Installation procedure for thermal conductivity matric suction sensors and analysis of their long-term readings

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsa Tan ◽  
Delwyn G Fredlund ◽  
Brent Marjerison

Thermal conductivity matric suction sensors have enabled continuous and long-term measurement of matric suction and temperature, even in remote locations. Long-term temperature and matric suction readings were obtained from below two thin-membrane-system sites in Torquay and Bethune, Saskatchewan. The method used to install the sensors and the data acquisition system is presented. An understanding of the subgrade soil suction and temperature changes throughout the year was obtained from the data. The change in matric suction and temperature with depth and distance was also determined. Observation of the amplitude and frequency of the fluctuations in the temperature readings provided a better understanding of the changing trends. Environmental effects, such as hysteresis associated with drying and wetting of the sensors and the effect of the ambient temperature on the sensors, were found to influence the matric suction readings. Several correction factors have been proposed to eliminate the influence of the ambient temperature, and the correction methods are compared.Key words: thermal conductivity, matric suction, sensors.

2010 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quan Nguyen ◽  
Delwyn G. Fredlund ◽  
Lal Samarasekera ◽  
Brent L. Marjerison

The performance of “thin membrane surface” (TMS) highways is largely controlled by the strength of the subgrade soil, which in turn is a function of matric suction. Thermal conductivity matric suction sensors were used to indirectly measure in situ matric suctions. In September 2000, 32 thermal conductivity sensors were installed under TMS highways at two locations; namely, Bethune and Torquay, Saskatchewan, Canada, to monitor matric suction and temperature changes with time. This paper presents and interprets the variations in matric suctions measured between the years 2000 and 2005 at the Torquay site. The readings in the field showed a clearly seasonal pattern of matric suction changes that bore a relationship to rainfall near the test sites. Relatively constant equilibrium matric suctions that ranged from 20 to 60 kPa throughout the years were measured under the driving lanes. Conversely, matric suctions under the side slopes were found to vary widely with time and depth, ranging from 100 to 1500 kPa over the years. The greatest variation in matric suction from one location to another location occurred during the month of April. The matric suctions showed low variability during June, whereas larger variations were observed from July to October.


2003 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 587-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Nichol ◽  
Leslie Smith ◽  
Roger Beckie

Thermal conductivity (TC) sensors, which provide estimates of matric suction, were used in a field experiment designed to characterize unsaturated water movement through coarse mine waste rock at a mine site in northern Saskatchewan. Two years of monitoring data were used to evaluate long-term TC sensor performance and accuracy. Thermal conductivity sensor output requires corrections of sensor hysteresis and changes in ambient temperature. A correction method for ambient temperature is derived. A comparison of the uncorrected field measurements with the values corrected for both hysteresis and ambient temperature indicates that the magnitude of these corrections can be similar. Corrected TC sensor measurements are compared to measurements of matric suction made using tensiometers. Thermal conductivity sensor response to the initial arrival of a wetting front lagged 1–3 days behind the tensiometer measurements. The TC sensor data tended to overestimate matric suction in the waste rock, when compared to the tensiometer data. Long-term drift in the TC sensors located at depths of 50 cm and below (where the sensors have been continuously exposed to matric suctions less than 20 kPa) has lead to data that are not interpretable using the calibration curves derived prior to sensor emplacement in the waste rock pile.Key words: matric suction, thermal conductivity sensor, hysteresis, temperature.


2012 ◽  
Vol 503-504 ◽  
pp. 1672-1678
Author(s):  
Zhao Yang ◽  
Xiao Ping Xu ◽  
Chuan Li ◽  
Yan Chen ◽  
Jiang Chun Xu ◽  
...  

The charge unit supply power when the power is cut off. It has been the necessary components in every type of substations to ensure the continuous operations of electric relays, automatic devices and circuit breakers. By using contacting electrical insulating Fiber Bragg Grating temperature sensor, the monitored equipment can be measured and controlled under the safe temperature. The temperatures of three fans and environment have been surveyed since June 6, 2010, in the charge unit of Yanjin substation’s main control room. The real-time monitoring of 24-hours indicates that the temperature changes in the range of 1°C. At the long-term of 479 days, the average daily minimum temperature range of three fans is 12.48°C, and the maximum range is 23.07°C. The maximum temperature is 39.14°C on April 30, 2011, and the minimum temperature is 23.98°C on January 10, 2011. The daily average of ambient temperature range is 12.04 °C, the maximum temperature is 38.38 °C on July 16, 2010, and the minimum temperature is 26.34 °C on January 9, 2011. The maximum difference between the temperature of fan and the ambient temperature is 7.60 °C on October 23, 2010. According to the relevant standards and monitoring results, the maximum threshold of fan temperature is defined to 85°C, and the threshold of temperature rise is 20°C.


2014 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 34-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Beran ◽  
Lee Danisch ◽  
Adam Chrzanowski ◽  
Maciej Bazanowski

Measurement of sub-millimetre-level deformations of structures in the presence of ambient temperature changes can be challenging. This paper describes the measurement of a structure moving due to temperature changes, using two ShapeAccelArray (SAA) instruments, and verified by a geodetic monitoring system. SAA is a geotechnical instrument often used for monitoring of displacements in soil. SAA uses micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sensors to measure tilt in the gravity field. The geodetic monitoring system, which uses ALERT software, senses the displacements of targets relative to control points, using a robotic total station (RTS). The test setup consists of a central four-metre free-standing steel tube with other steel tubes welded to most of its length. The central tube is anchored in a concrete foundation. This composite “pole” is equipped with two SAAs as well as three geodetic prisms mounted on the top, in the middle, and in the foundation. The geodetic system uses multiple control targets mounted in concrete foundations of nearby buildings, and at the base of the pole. Long-term observations using two SAAs indicate that the pole is subject to deformations due to cyclical ambient temperature variations causing the pole to move by a few millimetres each day. In a multiple-day experiment, it was possible to track this movement using SAA as well as the RTS system. This paper presents data comparing the measurements of the two instruments and provides a good example of the detection of two-dimensional movements of seemingly rigid objects due to temperature changes.


Author(s):  
Shu-Rong Yang ◽  
Wei-Hsing Huang ◽  
Yu-Tsung Tai

The variations of resilient modulus with the postconstruction moisture content and soil suction for cohesive subgrade soils were evaluated. In particular, the effects of relative compaction of the subgrade on the suction and resilient modulus were investigated. To simulate subgrade soils at in-service conditions, soil specimens were compacted at various relative compactions and optimum moisture content and then saturated to equilibrium moisture content to test for resilient modulus and soil suction. The filter paper method was used to measure the total and matric suctions of two cohesive soils. Test findings demonstrated that resilient modulus correlated better with the matric suction than with total suction. Matric suction was found to be a key parameter for predicting the resilient modulus of cohesive subgrade soils. A prediction model incorporating deviator stress and matric suction for subgrade soil resilient modulus was established.


2013 ◽  
Vol 798-799 ◽  
pp. 565-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Hua Xue ◽  
Zhao Yang ◽  
Lan Yun Wang ◽  
Min Ji Wang ◽  
Cheng Jun Zhao ◽  
...  

The air cooler reduce the working temperature of the transformer, high temperature will reduce the transformers life, and even make insulation overheating, aging, then the transformer will be damaged. The air cooler which is forced oil circulation in transformer outdoor in substation has been monitored. The real-time monitoring of 24-hours indicates that the temperature changes in the range of 3°C. The ambient temperature is lower than the temperature of fan about 1°C. At the long-term of 479 days, the average daily temperature range of fan is 35.32°C, the maximum temperature is 50.25°C on August 18,2011, and the maximum temperature is 14.93°C on January 17, 2011. The daily average of ambient temperature range is 37.59°C, the maximum temperature is 51.16°C on August 17, 2011,and the minimum temperature is 13.57°C on January 17, 2011. The maximum difference between the temperature of fan and the ambient temperature is 12.48°C on September 15, 2011. According to the relevant standards and monitoring results, the maximum threshold of fan temperature is defined to 80°C, and the threshold of temperature rise is 20°C.


Author(s):  
Irina Gaus ◽  
Klaus Wieczorek ◽  
Juan Carlos Mayor ◽  
Thomas Trick ◽  
Jose´-Luis Garcia` Sin˜eriz ◽  
...  

The evolution of the engineered barrier system (EBS) of geological repositories for radioactive waste has been the subject of many research programmes during the last decade. The emphasis of the research activities was on the elaboration of a detailed understanding of the complex thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical processes, which are expected to evolve in the early post closure period in the near field. It is important to understand the coupled THM-C processes and their evolution occurring in the EBS during the early post-closure phase so it can be confirmed that the safety functions will be fulfilled. Especially, it needs to be ensured that interactions during the resaturation phase (heat pulse, gas generation, non-uniform water uptake from the host rock) do not affect the performance of the EBS in terms of its safety-relevant parameters (e.g. swelling pressure, hydraulic conductivity, diffusivity). The 7th Framework PEBS project (Long Term Performance of Engineered Barrier Systems) aims at providing in depth process understanding for constraining the conceptual and parametric uncertainties in the context of long-term safety assessment. As part of the PEBS project a series of laboratory and URL experiments are envisaged to describe the EBS behaviour after repository closure when resaturation is taking place. In this paper the very early post-closure period is targeted when the EBS is subjected to high temperatures and unsaturated conditions with a low but increasing moisture content. So far the detailed thermo-hydraulic behaviour of a bentonite EBS in a clay host rock has not been evaluated at a large scale in response to temperatures of up to 140°C at the canister surface, produced by HLW (and spent fuel), as anticipated in some of the designs considered. Furthermore, earlier THM experiments have shown that upscaling of thermal conductivity and its dependency on water content and/or humidity from the laboratory scale to a field scale needs further attention. This early post-closure thermal behaviour will be elucidated by the HE-E experiment, a 1:2 scale heating experiment setup at the Mont Terri rock laboratory, that started in June 2011. It will characterise in detail the thermal conductivity at a large scale in both pure bentonite as well as a bentonite-sand mixture, and in the Opalinus Clay host rock. The HE-E experiment is especially designed as a model validation experiment at the large scale and a modelling programme was launched in parallel to the different experimental steps. Scoping calculations were run to help the experimental design and prediction exercises taking the final design into account are foreseen. Calibration and prediction/validation will follow making use of the obtained THM dataset. This benchmarking of THM process models and codes should enhance confidence in the predictive capability of the recently developed numerical tools. It is the ultimate aim to be able to extrapolate the key parameters that might influence the fulfilment of the safety functions defined for the long term steady state.


Author(s):  
Hassan Jalili ◽  
Pierluigi Siano

Abstract Demand response programs are useful options in reducing electricity price, congestion relief, load shifting, peak clipping, valley filling and resource adequacy from the system operator’s viewpoint. For this purpose, many models of these programs have been developed. However, the availability of these resources has not been properly modeled in demand response models making them not practical for long-term studies such as in the resource adequacy problem where considering the providers’ responding uncertainties is necessary for long-term studies. In this paper, a model considering providers’ unavailability for unforced demand response programs has been developed. Temperature changes, equipment failures, simultaneous implementation of demand side management resources, popular TV programs and family visits are the main reasons that may affect the availability of the demand response providers to fulfill their commitments. The effectiveness of the proposed model has been demonstrated by numerical simulation.


Author(s):  
Ye Yuan ◽  
Stefan Härer ◽  
Tobias Ottenheym ◽  
Gourav Misra ◽  
Alissa Lüpke ◽  
...  

AbstractPhenology serves as a major indicator of ongoing climate change. Long-term phenological observations are critically important for tracking and communicating these changes. The phenological observation network across Germany is operated by the National Meteorological Service with a major contribution from volunteering activities. However, the number of observers has strongly decreased for the last decades, possibly resulting in increasing uncertainties when extracting reliable phenological information from map interpolation. We studied uncertainties in interpolated maps from decreasing phenological records, by comparing long-term trends based on grid-based interpolated and station-wise observed time series, as well as their correlations with temperature. Interpolated maps in spring were characterized by the largest spatial variabilities across Bavaria, Germany, with respective lowest interpolated uncertainties. Long-term phenological trends for both interpolations and observations exhibited mean advances of −0.2 to −0.3 days year−1 for spring and summer, while late autumn and winter showed a delay of around 0.1 days year−1. Throughout the year, temperature sensitivities were consistently stronger for interpolated time series than observations. Such a better representation of regional phenology by interpolation was equally supported by satellite-derived phenological indices. Nevertheless, simulation of observer numbers indicated that a decline to less than 40% leads to a strong decrease in interpolation accuracy. To better understand the risk of declining phenological observations and to motivate volunteer observers, a Shiny app is proposed to visualize spatial and temporal phenological patterns across Bavaria and their links to climate change–induced temperature changes.


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