Gradual Increase In Temperature Research Articles

Experimental investigation of photoelectrical performance and thermal characteristics of ventilated building-integrated photovoltaic system utilizing lightweight and flexible crystalline silicon module

The existing large-scale of industrial buildings with lightweight insulated roofing structures presents a challenge for traditional glass crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) systems due to insufficient load-bearing capacity. Meanwhile, traditional PV rooftop applications also face challenges due to limited rooftop resources. To address these issues, this study proposes a ventilated building-integrated lightweight photovoltaic (VL-BIPV) system. The VL-BIPV system incorporates lightweight and flexible crystalline silicon modules, which increase rooftop load by about 6 kg/m2. Additionally, the system features a ventilation channel design to enhance thermal management performance. To evaluate the PV performance and thermal characteristics of the proposed system, an experimental setup was implemented to compare the performances of the VL-BIPV system with a building-attached lightweight photovoltaic (L-BAPV) system that utilizes color steel sheet base plates. The results demonstrate the exceptional performance of VL-BIPV system, with a 100.56% higher ratio of the product of short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage compared to L-BAPV. Moreover, the VL-BIPV system achieved a 1.77% increase in PV efficiency and a 2.35% enhancement in daily electricity generation. In hot weather, the adoption of VL-BIPV reduced the extreme temperature of PV cells by 9.23 °C below 85 °C, surpassing the 6.29 °C reduction achieved by L-BAPV system. Furthermore, the ventilation channel exhibited a gradual temperature increase with slower changes in the flow direction, while the base plate temperature decreased by 13.41 °C, which indicates that VL-BIPV can effectively reduce solar heat gain in the building envelope and improve the indoor thermal environment. The research findings provide important guidance for promoting and applying VL-BIPV technology in large-scale industrial buildings with low rooftop load-bearing capacity, thereby promoting the production and utilization of clean electricity in industrial parks.

How to quantify the regional effects of ocean temperature rise due to climate change: implications of Octopus maya ecophysiology on food security of the Yucatan shelf artisanal fishermen

The vital survival, maturation, and reproduction rates of Octopus maya were formulated according to the thermal preferences in each stage (juvenile and adult) and the bottom temperature of the Yucatan shelf projected from different shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs): SSP1-5, to describe the species population growth in shallow waters. The dispersion of each individual in the population and the spread of the offshore population were incorporated with an integrodifference equation. For each SSP, the food security of the artisanal fishermen in the Western, Central, and Eastern Yucatan shelf region was analyzed based on the proposed availability, access, and utilization indices of Octopus maya as food. The analysis was complemented with an average monthly protein and income poverty indicators that this species’ shallow water fishery would have the capacity to supply by the year 2100. Although the proportion of the legally O. maya catchable population may be favored with the gradual increase in temperature in the coming years, this increase may not translate into greater food security for the artisanal fishermen who catch this species in shallow waters. Moreover, this fishery alone may not have the capacity to supply the average annual intake of 10.6 kg of protein per person recommended and maintain fishermen and their families above the income poverty line by 2100.

Zr as an Alternative Grain Refiner in the Novel AlSi5Cu2Mg Alloy

Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys are among the most significant types of aluminum alloys, accounting for 85–90% of all castings used in the automotive sector. These alloys are used, for example, in the manufacturing of engine blocks and cylinder heads due to their excellent specific strength (ratio of strength to specific weight) and superior castability and thermal conductivity. This study investigated the effect of using Zr as an alternative grain refiner in the novel AlSi5Cu2Mg cylinder head alloy. The microstructure of this alloy could not be refined via common Al-Ti-B grain refiners due to its specifically designed chemical composition, which limits the maximum Ti content to 0.03 wt.%. The results showed that the addition of Zr via the AlZr20 master alloy led to a gradual increase in the solidus temperature and to the grain refinement of the microstructure with the addition of as little as 0.05 wt.% Zr. The addition of more Zr (0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 wt.%) led to a gradual grain refinement effect for the alloy. The presence of Zr in the AlSi5Cu2Mg alloy was reflected in the formation of Zr-rich intermetallic phases with acicular morphology. Such phases acted as potent nucleants for the α-Al grain.

THE INCOMPATIBILITY OFGLOBAL WARMING AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

Global warming signifies an undesirable geographical status of the planet and highlights the alarming trend of the extinction of the planet due to this unprecedented phenomenon. It is mostly caused by the gradual increase in world temperature, deforestation, emission of greenhouse gases, the melting of ice, glaciers and other adverse climatic conditions. This negative trend carries a portent for the future - a future that looks bleak and alarming. Extreme and harsh weather conditions have become common in India and other Asian countries. India has been the worst hit due to frequent occurrence of floods and heatwaves. This alarming trend should force us to think of better planning and optimum utilisation of resources without their ruthless violation. The miserable conditions of contemporary life can be, in retrospect traced to the beginning of industrialisation and capitalist economy. The evils that plague our lives have been mostly caused by the ruthless exploitation of natural resources.

Low-mass Population III Star Formation due to the HD Cooling Induced by Weak Lyman–Werner Radiation

Lyman–Werner (LW) radiation photodissociating molecular hydrogen (H2) influences the thermal and dynamical evolution of the Population III (Pop III) star-forming gas cloud. The effect of powerful LW radiation has been well investigated in the context of supermassive black hole formation in the early Universe. However, the average intensity in the early Universe is several orders of magnitude lower. For a comprehensive study, we investigate the effects of LW radiation at 18 different intensities, ranging from J LW/J 21 = 0 (no radiation) to 30 (H-cooling cloud), on the primordial star-forming gas cloud obtained from a three-dimensional cosmological simulation. The overall trend with increasing radiation intensity is a gradual increase in the gas cloud temperature, consistent with previous works. Due to the HD cooling, however, the dependence of gas cloud temperature on J LW deviates from the aforementioned increasing trend for a specific range of intensities (J LW/J 21 = 0.025–0.09). In HD-cooling clouds, the temperature remained below 200 K during 105 yr after the first formation of the high-density region, maintaining a low accretion rate. Finally, the HD-cooling clouds have only a low-mass dense core (above 108 cm−3) with about 1–16 M ⊙, inside of which a low-mass Pop III star with ≤0.8 M ⊙ (a so-called “surviving star”) could form. The upper limit of star formation efficiency Mcore/Mvir,gas significantly decreases from 10−3 to 10−5 as HD cooling becomes effective. This tendency indicates that, whereas the total gas mass in the host halo increases with the LW radiation intensity, the total Pop III stellar mass does not increase similarly.

Heavy oil atmospheric residue: HDS performance and life test using ARDS catalysts system

The objective of this study is to evaluate the catalyst by introducing atmospheric residue of heavy crude (H-AR) that secures full comprehensive characteristics and converts into a petroleum product, namely low sulfur fuel oil (LSFO). Furthermore, to estimate the catalyst’s lifespan under hydroprocessing conditions by monitoring its deactivation rate and maintaining consistent sulfur in LSFO products through gradual increases in reaction temperature. Prior to the hydrotreating test, the heavy crude oil underwent desalting, dewatering, and atmospheric distillation to obtained atmospheric residue (H-AR, i.e., 350°C+) for use as feedstock. The pilot plant employed a catalyst system comprising both hydrodemetallization (HDM) and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts, distributed across two fixed-bed reactors. The results showed the lifespan approximately 3.0 months as a function of time-on-stream (TOS). The H-AR feed, with its high sulfur, metals, asphaltenes, and micro carbon residue (MCR) content, poses several challenges including carbon deposition at start of run (SOR). The observed deactivation rate is attributing to the feedstock’s poor quality and its impact associated deposition of coke and metals (V and Ni) deposition with TOS.

Cretaceous stratigraphy of Antarctica and its global significance

Abstract The Cretaceous Period is particularly well represented by a thick sequence of clastic sedimentary rocks exposed in the Antarctic Peninsula region of western Antarctica. This was an active margin throughout the Late Mesozoic, and in total some 7 km+ of Cretaceous sedimentary rocks accumulated in a series of fore-, intra- and back-arc basins. The Fossil Bluff Group of eastern Alexander Island can be traced from the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary into the Upper Albian and represents a broad-scale shallowing-upward sequence from deep marine to a prominent Upper Albian fluvial interval in which high-density forests developed at a palaeolatitude of 75° S. The Cretaceous sequence exposed in the James Ross Island group continues right through the Upper Cretaceous to the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary. The Campanian–Maastrichtian succession in particular is over 2 km in total thickness and richly fossiliferous. The improved Cretaceous stratigraphy of Antarctica is an invaluable terrestrial record of climatic change at a high palaeolatitude. This includes a gradual increase in temperature to the Cretaceous Thermal Maximum, and then a decline to the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary. There may be no simple link between these palaeotemperature changes and Cretaceous patterns of biotic radiation and extinction.

Climate change impact on sub-tropical lakes – Lake Kinneret as a case study

Climate change is anticipated to alter lake ecosystems by affecting water quality, potentially resulting in loss of ecosystem services. Subtropical lakes have high temperatures to begin with and are expected to exhibit higher temperatures all year round which might affect the thermal structure and ecological processes in a different manner than lakes in temperate zones.In this study the ecosystem response of the sub-tropical Lake Kinneret to climate change was explored using lake ecosystem models. Projection reliability was increased by using a weather generator and ensemble modelling, confronting uncertainty of both climate projections and lake models. The study included running two 1D hydrodynamic-biogeochemical models over one thousand realizations of two gradual temperature increase scenarios that span over 49 years.Our predictions show that an increase in air temperature would have subtle effects on stratification properties but may result in considerable changes to biogeochemical processes. Water temperature rise would cause a reduction in dissolved oxygen. Both of these changes would produce elevated phosphate and lowered ammonium concentrations. In turn, these changes are predicted to modify the phytoplankton community, expressed chiefly in increased cyanobacteria blooms at the expense of green phytoplankton and dinoflagellates; these changes may culminate in overall reduction of primary production. Identification of these trends would not be possible without the use of many realizations of climate scenarios. The use of ensemble modelling increased prediction reliability and highlighted elements of uncertainty. Though we use Lake Kinneret, the patterns identified most likely indicate processes that are expected in sub-tropical lakes in general.

Delineation of genes for a major QTL governing heat stress tolerance in chickpea.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is a cool season grain legume experiencing severe yield loss during heat stress due to the intensifying climate changes and its associated gradual increase of mean temperature. Hence, understanding the genetic architecture regulating heat stress tolerance has emerged as an important trait to be addressed for enhancing yield and productivity of chickpea under heat stress. The present study is intended to identify the major genomic region(s) governing heat stress tolerance in chickpea. For this, an integrated genomics-assisted breeding strategy involving NGS-based high-resolution QTL-seq assay, QTL region-specific association analysis and molecular haplotyping was deployed in a population of 206 mapping individuals and a diversity panel of 217 germplasm accessions of chickpea. This combinatorial strategy delineated a major 156.8 kb QTL genomic region, which was subsequently narrowed-down to a functional candidate gene CaHSFA5 and its natural alleles associated strongly with heat stress tolerance in chickpea. Superior natural alleles and haplotypes delineated from the CaHSFA5 gene have functional significance in regulating heat stress tolerance in chickpea. Histochemical staining, interaction studies along with differential expression profiling of CaHSFA5 and ROS scavenging genes suggest a cross talk between CaHSFA5 with ROS homeostasis pertaining to heat stress tolerance in chickpea. Heterologous gene expression followed by heat stress screening further validated the functional significance of CaHSFA5 for heat stress tolerance. The salient outcomes obtained here can have potential to accelerate multiple translational genomic analysis including marker-assisted breeding and gene editing in order to develop high-yielding heat stress tolerant chickpea varieties.

An Experimental and Numerical Study of the Laser Ablation of Bronze

The use of lasers in various precise material removal processes has emerged as a viable and efficient alternative to traditional mechanical methods. However, the laser ablation of materials is a complex, multi-parameter process where scanning paths need to be repeated multiple times. This repetition causes changes in the absorption and temperature distribution along the scanning path, thereby affecting the accuracy of the ablation. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly study these phenomena. This article presents an experimental and numerical study on the laser ablation of bronze (DIN: 1705) in a multi-track ablation process. Specifically, six consecutive passes using a ns laser at three different energy densities were conducted. After each pass, measurements of the ablation depth and pile-up height were taken at three distinct points along the track (start, middle, and end) to evaluate the efficiency and quality of the process. To gain a deeper understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms, a numerical simulation model based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) was developed. The effective absorptivity was defined through reverse engineering, and the material’s cooling rates were also estimated. This study’s findings provide significant insights into the influence of machining parameters on the ablation process and its progression with varying numbers of consecutive repetitions. A primarily linear correlation was deduced between the ablation depth, energy density, and number of repetitions, while the relationship with the pile-up height appeared to be more ambiguous and nonlinear. The estimated cooling rates ranged from 106 to 1010 [K/s]. Additionally, a heat accumulation phenomenon and a gradual temperature increase resulting from consecutive laser scans were also observed. A good agreement between the simulation results and experiments for the ablation depths was observed.

Variation in the Allergenicity of Scrambled, Boiled, Short-Baked and Long-Baked Egg White Proteins.

Hen's egg white (HEW) is the most common cause of food allergy in children which induces mild to fatal reactions. The consultation for a proper restriction is important in HEW allergy. We aimed to identify the changes in HEW allergenicity using diverse cooking methods commonly used in Korean dishes. Crude extract of raw and 4 types of cooked HEW extracts were produced and used for sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and ELISA inhibition assays using 45 serum samples from HEW allergic and tolerant children. Extracts were prepared; scrambled without oil for 20-30 seconds in frying pan without oil, boiled at 100°C for 15 minutes, short-baked at 180°C for 20 minutes, and long-baked at 45°C for 12 hours with a gradual increase in temperature up to 110°C for additional 12 hours, respectively. In SDS-PAGE, the intensity of bands of 50-54 kDa decreased by boiling and baking. All bands almost disappeared in long-baked eggs. The intensity of the ovalbumin (OVA) immunoglobulin E (IgE) bands did not change after scrambling; however, an evident decrease was observed in boiled egg white (EW). In contrast, ovomucoid (OM) IgE bands were darker and wider after scrambling and boiling. The IgE binding reactivity to all EW allergens were weakened in short-baked EW and considerably diminished in long-baked EW. In individual ELISA analysis using OVA+OM+ serum samples, the median of specific IgE optical density values was 0.435 in raw EW, 0.476 in scrambled EW, and 0.487 in boiled EW. Conversely, it was significantly decreased in short-baked (0.406) and long-baked EW (0.012). Significant inhibition was observed by four inhibitors such as raw, scrambled, boiled and short-baked HEW, but there was no significant inhibition by long-baked HEW (IC50 > 100 mg/mL). We identified minimally reduced allergenicity in scrambled EW and extensively decreased allergenicity in long-baked EW comparing to boiled and short-baked EW as well as raw EW. By applying the results of this study, we would be able to provide safer dietary guidence with higher quality to egg allergic children.

Unsteady MHD Free Convection Flow of a Second Grade Casson Fluid with Ramped Wall Temperature

The present study delves into the analysis of unsteady free convection flow involving a non-Newtonian Casson fluid adjacent to an infinitely tall vertical plate. The primary objective of this article is to examine the flow behaviour of a second-grade Casson fluid under varying critical parameters. The plate exhibits a gradual increase in wall temperature and is situated within a porous medium. The governing equations are transformed into a dimensionless form, using non dimensionless variables. The method of Laplace transform (MOLT) is employed to derive accurate solutions for the temperature and velocity within the flow field. To enhance comprehension of the issue, The impact of different physical parameters on the flow field has been examined through the utilization of graphs and tables. Outcome of the problem was compared with existing one which was in good agreement. The study revealed that the velocity magnitude was lower in the scenario with ramped temperature compared to the scenario with isothermal temperature. Finally, skin friction and Nusselt numbers of the present work are tabulated. The significant outcome of the present work is that the flow field for the present phenomena is same as that of the existing one in absence of radiation parameter and heat source parameter when, u(0,t)=0, β=∞.

Effect of temperature on growth, survival, and chronic stress responses of Arctic Grayling juveniles

AbstractObjectiveArctic Grayling Thymallus arcticus are Holarctically distributed, with a single native population in the conterminous United States occurring in the Big Hole River, Montana, where water temperatures can fluctuate throughout the year from 8°C to 18°C. A gradual increase in mean water temperature has been reported in this river over the past 20 years due to riparian habitat changes and climate change effects. We hypothesized that exposing Arctic Grayling to higher temperatures would result in lower survival, decreased growth, and increased stress responses.MethodsOver a 144‐day trial, Arctic Grayling juveniles were subjected to water temperatures ranging from 8°C to 26°C to measure the effects on growth, survival, gene expression, and antioxidant enzyme activity.ResultFish growth increased with increasing water temperature up to 18°C, beyond which survival was reduced. Fish did not survive at temperatures above 22°C. In response to temperatures above 16°C, 3.0‐fold and 1.5‐fold increases in gene expression were observed for superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), respectively, but no changes were seen in the gene expression ratio of heat shock protein 70 to heat shock protein 90. Activities of the SOD and GPx enzymes also rose at temperatures above 16°C, indicating heightened oxidative stress. Catalase gene expression and enzyme activity decreased with rising temperatures, suggesting a preference for the GPx pathway, as GPx could also be providing help with lipid peroxidation. An increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was also recorded, which corresponded with rising temperatures.ConclusionOur findings thus underscore the vulnerability of Arctic Grayling to minor changes in water temperature. Further increases in mean water temperature could significantly compromise the survival of Arctic Grayling in the Big Hole River.

Different response of females and males Neotropical catfish (Rhamdia quelen) upon short-term temperature increase.

Climate change has been one of the most discussed topics in the world. Global warming is characterized by an increase in global temperature, also in aquatic environments. The increased temperature can affect aquatic organisms with lethal and sublethal effects. Thus, it is necessary to understand how different species respond to temperature. This study aimed to evaluate how the Neotropical catfish species Rhamdia quelen responds to temperature increases. The fish were exposed to temperatures of 25°C (control) and 30°C after gradual temperature increase for 7days. After 96h in each temperature, the fish were anesthetized, blood was collected, and after euthanasia, brain, liver, posterior kidney, gills, muscle, and gonads were collected. The gonads were used for sexing, while other tissues were used for the hematological, biochemical, genotoxic, and histopathological biomarkers analysis. Hepatic proteomic analysis with a focus on energy production was also carried out. Blood parameter changes in both sexes, including an increase in glucose in males, leukopenia in females, and genotoxicity in both sexes. Hepatic proteins related to energy production were altered in both sexes, but mainly in males. Others biomarker alterations, such as histopathological, were not observed in other tissues; however, the antioxidant system was affected differently between sexes. These showed that R. quelen juveniles, at temperatures higher than its optimum temperature such as 30°C, has several sublethal changes, such as hematological alterations, antioxidant system activation, and energetic metabolism alteration, especially in males. Thus, short-term temperature rise can affect females and males of R. quelen differently.

Review of: "The gradual increase in temperature in the nano-carbon inside the nano-transistor (picture above)"

Review of: "The gradual increase in temperature in the nano-carbon inside the nano-transistor (picture above)"

Numerical analysis of thermal runaway process of lithium-ion batteries considering combustion

We studied the thermal runaway process of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) caused by thermal abuse, with a particular focus on the effects of combustion. First, we observed a gradual increase in battery temperature during thermal runaway until it reached 190 °C, at which point it sharply rose to approximately 500 °C. However, thermal runaway induced by combustion was characterized by a sudden temperature increase at lower temperatures. Second, we analyzed the internal reactions occurring in a location far from the heat source resulting from combustion. We found that the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) decomposition contributed to nearly 90 % of the heat generated at lower temperatures, while the positive electrode-electrolyte reaction emerged as the major heat source at temperatures exceeding 195 °C. Finally, we also examined the internal reactions in a location close to the heat source caused by combustion. We identified that the internal reactions initiated at around 50 °C and occurred simultaneously. The heat generated by the negative electrode-electrolyte and positive electrode-electrolyte reactions accounted for approximately 47 % and 46 % of the total heat during thermal runaway, respectively. Consequently, we concluded that combustion accelerates thermal runaway in LIBs. We expect this study to enhance the prediction of heat propagation during thermal runaway.

Physiological and behavioral basis of diamondback moth Plutella xylostella migration and its association with heat stress.

Migration is a strategy that shifts insects to more favorable habitats in response to deteriorating local environmental conditions. The ecological factors that govern insect migration are poorly understood for many species. Plutella xylostella causes great losses in Brassica vegetable and oilseed crops, and undergoes mass migration. However, the physiological and behavioral basis for distinguishing migratory individuals and the factors driving its migration remain unclear. Daily light trap catches conducted from April to July in a field population of P. xylostella in central China revealed a sharp decline in abundance from late-May. Analysis of ovarian development levels showed that the proportion of sexually immature females gradually increased, while the mating rate decreased, indicating that generations occurring in May mainly resulted from local breeding and that emigration began in late-May. Physiological and behavioral analyses revealed that emigrant populations had a higher take-off proportion, stronger flight capacity and greater energy reserves of triglyceride compared to residents. Furthermore, a gradual increase in temperature from 24 °C to >30 °C during larval development resulted in a significant delay in oogenesis and increased take-off propensity of adults compared with the control treatment reared at a constant temperature of 24 °C. Our results provide the physiological and behavioral factors that underpin mass migration in P. xylostella, and demonstrate that exposure to increased temperature increases their migration propensity at the cost of reproductive output. This study sheds light on understanding the factors that influence population dynamics, migratory propensity and reproductive tradeoffs in migratory insects. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mechanistic analysis of improving the corrosion performance of MAO coatings on Ti-6Al-4V alloys by annealing

Titanium and its alloys find extensive application within the realms of dentistry and orthopedics due to their remarkable chemical stability. Nevertheless, they are still susceptible to corrosion in harsh environments. Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) emerges as a potent methodology for enhancing the corrosion resistance of titanium and its alloys, achieved through the generation of a ceramic stratum atop the material's surface. The corrosion resistance of MAO coatings in clinical applications is closely related to their microstructure. This manuscript systematically explores the effect of annealing temperature on the phase composition and microstructure of MAO coatings. Furthermore, the evolution of the surface properties and the crystal structure of coatings is meticulously discussed and illustrated. The results show that the corrosion resistance of coatings exhibits an ascending trajectory followed by a subsequent decline, coinciding with the augmentation of the annealing temperature. This behavior can be attributed to the structural evolution of coatings caused by the gradual increase of the annealing temperature. At the optimum temperature (400 °C), the annealing treatment leads to the crystallization of the coating as well as to a decrease in the surface porosity, resulting in the formation of a compact and continuous multilayer microstructure. The decrease in porosity can be attributed to the diffusion-reaction of oxygen from the air with titanium from the discharge channel (titanium oxide), resulting in the formation of TiO2 particles that effectively fill the pores. The decrease in corrosion resistance of the coatings after annealing at 800 °C is due to the phase transition of TiO2 which leads to the expansion of cracks inherent in the oxide layer to form A-H cracks. Therefore, this study shows that the microstructure of MAO coatings can be adjusted by post annealing treatment (400 °C) to obtain a desirable oxide layer with appropriate porosity, crystallinity and chemical composition, thus improving its corrosion resistance.

Decentralized electro-sanitation system as proof of concept to treat urine produced in long-distance bus

Long-distance transportation provides in-vehicle access to essential sanitation to the passengers. However, generated yellow and black waters may not be correctly managed prior sanitary effluent discharge. Processes that can handle decentralized effluent treatment can be considered alternatives to traditional chemical treatment systems. In this study, decentralized electrochemically-driven treatment is presented as a proof of concept. A compact electrochemical reactor design considering the boundary conditions and requirements for decentralized sanitary treatment for long-distance bus transportation has been accomplished. Treatment of synthetic urine effluents was conducted under filter-press reactor with continuous flow in a closed upward recirculation reactor containing a carbon felt (CF) cathode and a dimensionally stable anode (DSA: Ti/Ru0.36Ti0.64O2). The experimental design allowed the assessment of operational variable impacts on reduction of urea concentration, and consequent estimate of the total organic carbon abatement. The results revealed that synthetic urine solution diluted from toilet water flushing (TOC = 402 mg L−1) can be effectively treated under application of low current densities of 18 mA cm−2 in 300 min (average time of on-road service). Real-time monitoring of parameters revealed a decrease in pH from 6.98 to 3.49, and a gradual increase in temperature from 25.3 °C to 32.0 °C at the end of the process. Those physico-chemical changes can be useful to inhibit urea hydrolysis. Thus, the results encourage the application of electrochemical technology in decentralized effluent treatment systems to enhance and enable ecologically correct sanitation actions in portable urinary collectors, such as those used in bus road transport.

Comparative study of different phase change materials on the thermal performance of photovoltaic cells in Iraq's climate conditions

The incident solar energy that impinges upon the photovoltaic cells undergoes a conversion process, resulting in the generation of electrical energy and conversion of absorbed energy into heat. This increase in temperature adversely affects the performance of the panel, leading to a decrease in its overall efficiency. This study examines the properties and performance of phase change materials, specifically paraffin wax, natural beeswax, and a combination of paraffin wax and beeswax, in comparison to a solar panel lacking any phase change substance. The experiment was conducted in the climatic conditions of Iraq, namely in the city of Hawija, located southwest of Kirkuk, during the summer of 2022. The prevailing environmental temperature throughout this period averaged 44 °C. The experiment involved comparing plate temperature, electrical power, and electrical efficiency. The results indicated that all the materials caused a decrease in the temperature of the board at the beginning of the experiment and for a short duration. Nevertheless, as the phase change material (PCM) undergoes melting, the dissipation of heat becomes unfeasible, resulting in a gradual increase in temperature. It was observed that there was a rise in temperature during the afternoon hours. According to the recorded data, the use of beeswax resulted in a decrease in temperature by 4 °C in comparison to the reference plate that did not incorporate phase change materials (PCM). Additionally, the efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) system increased by 1% when compared to the PV Compared with PV (reference). The efficiency of the solar panel with beeswax ranged from 13% to 14%. According to the findings, the integration of phase-change materials with solar panels has been observed to effectively lower the temperature of the panels, hence enhancing their overall efficiency. Consequently, this approach represents a viable and advantageous choice.