New environmental performance baseline for inland ports: A benchmark for the European inland port sector

This paper presents the results of a collaborative programme of action between the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) and the EC PORTOPIA research project to assist EU inland ports to enhance further their environmental performance. In order to achieve this goal, an environmental survey was specifically designed to reflect the operational and geographical circumstances of inland ports and to help to accelerate the culture of the reporting of environmental performance.The survey was developed to be user-friendly and practicable, and based on established good-practice taking into account the suggestions and advice of EFIP and its members, as well as the experience of the EcoPorts Network. As a result of the survey, an initial baseline of environmental performance for the EU inland port sector was established.A total of 27 port authorities participated in the survey, representing a range of port profiles in terms of size, commercial profile and geography. All response details were treated in strict confidence and the benchmark performance was reported as a European average. Results show that approximately 70% of the respondent ports declare that they have the major components of an Environmental Management System (EMS) actively in place (e.g. policy, inventory of legislation). An environmental index (1–10) has been calculated reflecting the performance of the sector in terms of the application of major EMS components. The average index value for the EU inland port sector baseline resulted in 6.Almost 67% of respondent ports indicated that they conduct environmental monitoring of different aspects, with waste being the most common. The survey results have also delivered the first top-10 ranking of environmental priorities for the EU inland port sector. It is interesting to note that also almost 70% of the inland ports apply initiatives to implement green actions. The outcomes of this paper are likely to be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders and decision-makers.     

电弧防护服性能测试及影响因素研究

针对电力行业电弧引发的事故,电弧防护服相关标准开始制定并逐步完善。现有电弧防护性能的标准测试方法包括开弧测试和盒式测试,针对不同形式的电弧,测试方式仍在不断发展。电弧防护性能的最常用的衡量指标是电弧热性能值ATPV。对于不同工作场所电弧服的选择是基于对工作现场的危害评级。最后文章总结了电弧防护服性能影响因素的研究,包括电弧防护性、热湿舒适性和作业适应性。未来的电弧防护服的开发会朝向更安全、低成本、更舒适的方向进行。     

Indoor air quality and academic performance

I examine the effect of school indoor air quality (IAQ) on academic outcomes. I utilize a quasi-natural experiment, in which IAQ-renovations were completed at virtually every school in a single Texas school district at different points in time, combined with a panel of student-level data to control for many confounding factors and thereby uncover the causal effect of IAQ-renovations on academic outcomes. Results indicate that performance on standardized tests significantly improves while attendance is unresponsive to improvements in IAQ. Rough calculations suggest that IAQ-renovations may be a more cost-effective way to improve standardized test scores than class size reductions.     

Performance Enhancement of a Beta Type Rhombic Drive Stirling engine

ABSTRACT

Stirling engines maintain attraction because of their high energy conversion efficiencies. In this study, experimental comparison of a beta-type Stirling engine for two different rhombic-drive mechanisms was presented. In one of the rhombic mechanisms, spur gears were used and the gear shaft was supported in bearings from one side. In the other mechanism, two helical gears were placed on crankshafts and the crankshafts were supported in bearings from both sides. Rhombus lengths of the mechanisms were determined as 66 mm and 80 mm to provide same constant compression ratio of 2.5 for both configurations. Both mechanisms were used in the same beta-type Stirling engine having same cylinder, piston and displacer dimensions. Performance parameters of the engines were evaluated at different helium charge pressures (2–4 bar) and hot-end temperatures (400–600°C). The hot-end of the displacer cylinder was heated by a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) burner. The engine power increased by 132%, friction losses and gear noses were reduced by supporting the rhombic-drive mechanism from both side and using helical gears. The maximum output torque and power of the engine were obtained as 13.14 Nm at 428 rpm engine speed and 663 W at 800 rpm engine speed, respectively, at 600°C hot-end temperature and 4 bar charge pressure.     

Experimental study of the stack geometric parameters effect on the resonance frequency of a standing wave thermoacoustic refrigerator

Thermoacoustic refrigeration is an emerging technology that makes use of acoustic power to pump heat. The resonance frequency is important for the performance of thermoacoustic refrigerators, as it affects the temperature difference across the stack. This paper aims to optimize the performance of thermoacoustic refrigerators by experimentally investigating the effect of the stack geometric parameters (i.e. stack position, stack length, and the stack size) on the resonance frequency of a standing wave loudspeaker driven thermoacoustic refrigerator. Celcor Ceramic stacks of normalized positions of 0.764, 1.05, 1.43, and 1.72, normalized lengths of 0.076, 0.114, 0.153, and 0.191, and two porosities of 0.8 and 0.85 are used. The clarification of the relationship between the stack geometric parameters and the resonance frequency of the thermoacoustic refrigerator is presented. Moreover, the coefficient of performance of the thermoacoustic refrigerator is observed to increase at the resonance frequency of each stack configuration.     

Preparation and characteristics of high performance paper containing titanium dioxide photocatalyst supported on inorganic fiber matrix

A novel paper-based material containing titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photocatalyst was successfully prepared by a papermaking technique with the internal addition of inorganic fibers on which TiO₂ particles were supported. Photodegradation performance of acetaldehyde gas, an indoor pollutant, and the durability of the TiO₂-containing papers were investigated under UV irradiation. Ceramic fiber suspension and polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride as a cationic flocculant were mixed, followed by the addition of TiO₂ suspension and anionic polyacrylamide. Subsequently, the inorganic mixture was poured into a pulp suspension, and TiO₂ handsheets then prepared by a papermaking method. The tensile strength of TiO₂-containing paper without a ceramic carrier decreased by more than 30% after 240-h UV irradiation (2 mW/cm²), although the strength of the TiO₂ sheet with ceramic fibers remained reasonably stable. The efficiency of acetaldehyde decomposition by the TiO₂ paper containing an inorganic carrier was nearly equal to that of the carrier-free TiO₂ paper. Scanning electron microscopic observation suggested that most TiO₂ particles were predominantly supported on the inorganic fiber matrix, and were mostly out of contact with organic pulp fibers. The TiO₂ paper with an inorganic carrier demonstrated both excellent photocatalytic performance and durability, which before had been mutually incompatible for organic materials containing TiO₂ photocatalyst. The two-stage mixing procedure for TiO₂ sheet-making is promising for the simple manufacture of high performance paper with photocatalytic ability.     

Evaluation of the available air pollution control technologies for achievement of the MACT requirements in the newly implemented new source performance standards (NSPS) and emission guidelines (EG) for hospital and medical/infectious waste incinerators

After many years of research and debate, in August of 1997 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Emission Guidelines (EG) for medical/infectious waste incinerators in the United States. These new emissions and operational standards establish considerably more restrictive limitations on air emissions for medical/infectious waste incinerators and will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the over 2300 hospitals presently operating an incinerator on-site. This paper will explore the options available to these facilities, and those facilities which may be considering installation of an incinerator, relative to achieving compliance with the NSPS and EG for medical/infectious waste incinerators.     

Interactions of risk analysis and contingency planning in risk management

Risk management entails knowledge of the risk and how best to reduce it; its objective is to minimize losses arising from existing or potential risk. With effective contingency planning, risk analysis and its corollary, consequence analysis, can contribute synergistically to improved risk management. Until recently, risk analysis and contingency or emergency response planning were considered distinct disciplines with little interactive potential. Fortunately, industry now recognizes that linking the two can help ensure public safety as well as preserve the financial integrity of plant owners. Both areas are receiving increased and well-deserved attention; several incidents in recent years have demonstrated that losses could have been greatly reduced if better precautions and procedures had been in place as a result of risk analysis and contingency planning.     

高效液相色谱法测定废水中阿维菌素的含量

建立了一种采用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)检测废水中阿维菌素含量的方法。以二氯甲烷作萃取剂萃取废水中的阿维菌素,以甲醇 H2O(88 12)为流动相、Spherisorb C18柱高效液相色谱分离、紫外检测器在波长为245nm时测定。阿维菌素标准曲线的线性回归系数r=0.9948,线性范围为0.025~0.100mg/ml;水样相对标准偏差小于10.6%,加标回收率为75.8%~87.6%。     

面向配额分配模拟的工业行业碳排放绩效——以郑州市为例

开展工业行业碳排放绩效研究,对于落实碳减排承诺、完善碳交易体制、推动低碳产业发展具有重要意义。采用郑州市2013年181家工业企业的基础数据,通过构建碳排放综合绩效指标体系和配额分配模型,开展不同行业的综合绩效评价和配额分配模拟。主要结论如下:(1)不同行业的碳排放强度分布极不均衡且与碳排放总量具有一定的关联性,但关联类型不尽相同。电力、热力生产和供应业的碳排放强度最高(5.4115 t/万元),烟草制品业的碳排放强度最低(0.0046 t/万元)。(2)不同行业单位用地碳排放量、单位劳动力碳排放量差异较大。电力、热力生产和供应业的单位用地碳排放及单位劳动力碳排放明显高于其他行业。(3)碳排放综合绩效表明,电力、热力生产和供应业的碳排放绩效最低,汽车制造业的碳排放绩效最高。(4)不同行业因综合绩效的差异获得与基准年碳排放不同增减比例的配额,其中,电力、热力生产和供应业获得的配额最多,化学纤维制造业获得的配额最少。通过碳配额分配模拟,郑州市整体减排18.206万t,减排比例为5.56%。(5)建议完善行业配额分配方案,并试点实施以碳排放综合绩效评价为基础的行业配额分配,实现资源节约、环境保护和碳减排的协同。