Efficient purification of cryoprotective dehydrin protein from the radish (Raphanus sativus) taproot

Dehydrin is a protein that is related to cold stress tolerance in plants. Because dehydrin shows potent cryoprotective activity, it has the potential to be used in food storage applications. In this paper, we presented an efficient purification method for native dehydrin from radishes (Raphanus sativus). Immunoblot analysis using an anti-Arabidopsis KS-type dehydrin antibody revealed that the related dehydrin accumulates in the radish taproot. The radish dehydrin that accumulated in the vascular tissues of the taproot was purified through two simple chromatographic steps: immobilized metal affinity chromatography followed by anion exchange chromatography. The yield was higher than yields previously reported on a fresh weight basis. The cryoprotective activity for malate dehydrogenase shown by purified dehydrin was more potent than that shown by small molecule cryoprotectants. This suggests that the radish is an appropriate source for the production of native dehydrin.     

Spectral optical monitoring of nitrate in inland and seawater with miniaturized optical components

Miniaturized spectral analytical systems become ever increasingly important for in situ monitoring of natural waters’ nutrients, such as nitrate, phosphate or ammonium. A miniaturized UV spectral photometer has been developed for online detection using liquid core wave guides (LCW), UV transmitting optical fibers, a low-cost miniature polychromator, and a deuterium light source. The LCWs were manufactured by coating the insides of silica glass capillaries with Teflon^® AF 1600. Due to this setup our instrument needs only a few microliters of sample for each measurement. Nitrate can be directly detected by UV absorption spectroscopy in a spectral range between 200 and 350 nm. To separate the nitrate absorption from the superposition of other UV absorbing contaminations, a multi component analysis (MCA) software was applied to the measured spectra. With this developed photometer, nitrate levels can be determined online in inland and seawater or, if needed, in situ. It was evaluated twice in the field and the results for the measured amounts of nitrate in reservoir samples and in the North Sea are also presented in this work.     

Trailing edge noise reduction of wind turbine blades by active flow control

In the current study, we investigate a route to reduction of the turbulent boundary layer–trailing edge interaction noise. The trailing edge noise is generated by surface pressure fluctuations beneath a turbulent boundary and scattered at the trailing edge of wind turbine blades. Trailing edge noise is considered to be the dominant noise source of modern wind turbines. Therefore, efforts are constantly made to attenuate the noise. Today, noise emission can be reduced by proper airfoil design or passive devices, such as trailing edge serrations. A further improved candidate technology for trailing edge noise attenuation is active flow control in the form of wall‐normal suction. With active flow control, the boundary layer features responsible for trailing edge noise generation can be manipulated, and correspondingly the trailing edge noise can be reduced. Detailed experimental investigations were performed at the Universities of Tel‐Aviv and Stuttgart. The tests showed that steady wall‐normal suction has a positive effect on the trailing edge noise by reducing the boundary layer thickness, and with it the integral length scales of the eddies within the boundary layer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of low-frequency aeroacoustic emissions of a wind turbine under rapidly changing wind conditions based on an aero-servo-elastic CFD simulation

A meteorologically challenging situation that represents a demanding control task (rotational speed, pitch and yaw) for a wind turbine is presented and its implementation in a simulation is described. A high-fidelity numerical process chain, consisting of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver FLOWer, the multi-body system (MBS) software SIMPACK and the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings code ACCO, is used. With it, the aerodynamic, servoelastic and aeroacoustic (<20 Hz) behaviour of a generic wind turbine during a meteorological event with strong and rapid changes in wind speed and direction is investigated. A precursor simulation with the meteorological model system PALM is deployed to generate realistic inflow data. The simulated strong controller response of the wind turbine and the resulting aeroelastic behaviour are analysed. Finally, the low-frequency sound emissions are evaluated and the influence of the different operating and flow parameters during the variable inflow is assessed. It is observed that the wind speed and, linked to it, the rotational speed as well as the turbulence intensity are the main influencing factors for the emitted low-frequency sound power of the wind turbine. Yawed inflow, on the other hand, has little effect unless it changes the operational mode to load reduction, resulting in a swap of the main emitter from the blades to the tower.     

Experimental investigation into the thermal-flow performance characteristics of an evaporative cooler

This study investigates the thermal-flow performance characteristics of an evaporative cooler. The derivation of the Poppe [1] and Merkel [2] analysis for evaporative coolers are presented and discussed. Performance tests were conducted on an evaporative cooler consisting of 15 tube rows with 38.1 mm outer diameter galvanized steel tubes arranged in a 76.2 mm triangular pattern. From the experimental results, correlations for the water film heat transfer coefficient, air–water mass transfer coefficient and air-side pressure drop are developed. The experimental tests show that the water film heat transfer coefficient is a function of the air mass velocity, deluge water mass velocity as well as the deluge water temperature, while the air–water mass transfer coefficient is a function of the air mass velocity and the deluge water mass velocity. It was found that the correlations obtained for the water film heat transfer coefficient and the air–water mass transfer coefficient compare well with the correlations given by Mizushina et al. [3]. Relatively little published information is available for predicting the air-side pressure drop across deluged tube bundles. The present study shows that the pressure drop across the bundle is a function of the air mass velocity and the deluge water mass velocity.     

Thermal simulation of high‐power Li‐ion battery with LiMn1/3Ni1/3Co1/3O2 cathode on cell and module levels

Thermal modeling of temperature rise in high‐power Li‐ion battery cells and modules is presented here. Simulation results are validated by experiments. Results indicate that entropy heat generation plays a significant role in heat generation of Li‐ion battery cells and should be included in simulation as a function of state of charge (SOC). Simulation results utilizing measured overpotential resistance and entropy heat generation provide the best fit when compared to experimental results. Resistance data provided by supplier shows significant difference compared with measured data and should be critically examined for any module design purposes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.