Thesis: M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, 1975 / Includes bibliographical references. / M.S. / M.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering

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Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main aim of this study is to establish a standard procedure for all sedimentary particle size analysis methods specifically for clay minerals and mixtures thereof. Not only will it improve accuracy and reproducibility during clay size analysis, it will also secure comparability between different operators. As a start, all the apparatus-related parameters that can affect the accuracy and reproducibility were determined for the apparatus used, viz. the Sedigraph SOOOD. Thereafter, these parameters were kept constant, and the effects of potential material-related parameters were investigated one-by-one. First to be investigated were those parameters relating specifically to sample preparation. They were: grinding intensity, chemical dissolution of cementing materials, duration of prior soaking, salt content, centrifugal washing with polar organic liquids, deflocculant type and concentration, the effect of pH, ultrasonic time, and stirring during ultrasonic treatment. Then, the influence on accuracy and reproducibility of the physical and chemical parameters related to the suspension was determined. They were: the use of the viscosity and density of water to calibrate the apparatus in stead of those of the suspension liquid, hydrolysis of the deflocculant with suspension-ageing, and the effect of solid concentration on hindered settling. During this investigation a novel method was developed to enable faster and more accurate pycnometric density determinations. Next, the unique characteristics of clays, which can influence the results of sedimentary particle size analyses, were examined. Serious problems are encountered with the accuracy of the analyses of some clay types abundantly found in nature, viz. the smectites and mixed-layered clay minerals. Due to their swelling in water, and variations in the amounts of their crystal layers, they experience unpredictable changes in particle size. The latter is caused by the following external factors: clay type, humidity, type of exchange cation, electrolyte concentration, clay concentration, pH, deflocculant type and concentration, pressure history of the swell-clay suspension, and ageing of the suspension. The effect of each of them on the accuracy and reproducibility of the sedimentary particle size analysis of clays are investigated in detail. Another problem that influences the accuracy of the sedimentary methods is that owing to swelling, the densities of smectites and mixed-layered clays change by varying degrees when suspended in water. It is, however, impossible to pycnometrically determine the density of a swell-clay since it absorbs a part of the water used for its volume determination. To solve this problem, a novel method was devised to calculate swell-clay density. This method makes use of existing Monte Carlo simulations of the swelling mechanism of montmorillonite. During all sedimentary methods, an average clay density is normally used to calculate the particle size distribution of clay mixtures. However, if there is a large enough difference between the calculated average density and that of a component, then inaccurate results will be recorded. The magnitude of this effect was investigated for a few self-made clay mixtures, which consisted of different proportions of kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite. Based on all the above results, a practical approach to, and a standard methodology for all the sedimentary methods of particle size analysis of clay minerals are presented. Additionally, a condensed summary is provided in table-form, which contains the magnitudes of the errors associated with each of the parameters that were examined. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om 'n standaard prosedure daar te stel vir alle sedimentêre metodes van partikelgrootte analise, spesifiek vir gebruik met kleiminerale en mengsels daarvan. So 'n standaard prosedure sal die akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid van klei-analises verbeter, en die vergelykbaarheid tussen verskillende operateurs verseker. Aanvanklik is slegs die parameters bepaal wat die akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid van die gekose apparaat (Sedigraph 5000D) kan beïnvloed. Daarna is al hierdie parameters konstant gehou, en is die potensiële effekte van die moontlike materiaal-verwante parameters een na die ander ondersoek. Eerstens is die invloed van monstervoorbereiding op akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid bepaal. Verskillende parameters nl. maal-intensiteit, chemiese oplossing van sementerende materiale, sentrifugale wassing met polêre organiese vloeistowwe, tipe ontvlokker en konsentrasie, die effek van pH, ultrasoniese tyd en die effek van roer tydens ultrasonikasie is ondersoek. Vervolgens is die invloed op die akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid van die fisiese en chemiese parameters verwant aan die suspensie bepaal. Hierdie parameters was nl. die gebruik van die viskositeit en digtheid van water in plaas van dié van die suspensievloeistof, hidrolise van die ontvlokker tydens suspensieveroudering, asook die effek van vastestof-konsentrasie op belemmerde uitsakking. Gedurende hierdie ondersoek is ook 'n nuwe metode ontwikkel wat vinniger, en meer akkurate piknometriese digtheidsbepalings moontlik maak. Die unieke eienskappe van kleie wat die resultate van sedimentêre metodes van partikelgrootte analises kan beïnvloed, is volgende ondersoek. Tydens die analises van party kleie wat baie volop in die natuur voorkom, nl. die smektiete en menglaag-kleie, word ernstige akkuraatheids-probleme ondervind. Hul swelling in water, tesame met variasies in hul aantal kristal-lagies, veroorsaak onvoorspelbare verandering van hul partikelgroottes. Laasgenoemde word deur die volgende eksterne faktore veroorsaak: klei tipe, humiditeit, tipe uitruil-katioon, elektrolietkonsentrasie, kleikonsentrasie, pH, ontvlokker-tipe en konsentrasie, drukgeskiedenis van 'n swelklei-suspensie, en veroudering van die suspensie. Die effek van elk op die akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid van die sedimentêre partikelgrootte analises van kleie word in detail bespreek. 'n Verdere probleem wat die akkuraatheid van sedimentêre metodes beïnvloed, is dat wanneer smektiete en menglaag-kleie in water gesuspendeer word, hulle digthede in verskillende mates weens swelling verander. Dit is egter onmoontlik om die digtheid van swelkleie in water piknometries te bepaal, omdat swelklei 'n gedeelte van die water absorbeer wat gebruik moet word om die kleivolume mee te bepaal. Om hierdie probleem op te los, is 'n nuwe metode ontwikkelom die digtheid van swelkleie mee te bereken. Die metode maak gebruik van reedsbestaande Monte Carlo simulasies van die swelling van montmorillonite. Tydens alle sedimentêre metodes word normaalweg van 'n gemiddelde kleidigtheid gebruik gemaak om die partikelgrootte-verspreiding van kleimengsels mee te bereken. Indien die berekende gemiddelde digtheid egter genoegsaam met dié van 'n kleikomponent verskil, sal onakkurate resultate verkry word. Hierdie effek is ondersoek vir 'n paar selfgemaakte kleimengsels wat uit verskillende hoeveelhede kaoliniet, illiet, en montmorilloniet bestaan het. Laastens word 'n praktiese benadering en 'n standaard metode vir alle sedimentêre metodes voorgestel, wat gebaseer is op al die bogenoemde resultate. 'n Verkorte opsomming, met die groottes van die foute geassosieer met elke parameter wat ondersoek is, word laastens in tabelvorm verskaf.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg 2016 / The quantity and particle size distribution of pulverised coal supplied to combustion equipment downstream of coal pulverising plants are critical to achieving safe, reliable and efficient combustion. These two key performance indicators are largely dependent on the mechanical condition of the pulveriser. This study aimed to address the shortfalls associated with conventional time-based monitoring techniques by developing a comprehensive online pulveriser condition monitoring philosophy. A steady-state Mill Mass and Energy Balance (MMEB) model was developed from first principles for a commercial-scale coal pulveriser to predict the raw coal mass flow rate through the pulveriser. The MMEB model proved to be consistently accurate, predicting the coal mass flow rates to within 5 % of experimental data. The model proved to be dependent on several pulveriser process variables, some of which are not measured on a continuous basis. Therefore, the model can only function effectively on an industrial scale if it is supplemented with the necessary experiments to quantify unmeasured variables. Moreover, a Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model based on the physical geometry of a coal pulveriser used in the power generation industry was developed to predict the static pressure drop across major internal components of the pulveriser as a function of the air flow through the pulveriser. Validation of the CFD model was assessed through the intensity of the correlation demonstrated between the experimentally determined and numerically calculated static pressure profiles. In this regard, an overall incongruity of less than 5 % was achieved. Candidate damage scenarios were simulated to assess the viability of employing the static pressure measurements as a means of detecting changes in mechanical pulveriser condition. Application of the validated pulveriser CFD model proved to be highly advantageous in identifying worn pulveriser components through statistical analysis of the static pressure drop measured across specific components, thereby demonstrating a significant benefit for industrial application. / MT2016

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 238-250.

Mémoire (M.Eng.)--Université du Québec à Chicoutmi, 1998. / Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-73).

Thesis (M. Eng.(Geotechnical Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-73)