The modeling of the surface of viscosity in composition and temperature at atmospheric pressure for methanol−water and acetonitrile−water was performed by interconnecting various elementary functions and testing them in a systematic manner to minimize the least-squares error. The systematic approach involved developing expressions that were the sum or product of elementary functions in temperature and composition, then visually observing their fit and quantitating the error. To reduce the error, transformation of the data using elementary functions was necessary to create a modified surface simpler in form. For MeOH−H2O, the least-squares error was 0.6 and 0.01 for untransformed data and transformed data, respectively. Similarly, for ACN−H2O, the error was 0.3 and 0.008 for untransformed and transformed data, respectively. The expression describing the viscosity−composition−temperature relationship for both the transformed and untransformed data was a quadratic in x with exponential functions of T as coefficients where T° is a nondimensionalizing term of value one. The transformed temperature is log(T/T°) + 2, while the transformed viscosity was η1/8.
Methods and designs for a modular waste processing system that will utilize an anaerobic process to produce hydrogen from food, animal, or human waste are being developed by this ongoing research effort. This hydrogen will be used to produce electricity in a reciprocating engine or fuel cell. A solar energy system has been designed and tested to provide heat for pre and post processing of waste and production of potable water. Potentially harmful pathogens from the waste are isolated from the environment and are drastically reduced by a thermal process. It is anticipated that this combined waste processing and renewable energy unit would be constructed in a standard shipping container for use in undeveloped and/or remote locations or at disaster sites. Hydrogen has many well established advantages as a clean renewable energy source. The use of microbial organisms to produce hydrogen has many advantages over more conventional techniques. Remote locations place a premium on the availability of electricity, heat, and potable water. Methane production by biological means is often used for producing electricity. Using microorganisms that produce hydrogen rather than methane significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions for the overall process. By using this hydrogen in a reciprocating engine or fuel cell the major end products would be electricity, water, and heat. To produce hydrogen rather than methane anaerobically it is necessary to first thermally pretreat the feed material. The developed solar energy system has consistently produced temperatures above 115qC. Typical hydrogen concentrations produced in the fermentation using food waste are 22% after 48 hours. Current efforts include use of a statistical experimental design to determine optimal operating parameters and a preliminary modular energy system design. The next steps in this effort will involve research and development of a bench-top prototype system and subsequently development and testing of a full scale prototype unit.
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