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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Experimental And Computational Analysis Of Random Cylinder Packings With Applications, Wenli Zhang Jan 2006

Experimental And Computational Analysis Of Random Cylinder Packings With Applications, Wenli Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Random cylinder packings are prevalent in chemical engineering applications and they can serve as prototype models of fibrous materials and/or other particulate materials. In this research, comprehensive studies on cylinder packings were carried out by computer simulations and by experiments. The computational studies made use of a collective rearrangement algorithm (based on a Monte Carlo technique) to generate different packing structures. 3D random packing limits were explored, and the packing structures were quantified by their positional ordering, orientational ordering, and the particle-particle contacts. Furthermore, the void space in the packings was expressed as a pore network, which retains topological and …


A Distribution Kinetics Approach For Polymer Crystallization And Phase Separation, Jiao Yang Jan 2006

A Distribution Kinetics Approach For Polymer Crystallization And Phase Separation, Jiao Yang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The mechanism of polymer crystallization is extensively studied and still far away from consensus. This research adopted cluster size distribution kinetics approach to explore the kinetics of polymer crystallization and phase separation within spinodal region. The kinetics of polymer crystallization is studied by integrating nucleation, crystal growth and ripening. Population balance equations based on crystal size distribution and concentration of amorphous polymer segments are solved numerically and the related differential moment equations are also solved. The model accounts for nucleation and crystal growth. Different mass dependences of growth and dissociation rate coefficients are proposed to investigate the fundamental features of …


Demonstration And Performance Characterization Of The Gas Assisted Gravity Drainage (Gagd) Process Using A Visual Method, Thaer N.N. Mahmoud Jan 2006

Demonstration And Performance Characterization Of The Gas Assisted Gravity Drainage (Gagd) Process Using A Visual Method, Thaer N.N. Mahmoud

LSU Master's Theses

The Gas Assisted Gravity Drainage (GAGD) process, currently being developed at LSU, is designed to take advantage of gravity to allow vertical segregation between the injected gas and reservoir crud oil due to their density differences. GAGD is recommended for use with CO2 gas. CO2 dissolves in oil and causes both swelling and viscosity reduction of oil. The GAGD process uses the existing vertical wells for CO2 gas injection, and a horizontal well near the bottom of the payzone for oil production. GAGD, as an EOR process, is not restricted to tertiary oil recovery only. In this research study, a …


Overview Of Cogeneration At Lsu, Robert,Jr. Buckley Jan 2006

Overview Of Cogeneration At Lsu, Robert,Jr. Buckley

LSU Master's Theses

Cogeneration (or Combined Heat and Power) continues to gain importance in power production because of its high efficiency, environmental friendliness, and flexibility. Louisiana State University (LSU) recently began operation of a new 20 MW cogeneration system. This new facility can serve as a useful learning tool for chemical and mechanical engineering students throughout their education at LSU. The goal of this project is to develop educational modules utilizing the cogeneration system which have industrial significance. Educational modules will include: a comparison of ideal gas versus real gas thermodynamics for a cogeneration optimization problem, a cogeneration data reconciliation problem, and a …


Physical Model Study Of The Effects Of Wettability And Fractures On Gas Assisted Gravity Drainage (Gagd) Performance, Wagirin Ruiz Paidin Jan 2006

Physical Model Study Of The Effects Of Wettability And Fractures On Gas Assisted Gravity Drainage (Gagd) Performance, Wagirin Ruiz Paidin

LSU Master's Theses

The Gas-Assisted Gravity Drainage (GAGD) process was developed to take advantage of the natural segregation of injected gas from crude oil in the reservoir. It consists of placing a horizontal producer near the bottom of the reservoir and injecting gas using existing vertical wells. As the injected gas rises to the top to form a gas cap, oil and water drain down to the horizontal producer. Earlier experimental work using a physical model by Sharma had demonstrated the effectiveness of the GAGD process in improving the oil recovery when applied in water-wet porous media. The current research is an extension …


Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds In Wood Soot Extracts From Henan, China, Robyn Joy Cabrido Alcanzare Jan 2006

Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds In Wood Soot Extracts From Henan, China, Robyn Joy Cabrido Alcanzare

LSU Master's Theses

Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) are organic compounds composed of two or more fused benzene rings. These compounds are ubiquitous in the environment and some are found to be mutagenic and carcinogenic. High rates of esophageal cancer in the Henan Province of China had led to the suspicion that PAC from domestic coal and wood combustion are the main cause. Extraction of PAC from wood soot was done with a Soxhlet apparatus using dichloromethane as the solvent and concentration of the solution using a Kuderna Danish apparatus. Analysis of the different PAC was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with …


Hydrate Dissociation During Drilling Through In-Situ Hydrate Formations, Erdem Catak Jan 2006

Hydrate Dissociation During Drilling Through In-Situ Hydrate Formations, Erdem Catak

LSU Master's Theses

Natural gas hydrates are thought to be the future hydrocarbon source of the energy hungry world. Tremendous amount of research has been done to investigate the feasibility of gas production from the hydrate formations. In this direction, three basic production methods, thermal stimulation, depressurization and thermodynamic inhibitor injection have been proposed to produce hydrocarbons off the hydrates. On the other hand, they present high potential risk of drilling hazards, such as severe gasification of drilling fluid, casing collapse due to increase in pressure after dissociation of hydrate zone, and instability of ocean floor, which may cause a platform failure. Scientists …


Compositional Effects On Gas-Oil Interfacial Tension And Miscibility At Reservoir Conditions, Daryl Sean Sequeira Jan 2006

Compositional Effects On Gas-Oil Interfacial Tension And Miscibility At Reservoir Conditions, Daryl Sean Sequeira

LSU Master's Theses

Minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) is an important optimization parameter for an enhanced oil recovery process involving Carbon Dioxide or hydrocarbon gas injection. Therefore an accurate experimental measurement is required to determine the MMP. The MMP for a gas-oil system is directly related to the interfacial tension between the injected gas and the reservoir crude oil. When CO2 gas contacts the reservoir oil at reservoir temperature, the interfacial tension between the fluid-fluid phases reduces as the miscibility is approached and the interface between the fluid-fluid phases eventually disappears at miscibility i.e. the interfacial tension becomes zero. Hence, a pressure condition of …


Feasibility Of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide As A Drilling Fluid For Deep Underbalanced Drilling Operations, Anamika Gupta Jan 2006

Feasibility Of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide As A Drilling Fluid For Deep Underbalanced Drilling Operations, Anamika Gupta

LSU Master's Theses

Feasibility of drilling with supercritical carbon dioxide to serve the needs of deep underbalanced drilling operations has been analyzed. A case study involving underbalanced drilling to access a depleted gas reservoir is used to illustrate the need for such a research. For this well, nitrogen was initially considered as the drilling fluid. Dry nitrogen, due to its low density, was unable to generate sufficient torque in the downhole motor. The mixture of nitrogen and water, stabilized as foam generated sufficient torque but made it difficult to maintain underbalanced conditions. This diminished the intended benefit of using nitrogen as the drilling …


Distribution Dynamics Of Complex Systems, Young-Pyo Jeon Jan 2006

Distribution Dynamics Of Complex Systems, Young-Pyo Jeon

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A complex system is defined as a system with many interdependent parts having emergent self-organization; analyzing and designing such complex systems is a new challenge. A common observable structure of many complex systems is the network, which is connections among nodes, and thus inherently difficult to describe. The goal of this research is to introduce an effective methodology to describe complex systems, and thus we will construct a population balance (distribution kinetics) model based on the association-dissociation process to describe the evolution of complex systems. Networks are commonly observed structures in complex systems with interdependent parts that self-organize. How networks …


Electrodeposition Of Cocu Nanostructures, Yutong Li Jan 2006

Electrodeposition Of Cocu Nanostructures, Yutong Li

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Electrodeposition is a key component in the microelectronic industry because it has the following advantages: low cost, easy operation and the capability to deposit into irregular geometries such as recessed and curved areas. In this dissertation, CoCu alloys were investigated to fabricate multilayers, microdevices and microposts. All of these multilayer structures were composed of nanometric copper and cobalt-rich layers in order to obtain magnetoresistance, a phenomenon where the resistance of multilayer structures decreases with increases of external magnetic field. An investigation was carried out in order to evaluate appropriate plating conditions during multilayered thin film deposition, with the aim to …


Electrodeposited Metal Matrix Nanocomposites As Thin Films And High Aspect Ratio Microstructures For Mems, Alonso Lozano Morales Jan 2006

Electrodeposited Metal Matrix Nanocomposites As Thin Films And High Aspect Ratio Microstructures For Mems, Alonso Lozano Morales

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The electrodeposition of metal-matrix nanocomposites as thin film and high aspect ratio microstructures (HARM’s) for MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) components is examined. The effect of -Al2O3 nanopowder on copper reduction from acidic and basic electrolytes is examined with rotating disk electrodes (RDE’s). At pH 0.2, regions of copper inhibition and enhancement are identified in the kinetic regime. Low particle loading (12.5 g/L) results in an inhibited copper rate, while, high particle concentration (60 g/L) does both, inhibits the rate at low overpotentials and accelerates it at higher overpotentials, depending on the electrode rotation rate. At pH 8 the presence of particles …


Enhanced Degradation Of Phenanthrene And Benzo(A)Pyrene In A Field-Contaminated Sediment Inhabited By Ilyodrilus Templetoni: A Microcosm Study, Marilou Montevirgen Nabatilan Jan 2006

Enhanced Degradation Of Phenanthrene And Benzo(A)Pyrene In A Field-Contaminated Sediment Inhabited By Ilyodrilus Templetoni: A Microcosm Study, Marilou Montevirgen Nabatilan

LSU Master's Theses

The influence of the oligochaete Ilyodrilus templetoni on the degradation of phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene present in a field-contaminated sediment was studied in microcosm experiments. Results indicate an enhanced degradation of phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene in microcosms inhabited by I. templetoni. Total phenanthrene reduction was observed at an average of 9.78 % in worm microcosms, while no reduction was observed in the control microcosms. Benzo(a)pyrene reduction, on the other hand, was determined at 78.60 % and 30.04 % in worm and control microcosms, respectively. The lowest concentrations of these PAHs at the end of 97-day study were observed well below the surface …


The Bioturbation Transport Of Chemicals In Surface Soils, Maria D. Rodriguez Jan 2006

The Bioturbation Transport Of Chemicals In Surface Soils, Maria D. Rodriguez

LSU Master's Theses

Large quantities of chemicals, such as pesticides, fertilizers, and industrial wastes, have been found throughout the environment raising concerns due to their ecological impacts and implications to human health. Soil is the most important repository of many organic chemicals in the environment. The objective of the present study was to determine the importance of the soil solid phase in the transport of chemicals in soils, and yield quantitative information to better describe bioturbation and its role in the movement of soil particles. Vertical movement of chemicals in the soil solid phase occurs by mixing mechanisms, such as bioturbation, cryoturbation, and …