Joan M. Schork

Turn diversity to your advantage

OVERVIEW: Research organizations are learning how to turn a diverse workforce into a competitive advantage. An effective diversity program begins with training at all levels of the organization. The best training programs focus on inclusion and are professionally developed. Providing “eye-opening” experiences such as temporary assignments in foreign cultures is recommended to help specific employees better understand the challenges faced by others. Mentoring is also important in gaining the full value from a diverse workforce. Special attention must be paid to the pipeline. Succession planning addresses the pipeline at the top of the organization, but pipeline development efforts must extend down into the organization where diverse candidates are being lost. Mid-level managers and supervisors must be encouraged to identify and develop a diverse pool of candidates.

Measurement and analysis of oxygen/nitrogen/ 5A-zeolite adsorption equilibria for air separation

Multicomponent adsorption equilibrium data are essential for the reliable design of processes and equipment for gas separation by adsorption. We discuss techniques for the measurement and analysis of multicomponent adsorption equilibrium data, and present a comprehensive set of equilibrium data for the adsorption of oxygen and nitrogen on 5A-zeolite.

Granular carbon molecular sieves

Abstract Any future carbon molecular sieve (CMS) for use in the commercial production of N2 should have a high volumetric O2 equilibrium capacity. We developed a procedure for producing a high capacity coconut shell char that can be converted into a high capacity CMS for air separation. Granules of coconut shell char are heated in flowing inert gas at about 2 to 12°C per minute to a peak temperature of 775° to 900°C. After holding from 1 to 8 hours, the char is cooled in an inert gas atmosphere. The granular char thus produced has an oxygen capacity in excess of 8.0 cc/cc. Contacting the char with an oxidizing atmosphere containing CO2, H2O, or O2 at 650° to 900°C increases the O2 capacity to greater than 9.0 cc/cc. The coconut shell char can be converted to a CMS by treatment with a volatile carbon-containing organic compound that, when pyrolyzed, deposits carbon within the interior of the carbon granules. The granular CMS thus produced can be used in a nitrogen pressure swing adsorption column without the need for pelletization.

Mass transfer in carbon molecular sieves—an interpretation of Langmuir kinetics

Abstract In this paper, the Langmuir kinetics rate expression, which has gained currency in modeling O 2 /N 2 mass transfer in carbon molecular sieve adsorbents, is derived, starting from “surface barrier” model of diffusion under a chemical potential gradient; this provides a physical basis for the use of mass-action rate laws to describe diffusion processes.

The mass transfer zone in nitrogen PSA columns

Abstract Direct measurements of the gas phase composition within a laboratory-scale N2 pressure swing adsorption (PSA) bed operating at cyclic steady state were made. The objective of this work was to study the shape and movement of the mass transfer zone (MTZ) within a kinetics-based PSA system. The results of this study confirmed model predictions that the MTZ spans a large portion of the bed under favourable operating conditions. The shape of the MTZ during the adsorption step changes from concave upwards to ’s’ to concave downwards with time. Maximum air recovery tends to occur if the feed step is stopped just after the MTZ turns to concave downwards. The experimental results also revealed an important and beneficial role the pressure equalization step plays in the establishment of the solid phase MTZ.

Summary: Societal risk criteria and pipelines

The selection of appropriate risk criteria for pipelines depends upon the objective of the analysis. This article describes options for pipeline risk assessment (F‐N and individual risk analyses); the descriptions include objectives, methods, and criteria. Methods that compare pipeline to fixed facility risk have the advantage of facilitating appropriate allocation of risk reduction resources. This article is a summary of a more detailed article from a recent Global Congress. It also references other PSP articles that cover risk analyses and criteria.

Modeling of underground hydrogen pipelines

Hydrogen is a critical component in the production of cleaner fuels. Underground pipelines provide a safe, reliable supply of hydrogen to refineries and the petroleum industry. Proper assessment of the risks associated with underground hydrogen pipelines requires an accurate model of the jet fire consequence. This article will describe experimental and modeling work undertaken in order to define the appropriate methodology for utilizing DNVs PHAST software tool to represent the hydrogen jet fire from the rupture of underground hydrogen pipelines. Two experiments were conducted to measure the flow and radiation from an intentionally ignited rupture of a 6 in. diameter, 60 barg hydrogen pipeline buried 1 m underground. Adjustments to PHAST modeling parameters were required in order to obtain agreement between the measured and predicted radiation and flame length values. The modeling assumptions and parameter adjustments include: Velocity modification to account for interaction of the flow out of the two ends of the ruptured pipe and to model the subsequent discharge from the crater. Specification of the fraction of heat radiated. Specification of the angle of the release.