Subterranean photobioreactors for commercial-industrial scale algal culture

There are many potential benefits to the mining industry accruing from the application of algal biotechnology. The main benefits are in the production of biodiesel and in the remediation of mining brownfields. The research in this study was centered in the original idea that these brownfields represent a tremendous opportunity for use as a hybrid model for redevelopment into sustainable mines of biomass. The ability of these underground spaces serving as bioreactors to control all aspects of the growing environment, from lighting, to temperature, to biosecurity, are key advantages that have been identified in the literature. The many benefits inherent in sequestering the growth of phototrophic, halotolerant, eukaryotic, green microalgae within underground mining spaces mitigates many of the recognized shortcomings of current commercial-industrial models for algae culture. The singular challenge to the entire model was the effective production of light energy and fostering maximum photosynthetic efficiency within the microalgae. As a result, the focus on the experimental laboratory work concentrated on the development of tools and techniques for evaluation of different lighting regimes with an algae species chosen from a family with an industrial-commercial pedigree. The fundamental experimental work with the microalgae Dunaliella viridis revealed a novel and unforeseen aspect of experiments with monochromatic light sources. The results demonstrated surprising and potentially beneficial morphology changes as a result of the lighting treatments. Capitalization on these benefits in the proposed hybrid model were then examined in a collection of proposed future experiments, sustainability analysis, and fundamental economic analysis --Abstract, page iii

Evaluation of solid oxide fuel cell systems for electricity generation

Air blown (low BTU) gasification with atmospheric pressure Solid Electrolyte Fuel Cells (SOFC) and Rankine bottoming cycle, oxygen blown (medium BTU) gasification with atmospheric pressure SOFC and Rankine bottoming cycle, air blown gasification with pressurized SOFC and combined Brayton/Rankine bottoming cycle, oxygen blown gasification with pressurized SOFC and combined Brayton/Rankine bottoming cycle were evaluated

The Use of Modulated Light to Enhance Oil Production from Algae in an Underground Environment [abstract]

Only abstract of poster available.Track II: Transportation and BiofuelsThe production of bio-fuel from algae is one of the few remaining potential sustainable resources that continue to show considerable potential for fuel production (the others include cellulosic ethanol, sugar cane ethanol, and biodiesel from jatropha and the oil palm). However the need for large areas for production and the low areal yield make the costs of surface structures prohibitive to the commercial development of algae as a biodiesel source of sufficient size to have a significant impact on the international need for liquid fuel. Through the use of abandoned portions of existing mines a productive volume is created that has no impact on the controversies over “food or fuel” and which has the additional benefit of the existing third dimension in the mine which allows an increase in areal yield of as much as 60-fold. This space has already been created, and has the advantage of remaining at a constant, and optimal growing, temperature all year with minimal cost. The presence of existing infrastructure, including walls, means that construction costs are also minimized. The darkness of the mine can be overcome by transmitting in light, and distributing it throughout the bioreactor using an array of LEDs. While there is some loss in conversion, there is also an advantage, since it has been shown that by modulating light (flashing it on and off) the yield of algae can be increased an additional eight-fold. In this way the additional cost of providing that light can be overcome, particularly since, with the use of suitable LEDs the light can be distributed only in the wavelengths (450 - 650 nm) that is the range most productively used by the algae. The process has the advantage of capturing carbon dioxide, and reusing it, rather than immediately discharging it into the atmosphere, if the algae are fed with power plant flue gases (which are often conveniently located near mining operations)

Design and evaluation of fluidized bed heat recovery for diesel engine systems

The potential of utilizing fluidized bed heat exchangers in place of conventional counter-flow heat exchangers for heat recovery from adiabatic diesel engine exhaust gas streams was studied. Fluidized bed heat recovery systems were evaluated in three different heavy duty transport applications: (1) heavy duty diesel truck; (2) diesel locomotives; and (3) diesel marine pushboat. The three applications are characterized by differences in overall power output and annual utilization. For each application, the exhaust gas source is a turbocharged-adiabatic diesel core. Representative subposed exhaust gas heat utilization power cycles were selected for conceptual design efforts including design layouts and performance estimates for the fluidized bed heat recovery heat exchangers. The selected power cycles were: organic rankine with RC-1 working fluid, turbocompound power turbine with steam injection, and stirling engine. Fuel economy improvement predictions are used in conjunction with capital cost estimates and fuel price data to determine payback times for the various cases

Slab reformer

Slab-shaped high efficiency catalytic reformer configurations particularly useful for generation of fuels to be used in fuel cell based generation systems. A plurality of structures forming a generally rectangular peripheral envelope are spaced about one another to form annular regions, an interior annular region containing a catalytic bed and being regeneratively heated on one side by a hot comubstion gas and on the other side by the gaseous products of the reformation. An integrally mounted combustor is cooled by impingement of incoming oxidant

Treatment of Hypertension in the Inpatient Setting: Use of Intravenous Labetalol and Hydralazine

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73529/1/j.1751-7176.2009.00196.x.pd

LDL-cholesterol lowering and renal outcomes

Purpose of reviewPatients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk for cardiovascular events. Statins reduce cardiovascular risk in a broad spectrum of patients. This article summarizes the evidence that statins reduce risk in CKD patients, and that statins have a small but favorable effect on renal function. Current guidelines for lipid management in patients with CKD are also reviewed.Recent findingsTwo well conducted randomized trials showed no significant benefit for statins among patients receiving dialysis. One large trial demonstrated that simvastatin/ezetimibe reduced cardiovascular events in a broad spectrum of CKD patients. A recent meta-analysis concluded that CKD patients benefit from statins, and that the relative benefit decreases as the severity of CKD worsens. In large trials, statin-treated patients have slightly less worsening of renal function overtime, and there are data to suggest that statins actually do not only preserve, but also increase renal function. Recent guidelines recommend a statin for CKD patients aged 50 years or older, for younger patients with known vascular disease, diabetes, or a 10-year risk greater than 10%, and for adult renal transplant recipients.SummaryStatins should be prescribed to older patients with CKD, and to younger patients with CKD who are at high CVD risk