Optimization of rice wine fermentation process based on the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation kinetic model☆

Chinese rice wine making is a typical simultaneous saccharification and fermentation(SSF) process.During the fermentation process,temperature is one of the key parameters which decide the quality of Chinese rice wine.To optimize the SSF process for Chinese rice wine brewing,the effects of temperature on the kinetic parameters of yeast growth and ethanol production at various temperatures were determined in batch cultures using a mathematical model.The kinetic parameters as a function of temperature were evaluated using the software Origin8.0.Combing these functions with the mathematical model,an appropriate form of the model equations for the SSF considering the effects of temperature were developed.The kinetic parameters were found to fit the experimental data satisfactorily with the developed temperature-dependent model.The temperature profile for maximizing the ethanol production for rice wine fermentation was determined by genetic algorithm.The optimum temperature profile began at a low temperature of 26 °C up to 30 h.The operating temperature increased rapidly to 31.9 °C,and then decreased slowly to 18 °C at 65 h.Thereafter,the temperature was maintained at18 °C until the end of fermentation.A maximum ethanol production of 89.3 g·L~(-1)was attained.Conceivably,our model would facilitate the improvement of Chinese rice wine production at the industrial scale.     

Analysis of fouling characteristic in enhanced tubes using multiple heat and mass transfer analogies☆

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis on cooling tower fouling data taken from seven 15.54 mm I.D. helically ribbed, copper tubes and a plain tube at Re=16000. There are two key processes during fouling formation:fouling deposition and fouling removal, which can be determined by mass transfer and fluid friction respectively. The mass transfer coefficient can be calculated through three analogies:Prandtl analogy, Von–Karman analogy, and Chilton–Colburn analogy. Based on our analyses, Von–Karman analogy is the optimized analogy, which can well predict the formation of cooling tower fouling. Series of semi-theoretical fouling correlations as a function of the product of area indexes and efficiency indexes were developed, which can be applicable to different internally ribbed geometries. The correlations can be directly used to assess the fouling potential of enhanced tubes in actual cooling tower water situations.     

In situ synthesis and characterization of Ca-Mg-Al hydrotalcite on ceramic membrane for biodiesel production☆

In situ surface synthesis of Ca–Mg–Al hydrotalcite (HT) on inorganic ceramic membrane (CM) was investigated with urea as precipitator. The effects of molar ratio of raw materials, crystallization time, and temperature on surface synthesis of HT were examined. The as-prepared HT/CM samples were characterized by XRD and SEM and an in sit growth mechanismof HT on CMwas proposed. KF/HT/CMobtained by loading potassium fluoride (KF) on the HT layer by impregnation and calcination method was used as catalyst for transesterification between palm oil and methanol. The comparison of KF/HT/CMand pure KF/HT powder under identical reaction conditions shows that the production of fatty acid methyl ester is equivalent, which means that the use of inorganic catalytic membrane in the transesterification is a viable alternative.     

A Reynolds mass flux model for gas separation process simulation:II. Application to adsorption on activated carbon in a packed column☆

Simulations of adsorption process using the Reynolds mass flux model described in Part I of these serial articles are presented. The object of the simulation is the methylene chloride adsorption in a packed column (0.041 m id, packed with spherical activated carbon up to a length of 0.2 m). With the Reynolds mass flux model, breakthrough/regeneration curves, concentration and temperature as well as the velocity distributions can be obtained. The simulated results are compared with the experimental data reported in the literature and satisfactory agreement is found both in breakthrough/regeneration curves and temperature curves. Moreover, the anisotropic turbulent mass diffusion is characterized and discussed.     

Numerical simulation and combination optimization of aluminum holding furnace linings based on simulated annealing☆

To reduce heat loss and save cost, a combination decision model of reverb aluminum holding furnace linings in aluminum casting industry was established based on economic thickness method, and was resolved using sim-ulated annealing. Meanwhile, a three-dimensional mathematical model of aluminum holding furnace linings was developed and integrated with user-defined heat load distribution regime model. The optimal combination was as follows:side wal with 80 mm alumino-silicate fiber felts, 232 mm diatomite brick and 116 mm chamotte brick;top wall with 50 mm clay castables, 110 mm alumino-silicate fiber felts and 200 mm refractory concrete;and bottom wal with 232 mm high-alumina brick, 60 mm clay castables and 68 mm diatomite brick. Lining tem-perature from high to low was successively bottom wal , side wal , and top wall. Lining temperature gradient in increasing order of magnitude was refractory layer and insulation layer. It was indicated that the results of com-bination optimization of aluminum holding furnace linings were valid and feasible, and its thermo-physical mechanism and cost characteristics were reasonably revealed.