Petroleum Manufacturing Research Articles

Flame detection by heat from the infrared spectrum: Optimization and sensitivity analysis

Accurate detection of unwanted fires at their early stage is crucial for efficient mitigation and loss prevention. Moreover, the detection strategy must avoid false alarms and the associated disruptions in workplaces. Thermal radiation-based flame detection is the fastest detection method and is commonly used in critical industrial spaces, such as air hangars and petroleum manufacturing and storage. The main challenge is distinguishing the radiation of flames from other sources, e.g., hot objects or the Sun. The principles of radiation-based flame detection have been known for a long time, but open data and worked-out feasibility studies are rare. This work takes advantage of the recent advances in experimental and numerical methods of characterizing the infrared spectra. Combining high-resolution spectra from flames and blackbody emitters with virtual low-pass filters allows us to simulate the response of a hypothetical sensor. To maximize the difference between flame and blackbody responses, we use a pattern search algorithm to find optimal filtering wavelengths for two different detection strategies based on three or four optical low-pass filters. The optimal wavelengths are reported along with the sensitivity of the detection signal to the filter non-ideality. Our results give guidelines for design of efficient and highly selective flame-radiation-based fire detection sensors.

Heterologous spatial distribution of soil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the primary influencing factors in three industrial parks

Soil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) generated from industrial processes are highly spatially heterologous, with limited quantitative studies on their main influencing factors. The present study evaluated the soil PAHs in three types of industrial parks (a petrochemical industrial park, a brominated flame retardant manufacturing park, and an e-waste dismantling park) and their surroundings. The total concentrations of 16 PAHs in the parks were 340–2.43 × 103, 26.2–2.63 × 103, and 394–2.01 × 104 ng/g, which were significantly higher than those in the surrounding areas by 1–2 orders of magnitude, respectively. The highest soil PAH contamination was observed in the e-waste dismantling park. Nap can be considered as characteristic pollutant in the petrochemical industrial park, while Phe in the flame retardant manufacturing park and e-waste dismantling park. Low molecular weight PAHs (2–3 rings) predominated in the petrochemical industrial park (73.0%) and the surrounding area of brominated flame retardant manufacturing park (80.3%). However, high molecular weight PAHs (4–6 rings) were enriched in the other sampling sites, indicating distinct sources and determinants of soil PAHs. Source apportionment results suggested that PAHs in the parks were mainly derived from the leakage of petroleum products in the petroleum manufacturing process and pyrolysis or combustion of fossil fuels. Contrarily, the PAHs in the surrounding areas could have been derived from the historical coal combustion and traffic emissions. Source emissions, wind direction, and local topography influenced the PAH spatial distributions.

Novel nanocomposites of nickel and copper oxide nanoparticles embedded in a melamine framework containing cellulose nanocrystals: Material features and corrosion protection applications

In this work, novel metal oxide-organic frameworks (cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs)), copper oxide/melamine/cellulose nanocrystals (CuO@MEL@CNCs), and nickel oxide/melamine/cellulose nanocrystals (NiO@MEL@CNCs) were effectively fabricated using a hydrothermal method. The prepared nanocomposite CNCs, CuO@MEL@CNCs, and NiO@MEL@CNCs were described by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and Raman spectroscopy. The outcomes show that the nanomaterials have high scattering and narrow size distribution. Moreover, vibrational investigations have been performed utilizing Raman spectroscopic procedures. Explicit Raman peaks were observed in the CNC, CuO@MEL@CNC, and NiO@MEL@CNC nanostructures, and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the peaks demonstrated the small particle size of the prepared nanocomposites. The capability of the CNC, CuO@MEL@CNC, and NiO@MEL@CNC nanocomposites to act as corrosion inhibitors of AISI360-steel in molar H2SO4 is described for the first time. The corrosion protection capabilities of the nanocomposites were evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and surface morphology (FE-SEM/ energy dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDX)) measurements. The protection effectiveness was found in the order NiO@MEL@CNCs (98.3%) > CuO@MEL@CNCs (96.8%) > CNCs (85.3%) at 300 mg L-1. The current report shows that CNCs and metal oxide-melamine frameworks at CNCs as inexpensive and eco-friendly inhibitors could be probable candidates to protect AISI360-steel corrosion in petroleum manufacturing.

A model of the indirect losses from negative shocks in production and finance.

Economies are frequently affected by natural disasters and both domestic and overseas financial crises. These events disrupt production and cause multiple other types of economic losses, including negative impacts on the banking system. Understanding the transmission mechanism that causes various negative second-order post-catastrophe effects is crucial if policymakers are to develop more efficient recovery strategies. In this work, we introduce a credit-based adaptive regional input-output (ARIO) model to analyse the effects of disasters and crises on the supply chain and bank-firm credit networks. Using real Japanese networks and the exogenous shocks of the 2008 Lehman Brothers bankruptcy and the Great East Japan Earthquake (March 11, 2011), this paper aims to depict how these negative shocks propagate through the supply chain and affect the banking system. The credit-based ARIO model is calibrated using Latin hypercube sampling and the design of experiments procedure to reproduce the short-term (one-year) dynamics of the Japanese industrial production index after the 2008 Lehman Brothers bankruptcy and the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake. Then, through simulation experiments, we identify the chemical and petroleum manufacturing and transport sectors as the most vulnerable Japanese industrial sectors. Finally, the case of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake is simulated for Japanese prefectures to understand differences among regions in terms of globally engendered indirect economic losses. Tokyo and Osaka prefectures are the most vulnerable locations because they hold greater concentrations of the above-mentioned vulnerable industrial sectors.

A Model for Indirect Losses of Negatives Shocks in Production and Finance

The Japanese economy has been frequently affected by natural disasters and domestic and overseas financial crises. These events cause production disruption and several other economic losses including the negative impacts on the banking system. The understanding of the transmission mechanism that causes various negative second-order effects post-catastrophe is crucial for policymakers in order to define more efficient strategies for recovery. We introduce in this work the credit-based adaptive regional input-output (ARIO) model to analyze the effects of disaster and crisis on the supply chain and the bank-firm credit networks. Using the exogenous shocks of the 2008 Lehman Brothers bankruptcy and the Great East Japan Earthquake (March 11, 2011), this paper has three research objectives. First, investigate how Japanese listed firms' strategies differ between financial crisis and natural disaster. Second, show how exogenous shocks related to those catastrophic events are transferred to the Japanese banks through the bank-firm network. Third, investigate the most vulnerable Japanese industrial sectors and Japanese geographic locations when hit by a financial crisis and natural disaster, respectively. The model is initialized based on the real supplier-customer network of Japanese listed firms, the real borrowing-lending network of Japanese banks and Japanese listed firms, and the financial statements of these firms. The credit-based ARIO model is calibrated using the Latin hypercube sampling and the design of experiments to reproduce the short-term (one year) dynamics of the index of industrial production of Japan post the 2008 Lehman Brothers bankruptcy and the 2011 Great earthquake in Japan. We reproduced by simulation the Japanese economic dynamics post these two disastrous events. We show how the disruption of production caused by financial crisis or natural disaster is transferred to the banking system by generating additional non-performing loans and liquidity pressure. Then, by simulation experiments we identify the most vulnerable Japanese industrial sectors as the chemical and petroleum manufacturing, and the transport, since those sectors are damaged by a crisis similar to the 2008 financial crisis. The impact on the global economy is measured and the systemic risk of industrial sectors is explained by their position in the supply chain network. Finally, the scenario of the 2011 Great earthquake is simulated on Japanese prefectures to understand differences between regions in terms of global engendered indirect economic losses. Tokyo and Osaka prefectures are the vulnerable geographic locations because of the higher concentration of those vulnerable industrial sectors.

اثر استراتیجیة الترکیز التنافسیة على الوصول الى مرتبة التمیز التنافسی

الملخص: يهدف هذا البحث إلى قياس أثر استراتيجية الترکيز على الوصول إلى مرتبة التميز التنافسي ومن أجل ذلک قام الباحث بعمل قائمة استقصاء لقياس آراء واتجاهات أفراد الإدارة العليا لشرکات تصنيع البترول المصرية والتى اتضح من تحليلها وجود أثر فعلي لهذه الاستراتيجية على الوصول لمرتبة التميز وبالتالى قام الباحث بوضع إطار منهجي لتطبيق هذه الاستراتيجية داخل الشرکات محل الدراسة للوصول الى مرتبة التميز التنافسى . Abstract: The aim of this research is to measure the impact of the strategy of focusing on achieving competitive excellence. For this purpose, the researcher conducted a survey to gauge the opinions and attitudes of the senior management personnel of the Egyptian petroleum manufacturing companies, whose analysis revealed that there is a real effect of this strategy on reaching the rank of excellence. Methodological approach to applying this strategy within the companies under study.

Comment

Comment

Timothy W. Cobban, Cities of Oil: Munici-palities and Petroleum Manufacturing in Southern Ontario, 1860–1960.

Timothy W. Cobban, <i>Cities of Oil: Munici-palities and Petroleum Manufacturing in Southern Ontario, 1860–1960.</i>

Timothy W. Cobban, Cities of Oil: Municipalities and Petroleum Manufacturing in Southern Ontario, 1860–1960. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2013. Pp. 172. Maps

Timothy W. Cobban, Cities of Oil: Municipalities and Petroleum Manufacturing in Southern Ontario, 1860–1960. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2013. Pp. 172. Maps

Tracking Transportation and Industrial Production across a Nation

With the Freight Analysis Framework as its primary data source, the RUBMRIO (random utility–based multiregional input–output) model is applied for U.S. transportation, production, and trade across more than 3,000 contiguous counties. Driven by foreign export demand, RUBMRIO uses input–output expenditure shares and a nested logit model for shipment origins and mode to simulate trade patterns of commodities among the counties. Network and export demand scenarios were examined for their effects on the distribution of trade flows and production. Changes in export demands for various commodities highlighted the importance of food and petroleum manufacturing sectors in production and labor-expenditure shifts. Transport cost reductions had greater effects on total production than did similar cost increases. The most affected U.S. counties were those centrally located. Changes in travel times along the I-40 corridor had ripple effects on trade patterns everywhere with the greatest changes observed around the corridor's midpoint.

Oil price shocks in an island economy: an analysis of the oil price-macroeconomy relationship

This study seeks to clarify the oil price-macroeconomy relationship within a small open economy using a computable general equilibrium model for Hawaii. Like many islands, Hawaii is both oil and tourism-dependant. Hawaii meets nearly 90% of its energy needs through oil-burning and tourism accounts for roughly one-third of the economy. A doubling of the world price of oil is simulated, showing macro, sector, and consumer welfare changes. The industry of primary interest, the petroleum manufacturing sector, constrains real output of refined petroleum product and passes along a substantial portion of the price burden.

Estimating the Tax Burden and Economic Impact from the Proposed 'Gang of Ten' Revenue Offsets

The recently released Gang of Ten energy proposal includes revenue offsets that would exclude domestic oil and gas companies from the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activity. Using a simple input-output model we estimate the state-by-state impact of this proposal on tax burdens, employment, household earnings and economic output. We estimate the proposal will increase corporate tax burdens by approximately $13.57 billion over ten years, 44 percent of which will fall on households in the petroleum manufacturing states of Texas, California and Louisiana. Using RIMS II multipliers we estimate the proposal will reduce U.S. employment by roughly 637,000 jobs over ten years, reduce household earnings by $34.97 billion, and reduce total U.S. economic output by $185.95 billion.

An updated study of mortality among workers at a petroleum manufacturing plant.

This study evaluated mortality among 9796 white male workers at a petroleum-manufacturing plant. The main purpose was to examine recent patterns in leukemia mortality, for which an increase had been reported in an earlier investigation. Compared to U.S. white men, the cohort had an excess of leukemia in 1940-1979 (38 observed/23 expected; standardized mortality ratio = 168; 95% confidence interval = 119-230). In the 1980s, there was a deficit of leukemia (8 observed/14 expected; standardized mortality ratio = 55; 95% confidence interval = 24-108). However, this was balanced by an excess of myelofibrosis and myelodysplasia (4 observed, < 1 expected). These results indicate that any occupational leukemogenic exposures at the plant have been reduced to a point at which they are insufficient to cause leukemia. Hourly workers also had an excess of deaths from mesothelioma in the 1980s (8 observed, about 2.5 expected), possibly because of exposure to asbestos in the past.

An export-base analysis of Louisiana's petroleum driven economy

Louisiana's economy has traditionally relied on industries that are intensive in natural resource utilization as the basis for economic growth. The dramatic energy price increases during the 1970s provided the incentives for this economy to increase its specialization in the mining and processing of petroleum-based products. A differential export-base model using ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression was developed in this paper for estimating aggregate employment multipliers. Results from the analysis indicate that oil and gas mining, chemical and petroleum manufacturing, and lumber and paper production are highly significant employment generators. Mining employment was estimated to be highly dependent on petroleum prices. By interfacing the employment demand equation with the economic base model, specific and general petroleum employment impacts are assessed. The current recession in the oil and gas mining industry is having a major impact on employment, income and public finances for this region.

Health experience of workers in the petroleum manufacturing and distribution industry: a review of the literature.

A review of 120 papers on the health effects on workers in the petroleum manufacturing and distribution industry revealed inconsistent results. This may be due in part to the variable quality of the epidemiological studies. There is, however, the consistent finding of a deficit for "all causes mortality" and for "all cancers mortality," thus implying that a widespread serious health effect of gasoline exposure seems remote. For specific health effects, the possibility exists that occupational etiological factors may play a part in the pathogenesis of brain cancer and renal disease. The evidence for a link between occupational and other health effects is weak. Further work of better quality is necessary to investigate those diseases in which there remains a suspicion of an occupational etiology.

不眠と疲労

There are usually many experiences that the sleep is very important to recover the fatigue. In recent times, various industries are developing more and more which maintain 24 hours operation. As a result, workers having more chances to work at night. The investigation about the relation between fatigue and the insufficient sleep was experimentally designed. The flicker test was done on office work and the flicker value was found to be declined in the next morning after all-night working. In a petroleum manufacturing factory, the flicker value declined most severely at work of nightshift, in comparison with day-shift and evening-shift, and the decline of flicker value became more severe day by day. These facts mean that the insufficient sleep influences the brain functions making to decline its the level. And the variations of flicker value by insufficient sleep should be considered on the basis of physiological diurnal fluctuation of functions, that is to say 24 hours rhythm. The investigation was planned as follows (I) subjects: 5 students, (2) duration of sleep: 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours, (3) time to go to bed: 22:00 o'clock, (4) functions tested: sublingual temperature, pulse rate, flicker value, and subjective drowsiness, (5) follow up after awake until evening. Ranking of the levels of function at 8:00 to 10:00 o'clock after various duration of sleep showed that after 0 or 2 hours' sleep the level is lower compared with 4, 6, or 8 hours' sleep and that the ascending of the sublingual temperature after meal is higher with sufficient sleep. Further results could be summarized as follows: (1) With insufficient sleep, ascending of functions is the next morining is disturbed, and descending of functions continues until next evening. (2) If dietetic descending of sublingual temperature is detectable, it means descending of replacement. (3) Subjective drowsiness on the next day means the semisleeping condition. (4) This semisleeping condition is a situation of insufficient efficiency and sleeping. (5) This situation is fatiugue that is carried over to the next day. This condition means of insufficient changing of the higher level of functions at daytime to the lower at night.