Atmospheric Effects Research Articles

Study on thermal behavior and gas pollutant emission control during the co-combustion of rice straw-modified oily sludge and coal

Oily sludge (OS) is a solid waste generated from oil industry activities that can threaten the ecological environment and human health if not properly treated or disposed of. In this paper, the thermal behavior and emission of gas products during the co-combustion of rice straw (R) modified OS (OS5-R5) and coal (C) were investigated using an automatic calorimeter and model analysis. The effect of combustion atmosphere and additives on the gas products emission during the co-combustion of C, R, OS5-R5, and mixed fuels were investigated. The results show that as the content of OS5-R5 increased in mixed fuels, the performance of mixed fuels worsened gradually. When the mass content of OS5-R5 is 30 %, the lower heating value (LHV) was about 20 MJ/kg, which is about 16 % lower than that of C, but the comprehensive combustion index had no significant decrease. The additives could control the emission of pollutant gases. The increase of heating rate from 5 °C/min to 20 °C/min resulted in an increase of the overall combustion performance of the mixed fuel by 5.07-time. Similarly, increasing the oxygen concentration from 10 % to 100 % led to a 3.09-time increase in the combustion index of the mixed fuel. The adsorption of polar molecules by montmorillonite was conducive to reducing the emission of pollutant gases. BaO and CaO do not affect NO and NO2 emission control but reduce H2S and SO2 emissions because BaO and CaO could react with H2S and SO2 to form sulfate resulting in reduced emission. The research provides a theoretical basis for OS's safe disposal and efficient resource utilization.

Remote sensing image registration method based on synchronous atmospheric correction.

Image registration is a crucial preprocessing step in remote sensing applications, integrating information from multiple images to achieve synergistic advantages. Nevertheless, aerosols characterized by spatiotemporal heterogeneity can result in the blurring of remote-sensing images, thereby compromising the accuracy of image registration. This paper begins by analyzing the basic principles of atmospheric correction and image registration. The variations in atmospheric radiative contribution caused by aerosol changes in real-world scenarios were simulated, along with an examination of the relationship between atmospheric effects and the quantity of image features. Subsequently, addressing the challenge posed by insufficient synchronicity in aerosol parameters and the influence of atmospheric effects on remote sensing image registration, we propose a registration method based on synchronous atmospheric correction. This approach utilizes the Airborne Synchronous Monitoring Atmospheric Corrector (ASMAC) to obtain aerosol optical depth and column water vapor images for synchronous atmospheric correction of remote sensing images, along with the assessment of the registration transformation matrix. Finally, airborne experiments involving ASMAC and high-resolution cameras are conducted to validate the proposed method's improvement in remote sensing image registration accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, showcasing an increase in the number of features and improvements in quantitative evaluation metrics. Specifically, the normalized correlation coefficient improved by up to 2.408%, while the normalized mutual information increased by a maximum of 1.395%, a maximum feature count and successfully matched features improvement of 21.1% and 38.5.

Experimental study of NH3 and coal Co-firing in a CFB and its nitrogen conversion

This study conducted co-firing experiments of NH3 and coal in a circulating fluidized bed combustor. The effects of NH3 co-firing ratio and combustion atmosphere of NH3 addition position on temperature, flue gas emissions, carbon content of the fly ash, NH3 content in fly ash were investigated. Results showed that NOx and N2O emissions increased with NH3 ratio increasing when adding NH3 in the reducing zone. A lower NOx increment was found within 0∼20 % NH3 ratio, increasing by 0.6 times compared to coal combustion. The NH3 content in fly ash was 2.74 mg/kg when NH3 ratio was 10 %. Compared to the reducing zone, adding NH3 into the oxidizing zone promoted the generation of more NOx and N2O, and simultaneously was detrimental to the burnout of NH3 and CO. Based on these findings, NH3 added in the reducing zone emerges as an optimized choice when NH3 and coal are co-fired in circulating fluidized bed. Extending the retention time of NH3 in the reducing zone was beneficial for controlling NOx and N2O, as well as promoting the burnout of NH3 and CO. Furthermore, fuel-N conversion analysis showed that over 96 % fuel-N was converted into harmless N2 when NH3 ratio exceeds 10 %.

Effect of postpolymerization time and atmosphere on surface properties and biofilm formation in additively manufactured resins for definitive restorations

ObjectivesTo investigate how postpolymerization time (PPT) and atmosphere (PPA) influence the surface properties, protein adsorption, and microbial adhesion of two types of additively manufactured (AM) resins used for definitive restorations. MethodsTwo different types of commercially available AM resins for definitive restorations (UR and CR) were used to create disk-shaped specimens. These specimens were divided into eight groups based on resin type (UR and CR), PPT (standard or extended), and PPA (air or nitrogen). After postpolymerization, the surface roughness (Ra and Sa) and surface free energy (SFE) of all specimens were measured. The study also evaluated protein adsorption, microbial attachment, and cytotoxicity. A non-parametric factorial analysis of variance with post-hoc analyses was conducted, using a significance level (α) of 0.05. ResultsThe Ra and Sa values for CR were higher than those for UR, regardless of PPT or PPA (P < 0.05). For UR, SFE was higher with extended PPT compared to standard PPT. CR had higher SFE than UR under standard PPT. The interaction between PPT and PPA had a significant effect on protein adsorption (P < 0.05). When PPT was standard, nitrogen significantly increased protein adsorption compared to air. The interaction between resin type and PPA, and between resin type and PPT, significantly affected microbial adhesion (P < 0.05). The changes in PPT or PPA did not affect the cytotoxicity of either AM resin. ConclusionSurface properties, protein adsorption, and microbial attachment were influenced by the interactions among PPT, PPA, and resin type. These factors can have implications for resin-based definitive restorations. Clinical significancesClinicians should understand the impact of PPT and PPA on the surface properties of AM resins for definitive restorations, particularly regarding protein adsorption and microbial adhesion. Additionally, the type of AM resin (based on chemical composition) could affect its biological properties.

Analysis of a visible light communication system with QAM-OFDM modulated white LEDs using FSO

The popularity of visible light communication (VLC) has increased recently because of the advancement of LEDs and the quantity of lighting bandwidth, which enables faster and more reliable transmission. High-speed transmission via LED networks is made possible by QAM-OFDM technology, which maximizes spectral efficiency and interference robustness to improve the VLC. For the proposed work, two OFDM modulation techniques (a PSK-OFDM and a QAM-OFDM with white LED, RZ/NRZ encoding schemes, and EDFA/SOA amplifiers) are used in the design of the VLC transmitter and receiver of the FSO channel. The design and investigation make use of the OptiSystem v21 simulation tool to assess the performance of the VLC system with an emphasis on the bit error rate, extinction ratio, and signal quality criteria. The results show that the QAM-OFDM with an RZ scheme and EDFA amplifier is the more competent than PSK-OFDM, with a Q factor of 3.94, a BER of 3.71∗10−5, and an extinction ratio of 10.18. The proposed network has a 10–60 Gbps data throughput limit and a 10 m link range in the presence of atmospheric conditions and noise effects.

Analytical study on the upward laser beam propagation in the turbulent atmosphere

The upward laser beam propagation in the turbulent atmosphere is studied analytically, where the nonlinear self-focusing, the atmospheric turbulence, and the atmospheric extinction effects are all taken into account. The analytical propagation expression of intensity is derived. The initial beam defocusing and the optimal beam power are two methods to improve the beam quality at the target. The analytical expressions of the focal length considering the initial beam defocusing and the corresponding target intensity are derived. Moreover, the analytical expressions of optimal beam power and the corresponding target intensity are also derived, and the target intensity is independent of the atmospheric extinction. In particular, the criterion for which method (the initial beam defocusing or the optimal beam power) to use is derived to optimize the target beam quality. The choice of the two methods depends on the laser beam parameters and the turbulent atmosphere parameters.

Effect of Calcination Atmosphere on the Performance of Cu/Al2O3 Catalyst for the Selective Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol.

The selective hydrogenation of the biomass platform molecule furfural (FAL) to produce furfuryl alcohol (FA) is of great significance to alleviate the energy crisis. Cu-based catalysts are the most commonly used catalysts, and their catalytic performance can be optimized by changing the preparation method. This paper emphasized the effect of calcination atmosphere on the performance of a Cu/Al2O3 catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of FAL. The precursor of the Cu/Al2O3 catalyst prepared by the ammonia evaporation method was treated with different calcination atmospheres (N2 and air). On the basis of the combined results from the characterizations using in situ XRD, TEM, N2O titration, H2-TPR and XPS, the Cu/Al2O3 catalyst calcined in the N2 atmosphere was more favorable for the dispersion and reduction of Cu species and the reduction process could produce more Cu+ and Cu0 species, which facilitated the selective hydrogenation of FAL to FA. The experimental results showed that the N2 calcination atmosphere improved the FAL conversion and FA selectivity, and the FAL conversion was further increased after reduction. Cu/Al2O3-N2-R exhibited the outstanding performance, with a high yield of 99.9% of FA after 2 h at 120 °C and an H2 pressure of 1 MPa. This work provides a simple, efficient and economic method to improve the C=O hydrogenation performance of Cu-based catalysts.

The Influence of Store Atmosphere on Purchasing Decisions and Visitor Satisfaction as an Intervening Variable at Kopi Praja Bintaro, South Tangerang, Banten Province, Indonesia

This research aims to determine the effect of store atmosphere on purchasing decisions and visitor satisfaction as an intervening variable at Kopi Praja Bintaro, South Tangerang, Banten Province, Indonesia. This type of research is quantitative descriptive with path analysis using Accidental Sampling; the sample size is 100 respondents. The data collection technique is by distributing questionnaires with a Likert scale of 1 to 5. The research results show: (1) The shop atmosphere has a significant effect on visitor satisfaction; (2) Visitor satisfaction has a significant effect on purchasing decisions; (3) The store atmosphere has a significant effect on purchasing decisions through visitor satisfaction. The atmosphere at Kopi Praja Bintaro South Tangerang creates a positive experience for visitors that is comfortable, friendly, and satisfying. This increases customer satisfaction, builds long-term relationships, and expands the popularity of these places in the local community. It is essential to maintain a friendly and fun atmosphere with staff peering in and giving open feedback to improve the quality of service.

The Effect of Product Innovation, Service Quality, and Store Atmosphere on Consumer Loyalty at Puri Kawan Lodtunduh Gianyar Regency

The Effect of Product Innovation, Service Quality, and Store Atmosphere on Consumer Loyalty at Puri Kawan Lodtunduh Gianyar Regency

Enhancing transmission and coupling efficiency in Cassegrain optical systems with four-petal Gaussian beams.

This study investigates the propagation characteristics of four-petal Gaussian beams through Cassegrain optical systems. With the properties of this new type of beam, the problem of masking loss in the Cassegrain optical system can be well solved. Analytical expressions of the optical field for beams after propagating the optical system are derived, considering atmospheric turbulence effects and random jitter on coupling efficiency. Simulation tests explore various factors affecting transmission efficiency. Acceptable axial mounting error tolerance and significant efficiency drops beyond specific communication distances under different turbulence conditions ($C_{n}^{2}$). Achieving over 80${\% }$ coupling efficiency is feasible with specific lens parameters (f = 0.4 - 0.5 mm, receiving position after 4 km) using standardized lenses. This work offers a theoretical model for four-petal Gaussian beams, aiding optical communication design and application, with practical engineering implications.

Buoy‐Based Detection of Low‐Energy Cosmic‐Ray Neutrons to Monitor the Influence of Atmospheric, Geomagnetic, and Heliospheric Effects

AbstractCosmic radiation on Earth responds to heliospheric, geomagnetic, atmospheric, and lithospheric changes. In order to use its signal for soil hydrological monitoring, the signal of thermal and epithermal neutron detectors needs to be corrected for external influencing factors. However, theories about the neutron response to soil water, air pressure, air humidity, and incoming cosmic radiation are still under debate. To challenge these theories, we isolated the neutron response from almost any terrestrial changes by operating a bare and a moderated neutron detector in a buoy on a lake in Germany from July 15 to 02 December 2014. We found that the count rate over water has been better predicted by a theory from Köhli et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2020.544847) compared to the traditional approach from Desilets et al. (2010, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009wr008726). We further found strong linear correlation parameters to air pressure (β = 0.0077 mb−1) and air humidity (α = 0.0054 m3/g) for epithermal neutrons, while thermal neutrons responded with α = 0.0023 m3/g. Both approaches, from Rosolem et al. (2013, https://doi.org/10.1175/jhm‐d‐12‐0120.1) and from Köhli et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2020.544847), were similarly able to remove correlations of epithermal neutrons to air humidity. Correction for incoming radiation proved to be necessary for both thermal and epithermal neutrons, for which we tested different neutron monitor stations and correction methods. Here, the approach from Zreda et al. (2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess‐16‐4079‐2012) worked best with the Jungfraujoch monitor in Switzerland, while the approach from McJannet and Desilets (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022wr033889) was able to adequately rescale data from more remote neutron monitors. However, no approach was able to sufficiently remove the signal from a major Forbush decrease event on 13 September, to which thermal and epithermal neutrons showed a comparatively strong response. The buoy detector experiment provided a unique data set for empirical testing of traditional and new theories on Cosmic‐Ray Neutron Sensing. It could serve as a local alternative to reference data from remote neutron monitors.

A critical insight into the most effective CFD settings to model atmospheric stability in wind energy applications

An accurate reconstruction of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) is key for the estimation of energy production and loads in modern wind turbines since, at current rotor heights, the vertical structure of the ABL is heavily influenced by thermal stratification effects. The wind power community usually accounts for these effects by semi-empirical modifications to the neutral ABL profile obtained using linear solvers such as WAsP; this approach, however, may not be suitable for sites with complex terrain, time-dependent thermal effects, or dense canopies. In these applications, methods with higher fidelity, such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approaches based on steady or unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations are needed. While CFD is recognized as providing more accurate results for these realistic cases, its use is still not a common best practice. In the current study, the WindModeller CFD tool by Ansys was employed to assess the effect of various inlet boundary conditions on the predicted wind speed profiles in unstable and stable atmospheric conditions. The test case is a wind farm in North Dakota, USA, characterized by a simple terrain but strong atmospheric stability effects and temperature fluctuations. The comparison of CFD results with experimental measurements and WAsP-CFD simulations reveals a high level of agreement between CFD and experimental data in stable conditions. In the case of unstable conditions, despite the good representation of the wind field, a high sensitivity to inlet boundary conditions is highlighted.

Repurchase Interest Reviewed from Customer Experience and Service Quality with Consumer Satisfaction as an Intervening Variable

Purpose: The research aims to determine the effect of customer experience, service quality, and cafe atmosphere on repurchase intention with consumer satisfaction as intervening variables for Bento Kopi.Design/Method/Approach: The type of approach taken in this research is quantitative. Data analysis techniques using Structural Equation Modeling with the SmartPLS analysis tool version 3.0. The objects in this research are consumers who have made purchases at Bento Kopi. The sampling technique uses nonprobability sampling and determining the sample used purposive sampling with a total sample of 100 respondents. Data collection was carried out by distributing questionnaires online with Google Forms.Findings: The findings of research results show that a direct customer experience has a positive and significant effect on repurchase interest. Meanwhile, service quality does not directly influence repurchase interest. Repurchase interest is influenced by customer experience and service quality through the use of consumer satisfaction as an intervening variable.Originality/Values: This research is the first research to determine repurchase interest in Bento Kopi Kudus as reviewed by customer experience and service quality with consumer satisfaction as a variable intervention.

Exploring Cafe Atmosphere and Service Excellence Effects on Customer Loyalty Globally

This study explores the impact of cafe atmosphere, menu diversity, and service excellence on customer loyalty at Istoria Cafe Sidoarjo. Using a quantitative approach with data from 97 respondents, the analysis reveals that cafe atmosphere significantly influences customer loyalty, while menu diversity shows no significant impact. Service excellence, however, plays a crucial role in enhancing customer loyalty. These findings highlight the importance of creating a captivating ambiance and providing exceptional service to foster customer loyalty in the competitive food and beverage industry, offering valuable insights for cafe owners and managers aiming to improve business performance. Highlight: Ambiance Affects Loyalty: Atmosphere influences customer loyalty at Istoria Cafe Sidoarjo. Service Key to Loyalty: Excellent service crucial for fostering customer loyalty. Menu Diversity's Role: Limited impact on customer loyalty identified in the study. Keyword: Cafe atmosphere, Menu diversity, Service excellence, Customer loyalty, Istoria Cafe Sidoarjo.

Atmospheric plasma treatment effect on shear strength of GFRP-Aluminum adhesively bonded lap joints

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of air (dielectric barrier discharge) DBD plasma treatment on the bonding strength of adhesively bonded glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composite-aluminum lap joints. The bonding performance of lap joints produced by the plasma treatment was compared with that of untreated and peel-ply surface treatments. Water contact angles of the substrates were measured for untreated, peel-ply, and plasma surface-treated substrates. Experimental results showed that plasma-treated aluminum and GFRP substrates increased the wettability properties and thus shear strength of adhesively bonded GFRP-Al joints increased. After the shear tests, the fracture surfaces of the substrates were visually examined and three different damage modes were observed, including light fiber tear failure, adhesive failure, and thin layer cohesive failure modes.

Effect of atmosphere on the high-temperature interaction of molten Mg-10Ca alloy with steel substrates

Experimental studies of the high-temperature interaction of a molten Mg-10Ca alloy (10 wt% Ca) with steel substrates were performed, for the first time, using the sessile drop method combined with non-contact heating and capillary purification procedure. The investigations were carried out under isothermal conditions at a temperature of 700 °C in two different flowing gas atmospheres: (i) a pure Ar and (ii) a mixture of Ar + 5 wt% H2. The high-resolution side-view images of Mg-10Ca/steel couples collected during the experiments were used to determine the contact angle values (θ) formed between the alloy drop and steel substrates. In both atmospheres, under the experimental conditions used, liquid Mg-10Ca alloy exhibited non-wetting behavior on steel substrates: after 180 s of dropping alloy from a graphite capillary, the average contact angle value in the Ar atmosphere was θav = 120°, which was slightly higher than that for the test performed in the Ar + 5 wt% H2 atmosphere, where θav = 114°. The microstructure of the solidified couples was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The SEM/EDS analysis revealed interfacial discontinuities throughout the cross-sectioned couples and a lack of permanent bonding between the alloy drop and substrates. Moreover, neither new phases nor mass transfer through the drop/substrate interface were noted. The non-wetting and weak bonding between the alloy drops and the steel substrates is consistent with the Mg–Fe and Ca–Fe phase diagrams, i.e., the non-reactive nature of the Mg-10Ca/steel couples, since at the testing temperature, Fe does not form any compounds with both Mg and Ca, and it does not dissolve in liquid Mg.

Use of an uncrewed aerial system to investigate aerosol direct and indirect radiative forcing effects in the marine atmosphere

Abstract. An uncrewed aerial system (UAS) has been developed for observations of aerosol and cloud properties relevant to aerosol direct and indirect forcing in the marine atmosphere. The UAS is a Hybrid Quadrotor–fixed-wing aircraft designed for launch and recovery from a confined space such as a ship deck. Two payloads, clear sky and cloudy sky, house instrumentation required to characterize aerosol radiative forcing effects. The observing platform (UAS plus payloads) has been deployed from a ship and from a coastal site for observations in the marine atmosphere. We describe here details of the UAS, the payloads, and first observations from the TowBoatU.S. Richard L. Becker (March 2022) and from the Tillamook UAS Test Range (August 2022). The development of this UAS technology for flights from ships and coastal locations is expected to greatly increase observations of aerosol radiative effects in the marine boundary layer over both temporal and spatial scales.

Particulate black carbon mass concentrations and the episodic source identification driven by atmospheric blocking effects in Astana, Kazakhstan

Black carbon (BC) is a component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that is a key contributor to adverse human health effects and climate forcing. To date, BC mass concentrations and possible sources in Kazakhstan have not been studied. Thus, understanding the temporal variations of BC for a large developing region with a complex climate is useful. In this study, measurements of fine particulate BC mass concentrations in Astana were made from June 2020 to October 2021 by measuring light absorption of PM2.5 on filters. The mean BC concentration was 2.56 ± 1.29 μg m−3 with maximum and minimum monthly mean BC concentrations being 4.56 ± 2.03 μg m−3 and 1.12 ± 0.42 μg m−3 in January 2021 and June 2020, respectively. Temporal analyses of BC, SO2, PM10, NOx, CO, meteorological and atmospheric stability parameters were performed. Aggregated pollutant ‘episodic loadings’ during the heating and non-heating periods were identified. Their relationships with blocking anticyclones and cyclones were investigated by examining the reversal of meridional gradients at 500 hPa geopotential height (GPH) maps and identifying Omega (Ω) and Rex blocking types. Astana has some of the highest BC concentrations of cities worldwide. Seasonal BC source location identification using Conditional Bivariate Probability Function (CBPF) analysis implicated combined heat and power (CHP) plant emissions as the major BC source in Astana. Significant increases in BC concentrations were observed during the cold season due to numerous sources, generally poorer atmospheric dispersion and blocking events. The Concentration Weighted Trajectory (CWT) analysis results showed that the distribution of the 75th percentile of BC during episodic periods actively controlled by blockings exceeding than the entire measurement period, which may reflect cross-border transport and adjacent countries.

Solar multiobject multiframe blind deconvolution with a spatially variant convolution neural emulator

The study of astronomical phenomena through ground-based observations is always challenged by the distorting effects of Earth's atmosphere. Traditional methods of post facto image correction, essential for correcting these distortions, often rely on simplifying assumptions that limit their effectiveness, particularly in the presence of spatially variant atmospheric turbulence. Such cases are often solved by partitioning the field of view into small patches, deconvolving each patch independently, and merging all patches together. This approach is often inefficient and can produce artifacts. Recent advancements in computational techniques and the advent of deep learning offer new pathways to address these limitations. This paper introduces a novel framework leveraging a deep neural network to emulate spatially variant convolutions, offering a breakthrough in the efficiency and accuracy of astronomical image deconvolution. By training on a dataset of images convolved with spatially invariant point spread functions and validating its generalizability to spatially variant conditions, this approach presents a significant advancement over traditional methods. The convolution emulator is used as a forward model in a multiobject multiframe blind deconvolution algorithm for solar images. The emulator enables the deconvolution of solar observations across large fields of view without resorting to patch-wise mosaicking, thus avoiding the artifacts associated with such techniques. This method represents a significant computational advantage, reducing processing times by orders of magnitude.

Nanoparticles of NiO and CoO simultaneously dispersed on a mesoporous carbonaceous support as bifunctional electrocatalysts for ORR and OER reactions and Zn-air battery performance

This work aims to study the effect of different atmospheres and temperatures in the synthesis of a bifunctional electrocatalyst for ORR and OER reactions in the cathode of a Zn-air battery, using a carbonaceous support for dispersing Ni and Co species. At 300 °C, NiCo2O4 with a size of 4.93 nm under O2 and 150.14 nm using air, were obtained. These materials exhibited low specific surface area and pore volume and failed to show bifunctional activity. Instead, the simultaneous dispersion of NiO and CoO nanoparticles, with a size of 2.55 nm was achieved at 300 °C under N2 (NiCo/MC-N300), leading to a surface enrichment in Co2+ and Ni2+ species, while Ni and Co nanoparticles, 12.81 nm, were obtained at 700 °C under N2 (NiCo/MC-N700). These catalysts exhibited high specific surface area and pore volume, and bifunctional electrochemical activity; as well as high specific-capacity in a home-made Zn-air battery.