This paper studies the distribution of emergency relief for electric vehicles (EVs), which considers energy saving, multi-depot, and vehicle routing problems with time windows, and the named energy saving-oriented multi-depot vehicle routing problem with time windows (ESMDVRPTW). Our aim is to find routes for EVs such that all the shelter demands are fulfilled during their time windows and the total cost traveled by the fleet is minimized. To this end, we formulate the ESMDVRPTW as a mixed-integer linear programming model. Since the post-disaster transportation network contains a large number of vertices and arcs composed of vertices, we propose a two-stage approach to solve the ESMDVRPTW. The first stage is to obtain the minimal travel cost between any two vertices in real-time on a post-disaster transportation network using the proposed Floyd algorithm combined with the neighboring list (Floyd-NL algorithm). In the second stage, we develop the genetic algorithm (GA) incorporating lar... [more]

Coloured building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) may contribute to meeting the decarbonisation targets of European and other countries. Nevertheless, their market uptake has been hindered by a lack of social acceptance, technical issues, and low economic profitability. Being able to assess in advance the influence of the coloured layers on a module’s power generation may help reduce the need for prototyping, thereby allowing optimisation of the product performance by reducing the time and costs of customised manufacturing. Therefore, this review aims at investigating the available literature on models and techniques used for assessing the influence of coloured layers on power generation in customised BIPV products. Existing models in the literature use two main approaches: (i) detailed optical modelling of the layers in the module’s stack, including coloured layers, and (ii) mathematical elaboration of the final product’s measured characteristics. Combining the two approaches can pro... [more]

The fluctuation and uncertainty of the electricity load bring challenges to load forecasting. Traditional point forecasting struggles to avoid errors, and pure interval forecasting may cause the problem of too wide an interval. In this paper, we combine point forecasting and interval forecasting and propose a point-interval forecasting model for electricity load based on regular fluctuation component extraction. Firstly, the variational modal decomposition is combined with the sample entropy to decompose the original load series into a strong regular fluctuation component and a weak regular fluctuation component. Then, the gate recurrent unit neural network is used for point forecasting of the strong regular fluctuation component, and the support vector quantile regression model is used for interval forecasting of the weak regular fluctuation component, and the results are accumulated to obtain the final forecasting intervals. Finally, experiments were conducted using electricity load... [more]

The successful development of shale oil in China has claimed that laminated shale is a favorable lithofacies for the effective extraction of petroleum. Clarifying the role of laminae in shale oil generation, migration, storage, and enrichment is urgent and important. Starting from the describing and classifying of the lamina, the common methods and terms used to delineate lamina types are briefly summarized. The results of different schemes are often mutually inclusive, which prompted scholars to work towards a unified division scheme. The influencing factors of oil retention in shale systems, including organic matter (OM) type, total organic carbon (TOC) content, OM maturity, mineral composition, pore structure, and preservation conditions, are systematically discussed. Subsequently, comparative work on source rock quality, reservoir properties, and hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency of shales with different laminar structures is carried out. The comparison results of shale with differe... [more]

The wheel was the first form of transportation developed by early people. Increasing population, longer distances, and shorter travel times need more cheap, faster modes of transportation. Environmental issues were never taken into account when choosing the most cost-effective mode of public transportation. Consequently, in the face of global pollution and warming restrictions, all stakeholders choose modes of transportation with little environmental impact. This has led to the development of sustainable transportation infrastructure, particularly in a country as rapidly developing as India. This paper examines the present situation, legislation, and grading systems for sustainable transportation in India and other developing nations. Furthermore, comparisons of India with developing nations of various continents in different aspects are also present. The difference in cost between a private car and a public vehicle indicates which form of transportation should be chosen. The challenge... [more]

Recently, fuel cell combined heat and power systems (FC-CGSs) for residential applications have received increasing attention. The International Electrotechnical Commission has issued a technical specification (TS 62282-9-101) for environmental impact assessment procedures of FC-CGSs based on the life cycle assessment, which considers global warming during the utilization stage and abiotic depletion during the manufacturing stage. In proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), platinum (Pt) used in the catalyst layer is a major contributor to abiotic depletion, and Pt loading affects power generation performance. In the present study, based on TS 62282-9-101, we evaluated the environmental impact of a 700 W scale PEMFC-CGS considering cathode catalyst degradation. Through Pt dissolution and Ostwald ripening modeling, the electrochemical surface area transition of the Pt catalyst was calculated. As a result of the 10-year evaluation, the daily power generation of the PEMFC-CGS decreas... [more]

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing war and the implementation of the so-called Mobility Package there are profound changes taking place in the Polish LSP sector. The competitive struggle on the market is intensifying, and it mobilizes the management to diagnose the condition of companies with the use of effective comparative tools. This article aims to present the conclusions of the study of 46 entities on the Polish LSP market. It uses an original, multi-faceted evaluation method. The authors hope to popularize this method for evaluating LSPs by making it cyclical. The comparative evaluation of LSPs was carried out with the use of economic (index) and statistical analysis tools. A model of rank correlation was used for the values of all variables (ten economic parameters and one greening parameter). LSPs were grouped up based on the average value of the economic variables and according to investment attractiveness and then clustered. Sets of the most correlated characte... [more]

The South Korean government plans to switch from a centralized power generation method to a distributed one. However, due to opposition from local residents, construction of distributed power plants is frequently delayed or suspended. This study attempts to investigate whether proximity to a power plant negatively affects housing property values, using the hedonic pricing technique and quantitatively analyzing the level of impact. To this end, 2291 apartment sales data from a specific city in the South Korean Seoul Metropolitan area with a power plant were used. As a result of the analysis, it was found that proximity to a power plant had a negative effect on apartment prices, which was statistically significant at the significance level of 5%. The difference in apartment prices per 1 km direct distance from the power plant to the apartment was derived as KRW 8 million (USD 7.1 thousand). This value is about 0.7% of the average price of apartments in the area (KRW 1102 million = USD 0.... [more]

Bio-SRF based on livestock waste has low heating value and high moisture content. The concentration of toxic gases such as SOx, NOx, and HCl in the flue gas is changed according to the composition of fuel, and it has been reported. Therefore, the study of fuel combustion characteristics is necessary. In this study, we investigated combustion characteristics on the blended firing of coal and Bio-SRF (bio-solid refused fuel) made from livestock waste fuel in CFBC (circulating fluidized bed combustor). The raw materials for manufacturing Bio-SRF include agricultural waste, herbaceous plants, waste wood, and vegetable residues. Bio-SRF, which is formed from organic sludge, has a low heating value and a high moisture content. Bio-SRF of livestock waste fuel is blended with different ratios of coal based on heating values when coal is completely combusted in CFBC. In the result of experiment, the combustor efficiency of calculated unburned carbon concentration in the fly ash shows 98.87%, 99... [more]

With the enhancement of people’s awareness of heritage protection, research communities focusing on the natural ventilation of the layouts of ancient buildings have paid more attention to the planning and protection of these buildings. Based on the relationship between the natural ventilation environment and the layout of the building, we can reduce the adverse effects of energy consumption and outdoor wind, improve the environment and quality around the building, and achieve harmony between humans and nature. In this study, Fluent software was used to simulate the wind environment of Xingguo Temple. The advantages of combining computer simulation software with ancient building protection planning are illustrated by comparing the wind environment before and after the temple reconstruction with Fluent software. Through the simulation of the building’s wind environment, some suggestions are put forward for the early layout of the outdoor environment in the ancient building reconstruction... [more]

One of the most common failures or breakdowns that can occur in high-voltage (HV) equipment is due to partial discharges (PDs). This occurs as a result of inadequate insulation, aging, harsh environmental effects, or manufacturing flaws. PD detection and recognition methods have gained growing attention and have seen great progress in the past decades. Radiometric methods are one of the most investigated detection approaches due to their immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and their capabilities to detect and locate PD activities in different applications such as transformers, cables, etc. Several review articles have been published to classify and categorize these works. Nonetheless, some concepts are missing, and some improvement techniques, such as PD detection at high-frequency (HF) and very high-frequency (VHF), have been overlooked. We present in this paper an exhaustive review study of state-of-the-art PD detection based on radiometric methods at different usable radi... [more]

The work presented here investigates the risk of interstitial condensation between the existing masonry and the insulation using several materials and evaluates the water content inside the insulation (WCI) through various simulations in dynamic mode onto existing buildings located in different countries in Europe. The insulation materials considered are specifically: natural fibre materials, mineral fibre materials, and artificial materials. The scenarios were chosen considering different climate zones, according to the Köppen climate classification, and the analysed buildings were taken from the TABULA database in the years of construction from 1945 to 1969. The building typologies are single-family houses, where in each building system the insulation was placed towards the warm side with a fixed thickness of 5 cm. The simulations concerned: (a) the application scenario, (b) the type of stratigraphy chosen, and (c) the exposure of the existing building system. The outputs generated b... [more]

Energy storage is becoming a critical issue due to the diminishing availability of fossil fuels and the intermittent nature of current renewable energy sources. As a result, thermal management (TM) and thermal energy systems have gained significant attention due to their crucial roles in various industries. Among the different TM materials, MXenes, a member of the transition metal carbide/nitride family, have emerged as a promising material due to their unique 2D nanostructure, changeable surface chemistry, high electrical/thermal conductivity, light absorptivity, and low infrared emissivity. This review outlines the synthesis methods of MXenes and their various features and applications in thermal management. These 2D materials exhibit outstanding optical and thermal properties, making them suitable for thermal energy generation and storage. The study also covers the potential applications of MXene in the desalination industry, hybrid photovoltaic thermal systems, solar energy storage... [more]

Daytime passive radiative cooling (DPRC) has remained a challenge over the past decades due to the necessity of precisely defined materials with a significantly high emissivity of thermal radiation within the atmospheric transparent window wavelength range (8−13 μm) as well as high reflectivity in the solar spectrum (0.2−3 μm). Fortunately, recent advances and technological improvements in nanoscience and metamaterials are making it possible to create diverse metamaterials. This enables the production of DPRC in direct solar irradiation. The development of a material that is appropriate for effective DPRC is also a noteworthy development in this field of technology. This review gives a thorough introduction and discussion of the fundamental ideas, as well as the state-of-the-art and current trends in passive radiative cooling, and describes the cutting-edge materials and various photonic radiator structures that are useful in enhancing net cooling performance. This work also addresses... [more]

A single−phase flow model was used to analyze the uniformity of the flow field in the desulfurization tower under different baffle combinations, and a multiphase flow model was used to explain the gas and solid two−phase flow characteristics and chemical reaction characteristics in the tower. The stability of the flow behavior of gas and solids in one furnace and two towers was discussed. The results show that the installation of shielding plates at appropriate positions in the tower for sulfur removal is beneficial to enhance the uniform distribution of flow in space, reduce the pulsation interference of bed pressure in the tower, keep the state of gas and solid flow unchanged, and maintain the efficiency of desulfurization at a high level. Reducing the instability of gas−solid two−phase flow is the basis of ensuring the stable switching between single and double towers.

This paper presents the potentials and costs of synthetic fuels (synfuels) produced by renewable energy via PEM water electrolysis and the subsequent Fischer−Tropsch process for the years 2020, 2030, 2040, and 2050 in selected countries across the globe. The renewable energy potential was determined by the open-source tool pyGRETA and includes photovoltaic, onshore wind, and biomass. Carbon dioxide is obtained from biomass and the atmosphere by direct air capture. The potentials and costs were determined by aggregating minimal cost energy systems for each location on a state level. Each linear energy system was modelled and optimised by the optimisation framework urbs. The analysis focused on decentralised and off-grid synthetic fuels’ production. The transportation costs were roughly estimated based on the distance to the nearest maritime port for export. The distribution infrastructure was not considered since the already-existing infrastructure for fossil fuels can be easily adopted... [more]

Different from common cylindrical magnetic bearings, the spherical radial AC HMB has obvious advantages in suppressing the gyroscopic effect, thus it is very suitable for application in flywheel battery systems. In this study, a precise mathematical model of suspension forces is deduced adopting wide-area and universal modeling theories in detail for the spherical radial AC HMB. Different from the traditional Maxwell tensor method based on a cylindrical two-dimensional coordinate system, the improved Maxwell tensor method based on a spherical coordinate system has a wider range and versatility. Then, the detailed explanation about the accuracy, wide-area and universality are given. Further, based on the model, the control system is designed, which includes the overall schematic, hardware and software designs. Finally, stiffness and performance tests are conducted. The good results of the stiffness tests indicate the error between the proposed model and the force-deflection stiffness te... [more]

Domestic water heating accounts for 15% to 27% of the total energy consumption in buildings in Australia. Over the past two decades, the latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) system has been widely investigated as a way to reduce fossil fuel consumption and increase the share of renewable energy in solar water heating. However, the research has concentrated on the geometric optimisation of the LHTES heat exchanger for the past few years, and this might not be sufficient for commercialisation. Moreover, recent review papers mainly discussed the development of a particular heat-transfer improvement technique. This paper presents perspectives on various solar hot water systems using LHTES to shift focus to on-demand performance studies, as well as structure optimisation studies for faster commercialisation. Future challenges are also discussed. Since the topic is an active area of research, this paper focuses on references that showcase the overall performance of LHTES-assisted solar... [more]

Smart energy has evolved over the years to include multiple domains integrated across multiple technology themes, such as electricity, smart grid, and logistics, linked through communication technology and processed in the cloud in a holistic way to deliver on global challenges. Advances in sensing, communication, and computation technologies have been made that enable better smart system implementations. In smart energy systems, sensing technologies have spanned multiple domains with newer techniques that are more accurate, have greater dynamic ranges, and are more reliable. Similarly, communication techniques have now evolved into very high-speed, flexible, and dynamic systems. Computation techniques have seen a quantum leap with greater integration, powerful computing engines, and versatile software stacks that are easily available and modifiable. Finally, the system integration has also seen advances in the form of management, automation, and analytics paradigms. Consequently, smar... [more]

This study presents an analytical model for estimating minimum horizontal stress in hydraulic fracturing stimulations. The conventional Diagnostic Fracture Injection Test (DFIT) is not practical in ultra-tight formations, leading to the need for pump-in/flowback tests. However, ambiguities in the results of these tests have limited their application. The proposed model is based on the linear diffusivity equation and material balance, which is analytically solved and verified using a commercially available numerical simulator. The model generates a linear graph in which the pressure drop and its derivative are plotted versus the developed solution time function. The closure pressure is determined when the slope of the derivative deviates from linearity. The model was applied to several cycles of field flowback tests and found to eliminate the ambiguity associated with identifying the fracture closure. Furthermore, the minimum In-situ stresses estimated using this approach are verified v... [more]

With the increasing integration of wind and photovoltaic power, the security and stability of the power system operations are greatly influenced by the intermittency and fluctuation of these renewable sources of energy generation. The accurate and reliable short-term forecasting of renewable energy generation can effectively reduce the impacts of uncertainty on the power system. In this paper, we propose an adaptive, data-driven stacking ensemble learning framework for the short-term output power forecasting of renewable energy. Five base-models are adaptively selected via the determination coefficient (R2) indices from twelve candidate models. Then, cross-validation is used to increase the data diversity, and Bayesian optimization is used to tune hyperparameters. Finally, base modes with different weights determined by minimizing the cross-validation error are ensembled using a linear model. Four datasets in different seasons from wind farms and photovoltaic power stations are used to... [more]

Flexographic printing is a highly sought-after technique within the realm of packaging and labeling due to its versatility, cost-effectiveness, high speed, high-quality images, and environmentally friendly nature. A major challenge in flexographic printing is the need to optimize energy usage, which requires diligent attention to resolve. This research combines lean principles and machine learning to improve energy efficiency in selected flexographic printing machines; i.e., Miraflex and F&K. By implementing the 5Why root cause analysis and Kaizen, the study found that the idle time was reduced by 30% for the Miraflex machine and the F&K machine, resulting in energy savings of 34.198% and 38.635% per meter, respectively. Additionally, a multi-linear regression model was developed using machine learning and a range of input parameters, such as machine speed, production meter, substrate density, machine idle time, machine working time, and total machine run time, to predict energy consum... [more]

Biosolids have been traditionally used as a beneficial resource in the agricultural industry. However, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) threaten their reuse due to concerns of toxicity, bioaccumulation, and increased regulations on acceptable CEC concentrations in biosolids. The thermal treatment of biosolids has the potential to destroy/mineralize these contaminants as well as transform the biosolids into valuable biochar. However, the thermal processing of biosolids is highly energy intensive due to the energy costs associated with drying biosolids to the required moisture content for thermal processing. This article performs a brief review of the drying of biosolids from a physical and theoretical viewpoint. It also provides an overview of pyrolysis and gasification. It explains the impact that moisture can have on both the degradation of CECs and the products that can be obtained through the thermal treatment of biosolids. Additionally, model-based, lab-based, and pilot-scal... [more]

The microgrid concept has evolved from the humble origins of simple remote electrification applications in rural environments to complex architectures. Microgrids are key enablers to the integration of higher penetrations of renewables in the energy sector (including electricity, heating, cooling, transport and industry). In addition to the local energy sources, energy storage systems and loads, the modern microgrid encompasses sophisticated energy and power management systems, peer-to-peer energy markets and digital technologies to support this energy transition. The microgrid concept has recently been applied to all energy sectors, in order to develop solutions that address pressing issues related to climate change and the decarbonization of these important sectors. This paper initially reviews novel applications in which the microgrid concept is being applied, from a detailed analysis of recent literature. This consists of a comprehensive analysis of the state of the art in shipboar... [more]

Big cities affected by intense mobility, traffic and pollution are adopting electrification-based solutions for the reduction of the CO2 emissions of combustion engines. An interesting field in which the transition toward electrification can achieve important benefits is the area of instant deliveries. Instant deliveries deal with the mobility related to commercial trades between suppliers and customers. In this respect, optimal solutions can be considered during route planning based on the minimization of several metrics, such as distance, energy and road slope, among others. To this end, this paper presents an optimal solution to the instant deliveries problem in which the result is the optimal route, in the city under study, that minimizes energy consumption based on road slope and total distance traveled, and that gives higher priority to routes that include cycling infrastructure that the city can provide. The paper uses electric bikes since they are easily transportable and are h... [more]