Simulating the effect of forces pit ventilation on ammonia emission from naturally ventilated cow houses with CFD

Atmospheric NH3, mainly originates from agricultural sources, can cause serious environmental problems related to eutrophication and soil acidification. Emissions from dairy houses are 15% of total agricultural NH3 emissions. Due to open buildings, existing abatement options are limited. Pit air separation was identified as a potentially efficacious option. In this study a model simulation of a commercial dairy cow building with slatted floor is presented. The model was solved for 12 cases, differing wind speed, direction and both air and manure temperature. For each case three solutions were obtained, which correspond a) to a building where a forced pit ventilation system is applied at capacity of 250 and 500 m-3 h-1 cow-1 and b) to a building without forced pit ventilation system. The results show that due to forced pit ventilation system, at 250 and 500 m-3 h-1 cow-1, the ventilation rate was increased 3.1% and 6.2% respectively. The contribution of the pit ventilation system to the total ammonia released from the pit during winter, ranged from 31-35%, 16-19% and 11-8%, for wind speed of 1.0, 4.0 and 8.0 m s-1 respectively. Correspondingly, during summer, the contribution of the system ranged from 44-48%, 20-21% and 12-9%. Although obvious benefits arise from a forced pit ventilation system, the main mass flow of ammonia from the pit still emitted through the building ventilation openings, especially at high wind speeds

Dynamics of water of hydration near disaccharides strongly depends on solute topology: mapping density fluctuations, rotational anisotropy and h-bond exchange mechanism around disaccharides

comunicação em posterDisaccharides such as trehalose are abundant components of cells and may alter the phase behavior or dynamics of phospholipid bilayers: for example, trehalose is a cryoprotectant of lipid bilayers. The origin of this and other effects of disaccharides on membranes is still under debate. One possibility is that some disaccharides alter the dynamics of water of hydration relative to the bulk, and that interactions between the water of hydration of disaccharides and the phospholipids lead to changes in bilayer properties. We address this issue by investigating the dynamics of water near disaccharides kojibiose and trehalose using classical atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and transition state theory. Our results indicate that the cryoprotectant trehalose and the non-cryoprotectant kojibiose differ in the rotational dynamics of their water of hydration, with the subpopulation of water molecules nearest to the central linking oxygen being significantly slower for trehalose. Interestingly, this effect results from differences in both solute chemistry and topology: identical functional groups may interact differently with water depending on the orientation of neighboring groups, in agreement with existing reports on proteins. In contrast to observations on topologically simple solutes, our results indicate that topologically complex solutes such as disaccharides induce unexpected changes in the free energy landscape associated with rotation of water molecules. These results suggest that theoretical models to predict water dynamics near solutes, relevant for example to understand how water dynamics influences protein folding or diffusion through polysaccharide brushes, must account for both solute chemistry and topology

Cap-and-trade of water rights: A sustainable way out of Australia's rural water problems?

Trading water rights is a tool for re-allocation of water resources in water-scarce regions such as Australia. Tradable water rights help farmers to act flexibly when facing high fluctuations in water availability and to use the water in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. A precondition is that the quantity of water rights is capped at an appropriate level. The institutional arrangements and market structures in which water-right trading is embedded are key factors for the success of such water management instruments. By analysing the structure of the water-right market and water caps as well as using results from explorative expert interviews, the article sheds light on potential problems with the Australian cap-and-trade scheme concerning sustainable water usage. It also asks whether the Australian scheme provides lessons to be learnt by other countries facing similar problems

Klimaatbeheerssysteem voor grondgebonden teelten zoals sla

Laag opgaande gewassen zoals sla kampen met vochtproblemen. Dit wordt veroorzaakt door verschillende omstandigheden. Een volgroeid gewas bedekt de gehele bodem waardoor luchtuitwisseling onder het gewas en de kas niet meer mogelijk is. Er wordt meestal van boven af water gegeven bij deze teelten waardoor het gewas nat wordt en de bodem ook. Drogen van het gewas kost tijd en energie en verhoogt het energiegebruik. Het klimaat is relatief vochtig omdat de temperatuur in de kas laag wordt gehouden. Vooral in het najaar en het voorjaar wordt er nauwelijks verwarmd. Er worden relatief veel gewasbeschermingsmiddelen gebruikt om ziektes onder controle te houden ten gevolge van het vochtige klimaat. Verwarming bij grondgebonden laag opgaande energie-extensieve gewassen wordt meestal met luchtheaters die bovenin de kas hangen gedaan. Deze methode heeft een aantal nadelen. Alle verbrandingsgassen komen in de kas waardoor ventilatie nodig is om schadelijke gassen te verwijderen. De luchtbeweging nabij het gewas wordt nauwelijks gesimuleerd. De gehele kaslucht wordt op deze manier verwarmd terwijl alleen de lucht bij het gewas verwarmd hoeft te worden. Nabij de grond heeft de verwarming minder effect waardoor daar vaak ziektes worden gevormd. De waterdamp die vrijkomt bij de verbranding van het gas komt direct in de kas waardoor de behoefte aan ontvochtiging toeneemt. Een nieuw klimaatbeheerssysteem is wenselijk. In dit project wordt bekeken of verwarming met luchtslangen mogelijk is. Verwarmde lucht wordt via kleine luchtslangen die onder het gewas op de grond tussen het gewas liggen. Dit heeft als voordeel dat de warmte direct bij het gewas wordt gebracht en het klimaat tussen de planten kan worden geregeld. Het vochtgehalte van de ingeblazen lucht wordt geregeld door deels buitenlucht aan te zuigen. Om deze reden wordt met luchtslangen gewerkt. Het systeem moet economisch haalbaar zijn door verbetering van het klimaat rond de plant waardoor de kwaliteit en productie verbeteren en er minder gewasbeschermingsmiddelen nodig zijn

Klimaat "Kas zonder Gas"

In dit project is onderzocht of de inzet van het systeem ten behoeve van de koeling en verwarming van de kaslucht een goed klimaat geeft en of het systeem ook ingezet moet worden op het moment dat er geen warmte of koude behoefte is. Het onderzoek is uitgevoerd door het lokale klimaat rond een reperterend stuk van de kas te meten. Daarnaast is met akoestische luchtsnelheidsmeters de luchtsnelheid en richting bepaald. Ten slotte zijn de resultaten nader geanalyseerd door het systeem met CFD berekeningen te bekijken

The infuence of glycosidic linkage neighbors on disaccharide conformation in vacuum

Correct description of the free energy of conformation change of disaccharides is important in understanding a variety of biochemical processes and, ultimately, in the manufacture of better food and paper products. In this study, we determine the relative free energy of a series of 12 disaccharides in vacuum using replica exchange molecular dynamics (repMD) simulations. The chosen sugars and the novel application of this method allow the exploration of the role of glycosidic linkage neighbors in conformer stabilization. In line with expectations, we find that hydrogen bonding (and therefore energetically preferred conformations) are determined both by the nature of the glycosidic linkage (i.e., 1 f 2, 1 f 3, or 1 f 4), the C1 epimer of the of the nonreducing monosaccharide, and by the configuration of carbon atoms once removed from the glycosidic linkage. Contrary to suggestions by prior authors for repMD more generally, we also demonstrate that repMD provides enhanced sampling, relative to conventional MD simulations of equivalent length, for disaccharides in vacuum at 300 K.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)SFRH/BPD/20555/2004/0GVLNational Science Foundation under Grant CHE-043132