Modelling, optimisation and techno-economic analysis of a process to produce oxygen-enriched air by water desorption. Application and design for a hospital in sub-Saharan Africa

Oxygen, along with oxygen enriched air, is used in multiple applications, namely chemical industry and healthcare industry. Currently there are three main ways to get oxygen: cryogenic distillation, water electrolysis and membrane separation, being the first the most widely used on industrial scale. It allows the production of highly concentrated oxygen but it has one main downside, which is the high energy spending. The other processes present a lower costefficiency. A new process to produce enriched air was analysed. It is based on the ability of water to absorb and desorb oxygen at different thermodynamic equilibria, varying temperature and pressure. Firstly, based on empirical tests carried out in laboratory it was attempted to create a mathematical model. The first attempt was modelled with neural networks, but the small available empirical set of information did not allow to get a trustworthy model. The second attempt, adjusted by square errors minimising, outperforms the simulations done with computational software based on theoretical equations. Secondly, the process was simulated by computer solving the Rachford-Rice equation with an Excel worksheet and with the computer software SimSci PRO/II. Thirdly, the process model was applied to three different scenarios: chemical industry, ship propulsion and healthcare industry. In the chemical and the oil industry oxidation processes are common practice, ships use large quantities of air to oxidise the fuel in the combustion process that propels them and oxygen is important in healthcare in almost every lung related issue. Regarding the two first scenarios, the outcomes resulted in flows of water so massive that rendered the whole process unfeasible. The application to healthcare was focused on contexts where there is no possibility to obtain bottled oxygen or electricity supply is unreliable, i.e. sub- Saharan Africa. The process was designed to the Sounon-Sero hospital in Nikki (Benin), as a proxy for any hospital in a similar context. In fact, based on the information provided by that hospital, after traumatisms and malaria, it is lung-related infections that account for the highest number of patients attended at Sounon- Sero. A special emphasis has been put in designing a simple and reliable system with a demand sizing based on supply side, given the maximum capabilities of the equipment that can be found in Nikki. This opens new research opportunities regarding a more precise demand sizing or budget, which is to be done within an on-field venture.Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Tecnología del Medio AmbienteGrado en Ingeniería Químic

Situación demográfica de la infancia y la adolescencia actual. Una visión mundial

Este trabajo recoge datos e indicadores de carácter demográfico sobre los niños y los adolescentes a partir de las principales estadísticas producidas por organismos internacionales. El objetivo que aborda es doble. Por un lado, hacer un retrato a nivel mundial de la situación de la infancia y la adolescencia actual, destacando aquellos aspectos que, siempre desde una óptica demográfica, requieren una especial atención pues conforman procesos sociales que afectan de forma sustantiva a su modo y calidad de vida. Y por otro, mostrar a los investigadores de otros campos disciplinares, que los datos e indicadores demográficos sirven no solo para contextualizar algunos de estos procesos, sino también, para identificarlos y analizarlos, procurando un conocimiento útil de cara a las colaboraciones interdisciplinares que, muchas veces, son necesarias para la elaboración de propuestas de acción eficaces

Child and adolescent population in Spain. Recent demographic dynamics

Este trabajo realiza un recorrido por los principales fenómenos demográficos que tienen que ver con la infancia y la adolescencia, mostrando su estado actual y examinando los cambios acontecidos en las últimas décadas. Se analiza la situación de España comparada con otros países europeos. El objetivo es ofrecer al lector una primera imagen de las dinámicas demográficas básicas que involucran a los niños y los jóvenes, y facilitar un primer acercamiento a algunos de los fenómenos que son esenciales para comprender procesos de cambio, tanto para la sociedad en general, como para los grupos de población analizados. Todos ellos tienen que ver con los niveles y calidad de vida de la población y suponen aspectos fundamentales sobre los que poder desarrollar tanto actividades de investigación, como de gestión y planificación.This paper provides an overview about the main demographic phenomena regarding childhood and adolescence, showing their current state and reviewing the changes happened in last decades, focusing on the case of Spain in comparison to other European countries. The main goal is to provide a picture about the basic demographic dynamics involving children and teens by approaching some of the essential phenomena that underlie social change processes. The analyzed topics are closely related to the degree and extent of population’s quality of life and represent key features to conduct research and planning activities.Depto. de Sociología AplicadaFac. de Ciencias Políticas y SociologíaTRUEpu

Desarrollo de un transportador de oxígeno con propiedades magnéticas para la combustión de combustibles sólidos con captura de CO2

En este TFM se ha estudiado el efecto de añadir un soporte metálico basado en hierro y manganeso a un transportador de oxígeno que pueda operar en un ciclo CLOU (Chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling). El ciclo CLOU es útil para separar una corriente gaseosa de CO2 en un proceso de combustión. De esta forma se pretende evitar su emisión a la atmósfera, y contribuir a la lucha contra el cambio climático. El transportador que se ha preparado además cuenta con propiedades magnéticas para facilitar su separación de las cenizas y así reutilizarlo, favoreciendo la economía del proceso. De los transportadores, se ha estudiado el magnetismo, la dureza, su capacidad de transporte de oxígeno, el espectrograma de rayos X (XRD), se ha ensayado en termobalanza (TGA) y por último se ha experimentado con él en un pequeño reactor experimental.<br /

Rheological properties and stability of thickeners for clinical use

The adaptation of liquids for patients with dysphagia requires precision and individualization in the viscosities used. We describe the variations of viscosity in water at different concentrations and evolution over time of the three compositions of commercial thickeners that are on the market (starch, starch with gums, and gum). By increasing the concentration in water, the viscosity of gum-based thickeners increases linearly, but it did not reach pudding texture, whereas the viscosity of the starch-based thickeners (alone or mixed with gums) rapidly reaches very thick textures. We modeled the viscosity at different concentrations of the four thickeners using regression analysis (R2 &gt; 0.9). We analyzed viscosity changes after 6 h of preparation. The viscosity of gum-based thickeners increased by a maximum of 6.5% after 6 h of preparation, while starch-based thickeners increased by up to 43%. These findings are important for correct handling and prescription. Gum-based thickeners have a predictable linear behavior with the formula we present, reaching nectar and honey-like textures with less quantity of thickener, and are stable over time. In contrast, starch thickeners have an exponential behavior which is difficult to handle, they reach pudding-like viscosity, and are not stable over time

Factors related to inbreeding components from isonymy in an urban population: Aranjuez (Spain)

Usando una base de datos constituida por una muestra de 1529 familias reconstituidas residentes durante 1870-1964 en Aranjuez (España), se realizó un análisis de isonimia. Los componentes aleatorios, no aleatorios y total de la consanguinidad se obtuvieron mediante isonimia, y diferentes combinaciones de apellidos se compararon a fines de inferir los patrones patri y matrilocales de residencia. Durante el período estudiado el componente aleatorio de consanguinidad (Fr) no se modificó, en contraste con el componente no aleatorio (Fn), sugiriendo que éste puede ser responsable del cambio en la consanguinidad. Usando distinta metodología (biplot, α, γ, y porcentajes de inmigrantes) la predominancia de inmigración de novios se interpretó como un predominio de matrilocalidad en Aranjuez. También se concluye que los apellidos obtenidos de reconstituciones familiares son buenos estimadores de consanguinidad y migración.Eje: BiodemografíaAsociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina (AABRA

Factors related to inbreeding components from isonymy in an urban population: Aranjuez (Spain)

Usando una base de datos constituida por una muestra de 1529 familias reconstituidas residentes durante 1870-1964 en Aranjuez (España), se realizó un análisis de isonimia. Los componentes aleatorios, no aleatorios y total de la consanguinidad se obtuvieron mediante isonimia, y diferentes combinaciones de apellidos se compararon a fines de inferir los patrones patri y matrilocales de residencia. Durante el período estudiado el componente aleatorio de consanguinidad (Fr) no se modificó, en contraste con el componente no aleatorio (Fn), sugiriendo que éste puede ser responsable del cambio en la consanguinidad. Usando distinta metodología (biplot, α, γ, y porcentajes de inmigrantes) la predominancia de inmigración de novios se interpretó como un predominio de matrilocalidad en Aranjuez. También se concluye que los apellidos obtenidos de reconstituciones familiares son buenos estimadores de consanguinidad y migración.Eje: BiodemografíaAsociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina (AABRA

Institutionalized elderly are able to detect small viscosity variations in thickened water with gum-based thickeners: should texture classifications be reviewed?

Background: The prevalence of dysphagia is very high in institutionalized elderly. Knowledge of the rheological and sensory characteristics of the various thickeners in elderly is limited, although it has been seen that there are differences between the rheological behaviors of gum-based thickeners with different composition. Moreover, we have not found sensory studies of viscosity in institutionalized elderly. Our hypothesis was that viscosity ranges established by the scientific societies, such as the National Dysphagia Diet Task Force (NDD), seem to be very wide and individuals might be able to detect small differences within the same texture range. The objectives of our study were 1) comparing the rheological characteristics of two commercial gum-based thickeners with different composition, dissolved in water under standard conditions, and 2) perform a sensory analysis (with both adults and institutionalized elderly) to detect different viscosities within the same texture (nectar and honey). Methods: Two commercial thickeners based on gums (NC and RC) were studied analyzing their viscosity in water with different concentrations (shear rate: 50 s− 1; temperature: 22–25 °C). A sensory analysis involving 26 elderly and 29 adult controls was carried out to evaluate whether differences within nectar and honey textures among gum-based thickeners could be distinguished. Results: As the shear rate increases, viscosity decreases (non-Newtonian and pseudoplastic behavior). At the same concentration, each thickener produces a different viscosity (p &lt; 0.05). Institutionalized elderly detected viscosity differences in nectar range of 49.9 (2.5) mPa·s (p &lt; 0.05) and 102.2 (4.7) mPa·s (p &lt; 0.0001). They also detected viscosity differences in honey texture range of 134.6 (9.7) mPa·s (p &lt; 0.05) y 199.3 (9.2) mPa·s (p &lt; 0.0001). Their caregivers also detected viscosity differences in both viscosity ranges (p &lt; 0.0001) and with greater intensity than the elderly in honey texture (p: 0.016). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the accepted viscosity ranges by NDD for the different textures might be too wide because institutionalized elderly and their caregivers are able to discern small differences in viscosity in nectar and honey textures. Gum-based thickeners with different composition showed differences in viscosity capacity, so they are not interchangeable. © 2021, The Author(s)