The limitation of battery capacity is a cause of range anxiety that reduces the wide use of electric bicycles (e-bikes). Therefore, many works have developed systems that provide assistance to cyclists to deal with the range anxiety problem. However, these systems may have limited applications since they can only work with the e-bike manufacturers’ hardware and communication protocols. This paper proposes an energy monitoring system (EMS) for e-bikes, which is based on EnergyBus, a standardized hardware and communication protocol for e-bikes. EnergyBus standard is based on controller area network (CAN) bus and CANopen protocols. EMS comprises a gateway connected to EnergyBus of e-bike and an EMS application installed on a smart device that connects to the gateway via Bluetooth. The gateway provides CAN bus monitoring and CANopen device data access services to the smart device. These services are modeled to determine gateway parameters to ensure the efficient performance of the gateway... [more]

Decision support techniques have a key role in investment and strategic decisions in the energy sector. As complex decision-making problems involve the simultaneous consideration of an extensive set of different factors, it is an essential part of the methodology to define, structure, and integrate the criteria. The main purpose of the study was to develop a system of criteria and weights that are suitable for general application in the energy sector and can best describe the decision-making mechanisms present in society and various social groups. When developing the system of criteria, we moved away from the hierarchical approach related to the three pillars of sustainability; therefore, a wide range of notions were assessed based on a population representative survey data collected in Hungary. We used algebraic methods to explore the internal structure of the set of criteria that had been previously defined by means of social sciences, while the importance weights were specified by a... [more]

Flexible loads have flexibility and variability in time and space, and they have been widely studied by scholars. However, the research on the participation of flexible loads in market clearing and safety checking is still insufficient. We propose a market clearing and safety checking method for multi-type units that considers flexible loads. First, the flexible load is divided into reducible loads, shiftable loads, and convertible loads, and its mathematical model is established. Then, the convertible loads are considered in the market clearing model, and the power management agency executes the market clearing procedure to obtain the clearing result. When the line power exceeds the limit as a result of clearing, the power flow of the branches and sections is eliminated by adjusting the unit output and reducing the flexible load at the same time, and a safety checking model considering load reduction is established. The marginal electricity price of the nodes is obtained by the interi... [more]

The intensification of biological wastewater treatment requires the high usage of electric energy, mainly for aeration processes. Publications on energy consumption have been mostly related to municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The aim of the research was to elaborate on models for the estimation of energy consumption during dairy WWTP operation. These models can be used for the optimization of electric energy consumption. The research was conducted in a dairy WWTP, operating with dissolved air flotation (DAF) and an activated sludge system. Energy consumption was measured with the help of three-phase network parameter transducers and a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. The obtained models provided accurate predictions of DAF, biological treatment, and the overall WWTP energy consumption using chemical oxygen demand (COD), sewage flow, and air temperature. Using the energy consumption of the biological treatment as an independent variable, as well as... [more]

Mineral base oil, a product of multistep fine refining of the relevant fractions from vacuum distillation of crude oil, is a main component of so-called mineral lubricating oils containing aliphatic and alicyclic substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, i.e., derivatives of benzene and biphenyl. Mineral lubricating oil is composed mostly of mineral base oil and a low amount of enriching additives, most often products of advanced organic chemical technology. The application of mineral lubricating oils in open cutting systems has a very negative impact on environment and on the operator’s health. This work presents a simple, cheap and fast methodology allows identification of the group-type composition of base oil in lubricating oil and to estimate the content or total absence of base oil of mineral and vegetable origin in lubricating oil. The first step of the test is an in-situ screening for fluorescence of petroleum fraction under the 365 nm light. The next is the performance of infrared sp... [more]

The replacement of fossil fuel with renewable energy sources seems as though it will be crucial in the future. On the other hand, waste generation increases year by year. Thus, waste-to-energy technologies fit in with the actual trends, such as the circular economy. The crucial type of generated waste is municipal solid waste, which is in the research area. Regarding the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), anaerobic digestion (AD) allows the recovery of biogas and energy. Furthermore, if it is supported by source segregation, it should allow the recovery of material as fertilizer. The AD process performance (biogas yield and stability) comparison of source-segregated OFMSW (ss-OFMWS) and mechanically sorted OFMSW (ms-OFMSW) as feedstocks was performed in full-scale conditions. The daily biogas volume and methane content were measured to assess AD efficiency. To verify the process stability, the volatile fatty acid (VFA) content, pH value, acidity, alkalinity, and dry mat... [more]

This paper presents an approach to extend the capabilities of smart grid laboratories through the concept of Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHiL) testing by re-purposing existing grid-forming converters. A simple and cost-effective power interface, paired with a remotely located Digital Real-time Simulator (DRTS), facilitates Geographically Distributed Power Hardware Loop (GD-PHiL) in a quasi-static operating regime. In this study, a DRTS simulator was interfaced via the public internet with a grid-forming ship-to-shore converter located in a smart-grid testing laboratory, approximately 40 km away from the simulator. A case study based on the IEEE 13-bus distribution network, an on-load-tap-changer (OLTC) controller and a controllable load in the laboratory demonstrated the feasibility of such a setup. A simple compensation method applicable to this multi-rate setup is proposed and evaluated. Experimental results indicate that this compensation method significantly enhances the voltage re... [more]

In this paper, a systematic study is carried out to compare the performance of various V-I models at both normal and faulty conditions, in terms of simulating proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) behavior and analyzing the corresponding degradation process. In the analysis, the simulation accuracy of V-I models, including overall behavior simulation and the simulation of different PEMFC losses, is investigated. Results show that compared to the other V-I models, the V-I model using exponential function for mass transport loss and considering open circuit voltage (OCV) at zero current can provide the best simulation performance, with an overall root mean square error (RMSE) of about 0.00279. Furthermore, the performance of these V-I models in analyzing PEMFC degradation process is also studied. By investigating the evolution of PEMFC losses during the degradation, the effectiveness of these models in interpreting PEMFC degradation mechanisms can be clarified. The results show that... [more]

Multiphase permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) are widely utilized in high power and high reliability electric propulsion systems. In electric propulsion systems, the motor may work at a low efficiency area for a long time, which increases energy consumption and reduces cruise range. In order to improve motor efficiency, this paper proposes a multiphase motor structure. The stator winding of proposed motor consists of three independent windings that have different rated speed and torque. In this paper, winding match mode, operation characteristic and efficiency characteristic are analyzed, and a torque distribution strategy with optimal efficiency is given. The results show that in propeller load such as electric aircrafts and ships, the proposed motor can reduce motor total loss and temperature rise in a drive cycle, which improves system efficiency, reliability and fault tolerance performance.

The largest obstacle that suppresses the increase of wind power penetration within the power grid is uncertainties and fluctuations in wind speeds. Therefore, accurate wind power forecasting is a challenging task, which can significantly impact the effective operation of power systems. Wind power forecasting is also vital for planning unit commitment, maintenance scheduling and profit maximisation of power traders. The current development of cost-effective operation and maintenance methods for modern wind turbines benefits from the advancement of effective and accurate wind power forecasting approaches. This paper systematically reviewed the state-of-the-art approaches of wind power forecasting with regard to physical, statistical (time series and artificial neural networks) and hybrid methods, including factors that affect accuracy and computational time in the predictive modelling efforts. Besides, this study provided a guideline for wind power forecasting process screening, allowing... [more]

Ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) samples, which were obtained by blending two different types of ammonium nitrate porous prills (i.e., AN-PP7 and AN-PP8) with fuel oil (FO) were studied. Measurements of structure, crystallinity and morphology were performed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), respectively. From the SEM analysis, it was indicated that a “wrinkled” structure characterized the crystal surface of the samples, which were based on two types of ammonium nitrate porous prill. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC) confirmed that AN-PP7 had a higher absorption index in comparison to AN-PP8. Furthermore, it was shown that continuous AN phase transformations at precise temperatures took place. From the blasting test, it was indicated that the absorption index only had an influence on the content of toxic fumes. However, the velocity of detonation (VOD) depended solely on the ANFO den... [more]

Maintenance Management is a key pillar in companies, especially energy utilities, which have high investments in assets, and so for its proper contribution has to be integrated and aligned with other departments in order to conserve the asset value and guarantee the services. In this line, Intelligent Assets Management Platforms (IAMP) are defined as software platforms to collect and analyze data from industrial assets. They are based on the use of digital technologies in industry. Beside the fact that monitoring and managing assets over the internet is gaining ground, this paper states that the IAMPs should also support a much better balanced and more strategic view in existing asset management and concretely in maintenance management. The real transformation can be achieved if these platforms help to understand business priorities in work and investments. In this paper, we first discuss about the factors explaining IAMP growth, then we explain the importance of considering, well in a... [more]

The biogas production technology has improved over the last years for the aim of reducing the costs of the process, increasing the biogas yields, and minimizing the greenhouse gas emissions. To obtain a stable and efficient biogas production, there are several design considerations and operational parameters to be taken into account. Besides, adapting the process to unanticipated conditions can be achieved by adequate monitoring of various operational parameters. This paper reviews the research that has been conducted over the last years. This review paper summarizes the developments in biogas design and operation, while highlighting the main factors that affect the efficiency of the anaerobic digestion process. The study’s outcomes revealed that the optimum operational values of the main parameters may vary from one biogas plant to another. Additionally, the negative conditions that should be avoided while operating a biogas plant were identified.

In the multi-chiller of the air conditioning system, the optimal chiller loading (OCL) is an important research topic. This research is to find the appropriate partial load ratio (PLR) for each chiller in order to minimize the total energy consumption of the multi-chiller under the system cooling load (CL) requirements. However, this optimization problem has not been well studied. In this paper, in order to solve the OCL problem, we propose an improved fruit fly optimization algorithm (IFOA). A linear generation mechanism is developed to uniformly generate candidate solutions, and a new dynamic search radius method is employed to balance the local and global search ability of IFOA. To empirically evaluate the performance of the proposed IFOA, a number of comparative experiments are conducted on three well-known cases. The experimental results show that IFOA found 14 optimal values (the optimal values among all algorithms) under a total of 17 CLs in three cases, and the ratio of the opt... [more]

The use of renewable energies, energy saving, and efficiency are needs of global society. According to the latest estimates, global energy demand could triple by 2050 and, by then, 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. Cities are currently responsible for 80% of greenhouse gas emissions, so they have a key role to play in shifting towards a sustainable energy future. Cities are threatened not only by overcrowding, but also by rising energy demand, obsolete infrastructure, volatile energy markets, and the effects of climate change. This Special Issue aims to advance the contribution of energy saving and the use of renewable energies in order to achieve more sustainable cities.

The introduction of parametric tools has made a strong shift within a traditional approach to urban planning and building design, including the creation of a design awareness zone where environmental issues are concerned. This approach also uses sufficient data to be used already at the concept stage and provides initial interdisciplinary solutions. Analyses from the very initial stages allow the inclusion of smart energy choices influencing the massing, architectural features, proportions, flexibility of design, and economics. This is only a threshold; there is still a place for further development and more accurate analyses leading to the construction of buildings and urban areas with a stronger input of sustainable solutions, as existing approaches have certain limitations. This path has been followed in several research grants conducted at the Faculty of Architecture Warsaw University of Technology, and later on developed as a co-operation area with various stakeholders. Outside th... [more]

Variable-air-volume (VAV) systems are used in many office buildings. The minimum airflow rate setting of VAV terminal boxes has a significant impact on both energy consumption and indoor air quality. Conventional controls usually have the terminal’s minimum airflow rate at a constant (e.g., 30% or more of the terminal design airflow rate), irrespective of the occupancy status, which may cause problems, such as excessive simultaneous heating and cooling, under ventilation, and thermal comfort issues. This paper examines the potential of energy savings from occupancy-based controls (OBCs). The sensed occupancy information, either occupant presence or people count, is used to determine the airflow rate of terminal boxes, the thermostat setpoints, and the lighting control. Using EnergyPlus, a whole-building energy modeling software, the energy savings of OBC strategies are evaluated for representative existing medium office buildings in the U.S. The simulation results show that the convent... [more]

The power generated by photovoltaic solar systems is exposed to high variability of irradiance mainly due to weather conditions, which cause instability in the electrical networks connected to these systems. This study shows the typical behavior of solar irradiance in an Andean city, which presents considerable variations that can reach up to 63% of the nominal power of the photovoltaic system, at time intervals in the order of seconds. The study covers the application of 3 techniques to reduce power fluctuations at the point of common coupling (PCC), with the incorporation of energy storage systems, under the same irradiance conditions. Supercapacitors were used as the storage system, which were selected for their high efficiency and useful life. A state of charge control is also applied by means of a hysteresis band. The three algorithms studied show similar behaviors; however, the ramp control technique has the best performance. The storage system was dimensioned based on the photov... [more]

Drug repositioning is a strategy to identify new uses for existing, approved, or research drugs that are outside the scope of its original medical indication. Drug repurposing is based on the fact that one drug can act on multiple targets or that two diseases can have molecular similarities, among others. Currently, thanks to the rapid advancement of high-performance technologies, a massive amount of biological and biomedical data is being generated. This allows the use of computational methods and models based on biological networks to develop new possibilities for drug repurposing. Therefore, here, we provide an in-depth review of the main applications of drug repositioning that have been carried out using biological network models. The goal of this review is to show the usefulness of these computational methods to predict associations and to find candidate drugs for repositioning in new indications of certain diseases.

Chemistry plays an essential role in our modern society [...]

In this work, an experiment was carried out to investigate the preparation condition of anisotropic, Fe-deficient, M-type Sr ferrite with optimum magnetic and physical properties by changing experimental parameters, such as the La substitution amount and little additive modification during fine milling process. The compositions of the calcined ferrites were chosen according to the stoichiometry LaSr1-xFe12-2xO19, where M-type single-phase calcined powder was synthesized with a composition of x = 0.30. The effect of CaCO3, SiO2, and Co3O4 inter-additives on the Sr ferrite was also discussed in order to obtain low-temperature sintered magnets. The magnetic properties of Br = 4608 Gauss, bHc = 3650 Oe, iHc = 3765 Oe, and (BH)max = 5.23 MGOe were obtained for Sr ferrite hard magnets with low cobalt content at 1.7 wt%, which will eventually be used as high-end permanent magnets for the high-efficiency motor application in automobiles with Br > 4600 ± 50 G and iHc > 3600 ± 50 Oe.

To understand the long-term stability of nitrifying granules in a membrane bioreactor (GMBR), a membrane module was submerged in an airlift reactor to eliminate the hydraulic selection pressure that was believed to be the driving force of aerobic granulation. The long-term monitoring results showed that the structure of nitrifying granules could remain stable for 305 days in the GMBR without hydraulic selection pressure; however, the majority of the granule structure was actually inactive due to mass diffusion limitation. As a consequence, active biomass free of mass diffusion limitation only inhabited the top 60−80 µm layer of the nitrifying granules. There was a dynamic equilibrium between bioflocs and membrane, i.e., 25% of bioflocs attached on the membrane surface within the last nine days of the backwash cycle in synchronization with the emergence of a peak of soluble extracellular polymeric substances (sEPS), with a concentration of around 47 mg L−1. Backwash can eventually detac... [more]

Titan’s haze is strongly suspected to be an HCN-derived polymer, but despite the first in situ measurements by the ESA-Huygens space probe, its chemical composition and formation process remain largely unknown. To investigate this question, we simulated the atmospheric haze formation process, experimentally. We synthesized analogues of Titan’s haze, named Titan tholins, in an irradiated N2−CH4 gas mixture, mimicking Titan’s upper atmosphere chemistry. HCN was monitored in situ in the gas phase simultaneously with the formation and evolution of the haze particles. We show that HCN is produced as long as the particles are absent, and is then progressively consumed when the particles appear and grow. This work highlights HCN as an effective precursor of Titan’s haze and confirms the HCN-derived polymer nature of the haze.

We aimed to assess the prescription trends of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) in one infectious diseases department and the cost-efficacy (C/E) of different regimens used in treatment-naïve patients. The C/E was assessed with a software application developed by a group of researchers in Spain. The efficacy was already calculated in the application. The costs included the local cost of antiretrovirals and other direct costs specific to our institution. In the software application, the C/E reference regimen was ABC/3TC/DTG. In total, 181 HIV-infected patients were diagnosed and initiated cART during 2015−2019. The proportion of patients treated with integrase-strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based regimens increased from 2015−2018 (54%) to the end of 2019 (81%). The relative C/E ranged from 0.90 to 1.28 for the evaluated INSTI-based regimens. Among INSTI-based regimens, ABC/3TC/DTG and TAF/FTC/EVG/c are the regimens with similar efficacy and relative C/E.

Sialyllactose (SL) is one of the most important acidic oligosaccharides in human milk, which plays an important role in the health of infants. In this work, an efficient multi-enzyme cascade was developed in a single whole cell to produce 3′-SL. We constructed two compatible plasmids with double cloning sites to co-express four genes. Different combinations were assessed to verify the optimal catalytic ability. Then, the conversion temperature, pH, and stability under the optimal temperature and pH were investigated. Moreover, the optimal conversion conditions and surfactant concentration were determined. By using the optimal conditions (35 °C, pH 7.0, 20 mM polyphosphate, 10 mM cytidine monophosphate (CMP), 20 mM MgCl2), 25 mL and 4 L conversion systems were carried out to produce 3′-SL. Similar results were obtained between different volume conversion reactions, which led the maximum production of 3′-SL to reach 53 mM from 54.2 mM of sialic acid (SA) in the 25 mL system and 52.8 mM o... [more]