Effect of the electromagnetic water treatment on the carbonate scales. Determination of calcite and aragonite by the Meigen test

Poster submitted to the 14th Mediterranean Congress of Chemical Engineering, Virtual Event: 16-20 November 2020Carbonate scale in water systems is a very common problem, frequently associated with exchange heaters. The presence of deposits involves technical and economic problems that can be minimised using different treatments, such as electromagnetic (EM) techniques. However, there are few studies determining the scientific basis of this water treatment technique. With the application of EM treatment, aragonite becomes predominant with respect to calcite and does not produce scale, in contrast to calcite. The presence of calcite or aragonite could be determined by the Meigen test, which is applied to solid minerals. Hence, this study aimed to analyse the potential usefulness of the TK3K equipment in water treatment, as well as the applicability of the Meigen test to solid samples obtained from water evaporation. It was observed that the evaporation temperature is a fundamental factor in the crystalline form of calcium carbonate because at higher temperatures (70 and 105 °C) there was more aragonite formed than calcite, even when no treated water was evaporated. The application of EM techniques increased the concentration of aragonite in the samples at 25 and 40 °C, as well as the durability of the aragonite crystals, by reducing their reversion to calcite. On the other hand, it was observed that Meigen test could be an excellent option as a complementary technique to X-ray diffraction and microscopy in the determination of calcite and aragonite from water evaporation. It is a simple, cheap and quick analysis, prior to determination by instrumentals techniques

Forced precipitation experiments for study of the electromagnetic treatment of water

The objective of this research is to know the effect of the electromagnetic equipment TK3K to prevention of incrustations in pipes. A method of forced precipitation of calcium carbonate, mixing solutions of Ca(NO3)2 and Na2CO3 with tap water, shows differences in the temporal evolution of turbidity, absorbance and in the final size of the particles formed, which makes it possible to distinguish between treated and untreated water. The latter present higher values ​​of parameters analyzed than the treated ones. A longer treatment time does not produce different results, while an increase in temperature causes a greater decrease. Since there is no immediate technique on the market to verify the effect of electromagnetic treatment, this method, with temperature control, is simple and fast.This study was carried out thanks to the financial support of the Generalitat Valenciana (FEDEGENT/2018/005) and the company ECOTÉCNICA ENERGY SYSTEMS S.L

Nuevas letras con antigua caligrafía. Mártires romanos en altares barrocos

El barroco recupera en sus manifestaciones artísticas los santos y santas mártires del mundo antiguo.Área de Historia del Art

Técnicas electromagnéticas para el tratamiento de aguas y diseño de una planta piloto con dispositivo TK3K

La aplicación de técnicas electromagnéticas (EM) al tratamiento de aguas se ha desarrollado en los últimos años para evitar y eliminar las incrustaciones de carbonato cálcico en conducciones. En ausencia de tratamiento se forma un precipitado duro e incrustante de calcita, y cuando el agua es tratada, se forma aragonito, que no precipita e incluso elimina incrustaciones previas. En la Universidad de Alicante se han realizado estudios preliminares sobre los efectos del electromagnetismo en la dureza, así como para el tratamiento de microorganismos y algas. En esta línea de investigación se va a realizar una tesis doctoral en colaboración con la empresa ECOTÉCNICA ENERGY SYSTEMS S.L. y financiada por la Generalitat Valenciana dentro del programa para la formación de doctores y doctoras en empresas valencianas. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados obtenidos de la búsqueda bibliográfica sobre la aplicación de técnicas EM al tratamiento de agua, con el fin de aplicar estos conocimientos al diseño de una planta piloto para el estudio del equipo TK3K patentado por la empresa, así como de otros dispositivos desarrollados con diferentes prestaciones

Estudios sobre el efecto del tratamiento electromagnético en la precipitación de carbonato cálcico usando aguas de diferentes calidades

Póster presentado en META 2022: XIV Congreso de la Mesa Española de Tratamiento de Aguas, Sevilla, 1-3 junio 2022.En este trabajo se muestra la investigación llevada a cabo en la Universidad de Alicante sobre el efecto del equipo electromagnético TK3K, diseñado y patentado por la empresa Ecotecnica Energy Systems S.L., que se comercializa para evitar incrustaciones en tuberías. Se están realizando estudios experimentales para la precipitación de carbonato cálcico, a partir de aguas de diferentes calidades, según 2 métodos: (1) “ensayos de precipitación rápida controlada” (Mahmoud, B. et al. (2016) Separation and Purification Technology, 171, 88-92) donde se elimina el CO2 mediante agitación y (2) ensayos con incremento de concentraciones en disolución (Piyadasa, C. et al. (2017). Environmental Science Water Research & Technology, 3, 566-572) con Ca (NO3)2 y Na2CO3. El efecto del tratamiento se analizó midiendo diferencias en turbidez, absorbancia y tipo de cristalización: calcita (romboédrica, incrustante) y aragonito (ortorrómbica, no incrustante) con un microscopio óptico de luz polarizada (OPTIKA NP-400T) o mediante SEM (JEOL modelo JSM-840).Este estudio se ha realizado gracias a la financiación de la Generalitat Valenciana (FEDEGENT/2018/005) y la empresa ECOTÉCNICA ENERGY SYSTEMS S.L

Effect of electromagnetism on the formation of calcium carbonate crystals: presence of calcite and aragonite

Póster presentado en II Symposium on Chemical and Physical Sciences for Young Researchers, Murcia, 24-25 marzo 2022.The formation of scale in systems that work with hot water is a problem that can generate economic losses in domestic and industrial installations. A great variety of techniques soften the water, but modify the chemical composition and generate waste streams. An alternative is the use of the electromagnetic techniques, which prevent scale formation without altering the quality of the water, however, the mechanism is not entirely clear. One of the theories proposed is that the precipitation of calcium carbonate such as aragonite (less encrusting) is favoured compared to calcite (encrusting). In this study, the rapid controlled precipitation test has been used to precipitate calcium carbonate from synthetic waters, which are previously prepared by dissolving calcium carbonate in distilled water, treated with the TK3K equipment (Ecotécnica Energy Systems, S.L.), and bubbling with CO2 until complete dissolution. These studies were compared with others without electromagnetic treatment of the distilled water. The controlled rapid precipitation tests were carried at 600 rpm and the obtained crystals were analysed with a polarized light optical microscope (OPTIKA NP-400T). Untreated samples were found to be calcite (rhombohedral), with no other mineral phases and the treated samples had presence of aragonite (orthorhombic), together with calcite.The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Generalitat Valenciana (FEDEGENT/2018/005) and the company ECOTÉCNICA ENERGY SYSTEMS S.L

Estudios del efecto del tratamiento electromagnético en algas y bacterias

Póster presentado en META 2022: XIV Congreso de la Mesa Española de Tratamiento de Aguas, Sevilla, 1-3 junio 2022.El equipo electromagnético TK3K, diseñado y patentado por la empresa Ecotecnica Energy Systems S.L., que se comercializa para evitar incrustaciones en tuberías y pretende aplicarse en la mejora de la calidad del agua, con estudios en organismos acuáticos y microbiología. En este trabajo se muestran la investigación llevada a cabo en la Universidad de Alicante sobre este tema. Para el estudio del efecto del tratamiento electromagnético sobre microorganismos como Pseudomona spp y Escherichia coli (Piyadasa, et al. (2018) Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 93, 871–877), se realizaron cultivos microbiológicos realizando el conteo con una lupa binocular (LEICA GZ-4). En el caso de las algas tomadas de aguas de diferente procedencia, se identificaron con el microscopio Carl Zeiss Axioskop 2 plus. Se cultivaron en depósitos de 10 L con y sin tratamiento electromagnético, en una sala termostatizada a 24°C.Este estudio se ha realizado gracias a la financiación de la Generalitat Valenciana (FEDEGENT/2018/005) y la empresa ECOTÉCNICA ENERGY SYSTEMS S.L

Optimized Multipactor-Resistant Wedge-Shaped Waveguide Bandpass Filters

[EN] Wedge-shaped waveguides present a certain advantage with respect to rectangular waveguides regarding their resistance to multipactor discharges. In this paper, the optimal configuration for the wedge geometry is investigated based on theoretical results, on a precise multipactor prediction tool, and on previous experience. In addition, design rules are presented, which allow us to achieve for wedge-shaped filters electrical performances comparable to the ones of rectangular waveguide filters, while at the same time improving the multipactor-free power range. As a proof of concept, two three-pole bandpass filters with equivalent electrical characteristic of 150-MHz bandwidth, centered at 12 GHz (Ku band), and the same Q factor have been designed, manufactured, and tested. The first design is based on conventional rectangular waveguide technology, while the second one has non-parallel broadside walls (wedge-shaped cross section). The multipactor power threshold and RF performance of the filters have been measured in order to validate the improvements achievable employing wedge-shaped resonators.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Spain, under Research Project TEC2010-21520-C04-01/TCM.Hueso González, J.; Raboso García-Baquero, D.; Ernst, C.; Schmitt, D.; Boria Esbert, VE.; Gimeno Martinez, B.; Taroncher Calduch, M.... (2013). Optimized Multipactor-Resistant Wedge-Shaped Waveguide Bandpass Filters. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE. 41(8):2135-2144. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.2013.2253134S2135214441

Effect of the use of videos in the pre-class preparation of laboratory sessions taught by flip teaching

[EN] Nowadays, it is well stablished the effectiveness of flip teaching in different areas. Video is widely used as a pre-class learning material and it is progressively replacing text-document materials. The students, 70 in total, are enrolled in the laboratory practice of the subject of Physics (Bachelor¿s Degree: Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering) at the Universitat Politècnica de València. Student¿s perception data were collected from the results of a survey. Students were asked about the usefulness of the videos and the in-class work, paying special attention to the roll of the instructor in relation to the flip teaching methodology and the pre-class material. The students were divided into two groups. In one of them, the videos were recorded by the same instructor present at the lab session, whereas the other group, the videos used were recorded by instructors different from the instructor present at the lab. The results indicate that students feel that the videos are very useful, rather than the written documents. They attribute a high value to the instructor in the lab session as they feel more confident with their work and they can ask for help when needed. They value positively the possibility of work autonomously. Small differences have been found in the opinion of both groups being the higher in the question that concerns the preference of the videos respect to the text.This work has been supported by the Universitat Politècnica de València through the Project of Innovation and Educational Improvement Program (Projects PIME/2018/B26 and PIME/2018/B25 Convocatoria de Proyectos de Innovación y Convergencia).Meseguer Dueñas, JM.; Quiles Casado, SDLS.; Sabater I Serra, R.; Serrano, M.; Gómez-Tejedor, J.; García-Sánchez, TM.; Tort-Ausina, I.... (2020). Effect of the use of videos in the pre-class preparation of laboratory sessions taught by flip teaching. Iated. 6107-6112. https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2020.1654S6107611

Active methods in electricity and magnetism courses: Influence of degree, academic level and gender on student performance

[EN] The performance of first-year students in electromagnetism (E&M) courses of different engineering degrees at a Spanish public university was measured using the Brief Electricity and Magnetism Assessment (BEMA), a standard research-based instrument to assess students' understanding after attending introductory courses in electricity and magnetism. In all cases, Flipped classroom (FC) built on information and communications technology was used. The objective of this paper is to analyse if the gain in the BEMA pre and post-test results is influenced by several factors such as the degree, the students' academic grade, and gender. Moreover, as some studies have shown that the students' retention of the concepts was significantly stronger in active learning than in traditional approaches, a third BEMA test was performed by the students to analyse the long-term retention gain dependence on the same factors. Students from different engineering degree programs were asked to complete two BEMA tests during the course and a third one after a few months. ANOVA tests were used to analyse the existence of significant differences in gain between student degree programs, student academic level and student gender. Results have shown no differences in the BEMA performance by degree program, but significant differences were found by academic level and gender. Retention did not depend on the degree course but on the academic level. Mean gain value by academic level, and gender was obtained and concluded that the best students presented the best gain results and that gain depends on the students' gender: males outperformed females in the BEMA tests, although there were no significant differences in the course grades. It is thus necessary to understand these differences and to implement measures in daily teaching work to improve women's performance.Authors would like to thank the Instituto de Ciencias de la Educacion (ICE) in the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for their help, through the Innovation and Educational Quality Program and for supporting the team of the Innovacion en Metodologias Activas para el Aprendizaje de la Fisica (e-MACAFI) . This work has been supported by the UPV through the Project of Innovation and Educational Improvement Program (Projects PIME/18-19/76, PIME/18-19/88 and PIME/20-21/220 Convocatoria de Proyectos de Innovacion y Convergencia de la UPV) .Serrano, M.; Vidaurre, A.; Meseguer-Dueñas, JM.; Tort-Ausina, I.; Quiles Casado, SDLS.; Sabater I Serra, R.; García-Sanchez, T.... (2023). Active methods in electricity and magnetism courses: Influence of degree, academic level and gender on student performance. Heliyon. 9(10):1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e2049011591