Changes in electrical generator cooling systems: Are they cost-effective sources of water now and under climate change?

In the United States, thermal power plant electrical generators (EGs) are large water diverters and consumptive users who need water for cooling. Retrofitting existing cooling systems to dry cooling and building new facilities with dry cooling can save water and reduce EG's vulnerability to drought. However, this can be an expensive source of water. We estimate that the cost of water saved by retrofitting cooling in existing EGs ranges from $0.04/m³ to $18/m³ depending on facility characteristics. Also water savings from building new EGs with dry cooling ranges in cost per unit water from $1.29/m³ to $2.24/m³. We compare costs with that for water development projects identified in the Texas State Water Plan. We find the water cost from converting to dry cooling is lower than many of the water development possibilities. We then estimate the impact of climate change on the cost of water saved, finding climate change can increase EG water use by up to 9.3% and lower the costs of water saved. Generally, it appears that water planners might consider cooling alterations as a cost competitive water development alternative whose cost would be further decreased by climate change.     

新时期完善全链条环评管理制度的建议

环境影响评价（以下简称“环评”）制度作为生态环境源头预防的重要手段,有力支撑生态文明建设、推进生态环境治理能力现代化。当前,我国已建立了包括生态环境分区管控,项目环评、规划环评,以及区域发展战略（政策）评估的环评体系和排污许可管理制度体系,但是全链条环评管理在制度联动、衔接融合和管理闭环等方面仍存在薄弱环节。为进一步健全生态环境源头预防制度体系,须加快构建功能定位明确、责任边界清晰、衔接关系顺畅的全链条环评体系;建立生态环境分区管控与环评管理、排污许可等制度之间“四联动、三融合、两闭环”的基本模式。建议进一步完善全链条管理制度顶层设计,推动重点领域科技攻关,深化政策创新试点,强化能力建设,为推进美丽中国建设提供支撑保障。     

Submerged vegetation removal promotes shift of dominant phytoplankton functional groups in a eutrophic lake

Historical data indicate that the dominance of submerged plants in Dianchi Lake in the 1960 s was characterized by low algal density with dominance of non-toxic group J（Scenedesmus,Pediastrum,etc.）. The removal of submerged plants,which began in the 1970 s,resulted in the expansion of bloom-forming Microcystis（group M）. Laboratory experiments suggested that Microcystis aeruginosa was inclined to grow and develop at elevated temperatures. The growth of Scenedesmus obliquus was slower than that of co-cultivated M. aeruginosa in the absence of Ceratophyllum demersum,especially at higher temperatures. The existence of submerged plant C. demersum could inhibit the growth of the harmful algae M. aeruginosa and this inhibitory effect by C. demersum was enhanced with an increase in temperature. Instead,with C. demersum,the growth of S. obliquus was not inhibited,but the co-cultivated M. aeruginosa was eliminated in a short time. Combined with the historical data and laboratory experiments,it was indicated that the submerged plants might play important roles in the dominance of the non-toxic group J in the historical succession. Consequently,the introduction of the submerged plant such as C. demersum might alter the dominant phytoplankton functional groups from M to J and benefit the restoration of the eutrophic lake.     

Adsorption of three pharmaceuticals on two magnetic ion-exchange resins

The presence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments poses potential risks to the ecology and human health. This study investigated the removal of three widely detected and abundant pharmaceuticals, namely, ibuprofen (IBU), diclofenac (DC), and sulfadiazine (SDZ), by two magnetic ion-exchange resins. The adsorption kinetics of the three adsorbates onto both resins was relatively fast and followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Despite the different pore structures of the two resins, similar adsorption patterns of DC and SDZ were observed, implying the existence of an ion-exchange mechanism. IBU demonstrated a combination of interactions during the adsorption process. These interactionswere dependent on the specific surface area and functional groups of the resin. The adsorption isothermfittings verified the differences in the behavior of the three pharmaceuticals on the two magnetic ion-exchange resins. The presence of Cl^- and SO₄^2- suppressed the adsorption amount, butwith different inhibition levels for different adsorbates. This work facilitates the understanding of the adsorption behavior andmechanismof pharmaceuticals onmagnetic ion-exchange resins. The results will expand the application of magnetic ion-exchange resins to the removal of pharmaceuticals in waters.     

Recovery of silicon powder from kerf loss slurry waste using superconducting high gradient magnetic separation technology

A major challenge in recycling of silicon powder from kerf loss slurry waste is the complete removal of metal particles. The traditional acid leaching method is costly and not green. In this paper, a novel approach to recover high-purity Si from the kerf loss slurry waste of solar grade silicon was investigated. The metal impurities were removed with superconducting high gradient magnetic separation technology. The effects of process parameters such as magnetic flux density, slurry density, and slurry flow velocity on the removal efficiency were investigated, and the parameters were optimized. In one lot of control experiments, the silicon content was increased from 90.91 to 95.83%, iron content reduced from 3.24 to 0.57%, and aluminum content from 2.44 to 1.51% under the optimum conditions of magnetic flux density of 4.0 T, slurry density of 20 g/L, and slurry flow velocity of 500 mL/min. The result indicates that the superconducting high gradient magnetic separation technology is a feasible purifying method, and the magnetic separation concentrate could be used as an intermediate product for high-purity Si powder.

     

Approach to the management of magnesium slag via the production of Portland cement clinker

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - This work aims to develop another approach to the management of magnesium slag (MS) via the production of Portland cement clinker. Thus, 0, 10, 20,...     

Gasification characteristics of biomass for tar removal by secondary oxidant injection

Gasification experiments for sawdust were conducted using a fixed bed reactor at 900 °C by varying the secondary oxidant injection ratio to determine the optimal conditions for tar removal along with the enhancement of gasification efficiency. Secondary oxidant was injected as an oxidant at the top zone of the gasifier in varying ratios of 10–30% of the total amount of oxidant. This method was based on the primary method of tar removal and gasification efficiency improvement by thermal cracking of tar. Various gasification performance parameters were evaluated and tar content was estimated by measuring the fluctuation of weight of the activated carbon filter. The results showed that the concentration of tar in the producer gas decreased by injecting the secondary oxidant, even though syngas yield decreased. The recycling potential of the char produced in the gasification experiments was also assessed with the purpose of utilizing char as an adsorbent by determining its surface area and pore volume. The results demonstrated that the char produced from the gasification experiment had similar quality to that of the activated carbon used in this experiment.     

几种碳氢燃料与空气混合物相对爆轰敏感度的测定

利用矩形激波管测定了几种碳氢燃料（丁烷，石脑油，ＪＣ５，戊烯，已烯）直接起爆时形成爆轰所需的临界起爆能，并以化学当量比的乙炔氧气混合物直接起爆形成爆轰的临界起爆能为基准，定义了一个无量纲常数Ｄｈ。再利用这个常数，比较了这几种燃料的相对爆轰敏感度。     

旋风除尘器静动态强度分析

对旋风除尘器在静态载荷下的强度进行了分析,发现头部顶板是较薄弱部件。通过动态载荷系数（ＤＬＦ）方法,研究了旋风除尘器承受动态粉尘爆炸压力载荷时提高使用强度的可能性,结果表明,一般情况下,由于载荷的动态特性导致设备强度的变化可以忽略。     

粉料无尘装车机工作原理及其在冶金厂矿的应用

介绍集装车与防尘统一于一体的无尘装车技术及具有设备本质安全化特点的无尘装车机在解决粉状物料装车作业时的扬尘问题,保护作业工人健康,维护厂区环境方面的重要优越性。