Carlos Augusto de Oliveira

Process modeling strategy combining analytical and data based techniques - I. NN identification of reaction rates with known kinetics coefficients

This work deals with the fusion of the data-based and analytical submodels in the process engineering. In contrast to the traditional way of process reaction rates identification by an exhaustive and/or expensive search for the most appropriate parameterized structure, a neural network (NN) based procedure is developed here to identify the reaction rates in the framework of a first principles process model. Since the reaction rates are not measured variables a particular network training structure and algorithm are developed to make possible the supervised NN learning. Our contribution is focused on the general modeling of a class of nonlinear systems representing several industrial processes including crystallization and precipitation, polymerization reactors, distillation columns, biochemical fermentation and biological systems. The proposed algorithm is further applied for estimation of the precipitation rate of calcium phosphate and compared with alternative solutions.

Comparative Effect of The Inclusion of Zootechnical Additives in the Feed of Japanese Quails in Two Productive Phases

This study aimed to evaluate the intestinal morphology, performance and financial analysis of the inclusion of additives in the feed during the productive period of 360 Japanese quails distributed in a completely randomized design in a split plot scheme in time with five treatments and eight repetitions of nine birds each. The treatments were: control, antibiotic, prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic. The variables were: height, width and width/height ratio of the villi, crypt depth and villus/crypt ratio, feed intake, egg production, egg weight average, egg mass, feed conversion per mass and per dozen eggs and viability, internal rate of return, net present value and cost benefit. The additives in the feed increased height and width of the villi, decreased crypt depth and increased villus/ crypt ratio compared to the control. Feed intake was lower after the inclusion of antibiotics and synbiotics in the feed. Egg production and feed conversion improved after the inclusion of additives in the feed compared with the control. The reduction of feed intake was more pronounced with the addition of antibiotic and synbiotic in the final stage of the productive period of the Japanese quails. The inclusion of antibiotics and synbiotic proved to be more financially viable.

Projeto geroleite: Melhora da gestão da produção leiteira: caso cooperativa agropecuária de Macaé-RJ

The research was done between december 2001 and may 2002 in Macae-RJ. This producers belonged to the Macae Cooperated Producers, having 1646 cows. The work aimed to collect data for two reports, one operational and other of performance, where producers could take administrative decisions. During the research 168 monthly reports were done. Using the operational report, the producers monitored the reproductive and productive status of each cow and the performance report allowed to have the productive and finance indexes under control by the individual monthly production cost. By using the monthly real production cost, it was expected that producers could take decisions to improve the management of their properties, using technologies to reduce their real production costs. The results showed that was possible to reduce in 0.3% the cost per litre of milk, in 2.5% the total production cost. The monthly production not increased -0.6% and cow productivity increased 3.6%.