Simulation of microbial mass and its variation in biofilm systems using STELLA

Biofilm systems have been extensively used for treating different types of wastewater. Difficulty in determination of microbial mass in fixed‐film reactors has been always the greatest problem in evaluating effects of loading rates on the microbial population in such reactors. For this reason, the effect of operating parameters such as organic loadings on the available microbial mass in the system and solids retention time (SRT) have not been discussed in detail. In this study an innovative methodology was developed to simulate the quantity of microbial mass in an aerated submerged fixed‐film reactor (ASFFR) reactor. After determination of kinetic parameters, a dynamic model was developed using STELLA, popular dynamic modeling software, to simulate the microbial mass in the reactor at run time. The pilot plant study was performed with two different surface media and at different loading rates from 2.37 to 19.56 g m^?2 d^?1. Furthermore, the effect of different organic loadings on the accumulation of microbial mass and SRT have been studied and the relevant mathematical relationships were presented. This method makes the evaluation of biofilm system simple and practical without taking samples to quantify microbial mass in reactors. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

+Transient characteristics of a liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE) experimental data with correlations

In this paper, the transient and steady-state performance of a liquid to air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE) is investigated experimentally. The transient sensible, latent and total effectiveness are each presented for particular air and desiccant mass flow rate for both summer and winter supply air test conditions. After a step change in inlet conditions the effectiveness increases with time. Also, the transient effectiveness is assessed for various air and desiccant mass flow rates under summer test conditions and the LAMEE’s time constant is investigated as an important variable that depends primarily on the thermal capacity of the exchanger and liquid content. The calculated effectiveness shows considerable dependency on the air and desiccant mass flow rate. Finally, steady-state results reveal that as the desiccant mass flow rate increases or air mass flow rate decreases, the effectiveness increases.     

A numerical investigation of various phase change models on simulation of saturated film boiling heat transfer

There is a great variety of two‐phase models in numerical simulations. The performance of each model complicates the numerical simulation of boiling. The challenge of the right choice of heat and mass transfer models makes this type of problem more complicated. In this research work, the volume of the fluid two‐phase model has been used to simulate the film boiling of saturated liquid. The geo‐reconstruction method also reconstructs the interface of two phases. The models of the sharp interface, Lee and Tanasawa have been employed among the available models for calculating the phase change rate and the source terms of the equations. The Numerical solver of the phase‐change is verified through the Stefan one‐dimensional vaporizing problem. Correct empirical coefficients used in both Lee and Tanasawa models are presented. Bubble detachment time, flow pattern, the periodic Nusselt number, and the bubble form have been investigated in all three phase change models. Two Berenson and Klimenko experimental correlations have been used for verification of Nusselt number derived from simulations. The Nusselt number shows a proper fit with the Klimenko's Nusselt number. Obtained Nusselt number demonstrates the Lee model is more precise than other phase change models in simulating of film boiling on the flat plate.     

Numerical modeling of non-Fourier heat transfer and fluid flow during plasma arc welding of AISI 304 stainless steel

ABSTRACT

This paper is an attempt to study the evolution of temperature profiles and weld pool geometry during plasma arc welding (PAW) by solving the transient Navier–Stokes and Energy equations. The analysis for an AISI 304 stainless steel rectangular plate was carried out using a flexible written program in Fortran. Due to the low accuracy of the Fourier heat transfer equation for short times and large dimensions, a non-Fourier form of heat transfer equation was used. Gaussian heat source is considered as the heat source model. The fluid flow in the molten pool is of interest because it can change the temperature distribution in and around the molten zone. The governing equations for fluid flow were solved by the finite-volume method in which the SIMPLE method was utilized for pressure–velocity coupling. The effects of heat conduction, fluid flow, and force actions at the weld pool were considered. Thermo-physical properties such as thermal conductivity, specific heat, and dynamic viscosity vary as a function of temperature. There are two mechanisms involved which actively cause heat transfer to the surroundings: radiation and convection heat transfer. The numerical results are compared to the experimental data. The results corroborate that the weld pool thickness in the cross section of PAW and the time taken by molten metal to reach the end of thick metal are in good agreement with the experimental measurements. Finally, the results obtained from the assumed Fourier heat transfer are compared for the same study.     

Two-dimensional modeling of selective CO oxidation in a hydrogen-rich stream

In this study, carbon monoxide removal by preferential oxidation in a hydrogen-rich stream is simulated between two parallel infinite plates of 150 μm distance. A three-step kinetic is considered that includes carbon monoxide oxidation, hydrogen oxidation and water–gas shift reaction. The walls temperature is in the range of 80–120 °C. The function of this microreactor is to reduce carbon monoxide content from about 2% to below 10 ppm, suitable for use in a PEM fuel cell. Based on the problem conditions, the flow is in the continuum regime and application of the Navier–Stokes equations is admissible. In order to simulate the reacting flow, continuity, conservations of x- & y-momentum, conservation of energy, conservation of species, state equation and reaction rates are simultaneously solved through SIMPLE algorithm by utilizing power-law scheme. Effects of important parameters including walls temperature, steam content, CO content and O₂/CO are assessed. It is observed that increasing walls temperature or oxygen content will increase both CO selectivity and conversion. It is also found that by steam addition, CO conversion is improved without significant change of CO selectivity. These results are in good agreement with previous published data.     

Production and quality of fish fingers from different fish species

Abstract Production of fish fingers was achieved by using fish species such as sardine (Sardina pilchardus, Walbaum, 1792), whiting (Merlangius merlangus, Linnaeus, 1758) and pike perch (Sander lucioperca, Linnaeus, 1758). Quality changes of battered fish patties during a period of 8 months at –18 °C were investigated. According to the results of microbiological and chemical analysis, fish fingers were found to be within acceptable limits during frozen storage for 8 months. However, sensory analysis showed that, at the end of the frozen storage, fish fingers made from sardine could not be consumed because of rancidity.     

Overview of bio nanofabric from bacterial cellulose

Nanofibers and bio-nonwoven fabrics of pure cellulose can be made from some bacteria such as Acetobacter xylinum. Bacterial cellulose fibers are very pure, 10?nm in diameter and about 0.5?micron long. The molecular formula of bacterial cellulose is similar to that of plant cellulose. Its fibers are very stiff and it has high tensile strength, high porosity, and nanofibrillar structure. They can potentially be produced in industrial quantities at greatly lowered cost and water content, and with triple the yield by a new process. This article presents a critical review of the available information on bacterial cellulose as a biological nonwoven fabric with special emphasis on its fermentative production and applications. Characteristics of bacterial cellulose biofabric with respect to its structure and physicochemical properties are discussed. Current and potential applications of bacterial cellulose in textile, nonwoven cloth, paper, films, synthetic fiber coating, food, pharmaceutical, and other industries are also presented.     

The effects of gradual replacement of barley with oats on enteric methane emissions,rumen fermentation,milk production,and energy utilization in dairy cows

This study evaluated the effects of gradual replacement of barley with oats on enteric CH₄ emissions, rumen fermentation, diet digestibility, milk production, and energy utilization in dairy cows fed a grass silage-based diet. Sixteen lactating Nordic Red dairy cows received a total mixed ration [58:42 forage:concentrate on dry matter (DM) basis]. Grass silage (Phleum pratense) was the sole forage with canola meal (10% of diet DM) as a protein supplement. The effects of gradual replacement of barley with oats on DM basis were evaluated using a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21 d periods. The grain supplements (30% of diet DM) consisted of 100% barley, 67% barley and 33% oats, 33% barley and 67% oats, and 100% oats. In addition to intake, milk production, and digestibility measurements, CH₄ emissions were measured by the GreenFeed system (C-Lock Inc.). The energy metabolism was estimated from the gas exchange measurements recorded by the GreenFeed unit. The last 10 d of each period were used for recordings of gas exchanges, feed intake and milk production. Dry matter intake, body weight, milk yield, and energy-corrected milk yield were not affected by gradual replacement of barley with oats in the diet. Increased inclusion of oats linearly decreased CH₄ emissions from 467 to 445 g/d, and CH₄ intensity from 14.7 to 14.0 g/kg energy-corrected milk. In addition, the ratio of CH₄ to CO₂ decreased with increasing inclusion of oats in the diet. Digestibility of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and potentially digestible neutral detergent fiber decreased linearly with increasing inclusion of oats. Increased inclusion of oats linearly increased fecal energy from 121 to 133 MJ/d, whereas urinary energy and heat production were not affected by dietary treatment. This resulted in a linear decrease in metabolizable energy intake. However, increased levels of oat in the diet did not significantly affect energy balance or efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization for lactation. This study concludes that barley could be replaced with oats in the diet of dairy cows fed a grass silage-based diet to mitigate CH₄ emissions without having any adverse effects on productivity or energy balance. However, the effect of replacing barley with oats on CH₄ emissions is dependent on the differences between barley and oats in the concentrations of indigestible neutral detergent fiber and fat.