A model of energy management analysis,case study of a sugar factory in Turkey

This study presents a case study of energy management in a sugar factory in Turkey. The main idea of the study is to analyse energy consumption, the quantity of material production, and figure out a suitable energy efficiency for the case study of a sugar factory subsequently. Firstly, a material production and energy consumption audit were performed for the sugar factory. Secondly, energy efficiency was calculated from the energy data. The SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) statistical software was used to ensure the accuracy of the data. The factory’s energy consumption was calculated as 43,590.25 toe (tons of oil equivalent) over the last year. These results were used for CUSUM (Cumulative Sum Deviation Method) graphics. This research poses the consumption of energy, cost of energy and the relationship between energy usage and material production of sugar. The unit of energy cost was 688.22 [$/toe] for the last year. This result showed that the factory decreased the unit of energy by optimisation. The results indicated that the investigated sugar factory should pay attention to the energy management issue in order to comply with the Energy Efficiency of Turkish Law and Directives.     

Validation of Models Predicting Nucleation Rates from Induction Times and Metastable Zone Widths

Three approaches for estimation of nucleation rates from induction time and metastable zone width (MSZW) were validated based on directly measured nucleation rates for paracetamol in ethanol. To quantitatively predict nucleation kinetics using Kubota's methods it is necessary to know the minimum detectable number concentration of nuclei. This was found by determination of light transmission of a series of diluted suspensions of newly nucleated crystals where the size had already been assessed by optical reflection measurement (ORM). The measured nucleation rates strongly depended on both temperature and supersaturation. The Nyvlt method predicted nucleation rates in this system reasonably well; however, it gave slightly low estimates for all temperatures. The methods of Kubota provided nucleation rates that were low by an order of magnitude.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of CePO<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanorod phosphor with violet emission

Monoclinic and hexagonal CePO4 nanoparticles and nanorods were successfully synthesized from Ce(NO3) 3·6H2O and Na3PO4·12H2O solu-tions at pH 1-5 by a 180 W microwave radiation for 60 min.The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD) ,Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy,and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) .XRD patterns revealed that the products are hexagonal CePO4 structures at pH 2-5,and monoclinic CePO4 structures at pH 1.SEM characterization shows that these products were nanoparticles,short nanorods,and long nanorods,controlled by the pH of the precursor solutions.Optical properties of the nanorods were also investigated by ultraviolet-visible(UV-vis) and photoluminescence(PL) spectroscopy.     

Distribution of Elements in a Cu-Added FeSi<Subscript>2</Subscript> Alloy Under Peritectoid and Eutectoid Reactions

The distribution of Si, Fe, and Cu in FeSi₂ alloys, with or without the addition of Cu, were studied by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Alloys were prepared by slow solidification from the melt. Without Cu addition, both ε- and α-phases were clearly observed, and a β-phase surrounding the ε-phase was additionally observed after in situ annealing at 950°C for 12 h. With inclusion of 0.5 at.% Cu, the eutectoid reaction (α → β + Si) was enhanced greatly. Only 0.01 at.% Cu was dissolved into the ε-phase, with the excess Cu atoms being largely found at the outer edge of the ε-phase. Ex situ annealing at 950°C for 12 h greatly changed the distribution of Si, Fe, and Cu. The ε-phase changed its Si/Fe atomic ratio from 1.470 to 1.907, indicating an early stage of the peritectoid reaction (ε + α → β) and/or the subsequent reaction (ε + Si → β), with an increase in the Cu content up to 0.04 at.%. The size of this new phase was smaller than the original ε-phase, and this new phase was surrounded by a shell of Si/Fe with an atomic ratio of 0.727 to 1.788 and a Cu content of 0.01 at.% to 0.11 at.%. In situ annealing under the same condition yielded different results: a large amount of Si segregates from the α-phase matrix, leaving a Si/Fe atomic ratio of only 0.506 to 0.530. The peritectoid reaction of the ε-phase was found to depend on the Cu content. For the ε-phase with undetectable levels of Cu, the Si/Fe atomic ratio remained at 0.954 to 0.998, but this ratio decreased with increasing Cu content to 0.55 at 2.20 at.% Cu. A plot of at.% Cu versus Si/Fe atomic ratio revealed a local minimum at the ε-phase and expectedly at both the β- and α-phases. Nonstoichiometric structures (neither α-, β- nor ε-phases) seemed to have higher at.% Cu compared with those with the closest Si/Fe composition.     

Oxidative Stress and Its Significant Roles in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cancer

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species have been implicated in diverse pathophysiological conditions, including inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Accumulating evidence indicates that oxidative damage to biomolecules including lipids, proteins and DNA, contributes to these diseases. Previous studies suggest roles of lipid peroxidation and oxysterols in the development of neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation-related cancer. Our recent studies identifying and characterizing carbonylated proteins reveal oxidative damage to heat shock proteins in neurodegenerative disease models and inflammation-related cancer, suggesting dysfunction in their antioxidative properties. In neurodegenerative diseases, DNA damage may not only play a role in the induction of apoptosis, but also may inhibit cellular division via telomere shortening. Immunohistochemical analyses showed co-localization of oxidative/nitrative DNA lesions and stemness markers in the cells of inflammation-related cancers. Here, we review oxidative stress and its significant roles in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.     

Transformation of cubic AgBiS2 from nanoparticles to nanostructured flowers by a microwave-refluxing method

Cubic AgBiS₂ nanoparticles and flower-like clusters were successfully synthesized by microwave refluxing of CH₃COOAg, Bi(NO₃)₃·5H₂O and thiosemicarbazide (NH₂NHCSNH₂) in ethylene glycol. The phase was detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The SAED pattern was also in accordance with that of the simulation. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) revealed the gradual transformation of nanoparticles into flower-like clusters by increasing microwave power. Their UV–visible absorption and photoluminescence (PL) emission were detected by spectrometry. Possible formation mechanism of nanoparticles and nanostructured flowers was also proposed according to the experimental results.     

Large-scale synthesis of WO3 nanoplates by a microwave-hydrothermal method

Tungsten oxide (WO₃) nanoplates were synthesized by a 270 W microwave-hydrothermal reaction of Na₂WO₄·2H₂O and citric acid (C₆H₈O₇·H₂O) in deionized water. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) were used to reveal the synthesis of WO₃ complete rectangular nanoplates in the solution of 0.2 g citric acid for 180 min, with O-W-O FTIR stretching modes at 819 and 741 cm⁻¹, and two prominent O-W-O Raman stretching modes at 804 and 713 cm⁻¹. The 2.71 eV indirect energy gap, and 430-460 nm blue emission wavelength range of WO₃ complete rectangular nanoplates were determined using UV-visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectrometers. The formation mechanism was also proposed according to the experimental results.     

The effect of solvents on ZnS nanostructures synthesized by biomolecule-assisted solvothermal method

Nanostructured ZnS (hexagonal and cubic) were synthesized by a 200 °C and 24 h solvothermal reaction of Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O and l-cysteine (C₃H₇NO₂S) in water, propylene glycol (PG) and glycerol (GR) solvents. The products, characterized by XRD, were specified as pure ZnS (hexagonal) in water, and ZnS (cubic) in PG and GR. SEM and TEM analyses showed the particle sizes and agglomerated behaviors, mainly related to the reaction media, which were in accordance with BET adsorption of nitrogen, with blue shift energy gaps relative to the bulk.     

Heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop characteristics of TiO2–water nanofluid in a double-tube counter flow heat exchanger

This article reports an experimental study on the forced convective heat transfer and flow characteristics of a nanofluid consisting of water and 0.2 vol.% TiO₂ nanoparticles. The heat transfer coefficient and friction factor of the TiO₂–water nanofluid flowing in a horizontal double-tube counter flow heat exchanger under turbulent flow conditions are investigated. The Degussa P25 TiO₂ nanoparticles of about 21 nm diameter are used in the present study. The results show that the convective heat transfer coefficient of nanofluid is slightly higher than that of the base liquid by about 6–11%. The heat transfer coefficient of the nanofluid increases with an increase in the mass flow rate of the hot water and nanofluid, and increases with a decrease in the nanofluid temperature, and the temperature of the heating fluid has no significant effect on the heat transfer coefficient of the nanofluid. It is also seen that the Gnielinski equation failed to predict the heat transfer coefficient of the nanofluid. Finally, the use of the nanofluid has a little penalty in pressure drop.     

Solid-state synthesis of cubic ZnTe nanocrystals using a microwave plasma

Cubic ZnTe nanocrystals were produced from 1:1 and 1.8:1 molar ratios of Zn:Te by a 900 W microwave plasma. The phase was detected using X-ray diffraction (XRD), which are in accordance with those of the simulations, and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the products were nanocrystals with different orientations, including three longitudinal optical (LO) vibrations at 205, 410 and 620 cm^? 1 and a transverse optical (TO) vibration at 166 cm^? 1. Their green emissions were detected at 562 nm (2.21 eV) using luminescence spectrophotometry.