Tag: Russia

Scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University have discovered that fusible wheat bran combined with additives can be used as fuel. It could help to reduce greenhouse gases and the number of landfills, as well as to optimize the creation of mixtures for the efficient energy use of biomass. The research findings are published in the Fuel academic journal.

According to TPU scientists, various types of biomass, such as agricultural waste, have been increasingly used as fuel in recent years. They conducted a research where they examined wheat bran from one of the flour mills in the Siberian region of Russia.

The researchers discovered that bran is a fusible fuel. The mineral part of wheat bran is already sintered at a temperature above 675°С, which is much lower than the temperature in the boiler. During combustion, the biomass under investigation forms a glasslike deposit of slag ash, removing that it is possible to damage the heating surface. As a result, it will reduce the heat transfer, reliability of operation and boiler output.

According to scientists, wheat bran contains a lot of potassium. It strongly influences the melting point of the mass and the formation of a glasslike deposit. To investigate the mineral content of wheat bran in more detail, the wheat bran was divided into fractions of different densities by sedimentation (the settling of particles in a liquid or gas under the action of a gravitational field or centrifugal force). The scientists obtained four fractions, two of which form a crumbly mass when combusted.

“Having studied the mineral composition of the obtained fractions, we found that the key factor influencing the sintering of bran ash is the ratio of calcium to high potassium content. To confirm it, we conducted experiments by adding calcium carbonate to the bran, which resulted in crumbly and powderlike ash residue. It evidences that the combustion of this mixture results in the cleaning of heating surfaces without much difficulty,” Kanipa Ibraeva, Engineer of the TPU Butakov Research Centre, told Sputnik news agency.

There are several approaches to prevent the sintering of ash during biomass combustion, the researchers noted. They mainly include the addition of additives that can raise the melting temperature.

“To select an additive with active chemical composition and an economically attractive cost is quite difficult. We believe that combustion of fusible biomass with the addition of calcium carbonate will reduce operating costs,” Ibraeva commented.

Moreover, the experts claim that fuel from various types of biomass will allow reducing greenhouse gases from combustion, as well as will reduce the number of landfills and recycle industrial waste.

The research team is currently planning to conduct comprehensive research of the mineral part of the biomass and examine the effects of volatile ash compounds on accelerated corrosion of the metal surfaces of power plants.

The I International Conference “Scientific Initiative of International Students and Postgraduates” was held at Tomsk Polytechnic University. This year, the Conference is coincided with the 125th anniversary of TPU and supported by the Association of Leading Universities of Russia.

Denis Chaykovsky, Director of the TPU School of Core Engineering Education, Evgenia Sherina, Head of the TPU Division for Russian Language, Adu Yao Nikez, President of the Association of International Students addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. Lisa Soon, PhD, Senior Lecturer of the University of Queensland (Australia) gave the plenary presentation “Technology as an Enabler for Online and Offline Education”.

Over 280 international students from 65 countries signed up for participation in the Conference. The participants are citizens of 49 countries: Russia, Mongolia, China, Indonesia, Egypt, Italy, Poland, Columbia, Sudan and others,” Evgenia Sherina, Head of the TPU Division for the Russian Language, says.

The main feature of the Conference is that only international attendees, students, master’s degree students and postgraduates are taking part. Moreover, they are presenting their articles and reports in Russian discussing modern research topics, as well as problems of study at Russian universities.

Among the Conference participants, there are students studying at Tomsk Polytechnic University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, St Petersburg University, Far Eastern Federal University, Ural Federal University, Kazan National Research Technological University, RUDN University, Renmin University of China and Jilin University.

“The topics discussed at the Conference reflect the interests of young scientists on modern and fast-developing fields of science, including ecology, food industry, agriculture, 3D modelling and others. Furthermore, most of the reports are the description of fundamental research works, the results of which can both contribute to the further development of sciences and have practical application. Most of the reports are based on evaluation of results of graduation theses and dissertations,” the representatives of the TPU Division for Russian note.

The work of the Conference was arranged in sessions: Engineering Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, Natural Sciences (including Medical and Biological Sciences) and others.

Within the Conference, on April 29,  the All-Russian Round Table “Multicultural Digital Environment: Challenges, Risks and Prospects” was also held.

Tomsk Polytechnic University became the first Russian university to join the Rhisotope Project, an international innovative project. The title of the project consists of the two words “rhino” and “isotope”. The project aims to fight against the extermination of rhinos.

A unique research initiative gathered together participants from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa), the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Australia), Colorado State University (the USA) and the Rosatom State Corporation, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Scientific Technological Center for Nuclear and Physical Research (Russia).

Within the project, it is supposed to label the animals using isotopic marks on rhino horns. The researchers expect that it will help to reduce the demand for rhino horns and will be useful for the detection of smuggling. The experts are certain that due to over 10,000 devices for detecting radiation set up in the border checkpoints, transportation of rhino horns will be nearly impossible.

“TPU represents the Russian academic community in this multinational and interdisciplinary project. It aims to implement one of the pioneering tasks on the peaceful use of nuclear and radiation technologies in different areas of human activity. TPU jointly with the Rosatom State Corporation has already implemented a number of such projects, for instance, on nuclear medicine, radioecology,” Vera Verkhoturova, Deputy Director of the TPU School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Head of International Nuclear Education Programs, says.

“As our university possesses successful practical experience in the peaceful use of radiation technologies, we were invited to join this project.”

The first stage of the project has already started. There was injected 13C (carbon) and 15N (nitrogen), a trace amount of stable isotopes in the horns of two rhinos. During the next three months, the scientists and veterinarians will be watching how isotopes function inside of the horn.

During the second stage, the research committee, including all the project participants, must confirm based on the results of analyses that the isotope does not move inside the rhino body and not harm it. Then, using a supercomputer and 3D printer there will be conducted moderation that will help to determine an appropriate isotope and its amount. It is planned to inject a radioactive isotope into the rhino horn. Rosatom is intending to become a supplier of radioisotopes at the final stage.

“Stable isotopes bringing no harm to biological objects are used at the first stage. In fact, these are isotopes, which are used in nuclear medicine for treatment or diagnosis. The committee findings on the analysis results of the rhinos will help to understand what isotope must be injected to exclude even minimal negative consequences for an animal and the environment in general,” Vera explains.

“As TPU possesses experience of radioisotope used in nuclear medicine, we can select the required isotopes, produce and research them for this project at our Nuclear Research Reactor, simulate its impact on an animal organism, as well as calculate a radioisotope amount and determine an inject point in the order it will be maximally accumulated in the rhino horn,” Vera continues.

Ilya Rogachev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of South Africa and Ryan Collyer, Chief Executive Officer of the Rosatom Central and Southern Africa regional representative office took part in the ceremonial launch of the project.

“The year of 2021 is announced the Year of Science and Technology in Russia. Research projects, initiatives and innovative programs are paid a lot of attention. What can be more international and interosculant than science? The academic community must go beyond the borders, time zones and continents, if we want to save our common house and solve ecological problems. We are pleased that this project will enrich the list of successful initiatives of South Africa and Russia,” Ilya Rogachev said.

In his turn, Ryan Collyer added that the project participants believe that science and especially nuclear science will play a fundamental role not only in rhino protection but also in planet protection in general.

Tomsk Polytechnic University has become the first among Russian universities to own a robotic system from a domestic manufacturer Promobot. The system includes Promobot V.4, a service robot and Promobot Robox, a specialty of the manufacturer representing 10 educational systems. Promobot representatives note that it is the first procurement of this system in Russia.

The new robot and educational systems have already been delivered at the university. It is planned that the new robotic systems will be used at the TPU Division for Automation and Robotics already in the next study year.

“Promobot V.4 is a good example of a domestic robotic product that is successfully used in different countries. The new robot and building kits will be used in the educational process of students of all years of study depending on a task. Students, studying mechatronics, automation and metrology will use the robotic system,” Andrey Yakovlev, Acting Rector of TPU, says.

“They will practically learn robotics programming, sensors, aspects of using robots indoors and interaction of a robot with a human, as well as general concepts and principles related to complex technical systems.”

Promobot V.4 robot is a service robot of the company’s latest model aimed at operating in mass gathering places. The robot can do the functions of a shop assistant, administrator, guide or airport worker. Arrays of Promobot Robox include such robot components as an interface board, a distance sensor, a servomotor and software. All the components included in Promobot Robox are components of a real robot used in 40 countries and are not toy or virtual models. Students will complete laboratory works using them.

“It may seem obvious, but it is important to learn robotics using real robots. We offer students a unique case: a Russian robot, exact copies of that is currently operating all over the world from the USA to Australia. Any successful solution may come from a university laboratory to our developers and then can be used in a robot, for instance, in an American airport,” Oleg Kivokurtsev, Chief Business Development Officer, comments.

It must be added that the TPU Division for Automation and Robotics includes the Research Laboratory for Industrial Robotics, one of the largest laboratories in Russia equipped with KUKA manipulators.

Students of three TPU schools: the School of Computer Science and Robotics, the School of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and the School of Non-Destructive Testing are trained in this laboratory. Students of the TPU Division of Automation and Robotics also learn robotics and mechatronics using Festo Robotino, KUKA youBot and develop their own robots.