81 research outputs found
The influence of wind on outdoor thermal comfort in the city of Beirut : a theoretical and field study - by Mahmoud Oussama El-Bezri.
No full textThesis (M.M.E.)--American University of Beirut, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2011.;"Advisor : Dr. Kamel Abou Ghali, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering--Members of Committee : Dr. Nesreen Ghaddar, Professor, Mechanical Engineering Dr. MaIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 43-44)This paper studies the outdoor comfort in the city of Beirut to improve the quality of open spaces and to shed more light in explaining the people’s tolerance and acceptance of outdoor environmental conditions. Field experiments were conducted to develo
OIL AND GAS REVENUE MANAGEMENT - CASE OF LEBANON
Get PDFDr. Nesreen Ghaddar (Advisor)
Dr. Mounir Rached (Co-Advisor)
Dr. Kamel Abu Ghali (Member of Committee)
Dr. Mohammad Ahmad (Member of Committee)In this study, we will discuss in detail the prospective oil and gas resources present in the Lebanese offshore from a technical, contractual, financial, and managerial perspective. The discussion will commence with a technical exploratory assessment of the oil and gas resources to determine the potential size of this sector based on available data. Then, we will shift our discussion to the various contractual frameworks that could be signed between the Lebanese government and international oil companies, such as concessions, production sharing agreements, and service contracts. We will also discuss the Lebanese Offshore Petroleum Resources Law and the terms of the production sharing agreement that the LPA, MOEW and the consortium signed for the awarded blocks in the Lebanese offshore. Based on the parameters mentioned in the contract, we will estimate Lebanon’s total share of oil and gas and determine Lebanon’s estimated total revenues from this sector. Finally, we will discuss an optimal revenue distribution for three managerial alternatives – sovereign wealth funds, infrastructure investments, and debt servicing – in ways that would boost economic growth, enhance the livelihoods of citizens, and benefit future generations
An Itegrated Approach to Water Treatment in Oil and Gas Industry via Thermal Membrane Distillation
No full textThis work is aimed at developing a systematic approach for designing treatment systems for wastewater streams resulting from upstream production and downstream processing of oil and gas systems. The approach will provide an optimum and integrated design to address the problem of the huge amounts of wastewater produced through either producing or processing the hydrocarbons using Thermal membrane distillation (TMD).
Thermal membrane distillation (TMD) is an emerging technology which is gaining an increasing level of interest in the area of high-purity separation especially in water treatment. It is driven primarily by heat which creates a vapor-pressure difference across a porous hydrophobic membrane. Hot produced water and excess low-level heat from industrial processes can be integrated with TMD and used to drive it. This transfer of heat also reduces the cooling utility load for the process. Therefore, dual heat-reduction benefits accrue as a result of this heat integration. Additionally, process wastewater and utility water may be treated using TMD then recycle/reused in the process and/or sold to external users.
In this work we introduce a process integration framework from the thermal coupling of TMD networks and industrial processes. First, a three-parameter model is developed to quantify the water flux through the membranes as a function of heat and temperature. The model is validated using experimental data for direct-contact membrane distillation (DCMD). Next, the transshipment model for heat integration is extended to account for the coupling of the process and the TMD network and the need to optimize the extent of heating for the TMD feed. A discretization approach is used to linearize the thermal-coupling constraints. The mathematical-programming formulation is solved to identify the optimal heat integration strategies within the process and with the TMD network. The program also determines the optimal temperature to which the TMD feed should be heated and the system design and specification.
Three different applications are introduced including three case studies. Each case study is solved to show the performance of the TMD when applied as standalone technology and when thermally coupled with the main process. For the case of standalone TMD the consumption of heating utilities is highly increased and affects the total cost of TMD and accordingly the decision of the treatment option. For the other case when all the heat needed by the TMD is provided by excess process heat or free source of heating, an interesting reduction is achieved in the total annualized cost of the TMD network. This reflects the significant value of thermal coupling. The results also demonstrate reducing of cooling load of the process and the creation of recycle/reuse opportunities for the treated wastewater
Novel biotechnological approach for the production of chitin and de-icing agents.
No full textThis study proposed the use of two potent pollutant waste materials (cheese whey and shrimp shells) for the production of three value-added products: salts of organic acids (useful as de-icing agents), chitin (for use in the medical, biomedical and pharmaceutical industries) and protein liquor (useful as protein supplement in animal feed). The study was carried out in four phases.In the first phase, the applicability of on-line sterilization of cheese whey using ultraviolet radiation (UV) was investigated. It was found that despite the high turbidity of the cheese whey, UV radiation can be used for cheese whey sterilization if the proper flow thickness and residence time are used. A residence time of 0.8 h was required to completely destruct a microbial population of 5.95 x 106 cells/mL using tubular UV reactors of 6 mm gap size. Fouling was found to be a major limitation in tubular UV reactors when used for extended period of time as a result of lamp heat generation. Adsorption and direct ion exchange were the most likely fouling mechanisms.In the second phase, the applicability of tetrazolium salt triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) for biomass quantification was investigated. For dehydrogenase activity measurements, the pH of the samples and the incubation temperature should not be higher than 9 and 60°C in order to ensure that the TTC reduction is caused only by the biochemical reaction. The presence of copper in the medium caused a reduction in the red color intensity due to the formation of formazan copper complex. The optimum TTC-test conditions for biomass quantification of Aspergillus niger in liquid growth medium were TTC concentration of 20 g/L, a pH of 9, a temperature of 55°C, and incubation time of 3 h and anaerobic conditions. The age of A. niger cells affected the TF yield. Shrimp shells contributed to the reduction of the TTC and therefore TTC-test can be used for A. niger quantification during solid-state fermentation of shrimp shells with some limitations.In the third phase, a biotechnological approach was used for the deproteinization of shrimp shells using the fungus Aspergillus niger in solid-state fermentation. A. niger was able to produce proteases in the presence of shrimp shells and galactose as a carbon source, thus causing the deproteinization of the shrimp shells.In the forth phase, the applicability of using lactic and acetic acids for the demineralization of microbially deproteinized shells was investigated. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dalhousie University (Canada), 2005
Setting the Stage for Transformative Learning in MA TESOL Classrooms at a Saudi University
No full textThis article explores the impact of transformative theory on the learning outcomes of seven Saudi female student-teachers enrolled in a Master’s TESOL course at a Saudi university. They were actively engaged in designing learning materials for learners with special needs. In this intervention, transformative theory principles were used. They involved dialogue, authentic assessment, and structured reflection. Following the intervention, data were collected using focus group discussions and document analysis. The data were analysed using Mezirow’s transformative theory components: experience, critical reflection, reflective discourse, and action. The findings reveal the experience supported the participants’ autonomy, providing them with opportunities to reflect on their teaching practices, and improved their knowledge construction skills. Based on the results, the author makes a case for greater use of transformative theory approaches in designing and implementing teacher education
Principles of visual identity building for guidance systems in exhibition Booths
No full textThe modern trends in designing guidance systems have sought to create new artistic styles through the visual effects by which the designer creates attractive and dazzling form in the design and highlights the company's declared goals distinguishing it from the competing companies and clarifies its personality and identity to the public. Guidance systems are code-based systems. The importance of symbols in these systems is due to the visual and cognitive role they play in guidance within the environment itself and how to establish an emotional relationship that ensures the loyalty and acceptance of the recipient. Thus, the role of the symbols does not limited only to the design aspect, but also to the cognitive aspect representing its role as one of the elements of building the visual identity for the place or the service advertised. In the light of the development of production technology and printing technology over the past years as well as the development of design and production means, several concepts have changed in the design of guidance systems, especially with the emergence of interactive techniques, which have led to increase competition between the innovative and technical design of these systems starting from the idea to implementation, as high competition and open market policies have greatly influenced the development of design and production systems. Therefore, this research aims at monitoring the principles of building the visual identity of the guidance systems in the exhibition Booths. To achieve this goal, the research was divided into four main parts. The first part focuses on the visual identity and the design of the contemporary advertising. The second part deals with the concept and characteristics of the guidance systems for the exhibition Booths. The third part presents the impact of digital technology on the design of the guidance systems. The last part ends with monitoring the principles of visual identity building of guidance systems for exhibition Booths in the light of digital technology
Enhancing Punching Shear Capacity of Flat Slabs with Hidden Capitals made of Strain Hardening Cementitious composite (SHCC)
Get PDFThis paper focuses on studding the effect of using hidden capitals made of strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) to improve the punching shear resistance at slab-column connections. Ten 160 mm thick slabs with identical reinforcement and geometry were constructed in this investigation. Two control specimens, one loaded at the center of the column and the second loaded with eccentricity of 100mm. The other eight specimens were strengthened with SHCC hidden capitals to study the effect of the hidden capital’s thickness, area, fiber content ratio in the SHCC, using drop, and load eccentricity on the punching shear behavior. The results showed that, the use of SHCC hidden capitals can effectively improve the cracking behavior and mode of failure. The results showed also that, the capacity increased by 7%, 14%, and 22% as the thickness of the SHCC layer increased by 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 times the slab thickness. Also, the capacity increase by 14%, and 25.2%, as the fiber content in the SHCC layer increased from 1% to 2%. Corresponding increase in the capacity by 14% and 34.8%, by using drop part of one third the thickness of the SHCC layer outside the section by 0.0 and 0.25 slab thickness. The various parameters showed also a significant decrease in deflection, compression strains, tension strains, and increase flexural stiffness and ductility. Comparison with various world codes showed that the Egyptian code calculations involve a high degree of accuracy, less conservative, and are closest to the results of laboratory tests
Enhancing Punching Shear Capacity of Flat Slabs with Hidden Capitals made of Strain Hardening Cementitious composite (SHCC)
Get PDFThis paper focuses on studding the effect of using hidden capitals made of strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) to improve the punching shear resistance at slab-column connections. Ten 160 mm thick slabs with identical reinforcement and geometry were constructed in this investigation. Two control specimens, one loaded at the center of the column and the second loaded with eccentricity of 100mm. The other eight specimens were strengthened with SHCC hidden capitals to study the effect of the hidden capital’s thickness, area, fiber content ratio in the SHCC, using drop, and load eccentricity on the punching shear behavior. The results showed that, the use of SHCC hidden capitals can effectively improve the cracking behavior and mode of failure. The results showed also that, the capacity increased by 7%, 14%, and 22% as the thickness of the SHCC layer increased by 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 times the slab thickness. Also, the capacity increase by 14%, and 25.2%, as the fiber content in the SHCC layer increased from 1% to 2%. Corresponding increase in the capacity by 14% and 34.8%, by using drop part of one third the thickness of the SHCC layer outside the section by 0.0 and 0.25 slab thickness. The various parameters showed also a significant decrease in deflection, compression strains, tension strains, and increase flexural stiffness and ductility. Comparison with various world codes showed that the Egyptian code calculations involve a high degree of accuracy, less conservative, and are closest to the results of laboratory tests
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