Steel Drums Research Articles

Wear of Wave Energy Converters Mooring Lines Belts

Abstract Using a belt as a replacement for a rope on a rotary power take-offs (PTOs) system has become more common for wave energy converters, improving cyclic bend over sheave performance with a smaller bending thickness for belts. However, the service life predictions of PTOs are a major concern in design, because belt performance under harsh underwater environments is largely less studied. In this work, the effect of fleet and twist angles on wear life is being investigated both experimentally and numerically. Two three-dimensional equivalent static finite element models are constructed to evaluate the complex stress state of polyurethane-steel belts around steel drums. The first is to capture the response of the experimental investigation performed on the wear life, and the second to predict the wear life of an existing functional PTO. The results show a significant effect for fleet and twist angles on stress concentrations and estimated service life.

Mass dependence of the sensitivity factors in the efficiency calibration of clearance monitors

Context:The radioactivity level of waste materials from the decommissioning of nuclear power plants and particle accelerators must be measured to classify the materials by comparing the obtained activity value with the legal exemption levels set by the regulatory authorities. Clearance monitors (CMs), commonly used for this purpose, require a scenario-dependent efficiency calibration (e.g. efficiency as a function of mass of the material to be measured) using sensitivity factors related to a reference nuclide called the key (or leading) nuclide. In commercial CMs, however, these factors are typically fixed for a given nuclide, regardless of the different measurement scenarios. Objective:The objective of this study was to determine the dependence of the sensitivity factors on the mass of measured material for a specific scenario (copper parts placed inside a stainless steel drum), with the goal of defining a general recommendation on how to select the appropriate sensitivity factor for a given measurement scenario. Approach:Monte Carlo simulations of the CM were performed for this specific scenario to obtain the sensitivity factor for five nuclides (22Na, 133Ba, 137Cs, 152Eu and 232Th) and various geometries. Measurements were carried out with certified sources of those nuclides for four specific geometries to validate the Monte Carlo calculations. Additionally, clearance measurements using the manufacturer-provided sensitivity factors and the factors calculated in this work were compared to determine in which situations one single sensitivity factor could be used for various geometries. Results:The results show that, in case of measurements with the same material but mass varying from 10.0 kg to 40.0 kg, the use of a single sensitivity factor for monoenergetic nuclides (e.g. 137Cs), if not selected properly, leads to an over- or underestimation of the activity level of the measured materials. If overestimation is not an issue, the lowest sensitivity factor can be used for all possible measurement configurations. Otherwise, a situation-dependent sensitivity factor should be estimated and implemented. The use of a single fixed sensitivity factor can be easily justified in the case of nuclides emitting gammas in a wide energy range (e.g. 152Eu), where the dependence of these factors in the studied mass range is small. Significance:These findings facilitate more accurate decisions regarding the calibration of CMs with the aim of classifying waste from the dismantling of nuclear power plants and particle accelerators, with potential logistic and economic implications.

Comparison of Tire Rolling Resistance Measuring Methods for Different Surfaces

The rolling resistance of car tires is one of the most important parameters characterizing tires today. This resistance has a very significant contribution to the energy consumption of wheeled vehicles. The climate crisis has forced tire and car manufacturers to place great emphasis on the environmental impact of their products. Paradoxically, the development of electric vehicles has led to an even greater importance of rolling resistance, because in electric vehicles, a large part of the influence of grade resistance and inertial resistance has been eliminated due to re-generative braking, which resulted in rolling resistance and air resistance remain as the most important factors. What is more, electric and hybrid vehicles are usually heavier, so the rolling resistance is increased accordingly. To optimize tires for rolling resistance, representative test methods must exist. Unfortunately, the current standards for measuring rolling resistance assume that tests are carried out in conditions that are far from real road conditions. This article compares the results of rolling resistance tests conducted in road conditions with the results of laboratory tests conducted on roadwheel facilities. The overview of results shows that the results of tests conducted in accordance with ISO and SAE standards on steel drums are very poorly correlated with more objective results of road tests. Significant differences occur both in the Coefficients of Rolling Resistance (CRR) and in the tire ranking. Only covering the drums with replicas of road surfaces leads to a significant improvement in the results obtained. For investigations of rolling resistance in non-steady-state conditions, the flat track testing machine (TTF), equipped with asphalt cassettes, is shown to provide measurement data in agreement with the road test data.

Infectivity of Wild-Bird Origin Influenza A Viruses in Minnesota Wetlands across Seasons.

The environmental tenacity of influenza A viruses (IAVs) in the environment likely plays a role in their transmission; IAVs are able to remain infectious in aquatic habitats and may have the capacity to seed outbreaks when susceptible wild bird hosts utilize these same environments months or even seasons later. Here, we aimed to assess the persistence of low-pathogenicity IAVs from naturally infected ducks in Northwestern Minnesota through a field experiment. Viral infectivity was measured using replicate samples maintained in distilled water in a laboratory setting as well as in filtered water from four natural water bodies maintained in steel perforated drums (hereafter, mesocosms) within the field from autumn 2020 to spring 2021. There was limited evidence for the extended persistence of IAVs held in mesocosms; from 65 initial IAV-positive samples, only six IAVs persisted to at least 202 days in the mesocosms compared to 17 viruses persisting at least this long when held under temperature-controlled laboratory settings in distilled water. When accounting for the initial titer of samples, viruses detected at a higher concentration at the initiation of the experiment persisted longer than those with a lower starting titer. A parallel experimental laboratory model was used to further explore the effects of water type on viral persistence, and the results supported the finding of reduced tenacity of IAVs held in mesocosms compared to distilled water. The results of this investigation provide evidence that many factors, including temperature and physicochemical properties, impact the duration of viral infectivity in natural settings, further extending our understanding of the potential and limitations of environmental-based methodologies to recover infectious IAVs.

Anatomy of a Song

Anatomy of a Song

A Wireless Gamma-Ray Monitoring System for Cemented Radwaste Drums.

In the framework of the PREDIS EU project, a wireless battery-operated gamma-ray detection system was developed in order to provide a medium-to-long-term monitoring system for radioactive waste drums. It was initially proposed to monitor the gamma radioactivity outcoming from steel drums containing cemented radwaste, even though it could be usefully employed in a wider range of applications. Gamma rays are penetrating and convey information from the drum's internal structure, as the count rate measured on the surface depends on the thickness and density of the crossed materials. A number of sensors arranged around a drum, typically four units, provide indications of the emission anisotropy, and any sensitive change in the measured count rate would hint at some anomaly, thus triggering a suitable inspection by operators.

Post-harvest Problems of Cowpeas Faced by Farmers in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Post-harvest losses in cowpea have been a problem for cowpea farmers in Madagali Local Government Area. These losses are mainly due to insect pest attacks and spillage during post-harvest handling operations. To determine the post-harvest problems of cowpea. Five farming communities were selected, and twenty cowpea farmers from each community represented the entire population, resulting in a total of one hundred farmers. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. The questionnaires were scored using a 4-point Likert scale. The collected data were subjected to descriptive statistics using Microsoft Excel. According to the study, the majority of farmers asserted that steel drums were the best storage technique, with the highest mean score of 3.39, while rhomboidal storage techniques had the lowest mean score of 2.15 in the study area. Pests had the highest mean score of 3.12, which was considered the major problem in cowpea storage, while lack of knowledge about the storage facility had the lowest mean score of 1.94 and was considered a minor storage problem in the study area. However, the use of proper insecticides had the highest mean score of 3.32 and was considered the best method of pest control for cowpea in the study area, while the use of silos with a mean score of 2.16 was considered a less effective method for controlling pests in cowpea in the study area. Most farmers store their cowpea for five to six months to prevent pest damage.

Development and Performance Evaluation of a Vacuum Drum Based Water Pumping System

A vacuum drum based water pumping system (VDBWPS) is a cost effective system for lifting and carrying water from a nearby flowing canal/nallah as well as from standing water of farm pond/open well. The main component of the developed system includes of a mild steel (MS) drum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, jointer, elbow joint, T-joint, L-joint, regulator valve, and foot valve. In this system water can be filled manually or via other devices, such as a solar pump or a treadle pump. The drum's capacity is nearly 80% filled, and the remaining 20% is kept empty. A continuous supply is created by closing both air release valves and opening the discharge valve. More is the vacuum, better will be the pumping. The testing of vacuum drum based water pumping system was evaluated at different suction lift and carrying horizontal distances, both affecting the discharge. The result show that the water pumping system gave a discharge 2.22 to 2.40 litre per minute (lpm) at a constant suction lift of 0.92 meter (m) and varying distances 0 to 12 m. it was also found that the discharge increase with the distance having peak discharge at 6 m i.e. 3.75 lpm and afterwards it decreases gradually as the carrying length increases. The vacuum drum based water pumping system can give a discharge of 5400 litre per day (lpd) at 0.92 m of suction lift and carrying horizontal distance of 6 m. The cost of operation of vacuum drum based water pumping system was 352.41 ₹/day. It has always been a demand that the "technology should be technically feasible, economically viable and socially acceptable".

Strengthening postharvest technology development and improvement through feedback

This inquiry is predicated on the datum or truism that all technologies have a gap and or become obsolete at some point, and the utilization of passé technologies and methods predisposes the agricultural sector to underdevelopment. It investigates technological paucities and fixes for NSPRI technologies (NSPRI Smoking Kiln (NSK), Parabolic-shaped Solar Dryer (PSSD), Ice Fish Box® (IFB®), Hermetic Steel Drum (HSD) and Ventilated Plastic Crate (VPC)) from the perspective of users of the technologies. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design using the in-person method as its feedback mechanism in 18 states across 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Data were obtained through interview schedules supplemented with key informant interviews while a multi-stage sampling procedure was employed in the selection of respondents. Firstly, eighteen (18) States where NSPRI postharvest technologies have been disseminated and adopted were purposively selected. Secondly, users of improved NSPRI postharvest technologies were selected from diverse locations within the states earlier selected. Non-probabilistic techniques particularly snowballing were also employed at this stage. Frequencies, percentages, means and weighted averages were employed in the analysis of data components. Results showed that 70% of respondents have never provided feedback on NSPRI technologies. Executives of various associations were used by 45% of NSK users, 59% of IFB users, and 48% of VPC users to provide feedback while 43% of PSSD users and 40% of HSD users shared opinions through NSPRI extension staff. In general, there exists a strong (NSK: 94% PSSD: 95.2% IFB®: 91% HSD: 88.6% VPC: 74.5%) willingness to recommend technologies among respondents even as they provided positive feedback on use parameters and components of the technologies. However, respondents opined that the roller and chimney (NSK), durability of polypropylene cover (PSSD), draining of thawed ice (IFB®), and bolted ring (HSD) require improvement.

Scott Joplin in the Overworld: Super Mario's Rag-Inflected Score

Abstract A rolling banjo, walking bass, steel drum, and syncopated piano. What strange music to accompany your trials and tribulations throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. Eclecticism pervades the Mario franchise and manifests in its digital places, the ways players interact within them, and, indeed, the sounds emanating from them. Mario and his jumping adventures have long been in the hearts of players, the minds of scholars, and the ears of ludomusicologists. By engaging with Koji Kondo's scores for early Mario games, this article highlights an overlooked component in the iconic scores of early Super Mario games: ragtime music. Furthermore, this research contributes examples of African American and Latino musical creation and innovation to ludomusicological discourse. I argue that, as a means to connect, contextualize, and enhance Mario's movement with music, composer Koji Kondo draws from ragtime and early jazz styles because of their distinctive rhythmic qualities. His rag-inflected score establishes ragtime as fundamental to early Super Mario soundscapes. While a substantial ludomusicological body of literature focuses on the Western classical tradition in games, jazz-centered research is scarce. This cross-disciplinary research draws on a wide range of scholarly perspectives from jazz studies and ludomusicology, including work by Andrew Schartmann, Edward Berlin, Ingrid Monson, Neil Lerner, David Butler, and Charles Hiroshi Garrett. As game audio is indispensable in facilitating a player's sense of verisimilitude of Mario's imaginative and, at times, nonsensical worlds, an inquiry into how jazz participates in this unique audiovisual relationship is long overdue.

Optimizing Asphalt Surface Course Compaction: Insights from Aggregate Triaxial Acceleration Responses.

The compaction quality of asphalt surface courses has a significant impact on the overall performance of asphalt pavements, but the dynamic response and compaction degree variations of different asphalt surface courses (top, middle, and bottom surface courses) during vibrational compaction have still received limited research. SmartRock sensors can be utilized to monitor aggregate acceleration in real-time. This study aims to address this gap using SmartRock sensor technology to further understand the compaction mechanisms of different asphalt surface courses from a particle perspective, as well as the relationship between aggregate acceleration and compaction degree. The results indicate that the rolling of steel drums induces a significant alteration of the aggregate acceleration along the roller's rolling direction, primarily resulting in horizontal shearing in that direction. As distance increases, vibration waves gradually attenuate on both sides of vibrating drums, and surface course thickness and gradation significantly affect acceleration amplitude. There is a linear correlation between triaxial aggregate acceleration and compaction degree, with the vertical correlation being the strongest. Finally, an empirical relationship between triaxial acceleration and pavement compaction degree was established, providing a basis for predicting the asphalt surface course density. These findings enhance our understanding of pavement compaction mechanisms and promote innovation in asphalt pavement compaction and quality control methods.

Two-phase reactive transport modeling of heterogeneous gas production in a low- and intermediate-level waste repository

Abstract. The widely proposed approach to dispose of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste is to store it in a deep underground repository with multiple barriers. A typical gallery is filled with concrete containers accommodating cemented steel drums of waste. Inside a container, different gases may be produced by (bio)chemical reactions, which include pH-dependent anoxic corrosion of metals and the degradation of organic matter. Both reactions consume water and may lead to pressure buildup and transport of gas, both within and around the repository. In order to investigate the controlling factors of this gas production process, a coupled reactive transport model of component-based two-phase flow in the OpenGeoSys framework is adopted here. The numerical study of Huang et al. (2021) has shown that a realistic internal structure of a waste package, including the heterogeneous distribution of materials with different chemical and hydrological properties, and the exchange of mass at the boundaries are key factors that determine the evolution of the waste package. Based on the study of Huang et al. (2021), the geometric configuration of the model has been further extended to reflect the various conditions of a multi-container disposal in a gallery. In a two-dimensional setup several model scenarios have been designed and simulated to study the change in gas production rate over time in relation to water availability in various geological and waste storage setups. In this presentation, we show simulation results covering the geochemical evolution of a waste package over 500 years. It is found that the initial water content in the waste compartment only controls the gas production rate for the first 40 to 60 years. The early pressure buildup and gas release rates are largely controlled by several critical parameters, including the permeability of cement material and water availability at the boundary. The sensitivity of these parameters is currently being investigated in detail.

Preliminary characterization on the dynamic mechanism of asphalt mixture under on-site vibratory compaction

Compaction is the final critical step in the construction of asphalt pavements, but the dynamic response of the mixtures at the particle scale and its correlation with the compaction degree have received limited in-depth investigations. Based on the SmartRock sensor technique, this study is aimed for this inadequacy and to further understand the interaction characteristics (e.g., rolling speed, vibration range and contact width) between the steel drums and pavement surface during compaction at the particle scale. Meanwhile, the dynamic responses (i.e., acceleration frequency and amplitude) of the aggregates in the asphalt mixture were comprehensively investigated to establish the correlation between the acceleration amplitude and compaction degree of pavement. According to the results, the vibrating drum shows a higher compaction effectiveness than the driving drum in the z-direction. The acceleration frequency reflects the energy attenuation of vibration waves during vibrational compaction, and the attenuation of vibration acceleration is normally distributed with the distance from the SmartRock. Lastly, an empirical relationship was developed between the maximum acceleration and pavement compaction degree and can be used to provide reasonable estimations for the in-situ density. The findings are expected to shed light on the compaction mechanism of asphalt pavement, and to provide a potential approach/basis for improving the on-site quality control and decision-making during compaction.

Process characterization and pretreatment of container and drum cleaning industry wastewater using a heat‐activated persulfate oxidation process

AbstractThe aim of this study was to treat wastewater from washing, cutting or crushing of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), steel drums and plastic drums, using the sulfate radical‐based oxidation method. In this study, it was planned to make the wastewater suitable for activated sludge treatment by applying neutralization after a sulfate radical‐based oxidation process. Samples were taken from the industry three times to study these treatment processes. To determine the optimum conditions in the study, chemical oxygen demand (COD), removal efficiency was calculated, and optimum temperature, optimum time, and optimum persulfate dose were determined. Since the washing is done with hot water in the industry, the thermal activation method was used for the activation of persulfate. In the results of the study, COD removal efficiency, and total organic carbon (TOC), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and potentially toxic metal(s) removal efficiency was measured in three wastewater samples. According to the results of the study, the temperature at which the best COD removal efficiency was observed was 70°C, the COD/S2O82− ratio was 1:2, and the contact time was 5 h. As a result of the study, it has been revealed that such wastewater can be given to the activated sludge after sulfate radical‐based oxidation and neutralization in the same existing reactor instead of the existing FeCl3 process.

Coconut Shell Carbonization Process Using Smokeless Kiln

Proper processing of coconut shell charcoal can be highly economically and environmentally valuable. The two most common uses of coconut shell charcoal are activated carbon and briquettes, obtained through carbonization. However, traditional carbonization methods involving kilns can produce excessive smoke, polluting the environment and disrupting human activities. A carbonization kiln that produces less smoke is required to address this issue. In this study, a kiln made from a steel drum with a sealer belt was fabricated to trap burning smoke inside the kiln. The results showed that adding this belt effectively reduced the smoke produced, making it more eco-friendly. Regarding charcoal production efficiency, different weigh coconut shells were burnt to produce charcoal. The result showed that burning 25 kg of coconut shell was optimal, producing a 48% charcoal content.

Experimental investigation on droplet evaporation characteristics during combustion of future and current aviation fuels with range of properties

Abstract Currently there is lack of knowledge on how new types of alternative fuels and their storage conditions change the droplet evaporation characteristics. Liquid fuel is commonly stored in wide varieties of containers, where fuel characteristics may change because of the exposure to the material of the container. This study evaluates the impact of different storage containers on droplet evaporation characteristics of different fuels. It was found that there is a distinct phase transition between high volatility to low volatility phase in each fuel stored in steel drums verses fuel that is stored in plastic drums. The type of fuel contaminated by polymer additive has a high impact on fuel droplet burn rates. Polymer additives also have an impact on nucleate boiling, sub-droplets and soot particles. The burning rate constant, K, of selected pure aromatics, various fuel mixtures and Jet A with different cetane numbers have been evaluated. Research has shown that in the low volatility combustion phase a trend reduction of lowest boiling point pure aromatic burning rate to the highest boiling point pure aromatic burning rate is obvious. Irregular change in droplet diameter between the high volatility phase and low volatility phase during the combustion of aromatics blend was observed. This work has also evaluated the relationship between burning rates and cetane numbers.

Charcoal properties of Malaysian bamboo charcoal carbonized at 750 °C

The carbonization of five Malaysian bamboo species, namely Bambusa vulgaris, Dendrocalamus asper, Gigantochloa hasskarliana, Gigantochloa levis, and Schizostachyum brachycladum, was conducted to investigate the charcoal properties and compare the quality of bamboo charcoal produced based on proximate analysis. Carbonization at 750 °C using a modified Iwasaki steel drum kiln was successful for all bamboo species. Bamboo morphological features varied and basic density increased with culm height. A charcoal yield of more than 30% was recorded in all bamboo species except for B. vulgaris and D. asper. Charcoals made from D. asper and G. hasskarliana could serve as the alternative raw material for charcoal production in charcoal industries due to their low moisture, low volatile matter, low ash, and high fixed carbon content. All species had a mean gross calorific value between 24.4 and 29.2 MJ/kg. Among different culm sections, the bottom section produced the best quality charcoal. The charcoal quality from all species was of acceptable quality for domestic use.

Study of the influence of the parameters of the TI-C-Al-SiO2-Al2O3-Fe2O3-PT-NA-01 charge stock mechanical activation on the duration of the modifying composites synthesis

Abstract. Problem. The paper is devoted to one of the urgent problems of modern materials science – the creation of materials with predetermined properties, methods of their production and practical application. Goal. This work is devoted to the study of the influence of mechanical activation parameters on the synthesis duration and morphology of the Ti-C-Al-SiO2-Al2O3-Fe2O3-PT-NA-01 charge intended for the production of a modifying composite material obtained by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. Methodology. Powders Ti, C, Al, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, PT-NA-01 are used as starting materials. Mechanical activation of the charge with variation of process parameters was carried out in a ball mill of the KM-1 model, developed by the authors of this work, of the intermittent principle of operation with a working steel drum volume of 1.5‧10-4m3. The ball mill weighs 5.8 kg and has dimensions (W-H-D) of 190-180-230 mm. The duration of mechanical processing of the charge was from 1 to 25 minutes, with a drum rotation speed of 50 to 180 rpm. The ratio of the charge weight to the grinding media weight (steel balls with a diameter of 6 mm) was 1 : 20 and 1 : 40. Results. Studies have established that the recommended mode of mechanical activation of the Ti-C-Al-SiO2-Al2O3-Fe2O3-PT-NA-01 charge is treatment for 15 minutes at a drum rotation speed of 130 rpm and a ratio of 1:40 charge weight to steel ball weight. The particle size distribution of the charge is reduced from a maximum size of 100 microns to 40 microns. Originality. Based on the studies conducted, it can be concluded that such treatment of this charge leads to an increase in the chemical activity of the components and increases the efficiency of the SHS process by reducing the duration of its initiation and synthesis. Practical value. The developed modified composite material is recommended for arc surfacing and gas thermal spraying of strengthening and restoring coatings of machine parts.

Strengthening Postharvest Technology Development and Improvement Through Feedback

This inquiry is predicated on the datum or truism that all technologies have a gap and or become obsolete at some point, and the utilization of passé technologies and methods predisposes the agricultural sector to underdevelopment. It investigates technological paucities and fixes for NSPRI technologies (NSPRI Smoking Kiln (NSK), Parabolic-shaped Solar Dryer (PSSD), Ice Fish Box® (IFB®), Hermetic Steel Drum (HSD) and Ventilated Plastic Crate (VPC)) from the perspective of users of the technologies. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design using the in person method as its feedback mechanism in 18 states across 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Data were obtained through interview schedules supplemented with key informant interviews while a multi-stage sampling procedure was employed in the selection of respondents. Firstly, eighteen (18) States where NSPRI postharvest technologies have been disseminated and adopted were purposively selected. Secondly, users of improved NSPRI postharvest technologies were selected from diverse locations within the states earlier selected. Non-probabilistic techniques particularly snowballing were also employed at this stage. Frequencies, percentages, means and weighted averages were employed in the analysis of data components. Results showed that 70% of respondents have never provided feedback on NSPRI technologies. Executives of various associations was used by 45% of NSK users, 59% of IFB users, and 48% of VPC users to provide feedback while 43% of PSSD users and 40% of HSD users shared opinions through NSPRI extension staff. In general, there exists a strong (NSK: 94% PSSD: 95.2% IFB®: 91% HSD: 88.6% VPC: 74.5%) willingness to recommend technologies among respondents even as they provided positive feedback on use parameters and components of the technologies. However, respondents opined that the roller and chimney (NSK), durability of polypropylene cover (PSSD), draining of thawed ice (IFB®), and bolted ring (HSD) require improvement.

A comparison of the timbral characteristics of steel and wooden drum sets

Although it is quite common to construct snare drum shells from various metals, it is still rare for full drum sets to have shells made from metal. Several manufacturers have produced metal drum sets intermittently since the 1970s. However, they still remain a niche version of the instrument that has received less attention than their wooden counterparts. This paper compares the timbral characteristics of a drum set made from steel against a maple drum set. Audio samples of the two drum sets are meticulously recorded in a recording studio with high grade equipment. The configurations of the two drum sets are made to match as closely as possible. Then the recorded audio samples are analyzed using computational methods—looking at both time-domain and spectral features for both instruments. In this way we observe how the different construction material and methods result in contrasting timbral characteristics.