Dimethyl ether as a renewable fuel for diesel engines

ArticleThe area of automotive fuel, or fuel components, which can be produced from biomass also includes dimethyl ether, otherwise known as DME. The issue of the use of DME as a fuel is one which has been monitored until recently. Biomass can also be used as the raw material for the production of DME. DME has therefore replaced the previously-used CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), which are now banned for their role in dangerous levels of ozone depletion. With regard to its physical properties and combustion characteristics, it is currently expected that DME will soon apply significantly as a fuel in the municipal sector and in households, and as an alternative fuel for motor vehicles with diesel engines. DME is a suitable fuel for diesel engines and can be considered as one of the most promising diesel fuel replacements. DME is a suitable fuel for diesel engines mainly due to its low self-ignition temperature and good cetane figures. It is well miscible with most organic solvents and because the polar solvent is water-immiscible. The advantage is its high levels of purity, and its being free of sulphur, nitrogen, or metals. The physical properties of DME are very similar to the physical properties of LPG. DME requires relatively complex and costly fuel accessories, but the original compression ratio of the diesel engine is maintained. A diagram of the fuel system is illustrated in the paper. The paper analyses the dependence of vapour pressure on temperature, the dependence of the density on temperature, kinematic viscosity, the flash point, the boiling point, and the solubility of water. The objective is to evaluate this interesting energy source for applications in diesel engines

Multi-agent systems in industry: current trends & future challenges

This paper introduces the multi-agent systems paradigm and presents some industrial applications of this AI approach, namely in manufacturing, handling and logistics domains. The road-blockers for the current weak adoption of this technology in industry are also discussed, and finally the current trends and several future challenges are pointed out to increase the wider dissemination and acceptance of the multi-agent technology in industry

Multiagent Systems for Production Planning in Automation

Abstract. The production planning represents a key activity in the performance of the industry, reason why the necessity of applications that offer support to this activity, that allow to reach the goals of production with the maximum benefit. The proposal of this work is to develop a Multiagent Systems (MAS) for the Production Planning in Industrial Automation (specifically, in continuous processes). In addition, we present an application of our proposal in a process of petroleum production based on the Artificial Gas Lift Method

FIBRE CONCRETE 2011 APPLICATION OF FIBRE CONCRETE FOR THE BRIDGE OVER LOCHKOV VALLEY IN PRAGUE

Abstract The large continuous frame bridge on the motorway ring around Prague has composite steel and concrete box superstructure. The reinforced concrete deck slab has polypropylene micro-fibers admixture and taper-threaded splicing system for main longitudinal reinforcing bars in order to minimize cracking development

Response of spring barley cultivars to Ramularia leaf spot in conditions of the Czech Republic

The fungus Ramularia collo-cygni is increasingly important as the causal agent of Ramularia leaf spot (RLS). The work aimed to identify gene resources suitable for developing new breeding lines of spring barley with improved resistance. We tested 144 spring barley cultivars at 3 locations in the Czech Republic over 3 years (2009–2011). Only minor and statistically insignificant differences were observed between the individual cultivars in reaction to RLS. No cultivars were observed to have resistance to Ramularia collo-cygni, but significant influence of location and year on the intensity of RLS infection in barley was observed