Simulation of temperature and reaction time prediction of the torrefaction process: case of hard-wood biomass

Direct utilisation of biomass for energy application is less profound due to the problems of low calorific value, high water content, and low grindability of biomass. For this reason, pre-heating treatment, sometimes called torrefaction, is necessary to improve the physical properties of biomass similar to ‘coal-like’ material. Unfortunately, only few comprehensive but simple theoretical models focused on hard-wood biomass were available to describe the torrefaction process. In this discussion, a simple proposed torrefaction model was developed and reported. The model has ability to estimate the yield of product mass and energy after the torrefaction process and determine the optimum conditions.     

Towards SoC Validation Through Prototyping: A Systematic Approach Based on Reconfigurable Platform

Hardware/software covalidation is becoming one of the most critical issues in current System-on-Chip (SoC) design. Nowadays, covalidation is usually performed by cosimulation which is slow and lacks accuracy. The other alternative is to build a hardware prototype specific to the application. However, this alternative is expensive in terms of time, man-power, and cost. As SoCs increase in complexity, validation becomes more and more difficult, time consuming and error prone. Thus, a new approach for covalidation is inescapable. In this paper, we present a novel efficient prototyping approach for complex SoC covalidation. The proposed approach enables systematic prototyping of embedded applications on a reconfigurable platform. The process starts from the RT level model of the application. The application and the reconfigurable platform have to be adapted to obtain the prototype. We decompose the prototyping process into four steps, in order to match the application and the platform. Besides, we propose adapted solutions to deal with constraints typically encountered in existing reconfigurable platforms. The main advantages of this method are: fast and accurate validation, systematic prototyping flow, and large application field. Prototyping of a subset of VDSL using the ARM Integrator platform illustrates the effectiveness of our approach.     

Fragmentation model of coal devolatilisation in fluidised bed combustion

Devolatilisation is the release of volatile compounds from coal matrix by thermal decomposition. During coal devolatilisation, fragmentation could occur due to pressure build-up of accumulated volatiles. A fragmentation model is necessary to ensure the safe operation of coal combustion and optimum process condition. In this study, the refinement of fragmentation model of coal devolatilisation was done. In order to obtain a comprehensive model, a fluidised bed combustion experiment was conducted using two Indonesian coals (Musi Banyuasin and Berau) and the results were then compared with the model simulation. Using a coal diameter of 0.8–17?mm at a combustion temperature of 850°C, it shows that the fragmentation probability and number of fragments could be affected by the coal particle diameter, convective pore diameter, and porosity. Predictions made by the developed model were close to the experimental fragmentation data, with an error range of less than 5.1%.     

Toward increasing erucic acid content in oilseed rape (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> L.) through the combination with genes for high oleic acid

Erucic acid (22∶1) is a valuable renewable resource that has several applications in the oleochemical industry. High 22∶1 rapeseed (HEAR) contains around 50% 22∶1. For its technical use it is desirable to increase the 22∶1 content and to decrease the eicosenoic acid (20∶1), PUFA (18∶2+18∶3), and saturated FA (16∶0+18∶0) contents. In the present experiment, HEAR was crossed to high oleic acid rapeseed (ca. 85% 18∶1) with the hypothesis that a combination of the involved genes should lead to a reduced 18∶1 desaturation and to an increased availability of oleoyl-CoA, which should result in enhanced 22∶1 synthesis. A NIR spectroscopic calibration for 22∶1 was developed for single seeds, and the calibration was used to select, in a nondestructive manner, F₂ seeds high in 22∶1. Selected F₂ seeds were sown in the field and F₃ seeds were harvested. The results of the FA analysis showed recombinant genotypes with increased total monounsaturated FA (22∶1+20∶1+18∶1) of up to 89% and decreased PUFA (<8%) and saturated FA content (<3.5%). There was no significant difference in 22∶1 content, but a 3 to 5% increase in 20∶1 content was observed in comparison to the HEAR parental cv. Maplus. Results were confirmed following cultivation of selected plant material a second year in the field. The present study revealed that there are other biochemical limitations than the pool of available oleoyl-CoA that restrict FA elongation to 22∶1 in rapeseed. The generated high 22∶1 plant material with an increased 18∶1 content may be useful in further studies to identify these limitations.