Modular Construction with Geosynthetics in Petroleum Industry

This paper focuses on the use of modular construction techniques for installing geosynthetics in petroleum related applications. The petroleum industry uses geosynthetics for drill pad liners, above-ground and in-ground containment ponds, storage tanks, various impoundments including tailings storage, floating covers, road creation and/or support to remote sites, filtration, lining freshwater storage areas, dewatering, and stormwater management. Accelerating the construction of these facilities and the quality, i.e., no leaks, of the installation will have a positive impact on the financial and environmental aspects of the petroleum industry. Modular construction is a process in which a petroleum containment system is constructed primarily off-site, under controlled factory conditions, using the same design, materials, equipment, testing, and construction quality assurance and control (CQA/CQC) techniques as a field constructed facility – but usually in about one-half the time, for significantly less cost, and with few, if any, defects. This is due to the clean and constant conditions present in a factory setting. For example, installation of a factory-fabricated geomembrane can occur simultaneously while site work is being conducted. With factory fabrication, no destructive sampling and testing of the field welds that join rolls of the geomembrane are needed. As a result, a factory fabricated geomembrane can be installed in at least one-half of the time required for traditional field fabrication and with higher quality. This results in the containment system being utilized sooner, being more protective, and creating a faster return on investment.

New Laboratory and Pilot Techniques Applied at Mintek in Aid of Furnace Containment System Designs

The Pyrometallurgy Division at Mintek is known internationally for the development of applications of direct current (DC) arc furnace technology in smelting applications, more specifically in the smelting of primary resources, i.e., chromite, ilmenite, titanomagnetite, nickel laterite and ores containing precious group metals, and secondary resources, i.e., furnace slag or dust. From a furnace containment perspective, either an insulating or a conductive design philosophy can be applied, irrespective of the raw material being processed. In the initial stages of a project, desktop studies are typically conducted which include the selection of a furnace containment design philosophy, specific to the application. To lower the risk associated with incorrect selection of a design philosophy and/or furnace containment system components, it is prudent to conduct tests on laboratory and pilot scale and to transfer the knowledge gained to industrial applications. The paper presents examples of the laboratory and pilot techniques utilized.

Risk of leakage with a new tissue containment system for power morcellation during gynecologic laparoscopy: An in vitro study

Purpose To evaluate leakage and tissue dissemination associated with a new tissue containment system for tissue removal during laparoscopic myomectomy morcellation using rigid pipes that can be seamlessly connected to detachable trocars. Methods Pork specimens were stained with indigo carmine dye and morcellated under laparoscopic guidance in a plastic trainer box. Morcellation was performed using two different containment systems. First, a polyurethane bag, 12 mm sheath for introduction into the peritoneal cavity, and 11 mm optic sleeve (control group). Second, a new tissue containment system using rigid pipes and detachable trocars (experimental group). All bags were inflated to 14–20 mmHg pressure using a standard CO2 insufflator. Visual evidence of spilled tissue or dye and procedure times were recorded. Results Thirty trials were performed using a multi-port approach and the two tissue containment systems. The leakage rate was 0.03% for the experimental group and 26.6% for the control group (p < 0.005). Morcellation time was significantly shorter in the experimental group compared to that in the control group (p < 0.05). Mean bag introduction and removal times of the experimental group were shorter than those of the control group; however, the removal time differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion The current study quantified leakage during morcellation and the convenience provided by a new tissue containment system. Further studies and clinical trials are needed to corroborate the findings and to evaluate the use of the new tissue containment system for minimally invasive surgical treatment of tumors.

LOCA analysis of BWR-4/Mark-I nuclear power plant with TRACE

This study established an RCS-Containment coupled model that integrates the reactor coolant system (RCS) and the containment system by using the TRACE code. The coupled model was used in both short-term and long-term loss of coolant accident (LOCA) analyses. Besides, the RELAP5/CONTAN model that only contains the containment system was also developed for comparison. For short-term analysis, three kinds of LOCA scenarios were investigated: the recirculation line break (RCLB), the main steam line break (MSLB), and the feedwater line break (FWLB). For long-term analysis, the dry-well and suppression pool temperature responses of the RCLB were studied. The analysis results of RELAP5/CONTAN and TRACE models are benchmarked with those of FSAR and RELAP5/GOTHIC models, and it appears that the results of the above four models are consistent in general trends.