Hakkuutähteestä valmistetun pyrolyysiöljyn elinkaaren kasvihuonekaasupäästöt

Kasvihuonekaasupäästöjen vähentämiseksi ja uusiutuvan energian käytön lisäämiseksi EU:ssa on säädetty direktiivi uusiutuvan energian käytön edistämisestä(RES-direktiivi). Direktiivissä annetaan ohjeet biopolttoaineiden ja bionesteiden kasvihuonekaasuvaikutusten laskemiseen. Tämän työn tarkoituksena oli selvittää, täyttääkö hakkuutähteistä valmistettu pyrolyysiöljy RES-direktiivin asettamat määrälliset vaatimukset kasvihuonekaasujen päästövähennykselle silloin, kun pyrolyysiöljyllä korvataan raskasta polttoöljyä lämmöntuotannossa. Laskenta suorittiin direktiivin ohjeiden mukaan. Lisäksi työssä pohdittiin laskentamenetelmän soveltuvuutta pyrolyysiöljyn ilmastovaikutusten arviointiin yleisesti. Laskennassa huomioitiin raaka-aineen tuotannosta, jalostuksesta sekä kuljetuksesta ja jakelusta aiheutuvat kasvihuonekaasupäästöt. Päästöt laskettiin ensin oletusarvoilla, jonka jälkeen suoritettiin todennäköisyyspohjainen herkkyystarkastelu valituille parametreille. Herkkyystarkastelun tuloksista huomattiin, että päästövähennys riippuu pääasiassa kahdesta tekijästä: maaperän hiilitaseen muutoksesta aiheutuvista päästöistä ja pyrolyysiprosessin tarvitseman lämmön tuotantoon käytetyistä polttoaineista. Eniten tuloksiin vaikutti kuitenkin se, oletettiinko pyrolysaattori ja kattila tarkastelussa erillisiksi yksiköiksi (tapaus 1) vai kokonaisuudeksi (tapaus 2). Tulosten perusteella näyttää siltä, että pyrolyysiöljyn käyttö lämmöntuotannossa raskaan polttoöljyn sijasta johtaa päästövähennyksiin. Saatuja tuloksia ei kuitenkaan voida pitää ennusteina pyrolyysiöljyn todellisista ilmastovaikutuksista, koska elinkaariarviointiin liittyy monia epävarmuuksia. RES-direktiivin laskentaohjeet esimerkiksi järjestelmärajausten muodostamisesta ja päästöjen kohdentamisesta ovat epätarkat. Tästä syystä direktiiviä on mahdollista tulkita usealla eri tavalla, jolloin toisistaan poikkeavat tulokset voivat silti olla kaikki direktiivin mukaisesti laskettuja. Jotta liika tulkinnanvaraisuus ei aiheuttaisi ongelmia, olisi RES-direktiivin laskentaohjetta hyvä tarkentaa.

Er:YAl(3)(BO(3))(4) glassy thin films from polymeric precursor and sol-gel methods: Waveguides for integrated optics

This paper presents the characterization of single-mode waveguides for 980 and 1550 nm wavelengths. High quality planar waveguide structure was fabricated from Y(1-x)Er(x)Al(3)(BO(3))(4) multilayer thin films with x = 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5, prepared through the polymeric precursor and sol-gel methods using spin-coating. The propagation losses of the planar waveguides varying from 0.63 to 0.88 dB/cm were measured at 632.8 and 1550 nm. The photoluminescence spectra and radiative lifetimes of the Er(3+) (4)I(13/2) energy level were measured in waveguiding geometry. For most samples the photoluminescence decay was single exponential with lifetimes in between 640 mu s and 200 mu s, depending on the erbium concentration and synthesis method. These results indicate that Er doped YAl(3)(BO(3))(4) compounds are promising for low loss waveguides. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All fights reserved.

Electrophoretic deposition of Ba0.77Ca0.23TiO3 nanopowders

Ba0.77Ca0.23TiO3 (BCT23) nanometric powders, synthesized by the modified Pechini method, were used as precursor to produce thick films (50-130 mu m) employing the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. The BCT23 powder presented a single crystalline phase with an average particle size and a crystallite size of similar to 60 nm and similar to 20 nm, respectively, when calcined at 800 degrees C/2h. BCT23 thick films were deposited on platinum substrates starting from different suspensions prepared by dispersion of the powder into: isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or a mixture of acetylacetone (Acac) and ethanol (EtOH) (1:1, volumetric ratio). A milling process was used to deagglomerate the powders in order to increase the suspension stability and improving the deposition. Dense and crack free thick films with uniform microstructure were obtained after sintering at 1300 degrees C/2 h from Acac+EtOH solution. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Erbium and Ytterbium Codoped Titanoniobophosphate Glasses for Ion-Exchange-Based Planar Waveguides

This work presents the optical properties of erbium-doped and erbium/ytterbium codoped Na(2)O-Al(2)O(3)-TiO(2)-Nb(2)O(5)-P(2)O(5) glass systems and also the characterization of planar waveguides obtained by typical thermally assisted Ag+<-> Na+ ion-exchange process. The glass systems allow the preparation of single mode and multimode planar waveguides presenting a strong and relatively broad emission at 1536 nm. The emission signal in the infrared region is intensified for silver-containing samples when compared with free-silver samples. The emission signal intensification may be attributed to a nonplasmonic energy transfer from silver species to Er3+ ions as no bands related to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of silver nanoparticles were observed.

Fluorescent AlPO(4) gels and glasses doped with Rhodamine 6G: Preparation, structural and optical characterization

Fluorescent AlPO(4) xerogels doped with different amounts of Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) laser dye were prepared by a one-step sal-gel process. In addition, mesoporous AlPO(4) glasses obtained from undoped gels were loaded with different amounts of Rh6G by wet impregnation. Optical excitation and emission spectra of both series of samples show significant dependences on Rh6G concentration, revealing the influence of dye molecular aggregation. At comparable dye concentrations the aggregation effects are found to be significantly stronger in the gels than in the mesoporous glasses. This effect might be attributed to stronger interactions between the dye molecules and the glass matrix, resulting in more efficient dye dispersion in the latter. The interaction of Rh6G with the glassy AlPO(4) network has been probed by (27)Al and (31)P solid-state NMR techniques. New five- and six-coordinated aluminum environments have been observed and characterized by advanced solid-state NMR techniques probing (27)Al-(1)H and (27)Al-(31)P internuclear dipole couplings. The fractional area of these new Al sites is correlated with the combined fractional area of two new Q(3Al)((0)) and Q(2Al)((0)) phosphate species observed in the (31)P MAS NMR spectra. Based on this correlation as well as detailed composition dependent studies, we suggest that the new signals arise from the breakage of Al-O-P linkages associated with the insertion process. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Design and validation of a sheet metal shearing experimental procedure

Throughout the industrial processes of sheet metal manufacturing and refining, shear cutting is widely used for its speed and cost advantages over competing cutting methods. Industrial shears may include some force measurement possibilities, but the force is most likely influenced by friction losses between shear tool and the point of measurement, and are in general not showing the actual force applied to the sheet. Well defined shears and accurate measurements of force and shear tool position are important for understanding the influence of shear parameters. Accurate experimental data are also necessary for calibration of numerical shear models. Here, a dedicated laboratory set-up with well defined geometry and movement in the shear, and high measurability in terms of force and geometry is designed, built and verified. Parameters important to the shear process are studied with perturbation analysis techniques and requirements on input parameter accuracy are formulated to meet experimental output demands. Input parameters in shearing are mostly geometric parameters, but also material properties and contact conditions. Based on the accuracy requirements, a symmetric experiment with internal balancing of forces is constructed to avoid guides and corresponding friction losses. Finally, the experimental procedure is validated through shearing of a medium grade steel. With the obtained experimental set-up performance, force changes as result of changes in studied input parameters are distinguishable down to a level of 1%.

Al-based anodic oxide films structure observation using field emission gun scanning electron microscopy

In the present work, the anodic oxide films of Al, Al-Cu 4.5% and Al-Si 6.5% alloys are formed using direct and pulse current. In the case of Al-Cu and Al-Si alloys, the electrolyte used contains sulfuric acid and oxalic acid, meanwhile for Al the electrolyte contains sulfuric acid only. Al-Cu alloy was submitted to a heat treatment in order to decrease the effect of inter metallic phase theta upon the anodic film structure. Fractured samples were observed using a field emission gun scanning electron microscope JSM-6330F at (LME)/Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), Campinas, SP, Brazil. The oxide film images enable evaluation of the pore size and form with a resolution similar to the transmission electron microscope (TEM) resolution. It is also observed that the anodizing process using pulse current produces an irregular structure of pore walls, and by direct cur-rent it is produced a rectilinear pore wall. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improving minimum quantity lubrication in CBN grinding using compressed air wheel cleaning

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of bismuth layered thin films grown on (100) Pt electrodes

The effect of film orientation on piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of bismuth layered compounds deposited on platinum coated silicon substrates was investigated. Piezo-force microscopy was used to probe the local piezoelectric properties of Bi(4)Ti(3)O(12), CaBi(4)Ti(4)O(15) and SrBi(4)Ti(4)O(15) films. Our measurements on individual grains clearly reveal that the local piezoelectric properties are determined by the polarization state of the grain. A piezoelectric coefficient of 65 pm/V was attained after poling in a grain with a polar axis very close to the normal direction. The piezoelectric coefficient and the remanent polarization were larger for a-b axes oriented than for c-axis-oriented films. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Fatigue strength of tungsten inert gas-repaired weld joints in airplane critical structures

In this work the effect of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) repairs on the axial fatigue strength of an AISI 4130 steel welded joint used in airframe critical to the flight-safety was investigated. Fatigue tests were performed at room temperature on 0.89 mm thick hot-rolled plates with constant amplitude and load ratio of R = 0.1, at 20 Hz frequency. Monotonic tensile tests, optical metallography and microhardness, residual stress and weld geometric factors measurements were also performed. The fatigue strength decreased with the number of GTAW repairs, and was related to microstructural and microhardness changes, as well as residual stress field and weld profile geometry factors, which gave origin to high stress concentration at the weld toe. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrodeposition of copper on titanium wires: Taguchi experimental design approach

Electrodeposition of thin copper layer was carried out on titanium wires in acidic sulphate bath. The influence of titanium surface preparation, cathodic current density, copper sulphate and sulphuric acid concentrations, electrical charge density and stirring of the solution on the adhesion of the electrodeposits was studied using the Taguchi statistical method. A L(16) orthogonal array with the six factors of control at two levels each and three interactions was employed. The analysis of variance of the mean adhesion response and signal-to-noise ratio showed the great influence of cathodic current density on adhesion. on the contrary, the other factors as well as the three investigated interactions revealed low or no significant effect. From this study optimized electrolysis conditions were defined. The copper electrocoating improved the electrical conductivity of the titanium wire. This shows that copper electrocoated titanium wires could be employed for both electrical purpose and mechanical reinforcement in superconducting magnets. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Análises físico-químicas de polpas de frutas e avaliação dos seus padrões de identidade e qualidade

The pulps are products that add economic value enjoy the fruits of the surplus productions of the same. Have good market acceptance because of its practicality and diversity of flavors available year round. In order to assess the quality of the fruit pulp through the physical and chemical parameters and the characteristics of manufacturing industry, we analyzed 36 samples of frozen fruit pulp of three brands marketed in RIO Grande do Norte, 14 brand A, 12 of 10 brand B and brand C, which corresponded to 14 different flavors, of which 10 have identity Standards and Quality (ISQ S) established by the Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA), totaling 27 samples with ISQ s. We conducted the following physicalchemical analyzes on samples of fruit pulp: Total solids, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, total sugars and the determination of ascorbic acid. The percentage of failure for each parameter evaluated was 37, 04% in total soluble solids, 22,22% for total solids and titratable acidity, 7,40% in relation to pH. The total sugars were within the requirements demanded by the MAPA and ascorbic acid content, determined only in the pulp of acerola and cashew, presented a non compliance in the pulp of brand B. The percentage of failures of the pulps with ISQ S was 59% with brand A, B and C accounted for 3,70%, 33,33% and 22,22% respectively. The pulps which have no established atandards such as pineapple pulp, showed similar values between brands and literature data unlike the pulp of plum, jackfruit and tamarind which diverged greatly in parameters such as total solids and total soluble solids. The study demonstrates the need for greater quality control by the producers with respect to raw materials, processing, packing, stored and the importance of ISQ S to establish the flavors have not yet covered by existing legislation, but already highly commercialized

Domestic microwave oven adapted for fast heat treatment of Ba0.5Sr0.5(Ti0.8Sn0.2)O-3 powders

In this work, BSTSn powders prepared by the polymeric precursor method were heat treated in a domestic microwave oven (MW) using a SiC susceptor to absorb the microwave energy and transfer the heat to the powder. The main advantage of MW is to reduce the thermal treatment time for phase crystallization. The powders were heat treated at 300 degrees C for 20 h in conventional oven, 300 degrees C for 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min in MW and at 500 degrees C for 1 min in MW. After thermal treatment, the photoluminescent properties of powders at room temperature were analyzed. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Austenite decomposition of C-Mn steel containing boron by continuous cooling

The austenite decomposition in C-Mn steel containing boron was studied by continuous cooling from 1100 and 845 degreesC using the Jominy test. The results indicate that the different cooling speeds and the presence of boron refine and change the percentage of ferrite microstructure, martensite, and fine pearlite. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Desenvolvimento de materiais adsorventes de óleos a partir de resíduos do beneficiamento do café e sua aplicação na ração para aves

O objetivo deste trabalho foi modificar quimicamente resíduos do beneficiamento do café (pergaminho), visando a obtenção de um produto mais hidrofóbico, testá-lo quanto ao seu poder adsorvente de óleo e utilizá-lo em formulações de rações para aves. Os resíduos foram analisados quanto a sua composição química-bromatológica e, posteriormente, acetilados com anidrido acético usando diferentes concentrações de N-bromossuccinimida, a temperatura de 120°C por 4 horas. A análise dos resíduos indicou altos teores de fibras. A acetilação possibilitou ganho de massa em todas as amostras estudadas. Nos testes de adsorção de óleo verificou-se aumento significativo na retenção de óleo dos materiais modificados, comprovando a hidrofobização. O material acetilado e com certa quantidade de óleo adsorvida foi chamado de OSoL (óleo sólido) sendo avaliado o seu valor nutricional em rações para aves, substituindo o óleo de soja. Nos ensaios metabólicos adotou-se o método de alimentação forcada, sendo determinados os valores de energia metabolizável verdadeira, energia metabolizável verdadeira corrigida para nitrogênio, coeficiente de digestibilidade da matéria seca, coeficiente de digestibilidade da proteína bruta e coeficiente de metabolizibilidade da energia metabolizável. Os tratamentos mostraram-se semelhantes estatisticamente, sendo, portanto, viável a inclusão do OSoL nas rações animais.