Long-term operation optimization of circulating cooling water systems under fouling conditions

Fouling caused by excess metal ions in hard water can negatively impact the performance of the circulating cooling water system(CCWS)by depositing ions on the heat exchanger's surface.Currently,the operation optimization of CCWS often prioritizes short-term flow velocity optimization for minimizing power consumption,without considering fouling.However,low flow velocity promotes fouling.Therefore,it's crucial to balance fouling and energy/water conservation for optimal CCWS long-term operation.This study proposes a mixed-integer nonlinear programming(MINLP)model to achieve this goal.The model considers fouling in the pipeline,dynamic concentration cycle,and variable frequency drive to optimize the synergy between heat transfer,pressure drop,and fouling.By optimizing the concentration cycle of the CCWS,water conservation and fouling control can be achieved.The model can obtain the optimal operating parameters for different operation intervals,including the number of pumps,frequency,and valve local resistance coefficient.Sensitivity experiments on cycle and environmental temperature reveal that as the cycle increases,the marginal benefits of energy/water conservation decrease.In periods with minimal impact on fouling rate,energy/water conservation can be achieved by increasing the cycle while maintaining a low fouling rate.Overall,the proposed model has significant energy/water saving effects and can comprehensively optimize the CCWS through its incorporation of fouling and cycle optimization.

Different concentrations of hyaluronic acid eye drops for dry eye syndrome: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

AIM:To compare high or low concentration of hyaluronic acid eye drops(HY)for dry eye syndromes(DES).METHODS:Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)comparing various concentrations of HY were searched in PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,Cochrane,SinoMed,CNKI,Wanfang Database,CQVIP,and Chinese journals databases between inception and July 2023.Pooled standardized mean differences(SMD)or weighted mean difference(WMD)with 95%confidence intervals(CI)from RCTs evaluating Schirmer’s I test(SIT),corneal fluorescein staining score(CFS),tear breakup time(TBUT),DES score(DESS),and Ocular Surface Disease Index(OSDI)were calculated.Sensitivity analysis,Egger’s test and Meta-regression analysis were performed for all indicators.RESULTS:We conducted a Meta-analysis of 10 RCTs that met the inclusion criteria,involving 1796 cases.High-concentrations group significantly improved the outcome of CFS according to random effects modelling(SMD,-3.37;95%CI,-5.25 to-1.48;P=0.0005).The rest of the results were not statistically significant,including indicators such as SIT,TBUT,DESS and OSDI.CONCLUSION:For dry eyes with positive corneal staining,a high concentration of HY is recommended,whereas in other cases,a high concentration of HY does not offer a more pronounced advantage over a low concentration of HY in the treatment of dry eyes.

Numerical Assessment of the Thermal Efficiency of a Concentrated Photovoltaic/Thermal (CPV/T) Hybrid System Using Air as Heat Transfer Fluid

In this paper, we propose a thermal model of a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal concentration system. Starting from the thermal balance of the model, the equation is solved and simulated with a MATLAB code, considering air as the cooling fluid. This enabled us to evaluate some of the parameters influencing the electrical and thermal performance of this device. The results showed that the temperature, thermal efficiency and electrical efficiency delivered depend on the air mass flow rate. The electrical and thermal efficiencies for different values of air mass flow are encouraging, and demonstrate the benefits of cooling photovoltaic cells. The results show that thermal efficiency decreases air flow rate greater than 0.7 kg/s, whatever the value of the light concentration used. The thermal efficiency of the solar cell increases as the light concentration increases, whatever the air flow rate used. For a concentration equal to 30 sun, the thermal efficiency is 0.16 with an air flow rate equal to 0.005 kg/s;the thermal efficiency increases to 0.19 with an air flow rate equal to 0.1 kg/s at the same concentration. An interesting and useful finding was that the proposed numerical model allows the determination of the electrical as well as thermal efficiency of the hybrid CPV/T with air flow as cooling fluid.

Microplastic Impacts on Greenhouse Gases Emissions in Terrestrial Ecosystems

Microplastics can influence global climate change by regulating the emissions of greenhouse gases from different ecosystems. The effects of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems are still not well studied particularly greenhouse gases emissions. Thus, we conducted a laboratory experiment over a period of 90 days with two types of microplastics (differing in their chemical structure), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE), which were applied to the soil at a rate of 0% to 0.1% (w/w). The overarching aim was to investigate the effects of microplastic type, microplastic concentration and days of exposure on greenhouse gases emissions. We also used original and artificially weathered microplastics (the same HDPE and LDPE) to make a comparison of greenhouse gases emissions between the original microplastics treated soils and the soils treated with weathered microplastics. Our findings showed that HDPE and LDPE microplastics significantly increased the emissions of greenhouse gases from the soil than that of the control soils. Emissions were increased with the increases in the level of microplastic in the soil. The weathered microplastic emitted greater quantity of greenhouse gases compared to that of the original microplastics. In contrast to a low initial emission quantity, the emissions were gradually increased at the termination of the experiment. Our experiment on the emissions of greenhouse gases from the soil vis-à-vis microplastic additions indicated that the microplastic increased the emissions of greenhouse gases in terrestrial ecosystems, and pervasive microplastic impacts may have consequences for the global climate change. Greenhouse gases emissions from the soil not only depend on the type and concentration of the microplastic, but also on the days of exposure to the microplastic.

Ecological and geochemical aspects of interlayer water use for potable water supply of urban population:a case study in the Dnieper–Donetsk aquifer system,Ukraine

The article is devoted to the study of ecological and geochemical features of interlayer waters of the Dnieper–Donetsk aquifer system in Ukraine,used for the potable water supply of Kyiv.A wide range of methods was used,including Microsoft Excel,Statistica,and Attestat software packages,MapInfo Professional 6.5 and ArcGIS-ArcMap 9.3 programs;the method of mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma(ICP-MS)and GEMS software were performed.Monitoring study results(during 2007–2023)were analyzed for two interlayer aquifers—Cenomanian-Callovian groundwater complex and Bajocian aquifer.It was determined that the normalized value of mineralization increased with a decrease in water intake during 1980–2010,which indicates a relative increase in the content of mineral substances during longterm exploitation.A high negative correlation(Kcor.=-0.54 to-0.86)is also typical for normalized values of oxidizability,total hardness,pH,Ca,Mg,and Cl content.Comparative analysis of two different aquifers revealed that the macrocomponent composition of Bajocian aquifer remains stable,once for Cenomanian-Callovian groundwater complex,there is a tendency to decrease hydrogen carbonates and increase chlorides and sulfates,whereas the cation composition remains relatively stable.A significant increase(by 55%)of the total mineralization in the representative well located on the right bank of the Dnieper River was found.There is also a significant increase(by more than 5 times)in the iron content,which the authors associate with the unsatisfactory technical condition of the well casing pipes.Physico-chemical modeling of trace elements,performed for investigated aquifers,shows that both aquifers are characterized by the predominant migration of the following metals in the cationic form(aqua-ions):Ca,Mg,Na,Ba,Co,Cu,Mn,Ni,Sr,Zn.It was found that the predominant migration forms of metals in the studied interlayer waters are free uncomplexed ions,carbonate,and hydroxo complexes.

Modelling of Wideband Concentric Ring Frequency Selective Surface for 5G Devices

Frequency selective surfaces(FSSs)play an important role in wireless systems as these can be used as filters,in isolating the unwanted radiation,in microstrip patch antennas for improving the performance of these antennas and in other 5G applications.The analysis and design of the double concentric ring frequency selective surface(DCRFSS)is presented in this research.In the sub-6 GHz 5G FR1 spectrum,a computational synthesis technique for creating DCRFSS based spatial filters is proposed.The analytical tools presented in this study can be used to gain a better understanding of filtering processes and for constructing the spatial filters.Variation of the loop sizes,angles of incidence,and polarization of the concentric rings are the factors which influence the transmission coefficient as per the thorough investigation performed in this paper.A novel synthesis approach based on mathematical equations that may be used to determine the physical parameters ofDCRFSSbased spatial filters is presented.The proposed synthesis technique is validated by comparing results from high frequency structure simulator(HFSS),Ansys electronic desktop circuit editor,and an experimental setup.Furthermore,the findings acquired from a unit cell are expanded to a 2×2 array,which shows identical performance and therefore proves its stability.

Numerical Simulation Analysis of the Transformer Fire Extinguishing Process with a High-Pressure Water Mist System under Different Conditions

To thoroughly study the extinguishing effect of a high-pressure water mist fire extinguishing system when a transformer fire occurs,a 3D experimental model of a transformer is established in this work by employing Fire Dynamics Simulator(FDS)software.More specifically,by setting different parameters,the process of the highpressure water mist fire extinguishing system with the presence of both diverse ambient temperatures and water mist sprinkler laying conditions is simulated.In addition,the fire extinguishing effect of the employed high-pressure water mist system with the implementation of different strategies is systematically analyzed.The extracted results show that a fire source farther away fromthe centerline leads to a lower local temperature distribution.In addition,as the ambient temperature increases,the temperature above the fire source decreases,while the temperature and the concentrationof theupperflue gas layer bothdecrease.Interestingly,after thehigh-pressurewatermist sprinkler begins to operate,both the temperature distribution above the fire source and the concentration of the flue gas decrease,which indicates that the high-pressure water mist system plays the role of cooling and dust removal.By comparing various sprinkler laying methods,it is found that the lower sprinkler height has a better effect on the temperature above the fire source,the temperature of the upper flue gas layer,and the concentration of the flue gas.Moreover,when the sprinkler is spread over thewhole transformer,the cooling effect on both the temperature above the fire source and the temperature of the upper flue gas layer is good,whereas the change in the concentration of the flue gas above the fire source is not obvious compared to the case where the sprinkler is not fully spread.

Spatial Inhomogeneity of Atmospheric CO_(2) Concentration and Its Uncertainty in CMIP6 Earth System Models

This paper provides a systematic evaluation of the ability of 12 Earth System Models(ESMs)participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6(CMIP6)to simulate the spatial inhomogeneity of the atmospheric carbon dioxide(CO_(2))concentration.The multi-model ensemble mean(MME)can reasonably simulate the increasing trend of CO_(2) concentration from 1850 to 2014,compared with the observation data from the Scripps CO_(2) Program and CMIP6 prescribed data,and improves upon the CMIP5 MME CO_(2) concentration(which is overestimated after 1950).The growth rate of CO_(2) concentration in the northern hemisphere(NH)is higher than that in the southern hemisphere(SH),with the highest growth rate in the mid-latitudes of the NH.The MME can also reasonably simulate the seasonal amplitude of CO_(2) concentration,which is larger in the NH than in the SH and grows in amplitude after the 1950s(especially in the NH).Although the results of the MME are reasonable,there is a large spread among ESMs,and the difference between the ESMs increases with time.The MME results show that regions with relatively large CO_(2) concentrations(such as northern Russia,eastern China,Southeast Asia,the eastern United States,northern South America,and southern Africa)have greater seasonal variability and also exhibit a larger inter-model spread.Compared with CMIP5,the CMIP6 MME simulates an average spatial distribution of CO_(2) concentration that is much closer to the site observations,but the CMIP6-inter-model spread is larger.The inter-model differences of the annual means and seasonal cycles of atmospheric CO_(2) concentration are both attributed to the differences in natural sources and sinks of CO_(2) between the simulations.

Glass-compatible and self-powered temperature alarm system by temperature-responsive organic manganese halides via backward energy transfer process

A pioneering glass-compatible transparent temperature alarm system self-powered by luminescent solar concentrators(LSCs) is reported.Single green-emitted organic manganese halides(OMHs) of PEA_(2)MnBr_(2)I_(2),which has a unique temperature-dependent backward energy transfer process from selftrapped state to^(4)T_(1)energy level of Mn,is used for triggering the temperature alarm.The LSC with redemitted CsPbI_(3)perovskite-polymer composite films on the glass substrate is used for power supply.The spectrally separated nature between the green-emitted OMHs for temperature alarm and red-emitted CsPbI3in LSC for power supply allows for probing the signal light of temperature-responsive OMHs without the interference of LSCs,making it possible to calibrate the temperature visually just by a self-powered brightness detection circuit with LED indicators.Taking advantage of LSC without hot spot effects plaguing the solar cells,as-prepared temperature alarm system can operate well on both sunny and cloudy day.

Modeling of an Automatic Optimization System of Cyanide Concentration in Carbon in Leach for Optimal Ore Processing in a Mining Company

The optimization system, which was the subject of our study, is an autonomous chain for the automatic management of cyanide consumption. It is in the phase of industrial automation which made it possible to use the machines in order to reduce the workload of the worker while keeping a high productivity and a quality in great demand. Furthermore, the use of cyanide in leaching tanks is a necessity in the gold recovery process. This consumption of cyanide must be optimal in these tanks in order to have a good recovery while controlling the concentration of cyanide. Cyanide is one of the most expensive products for mining companies. On a completely different note, we see huge variations during the addition of cyanide. Following a recommendation from the metallurgical and operations teams, the control team carried out an analysis of the problem while proposing a solution to reduce the variability around plus or minus 10% of the addition setpoint through automation. It should be noted that this automatic optimization by monitoring the concentration of cyanide, made use of industrial automation which is a technique which ensures the operation of the ore processing chain without human intervention. In other words, it made it possible to substitute a machine for man. So, this leads us to conduct a study on concentration levels in the real world. The results show that the analysis of the modeling of the cyanide consumption optimization system is an appropriate solution to eradicate failures in the mineral processing chain. The trend curves demonstrate this resolution perfectly.

Dimensioning Urban Drainage Systems in Housing Subdivisions in the Amazon Using Different Hydrological Models

Hydrological studies for sizing urban drainage systems in the Amazon have often been neglected and little investigated for rainwater projects. This research evaluated alternative hydrological models used in sizing urban drainage network projects in subdivisions with subsidized houses in the Amazonian region in Brazil. Statistical tests of these models were performed for both original and alternative scenarios. The methodological steps we conducted as follows: 1) evaluate the dimensioning of infrastructure project networks, considering two case studies contemplated by the Calha Norte Program (CNP) in the state of Amapá;2) test the statistical significance of the dimensioning of network diameters (α < 0.05), considering a) benchmark project (MD or M1) approved by the Ministry of Defense;b) determination of concentration time (Ct) and rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) relationships, as well as estimating diameters using alternative models. The results indicated a significant influence on the diameters of the projected rainfall networks (p < 0.05), suggesting that alternative models predicted more unfavorable flow peaks than the original model. We conclude that the benchmarking model underestimated the diameter of the project compared to alternative models, which means the optimized Ct parameter significantly impacts dimensioning estimates in rainwater projects in these Amazonian municipalities. This suggests that underestimated parameters in MD may cause inefficiency in the stormwater system projects in future similar scenarios.

Study on Optimization of Polymer Enhanced Foam Formulation System

Taking the pilot test area of polymer enhanced foam flooding in Y oilfield as the prototype, a numerical core model was established, and the polymer enhanced foam formulation system was optimized by analyzing the resistance factor and the change rule of oil recovery of different formulation systems. Research shows that the higher the polymer concentration, the greater the resistance factor, and the more obvious the sealing effect formed in the formation. The concentration of surfactant has a greater impact on the resistance factor. With the increase of surfactant concentration, the resistance factor increases significantly, and the plugging effect of foam agent on core is significantly enhanced. With the increase of gas-liquid ratio, the resistance factor first increases and then decreases. When the gas-liquid ratio is 1:1, the resistance is the largest, and the foam agent has the strongest plugging effect on the core. The optimal formula system of polymer enhanced foam flooding in Y oilfield is: polymer concentration is 1200 mg/L, surfactant concentration is 0.25 wt%, gas-liquid ratio is 1:1.

New process for treating boron-bearing iron ore by flash reduction coupled with magnetic separation

Boron is an important industrial raw material often sourced from minerals containing different compounds that cocrystallize,which makes it difficult to separate the mineral phases through conventional beneficiation.This study proposed a new treatment called flash reduction-melting separation(FRMS)for boron-bearing iron concentrates.In this method,the concentrates were first flash-reduced at the temperature under which the particles melt,and the slag and the reduced iron phases disengaged at the particle scale.Good reduc-tion and melting effects were achieved above 1550℃.The B_(2)O_(3) content in the separated slag was over 18wt%,and the B content in the iron was less than 0.03wt%.The proposed FRMS method was tested to investigate the effects of factors such as ore particle size and tem-perature on the reduction and melting steps with and without pre-reducing the raw concentrate.The mineral phase transformation and morphology evolution in the ore particles during FRMS were also comprehensively analyzed.

Charting the course to solid-state dual-ion batteries

An electrolyte destined for use in a dual-ion battery(DIB)must be stable at the inherently high potential required for anion intercalation in the graphite electrode,while also protecting the Al current collector from anodic dissolution.A higher salt concentration is needed in the electrolyte,in comparison to typical battery electrolytes,to maximize energy density,while ensuring acceptable ionic conductivity and operational safety.In recent years,studies have demonstrated that highly concentrated organic electrolytes,ionic liquids,gel polymer electrolytes(GPEs),ionogels,and water-in-salt electrolytes can potentially be used in DIBs.GPEs can help reduce the use of solvents and thus lead to a substantial change in the Coulombic efficiency,energy density,and long-term cycle life of DIBs.Furthermore,GPEs are suited to manufacture compact DIB designs without separators by virtue of their mechanical strength and electrical performance.In this review,we highlight the latest advances in the application of different electrolytes in DIBs,with particular emphasis on GPEs.

MINIMIZERS OF L^(2)-SUBCRITICAL VARIATIONAL PROBLEMS WITH SPATIALLY DECAYING NONLINEARITIES IN BOUNDED DOMAINS

This paper is concerned with the minimizers of L^(2)-subcritical constraint variar tional problems with spatially decaying nonlinearities in a bounded domain Ω of R~N(N≥1).We prove that the problem admits minimizers for any M> 0.Moreover,the limiting behavior of minimizers as M→∞ is also analyzed rigorously.

Physical mechanism of secondary-electron emission in Si wafers

CMOS-compatible RF/microwave devices,such as filters and amplifiers,have been widely used in wireless communication systems.However,secondary-electron emission phenomena often occur in RF/microwave devices based on silicon(Si)wafers,especially in the high-frequency range.In this paper,we have studied the major factors that influence the secondary-electron yield(SEY)in commercial Si wafers with different doping concentrations.We show that the SEY is suppressed as the doping concentration increases,corresponding to a relatively short effective escape depthλ.Meanwhile,the reduced narrow band gap is beneficial in suppressing the SEY,in which the absence of a shallow energy band below the conduction band will easily capture electrons,as revealed by first-principles calculations.Thus,the new physical mechanism combined with the effective escape depth and band gap can provide useful guidance for the design of integrated RF/microwave devices based on Si wafers.

Identifying the Hydrochemical Characteristics,Genetic Mechanisms and Potential Human Health Risks of Fluoride and Nitrate Enriched Groundwater in the Tongzhou District,Beijing,North China

Fluoride and nitrate enriched groundwater are potential threats to the safety of the groundwater supply that may cause significant effects on human health and public safety,especially in aggregated population areas and economic hubs.This study focuses on the high F^(−)and NO_(3)^(−)concentration groundwater in Tongzhou District,Beijing,North China.A total of 36 groundwater samples were collected to analyze the hydrochemical characteristics,elucidate genetic mechanisms and evaluate the potential human health risks.The results of the analysis indicate:Firstly,most of the groundwater samples are characterized by Mg-HCO_(3) and Na-HCO_(3) with the pH ranging from 7.19 to 8.28 and TDS with a large variation across the range 471-2337 mg/L.The NO_(3)^(−)concentration in 38.89%groundwater samples and the F^(−)concentration in 66.67%groundwater samples exceed the permissible limited value.Secondly,F^(−)in groundwater originates predominantly from water-rock interactions and the fluorite dissolution,which is also regulated by cation exchange,competitive adsorption of HCO_(3)−and an alkaline environment.Thirdly,the effect of sewage disposal and agricultural activities have a significant effect on high NO3-concentration,while the high F^(−)concentration is less influenced by anthropogenic activity.The alkaline environment favors nitrification,thus being conducive to the production of NO_(3)^(−).Finally,the health risk assessment is evaluated for different population groups.The results indicate that high NO_(3)^(−)and F^(−)concentration in groundwater would have the largest threat to children’s health.The findings of this study could contribute to the provision of a scientific basis for groundwater supply policy formulation relating to public health in Tongzhou District.

Dynamics and genetic regulation of macronutrient concentrations during grain development in maize

Nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), and potassium(K) are essential macronutrients that are crucial not only for maize growth and development, but also for crop yield and quality. The genetic basis of macronutrient dynamics and accumulation during grain filling in maize remains largely unknown. In this study, we evaluated grain N, P, and K concentrations in 206 recombinant inbred lines generated from a cross of DH1M and T877 at six time points after pollination. We then calculated conditional phenotypic values at different time intervals to explore the dynamic characteristics of the N, P, and K concentrations. Abundant phenotypic variations were observed in the concentrations and net changes of these nutrients. Unconditional quantitative trait locus(QTL) mapping revealed 41 non-redundant QTLs, including 17, 16, and 14 for the N, P, and K concentrations, respectively. Conditional QTL mapping uncovered 39 non-redundant QTLs related to net changes in the N, P, and K concentrations. By combining QTL, gene expression, co-expression analysis, and comparative genomic data, we identified 44, 36, and 44 candidate genes for the N, P, and K concentrations, respectively, including GRMZM2G371058 encoding a Doftype zinc finger DNA-binding family protein, which was associated with the N concentration, and GRMZM2G113967encoding a CBL-interacting protein kinase, which was related to the K concentration. The results deepen our understanding of the genetic factors controlling N, P, and K accumulation during maize grain development and provide valuable genes for the genetic improvement of nutrient concentrations in maize.

Study on concentration distribution and detonation characteristics for non-axisymmetric fuel dispersal

The study of non-axisymmetric fuel dispersal and detonation can provide reference for the prevention of industrial cloud explosion accidents and the design of fuel air explosive(FAE).The concentration and detonation fields of 85 kg cylindrical and fan-shaped fuel are investigated by experiments and numerical simulations.A dynamic model of the whole process for fuel dispersal and detonation is built.The concentration distribution of fuel is used as the initial condition to calculate the detonation stage,thus solving the initial value problem of detonation field.The phase and component changes of fuel cloud at different locations are compared.The fuel cloud is divided into directions of 0°,90°,135°and 180°.The results show that the maximum cloud radius is 20.94 m in 135°and the minimum is 12.04 m in 0°.The diameter of the detonation fireball is 53.6 m,and the peak temperature is 3455 K.The highest peak overpressure is 3.44 MPa in 0°and the lowest is 2.97 MPa in 135°.The proportion of liquid phase in 0°is22.90%,and the fuel loss is 11.8% and 9% higher than that in 135°and cylindrical charge,respectively.The stable propagation distance of blast wave in 135°is 42.50% longer than 0°and 28.37% longer than cylindrical charge.

Iodine Nutrition, Thyroid-stimulating Hormone, and Related Factors of Postpartum Women from three Different Areas in China: A Cross-sectional Survey

Objective Studies on the relationship between iodine,vitamin A(VA),and vitamin D(VD)and thyroid function are limited.This study aimed to analyze iodine and thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH)status and their possible relationships with VA,VD,and other factors in postpartum women.Methods A total of 1,311 mothers(896 lactating and 415 non-lactating)from Hebei,Zhejiang,and Guangxi provinces were included in this study.The urinary iodine concentration(UIC),TSH,VA,and VD were measured.Results The median UIC of total and lactating participants were 142.00µg/L and 139.95µg/L,respectively.The median TSH,VA,and VD levels in all the participants were 1.89 mIU/L,0.44μg/mL,and 24.04 ng/mL,respectively.No differences in the UIC were found between lactating and non-lactating mothers.UIC and TSH levels were significantly different among the three provinces.The rural UIC was higher than the urban UIC.Obese mothers had a higher UIC and a higher prevalence of excessive TSH.Higher UICs and TSHs levels were observed in both the VD deficiency and insufficiency groups than in the VD-sufficient group.After adjustment,no linear correlation was observed between UIC and VA/VD.No interaction was found between vitamins A/D and UIC on TSH levels.Conclusion The mothers in the present study had no iodine deficiency.Region,area type,BMI,and VD may be related to the iodine status or TSH levels.