Energy Conservation System Research Articles

Synthesis of optimal heat and power supply systems for energy conservation

The synthesis problem of energy supply systems includes the selection of proper heating and power generating units as well as energy integration. Such problems have been generally formulated as a linear programming (LP) problem. The structural analysis of the problem and solutions is focussed on rather than merely solved. As a practical consideration for preliminary selection of technologies, a problem regarding the selection of heating devices such as electric heaters, furnaces, steam heaters, or heaters with a heating medium under given loads is defined as a synthesis problem of optimal heat and power supply systems and formulated into an LP form with an objective function of minimum fuel. The results of analysis of the LP problem clarify essential structures of heat and power supply systems under arbitrary heat and power demands.

4399107 Anti-pollution and energy conservation system

4399107 Anti-pollution and energy conservation system

Total planning of combined district heating, cooling and power generation systems for a new town—Part II

The objective of this study is to introduce one of the main results of the project for studying energy conservation technologies in a new airport town, which is organized by the Osaka Science and Technology Center, Japan. First, based on the estimated energy demands in the new town, technological aspects are investigated for the district heating, cooling and hot water supply system. Then, the economic and energy saving characteristics are compared for several alternative systems according to the differences of the type of absorption refrigerating machine and so forth. Assuming that a combined heat and power plant is used as the heat source plant of the district thermal distribution system, the optimal combined district heating, cooling and power generation system has been selected from a comprehensive economic viewpoint. Lastly, it is ascertained that if fuel costs continue to rise at the rate of 8 per cent per year, the best energy conservation system becomes superior economically to the conventional district thermal distribution system.

4399107 Anti-pollution and energy conservation system

4399107 Anti-pollution and energy conservation system

Potential applications for heat pumps in the dairy and brewing industries

This paper is a resumé of a report commissioned by the Energy Technology Support Unit in response to recommendations contained in the audit reports on the dairy and brewing industries [1,2]. It was prepared by NEI Projects Limited with the assistance of International Research and Development Limited. The purpose of the report was to promote the cost effective application of heat pumps to energy conservation in the dairy and brewing industries, by introducing heat pumps to dairy and brewery managers, and elaborating on the opportunities for heat pump applications in these two industries for the benefit of energy conservation systems suppliers and uses.

Heterogeneity of system II secondary electron acceptors in Tris-washed chloroplasts

Tris-washed chloroplasts were submitted to saturating short flashes, and then rapidly mixed with dichlorophenyldimethylurea (DCMU). The amount of singly reduced secondary acceptor was estimated from the DCMU-induced increase in fluorescence, caused by the reverse electron flow from secondary to primary acceptor. The back-transfer from the singly reduced secondary acceptor to the primary acceptor Q induced by DCMU addition affects only a part (60%) of the variable fluorescence ( ΔF max). As previously shown, the quenchers involved in this phenomenon, ‘B-type’ quenchers, are different from those controlling the complementary part of the fluorescence, the non-B-type. In this report, we show that at pH 8.5 in the B-type systems, there exist two kinds of secondary electron acceptors: B, a two-electron acceptor, the corresponding Q accounting for 40% of the variable fluorescence; B′, a one-electron acceptor, the corresponding Q accounting for 20% of the variable fluorescence. The lifetimes of B − and B′ − in the absence of DCMU are 40 and 1 s, respectively. The primary acceptors of the B and B′ systems can be considered as corresponding to the Q 1s defined previously (Joliot, P. and Joliot, A. (1981) in Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on Photosynthesis (Akoynoglou, G., ed.), pp. 885–899, Balaban International Science Services, Philadelphia). The B′ centers seems to be equivalent to the Q β centers as defined by other workers (Van Gorkom, H.J., Thielen, A.P.G.M. and Gorren, A.C.F. (1982) in The Function of Quinones in Energy Conserving Systems (Trumpower, B.L., ed.), Academic Press, New York, in the press).

Industrial Application of a Direct Refrigeration System for Energy Conservation

A large direct industrial refrigeration system was installed to reduce energy consumption in a chemical process plant. Electrical energy was saved by eliminating an intermediate cooling circuit including chilled liquid heat exchangers and glycol circulating pumps. A benefit of the system was increased production capacity by improving evaporator heat transfer, which reduced batch cycle time. This paper discusses system design, start-up and operating experience, and energy savings.

Comparative Studies on Energy Conservation Systems for Urban Area

This paper studies first the current and future situations of energy consumption in urban areas in Japan, and many technological problems are pointed out related to energy conservation systems. Next, picking up some essential technologies which are indispensable to plan better energy systems for multifunctional cities, fundamental strategies are proposed for realizing energy conservation in total energy supply and consuming systems. Lastly, the combined heat and power generation plant for district heating and air-cooling is particularly selected as one of key energy saving technologies, and various types of plant systems are compared from the standpoints of both energy efficiency and supply cost.

A Control Strategy of Heat Exchange System for Energy Conservation

A method for optimizing the operating conditions of a heat exchange system has been developed using a system sensitivity concept. The optimal values for manipulated variables are determined by the sensitivities associated with the system performance and constraints so as to maximize the amount of heat recovery. To calculate the sensitivities a simple but useful model has been derived by means of a signal flow diagram. As an illustrative example, a heat exchange system around a topping column in a petroleum refinery has been taken up to show the usefulness of the proposed method.

The action of 5-coordinate triorganotin compounds on rat liver mitochondria

5-Coordinate tin compounds influence mitochondrial function in the same three ways as triorganotin compounds: (1) they inhibit the energy conservation system like oligomycin, (2) they cause a Cl −/OH − exchange across mitochondrial membranes and (3) at high concentrations they cause large scale swelling. Unlike other triorganotin compounds they inhibit (1) at much lower concentrations than (2) and are as effective as oligomycin. The implications of these findings for the mechanism of reaction of organotins with proteins, enzymes and mitochondria are discussed.

A system for describing the expected hazards of building fires

The Building Firesafety Model serves as an efficient tool for systematically evaluating complete building designs or specific elements of a fire code, such as those standards regarding the flame spread rating of wall coverings and the location of exits. This model enables the evaluation of fire safety implied by compliance with codes such as the HUD/MPS, NFPA 101, and the model building codes used throughout the United States. Furthermore, the model provides the flexibility to evaluate the use of new materials, while ensuring an acceptable level of fire safety without causing undue or unnecessary costs. Both the designer and code official may use this tool, once it has been perfected, as a guide to predict the building's fire safety performance before it is constructed. By using the model, these professionals may jointly assess the trade-off in a variety of architectural and engineering designs incorporating the use of innovative materials. Projects involving, for example, low-cost housing, new community development, structural rehabilitation, and energy conservation systems could also be analyzed. Thus far, the Building Firesafety Model has been used to evaluate: 1. (1) full-scale fire tests; 2. (2) alternative single-family dwelling designs; 3. (3) fire door in a multifamily dwelling; 4. (4) smoke control procedures in a care-type facility; 5. (5) stove hoods in mobile homes; 6. (6) escape potential in the Beverly Hills Supper Club; 7. (7) the effect of room size on fire safety. These applications have illustrated the importance of considering the complex interactions among factors related to the occupant capabilities; building and room dimensions; barriers; variations in fuel loading, ignitability, and flame spread rating; and environment characteristics such as wind conditions and humidity. The Building Firesafety Model also provides a framework for evaluating the trade-off between individual and community fire detection and suppression capabilities. Such innovation could, in the short run, increase construction costs; but, in the long run, decrease the cost of building ownership by reducing the losses due to fire. This will eventually lead to a reduction in insurance costs and, perhaps, taxes due to decreased reliance on community fire suppression services.

Plastoquinone as a common link between photosynthesis and respiration in a blue-green alga

The role of plastoquinone in a thermophilic blue-green alga, Shynechococcus sp., was studied by measuring reduction kinetics of cytochrome 553 which was oxidized with red flash preferentially exciting photosystem I. Sensitivity of the cytochrome reduction to DBMIB Abbreviations: DCMU = 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea; DBMIB = 2,5-dib romo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone; HOQNO = 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide indicates that cytochrome 553 accepts electrons from reduced plastoquinone. Plastoquinone is in turn reduced in cells without electrons from photosystem II, since DCMU Abbreviations: DCMU = 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea; DBMIB = 2,5-dib romo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone; HOQNO = 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide , which inhibited methyl viologen photoreduction more strongly than DBMIB, failed to affect the cytochrome reduction. Participation of cyclic electron transport around photosystem I in cytochrome reduction in the presence of DCMU was excluded, because methyl viologen and antimycin A had no effect on the cytochrome kinetics. On the other hand, electron donation from endogenous substrates to plastoquinone was suggested from decreases in rate of the cytochrome reduction by dark starvation of cells and also from restoration of fast reduction kinetics by the addition of exogenous substrates to or by reillumination of starved cells.KCN, which completely suppressed respiratory O2-uptake, induced a marked acceleration of the cytochrome reduction in starved cells. The poison was less or not effective in stimulating the cytochrome reduction in more extensively starved or reilluminated cells.Results indicate that plastoquinone is functioning not only in the photosynthetic but also in the respiratory electron transport chain, thereby forming a common link between the two energy conservation systems of the blue-green alga.

Zum Prinzip der Photophosphorylierung und oxidativen Phosphorylierung

The energy transformation systems of Halobacterium halobium, Vibrio succinogenes, chloroplasts and mitochondria are described on the basis of the chemiosmotic theory. Nature seems to utilize three quite different mechanisms for electrogenic proton transport. Structure and function of the ATP-synthetase complexes, however, seem to be quite similar in the various energy-conserving systems.

Oxidative phosphorylation. Halide-dependent and halide-independent effects of triorganotin and trioganolead compounds on mitochondrial functions.

1. Each of five triorganotin and five triorganolead compounds was shown to perturb mithochondrial functions in three different ways. One is dependent and two are independent of Cl- in the medium. 2. Structure-activity relationships for the three interactions are described, and compounds suitable as tools for the separate study of each process are defined. 3. In a Cl- -containing medium trimethyltin, triethyltin, trimethyl-lead, triethyl-lead and tri-n-propyl-lead all produce the same maximum rate of ATP hydrolysis and O2 uptake; this rate is much less than that produced by uncoupling agents such as 2,4-dinitrophenol. 4. Increase in ATP hydrolysis and O2 uptake are measures on energy ultilization when triogranotin and triorganolead compounds bring about an exchange of external C1- for intramitochondrial OH- ions. Possible rate-limiting steps in this process are discussed. 5. In a C1- -containing medium ATP synthesis linked to the oxidation of beta-hydroxybutyrate or reduced cytochrone c is less inhibited by triethyltin or triethyl-lead than is ATP synthesis linked to the oxidation of succinate, pyruvate or L-glutamate. 6. The inhibition of ATP synthesis linked to the oxidation of both beta-hydroxybutyrate and reduced cytochrome c consists of two processes: one is a limited uncoupling and is C1- -dependent and the other is a C1- -independent inhibition of the energy-conservation system. 7. The different sensitivities to inhibition by triethyltin of mitochondrial functions involving the oxidation of beta-hydroxybutyrate and succinate are compared and discussed.

Industrial electronics: Controllers get smarter, thyristors make inroads, hardware/software goes standard

More automation and computer hierarchical and direct control in manufacturing and testing mark the present and the near future in industrial electronics. The energy crunch is being felt, both directly and indirectly. Energy-conserving testing systems for automobiles are being devised and programmable controllers are being applied in industrial processes to increase efficiency and economy. Power semiconductor devices are growing bigger and getting smarter. The new buzzword is “standardization,” both in instrumentation and in software. CAMAC, a standardized scheme for interfacing computers to data transducers and actuators in on-line systems, and for the design and use of modular electronic data handling equipment, has begun to play a role in industrial control and measurement, both in the U.S. and in Europe. And a unified industrial FORTRAN computer language is in the works.

Energy conservation in Bacillus megaterium.

1. The respiratory chain energy conservation systems of Bacillus megaterium strains D440 and M have been investigated following growth in batch and continuous culture. Respiratory membranes from these strains contained cytochromes b, aa3, o and b, c, a, o, respecitvely; both readily oxidised NADH but neither showed any pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase activity. 2. Whole cells of both strains exhibited endogenous leads to H+/O ratios of approximately 4; when loaded with specific substrates the resultant leads to H+/O ratios indicated that proton translocating loops 1 and 2 were present in strain D440 and that loops 2 and 3 were present in strain M. 3. In situ respiratory activities were measured as a function of dilution rate during growth in continuous culture. True molar growth yields with respect to oxygen (Y02) of approximately 50 g cells-mole oxygen-1 were obtained for most of the nutrient limitations employed. Average values for YATP of 12.7 and 10.8 g cells-mole ATP equivalent-1 were subsequently calculated for strains D440 and M respectively. 4. Energy requirements for maintenance purposes were low in energy-limited cultures but were substantially increased when growth was limited by nitrogen source (NH+/4). Under the latter conditions there is probably a partial uncoupling of energy-conserving and energy-utilising processes leading to energy wastage.

Energy Conservation in Bacillus megaterium

1. The respiratory chain energy conservation systems of Bacillus megaterium strains D440 and M have been investigated following growth in batch and continuous culture. Respiratory membranes from these strains contained cytochromes b, aa3, o and b, c, a, o, respectively; both readily oxidised NADH but neither showed any pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase activity. 2. Whole cells of both strains exhibited endogenous →H-/O ratios of approximately 4; when loaded with specific substrates the resultant →H+/O ratios indicated that proton translocating loops 1 and 2 were present in strain D440 and that loops 2 and 3 were present in strain M. 3. In situ respiratory activities were measured as a function of dilution rate during growth in continuous culture. True molar growth yields with respect to oxygen (YO2) of approximately 50 g cells·mole oxygen-1 were obtained for most of the nutrient limitations employed. Average values for YATP of 12.7 and 10.8 g cells·mole ATP equivalents-1 were subsequently calculated for strains D440 and M respectively. 4. Energy requirements for maintenance purposes were low in energy-limited cultures but were substantially increased when growth was limited by nitrogen source (NH4+). Under the latter conditions there is probably a partial uncoupling of energy-conserving and energy-utilising processes leading to energy wastage.

Appearance of Energy Conservation System in Rat Liver Mitochondria during Development<subtitle>The Role of Adenine Nucleotide Translocation</subtitle>

Activities of energy conservation system in rat liver mitochondria during development were examined before and after birth. Both the respiratory control and the energy-dependent H+-efflux were extremely lower in fetal mitochondria than in adult ones. The high concentration of exogenous ADP or ATP+Mg2+ increased the energy conservation activity in fetal mitochondria, with the increase in the AdN* contents. AdN contents in mitochondria increased in parallel with the respiratory control after birth, but the Pi content changed only slightly at birth. The atractyloside-sensitive uptake of [14C]AdN into mitochondria was low in fetus and increased after birth. The uptake of ATP was dependent on the concentration of exogenous ATP.

The interaction of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide with the energy conservation systems of the spinach chloroplast.

The interaction of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide with the energy conservation systems of the spinach chloroplast.

The function of ubiquinone-10 both in the electron transport system and in the energy conservation system of chromatophores from Rhodospirillum rubrum.

The quinones associated with chromatophores from Rhodospirillum rubrum are ubiquinone-10 (UQ-10) and rhodoquinone. The effects of extraction of the quinones and addition of several quinones on various activities have been studied. When the quinones are extracted, the activity in the light for ATP formation, the activities in darkness for ATP hydrolysis and ATP-P1 exchange, and the activities in darkness for reduction of cytochrome c2 by NADH and oxidation of NADH by O2 are depressed. These depressed activities are restored to the original level when extracted chromatophores are supplemented with UQ-10. The other ubiquinones tested are equally effective in restoring the activities. Rhodoquinone, plastoquinone, α-tocopherolquinone and phylloquinone are as effective as UQ-10 in restoring the activities for ATP hydrolysis and ATP-P1 exchange, whereas they are significantly less effective than UQ-10 in restoring the other activities. With chromatophores reconstructed by addition of UQ-10, the effect of oligomycin, antimycin A and redox-reagents is also reported. In “intact” chromatophores, the activities for ATP formation, ATP hydrolysis, ATP-P1 exchange and electron transport are in a major part exhibited by the enzyme systems containing UQ-10. Probably, UQ-10 is the factor coupling between the electron transport system and the energy conservation system leading to ATP formation, serving as the primary step for energy conservation.