Experimental validation of a bearing wear model using the directional response of the rotor-bearing system

The present work gives continuity in the analysis of the wear influence on cylindrical hydrodynamic bearings by presenting an experimental validation of the wear model previously proposed by the authors. This validation is carried on using the frequency response of the rotor-bearings system in directional coordinates. For this purpose, a test rig was assembled in order to evaluate the behavior of the rotating system when supported by hydrodynamic bearings with different wear patterns. The experimental measurements are used to validate the wear model, comparing the anisotropy influence on the experimental and numerical responses. The simulated directional frequency responses showed a good agreement with the experimental ones, demonstrating the potential of the proposed wear model in satisfactorily represent its influence on the rotor-bearings system response in the frequency range where the numerical model was validated884CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPNão temNão temNão te

Evaluation of the Thermal Effects in Tilting Pad Bearing

The analysis of thermal effects is of expressive importance in the context of rotordynamics to evaluate the behavior of hydrodynamic bearings because these effects can influence their dynamic characteristics under specific operational conditions. For this reason, a thermohydrodynamic model is developed in this work, in which the pressure distribution in the oil film and the temperature distribution are calculated together. From the pressure distribution, the velocity distribution field is determined, as well as the viscous dissipation, and consequently, the temperature distribution. The finite volume method is applied to solve the Reynolds equation and the energy equation in the thermohydrodynamic model (THD). The results show that the temperature is higher as the rotational speed increases due to the shear rate of the oil film. The maximum temperature in the bearing occurs in the overloaded pad, near the outlet boundary. The experimental tests were performed in a tilting pad journal bearing operating in a steam turbine to validate the model. The comparison between the experimental and numerical results provides a good correlation. The thermohydrodynamic lubrication developed in this assignment is promising to consistently evaluate the behavior of the tilting pad journal bearing operating in relatively high rotational speeds

A comparison of flexible coupling models for updating in rotating machinery response

This paper analyzes the effects of the mathematical models of flexible couplings in rotating mechanical systems in terms of their vibrational behavior. The residual unbalance of the coupled shafts is considered to be the main source of vibration in the rotating system. The moments and the frequencies of the forces, which result from these effects, are close to the natural frequencies of the mechanical system. Since the coupling is considered to be a flexible component in the power transmission system, it introduces a certain amount of mass, damping and stiffness to the system, influencing its natural frequencies. The present work shows the modeling of a mechanical rotor-bearing-coupling system, through the finite element method, used in this case to analyze the transverse vibrations of the system. Different modeling techniques were taken into account for this purpose. Such models are recommended for flexible couplings to analyze their influence on the natural frequencies of the system and on the unbalance response of the system. Afterwards, a model updating was carried out to fit the coupling stiffness and damping coefficients, using the minimum quadratic technique. Some sensitivity of the proposed models was observed in relation to the coupling parameters.235246Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Influence of water management on the active root-associated microbiota involved in arsenic, iron and sulfur cycles in rice paddies

In recent years, the role of microorganisms inhabiting rice rhizosphere in promoting arsenic contamination has emerged. However, little is known concerning the species and metabolic properties involved in this phenomenon. In this study, the influence of water management on the rhizosphere microbiota in relation to arsenic dissolution in soil solution was tested. Rice plants were cultivated in macrocosms under different water regimes: continuous flooding, continuous flooding with a 2 weeks-period drainage before flowering and dry soil watered every 10 days. The active bacterial communities in rhizosphere soil and in rhizoplane were characterized by 16S rRNA pyrosequencing. An in-depth analysis of microbial taxa with direct or indirect effects on arsenic speciation was performed and related contribution was evaluated. Continuous flooding promoted high diversity in the rhizosphere, with the plant strongly determining species richness and evenness. On the contrary, under watering the communities were uniform, with little differences between rhizosphere soil and rhizoplane. Arsenic-releasing and arsenite-methylating bacteria were selected by continuous flooding, where they represented 8 % of the total. On the contrary, bacteria decreasing arsenic solubility were more abundant under watering, with relative abundance of 10 %. These values reflected arsenic concentrations in soil solution, respectively 135 \ub5g L-1 and negligible in continuous flooding and under watering. When short-term drainage was applied before flowering, intermediate conditions were achieved. This evidence strongly indicates an active role of the rhizosphere microbiota in driving arsenic biogeochemistry in rice paddies, influenced by water management, explaining amounts and speciation of arsenic often found in rice grains

Effectiveness of various sorbents and biological oxidation in the removal of arsenic species from groundwater

The AsIII and AsV adsorption capacity of biochar, chabazite, ferritin-based material, goethite and nano zerovalent iron was evaluated in artificial systems at autoequilibrium pH (i.e. MilliQ water without adjusting the pH) and at approximately neutral pH (i.e. TRIS-HCl, pH 7.2). At autoequilibrium pH, iron-based sorbents removed 200 ug L-1 As highly efficiently whereas biochar and chabazite were ineffective. At approximately neutral pH, sorbents were capable of removing between 17 and 100% of AsIII and between 3 and 100% of AsV in the following order: biochar,chabazite,ferritin-based material,goethite,nano zero-valent iron. Chabazite, ferritin-based material and nano zero-valent iron oxidised AsIII to AsV and ferritin-based material was able to reduce AsV to AsIII. When tested in naturally As-contaminated groundwater, a marked decrease in the removal effectiveness occurred, due to possible competition with phosphate and manganese. A biological oxidation step was then introduced in a one-phase process (AsIII bio-oxidation in conjunction with AsV adsorption) and in a two-phase process (AsIII bio-oxidation followed by AsV adsorption). Arsenite oxidation was performed by resting cells of Aliihoeflea sp. strain 2WW, and arsenic adsorption by goethite. The one-phase process decreased As in groundwater to 85 %, whereas the two-phase process removed up to 95%As, leaving in solution 6 ugL-1 As, thus meeting the World Health Organization limit (10 ug L-1). These results can be used in the scaling up of a twophase treatment, with bacterial oxidation of As combined to goethite adsorption

A study of microbial communities on terracotta separator and on biocathode of air breathing microbial fuel cells

Recently, terracotta has attracted interest as low-cost and biocompatible material to build separators in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, the influence of a non-conductive material like terracotta on electroactive microbiological communities remains substantially unexplored. This study aims at describing the microbial pools developed from two different seed inocula (bovine and swine sewage) in terracotta-based air-breathing MFC. A statistical approach on microbiological data confirmed different community enrichment in the MFCs, depending mainly on the inoculum. Terracotta separators impeded the growth of electroactive communities in contact with cathodes (biocathodes), while a thick biofilm was observed on the surface (anolyte-side) of the terracotta separator. Terracotta-free MFCs, set as control experiments, showed a well-developed biocathode, Biocathode-MFCs resulted in 4 to 6-fold higher power densities. All biofilms were analyzed by high-throughput Illumina sequencing applied to 16S rRNA gene. The results showed more abundant (3- to 5-fold) electroactive genera (mainly Geobacter, Pseudomonas, Desulfuromonas and Clostridia MBA03) in terracotta-free biocathodes. Nevertheless, terracotta separators induced only slight changes in anodic microbial communities

Bioelectrochemical Nitrogen fixation (e-BNF): Electro-stimulation of enriched biofilm communities drives autotrophic nitrogen and carbon fixation

A new approach to microbial electrosynthesis is proposed, aimed at producing whole biomass from N2 and inorganic carbon, by electrostimulation of complex microbial communities. On a carbon-based conductor under constant polarization ( 120.7\u202fV vs SHE), an electroactive biofilm was enriched with autotrophic nitrogen fixing microorganims and led to biomass synthesis at higher amounts (up to 18 fold), as compared to controls kept at open circuit (OC). After 110\u202fdays, the electron transfer had increased by 30-fold, as compared to abiotic conditions. Metagenomics evidenced Nif genes associated with autotrophs (both Archaea and Bacteria) only in polarized biofilms, but not in OC. With this first proof of concept experiment, we propose to call this promising field \u2018bioelectrochemical nitrogen fixation\u2019 (e-BNF): a possible way to \u2018power\u2019 biological nitrogen fixation, organic carbon storage and soil fertility against desertification, and possibly a new tool to study the development of early prokaryotic life in extreme environments

Characterization of As(III) oxidizing Achromobacter sp. strain N2 : effects on arsenic toxicity and translocation in rice

Achromobacter sp. strain N2 was isolated from a pyrite-cinder-contaminated soil and presented plant growth promoting traits (ACC deaminase activity, production of indole-3-acetic and jasmonic acids, siderophores secretion, and phosphate solubilization) and arsenic transformation abilities. Achromobacter sp. strain N2 was resistant to different metals and metalloids, including arsenate (100 mM) and arsenite (5 mM). The strain was resistant to ionic stressors (i.e., arsenate and NaCl), whereas bacterial growth was impaired by osmotic stress. Strain N2 was able to oxidize 1.0 mmol L-1 of arsenite to arsenate in 72 h. This evidence was supported by the retrieval of an arsenite oxidase AioA gene highly homologous to arsenite oxidases of Achromobacter and Alcaligenes species. Rice seeds of Oryza sativa (var. Loto) were bio-primed with ACCD-induced and non-induced cells in order to evaluate the effect of inoculation on rice seedlings growth and arsenic uptake. The bacterization with ACCD-induced cells significantly improved seed germination and seedling heights if compared with the seeds inoculated with non-induced cells and non-primed seeds. Enhanced arsenic uptake was evidenced in the presence of ACCD-induced cells, suggesting a role of ACCD activity on the mitigation of the toxicity of arsenic accumulated by the plant. This kind of responses should be taken into account when proposing PGP strains for improving plant growth in arsenic-rich soils

Arsenic resistant bacteria isolated from agricultural soils of Bangladesh and characterization of arsenate reducing strains

Aims: To analyse the arsenic-resistant bacterial communities of two agricultural soils of Bangladesh, to isolate arsenic-resistant bacteria, to study their potential role in arsenic transformation and to investigate the genetic determinants for arsenic resistance among the isolates. Methods and Results: Enrichment cultures were performed in a minimal medium in the presence of As(III) and As(V) to isolate resistant bacteria. Twenty-one arsenic-resistant bacteria belonging to different genera of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were isolated. The isolates, with the exception of Oceanimonas doudoroffii Dhal Rw, reduced 2 mmol l 121 As(V) completely to As(III) in aerobic conditions. Putative gene fragments for arsenite efflux pumps were amplified in isolates from Dhal soil and a putative arsenate reductase gene fragment was amplified from a Bacillus sp. from Rice soil. Conclusions: Phylogenetically diverse arsenic-resistant bacteria present in agricultural soils of Bangladesh are capable of reducing arsenate to arsenite under aerobic conditions apparently for detoxification purpose. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study provides results on identification, levels of arsenic resistance and reduction of arsenate by the bacterial isolates which could play an important role in arsenic cycling in the two arsenic-contaminated soils in Bangladesh