Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Cleaning Monitoring Using Controlled Nano-Vibrations, A. Pereira, J. Mendes, L.F. Melo

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

The monitoring of fouling and cleaning has become very important in order to optimize production cycles, to increase the quality of the final product and to reduce environmental impacts. The aim of the study here presented was to use the MSS – Mechatronic Surface Sensor, to detect the cleaning end-point of hair shampoo removal under different cleaning conditions. It was found that this new monitoring tool was able to clearly identify when the equipment was cleaned, producing different cleaning curves for different cleaning conditions.

Solving A Hydtrotreater Feed Filter Fouling Problem, X.A. Wu, K.H. Chung

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

Feed filters were installed in Syncrude hydrotreater units to protect the catalyst beds from plugging by fine solids in the feed. Severe filter fouling occurred after a process flow sheet change. The root cause of fouling was revealed through a step-by-step scientific investigation. It was first confirmed that the fouling problem was related to a process flow sheet change that introduced a heavy vacuum gas oil (HVGO) stream into the coker combined gas oil (KCGO) stream prior to filtration. Characterization of the foulant and the feed indicated that the fouling reactions are likely oxidative polymerization. Iron naphthenate or naphthenic acid …

Electrochemical Impedance And Digital Image Methods To Detect Initial Deposition Of Microorganisms, H. Men, S. W. Mu, Z. W. Lu, Y. L. Chen, S.R. Yang, Y. P. Jia, S. X. Cao

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

Microorganism in industrial cooling water can cause corrosion and biofouling. Electrochemical impedance method and digital image method (DIM) were used to detect quantitatively iron bacteria and heterotrophic bacteria. Microorganism growth and metabolism can change the impedance of culture medium. The detection time of impedance variation lie in the function relationship with the logarithm of bacteria concentration. 7-million-pixel CCD sensor was used to shoot the shape of microorganism in order to count the number. Compared with most probable number (MPN) method, the detection time of electrochemical impedance is shortened. The DIM reduces the bacteria counting time and the inaccuracy associated with …

Slag Monitoring System For Combustion Chambers Of Steam Boilers, J. Taler, D. Taler

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

The computer based boiler performance system, presented in this paper, has been developed to provide a direct and quantitative assessment of furnace and convective surface cleanliness. Temperature, pressure and flow measurements and gas analysis data are used to perform heat transfer analysis in the boiler furnace and evaporator. Power boiler efficiency is calculated using an indirect method. The on-line calculation of the exit flue gas temperature in a combustion chamber allows for an on-line heat flow rate determination, which is transferred to the boiler evaporator. Based on the energy balance for the boiler evaporator, the superheated steam mass flow rate …

Acuta Enews July 2007, Vol. 36, No. 7

ACUTA Newsletters

ln This lssue

Meet the Board for 2007-08

From ACUTA Headquarters: Member Anniversaries............... Jeri A. Semer, CAE, Executive Director

Tech Talk: The Passing of Passwords................... Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

DC Update .................. Jeanne Jansenius, Sewanee, The University of the South

Check lt Out: RFls/RFPs, Job Postings, Press Releases

Board Report ................. Riny Ledgerwood, Son Diego State Univ., ACUTA Sec./Treasurer

FYI: Useful lnformation from the campus............... Student Monitor

Level 3 Completes lnternet2 Optical Network implementation

Member Sites to See

lnfo Links................... Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern lowa

Terri Robinett Wins Room at the Conference

$5250,000 Emergency & Event Notification "Grants,, from …

Cover Page, Hans Müller-Steinhagen, M. Reza Malayeri, Paul Watkinson

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

No abstract provided.

Free Alkali-Index For Optimizing The Fuel Mixture In Biomass Co-Firing, T.E. Blomberg

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

Co-firing biomass with fossil fuels provides a cheap and efficient reduction of the CO2 emissions in electricity generation. One of the main challenges in co-firing is the increased fouling and corrosion rates of the heat transfer surfaces when biomass is added to the fuel mixture. Optimization of the fuel mixture from the fouling and corrosion point of view would be an easier task, if some fuel properties would provide correlation with the fouling and corrosion rates. Currently there is no clear understanding of the most useful fuel indices. The fouling indices used in coal firing have proved to be less …

The Science Of Cleaning Of Dairy Fouling Layers, R. Mercadé-Prieto,, W.R. Paterson, D.I. Wilson

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

The science underlying the removal of dairy fouling layers, and particularly the dissolution of proteinaceous deposits in alkaline solution, is relatively poorly understood even though this is a critical feature of many cleaning-in-place operations. We report key results from a series of investigations on heat-induced gels of β- lactoglobulin, the primary whey protein component in milk and whey foulant. These model systems were used to elucidate the reaction behaviour of gels and aggregates whereby the proteinaceous material is converted to a softer, swollen form that can then be removed by fluid shear or diffusion. We show that several features, such …

Study Of An Organic Crystallization Fouling Problem, Hirofumi Inokuchi, Mitsutaka Nakamura, Yoshio Koga

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

One of the aromatic compound plants in Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation has a heavy crystallization fouling problem. We have been studying the crystallization process using the shell and tube heat-exchanger. In order to solve our fouling problem of the heat exchanger, we developed the specified evaluation equipment (crystallization fouling simulator : CFS) which consists of a single tube heatexchanger (Tube size: ID=10.3mm Length=500mm). The result of the modeling for describing the crystallization fouling rate and the countermeasure of the fouling problem are discussed in this work. It can be possible to describe the fouling rate as one equation which has two …

Bacterial And Protein Adhesion On Ni-P-Ptfe Coated Surfaces, Q. Zhao, C. Liu, Y. Liu, S. Wang

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

The adhesion of bacteria and proteins on the surfaces of heat exchangers and food processing equipment has been recognized as a widespread problem. Biofouling not only reduces heat transfer performance significantly, but also causes considerable pressure drop, calling for higher pumping requirements. Biofouling also present a considerable hygiene risk in the food industry. It would be much more desirable if surfaces with an inherently lower stickability for biofouling could be developed. In this paper, stainless steel 304 plates were modified by electroless plating Ni-P and small amounts of PTFE. The experimental results showed that the surface free energy of the …

Evaluation Of Heat Transfer Boundary Conditions For Cfd Modeling Of A 3d Plate Heat Exchanger Geometry, T.M. Pääkkönen, M. Riihimäki, R. Ylönen, E. Muurinen, C.J. Simonson, R.L. Keiski

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

In this paper fluid flow and heat transfer are modeled in a corrugated 3D plate heat exchanger geometry with a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program, Fluent 6.1.22 (Fluent Inc., Lebanon), in order to find out the most realistic heat transfer boundary conditions for a plate heat exchanger. The built-in boundary conditions of Fluent available for this case are Heat flux, Convection and Constant wall temperature. The CFD models are verified with correlations and experimental data obtained by a flat plate test equipment of which parameters can be calculated analytically. Deficiencies are found in all the built-in heat transfer boundary …

Metallic Micro Heat Exchangers: Properties, Applications And Long Term Stability, J.J. Brandner, W. Benzinger, U. Schygulla, S. Zimmermann, K. Schubert

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

Micro heat exchangers, which until recently have been implemented only at laboratory scale, are now being available for industrial applications. They are well known for their superior heat transfer properties due to the large surface-to-volume ratio. But there are little data available on the long term stability of these devices. In this paper application several application examples for micro heat exchangers made of stainless steel are presented. The devices consist of stainless steel foils providing numerous micro channels generated by mechanical micromachining or wet chemical etching. A number of the foils are arranged in a specific way and bonded together. …

Fouling Monitoring And Cleaning Optimisation In A Heat Exchanger Network Of A Crude Distillation Unit, Andrea Heins, Ramón Veiga, Carlos Ruiz, Andrés Riera

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

Fouling in preheat networks of crude distillation units (CDU) plays an important role in energy consumption. In this work a procedure to monitor the performance of the heat exchanger network (HEN) and to optimize the cleaning strategies is presented. The procedure is based on a rigorous simulation of the HEN using Hysys (from Aspen Technology). The simulation is used to estimate the service overall heat transfer coefficient with real operational data acquired from the unit’s Plant Information System (PI). The clean overall heat transfer coefficient is calculated for each one of the individual heat exchangers with a rigorous simulation using …

Cfd And Neural Network-Based Expert System For The Supervision Of Boilers And Furnaces, Hugo Calisto, Nelson Martins, Naim Afgan

Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning VII

CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) tools were used to build a "virtual" furnace, validated with experimental data. This model was used to simulate both normal and “faulty” behaviours, regarding parameters such as energy conversion efficiency, steam leakage and fouling. A database was developed comprising normal situations and simulated fault sets, characterized by virtual sensor outputs used in the evaluation of diagnostic parameters patterns to be processed and recognized by the diagnostic system. The database was processed using Neural Networks, with satisfactory results even in their most simple form (backpropagation networks) trained using standard algorithms. Pattern recognition was thus performed, identifying root …

Generating Job Schedules For Vessel Operations In A Container Terminal, Thin Yin Leong, Hoong Chuin Lau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

No abstract provided.

Measurement, Analysis, And Comparison Of The Parcel Shipping Shock And Drop Environment Of The United States Postal Service With Commercial Carriers, J. A. Singh, S. P. Singh, G. Burgess, K. Saha

Industrial Technology and Packaging

The past decade has shown a great increase in the number of direct to consumer shipments of products and packages. As a result, parcel delivery companies like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and the USPS have strengthened their presence in air transport to deliver products faster and through larger distances. Using cargo planes, they route packages from various destinations to large airport hubs, where they sort millions of packages and ship them to their destinations. There is a continuous need to quantify what happens to these packages as they are handled both manually during collection and delivery and on large high-speed conveying …

Reinforcement Learning Based Output-Feedback Control Of Nonlinear Nonstrict Feedback Discrete-Time Systems With Application To Engines, Peter Shih, Jonathan B. Vance, Brian C. Kaul, Jagannathan Sarangapani, J. A. Drallmeier

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel reinforcement-learning based output-adaptive neural network (NN) controller, also referred as the adaptive-critic NN controller, is developed to track a desired trajectory for a class of complex nonlinear discrete-time systems in the presence of bounded and unknown disturbances. The controller includes an observer for estimating states and the outputs, critic, and two action NNs for generating virtual, and actual control inputs. The critic approximates certain strategic utility function and the action NNs are used to minimize both the strategic utility function and their outputs. All NN weights adapt online towards minimization of a performance index, utilizing gradient-descent based rule. …

Online Reinforcement Learning-Based Neural Network Controller Design For Affine Nonlinear Discrete-Time Systems, Qinmin Yang, Jagannathan Sarangapani

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, a novel reinforcement learning neural network (NN)-based controller, referred to adaptive critic controller, is proposed for general multi-input and multi- output affine unknown nonlinear discrete-time systems in the presence of bounded disturbances. Adaptive critic designs consist of two entities, an action network that produces optimal solution and a critic that evaluates the performance of the action network. The critic is termed adaptive as it adapts itself to output the optimal cost-to-go function and the action network is adapted simultaneously based on the information from the critic. In our online learning method, one NN is designated as the …

Preliminary Estimates Of Building Cost And The Lowest Evaluated Tender, Harriet Eliufoo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The paper has investigated and established to what extent are preliminary estimates of building costs close to the lowest evaluated tender and how geographical proximity influences the variance between preliminary estimate and the lowest evaluated tender. A multiple case study constituting 43 building projects in Tanzania were statistically analysed covering a period from 1995- 1999. Findings reveal a significant variance exists between the quantity surveyor’s preliminary estimate figure and the lowest evaluated tender; and that the variance between the quantity surveyor’s figure and the bidder is small when the proposed building project is geographically closer to the quantity surveyor’s base. …

Encouraging Lifelong Learning For Engineering Management Undergraduates, Susan L. Murray, Stephen A. Raper

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The current ABET guidelines place an emphasis on life-long learning for our undergraduate students. What is life-long learning? How can we encourage students to consider global issues, current events, or even anything "that isn't going to be on the next test"? In this paper we present survey results evaluating habits of undergraduate students entering an engineering management program and seniors related to life-long learning including attending professional society meetings, reading trade publications, reading business related books, and other learning outside of the classroom activities. This paper also presents a two semester effort to increase life-long learning activities among undergraduate engineering …

Fabrication Of Net-Shape Functionally Graded Composites By Electrophoretic Deposition And Sintering: Modeling And Experimentation, E.A. Olevsky, X. Wang, A. Maximenko, M.A. Meyers

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

It is shown that electrophoretic deposition (EPD) sintering is a technological sequence that is capable of producing net-shape bulk functionally graded materials (FGM). By controlling the shape of the deposition electrode, components of complex shapes can be obtained. To enable sintering net-shape capabilities, a novel optimization algorithm and procedure for the fabrication of net-shape functionally graded composites by EPD and sintering has been developed. The initial shape of the green specimen produced by EPD is designed in such a way that the required final shape is achieved after sintering-imposed distortions. The optimization is based on a special innovative iteration procedure …

The Current Generation Of Integrated Engineering Curriculum, Michael A. Collura, Samuel Bogan Daniels, Jean Nocito-Gobel, David Harding

Engineering and Applied Science Education Faculty Publications

In September of 2004 our university adopted the Multidisciplinary Engineering Foundation Spiral Curriculum as the basis for disciplinary engineering programs in Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and General Engineering. The curriculum includes a sequence of first and second year engineering courses, matched closely with the development of students’ mathematical sophistication and analytical capabilities and integrated with course work in the sciences. Students develop a conceptual understanding of engineering basics in this series of courses which stress practical applications of these principles. The new curriculum was designed to provide students with a multidisciplinary perspective while developing basic engineering skills and fostering an …

Civil And Mechanical Engineering Students Learning Mechanics In A Multidisciplinary Engineering Foundation Spiral, Jean Nocito-Gobel, Gregory Broderick, Samuel Bogan Daniels, Michael Collura, Richard Stanley

Engineering and Applied Science Education Faculty Publications

This paper describes how mechanical and civil engineering students are introduced to and develop an understanding of mechanics concepts through a sequence of integrated courses as part of a new curriculum taken during the freshman and sophomore years. The Multi- Disciplinary Engineering Foundation Spiral is a four-semester sequence of engineering courses, matched closely with the development of students’ mathematical sophistication and analytical capabilities and integrated with course work in the sciences. Students develop a conceptual understanding of engineering basics in this series of courses, which stress practical applications of these principles. Mechanics concepts are introduced in a pair of first …

An Analysis Of The Potential Of Hydroelectric Power In Kentucky, Terry White

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science at Morehead State University by Terry White on June 15, 2007.

Acuta Enews June 2007, Vol. 36, No. 6

ACUTA Newsletters

ln This lssue

From the President Carmine Piscopo, RCDD, ACUTA President

Board Report .............. Riny Ledgerwood, San Diego State Univ., ACUTA Sec./Treasurer

Tech Talk: Waiting for TechTalk 2.0, the New, lmproved Version................. Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

DC Update ... Jeanne Jansenius, Sewanee, The University of the South

Another Hit to the Cabling Budget: Electrician Shortage = Higher Cabling Costs............. Gary Audin

FYI: Useful lnformation from the Campus.................. Student Monitor

Web Tip: What's New at acuta.org?............. Aaron Fuehrer, ACUTA lnformation Technology Manager

Sign Up Today for Preconference Seminars

lnfo Links....................... Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern lowa

ACUTA Web Seminar: lP Video …

Optimizing Distribution Sensor Placement For Border Patrol Interdiction Using Microsoft Excel, Adrian C. Patrascu

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop an electronic sensor placement model for border security. A model was developed using Microsoft Excel, with some add-on capabilities, to optimize the placement of electronic sensors on a border network given a pre-determined budgetary constraint. The model is capable of handling multiple sensor types, which are placed together as packages, and allows for daytime, nighttime, or 24 hour operation of each sensor type. Additionally, each sensor can be assigned a specific range and detection probability curve within the given range. The model is capable of optimizing either average coverage, or minimum coverage, …

Designing An Experimental Gaming Platform For Trading Grid Resources, Danny Oh, Shih-Fen Cheng, Dan Ma, Ravi Bapna

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper describes our current work in designing an experimental gaming platform for simulating the trading of grid resources. The open platform allows researchers in grid economics to experiment with different market structures and pricing models. We would be using a design science approach in the implementation. Key design considerations and an overview of the functional design of the platform are presented and discussed.

Engineering Management And Industrial Engineering: Similarities And Differences, Cassandra C. Elrod, Ashley Rasnic, William Daughton

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Engineering Management is a broad and diverse field of engineering, thereby making it difficult to define exactly what the degree encompasses. At the same time, the somewhat related degree of Industrial Engineering is better understood. Some universities offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Management with an emphasis in Industrial Engineering, while others offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering with an emphasis in Engineering Management. In today's world of competitive academia, many wonder if these degree fields are similar enough to be used interchangeably or if there is a distinct difference separating the two degrees, making …

Analysis Of Army Transformation And The Effects On Customer Ordering Behavior, Joseph M. Colacicco

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Army began a major force transformation in 2003, which required a significant shift in logistics support constructs. This thesis provides an in-process review of the effects of the current transformation efforts on supply effectiveness and attempts to determine factors that influence customer ordering behavior. Specifically, the thesis sought to answer three subproblems addressing the effect of transformation on supply effectiveness, the correlation of supply effectiveness metrics to customer ordering behavior, and other potential sources of variance in ordering behavior. The subproblems were answered through an examination of the supply document histories of two Brigades, one legacy Brigade …

Hyperspectral Imagery Target Detection Using Improved Anomaly Detection And Signature Matching Methods, Timothy E. Smetek

Theses and Dissertations

This research extends the field of hyperspectral target detection by developing autonomous anomaly detection and signature matching methodologies that reduce false alarms relative to existing benchmark detectors, and are practical for use in an operational environment. The proposed anomaly detection methodology adapts multivariate outlier detection algorithms for use with hyperspectral datasets containing tens of thousands of non-homogeneous, high-dimensional spectral signatures. In so doing, the limitations of existing, non-robust, anomaly detectors are identified, an autonomous clustering methodology is developed to divide an image into homogeneous background materials, and competing multivariate outlier detection methods are evaluated for their ability to uncover hyperspectral …