Statistical optimization of operating parameters of microbial electrolysis cell treating dairy industry wastewater using quadratic model to enhance energy generation

The performance of Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is affected by several operating conditions. Therefore, in the present study, an optimization study was done to determine the working efficiency of MEC in terms of COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal, hydrogen and current generation. Optimization was carried out using a quadratic mathematical model of response surface methodology (RSM). Thirteen sets of experimental runs were performed to optimize the applied voltage and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of single chambered batch fed MEC operated with dairy industry wastewater. The operating conditions (i.e) an applied voltage of 0.8 V and HRT of 2 days that showed a maximum COD removal response was chosen for further studies. The MEC operated at optimized condition (HRT- 2 days and applied voltage- 0.8 V) showed a COD removal efficiency of 95 ± 2%, hydrogen generation of 32 ± 5 mL/L/d, Power density of 152 mW/cm² and current generation of 19 mA. The results of the study implied that RSM, with its high degree of accuracy can be a reliable tool for optimizing the process of wastewater treatment. Also, dairy industry wastewater can be considered to be a potential source to generate hydrogen and energy through MEC at short HRT.     

Thermal shock response behaviour of carbon fibre reinforced silicon carbide matrix composites prepared by chemical vapour infiltration at different heating rates

The present work investigated the effects of thermal cycles in air on the tensile properties of a two-dimensional carbon fibre reinforced silicon carbide composite (2D C/SiC) prepared by chemical vapour infiltration at different heating rates. The composite was exposed to different cycles of thermal shock between 20 °C and 1300 °C in air. The damage mechanisms were investigated by AE online monitoring and fractured morphology offline analysis. The tensile strength of 2D-C/SiC decreases with increasing thermal cycles. However, the modulus only decrease within 40 cycles. Due to oxidation, with the decrease in heating rate, the residual properties of the material decrease more obviously. Meanwhile, the results of AE online monitoring and fracture analysis show that the matrix damage is more serious at higher heating rate and that more delamination occours in tensile fractures. The above results indicate that for the thermal shock of 2D C/SiC composites in air, oxidative damage plays a key role in the residual properties.     

Heterogeneously Catalyzed Methanolysis of Gmelina Seed Oil to Biodiesel

The heterogeneous catalysis of transesterification of gmelina seed oil to biodiesel is evaluated. The oil was extracted from the seeds with n‐hexane by solvent extraction and characterized to determine its physiochemical properties. Response surface methodology was applied to optimize the effect of process variables on the biodiesel yield. The base‐activated clay catalyst performed as montmorillonite clay with the characteristic property of a Brønsted acid. It has an improved surface area after activation that enhanced its catalytic activity on transesterification reaction. Under optimal conditions, the biodiesel yield was 70.1 %, thus demonstrating that the model predicted well the biodiesel production.     

Notwendigkeit und Vermarktung von Flexibilitätsoptionen im Energiesystem der Zukunft

Demands on production, distribution and consumption of electrical energy change fundamentally with the energy revolution. Energy purchasing costs for inflexible consumers are rising and proceeds of inflexible producers are sinking. Companies are able to reduce costs by marketing operational flexibility options. This article sets out the need of flexibility in the energy system and the new marketing options. Flexibility potentials within infrastructure plants of a chemical park are analyzed, evaluated regarding marketing and activated in the presented research project FlexChemistry.     

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.     

Optimization of culture conditions for biohydrogen production from sago wastewater by Enterobacter aerogenes using Response Surface Methodology

Sago wastewater (SWW) causes pollution to the environment due to its high organic content. Annually, about 2.5 million tons of SWW is produced in Malaysia. In this study, the potential of SWW as a substrate for biohydrogen production by Enterobacter aerogenes (E. aerogenes) was evaluated. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to find the optimum conditions. From preliminary optimization, it was found that the most significant factors were yeast extract, temperature, and inoculum size. According to Face Centered Central Composite Design (FCCCD), the maximum hydrogen concentration and yield were 630.67 μmol/L and 7.42 mmol H₂/mol glucose, respectively, which is obtained from the sample supplemented with 4.8 g/L yeast extract concentration, 5% inoculum, and incubated at the temperature of 31 °C. Cumulative hydrogen production curve fitted by the modified Gompertz equation suggested that H_max, R_max, and λ from this study were 15.10 mL, 2.18 mL/h, and 9.84 h, respectively.     

新型冠状病毒疫情对我国电力行业的影响分析

全球经验表明,疫情会对经济社会产生负面影响。此次中国武汉市新型冠状病毒疫情爆发的时间节点、波及的领域范围,以及为应对疫情釆取的相关部署安排,既考验着电力行业保障电力安全可靠供应的能力,也会直接或间接通过电力供求形势变化影响电力企业的生产运行。结合疫情因素和近年来中国经济运行中电力供求变化特点,本文认为疫情将会降低工业和商业用电负荷,医疗机构新增用电和居民生活用电将会显著增长,但鉴于工商业用电比重较高的事实,全社会用电量同期同比增速将明显放缓。考虑到近年来用电增速放缓的经验事实,此次疫情或将放大电力行业积聚的矛盾和困难,因此为发挥市场在电力资源配置中的决定性作用而加快推进电力体制改革和全国统一电力市场建设愈发重要与迫切。     

Enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution over In2S3 via decoration with GO and Fe2P co-catalysts

In this study, GO and Fe₂P were used as co-catalysts to improve the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in an In₂S₃ photocatalyst. The metallic character of Fe₂P provided a cheap substitute for traditional noble metal co-catalyst for H₂ production in aqueous media. The GO/Fe₂P/In₂S₃ composite demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to pure In₂S₃, delivering a H₂ production rate of 483.35 μmol h^?1 g^?1 and a quantum yield was 22.68% under visible light irradiation. The design of the photocatalyst was optimized using “Design Expert” software. The analysis showed that a GO loading of 1.18 wt%, a Fe loading of 5.36 wt%, and a calcination temperature of 180 °C were optimal.     

上海天然气市场和液化天然气的现状与展望

2009年,上海能源供应体系自从引入液化天然气以来,进口液化天然气对全市天然气供应总量和来源多元化做出了重要贡献。2013年,液化天然气消费在全市天然气消费总量中占比达50%,在天然气供应体系中发挥了越来越重要的作用。近年来,上海天然气市场发生了深刻变化,天然气需求增长放缓,与2013年之前十多年的两位数增长形成了鲜明对比。为了更好地理解市场的基本面,首先回顾了上海天然气消费的历史趋势,随后分析了影响需求增长的驱动因素和约束条件,以判断未来天然气需求的趋势和液化天然气在市场中扮演的角色,认为天然气需求增长的潜力主要在民用及商业领域。结合分析可能的供应选择,其结论是未来液化天然气将继续作为上海天然气供应体系的主力气源,同时提供市场急需的灵活性以保障高峰时段的用气需求。     

南湖菱护色工艺研究

以南湖菱为研究对象,选取不同种类的无硫护色剂(L-半胱氨酸、柠檬酸、乙二胺四乙酸二钠、抗坏血酸)进行护色研究,以南湖菱果皮的L*值变化量指标进行单因素试验;在单因素试验的基础之上,以南湖菱果皮的△E值变化量指标,利用Box-Behnken设计四因素三水平进行响应面试验,建立各因素与响应值之间的数学模型,确定最佳护色工艺。结果显示,四种护色剂对南湖菱表皮L~*值的提高具有一定的效果,其中柠檬酸、抗坏血酸、乙二胺四乙酸二钠对L~*值增加幅度10%以上,但是L-半胱氨酸对L~*值增加幅度则低于3%;当处理时间5.00min、抗坏血酸浓度1.00%、柠檬酸浓度1.00%、乙二胺四乙酸二钠浓度为0.60%时,对南湖菱的△E值提升效果最好,理论值可达12.66%,经验证试验,该护色工艺对南湖菱△E值为12.31%,符合模型预期。