Safety in chemistry and materials technologies
Issue no. 3 of 23. June 2010
Safety in chemistry and materials technologies
Issue no. 3 of 23. June 2010
Landfill fire
In a research project, the BAM working group ‘Flammable Bulk Materials and Dusts, Solid Fuels’ of Department II Chemical Safety Engineering has developed a method to determine the hazard potential of spontaneous ignition of large tips. For this purpose the physico-chemical material properties of various landfill materials and the reaction-kinetic parameters of spontaneous ignition were determined in the laboratory.
By combining experimentally and numerically generated data, landfill geometry and maximum storage times which prevent spontaneous ignition can be determined. Small and medium enterprises, which make up the majority of landfill operators and recycling companies, benefit the most from this.
In recent years, a number of temporary facilities were built for the storage of recycleable substances. Fires have been fairly common in such facilities. Experts assume that about a quarter of the fires are due to spontaneous ignition. Thanks to the manual developed by BAM, fire prevention now becomes much easier.
Contact:
Dr. rer. nat. Anka Berger
Division II.2 Reactive Substances and Systems, Working group Flammable Bulk Materials and Dusts, Solid Fuels
Phone: +49 30 8104-3402, email: anka.berger@bam.de
Thermite welding seam of a railway rail
Rails are subject to ever increasing loads, speed and traffic density, which results in increased damage. Non-destructive ultrasonic and eddy current test methods can be used to detect operational damage.
Automatic rail testing using trains is one of the greatest challenges. Since a train travelling at a maximum speed of 80 km/h can gather measurement data from a rail length of about 300 km in one day, the measurement data must be automatically processed in such a way that the analyst sees only the data which is relevant to him.
BAM, in cooperation with the Magdeburg based PLR Prüftechnik Linke und Rühe Company, has developed a new test technique for the SPZ1 rail test train of DB Netz AG (German Railway Network). This method enables spatially correct imaging of the “internal” state of the rail from the data collected by twenty ultrasonic sensors. For this achievement, the two partners and Deutsche Bahn AG (German Rail) were awarded the user prize at the 2010 annual convention of the German Society for Non-Destructive Testing (DGZfP) in Erfurt.
The method uses digital signal processing algorithms which enable homogeneous resolution and quality of the collected measurement data, regardless of test speed.
Type and location of a flaw can be determined from the reconstructed image, the so-called “transparent rail”. The automatic classification differentiates between specific shapes (e.g. holes), interference signals (e.g. noise) and error signals (e.g. crack-like structures). GPS coordinates, time stamps, kilometre marks and additional length marks are compiled in real time during data acquisition, making it possible to establish the location of the signal within less than 150 cm on the entire railway system.
Contact:
Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Heckel
Division VIII.4 Acoustical and Electromagnetic Methods, Working group Ultrasonic Testing – Special Techniques
Phone: +49 30 8104-3686, email: thomas.heckel@bam.de
For more than 20 years, microsystems have increasingly determined the way our technical environment functions. A number of technical products such as computers, mobile telephones, printers, copiers or entertainment electronics would not be possible without micro systems technology.
Until now, many areas of microsystems technology, e.g. mechatronics and small composite and nano-materials components, have been barely accessible for non-destructive testing.
Therefore a new BAM Division has been established which deals with non-destructive testing of safety components and structures below the size range investigated so far. The goal is to increase technical safety and provide new technically and economically viable solutions.
Contact:
Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Heidt
Department VIII Non-destructive Testing, Division VIII.5 Micro NDE
Phone: +49 30 8104-1800,email: heinrich.heidt@bam.de
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Janina Kneipp
The European Research Council, ERC, has recognised Prof. Janina Kneipp with an ERC Starting Grant.
In a two-stage procedure, Janina Kneipp won out against the new generation of European science elite and will obtain a 1.39 million euro grant over a period of five years. In the MULTIBIOPHOT project, she and her group will develop new micro-spectroscopic methods for analytical applications.
Janina Kneipp has been junior (S) professor for analytical chemistry at the Institute for Chemistry of the Humboldt University, Berlin, and BAM since 2008.
Starting Grants have been awarded to internationally outstanding new- generation scientists since 2007.
They enable outstanding scientists who are at the beginning of their independent researcher career to establish a research group of their own for performing a research project.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Janina Kneipp
Department I Analytical Chemistry; Reference Materials, Division I.4 Process Analytical Technology
Phone: +49 30 8104-5738, email: janina.kneipp@bam.de
The Manual of Tests and Criteria is available as a pdf file (8 MB) in German. Please note the following (pdf) (in German).
The UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria, 5th revised edition was published in English in 2009. Due to the amendments and supplements agreed at the United Nations and the request of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS), BAM has published the German translation of the latest edition of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria.
Contact:
Dr. rer. nat. Klaus-Dieter Wehrstedt
Department II Chemical Safety Engineering, Division II.2 Reactive Substances and Systems
Phone: +49 30 8104-1220, fax: +49 30 8104-1227, email: klaus-dieter.wehrstedt@bam.de
BAM Newsletter No 3/2010
Submission deadline: 11 June 2010
Publication, including excerpts, is free.
Figures will be provided on request.
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