Water distribution utilities are responsible for supplying both clean and safe drinking water, while under constraints of operating at an efficient and acceptable performance level. The City of Kingston, Ontario is currently experiencing elevated costs to repair its aging buried water main assets. Utilities Kingston is opting for a more efficient and practical means of forecasting pipe breaks and the application of a predictive water main break models allows Utilities Kingston to forecast future pipe failures and plan accordingly. The objective of this thesis is to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model to forecast pipe breaks in the Kingston water distribution network. Data supplied by Utilities Kingston was used to develop the predictive ANN water main break model incorporating multiple variables including pipe age, diameter, length, and surrounding soil type. The constructed ANN model from historical break data was utilized to forecast pipe breaks for 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year planning periods. Simulated results were evaluated by statistical performance metrics, proving the overall model to be adequate for testing and forecasting. Predicted breaks were as follows, 33 breaks for 2011-2012, 22 breaks for 2012-2013 and 35 breaks for 2013-2016. Additionally, GIS plots were developed to highlight areas in need of potential rehabilitation for the distribution system. The goal of the model is to provide a practical means to assist in the management and development of Kingston’s pipe rehabilitation program, and to enable Utilities Kingston to reduce water main repair costs and to improve water quality at the customer's tap. / Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-10-21 15:30:10.288

The EPA Lead and Copper Rule set action limits for lead and copper concentrations in drinking water, but accelerated corrosion of lead in distribution systems due to a galvanic connection to copper. Prior research has demonstrated that the effects of galvanic corrosion can be controlled by water chemistry. This study not only investigated the main effects of alkalinity, natural organic matter (NOM), nitrate, disinfectant and inhibitor to galvanic corrosion, but also the interplay between these factors. A 2-level factorial (2v5-1) design was adopted which resulted in 16 testing conditions. Results of bench-scale experiments using static pipes with lead and copper segments demonstrated that alkalinity, disinfectant, inhibitor and alkalinity-inhibitor interaction had a significant impact on galvanic current. The significant factors affecting total lead release were alkalinity, NOM, disinfectant, alkalinity-inhibitor interaction, NOM-nitrate interaction, NOM-disinfectant interaction, NOM-inhibitor interaction, nitrate-disinfectant interaction and disinfectant-inhibitor interaction.

The EPA Lead and Copper Rule set action limits for lead and copper concentrations in drinking water, but accelerated corrosion of lead in distribution systems due to a galvanic connection to copper. Prior research has demonstrated that the effects of galvanic corrosion can be controlled by water chemistry. This study not only investigated the main effects of alkalinity, natural organic matter (NOM), nitrate, disinfectant and inhibitor to galvanic corrosion, but also the interplay between these factors. A 2-level factorial (2v5-1) design was adopted which resulted in 16 testing conditions. Results of bench-scale experiments using static pipes with lead and copper segments demonstrated that alkalinity, disinfectant, inhibitor and alkalinity-inhibitor interaction had a significant impact on galvanic current. The significant factors affecting total lead release were alkalinity, NOM, disinfectant, alkalinity-inhibitor interaction, NOM-nitrate interaction, NOM-disinfectant interaction, NOM-inhibitor interaction, nitrate-disinfectant interaction and disinfectant-inhibitor interaction.

In order to mitigate the risk of global warming by reducing CO2 emissions, the co-firing technique, burning pulverized coal and granular biomass together in conventional pulverised fuel power station boilers, has been advocated to generate “greener” electricity to satisfy energy demand while continuing to utilize existing rich coal resources. A major problem is controllably distributing fuel mixtures of pulverized coal and granular biomass in a common pipeline, thus saving much investment. This is still under development in many co-firing studies. This research into particle dynamics in pipe flow was undertaken in order to address the problem of controllable distribution in co-firing techniques and gain an improved understanding of pneumatic conveying mechanisms. The objectives of this research were, firstly, to numerically evaluate the influence of various factors on the behaviour of particles of the different materials in a horizontal pipe gas-solid flow, secondly, to develop an extended technique of Laser Doppler Anemometry in order to determine cross-sectional characteristics of the solid phase flow in the horizontal and vertical legs of a pneumatic conveying system, and, thirdly, to develop a novel imaging system for visualizing particle trajectories by using a high definition camcorder on a cross-section illuminated by a white halogen light sheet. Finally, a comparison was made of cross-sectional flow characteristics established by experiments and those simulated by using a commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics code (Fluent) and the coupling calculations of Fluent & EDEM (a commercial code of Discrete Element Method) respectively. Particle dynamic behaviour of the solid phase in a dilute horizontal pipe flow was investigated numerically by using the Discrete Phase Model (DPM) in Fluent 6.2.16. The numerical results indicate that the Saffman force plays an important role in re-suspending particles at the lower pipe boundary and that three critical parameters of the critical air: conveying velocity, the critical particle size and the critical pipe roughness, exist in pneumatic conveying systems. The Stokes number can be used as a similarity criterion to classify the dimensionless mean particle velocity of the different materials in the fully developed region. An extended Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) technique has been developed to measure the distributions of particle velocities and particle number over a whole pipe cross section in a dilute pneumatic conveying system. The first extension concentrates on a transform matrix for predicting the refracted laser beams’ crossing point in a pipe according to the shift coordinate of the 3D computer-controlled traverse system on which the probes of the LDA system were mounted. Another part focussed on the proper sampling rate of LDA for measurements on the gas-solid pipe flow with polydispersing particles. A suitable LDA sampling rate should ensure that enough data is recorded in the measurement interval to precisely calculate the particle mean velocity or other statistical values at every sample point. The present study explores the methodology as well as fundamentals of measurements of the local instantaneous density of particles as a primary standard using a laser facility. The extended LDA technique has also been applied to quantitatively investigate particle dynamic behaviour in the horizontal and vertical pipes of a dilute pneumatic conveying system. Three kinds of glass beads were selected to simulate the pulverized coal and biomass pellets transported in a dilute pneumatic conveying system. Detailed information on the cross-sectional spatial distributions of the axial particle velocity and particle number rate is reported. In the horizontal pipe section, experimental data on a series of cross-sections clearly illustrate two uniform fluid patterns of solid phase: an annular structure describing the cross-sectional distribution of the axial particle velocity and a stratified configuration describing particle number rate. In the vertical pipe downstream of an elbow R/D=1.3, a horseshoe-shaped feature, which shows that the axial particle velocity is highest in wall regions of the pipe on the outside of the bend for all three types of glass beads on the section 0D close to the elbow outlet. The developments of cross-sectional distributions of particle number rate indicate that the horseshoe-shaped feature of particle flow pattern is rapidly dispersed for particles with high inertia. A video & image processing system has been built using a high definition camcorder and a light sheet from a source consisting of a halogen lamp. A set of video and image processing algorithms has been developed to extract particle information from each frame in a video. The experimental results suggest that the gas-solid flow in a dilute pneumatic conveying system is always heterogeneous and unsteady. The parameter of particle mass mean size is superior to particle number mean size for statistically describing the unsteady properties of gas-solid pipe flow. It is also demonstrated that the local data of particle number rate or concentration are represented by a stratified structure of the flow pattern over a horizontal pipe cross-section. Finally, comparisons of numerically predicated flow patterns and experimental ones show that there is reasonable agreement at pipe cross-sections located at horizontal positions less than half the product of particle mean velocity and mean free fall time in the pipe from the particle inlet. Further away from the inlet, the numerical results show flow patterns which are increasingly divergent from the experimental results along the pipe in the direction of flow. This discrepancy indicates that particles’ spatial distribution in the pipe is not accurately predicted by the Discrete Phase Model or Fluent coupled with EDEM.

Magister Artium - MA / Hookah-pipe smoking escalated from being a cultural phenomenon to being a social phenomenon. Studies suggest that the hookah-pipe is a high-risk phenomenon which has become a highly acceptable social practice influenced by social factors such as smoking initiations among peers. What is unknown is whether peer pressure and social acceptance have an influence on the use of the hookah-pipe. The aim of this study is therefore to compare the relationship between peer pressure and social acceptance among adolescent hookah-pipe users and non-users. The objectives of the study are to determine the prevalence of peer pressure, social acceptability and smoking tobacco using the hookah-pipe among adolescents; establish the relationship between peer pressure and social acceptability of adolescent hookah-pipe users and non-users and to compare the relationship between peer pressure and social acceptability among adolescent hookah-pipe users and non-users. A cross-sectional comparative correlation study was conducted with a sample of Grade 9 adolescents attending secondary schools in the Metro East Education District in Cape Town. Structured questionnaires constructed from the NationalASH 10 Year Snapshot Survey, the 10-year in-depth survey, the health and lifestyle survey and peer pressure, as well as an NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development questionnaire were completed by the participants. The Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software was used to analyse the data. The results show that no relationship was found between peer pressure and social acceptance, but a relationship was found between parental rules and monitoring around tobacco use for hookah-pipe users. A significant difference was also found in the attitudes towards hookah use between users and non-users. The ethics for this study included voluntary participation, informed consent and anonymity.

Ces travaux de thèse sont focalisés sur le développement d’une boucle diphasique LHP pour le contrôle thermique de composants intégrés dans les moteurs aéronautiques. L’étude concerne les compartiments situés à l’intérieur de la nacelle, en lien avec les challenges thermiques des moteurs de future génération. Tout d’abord, une étude de faisabilité a été menée, basée sur une évaluation de l’environnement thermique, une analyse des contraintes d’intégration et une première identification d’un couple fluide de travail-matériau de construction. En ce qui concerne ce dernier aspect, l’eau et le DowthermTM J ont été identifiés comme les meilleurs candidats pour leur utilisation avec les alliages souhaités pour cet environnement. D’un côté, le point triple élevé de l’eau a obligé la vérification de la tenue mécanique du milieu capillaire mouillé à des cycles de gel/dégel. Le milieu poreux fritté en titane a montré une excellente résistance mécanique et il est resté parfaitement intact après plus de 1500 cycles. D’un autre côté, vu le manque d’informations concernant la compatibilité du DowthermTM J avec les matériaux sélectionnés, des tests de compatibilité ont été effectués avec trois thermosiphons en parallèle, et ont montré un taux de génération de gaz non condensables déjà à faible température. Pour cette raison, la compatibilité entre le DowthermTM J et les matériaux a été jugé non satisfaisante et le fluide a été rejeté. L’étape suivante a été la conception d’un prototype de boucle LHP. Des outils numériques robustes ont été développés pour la validation finale : un modèle 0D pour la boucle entière ainsi qu’un modèle couplé 1D - 2D du condenseur. Le prototype de LHP a été construit et testé sous différentes conditions opératoires. Une quantité de gaz non condensable a été observée initialement, due à la passivation des surfaces intérieures à la boucle. Néanmoins, les résultats expérimentaux ont montré que la boucle répond aux cahiers de charge thermique, même en présence de ces gaz,étant capable de fonctionner sous hautes températures et haute pression. La génération de gaz s’est arrêtée après un certain nombre d’heures cumulées de fonctionnement ; pourtant, les inspections internes à l’évaporateur après les tests ont montrés une dégradation significative de l’état de surface, due aux réactions chimiques entre le fluide de travail et les matériaux de la boucle. Les résultats de ces travaux de thèse constituent une étape fondamentale vers le développement d’une boucle LHP pour le contrôle thermique de composants intégrés dans la nacelle. Des informations essentielles à la conception des prototypes de future génération sont fournies, vers la validation et la certification des LHP pour leur utilisation dans cet environnement. / In this work, the development of a Loop Heat Pipe (LHP) for aircraft nacelle thermal management is presented. The study is focused on engine compartments and integrated equipment applications, according to the upcoming thermal management challenges in the next generation of engines. First, a feasibility study was performed, analyzing the thermal environment, the integration constraints and the identification of suitable working fluid construction material pairs. As for the latter aspect, water and DowthermTM J were identified as most suitable candidates with the lightweight aeronautical alloys considered for this environment. On one hand, the high triple point of water obliged to verify the wick mechanical resistance to repeated freezing cycles when soaked into pure water. On the other hand, compatibility tests were performed between DowthermTM J and the selected alloys, due to the lack of related data. In the former, the sintered titanium wick provided an excellent stiffness and it remained perfectly intact after more than 1500 cycles. In the latter, the thermal tests performed on parallel thermosyphon shave clearly shown the generation of non-condensable gases (NCG) inside all the samples starting from low operating temperatures. As a result, the compatibility of DowthermTM J was considered not fully satisfactory and this fluid was discarded. The next step concerned the design of the titanium/water LHP prototype. Robust numerical tools were developed for the final design validation: a simplified 0D nodal model for the entire device and a coupled 1D and 2D condenser model representation. The LHP prototype was manufactured and tested in different operating conditions. A significant amount of NCG was initially generated inside the device, due top assivation of the internal surfaces. Nonetheless, the experimental results demonstrated the LHP capability to satisfy the thermal requirements, even in presence of NCG, with standing high operating temperatures and pressures. Although the gas generation rate became negligible after several hours of tests, internal inspections performed at the end of the test revealed a deep alteration of the internal surface state, due to the chemical reactions with the working fluid. The results of this work represent an important milestone for the development of a LHP for aircraft nacelle applications. Essential information for the design of future generations of prototypes are provided, toward the validation and certification of LHP for nacelle thermal management.

Urban areas contain significant amounts of asphalt pavement. When exposed to the sun, asphalt pavement absorbs solar radiation and stores it as thermal energy raising its temperature. According to the urban heat island effect (UHIE), the pavement releases the thermal energy back to the surrounding air resulting in a rise in local air temperature. A pipe network containing a passing fluid installed in the pavement can reduce the UHIE. The fluid captures the thermal energy stored in the pavement, reducing air and pavement temperatures as well as providing heated water for other applications. The heat transfer/harvesting system can be optimized to produce the desired cooling of the pavements. This research addresses the economic feasibility of a pipe network by design as well as structural performance through computer modeling. To design the pipe network and predict its economic feasibility an Excel spreadsheet was programmed. It requires local air temperature data to determine the yearly temperature profile within the pavement and to calculate the amount of thermal energy that could be extracted. By varying design parameters such as fluid flow rate, it produces a matrix of payback periods. Structural conditions were considered for the installation of the proposed system. To simultaneously evaluate the thermal and structural performance of the pipe network installation, a finite element model was created using COMSOL Multiphysics©. A typical value of solar radiation and a standard truck tire wheel load were applied to the model to simulate the intended application of the pipe network. The result of this thesis is a method and a tool to design and analyze with respect to economic and structural performance a pipe network used to extract the thermal energy stored in asphalt pavements and reduce the UHIE.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 36-38. / by Jan Adam Norris II. / M.S.

Thesis. 1975. M.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil Engineering. / Includes bibliographical references. / M.S.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING / Includes bibliographical references. / by Miriam Zacksenhouse. / M.S.