Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-09-11T15:01:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JorgeLOC_TESE.pdf: 1815389 bytes, checksum: e1806d37e3ce1f16a7256649edcda60b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-09-11T16:28:08Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 JorgeLOC_TESE.pdf: 1815389 bytes, checksum: e1806d37e3ce1f16a7256649edcda60b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-09-11T16:28:40Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 JorgeLOC_TESE.pdf: 1815389 bytes, checksum: e1806d37e3ce1f16a7256649edcda60b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-11T16:29:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JorgeLOC_TESE.pdf: 1815389 bytes, checksum: e1806d37e3ce1f16a7256649edcda60b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Drip irrigation system in the radiation area of the agricultural crop in order to provide that a partner of the soil is close to the field capacity. In this irrigation system as dripping tapes are exposed to physical-chemical and microbiological agents that increase the appearance of emitter obstruction, reducing the operational life cycle of the system that operate with water of inferior quality. The objective of this study was to study the variation of irrigation water temperature and salinity as factors that contribute to the process of obstruction of the tapes, reducing its useful life, control solution of flow rate uniformity of the emitters of the drip tapes under laboratory conditions. For this, an experimental bench was set up not Laboratory of Machine Instrumentation and Agricultural Mechanization of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, in Mossoró-RN; Where the experimental tests were carried out with three types of drip tapes operated under controlled conditions of temperature, water salinity and service pressure. The experimental bench has the following dimensions: 1,50m x 3,50m (width and length), height of 1,00 m and 1,20 m (low point and highest point respectively). On the same saw, fixed four fiber cement tiles in an area of 0.90 m x 3.00 m (width and length), with slope of 8% and at its base to insert a collecting trough connected to the ground water reservoir of 0.10m3. To allow a recirculation of the test water, a 1/4 hp centrifugal pump was used. Four lines of tapes with three meters of length were used in the workbench, which were submitted to short test cycles, established at 100, 250, 500 and 750 hours of operation and water temperature of 20 and 30ºC. To control the temperature of the water with the heating system with power of 2.00 kW and cooling of 7.04 kW. The electrical conductivity of water ranged from 0.52 dS m-1 to 2.56 dS m-1. After the end of each cycle of operation, samples of the tapes were collected for scanning electron microscopy of the holes and internal walls. The flow rate and the Distribution Uniformity Coefficient were used to monitor the hydraulic performance of the drip tapes. The results indicated that the increase of salinity of the irrigation water resulted in a decrease in the flow rate of the drip irrigation system, without causing a change in the classification of the Distribution Uniformity Coefficient. Water quality analyzes indicated a potential risk for soil sodification. The increase in temperature and salinity increased the formation of microorganisms and precipitates of calcium, resulting in increased frequency of maintenance in the system / No sistema de irrigação localizada por gotejamento á água é aplicada em baixa intensidade e alta frequência na região radicular da cultura agrícola de forma a propiciar que a umidade do solo esteja próxima à capacidade de campo. Neste sistema de irrigação as fitas gotejadoras são expostas a agentes físico-químicas e microbiológicas que potencializam o surgimento de obstrução dos emissores, reduzindo o ciclo de vida operacional do sistema que operam com água de qualidade inferior. O presente trabalho objetivou estudar a variação da temperatura e salinidade da água de irrigação como fatores que contribuem para o processo de obstrução das fitas gotejadoras, reduzindo sua vida útil, sob os parâmetros de redução da uniformidade da vazão dos emissores das fitas gotejadoras em condições laboratoriais. Para isto, montou-se uma bancada experimental no Laboratório de Instrumentação de Máquinas e Mecanização Agrícola da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, em Mossoró-RN; onde foram realizados os ensaios experimentais com três tipos de fitas gotejadoras operadas em condições controladas de temperatura, salinidade da água e pressão de serviço. A bancada experimental apresenta as seguintes dimensões 1,50m x 3,50m (largura e comprimento), altura de 1,00m e 1,20m (ponto maio baixo e ponto mais elevado respectivamente). Sobre a mesma foram fixadas quatro telhas de fibrocimento numa área de 0,90m x 3,00m (largura e comprimento), com declividade de 8% e na sua base foi inserida uma calha coletora conectada ao reservatório térreo de 0,10m3. Para permitir a recirculação da água do ensaio foi utilizado um conjunto motobomba centrífuga de 1/4cv. Na bancada foram utilizadas quatro linhas de fitas gotejadoras com três metros de comprimento cada, sendo estas submetidas a ciclos de ensaios de curta e longa duração, estabelecido em 100, 250, 500 e 750 h de operação, e temperatura da água de 20 e 30ºC. Para o controle da temperatura da água foi utilizado sistema de aquecimento com potência de 2,00 kW e refrigeração de 7,04 kW. A condutividade elétrica da água variou de 0,52 dS m-1 a 2,56 dS m-1. Após o término de cada ciclo de operação foram coletadas amostras das fitas para a realização de microscopia eletrônica de varredura dos orifícios e paredes internas. Empregou-se a vazão e o Coeficiente de Uniformidade de Distribuição no monitoramento do desempenho hidráulico das fitas gotejadoras. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que o aumento da salinidade da água de irrigação acarretou o decréscimo da vazão do sistema de irrigação localizada por gotejamento, sem ocasionar alteração da classificação do Coeficiente de Uniformidade de Distribuição. As análises da qualidade da água indicaram risco potencial para sodificação do solo. O aumento da temperatura e salinidade potencializou a formação de microrganismos e precipitados de cálcio, resultando no aumento da frequência de manutenções no sistema / 2017-09-11

The increasing demand for more efficient cooling options in the areas of fuel cell technology motivates the development of novel cooling strategies with improved heat transfer. Cooling through phase transition of the coolant from the liquid to the gaseous state is therefore a suitable approach. In this context, the phase transition behaviour in the inner structure of bipolar plates, which is determined by the flow field and its surface properties, must be understood and designed as a central functional element for cooling in a fuel cell. For the integrated development of a metallic bipolar plate based on the phase change cooling with modified surfaces, this paper discusses the design of the flow field, the design of the associated forming technology as well as the coating technology that meets the requirements of the bipolar plates with phase change cooling principle. In this regard, the wetting and the corrosion behaviour of different surface coatings and the in-situ phase transition behaviour within the bipolar plates are demonstrated and discussed.

Biological invasions are reportedly one of the major contributory factors to biodiversity loss worldwide. The impacts of invasive alien plant (IAP) species on native communities are widely documented in the scientific literature, however, there is still a lack of detailed information on their impacts within the most vulnerable habitats. Riparian habitats are highly dynamic systems and naturally disturbed, making them particularly vulnerable to invasion. Climate change, directly or indirectly, is also predicted to adversely impact river systems, which may subsequently alter invasion rates and the impacts of IAPs. However, the interactions between climate and IAPs and their combined effects on vegetation have rarely been examined. To address these knowledge gaps, this thesis investigates: (1) the role of environmental variables, such as sediment loading or climate-related changes to river flow regime, on the abundance of IAPs within riparian zones; (2) how variation in IAP abundance impacts native vegetation, relative to the effects of native dominant plant species and (3) some of the mechanisms underlying the effects of IAPs in riparian habitats. Historic and recent field survey data were used to investigate changes in riparian vegetation on British rivers during the last 20 years. Analyses indicate that IAPs had a negative but small effect on native plant diversity. Overall, changes in land use and differences in flow regime between recording periods were the most important predictors of plant community change. Specifically, IAPs had a greater probability of being present along lowland rivers that experienced increased frequency of high flow events. On a local scale across rivers in Scotland, the abundance of IAPs was constrained by greater soil moisture in summer, whilst greater abundance was associated with tree-lined banks. Both native dominant species and IAPs negatively affected subordinate species abundance to a greater extent than species richness, although this effect varied spatially with bank elevation. Artificial turf mats were used to quantify viable propagules within riverine sediment deposited over-winter along invaded riverbanks. The data indicate that there is a legacy effect of IAP abundance, with the most invaded sites being associated with higher sediment loading the following year, though, contrary to the general pattern, 12 sediment associated propagules were scarcer at invaded sites. Moreover, lower above-ground native diversity was associated with sites which had been previously invaded. Plant species composition in the propagule bank and above-ground vegetation were highly dissimilar, particularly closest to the water’s edge at highly invaded sites. This suggests that mono-specific stands of IAPs proliferate best under less disturbed environmental conditions, although fluvial disturbance events may be required to create opportunities for initial establishment. The propagule bank contributed very little to the above-ground vegetation, nor did it limit invasion, suggesting that above-ground plant composition is largely dictated by competitive interactions. The findings presented in this thesis suggest that invasion by IAPs is an additional stressor for native vegetation within riparian habitats, modifying above-ground plant communities via competition and suppressing recruitment from the propagule bank. However, native dominant species common in riparian habitats also negatively impact, subordinate species via competition, in some cases equalling the effect of IAPs. Native dominant and IAP species are differently affected by environmental factors operating in the riparian zone, which may provide future opportunities for reducing and managing invasions.