Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Linearized Theory Of Peridynamic States, S. A. Silling

United States Department of Energy: Publications

A state-based peridynamic material model describes internal forces acting on a point in terms of the collective deformation of all the material within a neighborhood of the point. In this paper, the response of a state-based peridynamic material is investigated for a small deformation superposed on a large deformation. The appropriate notion of a small deformation restricts the relative displacement between points, but it does not involve the deformation gradient (which would be undefined on a crack). The material properties that govern the linearized material response are expressed in terms of a new quantity called the modulus state. This determines …

Nebraska Statewide Wind Integration Study: Executive Summary April 2008 – January 2010, Enernex Corporation Knoxville, Tennessee, Ventyx Atlanta, Georgia, Nebraska Power Association Lincoln, Nebraska

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Wind generation is a source of electric energy that, in sufficient quantity, can cause concern for the operation of the bulk power system because of the variability and uncertainty of the wind. Most short-term planning and operational functions supporting the electric power grid are centered on supply resources that have capacity attributes – i.e. they can be dispatched (controlled up and down) to a specified power level for a specified period of time. The need to maintain very high levels of system reliability reinforces the preference in operations toward resources having capacity attributes. Wind generation usually has relatively low capacity …

Microbial And Mineralogical Characterizations Of Soils Collected From The Deep Biosphere Of The Former Homestake Gold Mine, South Dakota, Gurdeep Rastogi, Shariff Osman, Ravi K. Kukkadapu, Mark Engelhard, Parag A. Vaishampayan, Gary L. Andersen, Rajesh K. Sani

United States Department of Energy: Publications

A microbial census on deep biosphere (1.34 km depth) microbial communities was performed in two soil samples collected from the Ross and number 6Winze sites of the former Homestake gold mine, Lead, South Dakota using high-density 16S microarrays (PhyloChip). Soil mineralogical characterization was carried out using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron, and Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques which demonstrated silicates and iron minerals (phyllosilicates and clays) in both samples. Microarray data revealed extensive bacterial diversity in soils and detected the largest number of taxa in Proteobacteria phylum followed by Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. The archael communities in the deep gold mine environments were …

Microbial Reduction Of Uranium Under Iron- And Sulfate-Reducing Conditions: Effect Of Amended Goethite On Microbial Community Composition And Dynamics, H.S. Moon, L. Mcguinness, Ravi K. Kukkadapu, A.D. Peacock, John Komlos, L.J. Kerkhof, P.E. Long, Peter R. Jaffe

United States Department of Energy: Publications

There is a growing need for a better understanding of the biogeochemical dynamics involved in microbial U(VI) reduction due to an increasing interest in using biostimulation via electron donor addition as a means to remediate uranium contaminated sites. U (VI) reduction has been observed to be maximized during iron-reducing conditions and to decrease upon commencement of sulfate-reducing conditions. There are many unknowns regarding the impact of iron/sulfate biogeochemistry on U(VI) reduction. This includes Fe(III) availability as well as the microbial community changes, including the activity of iron-reducers during the uranium biostimulation period even after sulfate reduction becomes dominant. Column experiments …

Confinement Resonances In Photoionization Of Xe@C+60, A. L. D. Kilcoyne, A. Aguilar, A. Muller, S. Schippers, C. Cisneros, G. Alna’Washi, N. B. Aryal, K. K. Baral, D. A. Esteves, C. M. Thomas, R. A. Phaneuf

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Experimental evidence is presented for confinement resonances associated with photoabsorption by a Xe atom in a C₆₀ cage. The giant 4d resonance in photoionization of Xe is predicted to be redistributed into four components due to multipath interference of photoelectron waves reflected by the cage. The measurements were made in the photon energy range 60–150 eV by merging a beam of synchrotron radiation with a mass/charge selected Xe@C⁺₆₀ ion beam. The phenomenon was observed in the Xe@C³⁺₅₈ product ion channel.

Valence-Shell Photoionization Of The Chlorinelike Ca3+ Ion, Ghassan A. Alna’Washi, M. Lu, M. Habibi, R. A. Phaneuf, A. L. D. Kilcoyne, A. S. Schlachter, C. Cisneros, B. M. Mclaughlin

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Absolute photoionization measurements were performed for a mixture of ²P^o_3/2 ground-state and ²P^o_1/2 metastable-state Ca³⁺ ions over the photon energy range 65.7–104.6 eV by merging an ion beam with a beam of monochromatized synchrotron radiation. The ionization threshold energy of the ²P^o_3/2 ground state was measured to be 67.063 ± 0.015 eV, which is 0.207 eV lower than the value tabulated in the NIST database. Most of the observed resonances associated with multiple Rydberg series of autoionizing states have been assigned spectroscopically using the quantum defect form of the Rydberg …

Nebraska Water And Energy Flux Measurement, Modeling, And Research Network (Nebflux), Suat Irmak

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Surface energy and water vapor fluxes play a critical role in understanding the response of agro‐ecosystems to changes in environmental and atmospheric parameters. These fluxes play a crucial role in exploring the dynamics of water and energy use efficiencies of these systems. Quantification of the fluxes is also necessary for assessing the impact of land use and management changes on water balances. Accomplishing these goals requires measurement of water vapor and energy exchanges between various vegetation surfaces and microclimates for long‐enough periods to understand the behavior and dynamics involved with the flux transfer so that robust models can be developed …

Testing Of Interactions Between Coal Ash Leachates And Rock Materials For Mine Backfill Evaluations, Colin R. Ward, David French, Leanne Stephenson, Ken Riley, Zhongsheng Li

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

A series of laboratory-based leaching tests has been developed to evaluate the chemical interaction between ash, water and different mine-site rock materials, as a basis for assessing the potential environmental impact of using coal ash as backfill in coal mines. Two different test protocols were used: a two-stage serial batch testing program in which leachate from representative ash samples were allowed to interact separately with relevant rock materials under laboratory conditions, and a single-stage mixed batch testing program in which 50:50 mixtures of the same ashes and rock samples were extracted with water following a similar procedure to leaching tests …

Laboratory Performance Of A Mass Flow Sensor For Dry Edible Bean Harvesters, Rodrigo S. Zandonadi, Timothy S. Stombaugh, Scott A. Shearer, Daniel M. Queiroz, Michael P. Sama

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Due to the importance of yield monitoring, researchers have been developing systems for crops such as tomatoes, forage, sugar cane, citrus, and coffee. A yield monitoring system for pull type dry edible beans harvester has not yet been developed. The goal of this project was to design and test a drive torque measurement device on a clean grain bucket elevator of a dry bean harvester, and evaluate its potential to be used as a mass flow sensor. Tests were conducted in the Yield Monitor Test Facility (YMTF) of University of Kentucky following the recommendation of ASABE Standard S578 (2007) The …

Handbook Of Bioentrepreneurship (Book Review), Joseph R. Bell

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Book review by Joseph R. Bell.

Patzelt, Holger and Thomas Brenner, eds. Handbook of Bioentrepreneurship. New York: Springer, 2008. ISBN 9780387483436

The Handbook of Bioentrepreneurship represents volume 4 in the International Handbook Series on Entrepreneurship.This book is a collection of articles covering the rapidly evolving biotechnology industry.

Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Demonstration Network (Nawmdn): Integrating Research And Extension/Outreach, Suat Irmak, Jennifer M. Rees, Gary L. Zoubek, Brandy S. Van Dewalle, William R. Rathje, Rodney Debuhr, Dan Leininger, Darrel D. Siekman, James W. Schneider, Andrew P. Christiansen

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Maximizing the net benefits of irrigated plant production through appropriately designed agricultural water management programs is of growing importance in Nebraska, and other western and Midwestern states, because many areas are involved in management and policy changes to conserve irrigation water. In Nebraska, farmers are being challenged to practice conservation methods and use water resources more efficiently while meeting plant water requirements and maintaining high yields. Another challenge Nebraska experiences in it's approximately 3.5‐million‐ha irrigated lands is limited adoption of newer technologies/tools to help farmers better manage irrigation, conserve water and energy, and increase plant water use efficiency. In 2005, …

Numerically Predicting Seepage Gradient Forces And Erosion: Sensitivity To Soil Hydraulic Properties, Garey A. Fox, Derek M. Heeren, Glenn V. Wilson, E. J. Langendoen, Amanda K. Fox, Maria L. Chu-Agor

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Research has suggested that streambank seepage can be an important mechanism of bank instability; however, limited information is available on the level of soil characterization necessary to accurately predict seepage gradient forces and erosion. The objective of this research was to quantify the expected range of predicted seepage gradients for various degrees of site characterization. Uncertainty analysis on seepage gradient predictions was performed relative to variability in soil hydraulic properties. A two-dimensional unsaturated/saturated groundwater flow model was used to simulate a homogeneous soil layer for sand and loamy sand soils packed at various bulk densities, ρ_b. A pedotransfer …

Effect Of Magnetron Frequency On Heating Pattern In Domestic Oven, Sohan Birla, Krishnamoorthy Pitchai, Jeyamkondan Subbiah, David D. Jones

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

In this study a computer model was developed to simulate microwave heating of a model food with a range of magnetron frequencies. The range was decided upon performing the frequency spectrum analysis of microwave leakage from the microwave oven. Simulation results showed that the magnetron input as sinusoidal frequency from 2.44 GHz to 2.48 GHz generates different heating profiles. The simulated heating profiles were compared with experimental heating profiles obtained by using an IR camera. None of simulations with individual frequency exactly matches with experimental temperature profile. The closet match between simulated and observed temperature profiles was found with 2.46 …

Opto-Electrophoretic Detection Of Bio-Molecules Using Conducting Chalcogenide Glass Sensors, Zhiyong Yang, Megan K. Fah, Kelly A. Reynolds, Jonathan D. Sexton, Mark R. Riley, Marie-Laure Anne, Bruno Bureau, Pierre Lucas

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Novel telluride glasses with high electrical conductivity, wide infrared transparency and good resistance to crystallization are used to design an opto-electrophoretic sensor for detection and identification of hazardous microorganisms. The sensor is based on an attenuated total reflectance element made of Ge-As-Te glass that serves as both an optical sensing zone and an electrode for driving the migration of bio-molecules within the evanescent wave of the sensor. An electric field is applied between the optical element and a counter electrode in order to induce the migration of bio-molecules carrying surface charges. The effect of concentration and applied voltage is tested …

Extrusion Systems: Components, Qi Fang, Milford Hanna

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

An extrusion system can be very simple to very complex. The complexity, or versatility, of a particular system is determined by the range of feedstocks to be processed, the desired transformations of the feedstocks, and the desired form of the products resulting from the process. These determine the specific design requirements of the various components of an extrusion system.

Chemistry Of Coal And Coal Combustion Products From Kentucky Power Plants: Results From The 2007 Sampling, With Emphasis On Selenium, James C. Hower, Thomas L. Robl, Gerald A. Thomas, Shelley D. Hopps, Margaret Grider

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Kentucky produced over 8 Mt of coal combustion products (CCPs) in 2006, with 30% of the CCPs being utilized, a significant increase from our 1996 and 2001 surveys. As much of the increase is related to increased utilization of flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, the increased production of FGD gypsum coincident with the commissioning of new FGD units and the saturation of the (currently) weak market for new construction, the percentage of utilization may decrease by the time of the next planned survey (2011). The concentration of volatile trace elements in the feed coal and in the pulverizer reject, while associated …

An Investigation Of The Behavior Of Raw Calcareous Fly Ash In Mortar Mixtures, Ioanna Papayianni, Eleftherios K. Anastasiou

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

The behavior of unprocessed calcareous fly ash in cement mortar mixtures is often questionable and unpredictable and that is one of the difficulties in confining these fly ashes within the limits of standards. This work aims at correlating the material characteristics with its behavior in mortar mixtures. An effort is made to understand how three of the reactive constituents; lime (CaO), silica (SiO2), and sulfates (SO3), affect strength and volume stability. Two raw calcareous fly ashes of different composition emanating from the Ptolemaida area, Greece, were systematically tested to define their profile as cementitious agents that could be incorporated in …

Coal Fired Power Station Ash Products And Eu Regulation, Lindon K.A. Sear

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

The UK has a long history of the use of coal fired power station ash products in a range of applications in construction. These range from use in concrete as a cementitious material through to its use as a fill material in embankments. While there have been no environmental problems associated with these uses, environmental regulations emanating from the European Union (EU) are increasingly impacting on the use of these materials. Unfortunately it is not a single set of regulations that are being applied, but three separate and apparently disconnected initiatives; these are Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH), …

Enriched Coal Ash Utilization For Augmenting Production Of Rice Under Acid Lateritic Soil, S. Karmakar, B.N. Mittra, B.C. Ghosh

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

The use of industrial wastes such as fly ash (FA) or rice husk ash (RHA), along with paper factory sludge (PFS), farmyard manure (FYM), and chemical fertilizers (CF), under integrated nutrient management, was studied in acid lateritic soil on rice. Application of combined fertilization sources increased growth, yield attributes, and yield (up to 92.3 and 9.7% over control and CF, respectively) of wet season rice. The uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Co was increased under combined fertilization sources. The study also indicated that such integrated plant nutrition system improved physico-chemical properties of soil …

Erosive Wear In Pipelines At Pneumatic Conveying Of Fine Silicon-Containing Materials, Viacheslav Y. Putilov, Vijay K. Agarwal, Irina V. Putilova

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Erosive wear is a major operational problem in conveying of hard abrasive bulk materials like silica sand, fly ash, coal dust, etc., in pneumatic conveying systems. Erosion results in emergency downtime of pneumatic conveying installations of ash and slag removal and dust-preparation systems at TPPs caused by holes in pipelines. That leads to worsening of technical, economic, and ecological parameters of thermal power plants as a whole. In MPEI, a model of estimating erosion of rectilinear and curvilinear sections of pneumatic conveying pipelines has been developed. To validate the estimating model developed in the MPEI, experimental investigations in the Indian …