Tractebel Engineering (Belgium)

The Einstein Telescope (ET), a proposed third-generation underground gravitational-waves observatory requires an acoustically quiet subsurface environment to minimize the effect of seismic ambient noise. A detailed site characterization is currently underway in the Euregion Meuse-Rhine (Germany, Belgium, Netherlands), one of the potential locations for the ET. The site is wedged between the northern margin of the Variscan deformation front and the subsiding Lower Rhine Graben. Subsurface fluid flow, including natural groundwater circulation and drainage constitute sources of induced seismic and gravity-gradient variations. Pre-existing faults and fractures act as preferential flow paths and, critically control potential water inflow into the infrastructure and influence related water management strategies. Consequently, characterizing the relationship between the tectonic stress field and hydraulic characteristics of the host-rock formations is essential for a resilient ET design. In this study, we investigate the evolution of the tectonic stress field (i.e., from paleo- to recent in-situ stresses) and its control on fracture permeability, using an integrated dataset of boreholes drilled in the study area from 2021 to 2025 and down to 250 to 420 m. Paleo-stress conditions are reconstructed from fracture orientations and kinematic indicators observed on drill core material and borehole-televiewer data. The present-day stress-state is evaluated using hydraulic fracturing and hydraulic testing of pre-existing fractures tests. Fracture architectures are characterized using televiewer imagery and core samples, while their hydraulic relevance is assessed through in-situ methods such as impeller flow-meter measurements, temperature logs, and hydraulic packer tests. Slip versus dilation tendency analysis is applied to evaluate deformation modes and associated permeability anisotropies. These results are compared to independent hydraulic indicators to distinguish between hydraulically active and inactive discontinuities. Our findings demonstrate how the complex tectonic history governs the present-day fracture network and associated groundwater pathways, providing key constraints on groundwater management and suitability assessments for the site selection of the ET project in naturally fractured sedimentary host-rocks.

PULSAR (PU-238-coupLed dynamic power system for SpAce exploRation and beyond) was a research and innovation project funded by the European Commission between 2022 and 2024. The aim of this project was to establish building blocks for the development of Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) fueled by Pu-238 with European technologies and standards. Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) is a key enabling technology for exploration of locations hidden from the sun for prolongated periods, or of deep space, where the sun cannot deliver sufficient power to spacecrafts. This project has brought together leading stakeholders in the field of space and nuclear. PULSAR consortium includes nine partners: Tractebel (coordinator), SCK CEN, CEA, JRC, Airbus DS, ArianeGroup, UBFC, INCOTEC and ARTTIC. The paper provides a presentation of the project, the organization of the different work packages between partners, the objectives and the achievements obtained. Future prospect and expected challenges are presented based on the hypothesis assumed in PULSAR.

<p>The growing influence of digitalization and the widespread availability of data from electrical systems have unlocked significant potential for data-driven analysis. This has led to substantial opportunities for enhancing power system performance, reliability, and overall operational efficiency.</p> <p>One concrete illustration of these data-driven analyses involves assessing and predicting harmonic distortion using statistical learning models, notably linear regression. </p> <p>The implementation of linear regression models may present various challenges, especially when dealing with time series data, which is the case of harmonic measurements too. One of the main issues is the presence of autocorrelation within error terms. In this situation, the conventional linear regression approach (ordinary least square) tends to lose its reliability due to the introduction of biased standard errors impacting the accuracy of the analysis.</p> <p>Experts in statistics have developed various methods to handle such situations, where the error terms show autocorrelation. Interestingly, these methods have been somehow ignored or perhaps sparsely discussed by power system engineers.</p> <p>The primary objective of this paper is to contribute to narrowing this gap. It does so by presenting the application of the Cochrane-Orcutt method in the harmonic data analysis context. The Cochrane-Orcutt method represents a well-known econometric technique used to consider serial correlations within the error terms of a linear model and can also be applied in the harmonic analysis domain.</p> <p>This paper is supported at first by an illustrative example based on simulated data, designed to provide a clear insight into the subject matter. Additionally, a case study with real-world measurement data is also presented, to further enhance the understanding.</p>

The importance of Schiff's bases is that they are used as anti-bacterial, tuberculosis, cancer and tumors, as well as their ability to capture metal ions. Schiff's bases play an important role in analytical and industrial chemistry as they are used to resist the corrosion of metals. Photolysis is not considered a degradation pathway for azo dyes. In order to extend the life of products dyed with azo dyes, it is necessary to ensure stability against microbial attack, and tests have shown that azo dyes degrade significantly in short-term tests under aerobic conditions. However, under anaerobic conditions, color change can be observed as a result of biodegradation .A general method for the synthesis of new Azo compound has been employed. Diazotization reaction between 2-amino pyrimidine and 2-amino-4-nitro phenol was used to produce Azo compound F1 [2-amino-4-nitro-6-(pyrimidin-2-yldiazenyl)phenol] then prepare two Azo-Shiff base derivatives by Aldol-condensation reaction of (F1) with p-N,N-dimethyl amino Benzaldehyde and Isatin to give (F2,F3).The research included biological screening as anti-bacterial for (F,F2,F3) and as anti-cancer for (F3) by using cell line type Hep G2. FT-IR,1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and two-dimensional(2D)HSQC spectroscopy was used to characterize these compounds.