Engineering Commons^™

Organic Solar Cell By Inkjet Printing—An Overview, Sharaf Sumaiya, Kamran Kardel, Adel El-Shahat

Manufacturing Engineering: Faculty Publications (2015-2023)

In recent years, organic solar cells became more attractive due to their flexible power devices and the potential for low-cost manufacturing. Inkjet printing is a very potential manufacturing technique of organic solar cells because of its low material usage, flexibility, and large area formation. In this paper, we presented an overall review on the inkjet printing technology as well as advantages of inkjet-printing, comparison of inkjet printing with other printing technologies and its potential for organic solar cells (OSCs). Here we highlighted in more details about the viability of environment-friendly and cost-effective, non-halogenated indium tin oxide (ITO) free large scale …

Discovery Canada Films At Water Lab | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Production crews for Discovery Canada were at the Utah Water Research Lab on Wednesday producing an upcoming TV special about the Oroville Dam spillway model.

Experimental Study And Modeling Of Smart Loss Circulation Materials; Advantages And Promises, Ahmed Khaled Abdelmaksoud Mansour

LSU Master's Theses

Lost circulation occurs when mud or cement is lost to the formation while drilling. Lost circulation has been a huge problem and may cause heavy financial costs in the form of lost rig time, mud fluid and in severe cases, well blowout with serious environmental and safety consequences. Despite extensive advances in the last couple of decades, lost circulation materials used today still have disadvantages such as damaging production zones, plugging drilling tools or failing to seal the fractures. Here, we propose a new class of smart expandable lost circulation material (LCM) to remotely control the expanding force and functionality …

Applications Of Cfd Simulations On Chemical Processing Equipment Designs, Gongqiang He

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The objective of this work is to achieve process intensification by seeking optimal equipment design with CFD investigations. In this work, two projects on chemical equipment design have been discussed.

The first project is on design and optimization of fractal distributor in a novel ion-exchanger. Flow distributors are adopted extensively by chemical industry to distribute an incoming process stream uniformly to the downstream equipment. Currently, the performance of chemical equipment installed with conventional distributor is severely undermined due to poor flow distribution. For conventional distributors such as spray nozzle distributors, their design concept is based on maintaining very high pressure …

Pltw Female High-School Students' Supports And Barriers In Choosing A College Degree, Lisa Lubin Rubin

Dissertations

Purpose:The purpose of this mixed-methods research study is to identify and describe the barriers and supports that PLTW female students encounter when pursuing a non-traditional female STEM degree upon graduation from high school.

Methodology:A mixed-method (qualitative-quantitative) research design was chosen for this study to explore barriers and supports of female high-school seniors in PLTW. The qualitative portion of the study was phenomenology. This study explored the supports and barriers of female high-school seniors in PLTW courses when choosing a college degree. The quantitative portion of the study was conducted via a hard-copy survey containing closed-ended five-point Likert scale …

Examining The Learning Effects Of Live Streaming Video Game Instruction Over Twitch, Katherine Payne, Mark J. Keith, Ryan M. Schuetzler, Justin Scott Giboney

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Faculty Publications

Technology facilitates advances in learning and drives learning paradigms. One recent innovation is Twitch™, an online streaming platform often used for video game tutorials but also enables amateur online instruction (Hamilton, Garretson, & Kerne, 2014)). Twitch represents a unique learning paradigm that is not perfectly represented in previous technologies because of its “ground-up” evolution and the opportunity for novice instructors to educate mass audiences in real-time over the Internet while enabling interaction between teachers and learners and among learners. The purpose of this research is to empirically examine the efficacy of Twitch as a learning platform by manipulating each of …

Rapid Thermocycler System For Rapid Amplification Of Nucleic Acids And Related Methods, Joel R. Termaat, Scott E. Whitney, Hendrik J. Viljoen, Matthew R. Kreifels

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Patents

A thermocycling device and method of operating a thermocycler instrument, the instrument including a sample holder, at least one thermal cycling element, and at least one first and second temperature sensors, for causing the sample holder containing the at least one sample to undergo polymerase chain reaction amplification by repeated cycling between at least a denaturation heating stage and an aunealing cooling stage. The first temperature corresponding with the temperature of the sample holder is monitored using the at least one first temperature sensor, and a second temperature corresponding with the temperature external of the sample holder is monitored using …

Characterization Of Asphalt Healing And Incorporation In A Fatigue Damage Model, Umme A. Mannan

Civil Engineering ETDs

Healing is defined as the restoration of the material property during the rest period after damage. The healing property of the asphalt binder is opposite to fatigue damage, which occurs due to repeated traffic loading. On the other hand, healing occurs in the rest period between loading. Most of the existing methods for characterizing the fatigue damage and healing of asphalt are empirical in nature and do not consider the mechanism of healing. Although the asphalt concrete is a mixture of asphalt binder, fines and aggregates, most of the healing occurs in the asphalt binder. Therefore, it is important to …

Effect Of Bottom Friction, Wind Drag Coefficient, And Meteorological Forcing In Hindcast Of Hurricane Rita Storm Surge Using Swan + Adcirc Model, Muhammad K. Akbar, Simbarashe Kanjanda, Abram Musinguzi

Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty Research

An evaluation of the effect of bottom friction, wind drag coefficient, and meteorological forcing is conducted using a tightly coupled wave and circulation model, SWAN + ADCIRC (i.e., Simulating WAves Nearshore + ADvanced CIRCulation), to hindcast the storm surge of Hurricane Rita (2005). Wind drag coefficient formulations of Powell, Zijlema, and Peng & Li are used to calculate wind stresses. Bottom friction and wind drag coefficients are systematically increased and decreased to quantify their impacts on the hindcast. Different meteorological forcing options are applied to study the effect of wind fields on storm surge development and propagation. Simulated water levels …

A Decision Making Tool For Incorporating Sustainability Measures In Rigid Pavement Design, Neveen Samy Talaat Soliman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

One of the most important tools in assessing rigid pavement design sustainability (or environmental impact) is a lifecycle assessment (LCA), which may be applied in any stage of a product’s lifecycle from cradle to grave, such as pavements. Although LCA was the focus of much research and codification by organizations such as the International Organization for Standards and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, limitations exist, such as a) LCA is time consuming; and b) the used data may become outdated, inaccurate, biased, incomplete, and/or expensive to use. These limitations are not a deficiency in LCA as a tool, …

Data-Driven Abstraction, Vivian Mankau Ho

LSU Master's Theses

Given a program analysis problem that consists of a program and a property of interest, we use a data-driven approach to automatically construct a sequence of abstractions that approach an ideal abstraction suitable for solving that problem. This process begins with an infinite concrete domain that maps to a finite abstract domain defined by statistical procedures resulting in a clustering mixture model. Given a set of properties expressed as formulas in a restricted and bounded variant of CTL, we can test the success of the abstraction with respect to a predefined performance level. In addition, we can perform iterative abstraction-refinement …

Thermocatalytic-Reforming (Tcr®) And Tcr®-Biochar Properties, Markus Heberlein, Fabian Stenzel, Andreas Hornung

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

The thermo-catalytic reforming (TCR®) is an endothermic two stage process developed by Fraunhofer UMSICHT, able to process biomass and biomass residues with high ash and moisture contents as well as with low ash melting points. The process is a combination of an intermediate pyrolysis reactor and a reforming stage. The pyrolysis stage is typically running at temperatures between 400 and 500 °C and the reforming stage between 600 and 700 °C. In the first stage pyrolysis vapors and biochar are produced. In the second stage the vapors has to pass a continuous removed biochar bed in the reformer where they …

Autothermal Biochar Production And Characterization At Pilot Scale, Andrea M. Rizzo, Marco Pettorali, Lorenzo Bettuci, Giulia Lotti, Renato Nistri, David Chiaramonti

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

The present work reports on the results from the validation campaign of an autothermal pilot carbonization unit (CarbON) and on the characterization of the produced biochar and pyrolysis vapors. The proposed pilot plant leverages the simplicity and effectiveness of autothermal operations together with open top, downdraft design, to bring to the small scale the performance of larger installations. In autothermal operation, heat for the process is internally provided by combusting part of the feedstock and evolved volatiles inside the reactor, the so called “oxidative pyrolysis”.

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Conference Program, Franco Berruti, Ondrej Masek, Raffaella Ocone

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

No abstract provided.

Biochar: From Ligno-Cellulosic Materials To Engineered Products For Environmental Services, Manuel Garcia-Perez

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Abstract is not available.

Behavioral Factors Affecting The Adoption Of Biochar Of Farmers In Canada, Maren Oelbermann

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar is a promising carbon-based soil amendment with ancient, South American roots. Despite its long history, research surrounding its use in modern agriculture has only just begun in North America. There are several studies examining biochar in soil, ranging from its effects on nutrient and water retention to the way it affects earthworms and other organisms. However, our understanding on the socioeconomic implications of using biochar as a soil amendment in temperate agriculture remains scarce. Our research aims to fill this gap through semi-structured interviews with farmers and the completion of an economic analysis based on market values of biochar …

Life Cycle Assessment Of Biochar Production From Southern Pine, Sudhagar Mani, Yu Qiu

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar, a major co-product from the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass is rich in carbon and is often used as a soil amendment to promote crop production and as a soil carbon sequestration medium to maintain long-term soil health of marginal lands. Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen to primarily produce bio-oil with biochar being a co-product. Biochar is also primarily produced from wood logs using conventional carbonization methods (eg. Missouri kilns). For sustainable production of biochar, the most sustainable production route is important for large-scale production of biochar for soil carbon sequestration applications. The …

Developing A Method Of Accounting For The Material Use Of Biomass/Biochar And Its Positive Side Benefits Within The Company Carbon Footprint: A Case Study At Hochschule Geisenheim University, Georg Ardissone, Claudia Kammann

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

The federal state of Hesse announced the aim to achieve a „CO₂-neutral administration“. In this context, the carbon footprint (CF) of the 16 universities in the federal area has been accounted. The CF by common units (kg CO₂ per student or square meter) of the Hochschule Geisenheim University (HGU) is comparably high, due to the campus’ structure with (monument protected) building stock, a big share of greenhouses integrated into the campus and a comparably small number of students (Müller & Person, 2015, S. 27ff).

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Evaluation Of The Long-Term Effects Of Pre-Conditioned Biochar On Soil Organic Carbon In Temperate Soils Using The Century Soil Organic Matter Model, Maren Oelbermann

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar contains a limited quantity of available mineral nutrients, requiring its addition in large quantities, in temperate soils, and in association with nitrogen (N) fertilizer and/or manure. Alternatively, biochar could be pre-conditioned with urea ammonium nitrate (UAN-enriched biochar), requiring lower inputs of biochar. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term (150 years) impact of the addition of UAN-enriched biochar on soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil active, slow and passive carbon (C) fractions compared to other commonly used agroecosystem management practices in a coarse and medium textured soil using the Century Soil Organic Matter Model.

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Overview Of Biochar For Electrochemistry Applications, Capucine Dupont

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Abstract is not available.

Pyrolytic Temperature Evaluation Of Macauba Biochar For Uranium Adsorption From Aqueous Solutions, Sabine Neusatz Guilhen, Nilce Ortiz, Denise Alves Fungaro, Ondrej Masek

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) is a palm tree native to the tropical regions of America. In Brazil, it is prevalent in the savannah, known as “cerrado”. A valuable natural and renewable source of vegetable oil for food and cosmetic industries (nut oil) and for biodiesel (mesocarp oil), macauba has the potential to become the new “green gold” of Brazil, not only for its oil quality, but because it could solely be destined for commercial purposes, since it doesn’t compete with food market industry such as soybean and sugar cane. The dark stiff part that protects the nut, called “endocarp”, is generated …

Thermal Evolution Of Biochar And Its Physicochemical Properties During Hydrothermal Gasification, Sonil Nanda, Ajay K. Dalai, Franco Berruti, Janusz A. Kozinski

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar is a recalcitrant carbonaceous material obtained from pyrolysis and gasification of biomass and other biogenic wastes. Some of the promising biochar applications to be discussed in this presentation includes char gasification and combustion for energy production, soil remediation, carbon sequestration, catalysis, and development of activated carbon and specialty materials with biomedical and industrial uses. Several factors such as pyrolysis/gasification temperature, heating rates and residence time are the limiting factors that determine the biochar properties such as fixed carbon, volatile matter, mineral matter, surface area, porosity and pore size distribution, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, cation-exchange capacity, etc. This paper will comprehensively …

Can Biochar Link Forest Restoration With Commercial Agriculture?, David C. Smith, Kristin Trippe

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

For the potential benefits of biochar to be fully realized, it must be produced economically in high volumes and close to stable markets. The author is part of a research team conducting an examination of the economic feasibility of linking forest restoration with commercial agriculture in a specific region of Oregon, USA through large-scale production of biochar made from forest biomass at a dedicated plant site. The focus of this presentation is the biochar production economics and carbon impacts associated with two different biochar conversion technologies, four different biochar plant configuration scenarios, and 2 potential plant locations.

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The Influence Of Biochar On Soil Characteristics In A Temperate Agroecosystem, Maren Oelbermann

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

While biochar as a soil amendment is not a novel concept, the addition of biochar to temperate agricultural soils represents a relatively new territory. The objectives of this study were to evaluate soil characteristics in a conventional temperate agricultural production system amended with biochar under a maize (Zea mays) crop in southern Ontario, Canada. The treatments include: poultry manure (6 t/ha) and nitrogen fertilizer (135 kg/ha) (MN); manure (3t/ha) and biochar (3t/ha) (MB); and manure (3 t/ha), fertilizer (urea) (135 kg/ha) and biochar (3 t/ha) (MNB).

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Characteristic Studies On The Waste Biomass-Based Biochars Produced By Fast Pyrolysis, Ramin Azargohar, Sonil Nanda, Janusz A. Kozinski, Ajay K. Dalai, Ronny Sutarto

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar, as carbonaceous product obtained from pyrolysis of biomass, has many applications in diverse areas due to its versatile physicochemical properties. Non-food biomass has a great potential to produce biochars. In the present study, pinewood sawdust (forest residue), wheat straw and flax straw (agricultural residues), and poultry litter (livestock manure) were used as precursors for pyrolysis. Focus of this study was on the effects of fast pyrolysis temperature (400, 475, and 550 ^oC) on the characteristics of biochars produced by means of a mobile pyrolysis unit. Different characterization techniques are used to study the physical, chemical, and structural characteristics …

Arsenic Removal From Drinking Water By Means Of Low Cost Biochars Derived From Miscanthus And Coconut Shell, Tommaso Marengo, Silvia Fiore, Cedric Briens, Franco Berruti

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Arsenic is a toxic metalloid highly diffused in groundwater because of natural and anthropogenic factors (mainly deriving from mining activities and pesticides). Inorganic arsenic compounds are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Group I (proven carcinogen). Groundwater concentration of As may vary from 0.5 to 5000 μg/L taking into account more than 70 Countries around the world. The most polluted groundwater of the planet was identified in late 1990s in Bengal delta (Bangladesh and Indian region West Bengal).

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Effect Of Biochar Addition On Carbon Dioxide And Nitrous Oxide Emissions From A Temperate Agricultural Soil, Maren Oelbermann

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Amending intensively managed temperate soils with biochar is a more recent approach to agriculture, with research is still in its infancy. A knowledge gap remains on the effect of biochar on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as most studies conducted to date were short-term (<4 months) in the field or used laboratory incubations; neither of which capture temporal variations in emissions. Therefore the objective of this study was to evaluate soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions in a conventional agricultural production system amended with biochar and under a maize (Zea mays) crop in southern Ontario, Canada.

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Adsorption Of Ammonium (Nh4+) Ions Onto Various Vietnamese Biomass Residue-Derived Biochars (Wood, Rice Husk And Bamboo), Nguyen Van Hien, Eugenia Valsami-Jones, Nguyen Cong Vinh, Tong Thi Phu, Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, Iseult Lynch

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

This study evaluates adsorption of ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) ions onto various biochars produced from biomass residues in Vietnam as a function of their physicochemical characteristics. Three biochars, including wood biochar (WBC), rice husk biochar (RBC), and bamboo biochar (BBC), were produced under limited oxygen conditions using Top-Lid Updraft Drum technology at temperatures of 450-550oC. Physicochemical characterization (BET surface area, Cation exchange capacity (CEC), Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) of the biochars was performed in order to link their porosity and surface functional groups with their NH4+-N capture capacities.

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The Effects Of Biochar As A Soil Amendment On Soil Quality And Plant Growth, Ok-Youn Yu

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar is a stable form of recalcitrant carbon created by heating biomass in a low or no oxygen environment. When used as a soil amendment, biochar forms a dynamic substrate which provides numerous benefits, including increasing nutrient availability, increasing soil water retention, improving crop yield, and sequestering carbon for hundreds to thousands of years. However, biochar's effectiveness largely depends on the biomass feedstock and the soil to which it is applied. Individual biochars made from different feedstocks perform differently against each other, and the magnitudes of their effects can be dependent on many factors within the soil. Testing different feedstocks …

Microwave Characterization And Shielding Properties Of Biochar Based Polymers And Cements, Patrizia Savi

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

Abstract is not available.