Actual Meteorological Conditions Research Articles

A Calculation Study on the Escape of Incident Solar Radiation in Buildings with Glazing Facades

More and more modern buildings are using glass curtain walls as their building envelope. The large area of window leads to a significant increase in solar heat gain, resulting in an increase in the cooling load and energy consumption of the building envelope. In the calculation of building cooling load, the thermal performance parameter of windows, the solar heat gain coefficient, is used to calculate the solar radiation heat gain of the windows. The window-to-wall ratio of buildings with glazing facades is large, and the phenomenon of escape of incident solar radiation cannot be ignored. In order to calculate the solar radiation escape rate, a dynamic model of solar radiation escape rate incorporating the solar path tracking model is developed in this research, which can achieve big data simulation analysis based on actual meteorological conditions. The model is programmed and simulated using MATLAB R2024a software. Five representative cities from different climate regions in China are selected and the variation rule of solar radiation escape rate are analyzed on three different time scales: day, month, and year. The influence of building orientation was also calculated and analyzed. The numerical calculation results indicate that the escape solar radiation rate varies with the incident angle of solar radiation at different times. It was found that the smaller the solar azimuth angle and solar altitude angle, the smaller the escape rate of solar radiation. The latitude of a city has a significant impact on the solar radiation escape rate. The weighted average of the solar radiation escape rates for each city were calculated for both summer and winter. Regardless of the season, the city’s location, and the orientation of the room, the value of solar radiation escape rate varies from 8.64% to 10.33%, which indicates that the solar radiation escape phenomenon cannot be ignored in glass curtain wall buildings. The results can be used as a reference value of solar radiation escape rate for the correction of actual solar heat gain of buildings in different climate regions.

Ship sailing speed optimization considering dynamic meteorological conditions

Sailing speed optimization is a cost-effective strategy to improve ship energy efficiency and a viable way to fulfill emission reduction requirements. This study develops a novel ship sailing speed optimization method that considers dynamic meteorological conditions. We first develop an artificial neural network model for vessel fuel consumption rate (FCR) prediction based on a fusion dataset of ship noon reports and public meteorological data. Then, based on the predicted FCRs, the method repeatedly formulates a multistage graph based on the most recent forecasts, and optimal speeds for the remaining voyage are obtained until the vessel reaches the destination port. The computational efficiency of the optimization process is enhanced by progressively removing nodes without connections to successor nodes, starting from the penultimate stage. We examine the proposed method on two 11-day voyages of a dry bulk carrier. Results show that the proposed method demonstrates significant reductions in fuel consumption by 5.35% compared with a constant sailing speed scheme and by 7.34% compared with a static speed optimization model. In addition, the proposed model achieves similar fuel savings to those achieved by speed optimization based on actual meteorological conditions, enabling shipping companies to optimize ship sailing speeds in the absence of actual meteorological conditions. The proposed method can be applied to various types of vessels due to its flexibility and adaptability, making it a valuable tool for the shipping industry to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby supporting the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s goal of reaching net-zero GHG emissions by around 2050.

Emission Rate Estimation of Industrial Air Pollutant Emissions Based on Mobile Observation

Mobile observation has been widely used in the monitoring of air pollution. However, studies on pollution sources and emission characteristics based on mobile navigational observation are rarely reported in the literature. A method for quantitative source analysis for industrial air pollutant emissions based on mobile observations is introduced in this paper. NOx pollution identified in mobile observations is used as an example of the development of the method. A dispersion modeling scheme that fine-tuned the meteorological parameters according to the actual meteorological conditions was adopted to minimize the impact of uncertainties in meteorological conditions on the accuracy of small-scale dispersion modeling. The matching degree between simulated and observed concentrations was effectively improved through this optimization search. In response to the efficiency requirements of source resolution for multiple sources, a random search algorithm was first used to generate candidate solution samples, and then the solution samples were evaluated and optimized. Meanwhile, the new index Smatch was established to evaluate the quality of candidate samples, considering both numerical error and spatial distribution error of concentration, in order to address the non-uniqueness of the solution in the multi-source problem. Then, the necessity of considering the spatial distribution error of concentration is analyzed with the case study. The average values of NOx emission rates for the two study cases were calculated as 69.8 g/s and 70.8 g/s. The Smatch scores were 0.92–0.97 and 0.92–0.99. The results were close to the online monitoring data, and this kind of pollutant emission monitoring based on the mobile observation experiment was initially considered feasible. Additional analysis and clarifications were provided in the discussion section on the impact of uncertainties in meteorological conditions, the establishment of a priori emission inventories, and the interpretation of inverse calculation results.

Comparative Analysis of Estimated and Actual Power Self-Sufficiency Rates in Energy-Sharing Communities with Solar Power Systems

Amid the ongoing climate crisis, the international community is enacting policies to promote low-carbon energy-sharing communities. The primary objective of such communities is to enhance community-level energy self-sufficiency. Accurate energy self-sufficiency assessments are paramount in planning energy-efficient architectural designs, urban landscapes, and communal environments. In this study, the energy self-sufficiency rate of an energy-sharing community was estimated at the design stage and compared with the actual energy self-sufficiency rate calculated based on data collected over the following year (April 2022 to March 2023). The outcomes reveal that the estimated energy self-sufficiency rate is 171%, whereas the realized rate is 133%, underscoring the disparity between the projections and outcomes. An analysis of the seasonal variations in these discrepancies elucidated a correlation between the differences in the insolation levels between standard typical meteorological year (TMY) data that are conventionally used for energy generation projections and the actual meteorological conditions. Moreover, a notable incongruity surface exists between the monthly average electricity consumption of a standard four-person household, as stipulated by the Korean Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) at 273 kWh, and the empirical power consumption at 430 kWh, resulting in a variance of approximately 157 kWh. This study illuminates the complex relationship between variables affecting energy self-sufficiency in energy-sharing communities. It serves as a crucial step towards informed decision making and precision in sustainable urban energy solutions.

Aircraft noise impact prediction with incorporation of meteorological effects

As part of a research effort towards greener aviation, this study focuses on the noise impact of aircraft operations around major airports. First, a pre-existing aircraft noise prediction platform based on a simplified (semi-empirical) approach is refined, to account for all refraction effects inherited from realistic (e.g., heterogeneous) atmospheres. To do so, the platform is enhanced with a more advanced noise propagation kernel relying on Ray Tracing, which combines state-of-the-art functionalities and novel refinements (e.g., to account for the three-dimensional nature of winds). This improved prediction platform is then validated against various benchmark cases, delivering outcomes of both phenomenological and methodological natures (e.g., the importance of accounting for 3D wind patterns whilst numerically handling them with care). Finally, the platform is applied to real-life situations involving representative aircraft operations and actual meteorological conditions, revealing how weather variations can significantly alter the propagation − and thus impact − of aircraft noise.

Green Renovation and Retrofitting of Old Buildings: A Case Study of a Concrete Brick Apartment in Chengdu

With the progress of urbanization in China, the energy-saving renovation of a large number of existing buildings, especially old buildings, has become an important project for the green and low-carbon development of urban renewal. This paper takes the old brick school building in a university in Chengdu as an example. Through field research, the existing problems of the building are analyzed in detail in terms of building function, structure and appearance, and a detailed plan for functional upgrading, structural reinforcement and façade renovation is drawn up, taking into account the actual requirements and environmental status. In addition, solar photovoltaic technology is integrated into the renovation of the building’s pitched roof. Through modelling and analysis, the amount of solar energy captured by the photovoltaic roof is quantitatively simulated and the dynamic energy-saving potential of the renovation project under changing actual meteorological conditions is pre-evaluated. The preliminary results indicate that such green renovations can contribute to about 164,066 kWh annual solar energy collection and the self-use electricity from the PV roof accounts for 42–76% of total energy consumption, leading to about 60% building energy consumption conservation. The payback period of such a renovation program is assessed to be about 1.9 years, which is quite economically feasible considering the local energy tariff policy. This paper explores the feasibility and design direction of green and low-carbon renovation and upgrading of old buildings, which can provide a reference for the application of green and low-carbon renovation of local old buildings.

Study on Wind-Proof Effect and Stability of Windbreak Fence in Alpine Skiing Center

As a venue for the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the National Alpine Skiing Center is located on Xiaohaitou Mountain in Beijing’s Yanqing district, where strong winds occur frequently. To reduce the impact of strong winds on the competition, windbreak fences have been installed in the ski area. To determine the effect and stability of the windbreak fences beside the ski slope of the alpine skiing center, the numerical simulation method was used to study the performance of 3.7 m, 4.7 m and 7.9 m high wind barriers. According to the actual meteorological conditions, two kinds of inlet wind speeds of 10 m/s and 33 m/s were set. The results show that the ambient wind speed is maximum only in a small area near the opening through the windbreak fence. When the ambient wind speed is 10 and 33 m/s, the wind speed in most drainage areas behind the barrier is below 5 and 15 m/s, respectively, which is significantly lower than the wind speed of incoming flow, and the wind protection effect is obvious. When the wind speed at the entrance height is 10 m and 33 m/s, the wind-proof effect is obvious. The wind-proof effect of 7.9 m high windproof bars is better than that of 3.7 and 4.7 m high windproof bars. The wind pressure at the top of the fence is the highest, and the wind pressure also increases when the wind speed increases. Under the action of maximum wind speed, the stability of a 7.9 m high storm fence is low.

Advances in Indoor Cooking Using Solar Energy with Phase Change Material Storage Systems

One of the key areas of the UN’s sustainable development goals is growing affordable and clean energy. Utilizing solar energy that is now accessible will significantly lessen the demand for fossil fuels. Around the world, cooking is a crucial activity for homes and uses a lot of non-renewable energy. Uncontrolled firewood usage results in deforestation, whereas using biomass-related fuels in inefficient stoves can result in smoke emanating from the kitchen and associated health issues. The benefits of solar cooking include reducing smoke-related problems and saving on fossil fuels and firewood. Applying thermal storage systems in cooking helps households have all-day cooking. This review article presents the research and development of a solar cooking system that transfers solar energy into the kitchen and integrates with the thermal energy storage system, finding the factors affecting indoor solar cooking performance. Adding portable cooking utensils helps in improved solar indoor cooking. Multiple phase change materials arranged in cascaded to store thermal energy helps in quick heat transfer rate, thus enabling better and faster cooking. A novel indoor solar cooker with an innovative arrangement of evacuated tube-based compound concentrating parabolic (CPC) collectors with a cascaded latent heat thermal energy storage system is proposed and needs to be tested under actual meteorological conditions.

Experimental research on the operation characteristics of solar chimney power plant combined with distillation (SCPPCD)

In this paper, a comprehensive test platform for solar chimney power plant combined with distillation (SCPPCD) that can realize water-electricity cogeneration was designed and built. Experimental research on SCPPCD was carried out under actual meteorological conditions to explore the system operation performance and the laws of freshwater production and power generation. The interaction mechanism between parameters such as seawater temperature, airflow temperature, temperature difference between seawater and solar still cover, freshwater yield and generated power was revealed. The results show that the daily water yield of solar stills decreases from the heat collector inlet to the chimney. Solar stills are recommended to be arranged in the area from collector inlet to the one-third radius of the collector. The high-water yield period occurs between sunset and 1–3 a.m., and it contributes most of the freshwater produced. Temperature difference is the main factor affecting water production during the rising period of freshwater production, and seawater temperature is the main factor affecting freshwater production during the decline period. The maximum temperature rise of airflow in the chimney is 17 ℃, and the temperature rise is maintained above 5 ℃ at night. The variation of generator power is similar to that of airflow temperature rise, and the maximum power reaches 0.71 mW. This study provides detailed experimental data and theoretical reference for future mathematical simulation research and commercial application of SCPPCD.

First test field performance of highly efficient flat plate solar collectors with transparent insulation and low-cost overheating protection

The present work demonstrates prototypes of highly efficient flat plate solar thermal collectors prototypes based on transparent insulation materials (TIM) technology for efficiency improvement and an overheating protection system. The design and optimization of the collectors have been numerically carried out using a previously developed simulation tool based on an in-house software platform (NEST) capable of simulating all the entities constituting the system as a whole and using efficient coupling between the elements. Three design variants for the demonstration have been previously tested under laboratory conditions. These collectors are then mounted on the roof of a hospital building. Their performance is comparatively tested along with a conventional flat plate solar collector, under actual meteorological conditions and during long periods. The energy collected is about 2.5 and 1.4 times higher than standard collectors in winter and spring. Thus, due to the long-term exposure of the collectors, aspects such as reliability, durability, energy performance, and correct functioning of the protection system have been analyzed to improve the detected shortcomings for the future generations of the present design.

Modeling of Safe Distance Between Ship Routes and Offshore Wind Farm Based on Tolerable Collision Probability

With the continuous increase of offshore wind farms and other offshore regional buildings, the contradiction between them and the navigation safety in the densely distributed areas of offshore ship tracks is increasingly obvious. It is urgent to build a safe distance model based on the actual sea condition to reduce the mutual influence. Based on the drift distance of ships in the boundary water areas of the wind farm under the actual meteorological and hydrological conditions, as well as the tolerable collision probability, reliability model and the normal distribution trend of ships in the ship routes, and the probability model of safe distance between ship routes and wind farm is built in the end. Based on the example and the tolerable collision probability of ships, the safe distance is analyzed, the analysis results show that the calculation model can determine the safe distance according to the control requirements of the collision probability between the ship and the offshore wind farm. In addition, the collision probability and the safe distance obtained are basically consistent with the safe distance published by the local maritime authority in combination with the changes of the output results caused by the velocity difference of the ship. The model lays a theoretical foundation on offshore wind farm site selection optimization, route boundary demarcation, ship safety and maritime supervision.

Weather suitability for outdoor tourism in three European regions in first decades of the twenty-first century

Outdoor tourism and recreational activities strongly depend on actual meteorological conditions. Traditionally, in three studied regions, the peak of tourists’ streams concentrates in summer months. In the present study, we assess suitability of weather conditions for various forms of outdoor tourism in different regions of Serbia, Poland and Ukraine. Additionally, how the location of the station differentiates temporal patterns of weather suitability will be discussed. To analyse the suitability of weather conditions for various forms of outdoor recreation, we have chosen 23 meteorological stations of the national weather networks which represent different tourism areas and destinations. For each weather station, daily data for the period 2000–2017 of air temperature, relative humidity, total cloud cover and wind speed (at 10 m above ground) for 12 UTC as well as the daily maximum and minimum temperature, precipitation totals and snow cover depth were applied. Suitability of climate for outdoor recreation and tourism is assessed by the Weather Suitability Index (WSI) based on Błażejczyk’s bio-thermal weather classification. The results of research show that passive forms of recreation (sun and air bathing) are preferred mostly in months from May till August or September. For the active forms of recreation, weather in summer months is very oppressive, especially in the resorts located in the south (Serbia, southern Ukraine). Active forms of recreation are preferred there in autumn, winter and spring months.

ВИКОРИСТАННЯ РАДАРНОЇ СИСТЕМИ MFTR-2100/40 ДЛЯ ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ БАЛІСТИЧНИХ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИК АРТИЛЕРІЙСЬКИХ СНАРЯДІВ ТА СКЛАДАННЯ ТАБЛИЦЬ СТРІЛЬБИ

У статті проведено аналіз методик визначення балістичних характеристик снарядів для складання таблиць стрільби та вивчення можливостей використання радарної системи MFTR‑2100/40 під час випробування артилерійського та стрілецького озброєння різного функціонального призначення.

An Optimal Distribution Model of Emergency Materials Based on Disaster Weather

Effective support of emergency materials is a necessary prerequisite for post-disaster emergency rescue. The transportation and distribution of post-disaster emergency materials includes two stages: from storage warehouses and material distribution centers outside the disaster area to emergency distribution centers outside the disaster area, and from emergency distribution centers to rescue points in the disaster area. Emergency material support has the characteristics of urgent demand and relative shortage of materials. Especially, the transportation of materials from supply points outside the disaster-stricken areas to emergency material distribution centers, along the way, affected by the actual traffic capacity and meteorological conditions, will have a significant impact on the efficient distribution of emergency materials. This paper deals with the optimization of transportation allocation from emergency material supply points to emergency material distribution centers in the periphery of disaster areas. Based on the factors affecting transportation efficiency such as road resistance parameters, attenuation coefficient, and disaster intensity, an optimal allocation model of emergency materials is established, which minimizes the sum of transportation cost, construction cost of distribution center, and penalty cost of transportation time. The validity and feasibility of the model are analyzed and studied by an example. The experimental results show that the attenuation coefficient of the transportation line and the disaster intensity of the road section have important influence on the emergency material allocation scheme. The emergency material allocation scheme formulated by the optimization model is scientific and reasonable.

The Influence of Weather on the Incidence of Primary Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BackgroundIntracerebral hemorrhage has been associated with changes in various weather conditions. The primary aim of this study was to examine the collective influence of temperature, barometric pressure, and dew point temperature on the incidence of primary spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). MethodsBetween January 2013 and December 2016, patients with sICH due to hypertension or amyloid angiopathy with a known time of onset were identified prospectively. Meteorological variables 6 hours prior to time of onset were obtained from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration via two weather stations. Using a Monte-Carlo simulation, random populations of meteorological conditions in a 6-hour time window during the same years were generated. The actual meteorological conditions 6-hours prior to sICH were compared to those from the randomly generated populations. The false discovery rate method was used to identify significant meteorological variables. ResultsTime of onset was identified in 455 of 603 (75.5%) patients. Distribution curves for change in temperature, mean barometric pressure, and change in barometric pressure 6-hours prior to hemorrhage ictus were found to be significantly different from the random populations. (FDR approach P < .05). For a given change in temperature associated with intracerebral hemorrhage, mean barometric pressure was higher (1018 millibar (mb) versus 1016 mb, P = .03). Barometric pressure data was not influenced by variations in temperature. ConclusionsWe concluded that barometric pressure primarily influences the incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage. The association described in the literature between temperature and intracerebral hemorrhage is likely confounded by variations in barometric pressure.

Coupling building energy simulation software with microclimatic simulation for the evaluation of the impact of urban outdoor conditions on the energy consumption and indoor environmental quality

The indoor energy simulation software of buildings, by default do not include the actual meteorological conditions (outside humidity, temperature, etc.) but uses average external weather data obtained by statistical analysis, which do not take into account local outdoor microclimate variations due to the urban landscape. This may lead to miscalculation of the needed energy for cooling and heating if the model is integrated in a real time building control scheme. Another important parameter in the energy simulation is the convection heat transfer coefficient between the outside environment and the building outside walls. The coefficient is calculated, in most energy simulation software, based on equations generated by wind tunnel experiments. In our approach a microclimatic environment simulation coupled with the indoor energy simulation will calculate dynamically the convection heat transfer coefficient between the outside environment and the building outside walls. The use of the meteorological data produced by a microclimatic simulation along with the dynamic calculation of the convection heat transfer coefficient is implemented in this work to achieve a better energy simulation of the building. Finally, the coupling of the two domains can lead to a ±40% difference in heating/cooling needs.

Emissions Variability Processor (EMVAP): Design, evaluation, and application

Emissions of pollutants such as SO2 and NOx from external combustion sources can vary widely depending on fuel sulfur content, load, and transient conditions such as startup, shutdown, and maintenance/malfunction. While monitoring will automatically reflect variability from both emissions and meteorological influences, dispersion modeling has been typically conducted with a single constant peak emission rate. To respond to the need to account for emissions variability in addressing probabilistic 1-hr ambient air quality standards for SO2 and NO2, we have developed a statistical technique, the Emissions Variability Processor (EMVAP), which can account for emissions variability in dispersion modeling through Monte Carlo sampling from a specified frequency distribution of emission rates. Based upon initial AERMOD modeling of from 1 to 5 years of actual meteorological conditions, EMVAP is used as a postprocessor to AERMOD to simulate hundreds or even thousands of years of concentration predictions. This procedure uses emissions varied hourly with a Monte Carlo sampling process that is based upon the user-specified emissions distribution, from which a probabilistic estimate can be obtained of the controlling concentration. EMVAP can also accommodate an advanced Tier 2 NO2 modeling technique that uses a varying ambient ratio method approach to determine the fraction of total oxides of nitrogen that are in the form of nitrogen dioxide. For the case of the 1-hr National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS, established for SO2 and NO2), a “critical value” can be defined as the highest hourly emission rate that would be simulated to satisfy the standard using air dispersion models assuming constant emissions throughout the simulation. The critical value can be used as the starting point for a procedure like EMVAP that evaluates the impact of emissions variability and uses this information to determine an appropriate value to use for a longer term (e.g., 30-day) average emission rate that would still provide protection for the NAAQS under consideration. This paper reports on the design of EMVAP and its evaluation on several field databases that demonstrate that EMVAP produces a suitably modest overestimation of design concentrations. We also provide an example of an EMVAP application that involves a case in which a new emission limitation needs to be considered for a hypothetical emission unit that has infrequent higher-than-normal SO2 emissions.ImplicationsEmissions of pollutants from combustion sources can vary widely depending on fuel sulfur content, load, and transient conditions such as startup and shutdown. While monitoring will automatically reflect this variability on measured concentrations, dispersion modeling is typically conducted with a single peak emission rate assumed to occur continuously. To realistically account for emissions variability in addressing probabilistic 1-hr ambient air quality standards for SO2 and NO2, the authors have developed a statistical technique, the Emissions Variability Processor (EMVAP), which can account for emissions variability in dispersion modeling through Monte Carlo sampling from a specified frequency distribution of emission rates.

Potential solar thermal integration in Spanish combined cycle gas turbines

Abstract Combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs) are volumetric machines, which means that their net power output decreases at air temperatures above the design point. Such temperatures generally occur during periods of high solar irradiation. Many countries where these conditions occur, including Spain, have installed a significant number of CCGTs in recent years, with the subsequent yield losses in the summer. This implies enormous potential for solar hybridization, increasing production in peak hours and overall efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions. This paper analyzes the overall potential for solar thermal integration in 51 CCGTS (25,340 MW) in mainland Spain under different operating scenarios based on increasing yield, solar fraction and the hourly operational range adapted to the Spanish electricity market, considering actual meteorological conditions. A production model for integrating solar energy into combined cycles is proposed and described and the code in R is freely released so that the assessment can be replicated.

Rainfall patterns triggering shallow flowslides in pyroclastic soils

In the context of landslide-prone pyroclastic soils this paper investigates the physical significance of antecedent rainfalls in relation to the major rainfall event and the influence exerted by evaporation. The work is based on results from tests using a physical model, developed to characterise the hydraulic response of a pyroclastic soil volume subjected to actual meteorological conditions. Rainfall, evaporation, water storage, soil suction and soil volumetric water content were continuously monitored over a meteorological window exceeding two years. Interpretation of the experimental results provides three characteristic values of water storage which are used to explain the physical significance of antecedent and triggering precipitations and shed light on the aspects of major rainfall events triggering landslides.

Experimental Investigation of an Integrated Solar Green House for Water Desalination, Plantation and Wastewater Treatment in Remote Arid Egyptian Communities

Desalination/plantation/treatment is the current article target to supply an adequate amount of drinking and irrigation water as well as wastewater treatment for safe disposal to people across the new communities along the remote and arid areas in Egypt. In the present study, an Integrated Solar Green House (ISGH) for water desalination, plantation and wastewater treatment is constructed and field tested under actual meteorological conditions at Giza, Egypt. The ISGH system uses the solar water desalination principle and works by saturating air with moisture vaporizing from brackish/seawater inside a greenhouse followed by dehumidifying, causing freshwater condensation. Different experiments have been performed on the ISGH to evaluate its thermal performance under the actual field meteorological conditions. The results indicated that the present ISGH can be used successfully to provide a low-cost solution in arid areas, where the fresh water is very limited. In addition, it is a relevant method of cultivation that provides desalinated water, cooling environment and humidifying environment in an integrated system. Self-sufficient water production combined with low internal irrigation requirements mean that the ISGH offers significant water saving by reducing agricultural demand. The present system fulfils the safe disposal of treated waste water and to reduce the highly contaminated/ polluted waste water discharged directly or indirectly on the ground water.