The kinetics of thermal decomposition of cage hydrocarbons, specifically exo-tricyclo[5.2.1.02.6]decane (exo-TCD) and exo,endo-tetracyclo[5.3.1.02,6.08,10]undecane (TCU-1, a monocyclo­propanated analog of exo-TCD), as well as their mixture (1 : 3 w/w) has been investigated. These compounds were compared in terms of thermal stability. The molar concentrations of the resultant gaseous products were determined experimentally. The equilibrium composition of the decomposition products was quantified, and the thermal effects of the thermal decomposition under thermodynamic and kinetic reaction control were identified.

The possibility of estimating the productivity of a geothermal well operating in the steam-lift mode without measuring flow parameters is considered. An evaluation technique based on mathematical modeling of the flow in the wellbore is proposed. The methodology involves the use of parameters required for determination at the end of well construction and the value of the maximum working wellhead pressure, which can be determined during the initial production process, for the calculation.

The issue of managing the volume of production in fields developed using steam-lift is considered. To take into account changes in the required flow rate of the produced coolant with a long period, for example, seasonal, it is proposed to use a combined method: discrete (shutdown or commissioning of one or several production wells), and smooth (by controlling the flow rate of individual wells). In the case of a change with a short period, for example daily, it is proposed to use only smooth regulation, which should be carried out by controlling a parameter that directly indicates the flow rate, for example, the dynamic pressure of the flow, or the pressure drop across a fixed local resistance. It has been established that the existing production well stock of the Mutnovskoy geothermal field does not allow for effective smooth flow control - when one standard well is commissioned or shut down, control means must be installed on 4 wells. It has been established that in the transition to the development of deep horizons, up to 4 km, the possibility of flow control increases by 8 times.

A comprehensive manometric method for studying thermophysical characteristics and kinetics of thermal decomposition of components of fuels or lubricants for aircraft engines has been developed and tested, including a low-temperature unit of the Bourdon type and a new manometric unit for high temperatures and pressures. A comprehensive method has been developed for carrying out computational and experimental studies of the properties of new compounds on manometric installations. New data on thermophysical properties and kinetics of decane thermal decomposition for temperature and pressure ranges that are absent in the NIST information base was obtained [1].

Taking into account new problems arising in the transportation of a steam-water heat carrier to support operation of geothermal power plants (GeoPP), a procedure is outlined for determining the void fraction considering the gravity component of the pressure drop in the hydraulic design calculations of steam-water piping. Unavailability of data on the void fraction under the conditions of geothermal heat carrier transportation is noted. The drift flux model determining the steam velocity averaged over the channel cross-section was used to solve the formulated problem for upward flows. The factors affecting the distribution parameter and the drift velocity are reviewed. It is noted that the drift velocity depends not only on the gravity force but also on the hydrodynamic effect, which can be taken into account using the advanced distribution parameter. A similar approach has been proposed for downward flows according to which the liquid phase velocity averaged over the channel cross-section is calculated using equivalents of the empirical coefficients determined from the condition of equality of the parameters calculated for the upward and downward flows as applicable to the horizontal flow. The empirical values included in the recommended calculation formulas have been established. The proposed recommendations have been used in developing a computer code for the hydraulic design of pipelines. In addition to the gravitational pressure drop, the code also calculates the pressure drop due to friction or local resistance using formulas, which offers good agreement with the experimental data. To verify the model used in the program for the calculation of the gravitational pressure drop, the predictions were compared with the experimental data of the pressure drop across the pipeline from the Geo-1 well to the Verkhne-Mutnovskaya GeoPP (Kamchatka), which is in operation and features the maximum height difference among all existing domestic pipelines carrying steam-water mixture. A good agreement was found between the predictions and the experimental data on pressure drops, which indirectly confirms the adequacy of the recommended procedure for determining the void fraction.

The vapor pressure, enthalpy and entropy of evaporation, boiling point, critical parameters and kinetics of thermal decomposition of four high-density frame and spiranic hydrocarbons of interest for use as aircraft synthetic fuels or their components have been investigated. The data obtained in the research are necessary both at the stage of creating new fuels and for improving existing fuel compositions.

During the COVID-19 pandemic public authorities have to implement a variety of measures to counter the spread of the disease, many of which involve human rights restrictions. One of the most common and at the same time sensitive way to respond to a pandemic is so-called lockdown. This term does not have a strict legal meaning; it covers a system of measures aimed at reducing social interactions between people. These measures include the requirement to maintain a “social distance” and not to leave home unless necessary, strict isolation for certain population groups, prohibition of various mass events and closure of many organizations, restriction of transport links between states and regions within the country. Based on the analysis of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the author discusses the problems of compatibility of these restrictions with the provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Most of these measures can be justified in accordance with the Convention if they are taken in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus and protect public health, if they are lawful and reasonable in the context of epidemiological situation and proportionality (not excessiveness). Moreover, the implementation these measures can be considered as the fulfilment of the positive obligations by the countries-members of the Convention to protect the lives of persons under their jurisdiction.

A scheme for the combined processing of coal to produce synthetic jet fuel is proposed and experimentally verified. It has been established that using an approach including coal coking followed by gasification, Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, and hydroisomerization, the resulting kerosene fractions are characterized by low density values (0.741–0.751 kg/dm 3 at 20°С) relative to the level specified by the technical requirements for Jet A-1 and T-8B jet fuel brands used today. With the use of the hydroisomerization process ( Т = 330–345°С, p H2 = 72 bar) in the presence of a 2% Pt/Al-HMS (10) catalyst, it has been possible to obtain an isoparaffin fraction with the crystallization temperature below −56°С. The coal tar produced by coking of coal was subjected to deep hydrogenation to obtain a naphthenic jet fuel component characterized by the boiling range of 150–250°С, a density of about 0.873 kg/dm 3 (20°С), and low sulfur and aromatics contents (3 ppm and 23 wt %, respectively). By compounding the isoparaffin and naphthenic fractions produced, experimental samples of synthetic jet fuels have been obtained that meet the technical requirements for Jet A-1 and T-8B fuels.

Based on the analysis of publications in world publications, as well as a generalization of the experience of developing domestic geothermal fields, current trends in the development of geothermal resources are shown. The key trend is considered to be the transition from subsidized to commercial projects, which increases the relevance of research in areas that have a significant impact on the economic efficiency of resource development processes, primarily in the direction of geothermal technologies. In terms of subsidized projects that set research goals, the most relevant are works in the direction of EGS (Enhanced Geothermal Systems). Moreover, there is a tendency towards the creation of international interdisciplinary collaborative research teams. It is noted that the current level of technology development allows producing geothermal energy for use in local heat supply systems practically anywhere in the world. However, given the concentration of power per unit area, the basis of modern geothermal energy is still the direction associated with the rise of deep fluids to the surface in areas characterized by the presence of ascending flows of hot juvenile fluids. It is indicated that Russia is lagging behind the world level of progress in the development of geothermal resources, including in terms of current research and development directions, and measures are proposed to overcome this lag.

Исследуются случаи существования неустойчивости потока, вызванной влиянием гравитационных сил в трубопроводах пароводяной смеси на геотермальных месторождениях. Представлена новая разработанная авторами математическая модель пароводяного течения, учитывающая гравитационный эффект и удовлетворяющая новым вызовам при освоении геотермальных месторождений с двухфазной транспортировкой теплоносителя. Показано влияние наклона трубопровода и рельефа трассы на гравитационную устойчивость течения. Даны рекомендации по гидравлическому расчету и строительству трубопроводов пароводяной смеси. Cases of flow instability caused by the influence of gravitational forces in pipelines of steam-water mixture in geothermal fields are investigated. A new mathematical model of the steam-water flow was developed by authors, taking into account the gravitational effect and satisfying new requirements in the development of geothermal deposits with two-phase heat carrier transportation. The influence of the pipeline incline at the gravitational stability of the flow is shown. Recommendations on hydraulic calculation and construction of steamwater mixture pipelines are given.

Исследуются случаи существования неустойчивости потока, вызванной влиянием гравитационных сил в трубопроводах пароводяной смеси на геотермальных месторождениях. Представлена новая разработанная авторами математическая модель пароводяного течения, учитывающая гравитационный эффект и удовлетворяющая новым вызовам при освоении геотермальных месторождений с двухфазной транспортировкой теплоносителя. Показано влияние наклона трубопровода и рельефа трассы на гравитационную устойчивость течения. Даны рекомендации по гидравлическому расчету и строительству трубопроводов пароводяной смеси.

A new mathematical model of steam-water flow in a pipeline, which takes into account the gravitational effect and satisfies new challenges in the development of geothermal fields with two-phase transportation of the heat carrier is presented. Taking into account the gravitational effect in the upstream flows, a method based on the “drift model”, which determines the steam velocity averaged over the crosssection was used. A similar method is proposed for downstream flows, but it determines the water velocity averaged over the cross-section. In this case, analogs of empirical coefficients were used. These coefficients determined from the condition of equality of parameters calculated using different approaches in a horizontal flow. The model was verified, which showed positive results. The proposed model significantly expands the possibilities of hydraulic calculation of steam-water mixture pipelines in geothermal fields.

The vapor pressure, enthalpy and entropy of evaporation, boiling point and critical parameters of four synthetic frame and spiranic hydrocarbons of interest for use as aircraft synthetic fuels or their components have been investigated

The majority of interpretations of social authority is based upon its definition by M. Weber as an opportunity to exercise one’s will even against the will of other persons. In this context the authority constitutes a capacity of an individual or a community of people to force others (own members) to a certain type of conduct. In the primitive society the authority was natural, direct and detached neither from anindividual nor from a team, in general. The appropriation and xercise of authority was “interwoven” in daily activities of people and the observance (collective subordination to) of certain rules of conduct was ultimately essential for survival and thus natural and indisputable. The development of production activities of an individual and its sociality, in broad terms, led to the division of labor, inter alia, to segregation of the ruling and managerial activities and the consequent isolation of private and public areas of activity of an individual, attribution of the degree of publicity to social authority. Public authority is institutionalized authority; it is appropriated by artificial ways developed by the society and exercised through specially designated persons for these purposes (established entities) within the framework of the set procedures based on the territorial principle. Public authority is universal; it extends to all society members and to the entire area of their public activities. Once emerged in a socially stratified society, public authority inevitably acquires political nature – it is aimed at streamlining relationships between various groups and layers of the society and alignment (delineation, suppression) of their interests. This particular comprehension of public political authority underpins various definitions of the state which basically come down to the most efficient (sovereign) as well as (in a set of conceptions) proper (fair, legitimate, legal etc.) form of its organization.