Development of experimental apparatus about reverse circulation bit

A set of experimental apparatus on reverse circulation bit are developed, in order to lucubrate the mechanism of the new type reverse circulation bits, and the structure of the bits influencing the ability of taking core and carrying powder.Both the major structure of the equipment and the procession of experiment are described.

A new two-dimensional experimental apparatus for electrochemical remediation processes

Electrochemical extraction of contaminants from soils is a promising soil decontamination technology. Various experiments have been conducted to study electrochemical reactions and geochemical processes in the electrochemical extraction using different experimental apparatuses. This paper presents the development of a new closed two-dimensional(2D) apparatus that can better simulate the field application of the technology and accurately monitor the most important electrochemical parameters to understand the process. The innovative features of the new apparatus include the outer and inner electrodes designed to apply a non-uniform electrical field across the specimen as in the field electrochemical remediation process, the probes installed to measure the 2D distribution of electrical voltage, and the gas and fluid volume measurement devices used to accurately monitor the gas generation and electroosmotic flow rates at both electrodes as a function of time. The components of this new apparatus and the features of each component are described. The operating procedure and some typical results from three experiments with the apparatus are demonstrated. The results show that the variation of the gas generation rate is in good agreement with the electric current. Their relation provides a valid evaluation for electrochemical behavior of the system and Faraday's laws of electrolysis. The 2D profiles of cadmium concentration and voltage distribution at the end of the experiment reveal the great effects of a non-uniform electrical field on the contaminant mobilization.

An experimental study of shear strength of gas-hydrate-bearing core samples

The shear strength of gas-hydrate-bearing reservoirs is one of the most important parameters used to study mechanical properties of gas-hydrate-bearing reservoirs. The shear strength of gas-hydrate- bearing reservoirs changes with filling and cementation of gas hydrates, which will affect the wellbore and reservoir stability. Traditional shear tests could not be conducted on gas-hydrate-bearing core samples because the gas hydrates exist under a limited range of temperature and pressure conditions. This paper describes a novel shear apparatus for studying shear strength of gas-hydrate-bearing core samples under original reservoir conditions. The preparation of gas-hydrate-bearing core samples and subsequent shear tests are done in the same cell. Cohesion and internal friction angle of the core samples with different saturations of gas hydrates were measured with the apparatus. The effect of gas hydrates on the shear strength of reservoirs was quantitatively analyzed. This provides a foundation for studying wellbore and reservoir stability of gas-hydrate-bearing reservoirs.

Laboratory core flooding experimental systems for CO_2 geosequestration: An updated review over the past decade

Carbon dioxide(CO2) geosequestration in deep saline aquifers has been currently deemed as a preferable and practicable mitigation means for reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gases(GHGs) emissions to the atmosphere, as deep saline aquifers can offer the greatest potential from a capacity point of view. Hence,research on core-scale CO2/brine multiphase migration processes is of great significance for precisely estimating storage efficiency, ensuring storage security, and predicting the long-term effects of the sequestered CO2in subsurface saline aquifers. This review article initially presents a brief description of the essential aspects of CO2subsurface transport and geological trapping mechanisms, and then outlines the state-of-the-art laboratory core flooding experimental apparatus that has been adopted for simulating CO2injection and migration processes in the literature over the past decade. Finally, a summary of the characteristics, components and applications of publicly reported core flooding equipment as well as major research gaps and areas in need of further study are given in relevance to laboratory-scale core flooding experiments in CO2geosequestration under reservoir conditions.

Geostructures, dynamics and risk mitigation of high-altitude and long- runout rockslides

Long-runout rockslides at high altitude could cause disaster chain in river basins and destroy towns and major infrasturctures.This paper firstly explores the initiation mechanism of high-altitude and long-runout rockslides.Two types of sliding-prone geostructure models,i.e.the fault control type in orogenic belt and the fold control type in platform area,are proposed.Then,large-scale experimental apparatus and associated numerical simulations are conducted to understanding the chain-style dynamics of rockslide-debris avalanche-debris flow.The results reveal the fragmentation effects,the rheological behaviors and the boundary layer effect of long-runout avalanche-debris flow.The dynamic character-istics of quasi-static-transition-inertia state and solid-liquid coupling in rapid movement of rockslide-debris avalanche-debris flow are investigated.Finally,the risk mitigation strategy of the non-structure and structure for resilient energy dissipation are illustrated for initiation,transition and deposition zones.The structural prevention and mitigation methods have been successfully applied to the high-altitude and long-runout rockslides in Zhouqu and Maoxian of the Wenchuan earthquake zone,as well as the other major geohazards in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its adjacent areas.

A review on hot tearing of magnesium alloys

Hot tearing is often a major casting defect in magnesium alloys and has a significant impact on the quality of their casting products.Hot tearing of magnesium alloys is a complex solidification phenomenon which is still not fully understood,it is of great importance to investigate the hot tearing behaviour of magnesium alloys.This review attempts to summarize the investigations on hot tearing of magnesium alloys over the past decades.The hot tearing criteria including recently developed Kou’s criterion are summarized and compared.The numeric simulation and assessing methods of hot tearing,factors influencing hot tearing,and hot tearing susceptibility(HTS)of magnesium alloys are discussed.

A laboratory method to simulate seismic waves induced by underground explosions

The seismic waves induced by underground explosions generate geological hazards affecting deep buried tunnels such as rockbursts and engineering-induced earthquakes. This issue is difficult to study through full-scale testing due to the expense and unpredictable danger. To solve this problem, the authors developed experimental apparatus and presented a laboratory method to simulate seismic waves induced by underground explosions. In this apparatus, a combined structure of a diffusive-shaped water capsule and a special-shaped oil capsule was designed. This structure can provide an applied confining stress and freely transmit the stress wave generated by external impact. Therefore, the coupled loading of in situ stress and seismic waves induced by underground explosions in the deep rock mass was simulated. The positive pressure time and peak value of the stress wave could be adjusted by changing the pulse-shaper and the initial impact energy. The obtained stress waves in the experiments correspond to that generated by 0.15-120 kt of TNT equivalent explosion at a scaled distance of 89.9-207.44 m/kt.

Needs of thermodynamic properties measurements and modeling in the frame of new regulations on refrigerants

In 1987, the Montreal Protocol prohibited the worldwide use and production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) were proposed as alternative refrigerants. Unfortunately, HFCs have non negligible global warning potential and therefore new refrigerants must be proposed or old refrigerants must be used associated with HFC. Accurate experimental thermodynamic data and predictive techniques are required for better under-standing of the performance of the newly proposed refrigerants. In this communication, experimental techniques based on either analytic or synthetic methods are first described. Data are reported. Then two newly developed predictive models based on thermodynamic approach with the isofugacity criterion and artificial neural network method are presented. The results can provide better evaluation of refrigerants, especially with the aim of studying global warning effects.