Plastification Behaviour of Different Native Starches

Based on physical and thermal conservation laws a quantitative variable is introduced, which allows evaluation of the thermomechanical starch plastification much more independent of the transformation procedure. By that method, a comparison of plastification behaviour during extrusion of native potato, maize and wheat starch without any additives is realized for the first time. The complete energetical balance of the extrusion process supplemented by microscopical investigations leads to an essential better understanding of thermomechanical proceedings during extrusion of starch or compounding of other polymers. After optimization of extruder and screw configuration the resulting data for the energy needed for the plastification of starch, i.e. for the transformation of native starch granules into a thermoplastic melt by extrusion, have been measured under constant conditions. On these adequat extrusion conditions the native, laminated starch granules of all three used starches have been destroyed completely during its plastification by extrusion. The specific energy input needed for the plastification of potato starch was about 650 kJ/kg, for maize 380 and for wheat starch 435 kJ/kg. In comparison of these results the energy input for melting of polyethylene high density was about 585 kJ/kg under same conditions.     

Experimental investigation of velocity fluctuations in a radial diffuser pump

The strong interaction in a radial pump due to the relative movement between the impeller and the diffuser may excite not only strong pressure fluctuations but also velocity fluctuations. In this paper, the laser Doppler velocimetry(LDV) technique is successfully applied to measure the periodic flow field in a radial diffuser pump with low-specific speed, in order to investigate the velocity fluctuations caused by the impeller-diffuser interactions both in the impeller and diffuser regions. The velocity fluctuations in the impeller region are quantitatively examined at different radial positions, and the flow structure at the radial gap between two flow components is analyzed at different relative positions. In addition, the downstream effect on the diffuser flow is quantitatively and qualitatively assessed and compared with the turbulence effect.     

A new colorimetric method to quantify β-1,3-1,6-glucans in comparison with total β-1,3-glucans in edible mushrooms

Mushroom β-glucans are known for their activity as biological response modifiers and anticarcinogenic agents. β-1,3-1,6 Branched glucans with a triple helix tertiary structure are recognised as the most potent ones. In the present work, a colorimetric method for β-1,3-1,6-glucan quantification based on the dye Congo red is introduced. This method is specific for β-glucans with a triple helix. The β-1,3-1,6-glucan content of mycelia and fruiting bodies from various mushrooms was determined and compared with the total β-1,3-glucan content, measured by a fluorimetric method. The results show equal amounts of β-1,3-1,6- and total β-1,3-glucans in the analysed species but obvious differences between mycelia and fruiting bodies. On the average, 3% of mycelia and 8% of fruiting body dry mass consist of β-1,3-1,6-glucans. The average percentage of β-1,3-1,6-glucans in the total β-1,3-glucan content differs between mycelia (46%) and fruiting bodies (87%).     

Gemeinsame kondensation von harnstoff,melamin und formaldehyd. I. Einfluß der reaktionsparameter

The dependance of the simultaneous polycondensation of urea, melamine, and formaldehyde on reaction conditions was studied using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. The results indicate an increase in the reactivity between urea and formaldehyde and also between melamine and formaldehyde with increasing acidity. A. controllable reaction involving simultaneously urea, melamine, and formaldehyde was possible only in neutral and basic media. An increasing proportion of urea in the reaction mixture increases the degree of polycondensation. A comparison of the three-component-resin with the UF-and MF-resins gives information pertaining to the formation of cocondensats consisting of urea and melamine. Acetone dilutability and turbidimetric measurements are in agreement with the results of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Surfactants: Combination Products of Fatty Acids,Hydroxycarboxylic Acids and Alcohols

The reaction of hydroxycarboxylic acids, such as citric, malic and tartaric species with an excess of fatty acid chlorides produces the corresponding O-acylated hydroxycarboxylic anhydrides in one step and in a near quantitative yield. These molecules are excellent electrophiles which react readily with a variety of nucleophiles including alcohols, diols and polyols. Their reaction with triethylene glycol and triethylene glycol monomethyl ether leads to two series of novel anionic surfactants, which are unsymmetrical gemini surfactants. The determination of their properties (CMC, foaming, HLB) revealed that these molecules are—depending on the chain length of the fatty acid—excellent emulsifiers, and that they also display interesting antimicrobial activity. These novel functional surfactants are of interest for applications in food and personal care products and for the formulation of pharmaceuticals.     

Simulation of the efficiency of hydrogen recombiners as safety devices

Passive auto-catalytic recombiners (PARs) may be used in the future as safety devices inside confined areas for the removal of accidentally released hydrogen. In the presented study, it was investigated whether a PAR designed for hydrogen removal inside an NPP containment would principally work inside a typical surrounding of hydrogen or fuel cell applications. For this purpose, a hydrogen release scenario inside a garage – based on experiments performed by CEA in the GARAGE facility (France) – has been simulated with and without PAR installation. For modeling the operational behavior of the PAR, the in-house code REKO-DIREKT was implemented in the CFD code ANSYS-CFX. The study was performed in three steps: First, a helium release scenario was simulated and validated against experimental data. Second, helium was replaced by hydrogen in the simulation. This step served as a reference case for the unmitigated scenario. Finally, the numerical garage setup was enhanced with a commercial PAR model. The study shows that the PAR works efficiently by removing hydrogen and promoting mixing inside the garage. The hot exhaust plume promotes the formation of a thermal stratification that pushes the initial hydrogen rich gas downwards and in direction of the PAR inlet. The paper describes the code implementation and simulation results.     

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AktuellInnovatives Biomassekraftwerk

Erfolgreiches Pilotprojekt mit neuem Kraftwerkstyp     

Investigation of the flow in the impeller side clearances of a centrifugal pump with volute casing

The paper is concerned with the fluid flow in the impeller side clearances of a centrifugal pump with volute cas-ing.The flow conditions in these small axial gaps are of significant importance for a number of effects such as disk friction,leakage losses or hydraulic axial thrust to name but a few.In the investigated single stage pump,the flow pattern in the volute turns out to be asymmetric even at design flow rate.To gain a detailed insight into the flow structure,numerical simulations of the complete pump including the impeller side clearances are accom-plished.Additionally,the hydraulic head and the radial pressure distributions in the impeller side clearances are measured and compared with the numerical results.Two configurations of the impeller,either with or without balancing holes,are examined.Moreover,three different operating points,i.e.:design point,part load or overload conditions are considered.In addition,analytical calculations are accomplished to determine the pressure distri-butions in the impeller side clearances.If accurate boundary conditions are available,the 1D flow models used in this paper can provide reasonable results for the radial static pressure distribution in the impeller side clearances.Furthermore,a counter rotating wake region develops in the rear impeller side clearances in absence of balancing holes which severely affects the inflow and outflow conditions of the cavity in circumferential direction.     

Gemeinsame Kondensation von Harnstoff,Melamin und Formaldehyd. II. Modellreaktionen

By model reactions of partially substituted melamine- and urea-compounds with formaldehyde the cocondensation of melamine and urea with formaldehyde was studied. Investigations on the model systems urea/benzoguanamine/formaldehyde and dimethylurea/2-amino-4,6-di-(N-methylanilino)-1,3,5-triazine/formaldehyde with gelchromatography, IR-spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry showed bridges between urea- and melamine-compounds. Also in urea-melamine-formaldehyde-resins it was possible to prove the occurrance of cocondensates by precipitation the melamine derivates with picric acid and analysis of the precipitates by urease-decomposition.