Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The focus of this project was on the potential application of waste heat recovery and utilisation (WHR&U) systems in pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR) technology. The background theory provided in the literature survey showed that WHR&U systems have attracted the attention of many researchers over the past two decades, as using waste heat improves the system overall efficiency, notwithstanding the cost of extra plant. PBMR waste heat streams were identified and investigated based on the amount of heat rejected to the environment. WHR&U systems require specially designed heat recovery equipment, and as such the used and/or spent PBMR fuel tanks were considered by the way of example. An appropriately scaled system was designed, built and tested, to demonstrate the functioning of such a cooling system. Two separate and independent cooling lines, using natural circulation flow in a particular form of heat pipes called thermosyphon loops were used to ensure that the fuel tank is cooled when the power conversion unit has to be switched off for maintenance, or if it fails. A theoretical model that simulates the heat transfer process in the as-designed WHR&U system was developed. It is a one-dimensional flow model assuming quasi-static and incompressible liquid and vapour flow. An experimental investigation of the WHR&U system was performed in order to validate the theoretical model results. The experimental results were then used to modify the theoretical heat transfer coefficients so that they simulate the experiments more accurately. Three energy conversion devices, the dual-function absorption cycle (DFAC), the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and the Stirling engine (SE), were identified as suitable for transforming the recovered heat into a useful form, depending on the source temperatures from 60 ºC to 800 ºC. This project focuses on a free-piston SE with emphasis on the thermo-dynamic performance of a SE heat exchanger. It was found that a heat exchanger with a copper woven wire mesh configuration has a relatively large gas-to-metal and metal-to-liquid heat transfer area. Tube-in-shell heat exchanger configurations were tested, with the working fluid flowing in ten copper inner pipes, while a coolant flows through the shell tube. A lumped parameter model was used to describe the thermo-fluid dynamic behaviour of the SE heat exchanger. In order to validate the theoretical results, a uni-directional flow experimental investigation was performed. The theoretical model was adjusted so that it simulated the SE heat exchanger. It was found that after this correction the theoretical model accurately predicts the experiment. Finally, a dynamic analysis of the SE heat exchanger experimental set-up was undertaken to show that, although vibrating, the heat exchanger setup assembly was indeed acceptable from a vibrational and fatigue point of view. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofoogmerk met hierdie projek was die moontlike aanwending van afvalhitteherwinningen- benutting-(WHR&U-) stelsels in modulêre-gruisbedreaktor-(PBMR-) tegnologie. Agtergrondteorie in die literatuurondersoek toon dat WHR&U-stelsels al menige navorser se belangstelling geprikkel het, hetsy vanweë die moontlike ekonomiese voordele wat dit inhou óf vir besoedelingsvoorkoming, bo-en-behalwe die koste van bykomende toerusting. Die PBMRafvalhittestrome is ondersoek en bepaal op grond van die hoeveelheid hitte wat dit na die omgewing vrystel. Om in die prosesbehoeftes van WHR&U-stelsels te voorsien, moet goed ontwerpte, doelgemaakte hitteherwinningstoerusting in ʼn verkoelings- en/of verhittingsproses gebruik word, dus is die PBMR as voorbeeld gebruik vir die konsep. ʼn Toepaslik geskaleerde WHR&U-stelsel is dus ontwerp, gebou en getoets om die geldigheid van die stelselontwerp te toon. Twee onafhanklike verkoelingslyne, wat van natuurlike konveksie gebruik maak, in die vorm van hitte-pype of termoheuwel lusse, was gebruik om te verseker dat verkoeling verskaf word wanneer die hoof lus breek of instandhouding nodig hê. ʼn Teoretiese model is ontwikkel wat die hitteoordragproses in die ontwerpte WHR&U-stelsel simuleer. Dié model was ʼn eendimensionele vloeimodel wat kwasistatiese en onsamedrukbare vloeistof- en dampvloei in die WHR&U-stelsel-lusse veronderstel. ʼn Eksperimentele ondersoek is op die WHR&U-stelsel uitgevoer ten einde die teoretiese model se resultate te bevestig. Die eksperimentele resultate was dus geneem om die teoretiese hitteoordragkoëffisiënte aan te pas sodat dit die eksperimente kon simuleer. Drie energieomsettingstoestelle, naamlik die dubbel funksie absorpsie siklus (DFAC), die organiese Rankine siklus (ORC) en die Stirling enjin (SE), is as geskikte toestelle uitgewys om die herwonne hitte op grond van brontemperature tussen 60 ºC en 800 ºC in ʼn bruikbare vorm om te sit. Hierdie tesis het op vryesuier-SE’s gekonsentreer, met klem op die hitteruiler. Meer bepaald is die termodinamiese werkverrigting van ʼn SE-hitteruiler ondersoek. Daar is bevind dat ʼn hitteruiler met ʼn geweefde koperdraadmaas-samestelling oor ʼn betreklik groot gas-totmetaal- en metaal-tot-vloeistof-oordragoppervlakte beskik. Die verhitter en verkoeler is in ʼn buis-in-mantel-vorm ontwerp, met die werksvloeistof wat deur tien koperbinnepype vloei en ʼn koelmiddel deur die mantelbuis. ʼn Saamgevoegde-parameter-model is gebruik om die termodinamiese gedrag van die SEhitteruiler te beskryf. Ten einde die teoretiese resultate te bevestig, is ʼn eenrigtingvloeiproefondersoek uitgevoer. Die teoretiese model is aangepas sodat dit die SE-hitteruiler kon simuleer. Ná die nodige verstellings is daar bevind dat die teoretiese model die proefneming akkuraat voorspel. Laastens was ʼn dinamiese ontleding van die SE-hitteruiler ook onderneem om te toon dat, hoewel dit vibreer, die hitteruiler proef samestel inderdaad veilig is.

Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, is a water born pathogenic bacteria commonly found in natural and manmade water systems such as rivers, lakes, wet soil, hot and cold water storage systems (being able to survive at temperatures between 6-63 °C, and proliferating between 20-45 °C), showerheads, cooling towers and spa pools. The main pathway of exposure to Legionella is by inhaling the aerosols containing the microorganism. Legionnaires' disease can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated at the right time. Practical Legionella control starts with a risk assessment of the water system and followed by the regular monitoring and water sampling. UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have implemented strict legislations to protect the public from Legionnaires' disease. This research highlights and addresses three major data gaps identified in Legionella control and management strategy employed in the UK and worldwide; namely, (i) the underestimation of microbiological threat in current cold water storage sampling strategy, (ii) the inability of current qPCR diagnostic methods to detect live Legionella in water samples, and (iii) the lack of predictive 'risk management system' for Legionella control in domestic water systems. During my PhD, 15 relevant cold water storage tanks (selected from more than 6000 tanks surveyed at different sites located in different London Boroughs) were used to investigate the risk factors that contribute towards Legionella proliferation, and revealed serious shortcomings in the appropriateness of the water sample taken for regulatory testing. Secondly, molecular biology research was carried out to develop an accurate, reliable and rapid testing method for the detection and quantification of live Legionella using qPCR techniques. This was successfully achieved by extracting RNA from a Legionella lenticule, converting the RNA into cDNA and amplifying the cDNA using qPCR techniques. Finally, regular monitoring data from 120 London buildings (60 known to be Legionella positive and 60 known to be Legionella negative) was used to identify the possible risk factors contributing towards Legionella outbreaks. Data for these factors was then used to develop a predictive risk model for Legionella contamination using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The model was validated with 66 new London buildings and 9 out of London buildings. The model showed 100% accuracy in predicting the risk of Legionella by distinguishing infected and non-infected sites in London as well as for the sites in out of London.

Orientadores: José Roberto Nunhez, Nicolas Spogis / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T07:47:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vergel_JoseLuisGomez_M.pdf: 8156840 bytes, checksum: f0b5d7b4b0875d4716285f8ec3ce5fa2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: O uso de malhas não estruturadas recentemente tem recebido uma considerável atenção para discretização do domínio computacional em simulações CFD (Vakili & Esfahany, 2009; Cabrales, et al., 2011). A malha não estruturada (comumente tetraédricas) permite uma adequada adaptação em geometrias irregulares e uma geração automática na maioria dos softwares comerciais em CFD. Na literatura constantemente tem sido sugerido que as malhas hexaédricas são preferidas as tetraédricas, porém esta última pode ser usada, desde que alguns cuidados sejam tomados para proporcionar uma boa representação do fenômeno físico do problema. Alguns trabalhos recentemente publicados mostram que as malhas tetraédricas quando utilizadas com cuidado, podem obter resultados satisfatórios (Spogis & Nunhez, 2009). A maioria dos trabalhos desenvolvidos com uso da simulação CFD para processos de mistura utilizam malha hexaédrica, enquanto os resultados obtidos com malhas tetraédricas não possuem a mesma aprovação (Joaquim Junior et al., 2007), parte deste trabalho esta focado em mostrar que elas podem fornecer bons resultados em simulações de processos de mistura. Outro objetivo desse trabalho é mostrar o efeito do refinamento em malhas tetraédricas. Investigou-se a influência dos elementos prismáticos perto da parede sobre parâmetros globais, tais como o número de potência e número de bombeamento. Foi também realizada uma análise inicial da sensibilidade de alguns modelos de turbulência e esquemas de discretização sobre o campo de fluxo produzido. Além disso, simulações com diferentes refinamentos de malha foram feitas usando a abordagem de múltiplos sistemas de referência (MFR); enquanto em outros casos foi proporcionada uma abordagem de malhas deslizantes (SG) no impelidor. Os esquemas de discretização foram limitados aos esquemas Upwind, High resolution e blend fator, uma vez que esquemas diferentes não funcionam adequadamente com elementos tetraédricos. O software comercial de CFD CFX 14.0 foi utilizado para simular os resultados. Um impelidor de pás inclinadas (PBT 45°, com bombeamento para baixo) foi simulado em regime turbulento. Os resultados obtidos pelas simulações CFD para o número de potência e bombeamento, e perfil da componente axial da velocidade são discutidos e comparados com dados experimentais (Machado et al. et al., 2011). A velocidade foi medida usando a técnica PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry). Uma significativa influencia foi observada em alguns parâmetros na determinação de importantes variáveis nos processos de mistura. De forma geral, a predição do perfil da velocidade é influenciada, de alguma forma, pela resolução da malha, pelo modelo de turbulência e pelo esquema de discretização / Abstract: The use of non-structured meshes has received recently considerable attention for discretization of the computational domain in CFD simulations (Vakili & Esfahany, 2009; Cabrales et al., 2011). The non-structured meshes (the most common are tetrahedral) allow adequate adaptation of irregular geometries and easy use of automated algorithms for mesh generation in most commercial CFD software. It has been consistently suggested in the literature that hexahedral meshes are preferred over tetrahedral. However, they can be used, provided that some care is taken to provide a good representation of the physical phenomena of the problem. Recently published works have been proving that if they are used with care, satisfactory results are obtained (Spogis & Nunhez, 2009). Most of works developed with the use of CFD simulation for mixing processes use hexahedral and to date tetrahedral do not have the same acceptance of hexahedral (Joaquim Junior et al., 2007) and part of this work is aimed at showing that they can provide good results when simulating mixing processes. Another objective of this work is to show the effect of mesh refinement in tetrahedral meshes. It is investigated the influence of the prismatic elements near wall on global parameters such as the Power and Flow numbers. An initial analysis of the sensitivity of some turbulence models (Standard k-? model, the shear stress transport (SST) and BSL-Reynolds stress model) and the discretization scheme on the flow field produced were also carried out in this work. In addition, simulations with different mesh resolutions were made using the multiple reference frame (MFR) approach; whereas other cases a sliding mesh modeling was provided for the impeller. The discretization schemes were limited to upwind, high resolution and blend factor, since other schemes do not work well with tetrahedral. The commercial CFD software CFX 14.0 was used to simulate the results. A pitched blade turbine (PBT 45°, down-pumping), was simulated in turbulent flow. The results obtained for the Power and Flow numbers, the axial velocity profile component of the model in CFD are discussed and compared with experimental data (Machado et al. et al., 2011). The velocity was measured using the PIV technique (Particle Image Velocimetry). A significant influence of some parameters is observed on the determination of some important variable mixing. In general, the predictions of the velocity profile are influenced in some way by the resolution of the mesh, turbulence model and the discretization scheme / Mestrado / Desenvolvimento de Processos Químicos / Mestre em Engenharia Química

This diploma thesis deals with the storage tanks for petroleum products. The introductory part is devoted to the distribution of the storage tanks, associated standards and maintenance of tanks. Another part goes about the analysis of real case of a tank collapse. There was created a 3D model of the collapsed tank according to the measured values in the tank. It was created a tank shell model by drawing documentation and analysis of the results of the accident investigation using the finite element method (FEM) by program ANSYS. Calculation was performed on the buckling resistance of the structure according to ČSN EN 1993-1-6 and its comparison with the results of FEM analysis in ANSYS. The aim of the study was to find the critical condition of the structure and determination of the critical internal underpressure and overpressure. At the end there were determined measures for safe operation and settings of the valve members.

Prior to the passage of the 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 1.6 million bare steel Underground Storage Tanks (UST) were in use in the United States. Many of them were leaking. In Indiana approximately 13,000 UST remain but have been upgraded to meet current industry and regulatory standards. Cleaning up the petroleum releases from leaking UST has continued since it became evident that bare steel underground tanks leaked. In Northwest Indiana glacial moraine and outwash deposits from the Wisconsin Ice Age that retreated 10,000 years ago left 200 feet of glacial till above the underlying bedrock. Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) and Air Sparging (AS) have proven to be effective and provide significant cost savings for remediation in the glacial deposits in Northwest Indiana. Indiana also has the Excess Liability Trust Fund (ELTF) to help pay for and to expedite clean-up of releases from registered UST. Cleaning up petroleum releases requires the appropriate technology for the localized geology, adequate funding, and appropriate guidance from state and federal regulations. This study discusses these issues at three sites in Northwest Indiana to demonstrate how technology, funding, and regulatory compliance must collaborate to work in the field.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

Metamaterials are typically described as materials with ’unusual’ wave propagation properties. Originally developed for electromagnetic waves, these materials have also spread into the field of acoustic wave guiding and cloaking, with the most relevant of these ’unusual’ properties, being the so called band-gap phenomenon. A band-gap signifies a frequency region where elastic waves cannot propagate through the material, which in principle, could be used to protect buildings from earthquakes. Based on this, two relevant concepts have been proposed in the field of seismic engineering, namely: metabarriers, and metamaterial-based foundations. This thesis deals with the development of the Metafoundation, a metamaterial-based foundation system for the seismic protection of fuel storage tanks against excessive base shear and pipeline rupture. Note that storage tanks have proven to be highly sensitive to earthquakes, can trigger sever economic and environmental consequences in case of failure and were therefore chosen as a superstructure for this study. Furthermore, when tanks are protected with traditional base isolation systems, the resulting horizontal displacements, during seismic action, may become excessively large and subsequently damage connected pipelines. A novel system to protect both, tank and pipeline, could significantly augment the overall safety of industrial plants. With the tank as the primary structure of interest in mind, the Metafoundation was conceived as a locally resonant metamaterial with a band gap encompassing the tanks critical eigenfrequency. The initial design comprised a continuous concrete matrix with embedded resonators and rubber inclusions, which was later reinvented to be a column based structure with steel springs for resonator suspension. After investigating the band-gap phenomenon, a parametric study of the system specifications showed that the horizontal stiffness of the overall foundation is crucial to its functionality, while the superstructure turned out to be non-negligible when tuning the resonators. Furthermore, storage tanks are commonly connected to pipeline system, which can be damaged by the interaction between tank and pipeline during seismic events. Due to the complex and nonlinear response of pipeline systems, the coupled tank-pipeline behaviour becomes increasingly difficult to represent through numerical models, which lead to the experimental study of a foundation-tank-pipeline setup. Under the aid of a hybrid simulation, only the pipeline needed to be represented via a physical substructure, while both tank and Metafoundation were modelled as numerical substrucutres and coupled to the pipeline. The results showed that the foundation can effectively reduce the stresses in the tank and, at the same time, limit the displacements imposed on the pipeline. Leading up on this, an optimization algorithm was developed in the frequency domain, under the consideration of superstructure and ground motion spectrum. The advantages of optimizing in the frequency domain were on the one hand the reduction of computational effort, and on the other hand the consideration of the stochastic nature of the earthquake. Based on this, two different performance indices, investigating interstory drifts and energy dissipation, revealed that neither superstructure nor ground motion can be disregarded when designing a metamaterial-based foundation. Moreover, a 4 m tall optimized foundation, designed to remain elastic when verified with a response spectrum analysis at a return period of 2475 years (according to NTC 2018), reduced the tanks base shear on average by 30%. These results indicated that the foundation was feasible and functional in terms of construction practices and dynamic response, yet unpractical from an economic point of view. In order to tackle the issue of reducing the uneconomic system size, a negative stiffness mechanism was invented and implemented into the foundation as a periodic structure. This mechanism, based on a local instability, amplified the metamaterial like properties and thereby enhanced the overall system performance. Note that due to the considered instability, the device exerted a nonlinear force-displacement relationship, which had the interesting effect of reducing the band-gap instead of increasing it. Furthermore, time history analyses demonstrated that with 50% of the maximum admissible negative stiffness, the foundation could be reduced to 1/3 of its original size, while maintaining its performance. Last but not least, a study on wire ropes as resonator suspension was conducted. Their nonlinear behaviour was approximated with the Bouc Wen model, subsequently linearized by means of stochastic techniques and finally optimized with the algorithm developed earlier. The conclusion was that wire ropes could be used as a more realistic suspension mechanism, while maintaining the high damping values required by the optimized foundation layouts. In sum, a metamaterial-based foundation system is developed and studied herein, with the main findings being: (i) a structure of this type is feasible under common construction practices; (ii) the shear stiffness of the system has a fundamental impact on its functionality; (iii) the superstructure cannot be neglected when studying metamaterial-based foundations; (iv) the complete coupled system can be tuned with an optimization algorithm based on calculations in the frequency domain; (v) an experimental study suggests that the system could be advantageous to connected pipelines; (vi) wire ropes may serve as resonator suspension; and (vii) a novel negative stiffness mechanism can effectively improve the system performance.

Soil contamination by gasoline underground storage tanks is a critical environmental problem. The results herein show that in situ bioremediation using indigenous soil microorganisms is the method of choice. Five sites were selected for bioremediation based on the levels of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene and the amount of total petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil. Bacteria capable of degrading these contaminants were selected from the contaminated sites and grown in 1,200 I mass cultures. These were added to the soil together with nutrients, water and air via PVC pipes.