What is a Beautiful Experiment?

This article starts an engagement on the aesthetics of experiments and offers an account for analysing how aesthetics features in the design, evaluation and reception of experiments. I identify two dimensions of aesthetic evaluation of experiments: design and significance. When it comes to design, a number of qualities, such as simplicity, economy and aptness, are analysed and illustrated with the famous Meselson-Stahl experiment. Beautiful experiments are also regarded to make significant discoveries, but I argue against a narrow construal of experimental aims. By drawing on the plurality of goals experimenters have and diversity of aesthetic responses, I argue that experiments are aesthetically appreciated both when they discover and when they produce disruptive results.

Moisture control design has to respond to all relevant hygrothermal loads

Moisture related damage is still a formidable cost factor in the building sector. Besides installation deficiencies, moisture control design failures are the most frequent reasons for moisture problems. Therefore, adequate moisture control analysis has become the key for sustainable buildings. However, by focusing on vapour diffusion only other important moisture loads such as driving rain, construction moisture or air infiltration are mostly neglected. Therefore, international moisture control standards often refer to simulation models for more realistic analysis, leaving many practitioners wondering how to handle these tools. To overcome this dilemma, the updated German moisture control standard has introduced a three-pathway approach for design evaluation: 1 st deemed to satisfy list, 2 nd restricted Glaser calculation and 3 rd fully fledged hygrothermal simulation. The third pathway includes the option to account for small leaks or imperfections in building envelope components. Guidelines in other countries are also embracing similar moisture control approaches which gives hope for more durable and sustainable building design. To reach this aim, moisture control should also become an integral part of the design process instead of a secondary chore.

Maximize Asset Utilization by Effectively Identifying and Removing Bottlenecks

ADNOC Gas Processing Ruwais NGL Fractionation plant receives and fractionates the NGL produced in upstream gas processing plants. After operation of newly designed upstream NGL plants, composition of NGL feedstock has become richer in Ethane and Propane. Consequently, nameplate capacity were reduced by~25%. In view of future increased NGL production, nameplate capacity of fractionation trains needs to be re-instated. Alternatively, a new fractionation train needs to be installed to accommodate additional NGL. To explore the opportunity for maximum utilization for existing trains, in line with the ADNOC strategy of enhancing profitability and asset utilization, a technical study was conducted to increase the processing capacity back to original nameplate capacity with lighter NGL composition. This was to identify the potential bottlenecks in the facility and suggest debottlenecking options with a reasonable investment. The Technical study covers the following activities: Simulation: Rigorous process simulation including the licensor units of DEO/Propane amine units Adequacy checks and identification of bottlenecks: Line sizing adequacy check and detailed hydraulic evaluation of the major piping Equipment adequacy check Relief & blowdown and flare system adequacy check Proprietary equipment/design evaluation of licensed units Adequacy check for In-line instruments like control valves, flow elements/transmitters, thermowells Rotating equipment adequacy checks performed with the concurrence from OEMs. Licensor Endorsement: Obtained the endorsement of AGRU licensor (Shell) for the increased flow rate with revised contaminant levels with recommendations of removing identified bottlenecks. Bottlenecks mitigation: Various options for bottleneck mitigation was studied and most optimum solution was selected to remove the identified bottleneck. The study has concluded that current capacity limitation was mainly due to bottlenecks in Ethane loop. Therefore, by mitigating the identified bottlenecks (i.e. replacing lines with bigger size, providing high performance trays, high performance internals, replacing few equipment's with new one etc.), the original nameplate capacity can be re-instated. The study concludes that increased NGL forecasted flow with lighter composition could be processed in existing Ruwais fractionation trains by doing minor modifications (as compared to new train). A capacity increase of ~25% was achieved with minimum investment and requirement of new fractionation train could avoided. If extensive adequacy studies are carried out to identify the bottlenecks, the capacity enhancement in existing facilities can be achieved with minimum investment and major cost for new plants/trains can be avoided.

Midblock: Reimagining the role of the underutilized suburban midblock section

<p>Our society’s inclination towards larger homes upon individually owned land titles has produced vast suburban sprawl, attributing a great deal of societal division and infrastructural strain. A feature exacerbating the situation in Papamoa’s suburban development is the inadvertent creation of midblock sections, primarily due to a lack of development foresight. Due to the rapid conversion of certain rural plots’ land-use from orchards to residential development and the stagnation of others, a mismatch of land sizes, shapes and orientations were left to be developed upon. These underutilised spaces often remain as untenanted interstitial spaces despite a dramatic regional population growth, a record low national home ownership and growing demand for housing from the Auckland market. This thesis examines the complexities of the midblock and the difficult New Zealand social and historical contexts that disrupt their development. It investigates how architects can use these conditions, as well as the spatial contexts of their locale, to inform design principles that can be used to integrate midblock designs into the suburban grain. Design within this research, thus, seeks to test these strategies as well as the development potential of these sites through investigating the efficacy of various alternative programmes. Furthermore, this research explores the potential of small scale public participatory consultation with local residents as a catalyst for architectural processes and design evaluation in analysing the appropriateness of midblock development strategies. It argues that participatory design consultation is a substantial tool for architects in both aligning development with local communities and critically analysing the effectiveness of design within the context of the midblock.</p>