Pore capillary pressure and saturation of methane hydrate bearing sediments

To better understand the relationship between the pore capillary pressure and hydrate saturation in sediments, a new method was proposed. First, the phase equilibria of methane hydrate in fine-grained silica sands were measured. As to the equilibrium data, the pore capillary pressure and saturation of methane hydrate were calculated. The results showed that the phase equilibria of methane hydrates in fine-grained silica sands changed due to the depressed activity of pore water caused by the surface group and negatively charged characteristic of silica particles as well as the capillary pressure in small pores together. The capillary pressure increased with the increase of methane hydrate saturation due to the decrease of the available pore space. However, the capillary-saturation relationship could not yet be described quantitatively because of the stochastic habit of hydrate growth.

Pressure Dependence of the Small-Signal Gain and Saturation Intensity of a Copper Bromide Laser

A pair of copper bromide lasers in an oscillator–amplifier configuration is used to investigate the small signal gain and saturation intensity as amplifying parameters and output power of lasers, versus pressure of buffer gas. It is shown that the amplifying parameters and laser output power have a maximum value at optimum buffer gas pressure of 11？Torr. The challenge between microscopic parameters such as stimulated emission cross section, laser upper level lifetime, and population inversion, which determine the values of laser characteristics respective to the operational pressure of buffer gas, are investigated. Thus an optimum delay time of about 10？ns is determined, and a maximum output power equivalent to about 12？W is extracted. The amplifying parameters and measured output power of laser versus delay times show some local maxima and minima at the delay time interval of 6–43？ns.

Process of Microcellular Propellants with Adjustable Skin Thickness

Microcellular propellants show a vast applicable prospect due to their special shell-pore structure. The effects of saturation pressure and desorption time on skin thickness are studied. The skin thickness is observed and measured using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that the skin thickness decreases when saturation pressure increases from 15 MPa to 30 MPa. In contrast, the skin thickness increases as the desorption time changes from 2 min to 20 min.Therefore, the microcellular propellants with adjustable skin thickness can be obtained under the variable process conditions such as saturation pressure and desorption time.

Dispersion hydrophobic electrolyte enables lithium-oxygen battery enduring saturated water vapor

Li-O_(2) batteries gain widespread attention as a can didate for next-generati on energy storage devices due to their extraordinary theoretic specific energy.The semi-open structure of Li-O_(2) batteries causes many parasitic reactions,especially related to water.Water is a double-edged sword,which destroys Li anode and simultaneously triggers a solution-based pathway of the discharge product.In this work,hexamethyldisilazane(HMDS)is introduced into the electrolyte of an aprotic Li-O_(2) battery.HMDS has a strong ability to combine with a trace of water to gen erate a hydrophobic hexamethyldisiloxa ne(MM),which eliminates water from the electrolyte decomposition and then prevents the Li anode from producing the insulating LiOH with water.In this case,the hydrophobic MM disperses in the ether-based electrolyte,forming a dispersion hydrophobic electrolyte.This electrolyte can anchor water from the environment on the cathode side,which triggers a solution-based pathway and regulates the growth morphology of the discharge product and consequently increases the discharge capacity.Compared with the Li-O_(2) battery without the HMDS,the HMDS-containing Li-O_(2) battery contributes an about 13-fold increase of cyclability(400 cycles,1800 h)in the extreme environment of saturated water vapor.This work opens a new approach for directly operating aprotic Li-O_(2) batteries in ambient air.

Modeling and Simulation of Lithium Vacuum Evaporation Process Using COMSOL Multiphysics

Based on the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software,this study carried out modeling and numerical simulation for the evaporation process of liquid metal lithium in the vacuum free molecular flow state.The motion of lithium atoms in the evaporation process was analyzed through a succession of studies.Based on the available experimental values of the saturated vapor pressure of liquid metal lithium,the relationship between saturated vapor pressure and temperature of liquid lithium in the range of 600 K-900 K was obtained.A two-dimensional symmetric model(3.5 mm×20 mm) was established to simulate the transient evaporation process of liquid lithium at wall temperatures of 750 K,780 K,800 K,810 K,825 K,and 850 K,respectively.The effects of temperature,the evaporation coefficient,back pressure,and length-to-diameter ratio on the evaporation process were studied;the variation trends and reasons of the molecular flux and the pressure during the evaporation process were analyzed.At the same time,the evaporation process under variable wall temperature conditions was simulated.This research made the evaporation process of liquid lithium in vacuum molecular flow clearer,and provided theoretical support for the space reactor and nuclear fusion related fields.

Data driven prediction of oil reservoir fluid properties

Accuracy of the fluid property data plays an absolutely pivotal role in the reservoir computational processes.Reliable data can be obtained through various experimental methods,but these methods are very expensive and time consuming.Alternative methods are numerical models.These methods used measured experimental data to develop a representative model for predicting desired parameters.In this study,to predict saturation pressure,oil formation volume factor,and solution gas oil ratio,several Artificial Intelligent(AI)models were developed.582 reported data sets were used as data bank that covers a wide range of fluid properties.Accuracy and reliability of the model was examined by some statistical parameters such as correlation coefficient(R2),average absolute relative deviation(AARD),and root mean square error(RMSE).The results illustrated good accordance between predicted data and target values.The model was also compared with previous works and developed empirical correlations which indicated that it is more reliable than all compared models and correlations.At the end,relevancy factor was calculated for each input parameters to illustrate the impact of different parameters on the predicted values.Relevancy factor showed that in these models,solution gas oil ratio has greatest impact on both saturation pressure and oil formation volume factor.In the other hand,saturation pressure has greatest effect on solution gas oil ratio.

A discrete element model for simulating saturated granular soil

A numerical model is developed to simulate saturated granular soil, based on the discrete element method. Soil particles are represented by Lagrangian discrete elements, and pore fluid, by appropriate discrete elements which represent alternately Lagrangian mass of water and Eulerian volume of space. Macroscale behavior of the model is verified by simulating undrained biaxial compression tests. Micro-scale behavior is compared to previous literature through pore pressure pattern visualization during shear tests. It is demonstrated that dynamic pore pressure patterns are generated by superposed stress waves. These pore-pressure patterns travel much faster than average drainage rate of the pore fluid and may initiate soil fabric change, ultimately leading to liquefaction in loose sands. Thus, this work demonstrates a tool to roughly link dvnamic stress wave patterns to initiation of liQuefaction nhenomena.

Enhanced application for FSRU recondensing equipment during periods of low or no gas send out to minimize LNG cargo losses

Most modern floating storage and regasification units(FSRU)are fitted with recondensing equipment that feed condensed boil-off gas(BOG)to the regasification unit in addition to a stream of liquefied natural gas(LNG)extracted from the cargo tanks.Use of the recondenser during regasification operations reduces gas losses on FSRU.It does so by avoiding consumption of excess BOG,with no associated commercial benefit,in gas combustion units(GCU),steam dumps,flares etc.Here we consider the benefits of also using the recondenser in recirculation mode,returning condensed BOG to the cargo tanks in the form of slightly warmed LNG.Such recirculation can be beneficial during periods of low or no gas send out from the FSRU,often achieving significant reductions in gas losses,although it is not standard practice in the industry to do so.Once regasification is halted not much BOG is required by the FSRU engine room,so the vessel must handle this excess.By condensing the BOG to LNG and returning it to the cargo tanks,the significant volume reduction involved has the beneficial impact of slowing down tank pressure increase.The saturated vapor pressure(SVP)of the LNG,linked to its composition and temperature,plays a key role in the boil-off rate and resulting cargo tank pressure changes.Detailed analysis is provided to explain how using the FSRU recondenser in recirculation mode can be best exploited by considering the prevailing fill levels,temperatures and pressures in each of the cargo tanks,and returning the condensed LNG preferentially to certain tanks.FSRU efficiency can be improved,gas losses and emissions can be reduced,and more cargo sold by exploiting the capabilities of the FSRU recondenser in recirculation mode.Running the FSRU in recirculation mode requires no equipment modifications to standard recondensers,neither does it increase FSRU operating costs.

Growth of CdS crystals by the physical vapor transport method

Based on the physical vapor transport （PVT） method, the growth of large-size CdS crystals inside a vertical semi-closed tube is studied. Firstly, in order to ensure 1D diffusion-advection transport, multi-thin tubes are used in the growth tube. The XRD spectra of the CdS crystal grown in this configuration indicates that the crystal quality has clearly been improved, where the FWHM is 58.5 arcsec. Secondly, theoretical and experimental growth rates under different total pressures are compared; the results show that the experiential growth rate equation is valid for our semi-tube growth, and it could be used to estimate the growth rate and maximum growth time under different total pressures.

Behavior of Element Vaporization and Composition Control of Fe-Ga Alloy during Vacuum Smelting

Saturated vapor pressure, critical evaporation temperature and evaporation loss rate of Fe-Ga alloy were calculated under different conditions of Ga and Fe contents with activity coefficients. The relationship between the change of Ga content and melting time was determined. The results demonstrated that saturated vapor pressure of Ga was higher than that of Fe under the same conditions. The difference value of critical evaporation temperature of Ga with and without Ar was nearly 800 K. The critical evaporation temperature of Fe was higher than that of Ga under vacuum, indicating that Ga was more volatile than Fe. At 1800 K, the evaporation rate of Ga was 84 times higher than that of Fe in the melt of Fe81Ga19 alloy. Under this condition, the change of Ga content and smelting time kept a linear relationship. The higher the temperature was, the faster the Ga content decreased, which was consistent with theoretical calculations.