Large-Scale Testing

Harris and Wickens (1989) report large-scale tests in an open-sided 45-m-long apparatus incorporating grids and obstructions. Maximum flame speeds were approximately ten times those found in the absence of obstacles. 

Figure 4.10. Large-scale test setup for investigation of fiame propagation in a cylindrical geometry. Dimensions 25 m long, 12.5 m wide, and 1 m high. Obstacle diameter 0.5 m.

In view of the results from these small-scale experiments, and the increasing number of severe accidents involving large masses of fuel, there is a clear need for large-scale or full-scale experiments. Few large-scale test results are available, however. Table 6.3 gives an overview of some fireball experiments performed to date. 

Table 6.2 presents an overview of surface-emissive powers measured in the British Gas tests, as back-calculated from radiometer readings. Peak values of surface-emissive powers were approximately 100 kW/m higher than these average values, but only for a short duration. Other large-scale tests include those conducted to investigate the performance of fire-protection systems for LPG tanks. 

Radiation effects from a fireball of the size calculated above, and assumed to be in contact with the ground, have been calculated by Pietersen (1985). A fireball duration of 22 s was calculated from the formula suggested by Jaggers et al. (1986). An emissive power of 350 kW/m was used for propane, based on large-scale tests by British Gas (Johnson et al. 1990). The view factor proposed in Section 6.2.5. 

Centrifugation can be operated on a semi-continuous or continuous basis and there are several different types of centrifuges. Large scale tests have to be performed to choose the proper centrifuge (unloading speed, capacity, separation performance etc). 

To test our model, we set up small and large-scale tests for thermally-initiated polymerization of styrene. 

The kinetic model predicted the observed reaction rates, pressures, rates of pressure rise and temperature rise within order-of-magnitude accuracies. The accuracy of the kinetic model was better for the large-scale tests. 

This was obviously a major improvement over the original procedure, which involved many more steps, some of them quite difficult. We happily reported this improved synthesis and undertook to use it to produce uranium(IV) borohydride for large-scale testing. 

Dantas G, Kuhlman B, Callender D, Wong M, Baker D. A large scale test of computational protein design folding and stability of nine completely redesigned globular proteins. J Mol Biol 2003 332 449-60. 

Keavney B, McKenzie C, Parish S, Palmer A, Clark S, Youngman L et al. Large-scale test of hypothesised associations between the angiotensin-converting-enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and myocardial infarction in about 5000 cases and 6000 controls. International Studies of Infarct Survival (ISIS) Collaborators. Lancet 2000 355 434—442. 

If accurate design/analysis data are necessary (e.g., Vjmm, Vfup), it is possible to obtain the information needed by undertaking the appropriate bench-type tests and large-scale test-design procedures, similar to the approaches employed for pneumatic conveying (Pan and Wypych, 1992a Arnold et al., 1994). 

Despite its usefulness as a research tool, however, the test conditions cannot be related to real fire situations and large scale testing is still required to determine the fire resistance of materials in actual field conditions. 

The classification of products should be achieved by small scale tests which have been validated by large scale tests /8,9/. In special cases, when relevant information cannot be obtained in small scale, a standardized large scale test, i.e. the Room/Corner... 

With completion of the 100 BPD MTO program, large scale testing will be completed for both steps of the MTO/MOGD process route, giving reliable scale-up information for a new and novel route for producing synthetic gasoline and diesel fuels. 

For these reasons, the Examinations Institute has chosen to continue with the development of sets of examinations in the multiple choice format for a large scale testing program available to a large number of institutions at a reasonable price per examination. The Examinations Institute can consider other means of testing in the future as those means become cost effective. 

Weintraub, Arlene. Can Pfizer Prime the Pipeline Business Week 4,065 (December 31, 2007/fanuary 7, 2008) 90-91. The new president of research and development at Pfizer, Martin Mackay, hopes to improve the company s recent poor performance in developing new drugs. For example, many new promising drugs developed by the company have failed when undergoing large-scale tests. The article describes some of Mack-ay s plans to deal with such problems. 

Large-scale testing of Igdanit in flint, limestone and granite showed that it was more economical to use than Detonit, Ammonit No 6 and Skal nyi (Rock) Ammonit)... 

Pilot plant manufacture is now in operation so that large-scale testing of batteries can be undertaken and a great deal of experience has been gained with laboratory sized cells, full engineering scale cells and commercial prototypes in the 50-200 Ah capacity range. Cell cycle lives of up to 1500... 

The international and most national standards committees whose terms of reference are concerned specifically with the polymer industry deal only with small scale tests. The large scale tests, which are not usually specific to any one type of material, are covered by committees whose concern and expertise is fire. 

---