Análise tribológica de um sistema de acionamento alternativo de pigs para a indústria do petróleo

It is analyzed through the concepts of tribology and mechanical contact and damage the suggestion of implementing a backup system for traction and passage of Pipeline Inspection Gauge (Pig) from the inside of pipelines. In order to verify the integrity of the pipelines, it is suggested the possibility of displacement of such equipment by pulling wires with steel wires. The physical and mechanical characteristics of this method were verified by accelerated tests in the laboratory in a tribological pair, wire versus a curve 90. It also considered the main mechanisms of wear of a sliding system with and without lubricant, in the absence and presence of contaminants. To try this, It was constructed a test bench able to reproduce a slip system, work on mode back-and-forth ("reciprocation"). It was used two kinds of wires, a galvanized steel and other stainless steel and the results achieved using the two kinds of steel cables were compared. For result comparative means, it was used steel cables with and without coating of Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC). The wires and the curves of the products were characterized using metallographic analysis, microhardness Vickers tests, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Refraction (XRF) and tensile tests. After the experiments were analyzed some parameters that have been measurable, it demonstrates to the impracticality of this proposed method, since the friction force and the concept of alternating request at the contact between the strands of wire and the inner curves that are part ducts caused severe wear. These types of wear are likely to cause possible failures in future products and cause fluid leaks

Desenvolvimento e teste de um protótipo de reator de plasma com gaiola catódica rotatória para nitretação em lote de pequenas peças

The technique of ion nitriding, despite being fully consolidated in the industry, has great limitations when applied to the treatment of small parts. This is because effects that occur due to non-uniformity of the electric field, generate localized heating in parts, damaging the uniformity of nitrided layer. In addition, because the samples are treated static parts thereof are untreated. To expand the use of plasma nitriding, this work presents the development, assembly and testing of a prototype plasma reactor with rotatory cathodic cage [patent pending], able to meet these needs, giving the material a uniform treatment and opening doors to industrial scale production. The samples tested with hexagonal nuts are 6.0 mm in diameter, made of stainless steel AISI 304 nitrided at a pressure of 1 mbar in an atmosphere of 20% H2 + 80% N2 for 1 h. After treatment, testing visual inspection, optical microscopy and microhardness were carried out to check the effectiveness of the process for uniformity and hardness of the parts. All samples exhibited uniform color, and matte brownish, unlike the untreated samples, silver color and gloss. The hardness of the surface (top and sides) was 65% and even higher than the original hardness. The nitrided layer showed great uniformity in microstructure and thickness. It is concluded, therefore, that the unit was effective constructed for the purposes for which it was designed

Avaliação da molhabilidade de soluções de tensoativos em aço inoxidável

With the increasing industrialization of the planet caused by globalization, it has become increasingly common to search for highly resistant and durable materials for many diverse branches of activities. Thus, production and demand for materials that meet these requirements have constantly increased with time. In view of this, stainless steel is presented as one of the materials which are suitable applications, due to many features that are interesting for several segments of the industry. Concerns of oil companies over heavy oil reservoirs have grown steadily for the last decades. Rheological properties of these oils impair their transport in conventional flow systems. This problem has created the need to develop technologies to improve flow and transport, reducing operation costs so as to enable oil production in the reservoir. Therefore, surfactant-based chemical systems are proposed to optimize transport conditions, effected by reduction of interfacial tensions, thereby enhancing the flow of oil in ducts and reducing load losses by friction. In order to examine such interactions, a study on the wettability of metallic surfaces has been undertaken, represented by measuring of contact angle of surfactant solutions onto flat plates of 304 stainless steel. Aqueous solutions of KCl, surfactants and mixtures of surfactants, with linear and aromatic hydrocarbon chain and ethoxylation degrees ranging between 20 to 100, have been tested. The wettability was assessed by means of a DSA 100 krüss goniometer. The influence of roughness on the wettability was also investigated by machining and polished the stainless steel plates with sandpapers of references ranging between 100 of 1200. The results showed that sanding and polishing plates result in decrease of wettability. As for the solutions, they have provided better wettability of the stainless steel than the KCl solutions tested. It was also been concluded that surfactant mixtures is an option to be considered, since they promote interactions that generate satisfactory contact angles for a good wettability on the stainless steel plate. Another conclusion refers to the influence of the ethoxylation degree of the nonionic surfactant molecules on wettability. It has been observed that contact angles decrease with decreasing ethoxylation degrees. This leads us to conclude that molecules with higher ethoxylation degree, being more hydrophobic, decrease the interaction of water with the ducts, thereby reducing friction and improving the flow

Desenvolvimento de um secador spray para obtenção de pós finos de precursores de nióbio

This work presents a spray-dryer designed to oxalate-niobate precursors and suitable for the production of Niobium Carbide. The dryer was intended to produce powders of controlled particle size. First, the precursor is dissolved in water to produce a solution of known concentration and then it is atomized on the spray-dryer to produce the powder. This equipment consists of a 304 stainless steel chamber, 0.48 m x 1.9 m (diameter x length), with a conical shape at the lower portion, which is assembled on a vertical platform. The chamber is heated by three 4 kW electrical resistances. In this process, drying air is heated as it flows inside a serpentine surrounding the chamber, in contrary to more traditional processes in which the hot drying air is used to heat the component. The air enters the chamber at the same temperature of the chamber, thus avoiding adherence of particles on the internal surface. The low speed flow is concurrent, directed from the top to the bottom portion of the chamber. Powders are deposited on a 0.4 m diameter tray, which separates the cylindrical portion from the conical portion of the chamber. The humid air is discharged though a plug placed underneath the collecting tray. A factorial experimental planning was prepared to study the influence of five parameters (concentration, input flow, operation temperature, drying air flow and spray air flow) on the characteristics of the powders produced. Particle size distribution and shape were measured by laser granulometry and scanning electronic microscopy. Then, the powders are submitted to reaction in a CH4 / H2 atmosphere to compare the characteristics of spray-dried powders with powders synthetizided by conventional methods

Estudo da remoção de Ba2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Cu3+, Cr3+, Sr2+, Zn2+ por eletrocoagulação em água associada à produção de petróleo

Among the waste generated in the petrochemical industry water associated with oil production is the most important. It is considered one of the great challenges due to the presence of considered toxic chemicals present in this composition. The presence of these substances difficult to reuse the water associated with the enhanced recovery processes, so that prior to their reuse or disposal, treatment is necessary. This paper aimed to study the removal efficiency of chemical species: Ba2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Cr3+, Sr2+ and Zn2+, present in the composition of the water associated with oil production by electrocoagulation. The evaluation of removal of these chemical species was performed by laboratory tests using electrochemical batch reactors and continuous flow. Initial tests were performed with electrocoagulation of synthetic wastewater in batch reactor using iron electrode. Results of removal of Zn2+ and Ni2+ were 78 % and 59 % respectively. While the percentage of removed Ba2+ was 19 % by 30 minutes of treatment and by applying current of 1.10 A. The tests were performed on effluent batch reactor applying the electrochemical technique with stainless steel electrodes 304, the objective was to remove part of the dispersed oil and also of organic compounds in the effluent. Under the experimental conditions used, the maximum result was obtained TOG was 60 % and TOC was approximately 50 % compared to the initial concentration. In the experiments carried out in continuous reactor, with effluent semisynthetic, have been used electrodes of iron and aluminum and the results were 100 % removal of Cd2+, Cu2+, Cr3+ and Zn2+ and 77 % of Sr2+. These percentages were only attainable through the use of the iron electrode. However, when the electrode was replaced by aluminum, there was a reduction in the percentage of removal to 65 %, using the same flow rate and current. Therefore according to the results obtained using the iron electrode was more effective in removing these metals and the conditions of lower current and lower flow rate was satisfactory, as observed in the experimental design adopted

TEORES DE ENXOFRE E ACEITABILIDADE DE AGUARDENTES DE CANA BRASILEIRAS

Considerando-se as indesejáveis características sensoriais dos compostos sulfurados e o papel negativo que podem representar na qualidade sensorial das aguardentes, foi realizado um estudo para verificar uma possível correlação entre os teores de enxofre presentes em amostras de aguardentes de cana e sua qualidade sensorial. Nesse sentido foram determinados os teores de enxofre de sete amostras de aguardentes de cana, sendo quatro adquiridas no comércio local, e três obtidas em laboratório, utilizando-se alambiques de cobre, de aço inoxidável e de alumínio. As amostras foram então submetidas a testes de aceitabilidade quanto ao aroma, sabor e impressão global, realizados por uma equipe de 30 provadores, em cabines individuais, utilizando-se escala hedônica de nove centímetros. Os resultados assim obtidos após serem submetidos à análise de variância, ao teste de médias de Tukey e à análise de regressão, revelaram haver correlação negativa significativa (p£ 0,05) entre os teores de enxofre e a aceitabilidade das amostras de aguardentes, em relação a todas as características avaliadas, ressaltando o papel negativo representado pelos compostos sulfurados presentes nas aguardentes de cana e indicando ser o método de Ni Raney uma possível opção a ser adotada no controle de qualidade das aguardentes de cana.

Determination of oxamniquine in capsules by HPLC

A sensitive, accurate, reliable and easy method was developed for the quantification of oxamniquine in capsules using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. This technique provided conditions for the separation of the active ingredient from the dosage form by extraction in methanol. Isocratic reversed phase chromatography was performed using methanol, water, and triethanolamine (60:40:0.099, v/v/w) (System C) or methanol, acetonitrile, water and formic acid (40:30:30:0.083, v/v/w) (System D) as mobile phase, a stainless steel column (125 x 4 mm i.d., 5 mum) filled with LiChrospher 100 RP-18 (Merck), column temperature of 28 +/- 2 degreesC and detection at 260 nm. The calibration curves were linear over a wide concentration range (1.0-20.0 mug ml(-1) of oxamniquine) to the Systems C and D with good correlation factor (0.9990 and 0.9982, respectively). The average content obtained were 100.1 +/- 1.5% (System C) and 102.4 +/- 0.8% (System D). The presence of lactose, starch, magnesium stearate and sodium laurylsulphate did not interfere in the results of the analysis. The above findings showed the proposed method to be both simple and added advantage of allowing for fast analysis. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Investigation on Surface Finishing of Components Ground with Lapping Kinematics: Lapgrinding Process

Over the last three decades, researchers have responded to the demands of industry to manufacture mechanical components with geometrical tolerance, dimensional tolerance, and surface finishing in nanometer levels. The new lapgrinding process developed in Brazil utilizes lapping kinematics and a flat grinding wheel dressed with a single-point diamond dresser in agreement with overlap factor (U(d)) theory. In the present work, the influences of different U(d) values on dressing (U(d) = 1, 3 e 5) and grain size of the grinding wheel made of silicon carbide (SiC = 800, 600 e 300 mesh) are analyzed on surface finishing of stainless steel AISI 420 flat workpieces submitted to the lapgrinding process. The best results, obtained after 10 minutes of machining, were: average surface roughness (Ra) 1.92 nm; 1.19 mu m flatness deviation of 25.4 mm diameter workpieces and mirrored surface finishing. Given the surface quality achieved, the lapgrinding process can be included among the ultra-precision finishing processes and, depending on the application, the steps of lapping followed by polishing can be replaced by the proposed abrasive process.

Fault Current Limiter Using YBCO Coated Conductor-The Limiting Factor and Its Recovery Time

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Test of a Modular Fault Current Limiter for 220 V Line Using YBCO Coated Conductor Tapes With Shunt Protection

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Evaluation of the kinetics of xylose formation from dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis of forest residues of Eucalyptus grandis

Dilute acid hydrolysis studies were performed on forest residues of Eucalyptus grandis, in a cylindrical reactor of stainless steel. The kinetics of this hydrolysis reaction was investigated employing 0.65% sulfuric acid, a residue/acid solution ratio of 1/9 (w/w), temperatures of 130, 140, 150, and 160 degrees C, and reaction times in the range 20-100 min. The results showed that, under the optimized conditions of acid hydrolysis employed in this study, the variables temperature and reaction time had a strong influence on hemicellulose removal and a small influence on the degree of lignin and cellulose removal. The highest xylose extraction yield was 87.6% attained at 160 degrees C, after 70 min reaction time, simultaneously with the formation of decomposition products, namely 2.8% acetic acid, 0.6% furfural, and 0.06% 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. A similar xylose extraction yield (82.8%) was observed at 150 degrees C after 100 min, with the formation of 3.2% acetic acid, 1.0% furfural, and 0.07% 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. The kinetic parameters determined at 130, 140, 150, and 160 degrees C for degradation of xylan present in the hemicellulose of the eucalyptus forest residue during the formation of xylose were the first-order reaction rate constants (k) for each temperature, 1.22 x 10(-4), 2.12 x 10(-4), 5.43 x 10(-4), and 9.05 x 10(-4) s(-1), respectively, and an activation energy (E-a) of 101.3 kJ mol(-1).

Nanohardness of a Ti thin film and its interface deposited by an electron beam on a 304 SS substrate

The results of nanohardness measurements at a film surface and film-substrate interface are presented and discussed. An electron beam device was used to deposit a Ti film on a 304 stainless steel (304 SS) substrate. The diluted interface was obtained by thermal activated atomic diffusion. The. Ti film and Ti film-304 SS interface were analyzed by energy dispersive spectrometry and were observed using atomic force microscopy. The nanohardness of the Ti film-304 SS system was measured by a nanoindentation technique. The results showed the Ti film-304 SS interface had a higher hardness value than the Ti film and 304 SS substrate. The Ti film surface had a lower hardness due to the presence of a TiO2 thin layer.

Wettability, optical properties and molecular structure of plasma polymerized diethylene glycol dimethyl ether

Modern industry has frequently employed ethylene glycol ethers as monomers in plasma polymerization process to produce different types of coatings. In this work we used a stainless steel plasma reactor to grow thin polymeric films from low pressure RF excited plasma of diethylene glycol dimethyl ether. Plasmas were generated at 5W RF power in the range of 16 Pa to 60 Pa. The molecular structure of plasma polymerized films and their optical properties were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and UltravioletVisible Spectroscopy, respectively. The IR spectra show C-H stretching at 3000-2900 cm(-1), C=O stretching at 1730-1650 cm(-1), C-H bending at 1440-1380 cm(-1), C-O and C-O-C stretching at 1200-1000 cm(-1). The refraction index was around 1.5 and the optical gap calculated from absorption coefficient presented value near 3.8 eV. Water contact angle of the films ranged from 40 degrees to 35 degrees with corresponding surface energy from 66 to 73x10(-7) J. Because of its favorable optical and hydrophilic characteristics these films can be used in ophthalmic industries as glass lenses coatings.

Comportamento plástico do aço inoxidável austenítico em baixa temperatura

Ensaios de tração uniaxiais foram empregados para deformar aços inoxidáveis austeníticos do tipo 304, em diferentes temperaturas abaixo da ambiente (de 77 K a 300 K). A relação entre a estabilidade da austenita e o encruamento, em função da temperatura de teste, é discutida quanto à transformação martensítica induzida por deformação e ao deslizamento de discordâncias na austenita. em curvas tensão-deformação que assumem a equação de Ludwik sigma = sigmao + képsilonn, na qual sigma é a tensão verdadeira e e a elongação plástica verdadeira, um modo conveniente para analisar o encruamento é por meio do diagrama log dsigma / dépsilon versus log épsilon. O aspecto significativo é a variação da taxa de encruamento dsigma / dépsilon com a elongação plástica verdadeira nas diferentes temperaturas. As mudanças no comportamento do encruamento motivando até três estágios de deformação são associadas a diferentes processos microestruturais. A transformação martensítica pode ser considerada como um processo de deformação que compete com o processo usual de deslizamento. A investigação desses estágios, na região plástica, produz uma referência qualitativa de como diferentes fatores, tais como o grau de deformação, temperatura e composição química da austenita, afetam a transformação austenita-martensita.

Wear resistance of nickel-titanium endodontic files after surface treatment

Objectives The purpose of this work was to submit the Nitinol files to plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) and evaluate the effects of the surface treatment. Materials and Methods Wear resistance was determined in vitro by using an equipment for the application of horizontal movements on previously prepared notched plates made of resin. Vickers microhardness was measured in plates and files, before and after surface treatment and the surface chemical composition of the instruments was determined by X-rays photoelectron spectroscopy. Results The hardness values found for the treated Nitinol files were significantly lower than the hardness values measured before the implantation process. The comparison of commercially available instruments shows that the wear resistance of the stainless steel file is higher than the resistance of the Nitinol. Conclusions The results found led to the conclusion that the surface treatment significantly increased the Nitinol files wear resistance.