Simulation of fuel particles motion in a 2D fluidized bed using a hybrid-model considering wall friction

The mixing of fuel particles is a key issue on the performance of fluidized bed reactors. In this work, the motion of a non-reactive fuel particle in a 2D bubbling fluidized bed at ambient conditions is simulated employing a hybrid-model. The hybrid-model, implemented in the code MFIX, simulates the dense and gas phases using a Two-Fluid Model (TFM) while the fuel particles are modeled using a Discrete Element Method (DEM). The importance of the present hybrid-model is that the interaction of the continuum phases with the fuel particles behavior is fully coupled. In a previous study, Hernández-Jiménez et al. (1) compared the fuel particles motion obtained from the simulation with experimental results measured in a cold 2D fluidized bed by Soria-Verdugo et al. (2, 3). The simulation results related to the location of the fuel particle in the bed were similar to the experimental data (Figure-1). Nevertheless, some discrepancies were found in important parameters such as the circulation time of the fuel particles. These discrepancies were associated to the overprediction of the simulated solids velocity. In the present work, in order to improve the accuracy of the simulated fuel particle motion in a bubbling fluidized bed, a friction term accounting for the effect of the walls of the bed on the continuum solid phase is introduced in the hybrid-model, as proposed by Hernández-Jiménez et al. (4). According to the results, prediction of the fuel circulation time is clearly improved when the friction term is included in the simulation (Figure-2). REFERENCES Hernández-Jiménez F. , Garcia-Gutierrez L.M., Soria-Verdugo A., Acosta-Iborra A. 2015. Fully coupled TFM-DEM simulations to study the motion of fuel particles in a fluidized bed, Chem. Eng. Sci.,134, 29, 57-66. Soria-Verdugo, A., Garcia-Gutierrez, L.M., Sánchez-Delgado, S., Ruiz-Rivas,U., 2011a. Circulation of an object immersed in a bubbling fluidized bed. Chem. Eng. Sci. 66, 78–87. Soria-Verdugo, A., Garcia-Gutierrez, L.M., García-Hernando, N., Ruiz-Rivas, U., 2011b. Buoyancy effects on objects moving in a bubbling fluidized bed. Chem. Eng. Sci.66, 2833–2841. Hernández-Jiménez, F., Cano-Pleite, E., Sánchez-Prieto, J., Garcia-Gutierrez, L.M., Acosta-Iborra, A. Development of an empirical wall-friction model for 2D simulations of pseudo-2D fluidized beds. Submitted for publication. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Applied Radiation and Isotopes Monte Carlo Verification of Output Correction Factors for a TrueBeam STx linac

The recent publication of the new code of practice IEAA/AAPM TRS-483 introduces the use of output correction factors to correct the changes in detector response in relative dosimetry of small photon beams. In TRS-483, average correction factors are reported for several detectors at 6 and 10 MV with and without attening. These correction factors were determined by Monte Carlo simulation or experimental measurements using several linacs of di erent brands and vendors. The goal of this work was to validate the output correction factors reported in TRS-483 for a 6 MV (with and without attening lter) of a TrueBeam STx® linac with Monte Carlo simulation for four radiation detectors employed in the dosimetry of small photon beams and whose output correction factors were determined using di erent radiation source than TrueBeam STx®: PTW®31010, PTW®31016, IBA®CC-01, and IBA®SFD. The results show that Monte Carlo calculated output factors, and those reported in the code of practice TRS-483 fully agree within 1%. The use of generic correction factors for a TrueBeam STx® and the detectors studied in this work is adequate for small dosimetry static beams within the uncertainties of Monte Carlo calculations and output correction factors reported in TRS-483. Key words: TRS-483, Monte Carlo simulation, output correction factors, detector model, Phase Space File, Latent Varianc

"Applications of Intelligent Systems in Tourism: Relevant Methods"

"This article presents a literature review of Intelligent Systems applications in Tourism in different parts of the world. The review focuses on the most relevant methods in free and paid databases, in English and Spanish. Most of the works deal with methodologies based on artificial intelligence, such as expert systems, fuzzy logic, machine learning, data mining, neural networks, genetic algorithms. In the review, several characteristics of the systems have been taken into account, such as, knowledge base, actors in the operation of the system, types of tourists, usefulness or not in space and time. According to the review it was found that most of the researches are deterministic models, the most used methodology in tourism are the expert systems based on rules, observing an emerging innovation in metaheuristics, mainly genetic algorithms and intelligent systems with knowledge base based on optimization methods for route choice or optimal visit plan. It is expected that this work serves to give a general perspective on the application of intelligent systems in the area of tourism, as well as a work that consolidates background for work in this area of research.

Recent Overview of Solar Photocatalysis and Solar Photo-Fenton Processes for Wastewater Treatment

This literature research, although not exhaustive, gives perspective to solar-driven photocatalysis, such as solar photo-Fenton and TiO2 solar photocatalysis, reported in the literature for the degradation of aqueous organic pollutants. Parameters that influence the degradation and mineralization of organics like catalyst preparation, type and load of catalyst, catalyst phase, pH, applied potential, and type of organic pollutant are addressed. Such parameters may also affect the photoactivity of the catalysts used in the studied solar processes. Solar irradiation is a renewable, abundant, and pollution-free energy source for low-cost commercial applications. Therefore, these solar processes represent an environmentally friendly alternative mainly because the use of electricity can be decreased/avoided

Cost-effectiveness of introducing a rotavirus vaccine in developing countries: The case of Mexico

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In developing countries rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea and diarrhoeal deaths in children under 5. Vaccination could greatly alleviate that burden, but in Mexico as in most low- and middle-income countries the decision to add rotavirus vaccine to the national immunisation program will depend heavily on its cost-effectiveness and affordability. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of including the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine in Mexico's national immunisation program.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cost-effectiveness model was developed from the perspective of the health system, modelling the vaccination of a hypothetical birth cohort of 2 million children monitored from birth through 60 months of age. It compares the cost and disease burden of rotavirus in an unvaccinated cohort of children with one vaccinated as recommended at 2, 4, and 6 months.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Including the pentavalent vaccine in the national immunisation program could prevent 71,464 medical visits (59%), 5,040 hospital admissions (66%), and 612 deaths from rotavirus gastroenteritis (70%). At US$10 per dose and a cost of administration of US$13.70 per 3-dose regimen, vaccination would cost US$122,058 per death prevented, US$4,383 per discounted life-year saved, at a total net cost of US$74.7 million dollars to the health care system. Key variables influencing the results were, in order of importance, case fatality, vaccine price, vaccine efficacy, serotype prevalence, and annual loss of efficacy. The results are also very sensitive to the discount rate assumed when calculated per life-year saved.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>At prices below US$15 per dose, the cost per life-year saved is estimated to be lower than one GNP per capita and hence highly cost effective by the WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health criteria. The cost-effectiveness estimates are highly dependent upon the mortality in the absence of the vaccine, which suggests that the vaccine is likely to be significantly more cost-effective among poorer populations and among those with less access to prompt medical care – such that poverty reduction programs would be expected to reduce the future cost-effectiveness of the vaccine.</p

Modeling the series of (n x 2) Si-rich reconstructions of beta-SiC(001): a prospective atomic wire?

We perform ab initio plane wave supercell density functional calculations on three candidate models of the (3 x 2) reconstruction of the beta-SiC(001) surface. We find that the two-adlayer asymmetric-dimer model (TAADM) is unambiguously favored for all reasonable values of Si chemical potential. We then use structures derived from the TAADM parent to model the silicon lines that are observed when the (3 x 2) reconstruction is annealed (the (n x 2) series of reconstructions), using a tight-binding method. We find that as we increase n, and so separate the lines, a structural transition occurs in which the top addimer of the line flattens. We also find that associated with the separation of the lines is a large decrease in the HOMO-LUMO gap, and that the HOMO state becomes quasi-one-dimensional. These properties are qualititatively and quantitatively different from the electronic properties of the original (3 x 2) reconstruction.Comment: 22 pages, including 6 EPS figure

Synbiotic therapy decreases microbial translocation and inflammation and improves immunological status in HIV-infected patients: a double-blind randomized controlled pilot trial

BACKGROUND: HIV-infection results in damage and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal system. HIV enteropathy includes pronounced CD4+ T-cell loss, increased intestinal permeability, and microbial translocation that promotes systemic immune activation, which is implicated in disease progression. A synbiotic is the combination of probiotics and prebiotics that could improve gut barrier function. Our study goal was to determine whether the use of a synbiotic, probiotics or a prebiotic can recover immunological parameters in HIV-infected subjects through of a reduction of microbial translocation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind controlled study was performed; twenty Antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-infected subjects were subgrouped and assigned to receive a synbiotic, probiotics, a prebiotic, or a placebo throughout 16 weeks. RESULTS: We had no reports of serious adverse-events. From baseline to week 16, the synbiotic group showed a reduction in bacterial DNA concentrations in plasma (p = 0.048). Moreover, the probiotic and synbiotic groups demonstrated a decrease in total bacterial load in feces (p = 0.05). The probiotic group exhibited a significant increment of beneficial bacteria load (such as Bifidobacterium; p = 0.05) and a decrease in harmful bacteria load (such as Clostridium; p = 0.063). In the synbiotic group, the CD4+ T-cells count increased (median: +102 cells/μL; p = 0.05) and the level of Interleukin 6 cytokine decreased significantly (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a significant increase in CD4+ T lymphocyte levels in the synbiotic group, which could delay the initiation of antiretroviral therapy and decrease costs in countries with limited resources

Compilation of parameterized seismogenic sources in Iberia for the SHARE European-scale seismic source model.

Abstract: SHARE (Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe) is an EC-funded project (FP7) that aims to evaluate European seismic hazards using an integrated, standardized approach. In the context of SHARE, we are compiling a fully-parameterized active fault database for Iberia and the nearby offshore region. The principal goal of this initiative is for fault sources in the Iberian region to be represented in SHARE and incorporated into the source model that will be used to produce seismic hazard maps at the European scale. The SHARE project relies heavily on input from many regional experts throughout the Euro-Mediterranean region. At the SHARE regional meeting for Iberia, the 2010 Working Group on Iberian Seismogenic Sources (WGISS) was established; these researchers are contributing to this large effort by providing their data to the Iberian regional integrators in a standardized format. The development of the SHARE Iberian active fault database is occurring in parallel with IBERFAULT, another ongoing effort to compile a database of active faults in the Iberian region. The SHARE Iberian active fault database synthesizes a wide range of geological and geophysical observations on active seismogenic sources, and incorporates existing compilations (e.g., Cabral, 1995; Silva et al., 2008), original data contributed directly from researchers, data compiled from the literature, parameters estimated using empirical and analytical relationships, and, where necessary, parameters derived using expert judgment. The Iberian seismogenic source model derived for SHARE will be the first regional-scale source model for Iberia that includes fault data and follows an internationally standardized approach (Basili et al., 2008; 2009). This model can be used in both seismic hazard and risk analyses and will be appropriate for use in Iberian- and European-scale assessments