Determination of the optimal air-fuel ratio for upgraded biogas engine operation

The paper reveals a study about air-fuel ratio variation of spark-ignition engine running on upgraded biogas (biomethane). Using biogas as internal combustion engine fuel and external mixture formation is a new approach to decrease harmful exhaust gas emissions. Тo obtain minimum concentrations of exhaust gases harmful emissions the engine must work with optimal air-fuel ratio. This research contains analysis of many test engine adjusting characteristics to determine optimal air-fuel ratio for each working regime and to obtain maximum effective working process by the use of biomethane as a fuel. Three-dimensional graphics of air-fuel ratio variation across the rpm and load range were made. In conclusion based on performed experiments, a table with values of air-fuel ratio for all engine operating modes and dependence on rpm and load of the engine is proposed

Energy flow analysis based on a simulated drive of a hybrid locomotive powered by fuel cells

Implementation of hybrid drives in rail vehicles is a solution aimed at limiting the negative environmental impact of transport. The use of fuel cell systems is a contemporary trend in the development of locomotives. The paper presents an energy flow analysis in a hybrid locomotive powered using fuel cells. The parallel hybrid drive system consisted of fuel cells, batteries and an electric motor. The simulations and analyzes were performed with the use of AVL Cruise M software. A simulated route, with a length of approximately 300 km, was used as basis for the analysis, taking into account a typical speed profile of a locomotive in passenger traffic. The energy flow and consumption values were estimated, and mean hydrogen consumption values were determined

Optimization of biogas composition in experimental studies

The article is focused on the potential and application of biogas, as an alternative fuel from Renewable Energy Sources, for use mainly in gas-generator stations. Biogas fuel is basically a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide. Its composition depends on the type of raw material used for its production. Methane concentration in biogas is between 50÷80%. To be possible engine to work with maximum efficiency with different biogas fuels, it is necessary to modify specific adjustment parameters depending on the concentration of methane in the mixture. This requires the creation of a biogas simulation system for different concentrations of the main components. The aim is to investigate and determine the optimum and permissible biofuel blend concentrations and their impact on engine performance and fuel consumption. Biogas can be used as a fuel to produce electricity, heat or steam or as fuel for internal combustion engine, and its use will help to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere

The vehicle driver safety prediction system

The article presents analysis of road crash accidents. It presents the evolution of safety systems, starting from a description of the curently used vehicle-based systems, with particular emphasis on the prediction of the driver falling asleep. The article also proposes a proprietary system of sleep prediction based on the face detection of drivers. The detection of facial landmarks is presented as a two-step process: an algorithm finds faces in general, and then needs to localize key facial structures within the face region of interest. The article presents the operation of the algorithm to detect driver falling asleep; method of detection and analysis

Archimedes for BSS(S) Final report

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:3425.929(ESA-CR-(P)--3236) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Production potential of biodiesel, methane and electricity in the largest steamed rice industry in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: case study

The potential for energy production from effluents and husks generated in grain processing in the rice parboiling industries in Brazil is capable of promoting energy self-sufficiency in the sector, through the production and use of syngas and biogas. However, the production of methane from residues of the rice parboiling industries is still little explored by academic studies, in general studies on the potential of methane production by this same type of effluent are found in the south of the country, however, the same is not true for the production of biodiesel from rice bran oil. The objective of this study was to determine the production potential of biodiesel, methane and electric energy of the largest parboiled rice industry in Rio Grande do Sul, located in the southern region of the country. According to this study, the rice parboiling industry located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has a production potential of 1.2-10² m³ /day of biodiesel, 2.93-10 Nm³ /day of methane and 1.89-10⁴ kWh/day of electricity. Despite being a significant and high potential, which may reduce the financial expenses of the industry regarding the purchase of energy from concessionaires, it is not able to promote its energy self-sufficiency. At the same time, it would be necessary to add the energy production potential of the rice husk gasification syngas highlighted in other studiem

Production potential of biodiesel, methane and electricity in the largest steamed rice industry in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: case study

The potential for energy production from effluents and husks generated in grain processing in the rice parboiling industries in Brazil is capable of promoting energy self-sufficiency in the sector, through the production and use of syngas and biogas. However, the production of methane from residues of the rice parboiling industries is still little explored by academic studies, in general studies on the potential of methane production by this same type of effluent are found in the south of the country, however, the same is not true for the production of biodiesel from rice bran oil. The objective of this study was to determine the production potential of biodiesel, methane and electric energy of the largest parboiled rice industry in Rio Grande do Sul, located in the southern region of the country. According to this study, the rice parboiling industry located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has a production potential of 1.2-10² m³ /day of biodiesel, 2.93-10 Nm³ /day of methane and 1.89-10⁴ kWh/day of electricity. Despite being a significant and high potential, which may reduce the financial expenses of the industry regarding the purchase of energy from concessionaires, it is not able to promote its energy self-sufficiency. At the same time, it would be necessary to add the energy production potential of the rice husk gasification syngas highlighted in other studiem

Building an antifouling zwitterionic coating on urinary catheters using an enzymatically triggered bottom-up approach

Catheter associated urinary tract infections are common during hospitalization due to the formation of bacterial biofilms on the indwelling device. In this study, we report an innovative biotechnology-based approach for the covalent functionalization of silicone catheters with antifouling zwitterionic moieties to prevent biofilm formation. Our approach combines the potential bioactivity of a natural phenolics layer biocatalytically conjugated to sulfobetaine-acrylic residues in an enzymatically initiated surface radical polymerization with laccase. To ensure sufficient coating stability in urine, the silicone catheter is plasma-activated. In contrast to industrial chemical methods, the methacrylate-containing zwitterionic monomers are polymerized at pH 5 and 50 °C using as an initiator the phenoxy radicals solely generated by laccase on the phenolics-coated catheter surface. The coated catheters are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and colorimetrically. Contact angle and protein adsorption measurements, coupled with in vitro tests with the Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus in static and dynamic conditions, mimicking the operational conditions to be faced by the catheters, demonstrate reduced biofilm formation by about 80% when compared to that of unmodified urinary catheters. The zwitterionic coating did not affect the viability of the human fibroblasts (BJ-5ta) over seven days, corresponding to the extended useful life of urinary catheters.Peer Reviewe

Building an Antifouling Zwitterionic Coating on Urinary Catheters Using an Enzymatically Triggered Bottom-Up Approach

Catheter associated urinary tract infections are common during hospitalization due to the formation of bacterial biofilms on the indwelling device. In this study, we report an innovative biotechnology-based approach for the covalent functionalization of silicone catheters with antifouling zwitterionic moieties to prevent biofilm formation. Our approach combines the potential bioactivity of a natural phenolics layer biocatalytically conjugated to sulfobetaine-acrylic residues in an enzymatically initiated surface radical polymerization with laccase. To ensure sufficient coating stability in urine, the silicone catheter is plasma-activated. In contrast to industrial chemical methods, the methacrylate-containing zwitterionic monomers are polymerized at pH 5 and 50 °C using as an initiator the phenoxy radicals solely generated by laccase on the phenolics-coated catheter surface. The coated catheters are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and colorimetrically. Contact angle and protein adsorption measurements, coupled with in vitro tests with the Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus in static and dynamic conditions, mimicking the operational conditions to be faced by the catheters, demonstrate reduced biofilm formation by about 80% when compared to that of unmodified urinary catheters. The zwitterionic coating did not affect the viability of the human fibroblasts (BJ-5ta) over seven days, corresponding to the extended useful life of urinary catheters

Phase-plate cryo-EM structure of the Widom 601 CENP-A nucleosome core particle reveals differential flexibility of the DNA ends

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