A Focus on Cryogenic Engineering for the Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer (PIPER) Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosas, Rogelio; Weston, Amy

2011-01-01

Cryogenic engineering involves design and modification of equipment that is used under boiling point of nitrogen which is 77 K. The focus of this paper will be on the design of hardware for cryogenic use and a retrofit that was done to the main laboratory cryostat used to test flight components for the Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer balloon-borne mission. Data from prior tests showed that there was a superfluid helium leak and a total disassemble of the cryostat was conducted in order to localize and fix the leak. To improve efficiency new fill tubes and clamps with modifications were added to the helium tank. Upon removal of the tank, corrosion was found on the flange face that connects to the helium cold plate and therefore had to be fully replaced and copper plated to prevent future corrosion. Indium seals were also replaced for the four fill tubes, a helium level sensor, and the nitrogen and helium tanks. Four additional shielded twisted pairs of cryogenic wire and a wire harness for the Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) were added. Finally, there was also design work done for multiple pieces that went inside the cryostat and a separate probe used to test the SQUIDs. Upon successful completion of the cryostat upgrade, tests were run to check the effectiveness and stability of the upgrades. The post-retrofit tests showed minor leaks were still present and due to this, superfluidity has still not been attained. As such there could still be a possibility of a superfluid leak appearing in the future. Regardless, the copper plating on the helium tank has elongated the need to service it by three to five years.

Commissioning of cryogenic system for China Spallation Neutron Source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Bin; He, Chongchao; Li, Na; Ding, Meiying; Wang, Yaqiong; Yu, Zhang; He, Kun

2017-12-01

China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS) cryogenic system provides supercritical cryogenic hydrogen to neutron moderators, including a helium refrigerator, hydrogen loop and hydrogen safety equipment. The helium refrigerator is provided by Linde with cooling capacity of 2200 W at 20 K. Hydrogen loop system mainly includes cryogenic hydrogen pipes, hydrogen circulator cold-box and accumulator cold-box. Cryogenic hydrogen pump, ortho-para convertor, helium-hydrogen heat-exchanger, hydrogen heater and accumulator are integrated in hydrogen circulation cold-box, and accumulator cold-box. Hydrogen safety equipment includes safety valves, rupture disk, hydrogen sensor, flame detector and other equipment to ensure that cryogenic system in dangerous situations will go down, vents, or takes other measures. The cryogenic system commissioning work includes four steps. First, in order to test the refrigerating capacity of refrigerator, when acceptance testing, refrigerator internal heater was used as thermal load. Second, using simulation load as heat load of moderator, hydrogen loop use helium instead of hydrogen, and cooled down to 20 K, then re-warming and test the leak detection of hydrogen loop system. Third, base on the step 2, using hydrogen as working medium, and optimized the control logic. Forth, cryogenic system with the moderators joint commissioning. Now, cryogenic system is connected with the moderators, and the forth step will be carried out in the near future.

Liquid oxygen (LO2) propellant conditioning concept testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perry, Gretchen L. E.; Orth, Michael S.; Mehta, Gopal K.

1993-01-01

Testing of a simplified LO2 propellant conditioning concept for future expendable launch vehicles is discussed. Four different concepts are being investigated: no-bleed, low-bleed, use of a recirculation line, and He bubbling. A full-scale test article, which is a facsimile of a propellant feed duct with an attached section to simulate heat input from an LO2 turbopump, is to be tested at the Cold Flow Facility of the Marshall Space Flight Center West Test Area. Work to date includes: design and fabrication of the test article, design of the test facility and initial fabrication, development of a test matrix and test procedures, initial predictions of test output, and heat leak calibration and heat exchanger tests on the test articles.

Novel load responsive multilayer insulation with high in-atmosphere and on-orbit thermal performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dye, S.; Kopelove, A.; Mills, G. L.

2012-04-01

Aerospace cryogenic systems require lightweight, high performance thermal insulation to preserve cryopropellants both pre-launch and on-orbit. Current technologies have difficulty meeting all requirements, and advances in insulation would benefit cryogenic upper stage launch vehicles, LH2 fueled aircraft and ground vehicles, and provide capabilities for sub-cooled cryogens for space-borne instruments and orbital fuel depots. This paper reports the further development of load responsive multilayer insulation (LRMLI) that has a lightweight integrated vacuum shell and provides high thermal performance both in-air and on-orbit. LRMLI is being developed by Quest Product Development and Ball Aerospace under NASA contract, with prototypes designed, built, installed and successfully tested. A 3-layer LRMLI blanket (0.63 cm thick, 77 K cold, 295 K hot) had a measured heat leak of 6.6 W/m2 in vacuum and 40.6 W/m2 in air at one atmosphere. In-air LRMLI has an 18× advantage over Spray On Foam Insulation (SOFI) in heat leak per thickness and a 16× advantage over aerogel. On-orbit LRMLI has a 78× lower heat leak than SOFI per thickness and 6× lower heat leak than aerogel. The Phase II development of LRMLI is reported with a modular, flexible, thin vacuum shell and improved on-orbit performance. Structural and thermal analysis and testing results are presented. LRMLI mass and thermal performance is compared to SOFI, aerogel and MLI over SOFI.

Confined Tube Crimp Using Portable Hand Tools

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reynolds, Joseph James; Pereyra, R. A.; Archuleta, Jeffrey Christopher

2016-04-04

The Lawrence Radiation Laboratory developed handheld tools that crimp a 1/16 inch OD tube, forming a leak tight seal1 (see Figure 1). The leak tight seal forms by confining the 1/16 inch OD tubing inside a die while applying crimp pressure. Under confined pressure, the tube walls weld at the crimp. The purpose of this study was to determine conditions for fabricating a leak tight tube weld. The equipment was used on a trial-and-error basis, changing the conditions after each attempt until successful welds were fabricated. To better confine the tube, the die faces were polished. Polishing removed a fewmore » thousandths of an inch from the die face, resulting in a tighter grip on the tubing wall. Using detergent in an ultrasonic bath, the tubing was cleaned. Also, the time under crimp pressure was increased to 30 seconds. With these modifications, acceptable cold welds were fabricated. After setting the conditions for an acceptable cold weld, the tube was TIG welded across the crimped face.« less

Intraoperative leak testing has no correlation with leak after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

PubMed

Sethi, Monica; Zagzag, Jonathan; Patel, Karan; Magrath, Melissa; Somoza, Eduardo; Parikh, Manish S; Saunders, John K; Ude-Welcome, Aku; Schwack, Bradley F; Kurian, Marina S; Fielding, George A; Ren-Fielding, Christine J

2016-03-01

Staple line leak is a serious complication of sleeve gastrectomy. Intraoperative methylene blue and air leak tests are routinely used to evaluate for leak; however, the utility of these tests is controversial. We hypothesize that the practice of routine intraoperative leak testing is unnecessary during sleeve gastrectomy. A retrospective cohort study was designed using a prospectively collected database of seven bariatric surgeons from two institutions. All patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy from March 2012 to November 2014 were included. The performance of intraoperative leak testing and the type of test (air or methylene blue) were based on surgeon preference. Data obtained included BMI, demographics, comorbidity, presence of intraoperative leak test, result of test, and type of test. The primary outcome was leak rate between the leak test (LT) and no leak test (NLT) groups. SAS version 9.4 was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 1550 sleeve gastrectomies were included; most were laparoscopic (99.8%), except for one converted and two open cases. Routine intraoperative leak tests were performed in 1329 (85.7%) cases, while 221 (14.3%) did not have LTs. Of the 1329 cases with LTs, there were no positive intraoperative results. Fifteen (1%) patients developed leaks, with no difference in leak rate between the LT and NLT groups (1 vs. 1%, p = 0.999). After adjusting for baseline differences between the groups with a propensity analysis, the observed lack of association between leak and intraoperative leak test remained. In this cohort, leaks presented at a mean of 17.3 days postoperatively (range 1-67 days). Two patients with staple line leaks underwent repeat intraoperative leak testing at leak presentation, and the tests remained negative. Intraoperative leak testing has no correlation with leak due to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and is not predictive of the later development of staple line leak.

A solenoid failure detection system for cold gas attitude control jet valves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnston, P. A.

1970-01-01

The development of a solenoid valve failure detection system is described. The technique requires the addition of a radioactive gas to the propellant of a cold gas jet attitude control system. Solenoid failure is detected with an avalanche radiation detector located in the jet nozzle which senses the radiation emitted by the leaking radioactive gas. Measurements of carbon monoxide leakage rates through a Mariner type solenoid valve are presented as a function of gas activity and detector configuration. A cylindrical avalanche detector with a factor of 40 improvement in leak sensitivity is proposed for flight systems because it allows the quantity of radioactive gas that must be added to the propellant to be reduced to a practical level.

Perilymphatic fistula in cabin attendants: an incapacitating consequence of flying with common cold.

PubMed

Klokker, Mads; Vesterhauge, Søren

2005-01-01

A perilymphatic fistula (PLF) is an abnormal communication between the inner ear and the middle ear that leaks perilymph. PLF is considered rare, but is known to occur during childbirth, straining, weightlifting, head trauma, and diving with middle ear equalizing problems. It has also, anecdotally, been described in connection with flying. The symptoms are uncharacteristic vertigo and, in some cases, hearing impairment and tinnitus. This study describes four cases of PLF during a period of 6 mo in a major Scandinavian airline company employing approximately 3000 cabin attendants (CAs). None of the cases were diagnosed at the primary health care level. All were referred to the Aviation Medical Center for investigation. The PLF diagnosis was based on the case history, Platform Pressure Test (a fistula test), and other vestibular tests. Only one CA has been able to return to flying duties. The article emphasizes the risk of flying with poor middle ear equalization and the necessity of reminding crews and airline companies to "never fly with a common cold".

Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) dumps water after first in-flight cold flow test

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-03-04

The NASA SR-71A successfully completed its first cold flow flight as part of the NASA/Rocketdyne/Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California on March 4, 1998. During a cold flow flight, gaseous helium and liquid nitrogen are cycled through the linear aerospike engine to check the engine's plumbing system for leaks and to check the engine operating characterisitics. Cold-flow tests must be accomplished successfully before firing the rocket engine experiment in flight. The SR-71 took off at 10:16 a.m. PST. The aircraft flew for one hour and fifty-seven minutes, reaching a maximum speed of Mach 1.58 before landing at Edwards at 12:13 p.m. PST. "I think all in all we had a good mission today," Dryden LASRE Project Manager Dave Lux said. Flight crew member Bob Meyer agreed, saying the crew "thought it was a really good flight." Dryden Research Pilot Ed Schneider piloted the SR-71 during the mission. Lockheed Martin LASRE Project Manager Carl Meade added, "We are extremely pleased with today's results. This will help pave the way for the first in-flight engine data-collection flight of the LASRE."

Liquefied petroleum gas cold burn sustained while refueling a car.

PubMed

Scarr, Bronwyn; Mitra, Biswadev; Maini, Amit; Cleland, Heather

2010-02-01

There have been few cases of cold burn related to the exposure of liquid petroleum gas (LPG). We present the case of a young woman exposed to LPG while refueling her car who sustained partial thickness burns to the dorsum of her hand. Contact with LPG leaking from a pressurized system causes tissue damage because of cold injury. Immediate management of LPG is extrapolated from the management of frostbite. The increasing use of LPG mandates an awareness of prevention strategies and management principles in the setting of adverse events.

Activation of the E1 Ultra High Pressure Propulsion Test Facility at Stennis Space Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Messer, Bradley; Messer, Elisabeth; Sewell, Dale; Sass, Jared; Lott, Jeff; Dutreix, Lionel, III

2001-01-01

After a decade of construction and a year of activation the El Ultra High Pressure Propulsion Test Facility at NASA's Stennis Space Center is fully operational. The El UHP Propulsion Test Facility is a multi-cell, multi-purpose component and engine test facility . The facility is capable of delivering cryogenic propellants at low, high, and ultra high pressures with flow rates ranging from a few pounds per second up to two thousand pounds per second. Facility activation is defined as a series of tasks required to transition between completion of construction and facility operational readiness. Activating the El UHP Propulsion Test Facility involved independent system checkouts, propellant system leak checks, fluid and gas sampling, gaseous system blow downs, pressurization and vent system checkouts, valve stability testing, valve tuning cryogenic cold flows, and functional readiness tests.

Temperature and Atomic Oxygen Effects on Helium Leak Rates of a Candidate Main Interface Seal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Penney, Nicholas; Wasowski, Janice L.; Daniels, Christopher C.

2011-01-01

Helium leak tests were completed to characterize the leak rate of a 54 in. diameter composite space docking seal design in support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration s (NASA's) Low Impact Docking System (LIDS). The evaluated seal design was a candidate for the main interface seal on the LIDS, which would be compressed between two vehicles, while docked, to prevent the escape of breathable air from the vehicles and into the vacuum of space. Leak tests completed at nominal temperatures of -30, 20, and 50 C on untreated and atomic oxygen (AO) exposed test samples were examined to determine the influence of both test temperature and AO exposure on the performance of the composite seal assembly. Results obtained for untreated seal samples showed leak rates which increased with increased test temperature. This general trend was not observed in tests of the AO exposed specimens. Initial examination of collected test data suggested that AO exposure resulted in higher helium leak rates, however, further analysis showed that the differences observed in the 20 and 50 C tests between the untreated and AO exposed samples were within the experimental error of the test method. Lack of discernable trends in the test data prevented concrete conclusions about the effects of test temperature and AO exposure on helium leak rates of the candidate seal design from being drawn. To facilitate a comparison of the current test data with results from previous leak tests using air as the test fluid, helium leak rates were converted to air leak rates using standard conversion factors for viscous and molecular flow. Flow rates calculated using the viscous flow conversion factor were significantly higher than the experimental air leakage values, whereas values calculated using the molecular flow conversion factor were significantly lower than the experimentally obtained air leak rates. The difference in these sets of converted flow rates and their deviation from the experimentally obtained air leak rate data suggest that neither conversion factor can be used alone to accurately convert helium leak rates to equivalent air leak rates for the test seals evaluated in this study; other leak phenomena, including permeation, must also be considered.

REDUCING REFRIGERANT EMISSIONS FROM SUPERMARKET SYSTEMS

EPA Science Inventory

Large refrigeration systems are found in several applications including supermarkets, cold storage warehouses, and industrial processes. The sizes of these systems are a contributing factor to their problems of high refrigerant leak rates because of the thousands of connections, ...

Test Report of Special Form Qualification Testing for the ORNL U ZipCan

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martinez, Oscar A.

This test report describes the special form testing activities performed on the two ZiPCans. One prototype test unit was subjected to the tests stipulated by 10 CFR 71.75 (d)(1)(i), ISO 2919:1999(E) Class 4 impact test, along with the leak rate test specified in 49 CFR 173.469(a)(4)(i). The other test unit was subjected to a leak rate test as specified in 173.469(a)(4)(i) and a heat test as specified in 49 CFR 173.469 (b)(4). Each test unit was leak tested before and after these respective tests. The leak rate tests performed were helium back-pressure tests and bubble tests, as specified in ANSImore » N14.5-2014.The measured leak rates were converted to standard condition leak rates as specified in ASTM E 493. The determined standardized leak rates from the test and calculation for both test units met the requirements for special form certification.« less

Test Report for NASA MSFC Support of the Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elam, S. K.

2000-01-01

The Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) was performed in support of the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) program to help develop a linear aerospike engine. The objective of this program was to operate a small aerospike engine at various speeds and altitudes to determine how slipstreams affect the engine's performance. The joint program between government and industry included NASA!s Dryden Flight Research Center, The Air Force's Phillips Laboratory, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Lockheed Martin Skunkworks, Lockheed-Martin Astronautics, and Rocketdyne Division of Boeing North American. Ground testing of the LASRE engine produced two successful hot-fire tests, along with numerous cold flows to verify sequencing and operation before mounting the assembly on the SR-71. Once installed on the aircraft, flight testing performed several cold flows on the engine system at altitudes ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 feet and Mach numbers ranging from 0.9 to 1.5. The program was terminated before conducting hot-fires in flight because excessive leaks in the propellant supply systems could not be fixed to meet required safety levels without significant program cost and schedule impacts.

Power Distribution for Cryogenic Instruments at 6-40K The James Webb Space Telescope Case

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rumler, Peter; Lundquist, Ray; Alvarez, Jose Lorenzo; Sincell, Jeff; Tuttle, Jim

2011-01-01

The Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) operates its instruments passively cooled at around 40 Kelvin (K), with a warm Instrument Electronic Compartment (IEC) at 300K attached to it. From the warm electronics all secondary signal and power harnesses have to bridge this 300-40K temperature difference and minimize the power dissipation and parasitic heat leak into the cold region. After an introduction of the ISIM with its instruments, the IEC with the electronics, and the harness architecture with a special radiator, this paper elaborates on the cryogenic wire selection and tests performed to establish current de-rating rules for different wire types. Finally failure modes are analyzed for critical instrument interfaces that could inject excessive currents and heat into the harness and cold side, and several solutions for the removal of such failures are presented.

Power Distribution For Cryogenic Instruments At 6-40K The James Webb Space Telescope Case

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rumler, Peter; Lundquist, Ray; Alvarez, Jose Lorenzo; Sincell, Jeff; Tuttle, Jim

2011-10-01

The Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) operates its instruments passively cooled at around 40 Kelvin (K), with a warm Instrument Electronic Compartment (IEC) at 300K attached to it. From the warm electronics all secondary signal and power harnesses have to bridge this 300-40K temperature difference and minimize the power dissipation and parasitic heat leak into the cold region. After an introduction of the ISIM with its instruments, the IEC with the electronics, and the harness architecture with a special radiator, this paper elaborates on the cryogenic wire selection and tests performed to establish current de-rating rules for different wire types. Finally failure modes are analyzed for critical instrument interfaces that could inject excessive currents and heat into the harness and cold side, and several solutions for the removal of such failures are presented.

46 CFR 56.97-38 - Initial service leak test (reproduces 137.7).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Initial service leak test (reproduces 137.7). 56.97-38... PIPING SYSTEMS AND APPURTENANCES Pressure Tests § 56.97-38 Initial service leak test (reproduces 137.7). (a) An initial service leak test and inspection is acceptable when other types of test are not...

40 CFR 1066.985 - Fuel storage system leak test procedure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 33 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Fuel storage system leak test... Refueling Emission Test Procedures for Motor Vehicles § 1066.985 Fuel storage system leak test procedure. (a... conditions. (3) Leak test equipment must have the ability to pressurize fuel storage systems to at least 4.1...

Controlled Cold Helium Spill Test in the LHC Tunnel at CERN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koettig, T.; Casas-Cubillos, J.; Chorowski, M.; Dufay-Chanat, L.; Grabowski, M.; Jedrusyna, A.; Lindell, G.; Nonis, M.; Vauthier, N.; van Weelderen, R.; Winkler, T.; Bremer, J.

The helium cooled magnets of the LHC particle accelerator are installed in a confined space, formed by a 27 km circumference 3.8 m diameter underground tunnel. The vacuum enclosures of the superconducting LHC magnets are protected by a lift plate against excessive overpressure created by eventual leaks from the magnet helium bath, or from the helium supply headers. A three-meter long no stay zone has been defined centered to these plates, based on earlier scale model studies, to protect the personnel against the consequences of an eventual opening of such a lift plate. More recently several simulation studies have been carried out modelling the propagation of the resulting helium/air mixture along the tunnel in case of such a cold helium release at a rate in the range of 1 kg/s. To validate the different scale models and simulation studies, real life mock-up tests have been performed in the LHC, releasing about 1000 liter of liquid helium under standard operational tunnel conditions. Data recorded during these tests include oxygen level, temperature and flow speed as well as video recordings, taken up- and downstream of the spill point (-100 m to +200 m) with respect to the ventilation direction in the LHC tunnel. The experimental set-up and measurement results are presented. Generic effects found during the tests will be discussed to allow the transposal to possible cold helium release cases in similar facilities.

Effects of flow separation and cove leakage on pressure and heat-transfer distributions along a wing-cove-elevon configuration at Mach 6.9. [Langley 8-ft high temperature tunnel test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deveikis, W. D.

1983-01-01

External and internal pressure and cold-wall heating-rate distributions were obtained in hypersonic flow on a full-scale heat-sink representation of the space shuttle orbiter wing-elevon-cove configuration in an effort to define effects of flow separation on cove aerothermal environment as a function of cove seal leak area, ramp angle, and free-stream unit Reynolds number. Average free-stream Mach number from all tests was 6.9; average total temperature from all tests was 3360 R; free-stream dynamic pressure ranged from about 2 to 9 psi; and wing angle of attack was 5 deg (flow compression). For transitional and turbulent flow separation, increasing cove leakage progressively increased heating rates in the cove. When ingested mass flow was sufficient to force large reductions in extent of separation, increasing cove leakage reduced heating rates in the cove to those for laminar attached flow. Cove heating-rate distributions calculated with a method that assumed laminar developing channel flow agreed with experimentally obtained distributions within root-mean-square differences that varied between 11 and 36 percent where cove walls were parallel for leak areas of 50 and 100 percent.

Ion and water balance in Gryllus crickets during the first twelve hours of cold exposure.

PubMed

Des Marteaux, Lauren E; Sinclair, Brent J

2016-06-01

Insects lose ion and water balance during chilling, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are based on patterns of ion and water balance observed in the later stages of cold exposure (12 or more hours). Here we quantified the distribution of ions and water in the hemolymph, muscle, and gut in adult Gryllus field crickets during the first 12h of cold exposure to test mechanistic hypotheses about why homeostasis is lost in the cold, and how chill-tolerant insects might maintain homeostasis to lower temperatures. Unlike in later chill coma, hemolymph [Na(+)] and Na(+) content in the first few hours of chilling actually increased. Patterns of Na(+) balance suggest that Na(+) migrates from the tissues to the gut lumen via the hemolymph. Imbalance of [K(+)] progressed gradually over 12h and could not explain chill coma onset (a finding consistent with recent studies), nor did it predict survival or injury following 48h of chilling. Gryllus veletis avoided shifts in muscle and hemolymph ion content better than Gryllus pennsylvanicus (which is less chill-tolerant), however neither species defended water, [Na(+)], or [K(+)] balance during the first 12h of chilling. Gryllus veletis better maintained balance of Na(+) content and may therefore have greater tissue resistance to ion leak during cold exposure, which could partially explain faster chill coma recovery for that species. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Can the intraoperative leak test prevent postoperative leakage of esophagojejunal anastomosis after total gastrectomy?

PubMed

Kanaji, Shingo; Ohyama, Masato; Yasuda, Takashi; Sendo, Hiroyoshi; Suzuki, Satoshi; Kawasaki, Kentaro; Tanaka, Kenichi; Fujino, Yasuhiro; Tominaga, Masahiro; Kakeji, Yoshihiro

2016-07-01

Anastomotic failures that cannot be detected during surgery often lead to postoperative leakage. There have been no detailed reports on the intraoperative leak test for esophagojejunal anastomosis. Our purpose was to investigate the utility of routine intraoperative leak testing to prevent postoperative anastomotic leakage after performing esophagojejunostomy. We prospectively performed routine air leak tests and reviewed the records of 185 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent open total gastrectomy followed by esophagojejunostomy. A positive leak test was found for six patients (3.2 %). These patients with positive leak tests were subsequently treated with additional suturing, and they developed no postoperative anastomotic leakage. However, anastomotic leakage occurred in nine patients (4.9 %) with negative leak tests. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that a patient age >75 years and the surgeon's experience <30 cases were risk factors for anastomotic leakage. Intraoperative leak testing can detect some physical dehiscence, and additional suturing may prevent anastomotic leakage. However, it cannot prevent all anastomotic leakage caused by other factors, such as the surgeons' experience and patients' age.

Ion channel profile of TRPM8 cold receptors reveals a novel role of TASK-3 potassium channels in thermosensation

PubMed Central

Morenilla-Palao, Cruz; Luis, Enoch; Fernández-Peña, Carlos; Quintero, Eva; Weaver, Janelle L.; Bayliss, Douglas A.; Viana, Félix

2017-01-01

Summary Animals sense cold ambient temperatures through the activation of peripheral thermoreceptors that express TRPM8, a cold- and menthol-activated ion channel. These receptors can discriminate a very wide range of temperatures from innocuous to noxious. The molecular mechanism responsible for the variable sensitivity of individual cold receptors to temperature is unclear. To address this question, we performed a detailed ion channel expression analysis of cold sensitive neurons, combining BAC transgenesis with a molecular profiling approach in FACS purified TRPM8 neurons. We found that TASK-3 leak potassium channels are highly enriched in a subpopulation of these sensory neurons. The thermal threshold of TRPM8 cold neurons is decreased during TASK-3 blockade and in mice lacking TASK-3 and, most importantly, these mice display hypersensitivity to cold. Our results demonstrate a novel role of TASK-3 channels in thermosensation, showing that a channel-based combinatorial strategy in TRPM8 cold thermoreceptors leads to molecular specialization and functional diversity. PMID:25199828

Validation of Test Methods for Air Leak Rate Verification of Spaceflight Hardware

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oravec, Heather Ann; Daniels, Christopher C.; Mather, Janice L.

2017-01-01

As deep space exploration continues to be the goal of NASAs human spaceflight program, verification of the performance of spaceflight hardware becomes increasingly critical. Suitable test methods for verifying the leak rate of sealing systems are identified in program qualification testing requirements. One acceptable method for verifying the air leak rate of gas pressure seals is the tracer gas leak detector method. In this method, a tracer gas (commonly helium) leaks past the test seal and is transported to the leak detector where the leak rate is quantified. To predict the air leak rate, a conversion factor of helium-to-air is applied depending on the magnitude of the helium flow rate. The conversion factor is based on either the molecular mass ratio or the ratio of the dynamic viscosities. The current work was aimed at validating this approach for permeation-level leak rates using a series of tests with a silicone elastomer O-ring. An established pressure decay method with constant differential pressure was used to evaluate both the air and helium leak rates of the O-ring under similar temperature and pressure conditions. The results from the pressure decay tests showed, for the elastomer O-ring, that neither the molecular flow nor the viscous flow helium-to-air conversion factors were applicable. Leak rate tests were also performed using nitrogen and argon as the test gas. Molecular mass and viscosity based helium-to-test gas conversion factors were applied, but did not correctly predict the measured leak rates of either gas. To further this study, the effect of pressure boundary conditions was investigated. Often, pressure decay leak rate tests are performed at a differential pressure of 101.3 kPa with atmospheric pressure on the downstream side of the test seal. In space applications, the differential pressure is similar, but with vacuum as the downstream pressure. The same O-ring was tested at four unique differential pressures ranging from 34.5 to 137.9 kPa. Up to six combinations of upstream and downstream pressures for each differential pressure were compared. For a given differential pressure, the various combinations of upstream and downstream dry air pressures did not significantly affect the leak rate. As expected, the leak rate of the O-ring increased with increasing differential pressure. The results suggested that the current leak test pressure conditions, used to verify spacecraft sealing systems with elastomer seals, produce accurate values even though the boundary conditions do not model the space application.

Leak testing and repair of fusion devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozman, T. A.

1983-06-01

The leak testing, reporting and vacuum leak repair techniques of the MPTF yin-yang number one magnet system, the world's largest superconducting magnet system, are discussed. Based on this experience, techniques are developed for testing and repairing leaks on the 42 MPTF-B magnets. The leak hunting techniques for the yin-yang magnet systems were applied to two helium circuits (the coil bundle and guard vacuum; both require helium flow for magnet cooldown). Additionally, during MPTF-B operation there are warm water plasma shields and piping that require leak checking.

Case histories of building material problems caused by condensation at an enclosed swimming pool and an enclosed ice rink

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

VanGeem, M.G.; Farahmandpour, K.; Gajda, J.

1999-07-01

Enclosed swimming pools and ice rinks in winter climates have the potential for high indoor relative humidities and cold building materials. These elements can contribute to condensation and premature deterioration of building materials. Case histories are provided for an enclosed swimming pool and an enclosed ice rink with condensation problems. An evaluation was performed after roof leaks were reported at a recently constructed indoor swimming pool in a Chicago suburb. After a preliminary inspection, it was evident that the reported leaks were related to building moisture problems rather than a roof leak. Exterior brick masonry exhibited heavy efflorescence in themore » area of the swimming pools, and water streaks were visible on the exterior walls below the eaves. The evaluation included laboratory testing, a visual inspection, field tests and measurements, and analyses for condensation potential. Results of the evaluation indicated the presence of condensed moisture as a direct cause of the observed water stains, and masonry efflorescence. Recommended corrective actions developed. A 54-year-old enclosed ice rink in New England was under investigation to determine the cause of a deteriorated wood deck roof. The building did not have dehumidification or air handling systems, and was heated only when occupied. The evaluation included visual inspection and analyses for condensation potential. Results of the evaluation indicated condensation within the wood decking and insulation during winter months, and high relative humidities that prohibited drying during the spring, summer, and fall. These conditions, over an extended number of years, resulted in decay of the wood decking.« less

Vacuum decay container/closure integrity testing technology. Part 1. ASTM F2338-09 precision and bias studies.

PubMed

Wolf, Heinz; Stauffer, Tony; Chen, Shu-Chen Y; Lee, Yoojin; Forster, Ronald; Ludzinski, Miron; Kamat, Madhav; Godorov, Phillip; Guazzo, Dana Morton

2009-01-01

ASTM F2338-09 Standard Test Method for Nondestructive Detection of Leaks in Packages by Vacuum Decay Method is applicable for leak-testing rigid and semi-rigid non-lidded trays; trays or cups sealed with porous barrier lidding materials; rigid, nonporous packages; and flexible, nonporous packages. Part 1 of this series describes the precision and bias studies performed in 2008 to expand this method's scope to include rigid, nonporous packages completely or partially filled with liquid. Round robin tests using three VeriPac 325/LV vacuum decay leak testers (Packaging Technologies & Inspection, LLC, Tuckahoe, NY) were performed at three test sites. Test packages were 1-mL glass syringes. Positive controls had laser-drilled holes in the barrel ranging from about 5 to 15 microm in nominal diameter. Two different leak tests methods were performed at each site: a "gas leak test" performed at 250 mbar (absolute) and a "liquid leak test" performed at about 1 mbar (absolute). The gas leak test was used to test empty, air-filled syringes. All defects with holes > or = 5.0 microm and all no-defect controls were correctly identified. The only false negative result was attributed to a single syringe with a < 5.0-microm hole. Tests performed using a calibrated air leak supported a 0.10-cm3 x min(-1) (ccm) sensitivity limit (99/99 lower tolerance limit). The liquid leak test was used to test both empty, air-filled syringes and water-filled syringes. Test results were 100% accurate for all empty and water-filled syringes, both without holes and with holes (5, 10, and 15 microm). Tests performed using calibrated air flow leaks of 0, 0.05, and 0.10 ccm were also 100% accurate; data supported a 0.10-ccm sensitivity limit (99/99 lower tolerance limit). Quantitative differential pressure results strongly correlated to hole size using either liquid or gas vacuum decay leak tests. The higher vacuum liquid leak test gave noticeably higher pressure readings when water was present in the defect. Both the ASTM F2338-09 test method and the precision and bias study report are available by contacting ASTM International in West Conshohocken, PA, USA (www.astm.org).

Assessing Surgeon Behavior Change after Anastomotic Leak in Colorectal Surgery

PubMed Central

Simianu, Vlad V.; Basu, Anirban; Alfonso-Cristancho, Rafael; Thirlby, Richard C.; Flaxman, Abraham D.; Flum, David R.

2016-01-01

Background Recency effect suggests that people disproportionately value events from the immediate past when making decisions, but the extent of this impact on surgeons’ decisions is unknown. This study evaluates for recency effect in surgeons by examining use of preventative leak testing before and after colorectal operations with anastomotic leaks. Materials and Methods Prospective cohort of adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing elective colorectal operations at Washington State hospitals participating in the Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program (2006–2013). The main outcome measure was surgeons’ change in leak testing from 6 months before to 6 months after an anastomotic leak occurred. Results Across 4,854 elective colorectal operations performed by 282 surgeons at 44 hospitals, there was a leak rate of 2.6% (n=124). The 40 leaks (32%) in which the anastomosis was not tested occurred across 25 surgeons. While the ability to detect an overall difference in use of leak testing was limited by small sample size, 9 (36%) of 25 surgeons increased their leak testing by 5 percent points or more after leaks in cases where the anastomosis was not tested. Surgeons who increased their leak testing more frequently performed operations for diverticulitis (45% vs 33%), more frequently began their cases laparoscopically (65% vs 37%), and had longer mean operative times (195±99 vs 148±87 minutes), all p<0.001. Conclusions Recency effect was demonstrated by only one-third of eligible surgeons. Understanding the extent to which clinical decisions may be influenced by recency effect may be important in crafting quality improvement initiatives that require clinician behavior change. PMID:27664886

40 CFR Appendix M to Part 51 - Recommended Test Methods for State Implementation Plans

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., and after the run with the cyclone removed. The cyclone is removed before the post-test leak-check to.... 4.1.4.3 Post-Test Leak-Check. A leak-check is required at the conclusion of each sampling run... disturbing the collected sample and use the following procedure to conduct a post-test leak-check. 4.1.4.3.1...

40 CFR Appendix M to Part 51 - Recommended Test Methods for State Implementation Plans

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., and after the run with the cyclone removed. The cyclone is removed before the post-test leak-check to.... 4.1.4.3 Post-Test Leak-Check. A leak-check is required at the conclusion of each sampling run... disturbing the collected sample and use the following procedure to conduct a post-test leak-check. 4.1.4.3.1...

40 CFR Appendix M to Part 51 - Recommended Test Methods for State Implementation Plans

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., and after the run with the cyclone removed. The cyclone is removed before the post-test leak-check to.... 4.1.4.3 Post-Test Leak-Check. A leak-check is required at the conclusion of each sampling run... disturbing the collected sample and use the following procedure to conduct a post-test leak-check. 4.1.4.3.1...

40 CFR Appendix M to Part 51 - Recommended Test Methods for State Implementation Plans

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., and after the run with the cyclone removed. The cyclone is removed before the post-test leak-check to.... 4.1.4.3 Post-Test Leak-Check. A leak-check is required at the conclusion of each sampling run... disturbing the collected sample and use the following procedure to conduct a post-test leak-check. 4.1.4.3.1...

10 CFR 35.2067 - Records of leaks tests and inventory of sealed sources and brachytherapy sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Records of leaks tests and inventory of sealed sources and... MATERIAL Records § 35.2067 Records of leaks tests and inventory of sealed sources and brachytherapy sources. (a) A licensee shall retain records of leak tests required by § 35.67(b) for 3 years. The records...

40 CFR 86.1337-96 - Engine dynamometer test run.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., dynamometer, and sampling system. (iii) Change filters, etc., and leak check as necessary. For a single... sample is lost. A separate leak check is needed. A leak check of a filter assembly that has only one seal ring in contact with the filter media will not detect a leak when tested under vacuum. A pressure leak...

40 CFR 86.1337-96 - Engine dynamometer test run.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., dynamometer, and sampling system. (iii) Change filters, etc., and leak check as necessary. For a single... sample is lost. A separate leak check is needed. A leak check of a filter assembly that has only one seal ring in contact with the filter media will not detect a leak when tested under vacuum. A pressure leak...

40 CFR 86.1337-96 - Engine dynamometer test run.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., dynamometer, and sampling system. (iii) Change filters, etc., and leak check as necessary. For a single... sample is lost. A separate leak check is needed. A leak check of a filter assembly that has only one seal ring in contact with the filter media will not detect a leak when tested under vacuum. A pressure leak...

40 CFR 86.1337-96 - Engine dynamometer test run.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., dynamometer, and sampling system. (iii) Change filters, etc., and leak check as necessary. For a single... sample is lost. A separate leak check is needed. A leak check of a filter assembly that has only one seal ring in contact with the filter media will not detect a leak when tested under vacuum. A pressure leak...

Routine intraoperative leak testing for sleeve gastrectomy: is the leak test full of hot air?

PubMed

Bingham, Jason; Lallemand, Michael; Barron, Morgan; Kuckelman, John; Carter, Preston; Blair, Kelly; Martin, Matthew

2016-05-01

Staple line leak after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a rare but dreaded complication with a reported incidence of 0% to 8%. Many surgeons routinely test the staple line with an intraoperative leak test (IOLT), but there is little evidence to validate this practice. In fact, there is a theoretical concern that the leak test may weaken the staple line and increase the risk of a postop leak. Retrospective review of all SGs performed over a 7-year period was conducted. Cases were grouped by whether an IOLT was performed, and compared for the incidence of postop staple line leaks. The ability of the IOLT for identifying a staple line defect and for predicting a postoperative leak was analyzed. Five hundred forty-two SGs were performed between 2007 and 2014. Thirteen patients (2.4%) developed a postop staple line leak. The majority of patients (n = 494, 91%) received an IOLT, including all 13 patients (100%) who developed a subsequent clinical leak. There were no (0%) positive IOLTs and no additional interventions were performed based on the IOLT. The IOLT sensitivity and positive predictive value were both 0%. There was a trend, although not significant, to increase leak rates when a routine IOLT was performed vs no routine IOLT (2.6% vs 0%, P = .6). The performance of routine IOLT after SG provided no actionable information, and was negative in all patients who developed a postoperative leak. The routine use of an IOLT did not reduce the incidence of postop leak, and in fact was associated with a higher leak rate after SG. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Assessing surgeon behavior change after anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery.

PubMed

Simianu, Vlad V; Basu, Anirban; Alfonso-Cristancho, Rafael; Thirlby, Richard C; Flaxman, Abraham D; Flum, David R

2016-10-01

Recency effect suggests that people disproportionately value events from the immediate past when making decisions, but the extent of this impact on surgeons' decisions is unknown. This study evaluates for recency effect in surgeons by examining use of preventative leak testing before and after colorectal operations with anastomotic leaks. Prospective cohort of adult patients (≥18 y) undergoing elective colorectal operations at Washington State hospitals participating in the Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program (2006-2013). The main outcome measure was surgeons' change in leak testing from 6 mo before to 6 mo after an anastomotic leak occurred. Across 4854 elective colorectal operations performed by 282 surgeons at 44 hospitals, there was a leak rate of 2.6% (n = 124). The 40 leaks (32%) in which the anastomosis was not tested occurred across 25 surgeons. While the ability to detect an overall difference in use of leak testing was limited by small sample size, nine (36%) of 25 surgeons increased their leak testing by 5% points or more after leaks in cases where the anastomosis was not tested. Surgeons who increased their leak testing more frequently performed operations for diverticulitis (45% versus 33%), more frequently began their cases laparoscopically (65% versus 37%), and had longer mean operative times (195 ± 99 versus 148 ± 87 min), all P < 0.001. Recency effect was demonstrated by only one-third of eligible surgeons. Understanding the extent to which clinical decisions may be influenced by recency effect may be important in crafting quality improvement initiatives that require clinician behavior change. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Examinations for leak tightness of actively cooled components in ITER and fusion devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirai, T.; Barabash, V.; Carrat, R.; Chappuis, Ph; Durocher, A.; Escourbiac, F.; Merola, M.; Raffray, R.; Worth, L.; Boscary, J.; Chantant, M.; Chuilon, B.; Guilhem, D.; Hatchressian, J.-C.; Hong, S. H.; Kim, K. M.; Masuzaki, S.; Mogaki, K.; Nicolai, D.; Wilson, D.; Yao, D.

2017-12-01

Any leak in one of the ITER actively cooled components would cause significant consequences for machine operations; therefore, the risk of leak must be minimized as much as possible. In this paper, the strategy of examination to ensure leak tightness of the ITER internal components (i.e. examination of base materials, vacuum boundary joints and final components) and the hydraulic parameters for ITER internal components are summarized. The experiences of component tests, especially hot helium leak tests in recent fusion devices, were reviewed and the parameters were discussed. Through these experiences, it was confirmed that the hot He leak test was effective to detect small leak paths which were not always possible to detect by volumetric examination due to limited spatial resolution.

Prediction of failure pressure and leak rate of stress corrosion.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Majumdar, S.; Kasza, K.; Park, J. Y.

2002-06-24

An ''equivalent rectangular crack'' approach was employed to predict rupture pressures and leak rates through laboratory generated stress corrosion cracks and steam generator tubes removed from the McGuire Nuclear Station. Specimen flaws were sized by post-test fractography in addition to a pre-test advanced eddy current technique. The predicted and observed test data on rupture and leak rate are compared. In general, the test failure pressures and leak rates are closer to those predicted on the basis of fractography than on nondestructive evaluation (NDE). However, the predictions based on NDE results are encouraging, particularly because they have the potential to determinemore » a more detailed geometry of ligamented cracks, from which failure pressure and leak rate can be more accurately predicted. One test specimen displayed a time-dependent increase of leak rate under constant pressure.« less

Sensitivities of Soap Solutions in Leak Detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stuck, D.; Lam, D. Q.; Daniels, C.

1985-01-01

Document describes method for determining minimum leak rate to which soap-solution leak detectors sensitive. Bubbles formed at smaller leak rates than previously assumed. In addition to presenting test results, document discusses effects of joint-flange configurations, properties of soap solutions, and correlation of test results with earlier data.

Pharmaceutical container/closure integrity. I: Mass spectrometry-based helium leak rate detection for rubber-stoppered glass vials.

PubMed

Kirsch, L E; Nguyen, L; Moeckly, C S

1997-01-01

The development of mass spectrometry-based leak detection for pharmaceutical container integrity was undertaken to provide an alternative to microbial challenge testing. Standard 10-mL vials were modified to contain pinholes (0.5 to 10 microns) by affixing micropipettes with epoxy into 2-mm vial side wall holes. The absolute leak rate was determined using vials that were sealed in a tracer (helium) environment with butyl rubber stoppers and crimps. Alternatively leak rates were determined using vials that were sealed in room air and exposed to tracer under pressure (charging or bombing). Tracer leak rates were measured with mass spectrometry leak rate detectors. The absolute leak rate was correlated the squared nominal leak radius which suggested that the mode of gas flow through the glass pipette leaks was more turbulent than viscous even at low leak rates typically associated with viscous flow. The minimum observed absolute leak rate was about 10(-6.6) std cc/sec and was likely due to helium permeation through the rubber stoppers. Heat-stressed rubber stoppers did not affect the baseline absolute leak rate. Adsorption of helium tracer to the test unit surfaces was found to confound baseline leak rate measurement reliability but was eliminated as a source of variation by exposing the test units to ambient air for > or = 12 hours. The absolute leak rate and the leak rate measured after charging were related in a mathematically predictable way.

Routine Leak Testing in Colorectal Surgery in the Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program

PubMed Central

Kwon, Steve; Morris, Arden; Billingham, Richard; Frankhouse, Joseph; Horvath, Karen; Johnson, Morrie; McNevin, Shane; Simons, Anthony; Symons, Rebecca; Steele, Scott; Thirlby, Richard; Whiteford, Mark; Flum, David R.

2014-01-01

Objective To evaluate the effect of routine anastomotic leak testing (performed to screen for leaks) vs selective testing (performed to evaluate for a suspected leak in a higher-risk or technically difficult anastomosis) on outcomes in colorectal surgery because the value of provocative testing of colorectal anastomoses as a quality improvement metric has yet to be determined. Design Observational, prospectively designed cohort study. Setting Data from Washington state’s Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program (SCOAP). Patients Patients undergoing elective left-sided colon or rectal resections at 40 SCOAP hospitals from October 1, 2005, to December 31, 2009. Interventions Use of leak testing, distinguishing procedures that were performed at hospitals where leak testing was selective (<90% use) or routine (≥90% use) in a given calendar quarter. Main Outcome Measure Adjusted odds ratio of a composite adverse event (CAE) (unplanned postoperative intervention and/or in-hospital death) at routine testing hospitals. Results Among 3449 patients (mean [SD] age, 58.8[14.8] years; 55.0% women), the CAE rate was 5.5%. Provocative leak testing increased (from 56% in the starting quarter to 76% in quarter 16) and overall rates of CAE decreased (from 7.0% in the starting quarter to 4.6% in quarter 16; both P ≤ .01) over time. Among patients at hospitals that performed routine leak testing, we found a reduction of more than 75% in the adjusted risk of CAEs (odds ratio, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.05–0.99). Conclusion Routine leak testing of left-sided colorectal anastomoses appears to be associated with a reduced rate of CAEs within the SCOAP network and meets many of the criteria of a worthwhile quality improvement metric. PMID:22508778

Routine leak testing in colorectal surgery in the Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program.

PubMed

Kwon, Steve; Morris, Arden; Billingham, Richard; Frankhouse, Joseph; Horvath, Karen; Johnson, Morrie; McNevin, Shane; Simons, Anthony; Symons, Rebecca; Steele, Scott; Thirlby, Richard; Whiteford, Mark; Flum, David R

2012-04-01

To evaluate the effect of routine anastomotic leak testing (performed to screen for leaks) vs selective testing (performed to evaluate for a suspected leak in a higher-risk or technically difficult anastomosis) on outcomes in colorectal surgery because the value of provocative testing of colorectal anastomoses as a quality improvement metric has yet to be determined. Observational, prospectively designed cohort study. Data from Washington state's Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program (SCOAP). Patients undergoing elective left-sided colon or rectal resections at 40 SCOAP hospitals from October 1, 2005, to December 31, 2009. Use of leak testing, distinguishing procedures that were performed at hospitals where leak testing was selective (<90% use) or routine (≥ 90% use) in a given calendar quarter. Adjusted odds ratio of a composite adverse event (CAE) (unplanned postoperative intervention and/or in-hospital death) at routine testing hospitals. Among 3449 patients (mean [SD] age, 58.8 [14.8] years; 55.0% women), the CAE rate was 5.5%. Provocative leak testing increased (from 56% in the starting quarter to 76% in quarter 16) and overall rates of CAE decreased (from 7.0% in the starting quarter to 4.6% in quarter 16; both P ≤ .01) over time. Among patients at hospitals that performed routine leak testing, we found a reduction of more than 75% in the adjusted risk of CAEs (odds ratio, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.05-0.99). Routine leak testing of left-sided colorectal anastomoses appears to be associated with a reduced rate of CAEs within the SCOAP network and meets many of the criteria of a worthwhile quality improvement metric.

Artificial Leaks in Container Closure Integrity Testing: Nonlinear Finite Element Simulation of Aperture Size Originated by a Copper Wire Sandwiched between the Stopper and the Glass Vial.

PubMed

Nieto, Alejandra; Roehl, Holger; Brown, Helen; Adler, Michael; Chalus, Pascal; Mahler, Hanns-Christian

2016-01-01

Container closure integrity (CCI) testing is required by different regulatory authorities in order to provide assurance of tightness of the container closure system against possible contamination, for example, by microorganisms. Microbial ingress CCI testing is performed by incubation of the container closure system with microorganisms under specified testing conditions. Physical CCI uses surrogate endpoints, such as coloration by dye solution ingress or gas flow (helium leakage testing). In order to correlate microbial CCI and physical CCI test methods and to evaluate the methods' capability to detect a given leak, artificial leaks are being introduced into the container closure system in a variety of different ways. In our study, artificial leaks were generated using inserted copper wires between the glass vial opening and rubber stopper. However, the insertion of copper wires introduces leaks of unknown size and shape. With nonlinear finite element simulations, the aperture size between the rubber stopper and the glass vial was calculated, depending on wire diameter and capping force. The dependency of the aperture size on the copper wire diameter was quadratic. With the data obtained, we were able to calculate the leak size and model leak shape. Our results suggest that the size as well as the shape of the artificial leaks should be taken into account when evaluating critical leak sizes, as flow rate does not, independently, correlate to hole size. Capping force also affected leak size. An increase in the capping force from 30 to 70 N resulted in a reduction of the aperture (leak size) by approximately 50% for all wire diameters. From 30 to 50 N, the reduction was approximately 33%. Container closure integrity (CCI) testing is required by different regulatory authorities in order to provide assurance of tightness of the container closure system against contamination, for example, by microorganisms. Microbial ingress CCI testing is performed by incubation of the container closure system with microorganisms under specified testing conditions. Physical CCI uses surrogate endpoints, such as coloration by dye solution ingress or gas flow. In order to correlate microbial ingress CCI and physical CCI test methods and to evaluate the methods' capability to detect a given leak, artificially created defects (artificial leaks) are being introduced into the container closure system in a variety of different ways. In our study, artificial leaks were generated using inserted copper wires between the glass vial opening and rubber stopper. Up to date, the insertion of copper wires introduced leaks of unknown size and shape. With nonlinear finite element simulations, the effective aperture size between the rubber stopper and the glass vial was calculated, depending on wire diameter and capping force, and the leak shape was modelled. Our results suggest that the size as well as the shape of the artificial leaks should be taken into account when evaluating critical leak sizes, as flow rate does not, independently, correlate to the hole size. © PDA, Inc. 2016.

Study of Residual Gas Analyser (RGA) Response towards Known Leaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pathan, Firozkhan S.; Khan, Ziauddin; Semwal, Pratibha; George, Siju; Raval, Dilip C.; Thankey, Prashant L.; Manthena, Himabindu; Yuvakiran, Paravastu; Dhanani, Kalpesh R.

2012-11-01

Helium leak testing is the most versatile form of weld qualification test for any vacuum application. Almost every ultra-high vacuum (UHV) system utilizes this technique for insuring leak tightness for the weld joints as well as demountable joints. During UHV system under operational condition with many other integrated components, in-situ developed leaks identification becomes one of the prime aspect for maintaining the health of such system and for continuing the experiments onwards. Since online utilization of leak detector (LD) has many practical limitations, residual gas analyser (RGA) can be used as a potential instrument for online leak detection. For this purpose, a co-relation for a given leak rate between Leak Detector and RGA is experimentally established. This paper describes the experimental aspect and the relationship between leak detector and RGA.

Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) dumps water after first in-flight cold flow test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

The NASA SR-71A successfully completed its first cold flow flight as part of the NASA/Rocketdyne/Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California on March 4, 1998. During a cold flow flight, gaseous helium and liquid nitrogen are cycled through the linear aerospike engine to check the engine's plumbing system for leaks and to check the engine operating characterisitics. Cold-flow tests must be accomplished successfully before firing the rocket engine experiment in flight. The SR-71 took off at 10:16 a.m. PST. The aircraft flew for one hour and fifty-seven minutes, reaching a maximum speed of Mach 1.58 before landing at Edwards at 12:13 p.m. PST. 'I think all in all we had a good mission today,' Dryden LASRE Project Manager Dave Lux said. Flight crew member Bob Meyer agreed, saying the crew 'thought it was a really good flight.' Dryden Research Pilot Ed Schneider piloted the SR-71 during the mission. Lockheed Martin LASRE Project Manager Carl Meade added, 'We are extremely pleased with today's results. This will help pave the way for the first in-flight engine data-collection flight of the LASRE.' The LASRE experiment was designed to provide in-flight data to help Lockheed Martin evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics and the handling of the SR-71 linear aerospike experiment configuration. The goal of the project was to provide in-flight data to help Lockheed Martin validate the computational predictive tools it was using to determine the aerodynamic performance of a future reusable launch vehicle. The joint NASA, Rocketdyne (now part of Boeing), and Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) completed seven initial research flights at Dryden Flight Research Center. Two initial flights were used to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of the LASRE apparatus (pod) on the back of the SR-71. Five later flights focused on the experiment itself. Two were used to cycle gaseous helium and liquid nitrogen through the experiment to check its plumbing system for leaks and to test engine operational characteristics. During the other three flights, liquid oxygen was cycled through the engine. Two engine hot-firings were also completed on the ground. A final hot-fire test flight was canceled because of liquid oxygen leaks in the test apparatus. The LASRE experiment itself was a 20-percent-scale, half-span model of a lifting body shape (X-33) without the fins. It was rotated 90 degrees and equipped with eight thrust cells of an aerospike engine and was mounted on a housing known as the 'canoe,' which contained the gaseous hydrogen, helium, and instrumentation gear. The model, engine, and canoe together were called a 'pod.' The experiment focused on determining how a reusable launch vehicle's engine flume would affect the aerodynamics of its lifting-body shape at specific altitudes and speeds. The interaction of the aerodynamic flow with the engine plume could create drag; design refinements looked at minimizing this interaction. The entire pod was 41 feet in length and weighed 14,300 pounds. The experimental pod was mounted on one of NASA's SR-71s, which were at that time on loan to NASA from the U.S. Air Force. Lockheed Martin may use the information gained from the LASRE and X-33 Advanced Technology Demonstrator Projects to develop a potential future reusable launch vehicle. NASA and Lockheed Martin were partners in the X-33 program through a cooperative agreement. The goal of that program was to enable significant reductions in the cost of access to space and to promote creation and delivery of new space services and activities to improve the United States's economic competitiveness. In March 2001, however, NASA cancelled the X-33 program.

Cool-Down and Current Test Results of the KSTAR Prototype TF Coil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Y. K.; Lee, S.; Chu, Y.; Park, K. R.; Yonekawa, H.; Baek, S. H.; Cho, K. W.; Park, Y. M.; Kim, M. K.; Chang, H. S.; Kim, Y. S.; Chang, Y. B.; Lee, Y. J.; Kim, W. C.; Kim, K.; Kwag, S. W.; Lee, S. H.; Yang, S. H.; Lee, S. J.; Bak, J. S.; Lee, G. S.

2004-06-01

A prototype toroidal field (TF) coil, TF00 coil, of the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) project has been assembled and tested at the coil test facility in Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI). The TF00 coil is a real-sized TF coil made of Nb3Sn superconducting cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC). The coil test was conducted by several campaigns according to the objectives. The first campaign, which was carried out by Jan. 2003, has objectives of cooling the coil into operating temperature and finding any defect in the coil such as cold leaks. From the results of the first campaign experiment, any defect in the coil was not found. The second campaign, which was carried out by Aug. 2003, has objectives to get the operating characteristics according to the current ramp up and discharge operations. In this paper, the coil test results are introduced as well as the details of the coil test system setup.

Detection of gas leakage

DOEpatents

Thornberg, Steven [Peralta, NM; Brown, Jason [Albuquerque, NM

2012-06-19

A method of detecting leaks and measuring volumes as well as an apparatus, the Power-free Pump Module (PPM), that is a self-contained leak test and volume measurement apparatus that requires no external sources of electrical power during leak testing or volume measurement, where the invention is a portable, pneumatically-controlled instrument capable of generating a vacuum, calibrating volumes, and performing quantitative leak tests on a closed test system or device, all without the use of alternating current (AC) power. Capabilities include the ability is to provide a modest vacuum (less than 10 Torr), perform a pressure rise leak test, measure the gas's absolute pressure, and perform volume measurements. All operations are performed through a simple rotary control valve which controls pneumatically-operated manifold valves.

Detection of gas leakage

DOEpatents

Thornberg, Steven M; Brown, Jason

2015-02-17

A method of detecting leaks and measuring volumes as well as a device, the Power-free Pump Module (PPM), provides a self-contained leak test and volume measurement apparatus that requires no external sources of electrical power during leak testing or volume measurement. The PPM is a portable, pneumatically-controlled instrument capable of generating a vacuum, calibrating volumes, and performing quantitative leak tests on a closed test system or device, all without the use of alternating current (AC) power. Capabilities include the ability is to provide a modest vacuum (less than 10 Torr) using a venturi pump, perform a pressure rise leak test, measure the gas's absolute pressure, and perform volume measurements. All operations are performed through a simple rotary control valve which controls pneumatically-operated manifold valves.

Pad stress tests with increasing load for the diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence.

PubMed

Rimstad, Liv; Larsen, Elsa Skjønhaug; Schiøtz, Hjalmar A; Kulseng-Hanssen, Sigurd

2014-09-01

The aim of the study was to test the ability of pad stress tests with increasing load (supine, jumping on the floor, and jumping on a trampoline) to document stress incontinence in subjectively stress incontinent women. In this prospective study 147 subjectively stress and mixed incontinent women performed consecutively the three pad stress tests with a bladder volume of 300 ml. Nineteen women performed a second trampoline pad stress test to test repeatability of the test. Nine continent women performed a trampoline pad stress test in order to determine if subjectively continent women would leak during the test. Seventy-two women (49%) leaked during the supine, 136 (93%) leaked during the jumping, and 146 (99%) leaked during the trampoline pad stress test. The differences between pad stress tests were significant with P < 0.005. Correlation between the two trampoline pad stress tests was high at 0.8. None of the nine continent women leaked during the trampoline pad stress test. The supine pad stress test has low sensitivity and is therefore often falsely negative. The jumping pad stress test is a simple test to perform and is satisfactory for everyday use. Subjectively stress incontinent women who do not leak during the jumping pad stress test may perform a trampoline pad stress test to document stress incontinence. The trampoline pad stress test is also simple to perform and detected leakage in 91% of the women who did not leak during the jumping pad stress test. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Leak Rate Quantification Method for Gas Pressure Seals with Controlled Pressure Differential

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daniels, Christopher C.; Braun, Minel J.; Oravec, Heather A.; Mather, Janice L.; Taylor, Shawn C.

2015-01-01

An enhancement to the pressure decay leak rate method with mass point analysis solved deficiencies in the standard method. By adding a control system, a constant gas pressure differential across the test article was maintained. As a result, the desired pressure condition was met at the onset of the test, and the mass leak rate and measurement uncertainty were computed in real-time. The data acquisition and control system were programmed to automatically stop when specified criteria were met. Typically, the test was stopped when a specified level of measurement uncertainty was attained. Using silicone O-ring test articles, the new method was compared with the standard method that permitted the downstream pressure to be non-constant atmospheric pressure. The two methods recorded comparable leak rates, but the new method recorded leak rates with significantly lower measurement uncertainty, statistical variance, and test duration. Utilizing this new method in leak rate quantification, projects will reduce cost and schedule, improve test results, and ease interpretation between data sets.

77 FR 43374 - Biweekly Notice, Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-24

... degrees Fahrenheit ([deg]F) as a consequence of inservice leak and hydrostatic testing, and as a consequence of scram time testing initiated in conjunction with an inservice leak or hydrostatic test, while... [Limited Conditions of Operation] 3.10.1, Inservice Leak and Hydrostatic Testing Operation Using...

10 CFR 36.59 - Detection of leaking sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Detection of leaking sources. 36.59 Section 36.59 Energy... Irradiators § 36.59 Detection of leaking sources. (a) Each dry-source-storage sealed source must be tested for leakage at intervals not to exceed 6 months using a leak test kit or method approved by the Commission or...

Hermetic Seal Leak Detection Apparatus with Variable Size Test Chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kelley, Anthony R. (Inventor)

2015-01-01

The present invention is a versatile hermetic seal leak detection apparatus for testing hermetically sealed containers and devices for leaks without the need to create a custom or specially manufactured testing chamber conforming to the dimensions of the specific object under test. The size of the testing chamber may be mechanically adjusted by the novel use of bellows to reduce and optimize the amount of gas space in a test chamber which surrounds the hermetically sealed object under test. The present invention allows the size of the test chamber to be selectively adjusted during testing to provide an optimum test chamber gas space. The present invention may be further adapted to isolate and test specific portions of the hermetically sealed object under test for leaks.

Method and apparatus for container leakage testing

DOEpatents

Kronberg, James W.

1995-01-01

An apparatus for use in one-hundred percent leak testing of food containers used in conjunction with a tracer gas. The apparatus includes a shell with entrance and exit air locks to create a controlled atmosphere through which a series of containers is conveyed by a conveyor belt. The pressure in the shell is kept lower than the pressure in the containers and the atmosphere is made to flow with the containers so that a tracer gas placed in the packages before sealing them will leak more readily, but the leaked tracer gas will remain associated with the leaking package as it moves through the shell. The leaks are detected with a sniffer probe in fluid communication with a gas chromatograph. The gas chromatograph issues a signal when it detects a leak to an ejector that will eject the leaking container from the conveyor. The system is timed so that the series of containers can move continuously into and out of the shell, past the probe and the ejector, without stopping, yet each package is tested for leaks and removed if leaking.

75 FR 78557 - Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Amendments to the Section 608 Leak Repair Requirements

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-15

..., restaurants and other food service establishments. Cold storage includes the equipment used to store meat... equipment found in supermarkets, grocery and convenience stores, restaurants, and other food service... public comment on the selection of 24 hours as an appropriate amount of time, at a minimum, that must...

40 CFR 63.11094 - What are my recordkeeping requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...: Test pressure; pressure or vacuum change, mm of water; time period of test; number of leaks found with... § 63.11092(f)(1) and periodic railcar bubble leak testing performed under § 63.11092(f)(2). (2) The... Certification Test—Method 27 or Periodic Railcar Bubble Leak Test Procedure. (ii) Cargo tank owner's name and...

40 CFR 53.52 - Leak check test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... be verified at the highest and lowest pressures and temperatures used in the tests and shall be... 40 Protection of Environment 6 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Leak check test. 53.52 Section 53.52... Leak check test. (a) Overview. In section 7.4.6 of 40 CFR part 50, appendix L, the sampler is required...

10 CFR 34.27 - Leak testing and replacement of sealed sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Leak testing and replacement of sealed sources. 34.27 Section 34.27 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS Equipment § 34.27 Leak testing and replacement...

10 CFR 34.27 - Leak testing and replacement of sealed sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Leak testing and replacement of sealed sources. 34.27 Section 34.27 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS Equipment § 34.27 Leak testing and replacement...

10 CFR 34.27 - Leak testing and replacement of sealed sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Leak testing and replacement of sealed sources. 34.27 Section 34.27 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS Equipment § 34.27 Leak testing and replacement...

10 CFR 34.27 - Leak testing and replacement of sealed sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Leak testing and replacement of sealed sources. 34.27 Section 34.27 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS Equipment § 34.27 Leak testing and replacement...

10 CFR 34.27 - Leak testing and replacement of sealed sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Leak testing and replacement of sealed sources. 34.27 Section 34.27 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS Equipment § 34.27 Leak testing and replacement...

Hermetic Seal Leak Detection Apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kelley, Anthony R. (Inventor)

2013-01-01

The present invention is a hermetic seal leak detection apparatus, which can be used to test for hermetic seal leaks in instruments and containers. A vacuum tight chamber is created around the unit being tested to minimize gas space outside of the hermetic seal. A vacuum inducing device is then used to increase the gas chamber volume inside the device, so that a slight vacuum is pulled on the unit being tested. The pressure in the unit being tested will stabilize. If the stabilized pressure reads close to a known good seal calibration, there is not a leak in the seal. If the stabilized pressure reads closer to a known bad seal calibration value, there is a leak in the seal. The speed of the plunger can be varied and by evaluating the resulting pressure change rates and final values, the leak rate/size can be accurately calculated.

Pharmaceutical container/closure integrity. II: The relationship between microbial ingress and helium leak rates in rubber-stoppered glass vials.

PubMed

Kirsch, L E; Nguyen, L; Moeckly, C S; Gerth, R

1997-01-01

Helium leak rate measurements were quantitatively correlated to the probability of microbial ingress for rubber-stoppered glass vials subjected to immersion challenge. Standard 10-mL tubing glass vials were modified by inserting micropipettes of various sizes (0.1 to 10 microns nominal diameter) into a side wall hole and securing them with epoxy. Butyl rubber closures and aluminum crimps were used to seal the vials. The test units were sealed in a helium-filled glove bag, then the absolute helium leak rates were determined. The test units were disassembled, filled with media, resealed, and autoclaved. The test units were thermally treated to eliminate airlocks within the micropipette lumen and establish a liquid path between microbial challenge media and the test units' contents. Microbial challenge was performed by immersing the test units in a 35 degrees C bath containing magnesium ion and 8 to 10 logs of viable P. diminuta and E. coli for 24 hours. The test units were then incubated at 35 degrees C for an additional 13 days. Microbial ingress was detected by turbidity and plating on blood agar. The elimination of airlocks was confirmed by the presence of magnesium ions in the vial contents by atomic absorption spectrometry. A total of 288 vials were subjected to microbial challenge testing. Those test units whose contents failed to show detectable magnesium ions were eliminated from further analysis. At large leak rates, the probability of microbial ingress approached 100% and at very low leak rates microbial ingress rates were 0%. A dramatic increase in microbial failure occurred in the leak rate region 10(-4.5) to 10(-3) std cc/sec, which roughly corresponded to leak diameters ranging from 0.4 to 2 microns. Below a leak rate of 10(-4.5) std cc/sec the microbial failure rate was < 10%. The critical leak rate in our studies, i.e. the value below which microbial ingress cannot occur because the leak is too small, was observed to be between 10(-5) and 10(-5.8) std cc/sec, which corresponds to an approximate leak diameter of 0.2-0.3 micron.

40 CFR 63.428 - Reporting and recordkeeping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...; pressure or vacuum change, mm of water; time period of test; number of leaks found with instrument; and... facility as follows: (1) Annual certification testing performed under § 63.425(e) and railcar bubble leak...)); Annual Certification Test—Internal Vapor Valve (§ 63.425(e)(2)); Leak Detection Test (§ 63.425(f...

A primary standard for the calibration of sniffer test leak devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jousten, Karl; Becker, Ute

2009-10-01

Test leaks with a gas flow to atmospheric pressure are often called sniffer test leaks. They are used to calibrate leak detectors for sniffing applications. Sniffer test leaks need calibration against a standard. A primary standard for the calibration of sniffer test leaks with relatively low measurement uncertainties is described. It is assured that the measurement result is traceable to the relevant SI units and that there is a well-known and complete measurement uncertainty budget. The measurement range of the system is from 4 × 10-11 mol s-1 (corresponding to 10-4 Pa l s-1 at 23 °C) to 4 × 10-9 mol s-1 (10-2 Pa l s-1 at 23 °C), which is the most often needed range in industry of around 1 g loss per year of the cooling agent R134a. The temperature where the calibration can be carried out may vary from 18 °C to 30 °C. The flow rate of any test gas not condensing in this temperature range can be measured.

Velocity fluctuations of a heavy particle interacting with a hot and cold gas: Applications to molecular ion traps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaca, Christian; Bruinsma, Robijn; Levine, Alex J.

2014-03-01

Understanding the stochastic motion of a heavy particle in a gas of lighter ones is a classic problem in statistical mechanics. Alkemade, MacDonald, and Van Kampen (AMvK) analyzed this problem in one dimension, computing the velocity distribution function of the heavy particle in a perturbation expansion using the ratio of mass of the light to the heavy particle as a small parameter. Novel tests of this theory are now being provided by modern molecular ion traps [arXiv:1310.5190]. In such experiments, the heavy molecular ion interacts with a cold gas used for sympathetic cooling and low density hot gasses that leak into the system. Thus, the heavy ion is maintained in a complex nonequilibrium state due to its interactions with the hot and cold gasses. In this talk, we present an extension of the AMvK model appropriate to these experiments. Using new analytic and computational techniques, we explore the time-dependent velocity distribution function of the molecular ion interacting with the gasses including higher order perturbative corrections necessary to discuss the case in which the ion's mass is not significantly larger than that of the other two species. Using this analysis we address the experimental observation of non-Gaussian velocity distributions of the heavy ions.

Leak testing in parenteral packaging: establishment of direct correlation between helium leak rate measurements and microbial ingress for two different leak types.

PubMed

Morrical, Bradley D; Goverde, Marcel; Grausse, Jean; Gerwig, Tanja; Vorgrimler, Lothar; Morgen, Rachel; Büttiker, Jean-Pierre

2007-01-01

A direct test method using helium leak detection was developed to determine microbial ingress in parenteral vial/rubber closure systems. The purpose of this study was to establish a direct correlation between the helium leak rate and the presence of ingress when vials were submersed under pressure in a broth of bacteria. Results were obtained for two different types of leaks: microholes that have been laser-drilled into thin metal plates, and thin copper wire that was placed between the rubber closure and the glass vial's sealing surface. The results from the microholes showed that the helium leak rate was a function of the square of the hole diameter and fit well with theoretical calculations. The relationship with the wire gave a far more complex dependence and was not modeled theoretically. Comparison with the microbial challenge showed that for microholes a lower size limit was found to be 2 microm with a corresponding leak rate of 1.4 x 10(-3) mbarl/s. For the fine wire experiment the lower limit was 15-microm wire and a corresponding leak rate of 1.3 x 10(-5) mbarl/s. From these tests a safe, lower limit, leak rate was established.

Vacuum decay container closure integrity leak test method development and validation for a lyophilized product-package system.

PubMed

Patel, Jayshree; Mulhall, Brian; Wolf, Heinz; Klohr, Steven; Guazzo, Dana Morton

2011-01-01

A leak test performed according to ASTM F2338-09 Standard Test Method for Nondestructive Detection of Leaks in Packages by Vacuum Decay Method was developed and validated for container-closure integrity verification of a lyophilized product in a parenteral vial package system. This nondestructive leak test method is intended for use in manufacturing as an in-process package integrity check, and for testing product stored on stability in lieu of sterility tests. Method development and optimization challenge studies incorporated artificially defective packages representing a range of glass vial wall and sealing surface defects, as well as various elastomeric stopper defects. Method validation required 3 days of random-order replicate testing of a test sample population of negative-control, no-defect packages and positive-control, with-defect packages. Positive-control packages were prepared using vials each with a single hole laser-drilled through the glass vial wall. Hole creation and hole size certification was performed by Lenox Laser. Validation study results successfully demonstrated the vacuum decay leak test method's ability to accurately and reliably detect those packages with laser-drilled holes greater than or equal to approximately 5 μm in nominal diameter. All development and validation studies were performed at Whitehouse Analytical Laboratories in Whitehouse, NJ, under the direction of consultant Dana Guazzo of RxPax, LLC, using a VeriPac 455 Micro Leak Test System by Packaging Technologies & Inspection (Tuckahoe, NY). Bristol Myers Squibb (New Brunswick, NJ) fully subsidized all work. A leak test performed according to ASTM F2338-09 Standard Test Method for Nondestructive Detection of Leaks in Packages by Vacuum Decay Method was developed and validated to detect defects in stoppered vial packages containing lyophilized product for injection. This nondestructive leak test method is intended for use in manufacturing as an in-process package integrity check, and for testing product stored on stability in lieu of sterility tests. Test method validation study results proved the method capable of detecting holes laser-drilled through the glass vial wall greater than or equal to 5 μm in nominal diameter. Total test time is less than 1 min per package. All method development and validation studies were performed at Whitehouse Analytical Laboratories in Whitehouse, NJ, under the direction of consultant Dana Guazzo of RxPax, LLC, using a VeriPac 455 Micro Leak Test System by Packaging Technologies & Inspection (Tuckahoe, NY). Bristol Myers Squibb (New Brunswick, NJ) fully subsidized all work.

Experience with helium leak and thermal shocks test of SST-1 cryo components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Rajiv; Nimavat, Hiren; Srikanth, G. L. N.; Bairagi, Nitin; Shah, Pankil; Tanna, V. L.; Pradhan, S.

2012-11-01

A steady state superconducting Tokamak SST-1 is presently under its assembly stage at the Institute for Plasma Research. The SST-1 machine is a family of Superconducting SC coils for both Toroidal field and Poloidal Field. An ultra high vacuum compatible vacuum vessel, placed in the bore of the TF coils, houses the plasma facing components. A high vacuum cryostat encloses all the SC coils and the vacuum vessel. Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) cooled thermal shield between the vacuum vessel & SC coils as well as between cryostat and the SC coils. There are number of crucial cryogenic components as Electrical isolators, 80 K thermal shield, Cryogenic flexible hose etc., which have to be passed the performance validation tests as part of fulfillment of the stringent QA/QC before incorporated in the main assembly. The individual leak tests of components at RT as well as after thermal cycle from 300 K to 77 K ensure us to make final overall leak proof system. These components include, Large numbers of Electrical Isolators for Helium as well as LN2 services, Flexible Bellows and Hoses for Helium as well as LN2 services, Thermal shock tests of large numbers of 80 K Bubble shields In order to validate the helium leak tightness of these components, we have used the calibrated mass spectrometer leak detector (MSLD) at 300 K, 77 K and 4.2. Since it is very difficult to locate the leaks, which are appearing at rather lower temperatures e.g. less than 20 K, We have invented different approaches to resolve the issue of such leaks. This paper, in general describes the design of cryogenic flexible hose, assembly, couplings for leak testing, test method and techniques of thermal cycles test at 77 K inflow conditions and leak testing aspects of different cryogenic components. The test results, the problems encountered and its solutions techniques are discussed.

Aerospace Payloads Leak Test Methodology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lvovsky, Oleg; Grayson, Cynthia M.

2010-01-01

Pressurized and sealed aerospace payloads can leak on orbit. When dealing with toxic or hazardous materials, requirements for fluid and gas leakage rates have to be properly established, and most importantly, reliably verified using the best Nondestructive Test (NDT) method available. Such verification can be implemented through application of various leak test methods that will be the subject of this paper, with a purpose to show what approach to payload leakage rate requirement verification is taken by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The scope of this paper will be mostly a detailed description of 14 leak test methods recommended.

Payload and Components Real-Time Automated Test System (PACRATS), Data Acquisition of Leak Rate and Pressure Data Test Procedure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rinehart, Maegan L.

2011-01-01

The purpose of this activity is to provide the Mechanical Components Test Facility (MCTF) with the capability to obtain electronic leak test and proof pressure data, Payload and Components Real-time Automated Test System (PACRATS) data acquisition software will be utilized to display real-time data. It will record leak rates and pressure/vacuum level(s) simultaneously. This added functionality will provide electronic leak test and pressure data at specified sampling frequencies. Electronically stored data will provide ES61 with increased data security, analysis, and accuracy. The tasks performed in this procedure are to verify PACRATS only, and are not intended to provide verifications for MCTF equipment.

Failure Pressure and Leak Rate of Steam Generator Tubes With Stress Corrosion Cracks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Majumdar, S.; Kasza, K.; Park, J.Y.

2002-07-01

This paper illustrates the use of an 'equivalent rectangular crack' approach to predict leak rates through laboratory generated stress corrosion cracks. A comparison between predicted and observed test data on rupture and leak rate from laboratory generated stress corrosion cracks are provided. Specimen flaws were sized by post-test fractography in addition to pre-test advanced eddy current technique. The test failure pressures and leak rates are shown to be closer to those predicted on the basis of fractography than on NDE. However, the predictions based on NDE results are encouraging, particularly because they have the potential to determine a more detailedmore » geometry of ligamentous cracks from which more accurate predictions of failure pressure and leak rate can be made in the future. (authors)« less

10 CFR 34.67 - Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium. 34.67 Section 34.67 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES FOR INDUSTRIAL... Requirements § 34.67 Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium. Each...

10 CFR 34.67 - Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium. 34.67 Section 34.67 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES FOR INDUSTRIAL... Requirements § 34.67 Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium. Each...

10 CFR 34.67 - Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium. 34.67 Section 34.67 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES FOR INDUSTRIAL... Requirements § 34.67 Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium. Each...

10 CFR 34.67 - Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium. 34.67 Section 34.67 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES FOR INDUSTRIAL... Requirements § 34.67 Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium. Each...

U.S.-MEXICO BORDER PROGRAM ARIZONA BORDER STUDY--STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR HARVARD PM IMPACTOR CALIBRATION AND LEAK TESTING (UA-L-7.1)

EPA Science Inventory

The purpose of this SOP is to describe the procedures for the periodic calibration and leak testing of Harvard particulate matter (PM) impactor units. This procedure applies directly to the calibration and leak testing of Harvard PM impactor units used during the Arizona NHEXAS ...

NHEXAS PHASE I ARIZONA STUDY--STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR HARVARD PM IMPACTOR CALIBRATION AND LEAK TESTING (UA-L-7.1)

EPA Science Inventory

The purpose of this SOP is to describe the procedures for the periodic calibration and leak testing of Harvard particulate matter (PM) impactor units. This procedure applies directly to the calibration and leak testing of Harvard PM impactor units used during the Arizona NHEXAS ...

10 CFR 34.67 - Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium. 34.67 Section 34.67 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES FOR INDUSTRIAL... Requirements § 34.67 Records of leak testing of sealed sources and devices containing depleted uranium. Each...

White gauze test: a novel technique in preventing post-hepatectomy bile leak.

PubMed

Yugasaravanan, K; Affirul, C A; Zamri, Z; Azlanudin, A; Bong, J J

Post-hepatectomy bile leak may lead to undesired morbidity. Multiple methods have been employed to identify this leak but can be inconclusive and taxing. This novel white gauze test is a simple and reliable method. This is a prospective study performed from January 2010 until March 2011. All open hepatic resection were included. Dry white gauze is compressed onto the transected surface and observed for bile staining. The leaking duct is repaired immediately upon detection. The process is repeated until negative. Drain was removed on postoperative day-5. Post-operative bile leak is defined as: 1. Bilirubin concentration of the drain fluid is 3 times or higher than serum; 2. Presence of intra-abdominal bile collection on imaging and upon drainage; 3. Bile leak demonstrated on postoperative cholangiography. 42 patients were recruited. Seven (16.7%) patients were cirrhotic with Child-Pugh A. White gauze test were positive for intra-operative bile leaks in 29 patients (70%), which were primarily repaired. As a result, there was no postoperative bile leak in this series. One mortality was detected in this series due to postoperative pancreatic fistula and multi organ failure. The White Gauze Test is a useful method for the prevention of bile leakage after hepatic resection. It is safe, quick and cheap.

SIXTH INTERIM STATUS REPORT: MODEL 9975 PCV O-RING FIXTURE LONG-TERM LEAK PERFORMANCE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daugherty, W.

2011-08-31

A series of experiments to monitor the aging performance of Viton{reg_sign} GLT O-rings used in the Model 9975 package has been ongoing for seven years at the Savannah River National Laboratory. Seventy tests using mock-ups of 9975 Primary Containment Vessels (PCVs) were assembled and heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 F. They were leak-tested initially and have been tested periodically to determine if they meet the criterion of leak-tightness defined in ANSI standard N14.5-97. Fourteen additional tests were initiated in 2008 with GLT-S O-rings heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 F. High temperature aging continues formore » 33 GLT O-ring fixtures at 200-300 F. Room temperature leak test failures have been experienced in all of the GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 350 F and higher temperatures, and in 7 fixtures aging at 300 F. No failures have yet been observed in GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 200 F for 41-60 months, which is still bounding to O-ring temperatures during storage in K-Area Complex (KAC). Based on expectations that the fixtures aging at 200 F will remain leak-tight for a significant period yet to come, 2 additional fixtures began aging within the past year at an intermediate temperature of 270 F, with hopes that they may leak before the 200 F fixtures. High temperature aging continues for 6 GLT-S O-ring fixtures at 200-300 F. Room temperature leak test failures have been experienced in all 8 of the GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 350 and 400 F. No failures have yet been observed in GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 200-300 F for up to 26 months. For O-ring fixtures that have failed the room temperature leak test and been disassembled, the Orings displayed a compression set ranging from 51-96%. This is greater than seen to date for packages inspected during KAC field surveillance (24% average). For GLT O-rings, separate service life estimates have been made based on the O-ring fixture leak test data and based on compression stress relaxation (CSR) data. These two predictive models show reasonable agreement at higher temperatures (350-400 F). However, at 300 F, the room temperature leak test failures to date experienced longer aging times than predicted by the CSR-based model. This suggests that extrapolations of the CSR model predictions to temperatures below 300 F will provide a conservative prediction of service life relative to the leak rate criterion. Leak test failure data at lower temperatures are needed to verify this apparent trend. Insufficient failure data exist currently to perform a similar comparison for GLT-S O-rings. Aging and periodic leak testing will continue for the remaining fixtures.« less

Apparatus for detecting leaks

DOEpatents

Booth, Eugene T.

1976-02-24

A method and apparatus for determining the position of and estimating the size of leaks in an evacuating apparatus comprising the use of a testing gas such as helium or hydrogen flowing around said apparatus whereby the testing gas will be drawn in at the site of any leaks.

Commercial Grade Item (CGI) Dedication for Leak Detection Relays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

KOCH, M.R.; JOHNS, B.R.

1999-12-21

This Test Plan provides a test method to dedicate the leak detection relays used on the new Pumping and Instrumentation Control (PIC) skids. The new skids are fabricated on-site. The leak detection system is a safety class system per the Authorization Basis.

Commercial Grade Item (CGI) Dedication for Leak Detection Relays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

KOCH, M.R.

2000-02-28

This Test Plan provides a test method to dedicate the leak detection relays used on the new Pumping Instrumentation and Control (PIC) skids. The new skids are fabricated on-site. The leak detection system is a safety class system per the Authorization Basis.

Commercial Grade Item (CGI) Dedication for Leak Detection Relays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

KOCH, M.R.

1999-08-11

This Test Plan provides a test method to dedicate the leak detection relays used on the new Pumping and Instrumentation Control (PIC) skids. The new skids are fabricated on-site. The leak detection system is a safety class system per the Authorization Basis.

Commercial Grade Item (CGI) Dedication for Leak Detection Relays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

JOHNS, B.R.

1999-05-05

This Test Plan provides a test method to dedicate the leak detection relays used on the new Pumping and Instrumentation Control (PIC) skids. The new skids are fabricated on-site. The leak detection system is a safety class system per the Authorization Basis.

Commercial Grade Item (CGI) Dedication for Leak Detection Relays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

KOCH, M.R.

1999-10-26

This Test Plan provides a test method to dedicate the leak detection relays used on the new Pumping and Instrumentation Control (PIC) skids. The new skids are fabricated on-site. The leak detection system is a safety class system per the Authorization Basis.

Commercial Grade Item (CGI) Dedication for Leak Detection Relays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

JOHNS, B.R.; KOCH, M.R.

2000-01-28

This Test Plan provides a test method to dedicate the leak detection relays used on the new Pumping Instrumentation and Control (PIC) skids. The new skids are fabricated on-site. The leak detection system is a safety class system per the Authorization Basis.

What is the optimal management of an intra-operative air leak in a colorectal anastomosis?

PubMed

Mitchem, J B; Stafford, C; Francone, T D; Roberts, P L; Schoetz, D J; Marcello, P W; Ricciardi, R

2018-02-01

An airtight anastomosis on intra-operative leak testing has been previously demonstrated to be associated with a lower risk of clinically significant postoperative anastomotic leak following left-sided colorectal anastomosis. However, to date, there is no consistently agreed upon method for management of an intra-operative anastomotic leak. Therefore, we powered a noninferiority study to determine whether suture repair alone was an appropriate strategy for the management of an intra-operative air leak. This is a retrospective cohort analysis of prospectively collected data from a tertiary care referral centre. We included all consecutive patients with left-sided colorectal or ileorectal anastomoses and evidence of air leak during intra-operative leak testing. Patients were excluded if proximal diversion was planned preoperatively, a pre-existing proximal diversion was present at the time of surgery or an anastomosis was ultimately unable to be completed. The primary outcome measure was clinically significant anastomotic leak, as defined by the Surgical Infection Study Group at 30 days. From a sample of 2360 patients, 119 had an intra-operative air leak during leak testing. Sixty-eight patients underwent suture repair alone and 51 underwent proximal diversion or anastomotic reconstruction. The clinically significant leak rate was 9% (6/68; 95% CI: 2-15%) in the suture repair alone arm and 0% (0/51) in the diversion or reconstruction arm. Suture repair alone does not meet the criteria for noninferiority for the management of intra-operative air leak during left-sided colorectal anastomosis. Further repair of intra-operative air leak by suture repair alone should be reconsidered given these findings. Colorectal Disease © 2017 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.

21 CFR 800.20 - Patient examination gloves and surgeons' gloves; sample plans and test method for leakage defects...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... examination and by a water leak test method, using 1,000 milliliters (ml) of water. (i) Units examined. Each... inches up the fill tube.) (iii) Leak test examination. Immediately after adding the water, examine the glove for water leaks. Do not squeeze the glove; use only minimum manipulation to spread the fingers to...

Detecting well casing leaks in Bangladesh using a salt spiking method

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stahl, M.O.; Ong, J.B.; Harvey, C.F.; Johnson, C.D.; Badruzzaman, A.B.M.; Tarek, M.H.; VanGeen, A.; Anderson, J.A.; Lane, J.W.

2014-01-01

We apply fluid-replacement logging in arsenic-contaminated regions of Bangladesh using a low-cost, down-well fluid conductivity logging tool to detect leaks in the cased section of wells. The fluid-conductivity tool is designed for the developing world: it is lightweight and easily transportable, operable by one person, and can be built for minimal cost. The fluid-replacement test identifies leaking casing by comparison of fluid conductivity logs collected before and after spiking the wellbore with a sodium chloride tracer. Here, we present results of fluid-replacement logging tests from both leaking and non-leaking casing from wells in Araihazar and Munshiganj, Bangladesh, and demonstrate that the low-cost tool produces measurements comparable to those obtained with a standard geophysical logging tool. Finally, we suggest well testing procedures and approaches for preventing casing leaks in Bangladesh and other developing countries.

Detecting well casing leaks in Bangladesh using a salt spiking method.

PubMed

Stahl, M O; Ong, J B; Harvey, C F; Johnson, C D; Badruzzaman, A B M; Tarek, M H; van Geen, A; Anderson, J A; Lane, J W

2014-09-01

We apply fluid-replacement logging in arsenic-contaminated regions of Bangladesh using a low-cost, down-well fluid conductivity logging tool to detect leaks in the cased section of wells. The fluid-conductivity tool is designed for the developing world: it is lightweight and easily transportable, operable by one person, and can be built for minimal cost. The fluid-replacement test identifies leaking casing by comparison of fluid conductivity logs collected before and after spiking the wellbore with a sodium chloride tracer. Here, we present results of fluid-replacement logging tests from both leaking and non-leaking casing from wells in Araihazar and Munshiganj, Bangladesh, and demonstrate that the low-cost tool produces measurements comparable to those obtained with a standard geophysical logging tool. Finally, we suggest well testing procedures and approaches for preventing casing leaks in Bangladesh and other developing countries. © 2014, National Ground Water Association.

40 CFR 65.117 - Alternative means of emission limitation: Batch processes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CONSOLIDATED FEDERAL AIR RULE Equipment Leaks § 65.117 Alternative means... section provide the options of pressure testing or monitoring the equipment for leaks. The owner or... pressure-tested for leaks before regulated material is first fed to the equipment and the equipment is...

The Predictive Value of Coefficient of PCT × BG for Anastomotic Leak in Esophageal Carcinoma Patients With ARDS After Esophagectomy.

PubMed

Li, Huan; Wang, Daofeng; Wei, Wenxiao; Ouyang, Lamei; Lou, Ning

2017-01-01

Anastomotic leak was a potentially severe life-threatening complication of esophagectomy, which drew attention in consequence of progressive dyspnea until acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to the early asymptomatic presentation. Respiratory failure, caused by ARDS as the severe presentation of anastomotic leak, is the most common organ failure. CRP (C-reactive protein), procalcitonin (PCT), and Blood G (BG) test are the sensitivity markers for inflammatory, sepsis, and fungemia, respectively. Early recognition and intervention treatment of anastomotic leak may alleviate complication and improve outcome. We retrospectively analyzed 71 patients, accepting mechanical ventilation support because of ARDS as the complication after radical resection of esophagus cancer. Clinical data were collected from the patients' electronic medical records, including their clinically hematological examination, drainage fluid cultures, and sputum culture. Accord to appearance of anastomotic leak or not, all patients were divided into 2 groups, leak group and no-leak group. Inflammatory markers, such as CRP, PCT, and the coefficient of BG and PCT, were significantly different between the 2 groups. Respiratory index, white blood cell, hemoglobin (HBG), platelet (PLT), and other clinical factors were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the curve for various cutoff levels of several factors. Blood G tests presented the better predicting value for anastomotic leak. Blood G tests and PCT should be tested after esophagectomy. The coefficient of PCT and BG (>260) is of great significance, and clinical value to predict anastomotic leak for patients with postesophagectomy ARDS, early PCT and BG test, and especially, dynamic variation may alleviate complication and improve outcome.

Low Thermal Loss Cryogenic Transfer Line with Magnetic Suspension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shu, Quan-Sheng; Cheng, Guangfeng; Yu, Kun; Hull, John R.; Demko, Jonathan A.; Britcher, Colin P.; Fesmire, James E.; Augustynowicz, Stan D.

2004-06-01

An energy efficient, cost effective cryogenic distribution system (up to several miles) is crucial for spaceport and in-space cryogenic systems. The conduction heat loss from the supports that connect the cold inner lines to the warm support structure is ultimately the most serious heat leak after thermal radiation has been minimized. The use of magnetic levitation by permanent magnets and high temperature superconductors provides support without mechanical contact and thus, the conduction part of the heat leak can be reduced to zero. A stop structure is carefully designed to hold the center tube when the system is warm. The novel design will provide the potential of extending many missions by saving cryogens, or reducing the overall launch mass.

A multicenter study of routine versus selective intraoperative leak testing for sleeve gastrectomy.

PubMed

Bingham, Jason; Kaufman, Jedediah; Hata, Kai; Dickerson, James; Beekley, Alec; Wisbach, Gordon; Swann, Jacob; Ahnfeldt, Eric; Hawkins, Devon; Choi, Yong; Lim, Robert; Martin, Matthew

2017-09-01

Staple line leaks after sleeve gastrectomy are dreaded complications. Many surgeons routinely perform an intraoperative leak test (IOLT) despite little evidence to validate the reliability, clinical benefit, and safety of this procedure. To determine the efficacy of IOLT and if routine use has any benefit over selective use. Eight teaching hospitals, including private, university, and military facilities. A multicenter, retrospective analysis over a 5-year period. The efficacy of the IOLT for identifying unsuspected staple line defects and for predicting postoperative leaks was evaluated. An anonymous survey was also collected reflecting surgeons' practices and beliefs regarding IOLT. From January 2010 through December 2014, 4284 patients underwent sleeve gastrectomy. Of these, 37 patients (.9%) developed a postoperative leak, and 2376 patients (55%) received an IOLT. Only 2 patients (0.08%) had a positive finding. Subsequently, 21 patients with a negative IOLT developed a leak. IOLT demonstrated a sensitivity of only 8.7%. There was a nonsignificant trend toward increased leak rates when an IOLT was performed versus when IOLT was not performed. Leak rates were not statistically different between centers that routinely perform IOLT versus those that selectively perform IOLT. Routine IOLT had very poor sensitivity and was negative in 91% of patients who later developed postoperative leaks. The use of IOLT was not associated with a decrease in the incidence of postoperative leaks, and routine IOLT had no benefit over selective leak testing. IOLT should not be used as a quality indicator or "best practice" for bariatric surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Hazardous Gas Leak Analysis in the Space Shuttle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barile, Ronald G.

1991-01-01

Helium tests of the main propulsion system in the Space Shuttle and on hydrogen leaks are examined. The hazardous gas detection system (HGDS) in the mobile launch pad uses mass spectrometers (MS) to monitor the shuttle environment for leaks. The mass spectrometers are fed by long tubes to sample gas from the payload bay, mid-body, aft engine compartment, and external tank. The purpose is to improve the HGDS, especially in its potential for locating cryogen leaks. Pre-existing leak data was analyzed for transient information to determine if the leak location could be pinpointed from test data. A rapid response leak detection experiment was designed, built, and tested. Large eddies and vortices were visually seen with Schlieren imaging, and they were detected in the time plots of the various instruments. The response time of the MS was found in the range of 0.05 to 0.1 sec. Pulsed concentration waves were clearly detected at 25 cycles per sec by spectral analysis of MS data. One conclusion is that the backup HGDS sampling frequency should be increased above the present rate of 1 sample per second.

Leak test fixture and method for using same

DOEpatents

Hawk, Lawrence S.

1976-01-01

A method and apparatus are provided which are especially useful for leak testing seams such as an end closure or joint in an article. The test does not require an enclosed pressurized volume within the article or joint section to be leak checked. A flexible impervious membrane is disposed over an area of the seamed surfaces to be leak checked and sealed around the outer edges. A preselected vacuum is applied through an opening in the membrane to evacuate the area between the membrane and the surface being leak checked to essentially collapse the membrane to conform to the article surface or joined adjacent surfaces. A pressure differential is concentrated at the seam bounded by the membrane and only the seam experiences a pressure differential as air or helium molecules are drawn into the vacuum system through a leak in the seam. A helium detector may be placed in a vacuum exhaust line from the membrane to detect the helium. Alternatively, the vacuum system may be isolated at a preselected pressure and leaks may be detected by a subsequent pressure increase in the vacuum system.

Leak test adapter for containers

DOEpatents

Hallett, Brian H.; Hartley, Michael S.

1996-01-01

An adapter is provided for facilitating the charging of containers and leak testing penetration areas. The adapter comprises an adapter body and stem which are secured to the container's penetration areas. The container is then pressurized with a tracer gas. Manipulating the adapter stem installs a penetration plug allowing the adapter to be removed and the penetration to be leak tested with a mass spectrometer. Additionally, a method is provided for using the adapter.

SEVENTH INTERIM STATUS REPORT: MODEL 9975 PCV O-RING FIXTURE LONG-TERM LEAK PERFORMANCE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daugherty, W.

2012-08-30

A series of experiments to monitor the aging performance of Viton® GLT O-rings used in the Model 9975 package has been ongoing since 2004 at the Savannah River National Laboratory. Seventy tests using mock-ups of 9975 Primary Containment Vessels (PCVs) were assembled and heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 ºF. They were leak-tested initially and have been tested periodically to determine if they meet the criterion of leak-tightness defined in ANSI standard N14.5-97. Fourteen additional tests were initiated in 2008 with GLT-S O-rings heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 ºF. High temperature aging continues for 23more » GLT O-ring fixtures at 200 – 270 ºF. Room temperature leak test failures have been experienced in all of the GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 350 ºF and higher temperatures, and in 8 fixtures aging at 300 ºF. The remaining GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 300 ºF have been retired from testing following more than 5 years at temperature without failure. No failures have yet been observed in GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 200 ºF for 54-72 months, which is still bounding to O-ring temperatures during storage in K-Area Complex (KAC). Based on expectations that the fixtures aging at 200 ºF will remain leak-tight for a significant period yet to come, 2 additional fixtures began aging in 2011 at an intermediate temperature of 270 ºF, with hopes that they may reach a failure condition before the 200 ºF fixtures. High temperature aging continues for 6 GLT-S O-ring fixtures at 200 – 300 ºF. Room temperature leak test failures have been experienced in all 8 of the GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 350 and 400 ºF. No failures have yet been observed in GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 200 - 300 ºF for 30 - 36 months. For O-ring fixtures that have failed the room temperature leak test and been disassembled, the O-rings displayed a compression set ranging from 51 – 96%. This is greater than seen to date for any packages inspected during KAC field surveillance (24% average). For GLT O-rings, separate service life estimates have been made based on the O-ring fixture leak test data and based on compression stress relaxation (CSR) data. These two predictive models show reasonable agreement at higher temperatures (350 – 400 ºF). However, at 300 ºF, the room temperature leak test failures to date experienced longer aging times than predicted by the CSRbased model. This suggests that extrapolations of the CSR model predictions to temperatures below 300 ºF will provide a conservative prediction of service life relative to the leak rate criterion. Leak test failure data at lower temperatures are needed to verify this apparent trend. Insufficient failure data exist currently to perform a similar comparison for GLT-S O-rings. Aging and periodic leak testing will continue for the remaining PCV O-ring fixtures.« less

Seal Integrity of Selected Fuzes as Measured by Three Leak Test Methods

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-09-01

the worst fuze from the seal standpoint. The M503A-2 fuze body is made from a cast aluminum alloy . The casting process leaves voids which, after...leak resistance of the joint. WDU4A/A The design of this fuze depends upon ultrasonic welding to seal lid to case. The specified leak test merely...test is probably one of the better leakage tests from an effectiveness standpoint. However, from lot quantities of 690 and 480, reject rates of 20% were

Leak rate measurements for satellite subsystems and residual gas analysis during space environment tests. [thermal vacuum and solar simulation tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nuss, H. E.

1975-01-01

The measuring and evaluation procedure for the determination of leak rates of satellite subsystems with a quadrupole mass spectrometer, and the results of the residual gas analysis are described. The method selected for leak rate determination was placing the system into a vacuum chamber and furnishing the chamber with a mass spectrometer and calibrated leaks. The residual gas of a thermal vacuum test facility, in which the thermal balance test radiation input was simulated by a heated canister, was analyzed with the mass spectrometer in the atomic mass unit range up to 300 amu. In addition to the measurements during the space environment tests, mass spectrometric studies were performed with samples of spacecraft materials. The studies were carried out during tests for the projects HELIOS, AEROS B and SYMPHONIE.

40 CFR 280.52 - Release investigation and confirmation steps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... testing in § 280.43(c) and § 280.44(b)) that determine whether a leak exists in that portion of the tank... F if the test results for the system, tank, or delivery piping indicate that a leak exists. (2... indicate that a leak exists and if environmental contamination is not the basis for suspecting a release...

Risk Factors for Gastrointestinal Leak after Bariatric Surgery: MBASQIP Analysis.

PubMed

Alizadeh, Reza Fazl; Li, Shiri; Inaba, Colette; Penalosa, Patrick; Hinojosa, Marcelo W; Smith, Brian R; Stamos, Michael J; Nguyen, Ninh T

2018-03-30

Gastrointestinal leak remains one of the most dreaded complications in bariatric surgery. We aimed to evaluate risk factors and the impact of common perioperative interventions on the development of leak in patients who underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Using the 2015 database of accredited centers, data were analyzed for patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). Emergent, revisional, and converted cases were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for leak, including provocative testing of anastomosis, surgical drain placement, and use of postoperative swallow study. Data from 133,478 patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (n = 92,495 [69.3%]) and LRYGB (n = 40,983 [30.7%]) were analyzed. Overall leak rate was 0.7% (938 of 133,478). Factors associated with increased risk for leak were oxygen dependency (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.97), hypoalbuminemia (AOR 1.66), sleep apnea (AOR 1.52), hypertension (AOR 1.36), and diabetes (AOR 1.18). Compared with LRYGB, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was associated with a lower risk of leak (AOR 0.52; 95% CI 0.44 to 0.61; p < 0.01). Intraoperative provocative test was performed in 81.9% of cases and the leak rate was higher in patients with vs without a provocative test (0.8% vs 0.4%, respectively; p < 0.01). A surgical drain was placed in 24.5% of cases and the leak rate was higher in patients with vs without a surgical drain placed (1.6% vs 0.4%, respectively; p < 0.01). A swallow study was performed in 41% of cases and the leak rate was similar between patients with vs without swallow study (0.7% vs 0.7%; p = 0.50). The overall rate of gastrointestinal leak in bariatric surgery is low. Certain preoperative factors, procedural type (LRYGB), and interventions (intraoperative provocative test and surgical drain placement) were associated with a higher risk for leaks. Copyright © 2018 American College of Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of wetting effect at the outer surface of the pipe on increase in leak rate - experimental results and discussion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Isozaki, Toshikuni; Shibata, Katsuyuki

1997-04-01

Experimental and computed results applicable to Leak Before Break analysis are presented. The specific area of investigation is the effect of the temperature distribution changes due to wetting of the test pipe near the crack on the increase in the crack opening area and leak rate. Two 12-inch straight pipes subjected to both internal pressure and thermal load, but not to bending load, are modelled. The leak rate was found to be very susceptible to the metal temperature of the piping. In leak rate tests, therefore, it is recommended that temperature distribution be measured precisely for a wide area.

Transepithelial leak in Barrett's esophagus patients: The role of proton pump inhibitors

PubMed Central

Farrell, Christopher; Morgan, Melissa; Tully, Owen; Wolov, Kevin; Kearney, Keith; Ngo, Benjamin; Mercogliano, Giancarlo; Thornton, James J; Valenzano, Mary Carmen; Mullin, James M

2012-01-01

AIM: To determine if the observed paracellular sucrose leak in Barrett’s esophagus patients is due to their proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use. METHODS: The in vivo sucrose permeability test was administered to healthy controls, to Barrett’s patients and to non-Barrett’s patients on continuous PPI therapy. Degree of leak was tested for correlation with presence of Barrett’s, use of PPIs, and length of Barrett’s segment and duration of PPI use. RESULTS: Barrett’s patients manifested a near 3-fold greater, upper gastrointestinal sucrose leak than healthy controls. A decrease of sucrose leak was observed in Barrett’s patients who ceased PPI use for 7 d. Although initial introduction of PPI use (in a PPI-naïve population) results in dramatic increase in sucrose leak, long-term, continuous PPI use manifested a slow spontaneous decline in leak. The sucrose leak observed in Barrett’s patients showed no correlation to the amount of Barrett’s tissue present in the esophagus. CONCLUSION: Although future research is needed to determine the degree of paracellular leak in actual Barrett’s mucosa, the relatively high degree of leak observed with in vivo sucrose permeability measurement of Barrett’s patients reflects their PPI use and not their Barrett’s tissue per se. PMID:22719187

Measuring Small Leak Holes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koch, D. E.; Stephenson, J. G.

1983-01-01

Hole sizes deduced from pressure measurements. Measuring apparatus consists of pitot tube attached to water-filled manometer. Compartment tested is pressurized with air. Pitot probe placed at known distance from leak. Dynamic pressure of jet measured at that point and static pressure measured in compartment. Useful in situations in which small leaks are tolerable but large leaks are not.

Experimental investigation of 20 K two-stage layered active magnetic regenerative refrigerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Inmyong; Jeong, Sangkwon

2015-12-01

The performance of a two-stage layered AMRR is experimentally investigated. The test apparatus includes two-stage layered AMRs, low temperature superconducting (LTS) magnet which generates maximum magnetic field of 4 T, and the helium gas flow system. The helium compressor with the tandem rotary valve is employed to generate the oscillating flow of the helium gas minimizing the pressure swing effect. The mass flow rate of working fluid is controlled separately at the first and second stages of the AMR by solenoid valves. The mass flow rate of the AMRs is measured by the mass flow meter and the cryogenic hot-film sensor which is calibrated at cryogenic temperature range from 20 K to 77 K. In order to reduce the heat leak by shuttle heat transfer of the working fluid, void volumes have been implemented and connected to the cold ends of the AMR1 and AMR2. The temperature span of the AMR is recorded as 52 K and the performance of the AMR with the variation of the mass flow rate is analysed. The results show that the mass flow rate and the heat leak due to the shuttle heat transfer by oscillating working fluid are crucial factors in the AMR performance.

Tank 241-AY-102 Secondary Liner Corrosion Evaluation - 14191

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Boomer, Kayle D.; Washenfelder, Dennis J.; Johnson, Jeremy M.

2014-01-07

In October 2012, Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC (WRPS) determined that the primary tank of 241-AY-102 (AY-102) was leaking. A number of evaluations were performed after discovery of the leak which identified corrosion from storage of waste at the high waste temperatures as one of the major contributing factors in the failure of the tank. The propensity for corrosion of the waste on the annulus floor will be investigated to determine if it is corrosive and must be promptly removed or if it is benign and may remain in the annulus. The chemical composition of waste, the temperature and themore » character of the steel are important factors in assessing the propensity for corrosion. Unfortunately, the temperatures of the wastes in contact with the secondary steel liner are not known; they are estimated to range from 45 deg C to 60 deg C. It is also notable that most corrosion tests have been carried out with un-welded, stress-relieved steels, but the secondary liner in tank AY-102 was not stress-relieved. In addition, the cold weather fabrication and welding led to many problems, which required repeated softening of the metal to flatten secondary bottom during its construction. This flame treatment may have altered the microstructure of the steel.« less

Using Decision Trees to Detect and Isolate Simulated Leaks in the J-2X Rocket Engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schwabacher, Mark A.; Aguilar, Robert; Figueroa, Fernando F.

2009-01-01

The goal of this work was to use data-driven methods to automatically detect and isolate faults in the J-2X rocket engine. It was decided to use decision trees, since they tend to be easier to interpret than other data-driven methods. The decision tree algorithm automatically "learns" a decision tree by performing a search through the space of possible decision trees to find one that fits the training data. The particular decision tree algorithm used is known as C4.5. Simulated J-2X data from a high-fidelity simulator developed at Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and known as the Detailed Real-Time Model (DRTM) was used to "train" and test the decision tree. Fifty-six DRTM simulations were performed for this purpose, with different leak sizes, different leak locations, and different times of leak onset. To make the simulations as realistic as possible, they included simulated sensor noise, and included a gradual degradation in both fuel and oxidizer turbine efficiency. A decision tree was trained using 11 of these simulations, and tested using the remaining 45 simulations. In the training phase, the C4.5 algorithm was provided with labeled examples of data from nominal operation and data including leaks in each leak location. From the data, it "learned" a decision tree that can classify unseen data as having no leak or having a leak in one of the five leak locations. In the test phase, the decision tree produced very low false alarm rates and low missed detection rates on the unseen data. It had very good fault isolation rates for three of the five simulated leak locations, but it tended to confuse the remaining two locations, perhaps because a large leak at one of these two locations can look very similar to a small leak at the other location.

An unusual cause of cold injury: liquified petroleum gas leakage.

PubMed

Seyhan, Nevra; Jasharllari, Lorenc; Kayapınar, Muhammed; Savacı, Nedim

2011-11-01

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is an odorless and colorless gas that is a mixture of hydrocarbons (propane and butane). It is now more commonly preferred among drivers as an auto-gas throughout the world because it is cheaper than petrol or diesel and produces the same amount of energy. Because of its rapid vaporization and consequent lowering of temperature, it may cause severe cold injuries. A 33-year-old male who suffered from hand burn due to LPG is presented in this article. In LPG-converted cars, if the conversion has not been done properly, LPG may leak. Thus, the public must be informed of this potential danger while undertaking repairs of their vehicles.

Analytical and Experimental Studies of Leak Location and Environment Characterization for the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woronowicz, Michael; Abel, Joshua; Autrey, David; Blackmon, Rebecca; Bond, Tim; Brown, Martin; Buffington, Jesse; Cheng, Edward; DeLatte, Danielle; Garcia, Kelvin;

Analytical and Experimental Studies of Leak Location and Environment Characterization for the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woronowicz, Michael S.; Abel, Joshua C.; Autrey, David; Blackmon, Rebecca; Bond, Tim; Brown, Martin; Buffington, Jesse; Cheng, Edward; DeLatte, Danielle; Garcia, Kelvin;

High-voltage leak detection of a parenteral proteinaceous solution product packaged in form-fill-seal plastic laminate bags. Part 1. Method development and validation.

PubMed

Damgaard, Rasmus; Rasmussen, Mats; Buus, Peter; Mulhall, Brian; Guazzo, Dana Morton

2013-01-01

In Part 1 of this three-part research series, a leak test performed using high-voltage leak detection (HVLD) technology, also referred to as an electrical conductivity and capacitance leak test, was developed and validated for container-closure integrity verification of a small-volume laminate plastic bag containing an aqueous solution for injection. The sterile parenteral product is the rapid-acting insulin analogue, insulin aspart (NovoRapid®/NovoLog®, by Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark). The aseptically filled and sealed package is designed to preserve product sterility through expiry. Method development and validation work incorporated positive control packages with a single hole laser-drilled through the laminate film of each bag. A unique HVLD method characterized by specific high-voltage and potentiometer set points was established for testing bags positioned in each of three possible orientations as they are conveyed through the instrument's test zone in each of two possible directions-resulting in a total of six different test method options. Validation study results successfully demonstrated the ability of all six methods to accurately and reliably detect those packages with laser-drilled holes from 2.5-11.2 μm in nominal diameter. Part 2 of this series will further explore HVLD test results as a function of package seal and product storage variables. The final Part 3 will report the impact of HVLD exposure on product physico-chemical stability. In this Part 1 of a three-part research series, a leak test method based on electrical conductivity and capacitance, called high voltage leak detection (HVLD), was used to find leaks in small plastic bags filled with an insulin pharmaceutical solution for human injection by Novo Nordisk A/S (Bagsværd, Denmark). To perform the test, the package is electrically grounded while being conveyed past an electrode linked to a high-voltage, low-amperage transformer. The instrument measures the current that passes from the transformer to the electrode, through the packaged product and along the package walls, to the ground. Plastic packages without defect are relatively nonconductive and yield a low voltage reading; a leaking package with electrically conductive solution located in or near the leak triggers a spike in voltage reading. Test methods were optimized and validated, enabling the detection of leaking packages with holes as small as 2.5 μm in diameter. Part 2 of this series will further explore HVLD test results as a function of package seal and product storage variables. The final Part 3 will report the impact of HVLD exposure on product stability.

Apparatus for Leak Testing Pressurized Hoses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Underwood, Steve D. (Inventor); Garrison, Steve G. (Inventor); Gant, Bobby D. (Inventor); Palmer, John R. (Inventor)

2015-01-01

A hose-attaching apparatus for leak-testing a pressurized hose may include a hose-attaching member. A bore may extend through the hose-attaching member. An internal annular cavity may extend coaxially around the bore. At least one of a detector probe hole and a detector probe may be connected to the internal annular cavity. At least a portion of the bore may have a diameter which is at least one of substantially equal to and less than a diameter of a hose to be leak-tested.

Integrity of Disposable Nitrile Exam Gloves Exposed to Simulated Movement

PubMed Central

Phalen, Robert N.; Wong, Weng Kee

2011-01-01

Every year, millions of health care, first responder, and industry workers are exposed to chemical and biological hazards. Disposable nitrile gloves are a common choice as both a chemical and physical barrier to these hazards, especially as an alternative to natural latex gloves. However, glove selection is complicated by the availability of several types or formulations of nitrile gloves, such as low-modulus, medical-grade, low-filler, and cleanroom products. This study evaluated the influence of simulated movement on the physical integrity (i.e., holes) of different nitrile exam glove brands and types. Thirty glove products were evaluated out-of-box and after exposure to simulated whole-glove movement for 2 hr. In lieu of the traditional 1-L water-leak test, a modified water-leak test, standardized to detect a 0.15 ± 0.05 mm hole in different regions of the glove, was developed. A specialized air inflation method simulated bidirectional stretching and whole-glove movement. A worst-case scenario with maximum stretching was evaluated. On average, movement did not have a significant effect on glove integrity (chi-square; p=0.068). The average effect was less than 1% between no movement (1.5%) and movement (2.1%) exposures. However, there was significant variability in glove integrity between different glove types (p ≤ 0.05). Cleanroom gloves, on average, had the highest percentage of leaks, and 50% failed the water-leak test. Low-modulus and medical-grade gloves had the lowest percentages of leaks, and no products failed the water-leak test. Variability in polymer formulation was suspected to account for the observed discrepancies, as well as the inability of the traditional 1-L water-leak test to detect holes in finger/thumb regions. Unexpectedly, greater than 80% of the glove defects were observed in the finger and thumb regions. It is recommended that existing water-leak tests be re-evaluated and standardized to account for product variability. PMID:21476169

Test/QA Plan for Verification of Leak Detection and Repair Technologies

EPA Science Inventory

The purpose of the leak detection and repair (LDAR) test and quality assurance plan is to specify procedures for a verification test applicable to commercial LDAR technologies. The purpose of the verification test is to evaluate the performance of participating technologies in b...

Of Detection Limits and Effective Mitigation: The Use of Infrared Cameras for Methane Leak Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ravikumar, A. P.; Wang, J.; McGuire, M.; Bell, C.; Brandt, A. R.

2017-12-01

Mitigating methane emissions, a short-lived and potent greenhouse gas, is critical to limiting global temperature rise to two degree Celsius as outlined in the Paris Agreement. A major source of anthropogenic methane emissions in the United States is the oil and gas sector. To this effect, state and federal governments have recommended the use of optical gas imaging systems in periodic leak detection and repair (LDAR) surveys to detect for fugitive emissions or leaks. The most commonly used optical gas imaging systems (OGI) are infrared cameras. In this work, we systematically evaluate the limits of infrared (IR) camera based OGI system for use in methane leak detection programs. We analyze the effect of various parameters that influence the minimum detectable leak rates of infrared cameras. Blind leak detection tests were carried out at the Department of Energy's MONITOR natural gas test-facility in Fort Collins, CO. Leak sources included natural gas wellheads, separators, and tanks. With an EPA mandated 60 g/hr leak detection threshold for IR cameras, we test leak rates ranging from 4 g/hr to over 350 g/hr at imaging distances between 5 ft and 70 ft from the leak source. We perform these experiments over the course of a week, encompassing a wide range of wind and weather conditions. Using repeated measurements at a given leak rate and imaging distance, we generate detection probability curves as a function of leak-size for various imaging distances, and measurement conditions. In addition, we estimate the median detection threshold - leak-size at which the probability of detection is 50% - under various scenarios to reduce uncertainty in mitigation effectiveness. Preliminary analysis shows that the median detection threshold varies from 3 g/hr at an imaging distance of 5 ft to over 150 g/hr at 50 ft (ambient temperature: 80 F, winds < 4 m/s). Results from this study can be directly used to improve OGI based LDAR protocols and reduce uncertainty in estimated mitigation effectiveness. Furthermore, detection limits determined in this study can be used as standards to compare new detection technologies.

Verification of International Space Station Component Leak Rates by Helium Accumulation Method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Underwood, Steve D.; Smith, Sherry L.

2003-01-01

Discovery of leakage on several International Space Station U.S. Laboratory Module ammonia system quick disconnects (QDs) led to the need for a process to quantify total leakage without removing the QDs from the system. An innovative solution was proposed allowing quantitative leak rate measurement at ambient external pressure without QD removal. The method utilizes a helium mass spectrometer configured in the detector probe mode to determine helium leak rates inside a containment hood installed on the test component. The method was validated through extensive developmental testing. Test results showed the method was viable, accurate and repeatable for a wide range of leak rates. The accumulation method has been accepted by NASA and is currently being used by Boeing Huntsville, Boeing Kennedy Space Center and Boeing Johnson Space Center to test welds and valves and will be used by Alenia to test the Cupola. The method has been used in place of more expensive vacuum chamber testing which requires removing the test component from the system.

Locating air leaks in manned spacecraft using structure-borne noise.

PubMed

Holland, Stephen D; Chimenti, D E; Roberts, Ron; Strei, Michael

2007-06-01

All manned spacecraft are vulnerable to leaks generated by micrometeorite or debris impacts. Methods for locating such leaks using leak-generated, structure-borne ultrasonic noise are discussed and demonstrated. Cross-correlations of ultrasonic noise waveforms from a leak into vacuum are used to find the location of the leak. Four methods for sensing and processing leak noise have been developed and tested and each of these can be used to reveal the leak location. The methods, based on phased-array, distributed sensor, and dual sensor approaches, utilize the propagation patterns of guided ultrasonic Lamb waves in the spacecraft skin structure to find the source or direction of the leak noise. It is shown that each method can be used to successfully locate the leak to within a few millimeters on a 0.6-m2 aluminum plate. The relative merits of the four methods are discussed.

Single-Shell Tanks Leak Integrity Elements/ SX Farm Leak Causes and Locations - 12127

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Girardot, Crystal; Harlow, Don; Venetz, Theodore

2012-07-01

Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC (WRPS) developed an enhanced single-shell tank (SST) integrity project in 2009. An expert panel on SST integrity was created to provide recommendations supporting the development of the project. One primary recommendation was to expand the leak assessment reports (substitute report or LD-1) to include leak causes and locations. The recommendation has been included in the M-045-91F Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (Tri-Party Agreement) as one of four targets relating to SST leak integrity. The 241-SX Farm (SX Farm) tanks with leak losses were addressed on an individual tank basis as part of LD-1.more » Currently, 8 out of 23 SSTs that have been reported to having a liner leak are located in SX Farm. This percentage was the highest compared to other tank farms which is why SX Farm was analyzed first. The SX Farm is comprised of fifteen SSTs built 1953-1954. The tanks are arranged in rows of three tanks each, forming a cascade. Each of the SX Farm tanks has a nominal 1-million-gal storage capacity. Of the fifteen tanks in SX Farm, an assessment reported leak losses for the following tanks: 241-SX-107, 241-SX-108, 241-SX-109, 241-SX- 111, 241-SX-112, 241-SX-113, 241-SX-114 and 241-SX-115. The method used to identify leak location consisted of reviewing in-tank and ex-tank leak detection information. This provided the basic data identifying where and when the first leaks were detected. In-tank leak detection consisted of liquid level measurement that can be augmented with photographs which can provide an indication of the vertical leak location on the sidewall. Ex-tank leak detection for the leaking tanks consisted of soil radiation data from laterals and dry-wells near the tank. The in-tank and ex-tank leak detection can provide an indication of the possible leak location radially around and under the tank. Potential leak causes were determined using in-tank and ex-tank information that is not directly related to leak detection. In-tank parameters can include temperature of the supernatant and sludge, types of waste, and chemical determination by either transfer or sample analysis. Ex-tank information can be assembled from many sources including design media, construction conditions, technical specifications, and other sources. Five conditions may have contributed to SX Farm tank liner failure including: tank design, thermal shock, chemistry-corrosion, liner behavior (bulging), and construction temperature. Tank design did not apparently change from tank to tank for the SX Farm tanks; however, there could be many unknown variables present in the quality of materials and quality of construction. Several significant SX Farm tank design changes occurred from previous successful tank farm designs. Tank construction occurred in winter under cold conditions which could have affected the ductile to brittle transition temperature of the tanks. The SX Farm tanks received high temperature boiling waste from REDOX which challenged the tank design with rapid heat up and high temperatures. All eight of the leaking SX Farm tanks had relatively high rate of temperature rise. Supernatant removal with subsequent nitrate leaching was conducted in all but three of the eight leaking tanks prior to leaks being detected. It is possible that no one characteristic of the SX Farm tanks could in isolation from the others have resulted in failure. However, the application of so many stressors - heat up rate, high temperature, loss of corrosion protection, and tank design working jointly or serially resulted in their failure. Thermal shock coupled with the tank design, construction conditions, and nitrate leaching seem to be the overriding factors that can lead to tank liner failure. The distinction between leaking and sound SX Farm tanks seems to center on the waste types, thermal conditions, and nitrate leaching. (authors)« less

SINGLE-SHELL TANKS LEAK INTEGRITY ELEMENTS/SX FARM LEAK CAUSES AND LOCATIONS - 12127

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

VENETZ TJ; WASHENFELDER D; JOHNSON J

2012-01-25

Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC (WRPS) developed an enhanced single-shell tank (SST) integrity project in 2009. An expert panel on SST integrity was created to provide recommendations supporting the development of the project. One primary recommendation was to expand the leak assessment reports (substitute report or LD-1) to include leak causes and locations. The recommendation has been included in the M-045-9IF Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (Tri-Party Agreement) as one of four targets relating to SST leak integrity. The 241-SX Farm (SX Farm) tanks with leak losses were addressed on an individual tank basis as part of LD-1.more » Currently, 8 out of 23 SSTs that have been reported to having a liner leak are located in SX Farm. This percentage was the highest compared to other tank farms which is why SX Farm was analyzed first. The SX Farm is comprised of fifteen SSTs built 1953-1954. The tanks are arranged in rows of three tanks each, forming a cascade. Each of the SX Farm tanks has a nominal I-million-gal storage capacity. Of the fifteen tanks in SX Farm, an assessment reported leak losses for the following tanks: 241-SX-107, 241-SX-108, 241-SX-109, 241-SX-111, 241-SX-112, 241-SX-113, 241-SX-114 and 241-SX-115. The method used to identify leak location consisted of reviewing in-tank and ex-tank leak detection information. This provided the basic data identifying where and when the first leaks were detected. In-tank leak detection consisted of liquid level measurement that can be augmented with photographs which can provide an indication of the vertical leak location on the sidewall. Ex-tank leak detection for the leaking tanks consisted of soil radiation data from laterals and drywells near the tank. The in-tank and ex-tank leak detection can provide an indication of the possible leak location radially around and under the tank. Potential leak causes were determined using in-tank and ex-tank information that is not directly related to leak detection. In-tank parameters can include temperature of the supernatant and sludge, types of waste, and chemical determination by either transfer or sample analysis. Ex-tank information can be assembled from many sources including design media, construction conditions, technical specifications, and other sources. Five conditions may have contributed to SX Farm tank liner failure including: tank design, thermal shock, chemistry-corrosion, liner behavior (bulging), and construction temperature. Tank design did not apparently change from tank to tank for the SX Farm tanks; however, there could be many unknown variables present in the quality of materials and quality of construction. Several significant SX Farm tank design changes occurred from previous successful tank farm designs. Tank construction occurred in winter under cold conditions which could have affected the ductile to brittle transition temperature of the tanks. The SX Farm tanks received high temperature boiling waste from REDOX which challenged the tank design with rapid heat up and high temperatures. All eight of the leaking SX Farm tanks had relatively high rate of temperature rise. Supernatant removal with subsequent nitrate leaching was conducted in all but three of the eight leaking tanks prior to leaks being detected. It is possible that no one characteristic of the SX Farm tanks could in isolation from the others have resulted in failure. However, the application of so many stressors - heat up rate, high temperature, loss of corrosion protection, and tank design - working jointly or serially resulted in their failure. Thermal shock coupled with the tank design, construction conditions, and nitrate leaching seem to be the overriding factors that can lead to tank liner failure. The distinction between leaking and sound SX Farm tanks seems to center on the waste types, thermal conditions, and nitrate leaching.« less

Analytical and experimental studies of leak location and environment characterization for the international space station

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Woronowicz, Michael; Blackmon, Rebecca; Brown, Martin

2014-12-09

The International Space Station program is developing a robotically-operated leak locator tool to be used externally. The tool would consist of a Residual Gas Analyzer for partial pressure measurements and a full range pressure gauge for total pressure measurements. The primary application is to demonstrate the ability to detect NH{sub 3} coolant leaks in the ISS thermal control system. An analytical model of leak plume physics is presented that can account for effusive flow as well as plumes produced by sonic orifices and thruster operations. This model is used along with knowledge of typical RGA and full range gauge performancemore » to analyze the expected instrument sensitivity to ISS leaks of various sizes and relative locations (“directionality”). The paper also presents experimental results of leak simulation testing in a large thermal vacuum chamber at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This test characterized instrument sensitivity as a function of leak rates ranging from 1 lb{sub m/}/yr. to about 1 lb{sub m}/day. This data may represent the first measurements collected by an RGA or ion gauge system monitoring off-axis point sources as a function of location and orientation. Test results are compared to the analytical model and used to propose strategies for on-orbit leak location and environment characterization using the proposed instrument while taking into account local ISS conditions and the effects of ram/wake flows and structural shadowing within low Earth orbit.« less

Development of a nondestructive leak testing method utilizing the head space analyzer for ampoule products containing ethanol-based solutions.

PubMed

Sudo, Hirotaka; O'driscoll, Michael; Nishiwaki, Kenji; Kawamoto, Yuji; Gammell, Philip; Schramm, Gerhard; Wertli, Toni; Prinz, Heino; Mori, Atsuhide; Sako, Kazuhiro

2012-01-01

The application of a head space analyzer for oxygen concentration was examined to develop a novel ampoule leak test method. Studies using ampoules filled with ethanol-based solution and with nitrogen in the headspace demonstrated that the head space analysis (HSA) method showed sufficient sensitivity in detecting an ampoule crack. The proposed method is the use of HSA in conjunction with the pretreatment of an overpressurising process known as bombing to facilitate the oxygen flow through the crack in the ampoule. The method was examined in comparative studies with a conventional dye ingress method, and the results showed that the HSA method exhibits sensitivity superior to the dye method. The results indicate that the HSA method in combination with the bombing treatment provides potential application as a leak test for the detection of container defects not only for ampoule products with ethanol-based solutions, but also for testing lyophilized products in vials with nitrogen in the head space. The application of a head space analyzer for oxygen concentration was examined to develop a novel ampoule leak test method. The proposed method is the use of head space analysis (HSA) in conjunction with the pretreatment of an overpressurising process known as bombing to facilitate oxygen flow through the crack in the ampoule for use in routine production. The result of the comparative study with a conventional dye leak test method indicates that the HSA method in combination with the bombing treatment can be used as a leak test method, enabling detection of container defects.

Portable Microleak-Detection System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rivers, H. Kevin; Sikora, Joseph G.; Sankaran, Sankara N.

2007-01-01

The figure schematically depicts a portable microleak-detection system that has been built especially for use in testing hydrogen tanks made of polymer-matrix composite materials. (As used here, microleak signifies a leak that is too small to be detectable by the simple soap-bubble technique.) The system can also be used to test for microleaks in tanks that are made of other materials and that contain gases other than hydrogen. Results of calibration tests have shown that measurement errors are less than 10 percent for leak rates ranging from 0.3 to 200 cm3/min. Like some other microleak-detection systems, this system includes a vacuum pump and associated plumbing for sampling the leaking gas, and a mass spectrometer for analyzing the molecular constituents of the gas. The system includes a flexible vacuum chamber that can be attached to the outer surface of a tank or other object of interest that is to be tested for leakage (hereafter denoted, simply, the test object). The gas used in a test can be the gas or vapor (e.g., hydrogen in the original application) to be contained by the test object. Alternatively, following common practice in leak testing, helium can be used as a test gas. In either case, the mass spectrometer can be used to verify that the gas measured by the system is the test gas rather than a different gas and, hence, that the leak is indeed from the test object.

Developments in advanced and energy saving thermal isolations for cryogenic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shu, Q. S.; Demko, J. A.; Fesmire, J. E.

2015-12-01

The cooling power consumption in large scale superconducting systems is huge and cryogenic devices used in space applications often require an extremely long cryogen holding time. To economically maintain the device at its operating temperature and minimize the refrigeration losses, high performance of thermal isolation is essential. The radiation from warm surrounding surfaces and conducting heat leaks through supports and penetrations are the dominant heat loads to the cold mass under vacuum condition. The advanced developments in various cryogenic applications to successfully reduce the heat loads through radiation and conduction are briefly and systematically discussed and evaluated in this review paper. These include: (1) thermal Insulation for different applications (foams, perlites, glass bubbles, aerogel and MLI), (2) sophisticated low-heat-leak support (cryogenic tension straps, trolley bars and posts with dedicated thermal intercepts), and (3) novel cryogenic heat switches.

Reduce Air Infiltration in Furnaces (English/Chinese) (Fact Sheet) (in Chinese; English)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

Chinese translation of the Reduce Air Infiltration in Furnaces fact sheet. Provides suggestions on how to improve furnace energy efficiency. Fuel-fired furnaces discharge combustion products through a stack or a chimney. Hot furnace gases are less dense and more buoyant than ambient air, so they rise, creating a differential pressure between the top and the bottom of the furnace. This differential, known as thermal head, is the source of a natural draft or negative pressure in furnaces and boilers. A well-designed furnace (or boiler) is built to avoid air leakage into the furnace or leakage of flue gases from themore » furnace to the ambient. However, with time, most furnaces develop cracks or openings around doors, joints, and hearth seals. These openings (leaks) usually appear small compared with the overall dimensions of the furnace, so they are often ignored. The negative pressure created by the natural draft (or use of an induced-draft fan) in a furnace draws cold air through the openings (leaks) and into the furnace. The cold air becomes heated to the furnace exhaust gas temperature and then exits through the flue system, wasting valuable fuel. It might also cause excessive oxidation of metals or other materials in the furnaces. The heat loss due to cold air leakage resulting from the natural draft can be estimated if you know four major parameters: (1) The furnace or flue gas temperature; (2) The vertical distance H between the opening (leak) and the point where the exhaust gases leave the furnace and its flue system (if the leak is along a vertical surface, H will be an average value); (3) The area of the leak, in square inches; and (4) The amount of operating time the furnace spends at negative pressure. Secondary parameters that affect the amount of air leakage include these: (1) The furnace firing rate; (2) The flue gas velocity through the stack or the stack cross-section area; (3) The burner operating conditions (e.g., excess air, combustion air temperature, and so on). For furnaces or boilers using an induced-draft (ID) fan, the furnace negative pressure depends on the fan performance and frictional losses between the fan inlet and the point of air leakage. In most cases, it would be necessary to measure or estimate negative pressure at the opening. The amount of air leakage, the heat lost in flue gases, and their effects on increased furnace or boiler fuel consumption can be calculated by using the equations and graphs given in Industrial Furnaces (see W. Trinks et al., below). Note that the actual heat input required to compensate for the heat loss in flue gases due to air leakage would be greater than the heat contained in the air leakage because of the effect of available heat in the furnace. For a high-temperature furnace that is not maintained properly, the fuel consumption increase due to air leakage can be as high as 10% of the fuel input.« less

Monitoring of noninvasive ventilation by built-in software of home bilevel ventilators: a bench study.

PubMed

Contal, Olivier; Vignaux, Laurence; Combescure, Christophe; Pepin, Jean-Louis; Jolliet, Philippe; Janssens, Jean-Paul

2012-02-01

Current bilevel positive-pressure ventilators for home noninvasive ventilation (NIV) provide physicians with software that records items important for patient monitoring, such as compliance, tidal volume (Vt), and leaks. However, to our knowledge, the validity of this information has not yet been independently assessed. Testing was done for seven home ventilators on a bench model adapted to simulate NIV and generate unintentional leaks (ie, other than of the mask exhalation valve). Five levels of leaks were simulated using a computer-driven solenoid valve (0-60 L/min) at different levels of inspiratory pressure (15 and 25 cm H(2)O) and at a fixed expiratory pressure (5 cm H(2)O), for a total of 10 conditions. Bench data were compared with results retrieved from ventilator software for leaks and Vt. For assessing leaks, three of the devices tested were highly reliable, with a small bias (0.3-0.9 L/min), narrow limits of agreement (LA), and high correlations (R(2), 0.993-0.997) when comparing ventilator software and bench results; conversely, for four ventilators, bias ranged from -6.0 L/min to -25.9 L/min, exceeding -10 L/min for two devices, with wide LA and lower correlations (R(2), 0.70-0.98). Bias for leaks increased markedly with the importance of leaks in three devices. Vt was underestimated by all devices, and bias (range, 66-236 mL) increased with higher insufflation pressures. Only two devices had a bias < 100 mL, with all testing conditions considered. Physicians monitoring patients who use home ventilation must be aware of differences in the estimation of leaks and Vt by ventilator software. Also, leaks are reported in different ways according to the device used.

40 CFR 1065.644 - Vacuum-decay leak rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 33 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Vacuum-decay leak rate. 1065.644 Section 1065.644 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR POLLUTION CONTROLS ENGINE-TESTING PROCEDURES Calculations and Data Requirements § 1065.644 Vacuum-decay leak rate...

40 CFR 1065.644 - Vacuum-decay leak rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Vacuum-decay leak rate. 1065.644 Section 1065.644 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR POLLUTION CONTROLS ENGINE-TESTING PROCEDURES Calculations and Data Requirements § 1065.644 Vacuum-decay leak rate...

40 CFR 1065.644 - Vacuum-decay leak rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 33 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Vacuum-decay leak rate. 1065.644 Section 1065.644 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR POLLUTION CONTROLS ENGINE-TESTING PROCEDURES Calculations and Data Requirements § 1065.644 Vacuum-decay leak rate...

40 CFR 1065.644 - Vacuum-decay leak rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 34 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Vacuum-decay leak rate. 1065.644 Section 1065.644 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR POLLUTION CONTROLS ENGINE-TESTING PROCEDURES Calculations and Data Requirements § 1065.644 Vacuum-decay leak rate...

40 CFR 1065.644 - Vacuum-decay leak rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 34 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Vacuum-decay leak rate. 1065.644 Section 1065.644 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR POLLUTION CONTROLS ENGINE-TESTING PROCEDURES Calculations and Data Requirements § 1065.644 Vacuum-decay leak rate...

Repair of through thickness corrosion/leaking defects in corroded pipelines using Fiber Reinforced Polymer overwrap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nitheesh Kumar, P.; Khan, Vishwas Chandra; Balaganesan, G.; Pradhan, A. K.; Sivakumar, M. S.

2018-04-01

The present study is concerned with the repair of through thickness corrosion or leaking defects in metallic pipelines using a commercially available metallic seal and glass/epoxy composite. Pipe specimens are made with three different types of most commonly occurring through thickness corrosion/leaking defects. The metallic seal is applied over the through thickness corrosion/leaking defect and it is reinforced with glass/epoxy composite overwrap. The main objective of the metallic seal is to arrest the leak at live pressure. After reinforcing the metallic seal with glass/epoxy composite overwrap, the repaired composite wrap is able to sustain high pressures. Burst test is performed for different configurations of metallic seal and optimum configuration of metallic seal is determined. The optimum configurations of metallic seal for three different types of through thickness corrosion/leaking defects are further reinforced with glass/epoxy composite wrap and experimental failure pressure is determined by performing the burst test. An analytical model as per ISO 24817 has been developed to validate experimental results.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dawn Lenz; Raymond T. Lines; Darryl Murdock

ITT Industries Space Systems Division (Space Systems) has developed an airborne natural gas leak detection system designed to detect, image, quantify, and precisely locate leaks from natural gas transmission pipelines. This system is called the Airborne Natural Gas Emission Lidar (ANGEL) system. The ANGEL system uses a highly sensitive differential absorption Lidar technology to remotely detect pipeline leaks. The ANGEL System is operated from a fixed wing aircraft and includes automatic scanning, pointing system, and pilot guidance systems. During a pipeline inspection, the ANGEL system aircraft flies at an elevation of 1000 feet above the ground at speeds of betweenmore » 100 and 150 mph. Under this contract with DOE/NETL, Space Systems was funded to integrate the ANGEL sensor into a test aircraft and conduct a series of flight tests over a variety of test targets including simulated natural gas pipeline leaks. Following early tests in upstate New York in the summer of 2004, the ANGEL system was deployed to Casper, Wyoming to participate in a set of DOE-sponsored field tests at the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC). At RMOTC the Space Systems team completed integration of the system and flew an operational system for the first time. The ANGEL system flew 2 missions/day for the duration for the 5-day test. Over the course of the week the ANGEL System detected leaks ranging from 100 to 5,000 scfh.« less

Rapid Surface Detection of CO2 Leaks from Geologic Sequestration Sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moriarty, D. M.; Krevor, S. C.; Benson, S. M.

2013-12-01

Carbon sequestration is becoming a viable option for global CO2 mitigation but effective monitoring methods are needed assure the carbon dioxide stays underground. Above surface monitoring using a mobile gas analyzer is one such method (e.g. Krevor et al., 2010). The Picarro gas analyzer uses wavelength-scanned cavity ring down spectroscopy to accurately identify concentrations of various atmospheric gases including their isotopic composition. These measurements can then be used for anomaly (leak) detection and source attribution. Leaks are detected by anomalous absolute concentration of CO2 and anomalous δ13C values. Source attribution is determined by the isotopic concentrations of the identified leaking gas. To distinguish between noise from ambient signals and leaks, a method based on mixing ratios has been developed. A newly acquired data set presented here has been collected from a 3.7km2 area with naturally occurring CO2 springs near Green River, Utah. All of the areas of known leakage were readily detected using this method along with several other areas that showed significant signs of leakage. In addition, testing on the Stanford campus has shown that this method is sensitive enough to distinguish between open fields and roadways. Another data set is being collected at Montana State University at the ZERT monitoring test site where an artificial leak has been created for the purpose of testing leak detection and quantification methods. Data collected from this site are being used for (1) assessing of detection levels and how they depend on environmental parameters such as wind speed, and acquisition variables such as sample rate and traverse speed, (2) optimizing acquisition parameters to increase detection levels and increase confidence in leak detection, (3) evaluating the potential for quantifying the magnitude of the leak and (4) spatial data analysis to identify the most probable leak locations.

Vacuum decay container/closure integrity testing technology. Part 2. Comparison to dye ingress tests.

PubMed

Wolf, Heinz; Stauffer, Tony; Chen, Shu-Chen Y; Lee, Yoojin; Forster, Ronald; Ludzinski, Miron; Kamat, Madhav; Mulhall, Brian; Guazzo, Dana Morton

2009-01-01

Part 1 of this series demonstrated that a container closure integrity test performed according to ASTM F2338-09 Standard Test Method for Nondestructive Detection of Leaks in Packages by Vacuum Decay Method using a VeriPac 325/LV vacuum decay leak tester by Packaging Technologies & Inspection, LLC (PTI) is capable of detecting leaks > or = 5.0 microm (nominal diameter) in rigid, nonporous package systems, such as prefilled glass syringes. The current study compared USP, Ph.Eur. and ISO dye ingress integrity test methods to PTI's vacuum decay technology for the detection of these same 5-, 10-, and 15-microm laser-drilled hole defects in 1-mL glass prefilled syringes. The study was performed at three test sites using several inspectors and a variety of inspection conditions. No standard dye ingress method was found to reliably identify all holed syringes. Modifications to these standard dye tests' challenge conditions increased the potential for dye ingress, and adjustments to the visual inspection environment improved dye ingress detection. However, the risk of false positive test results with dye ingress tests remained. In contrast, the nondestructive vacuum decay leak test method reliably identified syringes with holes > or = 5.0 microm.

Eleventh interim status report: Model 9975 O-Ring fixture long-term leak performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daugherty, W.

2016-08-01

A series of experiments to monitor the aging performance of Viton® GLT O-rings used in the Model 9975 package has been ongoing since 2004 at the Savannah River National Laboratory. One approach has been to periodically evaluate the leak performance of O-rings being aged in mock-up 9975 Primary Containment Vessels (PCVs) at elevated temperature. Other methods such as compression-stress relaxation (CSR) tests and field surveillance are also on-going to evaluate O-ring behavior. Seventy tests using PCV mock-ups were assembled and heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 ºF. They were leak-tested initially and have been tested periodically to determinemore » if they continue to meet the leak-tightness criterion defined in ANSI standard N14.5-97. Due to material substitution, fourteen additional tests were initiated in 2008 with GLT-S O-rings heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 ºF.« less

Tenth interim status report: Model 9975 O-ring fixture long-term leak performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daugherty, W. L.

2015-08-26

A series of experiments to monitor the aging performance of Viton ® GLT O-rings used in the Model 9975 package has been ongoing since 2004 at the Savannah River National Laboratory. One approach has been to periodically evaluate the leak performance of O-rings being aged in mock-up 9975 Primary Containment Vessels (PCVs) at elevated temperatures. Other methods such as compression-stress relaxation (CSR) tests and field surveillance are also on-going to evaluate O-ring behavior. Seventy tests using PCV mock-ups were assembled and heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 °F. They were leak-tested initially and have been tested periodically tomore » determine if they continue to meet the leak-tightness criterion defined in ANSI standard N14.5-97. Due to material substitution, fourteen additional tests were initiated in 2008 with GLT-S O-rings heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 °F.« less

Demonstration of rapid and sensitive module leak certification for space station freedom

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dietz, R.N.; Goodrich, R.W.

1991-03-01

A leak detection and quantification demonstration using perflurocarbon tracer (PFT) technology was successfully performed at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center on January 25, 1991. The real-time Dual Trap Analyzer (DTA) at one-half hour after the start of the first run gave an estimated leak rate of 0.7 mL/min. This has since been refined to be 1.15 {plus minus} 0.09 mL/min. The leak rates in the next three runs were determined to be 9.8 {plus minus} 0.7, {minus}0.4 {plus minus} 0.3, and 76 {plus minus} 6 mL/min, respectively. The theory on leak quantification in the steady-state and time-dependent modes formore » a single zone test facility was developed and applied to the above determinations. The laboratory PFT analysis system gave a limit-of-detection (LOD) of 0.05 fL for ocPDCH. This is the tracer of choice and is about 100-fold better than that for the DTA. Applied to leak certification, the LOD is about 0.00002 mL/s (0.000075 L/h), a 5 order-of-magnitude improvement over the original leak certification specification. Furthermore, this limit can be attained in a measurement period of 3 to 4 hours instead of days, weeks, or months. A new Leak Certification Facility is also proposed to provide for zonal (three zones) determination of leak rates. The appropriate multizone equations, their solutions, and error analysis have already been derived. A new concept of seal-integrity certification has been demonstrated for a variety of controlled leaks in the range of module leak testing. High structural integrity leaks were shown to have a linear dependence of flow on {Delta}p. The rapid determination of leak rates at different pressures is proposed and is to be determined while subjecting the module to other external force-generating parameters such as vibration, torque, solar intensity, etc. 13 refs.« less

Demonstration of rapid and sensitive module leak certification for Space Station Freedom

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dietz, R. N.; Goodrich, R. W.

1991-01-01

A leak detection and quantification demonstration using perflurocarbon tracer (PFT) technology was successfully performed at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center on January 25, 1991. The real-time Dual Trap Analyzer (DTA) at one-half hour after the start of the first run gave an estimated leak rate of 0.7 mL/min. This has since been refined to be 1.15 (+ or -) 0.09 mL/min. The leak rates in the next three runs were determined to be 9.8 (+ or -) 0.7, -0.4 (+ or -) 0.3, and 76 (+ or -) 6 mL/min, respectively. The theory on leak quantification in the steady-state and time-dependent modes for a single zone test facility was developed and applied to the above determinations. The laboratory PFT analysis system gave a limit-of-detection (LOD) of 0.05 fL for ocPDCH. This is the tracer of choice and is about 100-fold better than that for the DTA. Applied to leak certification, the LOD is about 0.00002 mL/s (0.000075 L/h), a 5 order-of-magnitude improvement over the original leak certification specification. Furthermore, this limit can be attained in a measurement period of 3 to 4 hours instead of days, weeks, or months. A new Leak Certification Facility is also proposed to provide for zonal (three zones) determination of leak rates. The appropriate multizone equations, their solutions, and error analysis have already been derived. A new concept of seal-integrity certification has been demonstrated for a variety of controlled leaks in the range of module leak testing. High structural integrity leaks were shown to have a linear dependence of flow on (Delta)p. The rapid determination of leak rates at different pressures is proposed and is to be determined while subjecting the module to other external force-generating parameters such as vibration, torque, solar intensity, etc.

Amylase in drain fluid for the diagnosis of pancreatic leak in post-pancreatic resection.

PubMed

Davidson, Tsetsegdemberel Bat-Ulzii; Yaghoobi, Mohammad; Davidson, Brian R; Gurusamy, Kurinchi Selvan

2017-04-07

The treatment of people with clinically significant postoperative pancreatic leaks is different from those without clinically significant pancreatic leaks. It is important to know the diagnostic accuracy of drain fluid amylase as a triage test for the detection of clinically significant pancreatic leaks, so that an informed decision can be made as to whether the patient with a suspected pancreatic leak needs further investigations and treatment. There is currently no systematic review of the diagnostic test accuracy of drain fluid amylase for the diagnosis of clinically relevant pancreatic leak. To determine the diagnostic accuracy of amylase in drain fluid at 48 hours or more for the diagnosis of pancreatic leak in people who had undergone pancreatic resection. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Science Citation Index Expanded, and the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) websites up to 20 February 2017. We searched the references of the included studies to identify additional studies. We did not restrict studies based on language or publication status, or whether data were collected prospectively or retrospectively. We also performed a 'related search' and 'citing reference' search in MEDLINE and Embase. We included all studies that evaluated the diagnostic test accuracy of amylase in the drain fluid at 48 hours or more for the diagnosis of pancreatic leak in people who had undergone pancreatic resection excluding total pancreatectomy. We planned to exclude case-control studies because these studies are prone to bias, but did not find any. At least two authors independently searched and screened the references produced by the search to identify relevant studies. Two review authors independently extracted data from the included studies. The included studies reported drain fluid amylase on different postoperative days and measured at different cut-off levels, so it was not possible to perform a meta-analysis using the bivariate model as planned. We have reported the sensitivity, specificity, post-test probability of a positive and negative drain fluid amylase along with 95% confidence interval (CI) on each of the different postoperative days and measured at different cut-off levels. A total of five studies including 868 participants met the inclusion criteria for this review. The five studies included in this review reported the value of drain fluid amylase at different thresholds and different postoperative days. The sensitivities and specificities were variable; the sensitivities ranged between 0.72 and 1.00 while the specificities ranged between 0.73 and 0.99 for different thresholds on different postoperative days. At the median prevalence (pre-test probability) of 15.9%, the post-test probabilities for pancreatic leak ranged between 35.9% and 95.4% for a positive drain fluid amylase test and ranged between 0% and 5.5% for a negative drain fluid amylase test.None of the studies used the reference standard of confirmation by surgery or by a combination of surgery and clinical follow-up, but used the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) grade B and C as the reference standard. The overall methodological quality was unclear or high in all the studies. Because of the paucity of data and methodological deficiencies in the studies, we are uncertain whether drain fluid amylase should be used as a method for testing for pancreatic leak in an unselected population after pancreatic resection; and we judge that the optimal cut-off of drain fluid amylase for making the diagnosis of pancreatic leak is also not clear. Further well-designed diagnostic test accuracy studies with pre-specified index test threshold of drain fluid amylase (at three times more on postoperative day 5 or another suitable pre-specified threshold), appropriate follow-up (for at least six to eight weeks to ensure that there are no pancreatic leaks), and clearly defined reference standards (of surgical, clinical, and radiological confirmation of pancreatic leak) are important to reliably determine the diagnostic accuracy of drain fluid amylase in the diagnosis of pancreatic leak.

Measurement of Submerged Oil/Gas Leaks using ROV Video

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaffer, Franklin; de Vera, Giorgio; Lee, Kenneth; Savas, Ömer

2013-11-01

Drilling for oil or gas in the Gulf of Mexico is increasing rapidly at depths up to three miles. The National Commission on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Leak concluded that inaccurate estimates of the leak rate from the Deepwater Horizon caused an inadequate response and attempts to cap the leak to fail. The first response to a submerged oil/gas leak will be to send a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) down to view the leak. During the response to the Deepwater Horizon crisis, the authors Savas and Shaffer were members of the Flow Rate Technical Group's Plume Team who used ROV video to develop the FRTG's first official estimates of the oil leak rate. Savas and Shaffer developed an approach using the larger, faster jet features (e.g., turbulent eddies, vortices, entrained particles) in the near-field developing zone to measure discharge rates. The authors have since used the Berkeley Tow Tank to test this approach on submerged dye-colored water jets and compressed air jets. Image Correlation Velocimetry has been applied to measure the velocity of visible features. Results from tests in the Berkeley Tow Tank and submerged oil jets in the OHMSETT facility will be presented.

Reusable Solid Rocket Motor Nozzle Joint-4 Thermal Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clayton, J. Louie

2001-01-01

This study provides for development and test verification of a thermal model used for prediction of joint heating environments, structural temperatures and seal erosions in the Space Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) Nozzle Joint-4. The heating environments are a result of rapid pressurization of the joint free volume assuming a leak path has occurred in the filler material used for assembly gap close out. Combustion gases flow along the leak path from nozzle environment to joint O-ring gland resulting in local heating to the metal housing and erosion of seal materials. Analysis of this condition was based on usage of the NASA Joint Pressurization Routine (JPR) for environment determination and the Systems Improved Numerical Differencing Analyzer (SINDA) for structural temperature prediction. Model generated temperatures, pressures and seal erosions are compared to hot fire test data for several different leak path situations. Investigated in the hot fire test program were nozzle joint-4 O-ring erosion sensitivities to leak path width in both open and confined joint geometries. Model predictions were in generally good agreement with the test data for the confined leak path cases. Worst case flight predictions are provided using the test-calibrated model. Analysis issues are discussed based on model calibration procedures.

40 CFR 63.1046 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak... 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak interface shall be checked by traversing the instrument probe...

40 CFR 63.1046 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak... 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak interface shall be checked by traversing the instrument probe...

40 CFR 63.1046 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak... 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak interface shall be checked by traversing the instrument probe...

40 CFR 63.945 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., appendix A. Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak interfaces that are associated... determined according to the procedures in Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak...

40 CFR 63.945 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., appendix A. Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak interfaces that are associated... determined according to the procedures in Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak...

40 CFR 63.925 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

.... Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak interfaces that are associated with... according to the procedures in Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak interface...

40 CFR 63.925 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

.... Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak interfaces that are associated with... according to the procedures in Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak interface...

40 CFR 63.905 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

.... Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak interfaces that are associated with... according to the procedures in Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak interface...

40 CFR 63.905 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

.... Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak interfaces that are associated with... according to the procedures in Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak interface...

40 CFR 63.905 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

.... Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak interfaces that are associated with... according to the procedures in Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak interface...

40 CFR 63.925 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

.... Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak interfaces that are associated with... according to the procedures in Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak interface...

40 CFR 63.945 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., appendix A. Each potential leak interface (i.e., a location where organic vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak interfaces that are associated... determined according to the procedures in Method 21 of 40 CFR part 60, appendix A. (7) Each potential leak...

40 CFR 63.1036 - Alternative means of emission limitation: Batch processes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... SOURCE CATEGORIES (CONTINUED) National Emission Standards for Equipment Leaks-Control Level 2 Standards... leaks. The owner or operator may switch among the alternatives provided the change is documented as... shall be pressure-tested for leaks before regulated material is first fed to the equipment and the...

Silver plating technique seals leaks in thin wall tubing joints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blenderman, W. H.

1966-01-01

Leaks in thin wall tubing joints are sealed by cleaning and silver plating the hot gas side of the joint in the leakage area. The pressure differential across the silver during hydrostatic test and subsequent use forces the ductile silver into the leak area and seals it.

Project W-314 acceptance test report HNF-4647 for HNF-4646 241-B pit leak detection ANB-WT-LDSTA-231 for project W-314

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

HAMMERS, J.S.

The purpose of the test was to verify that the AN Tank Farm B Pit Leak Detector components are functionally integrated and operate in accordance with engineering design specifications. The Acceptance Test Procedure HNF-4646,241-AN-B-Pit Leak Detection ANB-WT-LDSTA-231 was conducted between 26 June and 02 July 1999 at the 200E AN Tank Farm. The test has been completed with no open test exceptions. The test was conducted prior to final engineering ''as built'' activities being completed this had no impact on the procedure or test results. All components, identified in the procedure were found to be labeled and identified as writtenmore » in the procedure.« less

D0 Solenoid Upgrade Project: Vacuum Pumping Calculations for the D0 Solenoid

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rucinski, R.; /Fermilab

1993-08-02

This engineering note documents the calculations done to determine the vacuum pumping speed for the D-Zero solenoid. The raw calculations are attached. A summary of the results are listed. The vacuum pumping speed of the solenoid is determined by the conductance of the pumping path. At higher pressure ranges during initial pumpdown, the conductances will be rather high. Calculations were not done for the transient pumpdown period, only the steady state type pumping situation. The pressure is assumed to be on the order of 10E-7 torr. This is the free molecular flow regime based on Knudsen number. This pressure regimemore » is also where the pumping speed would be least. The conductances were calculated based on pumping helium gas at a temperature of 300 Kelvin. The total conductance of the pumping path from the solenoid to the inlet of the turbomolecular pump is 11.8 L/s. The effective pumping speed of a 1000 L/s turbo pump attached to this pumping path is 11.7 L/s. The minimum required pumping speed for design purposes was set at 4.3 L/s. This value was arrived at by assuming a warm leak size (10E-8 atm-cc/sec) was not detected during fabrication of the solenoid. It is then assumed that the leak leaks cold liquid helium into the vacuum space. With this leak rate, a 4.3 L/s pumping speed would be able to maintain a 2 x 10E-7 torr pressure in the solenoid vacuum jacket. The solenoid would be able to be operated with this small leak with continuous pumping.« less

A Hydrogen Leak Detection System for Aerospace and Commercial Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hunter, Gary W.; Makel, D. B.; Jansa, E. D.; Patterson, G.; Cova, P. J.; Liu, C. C.; Wu, Q. H.; Powers, W. T.

1995-01-01

Leaks on the space shuttle while on the launch pad have generated interest in hydrogen leak monitoring technology. Microfabricated hydrogen sensors are being fabricated at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and tested at NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC). These sensors have been integrated into hardware and software designed by Aerojet. This complete system allows for multipoint leak monitoring designed to provide leak source and magnitude information in real time. The monitoring system processes data from the hydrogen sensors and presents the operator with a visual indication of the leak location and magnitude. Although the leak monitoring system was designed for hydrogen propulsion systems, the possible applications of this monitoring system are wide ranged. This system is in operation in an automotive application which requires high sensitivity to hydrogen.

Leak Detection in Spacecraft Using a 64-Element Multiplexed Passive Array to Monitor Structure-Borne Noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holland, Stephen D.; Song, Jun-Ho; Chimenti, D. E.; Roberts, Ron

2006-03-01

We demonstrate an array sensor method intended to locate leaks in manned spacecraft using leak-generated, structure-borne ultrasonic noise. We have developed and tested a method for sensing and processing leak noise to reveal the leak location involving the use of a 64-element phased-array. Cross-correlations of ultrasonic noise waveforms from a leak into vacuum have been used with a phased-array analysis to find the direction from the sensor to the leak. This method measures the propagation of guided ultrasonic Lamb waves passing under the PZT array sensor in the spacecraft skin structure. This paper will describe the custom-designed array with integrated electronics, as well as the performance of the array in prototype applications. We show that this method can be used to successfully locate leaks to within a few millimeters on a 0.6-m square aluminum plate.

Small-target leak detection for a closed vessel via infrared image sequences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Ling; Yang, Hongjiu

2017-03-01

This paper focus on a leak diagnosis and localization method based on infrared image sequences. Some problems on high probability of false warning and negative affect for marginal information are solved by leak detection. An experimental model is established for leak diagnosis and localization on infrared image sequences. The differential background prediction is presented to eliminate the negative affect of marginal information on test vessel based on a kernel regression method. A pipeline filter based on layering voting is designed to reduce probability of leak point false warning. A synthesize leak diagnosis and localization algorithm is proposed based on infrared image sequences. The effectiveness and potential are shown for developed techniques through experimental results.

105-KE Isolation Barrier Leak Rate Acceptance Test Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McCracken, K.J.

1995-06-14

This Acceptance Test Report (ATR) contains the completed and signed Acceptance Procedure (ATP) for the 105-KE Isolations Barrier Leak Rate Test. The Test Engineer`s log, the completed sections of the ATP in the Appendix for Repeat Testing (Appendix K), the approved WHC J-7s (Appendix H), the data logger files (Appendices T and U), and the post test calibration checks (Appendix V) are included.

Endotracheal tube leak pressure and tracheal lumen size in swine.

PubMed

Finholt, D A; Audenaert, S M; Stirt, J A; Marcella, K L; Frierson, H F; Suddarth, L T; Raphaely, R C

1986-06-01

Endotracheal tube "leak" is often estimated in children to judge the fit of uncuffed endotracheal tubes within the trachea. Twenty-five swine were intubated with uncuffed tracheal tubes to determine whether a more sensitive measurement of leaks could be devised and whether leak pressure estimates fit between tracheal tube and trachea. We compared leak pressure measurement using a stethoscope and aneroid manometer with a technique using a microphone, pressure transducer, and recorder, and found no differences between the two methods. The tracheas were then removed and slides prepared of tracheal cross-sectional specimens. Regression analysis revealed a linear relationship between tracheal lumen size and tracheal tube size for both low leak pressure (y = -0.4 + 0.79x, r = 0.88, P less than 0.05) and high leak pressure (y = -2.9 + 0.71x, r = 0.92, P less than 0.05) groups. We conclude that leak testing with a stethoscope and aneroid manometer is sensitive and accurate, and that tracheal tube leak pressure accurately portrays fit between tube and trachea.

Primary flow meter for calibrating a sniffer test leak artefact by a pressure rise method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arai, Kenta; Yoshida, Hajime

2014-10-01

Sniffer tests are used to locate leaks in equipment during operation. The sensitivity of a sniffer leak detector must be calibrated against a known gas flow to atmospheric pressure generated by a sniffer test leak artefact. We have developed a primary flow meter for calibrating gas flows to atmospheric pressure through the leak artefact. The flow meter is based on a pressure rise method and two chambers are used to measure the pressure rise with small uncertainty even at atmospheric pressure. The calibration range of the flow rate is 5 × 10-7 Pa m3 s-1 to 7 × 10-4 Pa m3 s-1 to atmospheric pressure at 23.0 °C with a minimum uncertainty of 1.4% (k = 2), as well as 4 × 10-8 Pa m3 s-1 to 5 × 10-4 Pa m3 s-1 to a vacuum at 23.0 °C. The long term stability of the flow meter was determined as 0.41% by repeated measurements of the conductance of the leak artefact. In case of the flow rate into a vacuum, the flow meter was successfully linked to the international reference value of CCM.P-K12 by a lab-internal comparison.

Bootstrap inversion technique for atmospheric trace gas source detection and quantification using long open-path laser measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alden, Caroline B.; Ghosh, Subhomoy; Coburn, Sean; Sweeney, Colm; Karion, Anna; Wright, Robert; Coddington, Ian; Rieker, Gregory B.; Prasad, Kuldeep

2018-03-01

Advances in natural gas extraction technology have led to increased activity in the production and transport sectors in the United States and, as a consequence, an increased need for reliable monitoring of methane leaks to the atmosphere. We present a statistical methodology in combination with an observing system for the detection and attribution of fugitive emissions of methane from distributed potential source location landscapes such as natural gas production sites. We measure long (> 500 m), integrated open-path concentrations of atmospheric methane using a dual frequency comb spectrometer and combine measurements with an atmospheric transport model to infer leak locations and strengths using a novel statistical method, the non-zero minimum bootstrap (NZMB). The new statistical method allows us to determine whether the empirical distribution of possible source strengths for a given location excludes zero. Using this information, we identify leaking source locations (i.e., natural gas wells) through rejection of the null hypothesis that the source is not leaking. The method is tested with a series of synthetic data inversions with varying measurement density and varying levels of model-data mismatch. It is also tested with field observations of (1) a non-leaking source location and (2) a source location where a controlled emission of 3.1 × 10-5 kg s-1 of methane gas is released over a period of several hours. This series of synthetic data tests and outdoor field observations using a controlled methane release demonstrates the viability of the approach for the detection and sizing of very small leaks of methane across large distances (4+ km2 in synthetic tests). The field tests demonstrate the ability to attribute small atmospheric enhancements of 17 ppb to the emitting source location against a background of combined atmospheric (e.g., background methane variability) and measurement uncertainty of 5 ppb (1σ), when measurements are averaged over 2 min. The results of the synthetic and field data testing show that the new observing system and statistical approach greatly decreases the incidence of false alarms (that is, wrongly identifying a well site to be leaking) compared with the same tests that do not use the NZMB approach and therefore offers increased leak detection and sizing capabilities.

Pressure Decay Testing Methodology for Quantifying Leak Rates of Full-Scale Docking System Seals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunlap, Patrick H., Jr.; Daniels, Christopher C.; Wasowski, Janice L.; Garafolo, Nicholas G.; Penney, Nicholas; Steinetz, Bruce M.

2010-01-01

NASA is developing a new docking system to support future space exploration missions to low-Earth orbit and the Moon. This system, called the Low Impact Docking System, is a mechanism designed to connect the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle to the International Space Station, the lunar lander (Altair), and other future Constellation Project vehicles. NASA Glenn Research Center is playing a key role in developing the main interface seal for this docking system. This seal will be relatively large with an outside diameter in the range of 54 to 58 in. (137 to 147 cm). As part of this effort, a new test apparatus has been designed, fabricated, and installed to measure leak rates of candidate full-scale seals under simulated thermal, vacuum, and engagement conditions. Using this test apparatus, a pressure decay testing and data processing methodology has been developed to quantify full-scale seal leak rates. Tests performed on untreated 54 in. diameter seals at room temperature in a fully compressed state resulted in leak rates lower than the requirement of less than 0.0025 lbm, air per day (0.0011 kg/day).

VOLUMETRIC LEAK DETECTION IN LARGE UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS - VOLUME II: APPENDICES A-E

EPA Science Inventory

The program of experiments conducted at Griffiss Air Force Base was devised to expand the understanding of large underground storage tank behavior as it impacts the performance of volumetric leak detection testing. The report addresses three important questions about testing the ...

Controlling air leaks using free pericardial fat pads as surgical sealant in pulmonary resection.

PubMed

Ikeda, Takeshi; Sasaki, Masato; Yamada, Narihisa; Takamori, Atsushi; Tanabe, Sawaka; Okada, Akitoshi; Sakon, Kayo; Mizunaga, Tae; Koshiji, Takaaki

2015-04-01

This study evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of a new operative method for controlling intraoperative air leaks using free pericardial fat pads as a covering sealant in pulmonary resection. To manage air leaks that must be controlled in pulmonary resection at the first water sealing test, collected free pericardial fat was used as a covering sealant and sewn on by the suture closing the lesion. In cases of uncontrolled air leaks at the second sealing test, fibrin glue was used to fill the residual lesion between the fat and visceral pleura. Fifty-one eligible patients were enrolled in this study to evaluate the duration of postoperative air leaks and the condition of the implanted fat on chest computed tomography (CT) 6 months later. The mean duration of postoperative air leaks was 1.05 ± 1.84 days in the 39 cases that received the pericardial fat covering technique only and 2.66 ± 3.42 days in the 12 cases that received the pericardial fat covering technique combined with fibrin glue. Prolonged alveolar air leaks occurred in 1 case and 2 cases, respectively. No cases required conversion to conventional methods, and there were no further adverse events. On follow-up chest CT approximately 62.7% of obvious engrafted fat survived. Using free pericardial fat pads as a sealant to control air leaks in pulmonary resection is safe and has good feasibility and potent efficacy. This new method can be an innovative technique for preventing prolonged air leaks. Copyright © 2015 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 265.191 - Assessment of existing tank system's integrity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...); and (5) Results of a leak test, internal inspection, or other tank integrity examination such that: (i) For non-enterable underground tanks, this assessment must consist of a leak test that is capable of... water table effects, (ii) For other than non-enterable underground tanks and for ancillary equipment...

40 CFR 264.191 - Assessment of existing tank system's integrity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...); and (5) Results of a leak test, internal inspection, or other tank integrity examination such that: (i) For non-enterable underground tanks, the assessment must include a leak test that is capable of taking into account the effects of temperature variations, tank end deflection, vapor pockets, and high water...

A proposed rationale and test methodology for establishment of acceptance criteria for vacuum integrity testing of pharmaceutical freeze dryers.

PubMed

Hardwick, Lisa M; Nail, Steven L; Jarman, James; Hasler, Kai; Hense, Thomas

2013-10-01

A scientific rationale is proposed for the establishment of acceptance criteria for leak rates in pharmaceutical freeze dryers. A method was developed to determine the quantity of air that could leak into any lyophilizer from the outside while still maintaining Class 100/Grade A microbial conditions. A lyophilizing product is assumed most vulnerable to microbial contamination during secondary drying, when mass transfer of water vapor from product to condenser is minimal. Using the void volume of the dryer, calculated from change in internal pressure when a known volume of air is introduced, and the potential maximum bioburden of the leaked air (based on measured values), calculations can determine the allowable leaked volume of air, the flow rate required to admit that volume in a given time frame, and the pressure rise that would result from the leak over a given testing period. For the dryers in this study, using worst-case air quality conditions, it was determined that a leak resulting in a pressure rise of 0.027 mbar over a 30 min period would allow the dryers to remain in secondary drying conditions for 62 h before the established action level of one colony forming unit for each cubic meter of air space would be reached. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) ground cold flow test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

This photograph shows a ground cold flow test of the linear aerospike rocket engine mounted on the rear fuselage of an SR-71. The LASRE experiment was designed to provide in-flight data to help Lockheed Martin evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics and the handling of the SR-71 linear aerospike experiment configuration. The goal of the project was to provide in-flight data to help Lockheed Martin validate the computational predictive tools it was using to determine the aerodynamic performance of a future reusable launch vehicle. The joint NASA, Rocketdyne (now part of Boeing), and Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) completed seven initial research flights at Dryden Flight Research Center. Two initial flights were used to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of the LASRE apparatus (pod) on the back of the SR-71. Five later flights focused on the experiment itself. Two were used to cycle gaseous helium and liquid nitrogen through the experiment to check its plumbing system for leaks and to test engine operational characteristics. During the other three flights, liquid oxygen was cycled through the engine. Two engine hot-firings were also completed on the ground. A final hot-fire test flight was canceled because of liquid oxygen leaks in the test apparatus. The LASRE experiment itself was a 20-percent-scale, half-span model of a lifting body shape (X-33) without the fins. It was rotated 90 degrees and equipped with eight thrust cells of an aerospike engine and was mounted on a housing known as the 'canoe,' which contained the gaseous hydrogen, helium, and instrumentation gear. The model, engine, and canoe together were called a 'pod.' The experiment focused on determining how a reusable launch vehicle's engine flume would affect the aerodynamics of its lifting-body shape at specific altitudes and speeds. The interaction of the aerodynamic flow with the engine plume could create drag; design refinements looked at minimizing this interaction. The entire pod was 41 feet in length and weighed 14,300 pounds. The experimental pod was mounted on one of NASA's SR-71s, which were at that time on loan to NASA from the U.S. Air Force. Lockheed Martin may use the information gained from the LASRE and X-33 Advanced Technology Demonstrator Projects to develop a potential future reusable launch vehicle. NASA and Lockheed Martin were partners in the X-33 program through a cooperative agreement. The goal of that program was to enable significant reductions in the cost of access to space and to promote creation and delivery of new space services and activities to improve the United States's economic competitiveness. In March 2001, however, NASA cancelled the X-33 program.

Leak detectability of the Norman Wells pipeline by mass balance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liou, J.C.P.

Pipeline leak detection using software-based systems is becoming common practice. The detectability of such systems is measured by how small and how quickly a leak can be detected. Algorithms used and measurement uncertainties determine leak detectability. This paper addresses leak detectability using mass balance, establishes leak detectability for Norman Wells pipelines, and compares it with field leak test results. The pipeline is operated by the Interprovincial Pipe Line (IPL) Inc., of Edmonton, Canada. It is a 12.75-inch outside diameter steel pipe with variable wall thickness. The length of the pipe is approximately 550 miles (868.9 km). The pipeline transports lightmore » crude oil at a constant flow rate of about 250 m{sup 3}/hr. The crude oil can enter the pipeline at two locations. Besides the Norman Wells inlet, there is a side line near Zama terminal that can inject crude oil into the pipeline.« less

40 CFR Appendix K to Part 75 - Quality Assurance and Operating Procedures for Sorbent Trap Monitoring Systems

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... until the leak check is passed. Post-test leak check ≤4% of average sampling rate After sampling ** See... the test site. The sorbent media must be obtained from a source that can demonstrate the quality...-traceable calibration gas standards and reagents shall be used for the tests and procedures required under...

High-sensitivity Leak-testing Method with High-Resolution Integration Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujiyoshi, Motohiro; Nonomura, Yutaka; Senda, Hidemi

A high-resolution leak-testing method named HR (High-Resolution) Integration Technique has been developed for MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) sensors such as a vibrating angular-rate sensor housed in a vacuum package. Procedures of the method to obtain high leak-rate resolution were as follows. A package filled with helium gas was kept in a small accumulation chamber to accumulate helium gas leaking from the package. After the accumulation, the accumulated helium gas was introduced into a mass spectrometer in a short period of time, and the flux of the helium gas was measured by the mass spectrometer as a transient phenomenon. The leak-rate of the package was calculated from the detected transient waveform of the mass spectrometer and the accumulation time of the helium gas in the accumulation chamber. Because the density of the helium gas in the vacuum chamber increased and the accumulated helium gas was measured in a very short period of time with the mass spectrometer, the peak strength of the transient waveform became high and the signal to noise ratio was much improved. The detectable leak-rate resolution of the technique reached 1×10-15 (Pa·m3/s). This resolution is 103 times superior to that of the conventional helium vacuum integration method. The accuracy of the measuring system was verified with a standard helium gas leak source. The results were well matched between theoretical calculation based on the leak-rate of the source and the experimental results within only 2% error.

Testing of heat exchangers in membrane oxygenators using air pressure.

PubMed

Hamilton, Carole; Stein, Jutta; Seidler, Rainer; Kind, Robert; Beck, Karin; Tosok, Jürgen; Upterfofel, Jörg

2006-03-01

All heat exchangers (HE) in membrane oxygenators are tested by the manufacturer for water leaks during the production phase. However, for safety reasons, it is highly recommended that HEs be tested again before clinical use. The most common method is to attach the heater-cooler to the HE and allow the water to recirculate for at least 10 min, during which time a water leak should be evident. To improve the detection of water leaks, a test was devised using a pressure manometer with an integrated bulb used to pressurize the HE with air. The cardiopulmonary bypass system is set up as per protocol. A pressure manometer adapted to a 1/2" tubing is connected to the water inlet side of the oxygenator. The water outlet side is blocked with a short piece of 1/2" deadend tubing. The HE is pressurized with 250 mmHg for at least 30 sec and observed for any drop. Over the last 2 years, only one oxygenator has been detected with a water leak in which the air-method leaktest was performed. This unit was sent back to the manufacturer who confirmed the failure. Even though the incidence of water leaks is very low, it does occur and it is, therefore, important that all HEs are tested before they are used clinically. This method of using a pressure manometer offers many advantages, as the HE can be tested outside of the operating room (OR), allowing earlier testing of the oxygenator, no water contact is necessary, and it is simple, easy and quick to perform.

Leak Mitigation in Mechanically Pumped Fluid Loops for Long Duration Space Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Jennifer R.; Birur, Gajanana; Bame, David; Mastropietro, A. J.; Bhandari, Pradeep; Lee, Darlene; Karlmann, Paul; Liu, Yuanming

2013-01-01

Mechanically pumped fluid loops (MPFLs) are increasingly considered for spacecraft thermal control. A concern for long duration space missions is the leak of fluid leading to performance degradation or potential loop failure. An understanding of leak rate through analysis, as well as destructive and non-destructive testing, provides a verifiable means to quantify leak rates. The system can be appropriately designed to maintain safe operating pressures and temperatures throughout the mission. Two MPFLs on the Mars Science Laboratory Spacecraft, launched November 26, 2011, maintain the temperature of sensitive electronics and science instruments within a -40 deg C to 50 deg C range during launch, cruise, and Mars surface operations. With over 100 meters of complex tubing, fittings, joints, flex lines, and pumps, the system must maintain a minimum pressure through all phases of the mission to provide appropriate performance. This paper describes the process of design, qualification, test, verification, and validation of the components and assemblies employed to minimize risks associated with excessive fluid leaks from pumped fluid loop systems.

10 CFR 32.59 - Same: Leak testing of each source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... kilobecquerels (0.1 microcurie) of americium-241 or radium-226 before transferring the source to a general....185 kilobecquerel (0.005 microcurie) of americium-241 or radium-226. If this test discloses more than... leaking or losing americium-241 or radium-226 and shall not be transferred to a general licensee under...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Swain, M.R.

The following report is divided into two sections. The first section describes the results of ignitability tests of high pressure hydrogen and natural gas leaks. The volume of ignitable gases formed by leaking hydrogen or natural gas were measured. Leaking high pressure hydrogen produced a cone of ignitable gases with 28{degrees} included angle. Leaking high pressure methane produced a cone of ignitable gases with 20{degrees} included angle. Ignition of hydrogen produced larger overpressures than did natural gas. The largest overpressures produced by hydrogen were the same as overpressures produced by inflating a 11 inch child`s balloon until it burst.

40 CFR Appendix L to Part 50 - Reference Method for the Determination of Fine Particulate Matter as PM2.5 in the Atmosphere

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... or an alternative external leak test technique may be required for samplers whose design or... alternative internal, filter bypass leak test technique may be required for samplers whose design or... variation or better has been established for the operational precision of PM2.5 monitoring data. 5.1 Tests...

40 CFR Appendix L to Part 50 - Reference Method for the Determination of Fine Particulate Matter as PM2.5 in the Atmosphere

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... or an alternative external leak test technique may be required for samplers whose design or... alternative internal, filter bypass leak test technique may be required for samplers whose design or... variation or better has been established for the operational precision of PM2.5 monitoring data. 5.1 Tests...

40 CFR Appendix L to Part 50 - Reference Method for the Determination of Fine Particulate Matter as PM2.5 in the Atmosphere

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... or an alternative external leak test technique may be required for samplers whose design or... alternative internal, filter bypass leak test technique may be required for samplers whose design or... variation or better has been established for the operational precision of PM2.5 monitoring data. 5.1 Tests...

Experimental testing of a foam/multilayer insulation (FMLI) thermal control system (TCS) for use on a cryogenic upper stage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hastings, Leon J.; Martin, James J.

1998-01-01

An 18-m3 system-level test bed termed the Multipurpose Hydrogen Test Bed (MHTB has been used to evaluate a foam/multilayer combination insulation concept. The foam element (Isofoam SS-1171) protects against ground hold/ascent flight environments, and allows the use of dry nitrogen purge as opposed to a more complex/heavy helium purge subsystem. The MLI (45 layers of Double Aluminized Mylar with Dacron spacers) is designed for an on-orbit storage period of 45 days. Unique MLI features included; a variable layer density (reduces weight and radiation losses), larger but fewer DAM vent perforations (reduces radiation losses), and a roll wrap installation which resulted in a very robust MLI and reduced both assembly man-hours and seam heat leak. Ground hold testing resulted in an average heat leak of 63 W/m2 and purge gas liquefaction was successfully prevented. The orbit hold simulation produced a heat leak of 0.22 W/m2 with 305 K boundary which, compared to historical data, represents a 50-percent heat leak reduction.

Implementation of Leak Test Methods for the International Space Station (ISS) Elements, Systems and Components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Underwood, Steve; Lvovsky, Oleg

2007-01-01

The International Space Station (ISS has Qualification and Acceptance Environmental Test Requirements document, SSP 41172 that includes many environmental tests such as Thermal vacuum & Cycling, Depress/Repress, Sinusoidal, Random, and Acoustic Vibration, Pyro Shock, Acceleration, Humidity, Pressure, Electromatic Interference (EMI)/Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMCO), etc. This document also includes (13) leak test methods for Pressure Integrity Verification of the ISS Elements, Systems, and Components. These leak test methods are well known, however, the test procedure for specific leak test method shall be written and implemented paying attention to the important procedural steps/details that, if omitted or deviated, could impact the quality of the final product and affect the crew safety. Such procedural steps/details for different methods include, but not limited to: - Sequence of testing, f or example, pressurization and submersion steps for Method I (Immersion); - Stabilization of the mass spectrometer leak detector outputs fo r Method II (vacuum Chamber or Bell jar); - Proper data processing an d taking a conservative approach while making predictions for on-orbit leakage rate for Method III(Pressure Change); - Proper Calibration o f the mass spectrometer leak detector for all the tracer gas (mostly Helium) Methods such as Method V (Detector Probe), Method VI (Hood), Method VII (Tracer Probe), Method VIII(Accumulation); - Usage of visibl ility aides for Method I (Immersion), Method IV (Chemical Indicator), Method XII (Foam/Liquid Application), and Method XIII (Hydrostatic/Visual Inspection); While some methods could be used for the total leaka ge (either internal-to-external or external-to-internal) rate requirement verification (Vacuum Chamber, Pressure Decay, Hood, Accumulation), other methods shall be used only as a pass/fail test for individual joints (e.g., welds, fittings, and plugs) or for troubleshooting purposes (Chemical Indicator, Detector Probe, Tracer Probe, Local Vacuum Chamber, Foam/Liquid Application, and Hydrostatic/Visual Inspection). Any isolation of SSP 41172 requirements have led to either retesting of hardware or accepting a risk associated with the potential system or component pressure integrity problem during flight.

The mechanical and microbiological integrity of surgical gloves.

PubMed

Jamal, Ala; Wilkinson, Stephen

2003-03-01

Several manufacturers supply surgical gloves that have been individually tested (IT) for leaks. Other manufacturers supply gloves in which sample gloves from each batch are tested for leaks (batch tested: BT). The latter brands may be rejected by surgeons because of presumed increased risk of wound infection and staff exposure to patient pathogens. The influence of differences between glove brands on performance in surgery has not been extensively studied. The aims of the present study were to test the mechanical and microbiological integrity of IT compared to BT gloves. A total of 110 unused gloves from each of an IT and a BT brand were tested for leaks, first, by observation of water-jets from water-filled gloves and second, by measuring electrical resistance between inside and outside the glove surfaces, to give a baseline measure. A total of 304 IT and 280 BT gloves were then similarly leak-tested after 98 clean surgical procedures. The hands and gloves of scrub team members were cultured postsurgery. A total of 1/110 BT and 0/110 IT unused gloves contained leaks (NS, Fisher's exact test). Operative perforation rates were lower for BT compared with IT (8/280 cf. 22/304; P < 0.05 Fisher's exact test). There was no bias in types of operations or scrub team members to account for the difference. Growth of normal skin flora was found on virtually every wearer's hands post-operatively. Similar bacteria were frequently cultured from the outside of gloves at the conclusion of surgery (111/152 pairs IT cf. 122/140 pairs BT; P < 0.01, Fisher's exact test). This study provides evidence that the clinical performance of BT gloves is no different to IT gloves. There was no significant difference in mechanical leak rates for unused gloves. Paradoxically, although IT gloves were more likely to show macro-perforations after surgery, the incidence of contamination on the surface of BT gloves was greater, possibly reflecting a qualitative difference in glove material. This study suggests that both types of gloves develop microporosity during use, which may allow transfer of bacteria from the surgeon's skin to the surface of the glove.

The urological complications of renal transplantation: a series of 1535 patients.

PubMed

Streeter, E H; Little, D M; Cranston, D W; Morris, P J

2002-11-01

To determine the incidence of urological complications of renal transplantation at one institution, and relate this to donor and recipient factors. A consecutive series of 1535 renal transplants were audited, and a database of donor and recipient characteristics created for risk-factor analysis. An unstented Leadbetter-Politano anastomosis was the preferred method of ureteric reimplantation. There were 45 urinary leaks, 54 primary ureteric obstructions, nine cases of ureteric calculi, three bladder stones and 19 cases of bladder outlet obstruction at some time after transplantation. The overall incidence of urological complications was 9.2%, with that for urinary leak or primary ureteric obstruction being 6.5%. One graft was lost because of complications, and there were three deaths associated directly or indirectly with urological complications. There was no association with recipient age, cadaveric vs living-donor transplants, or cold ischaemic times before organ reimplantation, although the donor age was slightly higher in cases of urinary leak. There was no association with kidneys imported via the UK national organ-sharing scheme vs the use of local kidneys. The management of these complications is discussed. The incidence of urological complications in this series has remained essentially unchanged for 20 years. The causes of these complications and techniques for their prevention are discussed.

High-Voltage Leak Detection of a Parenteral Proteinaceous Solution Product Packaged in Form-Fill-Seal Plastic Laminate Bags. Part 3. Chemical Stability and Visual Appearance of a Protein-Based Aqueous Solution for Injection as a Function of HVLD Exposure.

PubMed

Rasmussen, Mats; Damgaard, Rasmus; Buus, Peter; Guazzo, Dana Morton

2013-01-01

This Part 3 of this three-part research series reports the impact of high-voltage leak detection (HVLD) exposure on the physico-chemical stability of the packaged product. The product, intended for human administration by injection, is an aqueous solution formulation of the rapid acting insulin analogue, insulin aspart (NovoRapid®/NovoLog®) by Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark. The package is a small-volume form-fill-seal plastic laminate bag. Product-packages exposed to HVLD were compared to unexposed product after storage for 9 months at recommended storage conditions of 5 ± 3 °C. No differences in active ingredient or degradation products assays were noted. No changes in any other stability indicating parameter results were observed. This report concludes this three-part series. Part 1 documented HVLD method development and validation work. Part 2 explored the impact of various package material, package temperature, and package storage conditions on HVLD test results. Detection of leaks in the bag seal area was investigated. In conclusion, HVLD is reported to be a validatable leak test method suitable for rapid, nondestructive container-closure integrity evaluation of the subject product-package. In Part 1 of this three-part series, a leak test method based on electrical conductivity and capacitance, also called high-voltage leak detection (HVLD), was proven to find hole leaks in small plastic bags filled with a solution of insulin aspart intended for human injection (NovoRapid®/NovoLog® by Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark). In Part 2, the ability of the HVLD method to find other types of package leaks was tested, and the impact of package material and product storage temperature on HVLD results was explored. This final Part 3 checked how well the packaged protein drug solution maintained its potency after HVLD exposure over 9 months of storage under long-term stability conditions. Results showed that HVLD caused no harm to the product.

Hubble Space Telescope Program on STS-95 Supported by Space Acceleration Measurement System for Free Flyers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kacpura, Thomas J.

2000-01-01

John Glenn's historic return to space was a primary focus of the STS 95 space shuttle mission; however, the 83 science payloads aboard were the focus of the flight activities. One of the payloads, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital System Test (HOST), was flown in the cargo bay by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. It served as a space flight test of upgrade components for the telescope before they are installed in the shuttle for the next Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission. One of the upgrade components is a cryogenic cooling system for the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS). The cooling is required for low noise in the receiver's sensitive electronic instrumentation. Originally, a passive system using dry ice cooled NICMOS, but the ice leaked away and must be replaced. The active cryogenic cooler can provide the cold temperatures required for the NICMOS, but there was a concern that it would create vibrations that would affect the fine pointing accuracy of the Hubble platform.

Study to develop improved methods to detect leakage in fluid systems, phase 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Janus, J. C.; Cimerman, I.

1971-01-01

An ultrasonic contact sensor engineering prototype leak detection system was developed and its capabilities under cryogenic operations demonstrated. The results from tests indicate that the transducer performed well on liquid hydrogen plumbing, that flow and valve actuation could be monitored, and that the phase change from gaseous to liquid hydrogen could be detected by the externally mounted transducers. Tests also demonstrate the ability of the system to detect internal leaks past valve seats and to function as a flow meter. Such a system demonstrates that it is not necessary to break into welded systems to locate internal leaks.

Standard Test Procedures for Evaluating Various Leak Detection Methods

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Learn about protocols that testers could use to demonstrate that an individual release detection equipment type could meet the performance requirements noted in the federal UST requirements for detecting leaks.

Development of a low cost unmanned aircraft system for atmospheric carbon dioxide leak detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitchell, Taylor Austin

Carbon sequestration, the storage of carbon dioxide gas underground, has the potential to reduce global warming by removing a greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. These storage sites, however, must first be monitored to detect if carbon dioxide is leaking back out to the atmosphere. As an alternative to traditional large ground-based sensor networks to monitor CO2 levels for leaks, unmanned aircraft offer the potential to perform in-situ atmospheric leak detection over large areas for a fraction of the cost. This project developed a proof-of-concept sensor system to map relative carbon dioxide levels to detect potential leaks. The sensor system included a Sensair K-30 FR CO2 sensor, GPS, and altimeter connected an Arduino microcontroller which logged data to an onboard SD card. Ground tests were performed to verify and calibrate the system including wind tunnel tests to determine the optimal configuration of the system for the quickest response time (4-8 seconds based upon flowrate). Tests were then conducted over a controlled release of CO 2 in addition to over controlled rangeland fires which released carbon dioxide over a large area as would be expected from a carbon sequestration source. 3D maps of carbon dioxide were developed from the system telemetry that clearly illustrated increased CO2 levels from the fires. These tests demonstrated the system's ability to detect increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere.

Polyethylene glycol hydrogel polymer sealant for vitrectomy surgery: an in vitro study of sutureless vitrectomy incision closure.

PubMed

Hariprasad, Seenu M; Singh, Ajay

2011-03-01

To test a novel hydrogel sealant to secure sutureless sclerotomies under variable intraocular pressure conditions. In cadaver eyes, 23- and 20-gauge (G) sclerotomies were constructed. Sixteen 23-G beveled sclerotomies were constructed in 4 eyes: 8 of the incisions were treated with hydrogel sealant, while 8 were left bare. All sclerotomies were monitored for leaks while the intraocular pressure was elevated. The pressure on incision leakage was recorded as the leak pressure (maximum tested = 140 mm Hg). Additionally, sixteen 20-G sclerotomies were constructed in 4 other eyes: 8 of the incisions were treated with hydrogel sealant, while 8 were sutured. These incisions were similarly pressure tested. Among the 23-G incisions, hydrogel sealant application to the incisions significantly increased the leak pressure relative to bare incisions: mean (SE), 131.8 (8.2) vs 39.5 (5.2) mm Hg, respectively (P < .001). Only 1 of the 8 sealant-treated 23-G incisions leaked below 140 mm Hg, compared with all of the 8 bare incisions. Among the 20-G incisions, there was no difference in leak pressure among sealant-treated and sutured incisions: mean (SE), 140.0 (0.0) vs 136.3 (3.8) mm Hg, respectively (P = .35). None of the 8 sealant-treated 20-G incisions leaked below 140 mm Hg, compared with 1 of the 8 sutured incisions. Hydrogel sealant significantly increased the leak pressure among 23-G incisions relative to 23-G bare incisions and was equivalent to suturing among 20-G incisions. Hydrogel sealants effectively close vitrectomy incisions and may decrease the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis and hypotony.

Design and Analysis of the Warm-To Suspension Links for Jefferson Lab's 11 Gev/c Super High Momentum Spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, E.; Brindza, P.; Lassiter, S.; Fowler, M.

2010-04-01

This paper describes design and analysis performed for the warm-to-cold suspension links of the warm iron yoke superconducting quadrupole magnets, and superconducting dipole magnet. The results of investigation of titanium Ti-6Al-4V and Nitronic 50 stainless steel for the suspension links to support the cold mass, preloads, forces due to cryogenic temperature, and imbalanced magnetic forces from misalignments are presented. Allowable stresses at normal-case scenarios and worst-case scenarios, space constraints, and heat leak considerations are discussed. Principles of the ASME Pressure Vessel Code were used to determine allowable stresses. Optimal angles of the suspension links were obtained by calculation and finite element methods. The stress levels of suspension links at multiple scenarios are presented, discussed, and compared with the allowable stresses.

Commissioning the cryogenic system of the first LHC sector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Millet, F.; Claudet, S.; Ferlin, G.

2007-12-01

The LHC machine, composed of eight sectors with superconducting magnets and accelerating cavities, requires a complex cryogenic system providing high cooling capacities (18 kW equivalent at 4.5 K and 2.4 W at 1.8 K per sector produced in large cold boxes and distributed via 3.3-km cryogenic transfer lines). After individual reception tests of the cryogenic subsystems (cryogen storages, refrigerators, cryogenic transfer lines and distribution boxes) performed since 2000, the commissioning of the cryogenic system of the first LHC sector has been under way since November 2006. After a brief introduction to the LHC cryogenic system and its specificities, the commissioningmore » is reported detailing the preparation phase (pressure and leak tests, circuit conditioning and flushing), the cool-down sequences including the handling of cryogenic fluids, the magnet powering phase and finally the warm-up. Preliminary conclusions on the commissioning of the first LHC sector will be drawn with the review of the critical points already solved or still pending. The last part of the paper reports on the first operational experience of the LHC cryogenic system in the perspective of the commissioning of the remaining LHC sectors and the beam injection test.« less

Identification of multiple leaks in pipeline: Linearized model, maximum likelihood, and super-resolution localization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xun; Ghidaoui, Mohamed S.

2018-07-01

This paper considers the problem of identifying multiple leaks in a water-filled pipeline based on inverse transient wave theory. The analytical solution to this problem involves nonlinear interaction terms between the various leaks. This paper shows analytically and numerically that these nonlinear terms are of the order of the leak sizes to the power two and; thus, negligible. As a result of this simplification, a maximum likelihood (ML) scheme that identifies leak locations and leak sizes separately is formulated and tested. It is found that the ML estimation scheme is highly efficient and robust with respect to noise. In addition, the ML method is a super-resolution leak localization scheme because its resolvable leak distance (approximately 0.15λmin , where λmin is the minimum wavelength) is below the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem limit (0.5λmin). Moreover, the Cramér-Rao lower bound (CRLB) is derived and used to show the efficiency of the ML scheme estimates. The variance of the ML estimator approximates the CRLB proving that the ML scheme belongs to class of best unbiased estimator of leak localization methods.

Helium Mass Spectrometer Leak Detection: A Method to Quantify Total Measurement Uncertainty

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mather, Janice L.; Taylor, Shawn C.

2015-01-01

In applications where leak rates of components or systems are evaluated against a leak rate requirement, the uncertainty of the measured leak rate must be included in the reported result. However, in the helium mass spectrometer leak detection method, the sensitivity, or resolution, of the instrument is often the only component of the total measurement uncertainty noted when reporting results. To address this shortfall, a measurement uncertainty analysis method was developed that includes the leak detector unit's resolution, repeatability, hysteresis, and drift, along with the uncertainty associated with the calibration standard. In a step-wise process, the method identifies the bias and precision components of the calibration standard, the measurement correction factor (K-factor), and the leak detector unit. Together these individual contributions to error are combined and the total measurement uncertainty is determined using the root-sum-square method. It was found that the precision component contributes more to the total uncertainty than the bias component, but the bias component is not insignificant. For helium mass spectrometer leak rate tests where unit sensitivity alone is not enough, a thorough evaluation of the measurement uncertainty such as the one presented herein should be performed and reported along with the leak rate value.

Noble Gas Leak Detector for Use in the SNS Neutron Electric Dipole Moment Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barrow, Chad; Huffman, Paul; Leung, Kent; Korobkina, Ekaterina; White, Christian; nEDM Collaboration Collaboration

2017-09-01

Common practice for leak-checking high vacuum systems uses helium as the probing gas. However, helium may permeate some materials at room temperature, making leak characterization difficult. The experiment to find a permanent electric dipole moment of the neutron (nEDM), to be conducted at Oak Ridge National Laboratories, will employ a large volume of liquid helium housed by such a helium-permeable composite material. It is desirable to construct a leak detector that can employ alternative test gases. The purpose of this experiment is to create a leak detector that can quantify the argon gas flux in a high vacuum environment and interpret this flux as a leak-rate. This apparatus will be used to check the nEDM volumes for leaks at room temperature before cooling down to cryogenic temperatures. Our leak detector uses a residual gas analyzer and a vacuum pumping station to characterize the gas present in an evacuated volume. The introduction of argon gas into the system is interpreted as a leak-rate into the volume. The device has been calibrated with NIST certified calibrated leaks and the machine's sensitivity has been calculated using background gas analysis. As a result of the device construction and software programming, we are able to leak-check composite and polyamide volumes This work was supported in part by the US Department of Energy under Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER41042.

Quantitative study of sniffer leak rate and pressure drop leak rate of liquid nitrogen panels of SST-1 tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pathan, F. S.; Khan, Z.; Semwal, P.; Raval, D. C.; Joshi, K. S.; Thankey, P. L.; Dhanani, K. R.

2008-05-01

Steady State Super-conducting (SST-1) Tokamak is in commissioning stage at Institute for Plasma Research. Vacuum chamber of SST-1 Tokamak consists of 1) Vacuum vessel, an ultra high vacuum (UHV) chamber, 2) Cryostat, a high vacuum (HV) chamber. Cryostat encloses the liquid helium cooled super-conducting magnets (TF and PF), which require the thermal radiation protection against room temperature. Liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooled panels are used to provide thermal shield around super-conducting magnets. During operation, LN2 panels will be under pressurized condition and its surrounding (cryostat) will be at high vacuum. Hence, LN2 panels must have very low leak rate. This paper describes an experiment to study the behaviour of the leaks in LN2 panels during sniffer test and pressure drop test using helium gas.

Elastomeric Seal Performance after Terrestrial Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daniels, Christopher C.; Oravec, Heather A.; Mather, Janice L.; Taylor, Shawn C.; Dunlap, Patrick H.

2015-01-01

Ultraviolet radiation was evaluated to determine its negative effects on the performance of elastomeric gas pressure seals. The leak rates of the silicone elastomer S0383-70 O-ring test articles were used to quantify the degradation of the seals after exposure to vacuum-ultraviolet and/or middle-to-near-ultraviolet wavelength radiation. Three groups of seals were exposed in terrestrial facilities to 115-165 nm wavelength radiation, 230-500 nm wavelength radiation, or both spectrums, for an orbital spaceflight equivalent of 125 hours. The leak rates of the silicone elastomer S0383-70 seals were quantified and compared to samples that received no radiation. Each lot contained six samples and statistical t-tests were used to determine the separate and combined influences of exposure to the two wavelength ranges. A comparison of the mean leak rates of samples exposed to 115-165 nm wavelength radiation to the control specimens showed no difference, suggesting that spectrum was not damaging. The 230-500 nm wavelength appeared to be damaging, as the mean leak rates of the specimens exposed to that range of wavelengths, and those exposed to the combined 115-165 nm and 230-500 nm spectrums, were significantly different from the leak rates of the control specimens. Most importantly, the test articles exposed to both wavelength spectrums exhibited mean leak rates two orders of magnitude larger than any other exposed specimens, which suggested that both wavelength spectrums are important when simulating the orbital environment.

Two-stream Convolutional Neural Network for Methane Emissions Quantification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J.; Ravikumar, A. P.; McGuire, M.; Bell, C.; Tchapmi, L. P.; Brandt, A. R.

2017-12-01

Methane, a key component of natural gas, has a 25x higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide on a 100-year basis. Accurately monitoring and mitigating methane emissions require cost-effective detection and quantification technologies. Optical gas imaging, one of the most commonly used leak detection technology, adopted by Environmental Protection Agency, cannot estimate leak-sizes. In this work, we harness advances in computer science to allow for rapid and automatic leak quantification. Particularly, we utilize two-stream deep Convolutional Networks (ConvNets) to estimate leak-size by capturing complementary spatial information from still plume frames, and temporal information from plume motion between frames. We build large leak datasets for training and evaluating purposes by collecting about 20 videos (i.e. 397,400 frames) of leaks. The videos were recorded at six distances from the source, covering 10 -60 ft. Leak sources included natural gas well-heads, separators, and tanks. All frames were labeled with a true leak size, which has eight levels ranging from 0 to 140 MCFH. Preliminary analysis shows that two-stream ConvNets provides significant accuracy advantage over single steam ConvNets. Spatial stream ConvNet can achieve an accuracy of 65.2%, by extracting important features, including texture, plume area, and pattern. Temporal stream, fed by the results of optical flow analysis, results in an accuracy of 58.3%. The integration of the two-stream ConvNets gives a combined accuracy of 77.6%. For future work, we will split the training and testing datasets in distinct ways in order to test the generalization of the algorithm for different leak sources. Several analytic metrics, including confusion matrix and visualization of key features, will be used to understand accuracy rates and occurrences of false positives. The quantification algorithm can help to find and fix super-emitters, and improve the cost-effectiveness of leak detection and repair programs.

EIGHTH INTERIM STATUS REPORT: MODEL 9975 PCV O-RING FIXTURE LONG-TERM LEAK PERFORMANCE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daugherty, W. L.

2013-09-03

A series of experiments to monitor the aging performance of Viton® GLT O-rings used in the Model 9975 package has been ongoing since 2004 at the Savannah River National Laboratory. Seventy tests using mock-ups of 9975 Primary Containment Vessels (PCVs) were assembled and heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 ºF. They were leak-tested initially and have been tested periodically to determine if they meet the criterion of leak-tightness defined in ANSI standard N14.5-97. Fourteen additional tests were initiated in 2008 with GLT-S O-rings heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 ºF. High temperature aging continues for 23more » GLT O-ring fixtures at 200 – 270 ºF. Room temperature leak test failures have been experienced in all of the GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 350 ºF and higher temperatures, and in 8 fixtures aging at 300 ºF. The remaining GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 300 ºF have been retired from testing following more than 5 years at temperature without failure. No failures have yet been observed in GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 200 ºF for 61 - 85 months, which is still bounding to O-ring temperatures during storage in KArea Complex (KAC). Based on expectations that the fixtures aging at 200 ºF will remain leaktight for a significant period yet to come, 2 additional fixtures began aging in 2011 at an intermediate temperature of 270 ºF, with hopes that they may reach a failure condition before the 200 ºF fixtures. High temperature aging continues for 6 GLT-S O-ring fixtures at 200 – 300 ºF. Room temperature leak test failures have been experienced in all 8 of the GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 350 and 400 ºF. No failures have yet been observed in GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 200 - 300 ºF for 41 - 45 months. Aging and periodic leak testing will continue for the remaining PCV fixtures.« less

LEAKAGE TESTING METHOD

DOEpatents

McAdams, Wm.A.; Foss, M.H.

1958-08-12

A method of testing containers for leaks is described, particularly the testing of containers or cans in which the uranium slugs for nuelear reactors are jacketed. This method involves the immersion of the can in water under l50 pounds of pressure, then removing, drying, and coating the can with anhydrous copper sulfate. Amy water absorbed by the can under pressure will exude and discolor the copper sulfate in the area about the leak.

Space Station Freedom seal leakage rate analysis and testing summary: Air leaks in ambient versus vacuum exit conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rodriguez, P. I.; Markovitch, R.

1992-01-01

This report is intended to reveal the apparent relationship of air seal leakage rates between 2 atmospheres (atm) to 1 atm and 1 atm to vacuum conditions. Gas dynamics analysis is provided as well as data summarizing the MSFC test report, 'Space Station Freedom (S.S. Freedom) Seal Flaw Study With Delta Pressure Leak Rate Comparison Test Report'.

Investigative techniques used to locate the liquid hydrogen leakage on the Space Shuttle Main Propulsion System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hammock, William R., Jr.; Cota, Phillip E., Jr.; Rosenbaum, Bernard J.; Barrett, Michael J.

1991-01-01

Standard leak detection methods at ambient temperature have been developed in order to prevent excessive leakage from the Space Shuttle liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen Main Propulsion System. Unacceptable hydrogen leakage was encountered on the Columbia and Atlantis flight vehicles in the summer of 1990 after the standard leak check requirements had been satisfied. The leakage was only detectable when the fuel system was exposed to subcooled liquid hydrogen during External Tank loading operations. Special instrumentation and analytical tools were utilized during a series of propellant tanking tests in order to identify the sources of the hydrogen leakage. After the leaks were located and corrected, the physical characteristics of the leak sources were analyzed in an effort to understand how the discrepancies were introduced and why the leakage had evaded the standard leak detection methods. As a result of the post-leak analysis, corrective actions and leak detection improvements have been implemented in order to preclude a similar incident.

LEAK AND GAS PERMEABILITY TESTING DURING SOIL-GAS SAMPLING AT HAL'S CHEVRON LUST SITE IN GREEN RIVER, UTAH

EPA Science Inventory

The results of gas permeability and leak testing during active soil-gas sampling at Hal’s Chevron LUST Site in Green River, Utah are presented. This study was conducted to support development of a passive soil-gas sampling method. Gas mixtures containing helium and methane were...

Weld leaks rapidly and safely detected

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1965-01-01

Test method detects leaks that occur during hydrostatic pressure testing of welded joints in metal tanks. A strip of aluminum foil and a strip of water-soluble paper are placed over the weld. A voltage applied between the tank wall and the foil strip is monitored to detect a decrease in ohmic resistance caused by water leakage into the paper layer.

Performance of Leak Compensation in All-Age ICU Ventilators During Volume-Targeted Neonatal Ventilation: A Lung Model Study.

PubMed

Itagaki, Taiga; Bennett, Desmond J; Chenelle, Christopher T; Fisher, Daniel F; Kacmarek, Robert M

2017-01-01

Volume-targeted ventilation is increasingly used in low birthweight infants because of the potential for reducing volutrauma and avoiding hypocapnea. However, it is not known what level of air leak is acceptable during neonatal volume-targeted ventilation when leak compensation is activated concurrently. Four ICU ventilators (Servo-i, PB980, V500, and Avea) were compared in available invasive volume-targeted ventilation modes (pressure control continuous spontaneous ventilation [PC-CSV] and pressure control continuous mandatory ventilation [PC-CMV]). The Servo-i and PB980 were tested with (+) and without (-) their proximal flow sensor. The V500 and Avea were tested with their proximal flow sensor as indicated by their manufacturers. An ASL 5000 lung model was used to simulate 4 neonatal scenarios (body weight 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kg). The ASL 5000 was ventilated via an endotracheal tube with 3 different leaks. Two minutes of data were collected after each change in leak level, and the asynchrony index was calculated. Tidal volume (V T ) before and after the change in leak was assessed. The differences in delivered V T between before and after the change in leak were within ±5% in all scenarios with the PB980 (-/+) and V500. With the Servo-i (-/+), baseline V T was ≥10% greater than set V T during PC-CSV, and delivered V T markedly changed with leak. The Avea demonstrated persistent high V T in all leak scenarios. Across all ventilators, the median asynchrony index was 1% (interquartile range 0-27%) in PC-CSV and 1.8% (0-45%) in PC-CMV. The median asynchrony index was significantly higher in the Servo-i (-/+) than in the PB980 (-/+) and V500 in 1 and 2 kg scenarios during PC-CSV and PC-CMV. The PB980 and V500 were the only ventilators to acclimate to all leak scenarios and achieve targeted V T . Further clinical investigation is needed to validate the use of leak compensation during neonatal volume-targeted ventilation. Copyright © 2017 by Daedalus Enterprises.

Mitochondrial acclimation capacities to ocean warming and acidification are limited in the antarctic Nototheniid Fish, Notothenia rossii and Lepidonotothen squamifrons.

PubMed

Strobel, Anneli; Graeve, Martin; Poertner, Hans O; Mark, Felix C

2013-01-01

Antarctic notothenioid fish are characterized by their evolutionary adaptation to the cold, thermostable Southern Ocean, which is associated with unique physiological adaptations to withstand the cold and reduce energetic requirements but also entails limited compensation capacities to environmental change. This study compares the capacities of mitochondrial acclimation to ocean warming and acidification between the Antarctic nototheniid Notothenia rossii and the sub-Antarctic Lepidonotothen squamifrons, which share a similar ecology, but different habitat temperatures. After acclimation of L. squamifrons to 9°C and N. rossii to 7°C (normocapnic/hypercapnic, 0.2 kPa CO2/2000 ppm CO2) for 4-6 weeks, we compared the capacities of their mitochondrial respiratory complexes I (CI) and II (CII), their P/O ratios (phosphorylation efficiency), proton leak capacities and mitochondrial membrane fatty acid compositions. Our results reveal reduced CII respiration rates in warm-acclimated L. squamifrons and cold hypercapnia-acclimated N. rossii. Generally, L. squamifrons displayed a greater ability to increase CI contribution during acute warming and after warm-acclimation than N. rossii. Membrane unsaturation was not altered by warm or hypercapnia-acclimation in both species, but membrane fatty acids of warm-acclimated L. squamifrons were less saturated than in warm normocapnia-/hypercapnia-acclimated N. rossii. Proton leak capacities were not affected by warm or hypercapnia-acclimation of N. rossii. We conclude that an acclimatory response of mitochondrial capacities may include higher thermal plasticity of CI supported by enhanced utilization of anaplerotic substrates (via oxidative decarboxylation reactions) feeding into the citrate cycle. L. squamifrons possesses higher relative CI plasticities than N. rossii, which may facilitate the usage of energy efficient NADH-related substrates under conditions of elevated energy demand, possibly induced by ocean warming and acidification. The observed adjustments of electron transport system complexes with a higher flux through CI under warming and acidification suggest a metabolic acclimation potential of the sub-Antarctic L. squamifrons, but only limited acclimation capacities for N. rossii.

FY2017 status report: Model 9975 O-ring fixture long-term leak performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daugherty, W. L.

A series of experiments to monitor the aging performance of Viton® GLT and GLT-S O-rings used in the Model 9975 shipping package has been ongoing since 2004 at the Savannah River National Laboratory. One approach has been to periodically evaluate the leak performance of O-rings being aged in mock-up 9975 Primary Containment Vessels (PCVs) at elevated temperature. Other methods such as compression-stress relaxation (CSR) tests and field surveillance are also on-going to evaluate O-ring behavior. Seventy tests using PCV mock-ups with GLT O-rings were assembled and heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 ºF. They were leak-tested initially andmore » have been tested periodically to determine if they continue to meet the leak-tightness criterion defined in ANSI standard N14.5-97. Due to material substitution, a smaller test matrix with fourteen additional tests was initiated in 2008 with GLT-S O-rings heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 ºF. Leak test failures have been experienced in all of the GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 350 ºF and higher temperatures, and in 8 fixtures aging at 300 ºF. The 300 °F GLT O-ring fixtures failed after 2.8 to 5.7 years at temperature. The remaining GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 300 ºF were retired from testing following more than 5 years at temperature without failure. No failures have yet been observed in GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 200 ºF for 9 to 10.5 years, or in GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 270 ºF for 5.7 years. These aging temperatures bound O-ring temperatures anticipated during normal storage in K-Area Complex (KAC). Leak test failures have been experienced in all of the GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 300 ºF and above. No failures have yet been observed in GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 200 and 250 ºF for 6.9 to 7.5 years. Data from the O-ring fixtures are generally consistent with results from compression stress relaxation testing, and provide confidence in the predictive models based on those results. However, uncertainty still exists in extrapolating these elevated temperature results to the lower temperatures of interest for normal storage in KAC. Measurement of compression set in O-rings removed from failed fixtures, compared to that from KAC surveillance O-rings, indicates margin remains for O-rings still in service. Aging and periodic leak testing will continue for the remaining PCV fixtures.« less

NINTH INTERIM STATUS REPORT: MODEL 9975 PCV O-RING FIXTURE LONG-TERM LEAK PERFORMANCE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daugherty, W.

2014-08-06

A series of experiments to monitor the aging performance of Viton® GLT O-rings used in the Model 9975 package has been ongoing since 2004 at the Savannah River National Laboratory. One approach has been to periodically evaluate the leak performance of O-rings being aged in mock-up 9975 Primary Containment Vessels (PCVs) at elevated temperatures. Other methods such as compression-stress relaxation (CSR) tests and field surveillance are also on-going to evaluate O-ring behavior. Seventy tests using PCV mock-ups were assembled and heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 ºF. They were leak-tested initially and have been tested periodically to determinemore » if they continue to meet the leak-tightness criterion defined in ANSI standard N14.5-97. Due to material substitution, fourteen additional tests were initiated in 2008 with GLT-S O-rings heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 ºF. High temperature aging continues for 23 GLT O-ring fixtures at 200 – 270 ºF. Room temperature leak test failures have been experienced in all of the GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 350 ºF and higher temperatures, and in 8 fixtures aging at 300 ºF. The earliest 300 °F GLT O-ring fixture failure was observed at 34 months. The remaining GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 300 ºF have been retired from testing following more than 5 years at temperature without failure. No failures have yet been observed in GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 200 ºF for 72 - 96 months, which bounds O-ring temperatures anticipated during storage in K-Area Complex (KAC). Based on expectations that the 200 ºF fixtures will remain leak-tight for a significant period yet to come, 2 additional fixtures began aging in 2011 at 270 ºF, with hopes that they may reach a failure condition before the 200 ºF fixtures, thus providing additional time to failure data. High temperature aging continues for 6 GLT-S O-ring fixtures at 200 – 300 ºF. Room temperature leak test failures have been experienced in all 8 of the GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 350 and 400 ºF. No failures have yet been observed in GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 200 - 300 ºF for 54 - 57 months. No additional O-ring failures have been observed since the last interim report was issued. Aging and periodic leak testing will continue for the remaining PCV fixtures. Additional irradiation of several fixtures is recommended to maintain a balance between thermal and radiation exposures similar to that experienced in storage, and to show the degree of consistency of radiation response between GLT and GLT-S O-rings.« less

Magnetic cooling for microkelvin nanoelectronics on a cryofree platform.

PubMed

Palma, M; Maradan, D; Casparis, L; Liu, T-M; Froning, F N M; Zumbühl, D M

2017-04-01

We present a parallel network of 16 demagnetization refrigerators mounted on a cryofree dilution refrigerator aimed to cool nanoelectronic devices to sub-millikelvin temperatures. To measure the refrigerator temperature, the thermal motion of electrons in a Ag wire-thermalized by a spot-weld to one of the Cu nuclear refrigerators-is inductively picked-up by a superconducting gradiometer and amplified by a SQUID mounted at 4 K. The noise thermometer as well as other thermometers are used to characterize the performance of the system, finding magnetic field independent heat-leaks of a few nW/mol, cold times of several days below 1 mK, and a lowest temperature of 150 μK of one of the nuclear stages in a final field of 80 mT, close to the intrinsic SQUID noise of about 100 μK. A simple thermal model of the system capturing the nuclear refrigerator, heat leaks, and thermal and Korringa links describes the main features very well, including rather high refrigerator efficiencies typically above 80%.

Effects of cold-acclimation on gene expression in Fall field cricket (Gryllus pennsylvanicus) ionoregulatory tissues.

PubMed

Des Marteaux, Lauren E; McKinnon, Alexander H; Udaka, Hiroko; Toxopeus, Jantina; Sinclair, Brent J

2017-05-08

Cold tolerance is a key determinant of temperate insect distribution and performance. Chill-susceptible insects lose ion and water homeostasis during cold exposure, but prior cold acclimation improves both cold tolerance and defense of homeostasis. The mechanisms underlying these processes are mostly unknown; cold acclimation is thought to enhance ion transport in the cold and/or prevent leak of water and ions. To identify candidate mechanisms of cold tolerance plasticity we generated transcriptomes of ionoregulatory tissues (hindgut and Malpighian tubules) from Gryllus pennsylvanicus crickets and compared gene expression in warm- and cold-acclimated individuals. We assembled a G. pennsylvanicus transcriptome de novo from 286 million 50-bp reads, yielding 70,037 contigs (~44% of which had putative BLAST identities). We compared the transcriptomes of warm- and cold-acclimated hindguts and Malpighian tubules. Cold acclimation led to a ≥ 2-fold change in the expression of 1493 hindgut genes (733 downregulated, 760 upregulated) and 2008 Malpighian tubule genes (1009 downregulated, 999 upregulated). Cold-acclimated crickets had altered expression of genes putatively associated with ion and water balance, including: a downregulation of V-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase in the Malpighian tubules and an upregulation of Na + -K + ATPase in the hindgut. We also observed acclimation-related shifts in the expression of cytoskeletal genes in the hindgut, including actin and actin-anchoring/stabilizing proteins, tubulin, α-actinin, and genes involved in adherens junctions organization. In both tissues, cold acclimation led to differential expression of genes encoding cytochrome P450s, glutathione-S-transferases, apoptosis factors, DNA repair, and heat shock proteins. This is the first G. pennsylvanicus transcriptome, and our tissue-specific approach yielded new candidate mechanisms of cold tolerance plasticity. Cold acclimation may reduce loss of hemolymph volume in the cold by 1) decreasing primary urine production via reduced expression of carbonic anhydrase and V-ATPase in the Malpighian tubules and 2) by increasing Na + (and therefore water) reabsorption across the hindgut via increase in Na + -K + ATPase expression. Cold acclimation may reduce chilling injury by remodeling and stabilizing the hindgut epithelial cytoskeleton and cell-to-cell junctions, and by increasing the expression of genes involved in DNA repair, detoxification, and protein chaperones.

The usefulness and costs of routine contrast studies after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for detecting staple line leaks

PubMed Central

Terterov, Dimitry; Leung, Philemon Ho-Yan; Twells, Laurie K.; Gregory, Deborah M.; Smith, Chris; Boone, Darrell; Pace, David

2017-01-01

Background Although laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for severe obesity (body mass index ≥ 35), staple line leaks remain a major complication and account for a substantial portion of the procedure’s morbidity and mortality. Many centres performing LSG routinely obtain contrast studies on postoperative day 1 for early detection of staple line leaks. We examined the usefulness of Gastrografin swallow as an early detection test for staple line leaks on postoperative day 1 after LSG as well as the associated costs. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database that included 200 patients who underwent LSG for severe obesity between 2011 and 2014. Primary outcome measures were the incidence of staple line leaks and the results of Gastrografin swallow tests. We obtained imaging costs from appropriate hospital departments. Results Gastrografin swallow was obtained on postoperative day 1 for all 200 patients who underwent LSG. Three patients (1.5%) were found to have staple line leaks. Gastrograffin swallows yielded 1 true positive result and 2 false negatives. The false negatives were subsequently diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) scan. The sensitivity of Gastrografin swallow in this study was 33%. For 200 patients, the total direct cost of the Gastrografin swallows was $35 000. Conclusion The use of routine upper gastrointestinal contrast studies for early detection of staple line leaks has low sensitivity and is costly. We recommend selective use of CT instead. PMID:28742012

The usefulness and costs of routine contrast studies after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for detecting staple line leaks.

PubMed

Terterov, Dimitry; Leung, Philemon Ho-Yan; Twells, Laurie K; Gregory, Deborah M; Smith, Chris; Boone, Darrell; Pace, David

2017-09-01

Although laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for severe obesity (body mass index ≥ 35), staple line leaks remain a major complication and account for a substantial portion of the procedure's morbidity and mortality. Many centres performing LSG routinely obtain contrast studies on postoperative day 1 for early detection of staple line leaks. We examined the usefulness of Gastrografin swallow as an early detection test for staple line leaks on postoperative day 1 after LSG as well as the associated costs. We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database that included 200 patients who underwent LSG for severe obesity between 2011 and 2014. Primary outcome measures were the incidence of staple line leaks and the results of Gastrografin swallow tests. We obtained imaging costs from appropriate hospital departments. Gastrografin swallow was obtained on postoperative day 1 for all 200 patients who underwent LSG. Three patients (1.5%) were found to have staple line leaks. Gastrograffin swallows yielded 1 true positive result and 2 false negatives. The false negatives were subsequently diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) scan. The sensitivity of Gastrografin swallow in this study was 33%. For 200 patients, the total direct cost of the Gastrografin swallows was $35 000. The use of routine upper gastrointestinal contrast studies for early detection of staple line leaks has low sensitivity and is costly. We recommend selective use of CT instead.

The minimal leak test technique for endotracheal cuff maintenance.

PubMed

Harvie, D A; Darvall, J N; Dodd, M; De La Cruz, A; Tacey, M; D'Costa, R L; Ward, D

2016-09-01

Endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure management is an essential part of airway management in intubated and mechanically ventilated patients. Both under- and over-inflation of the ETT cuff can lead to patient complications, with an ideal pressure range of 20-30 cmH 2 O defined. A range of techniques are employed to ensure adequate ETT cuff inflation, with little comparative data. We performed an observational cross-sectional study in a tertiary metropolitan ICU, assessing the relationship between the minimal leak test and cuff manometry. Forty-five mechanically ventilated patients, over a three-month period, had ETT cuff manometry performed at the same time as their routine cuff maintenance (minimal leak test). Bedside nurse measurements were compared with investigator measurements. At the endpoint of cuff inflation, 20 of 45 patients (44%) had cuff pressures between 20 and 30 cmH 2 O; 11 of 45 patients (24%) had cuff pressures <20 cmH 2 O; 14 of 45 patients (31%) had cuff pressures ≥30 cmH 2 O. Univariate analysis demonstrated an association between both patient obesity and female gender requiring less ETT cuff volume ( P =0.008 and P <0.001 respectively), though this association was lost on multivariate analysis. No association was demonstrated between any measured variables and cuff pressures. Inter-operator reliability in performing the minimal leak test showed no evidence of bias between nurse and investigators (Pearson coefficient = 0.897). We conclude the minimal leak test for maintenance of ETT cuffs leads to both over- and under-inflation, and alternative techniques, such as cuff manometry, should be employed.

40 CFR 280.44 - Methods of release detection for piping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... accordance with the following: (a) Automatic line leak detectors. Methods which alert the operator to the... pounds per square inch line pressure within 1 hour. An annual test of the operation of the leak detector...

40 CFR 280.44 - Methods of release detection for piping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... accordance with the following: (a) Automatic line leak detectors. Methods which alert the operator to the... pounds per square inch line pressure within 1 hour. An annual test of the operation of the leak detector...

40 CFR 280.44 - Methods of release detection for piping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... accordance with the following: (a) Automatic line leak detectors. Methods which alert the operator to the... pounds per square inch line pressure within 1 hour. An annual test of the operation of the leak detector...

40 CFR 280.44 - Methods of release detection for piping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... accordance with the following: (a) Automatic line leak detectors. Methods which alert the operator to the... pounds per square inch line pressure within 1 hour. An annual test of the operation of the leak detector...

40 CFR 280.44 - Methods of release detection for piping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... accordance with the following: (a) Automatic line leak detectors. Methods which alert the operator to the... pounds per square inch line pressure within 1 hour. An annual test of the operation of the leak detector...

Natural air leak test without submergence for spontaneous pneumothorax.

PubMed

Uramoto, Hidetaka; Tanaka, Fumihiro

2011-12-24

Postoperative air leaks are frequent complications after surgery for a spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). We herein describe a new method to test for air leaks by using a transparent film and thoracic tube in a closed system. Between 2005 and 2010, 35 patients underwent a novel method for evaluating air leaks without submergence, and their clinical records were retrospectively reviewed. The data on patient characteristics, surgical details, and perioperative outcomes were analyzed. The differences in the clinical background and intraoperative factors did not reach a statistically significant level between the new and classical methods. The incidence of recurrence was also equivalent to the standard method. However, the length of the operation and drainage periods were significantly shorter in patients evaluated using the new method than the conventional method. Further, no postoperative complications were observed in patients evaluated using the new method. This simple technique is satisfactorily effective and does not result in any complications.

Seven Ventilators Challenged With Leaks During Neonatal Nasal CPAP: An Experimental Pilot Study.

PubMed

Drevhammar, Thomas; Nilsson, Kjell; Zetterström, Henrik; Jonsson, Baldvin

2015-07-01

Nasal CPAP is the most common respiratory support for neonates. Several factors are considered important for effective treatment, including leaks at the patient interface and the delivery of pressure-stable CPAP. Investigations of pressure stability during leaks should include both the change in the mean delivered CPAP and the pressure variation during each breath. The aim of this study was to examine the response of ventilators delivering nasal CPAP when challenged with leaks at the patient interface. Seven ventilators providing nasal CPAP at 4 cm H2O were challenged with leaks during simulated neonatal breathing. Leak was applied for 15 consecutive breaths at a constant level (1-4 L/min). The 2 aspects of pressure stability were evaluated by measuring the mean delivered CPAP and the amplitude of pressure swings before, during, and after leaks. The ability to maintain the delivered CPAP and the amplitude of pressure swings varied greatly among the 7 ventilators before, during, and after leaks. Four of the ventilators tested have built-in leak compensation. There was no simple relationship between maintaining delivered CPAP during leaks and providing CPAP with low pressure swing amplitude. Maintaining the delivered CPAP and providing this without pressure swings are 2 separate aspects of pressure stability, and investigations concerning the clinical importance of pressure stability should address both aspects. This study also shows that compensation for leaks does not necessarily provide pressure-stable CPAP. Copyright © 2015 by Daedalus Enterprises.

Risk factors for cerebrospinal fluid leak in pediatric patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery.

PubMed

Stapleton, Amanda L; Tyler-Kabara, Elizabeth C; Gardner, Paul A; Snyderman, Carl H; Wang, Eric W

2017-02-01

To determine the risk factors associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak following endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) for pediatric skull base lesions. Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients (ages 1 month to 18 years) treated for skull base lesions with EES from 1999 to 2014. Five pathologies were reviewed: craniopharyngioma, clival chordoma, pituitary adenoma, pituitary carcinoma, and Rathke's cleft cyst. Fisher's exact tests were used to evaluate the different factors to determine which had a statistically higher risk of leading to a post-operative CSF leak. 55 pediatric patients were identified who underwent 70 EES's for tumor resection. Of the 70 surgeries, 47 surgeries had intraoperative CSF leaks that were repaired at the time of surgery. 11 of 47 (23%) surgeries had post-operative CSF leaks that required secondary operative repair. Clival chordomas had the highest CSF leak rate at 36%. There was no statistical difference in leak rate based on the type of reconstruction, although 28% of cases that used a vascularized flap had a post-operative leak, whereas only 9% of those cases not using a vascularized flap had a leak. Post-operative hydrocephalus and perioperative use of a lumbar drain were not significant risk factors. Pediatric patients with an intra-operative CSF leak during EES of the skull base have a high rate of post-operative CSF leaks. Clival chordomas appear to be a particularly high-risk group. The use of vascularized flaps and perioperative lumbar drains did not statistically decrease the rate of post-operative CSF leak. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Lymphangiography in the Diagnosis and Localization of Various Chyle Leaks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deso, Steve; Ludwig, Benjamin; Kabutey, Nii-Kabu

2012-02-15

Purpose: Chyle leaks are rare entities infrequently encountered by most physicians. However, large centers providing advanced surgical care are inevitably confronted with chyle leaks as a complication of surgery, an extension of disease, or as a primary disorder. Regardless of the etiology, proper diagnosis and localization are paramount in the management of any chyle leak. Materials and Methods: Here we present 16 patients with 17 chyle leaks (5 chyluria, 8 chylothorax, and 4 chylous ascites) who underwent bipedal lymphangiography (LAG) and postprocedure computed tomography (CT) imaging. Results: In each case, the source of the chyle leak was identified and properlymore » localized to guide further treatment. Of the 16 patients who underwent LAG and postprocedure CT imaging, the initial LAG alone provided the diagnosis and localized the chyle leak in 4 patients (25%); the postprocedure CT imaging provided the diagnosis and localized the chyle leak in 6 patients (37.5%); and the two modalities were equal in the diagnosing and localizing the chyle leak in the remaining 6 patients (37.5%)ConclusionThese cases highlight the unparalleled abilities of LAG and the added benefit of post-LAG CT imaging in the diagnosis and fine anatomic localization of chyle leaks. In addition, these cases demonstrate the retained utility of LAG in these investigations despite the development of alternative tests involving CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear medicine imaging.« less

Technical factors associated with anastomotic leak after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

PubMed

Smith, Mark D; Adeniji, Abidemi; Wahed, Abdus S; Patterson, Emma; Chapman, William; Courcoulas, Anita P; Dakin, Gregory; Flum, David; McCloskey, Carol; Mitchell, James E; Pomp, Alfons; Staten, Myrlene; Wolfe, Bruce

2015-01-01

Anastomotic leak is one of the most serious complications after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Our objective was to examine the relationship between technical factors and incidence of clinically relevant anastomotic leak after RYGB in longitudinal assessment of bariatric surgery (LABS). The setting of the study was 11 bariatric centers in the United States, university, and private practice. Patient characteristics, technical factors of surgery, and postoperative outcomes were assessed by trained researchers using standardized protocols. Correlation of surgical factors of patients undergoing RYGB (n = 4444) with the incidence of postoperative anastomotic leak was assessed by univariate χ(2) analysis. Forty-four participants (1.0%, 95% CI .7%-1.3%) experienced a clinically relevant anastomotic leak. Of these, 39 (89%) underwent abdominal reoperation and 3 (7%) died. Technical factors associated with anastomotic leak were open surgery (P<.0001), revision surgery (P<.0001), and use of an abdominal drain (P = .02). Provocative leak testing, method of gastrojejunostomy, and use of fibrin sealant were not associated with anastomotic leak. Anastomotic leak after RYGB was rare (1.0%). Most cases required reintervention; however, the majority (93%) recovered from this event. Open surgery, revision surgery, and routine drain placement were associated with increased leak rate. Some of these findings may be due to differences in preoperative patient risk. Copyright © 2015 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 86.319-79 - Analyzer checks and calibrations; frequency and overview.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... during testing, perform the following: (1) Leak check the pressure side of the system (see § 86.328). If the option described in § 86.328(b)(2) is used, a pressure leak check is not required. (2) Calibrate... need be checked only every 90 days. (d) At least once every 90 days during testing check the water...

Anastomotic leak after colorectal resection: A population-based study of risk factors and hospital variation.

PubMed

Nikolian, Vahagn C; Kamdar, Neil S; Regenbogen, Scott E; Morris, Arden M; Byrn, John C; Suwanabol, Pasithorn A; Campbell, Darrell A; Hendren, Samantha

2017-06-01

Anastomotic leak is a major source of morbidity in colorectal operations and has become an area of interest in performance metrics. It is unclear whether anastomotic leak is associated primarily with surgeons' technical performance or explained better by patient characteristics and institutional factors. We sought to establish if anastomotic leak could serve as a valid quality metric in colorectal operations by evaluating provider variation after adjusting for patient factors. We performed a retrospective cohort study of colorectal resection patients in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative. Clinically relevant patient and operative factors were tested for association with anastomotic leak. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to derive risk-adjusted rates of anastomotic leak. Of 9,192 colorectal resections, 244 (2.7%) had a documented anastomotic leak. The incidence of anastomotic leak was 3.0% for patients with pelvic anastomoses and 2.5% for those with intra-abdominal anastomoses. Multivariable analysis showed that a greater operative duration, male sex, body mass index >30 kg/m 2 , tobacco use, chronic immunosuppressive medications, thrombocytosis (platelet count >400 × 10 9 /L), and urgent/emergency operations were independently associated with anastomotic leak (C-statistic = 0.75). After accounting for patient and procedural risk factors, 5 hospitals had a significantly greater incidence of postoperative anastomotic leak. This population-based study shows that risk factors for anastomotic leak include male sex, obesity, tobacco use, immunosuppression, thrombocytosis, greater operative duration, and urgent/emergency operation; models including these factors predict most of the variation in anastomotic leak rates. This study suggests that anastomotic leak can serve as a valid metric that can identify opportunities for quality improvement. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Continuous time-resolved regional methane leak detection with on-line background estimation using a novel combination of dual frequency comb laser spectroscopy and atmospheric inversions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alden, C. B.; Coburn, S.; Wright, R.; Baumann, E.; Cossel, K.; Sweeney, C.; Ghosh, S.; Newbury, N.; Prasad, K.; Coddington, I.; Rieker, G. B.

2017-12-01

Advances in natural gas extraction technology have led to increased US production and transport activity, and as a consequence, an increased need for monitoring of methane leaks. Current leak detection methods provide time snapshots, and not continuous, time-varying estimates of emissions. Most approaches also require specific atmospheric conditions, operators, or the use of a tracer gas, requiring site access. Given known intermittency in fugitive methane emissions, continuous monitoring is a critical need for emissions mitigation. We present a novel leak detection method that employs dual frequency comb spectrometry to offer continuous, autonomous, leak detection and quantification over square-km scale areas. The spectrometer is situated in a field of natural gas pads, and a series of retroreflectors around the field direct light back to a detector. The laser light spans 1620-1680 nm with 0.002 nm line spacing, measuring thousands of individual absorption features from multiple species. The result is high-stability trace gas (here CH4, CO2, and H2O) measurements over long (1 km+) open paths through the atmosphere. Measurements are used in an atmospheric inversion to estimate the time variability of emissions at each location of interest. Importantly, the measurement framework and inversion solve explicitly for background concentrations, which vary rapidly in fields of active oil and gas production. We present the results of controlled-leak field tests in rural Colorado. We demonstrate the ability to locate and size a leak located 1 km away from the spectrometer and varying in strength from 1.5 to 7.7 g/min, resulting in mean atmospheric enhancements of 20 ppb. The inversion correctly identifies when the leak turned on and off over a 24-hour period, and determines the mean leak strength to within 10% of the true controlled rate. We further demonstrate the ability of the system to correctly locate and size the start and end of simultaneous 2.7 to 4.8 g/min leaks from 2 sources in a field of 5 potential leak locations. Finally, we present the results of leak-detection tests in active oil and gas fields in the Denver Julesburg Basin, where background methane is complex.

The use of perfluorocarbon tracer (PFT) technology to determine fine leaks in hermeticity testing of semiconductor devices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dietz, R.N.

1991-05-01

The BNL-developed perfluorocarbon tracer (PFT) technology includes a rapid-response real-time (5-second) analyzer (COPS) which can detect PFT concentrations as low as 1 {times} 10{sup {minus}11} mL/mL and a concentrating analyzer (DTA) which can measure down to 1 {times} 10{sup {minus}12} mL of PFT--separately quantifying up to 4 PFTs in a 6-min cycle time or less. Based on this technology, experimental leak- rate design concepts are proposed for determining the effectiveness (hermeticity) of the seal of semiconductor devices with internal cavities from 0.01 to 1 mL. The concept is based on pressurizing with PFT-containing air for 60 seconds, purging with PFT-freemore » air for 60 seconds, pressure pulsing with air or He to extract the PFT leaked into the internal volume, and finally detecting the PFT vapor concentration with one of the two instruments. The COPS analyzer can quantify gross leaks from 1 {times} 10{sup {minus}7} to 1 {times} 10{sup {minus}3} mL/s in just 3 minutes for the complete test. The more-sensitive concentrating analyzer (DTA) can quantify fine leaks from 0.2 {times} 10{sup {minus}8} to 1 {times} 10{sup {minus}3} mL/s in just 12 minutes for the complete test; the latter procedure includes two determinations per test. 5 refs., 2 tabs.« less

A method for simulating the entire leaking process and calculating the liquid leakage volume of a damaged pressurized pipeline.

PubMed

He, Guoxi; Liang, Yongtu; Li, Yansong; Wu, Mengyu; Sun, Liying; Xie, Cheng; Li, Feng

2017-06-15

The accidental leakage of long-distance pressurized oil pipelines is a major area of risk, capable of causing extensive damage to human health and environment. However, the complexity of the leaking process, with its complex boundary conditions, leads to difficulty in calculating the leakage volume. In this study, the leaking process is divided into 4 stages based on the strength of transient pressure. 3 models are established to calculate the leaking flowrate and volume. First, a negative pressure wave propagation attenuation model is applied to calculate the sizes of orifices. Second, a transient oil leaking model, consisting of continuity, momentum conservation, energy conservation and orifice flow equations, is built to calculate the leakage volume. Third, a steady-state oil leaking model is employed to calculate the leakage after valves and pumps shut down. Moreover, sensitive factors that affect the leak coefficient of orifices and volume are analyzed respectively to determine the most influential one. To validate the numerical simulation, two types of leakage test with different sizes of leakage holes were conducted from Sinopec product pipelines. More validations were carried out by applying commercial software to supplement the experimental insufficiency. Thus, the leaking process under different leaking conditions are described and analyzed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Leak test fitting

DOEpatents

Pickett, P.T.

A hollow fitting for use in gas spectrometry leak testing of conduit joints is divided into two generally symmetrical halves along the axis of the conduit. A clip may quickly and easily fasten and unfasten the halves around the conduit joint under test. Each end of the fitting is sealable with a yieldable material, such as a piece of foam rubber. An orifice is provided in a wall of the fitting for the insertion or detection of helium during testing. One half of the fitting also may be employed to test joints mounted against a surface.

Leak test fitting

DOEpatents

Pickett, Patrick T.

1981-01-01

A hollow fitting for use in gas spectrometry leak testing of conduit joints is divided into two generally symmetrical halves along the axis of the conduit. A clip may quickly and easily fasten and unfasten the halves around the conduit joint under test. Each end of the fitting is sealable with a yieldable material, such as a piece of foam rubber. An orifice is provided in a wall of the fitting for the insertion or detection of helium during testing. One half of the fitting also may be employed to test joints mounted against a surface.

Modeling and measurement of the performance of a branched conduit sampling system in a mass spectrometer leak detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, John M.

1994-01-01

In the leak testing of a large engineering system, one may distinguish three stages, namely leakage measurement by an overall enclosure, leak location, and leakage measurement by a local enclosure. Sniffer probes attached to helium mass spectrometer leak detectors are normally designed for leak location, a qualitative inspection technique intended to pinpoint where a leak is but not to quantify its rate of discharge. The main conclusion of the present effort is that local leakage measurement by a leak detector with a sniffer probe is feasible provided one has: (1) quantitative data on the performance of the mass separator cell (a device interior to the unit where the stream of fluid in the sample line branches); and (2) a means of stabilizing the mass transfer boundary layer that is created near a local leak site when a sniffer probe is placed in its immediate vicinity. Theoretical models of the mass separator cell are provided and measurements of the machine-specific parameters in the formulas are presented. A theoretical model of a porous probe end for stabilizing the mass transfer boundary is also presented.

Modeling and measurement of the performance of a branched conduit sampling system in a mass spectrometer leak detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Russell, John M.

1994-10-01

In the leak testing of a large engineering system, one may distinguish three stages, namely leakage measurement by an overall enclosure, leak location, and leakage measurement by a local enclosure. Sniffer probes attached to helium mass spectrometer leak detectors are normally designed for leak location, a qualitative inspection technique intended to pinpoint where a leak is but not to quantify its rate of discharge. The main conclusion of the present effort is that local leakage measurement by a leak detector with a sniffer probe is feasible provided one has: (1) quantitative data on the performance of the mass separator cell (a device interior to the unit where the stream of fluid in the sample line branches); and (2) a means of stabilizing the mass transfer boundary layer that is created near a local leak site when a sniffer probe is placed in its immediate vicinity. Theoretical models of the mass separator cell are provided and measurements of the machine-specific parameters in the formulas are presented. A theoretical model of a porous probe end for stabilizing the mass transfer boundary is also presented.

Evaluating All-Metal Valves for Use in a Tritium Environment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Houk, L.; Payton, A.

In the tritium gas processing system, it is desired to minimize polymer components due to their degradation from tritium exposure (beta decay). One source of polymers in the tritium process is valve components. A vendor has been identified that manufactures a valve that is marketed as being made from all-metal construction. This manufacturer, Ham-Let Group, manufactures a diaphragm valve (3LE series) that claims to be made entirely of metal. SRNL procured twelve (12) Ham-Let diaphragm valves for characterization and evaluation. The characterization tests include identification of the maximum pressure of these valves by performing pressure and burst tests. Leak testsmore » were performed to ensure the valves do not exceed the acceptable leak rate for tritium service. These valves were then cycled in a nitrogen gas and/or vacuum environment to ensure they would be durable in a process environment. They were subsequently leak tested per ASTM protocol to ensure that the valves maintained their leak tight integrity. A detailed material analysis was also conducted to determine hydrogen and tritium compatibility.« less

Connective tissue spectrum abnormalities associated with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks: a prospective study.

PubMed

Reinstein, Eyal; Pariani, Mitchel; Bannykh, Serguei; Rimoin, David L; Schievink, Wouter I

2013-04-01

We aimed to assess the frequency of connective tissue abnormalities among patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in a prospective study using a large cohort of patients. We enrolled a consecutive group of 50 patients, referred for consultation because of CSF leak. All patients have been carefully examined for the presence of connective tissue abnormalities, and based on findings, patients underwent genetic testing. Ancillary diagnostic studies included echocardiography, eye exam, and histopathological examinations of skin and dura biopsies in selected patients. We identified nine patients with heritable connective tissue disorders, including Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other unclassified forms. In seven patients, spontaneous CSF leak was the first noted manifestation of the genetic disorder. We conclude that spontaneous CSF leaks are associated with a spectrum of connective tissue abnormalities and may be the first noted clinical presentation of the genetic disorder. We propose that there is a clinical basis for considering spontaneous CSF leak as a clinical manifestation of heritable connective tissue disorders, and we suggest that patients with CSF leaks should be screened for connective tissue and vascular abnormalities.

Refrigerant leak detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byrne, E. J.

1979-01-01

Quantitative leak detector visually demonstrates refrigerant loss from precision volume of large refrigeration system over established period of time from single test point. Mechanical unit is less costly than electronic "sniffers" and is more reliable due to absence of electronic circuits that are susceptible to drift.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daugherty, W.; Mcwilliams, A.; Skidmore, E.

The 9975 Type B shipping package is used within the DOE complex for shipping special nuclear materials. This package is re-certified annually in accordance with Safety Analysis Report requirements. The package is also used at the Savannah River Site as part of the long-term storage configuration of special nuclear materials. As such, the packages do not undergo annual recertification during storage, with uncertainty as to how long some of the package components will meet their functional requirements in the storage environment. The packages are currently approved for up to 15 years storage, and work continues to provide a technical basismore » to extend that period. This paper describes efforts by the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) to extend the service life estimate of Viton® GLT and GLT-S fluoroelastomer O-rings used in the 9975 shipping package. O-rings of both compositions are undergoing accelerated aging at elevated temperature, and are periodically tested for compression stress relaxation (CSR) behavior and leak performance. The CSR behavior of O-rings was evaluated at temperatures from 79 °C to 177 °C. These collective data were used to develop predictive models for extrapolation of CSR behavior to relevant service temperatures (< 75 °C). O-rings were also aged in Primary Containment Vessel (PCV) fixtures at temperatures ranging from 79 °C to 232 °C. The fixtures are helium leak tested periodically to determine if they remain leak-tight. The PCV fixture tests demonstrate that the 9975 O-rings will remain leak-tight at temperatures up to 149 °C for 3 years or more, and no leak failures have been observed with up to 8 years aging at 93 °C. Significantly longer periods of leak-tight service are expected at the lower temperatures actually experienced in the storage environment. The predictive model developed from the CSR data conservatively indicates a service life of more than 20 years at the bounding temperature of 75 °C. Although the relationship between CSR behavior and leak-tight performance has not been established for this design, the CSR predictions for this O-ring are conservative relative to leak-tight performance to date.« less

KSC-2010-5867

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-12-17

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank is being filled with more than 535,000 gallons of super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen during a tanking test on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Engineers are closely monitoring what happens to 21-foot long, U-shaped aluminum brackets, called stringers, located at the tank's intertank region, as well as the newly replaced ground umbilical carrier plate (GUCP). Data from 89 sensors will be evaluated after the tank returns to ambient temperature. In order to perform additional analysis on the tank, Discovery will be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building, a move that is planned for next week. Discovery's first launch attempt for STS-133 was scrubbed in early November due to a hydrogen gas leak at GUCP. The next launch opportunity is no earlier than Feb. 3, 2011. For more information on STS-133, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/. Photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux

KSC-2010-5866

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-12-17

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank is being filled with more than 535,000 gallons of super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen during a tanking test on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Engineers are closely monitoring what happens to 21-foot long, U-shaped aluminum brackets, called stringers, located at the tank's intertank region, as well as the newly replaced ground umbilical carrier plate (GUCP). Data from 89 sensors will be evaluated after the tank returns to ambient temperature. In order to perform additional analysis on the tank, Discovery will be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building, a move that is planned for next week. Discovery's first launch attempt for STS-133 was scrubbed in early November due to a hydrogen gas leak at GUCP. The next launch opportunity is no earlier than Feb. 3, 2011. For more information on STS-133, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/. Photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux

KSC-2010-5865

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-12-17

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank is being filled with more than 535,000 gallons of super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen during a tanking test on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Engineers are closely monitoring what happens to 21-foot long, U-shaped aluminum brackets, called stringers, located at the tank's intertank region, as well as the newly replaced ground umbilical carrier plate (GUCP). Data from 89 sensors will be evaluated after the tank returns to ambient temperature. In order to perform additional analysis on the tank, Discovery will be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building, a move that is planned for next week. Discovery's first launch attempt for STS-133 was scrubbed in early November due to a hydrogen gas leak at GUCP. The next launch opportunity is no earlier than Feb. 3, 2011. For more information on STS-133, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/. Photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux

Relative acoustic frequency response of induced methane, carbon dioxide and air gas bubble plumes, observed laterally.

PubMed

Kubilius, Rokas; Pedersen, Geir

2016-10-01

There is an increased need to detect, identify, and monitor natural and manmade seabed gas leaks. Fisheries echosounders are well suited to monitor large volumes of water and acoustic frequency response [normalized acoustic backscatter, when a measure at one selected frequency is used as a denominator, r(f)] is commonly used to identify echoes from fish and zooplankton species. Information on gas plume r(f) would be valuable for automatic detection of subsea leaks and for separating bubble plumes from natural targets such as swimbladder-bearing fish. Controlled leaks were produced with a specially designed instrument frame suspended in mid-water in a sheltered fjord. The frame was equipped with echosounders, stereo-camera, and gas-release nozzles. The r(f) of laterally observed methane, carbon dioxide, and air plumes (0.040-29 l/min) were measured at 70, 120, 200, and 333 kHz, with bubble sizes determined optically. The observed bubble size range (1-25 mm) was comparable to that reported in the literature for natural cold seeps of methane. A negative r(f) with increasing frequency was observed, namely, r(f) of about 0.7, 0.6, and 0.5 at 120, 200, and 333 kHz when normalized to 70 kHz. Measured plume r(f) is also compared to resolved, single bubble target strength-based, and modeled r(f).

Quantitative computed tomography versus spirometry in predicting air leak duration after major lung resection for cancer.

PubMed

Ueda, Kazuhiro; Kaneda, Yoshikazu; Sudo, Manabu; Mitsutaka, Jinbo; Li, Tao-Sheng; Suga, Kazuyoshi; Tanaka, Nobuyuki; Hamano, Kimikazu

2005-11-01

Emphysema is a well-known risk factor for developing air leak or persistent air leak after pulmonary resection. Although quantitative computed tomography (CT) and spirometry are used to diagnose emphysema, it remains controversial whether these tests are predictive of the duration of postoperative air leak. Sixty-two consecutive patients who were scheduled to undergo major lung resection for cancer were enrolled in this prospective study to define the best predictor of postoperative air leak duration. Preoperative factors analyzed included spirometric variables and area of emphysema (proportion of the low-attenuation area) that was quantified in a three-dimensional CT lung model. Chest tubes were removed the day after disappearance of the air leak, regardless of pleural drainage. Univariate and multivariate proportional hazards analyses were used to determine the influence of preoperative factors on chest tube time (air leak duration). By univariate analysis, site of resection (upper, lower), forced expiratory volume in 1 second, predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and area of emphysema (< 1%, 1% to 10%, > 10%) were significant predictors of air leak duration. By multivariate analysis, site of resection and area of emphysema were the best independent determinants of air leak duration. The results were similar for patients with a smoking history (n = 40), but neither forced expiratory volume in 1 second nor predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second were predictive of air leak duration. Quantitative CT is superior to spirometry in predicting air leak duration after major lung resection for cancer. Quantitative CT may aid in the identification of patients, particularly among those with a smoking history, requiring additional preventive procedures against air leak.

Specificity and sensitivity of noninvasive measurement of pulmonary vascular protein leak.

PubMed

Dauber, I M; Pluss, W T; VanGrondelle, A; Trow, R S; Weil, J V

1985-08-01

Noninvasive techniques employing external counting of radiolabeled protein have the potential for measuring pulmonary vascular protein permeability, but their specificity and sensitivity remain unclear. We tested the specificity and sensitivity of a double-radioisotope method by injecting radiolabeled albumin (131I) and erythrocytes (99mTc) into anesthetized dogs and measuring the counts of each isotope for 150 min after injection with an external gamma probe fixed over the lung. We calculated the rate of increase of albumin counts measured by the probe (which reflects the rate at which protein leaks into the extravascular space). To assess permeability we normalized the rate of increase in albumin counts for changes in labeled erythrocyte signal to minimize influence of changes in vascular surface area and thus derived an albumin leak index. We measured the albumin leak index and gravimetric lung water during hydrostatic edema (acutely elevating left atrial pressure by left atrial balloon inflation: mean pulmonary arterial wedge pressure = 22.6 Torr) and in lung injury edema induced by high- (1.0 g/kg) and low-dose (0.25 g/kg) intravenous thiourea. To test specificity we compared hydrostatic and high-dose thiourea edema. The albumin leak index increased nearly fourfold from control after thiourea injury (27.2 +/- 2.3 X 10-4 vs. 7.6 +/- 0.9 X 10-4 min-1) but did not change from control levels after elevating left atrial pressure (8.9 +/- 1.2 X 10-4 min-1) despite comparable increases in gravimetric lung water. To test sensitivity we compared low-dose thiourea with controls. Following low-dose thiourea, the albumin leak index nearly doubled despite the absence of a measurable increase in lung water. We conclude that a noninvasive double radioisotope measurement of pulmonary vascular protein leak, employing external counting techniques and a simplified method of calculation, is specific for lung injury and is also sensitive enough to detect lung injury insufficient to produce detectable pulmonary edema.

Tensile Properties and Integrity of Clean Room and Low-Modulus Disposable Nitrile Gloves: A Comparison of Two Dissimilar Glove Types

PubMed Central

Phalen, Robert N.; Wong, Weng kee

2012-01-01

Background: The selection of disposable nitrile exam gloves is complicated by (i) the availability of several types or formulations, (ii) product variability, and (iii) an inability of common quality control tests to detect small holes in the fingers. Differences in polymer formulation (e.g. filler and plasticizer/oil content) and tensile properties are expected to account for much of the observed variability in performance. Objectives: This study evaluated the tensile properties and integrity (leak failure rates) of two glove choices assumed to contain different amounts of plasticizers/oils. The primary aims were to determine if the tensile properties and integrity differed and if associations existed among these factors. Additional physical and chemical properties were evaluated. Methods: Six clean room and five low-modulus products were evaluated using the American Society for Testing and Materials Method D412 and a modified water-leak test to detect holes capable of passing a virus or chemical agent. Results: Significant differences in the leak failure rates and tensile properties existed between the two glove types (P ≤ 0.05). The clean room gloves were about three times more likely to have leak failures (chi-square; P = 0.001). No correlation was observed between leak failures and tensile properties. Solvent extract, an indication of added plasticizer/oil, was not associated with leak failures. However, gloves with a maximum modulus <4 MPa or area density (AD) <11 g cm−2 were about four times less likely to leak. Conclusions: On average, the low-modulus gloves were a better choice for protection against aqueous chemical or biological penetration. The observed variability between glove products indicated that glove selection cannot rely solely on glove type or manufacturer labeling. Measures of modulus and AD may aid in the selection process, in contrast with common measures of tensile strength and elongation at break. PMID:22201179

Tensile properties and integrity of clean room and low-modulus disposable nitrile gloves: a comparison of two dissimilar glove types.

PubMed

Phalen, Robert N; Wong, Weng Kee

2012-05-01

The selection of disposable nitrile exam gloves is complicated by (i) the availability of several types or formulations, (ii) product variability, and (iii) an inability of common quality control tests to detect small holes in the fingers. Differences in polymer formulation (e.g. filler and plasticizer/oil content) and tensile properties are expected to account for much of the observed variability in performance. This study evaluated the tensile properties and integrity (leak failure rates) of two glove choices assumed to contain different amounts of plasticizers/oils. The primary aims were to determine if the tensile properties and integrity differed and if associations existed among these factors. Additional physical and chemical properties were evaluated. Six clean room and five low-modulus products were evaluated using the American Society for Testing and Materials Method D412 and a modified water-leak test to detect holes capable of passing a virus or chemical agent. Significant differences in the leak failure rates and tensile properties existed between the two glove types (P ≤ 0.05). The clean room gloves were about three times more likely to have leak failures (chi-square; P = 0.001). No correlation was observed between leak failures and tensile properties. Solvent extract, an indication of added plasticizer/oil, was not associated with leak failures. However, gloves with a maximum modulus <4 MPa or area density (AD) <11 g cm(-2) were about four times less likely to leak. On average, the low-modulus gloves were a better choice for protection against aqueous chemical or biological penetration. The observed variability between glove products indicated that glove selection cannot rely solely on glove type or manufacturer labeling. Measures of modulus and AD may aid in the selection process, in contrast with common measures of tensile strength and elongation at break.

Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) during first in-flight cold flow test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

This photograph shows the LASRE pod on the upper rear fuselage of an SR-71 aircraft during take-off of the first flight to experience an in-flight cold flow test. The flight occurred on 4 March 1998. The LASRE experiment was designed to provide in-flight data to help Lockheed Martin evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics and the handling of the SR-71 linear aerospike experiment configuration. The goal of the project was to provide in-flight data to help Lockheed Martin validate the computational predictive tools it was using to determine the aerodynamic performance of a future reusable launch vehicle. The joint NASA, Rocketdyne (now part of Boeing), and Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) completed seven initial research flights at Dryden Flight Research Center. Two initial flights were used to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of the LASRE apparatus (pod) on the back of the SR-71. Five later flights focused on the experiment itself. Two were used to cycle gaseous helium and liquid nitrogen through the experiment to check its plumbing system for leaks and to test engine operational characteristics. During the other three flights, liquid oxygen was cycled through the engine. Two engine hot-firings were also completed on the ground. A final hot-fire test flight was canceled because of liquid oxygen leaks in the test apparatus. The LASRE experiment itself was a 20-percent-scale, half-span model of a lifting body shape (X-33) without the fins. It was rotated 90 degrees and equipped with eight thrust cells of an aerospike engine and was mounted on a housing known as the 'canoe,' which contained the gaseous hydrogen, helium, and instrumentation gear. The model, engine, and canoe together were called a 'pod.' The experiment focused on determining how a reusable launch vehicle's engine flume would affect the aerodynamics of its lifting-body shape at specific altitudes and speeds. The interaction of the aerodynamic flow with the engine plume could create drag; design refinements looked at minimizing this interaction. The entire pod was 41 feet in length and weighed 14,300 pounds. The experimental pod was mounted on one of NASA's SR-71s, which were at that time on loan to NASA from the U.S. Air Force. Lockheed Martin may use the information gained from the LASRE and X-33 Advanced Technology Demonstrator Projects to develop a potential future reusable launch vehicle. NASA and Lockheed Martin were partners in the X-33 program through a cooperative agreement. The goal of that program was to enable significant reductions in the cost of access to space and to promote creation and delivery of new space services and activities to improve the United States's economic competitiveness. In March 2001, however, NASA cancelled the X-33 program.

Intraoperatively Testing the Anastomotic Integrity of Esophagojejunostomy Using Methylene Blue.

PubMed

Celik, S; Almalı, N; Aras, A; Yılmaz, Ö; Kızıltan, R

2017-03-01

Intraoperative testing of gastrointestinal anastomosis effectively ensures anastomotic integrity. This study investigated whether the routine use of methylene blue intraoperatively identified leaks to reduce the postoperative proportion of clinical leaks. This study retrospectively analyzed consecutive total gastrectomies performed from January 2007 to December 2014 in a university hospital setting by a general surgical group that exclusively used the methylene blue test. All surgeries were performed for gastric or junctional cancers (n = 198). All reconstructions (Roux-en Y esophagojejunostomy) were performed using a stapler. The methylene blue test was used in 108 cases (group 1) via a nasojejunal tube. No test was performed for the other 90 cases (group 2). Intraoperative leakage rate, postoperative clinical leakage rate, length of hospitalization, and mortality rate were the outcome measures. The intraoperative leakage rate was 7.4% in group 1. The postoperative clinical leakage rate was 8.6%. The postoperative clinical leakage rate was 3.7% in group 1 and 14.4% in group 2 (p = 0.007). There were no postoperative clinical leaks when an intraoperative leak led to concomitant intraoperative repair. The median length of hospital stay was 6 days in group 1 and 8 days in group 2 (p < 0.001). One death occurred in each group. No test-related complications were observed. The methylene blue test for esophagojejunostomy is a safe and reliable method for the assessment of anastomosis integrity, especially in cases with difficult esophagojejunostomic construction.

Nonintrusive diagnosis of premature ruptured amniotic membranes using a novel polymer.

PubMed

Bornstein, Jacob; Geva, Adam; Solt, Ido; Fait, Vladimir; Schoenfeld, Alex; Shoham, Hadar Kessary; Sobel, Jack

2006-08-01

This article describes the evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy of AL-SENSE panty-liner in detecting premature rupture of membranes (PROM). One hundred and three women attending the labor and delivery ward were enrolled into three groups: women presenting with a vaginal leak of fluid who had not yet been examined; women with overt PROM, and women with no fluid leak. The result of the AL-SENSE strip test was compared with the clinical diagnosis, which was based on direct visualization of the posterior vaginal fornix and cervix, crystallization, and nitrazine tests. AL-SENSE panty-liner test had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 75% in detecting PROM, with an overall agreement of 82.35% between the AL-SENSE test result and the clinical diagnosis. AL-SENSE may be used as a reliable test to rule out PROM and as an effective device to diagnose PROM and differentiate it from urine leak and vulvovaginal candidiasis.

EVALUATION OF VOLUMETRIC LEAK DETECTION METHODS USED IN UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS

EPA Science Inventory

In the spring and summer of 1987, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluated the performance of 25 commercially available volumetric test methods for the detection of small leaks in underground storage tanks containing gasoline. Performance was estimated by...

Underground Tank Management.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bednar, Barbara A.

1990-01-01

The harm to human health and our environment caused by leaking underground storage tanks can be devastating. Schools can meet new federal waste management standards by instituting daily inventory monitoring, selecting a reliable volumetric testing company, locating and repairing leaks promptly, and removing and installing tanks appropriately. (MLH)

KSC-99pp0229

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-02-23

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Operations and Checkout Building's high bay, the Rotation Handling Fixture (RHF), with a simulated module attached, is lowered by crane into the altitude chamber below during a test. Under normal operation, the RHF will hold a pressurized module intended for the International Space Station, depositing it into the altitude chamber for leak testing. The chamber was recently reactivated after a 24-year hiatus. Originally, two chambers were built to test Apollo Program flight hardware. They were last used in 1975 during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. In 1997, in order to increase the probability of successful missions aboard the ISS, NASA decided to perform leak tests on ISS pressurized modules at the launch site. After installation of new vacuum pumping equipment and controls, a new control room, and a new rotation and handling fixture, the chamber again became operational in February 1999. The chamber, which is 33 feet in diameter and 50 feet tall, is constructed of stainless steel. The rotation handling fixture is aluminum. The first module that will be tested for leaks is the U.S. Laboratory. No date has been determined for the test

KSC-99pp0230

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-02-23

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Viewed from inside the altitude chamber in the Operations and Checkout Building's high bay, the Rotation Handling Fixture (RHF), with a simulated module attached, is lowered during a test. Under normal operation, the RHF will hold a pressurized module intended for the International Space Station, depositing it into the altitude chamber for leak testing. The chamber was recently reactivated after a 24-year hiatus. Originally, two chambers were built to test Apollo Program flight hardware. They were last used in 1975 during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. In 1997, in order to increase the probability of successful missions aboard the ISS, NASA decided to perform leak tests on ISS pressurized modules at the launch site. After installation of new vacuum pumping equipment and controls, a new control room, and a new rotation and handling fixture, the chamber again became operational in February 1999. The chamber, which is 33 feet in diameter and 50 feet tall, is constructed of stainless steel. The rotation handling fixture is aluminum. The first module that will be tested for leaks is the U.S. Laboratory. No date has been determined for the test

KSC-99pp0228

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-02-23

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Operations and Checkout Building's high bay, a crane lifts the Rotation Handling Fixture (RHF) and simulated module during a test. Under normal operation, the RHF will hold a pressurized module intended for the International Space Station, lifting it up and into an altitude chamber for leak testing. The chamber was recently reactivated after a 24-year hiatus. Originally, two chambers were built to test Apollo Program flight hardware. They were last used in 1975 during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. In 1997, in order to increase the probability of successful missions aboard the ISS, NASA decided to perform leak tests on ISS pressurized modules at the launch site. After installation of new vacuum pumping equipment and controls, a new control room, and a new rotation and handling fixture, the chamber again became operational in February 1999. The chamber, which is 33 feet in diameter and 50 feet tall, is constructed of stainless steel. The rotation handling fixture is aluminum. The first module that will be tested for leaks is the U.S. Laboratory. No date has been determined for the test

The Cryogenic Test Bed experiments: Cryogenic heat pipe flight experiment CRYOHP (STS-53). Cryogenic two phase flight experiment CRYOTP (STS-62). Cryogenic flexible diode flight experiment CRYOFD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thienel, Lee; Stouffer, Chuck

1995-09-01

This paper presents an overview of the Cryogenic Test Bed (CTB) experiments including experiment results, integration techniques used, and lessons learned during integration, test and flight phases of the Cryogenic Heat Pipe Flight Experiment (STS-53) and the Cryogenic Two Phase Flight Experiment (OAST-2, STS-62). We will also discuss the Cryogenic Flexible Diode Heat Pipe (CRYOFD) experiment which will fly in the 1996/97 time frame and the fourth flight of the CTB which will fly in the 1997/98 time frame. The two missions tested two oxygen axially grooved heat pipes, a nitrogen fibrous wick heat pipe and a 2-methylpentane phase change material thermal storage unit. Techniques were found for solving problems with vibration from the cryo-collers transmitted through the compressors and the cold heads, and mounting the heat pipe without introducing parasitic heat leaks. A thermally conductive interface material was selected that would meet the requirements and perform over the temperature range of 55 to 300 K. Problems are discussed with the bi-metallic thermostats used for heater circuit protection and the S-Glass suspension straps originally used to secure the BETSU PCM in the CRYOTP mission. Flight results will be compared to 1-g test results and differences will be discussed.

The Cryogenic Test Bed experiments: Cryogenic heat pipe flight experiment CRYOHP (STS-53). Cryogenic two phase flight experiment CRYOTP (STS-62). Cryogenic flexible diode flight experiment CRYOFD

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thienel, Lee; Stouffer, Chuck

1995-01-01

This paper presents an overview of the Cryogenic Test Bed (CTB) experiments including experiment results, integration techniques used, and lessons learned during integration, test and flight phases of the Cryogenic Heat Pipe Flight Experiment (STS-53) and the Cryogenic Two Phase Flight Experiment (OAST-2, STS-62). We will also discuss the Cryogenic Flexible Diode Heat Pipe (CRYOFD) experiment which will fly in the 1996/97 time frame and the fourth flight of the CTB which will fly in the 1997/98 time frame. The two missions tested two oxygen axially grooved heat pipes, a nitrogen fibrous wick heat pipe and a 2-methylpentane phase change material thermal storage unit. Techniques were found for solving problems with vibration from the cryo-collers transmitted through the compressors and the cold heads, and mounting the heat pipe without introducing parasitic heat leaks. A thermally conductive interface material was selected that would meet the requirements and perform over the temperature range of 55 to 300 K. Problems are discussed with the bi-metallic thermostats used for heater circuit protection and the S-Glass suspension straps originally used to secure the BETSU PCM in the CRYOTP mission. Flight results will be compared to 1-g test results and differences will be discussed.

Digital air leak monitoring after lobectomy for primary lung cancer in patients with moderate COPD: can a fast-tracking algorithm reduce postoperative costs and complications?

PubMed

Filosso, P L; Ruffini, E; Solidoro, P; Molinatti, M; Bruna, M C; Oliaro, A

2010-06-01

Prolonged air leaks remain one of the most important complication after pulmonary resection. The aim of this study was to test a new fast-track chest tube removal protocol using a new drainage system, which digitally records postoperative air leaks, compared to the traditional one, with subjective visual air leak assessment. Patients with moderate COPD undergoing lobectomy for primary lung cancer at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the University of Torino were randomised in two groups with different chest drainage systems and different removal protocols: in Group A the drainage was removed after digitally recordered measurement of air leaks; in Group B the tube was removed according to the air leaks visualization by bubbling in the water column. The following variables were evaluated: first and second drainage removal day; overall hospital length of stay; overall hospitalization costs. First and second drainages were removed sooner in those patients with the digital drainage system. An earlier drainage removal is associated with significative reduction in hospital length of stay and overall hospitalization costs. The digital and continuous air leak measurement reduces the hospital length of stay by a more accurate and reproductive air leaks measurement. Further studies are mandatory to corroborate our preliminary results.

Large-Scale Liquid Hydrogen Testing of Variable Density Multilayer Insulation with a Foam Substrate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, J. J.; Hastings, L.

2001-01-01

The multipurpose hydrogen test bed (MHTB), with an 18-cu m liquid hydrogen tank, was used to evaluate a combination foam/multilayer combination insulation (MLI) concept. The foam element (Isofoam SS-1171) insulates during ground hold/ascent flight, and allowed a dry nitrogen purge as opposed to the more complex/heavy helium purge subsystem normally required. The 45-layer MLI was designed for an on-orbit storage period of 45 days. Unique WI features include a variable layer density, larger but fewer double-aluminized Mylar perforations for ascent to orbit venting, and a commercially established roll-wrap installation process that reduced assembly man-hours and resulted in a roust, virtually seamless MLI. Insulation performance was measured during three test series. The spray-on foam insulation (SOFI) successfully prevented purge gas liquefaction within the MLI and resulted in the expected ground hold heat leak of 63 W/sq m. The orbit hold tests resulted in heat leaks of 0.085 and 0.22 W/sq m with warm boundary temperatures of 164 and 305 K, respectively. Compared to the best previously measured performance with a traditional MLI system, a 41-percent heat leak reduction with 25 fewer MLI layers was achieved. The MHTB MLI heat leak is half that calculated for a constant layer density MLI.

Electrical detection of liquid lithium leaks from pipe joints.

PubMed

Schwartz, J A; Jaworski, M A; Mehl, J; Kaita, R; Mozulay, R

2014-11-01

A test stand for flowing liquid lithium is under construction at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. As liquid lithium reacts with atmospheric gases and water, an electrical interlock system for detecting leaks and safely shutting down the apparatus has been constructed. A defense in depth strategy is taken to minimize the risk and impact of potential leaks. Each demountable joint is diagnosed with a cylindrical copper shell electrically isolated from the loop. By monitoring the electrical resistance between the pipe and the copper shell, a leak of (conductive) liquid lithium can be detected. Any resistance of less than 2 kΩ trips a relay, shutting off power to the heaters and pump. The system has been successfully tested with liquid gallium as a surrogate liquid metal. The circuit features an extensible number of channels to allow for future expansion of the loop. To ease diagnosis of faults, the status of each channel is shown with an analog front panel LED, and monitored and logged digitally by LabVIEW.

Demonstration of rapid and sensitive module leak certification for space station freedom. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dietz, R.N.; Goodrich, R.W.

1991-03-01

A leak detection and quantification demonstration using perflurocarbon tracer (PFT) technology was successfully performed at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center on January 25, 1991. The real-time Dual Trap Analyzer (DTA) at one-half hour after the start of the first run gave an estimated leak rate of 0.7 mL/min. This has since been refined to be 1.15 {plus_minus} 0.09 mL/min. The leak rates in the next three runs were determined to be 9.8 {plus_minus} 0.7, {minus}0.4 {plus_minus} 0.3, and 76 {plus_minus} 6 mL/min, respectively. The theory on leak quantification in the steady-state and time-dependent modes for a single zone testmore » facility was developed and applied to the above determinations. The laboratory PFT analysis system gave a limit-of-detection (LOD) of 0.05 fL for ocPDCH. This is the tracer of choice and is about 100-fold better than that for the DTA. Applied to leak certification, the LOD is about 0.00002 mL/s (0.000075 L/h), a 5 order-of-magnitude improvement over the original leak certification specification. Furthermore, this limit can be attained in a measurement period of 3 to 4 hours instead of days, weeks, or months. A new Leak Certification Facility is also proposed to provide for zonal (three zones) determination of leak rates. The appropriate multizone equations, their solutions, and error analysis have already been derived. A new concept of seal-integrity certification has been demonstrated for a variety of controlled leaks in the range of module leak testing. High structural integrity leaks were shown to have a linear dependence of flow on {Delta}p. The rapid determination of leak rates at different pressures is proposed and is to be determined while subjecting the module to other external force-generating parameters such as vibration, torque, solar intensity, etc. 13 refs.« less

Glycol leak detection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rabe, Paul; Browne, Keith; Brink, Janus; Coetzee, Christiaan J.

2016-07-01

MonoEthylene glycol coolant is used extensively on the Southern African Large Telescope to cool components inside the telescope chamber. To prevent coolant leaks from causing serious damage to electronics and optics, a Glycol Leak Detection System was designed to automatically shut off valves in affected areas. After two years of research and development the use of leaf wetness sensors proved to work best and is currently operational. These sensors are placed at various critical points within the instrument payload that would trigger the leak detector controller, which closes the valves, and alerts the building management system. In this paper we describe the research of an initial concept and the final accepted implementation and the test results thereof.

A survey of membrane oxygenator heat-exchanger integrity testing at cardiac surgery centres in Great Britain and Ireland.

PubMed

Carlton, Matthew; Campbell, John

2013-11-01

Membrane oxygenator heat exchanger (HE) device failure is reported to be very low for both short- and long-term extracorporeal devices. All oxygenator manufacturers provide instructions for leak testing of their HE devices prior to patient use. In addition to these recommendations, since 2006 at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) we have also additionally pressure tested HE devices prior to use. We conducted a national survey of cardiac centers in Great Britain and Ireland to determine the methods undertaken in individual centers for validation of the integrity of HE devices. Furthermore, we also collected information on the routine maintenance techniques utilized within these centers to inhibit microbial growth in the water used in the heater-cooler units (HCUs). In total, 34 responses were collected from the 57 centers performing cardiac surgery, producing a response rate of 60%. Of the responding centers, 71% are adhering to manufacturer's recommended guidelines of circulating the water through the device for 5 minutes. Of these centers, 17% reported detecting a leak between the HE and membrane compartment of the oxygenator. In responding centers, 29% reported using the pressure test technique. In the centers utilizing pressure testing, 60% reported detecting a leak. This survey reports an association of a greater HE leak detection rate using the pressure test technique compared to using water testing in isolation (p = 0.034). We believe the pressure testing method provides the perfusionist with confidence in the integrity of the HE for short- and long-term circulatory support devices prior to use in both elective and emergency situations.

Performance of ICU ventilators during noninvasive ventilation with large leaks in a total face mask: a bench study.

PubMed

Nakamura, Maria Aparecida Miyuki; Costa, Eduardo Leite Vieira; Carvalho, Carlos Roberto Ribeiro; Tucci, Mauro Roberto

2014-01-01

Discomfort and noncompliance with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) interfaces are obstacles to NIV success. Total face masks (TFMs) are considered to be a very comfortable NIV interface. However, due to their large internal volume and consequent increased CO2 rebreathing, their orifices allow proximal leaks to enhance CO2 elimination. The ventilators used in the ICU might not adequately compensate for such leakage. In this study, we attempted to determine whether ICU ventilators in NIV mode are suitable for use with a leaky TFM. This was a bench study carried out in a university research laboratory. Eight ICU ventilators equipped with NIV mode and one NIV ventilator were connected to a TFM with major leaks. All were tested at two positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels and three pressure support levels. The variables analyzed were ventilation trigger, cycling off, total leak, and pressurization. Of the eight ICU ventilators tested, four did not work (autotriggering or inappropriate turning off due to misdetection of disconnection); three worked with some problems (low PEEP or high cycling delay); and one worked properly. The majority of the ICU ventilators tested were not suitable for NIV with a leaky TFM.

C-reactive protein for the early prediction of anastomotic leak after esophagectomy in both neoadjuvant and non-neoadjuvant therapy case: a propensity score matching analysis.

PubMed

Park, Jae Kil; Kim, Jae Jun; Moon, Seok Whan

2017-10-01

Anastomotic leak is one of most significant causes of mortality after esophagectomy. Therefore, it is clinically valuable to detect anastomotic leak early after esophagectomy in esophageal cancer. The purpose of this study is to investigate the associations between routine postoperative laboratory findings and anastomotic leak and to analyze the laboratory findings to find out an independent predictive marker for anastomotic leak. In addition, this study compares cases treated with neoadjuvant therapy (NT) and those without (non-NT). We retrospectively assessed the medical records of 201 consecutive cases that met this study's criteria from January 2009 to December 2016. All patients underwent curative and complete esophagectomy for intra-thoracic esophageal cancer. We compiled and analyzed routine laboratory findings from the day before surgery to the eighth postoperative day on a daily basis. Routine laboratory tests consisted of 26 separate tests, including complete blood cell counts, blood chemistries, as well as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (CRP). Barium esophagogram with chest computed tomography (CT) was performed on the seventh postoperative day to evaluate the presence of an anastomotic leak. A total of 45 of 201 patients underwent NT. Anastomotic leaks were found in 23 (11.4%) of 201 patients (8 patients in NT and 15 patients in non-NT). White blood cell (WBC) from the second postoperative day (P=0.031, P=0.006, P=0.007, P=0.007, P=0.041, and P=0.003, respectively) and CRP from the third postoperative day (P=0.012, P<0.001, P=0.014, P<0.001, P=0.001, and P=0.006, respectively) were associated with anastomotic leak in non-NT; however, only CRP on the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh postoperative days (P=0.041, P=0.037, P=0.002, and P=0.003, respectively) was associated with anastomotic leak in NT. The CRP level on the third postoperative day was a significant independent predictive marker of anastomotic leak (P=0.041, odd ratio (OR) 1.056, 95% confidential interval (CI): 1.002-1.113) and had a significant diagnostic cutoff value for the development of anastomotic leak (non-NT: cutoff value 17.12 mg/dL, sensitivity 69.2%, specificity 78.1%, P<0.001, area 0.822; NT: cutoff value 16.42 mg/dL, sensitivity 80.0%, specificity 70.0%, P=0.042, area 0.7104). There were divergent laboratory findings reflective of anastomotic leak between patients who underwent NT and those who did not. The CRP level on the third postoperative day had a significant cutoff value for early detection of anastomotic leak after esophagectomy in both NT and non-NT groups.

Locating hazardous gas leaks in the atmosphere via modified genetic, MCMC and particle swarm optimization algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ji; Zhang, Ru; Yan, Yuting; Dong, Xiaoqiang; Li, Jun Ming

2017-05-01

Hazardous gas leaks in the atmosphere can cause significant economic losses in addition to environmental hazards, such as fires and explosions. A three-stage hazardous gas leak source localization method was developed that uses movable and stationary gas concentration sensors. The method calculates a preliminary source inversion with a modified genetic algorithm (MGA) and has the potential to crossover with eliminated individuals from the population, following the selection of the best candidate. The method then determines a search zone using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling, utilizing a partial evaluation strategy. The leak source is then accurately localized using a modified guaranteed convergence particle swarm optimization algorithm with several bad-performing individuals, following selection of the most successful individual with dynamic updates. The first two stages are based on data collected by motionless sensors, and the last stage is based on data from movable robots with sensors. The measurement error adaptability and the effect of the leak source location were analyzed. The test results showed that this three-stage localization process can localize a leak source within 1.0 m of the source for different leak source locations, with measurement error standard deviation smaller than 2.0.

Localization of a continuous CO2 leak from an isotropic flat-surface structure using acoustic emission detection and near-field beamforming techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Yong; Cui, Xiwang; Guo, Miao; Han, Xiaojuan

2016-11-01

Seal capacity is of great importance for the safety operation of pressurized vessels. It is crucial to locate the leak hole timely and accurately for reasons of safety and maintenance. This paper presents the principle and application of a linear acoustic emission sensor array and a near-field beamforming technique to identify the location of a continuous CO2 leak from an isotropic flat-surface structure on a pressurized vessel in the carbon capture and storage system. Acoustic signals generated by the leak hole are collected using a linear high-frequency sensor array. Time-frequency analysis and a narrow-band filtering technique are deployed to extract effective information about the leak. The impacts of various factors on the performance of the localization technique are simulated, compared and discussed, including the number of sensors, distance between the leak hole and sensor array and spacing between adjacent sensors. Experiments were carried out on a laboratory-scale test rig to assess the effectiveness and operability of the proposed method. The results obtained suggest that the proposed method is capable of providing accurate and reliable localization of a continuous CO2 leak.

Liquid Oxygen (LO2) propellant conditioning concept testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perry, Gretchen L. E.; Orth, Michael S.; Mehta, Gopal K.

1993-01-01

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and industry contractors have undertaken activities to develop a simplified liquid oxygen (LO2) propellant conditioning concept for future expendable launch vehicles. The objective of these activities is to reduce operations costs and timelines and to improve safety of these vehicles. The approach followed has been to identify novel concepts through system level studies and demonstrate the feasibility of these concepts through small-scale and full-scale testing. Testing will also provide data for design guidelines and validation of analytical models. Four different concepts are being investigated: no-bleed, low-bleed, use of a recirculation line, and helium (He) bubbling. This investigation is being done under a Joint Institutional Research and Development (JIRAD) program currently in effect between MSFC and General Dynamics Space Systems (GDSS). A full-scale test article, which is a facsimile of a propellant feed duct with an attached section to simulate heat input from a LO2 turbopump, will be tested at the Cold Flow Facility at MSFC's West Test Area. Liquid nitrogen (LN2), which has similar properties to LO2, will be used in place of LO2 for safety and budget reasons. Work to date includes design and fabrication of the test article, design of the test facility and initial fabrication, development of a test matrix and test procedures, initial predictions of test output, and heat leak calibration and heat exchanger tests on the test article. The tests for all propellant conditioning concepts will be conducted in the summer of 1993, with the final report completed by October, 1993.

A Highly Sensitive Assay Using Synthetic Blood Containing Test Microbes for Evaluation of the Penetration Resistance of Protective Clothing Material under Applied Pressure.

PubMed

Shimasaki, Noriko; Hara, Masayuki; Kikuno, Ritsuko; Shinohara, Katsuaki

2016-01-01

To prevent nosocomial infections caused by even either Ebola virus or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), healthcare workers must wear the appropriate protective clothing which can inhibit contact transmission of these pathogens. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the performance of protective clothing for penetration resistance against infectious agents. In Japan, some standard methods were established to evaluate the penetration resistance of protective clothing fabric materials under applied pressure. However, these methods only roughly classified the penetration resistance of fabrics, and the detection sensitivity of the methods and the penetration amount with respect to the relationship between blood and the pathogen have not been studied in detail. Moreover, no standard method using bacteria for evaluation is known. Here, to evaluate penetration resistance of protective clothing materials under applied pressure, the detection sensitivity and the leak amount were investigated by using synthetic blood containing bacteriophage phi-X174 or S. aureus. And the volume of leaked synthetic blood and the amount of test microbe penetration were simultaneously quantified. Our results showed that the penetration detection sensitivity achieved using a test microbial culture was higher than that achieved using synthetic blood at invisible leak level pressures. This finding suggested that there is a potential risk of pathogen penetration even when visual leak of contaminated blood through the protective clothing was not observed. Moreover, at visible leak level pressures, it was found that the amount of test microbe penetration varied at least ten-fold among protective clothing materials classified into the same class of penetration resistance. Analysis of the penetration amount revealed a significant correlation between the volume of penetrated synthetic blood and the amount of test microbe penetration, indicating that the leaked volume of synthetic blood could be considered as a latent indicator for infection risk, that the amount of exposure to contaminated blood corresponds to the risk of infection. Our study helped us ascertain, with high sensitivity, the differences among fabric materials with respect to their protective performance, which may facilitate effective selection of protective clothing depending on the risk assessment.

Thermal-leak analyzer for vacuum-jacketed lines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heisman, R. M.; Iceland, W. F.; Ruppe, E. P.

1978-01-01

Technique involves coating suspected area with water-soluble black paint that gives even, infrared emission. Painted area is warmed with heat gun; an infrared scanner is used to detect cooled spot on jacket exterior. Introduction of atmospheric pressure into jacket intensifies leak jet and improves test sensitivity.

77 FR 26583 - Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993-Cooperative...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-04

... Production Act of 1993--Cooperative Research Group on Evaluation of Distributed Leak Detection Systems... Institute-- Cooperative Research Group on Evaluation of Distributed Leak Detection Systems--Performance... detection systems for offshore pipelines. Laboratory testing of distributed temperature and distributed...

VOLUMETRIC LEAK DETECTION IN LARGE UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS - VOLUME I

EPA Science Inventory

A set of experiments was conducted to determine whether volumetric leak detection system presently used to test underground storage tanks (USTs) up to 38,000 L (10,000 gal) in capacity could meet EPA's regulatory standards for tank tightness and automatic tank gauging systems whe...

Leak localization and quantification with a small unmanned aerial system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golston, L.; Zondlo, M. A.; Frish, M. B.; Aubut, N. F.; Yang, S.; Talbot, R. W.

2017-12-01

Methane emissions from oil and gas facilities are a recognized source of greenhouse gas emissions, requiring cost-effective and reliable monitoring systems to support leak detection and repair programs. We describe a set of methods for locating and quantifying natural gas leaks using a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) equipped with a path-integrated methane sensor along with ground-based wind measurements. The algorithms are developed as part of a system for continuous well pad scale (100 m2 area) monitoring, supported by a series of over 200 methane release trials covering multiple release locations and flow rates. Test measurements include data obtained on a rotating boom platform as well as flight tests on a sUAS. The system is found throughout the trials to reliably distinguish between cases with and without a methane release down to 6 scfh (0.032 g/s). Among several methods evaluated for horizontal localization, the location corresponding to the maximum integrated methane reading have performed best with a median error of ± 1 m if two or more flights are averaged, or ± 1.2 m for individual flights. Additionally, a method of rotating the data around the estimated leak location is developed, with the leak magnitude calculated as the average crosswind integrated flux in the region near the source location. Validation of these methods will be presented, including blind test results. Sources of error, including GPS uncertainty, meteorological variables, and flight pattern coverage, will be discussed.

Interpretation of discrepancies in mass spectroscopy data obtained from different experimental configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, John M.

1993-01-01

Many helium mass spectrometer leak detectors at KSC employ sampling systems that feature hand held sniffer probes. Authors of general leakage-testing literature recommend sniffer probes for leak location but not for quantitative leakage measurement. Their use in the latter application at KSC involves assumptions that may be subtle. The purpose of the research effort reported herein was to establish the significance of indicated leak rates displayed by sniffer-probe equipped leak detectors and to determine whether the use of alternative hardware or testing procedures may reduce the uncertainty of leakage measurements made with them. The report classifies probe-type sampling systems for helium leak detectors according to their internal plumbing (direct or branched), presents a basic analysis of the fluid dynamics in the sampling system in the branched-conduit case, describes the usual test method for measuring the internal supply-to-sample flowrate ratio (a.k.a permeation ratio), and describes a concept for a sponge-tipped probe whose external supply-to-sample flowrate ratio promises to be lower than that of a simple-ended probe. One conclusion is that the main source of uncertainty in the use of probe-type sampling systems for leakage measurement is uncertainty in the external supply-to-sample flowrate ratio. In contrast, the present method for measuring the internal supply-to-sample flowrate ratio is quantitative and satisfactory. The implication is that probes of lower external supply-to-sample flowrate ratio must be developed before this uncertainty may be reduced significantly.

Microfabricated Hydrogen Sensor Technology for Aerospace and Commercial Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hunter, Gary W.; Bickford, R. L.; Jansa, E. D.; Makel, D. B.; Liu, C. C.; Wu, Q. H.; Powers, W. T.

1994-01-01

Leaks on the Space Shuttle while on the Launch Pad have generated interest in hydrogen leak monitoring technology. An effective leak monitoring system requires reliable hydrogen sensors, hardware, and software to monitor the sensors. The system should process the sensor outputs and provide real-time leak monitoring information to the operator. This paper discusses the progress in developing such a complete leak monitoring system. Advanced microfabricated hydrogen sensors are being fabricated at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and tested at NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) and Gencorp Aerojet (Aerojet). Changes in the hydrogen concentrations are detected using a PdAg on silicon Schottky diode structure. Sensor temperature control is achieved with a temperature sensor and heater fabricated onto the sensor chip. Results of the characterization of these sensors are presented. These sensors can detect low concentrations of hydrogen in inert environments with high sensitivity and quick response time. Aerojet is developing the hardware and software for a multipoint leak monitoring system designed to provide leak source and magnitude information in real time. The monitoring system processes data from the hydrogen sensors and presents the operator with a visual indication of the leak location and magnitude. Work has commenced on integrating the NASA LeRC-CWRU hydrogen sensors with the Aerojet designed monitoring system. Although the leak monitoring system was designed for hydrogen propulsion systems, the possible applications of this monitoring system are wide ranged. Possible commercialization of the system will also be discussed.

A risk score to predict the incidence of prolonged air leak after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy: An analysis from the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.

PubMed

Pompili, Cecilia; Falcoz, Pierre Emmanuel; Salati, Michele; Szanto, Zalan; Brunelli, Alessandro

2017-04-01

The study objective was to develop an aggregate risk score for predicting the occurrence of prolonged air leak after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy from patients registered in the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. A total of 5069 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (July 2007 to August 2015) were analyzed. Exclusion criteria included sublobar resections or pneumonectomies, lung resection associated with chest wall or diaphragm resections, sleeve resections, and need for postoperative assisted mechanical ventilation. Prolonged air leak was defined as an air leak more than 5 days. Several baseline and surgical variables were tested for a possible association with prolonged air leak using univariable and logistic regression analyses, determined by bootstrap resampling. Predictors were proportionally weighed according to their regression estimates (assigning 1 point to the smallest coefficient). Prolonged air leak was observed in 504 patients (9.9%). Three variables were found associated with prolonged air leak after logistic regression: male gender (P < .0001, score = 1), forced expiratory volume in 1 second less than 80% (P < .0001, score = 1), and body mass index less than 18.5 kg/m 2 (P < .0001, score = 2). The aggregate prolonged air leak risk score was calculated for each patient by summing the individual scores assigned to each variable (range, 0-4). Patients were then grouped into 4 classes with an incremental risk of prolonged air leak (P < .0001): class A (score 0 points, 1493 patients) 6.3% with prolonged air leak, class B (score 1 point, 2240 patients) 10% with prolonged air leak, class C (score 2 points, 1219 patients) 13% with prolonged air leak, and class D (score >2 points, 117 patients) 25% with prolonged air leak. An aggregate risk score was created to stratify the incidence of prolonged air leak after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. The score can be used for patient counseling and to identify those patients who can benefit from additional intraoperative preventative measures. Copyright © 2016 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS OF ADSISTOR AND FIGARO GAS SENSORS USED FOR UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK LEAK DETECTION

EPA Science Inventory

Two different sensor technologies and their properties were analyzed. he nalysis simulated a leak which occurs from an underground storage tank. igaro gas sensors and the Adsistor gas sensor were tested in simulated underground storage tank nvironments using the Carnegie Mellon R...

24 CFR 3280.612 - Tests and inspection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... leaks. Then the system shall be unplugged and emptied. The waste piping above the level of the water... water and checking for leaks and retarded flow while they are being emptied. (d) Shower compartments... and inspection. (a) Water system. All water piping in the water distribution system shall be subjected...

10 CFR 32.59 - Same: Leak testing of each source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SPECIFIC DOMESTIC LICENSES TO MANUFACTURE OR TRANSFER CERTAIN ITEMS... kilobecquerels (0.1 microcurie) of americium-241 or radium-226 before transferring the source to a general... leaking or losing americium-241 or radium-226 and shall not be transferred to a general licensee under...

10 CFR 32.59 - Same: Leak testing of each source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SPECIFIC DOMESTIC LICENSES TO MANUFACTURE OR TRANSFER CERTAIN ITEMS... kilobecquerels (0.1 microcurie) of americium-241 or radium-226 before transferring the source to a general... leaking or losing americium-241 or radium-226 and shall not be transferred to a general licensee under...

Failure analysis of fuze power supply

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Menke, J.T.

1996-10-01

Batteries in storage which were used in electronic fuzes were found to be leaking after 5 years. The leaking battery ampules were made of copper and contained mixture of fluoboric acid and methylene bromide. The corrosion mechanism is described along with the testing/analysis required to simulate the field failures.

40 CFR 60.256 - Continuous monitoring requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

....256 Section 60.256 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS... rates of 25 Mg (28 tons) per year or more, a bag leak detection system according to the requirements in... performance test on an operating day average basis. (c) Each bag leak detection system used to comply with...

40 CFR 60.256 - Continuous monitoring requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

....256 Section 60.256 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS... rates of 25 Mg (28 tons) per year or more, a bag leak detection system according to the requirements in... performance test on an operating day average basis. (c) Each bag leak detection system used to comply with...

40 CFR 60.256 - Continuous monitoring requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....256 Section 60.256 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS... rates of 25 Mg (28 tons) per year or more, a bag leak detection system according to the requirements in... performance test on an operating day average basis. (c) Each bag leak detection system used to comply with...

40 CFR 60.256 - Continuous monitoring requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

....256 Section 60.256 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS... rates of 25 Mg (28 tons) per year or more, a bag leak detection system according to the requirements in... performance test on an operating day average basis. (c) Each bag leak detection system used to comply with...

Interaction Between Neuronal NOS Signaling and Temperature Influences SR Ca2+ Leak:Role of Nitroso-Redox Balance

PubMed Central

Dulce, Raul A.; Mayo, Vera; Rangel, Erika B.; Balkan, Wayne; Hare, Joshua M.

2014-01-01

Rationale While nitric oxide (NO) signaling modulates cardiac function and excitation-contraction coupling, opposing results due to inconsistent experimental conditions, particularly with respect to temperature, confound the ability to elucidate NO signaling pathways. Here we show that temperature significantly modulates NO effects. Objective Test the hypothesis that temperature profoundly impacts nitroso-redox equilibrium, thereby affecting sarcomeric reticulum (SR) Ca2+ leak. Methods and Results We measured SR Ca2+ leak in cardiomyocytes from wild-type (WT), NO/redox imbalance (NOS1−/−), and hyper S-nitrosylation (GSNOR−/−) mice. In WT cardiomyocytes, SR Ca2+ leak increased as temperature decreased from 37°C to 23°C, whereas, in NOS1−/ −cells, the leak suddenly increased when the temperature surpassed 30°C. GSNOR−/ − cardiomyocytes exhibited low leak throughout the temperature range. Exogenously added NO had a biphasic effect on NOS1−/− cardiomyocytes; reducing leak at 37°C but increasing it at sub-physiologic temperatures. Oxypurinol and Tempol diminished the leak in NOS1−/ − cardiomyocytes. Cooling from 37° to 23°C increased ROS generation in WT but decreased it in NOS1−/− cardiomyocytes. Oxypurinol further reduced ROS generation. At 23°C in WT cells, leak was decreased by tetrahydrobiopterin, an essential NOS cofactor. Cooling significantly increased SR Ca2+ content in NOS1−/− cells but had no effect in WT or GSNOR−/−. Conclusions Ca2+ leak and temperature are normally inversely proportional, whereas NOS1 deficiency reverses this effect, increasing leak and elevating ROS production as temperature increases. Reduced denitrosylation (GSNOR deficiency) eliminates the temperature dependence of leak. Thus, temperature regulates the balance between NO and ROS which in turn has a major impact on SR Ca2+. PMID:25326127

Interaction between neuronal nitric oxide synthase signaling and temperature influences sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium leak: role of nitroso-redox balance.

PubMed

Dulce, Raul A; Mayo, Vera; Rangel, Erika B; Balkan, Wayne; Hare, Joshua M

2015-01-02

Although nitric oxide (NO) signaling modulates cardiac function and excitation-contraction coupling, opposing results because of inconsistent experimental conditions, particularly with respect to temperature, confound the ability to elucidate NO signaling pathways. Here, we show that temperature significantly modulates NO effects. To test the hypothesis that temperature profoundly affects nitroso-redox equilibrium, thereby affecting sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium (Ca(2+)) leak. We measured SR Ca(2+) leak in cardiomyocytes from wild-type (WT), NO/redox imbalance (neuronal nitric oxide synthase-deficient mice-1 [NOS1(-/-)]), and hyper S-nitrosoglutathione reductase-deficient (GSNOR(-/-)) mice. In WT cardiomyocytes, SR Ca(2+) leak increased because temperature decreased from 37°C to 23°C, whereas in NOS1(-/-) cells, the leak suddenly increased when the temperature surpassed 30°C. GSNOR(-/-) cardiomyocytes exhibited low leak throughout the temperature range. Exogenously added NO had a biphasic effect on NOS1(-/-) cardiomyocytes; reducing leak at 37°C but increasing it at subphysiological temperatures. Oxypurinol and Tempol diminished the leak in NOS1(-/-) cardiomyocytes. Cooling from 37°C to 23°C increased reactive oxygen species generation in WT but decreased it in NOS1(-/-) cardiomyocytes. Oxypurinol further reduced reactive oxygen species generation. At 23°C in WT cells, leak was decreased by tetrahydrobiopterin, an essential NOS cofactor. Cooling significantly increased SR Ca(2+) content in NOS1(-/-) cells but had no effect in WT or GSNOR(-/-). Ca(2+) leak and temperature are normally inversely proportional, whereas NOS1 deficiency reverses this effect, increasing leak and elevating reactive oxygen species production because temperature increases. Reduced denitrosylation (GSNOR deficiency) eliminates the temperature dependence of leak. Thus, temperature regulates the balance between NO and reactive oxygen species which in turn has a major effect on SR Ca(2+). © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.

Autogenous Metallic Pipe Leak Repair in Potable Water Systems.

PubMed

Tang, Min; Triantafyllidou, Simoni; Edwards, Marc A

2015-07-21

Copper and iron pipes have a remarkable capability for autogenous repair (self-repair) of leaks in potable water systems. Field studies revealed exemplars that metallic pipe leaks caused by nails, rocks, and erosion corrosion autogenously repaired, as confirmed in the laboratory experiments. This work demonstrated that 100% (N = 26) of 150 μm leaks contacting representative bulk potable water in copper pipes sealed autogenously via formation of corrosion precipitates at 20-40 psi, pH 3.0-11.0, and with upward and downward leak orientations. Similar leaks in carbon steel pipes at 20 psi self-repaired at pH 5.5 and 8.5, but two leaks did not self-repair permanently at pH 11.0 suggesting that water chemistry may control the durability of materials that seal the leaks and therefore the permanence of repair. Larger 400 μm holes in copper pipes had much lower (0-33%) success of self-repair at pH 3.0-11.0, whereas all 400 μm holes in carbon steel pipes at 20 psi self-repaired at pH 4.0-11.0. Pressure tests indicated that some of the repairs created at 20-40 psi ambient pressure could withstand more than 100 psi without failure. Autogenous repair has implications for understanding patterns of pipe failures, extending the lifetime of decaying infrastructure, and developing new plumbing materials.

Diagnostic value of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR cholangiography in non-invasive detection of postoperative bile leakage.

PubMed

Kul, Melahat; Erden, Ayşe; Düşünceli Atman, Ebru

2017-04-01

To assess the diagnostic value of dynamic T 1 weighted (T1w) gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MR cholangiography (MRC) for the detection of active bile leaks. A total of 28 patients with suspected biliary leakage who underwent routine T 2 weighted (T2w) MRC and T1w GD-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRC at our institution from February 2013 to June 2016 were included in this study. The image sets were retrospectively analyzed in consensus by three radiologists. T1w Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRC findings were correlated with clinical data, follow-up examinations and findings of invasive/surgical procedures. Patients with positive bile leak findings in Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRC were divided into hepatobiliary phase (HBP) (20-30 min) and delayed phase (DP) (60-390 min) group according to elapsed time between Gd-EOB-DTPA injection and initial bile leak findings in MRC images. These groups were compared in terms of laboratory test results (total bilirubin, liver enzymes) and the presence of bile duct dilatation in T2w MRC images. In each patient, visualization of bile ducts was sufficient in the HBP. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of dynamic Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced T1w MRC in the detection of biliary leaks were 92.9%, 90.5% and 100%, respectively (p < 0.001). 19 of 28 patients had bile leak findings in T1w Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRC [HBP group: N = 7 (36.8%), DP group: N = 12 (63.2%)]. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of laboratory test results and the presence of bile duct dilatation between HBP and DP group (p > 0.05). Three patients, each of them in DP group, showed normal laboratory test results and bile duct diameters. Dynamic T1w Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRC is a useful non-invasive diagnostic tool to detect bile leak. Advances in knowledge: Prolonged DP imaging may be required for bile leak detection even if visualization of biliary tree is sufficient in HBP and liver function tests, total bilirubin levels and bile duct diameters are normal.

Remote Leak Detection: Indirect Thermal Technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clements, Sandra

2002-01-01

Remote sensing technologies are being considered for efficient, low cost gas leak detection. Eleven specific techniques have been identified for further study and evaluation of several of these is underway. The Indirect Thermal Technique is one of the techniques that is being explored. For this technique, an infrared camera is used to detect the temperature change of a pipe or fitting at the site of a gas leak. This temperature change is caused by the change in temperature of the gas expanding from the leak site. During the 10-week NFFP program, the theory behind the technique was further developed, experiments were performed to determine the conditions for which the technique might be viable, and a proof-of-concept system was developed and tested in the laboratory.

The Summer of Hydrogen

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weber, Philip

2008-01-01

Ground crew veterans at Kennedy Space Center still talk about what they call "the summer of hydrogen"-the long, frustrating months in 1990 when the shuttle fleet was grounded by an elusive hydrogen leak that foiled our efforts to fill the orbiter's external fuel tank. Columbia (STS-35) was on Launch Pad A for a scheduled May 30 launch when we discovered the hydrogen leak during - tanking. The external fuel tank is loaded through the orbiter. Liquid hydrogen flows through a 17-inch umbilical between the orbiter and the tank. During fueling, we purge the aft fuselage with gaseous nitrogen to reduce the risk of fire, and we have a leak-detection system in the mobile launch platform, which samples (via tygon tubing) the atmosphere in and around the vehicle, drawing it down to a mass spectrometer that analyzes its composition. When we progressed to the stage of tanking where liquid hydrogen flows through the vehicle, the concentration of hydrogen approached four percent-the limit above which it would be dangerously flammable. We had a leak. We did everything we could think of to find it, and the contractor who supplied the flight hardware was there every day, working alongside us. We did tanking tests, which involved instrumenting the suspected leak sources, and cryo-loaded the external tank to try to isolate precisely where the leak originated. We switched out umbilicals; we replaced the seals between the umbilical and the orbiter. We inspected the seals microscopically and found no flaws. We replaced the recirculation pumps, and we found and replaced a damaged teflon seal in a main propulsion system detent cover, which holds the prevalve-the main valve supplying hydrogen to Space Shuttle Main Engine 3 -in the open position. The seal passed leak tests at ambient temperature but leaked when cryogenic temperatures were applied. We added new leak sensors-up to twenty at a time and tried to be methodical in our placements to narrow down the possible sources of the problem. We even switched orbiters, sending Columbia back to the Vehicle Assembly Building and bringing out Atlantis, scheduled to fly as STS-38. Two shuttles on their mobile launchers passing in the night was a majestic sight, but not one you want to see if you're trying to get an orbiter launched. None of this told us where the leak was, or if we were dealing with more than one leak source.

KSC-99pp0231

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-02-23

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Operations and Checkout Building's high bay, the Rotation Handling Fixture (RHF), with a simulated module attached, is viewed from above the altitude chamber into which it was lowered during a test. Under normal operation, the RHF will hold a pressurized module intended for the International Space Station, depositing it into the altitude chamber for leak testing. The chamber was recently reactivated after a 20-year hiatus. Originally, two chambers were built to test Apollo Program flight hardware. They were last used in 1975 during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. In 1997, in order to increase the probability of successful missions aboard the ISS, NASA decided to perform leak tests on ISS pressurized modules at the launch site. After installation of new vacuum pumping equipment and controls, a new control room, and a new rotation and handling fixture, the chamber again became operational in February 1999. The chamber, which is 33 feet in diameter and 50 feet tall, is constructed of stainless steel. The rotation handling fixture is aluminum. The first module that will be tested for leaks is the U.S. Laboratory. No date has been determined for the test

Leakage Through a Channel Formed by a Gasket, a Sealing Surface, and a Filament Trapped Between Them

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, John; Adams, Frederick

1996-01-01

Plumbing for the transport of liquid Hydrogen or liquid Oxygen at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is very critical. Every piece of hardware for handling such a hazardous cryogen is subject to testing prior to installation and use. Safe, realistic testing of all such hardware is prohibitively expensive, which leads, perforce, to expidients such as: (1) lead testing with non-flammable tracer fluids (e.g, liquid nitrogen) and (2) leak testing with room temperature tracer fluids (e.g. liquid helium). Such expedients undermine the realism of the tests. If however, one could apply rational fluid dynamics methods to derive a general analytical expression with which one could relate the throughput of gaseous Helium through a given leak channel to the throughput of liquid Hydrogen through the same channel, then one could recover much of the information that one would otherwise forfeit through these expedients. These facts lead to the following questions: (1) What would be an example of a generic flaw in a gasket?; and (2) How can one calculate the flow of fluid in it? The report addresses these questions. It considers a particular leak geometry, namely one formed by a gasket, a sealing surface, and a filament trapped between them (so that the cross section of the leak channel is a flat bottomed curvilinear triangle, two sides of which are circular arcs and which has cusps on all three corners).

Design, fabrication and test of Load Bearing multilayer insulation to support a broad area cooled shield

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dye, S. A.; Johnson, W. L.; Plachta, D. W.; Mills, G. L.; Buchanan, L.; Kopelove, A. B.

2014-11-01

Improvements in cryogenic propellant storage are needed to achieve reduced or Zero Boil Off of cryopropellants, critical for long duration missions. Techniques for reducing heat leak into cryotanks include using passive multi-layer insulation (MLI) and vapor cooled or actively cooled thermal shields. Large scale shields cannot be supported by tank structural supports without heat leak through the supports. Traditional MLI also cannot support shield structural loads, and separate shield support mechanisms add significant heat leak. Quest Thermal Group and Ball Aerospace, with NASA SBIR support, have developed a novel Load Bearing multi-layer insulation (LBMLI) capable of self-supporting thermal shields and providing high thermal performance. We report on the development of LBMLI, including design, modeling and analysis, structural testing via vibe and acoustic loading, calorimeter thermal testing, and Reduced Boil-Off (RBO) testing on NASA large scale cryotanks. LBMLI uses the strength of discrete polymer spacers to control interlayer spacing and support the external load of an actively cooled shield and external MLI. Structural testing at NASA Marshall was performed to beyond maximum launch profiles without failure. LBMLI coupons were thermally tested on calorimeters, with superior performance to traditional MLI on a per layer basis. Thermal and structural tests were performed with LBMLI supporting an actively cooled shield, and comparisons are made to the performance of traditional MLI and thermal shield supports. LBMLI provided a 51% reduction in heat leak per layer over a previously tested traditional MLI with tank standoffs, a 38% reduction in mass, and was advanced to TRL5. Active thermal control using LBMLI and a broad area cooled shield offers significant advantages in total system heat flux, mass and structural robustness for future Reduced Boil-Off and Zero Boil-Off cryogenic missions with durations over a few weeks.

Orai3 channel is the 2-APB-induced endoplasmic reticulum calcium leak.

PubMed

Leon-Aparicio, Daniel; Pacheco, Jonathan; Chavez-Reyes, Jesus; Galindo, Jose M; Valdes, Jesus; Vaca, Luis; Guerrero-Hernandez, Agustin

2017-07-01

We have studied in HeLa cells the molecular nature of the 2-APB induced ER Ca 2+ leak using synthetic Ca 2+ indicators that report changes in both the cytoplasmic ([Ca 2+ ] i ) and the luminal ER ([Ca 2+ ] ER ) Ca 2+ concentrations. We have tested the hypothesis that Orai channels participate in the 2-APB-induced ER Ca 2+ leak that was characterized in the companion paper. The expression of the dominant negative Orai1 E106A mutant, which has been reported to block the activity of all three types of Orai channels, inhibited the effect of 2-APB on the [Ca 2+ ] ER but did not decrease the ER Ca 2+ leak after thapsigargin (TG). Orai3 channel, but neither Orai1 nor Orai2, colocalizes with expressed IP 3 R and only Orai3 channel supported the 2-APB-induced ER Ca 2+ leak, while Orai1 and Orai2 inhibited this type of ER Ca 2+ leak. Decreasing the expression of Orai3 inhibited the 2-APB-induced ER Ca 2+ leak but did not modify the ER Ca 2+ leak revealed by inhibition of SERCA pumps with TG. However, reducing the expression of Orai3 channel resulted in larger [Ca 2+ ] i response after TG but only when the ER store had been overloaded with Ca 2+ by eliminating the acidic internal Ca 2+ store with bafilomycin. These data suggest that Orai3 channel does not participate in the TG-revealed ER Ca 2+ leak but forms an ER Ca 2+ leak channel that is limiting the overloading with Ca 2+ of the ER store. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. VIEW NORTHEAST, LEFT TO RIGHT COLD CALIBRATION TEST STAND ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

1. VIEW NORTHEAST, LEFT TO RIGHT COLD CALIBRATION TEST STAND COLD CALIBRATION BLOCKHOUSE IN FOREGROUND. - Marshall Space Flight Center, East Test Area, Cold Calibration Test Stand, Huntsville, Madison County, AL

Testing limits to airflow perturbation device (APD) measurements.

PubMed

Lopresti, Erika R; Johnson, Arthur T; Koh, Frank C; Scott, William H; Jamshidi, Shaya; Silverman, Nischom K

2008-10-31

The Airflow Perturbation Device (APD) is a lightweight, portable device that can be used to measure total respiratory resistance as well as inhalation and exhalation resistances. There is a need to determine limits to the accuracy of APD measurements for different conditions likely to occur: leaks around the mouthpiece, use of an oronasal mask, and the addition of resistance in the respiratory system. Also, there is a need for resistance measurements in patients who are ventilated. Ten subjects between the ages of 18 and 35 were tested for each station in the experiment. The first station involved testing the effects of leaks of known sizes on APD measurements. The second station tested the use of an oronasal mask used in conjunction with the APD during nose and mouth breathing. The third station tested the effects of two different resistances added in series with the APD mouthpiece. The fourth station tested the usage of a flexible ventilator tube in conjunction with the APD. All leaks reduced APD resistance measurement values. Leaks represented by two 3.2 mm diameter tubes reduced measured resistance by about 10% (4.2 cmH2O.sec/L for control and 3.9 cm H2O.sec/L for the leak). This was not statistically significant. Larger leaks given by 4.8 and 6.4 mm tubes reduced measurements significantly (3.4 and 3.0 cm cmH2O.sec/L, respectively). Mouth resistance measured with a cardboard mouthpiece gave an APD measurement of 4.2 cm H2O.sec/L and mouth resistance measured with an oronasal mask was 4.5 cm H2O.sec/L; the two were not significantly different. Nose resistance measured with the oronasal mask was 7.6 cm H2O.sec/L. Adding airflow resistances of 1.12 and 2.10 cm H2O.sec/L to the breathing circuit between the mouth and APD yielded respiratory resistance values higher than the control by 0.7 and 2.0 cm H2O.sec/L. Although breathing through a 52 cm length of flexible ventilator tubing reduced the APD measurement from 4.0 cm H2O.sec/L for the control to 3.6 cm H2O.sec/L for the tube, the difference was not statistically significant. The APD can be adapted for use in ventilated, unconscious, and uncooperative patients with use of a ventilator tube and an oronasal mask without significantly affecting measurements. Adding a resistance in series with the APD mouthpiece has an additive effect on resistance measurements, and can be used for qualitative calibration. A leak size of at least the equivalent of two 3.2 mm diameter tubes can be tolerated without significantly affecting APD measurements.

C-reactive protein for the early prediction of anastomotic leak after esophagectomy in both neoadjuvant and non-neoadjuvant therapy case: a propensity score matching analysis

PubMed Central

Park, Jae Kil; Moon, Seok Whan

2017-01-01

Background Anastomotic leak is one of most significant causes of mortality after esophagectomy. Therefore, it is clinically valuable to detect anastomotic leak early after esophagectomy in esophageal cancer. The purpose of this study is to investigate the associations between routine postoperative laboratory findings and anastomotic leak and to analyze the laboratory findings to find out an independent predictive marker for anastomotic leak. In addition, this study compares cases treated with neoadjuvant therapy (NT) and those without (non-NT). Methods We retrospectively assessed the medical records of 201 consecutive cases that met this study’s criteria from January 2009 to December 2016. All patients underwent curative and complete esophagectomy for intra-thoracic esophageal cancer. We compiled and analyzed routine laboratory findings from the day before surgery to the eighth postoperative day on a daily basis. Routine laboratory tests consisted of 26 separate tests, including complete blood cell counts, blood chemistries, as well as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (CRP). Barium esophagogram with chest computed tomography (CT) was performed on the seventh postoperative day to evaluate the presence of an anastomotic leak. Results A total of 45 of 201 patients underwent NT. Anastomotic leaks were found in 23 (11.4%) of 201 patients (8 patients in NT and 15 patients in non-NT). White blood cell (WBC) from the second postoperative day (P=0.031, P=0.006, P=0.007, P=0.007, P=0.041, and P=0.003, respectively) and CRP from the third postoperative day (P=0.012, P<0.001, P=0.014, P<0.001, P=0.001, and P=0.006, respectively) were associated with anastomotic leak in non-NT; however, only CRP on the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh postoperative days (P=0.041, P=0.037, P=0.002, and P=0.003, respectively) was associated with anastomotic leak in NT. The CRP level on the third postoperative day was a significant independent predictive marker of anastomotic leak (P=0.041, odd ratio (OR) 1.056, 95% confidential interval (CI): 1.002–1.113) and had a significant diagnostic cutoff value for the development of anastomotic leak (non-NT: cutoff value 17.12 mg/dL, sensitivity 69.2%, specificity 78.1%, P<0.001, area 0.822; NT: cutoff value 16.42 mg/dL, sensitivity 80.0%, specificity 70.0%, P=0.042, area 0.7104). Conclusions There were divergent laboratory findings reflective of anastomotic leak between patients who underwent NT and those who did not. The CRP level on the third postoperative day had a significant cutoff value for early detection of anastomotic leak after esophagectomy in both NT and non-NT groups. PMID:29268376

Utility of routine versus selective upper gastrointestinal series to detect anastomotic leaks after laparoscopic gastric bypass.

PubMed

Schiesser, Marc; Guber, Josef; Wildi, Stefan; Guber, Ivo; Weber, Markus; Muller, Markus K

2011-08-01

In up to 4% of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) procedures, anastomotic leaks occur. Early detection of gastrointestinal leakage is important for successful treatment. Consequently, many centers advocate routine postoperative upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of this practice after LRYGB. Eight hundred four consecutive patients undergoing LRYGB from June 2000 to April 2010 were analyzed prospectively. The first 382 patients received routine UGI series between the third and fifth postoperative days (group A). Thereafter, the test was only performed when clinical findings (tachycardia, fever, and drainage content) were suspicious for a leak of the gastrointestinal anastomosis (group B; n = 422). Overall, nine of 804 (1.1%) patients suffered from leaks at the gastroenterostomy. In group A, four of 382 (1%) patients had a leak, but only two were detected by the routine UGI series. This corresponds to a sensitivity of 50%. In group B, the sensitivity was higher with 80%. Specificities were comparable with 97% and 91%, respectively. Routine UGI series cost only 1.6% of the overall costs of a non-complicated gastric bypass procedure. With this leak rate and sensitivity, US $86,800 would have to be spent on 200 routine UGI series to find one leak which is not justified. This study shows that routine UGI series have a low sensitivity for the detection of anastomotic leaks after LRYGB. In most cases, the diagnosis is initiated by clinical findings. Therefore, routine upper gastrointestinal series are of limited value for the diagnosis of a leak.

Optical Detection Of Cryogenic Leaks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wyett, Lynn M.

1988-01-01

Conceptual system identifies leakage without requiring shutdown for testing. Proposed device detects and indicates leaks of cryogenic liquids automatically. Detector makes it unnecessary to shut equipment down so it can be checked for leakage by soap-bubble or helium-detection methods. Not necessary to mix special gases or other materials with cryogenic liquid flowing through equipment.

Field Demonstration of Innovative Leak Detection/Location in Conjunction with Pipe Wall Thickness Testing for Water Mains

EPA Science Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsored a large-scale field demonstration of innovative leak detection/location and condition assessment technologies on a 76-year old, 2,000-ft long, cement-lined, 24-in. cast iron water main in Louisville, KY from July through Se...

40 CFR 60.505 - Reporting and recordkeeping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

.... (8) Test results: Actual pressure change in 5 minutes, mm of water (average for 2 runs). (c) A record of each monthly leak inspection required under § 60.502(j) shall be kept on file at the terminal for... of inspection. (2) Findings (may indicate no leaks discovered; or location, nature, and severity of...

46 CFR 12.15-9 - Examination requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... supply of water to boilers, the dangers of high and low water and remedial action X X X 20. Operation..., including testing for leaks, operation of bypasses, and making up of joints X X 8. Safety precautions to be... accumulation of oil in furnaces, bilges, floorplates, and tank tops; flarebacks, leaks in fuel oil heaters...

ACOUSTIC LOCATION OF LEAKS IN PRESSURIZED UNDERGROUND PETROLEUM PIPELINES

EPA Science Inventory

Experiments were conducted at the UST Test Apparatus Pipeline in which three acoustic sensors separated by a maximum distance of 38 m (125-ft) were used to monitor signals produced by 3.0-, 1.5-, and 1.0-gal/h leaks in the wall of a 2-in.-diameter pressurized petroleum pipeline. ...

10 CFR 32.59 - Same: Leak testing of each source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... kilobecquerels (0.1 microcurie) of americium-241 or radium-226 before transferring the source to a general... capable of detecting 0.185 kilobecquerel (0.005 microcurie) of americium-241 or radium-226. If a source has been shown to be leaking or losing more than 0.185 kilobecquerel (0.005 microcurie) of americium...

10 CFR 32.59 - Same: Leak testing of each source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... kilobecquerels (0.1 microcurie) of americium-241 or radium-226 before transferring the source to a general... capable of detecting 0.185 kilobecquerel (0.005 microcurie) of americium-241 or radium-226. If a source has been shown to be leaking or losing more than 0.185 kilobecquerel (0.005 microcurie) of americium...

Measuring Leakage From Large, Complicated Machinery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bottemiller, S.

1987-01-01

Test chamber improvised from large bag. Cumulative sizes of leaks in large, complicated machinery measure with relatively simple variation of helium leak-checking technique. When used to check Space Shuttle main engine, new technique gave repeatable and correct results within 0.5 stdin.3/min (1.4 x 10 negative to the seventh power stdm3/s).

Assessing the accuracy of TDR-based water leak detection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fatemi Aghda, S. M.; GanjaliPour, K.; Nabiollahi, K.

2018-03-01

The use of TDR system to detect leakage locations in underground pipes has been developed in recent years. In this system, a bi-wire is installed in parallel with the underground pipes and is considered as a TDR sensor. This approach greatly covers the limitations arisen with using the traditional method of acoustic leak positioning. TDR based leak detection method is relatively accurate when the TDR sensor is in contact with water in just one point. Researchers have been working to improve the accuracy of this method in recent years. In this study, the ability of TDR method was evaluated in terms of the appearance of multi leakage points simultaneously. For this purpose, several laboratory tests were conducted. In these tests in order to simulate leakage points, the TDR sensor was put in contact with water at some points, then the number and the dimension of the simulated leakage points were gradually increased. The results showed that with the increase in the number and dimension of the leakage points, the error rate of the TDR-based water leak detection system increases. The authors tried, according to the results obtained from the laboratory tests, to develop a method to improve the accuracy of the TDR-based leak detection systems. To do that, they defined a few reference points on the TDR sensor. These points were created via increasing the distance between two conductors of TDR sensor and were easily identifiable in the TDR waveform. The tests were repeated again using the TDR sensor having reference points. In order to calculate the exact distance of the leakage point, the authors developed an equation in accordance to the reference points. A comparison between the results obtained from both tests (with and without reference points) showed that using the method and equation developed by the authors can significantly improve the accuracy of positioning the leakage points.

Present-day stress magnitude at depth from leak-off tests in Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mariucci, M. T.; Montone, P.; Pierdominici, S.

2012-04-01

We present new results from the analysis of leak-off tests, performed in deep oil wells in Italy, to characterize the present-day stress magnitude and regime in the crust. In the last years we have collected a large number of data (more than 500) from different stress indicators, mainly borehole breakouts, earthquake focal mechanisms and fault data, which provided information on the present-day stress orientations. In some areas the tectonic regime has been inferred either from fault plane solutions of M≥4 earthquakes or from stress inversions of smaller earthquakes. Where seismicity lacks, the regime is not well constrained and little or no information on the magnitude of the crustal stresses is available. In order to improve our knowledge in stress regime and its magnitude in Italy, in this work we use the leak-off test technique. Each test is performed at the bottom of an open hole by sealing off a section and then slowly pressurizing with a fluid until hydraulic tensile fractures develop. The minimum horizontal stress is inferred by leak-off pressure record, the vertical stress is computed by rock density data and the maximum horizontal stress is estimated applying a specific formula from the literature. Thanks to ENI S.p.A. (Italian oil company), that kindly provided new well data, we have been able to perform a critical review of our preliminary calculations and to enhance our previous results concerning stress magnitudes. Totally, we have analyzed 192 leak-off tests at depth between 200 and 5400m (average 1800m). In particular, wells are located along the Italian peninsula and in Sicily: most of them are in the Po Plain and along the Apenninic foredeep; few are in southern Apenninic belt and a few tens are in Sicily. After an accurate selection of the most robust results, we better characterize the Italian stress regime at depth.

Performance of ICU ventilators during noninvasive ventilation with large leaks in a total face mask: a bench study* **

PubMed Central

Nakamura, Maria Aparecida Miyuki; Costa, Eduardo Leite Vieira; Carvalho, Carlos Roberto Ribeiro; Tucci, Mauro Roberto

2014-01-01

Objective: Discomfort and noncompliance with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) interfaces are obstacles to NIV success. Total face masks (TFMs) are considered to be a very comfortable NIV interface. However, due to their large internal volume and consequent increased CO2 rebreathing, their orifices allow proximal leaks to enhance CO2 elimination. The ventilators used in the ICU might not adequately compensate for such leakage. In this study, we attempted to determine whether ICU ventilators in NIV mode are suitable for use with a leaky TFM. Methods: This was a bench study carried out in a university research laboratory. Eight ICU ventilators equipped with NIV mode and one NIV ventilator were connected to a TFM with major leaks. All were tested at two positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels and three pressure support levels. The variables analyzed were ventilation trigger, cycling off, total leak, and pressurization. Results: Of the eight ICU ventilators tested, four did not work (autotriggering or inappropriate turning off due to misdetection of disconnection); three worked with some problems (low PEEP or high cycling delay); and one worked properly. Conclusions: The majority of the ICU ventilators tested were not suitable for NIV with a leaky TFM. PMID:25029653

Aging Behavior of the EPDM O-Rings in the H1616 Shipping Package

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daugherty, W.; Stefek, T.; Skidmore, E.

The H1616 shipping package is used within the DOE complex for shipping tritium reservoirs. The annual recertification frequency can create logistical difficulties with other constraints on the timing of shipments; thus, a longer re-certification period is desirable. The ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) O-rings used in the H1616 shipping package are being aged and tested at the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) to provide a technical basis for extending the annual maintenance of the H1616 shipping package. H1616 EPDM O-rings are being aged at elevated temperature, and tested for degradation in mechanical properties, compression stress relaxation (CSR) behavior, and leakmore » performance. Mechanical properties of aged O-rings show significant degradation can occur, but an inert atmosphere (argon backfill) greatly reduces the rate of degradation. The CSR behavior of O-rings was evaluated in air at 79 to 177 °C. These collective data were used to develop a predictive model for extrapolation of CSR behavior to relevant service temperatures (<67 °C). O-rings were also aged in H1616 Containment Vessels (CV) in an inert atmosphere at 71 to 149 °C. The vessels are helium leak tested periodically to determine if they continue to remain leak-tight. The vessel tests provide a solid demonstration that the H1616 O-rings will remain leak-tight at temperatures up to 113 °C for up to approximately 2.3 years. Significantly longer periods of leak-tight service are expected at the lower temperatures actually experienced in service. The predictive model developed from the CSR data conservatively indicates a service life of ~5 years at 67 °C. Although the relationship between CSR behavior and leak-tight performance has not been established for this design, the CSR predictions for this O-ring are conservative relative to leak-tight performance. Based on the collective data developed to date, SRNL has recommended that the maintenance interval for the H1616 package be extended from 1 year to 2 years. Future recommendations in support of even longer maintenance intervals are expected, as additional aging data become available.« less

Performance of a Novel Real-Time Respirator Seal Integrity Monitor on Firefighters: Simulated Workplace Pilot Study.

PubMed

Leppänen, Maija; Wu, Bingbing; Corey, Jonathan; Yermakov, Michael; Grinshpun, Sergey A

2018-05-29

Millions of workers, including firefighters, use respiratory protective device. The key aspect in assuring the intended protection level of a respirator is its fit. However, even if the respirator originally fits well, the faceseal may be breached during its use. Until now, there have been no practically viable, inexpensive means to monitor the performance of a respirator during actual use. A novel Respirator Seal Integrity Monitor (ReSIM) was developed and recently evaluated on manikins by our team. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ReSIM effectiveness on respirator-wearing firefighters exposed to aerosols while performing simulated routine operational activities. Initially, fifteen subjects were recruited for the study. Following a preliminary investigation that resulted in modifications in the ReSIM prototype and testing protocol, a subset of nine firefighters was chosen for a full-scale evaluation. The testing was conducted in a 24.3-m 3 exposure chamber using NaCl as the challenge aerosol. Controlled faceseal leaks were established by opening a solenoid valve for 10, 15 or 20 seconds. Leaks were also established as the tested firefighter slightly repositioned the respirator on his/her face. During the testing, the ReSIM measured particles inside a full-face elastomeric respirator with a 72.7% leak detection sensitivity (probability of correct leak identification) and an 84.2% specificity (probability of correct identification of the intervals which are absent of any leak). After adjusting for false negatives and persistent false positives, sensitivity and specificity increased to 83.6% and 92.2%, respectively. The factors causing minor limitations in leak detection sensitivity and specificity can be attributed to variability among subjects, moisture's effect on the particle sensor, and some in-mask sampling bias. In conclusion, the ReSIM can promptly detect the breach in a respirator faceseal with high sensitivity and specificity. Due to its capability to alert the wearer of possible overexposure to hazardous aerosols, the ReSIM concept has a remarkable potential to be applied in various working environments, where respirators are used.

Use of a sealant to prevent prolonged air leaks after lung resection: a prospective randomized study.

PubMed

Lequaglie, Cosimo; Giudice, Gabriella; Marasco, Rita; Morte, Aniello Della; Gallo, Massimiliano

2012-10-08

Pulmonary air leaks are common complications of lung resection and result in prolonged hospital stays and increased costs. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether, compared with standard care, the use of a synthetic polyethylene glycol matrix (CoSeal®) could reduce air leaks detected by means of a digital chest drain system (DigiVent™), in patients undergoing lung resection (sutures and/or staples alone). Patients who intraoperatively showed moderate or severe air leaks (evaluated by water submersion tests) were intraoperatively randomized to receive just sutures/staples (control group) or sutures/staples plus CoSeal® (sealant group). Differences among the groups in terms of air leaks, prolonged air leaks, time to chest tube removal, length of hospital stay and related costs were assessed. In total, 216 lung resection patients completed the study. Nineteen patients (18.1%) in the control group and 12 (10.8%) patients in the sealant group experienced postoperative air leaks, while a prolonged air leak was recorded in 11.4% (n=12) of patients in the control group and 2.7% (n=3) of patients in the sealant group. The difference in the incidence of air leaks and prolonged air leaks between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.0002 and p=0.0013). The mean length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the sealant group (4 days) than the control group (8 days) (p=0.0001). We also observed lower costs in the sealant group than the control group. The use of CoSeal® may decrease the occurrence and severity of postoperative air leaks after lung resection and is associated with shorter hospital stay. Not registered. The trial was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the IRCCS-CROB Basilicata Regional Cancer Institute, Rionero in Vulture, Italy.

Influence of preoperative radiation field on postoperative leak rates in esophageal cancer patients after trimodality therapy.

PubMed

Juloori, Aditya; Tucker, Susan L; Komaki, Ritsuko; Liao, Zhongxing; Correa, Arlene M; Swisher, Stephen G; Hofstetter, Wayne L; Lin, Steven H

2014-04-01

Postoperative morbidities, such as anastomotic leaks, are common after trimodality therapy (chemoradiation followed by surgery) for esophageal cancer. We investigated for factors associated with an increased incidence of anastomotic leaks. Data from 285 esophageal cancer patients treated from 2000 to 2011 with trimodality therapy were analyzed. Anastomotic location relative to preoperative radiation field was assessed using postoperative computed tomographic imaging. Logistic regression was used to evaluate for factors associated with any or clinically relevant (CR) (≥ grade 2) leaks. Overall anastomotic leak rate was 11% (31 of 285), and CR leak rate was 6% (17 of 285). Multivariable analysis identified body mass index (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.17; OR, 1.11, 95% CI, 1.01-1.22), three-field surgery (OR, 10.01; 95% CI, 3.83-26.21; OR, 4.83; 95% CI, 1.39-16.71), and within radiation field ("in-field") anastomosis (OR, 5.37; 95% CI, 2.21-13.04; OR, 8.63; 95% CI, 2.90-25.65) as independent predictors of both all grade and CR leaks, respectively. While patients with distal esophageal tumors and Ivor-Lewis surgery had the lowest incidence of all grade (6.5%) and CR leaks (4.2%), most of the leaks were associated with the anastomosis constructed within the field of radiation (in-field: 39% and 30% versus out-of-field: 2.6% and 1.0%, respectively, for total and CR leaks, p less than 0.0001, Fisher's exact test). Esophagogastric anastomosis placed within the preoperative radiation field was a very strong predictor for anastomotic leaks in esophageal cancer patients treated with trimodality therapy, among other factors. Surgical planning should include a critical evaluation of the preoperative radiation fields to ensure proper anastomotic placement after chemoradiation therapy.

Anastomotic leaks: what is the best diagnostic imaging study?

PubMed

Nicksa, G A; Dring, R V; Johnson, K H; Sardella, W V; Vignati, P V; Cohen, J L

2007-02-01

Postoperative anastomotic leaks are one of the most devastating consequences of colorectal surgery. Diagnostic imaging for upper gastrointestinal anastomotic leaks has been evaluated and reported on extensively. No study has compared the utility and effectiveness of CT scans and water-soluble enemas for the identification of postoperative lower gastrointestinal anastomotic leaks. The present study was designed to evaluate and compare these two common radiographic imaging modalities in detecting lower gastrointestinal anastomotic leaks. A retrospective chart review was performed that identified 36 patients during a seven-year period who underwent reoperative surgery for a lower gastrointestinal anastomotic leak. Patient's imaging studies were classified as positive if extravasation of contrast material was demonstrated. When negative, a study was retrospectively reviewed in an attempt to identify findings suggestive of an anastomotic leak. There were 36 patients identified with a postoperative lower gastrointestinal leak requiring surgical intervention. There were 28 of 36 patients (78 percent) re-explored on the basis of a radiologic study demonstrating an anastomotic leak. A total of 27 CT scans were performed, of which 4 (14.8 percent) were considered positive for an anastomotic leak. On review of the remaining negative CT scans, nine (33.3 percent) were considered descriptive positive with a large amount of fluid or air in the peritoneal cavity but without obvious extravasation of contrast. Eighteen patients were evaluated with a water-soluble enema and 15 (83.3 percent) demonstrated extravasation of contrast material. In the 26 patients with a distal anastomotic leak, 17 water-soluble enemas were performed, with 15 (88 percent) demonstrating a leak. In contrast, only 2 of 17 (12 percent) CT scans were positive in this group of patients (P < 0.001). There were ten patients who initially had a CT scan followed by a water-soluble enema. Of these patients, eight of nine (88 percent) initially had a negative CT scan but were considered to be clinically suspicious of having an anastomotic leak and subsequently had a leak demonstrated on a water-soluble enema. Early intervention in patients who develop an anastomotic leak can be shown to improve the ultimate outcome, especially with respect to mortality. It is usually necessary to obtain objective tests of anastomotic integrity because of the nonspecificity of clinical signs. Our study supported the superiority of water-soluble enema to CT imaging in patients in whom both modalities were used. This difference was most pronounced for distal anastomotic leaks, whereas no radiologic imaging study proved effective in evaluating proximal anastomoses.

Ecosystem engineering creates a direct nutritional link between 600-m deep cold-water coral mounds and surface productivity.

PubMed

Soetaert, Karline; Mohn, Christian; Rengstorf, Anna; Grehan, Anthony; van Oevelen, Dick

2016-10-11

Cold-water corals (CWCs) form large mounds on the seafloor that are hotspots of biodiversity in the deep sea, but it remains enigmatic how CWCs can thrive in this food-limited environment. Here, we infer from model simulations that the interaction between tidal currents and CWC-formed mounds induces downwelling events of surface water that brings organic matter to 600-m deep CWCs. This positive feedback between CWC growth on carbonate mounds and enhanced food supply is essential for their sustenance in the deep sea and represents an example of ecosystem engineering of unparalleled magnitude. This 'topographically-enhanced carbon pump' leaks organic matter that settles at greater depths. The ubiquitous presence of biogenic and geological topographies along ocean margins suggests that carbon sequestration through this pump is of global importance. These results indicate that enhanced stratification and lower surface productivity, both expected consequences of climate change, may negatively impact the energy balance of CWCs.

Ecosystem engineering creates a direct nutritional link between 600-m deep cold-water coral mounds and surface productivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soetaert, Karline; Mohn, Christian; Rengstorf, Anna; Grehan, Anthony; van Oevelen, Dick

2016-10-01

Cold-water corals (CWCs) form large mounds on the seafloor that are hotspots of biodiversity in the deep sea, but it remains enigmatic how CWCs can thrive in this food-limited environment. Here, we infer from model simulations that the interaction between tidal currents and CWC-formed mounds induces downwelling events of surface water that brings organic matter to 600-m deep CWCs. This positive feedback between CWC growth on carbonate mounds and enhanced food supply is essential for their sustenance in the deep sea and represents an example of ecosystem engineering of unparalleled magnitude. This ’topographically-enhanced carbon pump’ leaks organic matter that settles at greater depths. The ubiquitous presence of biogenic and geological topographies along ocean margins suggests that carbon sequestration through this pump is of global importance. These results indicate that enhanced stratification and lower surface productivity, both expected consequences of climate change, may negatively impact the energy balance of CWCs.

Methods of Controlling the Loop Heat Pipe Operating Temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ku, Jentung

2008-01-01

The operating temperature of a loop heat pipe (LHP) is governed by the saturation temperature of its compensation chamber (CC); the latter is in turn determined by the balance among the heat leak from the evaporator to the CC, the amount of subcooling carried by the liquid returning to the CC, and the amount of heat exchanged between the CC and ambient. The LHP operating temperature can be controlled at a desired set point by actively controlling the CC temperature. The most common method is to cold bias the CC and use electric heater power to maintain the CC set point temperature. The required electric heater power can be large when the condenser sink is very cold. Several methods have been developed to reduce the control heater power, including coupling block, heat exchanger and separate subcooler, variable conductance heat pipe, by-pass valve with pressure regulator, secondary evaporator, and thermoelectric converter. The paper discusses the operating principles, advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Development and Characterization of an Oro-Nasal Inhalation Plethysmography Mask Exposure System

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-30

209.3 ± 97.37 mL/min. Standardized tests were used to characterize the inhalation exposure system. The fractional leak rate was 4.17 x 10-5 min-1...chloride (Sigma-Aldrich Corp., St. Louis, MO) and W9-1, Ultra Trace Elemental Analysis Water , (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, PA) and placed in the...cylindrical plethysmograph, with an internal volume of 34.9 L, was leak tested as previously described (Mokler and White, 1983). Nonhuman primates

Systematic use of an intraoperative air leak test at the time of major liver resection reduces the rate of postoperative biliary complications

PubMed Central

Zimmitti, Giuseppe; Vauthey, Jean-Nicolas; Shindoh, Junichi; Tzeng, Ching-Wei D.; Roses, Robert E.; Ribero, Dario; Capussotti, Lorenzo; Giuliante, Felice; Nuzzo, Gennaro; Aloia, Thomas A.

2013-01-01

Objective After hepatectomy, bile leaks remain a major cause of morbidity, cost, and disability. This study was designed to determine if a novel intraoperative Air Leak Test (ALT) would reduce the incidence of post-hepatectomy biliary complications. Study design Rates of postoperative biliary complications were compared between 103 patients who underwent ALT and 120 matched patients operated on before ALT was utilized. All study patients underwent major hepatectomy without bile duct resection at 3 high-volume hepatobiliary centers between 2008 and 2012. ALT was performed by placement of a trans-cystic cholangiogram catheter to inject air into the biliary tree while the upper abdomen was filled with saline and the distal common bile duct was manually occluded. Uncontrolled bile ducts were identified by localization of air bubbles at the transection surface and were directly repaired. Results The 2 groups were similar in diagnosis, chemotherapy use, tumor number and size, resection extent, surgery duration, and blood loss (all p>0.05). Single or multiple uncontrolled bile ducts were intraoperatively detected and repaired in 62.1% of ALT vs. 8.3% of non-ALT patients (p<0.001). This resulted in a lower rate of postoperative bile leaks in ALT (1.9%) vs. non-ALT patients (10.8%, p=0.008). Independent risk factors for postoperative bile leaks included extended hepatectomy (p=0.031), caudate resection (p=0.02), and not performing ALT (p=0.002) [odds ratio (95% Confidence Interval): 3.8 (1.3–11.8), 4.0 (1.1–14.3), and 11.8 (2.4–58.8), respectively]. Conclusion ALT is an easily reproducible test that is highly effective for intraoperative detection and repair of open bile ducts, reducing the rate of postoperative bile leaks. PMID:24246619

Systematic use of an intraoperative air leak test at the time of major liver resection reduces the rate of postoperative biliary complications.

PubMed

Zimmitti, Giuseppe; Vauthey, Jean-Nicolas; Shindoh, Junichi; Tzeng, Ching-Wei D; Roses, Robert E; Ribero, Dario; Capussotti, Lorenzo; Giuliante, Felice; Nuzzo, Gennaro; Aloia, Thomas A

2013-12-01

After hepatectomy, bile leaks remain a major cause of morbidity, cost, and disability. This study was designed to determine if a novel intraoperative air leak test (ALT) would reduce the incidence of post-hepatectomy biliary complications. Rates of postoperative biliary complications were compared among 103 patients who underwent ALT and 120 matched patients operated on before ALT was used. All study patients underwent major hepatectomy without bile duct resection at 3 high-volume hepatobiliary centers between 2008 and 2012. The ALT was performed by placement of a transcystic cholangiogram catheter to inject air into the biliary tree, the upper abdomen was filled with saline, and the distal common bile duct was manually occluded. Uncontrolled bile ducts were identified by localization of air bubbles at the transection surface and were directly repaired. The 2 groups were similar in diagnosis, chemotherapy use, tumor number and size, resection extent, surgery duration, and blood loss (all, p > 0.05). Single or multiple uncontrolled bile ducts were intraoperatively detected and repaired in 62.1% of ALT vs 8.3% of non-ALT patients (p < 0.001). This resulted in a lower rate of postoperative bile leaks in ALT (1.9%) vs non-ALT patients (10.8%; p = 0.008). Independent risk factors for postoperative bile leaks included extended hepatectomy (p = 0.031), caudate resection (p = 0.02), and not performing ALT (p = 0.002) (odds ratio = 3.8; 95% CI, 1.3-11.8; odds ratio = 4.0; 95% CI, 1.1-14.3; and odds ratio = 11.8; 95% CI, 2.4-58.8, respectively). The ALT is an easily reproducible test that is highly effective for intraoperative detection and repair of open bile ducts, reducing the rate of postoperative bile leaks. Copyright © 2013 American College of Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Infrared video based gas leak detection method using modified FAST features

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Min; Hong, Hanyu; Huang, Likun

2018-03-01

In order to detect the invisible leaking gas that is usually dangerous and easily leads to fire or explosion in time, many new technologies have arisen in the recent years, among which the infrared video based gas leak detection is widely recognized as a viable tool. However, all the moving regions of a video frame can be detected as leaking gas regions by the existing infrared video based gas leak detection methods, without discriminating the property of each detected region, e.g., a walking person in a video frame may be also detected as gas by the current gas leak detection methods.To solve this problem, we propose a novel infrared video based gas leak detection method in this paper, which is able to effectively suppress strong motion disturbances.Firstly, the Gaussian mixture model(GMM) is used to establish the background model.Then due to the observation that the shapes of gas regions are different from most rigid moving objects, we modify the Features From Accelerated Segment Test (FAST) algorithm and use the modified FAST (mFAST) features to describe each connected component. In view of the fact that the statistical property of the mFAST features extracted from gas regions is different from that of other motion regions, we propose the Pixel-Per-Points (PPP) condition to further select candidate connected components.Experimental results show that the algorithm is able to effectively suppress most strong motion disturbances and achieve real-time leaking gas detection.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, Austin Douglas; Runnels, Joel T.; Moore, Murray E.

A portable instrument has been developed to assess the functionality of filter sand o-rings on nuclear material storage canisters, without requiring removal of the canister lid. Additionally, a set of fifteen filter standards were procured for verifying aerosol leakage and pressure drop measurements in the Los Alamos Filter Test System. The US Department of Energy uses several thousand canisters for storing nuclear material in different chemical and physical forms. Specialized filters are installed into canister lids to allow gases to escape, and to maintain an internal ambient pressure while containing radioactive contaminants. Diagnosing the condition of container filters and canistermore » integrity is important to ensure worker and public safety and for determining the handling requirements of legacy apparatus. This report describes the In-Place-Filter-Tester, the Instrument Development Plan and the Instrument Operating Method that were developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory to determine the “as found” condition of unopened storage canisters. The Instrument Operating Method provides instructions for future evaluations of as-found canisters packaged with nuclear material. Customized stainless steel canister interfaces were developed for pressure-port access and to apply a suction clamping force for the interface. These are compatible with selected Hagan-style and SAVY-4000 storage canisters that were purchased from NFT (Nuclear Filter Technology, Golden, CO). Two instruments were developed for this effort: an initial Los Alamos POC (Proof-of-Concept) unit and the final Los Alamos IPFT system. The Los Alamos POC was used to create the Instrument Development Plan: (1) to determine the air flow and pressure characteristics associated with canister filter clogging, and (2) to test simulated configurations that mimicked canister leakage paths. The canister leakage scenarios included quantifying: (A) air leakage due to foreign material (i.e. dust and hair) fouling of o-rings, (B) leakage through simulated cracks in o-rings, and (C) air leakage due to inadequately tightened canister lids. The Los Alamos POC instrument determined pertinent air flow and pressure quantities, and this knowledge was used to specify a customized Isaac® (Z axis, Salt Lake City, UT) leak test module. The final Los Alamos IPFT (incorporating the Isaac® leak test module) was used to repeat the tests in the Instrument Development Plan (with simulated filter clogging tests and canister leak pathway tests). The Los Alamos IPFT instrument is capable of determining filter clogging and leak rate conditions, without requiring removal of the container lid. The IPFT measures pressure decay rate from 1.7E-03 in WC/sec to 1.7E-01 in WC/sec. On the same unit scale, helium leak testing of canisters has a range from 5.7E-07 in WC/sec to 1.9E-03 in WC/sec. For a 5-quart storage canister, the IPFT measures equivalent leak flow rates from 0.03 to 3.0 cc/sec. The IPFT does not provide the same sensitivity as helium leak testing, but is able to gauge the assembled condition of as-found and in-situ canisters.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Kyoung Mo; Jee, Kye Kwang; Pyo, Chang Ryul

The basis of the leak before break (LBB) concept is to demonstrate that piping will leak significantly before a double ended guillotine break (DEGB) occurs. This is demonstrated by quantifying and evaluating the leak process and prescribing safe shutdown of the plant on the basis of the monitored leak rate. The application of LBB for power plant design has reduced plant cost while improving plant integrity. Several evaluations employing LBB analysis on system piping based on DEGB design have been completed. However, the application of LBB on main steam (MS) piping, which is LBB applicable piping, has not been performedmore » due to several uncertainties associated with occurrence of steam hammer and dynamic strain aging (DSA). The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the applicability of the LBB design concept to main steam lines manufactured with SA106 Gr.C carbon steel. Based on the material properties, including fracture toughness and tensile properties obtained from the comprehensive material tests for base and weld metals, a parametric study was performed as described in this paper. The PICEP code was used to determine leak size crack (LSC) and the FLET code was used to perform the stability assessment of MS piping. The effects of material properties obtained from tests were evaluated to determine the LBB applicability for the MS piping. It can be shown from this parametric study that the MS piping has a high possibility of design using LBB analysis.« less

Leak Location and Classification in the Space Shuttle Main Engine Nozzle by Infrared Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, Samuel S.; Walker, James L.; Lansing, Mathew

2003-01-01

The Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) is composed of cooling tubes brazed to the inside of a conical structural jacket. Because of the geometry there are regions that can't be inspected for leaks using the bubble solution and low-pressure method. The temperature change due escaping gas is detectable on the surface of the nozzle under the correct conditions. The methods and results presented in this summary address the thermographic identification of leaks in the Space Shuttle Main Engine nozzles. A highly sensitive digital infrared camera is used to record the minute temperature change associated with a leak source, such as a crack or pinhole, hidden within the nozzle wall by observing the inner "hot wall" surface as the nozzle is pressurized. These images are enhanced by digitally subtracting a thermal reference image taken before pressurization, greatly diminishing background noise. The method provides a nonintrusive way of localizing the tube that is leaking and the exact leak source position to within a very small axial distance. Many of the factors that influence the inspectability of the nozzle are addressed; including pressure rate, peak pressure, gas type, ambient temperature and surface preparation.

Development of the Noise-Resistant and Sound Focusing Accessory of Ultrasonic Leak Detector for Spacecraft on Orbit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, W.; Yan, R. X.; Sun, L. C.; Shao, R. P.

2017-12-01

Ultrasonic signal produced by the gas leak is so week that it is difficult to detect, and easily interfered. So developing the noise-resistant and sound focusing accessory for the ultrasonic leak detector is very important for improving ultrasonic leak detector sensitivity and noise-resistant capability. Based on the theory analysis of the leak ultrasonic signal reverberation and anacampsis, the 5A06 aluminium alloy and nylon were selected as the material of noise-resistant and sound focusing accessory by calculation and compare. Then the circular cone trumpet structure was design as the accessory main structure, and the nylon expansion port, nylon shrinking port and aluminium alloy expansion port structures were manufactured. The different structure characters were shown by the contrasting experiment. The results indicate that the nylon expansion circular cone trumpet structure has better sound focusing performance and it can improve the testing sound pressure amplitude 10 bigger than the detector without the accessory. And the aluminium alloy expansion circular cone trumpet structure has better noise-resistant ability than others. These conclusions are very important for the spacecraft leak detection and it can provide some references for the design of the noise-resistant and sound focusing structure.

Hermetic edge sealing of photovoltaic modules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nowlan, M. J.

1983-07-01

The feasibility of using an electrostatic bonding (ESB) and ultrasonic welding process to produce hermetic edge seals on terrestrial solar cell modules was investigated. The fabrication sequence is to attach an aluminum foil "gasket' to the perimeter of a glass sheet. A cell circuit is next encapsulated inside the gasket, and its aluminum foil back cover is seam welded ultrasonically to the gasket. An ESB process for sealing aluminum to glass was developed in an ambient air atmosphere, which eliminates the requirement for a vacuum or pressure vessel. An ultrasonic seam welding process was also developed which did not degrade the quality of the ESB seal. Good quality welds with minimal deformation were produced. The effectiveness of the above described sealing techniques was tested by constructing 400 sq cm (8 x 8 s64 sq in) sample modules, and then subjecting them to nondestructive fine and gross leak tests. The gross leak tests identified several different causes of leaks which were then eliminated by modifying the assembly process.

Hermetic edge sealing of photovoltaic modules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nowlan, M. J.

1983-01-01

The feasibility of using an electrostatic bonding (ESB) and ultrasonic welding process to produce hermetic edge seals on terrestrial solar cell modules was investigated. The fabrication sequence is to attach an aluminum foil "gasket' to the perimeter of a glass sheet. A cell circuit is next encapsulated inside the gasket, and its aluminum foil back cover is seam welded ultrasonically to the gasket. An ESB process for sealing aluminum to glass was developed in an ambient air atmosphere, which eliminates the requirement for a vacuum or pressure vessel. An ultrasonic seam welding process was also developed which did not degrade the quality of the ESB seal. Good quality welds with minimal deformation were produced. The effectiveness of the above described sealing techniques was tested by constructing 400 sq cm (8 x 8 s64 sq in) sample modules, and then subjecting them to nondestructive fine and gross leak tests. The gross leak tests identified several different causes of leaks which were then eliminated by modifying the assembly process.

Intraoperative air leak measured after lobectomy is associated with postoperative duration of air leak.

PubMed

Brunelli, Alessandro; Salati, Michele; Pompili, Cecilia; Gentili, Paolo; Sabbatini, Armando

2017-11-01

To verify the association between the air leak objectively measured intraoperatively (IAL) using the ventilator and the air leak duration after pulmonary lobectomy. Prospective analysis on 111 patients submitted to pulmonary lobectomy (33 by video-assisted thoracic surgery). After resection, objective assessment of air leak (in milliliter per minute) was performed before closure of the chest by measuring the difference between a fixed inspired and expired volume, using a tidal volume of 8 ml/kg, a respiratory rate of 10 and a positive-end expiratory pressure of 5 cmH2O. A multivariable analysis was performed for identifying factors associated with duration of postoperative air leak. Average IAL was 158 ml/min (range 0-1500 ml/min). The best cut-off (receiver-operating characteristics analysis) associated with air leak longer than 5 days was 500 ml/min. Nine patients had IAL >500 ml/min (8%). They had a longer duration of postoperative air leak compared with those with a lower IAL (mean values, 10.1 days, SD 8.8 vs 1.5 days, SD 4.9 P < 0.001). The following variables remained associated with days of air leak duration after multivariable regression: left side resection (P = 0.018), upper site resection (P = 0.031) and IAL >500 ml/min (P < 0.001). The following equation estimating the days of air leak duration was generated: 1.7 + 2.4 × left side + 2.2 × upper site + 8.8 × IAL >500. The air leak measurement using the ventilator parameters after lung resection may assist in estimating the risk of postoperative prolonged air leak. An IAL > 500 ml/min may warrant the use of intraoperative preventative measures, particularly after video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy where a submersion test is often unreliable. © 2017 European Society of Cardiology and European Atherosclerosis Association. All rights reserved. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

10 CFR 36.59 - Detection of leaking sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... alarm set-point to a higher level if necessary to operate the pool water purification system to clean up... certificate from a transferor that leak test has been done within the 6 months before the transfer. Water from... either by using a radiation monitor on a pool water circulating system or by analysis of a sample of pool...

10 CFR 36.59 - Detection of leaking sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... alarm set-point to a higher level if necessary to operate the pool water purification system to clean up... certificate from a transferor that leak test has been done within the 6 months before the transfer. Water from... either by using a radiation monitor on a pool water circulating system or by analysis of a sample of pool...

10 CFR 36.59 - Detection of leaking sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... alarm set-point to a higher level if necessary to operate the pool water purification system to clean up... certificate from a transferor that leak test has been done within the 6 months before the transfer. Water from... either by using a radiation monitor on a pool water circulating system or by analysis of a sample of pool...

10 CFR 36.59 - Detection of leaking sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... alarm set-point to a higher level if necessary to operate the pool water purification system to clean up... certificate from a transferor that leak test has been done within the 6 months before the transfer. Water from... either by using a radiation monitor on a pool water circulating system or by analysis of a sample of pool...

ACOUSTIC LOCATION OF LEAKS IN PRESSURIZED UNDER- GROUND PETROLEUM PIPELINES

EPA Science Inventory

Experiments were conducted at the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Test Apparatus Pipeline in which three acoustic sensors separated by a maximum distance of 38.1 m (125 ft) were used to monitor signals produced by 11.4-, 5.7-, and 3.8-L/h (3.0-, 1.5-, and 1.0-gal/h) leaks in th...

DEFLECTION PRESSURE TESTER

DOEpatents

Cooper, C.M.

1961-01-01

A method and apparatus for determining whether the jacket of a nuclear- fuel slug has a leak are described. The region of the jacket to be leak-tested is sealed off, and gas under pressure is applied thereto. If there is an imperfection, the gas will enter the jacket and bulge another region of the jacket. The bulge occurring is measured by a gage.

Investigation of Natural Gas Fugitive Leak Detection Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, S.; Talbot, R. W.; Frish, M. B.; Golston, L.; Aubut, N. F.; Zondlo, M. A.

2017-12-01

The U.S is now the world's largest natural gas producer, of which methane (CH4) is the main component. About 2% of the CH4 is lost through fugitive leaks. This research is under the DOE Methane Observation Networks with Innovative Technology to Obtain Reductions (MONITOR) program of ARPA-E. Our sentry measurement system is composed of four state-of-the-art technologies centered around the RMLDTM (Remote Methane Leak Detector). An open path RMLDTM measures column-integrated CH4 concentration that incorporates fluctuations in the vertical CH4 distribution. Based on Backscatter Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy and Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the sentry system can autonomously, consistently and cost-effectively monitor and quantify CH4 leakage from sites associated with natural gas production. This system provides an advanced capability in detecting leaks at hard-to-access sites (e.g., wellheads) compared to traditional manual methods. Automated leak detecting and reporting algorithms combined with wireless data link implement real-time leak information reporting. Early data were gathered to set up and test the prototype system, and to optimize the leak localization and calculation strategies. The flight pattern is based on a raster scan which can generate interpolated CH4 concentration maps. The localization and quantification algorithms can be derived from the plume images combined with wind vectors. Currently, the accuracy of localization algorithm can reach 2 m and the calculation algorithm has a factor of 2 accuracy. This study places particular emphasis on flux quantification. The data collected at Colorado and Houston test fields were processed, and the correlation between flux and other parameters analyzed. Higher wind speeds and lower wind variation are preferred to optimize flux estimation. Eventually, this system will supply an enhanced detection capability to significantly reduce fugitive CH4 emissions in the natural gas industry.

Evaluation of Esophageal Anastomotic Integrity With Serial Pleural Amylase Levels.

PubMed

Miller, Daniel L; Helms, Gerald A; Mayfield, William R

2018-01-01

An anastomotic leak is the most devastating and potentially fatal complication after esophagectomy. Current detection methods can be inaccurate and place patients at risk of other complications. Analysis of pleural fluid for amylase may be more accurate and place patients at less of a risk for evaluating the integrity of an esophageal anastomosis. We retrospectively reviewed prospective data of 45 consecutive patients who underwent an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy over an 18-month period and evaluated their anastomotic integrity with serial pleural amylase levels (PAL). There were 40 men (89%), and median age was 63 years (range, 35 to 79). Indication for esophagectomy was cancer in 38 patients (84%); 27 (71%) underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation. A barium swallow was performed in the first 25 patients at median postoperative day (POD) 5 (range, 5 to 10); the swallow was negative in 23 patients (93%). Serial PALs were obtained starting on POD 3 and stopped 1 day after toleration of clear liquids. The PALs in the no-leak patients were highest on POD 3 (median 42 IU/L; range, 20 to 102 IU/L) and decreased (median 15 IU/L; range, 8 to 34 IU/L) to the lowest levels 1 day after clear liquid toleration (p = 0.04). Two patients had a leak and had peak PALs of 227 IU/L and 630 IU/L, respectively; both leaks occurred on POD 4, 1 day before their scheduled swallow test. The last 20 patients underwent serial PALs only, without a planned swallow test or computed tomography scan for anastomotic integrity evaluation. One of these patients had a leak on POD 5 with a low PAL of 55 IU/L the day before the spike of more than 4,000 IU/L. Two of the leaks were treated with esophageal stent placement and intravenous antibiotics, and the remaining patient's leak resolved with intravenous antibiotics, no oral intake, and observation only. None of the leak patients required transthoracic esophageal repair or drainage of an empyema. There was 1 postoperative death (2%) secondary to aspiration pneumonia on POD 10; no leak was ever identified, and the patient had been eating for 3 days before death. Complications occurred in 15 patients (33%), most commonly respiratory; no respiratory issues occurred in PAL-only evaluated patients. No late anastomotic leaks occurred in any patient while in the hospital or after discharge. Serial PALs for the detection of esophageal anastomotic leaks proved to be accurate, safe, and inexpensive. Elimination of barium swallows and computed tomography scans for evaluation of anastomotic integrity may decrease aspiration risks as well as associated pulmonary failure during the postoperative period. Serial PALs may be the preferred method of detecting an anastomotic leak after esophagectomy. A prospective randomized study is warranted. Copyright © 2018 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Performances of single and two-stage pulse tube cryocoolers under different vacuum levels with and without thermal radiation shields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasthurirengan, Srinivasan; Behera, Upendra; Nadig, D. S.; Krishnamoorthy, V.

2012-06-01

Single and two-stage Pulse Tube Cryocoolers (PTC) have been designed, fabricated and experimentally studied. The single stage PTC reaches a no-load temperature of ~ 29 K at its cold end, the two-stage PTC reaches ~ 2.9 K in its second stage cold end and ~ 60 K in its first stage cold end. The two-stage Pulse Tube Cryocooler provides a cooling power of ~ 250 mW at 4.2 K. The single stage system uses stainless steel meshes along with Pb granules as its regenerator materials, while the two-stage PTC uses combinations of Pb along with Er3Ni / HoCu2 as the second stage regenerator materials. Normally, the above systems are insulated by thermal radiation shields and mounted inside a vacuum chamber which is maintained at high vacuum. To evaluate the performance of these systems in the possible conditions of loss of vacuum with and without radiation shields, experimental studies have been performed. The heat-in-leak under such severe conditions has been estimated from the heat load characteristics of the respective stages. The experimental results are analyzed to obtain surface emissivities and effective thermal conductivities as a function of interspace pressure.

FLOW-i ventilator performance in the presence of a circle system leak.

PubMed

Lucangelo, Umberto; Ajčević, Miloš; Accardo, Agostino; Borelli, Massimo; Peratoner, Alberto; Comuzzi, Lucia; Zin, Walter A

2017-04-01

Recently, the FLOW-i anaesthesia ventilator was developed based on the SERVO-i intensive care ventilator. The aim of this study was to test the FLOW-i's tidal volume delivery in the presence of a leak in the breathing circuit. We ventilated a test lung model in volume-, pressure-, and pressure-regulated volume-controlled modes (VC, PC, and PRVC, respectively) with a FLOW-i. First, the circuit remained airtight and the ventilator was tested with fresh gas flows of 6, 1, and 0.3 L/min in VC, PC, and PRVC modes and facing 4 combinations of different resistive and elastic loads. Second, a fixed leak in the breathing circuit was introduced and the measurements repeated. In the airtight system, FLOW-i maintained tidal volume (VT) and circuit pressure at approximately the set values, independently of respiratory mode, load, or fresh gas flow. In the leaking circuit, set VT = 500 mL, FLOW-i delivered higher VTs in PC (about 460 mL) than in VC and PRVC, where VTs were substantially less than 500 mL. Interestingly, VT did not differ appreciably from 6 to 0.3 L/min of fresh air flow among the 3 ventilatory modes. In the absence of leakage, peak inspiratory pressures were similar, while they were 35-45 % smaller in PRVC and VC than in PC mode in the presence of leaks. In conclusion, FLOW-i maintained VT (down to fresh gas flows of 0.3 L/min) to 90 % of its preset value in PC mode, which was 4-5 times greater than in VC or PRVC modes.

40 CFR 86.213-11 - Fuel specifications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...-Duty Passenger Vehicles; Cold Temperature Test Procedures § 86.213-11 Fuel specifications. (a) Gasoline... the text in this section follows: Table—Cold CO Fuel Specifications Item ASTM test Cold CO low octane.... Diesel test fuel used for cold temperature FTP testing under part 600 of this chapter must be a winter...

40 CFR 86.213-11 - Fuel specifications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...-Duty Passenger Vehicles; Cold Temperature Test Procedures § 86.213-11 Fuel specifications. (a) Gasoline... the text in this section follows: Table—Cold CO Fuel Specifications Item ASTM test Cold CO low octane.... Diesel test fuel used for cold temperature FTP testing under part 600 of this chapter must be a winter...

40 CFR 86.213-11 - Fuel specifications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...-Duty Passenger Vehicles; Cold Temperature Test Procedures § 86.213-11 Fuel specifications. (a) Gasoline... the text in this section follows: Table—Cold CO Fuel Specifications Item ASTM test Cold CO low octane.... Diesel test fuel used for cold temperature FTP testing under part 600 of this chapter must be a winter...

40 CFR 86.213-11 - Fuel specifications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...-Duty Passenger Vehicles; Cold Temperature Test Procedures § 86.213-11 Fuel specifications. (a) Gasoline... the text in this section follows: Table—Cold CO Fuel Specifications Item ASTM test Cold CO low octane.... Diesel test fuel used for cold temperature FTP testing under part 600 of this chapter must be a winter...

A new suction mask to reduce leak during neonatal resuscitation: a manikin study.

PubMed

Lorenz, Laila; Maxfield, Dominic A; Dawson, Jennifer A; Kamlin, C Omar F; McGrory, Lorraine; Thio, Marta; Donath, Susan M; Davis, Peter G

2016-09-01

Leak around the face mask is a common problem during neonatal resuscitation. A newly designed face mask using a suction system to enhance contact between the mask and the infant's face might reduce leak and improve neonatal resuscitation. The aim of the study is to determine whether leak is reduced using the suction mask (Resusi-sure mask) compared with a conventional mask (Laerdal Silicone mask) in a manikin model. Sixty participants from different professional categories (neonatal consultants, fellows, registrars, nurses, midwives and students) used each face mask in a random order to deliver 2 min of positive pressure ventilation to a manikin. Delivered airway pressures were measured using a pressure line. Inspiratory and expiratory flows were measured using a flow sensor, and expiratory tidal volumes and mask leaks were derived from these values. A median (IQR) leak of 12.1 (0.6-39.0)% was found with the conventional mask compared with 0.7 (0.2-4.6)% using the suction mask (p=0.002). 50% of the participants preferred to use the suction mask and 38% preferred to use the conventional mask. There was no correlation between leak and operator experience. A new neonatal face mask based on the suction system reduced leak in a manikin model. Clinical studies to test the safety and effectiveness of this mask are needed. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Sinus anatomy associated with inadvertent cerebrospinal fluid leak during functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

PubMed

Heaton, Chase M; Goldberg, Andrew N; Pletcher, Steven D; Glastonbury, Christine M

2012-07-01

Anatomic variations in skull base anatomy may predispose the surgeon to inadvertent skull base injury with resultant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Our objective was to compare preoperative sinus imaging of patients who underwent FESS with and without CSF leak to elucidate these variations. In this retrospective case-control study, 18 patients with CSF leak following FESS for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) from 2000 to 2011 were compared to 18 randomly selected patients who underwent preoperative imaging for FESS for CRS. Measurements were obtained from preoperative computed tomography images with specific attention to anatomic differences in cribriform plate and ethmoid roof heights in the coronal plane, and the skull base angle in the sagittal plane. Mean values of measured variables were compared using a nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. When compared to controls, patients with CSF leak demonstrated a greater angle of the skull base in the sagittal plane (P < .001) and a greater slope of the skull base in the coronal plane (P < .006). A lower cribriform height relative to ethmoid roof height was also noted in cases of CSF leak as compared to controls (P < .04). A steep skull base angle in the sagittal plane, a greater slope of the skull base in the coronal plane, and a low cribriform height relative to the ethmoid roof predispose the patient to CSF leak during FESS. Preoperative review of imaging with specific attention paid to these anatomic variations may help to prevent iatrogenic CSF leak. Copyright © 2012 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.

Nanoscale Capillary Flows in Alumina: Testing the Limits of Classical Theory.

PubMed

Lei, Wenwen; McKenzie, David R

2016-07-21

Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes have well-formed cylindrical channels, as small as 10 nm in diameter, in a close packed hexagonal array. The channels in AAO membranes simulate very small leaks that may be present for example in an aluminum oxide device encapsulation. The 10 nm alumina channel is the smallest that has been studied to date for its moisture flow properties and provides a stringent test of classical capillary theory. We measure the rate at which moisture penetrates channels with diameters in the range of 10 to 120 nm with moist air present at 1 atm on one side and dry air at the same total pressure on the other. We extend classical theory for water leak rates at high humidities by allowing for variable meniscus curvature at the entrance and show that the extended theory explains why the flow increases greatly when capillary filling occurs and enables the contact angle to be determined. At low humidities our measurements for air-filled channels agree well with theory for the interdiffusive flow of water vapor in air. The flow rate of water-filled channels is one order of magnitude less than expected from classical capillary filling theory and is coincidentally equal to the helium flow rate, validating the use of helium leak testing for evaluating moisture flows in aluminum oxide leaks.

40 CFR Table 6 to Subpart Kkkkk of... - Continuous Compliance With Emission Limitations and Work Practice Standards

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... or DLS/FF i. If you use a bag leak detection system, initiating corrective action within 1 hour of a bag leak detection system alarm and completing corrective actions in accordance with your OM&M plan... established during the performance test; and iv. If chemicals are added to the scrubber water, collecting the...

LOCATION OF LEAKS IN PRESSURIZED PETROLEUM PIPELINES BY MEANS OF PASSIVE-ACOUSTIC METHODS

EPA Science Inventory

Experiments were conducted on the underground pipeline at the EPA's UST Test Apparatus n which three acoustic sensors separated by a maximum distance of 38m (125 ft) were used to monitor signals produced by 11.4-, 5.7-, and 3.8-L/h (3.0-, 1.5-, and 1.0-gal/h) leaks in the wall of...

Scrape on Endeavour's robotic arm during oxygen leak repairs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Robotic arm experts get ready for ultrasound testing on Endeavour's robotic arm. A scrape of the honeycomb shell around the arm occurred while work platforms were being installed to gain access to repair the oxygen leak in the Shuttle's mid-body. Launch of Endeavour on mission STS-113 has been postponed until no earlier than Nov. 22.

13. VIEW FROM COLD CALIBRATION BLOCKHOUSE LOOKING DOWN CONNECTING TUNNEL ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

13. VIEW FROM COLD CALIBRATION BLOCKHOUSE LOOKING DOWN CONNECTING TUNNEL TO COLD CALIBRATION TEST STAND BASEMENT, SHOWING HARD WIRE CONNECTION (INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL). - Marshall Space Flight Center, East Test Area, Cold Calibration Test Stand, Huntsville, Madison County, AL

2. VIEW NORTHWEST FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: COLD CALIBRATION BLOCKHOUSE, ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

2. VIEW NORTHWEST FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: COLD CALIBRATION BLOCKHOUSE, COLD CALIBRATION TEST STAND FOR FL ENGINE FOR SATURN V. EXHAUST DUCT IN FOREGROUND. - Marshall Space Flight Center, East Test Area, Cold Calibration Test Stand, Huntsville, Madison County, AL

A hydrostatic leak test for water pipeline by using distributed optical fiber vibration sensing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Huijuan; Sun, Zhenshi; Qian, Ya; Zhang, Tao; Rao, Yunjiang

2015-07-01

A hydrostatic leak test for water pipeline with a distributed optical fiber vibration sensing (DOVS) system based on the phase-sensitive OTDR technology is studied in this paper. By monitoring one end of a common communication optical fiber cable, which is laid in the inner wall of the pipe, we can detect and locate the water leakages easily. Different apertures under different pressures are tested and it shows that the DOVS has good responses when the aperture is equal or larger than 4 mm and the inner pressure reaches 0.2 Mpa for a steel pipe with DN 91cm×EN 2cm.

Detection of cryogenic water ice contaminants and the IR AI&T environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lynch, David K.; Russell, Ray W.

2000-12-01

Several remote sensing/infrared space surveillance programs in the midst of assembly, integration and test have recently experienced delays when water vapor was deposited as ice on cold surfaces in a sensor under test or calibration. When these surfaces were at critical locations, the sensitivity or response of the sensor decreased significantly because the ice absorbed the incoming signal. The source of water vapor could be from a chamber leak or outgassing from the sensor system or the vacuum chamber itself. In order to quantify the effects of ice deposits on signals in various spectral bands, published optical constants for amorphous and crystalline water ice have been used to calculate the transmission of water ice films as a function of wavelength from 1 to 20 microns. The results are presented in two ways: spectra of the physical thickness of a layer of ice whose absorption optical depth is unity, and transmission spectra for several characteristic layer thicknesses. These tools can be used in estimating the amount of ice - and by inference water vapor - present in the system. Related calculations can also be used to assess the probability that a given hardware setup or resulting data set is showing signs of degradation of response due to ice absorption, and the implications for those trying to interpret the results.

The safe removal of frozen air from the annulus of an LH2 storage tank

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krenn, A.; Starr, S.; Youngquist, R.; Nurge, M.; Sass, J.; Fesmire, J.; Cariker, C.; Bhattacharya, A.

2015-12-01

Large Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) storage tanks are vital infrastructure for NASA. Eventually, air may leak into the evacuated and perlite filled annular region of these tanks. Although the vacuum level is monitored in this region, the extremely cold temperature causes all but the helium and neon constituents of air to freeze. A small, often unnoticeable pressure rise is the result. As the leak persists, the quantity of frozen air increases, as does the thermal conductivity of the insulation system. Consequently, a notable increase in commodity boil-off is often the first indicator of an air leak. Severe damage can result from normal draining of the tank. The warming air will sublimate which will cause a pressure rise in the annulus. When the pressure increases above the triple point, the frozen air will begin to melt and migrate downward. Collection of liquid air on the carbon steel outer shell may chill it below its ductility range, resulting in fracture. In order to avoid a structural failure, as described above, a method for the safe removal of frozen air is needed. A thermal model of the storage tank has been created using SINDA/FLUINT modelling software. Experimental work is progressing in an attempt to characterize the thermal conductivity of a perlite/frozen nitrogen mixture. A statistical mechanics model is being developed in parallel for comparison to experimental work. The thermal model will be updated using the experimental/statistical mechanical data, and used to simulate potential removal scenarios. This paper will address methodologies and analysis techniques for evaluation of two proposed air removal methods.

The Safe Removal of Frozen Air from the Annulus of an LH2 Storage Tank

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krenn, A.; Starr, S.; Youngquist, R.; Nurge, M.; Sass, J.; Fesmire, J.; Cariker, C.; Bhattacharya, A.

2015-01-01

Large Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) storage tanks are vital infrastructure for NASA. Eventually, air may leak into the evacuated and perlite filled annular region of these tanks. Although the vacuum level is monitored in this region, the extremely cold temperature causes all but the helium and neon constituents of air to freeze. A small, often unnoticeable pressure rise is the result. As the leak persists, the quantity of frozen air increases, as does the thermal conductivity of the insulation system. Consequently, a notable increase in commodity boil-off is often the first indicator of an air leak. Severe damage can result from normal draining of the tank. The warming air will sublimate which will cause a pressure rise in the annulus. When the pressure increases above the triple point, the frozen air will begin to melt and migrate downward. Collection of liquid air on the carbon steel outer shell may chill it below its ductility range, resulting in fracture. In order to avoid a structural failure, as described above, a method for the safe removal of frozen air is needed. A thermal model of the storage tank has been created using SINDA/FLUINT modeling software. Experimental work is progressing in an attempt to characterize the thermal conductivity of a perlite/frozen nitrogen mixture. A statistical mechanics model is being developed in parallel for comparison to experimental work. The thermal model will be updated using the experimental/statistical mechanical data, and used to simulate potential removal scenarios. This paper will address methodologies and analysis techniques for evaluation of two proposed air removal methods.

Financial validation of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score predicting prolonged air leak after video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy.

PubMed

Brunelli, Alessandro; Pompili, Cecilia; Dinesh, Padma; Bassi, Vinod; Imperatori, Andrea

2018-04-27

The objective of this study was to verify whether the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons prolonged air leak risk score for video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy was associated with incremental postoperative costs. We retrospectively analyzed 353 patients subjected to video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy (April 2014 to March 2016). Postoperative costs were obtained from the hospital Finance Department. Patients were grouped in different classes of risk according to their prolonged air leak risk score. To verify the independent association of the prolonged air leak risk score with postoperative costs, we performed a stepwise multivariable regression analysis in which the dependent variable was postoperative cost. Prolonged air leak developed in 56 patients (15.9%). Their length of stay was 3 days longer compared with those without prolonged air leak (8.3 vs 5.4, P < .0001). Their postoperative cost was higher than that of patients without prolonged air leak: $5939.8 versus $4381.7 (P = .001). After grouping the patients according to their prolonged air leak risk score, prolonged air leak incidence was 12.3% in class A, 13.7% in class B, 28.8% in class C, and 22.2% in class D (P = .020). The average postoperative cost was $4031.0 in class A, $4498.2 in class B, $6146.6 in class C, and $6809.3 in class D (analysis of variance test, P < .001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that being in classes C and D of PAL score (P = .001) and the presence of cardiopulmonary complications (P < .0001) were the only independent factors significantly associated with postoperative costs. We financially validated the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons prolonged air leak risk score for video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomies, which appears useful in selecting those patients in whom the application of additional intraoperative interventions to avoid prolonged air leak may be more cost-effective. Copyright © 2018 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Monitoring underground water leakage pattern by ground penetrating radar (GPR) using 800 MHz antenna frequency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amran, T. S. T.; Ismail, M. P.; Ahmad, M. R.; Amin, M. S. M.; Ismail, M. A.; Sani, S.; Masenwat, N. A.; Basri, N. S. M.

2018-01-01

Water is the most treasure natural resources, however, a huge amount of water are lost during its distribution that leads to water leakage problem. The leaks meant the waste of money and created more economic loss to treat and fix the damaged pipe. Researchers and engineers have put tremendous attempts and effort, to solve the water leakage problem especially in water leakage of buried pipeline. An advanced technology of ground penetrating radar (GPR) has been established as one of the non-destructive testing (NDT) method to detect the underground water pipe leaking. This paper focuses on the ability of GPR in water utility field especially on detection of water leaks in the underground pipeline distribution. A series of laboratory experiments were carried out using 800-MHz antenna, where the performance of GPR on detecting underground pipeline and locating water leakage was investigated and validated. A prototype to recreate water-leaking system was constructed using a 4-inch PVC pipe. Different diameter of holes, i.e. ¼ inch, ½ inch, and ¾ inch, were drilled into the pipe to simulate the water leaking. The PVC pipe was buried at the depth of 60 cm into the test bed that was filled with dry sand. 15 litres of water was injected into the PVC pipe. The water leakage patterns in term of radargram data were gathered. The effectiveness of the GPR in locating the underground water leakage was ascertained, after the results were collected and verified.

Effect of Corrosion Inhibitors on In Situ Leak Repair by Precipitation of Calcium Carbonate in Potable Water Pipelines.

PubMed

Wang, Fei; Devine, Christina L; Edwards, Marc A

2017-08-01

Corrosion inhibitors can affect calcium carbonate precipitation and associated in situ and in-service water distribution pipeline leak repair via clogging. Clogging of 150 μm diameter leak holes represented by glass capillary tubes, in recirculating solutions that are supersaturated with calcite (Ω calcite = 13), demonstrated that Zn, orthophosphate, tripolyphosphate, and hexametaphosphate corrosion/scaling inhibitors hinder clogging but natural organic matter (NOM) has relatively little impact. Critical concentrations of phosphates that could inhibit leak repair over the short-term in one water tested were: tripolyphophate (0.05 mg/L as P) < hexametaphosphate (0.1 mg/L) < orthophosphate (0.3 mg/L). Inhibitor blends (Zn+orthophosphate and Zn+NOM+orthophosphate) had stronger inhibitory effects compared to each inhibitor (Zn, orthophosphate or NOM) alone, whereas Zn+NOM showed a lesser inhibitory effect than its individual component (NOM) alone due to formation of smaller CaCO 3 particles with a much more negative zeta-potential. Overall, increased dosing of corrosion inhibitors is probably reducing the likelihood of scaling and in-service leak repair via clogging with calcium carbonate solids in potable water systems.

Neonatal hygroscopic condenser humidifier.

PubMed

Gedeon, A; Mebius, C; Palmer, K

1987-01-01

A hygroscopic condenser humidifier was developed for neonates on mechanical ventilation and was evaluated by laboratory tests and clinically. Humidification provided by the unit was measured in the 10- to 50-ml tidal-volume range at ambient temperatures of 24 degrees C and 38 degrees C. The effect of a leaking patient connection on device performance was investigated. Leakage rates were measured routinely in a neonatal ICU and surgery to determine the clinical significance. In the entire tidal volume and temperature range, the unit provided an inspiratory water content in excess of 30 g/m3 when the leak fraction (volume leaked/volume delivered at Y-piece) was less than 15%. This was found in three out of four cases. In about one out of ten cases, the leak exceeded 30%, which invariably led to corrective action, such as repositioning or changing the endotracheal tube. However, even at a 30% leak, a water content of about 26 g/m3 was still available for humidifying the inspired gas, which corresponds to normal physiologic conditions found in the trachea for nasal breathing of room air.

Improving Control in a Joule-Thomson Refrigerator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Borders, James; Pearson, David; Prina, Mauro

2005-01-01

A report discusses a modified design of a Joule-Thomson (JT) refrigerator under development to be incorporated into scientific instrumentation aboard a spacecraft. In most other JT refrigerators (including common household refrigerators), the temperature of the evaporator (the cold stage) is kept within a desired narrow range by turning a compressor on and off as needed. This mode of control is inadequate for the present refrigerator because a JT-refrigerator compressor performs poorly when the flow from its evaporator varies substantially, and this refrigerator is required to maintain adequate cooling power. The proposed design modifications include changes in the arrangement of heat exchangers, addition of a clamp that would afford a controlled heat leak from a warmer to a cooler stage to smooth out temperature fluctuations in the cooler stage, and incorporation of a proportional + integral + derivative (PID) control system that would regulate the heat leak to maintain the temperature of the evaporator within a desired narrow range while keeping the amount of liquid in the evaporator within a very narrow range in order to optimize the performance of the compressor. Novelty lies in combining the temperature- and cooling-power-regulating controls into a single control system.

Characterisation and optimisation of flexible transfer lines for liquid helium. Part II: Thermohydraulic modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dittmar, N.; Haberstroh, Ch.; Hesse, U.; Krzyzowski, M.

2016-10-01

In part one of this publication experimental results for a single-channel transfer line used at liquid helium (LHe) decant stations are presented. The transfer of LHe into mobile dewars is an unavoidable process since the places of storage and usage are generally located apart from each other. The experimental results have shown that reasonable amounts of LHe evaporate due to heat leak and pressure drop. Thus, generated helium cold gas has to be collected and reliquefied, demanding a huge amount of electrical energy. Although this transfer process is common in cryogenic laboratories, no existing code could be found to model it. Therefore, a thermohydraulic model has been developed to model the LHe flow at operating conditions using published heat transfer and pressure drop correlations. This paper covers the basic equations used to calculate heat transfer and pressure drop, as well as the validation of the thermohydraulic code, and its application within the optimisation process. The final transfer line design features reduced heat leak and pressure drop values based on a combined measurement and modelling campaign in the range of 0.112 < pin < 0.148 MPa, 190 < G < 450 kg/(m2 s), and 0.04 < xout < 0.12.

Propellant Feed System Leak Detection: Lessons Learned From the Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hass, Neal; Mizukami, Masashi; Neal, Bradford A.; St. John, Clinton; Beil, Robert J.; Griffin, Timothy P.

1999-01-01

This paper presents pertinent results and assessment of propellant feed system leak detection as applied to the Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) program flown at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The LASRE was a flight test of an aerospike rocket engine using liquid oxygen and high-pressure gaseous hydrogen as propellants. The flight safety of the crew and the experiment demanded proven technologies and techniques that could detect leaks and assess the integrity of hazardous propellant feed systems. Point source detection and systematic detection were used. Point source detection was adequate for catching gross leakage from components of the propellant feed systems, but insufficient for clearing LASRE to levels of acceptability. Systematic detection, which used high-resolution instrumentation to evaluate the health of the system within a closed volume, provided a better means for assessing leak hazards. Oxygen sensors detected a leak rate of approximately 0.04 cubic inches per second of liquid oxygen. Pressure sensor data revealed speculated cryogenic boiloff through the fittings of the oxygen system, but location of the source(s) was indeterminable. Ultimately, LASRE was cancelled because leak detection techniques were unable to verify that oxygen levels could be maintained below flammability limits.

Real-Time Model-Based Leak-Through Detection within Cryogenic Flow Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walker, M.; Figueroa, F.

2015-01-01

The timely detection of leaks within cryogenic fuel replenishment systems is of significant importance to operators on account of the safety and economic impacts associated with material loss and operational inefficiencies. Associated loss in control of pressure also effects the stability and ability to control the phase of cryogenic fluids during replenishment operations. Current research dedicated to providing Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) coverage of such cryogenic replenishment systems has focused on the detection of leaks to atmosphere involving relatively simple model-based diagnostic approaches that, while effective, are unable to isolate the fault to specific piping system components. The authors have extended this research to focus on the detection of leaks through closed valves that are intended to isolate sections of the piping system from the flow and pressurization of cryogenic fluids. The described approach employs model-based detection of leak-through conditions based on correlations of pressure changes across isolation valves and attempts to isolate the faults to specific valves. Implementation of this capability is enabled by knowledge and information embedded in the domain model of the system. The approach has been used effectively to detect such leak-through faults during cryogenic operational testing at the Cryogenic Testbed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Command and Control Software Development Memory Management

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Joseph, Austin Pope

2017-01-01

This internship was initially meant to cover the implementation of unit test automation for a NASA ground control project. As is often the case with large development projects, the scope and breadth of the internship changed. Instead, the internship focused on finding and correcting memory leaks and errors as reported by a COTS software product meant to track such issues. Memory leaks come in many different flavors and some of them are more benign than others. On the extreme end a program might be dynamically allocating memory and not correctly deallocating it when it is no longer in use. This is called a direct memory leak and in the worst case can use all the available memory and crash the program. If the leaks are small they may simply slow the program down which, in a safety critical system (a system for which a failure or design error can cause a risk to human life), is still unacceptable. The ground control system is managed in smaller sub-teams, referred to as CSCIs. The CSCI that this internship focused on is responsible for monitoring the health and status of the system. This team's software had several methods/modules that were leaking significant amounts of memory. Since most of the code in this system is safety-critical, correcting memory leaks is a necessity.

Prevention of homicidal violence in schools in Germany: the Berlin Leaking Project and the Networks Against School Shootings Project (NETWASS).

PubMed

Leuschner, Vincenz; Bondü, Rebecca; Schroer-Hippel, Miriam; Panno, Jennifer; Neumetzler, Katharina; Fisch, Sarah; Scholl, Johanna; Scheithauer, Herbert

2011-01-01

Since 1999, Germany has experienced at least twelve serious cases of targeted school violence. This article describes two projects designed to fill the gap between universal prevention and emergency response in preventing severe forms of school violence in Germany. The Berlin Leaking Project examined the viability of preventive efforts based on early identification of leaking behavior that often precedes targeted school attacks. Leaking refers to any behavior or communication that indicates a student is preparing to carry out a violent attack. This would include explicit or implied threats of violence, apparent fascination with prior acts of violence such as Columbine, and any evidence of planning or preparation to carry out an attack. The NETWASS project will test a training program and intervention strategy based on those findings, examining the usefulness of a threat assessment approach to prevent violence by training teachers to recognize leaking behavior by students. This approach is extended by training teachers on a larger scale to identify leaking and then having a school-based team evaluate the student and initiate appropriate interventions, such as mental health services, and in some cases, law enforcement action. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company.

Laser-based sensor for a coolant leak detection in a nuclear reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, T.-S.; Park, H.; Ko, K.; Lim, G.; Cha, Y.-H.; Han, J.; Jeong, D.-Y.

2010-08-01

Currently, the nuclear industry needs strongly a reliable detection system to continuously monitor a coolant leak during a normal operation of reactors for the ensurance of nuclear safety. In this work, we propose a new device for the coolant leak detection based on tunable diode laser spectroscopy (TDLS) by using a compact diode laser. For the feasibility experiment, we established an experimental setup consisted of a near-IR diode laser with a wavelength of about 1392 nm, a home-made multi-pass cell and a sample injection system. The feasibility test was performed for the detection of the heavy water (D2O) leaks which can happen in a pressurized heavy water reactor (PWHR). As a result, the device based on the TDLS is shown to be operated successfully in detecting a HDO molecule, which is generated from the leaked heavy water by an isotope exchange reaction between D2O and H2O. Additionally, it is suggested that the performance of the new device, such as sensitivity and stability, can be improved by adapting a cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy and a compact DFB diode laser. We presume that this laser-based leak detector has several advantages over the conventional techniques currently employed in the nuclear power plant, such as radiation monitoring, humidity monitoring and FT-IR spectroscopy.

Characterization of a Pressure-Fed LOX/LCH4 Reaction Control System Under Simulated Altitude and Thermal Vacuum Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atwell, Matthew J.; Melcher, John C.; Hurlbert, Eric A.; Morehead, Robert L.

2017-01-01

A liquid oxygen, liquid methane (LOX/LCH4) reaction control system (RCS) was tested at NASA Glenn Research Center's Plum Brook Station in the Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility (B-2) under simulated altitude and thermal vacuum conditions. The RCS is a subsystem of the Integrated Cryogenic Propulsion Test Article (ICPTA) and was initially developed under Project Morpheus. Composed of two 28 lbf-thrust and two 7 lbf-thrust engines, the RCS is fed in parallel with the ICPTA main engine from four propellant tanks. 40 tests consisting of 1,010 individual thruster pulses were performed across 6 different test days. Major test objectives were focused on system dynamics, and included characterization of fluid transients, manifold priming, manifold thermal conditioning, thermodynamic vent system (TVS) performance, and main engine/RCS interaction. Peak surge pressures from valve opening and closing events were examined. It was determined that these events were impacted significantly by vapor cavity formation and collapse. In most cases the valve opening transient was more severe than the valve closing. Under thermal vacuum conditions it was shown that TVS operation is unnecessary to maintain liquid conditions at the thruster inlets. However, under higher heat leak environments the RCS can still be operated in a self-conditioning mode without overboard TVS venting, contingent upon the engines managing a range of potentially severe thermal transients. Lastly, during testing under cold thermal conditions the engines experienced significant ignition problems. Only after warming the thruster bodies with a gaseous nitrogen purge to an intermediate temperature was successful ignition demonstrated.

Laboratory Investigation of a Leaking Type 316 Socket Weld in a Boron Injection Tank Sampling Line

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Hongqing; Fyfitch, Steve; Hosier, Ryan; Hyres, James

A leak was discovered in a Type 316 stainless steel socket weld in the sampling line for the boron injection tank. A section of the pipeline containing the leaking weld was removed for laboratory investigation that included visual and Stereovisual inspections, liquid penetrant (PT) testing, metallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and ferrite content determinations. The leak path was a through-wall transgranular crack in the socket weld. Cracking initiated along the weld-metal-to-base-metal interface at the tip of the crevice between the socket and pipe. The crevice was exposed to oxygenated boron solution at <180°F. Shallow intergranular attack (IGA) was found in the exposed base metal inside the crevice. Based on the investigation results, it was concluded that transgranular stress corrosion cracking (TGSCC) is the primary cracking mechanism.

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Rrr of... - Summary of Operating Requirements for New and Existing Affected Sources and Emission Units

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.... Aluminum scrap shredder with fabric filter Bag leak detector or Initiate corrective action within 1-hr of... the performance test. Afterburner operation Operate in accordance with OM&M plan. b Bag leak detector... detector or Initiate corrective action within 1-hr of alarm and complete in accordance with the OM&M plan...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Rrr of... - Summary of Operating Requirements for New and Existing Affected Sources and Emission Units

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

.... Aluminum scrap shredder with fabric filter Bag leak detector or Initiate corrective action within 1-hr of... the performance test. Afterburner operation Operate in accordance with OM&M plan. b Bag leak detector... detector or Initiate corrective action within 1-hr of alarm and complete in accordance with the OM&M plan...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Rrr of... - Summary of Operating Requirements for New and Existing Affected Sources and Emission Units

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

.... Aluminum scrap shredder with fabric filter Bag leak detector or Initiate corrective action within 1-hr of... the performance test. Afterburner operation Operate in accordance with OM&M plan. b Bag leak detector... detector or Initiate corrective action within 1-hr of alarm and complete in accordance with the OM&M plan...

9. COLD CALIBRATION TEST STAND (H1) FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

9. COLD CALIBRATION TEST STAND (H-1) FROM LEFT TO RIGHT - WORK BENCH, CONTROL PANEL, CHEMICAL TANK. - Marshall Space Flight Center, East Test Area, Cold Calibration Test Stand, Huntsville, Madison County, AL

ENRAF Series 854 Advanced Technology Gauge (ATG) with SPU ll Card for Leak Detector Use Acceptance Test Procedure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

SMITH, S.G.

1999-08-13

This procedure checks the Enraf gauge received at Hanford is completely functional and has received no shipping damage. This procedure does not certify the gauge operation. The manufacturer certifies gauge operation. This procedure provides acceptance testing for Enraf Series 854 level gauges used to detect leaks in Hanford Waste Storage Tank annuli. The test will verify that the gauge functions according to the manufacturer's instructions and specifications and is properly setup prior to being delivered to the tank farm area. This ATP does not set up the gauge for any specific tank, but is generalized to permit testing the gaugemore » prior to installation package preparation.« less

Technicians test OV-102's aft fuselage LRU hydrogen recirculation pump

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1990-01-01

Donald C. Buckner, a Lockheed mechanical lead technician, installs an aft fuselage line replaceable unit (LRU) liquid hydrogen recirculation pump from Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102 into JSC's Thermochemical Test Area (TTA) Support Laboratory Bldg 350 test stand. Technicians ran the pump package through the battery of leak tests. Preliminary indications showed only minor, acceptable leakage from the package and Kennedy Space Center (KSC) technicians have replaced a crushed seal on the prevalve of the main propulsion system they believe may have caused the STS-35 hydrogen leak. In addition to Buckner, (left to right) Larry Kilbourn, a Rockwell Service Center lead mechanical technician from Cape Canaveral, and John Dickerson, a quality inspector with EBASCO Services, also monitored the test at JSC. Photo taken by JSC photographer Benny Benavides.

Performance of materials used for biological personal protective equipment against blood splash penetration.

PubMed

Shimasaki, Noriko; Shinohara, Katsuaki; Morikawa, Hideki

2017-12-07

For occupational safety, healthcare workers must select and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), protective clothing, and masks as countermeasures against exposure to infectious body fluids and blood splash. It is important for healthcare workers to ensure the protective performance of each PPE against penetration of pathogens. The International Standards Organization (ISO) 22609 test evaluates the effectiveness of medical facemasks to protect against penetration of splashed synthetic blood. However, in this method, the protective performance is determined only visually, without quantification of leaked liquid volume. Therefore, in this study, we modified the ISO 22609 test method to quantify the volume of leaked liquid and obtain a more accurate assessment of the protection performance. We tested non-woven and woven materials used for masks or protective clothing, and the performance of each material was classified using this new method. We found that the quantity of leaked synthetic blood was dependent on the structural characteristics of each material. These findings will allow healthcare workers to select the most appropriate PPE for a given situation or task.

Performance of materials used for biological personal protective equipment against blood splash penetration

PubMed Central

SHIMASAKI, Noriko; SHINOHARA, Katsuaki; MORIKAWA, Hideki

2017-01-01

For occupational safety, healthcare workers must select and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), protective clothing, and masks as countermeasures against exposure to infectious body fluids and blood splash. It is important for healthcare workers to ensure the protective performance of each PPE against penetration of pathogens. The International Standards Organization (ISO) 22609 test evaluates the effectiveness of medical facemasks to protect against penetration of splashed synthetic blood. However, in this method, the protective performance is determined only visually, without quantification of leaked liquid volume. Therefore, in this study, we modified the ISO 22609 test method to quantify the volume of leaked liquid and obtain a more accurate assessment of the protection performance. We tested non-woven and woven materials used for masks or protective clothing, and the performance of each material was classified using this new method. We found that the quantity of leaked synthetic blood was dependent on the structural characteristics of each material. These findings will allow healthcare workers to select the most appropriate PPE for a given situation or task. PMID:28978815

Comparison between esophagography and chest computed tomography for evaluation of leaks after esophagectomy and gastric pull-through.

PubMed

Lantos, Joshua E; Levine, Marc S; Rubesin, Stephen E; Lau, Charles T; Torigian, Drew A

2013-03-01

To assess the diagnostic performance of esophagography and chest computed tomography (CT) for detecting leaks after esophagectomy and gastric pull-through. Our database revealed 29 patients who had undergone esophagography and chest CT after esophagectomy. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for postoperative leaks were determined for esophagography and CT, separately and combined, on the basis of a retrospective image review. Patients were also stratified for esophagograms with water-soluble contrast alone versus water-soluble contrast and high-density barium and for CT with and without oral contrast. Our findings were retrospectively compared with those reported at initial image interpretation. Clinically relevant leaks were present in 14 (48%) of 29 patients after esophagectomy. Esophagography had a sensitivity of 79%, specificity of 73%, PPV of 73%, and NPV of 79% for detecting leaks, whereas CT had a sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 33%, PPV of 55%, and NPV of 71% and esophagography and CT combined had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 27%, PPV of 56%, and NPV of 100%. The sensitivity of esophagography increased with high-density barium, whereas the sensitivity of CT was the same with and without oral contrast agent. Finally, esophagography and CT were seen to have a higher sensitivity and lower specificity on retrospective review compared with the results reported at initial image interpretation. Esophagography had a slightly lower sensitivity and substantially higher specificity compared with CT for detecting leaks after esophagectomy, whereas esophagography and CT combined had a sensitivity of 100% for detecting leaks. Therefore, postoperative leaks can be excluded with confidence after esophagectomy when both tests are negative.

Placement of a covered polyester stent prevents complications from a colorectal anastomotic leak and supports healing: randomized controlled trial in a large animal model.

PubMed

Tsereteli, Zurab; Sporn, Emanuel; Geiger, Timothy M; Cleveland, Dava; Frazier, Shellaine; Rawlings, Arthur; Bachman, Sharon L; Miedema, Brent W; Thaler, Klaus

2008-11-01

Anastomotic leaks after colorectal operation continue to be a significant cause of morbidity. A covered endoluminal stent could seal a leak and eliminate the need for diversion. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a temporary covered stent to prevent leak related complications. Sixteen adult pigs (80-120 lbs) underwent open transection of the rectosigmoid followed by anastomosis with a circular stapler. Eight animals (study group) underwent endoscopic placement of a 21-mm covered polyester stent. Eight control group animals were left without stents. In all animals, a 2-cm leak was created along the anterior portion of the anastomosis. The animals were killed after 2 weeks and evaluated for abdominal infection, fistulae, and adhesions. The anastomosis was excised and the following parameters were assessed by a pathologist blinded to treatment: mucosal interruption (mm), inflammatory response, collagen type I and III, granulation, and fibrosis (grade 0-4). Stents were spontaneously expelled between postoperative days 6 and 9. At necropsy, none of the animals in the study group had leak related complications, whereas in the control group, 5 (63%) developed intraabdominal infection (4 abscesses, 1 fistula) at the anastomosis (P = .002). Dense adhesions to the anastomosis were found in 7 (88%) control animals. On histology, anastomotic sites in the study group had significantly less mucosal interruption and granulation. Two pigs in the study group died on postoperative day 7, one due to evisceration and one from bladder necrosis. The mortality result is not different from controls (P = .47), both events seem to be unrelated to stent placement. Temporary placement of a covered polyester stent across a colorectal anastomosis prevents leak-related complications and supports the healing of anastomotic leaks.

5. VIEW NORTHWEST FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: COLD CALIBRATION OBSERVATION ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

5. VIEW NORTHWEST FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: COLD CALIBRATION OBSERVATION BUNKER BACKGROUND, COLD CALIBRATION TOWER. - Marshall Space Flight Center, East Test Area, Cold Calibration Test Stand, Huntsville, Madison County, AL

The Webb Telescope's 'Golden Spider'

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

NASA image release August 23, 2012 What looks like a giant golden spider weaving a web of cables and cords, is actually ground support equipment, including the Optical Telescope Simulator (OSIM), for the James Webb Space Telescope. OSIM's job is to generate a beam of light just like the one that the real telescope optics will feed into the actual flight instruments. Because the real flight instruments will be used to test the real flight telescope, their alignment and performance first have to be verified by using the OSIM. Engineers are thoroughly checking out OSIM now in preparation for using it to test the flight science instruments later. This photo was taken from inside a large thermal-vacuum chamber called the Space Environment Simulator (SES), at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Engineers have blanketed the structure of the OSIM with special insulating material to help control its temperature while it goes into the deep freeze testing that mimics the chill of space that Webb will ultimately experience in its operational orbit over 1 million miles from Earth. The golden-colored thermal blankets are made of aluminized kapton, a polymer film that remains stable over a wide range of temperatures. The structure that looks like a silver and black cube underneath the "spider" is a set of cold panels that surround OSIM's optics. During testing, OSIM's temperature will drop to 100 Kelvin (-280 F or -173 C) as liquid nitrogen flows through tubes welded to the chamber walls and through tubes along the silver panels surrounding OSIM's optics. These cold panels will keep the OSIM optics very cold, but the parts covered by the aluminized kapton blankets will stay warm. "Some blankets have silver facing out and gold facing in, or inverted, or silver on both sides, etc.," says Erin Wilson, a Goddard engineer. "Depending on which side of the blanket your hardware is looking at, the blankets can help it get colder or stay warmer, in an environmental test." Another reason for thermal blankets is to shield the cold OSIM optics from unwanted stray infrared light. When the OSIM is pointing its calibrated light beam at Webb's science instruments, engineers don't want any stray infrared light, such as "warm photons" from warm structures, leaking into the instruments' field of view. Too much of this stray light would raise the background too much for the instruments to "see" light from the OSIM—it would be like trying to photograph a lightning bug flying in front of car headlights. To get OSIM's optics cold, the inside of the chamber has to get cold, and to do that, all the air has to be pumped out to create a vacuum. Then liquid nitrogen has to be run though the plumbing along the inner walls of the chamber. Wilson notes that's why the blankets have to have vents in them: "That way, the air between all the layers can be evacuated as the chamber pressure drops, otherwise the blankets could pop," says Wilson. The most powerful space telescope ever built, Webb is the successor to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Webb's four instruments will reveal how the universe evolved from the Big Bang to the formation of our solar system. Webb is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Chris Gunn NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

Analysis of responses of cold pressor tests on pilots and executives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swaroop, R.

1977-01-01

Statistical analyses were performed to study the relationship between cold pressor test responses and certain medical attributes of a group of 81 pilots and a group of 466 executives. The important results of this study were as follows: There was a significant relationship between a subject's cold pressor test response and his profession (that is, pilot or executive). The executives' diastolic cold pressor test responses were significantly related to their medical conditions, and their families' medical conditions. Significant relationships were observed between executives' diastolic and systolic cold pressor test responses and their history of tranquilizer and cardiac drug use.

Space Shuttle RCS Oxidizer Leak Repair for STS-26

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delventhal, R. A.; Faget, N. M.

1989-01-01

Following propellant loading of the Space Shuttle's reaction control system (RCS) for mission STS 26, an oxidizer leak was detected in the left orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pod, where the RCS is located. Subsequent investigation determined that the leak was isolated at a mechanical Dynatube fitting near the RCS nitrogen tetroxide tank. An intense effort was initiated to design, fabricate, and qualify a sealing device to stop the oxidizer leak externally so that the Space Shuttle launch could proceed. It was discovered that sealing devices called clamshells were widely used throughout the petrochemical and power generation industries to stop leaks developed in large diameter pipes which carry steam or other hazardous fluids. These clamshells are available in different diameters and strengths and are placed around the pipe at the location of the leak. A sealing compound is then injected under high pressure into the clamshell to stop the leak. This technology was scaled down and applied to the problem of stopping the leak on the Orbiter, which was on a half-inch diameter line in a nearly inaccessible location. Many obstacles had to be overcome such as determining that the sealing material would be compatible with the nitrogen tetroxide and ensuring that the clamshell would actually fit around the Dynatube fitting without interfering with other lines which were in close proximity. The effort at the NASA Johnson Space Center included materials compatibility testing of several sealants, design of a clamshell to fit in the confined compartment, and manufacture and qualification of the flight hardware. A clamshell was successfully placed around the Dynatube fitting on the Orbiter and the oxidizer leak was terminated. Then it was decided to apply this technology further and design clamshells for other mechanical fittings onboard the Orbiter and develop sealing compounds which will be compatible with fuels such as monomethyl hydrazine (MMH). The potential exists for using this type of sealing device in numerous other applications throughout the aerospace industry.

Cold Stress and the Cold Pressor Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Silverthorn, Dee U.; Michael, Joel

2013-01-01

Temperature and other environmental stressors are known to affect blood pressure and heart rate. In this activity, students perform the cold pressor test, demonstrating increased blood pressure during a 1- to 2-min immersion of one hand in ice water. The cold pressor test is used clinically to evaluate autonomic and left ventricular function. This…

NASA/MSFC multilayer diffusion models and computer program for operational prediction of toxic fuel hazards

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dumbauld, R. K.; Bjorklund, J. R.; Bowers, J. F.

1973-01-01

The NASA/MSFC multilayer diffusion models are discribed which are used in applying meteorological information to the estimation of toxic fuel hazards resulting from the launch of rocket vehicle and from accidental cold spills and leaks of toxic fuels. Background information, definitions of terms, description of the multilayer concept are presented along with formulas for determining the buoyant rise of hot exhaust clouds or plumes from conflagrations, and descriptions of the multilayer diffusion models. A brief description of the computer program is given, and sample problems and their solutions are included. Derivations of the cloud rise formulas, users instructions, and computer program output lists are also included.

Wrapped Multilayer Insulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dye, Scott A.

2015-01-01

New NASA vehicles, such as Earth Departure Stage (EDS), Orion, landers, and orbiting fuel depots, need improved cryogenic propellant transfer and storage for long-duration missions. Current cryogen feed line multilayer insulation (MLI) performance is 10 times worse per area than tank MLI insulation. During each launch, cryogenic piping loses approximately 150,000 gallons (equivalent to $300,000) in boil-off during transfer, chill down, and ground hold. Quest Product Development Corp., teaming with Ball Aerospace, developed an innovative advanced insulation system, Wrapped MLI (wMLI), to provide improved thermal insulation for cryogenic feed lines. wMLI is high-performance multilayer insulation designed for cryogenic piping. It uses Quest's innovative discrete-spacer technology to control layer spacing/ density and reduce heat leak. The Phase I project successfully designed, built, and tested a wMLI prototype with a measured heat leak 3.6X lower than spiral-wrapped conventional MLI widely used for piping insulation. A wMLI prototype had a heat leak of 7.3 W/sq m, or 27 percent of the heat leak of conventional MLI (26.7 W/sq m). The Phase II project is further developing wMLI technology with custom, molded polymer spacers and advancing the product toward commercialization via a rigorous testing program, including developing advanced vacuuminsulated pipe for ground support equipment.

Wrapped Multilayer Insulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dye, Scott A.

2015-01-01

New NASA vehicles, such as Earth Departure Stage (EDS), Orion, landers, and orbiting fuel depots, need improved cryogenic propellant transfer and storage for long-duration missions. Current cryogen feed line multilayer insulation (MLI) performance is 10 times worse per area than tank MLI insulation. During each launch, cryogenic piping loses approximately 150,000 gallons (equivalent to $300,000) in boil-off during transfer, chill down, and ground hold. Quest Product Development Corp., teaming with Ball Aerospace, developed an innovative advanced insulation system, Wrapped MLI (wMLI), to provide improved thermal insulation for cryogenic feed lines. wMLI is high-performance multilayer insulation designed for cryogenic piping. It uses Quest's innovative discrete-spacer technology to control layer spacing/ density and reduce heat leak. The Phase I project successfully designed, built, and tested a wMLI prototype with a measured heat leak 3.6X lower than spiral-wrapped conventional MLI widely used for piping insulation. A wMLI prototype had a heat leak of 7.3 W/m2, or 27 percent of the heat leak of conventional MLI (26.7 W/m2). The Phase II project is further developing wMLI technology with custom, molded polymer spacers and advancing the product toward commercialization via a rigorous testing program, including developing advanced vacuuminsulated pipe for ground support equipment.

Routine upper gastrointestinal Gastrografin swallow after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

PubMed

Sims, Thomas L; Mullican, Mary A; Hamilton, Elizabeth C; Provost, David A; Jones, Daniel B

2003-02-01

Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) swallow radiographs following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) may detect an obstruction or an anastomotic leak. The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy of routine imaging following LRYGBP. Radiograph reports were reviewed for 201 consecutive LRYGBP operations between April 1999 and June 2001. UGI swallow used Gastrografin, static films, fluoroscopic video, and a delayed image at 10 minutes. Mean values with one standard deviation were tested for significance (P < 0.05) using the Mann-Whitney U test statistic. Of 198 available reports, UGI detected jejunal efferent (Roux) limb narrowing (n = 17), partial obstruction (n = 12), anastomotic leak (n = 3), complete bowel obstruction (n = 3), diverticulum (n = 1), hiatal hernia (n = 1), and proximal Roux limb narrowing (n = 1). A normal study was reported in 160 cases (81%). Partial obstruction resolved without intervention. Complete obstruction required re-operation. Compared to 6 patients who developed delayed leaks, early identification of a leak by routine UGI swallow resulted in a shorter hospital stay (mean 7.7 +/- 1.5 days vs 40.2 +/- 12.3 days, P < 0.03). Early intervention after UGI swallow may lessen morbidity. Routine UGI swallow following LRYGBP does not obviate the importance of close clinical follow-up.

Long-term neurological and neuropsychological complications of sulfur mustard and Lewisite mixture poisoning in Chinese victims exposed to chemical warfare agents abandoned at the end of WWII.

PubMed

Isono, O; Kituda, A; Fujii, M; Yoshinaka, T; Nakagawa, G; Suzuki, Y

2018-09-01

In August 2003, 44 victims were poisoned by chemical warfare agents (CWAs) leaked from five drums that were excavated at a construction site in Qiqihar, Northeast China. The drums were abandoned by the former Japanese imperial army during World War II and contained a mixture of Sulfur mustard (SM) and Lewisite. We carried out a total of six regular check-ups between 2006 and 2014, and from 2008 we added neurological evaluations including neuropsychological test and autonomic nervous function test in parallel with medical follow-up as much as was possible. Severe autonomic failure, such as hyperhidrosis, pollakiuria, diarrhoea, diminished libido, and asthenia appeared in almost all victims. Polyneuropathy occurred in 35% of the victims and constricted vision occurred in 20% of them. The rates of abnormal response on cold pressor test (CPT), active standing test (AST), Heart rate variability (CV R-R ), performed in 2014, were 63.1%, 31.6%, and 15.9%, respectively. On neuropsychological testing evaluated in 2010, a generalized cognitive decline was observed in 42% of the victims. Memories and visuospatial abilities were affected in the remaining victims. Finally, a 17-item PTSD questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory evaluated in 2014 revealed long-lasting severe PTSD symptoms and depression of the victims. Our findings suggest that an SM/Lewisite compound have significant adverse consequences directly in cognitive and emotional network and autonomic nervous systems in the brain. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

14 CFR Appendix E to Part 43 - Altimeter System Test and Inspection

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

.... (v) Case leak. The leakage of the altimeter case, when the pressure within it corresponds to an...) Automatic Pressure Altitude Reporting Equipment and ATC Transponder System Integration Test. The test must...

14 CFR Appendix E to Part 43 - Altimeter System Test and Inspection

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

.... (v) Case leak. The leakage of the altimeter case, when the pressure within it corresponds to an...) Automatic Pressure Altitude Reporting Equipment and ATC Transponder System Integration Test. The test must...

14 CFR Appendix E to Part 43 - Altimeter System Test and Inspection

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

.... (v) Case leak. The leakage of the altimeter case, when the pressure within it corresponds to an...) Automatic Pressure Altitude Reporting Equipment and ATC Transponder System Integration Test. The test must...

Using a refrigerant leak detector to monitor waste gases from halogenated anesthetics.

PubMed

Rasmussen, Henrik; Thorud, Syvert

2007-09-01

Although halogenated gas anesthetics are indispensable in laboratory animal medicine, they are hazardous when present in the working environment. A simple technique of real-time leak detection and environmental spot monitoring can provide valuable adjunct information to current techniques of time-weighted monitoring. We investigated the minimal limit of detection of halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane of a leak detector for halogenated gas refrigerants which provides a qualitative response only. We connected a container to an infrared gas analyzer to create a 135-l closed-circuit system and injected liquid halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane to create calculated gas concentrations of 0.7 to 3.4 parts per million (ppm). The infrared absorbance and response of the leak detector were recorded, and a total of 5 measurements were made per concentration. The actual gas concentrations were calculated by comparison with the agent-specific absorbance standard curve. The leak detector clearly and consistently responded to halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane from minimal concentrations of 2.1 +/- 0.2, 1.4 +/- 0.04, 0.8 +/- 0.04, and 1.2 +/- 0.4 ppm, respectively, as determined by infrared analysis. Although the detector does not provide numerical and time-weighted results, leak testing of equipment and repeated monitoring of the environment (spot monitoring) can provide valuable real-time information. In addition, with appropriate consideration of the methodological limitations, spot monitoring can be used to predict the likelihood of compliance with time-weighted exposure recommendations. A leak detector therefore represents a simple, effective, and inexpensive instrument for monitoring the leakage of halogenated anesthetic gases from equipment and into the working environment.

The effects of resonances on time delay estimation for water leak detection in plastic pipes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Almeida, Fabrício C. L.; Brennan, Michael J.; Joseph, Phillip F.; Gao, Yan; Paschoalini, Amarildo T.

2018-04-01

In the use of acoustic correlation methods for water leak detection, sensors are placed at pipe access points either side of a suspected leak, and the peak in the cross-correlation function of the measured signals gives the time difference (delay) between the arrival times of the leak noise at the sensors. Combining this information with the speed at which the leak noise propagates along the pipe, gives an estimate for the location of the leak with respect to one of the measurement positions. It is possible for the structural dynamics of the pipe system to corrupt the time delay estimate, which results in the leak being incorrectly located. In this paper, data from test-rigs in the United Kingdom and Canada are used to demonstrate this phenomenon, and analytical models of resonators are coupled with a pipe model to replicate the experimental results. The model is then used to investigate which of the two commonly used correlation algorithms, the Basic Cross-Correlation (BCC) function or the Phase Transform (PHAT), is more robust to the undesirable structural dynamics of the pipe system. It is found that time delay estimation is highly sensitive to the frequency bandwidth over which the analysis is conducted. Moreover, it is found that the PHAT is particularly sensitive to the presence of resonances and can give an incorrect time delay estimate, whereas the BCC function is found to be much more robust, giving a consistently accurate time delay estimate for a range of dynamic conditions.

Reduced CSF leak in complete calvarial reconstructions of microvascular decompression craniectomies using calcium phosphate cement.

PubMed

Eseonu, Chikezie I; Goodwin, C Rory; Zhou, Xin; Theodros, Debebe; Bender, Matthew T; Mathios, Dimitrios; Bettegowda, Chetan; Lim, Michael

2015-12-01

Calcium phosphate cement provides a biomaterial that can be used for calvarial reconstruction in a retrosigmoid craniectomy for microvascular decompression (MVD). This study evaluates the outcomes of postoperative CSF leak and wound infection for patients undergoing a complete cranioplasty using calcium phosphate cement versus incomplete cranioplasty using polyethylene titanium mesh following a retrosigmoid craniectomy for MVD. The authors evaluated 211 cases involving patients who underwent first-time retrosigmoid craniectomies performed by a single attending surgeon fortrigeminal neuralgia from October 2008 to June 2014. From this patient population, 111 patients underwent calvarial reconstruction after retrosigmoid craniectomy using polyethylene titanium mesh, and 100 patients had reconstructions using calcium phosphate cement. A Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare postoperative complications of CSF leak and wound infection in these 2 types of cranioplasties. The polyethylene titanium mesh group included 5 patients (4.5%) with postoperative CSF leak or pseudomeningocele and 3 patients (2.7%) with wound infections. In the calcium phosphate cement group, no patients had a CSF leak, and 2 patients (2%) had wound infections. This represented a statistically significant reduction of postoperative CSF leak in patients who underwent calcium phosphate reconstructions of their calvarial defect compared with those who underwent polyethylene titanium mesh reconstructions (p = 0.03). No significant difference was seen between the 2 groups in the number of patients with postoperative wound infections. Calcium phosphate cement provides a viable alternative biomaterial for calvarial reconstruction of retrosigmoid craniectomy defects in patients who have an MVD. The application of this material provides a biocompatible barrier that reduces the incidence of postoperative CSF leaks.

Leak Rate Test for a Fiber Beam Monitor Contained in a Vacuum for the Muon g-2 Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Mara, Bridget; Lane, Noel; Gross, Eisen; Gray, Frederick; Muon g-2 Collaboration

2014-09-01

The muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab aims to measure the muon anomalous magnetic moment with a precision of 0.14 parts per million (ppm). The measurement will build on the Brookhaven-based E821 experiment, which yielded results suggesting new physics such as supersymmetry. The Fiber Beam Monitors (FBMs) are used in the experiment to determine the position and observe the motion of a muon beam and monitor the properties of the beam over time. The FBMs support a 9 cm × 8 cm ``harp'' with 7 scintillating fibers separated from each other by 13 mm, each with a diameter of 0.5 mm. The experiment requires a vacuum of less than 1 ×10-6 Torr to prevent trapping of electrons ionized from the residual gas by the electrostatic quadrupoles. To meet this requirement the FBMs must have a leak rate of less than 5 ×10-5 Torr L/s. We have constructed a vacuum system to simulate these conditions and have determined the leak rate of the FBMs within the constructed vacuum apparatus. This leak rate will be reported, along with preliminary results from tests of the light output from the scintillating fibers. The muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab aims to measure the muon anomalous magnetic moment with a precision of 0.14 parts per million (ppm). The measurement will build on the Brookhaven-based E821 experiment, which yielded results suggesting new physics such as supersymmetry. The Fiber Beam Monitors (FBMs) are used in the experiment to determine the position and observe the motion of a muon beam and monitor the properties of the beam over time. The FBMs support a 9 cm × 8 cm ``harp'' with 7 scintillating fibers separated from each other by 13 mm, each with a diameter of 0.5 mm. The experiment requires a vacuum of less than 1 ×10-6 Torr to prevent trapping of electrons ionized from the residual gas by the electrostatic quadrupoles. To meet this requirement the FBMs must have a leak rate of less than 5 ×10-5 Torr L/s. We have constructed a vacuum system to simulate these conditions and have determined the leak rate of the FBMs within the constructed vacuum apparatus. This leak rate will be reported, along with preliminary results from tests of the light output from the scintillating fibers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. PHY-1206039.

KSC-99pp0234

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-02-24

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers watch as the 27.5-ton lid is lowered onto the top of an altitude chamber in the Operations and Checkout Building high bay. The chamber was recently reactivated, after a 24-year hiatus, to perform leak tests on International Space Station pressurized modules at the launch site. Originally, two chambers were built to test Apollo Program flight hardware. They were last used in 1975 during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. After installation of new vacuum pumping equipment and controls, a new control room, and a new rotation handling fixture, the chamber again became operational in February 1999. The chamber, which is 33 feet in diameter and 50 feet tall, is constructed of stainless steel. The first module that will be tested for leaks is the U.S. Laboratory. No date has been determined for the test

KSC-99pp0232

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-02-24

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- An overhead crane lifts the saucer-like 27.5-ton lid of an altitude chamber in the Operations and Checkout Building high bay. The chamber was recently reactivated, after a 24-year hiatus, to perform leak tests on International Space Station pressurized modules at the launch site. Originally, two chambers were built to test Apollo Program flight hardware. They were last used in 1975 during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. After installation of new vacuum pumping equipment and controls, a new control room, and a new rotation handling fixture, the chamber again became operational in February 1999. The chamber, which is 33 feet in diameter and 50 feet tall, is constructed of stainless steel. The first module that will be tested for leaks is the U.S. Laboratory. No date has been determined for the test

Slow crack growth test method for polyethylene gas pipes. Volume 1. Topical report, December 1992

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leis, B.; Ahmad, J.; Forte, T.

1992-12-01

In spite of the excellent performance record of polyethylene (PE) pipes used for gas distribution, a small number of leaks occur in distribution systems each year because of slow growth of cracks through pipe walls. The Slow Crack Growth Test (SCG) has been developed as a key element in a methodology for the assessment of the performance of polyethylene gas distribution systems to resist such leaks. This tropical report describes work conducted in the first part of the research directed at the initial development of the SCG test, including a critical evaluation of the applicability of the SCG test asmore » an element in PE gas pipe system performance methodology. Results of extensive experiments and analysis are reported. The results show that the SCG test should be very useful in performance assessment.« less

Does acetaminophen/hydrocodone affect cold pulpal testing in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis? A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

PubMed

Fowler, Sara; Fullmer, Spencer; Drum, Melissa; Reader, Al

2014-12-01

The purpose of this prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to determine the effects of a combination dose of 1000 mg acetaminophen/10 mg hydrocodone on cold pulpal testing in patients experiencing symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. One hundred emergency patients in moderate to severe pain diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis of a mandibular posterior tooth randomly received, in a double-blind manner, identical capsules of either a combination of 1000 mg acetaminophen/10 hydrocodone or placebo. Cold testing with Endo-Ice (1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane; Hygenic Corp, Akron, OH) was performed at baseline and every 10 minutes for 60 minutes. Pain to cold testing was recorded by the patient using a Heft-Parker visual analog scale. Patients' reaction to the cold application was also rated. Cold testing at baseline and at 10 minutes resulted in severe pain for both the acetaminophen/hydrocodone and placebo groups. Although pain ratings decreased from 20-60 minutes, the ratings still resulted in moderate pain. Patient reaction to cold testing showed that 56%-62% had a severe reaction. Although the reactions decreased in severity over the 60 minutes, 20%-34% still had severe reactions at 60 minutes. Regarding pain and patients' reactions to cold testing, there were no significant differences between the combination acetaminophen/hydrocodone and placebo groups at any time period. A combination dose of 1000 mg of acetaminophen/10 mg of hydrocodone did not statistically affect cold pulpal testing in patients presenting with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Patients experienced moderate to severe pain and reactions to cold testing. Copyright © 2014 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Determining predictability and accuracy of thermal and electrical dental pulp tests: An in vivo study.

PubMed

Salgar, Avinash Ramchandra; Singh, Shishir H; Podar, Rajesh S; Kulkarni, Gaurav P; Babel, Shashank N

2017-01-01

Pulp sensitivity testing, even with its limitations and shortcomings, has been and still remains a very helpful aid in endodontic diagnosis. Pulp sensitivity tests extrapolate pulpal health from the sensory response. The aim of the present study was to identify the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (NPVs) of thermal and electrical tests of pulp sensitivity. Pulp tests studied were two cold and heat tests respectively and electrical test. A total of 330 teeth were tested: 198 teeth with vital pulp and 132 teeth with necrotic pulps (disease prevalence of 40%). The ideal standard was established by observing bleeding within the pulp chamber. Sensitivity values of the diagnostic tests were 0.89 and 0.94 for cold test, 0.84 and 0.87 for the heat tests, and 0.75 for electrical pulp test and the specificity values of the diagnostic tests were 0.91 and 0.93 for the cold tests, 0.86 and 0.84 for the heat tests, and 0.90 for electrical pulp test. The NPVs were 0.91 and 0.96 for the cold tests, 0.89 and 0.91 for the heat tests, and 0.84 for electrical pulp test. The positive predictive values were 0.89 and 0.90 for the cold tests, 0.80 and 0.79 for the heat tests and 0.88 for electrical pulp test. The highest accuracy (0.9393) was observed with cold test (icy spray). The cold test done with icy spray was the most accurate method for sensitivity testing.

49 CFR 179.400-18 - Test of inner tank.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... hazard involved. After a hydrostatic test the container and piping must be emptied of all water and purged of all water vapor. (b) Caulking of welded joints to stop leaks developed during the test is...

Examination of T-111 clad uranium nitride fuel pins irradiated up to 13,000 hours at a clad temperature of 990 C

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Slaby, J. G.; Siegel, B. L.

1973-01-01

The examination of 27 fuel pins irradiated for up to 13,000 hours at 990 C is described. The fuel pin clad was a tantalum alloy with uranium nitride as the nuclear fuel. Two nominal fuel pin diameters were tested with a maximum burnup of 2.34 atom percent. Twenty-two fuel pins were tested for fission gas leaks; thirteen pins leaked. Clad ductility tests indicated clad embrittlement. The embrittlement is attributed to hydrogen from an n,p reaction in the fuel. Fuel swelling was burnup dependent, and the amount of fission gas release was low, generally less than 0.5 percent. No incompatibilities between fuel, liner, and clad were in evidence.

Composite Pulse Tube

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, Jerry L.; Cloyd, Jason H.

2007-01-01

A modification of the design of the pulse tube in a pulse-tube cryocooler reduces axial thermal conductance while preserving radial thermal conductance. It is desirable to minimize axial thermal conductance in the pulse-tube wall to minimize leakage of heat between the warm and cold ends of the pulse tube. At the same time, it is desirable to maximize radial thermal conductance at the cold end of the pulse tube to ensure adequate thermal contact between (1) a heat exchanger in the form of a stack of copper screens inside the pulse tube at the cold end and (2) the remainder of the cold tip, which is the object to which the heat load is applied and from which heat must be removed. The modified design yields a low-heat-leak pulse tube that can be easily integrated with a cold tip. A typical pulse tube of prior design is either a thin-walled metal tube or a metal tube with a nonmetallic lining. It is desirable that the outer surface of a pulse tube be cylindrical (in contradistinction to tapered) to simplify the design of a regenerator that is also part of the cryocooler. Under some conditions, it is desirable to taper the inner surface of the pulse tube to reduce acoustic streaming. The combination of a cylindrical outer surface and a tapered inner surface can lead to unacceptably large axial conduction if the pulse tube is made entirely of metal. Making the pulse-tube wall of a nonmetallic, lowthermal- conductivity material would not solve the problem because the wall would not afford the needed thermal contact for the stack of screens in the cold end. The modified design calls for fabricating the pulse tube in two parts: a longer, nonmetallic part that is tapered on the inside and cylindrical on the outside and a shorter, metallic part that is cylindrical on both the inside and the outside. The nonmetallic part can be made from G-10 fiberglass-reinforced epoxy or other low-thermal-conductivity, cryogenically compatible material. The metallic part must have high thermal conductivity in the cryogenic temperature range and would typically be made of pure copper to satisfy this requirement. The metallic part is bonded to the nonmetallic part with epoxy. Copper screens are inserted in the metallic part to form the cold-end heat exchanger, then the assembled pulse tube is inserted in the cold tip.

The Combined Effect of Cold and Moisture on Manual Performance.

PubMed

Ray, Matthew; Sanli, Elizabeth; Brown, Robert; Ennis, Kerri Ann; Carnahan, Heather

2018-02-01

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of cold and moisture on manual performance and tactile sensitivity. Background People working in the ocean environment often perform manual work in cold and wet conditions. Although the independent effects of cold and moisture on hand function are known, their combined effect has not been investigated. Method Participants completed sensory (Touch-Test, two-point discrimination) and motor (Purdue Pegboard, Grooved Pegboard, reef knot untying) tests in the following conditions: dry hand, wet hand, cold hand, and cold and wet hand. Results For the Purdue Pegboard and knot untying tasks, the greatest decrement in performance was observed in the cold-and-wet-hand condition, whereas the decrements seen in the cold-hand and wet-hand conditions were similar. In the Grooved Pegboard task, the performance decrements exhibited in the cold-and-wet-hand condition and the cold-hand condition were similar, whereas no decrement was observed in the wet-hand condition. Tactile sensitivity was reduced in the cold conditions for the Touch-Test but not the two-point discrimination test. The combined effect of cold and moisture led to the largest performance decrements except when intrinsic object properties helped with grasp maintenance. The independent effects of cold and moisture on manual performance were comparable. Application Tools and equipment for use in the cold ocean environment should be designed to minimize the effects of cold and moisture on manual performance by including object properties that enhance grasp maintenance and minimize the fine-dexterity requirements.

Cold Regions - Environmental Testing of Individual Soldier Clothing

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-10-17

Individual Soldier Clothing 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHORS 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK...This Test Operations Procedure (TOP) provides testing guidelines for individual Soldier cold weather clothing and footwear in a cold regions...Soldier clothing , along with its safety, reliability, durability, and performance when exposed to a cold regions environment. 15. SUBJECT TERMS

Full-Scale System for Quantifying Loads and Leak Rates of Seals for Space Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunlap, Patrick H., Jr.; Steinetz, Bruce M.; Daniels, Christopher C.; Wasowski, Janice L.; Robbie, Malcolm G.; Erker, Arthur H.; Drlik, Gary J.; Mayer, John J.

2010-01-01

NASA is developing advanced space-rated vacuum seals in support of future space exploration missions to low-Earth orbit and other destinations. These seals may be 50 to 60 in. (127 to 152 cm) in diameter and must exhibit extremely low leak rates to ensure that astronauts have sufficient breathable air for extended missions to the International Space Station or the Moon. Seal compression loads must be below prescribed limits so as not to overload the mechanisms that compress them during docking or mating, and seal adhesion forces must be low to allow two mated systems to separate when required. NASA Glenn Research Center has developed a new test apparatus to measure leak rates and compression and adhesion loads of candidate full-scale seals under simulated thermal, vacuum, and engagement conditions. Tests can be performed in seal-on-seal or seal-on-flange configurations at temperatures from -76 to 140 F (-60 to 60 C) under operational pressure gradients. Nominal and off-nominal mating conditions (e.g., incomplete seal compression) can also be simulated. This paper describes the main design features of the test apparatus as well as techniques used to overcome some of the design challenges.

Visual Inspection of Water Leakage from Ground Penetrating Radar Radargram

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halimshah, N. N.; Yusup, A.; Mat Amin, Z.; Ghazalli, M. D.

2015-10-01

Water loss in town and suburban is currently a significant issue which reflect the performance of water supply management in Malaysia. Consequently, water supply distribution system has to be maintained in order to prevent shortage of water supply in an area. Various techniques for detecting a mains water leaks are available but mostly are time-consuming, disruptive and expensive. In this paper, the potential of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) as a non-destructive method to correctly and efficiently detect mains water leaks has been examined. Several experiments were designed and conducted to prove that GPR can be used as tool for water leakage detection. These include instrument validation test and soil compaction test to clarify the maximum dry density (MDD) of soil and simulation studies on water leakage at a test bed consisting of PVC pipe burying in sand to a depth of 40 cm. Data from GPR detection are processed using the Reflex 2D software. Identification of water leakage was visually inspected from the anomalies in the radargram based on GPR reflection coefficients. The results have ascertained the capability and effectiveness of the GPR in detecting water leakage which could help avoiding difficulties with other leak detection methods.

Airborne Detection and Dynamic Modeling of Carbon Dioxide and Methane Plumes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jacob, Jamey; Mitchell, Taylor; Whyte, Seabrook

2015-11-01

To facilitate safe storage of greenhouse gases such as CO2 and CH4, airborne monitoring is investigated. Conventional soil gas monitoring has difficulty in distinguishing gas flux signals from leakage with those associated with meteorologically driven changes. A low-cost, lightweight sensor system has been developed and implemented onboard a small unmanned aircraft that measures gas concentration and is combined with other atmospheric diagnostics, including thermodynamic data and velocity from hot-wire and multi-hole probes. To characterize the system behavior and verify its effectiveness, field tests have been conducted over controlled rangeland burns and over simulated leaks. In the former case, since fire produces carbon dioxide over a large area, this was an opportunity to test in an environment that while only vaguely similar to a carbon sequestration leak source, also exhibits interesting plume behavior. In the simulated field tests, compressed gas tanks are used to mimic leaks and generate gaseous plumes. Since the sensor response time is a function of vehicle airspeed, dynamic calibration models are required to determine accurate location of gas concentration in (x , y , z , t) . Results are compared with simulations using combined flight and atmospheric dynamic models. Supported by Department of Energy Award DE-FE0012173.

Statistical Analysis of CO 2 Exposed Wells to Predict Long Term Leakage through the Development of an Integrated Neural-Genetic Algorithm

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guo, Boyun; Duguid, Andrew; Nygaard, Ronar

The objective of this project is to develop a computerized statistical model with the Integrated Neural-Genetic Algorithm (INGA) for predicting the probability of long-term leak of wells in CO 2 sequestration operations. This object has been accomplished by conducting research in three phases: 1) data mining of CO 2-explosed wells, 2) INGA computer model development, and 3) evaluation of the predictive performance of the computer model with data from field tests. Data mining was conducted for 510 wells in two CO 2 sequestration projects in the Texas Gulf Coast region. They are the Hasting West field and Oyster Bayou fieldmore » in the Southern Texas. Missing wellbore integrity data were estimated using an analytical and Finite Element Method (FEM) model. The INGA was first tested for performances of convergence and computing efficiency with the obtained data set of high dimension. It was concluded that the INGA can handle the gathered data set with good accuracy and reasonable computing time after a reduction of dimension with a grouping mechanism. A computerized statistical model with the INGA was then developed based on data pre-processing and grouping. Comprehensive training and testing of the model were carried out to ensure that the model is accurate and efficient enough for predicting the probability of long-term leak of wells in CO 2 sequestration operations. The Cranfield in the southern Mississippi was select as the test site. Observation wells CFU31F2 and CFU31F3 were used for pressure-testing, formation-logging, and cement-sampling. Tools run in the wells include Isolation Scanner, Slim Cement Mapping Tool (SCMT), Cased Hole Formation Dynamics Tester (CHDT), and Mechanical Sidewall Coring Tool (MSCT). Analyses of the obtained data indicate no leak of CO 2 cross the cap zone while it is evident that the well cement sheath was invaded by the CO 2 from the storage zone. This observation is consistent with the result predicted by the INGA model which indicates the well has a CO 2 leak-safe probability of 72%. This comparison implies that the developed INGA model is valid for future use in predicting well leak probability.« less

High-temperature zirconia microthruster with an integrated flow sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lekholm, Ville; Persson, Anders; Palmer, Kristoffer; Ericson, Fredric; Thornell, Greger

2013-05-01

This paper describes the design, fabrication and characterization of a ceramic, heated cold-gas microthruster device made with silicon tools and high temperature co-fired ceramic processing. The device contains two opposing thrusters, each with an integrated calorimetric propellant flow sensor and a heater in the stagnation chamber of the nozzle. The exhaust from a thruster was photographed using schlieren imaging to study its behavior and search for leaks. The heater elements were tested under a cyclic thermal load and to the maximum power before failure. The nozzle heater was shown to improve the efficiency of the thruster by 6.9%, from a specific impulse of 66 to 71 s, as calculated from a decrease of the flow rate through the nozzle of 13%, from 44.9 to 39.2 sccm. The sensitivity of the integrated flow sensor was measured to 0.15 mΩ sccm-1 in the region of 0-15 sccm and to 0.04 mΩ sccm-1 above 20 sccm, with a zero-flow sensitivity of 0.27 mΩ sccm-1. The choice of yttria-stabilized zirconia as a material for the devices makes them robust and capable of surviving temperatures locally exceeding 1000 °C.

Experimental evaluation of a new system for laser tissue welding applied on damaged lungs.

PubMed

Schiavon, Marco; Marulli, Giuseppe; Zuin, Andrea; Lunardi, Francesca; Villoresi, Paolo; Bonora, Stefano; Calabrese, Fiorella; Rea, Federico

2013-05-01

Alveolar air leaks represent a challenging problem in thoracic surgery, leading to increased patient morbidity and prolonged hospitalization. Several methods have been used, but no ideal technique exists yet. We investigated the lung-sealing capacity of an experimental kit for laser tissue welding. The kit is composed of a semiconductor laser system applied on a protein substrate associated with a chromophore that increases absorption. In vitro tests on porcine lung tissue were done to define ideal laser parameters (power 100 Å, frequency 50 Hz, pulse duration 400 µs) and protein substrate dilution (50%). For in vivo tests, through a left thoracotomy, 14 pigs received two different lung damages: a linear incision and a circular incision. Protein substrate applied on damaged areas was treated with laser to obtain a layer that reconstituted the integrity of the visceral pleura. Air leaks were intraoperatively evaluated by water submersion test with an airway pressure of 20 cmH2O. Animals were sacrificed at postoperative days 0 and 7 to study early and late pathological features. After applying laser treatment, no air leaks were seen in all proofs except in 2 cases in which a second application was required. At time 0, pathological damage mostly consisted of superficial alveolar necrotic tissue covered by protein membrane. At time 7, a complete recovery of lung lesions by fibrous scar with slight inflammatory reaction of adjacent lung tissue was seen. This experimental study demonstrated the effectiveness of laser tissue welding applied to seal air leaks after lung surgery. Further studies are needed to verify acceptability for human application.

Inhaled nitric oxide pretreatment but not posttreatment attenuates ischemia-reperfusion-induced pulmonary microvascular leak.

PubMed

Chetham, P M; Sefton, W D; Bridges, J P; Stevens, T; McMurtry, I F

1997-04-01

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) pulmonary edema probably reflects a leukocyte-dependent, oxidant-mediated mechanism. Nitric oxide (NO) attenuates leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions and I/R-induced microvascular leak. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) agonists reverse and prevent I/R-induced microvascular leak, but reversal by inhaled NO (INO) has not been tested. In addition, the role of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activation in the NO protection effect is unknown. Rat lungs perfused with salt solution were grouped as either I/R, I/R with INO (10 or 50 ppm) on reperfusion, or time control. Capillary filtration coefficients (Kfc) were estimated 25 min before ischemia (baseline) and after 30 and 75 min of reperfusion. Perfusate cell counts and lung homogenate myeloperoxidase activity were determined in selected groups. Additional groups were treated with either INO (50 ppm) or isoproterenol (ISO-10 microM) after 30 min of reperfusion. Guanylyl cyclase was inhibited with 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ-15 microM), and Kfc was estimated at baseline and after 30 min of reperfusion. (1) Inhaled NO attenuated I/R-induced increases in Kfc. (2) Cell counts were similar at baseline. After 75 min of reperfusion, lung neutrophil retention (myeloperoxidase activity) and decreased perfusate neutrophil counts were similar in all groups. (3) In contrast to ISO, INO did not reverse microvascular leak. (4) 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-br-cGMP) prevented I/R-induced microvascular leak in ODQ-treated lungs, but INO was no longer effective. Inhaled NO attenuates I/R-induced pulmonary microvascular leak, which requires sGC activation and may involve a mechanism independent of inhibition of leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions. In addition, INO is ineffective in reversing I/R-induced microvascular leak.

Effect of transcatheter closure of baffle leaks following senning or mustard atrial redirection surgery on oxygen saturations and polycythaemia.

PubMed

Bentham, James; English, Kate; Hares, Dominic; Gibbs, John; Thomson, John

2012-10-01

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical importance and methods of transcatheter closure of systemic venous baffle leaks after atrial redirection procedures for transposed great vessels. Until the late 1970s, atrial redirection surgery was the principal surgical palliative approach to manage transposed great vessels. Baffle leaks are among the many long-term complications of this type of surgery, and their prevalence increases over time. The clinical consequences of baffle leaks in this population are poorly understood, and the indications for closure are incompletely defined. During outpatient follow-up of 126 patients after atrial redirection surgery, 15 baffle leaks were detected in 11 patients. All underwent transcatheter closure using either an occluding device or a covered stent if there was concomitant baffle obstruction. The average age at the time of the procedure was 26 years (range 6 to 42). Ten of 11 patients were cyanosed at rest or on a simple walk test (median oxygen saturation level 80%, range 65% to 96%). Six of 11 patients were polycythemic before leak closure (median hemoglobin concentration 19 g/dl, range 13.8 to 23). After closure, there was a significant improvement in saturation (median 97%, p <0.0001) and a significant reduction in hemoglobin concentration at 6 months after the procedure (median 14.8 g/dl, p <0.05). There were no procedural adverse events. One patient experienced late device embolization necessitating surgical removal. In conclusion, transcatheter closure of baffle leaks is a technically feasible although frequently complex and lengthy procedure. Closure is associated with an improvement in oxygen saturations and a reduction in polycythaemia. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Perioperative lumbar drain utilization in transsphenoidal pituitary resection.

PubMed

Alharbi, Shatha; Harsh, Griffith; Ajlan, Abdulrazag

2018-01-01

To evaluate lumbar drain (LD) efficacy in transnasal resection of pituitary macroadenomas in preventing postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, technique safety, and effect on length of hospital stay. We conducted a retrospective data review of pituitary tumor patients in our institution who underwent surgery between December 2006 and January 2013. All patients were operated on for complete surgical resection of pituitary macroadenoma tumors. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 received a preoperative drain, while LD was not preoperatively inserted in group 2. In cases of tumors with suprasellar extension with anticipation of high-flow leak, LD was inserted after the patient was intubated and in a lateral position. Lumbar drain was used for 48 hours, and the drain was removed if no leak was observed postoperatively. In documented postoperative CSF leak patients with no preoperative drain, the leak was treated by LD trial prior to surgical reconstruction. Cases in which leak occurred 6 months postoperatively were excluded. Our study population consisted of 186 patients, 99 women (53%) and 87 men (47%), with a mean age of 50.3+/-16.1 years. Complications occurred in 7 patients (13.7%) in group 1 versus 21 (15.5%) in group 2 (p=0.72). Postoperative CSF leak was observed in 1 patient (1.9%) in group 1 and 7 (5%) in group 2 (Fisher exact test=0.3). Length of hospital stay was a mean of 4.7+/-1.9 days in group 1 and a mean of 2.7+/-2.4 days in group 2 (p<001). The most common reason to extend hospital stay was management of diabetes insipidus. Although LD insertion is generally considered safe with a low risk of complications, it increases the length of hospitalization. Minor complications include headaches and patient discomfort.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty and bone cement leakage: clinical experience with a new high-viscosity bone cement and delivery system for vertebral augmentation in benign and malignant compression fractures.

PubMed

Anselmetti, Giovanni Carlo; Zoarski, Gregg; Manca, Antonio; Masala, Salvatore; Eminefendic, Haris; Russo, Filippo; Regge, Daniele

2008-01-01

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of and venous leakage reduction in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) using a new high-viscosity bone cement (PMMA). PV has been used effectively for pain relief in osteoporotic and malignant vertebral fractures. Cement extrusion is a common problem and can lead to complications. Sixty patients (52 female; mean age, 72.2 +/- 7.2) suffering from osteoporosis (46), malignancy (12), and angiomas (2), divided into two groups (A and B), underwent PV on 190 vertebrae (86 dorsal, 104 lumbar). In Group A, PV with high-viscosity PMMA (Confidence, Disc-O-Tech, Israel) was used. This PMMA was injected by a proprietary delivery system, a hydraulic saline-filled screw injector. In Group B, a standard low-viscosity PMMA was used. Postprocedural CT was carried out to detect PMMA leakages and complications. Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon rank test were used to assess significant differences (p < 0.05) in leakages and to evaluate the clinical outcome. PV was feasible, achieving good clinical outcome (p < 0.0001) without major complications. In Group A, postprocedural CT showed an asymptomatic leak in the venous structures of 8 of 98 (8.2%) treated vertebrae; a discoidal leak occurred in 6 of 98 (6.1%). In Group B, a venous leak was seen in 38 of 92 (41.3%) and a discoidal leak in 12 of 92 (13.0%). Reduction of venous leak obtained by high-viscosity PMMA was highly significant (p < 0.0001), whereas this result was not significant (p = 0.14) related to the disc. The high-viscosity PMMA system is safe and effective for clinical use, allowing a significant reduction of extravasation rate and, thus, leakage-related complications.

First experiences of pediatric kidney transplantation in Sri Lanka.

PubMed

Abeysekera, C K; Gunasekara, W D V N; Abegunawardena, A; Buthpitiya, A G; Lamawansa, M D; Fernando, O; Goonasekera, C D A

2007-06-01

KT is the most effective therapeutic option for ESRF. We present our first experiences in a developing country. All children who underwent kidney transplantation since the inception of this program in July 2004 until 30 September 2005 were studied. Their demographic data, operative and peri-operative details, graft and host survival, and drug compliance are described here. Data were collected from patient records and nursing observation records. Eleven children were transplanted during this period (median recipient age 10.75 yr, range: 8-16). The median age of the donors was 41 yr (range: 38-45) and was the mother in eight, father in two and uncle in one. The median (range) follow-up period following transplantation was 12.5 months (7-12). The vascular anastomotic site was aorta and inferior vena cava in nine patients and the cold ischemia time was mean (s.d.) 1.9 h (0.96). All patients received steroids, cyclosporine and MMF for immunosuppression. Hypotension, heart failure and septicemia were common medical complications. Four were treated for acute rejection. Vascular anastomotic leak, burst abdomen, intestinal obstruction, intra-abdominal leak of supra pubic catheter and vesico-ureteric junction obstruction were surgical complications. There were no graft losses or deaths. Despite limited resources good outcomes are possible following renal transplantation in children in developing countries.

KSC-99pp0233

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-02-24

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Looking as if poised in flight, the saucer-like lid of an altitude chamber is lifted from the floor in the Operations and Checkout Building high bay to its place on top of the chamber. The chamber was recently reactivated, after a 24-year hiatus, to perform leak tests on International Space Station pressurized modules at the launch site. Originally, two chambers were built to test Apollo Program flight hardware. They were last used in 1975 during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. After installation of new vacuum pumping equipment and controls, a new control room, and a new rotation handling fixture, the chamber again became operational in February 1999. The chamber, which is 33 feet in diameter and 50 feet tall, is constructed of stainless steel. The first module that will be tested for leaks is the U.S. Laboratory. No date has been determined for the test

A-1 Test Stand modifications

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-09-14

Team members check the progress of a liquid nitrogen cold shock test on the A-1 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center on Sept. 15. The cold shock test is used to confirm the test stand's support system can withstand test conditions, when super-cold rocket engine propellant is piped. The A-1 Test Stand is preparing to conduct tests on the powerpack component of the J-2X rocket engine, beginning in early 2012.

β-Adrenergic induced SR Ca2+ leak is mediated by an Epac-NOS pathway.

PubMed

Pereira, Laëtitia; Bare, Dan J; Galice, Samuel; Shannon, Thomas R; Bers, Donald M

2017-07-01

Cardiac β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) and Ca 2+ -Calmodulin dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) regulate both physiological and pathophysiological Ca 2+ signaling. Elevated diastolic Ca 2+ leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) contributes to contractile dysfunction in heart failure and to arrhythmogenesis. β-AR activation is known to increase SR Ca 2+ leak via CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation of the ryanodine receptor. Two independent and reportedly parallel pathways have been implicated in this β-AR-CaMKII cascade, one involving exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac2) and another involving nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1). Here we tested whether Epac and NOS function in a single series pathway to increase β-AR induced and CaMKII-dependent SR Ca 2+ leak. Leak was measured as both Ca 2+ spark frequency and tetracaine-induced shifts in SR Ca 2+ , in mouse and rabbit ventricular myocytes. Direct Epac activation by 8-CPT (8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-2'-O-methyl-cAMP) mimicked β-AR-induced SR Ca 2+ leak, and both were blocked by NOS inhibition. The same was true for myocyte CaMKII activation (assessed via a FRET-based reporter) and ryanodine receptor phosphorylation. Inhibitor and phosphorylation studies also implicated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt) downstream of Epac and above NOS activation in this pathway. We conclude that these two independently characterized parallel pathways function mainly via a single series arrangement (β-AR-cAMP-Epac-PI3K-Akt-NOS1-CaMKII) to mediate increased SR Ca 2+ leak. Thus, for β-AR activation the cAMP-PKA branch effects inotropy and lusitropy (by effects on Ca 2+ current and SR Ca 2+ -ATPase), this cAMP-Epac-NOS pathway increases pathological diastolic SR Ca 2+ leak. This pathway distinction may allow novel SR Ca 2+ leak therapeutic targeting in treatment of arrhythmias in heart failure that spare the inotropic and lusitropic effects of the PKA branch. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High frequency noise measurements during CNEN/NIRA steam generator testing at Les Renardieres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clapis, A.; Scandolo, D.; Regis, V.; Rappini, R.

The most significant results of the acoustic measurements carried out on the PGV-1 sodium-steam generator during the test of the 50 MW prototype on the CGVS loop facility are described. The prototype test was done in the isothermal condition, i.e., without steam production and in the power condition. During the first phase tests were made with low pressure hydrogen injection in sodium. The main purpose of the acoustic measurements, limited to the 100 to 1000 kHz frequency range, was to evaluate the noise characteristics (level and power spectrum) in all working states of the plant. A small leak of gas found in the isothermal condition enabled the sensitivity of the acoustic leak detection technique to be evaluated qualitatively. The results in form of spectral analysis charts are included.

Scrape on Endeavour's robotic arm during oxygen leak repairs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- One of a team of robotic experts prepares the site scraped on the robotic arm for removal. The scrape occurred while work platforms were being installed to gain access to repair the oxygen leak in the Shuttle's mid-body. The site will be cut out and ultrasound testing will be done on the structure underneath. Launch of Endeavour on mission STS-113 has been postponed until no earlier than Nov. 22.

A Fully Redundant On-Line Mass Spectrometer System Used to Monitor Cryogenic Fuel Leaks on the Space Shuttle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Griffin, T. P.; Naylor, G. R.; Haskell, W. D.; Breznik, G. S.; Mizell, C. A.; Steinrock, Todd (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

This paper presents an on-line mass spectrometer designed to monitor for cryogenic leaks on the Space Shuttle. The topics include: 1) Hazardous Gas Detection Lab; 2) LASRE Test Support; 3) Background; 4) Location of Systems; 5) Sample Lines for Gas Detection; 6) Problems with Current Systems; 7) Requirements for New System (Nitrogen and Helium Background); and 8) HGDS 2000. This paper is in viewgraph form.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuz'micheva, T.N.; Mazurenok, A.M.; Eliseev, V.P.

The problem of using the chemical method for checking the airtightness of ventilation systems and containment structures with the use of indicator materials on a base of Congo red and an air-ammonia mixture as the test medium was examined. The methods and results of experimental investigations of leaks characteristic for containment structures and ventilation systems are given. Suggestions are given on a determination of the parameters of local leaks and on the practical use of the given method for evaluating the quality of sealing.

VOLUMETRIC TANK TESTING: AN OVERVIEW

EPA Science Inventory

This report summarizes the technical findings of an EPA study on volumetric tank testing. The results of this study, which evaluated the viability of volumetric tank tests as a means of detecting leaks in underground storage tanks, are described. Also, the accuracy requirements s...

Predictors of Anastomotic Leak in Elderly Patients After Colectomy: Nomogram-Based Assessment From the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Program Procedure-Targeted Cohort.

PubMed

Rencuzogullari, Ahmet; Benlice, Cigdem; Valente, Michael; Abbas, Maher A; Remzi, Feza H; Gorgun, Emre

2017-05-01

Elderly patients undergoing colorectal surgery have increasingly become under scrutiny by accounting for the largest fraction of geriatric postoperative deaths and a significant proportion of all postoperative complications, including anastomotic leak. This study aimed to determine predictors of anastomotic leak in elderly patients undergoing colectomy by creating a novel nomogram for simplistic prediction of anastomotic leak risk in a given patient. This study was a retrospective review. The database review of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was conducted at a single institution. Patients aged ≥65 years who underwent elective segmental colectomy with an anastomosis at different levels (abdominal or low pelvic) in 2012-2013 were identified from the multi-institutional procedure-targeted database. We constructed a stepwise multiple logistic regression model for anastomotic leak as an outcome; predictors were selected in a stepwise fashion using the Akaike information criterion. The validity of the nomogram was externally tested on elderly patients (≥65 years of age) from the 2014 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program colectomy-targeted database. A total of 10,392 patients were analyzed, and anastomotic leak occurred in 332 (3.2%). Of the patients who developed anastomotic leak, 192 (57.8%) were men (p < 0.001). Based on unadjusted analysis, factors associated with an increased risk of anastomotic leak were ASA score III and IV (p < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.004), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.003), smoking history (p = 0.014), weight loss (p = 0.013), previously infected wound (p = 0.005), omitting mechanical bowel preparation (p = 0.005) and/or preoperative oral antibiotic use (p < 0.001), and wounds classified as contaminated or dirty/infected (p = 0.008). Patients who developed anastomotic leak had a longer length of hospital stay (17 vs 7 d; p < 0.001) and operative time (191 vs 162 min; p < 0.001). A multivariate model and nomogram were created. This study was limited by its retrospective nature and short-term follow-up (30 d). An accurate prediction of anastomotic leak affecting morbidity and mortality after colorectal surgery using the proposed nomogram may facilitate decision making in elderly patients for healthcare providers.

Impact of climate change on cold hardiness of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii): environmental and genetic considerations.

PubMed

Bansal, Sheel; St Clair, J Bradley; Harrington, Constance A; Gould, Peter J

2015-10-01

The success of conifers over much of the world's terrestrial surface is largely attributable to their tolerance to cold stress (i.e., cold hardiness). Due to an increase in climate variability, climate change may reduce conifer cold hardiness, which in turn could impact ecosystem functioning and productivity in conifer-dominated forests. The expression of cold hardiness is a product of environmental cues (E), genetic differentiation (G), and their interaction (G × E), although few studies have considered all components together. To better understand and manage for the impacts of climate change on conifer cold hardiness, we conducted a common garden experiment replicated in three test environments (cool, moderate, and warm) using 35 populations of coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii) to test the hypotheses: (i) cool-temperature cues in fall are necessary to trigger cold hardening, (ii) there is large genetic variation among populations in cold hardiness that can be predicted from seed-source climate variables, (iii) observed differences among populations in cold hardiness in situ are dependent on effective environmental cues, and (iv) movement of seed sources from warmer to cooler climates will increase risk to cold injury. During fall 2012, we visually assessed cold damage of bud, needle, and stem tissues following artificial freeze tests. Cool-temperature cues (e.g., degree hours below 2 °C) at the test sites were associated with cold hardening, which were minimal at the moderate test site owing to mild fall temperatures. Populations differed 3-fold in cold hardiness, with winter minimum temperatures and fall frost dates as strong seed-source climate predictors of cold hardiness, and with summer temperatures and aridity as secondary predictors. Seed-source movement resulted in only modest increases in cold damage. Our findings indicate that increased fall temperatures delay cold hardening, warmer/drier summers confer a degree of cold hardiness, and seed-source movement from warmer to cooler climates may be a viable option for adapting coniferous forest to future climate. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

12. COLD CALIBRATION BLOCKHOUSE BASEMENT VIEW FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

12. COLD CALIBRATION BLOCKHOUSE BASEMENT VIEW FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, CABLE TRAYS, RACKS, CABLE CONNECTION TERMINALS. - Marshall Space Flight Center, East Test Area, Cold Calibration Test Stand, Huntsville, Madison County, AL

Exhaust-System Leak Test : Quantitative Procedure

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1974-01-01

A quantitative, periodic motor vehicle safety-inspection test for determining the leakage rate of engine exhaust from an automotive exhaust system was investigated. Two technical approaches were evaluated, and the better one was selected for developm...

Hanford Double-Shell Tank AY-102 Radioactive Waste Leak Investigation Update - 15302

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Washenfelder, D. J.; Johnson, J. M.

2014-12-22

Tank AY-102 was the first of 28 double-shell radioactive waste storage tanks constructed at the U. S. Department of Energy’s Hanford Site, near Richland, WA. The tank was completed in 1970, and entered service in 1971. In August, 2012, an accumulation of material was discovered at two sites on the floor of the annulus that separates the primary tank from the secondary liner. The material was sampled and determined to originate from the primary tank. This paper summarizes the changes in leak behavior that have occurred during the past two years, inspections to determine the capability of the secondary linermore » to continue safely containing the leakage, and the initial results of testing to determine the leak mechanism.« less

Impact damage resistance of carbon/epoxy composite tubes for the DC-XA liquid hydrogen feedline

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nettles, A. T.

1995-01-01

Low-velocity impacts were inflicted upon two elbow sections of carbon/epoxy feedline that are to be a part of the Delta Clipper-XA flight vehicle. A soap-based liquid leak detector solution was used to inspect the impact sites for leaks of pressurized gas that was pumped into the tube. Visual surface damage was noted and recorded for each impact site. After impact testing of each of the two sections of tubes was completed, the damage zones were disected from the tube and cross sectioned through the impact site. These specimens were polished after potting them in epoxy and were examined for microcracking using a fluorescent dye penetrant technique. The results showed that nonvisible damage could cause microcracking, thereby resulting in leaks through the tube wall.

Test program, helium II orbital resupply coupling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hyatt, William S.

1991-01-01

The full scope of this program was to have included development tests, design and production of custom test equipment and acceptance and qualification testing of prototype and protoflight coupling hardware. This program was performed by Ball Aerospace Systems Division, Boulder, Colorado until its premature termination in May 1991. Development tests were performed on cryogenic face seals and flow control devices at superfluid helium (He II) conditions. Special equipment was developed to allow quantified leak detection at large leak rates up to 8.4 x 10(exp -4) SCCS. Two major fixtures were developed and characterized: The Cryogenic Test Fixture (CTF) and the Thermal Mismatch Fixture (Glovebox). The CTF allows the coupling hardware to be filled with liquid nitrogen (LN2), liquid helium (LHe) or sub-cooled liquid helium when hardware flow control valves are either open or closed. Heat leak measurements, internal and external helium leakage measurements, cryogenic proof pressure tests and external load applications are performed in this fixture. Special reusable MLI closures were developed to provide repeatable installations in the CTF. The Thermal Mismatch Fixture allows all design configurations of coupling hardware to be engaged and disengaged while measuring applied forces and torques. Any two hardware components may be individually thermally preconditioned within the range of 117 deg K to 350 deg K prior to engage/disengage cycling. This verifies dimensional compatibility and operation when thermally mismatched. A clean, dry GN2 atmosphere is maintained in the fixture at all times. The first shipset of hardware was received, inspected and cycled at room temperature just prior to program termination.

40 CFR 86.1432 - Vehicle preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... cold temperature compliance pathway, the temperature of the fuel prior to its delivery to the fuel tank... is the Cold CO Test Procedure, performed in accordance with subpart C of this part. (ii) Testing by...). (C) Cold CO Test Procedure, in accordance with subpart C of this part. (c) Soak—(1) Manufacturer's...

40 CFR 86.1432 - Vehicle preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... cold temperature compliance pathway, the temperature of the fuel prior to its delivery to the fuel tank... is the Cold CO Test Procedure, performed in accordance with subpart C of this part. (ii) Testing by...). (C) Cold CO Test Procedure, in accordance with subpart C of this part. (c) Soak—(1) Manufacturer's...

Scrape on Endeavour's robotic arm during oxygen leak repairs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- One of a team of robotic experts looks at the site of the scrape on the surface of the honeycomb shell on the robotic arm that occurred while work platforms were being installed to gain access to repair the oxygen leak in the Shuttle's mid-body. The site will be cut out and ultrasound testing will be done on the structure underneath. Launch of Endeavour on mission STS-113 has been postponed until no earlier than Nov. 22.

Scrape on Endeavour's robotic arm during oxygen leak repairs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers in Endeavour's payload bay look at the site of the scrape on the surface of the honeycomb shell on the robotic arm that occurred while work platforms were being installed to gain access to repair the oxygen leak in the Shuttle's mid-body. The site will be cut out and ultrasound testing will be done on the structure underneath. Launch of Endeavour on mission STS-113 has been postponed until no earlier than Nov. 22.

Scrape on Endeavour's robotic arm during oxygen leak repairs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The site being identified in the photo is the scrape on the surface of the honeycomb shell on Endeavour's robotic arm. The scrape occurred while work platforms were being installed to gain access to repair the oxygen leak in the Shuttle's mid-body. The site will be cut out and ultrasound testing will be done on the structure underneath. Launch of Endeavour on mission STS-113 has been postponed until no earlier than Nov. 22.

Scrape on Endeavour's robotic arm during oxygen leak repairs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- One of a team of robotic experts looks at the site of the scrape on the surface of the the robotic arm's honeycomb shell. The scrape occurred while work platforms were being installed to gain access to repair the oxygen leak in Endeavour's mid-body. The site will be cut out and ultrasound testing will be done on the structure underneath. Launch of Endeavour on mission STS-113 has been postponed until no earlier than Nov. 22.

40 CFR 264.1063 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 27 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Test methods and procedures. 264.1063... Air Emission Standards for Equipment Leaks § 264.1063 Test methods and procedures. (a) Each owner or operator subject to the provisions of this subpart shall comply with the test methods and procedures...

Post-test examination of a pool boiler receiver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dreshfield, Robert L.; Moore, Thomas J.; Bartolotta, Paul A.

1992-01-01

A subscale pool boiler test apparatus to evaluate boiling stability developed a leak after being operated with boiling NaK for 791.4 hr at temperatures from 700 to 750 C. The boiler was constructed using Inconel 625 with a type 304L stainless steel wick for the boiler and type 316 stainless steel for the condenser. The boiler assembly was metallurgically evaluated to determine the cause of the leak and to assess the effects of the NaK on the materials. It was found that the leak was caused by insufficient (about 30 pct.) joint penetration in a butt joint. There was no general corrosion of the construction materials, but the room temperature ductility of the Inconel 625 was only about 6.5 pct. A crack in the heat affected zone of the Inconel 625 near the Inconel 625 to type 316 stainless steel butt joint was probably caused by excessive heat input. The crack was observed to have a zone depleted of iron at the crack surface and porosity below that zone. The mechanism of the iron depletion was not conclusively determined.

International Space Station Node 1 is moved for leak test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

Node 1, the first element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. The node is being removed from the element rotation stand, or test stand, where it underwent an interim weight and center of gravity determination. (The final determination is planned to be performed prior to transporting Node 1 to the launch pad.) Now the node is being moved to the Shuttle payload transportation canister, where the doors will be closed for a two-week leak check. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88.

Life test result of Ricor K529N 1watt linear cryocooler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nachman, Ilan; Veprik, Alexander; Pundak, Nachman

2007-04-01

The authors summarize the results of the accelerated life testing of the Ricor type K529N 1 Watt linear split Stirling cooler. The test was conducted in the period 2003-2006, during which the cooler accumulated in excess of 27,500 working hours at an elevated ambient temperature, which is equivalent to 45,000 hours at normal ambient conditions, and performed about 7,500 operational cycles including cooldown and steady-state phases. The cryocooler performances were assessed through the cooldown time and power consumption; no visible degradation in performances was observed. After the cooler failure and the compressor disassembling, an electrical short was discovered in the driving coil. The analysis has shown that the wire insulating varnish was not suitable for such elevated temperatures. It is important to note that the cooler under test was taken from the earliest engineering series; in the later manufacturing line military grade wire with high temperature insulation was used, no customer complaints have been recorded in this instance Special attention was paid to the thorough examination of the technical condition of the critical components of the cooler interior. In particular, dynamic piston-cylinder seal, flying leads, internal O-rings and driving coil were examined in the compressor. As to the cold head, we focused on studying the conditions of the dynamic bushing-plunger seal, O-rings and displacer-regenerator. In addition, a leak test was performed to assess the condition of the metallic crushed seals. From the analysis, the authors draw the conclusion that the cooler design is adequate for long life performance (in excess of 20,000 working hours) applications.

Hydrogen leak detection in the Space Shuttle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barile, Ronald G

1992-01-01

This study focuses on a helium gas jet flowing into room air. Measurements of helium concentration and velocity in the jet-air mixture are reported. The objective is to learn about jet characteristics so that dynamically similar hydrogen leaks may be located in the Space Shuttle. The hazardous gas detection system (HGDS) in the mobile launch pad uses mass spectrometers to monitor the shuttle environment for leaks. The mass spectrometers are fed by long sample tubes which draw gas from the payload bay, mid body, aft engine compartment and external tank. The overall purpose of this study is to improve the HGDS especially in its potential for locating hydrogen leaks. A rapid-response leak detection experiment was designed, built, and tested, following on the work done in this program last summer. The apparatus included a Perkin Elmer MGA-1200 mass spectrometer and air velocity transducer, both monitored by a Macintosh IIFX computer using LabVIEW software. A jet of helium flowing into the lab air simulated a gas leak. Steady helium or hydrogen-nitrogen jets were logged for concentration and velocity, and the power spectral density of each was computed. Last year, large eddies and vortices were visually seen with Schlieren imaging, and they were detected in the time plots of the various instruments. The response time of the MGA-1200 was found in the range of 0.05 to 0.1 sec. Pulsed concentration waves were clearly detected at 25 cycles per sec by spectral analysis of MGA data. No peaks were detected in the power spectrum, so in the present study, 10 Hz bandwidth-averaged power levels were examined at regular frequency intervals. The practical consequences of last year's study are as follows: sampling frequency should be increased above the present rate of 1 sample per second so that transients could be observed and analyzed with frequency response methods. Many more experiments and conditions were observed in this second summer, including the effects of orifice diameter, jet velocity, sample tube design, radial effects, vertical flow, and low hydrogen concentrations (1 percent). A frequent observation was that the power spectrum, calculated from the Fourier transform of concentration fluctuations, gives a separate piece of information from concentration. Many of the tests suggest that power is high where mixing occurs at the helium-air interface. This fact is apparently independent of the concentration level, which could be high or low, but depends on the sample location relative to the jet (leak) origin, whereas high concentration may be due to a strong leak far away or a small leak close to the sample tube. If the power is low for any concentration level, this would signify helium is arriving at the sample tube by diffusion, not chaotic mixing caused by the jet interaction with air. The practical result is to propose a modification of the HGDL mass spectrometer data sampling and software so that sampling rates could be capable of observing at least 25 Hz fluctuations.

Three-dimensional simulation of helix traveling-wave tube cold-test characteristics using MAFIA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kory, C.L.

1996-12-31

A critically important step in the traveling-wave tube (TWT) design process is the cold-testing of the slow-wave circuit for dispersion, beam interaction impedance and RF losses. Experimental cold-tests can be very time-consuming and expensive, thus limiting the freedom to examine numerous variations to the test circuit. This makes the need for computational methods crucial as they can lower cost, reduce tube development time and allow the freedom to introduce novel and improved designs. The cold-test parameters have been calculated for a C-Band Northrop-Grumman helix TWT slow-wave circuit using MAFIA, the three-dimensional electromagnetic finite-integration computer code. Measured and simulated cold-test datamore » for the Northrop-Grumman helix TWT including dispersion, impedance and attenuation will be presented. Close agreement between simulated and measured values of the dispersion, impedance and attenuation has been obtained.« less

Design of load-to-failure tests of high-voltage insulation breaks for ITER's cryogenic network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langeslag, S. A. E.; Rodriguez Castro, E.; Aviles Santillana, I.; Sgobba, S.; Foussat, A.

2015-12-01

The development of new generation superconducting magnets for fusion research, such as the ITER experiment, is largely based on coils wound with so-called cable-in-conduit conductors. The concept of the cable-in-conduit conductor is based on a direct cooling principle, by supercritical helium, flowing through the central region of the conductor, in close contact with the superconducting strands. Consequently, a direct connection exists between the electrically grounded helium coolant supply line and the highly energised magnet windings. Various insulated regions, constructed out of high-voltage insulation breaks, are put in place to isolate sectors with different electrical potential. In addition to high voltages and significant internal helium pressure, the insulation breaks will experience various mechanical forces resulting from differential thermal contraction phenomena and electro-magnetic loads. Special test equipment was designed, prepared and employed to assess the mechanical reliability of the insulation breaks. A binary test setup is proposed, where mechanical failure is assumed when leak rate of gaseous helium exceeds 10-9·Pa·m3/s. The test consists of a load-to-failure insulation break charging, in tension, while immersed in liquid nitrogen at the temperature of 77 K. Leak tightness during the test is monitored by measuring the leak rate of the gaseous helium, directly surrounding the insulation break, with respect to the existing vacuum inside the insulation break. The experimental setup is proven effective, and various insulation breaks performed beyond expectations.

75 FR 17169 - Nextera Energy Duane Arnold, LLC, Duane Arnold Energy Center; Exemption

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-05

... leakage from the overall integrated leak rate test measurement. Main steam leakage includes leakage... integrated leakage rate (Type A) test measurement and from the sum of the leakage rates from local leakage... leakage rate (Type A) test [[Page 17170

Portable fixture facilitates pressure testing of instrumentation fittings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Olson, G. A.

1967-01-01

Portable fixture facilitates pressure testing to detect possible leaks in instrumentation fittings mounted on tank bulkheads. It uses a vacuum cup which seals a pressure regulator adapter around one side of the fitting to be pressure tested. Leakage is detected with a gas sniffer.

Fire testing and infrared thermography of oak barrels filled with distilled spirits (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Vries, Jaap

2017-05-01

Adequate fire protection of distilled spirits stored in oak barrels requires understanding the failure mode of these barrels, including quantifying the leak rate. In this study, the use of a custom-calibrated, long-wave microbolometer camera is demonstrated to seek new protection methods for rack-stored distilled spirits. Individual oak barrels ranging between 200 L and 500 L filled with 75%/25% ethanol/water were exposed to both propane gas fires and pure ethanol pool fires. The IR camera was used to see through the smoke and flames showing the location of the leaks. The increase in HRR due to the leaked content was measured using gas calorimetry of the combustion products. This study showed that barrels leaked at a rate of approximately 4-8 lpm, resulting in heat release rates ranging between 1.2 and 2.4 MW. These numbers are confirmed by the quantitative measurements of gaseous H2O and CO¬2 in the exhaust. Surface temperature of the exposed oak could reach temperatures up to 750ºC.

An Amplitude-Based Estimation Method for International Space Station (ISS) Leak Detection and Localization Using Acoustic Sensor Networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tian, Jialin; Madaras, Eric I.

2009-01-01

The development of a robust and efficient leak detection and localization system within a space station environment presents a unique challenge. A plausible approach includes the implementation of an acoustic sensor network system that can successfully detect the presence of a leak and determine the location of the leak source. Traditional acoustic detection and localization schemes rely on the phase and amplitude information collected by the sensor array system. Furthermore, the acoustic source signals are assumed to be airborne and far-field. Likewise, there are similar applications in sonar. In solids, there are specialized methods for locating events that are used in geology and in acoustic emission testing that involve sensor arrays and depend on a discernable phase front to the received signal. These methods are ineffective if applied to a sensor detection system within the space station environment. In the case of acoustic signal location, there are significant baffling and structural impediments to the sound path and the source could be in the near-field of a sensor in this particular setting.

The Deployment of a Commercial RGA to the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kowitt, Matt; Hawk, Doug; Rossetti, Dino; Woronowicz, Michael

2015-01-01

The International Space Station (ISS) uses ammonia as a medium for heat transport in its Active Thermal Control System. Over time, there have been intermittent component failures and leaks in the ammonia cooling loop. One specific challenge in dealing with an ammonia leak on the exterior of the ISS is determining the exact location from which ammonia is escaping before addressing the problem. Together, researchers and engineers from Stanford Research Systems (SRS) and NASA's Johnson Space Center and Goddard Space Flight Center have adapted a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) residual gas analyzer (RGA) for repackaging and operation outside the ISS as a core component in the ISS Robotic External Leak Locator, a technology demonstration payload currently scheduled for launch during 2015. The packaging and adaptation of the COTS RGA to the Leak Locator will be discussed. The collaborative process of adapting a commercial instrument for spaceflight will also be reviewed, including the build-­-up of the flight units. Measurements from a full-­-scale thermal vacuum test will also be presented demonstrating the absolute and directional sensitivity of the RGA.

Airborne pipeline leak detection: UV or IR?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babin, François; Gravel, Jean-François; Allard, Martin

2016-05-01

This paper presents a study of different approaches to the measurement of the above ground vapor plume created by the spill caused by a small 0.1 l/min (or less) leak in an underground liquid petroleum pipeline. The scenarios are those for the measurement from an airborne platform. The usual approach is that of IR absorption, but in the case of liquid petroleum products, there are drawbacks that will be discussed, especially when using alkanes to detect a leak. The optical measurements studied include UV enhanced Raman lidar, UV fluorescence lidar and IR absorption path integrated lidars. The breadboards used for testing the different approaches will be described along with the set-ups for leak simulation. Although IR absorption would intuitively be the most sensitive, it is shown that UV-Raman could be an alternative. When using the very broad alkane signature in the IR, the varying ground spectral reflectance are a problem. It is also determined that integrated path measurements are preferred, the UV enhanced Raman measurements showing that the vapor plume stays very close to the ground.

Relationships of self-identified cold tolerance and cold-induced vasodilatation in the finger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Joonhee; Lee, Joo-Young

2016-04-01

This study was conducted to investigate relationships of self-identified cold tolerance and cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD) in the finger. Nine males and 34 females participated in the following 2 tests: a CIVD test and a self-reported survey. The CIVD test was conducted 30-min cold-water immersion (3.8 ± 0.3 °C) of the middle finger at an air temperature of 27.9 ± 0.1 °C. The self-reported questionnaire consisted of 28 questions about whole and local body cold and heat tolerances. By a cluster analysis on the survey results, the participants were divided into two groups: high self-identified cold tolerance (HSCT, n = 25) and low self-identified cold tolerance (LSCT, n = 18). LSCT had lower self-identified cold tolerance ( P < 0.001), preferred hot thermal stimulation ( P = 0.006), and wore heavier clothing during daily life ( P < 0.001) than HSCT. LSCT had significantly lower maximal finger temperatures ( T max) ( P = 0.040), smaller amplitude ( P = 0.029), and delayed onset time of CIVD ( P = 0.080) when compared to HSCT. Some questions examining the self-identified cold or heat tolerance had relationships with cold tolerance index, T max, and amplitude ( P < 0.1). These results indicate that self-identified cold tolerance classified through a standardized survey could be a good index to predict physiological cold tolerance.

Relationships of self-identified cold tolerance and cold-induced vasodilatation in the finger.

PubMed

Park, Joonhee; Lee, Joo-Young

2016-04-01

This study was conducted to investigate relationships of self-identified cold tolerance and cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD) in the finger. Nine males and 34 females participated in the following 2 tests: a CIVD test and a self-reported survey. The CIVD test was conducted 30-min cold-water immersion (3.8 ± 0.3 °C) of the middle finger at an air temperature of 27.9 ± 0.1 °C. The self-reported questionnaire consisted of 28 questions about whole and local body cold and heat tolerances. By a cluster analysis on the survey results, the participants were divided into two groups: high self-identified cold tolerance (HSCT, n = 25) and low self-identified cold tolerance (LSCT, n = 18). LSCT had lower self-identified cold tolerance (P < 0.001), preferred hot thermal stimulation (P = 0.006), and wore heavier clothing during daily life (P < 0.001) than HSCT. LSCT had significantly lower maximal finger temperatures (T max) (P = 0.040), smaller amplitude (P = 0.029), and delayed onset time of CIVD (P = 0.080) when compared to HSCT. Some questions examining the self-identified cold or heat tolerance had relationships with cold tolerance index, T max, and amplitude (P < 0.1). These results indicate that self-identified cold tolerance classified through a standardized survey could be a good index to predict physiological cold tolerance.

Glutathionylation of UCP2 sensitizes drug resistant leukemia cells to chemotherapeutics.

PubMed

Pfefferle, Aline; Mailloux, Ryan J; Adjeitey, Cyril Nii-Klu; Harper, Mary-Ellen

2013-01-01

Uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) is used by cells to control reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by mitochondria. This ability depends on the glutathionylation state of UCP2. UCP2 is often overexpressed in drug resistant cancer cells and therein controls cell ROS levels and limits drug toxicity. With our recent observation that glutathionylation deactivates proton leak through UCP2, we decided to test if diamide, a glutathionylation catalyst, can sensitize drug resistant cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Using drug sensitive HL-60 cells and the drug resistant HL-60 subline, Mx2, we show that chemical induction of glutathionylation selectively deactivates proton leak through UCP2 in Mx2 cells. Chemical glutathionylation of UCP2 disables chemoresistance in the Mx2 cells. Exposure to 200μM diamide led to a significant increase in Mx2 cell death that was augmented when cells were exposed to either menadione or the anthracycline doxorubicin. Diamide also sensitized Mx2 cells to a number of other chemotherapeutics. Proton leak through UCP2 contributed significantly to the energetics of the Mx2 cells. Knockdown of UCP2 led to a significant decrease in both resting and state 4 (i.e., proton leak-dependent) respiration (~43% and 62%, respectively) in Mx2 cells. Similarly diamide inhibited proton leak-dependent respiration by ~64%. In contrast, diamide had very little effect on proton leak in HL-60 cells. Collectively, our observations indicate that manipulation of UCP2 glutathionylation status can serve as a therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cuff leak test and laryngeal survey for predicting post-extubation stridor.

PubMed

Patel, Anit B; Ani, Chizobam; Feeney, Colin

2015-02-01

Evidence for the predictive value of the cuff leak test (CLT) for post-extubation stridor (PES) is conflicting. We evaluated the association and accuracy of CLT alone or combined with other laryngeal parameters with PES. Fifty-one mechanically ventilated adult patients in a medical-surgical intensive care unit were tested prior to extubation using; CLT, laryngeal ultrasound and indirect laryngoscopy. Biometric, laryngeal and endotracheal tube (ETT) parameters were recorded. PES incidence was 4%. CLT demonstrated 'no leak' in 20% of patients. Laryngeal oedema was present in 10% of the patients on indirect laryngoscopy, and 71% of the patients had a Grades 1-3 indirect laryngoscopic view. Mean air column width on laryngeal ultrasound was 0.66 ± 0.15 cm (cuff deflated), mean ratio of ETT to laryngeal diameter was 0.48 ± 0.07, and the calculated CLT and laryngeal survey composite was 0.86 ± 1.25 (range 0-5). CLT and the CLT and Laryngeal survey composite measure were not associated with or predict PES. Age, sex, peri-extubation steroid use, intubation duration and body mass index were not associated with PES. Even including ultrasonographic and indirect laryngoscopic examination of the airway, no single aspect of the CLT or combination with laryngeal parameters accurately predicts PES.

Coupling device with improved thermal interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milam, Malcolm Bruce

1992-04-01

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable, and lightweight coupling that will also have an efficient thermal interface. A further object of the invention is to provide a coupling that is capable of blind mating with little or no insertion forces. Another object of the invention is to provide a coupling that acts as a thermal regulator to maintain a constant temperature on one side of the coupling. Another object of the invention is to increase the available surface area of a coupling thus providing a larger area for the conduction of heat across the thermal interface. Another object of the invention is to provide a fluidic coupling that has no fluid passing across the interface, thus reducing the likelihood of leaks and contamination. The foregoing objects are achieved by utilizing, as in the prior art, a hot area (at an elevated temperature as compared to a cold area) with a need to remove excess heat from the hot area to a cold area. In this device, the thermal interface will occur not on a planar horizontal surface, but along a non-planar vertical surface, which will reduce the reaction forces and increase the thermal conductivity of the device. One non-planar surface is a surface on a cold pin extending from the cold area and the other non-planar surface is a surface on a hot pin extending from the hot area. The cold pin is fixed and does not move while the hot pin is a flexible member and its movement towards the cold pin will bring the two non-planar surfaces together forming the thermal interface. The actuating member for the device is a shape-memory actuation wire which is attached through an aperture to the hot pin and through another aperture to an actuation wire retainer. By properly programming the actuation wire, heat from the hot area will cause the actuation wire to bend the hot wire. Heat from the hot area will cause the actuation wire to bend the hot pin towards the cold pin forming the coupling and the desired thermal interface. The shape-memory actuation wire is made of a shape-memory-effect alloy such as Nitinol.

40 CFR 1060.515 - How do I test EPA Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions? 1060.515 Section 1060.515 Protection of... Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions? Measure emission as follows for EPA Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines: (a) Prior to permeation testing, use good...

40 CFR 1060.515 - How do I test EPA Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions? 1060.515 Section 1060.515 Protection of... Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions? Measure emission as follows for EPA Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines: (a) Prior to permeation testing, use good...

40 CFR 1060.515 - How do I test EPA Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions? 1060.515 Section 1060.515 Protection of... Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions? Measure emission as follows for EPA Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines: (a) Prior to permeation testing, use good...

40 CFR 1060.515 - How do I test EPA Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions? 1060.515 Section 1060.515 Protection of... Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions? Measure emission as follows for EPA Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines: (a) Prior to permeation testing, use good...

40 CFR 1060.515 - How do I test EPA Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions? 1060.515 Section 1060.515 Protection of... Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines for permeation emissions? Measure emission as follows for EPA Nonroad Fuel Lines and EPA Cold-Weather Fuel Lines: (a) Prior to permeation testing, use good...

A harmonic pulse testing method for leakage detection in deep subsurface storage formations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Alexander Y.; Lu, Jiemin; Hovorka, Susan

2015-06-01

Detection of leakage in deep geologic storage formations (e.g., carbon sequestration sites) is a challenging problem. This study investigates an easy-to-implement frequency domain leakage detection technology based on harmonic pulse testing (HPT). Unlike conventional constant-rate pressure interference tests, HPT stimulates a reservoir using periodic injection rates. The fundamental principle underlying HPT-based leakage detection is that leakage modifies a storage system's frequency response function, thus providing clues of system malfunction. During operations, routine HPTs can be conducted at multiple pulsing frequencies to obtain experimental frequency response functions, using which the possible time-lapse changes are examined. In this work, a set of analytical frequency response solutions is derived for predicting system responses with and without leaks for single-phase flow systems. Sensitivity studies show that HPT can effectively reveal the presence of leaks. A search procedure is then prescribed for locating the actual leaks using amplitude and phase information obtained from HPT, and the resulting optimization problem is solved using the genetic algorithm. For multiphase flows, the applicability of HPT-based leakage detection procedure is exemplified numerically using a carbon sequestration problem. Results show that the detection procedure is applicable if the average reservoir conditions in the testing zone stay relatively constant during the tests, which is a working assumption under many other interpretation methods for pressure interference tests. HPT is a cost-effective tool that only requires periodic modification of the nominal injection rate. Thus it can be incorporated into existing monitoring plans with little additional investment.

Baroreflex modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity during cold pressor test in humans

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cui, Jian; Wilson, Thad E.; Crandall, Craig G.

2002-01-01

The purpose of this project was to test the hypothesis that baroreceptor modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and heart rate is altered during the cold pressor test. Ten subjects were exposed to a cold pressor test by immersing a hand in ice water for 3 min while arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and MSNA were recorded. During the second and third minute of the cold pressor test, blood pressure was lowered and then raised by intravenous bolus infusions of sodium nitroprusside and phenylephrine HCl, respectively. The slope of the relationship between MSNA and diastolic blood pressure was more negative (P < 0.005) during the cold pressor test (-244.9 +/- 26.3 units x beat(-1) x mmHg(-1)) when compared with control conditions (-138.8 +/- 18.6 units x beat(-1) x mmHg(-1)), whereas no significant change in the slope of the relationship between heart rate and systolic blood pressure was observed. These data suggest that baroreceptors remain capable of modulating MSNA and heart rate during a cold pressor test; however, the sensitivity of baroreflex modulation of MSNA is elevated without altering the sensitivity of baroreflex control of heart rate.

4D ERT Monitoring of Subsurface Water Pipe Leakage During a Controlled Field Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inauen, C.; Chambers, J. E.; Wilkinson, P. B.; Meldrum, P.; Swift, R. T.; Uhlemann, S.; Gunn, D.; Dashwood, B.; Taxil, J.; Curioni, G.

2016-12-01

Locating and delineating leakage from subsurface pipelines is an important task for civil engineers. 4D Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) allows changes in subsurface resistivity to be imaged at a high spatial and temporal resolution in a minimally invasive manner. It is therefore a promising tool to supplement conventional point-sensing techniques to monitor subsurface flow processes. To assess the efficacy of ERT for pipe leakage monitoring several controlled leak experiments were carried out at a test site in Blagdon, Bristol, UK. To simulate the leak, a plastic pipe with a hole was buried below a flat, grassed area at a depth of 0.7 m, representing a standard UK mains water pipe installation. The water table at the site lies well below the surface meaning that the experiment took entirely place in the vadose zone, where changes in resistivity are primarily sensitive to water content variations. The ERT array covered an area of 6.5m x 6.5m around the leak location. Data acquisition was carried out with the BGS PRIME (Proactive Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation) system, which facilitates remote scheduling and autonomous ERT data collection and transmission. To obtain the resistivity changes of the subsurface a 4D inversion was carried out using a Gauss-Newton approach with spatial and temporal smoothness constraints. We were able to reliably observe the onset, spread and cessation of the leakage. Measurements from in-situ soil sensors at several depths above and below the leak complemented the ERT data and allowed us to assess their reliability and directly relate them to hydrogeological processes. Moreover, through experimental tests with soil samples from the test area, a Waxman-Smits relation was obtained to directly convert the changes in electrical resistivity to gravimetric soil moisture content. With future experiments on the test site more work is planned towards survey optimization, automated processing and tracking of leakage plumes.

A Rare Non-Hemolytic Case of Idiopathic Cold Agglutinin Disease.

PubMed

Erkus, Edip; Kocak, Mehmet Z; Aktas, Gulali; Ozen, Mehmet; Atak, Burcin M; Duman, Tuba T; Tekce, Buket K; Savli, Haluk

2018-06-01

Cold agglutinin disease is a very rare condition associated with agglutination of erythrocytes in cold environment usually due to IgM type antibodies. Other than hemolytic anemias, it may interfere with routine hemogram tests due to miscalculation of red blood cell count (RBC) and other hemogram parameters calculated with involvement of RBC. Awareness of the condition is important to overcome laboratory errors. We studied a peripheral blood smear and repeated the hemogram test at 37°C to establish the diagnosis of cold agglutinin disease. Initial hemogram test results of the fifty-eight year-old man was as follows: RBC: 1.34 M/µL, hemoglobin (Hb): 12.4 g/dL, hematocrit (Htc): 11.8%, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH): 92.4 pg, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC): 105 gr/dL. Despite the standard indirect Coombs test being negative, repeated tests at room temperature was 4+. We suspected cold agglutinin disease and repeated the hemogram test using the Bain-Marie method at 37°C and the test results showed RBC: 3.4 M/µL, hemoglobin: 12.6 g/dL, hematocrit: 30.2%, MCH: 31.7 pg, and MCHC: 41.8 g/dL. Inappropriate hemogram results may be a sign of underlying cold agglutinin disease. Hemolytic anemia not always accompanies the disease; however, cold exposure may trigger erythrocyte agglutination in vitro and may cause erratic laboratory results.

ENRAF Series 854 Advanced Technology Gauge (ATG) with SPU II card for Leak Detector Use Acceptance Test Procedure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

SMITH, S.G.

1999-10-21

The following Acceptance Test Procedure was written to test the ENRAF series 854 ATG with SPU II card prior to installation in the Tank Farms. The procedure sets various parameters and verifies the gauge and alarms functionality.

Cold Regions Test of Indirect Fire Weapons Ammunition

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-03-08

COLD REGIONS TEST OF INDIRECT FIRE WEAPONS AMMUNITION Paragraph 1 . SCOPE. 1 2. FACILITIES AND INSTRUMENTATION .......... 3. PREPARATION FOR TEST...A- 1 B. Data Collection Sheets ..... .............. B- 1 C. References ..... .................... ... C- 1 D. Cold-Dry...Uniform .D...... .. ... .. ... 0- 1 1 . SCOPE. The procedures outlined in this TOP are designed to determine the c-h-arac-teristics of indirect artillery

External detection and localization of well leaks in aquifer zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haas, Allan K.

This dissertation presents a new methodology for monitoring, detecting, and localizing shallow, aquifer zone leaks in oil and gas wells. The rationale for this type of leak detection is to close the knowledge gap associated with public claims of subsurface water resource contamination caused by the oil and gas industry. A knowledge gap exists because there is no data, one way or the other, that can definitively prove or deny the existence of subsurface leakage pathways in oil and gas wells, new, old or abandoned. This dissertation begins with an overview of existing and future oil and gas well leak detection methods, and then presents three published papers, each describing a different phenomena that can be exploited for leak monitoring, detection, localization, and damage extent determination. The first paper describes the direct detection and localization of a leak that was discovered during a laboratory based hydraulic fracturing experiment. The second paper describes the laboratory measured electrical response that occurs during two phase flow inside of porous media. The third paper describes the detection and tracking of a gravity driven salt plume leak in a freshwater test tank in the laboratory. the three geophysical approaches that are presented, when combined together, provide a new, powerful, external to the well method to monitor, detect, localize, and assess the damage from leaks in the drinking water protection zone of oil and gas wells. This is a capability that is not available in any other leak detection and localization method. This dissertation also presents a chapter of Science, Technology and Society (STS), and Science, and Technology Policy (STP) as a final fulfillment requirement of the SmartGeo Fellowship program, and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Policy minor. This chapter introduces a new STS/STP concept concerning the after effects of knowledge boundary disputes. This new concept is called the residual footprints of knowledge boundary disputes. This new concept is developed through the analysis of an oil and gas drilling controversy that climaxed in Erie, CO in 2012. Additional evidence of this residual footprint concept is also presented in a very brief form. It is hoped that this new concept will be further researched, and adopted by the STS/STP community.

Applying monitoring, verification, and accounting techniques to a real-world, enhanced oil recovery operational CO2 leak

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wimmer, B.T.; Krapac, I.G.; Locke, R.; Iranmanesh, A.

2011-01-01

The use of carbon dioxide (CO2) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is being tested for oil fields in the Illinois Basin, USA. While this technology has shown promise for improving oil production, it has raised some issues about the safety of CO2 injection and storage. The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) organized a Monitoring, Verification, and Accounting (MVA) team to develop and deploy monitoring programs at three EOR sites in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, USA. MVA goals include establishing baseline conditions to evaluate potential impacts from CO2 injection, demonstrating that project activities are protective of human health and the environment, and providing an accurate accounting of stored CO2. This paper focuses on the use of MVA techniques in monitoring a small CO2 leak from a supply line at an EOR facility under real-world conditions. The ability of shallow monitoring techniques to detect and quantify a CO2 leak under real-world conditions has been largely unproven. In July of 2009, a leak in the pipe supplying pressurized CO2 to an injection well was observed at an MGSC EOR site located in west-central Kentucky. Carbon dioxide was escaping from the supply pipe located approximately 1 m underground. The leak was discovered visually by site personnel and injection was halted immediately. At its largest extent, the hole created by the leak was approximately 1.9 m long by 1.7 m wide and 0.7 m deep in the land surface. This circumstance provided an excellent opportunity to evaluate the performance of several monitoring techniques including soil CO2 flux measurements, portable infrared gas analysis, thermal infrared imagery, and aerial hyperspectral imagery. Valuable experience was gained during this effort. Lessons learned included determining 1) hyperspectral imagery was not effective in detecting this relatively small, short-term CO2 leak, 2) even though injection was halted, the leak remained dynamic and presented a safety risk concern during monitoring activities and, 3) the atmospheric and soil monitoring techniques used were relatively cost-effective, easily and rapidly deployable, and required minimal manpower to set up and maintain for short-term assessments. However, characterization of CO2 distribution near the land surface resulting from a dynamic leak with widely variable concentrations and fluxes was challenging. ?? 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

10 CFR 39.35 - Leak testing of sealed sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... analysis. (c) Test frequency. (1) Each sealed source (except an energy compensation source (ECS)) must be.... (2) Each ECS that is not exempt from testing in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section must be... has been made within the 3 years before the transfer, the ECS may not be used until tested. (d...

10 CFR 39.35 - Leak testing of sealed sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... analysis. (c) Test frequency. (1) Each sealed source (except an energy compensation source (ECS)) must be.... (2) Each ECS that is not exempt from testing in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section must be... has been made within the 3 years before the transfer, the ECS may not be used until tested. (d...

10 CFR 39.35 - Leak testing of sealed sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... analysis. (c) Test frequency. (1) Each sealed source (except an energy compensation source (ECS)) must be.... (2) Each ECS that is not exempt from testing in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section must be... has been made within the 3 years before the transfer, the ECS may not be used until tested. (d...

10 CFR 39.35 - Leak testing of sealed sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... analysis. (c) Test frequency. (1) Each sealed source (except an energy compensation source (ECS)) must be.... (2) Each ECS that is not exempt from testing in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section must be... has been made within the 3 years before the transfer, the ECS may not be used until tested. (d...

10 CFR 39.35 - Leak testing of sealed sources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... analysis. (c) Test frequency. (1) Each sealed source (except an energy compensation source (ECS)) must be.... (2) Each ECS that is not exempt from testing in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section must be... has been made within the 3 years before the transfer, the ECS may not be used until tested. (d...

46 CFR 56.97-30 - Hydrostatic tests (modifies 137.4).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... system is filling. (b) Test medium and test temperature. (1) Water will be used for a hydrostatic leak... joints, connections and of all regions of high stress, such as regions around openings and thickness... no time during the hydrostatic test may any part of the piping system be subjected to a stress...