Electric vehicle performance and consumption evaluation

In this article, the driving performance of two electric vehicles of the latest generation clean powertrain cars is evaluated. The vehicles under test are an electric Peugeot iOn, and an AGV electric version of the Ford Transit Connect. For different torque-speed operating conditions at wheel level, the vehicles are evaluated for their battery to wheel - electrical to mechanical - power conversion performance, with the help of chassis dynamometer testing. This generates an insight in the mapping of the consumption and efficiency value ranges for electric driving. The vehicles are also tested in real life on-road conditions, by following a pre-set representative track on public roads. Charging efficiency and consumption of auxiliaries is considered too. These tests give insight and realistic values to judge consumption, driving range and efficiency. With these results, further calculations and accurate simulations of realistic scenarios are possible Document type: Articl

Influence of culture medium recycling on the performance of Arthrospira platensis cultures

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Influence of culture medium recycling on the performance of Arthrospira platensis cultures

International audienceTo reduce the water footprint of microalgae biomass production, it is essential to recycle the culture medium. The influence of medium recycling on the performance of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis, the most widely cultivated microalgae, was investigated. Arthrospira was harvested with a 20 μm mesh size microstrainer, which is the benchmark harvesting technology for Arthrospira production. Repeated recycling of the culture medium resulted in a decline in growth rate and the maximum quantum yield of photosynthesis (Fv/Fm) when compared to a control culture in fresh medium. This decline was accompanied by accumulation of organic matter in the culture medium (up to 104 mg C L− 1). This organic matter consists of 70% of sugars, mostly rhamnose-rich polysaccharides with uronic acids. Accumulation of polysaccharides resulted in a decrease in the filtration rate through the microstrainer used for harvesting. Part of the biomass escaped harvesting and was returned to the culture with the recycled medium. This resulted in a change in the Arthrospira population and reduction in the harvesting efficiency, but this change in population had no effect on the growth rate. The growth rate of Arthrospira in the recycled culture medium was primarily influenced by organic matter that accumulated in the medium

Electric Vehicle Performance and Consumption Evaluation

In this article, the driving performance of two electric vehicles of the latest generation clean powertrain cars is evaluated. The vehicles under test are an electric Peugeot iOn, and an AGV electric version of the Ford Transit Connect. For different torque-speed operating conditions at wheel level, the vehicles are evaluated for their battery to wheel - electrical to mechanical - power conversion performance, with the help of chassis dynamometer testing. This generates an insight in the mapping of the consumption and efficiency value ranges for electric driving. The vehicles are also tested in real life on-road conditions, by following a pre-set representative track on public roads. Charging efficiency and consumption of auxiliaries is considered too. These tests give insight and realistic values to judge consumption, driving range and efficiency. With these results, further calculations and accurate simulations of realistic scenarios are possible Document type: Articl

Models for FFA-removal and changes in phase behavior of cocoa butter by packed column steam refining

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Inhibition of alkaline flocculation by algal organic matter for Chlorella vulgaris

Alkaline flocculation is a promising strategy for the concentration of microalgae for bulk biomass production. However, previous studies have shown that biological changes during the cultivation negatively affect flocculation efficiency. The influence of changes in cell properties and in the quality and composition of algal organic matter (AOM) were studied using Chlorella vulgaris as a model species. In batch cultivation, flocculation was increasingly inhibited over time and mainly influenced by changes in medium composition, rather than biological changes at the cell surface. Total carbohydrate content of the organic matter fraction sized bigger than 3 kDa increased over time and this fraction was shown to be mainly responsible for the inhibition of alkaline flocculation. The monosaccharide identification of this fraction mainly showed the presence of neutral and anionic monosaccharides. The addition of 30-50 mg L(-1) alginic acid, as a model for anionic carbohydrate polymers containing uronic acids, resulted in a complete inhibition of flocculation. These results suggest that inhibition of alkaline flocculation was caused by interaction of anionic polysaccharides leading to an increased flocculant demand over time.publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Inhibition of alkaline flocculation by algal organic matter for Chlorella vulgaris journaltitle: Water Research articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.10.032 content_type: article copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.status: publishe

The transcription factor bZIP14 regulates the TCA cycle in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Diatoms are amongst the most important marine microalgae in terms of biomass, but little is known concerning the molecular mechanisms that regulate their versatile metabolism. Here, the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum was studied at the metabolite and transcriptome level during nitrogen starvation and following imposition of three other stresses that impede growth. The coordinated upregulation of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle during the nitrogen stress response was the most striking observation. Through co-expression analysis and DNA binding assays, the transcription factor bZIP14 was identified as a regulator of the TCA cycle, also beyond the nitrogen starvation response, namely in diurnal regulation. Accordingly, metabolic and transcriptional shifts were observed upon overexpression of bZIP14 in transformed P. tricornutum cells. Our data indicate that the TCA cycle is a tightly regulated and important hub for carbon reallocation in the diatom cell during nutrient starvation and that bZIP14 is a conserved regulator of this cycle.status: publishe