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Abstract Based on the electric charge conservation laws, the mass transfer and the energy conservation, a coupled electrochemical-thermal model of the Lithium battery is established and validated by the experiment data. And then the coupled model is applied to investigate the electrochemical and thermal characteristics of the power Lithium manganate battery at 1C charging ratio and the obtained results include the electrolyte concentration distribution trend, the current density distribution rule, Fick diffusion of the Lithium ions, etc. This results show that the temperature of electrolyte region is significantly higher than that of the regions near to the positive and negative electrode during charging process due to the transfer of Lithium ions in the electrolyte region. Meanwhile, the concentration of active substance particles and the electrolyte concentration can be employed to characterize the polarization size. When charging rates are 0.5C, 1.0 C and 1.5C, the charge times of power Lithium manganate battery are 7200s, 3600s and 2700s, respectively. The maximum and minimum internal temperatures at the end of the charging process are 307.2K/305.8K, 328.2K/323.6K and 341.2K/332.7K, respectively. The appropriate increase of the heat dissipation in the middle of the battery is useful for the reduction of the central temperature inside the battery.

Abstract A better understanding of the carbon market can guide further reforms to improve its functionality. Market efficiency is a key indicator to uncover its current performance. Previous studies have revealed passed carbon market efficiency; however, given the dynamics of the market, it is worthy to track the up-to-date status. This paper, specifically, studies the Hubei pilot carbon market, which is quite interesting, considering its market scale, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic context. Wild bootstrapping Variance Ratio test is implemented to detect the market efficiency with the most recent and abundant data. Results show that the market efficiency in the period of 2014–2020 is around 0.3951, less than 1, suggesting a weak form of efficiency. Observing the sub-sample periods, the efficiency shows to be quite volatile: it climbes from 0.3621 to 0.4027 and finally drops to 0.3985. Furthermore, the market efficiency soares after the COVID-19, which echoes the smooth local reopening thanks to supporting policies. To some extent, this study enlarged the analysis of COVID-19 impact on the industrial sector and for this reason it provides important reference for further research. The unique contribution of this paper is to provide the more updated evidence on the efficiency of China’s pilot carbon market, as well as proofs of soaring market efficiency, after the pandemic.

Abstract The emission parameters and expose–response functions of some pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and Inhalable Particulate Matter (PM10), were introduced to calculate the emission caused by energy consumption in various sectors and regions in China under different scenarios. The impacts of economic growth, population, and technology progress on energy consumption and on the environment were also analyzed. Finally, the economic value of public health damage caused by the changes of pollutants' concentration related to energy consumption under various scenarios, different regions and sectors in China was analyzed. The results show that the PM-10 and SO 2 emissions and consequent health damage will increase significantly in the next 12 years. Thus, energy efficiency, population, economy, and urbanization are the main factors to be considered in this system.

Abstract This study examines the factors that affect fuelwood consumption in cookstoves and estimates fuelwood consumption associated with the use of cookstoves in a rural isolated West African village with a population of 770. Five primary applications of cookstoves were identified: cooking meals, heating water for washing, roasting peanuts, making medicine, and steeping tea. Six factors were identified that significantly impacted cooking energy use: the type of cookstove application, family size, total mass of wet and dry ingredients, mass of dry ingredients, the use of burning embers as an igniter, and the number of fires used during a cooking event. Annual village fuelwood use for all cookstove applications was 234 metric tons; cooking meals and heating water accounted for 65% and 27% of this fuelwood use, respectively. Fuelwood consumption per person was strongly linked with family size. As family size increased from five to 20 members, fuelwood consumption decreased from 20.6 MJ cap −1 day −1 to 10.5 MJ cap −1 day −1 .

Recently, much effort has been devoted to accomplish thin, lightweight and flexible energy-storage devices for wearable electronics. Here, we demonstrate a novel kind of thin all-solid-state supercapacitor configuration with an extremely simple process using two slightly separated stacked nanosheets-like Mn3O4 electrodes well solidified in the H2SO4-polyvinyl alcohol gel electrolyte. This integrate device shows a high specific capacitance of 127 F g-1 for the electrode materials with good power and energy density values. These flexible and all-solid-state Mn3O4 supercapacitors bring new design opportunities of device configuration for future energy-storage devices. Present investigation first time reported that Mn3O4 is one of the most promising materials for the fabrication of all solid state thin film supercapacitors (ASSTFSs).

This article assesses the asymmetric multifractality of the energy prices in the different periods during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) through asymmetric multifractality detrended fluctuation analysis. The higher (lower) multifractality shows a rapid rise (fall), which has different consequences for the energy prices. The findings explore strong multifractality in the downward movements for crude oil, heating oil, diesel, gasoline, propane and kerosene oil returns. The upside multifractality for coal and natural gas returns are bigger than the downside in both periods. Furthermore, the access asymmetry is more pronounced during the COVID-19, implying increased market inefficiency. The outcomes explore if energy prices are inefficient during the pandemic. A special attention is required in order to observe such unexpected fluctuations in the price dynamic and guidelines are vital. The level of efficiency can be improved by a greater transference in information while the government must play its role in regulations. Such aspects can increase stability and decrease the expected risks and price movements.

Abstract The commercial sector consumes 8–50% of the total energy consumption for a few selected countries around the world. An energy audit was conducted in a Malaysian public hospital to identify energy using equipment and their energy consumption breakdown. Different energy saving measures have been identified and applied for electrical motors used in this hospital. It was estimated that this hospital consumed about 19,311 MW h for the year 2008. It was also estimated that about 212 MW h, 250 MW h and 317 MW h of annual energy can be saved using energy-efficient motors at 50%, 75% and 100% loads, respectively. In addition, use of variable speed drives are expected to save 1735 MW h, 4048 MW h and 6361 MW h of annual energy consumption for 20%, 40% and 60% speed reductions, respectively. It was found that the payback period for using high efficiency motors at different loads is less than a year which is economically very viable. However, the use of variable speed drives was found to be economically viable for larger motors for higher speed reductions. The study also found that a sizeable amount of emissions can be reduced for the different energy savings measures applied for electrical motors.

Abstract This first-attempt study revealed optimal strategy to supplement extracts of polyphenolics-abundant medicinal herbs and Camellia tea as electron shuttles (ESs) for stimulating bioenergy generation in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Apparently, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze and Syzygium aromaticum were promising electroactive ESs. Moderate temperature (ca. 65 °C) and slightly alkali pHs (∼10) were electrochemically feasible conditions for herbal extraction. Optimal contents of polyphenolics-rich herbs and tea extracts with maximal electrochemical activities could be stably obtained. Power density of MFC supplemented with Camellia green tea extract could significantly increase ca. 176%, suggesting that green tea extract would be the most appropriate ESs. Total phenolic contents and electron shuttling capabilities were all electrochemically associated. In addition, chemical structure strongly affected whether antioxidant activities of polyphenolics-abundant herbal extracts could be reversibly switched to be electron-shuttling capabilities (e.g., substitution patterns). Hydroxyl substiutuents ortho or para to each other were very likely promising for electron-shuttling, but not for meta substituents. Moreover, bioelectrochemical treatment upon medicinal herbal extracts (e.g., cyclic electron-donating and withdrawing processes) might be inevitably needed for toxicity attenuation to fully express bioenergy-shuttling activities.

According to the proposed National Mission on Biodiesel in India, we have undertaken studies on the oxidative stability of biodiesel synthesized from tree borne non-edible oil seeds jatropha. Neat jatropha biodiesel exhibited oxidation stability of 3.95 h and research was conducted to investigate the influence of natural and synthetic antioxidants on the oxidation stability of jatropha methyl ester. Antioxidants namely α-tocopherol, tert-butylated hydroxytoluene, tert-butylated phenol derivative, octylated butylated diphenyl amine, and tert-butylhydroxquinone were doped to improve the oxidation stability. It was found that both types of antioxidants showed beneficial effects in increasing the oxidation stability of jatropha methyl ester, but comparatively, the synthetic antioxidants were found to be more effective.