Assessment Of Different Technologies Research Articles

Assessment of different technologies using graphene-based materials for the adsorption of atrazine in polluted Water

Assessment of different technologies using graphene-based materials for the adsorption of atrazine in polluted Water

Energy from forest residues in Turkey: An environmental and economic life cycle assessment of different technologies

Forest residues, as cheap and abundant feedstock, can replace current fossil-energy sources, helping to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve energy security. Given 27 % of total lands covered with forests, Turkey has a remarkable potential of forest residues from harvesting and industrial activities. This paper thus focuses on evaluating the life cycle environmental and economic sustainability of heat and electricity generation utilising forest residues in Turkey. Two types of forest residues (wood chips and wood pellets) and three energy conversion options are considered: direct combustion (heat only, electricity only and cogenerated heat and power (CHP)), gasification (for CHP) and co-firing with lignite. Results suggest that direct combustion of wood chips for cogeneration of heat and power has the lowest environmental impacts and levelised costs for both functional units (per MWh heat and per MWh electricity generation) considered. Compared to fossil-fuel sources, energy from forest residues has a potential to reduce the climate change impact as well as fossil-fuel, water and ozone depletion by >80 %. However, it also causes an increase in some other impacts, such as terrestrial ecotoxicity. The bioenergy plants have also lower levelised costs than electricity from the grid (except those using wood pellets and gasification regardless of the feedstock) and heat from natural gas. Electricity-only plants using wood chips achieve the lowest LCC, generating net profits. All biomass plants, except the pellet boiler, pay back in their lifetime; however, the economic feasibility of electricity-only and CHP plants is highly sensitive to subsidies for bioelectricity and efficient use of heat. Utilising the currently available forest residues in Turkey (5.7 Mt/yr) for energy provision could potentially reduce the national GHG emissions by 7.3 Mt/yr (1.5 %) and save $0.5 bn/yr (5 %) in avoided fossil-fuel import costs.

COVID-19 Detection by Means of ECG, Voice, and X-ray Computerized Systems: A Review.

Since the beginning of 2020, Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) has attracted the attention of the World Health Organization (WHO). This paper looks into the infection mechanism, patient symptoms, and laboratory diagnosis, followed by an extensive assessment of different technologies and computerized models (based on Electrocardiographic signals (ECG), Voice, and X-ray techniques) proposed as a diagnostic tool for the accurate detection of COVID-19. The found papers showed high accuracy rate results, ranging between 85.70% and 100%, and F1-Scores from 89.52% to 100%. With this state-of-the-art, we concluded that the models proposed for the detection of COVID-19 already have significant results, but the area still has room for improvement, given the vast symptomatology and the better comprehension of individuals' evolution of the disease.

Health technology assessments and real-world evidence: tell us what you want, what you really, really want.

Health technology assessments and real-world evidence: tell us what you want, what you really, really want.

Energy from Forest Residues in Turkey: An Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Assessment of Different Technologies

Energy from Forest Residues in Turkey: An Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Assessment of Different Technologies

Energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and environmental assessment of different technologies in the production of bio-jet fuel by palm oil biorefineries

This work explores palm oil and the residual biomass from oil palm extraction to obtain valuable products via sustainable routes in integrated biorefineries, which were separated into three scenarios: Baseline Scenario is the current Brazilian application of palm in the energy sector using a biodiesel plant with a cogeneration system; Scenario 1 integrates a Hydrotreatment of Esters and Fatty Acids unit to produce bio-jet fuel into the previous case; and Scenario 2, integrates a second-generation ethanol plant and an Alcohol-to-Jet process in order to obtain bio-jet fuel from the second generation. Taking into account that the selection and integration of processes carried out in a biorefinery would impact the overall efficiency of the system, the production costs and the impacts on the environment of the plant make it is necessary to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the system that allows characterizing and quantify the energy, economic and environmental aspects related to the biomass energy conversion. A methodology of analysis was proposed to address all of these aspects and to provide results that allow for a decision-making guide in technology selection. It was identified that the main need for improvement in the biorefineries relies on cogeneration, which exergy destruction rate ranged from 167.99 to 213.63 MW. The unit exergoeconomic costs founded for glycerol, biodiesel, and electricity were all lower than the market costs, the bio-jet fuel costs, from hydrotreatment, were nearly the same as those from the Brazilian market 0.49 and 0.46 USD/L, respectively. However, the costs of upgrading ethanol were the highest found and way higher than the market rate at 5.15 USD/L. Environmentally, the selected configuration of biorefineries provides all produced biofuel environmental gains compared to conventional non-renewable fuels. Biodiesel and bio-jet fuels would avoid emission of 324.65 kgCO2eq/t and 3092.45 kgCO2eq/t, respectively.

Environmental assessment of different technologies for bioethanol production from Cynara cardunculus: A Life Cycle Assessment study

Waste biomass for biofuels production can contribute to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and consequently, a decrease of CO2 emissions. In this work, the environmental feasibility of cardoon-to-bioethanol process was evaluated using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). For this purpose, three processes involving different biomass pretreatments (dilute acid (DA), single steam explosion (SE) and steam explosion + alkaline extraction (SE + AE)) were simulated by using SuperPro Designer 9.5. Simulation results and literature data were used to perform LCA by using Gabi 6.0 software. LCA results showed that the pretreatment step is the main contributor to the overall impact in the dilute acid case due to the large energy requirements. The use of steam-explosion-based pretreatments drastically reduce environmental impacts regarding to DA process, being fertilizers, chemicals and enzyme production the main important contributors. By combining single steam explosion and subsequent alkaline extraction, the environmental performance is improved compared to single steam explosion due to a reduction of the energy consumption. However, higher toxicity impacts were obtained mainly because of the larger amount of enzyme and chemicals required. GHG emissions and energy balance of bioethanol from cardoon falls within the values reported for similar lignocellulosic raw materials. Finally, the comparative study of bioethanol from cardoon and fossil gasoline indicates that steam explosion-based processes are environmentally superior in most impact categories, obtaining a dramatic reduction of the primary energy demand (80%) and the GHG emissions (45%).

Two-stage leak detection in vacuum bags for the production of fibre-reinforced composite components

The increasing application of fibre-reinforced composite components in aviation results in new problems in production when compared to the conventional production of components from aluminium alloys. For instance, the existence of leakages in the vacuum bag can substantially impact the component quality. A significant increase of both time and cost, and even the rejection of the entire component are caused. Commercially available methods are suitable for identifying leakages in vacuum bags; however, their application is predominantly associated with high outlay in labour and time, and, thus, high costs. Market analysis and comparison of different available leakage detection technologies conducted in the course of the advanced detection of leakages project with our collaborative partner Airbus Operations GmbH Stade has shown that the combination of run-time based leakage detection and infrared thermography is the most promising concept for quick, reliable, and automated identification of leakages in vacuum bags for large components. In combination, both technologies are able to compensate for their respective detection limits, and significantly reduce the time required. In addition to the analysis and assessment of different technologies for leakage detection, the investigations presented also include the development of run-time based leakage detection using sensors integrated into the vacuum bag. Furthermore, the linking, further development, and automation of leakage detection using infrared thermography are described.

Assessment of Different Technologies for Managing Yard Waste Using Analytic Hierarchy Process

The heterogeneity of solid waste generated by a large population of different socio-economic backgrounds in India makes it difficult to have a universal best treatment option. The present study reports a comprehensive assessment of six different technologies for managing yard waste using analytic hierarchy process (AHP): composting, incineration, landfill, anaerobic digestion, pelletization-gasification, and pelletization-pyrolysis. Four criteria, namely, environmental, economic, technical, and socio-political have been considered for evaluation, with each of these having further sub-criteria. The 4 criteria, 17 sub-criteria, and the 6 alternatives are evaluated using AHP for two different cases: one for calculated weights based on the objective, and other assuming equal weights for each criterion and sub-criterion. The pairwise comparison matrices are formed using data collected from literature and the responses recorded from the questionnaire survey. The results are then synthesized to find the most appropriate process for managing yard waste. For both, case 1 and case 2, pelletization-gasification (PG) was the most promising technology followed by pelletization-pyrolysis (PP). Landfill (LF) and incineration (IN) technologies proved to be the least preferred alternatives for managing yard waste. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed to investigate the effect of variation in importance of different criteria on the final rankings of the technology alternatives.

A conceptual life cycle-based sustainability framework for assessing transportation vehicles

Life cycle assessment has been used extensively in the transportation sector to determine impacts of transportation infrastructure and other components; however, the majority of these studies focus on environmental life cycle impacts. This study presents applications of the life cycle assessment method in transportation and develops a sustainability framework that incorporates life cycle impacts for assessing urban transportation vehicles. The framework uses five sustainability dimensions, a set of 32 sustainability indicators, 14 midpoint impacts, seven endpoint impacts and three sustainability indices for the assessment of different technologies of urban transportation vehicles. The framework aims to enhance decision making by aggregating data, which are used to quantify multiple indicators, into a different form of indices representing environment, technology performance, energy, economy and user-based impacts.

A conceptual life cycle-based sustainability framework for assessing transportation vehicles

Life cycle assessment has been used extensively in the transportation sector to determine impacts of transportation infrastructure and other components; however, the majority of these studies focus on environmental life cycle impacts. This study presents applications of the life cycle assessment method in transportation and develops a sustainability framework that incorporates life cycle impacts for assessing urban transportation vehicles. The framework uses five sustainability dimensions, a set of 32 sustainability indicators, 14 midpoint impacts, seven endpoint impacts and three sustainability indices for the assessment of different technologies of urban transportation vehicles. The framework aims to enhance decision making by aggregating data, which are used to quantify multiple indicators, into a different form of indices representing environment, technology performance, energy, economy and user-based impacts.

Innovations in the establishment physiology technologies milking high-productive cows

As a result of continuous development and improvement of technology and technical devices passed a long way from mechanical milking machines, which traced the milk from the udder of a cow squeeze devices to stump mechanical operating in automatic mode, by continuous extraction by action of constant vacuum pressure to cyclical changes (two- and three-stroke milking machines). As a result of long development and differences of opinion offered by designers and authors of milking machines of today there are dozens of different types of milking means other than technological features, and by design. The design of milking machines, apparatus and technology should provide maximum stimulation conditional and unconditional reflexes of milk cows. Only under such physiological processes functioning animal can fully realize their genetic potential. For identifying promising innovative technologies and engineering solutions necessary to develop a method for evaluating their physiology that creates preconditions effective use of high producing dairy herds. Based on the overall performance efficiency of milking machines installed main indicators served as a basis to develop physiological way of milking technology assessment (Ukraine patent № 113769 on 10.02.2017). Physiological assessment of different technologies milking is carried out by comparing coefficients (К0), which includes the average value quantity latent period (t, s), the average intensity lactation (Q, d/s) and the average number of remaining milk (q, r). As a result of the definition К0 four milking machines installed, which is the least physiological milking machine № 3, since it has the smallest value К0 – 0.85. Most physiological was milking machine № 2 – К0 is 1,20. In addition, the milking machine № 1 was more than physiological than apparatus № 4 (1.04 > 0.98). Synthesis coefficients eliminates bias estimation parameters lactation, part К0, the value of which may differ little from each other, and provides a quantitative description physiological.

Enhanced data envelopment analysis for sustainability assessment: A novel methodology and application to electricity technologies

Abstract Quantifying the level of sustainability attained by a system is a challenging task due to the need to consider a wide range of economic, environmental and social aspects simultaneously. This work explores the application of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the sustainability ‘efficiency’ of a system. We propose an enhanced DEA methodology that uses the concept of ‘order of efficiency’ to compare and rank alternatives according to the extent to which they adhere to sustainability principles. The capabilities of the proposed approach are illustrated through a sustainability assessment of different technologies for electricity generation in United Kingdom. In addition to screening the alternatives based on sustainability principles, enhanced DEA provides improvement targets for the least sustainable alternatives that, if achieved, would make them more sustainable. The enhanced DEA shows clearly the ultimate distance to sustainability, helping industry and policy makers to improve the efficiency of technologies, products and policies.

A Multicenter, Prospective, Advanced Diagnostic Bronchoscopy Outcomes Registry

Multiple new diagnostic bronchoscopic technologies are available, but little is known about their comparative performance and specific yield when adjusted for location of lesions, target size, and diagnosis. We present a multi-institutional prospective-outcomes database to assess diagnostic yields of advanced bronchoscopic procedures, as well as related morbidity and mortality. Data were extracted and reviewed from an ongoing, paper-based, prospective, multi-institutional outcomes database for advanced diagnostic bronchoscopic procedures. All consecutive eligible patients are entered into this database, and information on demographics, procedure, and lesion characteristics as well as complications were documented. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed. A total of 310 diagnostic procedures were performed over a 1-year period in four institutions by 15 different clinicians. The majority of the patients were white (66%), male (56%), former smokers (55%), with a mean age of 61 +/- 14 years. The average procedure time was 36 min, and the most common procedure was transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) (n = 198). Nodal tissue was obtained in 82.3% from TBNA sampling with a mean of three passes using endobronchial ultrasound guidance with a 22-gauge needle and mostly without on-site cytology. The overall diagnostic yield for all procedures was 75%. There were few complications, and none required a change in disposition. Prospective and ongoing data analysis for bronchoscopic procedures is feasible and valuable. Lesion-adjusted diagnostic yields can be documented and potentially used for comparative assessment of different technologies and operators, as well as benchmarking and quality improvement initiatives. Extending the number of participating centers and web-based submission to minimize missing data components are the next, already-initiated steps.

An analysis of industrial water conservation potential and selection of key technologies based on the IWCPA model

This paper analyses the changes in the water efficiency of the production processes and technologies in five high-water-consuming sectors (HWCS; thermal power, iron and steel, paper production, textiles, and petrochemical) since 1980. The study concludes that the main factors constraining water conservation include: backward technologies and processes; irrational industrial scale and composition and raw materials composition; as well as regional distribution. Based on 1980 data on the level of technology, technological progress, and water efficiency, the study uses the bottom–up modeling approach; the end-of-pipe water use analysis method; and the cost-benefit analysis method to establish the industrial water conservation potential analysis (IWCPA) model. Taking 2002 as the baseline year, the IWCPA is used to simulate and calculate water demand and water conservation potential of China's industries under different technology scenarios between 2003 and 2030. Based on the assessment of different technologies for individual sectors and across sectors, key priority technologies are proposed for five HWCS. Lastly, the paper, based on an uncertainty analysis of the parameters used in the model, talks about the impact of water pricing and other factors on future water demand and water conservation potential by industrial sectors. The paper shows that the demand for water by China's industrial sectors will experience sustained growth till 2020, and that this trend is unlikely to be reversed unless measures are taken to promote water conservation through upgrading technology and making industrial structural adjustments. The water conservation potential of key common technologies accounts for over 60% of water consumption by high-water-consuming sectors. The economic benefits from improving production processes are far greater than those from reuse or recycling technologies only. The current price of water is too low, and needs to be raised to at least 2.7 Yuan/ton in order to fully exploit the potential for industrial water conservation.

DRY BENEFICIATION OF COAL—A REVIEW

Coal continues to play a major role in the economic development of a country, especially in metallurgical industries and conventional power generation plants. For effective utilization of high ash coals, it is necessary to beneficiate them. The wet beneficiation process for coal cleaning is currently the predominant method of purification of coal in the world. However, dry beneficiation of coal has obvious advantages over wet processes. The dry processes for coal are based on the physical properties of coal and its associated mineral matters. Different types of equipment for dry beneficiation have been developed, based on the exploitation of physical properties such as density, size, shape, magnetic susceptibility, and electrical conductivity. This article presents a summary assessment of different technologies and their performance in the beneficiation process of high ash coals with particular reference to Indian thermal coals. The literature on sorting, air jigs, magnetic separation, air-dense medium fluidized bed separation, and electrostatic separation is summarized and discussed.

The use of OR models in the assessment of alternative wave energy devices

Abstract: The author outlines the way in which OR models can be used to aid the development and technical assessment of different technologies for obtaining energy from the wave motion of the seas. The cost of prototype devices would be enormous and their use would be quite impracticable for comparing different technologies. The author's models are sophisticated enough to give an initial assessment of different devices using the input from relatively inexpensive small‐scale physical models. They are capable of varying the design parameters of each device and locating optimum values, thus ensuring that comparisons are made under the most favourable conditions.