published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Atmospheric monitoring of radionuclides as part of the International Monitoring System requires the capability to differentiate between a radionuclide signature emanating from peaceful nuclear activity and one emanating from a well-contained underground nuclear explosion. While the radionuclide signatures of nuclear weapons are generally well known, radionuclides must first pass through hundreds of meters of earth to reach the surface where they can be detected and analyzed. Less well known is the affect that subsurface vertical transport has on the isotopic signatures of nuclear explosions. In this work, a model is developed, and tested, simulating the detonation of a simple underground nuclear explosion and the subsequent vertical transport of resulting radioxenon to the surface. First, the fast-fission burn of a fissile spherical core surrounded by a layer of geologic media is modeled, normalized to 1 kton total energy. The resulting source term is then used in the testing and evaluation of the constructed vertical transport model, which is based on the double-porosity model of underground fluid transport driven by barometric pumping. First, the ability of the vertical transport code to effectively model the underground pressure response from a varying surface pressure is demonstrated. Next, a 100-day simulation of the vertical migration of a static source is examined, and the resulting cumulative outflow of roughly 1% initial inventory outflow per cycle is found to closely follow the analytical predictions. Finally, calculated radioxenon source terms are utilized to model the resulting vertical transport and subsequent surface outflow. These results are found to be consistent with the physical expectations of the system, and lastly a cursory sensitivity analysis is conducted on several of the physical parameters of the model. The result is that the vertical transport model predicts isotopic fractionation of radioxenon that can potentially lie outside of currently accepted standard bounds. / text

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Title from PDF of title page (viewed July 24, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-138).

Thesis (M.Sc.) - University of Queensland, 2004. / Includes bibliography.

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FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Nesta pesquisa, uma CÃlula Experimental (CE) de ResÃduos SÃlidos Urbanos (RSU) foi instalada numa Ãrea nÃo utilizada do Aterro SanitÃrio Metropolitano Oeste de Caucaia (ASMOC), RegiÃo Metropolitana de Fortaleza, com o objetivo de se estudar o comportamento de gramÃneas na sua superfÃcie, visando a reduÃÃo das emissÃes de CH4 e CO2 para a atmosfera e a produÃÃo de biomassa vegetal. As estimativas das emissÃes de gases foram realizadas por meio de ensaios com placa de fluxo estÃtico na cobertura convencional (branco) e nas coberturas cultivadas, alÃm das mediÃÃes feitas no dreno; todos em duas campanhas. Os cultivos de capim MombaÃa, Massai, Andropogon, Buffel e da grama Bermuda foram avaliados com relaÃÃo as caracterÃsticas morfogÃnicas, estruturais, produtivas e nutricionais. A Ãrea que recebeu a CE foi previamente estudada por meio do reconhecimento do perfil estratigrÃfico do subsolo e do nÃvel d‟Ãgua, caracterizaÃÃo dos solos em termos geofÃsicos (granulometria, limites de consistÃncia, compactaÃÃo Proctor Normal, permeabilidade à Ãgua) e quanto à fertilidade. Os RSU foram estudados quanto à composiÃÃo gravimÃtrica, densidade aparente, teor de umidade e seu lixiviado analisado do ponto de vista fÃsico-quÃmico. Os gases emitidos pelo dreno, na primeira campanha (1ÂC) foram compostos, em mÃdia, por 14,7% de CO2, 8,0% de CH4, 11,4% de O2 e 65,9% de outros gases. Na segunda campanha (2ÂC) houve um aumento na concentraÃÃo (%) dos dois principais gases de interesse (CO2: 0,3 vezes e CH4: 0,5 vezes) e reduÃÃo na concentraÃÃo dos demais (O2: 0,2 vezes e OG: 0,1 vezes): 19,0% de CO2, 11,8% de CH4, 8,7% de O2 e 60,4% de outros gases. Os gases emitidos pela cobertura (branco) foram (em %) menores que os emitidos pelo dreno, mostrando retenÃÃo: 1ÂC = 11,6% de CO2, 6,5% de CH4, 9,1% de O2 e 72,7% de outros gases; 2ÂC = 14,9% de CO2, 9,4% de CH4, 7,2% de O2 e 68,5% de outros gases. Em relaÃÃo aos fluxos mÃssicos houve aumento entre as campanhas (mÃdia): 2,5 x 10-3 e 3,6 x 10-3 g/m2.s de CH4 (1ÂC e 2ÂC, respectivamente), 1,2 x 10-2 e 1,5 x 10-2 g/m2.s de CO2 (1ÂC e 2ÂC). Os fluxos volumÃtricos foram (mÃdia): 4,0 x 10-6 e 5,7 x 10-6 m3/m2.s de CH4 (1ÂC e 2ÂC) e 7,0 x 10-6 e 8,8 x 10-6 m3/m2.s de CO2 (1ÂC e 2ÂC). Cabe observar que os fluxos estiveram dentro dos intervalos da literatura. Em relaÃÃo aos cultivos, observou-se que mesmo colocadas sobre solo tÃpico de aterro sanitÃrio e sem tratamento especial na cobertura ou no cultivo, as sementes dos quatro capins estudados e da grama Bermuda apresentaram germinaÃÃo dentro dos prazos biolÃgicos previstos. Assim, houve sobrevivÃncia dessas espÃcies sobre o solo do aterro sanitÃrio, porÃm com indicadores de desenvolvimento vegetal menores em relaÃÃo a literatura, contribuindo para isso o efeito negativo da extrema compactaÃÃo da cobertura e o baixo grau de fertilidade do solo. Cada cultivo teve uma capacidade diferente de impedir as emissÃes dos gases pela cobertura. Em ordem decrescente, observou-se (mÃdia): MombaÃa (2,6 e 3,8% de CH4 na 1ÂC/2ÂC; 4,6 e 6,0% de CO2 na 1ÂC/2ÂC), Massai (2,0 e 2,8% de CH4; 3,5 e 4,5% de CO2), Andropogon (1,1 e 1,5% de CH4; 1,9 e 2,5% de CO2), Bermuda (0,9 e 1,3% de CH4; 1,6 e 2,0% de CO2) e capim Buffel (0,4 e 0,6% de CH4; 0,5 e 0,6% de CO2). Os fluxos mÃssicos e volumÃtricos tambÃm foram menores no solo cultivado com capim MombaÃa e maiores no capim Buffel e isso manteve relaÃÃo com as principais caracterÃsticas morfogÃnicas, estruturais, produtivas e nutricionais utilizadas na avaliaÃÃo da sobrevivÃncia e desenvolvimento dos cultivos. / An Urban Solid Waste (USW) Experimental Cell (EC) was set up in an unused area of the West Metropolitan Landfill in Caucaia (ASMOC), in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza, with the aim of studying the behavior of different grasses planted on its cover layer in order to reduce atmospheric emissions of CO2 and CH4 and for the production of plant biomass. Gas emissions were tested with static flow plates on the normal cover layer (blank) and on the planted areas, in addition to the measurements taken on the landfill drainage. All measurements were made in two different campaigns. The morphogenesis, structural, productive and nutritional features of the Mombasa, Massai, Andropogon, Buffel and Bermuda grasses were evaluated. The area on which the EC was located was studied prior to the seeding, including a survey of the subsoil stratigraphic profile and groundwater levels, a geophysical soil characterization (grain size, Atterberg limits, normal Proctor compaction, water permeability) and fertility. The USW was studied for its gravimetric composition, density and moisture content and its leachate was analyzed from a physical and chemical perspective. The gases emitted by the drainage in the first campaign (C1) were composed on average by 14.7% CO2, 8.0% CH4, 11.4% O2, and 65.9% of other gases. In the second campaign (C2) there was an increase in the concentration (%) of the two main gases of interest (CO2: 0.3 times; CH4: 0.5 times) and a reduction in the concentration of the others (O2: 0.2 times, and other gases 0.1 times), with the following concentrations: CO2 19.0%, CH4 11.8%, O2 8.7%, and 60.4% of other gases. The gas emissions of the normal cover layer (blank) were lower than those of the drainage, showing a certain retention: C1: CO2 11.6%, CH4 6.5%, O2 9.1% and 72.7% of other gases; C2: CO2 14.9%, CH4 9.4%, O2 7.2% and 68.5% of other gases. Regarding the mass flows, there was an increase between the two campaigns (mean values): 2.5 x 10-3 and 3.6 x 10-3 g/m2.s of CH4 (C1 and C2, respectively), and 1.2 x 10-2 and 1.5 x 10-2 g/m2.s of CO2 (also for C1 and C2, respectively). The volumetric flows were the following (mean values): 4.0 x 10-6 and 5.7 x 10-6 m3/m2.s of CH4 (C1 and C2); and 7.0 x 10-6 and 8.8 x 10-6 m3/m2.s of CO2 (C1 and C2). The flows were within the ranges reported in the literature. Regarding the grass crops, it was observed that even though they were planted on a typical landfill soil without any special soil or cultivation treatment, the seeds of all five studied grasses germinated within the expected biological times. These species survived on the soil of the landfill yet presented smaller plant development indicators than those reported in the literature. The negative effect of an extreme soil compaction and low soil fertility contributed to such lower developmental results. Each crop showed a different ability to prevent gas emissions through the cover layer. We present them in descending order (mean values), namely: Mombasa (2.6% and 3.8% of CH4 in C1/C2, and 4.6% and 6.0% of CO2 in C1/ C2); Massai (2.0% and 2.8% of CH4, and 3.5% and 4.5% of CO2); Andropogon (1.1% and 1.5% of CH4, 1.9% and 2.5% of CO2); Bermuda (0.9% and 1.3% of CH4, 1.6% and 2.0% of CO2); and Buffel (0.4% and 0.6% of CH4, 0.5% and 0.6% of CO2). The volumetric and mass flows were lower in the soil planted with Mombasa grass and higher in that planted with Buffel. This was related to the main morphogenesis, structural, nutritional and productive features used in the assessment of crop survival and development.

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Due to governmental requirements on low exhaust gas emissions and the drivers request of fast response, it is important to be able to control the gas flow in a spark ignited engine accurately. The air into the cylinder is directly related to the torque generated by the engine. The technique with recirculation of exhaust gases (EGR) affect the air flow into the cylinder and increase the complexity of the control problem. In this thesis a mean value model for a spark ignited engine has been created. The basis was a diesel model from Linköping University that has been modified and parameterized with data from a test cell. The model has been used to study the gas exchange system with respect to the dynamic behaviors and nonlinearities that occur when the three actuators (throttle, wastegate and EGR-valve) are changed. Based on this analysis, some different control strategies have been developed and tested on the model. The presented results show that different control strategies give different behaviors and there is a trade-off between fast torque response and high precision for controlling the EGR-ratio. A control strategy is proposed containing two main feedback loops, prefiltering of the reference signal and a feedforward part.

This work deals with the flow of gas in the scintillation detector. Thesis describes the function of an electron microscope, the composition, distribution and development of microscopes from the earliest to modern. The work also includes familiarization with SolidWorks 3D modeling in which is the electron microscope modeled and Cosmos FloWorks in which they are carried out simulations of gas flow. The paper is focused on the flow of gas in various shapes of the screen and various pressures in chamber of specimen. The results of the analysis of both apertures variants are compared with the request to minimize the pressures in the trajectory of the secondary electrons of well as in the chamber of specimen.