Ethanol as an alternative to water vapor for saving energy and fossil fuels in thermoelectric plants

This article proposes the use of ethanol in a 96% azeotropic mixture as an alternative to water vapor in thermoelectric generators with notable advantages in saving fuel. As is known, water is a cheap resource, available everywhere in a liquid state. However, water has an unusually high heat of vaporization and an equally high boiling point, so converting water to steam requires consuming large amounts of fossil fuels to break the hydrogen bonds in this substance. In contrast, evaporating ethanol requires only 37 percent of the fuel needed to evaporate water. In addition, water, before turning into steam, needs to be softened and treated with chemicals to prevent oxidation and scale deposits in pipes. If quality ethanol is used, this process of adjusting the water would not be necessary, which represents another saving. On the other hand, it is possible to resort to the use of solar heaters to raise the temperature of the ethanol to around 70ºC to later heat it to 80ºC or more, if necessary, with fossil fuels, making more significant savings. Objectives: To propose the replacement of water vapor by ethanol vapor as a working fluid to move the turbines of thermoelectric plants to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. Methodology: Analyze the physical properties of water and compare them with those of ethanol to know the advantages and disadvantages of one and the other as working fluids Contribution: Through small modifications in thermoelectric plants it is possible to reconvert them to operate with ethanol vapor and save on fossil fuels.

Electrochemical Improvement of the MWCNT/Al Electrodes for Supercapacitors

An original technique of chemical deposition (CVD) by catalytic pyrolysis of ethanol vapor was used to directly grow multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) layers on aluminum foil. The grown nanotubes had excellent adhesion and direct electrical contact to the aluminum substrate. This material was perfect for use in electrochemical supercapacitors. In this work, the possibility of a significant increase in the specific capacity of MWCNTs by simple electrochemical oxidation was investigated. The optimal conditions for improving the characteristics of the MWCNT/Al electrodes were found. Electrochemical treatment of MWCNT/Al electrodes in a 0.005 M Na2SO4 solution at a potential of 4–5 V for 20–30 min increased the specific capacity of MWCNTs from 30 F/g to 140 F/g. The properties of modified nanotubes were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and impedance spectroscopy. A significant increase in the concentration of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of MWCNTs was found as a result of electrochemical oxidation. The modified MWCNT/Al electrodes maintained excellent stability to multiple charge–discharge cycles. After 20,000 CVs, the capacity loss was less than 5%. Thus, the results obtained significantly expanded the possibilities of using MWCNT/Al composite materials obtained by the method of direct deposition of carbon nanotubes on aluminum foil as electrodes for supercapacitors.

In vitro evaluation of BACtrack®'s smartphone-connected personal breath alcohol analyzers

This study assessed the in vitro accuracy, precision, specificity, and measurement uncertainty of BACtrack®’s line of smartphone-connected breath alcohol analyzers. At the 0.080 g/210L ethanol vapor concentration the measurement uncertainty was determined to be ± 0.013, 0.004, and 0.006 g/210L for the Pro, C8, and C6 respectively at the 95% coverage interval. The analyzers showed an apparent ethanol response to isopropanol, and methanol, but not to acetone. BACtrack®’s smartphone-connected breath alcohol analyzers showed the ability to measure vaporous ethanol with confidence in the results.

In vitro evaluation of BACtrack®'s smartphone-connected personal breath alcohol analyzers

This study assessed the in vitro accuracy, precision, specificity, and measurement uncertainty of BACtrack®’s line of smartphone-connected breath alcohol analyzers. At the 0.080 g/210L ethanol vapor concentration the measurement uncertainty was determined to be ± 0.013, 0.004, and 0.006 g/210L for the Pro, C8, and C6 respectively at the 95% coverage interval. The analyzers showed an apparent ethanol response to isopropanol, and methanol, but not to acetone. BACtrack®’s smartphone-connected breath alcohol analyzers showed the ability to measure vaporous ethanol with confidence in the results.

In vitro evaluation of BACtrack®'s smartphone-connected personal breath alcohol analyzers

This study assessed the in vitro accuracy, precision, specificity, and measurement uncertainty of BACtrack®’s line of smartphone-connected breath alcohol analyzers. At the 0.080 g/210L ethanol vapor concentration the measurement uncertainty was determined to be ± 0.013, 0.004, and 0.006 g/210L for the Pro, C8, and C6 respectively at the 95% coverage interval. The analyzers showed an apparent ethanol response to isopropanol, and methanol, but not to acetone. BACtrack®’s smartphone-connected breath alcohol analyzers showed the ability to measure vaporous ethanol with confidence in the results.

Clairvoyant Melon Maturity Detection Enabled by Doctor-Blade-Coated Photonic Crystals

Climacteric fruits are harvested before they are ripened to avoid adverse damages during transport. The unripe fruits can undergo ripening processes associated with rind color changes on exposure to ethanol vapors. Although rind coloration is a common indicator showing fruit maturity, the attribute does not provide reliable assessment of maturity especially for melons. Herein, we report the achievement of sensitive and reversible melon maturity detection using macroporous hydrogel photonic crystals self-assembled by a roll-to-roll compatible doctor-blade-coating technology. The consumption of applied ethanol vapor during melon ripening results in less condensation of ethanol vapor in the pores (250 nm in diameter), leading to a distinct blue-shift of the optical stop band from 572 to 501 nm and an obvious visual colorimetric readout from yellow green to blue. Moreover, the dependence of the color change on Brix value within the melon has also been evaluated in the study.

The Effect of Ethanol Treatment on the Quality of a New Table Grape Cultivar It 681–30 Stored at Low Temperature and after a 7-Day Shelf-Life Period at 20 °C: A Molecular Approach

Despite the fact that many studies have examined the effectiveness of different gaseous postharvest treatments applied at low temperature to maintain table grape quality, the use of ethanol vapor has hardly been investigated. Thus, this work has studied the effectiveness of ethanol vapor-generating sachets in the maintenance of It 681–30 table grape quality, a new cultivar, during storage at low temperature and after the shelf-life period at 20 °C. To this end, various quality assessments have been carried out and the effect of the ethanol treatment on the expression of different genes (phenylpropanoids, transcription factors, PRs, and aquaporins) was determined. The results indicated that the application of ethanol vapor reduced the total decay incidence, weight loss, and the rachis browning index in It 681–30 grapes stored at 0 °C and after the shelf-life period at 20 °C, as compared to non-treated samples. Moreover, the modulation of STS7 and the different PR genes analyzed seems to play a part in the molecular mechanisms activated to cope with fungal attacks during the postharvest of It 681–30 grapes, and particularly during the shelf-life period at 20 °C. Furthermore, the expression of aquaporin transcripts was activated in samples showing higher weight loss. Although further work is needed to elucidate the role of ethanol in table grape quality, the results obtained in this work provide new insight into the transcriptional regulation triggered by ethanol treatment.

The Effect of Additional Ethanol Steam Temperature Variations on Pertalite Fuel Use on Performance and Efficiency of 4 Stroke Motorcycles

The means of transportation that are widely used in Indonesia are vehicles in the form of motorbikes and cars, as well as the increasing dependence on the consumption of fuel oil (BBM). The impact is that the need for fuel oil is also high. As a result of dependence on fossil energy this one increases. Based on the problems that have been raised, a concept has emerged to make alternative fuels that can be used as a fuel mixture or as an alternative to these fuels. One of the renewable energy sources that can be utilized is ethanol which comes from corn, wheat, and others. ethanol vapor as a fuel mixture, where the ethanol used is not mixed directly into the fuel. And by utilizing ethanol vapor, it is also expected to increase the performance and efficiency of motorbikes. In this study we used a reference concept which was then used as a concept, how to influence additional ethanol vapor temperature variations on the use of pertalite fuel on the performance and efficiency of 4-stroke motorbikes using temperature variations of 400C, 500C, and 600C and variations of valve openings on the ethanol vapor hose to the intake manifold. After conducting the test, the results show that the best power is obtained from the addition of ethanol steam at a temperature of 450 full openings when it is at 7973 RPM rotation which shows a power of 31.2 HP and when it is at 5757 RPM rotation which shows a torque of 32.24 N.m. The best fuel efficiency is obtained from the addition of ethanol steam with a temperature of 450 full openings with a fuel consumption of 1 liter only reduced by 75 ml every 5 minutes of use at the same speed.