Search results for "Scientific method"
showing 10 items of 138 documents
Application of a fuzzy algorithm for pH control in a struvite crystallisation reactor
2006
A struvite crystallisation process is highly dependent on pH. To achieve a high phosphorus recovery as struvite it is important to have an accurate control of pH in the reactor. The high non-linear response of pH value makes manual pH control difficult. Therefore, a software based on fuzzy logic control (FLC) has been developed to maintain the pH at a set value in a stirred reactor to crystallise struvite. The FLC developed has been based on Larsen's inference. In order to confirm the improvement of the pH stability using FLC software, different experiments have been carried out with manual control of the pH value, and with the FLC software. It has been demonstrated that using FLC software …
Mathematical modelling of filtration in submerged anaerobic MBRs (SAnMBRs): long-term validation
2013
The aim of this study was the long-term validation of a model capable of reproducing the filtration process occurring in a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) system. The proposed model was validated using data obtained horn a SAnMBR demonstration plant fitted with industrial-scale hollow-fibre membranes. The validation was carried out using both lightly and heavily fouled membranes operating at different bulk concentrations, gas sparging intensities and transmembrane fluxes. Across a broad spectrum of operating conditions, the model correctly forecast the respective experimental data in the long term. The simulation results revealed the importance of controlling irreversible f…
Identification of Defensive Performance Factors in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
2016
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of defensive play in elite football, to identify variables associated with the direct recovery of ball possession, and to propose a model for predicting the success of defensive transitions. We analyzed 804 transitions in the final stages of the Fedération Internationale Football Association (FIFA) World Cup 2010, and investigated the following variables using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses: duration of defensive transition, possession loss zone, position of players at the start and end of the defensive transitions, defensive organization, general defensive approach, time of the match, position of defense, zone in which t…
Physics demos for all UVEG degrees: a unique project in Spain
2016
Abstract The Physics Demo Project at the University of Valencia ( www.uv.es/fisicademos ) has developed a collection of physics demonstrations to be used during lectures. It consists of more than 130 experimental demos about different physics topics. More than 30 professors borrow them whenever they lecture on physics in any of our 40 courses in 17 different science or technical degrees, involving 246 ECTS and more than 3500 students. Each demo kit with a simple experimental set displays a particular physics phenomenon. An on-line user guide highlights the main physics principles involved, instructions on how to use it and advices of how to link it to the theoretical concepts or to technica…
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.
An integrated model for physical-biological wastewater organic removal in a submerged membrane bioreactor: Model development and parameter estimation
2008
The paper presents the setting up of a mathematical model for membrane bioreactor able to simulate physical-biological wastewater organic removal. The model is basically divided into two sub-models: the first sub-model is basically devoted for the simulation of the biological features and the second one for the physical processes. In particular regarding the biological aspects, the ASM concept has been employed. On the other hand, the physical processes have been modelled considering the deep-bed theory taking into account not only the effect of the physical membrane filtration but also the cake layer effect. This latter operates as a biological membrane leading to a further reduction of th…
Conceptual study of the coupling of a biorefinery process for hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae with a concentrating solar power plant
2017
A conceptual analysis of the coupling of a concentrating solar power plant with a chemical process for hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of microalgae to biocrude was performed. The two plants were considered coupled by molten salt recirculation that granted energetic supply to the chemical process. Preliminary estimations have been done considering a solar field constituted by 3 linear parabolic solar collectors rows, each 200 m long, using a ternary molten salts mixture as heat transfer fluid, and a chemical plant sized to process 10 kT/y of microalgae. Under adopted conditions, we have estimated a minimum selling prize of the biocrude that is similar to that achieved in non-solar HTL proce…
Ferric sludge derived from the process of water purification as an efficient catalyst and/or support for the removal of volatile organic compounds
2019
Ferric chloride solutions are used as coagulants or flocculants in water treatment operations for human consumption. This treatment produces large amounts of clay-type solids formed mainly of montmorillonite with iron oxides and humic substances. This ferric sludge can be used as an efficient catalyst for the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by total oxidation. This waste isolated in the purification process has been activated by calcinations in air, characterized by several physicochemical techniques and employed as a catalyst for the removal by total oxidation of representative VOCs: toluene, propane and mixtures of toluene/propane with or without water. This ferric sludge has…
New silica based adsorbent material from rice straw and its in-flow application to nitrate reduction in waters: Process sustainability and scale-up p…
2021
Abstract This paper shows a particular example to move to a sustainable circular economical process from valorization of rice straw ashes by developing a green synthesis for obtaining a useful sub-product. This strategy can palliate negative effects of the agriculture waste practices on the environment and also the obtained silica reduced nitrate content in waters. It is demonstrated that the silica synthesis developed at lab was scalable more than a hundred times with good results. Adsorption studies of nitrate in standards and real well waters at lab scale and scaling-up provided similar results. Adsorption values near to 15 mg/g for nitrate standards and 8.5 mg/g for well water were obta…
OVERVIEW OF ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES FOR FATTY AND RESIN ACIDS IN THE PAPERMAKING PROCESS
2012
This review describes the role of wood extractives, especially fatty and resin acids, in papermaking, as well as the importance of their removal from process waters. One of the main aims is also to illustrate versatile analysis methods for this purpose and highlight recent developments in corresponding applications. Most of the current methods require time-consuming and laborious sample pretreatment procedures prior to gas chromatography coupled either with flame ionization or mass selective detection. However, some faster, even online techniques with minimum sample pretreatment, are also available, mainly including high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The …