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A literature review was conducted aiming at investigating the use of Sustainability, Lean, Green and eco-efficiency concepts, as well as meaningful combinations of those, on the field of Production and Operations Management. The study reports on the scientific papers published in all major journals in the field over the period 2001–2015. A set of 83 papers from 40 journals were selected for further analyzes, aiming at uncovering the existing level of awareness and use of the synergic and symbiotic relationship between Lean Manufacturing and Green Production. The findings show that a modest share of papers, about 30 %, explicitly recognize the Lean-Green joint approach. The same study testifies a clear growth pattern, which is patently reinforced in the last two and a half years, on the number of papers that behold a combined approach towards more efficient and cleaner production activities. The research has highlighted that the Lean-Green link does, in fact, exist and is gaining momentum, but requires further reinforcements from the scientific community, as well as from the companies, to deliver excelled and environmentally sound production systems. FCT Strategic Project PEst2015-2020, reference UID/CEC/00319/2013. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Artículos en revistas Security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC) problem is one of the necessary tools for system operators to make operational planning and real-time operation. The internalization of transmission-network and security constraints (e.g. N-1 criterion) could lead to different decisions in the generation dispatch. However, the computational burden of this problem is challenging mainly due to its inherent large problem size. Therefore, this paper proposes an N-1 security constrained formulation based on the Line Outage Distribution Factors (LODF) instead of the one based on Injection Sensitivity Factors (ISF). This formulation is at the same time more compact than analogous formulations for contingency constraints; hence, it presents a lower computational burden. The computational efficiency of the proposed formulation is shown by solving the SCUC of the IEEE 118 bus system with LODF and ISF. Additionally, an iterative methodology for filtering the active N-1 congestion constraints is detailed, and its implementation for large-scale systems is described. The results show that the proposed filter reduces the computational time by approximately 70% in comparison to the complete formulation of N-1 constraints in SCUC. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Abstract The use of phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal storage in buildings was one of the first applications studied, together with typical storage tanks. An interesting possibility in building application is the impregnation of PCMs into porous construction materials, such as plasterboard or concrete, to increase thermal mass. The thermal improvements in a building due to the inclusion of PCMs depend on the climate, design and orientation of the construction, but also to the amount and type of PCM. Therefore, these projects require a complete simulation of the thermal behaviour of the designed space in the conditions of use established a priori. In this paper a simple methodology for the energetic simulation of buildings including elements with PCMs using the program TRNSYS is presented and validated. This procedure does not aim a simulation of the real transfer processes inside the materials with PCM, but to evaluate the influence of walls/ceiling/floor with PCM in the whole energy balance of a building. The key parameter in the simulations is the equivalent heat transfer coefficient which has to be determined for each material. Experimental evaluation of the coefficient is presented. The methodology is applied in a building such as a prototype room built with concrete panels with PCM.

This paper presents a new approach to assess and improve the environmental and economic performance of integrated electricity and heat district energy systems in light of (i) optimal operation of available multi-energy components (e.g., cogeneration and heat pumps) and (ii) energy exchanges within the district through internal electricity and heat networks. The latter is particularly attractive as, instead of constraining energy flows within each building, it enables the production and consumption of energy in the most attractive locations (e.g., in buildings that can accommodate photovoltaic panels). The proposed methodology is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming problem, and demonstrated with a real UK district comprising internal electricity and heat networks and several buildings. The results highlight the attractiveness of optimising multiple energy vectors, particularly in light of energy exchanges between buildings, in economic and environmental terms.

It is widely known that fossil fuels are limited; consequently, the generation of new sources of energy in a clean and environmentally friendly manner is a research priority. Bioethanol appears to be one potential solution, especially second-generation production from renewable biomass.In order to use lignocellulosic feedstock to produce bioethanol, its polysaccharide components, cellulose and hemicellulose, must be hydrolysed into soluble sugars, which can then be converted into ethanol by fermentative microorganisms such as Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius TM242 used by the company ReBio Technologies Ltd.To date, the cost of commercial enzymes used during the hydrolysis process remains a major economic consideration in the production of second-generation bioethanol as an alternative fuel. The research project presented in this thesis aims to improve this rate-limiting step of microbial bioethanol production through an investigation of the different enzymes associated with hemicellulose hydrolysis. Firstly, the TM242 genome sequence revealed a number of genes encoding glycoside-hydrolases. Six of these genes were cloned and expressed in E. coli and the recombinant enzymes characterised; three of them, two β-xylosidases and an α arabinofuranosidase, are relevant to xylan hydrolysis, and were found to be highly active and thermostable. Crystallisation of one of the β-xylosidases permitted the determination of a high-resolution (1.7 Å) structure of the apo-enzyme along with a lower resolution (2.6 Å) structure of the enzyme-substrate complex, resulting in the first reported structure of a GH52 family member (Espina et al., 2014).Secondly, as the TM242 microorganism lacks xylanase enzymes, four genes encoding xylanases from closely-related Geobacillus strains were cloned and expressed in E. coli, with one of them being also successfully cloned and expressed in G. thermoglucosidasius TM242. This heterologous xylanase was secreted in active form representing an enhanced biomass utilisation by TM242.In conclusion, it is felt that the findings presented here have the potential to make a valuable contribution towards second-generation bioethanol production.

Artículos en revistas This paper presents the principles of a centralized underfrequency load-shedding (UFLS) scheme based on a frequency stability boundary curve suitable for small isolated power systems. The centralized UFLS scheme is illustrated in case of two small isolated Spanish power systems. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

This report has been commissioned by Friends of the Earth England Wales and Northern Ireland (FoE) to independently review evidence on key issues relating to the potential new fleet of nuclear power stations that may be built in the UK over the period 2017 to 2030. The report draws primarily on peer-reviewed academic literature although this is supplemented with “grey” literature from credible government, consultancy and policy sources. It is not an exhaustive review of all the issues and writing concerning civil nuclear power but has a specific scope outlined below (see Annex 1 for full Terms of Reference). Nuclear power is quite unlike both fossil fuels and renewable sources of electricity generation with a particular set of characteristics that may be beneficial or problematic. The main purpose of this report is to provide a succinct appraisal of key issues relevant to the plans for a new generation of reactors in the UK, namely:• safety• radioactive waste disposal• proliferation of nuclear weapons• economics of nuclear power• siting and planning of low carbon generation• employment • issues in managing a low carbon grid• interactions between nuclear power and other low carbon technologiesThese issues are presented in separate sections as reviews of existing primary research and not as new research findings. The penultimate section, Chapter 11, presents new work by Tyndall Manchester on the carbon dioxide emissions implications of using gas rather than building a new series of nuclear power stations. We calculate the emissions output if the shortfall in electricity generation were to be met by the use of combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT). Alternative renewable energy sources are not considered as their direct emissions are negligible and similar to those from nuclear stations. A range of scenarios is presented for different combinations of rates and extent of nuclear construction and the availability and performance of carbon capture and storage technology. This report is intended for detailed consideration by the staff and members of Friends of the Earth and does not include an executive summary. Direct recommendations as to the appropriateness of a new fleet of nuclear stations in the UK have not been made by the authors. It is also important to note that some key aspects are highly contextual and contingent upon future circumstance.

Common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is one of the most important spring pollen allergens widespread in the Czech Republic. This study evaluates the changes in Carpinus betulus flowering and the length of the blooming period in the Czech Republic during 1991-2020. Temporal and spatial evaluations in the timing of the flowering and the length of the blooming period were investigated at different altitudinal levels. Moreover, the changes in mean air temperature and precipitation total in spring months (March-April-May) were assessed, including the correlation with phenological data. Geographic Information System methods, the Mann-Kendall test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for processing. The flowering of Carpinus betulus changed significantly over time during the 1991-2020 period. The linear models predicted early flowering in Carpinus betulus at different altitudes (27 days at > 701 m 18 days at 501-700 m and 13 days at 301-500 m) significantly (p<0.001) over the last three decades. Furthermore, the length of the blooming period of Carpinus betulus has been shortened (4 days) at the 301-500 m a.s.l. altitudinal level significantly (p<0.05). The strongest correlation was predominantly observed between flowering and the mean air temperature (March-April-May).

Nordhaus (1973) has in his seminal contribution addressed two emerging questions in the field of energy economics. First, how do current market prices of natural resources reflect true scarcity fro...