• Energy Research
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The energy expended to cool the occupied areas by air conditioners represents a substantial share of the total energy exhausted in buildings. Therefore, developing strategies to reduce this energy is crucial. One of the preponderance strategies adopted to depreciate energy consumption in buildings is the occupancy-based strategy. In this research, an innovative model was established to achieve the goal of reducing cooling energy consumed in buildings based on occupancy-based combined with a constant temperature setpoint strategy in two phases, and each phase engrosses in 20 days. Phase one is to identify the extent of cooling energy employed according to the use of room occupants and its costs in consumption was 276.01 kWh after completion of this phase. Sequentially, constructing phase two intended to reduce cooling energy consumption by employing an automatic air-conditioner (AC) control strategy relying on an improved human detection algorithm with a 25℃ as temperature setpoint, resulting in 112.45 kWh of consumption. To complement the motives for elaboration, the human detection measurement using you only look once (YOLO) improved by applying pre-processing algorithms to reach an average human detection enhancement of 21.2%. The proposed model results showed that potential savings associated with the embraced strategy decreases by more than anticipated as the amount of reduced energy reached 59% savings.

The paper comprises a systematic experimental investigation into the influence of AC test source parameters on the leakage current pulses, voltage fluctuations and flashover voltages of polluted insulators. The test techniques include both salt-and clean-fog methods, while the test insulators comprise long-rod and cap and pin strings of different lengths as well as support columns.

Abstract Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is one of several mitigation options that must be implemented in order to reduce anthropogenic CO 2 emissions. The work presented in this paper is a part of the ongoing PRO_CCS project, where the emphasis is on Polish emitters located on or close to the Baltic Sea coast and possible whole chain CCS solutions for these. This paper will focus on the potential use of CO 2 from these sources in CO 2 -EOR projects in the Baltic Sea and/or North Sea. In addition, a number of technical and non-technical CO 2 -EOR related aspects have been identified and discussed. Two oilfields, B8 in the Polish economic sector of the Baltic Sea and Brage on the Norwegian Continental Shelf have been selected. These two fields are matched with suitable emitters in Poland to develop two separate CCUS scenarios. The scenarios will provide a prediction on operations during the CO 2 -EOR project lifetime. These predictions will be based on open information about the oilfields and their current operation, and on available literature on CO 2 -EOR operations. The goal of the project is to assess the economic viability of the two scenarios.

In the water-rich karst regions, high water and mud outbursts are common geological disasters in tunnel construction. To ensure the safe and smooth construction of tunnel projects, it is necessary to consider anti-water pressure, water inrush prevention and geological disasters during the design of tunnels. Based on the Yongfutun Tunnel Project, this paper studies the application and effect of radial grouting and curtain grouting, which involves those in high-water-pressure tunnels under double-layer support conditions. To obtain the effects and parameters of radial grouting and curtain grouting, the influences of different grouting ranges on the tunnel’s surrounding rocks and supporting structures were analyzed and the finite difference method was adopted. The results show that the radial grouting of the surrounding rock can notably improve the initial support of the tunnel, but the impact is less obvious when the grouting range exceeds 4 m. The design of radial grouting is recommended to be 4.0 m to 4.5 m. Curtain grouting can effectively reduce the external water pressure of the tunnel lining. The external water pressure of the grouting area is 23% greater than that without curtain grouting. Curtain grouting can slow down the infiltration of external water pressure. This is beneficial to the stress of the tunnel lining structure, but the improvement in initial support force is slight. Moreover, curtain grouting improves the safety reserve of the secondary lining by strengthening the self-stability ability of the surrounding rock. Meanwhile, the double-layer primary support can effectively share the external water pressure and surrounding rock pressure. This study provides a certain reference for the lining design of high-water-pressure tunnels.

Abstract This paper presented a novel method of dissipating solar photovoltaic heat based on the technology of micro-heat-pipe array and the utilization of photovoltaic-cell waste heat. This novel technology solved the problems of low PV electrical efficiency and thermal failure caused by high cell temperature, greatly increased the comprehensive utilization efficiency of solar energy, and extended the service life of photovoltaic modules. One-year experiments were conducted to investigate the electrical and thermal performance of a forced-circulation, household-type photovoltaic/thermal system based on micro-heat-pipe array in Beijing, China. Test results showed that on the four typical days in different seasons, the average electrical efficiencies were 13.76%, 11.92%, 13.71%, and 14.65%; the average thermal efficiencies were 31.62%, 33.07%, 24.99%, and 17.24%; and the average total efficiencies were 45.38%, 44.99%, 38.70%, 31.89%, respectively. The system met the demand of power supply on sunny days and the demand of hot water between March and November, except in cloudy days. These experimental results can provide basis and reference for practical applications of the system.

In this study, the amount of waste resource that could be recovered was analyzed. The installation and operation costs of waste resource recovery for both single- and multi-regional facility were calculated, and compared with the costs of landfill to investigate the feasibility of them. RDF(Refuse Derived Fuel) process and resource recovery by incineration process were considered as waste resource recovery facility. And, the multi-regions for cost analysis were established on the basis of the proper generation rate of municipal waste with the consideration of combustible ratio. The study results showed that single region facility for both RDF and incineration process has no economic benefit, compared with the landfill method. For the multi-regional facility, RDF process could save a large cost than the landfill method, but the incineration facility couldn`t. Separate from the economic benefits, the waste resource recovery should be importantly considered when considering the depletion of fossil fuel, global warming, environmental toxicity, and the enormous expenses due to social conflict and confuse. When the CDM(Clean Development Mechanism) is vitalized in the near future, the additional economic benefits by CERs(Certified Emission Reductions) could be expected. CERs for RDF facility is corresponding to about 256.5 billion won, and CERs for incineration facility is corresponding to about 54 and 77.4 billion won for single- and multi-regional facility, respectively.

Understanding the system of connections between societal contexts and policy outcomes in municipal governments provides important insights into how community sustainability happens, and why it happens differently in various communities. A growing body of research in recent years has focused on understanding the socio-economic characteristics of communities and cities that are recognized as policy leaders in sustainability. In this paper, we expand the focus beyond the leaders in sustainability as we apply a selection of socio-demographic influences of community sustainability to a large sample of U.S. communities using community classification analytics to identity a range of community types and levels of engagement with sustainability. Our typology presents an integrated and comprehensive perspective on the structure of community sustainability in the United States, highlighting key points of comparison between human capital factors such as population size and density, affluence, home ownership, and adoption of sustainability policy. The analysis provides new insights not only about community leaders in sustainability, but also communities with the civic and social capacity to do more, and the challenges that may inhibit sustainability efforts in others.

The problems of environmental pollution in the conditions of high dust content in the air during the development of coal mines in the territory of the Czech Republic are considered. A mechanism for making managerial decisions was developed using an integrated approach using the new technological process Nastup Tušimice (DNT) aimed at eliminating pollutant emissions and managing workers in dusty conditions in mining operations. The recommendations of active and passive measures aimed at reducing dustiness in the process of coal mining have also been developed.