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Research
1.
Title Investigating the cost effectiveness and
engineering efficiency of Status Principal Investigator Project # AR-23-10 Duration 36 months Budget SR.891,000 Funding King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST) Agency Summary The primary goal of this investigation is to evaluate the performance of pads made of local plant fibers in terms of their cooling efficiency, durability, and economy with that of known commercial ones. The use of brackish water in evaporative cooling instead of the scarce and expensive soft water will also be evaluated. A three-dimensional computer model will also be developed for air movement and heat transfer of evaporative cooling system in a greenhouse. This model will be used to enhance the cooling efficiency and cost effectiveness of greenhouse evaporative cooling. This is a three-year project addressing the cost effectiveness and energy efficiency of the proposed pad materials, made from local plant fibers, in evaporative cooling greenhouses. Specific objectives of the study include: 1) Collecting information on the types and major applications of evaporative cooling systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as the types of commercial cooling pad materials and associated operational and technical problems that affect their performance. 2) Evaluating the performance of evaporative cooling pads made from local fibers such as luffa cylindrical sponges and date palm fibers in terms of their cost effectiveness and cooling efficiency in comparison with the commercially available aspen wood excelsior and cellulose pads. 3) Monitoring and assessing the rate of deterioration in the cooling performance of the cooling pads with time for both fresh and brackish water as a result of the accumulation of minerals (as the water evaporates), dirt and growth of bacteria, algae and molds on the pads and inside the evaporative cooling unit. Tests will be carried out in experimental setups as well actual greenhouses to assess the performance of the pads. 4) Developing and evaluating the effectiveness of remedial solutions to the technical problems associated with the deterioration in cooling pad performance from mineral and scale deposits and algae, mold, and bacteria growth. 5) Formulating and implementing a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer (CFDHT) model for a tunnel-type greenhouse, fan ventilated and equipped with evaporative cooling pads. 2. Title Drillstring Vibration Diagnostics for Improving Drilling Performance Status Co-Investigator Project # AR-22-11 Duration 24 months Budget SR.269,600 Funding King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Agency Summary Continuous improvement of drilling performance poses a Challenge to the oil industry. It is well known that drillstring Vibration is one of the major causes for a deteriorated drilling performance , and if left untreated may result in a complete failure of the drilling process. Failure of a drilling operation is time consuming and can be extremely costly, especially when occurred at a later stage into drilling. The proposed research project aims at developing a drillstring vibration analysis and diagnostic scheme that possess the basic requirements of generality, accuracy and reliability. A quantitative analysis would require a detailed model incorporating many degrees of freedom that accounts for variable geometry, fluid-structure interaction, damping, and string/borehole interaction. In this regard. Various types of vibration can be distinguished, each having its own specific adverse effects. A special three-dimensional finite element model will be developed to account for the effect of the variable string geometry, drillstring rotation, the added mass and damping effects. The scheme also calculates the impulsive response due to the subsequent impacts between the drillstring and the borehole. The proposed model admits solutions to both vertical and inclined drillstring configurations. Laboratory experiments will be performed on an experimental drillstring to determine the effect of the drilling fluids on the drillstring vibrations. Computer simulations and experimental testing are then combined to obtain correlations between the different vibration mechanisms and the drilling parameters. It is anticipated that the outcome of this project is a reliable vibration diagnostic scheme that can be applied to existing and future field drilling. The scheme will help in tuning the drilling parameters, thus improving the drilling performance by reducing drilling time and cost. 3. Title Effect of Environmental Conditions on the Performance of QF QF Reinforced/Vinylester Thermoset Pipes Status Co-Investigator Project # ME 2236 Duration 60 working months Budget SR.1,643,855 Funding Saudi Aramco Agency Summary This project is to investigate the effect of environmental conditions on the performance of glass fiber-reinforced/vinyl ester thermoset pipes. The focus of this study will be to determine the degradation of the mechanical and physical properties of 6-inch diameter glass-fiber reinforced/vinyl ester pipes exposed to both natural and accelerated environmental conditions. A full spectrum of exposure conditions ranging from dry heat, humidity, seawater, UV radiation, and natural conditions will be studied. The exposed pipes will be tested to determine the effect of the above exposures on a full range of mechanical and physical properties. Tensile, fatigue, impact, fracture toughness, stress-rupture, hydrostatic burst, glass transition temperature, and weight gain behavior will be studied. It is expected that well over 3000 mechanical and physical property tests will be performed during the course of the proposed study. It is hoped that the data generated from this study and subsequent results will serve as guidelines for Saudi Aramco to make correct and critical decisions in the application, operation, and maintenance of the glass fiber reinforced/viny ester thermoset composites pipes for oil transportation.
4.
Title Effects of High Vane Passing Frequency of
the Turbine Boiler Status Principal Investigator Project # CER 2289 Duration 18 months Budget SR.465,884 Funding Saudi Electric Company Agency Summary This project is to investigate the vibration problem in the boiler Feed pump, to determine the root causes, address the damage effects of such vibration levels, and to suggest methods to reduce the vibration amplitudes to acceptable levels by optimally utilizing the available resources and/or suggesting modifications to the existing systems. The problem was stated by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) as follows: “From data collected on turbine boiler feed pumps at Qurayyah Power Plant, it was found that there are high vibration amplitudes at harmonic frequencies 5th and 10th (Vane Passing Frequency). The amplitudes generated from the impeller and causing damages on the instrument equipment such as gauges and also welded pipes connected to the pump. Different trials were made to reduce the vibration level, such as conducting hot train alignment and replacing one pump cartridge with a new one, but the vibration behavior had not changed much”. The proposed study intends to perform a root-cause analysis leading to the cause of the aforementioned vibration problem, and to suggest corrective actions including any necessary modifications if needed. The study will proceed simultaneously in two directions, namely (a) field measurements and data acquisition, and (b) mathematical modeling and simulation of the related flow-structure interaction mechanisms. Correlations between measurements and numerical predictions will be established in the light of possible causes of high-level vibrations at the VPF. Other possible causes may become evident from information to be gained from the problem history, field visits, field data collection, and online machine measurements. The developed scheme will be used for diagnostic purposes. Several hypothesis and possible causes will be studied. The vibration effects on pumps, turbines and compressor parts and components can also be predicted using the proposed scheme.
5.
Title Assessing Needs and Developing an
Implementation Strategy Status Co- Investigator Project # FT/2004-16 Duration 12 months Budget SR.61,800 Funding KFUPM Agency Summary This purpose of this development project is to assess the needs of modern manufacturing technologies such as Rapid Prototyping, Rapid Tooling and Virtual Manufacturing in Saudi Arabia using a properly designed survey form and personal interaction with local industry. Data will be collected and analyzed to determine the need of such technologies and assess the current level of awareness of these technologies and potential applications. Based upon these results, a vision will be articulated for introducing these technologies in Saudi Arabia. Three different development proposals will be developed as an outcome of this project and a strategy will be outlined how the establishment and running of these facilities can be realized in an efficient manner. 6. Title Laboratory Testing of Insulating Materials Status Co- Investigator Project # ME 2250 Duration 3 months Budget SR.20,000 Funding Arnon Plastic Industries Co. Agency Summary Measure the thermal conductivity under different pressures (simulating situations where compressive loads are applied). Subject the samples to real outside environmental conditions (under share) and measure the changes in thickness and thermal conductivity on periodic basis.
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Characterization of renewable energy in the area
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