Methodology for instantaneous average exhaust gas mass flow rate measurement

This paper presents a new methodology for measurement of the instantaneous average exhaust mass flow rate in reciprocating internal combustion engines to be used to determinate real driving emissions on light duty vehicles, as part of a Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS). Firstly a flow meter, named MIVECO flow meter, was designed based on a Pitot tube adapted to exhaust gases which are characterized by moisture and particle content, rapid changes in flow rate and chemical composition, pulsating and reverse flow at very low engine speed. Then, an off-line methodology was developed to calculate the instantaneous average flow, considering the ?square root error? phenomenon. The paper includes the theoretical fundamentals, the developed flow meter specifications, the calibration tests, the description of the proposed off-line methodology and the results of the validation test carried out in a chassis dynamometer, where the validity of the mass flow meter and the methodology developed are demonstrated.

Compaslab.org, competences to be an ace. Learning design for a successful sustainable employability

Companies are looking for workers trained in soft skills, and we want to help in the learning process. How? Through three courses (Building trust through values, soft skills and entrepreneurship) and historical aces, characters who joined strong values, intellectual and social capabilities and an entrepreneurial spirit, to leave a legacy. CompasLab.org = Values + Skills + Action.

Arsenic, antimony and selenium in urban soils: potential risks for human health in urban gardening

The benefits of urban agriculture are many and well documented, ranging from health improvement to community betterment, more sustainable urban development and environment protection. On the negative side, urban soils are commonly enriched in toxic trace elements that have accumulated over time through the deposition of atmospheric particles (generated by automotive traffic, heating systems, historical industrial activities and resuspended street dust), and the uncontrolled disposal of domestic, commercial and industrial wastes. This in turn has given rise to concerns about the level of exposure of urban farmers to these elements and the potential health hazards associated with this exposure. Research efforts in this field have started relatively recently and have almost systematically omitted the influence of Sb and Se, and to a lesser extent of As, although all three have proven toxic effects.

Enseñanzas derivadas del Benchmark SMART 2013

El CEA francés, junto con EDF y la OIEA, recientemente organizaron un benchmark internacional y posterior workshop para evaluar las capacidades de simulación del comportamiento mecánico de estructuras nucleares de hormigón armado sometidas a acciones sísmicas. Principia, que fue el único participante español en el workshop, contribuyó a tres de las cuatro fases del ejercicio, que esencialmente consistía en simular los efectos de terremotos en un modelo a escala de una estructura nuclear típica, y en comparar los resultados con ensayos posteriores en mesa vibrante y con las predicciones de otros participantes. El artículo presenta algunas conclusiones obtenidas en los cálculos pre-ensayo, enriquecidas con observaciones producidas por las simulaciones adicionales llevadas a cabo una vez que se hicieron públicos los resultados de los ensayos.

Experience and lessons learnt from the SMART 2013 Benchmark

The French CEA, together with EDF and the IAEA, recently organised an international benchmark to evaluate the ability to model the mechanical behaviour of a typical nuclear reinforced concrete structure subjected to seismic demands. The participants were provided with descriptions of the structure and the testing campaign; they had to propose the numerical model and the material laws for the concrete (stage #1). A mesh of beam and shell elements was generated; for modelling the concrete a damaged plasticity model was used, but a smeared crack model was also investigated. Some of the initial experimental results, with the mock-up remaining in the elastic range, were provided to the participants for calibrating their models (stage #2). Predictions had to be produced in terms of eigen-frequencies and motion time histories. The calculated frequencies reproduced reasonably the experimental ones; the time histories, calculated by modal response analysis, also reproduced adequately the observed amplifications. The participants were then expected to predict the structural response under strong ground motions (stage #3), which increased progressively up to a history recorded during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, followed by an aftershock. These results were produced using an explicit solver and a damaged plasticity model for the concrete, although an implicit solver with a smeared crack model was also investigated. The paper presents the conclusions of the pre-test exercise, as well as some observations from additional simulations conducted after the experimental results were made available.

Guidelines of natural zeolites characterization for acid mine drainage treatment. Case study Guayaquil, Ecuador

Zeolites constitute one of the less common groups of tectosilicates. Zeoli1es with pores between -2 to 10 A in their structures have strong sorption capacity and are widely used in industrial and municipal operations to eliminate toxic substances. One of the major environmental problems in the mining activity is the treating of acid mine drainage. In this context, it is very important to search alternatives to manage this challenge. One feasible alternative is using zeolitic tuffs. The results of the physical-chemical characterization of zeolitic tuffs are the c1ue lo continue or not with deeper analysis and tests 01 acid mine drainage treatments. The guidelines to reach this purpose are the main goal of this work. Zeolite 1uff samples (named as XB_01 and XB_02) studied in this work were laken rn the Late Cretaceous Coastal Cayo Arch Ecuador, specifically in the Guaraguao River, showing the most important characteristics of heulandite zeolitic tuffs. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) tests were developed in order to confirm that the samples belong to the heulandite-type zeoli1ic tuffs. Additionally, Thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) of the samples was necessary in order to define the Si/Al ratio and the main mineralogical phases. The XB_01 sample shows a higher ratio Si/Al than XB_02 sample. The cation exchange capacity est was the fundamental step to define the potentiality of the zeolite to use in acid mine drainage treatment Three methodologies were employed to determine the cation exchange capacity. The Cuban standard 626 and the ammonium exchange methodologies reflect results more consistent with each other. This is the starting point to continue with deeper studies such as breakthrough curves for heavy metal ions found in acid mine waters.

Production of biodiesel from animal fat using supercritical ethanol

Biodiesel is currently produced from a catalytic transesterification reaction of various types of edible and non-edible oil with methanol. The use of waste animal tallow instead of edible oils opens a route to recycle this waste. This material has the advantage of lower costs but the problem of high content of free fatty acids, becoming necessary a pre-esterification reaction that increases the cost of the catalytic process. The production of biodiesel using supercritical alcohols is appropriate for materials with high acidity and water content, therefore the use of this process with animal fat is a promising alternative. Ethanol has been used because it can be produced from biomass via fermentation resulting in a complete renewable biodiesel, instead of methanol that derives from fossil feedstocks. Two different processes have been studied: first, the direct transesterification of animal fat using supercritical ethanol and second a two-step process where the first step is a hydrolysis of the animal fat and the second step is the esterification of the resulting fatty acids. The temperature, the molar ratio ethanol:fat and the time have been modified in the different reactions to study the effect in the final conversion and the degradation of the unsaturated fatty acid esters, main inconvenient of these high temperature and pressure processes.

Discourses and values underpin public debate on fracking in Spain: a case study at the crossroad

In the EU context extraction of shale and oil gas by hydraulic fracturing (fracking) differs from country to country in terms of legislation and implementation. While fossil fuel extraction using this technology is currently taking place in the UK, Germany and France have adopted respective moratoria. In between is the Spanish case, where hydrocarbon extraction projects through fracking have to undergo mandatory and routine environmental assessment in accordance with the last changes to environmental regulations. Nowadays Spain is at the crossroad with respect to the future of this technology. We presume a social conflictt in our country since the position and strategy of the involved and confronted social actors -national, regional and local authorities, energy companies, scientists, NGO and other social organization- are going to play key and likely divergent roles in its industrial implementation and public acceptance. In order to improve knowledge on how to address these controverted situations from the own engineering context, the affiliated units from the Higher Technical School of Mines and Energy Engineering at UPM have been working on a transversal program to teach values and ethics. Over the past seven years, this pioneering experience has shown the usefulness of applying a consequentialist ethics, based on a case-by-case approach and costs-benefits analysis both for action and inaction. As a result of this initiative a theoretical concept has arisen and crystallized in this field: it is named Inter-ethics. This theoretical perspective can be very helpful in complex situations, with multi-stakeholders and plurality of interests, when ethical management requires the interaction between the respective ethics of each group; professional ethics of a single group is not enough. Under this inter-ethics theoretical framework and applying content analysis techniques, this paper explores the articulation of the discourse in favour and against fracking technology and its underlying values as manifested in the Spanish traditional mass media and emerging social media such as Youtube. Results show that Spanish public discourse on fracking technology includes the costs-benefits analysis to communicate how natural resources from local communities may be affected by these facilities due to environmental, health and economic consequences. Furthermore, this technology is represented as a solution to the "demand of energy" according to the optimistic discourse while, from a pessimistic view, fracking is often framed as a source "environmental problems" and even natural disasters as possible earthquakes. In this latter case, this negative representation could have been influenced by the closure of a macro project to store injected natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea using the old facilities of an oil exploitation in Amposta (Proyecto Cástor). The closure of this project was due to the occurrence of earthquakes whose intensity was higher than the originally expected by the experts in the assessment stage of the project.

Determination of chromite composition from multispectral reflectance measurements (400-1000 nm)

The relationship between the chemical composition and the multispectral reflectance values of chromite in the VNIR (Visible and Near-Infra-Red) realm is tested and mathematically analysed. Statisticaltools as Pearson's correlation coefficients, linear stepwise regression analysis and least-square adjustments are applied to two populations of data obtained from 14 selected samples 01 chromite multielemental microprobe analysis and multispectral reflectance values (400-1 000 nm). Results show that both data sets correlate, and suggest that the VNIR reflectance spectra can be used as a tool to determine the chemical composition of chromites.

Tuberías de Gas Natural para alimentación de la planta Gorgon LNG a partir del yacimiento Gorgon

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo el diseño y dimensionamiento del gasoducto de alimentación a la planta de producción de GNL del proyecto Gorgon LNG, el cual consiste en la explotación de varios yacimientos de gas natural offshore al oeste de Australia y la producción de GNL en la planta situada en la Isla Barrow. Se han considerado dos fases de desarrollo, una inicial con ocho pozos, y otra de madurez con doce. El dimensionamiento se ha realizado mediante simulaciones con el programa Aspen Hysys, mediante el cual se han obtenido los diámetros internos mínimos y los perfiles de presiones y temperaturas, así como el caudal de MEG requerido para evitar la formación de hidratos. Posteriormente, mediante cálculo matemático se ha calculado el espesor teniendo en cuenta las tensiones mecánicas a las que estará sometida la tubería. Finalmente, a partir de los resultados del cálculo técnico se ha realizado el estudio económico, estimando costes e ingresos, en el cual se ha realizado un estudio de la rentabilidad del proyecto y un análisis de sensibilidad, resultando un proyecto técnica y económicamente viable.

Los colegios extranjeros, una herramienta de la diplomacia

¿Pueden ser los colegios “extranjeros” una eficaz herramienta de diplomacia? La respuesta es sí. Es bien sabido que las herramientas de diplomacia pública, empleadas por los gobiernos de la mayor parte de los países, son las perfectas sustitutas de la fuerza y de los medios militares para conseguir variados propósitos que afecten a los intereses del propio país o para que una nación realice o se comporte de una determinada manera. Por tanto, mediante su uso, la capacidad de influencia de uno sobre otro es alta. El artículo ofrece una exhaustiva relación de las redes de centros escolares pertenecientes a Inglaterra, Alemania, Francia y España, diseminadas por el mundo, que trabajan como perfectas herramientas de la diplomacia pública para sus propios países.

El edificio Legorburo de Albacete. De la euforia de una decisión a la penuria de una situación

El único ejemplo claro de Modernidad en la ciudad de Albacete (y así lo registra el Docomomo Ibérico) es el Edificio Legorburo en la calle Mayor, 43 esquina a Marqués de Molíns, un proyecto de comercio y viviendas de 1935 de los arquitectos José Luis García Pellicer y Baldomero Pérez Villena. Paradigma del más depurado racionalismo, rotundo, pero discreto, representa en Albacete, en el cruce de la calle Ancha, nuevo eje burgués, con una calle histórica y mirando hacia el Parque, lo que el Edificio Capitol en la Gran Vía madrileña. Pero, además de su posición y composición, encierra toda una serie de lecciones que nos proponemos desentrañar. Una de ellas es que el proyecto es resultado de un concurso convocado por la propiedad, en 1935, a través del Colegio de Arquitectos de Valencia, lo cual llama poderosamente la atención sobre el procedimiento del encargo y sobre el proceder de los promotores. Otra es la auténtica aventura que su construcción supone, arrancando a finales de 1935, quedando paralizada por la guerra y sobreviviendo a continuación a base de reinventarse hasta 1946 en que se concluye. Los cambios entre proyecto y obra evidencian ese ejercicio, apasionante y dramático, de ir repensando el proyecto una y otra vez para poderlo construir con los materiales y recursos disponibles en cada momento. El Edificio Legorburo es un magnífico exponente de la idea corbuseriana de la arquitectura como juego sabio y soberbio de los volúmenes bajo la luz pues es la plasticidad de sus cuerpos, muy matizados, la que le confiere su fuerza y elegancia casi mendelsohnianas. Estos cuerpos, acusados por sus respectivos planos, son tres: el principal y de mayor vuelo de los pisos, que resuelve la esquina en curva así como las transiciones con ésta y con las medianeras; el del bajo que, ajustándose a la alineación oficial, emerge sobre el principal en la esquina, como un faro que iluminara la ciudad con su linterna; y el de transición entre ambos, de vuelo intermedio, en el entresuelo y sobreático, flancos de la torre y medianeras. Este juego de volúmenes acusa un sinfín de matices resueltos con gran clase, como la transformación del mirador de la esquina en balcón, donde asienta la torre y se derrama luego a los costados, o el descenso hasta el bajo de la torre. El tratamiento de superficies insiste en este concepto escultural: las estrías verticales que simulan un orden gigante de pilastras, las franjas horizontales que delinean y subrayan las curvas, los antepechos de los huecos con cuadrados almohadillados... Todo está exquisitamente cuidado, trabajado y pensado. Las plantas, modélicas, albergan dos viviendas por piso con sus zonas de día recayentes a fachada y sus servicios a medianeras, en cuyo centro se aloja una majestuosa escalera elíptica y un patio que absorbe las irregularidades del trazado. Todas estas razones (funcional, impecablemente resuelta; técnica, ingeniosamente conseguida; formal, espectacularmente consumada y el entendimiento del lugar), tienen especial validez en el contexto actual puesto que son auténticas y genuinas lecciones de arquitectura.

Espectáculo de la naturaleza o Conversaciones a cerca de las particularidades de la historia natural ...

Mode of access: Internet.

Informe nacional de monitoreo de la eficiencia energética de la República del Paraguay, 2016

Este primer informe nacional de monitoreo de la eficiencia energética de la República del Paraguay y la base de datos que le da origen constituyen una herramienta de gran utilidad para sensibilizar a las autoridades nacionales en el tema de la eficiencia energética. Representa además un poderoso instrumento análitico para identificar sectores y subsectores con altos potenciales de ahorro energético y focalizar los presupuestos, políticas y programas hacia tales actividades.

Alguien dice tu nombre, por Luis García Montero: Fidelidad a la voz del poeta en una traducción de su prosa

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06