Development of a dragline in-bucket bulk density monitor

This paper details the implementation and trialling of a prototype in-bucket bulk density monitor on a production dragline. Bulk density information can provide feedback to mine planning and scheduling to improve blasting and consequently facilitating optimal bucket sizing. The bulk density measurement builds upon outcomes presented in the AMTC2009 paper titled ‘Automatic In-Bucket Volume Estimation for Dragline Operations’ and utilises payload information from a commercial dragline monitor. While the previous paper explains the algorithms and theoretical basis for the system design and scaled model testing this paper will focus on the full scale implementation and the challenges involved

Improved Critical Current Density of MgB2 Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) Composite

In the present study, we report a systematic study of doping/ admixing of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in different concentrations in MgB2. The composite material corresponding to MgB2+ x at.%CNTs (35 at.% > x > 0 at.%) have been prepared by solid-state reaction at ambient pressure. All the samples in the present investigation have been subjected to structural/ microstructural characterization employing XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. The magnetization measurements were performed by PPMS and Tc & Jct measurements have been done by the four-probe technique. The microstructural investigations reveal the formation of MgB2-CNTs composites. A CNT connecting the MgB2 grains may enhance critical current density due to its size (~ 5-20 nm diameter) compatible with coherence length of MgB2 (~ 5-6 nm) and ballistic transport current carrying capability along the tube axis. The Jct of MgB2 samples with varying CNTs concentration have been found to vary significantly e.g. Jct of the MgB2 sample with 10 at.% CNT addition is ~2.3 x 10^3 A/cm2 and its value for MgB2 sample without CNT addition is ~7.2x10^2 A/cm2 at 20K. The optimum result on Jc is obtained for 10 at.% CNTs admixed MgB2 sample at 5K, the Jc reaches ~5.2 x10^6 A/cm2 in self field, ~1.6 x 10^6 A/cm2 at 1T, ~2.9 x 10^5 A/cm2 at 2.6T and \~3.9 x 10^4 A/cm2 at 4T. The high value of intragrain Jc in 10 at.% CNTs admixed MgB2 superconductor has been attributed to the incorporation of CNTs into the crystal matrix of MgB2, which are capable of providing effective flux pinning centres. A feasible correlation between microstructural features and superconducting properties has been put forward.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures. To be published in J. Nanoscience and Nanotechnolog

Numerical investigation of transient, low-power metal vapour discharges occurring in near limit ignitions of flammable gas

This article presents an investigation of a transient (30 {\mu}s - 5 ms) electrical discharge in metal vapour with low voltage (< 50 V) and current (< 1 A), drawn between two separating electrodes. Discharges of this type are rarely studied, but are important in electrical explosion safety, as they can ignite flammable gasses. An empirical model is developed based on transient recordings of discharge voltages and currents and high speed broadband image data. The model is used for predicting the electrical waveforms and spatial power distribution of the discharge. The predicted electrical waveforms show good accuracy under various scenarios. To further investigate the underlying physics, the model is then incorporated into a simplified 3-D gas dynamics simulation including molecular diffusion, heat transfer and evaporation of metal from the electrode surface. The local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) assumption is next used to calculate electrical conductivity from the simulated temperature fields, which in turn is integrated to produce electrical resistance over time. This resistance is then compared to that implied by the voltage and current waveforms predicted by the empirical model. The comparison shows a significant discrepancy, yielding the important insight that the studied discharge very likely deviates strongly from LTE

Enhancement of flux pinning and high critical current density in graphite doped MgB2 superconductor

We report the synthesis and characterization of graphite (C) doped MgB2-xCx (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) samples. The crystal structure and microstructural characterization have been investigated by x-ray diffractometer and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis. The superconducting properties especially Jc and Hc2 have been measured by employing physical property measurement system. We found that the graphite doping affects the lattice parameters as well as the microstructure of MgB2 superconductor. In case of optimally doped (x=0.1) sample, the critical current density at 5K corresponds to 1.1 x 10^6 and 5.3 x 10^4 A/cm^2 for 3T and 5T fields respectively. The upper critical field has been enhanced nearly two times after doping. The flux pinning behavior has been investigated by flux pinning force density curve and it reveals that the flux pinning behaviour has improved significantly by doping. TEM micrographs show the graphite nanoparticles of size ~5-10 nm which are invariably present in MgB2 grains. These nanoparticles act as flux pinning centre and are responsible for enhancement of superconducting properties of MgB2.Comment: Accepted in "Journal of Applied Physics

High critical current density and improved flux pinning in bulk MgB2 synthesized by Ag addition

In the present investigation, we report a systematic study of Ag admixing in MgB2 prepared by solid-state reaction at ambient pressure. All the samples in the present investigation have been subjected to structural/ microstructural characterization employing x-rays diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) techniques. The magnetization measurements were performed by physical property measurement system (PPMS). The TEM investigations reveal the formation of MgAg nanoparticles in Ag admixed samples. These nanoparticles may enhance critical current density due to their size (~5-20 nm) compatible with coherence length of MgB2 (~5-6 nm). In order to study the flux pinning effect of Ag admixing in MgB2, the evaluation of intragrain critical current density (Jc) has been carried out through magnetic measurements on the fine powdered version of the as synthesized samples. The optimum result on intragrain Jc is obtained for 10 at.% Ag admixed sample at 5K. This corresponds to 9.23x10^7 A/cm^2 in self-field,5.82x10^7 A/cm^2 at 1T,4.24 x10^6 A/cm^2 at 3.6T and 1.52x10^5 A/cm^2 at 5T. However, intragrain Jc values for MgB2 sample without Ag admixing are 2.59x10^6 A/cm^2,1.09x10^6A/cm^2,4.53x10^4 A/cm^2 and 2.91x10^3A/cm^2 at 5 K in self field, 1T, 3.6T and 5T respectively.. The high value of intragrain Jc for Ag admixed MgB2 superconductor has been attributed to the inclusion of MgAg nanoparticles into the crystal matrix of MgB2, which are capable of providing effective flux pinning centres. A feasible correlation between microstructural features and superconducting properties has been put forward.Comment: 5pages,6figure

Effect of La Doping on Microstructure and Critical Current Density of MgB2

In the present study, La-doped MgB_2 superconductors with different doping level (Mg1-xLaxB2; x=0.00, 0.01, 0.03 & 0.05) have been synthesized by solid-state reaction route at ambient pressure. Effect of La doping have been investigated in relation to microstructural characteristics and superconducting properties, particularly intragrain critical current density (Jc). The microstructural characteristics of the as synthesized Mg(La)B2 compounds were studied employing transmission electron microscopic (TEM) technique. The TEM investigations reveal inclusion of LaB6 nanoparticles within the MgB2 grains which provide effective flux pinning centres. The evaluation of intragrain Jc through magnetic measurements on the fine powdered version of the as synthesized samples reveal that Jc of the samples change significantly with the doping level. The optimum result on Jc is obtained for Mg0.97La0.03B2 at 5K, the Jc reaches ~1.4x107A/cm2 in self field, ~2.1 x 106A/cm2 at 1T, ~2.5 x 105A/cm2 at 2.5T and ~1.8 x 104 A/cm2 at 4.5T. The highest value of intragrain Jc in Mg0.97La0.03B2 superconductor has been attributed to the inclusion of LaB6 nanoparticles which are capable of providing effective flux pinning centres

Experimental investigation of low-voltage spark ignition caused by separating electrodes

Electric arcs pose an ignition hazard in the presence of flammable gas mixtures. Electrical equipment to be used in such hazardous environments shall therefore satisfy strict safety requirements, through the use of internationally standardized explosion protection methods as e.g. "Intrinsic Safety", documented in the IEC 60079-11 Standard.This "Intrinsic Safety" is verified by using a stochastic empirical procedure, using a "Spark Test Apparatus" connected to an electrical energy source. The apparatus generates electrical discharges between a separating tungsten anode and a cadmium cathode enclosed in a test cell filled with flammable gas atmosphere. The connected electrical circuit is considered intrinsically safe if no ignition results within a defined number of contacts. However this procedure suffers from variability and poor reproducibility.The goal of this work is to investigate the relationships between such arc discharges and the ignition of the gas. The measurement is technically challenging, as the physical processes occur in different time scales (ns, μs, ms) and the physical dimensions are small (μm). Additionally the ignition process can also damage the experimental equipment.An important prerequisite for such discharges is a sufficient degree of electrode surface wear. Microscope images show such electrode surfaces as well as the presence of metal whiskers. These inhomogeneous rough surfaces are compared by the means of Abbott curves.A spectral analysis of the radiation from the electrical discharge shows, that the main substance is cadmium vapour.The electrical characteristics of these arcs are characterised by voltage, current and length curves. For constant currents from 74 to 270 mA up to a voltage of 40 V, the transient arc lengths, voltages and currents were measured for arc discharges generated in a 21% Hydrogen-Air gas mixture. These initial results appear to correspond qualitatively to published curves for static arcs, however the accuracy of the measurements has to be improved.Knowledge of these relationships between electrical, mechanical and ignition processes will ultimately make it possible to recognize discharges which most likely cause an ignition by their current and voltage waveforms. This will allow the development of a more reliable alternative, where discharges are electronically simulated

Long Term Two-Phase Flow Analysis of the Deep Low Permeability Rock at the Bruce DGR Site

Abnormal pressures have been measured in the deep boreholes at the Bruce site, southern Ontario, where a deep geologic repository for low and intermediate level radioactive waste disposal has been proposed. The pressure regime in the stratigraphic units exhibits either higher than hydrostatic pressure (over-pressured) or lower than hydrostatic pressure (under-pressured) are considered to be abnormal. At the Bruce site, the Ordovician sediments are under-pressured while the underlying Cambrian sandstone and the overlying Guelph carbonate are over-pressured. Hypotheses have been documented in literature to explain the phenomenon of abnormal pressures. These hypotheses include osmosis, glacial loading and deglaciation unloading, exhumation of overlying sediments, crustal flexure and the presence of an immiscible gas phase. Previous work on the Bruce site has shown that the under-pressures in the Ordovician limestone and shales could not be explained by glaciation and deglaciation or by saturated analyses. The presence of a gas phase in the Ordovician formations has been determined to be a reasonable cause of the under-pressure developed in the Ordovician shales and limestones at the Bruce site. Support for the presence of a gas phase includes solution concentrations of methane, concentrations of environmental isotopes related to methane and estimates of water and gas saturations from laboratory core analyses. The primary contribution of this thesis is the sensitivity analyses performed on the hydrogeologic parameters with respect to a one dimensional two-phase flow model. First, a one dimensional two-phase air and water flow model was adopted and reconstructed to simulate the long-term evolution of the groundwater regimes at the DGR site. Then the hydrogeologic parameters which impact the presence of under-pressure in the groundwater are investigated. Data required to quantify the properties of geologic media and groundwater are adopted directly from borehole testing and laboratory testing results. The permeable boundaries of the domain are assumed to be water saturated and pressure specified (using hydrostatic conditions in the Guelph Formation and hydrostatic with 120 m over-pressure condition in the Cambrian and Precambrian). Isothermal conditions were assumed, thus constant water density and viscosity values are estimated for the average total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of the modelled stratigraphic column. A constant diffusion coefficient (a diffusivity of $0.25\times10^{-8}$ m$^2$/s) of air in water is assumed with a saturation-dependent tortuosity. The air generation rate is assumed to simulate the gas phase generated in the Ordovician formations. The numerical simulation of up to 4 million years provides a means to explore the behaviour of gas phase dissipation due to partitioning into the water phase and diffusive transport in the solute phase. Results confirmed that the presence of a gas phase would result in the under-pressure in water

Research priorities in Maternal, Newborn, &amp; Child Health &amp; Nutrition for India:An Indian Council of Medical Research-INCLEN Initiative

In India, research prioritization in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) themes has traditionally involved only a handful of experts mostly from major cities. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-INCLEN collaboration undertook a nationwide exercise engaging faculty from 256 institutions to identify top research priorities in the MNCHN themes for 2016-2025. The Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative method of priority setting was adapted. The context of the exercise was defined by a National Steering Group (NSG) and guided by four Thematic Research Subcommittees. Research ideas were pooled from 498 experts located in different parts of India, iteratively consolidated into research options, scored by 893 experts against five pre-defined criteria (answerability, relevance, equity, investment and innovation) and weighed by a larger reference group. Ranked lists of priorities were generated for each of the four themes at national and three subnational (regional) levels [Empowered Action Group & North-Eastern States, Southern and Western States, & Northern States (including West Bengal)]. Research priorities differed between regions and from overall national priorities. Delivery domain of research which included implementation research constituted about 70 per cent of the top ten research options under all four themes. The results were endorsed in the NSG meeting. There was unanimity that the research priorities should be considered by different governmental and non-governmental agencies for investment with prioritization on implementation research and issues cutting across themes