An Optimized Combination of Mine Water Control,Treatment, Utilization,and Reinjection for Environmentally Sustainable Mining: A Case Study

This paper presents a case study of an optimized combination of mine water control, treatment, utilization and reinjection to achieve the zero discharge of mine water. Mine water has been considered a hazard and pollution source during underground mining, so most mining enterprises directly discharge mine water to the surface after simple treatment, resulting in a serious waste of water. Moreover, discharging a large amount of mine water can destroy the original groundwater balance and cause serious environmental problems, such as surface subsidence, water resource reduction and contamination, and adverse impacts on biodiversity. The Zhongguan iron mine is in the major groundwater source area of the Hundred Springs of Xingtai, which is an area with a high risk of potential subsidence. To optimize the balance between mining and groundwater resources, a series of engineering measures was adopted by the Zhongguan iron mine to realize mine water control, treatment, utilization, and reinjection. The installation of a closed grout curtain has greatly reduced the water yield of deep stopes in the mine; the effective sealing efficiency reaches 80%. Nanofiltration membrane separation was adopted to treat the highly mineralized mine water; the quality of the produced water meets China’s recommended class II groundwater standard. Low-grade heat energy from the mine water is collected and utilized through a water-source heat pump system. Finally, zero mine water discharge is realized through mine water reinjection. This research provides a beneficial reference for mines with similar geological and hydrogeological conditions to achieve environmentally sustainable mining.

     

An energy-saving nonlinear position control strategy for electro-hydraulic servo systems

The electro-hydraulic servo system (EHSS) demonstrates numerous advantages in size and performance compared to other actuation methods. Oftentimes, its utilization in industrial and machinery settings is limited by its inferior efficiency. In this paper, a nonlinear backstepping control algorithm with an energy-saving approach is proposed for position control in the EHSS. To achieve improved efficiency, two control valves including a proportional directional valve (PDV) and a proportional relief valve (PRV) are used to achieve the control objectives. To design the control algorithm, the state space model equations of the system are transformed to their normal form and the control law through the PDV is designed using a backstepping approach for position tracking. Then, another nonlinear set of laws is derived to achieve energy-saving through the PRV input. This control design method, based on the normal form representation, imposes internal dynamics on the closed-loop system. The stability of the internal dynamics is analyzed in special cases of operation. Experimental results verify that both tracking and energy-saving objectives are satisfied for the closed-loop system.     

Supply chain planning and scheduling integration using Lagrangian decomposition in a knowledge management environment

The integration of planning and scheduling decisions in rigorous mathematical models usually results in large scale problems. In order to tackle the problem complexity, decomposition techniques based on duality and information flows between a master and a set of subproblems are widely applied. In this sense, ontologies improve information sharing and communication in enterprises and can even represent holistic mathematical models facilitating the use of analytic tools and providing higher flexibility for model building. In this work, we exploit this ontologies’ capability to address the optimal integration of planning and scheduling using a Lagrangian decomposition approach. Scheduling/planning sub-problems are created for each facility/supply chain entity and their dual solution information is shared by means of the ontological framework. Two case studies based on a STN representation of supply chain planning and scheduling models are presented to emphasize the advantages and limitations of the proposed approach.     

Nickel foam-supported Fe,Ni-Polyporphyrin microparticles: Efficient bifunctional catalysts for overall water splitting in alkaline media

Developing highly active, stable and sustainable electrocatalysts for overall water splitting is of great importance to generate renewable H₂ for fuel cells. Herein, we report the synthesis of electrocatalytically active, nickel foam-supported, spherical core-shell Fe-poly(tetraphenylporphyrin)/Ni-poly(tetraphenylporphyrin) microparticles (FeTPP@NiTPP/NF). We also show that FeTPP@NiTPP/NF exhibits efficient bifunctional electrocatalytic properties toward both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Electrochemical tests in KOH solution (1 M) reveal that FeTPP@NiTPP/NF electrocatalyzes the OER with 100 mA cm⁻² at an overpotential of 302 mV and the HER with 10 mA cm⁻² at an overpotential of 170 mV. Notably also, its catalytic performance for OER is better than that of RuO₂, the benchmark OER catalyst. Although its catalytic activity for HER is slightly lower than that of Pt/C (the benchmark HER electrocatalyst), it shows greater stability than the latter during the reaction. The material also exhibits electrocatalytic activity for overall water splitting reaction at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² with a cell voltage of 1.58 V, along with a good recovery property. Additionally, the work demonstrates a new synthetic strategy to an efficient, noble metal-free-coordinated covalent organic framework (COF)-based, bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting.     

Influence of the ZrB2 content on the anti-oxidation ability of ZrB2-SiC coatings in aerobic environments with broad temperature range

ZrB₂-SiC coatings with different ZrB₂ contents were prepared by liquid phase sintering. The oxidation processes of coatings were explained according to TG results of ZrB₂-SiC coatings and powders tested from 298 K to 1773 K. Results show that, increasing ZrB₂ content made the weight of the samples changed from weight-loss of 10.04% to weight-gain of 0.14%, while the fastest weight-loss regions were narrowed, whose inflection points reduced from 1310℃ to 1050℃. Increasing ZrB₂ content made the relative oxygen permeability of the ZrB₂-SiC/SiC coatings reduced from 40%–60% to -10%-5%. Increasing ZrB₂ content enhanced high-temperature stability of coatings, making final weight of samples changed from weight-loss of 0.16% to weight-gain of 0.11% after oxidation at 1773 K for 200 h. The peeling and dispersion of Zr-oxides formed Zr-B-Si-O compound glass layer, presenting enhanced stability, dispersion strengthening and pinning effect of Zr-oxides, which were responsible for the excellent anti-oxidation protective effect of coatings in a broad temperature region.     

Influence of coal forced oxidation on technological properties of cokes produced at laboratory scale

The effect of coal oxidation in air at 140 °C on the technological properties of cokes obtained at laboratory scale from two medium volatile bituminous coals has been studied. The proximate and ultimate analyses do not show important changes with coal oxidation time. However oxidation clearly has a strong effect on the plastic properties of the coals in view of the fact that the Gieseler fluidity eventually disappears. From this point variations in plastic properties can still be detected by FSI. Other changes, such as a shortening of the length of the saturated fragments of the aliphatic chains, a decrease in the aliphatic hydrogen content and an increase in the oxygen-containing groups are detected by PA-FTIR. It was also found that the main coke quality indices (mechanical strength and reactivity to CO₂) of both coke series are impaired with coal oxidation. A close relationship between reactivity to CO₂ and the micropore specific surface area of the cokes has been corroborated.     

Steam gasification of apricot stones with olivine and dolomite as downstream catalysts

Apricot stone steam gasification with olivine and dolomite as downstream catalysts had been carried out for the production of hydrogen-rich gas at atmospheric pressure in a fixed-bed reactor. Reaction temperature, S/B (steam/biomass) ratio, particle size of the catalysts, and calcination of the catalyst, etc., have been studied. The results show that the catalytic activities of calcined olivine and dolomite are higher than the natural ones. With calcined dolomite, a H₂ potential yield of 130.9 gH₂/kg biomass (daf.), which is 86.1% of the stoichiometric yield (152 g H₂/kg biomass (daf.)), is obtained at 850 °C and S/B ratio 0.8, and that with calcined olivine at 800 °C and S/B ratio 0.8 is 67.7 g H₂/kg biomass (daf.), 44.5% of the stoichiometric yield. Calcination of catalysts causes the disappearance of (Mg,Fe)SiO₃ phase and the formation of Fe₂O₃ for olivine and eliminates CO₂ and forms CaO–MgO for dolomite, which may be the reason for the difference in the activity. The calcined dolomite becomes very friable and the calcined olivine keeps its good mechanical intensity after calcination and reaction.     

Relationship between knowledge sharing and performance: A survey in Xi’an,China

This paper explores the quantitative relationship between knowledge sharing and performance, with contextual factors in consideration. First, we argue that both knowledge sharing and its contextual factors should be associated with performance. Then, we analyze the multi-dimensional characteristics of knowledge sharing and propose six measures for it. Next, we model the relationship between knowledge sharing and performance, integrating various contingent factors with the model framework, some of which have significant influences on the relationship between knowledge sharing and performance. After that, we propose four alternative models and corresponding propositions for knowledge sharing-contingent variables relationship, and present a quantitative formulation of the relationship between knowledge sharing and performance. Finally, we conduct a survey of 249 organizations in Xi’an, China, and show the empirical results. Our propositions about the knowledge sharing-performance relationship and contingent factors are supported by the survey. The empirical results suggest that managers have to pay attention to some contingent factors while they commit to knowledge sharing. This study adds to the understanding of the effects of knowledge sharing on performance, and gives implications to the practice of knowledge sharing.     

用于智能组卷的自适应小生境复合遗传算法

传统遗传算法的选择策略缺乏多样性保护机制,易出现早熟收敛。为解决智能组卷问题,采取小生境技术完成遗传操作中的种群进化机制。利用个体浓度的大小,设置自适应变异算子,保证种群多样性,防止种群陷入局部收敛;增加阈值以保证算法在接近最优解时回归到自适应遗传算法,简化算法计算量,加快算法的收敛速度。本文提出一种自适应与小生境技术复合遗传算法,来均衡算法的全局搜索和局部快速开发能力。最后,实例验证了所提算法的有效性。