One Week, One Concept

"Lazy Intellectual Africans"?

2012-01-29T12:20:00.000-08:00

Like some of you, I've been thinking about this post on lazy intellectual Africans. It has been a thought that hasn't left me, especially as I am in the process of choosing another research topic for the next couple of months, and find myself resenting the fact that I cannot really pursue trendy, innovative energy technologies at the expense of 'old skool' technologies that would be better suited for present-day Africa. Western schools have tailored their schools to meet their environmental/economic/social needs, not the other way round. So I am asking myself the same question the Walter character asked Ruwe:

"...where are the [Nigerian] intellectuals? Are the [Nigerian] engineers so imperceptive they cannot invent a simple stone crusher, or a simple water filter to purify well water for those poor villagers? Are you telling me that after [50-plus] years of independence your university school of engineering has not produced a scientist or an engineer who can make simple small machines for mass use? What is the school there for?”

Yes, yes... what educational system has equipped us anyway? And what of the corrupt governments et al. But I still feel dissatisfied after passing the blame buck o jare.

I've decided to actively seek out seminars and workshops on African development (I am always so curious when I find non-Africans that are so interested in Africa's challenges... and no, I don't think a good number of them are merely strategizing on new ways to rob us lol). Now, after gathering all this info on Africa, the next step is hazy, but I'll figure it out.

Do you have any specific plans for improving Africa?

PTDF 2012/2013 applications out now

2011-10-05T07:33:00.001-07:00

Undergraduate, Masters' and PhD application forms are out for the 2012/2013 national and overseas scholarships. There's also a new one called the Split PhD, and you can get more information about it from the PTDF website.

A word of advice: Make sure your proposals are relevant to the oil and gas industry eh. Be blessed.

I would also suggest you try to get the scratch cards from First Bank head offices asap, and forget the online verve card option, as this didn't work (for me).

Cheers!

Fighting tooth decay... without the pain

2011-08-23T05:32:00.000-07:00

The Chemistry department of the University of Leeds have discovered a new way to bypass those frightful encounters with the dentist's drilling machine when tooth decay strikes. According to the researchers,

"...their solution is to arm dentists with a peptide-based fluid that is literally
painted onto the tooth's surface. The peptide technology is based on knowledge
of how the tooth forms in the first place and stimulates regeneration of the tooth defect. This may sound too good to be true, but we are essentially helping acid-damaged teeth to regenerate themselves. It is a totally natural non-surgical repair process and is entirely pain-free too," said Professor Jennifer Kirkham, from the University of Leeds Dental Institute, who has led development of the new technique.

The 'magic' fluid was designed by researchers in the University of Leeds' School of Chemistry, led by Dr Amalia Aggeli. It contains a peptide known as P 11-4 that -under certain conditions - will assemble together into fibres. In practice, this means that when applied to the tooth, the fluid seeps into the micro-pores caused by acid attack and then spontaneously forms a gel. This gel then provides a 'scaffold' or framework that attracts calcium and regenerates the tooth's mineral from within, providing a natural and pain-free repair.

The technique was recently taken out of the laboratory and tested on a small group of adults whose dentist had spotted the initial signs of tooth decay. The results from this small trial have shown that P 11-4 can indeed reverse the damage and regenerate the tooth tissue"

Well how about that! This video shows more.
Info gotten from here

(Very) Much Ado About Fracking...

2011-07-26T19:51:00.001-07:00

The quest for affordable energy fuels continues as scientists consider the pros and cons of hydraulic fracturing or 'fracking', a process in which natural gas and oil from shales is extracted by high pressure impaction of shales with a sand-chemical-water mixture. Sounds reasonable enough until you consider the fact that recent earthquakes in some parts of the UK as well as groundwater contamination might be linked to the recent increase in fracking activities. You might want to read up on it very briefly here (or watch a very good video about it), and then listen in on what the critics and concerned citizens are saying about it here and here.

At any rate, more research on fracking is under-way.

Getting paid to power your home...

2011-07-03T05:01:00.000-07:00

...using renewable sources, that is.

The power and transport sectors are two of the largest contributors to rising CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions (as shown in the World greenhouse gas emission chart by WRI).

A great deal of research has been conducted on ways to reduce these emissions in the transport sector-- automobile companies have improved on spark ignition and diesel engine designs so that they can run on less fuel; some other companies have designed hybrids engines and fuel cell (PEMFC) engines.

The power production sector is also making 'green' progress by looking into solar, wind, tidal and bioenergy (i.e. combined heat and power (CHP), anaerobic digestion) systems to generate cleaner electricity and heat. It is not always easy to incorporate these renewable energy systems (due to problems highlighted in an earlier post), so in order to encourage the use of these systems, Governments have decided to implement certain policies. Today's post will briefly explore the Renewable Heat Incentive that the UK Government formally established over a week ago (22 June 2011).

Basically, UK homes and businesses will get paid for up to 20 years when they generate heat for their own consumption using renewable sources. We're talking as much as 18 pence per kWh of heat generated, depending on the renewable source and size of installation used (see here for the extensive list of tariffs).

Set to begin this July, non-residential (public sector) UK renewable energy installations will benefit from extra incomes from the Government, while residential sectors will benefit some time in October 2011. One obvious question is, how do residential and non-residential sectors who've had no prior knowledge of renewable energy systems set up these installations?

Answer: private companies like Ownergy London (quite like OwnEnergy in the USA) would help set up solar thermal, photovoltaic and other renewable systems. I say good luck to the UK folks, and the rest of us will be watching and learning closely.

For more information on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), head on to the DECC site here.

The Problem with Renewable Energy Systems…

2011-06-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

Renewable energy systems are certainly the way forward globally- they are much cleaner alternatives to petroleum, coal, oil shale and other fossil fuels, and as their name implies, they won’t run out since they are capable of being replenished. However, the big gloomy “but” is this: renewable energy systems (solar, wind, tidal, bioenergy) are irregular. While Africa basks in so much solar energy, research is still underway as to how best to store this energy during the hours of no sunlight. Wind energy is another matter entirely, as its frequency and speed is dependent on several factors including the nature of the location (e.g.‘roughness’ factors- the presence of buildings or trees affects wind turbulence), rotation of the earth (Coriolis effect).

Furthermore, the ongoing debate of ‘cassava/corn/sugar cane for belle (stomach) or cassava/corn/sugar cane for moto (automobile)?’ has made the concept of generating electricity from biomass a lot less attractive.Basically, the world is in a tight spot- keep using fossil fuels and watch CO2 emissions climb beyond 390ppm, leading to more trapped heat within our immediate atmosphere, leading to increased drought in some parts of the world, increased flooding in other parts, leading to starvation and death. On the other hand, implement bioenergy systems on a global scale and watch the price of garri* rise to ridiculous amounts as farmers hurry to farm the good stuff that will fetch them more money than they possibly thought… I can already imagine an edition of Inside Africa which covers it:

“…this week our very own Janet Doe brings you exclusive footage of one of the major exporters of cassava, the crop that literally saved our planet from destruction. Janet, over to you.” Janet then proceeds to tell all about the successful cultivation of cassava at Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria, with impressive shots of vast, green cassava plantations and heavy-duty machinery busy at work harvesting ripe crops. Cut to the distinguished owner of the plantation, a Mr. Oluwallahchukwu who smiles to the camera and responds to Janet’s refined congratulations: “A marvellous accomplishment, Mr. Oluwallahchukwu. So tell me, how did you manage it? How do you balance the food needs of your country folk with global energy needs?” Mr. Oluwallahchukwu smiles a wizened but pained smile as he replies, “my daughter, the needs of the many overtake the needs of the few...”

Yes, bioenergy systems are a very touchy subject at the moment. This is why researchers are considering other options such as hydrogen economies and renewable urea—that is, energy systems run by sustainably produced hydrogen and possibly urea, which are more stable than the previously mentioned renewable energy systems and do not compete with food. This does not mean that research is veering away from bioenergy, solar, wind and tidal energy systems (not at all!), but it is in our best interest to explore all options. You might have heard about energy crops like miscanthus and willow which are under a great deal of research, as is municipal solid waste matter such as old tyres, waste cooking oil, forestry residue and others. Geothermal energy is also looking good (this is the subject of discussion in June’s edition of The Chemical Engineer (IChemE).

So what do you think- which renewable energy system could make a significant contribution to our growing energy demands? The poll is on the right, awaiting your input!

*Garri is grated, dried cassava which forms a major part of the diet in African countries like Nigeria.

Unsustainability

2011-06-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

Edmond Bryne and John Fitzpatrick of the University College Cork, Ireland, are of the opinion that the subject of sustainability should not just be relegated to certain one-off modules, but should be woven into the fabric of school curricula, and advise educators to act duly in their article, Chemical Engineering in an unsustainable world: Obligations and opportunities.

Torrefaction: "Wood is the new coal"

2011-04-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

Today I'll be talking about the benefits of torrefaction (brief video here)

The torrefaction process is so new in fact, that MS Word still lines it in red (but I digress). Torrefaction of biomass as well as waste material such as old tyres and food waste tackles two major issues: waste management in both developing and developed nations, and carbon dioxide emission reduction. How? Good question.

Ever since countries like Denmark, Sweden, and others rich in forestry residue successfully implemented co-firing (that is, the generation of heat and/or electricity for citizens by the combustion of coal and biomass), other nations such as the UK have well embraced this technology. A major problem however, was that biomass was not that good. Its energy density is considerably lower than that of coal, and it possesses a high moisture content, is difficult to transport, among other problems.

So when the torrefaction idea came along, it seemed like a well nice intervention at the right time. Want to find out more? Head on here for a start, then!

By the way, I was a bit confused about the difference between energy density (volume basis) and energy density (mass basis)-- terms used by torrefaction experts a lot. Here's some clarification:

"Energy Density is the amount of energy stored in a given system or region of space per unit volume or per unit mass. The use of volume or mass to describe energy density is dependant upon the context in which the energy density of an element or compound is described. For example, in most cases, the energy density of a liquid is best described in terms of mass. In the case of a gas, using a per unit volume description may be more appropriate because a gas, even when compressed, occupies an overwhelming volume as compared to a liquid. Therefore the energy density of a gas by mass appears quite substantial, but when one looks to the volume of gas required to achieve the desired energy density, it can become impractical."

I got this info from here.

Hydrothermal Carbonization

2011-04-05T00:32:00.000-07:00

There are several methods for converting biomass (biological matter ranging from plant matter to food/sewage waste) into biofuels (such as biodiesel, bioethanol, biochars). I found a video on HTC (hydrothermal carbonization), which is essentially a 'wet' type of pyrolysis (a little background info here: pyrolysis is a thermochemical process which involves 'burning' -and I use this term lightly- biomass in a little or no oxygen at temperatures up to 600C.). Now HTC is an interesting process because it is capable of converting biomass into carbon-rich substances without combustion. As in, no burning, PLUS you don't need to waste all that energy drying the biomass feedstock- just load it in the reactor, put in an appropriate amount of water, set the temperature and you are good to go! I'll leave the experts to show you more here.

My current research project is based on producing 'biochars' from the abovementioned organic matter using both conventional pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). The research is basically aimed at comparing the two processes. So far, HTC seems to be holding its own. More on this later.

You might also be interested to know that HTC is one of the well nice methods that is being considered for developing modern "waterless" toilets that can convert human waste to energy fuels, as part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for developing affordable waste management for developing nations. Yes indeed, the methods of converting waste matter that would otherwise be a problem to us (in terms of disposal) have just gotten one step easier!

PTDF Past Questions 4

2011-02-06T08:27:00.001-08:00

Hello my people! PTDF rocks! Very cool people indeed! How was your PTDF exam two weeks ago? (26th March ko)? Trust it went strangely enough :) Apologies to the Owerri people who couldn't write the exam.

I am wondering if anyone has copies of the questions you answered, so I can upload it here for future PTDF applicants. You can email them to me at 1week1concept@gmail.com. Thanks much, and I bite my nails in anticipation of the results with you all!

Click on the document to magnify it:

PTDF Past Questions 2004/2005

2011-02-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

If you have 20/20 vision you just mite be able to read it when you click on it:

CORRECTIONS/ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

(Answers mine, so feel free to verify)

2004/2005

5. Yes, 230V, 50Hz
6. closest answer B (I got 100/9 hrs)
7. NNPC formed in 1977, so no idea
9. North American Indians
10. 27th Sept. 2003
11. Spirit
12. Dubai?
14. No idea yet
16. Maybe. 15th of Jan is Nigerian Armed Forces Rememberance Day (yet to confirm).
19. LC?
24. Pakistan created in 1947
25. Roger Bannister
26. He was first elected in 1990
27. Yes, 1990. This year (2010), marks his 20th year of freedom. (Note: OPEC is celebrating its 50th year this 2010; 1960 - 2010)
29. Yes, revived in 1896 (it really began in Greece in the 9th century).
31. Australia
32. No, Leaning Tower of Pisa
33. February 2002? (dichotomy- to separate in two distinct parts). Note that Exclusive Economic Zone refers to the offshore region, 200 nautical miles from the boundary of the Territorial Zone. This EEZ is comprised of the Contiguous Zone. Also, the country has every right to everything beneath the continental Shelf (eg. oil) (see wikipedia for a better explanation. All I know is, oil exploration, fishing and gbogbo-ye is the exclusive right of the country with the EEZ. Read up on it some time.
37. DCXV (CD would be 400; DC is 600; LX would be 60; XL would be 40. Just like IX is 9 while XI is 11. Did this with A. today)
38. World AIDS day 1st December 1988, so no idea.
42. China?
43. Yes, stratosphere
44. Robert Mugabe
46. No idea, but couldn't it be 1995?
47. Yes, 2002 (there are 4 types of contracts Nigeria does: JOV, PSC, SC and MOU)
49. No, Mikhail Gorbachev. He resigned in 1991. The SU had had probs since 1985. Boris Yeltsin took over from him sharply.
50. In peace and love to grow?

PTDF Past_Qs (dunno which yr but question 1 starts with "which state is known as the food basket of the nation?")

4. Environmental Impact Assessment?
6. Not too sure about that
7. 18 feet. (about 0.54m)
8. Joseph Stiglitz. Everyone else won a Nobel prize for literature while his was economy related or so.
9. Yes, they were founded in 1960. HQ was Iraq then. Became part of the UN by 1962.Changed HQ from Geneva to Vienna in '65.
14. Still no idea
16. Atherton Tableland is a museum exhibit of sorts, while the others are actual deserts.
17.
18. Linfen?
19. Essien, Drogba, Eto'o
21. A
22. C?
23. Eat
25. State creations were '67, '76. '87, '91 and '96.
26. Asia and Africa. (Smallest continent is Australia)
27. 1902?
29. Range or None?
30. Rainfall and air pressure
31. 2?
33. Yea, Britain - from 1775 to 1783,after the famous "Boston Tea Party" fiasco.
35. Vatican City (the size of a golf course, some say. While the largest country is Russia, ffd by Canada, and then China).
37. Owerri
38. Ted Turner
39. Pyramids?
41. In 2005, it was 2.6mbpd; 2006 it was 2.45mbpd;
42. Bonny, 1999; Bonga, 2006?
45. Yea, American Pet. Inst.
47. ?
49. D?
50. Yes, all.

Now you have a feel for the kind of questions they like to ask. Quite similar to Who wants to Be a Millionaire and Zain Africa Challenge, etc. They'll also ask you specific questions about the course you applied for, so it's good you choose a field you know about. It's also a good idea to ask others who wrote the last exam about the categories they put the courses in. For eg, Environmental Engineering ppl answered the same questions Risk management, Health Safety and co answered.
Godspeed as you prepare.

PTDF Past Questions

2011-01-31T06:01:00.001-08:00

I see that there is some interest in the PTDF Past Questions section of this blog (naturally) so here are a few past questions. The 2010 exam was the first internet-based (hence objective-based) exam; these others are theory-based. They should give you a heads-up still:

PART THREE
SECTION F (2002)

ANSWER ALL QESTIONS
TIME ALLOWED: 55 MINUTES

1.Define the following terms:
i. Petroleum
ii. Bitumen
iii. Formation Volume Factor
iv. Structural Closure
v. Porosity
vi. Kerogen

2. In what ways can organic matter diagenesis be
monitored?

3. Classify the following porosity types into primary
and secondary: Chalky, Fracture, Intercrystal,
Fenestral, Moldic and Intraparticle.

4. Briefly describe and classify the following types
of traps:
i. Normal fault
ii. Buttress sand
iii. Rollover anticline on growth fault
iv. Compaction anticline

5. Indicate which of the following possible answers
are true ( there may be more than one).

a) if a source rock generates petroleum and migration
fails to occur, we then have (i) Sapropel (T F)
(ii) Tar Deposit (T F) (iii) Oil Shale (T F)
(iv) Pyrobitumen (T F).

b) Asphaltenes are:
(i) Paraffinic hydrocarbons (T F) (ii) present in
crude oil (T F) (iii) Precipitated by n-pentane (T
F) (iv) Rich in nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen
containing compounds (T F).

6. Distinguish btw an arkosic reservoir rock and a quartzose reservoir rock.

7. Give 4 conditions under which the SP log is not good.

8. Briefly assess the role of temperature and time in petroleum generation.

9. Write a short note on the direct evidence for a biological origin for carbon in crude oil.

10. The viscosity of a crude oil depends on (i)
---------------- and (ii) --------------

PART THREE
SECTION B (2003)

1. Differentiate btw resource base, resource and
reserves in oil and gas industry.

2. Distinguish carefully btw LNG, LPG and NGL.

3. What is oilfield processing? Name 3 different
categories of oilfield processing operations and
discuss each one briefly.

4. What is the formation evaluation and why is it
important in the search of oil and gas?

5. List and discuss the parameters commonly used to
characterize crude oils.

6. Explain why petroleum refining processes are
generally into separation, conversion, treatment and
finishing.

7. Define enhanced oil recovery and what are the major
features associated with its utilization in the oil
fields.

8. Give an account of recent major gas utilization
projects operations in Nigeria.

9. Why is phase behaviour an important consideration
in reservoir and oil well operation?

10. Write the general form of Stoke’s law and define
the parameters.

PART THREE

SECTION C (2003)

1. Write a short note on the direct evidence for
biological origin of carbon in crude oil.

2. Describe the possible migration mechanism at depths
greater than 6000 feet.

3. Explain why Gamma Ray Log is a shale log.

4. Define the following terms (i) Wet gas (ii)
Structural Closure (iii) Buttress sand (iv) Pour
Point.

5. Why are carbonate reservoirs associated with high
sulphur crude oils?

6. (a) Define the terms (i) hydrostatic pressure (ii)
lithostatic pressure
(b) Two dry wells (A & B) were drilled into an
acquifer of a reservoir rock that contains gas. The
bottom hole pressure (BHP) for well A was 1600 psi at
3600 feet. For well B, the BHP was 2300 psi at 4650
feet. If well C encounters a gas reservoir at 2000
feet and 1500 psi pressure, what is the elevation of
the gas water contact?

7. (a) An exploration well was drilled in a basin to a
total depth (TD) of 10500 feet. The maximum
temperature recorded was 290oF and the wellhead
elevation was 90 feet. Assuming a mean surface
temperature of 80Of. Calculate the geothermal
gradient. (b) if the well penetrated a thick shale bed
at 8550 feet, what is its formation temperature. (c)
Is this shale capable of generating Petroleum? Give
reasons for your answer.

8. (a) What do you understand by the term
‘differential entrapment’?
(b) How does organic matter distribution in deltas
affect the distribution of oil and gas in deltaic
settings?

PART THREE
SECTION B ( 2002 )

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS
TIME ALLOWED: 55MIN

1. What are drilling fluids? List four important functions of drilling muds.

2. Sulphur content in crude oil varies from 0.05 – 7.0% by weight. Suggest a source of the high concentration of sulphur in oil.

3. Stoke’s law may be used to calculate the minimum mud velocity required to raise rock chips during drilling operations. Write the general form of Stoke’s Law and define each of the parameters.

4. How can Mollier (enthalpy-entropy) charts be used
in the design of compressors and refrigeration charts?

5. List the possible causes of productivity decline in
oil and gas wells and suggest possible solutions.

6. A well has a diameter of one foot and a drainage
radius of 660 feet. It penetrates a 25 feet thick sand
which contains an undersaturated crude oil whose
average viscosity above the bubble point is 1.60 cp
and whose formation volume factor Be is 1.623 bbl/STB.
The permeability of the formation to oil is 53md

a. At what rate ( STB/D) will the well produce under a
200 psc drawdown.
b. What is the productivity index in STB/D/psi of the
well at this settled rate of production and pressure
drawdown.
c. If the shut-in bottom hole pressure was 4000 psi, estimate the flowing well bore pressure.

Given
i. Assume incompressible fluid flow
ii. The steady state radial flow “q” of an
incompressible fluid towards a vertical borewell of
radius rw with drainage is
Q = 2Tkhrerw(Pe –Pw)divided by Beu(re-rw)

where T is pi and u is mui as in greek. ( Emeka pls try to decode this formular I believe u can, I had no time to properly write them)

7. List the processes involved in the refining of crude oil.

8. Ideal processes are reversible but practical processes require q degree of irreversibility. Briefly comment on this statement with reference to natural gas liquefaction process.

The Part 2 questions (English Essay questions) include this areas

• Privatization
• Oil and Gas
o Environmental sustainability in the Nigerian oil
industry
o Law and development of gas in Nigeria
o Impact of the discovery of oil on the Nigerian
economy
o Legal issues in UN’s approach to ownership n control
of natural recourses and wealth
o Effect of heavy reliance of nig economy on
mono-products. Suggest solutions
o Plate tectonics
o Deregulation of down stream
o Posted price of crude oil
• Economics
o Ways of measuring national income
o Attributes of money
o Difference btw GNP and GDP
o Commercial banking
o Why taxing
o Role of CBN in commercial and merchant banks
o Relevance of being OPEC member
o International trade to economic growth
o Unemployment in Nigeria
• Environmental impact
o Gas flaring
o Greenhouse effect
o Desertation
o Oil pollution
• IT
o Impact of ICT in production management in developing
countries
o Computer tech as one of the key generators of wealth
in mordern societies today
o Current trends in computer HW and SW development
o Gray code

The first part which is Objective questions are in these area

• Legal system in Nigeria
• Oil and gas
o Its contribution to GDP
o Bedrock geology
o When did Nigeria join OPEC
o OPEC headquarters
o Exploration activities for oil began when
o Nigeria’s 1st ship load of LPG to world market when
o West African gas pipelines project
o When will gas flaring stop in Nigeria as set by FG
o Oil producing states in Nigeria
o Volume in liters of 1 barrel of crude oil
o World’s largest producer of crude oil
o Geophysical method used in oil exploration
o Sec generation of UNO
o Current Nigerian rep at OPEC’s board of governors
o Price band on crude oil by OPEC
o First commercial discovery of oil in Nigeria
o Petroleum training institute, Warri, established when?
o NNPC contract types with multinational oil companies
o When UNO was established
o 1 ton of LNG equivalent to how many barrels
• Nigeria Facts
o Main cash crop
o When Nigeria became a republic
o Power to feed Nigeria in MW by NEPA
o Longest river
o Natural vegetation
o Local government number
o Highest point in Nigeria
o First commercial deep water oil discovery in Nigeria
o Expenditure on steel and aluminum
o Oil and gas Acts, Policies etc
o LG system of governance introduced when
o In what year was FID for 1st NLNG signed
o 1st ship load of LPG by chevron/nnpc on what date
o Quality of petroleum determined by what substance?
o Times states were created
o Band on second hand vehicles
o Geophysical methods

• Geography
o Earth is made of what 3 concentric shells
o First man to walk on moon
o Marginal field
o Greatest scientist of the 20th century
o Worlds population – 6 billion
o First capital town of Nigeria
o First executive president of Nigeria
o Why America wants to war iraq
o Oldest University
o Environmental impact assessment
o Greenhouse effect
o Vegetation damage
o Marginal oil fields / indigenous oil companies
o Reserve of tar sand oils in southwestern Nigeria is what size in barrels
o First shipment of crude oil from Nigeria
o Current minister of petroleum resources
o Halley’s comet

• Significant dates

o September 11, 2001
o World environment day
o When Israel was created out of Palestine
o World summit on sustainable development
o Slave trade abolished in England when?
o China became a communist republic when? By who?
o Years of nelson Mandela imprisoment
o First programmable e-computer, colossus, when and
where?
o Worst nuclear power accident in history on 26th
april 1986, where?
• Significant places
o World cups : 2002 korea/japan – Brazil
o Nigerian coaches to world cups:
• Current issues in Nigeria

• Significant people

o Nobel Prize named after who? Alfred Nobel born Oct
21 1833, Swedish chemist and engineer
o Who is Mikhail Gorbachev, reforming leader, why?
o World number 1 female tennis player
• Acronyms
o AIDS
• Economics
o Demand, price, expenditure
o Market models
o Substitution effect
o Economic concept by karl max
o Criminologist
o Studies – ology words
o Latent function
o Sociogram
o Acceptance test
o Business cycle
o GNP
o Dellationary times
o Insurance
o Wage incentives
o Theories of business cycle
o Types of market. OPEC is what type
o Competitive seller

I FAPPED THIS FROM SOMEWHERE, AND THIS IS WHAT THE GUY HAD TO SAY...

Please these questions are not exhaustive, a friend sent them to me, some formulas are not well written and I didn’t have time to format them. Also the objectives and English essay type questions are dynamic, u just have to be prepared. Read them up, some are not clear try ur best to understand what is meant. Learn also of the current events in naija in the past yr. the English essay part last yr didn’t include privitisation and the rest, they were more professional like plate tectonics, petroleum formation, environmental issues and the rest listed above. Just try ur best to cover as much as u can.

ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES

2010-12-22T10:10:00.000-08:00

The atmosphere is generally divided into 6 layers, characterized by temperature differences:
Boundary layer -about 1-2km above the earth surface, and generally known as the lowest part of the troposphere

Troposphere- about 8-15km above earth surface; lowest depth (i.e. 8km) at the poles, and 15km at the equator

Stratosphere- level just above the troposphere where ozone layer is, because the oxygen at this level abosorbs a lot of solar radiation to form ozone

Mesosphere, Thermosphere and exosphere are not particulary my concern because it has ben observed that air pollution occurs mostly at the troposphere and stratosphere.
At the troposphere, pollutants tend to experience R-R-D (my acronym); that is, be washed out by Rain, removed by Reaction, or Deposited on the earth surface.
At the stratosphere, pollutants tend to remain for longer periods, due to slow downward mixing, and their effects are noticed Globally.

To better understand the dynamics of air pollution (the way pollutants move and linger and all, one needs to understand some things-

what makes wind move in a certain way? What makes wind blow so hard or so soft? Why are some pollutant plumes(stream) so thick and nasty one day, and barely noticeable another day? The answers lie in:

-the circulation driving forces (Hint: depends on solar radiation, earth rotation)

-Temperature and pressure differences (Hint: deals with adiabatic lapse rates, stability classes of air, inversion layers etc).

- the pollutant plume itself (hint: where is the plume coming from? (A point source, line source, area or volume source?) The temperature of gases exiting the stack nko? What of its density? and so on)

-if we have all the info about the wind properties (speed, humidity, temperature at a given height, etc) as well as the plume properties (source, temperature, density, etc)how do you tie it all together in such a way that it helps solve a real problem human beings are facing?
The answer lies in atmospheric modelling.

Using software based on more recent theories on air pollution dispersion (i.e Monin-Obukhov as opposed to Pasquill stability classes), you can determine the extent to which pollutants will travel, and how they will do it (and when). Software include ADMS-3 (UK-based), AERMOD (US-based).

Reading Materials:
1. HARRISON, R. "Understanding Our Environment", Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry, 3rd Edition, 1999

2.Air Pollution Dispersion Terminology [online]. 2010. Available from: http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Air_pollution_dispersion_terminology

3. Atmospheric Lapse Rate. 2010. Available from: http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Atmospheric_lapse_rate
One link leads to another so click at your own time and interest.

4. Adiabatic Lapse Rate video from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq0zIZTnYpU

The Climate is Different...

2010-10-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

Figures and % not included in this post.

Overview
The level of CO2 in the atmosphere right now is significantly higher than it was in the year 1990. We have the power generation sector to blame for that. And the transportation sector. And the oil refineries. And our residences. And... every sector, in short.

What scientists know is that transportation and the power sector are the biggest offenders. This is because transportation (comprised of land, air and sea)depends on fossil fuels, which are hydrocarbons - carbon and hydrogen. When these hydrocarbons are combusted in our engines, CO2 is released. And CO2 is a greenhouse gas, which is making our climate at least 1.5 degrees warmer...

It therefore follows that we need to stop using fossil fuels.

Yes, imagine that.
Since banning fossil fuels is not exactly possible, we need to think of something else- like modifying our engines to use less fossil fuels (so that our carbon emissions will be much reduced). Or we could think of fossil fuel alternatives, like biofuels, electricity-operated engines and so forth. But there are several issues to consider:

-the cost involved, obviously

-the government's will (policy)- the Government might not be alarmed by the whole Climate Change thing, or there might be more pressing needs they are attending to, like better energy supply, welfare, healthcare, how to loot money this month, etc

-the ethics (garri is N150 a measure. Are we prepared to buy it at N500 when cassava becomes a hot(ter) cake?)

-the time scale (are we talking short term or long term?)

Then there is the issue of, 'What if we are already too late? What if we are unavoidably headed towards a climatic disaster?' What is our Plan B?
This is where the geoengineering aspect comes onstage.

Climate Change Control Technology

2010-09-29T05:44:00.000-07:00

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up jointly by the World Meteorological Organization and the UnitedNations Environment Programme to provide an authoritative international statement of scientific understanding of climate change.

The IPCC’s periodic assessments of the causes, impacts and possible response strategies to climate change are the most comprehensive and up-to-date reports available on the subject, and form the standard reference for all concerned with climate change in academia,government and industry worldwide.

KEY "POLICY-RELEVANT" QUESTIONS TO GUIDE ME AS I STUDY:-
How has the science of climate change advanced since the IPCC began?

What is known about the natural and anthropogenic agents that contribute to climate
change, and the underlying processes that are involved?

How has climate been observed to change during the period of instrumental measurements?

What is known of palaeoclimatic changes, before the instrumental era, over time scales of hundreds to millions of years, and the processes that caused them?

How well do we understand human and natural contributions to recent climate change,
and how well can we simulate changes in climate using models?

How is climate projected to change in the future, globally and regionally? 10, 11
What is known about past and projected changes in sea level, including the role of
changes in glaciers and ice sheets?

Are extremes such as heavy precipitation, droughts, and heat waves changing and why,
and how are they expected to change in the future?

From Chemical Engineering to Energy and Environment

2010-09-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

I will be focusing on the course I am about to commence, entitled Energy and Environment. Find below the exciting details, courtesy of the University of Leeds:

The impacts of climate change are becoming visible through out the world, with receding glaciers, changing weather patterns, coastlines and ecosystems. The links between climate change and poverty and human health are a significant future concern. Gas and oil prices have recently been very unstable, and whilst world energy demand carries on increasing, it is likely that production will peak during the next decade. Urban populations are also continuing to grow, bringing with them waste disposal problems, traffic congestion and greater power, heating and refrigeration needs, as well as fire and explosion hazards.

As a response to this we are now seeing changing energy policies worldwide, geared towards encouraging energy autonomy by developing renewable energies and recycling initiatives as well as implementing low carbon technologies. The UK Climate Change Bill will be a driver for change. At the same time pollution control guidelines and emission regulations have tightened both within the EU and world wide. There will be an increasing demand for graduates with an understanding both of the environmental impacts of energy technology choices as well as the technical expertise to further develop them.

The MSc in Energy and Environment is one of a handful of courses in the UK university sector that provides graduates from diverse engineering, scientific and technical backgrounds with an expertise in new energy technologies, solid waste recycling, air and water pollution, and fire and explosion protection.

Don't Make the Same Mistakes I Made

2010-08-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

Blog Disclaimer (sort of): This is not a blog about PTDF, but about expanding my knowledge.

1. As soon as you know you are interested in sitting for the PTDF exam, start reading. And in your non-jackometer time, watch some Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Weakest Link, Zain Africa Challenge, etcetera. It really helps. If Mr. Frank Edoho asks Mr. Ojilile, "where is the highest mountain located?" try to find out where the lowest mountain is located as well (if there is such a thing).

2. As soon as you have heard that you were shortlisted for the MSc program, jump for joy, thank God severally, call your people, celebrate--- and by all means, start looking for your admission yourself! (I really cannot overemphasise this point enough, but let me stop here).

3. If there are any requirements your prospective school needs you to fulfil, do it- eg. if they want you to post your transcript or reference letters, do it sharply. if they are asking for proof of funding, let PTDF know on time... (and no, not via email. Go to their office, seriously). Then keep tracking its progress.

4. As soon as your Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) is ready, jump for joy, thank God severally, call your people, celebrate--- and take it to PTDF office sharply. Start applying for accomodation quickly. (In some schools you may be able to apply before your CAS is ready).

5. When you are contacted by your school that you have been allocated to a room, repeat #4. Some schools require a deposit before you can sign the contract; let PTDF know.

6. Keep your eyes and ears open at all times- induction, visa processing, etcetera. but of course you already knew that.

All the best!

My Friday 13th...

2010-04-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

...was not actually a Friday.. I just wrote it for effect lol. It wasn't a bad luck day. Not at all. It started out 'just there', till I decided to check my mail around 1pm-- to discover that I had been shortlisted for the ptdf MSc. scholarship. Thank You Lord!

"What I Wish PTDF Asked Me..."

2010-03-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

As in, I so read off-point! But God dey sha.

I'll post the questions the PTDF asked in their March 20 first internet-based exam, but probably not tonight... soon and very soon sha. Watch this space.

UPDATED

The questions were in two parts, as opposed to the previous 3 sections- General Knowledge, Discipline-based Essay to test your English and Discipline-Based questions proper.

This time it was General Knowledge and Discipline-Based objectives; 50 questions in 30 mins, and 35 questions in about 90 minutes respectively.

General Knowledge Questions:
(Answers mine, so feel free to verify. I have also written the questions in my own words, no vex).

1. Who invented Facebook?
Just kidding.

1. How many legs does a butterfly have?(And I am not kidding now. Mumu question, esp. as I couldnt answer it-- the fear of NEGATIVE MARKING is the beginning of obj wisdom).

2. The Mediterranean sea is part of which sea?
Atlantic, Pacific, Indian...
My Ans: Atlantic

3. What does API stand for?
Ans: American Petroleum Institute

4. Which scientist first stated that the earth revolves around the sun?
Aristotle, Galileo, Copernicus...
My Ans: Copernicus

5. Who first established the kindergarten schooling system?
Maria Montessori, Friedrich Frobel...
My Ans: Was Montessori, but my friend and I googled it and saw Friedrich Frobel (sulks...)

6. ECOWAS stands for?
Economic Communities of West African States, Economic Community of West African States…

7. Periodic checking of oil equipment is known as?
Routine maintenance, Preventive maintenance…

8. Mount. Everest is found where?
Australia, china, Nepal…
Ans: Nepal (now I knew that the Asian continent possesses ‘the highest heights and the lowest lows’ –lol- so it was btw China and Nepal… shucks, no phone a friend :-)

9. The Mediterranean is part of which sea?
Pacific, Atlantic, Indian…
My Ans: Atlantic

10. The study of earthquakes is called what?
Oceanography, Seismology…

11. Fastest man and woman currently?
I know the man but not the woman. Wetin be dis nau? Usain Bolt and Anne Frasier be the answer some give.

12. What is the current tax rate in Nigeria? 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 15%

13. Mussolini introduced what? Nepotism, Facism…

14. What does AM and PM stand for?
Ans: Ante Meridian and Post Meridian

15. Which planet has the densest atmosphere?

16. Which Mary did a great deal of work in Nigeria? Mary Magdalene (lol), Mary Slessor…
My Ans: Mary Slessor

17. When did the RMC Titanic sink, with all 1,500 passengers? 1912, 1914, 1916, 1918
Ptdf, see your options! I win you sha: 1912, I believe.

18. Where is the AU headquarters situated?
My Ans: Addis Ababa

19. World’s largest refiner of gold? South Africa, Switzerland, etc
My Ans: was Switzerland. I don’t know for sure, but I couldn’t get that phrase Swiss Gold” out of my head, lol. SA does gold too right?

20.How many barrels of oil make… chai, all this my talk-talk has made me forget, sorry!

21. Choko Choko is in what part of Nigeria? Abia, Kogi, Osun…
Ans: Kogi. (well ok…)

22. Which lady won the Nobel prize more than once? Maathai Wangari, Marie Curie, etc
Ans: Marie Curie-- in 1904 and 1911 I think.

For Environmental Engineering/Health Safety/Industry/Etc

1.Mycotoxins are? Viruses, Bacteria, Fungi
Ans: Fungi. I chose virus :- (

2.Pesticides are mainly ? Sulphides & Sulphates, Chlorides of HCs…

3.Which of the following preservation methods is most likely to introduce chemical contaminants to food? Smoking, Drying, Canning…
My ans: Canning

4.Most ecologically acceptable SWM technique? Composting, Sanitary Landfilling, Incineration…
My ans: Sanitary landfills (at least the hardpan clay and impermeable membranes they’ll use will prevent leaching abi?

5.What is the lifespan of a sewerage system? 10 yrs, 20 yrs, 30 yrs…

6. Best method for treating plastic and rubber wastes? Sanitary landfill, pyrolysis, Incineration…
My ans: Pyrolysis (I just couldn’t get the image of whole rubber buckets sticking out of a landfill, hahaha)

7. C.R.V in Water Resources stands for? Constant Volume Ratio, Critical Volume Ratio…

8. Global warming temp has risen by what amount currently? 2deg, 6deg, less than 2deg

9. Saline soil has a pH of? <4, btw. 5 and 8, 7, >7

10. Fresh sewage has a pH of? 4 to 7, 5 to 8.5…

11. Allowable turbidity levels in drinking water should be? 5ppm, 10ppm, 20ppm
(Shucks, I crammed mine in NTU)

12. Which soil type has the least water retention capacity? Coarse gravel, gravel, fine sand…
My ans: Coarse gravel

13. Which soil type has characteristic 0.02 – 0.002mm range? Silt, Clay, fine sand…

14. A hydrograph plots time against which of these? Recorded runoff, surface runoff, precipitation…

15. What is responsible for the acidity of rainwater that makes rocks dissolve? CO, CO2, S02…
My ans: CO2

16. Cause of acid rain? CO, CO2, SO2, NO…
Ans: SO2

17. Why is hard water hardly distributed for public use? It is hard to lather, is dangerous…

18. What causes mottling of teeth? Chlorine, Fluorine, HCF…
My ans: I went with fluorine. Too much of a good thing can be bad; my reasoning

19. What is the force ratio for a man lifting 120kg of timber with 10kg effort? 12, 1200, 110, 130
My ans: It seemed too simple, but I sha stuck with it: 12. Ratio abi?

20. Coal-based stations release? Sox and NOx; Sox, NOx and Particulate Matter; Sox, NOx, PM and CO
My ans: I went with all four

21. Main cause of desertification in arid regions of Nigeria? Wind, water, sun…
My ans: wind

22. Which of the following isn’t a measure of water retention? Rationation, Infiltration, Hydrograph, None of the above
My ans: none of the above. They all seem to be good measures of water retention.

23. Which state in Nigeria by the second largest river in Nigeria is battling with the environmental hazard of rice production? Osun, Yobe, Benue, Niger
My ans: was btw. Benue, tho I think it is incorrect.

This is all I can remember for now.

Ehem, excuse me. At this point I would like to RANT:

As you have seen, the questions were really not difficult, but you can also understand that if you didn’t read the right areas, nothing for you.
I was there cramming environmental disasters (with dates)- major oil spills (Gulf War, Exxon Valdez, Amodo Cadiz, Piper Alpha… with dates); anthropogenic disasters (all them Bhopal, Baia Mare, Chernobyl, Love Canal, Bangladesh arsenic poisoning, cyanide from gold refining, Nagasaki, Niger Delta… with dates);

Then of course: Environmental Impact Analyses, EERs, EIS, ISO 14001 to 14060 (with the names o- Environmental management Systems, Environmental Labelling, Audit, etc); Solid Waste Management (all them activated sludge, primary treatment, and gbogbo ye); osmosis, reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration(with the permissible diameter sizes o);

air pollution control, water pollution and control (and fellow Evt. Eng’g people can attest to the length and boringness of those chapters, smh). Oh of course, first to fourth ‘generation’ biofuels (ie. from hemp-based biofuel of 1896 to biochar of today); hydrogen fuel cells, magnesium solar cells… this girl read oh, but what does she have to show for it??

Not to mention all those boring current affairs things. Wetin consain me with Lithuania’s RMBK nuclear reactor shut down, and their fear of being taken advantage of by Baba Russia? Or about them Ahmedjinnad, Karzai, Kim Jong Il and co? Taiwan’s healthcare system, anyone? Or Somalia horn of Africa? Opec nations (with dates they joined), Warmest years in this century due to global warming (1998 was the warmest, FYI), etc etc ETC. Yeah it pays to know stuff sha, but still, Ptdf you no try for me lol.

Ladies and Genn’lmen, it seems I am trying to show off all I know but eh, no. That is not the case at all. I just want to pen down the stuff I read (that didn’t come out) to reduce my frustration cuz I feel I wasted all that time reading and reading, only to be asked about the pH of saline soil and so forth. Hiss. If only it was theory-based and not objective; trust me, I would have added all this jara I read, wallahi! As long as there’s a tiny hint of a relationship btw. them. It’s all good sha. I have ranted.

Baibai for now. Next time I’ll include some of the past questions from previous non-objective years.

Peace!

Sannu!

2010-01-22T14:17:00.000-08:00

MIA with good reason: preparing for PTDF exams. I have just disovered a good site for free text downloads: scribd.com

I'll be back after all the exams and courses with the continuation of Thermodynamics.

PS: Sooo this is what FOUR DAYS of UNINTERRUPTED LIGHT feels like! Hm!

The First Law of Thermodynamics

2009-11-29T13:14:00.000-08:00

Happy New Week.

The week's topics: UPDATED!!
First Law of Thermodynamics:
- the first law as it relates to the universe;
- revision of heat, work, the thermodynamic potentials (U, H, A, G); and
- the 1st Law and its application to Open Systems

"Thermodynamics is a branch of physics which deals with the energy and work of a system.
Thermodynamics deals only with the large scale response of a system which we can observe and measure in experiments. Small scale gas interactions are described by the kinetic theory of gases.
There are three principal laws of thermodynamics which lead to the definition of thermodynamic properties which help us to understand and predict the operation of a physical system." (NASA).

“The first law of thermodynamics is the application of the conservation of energy principle to heat and thermodynamic processes.” (All energy in the universe is accounted for). “The laws of thermodynamics are special laws upon which the other [natural] laws depend” (Physical Geo.) It states that:

Q = ΔU + W; or:
ΔU = Q - PΔV

Any change in the internal energy of a particular system is the same as the heat ADDED to the system.
Excluding the work done BY the system.

Heat… work… internal energy? Enthalpy… Gibbs… Helmholtz??? (making sense of it all!)
Work:
“We all have a basic understanding of work in general, but scientists have a more precise definition.
For scientists, work is the product of a force acting through a distance;

W = F * s

“When work is done by a thermodynamic system, it is usually a gas that is doing the work. The work done by a gas at constant pressure is: P(delta)V (diagram unavailable)

For non-constant pressure, the work can be visualized as the area under the pressure-volume curve which represents the process taking place. The more general expression for work done is: W = (integral)pv

Work done by a system decreases the internal energy of the system, as indicated in the First Law of Thermodynamics. System work is a major focus in the discussion of heat engines.” (HyperPhysics).

Heat:
“For a gas, the heat transfer is related to a change in temperature. The temperature, pressure, and volume of the gas determine the state of the gas. Heating a gas changes the state of the gas. But the state of a gas can be changed in a wide variety of ways. (Work done on a gas also changes the state of the gas). The amount of work that a gas can do depends on both the initial and final states and on the process used to make the change. In the same way, the amount of heat transferred in changing the state of a gas also depends on the initial and final states and the exact process used to change the state. Different processes result in different amounts of heat transfer and work. The effects of both heat flow and work are combined in the First Law of Thermodynamics.

There are some thermodynamic processes in which there is no heat transfer. Engineers call this type of a process an adiabatic process and there are simple equations which relate the pressure and temperature of a gas for an adiabatic process.”

Internal Energy
“The internal energy is just a form of energy like the potential energy of an object at some height above the earth, or the kinetic energy of an object in motion.

In the same way that potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy while conserving the total energy of the system, the internal energy of a thermodynamic system can be converted to [other forms of] energy. Like potential energy, the internal energy can be stored in the system. However, heat and work cannot be stored or conserved independently since they depend on the process (the path which leads to the final state of the system).
***NOTE: if you’re wondering WHY they depend on the process, un-squeeze ya face; a good, uncomplicated answer has been included at the end of this post).

“The internal energy U might be thought of as the energy required to create a system in the absence of changes in temperature or volume. But if the process changes the volume, as in a chemical reaction which produces a gaseous product, then work must be done to produce the change in volume. For a constant pressure process the work you must do to produce a volume change ΔV is PΔV. Then the term PV can be interpreted as the work you must do to "create room" for the system if you presume it started at zero volume.” (HyperPhysics).

If a system is fully insulated from the outside environment, it is possible to have a change of state in which no heat is transferred into the system. The implementation of the first law of thermodynamics for gases introduces another useful state variable called the enthalpy.” (NASA)

Enthalpy:
H = U + PV
“Enthalpy is a precisely measurable state variable, since it is defined in terms of three other precisely definable state variables. It is somewhat parallel to the first law of thermodynamics for a constant pressure system.

It is a useful quantity for tracking chemical reactions. If as a result of an exothermic reaction some energy is released to a system, it has to show up in some measurable form in terms of the state variables. An increase in the enthalpy H = U + PV might be associated with an increase in internal energy which could be measured by calorimetry, or with work done by the system, or a combination of the two.”

Gibbs Free Energy:
“G is a thermodynamic potential that measures the "useful" or process-initiating work obtainable from an isothermal, isobaric thermodynamic system. The Gibbs free energy is the maximum amount of non-expansion work that can be extracted from a closed system; this maximum can be attained only in a completely reversible process.

When a system changes from a well-defined initial state to a well-defined final state, the Gibbs free energy ΔG equals the work exchanged by the system with its surroundings, less the work of the pressure forces, during a reversible transformation of the system from the same initial state to the same final state.

Gibbs energy (also referred to as ∆G) is also the chemical potential that is minimized when a system reaches equilibrium at constant pressure and temperature. As such, it is a convenient criterion of spontaneity for processes with constant pressure and temperature.” (Wikipedia)

Helmholtz Free Energy:
“Helmholtz free energy is a thermodynamic potential which measures the “useful” work obtainable from a closed thermodynamic system at a constant temperature and volume. For such a system, the negative of the difference in the Helmholtz energy is equal to the maximum amount of work extractable from a thermodynamic process in which temperature and volume are held constant.
Under these conditions, it is minimized at equilibrium.

The Helmholtz free energy was developed by Hermann von Helmholtz and is usually denoted by the letter A (from the German “Arbeit” or work), or the letter F . The IUPAC recommends the letter A as well as the use of name Helmholtz energy. In physics, the letter F is usually used to denote the Helmholtz energy, which is often referred to as the Helmholtz function or simply “free energy”.

While Gibbs free energy is most commonly used as a measure of thermodynamic potential, especially in the field of chemistry, the isobaric restriction on that quantity is inconvenient for some applications. For example, in explosives research, Helmholtz free energy is often used since explosive reactions by their nature induce pressure changes. It is also frequently used to define so-called fundamental equations of state in accurate correlations of thermodynamic properties of pure substances.” (Wikipedia)

I’ll look into the derivations of A, G, H et al, but not this week. (PS: I don’t know why blogger has been misbehaving lately).

Special thanks to these fantastic sites:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu
http://www.nasa.gov
http://www.physicalgeography.net

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
***WHY HEAT AND WORK DEPEND ON THE PATHWAY OF A SYSTEM
“The state of a gas is determined by the values of certain measurable properties like the pressure, temperature, and volume which the gas occupies. The values of these variables and the state of the gas can be changed… To change the state of [a] gas from State 1 to State 2, we must change the conditions in the jar, either by:

-heating the gas, or

-physically changing the volume by moving a piston, or

-by changing the pressure by adding or removing weights from [a] piston.

In some of these changes, we do work on, or have work done by the gas, in other changes we add, or remove heat. Thermodynamics helps us determine the amount of work and the amount of heat necessary to change the state of the gas… So we might expect that the amount of work done on, or by a gas could be different depending on exactly how the state is changed. [We could decrease] the pressure and allow the volume to adjust according to Boyle's law with no heat addition. We could [also] move from State 1 to State 2 by holding the pressure constant and increasing the volume by heating the gas using Charles' law… Using either process we change the state of the gas from State 1 to State 2.
But the work for the constant pressure process is greater than the work for the curved line process.

The work done by a gas not only depends on the initial and final states of the gas but also on the process used to change the state. Different processes can produce the same state, but produce different amounts of work.” (I think she’s got it! Lol Plenty thanks NASA!)

UPDATE:
The 1st Law and Its Application to Open Systems

First let's revise 3 definitions:

Open System: matter (mass) and energy can cross the boundary into (or out of) the system.

Steady Flow System: where mass in/out equals mass flow in/out
Parameters like Pressure, Mass, Temperature will remain constant with time.

Unsteady Flow System: where mass flow in/out does not equal mass flow in/out
Pressure, Temperature, Mass, etcetera will change with time.

According to some course materials I've read, both steady and unsteady flow situations are present in real systems.
Examples of Steady Flow Systems include: hair dryers, room air heaters, gas turbine compressors, rotary vane compressors.

Good. Now because of the mass continuously entering/leaving the (Open) Systems, 3 forms of energy are transfered:

- Kinetic Energy
- Potential Energy
- "the energy required to 'force' mass into/out of the system against the system's (and surrounding's) pressure" (Ther103)

Work per kg = Pressure x specific volume (in or out) = pv
For mass m, energy = mpv

And with these 3 forms of energy, we will derive the Steady Flow Energy Equation (SFEE):

As the internal energy changes, so do KE, PE and pv energies.Because of work and heat transfer.

For mass m entering and leaving the system:

change in KE = 1/2m(v2^2 - v1^2)
change in PE = mg(h2 - h1)
change in PV = m(p2v2 - p1v1)
Change in U = m(u2 - u1)

Qm + Wm = m[1/2(v2^2 - v1^2) + g(h2 - h1) + (p2v2 - p1v1) + (u2 - u1)]
Divide through by time to obtain rates of energy transfer and mass flow, rearrange:

Q* + W* = m*[1/2(v2^2 - v1^2) + g(h2 - h1) + (p2v2 + u2) - (p1v1 + u1)]
(where Q*, W* and m* are rates of heat work and mass transfer respectively)

A fluid will always have a temperaure and pressure at entry and exit so we combine the last two terms to obtain
the composite property called enthalpy, H = pv + U and re-write the equation as:

Q* + W* = m* (delta)[1/2v^2 + gh + H)
OR:

Q* + W* = m*[1/2(v2^2 - v1^2) + g(h2 - h1) + (H2 - H1)]

This, is the Steady Flow Energy Equation.

This can be further simplified to Q* + W* = m*(H2 - H1) because most gases considered in Thermodynamics are low density fluids whose inlet and outlet velocities are often similar (Ther103).
The above equation is called the simplified steady flow energy equation (SSFEE).

However, in Fluid Dynamics which considers liquids which are high density fluids, the SFEE can be simplified to

W* = m* (delta)[1/2mv^2 + gh + pv] because its internal energy does not change considerably (is that really so?)

For further reading:

THER103-First%20Law%20Open%20Systems[1].pdf
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/law-thermodynamics-d_39.html

Thermo Solved Questions

2009-11-24T00:49:00.000-08:00

QUESTION 1- Constant Volume Heat Addition
(from www.msubbu.com)
A 28 liter rigid enclosure contains air at 140 kPa and 20oC. Heat is added to the container until the pressure reaches 345 kPa. Calculate the heat added.

SOLUTION:
Given: V = 28L= 0.028m (1L = 1dm3; 10dm = 1m so (10dm)3 = (1m)3)
P1 = 140 KPa
T1 = 20oC = 293K
P2 = 345KPa
∆Q = ?

From the 1st Law of Thermodynamics,
∆Q = ∆U + W

Introducing the reversible work terms,
∆Q = ∆U + P∆V

But at constant volume, P∆V = 0
So ∆Q = ∆U
And ∆Q = ∆U = mCp∆T

But what is m? Cp?

-m can be gotten from the formula PV = nRT, where n = m/M (mass/molecular mass)
m = nM, and n = PV/RT = (140 x 0.028)/(8.314 x 293)
n = 1.609 x 10^-3, and M air = 29, so m = 1.609 x 10^-3 x 29 = 0.0467kg

Good. Now,
-Cv is used, not Cp, because we are dealing wit constant volume here.
Cv air at 20C = 0.718KJ/KgC
Also, at constant V, P ∞ T

So P1/T1 = P2/T2 and T2 = 722K
and ∆Q = ∆U = mCv∆T = 0.0467 x 0.718 x (722 – 293)
∆Q = heat added = 14.385 J//

QUESTION 2: First Law, Cycle Work
A thermodynamic system undergoes a cycle composed of a series of three processes for which Q1 = +10 kJ, Q2 = +30 kJ, Q3 = -5 kJ. For the first process, ∆E = +20 kJ, and for the third process, ∆E = -20 kJ. What is the work in the second process, and the net work output of the cycle?
( www.msubbu.com)

SOLUTION:
Q + W = ∆U

Work done in the first process = 20 - 10 = 10 kJ (i.e., work is done on the system)
Work done in the third process = -20 - (-5) = -15 kJ

For a cyclic process, the overall internal energy change is zero. (i.e., ∆U = 0)
Therefore, ∆U in the second process = (0 - (20 - 20)) = 0 kJ
Therefore, work done in the second process = 0 - 30 kJ = -30 kJ.

Total work done during the cycle = 10 + (-15) + (-30) = -35 kJ (i.e., 35 kJ of work is done by the system).

Total work done can also be calculated as follows:

Total Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 = 10 + 30 - 5 = 35 kJ
Therefore, net work done during the cycle = 0 - 35 kJ = -35 kJ (the negative sign indicates that work is done by the system//

QUESTION 3: Constant Internal Energy Process
A tank having a volume of 0.1 m3 contains air at 14 MPa and 50oC. It is connected through a valve to a larger tank having a volume of 15 m3, which is completely evacuated. The entire assembly is completely insulated. The valve is opened and the gas allowed to come to equilibrium in both tanks. Calculate the final pressure.
(From www.msubbu.com)

SOLUTION:
Given:
V1 = 0.1m3
P1 = 14MPa = 14 x 1000KPa
T = 50C = 323K
V2 = 15m3
∆Q = 0 (since the system is insulated, ie. isolated system)
P2 = ?

∆U = ∆Q + W,
and ∆U = ∆Q + P∆V

but ∆Q = 0, and while volume changes, work is not actually done on the system- it is just a transfer of air from one volume to another volume (imagine it to be ‘unaided diffusion’), so W= 0
so ∆U = 0 and ∆T = 0 since ∆U = mCv∆T

Since T is constant, P1V1 = P2V2
14 x 0.1 = P2 x (0.1 + 15)
Thus P2 = 92.715KPa//

Undstanding Thermodynamics

2009-11-24T00:45:00.000-08:00

Knowledge of today’s Thermodynamic principles came little by little to our ancestors . As time went on, they made educated guesses based on experiments; sometimes they were spot-on, other times they were wrong. According to MIT, “...Our predecessors faced problems and situations that they couldn't explain with existing principles in Physics and Mathematics. Consequently, they proceeded to create new theories and 'laws' verifying their hypotheses with experiments...”

The Historical Progression of Classical Thermodynamics:

The Preclassical Era (1600 - 1840)
People like Galileo, Black and Count Rumford developed Physics mainly, focusing on experiments. Towards the ending of this era, however, Joule and Carnot proposed the Work and Heat Concepts , leading to the next era---

The Classical Era (1840 – 1900)
Scientists like Maxwell, Clausius, Lord Kelvin and Boltzmann studied and further developed Physics, Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering, focusing on laws and postulates.
Gibbs proposed the Statistical and Chemical Thermodynamics postulates, which led to the next era---

The Modern Classical Era (1900 – 2000s)
Chemical and Molecular Thermodynamics was developed, with focus on non-ideal (real) fluids, phase and chemical equilibrium and stability, and this is where we are presently.

The First Law of Thermodynamics:
Before moving on to the 1st Law, a proper understanding of reversible and irreversible processes is required. I’ll just outline the characteristics of reversible processes (from MIT’s Open Courseware)-

1. If any (real or ideal) system in a non-equilibrium state is isolated, it will tend toward a state of equilibrium.

2. All real or natural processes are not reversible. Hence reversible processes are only idealizations that are very useful in showing limiting behavior. The performance of real processes is frequently compared with ideal performance under reversible conditions.

3. A system undergoing a reversible process is no more than differentially removed from an equilibrium state – the system passes through a set of equilibrium states.

4. "A process will be called reversible if a second process could be performed in at least one way so that the system and all elements of its environment can be restored to their respective initial states, except for differential changes of second order." For example, in a reversible expansion or compression δ(δW) ≈ dPdV

5. If a cyclic process A → B → A is reversible, then when the process is carried out, no changes will occur in any other bodies. For example, if A → B involves the absorption of a quantity of heat Q, then B → A will reject the same quantity Q to the environment.

6. Any reversible process is also quasi-static, but the reverse is not necessarily true (a quasi-static process is…? I will find out).

7. Simple systems undergoing reversible processes have no internal gradients of temperature or pressure.

8. Friction and other dissipative forces are not present in reversible processes. A truly reversible process will always require an infinitesimal driving force to ensure that energy transfer occurs without degradation, hence its rate would be infinitely slow. Therefore, a reversible process always can be shown to require a minimum amount of work or will yield a maximum amount of work.

9. Heat engines in reversible processes operate at maximum efficiency. (Why? Find out in good time)

10. If the processes by which heat is transferred or work done on/by the system are reversible, then we can calculate numerical values of for the Q and W (of the 1st Law equation) and work out the internal energy change.

11. If the processes by which heat is transferred or work done on/by the system are irreversible then, values at the start and end of the irreversible process are required to calculate the change in internal energy.

Much more info at:
1. Introductory Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics; http://www.egr.msu.edu
2. MIT Supplementary Open Courseware notes; http://ocw.mit.edu
3. Reversible Processes; http://lorien.ncl.ac.uk/ming/Webnotes/Therm1/revers/revers.htm
Thermodynamics; http://lorien.ncl.ac.uk/ming/Webnotes/Therm1.htm

1st Law of Thermo

2009-11-24T00:34:00.001-08:00

SOME DEFINITIONS

SYSTEM: Region being considered, usually enclosed in a boundary

SURROUNDING: Region that is not under consideration

BOUNDARY: Demarcation between system and surrounding

MATTER: Anything at all, that has weight and occupies space

ENERGY: The ability to do work. Heat energy is usually implied in Chem. Eng

WORK: Product of the force applied and resulting distance moved

State of a System: The state of a system can be identified by property values (eg. pressure, temperature) required to reproduce the system.

Path of a System: Refers to the steps taken to reach certain property values

Simple Systems: Are devoid of any internal adiabatic, rigid, impermeable boundaries; no external force fields or internal forces. A simple system can be single or multi-phase.

Composite Systems: Are two or more simple systems

Open Systems: Allow matter, energy and work to pass across system boundary, either from surrounding to system or vice versa

Closed Systems: Allow only energy and work to pass across system boundary

Isolated Systems: Allow neither matter nor heat to pass across system boundary. No interactions with surroundings

Phase: Region of uniform properties (eg. a liquid phase has the same microscopic kinetic energy properties abi?)

Intensive Properties: Properties (or property values) of a system that do not depend on mass (eg. pressure, temperature-for instance, the boiling point of water does not increase when the quantity of water increases… the time will increase though). Intensive properties have zero order in mass

Extensive Properties: Properties of a system that depend on mass (eg. ) Extensive properties have 1st order in mass

Primitive Properties: Are measurable properties

Derived Properties: Are defined in terms of changes in the state of a system

Reversible Process: "A process will be called reversible if a second process could be performed in at least one way so that the system and all elements of its environment can be restored to their respective initial states, except for differential changes of second order”

Irreversible Process: When the system cannot be restored back to its initial state. All real or natural processes are irreversible, “hence reversible processes are only idealizations that are very useful in showing limiting behavior.”

Sign Conventions: This refers to the positive and negative signs assigned to work and energy, based on their directions; Heat transferred TO the system, as well as work done ON the system is assigned a POSITIVE sign. Vice versa for negative signs

An Innovation 360 Experience-- 1st Hand Info

2009-11-23T06:48:00.000-08:00

The Innovation 360° competition has come and gone, and speaking as one who had the privilege of participating in the competition, I say it was wonderful.
In case you were living under a rock during the entire duration of the British Council –sponsored competition, I have said a little bit about it in an earlier post—just click the link at the right or better yet, scroll down.
Okay, so I have neglected this blog for quite some time, so in the spirit of revival, I will quickly highlight a few things that I gained during the competition:

>>> Congratulations to the British Council on its 75th Anniversary—people celebrate birthdays all the time, with food, drink and general merry-making, but I see that it is even more admirable to give back to society while you are at it. The BC sponsored the six winners with UK Masters’ scholarships worth N3.5Million, as well as Virgin Atlantic plane tickets to and fro AND monthly upkeep allowances… lucky fellas and chica menn! Well they all deserved it.
And the rest of us who didn’t make it to the final six were not left out O! What do you think about £400 each for online masters’ courses of our choice? Sweet! They really tried for us.

>>> We Nigerians are known for our “shouting mentality”, or talking down at subordinates when they are in the wrong, but I have always suspected that there is a way to pass your correction across in ways that do not diminish the recipient’s self esteem so badly—I experienced such a method at the competition. My presentation was very ‘wack’ (that is, lousy -I do say so myself). A point came when I felt like a sheep in heels when my brain evaporated from my body, but you know what? The panel of judges gracefully affirmed me. Not one of them said (or implied), “Wharristhis nansens waste o’ time?!!” They balanced grace and truth and for this I remain ever grateful.

>>> Yea the food was AAA (lol) But the tension made our stomachs knotty so we didn’t really savour the food till the results were out.

>>> You may have good ideas about something, but your presentation and carriage really matters. You may be able to write very well but if you come off as a nervous wreck, it is no-show for you. Practice makes perfect, so let your mirror or your best friend give you some necessary feed-back. Also, being forceful is not synonymous with assertiveness or confidence.

>>> Alright this is all for now… I cannot recall all the other insights I gained at the moment, and I ought to be studying right now. Updates on the studies will be posted soon.

Peace!

British Council's INNOVATION 360 Graduate Programme

2009-10-05T23:29:00.000-07:00

The competition, Innovation 360 degrees, is targeted at young Nigerians who are university graduates. The process will be online and the final five winners get a full master's degree scholarship to a university in the United Kingdom.

"The competition is designed for exceptional people," said Omotola Oyebanjo, Communications Team Leader of the Council. "We are looking for young Nigerians who can take advantage of their intelligence and win scholarships to the UK. Every two weeks, we will put a task online and in the newspapers, and ask young Nigerians to solve them." Starting from September 14, and running through November 21, the programme will list out specific tasks for contestants to solve. Any candidate, who succeeds in solving a task, at any time during the programme, is deemed to qualify for the final draw which entails an interview with a panel of judges. The competition is open to anyone who holds a university degree.

Tomi Soyinka, the Business Partnership Manager of British Council, explained that the tasks are expected to involve current socio-economic trends in Nigeria. "The tasks might include solutions to problems we have in Nigeria now," she said.

"We are looking for creative minds, people that can think outside the box; so the tasks will centre on that.The final interview will be done before a panel which comprises influential Nigerians who studied in the UK and are back in Nigeria making impacts in their various professions," said Mrs Oyebanjo.

"Immediately I heard about it, I started my preparation because I don't want to miss that opportunity," said Daniel Egu, a 2007 unemployed graduate of Sociology. "Since one has not been able to land a job in this country, maybe God might use this opportunity to release one from this bondage." A few metres down Mr Egu's street, the news and excitement continued to spread like an epidemic, even among the employed.

"I am also looking forward to it," said Bolade Adeniran, a marketer in an insurance company. "I have always desired to improve my education, and qualifications, so I think that is a good opportunity to try. Of course, I know it will be tough, but I will put in my best. This country is frustrating, the opportunity of leaving it is not a chance to play with." Mrs Oyebanjo is, however, quick to disillusion those who might see the opportunity as an avenue to migrate to the UK. "One of the things we are insisting on is that the winners will come back after their studies in the UK and contribute to national development," she said.

The British Council is a non political organisation set up by the UK for purposes of sustaining cultural relations with host countries. The Council, which operates in 109 countries, was founded in 1934. Its Nigerian office opened in 1945, and offices are located in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Jos and Enugu.

Other programmes outlined for the anniversary celebrations include a photography contest and an environmental walk, both scheduled for November.

This info. was gotten from http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5458177-147/story.csp

Godspeed.

PTDF selection process

2009-10-05T23:13:00.000-07:00

The selection for the PTDF OSS is an annual process. The whole process from application through to selection is administered and managed by the PTDF; therefore please check the PTDF website for information on application form availability.

How the Application is Advertised
The PTDF places an advert in the national press in Nigeria announcing the next round of applications for the Overseas Scholarship Scheme. This is for both MSc and PhD programmes. Please check the website and at www.ptdf.gov.ng for information regarding the release of the application forms.
The advert will inform you of all relevant details of where, in each Nigerian state, application forms can be obtained.

The Selection Process
This is the first step in the application procedure. From the applications received a selected number will be invited to sit an exam. On the basis of the results of the exam the final selection will be made. The list of successful candidates for the scholarship will be published on the PTDF website and in the national press.

Criteria for acceptance on to the OSS Programme
The following is the criteria you must meet in order to be eligible for the OSS programme:
Hold a first degree in Engineering, Geosciences, Science & Environmental Studies
This must be a minimum of a 2.1
You must have completed your NYSC
Be no more than 30 years of age for MSc and 40 years of age for PhD
Must be a Nigerians national
Hold a credit in English Language in SSCE or required pass mark in TOEFL or IELTS
Be computer literate

Paperwork required to be submitted along with your application
Copies of degree certificates and official transcripts of first degree ( and any subsequent degrees)
English Language certificate.
Two academic references.
PhD applicants should also include a research proposal if required

PTDF OSS Test Format
(Info sourced from nairaland.com and nairasource.com):

There are three parts to go through in two hours. You will not have time on your side
Part 150 objective questions (current affairs) to answer all. Each correct answer attracts a mark as well as each incorrect answer removes a mark. don't guess please. Part 2Three essay questions to answer one. Your English is tested in this section. Please do not draw diagrams. Practice writing essays; the more essays you can write outside the hall before the test the better you will be. Part 310 questions to answer all. These questions are in accordance with your first choice. draw diagrams as much as possible.” This section carries the most marks, and is based on the fundamentals of Thermodynamics… though the format can change!

More Advice From A NairaLander:

“From my findings I would advise that you keep abreast of current affairs e.g. DPR head, OPEC Nigeria governor etc, state governors, local govts, niger delta issues, West African politics and economics, oil producing states and a lot of others, mainly current affairs, also research on your M Sc. first choice, Nigeria and petroleum economics (GDP), all the works.”

Thanks bros’!!
So in case you didn’t know, now you do.
The Best.

COURSES OFFERED BY PTDF
UPDATE: THEY HAVE MODIFIED THIS LIST, SO MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THEIR WEBSITE: www.ptdf.gov.ng

Basin Dynamics and Evolution

Computing and Information Engineering

Diving and Underwater Technology

Energy Systems Engineering

Engineering Geology

Environmental Engineering

Fire and Explosion Engineering

Gas Engineering and Management

Geographic Information Systems

Geoscience of Subsurface Exploration Appraisal and Development (GeoSEAD)

Hydrogeology

Industrial Biotechnology

Marine Computational Fluid Dynamics

Mechanical and Production Engineering

Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering

Offshore Engineering

Offshore Ocean Technology

Oil & Gas Enterprise Management

Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Geosciences

Process System Engineering

Reaction Engineering

Reservoir Engineering

Safety Engineering

Structural Geology with Geophysics

Sub sea Engineering

Welding Engineering

Course Descriptions

Basin Dynamics and Evolution

Course Description:
A well established international reputation in the petroleum industry as a premier postgraduate training programme. It looks at all aspects of sedimentary basins from their tectonic setting and structural evolution to their sedimentary fill. This is combined with training in the practical application of this knowledge to the evaluation of hydrocarbon systems using state of the art oil industry techniques.

General Requirements:
A second class honours degree (or equivalent) in geology, geophysics or a cognate subject.

Computing and Information Engineering
Course Description:
The course offers advanced topics in Computing Science to existing graduates in Computing or a strongly-related discipline. The degree provides the opportunity to extend undergraduate skills into up-to-date specialist areas of Computing such as Data Mining and e-Commerce. A strong research focus provides a rich environment for advanced study and the training to continue to PhD study or industrially-based research positions.
Students will gain advanced skills in specialist areas of Computing Science that are useful and sought after in the computing industry. The MSc Project module is of particular value to employers as evidence of the ability to produce high-quality work of an advanced technical standard to deadline and to a high standard of presentation. This course is fully accredited by the British Computer Society.

General Requirements:
This course is ideal for students who possess an honours degree in a Computing discipline or an honours degree in another discipline with significant computing content.

Diving and Underwater Technology

Course Description:
The course aims to provide an understanding of the underlying science, engineering principles and relevant management techniques in relation to diving science and technology. It will raise students' awareness of recent technical developments within the relevant industries and improve communication, presentation, analytical and problem solving skills. Graduates possessing this expertise are highly sought after by international companies operating in this sector.

General Requirements:
Candidates must possess, or be expected to achieve, a 1st or 2nd class UK honours degree or equivalent in a relevant engineering or science-based discipline. Other relevant qualifications together with considerable industrial experience may be considered.

Energy Systems Engineering

Course Description:
The course is suitable for engineering and applied science graduates and practicing engineers wishing to pursue a technical management career in the strongly growing process industry sector or to qualify as industrial energy professionals.

General Requirements:
Applicants are required to have at least a UK 2nd class honours degree or its equivalent.

Engineering Geology

Course Description:
This programme develops the skills of graduate earth scientists and allied professionals to meet the needs and requirements of the extractive industries, consultants and contractors, and other branches of civil engineering, and to satisfy the national and international demand for specialist engineering geologists with advanced training in geotechnical engineering.

General Requirements:
An upper-second-class Honours degree (or an international equivalent) in civil engineering or geology preferred; other degrees are considered, as is work experience.

Environmental Engineering

Course Description:
The course provides advanced training for both engineers and scientists concerned with the control of pollution in the environment and the protection of public health through the provision of services such as water supply, wastewater treatment and municipal solid waste and hazardous waste management.

General Requirements:
A good 1st degree in a relevant science or engineering subject from a reputable institution. Other disciplines may also be considered, we particularly welcome applications from candidates who have relevant industrial experience.

Fire and Explosion Engineering

Course Description:
This course offers students from diverse academic backgrounds with advanced training in the field of Fire and Explosion Engineering for those wishing to embark on a career, or further develop their career, in the industry. Particular emphasis is placed on fire and explosion protection systems within a legislative framework that is complex and fast-changing. Extensive participation in course delivery by lecturers from industry brings strong industrial involvement to the course.

General Requirements:
A minimum UK Second Class Honours degree (2.2) or equivalent in a appropriate Engineering, Physical Science or Mathematics disciplines.

Gas Engineering and Management

Course Description:
The course is designed to provide a flexible but rigorous period of study for graduates working in, or intending to work in, the natural gas/oil industry. A comprehensive range of subjects is studied covering the whole spectrum of natural gas engineering, providing a sound base from which to select an area of specialised study. The programme covers all aspects of gas technology and associated gas business management and will enable students to increase their skills and technical knowledge.

General Requirements:
A first degree in an appropriate discipline such as Mechanical Engineering

Geographic Information Systems

Course Description:
This programme provides advanced training in the theory and practice of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and allied remote sensing techniques within the field of applications in geography, geology and environmental sciences. It is aimed at graduates from the natural sciences and geography programmes and mature students working in this field.

General Requirements:
Good first degree or a postgraduate diploma in an appropriate subject, or relevant personal or professional experience.

GeoSEAD

Course Description:
Geoscience of Subsurface Exploration Appraisal and Development (GeoSEAD)

The aim of the course is to teach earth scientist specialised courses at postgraduate level on the fundamentals of Geoscience for Subsurface Exploration Appraisal and Development. Topics looked at on the course include Reservoir Structure, Petroleum Engineering for Exploration, Exploration Methods, Reservoir Geophysics and Basic Sedimentology.

General Requirements:
A good honours degree in a relevant Geoscience discipline such as Geology or Geophysics from a UK or Overseas University. In addition to the academic qualifications, motivation, industrial experience and personality are taken into consideration.

Hydrogeology

Course Description:
The course is designed to give a thorough grounding in all aspects of hydrogeology including theory of movement of water and contaminants in the subsurface, geochemistry of groundwater, interpretation of hydraulic and chemical data in field and laboratory, and groundwater modelling. The course at Leeds includes, as distinctive features, the chemistry of pollutants and their remediation, modelling flow and contaminant transport using software commonly used in the industry, and fractured aquifers.

General Requirements:
A geoscience or related background including geology, geophysics, engineering and environmental science. A first or upper second class degree or the overseas equivalent is normally required. Applicants should note that the course contains quantitative elements that require mathematics to approximately A-level standard.

Industrial Biotechnology

Course Description:
The programme covers the scientific principles necessary for an advanced understanding of contemporary industrial biotechnology and develops generic practical skills in handling micro-organisms, molecular biological techniques and data analysis. It examines the fundamental role played by micro-organisms in the turnover of pollutants, the search and discovery of commercially significant natural products, and the production of novel biological compounds. The programme also explores areas of related interest such as bioethics, regulatory affairs and the role of intellectual property in biotechnology.

General Requirements:
Normally a good Honours degree in a related discipline.

Marine Computational Fluid Dynamics

Course Description:
This degree programme is designed to offer an advanced level of study in specific aspects of mechanical engineering that are in demand from industry. The degree comprises study in analysis and design of power machinery systems, engineering structures, vibration, control and the use of computers in advanced engineering analysis. The project side of the degree would concentrate on Computational Fluid Dynamics.

General Requirements:
A UK Bachelor's degree passed at either first or second-class Honours degree level (upper second-class preferred) in a suitable engineering subject (normally civil engineering, mechanical engineering or naval architecture). An overseas qualification of an equivalent standard from a university.

Mechanical and Production Engineering

Course Description:
This degree programme is designed to offer an advanced level of study in specific aspects of mechanical engineering that are in demand from industry. The degree comprises study in analysis and design of power machinery systems, engineering structures, vibration, control and the use of computers in advanced engineering analysis.

General Requirements:
A good first degree in Mechanical Engineering. Candidates with qualifications in other subjects will be considered, but a knowledge of fluids is essential and thermodynamics desirable.

Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering

Course Description:
This programme is designed to equip graduates with a well-founded knowledge and understanding of naval architecture and its practical application, particularly in the areas of ship design, performance, production, structures and propulsion.

General Requirements:
Candidates are normally expected to hold a 2:1 Honours degree, or equivalent, in engineering or another relevant subject.

Offshore Engineering

Course Description:
This programme is aimed at graduate engineers who wish to specialize in the design, dynamic and strength analysis of fixed and floating offshore oil and gas platforms, and sub-sea systems including pipelines as well as marine systems to produce renewable energy.

General Requirements:
Candidates are normally expected to hold a 2:1 Honours degree, or equivalent, in engineering or another relevant subject.

Offshore Ocean Technology

Course Description:
The MSc Offshore and Ocean Technology course aims to provide an understanding of the underlying science, engineering principles and relevant management techniques in relation to the specialised option selected. It will raise students' awareness of recent technical developments within the relevant industries and improve communication, presentation, analytical and problem solving skills. Graduates possessing this expertise are highly sought after by international companies operating in this sector.

General Requirements:
Candidates must possess, or be expected to achieve, a 1st or 2nd class UK honours degree or equivalent in a relevant engineering or science-based discipline. Other relevant qualifications together with considerable industrial experience may be considered.

Oil & Gas Enterprise Management

Course Description:
The MSc in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management provides a broad training in oil industry matters; especially those pertaining to how relatively small oil companies can work with National Oil Companies (NOCs) and energy ministries to better exploit their hydrocarbon resources. In this respect training in commercialisation, economics and law will be important, as will an understanding of how science and technology can be applied at the cutting edge to improve hydrocarbon exploration success and recovery.
The target audiences are geologists, engineers and business managers working in NOCs and energy ministries, but the course would equally appeal to British and international graduates and professionals seeking to increase their knowledge, skills and qualifications.

General Requirements:
Honours degree, at a level of Upper Second-Class (2.1) or above, or its international equivalent, preferably in Geology, Geophysics, Engineering, Law, Economics, or other relevant degree.

Petroleum Engineering

Course Description:
The successful identification and exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves requires that ‘Petroleum Engineers’ are able to operate in multi-disciplinary teams. These teams encompass a wide range of clearly defined disciplines - from the descriptive, such as petroleum geoscience to heavily numerical, such as reservoir simulation. These engineers must not only be specialists in their own discipline but have a clear appreciation of the other disciplines with which they are required to interact. This course has been designed so that the graduates from the programme can work effectively in this challenging environment.
The course is vocational in nature and is designed to equip engineers who have between one and five years experience in the Petroleum Industry (in operating companies and the service sector) with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate effectively, and to the standard required by the petroleum industry.

General Requirements:
A good honours degree in engineering or a relevant science discipline such as Geology, Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics from a UK or Overseas University. In addition to the academic qualifications, motivation, industrial experience and personality are taken into consideration.

Petroleum Geosciences

Course Description:
The MSc programme is regarded as perhaps the best of its kind in the world and has achieved an excellent reputation as one of the top vocational training pathways. Graduates from this course are highly sought after by industry. The course has strong ties with industry, with projects often involving related companies. Subjects such as sedimentology, petroleum geochemistry and structural geology are looked at.

General Requirements:
Applicants must have an Upper Second Class or better Honours degree (or overseas equivalent) in a scientific discipline. Because we have to assume a certain level of starting knowledge, we have a strong preference for the first degree to be in Geology, Geophysics, or a joint degree incorporating Geology as a major component.

Process System Engineering

Course Description:
The course is suitable for engineering and applied science graduates and practicing engineers wishing to pursue a technical management career in the strongly growing process industry sector or to qualify as industrial energy professionals.

General Requirements:
Applicants are required to have at least a UK 2nd class honours degree or its equivalent.

Reaction Engineering

Course Description:
The course aims to produce graduates equipped to pursue careers in advanced chemical engineering, in industry, the public sector and non-governmental organisations. Providing the basis for the recognition and understanding of the major features of advanced chemical engineering; Develop an understanding of how this knowledge may be applied in practice in an economic and environmentally friendly fashion.

General Requirements:
Normally a Lower Second Class Honours degree in chemical engineering from a UK academic institution or an equivalent overseas qualification, or a Lower Second Class Honours degree in another engineering discipline or a science-based subject from a UK academic institution or equivalent overseas qualification with relevant experience.

Reservoir Engineering

Course Description:
Oil and Gas exploration and production has developed in line with the development of society. Petroleum is currently the primary source of energy for developed countries because of its versatility in production, refining and transportation to market. The MSc course has produced Reservoir Engineers and Geoscientists in demand throughout the global petroleum industry. They are responsible for the characterisation of the reservoir and the design of development plans to maximise hydrocarbon recovery.

General Requirements:
A good honours degree in a relevant science discipline such as Geology, Geophysics, Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics, or an appropriate engineering degree, from a UK or Overseas University. A background in geoscience is important, but not always required.

Safety Engineering

Course Description:
The Programme is aimed at high calibre engineers who wish to expand their education and training to include safety engineering and risk management. The objectives of the Programme are to provide education and training at postgraduate level for graduate engineers in the general area of safety engineering, reliability engineering, risk management, and loss prevention. Safety engineering is not a subject which is adequately covered in most undergraduate courses, except perhaps in chemical engineering, but even there the emphasis is on chemical hazards and process safety. This MSc Programme brings together those topics relating to the safety and reliability of engineering products and systems, including the legislative framework, in a unified approach.

General Requirements:
A good honours degree (minimum Class 2(ii)) and to professional graduate engineers with two or more years relevant industrial experience. Graduates in a science subject who have two or more years experience in an engineering field and who wish to re-train in the area of safety and risk management will also be considered for entry.

Structural Geology with Geophysics

Course Description:
Understanding the structure and physical properties of the subsurface is key to the efficient discovery and use of earth resources as well as sequestration or storage of waste products of energy production. The course gives the background to data acquisition, the structural principles and training in the use of industry standard software to enable successful graduates to obtain employment in the resources industry or to undertake research studies for the degree of PhD.

General Requirements:
A geosciences or related background, including geology and geophysics. A first or upper second class BSc. (or an overseas equivalent) is normally required: relevant industry experience can be taken into account. Applicants need not have previous training in geology, but must have mathematics to a minimum of a good UK A-level standard.

Sub sea Engineering

Course Description:
The course aims to provide an understanding of the underlying science, engineering principles and relevant management techniques in relation to sub-sea engineering. It will raise students' awareness of recent technical developments within the relevant industries and improve communication, presentation, analytical and problem solving skills. Graduates possessing this expertise are highly sought after by international companies operating in this sector.

General Requirements:
Candidates must possess, or be expected to achieve, a 1st or 2nd class UK honours degree or equivalent in a relevant engineering or science-based discipline. Other relevant qualifications together with considerable industrial experience may be considered.

Welding Engineering

Course Description:
Welding is integral to the manufacture of a wide range of products, from high power laser welding of large ships, to microjoining of thin wires to circuit boards. The application of welding and joining continues to expand; in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries; in transport, including automotive, aerospace, and shipbuilding; in manufacture of electronic systems; in defence industries; and in general manufacturing. The MSc Welding Engineering addresses these needs, and covers a wide range of areas that are part of modern welding technology such as automation, metallurgy and materials science, welding processes, design, and quality.

General Requirements:
A 1st or 2nd class UK honours degree or equivalent in a relevant engineering or science-based discipline.

This info was gotten from http://www.ptdf.com/Course_Descriptions.htm

THE HISTORY, MANDATE AND MISSION OF THE PTDF
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) is a parastatal of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources established by Degree 25 0f 1973 dedicated for the purpose of development, promotion and implementation of petroleum technology and manpower development through research and training of Nigerians as graduates, professionals, technicians and craftsmen in the fields of engineering, geology, geosciences, management, economics and relevant fields in the petroleum and solid minerals industry in Nigeria or abroad.
Mandate of the PTDF
The fund shall be dedicated for the purpose of development, promotion and implementation of petroleum technology and manpower development through research and training of Nigerian as graduate, professional, technician and craftsmen in the relevant fields in the petroleum and solid minerals industry.
History
Prior to the establishment of PTDF, there existed the Gulf Oil Company Fund, which Act was repealed by the promulgation of Act No 25 0f 1973 establishing the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) as a Fund for the purpose of training and education of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry. Section 1 of the act provides the following moneys shall be paid into the Fund:
The balance of monetary assets outstanding in the accounts of the Gulf Oil Company Training Fund at the commencement of the Act;
All further sum payable to or received by the minister of Mines, Power & Steel ( Now minister of energy) in terms of any agreement made by the Government and any company in relation to Petroleum Oil Prospecting or mining concessions; and
Any other sums from time to time freely donated or accruing to the Government or the Fund for the training of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry as the said minister may direct. In addition, section 2 of the Fund shall be available for the purpose of training Nigerians to qualify as Graduates, Professionals, Technicians and Craftsmen, in the fields of engineering, geology, science and management in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria or abroad. Specifically, the said section 2 further provides that the Fund shall utilize for the following purpose:
a) To provide scholarships and bursaries, wholly or partially in the Universities, Collages, Institutions and in Nigeria or abroad;
b) To maintain, supplement, or subsidise such training or education as mentioned above;
c) To make suitable endowments to faculties in Nigerian Universities, Collages or institutions as approved by the minister
d) To make available suitable books and training equipment in the institutions aforesaid

e) For sponsoring regular or as necessary visits to oil fields, refineries, petrochemical plants, and for arranging any necessary attachments of personnel to establishments connected with the development of the oil and gas industry; and
f) For financing of and participation in seminars and conferences which are connected with oil and gas industry in Nigeria or Abroad.
Mission
To train Nigerians to qualify as graduates, professionals, technicians and craftsmen in the field of engineering, geology, science and management in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria or abroad.

HOW TO BECOME A PTDF SCHOLAR UNDER THE FUND’S OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME (OSS) October is the beginning of the last quarter of the year. For the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), the month of October ushers in the process of selecting Nigerians for the award of PTDF Overseas Scholarships under its OSS Scheme, the flagship programme of the Fund.

The Scholarship Scheme affords young Nigerians, the opportunity of being trained in highly rated Universities abroad to specialise in related fields of Engineering, Geological Sciences , Environment and Energy Studies both at Master’s and Doctoral levels.

The expectation is that beneficiaries will fit in directly to the oil and gas industry and ultimately contribute towards PTDF’s goal of attaining 70% Nigerian Content target of government in the oil and gas industry by 2010.Since it took off effectively in 2002, not less than 867 Nigerians have been trained under the Scheme. This is made up of 746 M.Sc scholars and 121 Ph.D scholars.

For the 2008/2009 academic year, the Fund sponsored a total of 290 students made up of 250 M.sc and 40 Ph.D. The PTDF overseas scholarship scheme covers payments for tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses as well as provision of air tickets to successful scholars in top ten Universities in Europe and other parts of the world. With an estimated expense of £24,500 per scholar per academic year, the Fund committed about £13,159,724.38 (nearly £13.2 million pounds) on the training of M.sc and Ph.D scholars between 2002 and 2006.

Since the commencement of the overseas scholarship scheme, various interest groups have been raising concerns about the transparency, integrity and impartiality of the process. There are also insinuations that certain parts of the country are favoured in the allocation of the awards. It is not unlikely that those who raise these concerns do so from lack of understanding of the way the scheme works, and failure to appreciate the rigorous steps taken by PTDF to ensure equity in the allocation of the awards, without compromising the high standards and strict adherence to the guidelines for the award.

With the commencement of the process for the 2009/2010 awards this October [2008], it is necessary to bring to the knowledge of interested candidates and other interest groups some important facts governing the award of PTDF scholarships to deserving students which hopefully will lead to a better appreciation of how the scholarship scheme works. Generally, PTDF is guided by four factors in the award of scholarships to deserving Nigerians.

(1) Federal character: Under which all states/Geopolitical zones are given equal number of scholarships.

(2) Merit: Under which the highest scorers in the aptitude test/interview from each state and the Federal Capital Territory/Geopolitical zones are selected for the awards.

(3) Oil producing states: In which additional scholarship slots are given to each of the oil producing states.

(4) Gender Sensitivity: In which the best female candidate(s) with the highest scores in the aptitude test from each of the six geopolitical zones are awarded scholarships.

For the 2007/2008 academic year, five scholarships were awarded to candidates from each of the 36 States of the Federation purely on merit. Each of the nine oil producing states were in addition to the five, granted two additional slots bringing to 7 the total scholarship awards to each of the nine oil producing states.

Nigerians aspiring for scholarship awards under the scheme should therefore look out for the publications in some national Newspapers as from 22nd October, 2008 calling for applications from interested candidates. The next thing would be to obtain an application form from their state scholarship boards or apply online through the PTDF website (www.ptdfscholarships.org).

To be eligible for the M.sc scholarship award, the candidate must not be more than 35 years, and should possess a minimum of second class upper Degree in oil and Gas related fields. The related fields include the physical sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computing, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Geology, Geophysics, Microbiology and Biochemistry and could be expanded to include the Management Sciences and Law, depending on need by the industry.

It is also expected that the applicants are computer literate, possess a certificate of proficiency in English Language, from any of the following Examination bodies GCE, SSCE, TOEFL, GRE, IELTS, or GMAT and must have served the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and as such should be able to produce an NYSC discharge certificate or certificate of exemption.

In addition, the management of the Fund has decided to reintroduce sponsorship of a limited number of Management courses from 2009/10 academic session. These include Petroleum law and policy, Energy economics, Energy finance, Petroleum Accounting and Oil and Gas Management. This is in response to calls from Nigerians on the need to expand the approved sponsored courses. To be eligible to apply for the scholarship in the Ph.D category, aspiring candidates must possess a good first and second University Degrees or HND and PGD/Masters Degree certificates. They are also expected to submit a research proposal of between four to five pages in the areas of Environmental Studies and Health Safety and Environment; Marginal fields Development; flow assurance and pipeline Engineering ; Geology, Civil and Marine Technology; Renewable Energy Reservoir Engineering and Petroleum Technology; Refining Technology and Applied Geophysics. The research proposal must indicate the expected results and relevance to the oil and gas industry.

Other requirements for the Ph.D category of the PTDF overseas scholarship scheme include the presentation of a valid admission letter by the applicant who must not be more than 40 years of age. However lecturers seeking the award must not be above 45 years of age. All applicants must include their Master’s Degree project.All applicants who completed the application form are to return the application forms to the state scholarship boards where they purchased them. The completed application forms are subsequently retrieved from the state scholarship boards by PTDF for collation at the headquarters using the approved criteria.

Applicants for M.sc scholarship who meet the requirements are invited for an aptitude test conducted simultaneously in six centres in the six geo-political zones. The aptitude test, is supervised by University professors who set and mark the questions, while applicants for PhD scholarship who meet the requirements are invited for the interview usually conducted in Abuja on fixed dates by selected reputable University professors and industry experts with requisite knowledge and background in the areas of relevance. The best performing candidates in the aptitude test are shortlisted out of which the top 5 or 6 depending on the awards for the year are selected from each state for the award of the PTDF Overseas scholarship, while a given number of the highest scorers are selected on zonal basis in respect of Ph.D

This rigorous process is deliberately put in place to safeguard the quality and integrity of the scholarship scheme. This has manifested in the consistent high performance of PTDF scholars in their Universities of study abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom where PTDF scholars are reputed to be among the first ten and in some cases among the first five top students, with some of them passing out with distinction as well as winning various awards. The PTDF is proud of this laudable achievement. The management of the Fund will not relent in its efforts in this regard. Nigerians are therefore, hereby assured that every effort will be made by management of the Fund to ensure the maintenance of the credibility and integrity of the selection process, guided by transparency and due process at all times.
Kalu Otisi Esq.
Head (Press and External Relations)

2003/2004 PTDF QUESTIONS

2009-09-01T16:01:00.000-07:00

These were the questions asked in the 2003/2004 year and we will be working on finding some more questions (source: nairasource.com). )3/04 seems to be the only year in circulation though :-

DVT:2003/2004
PART 1
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS
TIME 25 MINUTES

1. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS LEAST AFFECTED BY THE BUSINESS CYCLE?
A. AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURE
B. FOOD PRPCESSING
C. OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
D. SHIP BUILDING
E. IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY

2. GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT IS DEFINED AS:
A. TOTAL GOODS PRODUCED
B. TOTAL GOODS AND SERVICES PRODUCED
C. TOTAL GOODS AND SERVICES PRODUCED LESS TAXES
D. NET NATIONAL PRODUCT LESS DIVIDENDS
E. NET NATIONAL PRODUCT LESS INVESTMENTS

3. DURING DEFLATIONARY TIMES NIGERIAN NAIRA BUYS,
A. MORE
B. LESS
C. AN AMOUNT OF GOODS LESS TO THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR
D. MORE GOODS BUT FEWER SERVICES
E. FEWER GOODS BUT MORE SERVICES

4. INSURANCE IS USED FOR ALL THE FOLLOWING EXCEPT
A. PROTECTION AGAINST LOSS
B. SAVINGS
C. PROTECT THE FAMILY IN CASE OF DEATH OF THE BREADWINNER
D. INCOME TAX REDUCTION
E. AN ASSET THAT CAN BE PLEDGE FOR A LOAN

5. FOR MANAGEMENT THE FOLLOWING ARE OBJECTIVES OF WAGE INCENTIVES
(i) LOWER UNIT COSTS
(ii) IMPROVED COST CONTROL AND
(iii) INCREASED WORKER MORALE

A. (i) ONLY
B. (ii) ONLY
C. (i) AND (ii)
D. (i) AND (iii)
E. (i), (ii) AND (iii)

6. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING THEORIES OF BUSINESS CYCLE WAS ACCEPTED BY KARL MARX
A. THE OVER INVESTMENT TEORY
B. THE UNDER INVESTMENT THEORY
C. THE THEORY BASED ON OVER PRODUCTION
D. THE THEORY BASED ON VARIATION IN THE AMOUNT IN CIRCULATION
E. NONE OF THE ABOVE

7. THE ORGANISATION OF PETROLEUM EXPORTING CONTRIES (OPEC) IS AN EXAMPLE OF
A. OLIGOPOLY MARKET
B. DUOPOLY MARKET
C. MONOPOLY MARKETD. PERFECTLY COMPETITIVE MARKET
E. NONE OF THE ABOVE

8. IN THE SHORT TERM, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SITUATION WOULD THE COMPETETIVE SELLER CLOSE DOWN?
A. WHEN HE CANNOT PRODUCE AT AN ECONOMIC PROFIT
B.WHEN PRICE FALLS SHORT OF AVERAGE VARIABLE COST AT EVERY LEVEL OF OUTPUT
C. WHEN PRICE FALLS SHORT OF AVERAGE FIXED COST AT EVERY LEVEL OF OUTPUT
D. WHEN PRICE FALLS SHORT OF AVERAGE TOTAL COST AT EVERY LEVEL OF OUTPUT
E. WHEN THERE IS NO POINT WHERE MARGINAL COSTS AND MARGINAL RESERVES ARE EQUAL

9. IF15 V 5 = 20 15^5 = 3 SOLVE (48^6) /(6V2)
A. 18
B. 131/2
C. 62/3
D. 22/3
E. 110.

THE FIRST EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA WAS
A. NNAMDI AZIKIWE
B. ALHAJI SHEHU SHAGARI
C. ALHAJI ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA
D. CHIEF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO
E. GENERAL IBRAHIM BABANGIDA

11. THE CHIEF COACH/TECHNICAL ADVISER OF THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL TEAM TO JAPAN/KOREA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP COMPETETION IN 2002 WAS
A. CLEMENT WESTERHOFF
B. FESTUS ONIGBINDE
C. CHRISTIAN CHUKWU
D. JO BONIFRERE
E. AUSTIN EJIDE

12 IDENTIFY THE ITEM THAT DOES NOT BELONG IN THE GROUP
A. MOSQUE
B. CHURCH
C. TEMPLE
D. SYNAGOGUE
E. MAUSOLEUM

13 COMPLETE THE MISSING GAP IN THE QUESTION BY CHOOSING A WORD FROM THE LIST GIVEN SHEEP AND BLEAT, CAT AND _____
A. BARK
B. NOISE
C. MEW
D. ROAR
E. NEIGH1

4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DOES NOT BELONG TO THE GROUP
A. CUBE
B. SPHERE
C. PYRAMID
D. CIRCLE
E. CYLINDER

15. THE NOBEL PRIZE IS NAMED AFTER THE CHEMIST ALFRED NOBEL WHO WAS BORN ON OCTOBER 21, 1833 AND WAS A CITIZEN OF _________
A. ENGLAND
B. AMERICA
C. JAPAN
D. SWEDEN
E. FRANCE

16.WHEN WAS THE FIRST REAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE INTRODUCED IN NIGERIA
A. 1914
B. 1946
C. 1950
D. 1960
E. 1973

17. THE NUMBER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN NIGERIA ARE
A. 680B. 774C. 556D. 747E. 821

18. WHEN WAS THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION ESTABLISHED?
A. 1918B. 1945C. 1946D. 1920E. 1953

19. IN WHAT YEAR WAS THE NIGERIAN LIQUEFIED GAS (NLNG) FINAL INVESTMENT DECISION (FID) SIGNED?A. 1994B. 1992C. 1995D. 1996E. 1998

20. NIGERIA FIRST SHIPLOAD OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG) WAS EXPORTED BY CHEVRON/NNPC JOINT VENTURE ON
A. 30TH SEPTEMBER 1997
B. 15TH AUGUST 1998
C. 10TH JULY 1998
D. 28TH FEBRUARY 1996
E. 6TH MAY 1995

21. THE FIRST COMMERCIAL DEEPWATER DISCOVERY IN NIGERIA IS
A. AGBAMI I
B. AKPO
C. ABO
D. BONGA
E. IKIJA I

22. WHAT DAY OF THE YEAR IS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY?
A. 1ST APRILB. 23RD MARCHC. 5TH JUNED. 10TH OCTOBERE. 29TH JULY

23. WHEN WAS THE OLDEST UNIVERSITY IN NIGERIA ESTABLISHED?
A. 1948B. 1960C. 1962D. 1936E. 1952

24. THE QUALITY OF PETROLEUM IS DETERMINED BY THE AMOUNT OF ________ IT CONTAINS
A. PHOSPHOROUS
B. CARBON
C. HYDROGEN
D. SULPHUR
E. OXYGEN

25. A BOY IN A BARBER SHOP SITS BETWEEN 2 PARALLEL MIRRORS. HOW MANY IMAGES OF HIMSELF WILL HE OBSERVE
A. 2
B. 1
C. âˆž
D. 200
E. 4

26. AMERICA WANTS TO GO TO WAR AGAINST IRAQ BECAUSE IN HER OPINION THE LATTER DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE SPIRIT AND LETTER OF WHICH UNITED NATIONS RESULOTUION?
A. 1771B. 1441C. 1741D. 1174E. 1471

27. WHEN WAS THE STATE OF ISRAEL CREATED OUT OF PALESTINE?
A. 14TH MAY 1948
B. 1OTH DECEMBER 1947
C. 12TH MAY 1945
D. 1ST OCTOBER 1946
E. 23RD AUGUST 1950

28. THE LAST TIME NEW STATES WERE CREATED IN NIGERIA WAS
A. 1ST OCTOBER 1996
B. 1ST OCTOBER 1995
C. 27TH AUGUST 1993
D. 29TH MAY 1999
E. 15TH JANUARY 1997

29. GIVEN THE SERIES 9/2, 13/2, 17/2 FILL THE BLANK IN THE FOLLOWING 5/2, ___.., 1/2
A. Â½
B. 1
C. 3/2
D. 7/2
E. 2

30. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA HAS BANNED THE IMPORTATION OF SECOND HAND VEHICLES (TOKUNBO) THAT ARE MORE THAN ______.. YEARS OLD INTO NIGERIA.
A. 5 YEARSB. 8 YEARSC. 10 YEARSD. 15 YEARSE. 3 YEARS

31. COLIFORM COUNTS ARE IMPORTANT IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT BECAUSE THE PRESENCE OF COLIFORMS INDICATES _______
A. DISEASE CONDITION
B. PRESENCE OF CRUDE OIL
C. POLLUTION BY HUMAN WASTE
D. AQUQTIC ENVIRONMENT
E. PRESENCE OF BACTERIAL DISEASE

32. GREENHOUSE EFFECT IS ________
A. PRESENCE OF CARBON (IV) OXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE
B. PRESENCE OF METHANE
C. INCREASE IN THE MEAN GLOBAL TEMPERATURES AS A RESULT OF INCREASE IN THE CONCENTRATION OF CERTAIN GASES
D. EFFECT OF GREEN VEGETABLE WHEN GROWN INSIDE A HOUSE
E. SOLAR ENERGY PASSING THROUGH GREEN VEGETATION.

33. THE EARTH SUMMIT WAS HELD IN RIO DE JANEIRO IN 1992 WHILST THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WAS HELD IN _________
A. ROME 1962
B. STOCKHOLM 1972
C. JAKARTA 2002
D. JOHANNESBURG 2002
E. LAGOS 1990

34. WHICH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A REASON FOR CONSERVING LIVING ORGANISM?
A. EXISTING BENEFITS
B. PERCEIVED BENEFITS
C. ETHICAL REASONS
D. UTILITY
E. PRIDE OF HUMANITY

35. WHICH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES MAY NOT CAUSE VEGETATION DAMAGE?
A. DEPOSITION OF BRINE/SALINE WATER
B. DEPOSITION OF DREDGE SPOIL
C. EMISSION OF CO2 FROM FLARING
D. OIL SPILL
E. DISCHARGE OF REFINERY EFFLUENTS

36. HOW MANY INDIGENEOUS COMPANIES WERE RECENTLY ALLOCATED MARGINAL OIL FIELDS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA OF NIGERIA?
A. 35
B. 40
C.24
D. 15
E. 31

37. THE RESERVE OF TAR SANDS OIL IN PLACE IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED TO BE OVER
A. 25 BILLION BARRELS
B. 60 BILLION BARRELS
C. 40 BILLION BARRELS
D. 28 BILLION BARRELS
E. 10 BILLION BARRELS

38. WHAT IS ONE TON OF LNG EQUIVALENT TO?
A. 15 BARRELS OF LNG
B. 18 BARRELS OF LNG
C. 520 CUBIC METRES OF NATURAL GAS
D. 16 BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL
E. Â½ TON OF COAL

39. SLAVE TRADE WAS FIRST ABOLISHED IN THE WORLD IN ENGLAND IN ________
A. 1782
B. 1804
C. 1815
D. 1807
E. 1833

40. WHEN WAS THE FIRST SHIPMENT OF CRUDE OIL FROM NIGERIA MADE?
A. 28TH FEBRUARY 1956
B. 17TH FEBRUARY 1958
C. 29TH SEPTEMBER 1960
D. 16TH JANUARY 195
E. 16TH JUNE 1955

41. THE CURRENT MINISTER OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES IN NIGERIA IS ________
A. MRS MODUPE ADELAJA
B. DR. RILWANU LUKEMAN
C. DR. JACKSON GAIUS OBASEKI
D. CHIEF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO
E. NONE OF THE ABOVE

42.11TH SEPTEMBER 2001 IS GENERALLY REGARDED AS THE DAY THE WORLD CHANGED BECAUSE
A. AMERICA WAS ATTACKED AT HOME BY PLANES THAT CRASHED INTO THE TWIN TOWERS AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE AND THE PENTAGON
B. AMERICA AND ALLIES ATTACKED AFGHANISTAN
C. ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS LEADERS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO WORK TOWARDS PEACE
D. MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ADOPTS THE EURO AS THE COMMON CURRENCY
E. THE DEBT OF THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES CANCELLED BY DONOR COUNTRIES.

43. WHICH GEOPHYSICAL METHOD IS COMMONLY APPLIED IN DETAILED REGIONAL STUDY OF SEDIMENTARY BASINS FOR SUBSURFACE SEQUENCE DELINEATION AND STRUCTURAL MAPPING IN OIL EXPLORATION?
A. AIRBORNE GRAVITY SURVEY
B. SEISMIC REFLECTION
C. AERO MAGNETIC SURVEY
D. SEISMIC REFRACTION
E. GROUND PENETRATING RADAR

44. MAO TSE-TUNG PROCLAIMED CHINA A COMMUNIST REPUBLIC ON
A. 26TH MAY 1948
B. 10TH JULY 1925
C. 1ST OCTOBER 1949
D. 27TH JULY 1946
E. 1ST SEPTEMBER 1939

45. NELSON MANDELA WAS FREED FROM VICTOR VERSTER PRISON NEAR CAPE TOWN ON 11TH FEBRUARY 1990 AFTER _______ YEARS IMPRISONMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA GOVERNMENT.
A. 18
B. 27
C. 35
D. 30
E. 10

46. WHEN AND WHERE WAS THE FIRST PROGRAMMABLE ELECTRONIC COLOSSUS, PUT INTO OPERATION?
A. 1940, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY ENGLAND
B. 1945, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA USA
C. 1948, KREMLIN MOSCOW
D. 1943, BLETCHLEY PARK, ENGLAND
E. 1941, BERLIN, GERMANY

47. MIKHAIL GORBACHEV IS REGARDED AS THE REFORMING USSR LEADER BECAUSE
A. HE INTRODUCED DEMOCRACY TO USSR
B. HE DESTROYED THE COMMUNIST PARTY
C. HE INTRODUCED THE PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT TO THE USSR
D. HE INTRODUCED TWO POLICIES, PERESTROIKA, AND GLASNOST TO USSR
E. HE PERMITTED THE BREAKDOWN OF THE BERLIN WALL

48. THE WORLD’S NUMBER ONE FEMALE LAWN TENNIS PLAYER IS
A. SERENA WILLIAMS
B. VENUS WILLIAMS
C. MONICA SELES
D. STEPHI GRAF
E. MARTINA NAVRATILOVA

49. HALLEY’S COMMET RETURNS TO THE CENTER OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM ONCE EVERY
A. 55 YEARS
B. 76 YEARS
C. 112 YEARS
D. 44 YEARS
E. 67 YEARS

50. THE WORST ACCIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF NUCLEAR POWER WAS RECORDED ON 26TH APRIL 1986 AT
A. CHERNOBYL, USSR
B. KOBE, JAPAN
C. THREE MILE ISLAND USA
D. SELLAFIELD, ENGLAND
E. NEU-ULM, GERMANY.

Course Map

2009-08-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

Course Map (courtesy: OAU Ife)-

1. Engineering Thermodynamics

-Definition of terms and general concepts of the system, surrounding, process, temperature, heat, work and energy.
- First Law of Thermodynamics- application to open systems.

-Second Law of Thermodynamics-application to heat engines.

-Entropy.

-First and Second Law combined.

-Perfect Gases.

-Joule Thompson Coefficient.

-Equilibrium processes.

-Maxwell's relations.

-Two-phase systems Thermodynamic functions of solution.

-P-V-T relationship, Work from Heat energy.

-Refrigeration.

Experience-Based Rules of Chemical Engineering

2009-08-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

A Chererources Article

You are about to read an award winning article which won the 2000 Beychok-Montemayor Award at The Chemical Engineers' Resource Page.

Experience is typically what turns a good engineer into a great engineer. An engineer that can look at a pipe and a flowmeter and guess the pressure drop within 5%. Someone who can at least estimate the size of a vessel without doing any calculations. When I think of such rules, two authors come to my mind, Walas and Branan. Dr. Walas' book, Chemical Process Equipment: Selection and Design has been widely used in the process industry and in chemical engineering education for years. Mr. Branan has either helped write or edit numerous books concerning this topic. Perhaps his most popular is Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers. Here, I'll share some of these rules with you along with some of my own. Now, be aware that these rules are for estimation and are not necessarily meant to replace rigorous calculations when such calculations should be performed. But at many stages of analysis and design, these rules can save you hours and hours.

A) Materials of Construction

Carbon Steel
Advantages: Low cost, easy to fabricate, abundant, most common material. Resists most alkaline environments well.

Disadvantages: Very poor resistance to acids and stronger alkaline streams. More brittle than other materials, especially at low temperatures.

Stainless Steel
Adv: Relatively low cost, still easy to fabricate. Resists a wider variety of environments than carbon steel. Available in many different types.

Disadv: No resistance to chlorides, and resistance decreases significantly at higher temperatures.

254 SMO (Avesta)
Adv: Moderate cost, still easy to fabricate. Resistance is better over a wider range of concentrations and temperatures compared to stainless steel.

Disadv: Little resistance to chlorides, and resistance at higher temperatures could be improved.

Titanium
Adv: Very good resistance to chlorides (widely used in seawater applications). Strength allows it to be fabricated at smaller thicknesses.

Disadv: While the material is moderately expensive, fabrication is difficult. Much of cost will be in welding labor.

Pd stabilized Titanium
Adv: Superior resistance to chlorides, even at higher temperatures. Is often used on sea water application where Titanium's resistance may not be acceptable.

Disadv: Very expensive material and fabrication is again difficult and expensive.

Nickel
Adv: Very good resistance to high temperature caustic streams.

Disadv: Moderate to high expense. Difficult to weld.

Hastelloy Alloy
Adv: Very wide range to choose from. Some have been specifically developed for acid services where other materials have failed.

Disadv: Fairly expensive alloys. Their use must be justified. Most are easy to weld.

Graphite
Adv: One of the few materials capable of withstanding weak HCl streams.

Disadv: Brittle, very expensive, and very difficult to fabricate. Some stream components have been know to diffuse through some types of graphites.

Tantalum
Adv: Superior resistance to very harsh services where no other material is acceptable.

Disadv: Extremely expensive, must be absolutely necessary.

B) Conveyors

A. Pneumatic conveyors are best suited for high capacity applications over distances of up to about 400 ft. Pneumatic conveying is also appropriate for multiple sources and destinations. Vacuum or low pressure (6-12 psig or 0.4 to 0.8 bar) is used for generate air velocities from 35 to 120 ft/s (10.7-36.6 m/s). Air requirements are usually in the range of 1 to 7 cubic feet of air per cubic foot of solids (0.03 to 0.5 cubic meters of air per cubic meter of solids).

B. Drag-type conveyors (Redler) are completed enclosed and suited to short distances. Sizes range from 3 to 19 inches square (75 to 480 mm). Travel velocities can be from 30 to 250 ft/min (10 to 75 meters/min). The power requirements for these conveyors is higher than other types.

C. Bucket elevators are generally used for the vertical transport of sticky or abrasive materials. With a bucket measuring 20 in x 20 in (500 mm x 500 mm), capacities of 1000 cubic feet/hr (28 cubic meters/hr) can be reached at speeds of 100 ft/min (30 m/min). Speeds up to 300 ft/min (90 m/min) are possible.

D. Belt conveyors can be used for high capacity and long distance transports. Inclines up to 30° are possible. A 24 in (635 mm) belt can transport 3000 cu. ft./h (85 cu m/h) at speeds of 100 ft/min (30.5 m/min). Speeds can be as high as 600 ft/min (183 m/min). Power consumption is relatively low.

E. Screw conveyors can be used for sticky or abrasive solids for transports up to 150 ft (46 m). Inclines can be up to about 20°. A 12 in (305 mm) diameter screw conveyor can transport 1000-3000 cu. ft./h (28-85 cu. m/h) at around 40-60 rpm.

Ok this is all for now. I'll update next week. Meanwhile, there is A LOT more info on Reactors, Crystallization, Electrical Motors & Turbines, Evaporation, Mixing & Agitation, Pressure and Storage Vessels…. geek paradise, in fact. All available at http://www.cheresources.com/

Cheers!