Impact of Biobased Surfactants on Hygrothermal Behaviour of Gypsum Foams

Reduce the impact of the building sector has become a key point of sustainable development. The production of lightweight materials for the building industry is therefore a must. To produce such materials, foaming is a process commonly used to trap air bubbles and achieve a range of low densities. A sufficient low thermal conductivity and an acceptable ability to regulate humidity variations in order to limit overall energy consumption are the sought properties. In this study, a direct foaming method is applied to formulate gypsum foams using a commercial Plaster and two biobased foaming agents based on proteins. An anionic surfactant (α-olefin sulphonate sodium salt) is used as a reference surfactant. Varying the mixing time, protein content and water content, gypsum foams were produced. The foam volume is measured continuously during the mixing step and the foam homogeneity is controlled. The densities of fresh foams and of the hardened foams are used to identify the links between formulation and foams properties. Gypsum foam specimens with different densities ranging from 300 to 750 kg/m3 are produced. The thermal conductivity and the Moisture Buffer Value measurements are performed. Such properties appear directly linked to the porosity and pore connection of the foams. The obtained results highlight the contribution of biobased surfactant to the performance of gypsum foams.

Full-scale Fire Suppression Tests to Analyze the Effectiveness of Existing Lithium-ion Battery Fire Response Procedures for Electric Vehicle Fires

The number of registered eco-friendly vehicles has exceeded a million, and their market share has expanded. In this study, the effectiveness of existing fire response procedures for lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in eco-friendly vehicles, was investigated by using water-based extinguishing agents, fire blankets, and flood barriers. Water, wetting agents, and foaming agents were sprayed on the underside of battery packs. A temperature decrease rate of ~0.08 ℃ was measured, and no significant difference was observed between the extinguishing agents. Continuous thermal runaway occurred when a fire blanket was applied, and the temperature inside the damaged battery pack rapidly decreased after water permeated its cracks. Quantitative analysis of fire suppression methods can provide information toward the development of practical fire incident response plans for electric vehicles.

The method for study of vertical gas-liquid flow with foaming agent

The issue of operation water-cut and "self-kills" wells is one of major aspects in gas production. One of the methods of solving this problem is the introduction of foaming agent into the well. The effectiveness of these technologies requires a theoretical and experimental study of gas-liquid flow with surfactants. We have analyzed existing works and have found out that experimental research in this area was carried out at atmospheric pressure. At the same time, the pressure in the well varies with the length of the wellbore and can affect the properties of foaming agent. The article presents a description of a facility for the study of gas-liquid flows with foaming agents at different pressure values. A method of conducting experiments on the facility, simulating a section of the production tubing of a vertical gas well, has been developed. The relations allowing calculating the volume contents of the phases in the gas-liquid flow with surfactants are proposed.

Very High Temperatures Steam Foam Additives

In heavy oil reservoirs operated by steam injection, foam has a double benefit. By improving the steam sweep efficiency within the reservoir, foam increases oil recovery while reducing the amount of injected steam. However, in the field, this technology is not always very effective due to the fact that it is difficult to find foaming agents that can withstand temperatures above 200°C. Moreover, the agents that form stable foams at such temperatures are often insoluble at ambient temperature, and therefore difficult to solubilize in the field. Thus, a compromise between good solubility in surface conditions and high temperature foaming performances in the reservoir has to be found. In this study, we show that it is possible to boost chemicals that form foam at very high temperature with an additive to greatly improve their solubility at ambient temperature while maintaining their high foaming performance at high temperature. Two foaming agents of increasing degree of hydrophobicity (H and HH) were initially selected for this study. The first one shows high foaming performances in porous media and in a high-pressure cell at temperatures comprised in between 150 and 220°C. The second one, more hydrophobic, is particularly performant at temperatures comprised in between 220°C and at least 280°C. Using a robotic platform, the temperature at which the foaming solution for agents H and HH needs to be heated to be solubilized, was evaluated with an accuracy of 5°C in four brines (varying salinity and hardness). We found that the temperature at which both agents become soluble is above 60°C, still too high for a field application. In the second part of the study, these hydrophobic molecules were coupled to a pre-selected additive. The resulting mixtures were again qualified in terms of solubility and foaming performances. We show that by coupling these hydrophobic agents with an additive, we are able to maintain their excellent foaming performances while decreasing their solubilisation temperature down to room temperature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that very high temperature foam stability assessment up to 280°C is combined to solubility measurements to design performant foaming solutions that will be easy to handle in the field for steam foam applications. Interestingly, we show that the hydrophobicity of agents that is required for high temperature foam generation can be balanced by a more hydrophilic agent without reducing their foaming performances.

A Fuzzy Method to Quantitatively Evaluate the Effect of Foam Deliquification in Gas Wells

Deliquification is the primary technique for stabilizing gas production and improving gas recovery in gas fields producing water, and foam deliquification is the key subject of research for the purpose of enhancing gas production and cutting down cost. However, there is no systematic method to evaluate and compare the effects of foam deliquification in gas wells in various conditions. Aiming at the above problem, a new fuzzy quantitative evaluation method for foam deliquification is proposed. The method focus on four indicators, namely, rate of change in daily gas production, rate of change in daily water production, rate of change in the difference between tubing and casing pressures, and rate of change in daily injection cost. The evaluation results are calculated by the linear analysis, hierarchy analysis and fuzzy relation synthesis operator. The method has been applied to 30 foam deliquification wells in Sulige gas field and Chongqing gas field, and the comprehensive index of foam deliquification effect is calculated. The advantage of this method is that the technical and economic factors affecting foam deliquifiction, the membership relationships of various indicators, as well as the weight coefficients of the indicators are integratedly considered. It can be used for comprehensive evaluation and quantitative comparison of foam deliquification effects in gas wells in various conditions, assisting in determining candidate wells for foam deliquification, and guiding the selection of foaming agents.

ON THE ISSUE OF DETERMINING THE QUALITY OF FOAMING AGENTS DURING THEIR STORAGE AT FACILITIES

В статье представлены результаты анализа экспертных заключений по отчетным материалам, выполненным испытательными пожарными лабораториями ФГБУ ФПС в 2021 году по контролю качества пенообразователей и смачивателей, хранящихся в пожарных частях, на объектах, а также в установках пожаротушения. There are presented the results of analysis of expert reports on the reporting materials carried out by fire testing laboratories of FGBU FPS in 2021 concerning quality control of foaming agents and wetting agents stored in fire departments, at facilities, as well as in fire extinguishing installations.

Community Training in Jatimas Semarang Through Ethnobotany-Based Conservation and Utilization of Lerak (Sapindus rarak DC.)

Lerak (Sapindus rarak DC) has many benefits, including washing soap, vegetable pesticides, foaming agents for toothpaste, essential ingredients for soap gels, and antibacterial agents. Along with the many uses, it must be balanced with conservation activities to maintain the sustainability of lerak resources. This study aims to determine the usefulness of lerak (Sapindus rarak DC) and generative conservation efforts of lerak in the Jatimas community, Mijen, Semarang. This community service-based research was conducted in January-February 2021 in Jatimas, Mijen, Semarang. The research method uses the ethnobotany approach, conservation, and literature study, which is equipped with interviews and direct observations. The results show that the community uses lerak as herbal soap, jewelry washing agent, and insecticide. Through this community service program, the community has carried out generative conservation of lerak through seeds.

Performance enhancements in select industrial applications using surfactants, surfactant additives, and thermostable enzymes

Household detergents have undergone many formulation updates to improve the cleaning power of surfactants and to adapt formulations to specific applications. This paper focuses on more recent developments in the use of surfactants for household as well as industrial use. Specific examples include the use of enzymes derived from moderately thermophilic bacteria as laundry detergent additives, the use of surfactants and surfactant additives in the manufacture of warm mix asphalt, and the use of foaming agents in chemical enhanced oil recovery.