Natural gas density under extremely high pressure and high temperature: Comparison of molecular dynamics simulation with corresponding state model

This work applied molecular dynamics(MD)simulation to calculate densities of natural gas mixtures at extremely high pressure(>138 MPa)and high temperature(>200℃)conditions(x HPHT)to bridge the knowledge and technical gaps between experiments and classical theories.The experimental data are scarce at these conditions which are also out of assumptions for classical predictive correlations,such as the Dranchuk&Abou-Kassem(DAK)equation of state(EOS).Force fields of natural gas components were carefully chosen from literatures and the simulation results are validated with experimental data.The largest relative error is 2.67%for pure hydrocarbons,2.99%for C1/C3 mixture,7.85%for C1/C4 mixture,and 8.47%for pure H2S.These satisfactory predictions demonstrate that the MD simulation approach is reliable to predict natural-and acid-gases thermodynamic properties.The validated model is further used to generate data for the study of the EOS with pressure up to 276 MPa and temperature up to 573 K.Our results also reveal that the Dranchuk&Abou-Kassem(DAK)EOS is capable of predicting natural gas compressibility to a satisfactory accuracy at x HPHT conditions,which extends the confidence range of the DAK EOS.

Habitat use by mountain nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni determined using stem bite diameters at point of browse, bite rates, and time budgets in the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

We studied the habitat use of mountain nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni in the northern edge of the Bale Mountains Na- tional Park, Ethiopia. The aims of this study were to： （1） measure and quantify habitat-specific stem bite diameters of mountain nyala foraging on common natural plant species in two major habitat types （i.e. grasslands versus woodlands）, and （2） quantify the bite rates （number of bites per minute） and the activity time budgets of mountain nyala as functions of habitat type and sex-age category. We randomly laid out three transects in each habitat type. Following each transect, through focal animal obser- vations, we assessed and quantified stem diameters at point of browse （dpb）, bite rates, and time budgets of mountain nyala in grasslands versus woodlands. Stem dpb provide a measure of natural giving-up densities （GUDs） and can be used to assess fora- ging costs and efficiencies, with greater stem dpb corresponding to lower costs and greater efficiencies. The results showed that stem dpb, bite rates, induced vigilance, and proportion of time spent in feeding differed between habitats. In particular, mountain nyala had greater stem dpb, higher bite rates, and spent a greater proportion of their time in feeding and less in induced vigilance in the grasslands. In addition, adult females had the highest bite rates, and the browse species Solanum marginatum had the greatest stem dpb. Generally, grasslands provide the mountain nyala with several advantages over the woodlands, including of- fering lower foraging costs, greater safety, and more time for foraging. The study advocates how behavioural indicators and natural GUDs are used to examine the habitat use of the endangered mountain nyala through applying non-invasive techniques. We conclude that the resulting measures are helpful for guiding conservation and management efforts and could be applicable to a number of endangered wildlife species including the mountain nyala .