Avaliação da auto-suficiência energética em reatores anaeróbios aplicados ao tratamento de resíduos da indústria de produção do etanol

Ethanol, the main automotive biofuel, has its production based on the fermentation of sugars found in biological materials and on the distillation of the alcoholic media formed during the fermentative process. Stillage is the main residue from ethanol production, containing a high organic loading in addition to acidic and corrosive characteristics. Considering the available technologies to treat stillage, we highlight anaerobic digestion, which allows the reduction of the impacts associated to pollutants loading of this effluent and the generation of energy from the methane gas produced in the process. Based on the high treatment efficiency usually associated to the anaerobic process, this work aimed to assess whether anaerobic systems applied to the treatment of stillage are energetically self-sufficient. First we evaluated the energy recovery capacity in an anaerobic reactor applied to the treatment of stillage resulting from corn-to-ethanol processing. The results indicated the great influence that a correct selection of electrical equipment and their respective operating periods have on the net energy balance of the anaerobic treatment. The high energy consumption of the heater would not allow the system to achieve a positive net energy balance – the maximum energy recovery would reach only 0.68% of the consumption. However, the replacement of the mixture equipment would result in energy gains ranging from 8.5 to 967.9% of the consumption. In this work we also assessed the efficiency of methane yields for a few studies and the correlation between some parameters of the anaerobic process. With respect to the methane yield, we noted that mesophilic systems tend to be more advantageous than the thermophilic ones (efficiency of 76.45 ± 22.51% vs. 69.40 ± 30.36%). Considering the study... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Energia eólica: uma alternativa de energia renovável para a matriz energética do Brasil?

O presente trabalho possui o intuito de analisar o panorama de energia eólica em âmbito mundial, dando um enfoque maior para seu cenário no Brasil. Primeiramente, estudando a história da energia eólica, seu advento, para fins de solução ao viés ambiental e à necessidade de diversificação da matriz energética mundial, com a finalidade de assumir os compromissos firmados no Protocolo de Kyoto, e, no caso do Brasil, da menor dependência do abastecimento externo

Estudo sobre eficiência energética em uma unidade industrial

This work contemplates an opportunities study of the rational use of energy in an industrial unity from the demand analysis and electrical energy consumption. Through a guide of energy analysis it was described how to find the main problems that create energy wastes in an industry, showing the ways so the production processes avoid such wastes and start to use energy in a more sensible e efficient way. It was also studied, the technical e economical viability of possible interventions to be implemented in terms of energy conservation and of possible demand supply alternatives

Proposta para melhoria da qualidade dos produtos cerâmicos e de criação de um polo cerâmico artesanal na cidade de Indiana - SP

This work presents a proposal to create a Polo Ceramic Craft in the town of Indiana - SP, through the potter’s organization in a cooperative that will coordinate activities to add value to ceramic pieces. To achieve this, two things are essential: improving the ceramic body and improve the properties of the ceramic material. For the first action it’s necessary to create a Central Mass Production of Ceramics, to provide raw materials and homogeneous composition that results in differentiated ceramic after burning process (sintering). To this end, we propose the incorporation of additives (which act as fluxes) to the clay material. These additives can be mineral such as feldspar and nefelinas or leavings, such as glass powder obtained from disposable containers. For the second action is necessary to acquire an oven, electric or gas, it reaches higher temperatures (around 1200 ° C). The presence of the additive and burning at higher temperatures will enable better production of sintered ceramic material with less porosity and water absorption and higher mechanical strength, and pieces vitrified and glazed, allowing them to assign a higher value. For the production of these materials (thinner walls) requires a smaller volume of clayey raw materials. Besides benefiting the ceramic pieces, the proposed changes reduce the environmental impact caused by burning wood, since it will be replaced by natural gas (or electricity), and even will reduce the disposal of glass containers in the environment by recycling and incorporating this material in the clay. From a social standpoint, the cooperative is crucial to the viability of the proposed project, to coordinate activities and commercial production, which will result in better wages and profits for companies and consequently for the city and its population

Avaliação da auto-suficiência energética de reatores anaeróbios no tratamento de esgoto sanitário e água cinza

The anaerobic treatment of sewage is widely employed in Brazil and it is an appreciated way for the treatment of effluents, helping to reduce the environmental impact in rivers. The methane gas obtained from the process can be applied to improve the energetic efficiency of the system, reducing the amount of waste and the cost of the treatment process. This work presents the net energy balance of anaerobic reactors applied to the treatment of sewage. The analysis was performed considering full-scale and laboratory-scale treatment systems. In laboratory scale, the results from three kinds of systems were compared regarding the biological treatment of greywater. Two of them (UASB7 and UASB12) were anaerobic and the other one was a combined anaerobic-aerobic system (UASB7/SBR6). Greywater methanization (compared to theoretical maximum) was calculated considering 100% removal (g BOD/day), the literature percentage removal and the anionic surfactant presence in the effluentt. For each of these three cases, the efficiencies were, respectively, 16.9%, 43.6% and 51.3% in UASB7 reactor, 25.6%, 50.3% and 59.2% in UASB12 reactor and 30.6%, 61.2% and 71.9% in UASB7/SBR6 reactor. The energetic potential was found to be 4.66x10-4, 7.77x10-4 and 5.12x10-4 kWh/L for the UASB7, UASB12 and UASB7/SBR6 reactors, respectively. The pumping system, the aeration (in the anaerobic-aerobic system) and the temperature controlled heating system were considered to calculate the energetic consumption. However, the third one was not employed since tropical regions like Brazil do not need heating systems and also because of its high energetic consumption. The calculated net energy balance in the reactors was negative in the case of greywater, respectively -0.16, -0.28 and -0.18 kWh/L for the reactors UASB7, UASB12 and UASB7/SRB6. In full scale (ETE Jardim das Flores - Rio Claro, SP), the average energy... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Avaliação da viabilidade econômica do uso de um aquecedor solar de água de garrafas pet para aquecer o ar de uma cabine de pintura e uma estufa de secagem

Nowadays, the biggest part of the world's energy supply comes from fossil fuels and nuclear. However, the current need of the society for the preservation of the environment and wise use of natural resources, has favored the search for alternative energy sources and improvement of energy efficiency. In this new scenario, companies are beginning to mobilize in order to adapt its facilities to renewable energy. Solar, with its immense potential, not really exploited yet, can be very useful for companies that want to beat their sustainability goals. Given these facts, the aim is to evaluate the economic viability of introducing a solar water heater which uses a colorless PET bottle as one of its components in a plant. The hot water generated will heat the air of a paint booth and a warm house, reducing energy consumption, since they are heated by electric heaters

Análise do clima organizacional na integração de duas empresas do setor varejista: identificando dificuldades e possibilidades de melhoria

In 2010 two retailers signed an association agreement to gain an advantage in the market, however this association has promoted many changes within the companies. So this study had the objective to analyze the organizational climate, in the integration of companies context, in order to early detect deficiencies that could pose risks to the process of integration. The results collected from the questionnaires revealed the perceptions and expectations of employees regarding the integration of companies and their level of satisfaction with the organization, in addition, the data obtained from interviews allowed us to understand and to find some causes to the level of satisfaction presented by employees. The results made possible to identify strengths as the company‟s image, points of failure in communication and training and dissatisfaction with the workload, then some actions were suggested with the intention to achieve greater engagement and commitment of employees and consequently contribute to the success of the Integration Program. The conclusion of this study is that the changes promoted by the integration of companies impacted in the organizational climate and increased employees dissatisfaction

Melhoria ergonômica e da condição de trabalho numa empresa automobilística

A indústria automobilística é uma das mais desenvolvida por oferecer produtos que empregam alta tecnologia. No entanto, seus processos implicam riscos à saúde dos colaboradores envolvidos diretamente com a produção. Por este motivo, o presente trabalho visa através de uma pesquisa-ação, implementar melhoria ergonômica e da condição de trabalho no posto de montagem da bomba d’água numa empresa automobilística alemã. Utilizou-se a método Kaizen como ferramenta para propor e implementar as melhorias adequadas para o posto. Foi realizada uma comparação entre o antes e depois do Kaizen e observou-se que com a implementação das melhorias foi possível eliminar os riscos, minimizando os riscos nas tarefas, portanto, preservando a saúde dos montadores

Auditoria energética em caldeira de monóxido de carbono

Within the concepts of sustainability, energy audit magnified its importance in managing systems in industrial plants. Can reduce waste and save energy representative, the improvement and development of thermal and electrical systems can be very attractive to business. With the focus on a boiler generating steam, the energy audit aimed to increase efficiency and eliminate energy losses of the heat engine. The boiler in question is commonly called CO boiler because most of the calorific power provided comes from this. Using a fuel gas from the catalyst regeneration process, it has featured in the boiler power generation system of the refinery. Burning a mixture of gaseous components from discarded into the atmosphere, the heat engine can generate tons of steam just as the other boilers installed. The challenge was to work with this gas mixture and obtain maximum efficiency, reduce moisture and enjoy the warmth of the heat exchange have been studied and recommended. Every project, from evaluation of the variables in the composition of fuel gas, to the using of heat exchangers and refrigeration system are suitable for evaluation and improvements

Tecnologia e meio ambiente: a valorização energática de resíduos sólidos no Brasil

O tema foi escolhido em função da sua relevância global, atualidade e importância para a população brasileira. A valorização de resíduos sólidos tem sido um tema central das políticas ambientais desde a década de 1970. Desde então, os resíduos são vistos não só como parte da problemática ambiental, mas também como um recurso produtivo e uma fonte de energia. A pesquisa proposta neste estudo tem o objetivo de analisar os benefícios da valorização energética de resíduos sólidos urbanos para a sociedade, e analisar as possíveis dificuldades que se colocam diante desta alternativa energética

Eficiência energética em ar condicionado e refrigeração através da aplicação da termoacumulação

The use of refrigeration and air conditioning systems is of fundamental importance when it comes to air-conditioning of environments. Also important is the use of electricity for equipments’ operation related to these systems. Due to high cost of charging for this type of energy, factors economy and efficiency occupy key roles among design parameters of a system. One of the ways to get this economy is the use of a technique called thermal storage, or cold storage, which intends to move the required loads during peak time and also their equalizing, so that the energy is transferred from the peak time to non-peak time, thereby reducing the cost of energy consumed. Cold can be stored in the form of ice or ice water. This work aims to perform a technical-economic analysis of a mall located in Vale do Paraíba checking the feasibility of deploying a thermal storage system to achieve an economy in the cost of the energy used by the establishment. Through the parameters measured by the concessionaire of energy we can get the values of energy demand and power consumed, which will serve as basis for calculation for the study. The results obtained allow the development of two alternative proposals to the current configuration, one chosen by the criteria and results presented by technical-economic and energy analysis

Melhoria de processos de serviços prestados em assistência técnica

Currently the service sectors have an increasingly important role in the productive sector because they can represent a great advantage to the consumer. In this graduate work a study was conducted with the objective of process improveme nt services in the sector of technical assistance in a factory machinery and equipment. Through process mapping, through the technical blueprint, and time study were able to identify opportunities for improvement for reducing the time customer service, as well as the proposed performance indicators for the service

Análise da confiabilidade de equipamentos em uma indústria química com aplicações de ferramentas da melhoria contínua

The constant search for improvements and the survival of organizations makes the strategic guidelines are deployed and executed at the operational levels. This work is the approach to critical analysis of the equipment of a chemical industry through a case study based on the classification of each equipment manufactures through qualitative and quantitative analysis on the pillars of maintenance costs, loss of production, MTBF, contribution margin, Health Safety and Environment (SHE). From this study and future data collection, along with the flow diagram show the main equipment that should be special attention. To this can be prepared an action plan with deadlines and responsible. With the results one can measure the maintenance costs, loss of production and technical availability of the plant, with future gains

Gestão de Estoques: análise e melhoria do processo de inventário físico em uma indústria siderúrgica

Accuracy in physical inventory process is essential to develop anefficient inventorycontrol. This ensures the availability of products and ensure that the information contained in the information systems areinaccordancewith the reality of inventories. The inventory management policies of the company aim ofthis study established that all the materials in their inventory must becounted, which is proving a challenge. Therefore, the aim of thiswork is to identify the critical inventories and analyze them, seeking flaws and possible improvements in the inventory count process. For this, we used the tools of quality management, such as Pareto and Cause and Effect Diagrams in an action research. The results show that the stocks of finished products are critical in volume and can be hampered by a lack of training and personnel trained in performing the process, as well as limitations in ERP used. With the actions taken against these problems, we could notice an improvement in the process, because the data collection and processing of data has become easier, besides the occurrence of errors decreased. In addition, there was an acceleration in meeting targets compared to the previous period

Energias alternativas: potencialidades para as regiões de maior demanda energética no Brasil

Since the beginning of life in society, the human being has sought sources of energy that can be used continuously, or stored to be consumed in times of need. The various energy generation processes has enabled the human race for the implementation of many activities ranging from food preparation, handling of large industries and even the possibility of total annihilation by the availability of powerful nuclear weapons. In Brazil, whereupon the various deleterious aspects and especially the finite resources used on a large scale for the energy conservation, there is a huge devotion of society referred to the prospects for alternatives to the use of energy in local, regional and global, but overall, as it wouldn’t be different, the main factors in this scenario are economic. The fact that the unused potential of a region in the use of alternative sources of energy leads to a larger socio-environmental prejudice generalized to all. The purpose of this project is targeted for a comprehensive, systemic and integrated discussion about some of the main alternative energy sources, associated with technical procedures related to them, to contribute to a better and effective use of natural resources available in each region of the country, in order to minimize the impacts on the environment in which they are inserted.