Shelter models for consequence and risk assessment of CO2 pipelines

Pipelines are acknowledged as one of the most efficient and cost-effective methods for transporting large volumes of various fluids over long distances and therefore the majority of proposed schemes for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) involve high pressure pipelines transporting carbon dioxide (CO2). In order to be able to design and route pipelines safely, it is a code requirement that a separation distance, or safety zone, is defined between the pipeline and any habitable dwellings along the route. Safety zones are generally defined on the basis of a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA). The purpose of a QRA is to assess the risks posed by a pipeline failure to people in the vicinity and to ensure that consistent levels of risk are applied along the pipeline route. The risk levels are normally calculated along a transect drawn perpendicular to the pipeline. These levels are then compared with defined acceptance criteria to determine the safety zone i.e. the distance from the pipeline within which the risk to the public from a pipeline failure is considered to be unacceptable. The calculation of the risk level requires the determination of both the probability of a failure occurring in the pipeline and the consequences of that failure to the population. For natural gas pipelines, existing and accepted QRA techniques can be implemented to define the consequences of failure based on the thermal hazards. However for CO2 pipelines, the consequences of failure need to be considered differently, as they relate to a toxic hazard rather than a thermal hazard. Therefore in order to conduct a consequence analysis, what is required is a determination of the concentration of CO2 to which an individual may be exposed during a release event. This type of data can be generated either using dispersion models. These models will produce a profile of the change in CO2 concentration with time at various distances from the release, see for example [1, 2], that can then be used in the QRA to determine the toxic dose and therefore the level of harm experienced by an individual. However, none of these approaches consider the effect of shelter on the dose experienced by an individual who is within a building at the time of the release or is outside and enters a building to seek shelter. The work described in this paper seeks to address this gap and describes the application of two models ̶ an analytical and a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model ̶ that can be used to determine the effects of shelter on the toxic dose received by an individual during a pipeline release event. The motivation behind this work was: i) to develop a validated and computationally efficient shelter model, which had been tested against experimental data and CFD models, ii) to use both CFD and analytical models to demonstrate how shelter should be considered as part of the QRA procedure for a CO2 pipeline. A description of the analytical model has been published previously [3]. Therefore, the current paper concentrates on an explanation of the development and application of the CFD model. Using a case study scenario for a single roomed building, engulfed by a transient cloud of CO2, comparisons are made between the output of the analytical models and the CFD models for the same scenario. A sensitivity analysis indicates the input parameters that most affect the resultant toxic effects within the building. The paper further demonstrates how both models can be extended to investigate the effects of partial coverage of the building with the cloud of CO2 and the impact of partitions within the building. Predictions of toxic dose are made for both models and it is demonstrated how these results can be used in a QRA analysis. This work has been funded by the UK Carbon Capture and Research Centre within the framework of the S-Cape project (Shelter and Escape in the Event of a Release of CO2 from CCS Transport Infrastructure UKCCSRC-C2-179). References [1] M. Molag, C. Dam, Modelling of accidental releases from a high pressure CO2 pipelines, in:  10th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, Amsterdam, 2011, pp. 2301-2307. [2] J. Koornneef, M. Spruijt, M. Molag, A. Ramírez, W. Turkenburg, A. Faaij, Quantitative risk assessment of CO2 transport by pipelines - A review of uncertainties and their impacts, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 177 (2010) 12-27. [3] C.J.Lyons, J.M.Race, H.F.Hopkins, P Cleaver, Prediction of the consequences of a CO2 pipeline release on building occupants. in Hazards 25: Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh; United Kingdom; 13 May 2015 through 15 May 2015. vol. 160, Institution of Chemical Engineers Symposium Series, Red Hook, Hazards 25, Edinburgh, 201

Temperature dependent magnetization dynamics of magnetic nanoparticles

Recent experimental and theoretical studies show that the switching behavior of magnetic nanoparticles can be well controlled by external time-dependent magnetic fields. In this work, we inspect theoretically the influence of the temperature and the magnetic anisotropy on the spin-dynamics and the switching properties of single domain magnetic nanoparticles (Stoner-particles). Our theoretical tools are the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation extended as to deal with finite temperatures within a Langevine framework. Physical quantities of interest are the minimum field amplitudes required for switching and the corresponding reversal times of the nanoparticle's magnetic moment. In particular, we contrast the cases of static and time-dependent external fields and analyze the influence of damping for a uniaxial and a cubic anisotropy.Comment: accepted by Journal of Physics: Condensed Matte

Constituent quark models and pentaquark baryons

We discuss certain general features of the pentaquark picture for the theta, its 10bar_F partner, Xi_{3/2}, and possible heavy quark analogues. Models employing spin-dependent interactions based on either effective Goldstone boson exchange or effective color magnetic exchange are also used to shed light on possible corrections to the Jaffe-Wilczek and Karliner-Lipkin scenarios. Some model-dependent features of the pentaquark picture (splitting patterns and relative decay couplings) are also discussed in the context of these models.Comment: 4 pages. Prepared for the Proceedings of the 1st APS Topical Group on Hadronic Physics (GHP) meeting, FNAL, Oct. 24-26, 200

Flavored exotic multibaryons and hypernuclei in topological soliton models

The energies of baryon states with positive strangeness, or anti-charm (-beauty) are estimated in chiral soliton approach, in the "rigid oscillator" version of the bound state soliton model proposed by Klebanov and Westerberg. Positive strangeness states can appear as relatively narrow nuclear levels (Theta-hypernuclei), the states with heavy anti-flavors can be bound with respect to strong interactions in the original Skyrme variant of the model (SK4 variant). The binding energies of anti-flavored states are estimated also in the variant of the model with 6-th order term in chiral derivatives in the lagrangian as solitons stabilizer (SK6 variant). The latter variant is less attractive, and nuclear states with anti-charm or anti-beauty can be unstable relative to strong interactions. The chances to get bound hypernuclei with heavy antiflavors are greater within "nuclear variant" of the model with rescaled model parameter (Skyrme constant e or e' decreased by ~30%) which is expected to be valid for baryon numbers greater than B ~10. The rational map approximation is used to describe multiskyrmions with baryon number up to ~30 and to calculate the quantities necessary for their quantization (moments of inertia, sigma-term, etc.).Comment: 24 pages, 7 table

Stationary State Solutions of a Bond Diluted Kinetic Ising Model: An Effective-Field Theory Analysis

We have examined the stationary state solutions of a bond diluted kinetic Ising model under a time dependent oscillating magnetic field within the effective-field theory (EFT) for a honeycomb lattice $(q=3)$. Time evolution of the system has been modeled with a formalism of master equation. The effects of the bond dilution, as well as the frequency $(\omega)$ and amplitude $(h/J)$ of the external field on the dynamic phase diagrams have been discussed in detail. We have found that the system exhibits the first order phase transition with a dynamic tricritical point (DTCP) at low temperature and high amplitude regions, in contrast to the previously published results for the pure case \cite{Ling}. Bond dilution process on the kinetic Ising model gives rise to a number of interesting and unusual phenomena such as reentrant phenomena and has a tendency to destruct the first-order transitions and the DTCP. Moreover, we have investigated the variation of the bond percolation threshold as functions of the amplitude and frequency of the oscillating field.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Factorization Breaking in Dijet Photoproduction with a Leading Neutron

The production of dijets with a leading neutron in ep-interactions at HERA is calculated in leading order and next-to-leading order of perturbative QCD using a pion-exchange model. Differential cross sections for deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) and photoproduction are presented as a function of several kinematic variables. By comparing the theoretical predictions for DIS dijets to recent H1 data, the pion flux factor together with the parton distribution functions of the pion is determined. The dijet cross sections in photoproduction show factorization breaking if compared to the H1 photoproduction data. The suppression factor is S = 0.48 (0.64) for resolved (global) suppression.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure

Suitability and optimisation of analytical indoor shelter model used for infiltration of carbon dioxide for typical dwellings

Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) schemes involve transporting large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2). A release of CO2 from CCUS transportation infrastructure could cause severe consequences for the surrounding population if the risk is not appropriately managed. Following a release of CO2, people in the surrounding environment could move away and seek shelter. The CO2 plume could drift past buildings causing the concentration of CO2 inside these buildings to build up. How much CO2 accumulates inside the buildings is key to the safety of their occupants. Previously an analytical infiltration model, based on wind and buoyancy driven ventilation, and a CFD infiltration model were created which can be used to predict the effect of CO2 exposure on building occupants following a release from an onshore CO2 pipeline [1]. These models can be used to determine the consequences of failure the dispersion behaviour of CO2 and the infiltration rate of a plume of CO2 into buildings and can form part of a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) process for a CO2 pipeline. The models were validated against an experimental test of CO2 infiltration into a small enclosure. Comparisons were made between the analytical model, CFD model and experimental data for the build-up of CO2 in the enclosure and the changes in internal temperature. This paper investigates the suitability of the analytical model for buildings geometries more closely resembling domestic abodes and against a wider range of conditions by comparing its results to those of the CFD model for a set of representative case studies. It also tunes the parameters used in the model. Thirty test cases were created which explore the key parameters affecting the CO2 ventilation rate: wind speed, the area and height of the openings, internal temperature and building height, width and length. The analytical model’s predictions of the accumulation of CO2 inside a building are shown to be extremely close to the CFD results for all cases except one, where it makes an over prediction of the level of CO2. Furthermore, it is recommended that the analytical infiltration model is used with the tuned set of coefficients identified in this paper

Neuromyelitis optica and pregnancy during therapeutic B cell depletion: infant exposure to anti-AQP4 antibody and prevention of rebound relapses with low-dose rituximab postpartum

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) predominantly affects women, some in childbearing age, and requires early therapeutic intervention to prevent disabling relapses. We report an anti-AQP4 antibody-seropositive patient who became pregnant seven months after low-dose (100 mg) rituximab application. Pregnancy showed no complications, and low-dose rituximab restarted two days after delivery resulted in neurological stability for 24 months. Remarkably, her otherwise healthy newborn presented with anti-AQP4 antibody and reduced B lymphocyte counts in umbilical cord blood, which normalized three months later. Confirming and extending previous reports, our case suggests that low-dose rituximab might be compatible with pregnancy and prevent rebound NMO disease activity postpartum

Realistic modelling of quantum point contacts subject to high magnetic fields and with current bias at out of linear response regime

The electron and current density distributions in the close proximity of quantum point contacts (QPCs) are investigated. A three dimensional Poisson equation is solved self-consistently to obtain the electron density and potential profile in the absence of an external magnetic field for gate and etching defined devices. We observe the surface charges and their apparent effect on the confinement potential, when considering the (deeply) etched QPCs. In the presence of an external magnetic field, we investigate the formation of the incompressible strips and their influence on the current distribution both in the linear response and out of linear response regime. A spatial asymmetry of the current carrying incompressible strips, induced by the large source drain voltages, is reported for such devices in the non-linear regime.Comment: 16 Pages, 9 Figures, submitted to PR

Pentaquark baryons in SU(3) quark model

We study the SU(3) group structure of pentaquark baryons which are made of four quarks and one antiquark. The pentaquark baryons form {1}, {8}, {10}, {10}-bar, {27}, and {35} multiplets in SU(3) quark model. First, the flavor wave functions of all the pentaquark baryons are constructed in SU(3) quark model and then the flavor SU(3) symmetry relations for the interactions of the pentaquarks with three-quark baryons and pentaquark baryons are obtained.Comment: REVTeX, 36 pages, 8 figures, references added, section for mass sum rules is added, to appear in Phys. Rev.