Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Design, Construction And Evaluation Of A Fueltank/Tool Box Combination, Michael R. Chase Jr

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This project is the design and development of a combination tool box and auxiliary fuel tank built as a single unit, specifically built for a 2000 Ford F250 short bed truck; having a fuel capacity exceeding 50 gallons; meeting federal requirements for motor vehicle fuel tanks; performing as an auxiliary tank using the factory fuel gauge and having a tool box that can carry a wide array of tools. This paper will describe the design considerations, the regulation requirements, the material selection, and the construction process of the combination tool box/fuel tank.

Water Conservation's Role In California Water Transfers, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper describes various irrigation district water transfer projects. Water transfers have been of many types, including agriculture to agriculture, agriculture to urban, and agriculture to environment. In each case that will be described, the unique circumstances of each district will be described. Typical actions include developing a water balance to determine if “wet water” truly exists for conservation, then identifying the sources of that wet water. Subsequent actions include developing designs that will conserve the water, achieving board approval, and constructing and implementing the conservation measures.

Increasing Productivity In Irrigated Agriculture: Agronomic Constraints And Hydrological Realities, Chris Perry, Pasquale Steduto, Richard C. Allen, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Irrigation is widely criticised as a profligate and wasteful user of water, especially in watershort areas. Improvements to irrigation management are proposed as a way of increasing agricultural production and reducing the demand for water. The terminology for this debate is often flawed, failing to clarify the actual disposition of water used in irrigation into evaporation, transpiration, and return flows that may, depending on local conditions, be recoverable. Once the various flows are properly identified, the existing literature suggests that the scope for saving consumptive use of water through advanced irrigation technologies is often limited. Further, the interactions between evaporation …

Next Generation Biofuels And Advanced Engines For Tomorrow’S Transportation Needs, Sandia National Laboratories, Doe Combustion Research Facility, Doe Joint Bioenergy Institute

United States Department of Energy: Publications

In November 2009, Sandia National Laboratories hosted the Next Generation Biofuels and Advanced Engines for Tomorrow’s Transportation Needs Workshop. The event focused on the combined opportunities in biofuels and engines in the transportation sector. The workshop brought together the DOE Combustion Research Facility and the DOE Joint BioEnergy Institute along with oil companies, biofuel developers, engine manufacturers, suppliers, and experts from the university, regulatory, finance, and national laboratory communities. The intersection of biofuels and engines, if properly scaled, can meet a triad of national goals:

• Reduced climate impact

• Economic development

• Energy security through energy diversity

The workshop …

Nutrient And Bacterial Transport In Runoff From Soil And Pond Ash Amended Feedlot Surfaces, John E. Gilley, Jason R. Vogel, Elaine D. Berry, Roger Eigenberg, David B. Marx, Brian L. Woodbury

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The addition of pond ash (fly ash that has been placed in evaporative ponds and subsequently dewatered) to feedlot surfaces provides a healthier environment for livestock and economic advantages for the feedlot operator. However, the water quality effects of pond ash amended surfaces are not well understood. The objectives of this field investigation were to: (1) compare feedlot soil properties, and nutrient and bacterial transport in runoff, from pond ash amended surfaces and soil surfaces; (2) compare the effects of unconsolidated surface materials (USM) (loose manure pack) and consolidated subsurface materials (CSM) (compacted manure and underlying layers) on nutrient and …

Identification Of The [Fefe]-Hydrogenase Responsible For Hydrogen Generation In Thermoanaerobacterium Saccharolyticum And Demonstration Of Increased Ethanol Yield Via Hydrogenase Knockout, A. Joe Shaw, David A. Hogsett, Lee R. Lynd

Dartmouth Scholarship

Three putative hydrogenase enzyme systems in Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum were investigated at the genetic, mRNA, enzymatic, and phenotypic levels. A four-gene operon containing two [FeFe]-hydrogenase genes, provisionally termed hfs (hydrogenase-Fe-S), was found to be the main enzymatic catalyst of hydrogen production. hfsB, perhaps the most interesting gene of the operon, contains an [FeFe]-hydrogenase and a PAS sensory domain and has several conserved homologues among clostridial saccharolytic, cellulolytic, and pathogenic bacteria. A second hydrogenase gene cluster, hyd, exhibited methyl viologen-linked hydrogenase enzymatic activity, but hyd gene knockouts did not influence the hydrogen yield of …

Variability Within Irrigated Fields, Charles M. Burt, Byron Clark

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

In agricultural production and research, it is common to represent fields as uniform areas. For example, fertilizers, soil amendments, and other inputs have traditionally been applied uniformly (or as uniformly as possible) based on estimated needs for the field as a whole (or as an “average”).

Of course, it is also recognized that fields are not truly uniform with respect to soil characteristics, uniformity of applied water, pest pressures, fertility needs, crop growth and yield, and other characteristics. With the emergence and refinement of variable rate application technology, many growers now attempt to maximize returns by “prescribing” variable amounts of …

Use Of Co2 Concentration Difference Or Co2 Balance To Assess Ventilation Rate Of Broiler Houses, Hongwei Xin, Hong Li, Robert T. Burns, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, John W. Earnest

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Ventilation rate (VR) is one of the two key elements for quantifying aerial emissions from animal production facilities. Direct, continuous measurement of building VR can be challenging and impractical under certain circumstances,e.g., naturally ventilated animal housing or a large number of ventilation fans in the building. This study examined the suitability of estimating VR of broiler houses with built‐up litter (mixture of manure and bedding), when supplemental heating was not in use, through either carbon dioxide (CO₂) balance or the relationship of VR to CO₂ concentration difference between exhaust and inlet air. The reference VR was based …

Estimating Water Application Efficiency For Drip Irrigation Emitter Patterns On Banana, Alisson Jadavi Pereira Da Silva, Eugênio Ferreira Coelho, Jarbas Honorio De Miranda, Stephen Ray Workman

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The objective of this work was to evaluate root and water distribution in irrigated banana (Musa sp.), in order to determine the water application efficiency for different drip irrigation emitter patterns. Three drip emitter patterns were studied: two 4-L h^-1 emitters per plant (T1), four 4-L h^-1 emitters per plant (T2), and five 4-L h^-1 emitters per plant (T3). The emitters were placed in a lateral line. In the treatment T3, the emitters formed a continuous strip. The cultivated area used was planted with banana cultivar BRS Tropical, with a 3-m spacing between rows and a …

Final Report For The Link Energy Fellowship, A. Joe Shaw

Link Foundation Energy Fellowship Reports

A sustainable energy future is critical for environmental and strategic reasons. Fossil fuel use has increased greenhouse gas emissions, and continued consumption could adversely change global climate. In addition, the United States must rely on foreign petroleum suppliers, leading to unfavorable trade deficits, instability, and conflict.1 One leading alternative to petroleum used for transportation is ethanol derived from cellulosic biomass.2 A major barrier for biological-based biomass conversion is a cost effective method of releasing sugars from recalcitrant cellulosic biomass by enzymatic hydrolysis. Thermophilic, anaerobic bacteria offer a potential solution, as they produce efficient native hydrolytic enzymes.3 However, all thermophilic bacteria …

Development Of Gis-Based Chemical Distribution Maps From Sprayer Performance Data, Joe D. Luck, Santosh Pitla, Rodrigo S. Zandonadi, Scott A. Shearer

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

Pesticide application is an essential practice on farms in Kentucky where glyphosate resistant crops and no-till farming strategies are becoming more popular. Off-rate pesticide application errors are the result of incorrect concentrations applied to an area of the field and may result from velocity changes along the spray boom while the sprayer is turning, pressure changes across the width of the spray boom, and changes in effective boom height due to undulating terrain. In an attempt to estimate potential errors resulting from sprayer turning movements, a method was developed to compare the differences in application areas between control sections across …

Preferential Flow Path Effects On Subsurface Contaminant Transport In Alluvial Floodplains, Derek M. Heeren, Ronald B. Miller, Gary A. Fox, Daniel E. Storm, Chad J. Penn, Todd Halihan

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

For strongly sorbing contaminants, transport from upland areas to surface water systems is typically considered to be due to surface runoff with subsurface transport assumed negligible. However, certain local conditions can lead to an environment where subsurface transport to streams may be significant, a source of contamination not alleviated by current best management practices (e.g. riparian buffers). The Ozark region, including parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri, is characterized by cherty, gravelly soils and gravel bed streams. Previous research identified a preferential flow path (PFP) at a field site along the Barren Fork Creek in northeastern Oklahoma. With the subsoils …

Cut Crop Edge Detection Using A Laser Sensor, Santosh Pitla, Joe D. Luck, Scott A. Shearer

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

An off-the-shelf low cost laser sensor was tested and evaluated both in laboratory and field conditions. The sensor identified the angular and straight edges of the laboratory test surface and replicated the straight edge profile with an error of 4%. In field conditions, the sensor identified three types of cut crop edges (wheat, alfalfa and corn) and replicated distinct shapes (triangle, curved and rectangular edges). The sensor was tested at two sensor path offset distances and three tractor/sensor speeds (3.2, 6.4 and 9.6 km/h). In all test runs the sensor detected the cut-crop edges. Standard deviations and RMSE values in …

Evaluation Of A Terrain Attribute Model For Locating Areas Suitable For Grassed Waterways In Agricultural Settings, Joe D. Luck, Adam C. Pike, Santosh Pitla, Tom Mueller, Scott A. Shearer

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

Grassed waterways placed in high water flow zones substantially reduce erosion in agricultural fields. A recent study proposed a statistical model for waterway planning for a farm in the Outer Bluegrass physiographic region of Kentucky. The logistic regression model identified where channel erosion was likely to occur based on elevation-derived terrain attributes. The objective of this study was to test their model in fields located in the Western Coal Fields physiographic region where soils differ substantially. Model predictions corresponded well with known areas of concentrated flow (i.e., maps of existing waterways, surface drains, and observations of erosion). The geographic inference …

Guidance Directrix Generation Using Laser Sensors, Santosh Pitla, Joe D. Luck, Scott A. Shearer

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

A sensor array consisting of two laser sensors was utilized to determine the guidance directrix (offset distance-d, heading angle-ø) that are required as reference inputs for an automated guidance system. The sensor array was evaluated in both laboratory and field conditions. Under laboratory conditions the sensor array replicated the physical profile of the target surface with a 4% error in determining the heading angle. Field tests were conducted in two types of crops; corn and alfalfa. The sensor array identified the cut-crop edge profile ahead of the tractor and replicated distinct shapes of the cut-crop edge. RMSE values in determining …

Local Head Loss Of Non-Coaxial Emitters Inserted In Polyethylene Pipe, Osvaldo Rettore Neto, Jarbas Honorio De Miranda, José Antonio Frizzone, Stephen R. Workman

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The design of a lateral line for drip irrigation requires accurate evaluation of head losses in not only the pipe but in the emitters as well. A procedure was developed to determine localized head losses within the emitters by the formulation of a mathematical model that accounts for the obstruction caused by the insertion point. These localized losses can be significant when compared with the total head losses within the system due to the large number of emitters typically installed along the lateral line. An experiment was carried out by altering flow characteristics to create Reynolds numbers (R) from 7,480 …

The In Vitro Characterization Of Chitosan-Plga Nanoparticle/Plasmid Dna Complexes, Hali Bordelon

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Growth Media Ph And Reaction Water Activity On The Conversion Of Acetophenone To (S)-1-Phenylethanol By Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Immobilized On Celite 635 And In Calcium Alginate, Nicholas P. Coleman, Czarena Crofcheck, Sue E. Nokes, Barbara L. Knutson

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Biologically catalyzed reactions often produce enantiomers of the product; however, only one configuration is desired. Reaction conditions are known to affect enantiomer ratios and reaction kinetics, but little is known regarding the effect of processing conditions on whole-cell biocatalysis. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were grown in batch on glucose at pH = 4, 5, and 7, and then immobilized on Celite beads or in calcium alginate beads and used as the biocatalyst for the conversion of acetophenone in hexane to (S)-1-phenylethanol at water activities of 0.37, 0.61, and 0.80. S. cerevisiae was used as a model microorganism for the whole-cell catalyzed …

Perspectives On Energy Policy: Security, Economics, And The Environment, Sandia National Laboratories

United States Department of Energy: Publications

On March 18 and 19, 2009, Sandia National Labo­ratories and the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Sustainability Solutions Institute (SSI) brought together 27 leaders from academia, govern­ment, and the private sector to discuss key energy policy issues and proposed values- and outcomes-based approaches to energy policy. The goal of the workshop was to bring together leaders from diverse backgrounds to identify promising areas for energy policy, based on the understanding of intersecting issues, assumptions, and priorities from the national security, economic, and environmental perspectives.

Participants:  Charles Kennel, University of California, San Diego; Les Shephard, Sandia National Laboratories; Michael Aimone, …

Adsorption And Desorption Of Phosphorus And Nitrogen By Immersed Stalks, John E. Gilley, Bahman Eghball, David B. Marx

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Adsorption and desorption of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) by stalk residues may influence the concentrations of P and N in runoff. A laboratory study was conducted to measure the effects of P and N constituents in solution on adsorption and desorption of P and N by corn, soybean, and wheat stalk residues. Experimental variables included type of stalk material (corn, soybean, and wheat), inorganic nutrients in solution (PO₄-P and NO₃-N; PO₄-P and NH₄-N; NO₃-N and NH₄-N; and PO₄-P, NO₃-N, and NH₄-N), …

90-Billion Gallon Biofuel Deployment Study -- Executive Summary, Sandia National Laboratories

United States Department of Energy: Publications

This study concludes that 90 billion gallons per year of biomass-derived ethanol can be produced and distributed with enduring government commitment and continued technological progress. Specifically, the model projects that 90 billion gallons of ethanol can be produced per year in the U.S.: 15 billion gallons per year from corn ethanol, with the balance from cellulosic ethanol.

Recovery Of Biodiesel Precursors From Heterotrophic Microalga Chlorella Protothecoides, Peter B. Merkle

United States Department of Energy: Publications

This working paper describes an experimental program to assess the suitability of largescale separation processing of algal biomass in aqueous culture. It assumes the possibility of successful large-scale growth of heterotrophic Chlorella protothecoides to produce algal lipid/free fatty acid (FFA) biodiesel precursors.

Evaluation Of Magnetic Meters For Irrigation Pipeline Measurement, Stuart Styles, Bryan Busch

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Magnetic flow meters are used to measure the flow rate of a liquid in a closed pipeline. This type of meter is becoming increasingly popular for measurement with agriculture applications. Electromagnetic meters were tested by the Irrigation Training and Research Center in pipelines located less than the 10 diameters upstream of disturbances with good results. Results show that location guidelines for placing a magnetic meter can be decreased even for turbulent conditions. This paper will discuss how a magnetic flow meter works, advantages and disadvantages of this type of meter, test results, and new guidelines for field applications.

Surface-Initiated Titanium-Mediated Coordination Polymerization From Catalyst-Functionalized Single And Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes, Dimitrios Priftis, Nikolaos Petzetakis, Georgios Sakellariou, Marinos Pitsikalis, Durairaj Baskaran, Jimmy W. Mays, Nikos Hadjichristidis

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Single (SWNTs) and multiwalled (MWNTs) carbon nanotubes were functionalized with a titanium alkoxide catalyst through a Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction. The catalyst-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used for the surface initiated titanium-mediated coordination polymerizations of L-lactide (L-LA), ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) and n-hexyl isocyanate (HIC) employing the “grafting from” technique. ¹H NMR, IR and Raman spectra showed that the precursor catalyst was successfully synthesized and covalently attached on the CNTs surface. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the grafted poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) content could be controlled with time. The final polymer-grafted CNTs were readily dissolved in organic solvents as compared to the insoluble pristine …

Morphology And Deformation Mechanisms And Tensile Properties Of Tetrafunctional Multigraft Copolymers, Yongxin Duan, Mahendra Thunga, Ralf Schlegel, Konrad Schneider, Erik Rettler, Roland Weidisch, Heinz W. Siesler, Manfred Stamm, Jimmy W. Mays, Nikos Hadjichristidis

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Morphology and deformation mechanisms and tensile properties of tetrafunctional multigraft (MG) polystrene-g-polyisoprene (PS-g-PI) copolymers were investigated dependent on PS volume fraction and number of branch points. The combination of various methods such as TEM, real time synchrotron SAXS, rheo-optical FTIR, and tensile tests provides comprehensive information at different dimension levels.TEMand SAXS studies revealed that the number of branch points has no obvious influence on the microphase-separated morphology of tetrafunction MG copolymers with 16 wt % PS. But for tetrafunctional MG copolymers with 25 wt % PS, the size and integrity of PS microdomains decrease with increasing number of branch point. …

High-Pressure Micellar Solutions Of Polystyrene-Block-Polybutadiene And Polystyrene-Block-Polyisoprene In Propane Exhibit Cloud-Pressure Reduction And Distinct Micellization End Points, Winoto Winoto, Sugata P. Tan, Youqing Shen, Maciej Radosz, Kunlun Hong, Jimmy W. Mays

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Micellar solutions of polystyrene-block-polybutadiene and polystyrene-block-polyisoprene in propane are found to exhibit significantly lower cloud pressures than the corresponding hypothetical nonmicellar solutions. Such a cloud-pressure reduction indicates the extent to which micelle formation enhances the apparent diblock solubility in near-critical and hence compressible propane. Concentration-dependent pressure-temperature points beyond which no micelles can be formed, referred to as the micellization end points, are found to depend on the block type, size, and ratio. The cloud-pressure reduction and the micellization end point measured for styrene-diene diblocks in propane should be characteristic of all amphiphilic diblock copolymer solutions that form micelles in compressible …

Feasibility, Economics, And Environmental Impact Of Producing 90 Billion Gallons Of Ethanol Per Year By 2030, Todd West, Katherine Dunphy-Guzman, Amy Sun, Len Malczunski, David Reichmuth, Richard Larson, James Ellison, Robert Taylor, Vincent Tidwell, Lennie Klebanoff, Patricia Hough, Andrew Lutz, Christopher Shaddix, Norman Brinkman, Candace Wheeler, David O'Toole

United States Department of Energy: Publications

This paper addresses a national interest in investigating the potential of displacing a large fraction of U.S. gasoline use by 2030 with ethanol. This study assesses the feasibility, implications, limitations, and enablers of producing 90 billion gallons ethanol per year by 2030. We developed a dynamic supply chain model, the Biofuels Deployment Model (BDM), and conducted sensitivity analyses to determine the parameters that most affect the feasibility, cost-competitiveness, and greenhouse gas impact of large-scale ethanol production. Though we found no theoretical barriers to achieving the stated goal, we identified a number of practical obstacles that need to be addressed. In …

Biomineralization Associated With Microbial Reduction Of Fe3+ And Oxidation Of Fe2+ In Solid Minerals, Gengxin Zhang, Hailiang Dong, Hongchen Jiang, Ravi K. Kukkadapu, Jinwook Kim, Dennis Eberl, Zhiqin Xu

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Iron-reducing and oxidizing microorganisms gain energy through reduction or oxidation of iron, and by doing so play an important role in the geochemical cycling of iron. This study was undertaken to investigate mineral transformations associated with microbial reduction of Fe³⁺ and oxidation of Fe²⁺ in solid minerals. A fluid sample from the 2450 m depth of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling project was collected, and Fe³⁺-reducing and Fe²⁺-oxidizing microorganisms were enriched. The enrichment cultures displayed reduction of Fe³⁺ in nontronite and ferric citrate, and oxidation of Fe²⁺ in vivianite, siderite, and monosulfide …

Uranium Extraction From Laboratory-Synthesized, Uranium-Doped Hydrous Ferric Oxides, Steven Smith, Matthew Douglas, Dean A. Moore, Ravi K. Kukkadapu, Bruce Arey

United States Department of Energy: Publications

The extractability of uranium (U) from synthetic uranium-hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) coprecipitates has been shown to decrease as a function of mineral ripening, consistent with the hypothesis that the ripening process will decrease uranium lability. To evaluate this process, three HFO suspensions were coprecipitated with uranyl (UO₂²⁺) and maintained at pH 7.0 ± 0.1. Uranyl was added to the HFO post-precipitation in a fourth suspension. Two suspensions also contained either coprecipitated silicate(Si-U-HFO) or phosphate (P-U-HFO).After precipitation of the HFOs, at time intervals of 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years, aliquots of each …

Reduction And Long-Term Immobilization Of Technetium By Fe(Ii) Associated With Clay Mineral Nontronite, Deb Jaisi, Hailiang Dong, Andrew Plymale, James K. Fredrickson, John M. Zachara, Steve Heald, Chongxuan Liu

United States Department of Energy: Publications

⁹⁹Tc is formed mostly during nuclear reactions and is released into the environment during weapons testing and inadvertent waste disposal. The long half-life, high environmental mobility (as Tc(VII)O₄⁻) and its possible uptake into the food chain cause ⁹⁹Tc to be a significant environmental contaminant. In this study, we evaluated the role of Fe(II) in biologically reduced clay mineral, nontronite (NAu-2), in reducing Tc(VII) O₄⁻ to poorly soluble Tc(IV) species as a function of pH and Fe(II) concentration. The rate of Tc(VII) reduction by Fe(II) in NAu-2 was higher at neutral pH (pH 7.0) …