Search results for "Process Engineering"
showing 10 items of 931 documents
Low-Intensity Ultrasounds
2012
Ultrasonics, showing increasing use in the food industry for both the analysis and modification of food products, is a rapidly growing field of research. The sound ranges employed can be divided into high-frequency, low-energy diagnostic ultrasounds and low-frequency, high-energy power ultrasounds. The former is usually used as a nondestructive, rapid, easy-to-automate, and relatively inexpensive analytical technique for quality assurance and process control with particular reference to physicochemical properties, such as composition, structure, and physical state of foods. Nowadays, power ultrasound is considered to be an emerging and promising technology for industrial food processing. Th…
Numerical studies of the melting process in the induction furnace with cold crucible
2008
PurposeAims to present recent activities in numerical modeling of cold crucible melting process.Design/methodology/approach3D numerical analysis was used for electromagnetic problem and 3D large eddy simulation (LES) method was applied for fluid flow modeling.FindingsThe comparative modeling shows, that higher H/D ratio of the melt is more efficient when total power consumption is considered, but this advantage is held back by higher heat losses through the crucible walls. Also, calculations reveal that lower frequencies, which are energetically less effective, provide better mixing of the melt.Originality/value3D electromagnetic model, which allows to take into account non‐symmetrical dist…
Consensus based distributed estimation of biomass concentration in reverse osmosis membranes
2015
The correct estimation of biofilm formation in industrial environments, such as reverse osmosis plants, has become a topic of great interest. The occurrence of this natural process is the cause of huge economic losses due to a decrease of performance and maintenance costs in these plants. Current solutions based on water pretreatment or the dozing of biocides are not effective due to the lack of information about the state of the biofilm in the water system. In this work, we propose the use of a wireless sensor network that, based on the measurement of the biofilm thickness growth at the substratum of each sensor, estimates the biomass concentration within the biofilm, and, eventually, the …
Analysis of Air Cycle and Efficiency Evaluation for a Blast Freezing Tunnel Plant
2013
Air refrigerating systems offer a suitable alternative to vapour compression systems. Air can be used as working fluid in gas compression cycles for refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems. This paper gives some results of theoretical investigation into improved air cycles for refrigeration systems and a comparison is made with their performances. The case-study relates to a dual purpose refrigerating plant. A blast freezing tunnel gives the coldest air stream and, in cascade, the air coming out from the tunnel is used in a channel network for feeding a lot of chilling cells. The case-study analysed indicates that there is a real possibility to build plants which will be equip…
Experimental characterization of PEM fuel cells by micro-models for the prediction of on-site performance
2009
This paper presents the results of an experimental analysis performed on a miniaturized, 6 We Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) system, integrated with on-site hydrogen production by electrolysis; in particular, the effects of environmental parameters such as the external temperature and the humidity on the performance of fuel cells are investigated. PEMFC systems are zero-emissions power technologies when they are fed with pure hydrogen (at concentration higher than 97%); also, being the only results of system operation the produced electricity and some pure water, when produced by renewable sources hydrogen can be considered an attractive alternative to fossil fuels and may concu…
MED parallel system powered by concentrating solar power (CSP): model and case study: Trapani, Sicily
2014
Abstract: This work presents an overlook on a new model that simulates the physical operation in steady state of a multi-effect distillation (MED) plant with parallel-feed (P) configuration. This model includes the consumption of steam with steam ejectors, and its validation was done using data from a real MED industrial plant using a thermal vapor compressor (TVC) operating in Italy, in the Sicilian city of Trapani. Results show that the MED model returns accurate predictions of the plant behavior, very useful for a first analysis on such type of investments. This MED model was also integrated into the system advisor model developed by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Simulatio…
A novel solar-geothermal trigeneration system integrating water desalination: Design, dynamic simulation and economic assessment
2016
Abstract In this paper, an innovative solar-geothermal polygeneration system is investigated. The system supplies a small community with electricity, desalinated water and space heating and cooling through a district network. The hybrid multi-purpose plant, based on an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) supplied by medium-enthalpy geothermal energy and by solar energy; this latter is provided by Parabolic Trough Collectors (PTC). The geothermal brine is first used to drive the ORC loop, then to provide space heating at around 85÷90 °C (in the winter), or cooling (in the summer, by means of a single-effect absorption chiller). Finally, the geothermal brine drives a Multi-Effect Distillation (MED) s…
Friction Stir Welding of AA6082-T6 T-joints: Process Engineering and Performance Measurement
2006
In the paper the authors present the results of a wide range of experiments on T-parts. First, friction stir welding process engineering has been developed with the aim of determining the specific process parameters that make up the soundness of the obtained T-parts. Then the performance of the obtained T-joints has been compared with T-joints obtained by metal inert gas welding and extruded T-parts. The parts have been tested utilizing a customized bending test with the aim of highlighting their behaviour both in elastic and plastic fields.
An exploratory study for analyzing the energy savings obtainable by reshaping processes of sheet metal based components
2017
Abstract Producing materials causes about 25% of all anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Reshaping could be one of the most efficient strategy to foster material reuse and lower the environmental impact due to material production. Sheet metal forming processes can be applied to reshape sheet metal based component. This research field is still almost unexplored and the actual environmental impact saving potential has not been quantified. The present paper aims at starting to cover this research gap, a modeling effort to quantify the environmental impact saving of reshaping is proposed. Primary energy demand for conventional recycling and reshaping are quantified and compared. Primary energy savings…
Continuous hydrothermal synthesis of inorganic nanopowders in supercritical water: towards a better control of the process
2009
International audience; A hydrothermal synthesis process working in supercritical conditions (T > 374 °C, P > 22 MPa) and in a continuous mode has been developed for inorganic nanopowder synthesis. This paper presents a review of the past 5 years of research conducted on this process. Numerous materials (oxides: ZrO2, TiO2, Fe2O3..., ferrites: Fe2CoO4..., or BaZrO3) were obtained with specific features. Some technical issues have been solved, that are presented here. Heat transfer was studied, leading to a more efficient design of the reactor. Future developments have been examined through process engineering, in which our group is engaged, especially through CFD modelling.