A primary concern in the geologic storage of anthropogenic carbon dioxide is the leakage of buoyant CO₂ plumes into shallower formations, aquifers, or the surface. Man-made wells drilled through these formations present a potential leakage pathway for this CO₂ as the cement binding the well to the earth develops fractures or debonded microannuli form over time. Typically, wells with poor cementing or suspected leaks are subject to a cement-squeeze, in which new cement is injected to eliminate the leakage pathway. However, small fractures or leakage pathways are often difficult for oilfield cement to repair, as the cement dispersion is potentially screened out from dispersing fluid and cannot enter the fracture. Therefore a low-viscosity sealant is desired that can enter these leakage pathways easily and provide a robust seal. A class of poly(acrylic acid) polymers known commercially as Carbopol® are pH-sensitive microgels and swell/thicken upon neutralization with alkali cement components. These polymer dispersions are tested for ease of placement into cement fractures and subsequent development of resistance to displacement. Laboratory experiments involved injecting various unswollen polymer microgel dispersion into constructed cement fractures while measuring injection pressure and the pH of the polymer effluent to quantify the chemical reactions taking place and the induced viscosity changes. Fractures were constructed in order to allow for visual inspection of the polymer microgel swelling during and after injection, qualitatively useful in determining the polymer’s efficiency at blocking cement fractures. It was determined that polymer microgels undergo syneresis in the presence of calcium cations that are dissolved from minerals present in cement. The syneresis causes the polymer to collapse onto the cement fracture face and expelled water is left to fill the rest of the fracture, providing little to no resistance to subsequent flow. However, the syneresed polymer does show some potential in blocking or partially blocking small aperture fractures and is not entirely detrimental to fracture blockage in small amounts. An acid pre-flush prior to polymer injection has been seen to favorably reduce the amount of calcium and therefore extent of syneresis, allowing swollen polymer microgels to remain intact and block fluid flow. / text

Yes / The role of lichens as environmental monitors is widely recognised. Not only are they valuable as indicators of habitat stability and enyironmental continuity, but they are also effectiye in monitoring environmental quality. more particularly air and soil (and more recently water) pollution. In the past. the main role of lichens in this context has been to monitor sulphur dioxide air pollution. especially stable and rising levels (Seaward 1993). Howeyer, it has also been shown that lichens arc effective monitors of falling levels of gaseous sulphur dioxide and indeed of other pollutants. some of which are manifesting themselves as a consequence of the reduction in the former; of particular interest in this respect is the use of lichens to detect and determine the extent of qualitative changes in air pollution such as the impact of acid rain and hypertrophication (Seaward 1997: Seaward & Coppins 2(04).

Submitted by Lucienne Costa (lucienneferreira@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-08-07T18:37:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MAURÍCIO REBOUÇAS ROCHA – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGMET) 2018.pdf: 16677882 bytes, checksum: 6a23ed22032f61efa89e31633fb7845c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T18:37:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MAURÍCIO REBOUÇAS ROCHA – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGMET) 2018.pdf: 16677882 bytes, checksum: 6a23ed22032f61efa89e31633fb7845c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-26 / CNPq / A Baixa do Noroeste Argentino (BNOA) é uma baixa pressão termo-orográfica que é separada dos ventos de oeste de latitudes médias por uma Sela no campo de pressão, denominada de Sela da Argentina. A formação e intensificação da BNOA geram ventos mais intensos de norte a leste dos Andes que transportam calor e umidade para os subtrópicos sul-americanos. A formação da Sela da Argentina preconiza máxima frontogênese, máximo gradiente de temperatura potencial equivalente e máxima advecção fria, o que acarreta em máximos de precipitação no entorno da Sela. Visto esses cenários já descritos pela literatura, o presente trabalho seguiu três vertentes de estudos de caso de verão para investigar o papel da BNOA e da Sela da Argentina no transporte de umidade e para a formação de sistemas convectivos de mesoescala (SCM) e de um mesociclone nos subtrópicos da América do Sul. Para isso, foram utilizados dados de reanálise ERA-interim (ECMWF), dados de precipitação do TRMM e imagens de satélite (GOES-13) para nebulosidade. Foi possível identificar e classificar a elevada (baixa) variação da intensidade da BNOA e da magnitude do gradiente zonal do geopotencial sobre grande parte da Argentina entre 2 e 3 de janeiro de 2016 (entre 23 e 24 de janeiro de 2016) como sendo um caso de forte (fraco) ciclo diurno. Para o caso de fraco ciclo diurno, a permanência da BNOA durante a noite permitiu que o vento fosse acelerado geostroficamente, gerando um transporte supergeostrófico de umidade a sudeste da Baixa, o que acarretou em chuvas nos extratrópicos. Nesse caso, o gradiente zonal do geopotencial foi progressivamente intensificado ao longo do dia e aquela Baixa esteve acoplada a um cavado ao sul. Para o caso de forte ciclo diurno, o transporte de umidade foi predominantemente subgeostrófico e as chuvas associadas estiveram mais ao norte e leste da BNOA. Nesse caso, foram observados menores valores, a partir de um limiar, do máximo transporte de umidade em relação ao caso anterior. Na segunda vertente do trabalho, foi verificado que a presença da Sela da Argentina constituiu um aspecto importante para formação de células convectivas entre 21 e 23 de dezembro de 2015. Essa Sela favoreceu contraste máximo de temperatura e umidade, e convergência dos ventos em baixos níveis. Adicionalmente a isso, a Sela da Argentina propiciou com que mecanismos em baixos níveis favoráveis a convecção entrassem em fase. Situação semelhante sobre a funcionalidade da Sela da Argentina ocorreu em 18 de dezembro de 2015, quando essa Sela propiciou contraste intenso de massas de ar num ambiente baroclínico sob uma atmosfera que foi previamente alimentada de calor e umidade. Nesse mesmo dia foi notada uma pré-condição da rotação dos ventos e a consequente formação de um mesociclone nos subtrópicos sul-americanos. Esse caso constituiu a terceira vertente de estudo do presente trabalho. / The Northwestern Argentinean Low (NAL) is a low thermo-orographic pressure separated of the western winds of middle latitudes by a col in the pressure field, called Argentinean Col. The formation and intensification of NAL generate winds from the north more intense in the east side Andes Cordillera and this winds transport heat and moisture to the South American subtropics. The formation of the Argentinean Col preced maximum frontogenesis, maximum equivalent potential temperature gradient and maximum cold air advection, which results in rainfall in the neighborhood of Argentinean Col. From these scenarios already described in literature, the present work followed three strands of summer studies case for investigated the role of NAL and Argentinean Col in transport moisture and for the formation of mesoscale convective systems (MSC) and of a mesocyclone in the subtropics of South America. For this, were used data from ERA-interim (ECMWF), TRMM precipitation data, and satellite images (GOES-13) for cloudiness. The high (low) variation of NAL intensity and the magnitude of geopotential zonal gradient in much of Argentina between was identified in January 2 and 3 of the year 2016 (between January 23 and 24 of the year 2016) and classified as a case of strong (weak) diurnal cycle. In the case of weak diurnal cycle, the NAL permanence during the night and it generates winds accelerated geostrophically, that generate a supergeostrophic transport moisture to the southeast of the NAL, which it resulted in rainfall in extratropics. In this case, the zonal gradient of geopotential progressively was intensified throughout the day and the NAL was coupled with a trough from the south. In the case of a strong diurnal cycle, moisture transport predominantly was subgeostrophic and the rains associated were more to the north and east of the NAL. In this case, lower values of maximum transport moisture were observed, from a threshold, in comparation to the strong diurnal cycle case. The second part of this work was verified that the presence of the Argentinean Col was an important feature for the formation of convective cells ocurred between December 21 and 23, of the year 2015. The Argentinean Col favored maximum temperature and moisture contrast, and convergence of winds at low levels. In addition to this, the AC favored mechanisms at low levels were important to convection enter into phase. Similar situation of the Argentinean Col role occurred on December 18 of year 2015, when this col favored intense contrast of air masses in a baroclinic zone and in the atmosphere that was previously fed with heat and moisture. In the same day, the rotation of the winds was verified as precondition for a consequent formation of a mesocyclone in the South American subtropics. This case constituted the third study strand of the present work.

abstract: The formation and stability of a slowly evolving zonal jet in 2-D flow with beta effect is analyzed using the model developed by Manfroi and Young in which the final governing equation was derived by means of a perturbation analysis of a barotropic vorticity equation with sinusoidal meridional mean flow. However in the original study the term β0, that represents the effect of large-scale Rossby waves, was dropped and was proceeded on a path of finding solutions for a simplified 1-D flow. The idea of this study is to understand the effects of the dropped term on the overall dynamics of the zonal jet evolution. For this purpose the system that is entirely deterministic with no additional forcing is solved by means of a standard finite difference scheme. The Numerical solutions are found for varying β0 and μ values where μ represents the bottom drag. In addition to this the criteria for the formation of zonal jets developed originally for the 1-D system is verified for the 2-D system as well. The study reveals the similarity in some of the results of the 1-D and the 2-D system like the merging of jets in the absence of bottom drag, formation of steady jets in presence of a non-zero bottom drag and the adherence to the boundary criteria for the formation of zonal jets. But when it comes to the formation of steady jets, a finite β0 value is required above which the solution is similar to the 1-D system. Also the jets formed under the presence of non-zero bottom drag seem wavy in nature which is different from the steady horizontal jets produced in the 1-D system. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Mechanical Engineering 2017

Most existing houses in the UK have a single thermostat, a timer and conventional thermostatic radiator valves to control the low pressure, hot water space heating system. A number of companies are now offering a solution for room-by-room temperature and time control in such older houses. These systems comprise of motorised radiator valves with inbuilt thermostats and time control. There is currently no evidence of any rigorous scientific study to support the energy saving claims of these zonal control systems. This thesis quantifies the potential savings of zonal control for a typical UK home. There were three components to the research. Firstly, full-scale experiments were undertaken in a matched pair of instrumented, three bedroom, un-furbished, 1930s, test houses that included equipment to replicate the impacts of an occupant family. Secondly, a dynamic thermal model of the same houses, with the same occupancy pattern, that was calibrated against the measured results. Thirdly, the experimental and model results were assessed to explore how the energy savings might vary in different UK climates or in houses with different levels of insulation. The results of the experiments indicated that over an 8-week winter period, the house with zonal control used 12% less gas for space heating compared with a conventionally controlled system. This was despite the zonal control system resulting in a 2 percentage point lower boiler efficiency. A calibrated dynamic thermal model was able to predict the energy use, indoor air temperatures and energy savings to a reasonable level of accuracy. Wider scale evaluation showed that the annual gas savings for similar houses in different regions of the UK would be between 10 and 14% but the energy savings in better insulated homes would be lower.

Growing winter cereal cover crops (WCCCs) has been identified as an effective in-field practice to reduce nitrate-nitrogen (N) and total phosphorus (P) losses to Upper Mississippi River Basin, USA. In this region, however, growers are reluctant to plant WCCCs prior to corn (Zea mays L.) due to soil N immobilization and corn establishment issues. Two strategies to minimize these issues are (i) incorporating legumes and brassicas into WCCCs as mixtures and (ii) precision planting of cover crops. The objective of chapter 1 was to (i) evaluate the effect of cover crop mixtures vs a no-cover crop control on soil health indicators and (ii) assess the impact of precision planting of cover crops on soil nutrient availability, soil nutrient stratification, soil permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks “on” and “off” the corn row over three depths (0-5, 5-20, and 20-90 cm). Treatments were (i) a no-cover crop control (NCC); (ii) no cover on corn row, hairy vetch (V) on middle row, and winter cereal rye (WCR) on the outside row of corn (NOVR); and (iii) oats (Avena sativa) and radishes (Raphanus sativus) on the corn row, V on the middle row, and WCR on the outside row (ORVR). Our results indicated NCC had lower SOC stocks than the NOVR and ORVR only at 0-5 cm depth. Soil POXC was more sensitive to cover crop management than SOC, and POXC concentrations were higher in ORVR at 5-20 cm than the NCC control. At 0-5 cm depth, cover cropping increased Bray-1 soil test P (STP). Soil test P declined over depth reflecting its immobility in the soil. Mehlich-3 soil test K (STK) was higher in cover crop treatments than the no-cover crop control at 0-5 cm depth. Soil test K was higher on corn row indicating that the oats and radish mix and corn residue decomposition releases K detectable in soil as Mehlich-3 K. Soil test sulfur was similar among treatments but higher at 20-90 cm depth reflecting S leaching and/or potential anion exchange capacity at depth that can lead to subsoil sulfate-S accumulation. These results indicate cover cropping in the fragipan belt / Alfisols of the Upper Mississippi River Basin can benefit soil after six years, but soil C benefits are limited to surface soil depths.In Chapter 2 the objectives were to (i) evaluate the biomass, nutrient concentration, and uptake of precision planted cover crop mixtures; (ii) assess whether precision planted cover crops influence corn stand density, grain yield, yield components, and nutrient balances; identify the best economically viable precision planted mixture prior to corn. Treatments were (i) a no-cover crop control (NCC); (ii) no cover on corn row, hairy vetch (V) on middle row, and winter cereal rye (WCR) + annual rye (AR) on the outside row of corn (RVSKIP); and (iii) no cover on corn row, clover (C) on the middle row, and WCR + AR on the outside row (RCSKIP). Results indicated that RVSKIP was always high yielding, with high N uptake, and low C:N ratio (25) suggesting it could release N throughout the corn growing season without immobilizing N. Cover crops influenced corn population only in one site-yr but that did not result in lower corn grain yield reflecting corn potential for filling the plant gap by creating larger ears with heavier grain (TKW). Similar corn grain in all cover crop treatments was mainly due to adding optimum N as fertilizer. We concluded that overall, cover cropping could benefit soil over a six-year period but to optimize their benefit to corn, adjustments to N should be made. Therefore, future research should focus on revisiting corn N requirement especially in cover crop mixtures with high percentage (>50%) of legumes in the mixture to determine the fertilizer value of the cover crops.

Depuis 2007, plus de la moitié de la population mondiale vit en ville. La forte densité de population et d'activité entraîne une augmentation des besoins en climatisation des bâtiments en été. L’augmentation des températures due à l’effet d’îlot de chaleur urbain est principalement liée à l'aménagement urbain et aux flux de chaleurs anthropiques causés par l’utilisation des systèmes de chauffage et de climatisation. En agissant sur l'aménagement urbain, comme la densité de construction, l'albédo de surface ou les espaces verts, le microclimat urbain peut être amélioré ; ce qui permet ainsi de réduire les besoins énergétiques des bâtiments. Nous proposons dans ce manuscrit un modèle pour calculer les besoins énergétiques des bâtiments à l'échelle d’un quartier en prenant en compte l’interaction entre le microclimat urbain et les bâtiments. L'objectif est de décrire d'une part les ambiances intérieures du bâtiment, telles qu’elles sont modélisées dans les codes de thermique dynamique du bâtiment, et d'autre part, l'environnement extérieur tel qu’il est modélisé dans les codes de micro-météorologie. Pour travailler à cette échelle,la description détaillée de tous les transferts thermiques à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur de chaque bâtiment n'est pas appropriée. Ainsi, un modèle réduit de bâtiment est couplé avec un modèle simplifié de microclimat urbain. Le modèle de bâtiment est basé sur la méthode des facteurs de pondération et permet de prendre en compte les gains internes, l'inertie de l'enveloppe et les échanges radiatifs et convectifs à l'intérieur du bâtiment. Il est couplé à un modèle radiatif en milieu urbain, basé sur la méthode des radiosités, et un modèle zonal tridimensionnel de la canopée urbaine. Après avoir présenté ces modèles, ils sont appliqués sur un cas d'application, à savoir le quartier Pin Sec de la ville de Nantes. Différents scénarios d'aménagement urbain sont simulés sur une année afin d’analyser l’influence de l’aménagement urbain sur les besoins énergétiques des bâtiments. / Since 2007, more than half of world population lives in urban areas. The high density of population and its activity leads to an increase of building energy demand in summer. The temperature rise of densely built areas is mainly due to urban landscaping and anthropogenic heat fluxes caused by combustion flues and air conditioning of buildings. Acting on urban landscaping, like building density, surface albedo or green areas, the urban microclimate can be improved, which consequently reduces the building energy demand. We propose in this thesis a model to compute the energy demand at the district scale taking into account the interaction between urban microclimate and building energy demand.On the one hand, the aim is to describe the indoor thermal conditions as usually in thermal dynamic simulations; on the other hand, the external condition are modeled as they should be described in micro-meteorological models. To work at this scale, the detailed description of all thermal transfers inside and outside each building is not appropriate. Thus, a reduced thermal building model is coupled with a simplified urban microclimate model. The building model is based on weighting factors method and allows taking into account the internal gains, the envelope inertia, and the radiative and convective exchanges inside the building. This model is coupled with a radiative model of a district, based on radiosity method, and a tridimensional zonal model of the urban canopy. Following the description of these models, a case study of the district Pin Sec in Nantes is presented. Different scenarios of urban landscaping are simulated over one year to assess their influences on building energy demand.

[pt] Os sistemas de transmissão cumprem uma função vital para o bom desempenho dos mercados de energia elétrica. A precificação do seu uso afeta diretamente a remuneração das empresas concessionárias e os custos dos participantes do mercado. No Brasil, os usuários do sistema interligado nacional (SIN) devem pagar pela disponibilização dos equipamentos que compõem a rede para as transmissoras detentoras destes ativos de forma proporcional ao seu uso. Assim, a agência reguladora brasileira (ANEEL) estabeleceu as tarifas de uso do sistema de transmissão (TUST), que são calculadas anualmente por barra via metodologia nodal. Tais tarifas são compostas por duas parcelas: locacional e selo. A parcela locacional reflete o uso efetivo da rede por cada agente participante, medindo o impacto da injeção de potência marginal de uma barra nos equipamentos do sistema. A parcela selo consiste num valor constante que garantirá a remuneração da porção não utilizada da rede. Em geral, a proximidade elétrica das barras do sistema implica valores tarifários similares. Esta Dissertação de Mestrado propõe uma nova metodologia a ser incorporada no cálculo da TUST, considerando a divisão do SIN em zonas tarifárias de transmissão (ZTT). Desta forma, cada ZTT apresentará uma única tarifa a ser aplicada aos seus participantes, que corresponderá à média ponderada das tarifas finais calculadas via metodologia nodal. Para a identificação das ZTT, são aplicadas técnicas de agrupamento k-Means e espectral nos sistemas IEEE-RTS e SIN. Nesta dissertação, avalia-se também o uso de modelos matemáticos para definir o número ideal de ZTT a ser considerado. São realizadas diversas análises de sensibilidade relativas a mudanças de despacho, alterações de topologia e evolução do sistema ao longo dos anos. Os resultados correspondentes são então extensivamente discutidos. / [en] Transmission systems play a vital role in the good performance of the electrical energy markets. The pricing of its use directly affects the budget of concessionary companies and the costs of market participants. In Brazil, users of the national interconnected system (NIS) must pay for the equipment availability that makes up the network to the transmission companies that own these assets in proportion to their use. Thus, the Brazilian regulatory agency (ANEEL) established the tariffs for transmission system usage (TTSU), which are calculated annually by bus using the nodal methodology. Such tariffs are made up of two installments: locational and postage stamp. The locational portion reflects the effective use of the grid by each participating agent, measuring the impact of the marginal power injection at a bus on the system equipment. The stamp portion consists of a constant amount that will guarantee the remuneration of the unused portion of the network. In general, the electrical proximity of the system buses leads to similar tariff values. This dissertation proposes a new methodology to be incorporated into the TTSU calculation, considering the division of the NIS into transmission tariff zones (TTZ). In this way, each TTZ will present a single tariff to be applied to its participants, which will correspond to the weighted average of the final tariffs calculated via the nodal methodology. For the identification of the TTZ, k-Means and Spectral clustering techniques are applied to the IEEE-RTS and SIN systems. In this dissertation, the use of mathematical models is also assessed to define the ideal number of TTZ to be considered. Various sensitivity analyses are carried out regarding changes in dispatch, grid topology and expansion of the system over the years. The corresponding results are deeply discussed.

Presently, there is a four-year window to prepare engines for upcoming TIER V regulations through solutions for peak power shaving and downsizing of diesel engines. In particular, Non-road mobile machinery(NRMM) offer a promising and challenging field of application due to their duty cycles, which includes high and short power peaks and extreme working conditions. In this paper, a series hybrid electric powertrain for a mining loader is presented with the goal of reducing the fuel consumption. A full-scale mining loader powertrain prototype was built to exploit the benefits of a series hybrid electric powertrain at low traction requirements with a combination of decentralized e.g. zonal hydraulics. Corespondingly, this paper introduces the structure of the mining loader and initial mathematical model of the system of a Direct Driven hydraulics (DDH). In this research, an experimental test was conducted, and the initial results are presented in this paper.

A passagem de um padrão monsoonal para um padrão de circulação atmosférica zonal ocorreu durante o Cretáceo devido à fragmentação do Supercontinente Gonduana. Essa mudança na direção dos paleoventos é registrada no mergulho de estratos cruzados de dunas eólicas acumuladas em várias bacias de Gonduana. Três mapas de reconstrução de paleoventos foram construídos com a integração de dados paleocorrentes compilados de bacias Fanerozoicas brasileiras, Bacia de Neuquén na Argentina e bacias do Congo e Huab na África. O Gonduana foi dominado por ventos do nordeste ao norte e ventos do sudoeste ao sul, deslocando, assim, a Zona de Convergência Intertropical para 15º a 20 sul do equador durante o Jurássico Tardio até o início do Cretáceo. Por sua vez, os ventos apresentaram uma tendência geral para o oeste-noroeste em latitudes baixas e médias no Gonduana no final do Cretáceo Inical. Esses resultados apontam para a existência de um padrão monsoonal durante o Jurássico Tardio até o início do Cretáceo Inicial e a entrada do padrão zonal no final do Cretáceo Inicial, associado à fragmentação de Gonduana. / The passage of a monsoonal pattern to a zonal atmospheric circulation pattern occurred during the Cretaceous due to fragmentation of Gondwana Supercontinent. This change in the paleowind direction is recorded in crossstrata dip directions of eolian dunes accumulated in various basins of Gondwana. Three maps of paleowind reconstruction were built with integration of compiled paleocurrent data from Phanerozoic basins in Brazil, Neuquén Basin in Argentina and Congo Basin and Huab Basin in Africa. Gondwana was dominated by northeast winds to the north and southwest winds to the south, thus shifting the Intertropical Convergence Zone to 15º to 20⁰ south of the equator during Late Jurassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. In turn, winds had a general tendency towards west-northwest at low and mid-latitudes in Gondwana at the end of Early Cretaceous. These results point to the existence of a monsoonal pattern during the Late Jurassic to the beginning of Early Cretaceous and the entry of zonal pattern at the end of Early Cretaceous, associated with fragmentation of Gondwana.