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Abstract

Lean premixed swirl stabilized combustion is one of the most successful technologies for NOx reduction in gas turbines. The creation of inherent coherent structures such as recirculation zones is one of the main advantages of these flow-stabilized systems since these zones create regions of low velocity that allow heat transfer improvement between reactants and products while increasing residence time for unburned species. However, these effects can also affect the stability of the flame under lean conditions, with various instabilities that can appear during the combustion stage such as flashback, blowoff, autoignition, etc. These processes are even more complex when new alternative fuels are being used for power generation applications. Synthesis gases (syngas) are some of the most concerning out of the available range of fuels as their heating values, flame speeds, ignition energies, etc. are highly dependent on the combination of species that comprise them. Since new gas turbines need to deal with these new blends for fuel flexibility and current lean premixed swirled stabilized systems seem to be the most cost effective-technical option to keep NOx down, gas turbine designers need more information on how to properly design their equipment to achieve stable flames with low NOx whilst avoiding instabilities.

Therefore, this paper presents a study using numerical and experimental analyses to provide guidance on the use of CH4/H2/CO blends in tangential swirl burners. Methane content was decreased from 50% to 10% (volume) with the remaining amount being split equally between carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Ambient temperature conditions were assessed using a swirl number close to 1.0. Particle Image Velocity was used to experimentally validate numerical predictions and determine features of the coherent structures affecting the flame close to the nozzle. Modelling was carried out employing the k-ω SST turbulence model, providing more information about the impact of these structures and the flame turbulent nature close to blowoff limits. The study emphasizes the analysis of various nozzles with different angles and how these geometrical changes at the outlet of the swirl chamber affect the onset of blowoff. Recommendations on the use of RANS CFD modelling are provided on the basis of blend composition.

The oil and gas sector has a significant impact on sustainable development, making it important for the sector to implement serious changes in the way it does business. Oil and gas operations involve both upstream activities, and downstream activities. Due to the nature of these activities which cause high risks, companies work continuously to reduce the significance of their adverse impacts on the environment and people. Thus, evaluating the sustainable production in this sector is become a necessity. This paper proposes a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for evaluating the sustainable production believed to be appropriate to the oil and gas sector based on the triple bottom line of sustainability. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is applied to prioritize the performance indicators by summarizing the opinions of experts. It is hoped that the proposed KPIs enables and assists this sector to achieve the higher performance in sustainable production and so as to ensures business sustainability.

Abstract

Swirl stabilized combustion is one of the most successful technologies for flame and nitrogen oxides control in gas turbines. However, complex fluid dynamics and lean conditions pose a problem for stabilization of the flame. The problem is even more acute when alternative fuels are used for flexible operation. Although there is active research on the topic, there are still various gaps in the understanding of how interaction of large coherent structures during the process affect flame stabilization and related phenomena. Thus, this paper approaches the phenomenon of lean premixed swirl combustion of CH4/H2/CO blends to understand the impacts of these fuels on flame blowoff. An atmospheric pressure generic swirl burner was operated at ambient inlet conditions. Different exhaust nozzles were used to alter the Central Recirculation Zone and observe the impacts caused by various fuel blends on the structure and the blowoff phenomenon. Methane content in the fuel was decreased from 50% to 10% (by volume) with the remaining amount split equally between carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Experimental trials were performed using Phase Locked PIV. The Central Recirculation Zone and its velocity profiles were measured and correlated providing details of the structure close to blowoff. The results show how the strength and size of the recirculation zone are highly influenced by the fuel blend, changing stability based on the carbon-hydrogen ratios. Nozzle effects on the shear flow and Re numbers were also observed. Modelling was carried out using the k-ω SST CFD model which provided more information about the impact of the CRZ and the flame nature close to blowoff limit. It was observed that the model under-predicts coherent structure interactions at high methane fuel content, with an over-prediction of pressure decay at low methane content when correlated to the experimental results. Thus, complex interactions between structures need to be included for adequate power prediction when using very fast/slow syngas blends under lean conditions. 

Data required for calculation the static re-crystallization kinetics have been evaluated from laboratory simulations. Series of two hit isothermal tests were conducted on high temperature torsion machine. These tests were conducted on four different temperatures and using inter-pass times between 0.5 and 5s with aim to investigate the influence of thermal activation on static re-crystallization. All tests were conducted on temperatures over TNR temperature, i.e. in temperature range in which all niobium is present only in solid solution. Method of evaluation of re-crystallization fraction was mechanical metallography, i.e. evaluation based on shape of each stress- strain curve. The fraction softening was calculated for all temperatures, together with avrami exponent, nA, and activation energy for re-crystallization, QSRX. Activation energy for static re-crystallization QSRX  281 KJ/mol and avrami exponent nA  1 determined in this work are in excellent agreement with previously reported data.

The aim of this work is focused on nucleation stages with emphasis on the development of intra-granular ferrite morphologies during isothermal austenite transformation in titanium free micro-alloyed steel. Isothermal treatment was carried out in the temperature range 350 to 600οC. These treatments were interrupted at different times between 2 and 1800 s in order to analyze the evolution of the microstructure. Metallographic evaluation was done by using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) enabled determination of the nucleation onset at all treatments and subsequent on the development of intra-granular ferrite of isothermally treated Ti free micro-alloyed steel. The results show that at high temperatures ( 500  C) polygonal intra-granularly nucleated ferrite idiomorphs, combined with grain boundary ferrite and pearlite were produced and followed by an incomplete transformation phenomenon, At intermediate temperatures (450 and 500  C) an interlocked acicular ferrite (AF) microstructure is produced, and at low temperatures (400 and 350  C) the sheave of parallel acicular ferrite plates, similar to bainitic sheaves but intra-granularly nucleated were observed. In addition to sheaf type acicular ferrite, the grain boundary nucleated bainitic sheaves are observed.

We have synthesized graphene oxide using improved Hummer's method in order to explore the potential use of the resulting graphene oxide as a nanocarrier for an active anticancer agent, chlorogenic acid (CA). The synthesized graphene oxide and chlorogenic acid-graphene oxide nanocomposite (CAGO) were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential thermogravimetry analysis, Raman spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), UV–vis spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques. The successful conjugation of chlorogenic acid onto graphene oxide through hydrogen bonding and π–π interaction was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, FTIR analysis and X-ray diffraction patterns. The loading of CA in the nanohybrid was estimated to be around 13.1% by UV–vis spectroscopy. The release profiles …

Abstract

This paper provides a CFD comparison of tow turbulence modeling approaches (SST) and (K-epsilon), with application to the simulation of a teardrop. As well as, the study investigates and compares among 3 different models in a range these types in order to assess the suitability of CFD for use when calculating drag co-efficient. Moreover, the study focuses on 3 different velocities to be impacted with the drag co-efficient. Whereas, the pressure over the body was used to calculate the drag co-efficient for each of the 3 teardrops shapes.

This paper presents the mediating effect of information technology (IT) on the relationship between contextual factors and performance of small construction companies. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed to Malaysian construction firms (G3, G4, and G5). The target respondents were general managers, senior managers, and project managers of construction firms and those who have considerable knowledge of IT implementation in their firms. Sixty-eight completed questionnaires were collected, which indicates a 34% response rate. The three determinants used are the firm contextual factors, IT effectiveness (independent variable), and overall firm performance (dependent variable). The relationship between contextual factors and firm performance was evaluated according to two hypotheses. The first hypothesis suggested a positive relationship between contextual factors and overall firm performance, whereas the second hypothesis suggested a positive relationship between contextual factors and IT effectiveness. IT resource strategy was identified as the most important factor in firm performance. The results indicate a weak positive relationship between contextual factors and overall firm performance. The mediating effects of IT effectiveness on contextual factors and overall firm performance were insignificant.