Sharif Digital Repository

Hydrocracking is one of the most versatile petroleum refining processes for production of valuable products including gasoline, gas oil, and jet fuel. In this paper, a five-parameter continuous lumping model was used for kinetic modeling of hydrocracking of vacuum gas oil (VGO). The model parameters were estimated from industrial data obtained from a fixed bed reactor operating at an average temperature of 400°C and residence time of 0.3 h. Product distributions were obtained in terms of the weight fraction of various boiling point cuts. The model parameters were estimated using the Nelder-Mead optimization procedure and were correlated with temperature. Comparison of experimental and... 

In this paper, we propose a new packet routing scheme, i.e., a combined digital and analog network coding scheme (DNC-ANC) suitable for multiple unicast scenario. In this respect, we consider a random access WLAN comprised of single and multi-hop unicast sessions. Then we modify the MAC scheme in order to enable ANC. In order to evaluate the effect of the proposed DNC-ANC scheme analytically, we employ an open queueing network and map the details of MAC as well as routing schemes onto its suitable parameters. By writing the corresponding traffic equations and applying the stability condition, we are able to find the maximum stable throughput for the considered scenario. Finally, we will show... 

Exponential backoff is an intrinsic feature of MAC-layer standards of most types of ad hoc networks. It leads to random access channels with memory. In this paper we propose a new network coding-based packet forwarding scheme suitable for multiple unicast scenarios in downlink direction of a wireless network. The wireless nodes as well as the access point attempt to access the channel, based on slotted Aloha with exponential backoff. In the proposed scheme we convert multiple unicast scenario to a combination of several anycast and a multicast scenarios. By proposing an open multiclass queueing network, we are able to derive the maximum stable download throughput of the network. The... 

We show that if a locally compact group G is non-discrete or has an infinite amenable subgroup, then the second dual algebra L1(G) ** does not admit an involution extending the natural involution of L1(G). Thus, for the above classes of groups we answer in the negative a question raised by Duncan and Hosseiniun in 1979. We also find necessary and sufficient conditions for the dual of certain left-introverted subspaces of the space Cb(G) (of bounded continuous functions on G) to admit involutions. We show that the involution problem is related to a multiplier problem. Finally, we show that certain non-trivial quotients of L1(G)** admit involutions  

Physical and hydraulic properties of new stainless steel spring packing are introduced. The measured hydraulic properties are: dry and wetted packed bed pressure drop, loading and flooding points and the liquid holdups. The appropriate coefficients for predicting the mentioned hydraulic properties from different correlations are also reported. Hydraulic properties for this packing are compared with available packings. In spite of small size, the dry and wetted packed bed pressure drops of spring packing are less than similar Raschig and Protruded rings. The total liquid holdup of this packing is greater than other commercial packings. The big total liquid holdup and physical surface area are... 

The overall heat transfer coefficient (OHTC) of air in a double-pipe helical heat exchanger is studied and experimentally investigated. In order to increase the rate of heat transfer in the annulus section, a copper-wire fin is soldered on the outside area of the internal tube. The literature correlations’ results are presented against the experimental data by changing mass flow rate and temperature, and consequently changing the Reynolds number. Further, a new method is suggested to obtain the heat transfer coefficients of double-pipe helical heat exchangers for the internal tube and the annulus section by combining two of the previously proposed approaches and making subsequent... 

The current study examines different arrangements of vortex tubes (VTs) to get higher performances for cooling and heating. The effects of thermo-physical parameters such as inlet feed temperature and inlet/outlet vortex tube pressure on generated temperature gradient are investigated. To estimate the cold outlet temperatures, the available equations in the literature are verified against our experimental data. Moreover, we propose a new equation to estimate the hot outlet temperature based on the upper limit of hot temperature (ULHT) and the lower limit of cold temperature (LLCT), verified with experimental data as well. Further, several arrangements are simulated to obtain the minimum cold... 

In the present experimental study, the effect of operating parameters such as inlet and outlet pressure as well as inlet temperature on the mass separation capability of vortex tubes (VTs) for a gas mixture is investigated. Specifically, concentrating heavier components of a gas mixture in the hot outlet stream is considered. Proposing a semi-empirical index from the experimental study, the simulation of different arrangements of VTs, and the effect of recycling a portion of the hot outlet stream on its mass separation performance are investigated. Moreover, the proposed separation method by VTs is economically compared with commonly used methods by distillation columns and two-phase... 

Presence of sulfur components in liquid fuels should be controlled due to environmental issues and process considerations. In order to decrease the level of sulfurous compounds in crude gas-oil with 5750 ppmw sulfur, electrochemical oxidative desulfurization has been investigated over electrodes of copper and stainless steel because of their easy operation and mild process conditions. In this research, the effects of stirring rate, temperature, applied potential, sodium hydroxide addition as electrolyte media and water volume have been examined on the sulfur removal efficiency. The results show that electrical conductivity of gas-oil sharply increases with addition of electrolyte up to 613... 

The aim of the present work is to propose an eco-design method for sustainable development of methanol production by implementing a multi-objective optimization model based on CO2-efficiency. Two different approaches for the methanol production, i.e. a conventional reference methanol case (RMC) and proposed green integrated methanol case (GIMC) were compared from the view point of eco-design. Using life cycle assessment and process simulation, the environmental features as well as operational decision variables of the RMC and GIMC were assessed. Based on the inventory analysis of LCA, it was found that carbon dioxide is the major emitted pollutant from methanol production. Thus the... 

MEG regeneration and injection unit regenerates aqueous MEG. The main goal of this unit is approaching desired MEG concentration whereas MEG loss via removed water is a big issue. Circulating glycol is polluted with Ca++ and Mg++ which forms carbonate scale and causes plugging of pipe lines, filters, lean/rich exchanger, still column packings and reboiler tube bundle and decreases their efficiency, consequently increases MEG loss via top product. Different alternatives exist according to similar experiences around the world. Using specific criteria and AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) method priority of these alternatives has been found. Results are as following: 1. Increasing number of... 

In this study, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene microporous flat-sheet membranes were prepared via a thermally induced phase separation method with a mixture of dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate as a diluent. The effects of the polymer composition and coagulation bath temperature on the morphology and performance of the fabricated membranes were investigated. The hydrophilicity results of the membranes demonstrated that membrane modification reduced the water contact angle by about 45°, whereas the pure water flux was enhanced about four times. The antifouling behavior of the fabricated membranes was also investigated in a membrane bioreactor. The results show that the pure water... 

The aim of the present work is to propose an eco-design method for sustainable development of methanol production by implementing a multi-objective optimization model based on CO2-efficiency. Two different approaches for the methanol production, i.e. a conventional reference methanol case (RMC) and proposed green integrated methanol case (GIMC) were compared from the view point of eco-design. Using life cycle assessment and process simulation, the environmental features as well as operational decision variables of the RMC and GIMC were assessed. Based on the inventory analysis of LCA, it was found that carbon dioxide is the major emitted pollutant from methanol production. Thus the... 

In this study, three equations of state (EOS) in conjunction with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling were used to predict the Joule – Thomson (JT) process behavior for natural gas and various pure gases. The JT effect is encountered in several industrial applications. The experimental determination of the JT coefficient (JTC) is complicated, and there is little gas pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) data available for estimating these JTC. Thus, the development of an efficient model to predict the JT effect in industrial processes is necessary. This study was carried out to attain a clear view of the single phase-flow of hydrocarbons and nitrogen in the JT process with CFD modeling.... 

In this research, surface modification of aromatic polyamide thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes was carried out using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment to improve the performance and fouling resistance of prepared RO membranes. First, polyamide TFC RO membranes were synthesized via interfacial polymerization of m-phenylenediamine and trimesoyl chloride monomers over microporous polysulfone support membrane. Next, the DBD plasma treatment with 15 s, 30 s, 60 s, and 90 s duration was used for surface modification. The surface properties of RO membranes were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR),... 

In this research, surface modification of aromatic polyamide thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes was carried out using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment to improve the performance and fouling resistance of prepared RO membranes. First, polyamide TFC RO membranes were synthesized via interfacial polymerization of m-phenylenediamine and trimesoyl chloride monomers over microporous polysulfone support membrane. Next, the DBD plasma treatment with 15 s, 30 s, 60 s, and 90 s duration was used for surface modification. The surface properties of RO membranes were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR),... 

The natural gas liquid recovery is an important process in a gas plant to correct hydrocarbon dew point and earn profit. In this study, a natural gas liquid recovery unit operated based on the Joule–Thomson process was investigated and its performance was optimized. To improve the system performance, the plant configuration and intermediate pressure ratio were defined as the variables and maximization of the natural gas liquid recovery rate and maximization of exergy efficiency were defined as the objective functions. To improve the plant performance, the amount of natural gas liquid recovery rate should be increased. To achieve this goal, several scenarios for the intermediate pressure... 

Nowadays, the salinisation of groundwaters causes a substantial reduction in the yield of agricultural lands. To reduce the impact of this problem on the profitability of the lands, farmers tend to use desalination processes. However, this transition is not simple and some technical, economic, and environmental issues should be considered. In this study, we highlight some key factors for the use of desalination processes in the agricultural sector. Also, we conduct a techno-economic evaluation of using reverse osmosis desalination in a pistachio orchard as a high-value crop. Moreover, because of the solar energy potential in the location of the case study, the use of solar panels is assessed... 

A thermodynamic analysis was conducted on the Joule-Thomson (JT) process to improve separation performance and exergy efficiency of a three-stage throttling process in a natural gas liquid (NGL) recovery plant. The JT inversion curve (JTIC) along with the phase envelope diagram (PED) were used to study phase transition during the throttling process. Three different objective functions—maximization of NGL recovery rate, improvement of cooling performance, and minimization of the exergy destruction—were investigated in this study to increase the NGL recovery rate with minimum energy consumption. It was observed that the improvement of cooling performance did not always increase the NGL...