Decreasing Coalbed Methane Formation Damage Using Microfoamed Drilling Fluid Stabilized by Silica Nanoparticles

Coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs in China are featured in remarkable nanosized pores below 200 nm, acknowledged natural cleats, and tectonic fractures. This paper discussed the possibility that a clay free microfoamed drilling fluid could be stabilized by silica nanoparticles (CFMDF-NP) so as to avoid formation damage of CBM drilling. In accordance with the experimental results of foaming capacity and foam stability test, basic drilling fluid performance appraisal, micromorphology observation, swelling test, and gas permeability test, the mechanism of the CFMDF-NP was discussed in this paper. The results indicated that, with 10–20 nm nano-SiO2, the foaming volume of traditional foamed drilling fluid could be improved by up to 50% and an increased half-life period by up to 200%. Chemically treated nano-SiO2 dispersions functioned as a foam stabilizer and a foaming agent as well. The CFMDF-NP had controllable density (0.7~1 g/cm3) and excellent rheological and sealing properties, which could satisfy the drilling requirements of the low pressure coal seams. With 5–8 mm slicing on the contaminated side of coal cores, the contaminated zone could be removed and the recovery rate of gas permeability could reach up to 70%. The CFMDF-NP laid good technical foundation to decrease formation damage of CBM reservoir

Multifunctional Nanocomposite Coating For Wind Turbine Blades

In this study, multifunctional carbon nanofiber (CNF) paper-based nanocomposite coating was developed for wind turbine blades. The importance of vibration damping in relation to structural stability, dynamic response, position control, and durability of wind turbine blades cannot be underestimated. The vibration damping properties of the nanocomposite blades were significantly improved and the damping ratio of the nanocomposite increased by 300% compared to the baseline composite. In addition, the CNF paper-based composite exhibited good impact-friction resistance, with a wear rate as low as 1.78×10-4 mm3/Nm. The nanocomposite also shows the potential to improve the blockage of water from entering the nanocomposite, being a superhydrophobic material, with a contact angle higher than 160.0°, which could improve the longevity of a wind turbine blade. Overall, multifunctional nanocomposite coating material shows great promise for usage with wind turbine blades, owing to its excellent damping properties, great friction resistance, and superhydrophobicity. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Exoskeleton Follow-Up Control Based on Parameter Optimization of Predictive Algorithm

The prediction of sensor data can help the exoskeleton control system to get the human motion intention and target position in advance, so as to reduce the human-machine interaction force. In this paper, an improved method for the prediction algorithm of exoskeleton sensor data is proposed. Through an algorithm simulation test and two-link simulation experiment, the algorithm improves the prediction accuracy by 14.23 ± 0.5%, and the sensor data is smooth. Input the predicted signal into the two-link model, and use the calculated torque method to verify the prediction accuracy data and smoothness. The simulation results showed that the algorithm can predict the joint angle of the human body and can be used for the follow-up control of the swinging legs of the exoskeleton

Multichannel Saliency Detection Based on Visual Bionics

Inspired by the visual properties of the human eyes, the depth information of visual attention is integrated into the saliency detection to effectively solve problems such as low accuracy and poor stability under similar or complex background interference. Firstly, the improved SLIC algorithm was used to segment and cluster the RGBD image. Secondly, the depth saliency of the image region was obtained according to the anisotropic center-surround difference method. Then, the global feature saliency of RGB image was calculated according to the colour perception rule of human vision. The obtained multichannel saliency maps were weighted and fused based on information entropy to highlighting the target area and get the final detection results. The proposed method works within a complexity of O(N), and the experimental results show that our algorithm based on visual bionics effectively suppress the interference of similar or complex background and has high accuracy and stability

A Hip Active Assisted Exoskeleton That Assists the Semi-Squat Lifting

(1) Background: In the case of quick picking and heavy lifting, the carrying action results in a much more active myoelectric signal in the lower back than in an upright stationary one, and there is a high risk of back muscle injury without proper handling skills and equipment. (2) Methods: To reduce the risk of LBP during manual handing tasks, a hip active exoskeleton is designed to assist human manual lifting. A power control method is introduced into the control loop in the process of assisting human transportation. The power curve imitates the semi-squat movement of the human body as the output power of the hip joint. (3) Results: According to the test, the torque can be output according to the wearer’s movement. During the semi-squat lifting process, the EMG (electromyogram) signal of the vertical spine at L5/S1 was reduced by 30–48% and the metabolic cost of energy was reduced by 18% compared the situation of without EXO. (4) Conclusion: The exoskeleton joint output torque can change in an adaptive manner according to the angular velocity of the wearer’s joint. The exoskeleton can assist the waist muscles and the hip joint in the case of the reciprocating semi-squat lifting movement

Research and Implementation for a class of Large-Scale Full-Range Power System Real-Time Simulator

In order to realize intensive research and analysis of the whole bulk power system, which contains all electronic elements not only includes generator, electronic grid system, but also includes power generation system, based on the thermodynamics and dynamics theory in power generation system and the electromechanical and electromagnetic transient theory in electronic grid system, we established a class of Large-Scale Full-Range Power System Real-Time Simulator (LFPSRS). The definition of LFPSRS is given, structure of the emulated objects is described, and physical and logical structures of LFPSRS are listed. Finally, the experiment results prove that the system is superior to the traditional simulation system. We confirmed that the proposed LFPSRS can play a major role in the further research on the whole bulk power system

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of medicinal plant Alpinia chinensis (Retz.) Rosc

Alpinia chinensis (Retz.) Rosc is one of Chinese tradition herbal medicine and edible plant in China. In this report, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of A. chinensis. Through the assembly annotation of genome with high-throughput sequencing data, which help us to research the evolution. The length of chloroplast sequences was 163,590 bp with a large single-copy region (LSC) and a small single-copy region (SSC), also, two inverted repeat region A (IR), whose length was 88,951, 15,299, and 29,670 bp, respectively. A total of 138 genes were predicted in the complete chloroplast genome, with 36.4% GC content, including 93 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. From the phylogenetic analysis, we could conclude that A. chinensis (Retz.) Rosc. was close to Alpinia oxyphylla in Zingiberaceae

NOx formation of swirl burner under air-staged combustion with flue gas recycle

Air-staged and flue gas recycle (FGC) combustion are important technologies to reduce NOx emissions. This study explores FGC ratios on the NOx formation in the primary combustion zone under air-staged combustion for a HT-NR3 swirl burner at different air excess coefficients. The coal combustion characteristics including gas velocity, temperature, gas components and NOx emission under different FGC ratios were analyzed. The results show that higher the FGC ratio will larger the gas temperature decrease and lower the NOx emission. Combined FGC technology with lower air excess coefficients technology, the NOx emission at outlet of furnace will be further reduced. When the air consumption excess coefficient is 0.8 with FGC ratio 20%, the NOx concentration at the furnace outlet will decrease from 208ppm to 138ppm, lower 33.6%

2D Numerical Simulation of Improving Wellbore Stability in Shale Using Nanoparticles Based Drilling Fluid

The past decade has seen increased focus on nanoparticle (NP) based drilling fluid to promote wellbore stability in shales. With the plugging of NP into shale pores, the fluid pressure transmission can be retarded and wellbore stability can be improved. For better understanding of the interaction between shale and NP based drilling fluid based on previous pressure transmission tests (PTTs) on Atoka shale samples, this paper reports the numerical simulation findings of wellbore stability in the presence of NP based drilling fluid, using the 2D fluid-solid coupling model in FLAC3D™ software. The results of previous PTT are discussed first, where the steps of numerical simulation, the simulation on pore fluid pressure transmission, the distribution of stress and the deformation of surrounding rock are presented. The mechanisms of NP in reducing permeability and stabilizing shale are also discussed. Results showed that fluid filtrate from water-based drilling fluid had a strong tendency to invade the shale matrix and increase the likelihood of wellbore instability in shales. However, the pore fluid pressure near wellbore areas could be minimized by plugging silica NP into the nanoscale pores of shales, which is consistent with previous PTT. Pore pressure transmission boundaries could also be restricted with silica NP. Furthermore, the stress differential and shear stress of surrounding rock near the wellbore was reduced in the presence of NP. The plastic yield zone was minimized to improve wellbore stability. The plugging mechanism of NP may be attributed to the electrostatic and electrodynamic interactions between NP and shale surfaces that are governed by Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) forces, which allowed NP to approach shale surfaces and adhere to them. We also found that discretization of the simulation model was beneficial in distinguishing the yield zone distribution of the surrounding rock in shales. The combination of PTT and the 2D numerical simulation offers a better understanding of how NP-based drilling fluid can be developed to address wellbore stability issues in shales