Hot Weather Conditions Research Articles

Thermal energy storage performance of biaxial voided RCC roof slab integrated with macroencapsulated PCM for passive cooling of buildings

Building space heating and cooling power consumption is growing due to population and economic growth. Integrating phase change materials (PCMs) into various building envelope components is being explored to enhance thermal energy storage capacities. Specifically, roofs exposed to direct sunlight significantly promote thermal energy transfer to the interior, increasing the space heating and cooling requirements. In this study, thermal energy storage performance of a biaxial voided roof slab integrated with PCM is experimentally investigated under ambient conditions and compared with a normal reinforced concrete (RCC) without PCM. PCM selection, characterization, and metal void former development are performed, followed by macroencapsulation and integration into the roof slab. Thermal performance measures are evaluated, including temperature profile, heat flux, thermal load, time lag, and decrement factor. Financial viability indicators such as electricity cost savings, payback period, and CO2 emissions savings are also assessed. The results show PCM integrated biaxial voided roof slab reduces interior temperature by upto 7.2 °C during sunny hours, heat transfer to the interior by upto 60.6 %, and thermal load by upto 54 %. In addition, considering heating and cooling, it offers an average daily saving of 0.06 USD/kWh/m2 and a payback period of about 5.7 years. Further, it gives CO2 emissions savings of upto 13.7, 12.3, and 4.3 kgCO2/kWh for lignite-, coal-, and natural gas-fired power plants. Furthermore, its mean time lag is 4.2 h, with a decrement factor of 0.75 compared to 3.9 h and 0.85 for the normal RCC unit. The study makes significant contribution to knowledge by providing a unique, simple yet highly effective PCM macroencapsulation integration technique for roof slabs and insights into its thermal performance under the hot weather conditions.

Safety awareness and adaptation strategies of Nigerian construction workers in extreme heat conditions

The nature of most construction activities exposes workers to health and safety risks associated with extreme hot weather conditions especially within developing countries in the global south. Considering the magnitude of health and safety risks associated with extreme heat exposure and the prevailing safety culture, and attitude among workers that impede adaptation to safe work practices under extreme heat conditions, it is imperative that serious attention is given to workplace climate change impact on construction workers. The current study provides empirical evidence on safety awareness and practices among Nigerian construction workers, those often exposed to extreme hot weather conditions. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from 576 respondents using random sampling technique and the data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. As part of the study outcome, 57.3% of the respondents raised concerns regarding the non-availability of potable water source on sites, which directly impacts their level of fluid intake while working in extreme heat conditions. To improve safety and enhance productivity, construction organisations need to prioritise workers’ safety through the implementation of sustainable adaptive strategies that include the development of early warning systems related to heat stress at work, development of tailored intervention and adaptive measures and enhancement of heat stress awareness among workers. The study provides evidence on the impact of heat stress among construction workers and the need to improve safety awareness and mitigation against climate change driven extreme heat conditions especially among workers in tropical countries.

Analysis and Optimization of a Biomass Heated Two-Stage Desiccant Cooling System Used for Greenhouse Cultivation in Hot and Humid Climates

Abstract This paper presents a multi-objective optimization of a biomass heating-based two-stage desiccant-supported greenhouse cooling system used for Orchids cultivation in hot and humid weather conditions. The simulation model has been developed considering thermodynamics, economic, and environmental aspects. The thermal coefficient of performance (COPth) of the system and greenhouse temperature have been predicted for the five most impactful months (March, May, August, September, and December) corresponding to the respective seasons of spring, summer, monsoon, autumn, and winter of a calendar year. The system maintains the peak average greenhouse temperature at a maximum of 26 °C during the prominent sunshine period (12 h) in May while ensuring a minimum of 18 °C during nighttime. In terms of system components, the residue boiler stands out as the significant contributor to exergy destruction (45%), followed by regeneration heater 1 (22%), desiccant wheel 1 (7%), and the heat recovery water heater (6%) during the critical operational month of August. Multi-objective optimization has also been conducted using the optimization toolbox provided in matlab-R2017a to determine the optimal performance and operating conditions of the two-stage desiccant cooling system. The optimal conditions display the corresponding total cost rate, considering capital and maintenance costs, operating costs, CO2 penalty costs, and exergetic efficiency.

Urban heat load assessment in Zagreb, Croatia: a multi-scale analysis using mobile measurement and satellite imagery.

A limited number of meteorological stations and sparse data challenge microclimate assessment in urban areas. Therefore, it is necessary to complement these data with additional measurements to achieve a denser spatial coverage, enabling a detailed representation of the city's microclimatic features. In this study, conducted in Zagreb, Croatia, mobile air temperature measurements were utilized and compared with satellite-derived land surface temperature (LST). Here, air temperature measurements were carried out using bicycles and an instrument with a GPS receiver and temperature probe during a heat wave in June 2021, capturing the spatial pattern of air temperature to highlight the city's microclimate characteristics (i.e. urban heat load; UHL) in extremely hot weather conditions. Simultaneously, remotely sensed LST was retrieved from the Landsat-8 satellite. Air temperature measurements were compared to city-specific street type classification, while neighbourhood heat load characteristics were analysed based on local climate zones (LCZ) and LST. Results indicated significant thermal differences between surface types and urban forms and between street types and LCZs. Air temperatures reached up to 35 °C, while LST exceeded 40 °C. City parks, tree-lined streets and areas near blue infrastructure were 1.5-3 °C cooler than densely built areas. Temperature contrasts between LCZs in terms of median LST were more emphasised and reached 9 °C between some classes. These findings highlight the importance of preserving green areas to reduce UHL and enhance urban resilience. Here, exemplified by the city of Zagreb, it has been demonstrated that the use of multiple datasets allows a comprehensive understanding of temperature patterns and their implications for urban climate research.

Variations of heat exhaustion rate of pilgrims with environmental conditions during hajj seasons between 2002 and 2018 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Heat exhaustion (HE) is one of the major concerns for medical service providers, especially in hot weather conditions. Every year pilgrims come to Makkah in Saudi Arabia to perform hajj rites which require a lot of physical effort. Makkah has a very hot climate, especially in the summer. Several cases of HE have been reported among pilgrims. The rate of heat exhaustion (HER) among pilgrims was studied using five climatic factors such as temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), heat index (HI), total solar radiation (TSR) and wind speed (WS) during the Hajj seasons between 2002 and 2018 in Makkah. These factors were measured using data collected by the weather stations owned by The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah. There is a roughly 11 days difference between solar and lunar years. Occurring in the 12th lunar month of the Islamic calendar, the Hajj is rotating by about 11 days each year. As a result, it will coincide with each month of the solar calendar in a period of about 32 years. Therefore, the HER values ranged between 0.18 per 105 in the winter of 2005 to 35.97 per 105 in the summer of 2018. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis revealed a very high linear relationship among most climate factors and HER (multiple R (MR) ≥ 79 %, R2 ≥ 63 % and P < 10−4). Seven different equation groups of climate factors were applied to predict HER values and showed a very high correlation (MR ≥ 91 %, R2 ≥ 83 % and P ≤ 0.001). Further studies of HER are needed, especially in terms of medical, environmental, demographic, and social sciences in Makkah.

Barriers to healthcare data quality and recommendations in public health facilities in Dire Dawa city administration, eastern Ethiopia: a qualitative study.

Maintaining good quality of healthcare data at various levels is a critical challenge in developing countries. The barriers to healthcare data quality remain largely unexplored in eastern Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the barriers to quality of healthcare data in urban public health facilities in the Dire Dawa city administration from 7 April to 7 May 2019. An institutional-based qualitative exploratory approach was used among 17 purposefully selected key informants. In-depth interviews were inductively coded using the ATLAS.ti 7.5.4 version software. Inductive analysis was used by semantically analyzing the explicit content of the data to determine our themes. Several key themes and subthemes with different barriers, some of which are mutually non-exclusive, were identified. These include: Organizational Barriers: Lack of an adequate health management information system and data clerk staff, poor management commitment, lack of post-training follow-up, work overload, frequent duty rotation, lack of incentives for good performers, lack of targeted feedback, and poor culture of information use. Behavioral/Individual Barriers: Gaps in the skill of managers and health professionals, lack of adequate awareness of each indicator and its definitions, inadequate educational competence, lack of feeling of ownership, poor commitment, lack of daily tallying, and lack of value for data. Technical Barriers: Lack of a standard form, diverse and too many data entry formats, manual data collection, shortage of supplies, failure to repair system break down in a timely manner, interruption in electricity and network, delay in digitizing health information systems, lack of post-training follow-up, and inadequate supervision. External Barriers: Poor collaboration between stakeholders, dependence on the software program of non-governmental organizations, and very hot weather conditions. Diverse and complex barriers to maintenance of data quality were identified. Developing standardized health management information system implementation plans, providing advanced supervisory-level training, supportive supervision, and site-level mentorship may be very effective in identifying and resolving bottleneck data quality issues. Healthcare managers should understand the imperative of data quality and accept responsibility for its improvement and maintenance. Interventions targeted only at supplies will not fully overcome limitations to data quality. Motivation of staff and recognition of best performance can motivate others and can create cooperation among staff.

Novel integration of recycled-hemihydrate phosphogypsum and ethyl palmitate in composite phase change material for building thermal regulation

This study investigates the properties of novel heat storage gypsum composites composed of waste Hemihydrate phosphogypsum (HP) incorporated with Ethyl Palmitate (EP) Phase Change Material (PCM) at varying concentrations of 25 wt %, 50 wt %, and 75 wt %. The focus of the research revolves around evaluating key characteristics, including leakage properties, chemical stability, microstructural analysis, heat storage characteristics, mechanical properties, and the thermal regulation performance of these novel composites. The investigation of leakage properties aimed to find the optimum EP ratio within the composite structure without causing any potential EP leakage, and it was determined to be 25 wt %. Furthermore, thermal regulation tests are conducted to assess the heat storage and release capabilities of the composites with varying HP/EP content. The latent heat storage of the HP/EP composite was determined as 46.12 J/g, even after the 750th cycle, the value only decreased to 46.03 J/g. With the porosity filling effect of EP additive in HP, as the EP additive increased, the amount of porosity decreased, and the compressive strength values increased by almost 10 %. In hot weather conditions, the EP additive provided a cooler environment between 2 and 4 °C according to thermoregulation results. This study not only holds promise in the context of developing novel heat storage composites for applications in energy-efficient building materials, thermal energy storage systems, and related sustainable technologies but also in harnessing industrial waste byproducts. It particularly highlights the value of HP as a waste material, which has a high potential for evaluation in the production of gypsum and other building materials.

Experimental Study on Dynamic Modulus of High Content Rubber Asphalt Mixture

Currently, the research on the mechanical properties of rubber-modified asphalt mixtures primarily focuses on small-scale investigations, with insufficient exploration into the performance of rubber particles and their relationship with the mechanism and properties of modified asphalt mixtures. Limited studies have been conducted on large-scale rubber modification in asphalt mixtures. Due to frequent use and subsequent high damage to existing asphalt pavements, incorporating rubber-modified asphalt mixtures can partially alleviate premature deterioration. Dynamic modulus tests were conducted using MTS equipment under unconfined conditions to investigate the viscoelastic behavior of rubber-modified asphalt mixtures with high rubber content and elucidate the influence of rubber particle content on the elastic deformation and recovery capability. The dynamic mechanical properties of the mixtures were determined at different loading rates, temperatures, and types of rubber-modified asphalt mixtures. Based on the test data, variations in the dynamic modulus, phase angle, storage modulus, loss modulus, loss factor, and rut factor of the rubber-modified asphalt mixtures under different loading frequencies, temperatures, and types were analyzed. The results demonstrate the pronounced viscoelastic behavior of rubber-modified asphalt mixtures. The mixtures exhibit enhanced elasticity at low temperatures and high frequencies, while their viscosity becomes more prominent at high temperatures and low frequencies. Under constant test temperatures, an increase in load loading frequency leads to a higher dynamic modulus; conversely, a decrease in dynamic modulus is observed with increasing test temperatures. The dynamic modulus of ARHM-25 at a frequency of 10 Hz is found to be 12.99 times higher at 15 °C compared to that at 60 °C, while at 30 °C, the dynamic modulus at 25 Hz is observed to be 2.72 times greater than that at 0.1 Hz. Furthermore, the rutting resistance factors of the asphalt mixtures increase with loading frequency but decrease with temperature. The rutting factor for ARHM-13 at a frequency of 10 Hz is found to be 22.98 times higher at 15 °C compared to that at 60 °C, while at a temperature of 30 °C, the rutting factor for this material is observed to be 3.09 times greater at a frequency of 25 Hz than at 0.1 Hz. These findings suggest that rutting is most likely when vehicles drive at low speeds in hot weather conditions.

Potential Use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Aggregate and Waste Plastic Bottles for Sustainable Asphalt Pavement Production

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential use of reclaimed asphalt pavement aggregate (RAPA) and waste plastic bottles (WPBs) for sustainable asphalt pavements production in hot weather conditions. To enhance the adhesion between neat bitumen, RAPA, and WPBs-coated aggregates, a rougher surface texture is created for aggregate particles in the modified asphalt mix. This improvement enhances asphalt mix engineering properties, rutting resistance, and stability. However, bituminous mixtures containing 20% RAPA exhibit tendencies toward strip resistance, this mixture is weak in terms of strength and incapable of supporting loads when utilizing the RAPA. Therefore, due to the moisture susceptibility of the RAPA, it is advised to employ several types of aggregates in future studies to determine the optimal aggregate that can resist stripping and, at the same time, handle heavy loads. Finally, for better asphalt mix performance, it is recommended to use a combination of 70% crushed stone aggregate, 20% RAPA, and 10% WPBs in asphalt mix with a 5.0% optimum modifier content. The experimental results for tensile strength ratio, proportional rut depth, and mean rut depth meet the required specifications of the Ethiopian Road Authority for all properties tested. Therefore, this combination is strongly advised for use in hot mix asphalt production.

Perancangan Sistem Kontrol Pendingin Udara Otomatis Berbasis Suhu Ruangan Menggunakan Arduino

Air conditioning has become essential in the modern era, with nearly everyone worldwide owning an air conditioner in their homes. Its presence is crucial given the increasingly hot weather conditions due to global warming. However, we often forget to turn off the air conditioner, resulting in energy waste and potential damage to the device. Therefore, this writing aims to address these issues through the development of an automatic system using Arduino Nano, programmed in the C language, to regulate the operation of the air conditioner based on room temperature. This way, users do not need to bother manually turning the air conditioner on or off using a remote control or buttons.

Sweat Rate, Sweat Sodium Losses, and Body Composition in Professional Male Soccer Players in Southwest Colombia.

Background and Objective: Dehydration and hyperhydration impact athletes' performance. Exploring the fluid balance concerning body composition might help estimate individual hydration requirements. This area of research, particularly regarding sodium losses, has been relatively understudied. We evaluated the sweat rate (SR), sweat sodium losses, and their relationship with body composition in professional soccer players in Cali, Colombia. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two male players, aged 24.3 (±5.2) years, from the Colombian main soccer league, underwent high-intensity training at 32 °C (with a relative humidity of 79%). The outcome variables included SR, calculated using weight loss and fluid intake; forearm sweat sodium concentration (FSCC), measured through the direct ion-selective electrode method; and estimated the predicted whole sweat sodium loss (PWSSL) in mmol. Predictor variables (body mass, fat, and muscle masses) were estimated using the Deborah Kerr anthropometry method. The association between predictors and outcomes was assessed using linear regression. Results: The mean FSCC, PWSSL, and SR were 26.7 ± 11.3 mmol/L, 43 ± 15.9 mmol/L, and 1.7 ± 0.5 L/h, respectively. Body mass positively predicted FSCC in unadjusted and age/fat-mass-adjusted models [Beta 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39-2.18, p = 0.006], and continued related to FSCC after adjustment for muscle mass with marginal significance [Beta 0.85, 95% CI -0.02 to 1.73, p = 0.056]. Muscle mass was associated with the PWSSL in unadjusted and age/fat-mass-adjusted models [Beta 2.42, 95% CI 0.58-4.26, p = 0.012] and sustained an association with marginal statistical significance after adjustment for body mass [Beta 1.86, 95% CI -0.35 to 4.09, p = 0.097]. Conclusions: Under hot tropical weather conditions, FSCC was relatively low among the players. Body mass was better associated with the FSSC, and muscle mass better related to the PWSSL. Body and muscle masses could be regarded as potential factors to be explored in the estimation of individual sodium needs. However, further studies are required to validate and contrast our findings.

Unusual outbreaks of curly top disease in processing tomato fields in northern California in 2021 and 2022 were caused by a rare strain of beet curly top virus and facilitated by extreme weather events

In the western United States, curly top disease (CTD) is caused by beet curly top virus (BCTV). In California, CTD causes economic loss to processing tomato production in central and southern areas but, historically, not in the north. Here, we document unusual CTD outbreaks in processing tomato fields in the northern production area in 2021 and 2022, and show that these were caused by the rare spinach curly top strain (BCTV-SpCT). These outbreaks were associated with proximity of fields to foothills and unusually hot, dry, and windy spring weather conditions, possibly by altering migrations of the beet leafhopper (BLH) vector from locations with BCTV-SpCT reservoirs. Support for this hypothesis came from the failure to observe CTD outbreaks and BLH migrations in 2023, when spring weather conditions were cool and wet. Our results show the climate-induced emergence of a rare plant virus strain to cause an economically important disease in a new crop and location.

ECONOMIC USEFUL AND BIOLOGICAL SIGNS IN PUREBRED AND CROSS-BRED COWS OF THE UKRAINIAN BLACK-AND-WHITE DAIRY BREED UNDER THE EFFECTS OF HIGH TEMPERATURES AND TYPES OF FEEDING

The results of studies of economically useful and biological traits in purebred (Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed) and cross-breed (Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed x Swiss) cows are given, taking into account the effect of high temperatures and types of feeding. At the same time, it was established that purebred cows exceeded crossbred cows in terms of milk yield, but were inferior to the latter in terms of milk quality (fat content, protein content). In general, the advantage in milk fat and protein yield in favor of crossbred cows, in the section of three lactations, was from 3.0 to 9.5 kg and from 2.6 to 6.4 kg, respectively.&#x0D; Along with this, the dependence of heat resistance of cows on their genotype was established. Cross-breed cows were characterized by better adaptation properties to the effects of hot weather conditions, as they had more balanced indicators of heat resistance.&#x0D; Analysis of indicators of milk productivity of cows with different types of feeding showed that the use of the same type of feeding provides an increase in milk yield per 533 kg of milk, fat content by 0.14% and protein by 0.01% compared to traditional feeding technology.

Investigation of the Energy-Saving Potential of Buildings with Radiative Roofs and Low-E Windows in China

This study develops a model for buildings with a cooling roof, walls, and low-emissivity (Low-E) windows. This model is verified through experimental analysis. The cooling demands of standard buildings and cooling buildings are compared, and the energy-saving potentials of cooling buildings are analysed. It is found that compared to standard buildings, cooling buildings exhibit superior cooling performances attributable to the application of cooling materials. Considering Hong Kong’s weather data, the indoor temperature of cooling buildings can be sub-ambient. The cooling demands of cooling buildings are decreased from 75 W/m2 to 30 W/m2, indicating a 60% energy-saving potential. The nationwide cooling demand for a standard building across China is approximately 95.7 W/m2, whereas the nationwide summer average cooling demand for cooling buildings is 52.7 W/m2. Moreover, the cooling performance of a cooling roof is adversely affected by hot and humid weather conditions, resulting in lower temperature drops in southern regions compared to northern regions. However, the nationwide temperature drop across China can still be 1.6 °C, demonstrating promising cooling potentials. For the Low-E windows, the temperature can also be sub-ambient, with a nationwide average temperature drop of 1.7 °C. Therefore, the use of Low-E windows across China can also significantly contribute to energy savings for indoor cooling. Overall, the results of this study show that cooling buildings have high energy-saving potential under various climates. The proposed model can provide a reliable tool to facilitate relevant cooling evaluation by stakeholders, thereby benefiting the popularization of this technology.

Assessing the dynamic thermal performance of prefabricated wall panels in extreme hot weather conditions

Given the potential for extreme weather conditions to cause significant damage to both property and human life, it is imperative to take action to mitigate the impact of such events. Buildings as one of the main shelters of peoples’ lives become critical to study. Especially, building envelopes components that seal the buildings and act as a barrier between indoor and outdoor environments are imperative to evaluate their thermal performance. Moreover, the incorporation of prefabricated wall panels can play a pivotal role in addressing challenges associated with extreme weather conditions due to their capacity to enhance structural resilience, accelerate construction, and encourage sustainable practices. While prefabricated construction has been shown to offer significant advantages in energy conservation, low-carbon emission, and environmental protection, its thermal performance remains uncertain when subjected to significant temperature fluctuations. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the dynamic thermal performance of a prefabricated wall panel under extreme weather conditions. Accordingly, a prefabricated wall panel was tested in an environmental chamber, simulating a heat wave that occurred in Chicago in July 2012. The metrics of Decrement factor (DF) and Time lag (TL) were used to measure the dynamic thermal properties. The results show DF of 0.07 and TL of 8 h indicating when considering thickness as a factor, the tested wall panel exhibits superior dynamic thermal performance compared to the other wall panels from the literature. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of building materials and design on energy efficiency and indoor thermal comfort.

The influence of elevated CO2 concentrations and UVB radiation in antioxidant activity of selected Chenopodium quinoa varieties

Ecosystems have been affected by climate change. Both agriculture and environmental changes are correlated with various features since climate change is the main cause of abiotic and biotic stress, which affects crop plants. Climate change and its severe impact on plant productivity showed great intensity due to the effects of abiotic stress. In the present investigation, we selected two quinoa varieties to study the response to future climatic factors such as eCO2, enhanced UVB radiation, and UVB+eCO2 combined effects in open-top chambers in the hot climate of the UAE. The treatments were administered for 90 days in the hot UAE weather conditions and the experiment was carried out in a transparent OTC facility. The response of the studied quinoa varieties was measured by analyzing their non-enzymatic antioxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities. Our findings showed that quinoa varieties are suitable as industrial crops for their levels of antioxidants under stimulating climatic conditions because the quantity and quality of their yield have not been affected. Based on the results obtained in the present investigation, further study is warranted for screening more varieties with the addition of climate change factors such as temperature and humidity to find more tolerant varieties of quinoa suitable for future climatic conditions.

The selection of an appropriate concrete mixture for casting a pile cap in hot weather using 3D finite element model

In this study, the finite element model (FEM) was developed to select an appropriate concrete mixture for a large heavily reinforced bridge pile cap located in Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. The pile cap with dimensions of 9 m x 9 m in plan and 1.8 m in depth was exposed to hot weather conditions in summer season. The heat of hydration in mass concrete results in high temperature gradients across the depth of the concrete creating excessive thermal stresses resulting in micro-cracking at the surface. The concrete mixtures with 30% date kernels ash, 30% fly ash, 30% natural pozzolan, 30% limestone powder, 30% ground granulated slag and 60% ground granulated slag were investigated. The experimental investigations were conducted on the concrete mixtures to determine the mechanical properties, such as tensile and compressive strength, thermal properties, such as thermal conductivity, specific heat, and thermal resistivity, and heat of hydration. The chemical compositions of ordinary Portland cement, date kernels ash, fly ash, natural pozzolan, limestone powder and ground granulated slag were analyzed using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF). Based on the experimental and finite element model results, the concrete mixtures with 30% fly ash (FA), 30% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), and 60% GGBFS were found to be less prone to cracking. Notably, the mixture with 60% GGBFS demonstrated the lowest likelihood of cracking, leading to its selection for casting the pile cap.

Proximity Activity Intensity Identification System in Hot and Humid Weather Conditions: Development and Implementation

Proximity Activity Intensity Identification System in Hot and Humid Weather Conditions: Development and Implementation

An advanced exhausting airflow photovoltaic curtain wall system coupled with an air source heat pump for outdoor air treatment: Energy-saving performance assessment

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) and air source heat pump (ASHP) technologies have emerged as promising solutions for building energy conservation. However, traditional solar buildings face limitations such as overheating, limited efficiency, and singular functionality; additionally, ASHPs suffer from a low coefficient of performance (COP) due to high condensing temperatures or low evaporating temperatures; the process of outdoor air handling proves energy-intensive. To address these challenges, this study proposes an innovative exhausting ventilation PV curtain wall system coupled with ASHP units (EVPV-HP) for outdoor air treatment. This system features a fine combination of PV cooling, supply air reheating, and heat recovery from both the PV facade and exhaust air. The mathematical model of the BIPV curtain wall, based on energy balance equations, is developed and solved using Matlab programming. This model is then combined with the ASHP system model established in TRNSYS to predict the year-round energy performance of the hybrid system. The findings demonstrate that the EVPV-HP system achieves seasonal energy efficiencies of 5.08 for cooling and 4.06 for heating operation modes. Compared to a conventional system, the EVPV-HP system enhances yearly energy efficiency by 17.05 % owing to increased PV production, reduced air-conditioning load, and improved COP. Furthermore, parametric analysis suggests that the system exhibits improved performance under higher solar irradiation and hotter weather conditions during summer. Conversely, in winter, the system performs better under lower ambient temperatures with incident radiation around 800 W/m2.

Subsurface Bioreactors as a Possible Addition to Enhance WW Treatment Plant Operation: A Brief Review

Prior to the establishment of the United Sates Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Water Act signed into law in 1972, water treatment was done on a minimal level or was not present at all. Since then, scientists strive to improve and advance new and existing water treatment processes that water can be discharged safely into water bodies.&#x0D; Constructed wetlands as engineered waste water treatment systems are used today as a final waste water treatment before the treated waste water is released into a water body.&#x0D; Surface flow and sub terranean flow constructed wetland options exist and are used for the treatment of municipal, agricultural and industrial waste water containing pollutants such as human waste, soap, fats, chemicals, and pharmaceutical compounds.&#x0D; They can be operated all year round (24/7) at temperatures that might exceed 35°C (95°F) and as low as around -26°C (-15°F).&#x0D; Constructed wetland systems in general depend on the quality of pretreatment for the inflow waste water, the hydrology and the carrier material as well as the climate, the vegetation and the physical and technical properties of the plant-based sewage treatment plants themselves, as well as the operational principle applied to the constructed wetland system.&#x0D; Constructed wetland operated as surface and or sub terranean flow mode can be a cost-effective and low-energy consuming alternative that requires only minimal operational effort. Experience shows that sub-terranean flow surface constructed wetland can be a long-term cost-effective solution that operates stable in various hot and cold weather conditions for decades with minimal operational and maintenance effort.