An environmental impact assessment of quantum dot photovoltaics (QDPV) from raw material acquisition through use

Some emerging technologies are expected to be pivotal for solving many of the environmental challenges faced today, especially those related to energy. However, many of these technologies may incur significant environmental impacts over their life cycle, while having environmental benefits during their use. This paper presents results of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a proposed type of nanophotovoltaic, quantum dot photovoltaic (QDPV) module. The LCA is confined to the stages of raw materials acquisition, manufacturing, and use. The impacts of QDPV are compared with other types of PV modules and energy sources - both renewable and nonrenewable. To provide a comprehensive comparative assessment, QDPV modules were compared with mature as well as emerging PV types for which data are available. Comparative assessment with other types of energy sources includes coal, oil, lignite, natural gas, diesel, nuclear, wind, and hydropower.QDPV modules may have the potential to overcome two current barriers of solar technology: low efficiencies and high manufacturing costs. If higher efficiencies are realized, QDPV modules could pave the way to large scale implementation of solar energy, helping nations move toward greater energy independence. On the other hand, candidate materials as quantum dots for solar cell applications are mostly compound semiconductors such as cadmium selenide, cadmium telluride, and lead sulfide which may be toxic and for which renewable options are limited. Toxic effects of these materials may be exacerbated by their nanoscale features.The LCA was carried out using the software SimaPro, and the Ecoinvent Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) database supplemented with available literature and patent information. Our results indicate that while QDPV modules have shorter Energy PayBack Time (EPBT), lower Global Warming Potential (GWP), SO_x and NO_x emissions than other types of PV modules, they have higher heavy metal emissions, underscoring the need for investigation of emerging technologies, especially nano-based ones, from a life cycle perspective. QDPV modules are better in all impact categories assessed than carbon-based energy sources but they have longer EPBT than wind and hydropower and higher GWP.     

Ash deposition impact on the energy performance of photovoltaic generators

A little known side effect of the atmospheric air pollution is the degradation of photovoltaic (PV) cells’ performance due to the deposition of solid particles varying in composition, size and origin. In this context, an experimental-based investigation is conducted in order to compare the energy performance of two identical pairs of PV-panels; the first being clean and the second being artificially polluted with ash, i.e. a by-product of incomplete hydrocarbons’ combustion mainly originating from thermal power stations and vehicular exhausts. A series of systematic measurements of current intensity, voltage output and solar radiation are executed simultaneously for the clean and the polluted PV-panel, so that the effect of several mass depositions on the PVs’ power output, energy yield and conversion efficiency may be determined. According to the results, a considerable deterioration of the PV-panels’ performance is obtained, i.e. almost 30% energy reduction per hour or 1.5% efficiency decrease (in absolute terms) for ash accumulation on the panels’ surface reaching up to 0.4 mg/cm².     

基于STIRPAT模型的能源消费碳足迹变化及影响因素——以江苏省苏锡常地区为例

定量研究经济社会发展对地区能源消费碳足迹的影响对区域实现低碳发展具有重要意义。论文计算了江苏省苏锡常地区1991-2008年能源消费碳足迹,采用岭回归函数对STIRPAT模型进行了拟合,采用脱钩指数分析了经济发展与能源消费碳足迹之间的关系。结果表明:①1991-2008年能源消费碳足迹平均增长速度为15.30%,能源消费碳足迹分配率以煤炭为主,石油所占比例呈波动下降趋势,天然气所占比例上升较快,能源消费碳足迹产值总体呈波动下降趋势;②经济增长是能源消费碳足迹的主要影响因素,两者关系模型拟合未出现环境库兹涅茨曲线;③经济增长与能源消费碳足迹之间处于相对脱钩与复钩的波动状态,从另一侧面验证了目前两者之间不存在库兹涅茨曲线假说的结论。     

空调系统冷冻水循环水泵变频运行的变温差控制

在分析空调系统变流量运行调节的基础上,提出了变温差控制并给出了控制方案。变温差控制过程不仅具有负反馈,而且具有正反馈,能较好的适应空调负荷的变化。比较分析了变温差控制、定温差控制、定压差控制的节能性,变温差控制的节能潜力最大,是一种最佳控制方式。     

Antimicrobial activity of thin metallic silver flakes, waste products of a manufacturing process

The aim of the research was to develop new products and processes from a manufacturing waste from an Italian metallurgic company. The company produced thin silver metallic films and the production scraps were silver flakes. The possibility to use the silver flakes in water disinfection processes was studied. The antimicrobial activity of the flakes was investigated in batch using Escherichia coli as Gram-negative microorganism model. The flakes did not show any antimicrobial activity, so they were activated with two different processes: thermal activation in reducing atmosphere and chemical activation, obtaining, respectively, reduced flakes (RF) and chemical flakes (CF). The flakes, activated with either treatment, showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli. The kill rate was dependent on the type of activated flakes. The chemical flakes were more efficient than reduced flakes. The kill rate determined for 1 g of CF, 1.0 ± 0.2 min⁻¹, was greater than the kill rate determined for 1 g of RF, 0.069 ± 0.004 min⁻¹. This was confirmed also by the minimum inhibitory concentration values. It was demonstrated that the antimicrobial capability was dependent on flakes amount and on the type of aqueous medium. Furthermore, the flakes maintained their properties also when used a second time. Finally, the antimicrobial activities of flakes were tested in an effluent of a wastewater treatment plant where a variety of heterotrophic bacteria were present.     

微波酸活化粉煤灰吸附酸性大红染料废水实验研究

以微波酸活化改性后的粉煤灰为吸附剂,对酸性大红染料废水进行吸附脱色处理,考察了吸附时间、pH值、吸附剂投加量等对吸附脱色效果的影响。在酸性大红染料溶液初始浓度为100 mg/L、pH=5、活化粉煤灰投加量为10 g/L吸附1 h时,活化粉煤灰对酸性大红的脱色效果较好,去除率可达96%。对实验数据进行相关数学模型拟合,结果表明微波酸活化改性后的粉煤灰吸附去除酸性大红的等温吸附平衡符合Langmuir吸附等温式,改性前后的吸附过程动力学符合准二级吸附动力学模型,线性相关系数良好。     

动力与热力抬升对烟气抬升高度的影响分析

通过模式选择和计算,得出烟气抬升高度的增加与动能和热能的关系,表明当烟囱出口处风速分别为3 m/s、2 m/s和1 m/s时欲增加同样大小的烟气抬升高度,需要的动能比热能要高,结论认为烟气的热力提升比动力提升的贡献大。     

臭氧处理循环冷却水节能减排效益分析

文章基于臭氧(O3)处理法处理循环冷却水因可以同时达到阻垢脱垢、缓蚀、杀菌等多重功能,其在国外已得到广泛应用,同时国内也逐步普及应用的环境下,结合国内外长期的工程实践经验,从节水、节能、减排和公共卫生效益四个方面,详细分析了臭氧处理循环冷却水所带来的巨大经济效益、社会效益和环境效益。     

福建省能源消费碳排放和低碳能源发展研究

能源消费导致的碳排放对全球气候变化带来严峻挑战.区域经济迅速发展,不但对区域能源安全提出挑战,也对碳减排提出新的课题.文章总结了改革开放以来福建省能源消费的特点和趋势,计算由能源消费引起的碳排放量.研究表明,虽然碳强度有显著下降,但是碳排放总量增长比较明显,特别是从2000年开始,增长幅度加大.利用Kaya恒等式对碳排...     

青岛华威风电场风能资源分析

根据华威风电场2008年4月1日-2009年3月31日一整年的测风仪测风资料,对风电场的风能资源各参数进行了详细地计算和分析,对风电场的风能资源进行评价,为当地的风能开发提供分析基础。