Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Shear Strength Of Coal Combustion Product By Vane Shear, Wesley J. Herweynen, Christopher A. Bareither, Joseph Scalia

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

The objective of this study was to evaluate the shear strength of a coal combustion product (CCP) by using the vane shear test. A series of small-scale vane shear (SS-VS; diameter = 12.7 mm and height = 25.4 mm) and large-scale vane shear (LS-VS; diameter = 25 mm and height = 50 mm) laboratory tests were conducted. Undrained and drained strength envelopes were determined using consolidated undrained triaxial compression tests, and drained strength was checked via consolidated drained direct shear. In addition, effects of (1) rate of vane rotation, (2) time delay between vane insertion and beginning rotation, and (3) …

Mineralogy And Geochemistry Of Feed Coals And Combustion Residues From Tunçbilek And Seyitömer Coal-Fired Power Plants In Western Turkey, Ali Ihsan Karayigit, Ozlem Yigitler, Seda Iserli, Xavier Querol, Maria Mastalerz, Riza Gorkem Oskay, James C. Hower

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

This study focuses on the enrichment of elements in feed coal (FC) and combustion residues, namely, fly ash (FA) and bottom ash (BA) samples, picked up from the Tunçbilek and Seyitömer coal-fired power plants in western Turkey. The FCs in both plants have generally similar mineralogical compositions, although siderite and dolomite are more prominent in Tunçbilek and feldspar and pyrite are more abundant in Seyitömer. Minerals in the FA from both power plants are mainly quartz, hematite, magnetite, anhydrite, and mullite. Along with quartz, the Fe-oxides are dominant phases in the BA samples. Accessory minerals in the FCs, FAs, and …

Phaselous Vulgaris Growth Under The Influence Of Manufactured Coal Ash Aggregates, Sangchul Hwang, Imiraily Hernandez, Isomar Latorre, Sahid Rosado

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Manufactured coal ash aggregates (MAs) are a 2:1 (w/w) solidified composite of fly and bottom ash. The current study assessed the feasibility of beneficial utilization of MAs as a subsoil substitute for open-pit restoration to phyto-viable land. A series of indoor and outdoor experiments examined Phaselous vulgaris growth under the influence of MAs in the soil environment. With the MAs layer below the topsoil, P. vulgaris showed enhanced growth with respect to shoot height, leaf number, and leaf chlorophyll intensity. Similar growth enhancement was observed when the MAs were mixed with topsoil or applied as a micronutrient source over the …

Using The Conceptual Site Model To Efficiently And Effectively Implement Groundwater Monitoring And Corrective Action At Coal Combustion Residual Sites†, Carla Landrum, Jim Feild, Tim Glover, Alison Dunn

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

On 19 October 2015, the Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals (CCRs) for Electric Utilities final rule (CCR Rule), issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) under Subtitle D of the Recovery and Conservation Act (RCRA), became effective. The Groundwater Monitoring and Corrective Action subsections of the CCR Rule (40 CFR §§ 257.90–257.98) set out strict requirements for groundwater monitoring at the detection and assessment levels, followed by (if necessary) groundwater characterization in support of corrective measures assessment. Since the federal CCR Rule was implemented, the US EPA has proposed and finalized some amendments, and some states have proposed …

The Role Of Ash Mineralogy On Breakthrough Pressure And Contact Angle: A Statistical Evaluation, Jenberu L. Feyyisa, John L. Daniels

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

One method to minimize contaminant leaching from coal fly ash (CFA) involves modifying its surface to become water repellent. Five types of CFA, CFA-1, CFA-2, CFA-3, CFA-5, and CFA-6, were modified by three organosilane (OS) products at different mix ratios. Multiple breakthrough pressure (BP) experiments were conducted for different samples at different mix ratios to identify the performance of the modified surface to resist a positive water entry pressure. The contribution of oxides and minerals in CFA to form a water-repellent surface were analyzed without considering OS effects. Results showed that semi-log–transformed regression models can effectively establish the relationship between …

South Africa’S Power Producer’S Revised Coal Ash Strategy And Implementation Progress, Kelley Reynolds-Clausen, Nico Singh

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

The South African electricity public utility Eskom has embarked on a process to increase utilisation of the ash produced through the electricity generation process at its coal-fired power stations. In the 2014–2015 financial year, 119.2 million tons of coal was consumed, producing 34.4 million tons (28.9%) of ash. About 7% of the Eskom ash is sold from 6 of the 13 coal-fired power stations. Many stations are currently running out of ash storage space, and expansion of the ash disposal facilities is required, which could affect security of supply because of limited ashing areas. Additionally, legislative requirements lead to extra …

Modeling Runoff From Small Agricultural Watersheds In Eastern South Dakota, Bryce Siverling

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The capability to be able to consistently and accurately model any problem has potential time and money savings. The present study aimed to determine if the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Curve Number (CN) model or the more detailed Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) Model can consistently and accurately model runoff events from small agricultural fields in Eastern South Dakota. The overall goal was to better understand models used to predict runoff and determine if they can produce accurate estimates of runoff from the watersheds being studied. Runoff measurements were collected from an agricultural field located south of Coleman, South …

The Effect Of Edge-Of-Field Nutrient Management Practices On Microbial Concentrations In Subsurface Drainage Water And The Associated Risk Of Antibiotic Resistance Dissemination, Sara Mardani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many in-field and edge-of-field management practices have been used to reduce nutrient loads from agricultural fields. The denitrification woodchip bioreactor (WB) is one edgeof- field management practice that has proven to be effective in removing nitrate from subsurface drainage water. The success in nitrate removal achieved with WBs has raised interest in expanding their capabilities for removing other agricultural pollutants, including phosphorus, by using other types of media like phosphorus-sorbing filters or combining these filters with woodchips to remove both nitrate and phosphorus as dual-nutrient removal systems. Despite the extensive research done on WBs and nutrient filter materials, little consideration …

Performance Validation Of A Multi-Channel Lidar Sensor: Assessing The Effects Of Target Height And Sensor Velocity On Measurement Error, Surya S. Dasika, Michael P. Sama, L. Felipe Pampolini, Christopher B. Good

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of sensor velocity and target height above ground level on height measurement error when using a multi-channel LiDAR sensor. A linear motion system was developed to precisely control the dynamics of the LiDAR sensor in an effort to remove uncertainty in the LiDAR position and velocity while under motion. The linear motion system allowed the LiDAR to translate forward and backward in one direction parallel to the ground. A user control interface was developed to operate the system under different velocity profiles and to log LiDAR data synchronous to the …

Evaluation Of Air Movement In Equestrian Facilities And On Equine Athletes, Staci Elaine Mcgill

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Ventilation and air movement are important aspects of animal agriculture and is frequently neglected in equine facilities. This paper discusses three different studies that examine different components of ventilation and air movement. One is a fan orientation study which examines how fans impact the stall environment, the second is a cooling study questioning whether forced air speed across a horse increases the rate of cool out after intense exercise, and the last is a survey examining ventilation, air quality, and health concerns in indoor arenas.

The stall fan study took place over two summers with the goal of determining how …

Evaluating The Influence Of The Forestry Reclamation Approach On The Hydrology Of Appalachian Coal Mined Lands, Morgan F. Gerlitz

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The Appalachian Region is a rich and diverse forest ecosystem impacted by present and past mining activities. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977 was enacted to resolve many of the environmental problems caused by surfacing mining, such as landslides, erosion, flooding, and poor water quality. As with many solutions, this one came with its own set of environmental problems due to compaction and the introduction of aggressive non-native grasses and shrubs altering hydrologic processes and ecosystem function. The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) is a method for re-establishing forested ecosystems on mined lands. This project evaluated the …

Design And Testing Of A Wind Energy Harnessing System For Forced Convective Drying Of Grain In Low Wind Speed, Warm And Humid Climates, Francis Akumabi Agbali

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Forced convective drying using a wind turbine mechanically connected to a ventilation fan was hypothesized for low cost and rapid grain drying in developing countries. The idea was tested using an expandable wind turbine blade system with variable pitch, at low wind speeds in a wind tunnel. The design was based on empirical and theoretical models embedded in a graphical user interface (GUI) created to estimate airflow-power requirements for drying ear corn. Output airflow (0.0016 - 0.0052 m³kg^-1s^-1) increased within the study wind speed range (2.0 - 5.5 m/s). System efficiency peak (8.6%) was …

Removing Vehicle Speed From Apparent Wind Velocity, Austin M. Weiss

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Variable-rate technologies for sprayer applications stand to increase efficacy by ensuring the right amount of chemical is applied at the right location. However, external environmental factors such as droplet drift caused by variable ambient condition, are not yet integrated into modern sprayer systems. Real-time wind velocity measurements can be used to control droplet spectra for reducing spray drift by actuating a variable-orifice nozzle. This work aimed to develop data processing methods needed to filter noise and remove vehicle speed from wind velocity measurements collected with an ultrasonic anemometer aboard a moving platform. Using a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), vehicle …

Lignin-Derived Carbon And Nanocomposite Materials For Energy Storage Applications, Wenqi Li

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

With a growing demand for electrical energy storage materials, lignin-derived carbon materials have received increasing attention in recent years. As a highly abundant renewable carbon source, lignin can be converted to a variety of advanced carbon materials with tailorable chemical, structural, mechanical and electrochemical properties through thermochemical conversion (e.g. pyrolysis). However, the non-uniformity in lignin structure, composition, inter-unit linkages and reactivity of diverse lignin sources greatly influence lignin fractionation from plant biomass, the pyrolysis chemistry, and property of the resulting carbon materials.

To introduce a better use of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels and co-products, it is necessary to find novel …

Actual Evapotranspiration And Crop Coefficients Of Irrigated Lowland Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Under Semiarid Climate, Koffi Djaman, Daran R. Rudnick, Yonnelle D. Moukoumbi, Abdoulaye Sow, Suat Irmak

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Lowland irrigated rice is the predominant crop produced in the Senegal River Valley characterized by very low annual rainfall, high temperatures, and low relative humidity. The Senegal River is shared by Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, and Guinea, and serves as the main source of irrigation water for the adopted double rice cropping system. Developing appropriate resource management strategies might be the key factor for the sustainability of rice production in the region. This study aims to estimate rice seasonal evapotranspiration (ETa), irrigation water requirement, and to develop rice growth stage specific crop coefficients (Kc) to improve rice water productivity. Field experiments …

Metabolic Compounds Within The Porcine Uterine Environment Are Unique To The Type Of Conceptus Present During The Early Stages Of Blastocyst Elongation, Sophie C. Walsh, Jeremy R. Miles, Linxing Yao, Corey D. Broeckling, Lea A. Rempel, Elane C. Wright-Johnson, Angela K. Pannier

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to identify metabolites within the porcine uterine milieu during the early stages of blastocyst elongation. At Days 9, 10, or 11 of gestation, reproductive tracts of White cross‐bred gilts (n = 38) were collected immediately following harvest and flushed with Roswell Park Memorial Institute‐1640 medium. Conceptus morphologies were assessed from each pregnancy and corresponding uterine flushings were assigned to one of five treatment groups based on these morphologies: (a) uniform spherical (n = 8); (b) heterogeneous spherical and ovoid (n = 8); (c) uniform ovoid (n = 8); (d) heterogeneous …

Conditioning Of Velocity Profiles In Pipelines, Charles M. Burt, Pascal Hellmann, Zachary Markow

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper reports on the testing of a relatively simple flow conditioner for pipelines. This research found that a pipeline velocity flow conditioner that is constructed with an internal cone, having an inside diameter of 80 percent of the pipeline ID, provided the best results. It provided good velocity conditioning at a distance of two diameters downstream of an obstruction. The minor loss is equal to the velocity head of the flow in the original pipeline diameter.

Fuzzy Control System For Variable Rate Irrigation Using Remote Sensing, Willians Ribeiro Mendes, Fábio Meneghetti U. Araújo, Ritaban Dutta, Derek M. Heeren

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Variable rate irrigation (VRI) is the capacity to spatially vary the depth of water application in a field to handle different types of soils, crops, and other conditions. Precise management zones must be developed to efficiently apply variable rate technologies. However, there is no universal method to determine management zones. Using speed control maps for the central pivot is one option. Thus, this study aims to develop an intelligent fuzzy inference system based on precision irrigation knowledge, i.e., a system that can create prescriptive maps to control the rotation speed of the central pivot. Satellite images are used in this …

Design Of Plant Protection Uav Variable Spray System Based On Neural Networks, Sheng Wen, Quanyong Zhang, Xuanchun Yin, Yubin Lan, Jiantao Zhang, Yufeng Ge

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Recently, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have rapidly emerged as a new technology in the fields of plant protection and pest control in China. Based on existing variable spray research, a plant protection UAV variable spray system integrating neural network based decision making is designed. Using the existing data on plant protection UAV operations, combined with artificial neural network (ANN) technology, an error back propagation (BP) neural network model between the factors affecting droplet deposition is trained. The factors affecting droplet deposition include ambient temperature, ambient humidity, wind speed, flight speed, flight altitude, propeller pitch, nozzles pitch and prescription value. Subsequently, …

Free Polyethylenimine Enhances Substrate-Mediated Gene Delivery On Titanium Substrates Modified With Rgd-Functionalized Poly(Acrylic Acid) Brushes, Amy Mantz, Alice Rosenthal, Eric Farris, Tyler Kozisek, Eva Bittrich, Saghar Nazari, Eva Schubert, Mathias Schubert, Manfred Stamm, Petra Uhlmann, Angela K. Pannier

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Substrate mediated gene delivery (SMD) is a method of immobilizing DNA complexes to a substrate via covalent attachment or nonspecific adsorption, which allows for increased transgene expression with less DNA compared to traditional bolus delivery. It may also increase cells receptivity to transfection via cell-material interactions. Substrate modifications with poly(acrylic) acid (PAA) brushes may improve SMD by enhancing substrate interactions with DNA complexes via tailored surface chemistry and increasing cellular adhesion via moieties covalently bound to the brushes. Previously, we described a simple method to graft PAA brushes to Ti and further demonstrated conjugation of cell adhesion peptides (i.e., RGD) …