Catalina Iticescu

Reduction of Irradiation Level for Personnel Working in a Steel Furnace Using NMG Method

The humidity of coke introduced into furnace used for preparation of cast-iron plays an important role in development of metallurgical processes. More that its importance results from the necessity to optimization of the energy consumption in the furnace. Therefore, the quick, precise, and in situ measurement of the humidity of coke is necessary and a decisive process in cast-iron preparation. In this aim, the nuclear moisture gauge (NMG) method is successfully used. Two main issues appear in this case. First of them concerns to the NMG calibration and second refers to get rigorous results. The last aspect is linked of the corrections have to be made for the density measurements of coke, during performing of a NMG measurements occurring into continuous flow. During humidity measurements it is necessary to take into consideration of the irradiation level of the workers performing calibration and moisture measurements implied by the NMG. The paper reveals and discusses the results concerning the use of the NMG technique without automatic density correction as compared to the NMG technique which users the automatic density corrections. The humidity of coke used in furnaces was monitored for several months by using both techniques and their results are compared. The linear dependence between the NMG indications and coke humidity is not influenced of the coke granulation. It is concluded that the NMG without automatic density correction gives as good results as the more complicated, much more expensive and, mainly, more radiation exposing of workers NMG method with automatic density correction.

Study on the influence of atmospheric parameters on the accuracy of the geodetic measurements

In the cadastral operations, geodesic measurements are extremely necessary. These measurements must be accurate and precise. In the present work, we studied the measurement accuracy of electronic measuring devices and tried to emphasize the influence of atmospheric parameters on measurement accuracy.

Heavy Metals in the Anthropogenic Cycle of Elements

The increasing entry or unnatural concentration of man-made substances in soils affects every level of the biosphere. At the molecular-ionic level, it is apparent in significantly increased contents of heavy metals in agro-ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. This may not, yet, amount to pollution but increased concentrations are being found in farm products – so it is prudent to control the heavy metal content of soils and develop agricultural technologies that can reduce their concentration. A management strategy should include: (a) systematic monitoring of the content of heavy metals and categorization of background levels according to the soil’s buffering capacity, taking account of expected changes, current and possible soil degradation in particular; (b) ecological appraisal of agricultural technologies and prohibition of aggressive practices and chemicals; (c) adoption of biologically based practices and substitution of synthetic plant-protection products and fertilizers with biological products and manure; (d) augmenting the buffering capacity of the soil by increasing the content of organic matter and adjusting pH; and (e) special measures to reduce the impact of heavy metals, treatments that create geochemical barriers to the mobility of the elements (application of lime, gypsum, bentonite and farmyard manure) as well as cultivation of industrial crops.

Structural Indices of Typical Chernozem Under Various Methods of Tillage

Systems analysis identifies the need for a more ecological as well as more efficient approach to issues in modern agriculture. Soil structure of Typical moderately humic chernozem was monitored under mouldboard ploughing and three variants of conservation tillage under production conditions. Different kinds of tillage bring into play different mechanisms of soil structural development. As compared with ploughing, deep loosening and disking produce a more favourable, more resilient soil structure and improved soil water status.