1. Improvement of biogas production utilizing a complex anaerobic digestion model and gradient-based optimizationTina Kegl, Breda Kegl, Marko Kegl, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: : Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a promising technology for renewable energy production from organic waste. In order to maximize the produced biogas quantity and quality, this paper deals with the optimization of the AD process in a CSTR bioreactor of a full-scale biogas plant. For this purpose, a novel approach was adopted coupling, a highly complex BioModel for AD simulation, and a gradient-based optimization method. In order to improve AD performance, the dosages of various types of biological additives, the dosages of inorganic additives, and the temperature in the bioreactor were optimized in three different scenarios. The best biogas quality was obtained using multi-objective optimization, where the objective function involves the following two conflicting objectives: the maximization of biogas production and minimization of the needed heating energy. The obtained results show that, potentially, the content of CH4 can be increased by 11%, while the contents of H2, H2S, and NH3 can be reduced by 30%, 20%, and 81% when comparing the simulation results with the experimental data. The obtained results confirm the usefulness of the proposed approach, which can easily be adapted or upgraded for other bioreactor types.
Keywords: additives, anaerobic digestion, approximation method, BioModel, complex substrate, gradient-based optimization, process conditions
Published in DKUM: 12.03.2024; Views: 298; Downloads: 16
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2. Sand as a medium for transmission of vibratory signals of prey in antlions Euroleon nostras (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)Dušan Devetak, Bojana Mencinger Vračko, Miha Devetak, Marko Marhl, Andreja Špernjak, 2007, original scientific article Abstract: European pit-building antlions (Euroleon nostras/ Geoffroy in Fourcroy/) detect their prey by sensing the vibrations that prey generate during locomotory activity. The behavioural reactions and some of the physical properties of substrate vibrations in sand are measured to observe signal transmission through the substrate. The frequency range of the signals of four arthropod species (Tenebrio molitor, Pyrrhocoris apterus, Formica sp. and Trachelipus rathkei) is 0.1-4.5 kHz and acceleration values are in the range ▫$400 {mu}m s^{-2} to 1.5 mm s^{-2}$▫. Substrate particle size and the frequency of prey signals both influence the propagation properties of vibratory signals. The damping coefficient at a frequency 300 Hz varies from 0.26 to 2.61 dB ▫$cm^{-1}$▫ and is inversely proportional to the size of the sand particle. The damping coefficient is positively correlated with the frequency of the pulses. Vibrations in finer sand are attenuated more strongly than in coarser sand and, consequently, an antlion detects its prey only at a short distance. The reaction distance is defined as the distance of the prey from the centre of the pit when the antlion begins tossing sand as a reaction to the presence of prey. The mean reaction distance is 3.3 cm in the finest sand (particle size ▫$le 0.23 mm$▫) and 12.3 cm in coarser sand (particle size 1-1.54 mm). The most convenient sands for prey detection are considered to be medium particle-sized sands.
Keywords: biology, zoology, receptors, chordotonal organs, vibrations, vibratory signals, transmission of vibrations, reception of vibrations, electrophysiology, substrate vibration, antlions, Myrmeleontidae, sand, substrate vibration, particle size
Published in DKUM: 07.06.2012; Views: 2662; Downloads: 108
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4. Electrokinetic investigation of polyelectrolyte adsorption and multilayer formation on a polymer surfaceStefan Köstler, Volker Ribitsch, Karin Stana-Kleinschek, Georg Jakopic, Simona Strnad, 2005, original scientific article Abstract: Self assembled polyelectrolyte layers of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) were deposited on planar poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrates using the layer-by-layer technique. Charged functional groups were generated on the polymer substrates by means of a surface modification procedure prior to polyelectrolyte adsorption. The layers were characterised concerning their electrokinetic properties. The build-up of multilayer architectures could be followed by changes of the zeta-potential versus pH curves. An increase of coating density with increasing layer number was found. The electrokinetic properties of the PET substrates were not recognised anymore if more then four layers were applied. If PSS formed the outermost layer these assemblies were very stable against shear forces while if PDADMAC formed the outermost layer the films were partially destroyed by high shear forces.
Keywords: textile materials, polyelectrolyte multilayers, layer-by-layer assembly, zeta-potential, ellipsometry, polymer substrate, layer stability
Published in DKUM: 01.06.2012; Views: 2430; Downloads: 82
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