Uso e ocupação do solo e a transformação da paisagem na faixa litorânea da Via Costeira, município de Natal/RN

The coastal area of the city of Natal due to its location and natural potentialities has been an area where we have experienced big changes in its environment, at the expense of several forms of use and human occupation. On the coast of Via Costeira beach the process of use and land occupation was structured at the end of 1970s and early 1980s, as a result of the government policy which has developmental essence, based on the settlement of plenty big enterprises by the Parque das Dunas/Via Costeira Project. This project was created to install in Natal, capital of the state, infrastructure equipment on this stretch of coastline consisted of dune fields and many parts of ecosystems which have high natural relevance and fragility that used to present a semi-isolation in the urban city, for the development of tourist activities, which is considered as a viable economic solution capable of setting right serious socioeconomic problems that had persisted there. According to what was said so far, this study aimed to analyze the forms of use and land occupation besides the change of the landscape along the Via Costeira coast in the city of Natal/RN. These changes often take place without considering the complexity and fragility of natural ecosystems involved. The geoenvironmental study was based on the geosystemic theory, thus It was possible to analyze the human interventions in the superficial aspects of landscapes holistically. The practical procedures were contemplated with literature searches, followed by field work where were fulfilled the recognition and general characterization of the area in order to investigate and analyze the main types of land occupation and its use that have taken place there since big buildings began to come out, being supported by the legislation whose laws are about protection and conservation of coastal natural resources. The research also includes the identification and evaluation of the main types of negative impacts caused due to different forms of use that induce environmental and social conflicts nearby this shore. Thus, It was carried out a spatial and multitemporal analysis from orthophotos, aerial photographs and others taken during the field work besides satellite images too. The information which is taken out from these instruments was used to draw maps related to land occupation, spatial impacts and other thematic maps. We worked on a hypothesis that the implementation of mega enterprises on Via Costeira and many different forms of intensified use by human actions, has not considered the natural aspects and restrictions of use in this area, these ones would be the main factors that brought on the suppression and degradation in this environment and consequently the transformation of the natural landscape.

Qualidade da água de um reservatório e do solo da zona ripária sob diferentes usos na região semiárida do Rio Grande do Norte

Reservoirs are artificial ecosystems intermediate between rivers and lakes widely used in the Brazilian semiarid region as a way to provide water supply due to the said region’s water scarcity. The use of water from these supply sources for multiple uses, along with occupation and utilization of its riparian zone without proper management, directly influences the increased nutrient flow into aquatic environments, there with contributing to the acceleration of eutrophication. The semi-arid region is characterized by peculiar weather conditions, such as severe evaporation, high temperatures with little variation throughout the year and long water residence time, making it susceptible to prolonged drought occurrence, which tends to concentrate the nutrients in reservoirs, which favors the development of eutrophic conditions. Moreover, it is common soil use and occupation by carrying out activities with potential environmental impact on natural resources such as agriculture, livestock farming and lack of sanitation. The aim of this study is both to evaluate the water quality of the Cruzeta Reservoir, located in the semiarid region of Rio Grande do Norte, during a prolonged drought period, and assess the quality of its riparian zone soil under different uses, by monitoring physical-chemical variables. Along the prolonged drought, high levels of turbidity, suspended solids, nutrients and chlorophyll a were verified as present, therefore featuring low water quality. In the riparian zone of Cruzeta Reservoir, the areas under use of agriculture and livestock farming appeared as one of the main diffuse sources of nutrients to the said reservoir, featuring the highest levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in the soil, originated from decomposition of animal excreta and from the use of fertilizers, creating a tendency to increased eutrophication of such water supply source. The indicators of water and soil quality are useful for monitoring and evaluating the conservation status of natural resources, allowing the control and mitigation of the reservoir eutrophication process. This study confirmed the hypothesis that the reduction of water level, resulting from prolonged drought event, aggravates the symptoms of eutrophication; and also that using the soil under severalways modifies the physic chemical properties of the soil, having livestock farming and agriculture as the usages with greatest potential towards yielding P and N to the aquatic environment.

Uma nova proposta de fluidos de perfuração aquosos à base de polímeros vinílicos e bentonita para poços de alta temperatura e pressão

The advance of drilling in deeper wells has required more thermostable materials. The use of synthetic fluids, which usually have a good chemical stability, faces the environmental constraints, besides it usually generate more discharge and require a costly disposal treatment of drilled cuttings, which are often not efficient and require mechanical components that hinder the operation. The adoption of aqueous fluids generally involves the use of chrome lignosulfonate, used as dispersant, which provides stability on rheological properties and fluid loss under high temperatures and pressures (HTHP). However, due to the environmental impact associated with the use of chrome compounds, the drilling industry needs alternatives that maintain the integrity of the property and ensure success of the operation in view of the strong influence of temperature on the viscosity of aqueous fluids and polymers used in these type fluids, often polysaccharides, passives of hydrolysis and biological degradation. Therefore, vinyl polymers were selected for this study because they have predominantly carbon chain and, in particular, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for resisting higher temperatures and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA) and clay by increasing the system's viscosity. Moreover, the absence of acetal bonds reduces the sensitivity to attacks by bacteria. In order to develop an aqueous drilling fluid system for HTHP applications using PVP, HPAM and clay, as main constituents, fluid formulations were prepared and determined its rheological properties using rotary viscometer of the Fann, and volume filtrate obtained by filtration HTHP following the standard API 13B-2. The new fluid system using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with high molar weight had higher viscosities, gels and yield strength, due to the effect of flocculating clay. On the other hand, the low molecular weight PVP contributed to the formation of disperse systems with lower values in the rheological properties and fluid loss. Both systems are characterized by thermal stability gain up to around 120 ° C, keeping stable rheological parameters. The results were further corroborated through linear clay swelling tests.

Uma nova proposta de fluidos de perfuração aquosos à base de polímeros vinílicos e bentonita para poços de alta temperatura e pressão

The advance of drilling in deeper wells has required more thermostable materials. The use of synthetic fluids, which usually have a good chemical stability, faces the environmental constraints, besides it usually generate more discharge and require a costly disposal treatment of drilled cuttings, which are often not efficient and require mechanical components that hinder the operation. The adoption of aqueous fluids generally involves the use of chrome lignosulfonate, used as dispersant, which provides stability on rheological properties and fluid loss under high temperatures and pressures (HTHP). However, due to the environmental impact associated with the use of chrome compounds, the drilling industry needs alternatives that maintain the integrity of the property and ensure success of the operation in view of the strong influence of temperature on the viscosity of aqueous fluids and polymers used in these type fluids, often polysaccharides, passives of hydrolysis and biological degradation. Therefore, vinyl polymers were selected for this study because they have predominantly carbon chain and, in particular, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for resisting higher temperatures and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA) and clay by increasing the system's viscosity. Moreover, the absence of acetal bonds reduces the sensitivity to attacks by bacteria. In order to develop an aqueous drilling fluid system for HTHP applications using PVP, HPAM and clay, as main constituents, fluid formulations were prepared and determined its rheological properties using rotary viscometer of the Fann, and volume filtrate obtained by filtration HTHP following the standard API 13B-2. The new fluid system using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with high molar weight had higher viscosities, gels and yield strength, due to the effect of flocculating clay. On the other hand, the low molecular weight PVP contributed to the formation of disperse systems with lower values in the rheological properties and fluid loss. Both systems are characterized by thermal stability gain up to around 120 ° C, keeping stable rheological parameters. The results were further corroborated through linear clay swelling tests.

Estudo da incorporação de cinza e chamote gerado pela cerâmica vermelha ao próprio processo industrial

The ceramics industry generates waste at various stages of that process, defective products, waste from burning solid fuels, among others. This waste is dumped in landfills, garbage dumps or directly on roads, which has a negative environmental impact. This paper presents a study to incorporate the waste of algaroba wood and chamote (scrap pieces of ceramic already sintered), in to the ceramic material for making sealing blocks. The methodological procedures consist in the characterization of chemical and mineralogical residues, raw materials, and physical-mechanical of the formulations of mixes with clay, silt and waste. By pressing test pieces were produced using a pressure of 200 kgf/cm², varying compositions in the range of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% by weight of residue. The sintering was performed in a muffle furnace, with the temperature levels of 850 ° C, 900 ° C, 950 ° C, 1000 ° C and 1050 ° C. The evaluated physical and mechanical properties were: Water Absorption, Linear Shrinkage Burning, Apparent Porosity, Apparent Density and Mechanical Resistance to Flexion. Analysis was carried out by Scanning Electron Microscopy on fracture surfaces of the specimens. Evaluation of linear shrinkage property drying and firing , water absorption and mechanical resistance to compression of the sealing blocks 5% wood ash residue, sintered at 900 °C hold temperature in the laboratory the products manufactured on an industrial scale. The main results, it was found on the viability of using the residues of algaroba wood and to confer refractory properties of the ceramic product. The main results, it was concluded feasibility of using the ash residues algaroba wood to impart refractory properties to the ceramic product and the residue of chamote, being derived from the own ceramic product not interfere with the properties, when used in a percentage of up to 5%.Since the residue of chamote being derived from the ceramic product itself had no effect on the properties. Studies in the laboratory have shown that the incorporation of up to 5% of these residues may be adopted as an alternative technology to reduce the environmental impact caused by the industrial sector, without compromising the final properties of the material, since the results on an industrial scale showed absorption values 11.66 and 11.74 of water and waste products respectively, within the parameters of NBR - 15,270, since the mechanical strength was 1.25 MPa and 0.94 MPa respectively for products with and without residue, lower than the minimum required by the technical standard that is 1.5 MPa.

Estudo da incorporação de cinza e chamote gerado pela cerâmica vermelha ao próprio processo industrial

The ceramics industry generates waste at various stages of that process, defective products, waste from burning solid fuels, among others. This waste is dumped in landfills, garbage dumps or directly on roads, which has a negative environmental impact. This paper presents a study to incorporate the waste of algaroba wood and chamote (scrap pieces of ceramic already sintered), in to the ceramic material for making sealing blocks. The methodological procedures consist in the characterization of chemical and mineralogical residues, raw materials, and physical-mechanical of the formulations of mixes with clay, silt and waste. By pressing test pieces were produced using a pressure of 200 kgf/cm², varying compositions in the range of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% by weight of residue. The sintering was performed in a muffle furnace, with the temperature levels of 850 ° C, 900 ° C, 950 ° C, 1000 ° C and 1050 ° C. The evaluated physical and mechanical properties were: Water Absorption, Linear Shrinkage Burning, Apparent Porosity, Apparent Density and Mechanical Resistance to Flexion. Analysis was carried out by Scanning Electron Microscopy on fracture surfaces of the specimens. Evaluation of linear shrinkage property drying and firing , water absorption and mechanical resistance to compression of the sealing blocks 5% wood ash residue, sintered at 900 °C hold temperature in the laboratory the products manufactured on an industrial scale. The main results, it was found on the viability of using the residues of algaroba wood and to confer refractory properties of the ceramic product. The main results, it was concluded feasibility of using the ash residues algaroba wood to impart refractory properties to the ceramic product and the residue of chamote, being derived from the own ceramic product not interfere with the properties, when used in a percentage of up to 5%.Since the residue of chamote being derived from the ceramic product itself had no effect on the properties. Studies in the laboratory have shown that the incorporation of up to 5% of these residues may be adopted as an alternative technology to reduce the environmental impact caused by the industrial sector, without compromising the final properties of the material, since the results on an industrial scale showed absorption values 11.66 and 11.74 of water and waste products respectively, within the parameters of NBR - 15,270, since the mechanical strength was 1.25 MPa and 0.94 MPa respectively for products with and without residue, lower than the minimum required by the technical standard that is 1.5 MPa.

Avaliação do ciclo de vida de um pavimento flutuante de cortiça

A consciencialização ambiental vem assumindo um papel preponderante na construção civil. Nesse sentido, o desenvolvimento de materiais sustentáveis e ecológicos é essencial para a satisfação de fabricantes e consumidores, respeitando diversos requisitos: níveis reduzidos de poluição e toxicidade, durabilidade dos materiais, possibilidade de reutilização e/ou reciclagem, a proveniência das matérias-primas e a possibilidade de contaminação do ar no interior dos edifícios. As declarações ambientais de produto (DAP) permitem informar o consumidor do desempenho ambiental dos materiais dos produtos. Assim, ao longo de todo o processo de fabrico são registados os consumos de recursos e emissões ambientais e, através da metodologia de avaliação de ciclo de vida, é quantificada a contribuição resultante para impactes ambientais. Esta dissertação visa analisar os possíveis impactes ambientais no decurso do processo de produção de um pavimento flutuante de cortiça, constituído por cortiça, High Density Fibreboard (HDF) e acabamento de superfície, denominado Artcomfort Floating NPC e elaborar de um relatório de suporte, que servirá de base para a DAP do pavimento Artcomfort Floating NPC do sistema do Institut Bauen und Umwelt (IBU). Esta dissertação inclui um relatório de fundo, para a avaliação do ciclo de vida do pavimento flutuante Artcomfort Floating NPC da empresa Amorim Revestimentos, que servirá de base para a elaboração da declaração ambiental de produto (DAP) do mesmo. Para tal, recorreu-se ao software SimaPro para análise dos impactes ambientais das várias fases do processo de fabrico do pavimento em estudo, sendo as fases consideradas, a produção da camada base de cortiça aglomerada, camada backing de cortiça aglomerada, montagem da sanduiche, placa pintada, placa acabada e corte e embalagem. A fase que tem maior contribuição para os impactes ambientais do processo de fabrico do produto, em todas as categorias de impacte analisadas, com exceção da depleção dos recursos abióticos sem combustíveis fósseis, foi a fase de montagem da sanduiche.

Environmental impacts of freshwater use and suspended solids in life cycle assessment

Perturbation of natural ecosystems, namely by increasing freshwater use and its degradative use, as well as topsoil erosion by water of land-use production systems, have been emerging as topics of high environmental concern. Freshwater use has become a focus of attention in the last few years for all stakeholders involved in the production of goods, mainly agro-industrial and forest-based products, which are freshwater-intensive consumers, requiring large inputs of green and blue water. This thesis presents a global review on the available Water Footprint Assessment and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)-based methods for measuring and assessing the environmental relevance of freshwater resources use, based on a life cycle perspective. Using some of the available midpoint LCA-based methods, the freshwater use-related impacts of a Portuguese wine (white ‘vinho verde’) were assessed. However, the relevance of environmental green water has been neglected because of the absence of a comprehensive impact assessment method associated with green water flows. To overcome this constraint, this thesis helps to improve and enhance the LCA-based methods by providing a midpoint and spatially explicit Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) method for assessing impacts on terrestrial green water flow and addressing reductions in surface blue water production caused by reductions in surface runoff due to land-use production systems. The applicability of the proposed method is illustrated by a case study on Eucalyptus globulus conducted in Portugal, as the growth of short rotation forestry is largely dependent on local precipitation. Topsoil erosion by water has been characterised as one of the most upsetting problems for rivers. Because of this, this thesis also focuses on the ecosystem impacts caused by suspended solids (SS) from topsoil erosion that reach freshwater systems. A framework to conduct a spatially distributed SS delivery to freshwater streams and a fate and effect LCIA method to derive site-specific characterisation factors (CFs) for endpoint damage on aquatic ecosystem diversity, namely on algae, macrophyte, and macroinvertebrates organisms, were developed. The applicability of this framework, combined with the derived site-specific CFs, is shown by conducting a case study on E. globulus stands located in Portugal as an example of a land use based system. A spatially explicit LCA assessment was shown to be necessary, since the impacts associated with both green water flows and SS vary greatly as a function of spatial location.

Desenvolvimento e caracterização de um sabonete contendo borras de café

Desde da antiguidade que o ser humano se preocupa com a sua aparência externa, em especial com a pele. Para além do desenvolvimento de cosméticos, surgiram também produtos mais complexos, os cosmecêuticos, que diferem dos cosméticos devido a poderem influenciar a função biológica da pele, causando modificações positivas e duráveis. O conceito de sustentabilidade é usado para definir ações e atividades humanas que visam suprir as necessidades atuais dos seres humanos, sem comprometer o futuro das próximas gerações. Ou seja, a sustentabilidade está diretamente relacionada ao desenvolvimento económico e material sem agredir o meio ambiente, utilizando os recursos naturais de forma inteligente para que eles se mantenham no futuro. Seguindo estes parâmetros, a humanidade pode garantir o desenvolvimento sustentável. As borras de café são consideradas como um subproduto alimentar, sem grande reutilização, o que promove danos no impacto ambiental. Por outro lado, as borras de café podem exercer grandes benefícios para a pele, pois são consideradas excelentes exfoliantes naturais com propriedades refirmantes. Os produtos à base de cafeína são aliados no combate à celulite, na estimulação da regeneração celular e da circulação sanguínea, bem como, no rejuvenescimento e revitalização da pele. Este trabalho consistiu no desenvolvimento de um sabonete, contendo borras de café, como forma de reaproveitamento de um subproduto alimentar rico em cafeína, com o intuito de obter produtos com boas propriedades cosméticas e elevada estabilidade física e química. As borras de café foram analisadas em termos da sua estabilidade física e química através de ensaios de estabilidade acelerada por centrifugação, textura, reologia e doseamento do teor de cafeína por HPLC. Os resultados obtidos através do controlo físico-químico dos sabonetes, da determinação do potencial irritante cutâneo e da análise sensorial efectuada em voluntários humanos, demonstraram que é possível preparar sabonetes de borra de café com boa estabilidade físico-química, boa tolerância cutânea e com características sensoriais adequadas, utilizando uma base de sabão constituída pelos ingredientes (INCI): Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Aqua (water), Glycerine, Fragância de café, Sodium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter), CI 778911 (Titanium Dioxide), Tetrasodium EDTA, CI 77499, Linalool e à qual foi adicionada 5% de borras de café.

Todo Brasileiro merece nível A : habitação multifamiliar para o programa minha casa minha vida energeticamente eficiente

This thesis describes the theoretical, methodological and programmatic proposal for a multifamily residential building located in the urban expansion area of Parnamirim/RN, inserted in the program Minha Casa Minha Vida and level of energy efficiency "A", as the RegulamentoTécnico de Qualidade (RTQ-R/INMETRO) for residential buildings. The development project initially consists of procedures as the study of theoretical, architectural programming and cases studies. With the delimitation of a field solution, situated between the reference and the context, proposals are studied to determine the solution and architectural detailing of the proposal. The architectural program was built based on the method of Problem Seeking (Peña and Parshall, 2001) and research has highlighted aspects of reducing the environmental impact and of the program Minha Casa Minha Vida , among others. The design process was characterized by the incorporation of aspects reviewed and programmed, seeking them compatible and have an economically viable building, socio-spatial quality and energy efficient. The results show that it is possible to obtain a building that meets the constraints of the program that provides housing and energy efficiency level A - and many other environmental qualities and constructive, particularly through architectural design

Efeito de agentes de controle sobre a qualidade reprodutiva de rainhas de Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) africanizadas

The agriculture with the use of products with less environmental impact is expanding. In it, the producers offer their products without the use of synthetic chemical inputs, solving the phytosanitary problems with the use of biological or alternative control agents such as parasites, predators, entomopathogenic, alternative products, plant extracts and essential oils. These products can be considered safe to non-target organisms, but studies are needed to find these features on natural enemies and on the beneficial insects such as bees, common frequenter of cultures. In this sense, this study aims to evaluate the effects of control over reproductive quality queens of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Africanized. For this, it tested the action of control products on the production of A. mellifera queens, using the commercial entomopathogenic fungus Boveril® 1,0x108 (Beauveria bassiana) and aqueous extract of pomegranate (Punica granatum) at a concentration of 5% sterile distilled water with Tween (0.01%) and sterile distilled water (controls). The treatments were incorporated into a tissue type gauze, wrapped in an acrylic plate and packed inside minirrecrias type colonies for the production of queens on the day before the transfer of larvae. The next day were introduced battens with 30 domes with larvae to produce queens, so the workers have contacted the agent tested. From the emergence of all the queens, they were monitored to determine the measures of body weight (mg), length and width of wing and abdomen, length, width and height of the chest (mm) as well as the time of emergence of queens. The next step was evaluated the influence of the control agents in production creates, performing measurements of creating areas in cm2 for six straight weeks. It was found that the area creates Queens did not differ among the treatments. Histological analysis of hipofaringeanas of workers glands that came into contact with the control agents and the midgut of virgin queens were also held. Histological analysis differences were observed in the tissues when the treatments were compared with the respective controls.

Propuesta de optimizaci?n ambiental en los procesos de producci?n del departamento t?cnico de la empresa Constructora El Castillo

La empresa familiar Constructora El Castillo S.A. fue creada en el a?o 2004, desarrolla la totalidad de sus proyectos en los terrenos de la Antigua Hacienda El Castillo, ubicada entre los Municipios de Jamund? y Cali. Desde el momento de su consolidaci?n, la empresa El Castillo S.A. ha querido afianzarse como una empresa comprometida con la protecci?n del ambiente, por ello este proyecto se desarrolla como el primer paso al forjamiento del sistema de gesti?n ambiental de la constructora. Este proyecto analizo mediante herramientas cualitativas los procesos que se llevan a cabo en el El Dpto. T?cnico de la constructora El Castillo, ?ste aunque realiz? actividades para la protecci?n del ambiente, ninguna fue documentada. Para este proyecto se plante? una metodolog?a basada en los lineamientos de la NTC ISO 14001, que permiti? identificar los aspectos ambientales que puede mejorar y hacer un avance en la planeaci?n del sistema de gesti?n ambiental en el Departamento T?cnico de la constructora. Esta metodolog?a se desarroll? en 4 etapas, 1. Revisi?n Inicial: se analiz? el desempe?o del Dpto. T?cnico en materia de gesti?n ambiental, 2. Identificaci?n de los Procesos y sus Impactos Ambientales: se describi? cada proceso e identificaron y valoraron los aspectos e impactos ambientales 3. An?lisis de legislaci?n aplicable a la empresa: se hizo una revisi?n de la legislaci?n ambiental y se detectaron las principales debilidades en esta ?rea. 4. Construcci?n del programa de gesti?n ambiental para el Dpto. T?cnico: se establecieron objetivos, metas e indicadores ambientales, que orientaran la gesti?n ambiental en el Dpto. T?cnico. En el an?lisis de procesos se identificaron impactos tales como: Contaminaci?n atmosf?rica por la quema de combustible f?sil, alteraci?n del suelo, consumo de energ?a, generaci?n de aguas residuales y residuos s?lidos. Estos se analizaron a trav?s de herramientas cualitativas, debido a que la empresa no cuenta en el momento de realizar este proyecto con el presupuesto para cuantificar los diferentes impactos identificados. Del an?lisis cualitativo de los procesos se encontr? que el proceso que genera un mayor impacto es el constructivo, el cual est? asociado principalmente a la gran generaci?n de residuos s?lidos. Ante esto se propone que el Dpto. T?cnico de la constructora tenga como meta la creaci?n de un plan de educaci?n ambiental y un plan de gesti?n integral de los residuos s?lidos, y de esta manera pueda mitigar su mayor impacto

Análise experimental e numérica do comportamento de estruturas de solo reforçado com geossintéticos : solo granular versus fino

As estruturas de solo reforçado com geossintéticos são normalmente constituídas por solos granulares com boas propriedades físicas e mecânicas. O uso de apenas este tipo de solos pode proporcionar o aumento, por vezes insustentável, do custo da execução das estruturas e o aumento do seu impacto ambiental. Deste modo, as estruturas de solo reforçado perdem a sua vantagem competitiva em relação a outros tipos de estruturas (muros de betão, muros de gravidade, muros de gabiões, etc.). Para resolver este problema podem ser utilizados outros tipos de solos (solos locais, finos, com propriedades físicas e mecânicas piores mas, no entanto, mais baratos) para a execução deste tipo de estruturas. De forma geral, com este estudo pretendeu-se contribuir para o incremento do conhecimento sobre a utilização de solos finos para a construção de estruturas de solo reforçado (muros e taludes). Para tal avaliaram-se as diferenças no comportamento mecânico dos materiais compósitos (solo granular reforçado versus solo fino reforçado) e das estruturas de solo reforçado constituídas com os dois tipos de solos. Assim, os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar: a influência de vários parâmetros nas propriedades mecânicas e na capacidade de carga dos solos reforçados com geossintéticos; a influência de vários parâmetros no dimensionamento das estruturas de solo reforçado; e o comportamento das estruturas dimensionadas (incluindo a estabilidade global e a influência do processo construtivo) recorrendo a uma ferramenta numérica (PLAXIS). Para cumprir os objetivos propostos foram realizadas análises experimentais em laboratório (análise do comportamento do solo reforçado através de ensaios triaxiais e de California Bearing Ratio) e análises numéricas (dimensionamento de estruturas de solo reforçado; modelação numérica do comportamento através de uma ferramenta numérica comercial com o método dos elementos finitos). Os resultados dos ensaios experimentais mostraram que o comportamento mecânico e a capacidade de carga do solo foram incrementados com a inclusão das camadas de geossintético. Este efeito variou com os diversos parâmetros analisados mas, de forma geral, foi mais importante no solo fino (solo com propriedades mecânicas piores). As análises numéricas mostraram que as estruturas de solo fino precisaram de maior densidade de reforços para serem estáveis. Além disso, as estruturas de solo fino foram mais deformáveis e o efeito do seu processo construtivo foi mais importante (principalmente para estruturas de solo fino saturado).

Exergetic, energetic, economic and environmental evaluation of concentrated solar power plants in Libya

The PhD project addresses the potential of using concentrating solar power (CSP) plants as a viable alternative energy producing system in Libya. Exergetic, energetic, economic and environmental analyses are carried out for a particular type of CSP plants. The study, although it aims a particular type of CSP plant – 50 MW parabolic trough-CSP plant, it is sufficiently general to be applied to other configurations. The novelty of the study, in addition to modeling and analyzing the selected configuration, lies in the use of a state-of-the-art exergetic analysis combined with the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The modeling and simulation of the plant is carried out in chapter three and they are conducted into two parts, namely: power cycle and solar field. The computer model developed for the analysis of the plant is based on algebraic equations describing the power cycle and the solar field. The model was solved using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software; and is designed to define the properties at each state point of the plant and then, sequentially, to determine energy, efficiency and irreversibility for each component. The developed model has the potential of using in the preliminary design of CSPs and, in particular, for the configuration of the solar field based on existing commercial plants. Moreover, it has the ability of analyzing the energetic, economic and environmental feasibility of using CSPs in different regions of the world, which is illustrated for the Libyan region in this study. The overall feasibility scenario is completed through an hourly analysis on an annual basis in chapter Four. This analysis allows the comparison of different systems and, eventually, a particular selection, and it includes both the economic and energetic components using the “greenius” software. The analysis also examined the impact of project financing and incentives on the cost of energy. The main technological finding of this analysis is higher performance and lower levelized cost of electricity (LCE) for Libya as compared to Southern Europe (Spain). Therefore, Libya has the potential of becoming attractive for the establishment of CSPs in its territory and, in this way, to facilitate the target of several European initiatives that aim to import electricity generated by renewable sources from North African and Middle East countries. The analysis is presented a brief review of the current cost of energy and the potential of reducing the cost from parabolic trough- CSP plant. Exergetic and environmental life cycle assessment analyses are conducted for the selected plant in chapter Five; the objectives are 1) to assess the environmental impact and cost, in terms of exergy of the life cycle of the plant; 2) to find out the points of weakness in terms of irreversibility of the process; and 3) to verify whether solar power plants can reduce environmental impact and the cost of electricity generation by comparing them with fossil fuel plants, in particular, Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) plant and oil thermal power plant. The analysis also targets a thermoeconomic analysis using the specific exergy costing (SPECO) method to evaluate the level of the cost caused by exergy destruction. The main technological findings are that the most important contribution impact lies with the solar field, which reports a value of 79%; and the materials with the vi highest impact are: steel (47%), molten salt (25%) and synthetic oil (21%). The “Human Health” damage category presents the highest impact (69%) followed by the “Resource” damage category (24%). In addition, the highest exergy demand is linked to the steel (47%); and there is a considerable exergetic demand related to the molten salt and synthetic oil with values of 25% and 19%, respectively. Finally, in the comparison with fossil fuel power plants (NGCC and Oil), the CSP plant presents the lowest environmental impact, while the worst environmental performance is reported to the oil power plant followed by NGCC plant. The solar field presents the largest value of cost rate, where the boiler is a component with the highest cost rate among the power cycle components. The thermal storage allows the CSP plants to overcome solar irradiation transients, to respond to electricity demand independent of weather conditions, and to extend electricity production beyond the availability of daylight. Numerical analysis of the thermal transient response of a thermocline storage tank is carried out for the charging phase. The system of equations describing the numerical model is solved by using time-implicit and space-backward finite differences and which encoded within the Matlab environment. The analysis presented the following findings: the predictions agree well with the experiments for the time evolution of the thermocline region, particularly for the regions away from the top-inlet. The deviations observed in the near-region of the inlet are most likely due to the high-level of turbulence in this region due to the localized level of mixing resulting; a simple analytical model to take into consideration this increased turbulence level was developed and it leads to some improvement of the predictions; this approach requires practically no additional computational effort and it relates the effective thermal diffusivity to the mean effective velocity of the fluid at each particular height of the system. Altogether the study indicates that the selected parabolic trough-CSP plant has the edge over alternative competing technologies for locations where DNI is high and where land usage is not an issue, such as the shoreline of Libya.

Diagnóstico ambiental y programa de control y seguimiento al sector curtiembres de barrio San Benito de la ciudad de Bogotá

Tesis (Maestria en Ingeniería).-- Universidad de La Salle. Facultad de Ingeniería. Maestría en Ingeniería, 2014