The region between the infrared and microwave region in the electromagnetic spectrum, the Terahertz (THz) gap, provides an exciting opportunity for future wireless communications as this band has been under utilised. This doctoral work takes a two-pronged approach into closing the THz gap with low-dimensional materials. The first attempt addresses the need for a compact THz source that can operate at room temperature. The second approach addresses the need to build optical elements such as filters and modulators in the THz spectrum. Terahertz quantum cascade lasers (THz QCLs) are one of the most compact, powerful sources of coherent radiation that bridge the terahertz gap. However, their cryogenic requirements for operation limit the scope of the applications. This is because of the electron-electron scattering and heating of the 2-dimensional free electron gas which leads to significant optical phonon scattering of the hot electrons. Theoretical studies in laterally confined QCL structures have predicted enhanced lifetime of the upper state through suppression of the non-radiative intersubband relaxation of carriers, which leads to lower threshold, and higher temperature performance. Lithographically defined vertical nanopillar arrays with electrostatic radius less than tens of nm offer a possible route to achieve lateral confinement, which can be integrated into QCL structures. A typical gain medium in a QCL consists of at least 100 repeat periods, with a thickness of 6-14 micron. For practical implementation of the top-down approach, restrictions are imposed by aspect ratios that can be achieved in present dry-etching systems. Typically, for sub-200 nm radius pillars, the thickness ranges from 1-3.5 micron. It is therefore necessary to work with THz QCLs based on 3-4 quantum well active regions, so as to maximise the number of repeat periods (hence gain) within an ultra-thin active region. After an introductory chapter, Chapter 2 presents a theoretical treatise on the realistic electrostatic potential in a lithographically defined nanopillar by scaling from a single quantum well (resonant tunnelling diode) to a THz QCL. Chapter 2 also discusses, the effect of lateral confinement on the intersubband states and the plasmonic mode in a THz QCL. One of the key experimental challenges in scaling down from QCLs to quantum-dot cascade lasers is the electrical injection into the nanopillars. This involves insulation and planarisation of the high aspect-ratio nanopillar arrays. Furthermore, the choice of the planarising layer is critical since it determines the loss of any optical mode. This experimental challenge is solved in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 presents the electro-optic performance of low-repeat period QCLs with an active region thickness that is less than 3.5 micron. Another topic of recent interest in the THz optics community is plasmonics in graphene. This is because the bound electromagnetic modes (plasmons) are tightly confined to the surface and can also be tuned with carrier concentration. Plasmonic resonance at terahertz frequencies can be achieved by gating graphene grown via chemical vapour deposition (CVD) to a high carrier concentration. THz time domain spectroscopy of such gated monolayer graphene shows resonance features around 1.6 THz superimposed on the Drude-like frequency response of graphene which may be related to the inherent poly-crystallinity of CVD graphene. Chapter 5 discusses these results, as an understanding of these features is necessary for the development of future THz optical elements based on CVD graphene. Chapter 5 finally describes how the gate tunability of THz transmission through graphene can be exploited to indirectly modulate a THz QCL. Chapter 6 presents ideas from this doctoral work, which can be developed in future to address the issues of enhanced temperature performance of THz QCLs and to realise realistic THz devices based on graphene.

Continuous milli-scale and micro-scale structures such as FlowPlate® microreactors have emerged as a promising element of process intensification due to their inherently effective rates of mass and heat transfer. These microfluidic devices have proven to be a preferred solution in place of energy-intensive batch processes for certain pathways of fine chemical and pharmaceutical synthesis, most notably fast reactions taking place on the scale of milliseconds to seconds. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become an increasingly valuable tool in the field of microreactor design and optimization for its ability to locally map complex fluid flow patterns and resolve microscopic scales of reactive mixing that are challenging to characterize experimentally. The primary objective of this research was thus to develop and validate a mathematical model for the simulation of chaotic flow and homogeneous mixing in continuous microreactors. The model needed to be versatile enough to handle transition between flow regimes within a given reactor as well as the coexistence of both chaotic and laminar flow patterns in the micromixing elements that comprise said reactors. This was successfully achieved through the implementation of a k-ω SST (shear-stress transport) turbulence model that accounts for the impact of small-scale temporal and spatial fluctuations generated in the micromixer geometries studied herein; be it a liquid-liquid mixer (LLM), a serpentine (SZ) or a tangential (TG) mixer. In a first CFD study, the computational predictions were validated based on excellent agreement with experimental pressure loss (R^2 > 0.997) and residence time distribution (RTD) data (R^2 > 0.97) in several LL microreactors at Reynolds numbers ranging from 210 to 2140. Furthermore, the local velocity distribution and streamlines were mapped across the 3D domain of these reactors and it was discovered, based on the emergence of advective recirculation zones and turbulent dispersion, that a drastic change in flow behaviour occurred in these mixing elements at a Reynolds number of about 640. The interspacing of LLM elements with straight microchannels proved to be a suitable approach to modulating pressure loss while concurrently maintaining the chaotic secondary flow patterns generated from the mixers. In a second CFD study, the impact of micromixer geometry on the local velocity fields and advective transport performance was investigated both from a macromixing and micromixing perspective. Like the LLM, the SZ and TG mixers conferred chaotic secondary flow patterns at characteristic Reynolds numbers between 500 and 1000. As such, it was concluded that it would be ideal to operate these mixers at water flow rates of at least 30 ml/min. Contour plots of the velocity magnitude coupled with the computation of RTD showed that the SZ virtually mimics a plug-flow profile over a volume of 77 mm3 or greater at 50 g/min. The RTD of the LLM and TG resembles that of a mixed flow pattern given that approximately 65-80% of their fluid volume is occupied by recirculation zones. As such, it required 65 LLMs in series (3105 mm3) and 80 TGs (1142 mm3) to approach the same pattern as 10 SZs (77 mm3) from a macromixing perspective. Micromixing time distributions (MTD) were also characterized by locally computing the decay time of small-scale segregation (t_SSS) as a function of flow rate, wherein higher flow rates generated lower characteristic mixing times. The TG and LLM conferred the broadest range of mixing times, spanning nearly four orders of magnitude in the range of [0.02 ms, 10 ms], whereas the SZ generated a much narrower MTD ranging between [0.024 ms, 0.69 ms]. Finally, the impact of geometry and flow conditions on reaction yield was assessed by characterizing the extent of a finite-rate reaction relative to an infinitely fast reaction taking place in parallel. The calculated yield for the competitive-parallel reaction scheme showed that the second Damköhler number (Dall) computed based on the mean tSSS provides useful information about whether the process will be limited by the intrinsic rate of reaction or by the rate of mass transfer, even though the reaction process is controlled by a combination of the RTD as well as loss of LSS and SSS. It was concluded that the change in MTD as a function of power dissipation should coincide with the reaction yield response, and that any deviation in that relationship is because of macroscopic blending of reactants in the entrance region.

Today, the world contains a large number of important non-profit organizations (NPOs) that seek to maintain the welfare of people and animals and to preserve the natural world. NPOs are extremely dependent on funds from the public which has resulted in severe competition between these organizations. This has also come as a result of the cut down of government support and a shortage of donations. Their lack of financial resources indicates that NPOs around the world face major challenges and are therefore in need of customized tools to increase their revenue and ensure their survival. With the purpose of increasing donations towards NPOs, this study aims to research how a media object can be developed and marketed in Bali to motivate tourists into donating money to the Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA) which is located in Canguu, Bali. By doing this, NPOs can use this research as tool for application within their own organization to increase their revenues.The media object that was chosen for this research was a poster, placed in the streets of Canggu, Bali and was selected because it has been shown that visual communication is a powerful tool for encouraging prosocial human behavior. The aim was to document how the media object affected levels of tourist engagement and ultimately their motivation to donate money to an NPO. A number of theories of motivation and behavior were used to form the foundation for this research. The methodology used included qualitative data collection by way of interviews, observations of local conditions pertinent to tourist interaction with media objects, as well as information gathered through a focus group involving local tourists. Research Through Design (RTD) was the framework that was used to structure the process for the creation and the testing of the prototype (the media object). The RTD included four phases, two of which were not completed due to complications involving the COVID-19 pandemic. The research concluded that the environment, attitudes towards legitimacy and emotional engagement all played a crucial role for the effectiveness and ultimately the success of a media object. Furthermore, it was concluded that there is a need for extended research on tourists’ behavior as well as consumer behavior, in relation to donors, in order to fully understand how a media object should be developed to motivate a tourist to donate money to an NPO.

Cette thèse porte sur la compréhension et le contrôle des interactions dynamiques entre les mécanismes physiques et biologiques en considérant un procédé alternatif de séparation membranaire pour les bioprocédés industriels. L’objectif premier est un apport de connaissances scientifiques liées à la maîtrise de la bioréaction en considérant l'hydrodynamique complexe et les verrous rétention-perméation. Une technologie de filtration dynamique, appelée Rotating and Vibrating Filtration (RVF), a été spécifiquement étudiée. Elle se compose de cellules de filtration en série comprenant deux membranes circulaires planes fixées sur des supports poreux au voisinage d'un agitateur à trois pales planes attachées à un arbre central. Ce dispositif mécanique simple fonctionne en continu et génère une contrainte de cisaillement élevée ainsi qu'une perturbation hydrodynamique dans un entrefer étroit (pale-membrane). Les verrous scientifiques et techniques qui motivent ce travail, sont la caractérisation et la quantification (i) des champs de vitesse locaux et instantanés, (2) des contraintes pariétales de cisaillement à la surface de la membrane et (3) l'impact mécanique sur les cellules microbiennes.Dans ce but, des expériences et des simulations numériques ont été réalisées pour étudier l'hydrodynamique à des échelles globales et locales, en régimes laminaire et turbulent avec des fluides newtoniens dans des environnements biotique et abiotique. Pour l'approche globale, la distribution des temps de séjour (RTD) et le bilan thermique ont été réalisés et comparés aux précédentes études globales (courbes de consommation de puissance et de frottement). Une étude analytique des fonctions de distribution a été effectuée et les moments statistiques ont été calculés et discutés. Une analyse systémique a été utilisée pour décrire les comportements hydrodynamiques du module RVF. En combinant la simulation des écoulements (CFD) et les observations (RTD), les conditions et les zones de dysfonctionnement des cellules de filtration sont éclairées. Pour l'approche locale, la vélocimétrie laser (PIV) a été réalisée dans les plans horizontaux et verticaux et comparée à la simulation numérique (CFD). Une étude préliminaire basée sur une synchronisation entre la prise d’image et la position de l’agitateur (résolution angulaire) a permis d’accéder aux champs de vitesse moyens. Une campagne de mesure PIV a été réalisée sans synchronisation afin d’appliquer une décomposition orthogonale aux valeurs propres (POD) pour 'identifier les composantes moyennes, organisées et turbulentes des champs de vitesse (énergie cinétique). Pour l'application aux bioprocédés, un travail exploratoire a caractérisé l'effet de la filtration dynamique sur des cellules procaryotes (E. coli) en quantifiant l'intégrité cellulaire ou leur dégradation en fonction du temps et de la vitesse de rotation. / This thesis focuses on the understanding and the control of dynamic interactions between physical and biological mechanisms considering an alternative membrane separation into industrial bioprocess. It aims to carry scientific knowledge related to the control of bioreaction considering complex hydrodynamics and retention-permeation locks specific to membrane separation. A dynamic filtration technology, called Rotating and Vibrating Filtration (RVF), was investigated. It consists of filtration cells in series including two flat disc membranes fixed onto porous substrates in the vicinity of a three-blade impeller attached to a central shaft. This simple mechanical device runs continuously and generates a high shear stress as well as a hydrodynamic perturbation in the narrow membrane-blade gap. Several scientific and technical locks motivating this work are to characterize and to quantify (i) the velocity fields locally and instantaneously, (2) the shear stresses at membrane surface and (3) the mechanical impact on microbial cells.To this end, experiments and numerical simulations have been performed to investigate the hydrodynamics at global and local scales under laminar and turbulent regimes with Newtonian fluids under biotic and abiotic environment. For global approach, investigation of Residence Time Distribution (RTD) and thermal balance was carried out and compared to the previous global study (power consumption and friction curves). Analytical study of distribution functions was conducted and statistical moments were calculated and discussed. A systemic analysis was used to describe the hydrodynamic behaviors of the RVF module. Combining Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and RTD observations, it leads to demonstrate dysfunctioning conditions and area. For the local approach, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was be carried out in both horizontal and vertical planes and compared to CFD simulation. PIV preliminary study was conducted with a trigger strategy to access through angle-resolved measurements to an averaged velocity field. PIV further study were performed with a non-trigger strategy and applied to Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) analysis in order to identify the coherent structure of the flow by decomposing the organized and turbulent fluctuations. For the bioprocess application, an exploratory work characterized the effect of Dynamic Filtration on prokaryote cell population (Escherichia coli) by quantifying cell integrity or damage as a function of time and rotation speed during filtration process in turbulent regime.

Spelindustrin är gigantisk och kontinuerligt växande, där detta inkluderar spelutveckling samt spelande av spel. Detta medför att en betydande mängd akademiker i sina yrkesliv kommer att beröra ämnesområdet spelutveckling. Trots detta faktum finns det en avsaknad av akademisk litteratur som behandlar ämnesområdet spelutveckling, specifikt med ett IS-perspektiv. För att fylla avsaknaden ämnar denna undersökning utöka det specifika konceptet inom spelutveckling som är “skapande av en 2D-spelmotor med tillhörande spel”. Att spela innebär hedonistiska upplevelser. Gäller denna hedonism också vid spelutveckling? Vilka utmaningar och vilken problematik uppstår vid utveckling av en spelmotor? För att utreda detta används en kvalitativ undersökning med en induktiv metodik via forskning genom design (eng. Research through Design, RtD) tillsammans med kollaborativ autoetnografi (Collaborative Autoethnography, CAE). Detta skapar ett unikt perspektiv som används för att producera välmotiverad vägledning för introduktion till ämnesområdet. Datainsamling utgörs av loggbok och dagbok där dessa används för att reflektera kring problem, utmaningar, framgångsfaktorer samt hedonistiska upplevelser inom processen. Undersökningens bakomliggande teori är baserat på Hedonic-motivation system adoption model (HMSAM) samt kriterier för utvärdering av ett lyckat RtD-projekt. Resultaten visar att spelutveckling är en komplicerad process, där egenskaper av spelutveckling identifierats och som bildat riktlinjer som förbereder akademiker inför framtida forskning och arbete. / The gaming industry is gigantic and continuously growing, which includes game development and gaming. This means that a significant number of academics will touch on the subject area of game development during their professional lives. Despite this fact there is a lack of academic literature which deals with the subject area of game development, specifically with an IS perspective. To fill the gap, this study aims to expand the specific concept in game development that is “creation of a 2D game engine with an associated game”. Gaming involves hedonistic experiences. Is this also associated with game development? What challenges and problems arise when developing a game engine? Answering this involves a qualitative study with an inductive methodology via Research through Design (RtD) together with Collaborative Autoethnography (CAE). This creates a unique perspective that is used to produce well-motivated guidance for introduction to the subject area. Data collection consists of a journal and diary where these are used to reflect on problems, challenges, success factors and hedonistic experiences within the process. The study’s underlying theory is based on the Hedonic-motivation system adoption model (HMSAM) and criterias for evaluating successful RtD projects. The results show that game development is a complicated process, where characteristics of game development have been identified which developed guidelines that prepare academics for future research and work.

No meio científico são bastante utilizados os modelos matemáticos para avaliar as características hidrodinâmicas de reatores, porém a literatura é pobre em informações relativas à aplicação do equacionamento matemático em regime não-permanente. Neste trabalho foi aplicado um modelo matemático simulando a hidrodinâmica de reatores tubulares com dispersão para avaliar o efeito da variação de vazão afluente sobre os parâmetros hidrodinâmicos. As simulações foram efetuadas considerando vazão e volume constantes, vazão e volume variáveis e vazão variável e volume constante. Foi investigada a influência de dois tipos de ensaios estímulo-resposta, pulso e degrau, para aplicação de modelos matemáticos e determinação das curvas de distribuição do tempo de residência (DTR) experimentais. Teoricamente ambos devem fornecer os mesmos resultados embora o ensaio em pulso costume apresentar maior sensibilidade experimental. Conforme esperado, ambos os ensaios apresentaram os mesmos resultados finais. Também foram avaliados os traçadores empregados nos dois tipos de ensaios estímulo-resposta, pulso e degrau. Foram empregados três traçadores diferentes - verde de bromocresol, azul de bromofenol e eosina Y que proporcionaram curvas com diferentes características. Como ferramenta auxiliar da modelação foram estudas a determinação das curvas DTR experimentais com auxílio de duas técnicas distintas. Para calibrar o modelo matemático proposto foram utilizados dados de reatores em escala de bancada com diferentes configurações submetidas a variações de vazões afluentes. Os dados de um reator UASB em escala piloto - submetido a variações cíclicas de vazão afluente de 40 e 60% - foram empregados para calibrar e verificar o modelo matemático proposto. Os resultados encontrados com o modelo matemático proposto nesta pesquisa demonstraram que a variação de vazão afluente não deve ser negligenciada. O modelo utilizado representou adequadamente o reator UASB. Seus resultados, quando comparados aos modelos matemáticos que não consideram a variação de vazão, mostraram que para flutuações de vazão elevadas, vazões com valores até 60% maiores do que a vazão média, os valores dos coeficientes de difusão diferem significativamente em função das hipóteses empregadas no desenvolvimento do modelo matemático. / Mathematical models for hydrodynamic characteristics evaluation of reactors are commonly used however there is a lack of information in the literature concerning the application of mathematical modeling for non-steady state flow. In this thesis, it is presented a non-steady mathematical model to simulate the hydrodynamic behavior of pipe flow reactors with diffusion in order to evaluate the effect of the variation of the influent flowrate in the hydrodynamic parameters. The simulations were performed considering constant flowrate and volume, variable flowrate and volume and, variable flowrate and constant volume. It was investigated the influence of two types of stimulus-response assays, pulse and step function, on the application of mathematical models and the determination of the experimental retention time distribution curves. Theoretically, both tests should provide the same results although the pulse stimulus assay usually presents higher experimental sensitivity. As it was expected, both tests presented the same final results. The tested tracers were also evaluated in relation to the pulse and step stimulus-response tests. Three tracers were tested (bromocresol green, bromophenol blue and eosin Y) and it was shown that they provided different curves. It was studied the construction of the experimental retention time distribution curves using two procedures as an auxiliary tool for modeling. The proposed mathematical model was calibrated with data of bench scale reactors submitted to different cyclical variations of flowrates. Moreover, data of UASB reactor in pilot scale - submitted to 40 and 60% of cyclical variations of flowrates were utilized to calibrate and verify the obtained mathematical model. The results found with the mathematical model proposed in this research showed that the variations in influent flow rate can not be neglected. The model adequately represented a pilot scale UASB reactor. The results showed that the diffusion coefficients differ significantly for high flowrate fluctuations, when compared to other mathematical models that do not incorporate variable flowrate, depending upon the hypothesis used to derive the model.

L'objectif principal de ce travail de thèse concerne l'étude de l' élimination de la DCO et de la nitrification dans une nouveau lit bactérien Multi-Section ( MSB ) . Après une caractérisation de l’hydrodynamique et du transfert d’oxygène de ce lit bactérien, les expériences biologiques menées sous des conditions opératoires contrastées (fortes et faibles charges organiques eteaux usées contenant ou pas des matières particulairs) ont été menées. En parallèle, des simulations avec le logiciel Biowin® ont été réalisées. Les principaux résultats sont résumés en suivant :- La rétention de liquide statique est majoritaire par rapport à la rétention dynamique que ce soit en présence ou en absence de biofilm. Le biofilm joue le rôle d’une "éponge" permettant un maintien de l’humidité du lit même à faible débit. Les expériences de DTS ont montré que le biofilm accroit le temps de séjour du liquide et conduit à une diminution de l’épaisseur du film liquide permettant ainsi de promouvoir le transfert de l'oxygène.- Le réacteur MSB montre une élimination efficace de la DCO (> 95 % ) et de la nitrification ( > 60 % de l’azote entrant), mais une accumulation de DCO particulaire a lieu dans le filtre ce qui conduira à un colmatage à terme. La nitrification cohabite avecl’élimination de la DCO même dans la première section et pour une charge organique élevée ce qui implique une bonne capacité d’oxygénation du MSB par l’aération naturelle.- Un modèle dynamique de MSB a été utilisé implémenté sur le simulateur - BioWin , afin d'obtenir la répartition des biomasses au sein du réacteur et d'évaluer le processus limitant dans chaque section. Le modèle partiellement calibré peut aider à estimer les besoins minimum d'oxygène pour la nitrification et peut rendre compte de la compétition entre la croissance hétérotrophe et la nitrification. / The main objective of this PhD work focused on the study of the COD removal and nitrification in a new designed Multi-Section Bioreactor (MSB). Hydrodynamic characterization of the reactor, biological experiments under contrasted conditions and simulations by Biowin® software were carried out:- Firstly, it was found that static liquid retention is the predominant part both without and with the presence of biofilm. Biofilm acts like a "sponge". RTD experiments showed that biofilm can promote liquid residence time, decrease the liquid film andpromote the oxygen transfer consequently.- Secondly, the MSB operated at contrasted organic loading rate (OLRs) and nitrogen loading rate (NLRs) showed that COD can be effectively removed (removal efficiency > 95%) and nitrification (> 60% of the N removal) occurred in this biofilter.Nitrification is efficient even in the first section implying no drastic oxygen limitation though only natural aeration is occurring.- Thirdly, a TF dynamic model has been used from a simulator - BioWin, in order to get more insights on the biomass distribution in the pilot and to assess the limiting process in each section of the bioreactor. Calibration of the model can help us to estimate theminimum oxygen requirement for nitrification for each zone inside the pilot and it can well represent the competition between heterotrophic growth and nitrification.

No meio científico são bastante utilizados os modelos matemáticos para avaliar as características hidrodinâmicas de reatores, porém a literatura é pobre em informações relativas à aplicação do equacionamento matemático em regime não-permanente. Neste trabalho foi aplicado um modelo matemático simulando a hidrodinâmica de reatores tubulares com dispersão para avaliar o efeito da variação de vazão afluente sobre os parâmetros hidrodinâmicos. As simulações foram efetuadas considerando vazão e volume constantes, vazão e volume variáveis e vazão variável e volume constante. Foi investigada a influência de dois tipos de ensaios estímulo-resposta, pulso e degrau, para aplicação de modelos matemáticos e determinação das curvas de distribuição do tempo de residência (DTR) experimentais. Teoricamente ambos devem fornecer os mesmos resultados embora o ensaio em pulso costume apresentar maior sensibilidade experimental. Conforme esperado, ambos os ensaios apresentaram os mesmos resultados finais. Também foram avaliados os traçadores empregados nos dois tipos de ensaios estímulo-resposta, pulso e degrau. Foram empregados três traçadores diferentes - verde de bromocresol, azul de bromofenol e eosina Y que proporcionaram curvas com diferentes características. Como ferramenta auxiliar da modelação foram estudas a determinação das curvas DTR experimentais com auxílio de duas técnicas distintas. Para calibrar o modelo matemático proposto foram utilizados dados de reatores em escala de bancada com diferentes configurações submetidas a variações de vazões afluentes. Os dados de um reator UASB em escala piloto - submetido a variações cíclicas de vazão afluente de 40 e 60% - foram empregados para calibrar e verificar o modelo matemático proposto. Os resultados encontrados com o modelo matemático proposto nesta pesquisa demonstraram que a variação de vazão afluente não deve ser negligenciada. O modelo utilizado representou adequadamente o reator UASB. Seus resultados, quando comparados aos modelos matemáticos que não consideram a variação de vazão, mostraram que para flutuações de vazão elevadas, vazões com valores até 60% maiores do que a vazão média, os valores dos coeficientes de difusão diferem significativamente em função das hipóteses empregadas no desenvolvimento do modelo matemático. / Mathematical models for hydrodynamic characteristics evaluation of reactors are commonly used however there is a lack of information in the literature concerning the application of mathematical modeling for non-steady state flow. In this thesis, it is presented a non-steady mathematical model to simulate the hydrodynamic behavior of pipe flow reactors with diffusion in order to evaluate the effect of the variation of the influent flowrate in the hydrodynamic parameters. The simulations were performed considering constant flowrate and volume, variable flowrate and volume and, variable flowrate and constant volume. It was investigated the influence of two types of stimulus-response assays, pulse and step function, on the application of mathematical models and the determination of the experimental retention time distribution curves. Theoretically, both tests should provide the same results although the pulse stimulus assay usually presents higher experimental sensitivity. As it was expected, both tests presented the same final results. The tested tracers were also evaluated in relation to the pulse and step stimulus-response tests. Three tracers were tested (bromocresol green, bromophenol blue and eosin Y) and it was shown that they provided different curves. It was studied the construction of the experimental retention time distribution curves using two procedures as an auxiliary tool for modeling. The proposed mathematical model was calibrated with data of bench scale reactors submitted to different cyclical variations of flowrates. Moreover, data of UASB reactor in pilot scale - submitted to 40 and 60% of cyclical variations of flowrates were utilized to calibrate and verify the obtained mathematical model. The results found with the mathematical model proposed in this research showed that the variations in influent flow rate can not be neglected. The model adequately represented a pilot scale UASB reactor. The results showed that the diffusion coefficients differ significantly for high flowrate fluctuations, when compared to other mathematical models that do not incorporate variable flowrate, depending upon the hypothesis used to derive the model.

Ce travail porte sur l'étude de fours tournants équipés de releveurs. Ce sont des contacteurs gaz/solide largement répandus dans de nombreux secteurs industriels mettant en oeuvre des solides divisés. Cependant en raison d'une faible connaissance du fonctionnement de ces équipements notamment en matière d'écoulement ou de transfert thermique, leur utilisation repose encore beaucoup sur le savoir faire des opérateurs acquis avec le temps. Ainsi ce travail vise à fournir aux ingénieurs des outils de connaissance et d'extrapolation pour les accompagner dans les phases de dimensionnement, mais aussi d'optimisation de procédés existants, en particulier pour des fours tournants en chauffage indirect et équipés de releveurs. La première partie de cette étude porte sur l'influence des conditions opératoires sur l'hydrodynamique des solides divisés de forme et taille différentes. Pour ce faire, des procédures expérimentales pour la mesure de distribution des temps de séjours des particules solides ont été mises en oeuvres. Deux pilotes de four tournant ont été utilisés. Ces derniers ont un ratio longueur sur diamètre équivalent mais un ratio de taille de 2. L'hydrodynamique des fours a été caractérisée quantitativement à partir des résultats expérimentaux en terme de temps de séjour des solides, taux de remplissage du four ainsi que de la dispersion axiale des particules. Ces derniers ont été modélisés par analyse dimensionnelle dans un souci de généralité en prenant en compte la présence d'éléments internes (releveurs, grille) ou diaphragmes en sortie, mais aussi des paramètres opératoires tels que la vitesse de rotation du tube, son inclinaison ou le débit des particules solides. La seconde partie de cette étude s'intéresse aux processus de transfert thermique dans les fours tournants en chauffage indirect et équipés de releveurs. Cette étude repose sur la mesure des profils de température à la paroi, dans la phase gazeuse et le lit de particules solides. L'analyse de ces profils de température se focalise sur la détermination des coefficients de transfert de chaleur entre la paroi et le lit de solides d'une part, et entre la paroi et le gaz d'autre part. Une méthode d'analyse globale de système mince et un bilan global intégrant la puissance fournie pour la chauffe sont utilisés pour la détermination de ces coefficients de transfert. Les résultats obtenus permettent d'une part de mettre en évidence l'effet des releveurs ainsi que l'influence des paramètres opératoires sur ces coefficients de transfert de chaleur et d'autre part d'établir par analyse dimensionnelle des modèles pour ces derniers. Enfin, ce travail se termine par la mise en place d'un modèle dynamique simplifié de four tournant en chauffage indirect permettant la détermination des profils de température le long du four et pouvant être facilement adapté à divers procédés. / The present work addresses a fundamental study on flighted rotary kilns. They are gas-solid reactors, used in a variety of industries to process heterogeneous media. However, operating these kilns mainly relies on the know-how of operators due to insufficient fundamental understanding. The aim of this work is to provide engineers with relevant tools and models to assist in the design stage and the performance improvement of existing operating process units, in particular indirectly heated rotary kilns, inclined and equipped with lifters. In the first part, we studied the effects of operating parameters on the flow of materials of differing properties and shape. For this purpose, residence time distribution measurements were performed through experimental stimulus response tests. Two pilot-scale rotary kilns with similar length-to-diameter ratios, but a dimension ratio of about two were used in this study. We focused on the effects of lifter shape and configurations. The effects of the rotational speed, the kiln slope, the mass flow rate and the exit dam height were also analyzed. The flow of solids was quantitatively characterized primarily by the experimental mean residence time, hold-up, and axial dispersion coefficient. Using a dimensional analysis, models were established to predict the mean residence time, the filling degree and the axial dispersion coefficient, providing basic information on the kiln design, solid particle properties and operating conditions. In the second part, we studied the heat transfer mechanisms occurring in the flighted rotary kiln by measuring temperature profiles at the wall, the freeboard gas and the bulk of solids. Analysis of the temperature profiles focused on two main issues: assessment of the heat transfer coefficient between wall and gas, and assessment of the heat transfer coefficient between wall and solid particles. The lumped system analysis and a heat balance using the power supplied for the heating were applied to determine the experimental heat transfer coefficients. The effects of operating conditions and lifting flights were analyzed. Both heat transfer coefficients were then correlated through dimensional considerations. Lastly a global dynamic model mainly based on the models developed in this study can be used to determine wall, gas and bulk solids axial temperature profiles in an indirectly heated flighted rotary kiln. This global model needs to be completed with specific models related to a reaction so as to be used as a framework for the simulation of specific industrial rotary kilns.

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