Bulk Bin Research Articles

Co-deposition of bismuth-nitrogen films on MgO (001) by molecular beam epitaxy

We attempted to grow a thin film of BiN by co-deposition of bismuth and nitrogen on rock-salt structure MgO (001) substrates. Furthermore, we studied the effect of variation of the growth temperature and the nitrogen to bismuth flux ratios on sample growth. For the samples grown and conditions used, we do not find strong evidence for the formation of a bulk Bi-N alloy. Even for very high nitrogen to bismuth flux ratio, we observed only bismuth and no nitrogen using bulk Rutherford back-scattering spectroscopy measurements, and only 1%–2% nitrogen was seen through surface Auger electron spectroscopy measurements. The in-plane lattice measurements show that the resulting Bi (110) samples are strained, which is presumably caused by lattice mismatch between the sample and the substrate when grown without any buffer layer. The use of a high-temperature buffer layer helps to release strain in the sample but only along one axis. Measurements of the atomic layer spacing using x-ray diffraction and also scanning tunneling microscopy confirm the Bi (110) thin film sample structure.

OpenIFS/AC: atmospheric chemistry and aerosol in OpenIFS 43r3

Abstract. In this paper, we report on the first implementation of atmospheric chemistry and aerosol as part of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) OpenIFS model. OpenIFS is a portable version of ECMWF's global numerical weather prediction model. Modules and input data for model cycle CY43R3, which have been developed as part of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), have been ported to OpenIFS with the modified CB05 tropospheric chemistry scheme, the bulk bin tropospheric aerosol module, and the option to use Belgian Assimilation System for Chemical ObsErvations (BASCOE)-based stratospheric ozone chemistry. We give an overview of the model, and describe the datasets used for emissions and dry deposition, which are similar to those used in the model configuration applied to create the CAMS reanalysis. We evaluate two reference model configurations with and without the stratospheric chemistry extension against standard observational datasets for tropospheric ozone, surface carbon monoxide (CO), tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and aerosol optical depth. The results give basic confidence in the model implementation and configuration. This OpenIFS version with atmospheric composition components is open to the scientific user community under a standard OpenIFS license.

Sensitivity of Precipitation and Structure of Typhoon Hato to Bulk and Explicit Spectral Bin Microphysics Schemes

This study simulated the evolution of Typhoon Hato (2017) with the Weather Research and Forecasting model using three bulk schemes and one bin scheme. It was found that the track of the typhoon was insensitive to the microphysics scheme, whereas the degree of correspondence between the simulated precipitation and the cloud structure of the typhoon was closest to the observations when using the bin scheme. The different microphysical structure of the bin and three bulk schemes was reflected mainly in the cloud water and snow content. The three bulk schemes were found to produce more cloud water because the application of saturation adjustment condensed all the water vapor at the end of each time step. The production of more snow by the bin scheme could be attributed to several causes: (1) the calculations of cloud condensation nucleus size distributions and supersaturation at every grid point that cause small droplets to form at high levels, (2) different fall velocities of different sizes of particles that mean small particles remain at a significant height, (3) sufficient water vapor at high levels, and (4) smaller amounts of cloud water that reduce the rates of riming and conversion of snow to graupel. The distribution of hydrometeors affects the thermal and dynamical structure of the typhoon. The saturation adjustment hypothesis in the bulk schemes overestimates the condensate mass. Thus, the additional latent heat makes the typhoon structure warmer, which increases vertical velocity and enhances convective precipitation in the eyewall region.

ANÁLISE MICROBIOLÓGICA DE AMOSTRAS DE AMENDOIM PROVENIENTES DO MERCADO PÚBLICO DE PORTO ALEGRE/RS

O amendoim é uma leguminosa amplamente consumida apesar do grande risco de contaminação por fungos e bactérias. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar microbiologicamente a presença de coliformes totais, coliformes termotolerantes, bactérias mesófilas aeróbias, bolores e leveduras, em amostras de amendoim torrado vendidas no mercado público de Porto Alegre/RS, armazenadas de três formas diferentes. Os resultados indicaram ausência de fungos ou leveduras, mas bactérias mesófilas aeróbias foram encontradas em todos os tipos de armazenagem, sendo que, no dispensador gravitacional (1V), a contagem foi de 3,7 x 102UFC/g, seguida do recipiente comum (2-G) com 3,6 x 102UFC/g e, em menor quantidade, o industrializado (1I) com 2,7 x 102UFC/g. Coliformes totais foram encontrados nas mesmas amostras, 1V (2,4 x 102NMP/g), 2-G (1,3 x 102NMP/g) e 1I (1,1 x 101NMP/g). Foram isoladas dezoito bactérias, a maioria caracterizada como Gram-positiva e identificada a partir do sequenciamento do gene 16SrRNA. As bactérias patogênicas de importância em alimentos encontradas nas amostras de amendoim torrado analisadas foram Bacilluscereus, Pseudomonasaeruginosa e Staphylococcus sp., que podem ter vindo do não seguimento das boas práticas de manipulação e de falta de assepsia no armazenamento.

Structural and electronic properties of the V-V compounds isoelectronic to GaN and isostructural to gray arsenic

The III–V binary compound semiconductors such as GaN, GaP, InN and InP have extensive applications in various optoelectronic, microwave and power-electronic devices. Using first-principles calculation, we systematically studied the structural and electronic properties of the V-V binary compounds (BiN, BiP, SbN and SbP) that are isoelectronic to GaN, GaP, InN and InP if Bi and Sb are in the +3 valence state. Interestingly, we found that the ground-state structures of BiP, SbN and SbP have the R-3m symmetry and are isostructural to the layered structure of gray arsenic, whereas BiN prefers a different ground-state structure with the C2 symmetry. Electronic structure calculations showed that the bulk BiN is a narrow bandgap semiconductor for its bandgap is about 0.2 eV. In contrast, BiP, SbN and SbP are metallic. The layered ground-state structure of the V-V binary compounds motivates us to study the electronic properties of their few-layer structures. As the structure becomes monolayer, their bandgaps increase significantly and are all in the range from about 1 eV to 1.7 eV, which are comparative to the bandgap of the monolayer gray arsenic. The monolayer BiP, SbN and SbP have indirect bandgaps, and they show a semiconductor-metal transition as the number of layers increase. Interestingly, the monolayer BiP has the largest splitting (350 meV) of the CBM valley, and thus may have potential application in novel spintronics and valleytronics devices.

The Effects of Design Thinking-based Collaborative Workshop on Creative Problem Solving: Focused on the development case of SAP Smart Bulk Bin Monitoring System

The Effects of Design Thinking-based Collaborative Workshop on Creative Problem Solving: Focused on the development case of SAP Smart Bulk Bin Monitoring System

Granular Fertilizer Spreader Swath Uniformity Achieved at Varying Target Application Rates

This study measured the within-swath uniformity of both spinner and pneumatic spreaders over a range of material application rates commonly associated with precision agriculture schemes (25 to 200 lb/acre). Although small pan sampling is not appropriate for spreader rate calibration, results suggested that five of the spreaders delivered rates ranging from 50 to 200 lb/acre with reasonable accuracy. Four of the five spreaders also appeared capable of delivering an even lower rate, 25 lb/acre. Within swath coefficients of variability (CV) values ranged from 16 to 30% for the most uniform of the spreaders tested, and from 45 to 122% for the least uniform. When different products were applied by multi-bin spreaders, substantial fluctuation in measured product ratios occurred for bulk bin products. For a single spreader evaluated with a micronutrient bin, micronutrient application rates and variability were relatively consistent regardless of the co-applied bulk bin product rate. The type of spreader (spinner or pneumatic) did not appear to determine the uniformity of application. Our data suggests a within-swath CV of 20 to 30% as a reasonable uniformity target for granular fertilizer spreaders under North Carolina commercial farm conditions.

On the Numerical Treatment of Hydrometeor Sedimentation in Bulk and Hybrid Bulk–Bin Microphysics Schemes

Hybrid bulk–bin microphysics schemes discretize particle size distributions into bins for calculating microphysical process rates, while retaining a limited number of bulk prognostic quantities and assuming an underlying analytic functional form for the particle size distributions as in traditional bulk microphysics schemes. In this paper, the treatment of sedimentation in two-moment bulk and hybrid schemes is compared using different numerical methods. Using the first-order upwind method for calculating sedimentation in conjunction with a widely used, two-step, time-splitting approach that updates model fields after transport by air motion followed by calculation of sedimentation, it is shown analytically that despite using a spectrum of fall speeds corresponding to different particle sizes, hybrid schemes converge with increasing bin resolution toward bulk schemes that utilize only characteristic moment-weighted particle fall speeds. While not strictly convergent, it is also shown that solutions using bulk and hybrid schemes are often similar for other numerical methods and approaches. Noticeable improvement using the hybrid scheme occurs in a few circumstances: when the Courant number associated with falling precipitation is large (>>1), requiring substepping, semi-implicit, or Lagrangian-type methods for numerical stability; or when a one-step approach is employed that calculates hydrometeor transport in a single step using a velocity that combines both vertical air motion and particle fall speed. Thus, it is concluded that the use of hybrid rather than bulk schemes is justified for some, but not all, applications, and care should be taken to determine the appropriateness of hybrid schemes for specific applications.

A Hybrid Bulk–Bin Approach to Model Warm-Rain Processes

Abstract This paper presents a hybrid approach to model warm-rain processes, merging the diverse schemes of bulk and detailed (bin) microphysics. In the bulk scheme, the key assumption is that the exact saturation is maintained inside a cloud. In contrast, the supersaturation inside a cloud is predicted in the bin scheme and is applied to calculate the diffusional growth of cloud droplets. Predicting the supersaturation is numerically cumbersome, however, and typically requires spatial and temporal resolutions that are significantly higher than those that can be applied in the bulk scheme. At the same time, supersaturations inside clouds are small, and the condensate amounts in bulk and bin schemes differ insignificantly. This critical observation forms a starting point for the hybrid bulk–bin approach. In this approach, when the cloud water first appears, the activation scheme inserts cloud droplets at the low end of the bin representation. Subsequent diffusional and eventually accretional growth shift the spectrum toward larger sizes so that the saturation inside a cloud is maintained. Details of the hybrid approach are discussed in this paper, and the validation against the traditional bin scheme in a framework of the adiabatic rising parcel is presented. Before the scheme can be applied to the multidimensional cloud model, a 1D advection–condensation problem of Grabowski and Smolarkiewicz is used to address the issue of the numerical difficulties that finite-difference schemes experience near cloud edges. In the bulk case, these are in the form of condensation rate overshoots and undershoots; and this aspect requires special attention in the hybrid scheme. A novel approach is developed that provides a physically consistent solution near cloud edges using the hybrid bulk–bin scheme. The key is to allow grid boxes near the edges to be partly cloudy and to include spectral changes of cloud droplets that take this into account. Application of the hybrid scheme to an idealized 2D problem of moist thermal rising from rest and producing rain illustrates the application of the scheme to practical problems of cloud dynamics and warm-rain microphysics.

The simulation of the impact damage to fruit during the passage of a truck over a speed bump by means of the discrete element method

The discrete element method (DEM) was used to study fruit damage during transportation. The DEM is a particle-based simulation technique which is well suited for the solution of granular material related problems in food and agriculture. In this paper, the application of DEM to food transport problems was demonstrated by simulation of bruising to apples stored in bulk bins during the passage of a truck over a speed bump. The effects of truck load, bulk bin position, suspension type and driving speed on damage were investigated. The simulations showed that higher truck loads lead to less bruising and that apples in bulk bins behind the rear axle suffered more damage than those in bulk bins in front of the rear axle. Furthermore, a considerable reduction in the damage was predicted in simulations where the truck has a soft suspension. Independent of truck load, suspension type and bulk bin position, the commercially significant bruising (i.e. apples with bruise volume of maximum bruise above 500 mm3) was predicted to be insignificant for driving speeds below 20 km h−1. At higher driving speeds, the extent of commercially acceptable bruising depended on various parameters. A reduction in the driving speed, an increase in the truck load and a reduction in the suspension stiffness all helped to reduce the occurrence of fruit damage.

Using mixer efficiency testing to evaluate feed segregation in feed lines (2004)

An experiment was conducted to evaluate potential diet segregation in feed lines by measuring coefficient of variation (CV) and mean salt concentration. The facility was a 1500-head gestation barn with nine feed lines, transected by a central feed line that conveyed feed from one of two bulk bins. Quantab® chloride titrators were used to analyze the chloride concentration (salt) from samples collected at pre-determined feed line locations at various distances from the bulk bins. Thirty samples were collected from three feed lines (row 1, 5, and 9), ten samples were collected from drop boxes close to the central feed line (location 1), ten samples were collected from a central location within the row (location 2), and ten samples were collected from the furthest end of the feed line (location 3). Samples of approximately 50 g were collected directly from the feed drop. The sample collection procedure was repeated four times. After the first two sample collections, a bin agitator was added to the bulk bin. There was a feed line × distance (within the feed line) × agitator interaction (P > 0.02) observed for CV. The addition of the bin agitator improved the CV in feed line 1 and 5, with no improvement observed in feed line 9. The CV observed before the addition of the agitator averaged 17.6, 18.6, and 14.3% for feed lines 1, 5, and 9, respectively, and the CV observed after the addition of the agitator averaged 13.6, 16, and 14% for feed line 1, 5, and 9 respectively. Within all feed lines (rows), distance CV was higher at locations 1 (17.3%) and 3 (17.6%), compared with CV at location 2 (15.6%) before the addition of the agitator, but was lower at locations 1 (14.3%) and 3 (13.0%), compared with CV at location 2 (15.6%) after the addition of the agitator. There was a mean-salt concentration effect (P<0.0001) observed for feed line. Feed lines 1 and 5 were similar in mean salt concentration, whereas feed line 9 consistently had the highest salt concentration. There was little to no feed segregation observed.; Swine Day, 2004, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2004

Practical and economic advantages of choice feeding systems for laying poultry

Poultry can be managed under different feeding systems, depending on the husbandry skills and the feed available. These systems include the following: (1) a complete dry feed offered as a mash ad libitum; (2) the same feed offered as pellets or crumbles ad libitum; (3) a complete feed with added whole grain; (4) a complete wet feed given once or twice a day; (5) a complete feed offered on a restricted basis; (6) choice feeding. Of all these, an interesting alternative to offering complete diets is choice feeding which can be applied on both a small or large commercial scale. Under choice feeding or “free-choice feeding” birds are usually offered a choice between three types of feedstuffs: (a) an energy source (e.g. maize, rice bran, sorghum or wheat); (b) a protein source (e.g. soyabean meal, meat meal, fish meal or coconut meal) plus vitamins and minerals and (c), in the case of laying hens, calcium in granular form (i.e. oyster-shell grit). This system differs from the modern commercial practice of offering a complete diet comprising energy and protein sources, ground and mixed together. Under the complete diet system, birds are mainly only able to exercise their appetite for energy. When the environmental temperature varies, the birds either over- or under-consume protein and calcium. The basic principle behind practising choice feeding with laying hens is that individual hens are able to select from the various feed ingredients on offer and compose their own diet, according to their actual needs and production capacity. A choice-feeding system is of particular importance to small poultry producers in developing countries, such as Indonesia, because it can substantially reduce the cost of feed. The system is flexible and can be constructed in such a way that the various needs of a flock of different breeds, including village chickens, under different climates can be met. The system also offers a more effective way to use home-produced grain, such as maize, and by-products, such as rice bran, in developing countries. Because oyster-shell grit is readily available in developing countries at lower cost than limestone, the use of cheaper oyster-shell grit can further benefit small-holders in these countries. These benefits apart, simpler equipment suffices when designing and building a feed mixer on the farm, and transport costs are lower. If whole (unground) grain is used, the intake of which is accompanied by increased efficiency of feed utilisation, the costs of grinding, mixing and many of the handling procedures associated with mash and pellet preparation are eliminated. The choice feedstuffs can all be offered in the current feed distribution systems, either by mixing the ingredients first or by using a bulk bin divided into three compartments.

RELATION OF INDIVIDUAL FORCES ON APPLES AND BRUISING DURING ORCHARD TRANSPORT OF BULK BINS

Dynamic forces which act on fruit inside a bulk bin of apples have been studied for orchard transport (1.3–km track), using an array of 10 prototype low–profile force sensors placed on the base of the orchard bins. Five bulk bin designs (one hardwood, one plywood, and three plastic bins) were assessed using long and short tyned tractor mounted forks. Gradeout of U.S. Extra Fancy was similar for most of the bins irrespective of the fork length used. Average forces on individual fruit ranged from 2–60 N and peak forces as high as 130 N were recorded. Correlation of the cumulated number of shock force events with damage showed a strong relationship for only half the runs. One run recorded significantly higher levels of damage and it was clearly associated with a single high shock force event recorded by the sensors.

APPLE DAMAGE AND COMPRESSIVE FORCES IN BULK BINS DURING ORCHARD TRANSPORT

Mechanical damage occurs in postharvest handling primarily in two modes, impact forces and compressiveforces. When apples are handled in bulk bins, the compressive forces are static when stationary or dynamic during thehandling and transport process. Developing an understanding of the characteristics of the actual compressive forces andinteractions between apples, will enable bulk systems to be designed to eliminate potentially damaging forces. Prototypelow profile force sensors were developed to measure static and dynamic compressive forces on individual fruit in bulkbins. The sensors provide a uniform sensitivity over a 73 mm (2.9 in.) diameter surface. Using 10 sensors, compressiveforces were measured in the floor of five bulk bin designs (one hardwood, one plywood and three plastic) as they weretransported over a 1.3 km (0.8 mile) orchard course using a short tined tractor-mounted fork-lift. The compression datacollected was used to develop force spectral density (FSD) representations for each force sensor. Damage-free appleswere placed on the floor of each bin, and accumulated damage was measured. Bruise damage was higher in all bindesigns for test fruit positioned at the section of the bin floor furthest from the tractor. The range of bruise damaged fruitwas 15.0 to 47.5% and graded 67.5 to 92.5% U.S. Extra Fancy. The magnitude of compressive forces measured with eachsensor was inconsistent among bin designs; however, higher forces were recorded in the middle of the bin and the end ofthe bin away from the tractor. Predominant FSD levels were found at frequencies between 1.0 to 2.0 Hz and 3.5 to 4.5 Hzfor all 5 bin designs. Bruise damage best correlates to the amplitude of FSD at a frequency of 4 Hz.

Apple Damage in Bulk Bins During Semi-trailer Transport

Each year a majority of the U.S. apple crop is transported in bulk bins on semi-trailers and trucks from the orchard to a storage facility or central packing house. During the transportation process, mechanical damage such as bruises, abrasions, cuts, and punctures can occur, causing a decrease in fruit grade. Tests were conducted in Michigan to identify the magnitude of damage incurred by apples in bulk bins during semi-trailer transportation on a rough interstate highway. Five bulk bin designs (two hardwood, one plywood, and two plastic), two trailer suspension systems (steel-spring and air-cushion), and two trip distances [55 and 110 km (34 and 68 mile)] were evaluated. Damage-free apples were used in all tests and accumulated damage was measured. Test fruit positioned in the middle of each bin had similar bruise and abrasion damage levels regardless of the bin design, suspension system, or trip distance. Abrasion damage on the sidewall test apples varied among bin design, suspension system, and trip distance. Abrasion damage on sidewall test fruit was significantly less on the air-cushion system. The plastic bins had much less abrasion damage on the sidewall test fruit than did the hardwood and plywood bins. The range of abrasion damage on the sidewall test apples was 0.6 to 65%. Sidewall fruit grade ranged from 71.3 to 100.0% U.S. Extra Fancy.

Effects of Pregermination on Germination Properties of Barley and Resultant Malt Quality

A simple and easily workable method for assessing pregermination in barley relies on microscope-assisted examination of tetrazolium-stained bisected embryos from the rapid germinative capacity test. Growth of root and/or shoot that extends beyond the confines of the embryo area is taken to be a positive indicator of unacceptable pregermination. The method proved practical at barley intake points without adding significantly to the workload. Using the procedure, barleys containing various levels of pregerminated corns were selected, as were appropriate non-pregerminated controls. Dried barleys were stored in the laboratory at 15°C for 42 weeks and buried in a bulk bin for 26 weeks. Samples were tested for germinative energy at monthly intervals and micromalted after longer intervals to determine the effects on malt analysis. Pregerminated barleys lose germinative energy in storage, with death of some pregerminated corns, take up more water during steeping, produce mold during germination, and produce malts of progressively inferior quality, depending on the level of pregerminated corns present.

Evaluation of a portable mixer and feed delivery system (1991)

An on-farm mixer uniformity study was conducted to determine if feed could be properly mixed and maintained as it went through a bulk bin and conveying equipment over a distance of 180 ft. in a grower-finisher facility. A portable vertical mixer was tested and found to produced a uniformly mixed feed. Uniform feed was then conveyed from a bulk storage bin to feeders inside the facility. Samples were obtained from three different feeders and were tested for uniformity. Results indicate that feed remains uniform as it is conveyed and deposited in feeders over distances of 20, 80, and 180 ft.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 21, 1991

Sec-butylamine residues in citrus, pome fruits and bananas from post-harvest treatments

Sec-butylamine residues were determined for post-harvest treatments for control of citrus green and blue mould (Penicillium digitatum Sacc. and P. italicum Wehmer), blue mould of pome fruits (P. expansum Thom.) and black-end (Colletotrichum musae (Berk and Curt.) Arx) and squirter (Nigrospora sphaerica Sacc.) of banana fruits. The treatments were as follows: 0.5% bulk bin dip of citrus and pome fruit. 1.0% dip of bananas packaged in wooden boxes. 1.0% flood of citrus and bananas on packing line. A combined 0.5% dip and 1.0% flaod of citrus. Residues in citrus fruit (orange, tangor, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon) ranged from 0.88-7.65 �g g-1 and were well within the 30 �g g-1 recommended limit of the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting of Experts on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. The single bulk dip gave two to three times higher residues than the combined dip and flood treatment. Pome fruit residues ranged from 2.75-1 1.6 �g g-1, with pears (1 1.2-1 1.6 �g g-1) having 3-4 times higher residues than apples (2.75-3.61 �g g-1). Whole green or ripened Cavendish bananas contained residues ranging from 15.1-27.6 �g g-1, with 2% or less of the residue being found in the pulp. The dipped, boxed single fruits had almost double the residues of flooded hands.

Flow of Dry Bulk Solids on Bin Walls

The assumption that a smooth wall finish, such as stainless-steel mill finish as opposed to carbon steel, will give mass flow in a less steep cone is not always valid. This paper presents case studies of how the kinematic angle of friction (φ′) between dry bulk solids and bin walls affects the design of mass flow hoppers and how it varies for different materials.