The underestimation of fuel consumption impacts various aspects. In the vehicle market, manufacturers often advertise fuel economy for marketing. In fact, the fuel consumption reference value provided by the manufacturer is quite different from the real-world fuel consumption of the vehicles. The divergence between reference fuel consumption and real-world fuel consumption also has negative effect on the aspects of policy and environment. In order to effectively promote the sustainable development of transport, it is urged to recognize the real-world fuel consumption of vehicles. The gaps in previous studies includes small sample size, single data dimension, and lack of feature weight evaluation. To fill the research gap, in this study, we conduct a comparative analysis through building five regression models to forecast the real-world fuel consumption rate of light-duty gasoline vehicles in China based on big data from the perspectives of vehicle factors, environment factors, and driv... [more]

The subject matter discussed in the article concerns the problem of the energy transformation of the European Union (EU) countries. In the case of the EU, the energy transformation has specific characteristics due to formal legal and institutional provisions. This means that the member states are obliged to implement the adopted Community Energy Strategy, which was defined under the European Green Deal. According to the EU policy, all member states are to have climate-neutral and zero-gas-emission economies by 2050. The energy transformation is to be largely based on the diversification of the energy sources used, with a dominance of renewable energy sources (RES). The article presents a research problem, where the question was asked whether achieving climate-neutral energy independence based solely on RES is possible at the regional level. It seems that the positive answer is an important argument in the discussion about the possibility of all member states achieving the goals set und... [more]

Metal hydroxides, owing to their catalytic active sites for the decomposition of O3 to Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), have been adapted for catalytic ozonation of micropollutants in wastewater. In this study, commercial Mg (OH)2 was used for the degradation of cyclophosphamide (CYP) by ozone. The crystal phase was confirmed by X-ray powder Diffraction (XRD). Percent degradation of 10 ppm CYP after 30 min by O3 and Mg (OH)2/O3 was 56 and 93, respectively, suggesting enhanced decomposition of O3 to ROS by the catalyst. The presence of ROS was further confirmed using pCBA as a probe, which showed that the concentration of ROS was eight times higher in the presence of Mg (OH)2/O3 than O3 alone. Catalytic ozonation experiments in the presence of scavengers showed that OH· radicals play a significant role in the degradation of CYP. The catalyst was found to be reusable for at least three cycles without significant loss in degradation efficiency. To study the compatibility of Mg (OH)2 for was... [more]

This paper presents a scalable IoT architecture based on the edge−fog−cloud paradigm for monitoring the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) parameters in public buildings. Nowadays, IEQ monitoring systems are becoming important for several reasons: (1) to ensure that temperature and humidity conditions are adequate, improving the comfort and productivity of the occupants; (2) to introduce actions to reduce energy consumption, contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG); and (3) to guarantee the quality of the air—a key concern due to the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Two kinds of nodes compose the proposed architecture; these are the so-called: (1) smart IEQ sensor nodes, responsible for acquiring indoor environmental measures locally, and (2) the IEQ concentrators, responsible for collecting the data from smart sensor nodes distributed along the facilities. The IEQ concentrators are also responsible for configuring the acquisition system locally, logging the acquir... [more]

This paper presents a conceptual development of sustainability evaluation, through an exergy-based indicator, by using the new concept of the Thermoeconomic Environment (TEE). The exergy-based accounting methods here considered as a background are Extended Exergy Accounting (EEA), which can be used to quantify the exergy cost of externalities like labor, monetary inputs, and pollutants, and Cumulative Exergy Consumption (CExC), which can be used to quantify the consumption of primary resources embodied in a final product or service. The new concept of bioresource stock replacement cost is presented, highlighting how the framework of the TEE offers an option for evaluating the exergy cost of products of biological systems. This sustainability indicator is defined based on the exergy cost of all resources directly and indirectly consumed by the system, the equivalent exergy cost of all externalities implied in the production process and the exergy cost of the final product.

Real-time Simulation (RTS) is one of the effective means via which to study device level or system level dynamics, such as power converter online testing, evaluation, and control, and power system stability analysis. The RTS -enabled design-chain offers a time -effective, low-cost, and fail-safe development process. As the penetration of renewable energy is becoming higher, the demand in hybrid system real-time simulation becomes imperative, where fast-dynamic device level power converters and slow -dynamic large -scale power systems are simulated at the same time. This paper introduces a novel hybrid real-time simulation architecture based on the central processing unit (CPU) and the field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Compared with the off-the-shelf power system real-time simulation system, it offers both wide time scale simulation and high accuracy. The multi-time scale model can perform electromechanical electromagnetic transient hybrid simulation, which can be applied to the res... [more]

The increased adoption of intermittent renewable sources in the energy sector has also increased the use of battery storage systems. However, the negative impact which the improper disposal of batteries has on the environment has stirred debates on its sustainability. To ensure the proper disposal of battery waste, there is a need to identify and rank the most preferred battery ‘end-of-life’ handling alternatives. This paper focuses on identifying the most preferred ‘end-of-life’ handling alternatives for batteries using a modified triangular intuitionistic fuzzy aggregating and ranking function (TIFARF) model. To test the proposed modified TIFARF model, opinions from experts in the Nigerian renewable energy sector were collected, and the results show that the most preferred alternative is incineration, with a closeness coefficient of 0.130, while the least preferred alternative is recycling, whose closeness coefficient is 0.112. The results are an indication of a lack of facilities ne... [more]

Baking ovens are necessary to be installed in a paint shop of assembly automotive manufacturers for drying the paint of automotive bodies (i.e., in the coating process). In this process, a large amount of heat is provided by burning the natural gas in the gas burner. Practically, the design of the heat confinement in the oven is often poor, which results in considerable heat losses (i.e., waste heat) which are released during the drying process and significantly raise the temperature of a working environment thereby lowering the thermal comfort of the factory staff. To address this issue and limit the waste heat transfer to the surroundings, the application of a waste heat recovery system of a specific design employing the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) may be a viable alternative solution. A combined design of such a system utilizing an evaporator and thermal energy storage (TES) device in a simple ORC layout will be discussed in this article. The obtained simulation result was computed... [more]

The COVID pandemic has caused a major exodus of passengers who chose urban and suburban transport. In many countries, especially in the European Union, there is a tendency to choose individual means of transport, causing damage to the environment and contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. One method to promote urban transport is replacing bus fleets with newer ones, thus making public transport more attractive and reducing the emission of harmful exhaust fume components into the atmosphere. The aim of this study was to show a methodology for calculating CO2e for bus fleets. When determining CO2e, the principal greenhouse gases, such as CO2, CH4, and N2O, are usually considered. However, CO emissions also have indirect effects on climate through enhanced levels of tropospheric O3 and increased lifetime of CH4; therefore, CO2, CH4, N2O, and CO emissions were determined for CO2e emission calculations. Two bus fleet variant scenarios were analysed; the first non-investment... [more]

This study investigated an indirect evaporative cooling system (IECS) to control latent heat loss on roof ponds by increasing the evaporation rates on wet fabric membranes. The cooling potential of the proposed system was experimentally tested in a real environment and it was compared against a roof pond and a floating fiber (gunny bags) to provide an efficient model for buildings in hot and humid climates. Dry bulb temperatures (DBT) are presented for four experimental models. Solar irradiance, ambient and indoor dry bulb temperatures, and relative humidity (RH) were measured for seven days in each of the following climate conditions: hot sub-humid (mean DBT 27.3 °C and mean RH 72%), hot humid (mean DBT 27.1 °C and mean RH 81%), and warm sub-humid (mean DBT 25.2 °C and mean RH 68%). There were no significant variations in thermal performance between the examined devices under hot humid conditions; however, the wet fabric device had superior thermal performance under sub-humid conditio... [more]

Research on methane and carbon dioxide emissions mainly focuses on industrial emissions, cultivated land, and wetlands, while few studies have studied freezing-related emissions. This paper presents field experiments conducted during soil freezing to measure carbon dioxide and methane concentrations in the air, near the soil surface, and in the soil. In addition, the influence of precipitation, snowfall, air temperature, and depth of freezing on gas emissions was analyzed. We observed increased concentrations of methane and carbon dioxide in soil and air at soil freezing and snow cover growth. For the first time, an increase in gas flux during soil freezing was found in the absence of permafrost.

Technological processes associated with municipal solid waste (MSW) processing are a potential source of odorant emissions, i.e., substances that cause negative olfactory impressions. When released into the atmosphere, these substances can cause odour nuisance complaints from residents. Many scientists have noted the strong relationship between odorant emission sources and odour concentrations and their significant impact on the living comfort of residents near these sources, as well as their social and economic relations. This paper attempts to estimate the odour load of selected elements of the technological sequence of a biogas plant processing municipal waste. Odour load was characterised by four constituents: odorant emissions, odour emissions, the variability of these emissions, and the emission levels per 1 Mg (1000 kg) of waste. The highest odour emissions accompany the storage of mixed MSW, which is associated with a large amount of waste. Limiting the storage time of waste sh... [more]

Climate warming in the Russian Arctic over the past 40 years shows a variety of patterns at different locations and time periods. In the second half of the 20th century, the maximum rates of warming were characteristic of the subarctic permafrost regions of Russia. But in the 21st century, the locations of the greatest rates of climate warming moved to the Arctic zone of Russia. It was one of the reasons for a sharp increase in permafrost temperatures, an increase in the depth of seasonal thaw, and the formation of closed taliks. It was found that as a result of climate change, the differences in permafrost temperatures between different cryogenic landscapes in the area of continuous and discontinuous permafrost distribution have decreased, and in the area of sporadic permafrost distribution are now practically absent. The thermal regime of the ground shows dramatic changes everywhere with a pronounced reduction in the depth of zero annual amplitude.

Small and medium-sized enterprises around the world play a key role in building economic growth and maintaining environmental sustainability. This strategic role in the economy depends on the possessed competitive advantage, which will increasingly depend on the ecological behavior of SMEs. Therefore, it is justified to undertake research the main goal of which is to identify the pro-ecological activities of SMEs conducive to achieving a competitive advantage. The original empirical research was conducted in 2021 on a sample of 452 small and medium-sized enterprises in Poland. The research was based on a questionnaire. The research allowed for the assessment of sustainable energy management by assessing the awareness of entrepreneurs, assessing the pro-ecological activities undertaken, and assessing the impact of pro-ecological activities on shaping the competitive advantages of enterprises in 2015−2020. The surveyed entrepreneurs considered the most important components of the company... [more]

Among the several methods investigated over the past few years for the thermal mitigation of buildings in urban areas, green roof systems seem to be one of the most suitable solutions for several reasons, and researchers encourage the further study and implementation of these roofing techniques because of the potential benefits that they offer. So far, intensive, extensive and semi-intensive green roofs are considered to be a better option in terms of both energy efficiency and green area increase. However, there are some aspects that cause green roofs not to be suitable to every application, preventing their use from spreading, such as high maintenance and costs required by these sophisticated systems. Few studies aimed at overcoming the limits of green roofs have hinted at the possibility of implementing hydroponic cultures in green roof systems. This soil-less technology might overcome some issues, such as identifying the suitable substrate to support the growth of the vegetation. T... [more]

The Lower Paleozoic carbonate strata experience multi-stage tectonic activity and post-depositional volcanic activity in the Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay basin. These tectonic and magmatic activities have caused the reservoir to undergo severe diagenesis, resulting in strong reservoir heterogeneity. This study aims to identify the characteristics of dolomite, various reservoir spaces’ characteristics, the origin of different types of dolomite, and the porosity evolution. According to crystal size and morphology, dolomites can be divided into three kinds of matrix dolomites and four kinds of dolomite cements. The petrology and geochemistry of the dolomite suggests that matrix dolomite is formed from seawater. The medium-to-coarse-crystalline dolomite cement (D3) has a higher 87Sr/86Sr ratio (0.7119 to 0.7129) and a higher homogenization temperature (>125 °C), suggesting that the fluid for the precipitation of D3 is a mixed fluid formed by hydrothermal fluid eroding the 87Sr-rich felds... [more]

Torrefaction is a technology for the preliminary thermochemical treatment of biomass in order to improve its fuel characteristics. The aim of this work is to conduct comparative studies and select the optimal operating conditions of fluidized bed torrefaction for the processing of poultry litter (PL) into an environmentally friendly fuel. PL torrefaction was evaluated according to three different process configurations: (1) torrefaction of PL pellets in a fixed bed in a nitrogen medium at temperatures of 250 °C, 300 °C and 350 °C (NT1, NT2 and NT3); (2) torrefaction of PL pellets in a fluidized bed of quartz sand in a nitrogen medium at temperatures of 250 °C, 300 °C and 350 °C (NT4, NT5 and NT6); and (3) torrefaction of PL pellets in a fluidized bed of quartz sand in an environment of superheated steam at temperatures of 250 °C, 300 °C and 350 °C (ST1, ST2 and ST3). The duration of the torrefaction process in all experiments was determined by the time required for completion of CO2, C... [more]

In hot and dry regions such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the cooling demand is often responsible for more than 70% of electricity consumption, which places a massive strain on the electricity grid and leads to significant emissions. Solar thermal driven Silica-Gel/Water adsorption chillers, used for space cooling, could provide low carbon emission cooling and reduce the reliance on grid electricity. However, a meticulous design is required to make this both economically and environmentally beneficial. This paper aims to evaluate the solar thermal adsorption chiller performance based on large-scale cooling demand through a TRNSYS simulation for 1 year of operation. The proposed system consists of two main parts: first, the solar loop with evacuated tube solar collectors; and second, the adsorption cooling system with a silica-gel/water adsorption chiller. A neighbourhood of 80 typical 197 m2 villas in Riyadh, the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), was... [more]

The present work aims to provide a technical, economic, and environmental analysis on the electric accumulators used for electric mobility (pure electric, hybrid, full hybrid and/or mild hybrid) to reduce the environmental, social and economic impacts generated by private vehicles. Initially, the scenarios for the development of electric mobility and the regulatory context were assessed. Attention has been focused on the batteries used in electric vehicles and the technological aspects related to their charging operations. With regard to the economic aspects, the evolution of battery costs in relation to capacity and size has been highlighted in recent years. The advantages related to the containment of environmental impacts are highlighted considering the aspects related to the end of life of the batteries themselves. As retrofitting ICE vehicles by electric motor currently represents a potential transition solution to improve the shift towards the widespread adoption of electric vehi... [more]

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a bridging point between the old, neoclassical, growth-based model of the economy and newer, emerging paradigms, such as the well-being economy. The importance of growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is recognized within the SDGs, however, in addition, Target 19 of Goal 17 advocates the adoption of alternative measures of economic well-being. The Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) has been found to be the indicator of alternative economic well-being most aligned with the SDGs. On the basis that increased, high-quality energy use leads to expanded macro-economic activity, as measured by GDP, this study conducts a conceptual exploration of the extent to which the pursuit of sustainable energy development (SED) can enhance GPI outcomes. Based on a recent Icelandic GPI study, a total of 46 SED themes were found to be linkable to 16 of its 39 sub-indicators, including 8 cost deductions and 7 benefit additions. The frequency of these was as... [more]

At present, primary power generation depends on non-renewable energy resources, which will become extinct. Solar is the best option in renewable energy sources to achieve clean and green power extraction. Solar PV transforms light energy into electrical energy. However, the output power of solar PV changes with solar insolation. It is also affected by environmental factors and the shading effect. One of the key factors that can reduce the PV system output power is partial shading condition (PSC). The reduction in power output not only depends on shaded region but also depends on pattern of shading and physical position of shaded modules in the array. Due to PSCs, mismatch losses are induced between the shaded modules which can cause several peaks in the output power-voltage (P-V) characteristic. This article describes the non-symmetrical reconfiguration technique and compares it with the primary total cross tied connection. The performance of non-symmetrical reconfiguration techniques... [more]

The development of wastewater treatment methods and the processing of sewage sludge is associated with the search for new, efficient and technologically justified solutions, the use of which will be an alternative to the systems used thus far [...]

This paper presents the results of experimental research and mathematical modelling in terms of the influence periodic dynamic instabilities have on condensation phase change in R1234yf and R1234ze refrigerants in tubular minichannels. The main reason for this research was the fact that under the Montreal Protocol (1986), as well as Regulation No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014, the F-gases such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), sulphur hexafluoride, and other agents containing fluorine have to be withdrawn. This includes one of the most commonly used refrigerants—R134a—which, since 1 January 2017, has already been withdrawn. It also includes the R404A refrigerant. R1234ze and R1234yf are suggested as substitutions for R134a. The basic parameters determining the application of those agents are their global warming potential (GWP) indicator, which is below 150, and reduction in fluorinated greenhouse gases emission by a third, s... [more]

Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient mined from non-renewable sources. P is needed to stimulate trees growth in a forest plantation. P-fertilizer addition in the tropical forest field causes P-leaching flux to watershed and induces eutrophication. The high C contained in meranti (Shorea sp.) biochar can avoid the P-leaching process in the soil with a strategic application method. However, the biochar application method is poorly examined. This research aimed to develop a biochar application method to sequestrate P from the environment and examine its effect on the growth of sengon (Falcataria moluccana). Shorea sp. biochar pyrolyzed at 400 °C and 600 °C were added at a dosage of 0 t ha−1, 25 t ha−1, and 50 t ha−1 for six months in the field. The biochar was placed 20 cm under topsoil without soil mixing. This application method significantly increased total P in the soil without any P-fertilizer addition. The results showed that biochar pyrolyzed at 600 °C and a dosage of 25 t ha−1 in... [more]

The process of cutting laminations from which the cores of electric machines are built causes a change in their magnetic properties and losses, which can significantly affect machines’ parameters, mainly losses of power and efficiency. Electric motors are a significant consumer of electricity; therefore, the problem of increasing their efficiency is fundamental from the point of view of environmental impact. The subject of the work is the study of the influence of punching and laser cutting on the magnetization and loss characteristics of sheets, taking into account the phenomenon of magnetic anisotropy. For this purpose, samples cut in different directions were tested. As the direction of the field action in the motor core varies in different parts of the machine and time moments, it was investigated how to obtain average characteristics for different directions of magnetization. Then, a simplified method for determining the characteristics of punched sheets of various widths based on... [more]