A preliminary analysis of the biomass energy production potential in Africa in 2025 considering projected land needs for food production

This paper provides a preliminary examination of present and projected land use in Africa to estimate the potential availability of land in 2025 for use in producing biomass energy. Fifty countries are included in the analysis. Future cropland requirements are projected on the basis of average African cereal crop yield improvements since 1972, and minimum nutritional requirements are assumed to be met in 2025 without increasing imports above present absolute levels. Cropland, natural forests and other wilderness areas are excluded from consideration for biomass energy use. Woody biomass energy yields are estimated on the basis of nationally averaged precipitation, using a yield-precipitation correlation for commercial eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. The total African bioenergy production potential in 2025 is estimated to be about 18 EJ per year for a set of baseline assumptions that includes planting only 10% of the available non-crop, non-forest, non-wilderness area with biomass energy crops. A preliminary cost assessment suggests that much of this biomass could be produced for $1–2 GJ⁻¹. A number of uncertainties in the modelling assumptions are examined through a sensitivity analysis. Despite limitations in the model used here, one robust conclusion is that Africa as a whole has a significant biophysical potential for producing biomass energy. This result suggests that more detailed country and sub-country level assessments would be worthwhile to understand better the practical prospects for future biomass energy production in Africa.     

在酸性介质中N-H伪酸Mannich反应机理的量子化学研究

用量子化学中的ＳＣＦ－ＭＯＡＭ１方法，全优化计算了以苯并唑酮为伪酸组分的（Ｎ－Ｈ酸）Ｍａｎｎｉｃｈ反应的反应物、过渡态和产物络合物的分子几何构型、电子结构和生成热。根据计算所得各反应的活化能，提出了该反应在酸性介质中的机理，即甲醛首先与苯并唑酮作用，其产物再与二甲胺作用生成Ｍａｎｎｉｃｈ碱，并就其缘由进行了讨论。     

起重机吊钩拖动绕线电动机他励双高调速系统

本文提出励磁电流可自动控制的他励式双高调速系统设计方案。系统在提升特别是在下放重物时，具有较硬的机械性；在负载１０－１００％的变化范围内，可实现最大偏差Δｎｍａｘ／ｎｍｉｎ１００％≤１０％，调速范围Ｄ≥１０；在满载运行条件下，可节约电能８０％以上。     

Characterization and modification of fillers for paints and coatings

This paper highlights the possibility of inverse gas chromatography for the surface characterization of common fillers (CaCO₃, talc, SiO₂,) for paints and coatings. Divided solids are described, on the one hand, by the dispersive component of their surface energy and, on the other, by a specific parameter indicating their acid-base interaction potential. The role of the surface morphology at a molecular level is also examined. It is demonstrated that steric effects play an important role in the adsorption of probes on lamellar solids like talc. The consequences of surface treatments as well as examples of practical applications are also reported.     

Comments on “Is the cause of size effect on structural strength fractal or energetic-statistical?” by Ba?ant & Yavari [Engng Fract Mech 2005;72:1-31]

Aim of this letter to the Editor is at replying to the criticisms raised by Ba?ant and Yavari [Ba?ant ZP, Yavari A. Is the cause of size effect on structural strength fractal or energetic - statistical? Engng Fract Mech 2005;72:1-31] against the fractal approach to the size-scale effects on the mechanical properties of materials and the concept of the Multi-Fractal Scaling Law presented by Carpinteri [Carpinteri A. Scaling laws and renormalization groups for strength and toughness of disordered materials. Int J Solids Struct 1994;31:291-302]. These criticisms will be analysed thoroughly, showing how they also contain some mistakes and misunderstandings. The presented elucidations should redirect the discussion to a more correct scientific debate.     

Geothermal reservoir simulation

This paper is intended to be a state of the art review of geothermal reservoir simulation. Its recent application to the modelling of real geothermal reservoirs is described and put in the context of an emerging general approach to reservoir modelling. The use of computer simulation for geothermal well test analysis is described. One of the main recent uses of reservoir simulators has been for conducting numerical experiments aimed at improving the understanding of geothermal reservoir physics. Such studies on fractured reservoirs, the thermal structure of reservoirs and the effects of non-condensable gases and dissolved salts are outlined.     

Communications on energy: Fighting London's cold war

This communication illustrates the work of the London Energy and Employment Network. LEEN has the twin aims of promoting a rational energy policy for London and, in the process, generating much needed employment. In cooperation with Hackney, one of Britain's poorest boroughs, LEEN organized Hackney's Cold War — a series of initiatives showing the practical measures, informational back-up and funding sources necessary for a local energy policy. LEEN intends to repeat this project in other London Boroughs, with the eventual aim of helping to persuade central government to adopt a more comprehensive approach to energy conservation nationally.     

中国炼铁系统的节能与环境保护

回顾了20世纪90年代以来,中国炼铁系统的节能和环境保护的进展.指出由于高炉喷煤技术的开发和推广,大大减少了焦炉的建设投资,真正从源头减少了铁前系统的能耗和污染.基于对炼铁系统二次能源的分析,从节能和减排温室气体来看,淘汰落后的小烧结、小高炉, 大力推广高炉TRT、高效干式除尘和利用高炉煤气发电及烧结余热回收利用等,将是今后工作的重点.     

Describing metal surfaces and nanostructures with orbital-free density functional theory

Orbital-free density functional theory (OF-DFT) can be made to scale linearly with sample size, allowing thousands of atoms to be treated explicitly with quantum mechanics. State-of-the-art kinetic energy density functionals and ion–electron pseudopotentials are used to obtain accurate structural property predictions for nanoparticles, nanowires, extended surfaces, and nanoindentation of simple metals.