Digital Commons Network^™

Hydrologic Properties Of Pervious Concrete, Joe D. Luck, Stephen R. Workman, Stephen F. Higgins, Mark S. Coyne

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Pervious concrete is concrete made by eliminating most or all of the fine aggregate (sand) in the concrete mix, which allows interconnected void spaces to be formed in the hardened product. These interconnected void spaces allow the concrete to transmit water at relatively high rates. The main objective of this project was to conduct research on the potential application of pervious concrete in agricultural settings, specifically for use in animal feed lots, manure storage pads, animal manure and bedding compost facilities, or floor systems in animal buildings. Laboratory tests were conducted on replicated samples of pervious concrete formed from two …

The Importance Of Emerging Biobased Industries To Engineering And Technology, Kurt A. Rosentrater, R. Balamuralikrishma

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Our society has developed an insatiable demand for energy and material goods. Historically, these needs have been met primarily by fossil fuels and other non-renewable raw materials. As environmental concerns grow, however, renewable resources are gaining increased attention. This paper examines the emergence and importance that biobased industries are increasingly beginning to play. A biobased enterprise, similar in concept to a traditional refinery or factory, utilizes conversion technologies to produce various products. These operations are rapidly increasing both in number as well as in capacity throughout this country, and are poised to add significantly to the nation’s energy and material …

Analytical And Experimental Studies Of Properties Of Ethanol Coproduct-Filled Plastics, Robert Tatara, Andrew Otieno, Srikrishna Suraparaju, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

As the renewable fuels industry continues to grow, the quantity of resulting byproducts has expanded in tandem. Currently, these materials are primarily used for animal feed, but at some point will saturate the animal feeds market. Thus, it is necessary to investigate alternative methods and applications by which these coproducts can be utilized. One potential application for these process residues involves plastics manufacturing. Due, in part, to the increasing cost of resins and conventional fillers, alternate fillers have been increasingly sought. Many of these include biological materials such as grasses, bamboo, starch, chicken feathers, soy protein, and cellulose. Not only …

Mass Customization And Its Curricular Implications For Four-Year Degree Programs In Manufacturing Technologies, R. Balamuralikrishma, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Mark Rajai

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Mass customization is fast emerging as a popular business strategy which aims to also cater to individual expressed needs of end users at prices closely comparable to mass produced items. Companies are able to switch to this mode of operation by primarily making their own operations demand-driven, flexible systems and asking their suppliers to do the same. Customers by and large are delighted to be part of this new kind of supply chain and are willing to invest time to specify what exactly they want provided businesses are willing to keep their end of the bargain in terms of high …

Considerations For Manufacturing Bio-Based Plastic Products, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Andrew W. Otieno

Kurt A. Rosentrater

One engine that drives the United States’ economic growth is an ever-increasing demand for manufactured products, both at home and abroad. This increase has created a major concern for the environment in terms of disposing used goods and ensuring that these products are safe. As environmental concerns grow, however, renewable resources are gaining increasing attention, especially as industrial ecology and product biodegradability gain importance. Added to this, biological materials are increasingly being utilized to replace traditional materials in manufacturing. To aid both educators as well as researchers, this paper examines several considerations that are essential for manufacturing plastic products that …

Managing Liquid Dairy Manure, José R. Bicudo

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

One of the primary issues in the dairy production industry is the storage, management, and land application of manure. Producers should plan how and when to apply manure to agricultural land to minimize the risk of water pollution and odor nuisance and maximize nutrient use.

Non-Standard Structure Flow Measurement Evaluation Using The Flow Rate Indexing Procedure - Qip, Stuart W. Styles, Bryan Busch, Daniel J. Howes, Marcus Cardenas

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This report details the proper installation and calibration techniques for hydroacoustic meters. The calibration procedure developed as part of this study is called the Flow Rate Indexing Procedure (QIP). The QIP can be competed by a professional technician with a boat-mounted Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP) or a standard current meter. Once the QIP has been used to properly calibrate a hydroacoustic flow meter, the device can then measure and record the flow rate and volume in a channel to within +/- 6% of actual values.

Volumetric Water Pricing, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This document discusses the concept of volumetric pricing for irrigation water, including:

1. The justification for paying volumetrically

2. The challenge of charging volumetrically

3. Characteristics of volumetric charges and influencing factors

4. Examples of irrigation projects with volumetric charges

5. A summary of necessary conditions for volumetric billing

Monitoring And Evaluation (M&E) Of Capacity Development For Irrigation Modernization, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Effective capacity development monitoring and evaluation (M&E) depends first upon targeted capacity development programs, with well-defined and attainable objectives that can be evaluated after completion of the program. This paper focuses on capacity development related to technical issues of irrigation modernization.

ITRC performs diagnostic research on irrigation projects and field irrigation systems in advance of developing targeted capacity development programs. If the capacity development is appropriate, and if it is targeted in both content and to specific audiences, one can expect an eventual improvement in post-capacity-building performance. ITRC has found that the improvements are incremental, and often require substantial changes …

Surface Drip Tape Irrigation Systems As An Alternative To Sdi For Field And Row Crops, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

In recent years, new equipment and techniques developed by farmers and private industry have improved the suitability of surface drip tape as an alternative to subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) for field crops and vegetable crops in highly mechanized farming. Retrievable drip tape systems now lack many of the disadvantages of SDI, yet provide the advantages typically expected from drip irrigation. Tape retrieval practices have now reached well beyond the theoretical realm to the point that they dominate drip systems for cauliflower, lettuce, celery, and broccoli on the Central Coast of California. It is expected that drip design and practices will …

The Doe Consortium For Research On Enhancing Carbon Sequestration In Terrestial Ecosystems: Fy 2007-2011 Five Year Science Plan, U.S. Department Of Energy

US Department of Energy Publications

The DOE Consortium for Research on Enhancing Carbon Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems (CSiTE) conducts multi-scale research to acquire basic knowledge for underpinning the implementation of soil carbon (C) sequestration in an environmentally acceptable and economically feasible manner. Research is based on the premise that identifying and understanding the basic mechanisms controlling sequestration across managed and unmanaged ecosystems are fundamental to developing approaches for enhancing C capture and long-term storage. The goal is to discover and characterize links among physical, chemical, and biological processes controlling soil C dynamics and storage at a mechanistic level to facilitate the enhancement of C storage …

Biomass Energy Data Book, Volume 1, Lynn Wright, Bob Boundy, Bob Perlack, Stacy Davis, Bo Saulsbury

US Department of Energy Publications

The Biomass Energy Data Book is a statistical compendium prepared and published by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) under contract with the Office of Planning, Budget, and Analysis in the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) program of the Department of Energy (DOE). Designed for use as a convenient reference, the book represents an assembly and display of statistics and information that characterize the biomass industry, from the production of biomass feedstocks to their end use.
This is the first edition of the Biomass Energy Data Book and is currently only available online in electronic format. There are five main …

Biodiesel Industry – A Statewide Assessment, Loren Isom

Industrial Agricultural Products Center: Publications and Information

CONTENTS:
Nebraska Soybean Association
Introduction of the Project Development Te
Objectives
Supporting Events
Summary of the findings
Biodiesel Demand
Biodiesel Market Price
Estimated Biodiesel Production Costs
Competition in the Biodiesel Industry
Biodiesel Feedstock Resources
Best Locations in Nebraska
State Incentives and Public Policy
Biofuel Industry Trends
The Role of Incentives

The Biodiesel Industry –A National Perspective, Leland Tong

Industrial Agricultural Products Center: Publications and Information

CONTENTS:
Increasing OEM Support
Inquiries & Sales Up in All Markets
Demand Trends
US Biodiesel Demand
Reasons for Industry Growth
Ranked Importance of Biodiesel Benefits for U.S. Consumers
US Crude Oil, Diesel Fuel and Biodiesel Spot Prices
Biodiesel and Diesel Prices
Biodiesel Blenders Tax Credit
Renewable Fuel Standard
Small Agri Biodiesel Producer Credit
Alt Fuel Refueling Infrastructure Credit
Distribution Locations
Terminal Blending
Production Locations
Industry Plant Size
Plants Under Construction & Expansion
Size of Plants Under Construction & Expansion
Production Capacity by State
Production Capacity Trends
Industry Implications
Soybean oil, Palm Oil and Yellow Grease Prices
USDA Soybean Oil Price …

System And Method For Sensing A Characteristic Of A Fluid And Related Apparatus, Frederick Payne

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Patents

An apparatus for intended use in measuring, sensing, or detecting a characteristic of a fluid, such as a liquid food product, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body having a pocket for positioning adjacent to the opening in a pipe or like structure for receiving a portion of a fluid therein. In one possible use, a first optical medium, such as an optical fiber, transmits light from a source toward a portion of the fluid flow entering the pocket. Light received by one or more optical mediums positioned in backscatter, sidescatter, or transmission configurations relative to the first optical medium …

Biodiesel Related State Incentives, Josh Zahn

Industrial Agricultural Products Center: Publications and Information

Contents:

• National Perspective • Discussion of Various Forms of Incentives • Regional Incentives

Sistema Automático Para El Pesaje, Determinación De Dosis De Medicamento A Aplicar Y Control Del Record Individual En El Ganado Durante Su Ciclo De Vida, John Michel Garzon Gonzalez, Elkin Alejandro Rincon Salamanca

Ingeniería en Automatización

No abstract provided.

“Strategically Locating Soybean And Biodiesel Processing Facilities In Nebraska”, Lori Luebbe

Industrial Agricultural Products Center: Publications and Information

Is the production of biodiesel feasible in Nebraska? A standard answer depends on the business operating condition. More specifically, a statewide, as opposed to a site specific, study conducted by the Independent Biodiesel Feasibility Group (IBFG) in July 2005 for the Nebraska Soybean Association (NSA) concluded a positive return on equity could be expected. At that time, the return was estimated to be poor for the small scale, 5 million gallons per year (MGPY) scenario analyzed and only modest for the mid, 15 MGPY, and larger scale, 30 MGPY scenarios. For a complete copy of the feasibility study, contact the …

“Strategically Locating Soybean And Biodiesel Processing Facilities In Nebraska”, Lori Luebbe, Milford Hanna, Loren Isom, Robert Weber, Zach Schroeder, Richard Sanne, Mark Harris, Victor Bohuslavsky, Todd Sneller, Brian Wilcox

Industrial Agricultural Products Center: Publications and Information

Is the production of biodiesel feasible in Nebraska? A standard answer depends on the business operating condition. More specifically, a statewide, as opposed to a site specific, study conducted by the Independent Biodiesel Feasibility Group (IBFG) in July 2005 for the Nebraska Soybean Association (NSA) concluded a positive return on equity could be expected. At that time, the return was estimated to be poor for the small scale, 5 million gallons per year (MGPY) scenario analyzed and only modest for the mid, 15 MGPY, and larger scale, 30 MGPY scenarios. For a complete copy of the feasibility study, contact the …

Diseño, Modelamiento Y Simulación De Máquina Dosificadora De Alimento Granulado Para Animales, Carlos Humberto Pinto Fajardo, Hernán Durán Sánchez

Ingeniería en Automatización

No abstract provided.

Development And Testing Of A Low-Cost Condensation Detection System, Michael D. Montross, George A. Duncan, Richard S. Gates

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A condensation sensing and control system was designed to detect condensation using a commercially available leaf wetness sensor (LWS). The leaf wetness sensor was a variable resistance grid-type that responded to moisture on the surface. A circuit was developed to compare the LWS voltage output to a user specified reference voltage, and operate a relay for possible switching of a humidity control device (for example a fan and/or heater). The condensation detection system operation was validated in an environmental chamber in the laboratory using a heat exchanger and water bath. Condensate was immediately detected when the plate was cooled below …

Effect Of Flow Agent Addition On The Physical Properties Of Ddg With Varying Moisture Content Soluble Percentages, Vykundeshwari Ganesan, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) is widely recognized as a highly nutritious animal feed ingredient. With the exponential growth of the fuel ethanol industry in the past several years, significant quantities of distillers' grains are now being produced. To effectively utilize these feeds in the domestic market, however, these coproduct streams are increasingly being transported greater distances, and must be stored in various structures until final use. Unfortunately, DDGS flow is often problematic, as it frequently becomes restricted by caking and bridging during storage and transport. This issue may arise from a number of factors, including storage moisture, temperature, …

Physical Properties Of Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (Ddgs), Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

The production of corn-based ethanol in the U.S. is dramatically increasing, and consequently so is the amount of coproduct materials generated from this processing sector. These streams are primarily utilized as livestock feed, which is a route that provides ethanol processors with a substantial revenue source and significantly increases the profitability of the production process. With the construction and operation of many new plants in recent years, these residuals do, however, have much potential for value-added processing and utilization in other sectors as well. Extensive research has been conducted into determining the nutritional properties of distillers dried grains with solubles …

Modeling Extrusion Processing Of Aquaculture Feed Incorporating Distillers Grains, Nehru Chevanan, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Kurt A. Rosentrater, James L. Julson

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Three ingredient blends were prepared containing 20%, 30% and 40% DDGS and the net protein adjusted to 28% were formulated and extruded in a single screw extruder. Modeling of the viscosity of dough in the barrel by restricting the reference viscosity has shown shear thinning behavior, and the R2 value obtained between the apparent viscosity calculated by the concentric cylinder method, and viscosity calculated by the model equation, was found to be over 0.99. Increasing the DDGS content had resulted in higher mass flow rate and decreased absolute pressure inside the die. The torque requirement at 40% DDGS was also …

Sorption Isotherm Characteristics Of Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (Ddgs), Vykundeshwari Ganesan, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) is widely recognized as a highly nutritious animal feed ingredient. With the exponential growth of the fuel ethanol industry in the past several years, significant quantities of distillers grains are now being produced. To effectively utilize these feeds in the domestic market, however, these coproduct streams are increasingly being transported greater distances, and must be stored in various structures until final use. Unfortunately, DDGS flow is often problematic, as it frequently becomes restricted by caking and bridging during storage and transport. This issue may arise from a number of factors, including storage moisture, temperature, …

Partitioning Of E. Coli And Enterococci Between Planktonic And Sorbed Phases In Runoff From Pasturelands, Michelle L. Soupir, H. E. Saied Mostaghimi, Elizabeth F. Alphin

Michelle L. Soupir

Pathogens are the leading cause of surface water impairments in Virginia. Currently, Nonpoint Source (NPS) pollution models are most frequently used to determine the maximum allowable loading rates of bacteria from identified sources and they typically simulate bacterial transport to surface waters as a planktonic or free pollutant. Very few models attempt to partition between the planktonic and attached phases primarily because data on bacteria partitioning during overland flow events are currently not available. A field study was conducted to evaluate the partitioning of E. coli and enterococci between the planktonic and attached phases in runoff from pasturelands and to …

Characteristics Of North American Meat & Bone Meal Relevant To The Development Of Non-Feed Applications, Rafael A. Garcia, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Rolando A. Flores

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Unmarketable animal tissues are typically processed by rendering plants, which transform them into meat & bone meal (MBM) or similar products. MBM’s traditional use as animal feed has become increasingly threatened, but MBM has potential for non-feed applications. Development of new products and processes is hindered by lack of reliable data on many of MBM’s chemical and physical properties. MBM samples as well as data on raw material and process were collected from 19 rendering facilities in the United States and Canada. A large majority of the raw material was tissue from cattle, swine and poultry. All facilities surveyed practiced …

Anaerobic Digestion Potential For Ethanol Processing Residues, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Heath R. Hall, Conly L. Hansen

Kurt A. Rosentrater

The production of corn-based ethanol in the U.S. is dramatically increasing, and consequently so is the quantity of byproduct materials generated from this processing sector. These coproduct streams are currently solely utilized as livestock feed, which is a route that provides ethanol processors with a substantial revenue source and significantly increases the profitability of the production process. With the construction and operation of many new plants in recent years, these residuals do, however, have much potential for value-added processing and utilization in other sectors as well. This option holds the promise of economic benefit for corn processors, especially if the …

Effect Of Die Dimensions On Extruder Processing Parameters And Extrudate Properties For Distillers Grains Based Feeds, Nehru Chevanan, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Kurt A. Rosentrater, James L. Julson

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Ingredient blends containing 28% protein with distillers dried grains with solubles, soy flour, corn flour, fish meal, mineral mix and vitamin mix was extruded in a C.W. Brabender single screw laboratory extruder using 7 different die nozzles. The die nozzle diameter (D), length (L) and L/D ratio of the dies were in the range of 2.0 mm to 6.0 mm, 10.0 mm to 30.0 mm and 3.33 to 10.00, respectively. The moisture content of the ingredient mix was varied from 15% to 25% and the temperature of the transition zone and die section were varied from 100° C to 140°C. …

Improved Sensor For Agricultural Ventilation Fan Monitoring, Matthew J. Darr, Lingying Zhao, Christopher Gecik, Ji-Qin Ni

Matthew J. Darr

A new sensor for monitoring the continuous operation of exhaust fans in confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) was developed and tested. The sensor relies on integrated Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (iMEMS) technology to accurately and reliably detect vibration on the external hood of agricultural fans, caused by the rotation of the fan blade. When coupled with a sensor to measure pressure drop across the fan and an appropriate fan curve, the vibration sensor can enable real-time fan specific collection of emission data from animal housing structures.The sensor integrated an iMEMS accelerometer along with various signal conditioning components to convert the …