Steam Users Research Articles

Techno-economic and carbon dioxide emission assessment of carbon black production

The over 15 million metric tonnes of carbon black produced annually emit carbon dioxide in the range of 29–79 million metric tonnes each year. With the renaissance of carbon black in many new renewable energy applications as well as the growing transportation sector, where carbon black is used as a rubber reinforcement agent in car tires, the carbon black market is expected to grow by 66% over the next 9 years. As such, it is important to better understand energy intensity and carbon dioxide emissions of carbon black production. In this work, the furnace black process is studied in detail using process models to provide insights into mass and energy balances, economics, and potential pathways for lowering the environmental impact of carbon black production. Current state-of-the-art carbon black facilities typically flare the tail gas of the carbon black reactor. While low in heating value, this tail gas contains considerable amounts of energy and flaring this tail gas leads to low overall efficiency (39.6%). The efficiency of the furnace black process can be improved if the tail gas is used to produce electricity. However, the high capital investment cost and increased operating costs make it difficult to operate electricity generation from the tail gas economically. Steam co-generation (together with electricity generation) on the other hand is shown to substantially improve energy efficiency as well as economics, provided that steam users are nearby. Steam co-generation can be achieved via back-pressure steam turbines so that the low-pressure exhaust steam (∼2 bar/120 °C) can be used locally for heating or drying purposes. Furthermore, the potential of utilizing hydrogen to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is investigated. Using hydrogen as fuel for the carbon black reactor instead of natural gas is shown to reduce the carbon dioxide footprint by 19%. However, current prices of hydrogen lead to a steep increase in the levelized cost of carbon black (47%).

How Online Gaming Could Enhance Your Career Prospects

Background Online gaming motivations are differently associated with career interests. However, very little is known about online gaming behaviour based on the actual games played and how career interests are reflected in what people play. Hence, we investigated the actual gaming behaviour of individuals from an extensive secondary data set to further support gamers’ future career planning and professional training. Methods The study comprised 16,033 participants playing a different number of games on Steam. Our study was based on the 800 most played games only and included participants where we had access to gender and job details. We employed a secondary data analysis approach by using an existing data set (O’Neill et al., 2016), looking into the actual gaming behaviour of Steam users and additional administrative data (i.e., job details and gender) provided by Game Academy Limited. We used logistic regression on the participants’ top ten games, allowing us to investigate any possible associations between different professions, gender, and the games played. Results We found that IT professionals and engineers played puzzle-platform games, allowing for enhanced spatial skills. Managers showed an interest in action roleplay games where organisational and planning skills can be improved. Finally, engineers were associated with strategy games that required problem-solving and spatial skills. There were apparent gender differences too: females preferred playing single-player games, whereas males played shooting games. Conclusion Our study found that online gaming behaviour varied between different job categories, allowing the participants to gain different soft skills. The soft skills gained could assist gamers with training that leads to a particular career path. The reasons for these findings and suggestions for future research will be discussed.

Improving serious games by crowdsourcing feedback from the STEAM online gaming community

The inclusion of game-based learning in tertiary institutions is increasing as educators seek ways to enhance student engagement and motivation. During the development process for gaming resources, educators need feedback to ensure a quality learning experience. In many cases this feedback is generally received from students at the end of the subject or course and is often regulated centrally. Another way of garnering feedback and capturing player analytics could be to capitalize on the millions of global gamers. A game developed for use in a Health Sciences and Medicine program, The King's Request: Physiology and Anatomy Revision Game, was made freely available on the Steam platform. Over 16,000 Steam users engaged with the game over 12 months, with 150 providing written reviews. In contrast, a cohort of 100 first-year health science and medical students were requested to review the game after playing in class, with only 17 providing written feedback. In reviewing feedback, similarities were found between the groups, such as where both Steam community players and in-class students requested more questions and a longer game. However, the Steam community highlighted several unique aspects which could be used to improve the game for learning, such as a refined implementation of the incentive system. As the online gaming community is far larger than students enrolled in any tertiary subject, its expansive feedback can be used to accelerate the design and refinement of serious games. This wealth of feedback could provide unique insights for educators wishing to improve the provision of games in education and the overall student learning experience.

Opinion Spam Classification on Steam Review using Support Vector Machine with Lexicon-Based Features

Steam is a video game digital distribution platform developed by Valve Software. Steam provides a user review feature, where users can write about criticism or comments on games that can contain positive or negative sentiments. Based on the questionnaire that the author conducted to Steam users from all over Indonesia, the user review feature provided by Steam was not sufficient. This is because there are fake reviews that allow biased opinions from certain parties so that a phenomenon called review bombing often occurs where users review only to drop or raise the image of a product, not to review it sincerely. From these problems, a solution design is needed that can classify fake reviews on the Steam service. The Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification method was chosen as the model in combination with lexicon-based feature retrieval and Term Frequency – Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) weighting. Of the 236 classification test data conducted by SVM, it produced 105 reviews which were categorized as Valid Reviews. Meanwhile, those categorized as Opinion Spam by SVM are 131 reviews. The accuracy level of the data classification model using Support Vector Machine method is of 81% by dividing training data by 70% and test data by 30% with a random state level of 109. A dashboard in the form of a web application has also been made that contains the classification model to be used for buying reference for Steam user.

Steam System Load Shedding Operational Analysis Using Dynamics Simulation of a Fertilizer Plant

Steam system operation of a fertilizer plant can be complex due to high number of equipment, unavailable redundancy of steam suppliers and inter-dependency behaviour between steam users. The plant is subjected to partial or total shutdown whenever one boiler trips as both existing boilers are operating close to design capacity. Installation of an additional boiler will provide additional capacity margin in the event of one boiler trips. iCON(Symmetry) was used as the dynamic process simulation tool to establish proper management for load shedding activity with three boilers in operation. Model was developed for the integrated steam header, fuel gas and boiler feed water network. A detailed representation of the actual plant was achieved by incorporating plant hydraulics based on actual piping configurations, high fidelity equipment modelling, process control configurations, trip sequencing and operator manual interventions. This approach gives high accuracy in replicating the plant’s transient behaviour for load shedding case studies. The case studies prove the three boiler arrangement is able to sustain the plant’s continuous operation. An operational strategy was developed to minimize the impact of equipment trips. It is recommended to expand the model to include the process side to represent the actual plant behaviour with higher accuracy.

Características qualitativas para desenvolvimento de jogos de sobrevivência

Embora a sobrevivência seja um dos gêneros mais aclamados pelos usuários da Steam, ainda há crítica que demonstra descontentamento sobre os jogos de sobrevivência não serem realmente sobre sobrevivência. Diante do exposto, o objetivo deste é analisar os jogos de sobrevivência da Steam e apresentar as características qualitativas para desenvolvimento de jogos desse gênero, no intuito de destacar os aspectos fundamentais a serem considerados ao projetar um jogo. Dentro dos quesitos identificados estão: simulação, jogabilidade, dificuldade, ambientação e gráfico. Estes foram identificados a partir das análises realizadas por usuários (jogadores) de 15 jogos de sobrevivência contidos na Steam. A análise realizada apontará o caminho para desenvolvedores abordarem a mecânica de sobrevivência de forma sistemática, mas não rígida. A mesma foi elaborada com base em jogos de sucesso do mesmo gênero, e visa ressaltar a importância dos cinco componentes como metodologia para desenvolvimento de jogos de sobrevivência.

Steam batch thermal processes in unsteady state conditions: Modelling and application to a case study in the food industry

Many industrial processes require high amounts of steam. Design and operation of steam plants are particularly complex when the steam supply is required for short periods and with a varying time schedules. To fulfil the discontinuous needs of steam users, avoiding the steam boiler oversizing to the peak value of the steam request, a thermal energy storage (TES) system can be adopted. The proper sizing of TES systems, which, in this application, is constituted by a steam accumulator vessel installed between the steam generator and the consumer, cannot be based on the sole initial and final state conditions of the steam storage, since a performance prediction of the process time-evolution is also required.In this paper, a model of steam batch processes for industrial thermal treatments, able to describe unsteady operative conditions, is presented. More in detail, a three-stage steam plant, with a sequentially interconnected steam boiler, steam accumulator and processing tank, has been considered. The dynamic model of the charging and discharging processes of the steam accumulator has been applied to a real case study in the food industry: the batch debacterisation process of cocoa beans. Nevertheless, the obtained results can be profitably employed in the design and the performance assessments of a wide set of applications involving the steam processing fluid, such as desalination plants, solar thermal power plants, retorts, steam ovens and others.

Simulation modeling and experimental analysis of thermodynamic charge performance in a variable-mass thermodynamic system

The thermodynamic charge performance of a variable-mass thermodynamic system was investigated by the simulation modeling and experimental analysis. Three sets of experiments were conducted for various charge time and charge steam flow under three different control strategies of charge valve. Characteristic performance parameters from the average sub-cooled degree and the charging energy coefficient point of views were also defined to evaluate and predict the charge performance of system combined with the simulation model and experimental data. The results show that the average steam flow reflects the average sub-cooled degree qualitatively, while the charging energy coefficients of 74.6%, 69.9% and 100% relate to the end value of the average sub-cooled degree at 2.1, 2.9 and 0 respectively for the three sets of experiments. The mean and maximum deviations of the results predicted from those by experimental data are smaller than 6.8% and 10.8%, respectively. In conclusion, the decrease of average steam flow can effectively increase the charging energy coefficient in the same charge time condition and therefore improve the thermodynamic charge performance of system. While the increase of the charging energy coefficient by extending the charge time needs the consideration of the operating frequency for steam users.

Case Study: Steam System Improvements At Dupont Automotive Marshall Laboratory

ABSTRACT Dupont's Marshall Laboratory is an automotive paint research and development facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The campus is comprised of several buildings that are served by Trigen-Philadelphia Energy Corporation's district steam loop. In 1996, Dupont management announced that it was considering moving the facility out of Philadelphia primarily due to the high operating cost compared to where they were considering relocating. The city officials responded by bringing the local electric and gas utilities to the table to negotiate better rates for Dupont. Trigen also requested the opportunity to propose energy savings opportunities, and dedicated a team of engineers to review Dupont's steam system to determine if energy savings could be realized within the steam system infrastructure. As part of a proposal to help Dupont reduce energy costs while continuing to use Trigen's steam, Trigen recommended modifications to increase energy efficiency, reduce steam system maintenance costs, and implement small scale cogeneration. These recommendations included reducing the medium pressure steam distribution to low pressure, eliminating the medium pressure to low pressure reducing stations, installing a back pressure steam turbine generator, and preheating the domestic hot water with the condensate. Dupont engineers evaluated these recommended modifications and chose to implement most of them. An analysis of Dupont's past steam consumption revealed that the steam distribution system sizing was acceptable if the steam pressure was reduced from medium to low. After a test of the system and a few modifications, Dupont reduced the steam distribution system to low pressure. Energy efficiency is improved since the heat transfer losses at the low pressure are less than at the medium pressure distribution. Additionally, steam system maintenance will be significantly reduced since twelve pressure reducing stations are eliminated. With the steam pressure reduction now occurring at one location, the opportunity existed to install a backpressure turbine generator adjacent to the primary pressure reducing station. The analysis of Dupont's steam and electric load profiles demonstrated that cost savings could be realized with the installation of 150 kW of self-generation. There were a few obstacles, including meeting the utility's parallel operation requirements, that made this installation challenging. More than two years have passed since the modifications were implemented, and although cost savings are difficult to quantify since process steam use has increased, the comparison of steam consumption to heating degree days shows a reducing trend. Dupont's willingness to tackle energy conservation projects without adversely affecting their process conditions can be an example to other industrial steam users.

Steam System Improvement in a Food Processing Plant: A Case Study

ABSTRACT This article discusses the findings of a survey which was conducted in a food processing plant. The study focuses on the steam system. The process includes raw material preparation, cooking, frying and packaging. The frying and cooking processes utilize steam. The annual steam cost at this food processing plant is approximately $1.2 million dollars. The plant does not generate steam but purchases it from an outside utility plant at 400 psig. In the plant, steam is utilized at various pressures, ranging from 10 psig to 400 psig. The food processing plant utilizes pressure reducing valves to supply steam at various pressures lower than 400 psig. The 400 psig steam users utilize more than 80 percent of the total steam supplied. The various steam users at lower pressures utilize the remaining quantity of steam. All of the condensate is collected in an atmospheric flash tank before being sent back to the outside utility plant. An electric motor-driven pump returns the condensate to the outside utility. The study identified several steam cost saving opportunities. The saving opportunities included improvements in the steam utilization and the condensate return system. Steam pressure is reduced from high pressure to supply the lower pressure users. On the other hand, the high pressure condensate is flashed to atmospheric pressure. The lower pressure steam users can utilize flash steam that is produced from the high pressure condensate. In this way, the food plant can reduce the quantity of purchased steam and minimize the quantity of flash steam being released to the atmosphere. Upon the implementation of the proposed measures, the food plant can save 10 percent of the its annual steam cost. The average payback period to implement the identified saving measures is less than 3 years.

Steam System Improvement in a Food Processing Plant: A Case Study

ABSTRACT This article discusses the findings of a survey which was conducted in a food processing plant. The study focuses on the steam system. The process includes raw material preparation, cooking, frying and packaging. The frying and cooking processes utilize steam. The annual steam cost at this food processing plant is approximately $1.2 million dollars. The plant does not generate steam but purchases it from an outside utility plant at 400 psig. In the plant, steam is utilized at various pressures, ranging from 10 psig to 400 psig. The food processing plant utilizes pressure reducing valves to supply steam at various pressures lower than 400 psig. The 400 psig steam users utilize more than 80 percent of the total steam supplied. The various steam users at lower pressures utilize the remaining quantity of steam. All of the condensate is collected in an atmospheric flash tank before being sent back to the outside utility plant. An electric motor-driven pump returns the condensate to the outside utility...

Economic justification of cogeneration systems for industrial steam users and utility systems

Cogeneration can provide attractive investment options to energy intensive process industries. The economic assessment of cogeneration must adequately consider both industry and utility viewpoints and roles. The paper presents a novel technique to study the economic justification of cogeneration systems for industrial steam users and utility systems. An adequate analytical and statistical model is developed to simulate the dynamic nature of loads by representing the daily chronological data of the steam and electric demands by probability distribution functions instead of the currently used central estimates. It is necessary to use probability functions since the use of central estimates could lead to opposite decisions. Production simulation models are used to simulate the optimum operation problem of different cogeneration alternatives and the utility generation systems. A long term cash flow analysis is employed to provide economic measures of project worth such as the net benefit/investment ratio for industry and the net annual cash flow for the utility. Sensitivity analysis for the most significant parameters in the economic evaluation is performed to justify the optimum cooperative strategy between industry and utilities which can lead to the implementation of the optimum cogeneration systems.

The development of more effective treatments for the prevention of condensate line corrosion

Introduction The majority of steam users realise the value of correct treatment and control when it comes to boiler water. Corrosion is recognised as a serious hazard and practically every plant uses some form of oxygen scavenging to protect the boiler from corrosion.

Mr. C. E. Stromeyer

HALF a century ago the practices used in the design and construction of industrial boilers left much to be desired in the way of scientific treatment, and it is no exaggeration to say that Charles Edmoud Stromeyer, as chief engineer to the ‘M'an-chester Steam Users’ Association, was a leading spirit in the process of transforming the existing art into something approaching an exact science. The reason is not difficult to find, sinco he possessed an inborn capacity for investigation and research, to which was added the experience gained during seventeen years as an engineer surveyor to Lloyd's Register of Shipping. During that persistent endeavour, which occupied thirty years, the city of his adoption was a centre of interest for those engaged on the construction and maintenance of boilers, for engineers from distant lands frequently called upon him and the pilgrimage continued after the year of retirement, in 1928. For this reason, a wide circle of friends must have welcomed the honorary degree of Dr. Ing. that was conferred last year by the Technische Hochschule at Aachen on its old graduate.

(1) Applied Chemistry: A Practical Handbook for Students of Household Science and Public Health (2) Chemistry from the Industrial Standpoint (3) Fuel, Water, and Gas Analysis for Steam Users (4) Popular Chemical Dictionary

(1) Applied Chemistry: A Practical Handbook for Students of Household Science and Public Health (2) Chemistry from the Industrial Standpoint (3) Fuel, Water, and Gas Analysis for Steam Users (4) Popular Chemical Dictionary

Steam Boilers and Economisers

AS chief engineer of the Manchester Steam Users' Association Mr. C. E. Stromeyer prepares a yearly memorandum. The memorandum for the year 1918–19 deals, with fuel economy and with economiser and furnace collapses. Some industries require much power and little steam for. heating and boiling; others much steam and little power. If two such industries could combine, the cost of 1 h.p. could be reduced from, say, 2 lb. of coal to 1/3 lh. If, for instance, a spinning mill consumes 20 tons of coal for power alone, and a sugar factory an equal quantity of coal for boiling purposes, some means ought surely to be found to bring them together, and thus satisfy both demands with a consumption of 23 tons instead of 40 tons.

The Working and Maintenance of Steam Boilers

IN these days of high-priced coal, the memorandum which has recently been issued by Mr. C. E. Stro-meyer, chief engineer of the Manchester Steam Users' Association, will be read with much interest by engineers and boiler owners. The coal bill for a Lancashire boiler amounts to from 300l. to 6ooZ. per annum, and careless stoking may easily increase this cost in a very large proportion. Lack of proper attention to minor defects, which should be remedied as soon as detected, may also greatly increase the coal bill and shorten the life of the boiler. The memorandum covers a very wide field, such as economiser defects, external and internal corrosion, leakage, etc. Of special interest are Mr. Stromeyer's remarks regarding mechanical stokers.

Estimates for Steam Users

Estimates for Steam Users