Large Industrial Site Research Articles

DIGITISATION OF RETREATING INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE; MODELLING THE DECOMMISSIONING OF THE COAL WASHERIES OF ONLLWYN

Abstract. Digitisation for the purposes of recording cultural heritage and its condition is conventionally associated with the task of documentation for conservation. Occasionally emergency recording will anticipate the potential imminent destruction of heritage at risk. By contrast here, although the heritage status of the site whilst proposed in the 1990s, it was never secured yet the closure and eventual dismemberment of the buildings is a plan that is already underway. The coal washeries of Onllwyn sit within a vast landscape that is now most widely recognised as a National Park. During the last century, however, it was a thriving industrial site. The assembly of buildings used to wash and sort coal prior to distribution were recorded using a terrestrial laser scanner and an aerial drone in August 2022 shortly prior to the closure of a site that had been part of a changing industrial landscape since the mid-nineteenth century. As part of a wide agreement to build a historic narrative for a once large industrial site with a planned closure a comprehensive historical review has been built. This included the acquisition of historic maps but also of numerous historical aerial and terrestrial photographs as well as the collation of films and oral histories. Here pointclouds generated from terrestrial laser scans, photogrammetry from drone imagery and photogrammetry from historical aerial images have been combined in an attempt to create a navigable digital backdrop to the decommissioning of a vast industrial landscape as it anticipates a new future. The aim of the models created is to provide a virtual spatial platform to co-locate memories of a community life that is left centred around a lost place of work.

A Telemedicine-Guided Self-Collection Approach for PCR-Based SARS-CoV-2 Testing: Comparative Study.

BackgroundLarge-scale, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based SARS-CoV-2 testing is expensive, resource intensive, and time consuming. A self-collection approach is a probable alternative; however, its feasibility, cost, and ability to prevent infections need to be evaluated.ObjectiveThis study aims to compare an innovative self-collection approach with a regular SARS-CoV-2 testing strategy in a large European industrial manufacturing site.MethodsThe feasibility of a telemedicine-guided PCR-based self-collection approach was assessed for 150 employees (intervention group) and compared with a regular SARS-CoV-2 testing approach used for 143 employees (control group). Acceptance, ergonomics, and efficacy were evaluated using a software application. A simulation model was implemented to evaluate the effectiveness. An interactive R shiny app was created to enable customized simulations.ResultsThe test results were successfully communicated to and interpreted without uncertainty by 76% (114/150) and 76.9% (110/143) of the participants in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P=.96). The ratings for acceptability, ergonomics, and efficacy among intervention group participants were noninferior when compared to those among control group participants (acceptability: 71.6% vs 37.6%; ergonomics: 88.1% vs 74.5%; efficacy: 86.4% vs 77.5%). The self-collection approach was found to be less time consuming (23 min vs 38 min; P<.001). The simulation model indicated that both testing approaches reduce the risk of infection, and the self-collection approach tends to be slightly less effective owing to its lower sensitivity.ConclusionsThe self-collection approach for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was found to be technically feasible and well rated in terms of acceptance, ergonomics, and efficacy. The simulation model facilitates the evaluation of test effectiveness; nonetheless, considering context specificity, appropriate adaptation by companies is required.

Transient Residual Voltage Influence on the Dynamic Load Transfer

Abstract The successful operation of back-up supply sources in the case of dynamic loads transfer in industrial electricity supply installation is mainly depending on the mitigation of the residual voltage that appears in fault scenarios that result in losing supply from the main grid. The decrease of the interval of presence of residual bus voltage depends highly on the local load and the network configuration. A high time constant (seconds) of the decreasing residual voltage can lead to the disconnection of critical consumers. In this paper, it is presented a simple, cost-effective method for dynamic load transfer that can replace the Motor Bus Transfer approach. The validity of the method is tested on a real large industrial site from Romania. The case study shows that the proposed approach can achieve a voltage return time of around 750 ms.

A methodology of risk assessment and management for a large industrial area

When investigating large industrial site with very limited site historical information and monitoring data, there will be many challenges to determine the remediation cost and strategy. Here the author illustrates a methodology of risk assessment management for large industrial area. Based on proper conceptual model and professional judgement, a score card for each single site can be generated, including the risk scores for the source, path and receptors. Eventually the score results of the sites can be presented on the overall map through different colour. It is an efficient and direct way which can help the decision maker to tell the priority of allocating the resource for site investigation. The ranking of the site’s score will also show an expected cost level of the sites, which could remind the developer to apply more economical strategy at early planning stage.

Experience in deployment and functioning of aeromobile hospital of Emercom of Russia when eliminating the consequences of biosocial emergency situations (in a coronavirus outbreak area)

Relevance. Based on the appeal of the Governor of the Murmansk region to the Operational Headquarters on preventing import and spread of a new coronavirus infection in Russia due to the aggravation of the epidemiological situation and in order to localize the spread of COVID-19, the Russian Emercom allocated forces and capabilities, including an airmobile hospital (AMH) and a temporary accommodation center, in the region. AMH was deployed at the industrial site of the Center for the construction of large-scale offshore facilities of NOVATEK-Murmansk LLC and subcontractors in Belokamenka village, where more than 10 thousand people worked and lived on a rotational basis.Intention. Summarize and analyze the experience of the AMH of Emercom of Russia under field conditions of an outbreak of the new coronavirus infection.Methodology. Daily reports on the activities of Emercom of Russia AMH were analyzed for the period from April 17, 2020 to June 12, 2020.Results and Discussion. Field camp deployment and functioning of Emercom of Russia AMH integrated into a regional medical and preventive institution are described. The data on admitted patients, scope and types of diagnostic tests are presented. It is shown that AMH as a separate outpatient diagnostic department of the Kolsky Central District Hospital should provide special and sanitary treatment, patient referrals and an algorithm of personnel activities, and also comply with antiepidemic measures. During the period of AMH activities in the field, 1678 shift workers got medical advice, 3086 diagnostic studies were carried out for shift workers and employees of the Emercom of Russia. COVID-19 was detected in 500 persons, including 328 cases of mild disease, 98 cases of moderate severity, and 74 severe cases, without case fatalities. The outbreak and spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) infection as an emergency in the subject of Russia and at the large industrial and construction site were brought under control.Conclusion. This experience will help improve the activities of the Emercom of Russia AMH under field conditions.

SENTIERI: Epidemiological Study of Residents in National Priority Contaminated Sites. Fifth Report

SENTIERI: Epidemiological Study of Residents in National Priority Contaminated Sites. Fifth Report

Identification of specific sources of airborne particles emitted from within a complex industrial (steelworks) site

A case study is provided of the development and application of methods to identify and quantify specific sources of emissions from within a large complex industrial site. Methods include directional analysis of concentrations, chemical source tracers and correlations with gaseous emissions. Extensive measurements of PM10, PM2.5, trace gases, particulate elements and single particle mass spectra were made at sites around the Port Talbot steelworks in 2012. By using wind direction data in conjunction with real-time or hourly-average pollutant concentration measurements, it has been possible to locate areas within the steelworks associated with enhanced pollutant emissions. Directional analysis highlights the Slag Handling area of the works as the most substantial source of elevated PM10 concentrations during the measurement period. Chemical analyses of air sampled from relevant wind directions is consistent with the anticipated composition of slags, as are single particle mass spectra. Elevated concentrations of PM10 are related to inverse distance from the Slag Handling area, and concentrations increase with increased wind speed, consistent with a wind-driven resuspension source. There also appears to be a lesser source associated with Sinter Plant emissions affecting PM10 concentrations at the Fire Station monitoring site. The results are compared with a ME2 study using some of the same data, and shown to give a clearer view of the location and characteristics of emission sources, including fugitive dusts.

DFN-M field characterization of sandstone for a process-based site conceptual model and numerical simulations of TCE transport with degradation

Plumes of trichloroethene (TCE) with degradation products occur at a large industrial site in California where TCE as a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) entered the fractured sandstone bedrock at many locations beginning in the late 1940s. Groundwater flows rapidly in closely spaced fractures but plume fronts are strongly retarded relative to groundwater flow velocities owing largely to matrix diffusion in early decades and degradation processes in later decades and going forward. Multiple data types show field evidence for both biotic and abiotic dechlorination of TCE and its degradation products, resulting in non-chlorinated compounds. Analyses were conducted on groundwater samples from hundreds of monitoring wells and on thousands of rock samples from continuous core over depths ranging from 6 to 426 metres below ground surface. Nearly all of the present-day mass of TCE and degradation products resides in the water-saturated, low-permeability rock matrix blocks. Although groundwater and DNAPL flow primarily occur in the fractures, DNAPL dissolution followed by diffusion and sorption readily transfers contaminant mass into the rock matrix. The presence of non-chlorinated degradation products (ethene, ethane, acetylene) and compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) of TCE and cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) indicate at least some complete dechlorination by both biotic and abiotic pathways, consistent with the observed mineralogy and hydrogeochemistry and with published results from crushed rock microcosms. The rock matrix contains abundant iron-bearing minerals and solid-phase organic carbon with large surface areas and long contact times, suggesting degradation processes are occurring in the rock matrix. Multiple, high-resolution datasets provide strong evidence for spatially heterogeneous distributions of TCE and degradation products with varying degrees of degradation observed only when using new methods that achieve better detection of dissolved gases (i.e., Snap Sampler™) and contaminant mass stored in the low permeability rock matrix (i.e., CORE-DFN™). Simulations using a discrete fracture-matrix (DFN-M) numerical model capable of rigorously simulating flow and transport in both the fractures and matrix, including interactions, show that even slow, first-order degradation rates (i.e., 5- to 20-year half-lives) informed by site-derived parameters can contribute strongly to natural attenuation, resulting in TCE plumes that become stationary in space and might even retreat after 50 to 100 years, if the DNAPL sources become depleted due to the combination of diffusion and degradation processes.

Increasing the Robustness of Large Electric Driven Compressor Systems During Voltage Dips

Grid voltage disturbances pose serious problems to gas compression stations powered by drives such as load commutated inverters (LCI). Until recently, drive control systems used in industrial practice were not capable of handling reduced grid voltage situations appropriately, and instead interrupted the supply of drive torque. Without drive torque, compressors may quickly enter surge conditions, under which the gas flows rapidly back and forth, causing wear and risking damage to the equipment. In this paper, experimental evidence is provided showing that a combination of a revised control scheme for LCIs based on model predictive control and an advanced protection scheme for compressors, the so-called dynamic time to surge improves robustness of the system during voltage dips. We share successful voltage dip ride-throughs of two 41.2 MW LCI-fed synchronous machines, each powering a gas compressor at a large industrial site in Norway. We further analyze the impact of partial torque during voltage dips on the availability and safety of the gas compression station.

Assessment of Flexible Operation in an LNG Plant

Process industries are becoming increasingly reliant on electrical power for reasons of efficiency and sustainability. A large industrial site typically has its own power management system to distribute electricity to the process and to manage electrical contingencies such as partial loss of supply. Recent work has illustrated more flexible alternatives to load shedding whereby an industrial process plant can continue to operate at a lower level making use of available electrical power. This paper presents a way for achieving such flexibility in a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant. It analyzes the consequences for production of varying the consumed power, and assesses the maximum flexibility within the feasible operating envelope of the process. The study has been conducted by modeling and simulation of an LNG plant using the Linde process with three refrigeration cycles. The results also show the relationships between electrical power consumption and production in terms of production rate and product characteristics. They also show that the vapour-liquid equilibrium plays a crucial role in establishing the operating points and setting the boundaries in which the process has to work. Thus, through the assessment and simulation of an LNG plant, this work demonstrates that flexible operation has benefits over alternatives. It achieves more operating points and therefore adds more flexibility.

Lightning transient voltages in cables of a large industrial site using a FDTD thin wire model

The thin wire formalism of Holland–Simpson is used to model the different structures of a large industrial site in a FDTD volume. Extensions performed to the original formalism allow to shift the wire along the FDTD cell, to trace oblique trajectories, to model bare wires, insulated, and coaxial cables. The different types of thin wires are used to model: the lightning channel, the building, the grounding grid, a control cable and a cable route. Currents are computed along the shield and core of the control cable, and voltages are observed in its terminations. The results were compared with a MoM numerical tool, with good agreement and a significant better performance in terms of computational resources. Considerations on the modeling of two types of cable routes are addressed: a dielectric pipeline and a cable duct. Finally a simplified approach to compute the transient voltages in the ends of a coaxial cable is presented.

Emulation of an Expensive FDTD Code With Mixed Quantitative and Qualitative Factors for Analysis of Lightning-Induced Transient Responses

In this paper, we discuss how to replace a time-demanding computer code having both quantitative and qualitative variables with a surrogate model based on Kriging technique. The recourse to a predictive model is motivated by a challenging electromagnetic compatibility problem of maximum lightning-induced current in electronic equipment connected to a large industrial site. The technical aspects of the incorporation of qualitative variables via specific correlation functions are detailed. The accuracy of the built surrogate model is statistically validated. The application of the resulting metamodel to the uncertainty analysis of induced currents will be also investigated.

The effects of organic amendment and soil emplacement method on manufactured soil quality and growth of amenity woodland at a former cokeworks site

A trial was conducted to investigate soil manufacture strategies for restoration of a large industrial site to amenity woodland. Colliery shale soil-forming material was amended with two mixtures of organic waste products (a) 1:1 ratio municipal green waste compost to paper mill crumb and (b) 4:1 compost to paper crumb, to form subsoil profiles. The use of a loose tip method of soil emplacement was compared with (a) a conventional earthmover and (b) a wide track, low ground pressure earthmover. Growth of Quercus robur and Alnus glutinosa was not affected by the choice of organic amendment, but the addition of the 1:1 ratio organic amendment did result in significantly greater available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, CO2 evolution and moisture storage capacity than the 4:1 ratio amendment. The greater nutrient supply of paper mill crumb in this experiment demonstrates the importance of the specific composition of organic waste materials, which can result in significant variation in decomposition rate and nutrient release. The use of both organic amendments resulted in a soil profile capable of supporting woodland when best practice soil handling (loose tipping) was applied. The most appropriate ratio of organic material addition is dependent on end use nutrient requirements. Earthmover soil emplacement resulted in markedly greater penetration resistance, lower moisture storage, the generation of anaerobic conditions and inhibited growth of both Q. robur and A. glutinosa irrespective of the type of earthmover employed. The findings confirm the ability of Alnus species to establish relatively rapidly under sub-optimal soil conditions, although A. glutinosa was inhibited by poor rooting conditions in study years 3–4.

Process integration between individual plants at a large dairy factory by the application of heat recovery loops and transient stream analysis

Abstract Indirect heat transfer between individual plants at a large industrial site, such as at a large dairy factory, can be accomplished using a Heat Recovery Loop (HRL) operating at relatively low temperatures (20–50 °C). Direct heat transfer between plants is problematic because of the production schedule and frequent process start-ups and shutdowns that occur due to the need for regular cleaning. The dynamic operation of an industrial HRL at a large dairy factory is presented and briefly discussed. A model HRL based on a set of variable industrial stream data is used to examine the effect of heat storage capacity and HRL temperature range on the amount of heat recovery. Both HRL temperature range and a small heat storage volume can significantly improve the amount of heat recovery. The interface level in the storage tank is also modelled for different volumes and the resulting system is very dynamic and therefore good control needs to be incorporated into the HRL.

An assay on the effect of preliminary restoration tasks applied to a large TENORM wastes disposal in the south-west of Spain

A large industrial wastes disposal site, where two phosphate rock processing plants release their wastes, located close to Huelva town (SW of Spain), has been partially submitted to restoration as a preliminary step in a possible decomissioning process. Due to the high natural radioactivity contents of these wastes, this repository is considered as a radiological anomaly, being actually considered as TENORM (technically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials). The efficiency of this restoration from the radiological point of view according to the new European regulatory framework was evaluated in this work. The results allow to conclude that, as a consequence of the partial restoration works, the external dose rate has been drastically reduced above the repository system. Nevertheless, special attention must be paid on the occupational factor to be applied to workers on the unrestored system. The application of a dosimetric model allows the prediction of the negative effects of using certain industrial wastes as a cover system in this restoration/mitigation task.

Does eye color correlate with susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss?

Several authors over the last 30 years have suggested an association between eye color and susceptibility to both temporary threshold shift (TTS) from noise and noise-induced permanent threshold shift (NIPTS). Pigmentation in the iris is related to the concentration of melanin in the stria vascularis of the cochlea. In earlier research the potential link between susceptibility and pigmentation was not firmly established or explained. More recently, investigators M.-L. Barrenas and P.-A. Hellstrom [Ear Hearing 17, 63–68 (1996)] have suggested possible physiological mechanisms for the effect. This paper summarizes the available literature and provides new data from hearing conservation program audiograms of employees in a large industrial site, compared for groups divided by gender, race, and eye color.

Understanding absenteeism: The potential contribution of economic theory

The issue of employee absenteeism has been an important subject of psychological research for at least 35 years. Although there has been a substantial research effort, only recently has movement occurred toward a comprehensive theoretical framework with testable implications. This paper offers an economic theory of absence which provides substantial insight into the incentive aspect of the problem. The theory is tested using data from a large industrial site.

Switching from oil to coal firing for steam raising A case study at a large industrial site

The prospects for a switch from oil to coal at large industrial sites are assessed, using a detailed examination of the problems at one particular site. These large sites, where combined heat and power generation is common, represent a sizeable fraction of coal's potential industrial market. The problems of coal transport, stocking and handling are discussed, as well as ash disposal, local environmental effects and boiler choice. The economics, as determined by the strict investment criteria currently applied by many companies, of a switch to coal are examined in the light of possible fuel price movements. The implications of boiler plant age and piecemeal replacement for the possible rate at which coal might penetrate the industrial energy market are discussed.

A modified rules approach to workplace industrial relations

Roger Lumley makes a contribution to defining the scope of study in workplace industrial relations. Here, he examines a model based on a modified rules approach to the subject, following its application in an empirical study of a large industrial construction site.

A Modified Rules Approach to Workplace Industrial Relations

This paper makes a contribution to defining the scope of study in workplace industrial relations. Applications of a modified rules approach to industrial relations to the fieldwork setting of a large industrial construction site leads to interpretations and clarifications which give the subject a distinct focus while avoiding excessive overlap with other social science fields of study.