Investigation of sustainable energy alternatives for powering remote communities in northern Ontario

ABSTRACT

Remote communities in the North of Ontario survive in isolation as their proximity to the southern industrial sector of the province limits their accessibility to the major grid. The lack of grid connection has led to antiquated methods of power generation which pollute the environment and deplete the planet of its natural resources. Aside from the primary means of electricity generation being by diesel generators, generation infrastructure is deteriorating due to age and the stagnation of the power supply has led to communities facing load restrictions. These challenges may be resolved by introducing clean energy alternatives and providing a fuel blend option. The primary energy sources investigated in this research are solar, wind, and hydrogen. To assess the viability of these energy production methods in Northern communities, an exergy analysis is employed as it utilizes both the first and second law of thermodynamics to determine systems’ efficiency and performance in the surroundings. Local weather patterns were used to determine the viability of using wind turbines, solar panels and/or hydrogen fuel cells in a remote community. Through analysis of the resources available at the community, it was determined that the hydrogen fuel cell was best suited to provide clean energy to the community. Wind resulted in low efficiency in the range of 2–3% while solar efficiencies resulted in ranges of 18 – 19%, as the seasonal variations between the three years is not very great. Due to the higher operating efficiencies observed of the PV panels it would also be an attractive alternative to diesel generators however, the lack of consistent operation above 30% efficiency throughout the year, resulted in hydrogen fuel cells being a better alternative.     

Ag~+改性复合钛铌酸钾盐对二甲基硫醚和乙硫醇吸附与光催化氧化研究

采用高温固相法合成具有不同Nb/Ti摩尔比的复合钛铌酸钾盐,通过Ag+离子交换对其进行改性。在静态下评价了Ag+改性复合钛铌酸钾盐对二甲基硫醚(DMS)和乙硫醇(EM)的吸附与紫外光催化氧化作用,使用红外光谱技术对催化剂表面滞留物种进行表征。结果表明,Ag+改性复合钛铌酸钾盐对DMS的吸附作用力比EM弱。随着Nb/Ti摩尔比增加,Ag+改性复合钛铌酸钾盐对EM的吸附作用力增强。在紫外光辐射下,Ag+改性的复合钛铌酸钾盐将DMS氧化为亚砜、砜和硫酸盐,而EM则被氧化为磺酸和单齿硫酸盐。     

Hydroxytyrosol, the phenolic compound of olive oil protects human PBMC against oxidative stress and DNA damage mediated by 2,3,7,8-TCDD

The protective effect of hydroxytyrosol (HT), a strong antioxidant compound from extra virgin olive oil, against TCDD induced toxicity was investigated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). PBMC (1 × 10⁶ cells mL⁻¹) were divided into four groups and were incubated in a CO₂ incubator (5% CO₂) for 12 h with vehicle, TCDD (10 nM), TCDD + HT (10 nM + 100 μM) and HT alone (100 μM) respectively. To clarify the role of HT against TCDD induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and the levels of antioxidant enzymes were assessed. Incubation of PBMC with TCDD significantly decreased cell viability, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation products (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Whereas, HT had an effective antioxidant property as observed by the increased cell viability, normalization of antioxidant enzymes and decreased levels of LPO, PCC and ROS in PBMC co-treated with HT and TCDD. Apoptosis detection and comet assay results shows that HT, by acting as an antioxidant, prevents the damage to DNA induced by TCDD. In addition light microscopic and histopathological observations revealed that the cells are apoptotic and degenerated during TCDD treatment, whereas cells showed intact morphology during co-treatment with HT. On the whole, the results reveal that HT exerts a promising antioxidant potential in protecting the PBMC against TCDD induced oxidative stress, which might be due to the presence of catechol moiety in its structure.     

密封充氢环境条件下固态电化学氢气传感器效应试验研究

目的研究密闭充氢环境下固态电化学氢气传感器效应。方法设计能模拟低氧、低氢和压力变化的密闭充氢环境,并在此环境中进行一系列氢气传感器效应试验,分析、评定试验数据。结果得到了不同环境下氢气、氧气浓度随时间变化的规律,提出固态电化学氢气传感器的有效工作环境,并预测了其在不同贮存环境下的工作寿命。结论密闭充氢环境内压力和温度的变化对固态电化学氢气传感器影响较大,湿度影响较小,注气检定合格的氢气传感器,在密封容器内扩散式检定,不合格率高,检定数据误差大于±5%FS。     

甲硫醚废气制取二甲基亚砜技术研究

选择双氧水作氧化剂，将具有恶臭气味的涕灭威生产的副产物甲硫醚氧化成无臭的二甲基亚砜。通过实验，优化了工艺条件，减少了安全隐患，提高了二甲基亚砜的产率，消除了恶臭污染。     

预处理方法对香蒲厌氧发酵联产H2-CH4效能的影响

通过厌氧发酵动力学分析、还原糖及其他代谢产物变化情况,结合香蒲微观结构解析,系统研究酸(HCl)、碱(NaOH)、酶(纤维素酶R-10)3种预处理对水生植物厌氧发酵联产H₂-CH₄的影响. 结果表明:香蒲分别经酸、碱、酶3种预处理后,厌氧发酵联产累积H₂、CH₄产量及含量均显著提高,c(HCl)、c(NaOH)均为1.0mol/L, w(纤维素酶R-10)(以底物计)为10mg/g时,预处理最佳. 其中1.0mol/L NaOH预处理香蒲效果最佳,φ(H₂)(H₂含量)达30.09%,累积产H₂量(以香蒲干质量计)达11.39mL/g;φ(CH₄)(CH₄含量)最高达67.48%,累积产CH₄量(以香蒲干质量计)达41.87mL/g;还原糖利用率达50.87%,sCOD(溶解性化学需氧量)利用率达66.17%. 纤维素酶预处理后香蒲产CH₄能力显著提高,产CH₄阶段φ(CH₄)最高为71.39%,累积产CH₄量达46.32mL/g,还原糖利用率达72.10%. 扫描电镜微观结构分析表明,碱预处理对香蒲纤维素结构破坏程度最大,可有效增加香蒲与微生物接触面积,有利于厌氧发酵联产H₂-CH₄工艺的快速启动和稳定运行.      

浙江建德块状硫化物矿床地球化学特征及其成因意义

浙江建德块状硫化物矿床，以Cu＞Zn＞Ph为特征。鉴于Cu、Ph和Zn三元素的地球化学行为和海底喷流作用的固有特性，它们在横向上和纵向上均具独特的分带性，显示出旋回结构。对黄铁矿中特征元素元素比值、成矿温度以及铅同位素组成等方面的研究表明，该矿床乃同生沉积作用的产物，而非岩浆热液成矿。     

Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange over ITO/CdS/ZnO interface composite films

ITO/CdS/ZnO interface composite films were successfully prepared by subsequent electrodeposition of CdS and ZnO onto indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates. The obtained ITO/CdS/ZnO composite films were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of ITO/CdS/ZnO composite films were investigated using methyl orange (MO) as a model organic compound under UV light irradiation. The influence of operating parameters on MO degradation including initial concentration of MO, pH value of solution, and inorganic anion species over the composite films were examined. A blue shift of absorption threshold was observed for the ITO/CdS/ZnO film in comparison with ITO/ZnO film. ITO/CdS/ZnO composite films prepared under specific conditions showed a higher photocatalytic activity than that of ITO/ZnO films. It was also found that the photocatalytic degradation of MO on the composite filing followed pseudo-first order kinetics.     

鼎湖山针阔叶混交林土壤COS和CO_2通量研究

运用静态箱-预浓缩-气相色谱-质谱法和静态箱-色谱法分别测量了南亚热带鼎湖山针阔叶混交林土壤-大气COS和CO2通量。结果表明,土壤吸收COS,凋落物保留样地COS吸收速率显著高于凋落物去除样地,3月土壤COS吸收速率最高。土壤COS吸收速率与大气COS浓度正相关。土壤COS吸收速率与土壤温度、土壤含水量单独未表现出显著相关性,但凋落物保留样地COS吸收速率与土壤温度和含水量两者共同呈二次多项式相关。凋落物保留样地CO2释放速率高于凋落物去除样地。与土壤COS吸收速率相反,土壤CO2释放速率3月最低,7月最高,主要受温度和土壤含水量的影响。土壤CO2释放速率与土壤温度呈指数相关,与土壤含水量直线相关,多元回归分析表明,土壤CO2释放受温度和含水量的共同影响。土壤COS吸收速率随土壤CO2释放速率的增加而增加,表明两者可能受某些共同因素的影响。     

沼气净化脱硫工艺的研究进展

脱硫是沼气高效利用的重要环节。本文对传统的湿法和干法沼气脱硫主要技术方法和特点进行了综述,重点介绍了国内外间接脱硫和生物脱硫的最新研究进展,并结合我国沼气应用现状,提出了我国沼气净化脱硫的发展方向。