Head-Worn Displays for NextGen

The operating concepts emerging under the Next Generation air transportation system (NextGen) require new technology and procedures - not only on the ground-side - but also on the flight deck. Flight deck display and decision support technologies are specifically targeted to overcome aircraft safety barriers that might otherwise constrain the full realization of NextGen. One such technology is the very lightweight, unobtrusive head-worn display (HWD). HWDs with an integrated head-tracking system are being researched as they offer significant potential benefit under emerging NextGen operational concepts. Two areas of benefit for NextGen are defined. First, the HWD may be designed to be equivalent to the Head-Up Display (HUD) using Virtual HUD concepts. As such, these operational credits may be provided to significantly more aircraft for which HUD installation is neither practical nor possible. Second, the HWD provides unique display capabilities, such as an unlimited field-of-regard. These capabilities may be integral to emerging NextGen operational concepts, eliminating safety issues which might otherwise constrain the full realization of NextGen. The paper details recent research results, current HWD technology limitations, and future technology development needed to realize HWDs as a enabling technology for NextGen

Hot Water Drying of Subbituminous Coal

This study investigated the reduction of moisture of a Sarpy Creek Montana subbituminous coal when it was heated under pressure in a water slurry. This method of drying is called hot water drying. The temperature range investigated was from 260 C to 360 C. Two particle sizes were studied, namely, 0.4699 cm and 0.0505 cm mean particle diameters. The average initial moisture content of the coal was 26.87 percent. The hot water drying was performed in a cold charge auto-clave. The coal-water slurry was charged, heated to desired temperature and held at that temperature for 15 minutes residence time. It was then allowed to cool to ambient temperature. The moisture reduction for the 0.4699 cm diameter particle averaged at 72.52 percent as drying temperature was increased from 260 to 360 C, while for the 0.0505 cm diameter particle the moisture reduction averaged at 77.26 percent for a similar temperature range. The moisture reduction was found to be independent of both the particle size and the drying temperature. There was significant reduction of sodium content of the coal on hot water drying, and the reduction increased with drying temperature. Sodium reductions of 50 to 75 percent were obtained. Particle size did not have any significant influence on sodium removal. The calorific value of the coal also increased as a function of the drying temperature. The calorific value of the larger hot water dried particles increased from 6098 cal/g dry coal to 6514 cal/g dry coal (average calorific value of the original coal was 5960 cal/g dry coal) as the drying temperature was varied from 260 to 360 C, while the calorific value of the smaller hot water dried coal particles increased from 5544 to 6098 cal/g dry coal (average calorific value of the original coal was 5475 cal/g dry coal). The sulfur removal, though low was found to decrease with increase in drying temperature for both the particle sizes. Reduction in sulfur content and increase in heating value were higher for the larger particle size

Operations Overview for the ANDRILL McMurdo Ice Shelf Project, Antarctica

During the austral summer of 2006, a record-setting 1 284.87 metre (m)-long rock and sediment core (ANDRILL [AND]-1B) was recovered from beneath the McMurdo Ice Shelf (MIS) in 917m of water. A custom built drilling system comprising a UDR-1200 rig, jack-up platform, hot water drill, sea riser, and diamond-bit wireline coring string was set up on the McMurdo Ice Shelf approximately 9 kilometres (km) from Scott Base (NZ). The drilling sytem employed technology developed to handle challenging environmental conditions including an 85 m-thick ice shelf ‘platform’ that moved both laterally and vertically, strong tidal currents, and high winds. Drill site set up commenced on 18 August 2006, and the first core for AND-1B was recovered on 31 October 2006. Drilling operations continued through 26 December 2006. Science operations were conducted at the drill site, in both the borehole and a purpose built laboratory (lab) complex, and at the Crary Science and Engineering Center (CSEC), McMurdo Station (USA). Drill site science operations involved downhole logging, which was carried out in the borehole casing and in parts of the open hole, fracture studies, and physical properties measurements. Core was transported from the drill site to McMurdo Station, where it was split, scanned, described, and sampled for initial characterisation. Once initial studies were completed, the core was packed into crates for shipment to the Antarctic Research Facility (ARF; core respository) at Florida State University in the United States

Operations Overview for the ANDRILL McMurdo Ice Shelf Project, Antarctica

During the austral summer of 2006, a record-setting 1 284.87 metre (m)-long rock and sediment core (ANDRILL [AND]-1B) was recovered from beneath the McMurdo Ice Shelf (MIS) in 917m of water. A custom built drilling system comprising a UDR-1200 rig, jack-up platform, hot water drill, sea riser, and diamond-bit wireline coring string was set up on the McMurdo Ice Shelf approximately 9 kilometres (km) from Scott Base (NZ). The drilling sytem employed technology developed to handle challenging environmental conditions including an 85 m-thick ice shelf ‘platform’ that moved both laterally and vertically, strong tidal currents, and high winds. Drill site set up commenced on 18 August 2006, and the first core for AND-1B was recovered on 31 October 2006. Drilling operations continued through 26 December 2006. Science operations were conducted at the drill site, in both the borehole and a purpose built laboratory (lab) complex, and at the Crary Science and Engineering Center (CSEC), McMurdo Station (USA). Drill site science operations involved downhole logging, which was carried out in the borehole casing and in parts of the open hole, fracture studies, and physical properties measurements. Core was transported from the drill site to McMurdo Station, where it was split, scanned, described, and sampled for initial characterisation. Once initial studies were completed, the core was packed into crates for shipment to the Antarctic Research Facility (ARF; core respository) at Florida State University in the United States

2nd annual report

The Capsule Pipeline Research Center is devoted to performing research in capsule pipeline so that this emerging technology can be developed for early use to transport solids including coal, grain, other agricultural products, solid wastes (including hazardous wastes), machine parts and a host of other materials and commodities. The mission of the first four years is to focus on the coal log pipeline (CLP) technology. The Center is now near completion of its second-year research. Areas of research covered under Core Program of the second year include hydrodynamics of coal log flow, wear of coal logs in pipelines, pressure transients in capsule pipeline, pumping and control of coal log flow, fabrication and surface-treatment of coal logs, hydrophobic binder, and legal research in coal log pipeline. The Non-Core Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Electric Power Research Institute explores the economics and commercialization of CLP, and how to handle coal logs and treat CLP effluent water at power plants. Ten faculty members and more than 30 students from both the Columbia Campus and the Rolla Campus participated in the second-year research. Important research findings and accomplishments during the second year include: success in making durable binderless coal logs by compaction, initial success in binderless-log, underwater extrusion, improvement in the injection system and the pump-bypass scheme, advancement in the state-of-the-art of predicting the energy loss (pressure drop) along both stationary and moving capsules, improved understanding of the water absorption properties of coal logs, better control in coal log surface treatment, better understanding of the mechanism of coal log abrasion, and completion of aspects of legal research dealing with water rights, eminent domain right, and easement right on using existing oil pipelines for coal log transport. The second-year work also involved significant technology transfer activities including company seminars, involving companies in CLP research, preparation of a design/operational manual on CLP, issuance of a second newsletter, completion of a video tape on CLP, and presentation of research findings at several national meetings.Executive summary -- Research program -- Industrial collaboration/technology transfer -- Infrastructure and management -- Industrial advisory board (IAB) -- Contribution to state and local economic development strategies -- Support, financial management & budget -- Evaluator's report -- Appendix 1 : individual project descriptions -- Appendix 2 : attachments