Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo para verificar as melhores condições de vazão das atuais lanças supersônicas utilizadas no forno elétrico a arco 3 da Siderúrgica Riograndense. Também foi realizado um teste comparativo entre o modelo de lança supersônica atual e um novo modelo de injetor proposto. Para determinar as melhores condições de vazão das injetoras atuais, avaliou-se parâmetros como o consumo de oxigênio, energia elétrica, teor de FeO da escória, condições de desgaste do refratário e erosão dos bicos injetores. Para os testes comparativos com o novo modelo de injetores, foram usinados dois bicos de cobre com menor diâmetro de garganta. As novas pressões e vazões de oxigênio, tanto para o trabalho no modo alta vazão como para o modo purga, foram estabelecidas com base em estudos das características dos bicos utilizados atualmente. Os testes foram realizados em caráter comparativo no próprio forno 3. Nos atuais modelos de injetores utilizados, verificou-se que a pressão no modo purga deve variar entre 0,9 e 1,1 kgf/cm2 na rede de oxigênio. Assim, a vazão de O2 varia entre 65 e 75 Nm3/h, intervalo no qual foi observada a melhor eficiência na operação, considerando principalmente o controle do FeO da escória e a ocorrência de entupimento dos bicos supersônicos. Na alta vazão foram definidas pressões entre 9,0 e 9,5 kgf/cm2, onde as vazões variam entre 350 e 375 Nm3/h por bico. Estes valores foram definidos avaliando-se principalmente o controle do consumo de refratário na região do injetor e o desgaste dos bicos causado por jato subacelerado. Os injetores com diâmetro de garganta menor possibilitaram a operação com vazões de O2 menores na purga em relação ao modelo atual. Assim, foi possível operar com vazão em torno de 50 Nm3/h a uma pressão de 0,9 kgf/cm2, sem a ocorrência de entupimentos. Porém no modo alta vazão, para garantir a vazão mínima de 350 Nm3/h, a pressão no bico foi elevada para 12,5 kgf/cm2. Com este novo modelo de injetor, os consumos médios de oxigênio e de energia elétrica reduziram 0,8 Nm3/t e 12,9 kWh/t, respectivamente, em relação ao injetor atual, e verificou-se o aumento de 0,92% no rendimento metálico. / In this work, a study to verify the best conditions of oxygen flow to operate the supersonic injectors currently used in the Electric Arc Furnace 3 (EAF 3) of Siderúrgica Riograndense was carried out. Also, a comparative study between the supersonic injector model currently used and a new proposed model was made. To determine the best flow conditions of current injectors, parameters such as oxygen and electricity consumption, and slag FeO content were evaluated. Moreover, refractory wear conditions and copper lance tips erosion were analyzed. For the comparative tests with the new model, two copper lance tips have been machined, with a smaller throat diameter. The new oxygen pressure and oxygen flow (high and low flow operating modes) were established based on studies of features of the currently used lance tips. The tests were carried out comparatively in the same EAF 3. For the currently used injector models, it was verified that the pressure in the low flow mode must be kept between 0.9 and 1.1kgf/cm2 in the oxygen system. Thus, the O2 flow varies between 65 and 75 Nm3/h, interval in which the best efficiency in the operation was observed, considering mainly the control of FeO of the slag, and the occurrence of clogging of the supersonic lance tips. High flow pressures were defined between 9.0 and 9.5 kgf/cm2, where the flow varies between 350 and 375 Nm3/h per lance tip. These values were defined evaluating mainly the control of the refractory wear in the region of the injector, and the erosion of the lance tips caused by under-blown jet. The new lance tips with smaller throat diameter made it possible to operate with smaller O2 flow, 50 Nm3/h with pressure of 0.9 kgf/cm2, without clogging in low flow steps. However, in the high flow, to guarantee the minimum flow of 350 Nm3/h, the pressure in the lance tips was raised to 12.5 kgf/cm2. With this new model of injector, the average consumption of oxygen was lowered by 0.8 Nm3/h compared to the current injector and an increase of 0.92% was verified in the metallic yield. Furthermore, there was a reduction of 12.9 kWh/t in the consumption of electric energy.

Abstract The CAS-OB (composition adjustment by sealed argon bubbling - oxygen blowing) process is used in secondary steelmaking to adjust the composition and temperature of the steel melt. The steel melt can be heated by oxidizing aluminium in process which feeds aluminium particles and oxygen to the melt surface. Oxygen is in fed by a top lance, which is an important part of many metallurgical processes and is typically used to deliver oxygen to steel melt surface by supersonic blowing. Because observing and measuring the metallurgical processes is challenging due to the high temperature, numerical models predicting the processes are especially important. In this thesis, both top lances and the heat-up stage of the CAS-OB process were studied, and numerical models were constructed. CFD (computational fluid dynamics) were used to study top lances. A turbulence model was adjusted for supersonic flows with experimental data from literature. The CAS-OB process model involves chemical reactions and fluid flows. In order to keep the computation times reasonable, a full fluid flow calculation is not included in the model but is calculated in advance. Heat and mass transfer correlations are calculated with CFD, and the results are then used in the process simulation model. Chemical reactions are calculated based on the law of mass action and thermodynamics. The results were validated with industrial measurements. The CAS-OB heat-up stage model can be used in its current state in process development, and in the future for online control of the process. The CFD model for the top lance can be applied to a lance in any other process. / Tiivistelmä CAS-OB-prosessia (composition adjustment by sealed argon bubbling - oxygen blowing) käytetään teräksen valmistuksessa sulan teräksen koostumuksen ja lämpötilan säätämiseen. Terässulaa voidaan tarvittaessa lämmittää syöttämällä alumiinikappaleita ja happea sulan pinnalle. Hapen syöttö tapahtuu yliäänilanssilla, jota käytetään monissa metallurgisissa prosesseissa, yleensä toimittamaan happea sulan pinnalle yliäänisellä puhalluksella. Metallurgisten prosessien havainnointi ja mittaaminen ovat haastavia korkeiden lämpötilojen vuoksi, joten numeeriset mallit ovat erityisen tärkeitä prosessien ennustamisessa. Tässä työssä on tutkittu yliäänilansseja ja CAS-OB-prosessin lämmitysvaihetta ja luotu niille numeeriset mallit. Yliäänilanssien tutkimiseen käytettiin numeerista virtauslaskentaa (CFD, computational fluid dynamics). Lanssien mallinnusta varten olemassa olevaa turbulenssimallia muokattiin paremmin yliäänivirtausta kuvaavaksi kirjallisuudesta löytyvän mittaustiedon perusteella. CAS-OB-prosessimallissa huomioidaan virtaus ja kemialliset reaktiot. Koska laskenta-ajat haluttiin pitää käytännöllisinä, virtauslaskentaa ei suoriteta mallissa, vaan se tehdään etukäteen. Aineen- ja lämmönsiirtokertoimet lasketaan CFD-laskennalla, ja tuloksia käytetään prosessimallissa. Kemialliset reaktiot lasketaan perustuen massavaikutuksen lakiin ja termodynamiikkaan. CAS-OB-mallin tulokset on validoitu terästehtaalla tehtyjen kokeiden perusteella. Mallia voidaan käyttää nykyisessä muodossaan prosessin kehityksessä ja tulevaisuudessa myös prosessin ohjauksessa. Yliäänilanssin CFD-mallia voidaan soveltaa myös muihin metallurgisiin prosesseihin.

Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo para verificar as melhores condições de vazão das atuais lanças supersônicas utilizadas no forno elétrico a arco 3 da Siderúrgica Riograndense. Também foi realizado um teste comparativo entre o modelo de lança supersônica atual e um novo modelo de injetor proposto. Para determinar as melhores condições de vazão das injetoras atuais, avaliou-se parâmetros como o consumo de oxigênio, energia elétrica, teor de FeO da escória, condições de desgaste do refratário e erosão dos bicos injetores. Para os testes comparativos com o novo modelo de injetores, foram usinados dois bicos de cobre com menor diâmetro de garganta. As novas pressões e vazões de oxigênio, tanto para o trabalho no modo alta vazão como para o modo purga, foram estabelecidas com base em estudos das características dos bicos utilizados atualmente. Os testes foram realizados em caráter comparativo no próprio forno 3. Nos atuais modelos de injetores utilizados, verificou-se que a pressão no modo purga deve variar entre 0,9 e 1,1 kgf/cm2 na rede de oxigênio. Assim, a vazão de O2 varia entre 65 e 75 Nm3/h, intervalo no qual foi observada a melhor eficiência na operação, considerando principalmente o controle do FeO da escória e a ocorrência de entupimento dos bicos supersônicos. Na alta vazão foram definidas pressões entre 9,0 e 9,5 kgf/cm2, onde as vazões variam entre 350 e 375 Nm3/h por bico. Estes valores foram definidos avaliando-se principalmente o controle do consumo de refratário na região do injetor e o desgaste dos bicos causado por jato subacelerado. Os injetores com diâmetro de garganta menor possibilitaram a operação com vazões de O2 menores na purga em relação ao modelo atual. Assim, foi possível operar com vazão em torno de 50 Nm3/h a uma pressão de 0,9 kgf/cm2, sem a ocorrência de entupimentos. Porém no modo alta vazão, para garantir a vazão mínima de 350 Nm3/h, a pressão no bico foi elevada para 12,5 kgf/cm2. Com este novo modelo de injetor, os consumos médios de oxigênio e de energia elétrica reduziram 0,8 Nm3/t e 12,9 kWh/t, respectivamente, em relação ao injetor atual, e verificou-se o aumento de 0,92% no rendimento metálico. / In this work, a study to verify the best conditions of oxygen flow to operate the supersonic injectors currently used in the Electric Arc Furnace 3 (EAF 3) of Siderúrgica Riograndense was carried out. Also, a comparative study between the supersonic injector model currently used and a new proposed model was made. To determine the best flow conditions of current injectors, parameters such as oxygen and electricity consumption, and slag FeO content were evaluated. Moreover, refractory wear conditions and copper lance tips erosion were analyzed. For the comparative tests with the new model, two copper lance tips have been machined, with a smaller throat diameter. The new oxygen pressure and oxygen flow (high and low flow operating modes) were established based on studies of features of the currently used lance tips. The tests were carried out comparatively in the same EAF 3. For the currently used injector models, it was verified that the pressure in the low flow mode must be kept between 0.9 and 1.1kgf/cm2 in the oxygen system. Thus, the O2 flow varies between 65 and 75 Nm3/h, interval in which the best efficiency in the operation was observed, considering mainly the control of FeO of the slag, and the occurrence of clogging of the supersonic lance tips. High flow pressures were defined between 9.0 and 9.5 kgf/cm2, where the flow varies between 350 and 375 Nm3/h per lance tip. These values were defined evaluating mainly the control of the refractory wear in the region of the injector, and the erosion of the lance tips caused by under-blown jet. The new lance tips with smaller throat diameter made it possible to operate with smaller O2 flow, 50 Nm3/h with pressure of 0.9 kgf/cm2, without clogging in low flow steps. However, in the high flow, to guarantee the minimum flow of 350 Nm3/h, the pressure in the lance tips was raised to 12.5 kgf/cm2. With this new model of injector, the average consumption of oxygen was lowered by 0.8 Nm3/h compared to the current injector and an increase of 0.92% was verified in the metallic yield. Furthermore, there was a reduction of 12.9 kWh/t in the consumption of electric energy.

Resumo

Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo para verificar as melhores condições de vazão das atuais lanças supersônicas utilizadas no forno elétrico a arco 3 da Siderúrgica Riograndense. Também foi realizado um teste comparativo entre o modelo de lança supersônica atual e um novo modelo de injetor proposto. Para determinar as melhores condições de vazão das injetoras atuais, avaliou-se parâmetros como o consumo de oxigênio, energia elétrica, teor de FeO da escória, condições de desgaste do refratário e erosão dos bicos injetores. Para os testes comparativos com o novo modelo de injetores, foram usinados dois bicos de cobre com menor diâmetro de garganta. As novas pressões e vazões de oxigênio, tanto para o trabalho no modo alta vazão como para o modo purga, foram estabelecidas com base em estudos das características dos bicos utilizados atualmente. Os testes foram realizados em caráter comparativo no próprio forno 3. Nos atuais modelos de injetores utilizados, verificou-se que a pressão no modo purga deve variar entre 0,9 e 1,1 kgf/cm2 na rede de oxigênio. Assim, a vazão de O2 varia entre 65 e 75 Nm3/h, intervalo no qual foi observada a melhor eficiência na operação, considerando principalmente o controle do FeO da escória e a ocorrência de entupimento dos bicos supersônicos. Na alta vazão foram definidas pressões entre 9,0 e 9,5 kgf/cm2, onde as vazões variam entre 350 e 375 Nm3/h por bico. Estes valores foram definidos avaliando-se principalmente o controle do consumo de refratário na região do injetor e o desgaste dos bicos causado por jato subacelerado. Os injetores com diâmetro de garganta menor possibilitaram a operação com vazões de O2 menores na purga em relação ao modelo atual. Assim, foi possível operar com vazão em torno de 50 Nm3/h a uma pressão de 0,9 kgf/cm2, sem a ocorrência de entupimentos. Porém no modo alta vazão, para garantir a vazão mínima de 350 Nm3/h, a pressão no bico foi elevada para 12,5 kgf/cm2. Com este novo modelo de injetor, os consumos médios de oxigênio e de energia elétrica reduziram 0,8 Nm3/t e 12,9 kWh/t, respectivamente, em relação ao injetor atual, e verificou-se o aumento de 0,92% no rendimento metálico. / In this work, a study to verify the best conditions of oxygen flow to operate the supersonic injectors currently used in the Electric Arc Furnace 3 (EAF 3) of Siderúrgica Riograndense was carried out. Also, a comparative study between the supersonic injector model currently used and a new proposed model was made. To determine the best flow conditions of current injectors, parameters such as oxygen and electricity consumption, and slag FeO content were evaluated. Moreover, refractory wear conditions and copper lance tips erosion were analyzed. For the comparative tests with the new model, two copper lance tips have been machined, with a smaller throat diameter. The new oxygen pressure and oxygen flow (high and low flow operating modes) were established based on studies of features of the currently used lance tips. The tests were carried out comparatively in the same EAF 3. For the currently used injector models, it was verified that the pressure in the low flow mode must be kept between 0.9 and 1.1kgf/cm2 in the oxygen system. Thus, the O2 flow varies between 65 and 75 Nm3/h, interval in which the best efficiency in the operation was observed, considering mainly the control of FeO of the slag, and the occurrence of clogging of the supersonic lance tips. High flow pressures were defined between 9.0 and 9.5 kgf/cm2, where the flow varies between 350 and 375 Nm3/h per lance tip. These values were defined evaluating mainly the control of the refractory wear in the region of the injector, and the erosion of the lance tips caused by under-blown jet. The new lance tips with smaller throat diameter made it possible to operate with smaller O2 flow, 50 Nm3/h with pressure of 0.9 kgf/cm2, without clogging in low flow steps. However, in the high flow, to guarantee the minimum flow of 350 Nm3/h, the pressure in the lance tips was raised to 12.5 kgf/cm2. With this new model of injector, the average consumption of oxygen was lowered by 0.8 Nm3/h compared to the current injector and an increase of 0.92% was verified in the metallic yield. Furthermore, there was a reduction of 12.9 kWh/t in the consumption of electric energy.

Free-lance professions under the law of the EU The free-lance professions under the law of the EU serve for the topic of the present thesis. They represent a special category of occupations playing though a significant role in the daily life of the society and in the economic events of both the state and the European Union. They distinguish from other forms of businesses by the "liberty" of carrying out, i.e. the independence on the direct state supervision. It is impossible to find among EU member states neither the identical term of a free-lance profession, nor the categories of the professions considered to be included. The term might regard advocates, architects, but also journalists, writers, artists etc. Neither do the EU member states agree on the content of individual activities, or usually performed duties. As some of these occupations are significantly linked to the public interest, the member states tend to increase their regulations. The first part of the thesis deals with differences of conceptions in individual member states, as well as with their common basis. The aim of the EU is to overcome the discrepancy of national regulations and to unify the conception. The common basis served as an inspiration for the definition of the free-lance professions on the European level. The EU law adjusts...

The ability to deliver sequences of DNA and other molecular loads across the membrane of a cell and into its nucleus is an area of interest in the medical community. One of its many applications is that of gene therapy. In contrast to other forms of treatment, gene therapy seeks to treat diseases at the cellular level. The success of these treatments depends on the technologies for cell transfection that are available. Physical methods are sometimes able to overcome poor efficiencies of chemical methods and the safety concerns of viral methods, but are usually impractical due to the limited number of cells that are able to be transfected at a time, isolation, and immobilization of the cells. Nanoinjection is capable of using millions of small lances in an array to inject hundreds of thousands of cells simultaneously with relatively high efficiencies and viabilities. The solid nature of the lances also allows them to be smaller than their hollow-needle counterparts, which results in higher cell viability. Propidium Iodide (PI), a dye whose fluorescence increases greatly when bound to nucleic acids, was used as an injection molecule for testing the efficacy of the nanoinjection process on HeLa 229 cancer cells in a portion of the experiments, with a GFP plasmid of DNA being used in the rest. After injection, flow cytometry was used to detect the concentration of PI or the expression of the GFP in the injected cells. Since PI cannot normally penetrate the membrane of living cells, those found with high concentrations of PI were either successfully injected or dead, which can be determined by the flow cytometry. Investigation of the parameters that affect the efficiency of the nanoinjection process will help improve it for further research. Some of these parameters that were investigated include the force of injection, the material used for the lances (silicon versus carbon nanotubes), and the injection speed of the lance arrays. An injection device capable of small changes in deflection was designed to ensure accurate increments in force for testing, as well as a pulsed current control injection system. Results for injections of varying forces indicate a slow rise in PI uptake from 0 to 1.8 Newtons where it reaches a maximum uptake of 4.11 when normalized to the PI uptake of the positive controls. The PI uptake then remains relatively level as the force continues to increase, averaging an uptake of approximately 3.1. The slow rise is likely due to more of the cells being punctured as the force increases until most have been punctured and the PI uptake levels off. The viability of the injected cells was close to that of the controls with no clear trend. A comparison of lance arrays made from silicon and carbon nanotubes using DNA as the molecular load shows little difference between materials. Different injection speeds tested show that only 1-5% of the cells in the injection process are lost for speeds in the range of 0.08-0.16 mm/sec, whereas 49-69% of the cells are lost using speeds between 0.6-3 mm/sec.

The Gulf of Maine is a dynamic ecosystem with rapidly warming sea surface temperatures (SSTs), therefore it is vital to understand how species interactions vary over time and space. In chapter two, I quantify and compare dietary differences among four tern species, across seven islands in the region, over a 32-year period. Multivariate statistical analyses were employed to discern spatial and temporal differences in foraging ecology. Findings suggest there are significant differences between species and islands; however, only three prey species comprise the majority of chick diet for all terns and islands. The reliance on only a few prey items led to narrow foraging niches, potentially increasing their vulnerability to climate change, fisheries practices, or other localized disturbances. The third chapter characterizes long-term trends across nesting islands, describes within-season dietary phenology, and quantifies how warming SSTs may influence diet. Over time there was a declining trend in the occurrence of hake and increasing amounts of sand lance. In addition, hake and sand lance occur with higher frequency earlier in the season, while butterfish and “other fish” showed the opposite trend. Furthermore, results indicated that the within-season decline of hake occurs more rapidly in years with earlier spring thermal transition dates potentially indicating a phenological shift. Finally, warming SSTs were found to be negatively correlated with hake and positively correlated with the “other fish” prey group. Given projections of further warming in the region, understanding how the diet of these seabirds may be impacted in crucial to their conservation.

In this thesis we delve into the profile doping scandals involving Marion Jones and Lance Armstrong. Our aim is to analyze how the online news media portray doping allegations in sports specifically on these two athletes. Through a textual analysis and approach encompassing framing theory and intersectionality we explore the gender biases that may exist in media coverage and examine the influence of these representations. The connection between media coverage of suspected drug usage and public sentiment was investigated by using methods mentioned above between two fields of sports- cycling and track and field. This research reveals that the choices made by the media when framing their stories about doping shape opinion. This study also underscores the role played on representation by the media on doping crises within sports. It emphasizes the importance of transparent reporting that fosters discussions. By using these findings as a foundation, we can promote fairness, objectivity and evidence-based reporting when addressing instances of doping in sports.  Furthermore, this study contributes to existing literature on how the media portrays doping allegations by providing a framework for examining how these incidents are depicted by media outlets.

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