Management of excess energy in a photovoltaic/grid system by production of clean hydrogen

In this article, the authors design a new clean storage device for a photovoltaic system (PV) reinforced by the electrical grid. The photovoltaic system supplies power to a DC load. When the power of the photovoltaic source is insufficient, the electrical grid compensates the energy deficit. On the other hand, if the load is satisfied and the PV source is still able of supplying energy, the energy excess is diverted to an own storage unit materialized by an electrolysis which produces gaseous hydrogen by the process of electrolysis of water. The authors show that the quantity of hydrogen produced is proportional to the photovoltaic energy excess and also to the flow of water injected into the electrolysis. In this case, it is a question of designing an electrolysis with specific characteristics, which takes into account the quantity of energy excess and the flow of water injected into it. The authors abandon the idea of controlling the water flow by means of a pumping-electrovalve system, and initiate the idea of replacing the function of the pump by the action of gravity. The work focuses on the development of an electrolysis optimization approach using the water flow control in its alliance with the PV power excess which is also maximized. For an optimized use of the global system (load and electrolysis), the authors present an architecture based on energy-converting structures (DC/DC and AC/DC). In addition, to increase the reliability and safety of the system, the authors finish by developing a power management strategy (PMS) in the designed system. This power management strategy organizes the energy flow and selects the appropriate path of this flow between the two energy sources (PV and electrical grid) and the two possible energy receivers (load and electrolysis). A complete modeling of the system is developed in the Matlab/Simulink environment. The simulation results show that the hybrid system (PV and electrical grid) is able to permanently supplying the load and potentially storing the excess of the PV energy in the form of hydrogen gas.     

Current condition and future directions for lean construction in highways projects: A small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) perspective

The aim of this study is to identify the parameters defining how Lean Construction (LC) is being implemented (current condition) and how LC can be further promoted (future direction) from a Small-Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) perspective. Although SMEs constitute the largest group in construction supply chains, LC, as an emerging phenomenon in civil construction project management, has been rarely investigated from an SMEs perspective. Also, overlooking the more macro factors like project governance and supply chain management, LC deployments have been mainly discussed from a production process perspective to date. After a review of the extant literature and 20 interviews with managers from the highways sector, a list of 31 current condition and 40 future direction statements were produced, classified under the delivery, process, training, project governance and supply chain related headings and used in a questionnaire survey with 110 responses. The current condition highlights problems like a short-term relations structure, competitive tendering mechanisms, fragmentation, problems in engaging with SMEs for LC, unstandardised LC techniques, and issues with convincing SMEs to deploy LC by demonstrating the business case on mutual benefits. Action items relating to the current project delivery structure were given the highest importance by the supply chain, alongside the LC training and project governance issues for the future of LC at highways SMEs. Additionally, a statistically significant correlation was identified among many future action items.     

辐射诱导冷却肉脂肪氧化机理与抑制方法研究

探讨了辐照剂量、贮藏效应、氧气含量和抗氧化剂等因素对辐照冷却肉脂肪氧化的影响，提出了抑制辐照冷却肉脂肪氧化的技术方法。结果表明，辐照冷却肉的过氧化值与辐照剂量存在极显著的正相关关系（p〈0．01），随着贮藏时间的延长表现为先升后降；在包装实验中，真空包装和无氧包装（N2＋CO2）可以咀显降低贮藏期间辐照冷却肉的过氧化值和TBARS值（硫代巴比妥酸反应物）；添加抗氧化剂后，辐照冷却肉的脂肪氧化明显降低，其过氧化值和TBARS值在贮藏期间不超过3meq／kg和0．4mgMDA／kg，而对照达到29meq／kg和1．13mgMDA／kg，其中抗氧化剂茶多酚和维生素E起主导作用。     

γ射线辐照水溶液中氯霉素的降解研究

研究了γ射线辐照水溶液中氯霉素的降解规律,并对辐解产物进行了初步探讨.根据辐照前后高效液相色谱(High performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)图谱中氯霉素峰面积变化,分析得出氯霉素随吸收剂量和初始浓度的降解规律.利用液相色谱串联质谱(Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry,LC/MS/MS),定性分析氯霉素的辐解产物.结果表明,氯霉素残留量随吸收剂量和初始浓度的变化关系满足指数方程;氯霉素辐射降解后形成了30个以上的辐解产物,它们在氯霉素检测波长278nm下的响应值均较低;确定了氯霉素在不同辐解条件下均出现的8种主要辐解产物,它们的准分子离子质量[M-H]分别为:353、337、335(A)、335(B)、319、289、127、166,并对主要辐解产物进行了初步的结构解析.     

Transesterification of Palm-based Methyl Palmitate into Esteramine Catalyzed by Calcium Oxide Catalyst

The technology for transesterification reactions between methyl esters and alcohols is well established by using classical homogeneous alkaline catalysts, which provide high conversion of methyl esters to specialty or nonindigenous esters. However, in certain products where the purity of the esters is of concern, the removal of homogeneous catalysts after the completion of the reaction is a challenge in terms of production cost and water footprint. Therefore, a study to investigate the potential of heterogeneous catalysts was conducted on reactions between methyl palmitate and triethanolamine. The degree of basicity and active surface area of calcium oxide (CaO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and magnesium oxide (MgO) were first characterized by using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD-CO₂) and Brunauere–Emmett–Teller (BET), respectively. Among the metal oxides investigated, the CaO catalyst showed the best catalytic activity toward the transesterification process as it gave the highest conversion of methyl palmitate and yielded fatty esteramine compositions similar to the conventional homogeneous catalyst. The optimum transesterification condition by using the CaO catalyst utilized a lower vacuum system of approximately 200 mbar, which could minimize a considerable amount of energy consumption. Furthermore, low CaO dosage of 0.1% was able to give a conversion of 94.5% methyl ester and formed esteramine at 170 °C for 2 h. Therefore, the production of esterquats from esteramine may become more economically feasible through the methyl ester route by using the CaO catalyst, which can be recycled three times.     

Enhanced Hydrogen Generation from Empty Fruit Bunches by Charcoal Addition into a Downdraft Gasifier

Hydrogen production by co-gasification of empty fruit bunches of palm oil could be enhanced by adding charcoal. Physiochemical characterization of raw feedstocks was performed to determine their exergy potentiality. The raw feedstocks, gasified charcoal, and the end product of produced gas were analyzed by different techniques. Gasification experiments were performed using a pilot-scale downdraft gasifier. The heating value, composition of product gas, yield of hydrogen, and exergy efficiency were used to verify the improvement of hydrogen production during the co-gasification process. Charcoal with empty fruit bunches of palm oil leads to a much higher yield of hydrogen than lower charcoal ratios or solely empty fruit bunches. This enhanced hydrogen fuel can contribute to future energy demand.     

Correlation of growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus with some essential metals in gamma irradiated crushed corn

The effects of gamma irradiation and some essential metals on growth and aflatoxin B1 production by Aspergillus flavus in crushed corn were investigated. The production of aflatoxin by A. flavus was influenced by the addition of zinc, copper or iron and the effect gradually decreased with increasing metal concentration from 0 to 300 ppm. A. flavus grew and depleted zinc, copper and iron at initial concentration of 100, 200 or 300 ppm. Presence of 100 ppm zinc, copper or iron plus gamma irradiation (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 kGy) enhanced the growth of A. flavus and the production of aflatoxin in contrast with irradiated samples alone. A. flavus was able to metabolize and deplete elements in all gamma-irradiated samples. These results suggest that stricter control of element levels in gamma irradiated grains could control aflatoxin contamination.     

The effect of heat treatments on the properties of Ti/Pt heating elements for gas sensor applications

Ti/Pt as heating element for gas sensor applications was fabricated on silicon (Si) wafer substrate. The fabricated device was subjected to heat treatment at different prescribed time periods for thermal stability. The energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) results of the device indicated that there were no Ti traces on the Pt surface after heat treatment at 450 °C for 3 and 4 h in an argon (Ar) atmosphere. A maximum temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) with a value of 2.88×10^?3 K^?1 was obtained for the device with 3 h heat treatment.     

辐照食品分析检测技术的研究进展

本文介绍了国内外辐照食品检测技术的研究进展，着重对化学分析法、电子自旋共振(ESR)法及热释光分析(TL)法进行了阐述，并对今后辐照食品检测技术的研究提出了建议。