Energy evaluation of an evaporative cooling system using water driven ejector

The search for efficient and accessible cooling systems has increased worldwide. This study aims to build and evaluate an evaporative cooling system using a water driven ejector, allowing it to be installed in places with plenty of water. The system was investigated varying the flow rate and temperature of the circulating water, temperature of the replacement water, and coefficient of performance. The best vacuum obtained was 8.5 kPa at nominal operating conditions of 4.1 ± 0.1 m³/h and 5 ± 0.5 ºC for the circulating water reaching the temperature of 9.7 ± 0.5 ºC. The pulse-like disturbance generated by replacing the cooling water at different periods of times did not result in significant affect vacuum destabilization and the temperature rise in the cooling tank. The coefficient of performance of the system at the highest thermal power of 92.27 W was 0.077, which was underestimated due to possible problems related to pump efficiency. The system evaluated under the conditions proposed can be very efficient for cooling fluids at higher temperatures, and it can be complementary to main refrigeration systems.

Metas inflacionárias: a análise convencional e um modelo alternativo

Inflation targeting: the conventional analysis and an alternative model. This article has two aims: the first one is to present a formal model of the monetary policy identified generally as "inflation targeting policy", an instrument of intervention of the central bank, through the short run nominal interest rate. The second aim is to discuss and criticize the theoretical assumptions of the model specially the concepts of "natural rate of interest" and of potential product presented by the "augmented Philips curve"; and to present a more realistic control of inflation targeting which does not assume the hypotheses above, and in which inflation targeting is based on the control of real rate of interest.

Matemática agradável

This paper suggests a reconsideration of the principle that public deficits should be financed by public debt. Two main reasons are offered. First, it is admitted that public debt is an economic variable whose time behaviour is better described by a first difference equation instead of an accounting identity. The convergence condition thus obtained requires either a nominal negative interest rate or that government bonds are used to raise tax income, hypotheses not theoretically granted. As a consequence, if primary surplus is not sufficient to match interests' payment, it will be observed an explosive trend in the public debt, the due interests and the money issuing. Therefore, it lacks support to the idea that public debt prevents inflation. Second, it is shown that financing public deficit through money issuing leads to a stable equilibrium money stock. The general conclusion is that, in order to simultaneously promote economic growth and inflation control, money issuing is preferable to public debt.

Notas críticas sobre a macroeconomia novo-Keynesiana

This article shows that, in spite of its great steps towards reality, new-Keynesian macroeconomics seems to be a non-systematic construction with problems originated from "ad hoc" hypothesis required to explain the non neutrality of money and the existence of disequilibria in the short run. In particular, it seems that prices and wages rigidities stand in sandy bases and that the derivation of the IS and LM curves from neoclassical fundamentals is problematic. Even disregarding the apparent difficulties of the neoclassical theory of value and distribution, the new-Keynesian connections between interest rate, money, and output do not seem fully consistent.

A regulamentação dos preços dos planos individuais de saúde

Aggregate price indices measure variations in nominal prices. In this paper, we compare the inflation rates of the general economy and those of the health sector and private health insurance market between 2001 and 2005, based on the indices of Departamento Intersindical de Estatística e Estudos Socioeconômicos, of Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas, of Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística and IPEADATA database, to the private health insurance readjustment applied by the National Private Health Insurance Agency (ANS). The health sector inflation rate was found stable and inferior to the general one, what would validate applying lower readjustments derived from official price indices.

Competitividade e restrição externa na Zona do Euro

The recent debt crisis in Greece, Ireland and Portugal has exposed the fragility existing in the Eurozone for promoting development and economic convergence between the countries that have adopted the currency. Way beyond the fear of insolvency, what is observed is a growing disparity of the most-developed countries in comparison to the less-developed ones, with perverse consequences for the last ones. Once the nominal exchange rates are fixed, the divergent movements in relative prices and wages between the countries have led to totally distinct paths for the real exchange rates. Worsening the scenario, one can observe the incompleteness of the political union, the monetarist focus of the ECB and the lack of labor mobility between the countries, what distances from the argument stated by the theory and puts in jeopardize the future of the Monetary Union.

The value of the exchange rate and the Dutch disease

This paper revisits the original (2008) paper on the Dutch disease, which defined it by the existence of two exchange rate equilibriums (the current and the industrial exchange rate equilibriums). Its novelty is in claiming that, as we have a value and a market price for each good or service, we also have a value and a market price for foreign money. The value is the cost plus reasonable profit corresponding to the exchange rate that makes competitive the country's competent business enterprises; the nominal exchange rates floats around the value according to the demand and supply of foreign money. This basic distinction of the exchange rate in terms of value and in terms of price allows us to understand that the two equilibriums are defined in value terms, and opens room for a clear distinction of the policies that affect the value from the ones that affect the market price of the exchange rate.

Effect of loading type on the fatigue strength of symmetric and asymmetric welded joints made of ultra high strength steel

In this study, finite element analyses and experimental tests are carried out in order to investigate the effect of loading type and symmetry on the fatigue strength of three different non-load carrying welded joints. The current codes and recommendations do not give explicit instructions how to consider degree of bending in loading and the effect of symmetry in the fatigue assessment of welded joints. The fatigue assessment is done by using effective notch stress method and linear elastic fracture mechanics. Transverse attachment and cover plate joints are analyzed by using 2D plane strain element models in FEMAP/NxNastran and Franc2D software and longitudinal gusset case is analyzed by using solid element models in Abaqus and Abaqus/XFEM software. By means of the evaluated effective notch stress range and stress intensity factor range, the nominal fatigue strength is assessed. Experimental tests consist of the fatigue tests of transverse attachment joints with total amount of 12 specimens. In the tests, the effect of both loading type and symmetry on the fatigue strength is studied. Finite element analyses showed that the fatigue strength of asymmetric joint is higher in tensile loading and the fatigue strength of symmetric joint is higher in bending loading in terms of nominal and hot spot stress methods. Linear elastic fracture mechanics indicated that bending reduces stress intensity factors when the crack size is relatively large since the normal stress decreases at the crack tip due to the stress gradient. Under tensile loading, experimental tests corresponded with finite element analyzes. Still, the fatigue tested joints subjected to bending showed the bending increased the fatigue strength of non-load carrying welded joints and the fatigue test results did not fully agree with the fatigue assessment. According to the results, it can be concluded that in tensile loading, the symmetry of joint distinctly affects on the fatigue strength. The fatigue life assessment of bending loaded joints is challenging since it depends on whether the crack initiation or propagation is predominant.

Overvaluation trend of the Brazilian currency in the 2000s: empirical estimation

The aim of this paper is to discuss the trend of overvaluation of the Brazilian currency in the 2000s, presenting an econometric model to estimate the real exchange rate (RER) and which should be a reference level of the RER to guide long-term economic policy. In the econometric model, we consider long-term structural and short-term components, both of which may be responsible for explaining overvaluation trend of the Brazilian currency. Our econometric exercise confirms that the Brazilian currency had been persistently overvalued throughout almost all of the period under analysis, and we suggest that the long-term reference level of the real exchange rate was reached in 2004. In July 2014, the average nominal exchange rate should have been around 2.90 Brazilian reais per dollar (against an observed nominal rate of 2.22 Brazilian reais per dollar) to achieve the 2004 real reference level (average of the year). That is, according to our estimates, in July 2014 the Brazilian real was overvalued at 30.6 per cent in real terms relative to the reference level. Based on these findings we conclude the paper suggesting a mix of policy instruments that should have been used in order to reverse the overvaluation trend of the Brazilian real exchange rate, including a target for reaching a real exchange rate in the medium and the long-run which would favor resource allocation toward more technological intensive sectors.

Ultralujan teräksen kaarijuotto

Tässä diplomityössä tutkitaan ultralujan rakenneteräksen kaarijuotolla valmistettujen liitosten väsymiskestävyyttä. Tutkittavat liitokset ovat kuormaa kantamattomia X-liitoksia. Tutkinnassa vertaillaan puhtaasti juottamalla valmistettua liitosta hitsauksen ja juoton kombinaatioliitokseen, jossa pohjapalkona toimivan hitsin rajaviivalle on juotettu lisäpalko. Kaarijuottoa esitellään yleisesti liittämismenetelmänä. Ultralujaa rakenneterästä esitellään yleisesti ja tarkastellaan sen metallurgista käyttäytymistä sekä juotettaessa, että hitsattaessa. Tutkimuksessa tehtiin kaikkiaan 21 väsytystestiä. Väsytystestit muodostuivat kolmesta eri koekappalesarjasta. Ensimmäisen ja toisen sarjan koekappaleet tehtiin juottamalla, eri lisäaineilla. 3. sarjassa pienat hitsattiin, jonka jälkeen hitsin rajaviivalle tehtiin juotto. Kappaleiden geometriat mitattiin ennen testejä, ja osasta kappaleista mitattiin jäännösjännitykset. Kappaleista otettiin hieitä, joista tehtiin kovuusmittaukset ja suoritettiin makro- ja mikrotason tarkastelua liitosprosessin lämmöntuonnin vaikutuksesta. Väsytyskokeiden perusteella kappaleille määritettiin nimelliset ja rakenteelliset väsymisluokat. Tuloksista piirrettiin S-N –käyrät. Liitoksista tehtiin FEA-mallit, joista määritettiin liitoksen rajaviivalle muodostuva jännitys ja 2. sarjan koekappaleiden laskennalliset kestoiät. 1. sarjan juotoksissa oli ongelmana juotoksen tarttuvuus teräksen pintaan. 2. sarjan koetulokset olivat kaikkein parhaita. 3. sarjan kombinaatioliitokset ylsivät kohtalaisiin väsymisluokkiin. 2. sarjan koetulosten perusteella kaarijuotossa on potentiaalia ultralujan rakenneteräksen liittämismenetelmänä. Jatkotutkimuksen tarve on kuitenkin laaja. Tämä työ osoitti, että kaarijuottaminen voi olla vaativa liittämisprosessi, sillä toimiakseen se vaatii varsin tarkat parametrit, ja lisäksi prosessi on melko herkkä olosuhdemuutoksille.

Kaksoiskäämitty hybridibussin kestomagneettiajomoottori

Tämä työ on tehty Lappeenrannan teknilliselle yliopistolle, joka on suunnitellut ja toteuttanut hybridibussin. Hybridibussin ajomoottorissa käytetään kaksoiskäämitystä, joka mahdollistaa bussin ajamisen vikatilanteessa, jossa toinen käämityksistä on epäkunnossa. Työn tavoitteena on selvittää, millainen kaksoiskäämitys toimii parhaiten tämän hybridibussin kestomagneettiajomoottorissa. Työssä tutustutaan ajomoottoreihin ja niiltä vaadittaviin ominaisuuksiin sekä vikasietoisiin sähkömoottoreihin. Tutkimuksessa löydettyihin vikasietoisiin ajomoottoreihin perustuen päädyttiin neljään kaksoiskäämitysvaihtoehtoon. Näitä kaksoiskäämityksiä tutkittiin FE-analyysiä hyödyntäen. Kaksoiskäämitysten toimintaa simuloitiin nimellis- ja vikatilanteessa. Simuloinnin tuloksista selvisi, että kaksoiskäämitys, jossa jokaisessa urassa oli puolet yhtä käämitystä ja puolet toista (kaksoiskäämitys 1), ei toiminut kunnolla nimellistilanteessa eikä vikatilanteessa. Suurin ongelma oli vikatilanteessa aiheutuva suuri oikosulkuvirta. Kaksoiskäämitys, jossa kaksi napaa oli samaa käämitystä (kaksoiskäämitys 2), toimi moitteettomasti nimellistilanteessa. Vikatilanteen toiminnassa kuitenkin havaittiin epäjaksollisuutta magneettivuontiheydessä, mikä on haitallista moottorin käynnille ja vaaraksi roottorille. Kaksoiskäämityksiä, joista ensimmäisessä oli neljäsosa konetta samaa käämitystä (kaksoiskäämitys 3) ja toisessa puolet koneesta samaa käämitystä (kaksoiskäämitys 4), tutkittiin vikatilanteessa vain magneettivuontiheyden osalta. Puolet ja puolet käämityn koneen osalta magneettivuontiheys osottautui epäjaksolliseksi kuten oli odotettu. Neljäsosiksi käämityn koneen magneettivuontiheys oli säännöllisen jaksollinen. Nimellispisteessä kaksoiskäämityksillä 3 ja 4 havaittiin suuri vääntöväre verrattuna kaksoiskäämityksiin 1 ja 2. Johtopäätöksenä kaksoiskäämitys 3 vaikuttaa lupaavalta, mikäli suuri nimellispisteen vääntöväre saadaan hallintaan käyttämällä uravinoutta staattorissa.

Resolución 014 del 3 de febrero de 2014

La Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá inscribió el documento privado del accionista único mediante el cual constituyó la sociedad HOTEL GROUP S.A.S. Se solicitó la revocatoria del acto administrativo mediante el cual se registró la constitución de tal sociedad.

Response rainbow trout (Salmon gairdneri) blood gas transport system to temperature, oxygen availability and photoperiod

Hematological status in rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, was examined in relation to eight combinations of three environmental fa ctors; temperature (5°, 20°C), oxygen availability «35%, >70% saturation) and photoperiod (16L:8D, 8L:16D) and evaluated by 3-factor analysis of variance. Hemog l obin and hematocrit , indicators of oxygenc arrying capacity increased significantly at the higher temperature, following exposure to hypoxia and in relation to reduced light period. Significant variations in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were not detected. The effects of temperature and oxygen availability were more pronounced than that of photoperiod which was generally masked. Although oxygen availability and photoperiod did not interact with temperature, the interaction of the former fac tors was significant. Elec trophoresis revealed twelve hemoglobin isomorphs. Relative concentration changes were found in re lation to the factors c onsidered with temperature>hypoxia>photoperiod. Howeve r , in terms of absolute concentration, effects were hypoxia>temperature>photoperiod. Photoperiod effects were again masked by temperature and (or) hypoxia. Red cell +2 l eve ls of [CI ] and [Mg ], critical elements in the hemoglobin-oxygen affinity regulating system, were also significantly altered. Red cell CI +2 was influenced only by temperature ; Mg by temper ature and oxygen. No photoperiod influence on either ions was observed. Under nominal 'summer' conditions, these changes point to the likelihood of increases in oxygen-c arrying c apac ity coupled with low Hb-02 affinity adjustments which would be expected to increase oxygen delivery rates to their more rapidly metabolising tissues.

Some Implications of the Zero Lower Bound on Interest Rates for the Term Structure and Monetary Policy

In an economy where cash can be stored costlessly (in nominal terms), the nominal interest rate is bounded below by zero. This paper derives the implications of this nonnegativity constraint for the term structure and shows that it induces a nonlinear and convex relation between short- and long-term interest rates. As a result, the long-term rate responds asymmetrically to changes in the short-term rate, and by less than predicted by a benchmark linear model. In particular, a decrease in the short-term rate leads to a decrease in the long-term rate that is smaller in magnitude than the increase in the long-term rate associated with an increase in the short-term rate of the same size. Up to the extent that monetary policy acts by affecting long-term rates through the term structure, its power is considerably reduced at low interest rates. The empirical predictions of the model are examined using data from Japan.

Habit Formation and the Persistence of Monetary Shocks

This paper studies the persistent effects of monetary shocks on output. Previous empirical literature documents this persistence, but standard general equilibrium models with sticky prices fail to generate output responses beyond the duration of nominal contracts. This paper constructs and estimates a general equilibrium model with price rigidities, habit formation, and costly capital adjustment. The model is estimated via Maximum Likelihood using US data on output, the real money stock, and the nominal interest rate. Econometric results suggest that habit formation and adjustment costs to capital play an important role in explaining the output effects of monetary policy. In particular, impulse response analysis indicates that the model generates persistent, hump-shaped output responses to monetary shocks.