Steam distillation has been the common method of extraction of essential oils from plants for more than a century. The use of microwave energy has been suggested as an alternative distillation method that would: reduce water usage, dependence on non-renewable energy sources, and the carbon footprint. A byproduct of this...
Computational fluid dynamics conjugate heat transfer simulations were performed on a packed bed test facility using Dowtherm-A as the working fluid. Multiple test cases were simulated for a Reynolds number range of 188 – 1524 and a set heater power of 60 kW. Temperature profiles were extracted, and the near-wall...
The intention of this undergraduate research project was to design and build a fully functional high-vacuum chamber testing environment for use in the development of ion propulsion engines. This project was conducted in an effort to aid ongoing projects between the Deep Space Propulsion Group (DSPG) at Oregon State University...
The advent of improved DNA sequencing technologies has allowed the analysis of various microbial communities. Bloom-forming freshwater cyanobacteria can produce toxins and taste-and-odor compounds that can negatively affect drinking water supplies. Here, I have employed second- and third-generation sequencing technologies to characterize bloom-forming freshwater cyanobacterial genomes and their associated heterotrophic...
High performance dielectric materials are needed for high power SiC- or GaN-based electronics which combine the best features of high energy density, low dielectric loss and high reliability and for advanced high-speed and high-voltage energy storage where temperature stability plays an important role in material properties. An ideal capacitor for...
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are contaminants of concern because they do not readily degrade in the environment. Some in vivo studies report that PFAS alter neurological development and are carcinogenic. Perfluorohexanesulfonamide (FHxSA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) are two PFASs, which are often detected in drinking water sources....
The overall objective of the research reported here is to
empirically measure the ability of farmers to mitigate the impact of
rising electricity prices by substituting relatively inexpensive
alternative inputs. A dual cost methodology is employed because it
allows theoretically consistent derivation of own price and factor
substitution elasticities, conditional...
Inertial microfluidics refers to the manipulation of the location and velocity of particles suspended in microscale fluid flow without the introduction of outside forces. It has promising applications in flow cytometry and other biomedical technologies because of the potential for lowering cost and complexity relative to current particle focusing methods....
Agronomic research documents a strong correlation
between the level of irrigation water applied and the level
of farm chemicals leached into water bodies. Consequently,
policies that cause farmers to alter irrigation water
management practices are likely to influence water quality.
Water markets are a potentially attractive method of
addressing agriculturally...