Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Model Predictive Control Of A Grid-Scale Thermal Energy Storage System In Relap5-3d, Jaron Wallace, John Hedengren, Kody Powell, Matthew Memmott

Faculty Publications

This research delves into the integration and control of a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system with a Small Modular Reactor (SMR), specifically the NuScale VOYGR SMR module in RELAP5-3D. The research methodology centered on modeling the NuScale VOYGR SMR, a light water pressurized water reactor (LWR) with a power output capacity of 77 MWe per module. The reactor and plant details were sourced from NuScale's final safety analysis report and supplemented by information from the NuScale website. The SMR plays a crucial role in energy generation, and to manage and dispatch the produced energy effectively, a robust storage system …

Cyberattack Detection And Handling For Neural Network-Approximated Economic Model Predictive Control, Jihan Abou Halloun, Helen E. Durand

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Faculty Research Publications

Cyberattacks on control systems can create unprofitable and unsafe operating conditions. To enhance safety and attack resiliency of control systems, cyberattack detection strategies can be developed. Prior work in our group has sought to develop cyberattack detection strategies that are integrated with an advanced control formulation known as Lyapunov-based economic model predictive control (LEMPC), in the sense that the controller properties can be used to analyze closed-loop stability in the presence or absence of undetected attacks. In this work, we consider neural network-approximated control laws, concepts for mitigating cyberattacks on such control laws, and how these ideas elucidate concepts in …

Lyapunov-Based Cyberattack Detection For Distinguishing Between Sensor And Actuator Attacks, Dominic Messina, Helen E. Durand

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Faculty Research Publications

Control-theoretic cyberattack detection strategies are control strategies where control theory can be used in the design of the detection policies and analysis of stability properties with and without cyberattacks. This work provides a step toward understanding how to diagnose cyberattacks using control-theoretic cyberattack detection mechanisms. Specifically, we analyze the conditions under which a control-theoretic cyberattack detection strategy developed in our prior work to handle detection of simultaneous actuator and sensor attacks can be extended to distinguish between whether attacks are occurring on sensors or actuators. We present and evaluate heuristic concepts for attempting to diagnose sensor attacks; these again demonstrate …

Study Of The Application Of Blender For Simulation Of A Closed-Loop Image-Based Greenhouse Supplemental Lighting Control, Kip Nieman, Helen Durand

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Faculty Research Publications

Image-based control and sensing has been applied in a wide variety of next generation manufacturing fields. Utilizing methods of simulating closed-loop image-based control may be advantageous for improving control performance and design without the need for an experimental setup. One software capable of these simulations is the open-source 3D modeling software Blender, which has many capabilities aided by a Python API. This work explores the use of Blender as an image-based control test bed, where both the process and the controller are simulated, in the context of a greenhouse supplemental lighting control system.

Safety With Non-Deterministic Control Action Selection Using Quantum Devices, Kip Nieman, Helen Durand

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Faculty Research Publications

Recent increasing interest in quantum computers has spurred research into practical engineering applications for quantum algorithms. One potential application is process control. The unique quantum phenomena involved with quantum computing brings up interesting considerations for control. This work focuses on non-determinism, first through a motivating simulation utilizing a continuous stirred-tank reactor. Following this, two methods of potentially ensuring system stability in the presence of non-determinism are discussed. The first involves including an additional gate to the modified Grover’s algorithm presented in our previous work, which is designed to prevent a qubit state corresponding to an undesired control input from being …

Profit Considerations For Nonlinear Control-Integrated Cyberattack Detection On Process Actuators, Keshav Kasturi Rangan, Helen E. Durand

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Faculty Research Publications

Prior research from our group developed a control-integrated active actuator cyberattack detection strategy. This strategy continuously probed for cyberattacks by updating target steady-states at every sampling time and then moving the process state toward these over the subsequent sampling period. Attacks were fagged if a Lyapunov function around the target steady-state did not decrease over a sampling period. This strategy had the benefit of ensuring safety of the process until an attack was detected. However, the continuous probing for attacks could decrease profit from the process compared to not probing for the attacks, which could limit the attractiveness of the …

Genetically Linked Litho- And Organo-Facies In Meter-Scale Cycles Of Lacustrine Deposits Within The Permian Lucaogou Formation In The Bogda Mountains, Northwest China: Implications For Paleoenvironment And Organic Matter Origin, Xin Zhan, Wan Yang, Qiao Feng, Zhao Wen Zhan, Sile Wei, Yujiao Zhang, Hongquan Kang, Tao Cheng, Hongyan Zhao, Wenjie Cai

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A close correlation between lithofacies and organofacies in meter-scale high-order cycles composed of lacustrine sediments enables comparison and refinement of lithofacies-defined cyclostratigraphy. Four lithofacies and four organofacies have been identified in fluctuating profundal high-order cycles in the lower-Permian Lucaogou Formation, southern Bogda Mountains, NW China. The four lithofacies include interbedded and interlaminated coarse siltstone and very fine sandstone, black shale, wackestone and dolostone, and calcareous and dolomitic shales. Four distinctive organofacies have been identified, on the basis of geochemical composition of organic matter and specific biomarker proxies related to organic matter types, rather than to depositional conditions and thermal maturity. …

A New Air-Assisted Flare Tip Design For Managing Gas Flare Emissions (Cfd Analysis), Ahmed A. Maaroof, Joseph D. Smith, Mohammed H.S. Zangana

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recently, flares have been considered as a major source of air pollution from the petroleum refining industry. The United Nations has instigated an international effort related to the management of flare emissions to reduce the global warming impact related to flaring. Eliminating or removing the need for gas flares is difficult because these devices are generally used as safety devices to allow the combustion of flammable gases in a controlled fashion which supports safe operation. However, reducing flaring is generally possible using well-designed, efficiently operated flare equipment. In general, flare performance can be enhanced following the API-521 methodology and using …

Enhancing Ammonium And Bicarbonate Tolerance In Chlorella Sorokiniana Through Ems-Induced Mutagenesis, Wentao Yang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the enhancement of ammonium and bicarbonate tolerance in Chlorella sorokiniana via EMS-induced mutagenesis, aimed at improving the microalgae's resilience and growth under high-stress conditions of elevated NH4+ and HCO3 concentrations. By mutating C. sorokiniana using EMS, we developed mutant strains capable of thriving in conditions that are inhibitory to the wild type strain. The successful adaptation of these strains demonstrates a significant increase in biomass production and tolerance to environmental stressors, highlighting the potential of EMS mutagenesis in industrial algal applications for sustainable biofuel production and environmental remediation.

Analysis Of The Thermal Aging Kinetics Of Tallow, Chicken Oil, Lard, And Sheep Oil, Yun-Chuan Hsieh, Hao Ouyang, Yulin Zhang, Donyau Chiang, Fuqian Yang, Hsin-Lung Chen, Sanboh Lee

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Understanding the thermal aging kinetics of animal oils is of vital importance in the storage and applications of animal oils. In this work, we use four different techniques, including UV-Vis spectrometry, viscometry, impedance spectroscopy, and acid–base titration, to study the thermal aging kinetics of tallow, chicken oil, lard, and sheep oil in the temperature range from 120 ◦C to 180 ◦C. The evolutions of the UV-Vis absorbance, dynamic viscosity, electric impedance, and acid titration are discussed with the defect kinetics. The evolutions of the color centers, defects for dynamic viscosity, and electric dipoles follow second-order, first-order, and zero-order kinetics, respectively. …

Antibiotic-Loaded Dendrimer Hydrogels In Periodontal Bone Regeneration: An In Vitro Release Feasibility Study, Nicholas Yesbeck, Da Huang, Caroline Carrico, Parthasarathy Madurantakam, Hu Yang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The prescription of a course of oral antibiotics following bone grafting procedures is a common practice in clinical periodontics to reduce surgical site infections. The goal of this study is to characterize the release profile of antibiotics via local delivery using dendrimer hydrogels (DH) and to analyze the effect of two different particulate bone allografts on the release of the antibiotics in vitro. DH were synthesized from Poly amidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer G5 and polyethylene glycol diacrylate, and cefazolin was chosen as the antibiotic. The antibiotic-loaded samples were bathed in PBS and incubated at 37 °C; aliquots were taken (1 h, …

Microplastics And Dye Removal From Textile Wastewater Using Mil-53 (Fe) Metal-Organic Framework-Based Ultrafiltration Membranes, Javad Farahbakhsh, Mohadeseh Najafi, Mitra Golgoli, Abdul Hannan Asif, Mehdi Khiadani, Amir Razmjou, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Microplastics (MPs) and other organic matters in textile wastewater have posed a formidable challenge for treatment processes, particularly in the primary stages such as ultrafiltration (UF). UF plays a crucial role in preventing the entry of pollutants into subsequent treatment steps. However, the performance efficiency of UF membranes is compromised by the potential fouling of membrane pores by MPs, dyes and other organic pollutants such as bovine serum albumin (BSA). This study focuses on enhancing UF membrane performance, specifically its antifouling properties, through the development of high-performance membranes using MIL-53(Fe) metal-organic framework (MOF) particles (noted as MIL-53 here). Various concentrations …

Hydrogen Wettability Of Saudi Arabian Basalt: Implications For H2 Geo-Storage, Muhammad Ali, Nurudeen Yekeen, Mujahid Ali, Amer Alanazi, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Alireza Keshavarz, Hussein Hoteit

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The large-scale subsurface storage of hydrogen is a crucial element of the hydrogen economy value chain and is an essential process for achieving the successful replacement of carbon-based fuels. The wettability of the rock-H2-brine system, as quantified by contact angle measurement, has been the focus of most recent research due to its impacts on fluid flow, H2 migration and recovery efficiency during underground hydrogen storage (UHS). However, the reported contact angle data sets are quite inconsistent, and there are relatively few literature reports regarding the contact angles of H2/brine on Saudi Arabian basalt (SAB) compared to the contact angle data …

Nanofluid-Assisted Enhanced Sealing Security For Efficient Geological Hydrogen Storage In Saudi Arabian Basalt, Muhammad Ali, Nurudeen Yekeen, Sarmad Al-Anssari, Aliakbar Hassanpouryouzband, Alireza Keshavarz, Hussein Hoteit

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The modification of hydrophobic rock surfaces to the water-wet state via nanofluid treatment has shown promise in enhancing their geological storage capabilities and the efficiency of carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) containment. Despite this, the specific influence of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles on the interactions between H2, brine, and rock within basaltic formations remains underexplored. The present study focuses on the effect of SiO2 nanoparticles on the wettability of Saudi Arabian basalt (SAB) under downhole conditions (323 K and pressures ranging from 1 to 20 MPa) by using the tilted plate technique to measure the contact angles between H2/brine and …

Growth And Faceting Of Tungsten And Oxides In Scandate Cathode Particles During In Situ Heating In The Scanning Electron Microscope, Huanhuan Bai, Thomas John Balk

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Tungsten-based scandate dispenser cathodes are promising next-generation thermionic electron sources for vacuum electron devices, due to their excellent emission performance at tempera- tures lower than those required for conventional cathodes. There has been a significant recent effort to understand scandate cathode performance and to characterize the tungsten and other materials on the emitting surface, primarily via the study of cathodes before and after emission testing. Moreover, these scandate cathodes have typically been characterized at room temperature only. In situ obser- vations of scandate cathodes is challenging, as these devices are thermionic emitters that operate in a high-vacuum environment, and because …

Effects Of External Pressure On Cycling Performance Of Silicon-Based Lithium-Ion Battery: Modelling And Experimental Validation, Kai Zhang, Yinan He, Junwu Zhou, Xinyang Wang, Yong Li, Fuqian Yang

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Controlling the stress state of electrodes during electrochemical cycling can have a positive effect on the cycling performance of lithium-ion battery. In this work, we study the cycling performance of silicon-based lithium-ion half cells under the action of pressure in a range of 0.1 to 0.4 MPa. The cycling performance of the silicon-based lithium-ion half cells increases first with increasing the pressure to 0.2 MPa and then decreases with further increasing the pressure. The analysis of the surface morphologies of cycled electrodes reveals that applying a pressure of 0.2 MPa leads to the formation of fine electrode surface with the …

Evaluation Of The Mechanical Properties Of Pla Material Used For 3d Printing Solar E-Hub Component, Md Helal Uddin, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Abreeza Manap, Boon Kar Yap, Md Rokonuzzaman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The advent of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies revolutionized design and production processes across various industries. In renewable energy, AM enabled new possibilities for optimizing solar e-hub (solar energy harvesting module) configurations, enhancing efficiency and performance. This study examined critical considerations such as material selection, durability, and cost-effectiveness in solar hub development. This fast-prototyping technique was controlled by computer-aided design (CAD) software like CREO Parametric 7.0 and Creality Slicer 4.8. Experimental results indicated that PLA (Polylactic acid) materials exhibited superior strength, with an impact energy of 4.8 Joules. The deformation study revealed that the maximum load of 22 MPa aligned with …

Sub-Rapid Solidification Microstructure Characteristics And Control Mechanisms Of Twin-Roll Cast Aluminum Alloys: A Review, Xian Wu, Zhi Ping Guan, Hong Yu Yang, Bai Xin Dong, Lai Chang Zhang, Jia Meng, Chang Jie Luo, Cheng Gang Wang, Kuang Cao, Jian Qiao, Shi Li Shu, Jie Kang, Ming Zhu, Feng Qiu, Qi Chuan Jiang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Rapid growth in industrial sectors such as automotive and shipbuilding has highlighted the significance of strip casting technology to produce lightweight alloys, particularly aluminum alloys widely used in both industrial production and daily life. Twin-roll casting (TRC), as an economically and environmentally friendly method for slab/strip production and processing, has attracted significant interest from researchers. However, the development of TRC aluminum alloys faces many challenges due to limited understanding of microstructural characteristics and control mechanisms. To further enhance comprehension of TRC aluminum alloys, this article reviews the influencing parameters, control methods, and existing issues related to TRC sub-rapid solidification (SRS) …

A Novel Hybrid Enhanced Oil Recovery Technique To Enhance Oil Production From Oil-Wet Carbonate Reservoirs By Combining Electrical Heating With Nanofluid Flooding, Farida Amrouche, Martin J. Blunt, Stefan Iglauer, Farid Aiouache, Michael Short

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Enhanced Oil Recovery provides a promising technique to maximise fossil fuel recovery from existing resources, and when used in conjunction with Carbon Capture and Storage/Utilisation provides a way to support a transition to alternative cleaner fuels. A hybrid Enhanced Oil Recovery method by a combination of electrical heating and nanofluid flooding was applied to oil-wet carbonate reservoirs and assessed in terms of the oil production, zeta potential, contact angle, pellet compaction, interfacial tension, and pH values. The hybrid technique consisted of a combination of direct current (up to 30 V) and iron oxide (Fe2O3) or magnesium oxide (MgO) nanofluids. Both …

Electrified Membrane For Water Treatment And Resource Recovery: Advancing Multiscale Strategies In Gas-Involving Reactions, Jianan Gao

Dissertations

Multifunctional, modular, and scalable water treatment technologies that operate without chemical additives are crucial for addressing global water pollution challenges. While traditional membrane-based separation processes are crucial for ensuring clean water supplies, they primarily focus on pollutant removal rather than on the upcycling of pollutants into valuable resources. Electrified membrane filtration presents a robust alternative, utilizing minimal or no chemical additives and harnessing electrical power to directly reduce contaminants or produce reactive oxidants or reductants on-site.

This dissertation is dedicated to the development of innovative electrochemically reactive membranes designed to address three major challenges: (1) the engineering of electrocatalysts with …