Performance analysis of various hybrid renewable energy systems using battery,hydrogen, and pumped hydro‐based storage units

The aim of this research is to analyze the techno‐economic performance of hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) using batteries, pumped hydro‐based, and hydrogen‐based storage units at Sharurah, Saudi Arabia. The simulations and optimization process are carried out for nine HRES scenarios to determine the optimum sizes of components for each scenario. The optimal sizing of components for each HRES scenario is determined based on the net present cost (NPC) optimization criterion. All of the nine optimized HRES scenarios are then evaluated based on NPC, levelized cost of energy, payback period, CO₂ emissions, excess electricity, and renewable energy fraction. The simulation results show that the photovoltaic (PV)‐diesel‐battery scenario is economically the most viable system with the NPC of US$2.70 million and levelized cost of energy of US$0.178/kWh. Conversely, PV‐diesel‐fuel cell system is proved to be economically the least feasible system. Moreover, the wind‐diesel‐fuel cell is the most economical scenario in the hydrogen‐based storage category. PV‐wind‐diesel‐pumped hydro scenario has the highest renewable energy fraction of 89.8%. PV‐wind‐diesel‐pumped hydro scenario is the most environment‐friendly system, with an 89% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared with the base‐case diesel only scenario. Overall, the systems with battery and pumped hydro storage options have shown better techno‐economic performance compared with the systems with hydrogen‐based storage.     

Boost antimicrobial effect of CTAB-capped NixCu1−xO (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) nanoparticles by reformed optical and dielectric characters

Chemical doping and coating have been considered as efficient semiconductor physics strategies to modulate the physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials for the required applications. In this study, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) stabilizer-capped nickel-doped cupric oxide (Ni_xCu_1?xO) nanoparticles (NPs) with different doping concentrations (0.0?≤?x?≤?0.05) were synthesized via a one-step rapid and low-cost solvothermal synthesis route. The as-synthesized CTAB-capped Ni_xCu_1?xO NPs have been sightseen for their structural/morphological, optical/dielectric, and antimicrobial properties using XRD/SEM/TEM, FT-IR/UV–visible/Impedance spectroscopies, and Agar well diffusion method, respectively. Relevant results show enhanced optical, dielectric and antimicrobial properties with Ni doping due to the smaller size effect. Importantly, in vitro examination, the antimicrobial activity of the grown NPs was evaluated against four microbial species, exhibits that the CTAB-capped Ni-doped CuO NPs possess a command antimicrobial toxicity to Staphylococcus aureus (25923-ATCC), Klebsiella pneumoniae (700603-ATCC), and Escherichia coli (25922-ATCC) and an intermediate performance towards Candida albicans (24433-ATCC). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay for the obtained CTAB-Ni_0.05Cu_0.95O sample upon S. aureus or K. pneumoniae pathogens reaches extremely as low as 5 μg ml^?1 for all reported CuO NPs. The improved dose-dependent antimicrobial effect has been found to be strongly dependent on the particle size, surface morphology, elemental compositions, and surface bio-functionality of the catalytic nanomaterials. Additionally, Ni-dopant, CTAB-stabilizer, and binding of Cu⁺/Cu²⁺ ions with respiratory enzymes collectively produce an excess amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the bacterial culture medium, which determines a predominant antibacterial mechanism for bacterial cells damage. Overall, these inorganic (Ni_xCu_1?xO) NPs with antimicrobial cationic surfactant (CTAB) have advantages to use as a functionalized disinfection nanoagent to control the microbial infections in the healthcare sector together with various electronic and photonic medical diagnoses.

Graphical abstract

     

Optimization of arsenite removal by adsorption onto organically modified montmorillonite clay: Experimental & theoretical approaches

Arsenic is a critical contaminant for aqueous environments as it poses harmful health risks. To meet the stringent regulations regarding the presence of arsenic in aqueous solutions, the feasibility of montmorillonite clay modified with hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride as the adsorbent was tested for the removal of arsenic ions from aqueous solutions. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study confirmed that the organically modified nanoclay (ONC) adsorbent had a porous structure with a vast adsorbent surface.The x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis proved the presence of carbon in the structure of the modified nanoclay that can be evidence for the creation of ONC. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis results confirm the existence of four main groups of minerals, carbonate (Calcite), clay (Askmtyt and Kandyt), silicate (Quartz), and phyllosilicate (Kaolinite), in the ONC structure.The influence of various parameters such as solution pH, adsorbent dosage, initial arsenite concentration, and contact time on arsenic adsorption onto ONC was investigated. A 2⁵ full factorial central composite experimental design was applied. A central composite design under response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the effects of independent variables on arsenite removal and to determine the optimum condition. The experimental values were in a good fit with the ones predicted by the model. The optimal operating points (adsorbent dosage: 3.7 g L^?1, surfactant dosage: 3 g L^?1 and the contact time: 37.2min) giving maximum arsenite removal (95.95%) were found using Solver “Add-ins” in Microsoft Excel 2010.     

Position-based routing in vehicular networks: A survey

Routing in vehicular network is a challenging task due to network partitioning, high vehicular speed, and city environment characteristics. These characteristics results in degraded performance in traditional routing protocols. Traditional routing protocols, addressing the issues of mobile ad hoc network, are applicable for MANET applications. Position-based routing protocols, which are mostly based on greedy routing, are more suited to highly dynamic and mobile network. In this paper, we survey state of art routing protocols previously used in vehicular networks, present open research challenges and possible future direction. We categorize protocols into two categories based on their communicating mode (vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure) irrespective of their simulating environment (highway, urban). Both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication provides connectivity based on multi-hop paradigm in a seamless way. We discuss pros and cons for routing protocols belonging to each category. By doing qualitative comparison of routing protocols, it is observed that hybrid communication would be the better choice for both communication mode operable in either a city environment or an open environment.     

Mathematical Study of A Memory Induced Biochemical System

In this work, to study the effect of memory on a bi-substrate enzyme kinetic reaction, we have introduced an approach to fractionalize the system, considering it as a threecompartmental model. Solutions of the fractionalized system are compared with the corresponding integer-order model. The equilibrium points of the fractionalized system are derived analytically. Their stability properties are discussed from numerical aspect. We determine the changes of the substances due to the changes of "memory effect". The effect is discussed critically from the perspective of product formation. We have also analyzed the memory induced system with a control measure in view of optimizing the product. Our numerical result reveals that the solutions of the fractionalized system, when it is free from memory, are in good agreement with the integer-order system. It is noticed that the effect of memory influences the reaction in the forward direction and assists in yielding the product more quickly. However, an extensive use of memory makes the system slower, but introduction of a control input makes the reaction faster. It is possible to overcome the slowness of the reaction due to the undue effect of memory by appropriate use of a control measure.      

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN POLYVINYLPYRROLIDONE AND CATIONIC GEMINI/CONVENTIONAL SURFACTANTS

The interactions of two gemini surfactants (16-s-16, s = 5, 6) and their conventional counterpart cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVP K15 and PVP K90) were investigated using conductivity, steady-state fluorescence, and viscosity techniques. The results indicate that there is no PVP/CTAB complex formation if molecular weight of PVP < 15,000. Both PVP K15 and PVP K90 interact with gemini surfactants. The critical aggregation concentration (cac) and critical micelle concentration (cmc) increase with polymer concentration and do not depend on the polymer molecular weight. Fluorescence study shows that the addition of PVP results in a decrease of the aggregation number in all the systems investigated due to the adsorption of the PVP chain in the micelle palisade layer and the ensuing increase of micelle ionization. The viscosity results suggest that the interactions between the surfactants and the polymer affect both inter-polymer-polymer association and chain expansion.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Chemical Engineering Communications for the following free supplemental resources: additional data tables and figures.]     

Spectroscopic analysis of Nd3+(4f3) absorption intensities in a plastic host (HEMA)

Spectroscopic and laser properties of Nd³⁺ embedded in a 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) solid plastic host are characterized. The Judd–Ofelt model has been applied to the room temperature absorption intensities of Nd³⁺(4f³) transitions in HEMA to determine the three phenomenological intensity parameters: Ω₂, Ω₄ and Ω₆. The intensity parameters are then utilized to determine the radiative decay rates (emission probabilities of transitions) and branching ratios of the Nd³⁺(4f³) transitions from the upper manifold state ⁴F_3/2 to the lower‐lying multiplet manifolds ⁴I_J′. The predicted decay rates and branching ratios of the Nd³⁺(4f³) inter‐manifold transitions in HEMA are compared with those in other laser host media. From the radiative decay rates, the radiative lifetime of the Nd³⁺⁴F_3/2 excited state is determined. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Removal of toxic contaminants from water by sustainable green synthesised non‐toxic silver nanoparticles

The study describes the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using 21 different plant extracts having medicinal properties. Molecular ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy shows that the λ _max of nanoparticles synthesised by different plant extracts varied and ranged between 400 and 468 nm. The ultraviolet results revealed that although synthesis of nanoparticles occurred by all plant extracts successfully, their size varies, this was further confirmed by differential light scattering. The synthesised nanoparticles were investigated for their antimicrobial properties. The most promising silver nanoparticles Ocimum sanctum and Artemisia annua assisted were further characterised using transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). EDX data confirms that synthesised nanoparticles are highly pure. Further these two plant assisted nanoparticles were studied for chemocatalytic and adsorptive properties. The silver nanoparticles from Ocimum sanctum can catalyse the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (63%) within 20 min in the presence of NaBH₄, whereas Artemisia annua assisted silver nanoparticles did not show significant chemocatalytic activity. Both the promising nanoparticles can efficiently adsorb textile dyes from aqueous solutions. These synthesised nanoparticles were also exploited to remove microbial and other contaminants from Yamuna River water. The nanoparticles show excellent antimicrobial properties and can be reused repeatedly.Inspec keywords: antibacterial activity, nanofabrication, silver, dyes, light scattering, visible spectra, microorganisms, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray chemical analysis, catalysis, nanoparticles, ultraviolet spectra, adsorption, reduction (chemical)Other keywords: sustainable green synthesised nontoxic silver nanoparticles, silver nitrate, molecular ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, plant assisted nanoparticles, plant extracts, Ocimum sanctum, Artemisia annua, E. coli, C. albicans, plasmon absorbance, differential light scattering, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, 4‐nitrophenol, chemocatalytic activity, Yamuna River water, antimicrobial properties, time 20.0 min, time 5.0 min to 240.0 hour, size 1.0 nm to 5.0 nm, size 5.0 nm to 20.0 nm, wavelength 400.0 nm to 468.0 nm, NaBH₄ , Ag     

Optimisation of Inclusion Chemistry by Improved Steel Cleanliness and Optimum Calcium Treatment

SMSII, Bokaro Steel Plant produces ~ 2.0 million tons of low carbon aluminium killed (LCAK) steels per annum. Calcium treatment is done regularly at the end of ladle treatment to avoid clogging of submerged entry nozzles (SEN). With calcium consumption of 0.23 kg/t, inconsistent calcium in steel, SEN clogging and slide gate erosions were reported. Nozzle clogging during casting of LCAK steels was primarily caused by deposition of complex oxide and sulfide inclusions and slide gate erosion by excess calcium in steel. Optimum calcium in steel was essential to achieve desired inclusion composition conducive to smooth casting and eliminate slide gate or SEN erosion effectively. With calcium consumption of 0.12kg/ton optimum calcium content in steel could be achieved through i) improved steel cleanliness, ii) restricted CaS formation and iii) optimum aluminium content in steel. Process optimisation resulted in reduction in aluminium consumption by 1.0 kg/t and improvement in steel cleanliness with consistent total oxygen level of ≤ 42 ppm. Desired inclusion characteristics conducive to longer sequence length was achieved and evidenced through EPMA. Erosion of slide gate plates could be eliminated completely.     

Preparation and characterization of oriented III–V nitride thin films by nebulized spray pyrolysis

Thin films of GaN, InGaN, AlGaN and AlN on Si(1 0 0) as well as on Al₂O₃(0 0 0 1) single crystalline substrates have been deposited at 1123, 1023, 1173 and 1173 K, respectively, by employing the simple inexpensive technique of nebulized spray pyrolysis. GaN films deposited on Si are polycrystalline where as the films deposited on Al₂O₃ are epitaxial. GaN epitaxial films show cathodoluminescence characteristics. Photoluminescence studies show that all the films are of high quality.