Engineering Commons^™

Development Of An Integrated Process Model For Algae Growth In A Photobioreactor, Mehregan Jalalizadeh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While understanding the kinetics of algae growth plays an important role in improving algae cultivation technology, none of the existing kinetic models are able to describe algae growth when more than three growth limiting factors are involved. A model was developed in this study to describe algae growth in a photobioreactor. Two expressions were proposed based on the Monod model to relate the specific growth rate of algae to the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, inorganic carbon and light intensity in the culture media. Algal biomass concentration as a function of time was calculated by solving mass and energy balances around …

Losing The Lake: Development And Deployment Of An Educational Game, Joseph M. Vesco, Katie Gilgen, Anne Paine, Marissa Owens, Michael Nussbaum, Gale M. Sinatra, Sajjad Ahmad, Kent J. Crippen, Sergiu Dascalu, Frederick C. Harris

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

When asked what the top three issues of the Las Vegas region were, the reply was “water, water, water!" This was the result of a survey done a few years ago of Las Vegas Valley TV anchors. The reason for this response is that sustainability of the urban environments requires sufficient water resources as does population growth. With the advent of global climate change, this resource is in danger. Water flow and mountainous ice packs are impacted by this change in climate there by impacting the amount of water the the region. This is compounded over time as the population …

Technical And Economic Assessment Of Adobe As The Primary Building Material On The Water Yield Of A Single Basin Solar Still, Nathan Daniel Manser

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

It is estimated that only one percent of global freshwater is available to humans, with nearly three billion people living in water scarce conditions. Populations living in impoverished settings are particularly vulnerable to water related illnesses, with approximately 2.2 million people dying each year from to waterborne illnesses. This research uses modeling and field studies to assess the quantity, quality, and economics of distillate produced for drinking water from a brackish water source using two single-sloped, single-basin distillation reactors. The reactors were constructed from adobe and concrete in an arid rural community in San Luis Potosí, Mexico and tested from …

Real-Time Change And Damage Detection Of Landslides And Other Earth Movements Threatening Public Infrastructure, Michael J. Olsen, Shawn Butcher, Evon P. Silvia

TREC Final Reports

Geologic hazards such as coastal erosion, landslides, seismic loading, etc. constantly threaten public highway construction and maintenance. Repeat surveys using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS, ground-based LiDAR) enable rapid 3D data acquisition to map, see, analyze, and understand the processes generating such problems. Previously, change detection and analysis between scan surveys was conducted during post-processing upon return to the office, instead of while collecting data in the field. Change detection in the field improves the effectiveness and efficiency of the field investigation. We have developed a new algorithm that quickly geo-references scans upon field acquisition and simultaneously performs change detection by …

Water Quality Monitoring In A Pilot Marine Integrated Aquaculture System, Alex W. Kruglick

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Land based aquaculture systems are growing in popularity, and there is a drive to improve the efficiency of their energy and water systems for both economic and environmental benefit. Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) generally refer to systems that recycle their wastewater streams to be more or less a zero discharge facility. A more sustainable approach is emerging in the form of Integrated Aquaculture Systems (IAS) where maximum utility is realized from the various components so that fresh water use is reduced, water quality is improved, energy use is reduced, and new markets are created or fulfilled. Under a grant from …

Research On Optimization Of Hull Lines For Minimum Resistance Based On Rankine Source Method, Bao-Ji Zhang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In order to obtain the hull form with the excellent resistance performance, the optimal design program of hull lines with the independent intellectual property is developed. An optimal design method is proposed based on the minimum total resistance and on NGA, SGA and NLP. The fore-body is optimized with total resistance as the objective function, (in which total resistance can be expressed as sum of wave resistance and friction resistance), with the parameter of hull form modification function as design variables, with an appropriate displacement as a constraint. At last, the numerical optimization examples for s60 ships are provided, which …

Strength And Fatigue Of Three Glass Fiber Reinforced Composite Bridge Decks With Mechanical Deck To Stringer Connections, Andrew Gleason, Peter Dusicka

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Replacement of the steel grating deck on the lift span of the Morrison Bridge in Portland, OR, will utilize glass fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) panels to address ongoing maintenance issues of the deteriorated existing deck, improve driver safety and introduce bridge water runoff treatment. This report outlines the testing methods and results of an experimental program aimed primarily at evaluating a new open cell deck. While most FRP panels are connected via shear studs that are grouted within isolated pockets, the panels in this case were bolted directly to the steel stringers. Two different FRP deck options were evaluated for …

Lynches Lane Reed & Willow Bed Facility Final Report South Dubin County Council, Liam Mccarton, Sean O'Hogain, Don Mcdonald, Anna Reid

Reports

This final report will present results from a two year study to monitor the performance of a hybrid reed willow bed facility at Lynches Lane, in the administrative area of South Dublin County Council (SDCC). Design specifications for the facility are presented. Monitoring results for a two year period including influent and effluent parameters, rainfall, potential evapotranspiration, and soil classification are also presented and discussed. During the two year monitoring period the system achieved a zero discharge. This report will discuss the potential application of similar systems within South Dublin County Council administrative area. This is in the context of …

Impact Of Lifetime On U.S. Residential Building Lca Results, Can B. Aktas, M. M. Bilec

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Purpose: Many life cycle assessment (LCA) studies do not adequately address the actual lifetime of buildings and building products, but rather assume a typical value. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of lifetime on residential building LCA results. Including accurate lifetime data into LCA allows a better understanding of a product’s environmental impact that would ultimately enhance the accuracy of LCA results.

Methods This study focuses on refining the U.S. residential building lifetime, as well as lifetime of interior renovation products that are commonly used as interior finishes in homes, to improve LCA results. Residential building …

2012 Nebraska Groundwater Quality Monitoring Report

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality: Reports

The 2001 Nebraska Legislature passed LB329 (Neb. Rev. Stat. §46-1304) which, in part, directed the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) to report on groundwater quality monitoring in Nebraska. Reports have been issued annually since December 2001. The text of the statute applicable to this report follows: “The Department of Environmental Quality shall prepare a report outlining the extent of ground water quality monitoring conducted by natural resources districts during the preceding calendar year. The department shall analyze the data collected for the purpose of determining whether or not ground water quality is degrading or improving and shall present the …

Service Life Prediction Of Residential Interior Finishes For Life Cycle Assessment, Can B. Aktas Ph.D.

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Service life of building products has an important influence on life cycle assessment (LCA) results of buildings. The goal of this study was to propose a systematic approach to estimate service life of building products by including both technical and social factors. A hybrid service life prediction method, combining the statistical approach described in American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard G166, with the Factor Method adopted by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 15686 was proposed. In their current forms, the two methods are not suitable to provide accurate lifetime estimates for the wide variety of products that …

Nutrient Supply And Mercury Dynamics In Marine Ecosystems: A Conceptual Model, Charles T. Driscoll, Celia Y. Chen, Chad R. Hammerschmidt, Robert P. Mason, Cynthia C. Gilmour, Elsie M. Sunderland, Ben K. Greenfield, Kate L. Buckman, Carl H. Lamborg

Civil and Environmental Engineering - All Scholarship

There is increasing interest and concern over the impacts of mercury (Hg) inputs to marine ecosystems. One of the challenges in assessing these effects is that the cycling and trophic transfer of Hg are strongly linked to other contaminants and disturbances. In addition to Hg, a major problem facing coastal waters is the impacts of elevated nutrient, particularly nitrogen (N), inputs. Increases in nutrient loading alter coastal ecosystems in ways that should change the transport, transformations and fate of Hg, including increases in fixation of organic carbon and deposition to sediments, decreases in the redox status of sediments and changes …

Interfacing Building Response With Human Behavior Under Seismic Events, Z. Liu, Mehdi Jalalpour, C. Jacques, S. Szyniszewski, J. Mitrani-Reiser, James K. Guest, T. Igusa, B. W. Schafer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The goal of this paper is to model the interaction of humans with their built environment during and immediately following a natural disaster. The study uses finite element simulations to evaluate the response of buildings under input ground motions and agent-based dynamic modeling to model the subsequent evacuation of building occupants in the study area immediately following the seismic event. The structural model directly captures building damage and collapse, as well as floor accelerations and displacements to determine nonstructural damage, injuries and fatalities. The goal of this research is to make connections between building damage and occupant injuries, with geographic …

Using Microwave Brightness Temperature Diurnal Cycle To Improve Emissivity Retrievals Over Land, Hamidreza Norouzi, William Rossow, Marouane Temimi, Catherine Prigent, Marzieh Azarderakhsh, Sid Boukabara, Reza Khanbilvardi

Publications and Research

To retrieve microwave land emissivity, infrared surface skin temperatures have been used as surface physical temperature since there is no global information on physical vegetation/soil temperature profiles. However, passive microwave emissions originate fromdeeper layerswith respect to the skin temperature. So, this inconsistency in sensitivity depths between skin temperatures and microwave temperaturesmay introduce a discrepancy in the determined emissivity. Previous studies showed that this inconsistency can lead to significant differences between day and night retrievals of land emissivity which can exceed 10%. This study proposes an approach to address this inconsistency and improve the retrieval of land emissivity using microwave observations …

Monitoring And Modeling To Estimate Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions And Dispersion From Florida Construction And Demolition Landfills To Construct Odor Buffering Distances, Steven Jeffrey Bolyard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emissions of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from construction and demolition (C & D) landfills can result in odors that are a significant nuisance to nearby neighborhoods and businesses. As Florida’s population continues to grow and create development pressures, housing is built closer to existing landfills. Additionally, new landfills will be created in the future. This research project was undertaken to develop a detailed modeling methodology for use by counties and other landfill owners to provide them with an objective and scientifically defensible means to establish odor buffer zones around C & D landfills. A technique for estimating methane (and odorous gas) …

P96. Three-Dimensional Morphometry Of Human Cervical Endplates, Rebecca A. Wachs, Victoria M. Michna, Eric H. Ledet

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Degeneration of the cervical intervertebral disc is the underlying cause for many patients suffering from neck and upper extremity pain. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and cervical disc replacements are common, but next generation implants and less invasive surgical techniques are predicated on a comprehensive characterization of cervical endplate morphology. To date, cervical endplate morphometry has not been described in detail, and age-related and gender- dependent differences have not been characterized.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this research were to measure cervical endplate morphometry in both men and women across three decades of life and characterize age, gender, and …

Field Performance Evaluation Of A Ventilation System: A Swine Case Study, Jay D. Harmon, Michael C. Brumm, Larry D. Jacobson, Stephen H. Pohl, David R. Stender, Richard R. Stowell

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Swine finishing facility ventilation has become relatively complex and is often mismanaged as a system. One of the few ways to truly understand these systems is to spend time systematically going through the many components of the building and how they work as a system. To learn to help producers better, a team of university Extension specialists that included agricultural engineers and animal scientists spent an extended period carefully documenting conditions in a deep‐pit swine finishing building with two 1,000‐head rooms. Exhaust fans connected to the manure pit and wall fans were operated at various stages as a negative‐pressure ventilation …

Microstructural And Mineralogical Transformation Of Hydraulically Disposed Fly Ash—Implications To The Environment, Jabulani S. Mahlaba, Elsabe P. Kearsley, Richard A. Kruger

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Increasing amounts of coal are combusted annually to meet the ever-increasing energy demands. The inevitable by-products include fly ash and saline effluents, which require acceptable disposal. The aim of this article is to compare the effect of hydraulic disposal with dry ash dumping. The results indicate that the former carries more environmental benefits based on the physical, chemical, and mineralogical aspects that were investigated.

Cordyline Fruticosa Growth And Soil Microbial Quality With Topical Application Of Coal Combustion By-Products Aggregates, Sangchul Hwang, Isomar Latorre, Eileen Irizarry

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Coal combustion by-products aggregates (CCAs) are a solidified composite of fly and bottom ashes (2:1, by wt). Here, we assessed the feasibility of beneficial use of CCAs as a soil amendment or conditioner by conducting an outdoor experiment with Cordyline fruticosa (lucky plant) to determine its growth and soil microbial quality under the influence of topical CCA application (95 tons ha21). Enhanced growth of C. fruticosa with CCA application was noted, with respect to plant height, growth rate, leaf size, and leaf chlorophyll intensity. Soil dehydrogenase activity and total heterotrophic bacteria count were greater with topical CCA application, especially in …

Influence Of Activator Solution Formulation On Fresh And Hardened Properties Of Low-Calcium Fly Ash Geopolymer Concrete, Carlos Montes, Erez N. Allouche

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

The effect of the composition of activator solutions on fresh and hardened properties of geopolymer concrete was investigated. Research variables included liquid sodium silicate product (DH, NH, and StarH), sodium hydroxide molar concentration (6, 10, and 14), and sodium silicate–to–sodium hydroxide ratio (1, 2, and 3). Response variables were compressive strength, corrosion resistance expressed as remaining compressive strength and mass loss, and flowability. Results were analyzed using Minitab statistical software. Findings suggest that activator solution formulation has a significant effect on the properties of the resulting geopolymer binder. The experimental design used was found effective in establishing the optimum activator …

Mineralogical Transformations In Coal Feedstocks During Carbon Conversion, Based On Packed-Bed Combustor Tests: Part 2. Behavior Of Individual Particles, Ratale H. Matjie, Colin R. Ward, Zhongsheng Li

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Handpicked carbon-rich particles (coal or char), mineral-rich particles (heated stones), and bonded stone aggregates (clinkers) from the upper and lower parts of a pilot-scale packed-bed combustor bed, designed to simulate conversion or combustion processes, were subjected to mineralogical and inorganic geochemical studies, in order to evaluate the reactions that may occur during carbon conversion at a particle-by-particle scale. The mineral matter of the carbon-rich particles was found to have higher proportions of carbonate minerals and kaolinite than the mineral-rich (stone) particles in the coal feedstocks used in the study, and to form phases such as anorthite, gehlenite, pyrrhotite, troilite, and …

Mineralogical Transformations In Coal Feedstocks During Carbon Conversion, Based On Packed-Bed Combustor Tests: Part 1. Bulk Coal And Ash Studies, Ratale H. Matjie, Colin R. Ward, Zhongsheng Li

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Mineralogical and inorganic geochemical studies have been carried out on composite samples of six different coarse-crushed (,120 mm) feed coals tested in a pilot-scale packed-bed combustor designed to simulate conversion and some fixed-bed combustion processes, and also on composite samples of the ashes produced. The mineral matter of the coals consisted mainly of quartz, kaolinite, and Ca-bearing carbonate minerals (calcite, dolomite, aragonite), with minor proportions of illite, pyrite, and several other phases, along with some Ca in an organically associated form. The base to acid ratio of the coal ashes ranged from 0.1 to 0.3, due mainly to variations in …

Potential Indoor Air Exposures And Health Risks From Mercury Off-Gassing Of Coal Combustion Products Used In Building Materials, Christopher M. Long, Sonja N. Sax, Ari S. Lewis

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Coal combustion products (CCPs), including coal fly ash (CFA) and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, have gained accepted use as substitutes for traditional substances in building materials. Because of the presence of mercury (Hg) in CCP materials, some concerns have been raised regarding the potential for Hg to off-gas from building materials into indoor air. Risk assessment offers a well-accepted, objective framework in which to determine whether such off-gassing could result in humanexposures of health concern. We thus conducted a screening-level human health risk assessment to estimate worst-case inhalation risks from indoor air exposures to Hg for multiple CCP utilization …

Quantifying The Benefits Of Using Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum In Sustainable Wallboard Production, Jin Cheol Lee, Sabrina L. Bradshaw, Tuncer B. Edil, Craig H. Benson

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Electric utilities produce more than 11.2 Mt of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum annually. Approximately 7.5 Mt is used in wallboard production. This article examines the environmental and cost benefits associated with replacement of natural gypsum in wallboard with FGD gypsum. A life-cycle analysis program was used to quantify the benefits of using FGD gypsum from electric power production in wallboard construction. Comparisons were made between energy consumption, water use, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with obtaining and processing virgin gypsum material and those with FGD gypsum. The added impact of disposing of the unused FGD gypsum in landfills …

Waste Classification Of Slag Generated In A Pilot-Scale Entrained-Flow Gasifier, Ashleigh Cousins, Robin W. Hughes, David J. Mccalden, Dennis Y. Lu, Edward J. Anthony

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Series of gasification tests have been completed in the pilot-scale entrained-flow slagging gasifier at CanmetENERGY using Canadian coals, oil-sand coke, and blends of these fuels to determine if the produced slags are nonhazardous in nature. Solid wastes generated during these tests were analyzed for their trace metals, crystallinity, and toxic constituent leaching tendency in an attempt to provide more insight into the possibility of disposal or by-product use of gasifier-produced solid waste. The gasification tests were performed at conditions representative of commercial gasifiers using a dry-fuel-feed configuration. The lower-volatility elements were found to partition between the slag and process-water solids …

Evaluating Corrosion Control Alternatives For A Reverse Osmosis, Nanofiltration And Anion-Exchange Blended Water Supply, Rebecca J. Wilder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research reported herein describes the study activities performed by University of Central Florida (UCF) on behalf of the Town of Jupiter Water Utilities (Town). The Town recently changed its water treatment operations from a combination of reverse osmosis (RO), lime softening (LS) and anion-exchange (IX) to a combination of RO, IX and nanofiltration (NF). Although this treatment change provided enhanced water to the surrounding community in terms of better contaminant removal and reduced DBP formation potential, integration of the NF process altered finished water quality parameters including pH, alkalinity and hardness. There was concern that these changes could result …

A Review Of National Msw Generation Assessments In The United States, David J. Tonjes, Krista L. Greene

Technology & Society Faculty Publications

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is generated in very large quantities (probably, between 200 and 400 million tonnes per year) in the United States (US). MSW is generated at millions of places and there is no one precise, general definition for MSW that is generally applied, despite US Environmental Protection Agency efforts. As an element of both commerce and politics, reporting may be framed towards particular ends. Therefore, the two best known assessments of the quantity of US MSW production differ by approximately 50%. The assessors understand some of the reasons for the differences, but our analysis suggests that there are …

Trapping Phosphorus In Runoff With A Phosphorus Removal Structure, Chad J. Penn, Joshua M. Mcgrath, Elliott Rounds, Garey A. Fox, Derek M. Heeren

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Reduction of phosphorus (P) inputs to surface waters may decrease eutrophication. Some researchers have proposed fi ltering dissolved P in runoff with P-sorptive byproducts in structures placed in hydrologically active areas with high soil P concentrations. Th e objectives of this study were to construct and monitor a P removal structure in a suburban watershed and test the ability of empirically developed fl ow-through equations to predict structure performance. Steel slag was used as the P sorption material in the P removal structure. Water samples were collected before and after the structure using automatic samples and analyzed for total dissolved …

Timing Of Residential Electric Loads To Reduce Air Emissions From Power Generation, Michelle Marinich Rogers

Wayne State University Theses

Over the course of a day, power utilities must respond to changing demand by dispatching or shedding output from different generators. Each generator is associated with a unique profile of air emissions, based on the type of fuel consumed, installed pollution controls, and the generator's efficiency. The aim of this study is to determine whether shifting electric demand to times when cleaner generation sources are available would result in overall emissions reduction.

Dynamic wholesale pricing in the electric power market, specifically the Locational Marginal Price (LMP), provides a means to estimate the marginal generator fuel type. This knowledge was used …

An Improved Flood Forecasting Model Of The Blue Nile River In Sudan, Gamal Abdo, Ahmed Nasr

Articles

Reliable flood predictions with a reasonable lead time in the Blue Nile River in Sudan are vitally important to avoid catastrophic damages due to flooding of this river and the main River Nile. A HEC-RAS model was initially applied to the Blue Nile by representing the river as a single reach. The resulting original model was subsequently improved by including the two tributaries of the river, Rahad and Dindir, and also the two existing reservoirs, Rosaries and Sinnar, to the model. The original and the improved models were calibrated using 1988 flood data for the period from June to September …