JTC Corporation

An integrated plant comprising a VOYGR TM plant and a solid oxide electrolysis cell facility was modeled using process simulation to determine the advantages and disadvantages of such an integrated plant.Three different process configurations for supplying heat to the solid oxide electrolysis cell facility from various sources in the VOYGR TM plant, that is, extraction steam from the steam turbine, main steam from the steam generator, and electric power from the generator, were studied and compared.The results indicated that the two steam supply cases had higher total system efficiencies than the all-electric case had.After comparing not only the total system efficiencies but also the plant engineering and operability of the two steam cases and identifying their relative advantages and disadvantages, this study concluded that the most preferrable configuration could not be determined intrinsically since it depended on the particular requirements of the project being considered.Furthermore, the study found that if the total system efficiency of the solid oxide electrolysis cell exceeded some threshold value, then the hydrogen production efficiency of an integrated plant could significantly exceed that of a VOYGR TM plant operating alone and the carbon-free hydrogen production of such an integrated plant could surpass the system efficiency of a conventional nuclear power plant.

Abstract Where sizes of run pipe and branch are largely different, branch outlet fittings set on run pipes are usually selected to compose branch joints. CRA (corrosion resistant alloy) solid piping materials are often selected when process fluids are corrosive, e.g., produced water of oil and gas crude. To optimize cost of process plant construction, CRA clad or weld overlay on CS (carbon steel) / low alloy steel parent metal (hereafter CRA clad material) may be applied to process piping. However, manufacturing process of piping materials constrains the minimum diameter of CRA clad piping materials such as NPS 6 (DN 150), therefore, CRA solid materials are used to lesser diameters than the minimum. CRA clad materials also constrain the minimum size of fabricated branch design because branch holes on CRA clad piping material must also be protected by CRA weld overlay. And accessibility of welding torch/arc and visibility of molten pool during weld overlay work on small bore holes must be considered in terms of weldability and weld overlay quality. To make up for these shortcomings, other production method for holes on CRA clad run piping materials, such as insert sleeve made of CRA materials welded with groove joint on the holes, were introduced. Mockup coupons of the sleeve design branch and conventional CRA weld overlay design were prepared with branch outlet fitting, and weldability and corrosion resistance were studied by the comparison using both mockup coupons. This paper discusses and evaluates the weldability, corrosion resistance and materials selection of both branch designs and potentials that can eliminate the piping design constraints with their comparison.

Current measures to prevent viral infections use disinfectants that are highly irritating to the skin and cause health problems such as alcohol-induced hypersensitivity. Therefore, a demand for safer disinfectants exists. ε-Poly-L-lysine (polylysine, EPL) has been used as a food preservative for many years because of its safety and antibacterial properties. In recent years, we developed an antiviral agent consisting only of food additives containing EPL. Studies on feline calicivirus, a norovirus substitute, have shown that serine proteases decompose the protein structure of the outer shell of this virus. The combination of serine proteases and EPL further enhanced the virucidal effects of serine proteases like subtilisin. Investigations of the antiviral effects of this combination revealed its inhibitory effects on enveloped viruses, such as the influenza A virus, but not on non-enveloped viruses. To confirm the damage to viruses, whose infectivity was inhibited by the combined treatment with serine proteases and EPL, morphological changes in virus particles after treatment were observed using transmission electron microscopy. Following the treatment with serine proteases or EPL, the outer shells of the examined viruses were damaged. As the outer shell contributes to the infection of host cells, this morphological alteration might be responsible for the reduced infectivity of these viruses after the combination treatment with serine proteases and EPL.

This research proposes nomadic dwellings as a contemporary solution that is cost-effective, self-assembled, and customizable for various lifestyles. We developed an algorithmic tool to control the form and construction system, leading to a new frame system and prototype construction. This study highlights the development of original hinge joints that can control component attachment angles, a previously under-explored area. Additionally, the system provides a planar expansion method for space frames and verifies their constructability. The findings demonstrate that the form can adapt to different sites and use requirements, while materials and construction methods are standardized.

ABSTRACT In the use of coal fly ash (FA) mixed cement, the assessment of the leachabilities of toxic elements in FA is crucial. This study evaluated the leaching behavior of arsenic and selenium in 40 types of raw FA (R-FA), aging-treated FA (A-FA), and cement-mixed FA (C-FA). The mean leaching concentrations from R-FAs were 0.03 mg/L for arsenic and 0.09 mg/L for selenium. The leaching of arsenic and selenium was suppressed by the aging treatment, and more significantly suppressed by the cement mixing under 0.01 mg/L for both arsenic and selenium. The pH for R-FAs ranged from 7.6 to 12.9, and that for C-FAs ranged from 11.1 to 12.3 with a smaller pH range due to cement mixing. Furthermore, the results of the leaching experiment with time for R-FAs and C-FAs indicated that the leaching of arsenic and selenium was suppressed by the formation of secondary compounds with calcium due to the supply of calcium from the cement. These results indicate that the common FA cement and low alkaline cement used in the actual site can sufficiently suppress the leaching of arsenic and selenium because the ratio of cement amount to FA is higher than that examined in this study.

This research proposes a simulation-based assessment of outdoor thermal and acoustic comfort for a planned business urban district in Singapore for retail planning using a customized OpenFOAM-centric multi-physics environmental simulation platform called the Integrated Environmental Modeller (IEM). IEM was employed to simulate the coupled impacts of solar radiation on wind and air temperature and wind and air temperature effects on traffic noise propagation in the district on the equinox and solstice day of the hottest period. Using IEM simulation results, we computed the thermal and acoustic comfort acceptability indicators derived from local field studies’ results. The spatial distribution of environmental comfort acceptability indicators in the worst-case scenario can be used to distinguish the zones exposed to thermal or noise influence. The noise-affected zones are near the main roads and overlap a part of the thermal-affected area. The thermal-affected area is almost everywhere in the studied sites in the worst-case scenario. Having outdoor retail spaces with both poor thermal and acoustic comfort is not recommended if the thermal and acoustic comfort cannot be improved simultaneously. For the high-level retail planning, a simplified parametric analysis considering solar irradiance blockage and wind speed enhancements, is provided. Considering the worst-case scenario, ≥50% thermal acceptability can be achieved by blocking 54%-68% solar irradiance among the pedestrian thoroughfares and the retail spaces. Coupled together, blocking the solar irradiance and enhancing the wind speed can further improve thermal comfort locally. These results can guide the retail mix (e.g., al fresco restaurants, pop-up kiosks etc.) near high footfall areas and provide reference for future plans combining landscape and infrastructure, (e.g., trees with shelter walkaways, green walls with outdoor ventilation fans etc.) taking into account the environmental acceptability of people working in or visiting the tropical urban district.

Waste brine from current desalination facilities around the world could remove and stabilize ~231 Mt-CO2/y of at concentrations from atmospheric to 100% carbon dioxide while also generating significant revenues through the simultaneous production of water and several industrially important chemicals. To achieve CO2 removal, Mg-chloride hexahydrate must first be separated and purified from waste brine. When heated above 350 °C, Mg-chloride hexahydrate thermally decomposes, yielding MgO. The generated MgO is then used to directly capture and stabilize CO2 as Mg-carbonate. Previously the production of >94% purity Mg-chloride hexahydrate using a method that relies on internal circulation of hydrochloric acid was demonstrated. However, this method incurs a large energy penalty due to the internal regeneration of super-azeotropic HCl gas. Herein, two alternative processes to generate high purity Mg-chloride hexahydrate are evaluated in terms of Mg-chloride hexahydrate purity and energy consumption: the ‘co-saturation method’, and the ‘molten salt method’. Both alternative methods generate higher purity Mg-chloride hexahydrate at milder operating conditions than the HCl-based method. Moreover, the alternative methods can operate at substantially lower energy consumption than the HCl-based method due to the reduction or full elimination of the internally re-circulating stream.

Summary A three-dimensional ambient noise tomography was applied to bedrock depth mapping at northern Singapore Island. Measurements were carried out over a survey footprint of approximately 700 x 400 m. Eighty cableless (nodal) seismograph units with vertical component 2 Hz geophones were deployed with a receiver spacing of 7 m. Total number of receiver locations are 3474. The GPS clock permits units to be synchronized over any distance without cables. Seismic ambient noise was recorded using a receiver spacing small enough to avoid spatial aliasing. A common midpoint spatial autocorrelation (CMP-SPAC) method was used to process ambient noise and 3D S-wave velocity (Vs) model to a depth of 60 m was obtained. We compared the resultant Vs model with 38 boring logs and summarized a relationship between Vs and depth at the top of the bedrock (GII). The Vs at the top of the bedrock linearly increased with depth and we defined the Vs of the bedrock as a function of depth. A depth to the bedrock ranges between 10 m and 60 m. The resultant Vs model and extracted bedrock depth is consistent with borehole logs. This paper summarizes, the site of investigation, data acquisition, processing and investigation results.

This article presents a pottery-making training system with a focus on teaching fundamental knowledge and practical techniques in a virtual-reality environment. Gesture analysis makes it possible to correct the learners actions via visual feedback. Our results demonstrate the efficacy in assisting beginners with learning the gestures used in pottery-making.

This study is to illustrate thought on regionality from the point of view of space composition in design theories on Public Hall by contemporary Japanese architects, Through the investigation of their published articles after the Second World War. Public Hall is important to local communities as "open regionalism facilities". After the Great East Japan Earthquake, The designers of public architecture need to think for the local community. Recently, Public architecture was developed every major application (Building types). So, The thinking about the relationship between architecture and regions is the most important for the contemporary Japanese architects. Therefore, this report were described about the thinking of relationship between architecture and regions on design theories on Public Hall. Further after this paper, the some design theories of several building types (Public Museum, Public Theater, Public Hall, Public Library, etc.) are going to be compared. Firstly, the contents each design theory on Public Hall were analyzed, and several descriptions of “The subject” were extracted (Fig. 1). Next, the meaning of these comments was analyzed by applying the method created by Jiro Kawakita. Then, there were drawn a relationship diagram and 5 groups of meaning were found (Fig. 2). Next, those meanings were divided into two different groups (Fig. 2) ; “Phenomenon value” and “Physical value”. Then, the change of that relationship in terms of time was analyzed (Table 1). Secondly, the contents each design theory were analyzed again, and several descriptions of “The Realization by space composition” were extracted. And the space compositions were analyzed. So, these were classified into 2 space compositions (Table 2); “Singular area” and “Plural areas”. Then Singular area was classified into 3 areas; “Inside”, “Exterior” and “Outside”. So Plural areas were classified into 2 areas; “In site” and “Out site”. “In site” is things that have no relationship with “Out site”. “Out site” is things that have relationship with “Out site”. Furthermore each Plural areas were classified into 2 areas more ; “Adjacency” and “Non-adjacency”. As a result, “Plural areas” is the most large (Table 2). Then, the change of that relationship in terms of time was considered (Table 3). Finally, Between “The subject” and “The Realization by space composition” were analyzed (Table 4). Then, Relationships of “Phenomenon value and Plural areas” are large. Next, from the detailed analysis, 3 Patterns were found (Table 5). (1) The subjects with Phenomenon value, “Base of a group activity - Creation of much activity” and “Free space - Opening to a citizen”, are represented by “In site-Adjacency”. (2) The subjects with Phenomenon value, “Construction of the community - Solution to social problem”, are represented by “Exterior”. (3) The subjects with Physical value, “Continuation with the natural scenery”, are represented by relationship by “Out site-Non-adjacency”. Further, the change of that relationship in terms of time was considered (Table 6). So, The thought on regionality of the designers of Public Hall has changed from around 2000. Consequently, a definite meaning about thought on regionality in design theories on Public Hall was found. In this particular study, we have pointed out the design ideas of contemporary Japanese architects about public architecture after Second World War.