Biggest Water Research Articles

Moisture localisation in unsaturated materials using nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, X-ray computed tomography and pore network modeling

Due to the detrimental effects of moisture in the built environment, there is continuous interest in non-destructive experimental techniques that localize and/or quantify moisture in materials. To this aim, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments, X-ray computed tomography (XCT) and pore network modelling (PNM) are heavily researched. Since these techniques are all based on different physical principles and assumptions, comparing their results is not only necessary, but can provide valuable insights as well. Since most research, centered around these three approaches, solely focuses on water-saturated materials, in this study, these approaches are used to determine the size distributions of the water islands in unsaturated materials. By comparing the results of all three methods, it can be concluded that NMR mainly focuses on the biggest water islands/columns (i.e. large pore corners and filled pores) while the other techniques are capable of representing all water islands. PNM and XCT imaging provide similar results with the exception that PNM slightly overestimates both size as well as quantity of the water islands trapped in pore corners. Nevertheless, due to PNM being by far the fastest approach, it remains a valuable first estimation of the distribution of moisture in unsaturated materials.

Relationship between Water Use and Energy Generation from Different Power Generation Types in a Megacity Facing Water Shortages: A Case Study in Shenzhen

Using less water to generate more power is a goal of the worldwide power industry, but this is difficult to achieve because of the lack of long-term, operational data-based studies. This challenge is especially severe for megacities facing water shortages. This study used long-term data (2005–2015) from Shenzhen, a megacity of over 20 million people that faces severe water shortages, to determine the relationship between water and energy for different types of power generation. It was found that power generation consumed huge amounts of water and that cooling water was the biggest water use category. Smaller power plants, such as the Yueliangwan power plant, which uses the closed cooling method, consume 2.36 million m3 of tap water per year, equivalent to the water supply of a small reservoir. However, larger power plants, such as the Mawan power plant and Dayawan nuclear power plant (using the open cooling method), use 0.92 and 3.42 billion m3 of seawater for cooling every year, respectively, equivalent to about 60% and 200% of the total annual water supply in Shenzhen, respectively. Therefore, large thermal power plants and nuclear power plants should be built in coastal areas with rich water resources rather than in arid or semi-arid areas. Additionally, the water use efficiency of nuclear power plants was found to be 0.22 m3/kWh, which was significantly lower than that of coal-fired power plants (0.10 m3/kWh) and gas-fired power plants (0.09 m3/kWh). Third, the water use efficiency of the closed cooling method was ten times higher than that of the open cooling method. Therefore, the closed cooling method is suitable for power plants constructed in areas without rich water resources. These results are useful for balancing the water and energy demands in the changing world.

Wax removal from textile wastewater using an innovative hybrid baffle tank

Textile industries are among the biggest water consumers and hazardous wastewater generators. Due to the use of wax as physical resistance in textile industries’ procedures, efficient pre-treatment is required before conventional wastewater treatment process. Conventional methods of wax removal suffer from efficiency per hour of less than 50%. This study proposes a sustainable design and application of a baffle separation tank with nano sodium silicate, as a key chemical, in order to remove waxes, from textile wastewater. The baffle tank is equipped with eight baffle layers of different heights, encompassing three separation zones. Different design parameters and related design equations for baffle tank, were studied. Based on the results, optimum operational conditions were discovered and applied for two sets of synthetized textile wastewater containing constant amounts of wax, dye and nano sodium silicate but different reactive dyes. The results indicate the total wax removal efficiency by the baffle tank in the optimum pre-treatment time (one hour) was more than 95%, while the conventional method achieved less than 89% in the optimum operational time (eight hours) in both sets. The efficiency of other chemicals removal (e.g. sodium-silicate) during pre-treatment was in the range of 29–32.4% and 12.5–13.6% for sets one and two, respectively.

Change in regional land subsidence in Beijing after south-to-north water diversion project observed using satellite radar interferometry

ABSTRACTOver-exploitation of groundwater has caused severe land subsidence in Beijing during the past two decades. Since the middle route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP), the biggest water diversion project in China, started to deliver water to Beijing in December 2014, the groundwater shortage has been greatly alleviated. This study aims to analyze the impact of SNWDP on the spatiotemporal evolution of land subsidence in Beijing. Change in surface displacement in Beijing after SNWDP was retrieved and the spatiotemporal patterns of the change were analyzed based on long time-series Envisat Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) (2004–2010), Radarsat-2 (2011–2014), and Sentinel-1 (2015–2017) satellite datasets using Permanent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR) techniques. Land subsidence unevenness index (LSUI) was proposed to represent the spatial unevenness of surface displacement. PS-Time approach was then adapted to examine the time series evolution of LSUI. The results showed that the InSAR measurements agree well with leveling measurements with R2 over 0.96. Although the maximum annual displacement rate reached −159.7 mm/year by 2017, over 57% of the area within 25 mm/year contour line showed decreasing or unchanged displacement rate after the south-north water delivered to Beijing. The settlement rate in Chaoyang-Dongbalizhuang (CD) subsidence center has decreased for 26 mm/year from 2011–2014 to 2015–2017. Only around 15% of the area experienced continued accelerating settlement rate through the three time periods, which was mainly located in the area with the compressible layer thickness over 190 m, while the magnitude of velocity increment considerably decreased after SNWDP. Land subsidence unevenness, represented by LSUI, developed more slowly after SNWDP than that during 2011–2014. However, LSUI at the edge of settlement funnel has kept developing and reached 1.7‰ in 2017. Decreasing groundwater level decline after SNWDP and the positive relationship (R2 > 0.74) between land subsidence and groundwater level clearly showed impacts of SNWDP on the alleviating land subsidence. Other reasons include geological background, increasing precipitation, and strict water management policies implemented during these years.

Виявлення залежностей експериментальних досліджень крайового кута змочування

Various types of printed substrates were researched for their capabilities to interact with liquids, the contact wetting angle was studied as well as the adhesion of the liquid to the substrate’s surface. The methodology of detailed experimental research was developed in order to thoroughly study the phenomena occurring on the printed substrate’s surface (several paper types, designer’s cardboards and papers, films) while being wetted by the liquid. The experimental research frames as well as the timeframes had been set, the experimental material selection was explained, and also the results were fixated.Based on the obtained experimental data for contact wetting angle change the approximated graphical dependencies were built. Gained table data were additionally checked to be corresponding with the statistical methods of data processing and as a result the linear equations were obtained showing the relation between the contact wetting angle with the time based on the smallest quadrants method, the kinetics had been also analyzed from the acceleration point of view. The average approximation tolerance and the determination coefficient were defined. The water penetration dynamics into the paper’s internal structure was analyzed based on the experimental data and its’ mathematical explanation. The correlative ties of the biggest water penetration resistance Tmax from the porosity in the point indicator (T95) and from surface liquid volume W were determined.For ink jet printing, you can use coated and offset paper, which is confirmed by the results of the research. The use of design paper and films can cause the process of fixing ink to the imprint and obtaining poor quality products. The linear dependence of the winding angle on time is established.The point-to-point porosity (T95) and the surface water level influence the greatest resistance to water penetration Tmax. In this case, the wetting of the surface of the paper has the greatest impact on the investigated index. All communication forces, t-statistics, are statistically significant in the appropriate choice of significance level.

KETERSEDIAAN DAN KEBUTUHAN AIR DI PROVINSI JAWA TENGAH DAN JAWA TIMUR

There are two objectives of this research. First, to calculate water available and water need in the research area and second, to analysis the water balance. Water available cover rivers water and springs water, whereas water need cover domestic usage, industrial usage, rivers protect, cattle, fi shery and irrigation. As a result, show that the biggest water available in Central Java is in Serayu River Basin namely 8615.33 million m3/year, whereas the smallest is in Juana River Basin namely 88.39 million m3/year. In East Java, the biggest water available is in Downstream Bengawan Solo River Basin namely 26149.38 million m3/year, whereas the smallest is in Luminu Penguluran River Basin namely 45.26 million m3/year. Base on the water balance, the water balance of both province are also variatifl y. In Central Java, Serang-Lusi, Juana and Citanduy River Basin get water defi cit along years, whereas in East Java, it is just Luminu Penguluran River Basin that get defi cit along years. According the water surplus, Serayu River Basin in Central Java and Downstream Bengawan Solo River Basin in East Java get water surplus along years.Key words : water available, water need, water balance

Agricultural water-saving potential in Guanzhong Irrigation Area in different hydrologic years

There has been a rampant water shortage in the Wei River Basin in recent years, significantly affecting the ecological and economic functions of the river and drastically limiting the socio-economic development of the administrative regions within the basin. Although the respective local/national governments have adopted adjustment strategies of the water use structure, agriculture has remained the biggest water user, accounting for over half of total water use in the basin. Meanwhile, agricultural water use efficiency in the basin has been some 1 kg·m?3, much lower than that in developed countries like Israel and USA. The main reasons for the low agricultural water use efficiency have included low use of advanced technology(e.g., springklers, drop irrigation and mulching), low channel lining rates and high water contamination. In this study, we summarized the current state and trend in agricultural irrigation, calculated the agricultural water-saving potential and then developed a new mode based on current and future crop water requirement. The two main modules of the mode(resource-based water-saving and efficiency-based water-saving) were respectively representative of small-scale and large-scale water analysis. Based on main crops in typical irrigation areas, different water-saving schemes were designed and the water-saving potential of each scheme calculated. The probable water-saving amounts in the nine irrigation districts were analyzed and calculated for different hydrologic years. For instance, in years with water guarantee rates of 25%, 50%, 75% and 95%, agricultural water-saving potentials in Guanzhong Irrigation Area were respectively 30.69 million m3, 111.67 million m3, 117.50 million m3 and 125.21 million m3. Efficiency-based water-saving potential was over 50%, expect for the 25% rate water guarantee condition where it was 42%. Then based on present water-saving technology and planting structure characteristics of the nine irrigation areas, a water-saving mode was put forward which reduced water diversion by 10% and improved agricultural irrigation water use efficiency by 5%. Exploitation of agricultural water-saving potential was the basis for water resources reallocation in the region. This study also laid the base for theoretical and technical support for the development of water-saving irrigated agriculture, planning of water resources reallocation and construction of water-saving society.

The effects of industrial and agricultural activity on the water quality of the Sitnica River (Kosovo)

An important issue in Kosovo is water pollution. The use of polluted water has a direct impact on human health and cause long-term consequences. The longest and most polluted river in Kosovo is the Sitnica, a 90 km long river with its source located near the village of Sazli. The river flows into the Ibar River in Northern Kosovo. Agriculture is prevailing activity in the basin of Sitnica which is why agricultural as well as industrial waste are the biggest water pollutants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate water quality of the river and analyse the pollution level along the Sitnica River caused by agricultural activities and industrial discharges. In order to assess the impact of pollutants on this river, a measurements were carried out in four (five) monitoring stations: the first station represents the reference station which has not undergone or has not been affected by polluting pressures, two stations in water areas affected by the irrigation of farming land and two monitoring stations in water areas affected by industrial wastewater discharge. Some of the parameters of water quality analysed are temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity, pH, DO, COD, BOD, P total, nitrates, sulfates, and heavy metals iron, manganese, zinc, nickel. Compared to the reference station the results obtained from the Gracka and Pestova monitoring stations prove that the dominant form of pollution is that from agricultural lands irrigation, while the Plemetin and Mitrovica stations show that the Sitnica River is affected by wastewater discharge which contains significant concentrations of heavy metals, as well as metal ions selected in this paper. It can be concluded that the irrigation of agricultural lands and discharges from mining significantly affect water quality of the Sitnica River.

Researches regarding the influence of the some technological elements on water use efficiency in maize from Crisurilor Plain

Plain and the influence of the hybrid, plant density, crop rotation, nutrient supply, weeds and irrigation on water use efficiency were studied.
 Choosing of the hybrid with the best water use efficiency is very important because a hybrid from 500–600 FAO group (Fundulea 376) in unirrigated conditions and a hybrid from FAO group over 600 (Fundulea 365) obtained the biggest water use efficiency; the hybrid Fundulea 365 obtained the highest irrigation water use efficiency, 20.1 kg yield gain 1 mm-1 irrigation water.
 One of the most known hybrid in the area is Turda super and the highest water use efficiency was obtained using the plant density of 55 000 plants/ha in unirrigated variant and 70 000 plants/ha in irrigated variant. The highest irrigation water use efficiency, 20.7 kg yield gain 1 mm-1, was obtained at 70 000 plants ha-1.
 In maize monoculture was obtained the lowest values of the water use efficiency in unirrigated and irrigated variant: in the wheat-maize crop rotation the values were higher than in maize monoculture and in the wheat-maize-soybean were registered the highest values. The same situation was registered regarding the irrigation water use efficiency.
 Farm manure (30 t ha-1) and especially manure (30 t ha-1) +chemical fertilizers (N90P45) determined a higher values of the water use efficiency in comparison with the control. In the variant with organic + mineral fertilization was registered the higher value (19.4 kg yield gain mm-1) of the irrigation water use efficiency.
 Water use efficiency was much lower in the variant with weeds in comparison with the variant without the weeds; the differences were of 69% in unirrigated variant and of 64% in irrigated variant, very significant statistically. Irrigation water use efficiency from variant with weeds was lower than the value registered in the variant without weeds; the difference (68%) was very significant statistically.
 In average in period 1976–2012, the irrigation determined the increasing in water use efficiency with 22%, 19.4 kg mm-1 vs. 15.8 kg mm-1, but not in all the years caused the irrigation increasing in water use efficiency in comparison with unirrigated maize.
 The results research emphasized the need of the optimization for technology elements studied and a better water use efficiency will be obtained.

Influence of Carbon Content on the Qualities of Oxy-Fuel Float Glass

To optimize production technology of oxy-fuel float glass, a series of float glass with lower sulphate contents and 1%~5% carbon contents in glass batch were prepared under simulated oxy-fuel melting conditions. Infrared spectroscopy，thermal dilatometer and microscope were used to study water content and its state in glass melts, the change of coefficient of thermal expansion of glass, the glass softening temperature and transition temperature, and the number of bubbles in glass, respectively. The results show that the change of carbon content will slightly changes the water content, thermo properties of glass and the number of bubbles in glass. With the increase of carbon content, the coefficient of thermal expansion and the water content of glass generally decrease, while the number of bubbles, the softening temperature and the glass transition temperature increase. When the content of sulphate is 2%, the glass with 2% carbon content has the biggest water content and the best fining effect.

The long haul

In 1952, Mao Zedong visited the great rushing rivers of China's south and suggested that the thirsty north "borrow" some. Thus was born the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Nearly 60 years later, construction is under way on the biggest water redirection scheme in history. When complete, the US $62 billion project will transport 44.8 million megaliters of water per year from the lush river valleys of the south to the parched industrial north-enough to flood Beijing to a height of almost 3 meters. The three-pronged project, which consists of an eastern route, a western route, and a central route, includes the construction of more than 1800 kilometers of pipelines and reinforced canals, at least 23 pumping stations, up to 7 dams, and 2 massive tunnels under the Yellow River. Some parts won't be fi nished until midcentury.

Studies on water stage fluctuation of Yamzho Lake in Xizang

Yamzho Lake, with a drainage area of 6, 100km2, is the largest closed interior lake in the southern part of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The elevation of the lake stage is 4,440m, lake storage is about 16 billion m3. Water recharge mainly depends on rainfall, melting water from glacier area, taking up 16%. In the drainage basin about 2% of the area is covered with glacier. Seasonal range of variation in the lake stage is small, usually less than 0.6m. The biggest water level in a year appears in September or October, not in July or August of the rainfall concentrated period, because of the lake’s self-adjustment. The lowest lake level occurs in May, June or July. In wet years the stage fluctuation has clear periodicity, in dry years the lake level tends to fall down around the year. There is a close correlation between rainfall and water level variation. Based on the analysis of the patterns of the lake level fluctuation during the recent 100 years, according to the measuring and investigation data, the fluctuation range of the lake level varied at 4 to 5 meters, and the water level has been gently descending at the rate of 0.6m/100 years.

Water Protection in the Pulp Industry: Austrian and Central European Situation

The pulp and paper industry in central Europe was for a long period one of the biggest water polluters. During the last 10 years the pollution load to the receiving waters has decreased to such an extent that a compromise between water protection and industrial development is in sight This positive achievement started with a concentration at the production in a relatively small number of mills with modern and cost effective production processes minimizing pollution discharge to the wastewater. Nearly all mills are equipped with biological wastewater treatment plants. Many mills have abandoned chlorine for bleaching, thus solving the AOX problem, some are on the way to doing this. These positive achievements are the result of a water protection and industrial development policy.