scholarly journals Mechanical Container Filling Alters Texture and Water Retention of Peat Growth Media

1994 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juha Heiskanen
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Growth Media ◽  
Matric Potential ◽  
Sphagnum Peat ◽  
Retention Characteristics

Two commercially produced growth media made of light, low humified sphagnum peat, were used to determine how filling into containers affects the particle size distribution and water retention characteristics of peat. It was shown that the filling procedure used broke up the peat particles, resulting in a significant increase in the proportion of particles < 1 mm (g·g-1). Due to the increased proportion of fine particles, the water retention of the peat media increased under wet conditions (-0.1 kPa matric potential), while the air-filled porosity decreased to nearly 0. Also, at matric potentials lower than -0.1 kPa, the reduction in air-filled porosity may restrict aeration and availability of oxygen to roots, thus reducing growth of plants.

Impact of Biochar on Water Holding Capacity of Two Chinese Agricultural Soil

2014 ◽  
Vol 941-944 ◽  
pp. 952-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dao Yuan Wang ◽  
Deng Hua Yan ◽  
Xin Shan Song ◽  
Hao Wang
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Soil Type ◽  
Agricultural Soil ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Walnut Shell ◽  
Retention Characteristics ◽  
Water Holding

Adding biochar to agricultural soil has been suggested as an approach to enhance soil carbon sequestration. Biochar has also been used as a soil amendment to reduce nutrient leaching, reduce soil acidity and improve water holding capacity. Walnut shells and woody material are waste products of orchards that are cheap, carbon-rich and good feedstock for production of biochar. The effectiveness of biochar as an amendment varies considerably as a function of its feedstock, temperature during pyrolysis, the biochar dose to soil, and mechanical composition. Biochar was produced from pyrolysis of walnut shell at 900 °C and soft wood at 600 to 700 °C. We measured the effect of these different parameters in two types of agricultural soil in Jilin and Beijing, China, a silt clay loam and a sandy loam, on the soils’ particle size distribution and water retention characteristics. Biochars with two different doses were applied to each soil type. Soil field capacity and permanent wilting point were measured using a pressure plate extractor for each combination of biochar and soil type. The results show that the effect of biochar amendment on soil water retention characteristics depend primarily on soil particle size distribution and surface characteristics of biochar. High surface area biochar can help raise the water holding capacity of sandy soil.

ESTIMATION OF WATER-RETENTION CHARACTERISTICS FROM THE BULK DENSITY AND PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF SWEDISH SOILS

Soil Science ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 161 (12) ◽  
pp. 832-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kálmán Rajkai ◽  
Sándor Kabos ◽  
M. Th. Van Genuchten ◽  
Per-Erik Jansson
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Retention Characteristics

The Role of Particle Size Distribution in the Performance and Modelling of Filtration

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 19-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. I. Mackie ◽  
R. Bai
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Coarse Particles ◽  
Large Particles

The paper examines the importance of size distribution of the influent suspension on the performance of deep bed filters and its significance with regard to modelling. Experiments were carried out under a variety of conditions using suspensions which were identical in every respect apart from their size distribution. The results indicate that the presence of coarse particles does increase the removal of fine particles. Deposition of fine particles leads to a greater headloss than deposition of large particles. Changes in size distribution with time and depth play an important role in determining the behaviour of a filter, and models of both removal and headloss development must take account of this.

Performance Characteristics of Centrifugal Slurry Pumps

2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. K. Gandhi ◽  
S. N. Singh ◽  
V. Seshadri
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Solid Concentration ◽  
Solid Materials ◽  
Power Characteristics ◽  
Additional Losses

The performance of two centrifugal slurry pumps has been reported for three solid materials having different particle size distribution (PSD) in terms of head, capacity, and power characteristics. The results have shown that the values of head and efficiency ratios are not only dependent on solid concentration but are also affected by PSD of the solids and properties of the slurry. The addition of fine particles in the slurry of coarser material leads to reduction in the additional losses that occur in the pumps due to the presence of solids. It is also observed that with the increase in the pump size, the additional losses due to presence of solids reduce.

Particle Size Distribution Measurement of Free-Falling Fine Particles in a Dusty Plasma Experiment

2001 ◽  
Vol 40 (Part 1, No. 5A) ◽  
pp. 3433-3434
Author(s):  
Nobuki Kawashima ◽  
Kazuya Takeda ◽  
Takeharu Etoh ◽  
Kousei Takehara ◽  
Haruya Kubo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Dusty Plasma ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Distribution Measurement ◽  
Plasma Experiment ◽  
Particle Size Distribution Measurement ◽  
Free Falling

Predicting water retention curves of fine texture soils from particle size distribution

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Pollacco ◽  
Jesús Fernández-Gálvez ◽  
Sam Carrick
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Particles

&lt;p&gt;Indirect methods for estimating soil hydraulic properties from particle size distribution have been developed due to the difficulty in accurately determining soil hydraulic properties, and the fact that particle size distribution is one piece of basic soil physical information normally available. The similarity of the functions describing the cumulative distribution of particle size and pore size in the soil has been the basis for relating particle size distribution and the water retention function in the soil. Empirical and semi-physical models have been proposed, but these are based on strong assumptions that are not always valid. For example, soil particles are normally assumed to be spherical, with constant density regardless of their size; and the soil pore space has been described by an assembly of capillary tubes, or the pore space in the soil matrix is assumed to be arranged in a similar way regardless of particle size. However, in a natural soil the geometry of the pores may vary with the size of the particles, leading to a variable relation between particle radius and pore radius.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The current work is based on the hypothesis that the geometry of the pore size and the void ratio depends on the size of the soil particles, and that a physically based model can be generalised to predict the water retention curve from particle size distribution. The rearrangement of the soil particles is considered by introducing a mixing function that modulates the cumulative particle size distribution, while the total porosity is constrained by the saturated water content.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The model performance is evaluated by comparing the soil water retention curve derived from laboratory measurements with a mean Nash&amp;#8211;Sutcliffe model efficiency a value of 0.92 and a standard deviation of 0.08. The model is valid for all soil types, not just those with a marginal clay fraction.&lt;/p&gt;

MPT Influence on the Rheological Behaviour of Self-Flow Refractory Castables

2008 ◽  
Vol 587-588 ◽  
pp. 133-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abílio P. Silva ◽  
Ana M. Segadães ◽  
Tessaleno C. Devezas
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Mechanical Strength ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Rheological Behaviour ◽  
Response Surfaces ◽  
Coarse Particles ◽  
Aggregate Particle ◽  
Refractory Castables

The success of a refractory castable is largely due to the quality of its properties and ease of application. Self-flow refractory castables (SFRC), with high flowability index (>130%), can be easily accommodated in a mould without the application of external energy, being ideal for the manufacture of monolithic linings. SFRC castables without cement require a matrix of very fine particles, which guarantees improved rheological behaviour and performs the role of the binder in the absence of the refractory cement. The presence of the aggregate (coarse particles) hinders the flowability index, but improves the castable mechanical strength and reduces firing shrinkage, and also contributes to the reduction of the castable costs. The control of the maximum paste thickness (MPT) allows the reduction of the coarse particles interference, minimizing the number of contact points among the grains and avoiding the formation of an aggregate skeleton that impairs the flowability of the mixture. In the present work, 100% alumina SFRCs without cement were produced with a fixed matrix of fine particles, whose particle size distribution was optimized using statistical techniques (mixtures design and triangular response surfaces). Different aggregate particle size distributions were used, with several MPT values, with the objective of evaluating which was the mean distance that maximized the flowability index, simultaneously ensuring good mechanical strength for the refractory castable. Ensuring a minimum surface area of 2.22m2/g, the mixtures reach the self-flow turning point with a minimum water content and the maximum flowability is obtained for an aggregate particle size distribution modulus of q=0.22, and consequently an optimized MPT value. SFRC with high mechanical strength (>60MPa) were obtained.

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