Enhancement of Continuous-Feed Low-Cost Solar Distiller: Effects of Various Fin Designs

This study aimed to enhance distilled water production by employing conventional single-slope solar distillers with continuous seawater input. Three solar absorbers—i.e., a flat absorber, an absorber with 10 fins, and an absorber with 15 fins—were designed and examinedexperimentally. The seawater entered the distillers continuously due to gravity. Moreover, the seawater level inside the distillers was kept constant by using a floating ball valve. The overall size of each distiller was fixed at 1136 mm × 936 mm × 574 mm. The performance of the distillers was analyzed and discussed. The average yields of the flat absorber, the absorber with 10 fins, and the absorber with 15 fins were 1.185 L/d, 1.264 L/d, and 1.404 L/d, respectively. The results of the absorber with 15 fins were about 18.5% higher than those of the flat absorber. The experimental results were compared with the established correlations. This new design with increased water yield provides an effective approach for harvesting sunlight in remote tropical regions for small-scale solar desalination.

Motion profile calculation for freeform bending with moveable die based on tool parameters

In freeform bending the desired geometry is created by defined movements of the die while a continuous feed takes place. To compensate the differences and variations in properties of the semi-finished product, the motion profile has to be adjusted. Currently, this calibration is done once before the manufacturing process of a certain profile. Therefore, numerous iterations consisting of bending and measuring certain radii based on a default motion profile are performed. The measured data is subjected to a curve fit, which is not sufficiently suitable for all profiles and materials setups due to the fixed predefined function that is used. Furthermore, the tool setup is not taken in account. This results in wrong kinematics and production rejects. In this work, an enhanced geometrical model is introduced which incorporates tool parameters - such as distances, clearances and positioning aspects - as a starting point for further calculations. Furthermore, different calibration methods are tested and compared to each other using FEM simulations to fit the calculated curve to the actually used specimen. This work establishes the basis for further compensation and calibration strategies in order to improve the handling of varying properties of semi-finished products within the freeform bending process.

The Increase of Ruminant Population Based on Agricultural Waste Potential as Feed in Aceh Tamiang District

Livestock management includes the systems of maintenance, reproduction, and waste utilization. This study aims to examine the potential of feed sources for ruminants (cows and buffaloes) and efforts to maintain continuous feed availability associated with ruminant livestock development strategies. The data used were primary and secondary data of feed sources. Furthermore, the variables observed include cattle and buffalo population, agricultural waste production, digested dry matter (DDM), and carrying capacity. The results showed that Seruway sub-district had the highest population of cattle with 8,378 cows (4,933 ST) or 20.35% while Karang Baru sub-district had the highest population of 70 buffalo (34 ST) or 40.23%. Meanwhile, Manyak Payed sub-district produced the highest agricultural waste with 5,029.32 DDM tons/year while the low district was Kuala Simpang city. Moreover, the commodity that produces the highest agricultural waste is rice which is scattered in all districts with a total of 19,370.65 DDM tons/year. Although the cassava plant was not in all districts, it has the potential of producing 48,154.5 tons/year DDM. Furthermore, the sub-district with a great opportunity was Karang Baru which produces an unutilized potential of 2,718.23 tons/year and a carrying capacity of 2,384.41 (ST/year). This showed that Kejuruan Muda subdistrict has insufficient agricultural waste for cattle and buffalo, therefore, breeders in this sub-district get feed from the plantation and other wastes. Based on the results, Aceh Tamiang district has the potential to increase the ruminants population by utilizing forage feed from agricultural waste.

Intensity of the continuous feed mixing process in the mixer

The physical basis of the mixture formation is analyzed. The study aims to increase the intensity of the process of continuous mixing of feed in the mixer. The basic principles and methods of classical mechanics, mathematical analysis, and statistics were used in this study. The design of the mixer cover in the form of a three-sided box is justified, which eliminates additional resistance to the rotation of the screw due to the impact of the feed masses reflected from the cover. When using a lid in the form of a three-sided box, the mixing quality improves by 4-5% and reaches 93% or more at a capacity of 15 t/h. It is established that the optimal angle of inclination of the reflecting plane of the mixing chamber cover is 31-35° with a screw diameter of 400 mm, the height of the reflecting plane from the screw axis of 350 mm, and a rotation speed of 36.61 s-1. The following indicators of the mixer were determined: the productivity that ensures the mixing quality of more than 90% when mixing green mass and silage with mixed feed - 19 t/h, crushed feed root crops with mixed feed-23 t / h, the speed of the screw - 36.61 s-1.

An Optimized Ustilago maydis for Itaconic Acid Production at Maximal Theoretical Yield

Ustilago maydis, a member of the Ustilaginaceae family, is a promising host for the production of several metabolites including itaconic acid. This dicarboxylate has great potential as a bio-based building block in the polymer industry, and is of special interest for pharmaceutical applications. Several itaconate overproducing Ustilago strains have been generated by metabolic and morphology engineering. This yielded stabilized unicellular morphology through fuz7 deletion, reduction of by-product formation through deletion of genes responsible for itaconate oxidation and (glyco)lipid production, and the overexpression of the regulator of the itaconate cluster ria1 and the mitochondrial tricarboxylate transporter encoded by mttA from Aspergillusterreus. In this study, itaconate production was further optimized by consolidating these different optimizations into one strain. The combined modifications resulted in itaconic acid production at theoretical maximal yield, which was achieved under biotechnologically relevant fed-batch fermentations with continuous feed.

Performance Enhancement of a Sludge Continuous Feed Heat Pump Drying System by Air Deflectors and Auxiliary Cooling Subsystems

This study proposes an improved design for a typical sludge continuous feeding drying system connected with three air-source heat pumps. The system’s performance was further improved using air-deflectors on the drying chamber’s internal sidewalls, enhancing the heat and mass transfer between the conveyor sludge and circulating airflow. In this study, numerical analysis was performed to elucidate the deflector designs on the airflow field and thermal temperature field distributions in the drying chamber. The specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) value was quantified to evaluate the system’s overall improvement during experiments. With a suitable deflector design, the average percent water content in sludge could be further reduced to 22.2% with drying time of 18.3 h, and the SMER value could be enhanced from 1.38 kg/kWh to as high as 1.83 kg/kWh with an increment of 32.44%. Moreover, to prevent overloading and frequent shutdown of the compressors, an auxiliary cooling subsystem was designed to attain stable operational conditions. By the auxiliary cooling subsystem design, the compressors’ shutdown can be avoided, the temperature difference between airflow inlets and outlet of the drying chamber can be increased, and SMER value can be further increased to a value of 1.94 kg/kWh.

An Optimized Ustilago Chassis for Itaconic Acid Production at Theoretical Maximal Yield

Ustilago maydis, member of the Ustilaginaceae family, is a promising host for the production of several metabolites including itaconic acid. This dicarboxylate has great potential as a bio-based building block in the polymer industry, and is of special interest for pharmaceutical applications. Several itaconate overproducing Ustilago strains have been generated by metabolic and morphology engineering. This yielded stabilized unicellular morphology through fuz7 deletion, reduction of by-product formation through deletion of genes responsible for itaconate oxidation and (glyco)lipid production, and the overexpression of the regulator of the itaconate cluster ria1 and the mitochondrial tricarboxylate transporter encoded by mttA from Aspergillus terreus. In this study, itaconate production was further optimized by consolidating these different optimizations into one strain. The combined modifications resulted in itaconic acid production at theoretical maximal yield, which was achieved under biotechnologically relevant fed-batch fermentations with continuous feed.