Economic tradeoff between biochar and bio-oil production via pyrolysis

This paper examines some of the economic tradeoffs in the joint production of biochar and bio-oil from cellulosic biomass. The pyrolysis process can be performed with different final temperatures, and with different heating rates. While most carbonization technologies operating at low heating rates result in higher yields of charcoal, fast pyrolysis is the technology of choice to produce bio-oils. Varying operational and design parameters can change the relative quantity and quality of biochar and bio-oil produced for a given feedstock. These changes in quantity and quality of both products affect the potential revenue from their production and sale. We estimate quadratic production functions for biochar and bio-oil. The results are then used to calculate a product transformation curve that characterizes the yields of bio-oil and biochar that can be produced for a given amount of feedstock, movement along the curve corresponds to changes in temperatures, and it can be used to infer optimal pyrolysis temperature settings for a given ratio of biochar and bio-oil prices.biochar, bio-oil, pyrolysis, biomass conversion, economic tradeoff

Advances in the Analysis of Properties Behaviour of Cement-Based Grouts with High Substitution of Cement with Blast Furnace Slags

This article presents a study of the main properties (consistency, workability, leaching, unsoundness, and mechanical properties) of cement grouts prepared with cement replacement by blast furnace slag (GGBS). Mixtures have been analyzed in the absence of additives and reached high replacement percentages. As shown in the different tests presented, the observed evolution of the resistance and workability of the mixtures makes them very interesting for its application. Different types of cement (CEM-I 42.5 and CEM-I 52.5 R) and different water/binder values (1 and 0.67) are used. The results present opportunities for the steel industry by the intensive valorization of slag waste. The reduction of the use of cement in construction is also one of the key aims of this line of research. Results show improvements in the mechanical response with good fresh state properties for substitution percentages up to 70%. It is verified with leaching analysis that these products have less impact on the environmen

Visual Targeted Advertisement System Based on User Profiling and Content Consumption for Mobile Broadcasting Television

Content personalisation is one of the main aims of the mobile media delivery business models, as a new way to improve the user’s experience. In broadcasting networks, the content is sent “one to many”, so a complete personalisation where the user may select any content is not possible. But using the mobile bidirectional return channel (e.g. UMTS connection) visual targeted advertising can be performed in a simple way: by off-line storing the advertisement for selectively replacing the normal broadcasted advertisement. In fact, these concepts provide powerful methods to increase the value of the service, mainly in mobile environments. In this article we present a novel intelligent content personalisation system for targeted advertising over mobile broadcasting networks and terminals, based on user profiling and clustering, as a new solution where the use of content personalisation represents the competitive advantage over traditional advertising

Estudio de la accesibilidad de las interfaces gráficas en la televisión de alta definición

La televisión digital permite un incremento del número de servicios difundidos. Esto puede derivar en que la gestión de los mismos se dificulte de manera notable para el usuario con discapacidad. Así mismo, la televisión digital se caracteriza por la proliferación de interfaces gráficas, por ejemplo, menús de configuración, guías de programas y miniguías, aplicaciones interactivas... Las interfaces gráficas de usuario suponen una de las barreras más importantes que las personas ciegas y con discapacidad visual encuentran al interactuar con estos nuevos servicios. Por otra parte, teniendo en cuenta las necesidades de las personas con resto visual, también se habría de considerar la posibilidad de poder configurar por parte del usuario aquellos elementos gráficos y textuales que aparecen en su pantalla, fundamentalmente, el tamaño y color de letra, así como el adecuado contraste de ésta con el color de fondo sobre el que aparezc