bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pollution Reduction as Catalyst between Environmental Resources Conservation Efforts and Sustainable Development: Investigation of Energy Firms in Circular Economy
Authors: Yousaf Zahid , Mădălina Brutu , Mihai Daniela , Maria-Luiza Hrestic , Cristina Ștefan Maria , Constantin Popescu
Published: September 2022

In the modern era societies adopt further restrictions imposed via climate or global changes and are engaged in a dynamic innovative set of dealings. The environment site is inhabited by numerous artists, who perform in a synergic manner by placing emphasis on and implementation of actual sustainable development. In this perspective, we value environmental resource-conservation efforts (ERCE) of all actors, populations, mass media and specialists. This paper aims to analyze how different energy firms accomplished sustainable development through environmental resource-conservation efforts. In this study we discover that pollution reduction is directly linked with both variables and also plays a mediating role. A cross-sectional data collection technique was used. For testing study hypotheses, we selected energy firms. Results showed that sustainable development of energy firms are forecasted by environmental resource-conservation efforts. The findings confirmed that ERCE are directly linked to pollution reduction, and pollution reduction is positively linked to sustainable development. The results also highlight how pollution reduction mediates between ERCE and sustainable development links. Energy firms play critical roles in pollution reduction. Current research contributes to prior literature knowledge through offering a sustainable development model by mutual influence of ERCE and pollution reduction. Accordingly, this study might be regarded as an encouragement for action and an authentic message for professionals in the energy firms to increase their sustainable development and give attention to their efforts on the optimal use of resources. This study can provide several critical practical policies and suggestions to management of energy firms for raising their sustainable development. Our research provides major implications through focusing on the role of ERCE and pollution reduction strategies and activities to enhance sustainable development of energy firms in a circular economy. A circular economy acts as a solution framework that helps in tackling global changes such as loss of biodiversity, pollution, climate challenges and recycling of waste. This study expands the prior literature knowledge through giving an empirical model for energy firms.
Effect of Open-Window Gaps on the Thermal Environment inside Vehicles Exposed to Solar Radiation
Authors: Ding Xiaoxiao , Zhang Weirong , Yang Zhen , Wang Jiajun , Liu Lingtao , Gao Dalong , Guo Dongdong , Xiong Jianyin
Published: September 2022

To avoid a sharp rise in temperature in the cabin of parked vehicles exposed to solar radiation, experienced drivers leave some windows partly open when the vehicle is parked in the sunlight to achieve cooling through natural ventilation. However, the effectiveness of this measure to reduce the temperature under different weather conditions has not been verified. To this end, this study investigates the effect of open windows on the thermal environment of a vehicle under different environmental conditions. A field measurement, in which two identical vehicles with and without window gaps were used, was carried out in Daxing District, Beijing. The measurements were conducted for 15 days under different window gaps and ambient conditions. The results revealed that open windows resulted in a maximum temperature reduction of 6.7 °C in cabin air temperature under high temperature and high solar radiation, while only 0.6 °C can be reduced under low temperature and low solar radiation. The results also showed that when window gaps effectively reduce the air temperature, lower air temperature can be obtained with larger open-window areas.
Prognostic Methods for Photovoltaic Systems’ Underperformance and Degradation: Status, Perspectives, and Challenges
Authors: Di Lorenzo Gianfranco , Stracqualursi Erika , Micheli Leonardo , Celozzi Salvatore , Araneo Rodolfo
Published: September 2022

The ongoing energy crisis and the rising prices of fossil fuels have accelerated the need for a renewable energy transition [...]
Intelligent Systems Supporting the Use of Energy Devices and Other Complex Technical Objects: Modeling, Testing, and Analysis of Their Reliability in the Operating Process
Authors: Duer Stanisław , Rokosz Krzysztof , Zajkowski Konrad , Bernatowicz Dariusz , Ostrowski Arkadiusz , Woźniak Marek , Iqbal Atif
Published: September 2022

Among the technological developments for complex technical objects such as civil aircraft, energy systems, medical devices, etc [...]
An Optimized Gradient Boosting Model by Genetic Algorithm for Forecasting Crude Oil Production
Authors: Alkhammash Eman H.
Published: September 2022

The forecasting of crude oil production is essential to economic plans and decision-making in the oil and gas industry. Several techniques have been applied to forecast crude oil production. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based techniques are promising that have been applied successfully to several sectors and are capable of being applied to different stages of oil exploration and production. However, there is still more work to be done in the oil sector. This paper proposes an optimized gradient boosting (GB) model by genetic algorithm (GA) called GA-GB for forecasting crude oil production. The proposed optimized model was applied to forecast crude oil in several countries, including the top producers and others with less production. The GA-GB model of crude oil forecasting was successfully developed, trained, and tested to provide excellent forecasting of crude oil production. The proposed GA-GB model has been applied to forecast crude oil production and has also been applied to oil price and oil demand, and the experiment of the proposed optimized model shows good results. In the experiment, three different actual datasets are used: crude oil production (OProd), crude oil price (OPrice), and oil demand (OD) acquired from various sources. The GA-GB model outperforms five regression models, including the Bagging regressor, KNN regressor, MLP regressor, RF regressor, and Lasso regressor.
CFD Simulation of Co-Planar Multi-Rotor Wind Turbine Aerodynamic Performance Based on ALM Method
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Cai Xin , Lin Shifa , Wang Yazhou , Guo Xingwen
Published: September 2022

Considering requirements such as enhanced unit capacity, the geometric size of wind turbine blades has been increasing; this, in turn, results in a rapid increase in manufacturing costs. To this end, in this paper, we examine the aerodynamics of co-planar multi-rotor wind turbines to achieve higher unit capacity at a lower blade length. The multiple wind rotors are in the same plane with no overlaps. The ALM-LES method is used to investigate the interaction effect of the blade tip vortices, by revealing the regulation of aerodynamic performance and flow field characteristics of the multi-rotor wind turbines. The simulated results suggest an observable reduction in the blade tip vortices generated by blades located closely together, due to the breaking and absorption of the blade tip vortices by the two rotors. This results in increased aerodynamic performance and loads on the multi-rotor wind turbine. The influence between the blade tip vortex is mainly located in the range of 0.2 R from the blade tip, with this range leading to a significant increase in the lift coefficient. Thus, when the wind rotor spacing is 0.2 R, the interaction between the blade tip vortices is low.
Implementation and Verification of Effectiveness of Bulk Emulsion Explosive with Improved Energetic Parameters in an Underground Mine Environment
Authors: Mertuszka Piotr , Kramarczyk Bartlomiej , Pytlik Mateusz , Szumny Marcin , Jaszcz Katarzyna , Jarosz Tomasz
Published: September 2022

Explosives are commonly used in the mining industry to extract minerals from hard rock deposits. Therefore, an efficient explosive should ensure that the appropriate blast outcome is achieved, taking into account the desired rock-breaking parameters and the costs of drilling and blasting works. Depending on the type of deposit and follow-up processes, a proper blast result may be characterized by fragmentation, muckpile shape, overbreaks, etc. Industry has struggled to respond to the demand for bulk emulsion explosives with improved energetic parameters, having so far been unable to do so safely, effectively, and cost-efficiently. Methods of improving blasting parameters mainly rely on introducing a variety of additives to the emulsion explosive formulation during production, which creates additional hazards at that stage. Alternative, safe methods of achieving an improved energetic performance of emulsion explosives are, therefore, highly desirable. This paper is focused on one such proposed method as a continuation of previous research works and the performance of a novel bulk emulsion formulation under real mining conditions during the firing of mine faces is described. The tests included density measurements over time, measurements of impact and friction sensitivity, measurements of the detonation velocity in blastholes, determination of brisance via Hess test, and analysis of rock fragmentation. Results were compared with those obtained with a commercially available bulk emulsion explosive, highlighting that the performance improvement achieved by the proposed emulsion modification method is not limited to artificial test conditions, but translates well into actual application conditions.
Impact of Radial Air-Gap Eccentricity on Stator End Winding Vibration Characteristics in DFIG
Authors: Xu Ming-Xing , He Yu-Ling , Zhang Wen , Dai De-Rui , Liu Xiang-Ao , Zheng Wen-Jie , Wan Shu-Ting , Gerada David , Shi Shan-Zhe
Published: September 2022

In this paper, qualitative theoretical derivations, finite element analysis (FEA) and experiments are used to investigate the electromagnetic force (EF) and vibration characteristics of end windings. In contrast to previous studies, this study focuses not only on end winding EF/vibration under normal and radial static air gap eccentricity (RSAGE) conditions, but also for the cases of radial dynamic air gap eccentricity (RDAGE) and radial dynamic static hybrid air gap eccentricity (RHAGE). Firstly, the magnetic flux density (MFD) is derived for normal and radial air gap eccentricity (RAGE) faults, and detailed EF expressions are obtained before and after the RAGE fault. The finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental studies were performed on a four-pole DFIG at a speed of 1500 rpm to verify the proposed theoretical analysis. It is shown that RSAGE only enlarges the EF/end winding vibration and does not introduce new frequency components. RDAGE not only increases EF/end winding vibration but also introduces new frequency components. RHAGE can be seen as a superimposed effect of RSAGE and RDAGE.
Dispersion of the Thermodynamically Immiscible Polypropylene and Ethylene—Propylene Triple Synthetic Rubber Polymer Blends Using Supercritical SEDS Process: Effect of Operating Parameters
Authors: Khairutdinov Vener F. , Khabriev Ilnar S. , Gumerov Farid M. , Khuzakhanov Rafail M. , Garipov Ruslan M. , Akhmetzyanov Talgat R. , Ibatullin Azat N. , Abdulagatov Ilmutdin M.
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we present the results of dispersion of thermodynamically immiscible polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-propylene triple synthetic rubber (EPTSR) polymer blends using the Solution-Enhanced Dispersion by Supercritical Fluid (SEDS) technique at operation conditions in the pressure range of (8 to 25) MPa and at temperatures t = 40 °C and 60 °C. The kinetics of crystallization and phase transformation in polymer blends obtained by conventional method (melt blending) and by mixing in the SEDS process have been studied using the DSC technique. The effects of the SEDS operation process on the physical—chemical (melting temperature, heat of fusion) and mechanical (microparticle size) characteristics of the SEDS-produced polymer blends were studied.
Research on Rock Minerals and IP Response Characteristics of Shale Gas Reservoir in Sichuan Basin
Authors: Xiang Kui , Yan Liangjun , Yu Gang , Wang Xinghao , Luo Yuanyuan
Published: September 2022

As a kind of clean energy, shale gas has attracted much attention, and the exploration and development potential of shale gas resources in the middle and deep layers is huge. However, due to the changeable geological and burial conditions, complex geophysical responses are formed. Therefore, studying the characteristics of reservoir rock minerals and their complex resistivity response characteristics is helpful to deepen the understanding of the electrical characteristics of shale gas reservoirs and provide theoretical basis and physical basis for exploration and development. The study is based on shale samples from the Longmaxi Formation to the Wufeng Formation of a shale gas well in southern Sichuan, China, and the mineral composition and complex resistivity of shale are measured. Through inversion of complex resistivity model, four IP parameters, namely zero-frequency resistivity, polarizability, time constant and frequency correlation coefficient, are extracted, and the relationship between mineral components of rock samples and IP parameters is analyzed. It is found that the polarizability gradually increases and the resistivity gradually decreases with the increase in borehole depth. With the increase in pyrite content, the polarization increases and the resistivity decreases. The corresponding relational model is established, and it is found that the polarizability is highly sensitive to the characteristic mineral pyrite, which provides more effective data support for the subsequent deep shale gas exploration.
Estimation of the Induced Incidence of a High Reaction Axial Turbine Bucket
Authors: Klimko Marek , Žitek Pavel , Duda Daniel , Rudas Bartolomej
Published: September 2022

This paper describes the effect of the incidence angle of the bucket on the performance of the axial turbine stage. The off-design operating conditions of the turbine stage result in a change in the velocity diagrams. This results in a positive or negative incidence. One of the basic objectives in turbine stage design is to estimate the flow behaviour of the turbine stage during off-design operation as accurately as possible and to quantify the corresponding decrease in efficiency. The available loss prediction models allow the estimation of the loss distribution when the incidence angle changes in the preliminary design phase. However, the incidence angle is actually affected by the velocity of circulation, which changes the input velocity vector (induced incidence). Thus, the blade row angle of attack is different from the angle based on the velocity diagram calculations. The result of our paper is a relation for estimating the angular difference of the input flow angle to the bucket defined as a function of the turbine operation mode.
Smart Sustainable Production Management for City Multifloor Manufacturing Clusters: An Energy-Efficient Approach to the Choice of Ceramic Filter Sintering Technology
Authors: Gevorkyan Edwin , Chmiel Jarosław , Wiśnicki Bogusz , Dzhuguryan Tygran , Rucki Mirosław , Nerubatskyi Volodymyr
Published: September 2022

The development of environmentally friendly technologies, including additive technologies, contributes to the formation of sustainable production in city multifloor manufacturing clusters (CMFMCs). This paper discusses an approach to the implementation of energy-intensive technological processes in such clusters using examples of the manufacturing of ceramic and metal–ceramic products. The manufacturing of ceramic and metal–ceramic products in high-temperature furnaces is associated with an increased electricity consumption. The use of modern ceramic micro- and nanopowders makes it possible to switch to more energy-saving technologies by reducing the sintering temperature and shortening the technological cycle. This requires the use of additional activating and inhibiting additives in the initial powder mixtures to obtain products with the necessary physical and mechanical properties. The purpose of this paper is to present a model and indicators to assess the energy efficiency of the choice of sintering technology of foam ceramic filters for smart sustainable production management within CMFMCs. The use of the proposed indicators for assessing the energy efficiency of sintering foam ceramic filters makes it possible to improve the technological process and reduce the completion time of its thermal cycle by 19%, and reduce the maximum heating temperature by 20% to 1350 °C. The adoption of a different oxide technological alternative and the use of the proposed model and indicators to assess the energy efficiency of the sintering technology of foam ceramic filters allows to choose less energy-intensive equipment and save up to 40% in electricity. The proposed model to assess the energy efficiency of the sintering technology of foam ceramic filters can be used to control their production under the power consumption limitations within the CMFMCs.
Research on Single-Phase and Three-Phase Compatible Isolated On-Board Charger and Control Technology
Authors: Zhou Kai , Chen Si-Min , Jin Ning-Zhi , Sun Dong-Yang
Published: September 2022

This paper presents a single-phase and three-phase compatible isolated on-board charger for electric vehicles. The charger is compatible with the single-phase and three-phase AC voltage input and is composed of two-stage circuits. Based on the three-phase six-switch power factor correction (PFC) circuit, by switching on and off, the front stage is transformed into a cascade topology of a totem-pole PFC circuit and boost circuit. The rear stage is a full-bridge LLC resonant converter. In the single-phase or three-phase working mode, the front-stage control strategy is a double closed-loop control. The current inner loop controller is improved for the three-phase six-switch PFC circuit. The PI controller and repetitive controller are connected in parallel to form the current inner loop compound controller, which can effectively reduce the total harmonic distortion of the input current. By using simulation software MATLAB/Simulink, the circuit model was built. The simulation results verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis.
Harmonic Contribution Assessment Based on the Random Sample Consensus and Recursive Least Square Methods
Authors: Park Jong-Il , Park Chang-Hyun
Published: September 2022

This paper deals with a method of quantifying the harmonic contribution of each harmonic source to system voltage distortion. Assessing the harmonic contribution of individual harmonic sources is essential for mitigating and managing system harmonic levels. Harmonic contributions can be evaluated using the principle of voltage superposition with equivalent voltage models for harmonic sources. In general, the parameters of equivalent voltage models are estimated numerically because it is difficult to measure them directly. In this paper, we present an effective method for estimating equivalent model parameters based on the random sample consensus (RANSAC) and recursive least square (RLS) with a variable forgetting factor. The procedure for quantifying harmonic contributions using equivalent models is also introduced. Additionally, we propose a network diagram of harmonic contributions that makes it easy to understand the harmonic distortion contributions of all harmonic sources.
Mapping Methodology for Self and Mutual Inductance Profiles in IPT Systems
Authors: Marques Emanuel G. , Mendes André M. S. , Perdigão Marina , Costa Valter S.
Published: September 2022

Magnetic couplers (MC) are the key element that enable the power transfer over large air gaps in inductive power transfer (IPT) systems. Numerous designs with different coil and core arrangements have been proposed in the literature. However, the MC sizing process still involves several trial and error iterations to meet the desired specifications. This paper presents a profile methodology that uses fitting equations to extrapolate the coupling profiles and minimize the required number of finite element analysis (FEA) simulation results. A non-polarized circular coupler (FLCP) can be characterized as function of the air gap and lateral displacements using only six charging positions, whereas polarized couplers, such as the bipolar (BPP) or double-D pad (DDP), can be characterized using 18 charging positions. The methodology is validated experimentally using the FLCP, and an average error of 3% was found under different charging positions.
Optimal Strategy for Low-Carbon Development of Power Industry in Northeast China Considering the ‘Dual Carbon’ Goal
Authors: Mu Hailin , Pei Zhewen , Wang Hongye , Li Nan , Duan Ye
Published: September 2022

With China’s carbon peak and target proposed and the power system as an important source of carbon emissions, its carbon reduction issues are of great concern. However, the mismatch between power demand, resources, and generation facilities in different regions of China creates enormous carbon reduction pressures, especially in the region covered by China’s Northeast Power Grid (NE Grid). Therefore, in this study, a two-stage power optimization model considering Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) was established to optimize the national power generation and transmission in China from 2020 to 2060 first and then to optimize the regional road map of energy structure adjustment for China’s NE grid and its CO2 storage strategy. The first stage optimization results show that the national power interaction in China can make full use of the energy resource advantages of the NE grid, especially Jilin and Mengdong, delivering clean electricity to the North China grid as it reaches its “dual carbon” goal. Additionally, the second-stage optimization results show that the NE grid can make good use of CCUS for its thermal power transition. Annual CO2 storage will peak at 204 Mt in 2050 as thermal power withdraws in the NE grid region, which provides a reference for other regions to realize carbon neutrality of their power system by using CCUS.
Numerical Study on Behaviors of the Sloshing Liquid Oxygen Tanks
Authors: Zhang Hanyue , Chen Hong , Gao Xu , Pan Xi , Huang Qingmiao , Xie Junlong , Chen Jianye
Published: September 2022

In marine storage and transportation, the sloshing of liquid oxygen disturbs the thermodynamic equilibrium and induces stress on tank walls. Numerous problems are associated with the sloshing mechanism and demand a detailed investigation. In this study, a numerical model is developed by coupling the Eulerian framework and the algebraic interface area density (AIAD) method while considering the interphase drag force to investigate the thermal behavior of sloshing liquid oxygen. The effect of the sloshing frequency on the evaporation performance of liquid oxygen is studied. Moreover, anti-sloshing is conducted by employing a T-shaped baffle. The results show that the sloshing induced a vapor explosion phenomenon due to the invalidation of the surface impedance and thermal destratification to enhance free convection, resulting in rapid depressurization and increased evaporation loss. In addition, maximum evaporation loss occurred under the vapor–liquid coupling excitation condition. The T-shaped baffle has an excellent anti-sloshing effect because of the generating tip vortices and the enhanced shearing effect of the walls, which are regarded as motion damping factors.
An Octopus Charger-Based Smart Protocol for Battery Electric Vehicle Charging at a Workplace Parking Structure
Authors: Ramos Muñoz Edgar , Jabbari Faryar
Published: September 2022

The transportation sector produces a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Meeting ambitious reductions in greenhouse gasses requires large-scale adoption of battery electric vehicles and has led to several policies and laws aimed at incentivizing their sales. While electric vehicles comprise a small percentage of the overall fleets of vehicles, the expected production of electric vehicles is soon expected to be in the millions. This will create challenges in providing an adequate charging infrastructure, as well as the ensuing management of the overall electricity demand at the grid level. In this work, a novel smart-charging protocol for battery electric vehicle charging at workplace parking structures is proposed. The Octopus Charger-based Mixed Integer Linear Programming protocol allows octopus chargers (i.e., charging stations with multiple cables) to independently schedule charging periods for their assigned vehicles. The proposed protocols can manage a parking structure demand load while reducing the number of installed charging stations. Driving patterns from the National Household Travel Survey were used to perform simulations, to verify and quantify the effectiveness of the proposed protocol. The proposed protocol resulted in improved peak load reductions for all simulated smart-charging scenarios when compared with uncontrolled charging. Critically, the assignment algorithm resulted in a number of required chargers close to the theoretical minimum.
Adhesion Forces of Shale Oil Droplet on Mica Surface with Different Roughness: An Experimental Investigation Using Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Bai Ting’an , Yang Feng , Wang Huan , Zheng He
Published: September 2022

In order to investigate the effect of rock surface roughness on the occurrence state of shale oil, muscovite mica was firstly characterized by performing atomic force microscopy (AFM). Two-dimensional (2D) images and the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the mica surface were obtained. Wettability of the micas was measured according to the sessile drop method using shale oil, collected from a lacustrine shale oil well drilling through the Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin. Then, the adhesion forces between shale oil and mica surface with a different roughness were finely measured using AFM mounted with the shale oil modified probe tips. The adhesion force curves at the approaching and retract modes were obtained. The results show that the average roughness value of the mica samples was about 1 nm, while the maximum height was up to 4 nm. The contact angle between shale oil and mica ranged from 128.73° to 145.81°, and increased with increasing surface roughness, which can be described by the Wenzel model. The adhesion force between shale oil and mica also increased with an increasing contact area. Shale oil can fill the deep valleys on the rough surface of rocks and then form microscopic storage for oil droplets. The maximum adhesion force, reached at a distance of about 5–10 nm between shale oil droplets and micas, was between 14 and 30 nN. The adhesion force disappeared when the distance was larger than 40 nm. These indicate that shale oil in pores with a diameter of less than 10 nm was tightly adsorbed, and formed a layered accumulation pattern. Additional energy is needed to decrease the disjoining pressure and then separate shale oil from these tight pores. Shale oil is freely movable at pores with pore diameters of larger than 40 nm. This work provides a new insight about the interaction between shale oil and rock, and helps to understand the occurrence mechanism of shale oil.
Neutral-Point Voltage Balancing Method for Three-Phase Three-Level Dual-Active-Bridge Converters
Authors: Wu Xinmi , Zhang Yu , Yang Jiawen
Published: September 2022

Three-phase three-level dual-active-bridge (3L-DAB3) converters are a potential topology for high-voltage and high-power applications. Neutral-point voltage balancing is a complex and important issue for three-level (3L) circuits. Compared with the single-phase 3L dual-active-bridge converter, the self-balancing capability of the 3L-DAB3 is limited. To guarantee the reliability of the converter, a neutral-point voltage balancing method for the 3L-DAB3 is proposed in this paper. First, the neutral-point voltage balancing principle of the 3L-DAB3 is analyzed. Then, the relationship between the duty ratio adjustment and injected neutral-point charge is described. In order to guarantee accurate neutral-point voltage balance, the proposed balancing method adopts a sign-hysteresis control with a dead zone. The dead zone is responsible for whether the duty ratio adjustment is activated, and the sign-hysteresis control guarantees a correct adjustment direction. The proposed neutral-point voltage balancing method only needs to sample the capacitor voltages, thus avoiding a complex parameter design and making it easy to implement. The transmission power of the converter is not affected during the adjustment process. The proposed balancing method has a rapid response speed and does not have problems with respect to stability. Finally, experiments were conducted on a 3.6 kW laboratory prototype. The validity and performance of the proposed neutral-point voltage balancing method were verified on the basis of the simulation and experimental results.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrogen Storage Technologies for Railway Engineering: A Review
Authors: Xu Zhan , Zhao Ning , Hillmansen Stuart , Roberts Clive , Yan Yan
Published: September 2022

According to the specific requirements of railway engineering, a techno-economic comparison for onboard hydrogen storage technologies is conducted to discuss their feasibility and potentials for hydrogen-powered hybrid trains. Physical storage methods, including compressed hydrogen (CH2), liquid hydrogen (LH2), and cryo-compressed hydrogen (CcH2), and material-based (chemical) storage methods, such as ammonia, liquid organic hydrogen carriages (LOHCs), and metal hydrides, are carefully discussed in terms of their operational conditions, energy capacity, and economic costs. CH2 technology is the most mature now but its storage density cannot reach the final target, which is the same problem for intermetallic compounds. In contrast, LH2, CcH2, and complex hydrides are attractive for their high storage density. Nevertheless, the harsh working conditions of complex hydrides hinder their vehicular application. Ammonia has advantages in energy capacity, utilisation efficiency and cost, especially being directly utilised by fuel cells. LOHCs are now considered as a potential candidate for hydrogen transport. Simplifying the dehydrogenation process is the important prerequisite for its vehicular employment. Recently, increasing novel hydrogen-powered trains based on different hydrogen storage routes are being tested and optimised across the world. It can be forecasted that hydrogen energy will be a significant booster to railway decarbonisation.
A Proposed Three-Phase Induction Motor Drive System Suitable for Golf Cars
Authors: Elrefaey Mohamed S. , Ibrahim Mohamed E. , Eldin Elsayed Tag , Hegazy Hossam Youssef , Abdalfatah Samia , EL-Kholy Elwy E.
Published: September 2022

In this paper, a proposed electric drive system for a three-phase induction motor is presented. The proposed drive system is suggested for a golf car as one type of electric vehicle. The suggested system consists of three similar single-phase buck–boost converters. Hence, each single-phase buck–boost converter is used as a buck–boost inverter and is used to energize only one phase of the induction motor. The suggested system has the advantage of high reliability, as it can deal with different fault conditions such as battery and motor winding faults. The suggested electric drive system depends on a buck–boost converter which gives variable voltages as well as variable frequencies. Thus, variable speeds of the electric vehicles can be easily achieved. A variable DC voltage (positive or negative) can be achieved at the output of the adopted buck–boost converter, which is considered another advantage of the proposed drive system. This DC voltage can be used to achieve braking of the induction motor used to drive the electric vehicle. Therefore, this advantage can be used instead of ordinary mechanical braking to increase vehicle reliability. To demonstrate our proposed idea, a simulation study is presented. The simulation is carried out using Power Simulation Program (PSIM) software. The simulation study takes into consideration the performance of the adopted buck–boost converter under different conditions to present its advantages. Furthermore, a performance study of the suggested induction motor drive system is carried out under different conditions ranging from healthy to faulty conditions to test system reliability. For more illustration, an experimental prototype of the adopted buck–boost converter is built, and its performance is studied. From all the obtained results, the efficacy of the proposed system is demonstrated.
Particle Number Emission from Vehicles of Various Drives in the RDE Tests
Authors: Pielecha Jacek , Skobiej Kinga , Gis Maciej , Gis Wojciech
Published: September 2022

In this study, the authors assessed the road emissions of several passenger cars using specialised instrumentation, of the PEMS type, to measure particle number emissions in real traffic conditions. The tests were performed on a RDE test route developed and compliant with EU guidelines. The results of the tests were discussed in terms of the direct (created in the internal combustion engine) emission of particulate matter in various road conditions. Additionally, an index was determined that characterizes the number of particles according to their diameter in relation to the content of particles in the air. A characteristic of combustion engines (gasoline, diesel) is that during a cold start of the engine, the concentration of the number of particles with diameters around 100 nm increases more than 200 times (for hybrids—300 times). On this basis, it can be concluded that particle emissions with diameters smaller than 23 nm are significant in motor vehicles powered by combustion engines, regardless of whether they are conventional or hybrid vehicles. The share of particles with diameters less than 5 nm is 66% (for diesel engines) and 40% (for gasoline engines) of all the particles.
Performance Optimisation of Public Transport Networks Using AHP-Dependent Multi-Aspiration-Level Goal Programming
Authors: Lin Gang , Xu Honglei , Wang Shaoli , Lin Conghua , Huang Chenyu
Published: September 2022

This study proposes an optimisation approach to improve multiple-criteria aspiration-level public transportation performance by combining public transport criteria matrix analytic hierarchy process (PTCM-AHP) models and multi-aspiration-level goal programming. The approach uses the PTCM-AHP to calculate the system weights. Based on the weight values, the approach combines the multi-aspiration goal-level selection process in three different ways. The proposed approach was used to optimise public transportation networks in Bayswater, Cockburn, and Stonnington, Australia, to demonstrate the public transportation network performance optimisation process. By controlling the criteria goal value interval, this new approach combines decision-making plans and strategies to optimise various scenarios. The optimisation outcomes can be applied to provide guidelines for improving the performance of public transportation networks.
Estimating the State of Charge of Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on the Transfer Function of the Voltage Response to the Current Pulse
Authors: Radaš Ivan , Pilat Nicole , Gnjatović Daren , Šunde Viktor , Ban Željko
Published: September 2022

There are several methods for estimating the SoC of lithium-ion batteries that use electrochemical battery models or artificial intelligence and intelligent algorithms. These methods have numerous advantages but are complex and computationally intensive. This paper presents a new method for estimating the SoC of lithium-ion batteries based on identifying the transfer function of the measured battery voltage response to the charging current pulse. It is assumed that the transfer function of the battery changes with the state of charge. In the learning phase, a reference table of known SoCs and associated transfer functions is created. The parameters of these transfer functions form the reference points in hyperspace. In the phase of determining the unknown SoC of the battery, the parameters of the measured transfer function form a point in hyperspace that is compared with the reference points of the transfer functions for known SoCs. The unknown SoC of the battery at the particular measurement time is obtained by finding the two reference points closest to the point of unknown SoC using the Euclidean distance and a linear interpolation based on this distance. The method is simple, computationally undemanding, insensitive to measurement noise, and has high accuracy in SoC estimation.
Preliminary Siting, Operations, and Transportation Considerations for Licensing Fission Batteries in the United States
Authors: Lee DaeHo , Diaconeasa Mihai A.
Published: September 2022

Nuclear energy is currently in the spotlight as a future energy source all over the world amid the global warming crisis. In the current state of miniaturization, through the development of advanced reactors, such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro-reactors, a fission battery is inspired by the idea that nuclear energy can be used by ordinary people using the “plug-and-play” concept, such as chemical batteries. As for design requirements, fission batteries must be economical, standardized, installed, unattended, and reliable. Meanwhile, the commercialization of reactors is regulated by national bodies, such as the United States (U.S.) Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). At an international level, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversees the safe and peaceful use of nuclear power. However, regulations currently face a significant gap in terms of their applicability to advanced non-light water reactors (non-LWRs). Therefore, this study investigates the regulatory gaps in the licensing of fission batteries concerning safety in terms of siting, autonomous operation, and transportation, and suggests response strategies to supplement them. To figure out the applicability of the current licensing framework to fission batteries, we reviewed the U.S. NRC Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and IAEA INSAG-12. To address siting issues, we explored the non-power reactor (NPR) approach for site restrictions and the permit-by-rule (PBR) approach for excessive time burdens. In addition, we discussed how the development of an advanced human-system interface augmented with artificial intelligence and monitored by personnel for fission batteries may enable successful exemptions from the current regulatory operation staffing requirements. Finally, we discovered that no transportation regulatory challenge exists.
Fe-Bound Organic Carbon and Sorption of Aromatic Dissolved Organic Carbon in Surface Soil: Comparing a Forest, a Cropland, and a Pasture Soil in the Central Appalachian Region, West Virginia, U.S.A
Authors: Lei Lili , Holásková Ida , Thompson James A. , McDonald Louis M.
Published: September 2022

The essential roles of Fe oxides in stabilizing long-term soil organic carbon (SOC), especially aromatic dissolved organic carbon (DOCaro), are well-established in forest soils and sediments. We chose to focus on these processes in agricultural soils in which the input and translocation of native DOC to deeper soils are impacted by management practices. We quantified SOC, Fe oxide bound SOC (Fe-bound OC), and the DOCaro sorption in a forest, a cropland, and a pasture soil at 0–10 and 10–25 cm. Significantly larger amounts of Fe oxides in the cropland soil were observed compared to the forest and pasture soils at both depths (p < 0.05). Land management practices and depth both significantly influenced the Fe-bound OC percentage (p < 0.05). Larger maximum sorptions of DOC in the cropland (315.0 mg kg−1) and pasture (395.0 mg kg−1) soils than the forest soil (96.6 mg kg−1) at 10–25 cm weres found. DOCaro sorption decreased in the three soils at 0–10 cm (slope of −0.002 to −0.014 L2 mg−2 m−1) as well as the forest soil at 10–25 cm (−0.016 L2 mg−2 m−1) with increasing equilibrium DOC concentration. Conversely, the cropland and pasture soils at 10–25 cm increased (0.012 to 0.014 L2 mg−2 m−1). The different sorption behaviors of DOCaro in these surface soils indicate that the forest, cropland, and pasture-managed soils may have more complex and various sorption behaviors in stabilizing DOCaro and non-DOCaro.
Carbon Sequestration Using Exotic Larches in Central Maine
Authors: Maass David I. , Laustsen Kenneth M.
Published: September 2022

The carbon sequestration potential of exotics might be considered as one of the several alternatives for forest adaptation to climate change. The results presented here demonstrate that exotic larches’ (Larix spp.) growth rates for both carbon accumulation and traditional forest products exceed those of both natural regeneration and other planted species when planted on a good site in Maine. Recent re-measurement of a species-site trial established in 1988 represents the 34th growing season. Species included Black Spruce (BS) (Picea mariana Mill.), European larch (EL) (Larix decidua Mill.), hybrid larch (HL) (L. x marschelensi), Japanese larch (JL) (L. kaempferi (Lam.) Carrière), Jack pine (JP) (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), Red pine (RP) (Pinus resinosa Ait.), Tamarack (TL) (L. larcinia (Du Roi) K. Koch), and White spruce (WS)(Picea glauca (Moench) Voss). All three of the exotic larches outgrew the other species. Hybrid larch had over nearly twice the merchantable volume (m3 ha−1) and over three times the sawlog volume (green tonnes ha−1) than Red pine. Hybrid larch had the highest growth rate at age 34, over 20 m3 per hectare per year (nearly 3.3 cords ac−1 year−1 or 6.8 tons−1 acre−1 year−1). The other two exotic larches are growing at over 19 m3 ha−1 year−1 (3 cords acre−1 year−1 or 6.4 tons acre−1 year−1). Converting these growth rates to accumulation of CO2eq over the 34-year period produces stunning contrasts compared to native species. Over the 34-year period, larch hybrids sequestered 2.4 times as much CO2eq as the untreated plots (444 vs. 186 tonnes−1 ha−1). We discuss practical implications for forest management and carbon policies.
Plant Biodiversity Homogenization across the Chronosequence in Highly Fragmented Landscapes in the Colombian Andean–Amazonian Transition
Authors: Rodríguez-León Carlos H. , Roa-Fuentes Lilia L. , Sterling Armando , Suárez Juan Carlos
Published: September 2022

Succession in abandoned pastures in the tropics can progress along different pathways, and the changes in biodiversity on local and landscape scales, as well as in species turnover (β diversity), are still unclear. This study assessed the role of secondary forests as a plant biodiversity reservoir or as evidence of a pattern of biodiversity homogenization in a chronosequence of abandoned pastures in two highly fragmented landscapes (hills and mountains) in the Colombian Amazon. In each landscape, the plant community composition, growth habits, species richness accumulation, indicator species identification, composition dissimilarity, and influence of above- and below-ground environmental filters were evaluated in four successional stages: (i) degraded pastures (DP) (<3 years old), (ii) early forests (EF) (10–20 years old), (iii) intermediate forests (IF) (25–40 years old), and (iv) old-growth forests (OF) (>90 years old). A total of 918 species, 78 families, and 11,284 individuals were recorded. The most representative growth habits were trees and shrubs, while palms and lianas were minimal. The species accumulated rapidly in DP and EF, contrary to that observed in IF and OF; thus, DP and EF achieve inventory completeness faster than IF and OF. It was necessary to include more plots to obtain inventory completeness in IF and OF. OF had a high α diversity with similar species composition throughout (low β diversity) and high homogeneity, suggesting biotic homogenization. On the other hand, IF presented the highest species differentiation (high β diversity) and a higher divergence in species composition than OF. The spatial distance and environmental dissimilarity had the most important role in determining species composition. Finally, our results show divergence in the plant composition across the chronosequence, where DP was opposite from OF in hills. However, in mountains, DP followed the EF and IF categories. The deviation in the species composition in EF and IF suggests an exchange of species in intermediate forest ages.
Predicting the Potential Suitable Distribution of Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr under Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Cheng Ruiming , Wang Xinyue , Zhang Jing , Zhao Jinman , Ge Zhaoxuan , Zhang Zhidong
Published: September 2022

Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr (larch) is a native conifer species in North China, and also a major silvicultural and timber species in the region. Climate change has led to a change in its suitable distribution area. However, the dominant factors affecting changes in its suitable distribution and migration trends are not clear. In this study, based on forest resource inventory data and bioclimatic data in Hebei and Shanxi provinces, China, we built an ensemble model based on seven algorithms to simulate the larch’s potential suitable distribution areas under three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs: SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5) for the current and future (2021–2040, 2041–2060 and 2080–2100). The results revealed that: (1) ensemble models significantly improved the predictive accuracy (ROC = 0.95, TSS = 0.81, KAPPA = 0.65); (2) the current potentially suitable distribution area was concentrated in the Bashang Plateau and the northwestern mountain range of the study area. Among them, 12.38% were highly suitable distribution areas, 12.67% were moderately suitable distribution areas, and 12.01% were lowly suitable distribution areas; (3) the main climatic factors affecting larch distribution were mean temperature of driest quarter, mean diurnal range, precipitation of warmest quarter, and temperature annual range; (4) under different future climate scenarios, the contraction of the suitable distribution area of larch increased significantly with increasing SSP radiation intensity. By 2100, the suitable distribution area of larch was expected to decrease by 26.5% under SSP1-2.6, 57.9% under SSP2-4.5, and 75.7% under SSP5-8.5 scenarios; (5) from 2021 to 2100, the different suitable distribution areas of larch showed a trend of migration to the northeast. Under the SSP5-8.5 scenario, the migration distance of different suitable distribution areas was the largest, in which the high suitable distribution area migrated 232.60 km, the middle suitable distribution area migrated 206.75 km, and the low suitable distribution area migrated 163.43 km. The results revealed the impact of climate change on the larch distribution, which provided a scientific basis for making forest management decisions.