Reducing mine water requirements

Mining is a water intensive activity, and reducing water consumption is a key requirement in moving toward a more sustainable mining industry. This paper identifies mine water reduction, reuse and recycle options, and demonstrates cases where these options have been implemented around the world. A mine water system model is developed and used to show potential water saving strategies through six scenarios. Apart from the base case, these scenarios include the introduction of evaporation reduction strategies, paste tailings disposal, filtered tailings disposal, ore pre-sorting and a combination of the most effective options. The results of the modeling show how an open-pit copper mine with a traditional layout can move from having an average water withdrawal of 0.76 m³/t of ore processed to 0.20 m³/t of ore processed or lower. A key result of the modeling is the discovery that a combination of ore pre-concentration and filtered tailings disposal can reduce water consumption by 74% or more. This finding demonstrates an opportunity to significantly lower water consumption on mine sites.     

降低污水处理能耗的对策

本文以仙女河污水处理厂近年来为节能降耗所做的几项改造项目为例,阐述了污水处理厂将设备改造与节能降耗的有机结合,证明可以在确保出水水质达标的前提下做到合理低成本运行.     

焦作煤矿区矿坑排水对地下水环境的影响

焦作矿区随着煤矿资源的开发,矿坑排水造成的环境地质问题日益突出,主要表现为区域地下水位下降及矿区水环境污染问题,已严重制约着焦作煤炭工业的发展。本文就煤矿开采引发的环境地质问题进行了剖析并提出了相应的防治对策。     

Evaluating the use phase energy requirements of a machine tool system

This paper has an energy consumption reduction perspective by considering alternative machining strategies and system components interactions translated into variable and constant power flows with respect to various use phase regimes of a machine tool system. The methodology is able to estimate the mechanical energy requirements of the spindle and feed axes with respect to 2.5D machining strategies by taking into account steady-state and transient regimes. In addition, the specific amount of fixed energy drawn by a machine was determined based on a careful monitoring of the energy share amongst the auxiliary equipment that supports the accomplishment of the machining tasks. The numerical results were experimentally validated and the good agreement between them led to the conclusion that the proposed methodology can be used effectively for the calculation of the total energy required by a machine tool system for the milling of a part. This enables a straightforward comparison of different milling part programs with respect to their energy consumption levels.     

Reducing the energy penalty of CO2 capture and compression using pinch analysis

Integration of CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) into coal-fired power stations is seen as a way of significantly reducing the carbon emissions from stationary sources. A large proportion of the estimated cost of CCS is because of the additional energy expended to capture the CO₂ and compress it for transport and storage, reducing the energy efficiency of the power plant. This study uses pinch analysis and heat integration to reduce the overall energy penalty and, therefore, the cost of implementing CCS for power plants where the additional heat and power for the CCS plant will be provided by the existing power plant. A combined pinch analysis and linear programming optimisation are applied to determine targets for the energy penalty of existing power plants. Two existing pulverised brown coal power plants with new CCS plants using solvent absorption are used as the basis for the study that show the energy penalty can be reduced by up to 50% by including effective heat integration. The energy penalty can be further reduced by pre-drying the coal.     

Synthesis of batch water network for a brewery plant

This paper presents an industrial application of mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) models for the optimisation of a water network, which was initiated by an integral need for cleaner production within a brewery. Several mathematical models were developed in order to reduce the use of freshwater, whilst considering the specific requirements of each particular production section. These models are based on the design method developed by Kim and Smith [1]. The original formulation is modified to enable efficient integration of discontinuous and semi-continuous water-using processes in the packaging area. Semi-continuous processes are treated as water sources of limited capacity. The option of installing storage tanks for semi-continuous water streams is included in the model, in order to re-use these streams during the shutdown periods of semi-continuous operations. The original model is additionally extended with the option of installing local (on-site) wastewater treatment units operating either in batch or semi-continuous modes. This enables the analysing of opportunities for regeneration re-use within the production area, i.e. the brewhouse with a cellar, because of high contaminant concentrations at these sites. The scheduling of batch wastewater treatment units is performed simultaneously in order to adjust the treatment schedule to a fixed schedule of batch processes.     

应用BP神经网络预测城市需水量的探析

在对辽宁省营口市城市需水量预测中，采用BP人工神经网络方法对该市人均综合用水量进行预测。进而预测出城市需水量，取得了满意效果。从精度检验、数据类比和趋势分析等角度，论证了此种预测方法的可行性和有效性。     

Reducing water consumption in beet distilleries by recycling the condensates to the fermentation phase

Recycling the stillage condensates produced in beet distilleries into the fermentation phase, would enable both water consumption and wastewater rejection to be reduced. However, it has been demonstrated that at least eight compounds in these condensates caused the inhibition of alcohol production. Their retention by a reverse osmosis (RO) process and preparative chromatography was thus considered. The reverse osmosis treatment led to high rejection coefficients for all neutral compounds whatever the pH, but had to be carried out at basic pH to obtain an almost complete retention of the small acids. Adsorption isotherm measurements carried out on various chromatographic supports showed that acidic compounds were best retained on a weak anionic exchanger and other solutes on a non-polar adsorbent. The coupling of the RO process and chromatography could therefore be a viable alternative for the treatment of these effluents.     

Production of irrigation water from bioremediation of acid mine drainage: comparing the performance of two representative systems

The ability of two active bioremediation systems, based on the activity of sulphate-reducing bacteria, for the production of irrigation water from acid mine drainage (AMD), was compared. System I consisted of a packed bed reactor containing calcite tailing followed by an anaerobic packed bed bioreactor. System II consisted of a settler, fed with AMD and treated water recycle, and a sulphidogenic anaerobic packed bed bioreactor, fed with clarified settler effluent. Although efficient in terms of pH neutralisation and metals removal, system I did not allow continuous production of suitable irrigation water, since the concentration of sulphate in the effluent frequently exceeds the maximum recommended value by local legislation. On the other hand, in system II very high sulphate reduction (>99.0%) was achieved during the whole experiment, being the values in the effluent much lower than legislated limits for irrigation water. System II, not requiring the addition of any neutralising agent, can also be advantageous from an economical perspective.     

Reducing energy consumption in road transport through hybrid vehicles: investigation of rebound effects,and possible effects of tax rebates

Hybrid powertrains are considered to be a promising method to raise the overall fuel efficiency of passenger cars. They are predicted to enter the automobile markets in increasing numbers in the near future. This paper investigates 2 aspects relevant to the promotion of hybrid vehicles as part of an energy reduction strategy. First, are hybrid cars accompanied by rebound effects, which counteract their increased fuel efficiency? Second, do tax rebates indeed lead to higher sales numbers? We present results from a survey conducted with all 367 buyers of hybrid second-generation Toyota Prius in Switzerland in the first 9 months after market entry (response rate, 82.6%). As control group, questionnaires were also sent to 250 Toyota Corolla (61% returned) and 250 Toyota Avensis (52%) buyers. Among other items, the surveys asked for the car being replaced, if any. Main results are that the increase in car size for hybrid car buyers was lower than both, the market trend and the control group. Increase in car size was lower for hybrid car buyers than for both control group and market trend. 6% of hybrid car purchases did not replace a previously owned vehicle (control group 3%, P = 0.05), the Swiss market average being 20%. Hence rebound effects could be identified neither for vehicle size nor for vehicle ownership. As an energy policy measure, hybrid vehicles are eligible for tax rebates in parts of Switzerland. We found evidence that these tax rebates indeed lead to significant higher sales. We present a rough cost estimate of such tax rebates as CO₂ abatement policy tool.     

江西省崇义县某铜多金属矿水环境影响预测及预防措施

以江西省崇义县某铜多金属矿为例,分析矿业活动对地表水、地下水环境及地下水均衡系统的影响,采用一维完全混合模式和地下水径流模型进行定量和定性预测。文章提出预防地下水均衡系统被破坏的相关措施为生产废水循环利用、修筑截水沟、拦挡坝预埋导水管、建设生产废水集水池、加强采空区管理等。     

Impact of urban water supply on energy use in China: a provincial and national comparison

To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and help mitigate climate change, urban water systems need to be adapted so that electrical energy use is minimised. In this study, energy data from 2011 was used to quantify energy use in China’s urban water supply sector. The objective was to calculate the energy co-benefits of urban water conservation policies and compare energy use between China and other countries. The study investigated influencing factors with the aim of informing the development of energy efficient urban water infrastructure. The average energy use per cubic metre and per capita for urban water supply in China in 2011 was 0.29 kWh/m³ and 33.2 kWh/cap year, respectively. Total GHG emissions associated with energy use in the urban water supply sector were 7.63 MtCO₂e, or carbon dioxide equivalent. Calculations using these indicators showed significant energy savings could result from water conservation measures. A comparison between provinces of China showed a direct correlation between energy intensity of urban water supply and the population served per unit length of pipe. This may imply energy and emission intensity can be reduced if more densely populated areas are supplied by a corresponding pipe density, rather than by a low-density network operating at higher flow rates. This study also found that while the percentage of electrical energy used for urban water supply tended to increase with the percentage of population served, this increase was slower where water supply was more energy efficient and where a larger percentage of population was already supplied.     

基于强化微型动物捕食作用的污泥减量技术研究

阐述了当前基于强化微型动物捕食作用的污泥减量技术的基本原理,介绍了现阶段利用该技术的污泥减量工艺,并针对现有研究中存在的问题,提出了今后研究的重点与方向.     

Hydraulic model for multi-sources reclaimed water pipe network based on EPANET and its applications in Beijing, China

Water shortage is one of the major water related problems for many cities in the world. The planning for utilization of reclaimed water has been or would be drafted in these cities. For using the reclaimed water soundly, Beijing planned to build a large scale reclaimed water pipe networks with multi-sources. In order to support the plan, the integrated hydraulic model of planning pipe network was developed based on EPANET supported by geographic information system (GIS). The complicated pipe network was divided into four weak conjunction subzones according to the distribution of reclaimed water plants and the elevation. It could provide a better solution for the problem of overhigh pressure in several regions of the network. Through the scenarios analysis in different subzones, some of the initial diameter of pipes in the network was adjusted. At last the pipe network planning scheme of reclaimed water was proposed. The proposed planning scheme could reach the balances between reclaimed water requirements and reclaimed water supplies, and provided a scientific basis for the reclaimed water utilization in Beijing. Now the scheme had been adopted by Beijing municipal government.     

Optimal design for water conservation and energy savings using green roofs in a green building under mixed uncertainties

Most water conservation and energy saving strategies for residential homes and commercial buildings have higher initial capital investment than traditional ones. Yet, the added benefits of these “green” building strategies should outweigh the increase of initial capital cost at the end of the house lifetime. Using green roof systems to cool houses gives rise to uncertainties from local precipitation patterns and the unstable market related costs and benefits. The optimal area of green roof to balance cost, benefit, and risk remains unknown. To achieve such a complex systems analysis, a grey stochastic programming model was prepared to address the optimal design strategies under mixed uncertainties. Such a cost-benefit-risk trade-off model was formulated for this study through an optimization framework to retrieve the optimal design strategies with respect to a typical Florida residential home (shingle and metal roofs). It is particularly designed to synergistically integrate a green roof with beneficial reuse of gray water and stormwater while achieving some degree of energy savings. The study identifies the optimal green roof area that keeps within the cost of a conventional home over a specific life time, such as 50 years. Research findings show that as the reliability level associated with the chance constraint was decreased, the upper bound of the green roof area did not vary much for either shingle or metal roofs. The lower bound was found to decrease in the same situation, however, due to the higher minimum cost of the cistern in relation to the greater volume of expected rainfall, forcing the required green roof area to decrease.     

Variations in land requirements for meat production

Production of meat requires substantial amounts of feed grains which in turn require vast amounts of land. Future population growth and increase in consumption will raise the demand for meat and with it the land required for meat production. This paper analyses the various factors that affect land requirements for meat production. Meat production by Dutch broilers, pigs and beef cattle on their current feeds are compared and options for change are evaluated with respect to their nutritional needs. Differences in land requirements of a factor of 3 were found between different agricultural production systems and feeds as well as between types of livestock. It is shown that broilers have the lowest land requirement while beef cattle have the highest. The variation in feed crop yields between agricultural systems is discussed. It is concluded that due to the large variation within the system there is potential for reduction in the land requirements for meat production.