Cheapest Ways Research Articles

The Optimization of a Physical Factor of Hydrogen Production in Alkaline Water Electrolysis

Hydrogen fuel is an alternative to petroleum fuel as the world is changing to a zero-carbon fuel source. However, hydrogen production requires high costs and a relatively complex system. There are numerous methods available in the industry to produce hydrogen by water splitting, but alkaline water electrolysis is one of the cheapest ways of producing hydrogen gas since it only requires water, electrodes, a voltage supply, a conducting wire, some electrolytes, and a container. Besides that, water electrolysis is among the most effective ways of generating hydrogen since it utilizes renewable water and generates only pure oxygen as a by-product, indicating that it is an ecologically beneficial way of generating hydrogen gas. The water was split into hydrogen and oxygen gases by using electricity during the electrolysis process and the hydrogen gas will be produced in the cathode. The distance between the electrodes, the voltage supply, and the presence of an external magnetic field were the three parameters studied for the purpose of this study. The highest volume of hydrogen gas produced was at optimum parameters of 10 cm electrode distance, 20 V of the voltage supply, and 0.08 µT of external magnetic field strength. Although the electrolysis process accounts for a small portion of hydrogen production using the current method, researchers believe that if existing techniques are improved with appropriate materials and substances, this process will significantly benefit the community.

SEA PORT INDUSTRY OF UKRAINE: CURRENT STATE AND PROSPECTS FOR PORT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PORT-LANDLORD MANAGEMENT MODEL

Topicality. The port industry acts as a link in the global transport services arena and is the basis for the development of the entire economy. The ability of ports to compete in the international transport market depends not least on how the government manages this sector, and therefore the need for a comprehensive study to implement the right (effective) management model and increase the level of economic development of seaports is becoming increasingly important.Aim and tasks. The purpose of this article is to reveal the essence of the operation of maritime economic complexes management models, to understand the current state of Ukrainian ports and develop recommendations for further development of port infrastructure, taking into account the experience of the most developed EU ports.Materials and Methods. To achieve this goal, the article uses general scientific research methods, namely: methods of system analysis, methods of comparison and logical generalisation. The information sources for this study are the scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists on the problems of implementing the model of management of the maritime economic complex, analytical data and data from open sources.Research results. In today's environment, when trade between countries is gaining significant momentum, it is important to improve the port sector and its components. This is a driver for development and change in the infrastructure, especially as shipping is one of the cheapest ways to transport goods. Ukraine's stable development as an importing and exporting country depends on the state's ability to create the necessary conditions for effective changes in this area. The article emphasises the need to change the model of port infrastructure management and briefly describes each of the port management models defined in accordance with the criteria set by the World Bank. The necessity of bringing port management closer to the port-landlord model was emphasized. It is emphasised that the transition to the port-landlord model is not about the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (hereinafter - USPA) obtaining land ownership, but about transforming the USPA into a port authority with full powers and tools to increase the competitiveness of the Ukrainian port system.Conclusion. This work proposes a set of measures aimed at qualitatively bringing the Ukrainian model closer to the practice of port management in Northwest Europe.

SWJPCCS Associate Editor has Essay on Reining in Air Pollution Published in NY Times

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. Dona Upson MD, an associate editor of the SWJPCCS from Albuquerque, recently had a Guest Essay published in the NY Times (1). In the opinion piece titled “The Government Is This Close to Reining in Some of the Worst Air Pollution” Dr. Upson states that the science is clear that when oil and gas are extracted and transported from wells, methane and other pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, leak out. These form ozone and may exacerbate asthma and COPD, cause cancer and birth defects, and affect the nervous system. Emissions from oil and gas production also produce nitrogen oxides, which can exacerbate lung disease. Methane is also a powerful greenhouse gas, over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in its warming power, though its life span in the atmosphere is much shorter. One of the fastest and cheapest ways to reduce these emissions and improve health is to prevent …

Immobilized cellulase on Fe3O4/GO/CS nanocomposite as a magnetically recyclable catalyst for biofuel application

Biofuel was, is, and will continue to be the most in-demand energy source in the twenty-first century. One of the most efficient and cheapest ways of producing bioethanol is through the saccharification of glucose. Lignocellulose is one of the abundant and cheap forms of cellulose that are found across the globe as the cellulose is a linear chain of glucose connected by the glycosidic bond. Agricultural biomass is the most abundant source of lignocellulose, which is wasted in millions of tons each year. The current study aims at converting the waste agricultural biomass to bioethanol by enzymatic hydrolysis followed by saccharification. Cellulase from Aspergillus niger was used in this study as a hydrolytic enzyme. To increase the stability and efficiency of the cellulase enzyme, immobilization technology was introduced in the study in which the cellulase was immobilized in the synthesized Fe3O4/GO/CS nanocomposites. The formation of Fe3O4/GO/CS nanocomposites by co-precipitation was confirmed by various instrumental data like UV–Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, VSM, and TEM. 86 % of the loaded enzyme was immobilized by simple adsorption. The optimum condition for the enzymatic hydrolysis of immobilized enzyme on cellulose substrate was found to be pH 8, temperature 80 °C, which is way higher than the optimum condition of free cellulase. Thermal stability of the immobilized enzyme was studied, which showed 99 % activity retained even after four cycles. The immobilized cellulase showed 89 % retained activity even after storing it at 4 °C for a month. The thermodynamic parameters like half-life, ΔH, ΔS, ΔG and deactivation kinetics were calculated. The inactivation energy of the immobilized enzyme was found to be 106.41KJ.mol−1. Kinetic parameter like Vmax, Km and Kcat were calculated as 26.02 ± 2.011 µmol min−1 mg−1, 2.469 ± 0.512 mM and 0.86 s−1. Wheat bran and rice bran having lignocellulose were pretreated by both acid and alkali to degrade the lignin and hemicellulose. The pretreated cellulose in the wheat and rice bran was enzymatically hydrolysed using the immobilized cellulase. The glucose obtained from the hydrolysis was fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae to yield 7.32 g ethanol/liter of glucose from pretreated wheat bran and 7.05 g of ethanol/liter of glucose from pretreated rice bran.

Libraries, cybersecurity, and webinars: review

Previous researchers have failed to situate seemingly important components of contemporary real-life truth in the mainstream of investigations. As new modes of transferring knowledge, accessing, and retrieving information emerge, resources and technology advance, and webinars are becoming one of the easiest and cheapest ways to reach the public, synchronously or asynchronously. Many online meeting tools, regarded as windows to the future of communication and imparting knowledge, are evolving rapidly. However, webinar sites tend to help viewers or listeners register on the websites and even provide favorable conditions to make the audience feel safe. In doing so, others join the webinars with a sole aim of tapping important information from the public, thus making the webinars niches or blossomed trees for cybercriminals. The fact is that what causes the presence of cybercriminals is logically no different from what can reverse it. This study attempts to review the literature that can change the way people view webinars. It aims to develop new ways of thinking about emerging new systems, respond to change, use knowledge to change the way abnormal behavior occurs during webinar series and open unattended ways to expand the spectrum of anomalous detection mechanisms from many perspectives.

Methods of Assessing the Effectiveness of Filter Elements in Power Electronics

Newly constructed devices must meet a number of requirements in terms of the level of generated disturbances. To achieve an acceptable level in such devices, filters are installed—one of the cheapest ways to reduce interference in devices. One of the key elements of the filter that is responsible for the effectiveness of noise reduction are ferrites. Unfortunately, for various devices, an individual approach should be used in the selection of filters and, accordingly, ferrites. Due to the fact that ferrites from different manufacturers do not have standardized characteristics and information on their effectiveness, the selection of the right ferrite is a very time-consuming process. Therefore, this article will present the possibilities of quickly determining selected ferrite parameters in order to ensure the necessary level of noise reduction. For this purpose, assumptions from the CISPR 17 standard will be used. For selected types of ferrites, a large number of measurements were carried out in order to determine the optimal computational algorithm for adjusting ferrite characteristics to the designed conditions. The performance of these tests will be the basis for conducting tests on a larger number of ferrites, as well as for the development of possible standardization procedures.

The current state of Ulmus pumila L. in shelterbelts dry steppe zone of the Republic of Khakassia

One of the most effective and cheapest ways to reduce environmental stress on arable land is forest shelterbelts. Elm (Ulmus pumila L.) is the main tree species used in field-protective afforestation in the dry steppe zone of the Republic of Khakassia. The studies were carried out in field-protective forest belts of different planting methods, consisting of Ulmus pumila, growing in the Koibal steppe of the Beisky district of the Republic of Khakassia. Here, using modern techniques, temporary trial plots were laid. The aim of the study was to study the current state of life of elm shelterbelts in the dry steppe zone of the Republic of Khakassia. The features of growth, preservation, natural regeneration and sanitary condition of elm forests on trial plots are analyzed depending on the planting methods and the design of forest plantations growing on underdeveloped chestnut sandy loamy soil. It has been established that the best condition of elm trees (1.7-2.2 points) 31 years after planting is noted in forest belts with a checkerboard arrangement of trees, and the worst (2.8-3.2 points) is in forest belts with row plant placement, which is necessary take into account when creating a new generation of shelterbelts.

Software strategy for internal combustion engine and electric motor control on a hybrid electric vehicle equipped with belt starter generator and automated manual transmission

In order to fulfil the latest EU emission standards, the average amount of CO2 emissions for each vehicle sold has to be reduced to avoid fines for manufacturers. One of the simplest and cheapest ways of hybridization is the belt starter generator (BSG), which makes it suitable for an entry-level range of vehicles. This paper presents a software strategy developed for internal combustion engine (ICE) and belt starter generator (BSG) control on a vehicle equipped with automated manual transmission and also the drivability, comfort and emission performances improvements expected by using this strategy.

An anonymous device to device access control based on secure certificate for internet of medical things systems

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is structured upon both the sensing and communication infrastructure and computation facilities. The IoMT provides the convenient and cheapest ways for healthcare by aiding the remote access to the patients’ physiological data and using machine learning techniques for help in diagnosis. The communication delays in IoMT can be very harmful to healthcare. Device to device (D2D) secure communication is a vital area that can reduce communication delays; otherwise, caused due to the mediation of a third party. To substantiate a secure D2D communication framework, some schemes were recently proposed to secure D2D based communication infrastructure suitable for IoMT-based environments. However, the insecurities of some schemes against device physical capture attack and non-provision of anonymity along with related attacks are evident from the literature. This calls for a D2D secure access control system for realizing sustainable smart healthcare. In this article, using elliptic curve cryptography, a certificate based D2D access control scheme for IoMT systems (D2DAC-IoMT) is proposed. The security of the proposed D2DAC-IoMT is substantiated through formal and informal methods. Moreover, the performance analysis affirms that the proposed scheme provides a good trade-off between security and efficiency compared with some recent schemes.

Condition monitoring of wind turbine based on incremental learning and multivariate state estimation technique

With the development of wind turbine (WT) operation and maintenance technologies, the condition monitoring (CM) method based on the data of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems has become one of the most popular and cheapest ways to detect the anomalies. As the operation condition of WT will change over time, it is necessary to real-time update the CM model with little manual maintenance to ensure its long-term performance. Therefore, a SCADA data-driven WTCM method based on incremental learning and multivariate state estimation technique (MSET) is proposed. Firstly, for the memory matrix (MM) of MSET, a similarity-based sample selection method is proposed, which is simpler and more effective than the previous method. Secondly, based on the proposed sample selection method, an incremental learning strategy for MSET is proposed, which can add the normal new data in MM and remove the redundant data in real-time. Aiming at the slow computation speed caused by the large MM, a dynamic down-sampling method is proposed, which makes only half of the data participate in the real-time computation and can reduce the computation time by at least 80%. About three years SCADA data of two different types of WTs are used to verify the proposed method. The experimental results show that the incremental MSET can maintain higher estimation accuracy and lower false alarm rate in long-term operation, and can detect the potential gearbox faults hours to weeks in advance.

Исследование физико-механических свойств фуражного зерна, обработанного методом микронизации

The maximum use of new energy-saving technologies and mechanisms is one of the ways to increase the efficiency of animal husbandry. It is known that a significant part (up to 40%) of even grain prepared for feeding is not absorbed by the animal’s body and is excreted with excrement. And already a very unpleasant picture is observed in young farm animals and poultry. Their stomach works very poorly, and the food is digested and digested within 20%. In this regard, various methods of preparing grain for feeding are of particular importance: grinding, granulating, steaming, flattening, chemical processing, extrusion, micritization. Crushing and grinding are the cheapest ways to increase the digestibility of grain, but the efficiency is low. Granulation of compound feeds has become widespread, because of which feed losses are reduced, transportation and mechanization of distribution are facilitated, the physical and taste qualities of the diet are improved. When granulating feed under the influence of mechanical and hydrothermal processes, biochemical changes occur that increase its nutritional value and digestibility by 10%. Granulated food contributes to the enhanced work of the glands of the anterior part of the digestive tract — salivary and gastric; there is a change in the acidic regime of gastric contents, especially in the initial period of feeding granules; it has a favorable effect on intestinal digestion. It is established that when heat is supplied to the processed material from the bottom of the heating surface of the trough and from the top-from the source of infrared radiation-the temperature inside the grain is 180 °C and the pressure is 10 atm. At this temperature, the best disinsection effect is achieved, the resulting feed material becomes favorable for digestion, its mechanical strength decreases.

The urban traffic noise monitoring system based on LoRaWAN technology

Noise and air pollution are among the most important problems and challenges in urban environments. Noise can cause several problems in functioning within urban settlements and may result in a variety of health problems. Continuous monitoring, prevention, and active work on solving these problems are in the focus of research communities, local and national agencies and organizations, and many international organizations. Traffic noise on city roads has been identified as one of the major problems in urban settlements. Fortunately, it can be monitored and controlled in a way that can reduce its level and negative effects. One of the most effective and cheapest ways to monitor and control traffic noise is to use wireless sensor networks, IoT technology, and cloud-based architectures. This article presents an approach in designing urban traffic noise monitoring system based on LoRaWAN and microservices oriented architecture supported with open-source hardware and software solutions. Design of the system includes planning LoRaWAN network and development of the IoT system layered architecture. Methods for traffic routing and rerouting in urban areas, based on experiments that uses Dijkstra and Floyd–Warshall algorithms are presented. The system implementation and evaluation of the proposed routing modifications are presented in the case of the city of Zrenjanin in Serbia. Discussion of extensions and improvements of the presented system, as well as future research directions, are also presented.

Oil Companies Demand Digital Their Way

Oil industry executives surveyed last year ranked the potential positive impact of big data analytics at the top of the list of trends, higher than even changes in oil demand. That bold conclusion was from a survey by accounting firm Ernst and Young (EY), putting big data analytics among the top trends that could aid business growth in the next 3 years, even above the demand swings that move oil prices. The survey may have reflected the mood last summer when the outlook for oil consumption looked so weak that cost saving was the only path to better results. “The survey speaks to a high-level ambition across the operator community to use digital as a mechanism to drive down costs,” said Toby Summers executive director for EY. The promise there is that digital can allow them to scale up operations with fewer hires in good times and scale back with fewer layoffs when the cycle turns down. These projects also cost less than other cost-cutting options. “Digitization is one of the cheapest ways to get the business more resilient,” said Patrick von Pattay, a vice president for Wintershall Dea, a Germany-based independent, and chairman of the Digital Transformation Committee of SPE’s Digital Energy Technical Section. Process changes supported by digital analysis can cost a couple hundred thousand dollars; that is not a lot of money in a business where a single offshore well often costs hundreds of millions. What is not obvious is who does the work. The rush to digital has scrambled traditional relationships with oilfield service companies and brought in new players, from Silicon Valley giants to a flurry of startups in the oil business, a few of which have become established players. As a result of the change in the technology, and the business models of the upstarts, oil company technical teams can and do play a more active role in digital technology development and use than in the past. Changes began in 2014, when the sudden end of $100/bbl oil forced oil companies to drop their long-time reliance on owning their own computer systems. Oil companies finally joined the decade-old shift to buying data storage and processing as a service from giants such as Amazon and Google. That facilitated digital innovations by centralizing their data, eliminating splintered storage systems that hindered analysis. The giant looming over the service business now is Amazon Web Services (AWS). The cloud storage arm of the online retail and logistics giant has grown exponentially, doing everything from selling an array of digital tools to promoting a list of preferred energy providers. Digital newcomers disrupted relations with service companies that had built software solutions and sold equipment programmed using proprietary coding. Increasingly user-friendly tools for visualizing and analyzing data, plus the ability for smaller companies to buy data capacity, allowed engineers to do more and allowed midsized companies to act like big ones. “There has been a shift now; the independents have access to the same tech as the big guys,” Summers said.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation on the Effect of the Tempcore Process Parameters on Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Dual-Phase Steel Reinforcing Rebars

One of the most efficient and cheapest ways to improve steel reinforcement bars is the Tempcore process. In this study, the effects of water pressure, water temperature, bar diameter, and its initial temperature, as Tempcore process parameters on microstructural and mechanical properties of reinforcing rebars were numerical and experimental investigated by using the Taguchi experimental design method. Results showed that these Tempcore process parameters influence the cooling intensity, which causes the formation of martensite at the surface layer and fine-grained ferrite–pearlite at the core and improvement of tensile strength. All of the considered parameters strongly affect the volume fraction of ferrite and pearlite in the rebar center and thickness of the martensite layer, but among them, water pressure with a 59% impact has a more substantial effect. Ultimately, to figure out the mechanical characteristics of hot rolled and optimal sample’ rebar, tensile tests were conducted. Outcomes displayed that the Tempcore process increases the yield and ultimate tensile strengths as much as 1.5 and 1.3 times, respectively, but slightly decreases the elongation.

Selection of blowing agent for metal foam production: A review

Metal foams are cellular solids in which gas is uniformly distributed throughout the metal matrix. One of the cheapest ways of evolving the gas is introducing the blowing agent in parent metal in liquid state. A blowing agent is defined as a material that decomposes under the presence of heat and releases gas which then propels the foaming process. The quality of final foam is influenced by several parameters such as composition, size and volume fraction of the blowing agent used. Different chemicals which can evolve gases such as carbonates and metal hydrides fit into the description of blowing agent. Hydrides during decomposition releases H2 gas while carbonates release CO2 or CO gases which are responsible for foaming process. To produce good quality metal foam, the blowing agent must be a compound that does not detriment the foam metallic matrix and must have decomposition temperature closed to the melting point of the metal. This review paper covers the manufacturing processes which uses blowing agent in the formation of metal foam. Furthermore, the paper provides the detail information about the foaming physics, blowing agent’s type and selection criteria of blowing agents to produce amorphous metal foam.

SIMULATION OF FIRE AS A FORM OF SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIVES AND MATERIAL ASSETS

Fire is one of the most dangerous occurrences in human history. Many lives have been lost in fires. Apart from human lives, a fire can destroy everything on its way-animals, vegetation, assets. Fire protection is as old as fire occurrence. The task of fire protection is to mitigate the effects of fires. The best way is, undoubtedly, fire prevention, but, if a fire occurs, fire fighting must be carried out quickly and effectively in order to save endangered humans and material properties. One of the most effective, safest and cheapest ways of fire protection is the usage of simulation software. This paper has been written to demonstrate the reasons and the advantages of simulation software usage in prediction of fire situations, fire development, fire spread all with the aim to protect human lives, animals, vegetation and material property.

Smart Home Automation using ESP8266 and Internet of Things

By means of using the latest technologies such as cloud computing, Internet of Things, embedded systems etc. this paper proposes a working model for smart home automation. The advancement in field of information technology has led to numerous practical applications which can help the humans to lead a better life where regular chores can be handled via wireless communications instead of practical effort. The proposed model is projected as one of the cheapest ways available to automate a home and transform it into a smart home using ESP8266 microcontroller. The model provides a mechanism to remotely monitor and control the home devices by using a user interface which will be interlinked to Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2). The paper provides a background of the enabling technologies along with the proposed model. The paper concludes by providing the result of implementation and its challenges.

Experimental and numerical investigations on pressure pulsation in a pump mode operation of a pump as turbine

AbstractHydropower has been the leading renewable source and cheapest ways to generate electrical energy in the world. In recent years, there has been a major upsurge in the hydropower development because of the use of pump as turbine (PAT). However, the operational reliability of a PAT is greatly affected by the unsteady flow fields; therefore, it is important to examine the unsteady flow behavior which can be used as a reference to reduce the noise, vibration, and cavitation performance for centrifugal pumps working as turbines. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the unsteady flow fields by analyzing the distribution of the pressure pulsations using both numerical and experimental measurements in a PAT operating in pump mode. Firstly, the three‐dimensional (3D) unsteady flow equations were solved using SST k‐ω turbulence model during the numerical calculations. Secondly, the numerical results of the hydraulic pump performance were validated by the experimental measurements for numerical accuracy. Lastly, pressure transducers are positioned at certain monitoring points to measure the pressure in the PAT investigated. The numerical and experimental results show that the main frequency of the pressure pulsation is equal to the blade frequency, and as it deviates from the design operating condition, the magnitude of pressure pulsation intensifies. Furthermore, the impeller eye marked the lowest pressure coefficients especially at the design condition and makes it highly susceptible to cavitation. High pressure coefficients were obviously seen at the pressure side on the blade surface closer to the trailing edge at all studied operating conditions. Meanwhile, the rotor‐stator interaction generated the highest pressure pulsation distribution at the volute tongue. Thus, modification of the volute tongue is an optimal approach of reducing the pressure pulsation intensity in the volute and pump as a whole.

An optimised system for energy monitoring and data acquisition in substations/domestic applications using IoT

The rising demand and tariff rates of electric power have derived the need to develop innovative methods to monitor, manage, economize and save energy. Energy monitoring and conservation are pre-eminent today because of the imbalance between power generation and demand. This paper proposes the outline and application of electrical energy measurement by an Arduino micro-controller that is used to calculate the power consumed by any individual electrical device. The main intention of the presented energy meter is to monitor, acquire and interpret the power consumption data online by integrating smart plugs, sensors at the device level and upload it to the server using IoT based communication protocol. Thus, this project enables the consumer to act accordingly to save power and to render a reliable power supply by making maximum use of energy sources in the cheapest ways.

Analysis of Fault Location in a Transmission Line with and without TCSC

In modern transmission lines the use of FACTS devices on grid is demanding due to the advanced use of power electronics. This paper gives analysis of TCSC on a transmission line since different researchers have proved that the use of series compensators on a power grid is the cheapest ways of ensuring system improved stability, increase power transfer capability, reduced transmission losses, enhanced voltage control and more power control due to TCSC malfunctioning occur in fault location. Various faults affect the continuous supply of electric energy hence losses to companies and also affecting the consumers’ therefore correct location of fault is important to enable quick repair and therefore minimum repair time. The paper discuses TCSC and its operational characteristics, malfunctioning and finally FSI plot which can be applied to locate the exact position of fault in a transmission line to eliminate dependence on distance relay since the data may not be accurate when TCSC is used in transmission line due to its malfunctioning characteristics.