It is estimated that around three billion people globally rely on traditional usage of biomass to cover their daily energy needs, which causes health and social inequality problems and contributes to global warming. Thus, the study of particle emissions from cookstoves provides important information that can help improve global welfare.   This study aims to (a) evaluate a new laboratory setup for measurement of particle emissions from cookstoves and (b) use this setup to compare the particle emissions from three cookstove appliances that cover the whole spectra of used technologies, namely a 3-stone fire, an improved cookstove and a gasifier stove. Emissions of total suspended particles (TSP), fine particles (≤ 2500 nm) and other emission components such as carbon dioxide were measured. Results from this study show that the new laboratory setup is appropriate to measure and investigate fine particle emissions from cookstoves as well as cookstove efficiency. Further, it also shows that the 3-stone fire was the cookstove with the highest emission factor of all, followed by the rocket stove and the gasifier stove respectively. The analysis of the data obtained from the transient particle measurement provided some information on the particle size and the soot and salt contained in the overall emitted particles. Finally, some suggestions such as continuous measurements of background particle and CO2 levels are recommended. Additionally, further research ideas are also proposed.

This paper examines the influence of air pollution on humans. Suggesting the possible consequences of each action of air pollutants on human health but also the possible economic impacts of air pollution. It primarily exploers the effects of concentration of suspended particulate matter (PM10) on the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The response variable in the regression model serves to determine the effect of PM10 on the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was a percentage share of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among the clients of the General Health Insurance Company in individual regions of the Czech Republic. Explanatory variables were the mean annual concentration of PM10 and gross added value per capita. The model suggests that there is a statistically significant positive correlation between the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Czech Republic and PM10 concentrations.

The aim of this thesis is to perform comparative analysis of the state policies of the Czech Republic and Poland aimed at reducing dust emissions from industrial and power generation sources of air pollution in the Moravia-Silesia and in the Silesian Voivodeship. The analysis is meant to facilitate improving the regulation requirements of these sources in both districts. The extent of regulation of the sources of air pollution in the Silesia Voivodeship influences the amount of dust emissions produced by such sources and, due the influence of the existence of cross-border transfer of emissions, this influences the concentration of particulate matter in the atmosphere in the Moravian-Silesian Region. The thesis arrives at the conclusion that the industrial and power generation sources of air pollution in the Czech Republic in the Moravian-Silesian Region faces stricter regulation requirements in comparison with similar sources in Poland in the former Silesian Voivodeship. Stricter conditions of regulation for Czech sources are the reason for the lower level of emissions and the resulting higher control costs such sources. The thesis concerns comparative analysis of the control costs a sample group of metallurgic and power generation plants in the Moravian-Silesian Region and in the Silesian Voivodeship.

Routine monitoring of environmental pollution demands simplicity and speed without sacrificing sensitivity or accuracy. The development and application of sensitive, fast and easy to implement analytical methodologies for detecting emerging and traditional water and airborne contaminants in South Florida is presented. A novel method was developed for quantification of the herbicide glyphosate based on lyophilization followed by derivatization and simultaneous detection by fluorescence and mass spectrometry. Samples were analyzed from water canals that will hydrate estuarine wetlands of Biscayne National Park, detecting inputs of glyphosate from both aquatic usage and agricultural runoff from farms. A second study describes a set of fast, automated LC-MS/MS protocols for the analysis of dioctyl sulfosuccinate (DOSS) and 2-butoxyethanol, two components of Corexit®. Around 1.8 million gallons of those dispersant formulations were used in the response efforts for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010. The methods presented here allow the trace-level detection of these compounds in seawater, crude oil and commercial dispersants formulations. In addition, two methodologies were developed for the analysis of well-known pollutants, namely Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and airborne particulate matter (APM). PAHs are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and some are potent carcinogens. Traditional GC-MS analysis is labor-intensive and consumes large amounts of toxic solvents. My study provides an alternative automated SPE-LC-APPI-MS/MS analysis with minimal sample preparation and a lower solvent consumption. The system can inject, extract, clean, separate and detect 28 PAHs and 15 families of alkylated PAHs in 28 minutes. The methodology was tested with environmental samples from Miami. Airborne Particulate Matter is a mixture of particles of chemical and biological origin. Assessment of its elemental composition is critical for the protection of sensitive ecosystems and public health. The APM collected from Port Everglades between 2005 and 2010 was analyzed by ICP-MS after acid digestion of filters. The most abundant elements were Fe and Al, followed by Cu, V and Zn. Enrichment factors show that hazardous elements (Cd, Pb, As, Co, Ni and Cr) are introduced by anthropogenic activities. Data suggest that the major sources of APM were an electricity plant, road dust, industrial emissions and marine vessels.

Silica sand is used in the hydraulic fracturing process as a proppant—a material that holds open fissures in a rock formation to allow oil and gas to escape. Due to the increased demand for proppant sand, numerous sand mining and processing facilities have been constructed in the vicinity of small communities. Silica sand contains crystalline silica, which can cause chronic health problems such as silicosis. This study monitored airborne particulate matter at residences within 800 m from the facilities property line, with active mining, processing, and/or transport. Real-time particulate air monitoring with automated acquisition of explanatory variables: sound and motion to detect transportation; and wind speed and direction to attribute measured PM concentrations to specific sources. The highest daily mean concentrations were 37.3 μg/m3 for PM10 and 14.5 μg/m3 for PM2.5, both of which are well below the EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Using conditional probability plots of PM relative to wind direction elevated short-term (20 second) peak concentrations were more likely to occur when the wind was blowing from the sand facility. These peak concentrations occurred infrequently, ranging from 0% to 3% of the sampling time. This study did not measure crystalline silica specifically, but low PM concentrations were observed so crystalline silica is expected to be low. Since PM concentrations were low near the facilities, it can be concluded that these facilities do not increase airborne particulate matter to hazardous concentrations that could cause chronic health conditions.

Reverse osmosis operations are facing persistent fouling phenomenon that has challenged the integrity of these processes. Prediction of fouling potential by measuring a fouling index toward feed water is essential to ensure robust operation. Moreover, employing a reliable fouling index with good reproducibility and precision is necessary. Silt density index (SDI) is considered insufficient in terms of reliability and empirical theory, among other limitations. Nevertheless due its simplicity, SDI measurement is utilized extensively in RO desalination systems. The aim of this research is to assess the reliability of SDI. Methods include the investigation of different SDI membranes and study of the nature of the SDI filtration. Results demonstrate the existence of the membrane properties' variation within manufacturers, which then causes a lack of accuracy in fouling risk estimation. The nature of particles during SDI filtration provides information that particle concentration and size play a significant role on SDI quantification with substantial representation given by particles with size close to membrane nominal pore size. Moreover, turbidity assisted SDI measurements along with determination of UF pretreated and clean water fouling potential, establishes the indication of non-fouling related phenomena involved on SDI measurement such as a natural organic matter adsorption and hydrodynamic condition that alters during filtration. Additionally, it was found that the latter affects the sensitivity of SDI by being represented by some portions of SDI value. Keywords: Reverse Osmosis, Fouling index, Particulate Fouling, Silt Density Index (SDI), and Assessment of SDI.

Slush is a two phase flow of solid particles (crystals) and liquid at the triple point temperature, and constitutes an appealing alternative to liquid propellants for space launchers. The crystals give to the mixture higher density and lower specific enthalpy than liquid, enabling reduced tank volume storage and larger fuel holding time. However, the presence of solid crystals significantly modifies the thermo-hydraulics of the fuel transport, and requires novel predictive tools and diagnostic techniques for efficiently exploiting slush propellants. This thesis contributes to both aspects. In particular, this work studied the flow pressure losses and the heat transfer of solid-liquid mixtures in pipelines, combining experimental and numerical methods. Hydraulic and thermal flow features were analyzed separately with substitute mixtures chosen to mimic the behavior of slush flows in engine fuel feed systems. A dedicated facility was designed and built. The pipeline mounted conventional probes for pressure, temperature and mass flow rate measurements. Moreover, a capacitance-based density meter was developed and validated to measure the mixture's solid content. Optical flow visualization and image processing routines were combined to retrieve particulate phase distribution and velocity fields. The experimental work was complemented with 3D Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes simulations in OpenFOAM. The simulations coupled the Euler-Euler approach with the granular kinetic theory for the treatment of the solid dispersed phase. The model was validated with the experimental results on the pressure drop, heat transfer and solid volume fraction.The resulting physical insights and the proposed empirical correlations on the pressure drop and heat transfer in solid-liquid flows contribute to move a step forward towards slush propelled space launchers. / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur et technologie / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The master's thesis deals with the determination of macroscopic behavior of a particulate composite with cross-linked polymer matrix under tensile load. The main focus of thesis is estimation of mechanical properties of a composite loaded by tensile loading using numerical methods (especially finite elements method). Investigated composite is composed of matrix in a rubbery state filled by alumina-based particles (Al2O3). Hyperelastic properties of the matrix have been modeled by the Mooney-Rivlin material model. Different compositions of particles, their different shape, orientation and different volume fractions have been considered. For all these characteristics of composite numerical models have been developed. The damage mechanisms of the matrix have also been taken into account. Results of numerical analyses have been compared with experimental data and good agreement between numerical models with damage mechanisms of matrix and experimental data has been found.

The subject of this thesis is to optimize the flow of exhaust gases in the particle filter using CFD simulations. The first part is focused on the emissions of diesel engines and emissions reduction systems with a focus on particulate filters. The next section is an analysis of the current state of the specified particle filter using CFD simulation and evaluation following with a proposal of new construction for better flow distribution. At last, the final evaluation is presented.

Tato práce se zabývá znečištěním ovzduší pevnými prachovými částicemi v lokalitách města Brna. V teoretické části je pojednáno o možných zdrojích prachových částic, o chemickém složení a velikostní klasifikaci polétavých částic a dalších fyzikálně-chemických charakteristikách. Další část je věnována zdravotním rizikům prašnosti. V této souvislosti práce pojednává o anatomii dýchacího systému a účincích prachu na něj. Jsou taktéž rozebrány zdravotní efekty prachového znečištění, včetně uvedení možných nemocí respiračního a kardiovaskulárního systému, jejichž může být prach příčinou. V praktické části byl proveden sběr prachu. Byly vybrány celkem čtyři lokality, kde byly prováděny odběry vzorků. Následně byly stanoveny koncentrace polétavých částic PM10 a PM2,5. Dále byly u vybraných lokalit stanoveny koncentrace těžkých kovů a polyaromatických uhlovodíků vázaných na prachových částicích. V závěru bylo provedeno srovnání s legislativou a stanovena zdravotní rizika.