The third era in olive oil extraction sees a new generation of decanter that give the operator the possibility to chose time by time the type of working: two or three phase shifting from one solution to the other without stopping the machine and even intermediate solutions between two or three phase, making the most suitable adjustments, following olive variety, just as the machine works. A decanter centrifuge was employed during the experimental tests with variable differential speed between bowl and screw conveyor (Dn) and with regulation capability of oil-pulp ring levels. Thus permit to shift from three to two phase, reducing water added and discharging the following by-products: dehydrated husk similar to that of three-phase and recovers a wet pulp that is the between the liquid phase and the solid phase. This paper aims to report the preliminary results of the energy and functional efficiency of the decanter when it works in the industrial scale plant and using a continuous method. The trials were carried out at two different flow rate values; for each flow rate the different variable differential speed between bowl and screw conveyor was varied at 15,50, 17,50 and 19,50. Quality olive, operating speed of the crusher machine and relative feed flow rate of the machine, the malaxing time and the degree of dilution of the paste, as well as the oil-pulp ring level were the same for all the trials. Irrespective of the flow rate and Dn used, the machine tends to stabilize energy consumption in a very short time and values were quite similar to each other. The reductions in flow rate do not involve reductions of energy consumption indeed lead to the increase of absorption per unit mass of product worked. For all thesis studied, no significant changes of the oil recovery efficiency were found, indeed changing the flow rate and the Dn a different distribution of the not extracted oil was found in the pulp and in the husk. To complete the knowledge, a set of trials changing also the oil-pulp ring levels, has been provided for the next olive oil season.

The pollutant load was monitored in an intensive on-shore plant; evaluation especially concerned one basin, during a period of time in which the water temperature (21-23°C), the stocking density (25 kg/m3), the loading and unloading flow (40 dm3/s) remained steady at the highest values. The results show that the maximum pollution levels are characterized by high concentrations of suspended organic materials, as well as by high BOD5/COD rates; moreover, more than 60% of the suspended solid waste consists of particles with a maximum dimension ranging from 200 μm to more than 500 μm. Tests show that an effluent channel is less efficient in reducing the pollutant load of waste water than sedimentation treatment. The laboratory sedimentation trials showed - for a period of about 3 hours - minimum and maximum solid particle sedimentation speeds of 2.56 mm/s and 46.8 mm/s respectively, which should be considered when deciding the turbid speed and the dimensions of basins for this type of effluent. In any case, the sedimentation process carried out in the laboratory was only just sufficient to bring the farm effluent within the legal limits. Therefore mechanical filtration treatment may suit the specific requirements of the farm waste water used for the experimental trials. A 50 μm mesh would be considered sufficient for any critical situation.

In this study we have observed the effects of using rabbit manure and slaughtering by-products in a composting process. Three piles of this material, 4700 kg each, with different amount and C/N ratio, have been investigated and experimental tests were carried out in an industrial horizontal axe reactor using a prototype of turning machine. The composting time lasted 85 days; 2 experimental cycles were conducted: one in Winter and one in Summer. In the Winter test, mesophilic reaction started only in the control mixture (animal manure + slaughtering by-products without straw). It is noteworthy that, the 3 investigated mixtures produced soil amendment by compost with good agronomical potential but with parameters close to the extreme limits of the law. In the Summer test, there was thermophilic fermentation in all mixtures and a better quality compost was obtained, meeting all the agronomic and legislative constraints. For each pile, we examined the progression of fermentation process and thus the plant limitations that did not allow a correct composting process. The results obtained in this study are useful for the development of appropriate mixtures, machines, and plants assuring continuance and reliability in the composting of the biomass coming from rabbit industry.

In order to define design criteria for CO2 refrigeration systems to be used for agricultural products and foodstuff storage, a variable geometrical system was realized, with the goal of meeting a wide range of environmental and process conditions, such as producing low environmental impact and maintaining the highest Coefficient of Performance (COP), at the same time. This test-bench, at semi-industrial scale, was designed as a result of experimental tests carried out on Arugula. The storage tests showed that all samples stored in cold rooms with R.H. control showed a slight increase of weight but also small rot zones in all the boxes due to an excessive accumulation of water condensation; thus, the system may not have achieved conditions that RH requires in a given range, without reaching saturation condition. At the same time, the use of CO2 must be adequately tested along its thermodynamic cycle, during steady state and/or transient conditions, imposing variable working conditions that can simulate plant starting phase or some striking conservation process, like those that characterize sausages. The designed plant will allow studying these specific performances and evaluate COP variation, according to environmental and plant operating conditions

The performance of an innovative horizontal centrifugal decanter working in a continuous industrial olive oil extraction plant was evaluated. This decanter produces two streams a semi-solid residue (or pulp) formed from the wastewater and soft solids (i.e. without fragments of stone) and a husk rich in rigid solids from pit shells. Considering the phase separation obtained using this machine, and increasing number of restrictive laws on waste disposal, this decanter is of significant interest for use in olive oil extraction. The effects of varying the decanter centrifuge settings are documented and discussed. A correlation between the mass flow rate, water ring levels and conveyor-bowl differential speed with respect to the extracted efficiency, husk fat content and pulp water fat content was evaluated. The decanter studied was found to maintain high values of extraction efficiency between 86.5% and 90.8% for a large range of feed mass flow rates (4075–5820 kg h−1) and for a large range of conveyor-bowl differential speeds (15.5–26.0 rpm). In addition, by appropriately adjusting the ring level of the waste-water output, it was possible to obtain a greater or lesser soft solid content, with a greater or lesser amount of residual oil.

Rabbit manure and slaughtering (treated in autoclave at 133 °C and 3 bar, per 20 min) by-products have been used in a composting process. Three heaps of 4700 kg each have been investigated and experimental tests were carried out in an industrial horizontal axe reactor: 1) rabbit manure + rabbit slaughtering by-products + straw (C/N = 18,15); 2) rabbit manure + rabbit slaughtering by-products + straw (C/N = 16,2); 3) rabbit manure + rabbit slaughtering by-products (C/N = 14,9). The composting heaps were turned by means of a protoype of turning machine. The composting time lasted 85 days. For each examined heap, we examined the progression of fermentation process, so also the plant limitations that did not allow a correct composting process. The results allow for the chemical, physical and mechanical identification of the studied biomass. These are also useful for the development of appropriate mixtures, machines and plants assuring continuance and reliability in the composting of the biomass coming from rabbit industry. Thereby, producing compost which conforms to the law.

The goal of the present research was to assess, through field tests, the environmental performance of a prototype of tunnel sprayer machine, specifically designed for the distribution of pesticides in Apulian espalier vineyards which cover a significant percentage of the national wine producing area, whereas there are no machines designed to meet the agronomic requirements of these crops. The tests were characterized by a comparison between the prototype and a standard air sprayer, so also an assessment of the off-target during different distributions. The operating agronomic and weather conditions were extremely adverse: wind speeds exceeding 15 km/h, not pruning crop and, in one of the tests, speed of the machine close to the upper limit for the treated crops. Despite the conditions in which the tests were carried out, by the use of the prototype, the event of the drift affected an area at less than 4 m from the sprayed row, significantly reducing the risk of contamination of nearby crops and housing; it was, however, found the limit by the panels of not ensuring total effectiveness of containment of the drops, which led to high leakage into the ground (risk of moving to more far areas) even if only in correspondence of the row adjacent to the sprayed one. Overall, the prototype allows a recovery of the sprayed product by at least 19%, which results in a lower environmental impact and lower costs of crop protection.

Hide is the most requested product of ratite slaughter. The “first-rate” of the hide to assure its appreciation on the marketplace. The hide is tanned in South Africa and sold all over the world. Besides, the ostrich meat is considered a niche production in the marketplace thus allowing for another profit for the ostrich breeding. Theoretical analysis of skinning process has been carried out, and an automatic measurement system in order to record the drawing-force on the animal’s body during skinning tests, has been designed. The aim was to indentify the best animal position and provide values of drawing-force in order to design a specific machine for ostrich skinning. Experimental results partially confirm theoretical analysis; they point out that the angle of inclination of drawing-force with back-line is a parameter which mostly influences the value of drawing-force and that this influence tends to increase as the angle is near to 90° or exceeds this limit. In any case, the applied drawing-force must not exceed 350,0 daN. Therefore ostrich skinning should be done with vertical-drawing machines and the animal should be suspended by its wings at the rail, in relation to their anatomy structure and the tensile strenght of the hide. In the case of low working capacity (8-10 heads per hour) the animal could be skinned suspended by the legs, considering some limitations pointed out during experimental trials; technical, operating, ergonomic, health-hygienic limitations are accentuated if the workers involved are not enough able to ostrich slaughter.

The goal of the present research is to define size criteria for the design of specific machines for the distribution of pesticides in wine-growing context of Apulia Region, through the development of the experimental results. It was designed and realized a specific version of pulled straddle sprayer, air convection type, single-row, characterized by a spraying tunnel and a recovery system of the product that has not affected the plant. The innovations characterizing the machine are mainly the type, position and orientation of the of air flow system, in the shielding and in the geometry of the straddle tunnel, by which were taken into account the sizes and types of cultivation of local cultivars, for which there are currently no machines on the market. The prototype was tested by standstill distribution trials and tank filled with water. Based on the results, we are modifying the prototype in order to reduce its overall lateral dimension, the fenders width (in particular the one opposite to the panel), the shortening of the support ends, the repositioning of the hydraulic circuit.

UE Directives tend to equate the benefits associated with the use of natural refrigerants and low environmental impact with those relating to the employment of traditional fluids. The actual Acts provide for obligations and penalties that may weigh on business and management, as well as influence the technical decisions at plant level. In this perspective, the aim of this paper was to realize a CO2 refrigeration system characterized by low environmental impact. The employment of this refrigerant fluid is partly consolidated and its use is increasing throughout Europe but it has not been adequately tested on agricultural products and foodstuffs. However, the possibility to realize a variable geometrical system is deepened, in order to meet a wide range of environmental and process conditions. A flexible prototype plant was designed and realized which is able to perform both subcritical and transcritical cycles, only varying the geometry of the circuit, according to both environmental conditions and product conservation needs. Having such a versatile refrigerating machine which could function as a laboratory test, it is possible firstly to determine, for a very specific application, the most suitable values of the parameters characterizing the process. In particular, to verify the feasibility of a possible solution only in foodstuffs applications where more stages of processing of the product at different values of temperature and humidity which currently require a device for each stage are requested, for example in the production of sausages.

Nowadays, olive oil extraction is basically made by means of two-phase decanters, which allow to reduce water consumption and leaching of phenolic compounds. Despite this, most of the working settings derive from studies carried out on three-phase decanters. Hence, aim of the present study has been assessing the influence of two-phase decanter feed pipe position (FP) on the extraction efficiency and chemical-sensory characteristics of virgin olive oil. Three different positions have been considered, at 825 mm (FP1), 610 mm (FP2), and 520 mm (FP3) from the outlet of the oily phase.

The environment in the broiler house is a combination of physical and biological factors generating a complex dynamic system of interactions between birds, husbandry system, light, temperature, and the aerial environment. Ventilation plays a key role in this scenario. It is pivotal to remove carbon dioxide and water vapor from the air of the hen house. Adequate ventilation rates provide the most effective method of controlling temperature within the hen house. They allow for controlling the relative humidity and can play a key role in alleviating the negative effects of high stocking density and of wet litter. In the present study the results of experimental tests performed in a breeding broiler farm are shown. In particular the efficiency of a semi transversal ventilation system was studied against the use of a pure transversal one. In order to verify the efficiency of the systems, fluid dynamic simulations were carried out using the software Comsol multiphysics. The results of this study show that a correct architectural and structural design of the building must be supported by a design of the ventilation system able to maintain the environmental parameters within the limits of the thermo-neutral and welfare conditions and to achieve the highest levels of productivity

The environment in the poultry house is a combination of physical and biological factors which interact as a complex dynamic system of interactions between birds, husbandry system, light, temperature and the aerial environment. The most important role of ventilation is to remove carbon dioxide and water from the air of the house. Adequate ventilation rates provide the most effective method of controlling temperature within the house and also allows for control of relative humidity and can play a key role in alleviating the negative effects of high stocking density and of wet litter. In the present study the results of experimental tests performed in a breeding broilers farm are shown; in particular the efficiency of a semi transversal ventilation system was studied against the use of a pure transversal one. In order to verify the efficiency of the systems, fluid dynamic simulations were carried out using the software Comsol multiphysics. The results of this study show that a correct architectural and structural design of the building must be complemented by an equally correct mechanical and fluid dynamics design of the ventilation system in order to maintain the environmental parameters within the limits of the thermo-neutral and welfare conditions, to achieve the highest levels of productivity.

L'invenzione concerne un procedimento per il trattamento di una miscela di gas comprendente metano ed anidride carbonica, ove il procedimento comprende le seguenti fasi: - purificazione della miscela di gas; - raffreddamento della miscela di gas purificata per ottenere anidride carbonica allo stato solido; - separazione dell’anidride carbonica solida dal metano allo stato gassoso, ove le suddette fasi avvengono sostanzialmente a pressione atmosferica.

L'invenzione concerne un procedimento per il trattamento pirolitico di materiali micronizzabili, che comprende le seguenti fasi: - trattamento pirolitico a bassa temperatura di un flusso di materiale micronizzato; - reforming molecolare del flusso di materiale pirolizzato mediante applicazione di fonti di calore rinnovabili.

Earth Observation techniques are widely recognised in supporting the management of land and water resources and they are nowadays being transferred to operative applications. In this paper, we present the current status of a satellite-based irrigation advisory system based on dedicated webGIS or farmers and district managers, in three different agricultural systems and environments: Southern Italy, Austria and Southern Australia. Maps of canopy development (leaf area index, albedo and soil cover) are derived from high-resolution (20 m) multispectral satellite images, delivered in near real time (24–36 h) and processed by using in-situ agro-meteorological data. The outputs of this procedure are: (i) a personalised irrigation advice, based on the calculation of crop evapotranspiration under standard conditions (according to FAO-56 definition and by using the direct approach) by taking into account the actual canopy development and crop variability at sub-plot scale; (ii) timely delivery of the information, consisting in maps and suggested irrigation volume applications, timely published on a dedicated webGIS-site with access restricted to growers and basin authorities in order to better control the irrigation process and consequently improve its overall efficiency. The key-points of this procedure are: (a) personalised irrigation advice; (b) timely delivery of the information. Final users have provided important feedback on the usage of the information provided; i.e. farmers are able to recognise without difficulties their parcels on the images and they schedule the irrigations by taking into account the information provided. The crop heterogeneity captured by the high resolution images is considered as a valuable add-on information to identify the variability of soil texture and fertility, plant nutrition, or different performance of irrigation systems. All the farmers have evaluated positively the usefulness of the information provided, and in most cases an increase of irrigation efficiency was achieved, because of the reduction of water volumes.

The problem of vibration measurement has assumed increasing importance in recent years for different aspects. In the first phase of this study an analysis of vibrations by means of contact accelerometers was carried out to study a tree shaking machine used in the mechanical harvesting of olives. Then a kinematic analysis of motion with a contactless method was carried out on a belt transmission system equipped with three pulleys: a high speed camera was used, able to capture up to 500 frames per second thus to follow the position of any moving point of the mechanical system under investigation. Vibrations were acquired detecting the positions during time of a marker fixed on the belt. The proposed method made it possible to analyse the mechanism and verify both known behaviours and neglected aspects in the usual kinematic analysis carried out using acceleration measurements. © (2013) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Il presente brevetto riguarda un trattamento innovativo del syngas prodotto dal processo pirolitico, o miscele di gas biologico, per ottenere metano liquido ad alto potere calorifero, idrogeno gassoso, monossido di carbonio liquido e anidride carbonica gassosa a elevato grado di purezza da impiegare in settori alimentari ad elevato valore aggiunto. L'invenzione concerne un procedimento per il trattamento di una miscela di gas comprendente metano, ossido di carbonio, idrogeno ed anidride carbonica, ove il procedimento comprende le seguenti fasi: - purificazione della miscela di gas; - raffreddamento della miscela di gas purificata per ottenere anidride carbonica allo stato solido; - separazione frazionata dell’anidride carbonica solida, dell'ossido di carbonio liquido e dell'idrogeno gassoso dal metano, ove le suddette fasi avvengono sostanzialmente a pressione atmosferica. L’invenzione, così come definita, è di notevole interesse commerciale per ditte che producono syngas con processi industriali di pirolisi e di gassificazione, molte delle quali già dichiaratamente interessate.

Il presente brevetto riguarda un processo pirolitico veloce, a bassa temperatura e a basso impatto ambientale. Esso mira ad annullare la produzione di diossina e a ridurre, con soluzioni impiantistiche adattate al caso specifico che consentono di recuperare energia e di impiegare energia rinnovabile, i limiti ecologici ed energetici che caratterizzano le soluzioni industriali attuali e le relative difficoltà di applicazione. Questo è il motivo per cui molti Enti Pubblici di gestione dei rifiuti e di depurazione delle acque reflue che hanno, rispettivamente, frazione organica e fanghi da smaltire sono interessati alle applicazioni di questo processo. L'invenzione comprende le seguenti fasi originali: - trattamento pirolitico a bassa temperatura di un flusso di materiale micronizzato; - reforming molecolare controllato del flusso di syngas ottenuto da materiale pirolizzato, mediante applicazione di energia di recupero (MW) e rinnovabile (UV). L’interesse per l’impiego di questo trattamento è molto elevato perché può essere applicato a tutti i rifiuti di matrice organica anche quelli più inquinanti e di più difficile degradazione, come le plastiche e le gomme.