Consumption Characteristics Research Articles

Understanding Agricultural Water Consumption Trends in Henan Province: A Spatio-Temporal and Determinant Analysis Using Geospatial Models

In the context of water scarcity, understanding the mechanisms influencing and altering agricultural water consumption can offer valuable insights into the scientific management of limited water resources. Using Henan Province as a case study, this research applies the Mann–Kendall test method, the spatial Markov transfer chain model, the optimal parameter geo-detector model, and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition method to investigate the evolution characteristics of agricultural water consumption in Henan Province and its key influencing factors. The findings revealed the following: (1) Agricultural water consumption has shown a significant decline from 1999 to 2022. (2) According to observations, the stability of agricultural water consumption exceeds the spillover effect, and cross-border grade transfer is challenging. Moreover, this phenomenon is influenced by the neighboring regions. (3) The key influencing factors of added agricultural value are the sown area of food crops, total sown area, irrigated area, and average annual air temperature. (4) Among the decomposition effects on agricultural water consumption, the contribution of each decomposition effect to changes in agricultural water consumption and the role of spatial distribution exhibit notable differences. Overall, these findings provide theoretical references for the efficient use of agricultural water resources and sustainable development in the region.

Reducing the Energy Consumption of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography Scanners: Integrating Ecodesign and Sustainable Operations.

This review aims to provide valuable insights into how energy consumption in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanners can be effectively monitored, managed, and reduced, thereby contributing to more sustainable medical imaging practices. Demand for advanced imaging technologies such as MRI and CT scanners continues to increase, and understanding the resultant impact on greenhouse gas emissions requires a thorough evaluation of their energy consumption. This review examines the energy monitoring and consumption characteristics of MRI and CT scanners, highlighting potential approaches for energy savings. An overview of MRI and CT principles, hardware components, and their associated energy consumption is provided. After addressing the technical aspects, the hardware and software requirements essential for accurate energy metering are detailed. Baseline measurements of energy consumption data are then provided as a foundation to understand current usage patterns and identify areas for improvement. Ongoing efforts to reduce energy consumption are categorized into 3 main strategies: operations, scanner design enhancements, and active scanning techniques, including accelerated MRI protocols. Ultimately, we emphasize that achieving sustainability in medical imaging requires collaboration across disciplines. By incorporating eco-friendly design in new imaging equipment, we can reduce the environmental impact, promote sustainability, and set a health care industry standard for a healthier planet.

The sale of medicines used for diabetes mellitus treatment in retail segment of Russian pharmaceutical market

Objective: to study the characteristics of the population consumption of medicines for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM), sold in the retail sector of the pharmaceutical market of the Russian Federation (RF).Material and methods. The study analyzed data on products assortment and sales volumes for drugs used to treat DM (according to Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATС) classification) trough pharmacies in all federal districts of the RF for the period 2020–2023. In particular, the following ATС groups were studied: A10A, A10B, H04AA and A16AX (thioctic acid), as well as “sibutramine + metformin” combination prescribed to correct obesity in DM patients. The results were obtained on basis of comparative, retrospective, logical, and graphical methods as well as content analysis, data grouping in accordance with ATС groups and descriptive statistics.Results. In the retail sector of the pharmaceutical market of the RF, 54.9 million packages of antidiabetic drugs were sold for 32.4 billion rubles from 2020 to 2023. In the structure of sales in monetary terms, the share of Russian-manufactured drugs amounted to 16–17% approximately, and in physical terms, i.e. by the number of packages, it reached 37–39%. Throughout the analyzed period, the weighted average price (WAP) per 1 package of a drug for DM treatment increased from 472 to 589 rubles. Concurrently, as of year-end 2023, WAP per 1 package of an imported drug was 3 times higher than WAP of a domestic drug (784 and 259 rubles, respectively). In 2023, more than 45% of pharmacy sales in physical terms accrued to drugs of the ATC subgroup A10BA Biguanides (metformin), and about 25% to A10BB Sulfonylurea derivatives (glibenclamide, gliclazide, glimepiride, etc.). In 2023, the highest sales in monetary terms accrued to methsopamine, daphgylflozin, tytochotic acid, empagliflozin and gliclazide. In the structure of retail sales of drugs for DM treatment, fixed combinations accounted for about 15%. Despite an increase in the number of trade names of fixed combinations (from 24 in 2020 to 30 in 2023), their share in the products assortment structure remained insignificant, that did not comply with international recommendations for DM treatment.Conclusion. Using pharmacoepidemiological monitoring tools, the features of the population consumption of drugs prescribed for DM treatment in the retail sector of the pharmaceutical market of the RF were studied in a retrospective aspect (for the period from 2020 to 2023). The contribution of ATC subgroups to the retail sales structure was established. It was revealed that the share of combined drugs was not more than 15% in the total retail sales structure that did not comply with international recommendations on DM treatment.

Optimized Scheduling Model Considering the Demand Response and Sequential Requirements of Polysilicon Production

The polysilicon production process has significant potential to be made adjustable, and actively changing its production schedule to participate in grid dispatch can effectively alleviate the pressure on the power supply and balance demand while promoting renewable energy consumption. Considering the complex inter-coupling relationship between the sequential requirements and adjustable potential of polysilicon production, this paper analyzes the electricity consumption characteristics of various stages of a polysilicon production process that uses the improved Siemens method as its primary approach to production. The interaction between the polysilicon production process, equipment, and materials is modeled through the state–task network method, and the production timing requirements are transformed into constraint expressions. An optimized scheduling model that includes the production’s sequential requirements within a time-of-use electricity pricing context is established. Our analysis shows that the proposed model can formulate a feasible production plan with the lowest power purchase cost for polysilicon plants while meeting the production’s sequential requirements and product order demands.

Factors associated with obtaining lower IQR-CAP values in the detection of hepatic steatosis by transient elastography

Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) has been developed as a non-invasive method for detecting liver steatosis. The aim of the study was to determine factors associated with non-obtaining lower IQR-CAP values. Retrospective revision of medical records of CAP studies for steatosis screening. Anthropometrical, biochemical, and quality variables were collected. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent associations with non-obtaining IQR-CAP <30, <20, and <10 in all patients and then adjusted for obesity/overweight and severity of steatosis. 5061 studies were analyzed. Median IQR-CAP was 26 [IQR 20-33] dB/m. Steatosis prevalence was 39.4% (n =1996). In overweight patients, significant alcohol consumption was an independent factor for non-obtaining IQR-CAP <30; meanwhile, in obese patients glucose impairment, AST, skPa>8 and steatosis severity were independent factors for non-obtaining lower IQR-CAP values. According to steatosis severity, the presence of anthropometric characteristics of obesity and significant alcohol consumption were independent factors for non-obtaining lower IQR-CAP values. In steatosis detection by CAP, obesity, significant alcohol consumption, glucose impairments, and minimal liver function test alterations were independent factors associated with non-obtaining lower values of IQR-CAP.

Biochemical composition and transcriptome analysis revealed nutrients consumption and physiological characteristics of Chinese sturgeon larvae during yolk-sac stage

During the yolk stage, the nutrients of larvae consumed are from the yolk sac, which greatly affect the survival and quality of fish. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic changes, physiological characteristics and the related molecular mechanism of Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) larvae during yolk stage by biochemical analyses in combination with transcriptome analysis of larvae at three developmental stages (vertical, flat and benthic). The results showed that both total amino acid and protein contents showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing. The lipid content was stable in the early stages, but decreased significantly in the benthic stage (P < 0.05). In terms of amino acid profile, the contents of leucine, isoleucine and lysine were relatively high in essential amino acids (EAAs), and the contents of glutamate, aspartate and serine were relatively high in non-essential amino acid (NEAA). As for fatty acid content, the most abundant fatty acids are C16:0 (palmitic acid), C18:1 (oleic acid), C18:2n-6 (linoleic acid) and C22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA). The results of transcriptome analysis showed that 4936 genes were up-regulated and 3079 genes were down-regulated from vertical stage to flat stage, and 1703 genes were up-regulated and 837 genes were down-regulated from flat stage to benthic stage, respectively. According to KEGG enrichment analysis on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), the up-regulated DEGs mGlu3, mGlu5, NMDAR, PepT1, TAT1, EAAT3, CYP51A1 and CYP7A1 were significantly enriched in pathways related to the nervous system, protein digestion and absorption, steroid synthesis, cholesterol metabolism and bile acid biosynthesis in early development of larvae. Down-regulated DEGs Drg1, NHP2, KRE33 and MPP10 were enriched in the ribosome biogenetic pathway. In late development, up-regulated DEGs, cGAS, IRF3, TRAF2, MHC-I, MHC-II and TAR2, were enriched in pathways associated with innate and adaptive immunity. Down-regulated DKK2 and FGFRs, ITGAs were enriched in Wnt signaling pathway and PI3K-AKT pathway, respectively. In summary, this study revealed that the larval fish consumed protein as the main nutrient from the vertical stage to the flat stage, while mainly consumed lipid from the flat stage to the benthic stage, and highlighted the pathways of DEGs involved in the nervous system and immune system, which would provide new ideal to the high quality larvae production in Chinese sturgeon, thus benefit species protection.

Impact of hard and soft digital infrastructure on pollutant emissions: evidence from China

ABSTRACT The ‘dual-track transition’ of digitalisation and environmental sustainability brings both opportunities and challenges. A deeper understanding of the relationship between these two aspects is essential to ensuring the success of this transition. This study fully considers the high-energy consumption characteristics and layered nature of digital infrastructure, using city-level sample data from China from 2006 to 2018 to empirically examine the actual impact and underlying mechanisms of digital infrastructure’s energy consumption on pollutant emissions. The results indicate that digital infrastructure directly increases pollutant emissions due to energy consumption, and there is an overlapping effect between hard and soft digital infrastructure. Mechanistically, stakeholders’ environmental behaviours mitigate the negative impact of digital infrastructure energy consumption on pollutant emissions; these behaviours include government environmental regulation, public environmental appeals, and corporate green innovation. Additionally, when considering the inter-regional coal power output and input relationships, the development of digital infrastructure exhibits a cross-regional pollutant transfer effect. These insights are crucial for supporting the success of the ‘dual-track transition’.

Intelligent control system for technological complexes of aluminum industry enterprises

Relevance. Aluminum production is one of the most important industries all over the world. It has a high environmental load, resource and energy intensity. To reduce the negative impact of aluminum production, efforts are underway to improve its technological processes, aimed at increasing aluminum recovery rates, reducing waste volumes, and lowering energy consumption. The reduction of energy consumption can be achieved, among others, through implementing control systems that provide energy management. Due to the complexity and multiplicity of technological processes in aluminum production, the use of traditional linear approaches for such control systems is ineffective, and adequate mathematical models are required. At the same time, for the production level, the use of mathematical models based on a phenomenological description of the ongoing physical processes overly complicates the control task. As a result, the use of intelligent and adaptive approaches to both the mathematical description of technological processes and the optimal energy consumption management is relevant. Objects. Technological complexes of aluminum production, which have the properties of inertia, nonlinearity, and closedness; and the control system based on artificial intelligence methods. Alumina production is chosen as an illustration. Aim. To develop mathematical models capable of adequately describing the interrelated processes in the technological complexes under consideration, as well as the control system that allows optimal energy consumption management. Methods. For the mathematical model based on balance equations under uncertainty, the fuzzy-set theory was used along with the gradient descent method to identify the model parameters; for the optimization task, the genetic algorithm method was used. Results. The mass balance model and the process conditions changing model have been developed to determine the energy consumption for the technological complexes of aluminum production with continuous inertial nonlinear closed production. Based on these models, the dynamic characteristics of energy consumption and the parameters of technological processes were determined depending on the main controlled parameters, allowing us to predict emergencies. Considering technological parameters and cost factors, the optimization task for energy consumption management was solved.

An Accurate Construction Method of E-commerce User Profile Based on Artificial Intelligence Algorithm and Big Data Analysis

User’s basic attributes, behavior characteristics, value attributes, social attributes, interest attributes, psychological attributes, and other factors will lead to poor user experience, information overload, interference, and other negative effects. In order to develop more accurate marketing strategies, optimize user experience, and improve the conversion rate and user satisfaction of e-commerce platforms, an accurate construction method of e-commerce user profile based on artificial intelligence algorithm and big data analysis is proposed. Based on big data analysis technology, the basic attributes, behavior characteristics, value attributes, social attributes, interest attributes, and psychological attributes of e-commerce users are collected and integrated from multiple dimensions. The improved sequential pattern mining algorithm (PBWL) is applied to mine the frequent sequential pattern in the e-commerce user behavior, and to reveal the user’s behavior habit. The comprehensive attribute representation of e-commerce users is obtained by combining the LINE network model and the convolutional neural network. The firefly K-means clustering algorithm is used to cluster the e-commerce users, group the users based on the similarity of user attribute information, create different types of user clusters, and achieve the accurate construction of an e-commerce user profile. The experimental results show that this method can build an accurate e-commerce user profile and provide strong support for personalized recommendation and precision marketing of e-commerce platforms. This method can dig deeply into the behavior habits of e-commerce users and accurately reflect their interest preferences and consumption characteristics. This method can quickly and stably cluster e-commerce users, and the clustering effect of user profiles is optimal. This method can also divide the data into meaningful groups according to the user’s consumption behavior, and reveal the characteristics and values of different groups.

DETERMINATION OF WATER CONSUMPTION OF THE RED PIGEON ( Combretum Lanceolatum Pohl )

The Pantanal is located in the Upper Paraguay Depression and is characterized by being the largest flooded plain in the world, with alternating floods and droughts. During the last decades, economic changes and political demands have increased the pressure on the Pantanal and its watershed, due to changes in land use and occupation with agriculture and livestock. Its natural fields have a great diversity of habitats that include pastures, savannas and forests under different flood regimes. These conditions directly contribute to the development of Combretum lanceolatum Pohl, also known as Pombeiro Vermelho, which is considered a monodominant species and has seen a considerable increase in the fields of the Pantanal. Knowing the characteristics of water consumption of this species in response to atmospheric demand effectively contributes to understanding its physiological characterization and, mainly, its management. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the water consumption of Combretum lanceolatum Pohl (Pombeiro Vermelho). The study was conducted in an area adjacent to the Pe. Ricardo Remeter Meteorological Station, part of the INMET network, in Santo Antônio de Leverger-MT, which provided daily macrometeorological data: maximum and minimum temperatures, wind speed, rainfall, sunlight and evaporation. Water consumption (evapotranspiration) was measured by the constant water table lysimeter method, where there were six pots containing Pombeiro Vermelho plants, whose values ​​were modeled by multiple linear regression together with estimates of Reference Evapotranspiration from the Penman-Moteith aerodynamic method and with the leaf area. The evapotranspiration rates had a greater correlation with the leaf area index than with the reference evapotranspiration.

Prevalence and characteristics of E-cigarettes smoking among medical students

Introduction. In recent years, there has been a downward trend in the consumption of traditional tobacco products. However, the use of various electronic means of nicotine delivery, in particular, electronic cigarettes (e-Cigs), is widespread. E-Cigs are popular among young people. The purpose of the work is to assess the prevalence and characteristics of e-Cigs consumption among medical students (using the example of Sechenov University). Materials and methods. A survey of six hundred thirty students was conducted. Quantitative indices were assessed for compliance with normal distribution using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The critical value of the significance level when testing statistical hypotheses was taken as p≤0.05. Results. The proportion of smoking students was 26.8%. Students use e-Cigs more often (64.5% of total smokers) than regular cigarettes (46.7%). Boys use regular tobacco products more often, while girls prefer e-Cigs. Multiple smoking devices (both traditional and electronic) are used by 18.9% of students. The main reasons for using e-Cigs are the absence of tobacco odour, ease of use and the presence of pleasant aromas. Only 18.4% of medical students consider e-Cigs less harmful than regular cigarettes. Preference is given to e-Cigs with nicotine. The most popular flavour among young people is fruit and berry. Almost all respondents use e-Cigs in the presence of other people. The intensity of e-Cigs smoking is high in 33.9%. More than half of smokers would like to quit smoking, but cannot due to the established habit and lack of incentive. Limitations are due to the fact that study included students from university students whose professional standard of training suggest issues of a healthy lifestyle. Conclusion. The share of students using e-Cigs is increasing. More than half of the respondents began using e-Cigs during their university studies. More attention needs to be paid to hygiene education and training on prevention and smoking cessation methods.

Effective management of urban water resources under various climate scenarios in semiarid mediterranean areas

Climate change has a significant impact on water resources, making it essential to re-evaluate water management strategies and incorporate climate scenarios in assessments. The Municipal Department of Aigeiros is located in the northern part of Greece. Water consumption is high in Aigeiros and the increased future temperatures projected during the summer period will create significant pressures on water resources. The water resources management study of the region is carried out using the simulations of the RCA4 Regional Climate Model (RCM) driven by the HadGEM-ES global climate model of the Met Office Hadley Centre (MOHC) under 3 different climate emission scenarios, namely RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. For the simulation of the urban water balance of Aigeiros, Komotini, Greece and the assessment of water demand and supply for three climate scenarios (RCP 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5) over a 30-year period, the Aquacycle software was used. The data used in the assessment included projected climatic conditions for the area (i.e., precipitation and evapotranspiration), domestic water consumption, and natural and spatial characteristics. The results indicate that drinking water demand is likely to increase in the coming decades for RCP 4.5 (1323 m3/d for 2041–2050) and RCP 8.5 (1330 m3/d for 2041–2050) scenarios compared to 2020 (1320 m3/d). However, simulations for water supply suggest an increase in groundwater recharge in the future, but also the potential for long drought periods during summer months in RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. The simulation results show both the current situation and the climate scenarios and can be the reference basis for recording the different types of water consumption in urban areas. Therefore, it is possible to control and predict how much of the total consumption is due to the consumer usage profile within a household or to the irrigation needs of green areas in line with the climatic conditions, consumer behavior and technical parameters.

Analysis of Young Consumers' Consumption Behavior from the Perspective of Behavioral Economics

As the pace of economic development in China continues to accelerate and wage levels increase, more people are achieving financial prosperity, with young consumers displaying distinct consumption characteristics. Consequently, they have become a key focus of research for Chinese economists. National consumption, as an important component of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is a crucial factor in promoting steady economic growth. Under the guidance of existing behavioral economics theories, consumer behavior, influenced by various psychological and environmental factors such as personal intentions and market conditions, can be categorized into two main patterns: rational consumption behavior and irrational consumption behavior. Therefore, analyzing young consumers' consumption behavior from an economic perspective is beneficial for the research and formulation of relevant economic policies in China. It also helps correct abnormal consumption behaviors, thereby promoting rational and scientific consumption.

Reservoir Computing System with Diverse Input Patterns in HfAlO-Based Ferroelectric Memristor.

Ferroelectric memristors, particularly those based on hafnia, are gaining attention as potential candidates for neuromorphic computing. These devices offer advantages over perovskite-based ferroelectric memristors owing to their simpler structures, compatibility with complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology, and low-power consumption characteristics. Additionally, improvements in ferroelectric memristor's performance, such as enhancing tunneling electro resistance (TER) and polarization retention, can be achieved using methods like aluminum doping and insulating film deposition. In this study, we implement a physical reservoir computing (RC) system utilizing the metal-ferroelectric-insulator-semiconductor-structured ferroelectric memristor based on Al-doped HfO2 as an artificial synapse. Specifically, we ensure the universality and diversity of the system by experimentally demonstrating a robust reservoir layer capable of handling various types of input pulses. To utilize the ferroelectric memristor in the reservoir layer of the RC system, we employ partial polarization switching of ferroelectric materials. We measure the retention loss characteristics of the device for pulse amplitude, interval, and width, and quantify the time constant values by fitting them to a stretched exponential function. Additionally, we validate the suitability of the fabricated device as an artificial synapse by mimicking various short-term plasticity functions of biological synapses. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate various applications related to learning and memory of the brain, such as image training and Pavlov's experiment, utilizing the short-term memory characteristics of the fabricated device. Lastly, we evaluate the robustness of the RC system under various input conditions by employing the fabricated device as a reservoir layer.

Overweight is the main behavioral risk factor associated with colorectal cancer mortality in the Brazilian population: an ecological analysis

Colorectal cancer in Brazil is among the main public health concern. The burden of disease can be related to unhealthy lifestyle behavior and inequality in access to health services. The aim of this study was to identify the main factors associated with colorectal cancer mortality in Brazil. This is an ecological study that had the Brazilian Federal Units as the primary units of analysis. Colorectal cancer mortality data (ICD C18-C21) were obtained from Brazilian national mortality system to the year 2020. Prevalence of overweight, food consumption (fiber, whole grains and red meat), physical inactivity, smoke, alcohol consumption, the median of household income, years of study, rates of cancer treatment units and oncologist by Brazilian Federal Units were considered as factor associated to the colorectal cancer mortality. Quasipoisson Generalized Linear Models were used to associate CRC mortality and variables related to dietary intake, risk behavior, and access to health services. In 2020, there were 21,501 deaths by colorectal cancer (51% among women). Prevalence of overweight (men: IRR 1.03; CI: 1.01–1.04; women IRR 1.05; CI 1.02–1.08) and the density of oncologist (men: IRR 1.02; CI: 1.01–1.03; women IRR 1.02; CI 1.01–1.03) were the main factors associated with colorectal cancer mortality. Sociodemographic and food consumption characteristics were not statistically associated with CRC. Prevalence of overweight was the strongest factor associated with mortality from colorectal cancer in Brazil in 2020. Therefore, current public policies to reduce overweight and obesity should be prioritized and strengthened in Brazil.

Research and Analysis of Smart Home Products Based on the Emotional Needs of Generation Z Living Alone

Abstract: With the rapid transformation of Chinas economic structure, the concentration of industrial resources, and the widespread access to education, the young Generation Z has undergone a conceptual metamorphosis, flocking to first- and second-tier cities, resulting in a phenomenon of living alone. In a sense, these individuals drive social development through their own efforts; however, their collective psychological characteristics often clash with the heterogeneous and transient environment in which they reside. The issue of unmet emotional needs stemming from their solitude is becoming increasingly pronounced. This paper examines the living conditions and consumption characteristics of Generation Z living alone and, from the perspective of their emotional needs, explores their preferences and demands in the application of smart home products. The goal is to provide meaningful insights for improving the quality of life for young urban dwellers living alone and to contribute to the research and development direction of smart home product design.

Measuring the radiation hardness of terahertz devices for space applications

The application of terahertz technology in space is frontier for the development of 6G technologies. Terahertz transceiver devices based on gallium arsenide Schottky barrier diodes (GaAs SBDs) have the characteristics of small size, light weight and low power consumption, making them suitable for application on spacecraft. However, there is currently a lack of experimental assessments on their space adaptability. Here, we study the radiation hardness of terahertz devices to determine their adaptability in complex space environments. We exposed GaAs SBDs and terahertz multipliers as typical terahertz devices to gamma rays and protons. The experimental results showed that the terahertz devices exhibited good tolerance to protons, but prolonged exposure to gamma rays could significantly increase the leakage current of the GaAs SBDs and alter its C-V characteristics, leading to the failure of the terahertz multiplier. Nevertheless, the terahertz devices maintained a good level of radiation hardness, making them highly suitable for use in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. The comparison between the results of proton and gamma ray tests indicated that the terahertz devices exhibited high inherent radiation hardness against displacement damage but were more sensitive to ionization damage, requiring higher shielding requirements.

Evaluation of household electricity consumption in multi-apartment buildings for optimization of rooftop PV systems

Empowering citizen energy communities (CECs) to produce, self-consume and share renewable energy can enhance household energy efficiency, support the adoption of renewable energy sources, reduce energy consumption and supply tariffs, and increase independence from fossil fuels. This study analyzes actual electricity consumption data from 31 dwellings in typical five-story multi-apartment buildings in Riga, Latvia, considering the potential for rooftop solar energy systems within CECs. The novelty of this study lies in the detailed analysis of household electricity consumption data and characteristics (e.g., household size, population, etc.) to predict household load which is essential for the optimal design of a multi-apartment building scale PV system. We evaluate the suitability of typical multi story buildings for rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems, aiming to determine the potential PV performance relative to final electricity consumption. The study utilizes PolySun computer simulation software. Our findings indicate that a rooftop PV system on a typical 5 story multi-apartment building (60 apartments) can cover up to 77% of annual electricity consumption. This analysis is based on hourly real electricity consumption data. The research outcomes can inform optimization of on-site energy storage to mitigate the impact of PV systems on the grid. The proposed solution is applicable in many Eastern European countries and in some Western European countries that were influenced by the Soviet Union in the latter half of the 20th century.These regions have a similar stock of panel-constructed multi-apartment residential buildings and share comparable climatic conditions.

Energy consumption characteristics and evaluation of public buildings in Tianjin, China

In order to analyze the impact of heat source type and building function on the energy consumption level and distribution characteristics, find out the existing problems, and provide scientific guidance for the selection of heat source type and the optimization of operation strategy of public buildings in Tianjin, China, the building structure information, cold and heat source type and operation energy consumption data of 195 public buildings are collected by on-site investigation and statistics. The heating energy consumption and non-heating energy consumption are analyzed by graphical method and quartile method. The results show that the heat source of urban central heating accounted for the highest proportion, 63.07%. The building energy consumption using coal-fired boiler is the highest, which is 109.61 kWh/(m2.a), and the building energy consumption using ground source heat pump is the lowest, which is 31.90 kWh/(m2.a). In different types of public buildings, the energy consumption of school buildings is the lowest, which is 24.53 kWh/(m2.a), and the distribution is the most concentrated, while the energy consumption of cultural places is the highest, which is 81.64 kWh/(m2.a), and the distribution is the most scattered. Through on-site investigation, some problems in building envelope, energy supply equipment and operation methods are found out, and corresponding energy-saving measures are put forward, which provides guidance for reducing energy consumption of public buildings.

A Nonaxial-Type Swirling Cavitating Nozzle for Exploiting Natural Gas Hydrate

Summary Natural gas hydrates (NGHs) have garnered widespread attention in the new energy sector, owing to their efficient and clean combustion properties. NGHs are ice-like substances formed by methane and water under high-pressure and low-temperature conditions, abundantly deposited in seabeds and frozen soil of highlands on Earth. However, the rock shelves of NGH reservoirs are mostly fragile and sparsely colloidal. Traditional mechanical mining methods can easily cause rock-shelf collapses, leading to mining accidents. Long-term indoor experiments and pilot mining projects have shown that cavitating nozzles can provide a feasible solution to the problem of efficient mining of NGHs. To further improve the efficiency of cavitating nozzle mining for NGHs, we have optimized and designed a nonaxial-type swirling cavitating nozzle (NASCN) based on traditional swirling cavitating nozzles (SCNs). Both numerical simulations and indoor experiments have verified the higher mining performance of this nozzle. In the numerical simulation experiments, we analyzed the cavitation performance, erosion performance, and energy consumption characteristics of different cavitating nozzles using the mixture multiphase flow model and the renormalization group (RNG) k-ε turbulence model. In the indoor experiments, we utilized a jet erosion experimental device for NGHs to analyze the erosion effects of different cavitating nozzles on hydrate samples. The results of these experiments indicate that the NASCN reduces energy consumption by 12% compared with traditional nozzles when there is little difference in cavitation performance and erosion performance. Moreover, under similar energy consumption, the NASCN improves erosion efficiency by 35.2% compared with traditional nozzles. These results demonstrate that the NASCN has good application value in the mining engineering of NGHs.