Depollution of atmospheric emissions of wood pyrolysis furnaces

The wood carbonization in Tunisia consists essentially of traditional activity using charcoaling stacks and pits characterized by high atmospheric pollution and poor energy conversion. Indeed, 70% of the initial mass of anhydrous wood are found in the vapor as aerosols, polluting and toxic gases and complex condensable organic compounds that can cause a substantial pollution of air, ground and water. Several processes of treatment and energy valorization of such effluents were proposed, but the incineration remains at present the most promising technique of depollution. The results show that the incineration, at about 1000°C, of wood carbonization smokes allows the destruction of 99% of the mass of pollutants except CO₂ and the reduction of polluting gas emission. The possible valorization of the smoke’s energy in the exit of the incinerator enhances the thermal efficiency of the process.     

A practical approach for modelling and control of biomass pyrolysis pilot plant with heat recovery from combustion of pyrolysis products

A pilot plant of biomass pyrolysis using pyrolysis products as fuel has been tested and shown to improve energy balance of the process and to be environmentally friendly by avoiding rejection of pyrolysis pollutants fumes into the atmosphere. The high number of parameters involved in a pyrolysis process makes it difficult to specify an optimum procedure for charcoal yield and pyrolysis cycle durability. So the knowledge of the essential parameters which govern the kinetics mechanisms of the biomass thermal decomposition and the combustion of pyrolysis gases is very useful to understand the operating cycle of the plant. In the present study a thermochemical model is developed in order to simulate and control the operating cycle of the system. The effect of the inlet molar air flow rate on the temporal evolution of biomass mass loss rate and temperatures in the different active zones of the pilot plant as well as the determination of the critical inlet molar air flow rate for which accidental runaway of combustion reactions occurs are presented. To avoid this accidental phenomenon a Proportional-Integral-Derived (PID) anticipated regulation is used in order to control temperatures evolution in the different zones of the device and avoid the runaway of combustion reactions.     

Trial and Error

A pac-learning algorithm is -space bounded, if it stores at most examples from the sample at any time. We characterize the -space learnable concept classes. For this purpose we introduce the compression parameter of a concept class and design our Trial and Error Learning Algorithm. We show : is -space learnable if and only if the compression parameter of is at most . This learning algorithm does not produce a hypothesis consistent with the whole sample as previous approaches e.g. by Floyd, who presents consistent space bounded learning algorithms, but has to restrict herself to very special concept classes. On the other hand our algorithm needs large samples; the compression parameter appears as exponent in the sample size. We present several examples of polynomial time space bounded learnable concept classes: – all intersection closed concept classes with finite VC–dimension. – convex -gons in . – halfspaces in . – unions of triangles in . We further relate the compression parameter to the VC–dimension, and discuss variants of this parameter. Received May 24, 1994 / July 4, 1995     

Comportement anodique de Ga(As1-txPx) sous illumination

The anodic behaviour of Ga(As_1-xP_x) in basic media and under illumination has been investigated by measuring the electrode characteristics and the interfacial capacity values. These measurements are interpreted using Gärtner's classical model. The diffusion length of minority carriers and the gap value have been calculated. It is necessary to assume a recombination on the surface to explain the variation to the photolyse current density with the potential. This process may be attributed to a centre for which it has been possible to evaluate the energy level.     

The Price and Trading Volume Dynamics Relationship in the EEX Power Market: A Wavelet Modeling

This paper examines the dynamic relationship between power spot prices and related trading volumes in one of the most emergent energy markets. Traditionally, investigating the bivariate stochastic processes has been dominated by linear econometrical methods that proved helpful especially in finance. However, when dealing with intradaily power data, we cannot rely on models developed for financial or other commodity markets. Therefore, wavelet transforms are applied for power markets data to search for and decode nonlinear regularities and hidden patterns existing between the variables. Given its ability to decompose the time series into their time scale components and thus to reveal structure at different time horizons, wavelets are useful in analyzing situations in which the degree of association between processes is likely to change with the time-horizon. Therefore, a wavelet-based cross-analysis is performed between prices and trading volume time series. On the same basis, causality tests and out-of-sample forecasting tasks are carried out to empirically the strong relationship between the two investigated time series.     

Clinical Determination of Dry Body Weight

While nephrologists wait for the ideal, non invasive, inexpensive, precise, and reproducible tool to evaluate extracellular volume (ECV), they need to exert their clinical acumen in the quest of that holy grail, dry weight (DW). Estimation of DW using a clinical approach based on blood pressure (BP) and ECV is feasible and reliable as shown by successful experiences in various dialysis modes over more than three decades. But a need still exists to resolve difficulties associated with accurate assessment of BP (methods and circumstances of measurement, and the confounding effects of antihypertensive drugs) and ECV (evaluation of weight changes unrelated to ECV, lack of specificity and sensitivity of clinical symptoms, lag time, confusion in terminology). An essential point in clinical assessment of DW is that a normal BP is at the same time the target and the crucial index of DW achievement. For this reason, a trialand‐error “probe” process has to be used at intervals to make sure that the dry weight target point is correctly estimated. The various “non clinical” methods proposed for dry weight assessment increase the complexity and the cost of hemodialysis. They are, in the present state of things, more clinical research than practice tools. They do not replace clinical judgment.     

Cinetique de l'etablissement de l'equilibre d'une electrode semi-conductrice: cas de Ga(As1−xPx)

The variation of the capacity of interface of a semi-conductor electrode, related to the polarisation time is extended to the case of a Ga(As_1?xP_x) electrode, type n. The flat-band potential for a given pH depends neither on the polarisation time nor on the eventual illumination in the darkness. The number of ionised centers on the surface varies according to a kinetic of the first order with a rate constant of 3.7 10^?4 s^?1. Under illumination the steady state is almost instantaneous.     

Sintering and mechanical properties of tricalcium phosphate–fluorapatite composites

Tricalcium phosphate and synthesized fluorapatite powder were mixed in order to elaborate biphasic ceramics composites. The effect of fluorapatite addition on the densification and the mechanical properties of tricalcium phosphate were measured with the change in composition and microstructure of the bioceramic. The Brazilian test was used to measure the mechanical resistance of the tricalcium phosphate–26.52 wt% fluorapatite composites. The densification and rupture strength increase versus sintering temperature. The composites have a good sinterability and rupture strength in temperature ranging between 1300 and 1400 °C. Thus, the densification ultimate was obtained at 1350 °C and the mechanical resistance optimum reached 9.6 MPa at 1400 °C. Above 1400 °C, the densification and the mechanical properties were hindered by the allotropic transformation of tricalcium phosphate, grain growth and the formation of both intragranular porosity and many cracks. The ³¹P magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of composites reveals the presence of tetrahedral P sites.     

Application of surface response analysis to the optimisation of nitric passivation of cp titanium and Ti6Al4V

Passivation of Ti6Al4V and cp Ti by mean of nitric acid treatment are used to reduce their surface reactivity, and consequently increasing resistance to corrosion, in physiological media.

In this work, the response surface methodology was employed to know the effects of operating parameters of the nitric passivation (HNO₃ content, temperature of solution and passivation period) on the corrosion resistance of commercially pure (cp) titanium and Ti6Al4V alloy in Ringer's solution. The experiment included two 3³ factorial designs. According to the responses from the experimental designs, the effects of each variable were calculated and the interactions between them were determined. The statistical test has revealed that the main effect of the nitric acid content is the most significant factor. The surface response methodology was applied to graphically determine the optimal working conditions.

Different electrochemical techniques (OCP, Rp and cyclic polarisation tests) were used to compare the electrochemical behaviour of cp Ti and Ti6Al4V, with and without passivation.