This research project will investigate the potential business case and technical feasibility of using nuclear generated heat in a crude oil refinery located some distance away. The key design element is an energy transportation mechanism that doesn’t compromise the safety, licensing or operability of the nuclear plant. In a crude oil refinery processing heat is generated by combusting fuels that are generally sellable products. The inherent safety features and high output temperature of a HTGR make it an appropriate replacement heat source for such a processing plant. An opportunity thus exists to replace the refinery hydrocarbon fuel usage with nuclear energy thereby improving refinery profitability. Three alternate proposed were generated. Alt 1: Generation of steam at HTGR, piped to the refinery to replace current supply. Alt 2: Closed loop reversible methanation reaction delivering potential chemical energy to the refinery which is released to the process in heat exchangers. Alt 3: Hydrogen production from water splitting at the HTGR, piped to the refinery and combusted in boilers or used for hydrotreating diesel. Utilizing data from refinery plant historian and journals, a basic engineering study assessed technical feasibility thereof. An economic model for the 2 most promising alternates was set up using quotations and factored data and evaluated against the existing refinery situation. A consistently increasing crude price was assumed. Alternates 1, 2 and 3 proved technically feasible and delivered 86 MW, 59 MW and 48MW to the refinery respectively. Generating steam at the HTGR (Alt 1) demonstrated an attractive business case, strengthened by co-locating the nuclear plant at the refinery. It is therefore concluded that using a HTGR for process heat in a petrochemical plant such as a refinery is techno-economically practical and demands further consideration. If future carbon emission legislation is promulgated this proposal will be key component of the solution. / MIng (Nuclear Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This research project will investigate the potential business case and technical feasibility of using nuclear generated heat in a crude oil refinery located some distance away. The key design element is an energy transportation mechanism that doesn’t compromise the safety, licensing or operability of the nuclear plant. In a crude oil refinery processing heat is generated by combusting fuels that are generally sellable products. The inherent safety features and high output temperature of a HTGR make it an appropriate replacement heat source for such a processing plant. An opportunity thus exists to replace the refinery hydrocarbon fuel usage with nuclear energy thereby improving refinery profitability. Three alternate proposed were generated. Alt 1: Generation of steam at HTGR, piped to the refinery to replace current supply. Alt 2: Closed loop reversible methanation reaction delivering potential chemical energy to the refinery which is released to the process in heat exchangers. Alt 3: Hydrogen production from water splitting at the HTGR, piped to the refinery and combusted in boilers or used for hydrotreating diesel. Utilizing data from refinery plant historian and journals, a basic engineering study assessed technical feasibility thereof. An economic model for the 2 most promising alternates was set up using quotations and factored data and evaluated against the existing refinery situation. A consistently increasing crude price was assumed. Alternates 1, 2 and 3 proved technically feasible and delivered 86 MW, 59 MW and 48MW to the refinery respectively. Generating steam at the HTGR (Alt 1) demonstrated an attractive business case, strengthened by co-locating the nuclear plant at the refinery. It is therefore concluded that using a HTGR for process heat in a petrochemical plant such as a refinery is techno-economically practical and demands further consideration. If future carbon emission legislation is promulgated this proposal will be key component of the solution. / MIng (Nuclear Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Dissolution of cellulose is an important but complicated step in biofuel production fromlignocellulosic materials. Steam and supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) explosion are two effective methods for dissolution of some lignocellulosic materials. Loading and explosion are the major processes of these methods. Studies of these processes were performed using grand canonical Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations at different pressure/ temperature conditions on the crystalline structure of cellulose. The COMPASS force field was used for both methods.The validity of the COMPASS force field for these calculations was confirmed by comparingthe energies and structures obtained from this force field with first principles calculations.The structures that were studied are cellobiose (the repeat unit of cellulose), water–cellobiose, water-cellobiose pair and CO2-cellobiose pair systems. The first principles methods were preliminary based on B3LYP density functional theory with and without dispersion correction.A larger disruption of the cellulose crystal structure was seen during loading than that during the explosion process. This was seen by an increased separation of the cellulose chains from the centre of mass of the crystal during the initial stages of the loading, especially for chains in the outer shell of the crystalline structure. The ends of the cellulose crystal showed largerdisruption than the central core; this leads to increasing susceptibility to enzymatic attack in these end regions. There was also change from the syn to the anti torsion angle conformations during steam explosion, especially for chains in the outer cellulose shell. Increasing the temperature increased the disruption of the crystalline structure during loading and explosion. / Akademisk avhandling som för avläggande av teknologie doktorsexamen vid Chalmers tekniska högskola försvaras vid offentlig disputation den 10 oktober 2014,klockan 13.00 i KS101-salen, Kemigården 4, Göteborg.

Thesis (MScIng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Forced draft air-cooled steam condensers (ACSCs) consisting of multiple fan units are used in direct cooled power plants to condense steam in a closed steam cycle. Axial flow fans located below an A-frame configuration of finned tube heat exchanger bundles, force ambient air through the system. In so doing, heat from the condensing steam is rejected to the environment via the finned tubes. The performance of an air-cooled system is proportional to the air mass flow rate and the temperature difference between the finned tubes and the ambient air. A variation in either will directly affect the efficiency of the steam turbines. Air flow distortions at the fan inlet caused by structures, wind and other fans may result in a significant reduction in flow rate as well as fan blade vibration. This phenomenon has an adverse affect on the cooling capacity of an ACSC, and consequently turbine performance, due to a decrease in air mass flow rate. In this study the effect of inlet flow distortions on fan performance (i.e. flow rate and fan shaft power) in an ACSC is numerically investigated by modelling a section (or sector) of such a system using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, FLUENT. Fan performance at different platform heights, and corresponding different degrees of inlet flow distortions, is investigated. The performance of two types of axial flow fans are also compared. The two fans have the same diameter, number of blades and rotational speed, but feature different blade designs, and hub-tip-ratios of respectively 0.153 and 0.4. A fan model based on blade element theory, better known as an actuator disc model, is used to numerically model the fans. Previous experimental studies have shown that a solid walkway installed along the edge or periphery of an ACSC platform can significantly increase the flow rate through the fans situated along the platform edge. The effects of such a walkway, and other windscreens on fan performance, are numerically investigated. Numerical predictions correlate with earlier experimental results: the flow rate and fan shaft power are decreased by inlet flow distortions. It was found that the fan with a hub-tip-ratio of 0.4 was less affected by these flow distortions. The addition of a walkway increased the flow rate through the edge fan by up to 48 %. It is furthermore shown that wind effects can only be accurately modelled if the entire ACSC is considered. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geforseerde-trek lugverkoelde kondensators wat bestaan uit ʼn aantal waaier-eenhede, word in direk-verkoelde kragstasies gebruik om stoom in ʼn geslote stoomkringloop te kondenseer. Aksiaalvloei-waaiers wat onder ʼn A-raam-konfigurasie van vinbuisbundels geïnstalleer is, forseer omgewingslug deur die stelsel. Sodoende word die hitte van die kondenserende stoom aan die omgewing oorgedra deur middel van die vinbuise. Die warmteoordragkapasiteit van ʼn lugverkoelde kondensator is eweredig aan die massavloei-tempo van die lug, asook die temperatuurverskil tussen die vinbuise en die lug. ʼn Verandering in enige van dié faktore sal die benuttingsgraad van die stoomturbines direk beïnvloed. Lugvloeiversteurings by die waaier-inlate wat veroorsaak word deur geboue, wind en ander waaiers kan lei tot aansienlike verlagings in vloeitempo deur die waaiers. Sekondêre effekte soos waaierlemvibrasie kan ook veroorsaak word. In hierdie studie word die effek van inlaatvloeiversteurings op waaierwerkverrigting (dws vloeitempo en waaierdrywing) ondersoek deur ʼn seksie (of sektor) van ʼn lugverkoelde kondensator te modelleer deur gebruik te maak van die kommersiële numeriese vloeidinamika-pakket, FLUENT. Waaierwerkverrigting word by verkillende platformhoogtes, en gevolglik verskillende grade van inlaatvloeiversteurings, ondersoek. Twee verskillende waaiers word ook vergelyk. Die waaiers het dieselfde diameter, aantal lemme en rotasiespoed, maar het verkillende lem ontwerpe, en naaf-lempunt-verhoudings van onderskeidelik 0.153 en 0.4. ʼn Waaiermodel wat gebaseer is op lem-element-teorie, beter bekend as ʼn aksie-skyf-model, word gebruik om die waaiers numeries te modelleer. Vorige eksperimentele studies het bewys dat ʼn loopvlak om die rand van lugverkoelde kondensators die vloeitempo deur waaiers aansienlik kan verhoog. Die effek van so ʼn loopvlak, en ander windskerms word numeries ondersoek. Numeriese voorspellings stem ooreen met eksperimentele resultate: die vloeitempo en waaierdrywing word verlaag deur inlaat-vloeiversteurings. Dit is bevind dat die waaier met ʼn naaf-lempunt-verhouding van 0.4, minder beïnvloed word deur vloeiversteurings. ʼn Loopvlak het die vloeitempo deur die randwaaier met tot 48 % verhoog. Dit is ook bewys dat windeffekte alleenlik gemodelleer kan word deur die hele lugverkoelde kondensator in ag te neem.

A computational study aimed at improving the understanding of rotating instability in the LP steam turbine last stage working under low flow rate conditions is described in this thesis. A numerical simulation framework has been developed to investigate into the instability flow field. Two LP model turbine stages are studied under various flow rate conditions. By using the 2D simulations as reference and comparing the results to those of the 3D simulations, the basic physical mechanism of rotating instability is analysed. The pressure ratio characteristics across the rotor row tip are found to be crucial to the inception of rotating instability. The captured instability demonstrates a 2D mechanism based on the circumferential variation of unsteady separation flow in the rotor row. The 3D tip clearance flow is found not a necessary cause of the instability onset. Several influential parameters on the instability flow are also investigated by a set of detailed studies on different turbine configurations. The results show that the instability flow pattern and characteristics can be altered by the gap distance between the stator and rotor row, the rotor blading and the stator row stagger angle. Some flow control approaches are proposed based on the observations, which may also serve as design reference. The tip region 3D vortex flow upstream to the rotor row is also captured by the simulations under low flow rate conditions. Its appearance is found to be able to suppress the inception of rotating instability by disrupting the interaction between the rotor separation flow and the incoming flow. Finally, some recommendations for further work are proposed.

A steady-state mathematical model for the stripping section of an industrial EPDM rubber production process was developed for a three-tank process, and two four-tank processes. The experiments that were conducted to determine model parameters such as equivalent radius for EPDM particles, as well as solubility and diffusivity parameters for hexane and ENB in EPDM polymer are described. A single-particle multiple-tank model was developed first, and a process model that accounts for the residence-time distribution of crumb particles was developed second. Plant data as well as input data from an existing steady-state model was used to determine estimates for the tuning parameters used in the multiple-particle, multiple-tank model. Using plant data to assess the model’s predictive accuracy, the resulting three-tank and four-tank process B models provide accurate model predictions with a typical error of 0.35 parts per hundred resin (phr) and 0.12 phr. The four-tank process A model provides less-accurate model predictions for residual crumb concentrations in the second tank and has an overall typical error of 1.05 phr. Additional plant data from the three- and four-tank processes would increase the estimability of the parameter values for parameter ranking and estimations steps and thus, yield increased model predictive accuracy. / Thesis (Master, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-23 21:06:05.509

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The need to mitigate the twin crises of peak oil and climate change has driven a headlong rush to biofuels. This study was aimed at the development of a process to efficiently convert steam explosion pretreated (STEX) sugarcane bagasse into ethanol by using combinations of commercial enzyme cocktails and recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. Though enzymatic saccharification is promising in obtaining sugars from lignocellulosics, the low enzymatic accessibility of the cellulose and hemicellulose is a key impediment thus necessitating development of an effective pretreatment scheme and optimized enzyme mixtures with essential accessory activities. In this context, the effect of uncatalysed and SO2 catalysed STEX pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse on the composition of pretreated material, digestibility of the water insoluble solids (WIS) fraction and overall sugar recovery was investigated. STEX pretreatment with water impregnation was found to result in a higher glucose recovery (28.1 g/ 100 bagasse) and produced WIS with a higher enzymatic digestibility, thus was used in the optimization of saccharification and fermentation. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on the 33 factorial design was used to optimize the composition of the saccharolytic enzyme mixture so as to maximize glucose and xylose production from steam exploded bagasse. It was established that a combination of 20 FPU cellulase/ g WIS and 30 IU -glucosidases/ g WIS produced the highest desirability for glucose yield. Subsequently the optimal enzyme mixture was used to supplement enzyme activities of recombinant yeast strains co-expressing several cellulases and xylanases in simultaneous saccharification and fermentations SSFs. In the SSFs, ethanol yield was found to be inversely proportional to substrate concentration with the lowest ethanol yield of 70% being achieved in the SSF at a WIS concentration of 10% (w/v). The ultimate process would however be a one-step “consolidated” bio-processing (CBP) of lignocellulose to ethanol, where hydrolysis and fermentation of polysaccharides would be mediated by a single microorganism or microbial consortium without added saccharolytic enzymes. The cellulolytic yeast strains were able to autonomously multiply on sugarcane bagasse and concomitantly produce ethanol, though at very low titres (0.4 g/L). This study therefore confirms that saccharolytic enzymes exhibit synergism and that bagasse is a potential substrate for bioethanol production. Furthermore the concept of CBP was proven to be feasible. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die behoefte om die twee krisisse van piek-olie en klimaatsverandering te versag, het veroorsaak dat mense na biobrandstof as alternatiewe energiebron begin kyk het. Hierdie studie is gemik op die ontwikkeling van 'n proses om stoomontplofde voorafbehandelde (STEX) suikerriet bagasse doeltreffend te omskep in etanol deur die gebruik van kombinasies van kommersiële ensiem mengsels en rekombinante Saccharomyces cerevisiae stamme. Alhoewel ensiematiese versuikering belowend is vir die verkryging van suikers vanaf lignosellulose, skep die lae ensiematiese toeganklikheid van die sellulose en hemisellulose 'n hindernis en dus is die ontwikkeling van' n effektiewe behandelingskema en optimiseerde ensiemmengsels met essensiële bykomstige aktiwiteite noodsaaklik. In hierdie konteks, was die effek van ongekataliseerde en SO2 gekataliseerde stoomontploffing voorafbehandeling van suikerriet bagasse op die samestelling van voorafbehandelde materiaal, die verteerbaarheid van die (WIS) breuk van onoplosbare vastestowwe in water (WIS), en die algehele suikerherstel ondersoek. Daar was bevind dat stoomontploffing behandeling (STEX) met water versadiging lei tot 'n hoër suikerherstel (21.8 g/ 100g bagasse) en dit het WIS met ‘n hoër ensimatiese verteerbaarheid vervaardig en was dus gebruik in die optimalisering van versuikering en fermentasie. Reaksie oppervlak metodologie (RSM), gebasseer op die 33 faktoriële ontwerp, was gebruik om die samestelling van die ‘saccharolytic’ ensiemmengsel te optimaliseer om sodoende die maksimering van glukose en ‘xylose’ produksie van stoomontplofde bagasse te optimaliseer. Daar was bevestig dat ‘n kombinasie van 20 FPU sellulase/ g WIS en 30 IU ‘ -glucosidases/ g’ WIS die hoogste wenslikheid vir glukose-opbrengs produseer het. Daarna was die optimale ensiemmengsel gebruik om ensiemaktiwiteit van rekombinante gisstamme aan te vul, wat gelei het tot die medeuitdrukking van verskillende ‘cellulases’ en ‘xylanases’ in gelyktydige versuikering en fermentasie SSFs. In die SSFs was daar bevind dat die etanol-produksie omgekeerd proporsioneel is tot substraat konsentrasie, met die laagste etanolopbrengs van 70% wat bereik was in die SSF by ‘n WIS konsentrasie van 10% (w/v). Die uiteindelike proses sal egter 'n eenmalige "gekonsolideerde" bioprosessering (CBP) van lignosellulose na etanol behels, waar die hidrolise en fermentasie van polisakkariede deur' n enkele mikroorganisme of mikrobiese konsortium sonder bygevoegde ‘saccharolytic’ ensieme bemiddel sal word. Die ‘cellulolytic’ gisstamme was in staat om vanself te vermeerder op suikerriet bagasse en gelyktydig alkohol te produseer, al was dit by baie lae titres (0.4 g/L). Hierdie studie bevestig dus dat ‘saccharolytic’ ensieme sinergisme vertoon en dat bagasse 'n potensiële substraat is vir bio-etanol produksie. Daar was ook onder meer bewys dat die konsep van CBP uitvoerbaar is. / The National Research Foundation (NRF) for financial support

Lakes play an important role in the global carbon (C) cycle as they process carbon from terrestrial (allochthonous) and within lake (autochthonous) sources and may store C over long periods of time. Some arctic lakes contain high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) that does not absorb light and thus remains colourless. The origin of this DOC remains unknown, but the sediment of these lakes have been suggested to accumulate primarily autochthonous (algal) C. I developed an experimental chamber for hydrogen (H) isotope pre-treatments and applied a novel H isotope tracing approach to determine the origin of the DOC and sediment C of a lake on SW Greenland known to contain colourless DOC. I hypothesized that autochthonous C was the prime source of DOC and sediment C, in line with previous theories. Analyses of algae and soil samples from the catchment revealed that local allochthonous and autochthonous C sources had a δ2H composition of -139 ‰ and -209 ‰, respectively. In contrast to my hypothesis, the analysed DOC had a mean δ2H isotopic composition of -147 ‰ indicating a dominance (ca 80-90 %) of allochthonous C. Similarly, the sediment had a mean δ2H isotopic composition of -155 ‰, suggesting that about 84 % of the C accumulating in the sediment was derived from terrestrial sources. The terrestrial origin was supported by field observations of high DOC seepage water (up to 70 mg L-1) with uncharacteristically low light absorption values entering the lake during high precipitation events. My results indicate that terrestrial processes are fundamental C sources for arctic lakes, even in regions with very low precipitation.

La possibilité de produire un gaz combustible (syngaz) à partir des composés carbonés outre que le charbon et le pétrole permettrait aux pays pauvres en ressources énergétiques de se diriger vers une indépendance énergétique.La vapogazéification est un procédé qui permet de produire un gaz riche en hydrogène à partir des matériaux carbonés (par exemple le char de biomasse) et de la vapeur d’eau. Etant donné que la gazéification est un processus endothermique, la source d’énergie est le premier souci à résoudre. Si l’on ne veut pas contribuer au réchauffement de la planète, la source d’énergie et de carbone doivent rester renouvelables. Jusqu’à présent, les ingénieurs concevaient les gazéifieurs en pensant à une uniformité des propriétés à l’intérieur du réacteur, cela simplifie la modélisation et le contrôle des variables, cependant, avec les sources de chaleur innovantes et la possibilité de n’utiliser que de la vapeur d’eau pour la gazéification, on peut conclure qu’un gradient de températures améliore la production d’hydrogène. Les nouvelles technologies de gazéification nécessitent donc une compréhension des phénomènes de transfert afin d’être améliorées et optimisées. Trois types de réacteurs ont modélisés dans le cadre de cette thèse, il est mis en évidence qu’il existe un manque de critères solides à l’heure de choisir le dispositif réactionnel le plus adéquat selon les ressources disponibles. La théorie du gradient de température est conçue à partir des principaux résultats de cette thèse et s’intéresse à la création d’un outil simple à utiliser pour que l’ingénieur puisse prendre des décisions qui aident à améliorer la production de gaz combustible. / The possibility of producing syngas from carbon compounds other than coal or oil would allow countries lacking energy resources to move toward energy independence. The steam gasification is a process that could help to this predisposition, producing a hydrogen-rich gas from carbon-rich materials (e.g. biomass char) and steam. Since gasification is an endothermic process, the energy source is the first concern to be addressed in the gasifierdesign. If we want it to not contribute to global warming, the energy source and carbon must remain renewable.Until now, engineers designed gasifiers thinking about uniformity of properties within the reactor, it simplifies the variables modeling and control, however, with innovative heat sources and the possibility to use only steamfor gasification, it can be concluded that a temperature gradient enhances the hydrogen production, thus the syngas quality is improved. The new gasification technologies therefore require the understanding of transport phenomena to apply this advantage in order to improve the syngas production and quality. Three reactor typesare modeled as part of this work, it is shown that there is a lack of firm criteria to choose the reaction device according to the resources, consequently, the reactors performance could be diminished if the energy source is not properly used. The theory of the temperature gradient is built based on the main results and it is a simple toolto help the engineer to make decisions that will improve the fuel gas production.

This experim ental project aims to describe the influencing factors in the vacuum boiling o f w ater in w ater vapour refrigeration system s Testing was conducted using a 2 kW three-stage steam je t ejector system, w ith barom etric condensers, as the com pression device. Three direct-contact evaporators were used to investigate the boiling phenom ena. T hese were : a through-flow evaporator w here heal and mass transfer rates were established for boiling m echanism s at various positions within the evaporator; a vertical cylinder where small quantities o f w ater were subjected to rapid decom pression and the effects m easured, and a sim ple channel for photographic studies o f the process. Boiling in direct-contact water vapour systems is described herein The vacuum boiling proo ss was found to be controlled by a com bination o f the w ater surface tem perature and the hydrostatic pressure gradient, these being governed by the w ater vapour flow geometry between the w ater surface and ejector suction and convective heat transfer below the boiling region. The contributions o f the various boiling regim es to the total heat transfer are discussed. Heat and mass transfer coefficients and their applicability to evaporator design are presented