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.     

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。     

油气田环境监测站能力验证工作

随着我国加入WTO,许多油气田实验室已先后通过了中国实验室国家认可委员会(CNAL)的验证。在该项活动中,能力检验是一项十分重要的内容。河南石油勘探局环境监测站参加了《CNAL2003年度能力验证计划》中溶液酸度检测项目活动,借鉴了国内外能力验证工作的经验,取得了较好的效果。文章论述了油气田环境监测站能力验证的基本概念,并对能力验证的定义、分类、组织和设计、运作及能力评价等问题进行了讨论,给出了与之相关的应用实例。     

Carbon storage potential in natural fiber composites

The environmental performance of hemp based natural fiber mat thermoplastic (NMT) has been evaluated in this study by quantifying carbon storage potential and CO₂ emissions and comparing the results with commercially available glass fiber composites. Non-woven mats of hemp fiber and polypropylene matrix were used to make NMT samples by film-stacking method without using any binder aid. The results showed that hemp based NMT have compatible or even better strength properties as compared to conventional flax based thermoplastics. A value of 63 MPa for flexural strength is achieved at 64% fiber content by weight. Similarly, impact energy values (84–154 J/m) are also promising. The carbon sequestration and storage by hemp crop through photosynthesis is estimated by quantifying dry biomass of fibers based on one metric ton of NMT. A value of 325 kg carbon per metric ton of hemp based composite is estimated which can be stored by the product during its useful life. An extra 22% carbon storage can be achieved by increasing the compression ratio by 13% while maintaining same flexural strength. Further, net carbon sequestration by industrial hemp crop is estimated as 0.67 ton/h/year, which is compatible to all USA urban trees and very close to naturally, regenerated forests. A comparative life cycle analysis focused on non-renewable energy consumption of natural and glass fiber composites shows that a net saving of 50 000 MJ (3 ton CO₂ emissions) per ton of thermoplastic can be achieved by replacing 30% glass fiber reinforcement with 65% hemp fiber. It is further estimated that 3.07 million ton CO₂ emissions (4.3% of total USA industrial emissions) and 1.19 million m³ crude oil (1.0% of total Canadian oil consumption) can be saved by substituting 50% fiber glass plastics with natural fiber composites in North American auto applications. However, to compete with glass fiber effectively, further research is needed to improve natural fiber processing, interfacial bonding and control moisture sensitivity in longer run.     

脱硫工艺对电除尘器性能的影响

通过计算和分析，研究了几种脱硫装置的应用对后续电除尘器性能的影响，针对不同的脱硫装置，对电除尘器的设计，运行提出了相应的要求和建议，从而为不同脱硫工艺下电除尘器的运行和维护提供了参与。