Economic feasibility of autonomous hybrid wind–diesel power systems for residential loads in hot regions: a step to mitigate the implications of fossil fuel depletion

Today, energy occupies a pivotal position around which all socio-economic activities revolve. No energy means no life, and supply of energy in a cheap, plentiful, long-sustainable and environmentally safe form is a boon for everyone. In the light of rising cost of oil and fears of its exhaustion coupled with increased pollution, the governments worldwide are deliberating and making huge strides to promote renewable energy sources such as wind. Integration of wind machines with the diesel plants is pursued widely to reduce dependence on fossil-fuel-produced energy and to reduce the release of carbon gases that cause global climate change. The literature indicates that commercial/residential buildings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consume an estimated 10–40% of the total electric energy generated. The aim of this study is to analyse wind-speed data of Dhahran (East-Coast, KSA) to assess the economic feasibility of utilising autonomous hybrid wind–diesel power systems to meet the electrical load of 100 typical residential buildings (with annual electrical energy demand of 3512 MWh). The monthly average wind speeds range from 3.3 to 5.6 m/s. The hybrid systems simulated consist of different combinations of 600 kW commercial wind machines supplemented with diesel generators. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's hybrid optimisation model for electric renewables software was employed to perform the techno-economic analysis.

The simulation results indicate that for a hybrid system comprising 600 kW wind capacity together with a 1.0 MW diesel system (two 500 kW units), the wind penetration (at 50 m hub-height, with 0% annual capacity shortage) is 26%. The cost of generating energy (COE, $/kWh) from this hybrid wind–diesel system was found to be 0.070 $/kWh (assuming diesel fuel price of 0.1 $/l). The study exhibits that for a given hybrid configuration, the number of operational hours of diesel generator sets (gensets) decreases with an increase in the wind-farm capacity. Concurrently, emphasis has also been placed on wind penetration, un-met load, effect of hub-height on energy production and COE, excess electricity generation, percentage fuel savings and reduction in carbon emissions (relative to diesel-only situation) of different hybrid systems, cost breakdown of wind–diesel systems, COE of different hybrid systems, etc.     

Design for environment as a tool for the development of a sustainable supply chain

In this work, design for environment (DfE) methodologies have been used as a tool for the development of a more sustainable supply chain. In particular by combining life‐cycle assessment (LCA) techniques and by using the quality function deployment (QFD) multi‐criteria matrices, an ‘environmental compromise’ can be reached. In this work, the QFD matrices have been developed in a new way using an iterative process that involves the whole supply chain starting from the product life‐cycle, taking into consideration the machines that make the product and their components. This methodology is compatible with the requirements of the various stakeholders, suppliers, manufacturers and clients, involved in the supply chain. To assess the validity of the proposed approach a specific supply chain was studied concerning packaging systems for liquid food substances (beverage cartons). Firstly all the stages which are most critical from the environmental point of view in the supply chain of packaging systems were identified and assessed. The starting point for the analysis of environmental aspects and impacts which characterise the supply chain was LCA, which proved to be useful for the identification and the environmental assessment of the various stages in a packaging system. Through the use of ‘iterative QFD’ it is possible to arrive at a definition of the engineering characteristics of all the machinery which is involved in the supply chain. In particular in this work the authors have tried to identify the critical points in the design of those machines which either make the beverage cartons or are involved in the filling process.     

System dynamics modelling of hybrid renewable energy systems and combined heating and power generator

The role of energy in the present world is critical in terms of both economical development and environmental impact. Renewable energy sources are considered essential in addressing these challenges. As a result, a growing number of organisations have been adopting hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) to reduce their environmental impact and sometimes take advantage of various incentives. When a HRES is being planned, the ability to model a HRES can provide an organisation with numerous benefits including the capability of optimising sub-systems, predicting performances and carrying out sensitivity analysis. In this paper, we present a comprehensive system dynamics model of HRES and combined heating and power (CHP) generator. Data from a manufacturing company using HRES and CHP generator are used to validate the model and discuss important findings. The results illustrate that the components of a HRES can have conflicting effects on cost and environmental benefits; thus, there is a need for an organisation to make trade-off decisions. The model can be a platform to further simulate and study the composition and operating strategies of organisations that are venturing to adopt new or additional HRESs.     

长江流域下游水体中药品和个人护理品赋存、分布、溯源及风险评估研究进展

药品和个人护理品（PPCPs）作为一类新污染物,种类繁多,且广泛存在于自然水体中。长江流域下游地区由于人口稠密,产业发达,PPCPs对于水体的污染问题尤为突出。简述了2010—2021年长江流域下游水体中PPCPs的赋存状况、时空分布及溯源分析情况,并对PPCPs的生态环境风险评估研究进展进行总结,揭示了近10年来长江流域下游水体中PPCPs的污染状况及变化态势,提出了未来PPCPs监测、溯源和风险评估的发展趋势,以期为水环境中PPCPs污染物的预警和管控提供参考依据。     

海绵城市生物滞留带重金属污染特征及风险评价

生物滞留带作为海绵城市重要的净水和渗水措施,在全国海绵城市建设中得到了广泛的应用.为了探明生物滞留带重金属累积、污染和可能存在的环境风险,以全国首批海绵城市建设示范区重庆市悦来新城生物滞留带为研究对象,探讨其重金属含量与空间分布特征,利用污染系数、地质累积指数和潜在生态风险指数进行污染水平和生态环境风险评价.结果表明,悦来新城生物滞留带中除Mn外,Cu、Zn、Pb、Ni和Cd的含量平均值均超出重庆市土壤背景值的4.14、1.77、4.98、1.23和6.51倍.空间分布上,不同功能区域道路旁的生物滞留带重金属含量呈现出较大差异性,工业区道路生物滞留带中Cu、Zn、Mn、Pb、Ni和Cd的含量均显著高于其他区域生物滞留带中的同种类重金属含量（P<0.05）.污染系数和地质累积指数显示重金属的污染水平排序为：Mn相似文献   

Bicycle-sharing systems in an alternative/diverse economy perspective: a sympathetic critique

ABSTRACT

This contribution puts bicycle-sharing systems (BSSs) as a rather recent, environmentally friendly form of urban mobility in the context of broader societal changes. More specifically, we discuss to what extent BSS and their various modes of organisation can be regarded as an “alternative” consumption practice, explicitly designed to deliver more social just outcomes, taking the diverse economy framework of Gibson-Graham as a key tool of analysis. Our examination unfolds a range of limitations of BSSs for (strong) sustainable development, but also a number of obvious and less obvious prospects and opportunities.     

干旱内陆河流域人居环境适宜性评价——以石羊河流域为例

论文以干旱区内陆河石羊河流域为研究区,选取坡度、 坡向、 地形起伏度、 植被指数、 水文、 气候、 交通等因子作为评价指标,建立了人居环境指数(HEI),利用GIS的叠置分析、 缓冲区分析、 密度分析等空间分析技术对石羊河流域人居环境适宜性进行了定量综合评价分析。评价结果表明,石羊河流域人居环境指数介于17.13~84.32之间,整体分布格局为:从西南方向到东北方向适宜性依次降低,适宜、 较适宜居住区主要分布在中游和中下游地区,不适宜人类居住区占研究区面积的比例很大。石羊河流域人居环境适宜区主要以带状和斑块状分布在石羊河各支流周围,其他区域只有零星分布,与流域内居民点分布的空间格局相吻合。石羊河流域人居环境状况与人口密度呈对数关系,确定系数达到0.851 2,与经济发展水平呈现较明显的正相关性,人居环境评价值与单位面积GDP确定系数达到0.845 4,与道路网密度关系不显著,受道路制约程度较小。一些居民点分布在人居环境恶劣区域,一些村镇分布在靠近沙漠区域内,地形复杂,气候多变,水资源短缺,经济发展滞后,结合新农村建设规划和当地土地利用规划,这部分村落需要异地搬迁以便改善人居环境状况。     

2种杀菌制剂对微生物和大型无脊椎动物降解落叶的影响

水生真菌对于河流中的落叶降解这一重要的生态系统服务有着重要的作用。然而,杀真菌剂对于参与落叶降解的水生真菌和大型无脊椎动物的影响却鲜有了解。本实验将美国红枫（Acer rubrum）的叶片在河流中进行处理（处理组）以获得微生物（细菌与真菌）,或是在自来水下进行淋洗（未处理组）以模拟杀真菌剂可能带来的微生物生物量减少的情况。将处理组叶片分别置于绿钩虾属动物Hyalella azteca（端足类动物,在暴露开始时7日龄,是一种落叶分解物种）存在或不存在的环境中,在23 ℃条件下暴露于复合杀真菌剂QUILT（嘧菌酯和丙环唑）或是PRISTINE（啶酰菌胺和唑菌胺酯）培养14天。QUILT（~ 0.3 μg?L^-1, 1.8 μg?L^-1, 8 μg?L^-1）有加速端足类动物分解落叶的趋势（不显著）,却没有促进端足类动物本身生物量的同时增长,表明端足类动物对于落叶消费量的上升应该主要由于落叶营养成分的减少。PRISTINE（~ 33 μg?L^-1）显著地抑制了端足类动物的生长,降低其生物量（P<0.05）,在未处理组中也观察到类似结果。PRISTINE对于端足类动物生长显著的抑制作用以及随QUILT浓度升高而加快的落叶降解的趋势表明受到杀真菌剂影响的河流中落叶降解这一过程很可能被改变。在河流生态系统相关的条件下,如温度的变化和与杀虫剂混合后脉冲式的暴露,杀真菌剂对于落叶降解的影响需要进一步的研究。
精选自Adria A. Elskus, Kelly L. Smalling, Michelle L. Hladik, Kathryn M. Kuivila. Effects of 2 fungicide formulations on microbial and macroinvertebrate leaf decomposition under laboratory conditions. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 35, Issue 11, pages 2834–2844, November 2016. DOI: 10.1002/etc.3465
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3465/full
     

腐殖酸可降低纳米银的水生生物毒性

本文作者主要研究了腐殖酸对聚乙烯吡咯烷酮包覆的纳米银颗粒(polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated AgNPs)毒性的影响,受试生物涵盖了水生系统不同的营养级别,包括藻类(Raphidocelis subcapitata)、水蚤类(Chydorus sphaericus)以及淡水鱼类(Danio rerio)。结果显示,腐殖酸可降低AgNPs对本研究中所有水生生物的毒性,并具有明显的剂量效应关系。原因为：1）腐殖酸使AgNPs表面带有更多负电荷,这阻碍了AgNPs与藻细胞的接触,使毒性降低;2）腐殖酸抑制了AgNPs中Ag⁺的溶出,而本研究显示自由Ag⁺的毒性高于团聚的纳米银颗粒。
精选自Zhuang Wang, Joris T.K. Quik, Lan Song, Evert-Jan Van Den Brandhof, Marja Wouterse and Willie J.G.M. Peijnenburg. Humic substances alleviate the aquatic toxicity of polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silver nanoparticles to organisms of different trophic levels. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 34, Issue 6, pages 1239–1245, June 2015. DOI: 10.1002/etc.2936
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.2936/full
     

Analysis of deforestation pattern in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

This study examines deforestation in a part of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria between 1987 and 2013 using remote sensing data and geographic information systems. The results indicate an increasing rate of deforestation, an increasing rate of water body loss and a decreasing rate of exposed surface/settlement increase. The results also show that the rate at which cropland/secondary vegetation is increasing is above average while sandbar is increasing below average. The implications of these changes include environmental degradation resulting from loss of biodiversity and loss of forest goods and services. These losses can also affect the social and economic conditions of local people. The study recommends that policies and strategies targeted at slowing down the rate of forest loss and degradation should be pursued.