Determining the material properties for heavily over-consolidated bagasse through parameter estimation

A better understanding of the behaviour of prepared cane and bagasse, and the ability to model the mechanical behaviour of bagasse as it is squeezed in a milling unit to extract juice, would help identify how to improve the current process. For example, there are opportunities to decrease bagasse moisture from a milling unit. Also, the behaviour of bagasse in chutes is poorly understood. Previous investigations have shown that juice flow through bagasse obeys Darcy’s permeability law, that the grip of the rough surface of the grooves on the bagasse can be represented by the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion for soils, and that the internal mechanical behaviour of the bagasse is critical state behaviour similar to that for sand and clay. Progress has been made in the last ten years towards implementing a mechanical model for bagasse in finite element software. The objective has been to be able to simulate simple mechanical loading conditions measured in the laboratory, which, when combined together, have a high probability of reproducing the complicated stress conditions in a milling unit. This paper reports on the successful simulation of part of the fifth and final (and most challenging) loading condition, the shearing of heavily over-consolidated bagasse, and determining material property values through the use of powerful and free parameter estimation software.

Advanced computer simulation of the milling process

Process modelling is an integral part of any process industry. Several sugar factory models have been developed over the years to simulate the unit operations. An enhanced and comprehensive milling process simulation model has been developed to analyse the performance of the milling train and to assess the impact of changes and advanced control options for improved operational efficiency. The developed model is incorporated in a proprietary software package ‘SysCAD’. As an example, the milling process model has been used to predict a significant loss of extraction by returning the cush from the juice screen before #3 mill instead of before #2 mill as is more commonly done. Further work is being undertaken to more accurately model extraction processes in a milling train, to examine extraction issues dynamically and to integrate the model into a whole factory model.

Issues associated with using trash as a cogeneration fuel

Considerable work has been undertaken to determine an economical process to provide sugarcane trash as a fuel for cogeneration. This paper reviews efforts to provide that trash fuel by harvesting, transporting and processing the trash with the cane. Harvesting trash with the cane has the advantage that cane that would otherwise be lost by extracting it with the trash is captured and sugar can be produced from that cane. Transporting trash with the cane significantly reduces the bulk density of the cane, requiring substantial changes and costs to cane transport. Shredding the trash at the harvester and compacting the cane in the bin prior to transport are possible methods to increase the bulk density but both have considerable cost. Processing trash through the sugar factory with the cane significantly reduces sugar recovery and sugar quality. Although considerable knowledge has been gained of these effects and further analysis has provided insights into their causes, much more work is required before whole crop harvesting and transport is an economically viable means of trash recovery.

Effect of chute level on mill capacity

IN MANY FACTORIES, the feed chute of the first mill is operated with a high chute level for the purpose of maximising the cane rate through the mill. There is a trend towards trying to control chute level within a small control range near the top of a chute that can result in rapid changes in cane feeding rate to maintain the chute level set point. This paper reviews the theory that predicts higher cane rate with higher chute level and discusses the main weakness in the theory that it does not consider the beneficial effect on capacity of cane falling from the top of the chute to the top surface of the cane mat. An extension to the chute theory model is described that predicts higher capacity with lower chute level because of the effect of the falling cane. The original model and this extended model are believed to be the upper and lower limits to the true effect. The paper reports an experiment that measured the real effect of chute level on capacity and finds that increasing chute level does lead to higher capacity but that the trend is only about one-third as strong as the original theory predicted. The paper questions whether the benefits of slightly greater capacity outweigh the costs of operating with the small control range near the top of the chute.

Barbadocladius Cranston & Krosch, a new genus of Orthocladiinae (Diptera : Chironomidae) from South America.

Barbadocladius n. gen. is erected and described in larval, pupal and adult stages for two species: B. andinus sp. nov. and B. limay sp. nov., from Andean streams. The larva is distinctive by virtue of the very large ventromental 'beard' and the anterior parapods with a 'sleeve' of hooklets in addition to apical pectinate claws. The pupa has hooklets on some tergal and sternal intersegmental membranes. The adult, reported only in teneral specimens has hairy eyes, no antennal apical strong seta, no acrostichals, bare and unmarked wings, cylindrical 4th tarsomere subequal in length to the 5th, pulvilli about half the claw length, and hypopygium with anal point, lacking a virga. Molecular phylogenetic analysis eliminates relationships directly to the Eukiefferiella complex (which also have pupal hooklets), or to the Cricotopus group (adults also with hairy eyes), suggesting instead a sister group relationship to a suite of predominantly austral genera of Orthocladiinae.

Identifying opportunity spaces for design research in South America: Working with grassroots and community groups

As design research continues to gain momentum in South America, design researchers and practitioners in the region have begun to consider how to the field may address regionally-specific issues, including on-going political struggles. By bringing approaches such as Participatory Design and Adversarial Design that consider political aspects of design, local researchers have explored various forms that these two approaches could take that are tailored to the needs and values of different communities across the region. This paper focuses on identifying opportunities for developing design research projects in community-based and grassroots-oriented contexts. The paper presents the findings of our study about the understanding and experience of design researchers and experts who have been working closely with community groups and grassroots organisations in South America. Five themes emerged, highlighting opportunities and challenges related to positioning contemporary design research in the region, integration of adversarial perspectives into design processes, leveraging local obstacles through creativity, and the potential of building capacity within community groups and grassroots organisations for sustainability and autonomy.

Climbing the design ladder: Step by step

This research presents findings of a research project where the first author worked with a small to medium sized enterprise (SME) manufacturing company in order to integrate design at a strategic level within the company. This study aims to identify the changes experienced in the participating company while shifting the perspective of design from a product focus towards a strategic focus. Staff interviews at two points in time and a reflective journal were used as data sources within an action research methodology. A shift in the perspective of design was noted in three cultural changes within the firm over time: a focus on long term as well as short term outcomes, on indirect as well as direct value and on intangible as well as tangible benefits. These three components are proposed as ‘cultural stepping stones’ that describe how a company transitions from an exclusively product- focused utilisation of design, to a process-level application of design. Implications of this research are provided as considerations for businesses that are attempting to facilitate a similar transformation in the future.

Contos da Câmara : depoimentos de servidores nos 180 anos do Legislativo

Reúne depoimentos de servidores da Câmara do Deputados sobre os acontecimentos que marcaram a história do parlamento brasileiro a partir da segunda metade do século XX. Coletados pelo Núcleo de História Oral da Câmara durante as comemorações dos 180 anos do Poder Legislativo em 2003, os textos retratam a realidade dos primeiros anos vividos no Planalto Central: a carência de infra-estrutura, a falta de opção de atividades de lazer e o profundo sentimento de saudade da antiga capital da República. Mas também levam a reminiscências de momentos divertidos, curiosidades e reflexões animadas e esperançosas sobre a mudança da capital para Brasília. O ponto alto são as experiências vivenciadas nos prédios do Congresso Nacional, a lembrança dos amigos, dos colegas e, especialmente, dos fatos marcantes, que sublinham as significativas mudanças nas rotinas de trabalho da Instituição para se adequar à modernização e às novas exigências da sociedade, no contexto de acontecimentos políticos que modificaram seguidas vezes o cenário do país.

Contos da Câmara 2 : depoimentos de servidores nos 180 anos do Legislativo

Reúne depoimentos de servidores da Câmara do Deputados sobre os acontecimentos que marcaram a história do parlamento brasileiro a partir da segunda metade do século XX. Coletados pelo Núcleo de História Oral da Câmara durante as comemorações dos 180 anos do Poder Legislativo em 2003, os textos retratam a realidade dos primeiros anos vividos no Planalto Central: a carência de infra-estrutura, a falta de opção de atividades de lazer e o profundo sentimento de saudade da antiga capital da República. Mas também levam a reminiscências de momentos divertidos, curiosidades e reflexões animadas e esperançosas sobre a mudança da capital para Brasília. O ponto alto são as experiências vivenciadas nos prédios do Congresso Nacional, a lembrança dos amigos, dos colegas e, especialmente, dos fatos marcantes, que sublinham as significativas mudanças nas rotinas de trabalho da Instituição para se adequar à modernização e às novas exigências da sociedade, no contexto de acontecimentos políticos que modificaram seguidas vezes o cenário do país.

A política espacial brasileira

Síntese das contribuições apresentadas no âmbito do estudo promovido pelo Conselho de Altos Estudos, durante ciclo de palestras que contou com a participação de especialistas e diretores de instituições e de empresas vinculadas aos projetos que procuram inserir o Brasil como ator de relevante destaque no cenário internacional de conquista do espaço. Organizado em dois volumes, o estudo visa apurar as razões que levaram à sucessiva postergação das metas e do cronograma previstos no programa Missão Espacial Completa Brasileira, bem como apontar propostas que possam equacionar as dificuldades e limitações do programa espacial no Brasil. Pretende também levar à sociedade brasileira o debate sobre a relevância, os objetivos e a relação entre os custos e os benefícios de se manter um programa de alta intensidade tecnológica, cotejando os investimentos e os riscos envolvidos com os resultados que podem ser alcançados.

Palavra de mulher : oito décadas do direito de voto

Primeiro registro da participação feminina no Parlamento brasileiro, organizada em uma linha do tempo. A obra relaciona os discursos das parlamentares aos principais fatos da história política do país - do Estado Novo à ditadura militar, da redemocratização à Constituição de 1988 - e, também, narra o papel das mulheres no processo de construção da atual sociedade brasileira.

Amazônia : um desafio para o Congresso Nacional

Encontro aberto realizado pela Comissão da Amazônia, Integração Nacional e de Desenvolvimento Regional na 59. Reunião Anual da Sociedade Brasileira para o Progresso da Ciência (SBPC), ocorrida em Belém (PA), em 10 de julho de 2007.

Plataforma legislativa para a biodiversidade

Trata de uma contribuição do Grupo de Trabalho criado no âmbito da Comissão de Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Sustentável (CMADS) da Câmara dos Deputados com intuito de fornecer instrumento aos parlamentares e à sociedade em geral no sentido de alcançar os objetivos da Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológica. Pretende, ainda, nortear as discussões entre parlamentares e sociedade sobre as prioridades nacionais e buscar soluções criativas e inovadoras que tenham a biodiversidade e a sustentabilidade como pilares centrais das políticas públicas.

Lei de falências e de recuperação de empresas

Regula a recuperação judicial, a extrajudicial e a falência do empresário e da sociedade empresária.

Aprimoramentos da Lei Geral das Micro e Pequenas Empresas

Seminário realizado pela Comissão de Finanças e Tributação da Câmara dos Deputados, com a participação da Comissão de Assuntos Econômicos do Senado Federal e apoio da Frente Parlamentar Mista das Micro e Pequenas Empresas, com o objetivo de "sintetizar as propostas acumuladas pela sociedade, com relação aos projetos que tramitam na Câmara dos Deputados e no Senado Federal acerca das possíveis alterações na Lei Complementar no 123/2006".