Preparation of sulfated alumina supported on mesoporous MCM-41 silica and its application in esterification

New types of mesoporous SA/MCM-41 solid acid catalysts were prepared by loading sulfated alumina (SA) on MCM-41. The prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD, IR, N₂ physisorption, elemental analysis, FT-IR of adsorbed pyridine and NH₃-TPD. The esterification of acetic acid with n-butanol and citric acid with n-butanol were used as model reactions to test the catalytic activities and reusability of the SA/MCM-41 solid acid catalysts. Compared with SA catalyst, SA/MCM-41 catalysts exhibited higher catalytic performances, which were attributed to their high BET surface area and large pore volume. Moreover, 20SA/MCM-41 solid acid catalyst showed excellent reusability in both esterifications.     

The status of energy conservation in Taiwan's cement industry

The cement industry represents one of the most energy intensive sectors in Taiwan. Energy audits are the direct tools which are employed to help reduce energy consumption. The objectives of energy audits are to establish energy audit systems, provide on-site energy audit service and reduce production cost. This study summarized the energy savings implemented in Taiwan's cement industry; the data were obtained from the on-line Energy Declaration System in 2010. The total implemented energy savings amounted to 68,512 kilo liter of crude oil equivalent (KLOE). The energy audit group audited seven Taiwanese cement plants in 2011 and revealed an energy saving potential of 2571.6 MWh of electricity and 1002.8 KLOE of thermal energy. The total potential energy saving was 1708.5 KL of crude oil equivalent (KLOE), equivalent to a 4560 t reduction in CO₂ emissions, representing the annual CO₂ absorption capacity of a 122 ha forest plantation.     

Synthesis of WO3 microfibers and their optical properties

We report a facile method to synthesize a series of WO₃ microfibers with three-dimensional architectures of nanoparticles and/or microplates through an infiltration and calcination process by taking cotton as template. The crystal structures, morphologies and optical properties of the WO₃ microfibers have been investigated systematically leading to the finding that the WO₃ microfibers show mixed phases and delicate micro/nano-structures which can be controlled by calcination temperature and rate. Furthermore, we also find that the WO₃ microfibers calcined at 500 °C under a calcination rate of 1 °C/min exhibit an intense photoluminescence emission around 452 nm.     

The link between energy and GDP in developing countries

Historical studies of the energy-demand patterns of the industrial countries show increasing energy intensity followed by decreasing intensity. To explore the energy intensity patterns of developing countries, a data base was assembled for 38 developing countries. The data base contains estimates of per capita energy demand and GDP for 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980. If the GDP is measured using the purchasing power parity method, analysis of the data base demonstrates an increase in energy intensity as countries develop.     

中国寒冷地区被动式房屋模式初探

本文首先通过比较分析中德居住建筑节能设计规范的发展历程,研究了节能措施及其耗热量指标的差异.而后,根据中国国情,提出了一种现阶段适合于中国寒冷地区的"被动式房屋"模式,并选取大连1栋4单元5层居住建筑的实际供暖设计案例进行了分析,表明壁挂式太阳能空气集热模块(WSAC)住宅较节能65%住宅可节约年供暖能耗58%以上,且技术经济分析结果显示,该模式的节能减排效果极为明显,建筑寿命期内可节约供暖运行费用13万元以上.     

太阳能空气供暖住宅建筑自然运行室温的可视化描述方法研究

太阳能空气供暖住宅建筑自然运行室温的可视化可以帮助建筑师评价其设计方案的性能,也可以帮助工程师分析太阳能建筑的供暖效果。本文以太阳能空气供暖足尺寸大实验房为例,利用数值模拟软件对实验房室内多点实时温度变化数据进行可视化描述,得出了针对太阳能空气供暖住宅建筑自然运行室温的可视化描述方法。     

北方地区低能耗自循环农村住宅实践性能分析

生态家园以燃池技术为基础,以农作物废弃的资源作辅助能源,以太阳能为辅助动力,全面系统地解决了农民住房、做饭、取暖、洗澡和畜禽养殖、棚菜生产的全部用能。该模式在辽宁西部地区实践,通过分析生态家园自循环原理,实测实际运行效果,温室大棚可保证一年四季正常运行,冬季农民住宅室内热舒适性明显提高。该模式最大限度地利用了农业废弃资源,实现了低能耗高舒适运行。     

Demand scenario analysis and planned capacity expansion: A system dynamics framework

This paper establishes an approach to develop models for forecasting demand and evaluating policy scenarios related to planned capacity expansion for meeting optimistic and pessimistic future demand projections. A system dynamics framework is used to model and to generate scenarios because of their capability of representing physical and information flows, which will enable us to understand the nonlinear dynamics behavior in uncertain conditions. These models can provide important inputs such as construction growth, GDP growth, and investment growth to specific business decisions such as planned capacity expansion policies that will improve the system performance.     

Characteristics of secondhand electronic cigarette aerosols from active human use

The electronic cigarette (EC) is a new source of indoor airborne particles. To better understand the impacts of secondhand vaping (SHV) emissions on indoor air quality, real-time measurements of particle size distribution, particle number concentration (PNC), fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), CO₂, CO, and formaldehyde were conducted before, during, and after 10 min EC-use among 13 experienced users in an 80 m³ room. To assess particle transport in the room, multiple sampling locations were set up at 0.8, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 m away from the subjects. The arithmetic mean (standard deviation) of background PNC and PM_2.5 concentrations in the room were 6.39 × 10³ (1.58 × 10²) particles/cm³ and 8 (1) μg/m³, respectively. At 0.8 m away from EC users, right after initiation of puffing, the PNC and PM_2.5 concentrations can reach a peak of ～10⁵ particles/cm³ and ～3 × 10³ µg/m³, respectively, and then dropped quickly to background levels within 20 s due to dilution and evaporation. At the 0.8 m sampling location, the mean PNC and PM_2.5 concentrations during puffing were 2.48 × 10⁴ (2.14 × 10⁴) particles/cm³ and 188 (433) µg/m³, respectively. In addition, two modes of SHV particles were observed at about 15 and 85 nm. Moreover, concentrations of SHV particles were negatively correlated with the distances to EC users. At the 1.5 m location, PNC and PM_2.5 levels were 9.91 × 10³ (1.76 × 10³) particles/cm³ and 19 (14) µg/m³, respectively. Large variations of mean PNC levels exhaled per puff were observed both within and between EC users. Data presented in this study can be used for SHV particle exposure assessment.

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