Ethanol absorption from CO2 using solutions of glycerol and glycols

CO₂ stripping during fermentation is a possible way of increasing the production of ethanol in distilleries. Ethanol, water, and carbon dioxide are the main compounds in the exiting gas mixture. To date, few studies have proposed the use of absorption to recover ethanol from this mixture or have considered different absorbents for this purpose. This work evaluates different absorbent solutions used to recover ethanol vapor from CO₂ gas. Glycols and glycerol can provide easier separation of ethanol than water, with lower distillation energy demand. A statistical experimental design was used to compare the mass transfers of ethanol from the gas phase to the liquid phase, using solutions of glycerol, ethylene glycol, and diethylene glycol. High concentrations of these substances did not favor the absorption of ethanol. The best results were achieved with 25% absorbent solutions, which offered better options than water for the recovery of ethanol from CO₂ gas in absorption columns and could increase the productivity of first generation bioethanol production.     

Radon and moisture impacts from interventions integrated with housing energy retrofits

Energy retrofits can reduce air exchange, raising the concern of whether indoor radon and moisture levels could increase. This pre/post-intervention study explored whether simple radon interventions implemented in conjunction with energy retrofits can prevent increases in radon and moisture levels. Treatment homes (n = 98) were matched with control (no energy retrofits or radon intervention) homes (n = 12). Control homes were matched by geographic location and foundation type. t-tests were used to determine whether post-energy retrofit radon and moisture level changes in treatment homes significantly differed from those in control homes. The radon interventions succeeded in preventing statistically significant increases in first floor radon using arithmetic (p = 0.749) and geometric means (p = 0.120). In basements, arithmetic (p = 0.060) and geometric (p = 0.092) mean radon levels statistically significantly increased, consistent with previous studies which found that basement radon levels may increase even if first floor levels remain unchanged. Changes in infiltration were related to changes in radon (p = 0.057 in basements; p = 0.066 on first floors). Only 58% of the change in infiltration was due to air sealing, with the rest due to weather changes. There was no statistically significant association between air sealing itself and radon levels on the first floor (p = 0.664). Moisture levels also did not significantly increase.     

Accuracy of wind energy forecasts in Great Britain and prospects for improvement

The metric representing the wind energy forecast error, when reported as a percent, is calculated quite differently than the error metrics for electricity transmission, electricity load, or in other industries such as manufacturing when they are also reported as a percent. The resulting calculated metric is quite different from what would be reported if the method utilized elsewhere was employed. This paper examines the possible forecast assessment and operational challenges associated with this finding. Concerning the prospects for improvement, the errors reported in MW of energy have a systematic component. With this insight, we developed a model to improve accuracy.     

Economic Evaluation of Power System Flexibility by Commercial Air Conditioner Control with Large Penetration of Photovoltaic Generation

High penetration of intermittent renewable energy such as photovoltaic (PV) and wind power could cause shortage of power system flexibility. Demand response is expected to help supply ancillary service instead of the conventional power plant. Commercial air conditioners are a promising responsive load for demand response because they account for a large proportion of power consumption in the power system. We calculate a system operation cost and hourly operation pattern of each power plant by using the optimal power generation model considering flexibility supply from controlling commercial air conditioner. We obtained the following results as an effect of commercial air conditioner control. (1) The power generation of oil fired power plants decreases at peak time and annual fuel cost of oil fired plant is reduced by approximately 30% at most in Kanto area. (2) The percentage of rated operation mode of LNG combined cycle plants increases. (3) Curtailed energy rate of PV decreases because a power storage amount by pumped hydropower generation increases. (4) Required battery capacity to reduce PV curtailed amount decreased by combining battery energy storage system in case of high penetration of PV.     

Compressive and flexural properties of novel polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite/yttria-stabilized zirconia hybrid nanocomposite scaffold

The mechanical property is a crucial factor in the design of bone tissue engineering scaffolds. In the current study, novel PLLA (Poly-L-lactic acid)–Hydroxyapatite (HA)–yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) nanocomposite scaffold with various compositions was prepared and characterized. The effect of HA and YSZ contents on the mechanical behavior of the resultant composites was investigated. TEM micrograph revealed that HA particles are needle-like in shape and nano in size. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph also showed that YSZ powder is in granule form and submicron size. SEM disclosed that all scaffolds had a highly interconnected porous structure and X-ray diffractometry revealed that there were some molecular interactions between PLA (Polylactic acid), HA, and YSZ in the composites. The results depicted that introducing YSZ to the nanocomposite leads to a significant increase in compressive strength, modulus, and densification strain. In addition, flexural strength and modulus showed an upward trend by adding YSZ particles to scaffolds. It should be noted that PLA–20%HA–20%YSZ indicates the highest strength and modulus in both compression and bending tests, though, it did not demonstrate the proper strain compared to other scaffolds. Thus, PLA–15%HA–15%YSZ has been reported as the best candidate due to appropriate strength and strain. Also, energy absorption in nanocomposites showed an upward trend by increasing the amount of YSZ particles. It was found that the strength of samples was declined after being soaked in simulated body fluid. However, scaffolds with HA underwent more decrease in strength compared to samples containing YSZ.     

析晶污垢生长影响因素概述

结垢问题存在于各个行业,尤其在油田表现更甚。但材料表面特性对油田采出水中析晶污垢的影响并没有得到太多关注。主要对影响析晶污垢生长的三种主要表面特性因素进行简要综述。     

What is the future of solar energy? Economic and policy barriers

The most important characteristics and limitations of solar energy were reviewed in this study. The analysis of different aspects indicated that the most important global challenges of solar energy development were climatic challenges, technical constraints, and unwillingness to make investments. After describing current conditions and predicting the future of solar energy, this study analyzed the policies formulated by developed countries to develop this from of energy. Accordingly, China has gotten ahead of other countries in this industry due to the technological production of solar panels and governmental supports. Finally, the economic estimation of solar energy was presented by dealing with the economic barriers to this form of energy in developed countries. According to the significant growth in the reduction of solar energy electricity production cost, this source of energy can be used as a major source in the future. It was then recommended to use a hybrid of solar energy with other sources such as wind to reduce the costs.     

Short communication: The effect of diarrhea and navel inflammation on the lying behavior of veal calves

Many veal calves arrive to growing facilities with diseases, including diarrhea and navel inflammation. Observing neonatal calf behavior, such as lying behavior, can be used to better detect and determine the implications of these diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of navel inflammation and diarrhea on lying behavior in neonatal veal calves. This study was part of a larger experiment that included a total of 360 male Holstein calves from 3 cohorts; from these calves, we selected a subset of 125 calves (every third calf as they entered the barn) to be fitted with 3-dimensional accelerometers (Hobo Pendant G data loggers; Onset Computer Corp., Bourne, MA) on 1 hind leg to continuously measure lying time, number of lying bouts, and lying bout duration. Calves were housed individually on slatted flooring (Tenderfoot; Tandem Products Inc., Minneapolis, MN) in 3 rooms of a mechanically ventilated barn. Health exams were conducted twice weekly for 2 wk starting the day after arrival. Exams included rectal temperature, navel score (0 = normal, 1 = mildly inflamed, 2 = moderately inflamed, 3 = severely inflamed), and fecal score (0 = normal, 1 = semiformed, 2 = loose, 3 = watery). Calves were considered to have navel inflammation (n = 22) or diarrhea (n = 15) if they scored ≥2 during at least 3 of the 4 health exams. The lying behavior of these calves was compared with that of normal calves (n = 18) that had no signs of illness and rectal temperatures <39.4°C during at least 3 of the 4 health exams. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures ANOVA; models included cohort (1, 2, or 3), health status (normal, navel inflammation, or diarrhea), week (1 or 2), and a health by week interaction. There was an effect of health status on lying time, whereby normal calves spent more time lying compared with calves with inflamed navels and tended to spend more time lying compared with calves with diarrhea. There was no effect of health status on the number of lying bouts per day or on the duration of lying bouts. There were no health by week interactions. Results indicate that neonatal veal calves with navel inflammation and diarrhea may be less comfortable than calves without these conditions. Veal producers should consider adapting their facilities to create more comfortable lying environments to help calves better recover from disease, such as by adding a hospital pen with comfortable bedding.     

具有外套管的释热元件表面温度求解

为进行具有外套管的释热元件的性能分析，需准确计算元件包壳外侧的温度分布。由于套管结构内外均存在流体，传热情况较为复杂，因此本文基于传热基本方程和能量守恒关系，设计开发了专用的迭代算法和计算程序求解该结构温度分布，并采用典型算例，将计算结果与Fluent软件仿真结果进行对比。结果表明，本文程序计算结果与Fluent软件仿真结果的相对误差小于5%。基于本算法编写的程序模块与燃料元件性能分析程序相耦合，可提高燃料性能分析流程的独立性。