Robustness testing of a free-fall triboelectric separation process for plastic waste recovery

Among the separation techniques used in industries, the triboelectric separation of insulating particles using a rotary tube is an effective way employed in the waste recovery of plastic and mineral products. This process, also called free-fall triboelectric separation, is widely used for the sorting of granular mixtures resulting from industrial plastic wastes. Given that the robustness of such a separation process is an important issue, a standard procedure is used for determining the set point and for minimising the process sensitivity of sorting mixed particles of different polymers to changes in the values of some critical factors. The aim of this paper was to analyse the efficiency of the triboelectric separation process of polymers with respect to any slight variation in the values of the most significant factors. Experiments with a sample of high-density polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride plastic granules were carried out on a laboratory experimental bench. Several one-factor-at-a-time experiments, followed by two factorial designs (one composite and the other fractional), were performed based on the following experimental procedure: (1) determination of the variation limits of the input variables; (2) identification of the set point and (3) robustness testing of the process, i.e. testing whether the performance of the system remains high even when the factors vary slightly around the set point.     

分段变速加载对含瓦斯突出煤力学特性影响试验研究

为探究采动应力变化对含瓦斯突出煤力学特性的影响，利用RLW-500G煤岩三轴蠕变-渗流试验系统，对新景矿含瓦斯突出煤进行了不同围压和瓦斯压力下的常规三轴和分段变速加载力学试验。结果表明:煤样在2种应力路径下的全应力应变曲线均可分为压密、线弹性、塑性变形、应力跌落和残余应力5个阶段；随着围压的升高或者瓦斯压力的降低，煤体在2种应力路径下的强度和弹性模量均增大；相较于常规三轴，煤体在分段变速加载路径下的强度普遍增大，峰值轴向应变、峰值环向应变绝对值和峰值体积应变绝对值也普遍增大，失稳破坏瞬间应力跌落和能量释放更加剧烈。Mohr-Coulomb强度准则仍然适用于分段变速加载条件下的含瓦斯突出煤，该研究对于认识煤与瓦斯突出的发生机制具有一定的指导意义。     

Solvent design and inherent safety assessment of solvent alternatives for palm oil recovery

The concept of inherent safety is important in developing an inherently safer and user-friendly process. This paper discusses a new integrated approach of computer-aided product design and inherent safety assessment. Computer-aided Molecular Design (CAMD) approach was utilized in this work to identify potential alternative to n-hexane, the widely used industrial solvent in extracting residual palm oil from pressed palm fibre. The formulation of solvent mixtures was optimized to meet the targeted physical properties before being tested using the Soxhlet Extraction method. Inherent safety assessment to assess the solvent's flammability, toxicity, reactivity, and explosiveness was conducted on the new solvent mix, Mixture 1 (n-hexane + ethanol), Mixture 2 (n-hexane + acetone) and Mixture 3 (n-hexane + n-butanol). It was found that Mixture 1 and 3 are safer than n-hexane and able to extract more oil than n-hexane and Mixture 2. However, the utilization of the solvent is dependent on the end product from the residual palm oil.     

某1000 MW燃煤机组脱硝催化剂运行性能检测

以某1000 MW燃煤机组脱硝系统使用的脱硝催化剂为研究对象，分别对不同运行时间的催化剂进行了对比检测。检测结果表明，运行初期，催化剂表面沉积了一定量的碱金属，但属于正常范围内；没有出现过多的硫化合物的沉积；催化剂微观结构遭到一定程度的破坏，比表面积有下降趋势；催化剂机械强度基本保持良好；催化剂活性衰减在正常范围内，催化剂可以继续使用或添加加装层。     

Defining the Diurnal Pattern of Snowmelt Using a Beta Distribution Function

Snow is an important component of the hydrologic cycle for many regions worldwide. In addition to vital water resources, snowmelt can be important for forest ecosystem dynamics and flood risk. However, standard design events in the United States lack a design snowmelt event, including only precipitation events, though snowmelt has been shown to be larger than rainfall. In this article, we present a method using hourly snow water equivalent data to develop and test a function for representing the diurnal pattern of snowmelt. A two‐parameter beta distribution function is modified for the purposes of this study and found to fit the pattern of snowmelt well with a root mean squared error of 0.008. Soil moisture sensors were additionally utilized to assess the timing of the snowmelt water outflow from the base of the snowpack that supports the shape of the function, but suggests that the timing of losses recorded on snow pillows lag as much as 3 h. Further testing of the function showed the shape of the function to be accurate. The methods developed and tested in this paper can be applied for design purposes comparing snowmelt and rainfall events or to improve hydrological models investigating processes such as streamflow or groundwater recharge.     

智能家电的低待机功耗研究

从智能家电待机工作状态入手,分析电器产品中参与待机工作的各部分电路原理,提出降低潜在功耗设计思路和计算方法,从家电设计研发阶段对待机功耗进行控制,同时对待机功耗精确测量方法关键点进行解读以控制低功耗测试不确定度,有助于低待机功耗设计和测量的标准化和规范化。     

The influence of the level of definition of functional specifications on the environmental performances of a complex system. EcoCSP approach

The tendency towards a homogenous mode of development modelled on that of Western countries means that sustainable development has become increasingly urgent. It is necessary to thoroughly redefine products and their expected performances in such a way that the consequences are compatible with sustainable development. In the domain of product design, this means that it is no longer sufficient to use assessment tools “after the fact” to check the impact of products whose functional unit (FU) was defined prior to production; it is now necessary to rethink the definition of the FU itself. This article aims to present an approach based on a combination of life cycle analysis methods and problem-solving by constraint satisfaction. This original approach makes it possible to vary the design of the different dimensions of the FUs of a complex system and thus to make it easier to identify the best architecture along with the best functional definition of the system. In this study, the EcoCSP approach is applied to define the functional performances of an ecological passenger ferry. The complexity of couplings between subsystems and the sheer number of those subsystems mean that the designer has to use “intelligent” tools. These simulate a great number of scenarios and help him/her to fine-tune the system and make the right technological choices with regard to the right functional specifications.     

美国EPA地表水质监测与评估的点位设计介绍

介绍了美国EPA地表水质监测与评估的点位设计。首先,指导性文件《基本水质监测方案》中的环境监测计划要求建立1个不少于1 000个点位的国家地表水质环境监测网,并提出了点位设计的标准,包括4点基本要求和针对每一类水域的具体要求。其次,另一指导性文件《准备州综合水质评估(305b报告)和电子升级:报告内容的准则》提出了1种新的对水质的综合性评估技术,要求在传统的判断点位设计的基础上增加概率统计点位设计方法。最后,全国一致的概率统计点位设计是相当有效的获知全国范围的水质情况及变化趋势的方法,EPA完全支持通过这种概率统计点位设计的方法来评估更多的水质状况。概率统计点位设计是EPA地表水质监测与评估的点位设计的发展趋势。     

Environmental assessment of garden waste management in the Municipality of Aarhus, Denmark

An environmental assessment of six scenarios for handling of garden waste in the Municipality of Aarhus (Denmark) was performed from a life cycle perspective by means of the LCA-model EASEWASTE. In the first (baseline) scenario, the current garden waste management system based on windrow composting was assessed, while in the other five scenarios alternative solutions including incineration and home composting of fractions of the garden waste were evaluated. The environmental profile (normalised to Person Equivalent, PE) of the current garden waste management in Aarhus is in the order of −6 to 8 mPE Mg⁻¹ ww for the non-toxic categories and up to 100 mPE Mg⁻¹ ww for the toxic categories. The potential impacts on non-toxic categories are much smaller than what is found for other fractions of municipal solid waste. Incineration (up to 35% of the garden waste) and home composting (up to 18% of the garden waste) seem from an environmental point of view suitable for diverting waste away from the composting facility in order to increase its capacity. In particular the incineration of woody parts of the garden waste improved the environmental profile of the garden waste management significantly.     

Review of Agri-Environment Indexes and Stewardship Payments

Agri-environment programs aim to secure environmental and social stewardship services through payments to farmers. A critical component of many agri-environment programs is an agri-environment index (AEI) used to quantify benefits and target investments. An AEI will typically comprise multiple indicators, which are weighted and combined using a utility function, to measure the benefit of investment options (e.g., projects, farms, regions). This article presents a review of AEIs with 11 case studies from agri-environment programs in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. We identify a generic procedure used to define AEIs and explore the implications of alternative methodological approaches. We conclude that AEIs have become an extremely important policy instrument and make suggestions for their improvement.