published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

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Resumo: O trator agrícola é uma das principais fontes de energia e de trabalho no meio rural. A utilização correta de pneus, tanto em relação ao seu tipo quanto a calibração de sua pressão interna, são fatores que influem significativamente no seu desempenho. Outros fatores de regulagem do trator; tais como, a lastragem e a velocidade de deslocamento ideal para cada condição de superfície de solo, são fatores que modificam sua eficiência trativa. Esse trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de comparar o desempenho operacional e energético de um trator equipado com pneus radiais e com pneus diagonais, em três condições de lastragem líquida (0%, 37,5% e 75% de água), três condições superficiais de um Nitossolo Vermelho Distrófico (superfície firme, superfície mobilizada e superfície firme com cobertura de restos da cultura do milho) e três condições de deslocamento, distinguidas pela mudança de marchas do trator que correspondem as seguintes velocidades teóricas: 4 km.h-1, 5km.h-1 e 7 km.h-1, informadas no painel do trator. Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental simples em faixas, correspondendo às condições superficiais do solo e um arranjo fatorial de 2x3x3 (pneus, lastros, e velocidades) em cada faixa, distribuídos em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições, totalizando 162 unidades experimentais. Esses fatores foram arranjados para permitir a avaliação dos efeitos das variáveis individualmente ou em grupos, sendo todos os dados submetidos à análise de variância, aplicando o teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade, para a comparação das médias...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The agricultural tractor is one of principal source of energy and power in rural land. The correct utilization of tires, related to the construction type and internal inflation pressure, both are factors that interfere significantly on its performance. Other factors of tractor adjustment, such as ballasting and ideal forward speed for each condition of soil surface are factors that modify its tractive efficiency. This research was carried out with the aim to compare the operational and energetic performance of a tractor equipped with radial tires and with bias ply tires, in three conditions of liquid ballast (0%, 37,5% and 75% of water), three conditions of surface in a Nitossolo Vermelho Distrófico (rigid surface, mobilized surface and rigid surface covered with remaining leaves of corn after its harvest) and three distinct conditions of forward speed, performed by changing the tractor gears (B1, B2 and C1), that are correlated to the following theoretical forward speed: 4 km.h-1, 5km.h-1 and 7 km.h-1, informed on tractor panel. The experiment design was in simple strips related to soil surface conditions and a factorial settlement 2x3x3 (tires, ballasts, surfaces, and forward speeds) in each strip, divided in random blocks replicated three times, totalizing 162 experimental units. These factors were arranged in order to permit an evaluation of the effects of variables individually or in groups. All data were analyzed statistically using Tukey test at 5% of probability to compare the means. To realize...(Complete abstract, click electronic access below) / Orientador: Kléber Pereira Lanças / Coorientador: Antonio Gabriel Filho / Banca: Saulo Philipe Sebastião Guerra / Banca: Paulo Roberto Arbex Silva / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-09Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:18:24Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 amann_bo_me_guara.pdf: 1501493 bytes, checksum: 2d7145bc29eb02f0c1a7a956869f22f9 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este trabalho apresenta um estudo de vibração de corpo inteiro em operadores de empilhadeira, comparando dois tipos de pneus, elástico e inflável. A vibração foi medida no eixo z, que é o eixo da coluna vertebral; concomitantemente à coleta da vibração foi realizada uma eletromiografia para analisar a atividade muscular nos músculos eretores da espinha. Devido a crescente utilização dos pneus elásticos no mundo, o principal enfoque deste estudo é o de desfazer o mito existente entre os operadores de empilhadeira que dizem que o pneu elástico machuca a coluna. Portanto as coletas foram feitas em várias situações diferentes, em três tipos de piso, na empilhadeira com e sem carga, com dois operadores, com o pneu elástico ou inflável. Com os resultados obtidos pode-se perceber que de modo geral o pneu elástico apresentou valores menores tanto para aceleração quanto para eletromiografia. Outro dado de extrema importância é que para uma freqüência de 4 Hz, que é a freqüência de ressonância da coluna vertebral, o pneu elástico apresentou valores de amplitude de aceleração menores; mostrando assim que o pneu elástico é menos prejudicial à coluna vertebral; isso pode ser comprovado através da EMG, que também apresentou valores menores com o pneu elástico. / This work presents a study of whole body vibration in fork-lift truck operators, comparing two types of tires, elastic and inflate. The vibration was measured in the axis z, that is the axis of the spine; at the same time to the collection of the vibration an electromyography was accomplished to analyze the muscular activity in the erecting muscles of the spine. Owed to growing use of the elastic tires in the world, the principal focuses of this study it is it of undoing the existent myth among the fork-lift truck operators that say that the elastic tire hurts the column. Therefore the collections were made in several different situations, in three floor types, in the fork-lift truck with and without load, with two operators, with the elastic tire or inflate. With the obtained results it can be noticed that in general the elastic tire presented smaller values for acceleration and for electromyography. Another die of extreme importance is that for a frequency of 4 Hz, that is the frequency of resonance of the spine, the elastic tire presented values of width of acceleration smaller; showing the elastic tire as soon as is less harmful to the spine; that can be proven through EMG, that also presented smaller values with the elastic tire.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-02-15Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:31:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 monteiro_la_me_botfca.pdf: 514192 bytes, checksum: 1bee58c13636c9333836a8b89b794984 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O trator agrícola é uma das principais fontes de energia e de trabalho no meio rural. A utilização correta de pneus, tanto em relação ao seu tipo quanto a calibração de sua pressão interna, são fatores que influem significativamente no seu desempenho. Outros fatores de regulagem do trator; tais como, a lastragem e a velocidade de deslocamento ideal para cada condição de superfície de solo, são fatores que modificam sua eficiência trativa. Esse trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de comparar o desempenho operacional e energético de um trator equipado com pneus radiais e com pneus diagonais, em três condições de lastragem líquida (0%, 37,5% e 75% de água), três condições superficiais de um Nitossolo Vermelho Distrófico (superfície firme, superfície mobilizada e superfície firme com cobertura de restos da cultura do milho) e três condições de deslocamento, distinguidas pela mudança de marchas do trator que correspondem as seguintes velocidades teóricas: 4 km.h-1, 5km.h-1 e 7 km.h-1, informadas no painel do trator. Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental simples em faixas, correspondendo às condições superficiais do solo e um arranjo fatorial de 2x3x3 (pneus, lastros, e velocidades) em cada faixa, distribuídos em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições, totalizando 162 unidades experimentais. Esses fatores foram arranjados para permitir a avaliação dos efeitos das variáveis individualmente ou em grupos, sendo todos os dados submetidos à análise de variância, aplicando o teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade, para a comparação das médias... / The agricultural tractor is one of principal source of energy and power in rural land. The correct utilization of tires, related to the construction type and internal inflation pressure, both are factors that interfere significantly on its performance. Other factors of tractor adjustment, such as ballasting and ideal forward speed for each condition of soil surface are factors that modify its tractive efficiency. This research was carried out with the aim to compare the operational and energetic performance of a tractor equipped with radial tires and with bias ply tires, in three conditions of liquid ballast (0%, 37,5% and 75% of water), three conditions of surface in a Nitossolo Vermelho Distrófico (rigid surface, mobilized surface and rigid surface covered with remaining leaves of corn after its harvest) and three distinct conditions of forward speed, performed by changing the tractor gears (B1, B2 and C1), that are correlated to the following theoretical forward speed: 4 km.h-1, 5km.h-1 and 7 km.h-1, informed on tractor panel. The experiment design was in simple strips related to soil surface conditions and a factorial settlement 2x3x3 (tires, ballasts, surfaces, and forward speeds) in each strip, divided in random blocks replicated three times, totalizing 162 experimental units. These factors were arranged in order to permit an evaluation of the effects of variables individually or in groups. All data were analyzed statistically using Tukey test at 5% of probability to compare the means. To realize...(Complete abstract, click electronic access below)

Orientador: José Geraldo Trani Brandão / Banca: Mauro Hugo Mathias / Banca: Marcio Augusto Martin / Resumo: Este trabalho apresenta um estudo de vibração de corpo inteiro em operadores de empilhadeira, comparando dois tipos de pneus, elástico e inflável. A vibração foi medida no eixo z, que é o eixo da coluna vertebral; concomitantemente à coleta da vibração foi realizada uma eletromiografia para analisar a atividade muscular nos músculos eretores da espinha. Devido a crescente utilização dos pneus elásticos no mundo, o principal enfoque deste estudo é o de desfazer o mito existente entre os operadores de empilhadeira que dizem que o pneu elástico machuca a coluna. Portanto as coletas foram feitas em várias situações diferentes, em três tipos de piso, na empilhadeira com e sem carga, com dois operadores, com o pneu elástico ou inflável. Com os resultados obtidos pode-se perceber que de modo geral o pneu elástico apresentou valores menores tanto para aceleração quanto para eletromiografia. Outro dado de extrema importância é que para uma freqüência de 4 Hz, que é a freqüência de ressonância da coluna vertebral, o pneu elástico apresentou valores de amplitude de aceleração menores; mostrando assim que o pneu elástico é menos prejudicial à coluna vertebral; isso pode ser comprovado através da EMG, que também apresentou valores menores com o pneu elástico. / Abstract: This work presents a study of whole body vibration in fork-lift truck operators, comparing two types of tires, elastic and inflate. The vibration was measured in the axis z, that is the axis of the spine; at the same time to the collection of the vibration an electromyography was accomplished to analyze the muscular activity in the erecting muscles of the spine. Owed to growing use of the elastic tires in the world, the principal focuses of this study it is it of undoing the existent myth among the fork-lift truck operators that say that the elastic tire hurts the column. Therefore the collections were made in several different situations, in three floor types, in the fork-lift truck with and without load, with two operators, with the elastic tire or inflate. With the obtained results it can be noticed that in general the elastic tire presented smaller values for acceleration and for electromyography. Another die of extreme importance is that for a frequency of 4 Hz, that is the frequency of resonance of the spine, the elastic tire presented values of width of acceleration smaller; showing the elastic tire as soon as is less harmful to the spine; that can be proven through EMG, that also presented smaller values with the elastic tire. / Mestre

Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Energy security, environmental and economic issues have spurred the interest in pyrolysis of scrap tyres for the production of fuels and energy in South Africa. However, the application of the process on a commercial scale is being hampered by the high cost required to upgrade the comparatively low quality pyrolytic products as well as the high energy input. Further insights into the mechanisms of thermal degradation of rubber will assist to improve on the process economics for production of liquid hydrocarbons fractions suitable for use as transportation fuels and chemicals. This study developed a correlation to predict the contents of waste tyres that will be converted into hydrocarbons during pyrolysis from the proximate analysis data. The mechanism/kinetics of thermal degradation behaviour of waste tyres is also studied, in order to locate the optimal temperature that will maximize the yield of liquid hydrocarbons and other recoverable materials. Data from thermogravimetric analysis is used to determine the kinetic constants for the pyrolysis reaction over a temperature range of 500 °C - 750 °C. A relationship between the optimal temperatures and the volatile mater content depending on the desired products was obtained. This is necessary to eliminate thermal cracking of the pyrolytic oil into the non-condensable gas that will result from excessive temperature and the associated energy cost. Relationship to determine the kinetic equation constants is presented as a function of the volatile matter content. An inductor furnace batch reactor system is used to carried out the pyrolysis reaction, using Argon as the inert gas to provide the oxygen free environment required. The products are sent through a 2-stage condensers, the first operated at room temperature to collect the pyrolytic oil, and the second maintained at -5 oC to collect the condensable pyrolytic gases.

Vehicle suspension optimisation is a complex and difficult task, as there are a variety of factors influencing the dynamic performance of a vehicle. During suspension development, the optimisation of a selected few of these factors is often to the detriment of others, as they are all inter-related. In addition, expertise in vehicle setup and suspension tuning is scarce, and is limited to experienced racing teams and large automotive manufacturers with extensive research and development capabilities. The motivation for this research was therefore to provide objective and user-friendly methodologies for vehicle suspension optimisation, in order to support student projects like Formula Student, while having relevance to the needs of the South African automotive industry and racing community. With the onset of digital data acquisition, it has become feasible to take real-time measurements of tyre temperatures, to provide information on how a tyre is performing at a specific point on the track. Measuring the tyre surface temperature can provide a useful indication on whether the tyre is loaded equally or not, and what suspension adjustments should be made to improve tyre load distribution.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg 10th of October 2016 / Thermal pyrolysis is one of the viable technologies suitable for the management of organic solid waste, which has become a global challenge over the years. This is due to the non-biodegradability of these materials and their continuous usage across all segments of man’s daily activities. Effectiveness of the method is in converting these materials under controlled process conditions, that enable the optimization of the fraction of interest, such as the liquid fraction also referred to as pyrolytic oil with a near zero pollution effect on the environment. The main setback in the production of the liquid fraction include low yield, presence of sulphur and other aromatic compounds which have been linked to environmental pollution and health complications. This study focuses on improving the liquid fraction yield and composition obtainable from pyrolysis process. Latex natural rubber (obtained from Hevea Brasiliensis) was pyrolysed and its products compared with that of the used tyres. The production of pyrolytic oil from used tyres and natural rubber was performed using thermal and catalytic pyrolysis processes. The operating temperature range of 375 to 750 oC (at an interval of 75 oC) at a heating rate of 15oC/min and feed material particle sizes of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mm were used. In addition, Zeolite NaY was synthesized from Lawani Benin River Kaolin (LBK) at a synthesis time and temperature of 9 h and 100 oC respectively, using hydrothermal synthesis method, and used for catalytic pyrolysis. The chemical characterisation revealed pyrolytic oil composition to be a complex mixture of aliphatic, aromatics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and chlorinated compounds in small proportions. The non-catalysed and catalysed pyrolysis using natural rubber resulted in pyrolytic oil with 80 and 66% of aliphatic, 12 and 15% aromatic (with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentration of 2 and 1%). The non-catalysed and catalysed pyrolysis using used tyres yielded pyrolytic oil with 42 and 32% of aliphatic, 34 and 39% aromatic (with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations of 18 and 23%). The kinetics of the thermal degradation with the aid of a thermogravimetry and differential thermogravimetry analyzer was performed over a temperature range of 30 to 800 oC at a heating rate of 15, 20 and 30oC/min. Results showed that natural rubber displayed higher activation energy than used tyres, with respect to the heating rates. This is an indication that natural rubber is more difficult to thermally decompose than used tyres. The distillation temperature of the distillates was within the temperature range of the conventional petrol and diesel. The composition of the distillates revealed carbon chain length of C5-C30 with majority being C8 – C10. A spark ignition generator engine was used to perform the combustion tests for the various pyrolytic oil distillates and petrol blended in the ratio 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% successfully without engine modification. For the fuel consumption with respect to generator run time, it was observed that an optimum of 20% natural rubber pyrolytic oil distillates (NRPD)-Petrol blend gave comparative fuel consumption behavior with that of commercial petrol. Furthermore, the 20% NRPD distillates gave optimum fuel consumption and power. Hence, a significant yield improvement and combustion performance were observed for the pyrolytic oil derived from natural rubber than that of used tyres. Further treatment of the pyrolytic oil distillates could pave the way for effective use of the oil as chemical feedstock for industries, or as substitutes for fossil fuel. It was also requisite to develop a mathematical model which adopts thermogravimetry analyser (TGA) as a dynamic apparatus to predict weight change of a material as it degrades with time at a fixed temperature. The proposed models were in three consecutive phases which were classified into three time zones 0 ≤ t ≤ t1, t1 ≤ t ≤ t2 and t ≤ t2. The general model equation for the first phase of degradation was 2 0 1 2 0 ( ) t T w t w e   , while the second phase model was and at the third phase, it is assumed that the limit of weight loss (in the second phase equation) as t tends to ∞ gives a value k , at which change in weight loss with time is negligible. The proposed model was used to plot graph of weight loss versus time at different fixed temperature which fitted well with the experimental TGA and had a characteristic pattern fitted closely to the second phase degradation of the fixed bed reactor. / MT2017