This study was conducted to investigate the ability of various methods of monitoring membrane integrity to respond to changes in actual membrane integrity imposed by the compromised fibers within the microfiltration unit. In addition, the pilot-scale MF unit was challenged with high concentrations of coliform, Cryptosporidium, and spore, in order to assess the pathogen removal capability of microfiltration. A correlation between the integrity tests and microbial challenge data was also made. The integrity tests investigated in this study were pressure decay and diffusive air flow tests (direct integrity tests), and turbidity and particle counting (indirect integrity tests). Both pressure decay (PDT) and diffusive air flow (DAF) tests were sensitive enough to detect one damaged fiber out of 66,000. The extent of fouling did not affect the sensitivity of the PDT and DAF, showing that PDT and DAF tests are a simple, reliable means to monitor membrane integrity under field conditions. Indirect integrity monitoring using turbidity and particle counting, however, responded poorly to changes in membrane integrity. Microbial challenge study demonstrated that microfiltration was capable of removing various pathogens including Cryptosporidium, at the level required by drinking water regulations, under even adverse operating conditions. Finally, PDT and DAF tests showed a better correlation with actual microbial removal efficiency of microfiltration than turbidity and particle counting. The turbidity and particle counting grossly underestimated the removal of pathogen larger than MF membrane pore size due to poor sensitivity.
Since 1977, the Pacific Northwest Laboratory has tested a large-scale spray calciner for the solidification of simulated high-level neutralized and acid radioactive wastes. This is a report of valuable operating experience gained during 1830 h of processing time in which ~390,000 L of simulated wastes were solidified.Experience from spray calciner operations has demonstrated that atomizing-nozzle flow conditions that produce 100-~ median-volume-diameter or smaller droplets are required for large-scale spray calciners. Both internal-and external-mix nozzles have been tested. Due to its lower airflow requirements and the fewer large droplets produced, the internal-mix nozzle has been chosen for primary development in the spray calciner program at PNL. Atomizing nozzle air caps made of reaction-bonded or hot-pressed silicon nitride should provide satisfactory wear resistance and thermal shock resistance for long-term spray calciner operation.While several alternative feed system components exist, spray calciner feed system experience at PNL has been primarily with a centrifugal pump, control valve, and magnetic flowmeter. This system has performed satisfactorily, and problems have been limited to the following:• occasional plugging in the magnetic flowmeter by large foreign particles. (This problem was solved by reducing the size of the strainer-screen mesh to remove particles larger than the flowmeter orifice and by installing a larger flowmeter that had a 0.64-cm orifice instead of a 0.40-cm opening.)• erosion of the pump impeller housing, pipe elbows and ball valve in the feed tank's 304L stainless steel recirculation line resulting from feeds containing a high percentage of solids. (Solutions to this problem include use of a more erosion-resistant piping material, long-radius elbows or piping bends, ball valves with port diameters at least as large as the pipe's inside diameter, and lower fluid velocities.)• minor settling of solids around the outside edges on the bottom of the flat-bottomed tank. (Use of tank with a conical or dished bottom would be a solution to this problem.)The spray calciner has been operated at chamber wall temperatures from 400° to 900°C, depending on the type of waste feed and the feedrate. Calcine sintering, corrosion, and thermal stresses limit the maximum temperature. Rates up to 400 L/h have been demonstrated.Total furnace power requirements (not including heat losses) can be predicted by assuming that the waste feed is water and calculating the sensible and latent heat required to raise the inlet feed and atomizing air to the desired offgas outlet temperature. Furnace power consumption is not axially uniform. Data from actual calciner operation indicate that 60% of the power input is supplied by the lower half of the furnace. This is likely due to convective flow patterns inside the spray chamber.
A large number of cigarette additives was tested for the effect on the combustion temperature, including free radical initiators and inhibitors, salts of organic acids, inorganic salts and other inorganic compounds, lead-borate glasses, oxidizing agents, petroleum refining and oxidative catalysts, flame retardants, fire-proofing salts and other compounds and mixtures. Most of the additives showed no dramatic increase or decrease of temperature even at high concentrations but some indications of small alterations were obtained in a few cases.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.