Incineration of Municipal Sewage Sludge in a Fluidized Bed Reactor

In the present study reduction of nitrogen oxides using reburning technology, during combustion of sewage sludge (fuel I) and the mixture of sewage sludge, wasted bleaching earth and CaO (fuel II), was carried out. The experimental works were conducted in a laboratory-scale fluidized bed reactor (power up to 10 kW) with application of two types of beds: chemically inert bed (sand) and chemically active bed (CaO). The second combustion (reburning) zone in the reactor was formed by dosing into an area above the bed, additional gaseous fuel (propane). Obtained reduction in emissions of nitrogen oxides in both types of beds was at a level 70% - 79%. Additionally bed of CaO has the desulfurizing effect and also reduces the CO concentration in the exhaust fumes. A significant drawback of active bed is the adverse effect on increase of the primary NO which enters the second combustion zone. The result of this fact is higher NOx emission during combustion of the same fuel in bed of CaO in comparison to the combustion of this fuel in the sand bed, when the same maximum degree of reduction of NOx will be obtained for both types of beds.

The Application of Cellulose Nanocrystals Modified with Succinic Anhydride under the Microwave Irradiation for Preparation of Polylactic Acid Nanocomposites

The aim of this work was to use cellulose nanocrystals that were obtained by hydrolysis in phosphoric acid solution and further modified with succinic anhydride in the microwave field for PLA reinforcement.A series of allbionanocomposites containing unmodified and surface modified cellulose nanocrystals with CNC content in the range of 1–3%_(w.t.) were obtained by melt blending and tested by XRD,SEM,DSC and DMA to investigate the effect of surface esterification of CNCs on the structure,morphology,dynamic mechanical properties of bionanocomposites,as well as phase transitions of PLA in the presence of cellulosic nanofiller.DMA investigations showed the highest increase of storage modulus by ca.7%(335 MPa at 25℃)in the glassy state of PLA for 2%_(w.t.)of unmodified CNC.Though,addition of 2%_(w.t.)of succinylated CNCs caused the highest increase of the onset of glass transition temperature(by 6.2℃)thus widening the temperature range of biocomposite application.The increase of glass transition temperature indicates the strongest interfacial interactions due to improved miscibility of surface modified nanocrystals and thus good dispersion of additive in PLA matrix providing high interface.

Mathematical and numerical modelling of large creep deformations for annular rotating disks

A simulation model is presented for the creep process of the rotating disks under the radial pressure in the presence of body forces. The finite strain theory is applied. The material is described by the Norton-Bailey law generalized for true stresses and logarithmic strains. A mathematical model is formulated in the form of a set of four partial differential equations with respect to the radial coordinate and time. Necessary initial and boundary conditions are also given. To make the model complete, a numerical procedure is proposed. The given example shows the effectiveness of this procedure. The results show that the classical finite element method cannot be used here because both the geometry and the loading （body forces） change with the time in the creep process, and the finite elements need to be redefined at each time step.

A potential engineering solution to facilitate upstream movement of fish in mountain rivers with weirs:Southern Carpathians,the Azuga River

An important aspect in the restoration of longitudinal connectivity in rivers and streams is the implementation of fish migration systems at the upstream of the functional hydraulic structures(weirs,drop structures or river sills).The diversity of these existing structures as well as the different locations of these weirs within the river,watershed and riparian zone challenge the design engineers to find new holistic solutions for fish migration systems.The Azuga River study area requires a new synergistic fish migration design system.Being a mountain area,rapid increase in water level is quite frequent,especially after heavy or prolonged rainfalls and during spring snow melt.Therefore,it is necessary to design a specific system for fish migration to meet this location’s requirements.Due to the characteristics in this location of the Azuga river,the classic fish migration systems would not be functional.The indigenous/mountain trout is considered as the target species in this paper.Although this is a good swimming species,the use of classical systems could,due to exhaustion,prevent and/or reduce the movement of fish upstream of the two weirs(also known as river sills).This new,comprehensive solution,presented in this paper includes:(i)the restoration and stabilization works of the right bank in the weir study area by using biotechnical measures and(ii)the upstream migration system itself-for supporting the migration of fish on the Azuga River.

Protection of groundwater from migration of infiltrates from a chromic waste storage site and methods of treating these infiltrates

This work presents the results of investigations to develop and implement methods to effectively collect and purify infiltrates from heaps, situated in the region of Alwernia near Cracow, where more than 3 million tonnes of waste material resulting from the production of chromium compounds have been stored. It describes a system for the protection of groundwater from these infiltrates which contain 50-400 g m-3 Cr6+, as well as the effectiveness of cheap and simple chemical methods to purify these chromic wastewaters. The infiltrate collection system and the most effective method to decrease the concentration of Cr6+ to a level below 0.1 ppm, as required by Polish and European Union regulations, were implemented in the Alwernia Chemical Works S. A. in the years 1998-1999.

A Modified Sampling Synthesis for a Realistic Simulation of Wind Instruments—The Design and Implementation

Sampling synthesis is one of the most practical and widely used approaches among the various sound synthesis methods used for creating a realistic simulation of acoustic instruments. Using numerous high quality sound samples it is possible to reproduce a sound of almost any musical instrument, including subtle variations caused by the registers of an instrument or through the use of different articulation techniques and dynamic levels. However, this method has some disadvantages. Firstly, with high fidelity reproduction systems, the repeatability of samples becomes quickly apparent for more experienced listeners. This is sometimes manually corrected by switching between several different samples of the same note. Secondly, it is standard approach to record and reproduce each note separately. It prevents samplers from reproducing natural note transitions, making fluent, connected articulations, such as legato, unnatural. Finally, samplers provide a very limited number of sound parameters to control. Therefore, it is difficult to introduce a set of purposeful fluctuations of selected parameters uniquely attributable to human performances. A synthesis system which addresses the aforementioned problems has been developed at the Academy of Music in Krakow (Poland) for a group of wind instruments as part of a symphony orchestra. The system is based on a large collection of non-standard samples. Samples contain short sequences of notes instead of single notes. In order to use them, a number of techniques have been implemented to allow the seamless connecting of recorded sequences and the control of note durations as well as tempo and dynamics envelopes. Decision-making algorithms and signal processing are applied to create melodic figures by choosing, modifying, and connecting fragments of samples, while keeping natural note transitions intact. The problem of mimicking human performances is addressed by implementing a set of performance rules. It allows to introduce context-dependent variations into the regular playback of the material contained in the musical notation to properly shape the expression of musical structures, similarly to that of live performances by musicians. This article presents the main modules of the modified sampling synthesis system designed by us as well as its general structure and principle of operation. The modules are responsible for performing musical score analyses, an automatic selection and connection of sound samples, and the application of performance rules.