Engineering Commons^™

Image Sharpening Method Of Automatic Loading And Unloading Drill Pipe Target In Underground Coal Mine, Yao Ningping, Liang Chunmiao, Yao Yafeng, Song Haitao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Due to the space limitation of underground roadway in coal mine, the drilling robot is designed with two independent systems, i.e., the drilling system and the drilling pipe loading and unloading system, which are in flexible layout. Using the monocular visual identification based on cooperative target, the drilling system is associated with the drilling pipe loading and unloading system for the cooperative operation of the two systems to deliver the drill pipe. However, there are problems such as borehole cinder, cooperative target polluted by sewage, high dust concentration, low visibility, low luminance of artificial light source, uneven illumination resulting in …

Study On Factors Influencing The Self-Propelling Capacity Of Self-Propelled Water Jet Drill Bits, Liu Yong, Dai Shuo, Wei Jianping, Zhang Hongtu, Yuan Yongwang, Guo Xinhui, Gao Yingjun

Coal Geology & Exploration

The structural characteristics of inner flow field in a pipeline are the key factors influencing the self-propelling capacity and descaling-unblocking capability of the self-propelled drill bit. To address the problem concerning the effect of the changes in the inner flow field of a pipeline under the joint action of multiple jets on the self-propelling force and the resistance to water backflow, the changes of inner flow field in the pipeline under different conditions were numerically analyzed based on FLUENT, and thus the influence law of the angle of rear nozzle, the rotational speed, the annular ratio and the system pressure …

Clean Energy At The Crossroads Of America: An Integrated Resource Plan For Northern Indiana Public Service Company, Llc (Nipsco), Saad Z. Khan, Shend Boshnjaku

Master's Projects and Capstones

This paper outlines an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for the Indiana electric utility company, NIPSCO, looking forward to the year 2050 and evaluating different pathways to net zero emissions from the power generation sector. It is a plan for the future, identifying the most cost-effective and reliable mix of resources to meet the energy needs of NIPSCO's customers and reaching decarbonization goals by mid-century.

Du Undergraduate Showcase: Research, Scholarship, And Creative Works, Caitlyn Aldersea, Justin Bravo, Sam Allen, Anna Block, Connor Block, Emma Buechler, Maria De Los Angeles Bustillos, Arianna Carlson, William Christensen, Olivia Kachulis, Noah Craver, Kate Dillon, Muskan Fatima, Angel Fernandes, Emma Finch, Colleen Cassidy, Amy Fishman, Andrea Francis, Stacia Fritz, Simran Gill, Emma Gries, Rylie Hansen, Shannon Powers, Jacqueline Martinez, Zachary Harker, Ashley Hasty, Mykaela Tanino-Springsteen, Kathleen Hopps, Adelaide Kerenick, Colin Kleckner, Ci Koehring, Elijah Kruger, Braden Krumholz, Maddie Leake, Lyneé Alves, Seraphina Loukas, Yatzari Lozano Vazquez, Haley Maki, Emily Martinez, Sierra Mckinney, Mykaela Tanino-Springsteen, Audrey Mitchell, Kipling Newman, Audrey Ng, Megan Lucyshyn, Andrew Nguyen, Stevie Ostman, Casandra Pearson, Alexandra Penney, Julia Gielczynski, Tyler Ball, Anna Rini, Christina Rorres, Simon Ruland, Helayna Schafer, Emma Sellers, Sarah Schuller, Claire Shaver, Kevin Summers, Isabella Shaw, Madison Sinar, Claudia Pena, Apshara Siwakoti, Carter Sorensen, Madi Sousa, Anna Sparling, Alexandra Revier, Brandon Thierry, Dylan Tyree, Maggie Williams, Lauren Wols

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

DU Undergraduate Showcase: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Works

Improving The Cotton Simulation Model, Gossym, For Soil, Photosynthesis, And Transpiration Processes, Sahila Beegum, Dennis Timlin, Kambham Raja Reddy, Vangimalla Reddy, Wenguang Sun, Zhuangji Wang, David Fleisher, Chittaranjan Ray

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

GOSSYM, a mechanistic, process-level cotton crop simulation model, has a two-dimensional (2D) gridded soil model called Rhizos that simulates the below-ground processes daily. Water movement is based on gradients of water content and not hydraulic heads. In GOSSYM, photosynthesis is calculated using a daily empirical light response function that requires calibration for response to elevated carbon dioxide ( CO₂). This report discusses improvements made to the GOSSYM model for soil, photosynthesis, and transpiration processes. GOSSYM’s predictions of below-ground processes using Rhizos are improved by replacing it with 2DSOIL, a mechanistic 2D finite element soil process model. The photosynthesis …

Downstream Hydrochemistry And Irrigation Water Quality Of The Syr Darya, Aral Sea Basin, South Kazakhstan, Bagdat Satybaldiyev, Baimurat Ismailov, Nurbek Nurpeisov, Kairat Kenges, Daniel D. Snow, Arindam Malakar, Omirzhan Taukebayev, Bolat Uralbekov

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

New hydrochemical measurements from the Syr Darya provide insights into factors affecting the composition and quality of a major freshwater source replenishing the Aral Sea. This river is heavily used for power and irrigation and crosses territories of four Central Asia republics. It is intensely managed, draining several major tributaries, many reservoirs, and numerous irrigation distribution systems and canals. Analysis of seasonal changes in dissolved ion concentrations using geochemical diagrams, elemental ratios, statistical correlation, and equilibrium modeling allowed the characterization of mineral formation processes that control the dissolved chemical composition. Measured water hydrochemistry and composition type differs substantially from previous …

Improvement Of A Low-Cost Diy Wave Gauge, Matthew F. Virden, Nigel A. Temple, Bret M. Webb, Eric L. Sparks

The Journal of Extension

The impacts of waves on shorelines and nearshore ecosystems has highlighted the need for extension and other environmental professionals to have access to accurate and affordable wave measurements. The development of a low-cost DIY wave gauge improved the accessibility of these measurements; however, the original design was limited in battery life. Here, an improved version of the low-cost DIY wave gauge, the DIY Feather Wave Gauge, is presented with the same performance, longer battery life, smaller design, and cheaper cost along with tutorials, parts lists, and other resources. This new gauge has been used to improve shoreline management recommendations.

Occurrence Of Radionuclides And Hazardous Elements In The Transboundary River Basin Kyrgyzstan–Kazakhstan, Mariya A. Severinenko, Vladimir P. Solodukhin, Bekmamat M. Djenbaev, The National Academy Of Science Of The Kyrgyz Republic G. Lennik, Baktiyar T. Zholboldiev, Daniel D. Snow

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

Important for irrigation, the transboundary river basin between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan is vulnerable to geochemical and anthropogenic sources of pollution. The use of water use indices, together with measurements of the elemental and radionuclide composition of the water and bottom sediments, provides a means for evaluating the continued use of the water from this region. Recent monitoring shows the highest concentrations of hazardous contaminants include lead and thorium contained in the bottom and banks of the Kichi-Kemin River. These contaminants are likely remnants of an accidental spill at the Aktyuz tailing dump in 1964. The specific activity of the Th-232 …

Producer Long-Term Marketing Opportunities With Ethanol Plants, Austin Harthoorn, Logan Lloyd, Cory Walters, Kate Brooks

Cornhusker Economics

Commodity marketing operates in a complex decision environment with constant information flow, which can conceal long-run financially profitable marketing opportunities for producers. In the corn marketing space, the competitive role of ethanol plants throughout the state may provide producers with long-run financial gains by strategically approaching marketing decisions. In this article, we characterize whether producers can gain financially from strategically marketing corn to ethanol plants. For example, do ethanol plants provide a better long-run return from pre-harvest hedging, spring sale, or harvest sale?

We investigate three important contracting times--forward contract for harvest delivery (called pre-harvest hereafter), harvest delivery, and spring …

Rattus Norvegicus As A Biological Detector Of Clandestine Remains And The Use Of Ultrasonic Vocalizations As A Locating Mechanism, Gabrielle M. Johnston

Master's Theses

In investigations, locating missing persons and clandestine remains are imperative. One way that first responder and police agencies can search for the remains is by using cadaver dogs as biological detectors. Cadaver dogs are typically used due to their olfactory sensitivity and ability to detect low concentrations of volatile organic compounds produced by biological remains. Cadaver dogs are typically chosen for their stamina, agility, and olfactory sensitivity. However, what is not taken into account often is the size of the animal and the expense of maintaining and training the animal. Cadaver dogs are typically large breeds that cannot fit in …

Multi-Objective Optimization Framework For Electrified Vehicle Penetration Based On Life Cycle Assessment And Life Cycle Cost., Eva Alondra Diaz Lozano

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research proposed a novel framework for creating optimal transportation scenarios that consider multiple objectives such as minimum greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutant levels, and cost of ownership. The thesis approach is a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm coupled with the AFEET tool, allowing us to efficiently explore the complex trade-offs between these objectives and identify a diverse set of optimal solutions. Through several case studies and a design of experiments, this demonstrates the effectiveness and practicality in different scenarios. This approach has significant implications for policymakers and industry professionals seeking to make sustainable and cost-effective decisions in the transportation sector.

Addressing The Challenged Of Dcop Based Decision-Making Algorithms In Modern Power Systems, Luis Daniel Ramirez Burgueno

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Natural disasters have been determined as the leading cause of power outages, causing not only huge economic losses, but also the interruption of crucial welfare activities and the arise of security concerns. Because of the later, decision-making considering grid modernization, power system economics, and system resiliency has been a crucial theme in power systemsâ?? research. The need to better withstand catastrophic events and reducing the dependency of bulky generating units has propelled the development and better management of behind-the-meter generation or distributed energy resources (DERs). DERs can assist in the grid in different manners, not only by meeting energy demand …

Understanding And Simulating Wildfire Changes Using Advanced Statical And Process-Oriented Models, Rongyun Tang

Doctoral Dissertations

This study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamic of global wildfires, their underlying climate-driving mechanisms, and their predictability by utilizing multiple data sources (both process-based model simulations and satellite-based observations) and multiple analytical methods including machine learning techniques (MLTs).

We first explored the global wildfire interannual variability (IAV) and its climate sensitivity across nine biomes from 1997 to 2018, leveraging the state-of-art U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) land component (ELM-v1) simulations with six sets of climate forcings. Results indicate that 1) ELM simulations could reproduce the IAV of wildfire in terms of magnitudes, distribution, bio-regional …

Fabrication Of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Components Using Stereolithography 3d Printing, Hannah Dyer

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Transitioning from fossil fuel supplied energy to renewable technology must meet cost efficient parameters throughout the manufacturing process while possessing the characteristics of a functioning and reliable power source. With a significant demand in renewable energy products, developmental techniques require adaptive approaches and procedures for novel materials in the manufacturing phase. This report proposes how a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), a renewable energy system, can employ additive manufacturing for directly 3D printing its components by utilizing stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing techniques. Fabrication of the printed components from the mixtures were first mixed with varying concentrations of ceramic powder and …

Historic Downtown Streetscape Plan Price City, Utah, Patricia Beckert

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The idea of a small-town Main Street has profound meaning within the American culture that has prevailed for the past two centuries. Historically, Main Street serves as the beating heart of a community, a place where economic, social, cultural, and civic activities are centered (Francaviglia, 1996; Main Street America, n.d.). Since the beginning of the 19th century, many factors have led to the decline of Main Streets, and despite a variety of efforts from different stakeholders, that decline has only intensified in recent decades (Isenberg, 2008; Orvell, 2014 Howard, 2015). In 1980, after a three-year project conducted by the National …

Impacts Of Preferential Flow On Tc-99and Np-237 Vadose Transport In Soils At The Savannah River Site, Josh Parris

All Theses

Since the 1950s, the United States has produced approximately 90,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) (Office of Nuclear Energy, 2022); however, no long-term storage solutions are available. Technecium-99 and neptunium-237, two fission products found in SNF, readily form highly mobile species in oxidizing conditions (Hu, 2008; Bondietti, 1979) and have respective half-lives of 2.13 x 10⁵ and 2.14 x10⁶ years (Hu, 2010). Considering these characteristics, ⁹⁹Tc and ²³⁷Np are two risk-driving isotopes found in SNF storage. The process of macropore-facilitated preferential flow, transport through cracks within a soil matrix, has been recognized to increase …

A One-Dimensional Analysis Of A Microbial Fuel Cell For Efficient Acetate Removal And Power Density Output, David Rouhani

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are electrochemical devices that utilize microorganisms to convert organic matter into electrical energy. MFCs have been discussed to have potential application for sustainable wastewater treatment due to their ability to generate electricity while simultaneously treating contaminated water. To optimize MFC performance, numerical models can be used to understand the complex electrochemical and biological processes occurring in the system. In this study, a numerical model was developed to simulate the performance of MFCs under varying operating conditions and to investigate the performance of a MFC for treating wastewater fuel. More specifically, the MFC was modeled to oxidize …

An Exploration Of The Application Of Desalination In Disaster Relief, Emma Sager

Senior Honors Theses

This paper aims to explore the application of small-scale desalination systems to provide clean water in the wake of marine natural disasters. A lack of clean water is a devastating impact of many natural disasters. Desalination technologies, both thermal and membrane, show potential for being scaled down and self-powered by renewable energy. Desalination can transform ocean water and contaminated drinking water with a high salt content into drinkable, usable water. While these techniques are not perfected, and the solution to a need for clean water is multifaceted, desalination shows potential. Through further research and ever-advancing technology, small-scale desalination could develop …

Trace Dna Detection Using Diamond Dye: A Recovery Technique To Yield More Dna, Leah Davis

Master's Theses

This study aspires to find a new screening approach to trace DNA recovery techniques to yield a higher quantity of trace DNA from larger items of evidence. It takes the path of visualizing trace DNA on items of evidence with potential DNA so analysts can swab a more localized area rather than attempting to recover trace DNA through the general swabbing technique currently used for trace DNA recovery. The first and second parts consisted of observing trace DNA interaction with Diamond Dye on porous and non-porous surfaces.

The third part involved applying the Diamond Dye solution by spraying it onto …

Investigating Haloacetonitrile (Han) Formation Potential From Nitrogenous Antibiotics And Agrochemicals, Kazi Shafayet Haider

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Disinfection can promote safe drinking water. Chlorine and chloramines are the two most used disinfectants. While these disinfectants are effective in inactivating disease-causing pathogens, they also produce hazardous byproducts when they react with organic compounds (precursors). Nitrogenous disinfection byproducts (N-DBPs) are more toxic than their counterparts. The increased use of nitrogen-based agrochemicals and antibitics has led to their detection in different water sources. The presence of secondary amine and aniline in these compounds can act as a source of reactive nitrogen to form N-DBPs. In addition, the increased concentration of bromide in water systems due to anthropogenic activities can enhance …

Metastability And Degradation In Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Thin-Film Solar Cells, Mohsen Jahandardoost

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 or CIGS is a thin-film semiconductor that has shown a device efficiency of 23.35% and 24.2% for single-junction and perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells, respectively. CIGS offers promising properties such as tunable bandgap and ease of processing making them great candidates for thin-film tandem devices. However, knowledge of the effect of material defects, buffer materials, and post-deposition treatment (PDT) on degradation and metastability behavior in these devices is not well understood.In this dissertation, metastability and long-term degradation of CIGS thin-film solar cells have been investigated under combinatorial stress factors of heat, light, and voltage bias to systematically understand the effect …

Key Technology Of Automatic Loading And Unloading System For Dual-Pipe Directional Drilling Rig And Its Application In Soft–Fragmentized Coal Seam, Li Kun, Ting Ren, Yao Yafeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

To improve the automatic level and efficiency of loading and unloading of drilling rigs during the construction of dual-pipe directional drilling, an automatic loading and unloading device of dual pipe was developed to realize the fully automatic loading and unloading of drilling rigs under different working conditions and to solve the technical problems of loading and unloading the drill pipes and casing simultaneously during the dual-pipe directional drilling. Meanwhile, the device structure and control system was designed to restrict the load applied to the device during construction with the end-compliant technique. Besides, the key boundary conditions of the control program …

Processing Of Coal Mine Csamt Data With Wide Field Electromagnetic Method, Zhu Yunqi, Li Diquan, Liu Zuiliang, Zhang Xin

Coal Geology & Exploration

A CSAMT detection test was carried out for a coal mine with V8 multi-functional electrical instrument. Due to the serious electromagnetic interference within the area, the Cagniard apparent resistivity was low in quality. In order to improve the quality and utilization rate of data, authors attempted to process the CSAMT data collected by V8 with the wide field electromagnetic method, which used single-component method and ratio method (Electric field divided by magnetic field) to calculate apparent resistivity. The results showed that there was some deviation between the single-component wide field apparent resistivity and the actual terrestrial electricity because the emission …

Design Of Multi-Channel Continuous Cable Duct For Double-Bit Self-Balancing Drilling System, Zhao Yan, Ai Hongxin, Gao Ke, Zhang Congshan, Lyu Xiaoshu, Xie Xiaobo

Coal Geology & Exploration

The problems, such as low drilling efficiency, large disturbance to the hole wall and long assistance time of tripping caused by the “long arm jurisdiction” drive of the ground drilling rig to the underground drill bit, are faced during the drilling rescue of mine disaster. In order to solve these problems, the bionic self-balancing continuous cable duct drilling technology of double drill bit without drilling rig was proposed, the design of the multi-function continues cable duct is one of the key and challenging aspects of this technology. In terms of the technology, a multi-functional continuous cable duct with built-in channels …

Visco-Elastic Full-Waveform Inversion Based On Multi-Objective Function, Liang Xu, Ma Yue, Liu Chao, Chen Zhen, Jia Dongdong, Li Zhiyong, Pan Wenyong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) is one of the core technologies developed in exploration geophysics. Through FWI, the subsurface velocity structures can be constructed and the attenuation parameter (the quality factor Q) model can be inverted, which is helpful to characterize the types and structures of subsurface media (such as the fluid and collapse column in collapse column). This is significant for the exploration and development of natural resources such as coal, oil and gas. Parameter crosstalk is the key difficulty of visco-elastic FWI. Due to the influences of velocity errors, the inverted Q models contain very strong crosstalk noise. To …

A Preliminary Evaluation Method For Coal-Based Graphite, Liu Kang, Ning Shuzheng, Cao Daiyong, Wu Guoqiang, Wang Lu, Lin Zhongyue, Wang Anmin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Coal-based graphite is a type of strategic mineral resource and has unique advantages in the fields such as nuclear graphite and military aircraft tires. The evaluation of coal-based graphite is crucial to its exploration and development, upgrading and storage increase, and strategic resource security. Owing to the continuous transition between coal-based graphite and highly metamorphosed coals, some coal-based graphite tends to be wrongly treated as blind coal, and, accordingly, the identified resources of existing coal-based graphite may have been greatly underestimated. In fact, the resources of coal-based graphite are directly related to those of high-rank coals. Therefore, it is significant …

Sedimentary Coal-Controlling Effect And Coal-Forming Model Of Paleogene Coal Measures In Paralic Faulted Basin：A Case Study Of Huangxian Basin, Shandong Province, Wu Yue, Wang Dongdong, Wang Hailiang, Liu Haiyan, Li Zengxue, Zheng Xue

Coal Geology & Exploration

There are abundant coal-type oil and gas resources in Chinese sea area, but few researches have been conducted on the coal-type source rock, which seriously restricts the exploration of coal-type oil and gas resources in the sea area. Herein, this study on sedimentary coal-controlling effect and coal-forming model was carried out based on Huangxian Basin that is a paralic faulted basin with same coal-forming period, similar geological conditions and high degree of research for the coal basins in the sea area. Specifically, the pattern, evolution and sedimentary coal-controlling effect of paleogeography during the coal-forming period were reconstructed with full consideration …

Effect Of Amf-Maize Combination On Water And Salt Distribution In Soil Under The Dump Reconstruction Mode Of “Topsoil-Aquifer-Aquitard”, Bi Yinli, Yang Wei, Ke Zengming, Wu Chao, Li Mingchao, Xue Chao

Coal Geology & Exploration

The distribution of soil water and salt severely affects the ecological reconstruction and plant configuration modes at coal mine dumps. To investigate the characteristics of soil water and salt distribution under the three-layer reconstruction mode of “topsoil-aquifer-aquitard” in coal mine dump under the influence of mycorrhizal plants, laboratory soil column test was conducted, in which the soil was treated in three ways: planting maize and inoculating with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (YM+AMF), planting maize (YM) only, and no planting of maize + no inoculation with bacteria (CK). The results showed that: (1) The different treatments have no significant effect on the …

Deterioration Characteristics Of Water-Rock Interaction On Combustion Metamorphic Rocks In Northern Shaanxi, Hu Xin, Sun Qiang, Yan Changgen, Zhao Chunhu, Wang Shaofei

Coal Geology & Exploration

There are a lot of combustion metamorphic (CM) rocks formed by high temperature baking of coal fires in the border area of Shaanxi, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia in the northeastern margin of Ordos Basin. Compared with the virgin rock, the rock mass subjected to combustion metamorphism is broken in structure, with pores developed, and a large number of dangerous rock masses are formed under the long-term water-rock interaction. Herein, 50 dry-wet cycle experiments were carried out with the CM rocks in Daliuta Area of Shenmu in Shaanxi Province. Meanwhile, the changes in the physical and mechanical properties of CM rocks …

Hydrochemical Characteristics And Source Analysis Of Mine Water In Shallow Coal Seams In Shaanxi And Inner Mongolia Contiguous Area, Wang Yutong, Wang Hao, Wang Tiantian, Xue Jiankun, Shang Hongbo, Zhou Zhenfang

Coal Geology & Exploration

In order to study the hydrochemical characteristics and sources of mine water under the mining of shallow coal seams in the contiguous area of Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi, the hydrochemical characteristics and the formation action of mine water in this area were investigated through the study of hydrochemical characteristics, mathematical statistics, ion ratio coefficient method and the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in combination, by collecting samples of the mine water, groundwater in different aquifers and surface water in the study area. Based on this, the main sources of mine water in the study area were identified. The results show that …