scholarly journals Development of a Device to Pulping Fruits of Bocaiuva (Acrocomia aculeate sp.): Intended for the Communities that Practice Sustainable Agriculture or Strativism

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 397
Author(s):  
Carlos Alberto Machado Chuba ◽  
Ramon Eduardo Pereira Silva ◽  
Andrea Cristina dos Santos ◽  
Eliana Janet Sanjinez-Argandoña
Keyword(s):  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Production Rate ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Fruit Pulp ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Biofuel Industry ◽  
Intermittent Operation ◽  
Experimental Bench

Bocaiuva (Acrocomia aculeata) fruit pulp has high potential for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications and in the biofuel industry, however, the main hindrance for these applications is the availability of pulp in sufficient quantity. The pulp of this fruit is usually supplied by rural communities where the processors use manual pulping, which is not only time-consuming but yields product of low quality. Therefore, the objective of this work was to design, fabricate and evaluate the efficiency of an experimental bench device for pulping bocaiuva fruits. The bench device was designed to be compact and easy to operate, consisting of three units (processing, secondary, and peripheral) with intermittent operation and pulping performed by shearing. The performance evaluation of the machine was carried out with fruit dehydrated at 70 ºC and different times of dehydration (6, 12 and 24 hours). The pulp weight was evaluated every 15 seconds during the pulping process period (150 seconds). The highest pulping efficiency (96%) was obtained with fruits that were dehydrated for 24 hours, with a 120-second pulping, which resulted in a production rate of 5.5 kg h-1 This high efficiency makes this mechanized prototype effective for pulping bocaiuva fruits and, thus, it can replace manual pulping, especially in rural communities involved with the bocaiuva production chain.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF GENETIC DISTRIBUTED FUZZY CONTROLLERS FOR MULTI-PART-TYPE PRODUCTION LINE

2007 ◽  
Vol 06 (02) ◽  
pp. 115-128
Author(s):  
SEYED MAHDI HOMAYOUNI ◽  
TANG SAI HONG ◽  
NAPSIAH ISMAIL
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Objective Function ◽  
Production Rate ◽  
Production Line ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Membership Functions ◽  
Part Type ◽  
High Penalty ◽  
Single Part

Genetic distributed fuzzy (GDF) controllers are proposed for multi-part-type production line. These production systems can produce more than one part type. For these systems, "production rate" and "priority of production" for each part type is determined by production controllers. The GDF controllers have already been applied to single-part-type production systems. The methodology is illustrated and evaluated using a two-part-type production line. For these controllers, genetic algorithm (GA) is used to tune the membership functions (MFs) of GDF. The objective function of the GDF controllers minimizes the surplus level in production line. The results show that GDF controllers can improve the performance of production systems. GDF controllers show their abilities in reducing the backlog level. In production systems in which the backlog has a high penalty or is not allowed, the implementation of GDF controllers is advisable.

scholarly journals Holistic Approach to Design, Test, and Optimize Stand-Alone SOFC-Reformer Systems

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 348
Author(s):  
Michael Höber ◽  
Benjamin Königshofer ◽  
Philipp Wachter ◽  
Gjorgji Nusev ◽  
Pavle Boskoski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Diffusion Processes ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Maximum Error ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Electrochemical Analysis ◽  
Internal Reforming ◽  
Operation Conditions ◽  
Wide Range

Reliable electrical and thermal energy supplies are basic requirements for modern societies and their food supply. Stand-alone stationary power generators based on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) represent an attractive solution to the problems of providing the energy required in both rural communities and in rurally-based industries such as those of the agricultural industry. The great advantages of SOFC-based systems are high efficiency and high fuel flexibility. A wide range of commercially available fuels can be used with no or low-effort pre-treatment. In this study, a design process for stand-alone system consisting of a reformer unit and an SOFC-based power generator is presented and tested. An adequate agreement between the measured and simulated values for the gas compositions after a reformer unit is observed with a maximum error of 3 vol% (volume percent). Theoretical degradation free operation conditions determined by employing equilibrium calculations are identified to be steam to carbon ratio (H2O/C) higher 0.6 for auto-thermal reformation and H2O/C higher 1 for internal reforming. The produced gas mixtures are used to fuel large planar electrolyte supported cells (ESC). Current densities up to 500 mA/cm2 at 0.75 V are reached under internal reforming conditions without degradation of the cells anode during the more than 500 h long-term test run. More detailed electrochemical analysis of SOFCs fed with different fuel mixtures showed that major losses are caused by gas diffusion processes.

Governance challenges for commercial exploitation of a non-timber forest product by marginalized rural communities

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALAINE A. BALL ◽  
PEDRO H.S. BRANCALION
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Fruit Pulp ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Poor Access ◽  
Governance Challenges ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products ◽  
Conservation Governance ◽  
Conservation And Development Projects

SUMMARYWhile conservation and development projects focusing on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) remain popular approaches to address complex issues of livelihood improvement and conservation, governance of NTFPs is still poorly understood. In the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot of Brazil, non-governmental organizations, researchers and community leaders are encouraging the commercialization of fruit pulp-based products from the endangered palm Euterpe edulis, known as juçara, to replace income from illegal heart of palm extraction. In order to assess the governance of development of juçara pulp as an NTFP and the potential to increase conservation of juçara through management on smallholder properties, we conducted qualitative research in São Paulo State from October 2012 to October 2013. Major challenges include policy barriers, difficulties integrating production and commercialization, problematic assumptions about poverty alleviation and the inability of the most disadvantaged members of communities to benefit. These governance challenges are a function of poor access, or the ‘bundle of powers’ that enables the ability to benefit. However, engagement with juçara fruit pulp production links farmers and former poachers with sustainable agricultural concepts and with networks, changing their perceptions of conservation and enhancing ability to benefit from improved policy.

scholarly journals Measurement of Ozone Production Sensor

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 545-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Cazorla ◽  
W. H. Brune
Keyword(s):  
Production Rate ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ozone Production ◽  
State University ◽  
Photostationary State ◽  
Sample Chamber ◽  
Efficiency Conversion ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Teflon Film

Abstract. A new ambient air monitor, the Measurement of Ozone Production Sensor (MOPS), measures directly the rate of ozone production in the atmosphere. The sensor consists of two 11.3 L environmental chambers made of UV-transmitting Teflon film, a unit to convert NO2 to O3, and a modified ozone monitor. In the sample chamber, flowing ambient air is exposed to the sunlight so that ozone is produced just as it is in the atmosphere. In the second chamber, called the reference chamber, a UV-blocking film over the Teflon film prevents ozone formation but allows other processes to occur as they do in the sample chamber. The air flows that exit the two chambers are sampled by an ozone monitor operating in differential mode so that the difference between the two ozone signals, divided by the exposure time in the chambers, gives the ozone production rate. High-efficiency conversion of NO2 to O3 prior to detection in the ozone monitor accounts for differences in the NOx photostationary state that can occur in the two chambers. The MOPS measures the ozone production rate, but with the addition of NO to the sampled air flow, the MOPS can be used to study the sensitivity of ozone production to NO. Preliminary studies with the MOPS on the campus of the Pennsylvania State University show the potential of this new technique.

Information Acquisition and Conservation Farming Practices for Sustainable Agriculture in Rural Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-48
Author(s):  
Quynh Anh Le Thi ◽  
◽  
Yasuharu Shimamura ◽  
Hiroyuki Yamada ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Information Acquisition ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Agricultural Practice ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Farming Households

Soil fertility conservation has become an increasing concern in Vietnamese agriculture owing to excessive use of agrochemicals. The use of organic fertilizers is considered an environment-friendly practice for sustainable agriculture. Although environmental awareness has emerged and production technologies of organic fertilizers have been introduced in recent years, their adoption remains limited among farming households. This study focuses on the causal effects of information acquisition on the use of organic fertilizers from agricultural extension services and from peers of farming households. The estimation results show that land size, land tenure, educational level, family labor endowment, and household wealth are significantly associated with the likelihood of using organic fertilizers. Information acquisition through both information sources positively affects the use of organic fertilizers. However, information acquisition from agricultural extension services has a greater marginal impact than that from peers. Despite its lower influence, information acquisition from peers plays a supplemental role in incentivizing farming households to use organic fertilizers as an environmentfriendly agricultural practice among rural communities in Vietnam.

Research and Application of Efficient Operation Technology

2014 ◽  
Vol 1030-1032 ◽  
pp. 1760-1763
Author(s):  
Yan Xia Li ◽  
Zheng Long Shao ◽  
Nai Jia Liu ◽  
Yu Peng
Keyword(s):  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
End Users ◽  
Application Performance ◽  
Efficient Operation ◽  
High Satisfaction ◽  
Virtualization Technology ◽  
Efficient Integration

With the development of information, the number of applications is growing. The questions of cost, support, risk and safety also arise. In order to realize low cost and high efficiency, we have studied the efficient operation technologies, including application isolation technology, virtualization technology, performance evaluation technology, etc. Using these technologies, we have realized efficient integration of operation resources, comprehensive optimization of application performance, and high satisfaction of end users.

Development and Evaluation on Surfactant Used in Chemical Flooding

2011 ◽  
Vol 233-235 ◽  
pp. 298-301
Author(s):  
Qi Cheng Liu ◽  
Yong Jian Liu
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Carbon Number ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Structure Characterization ◽  
Chemical Flooding ◽  
Oil Water ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Main Component

Oil component and molecule structures is studied by application of gas chromatogram, infrared spectrum and nuclear magnetic resonance to develop high efficiency and cost effective surfactant used for chemical flooding, HZS surfactant has been developed on basis of relationship between effectiveness and structure of the surfactant. Study on surfactant structure characterization and performance evaluation suggests that oil/water interfacial tension is super low when distribution of carbon number of main component of surfactant is identical to the distribution of main component of oil, and concentration impairment due to surfactant retention on surface of core. Reference can be provided to reservoir selection and surfactant development of other oilfield.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document