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Small modular reactors (SMRs) are small-scale reactor designs (< 300 MWe), generally planned for deployment as multi-module nuclear power plants. Due to their small size, SMR modules could be manufactured in a factory and deployed to a site via truck or rail for installation and fueling. SMRs are being evaluated for their ability to provide both power and steam, such that they could be a viable replacement for fossil fuels. SMRs have been considered for coupling to manufacturing processes in addition to being connected to the grid, allowing them to follow the net grid demand in a “load following” operational mode during times of high renewable generation. Alternately, SMRs could be used to replace cogeneration and combined-cycle processes at manufacturing plants which utilize natural gas and other fossil fuels. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is studying the use of SMRs for large-scale manufacturing processes that require both electricity and steam. The current study examines the integration of a SMR with two mid-size pulp and paper mills in the southeastern United States. The study consists of three parts: steady-state analysis of the mill, elimination of fossil fuel use in the lime kilns, and economic analysis of the modified plant operations. A steady-state model of each mill is developed in Aspen HYSIS based on real data from the operation of each mill. The steady-state model is then modified to include the SMR while maintaining production steam quality and making as few changes to existing equipment as possible. This model gives an estimate of the minimum requirements for SMR output, as well as the change in generation by existing boilers and turbines. With an overall picture of the new plant operation and determining the number of SMR modules required, further changes are suggested to minimize or completely eliminate fossil fuel use from the plant. Apart from steam generation, the largest consumer of fossil fuels at the plant is typically the lime kilns. Conversion of the lime kilns from fossil fuel combustion to electric heating is the most feasible solution to eliminate fossil fuels. This study finds that electric lime kilns are economical when the plant has a surplus This study presents a feasible example of using an SMR as a substitute for fossil fuel cogeneration. If this approach were expanded across the manufacturing industry, it would have a significant impact on environmental emissions and air quality.

This paper was erroneously published in ASME Turbo Expo 2021: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition, Vol. 2D and removed on October 13, 2021. Copyright © 2021 by ASME

Due to depleting natural resources, it is necessary to develop eco-composite materials that are fabricated from sustainable and inexpensive materials such as recycled paper or cellulose-based materials. Such materials are required to meet the mechanical performance at par with traditional materials. The main aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical performance of a composite material fabricated from paper pulp and polyvinyl acetate (wood glue). It is expected that a high strength composite material may be achieved by varying the amount of paper-pulp fiber fraction from 7.5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% to 60% weight. A tensile test was conducted and it was found that an increase in fiber content on the fabricated composite resulted in an increase in ultimate tensile strength and a decrease in corresponding strain. Furthermore, the material becomes more brittle at higher fiber content and conversely, more ductile at lower fiber content. The ultimate tensile strength was found to be 7.69 MPa at 60% w.t fiber and the minimum tensile strength was 0.12 MPa at 0% w.t fiber. There were no signs of fiber content limit observed in the obtained results. It was concluded that a composite of moderate strength was produced and future work is required in order to fully understand how the composite behaves at different loading conditions. However, an optimum fiber content limit will have to be determined.

This paper was removed from publication at the author’s request, February 26, 2021. Copyright © 2021 by ASME

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This paper was removed from publication at the author’s request. February 18, 2021. Copyright © 2021 by ASME

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The above referenced paper has been removed from publication at the author’s request. October 2, 2020. Copyright © 2020 by ASME

The above referenced paper has been removed from publication at author’s request. September 9, 2020. Copyright © 2020 by ASME

The above referenced paper has been removed from publication. (April 21, 2020) Copyright © 2020 by ASME

The above referenced paper has been removed from publication. (April 21, 2020) Copyright © 2020 by ASME

This erratum corrects errors that appeared in the paper “Surface Bonding Graphene-Based Elastomeric Sensor: Preliminary Characterization of Adhesion Strength” which was published in Proceedings of the ASME 2019 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, ASME 2019 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, (V001T01A002), September 2019, SMASIS2019-5578, doi: 10.1115/SMASIS2019-5578.

In Japan, the production of traditional handmade Japanese paper using the spring water has been performed in the Shuso area of Shikoku Island. However, the method of production was been handed down by trial and error and observation of the expert movement until now. The produced papers are counted one unit that is five hundred sheets of Japanese paper. Five hundred sheets of Japanese paper are called 1 [lot]. The paper has two type of thickness and its size is 600mm × 1500mm. Thick paper is 9[kgf] per lot. The other hand, thin paper is 8[kgf] per lot. In other words, the expert is making paper which is the difference of 2[gf] per sheet. This time, we have been able to obtain cooperation with traditional craftsman for the digitizing of his skills. Therefore, we visualize the tacit knowledge of the expert’s skill. The expert subject has 34 years of experience of traditional hand-made Japanese paper. We have digitized his manufacturing movement by using motion capture. His movements are analyzed by attaching infrared reflective markers of 20 on each parts of the body. In this study, we found that constant rhythm of the neck in handmade Japanese paper manufacturing movement. Furthermore, the first scoop is performed at the time much shorter than in the case of other scoops.

The above referenced paper has been removed from publication. (March 10, 2020) Copyright © 2020 by ASME

This paper has been retracted by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers due the commercial nature of the content. December 21, 2018. Copyright © 2018 by ASME

The above referenced paper has been removed from publication. (March 10, 2020) Copyright © 2020 by ASME

The above referenced paper has been removed from publication. (March 10, 2020) Copyright © 2020 by ASME

This erratum corrects errors that appeared in the paper “Analysis of the Performance of Plasma Actuators Under Low-Pressure Turbine Conditions Based on Experiments and URANS Simulations” which was published in Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2017: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition, Volume 2A: Turbomachinery, V02AT40A034, June 2017, GT2017-64867, doi: 10.1115/GT2017-64867.

This erratum corrects errors that appeared in the paper “Development of a Simplified Ankle Distractor” which was published in Proceedings of the 2017 Design of Medical Devices Conference, 2017 Design of Medical Devices Conference, V001T03A005, April 2017, DMD2017-3438, doi: 10.1115/DMD2017-3438.

Fluid injection is a common practice in the Oil and Gas industry found in many applications such as waterflooding and disposal of produced fluids. Maintaining high injection rates is crucial to guarantee the economic success of these projects; however, there are geomechanical risks and difficulties involved in this process that may threat the viability of fluid injection projects. Near wellbore reduction of permeability due to pore plugging, formation failure, out of zone injection, sand production, and local compaction are challenging the effectiveness of the injection process. Due to these complications, modeling and simulation has been used as an effective tool to assess injectors’ performance, however, different problems have yet be addressed. In this paper, we review some of these challenges and the solutions that have been proposed as a primary step to understand mechanisms affecting well performance.Copyright © 2016 by ASME

This erratum corrects errors that appeared in the paper “Forced Response Analysis of a Mistuned Compressor Blisk Comparing Three Different Reduced Order Model Approaches” which was published in Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2016: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition, Volume 7A: Structures and Dynamics, V07AT32A030, June 2016, GT2016-57902, doi: 10.1115/GT2016-57902.

The above referenced paper has been removed from publication. June 29, 2017. Copyright © 2017 by ASME

The above referenced paper has been removed from publication. July 5, 2016. Copyright © 2016 by ASME

The above referenced paper has been removed from publication. June 8, 2016. Copyright © 2016 by ASME

Alternative fuels research has been on going for well over many years at a number of institutions. Driven by oil price and consumption, engine emissions and climate change, along with the lack of sustainable fossil fuels, transportation sector has generated an interest in alternative, renewable sources of fuel for internal combustion engines. The focus has ranged from feed stock optimization to engine-out emissions, performance and durability. Biofuels for transportation sector, including alcohols (ethanol, methanol…etc.), biodiesel, and other liquid and gaseous fuels such as methane and hydrogen, have the potential to displace a considerable amount of petroleum-based fuels around the world. First generation biofuels are produced from sugars, starches, or vegetable oils. On the contrary, the second generation biofuels are produced from cellulosic materials, agricultural wastes, switch grasses and algae rather than sugar and starch. By not using food crops, second generation biofuel production is much more sustainable and has a lower impact on food production. Also known as advanced biofuels, the second-generation biofuels are still in the development stage. Combining higher energy yields, lower requirements for fertilizer and land, and the absence of competition with food, second generation biofuels, when available at prices equivalent to petroleum derived products, offer a truly sustainable alternative for transportation fuels. There are main four issues related to alternative fuels: production, transportation, storage, handling and usage. This paper presents a review of recent literature related to the alternative fuels usage and the impact of these fuels on fuel injection systems, and fuel atomization and sprays for both spark-ignition and compression-ignition engines. Effect of these renewable fuels on both internal flow and external flow characteristics of the fuel injector will be presented.Copyright © 2015 by ASME

Flow in a turbine duct is highly complex, influenced by the upstream turbine stage flow structures, including tip leakage flow and non-uniformities originating from the upstream HPT vane and rotor. The complexity of the flow makes the prediction using numerical methods difficult, hence there exists a need for experimental validation. This paper presents experimental data including both aerodynamic and heat transfer measurements within an intermediate turbine duct. These have been conducted in the Oxford Turbine Research Facility, a short duration high speed test facility enabling the use of an engine sized turbine, operating at the correct non-dimensional parameters relevant for aerodynamic and heat transfer measurements. The current configuration consists of a HPT stage and a downstream duct including a turning vane, for use in a counter rotating turbine configuration. With a stator-to-stator vane count of 32-to-24, instrumentation was installed on three adjacent intermediate turbine duct vanes and endwalls to investigate its influence. Flow phenomena such as trailing edge wakes and vortex structures from the upstream HPT vane travels through the rotor and forms an inlet condition to the intermediate turbine duct with tangential variations. Time-averaged experimental data show this effect to be distinguishable although varying in the spanwise direction. Comparisons with results from numerical predictions are included to further analyse the flow through the 1.5 stage.Copyright © 2015 by ASME

We deal with “Danshi” that has a special wrinkle called “Shibo” on the surface structure of the Japanese paper. Three sheets of wet papers are superimposed to make the Shibo. Wet papers are extended the slack by brushing. Superimposed wet papers are made the Shibo by especial pulling movement. This time, we investigate about the movement of brushing for extending the slack. Subjects are two people which are wearing 18 reflecting markers on the body. An expert has manufactured Danshi for 23 years of experience and a non-expert has done less than 1 year of experience. The movement of brushing process is measured as sampling time of 100 [Hz]. We will investigate differences of the physical movement between the expert and the non-expert. We make a hearing about the differences and work on visualization about the skill of the expert. The method of making Shibo structure has five procedures. First, one piece of wet paper is placed on the inclined work table. Second, wrinkles of the paper are extended by brushing. Third, next wet paper is put on the first sheet, it is extended the slack again. Fourth, moreover third wet paper is put on the second sheet, it is extended the slack by brushing again. Fifth, the Shibo structures are produced by pulling in a state of three superimposed sheets. We compared the number of brushing in each sheets. There was not difference in the number of brushing in each sheet in a non-expert. In other hand, number of brushing by the expert was two times that of first and second sheets in third sheet. The number of brushing in first and second sheets did not change by the expert. In consequence, he was a notion that important things for making the clear Shibo structure are not only extending the slack, but also pulling out the bubbles. We divided brushing movement into eight directions. In third sheet of the expert, the number of brushing to body direction has increased over 10%. It was found that the expert removed air bubbles from the corner of the top right. Furthermore, we investigated the change of angle of the right wrist in the expert and the non-expert. It became clear that angle of the wrist is reduced when the expert is brushing forward.

The growing size of BOPs, longer drilling campaigns on wells, and operations in harsher environments has resulted in increased challenges in properly documenting wellhead fatigue during planned or executed drilling operations. The industry has started directing its efforts toward the calibration of analytical tools which are typically adopted for predicting wellhead fatigue. The ultimate goal for achieving this ambitious scope is to identify a benchmark set of analytical results that will predict field measurements. Early on Statoil identified a major obstacle: the absence of a good and comprehensive dataset of field measurements to serve as point of reference. Statoil and Aker Solutions cooperated on a pilot project with the intent of collecting a dataset of full scale measurements during drilling operations to be used to validate and calibrate the theoretical wellhead fatigue calculation methodologies. The main objective of the instrumentation campaign was to measure sectional forces as close as possible to typical wellhead hotspots by the use of three sets of strain gauges installed on the outside surface of the conductor and on the outside of the surface casing. With the objective of collecting an exhaustive dataset of measurements, accelerometers and inclinometers were installed on the BOP, the riser adapter, the riser below the upper flex joint and on the rig. An additional set of six strain gauges was installed on the riser to record riser tension variations. Environmental conditions were logged on board the rig and by the hindcast data provider. Operational events were carefully logged. This paper presents the following: • Data processing used for quality assurance and calibration of the measured data and the associated data challenges • Highlights of the instrumentation system capabilities to capture salient events of a typical drilling campaign and of ad-hoc performed rig operations to calibrate and validate the measured data • Effect of a controlled rig cross motion test, performed to evaluate quasi static loads on the well and calibrate strain gauge sensor orientations • A riser pull test, performed to validate strain gauge functioning • Several landing and disconnecting of the LMRP • Manipulation of the preload between the high pressure housing and the low pressure housing to investigate the effect of the preloading on the load sharing between the casings Since King and Soloman [2], the industry is still lacking quality field data to be used in order to validate the various analytical models used in the analyses of subsea conductor and wellheads. The results will confirm the quality of the measured data and will represent a first data point of comprehensive measured field data. This data will be used for future required work in calibrating the different building blocks pertaining to the analytical tools dedicated to well head fatigue predictions [3].

Imperfections in a rotor-bearing system may cause undesirable subcritical resonances occurring when the rotating speed of the rotor is a fraction of the natural frequency of the system. These resonances arise partly from rotor imperfections and partly from bearing imperfections. This study demonstrates that the subcritical twice-running-speed vibrations originating from bearing waviness may be investigated by combining a simplified rotor model with a detailed bearing model, using a finite element method. The rotor-bearing system under investigation is a roller test rig consisting of the tube roll of a paper machine supported by spherical roller bearings. The bearing waviness from the second to the fourth orders is emulated as accurately as possible in the finite element model. This is achieved by measuring the waviness of the real bearings and then incorporating the measurement results into a simulation model. The tube roll of the test rig is modeled as a symmetric tube, neglecting the effects of the uneven mass and stiffness distribution of the roll. The contact between the rotor and the bearings is described using nonlinear Hertzian contact theory. The subcritical responses of the system are studied by means of time integration, and the results are converted into the frequency domain using fast Fourier transformation. The results of the analysis are compared with the measurement results for the subcritical responses of the roll. The agreement between the simulation and experimental results of the studied system can be observed even though rotor imperfections are not considered.

This erratum corrects errors that appeared in the paper “Modeling of an Oscillating Wave Surge Converter With Dielectric Elastomer Power Take-Off” which was published in Proceedings of the ASME 2014 33rd International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Volume 9A: Ocean Renewable Energy, V09AT09A034, June 2014, OMAE2014-23559, doi: 10.1115/OMAE2014-23559.

Inspired by human motor control theory, stiffness control is highly effective in manipulation and human-interactive tasks. The implementation of stiffness control in robotic systems, however, has largely been limited to closed-loop control, and suffers from multiple issues such as limited frequency range, potential instability, and lack of contribution to energy efficiency. Variable-stiffness actuator represents a better solution, but the current designs are complex, heavy, and bulky. The approach in this paper seeks to address these issues by using pneumatic actuator as a variable series elastic actuator (VSEA), leveraging the compressibility of the working fluid. In this work, a pneumatic actuator is modeled as an elastic element with controllable stiffness and equilibrium point, both of which are functions of air masses in the two chambers. As such, for the implementation of stiffness control in a robotic system, the desired stiffness/equilibrium point can be converted to the desired chamber air masses, and a predictive pressure control approach is developed to control the timing of valve switching to obtain the desired air mass while minimizing control action. Experimental results showed that the new approach in this paper requires less expensive hardware (on–off valve instead of proportional valve), causes less control action in implementation, and provides good control performance by leveraging the inherent dynamics of the actuator.

This paper reports the design, development, and initial evaluation of a robotic laparoscopic clipping tool for single manipulator wound closure and anastomosis (tubular reconnection). The tool deploys biodegradable clips and clasps with the goal of (i) integrating grasping and suturing into a single device for single hand or manipulator use, (ii) applying the equivalent of interrupted sutures without the need of managing suture thread, and (iii) allowing for full six degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) laparoscopic control when mounted on a robot arm. The specifications, workflow, and detailed design of the robotic laparoscopic tool and injection molded bio-absorbable T shaped clip and locking clasp are reported. The clipping tool integrates forceps to grab and stabilize tissue and a clip and clasp applier to approximate and fixate the tissue. A curved needle is advanced on a circular needle path and picks up and drags clips through tissue. The clip is then tightened through the tissue and a clasp is clamped around the clip, before the clip is released from the needle. Results of several bench test runs of the tool show: (a) repeatable circular needle drive, (b) successful pick-up and deployment of clips, (c) successful shear of the clip to release the clip from the needle, and (d) closure of clasp on clip with an average of 2.0 N holding force. These data indicate that the robotic laparoscopic clipping tool could be used for laparoscopic wound closure and anastomosis.

Canfor, a producer of lumber, pulp and paper needed a solution to replace aging 30-inch (760mm) fiberglass reinforced pipe. A new PE-RT product now expands PE into industrial applications requiring resistance to high temperatures and having a Hydrostatic Design Basis (HDB) of 800psi (55 bar) at 180°F (82.2°C). Through chemical processes, Canfor cooks, washes, and extracts pulp fiber from wood that results in both acidic and caustic effluent with temperatures normally in the 50–60°C range or as high as 70–75°C. Traditional fiberglass pipes have experienced repeated joint failures over time, whereas heat-fused HDPE pipe provides solutions reducing unnecessary maintenance and a longer service life. Standard PE4710 High Density Polyethylene Pipes (HDPE) have pressure ratings limited to 140°F (60°C) and are not normally acceptable for such high temperature acidic and caustic effluent. Additionally, the potential for higher oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) from residual chlorine levels and bleaching also justified turning to a different material based on the potential oxidative attack at high temperatures. The new PE-RT resin protects against oxidative attacks at high temperatures and the flexible heat-fused HDPE pipe provides considerable cost savings during installation. Compared to fiberglass, up to eight 40-foot lengths of HDPE pipe can be joined by heat fusion per day, whereas only two 6-meter (20-foot) lengths of FRP pipe can be wrapped per day. The presentation will highlight photos during the installation process and report the advantages of using the new pipe material. This project provides reference for expanding HDPE pipe into new applications using PE-RT materials.

This study reports our experience of developing a series of biomedical engineering (BME) courses having active and experiential learning components in an interdisciplinary learning environment. In the first course, BME465: biomechanics, students were immersed in a simulation laboratory setting involving mannequins that are currently used for teaching in the School of Nursing. Each team identified possible technological challenges directly related to the biomechanics of the mannequin and presented an improvement overcoming the challenge. This approach of exposing engineering students to a problem in a clinical learning environment enhanced the adaptive and experiential learning capabilities of the course. In the following semester, through BME448: medical devices, engineering students were partnered with nursing students and exposed to simulation scenarios and real-world clinical settings. They were required to identify three unmet needs in the real-world clinical settings and propose a viable engineering solution. This approach helped BME students to understand and employ real-world applications of engineering principles in problem solving while being exposed to an interdisciplinary collaborative environment. A final step was for engineering students to execute their proposed solution from either BME465 or BME448 courses by undertaking it as their capstone senior design project (ENGR401-402). Overall, the inclusion of clinical immersions in interdisciplinary teams in a series of courses not only allowed the integration of active and experiential learning in continuity but also offered engineers more practice of their profession, adaptive expertise, and an understanding of roles and expertise of other professionals involved in enhancement of healthcare and patient safety.

Computational Pipeline Monitoring (CPM) leak detection in liquid pipelines can be unreliable or have a high number of false alarms during transient hydraulic events. This paper presents techniques for avoiding these false alarms and for improving leak detectability during steady state operations. Application of this approach has improved both the sensitivity and reliability of CPM-based leak detection systems. When a pipeline is in steady-state operation, the leak detection thresholds can be reduced. When a transient is detected, the thresholds are increased to a higher value. Because of known errors in data measurement and the time at which the measurement was made, large uncertainties in the line-pack prediction can exist during these transient events. In this paper, CPM reliability is improved using dual thresholds; tight threshold for near steady state and relaxed threshold for transient operation. In the presented study, different transient triggers in a pipeline have been implemented to the dual threshold method in order to show the effect of transient thresholds on the reliability of the CPM models or the reduction in the number of false alarms. When the CPM model determines that a transient event is occurring, the imbalance threshold is increased to a pre-set higher value. The transient threshold will remain high until the transient event diminishes, then the thresholds will return to their original steady-state value after a pre-set wait period. This applies to each leak detection window and to each flow meter-to-flow meter section in the CPM model. Detailed information about the dual thresholds approach and the transient triggers is provided in the full paper. Results from the implementation of this method and the quantitative improvement of the CPM reliability and sensitivity will also be presented.Copyright © 2014 by ASME

This paper presents the development of an exergy and thermoeconomic analysis of a wheat flour agro-industrial plant, which was aimed to evaluate the energy use and establish the operation cost of its components, and to understand the cost formation process and the cost flow. It was found that throughout the production process exists an exergy destruction ratio of 95,08 %. It identified improvement opportunities in relation to cost, has recommended alterations with regard matter flows or an economic investment for change some components with low exergoeconomic factors: 2% planer of wheat bran, 3% knurled roller grinding benches and 5% smooth roller grinding benches. Copyright © 2015 by ASME. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

The interest in renewable and cleaner fuels has stimulated ethanol production in the last decades. Some of the drivers for that ever increasing production were the Brazilian Alcohol Program, Kyoto Protocol and the replacement in USA of the octane booster MBTE (methyl-tert-buthyl ether) for ethanol. The world’s largest producers of ethanol are The United States of America and Brazil, where the main sources are corn and sugar cane, respectively. Production flow via pipeline is the safest and most cost effective way to connect the producers, usually spread across the country, to the distribution terminals. However, in USA there are evidences that ethanol may have caused stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in pipelines and also in storage tanks. Controversially, in Brazil ethanol has been transported and stored since the 1970’s without any indication of SCC. The aim of this work is to evaluate the susceptibility of the steel API 5L X70 [1] to SCC in different ethanol (corn and sugar cane) using slow strain rate testing (SSRT). These tests were carried out on notched specimens according to NACE TM 0111 [2]. The SSRT results carried out in corn ethanol have shown a considerable reduction of plastic elongation and a mixed fracture micromechanism of quasi-cleavage and intergranular facets clearly indicating a susceptibility of the API 5L X70 steel to SCC. The SSRT also demonstrated that the carbon steel tested here is completely immune to SCC in sugar cane ethanol.

A work on the design and construction of biodiesel batch reactor with improved settling capability for production of biodiesel from fresh palm oil (FPO) and fresh vegetable oil (FVO) is presented. A centrifuge separator, 41 litres capacity, operating at 1400rpm was incorporated into the integrated reactor. Biodiesel production was done using transesterification method. Two experiments were carried out under different reaction conditions such as time and temperature to determine biodiesel yield. The optimum biodiesel yield was achieved at a reaction time of 56 minutes and reaction temperature of 140°F and a lower yield was gotten at a temperature of 131°F and 50 minutes. A clear yellow color was obtained at a temperature of 140°F. The centrifuge achieved separation and settling within an average of 55 minutes. A characterization test carried out to determine the biodiesel density, specific density, flash point, pour point, and cloud point showed that the produced biodiesel agreed with the ASTMD 6751 standard for biodiesel test and have similar properties with conventional diesel which can therefore be used in diesel engines so as to reduce environmental pollution and encourage diversity in energy source.Copyright © 2014 by ASME

Cellulosic nanofibers have been electrospun with an antitumor agent Cisplatin. Cellulose acetate (CA) and Cisplatin were co-electrospun using a coaxial electrospinning system. For the outer sheath, a solution of 7.5wt% CA in Acetone and DMAc (2:1) was used. The inner core consisted of Cisplatin dissolved in DMF at a concentration of 5mg/ml. Drug-loaded nanofibers from Cellulose pulp (2wt%) dissolved in NMMO. H2O were also produced. The solutions were electrospun in a high voltage electric field of 25–30 kV. Characterization of neat and drug-loaded nanofibers was performed using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The characterization studies have shown the formation of nanofibers having both sporadic beads with internal agglomeration and conjugation of Cisplatin on the nanofiber surfaces.Copyright © 2014 by ASME

Margarine as a raw material has a multiple uses in the production of bio-organic materials such as refined oil and butter. It passes through many industrial stages before beginning the process of refining and packaging it to the consumer. One of these important stages is the melting process, which wastes an immense amount of thermal power. The large rate of thermal power consumption occurs due to the huge reservoirs in which the margarine is stored (500 m3–1500 m3 Savola International Company-Suez Gulf region-Egypt). With drawing margarine from the reservoirs is a cost and time intensive process due to the solid state of margarine at environmental temperatures. Dry saturated steam is passed through the heat exchanger pipes inside the reservoir to melt the required amount of margarine. In some cases, this process can take up to 8 h in the summer and 12 h in the winter, which can be amplified by the loss of heat energy from the reservoir throughout the day, especially during the night periods. Moreover, steam boilers that use heavy fuel or natural gas can cause serious environmental damage as a result of emissions, such as the carbon oxide and nitrous oxide compounds. In contrast, solar energy is one of the cleanest and environmentally friendly renewable energies and should be invested as an alternative heat source for the melting process of margarine. As mentioned before, the melting of margarine is considered a heating process that consumes a huge amount of thermal energy. Therefore, solar thermal power can play a vital role in the process of melting margarine. Generally, temperature requirements of solar industrial heat applications range from 60 °C to 260 °C. Cylindrical PTC systems look very promising for delivering industrial heating process applications in the range of 95 °C–350 °C delivery temperature [1]. For solar thermal applications, the operating design conditions of solar collectors should be well above the desired operating conditions of the application to ensure stability of the operation. Therefore, flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors are eliminated from this study due to the previous reason and its lower efficiencies compared against the PTC [2]. This is why medium to medium–high temperature solar collectors are used [3,4]. Most of the production processes of the food industry such as milk products, vegetable, meat, fruits, and beer are run at temperatures below or near 100–130 °C. In addition, many cleaning processes such as pasteurizing, sterilizing, drying, hydrolyzing, distillation, washing, polymerization, and cooking processes are conducted under thermal applications [5,6]. Thus, switching to a renewable energy source, such as solar energy, can result in cost savings as well as decrease the negative impacts the production process has on the environment. The production process of margarine requires a large amount of heat in which solar thermal power is a viable and more cost effective source of energy. The problem originally emerged when Savola's company officials (Savola International Company in Margarine industrial Suez Gulf region-Egypt) decided to optimize the time, energy, and cost of the production process. They summarized their problems into the following points: The process of margarine melts takes more than 12 h to obtain 100–200 m3 of melted margarine per day. Which costs the equivalent amount of 476,120 m3 per day of natural gas (100,000 $/month). Reduction of CO2, NO2, and CO emissions is a must according to environmental laws. After reviewing the configuration of their heating process, using solar thermal power as a clean energy alternative seemed to be the most viable solution. Egypt has a great potential for solar energy. It is calculated that an amount of 6–7 kW h/m2/day of global radiation is in the Suez Gulf region-Egypt [8]. Therefore, it is very promising to utilize this vast amount of untapped solar energy in this industrial heating process. The aim of this research is to present a feasibility study, assessing the impact of using solar thermal power as an alternative source of energy in the margarine melting process. In this study, solar PTC is used instead of a conventional steam boiler. Water–steam and/or Therminol-VP1 [7] HTO are utilized through the PTC representing two different configurations. The data results of the conventional configuration (config1) are compared with the PTC–water steam configuration (config2) and PTC–Therminol configuration (config3) according to the hourly cost parameter ($/h). The study plan is organized as follows: The process configurations for the proposed systems are performed and the design limits are investigated. The mathematical model that represents the proposed systems is constructed. Three cases are compared (solar direct vapor generation (two configurations) was conventional configuration). Practical and analytical solutions for the process problems are studied and executed. solar desalination system (SDS) software package (a part of renewable energy desalination system (REDS) that were developed by the authors) was used to model all the system units [8–11]. 2. Margarine Melting Heating Process 2.1. The Process Problems. The problem began when Savola's-Egypt officials decided to evaluate the productive performance of their company. In their current configuration, a steam boiler running on fuels is used in the heating process. The company was faced with several problems identified as below. Wasted time, especially in the winter it requires melting about 100–300 m3 within approximately 12 h. This requires a significant amount of time before the canning process can begin. In addition, the steam boiler has to be operated during night hours to collect the melted margarine early in the morning before the canning process. It is noted that the fuel consumption is also very high, especially in the case of heavy fuel operations. As the average daily consumption reached 1 m3 or more, which is considered to be a high rate of consumption. The exhaust emissions resulting from the combustion inside the steam boiler today are unacceptable in the light of international regulations which intend to reduce global carbon emissions. Because of the temperature difference during the night especially in winter a large amount of thermal power gets wasted. This increases the operation time and the rate of fuel consumption. Thus, Savola's Egyptian officials contacted the authors to investigate and propose solutions to the existing inefficiencies, while at the same time decreasing the negative impact on the environment.

Beginning in August 2013, Anadarko Petroleum formed the “20A Project Initiative” for qualifying 20 ksi equipment for a Deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GoM) development. This paper will cover the systems approach used for the qualification (verification, validation and quality) of a system of components, including sub-assemblies and assemblies that are required for a 20 ksi development. The systems approach begins with the framework and management of this framework inside the overall development process. The systems approach categorizes each component by mode of operation (many pieces of equipment are used in multiple operational modes). These modes of operation are Drilling, Completions, Production and Intervention, and are the engineering systems used to manage the qualification of over 200 components to industry standards and U.S. government requirements. The functional requirements for each component are defined and vendors selected. Each component is then stewarded through a project-management process for design, verification, validation and quality. This process culminates with the integration of these components back into a system that can be qualified for use in an HPHT environment. This paper addresses the submittal to regulatory authority for approval to use the newly developed and qualified 20 ksi equipment for a deepwater GoM development. This project ends in 2019. This six-year development journey presented challenges and achieved breakthrough technologies for the industry. This journey, its organizational approach using systems engineering techniques and integration processes are presented.

There has been a significant amount of discussion of the appropriateness of the design margins from ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII Division 3 being applied to the design of HPHT equipment. A technical report has been issued with a first revision which references the use of ASME Section VIII Division 2 and Section VIII Division 3 for design of HPHT equipment above 15 ksi. Additionally, there has been recent pressure testing which attempted to validate the margins used in ASME Section VIII Division 3 and API 17TR8. There has also been a significant amount of discussion that the equipment in HPHT service may be very different from the pressure equipment which utilizes ASME Section VIII Division 3 and the design methods discussed in the standards. This paper will discuss the background of ASME Section VIII Division 3, including an overview of how the standard began, and the types of equipment which were being considered when the document was first drafted. It will also discuss the background of the design margin used in ASME Section VIII Division 3 over the years and how the current margin came into play. It will also discuss the margins used in addition to the margins on the structural capacity of a piece of equipment and how the margins interrelate within the Code. This paper will demonstrate the robust nature of ASME Section VIII Division 3, and its applicability to the design of HPHT equipment.

This paper deals with the numerical analysis of an air spring that consists of two tanks connected by a long pipe. Two resonance points may appear in the frequency response of a vibratory system supported by this type of air spring despite the fact that the system has an apparent single mass. This phenomenon is caused by the presence of a secondary mass as reported in our previous paper. It was found that the secondary mass is the mass of air contained in the pipe. The magnitude of this mass is extremely small, but the acceleration of the air in the pipe — and therefore the inertia force generated from it — becomes very large. The generated force is further amplified by the Pascal’s principle and is transmitted to the supported mass. There are obvious nonlinear characteristics in this type of air spring; whereas the previous studies were based on linear assumptions. In this study, the governing equations for the air stream expressed by a nonlinear partial differential equation were solved by using the finite difference method. In particular, the pressure loss is evaluated due to air vortex being generated behind the orifice installed in the pipe. As a result of this study, it was found that the orifice is effective in suppressing the height of the secondary resonance point. Of course, it has become possible to accurately estimate the amplitude dependency of the dynamic characteristics of the air spring supported system by this non-linear analysis.

The objectives of this paper are to determine the structural and functional bending capacity, for an 18-3/4 inch 10 ksi Dry Completion Unit (DCU) external tieback connector (ETBC), utilizing more advanced analysis design verification procedures of API 17TR8 [1]. This requires the evaluation using a 3D nonlinear elastic-plastic finite element analysis (FEA). Although the design verification procedures of API 17TR8 [1] are written for high pressure high temperature (HPHT) equipment, this paper demonstrates the feasibility of applying it to lower pressure equipment which have more critical requirements for bending capacity vs. pressure capacity. The capacity results are compared between the existing linear elastic criteria of API 17G [2] and the requirements of API 17TR8 [1]. The application of this evaluation demonstrates that the analysis methodology for HPHT equipment can be applied to subsea tieback connectors to obtain maximum bending capacity of the connection.