Hydrothermal processes as an alternative to conventional sewage sludge management

Sewage sludge management is one of the biggest concerns to the wastewater industry due to the increasing volumes produced and new stringent environmental regulations. Hydrothermal Treatments (HT) are a good option for converting wet biomass such as sewage sludge into high value products. However, HT are still not well developed when compared with other waste processing treatments. One of the most promising areas for developing hydrothermal processing applications is in sewage sludge treatment facilities. Sewage sludge has been identified as a potential feedstock for hydrothermal processing that could make use of existing facilities currently in place in wastewater treatment works (WWTWs). In order to look for options aimed at reducing the costs of the WWT process and digestate management by delivering a sustainable and novel approach, the aim of this project is to assess alternatives to enhance the way sewage sludge is handled in WWTWs, by focusing on the use of hydrothermal processes and the potential of recovering energy and nutrients. The potential of integrating HT Processes with AD for sewage sludge treatment was evaluated. Hydrochar yields ranged from 38 to 68% at 160°C and from 29 and 40% at 250°C for all thermal treated sewage sludge samples. The soluble fraction of organic carbon increased in primary sludge digestate (525%), secondary sludge digestate (808%) and sewage digestate sludge (675%) after thermal treatments compared with the untreated digestates. Figures from Biomethane Potential (BMP) tests showed that hydrothermal treatment enhanced methane production in all non-AD and AD sludge samples processed. Mass and energy balances were carried out from six proposed process configurations from different sewage sludge feedstocks and their digestates (primary, secondary and 1:1 Mix) in order to evaluate the waste generation, nutrients potential fate, net energy production and potential profit. The results showed the HTC at higher temperatures (250°C) seems to have more economic and environmental benefits. Scenarios that involved primary and mix sludge seemed to be the most suitable options in terms of the organic matter removal, energy harnessing and economic feasibility

Influence of the Pump Control System in the Selection of the Number of Fixed Speed and Variable Speed Drive Pumps in Water Pumping Stations

[EN] Proper design of a pumping system requires the use of a pump curve and set-point curve system. Both have to be as close as possible to optimize energy use. This is achieved by control systems in which the type of control (flow or pressure) and the combination between fixed speed drive (FSD) pumps and variable speed drive (VSD) pumps are involved. The objective of this work is to determine the optimal number of FSD and VSD pumps for each flow rate range in order to discuss the classic design of pumping stations and their control systems. For this, a methodology is applied that defines the parametric form of the pump curve, efficiency curve, and set-point curve in relation to the most efficient point. In this way, dimensionless expressions are obtained and the influence of the set-point parameters on the design of the control system can be analyzed. Additionally, the method includes an expression that estimates the performance of the frequency inverter, which is based on the load and pump speed rotation. The application of the methodology to different case studies allows us to question many classic procedures for pumping stations. In summary, it can be concluded that the appropriate number of variable speed pumps for each control system cannot be established in advance but requires an in-depth study of different available options.Briceño, C.; Iglesias Rey, PL.; Martínez-Solano, FJ. (2019). Influence of the Pump Control System in the Selection of the Number of Fixed Speed and Variable Speed Drive Pumps in Water Pumping Stations. Proceedings. 48(1):1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/ECWS-4-06445S11148

Bandas criminales extranjeras dedicadas al delito de sicariato en Lima Norte, 2020

La presente investigación titulada “Bandas Criminales Extranjeras dedicadas al Delito de Sicariato en Lima Norte, 2020”, la cual se elaboró para obtener el título profesional de abogado, tiene como objetivo determinar el vínculo que existe entre bandas criminales extranjeras y el delito de sicariato en Lima Norte, 2020. Por otro lado, la metodología empleada corresponde a un enfoque cualitativo cuyo tipo de investigación es básica y presenta un diseño basado en la teoría fundamentada, lo cual nos permitirá realizar un estudio apropiado sobre la información recopilada mediante los instrumentos de recolección de datos. Por ello, mediante un análisis ideográfico se obtuvo como resultado que las bandas criminales extranjeras son grupos criminales, que ejecutan un proyecto delictivo propio de la delincuencia común urbana, por ende, se dedican mayormente al despojo artesanal y violento, es decir, producen inseguridad ciudadana a través de su actuación en la comisión reiterada de robos, secuestros, extorsiones y homicidios (sicariato). Finalmente, se concluyó que existe un vínculo significativo entre bandas criminales extranjeras y el delito de sicariato en Lima Norte, 2020

Diagnóstico, propuesta de mejoras y análisis de fenómenos transitorios en un sistema de conducción de agua potable para una zona urbana de Valencia

El presente trabajo tiene como primer objetivo realizar el análisis del flujo en régimen extendido de la línea de conducción de agua potable existente en la actualidad y que abastece a una zona urbana de Valencia, en la que se incluirá una ampliación de demandas, donde hay que abastecer a un nuevo depósito y a nuevas demandas intermedias, para de esta manera tener el diagnostico de su funcionamiento actual y futuro, caracterización de los problemas existentes, definición de sistemas de operación y propuesta de mejoras factibles. Como segundo objetivo se realizará el estudio del funcionamiento del sistema en régimen transitorio, tras la parada de los grupos de bombeo que alimentan la red de distribución, para definir los sistemas de protección más adecuados y la posible modificación de los ya existentes. Para ello se ha recopilado toda la información necesaria de la conducción, los perfiles topográficos, sistema de bombeo instalado, dimensiones de los depósitos, demandas actuales y futuras, se ha elaborado la modelación matemática con los datos disponibles en el software Allievi profesional que facilita y agiliza el análisis de cálculo y simulación en régimen permanente y transitorio. Se realizan y analizan distintas propuestas de mejoras del sistema para su funcionamiento en régimen extendido tomando como base la ampliación de la conducción; entre ellas se propone la sustitución de la arqueta de rotura de carga existente por un depósito de regulación de mayor capacidad, añadiendo válvulas de llenado con control de nivel en los distintos depósitos, regulación del sistema de bombeo con controles de nivel, etc. Además, se dimensiona y analiza el tipo de válvulas a utilizar, tiempos de apertura y cierre; niveles en el depósito de impulsión para arranque y parada del equipo de bombeo; se verifica que las velocidades son adecuadas en las tuberías de la impulsión, el no desbordamiento y vaciado de los depósitos, etc. Una vez comprobado el correcto funcionamiento del sistema en régimen extendido con las modificaciones realizadas, se analiza el mismo en régimen transitorio originado por una parada brusca de la estación de bombeo por un fallo eléctrico; dimensionándose los elementos de protección necesarios para amortiguar los fenómenos transitorios que afectaren a la conducción. En resumen, se trata de estudiar el funcionamiento en condiciones diarias de una instalación de impulsión de agua potable para abastecimiento de una zona urbana de Valencia. Esta instalación está construida en la actualidad, aunque su funcionamiento no es el inicialmente previsto debido a la existencia de una arqueta de rotura de carga que fácilmente puede desbordar o vaciarse. Como primer objetivo de este trabajo se propondrán las modificaciones del sistema necesarias para abastecer adecuadamente a las zonas urbanas a alimentar, tanto las actuales como las futuras, comprobándose la bondad de estas modificaciones mediante simulaciones del funcionamiento del sistema en régimen diario. Y como segundo objetivo se revisará el sistema de protección contra transitorios hidráulicos instalado, el cual habrá de adaptarse a las nuevas condiciones de funcionamiento en base a las modificaciones propuestas. Por ello se definirá un nuevo sistema de protección, según las exigencias del sistema modificado.This work has as a first objective to do a flow analysis in extended regime to potable water conduction that supply to a urban zone in Valencia, in this conduction will be an extension of demands including a new storage tank and new urban demands throughout the conduction in order to has the diagnosis of the operation system in the present and in the future, the characterization the existing problems, definition types of operation in the system and a proposal of feasible improvements. The second objective is to do a study of the system in transient regime that can be caused by an accidental stop of the station pump or an inadequate move in the valves. Accordingly, it has been compiled all the necessary information in the conduction, such as: topographic profiles, pumping system installed, storage tank dimensions, existing and future urban demands. Then, it been elaborated a mathematical model with the available dates in the professional Allievi software, that helps to make more easy the calculation analysis and simulates daily and transient regime in the system. It will be done and analyzed different proposals improvements in extending regime to the conduction with its new demands, including the substitution the break pressure tank to a new storage tank with a higher capacity, adding filling valves with water level controls in the storage tanks, regulating the pumping system with water level controls in the impulsion storage tank, etc. Besides, it will be analyzed the types of valves to use, valves time of opening and closing, water level in the storage tank to start and stop the pumping system, verified admissible velocities in the pipes, and the not overflow and emptied of the storage tanks. Once, it has been verified a correct performance of the system in extending regime with its modifications proposed. It will be analyzed the transient regime induced by an accidental shutdown of the pumping system by electricity failing, in order to design the necessary protection elements to reduce the transient phenomena that affects the conduction. In summary, this work will explained the performance of an installation that impulse potable water to supply urban demands in Valencia. This system is constructed in the present. However, its operation is not initially planned because the current pressure break tank overflows or emptied easily. As a first objective of this work is to propose all the necessary modifications in the system in order to supply in adequate way the present and future urban demands and verified the performance of its modifications through the analysis in extending regime and as a second objective is to study the system of transient protection that was initially installed and will be adapted to the new necessities according the proposed modifications. Therefore, It will be defined a new system of transient protection if it will be necessary.Briceño León, CX. (2018). Diagnóstico, propuesta de mejoras y análisis de fenómenos transitorios en un sistema de conducción de agua potable para una zona urbana de Valencia. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/10046

The ππ→πγ⋆\pi\pi\to\pi\gamma^\star amplitude and the resonant ρ→πγ⋆\rho\to\pi\gamma^\star transition from lattice QCD

We present a determination of the $P$-wave $\pi\pi\to\pi\gamma^\star$ transition amplitude from lattice quantum chromodynamics. Matrix elements of the vector current in a finite-volume are extracted from three-point correlation functions, and from these we determine the infinite-volume amplitude using a generalization of the Lellouch-L\"uscher formalism. We determine the amplitude for a range of discrete values of the $\pi\pi$ energy and virtuality of the photon, and observe the expected dynamical enhancement due to the $\rho$ resonance. Describing the energy dependence of the amplitude, we are able to analytically continue into the complex energy plane and from the residue at the $\rho$ pole extract the $\rho\to \pi \gamma^\star$ transition form factor. This calculation, at $m_\pi\approx 400$ MeV, is the first to determine the form factor of an unstable hadron within a first principles approach to QCD.Comment: 20 pages, 16 figures, 3 table

Impact of Hydraulic Variable Conditions in the Solution of Pumping Station Design through Sensitivity Analysis

[EN] A proper pumping station (PS) design should consider multiple criteria, such as technical, economic, and environmental aspects. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method can be applied for multi-criteria analysis in this type of engineering design, and it is based on the judgment of a group of experts for the criteria considered. On the other hand, the most common method for PS design is one based solely on economic aspects or life cycle cost (LCC). This paper presents a sensitivity analysis of the impact of the hydraulic conditions of a water distribution network (WDN) on the ultimate solution in two PS design approaches. The first approach was the classic method based on LCC minimization and the second approach was based on multi-criteria analysis by means of AHP accounting for technical, economic, and environmental aspects. In this way, the effects of different meaningful variables for PS design, such as the mean demand, parameters of the setpoint curve, electric tariffs, and interest rates, were evaluated to determine the robustness of the PS solutions obtained. The obtained results of the sensitivity analysis in the case study demonstrated that the PS design based on multiple criteria decision analysis was more reliable and robust than the classic PS design against variations that can occur in a WDN, especially in the mean flow, setpoint curve, and electric tariff. The variations in these parameters of the WDN did not impact the ultimate solutions of the PS design approaches when within the tolerance ranges, but these ranges were wider in the second approach to PS design than in the first approach.Briceño-León, CX.; Iglesias Rey, PL.; Martínez-Solano, FJ.; Creaco, E. (2023). Impact of Hydraulic Variable Conditions in the Solution of Pumping Station Design through Sensitivity Analysis. Water. 15(17):1-23. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15173067123151

Características clínicas y mortalidad intrahospitalaria en pacientes con insuficiencia renal aguda en hemodiálisis, en el Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen, EsSalud, 2014-2015

There are no official data on patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) in Peru. Most of the information comes from isolated centers in other countries. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and inhospital mortality in patients with acute kidney injury undergoing hemodialysis at a third level hospital in Peru. Methods: A cross-sectional study. Demographic, clinical, and mortality data were collected from patients diagnosed with AKI undergoing hemodialysis at the Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen EsSalud during 2014-2015. Results: 183 patients were included. The average age was 58 years and 57% were male. Ninety percent of patients were admitted through emergency services (EMG). Patients were hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU), EMG rooms and other hospitalization areas in 40%, 27% and 33% of cases, respectively. The most frequent causes of AKI were sepsis (58%), heart failure (8%) and obstructive uropathy. In-hospital mortality rate was 55% (n = 100). The deceased patients showed a higher frequency of sepsis (71 vs. 38; p = 0,001) and multiorgan failure (90 vs. 56; p <0,001) compared to alive patients. Conclusions: Patients with AKI had a mean age of 59 years and most were hospitalized in the ICU. The most frequent cause of AKI was sepsis. In-hospital mortality was 55% and was significantly associated with the presence of sepsis and multiorgan failure.Introducción: No existen datos oficiales sobre los pacientes con insuficiencia renal aguda (IRA) en el Perú. La mayor parte de la información proviene de centros aislados en otros países. Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas y la mortalidad intrahospitalaria en pacientes con insuficiencia renal aguda, en hemodiálisis, atendidos en un hospital de tercer nivel del Perú. Método: Estudio transversal, realizado en pacientes con diagnóstico de IRA en hemodiálisis, atendidos en el Hospital Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen, EsSalud, durante 2014-2015. Se evaluaron las características clínicas generales y se estimó la tasa de mortalidad intrahospitalaria. Resultados: Se evaluaron 183 pacientes. La edad media fue de 58 años y el 57% fueron varones. El 90% ingresaron al hospital a través de emergencia (EMG). Los pacientes fueron admitidos en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI), EMG y otras áreas de hospitalización en el 40%, 27% y 33% de los casos, respectivamente. Las causas más frecuentes de IRA fueron: sepsis (59%), insuficiencia cardíaca (8%) y uropatía obstructiva (7%). La mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue de 55% (n=100). Los pacientes fallecidos mostraron una mayor frecuencia de sepsis (71 vs. 38; p = 0,001) y de compromiso multiorgánico (90 vs. 56; p < 0,001) en comparación con los vivos. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con IRA tuvieron una edad media de 59 años y la mayoría estuvieron hospitalizados en UCI. La causa más frecuente de IRA fue la sepsis. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue 55% y estuvo significativamente asociada a la presencia de sepsis y compromiso multiorgánico

→ * Amplitude and the Resonant → * Transition from Lattice QCD

We present a determination of the P-wave → ⋆ transition amplitude from lattice quantum chromodynamics. Matrix elements of the vector current in a finite volume are extracted from three-point correlation functions, and from these we determine the infinite-volume amplitude using a generalization of the Lellouch-Lüscher formalism. We determine the amplitude for a range of discrete values of the energy and virtuality of the photon and observe the expected dynamical enhancement due to the ρ resonance. Describing the energy dependence of the amplitude, we are able to analytically continue into the complex energy plane and from the residue at the ρ pole extract the ρ → ⋆ transition form factor. This calculation, at m ≈ 400  MeV, is the first to determine the form factor of an unstable hadron within a first principles approach to QCD

Resonant ⁺ → ⁺⁰ Amplitude from Quantum Chromodynamics

We present the first ab initio calculation of a radiative transition of a hadronic resonance within quantum chromodynamics (QCD). We compute the amplitude for →⋆, as a function of the energy of the pair and the virtuality of the photon, in the kinematic regime where couples strongly to the unstable ρ resonance. This exploratory calculation is performed using a lattice discretization of QCD with quark masses corresponding to mπ ≈ 400  MeV. We obtain a description of the energy dependence of the transition amplitude, constrained at 48 kinematic points, that we can analytically continue to the ρ pole and identify from its residue the ρ→⋆ form factor

Resonant ⁺ → ⁺⁰ Amplitude from Quantum Chromodynamics

We present the first ab initio calculation of a radiative transition of a hadronic resonance within quantum chromodynamics (QCD). We compute the amplitude for →⋆, as a function of the energy of the pair and the virtuality of the photon, in the kinematic regime where couples strongly to the unstable ρ resonance. This exploratory calculation is performed using a lattice discretization of QCD with quark masses corresponding to mπ ≈ 400  MeV. We obtain a description of the energy dependence of the transition amplitude, constrained at 48 kinematic points, that we can analytically continue to the ρ pole and identify from its residue the ρ→⋆ form factor