Micro-fungos de interesse para o setor de petróleo, gás e biocombustíveis

Oil is a hydrocarbon mixture of various sizes, including saturated and aromatic compounds. Natural gas is a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons and its main component is methane. In our society, the great demand for these fuels requires fast extraction, transportation and refining, increasing the number of accidents that compromise the environment. Oil is a finite resource and it is necessary to reduce the problems related to the question concerning environmental pollution which has encouraged the search for alternative fuel sources in our country. So today we have two major biofuels: ethanol and biodiesel. Concurrently, many studies have been done directed toward the isolation of microorganisms capable of degrading petrochemical industrial wastes, most of them using as a source of isolation soil and water collected in a contaminated environment. Isolation from alternative substrates has emerged as a new strategy that has provided satisfactory results. In this work, we present the leaf-cutter ants of the Attini tribe as a source for the isolation of micro-fungi with the potential for hydrocarbon degradation. These insects have a social way of life and a highly specialized system of intra and interspecific communication, which is based on the recognition of individuals through volatile chemical compounds, the majority hydrocarbons, stored in their exoskeleton. The micro-environment exoskeleton of Attini ants (genus Atta) used in this work proved to be a rich source of microbial biodiversity, as other studies have found. The flotation isolation technique applied here allowed the achievement of 214 micro-fungi, 118 representatives of the dematiaceous fungi group and 96 hyaline filamentous fungi. They were submitted to toluene degradation tests and at least one strain of each genus presented good results, namely Teratosphaeria, Exophiala, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Cogeração de energia com motores de combustão interna

The tertiary sector is largely responsible for the growth of electricity consumption in Brazil. The large commercial and public buildings, hypermarkets and shopping centers stand out as major consumers of electricity for lighting, power and thermal energy. Brazil presents significant potential for the deployment of small cogeneration plants, especially in the tertiary sector. Allied to this, the possibility of natural gas supply and the growing demands in favor of maintaining and preserving the environment favor the implementation of cogeneration plants. In this context, this paper presents a technical and economic analysis of installing a cogeneration plant using internal combustion engine with natural gas in a mall

Precificação do biogás produzido por autoprodutores, considerando seu transporte por meio de gasodutos existentes

The expansion of the energy matrix is a matter of great importance since the recent problems facing the country in this sector, such as rationing mobilized in 2001. Moreover, there is also concern with global sustainable development. Brazil is producing about 64 million cubic meters of biogas per day, but only a small percentage of this total is harnessed as an energy resource. Compounders are considered potential, for example, landfill energy (LE) and sewage treatment plants (STP), which can be adapted to produce biogas and market them. The work focuses its studies on biogas produced by these small and medium compounders. Are proposed and studied the following alternatives for the utilization of biogas energy: generation and sale of electricity through the installation of a small power station within the landfill, and purification and marketing of gas, whose price will be a consideration on the price of natural gas, taking into account the percentage of methane present in the biogas. Trade ensures that gas plus a destination ecologically appropriate to it, taking advantage of its energy

Dutovias: aspectos gerais e a questão ambiental na definição de trajetos terrestres

Taking into account the consistent and important expansion of the Brazilian oil and gas pipelines network in the last years, this work discusses how these lines are planned regarding the continental environmental context. Its central objective is to show how studies to select alternative lines are made before a gas or oil pipeline is installed. These studies help to choose routes in which the environment is less affected by the pipeline, and use specific methods, technologies, and tools. Bibliographical studies combined with interviews and discussions with experts of the oil and gas sector were used to support this monograph.

Análise da viabilidade de motorização elétrica do soprador no ciclo regenerativo da unidade de craqueamento catalítico fluidizado em uma refinaria

One of the biggest environmental problems of today is the climate change. Experts affirm that this global warming is related to the greenhouse effect. Its causes are directly related to human activity, especially the use of fossil fuels. In this context, companies around the world are challenged to improve energy efficiency in order to reduce the environmental impact and work toward the so-called tripod of sustainable development that focuses on the social, economic and environmental aspects of a business strategy. The first step a company can make in this regard is to conduct an inventory of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The reduction of GHG emissions in a refinery can be achieved by replacing steam turbines with electric motors to drive big machines, this reduction is achieved by relieving the steam consumption for electric power available or purchased. An important aspect associated with the reduction of GHG emissions is the best performance of the Energy Intensity Index (ERI). The objective of this study was to analyze the feasibility of the blower motorization in the regenerative cycle of a fluidized catalytic cracking unit at a specific refinery. For development work, two methods were used, the initial screening and optimization scenarios with the help of software Butyl. The results indicate that after a certain cost of natural gas this substitution becomes favorable. In addition, there is a large reduction of CO2 emissions avoided by burning fuel

Proposta para melhoria da qualidade dos produtos cerâmicos e de criação de um polo cerâmico artesanal na cidade de Indiana - SP

This work presents a proposal to create a Polo Ceramic Craft in the town of Indiana - SP, through the potter’s organization in a cooperative that will coordinate activities to add value to ceramic pieces. To achieve this, two things are essential: improving the ceramic body and improve the properties of the ceramic material. For the first action it’s necessary to create a Central Mass Production of Ceramics, to provide raw materials and homogeneous composition that results in differentiated ceramic after burning process (sintering). To this end, we propose the incorporation of additives (which act as fluxes) to the clay material. These additives can be mineral such as feldspar and nefelinas or leavings, such as glass powder obtained from disposable containers. For the second action is necessary to acquire an oven, electric or gas, it reaches higher temperatures (around 1200 ° C). The presence of the additive and burning at higher temperatures will enable better production of sintered ceramic material with less porosity and water absorption and higher mechanical strength, and pieces vitrified and glazed, allowing them to assign a higher value. For the production of these materials (thinner walls) requires a smaller volume of clayey raw materials. Besides benefiting the ceramic pieces, the proposed changes reduce the environmental impact caused by burning wood, since it will be replaced by natural gas (or electricity), and even will reduce the disposal of glass containers in the environment by recycling and incorporating this material in the clay. From a social standpoint, the cooperative is crucial to the viability of the proposed project, to coordinate activities and commercial production, which will result in better wages and profits for companies and consequently for the city and its population

Redução de consumo de energia eletrica a partir de reaproveitamento de energia termica com uso de ciclo rankine orgânico

This paper is proposed the usage of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) along with waste heat recovery from an inconstant heat source. This method of waste heat recovery with intermittent heat source is part of a technical viability study. This paper also brings up the usage of thermal energy storage as heat source for the ORC. This paper is based on a heat treatment company study in which a natural gas furnace is explored. Data such as mass flow, temperature and specific waste gas heat from this furnace are used through calculations. Calculations are made also based on furnace cycles. This viability study considers a series of working fluids such as ammonia, benzene, R113 and R134a. Results point out that ORC with out thermal storage and using refrigerant fluid ammonia is the best alternative

Simulação de ciclo combinado utilizando software comercial

In Brazil, The power generation has always depended on the rivers, in other words, there are moments that the power generation can vary, which can cause variations in energy supply and even blackout according to the level of water in the reservoirs of the hydroelectric plants. For this reason, many options has been studied, like our example, which is about a combined cycle power plant in Canas. The use of combined cycle is interesting from the point o view of energy, because its efficiency is between 50 and 60%, and from the point of view of environment, because it can burn natural gas, which is cleaner than coal, it reduces the emission of gases that influence on the greenhouse effect. This work aims to perform a technical analysis of a case study of a power plant proposed to be built in Canas by the AES/AES Tietê Group. For the analysis will be used the commercial software GateCycle 6.0.0 from GE, this software has the power of simulating power generation cycles (nuclear, combined, etc.). The energy department of UNESP has the license, which makes possible the academic use of this tool. Two combined cycles were simulated, one using one pressure level HRSG, and another one closer to the real power plant, which is a combined cycle with a three pressure level HRSG. The results were close to expected, for the combined cycle with one pressure HRSG the power was 513,9 MW and a efficiency of 53,27%, in the case with the three pressure level HRSG the power was 517,1 MW and a efficiency of 53,5%. We conclude that the software requires that the user must have the knowledge about the subjects involved in the use of GateCycle in problems resolutions

Estudo sobre uma turbina a gás instalada em uma refinaria de petróleo

The gas turbine (GT) is known to have: low cost of capital over the amount of energy, high flexibility, high reliability, short delivery time, commissioning and commercial operation at the beginning and quick departure. The gas turbine is also recognized for its superior environmental performance, manifested in air pollution containment and reducing greenhouse gases (Mahi, 1994). Gas turbines in simple cycle mode (SC) have long been used by utilities to limited power generation peak. In addition, manufacturing facilities use gas turbines for power generation units on site, often in combination with the process of heat production, such as hot water and steam process. In recent years, the performance of industrial gas turbines has been improved due to significant investments in research and development, in terms of fuel to electricity conversion efficiency, plant capacity, availability and reliability. The greater availability of energy resources such as natural gas (NG), the significant reduction of capital costs and the introduction of advanced cycles, have also been a success factor for the increased use of gas turbines to load applications base (Poulikas, 2004). Open Cycle Gas Turbine with a greater degree of heat to the atmosphere may alternatively be used to produce additional electricity using a steam cycle, or to compose a cogeneration process. The combined cycle (CC) uses the heat from the gas turbine exhaust gas to increase the power output and increase the overall efficiency of more than 50% second (Najjar, 2001). The initial discovery of these cycles in the commercial power generation market was possible due to the development of the gas turbine. Only from the 1970s that gas turbine inlet temperature and therefore the exhaust gas temperature was sufficiently high to allow a better efficiency in the combined cycle ... (Complete Abstract click electronic access below)

Analysis of oxy-fuel combustion as an alternative to combustion with air in metal reheating furnaces

Using oxygen instead of air in a burning process is at present being widely discussed as an option to reduce CO2 emissions. One of the possibilities is to maintain the combustion reaction at the same energy release level as burning with air, which reduces fuel consumption and the emission rates of CO2. A thermal simulation was made for metal reheating furnaces, which operate at a temperature in the range of 1150-1250 degrees C, using natural gas with a 5% excess of oxygen, maintaining fixed values for pressure and combustion temperature. The theoretical results show that it is possible to reduce the consumption of fuel, and this reduction depends on the amount of heat that can be recovered during the air pre-heating process. The analysis was further conducted by considering the 2012 costs of natural gas and oxygen in Brazil. The use of oxygen showed to be economically viable for large furnaces that operate with conventional heat recovering systems (those that provide pre-heated air at temperatures near 400 degrees C). (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aplicação de um modelo numérico na otimização de fornos alimentícios usando o OpenFOAM®

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desafios tecnológicos na exploração de petróleo em águas profundas: o sistema PETROBRAS de inovação

Pós-graduação em Economia - FCLAR

Diesel e biodiesel de murumuru e de soja: desempenho operacional de trator agrícola no preparo do solo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Geografia da mortalidade no trânsito no Brasil

In road safety studies that involve accidents comparisons in distinct geographical spaces or in different periods of time in the same geographical space, the index which lists the number of traffic fatalities with the distance traveled by road transport vehicles is considered more appropriate than the rates related to the population or the fleet. In this paper, the results of an original research are presented, in which the values of the rate of traffic deaths per billion kilometers traveled (IMBQ) by the motor vehicle fleet in Brazil and in each state of the country were estimated. The evaluation was performed based on the official number of fatalities provided by the Ministry of Health and on the amount of fuel sold informed by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels. In 2009, Brazil presented an index of 52.84 fatalities per billion kilometers, which reveals an extremely alarming situation considering that this value is from 7 to 12 times higher than the one for more developed countries. An important correlation between the death index in the states and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was observed; in general, the less economically developed is the state, it means, lowest GDP, higher is the IMBQ.

Estudo do efeito Bauschinger em tubos de aço API 5l x70 aplicados no transporte de petróleo e gás

Despite the growing concern in seeking more sustainable energy sources, oil demand is likely to grow in coming years. To keep up with this growth, the oil industry has increasingly invested in innovation and efficiency. Knowing that, new technologies have been developed to explore deeper waters, without giving up the best practices in worldwide operational safety. The use of rigid pipelines in deepwater offshore facilities is increasing quickly and because of this, the ways of storing and launching pipe have been studied and perfected. In this paper the Bauschinger effect on API 5L X70 steel was analyzed proving that there was a reduction in yield strength when an effort was applied in a previous direction, then an effort was then applied in the opposite direction. To observe this phenomenon, the tensile test was conducted to determine the mechanical properties of the base metal, such as yield stress, tensile strength, elasticity and maximum tensile, so then compare it with the results obtained in the Bauschinger Effect Test. The analysis results showed that the steel had high resistance, with good plastic deformation capacity without failing, well-defined yield point, showing itself appropriate for the operation of oil and gas pipes