbine with facility production of approximately 240,000 BPD of oil and 540 MMSCFD of associated gas. The gas was subjected to three stages of separation for removal of hydrocarbon liquids and water. The liquids, natural gas, and crude oil were exported from the production platform to an onshore receiving terminal. Gas compression is the service that requires the greatest amount of power for any given production facility. For this case study, gas compression represented approximately 70 per cent of the power load with the remainder represented by the liquid export pumps (16 per cent), and by general utilities ...
The use of an SCR-controlled power system on an offshore drilling rig has lead to an increased acceptance of high technology equipment. Such equipment increases drilling productivity, reduces maintenance, and improves reliability. Most new rigs now have AC squirrel cage motors, brushless AC generators, silicon controlled rectifiers, DC motors, and swtichgear and motor starters. Several opportunities for cost reductions in SCR systems, such as improving the power factor, are studied in this paper.
Explosives have been used in the removal of offshore wellhead devices for a number of years. In 1975, the first liquid explosives were run to remove wellheads and have proved to be a safe and reliable method of severing and salvaging the wellhead equipment from most depths of water. Methods of explosive wellhead removal and the areas of safety, reliability, and economics are discussed.
This report describes outer continental shelf oil and gas activities in the Atlantic Region. This edition of the Atlantic Update includes an overview of the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area and a summary of the Manteo Prospect off-shore North Carolina. 6 figs., 8 tabs.
Reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels are subjected to neutron irradiation at a temperature of about 290 deg C. This radiation exposure alters the mechanical properties, leading to a shift of the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature toward higher temperatures and to a diminution of the rupture energy as determined by Charpy V-notch tests. This radiation embrittlement is one of the important aging factors of nuclear power plants. U.S. NRC recommended the basic requirements for the determination of the pressure vessel fluence by regulatory guide DG-1025 in order to reduce the uncertainty in the determination of neutron fluence calculation and measurements. The determination of the pressure vessel fluence is based on both calculations and measurements. The fluence prediction is made with a calculation and the measurements are used to qualify the calculational methodology. Because of the importance and the difficulty of ...
Abstract Uniformly distributing slurry solids in -tall- (-2:1 aspect ratio) process vessels is a significant challenge in the chemical industry. This work determined the performance of various multi-tier agitation systems in uniformly distributing a settling solid throughout water in a -tall- laboratory vessel. It used a 0.445-m ID Plexiglas tank, with a slurry height of 0.889-m, to determine how solids distribution changes with solids loading (wt.%), impeller speed, and impeller type. Some impeller types uniformly distributed the solids even before energy input exceeded 1.00-W/kg. Significantly higher energy improved solids distribution little because flow within the vessel eventually became choked.
Two patients who developed large intracranial vessel occlusion after standard radiation therapy for brain tumor are described. This form of vascular occlusion is usually seen in patients who have previously been treated by radiotherapy for intracranial tumor who then develop a relatively acute change in neurologic status. Histology of the lesion mimics accelerated focal arteriosclerosis. The clinical and radiographic manifestations of one case were highly atypical. The vasculopathy became evident shortly after termination of radiation therapy for a fourth ventricular ependymoma, and the angiographic picture stimulated a diffuse arteritis. The second patient was more typical, with clinical symptoms developing 12 years after radiation therapy for an oligodendroglioma. Occlusion of a proximal vessel that had been included in the radiation port was demonstrated radiographically and confirmed by pathologic examination. The clinical, angiographic, ...
Two patients who developed large intracranial vessel occlusion after standard radiation therapy for brain tumor are described. This form of vascular occlusion is usually seen in patients who have previously been treated by radiotherapy for intracranial tumor who then develop a relatively acute change in neurologic status. Histology of the lesion mimics accelerated focal arteriosclerosis. The clinical and radiographic manifestations of one case were highly atypical. The vasculopathy became evident shortly after termination of radiation therapy for a fourth ventricular ependymoma, and the angiographic picture stimulated a diffuse arteritis. The second patient was more typical, with clinical symptoms developing 12 years after radiation therapy for an oligodendroglioma. Occlusion of a proximal vessel that had been included in the radiation port was demonstrated radiographically and confirmed by pathologic examination. The clinical, angiographic, ...
The measurement of level in the liquid nitrogen vessel has been carried out by the weight conversion method using weigher or by putting directly a stick in the vessel. On a large CE tank, the pressure difference was read by manometer. These methods can not be used when the vessel does not put on the weigher or the pipe for manometer is stopped. We noticed the interaction between radiation ({gamma}-ray) and substance and applied it to determine the liquid nitrogen level. The results proved it the easy method for measurement of the level in the large CE tank. Cesium 137 ({gamma}-ray energy: 662 keV) was used as the radiation source. {gamma}-ray transmission dose was determined by GM survey meter. The liquid nitrogen level could be determined by using the change of the transmission dose with amount of liquid nitrogen. (S.Y.)
Disclosed is a gas-fired cooktop for a range which provides high thermal efficiency and low emissions of air pollutants, particularly low levels of NO{sub x}. The cooktop includes a perforated tile burner which radiates infrared energy upward at a high flux rate to rapidly quench burner gas temperatures and inhibit the formation of NO{sub x}. A perforated glass-ceramic jet plate positioned between the burner and a cooking vessel transmits most of the radiant infrared energy from the burner to the vessel and also forms jets of combustion products which are directed against the bottom of the vessel fo convective heating. Thermal efficiencies of up to about 70% and NO{sub x} emissions as low as about 15ppM are achieved by the cooktop.
Plant Assessment Technology (PAT) group, in association with Intelligent System (IS) Group and Engineering Services Department of Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT) has developed gamma scanning facilities for on-line investigation of industrial process columns and vessels. The technology, based on the principle of gamma-ray absorption, has been successfully applied for troubleshooting of a number of distillation columns and process vessels in petroleum refineries, gas processing plants and chemical plants in the country and the region. This paper outlines basic characteristics of the system and describes the inspection procedures, and in addition, case studies are also presented. The case studies are purposely chosen to illustrate the versatility of the technology, and furthermore to demonstrate the economic benefits which can be realised from the application of this technology. (author)
We have colocalized elastin and fibrillin-1 with perlecan in extracellular matrix of tensional and weight-bearing connective tissues. Elastin and fibrillin-1 were identified as prominent components of paraspinal blood vessels, and posterior longitudinal ligament in the human fetal spine and outer annulus fibrosus of the fetal intervertebral disc. We also colocalized perlecan with a synovial elastic basal lamina, where the attached synovial cells were observed to produce perlecan. Elastin, fibrillin-1 and perlecan were co-localized in the intima and media of small blood vessels in the synovium and in human fetal paraspinal blood vessels. Elastic fibers were observed at the insertion point of the anterior cruciate ligament to bone in the ovine stifle joint where they colocalized with perleca...
Therapeutic embolization is defined as the voluntary occlusion of one or several vessels, and this is achieved by inserting material into the lumen to obtain transient or permanent thrombosis in the...Full Text Available
Peripheral vascular diseases (PVD) are referred to as diseases affecting the blood vessels other than the heart and the brain. Interventional endovascular treatment whenever feasible has become the...Full Text Available
The use of deuterium-tritium fuel in the Compact Ignition Tokamak will require applying remote handling technology for ex-vessel maintenance and replacement of machine components. Highly activated and contaminated components of the fusion devices auxiliary systems, such as diagnostics and RF heating, must be replaced using remotely operated maintenance equipment in the test cell. In-vessel remote maintenance included replacement of divertor and first wall hardware, faraday shields, and for an in-vessel inspection system. Provision for remote replacement of a vacuum vessel sector, toroidal field coil or poloidal field ring coil was not included in the project baseline. As a result of recent coil failures experienced at a number of facilities, the CIT project decided to reconsider the question of remote recovery from a coil failure and, in January of 1990, initiated a coil replacement study. This study ...
Recovery of hydraulic conductivity after the induction of embolisms was studied in woody stems of laurel (Laurus nobilis). Previous experiments confirming the recovery of hydraulic...Full Text Available
The pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa disseminated infections depends on bacterial interaction with blood vessels. We have hypothesized that in order to traverse the endothelial barrier, bacteria...Full Text Available
This is a report of surgical treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms and aneurysms of the abdominal aorta from which the visceral vessels arise during the 18 year period from April 5, 1960,...Full Text Available
Evidence is presented that phorbic acid is formed in the latex producing cell system, rather than in photosynthetic or chlorophyll-free tissues of Euphorbia resinifera Berg. When a...Full Text Available
1. The proteolytic enzyme pronase, which degrades the endothelial cell glycocalyx, was perfused through single capillaries of frog mesentery. Hydraulic conductivity (Lp) of each vessel was determined...Full Text Available
1. Nitric oxide generation is important in the regulation of resistance vessel tone. Until now, however, there has been no evidence of such a role for basal generation of nitric oxide in the skin microcirculation...Full Text Available
A 65-year-old man suffering from ascending aorta aneurysm and atherosclerotic three vessel disease without left main involvement underwent aortic root replacement with coronary ostia reimplantation...Full Text Available
• Background and Aims Although mangroves have been extensively studied, little is known about their ecological wood anatomy. This investigation examined the potential use of...Full Text Available
Mist eliminators for flue gas desulphurisation units remove liquid droplets entrained in the flue gas leaving the SO/sub 2/-absorber vessels. The commercial designs currently available are described.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) affects approximately 31% of infants whose birth weight is between 501 and 1500 g. The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel that allows blood to bypass the pulmonary vasculature...Full Text Available
BackgroundVascular stents are small tubular scaffolds used in the treatment of arterial stenosis (narrowing of the vessel). Most vascular stents are metallic and are deployed either...Full Text Available
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF)is a 400 MW (th) sodium-cooled fast flux test reactor located on the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State. The FFTF is operated by the Westinghouse Hanford Company for the United States Department of Energy. The FFTF is a three loop plant designed primarily for the purpose of testing full-scale core components in an environment prototypic of future liquid metal reactors. The plant design emphasizes features to enhance this test capability, especially in the area of the core, reactor vessel, and refueling system. Eight special test positions are provided in the vessel head to permit contact instrumented experiments to be installed and irradiated. These test positions effectively divide the core into three sectors. Each sector requires its own In-Vessel Handling Machine (IVHM) to access all the core positions. Since the core and the in-vessel refueling components ...
Pseudoaneurysms related to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) are a recognised complication of trauma to the vessel, and successful treatment with stenting has been previously described. We report...Full Text Available
1. This study analyzes the mechanisms involved in the responses to ouabain in cat cerebral and femoral arteries and characterizes the electrogenic Na+ pump present in these vessels. The latter was accomplished...Full Text Available
Gradual occlusion (O) of the swine left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) with an ameroid occluder results in complete O within 3 weeks, collateral vessel development, and compensatory hypertrophy....Full Text Available
The evolution of the Doublet III neutral beam armor is followed from the initial design of a radiation cooled metallic tile to the present actively cooled graphite design. Results of the thermal and stress analyses that dictated the present design are reviewed.
PurposeDistant metastasis and recurrence are major prognostic factors associated with breast cancer. Both lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and blood vessel invasion (BVI) are important...Full Text Available
The bulbar conjunctiva is one of the few areas in which blood flow in the peripheral vasculature can be directly and noninvasively observed in the human. Although extensive literature exists describing...Full Text Available
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a critical role in normal development as well as retinal vasculature disease. During retinal vascularization, VEGF is most strongly expressed by not yet...Full Text Available
ARIES-AT is a 1000 MWe conceptual fusion power plant design with a very low projected cost of electricity. The design contains many innovative features to improve both the physics and engineering performance of the system. From the safety and environmental perspective, there is greater depth to the overall analysis than in past ARIES studies. For ARIES-AT, the overall spectrum of off-normal events to be examined has been broadened. They include conventional loss of coolant and loss of flow events, an ex-vessel loss of coolant, and in-vessel off-normal events that mobilize in-vessel inventories (e.g., tritium and tokamak dust) and bypass primary confinement such as a loss of vacuum and an in-vessel loss of coolant with bypass. This broader examination of accidents improves the robustness of the design from the safety perspective and gives additional confidence that the facility can meet the no-evacuation ...
ARIES-AT is a 1000 MWe conceptual fusion power plant design with a very low projected cost of electricity. The design contains many innovative features to improve both the physics and engineering performance of the system. From the safety and environmental perspective, there is greater depth to the overall analysis than in past ARIES studies. For ARIES-AT, the overall spectrum of off-normal events to be examined has been broadened. They include conventional loss of coolant and loss of flow events, an ex-vessel loss of coolant, and in-vessel off-normal events that mobilize in-vessel inventories (e.g., tritium and tokamak dust) and bypass primary confinement such as a loss of vacuum and an in-vessel loss of coolant with bypass. This broader examination of accidents improves the robustness of the design from the safety perspective and gives additional confidence that the facility can meet the no-evacuation ...
The fabrication of the ZT-40 torus, a large complex all-ceramic toroidal plasma containment vessel, is described. Several glass sealants covering the temperature range of 500 to 1300"0C, were developed and used to ''braze'' segments of the torus together, sapphire windows to the torus and the required pump-out and diagnostic parts to the ceramic vacuum vessel. Designs of window seals were developed that allowed sealing of the sapphire windows in a vertical position with minimum sealing glass flow.
Large scale steam storage power generation, one of the new energy storage systems for the future of inflexible electric power sources consisting of nuclear and coal power plants has been studied on the subjects of the systems to be attached to coal and nuclear power units, of the definition of storage efficiency and of the vertical steam storage vessel technology. Steam storage power generation may be hopeful for its higher efficiency similarly defined as of pumped storage plants while high temperature heat storage and the internal structure of large vertical steam storage vessel (accumulator) need to be developed.
Large scale steam storage power generation, one of the new energy storage systems for the future of inflexible electric power sources consisting of nuclear and coal power plants has been studied on the subjects of the systems to be attached to coal and nuclear power units, of the definition of storage efficiency and of the vertical steam storage vessel technology. Steam storage power generation may be hopeful for its higher efficiency similarly defined as of pumped storage plants while high temperature heat storage and the internal structure of large vertical steam storage vessel (accumulator) need to be developed. (author).
The Fast Flux Test Facility near Richland, Washington, utilizes computer control for reactor refueling and other related core component handling and processing tasks. The computer controlled tasks described in this paper include core component transfers within the reactor vessel, core component transfers into and out of the reactor vessel, remote duct measurements of irradiated core components, remote duct cutting, and finally, transferring irradiated components out of the reactor containment building for off-site shipments or to long term storage. 3 refs., 16 figs.
The Four years of the IMPACT, 'Integrated Modular Plant Analysis and Computing Technology' project Phase 1 have been completed. The verification study of Severe Accident Analysis Code SAMPSON prototype developed in Phase 1 was conducted in two steps. First, each analysis module was run independently and analysis results were compared and verified against separate-effect test data with good results. Test data are as follows: CORA-13 (FZK) for the Core Heat-up Module; VI-3 of HI/VI Test (ORNL) for the FP Release from Fuel Module; KROTOS-37 (JRC-ISPRA) for the Molten Core Relocation Module; Water Spread Test (UCSB) for the Debris Spreading Model and Benard's Melting Test for Natural Convection Model in the Debris Cooling Module; Hydrogen Burning Test (NUPEC) for the Ex-Vessel Thermal Hydraulics Module; PREMIX, PM10 (FZK) for the Steam Explosion Module; and SWISS-2 (SNL) for the Debris-Concrete Interaction Module. Second, with the Simulation Supervisory System, up to ...
Growing public and political interests towards incorporating passive safety features in nuclear installations, let Siempelkamp in late 1987 propose a solution consisting of a prestressed cast-iron pressure vessel and a passive heat removal system, integrated in the reactor cell surrounding the vessel. This solution combines the inherent safety of a prestressed metallic pressure vessel with the advantages of a passive heat removal system and thus constitutes a major step towards the goal of further reducing potential residual risks. The design had to meet the boundary conditions for reactor core and reactor building of the modular 200 MWth pebble bed reactor of Siemens/-KWU. The engineering design showed that many input parameters needed for the finite-element-analysis of the overall structure required a verification by measurements in a well scaled test setup. This was especially required for the heat transfer from the ...
The Seismic Proving Test of Heavy Component with Energy Absorbing Supports has been conducted to prove the reliability of advanced seismic technology, supporting heavy component such as PWR steam generator with large capacity energy absorbing supports under the sponsorship of Ministry of Economical Trade and Industry. If energy absorbing supports are adopted for NPP heavy components, support structure of facility will be much simplified due to their seismic energy absorbing effect. The paper describes the results of lead damper element test and seismic test at Tadotsu Laboratory, using 1/2.5 scale PWR Steam Generator model supported by Lead Extraction Damper (LED) and development of characteristics evaluation formula of energy absorbing support. (author)
The proposed device incorporates an axle which has a roller bearing support mounted upon it. This support uses a cylindrical sleeve that comes in contact with the housing, the sensors, and the bearing support component. Metering accuracy is improved by placing roller bearing supports into grooves running through the protruding center sections of the sensor elements. These roller bearing supports interface with the cylindrical sleeve.
This review updates a previous review entitled ''Impact of Oil on the Marine Environment''. It covers oil and individual hydrocarbons, used lubricating oils, chemical control agents for oil spills, and wastes from offshore petroleum operations. It considers all major knowledge generated since the mid-1970s. The review covers its topics comprehensively, from a consideration of the composition, sources and inputs of oil to its ecological and human health effects and its effects on man's use of the sea. The review addresses several key questions on the present levels of contamination, the impact of hydrocarbons and related chemicals on marine biota, the recovery potential of marine ecosystems exposed to these contaminants, the degree of protection required for marine ecosystems known to be vulnerable and sensitive, and recommended research and other actions to fill gaps in knowledge. The review describes the hazards of marine oil pollution and associated chemicals and ...
An unmanned aerial vehicle called RAVEN, said to be capable of remote tracking of onshore and offshore oil and gas facilities, has been developed by a group of graduate students from Memorial University of Newfoundland. RAVEN is claimed to be capable of performing a number of tasks under its own control without the need for human intervention, including checking onshore pipelines for damage, or scouting the path of hazardous icebergs offshore. The RAVEN was created to meet the need for real time iceberg tracking and early hazard detection, supplementing or replacing the present method of RADARSAT images and tracking by manned aircraft. The RAVEN can be launched from any platform; it can fly under conditions that would be too dangerous for a manned aircraft. Currently in the prototype stage, the first trial flight for the RAVEN is expected to take place in September 2002. The first flight will consist of five GPS waypoints set relatively close ...
A method is described for testing a diverter system on an offshore drilling rig of a type having a marine riser assembly extending to a subsea well, the diverter system having a packer element and at least one port located below the packer element for the passage of drilling fluid flowing upward from the marine riser assembly during drilling. The method consists of connecting a tubular member to the upper end of a packer having an elastomeric expansive seal element; placing the packer in an upper portion of the marine riser assembly below the diverter system and expanding the seal element against the interior of the upper portion; closing the packer element of the diverter system around the tubular member; and finally applying fluid pressure in the space between the packer element of the diverter system and the seal element of the packer to determine if any leakage in the diverter system exists. The patent also describes an offshore drilling ...
Objectives~%~~%~The practical exploitation of tidal stream energy is limited by man's activities in coastal waters: navigation, fishing and~%~leisure pursuits. It is important therefore to make the best use of the sites, which are available. The main objective of the~%~Proposed study is to assess the limits imposed by waves on the performance of tidal stream rotors, and to investigate way:~%~in which these limits might be related by refinements in rotor design and the control of openiting conditions. S~%~ [continued...]DescriptionHorizontal aids wind turbines have been recognised as one of the most successful renewable energy saving devices. The use of the similar concept as a 'tidy~%~~%~stream rotor' in offshore environment appears to be even more compelling. However, the application of this concept will require the confirmation of various operational and environmental limitations due to complexities o ...
This article examines the potential threat of marine pollution caused by offshore oil and gas development activities in the disputed areas of the South China Sea (SCS) and the Spratly Islands. After addressing the potential threat of marine pollution, it discusses the legal obligations and political commitment of the SCS littoral states regarding the protection of the marine environment in the area. The role that Taiwan can play in these matters is also examined.
Voestalpine AG (Linz, Austria) produces heavy steel for steam turbines, compressors for the promotion of oil and gas as well as for the chemical industry, mechanical engineering and for the offshore technology. A weight range between 1 and 200 tons can be covered. The author of the contribution under consideration is limited to characteristics which have to be managed by a large steel foundry within the range of the steam power plants. This is described on the basis of produced steam turbines for power stations in the highest performance segment (1,600 MW).
The Marine Technology Society 1994 conference was held in Washington, D.C., September 7-9, 1994. Titled Challenges and Opportunities in the Marine Environment, the conference offered a wide variety of presentations. State-of-the-art technology, government policies and regulations, and environmental concerns were addressed. Offshore mining, coastal zone management, marine engineering, oceanographic research, educational issues, and global climate change were also well represented in the presentations. The conference proceedings are organized around the daily sessions and roughly 70% of the papers are included.
The marine ram-type blowout preventer deployed from an offshore drilling rig has one serious disadvantage, its inaccessibility. A development to promote reliability of the subsea ram-type preventer and reduce the excess running and pulling to charge out rams, is the variable bare ram (VBR). Unlike the standard ram, the VBR has the ability to pack off a range of pipe sizes. Interest in VBR's has been revived and research and development in this equipment goes on at each of three manufacturer's facilities in Houston.
ObjectivesObjectives Not AvailableDescriptionThis proposal seeks to extend what is currently the most comprehensive offshore environmental data collection programme at a platform on the UKGS involving continuous collection of wave height and direction, wind speed and direction, current and wave particle kinematics. Data has been collected with this system since 1994 and the proposal is to extend this until 1999 thus providing an extensive set of storm data collected at 5Hz which will allow examination of the joint behaviour of wave, wind [continued...
Foinaven and Schiehallion/Loyal are the first oilfields West of Shetland (WoS). They were developed using Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) technology in water depths of between 350m and 550m and arguably the harshest environmental conditions yet experienced offshore. Traditional project time scales were halved by shortening and overlapping the reservoir and facilities developments. This paper describes some of the challenges faced by the geotechnical engineers working on these projects and summarises lessons learnt from site investigations and the design and installation of foundations. (author)
The problem of pile groups subjected to lateral loads is of interest particularly in offshore and coastal regions. An understanding of pile-soil interaction is essential in designing such pile foundations. In this paper, a simplified finite element analysis in conjunction with Yegian and Wright approach has been presented to study the behavior of pile groups under lateral loads. The pile is treated as a shear beam and the soil media is assumed to be linear elastic. The results of the analysis are used to estimate: (1) Lateral Group Efficiency and (2) Extent of stress influence around the pile. The results obtained from the theoretical predictions are found to be reasonably in good agreement with the published literature.
A new highly alloyed (Cr, Mo, W, N) super austenitic grade has been developed. This grade offers high mechanical properties combined with excellent corrosion resistance in chloride acid media. This grade is particularly designed for applications in chloride, oxidizing acid media encountered in the chemical, transportation, pollution control, offshore and pulp and paper industries. Mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and weldability of this grade are presented and compared to that of other stainless steels and nickel base alloys.
Organizational risk indicators are proposed as a tool for risk control during operation of offshore installations, as a complement to QRA-based indicators. An organizational factor framework is developed based on a review of existing organizational factor frameworks, research on safety performance indicators, and previous work on QRA-based indicators. The results comprise a qualitative organizational model, proposed organizational risk indicators, and a quantification methodology for assessing the impact of the organization on risk. The risk indicators, when validated, will aid in a frequent control of the risk in the periods between the updating of the quantitative risk assessments.
Studies on the determinants of pain-related support are needed to enhance couples-based treatments for pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which pain catastrophizing...Full Text Available
Using a theoretical framework of social support, and content analysis, the content and pattern of support in messages posted in a 4-week period on a commercial health network for individuals concerned...Full Text Available
A discussion covers the LOOP project to construct an offshore pipeline system, which will connect with onshore facilities at Fourchon, La., and two onshore pipelines (26 mi 48 in. Clovelly line and 53 mi 48 in. LOCAP line) connecting Fourchon with the existing Capline system at St. James, La.; the three-phase construction schedule, the first phase due to begin in the third quarter of 1978 with, e.g., onshore pipeline and salt dome storage facility construction which will yield an expected initial throughput of 1.4 million bbl/day; the marine terminal complex, consisting of control and pumping platforms, and three 7000 hp pumps to operate the system at 45,000-100,000 bbl/hr; the offshore lines, including lines between single-point mooring units and the pumping platform, the 21 mi 48 in. pipe to Fourchon, and corrosion protection of lines by an asphalt-sand mixture or a semiplasticized coal-tar enamel; the onshore system, including the Fourchon ...
There are over 4,500 petroleum platforms in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Explosives are commonly used to remove platforms and have the potential to kill nearby sea turtles. From June 1988-June 1990, the authors used aerial surveys to study turtle density and the spatial relationship between turtles and platforms offshore of Louisiana. They sighted 316 turtles most of which (92%) were loggerheads. Seventy-eight percent were sighted just east of the Mississippi River offshore of the Chandeleur Islands. East of the river, turtle densities ranged from 0.92 (winter) to 4.83 turtles/100 sq km (spring). West of the river, annual densities ranged from 0.11-0.50 turtles/100 sq km. East of the river, three statistical tests indicated that turtles were generally closer to platforms than expected by chance alone. West of the river, turtles were randomly located with respect to platform locations. Before explosives are used, current mitigation measures ...
A device is presented with handle containing hinges and work support arm, a flexible pin with supports and extra weights. The flexible pin is equipped with cantilevered sergments and weights. The bracket hinges on the handle are perpendicular to the axis of the flexible pin. To reduce handle vibration during drilling hard rock, the handle and brackets are joined to allow relative movement on the surface perpendicular to the hinges of the work support arm. The handle is joined to the work support arm parallel to the sides and the work support arm has holes to accomodate this. Elastic bushings are located between the lateral sides of the work support arm where it is joined to the handle.
Carbon capture and storage have been receiving increasing interest lately, mainly as an option to reduce CO{sub 2} emissions from the power sector. The concept could be adapted for production of H{sub 2} as well, which would provide a carbon free energy carrier that could be used for example as transportation fuel. In this doctoral thesis, the option to use chemical-looping technologies to produce H{sub 2} from fossil fuels with CO{sub 2} capture is explored. In chemical-looping combustion, direct contact between fuel and combustion air is avoided. Instead, a solid oxygen carrier performs the task of bringing oxygen from the air to the fuel. Thus, the resulting CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}O are not diluted with N{sub 2}, and pure CO{sub 2} can easily be recovered by cooling and condensation. The heat of reaction is the same as for ordinary combustion. Chemical-looping reforming uses the same basic principles as chemical-looping combustion, but operates at under stoichiometric conditions. ...
... Headquarters Element, Defense Logistics Agency, Support Detachment 3 ... Joint Task Force, Team 6 ... 19th Special Forces Group, Support Element 1 ...
OBJECTIVEEvaluate the qualitative and quantitative differences between moderated and unmoderated on-line social support groups focused on asthma.DESIGNA...Full Text Available
This paper reports an investigation of older adults' needs and preferences concerning online social support. We focused our analysis on seven different aspects of online support: Self disclosure, Deep support, Light support, Community building, Information/Facts, Off topic, and Technical issues. For each aspect we were interested in how older adults perceive this aspect of support, what they think are the similarities and differences of this aspect of support in online settings vs offline settings, and what they perceive are the advantages and disadvantages of communicating this aspect of support online. We did this by conducting detailed interviews with three groups of older adults (31 people in total) with different levels of expertise in using the internet and online communication (olde...
... s guides and "how-to" videos and other materials, and 7. Receive continuing support from GLOBE's ... and educational materials that result from international proposals in its materials and support ...
Canada's offshore Atlantic petroleum industry is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2001. This article chronicles the development of the industry discussing the many challenges and setbacks and the eventual triumphs that accompanied the industry's development over the years. Highlights discussed include shipping first oil from the Cohasset Field in July 1992; the financial crisis caused by the withdrawal of Gulf Oil from the Hibernia consortium in the same year; new funding and the beginning of the gravity-based structure construction at Bulls Arm in 1993; striking oil in the Hibernia Field in 1994; the start of exploration and development of the Terra Nova field by Petro-Canada in the same year, based on the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) system, which heralded a new era of offshore development in eastern Canada. Approval by the Nova Scotia government of the third and final phase of the Sable ...
Purpose: Three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) is a new technique based on a rotational angiographic acquisition able to display arterial vessels in a 3D rendering mode. The system was mainly developed for neuroradiological evaluations but preliminary extracranial experiences have also been reported. The aim of our work was to compare the results of three-dimensional angiography of the carotid arteries done with high-flow injection of contrast medium from the aortic arch with the results of selective angiography. Materials and methods: Twenty patients underwent digital angiography of the supra-aortic vessels in order to quantify a stenosis of the carotid bifurcations previously detected at Doppler Ultrasound. Examinations were performed with the Philips Integris Allura system provided with the rotational angiography (RA) tool connected to a workstation for three-dimensional reconstruction able to display vessels ...
The commercial Modular High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (MHTGR) achieves improved reactor safety performance and reliability by utilizing an integrated sequence of completely passive thermal storage and heat transfer mechanisms to reject decay heat in the event that all its active cooling systems fail to operate. During such events, the initial heatup transient in the core is followed by a quasi-steady state cooldown process which, if uninterrupted, can continue for several days. A buoyancy-driven natural convection cooling system called the RCCS facilitates the continuous heat removal by circulating ambient air through the reactor cavity, where it is heated and then exhausted to the outside environment. The peak thermal load on the RCCS occurs approximately at the time that the vessel reaches its highest temperature. To confirm the adequacy of the RCCS design, detailed analytical models were developed to simulate the decay heat removal process and predict the ...
Laparoscopic orchiopexy has gained popularity in recent years. However, the decision when to perform one-stage laparoscopic orchiopexy without division of the spermatic vessels versus initial ligation of the spermatic vessels followed later by orchiopexy is not clear. A new laparoscopic classification to facilitate decision-making during laparoscopy, according to the position of the impalpable testis and the relation of the spermatic vessels and vas deferens to the internal ring, with a management protocol based on this classification is presented. Over a 2-year period, a total of 37 boys with 52 impalpable gonads underwent a laparoscopic procedure. Four laparoscopic types of testis were noted: type I: no testis visualized; type II: a testis seen at the internal ring with the vas and vessels looping to the internal ring; type III: testis at the internal ring, with vas and vessels ...
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 those for cycle 1, by as much as a factor of ...
In General Electric's design of the Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (SBWR), The depressurization valves (DPV) are installed in the reactor pressure boundary: four are connected to the reactor vessel by means of nozzles, and two more are located on the main steam pipes (one DPV for each line), which act during particular transients and/or loss of coolant accidents (LOCA), consequently providing the reactor vessel with a safe quick depressurization system. Once the vessel is de pressurised, the passive gravity-driven cooling system (GDCS) starts to operate, permitting the injection of water required for continuous core cooling. DPVs are leak tight, with welded flaps, actuated by a [striker[hammer***] which is activated by an explosive mixture. The dynamic loads that open these valves include, in addition to those produced by steam (typical in any thermodynamic transient with open/close valves), other important loads that are ...
ANCAP (Government's Oil Company of Uruguay) owns a 4000 DWT oil coastal tanker which is mainly used for oil transport in the River Plate, Uruguay and Parana rivers. Availability of the ship is critical because of shortage of available vessels in the region. Full maximum draught of the vessel is 4m , so it can navigate in very shallow waters as it is the case of some places in the Uruguay and Parana rivers. Although the ship was built in 1979, it is a complete double hull, powered by two twin main engines and propellers. Since 1994, several changes in maintenance management have been introduced, in order to increase the availability, thus increasing the total oil volume yearly transported. These changes affected several maintenance items and they also included a modification in the design of part of the cargo tank floors of the ship. As a result of these changes, an increase of 60% of the oil derivatives volume transported yearly was ...
Certain postulated faults during refuelling of AGRs may give rise to compacted fuel and graphite sleeve debris. This debris must be maintained below some safe limiting temperature. As part of a programme to assess the benefits of natural convection in cooling such debris in a region experiencing no forced cooling, a simple geometry incorporating typical debris has been studied both experimentally and by prediction. The experiment comprised an array of electrically heated fuel rods mounted co-axially in a closed cylindrical vessel and surrounded by fragments of graphite. The vessel was cooled on its cylindrical surface, the ends being insulated. Rods and vessel wall were thermocoupled. Tests covered a range of temperature and pressures in both CO_2 and N_2. Significant natural convection heat removal was demonstrated, particularly at high pressure. Predictions utilising the PHOENICS code agreed well with measured ...
We report a patient who developed occlusion of the intracranial major arteries induced by radiation therapy for craniopharyngioma. The patient, a 9-year-old boy, presented with deterioration of vision, nausea and vomiting. He underwent a right ventriculo-peritoneal shunt operation, and the tumor was partially removed. Postoperatively, he received focal radiation therapy with total of 60 Gy. Preoperative cerebral angiography, cerebral vessels had no sigh of occlusive lesion or stenosis. One year after irradiation, he started to have repeated cerebral ischemic attacks. But no regrowth of the tumor was detected on CT scans. Two years and 8 months after irradiation, he suddenly had right hemiparesis. Cerebral angiography revealed severe stenosis of the right anterior cerebral artery (precommunicating segment), middle cerebral artery (horizontal portion) and terminal portion of the right carotid artery. Left carotid angiography showed complete occlusion of the terminal ...
We report a patient who developed occlusion of the intracranial major arteries induced by radiation therapy for craniopharyngioma. The patient, a 9-year-old boy, presented with deterioration of vision, nausea and vomiting. He underwent a right ventriculo-peritoneal shunt operation, and the tumor was partially removed. Postoperatively, he received focal radiation therapy with total of 60 Gy. Preoperative cerebral angiography, cerebral vessels had no sigh of occlusive lesion or stenosis. One year after irradiation, he started to have repeated cerebral ischemic attacks. But no regrowth of the tumor was detected on CT scans. Two years and 8 months after irradiation, he suddenly had right hemiparesis. Cerebral angiography revealed severe stenosis of the right anterior cerebral artery (precommunicating segment), middle cerebral artery (horizontal portion) and terminal portion of the right carotid artery. Left carotid angiography showed complete occlusion of the terminal ...
The efficacy of external flooding of a reactor vessel as a severe accident management strategy is assessed for an AP600-like reactor design. The overall approach is based on the Risk Oriented Accident Analysis Methodology (ROAAM), and the assessment includes consideration of bounding scenarios and sensitivity studies, as well as arbitrary parametric evaluations that allow the delineation of the failure boundaries. Quantification of the input parameters is carried out for an AP600-like design, and the results of the assessment demonstrate that lower head failure is physically unreasonable. Use of this conclusion for any specific application is subject to verifying the required reliability of the depressurization and cavity-flooding systems, and to showing the appropriateness (in relation to the database presented here, or by further testing as necessary) of the thermal insulation design and of the external surface properties of the lower head, including any ...
The mz8310 device support module provides support for the following record types: event, pulseCounter, pulseDelay, and pulseTrain. No driver support is needed. Up to 4 mz8310 modules are supported. Each 8310 module contains 10 channels, which are identified as signals O,...9. Each channel is individually configurable. Each mz83 10 has two Am9513 Timing Controller chips. Each Am9513 has 5 counters.
...six months Organising local tours of the area for up to 1000 affected families in the Izu Penninsula area around Mount Fuji Mobile food stalls that wlll serve up to 10,000 bottles of water and 10,000 servings of food Mobile human waste disposal units Building northern Japan support committees Browser does not support script. Browser does not support script. For further information, please contact: Garry Campbell, PR & ...
Evaluates experiments aimed at selecting optimum design and technical specifications of a support system for junctions of gate roads and longwall faces mined by shearer loaders and powered supports. A set of supports used at a junction of a working face and a gate road consisted of 2 supports (each made up of a roof bar and two hydraulic props). Roof bar length ranged from 4.0 to 5.5 m and from 7.0 to 9.0 m respectively. The support roof bars were parallel to the longitudinal axis of a gate road. Stress distribution in strata surrounding a junction of a working face and a gate road was analyzed. The finite element method was used. Convergence of the roof and the floor of a gate road depending on support yield strength and distance from a measuring point to the supports was analyzed. Recommendations are made for optimum yield strength of the ...
Carbon supported catalysts can lose their activity over a period of time due to the sintering of the nanometer-sized catalyst particles. The sintering of metal clusters on carbon supports can occur due to the weak interaction between the metal and the support and also due to the corrosion of carbon, especially in fuel cell electrocatalysts. The sintering may be reduced by increasing the interaction between the metal and the support and also by increasing the corrosion resistance of carbon supports. In an effort to mitigate the growth of the nanoparticles, carbon-substituted boron defects were introduced in the carbon lattice. The interaction between the Pt nanoparticles on the pure and boron-doped carbon supports was examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicate that the interaction between the Pt nanoparticles and the boron-doped ...
Previous reports have stressed the importance of the nutrient blood supply in rib grafts transferred by microvascular anastomoses. In the present experimental study, we have demonstrated that a rib graft transferred by microvascular anastomoses based on periosteal vessels can survive; vascular clearing studies demonstrated that the vascularity of these grafts extends not only into the cortex but the medulla as well. The relative facility of harvesting these grafts (compared with those based on nutrient vessels) should make them the favored choice. Technetium bone scintigraphy proved accurate in the assessment of both vascular pattern and microanastomotic patency. Tetracycline labeling did not correlate well with the patency of a rib graft's pedicle blood supply.
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) is necessary to demonstrate presence or absence of pit membranes in possible perforations or the type of pit membrane remnants in perforations in vessel element end-walls of angiosperms, but it was unconfirmed and questionable whether pit membrane absence in pits was affected by the processing and handling before SEM observations. To solve this question, the secondary xylem of four woody species from primitive angiosperms, Illicium henryi Diels. (Illiciaceae), Schisandra rubriflora (Franch.) Rehd. et Wils. (Schisandraceae), Tetracentron sinensis Oliv. and Trochodendron aralioides Sieb. & Zucc. (Trochodendraceae) was chosen and the following techniques were used: (1) fresh materials were examined in low-vacuum with ESEM. (2) Air-dried materials were examin...
Weld metal, base material and stainless steel overlay specimens for Charpy tests and static tensile tests were irradiated for a year in a power reactor of the Bohunice nuclear power plant in place of the evaluated surveillance specimens. The material of the specimens was identical with that of the WWER-440 reactor pressure vessels, and was exposed to a fluence of (1.2 - 4.5) x 10"2"3 m"-"2 (E > 0.5 MeV) at approximately 270 degC. Some of the irradiated as well as unirradiated specimens were subjected to regeneration annealing at 475 degC for 168 h. The behavior of the materials after irradiation and annealing was evaluated. (author). 33 tabs., 32 figs., 8 refs.
In the spring of 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 (EPA), launched an investigation into tanker waste disposal practices for vessels discharging ballast water at the Alyeska Pipeline Services Company's Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) facility and marine terminal in Valdez, Alaska. It had been alleged that the Exxon Shipping Company was transferring 'toxic wastes originating in California' to Valdez. In response, EPA decided to examine all waste streams generated on board and determine what the fate of these wastes were in addition to investigating the Exxon specific charges. An extensive Information Request was generated and sent to the shipping companies that operate vessels transporting Alaska North Slope Crude. Findings included information on cargo and fuel tank washings, cleaning agents, and engine room waste.
Object: To suppress a quantity of impurities in a coolant fed into a reactor vessel. Structure: The concentration of oxygen in a coolant flowing from a condensation desalting instrument into a feed and condensation piping is measured by an oxygen-concentration detector to feed its signal to an adjusting instrument. A degree of opening of an oxygen flow control valve to maintain the concentration of oxygen in the cooling water flowing within the pipe in the range from about 10 to about 200 ppb. Also, the concentration of oxygen in the cooling water fed to the desalting instrument is maintained at a level less than 2 ppb. Thereby, the total amount of iron flown into the vessel can be suppressed to a fine amount such as less than about 1 ppb. (Kawakami, Y.).
Shell UK Exploration and Production, operating in the North Sea on behalf of Shell UK and Esso UK is presented developing the Teal and Guillemot fields in the Central North Sea (CNS). As part of this development it contracted with Single Buoy Moorings Inc., (SBM) for the design, supply and installation of a newbuilt floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. The work is executed in close cooperation between Shell Expro (Client) and SBM (Contractor) and its main sub contractors. The system is due to be installed during the third quarter of 1996. After a short description of the field development and the FPSO vessel this paper outlines the contractual arrangements and the organization set-up to perform the work. A summary of the lessons learned (by SBM) is given. The opinions expressed in this paper are entirely that of the author and may not necessarily reflect the opinion of other parties involved in the CNS FPU project.
Purpose: To obtain stabilized operation by preventing over heat in emergency cooling pumps upon accidents of flow regulators. Constitution: A pressure suppression chamber pool and a pressure vessel are communicated to each other with a pipeway and the water in the suppression pool is charged by a charging pump to the pipeway. The pipeway is interposed with an emergency cooling pump so as to feed water in the pipeway to the pressure vessel and a water source and the emergency cooling pumps are connected by way of a closed pipeway. Further, the closed pipeway and the pipeway interposed with the charging pump are communicated to each other by way of a connecting pipeway, to which are interposed an instrument for detecting the increase in the temperature of the emergency cooling pumps due to abnormality in the closed pipe (such as troubles in flow regulators) and outputting control signals and an electrically actuated valve controlled by a control ...
A program under the sponsorship of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission was intiated at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in late 1977. The program, Advanced Instrumentation for Reflood Studies (AIRS), is charged with developing instrumentation for measurement of in-vessel fluid phenomena in pressurized water reactor reflood facilities. The goal of the ORNL program is to develop techniques and systems for measuring fluid flow in-core, deentrainment in the upper plenum and liquid fallback from the upper plenum into the core. A large portion of the development at ORNL is devoted to the impedance probes for measurement of two-phase flow velocities and void fractions. Film probe development at ORNL is limited to adapting the present techniques to the environment of a reflood facility. As the development progresses on all the measurement techniques, ORNL will fabricate and supply instrument systems to the reflood facilities included in the 2D/3D ...
The coupled neutron-gamma cross section libraries BUGLE-80 and SAILOR are compared, with focus on gamma production and transport and its sensitivity to the thermal component of the neutron flux. In addition, the importance of the prompt versus delayed components of the gamma source is addressed. Although BUGLE-80 shows some discrepancies in the core region, the two libraries demonstrate similar capability in the vicinity of the pressure vessel and beyond. The delayed fission product gammas from the core have little impact on the local gamma fluxes beyond the pressure vessel. Although thermal neutron capture is the dominant component of the gamma source, there is little sensitivity of the gamma source to uncertainties in the thermal neutron cross sections, due to compensating effects which tend to keep the thermal neutron capture rate relatively constant.
The purpose of this paper is to establish probabilistic models for still-water loads, based on design data, and the combined still-water and wave load effects for semi-probabilistic and probabilistic design of floating production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSO). A new still-water load model for FPSOs is proposed, based on a Poisson square-wave model, with a modified Weibull distribution for load intensity, which accounts for load control during operation. The long-term variation of wave-induced load effects is modelled by a Poisson square-wave process. A new solution for the combined effect is derived. A procedure for determining characteristic extreme values for individual and combined load effects, and load combination factors, is established. The methodology is used to illustrate...
Automatic ultrasonic testing is presented as a method for recurrent inspections of pressure gas vessels, from validation to practical testing to customised test applications. National and international regulations and standards are presented along with related implementation problems. [German] Es wird die automatisierte Ultraschallpruefung im Bereich der wiederkehrenden Pruefung von Druckgasbehaeltern, als Alternative zur herkoemmlichen, klassischen Wasserdruckpruefung, vorgestellt. Von der Validierung ueber die praktische Erprobung bis hin zur kundenspezifisch entwickelten Pruefapplikation. Es werden die Anforderungen aus nationalen und internationalen Vorschriften und Normen sowie die damit zusammenhaengenden Umsetzungsprobleme behandelt.
It is necessary to identify those measurable soil parameters which dictate the severity of the corrosion problem for coated irons and steels. When this is done, meaningful accelerated aging tests can be designed to validate the reduced corrosion rate for the planned coating. The following discussion introduces the important concepts and measurement parameters in the (a) design of accelerated aging tests, and (b) evaluation of the planned installation site for corrosion potential. Certain combinations of soil oxidation reduction potential (ORP) or electric potential (Eh), acidity (pH), fertilizer, water table, and soil hydraulic conductivity can result in severe corrosion of buried steel/iron vessels. If there are power lines nearby, additional loss of vessel material to the soil will occur. These factors are discussed.
A computerised gamma scanning facilities for on-line investigation of industrial process columns and vessels has been developed by the Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia). The technology, based on the principle of gamma-ray absorption, has been successfully applied for real-time troubleshooting, process investigation and predictive maintenance of a number of distillation columns and process vessels in petroleum refineries, gas processing plants and chemical plants in the country and the surrounding region. This paper outlines basic characteristics of the system and describes the inspection procedures, and in addition, presents a number of case studies. The case studies are purposely chosen to illustrate the versatility of the technology, and furthermore to demonstrate the economic benefits which can be realised from the application of this technology. (Author)
A manipulator for checking the inside of a vertical, flange-shaped collector of a horizontal steam generator consists of a rotating mast with bearings at the top and bottom ends with a support that can be moved along the length of the mast for the checking system mountings. The support is propelled by a drive spindle placed parallel to the mast with its drive head bearing in the support and locked into a toothed rack attached to the mast. The checking system mountings are fitted in or on the walls of the support and are very close to the box-shaped support. Their retractable arms are hinged.
Climate change and limited primary energy resources require indigenous renewable electricity generation options to change the current coal-dominated power source matrix in China. The wind power is such a solution for the above challenges, and it still has large space for improvement in China. In this paper several critical factors related to Chinese wind power were studied in details, including the wind resources, the wind turbine industry and the policies from the Chinese government. Based on the study, the perspective of wind power in China was discussed. With outstanding advantages, the offshore wind power has a bright future in China, so its main characteristics are discussed. Based on the discussions, suggestions were given to improve the development of Chinese wind power, and the gov...
Climate change and limited primary energy resources require indigenous renewable electricity generation options to change the current coal-dominated power source matrix in China. The wind power is such a solution for the above challenges, and it still has large space for improvement in China. In this paper several critical factors related to Chinese wind power were studied in details, including the wind resources, the wind turbine industry and the policies from the Chinese government. Based on the study, the perspective of wind power in China was discussed. With outstanding advantages, the offshore wind power has a bright future in China, so its main characteristics are discussed. Based on the discussions, suggestions were given to improve the development of Chinese wind power, and the government's further measures are also recommended. (author)
The North-West Borneo Trough is bordered along its south-east margin by a melange wedge that has been the subject of disagreement with insufficient discussion. Offshore Palawan it has been interpreted as an accretionary prism that has been preserved in place when subduction ceased in the Middle Miocene. It is unconformably overlain by undeformed Upper Miocene to Holocene draping strata. Farther south-west along the Trough, the seismically identical melange wedge has been named a Major Thrust Sheet System, which was assumed to have been thrust as a nappe north-westwards over the autochthonous Dangerous Grounds terrane of attenuated continental crust of the South China Sea passive margin. The accretionary prism model is the simplest, resulting in interpretation of the North-West Borneo Troug...
The discovery of large reserves of oil has resulted in a proliferation of drilling and production platforms in the North Sea, and other offshore areas around the UK will probably be developed. The exploitation of marginal oil fields, particularly in those developing countries which have only limited energy resources, has been made possible by the development of a floating production, storage and offloading (f.p.s.o.) unit consisting of a large tonnage oil tanker converted for the purpose and moored. The increased electrical power demands imposed by the addition of process plant, extra accommodation, and so on, usually necessitate additions to onboard generation and distribution systems, which must of course be integrated with the existing equipment.
This paper addresses the unique structural requirements for successful conversion of tankers for floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) or floating storage and offloading (FSO) service. A description is given of the steps undertaken during two recent and very different conversions of a highly optimized 1980s VLCC to FPSO service, and a typical robust 1970s ULCC to FSO service. The paper describes the steps needed for ensuring the FPSO or FSO requirements are successfully met during conversion of the two tankers - each having its own history, e.g. date of build, original design, material choices, class society, voyage history and repairs. Firstly, the paper describes the procedure and results of an early initial structural assessment procedure on the basis of an American Bureau o...
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 life cycle 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)
The paper seeks to illuminate everyday work practices in the economic spaces of Malaysia's business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. It draws upon empirical evidence from call centre staff and promotes analytical sensitivity to the experience of labour and spatiotemporal relations within the offshore back offices of multinational corporations located in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. The analysis provides an empirical snapshot of how IT-facilitated work practices in the global information economy are embedded and socially reproduced in everyday settings. To this end, the paper engages anthropologically with BPO labour, and critiques -globalist- representations of economic and social transformation frequently articulated through an abstract, dehumanized space of networks and flows often seen to wa...
Tiered response is a basic approach to emergency plans, including oil spill response (OSR). This paper delineates a huge set of accidental scenarios within a certain tier of response generated by a computer during risk assessment. Parameters such as the amount of oil spilled, duration of discharge and types of losses should be provided in OSR scenarios. Examples of applications include offshore installations, sub sea or onshore pipelines, and localized onshore facilities. The paper demonstrates how to use risk analysis results for delineating all likely spills into groups that need a specific tier response. The best world practices and Russian regulatory approaches were outlined and compared. Corresponding algorithms were developed and their application in pipelines was presented. The algorithm combines expert's skills and spill trajectory modeling with the net environmental benefit analysis principle into the incident specific emergency response planning. ...
In order to improve the working conditions for the operators of drilling rigs, the work area for handling of pipes and tubes is arranged on a main deck convered by a drill deck, which has openings closable by hatch cover panels. The derrick is enclosed in a cover, from which tunnels extend out over the drill deck and comprises lifting means for handling of pipes and tubes between the decks. The tunnels are connected to the cover of the derrick by raised enclosures permitting the swinging of pipes from a horizontal position in the tunnel to a vertical position in the derrick, and vice versa. There is a door, at least at one of the enclosures, permitting handling of especially long objects. Basically, the handling of pipes and tubes can be performed within areas fully protected from the weather.
There is a clear incentive, therefore, for early consideration of the measures required to meet noise and vibration standards. The platform or rig owner and the operator are jointly responsible for agreeing a noise and vibration control policy and approach at the conceptual design stage, and for then passing on their requirements to the engineering design teams. The engineering design teams and acoustic and vibration specialists for their part need to use all their skill and judgement to apply that policy to the intensely complex job of designing and fabricating topsides facilities. With these concerns as background, UEG started, and has nearly completed, a two-phase study to provide detailed guidance to project managers and designers to assist them to develop appropriate policy and procedures and to help them put those procedures into practice. This paper describes the development of UEG's study, its application and benefits.
Maldives comprise some of the most characteristic and significant atoll systems, but the meiobenthic assemblages of these islands are still largely unknown. A study on meiofauna was conducted on three Maldivian sandy back-reef platforms differently exposed to stronger westerly monsoons. Clear high energy effects of the waves causing currents and erosions were observed at the completely exposed and isolated offshore reef of Thoddoo Island. Wave energy of medium intensity was confirmed at Rasdhoo by depositional structures (finolhu), while a medium to low energy level was recorded at Gulhi on the basis of the presence of a low sandy bar. The meiofaunal assemblage counted 17 major taxa. Copepods and nematodes were dominant, followed by platyhelminthes and polychaetes. The nematode assemblage ...
Man's wastes are polluting the oceans from various sources and delivered by various routes. The result has been the loss of habitat and the irreversible altering of marine ecosystems. Development in the coastal zones and offshore activities that disrupt biologically sensitive areas have led to international negotiations to regulate these impacts and develop a law of the sea. Basic to international cooperation, however, is the need to develop answers to questions about the ecological consequences of development programs and the carrying capacity of the oceans. Current information does not demonstrate long-term global impacts, making it difficult to detect and predict incremental changes and causal relationships. Society needs to determine how much environmental damage it will accept and then to develop appropriate technology, such as biomonitoring. Society also needs to reexamine its positions on technology-based regulatory controls to see if the effects of ...
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explain some tax management complications for onshore and offshore hedge funds posed by US FIN 48, Uncertain Tax Positions, and to emphasize the hedge fund manager's responsibility for careful tax planning and compliance. Design/methodology/approach - The paper discusses a hedge fund's objective to deliver tax-efficient results to investors, explains the background of FIN 48, and illustrates five types of situations in which conservative auditors following FIN 48 may raise "red flags." Findings - With the advent of FIN 48's standards careful tax planning and compliance are more important than ever for a hedge fund. Significant complications may arise from unwise, tardy, or missed tax elections; filing an IRS Form 8275, Disclosure Statement, stating...
Often oil/gas and other hydrocarbons discovered and produced offshore are transported to onshore facilities via submarine pipelines. The route of such pipelines traverses through coastal/shore approach regions. For a rational/economic design, safe installation and subsequent operation it is of utmost importance to review, evaluate and finalize various environmental hazard such as winds, waves, currents, seabed topography, seabed and sub-bottom soils, seabed erosion and soil accretion. This paper addresses the above described environmental hazards, their assessment and techniques to prepare design parameters which must be used for stability analysis, installation methods, long term operation and maintenance for the shore approaches. Additionally, various proven pipeline installation and stabilization techniques for the shore approach region are detailed. As case histories, three approaches installed in the Dutch North Sea are described.
Abstract We provide the first firm-level evidence of the impact of the trade in producer services (-offshoring-) on the labour market. Using a new data set from the UK that measures trade in services at the firm level, we find no evidence that importing intermediate services is associated with job losses or greater worker turnover. Using regression to control for observable differences between firms that import service inputs and those that do not, we show that firms that start importing intermediate services experience faster employment growth than equivalent firms that do not. This seems likely to be the result of positive demand shocks, which cause a simultaneous increase in employment, output, and use of imported service inputs.
Hydrous pyrolysis of immature Monterey Phosphatic or Siliceous rock at progressively higher temperatures causes systematic changes in biomarker thermal maturity parameters of the generated hydrocarbons. Biomarker ratios based on proposed carbon-carbon cracking or aromatization reactions increase during hydrous pyrolysis along similar pathways for both Siliceous and Phosphatic members. An increase in these biomarker ratios is also observed for oils of increasing thermal maturity from the offshore Santa Maria Basin, although the rates of changes for each parameter differ between the hydrous pyrolysis and natural samples. Changes in some cracking parameters during maturation appear to result from differential thermal stability of the compounds rather than conversion of precursors to products. (author).
Development drilling from Chevron-operated Platform Hermosa, located on OCS-P 0316 of the Point Arguello field, began on January 30, 1987. To date, seven development wells have been drilled in to the northwest-southeast-trending, doubly plunging anticlinal structure. The results from drilling have confirmed the presence of intense folding and fracturing in the targeted Monterey Formation. Over 700 ft of conventional core were recovered from the B-2 well in the lower Sisquoc and Monterey Formations. Analysis of the core material has yielded important information on lithologic variations and fracture patterns in the productive Monterey Formation. Initial results of core studies, DST data, and wireline studies indicate a correlation between rock type and fracturing. Fracture trends and directional permeability suggested by drill-stem testing may affect future drilling patterns in the field.
The total amount of uranium dissolved in seawater at a uniform concentration of 3 mg U/m{sup 3} in the world's oceans is 4.5 billion tons. An adsorption method using polymeric adsorbents capable of specifically recovering uranium from seawater is reported to be economically feasible. A uranium-specific nonwoven fabric was used as the adsorbent packed in an adsorption cage 16 m{sup 2} in cross-sectional area and 16 cm in height. We submerged three adsorption cages in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 20 m at 7 km offshore of Japan. The three adsorption cages consisted of stacks of 52 000 sheets of the uranium-specific non-woven fabric with a total mass of 350 kg. The total amount of uranium recovered by the nonwoven fabric was >1 kg in terms of yellow cake during a total submersion time of 240 days in the ocean.
The total amount of uranium dissolved in seawater at a uniform concentration of 3 mg U/m3 in the world's oceans is 4.5 billion tons. An adsorption method using polymeric adsorbents capable of specifically recovering uranium from seawater is reported to be economically feasible. A uranium-specific nonwoven fabric was used as the adsorbent packed in an adsorption cage 16 m2 in cross-sectional area and 16 cm in height. We submerged three adsorption cages in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 20 m at 7 km offshore of Japan. The three adsorption cages consisted of stacks of 52 000 sheets of the uranium-specific non-woven fabric with a total mass of 350 kg. The total amount of uranium recovered by the nonwoven fabric was >1 kg in terms of yellow cake during a total submersion time of 240 days in the ocean.
In recent years, offshore reservoirs have been developed in deeper and deeper water environments. Steel catenary risers (SCRs) are being considered in deepwater development such as Northern North Sea. SCRs used in conjunction with a semi-submersible or floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) in deepwater harsh environments present significant design challenges. The large vertical motions at the semi or FPSO induce severe riser response, which results in difficulty meeting strength and fatigue criteria at the hang off and touch down point locations. To improve the understanding of SCR behaviour and increase the confidence in the design of such systems in deepwater harsh environments, a parametric study on a SCR connected to a semi-submersible was carried out in this paper to deal...
A new semi-submersible floating structure is proposed on which three wind turbine towers are installed. This paper presents a basic characteristic of the wave-induced motion of this semi-submersible floating structure via. numerical computations and 1/150 scaled rigid model experiments in a wave tank. In the numerical computations, nonlinear damping effect due to drag forces modeled by the Morison's formula is considered in the equation of motion, where the linear hydrodynamic forces are obtained from the Green's function model. As a result, the response characteristics around the resonant frequency region were successfully improved. In addition to such basic examination, major results of feasibility studies, including the structural stability for severe wave conditions and the long-term fatigue limit state, are presented for a realistic situation.
A reduced grid model of a transmission system with a number of central power plants, consumption centers, local wind turbines and a large offshore wind farm is developed and implemented in the simulation tool PowerFactory (DIgSILENT). The reduced grid model is given by Energinet.dk, Transmission System Operator of Denmark (TSO) for Natural Gas and Electricity, to the Danish Universities and the Risoe National Laboratory. Its intended usage is education and studying of interaction between electricity-producing wind turbines and a realistic transmission system. Focus in these studies is on voltage stability issues and on the ride-through capability of different wind turbine concepts, equipped with advanced controllers, developed by the Risoe National Laboratory.
This case report evaluates X-ray findings in patients with miliary accumulation of mercury observed after parenteral application of metallic mercury in a suizide attempt. There are certain discrepancies between clinical symptoms and the X-ray findings. A clear demonstration of mercury in coronary blood vessels is possible by fluoroscopy.
The synthesis of (/sup 14/C)-10,11-Epoxy-(2E,6E)-farnesyl diazoacetate in one vessel, starting from (/sup 14/C)-glyoxylic acid, is described. This compound is useful as a potential photoaffinity labeling agent for juvenile hormone binding sites.
In the hypothetical event of a severe accident in a Light Water Reactor, scenarios in which the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) fails and the core melt mixture (called corium) relocates into the reactor cavity, cannot be excluded. The viscosity (in fact, corium rheological behaviour) plays a major role in many phenomena such as core melt down, discharge from reactor pressure vessel, interaction with structural materials (concrete,...) and spreading in a core-catcher. For these reasons, it is important to be able to predict the rheological behaviour of corium melts of different compositions (essentially based on UO{sub 2}, ZrO{sub 2}, Fe{sub x}O{sub y} and Fe for in-vessel scenarios, plus SiO{sub 2} and CaO for ex-vessel scenarios) at temperatures above solidus temperature. In the case of corium-concrete mixtures, the increase of viscosity depends not only on the increase of particles in the melts but also ...
The spin-up problem of He II in a cylindrical container of infinite and finite height is considered on the basis of the Hall-Vinen-Bekarevich-Khalatnikov equations. The boundary conditions include the assumption of the generation of superfluid vorticity at the walls of the container. In the lowest order approximation with respect to viscosity, the problem is reduced to a Stefan problem for a single diffusion-type equation. Examples of solutions are given which show that the method used gives a good insight into the physical development of the spin-up flow.
Modec International Inc has selected Siemens Water Technologies to provide sea-water reverse osmosis (SWRO) systems for several floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels that are to be operated in deep-water locations. Siemens is also supplying a wastewater reuse system to one of Brazils largest refineries.
Cardiac tumours may display diverse symptoms through potential involvement of any structure of the heart. We describe a case of a highly malignant thymoma with involvement of different cardiac structures with important haemodynamic compromise. With the high sensitivity of transthoracic echocardiography for detection of intracardiac masses, computed tomography and magnetic resonance add essential structural preoperative information on the tumour and surrounding tissue as vessels, pleura, lung and mediastinum.
... mini-stroke," also called a TIA or a transient ischemic attack . If you have any of these warning signs, ... ur-uhl) (ar-TEE-ree-uhl) (dih-ZEEZ) transient ischemic attack (TRANZ-see-uhnt) (iss-KEE-mik) (uh-TAK) [ ...
Any transport of nuclear material is associated with the risk of contamination after release into working areas or environment. stationary installed safe geometry vessels with pneumatic transfer between them offer unique safety features and reduce operating costs. The article describes the case of HTR fuel spheres, where a specially designed conveying system has been developed and the prototype conveyor has been tested.
This report forms part of a joint study on a PEFC propulsion system for surface ships, summarized in a presentation to this Seminar, entitled {open_quotes}Study on a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC) Propulsion System for Surface Ships{close_quotes}, and which envisages application to a 1,500 DWT cargo vessel. The aspect treated here concerns an experiment in reducing by methanation to a level below 10 ppm the CO that is contained to around 1% in reformate gas.
To evaluate the radiological patterns of vascular invasion in peripheral cholangiocarcinomas. Hepatic arteriography and portography in 20 cases with cholangiocarcinoma including 12 cases with angiographic CT were retrospectively analyzed. The arteriography showed no arterioportal shunt, hypertrophy of tumor vessel, or tumor staining extending to central portion of the mass in all cases. However, doughnut shaped peripheral tumor staining was seen until late hepatogram phase in 12 cases and compensatory hyperperfusion around the mass was seen in six cases (eight cases if include arterial CT). Encasement of tumor vessel was seen in 12 cases, and hypertrophy of feeding vessel in nine cases. On portography, the filling defect on segmental portal branch could be demonstrated only in 11 cases. Shape of the portal defect was tapered narrowing in six cases, abrupt narrowing in two cases but intraluminal nodular filling defect was ...
Nexans has developed a new type of high voltage sea cable with metal barrier for dynamic application, suited for floating installations such as vessels, floating wind turbines or floating platforms. A brief presentation of the cable's design (ml)
This report continues the studies of simplified methods, of magnetic diagnostics in application to TCA/BR tokamak. Here we study the accuracy of known formula for {beta}{sub 1} + l{sub 1}/2 determination from the poloidal magnetic field asymmetry. Errors of the diamagnetic measurements due to vibrations of the vacuum vessel are also considered. (author). 3 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.
PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide) is widely distributed neuropeptide acting via three subtypes of receptors, PAC(1), VPAC(1) and VPAC(2). Here we examined the localisation and nature of PACAP-immunoreactive nerves in the rat thyroid and parathyroid glands and defined the distribution of PAC(1), VPAC(1) and VPAC(2) receptor mRNA's. In the parathyroid gland a large number of nerve fibres displaying PACAP-immunoreactivity were distributed beneath the capsule, around blood vessels and close to glandular cells. Most of the PACAP-nerves were sensory, since they co-stored CGRP (calcitonin-gene-related peptide) and were sensitive to capsaicin-treatment. mRNA's for PAC(1) and VPAC(2) receptors occurred in the parathyroid gland, mainly located in the glandular cells. In the thyroid gland PACAP-immunoreactive nerve fibres were associated with blood vessels, thyroid follicles and parafollicular C-cells. A high degree of ...
A technique involving shifting of core fuel loadings was investigated as a method for reducing the neutron flux at points of high damage accumulation in the pressure vessel wall of a light water reactor. Calculations were run for six types of commercial generic PWR. Information is provided on the progress being made to develop and apply the Solid State Track Recorder (SSTR) method for in-situ in- and ex-vessel measurements of neutron exposure parameter values, such as fluence (E > 1.0 MeV) and dpa in iron. A new technique of quantitative track counting, the Buffon needle method, is advanced. It is based on random sampling of the SSTR surface. A desensitized etching technique was developed that resulted in an excellent differential energy response for alpha particles in the 3- to 14-MeV energy range. The optical efficiency of Muscovite mica for manual fission track counting is being redetermined to form a data base for comparison with ...
The calculations with the broad-group cross-section library Bugle-96, and atom displacement (dpa) cross sections for iron, both derived from ENDF/B-VI data, result in higher calculated fast neutron fluxes, better agreement of calculations with radiometric dosimeter measurements, and significantly slower dpa rate attenuation through pressure vessel walls relative to the results with their predecessors: the Sailor library and ASTM iron dpa cross sections.
We present a case of an acute psoas muscle hematoma following percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy. A 60-year-old female who presented with far lateral lumbar disc herniation underwent endoscopic...Full Text Available
Solids are separated from a liquid in a gravity settler provided with inclined solid intercepting surfaces to intercept the solid settling path to coalesce the solids and increase the settling rate. The intercepting surfaces are inverted V-shaped plates, each formed from first and second downwardly inclined upwardly curved intersecting conical sections having their apices at the vessel wall.
This document describes measurements of the directional spectral emittance of four ceramic mold materials. The work was performed with the samples at {approximately} 900{degree}C in a vacuum vessel pumped to {approximately}3 {times} 10{sup {minus}6}Torr. Results conform to expectations derived from prior work done with similar samples.
Fuji Computed Radiography (FCR) utilizes imaging plates of scanning lazer stimulated luminescence. FCR can be used for intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IVDSA) and for intraarterial studies because of tis high contrast and spatial resolution. Pixel size of the imaging plates for angiography is 0.2 mm. Experimentally, it could demonstrate a vessel 1 mm in diameter with a contrast of 0.1, when opacified with a contrast medium of 3 % iodine concentration, and could image a vessel 3 mm in diameter with contrast of 0.1, when opacified with 1 % contrast medium. A 20 % stenosed portion of a vessel 3 mm in diameter was identified when opacified with 3 % contrast medium, and a 20 % stenosed portion of a vessel 2 mm in diameter was identified when opacified with 10 % contrast medium. In 105 IVDSA examinations of 75 patients, FCR was superior to Digital Fluorography (DF) in spatial resolution, size of ...
Supplement B to the Terra Nova Development Application provides a description of the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel system selected for the development, a summary of the reasons for selecting the system, and the impact of this selection on the Development Plan, the Benefits Plan, the Environmental Impact Statement and the Socio-Economic Impact Statement. There is also a description of the contractor alliance approach to be used in the Terra Nova Development. Refs., tabs., figs.
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) bottom-loading transfer cask (BLTC) system is designed to provide ex-vessel fuel transfers of irradiated reactor components between the reactor containment building and the LMFBR shipping cask in the reactor service building. This system is being procured from National Lead Industries, Wilmington, Delaware, under management of Aerojet Manufacturing Company.
Large scale experiments were performed to determine the effectiveness of thermal glow plug igniters to burn hydrogen in a condensing steam environment due to the presence of water sprays. The experiments were designed to determine if a detonation or accelerated flame could occur in a hydrogen-air-steam mixture which was initially nonflammable due to steam dilution but was rendered flammable by rapid steam condensation due to water sprays. Eleven Hydrogen Igniter Tests were conducted in the test vessel. The vessel was instrumented with pressure transducers, thermocouple rakes, gas grab sample bottles, hydrogen microsensors, and cameras. The vessel contained two prototypic engineered systems: (1) a deliberate hydrogen ignition system and (2) a water spray system. Experiments were conducted under conditions scaled to be nearly prototypic of those expected in Advanced Light Water Reactors (such as the Combustion Engineering ...
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is an uncommon tumor as primary hepatic neoplasm. Five cases of cholangiocarcinoma, mass forming peripheral type, are reported about its CT findings. They were manifested as a poorly marginated low density mass with a irregular stellate area. In one case, a cut section of the gross specimen following surgery showed a central callagenous scar and vessels within the necrotic tumor. (author).
In co-operation with the Scientific Planning Department of the Central Research Institute for Vessel- and Turbine Building the construction office of the turbine factory Charkow finished the draft of a slowly running (n = 1500 min"-"1) 2 GW-turboset for the operation of nuclear power plants. The chief purpose of the project was to determine the technical problems that are used to occur during the development of such steam turbines, as well as to settle the most favourable design. (orig./GL).
The aim of this study is three folds: to compare the eight-channel phased-array and standard circularly polarized (CP) head coils in visualiazation of the intracranial vessels, to compare the three-dimentional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography (MRA) techniques, and to define the effects of parallel imaging in 3D TOF MRA. Fifteen healthy volunteers underwent 3D TOF MRA of the intracranial vessels using eight-channel phased-array and CP standard head coils. The following MRA techniques were obtained on each volunteer: (1) conventional 3D TOF MRA with magnetization transfer; (2) 3D TOF MRA with water excitation for background suppression; and (3) low-dose (0.5 ml) gadolinium-enhanced 3D TOF MRA with water excitation. Results are demonstrating that water excitation is a valuable background suppression technique, especially when applied with an eight-channel phased-array head coil. For central and proximal portions of the intracranial ...
Statement of problem Porcelain fracture associated with an implant-supported, metal ceramic crown or fixed partial denture occurs at a higher rate than in tooth-supported restorations, according to the literature. Implant-specific and patient-specific causes of ceramic failure have not been fully evaluated. Purpose The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the potential statistical predictors for porcelain fracture of implant-supported, metal ceramic restorations. Material and Methods Over a 6-month period, a consecutive series of patients having previously received implant-supported, metal ceramic fixed restorations were examined during periodic recall appointments. The number of supporting implants, number of dental units, type of restoration, date of prosthesis insertion, ...
Objective Over recent years the Internet has become an increasingly popular source of support and information for infertility, with a growing number of online support groups now available to individuals affected by fertility problems. The aims of the present study were therefore to explore the online experiences of individuals accessing infertility support groups via the Internet. Methods Ninety-five participants who were recruited from several online infertility support groups completed an online questionnaire containing a series of open-ended questions. Responses to the open-ended questions were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results The thematic analysis revealed five recurrent themes, which were labelled: `unique features of online social support', `improved relationship w...
Patient decision support systems have a promising role in the delivery of health care. However, the best approach for further development of these systems is a matter of speculation. To help chart a...Full Text Available
The original plan for support of research in geothermal reservoir engineering, GREMP, is reviewed and compared with accomplishments to date. A commentary on the comparison and an updated plan are presented. Also included are a justification of the updated plan and a revised management plan. (MHR)
Main results of 15-year SSTC NRS activity in the field of technical support of regulatory authority are presented. The article also described management policy, quality assurance system, personnel training system and international co-operation of SSTC. (author)
BackgroundSupport groups have proved to be effective in reducing the burden on family caregivers of dementia patients. Nevertheless, little is known about the factors that influence...Full Text Available
A knowledge-based expert system has been developed to support human decision makers who assess drug products for inclusion in the Saskatchewan Formulary. Formulary inclusion and deletion decisions...Full Text Available
This paper evaluates the Post-Hospital Support Program for the frail elderly and their caregivers using a quasi-experimental design. The program goals were to reduce stress in the caregivers, improve...Full Text Available
It has been discovered that iron(III) chloride complexes supported on activated charcoal oxidize phosphine under normal conditions. The process accelerates as the concentration of the chloride ions and the proton acid increases.
ObjectiveMany hospitals utilize antimicrobial management teams (AMTs) to improve patient care. However, most function with minimal computer support. We evaluated the effectiveness...Full Text Available
PURPOSE We wanted to assess the impact of an electronic health record–based diabetes clinical decision support system on control of hemoglobin A1c (glycated hemoglobin),...Full Text Available
Objective To compile and evaluate the evidence on the effects on health and social outcomes of computer based peer to peer communities and electronic self support groups, used by people...Full Text Available
DOE is supporting the development of several conversion processes that are currently in the pilot plant stage. Each of these processes is described briefly and information given as to contractor, contract, funding, site and current progress. Several support projects are treated similarly. (LTN)
Social support is a critical, yet underutilized resource when undergoing cancer care. Underutilization occurs in two conditions: (a) when patients fail to seek out information, material assistance,...Full Text Available
Incorporation of clinical decision support (CDS) capabilities is required to realize the greatest benefits from computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems. Discussions at a conference on CDS in...Full Text Available
The development of new steels is always a challenge for the manufacturer of filler metals. In many cases it is obvious that some properties of the base metal cannot be fulfilled with matching filler metals. In some cases, dissimilar filler metals can solve the problem in some cases, there is no chance to meet the requirements of the base metal (for example yield strengths of new ultra high strength steels). This paper deals with different kinds of new steels and the requirements for the weld metal with examples from motor car industry (Mangan Austenite), crane (Ultra high strength steels), earthmoving machinery (Wear-resistant steels) and offshore (Supermartensitic steels). Specific problems will be discussed and best solutions will be highlighted. These examples make clear that the success of new kinds of steels in the market depends on solving the joining problems of these steels. (Abstract Copyright [2007], Wiley Periodicals, Inc.) [German] Die Entwicklung von ...
In the last two decades the performance of numerical wind-wave models has improved considerably. Several models have been routinely producing good quality wave estimates globally since the mid-1980s. The verifications of wind-wave models have mainly focused on the evaluation of the error of the significant wave height H{sub s} estimates. However, for wave energy purposes, the main parameters to be assessed are the wave power P{sub w} and the mean (energy) period T{sub e}. Since P{sub w} is proportional to H{sub s}{sup 2}T{sub e}, its expected error is much larger than for the single-wave parameters. This paper summarizes the intercomparison of two wind-wave models against buoy data in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea to select the most suitable one for the construction of an Atlas of the wave energy resource in European waters. A full verification in the two basins of the selected model--the WAM model, implemented in the routine operation of the European Centre for ...
Many features from the background for an intensified application of fracture mechanics concepts in many industries world-wide. These include requirements for a permanent increase of the level of performance of technical components and structures by the introduction of new materials, joining technologies and design principles, the problem of ageing components and life extension, an increased emphasis on non-destructive in-service inspection combined with improved NDT techniques, and also a number of failure events caused by fatigue and fracture The aim of the present paper is to give a brief state-of-the-art review on how fracture mechanics is applied in different industrial branches today. This is based on standards and guidelines in the aerospace industry, in the nuclear and fossil power generation, in the chemical and petrochemical and the pipeline industry, in civil engineering, offshore technique and other fields. Based on the review an outlook is given on a ...
Part I of this thesis is on long-term iceberg collision-risk assessment methods for fixed offshore structures. Estimates for the long-term probability that an iceberg will hit a fixed offshore structure are based on estimates of the total volume of produced iceberg, a model for the size distribution of icebergs and a description of how iceberg trajectories ``fill`` the plane (the ocean`s surface). Part II of the thesis discusses methods for analysis of low resolution data in the sense that the size of the area covered by each pixel is not small compared to the dominating floes. Still, this type of data can provide estimates of the ice extent (and hence the ice edge) and ice concentration. The estimates of the ice edge (at least) seem to be physically significant in the sense that ``in some way`` they can reflect ice drift in an image time sequence. A priori this is far from obvious. A central idea is that the ``ice edge`` is close to a ...
Amoco Trinidad Oil Company produces 60,000 bbl/d of oil from the Trinidadian offshore. The oil is pipelined ashore where it is processed and returned offshore to a buoy mooring for transport up Trinidad's east coast. Amoco Trinidad has developed comprehensive oil spill contingency plans, starting from computer models of spill scenarios. The models used initially assumed that the oils would emulsify quickly and the spills would become highly viscous and persistent, reaching the shoreline in 15-24 h. Such behavior would render ineffective the use of dispersants as a spill countermeasure. Studies showed a poor potential capability of physical recovery systems for spills off the Trinidad east coast due to high sea states, strong winds, and other factors. These results led to questioning of the spill model's assumptions, and laboratory tests were conducted to study the actual behavior of the crude oils. It was found that the oil was difficult to ...
The grey-black mudstones of the Sonehat Formation form part of the Middle Jurassic fill of the Jameson Land Basin in East Greenland. The formation is exposed in the southernmost part of the north south-trending, Mesozoic rift system in East Greenland that was part of the epeiric seaway betaveen East Greenland and Norway. Sedimentological observations of the Sortehat Formation indicate deposition in an offshore marine setting that was typically low energy and periodically oxygen-deficient but was influenced by storm currents on occasion. Detailed palynological studies of the Sortehat Formation have resulted in the definition of theee palynological assemblage zones recognised at four localities, namely Enhjoerningen Dal and Pelion (north Jameson Land), the type section at Sortehat (central Jameson Land) and Albuen at Neill Klinter along Hurry Inlet (south-east Jameson Land). In stratigraphic order, these zones are termed the Botryococcus Assemblage Zone, the ...
In August 1989, representatives from the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA) were the guests of the USSR Interbranch Scientific Technological Complex, Oil Recovery Institute (MNTK) in an extensive visit to heavy oil and gas fields and to various research institutes. Observations made during this tour concerning developments in the USSR heavy oil/bitumen industry, enhanced oil recovery, research programs, proposals for joint ventures, and technological developments are reported. It is noted that oil production in the USSR seems to have peaked and is in a state of decline, indicating the vital importance of enhanced recovery projects in reversing this trend. The areas visited included the Yarega field, where underground thermal recovery methods are used; the Sakhalin Island area, where successful thermal methods are used and where the USSR's largest offshore drilling rig is located; the Krasnodar/Black Sea area, where MNTK's ...
Field studies were conducted May 28-June 1, 1979, to determine the chemical composition and physical behavior of discharges from an offshore gas drilling rig in the central basin of Lake Erie. The drilling operation was observed for four days, from rig jackup to the circulation of mud through the borehole after drilling had been completed. Resuspension studies using nephelometry, supplemented with chemical analyses, indicated little resuspension of lake bottom materials or release of metals to the water column during rig jack-up. Portions of the turbidity plumes generated during drilling were buoyant. Three surface turbidity plumes were mapped with nephelometry to a point at which particulate concentrations reached background levels in the Lake. Detectable plumes were approx. 400 to 1500 m in length and had maximum widths < 230 m. A chemical survey conducted in the plume during early gas shows indicated that discharged inorganic chemical species were rapidly ...
Reinterpretation of the South Florida basin reveals that it was a keep-up carbonate shelf during the Lower Cretaceous. Until the Cenomanian, it was connected to the Bahamas and the Cay Sal Bank north of Cuba. The Cenomanian sea level rise was at least partially responsible for the formation of the Florida Straits, isolating the platform. The combination of an abrupt worldwide rise in sea level and subsidence caused the South Florida platform to founder, ending shallow-water and evaporitic sedimentation over the majority of the shelf. The Cay Sal and Bahamian platforms remained as active shallow shelves separated by the Old Bahamas Channel. The Lower Cretaceous sediments are characterized by shallow shelf limestones, dolomites, and evaporites (mostly anhydrite). The evaporite-rich sections, originally thought to represent basinal facies, are reinterpreted as supratidal to shallow subtidal evaporites, based on examination of core and cuttings. Influx of normal marine waters over rudist ...
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 ...
... due to the evolving nature of the Strategy Maps and the changing priority roles, it was decided not to link the SMSP directly with any Strategic Plans. ...
... with the additional US funds supporting Islamic ... the FATA and NWFP, keeping Pakistan's government and ... Without these madrassas, the TTP is left ...
... DARPA UUV and the UUV support simulator. ... Modular connections for robot arm manipulators ... Intelligent mobile robots will be performing many ...
The title invention aims at a vibrations-free running of the flywheel to realize a high speed (18,000-20,000 revolutions per minute). The flywheel consists of a case which holds a central stator, a rotor and two ball-bearings. The ball-bearings have a first radial stiffness and are placed in between the rotor and an upper, respectively lower support bearer. The support bearers are supported on the stator with a second radial stiffness. The top and the bottom of the stator is connected to the case by means of a support with a third stiffness. 6 figs.
sabot: A device fitted around or in back of a projectile in a gun barrel or launching tube to support or protect the projectile or to prevent the escape of ...
with the support and cooperation of the American Meteorological Society, the Marine Technology Society, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Institute...
The sunlight-induced photocatalytic oxidation of aqueous benzene on TiO(2)-supported gold nanoparticles was considerably improved when the reaction was conducted under a CO(2) atmosphere. 13% yield and 89% selectivity of phenol was obtained on P25-supported gold nanoparticles under 230 kPa of CO(2). PMID:21952312
ABSTRACT Extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model, this study postulates a model of online social support. The model is empirically tested using data from undergraduates in Taiwan regarding their usage of instant messaging (IM). The test results indicate that all model paths are significant, except that the path between online social support and facilitating conditions is insignificant. This study offers limitations and implications.
Information technology plays an important role in medicine because of the advanced decision support systems (DSS) it can provide. We provide an overview of the building blocks necessary for a medical decision support system and introduce seven research articles in this special issue that describe the development and evaluation of individual medical DSS building blocks or complete medical DSS.
The Coordinated Research Project is a topical collection of research agreements and contracts. The research contracts are awarded with financial support of about 10-20% of the total contract cost. Among the activities of the project is the organization of consultant group meetings and workshops involving several international experts and representatives of users and developers of border radiation monitoring equipment. The project also supports in coordinating the development of equipment and techniques for up-to-date border monitoring and in establishing of a process for providing nuclear forensics support to member states
A zinc-air battery in a case including a zinc particle bed supported adjacent the current feeder and diaphragm on a porous support plate which holds the particles but passes electrolyte solution. Electrolyte is recycled through a conduit between the support plate and top of the bed by convective forces created by a density of differential caused by a higher concentration of high density discharge products in the interstices of the bed than in the electrolyte recycle conduit.
A zinc-air battery in a case is described including a zinc particle bed supported adjacent the current feeder and diaphragm on a porous support plate which holds the particles but passes electrolyte solution. Electrolyte is recycled through a conduit between the support plate and top of the bed by convective forces created by a density of differential caused by a higher concentration of high density discharge products in the interstices of the bed than in the electrolyte recycle conduit. 7 figures.
Abstract People with a physical disability are a population who for a number of reasons may be vulnerable to social isolation. Research into Internet based support sites has found that social support and an online sense of community can be developed through computer mediated communication channels. This study aims to gain an understanding of the benefits that membership of disability specific online communities may have for people with a physical disability. An online survey was administered to a sample of users of such sites (N = 160). Results indicated that users did receive moral support and personal advice through participating in such online communities. Further, results indicated that online social support and feeling a sense of community online were positively associated with partic...
Background: The Internet has become a popular source of health information for patients with a variety of medical concerns; however, research examining patient interactions on the Internet has been limited. Purpose: Four questions were examined in a survey study of hysterectomy patients who visited http://www.hystersisters.com: (a) Do hysterectomy patients use the support Web site because they perceive their proximal sources of social support to be inadequate? (b) What kinds of support do patients receive from the Web site? (c) What attributes characterize the "Hystersisters" that are perceived to be most helpful? (d) How do informational sources vary depending on the nature of the patient concern? Methods: Women (N = 137) responded to questions about social support, Web site use, and perc...
Industrial solid wastes (fly ash and red mud, a by-product of the aluminium industry) have been employed as supports for preparation of Ru-based catalysts. Physical and chemical treatments on red mud were conducted and these modified supports were also used for preparation of Ru-based catalysts. Those Ru catalysts were characterized by various techniques such as N2 adsorption, H{sub 2} adsorption, XRD, XPS, and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and were then tested for catalytic ammonia decomposition to hydrogen. It was found that red-mud-supported Ru catalyst exhibits higher ammonia conversion and hydrogen production than fly-ash-supported catalyst. Heat and chemical treatments of the red mud greatly improve the catalytic activity. Moreover, a combination of acid and heat treatments produces the highest catalytic conversion of ammonia. 35 refs., 4 figs., 4 tabs.
This study validates a research model that examines usage of instant messaging (IM) from the aspect of online social support. Drawing on the social capital theory, this study postulates that IM usage is indirectly affected by social support via the mediation of the following six dimensions of social capital: commitment, reciprocity, shared codes and language, shared narratives, centrality, and network ties. The model tests data obtained from business organizations in Taiwan, and the results suggest that the indirect influence of social support on IM usage through shared codes and language is significant, and the indirect influence of social support on IM usage through centrality is also significant. Managerial implications and limitations of the empirical findings are provided.
Y-zeolite supported catalysts were applied to the hydrocracking of coal-derived liquids. By the introduction of two-stage upgrading consisting of hydrotreating and hydrocracking, Wandoan coal-derived middle distillate was hydrocracked over Ni-Mo/Y-zeolite, producing a high gasoline fraction yield. Zeolite supported catalysts gave little hydrocracked compounds in the hydroprocessing of coal-derived heavy oils, even after hydrotreatment. The reaction inhibitors which seriously poison the active sites of zeolites were found to be small nitrogen-containing molecules. In the hydroprocessing of coal-derived heavy oils, zeolite supported catalysts were inferior to alumina supported catalysts. This is due to the high hydrocracking but low hydrogenation activity of zeolite supported catalysts. 22 refs., 5 figs., 11 tabs.
The family of natriuretic peptides consists of the atria natriuretic peptide (ANP), the cerebral natriuretic peptide (BNP), the type C natriuretic peptide (CNP) and the peptide isolated from the dendroaspis snakes' poison (DNP), whose presence in humans has not been confirmed. The physiological function of ANP is in the control of arterial blood pressure by regulation of systemic vascular resistance of blood vessels. BNP is produced as one of the factors in the acute response to inflammatory tissue damage, mainly in coronary vessels. Increased serum concentrations of natriuretic peptides have been found in stress situations, such as trauma or major surgery, systemic hypotension, and in intrinsic myocardial dysfunction. High concentrations of natriuretic peptides were observed in severe sepsis, septic shock and in multiple organ failure, probably due to increased secretion by mediators of the inflammatory process.The highest concentrations of ...
The waterjet technique enables precise tissue dissection without thermal damage and with preservation of vessels in general surgery. In neurosurgery, these qualities could help to avoid damage of intact brain parenchyma in tumour resections. The present study reports our first results with this technique in brain metastases. Ten patients with intracranial metastases underwent surgery with the aid of the waterjet. Resection was performed in combination with conventional neurosurgical methods. The follow-up consisted of neurological examination and MRI studies. Intraoperatively, the device was easy to handle. No complications due to the device were observed. Vessels were preserved at pressures below 20 bars. Six of the tumours consisted of soft tissue which was poorly demarcated from the surrounding brain. In these tumours, the waterjet was very helpful. It enabled tumour debulking by aspiration and - more important - precise separation of tumour ...
Iron concentration control in feedwater is one of the most important subjects in water chemistry. Especially for the BWR plants without 100% flow volume of hollow fiber filter (HFF), rather high iron concentration in feedwater is one of the big issues as this causes relatively high radiation dose rate in drywell area. Cation exchange resins especially used in the plants with partial flow rate of HFF are expected to have the important role of capturing iron in feedwater. For this purpose, we have investigated the effective method for using iron absorption characteristics of cation exchange resin. The Cation-Over Layer method (COL) in condensate demineralizers (CD) effectively utilizes these characteristics. In order to demonstrate a performance of the cation overlay method, we had applied this method for three CD vessels at Fukushima Daiichi NPP Unit 3 for testing purpose. The result of this actual plant test indicated that the iron concentration in the effluent of ...
Yield stress elevations (#DELTA##sigma#_y) in pressure vessel steels irradiated at intermediate flux and fluence systematically decreased with increasing temperature and decreasing copper and nickel content. Lower stress relief temperature also decreased #DELTA##sigma#_y at bulk copper concentrations greater than about 0.3%. The dependence of #DELTA##sigma#_y on irradiation temperature between 260 and 316 C increased with copper and nickel content and decreased with phosphorus content. When normalized by the average #DELTA##sigma#_y, the fractional temperature dependence correlates with a simple empirical chemistry factor of copper and phosphorus. The correlation predicts data on the irradiation temperature dependence of #DELTA##sigma#_y found in the literature within a standard error of about 0.3 MPa/degree C and is consistent with current understanding of hardening mechanisms. However, questions remain about the effects at very low flux and finer scale variations ...
Assessments of the hardening and embrittlement of pressure vessel steels and welds as a function of neutron dose use trend curves derived from surveillance programs and accelerated irradiation data. A temperature dependent factor is incorporated for assessing vessel locations operating at different temperatures. As hardening and embrittlement arise from the sum of matrix damage and copper impurity precipitation, the influence of irradiation temperature on each process needs to be established. For irradiations performed below #approx# 300 C recent data shows that the dose-dependent growth of copper precipitates ceases at a mean diameter of about 2 nm that also corresponds to peak hardening and embrittlement by copper. For doses beyond this peak copper dose the property-dependence on irradiation temperature can be identified with that of matrix damage alone. An analysis of several experiments on plate steels, performed at differing irradiation ...
In interventional radiology (IVR) of cerebral aneurysms, it is important to understand the form and physical relationships between the cerebral aneurysm and the surrounding vessels. However, because the vessels in the head area are highly complex, it can be difficult to comprehend the structure using conventional angiography. Therefore, three-dimensional rotational angiography (3D-RA) has been used in recent years. This article discusses studies of the spatial resolution of 3D-RA. We reconstructed 3D-RA of an acrylic slit phantom (slit widths: 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5 mm) and examined spatial resolution by visual evaluation and profile curves. When the slit phantom was arranged to avoid the effect of beam hardening, the spatial resolution of 3D-RA was found to be as high as 0.75 mm. When the slit phantom was placed orthogonal to the rotational axis of the C-arm, the spatial resolution of 3D-RA was decreased because of the cone angle effect of ...
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was localized by an immunocytochemical technique in the thyroid-parathyroid complexes of rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and in normal human thyroids and parathyroids. Human medullary carcinomas and parathyroid adenomas were also studied. In man and all animal species examined CGRP was present in the parafollicular cell, however, in guinea pigs only in small amounts. Except in rabbits, presence of CGRP was demonstrated in nerves of the thyroid and parathyroid capsule as well as in the nerve fibers of the capsular blood vessels. In the thyroid of guinea pigs CGRP was also noted in nerve fibers and in blood vessel walls between follicles. CGRP was also present in the parathyroid glands of rat and man, in nerve fibers localized between parathyroid cells. In rabbit the parafollicular cells between parathyroid cells also expressed CGRP immunoreactivity. No CGRP was noted in the parathyroids of the guinea pig. The ...
Spent oxide fuels are reduced in a molten salt of CaCl[sub 2]-CaF[sub 2] to convert them into metals, then melted in an Fe-U bath disposed in an electrolytic refining vessel and brought into contact with molten Mg, to extract transuranium elements and rare earth elements contained in the Fe-U bath as metals in the molten Mg. Then molten Mg is removed and the residue is brought into contact with KCl-LiCl molten salt and electrolyzed using the Fe-U as an anode. Then, uranium is recovered by deposition on an iron cathode disposed in chloride electrolytes of the electrolytic refining vessel. Uranium and transuranium elements can be thus separated and, for example, depleted uranium for use in blanket fuels can be recovered easily. This can greatly reduce the temporary storage amount of depleted uranium, to eliminate requirement for a large-scaled facility used exclusively for storing uranium and long time management for uranium. (T.M.).
Spent oxide fuels are reduced in a molten salt of CaCl_2-CaF_2 to convert them into metals, then melted in an Fe-U bath disposed in an electrolytic refining vessel and brought into contact with molten Mg, to extract transuranium elements and rare earth elements contained in the Fe-U bath as metals in the molten Mg. Then molten Mg is removed and the residue is brought into contact with KCl-LiCl molten salt and electrolyzed using the Fe-U as an anode. Then, uranium is recovered by deposition on an iron cathode disposed in chloride electrolytes of the electrolytic refining vessel. Uranium and transuranium elements can be thus separated and, for example, depleted uranium for use in blanket fuels can be recovered easily. This can greatly reduce the temporary storage amount of depleted uranium, to eliminate requirement for a large-scaled facility used exclusively for storing uranium and long time management for uranium. (T.M.).
The long operating cycle simplified boiling water reactor is a reactor concept that pursues both safety and the economy by employing a natural circulation reactor core without a refueling, a passive decay heat removal, and an integrated building for the reactor and turbine. Throughout the entire spectrum of the design basis accident, the reactor core is kept covered by the passive emergency core cooling system. The decay heat is removed by the conventional active low-pressure residual heat removal system. As for a postulated severe accident, the suppression pool water floods the lower part of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) in the case when core damage occurs, and the in-vessel retention that keeps the melt inside the RPV is achieved by supplying the coolant. The containment adopts a parallel-double-steel-plate structure similar to a hull structure, which contains coolant between the inner and outer walls to absorb the heat transferred from ...
Many types of maintenance activities are performed on contaminated (radioactive) machines and components at the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). When personnel dose levels are within permissible limits, maintenance is performed in contaminated work areas or in gloveboxes. Otherwise, maintenance is performed in the Interim Examination and Maintenance (IEM) Cell, a hot cell that is used to perform tasks that require remote operation. Maintenance is often a combination of manual and remote operation. One such operation was the cleaning of the closed loop ex-vessel machine (CLEM) core component grapple (CCG). The CLEM is used to transfer core components in and out of the reactor vessel. The CCG had not been operating properly due to buildups of metallic sodium and sodium compounds on the outside surface and internal moving parts. This paper tells how the CCG was disassembled and cleaned. Part of this task was done in a glovebox and part in the IEM ...
Safety and environmental assessments have been made of conceptual fusion power plant designs employing silicon carbide composites (SiC/SiC) as the first wall and blanket structure material. These have used similar analysis methods to earlier studies of designs based on vanadium alloy or low-activation martensitic steel, allowing direct comparisons. The very low short-term activation of silicon carbide results in an almost insignificant level of decay heat in postulated loss of coolant accidents, and a lower {gamma}-dose rate on the timescale of relevance to handling for maintenance operations. However on the longer time-scale, of interest in possible recycling operations, decommissioning and waste management, SiC/SiC appears to perform no better than vanadium alloy or low-activation martensitic steel, due in part to the activation of impurities in a realistic composition. Furthermore, its increased neutron transparency may result in higher activation in the vacuum ...
The multidimensional countercurrent two-phase flow regimes that occur in a pressurized-water reactor (PWR) vessel downcomer during the refill phase of a large-break loss-of-coolant accident are studied using a transparent 1/10 scale model of a PWR vessel. The various flow regimes and their distribution in the downcomer have been identified and mapped for a range of air-water flooding experiments. The two-phase flow patterns that are identified in the downcomer included various types of film flows, droplet flows, countercurrent churn flows and cocurrent flows depending on the flooding condition. Through observation of the two-phase flow dynamics it was deduced that the physical mechanisms associated with the flooding processes could be separated into a liquid entrainment process and a film flow reversal process. In addition to the above exercise, the effect of non-uniform injection of water into the downcomer via different combinations of cold ...
The multidimensional countercurrent two-phase flow regimes that occur in a pressurized-water reactor (PWR) vessel downcomer during the refill phase of a large-break loss-of-coolant accident are studied using a transparent 1/10 scale model of a PWR vessel. The various flow regimes and their distribution in the downcomer have been identified and mapped for a range of air-water flooding experiments. The two-phase flow patterns that are identified in the downcomer included various types of film flows, droplet flows, countercurrent churn flows and cocurrent flows depending on the flooding condition. Through observation of the two-phase flow dynamics it was deduced that the physical mechanisms associated with the flooding processes could be separated into a liquid entrainment process and a film flow reversal process. In addition to the above exercise, the effect of non-uniform injection of water into the downcomer via different combinations of cold ...
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 ...
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 ...
The NUclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC) has developed IMPACT-SAMPSON code to analyze integral behavior of light water nuclear power plants under severe accident conditions. IMPACT-SAMPSON's distinguishing features include interconnected hierarchical modules and mechanistic models covering a wide spectrum of scenarios ranging from normal operation to severe accident events, and high-speed simulation on parallel processing computers. The integral plant behaviors of typical PWR and BWR under severe accident conditions have been analyzed with the IMPACT-SAMPSON code. The PWR plant analyzed was the three-loop, steel-dry containment type with 2,440 MWt. The AE accident scenario was supposed, that is, LOCA by 6-inch hot leg failure followed by accumulated water injection, but no ECCS and containment spray activation. The BWR plant analyzed was the 3,293 MWt BWR-5, Mark-II containment type. The TQUV accident scenario was supposed, that is, reactor scram by MSIV closure ...
Fe-Cu binary alloys are often used to mimic the behaviour of reactor pressure vessel steels. Their study allows identifying some of the defects responsible for irradiation-induced hardening. But recently the influence of manganese and nickel in low-Cu steels has been found to be important as well. In contrast with existing models found in the literature, which predict that hardening saturates after a certain dose, Fe alloys containing nickel and manganese irradiated in a material test reactor (BR2) show a continuous increase of hardening, up to doses equivalent to about 40 years of operation. Considerations based on positron annihilation spectroscopy analyses suggest that the main objects causing hardening in Cu-free alloys are most probably self-interstitial clusters decorated with manganese. In low-Cu reactor pressure vessel steels and in Fe-CuMnNi alloys, the main effect is still due to Cu-rich precipitates at low doses, but the role of ...
As for No.2 plant in Sendai Nuclear Power Station, which is the fourth nuclear power generation facilities in Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc., all works have been completed, and at present, the final trial operation is under way. In No.2 plant, many new techniques for raising the reliability and safety, improving the maintainability and reducing radiation exposure were introduced on the basis of the operation experience of PWRs obtained so far, similarly to No.1 plant. In this paper, the main items of the new techniques related to the design and construction of the plant are reported. No. 2 plant is a first improved and standardized plant having the thermal output of 2660 MW for standard three-loop PWRs, and the rated power output was set at 890 MW. As for the turbine, TC6F-40 in was adopted. As the improved design, a large reactor containment vessel, 17 x 17 type 9-grid fuel, improved steam generators, a reactor vessel cover of one-body type, ...
Neutron irradiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels is one of the critical issues on aging management for long term operation of nuclear power plants. Mechanistic understanding of embrittlement is a key to accurate prediction of embrittlement, especially after long term operation where the mechanical test data are sparse. Since matrix hardening is the source of the embrittlement, we focus on matrix hardening of A533B bainitic pressure vessel steel. Bainitic matrix is composed of lath structure made by ferrite and carbides, therefore it is important to understand how this structure affects hardening behavior, and to understand irradiation response of each phase. As the typical dimension of lath structure of A533B is about one micron, nanoindentation technique is suitable for the estimation of hardening of each phase. MV ion accelerators were used for controlled irradiation because MeV ion irradiation can produce defects to ...
The UTST (University of Tokyo Spherical Tokamak) device was constructed for the purpose of exploring the formation of ultra-high beta ST (Spherical Tokamak) plasma using the double null plasma merging method. When two plasmas merge together to form a single plasma, magnetic field lines reconnect, and the magnetic field energy is converted to the plasma kinetic energy, increasing the plasma beta. The merging start-up has been demonstrated in the TS-3/4, START and MAST devices using coils inside the vacuum vessel and TS-3 plasma obtained 50% beta. In order to demonstrate the start-up in a more reactor relevant situation, UTST has all poloidal field coils outside the vacuum vessel. The first plasma experiment on the UTST was performed from December, 2007. In the result, the plasma obtained 10 kA by using only outer PF coils and single ST was generated at the lower area (z=-0.3 - -1.0[m]) close to a washer gun. This result suggests that another ...
The main sodium piping with a diameter of 16'' or 28 '' is being installed at the FFTF construction site starting in December 1974. The supplier and authority demarcations are: Combustion Engineering supplies the reactor vessel, guard vessel and adjoining pipes and uses the machine welding equipment ''Dimetrics''; for the piping system of the primary and secondary loops the pipes manufactured by Rollmet at HUICO, Pasco, were delivered and prefabricated there, as far as compatible with the installation. ''Astroarc'' welding machines are used by Bechtel for the piping prefabrication in the weld laboratory as well as on site at the construction site. Technical welding problems occurring during the course of the installation at the construction site and several during this time are described. At present 6 weld seams in the reactor and 14 weld seams in the secondary loop are accepted. The requirement exists to carry out as many welds as possible ...
The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) is a liquid-metal-cooled test reactor located on the Hanford Site. The FFTF is the only reactor of this type designed and operated with the intent of meeting the licensing requirements of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Unique characteristics of the FFTF that present special challenges related to leak rate testing include thin wall containment vessel construction, cover gas systems that penetrate containment, and a low-pressure design basis accident. The successful completion in 1986 of the third FFTF Integrated Leak Rate Test (ILRT) five days ahead of schedule and 10% under budget was a major achievement for the Westinghouse Hanford Company. The success of this operational safety test was due in large part to a special local area network (LAN) of three IBM PC/XT computers that monitored the sensor data, calculated the containment vessel leak rate, and displayed test results. The multiple computer ...
Target vessel materials used in spallation neutron source will be exposed to proton and neutron irradiation and mercury immersion environments. In order to evaluate the surface degradation of the vessel candidate materials due to such environment, the triple-ion beam irradiation taking the spallation reaction into account and mercury immersion tests were carried out. Mechanical properties of the gradient surface layer were evaluated by the inverse analysis with multi-layer model that considers distribution of surface characteristic was applied to the load and depth curves measured by using the instrumented indentation machine. Transmission electron microscopic observations were performed to evaluate the changes of microstructure in irradiated surface layer using focused ion-beam cut micro-specimen. The mechanical properties distributions in the surface layer were evaluated quantitatively and the changes in microstructures were correspondent to ...
In an existent emergency reactor core cooling device, if a ruptures should occure in a pipeline of a gravitational dropping type reactor core cooling system pool (GDCS) due to some or other causes, a portion of GDCS pool water was flown out of the ruptured port and could not be used for reactor core cooling. Then, a difference pressure detector is disposed to a GDCS pipeline at the inlet of a reactor pressure vessel. When it is judged by the detector, that coolants flow to the outside of the injection pipeline, an injection value disposed to the GDCS pipeline is closed by the difference pressure signal. Even if a rupture should occur on the side of the pressure vessel at downstream to the check value of the GDCS pipeline, since backflow is caused at the pressure container inlet of the GDCS pipeline with the rupture port, the rupture is detected by the difference pressure detector to close the injection valve. Therefore, loss of the GDCS pool ...
The effects of key metallurgical variables on the low fluence hardening in a set of A533B model steels were evaluated over a wide range of irradiation temperatures. Above about 163 degrees C hardening increased with higher copper and nickel contents, as is typical of the pressure vessel operating regime around 290 degrees C. However, at 121 degrees C the hardening was generally lower and unaffected by copper and nickel variations. This observation of decreased hardening with lower temperature (e.g. an open-quotes invertedclose quotes temperature dependence) is tentatively attributed to a reduced contribution of copper precipitation. Tensile data for a set of commercial steels with a range of (uncontrolled) compositions also showed minimal sensitivity to copper variations at 121 degrees C. Unlike the hardness data no systematic reductions in the yield stress increases were observed between 163 and 121 degrees C. However, the ultimate tensile strength did decrease at ...
BWRs are so designed that the exhaust steam from main steam safety relief valves is led to pressure suppression pools, and the steam is condensed in pool water, but at this time, dynamic load seems to arise in the pool water. In Tokai No. 2 Power Station, a Mark-2 containment vessel was adopted to improve the reliability as much as possible and to obtain the design with margin. In this report, the result of actual machine test in Tokai No. 2 Power Station and the method of reducing the load are described. When a relief valve works, the discharge of water in exhaust pipes into a suppression pool, the exhaust of air in exhaust pipes and repeated expansion and contraction of bubbles in pool water, and the exhaust of steam and condensation occur. As for the construction of the suppression pool in Tokai No. 2 Power Station, cross-shaped quencher and the structure with jet deflector were installed. The test plan and the test result with an actual machine are reported. ...
Impurities (Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Ti, Y, Zn and Zr) in sialon powder were determined by the following procedure: A sample (0.5 g) was heated with a mixture of hydrofluoric acid (3 ml) and nitric acid (1 ml) in a Teflon pressure vessel at 170degC for 16 h. The contents of the vessel were transferred into a platinum crucible containing phosphoric acid (4 ml) and heated on a hot plate until the opaque appearance of the content changed to a clear-syrupy fluid. The fluid was diluted to 100 ml with water and used for ICP-AES analysis of all impurity elements except K, which was determined by AAS. It was necessary to match closely the matrix concentrations (H_3PO_4, Al and/or Y) of the standard solutions with those of sialon sample solutions for the determination of impurities because of interferences of the matrix components. This method was successfully applied to the determination of impurities in commercial sialon samples. (author).
The contribution of US, CT and MR imaging was investigated in 25 cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The following parameters were considered: lesion detection, site and size of the lesion, daughter nodules, location and/or infiltration of intrahepatic vessels, patency of portal vein and collateral vessels, signs of chronic liver disease, steatosis, ascitis, and lymphadenopathy. The results confirm the value of US, which also allowed lesion biopsy in all cases. CT was as accurate as US in detecting the lesion and even superior in demonstranting daughter nodules. MR imaging, with conventional SE and IR sequences, was inferior since it missed 3 lesions due to motion artifacts; more over, a smaller number of daughter nodules was seen than with CT. The authors conclude that, at present, MR imaging cannot replace US and CT; the latter, if combined with artheriography, using either hidrosoluble or liposoluble contrast agents, gives the ...
The aim of this study was to assess the body weight-tailored contrast material injection protocol for 64-detector computed tomography (CT) to maintain optimal coronary CT attenuation. A total of 60 patients who underwent CT coronary angiography were assigned to one of three groups: protocol A, total of 0.7 ml kg"-"1 with 300 mg I/ml iodine concentration; protocol B, total of 0.6 ml kg"-"1 with 350 mg I/ml; protocol C, total of 0.7 ml kg"-"1 with 350 mg I/ml. The injection duration was 10 s in all patients. The proportion of intracoronary attenuation values >325 Hounsfield unit (HU) was compared on a per-vessel and per-patient basis. The attenuation value was significantly more likely to exceed 325 HU with protocol C (95% for reader 1 and 90% for reader 2) than with protocol A or B on the per-vessel analysis (P325 HU) with 64-detector CT when using an injection duration of 10 s. (author)
Implementation of Noble Metal Chemical Application (NMCA) in a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) requires injection of a noble metal compound while the reactor is idle at hot shutdown conditions. In order to minimize outage time, utilities are very pro-actively finding ways to reduce the number of critical path tasks. One of these tasks is to remove some containment vessel drywell head bolts during the NMCA idle time. This, thereby, saves the utilities outage time, or they can perform other tasks as desired. Using design basis conditions and state-of-the-art analytical techniques, detailed finite element stress analyses of the closure region are performed. Two acceptance criteria are evaluated. The first is that contained within Section III of the ASME Code for allowable stresses. The second relates to leak tightness, i.e., with bolt removal the joint must still remain leak tight. This paper describes the activities performed to justify bolt removal during the noble ...
The merits of single stage absorption heat pumps coupled to simple distillation for effluent treatment are discussed. An experimental integrated absorption heat pump effluent purification system (IAHPEPS) was built and operated with water-lithium bromide as a working mixture. This unit has been used to raise the temperature and hence, the vapour pressure of the impure water contained in one vessel, to the point where pure water vapour will distil from impure effluent solution (tap water or brine) and condense in a second vessel used to collect pure water. Pure effluent production rates of between 0.5 and 4.3 kg h{sup -1} were obtained. The actual coefficient of performance (COP{sub A}) and the heat pump effectiveness varied from 1.1 to 1.4 and 0.58 to 0.72, respectively. The results from the small scale systems indicate the likely results from industrial scale units which could be operated with low quality heat such as waste heat, solar or ...
The current primary standards at NPL for the measurement of absorbed dose to water in high energy photon and electron beams are graphite calorimeters. However, the quantity of interest in radiation dosimetry is absorbed dose to water. Therefore, a new absorbed dose to water standard based on water calorimetry has been developed for use in high energy photon and electron beams. The calorimeter operates at 4 deg C, with temperature control being provided by liquid cooling. The sealed glass inner vessel of the calorimeter was designed to minimise the effect of non-water materials on the measurement of absorbed dose. The temperature sensing thermistor probes were designed and constructed so that glass is the only material in contact with high purity water inside the vessel. Initial measurements of absorbed dose to water made in 6, 10, and 19 MV photons, and 16 MeV electrons agreed, within the measurement uncertainties of approximately 1.5% (95% ...
A computational procedure is proposed to perform uncertainty analysis for the calculation of the isotopic inventory and radiological quantities obtained as a linear function of it, due to uncertainties in the activation cross sections. The method is applied to determine the uncertainty of the calculated shallow burial index (SBI) from activated type 304 stainless steel (SS) in the most neutron-exposed zone of the HYLIFE-II vessel structure. Results are obtained by means of an element-by-element study. Some other types of steel are also investigated for comparison purposes. The SS304 is confirmed to be the most promising steel option. 16 refs., 2 tabs.
The Savannah River Site has successfully used robots, teleoperators, and remote video to reduce exposure to ionizing radiation, improve worker safety, and improve the quality of operations. Previous reports have described the use of mobile teleoperators in coping with a high level liquid waste spill, the removal of highly contaminated equipment, and the inspection of nuclear reactor vessels. This report will cover recent applications at the Savannah River, as well as systems which SRS has delivered to other DOE site customers.
As a direct result of its interest in the use of robotics within active plants, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (BNFL) has adopted a positive attitude toward both national and European initiatives in this area. During the early operation of the Sellafield reprocessing plant, the process vessels and cell voids were monitored using simple pole and camera combinations. In 1985, BNFL embarked on the provision of a series of machines intended to satisfy the advancing needs for inspection while increasing the level of expertise within the company in this important area. DIMAN 1, DIMAN 2, RODMAN, REPMAN, and RAFFMAN remote handling and robotic machines are described.
An azido-"1"2"5iodo-ansamycin (1) in the geldanamycin family was prepared in two steps in one reaction vessel from 17-amino-22-(4'-aminophenacyl)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (3). The title compound was suitable for photoaffinity labeling proteins that interacted with ansamycins. An alternative synthesis is reported for preparation of unlabeled title compound in order to afford practical amounts of (1) for conventional biochemical studies. (Author).
An azido-[sup 125]iodo-ansamycin (1) in the geldanamycin family was prepared in two steps in one reaction vessel from 17-amino-22-(4'-aminophenacyl)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (3). The title compound was suitable for photoaffinity labeling proteins that interacted with ansamycins. An alternative synthesis is reported for preparation of unlabeled title compound in order to afford practical amounts of (1) for conventional biochemical studies. (Author).
Production of titanium alloys from the mixture containing large amounts of metallurgy wastes is very promising. It is shown that unlimited possibilities of the waste material use in the mixture (up to 100%) are provided by garnissage melting, the size of the cast being limited only by that of the vessel. With garnissage being used as a consumed electrode the metal is refined from hydrogen and the blank ingots to serve as consumed electrodes in electro-slag remelting are chemically homogeneous. The ingots thus obtained have dense structure, rather fine grain homogeneous chemical composition, are no less pure than those obtained by vacuum arc remelting and provide for economic savings.
Object: To limit the discharge amount of reactor water in a primary system at the time of scram to prevent excessive outflow of reactor water outside the system. Structure: A signal from an upper limit position indicator detects the fact that control rods are completely inserted when the reactor is urgently stopped and the detection signal causes a valve in an outflow line of the discharge water from a control rod driving mechanism to be closed to limit the amount of discharge flown into the scram discharge vessel, thus preventing outflow of reactor water in the primary system after the scram has been initiated. (Kamimura, M.).
Within the APROS simulation environment we have built a thermo-hydraulic model of a conceptual fusion power plant which is water cooled and uses lithium-lead for tritium breeding. For the safety assessment of this design we have studied an accident sequence which starts from a loss or coolant flow then leads to first wall breach and pressurisation of the vacuum vessel. Simulations have revealed strong pressure transients which can be alleviated by design changes. One goal is to verify the adequacy of the containment design: it remains intact at least 14 h without any mitigating efforts. Estimates for radioactive releases are obtained. (author)
An experiment has been performed to investigate the chemical reaction between the liquid phases of the eutectic lithium-lead (Li/sub 17/Pb/sub 83/) and water. The reactants and products were constrained within a closed reaction vessel, allowing the extent of reaction to be determined from the partial pressure of the hydrogen reaction product. The data from the tests showed that the extent of reaction did not depend upon the water temperature. The data also indicated that the extent of reaction passed through a maximum as the initial liquid metal temperature was varied from 350 to 500 C, and a model was developed to explain this behavior. 11 refs., 3 figs.
This paper discusses the remote plugging of leaks in inaccessible pipework, with main reference to small leaks which frequently appear in ancillary cooling water circuits of nuclear reactors. Initially developed to cure problems of the pre-stressed concrete pressure vessels of UK reactors, the ZORIC sealant has been used to repair leaking biological shield pipework on six CANDU reactors. ZORIC is based on a water-soluble epoxy resin and an aqueous suspension of a refined mineral clay. This paper describes the evolution of the sealant, the qualification and testing program, and their application to CANDU reactor systems. 2 refs., 6 figs.
1 - Description of test facility: The LOBI facility is a 1/700 scale model of a four loop PWR and has two primary loops, the intact loop representing three loops and the broken loop representing one loop of a four-loop PWR. The reactor pressure vessel model contains an electrically heated rod-bundle with 64 rods and a heated length of 3.9 m. The nominal heating power is 5.3 MW. The downcomer is of annular shape. An upper head simulator is connected to the vessel. Each of the two primary loops contains a pump and a steam generator. The different mass flows in the loops are established by the pump speeds, since the two pumps are identical. Heat is removed from the steam generators by a secondary system. ECC water can be supplied from two accumulators, one for each loop. Cold or hot leg as well as combined injection can be simulated. The LOBI test facility is the only high pressure integral test facility within the European Communities (1982), ...
Isolated laevocardia combined with corrected transposition of the great arteries and complete situs inversus is rare. Due to discordant interrelationships between atria and ventricles and between ventricles and great arteries, both anomalies result in a normal circulation. In the presented case no associated cardiac malformations were present and the 55-year-old woman remained symptom-free for a long time until she developed an acquired valve disease. A systematic approach to chamber localisation in complex morphologic lesions of the heart is reviewed, and the value of CT, which can be applied successfully in older children and adults is demonstrated. (orig.).
Based on the High Temperature Sodium Facility (HTSF) experience and the extensive design efforts for FFTF, procedures are in place for the unloading of the tank cars and for the fill of the FFTF reactor. Special precautions have been taken to provide safe handling and to accommodate contingencies in operation. These contingencies include special protective suits allowing personnel to enter and correct conditions arising from fill operations in the course of moving 7.71 x 10/sup 5/ kg (1.7 x 10/sup 6/ lbs) of sodium from the tank cars into the reactor vessel and its loop system.
The present paper dealt with the extension of tendon friction coefficient correlation as a function of loading end load and circumferential angle, proposed in the former paper. The extended correlation further included the effects of the number of strands contacted with sheath, tendon diameter, politicization of tendon and tendon local curvature. The validity of the correlation was confirmed by several published measured data. The structural analysis of middle cylinder part of 1/4 PCCV (Prestressed Concrete Containment Vessel) model was conducted using the present friction coefficient correlation. The results were compared with the analysis using constant friction coefficient, focused on the tendon tension force distribution. (author)
This specification establishes requirements for design, testing, and quality assurance for electric heaters that will be used to maintain primary Sodium temperature in the Fast Test Facility (FFTF) reactor vessel. The Test Specification (WHC-SD-FF-SDS-003) has been revised to Rev. 1. This change modifies the fabrication of approximately 25 feet of the subject heater using ceramic insulators over the heater lead wire rather than compressed magnesium oxide. Also, 304 or 316 stainless steel can be used for the heater sheath. This change should simplify fabrication and improve the heater operational reliability.
This study does not recommend the use of a pressure vessel made of integral stainless steel, due to the failure mechanisms under stress corrosion assisted by chlorides or polythionic acid. Are presented case studies of literature and analysis of reports of proceedings of RLAM reactors, showing that the materials produced by bimetallic clad overlay or are more appropriate, in terms of integrity, for use in equipment that the internal environment requires austenitic stainless steel specification.
The production and uses are described for extracellular microbial polysaccharides (generically called emulsans) and for a new class of extracellular microbial protein-associated lipopolysaccharides (collectively called alpha-emulsans) produced by Acinetobacter Sp. ATCC 31012, its mutants or recombinants. Also included are the deproteinized lipopolysaccharides (collectively called apoemulsans) obtained from such emulsans, as well as to the divalent metal, ammonium, and quaternary ammonium salts of such emulsans and apoemulsans. The materials can be used (1) in cleaning oil-contaminated vessels used to transport or store crude oil or petroleum fractions in such a manner that the residual oil may be recovered for fuel value or for refining and (2) in enhanced oil recovery.
Corrosion is increasingly becoming an important factor reducing the reliability of many nuclear power plant components. The significance is evaluated of corrosion phenomena with respect to the reliability of primary circuit components of LWR's, viz., the reactor pressure vessel, primary piping, steam generator, and fuel elements. The mechanism of corrosion phenomena is explained and methods of minimizing their effects are presented. An analysis is made of the needs to solve the corrosion problems of nuclear power plants from the point of view of Czechoslovak producers and research and development activities. International cooperation is reviewed and main problems are formulated on which the solution of corrosion problems of structural materials used in WWER type nuclear power plants should be focussed. (author).
A confocal microscopy imaging system was devised to selectively detect Second harmonic signals generated by biological tissues. Several types of biological tissues were examined using this imaging system, including human teeth, bovine blood vessels, and chicken skin. All these tissues generated strong second harmonic signals. There is considerable evidence that the source of these signals in tissue is collagen. Collagen, the predominant component of most tissues, is known to have second order nonlinear susceptibility. This technique may have diagnostic usefulness in pathophysiological conditions characterized by changes in collagen structure including malignant transformation of nevi, progression of diabetic complications, and abnormalities in wound healing.
Some recent achievements in the field of high pressure vessels and safety devices have offered a concrete chance to the application of compressed hydrogen for fleet commercial vehicles for urban use. Accordingly with this concept, ENEA has modified a Fiat Ducato van with a dual fuel engine, retaining the gasoline tank for long distance travelling and adopting the external mixture formation technique, with hydrogen injectors developed by ENEA, for non-polluting short-range duties in urban traffic. The article deals with the rationale for this choice and gives a general view of the project. (author)
Eighty-seven subtraction images of FCR were compared with subtraction images of conventional angiography. Although FCR images with reduced exposure dose (25 % of regular dose) and with diluted contrast material (150 mgI/ml, 50 % of usual concentration) were slightly inferior to the images of conventional angiography, most clinically important vessels were adequately visualized. As FCR has wider dynamic range and higher contrast resolution than conventional angiography, FCR may take over conventional angiography. (author).
Various schemes of cooling have been investigated for the purpose of assessing potential benefits on the operational characteristics of the Syrian MNSR reactor. A detailed thermal hydraulic model for the analysis of MNSR has been developed. The analysis shows that an auxiliary cooling system, installed in the pool which surrounds the lower section of the reactor vessel, will significantly offset the consumption of excess reactivity due to the negative reactivity temperature coefficient, Hence, the maximum operating time of the reactor is extended. Compared with experimental data, the suggested model proves to be valid for the analysis of MNSR behavior under both steady state and transient conditions. (author)
The single specimen unloading compliance technique has become the preferred method for evaluating J-integrals. It involves data acquisition and analysis using a computer. This paper describes in detail the development of a simple experimental system and related software that can be used in a laboratory equipped with a microcomputer and with access to a minicomputer. The effects of loading rate, test temperature, specimen geometry and material composition can be readily evaluated using this system. The results on a pressure vessel steel and an #alpha#-#beta# titanium alloy are discussed in Part II. (author).