One of two project reports: The other part is designated as Part A / <p> A fundamental and important part of nuclear reactor development and analysis today is the study of neutronics following a breach in the primary heat transport circuit. In the past, much of this analysis has concentrated on the calculation of the thermalhydraulic changes which occur following a loss of coolant accident and the effects these subsequently have on neutron kinetics. The purpose of this present study is to examine the influence of neutronic parameters on the size and shape of power pulses which result from loss of coolant accidents. The parameters studied are shutdown system delay times, shutoff rod drop curves, and fuel burnup distribution. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

<p> The temperature policy with time is sought which maximizes a performance index for a fixed time in a tubular reactor with uniform temperature, decaying catalyst, and two first-order irreversible parallel reactions. </p> <p> For the case where the performance index is the total amount of desired product produced, an analogy between the optimization problems for a first-order reversible reaction and a parallel reaction first-order in both. paths is developed. </p> <p> A numerical procedure together with theoretical developments is used to solve the problem for a more general performance index which takes into account the cost of the reactant as well as the value of the desired product. The problem is· treated in the format of Pontryagin's Maximum Principle. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

<p> A half-order kinetic model (8-48 mg NO3+NO2-N/l), coupled with a temperature dependency described by the Arrhenius relationship (4°-27° C), adequately described biological denitrification of municipal wastewater in a pilot scale fluidized bed reactor. Biofilm support media (activated carbon or sand) and hydraulic flux (0.25-1.7 m^3/m^2·min) were not found to be significant factors in controlling denitrification rate within the reactor. Control of biofilm thickness on the support media was essential for satisfactory operation of the process; excess thickness contributed to elutriation of media and attached biofilm. Under similar influent wastewater conditions, the fluidized bed process was capable of equivalent NO3+NO2-N removal in about one-tenth of the time necessary in a suspended growth or a rotating biological contactor (RBC) process. Temperature dependency of the NO3+NO2-N removal rate appeared to be less than the dependency in a suspended growth or a RBC process, but similar to the dependency observed in a packed column.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

<p> The free radical polymerization of styrene in benzene using azo-bisisobutyronitrile as a catalyst has been studied both theoretically and experimentally. The molecular-weight distribution and conversion are predicted on the basis of a simplified kinetic mechanism, neglecting a number of minor side reactions. The steady-state assumption is investigated and is shown to be applicable in the case of styrene polymerization, a pseudo-steady-state being reached in less than one second. Using the steady-state approach a relatively simple kinetic model is obtained, suitable for computer simulation. The prime variables consist of the ordinary reaction conditions such as monomer concentration, solvent concentration, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature and reaction time.</p> <p> The polymerization was carried out isothermally in a stirred batch reactor from which samples were abstracted at various time intervals. Conversion was determined by precipitating the polymer with methanol, filtering, and weighing, and the molecular-weight distribution has been obtained by gel-permeation chromatography. A computer program was written to interpret the variation of refractive index with respect to the elution volume trace from the chromatograph, giving a readout of molecular chain length in monomer units versus weight fraction.</p> <p> The experimentally obtained conversion and distribution curves are compared with those obtained from the mathematical model. Except for bulk polymerization agreement between the two is good. Good agreement for conversion is obtained for all cases if the catalyst initiation efficiency is adjusted according to the monomer or solvent concentration. However, the same considerations do not give good agreement for molecular-weight distribution. Rather it appears that the rate constants instead of the catalyst efficiency are monomer or solvent concentration dependent, which would explain the discrepancies.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

<p> A catalytic tubular reactor has been built and interfaced to a minicomputer located at some distance from the actual process equipment. Software has been written to control and monitor the hydrogenolysis of butane within this reactor. The principal aims of this thesis are to describe the process equipment, to detail the structure of the real-time control and monitor software developed for use on a Supernova minicomputer and to demonstrate that the process may indeed be controlled by direct digital control. Finally, in view of the success of the study, a recommendation to explore the applicability of modern control theory is made, particularly, the formulation of an optimal control and changeover policy and the development of multivariable control. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

<p> The adsorption of residual organic molecules generated during the metabolic activity of bacteria was investigated. </p> <p> At first a number of potential adsorbants and ion exchange resins were selected with different average pore diameters and specific surface areas. </p> <p> The adsorption (removal) capacity of these materials was evaluated through the determination of their adsorption isotherms on a residual organics solution, obtained from an activated sludge reactor, that operated with Phenol as a substrate. </p> <p> On the basis of these isotherms Filtrasorb 400, an activated Carbon with 3SA0 average pore diameter and 1200 m2/g specific surface area, was selected as the best adsorbant. Subsequently a fluidized bed biological reactor was used to study the direct adsorption of the residual organics produced by the biofilms on the Filtrasorb 400 particles supporting the growth. A phenol solution was fed to the reactor and different Oxygen to Phenol ratios were applied. </p> <p> The adsorption of the residual organic molecules generated by the biological growth in a fluidized bed biological reactor proved feasible and independent of the Oxygen to Phenol ratio applied. The Phenol removal efficiency of the reactor was determined by the Oxygen supplied. The removal reached 100% whenever residual Oxygen was present in the effluent of the reactor (no Oxygen limitation). </p> <p> Specific reaction rates higher than the ones reported in the literature were observed. </p> <p> The removal of the residual organics resulted in a stable effluent pH. </p> <p>The monitoring of the height of the expanded bed that biological growth is a parameter that can be used to monitor the total volume of biological films in the reactor. A volume yield factor can also be calculated. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Three experiments were conducted to 1) develop appropriate methods for livestock manure estrogen analysis; 2) determine estrogen removal in different manure treatment systems; and 3) determine estrogen removal from dairy manure in pilot scale reactors. In Experiment I, the recoveries of 17à -estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3) were evaluated in double distilled water and dairy manure after a base extraction and analysis of estrogens by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay. The recoveries of E2 were 104% (ELISA) and 97% (YES) in double distilled water. 112% of E2 and 79% of E3 in flushed dairy manure and 118% of E2 in anaerobic digester effluent were recovered with ELISA. 67% and 140% of E2 in flushed manure and anaerobic digester effluent, respectively, were recovered with YES assay. In Experiment II, samples were collected from a full-scale manure handling system incorporating separation and aeration (Separation/Aeration), an anaerobic digester receiving dairy manure (Anaerobic Digester), and four conventional dairy and swine manure storages. 70% of E2 (230 vs. 769 μg/cow/day) and 86% of E3 (78 vs. 552 μg/cow/day) mass were removed from the Separation/Aeration system when the effluent was compared to the influent; the ratio of E2 to total estrogenicity (E2-eq) averaged 76%. In the Anaerobic Digester, 38% of E2 (592 vs. 954 μg/cow/day) and 30% of E3 (338 vs. 483 μg/cow/day) mass were removed; E2 contributed more to E2-eq in the influent than in the effluent (43 vs. 26%). There was no significant difference for E2-eq (431 vs. 284 ng/g of total solids) and E2 (248 vs. 73 ng/g of total solids) concentrations between barn and pti in conventional dairy manure storages; E2 contributed more to E2-eq in barn manure than in pit manure (54 vs. 30%). In swine manure storages, both E2-eq (2852 vs. 1551 vs. 148 ng/g of total solids) and E2 (1933 vs. 808 vs. 89 ng/g of total solids) concentrations decreased (barn vs. primary lagoon vs. secondary lagoon; no significance analysis); the change of E2 ratio to E2-eq was not consistent between barn and lagoon manures between farms. In Experiment III, samples were collected from six pilot scale reactors: two aerated reactors (60% and 100% aeration; AER60 and AER 100), a nitrifying/denitrifying reactor (NDN), an enhanced biological phosphorus removal reactor (EBPR), an anaerobic digester (AD), and a nitrifying reactor (NI) following AD. The influent had higher mass of E2 and E2-eq than the effluent with all reactors. Estrogen removal efficiencies were expressed in two ways: % and %/aerobic hour (or hour) of the influent mass. Higher ammonia nitrogen removing reactors had higher E2 and E2-eq removal in %, higher E2 removal in %/aerobic hour, and the same E2-eq removal in %/aerobic hour compared to those with lower ammonia nitrogen removal. Estrogen removal efficiencies (both in % and %/aerobic hour) were similar in nitrifying and denitrifying reactors. Reactors with aeration supported greater estrogen removal than those without. Reactors with influent anaerobic digestion pretreatment had the same E2 and E2-eq removal in % but higher E2 and E2-eq removal in %/aerobic hour compared to those without. In conclusion, the aerobic treatment system removed more estrogens than the anaerobic one, which means aerobic conditions support more estrogen degradation than anaerobic conditions. The change of the ratios of E2 to E2-eq varied in different livestock manure treatment systems, which reflected different removal rates of E2 and other estrogenic compounds. The pilot scale reactors significantly removed E2 and E2-eq in dairy manure. Ammonia nitrogen removal rates and aeration are the two main factors influencing E2 and E2-eq removal. / Ph. D.