Inches In Diameter Research Articles

A novel approach to assess acid diversion efficiency in horizontal wells

Using an acid to stimulate a heterogeneous carbonate reservoir during matrix acidizing may lead to over-treating the high permeability zones, leaving low permeability zones untreated. This is particularly exacerbated in long horizontal sections, necessitating the use of acid diverters for effective acid distribution across the formation. In previous studies, conventional core flooding systems were utilized where single inlet and outlet lines were used or, at best, two outlet lines for dual-core flooding. This paper proposes a new method for simulating matrix acidizing in horizontal wells by introducing five injection points and two outlet lines. The injection points are perpendicular to the core samples to simulate multiple perforations in a horizontal well while the outlet lines are parallel. Four experiments were conducted in this study using Indiana limestone cores that were 1.5 inches in diameter. For the first three tests, the length of the core was 12 inches, and the cores’ average permeabilities were 16 mD. For the fourth one, two 6-inch length cores with different average permeability (10 and 50 mD) were employed. Hydrochloric acid was used in the first experiment, while hydrochloric acid with viscoelastic surfactant (VES) was used in subsequent experiments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to introduce a multi-point injection system with enhanced coverage and distribution, resulting in a more precise representation of acidizing a horizontal well.

Application of an adaptive observer for the detection and location of pipeline leak

Leakages in hydrocarbon transport pipelines are a recurring problem. Their real-time diagnosis is a priority task. Timely resolution of leaks helps avoid human casualties, environmental harm, and infrastructure damage. This work focuses on simulating the hydrodynamic behavior along a pipeline to enable timely leak detection and localization through a novel computational tool. The proposed mathematical model identifies discrepancies between the mass and momentum equations and an adaptive observer’s estimation, which considers the leaking fluid like a system perturbation. The flow volume balance method confirms the existence of a leakage. A fluid quantifier estimates the total leaked volume during the detection period. The estimation error between the measured and estimated variables for the adaptive observer approximates the leakage location. The developed software was validated by comparing the results with a real leak scenario in a 20-inch diameter, 15 km long liquefied petroleum gas pipeline. The results demonstrate the tool’s feasibility for real-time leak detection, localization, and quantification, showcasing its potential for addressing recurring pipeline leaks.

Using Urban Vegetation to Reduce Airport Noise: An Eco-Friendly and Economical Solution

This study investigated the effectiveness of three types of urban plants Pucuk Merah, Cemara Kifan, and Furing as noise barriers around airports. Using a 2-inch diameter sound tunnel along 6 meters with 3 mm PVC material, noise measurements were made at several points along the tunnel. The results showed that Furing plants had the most significant decrease in noise levels with an average noise reduction percentage of 46.79%. Pucuk Merah and Cemara TFan showed noise reductions of 29.54% and 23.94% respectively. Without the plant barrier, noise was only reduced by 17.77%. The characteristics of thick and dense leaves, as well as the complex structure of the plant, make Furing the most effective noise barrier. These results suggest that the use of plants, particularly furing, as a natural barrier around airports can significantly reduce the negative impact of noise and create a more comfortable environment.

Globe Artichoke Production Potential in Northern New England

Globe artichokes (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) are high-value crops grown primarily as perennials in locations with temperate climates, such as Italy, Spain, and central California (USA). When grown as annual crops in cooler regions such as New England, vernalization is required for first-year bud production. However, despite factoring heavily into annual production potential, chilling requirements vary by genotype and are undocumented for most commercially available cultivars. We compared the marketable yield potential of eight artichoke cultivars grown as annuals in Monmouth, ME, USA, over 3 years in replicated field experiments. We also compared black plastic culture against bare ground, straw mulch, and reflective mulch. Increasing seedling cold exposure to 550 hours before transplanting resulted in increased yields across all cultivars, and the production potential was on par with yields in other regions where artichokes are grown annually. ‘Green Globe Improved’ produced consistently high yields of marketable artichokes. ‘Tavor’ and ‘Wonder’ produced yields comparable to ‘Green Globe Improved’ but appeared sensitive to black plastic mulch in particularly hot environmental conditions. Artichokes grown on bare ground during two of three trial years were less productive than those grown on black plastic or reflective mulches, likely because of nutrient leaching. Most buds produced across all years, mulches, and cultivars were small (<3 inches in diameter). Producers in New England should ensure that their markets will be receptive to small artichokes before growing annual artichoke crops at scale.

Continuous crystal growth and homogeneity of 2-inch Ca3Ta(Ga,Al)3Si2O14 bulk single crystals

Langasite-type Ca3Ta(Ga,Al)3Si2O14 (CTGAS) piezoelectric bulk single crystals with a 2-inch diameter were continuously grown by the Czochralski (Cz) method using the residual melt after crystal growth and recharging. The first and second bulk single crystals without cracks were grown using a continuous crystal growth process. However, the third bulk single crystal included many cracks, suggesting that the cracks were generated because of the change in melt composition by the recharging process originating from the difference between the stoichiometric and congruent compositions. By evaluating the velocity distribution using ultrasonic waves, an area with low leaky surface acoustic wave (LSAW) velocity was observed at the center of the bulk single crystal.

Pipe Insertion Technique for Slug Attenuation in a Downwardly Inclined Pipeline

Slug flow is more prevalent in downwardly inclined pipelines and it is important to develop effective and suitable mitigation strategies to reduce its occurrence and enhance stable flow. In this work, the application of pipeline insertion was proposed to reduce slugging in pipeline. A simulation based approach was adopted and a model with smaller pipe sizes of 3.958-inch, 1.995-inch and 6-inch diameter, inserted near the pipeline riser system. The developed model was run for 2 hours to monitor the harsh nature of the slug on the total liquid volume flow, the pressure at the pipeline riser outlet, surge liquid volume and accumulated liquid volume. The result shows a stable liquid production of approximately 3797.08bbl/day and 3798.44bbl/day for the 3.958-inch and 1.995-inch diameter pipe size, while the total liquid flow oscillated between 7366.45bbl/day and 1.917.37bbl/day, and repeated at 0.22 hours. There was a pressure buildup and later steady at 761.978 psia and 762.127 psia for the 3.958-inch and 1.995-inch diameter pipe at the riser base while the 6-inch diameter pipe was fluctuating. Smaller diameter pipe of 3.958-inch and 1.995-inch gave a stable fluid pressure of 725.196 psia at the riser top (outlet) .Therefore, smaller diameter pipe is the best to insert since there was no cyclic fluctuation of pressure at the riser top, which can lead to severe slugging.

Growth of copper single crystal using cone die Czochralski method

Copper (Cu) and other metal single crystals are useful as substrates for the deposition of atomic layer materials for many electronic applications, but the growth of large-sized single crystals is difficult to achieve. Characteristics of the metal material, namely seed elongation and intense cooling radiation at high temperatures during crystal growth, are the main challenges encountered when growing ingots with large diameters. These problems can be resolved by optimizing the crystal growth parameters. By adjusting the shoulder formation angle of the ingot shape to approximately 20° to 40°, we are able to grow a large (1-inch diameter, 30 mm length) single crystal of metal Cu using the Czochralski (CZ) method. However, the generation of suspended solids and film impurities such as reactants and precipitates and their nucleation, growth, and solidification, limited the further increase in size of the Cu crystal. Using the cone-shape die CZ (CD-CZ) method solves this problem and a 2-inch diameter Cu single crystal is successfully grown. This is the world’s largest single crystal metal grown using this method and it paves the way for the growth of other metal crystals.

Ultraviolet optical properties of CaSrF2 crystal grown by the cone die Czochralski method

Fluoride crystals with extremely wide band gaps are ideal optical materials in the UV wavelength range. Large 4-inch diameter calcium strontium fluoride (Ca0.582Sr0.418F2) single crystal was grown using the Czochralski method with a Cone-shape Die (CD-CZ). The refractive index and relative transmittance of the crystal was evaluated by cutting it into a triangular prism and polished. The direct measurement of the refractive index and relative transmittance was done by using a spectrograph to image the refraction of light as it passes through a dual prism set-up consisting of a SQ prism as reference and either CaF2 or Ca0.582Sr0.418F2 as the material under evaluation. Characterization results showed that Ca0.582Sr0.418F2 has excellent refractive index dispersion and transmittance in the UV region, confirming the applicability of the dual prism with spectrograph setup to measurements of the refractive index and relative transmittance in the UV region.

Characterization of EJ-276D plastic scintillator and its comparison with EJ-299-33A and BC-501A

A characteristic study of the new generation EJ-276D plastic scintillator detector, measuring 5 inches in diameter and 5 inches in length, was conducted. This study compared it with the earlier EJ-299-33A plastic scintillator and the BC-501A liquid scintillator. Key characteristics such as pulse height response, pulse shape discrimination, efficiency, and time resolution were measured and compared for each detector of the same dimensions. The results show that the performance of EJ-276D is superior to EJ-299-33A in every aspect. It exhibits comparable efficiency but lower pulse shape discrimination capabilities compared to the BC-501A liquid scintillator. Notably, the stability of the EJ-276D over time was also studied and found to be satisfactory.

The Advanced Analysis of Deep Drawing Processes for 1-Inch Diameter Dop-Pipe Caps: Simulation and Experimental Insights

This article investigates the challenges and solutions within the deep drawing process, focusing on issues like cracks and deviations from standard thickness dimensions. Utilizing both experimental methods with a 40-ton power press machine and numerical simulations via ABAQUS software, the study uses SPCC-SD steel to produce a Dop-pipe 1-inch diameter pipe cap. Key findings reveal significant correlations in elements E-90 and E-91, with minimal disparities of around 4.5% between experimental and numerical approaches, showcasing the accuracy of numerical predictions. Notably, the numerical simulations identify potential issues such as increased thickness due to higher axial forces, providing valuable insights for process optimization and defect reduction. By advancing the deep drawing process and extending its applicability to broader material-forming applications, this research contributes significantly to enhancing production efficiency and improving manufacturing practices, emphasizing the importance of simulation-driven approaches in achieving precision and quality enhancement in complex manufacturing processes.

Feed supplementation with quorum quenching probiotics improved growth response, immune response, and resistance in the giant mottled eel, Anguilla marmorata

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of feed supplementation with quorum quenching (QQ) probiotic bacteria on growth performance, hematology, immune response, and disease resistance in giant mottled eels. The feed used was supplemented with 45 ± 2.3 g/individual QQ bacteria using the following treatments, namely Bacillus cereus strain B8, Pseudomonas putida strain BPA1, Bacillus cereus strain HPC 576, and control (no QQ). A total of 420 eels (average weight 45 ± 2.3 g/ind.) were randomly reared in 12 open tarpaulin ponds of 2 x 1 x 1 (W x L x D) m and 1000-L volume for 8 weeks. Feed was given three times per day at 5% of the body weight. Water was changed daily at 25%, and shelters were provided using 3-inch diameter PVC pipes. The results showed that the feed containing QQ bacteria improved the growth, hematology, immunity, and disease resistance of the eels compared to the control (P < 0.05). Furthermore, among the QQ bacteria tested, the feed with B. cereus strain HPC 576 had the highest performance in all tested parameters.

Novel and Low-Cost Techniques for Extending the Etch Capabilities of an Inductively Coupled Plasma Etch Tool That Has Clamp Fingers for Clamping 4-Inch Diameter Wafers

Widening the processing capabilities of an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etch tool by “preventing wafer breakage” during processing of wafers, or by gaining the capability to do “through-wafer silicon etch” are important challenges that may need to be resolved with very limited resources. Resolving the undesired wafer breakage issues caused during processing of wafers is important to reduce the manufacturing costs, and increase production yield. Furthermore, considering the high prices of the state-of-the-art wafer processing tools, it is also important to prevent wafer breakage by using low-cost approaches especially if the resources for purchasing state-of-the-art processing equipment are not available. Two novel methods (method #1, and method #2) are developed to prevent wafer breakage and allow through-wafer silicon etching. With method #1, an aluminium alloy ring (AAR) and an o-ring are employed to obtain uniform load distribution (instead of point loads) on the required outer region on the surface of a wafer, and to minimize or completely remove the bending moment that may be formed on the possible cross-sections of the entire wafer, during clamping of the wafer. With method #2, through-wafer silicon etching is made possible by simultaneous application of method #1 and addition of a helium cooling gas (HCG) leakage blocking dicing tape at the back side of the wafer that is under processing for through-wafer etching. By using the explained methods, wafer breakage during ICP etch processing is eliminated, and through-wafer silicon etching is made possible. From the other side, the effective wafer area that can be used for processing is reduced by 48%. Novel and capability enabling 2 different techniques that are extremely low-cost compared to purchasing a state-of-the-art ICP etch tool are presented to extend the processing capabilities of an ICP etch tool for deep silicon etching (method #1), and through-wafer silicon etching (method #2).

Self-Portrait: Waking Up with/to Cat Companions

Abstract Self-Portrait: Waking Up with/to Cat Companions is a triptych composed of prismatic acrylic paint on three adjacent hexagon-shaped canvases (from left to right, 8 inches, 12 inches, and 10 inches in diameter). The central hexagon features my face, from the nose to the head, with an enlarged cat's eye on my forehead and surrounded by blooming vines. Adjacent at each side are portraits of my cats in poses that interact with my petting, amputee hands. I blend my personal history with cats, legends about cats as fortune-tellers, and mythology about women and cats as magical soothsayers to analyze this work's personal and folkloric significance.

Designing an absorber for solar photovoltaic thermal systems: a heat pipe approach and comparative evaluation

Abstract Renewable energy power generation is extensively promoting for the global objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Solar energy leads all renewables due to its ubiquitous nature which can be harvested by solar thermal and solar photovoltaic devices. Solar PV is used widely because of its flexibility in working with both direct and diffuse radiation. However, PV systems experience efficiency loss for every degree rise of solar cell temperature above room temperature. Solar photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectors are proposed for co-generation of electrical and thermal energy by utilizing excess heat generated in the PV layer. The low heat transfer rate, energy-intensive nature, and freezing of working fluid in colder regions are some problems that persist in water- and air-based PV/Ts, leading us to consider alternatives. Thus, the present study addresses the current opportunities by utilizing heat pipes as PV/T absorbers. Heat pipe PVT is a passive system which operates in phase transition facilitating a tremendous amount of heat transfer enhancement. To enhance the efficiency of PV/T systems, the integration of advanced technologies, like heat pipe thermal absorbers, becomes imperative. Incorporating cutting-edge solutions, such as heat pipe thermal absorbers, is essential to optimize the performance of PV/T systems. Hence, the current study provides insight into heat pipe design through a case study on the application of heat pipes as thermal absorbers for photovoltaic systems. The existing absorbers with fluid flow configurations like Raster, Spiral or Rectangular spiral, etc. used in PV/T are considered as reference. Copper as tube material and water as working fluid are found to be compatible with each other for the proposed heat pipe. The maximum heat input of 0.55kW is computed by the inadequacy of the mentioned existing PVTs to extract the maximum available heat from the PV surface. Additionally, an analytical approach used to define the optimum size of the system and calculation of minimum requirement of tubes. The optimized design of copper heat pipes was found to be ½ inch in diameter and at least ten heat pipes were required to transfer a computed heat flux of 466kW/m 2 per pipe to outperform the existing PV/Ts.

Experimental approach and analysis of the effectiveness of a tubular helical flow flocculator for water supply in developing communities

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the length and retention time of a tubular helical flow flocculator (THFF) on the elimination of turbidity and color from raw water, to obtain quality treated water for consumption in areas rural. For this, a large-scale field experimental system was used, the THFF was built with 4-inch diameter polyethylene hose and coupled to a sedimentation and filtration process. For the different experimental tests, aluminum sulfate was chosen as the coagulant. To find the optimal dose of coagulant, jar tests were previously carried out. For the tests the length of the THFF was varied (50 m and 75 m), flow rates of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 2 L/s and turbidity ranges of <10, 10–20, 21–50, 51–100 and > 100 NTU of raw water were tested. An evaluation of the hydraulic behavior of the THFF was carried out through an analysis of the temporal distribution curve of the concentration of a tracer, applying the Wolf-Resnick model. The average results revealed a haze and color removal efficiency of 98.07 % and 98.50 %, respectively. The residence time and velocity gradient exhibited variations in a range of 2.25–35.0 min and 3.64 to 56.94 s−1, respectively. It was evident that the operation and effectiveness of THFF are directly influenced by the turbidity of the raw water, the residence time and the velocity gradient. These findings indicate that THFF could play a valuable role as a flocculation unit in a purification system, mainly the existence of a plug-type flow was observed. The findings indicate that THFF, complemented by settling and filtration processes, could be a valuable tool for implementation in rural areas.

Microplastic Volatile Organic Compounds Found within Chrysaora chesapeakei in the Patuxent River, Maryland

Microplastics are tangible particles of less than 0.2 inches in diameter that are ubiquitously distributed in the biosphere and accumulate in water bodies. During the east-coast hot summers (23–29 °C) of 2021 and 2022, June through September, we captured copious amounts of the jellyfish Chrysaora chesapeakei, a predominant species found in the Patuxent River of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland on the United States East Coast. We determined that their gelatinous bodies trapped many microplastics through fluorescent microscopy studies using Rhodamine B staining and Raman Spectroscopy. The chemical nature of the microplastics was detected using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy headspace (SPME-GC-MS) and solvent extraction (GC-MS) methods through a professional commercial materials evaluation laboratory. Numerous plastic-affiliated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from diverse chemical origins and their functional groups (alkanes, alkenes, acids, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, esters, and alcohols) along with other non-microplastic volatile organic compounds were observed. Our findings corroborate data in the available scientific literature, distinguishing our finding’s suitability.

Impact of supercritical carbon dioxide on the frictional strength of and the transport through thin cracks in shale

Understanding the mechanical and transport behavior of thin (i.e. small aperture) cracks slipping under supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) conditions is essential to evaluate the integrity of sealing formations with buoyant sc-CO2 below and the success of waterless fracturing. The two major items of interest in this work are frictional strength and permeability change of the crack. We used a triaxial cell that permits in situ visualization to conduct and monitor slippage along the faces of narrow cracks subjected to triaxial stresses. Such cracks are analogs to small geological faults. We tested carbonate-rich, 1-inch diameter Wolfcamp shale samples that are saw cut 30° to vertical to create a thin crack. Friction coefficients ranged from about 0.6 to 0.8 consistent with expectations for brittle rocks. The sc-CO2 generally did not alter friction coefficient over the time scale of experiments. From a transport perspective, saturating cracks with sc-CO2 substantially decreased permeability of the crack by 26%–52%, while slip resulted in a variety of permeability responses. Overall, the combined impact of sc-CO2 saturation and slip reduced fault permeability for all tests. Our observations support the notion that the sealing capacity of some caprocks improves when saturated with sc-CO2 and that some slip of small fractures is not necessarily detrimental to caprock integrity.

The effects on heat and oxygen transport of different heat shield and sidewall insulation designs during continuous Czochralski silicon crystal growth

Numerical work has been done to optimize the hot zone for the continuous Czochralski growth of 8-inch diameter silicon crystals using a double-crucible system. Thicker insulation layers on a high-heel-shaped heat shield and the sidewall insulation led to a reduction in the heater power of more than 40%, a decrease in the oxygen content, and a significant flattening of the growth interface. This design also allowed a stronger argon gas flow near the outer free melt surface and the quartz crucible wall, which prevented the generation of an argon gas vortex in this area. Stronger flow of argon gas would assist in moving more SiO gas and dust out of the chamber. However, the reduction in the outer melt temperature compared to the original design could slow down the melting of the silicon granules.

Karakterisasi Alat Filtrasi Air Portable Berdasarkan Variasi Jumlah Absorber Karbon Aktif Limbah Tongkol Jagung

Sumbawa Regency is an area with soil water content containing lime. There was even lime blockage in the pipe holes used. So this research aims to create a portable filtration device that is cheap and efficient. The aim of this research is to characterize a portable water filtration device with an innovative absorber from corncob waste. The way this research works is the process of carbonizing corn cob waste and then activating it using 0.5 M NaOH for 24 hours. The absorber is then filled into a portable filter with dimensions of 50 cm in length and 4 inches in diameter. Filtration is carried out by flowing the collected well water into the water reservoir through a filter. Tests are carried out on water that has not been passed through a filter. After that, characterization was also carried out on the water that had passed through the filter. This characterization consists of Total Dispended Solid (TDS), Temperature, pH, Ca levels, and turbidity. The TDS value obtained decreases with the increasing number of absorbers used, namely from 203, 163, to 123 ppm. In addition, the temperature of the test water has almost no change. The resulting results were temperatures of 32, 33, and 32oC. The resulting pH value shows a decrease with an increase in the number of absorbers used, namely from 8.3; 7.7; 7.3. For turbidity, there was a decrease in the turbidity rate with an increase in the number of absorbers used, namely from 0.29 NTU to 0.3 NTU, and 0.28 NTU. In addition, CaCO3 levels decreased with an increase in the number of absorbers used, namely from 330 mg/l, 290 mg/l, and 240 mg/l. This value has met the threshold set by PMK No. 32 of 2017.

Characteristics of 4-inch (100) oriented Mg-doped β-Ga2O3 bulk single crystals grown by a casting method

In this Letter, 4-inch diameter (100) magnesium-doped monoclinic gallium oxide (Mg:β-Ga2O3) bulk single crystals were grown by a casting method. The crystallographic structure, electrical, optical properties, and defects of Mg-doped β-Ga2O3 was thoroughly investigated by XRD rocking curves, AFM, non-contact resistivity measurements, XPS, optical transmission spectra, Raman spectroscopy, and defect-selective chemical etching processes. Comparing to the UID samples, the larger bandgap of 4.75 eV and high resistivity of 3.50×1012 Ω∙cm indicated Mg a proper dopant for fabricating semi-insulating β-Ga2O3 substrates which could be preferred for power devices. XPS spectra exhibited the ability of Mg2+ to inhibit the formation of oxygen vacancy defects in the crystals. Meanwhile, the high crystalline quality and low density of defects demonstrated the advantages of casting method in achieving large-size and high-quality β-Ga2O3 bulk single crystals with changeable resistivity. This result indicates a high potential to achieve high-quality and low-cost substrates which satisfy the requirement of high-performance power electronic devices.