Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-10-02T11:11:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RENATO FONSECA ARAGÃO - TESE (PPGEP) 2007.pdf: 2987453 bytes, checksum: c87484ad75e7b482ac6c622ba7db5c14 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-02T11:11:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RENATO FONSECA ARAGÃO - TESE (PPGEP) 2007.pdf: 2987453 bytes, checksum: c87484ad75e7b482ac6c622ba7db5c14 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-12-17 / A secagem de fatias de caju em secadores convencionais de bandejas e em secadores solares é alternativa para atender aos pequenos produtores, que com a utilização desta técnica, possam agregar valor aos seus produtos e minimizar as perdas. No desenvolvimento de secadores é necessário conhecer as propriedades termofísicas do material a secar, as relações de equilíbrio higroscópico bem como dispor de informações acerca da cinética de secagem. De acordo com isto, este trabalho teve como objetivo poder oferecer uma alternativa tecnológica viável de modo a poder otimizar o desempenho do equipamento e a qualidade do produto. Foram determinadas as propriedades térmicas e físicas do pedúnculo do caju em função do teor de umidade. Foi verificado que entre três modelos matemáticos analisados para o equilíbrio higroscópico das fatias de caju o modelo de GAB é o que melhor representa a curva de umidade de equilíbrio. Foi estudada a cinética de secagem, em diferentes condições operacionais com temperaturas variando de 60 a 80 0C, velocidade do ar de secagem na faixa de 1 a 1,8 ms-1 e altura do leito variando de 1 a 3 cm. Para a modelagem matemática foi utilizado o modelo difusional baseado na 2a lei de Fick, que se mostrou adequado para predizer a cinética de secagem do caju. Para analisar o desempenho do secador de bandejas foi estudado a eficiência energética global média, o índice de saturação do ar e o teor de umidade final do produto após 300 minutos de operação. Foi elaborado um planejamento fatorial 23 com três experimentos no ponto central, tendo como variáveis independentes a temperatura, velocidade do ar de secagem e espessura do leito, e como variáveis resposta a eficiência energética global o índice de saturação e o teor de umidade final. Os resultados obtidos para a eficiência energética variaram de 5,12 a 18,86%. Para o índice de saturação do ar a variação foi de 5,35 a 38,38%. As superfícies de respostas geradas mostraram que estes resultados podem ser melhorados com o aumento da carga nas bandejas do secador e a diminuição da velocidade do ar de secagem. Foram implementadas modificações no programa “Secador” desenvolvido em linguagem FORTRAN para simular a secagem de fatias de caju nas bandejas do secador. Foram acrescentadas sub-rotinas para implementar no modelo as variações das propriedades físicas e térmicas do caju em função do teor de umidade, coeficiente de difusão variável, umidade de equilíbrio em função da temperatura e da umidade relativa do ar. Observou-se que com relação a predição da temperatura e umidade do ar o modelo apresenta bons resultados, enquanto que com relação a temperatura e umidade da fruta, é necessário fazer alguns ajustes. Os resultados aqui apresentados mostram a viabilidade do uso de secadores de bandejas e permite o dimensionamento e otimização destes em escala industrial, adequados para atender pequenos produtores na obtenção de fatias de caju secas. / The drying of cashew slices in common tray or solar dryers are alternatives to serve small farmers, who can aggregate value to their product and minimize losses, using this technique. During the development of dryers, it’s necessary to know the thermal-physical properties of the material to be dried, the hygroscopic equilibrium relation, as well as to be aware about drying kinetics. According to that, this work had the objective to offer a viable technological alternative in order to optimize the development of the equipment and product quality. The thermal and physics properties of cashew apple were determined in function of moisture content, regarding the hygroscopic equilibrium, it was verified that, among three mathematic models, the GAB best represents the cashew moisture equilibrium. It was studied the cashew drying kinetic, in different operational conditions, with temperature of 60 to 80ºC, air drying velocity of 1 to 1.8m s-1 and bed height varying between 1 to 3cm. For the mathematic modeling it was used the diffusional model based on Fick’s 2nd law, which is suitable to predict the cashew drying kinetics. In order to analyze the development of tray dryer it was studied the mean global energetic efficiency, the air saturation index, and the final moisture content of the product after operating during 300 minutes. It was prepared a factorial planning 23 with three experiments in central point, involving temperature, air drying velocity and bed thickness as independent variables, and global energetic efficiency, air saturation index, and final content moisture as response variables. The obtained results showed that the energetic efficiency varied from 5.12 to 18.86%, whereas the variation for the air saturation index was from 5.35 to 38.38%. The generated response surface show that these results can be improved by increasing the loading into the dryer trays and by decreasing the drying air velocity. It was implemented some changes in the “Secador” program developed in FORTRAN language to simulate the cashew slices drying in the dryer trays. Sub-routines were added in order to implement, in the model, cashew physics and thermal properties variations as a function of moisture content, variable diffusion coefficient, equilibrium moisture content in function of tools for large scale units, suitable to attend small farmers.

Submitted by LUCAS PORTILHO DA CUNHA null (lucasportilhodacunha@gmail.com) on 2016-04-21T16:42:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO_LUCAS PORTILHO DA CUNHA VERSÃO FINAL.pdf: 2114741 bytes, checksum: 6122b7305d3f81a525845b852fac3200 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-05-02T16:39:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 cunha_lp_me_sjrp.pdf: 2114741 bytes, checksum: 6122b7305d3f81a525845b852fac3200 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-02T16:39:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 cunha_lp_me_sjrp.pdf: 2114741 bytes, checksum: 6122b7305d3f81a525845b852fac3200 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-28 / O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal o desenvolvimento de um biorreator de bandeja capaz de produzir esporos do fungo entomopatogênico Metarhizium anisopliae. Para esse fim, foi utilizado um biorreator de bandeja para a produção de esporos, que por sua vez foi avaliada em função da carga de substrato empregada. As variações de temperatura no biorreator foram simuladas e observadas experimentalmente. Para o desenvolvimento do biorreator, inicialmente foram realizados ensaios em embalagens plásticas contendo 10g e 500g de substrato, de modo a avaliar como o aumento da carga de meio fermentativo poderia influenciar na produção de esporos. Nestes ensaios, foram medidas as temperaturas no centro geométrico das embalagens e a elevação de temperatura foi relacionada à produção de esporos. Realizou – se uma análise de área superficial do arroz tipo 1 e da quirera de arroz para avaliar a interferência desta propriedade na produção de esporos. A partir dos resultados em embalagens plásticas foram realizados experimentos em um biorreator de 40 cm de comprimento, 29 cm de largura por 12 cm de altura, escoando ar sobre as partículas no sentido da maior dimensão. Foram empregadas cargas de 1, 2 e 3kg de arroz tipo 1, correspondente à altura de leito de 2, 4 e 6 cm, respectivamente, e 1 kg de quirera, correspondendo a 2 cm de altura. A temperatura nas posições de entrada e saída de ar e no meio geométrico do meio de cultivo foram medidas ao longo dos ensaios. A fermentação nas embalagens plásticas e no biorreator foram realizadas a 28oC. Para estimar a geração de calor metabólico do meio de cultivo, foram coletados dados de consumo de O2 e liberação de CO2 durante o período de incubação. Para tal, foi realizada a fermentação em um biorreator de leito empacotado cilíndrico, sendo os gases provenientes do leito e conduzidos a um analisador de gases. Foi proposto um modelo matemático unidimensional, capaz de prever os perfis de temperatura e o crescimento fúngico ao longo do processo em qualquer posição do biorreator. Os resultados experimentais em embalagens plásticas e no biorreator mostraram que menores quantidades de substrato são favoráveis à maior estabilidade da temperatura do meio de cultivo, resultando em maiores quantidades de esporos. No teste de área superficial, foi possível observar um aumento na área da quirera de arroz e consequentemente aumento da quantidade de esporos. Nos testes de cinética de crescimento, pode se observar que o consumo de O2 é baixo comparado a outros fungos. Os dados de simulação não demonstraram sobreaquecimento do meio de cultivo no biorreator com o aumento de carga, o que não afetaria a produção de esporos. Também pode se observar com os dados de simulação que a temperatura da superfície do meio de cultivo não sofreu sobreaquecimento. Porém, com os dados experimentais, foi possível observar um sobreaquecimento no meio de cultivo, em virtude da geração de calor metabólico. Os dados experimentais demonstraram que os melhores resultados obtidos no biorreator, para produção de esporos do fungo Metarhizium anisopliae, foram com cargas de 1 Kg, correspondente a 2 cm de altura de substrato e que com cargas maiores os perfis de temperatura apresentaram elevado aquecimento no meio de cultivo. / This study aimed to develop a bioreactor tray capable of producing spores of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae entomopathogenic. To this end, we used a tray bioreactor for the production of spores, which in turn was evaluated according to the employed substrate load. Temperature variations in the bioreactor were simulated and observed experimentally. For the development of bioreactor assays were carried out in plastic bags containing substrate 10g and 500g in order to evaluate how increasing fermentative medium loading could influence the production of spores. In these tests we measured the temperature at the geometric center of the packages and the temperature rise was related to spore production performed -. A surface area analysis of rice Type 1 and broken rice to evaluate the interference at this property in the production of spores. From the results in plastic containers experiments were performed in a bioreactor of 40 cm long, 29 cm wide by 12 cm, air flowing onto the particles in the direction of the largest dimension. Loads were applied to 1, 2 and 3 kg of rice type 1, corresponding to the bed height of 2, 4 and 6 cm, respectively, and 1 kg of grits, corresponding to 2 cm. The temperature at the inlet position and the air outlet and the geometric mean of the culture medium were measured throughout the tests. Fermentation in plastic packaging and the bioreactor were carried out at 28 C. To estimate the generation of metabolic heat of culture medium were collected consumption data The O2 and CO2 release during the incubation period. To this end, the fermentation was performed in a bioreactor cylindrical packed bed, and the gases from the bed and driven to a gas analyzer. A one-dimensional mathematical model capable of predicting the temperature profile and fungal growth during the process at any position of the bioreactor is proposed. The experimental results in plastic bottles and bioreactor showed that smaller amounts of substrate are conducive to increased stability of the temperature of the medium, resulting in larger amounts of spores. In the test surface area, it was possible to observe an increase in the area of rice grits and therefore increasing the amount of spores. In the growth kinetics tests, it can be seen that the O 2 consumption is low compared to other fungi. Simulation data showed no overheating of the culture medium in the bioreactor with the increased load, which would not affect the production of spores. It can also be observed with the simulation data as the temperature of the surface of the medium has not suffered overheating. However, with the experimental data, it was possible to observe overheating in the culture medium by virtue of the generation of metabolic heat. The experimental data show that the best results obtained in the bioreactor for the production of Metarhizium anisopliae spores of the fungus were to loads of 1 kg, corresponding to 2 cm substrate height and with larger loads temperature profiles showed high heat in the middle cultivation.

Este trabalho aborda a predição da eficiência de pratos valvulados de dois passes, de escoamento cruzado com downcomers de uma coluna de destilação industrial, através do uso de diferentes modelos com e sem o uso do método Stagnant Regions Model proposto por Lockett em 1986. Contrariando o esperado, poucos artigos foram publicados sobre as principais características de pratos valvulados e bem menos sobre eficiência de pratos valvulados de dois passes. Os resultados encontrados sugerem que a correlação de O'Connell, o modelo de Chan e Fair aplicado aos pratos valvulados de dois passes convertidos para um passe e o modelo de Chan e Fair com uso do método SRM são os que melhor predizem a eficiência de pratos valvulados de dois passes, de escoamento cruzado com downcomers, no caso estudado.Em consonância com os estudos prévios, a correlação de O'Connell subestima o valor da eficiência, mostrando-se levemente conservativa, enquanto as predições pelo uso do modelo de Chan e Fair e do modelo modificado de Chan e Fair com uso do comprimento equivalente proposto por Klemola e Ilme superestimam o valor da eficiência, mostrando-se levemente não-conservativas. / This work approaches the prediction of the efficiency of two passes, crossflow valve trays with downcomers of an industrial distillation column, through the use of different models with and without the use the Stagnant Regions Model, method proposed by Lockett in 1986.Contradicting what it could be expected, few papers were published about the main characteristics of valve trays and fewer about efficiency of two passes valve trays. The results suggest that the O'Connell's correlation, the model of Chan and Fair applied to the two passes valve trays converted for one pass valve tray and the model of Chan and Fair with SRM method are those that best predict the efficiency of two passes, crossflow valve trays with downcomers. In consonance with the previous published studies, the O'Connell'correlation underestimates the value of the efficiency, showing a slightly conservative value, while the predictions using Chan and Fair model and the modified Chan and Fair model with equivalent length proposed by Klemola and Ilme overestimates the value of the efficiency, showing a slightly non-conservative results.

Este trabalho aborda a predição da eficiência de pratos valvulados de dois passes, de escoamento cruzado com downcomers de uma coluna de destilação industrial, através do uso de diferentes modelos com e sem o uso do método Stagnant Regions Model proposto por Lockett em 1986. Contrariando o esperado, poucos artigos foram publicados sobre as principais características de pratos valvulados e bem menos sobre eficiência de pratos valvulados de dois passes. Os resultados encontrados sugerem que a correlação de O'Connell, o modelo de Chan e Fair aplicado aos pratos valvulados de dois passes convertidos para um passe e o modelo de Chan e Fair com uso do método SRM são os que melhor predizem a eficiência de pratos valvulados de dois passes, de escoamento cruzado com downcomers, no caso estudado.Em consonância com os estudos prévios, a correlação de O'Connell subestima o valor da eficiência, mostrando-se levemente conservativa, enquanto as predições pelo uso do modelo de Chan e Fair e do modelo modificado de Chan e Fair com uso do comprimento equivalente proposto por Klemola e Ilme superestimam o valor da eficiência, mostrando-se levemente não-conservativas. / This work approaches the prediction of the efficiency of two passes, crossflow valve trays with downcomers of an industrial distillation column, through the use of different models with and without the use the Stagnant Regions Model, method proposed by Lockett in 1986.Contradicting what it could be expected, few papers were published about the main characteristics of valve trays and fewer about efficiency of two passes valve trays. The results suggest that the O'Connell's correlation, the model of Chan and Fair applied to the two passes valve trays converted for one pass valve tray and the model of Chan and Fair with SRM method are those that best predict the efficiency of two passes, crossflow valve trays with downcomers. In consonance with the previous published studies, the O'Connell'correlation underestimates the value of the efficiency, showing a slightly conservative value, while the predictions using Chan and Fair model and the modified Chan and Fair model with equivalent length proposed by Klemola and Ilme overestimates the value of the efficiency, showing a slightly non-conservative results.

Solid state fermentation (SSF) refers to the microbial fermentation, which takes place in the absence or near absence of free water, thus being close to the natural environment to which the selected microorganisms, especially fungi, are naturally adapted. The current status of SSF research globally was discussed in terms of articles publication. This was followed by discussion of the advantages of SSF and the reason for interest in SSF as a notable bioprocessing technology to be investigated and compared to submerged fermentation (SmF) for the production of various added-value products. SSF also proved to be a potential technology to treat solid waste produced from food and agricultural industry and to provide environmental benefits with solid waste treatment. A summary was made of the attempts at using modern SSF technology for future biorefineries for the production of chemicals. Many works were carried out in the Satake Centre for Grain Process Engineering (SCGPE), University of Manchester, to prove the strategy of using SSF for the production of hydrolysate rich in nutrients for sequel microbial fermentation with or without adding any commercial nutrients. The research findings presented in this thesis are based on a series of SSF experiments carried out on systems varying in complexity from simple petri dishes to our own design of bioreactor systems. They were conducted to assess a solution for biomass estimation, enzymes production, and successful mass and heat transfer. A proper technique for inoculum transfer prior to the start of the fermentation process was developed. In SSF, estimation of biomass presents difficulties as generally the fungal mycelium penetrates deep and remains attached with the solid substrate particles. Although many promising methods are available, the evaluation of microbial growth in SSF may sometimes become laborious, impractical and inaccurate. Essentially, this remains another critical issue for monitoring growth. In these studies, measurement of colour changes during SSF are presented as one of the potential techniques that can be used to describe growth, complementary to monitoring metabolic activity measurement, such as CER, OUR and heat evolution, which is directly related to growth. For the growth of Aspergillus awamori and Aspergillus oryzae on wheat bran, soybean hulls and rapeseed meal, it was confirmed that colour production was directly proportional to fungal growth. This colourimetric technique was also proved to be a feasible approach for fungal biomass estimation in SmF. This new approach is an important complementation to the existing techniques especially for basic studies. The key finding is that the colourimetric technique demonstrated and provided information of higher quality than that obtained by visual observation or spores counting. The effect of aeration arrangements on moisture content, oxygen (O2), mass and heat transfer during SSF was investigated. A. awamori and A. oryzae were cultivated on wheat bran in newly designed four tray solid state bioreactor (SSB) systems. The new tray SSB systems were: (1) single circular tray SSB, (2) multi-stacked circular tray SSB, (3) Single rectangular tray SSB and (4) multi-square tray SSB. The purpose was to study the effect, on heat and water transfer, of operating variables, fermentation on the perforated base tray and internal moist air circulation under natural and forced aeration. Temperature, O2 and carbon dioxide were measured continuously on-line. Enzyme activity, moisture content and biomass were also measured. The results suggest that the air arrangements examined have a remarkable effect on the quantity of biomass produced using measurement of spores and enzymes production. The strategy presented in these studies allowed quantitative evaluation of the effect of forced internal moist air circulation on the removal of metabolic heat. With the proposed strategy, it was possible to maintain the bed temperatures at the optimum level for growth. However, the effect on moisture content was very different for the two fungi. It was found that the ability of A. oryzae to retain moisture was much higher than that of A. awamori. This is possibly due to the higher levels of chitin in A. oryzae. Greater spores and enzymes (glucoamylase, xylanase and cellulase) production was observed for A. awamori in multi-stacked circular tray and multi-square tray SSB systems compared to the conventional petri dishes and the other two systems. A. oryzae was excellent in producing protease in the same bioreactors. A direct technique of establishing a correlation between fungal growth and CER, OUR, heat evolved was proven successful in this work. The information obtained from CER and OUR led to the estimation of respiratory quotient (RQ). RQ describes the state of the fungal population in the tray SSB and gives an indication of fungal metabolic behaviour. RQ values < 1 were obtained from 38 experiments using four tray SSB systems for the two fungi. A kinetic model based on CO2 evolution instead of biomass concentration was examined in order to simplify the required experiments for kinetic model development. A Gompertz model was used to fit the integrated CO2 data and predict the quantity of CO2 evolution in all experiments. A correlation was found between the heat evolution and CER. The performances of tray SSB systems can be improved by constructing them as multi-trays. The multi-tray systems improved the mass transfer considerably compared with single tray systems. In addition, the multi-tray systems allowed precise measurement of the gradients of CO2, enzymes, spores and fungal biomass. In addition, the air arrangements using moistened air were successful in maintaining moisture content, adequate O2 supply and control of temperature, and hence, increased the productivity of both fungi. Overall A. awamori and A. oryzae have their own ability and performance to degrade and utilise the complex compositions contained in the solid substrate and fermentation conditions may lead to possible comparisons. In addition, multi-stacked circular tray and multi-square tray SSB systems demonstrated an excellent system for further investigations of mass transfer and possibly for large scale operation, though considerable optimisation work remains to be done, for example the height/diameter ratio and total number of trays should be optimised.

Industrial tray air-dryers are increasingly used for the drying of agricultural products. The main drawback of these dryers is the non-uniform velocity distribution in the drying zone resulting in a non-uniform drying of the product. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software was implemented to predict and decrease the non-uniform velocity distribution of various dryer configurations. Tunnel dryers in commercial use were used to obtain experimental data. The CFD results were correlated with the test data. Trolley and tray tunnel dryers provide a relatively simple, low capital intensive and versatile method for drying a wide range of products. Artificial drying has the advantage of controlled drying conditions compared to traditional sun drying. The main focus of every tunnel design should be the improvement of the quality of the product in terms of colour, texture and aroma. Increasing the evaporation rate without increasing the energy required to do so, should always be done in-line with this main objective. Many studies focus on the mango structure and food dehydration principles that influence the uniform drying product with the assumption that the airflow over the produce is uniform. Few have been conducted on the air movement inside industrial dryers. CFD analysis predicts the airflow without influencing the airflow pattern compared to the measuring equipment inside test dryers. The experimental data were obtained from an empty dryer without a flow diverter. This was compared to dryer with the flow diverter included and compared to a dryer with the trolleys, trays and mango slices included. The test results showed that turbulence created by this configuration, still played a major role in the nonuniform velocity distribution along the drying zone of the tunnel. The inclusion of a flow diverter did however dampen the swirl effect of the main fan. Measuring the velocity distribution was practically difficult with the handheld devices used, which influenced the accuracy of the measurements taken. This justified the CFD analysis in order to better visualise and predict the airflow pattern inside the dryer. The total average speed CFD results of the sections in the drying zone (without mangoes and trolleys) of the dryer without a flow diverter was 11.2% higher compared to the test results. It was 14% higher for the dryer with the flow diverter included. The dryer with the mangoes, trays, trolleys and flow diverter showed a large difference where the total average speed of the CFD analysis was 49% higher compared to the test results. The main reason for the difference of the CFD analysis compared to the measured results are the factors that influenced the uncertainty of the experimental set up. The CFD analysis showed that the coefficient of variance (CV) of the dryer with the flow diverter (mangoes and trolleys included) was 3% lower compared to the dryer without one. Various dryer configurations were analysed using the CFD software to investigate what the best combination of flow diverter, vanes and blanking-off plates would be. A dryer configuration where flow diverters (Up-and-downstream of the main fan) above the false ceiling and inside the drying zone was analysed. A 16% decrease in terms of the CV value was obtained compared to the dryer with just the flow diverter downstream of main fan above the false ceiling. There was however a large region of swirl upstream of the main above the false ceiling resulting in a larger loss of heated air through the outlet fan before it reached the drying zone. The cost of manufacturing a simple vane and flow diverter for an existing dryer is 4% of the initial building costs (excluding the initial cost of the trolleys). The overall drying uniformity of this dryer is improved according to the CFD analysis by 7%. A cost analysis (taking into account the 15 year life cycle of a dryer) in terms of the energy requirement to evaporate water from the drying zone, showed that the dryer with the flow diverter was 6% less expensive to run on a yearly basis. Labour costs will be lower due to man-hours saved in terms of sorting out the wet slices from the dried product. Resources (dryers and trolleys) that would have been used for re-drying the wet produce, could now be implemented to increase the production rate of the plant. Copyright / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / unrestricted

This study compared the projections by young people in a rural school of risk factors and protective resources in the first and second sand tray. From an indigenisation perspective, the assumption was that sand tray therapy could be suitable to understand risk factors and protective resources in two sand trays of young people. As part of a clinical case study design first and second sand trays (n=22) of clients (n=11) were purposefully selected for comparative analysis. Data sources included visual data (photographs), accompanying client narratives (verbatim transcriptions and field notes), ASL student reflections, and semi-structured interviews with purposefully sampled ASL students. Following thematic data analysis two main themes emerged: risk and protection in first and second sand trays of young people in a rural school; and progression in projections of first and second sand trays of young people in a rural school. Sand tray therapy has utility for use with young people in a rural ecology to (i) use as a contextually and culturally appropriate technique (ii) use in groups in school-based educational psychology services (iii) assess risk factors, (iv) protective resources and (v) the use of first and second sand trays for young people to project positive progression in their experiences of their life-worlds. Consequently, educational psychologists can integrate sand tray therapy, as a contextually appropriate technique, into intervention programmes to understand the experiences of young people in rural ecologies and support them. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Educational Psychology / MEd / Unrestricted

Yes / Active packaging consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) trays coated with a Citrus extract, without and with plasma pre-treatment, can reduce lipid oxidation in cooked meat. The mechanism of action of the packaging was investigated by quantifying the extent of transfer of antioxidant components from the active packaging into cooked turkey meat. Kinetic studies revealed the affinity for water of phenolic compounds and carboxylic acids in the Citrus extract, suggesting their diffusion into the water phase of the meat facilitated their antioxidant effect. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography permitted the identification of carboxylic acids and flavanones as major components of the extract. Their quantification in meat after contact with the trays revealed a release of 100% of the total coated amount for citric acid, 30% for salicylic acid, 75% for naringin and 58% for neohesperidin, supporting the release of these components into cooked meat as a mechanism of action of the antioxidant active packaging.

Distillation is the leading thermal separation technology that is carried out in many industrial tray columns worldwide. Although distillation columns are expensive in terms of cost and energy, they will remain in service due to unavailability of any equivalent industrially-viable alternative. However, rising energy costs and urgent needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions demand improvements in the energy efficiency of separation processes, globally. This can be achieved by tuning the dynamics of the evolving two-phase dispersion on column trays via design modification and revamping. Thus, it becomes necessary to understand how the two phases evolve over the tray and how they link to tray efficiency for given tray designs, systems and operating conditions. Only then, the cost and energy reduction can be achieved by strategically iterating the tray design and revamps with respect to the resulting tray efficiency. To pursue this strategy, accurate prediction of the separation efficiency based on flow and mixing patterns on the trays is an important prerequisite. In this thesis, the mathematical models relying on flow and mixing patterns for predicting the tray efficiencies were reviewed. These models were developed based on the analyses of two-phase flow, crossflow hydraulics and mass transfer over the trays. Several limitations in the existing models were identified that could lead to inaccurate tray efficiency predictions. First, the conventional models do not account for any variation in the local two-phase flow in their formulation. These models rather consider a homogeneous flow scenario based on flow monitoring at the tray boundaries only, which indicates a black box efficiency estimation. Second, the existing models do not consider any vapor flow maldistribution, which can be detrimental to the tray efficiency. In response to these limitations, a new model based on refinement of the conventional residence time distribution (RTD) model (referred to as the ‘Refined RRTD model’) was proposed. The new model involves geometric partitioning of the tray into compartments along the flow path length, which permits computing the tray efficiency through quantification of the efficiency of the individual compartments. The proposed model ensures that the fluid dynamics of each compartment contribute towards the overall tray efficiency, which specifically targets the black box prediction of the tray efficiency by the conventional models. The tray discretization further aids in analyzing the impact of vapor flow maldistribution on the tray efficiency. In the initial assessment, the new model capabilities were demonstrated in appropriate case studies after theoretical validation of the model for the limiting cases of the two-phase flows. For the experimental validation of the new model, a full hydrodynamic and mass transfer description of the two-phase dispersion specific to the tray operation is indispensable. Because of the inherently complex dispersion characteristics, significant advancements in the imaging and efficiency modeling methods were required. In this thesis, a DN800 column simulator equipped with two sieve trays (each with 13.55% fractional free area) was used with air and tap water as the working fluids. Deionized water was used as a tracer. The gas loadings in the column in terms of F-factor were 1.77 Pa0.5 and 2.05 Pa0.5, whereas the weir loadings were 2.15 m3m-1h-1, 4.30 m3m-1h-1 and 6.45 m3m-1h-1. An advanced multiplex flow profiler comprising 776 dual-tip conductivity probes for simultaneous conductivity measurements was introduced for hydrodynamic characterization. The spatial resolution of the profiler based on the inter-probe distance was 21 mm × 24 mm, whereas the temporal resolution was 5000 Hz. The design characteristics of the new profiler, electronic scheme, measurement principle, reference framework, and data processing schemes are explained in detail. By analyzing the two-phase dispersion data gathered by the profiler at multiple elevations above the tray, the effective froth height distributions were obtained for the first time based on a newly proposed approach. Uniform froth heights were seen over the majority of the tray deck, whereas both minimum and maximum froth heights were detected immediately after the tray inlet. Based on threshold-based calculation (accompanied by γ-ray CT scans), 3D time-averaged liquid holdup distributions were visualized for the first time, too. Homogeneous liquid holdup distributions were observed at multiple elevations above the deck with the highest holdups occurring near the average effective froth heights. The detailed flow and mixing patterns of the liquid in the two-phase dispersion were retrieved via tracer monitoring. With respect to tray centerline, axisymmetric liquid flow and mixing patterns were detected with parabolic velocity distributions near the tray inlet. The liquid velocities over the remaining tray deck were nearly uniform for the prescribed loadings. Eventually, the RRTD model was applied by discretizing the tray geometrically, and accordingly employing the available hydrodynamic data. The conventional models often applied in the literature were also evaluated with the new model. For evaluating the model predictions, a new system add-on for the existing air-water column facility was proposed for direct efficiency measurements. The air-led stripping of isobutyl acetate from the aqueous solution is a safe and viable approach that overcomes numerous limitations posed by the existing chemical systems. Based on liquid sampling at different tray locations, the liquid concentration distributions were obtained at each operating condition via UV spectroscopy. The tray and point efficiencies as well as stripping factors were calculated from those distributions. Because of the low liquid diffusivity and high liquid backmixing, low efficiencies were observed at the given loadings. The model predictions were consistent with the experimental counterparts (even for the extrapolated values of the involved parameters), because of the uniform liquid flow and mixing in the compartments. For the given predictions, those corresponding to the new RRTD model were the most accurate. Additional hydrodynamic and efficiency data are needed for more conclusive evidence regarding the promise of the RRTD model.

The purpose of this study was to research the therapeutic outcomes achieved by a five year-old boy with Asperger Syndrome (AS), by means of non-directive processes of child centred play therapy (CCP) and sand tray play therapy (STP). In this investigative-descriptive qualitative research design, a saturated, holistic, intrinsic single case study was used as research method. The therapeutic process, events and outcomes of a unique single case within the context of AS, non-directive play therapy and the interactional-pattern analysis (IPA), are described. This study was motivated by the fact that the researcher disposed of data for a unique single case study that could contribute meaningfully to the need for a research database that describes effective therapeutic interventions and outcomes with children with AS. From the perspective of Rogerian person-centred theory (RPT), the literature study focused on an integrated discussion of AS, CCP and STP by means of 17 interpersonal variables of the interactional-pattern analysis (IPA). The following data sources was investigated: interviews with parents and teachers; CCP-sessions of J recorded on video; photos of some of J’s STP-sessions and the therapists’ process notes. Triangulation was used to evaluate the various categories of therapeutic outcomes from different viewpoints and to give meaning to them. The conclusions indicated that this boy with AS had used the non-directive processes of CCP and STP to achieve various therapeutic outcomes in the areas of: imaginary play; dramatic play; social interaction with the therapist, parents, family, teachers, his peer group and with strangers; traumatic experiences during visits to the doctor and bath times; identification, expressing and regulating emotions; and minimising acting out behaviour. Therapeutic outcomes have been demonstrated in 8 IPA-variables, namely: empathy, defining of relationships, potential to evoke acceptance or rejection, sincere interest and congruent conduct, control, emotional distance, problem solving and aspects relating to the presenting problem. The conclusion was reached that the conduct of the boy with AS as well as his mother and the therapist, played a mutual role in achieving his therapeutic outcomes within the 17 IPA-variables. The unstructured process of the non-directive play (CCP and STP) was utilised by a young child with AS to achieve therapeutic outcomes that relate to his everyday existence. A final conclusion is that involving the boy’s mother in his therapy and utilising an adapted Filial play program, enabled the mother to make emotional contact with her son and to diminish conflict between them. Guidelines for therapists are suggested with regard to non-directive responding in therapeutic contexts as found in this study. Furthermore, the contribution of this research to Psychology as science and discipline, is presented. Limitations of this study are indicated and recommendations for further research are made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Psigologie))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013