Capacity Factor Research Articles

FELA evaluated bearing capacity factors for circular, planar, and interfering cutting edges of open caisson

ABSTRACT In the study, a thorough analysis of the drained bearing capacity factors of cutting edges of open caissons with and without interference has been carried out which helps in planning the controlled sinking of caissons. Five different conditions are analysed in this study: single circular, single planar, V-shape planar, interfering planar, and interfering V-shape planar cutting edges. Implementing upper and lower bound finite element limit analysis (FELA) in accordance with Terzaghi's conventional bearing capacity equation, the bearing capacity factors of the cutting edge of open caissons are evaluated. The design charts for the bearing capacity of cutting edges are determined by accounting for the effects of the radii ratio of the circular caisson, distance ratio of planar cutting edges, cutting angle of cutting edge, soil internal friction angle, and spacing between the cutting edges. The soil failure planes corresponding to the aforementioned aspects of the cutting edges are also evaluated.

Analysis of development of floating offshore wind energy in Spain

Offshore wind energy generation has developed rapidly especially in the last decade. In some countries, despite having good wind conditions for its development, it has not been possible to implement it. This is because its continental shelf is very short, that is, the land under water in shallow seas is not wide enough to install fixed foundations. Consequently, the development of floating platforms is awakening interest in this type of generation, as is the case in Spain. In this article, a methodology for calculation the generated electrical energy in floating offshore wind farms and the corresponding losses is developed. In this way, all necessary data involved in the methodology have been obtained from the sites destined for offshore wind development. These emplacements have been released by Spanish Government in recently approved Maritime Spatial Plan. The generation potentials in Spanish waters have been evaluated according to most interesting ratios as levelized cost of energy, capacity factor and cost of installed megawatt. Results show that most of emplacements are interesting enough for the development of OWFs. Deserve to be mentioned three main areas, such as, northwest waters, Canary Island zones and north part of Catalonia.

Optimal wind and solar sizing in a novel hybrid power system incorporating concentrating solar power and considering ultra-high voltage transmission

The coordinated operation of concentrating solar power (CSP) and traditional thermal power can facilitate the integration of variable wind and solar renewable energy (VRE) into the grid supported by ultra-high voltage (UHV) transmission line, forming a novel HRES. The optimal sizing of VRE in this novel HRES has been rarely investigated. This paper thus proposed a framework serving the capacity configuration optimization for VRE in aforementioned HRES. The lifecycle economic and technical performance of the HRES was evaluated to guide capacity planning. The operational characteristics of the thermal power and CSP were investigated via short-term scheduling optimization. The methodology was applied to a HRES base located in Qinghai Province, China. Results indicate a maximum capacity ratio of VRE to flexible power of 1.74:1 without power curtailments. Further expansion of VRE leads to an escalation in power curtailments. The optimal VRE sizing is determined as a combination of 4000 MW solar power and 1000 MW wind power, which achieves a levelized cost of energy as low as 0.363 CNY/kWh, corresponding to a capacity factor of 0.32. The role of CSP in mitigating VRE fluctuations in HRES is more significant than that of thermal power due to its superior flexibility and low operating costs. The inter-day heat transfer of CSP can further facilitate the stability of the HRES output between consecutive days. These findings provide valuable insights for capacity configuration and operation of the new HRES, which will promote the utilization of renewable energy and cleaner production of the power system.

GREEN HPLC DETERMINATION OF PHENYTOIN AND METHOD VALIDATION

Objective: In this study, the chromatographic behavior of the antiepileptic drug phenytoin was determined by the green HPLC method. The optimization of the developed method was based on the capacity factor values of phenytoin in varying water-ethanol binary mixtures and the ethanol concentration in the mobile phase where the compound was analyzed. Material and Method: Ethanol-water binary mixtures containing 35%, 40%, and 45% (v/v) ethanol were used in the optimization for the determination performed by the RPLC method. Retention times of the compound were determined with the Zorbax SB-CN (150x4.6 mm, 3.5 µm ID) column. Analyzes were performed at a constant flow rate (0.3 ml/min) and column temperature (37°C). The optimum condition for quantitative analysis was determined as an ethanol-water binary mixture containing 40% (v/v) ethanol with a pH of 6.5. Result and Discussion: In this study, the hydrophobicity of phenytoin was calculated using the logk-φ relationship. The optimum condition was determined using the obtained chromatographic data, and the quantitative determination of phenytoin in the commercial tablet formulation was made by the internal standard method. Under these conditions, excellent linearity (r>0.99) was obtained in the concentration range of 0.8-2.8 μg/ml. The detection limit of the developed method is 0.021 μg/ml; the limit of quantitation was calculated as 0.064 μg/ml. The recovery value of the method was determined as 99.61%. It was concluded that the parameters of precision, accuracy, and method robustness were appropriate for the validation procedures.

Techno-economic analysis and optimization of 50 MWe linear fresnel reflector solar thermal power plant for different climatic conditions

The climate change crisis is primarily associated with carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-based electricity generation, which significantly contribute to the greenhouse gas effect. The implementation of renewable energy technologies can mitigate environmental impacts and promote a sustainable future. This study aimed to conduct a techno-economic feasibility analysis and optimize performance parameters for a 50 MWe capacity Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR) concentrated solar power plant for nine stations under various climatic conditions. The analysis was conducted based on Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) and Capacity Factor (CF) to select a suitable Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) for each station, by varying Solar Multiple (SM) from 1.0 to 6.0 and adjusting Thermal Energy Storage (TES) hours from four to sixteen. The HTFs selected for economically feasible projects at different stations were Hitec Solar Salt, Hitec, and Therminol VP-1. The combination of SM and TES hours was optimized for economic feasibility, targeting a minimum CF of 36 % and a maximum LCOE of 13.0 ¢/kWh. The optimum SM and TES hours were found to range from 2.0 to 5.8 and from six to thirteen, respectively. An LCOE of less than 7.5 ¢/kWh and a CF of more than 80 % was achieved for two stations with SM of 6.0 and TES of 16 h using Therminol VP-1. Stations with annual mean direct normal irradiance values higher than 1500 kWh/m2 and clearness index values over 0.58 are suitable for commercial power plants. This study contributes to achieving the United Nation's sustainable development goals by promoting the use of renewable energy technologies.

Modern determinants of legal awareness

The article substantiates the presence of correlation dependence of such processes as the growth of digital literacy and legal awareness, and also reveals other factors of legal capacity in the era of digital transformation. It has been proven that understanding this essential interdependence provides answers to a number of questions regarding the priority ways of developing the legal system of Ukraine. Increasing digital and legal awareness is depicted as a logical step towards active participation in the management of public affairs. Online deliberation is depicted as a means of positive influence on the perception of the relevant tools of democracy. In this context, political crowdsourcing is defined as a way of finding effective solutions and a positive impact on civic cohesion. It has been demonstrated that the era of digital technologies provides wider opportunities for the realization of human and citizen rights and freedoms, but at the same time creates new challenges and threats to ensure these rights and freedoms. Legislation regulating relations in the field of digitization is also becoming less transparent. It is noted that virtual space opens up new opportunities for manipulating public opinion, and deliberate functioning in the conditions of new threats of instrumentalization of virtual communication depends on the appropriate configuration of communication platforms. With this in mind, priority issues of scientific discourse and regulatory improvement are highlighted, namely: political crowdsourcing and participatory democracy, online deliberation and principles of cooperation with stakeholders, dissemination and support of fact-checking initiatives to verify the reliability of information, legal status of bloggers, fixers and other media participants as opinion leaders. It is concluded that a certain level of legal literacy, together with digital competence, is a prerequisite for effective participation in modern democratic practices, but this participation can also increase the level of legal awareness of citizens, in particular due to the fact that the Internet plays an important role in shaping the agenda and developing the critical potential of the public.

A System Predictive Maintenance Framework for Advanced Reactors Using a Data-Driven Digital Twin

Advanced reactor designers are looking to maximize the system capacity factor to make advanced reactors more economically competitive and meet the projected energy demand. To achieve this goal, we propose a Dynamic Operation and Maintenance Optimization (DyOMO) framework to perform system-level predictive maintenance (PdM) using a dynamic Bayesian network and component-specific PdM using deep neural networks. At the system level, DyOMO detects the presence of anomalous phenomena, determines the most influential degradation mode, and estimates the remaining useful life (RUL) distribution for the system. At the component level, DyOMO summarizes the health state of key system components, determines the presence of an anomaly using a feedforward neural network, and predicts component RUL using a Bayesian neural network. To evaluate the overall performance of DyOMO, normal operations of a Pebble-Bed High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (PB-HTGR) were simulated with realistic component degradation for the steam turbine and steam generator. Across the 20 independent reactor life simulations, it was found that maintenance was always performed before any safety limits were violated and before a component failed. Specifically, the system-level PdM suggested maintenance on the steam generator once the steam pressure approached its safety limit, and the component-specific PdM suggested maintenance on the steam turbine once the turbine blade hardness degraded. The results indicate that through the continuous monitoring of the system and individual components, the DyOMO framework improves safety and increases the availability of the reactor when compared to traditional maintenance philosophies.

Comparative Analysis of Global Onshore and Offshore Wind Energy Characteristics and Potentials

Wind energy, which generates zero emissions, is an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional electricity generation. For this reason, wind energy is a very popular topic, and there are many studies on this subject. Previous studies have often focused on onshore or offshore installations, lacking comprehensive comparisons and often not accounting for technological advancements and their impact on cost and efficiency. This study addresses these gaps by comparing onshore and offshore wind turbines worldwide in terms of installed capacity, levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), total installed cost (TIC), capacity factor (CF), turbine capacity, hub height, and rotor diameter. Results show that onshore wind power capacity constituted 98.49% in 2010, 97.23% in 2015, and 92.9% in 2022 of the world’s total cumulative installed wind power capacity. Offshore wind capacity has increased yearly due to advantages like stronger, more stable winds and easier installation of large turbine components. LCOE for onshore wind farms decreased from 0.1021 USD/kWh in 2010 to 0.0331 USD/kWh in 2021, while offshore LCOE decreased from 0.1879 USD/kWh in 2010 to 0.0752 USD/kWh in 2021. By 2050, wind energy will contribute to 35% of the global electricity production. This study overcomes previous limitations by providing a comprehensive and updated comparison that incorporates recent technological advancements and market trends to better inform future energy policies and investments.

The impact of regular workouts and fitness on psychological health and cognitive growth in adolescents

Adolescents' general Mental Health (MH), that involves factors like emotional stability, self-esteem, coping mechanisms, and the absence of MH conditions like depression and anxiety, is referred to as Psychological Health (PH). It includes elements that support resilient and healthy mental functioning. This study demonstrates exercise's role in fostering PH and Cognitive Growth (CG) throughout this critical development period. The beneficial effects of Regular Workouts (RW) on PH include decreased depressive and anxiety symptoms, better stress management, increased self-esteem, and body image, and better sleep. There are 163 adolescents aged 15 to 16 who took part in the study. This study assessed that a group of adolescents' Physical Activity (PA) and Physical Fitness (PF) correlated with their CG and psychosocial functioning. The research variables were measured using the General Self-Efficacy (GSE) Scale, the D2 Attention Test, the Form 5 Self-Concept Questionnaire (AF5), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The study findings suggested a beneficial association between PA and PF and the cognitive and psychosocial functioning of the investigated adolescents. Adolescents that exercised more, for instance, performed better on tests of Processing Speed, general self-efficacy (SE) and in selective attention, additionally, test results used to evaluate cognitive capacity and psychosocial factors were best predicted by cardio-respiratory fitness. Because of the consequences for different aspects of adolescent health and development, these results emphasize the need to encourage PA among adolescents.

Study on debris flow discharge characteristics of check dam spillway

After a check dam is filled with sediment, the debris flow will flow out from the spillway. Insufficient discharge capacity of the spillway can lead to debris flow scouring the dam's shoulder and foundation. Therefore, it is necessary to study the discharge capacity of the spillway. It is of great importance for further optimizing the structural design of the check dam. This article analyzes discharge characteristics of debris flow of a spillway through a series of flume experiments. According to the motion states, it can be divided into five stages: contact stage of the spillway, flushing and climbing stage, increasing and reflux stage, stable discharge stage, and final discharge stage. We analyzed the influencing factors of the discharge capacity, including the type of spillway, bulk density of debris flow, scale of debris flow, flume gradient, and effective opening width of the spillway. Furthermore, we derived a calculation formula of discharge for the spillway based on Bernoulli's principle. Finally, we considered the influence of the ratio of flow area and Froude number to the discharge coefficient and established a calculation method of discharge. Consequently, we compared the calculated results with the measured results and found them to be in good agreement. Our research results provide a quantitative calculation method for the design of spillways and energy dissipation and erosion prevention projects under check dams, which is beneficial for improving engineering value and for better serving disaster prevention and reduction efforts.

Self-polymerization silica nanoparticles based molecularly imprinted polymers for selective recognition of protein

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are promising for precise protein separation and purification. However, challenges persist due to their large size, variable configuration, and instability during preparation. Here, a simple silicon self-assembly program was designed to synthesize MIPs without any organic reagents and acid-base catalysis, avoiding the structural damage of protein under severe conditions. In this method, employing hemoglobin (Hb) as a model protein, with tween-20 in emulsification, and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the cross-linking agent, along with co-functional monomers 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and benzyl(triethoxy)silane (BnTES), enhanced binding efficacy was achieved. Successful imprinting was evidenced through surface morphology observation and physical/chemical property evaluations of the synthesized MIPs. A series of adsorption experiments were performed to investigate the recognition performance of Hb-MIPs. The Hb-MIPs not only exhibited large adsorption capacity (400 μg/mg) and good imprinting factor (6.09) toward template protein, but also showed satisfactory selectivity for reference proteins. Five cycles of adsorption proved that the Hb-MIPs had good reusability. In addition, the successful isolation of HB from bovine blood indicated that Hb-MIPs were an excellent separation and purification material. The mild preparation conditions and good adsorption capacity demonstrated the potential value of this method in separation and purification research.

A step towards a sustainable environment in top-10 nuclear energy consumer countries: The role of financial globalization and nuclear energy

Nuclear energy is considered an effective means of enhancing environmental sustainability. Considering this point, this study aims to explore the impact of nuclear energy, financial globalization, technological innovation, and economic growth on ecological sustainability in the top-10 nuclear energy-consuming economies from 1995 to 2020. The load capacity factor is used as a novel proxy for ecological sustainability, explaining how human actions affect ecological sustainability and how nature compensates for human-induced damage. The study employs a novel non-parametric MMQR approach to obtain coefficients across heterogeneous quantiles. The MMQR estimation findings indicate that: (i) nuclear and renewable energy consumption and financial globalization promote environmental sustainability by increasing the LCF; (ii) economic growth degrades ecological sustainability by decreasing the LCF; and (iii) the results from Granger causality suggest a causal link among economic growth, technological innovation, nuclear energy, and LCF. The study recommends that the governments of the top-10 nuclear energy-consuming countries facilitate more investment in green technologies and green energy to achieve environmental sustainability.

The impact of energy (Electricity) losses on load capacity factor: A dynamic ARDL-based evidence from Pakistan

The energy-environment interplay has raised significant concerns among policymakers and experts, with the global shift towards renewable energy being hailed as a key solution to reduce pollution emissions. However, in addition to energy production, the efficient transmission and distribution of electricity is also important which also poses considerable challenges to environmental sustainability. This study aims to investigate the effect of electricity losses on environmental sustainability measured by load capacity factor (LCF). This study uses the DARDL (DARDL) method and Kernel-based Regularized Least Squares (KRLS) to analyze the influence of electricity losses, foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth, and industrial output on LCF in Pakistan from 1981 to 2022. The electricity losses significantly undermine environmental sustainability by reducing LCF. However, FDI positively influences LCF, but economic growth and industrial output exert a detrimental effect. Additionally, the study observes that both positive and negative counterfactual 10 % shocks in electricity losses result in negative and positive impacts on LCF. Whereas, 10 % positive counterfactual shocks in FDI positively affect LCF. KRLS analysis confirms the robustness of the DARDL estimates. The study underscores that efficient energy transmission and distribution is pivotal in safeguarding environmental sustainability.

How do energy efficiency, technology, natural resources and globalization impact environmental sustainability? Fresh evidence from load capacity curve theory

For sustainable development, the roles of energy efficiency and renewable energy is undeniable. We are passing through the era of globalization and economies are expanding their economic activities across borders. In this scenario, nations are striving for sustainable economic development without hurting the climatic conditions. Therefore, this study employs Bai and Carrion-i-Silvestre unit root test and Westerlund cointegration tests. The variables were found to have mix order of integration and Westerlund test shows cointegration in the panel data. The Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) is used to ascertain the effects of energy efficiency and economic, environmental, and globalization factors on the load capacity factor (LCF), a measure of environmental quality in G-20 countries. Key findings supporting the Load Capability Curve (LCC) theory show that while initial economic growth (GDP) has a negative impact (coefficient of −0.035 at the median quantile), advanced economic growth (GDP2) improves LCF (coefficient of 0.513 at the 90th quantile and 0.388 at the median). The median quantile coefficient of 0.055 indicates a positive association between the consumption of renewable energy and LCF. Natural resources exhibit a coefficient of 0.061 at the 90th quantile and 0.037 at the median. However, there are drawbacks to both financial globalization and contemporary environmental technology; their coefficients at the median quantile are −0.021 and −0.058, respectively. The work suggests targeted strategies, including more stringent environmental legislation, backing for renewable energy, sustainable resource management, advancements in environmental technologies, regulation of financial globalization, and bolstering of international cooperation.

Experimental studies on lateral bearing capacity of modified tripod suction caissons for offshore wind turbines in silty clay

In recent years regular tripod suction caissons are commonly used in offshore wind farm projects because of economic feasibility and environment-friendly work principles. The design of a modified tripod suction caisson composed of three caissons with different diameters can improve the capacity behaviour in the direction of strong wind within a considered construction cost. This paper carried out model tests to study the lateral bearing capacity of modified tripod suction caissons in silty clay. Based on the equilibrium equation of vertical force of modified tripod suction caissons the average vertical subgrade reaction modulus is proposed to investigate the relationship between it and rotation, which is of paramount importance to the nonlinear lateral bearing capacity. The results show that the range of bearing capacity factors increases with the increasing effective diameter-height ratio indicating that modified tripod suction caisson with reasonable combinations can effectively improve its bearing capacity in a certain loading direction. The sum of the bearing capacity factors of three monopod suction caissons falls in the range of the capacity factors of the tripod foundation consisting of the above caissons. Suction under the lid increases with the increasing lateral load and seems to be not related to the combinations of suction caissons with different diameters. By fitting the experimental data, it is found that there is a power exponential relationship between the average vertical subgrade reaction modulus and rotation of the foundation.

Renewable-battery hybrid power plants in congested electricity markets: Implications for plant configuration

Examining coupled renewable-battery power plants (“hybrids”) in congested areas provides insights into a future of increased wind and solar penetration. Our study focuses on two types of congested regions, Variable Renewable Energy (VRE)-rich Areas and Load Centers, and explores likely plant configuration choices for developers and transmission network planners. This paper examines how hybrid value, comprising energy and capacity value, varies by plant configuration and congested region type considering factors such as storage duration, battery degradation, and ability to charge from the grid. We select plant locations from across the seven main U.S. independent system operators (ISOs). Hybrid value for each configuration is computed based on profit-maximizing plant operation given perfect foresight, according to observed wholesale power market real time prices from 2018 to 2021. In VRE-rich Areas, the median increase in energy value from extending storage duration from one to 4 h is 29.4 % for solar and 26.8 % for wind, assuming low battery degradation costs and storage sized to 100 % of the plant's nameplate generation capacity. Increasing storage duration beyond 4 h does not substantially increase its value from energy markets, even in VRE-rich Areas. We find that solar hybrids reach a 90 % capacity credit with 4 h of storage, while wind hybrids require 8 h of storage, based on the capacity factor of each hybrid during the top 100 net load hours.

Green energy dynamics: Analyzing the environmental impacts of renewable, hydro, and nuclear energy consumption in Pakistan

The primary objective of the Sustainable Development Goals is to reduce global warming and climate change by encouraging renewable energy consumption. In this context, it is essential to consider whether renewable energy can contribute to a more sustainable environment. Most researchers have used ecological footprint or CO2 emissions indicators to look at how renewable energy affects environmental degradation, which primarily represents contamination induced by humans' consumption patterns and does not consider the impact of the supply side. Against this background, the study examined the dynamic relationship between various forms of renewable energy, nuclear energy, and environmental sustainability using the load capacity factor as an ecological indicator in Pakistan. To accomplish this task, the authors applied the dynamic Autoregressive Distribution Lag (DARDL) technique to investigate the long-run relationship between the determinants of the load capacity factor. The study's outcome reveals that nuclear and renewable energy promote sustainable development by enhancing the load capacity factor. Contrary to this, hydro energy consumption and economic growth impede environmental sustainability by lowering the load capacity factor. Further, policy-oriented recommendations are provided following these significant findings.

Scenario Planning of IP-Based Financing Scheme Implementation Study on the Animation Creative Industry

This research aims to conduct a strategic review for the future, describe the possibility of an IP-based financing scheme for the animation creative industry, and formulate alternative strategies to overcome the main problem of limited access to financing faced in developing IP-based businesses. The IP-based creative economy financing scheme in Government Regulation Number 24 of 2022 was a breakthrough and legal innovation in the creative economy sector. Providing access to financing credit from financial institutions for creative industries to develop their businesses, but its application has just been implemented. The SWOT approach and Delphi-based scenario planning were adopted to attempt the IP-Based Financing Scheme policy to become a concept that can be implemented in Indonesia and effectively anticipate problems in future policy implementation. Creating a scenario design matrix involves exploratory scenario planning, which begins with identifying two primary driving variables. The critical uncertainties that drive policy changes in future financing schemes for the creative animation industry were Government capacity and social factors. A 2 x 2 scenario matrix framework was built to describe possible future conditions and the implications of each condition so that strategic options are offered for the Government from each scenario implication.

Failure Consequence Cost Analysis of Wave Energy Converters—Component Failures, Site Impacts, and Maintenance Interval Scenarios

In the early stages of developing wave energy converter (WEC) projects, a quantitative assessment of component failure consequence costs is essential. The WEC types, deployment site features, and accessibility should all be carefully considered. This study introduces an operation and maintenance failure consequence cost (O&M-FC) model, distinct from conventional O&M models. The model is illustrated with case studies at three energetic Atlantic sites, each of which considers two types of generic floating WECs: a 300 kW point absorber (PA) with a hydraulic power-take-off (PTO) and a 1000 kW oscillating water column (OWC) with an air-wells-turbine PTO. This study compares 39 failure modes for PA and 27 for OWC in terms of direct repair costs and indirect lost production costs, examining the impact of location accessibility, capacity factors, and the mean annual energy production. The discussion revolves around the sensitive parameters. Recommendations for failure mitigations are presented, and the impact of planned maintenance (PM) during the operational phase is examined for 20 MW PA and OWC WEC projects. For a given WEC type, the method thoroughly evaluates how the location affects performance metrics. It offers a decision-making tool for determining optimal PM intervals to meet targets such as O&M costs, operating profit, or availability.

Integration of Concentrating Solar Power With High Temperature Electrolysis for Hydrogen Production

Hydrogen has been identified as a leading sustainable contender to replace fossil fuels for transportation or electricity generation, and hydrogen generated from renewable sources can be an energy carrier for a carbon-free economy. Several hydrogen production methods are under development or deployment with various technical readiness levels and technoeconomic potentials. This study focuses on integrating concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) with high temperature electrolysis (HTE) using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC). The CSP-HTE integration approach provides the benefits of thermal energy storage for continuous operation, improved capacity, and reduced thermal cycling for improved SOEC life. The CSP-HTE system analysis utilizes a Python-based system modeling program in connection with solar receiver thermal output derived from the NREL System Advisor Model (SAM) software. The system model facilitates component sizing, performance simulation, and evaluation of operation modes on an annual basis for various CSP-HTE configurations including CSP with thermal energy storage (TES). The SOEC operation conditions were simulated to assess component sizing and performance and to derive system capacity factors.