Analysis of pelletizing of granulometric separation powder from cork industries

Las industrias del corcho generan una cantidad considerable de residuos sólidos durante su procesamiento. Su gestión implica un problema para las empresas que deben reconsiderar su reutilización para otros fines. En este trabajo se estudia el proceso de granulación de polvo de separación granulométrico, que es uno de los principales residuos de la industria del corcho y que presenta propiedades adecuadas (como materia prima) para su uso térmico. Sin embargo, su heterogeneidad característica, junto con su baja densidad aparente (lo que dificulta su almacenamiento y transporte) son factores restrictivos para su uso energético. Por lo tanto, su forma densificada es una alternativa real para hacer el producto uniforme y garantizar su uso adecuado en los sistemas de calderas. Por lo tanto, los gránulos de corcho (a partir de polvo de separación granulométrica) del estudio cumplieron, excepto las especificaciones de contenido de ceniza, las especificaciones de la norma europea estándar EN-Plus (B) para su aplicación como combustible para uso doméstico.Cork industries generate a considerable amount of solid waste during their processing. Its management implies a problem for companies that should reconsider its reuse for other purposes. In this work, an analysis of pelletizing of granulometric separation powder, which is one of the major wastes in cork industries and which presents suitable properties (as an raw material) for its thermal use, is studied. However, its characteristic heterogeneity, along with its low bulk density (which makes its storage and transportation difficult) are restrictive factors for its energy use. Therefore, its densified form is a real alternative in order to make the product uniform and guarantee its proper use in boiler systems. Thus, the cork pellets (from granulometric separation powder) in the study met, except for ash content specification, the specifications in standard European Norm EN-Plus (B) for its application as fuel for domestic use.• Gobierno de Extremadura, proyectos para la cooperación en sectores estratégicos entre grupos de investigación y empresas : PCJ100502 y PCJ100603 • Gobierno de Extremadura, apoyo a grupos de investigación : GR10151peerReviewe

Design and implementation of a data acquisition system for combustion tests

En los últimos años, el mercado de la biomasa ha aumentado constantemente. La industria de fabricación de pellets ha comenzado a buscar nuevos productos, como desechos de bosques, agricultura y residuos agroindustriales, entre otros, con el potencial de ser utilizados como biocombustibles. Sin embargo, algunos de estos desechos tienen algunas características que dificultan tanto el proceso de combustión como las condiciones de operación y mantenimiento de los equipos térmicos. Por lo tanto, se necesita más investigación para optimizar el rendimiento y garantizar el cumplimiento de los niveles atmosféricos máximos. Para llevar a cabo estos estudios, se llevó a cabo el diseño e implementación de un sistema de supervisión, control y adquisición de datos para una caldera de pellets doméstica, lo que hace posible obtener más información sobre el rendimiento de los biocombustibles no convencionales. Así, estos biocombustibles, provenientes de diferentes fuentes, se sometieron a diferentes regímenes de trabajo, facilitando la comprensión de los resultados y la corrección de los elementos limitantes. Los resultados de las pruebas iniciales fueron confiables y precisos, coincidiendo con las lecturas de verificación que se realizaron con un termómetro y un analizador de gases de combustión. Bajo estas condiciones, el sistema diseñado constituye una herramienta fundamental para examinar los procesos térmicos con biocombustibles alternativos, con el objetivo de aprovechar al máximo los diferentes desechos de biomasa como fuentes de energía renovables.In recent years, the biomass market has constantly increased. The pellet manufacture industry has started looking for new products, such as wastes from forest, agriculture, and agroindustrial residues, among others, with the potential to be used as biofuels. However, some of these wastes have some characteristics that make both the combustion process and operating and maintenance conditions of thermal equipment difficult. Thus, further research to optimize the performance and ensure the compliance of the maximum atmospheric levels is needed. In order to carry out these studies, the design and implementation of a supervision, control, and data acquisition system for a domestic pellet boiler was carried out, which makes obtaining further information about the performance of non-conventional biofuels possible. Thus, these biofuels, coming from different sources, underwent different working regimes, facilitating the understanding of the results and the correction of limiting elements. The results from initial tests were reliable and precise, coinciding with the check readings that were done with a thermometer and a combustion gas analyser. Under these conditions, the system designed constitutes a fundamental tool to examine thermal processes with alternative biofuels, with the objective of making the most of different biomass wastes as renewable energy sources.• Gobierno de Extremadura . Ayuda GR10151peerReviewe

Control of several emissions during olive pomace thermal degradation

La biomasa juega un papel importante como fuente de energía, siendo una alternativa interesante a los combustibles fósiles debido a sus características respetuosas con el medio ambiente y sostenibles. Sin embargo, debido a la exposición de los clientes a las emisiones durante el calentamiento de biomasa, los contaminantes evolucionados deben ser tenidos en cuenta y controlados. Cambiar las materias primas o mezclarlas con otra biomasa menos contaminante podría ser un paso adecuado para reducir la contaminación. En este trabajo se estudió el comportamiento térmico del orujo de oliva, roble pirenaico y sus mezclas en combustión mediante análisis termogravimétrico. Fue posible monitorear las emisiones liberadas durante el proceso mediante el análisis de espectrometría de masas. Los experimentos se llevaron a cabo en condiciones no isotérmicas en el intervalo de temperatura de 25-750 ° C y una velocidad de calentamiento de 20 ° C · min-1. Se analizaron las siguientes especies: compuestos aromáticos (benceno y tolueno), emisiones de azufre (dióxido de azufre), 1,4-dioxina, ácido clorhídrico, dióxido de carbono y óxidos de nitrógeno. Los resultados indicaron que los contaminantes se desarrollaron principalmente en dos etapas diferentes, que están relacionadas con las etapas de degradación térmica. Así, dependiendo de la composición del contaminante y de la materia prima, se observaron diferentes perfiles de emisión. Además, la intensidad de los perfiles de emisión se relacionó, en algunos casos, con la composición del precursor.Biomass plays an important role as an energy source, being an interesting alternative to fossil fuels due to its environment-friendly and sustainable characteristics. However, due to the exposure of customers to emissions during biomass heating, evolved pollutants should be taken into account and controlled. Changing raw materials or mixing them with another less pollutant biomass could be a suitable step to reduce pollution. This work studied the thermal behaviour of olive pomace, pyrenean oak and their blends under combustion using thermogravimetric analysis. It was possible to monitor the emissions released during the process by coupling mass spectrometry analysis. The experiments were carried out under non-isothermal conditions at the temperature range 25–750 °C and a heating rate of 20 °C·min−1. The following species were analysed: aromatic compounds (benzene and toluene), sulphur emissions (sulphur dioxide), 1,4-dioxin, hydrochloric acid, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. The results indicated that pollutants were mainly evolved in two different stages, which are related to the thermal degradation steps. Thus, depending on the pollutant and raw material composition, different emission profiles were observed. Furthermore, intensity of the emission profiles was related, in some cases, to the composition of the precursor.• Gobierno de Extremadura, proyectos para la cooperación en sectores estratégicos entre grupos de investigación y empresas : PCJ100502 y PCJ100603 • Gobierno de Extremadura, apoyo a grupos de investigación : GR10151peerReviewe

A review of pellets from different sources

El aumento en el consumo de pellets se ha traducido en una amplia variedad de materiales para la fabricación de pellets. Por lo tanto, la industria de pellets ha empezado a buscar productos alternativos, tales como desechos de actividades agrícolas, de silvicultura y de las industrias afines, junto con la combinación de los mismos, obteniendo una amplia gama de estos productos. Además, la entrada en vigor de la norma EN ISO 17225 en el mercado de pellets de madera hace (entre otros tipos) posible para la industria y el uso doméstico. Por lo tanto, los desechos que son adecuados para el uso de la biomasa han aumentado recientemente. En este estudio, se han analizado las principales características de pelotillas de diez clases, hechas en laboratorios a partir de diferentes materias primas. Así, nos hemos centrado en los factores limitantes de la mayoría de los estándares de calidad que determinan la idoneidad para el mercado de biomasa, dependiendo del tipo de sedimento. Los resultados mostraron diferencias considerables entre las pastillas analizadas, excediendo los límites establecidos por el estándar en casi todos los casos, especialmente en lo que se refiere a contenido de cenizas y N y S la composición. Los requisitos de la norma estudiada, muy exigentes en ciertos factores, desactivar la entrada de estos desechos densificado en mercados de mayor valor añadido.The rise in pellet consumption has resulted in a wider variety of materials for pellet manufacture. Thus, pellet industry has started looking for alternative products, such as wastes from agricultural activities, forestry and related industries, along with the combination thereof, obtaining a broad range of these products. In addition, the entry into force of EN ISO 17225 standard makes wood pellet market (among other types) possible for industry and household purposes. Therefore, wastes that are suitable for biomass use have recently increased. In this study, the main characteristics of ten kinds of laboratory-made pellets from different raw materials were analyzed. Thus, we have focused on the most limiting factors of quality standards that determine the suitability for biomass market, depending on the kind of pellet. The results showed considerable differences among the analyzed pellets, exceeding the limits established by the standard in almost all cases, especially concerning ash content and N and S composition. The requirements of the studied standard, very demanding for certain factors, disable the entry of these densified wastes in greater added value markets.• Gobierno de Extremadura. Proyectos PCJ100502 y PCJ100603 • Gobierno de Extremadura. Ayuda a grupos de investigación GR10151peerReviewe

Measurement of the W gamma Production Cross Section in Proton-Proton Collisions at root s=13 TeV and Constraints on Effective Field Theory Coefficients

A fiducial cross section for W gamma production in proton-proton collisions is measured at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 137 fb(-1) of data collected using the CMS detector at the LHC. The W -> e nu and mu nu decay modes are used in a maximum-likelihood fit to the lepton-photon invariant mass distribution to extract the combined cross section. The measured cross section is compared with theoretical expectations at next-to-leading order in quantum chromodynamics. In addition, 95% confidence level intervals are reported for anomalous triple-gauge couplings within the framework of effective field theory.Peer reviewe

Combined searches for the production of supersymmetric top quark partners in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

A combination of searches for top squark pair production using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb(-1) collected by the CMS experiment, is presented. Signatures with at least 2 jets and large missing transverse momentum are categorized into events with 0, 1, or 2 leptons. New results for regions of parameter space where the kinematical properties of top squark pair production and top quark pair production are very similar are presented. Depending on themodel, the combined result excludes a top squarkmass up to 1325 GeV for amassless neutralino, and a neutralinomass up to 700 GeV for a top squarkmass of 1150 GeV. Top squarks with masses from 145 to 295 GeV, for neutralino masses from 0 to 100 GeV, with a mass difference between the top squark and the neutralino in a window of 30 GeV around the mass of the top quark, are excluded for the first time with CMS data. The results of theses searches are also interpreted in an alternative signal model of dark matter production via a spin-0 mediator in association with a top quark pair. Upper limits are set on the cross section for mediator particle masses of up to 420 GeV

Performance of the CMS muon trigger system in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV

The muon trigger system of the CMS experiment uses a combination of hardware and software to identify events containing a muon. During Run 2 (covering 2015-2018) the LHC achieved instantaneous luminosities as high as 2 × 10 cm s while delivering proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV. The challenge for the trigger system of the CMS experiment is to reduce the registered event rate from about 40 MHz to about 1 kHz. Significant improvements important for the success of the CMS physics program have been made to the muon trigger system via improved muon reconstruction and identification algorithms since the end of Run 1 and throughout the Run 2 data-taking period. The new algorithms maintain the acceptance of the muon triggers at the same or even lower rate throughout the data-taking period despite the increasing number of additional proton-proton interactions in each LHC bunch crossing. In this paper, the algorithms used in 2015 and 2016 and their improvements throughout 2017 and 2018 are described. Measurements of the CMS muon trigger performance for this data-taking period are presented, including efficiencies, transverse momentum resolution, trigger rates, and the purity of the selected muon sample. This paper focuses on the single- and double-muon triggers with the lowest sustainable transverse momentum thresholds used by CMS. The efficiency is measured in a transverse momentum range from 8 to several hundred GeV

Measurements of Higgs boson production cross sections and couplings in the diphoton decay channel at root s=13 TeV

Measurements of Higgs boson production cross sections and couplings in events where the Higgs boson decays into a pair of photons are reported. Events are selected from a sample of proton-proton collisions at root s = 13TeV collected by the CMS detector at the LHC from 2016 to 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb(-1). Analysis categories enriched in Higgs boson events produced via gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, vector boson associated production, and production associated with top quarks are constructed. The total Higgs boson signal strength, relative to the standard model (SM) prediction, is measured to be 1.12 +/- 0.09. Other properties of the Higgs boson are measured, including SM signal strength modifiers, production cross sections, and its couplings to other particles. These include the most precise measurements of gluon fusion and vector boson fusion Higgs boson production in several different kinematic regions, the first measurement of Higgs boson production in association with a top quark pair in five regions of the Higgs boson transverse momentum, and an upper limit on the rate of Higgs boson production in association with a single top quark. All results are found to be in agreement with the SM expectations.Peer reviewe

Search for long-lived particles decaying to jets with displaced vertices in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 Te V

A search is presented for long-lived particles produced in pairs in proton-proton collisions at the LHC operating at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data were collected with the CMS detector during the period from 2015 through 2018, and correspond to a total integrated luminosity of 140 fb(-1). This search targets pairs of long-lived particles with mean proper decay lengths between 0.1 and 100 mm, each of which decays into at least two quarks that hadronize to jets, resulting in a final state with two displaced vertices. No significant excess of events with two displaced vertices is observed. In the context of R-parity violating supersymmetry models, the pair production of long-lived neutralinos, gluinos, and top squarks is excluded at 95% confidence level for cross sections larger than 0.08 fb, masses between 800 and 3000 GeV, and mean proper decay lengths between 1 and 25 mm.Peer reviewe