Comparison of Crude Oil Fouling Using Two Different Probes

A variety of different fouling rigs, each with its own advantages and disadvantages is available to assess crude oil fouling. In this research, fouling of three crude oils are compared, using two electrically heated annular probes with strikingly different modes of operation. The Hot Liquid Process Simulator (HLPS) was operated in single-pass mode, under creeping flow conditions for time durations of a few hours at constant surface temperature. The Portable Fouling Research Unit (PFRU) was operated at velocities a factor of 250 higher, and followed the fouling process over two or more days at constant heat flux, using re-circulation of the crude oil. It was of interest to determine whether the two devices led to the same relative ranking of extent or rate of fouling, and exhibited similar responses to changes in surface temperature. Two conventional light crude oils, and a synthetic crude oil derived from heavy oil were tested at average surface temperatures in the range 225-380°C, and bulk temperatures roughly 100°C lower. With the low velocity probe, typical fouling resistances after four hours were over an order of magnitude higher than for the high velocity probe after 48 hours. Fouling rates were two orders of magnitude greater in the low velocity unit. Some differences in relative ranking of the fouling potentials for the three oils were noted

Fouling of Some Canadian Crude Oils

A thermal fouling study was undertaken using three sour Canadian crude oils. Experiments were carried out in a re-circulation fouling loop, equipped with an annular (HTRI) electrically heated probe. Fluids at pressures of about 1000-1340 kPa under a nitrogen atmosphere were re-circulated at a velocity of 0.75 m/s for periods of 48 hours, and the decline in heat transfer coefficient followed under conditions of constant heat flux. Bulk temperatures were varied over the range 200-285°C, and initial surface temperatures from 300 to 380°C. Heat fluxes were in the range of 265-485 kW/m2

Generic protease detection technology for monitoring periodontal disease

Periodontal diseases are inflammatory conditions that affect the supporting tissues of teeth and can lead to destruction of the bone support and ultimately tooth loss if untreated. Progression of periodontitis is usually site specific but not uniform, and currently there are no accurate clinical methods for distinguishing sites where there is active disease progression from sites that are quiescent. Consequently, unnecessary and costly treatment of periodontal sites that are not progressing may occur. Three proteases have been identified as suitable markers for distinguishing sites with active disease progression and quiescent sites: human neutrophil elastase, cathepsin G and MMP8. Generic sensor materials for the detection of these three proteases have been developed based on thin dextran hydrogel films cross-linked with peptides. Degradation of the hydrogel films was monitored using impedance measurements. The target proteases were detected in the clinically relevant range within a time frame of 3 min. Good specificity for different proteases was achieved by choosing appropriate peptide cross-linkers.<br/

Protocol for a mixed-methods exploratory investigation of care following intensive care discharge: the REFLECT study

© Author(s) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.INTRODUCTION: A substantial number of patients discharged from intensive care units (ICUs) subsequently die without leaving hospital. It is unclear how many of these deaths are preventable. Ward-based management following discharge from ICU is an area that patients and healthcare staff are concerned about. The primary aim of REFLECT (Recovery Following Intensive Care Treatment) is to develop an intervention plan to reduce in-hospital mortality rates in patients who have been discharged from ICU. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: REFLECT is a multicentre mixed-methods exploratory study examining ward care delivery to adult patients discharged from ICU. The study will be made up of four substudies. Medical notes of patients who were discharged from ICU and subsequently died will be examined using a retrospective case records review (RCRR) technique. Patients and their relatives will be interviewed about their post-ICU care, including relatives of patients who died in hospital following ICU discharge. Staff involved in the care of patients post-ICU discharge will be interviewed about the care of this patient group. The medical records of patients who survived their post-ICU stay will also be reviewed using the RCRR technique. The analyses of the substudies will be both descriptive and use a modified grounded theory approach to identify emerging themes. The evidence generated in these four substudies will form the basis of the intervention development, which will take place through stakeholder and clinical expert meetings. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained through the Wales Research and Ethics Committee 4 (17/WA/0107). We aim to disseminate the findings through international conferences, international peer-reviewed journals and social media. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN14658054.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

EXPERIMENTS AND MODELLING OF CALCIUM SULPHATE PRECIPITATION UNDER SENSIBLE HEATING CONDITIONS: INITIAL FOULING AND BULK PRECIPITATION RATE STUDIES

Crystallization of calcium sulphate, an inverse solubility salt, on a heated surface under sensible heating conditions has been studied. A temperature measurement technique was employed to detect initial fouling rates. Fouling experiments were carried out to determine how process variables such as surface temperature and velocity affect the initial fouling rates of calcium sulphate scaling. Experimental results show that, at a given surface temperature, there exists a maximum initial fouling rate for a range of fluid velocities. Also, this maximum rate and the fluid velocity at which it occurs both increase as the surface temperature increases. These observations are all qualitatively in agreement with the Initial Fouling Rate Model (IFRM) of Epstein (1994). The fouling experiments were supplemented by kinetic batch experiments to make a comparison between fouling activation energies and purely chemical activation energies

Fouling Characteristics of a Light Australian Crude Oil

Australian crude oils, which generally contain little asphaltenes, nevertheless give rise to fouling in refinery pre-heat trains. In this research, fouling of a series of such crude oils and their blends is being assessed. The present work focuses on thermal fouling resulting from heating Gippsland crude oil at moderate temperatures. The oil is maintained under nitrogen at a pressure of 379 kPa, and re-circulated at bulk temperatures of 80-120°C through an electrically heated annular probe at velocities in the range 0.25 to 0.65 m/s with surface temperatures from 180-260°C. Experiments are run for periods up to 90 hours at constant heat flux. Fouling is detected by the increase of wall temperature of the probe. The oil is characterized by its filterable solids content, density and viscosity both before and after the fouling run. The trends in fouling rates are compared to predictions of the threshold-fouling model proposed by Ebert and Panchal (1995). Data on deposit composition are presented, and the fouling mechanism discussed

New approaches to investigating the function of mycelial networks

Fungi play a key role in ecosystem nutrient cycles by scavenging, concentrating, translocating and redistributing nitrogen. To quantify and predict fungal nitrogen redistribution, and assess the importance of the integrity of fungal networks in soil for ecosystem function, we need better understanding of the structures and processes involved. Until recently nitrogen translocation has been experimentally intractable owing to the lack of a suitable radioisotope tracer for nitrogen, and the impossibility of observing nitrogen translocation in real time under realistic conditions. We have developed an imaging method for recording the magnitude and direction of amino acid flow through the whole mycelial network as it captures, assimilates and channels its carbon and nitrogen resources, while growing in realistically heterogeneous soil microcosms. Computer analysis and modeling, based on these digitized video records, can reveal patterns in transport that suggest experimentally testable hypotheses. Experimental approaches that we are developing include genomics and stable isotope NMR to investigate where in the system nitrogen compounds are being acquired and stored, and where they are mobilized for transport or broken down. The results are elucidating the interplay between environment, metabolism, and the development and function of transport networks as mycelium forages in soil. The highly adapted and selected foraging networks of fungi may illuminate fundamental principles applicable to other supply networks

FORAMINIFERAL CHARACTERISATION OF MID-UPPER JURASSIC SEQUENCES IN THE WESSEX BASIN (UNITED KINGDOM)

The use of foraminifera in the characterisation of sequences (systems tracts, maximum flooding surfaces, etc.) has developed over the last decade. Much of this work has been based in the Cenozoic successions of the Gulf of Mexico, although there is a growing application of such data in the Middle East and the North Sea Basin. The easiest surface to characterise has been the maximum flooding surface with its high diversity and high(er) abundance faunas; the characterisation of individual systems tracts has been less successful. Using the well-known mid-Upper Jurassic successions of the Dorset coastal sections, we have investigated a number of high resolution (para)sequences for their foraminiferal content. Using data of foraminiferal diversity and standing crops from a range of modern substrates we have investigated the potential faunas available after deposition, taphonomy, compaction, groundwater dissolution and modern weathering. By understanding the processes involved we have identified the key foraminiferal features of typical mid-Upper Jurassic sequences and indicated how this work may help in the correlation of successions in North Dorset and Normandy