Hours Of Operation Research Articles

Enhancing the oxygen evolution reaction activity of CuCo based hydroxides with V2CT x MXene.

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key reaction in the production of green hydrogen by water electrolysis. In alkaline media, the current state of the art catalysts used for the OER are based on non-noble metal oxides. However, despite their huge potential as OER catalysts, these materials exhibit various disadvantages including lack of stability and conductivity that hinder the wide-spread utilization of these materials in alkaline electrolyzer devices. This study highlights the innovative chemical functionalization of a mixed copper cobalt hydroxide with the V2CT x MXene to enhance the OER efficiency, addressing the need for effective electrocatalytic interfaces for sustainable hydrogen production. The herein synthesized CuCo@V2CT x electrocatalysts demonstrate remarkable activity, outperforming the pure CuCo catalysts for the OER and moreover show increased efficiency after 12 hours of continuous operation. This strategic integration improved the water oxidation performance of the pure oxide material by improving the composite's hydrophilicity, charge transfer properties and ability to hinder Cu leaching. The materials were characterized using an array of materials characterization techniques to help decipher both structure of the composite materials after synthesis and to elucidate the reasoning for the OER enhancement for the composites. This work demonstrates the significant potential of TMO-based nanomaterials combined with V2CT x for advanced innovative electrocatalytic interfaces in energy conversion applications.

Degradation of fluoride in groundwater by electrochemical fixed bed system with bauxite: performance and synergistic catalytic mechanism.

Fluoride pollution in water has garnered significant attention worldwide. The issue of fluoride removal remains challenging in areas not covered by municipal water systems. The industrial aluminum electrode and natural bauxite coordinated defluorination system (IE-BA) have been employed for fluoride removal. The experiment investigated the effects of pH, current density, and inter-electrode mineral layer thickness on the defluorination process of IE-BA. Additionally, the study examined the treatment efficiency of IE-BA for simulated water with varying F- concentrations and assessed its long-term performance. The results demonstrate that the defluorination efficiency can reach 98.4% after optimization. Moreover, irrespective of different fluoride concentrations, the defluorination rate exceeds 95.2%. After 72 hours of continuous operation, the defluorination rate reached 91.9%. The effluent exhibited weak alkalinity with a pH of around 8.0, and the voltage increased by 2.0 V compared to the initial moment. By analyzing the characterization properties of minerals and flocs, this study puts forward the possible defluorination mechanism of the IE-BA system. The efficacy of the IE-BA system in fluoride removal from water was ultimately confirmed, demonstrating its advantages in terms of defluorination ability under different initial conditions and resistance to complex interference. This study demonstrates that the IE-BA technology is a promising approach for defluorination.

Development of an automated SILAR method for the sustainable fabrication of BiOI/TiO2 photoanodes.

BiOI is a promising material for use in photoelectrocatalytic water oxidation, renowned for its chemical inertness and safety in aqueous media. For device integration, BiOI must be fabricated into films. Considering future industrial applications, automated production is essential. However, current BiOI film production methods lack automation and efficiency. To address this, a continuous automated process is introduced in this study, named AutoDrop, for producing BiOI films. Autodrop results to be a fast and facile method for producing BiOI photoelectrodes. Nanostructured thin films of this layered material are prepared using a syringe pump to dispense the precursor solution onto a continuously spinning substrate. These films are integrated into a multilayered photoelectrode, featuring mesoporous TiO2 as an electron-transporting layer on top of FTO glass. In testing the photoelectrochemical performance of the BiOI/TiO2 photoelectrodes, the highest photocurrent (44 μA cm-2) is found for a heterojunction with a BiOI thickness of 320 nm. Additionally, a further protective TiO2 ultrathin layer in contact with BiOI, grown by atomic layer deposition, enhances the durability and efficiency of the photoanode, resulting in a more than two-fold improvement in photocurrent after 2 hours of continuous operation. This study advances the automation in the sustainable production of photoelectrode films and provides inspiration for further developments in the field.

Application of a Cascade Refrigeration System for Storage of Hibiscus Tea (A Zobo Drink) for Human Consumption

Since hibiscus tea is inexpensive, healthful, and has many nutritional benefits, individuals from various socioeconomic backgrounds frequently drink it. The main drawback of its large-scale manufacture is its short shelf life if not adequately chilled. In order to extend the shelf life of flavor-infused Zobo tea and conserve energy for mass production, the paper assesses the sensory properties of the tea in a cascade freezer and how much energy a convectional and cascade refrigeration system used. Within 120 minutes, a prepared hibiscus tea was frozen and kept at -15 0C for four days. After evaluation, the product's sensory quality was found to be suitable for ingestion. Over 72 hours, the natural flavor, color, and taste of Zobo drinks did not change. The cascade freezer only required 3 kg of fuel for two hours of operation as opposed to 7.5 kg of gasoline for six hours of operation for the LG freezer. The quick deep-freezing process reduced fuel expenditures while preserving the product's short shelf life. The energy used by the cascade freezer was 1600 MJ at a cost of #24000 per month, as opposed to a total of 11200 MJ at a cost of #204000 per month. The cascade refrigerator saved 100.4 GJ of energy annually at a cost of #218600. The machine's effectiveness and energy efficiency were rated at 75%. The outcome has improved the cold storage supply chain for Zobo products for usage in emerging and developing nations on a commercial basis and saved energy.

Estimation of Income, Expenditure and Resource use Pattern of Groundnut in Thandrampattu Block of Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu, India

The core objective of the research estimation of income, expenditure and resource use pattern of groundnut in Thandrampattu block of Tiruvannamalai district is to evaluate the performance of groundnut in terms of cost and returns and resource use efficiency. The sample of 30 farmers growing groundnut were selected at random from the Thandrampet, Veppur, Thanipadi and Vanapuram villages of Thandrampattu Block of Tiruvannamalai District. Average and percentage analyses were used to examine cost of cultivation, labour hours used, quantity of materials used and machine hours used by farmers in each crop production. Regression analysis was used to assess the impact of selected explanatory variables on independent variables. Joint families account for around 33% of total sample homes, with nuclear families accounting for 67 percent. Average size of holding is 2.84 acres. Total cost of cultivation for groundnut is Rs.16371.68/acre. Gross income from groundnut is Rs.54000/ac. Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of groundnut cultivation is 3.30. Farmers sell the produce at regulated market, mill owners and local traders. The human labors were used for sowing and transplanting, FYM, fertilizer, chemicals, intercultural operations. FYM, chemicals, fertilizer and seed are the major material used in crop production. Harvester, rotavator and bund former are the machine used for crop production. About 69 percent of variation in dependent variables explained by the selected independent variables such as labor hours for inters cultural operation, land holding size and quantity of FYM.

The specifics of the work of marketing managers with Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

The aim of the article. The purpose of the article is to analyze the main pitfalls and specifics of GA4 and to describe the main problems that have arisen while using GA4. Analysis results. Several Google Analytics accounts of different websites, different companies and platforms operating in different markets were compared, and common features for these accounts were identified. The reports used for the analysis were those most commonly used by e-commerce professionals. Conclusions and directions for further research. 1. It is impossible to track the effectiveness of online advertising sources. Especially in the case of unstable sales dynamics during the war, it is impossible to flexibly adjust advertising costs depending on the site's income. It is impossible to see the effect in real time, for example, clicks on a tracking link with a UTM tag, with what intensity users of the advertising channel click on the link. Imagine that you have placed a link in a new advertising channel and want to see if this link is interesting for a new audience. You won't be able to see the number of clicks in the first hour of the link's operation, but only the next day. 2. You need to look for new footage to set up new analytics. 3. Inaccurate tracking. Based on the fact that the data in the reports are different. There is no trust in the data to the extent that there was before. Possible double interpretation of data. Conclusions and areas for further research are outlined as follows: Challenges in Online Advertising Tracking: The text highlights the difficulty in tracking the effectiveness of online advertising sources, particularly in situations of unstable sales dynamics, such as during times of conflict. The inability to flexibly adjust advertising costs based on the site's income is emphasized. Real-time monitoring challenges are discussed, illustrating the complexity of gauging the immediate impact of advertising efforts, including tracking UTM-tagged links and understanding the intensity of user interactions with the link. Constant Search for New Analytics Approaches: The second point underscores the need to continuously seek new methods and approaches for setting up analytics. In a dynamic digital landscape, the ever-evolving nature of online platforms and marketing channels necessitates a proactive approach in discovering and implementing fresh analytical techniques. Issues with Tracking Accuracy: The text explores the problem of inaccurate tracking, citing disparities in data within reports and a diminished level of trust in the data compared to previous versions of Google Analytics. The potential for double interpretation of data is discussed, raising concerns about the reliability and precision of the insights provided by GA4. Exploring these challenges in online advertising tracking and the constant need for new analytics approaches underscores the evolving landscape of digital marketing, requiring marketers to adapt to uncertainties and seek innovative strategies for accurate data interpretation.

Revealing the Impact of Cell Conditioning on PEMWE Catalyst Layer Morphology

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis is a promising green hydrogen generation technology to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic climate change. To achieve stable cell voltages, a conditioning procedure is typically required, where current or voltage cycling is applied until stable performance is achieved. Previous studies have demonstrated that a decrease in voltage occurs within the first few hours of operation [1], but this conditioning period has not been extensively studied for PEM electrolyzers, despite a variety of standard conditioning protocols available for PEM fuel cells in the literature. Previous works additionally suggest that changes in performance may be induced due to structural changes in the anode catalyst layer (CL) caused by large gas bubble evolution during the first few hours of operation [2]. However, to establish and optimize a conditioning procedure for PEMWEs, the specific structural changes caused by conditioning on the anode CL must be elucidated and correlated with the electrochemical performance parameters.In this work, we applied scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) to PEMWE catalyst layers to reveal pore and ionomer distributions in pristine and conditioned commercial CL samples. Prior to imaging, CL samples were embedded in epoxy and cut to 50 nm thick slices using an ultramicrotome. Using near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, Carbon 1s and Fluorine 1s absorption edges were probed to reveal pore and ionomer distributions, respectively. After image acquisition, the image stacks were processed to obtain the ionomer and epoxy spectra to enable spectral fitting and thresholding. Through this analysis, we quantified various morphological properties of catalyst layers (including CL thickness, porosity, pore size distribution, agglomerate distribution, and ionomer content) and compared these properties to those of pristine CLs to explain changes in cell performance. The insights gained from this work will aid in the development of efficient conditioning protocols and identify optimal post-conditioned anode CL morphology to inform the design of next-generation catalyst materials. A. Weiß et al., J Electrochem Soc, 166, F487–F497 (2019).O. Panchenko et al., Mater Today Energy, 16, 100394 (2020).

RuNiOx Interface Promotes Hydrogen Production from Alkaline Seawater

Hydrogen production from seawater is increasingly important as an alternative technic for realizing low-cost and green energy without exacerbating CO2 emissions due to the abundant seawater in nature. However, practical application is still hindered by the electrochemical catalyst’ poor stability under rigorous industry conditions. Herein, nanoplate ruthenium-nickel oxide (RuNiOx) supported on nickel foam is fabricated for hydrogen production from alkaline seawater with eminent stability. Mechanism study shows the real active center is the in-situ formed ruthenium cluster with the supported NiO. The interface of cluster Ru with NiO results in reduced water-dissociated energy for the Volmer step. This robust electrode exhibits an overpotential of 16mV at 10 mA cm-2 with a small Tafel slope of 21.3mVdec-1. It can be operated under a large current density at 1000 mA cm-2 over 350 hours in alkaline freshwater. When paired with oxygen-produced catalyst S-NiFeOOH, this electrode can work at an industrial current density of 500 mA cm-2 for 100 hours and even 1A cm-2 over 30 hours in alkaline seawater. At industrial temperature (65 ℃), 12 hours of operation can be achieved. This work paves a feasible pathway for hydrogen production from seawater industry applications.

Poultry Residual Biomass as Substrate to Generate Bioelectricity using a dual Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell “MFC” with Graphite and Copper Electrodes

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are electrochemical systems through which sustainable energy can be produced due to the degradation of organic matter using substrates with a varied chemical composition. The bioprocess that takes place inside the MFC takes advantage of the oxidation of organic matter. This process releases protons and electrons extracellularly, and the latter are transferred from the anode to the cathode generating bioelectricity. The MFC operating system produces energy due to the bacterial metabolism, through an electron transfer phenomenon that reflects into a bio energy conversion with minimal impacts on the environment. With the MFC system, it is possible to investigate the use of new residual substrates for energy production, the types of native microbial communities that develop during the degradation of specific compounds and the design of more efficient cells. In this research, copper and graphite were evaluated as low-cost electrodes using batch microbial fuel cells for 208 hours of operation, a data logger was used, and physicochemical parameters were taken during this period. The maximum power density presented was 14 mW/m2 with the graphite electrode and 6.7 mW/m2 with the copper electrode. Electrogenic bacteria were identified through biochemical and molecular tests such as bacterial culture, strain purification, DNA extraction and sequencing of microorganisms. The bacteria were uploaded to the NCBI gene data bank and the identity of these strains was identified: avian graphite 1 “Av_A1” (Pseudomonas aureginosa), avian graphite 2 “Av_A2” (Bacillus cereus) and avian copper 1 “AV_C1” (Bacillus tropicus). A dual chamber MFC was assembled, so each microbial cell can contain the residual substrate and the corresponding electron acceptor, both for the anodic and cathodic cell. These cells were separated by a Nafion® or Ultrex® membrane cation exchange membrane. The results showed us that optimal conditions for the generation of bioelectricity can be established in MFC cells, adding information to the literature on the behavior of bacteria that thrive in stressful environments such as copper and simple materials such as the graphite.

Engineering Gas Diffusion Electrode Microstructures for the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 has the potential to enable a circular economy where the captured CO2 can be utilized to produce valuable chemicals. However, existing CO2 reduction electrolyzers suffer from limited performance (i.e. low current densities) and short operation times (1-200 hours)1. The gas diffusion electrode (GDE) is a key component which determines system durability and enables higher current density operation. Yet, commercially available GDEs are carbon fiber-based materials, which were developed to fulfill the requirements of polymer electrolyte fuel cells and were repurposed for emerging CO2 electrolyzers. While functional, the commercial GDEs microstructure and surface properties do not meet the requirements of CO2 electrolysis flow cells which leads to their failure within short operation hours. These GDEs fail due to flooding through different mechanisms such as electrowetting2, capillary imbibition3, salt precipitation3, and uneven pressure distribution4. Therefore, there is a need to develop novel GDEs with engineered microstructures and wettability for the unique challenges of CO2 electrolyzers.In this research, we aim to understand the influence of the GDE microstructure on the durability and performance of CO2 electrolyzers. Instead of leveraging commercially available carbon-fiber based substrates, we conceptualize and deploy a scalable technique to manufacture novel GDEs with tunable microstructure. We hypothesize that tackling the multiphase transport challenges in CO2 electrolyzers requires electrode formats containing a plurality of pore sizes and highly controlled microstructures. Thus, we aim to develop a synthetic methodology affording a high degree of microstructural versatility and low manufacturing costs. We investigate the effect of synthetic parameters on the resulting microstructural (e.g. porosity, pore size distribution) and wetting properties. Furthermore, we aim to correlate the synthetic parameters with the resulting GDE properties (e.g. microstructure, porosity) and the corresponding transport properties (e.g. permeability, capillarity, diffusivity). These properties will be further correlated to the flow cell durability and performance. We hypothesize that tuning the pore size distribution and surface chemistry of the GDEs can enhance mass transport rates and resistance to flooding, which could enable longer operating times and higher current density. References D. Wakerley et al., Nat Energy, 7, 130–143 (2022).K. Yang, R. Kas, W. A. Smith, and T. Burdyny, ACS Energy Lett, 6, 33–40 (2021).M. E. Leonard, L. E. Clarke, A. Forner‐Cuenca, S. M. Brown, and F. R. Brushett, ChemSusChem, 13, 400–411 (2020).L. M. Baumgartner, C. I. Koopman, A. Forner-Cuenca, and D. A. Vermaas, ACS Sustain Chem Eng, 10, 4683–4693 (2022).

Visualizing the Effect of Temperature on Carbonate Salt Production in CO2 Electrolysis

Carbon dioxide (CO2) electrolysis is a novel and promising technology to tackle anthropogenic climate change by reducing our dependency on fossil fuels and creating a sustainable carbon cycle. However, current CO2 electrolysis suffers from low CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) selectivity and rapid gas diffusion electrode (GDE) degradation and flooding due to carbonate precipitation. As the hydrophilic precipitate accumulates in the porous structure of the cathode GDE, the liquid anolyte invades the pores, blocking the catholyte from reaching the catalyst layer. This effect promotes the adverse hydrogen evolution reaction and thus decreases the CO2RR selectivity (1). Current literature focuses on limiting carbonate precipitate formation as opposed to understanding the factors affecting its growth (2). While carbonate precipitation is dependent on the specific electrolyte in a flow cell, the impact of parameters, such as operating temperature and GDE porosity, on the nature of carbonate precipitation still need to be investigated (3).In this study, we examine the relationship between cell temperature with carbonate precipitate accumulation. A zero-gap alkaline membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was used with potassium carbonate as the anolyte and humidified CO2 as the catholyte. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to calculate the activation, ohmic, and mass transport losses of the cell before and after a constant current density phase where faradaic efficiency was measured to quantify the CO2RR selectivity degradation due to salt accumulation. Furthermore, to characterize precipitate growth, the cathode GDEs were imaged before and after electrochemical testing using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy (WDS). To quantify precipitate-driven flooding over operation time, identical MEAs were imaged using operando X-ray synchrotron radiography over a range of temperatures. Through-plane images of the operating cell were processed to find the electrolyte thickness in the cathode GDE as a function of time. Radiography results revealed progressive, cyclical flooding as well as preferential gas pathways. Moreover, after four hours of constant current operation and at a cell temperature of 60℃, the catalyst layer exhibited large amounts of uniformly distributed precipitates, while the GDE contained large, localized precipitate crystals. This indicates that at high temperatures, carbonate precipitates significantly block the catalyst layer and cause flooding into the substrate layer. This work provides new insight into the effect of temperature on carbonate precipitate buildup, deepening the understanding of the mechanism responsible for precipitate degradation. M. E. Leonard, L. E. Clarke, A. Forner-Cuenca, S. M. Brown, and F. R. Brushett, ChemSusChem, 13 (2020).Y. Xu et al., ACS Energy Lett, 6, 809–815 (2021).E. R. Cofell, U. O. Nwabara, S. S. Bhargava, D. E. Henckel, and P. J. A. Kenis, ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 13, 15132–15142 (2021).

Lanthanide Vanadate: An Efficient and Stable Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalyst for Enhanced Water-Splitting Applications

Hydrogen fuel production through water-splitting reactions offers a sustainable approach to store renewable energies. However, the efficiency of this process is impeded by the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a complex four-electron oxidation half-reaction. In this study, we present a highly active and stable OER catalyst, lanthanide vanadate (LnVO4 - Ln = La to Lu), synthesized using a straightforward hydrothermal method. Comprehensive characterization of the electrocatalysts was performed employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. When applied to nickel (Ni) foam, lanthanide vanadate achieved a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at an overpotential of +280 mV in a 1.0 M KOH electrolyte. Furthermore, exceptional stability was demonstrated for over 5 hours of continuous operation. These findings highlight the potential of lanthanide vanadate-based materials as promising catalysts for efficient and stable overall water-splitting processes.

Use of Mixed Methanesulfonic Acid/Sulfuric Acid as Positive Supporting Electrolyte and the Study of Ion Crossover in Zn-Ce Redox Flow Battery

The development of a highly efficient and inexpensive energy storage technology is central to the operation of a sustainable smart grid and widespread utilization of intermittent renewable energy sources. An emerging and promising grid-scale technology for electrochemical energy storage is the redox flow battery (RFB). A unique and particularly valuable aspect of the design of RFBs is that their energy and power capacities can be scaled independently. Some of their other advantages include short response time, long life-cycles and no detrimental effects associated with being fully charged or discharged [1]. The Zn-Ce RFB, first developed by Plurion Inc (UK) in 2005 [2], has an open-circuit voltage as high as 2.4 V which is one of the highest among the various RBFs.To further improve the efficiency of Zn-Ce RBFs, the effect of different positive supporting electrolytes on the performance of a bench-scale Zn-Ce RFB has been studied. The effectiveness of mixed methanesulfonic/sulfuric acid, mixed methanesulfonic/nitric acid and pure methanesulfonic acid has been assessed and compared on the basis of the cyclic voltammetry response for the Ce(III)/Ce(IV) redox couple and galvanic charge-discharge of a bench-scale Zn-Ce RFB. We have observed the Ce(III)/Ce(IV) reaction to exhibit faster kinetics and the battery to attain higher coulombic efficiency and long-term performance over ~40 charge-discharge cycles in the mixed 2 mol/L MSA–0.5 mol/L H2SO4 electrolyte compared to that achieved in the commonly used 4 mol/L pure MSA electrolyte due to lower H+ crossover and the prevention of CeO2 precipitation. The coulombic efficiency fade rate in the mixed MSA-H2SO4 electrolyte is 0.55% per cycle over 40 charge-discharge cycles, while the fade rate is 1.26% in the case of 4 mol/L MSA. Furthermore, the positive electrode reaction is no longer the limiting half-cell reaction even at the end of long-term battery charge-discharge operation [3]. Our results show that a mixed MSA–H2SO4 acid electrolyte may be a better option for the positive side of a Zn-Ce RFB as a large-scale energy storage device.At the same time, undesired ion crossover is a practical issue that cannot be neglected since it decreases the concentrations of electroactive species in both negative and positive electrolytes and can cause battery self-discharge and thereby lower battery efficiency and longevity. The concentrations of electroactive species in both the positive and negative electrolytes after each charge-discharge cycle have been monitored as a function of cycle number. We have found that as much as 48.6% of the Zn(II) ions are transported through the Nafion 117 membrane from the negative to the positive electrolyte and 11.1% of Ce(III) ions are transported from the positive to the negative electrolyte by the end of 30 cycles (~55 hours of battery operation). A simple and efficient method to mitigate this problem is to add a certain amount of Zn(II) to the positive electrolyte and Ce(III) to the negative electrolyte at the outset of operation in order to reduce the concentration gradients between the two sides. From our cyclic voltammetry results, the addition of Zn(II) ions into the positive electrolyte has no deleterious effect on the Ce(III)/Ce(IV) redox couple and in fact appears to slightly reduce the separation between the reduction and oxidation peaks, suggesting better reversibility of the positive electrode reaction. In addition, experiments involving 30 cycles of battery charge-discharge have been conducted using Zn(II)-containing pure MSA positive electrolyte as well as Zn(II)-containing MSA-H2SO4 mixed acid electrolytes to analyze battery efficiency. Our results show that both the coulombic and voltage efficiencies are increased compared to that attained using the original electrolytes without Zn(II) initially added to the positive electrolytes. The energy efficiency increases by 19.7% in the case of the Zn(II)-containing pure MSA electrolyte and 6.1% for the Zn(II)-containing H2SO4-MSA mixed acid electrolyte (see Figure 1). Another benefit of adding Zn(II) ions to the MSA pure positive electrolyte is that it prevents the precipitation of CeO2 routinely observed to occur in MSA-only electrolytes after 10 – 15 charge-discharge cycles, which further enhances the energy density of the Zn-Ce RFB.References Nguyen, T. and R.F. Savinell, Flow Batteries. Electrochemical Society Interface, 2010. 19(3), 54.Clarke, R., B. Dougherty, S. Harrison, P. Millington, and S. Mohanta, US Patent 2004/0202925 A1. Cerium Batteries, 2004.Yu, H., M. Pritzker, and J. Gostick, Use of Mixed Methanesulfonic Acid/Sulfuric Acid as Positive Supporting Electrolyte in Zn-Ce Redox Flow Battery. J. Electrochemical Society, 2023. 170(2), 020536. Figure 1

The Effect of Capital, Operating Hours, and Location Access in Increasing Merchants' Income at Legian Beach

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of capital, operating hours and location access in increasing the income of traders at Legian Beach. This research uses quantitative methods. This study used 82 samples of merchants who sell on Legian Beach. The analysis technique used is path analysis using the PLS3 application. The results showed that capital and location access had a significant positive effect on the income of traders on Legian Beach while one variable, namely operating hours, had no effect on the income of traders on Legian Beach.Keywords: Capital, Operating Hours, Location Access and Income.

OTC SENIOR STATION: CONSUMER-FACING TECHNOLOGY TO PROMOTE MEDICATION SAFETY

Abstract Over-the-counter (OTC) medications with anticholinergic effects (e.g. doxylamine, diphenhydramine) are widely used by older adults, despite their association with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Authoritative bodies, such as the American Geriatrics Society and National Academy of Medicine, recommend discouraging the use of both prescription and OTC anticholinergics. However, most interventions previously developed and tested have targeted only prescription anticholinergics despite the use rate of OTC anticholinergics being higher in older adult populations. Consumer-facing technology may be ideal for addressing OTC anticholinergic use as it is cost effective, scalable, and can address the constraints of relying on busy pharmacists to intervene during older adult OTC medication purchases; this has become especially relevant as pharmacies face staffing shortages, increasing pharmacist workload and requiring pharmacies adjust their hours of operation. Our interdisciplinary team of pharmacists, engineers, and designers engaged both older adults and pharmacy staff in the co-design of “OTC Senior Station”: a user-centered, consumer-facing kiosk to be placed in community pharmacies to promote reduced anticholinergic use by older adults. Kiosk users are prompted to input brief information, which is used to present safer alternatives to OTC anticholinergics (e.g., for insomnia management). This poster will present OTC Senior Station--what we believe to be the first consumer-facing technology to target OTC anticholinergic use—the participatory design methods used to create it, and the results of studies to assess its usability with older adults.

An Adaptive Sequential Decision-Making Approach for Perishable Food Procurement, Storage and Distribution Using Hyperconnected Logistics

The fast-food industry currently relies on frozen ingredients to reduce the cost of procurement of raw materials. In recent years, consumers have started to curb their habit of eating out from fast-food chain restaurants due to the growing concerns for unhealthy menu choices made primarily from highly processed and/or frozen food ingredients. To address these issues, some organizations in the fast-food industry have started to offer menus with fresh unfrozen ingredients sourced locally or regionally. This paper addresses the problem of integrating sourcing, storage, and distribution strategies for a fast-food restaurant chain at the regional level. We present an adaptive sequential optimization decision-making approach for procurement, storage, and distribution of perishable food products to multi-unit restaurants at the regional level. This solution approach uses shelf-life considerations in developing a procurement and distribution strategy for fresh produce in the era of hyperconnected logistics. Three models are developed using Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP). First, a procurement model is developed to find the cost-effective supplier for each produce category based on shelf life. Then, a distribution model is developed to find the cost-optimal solution for distributing produce to multiple restaurant locations considering weight, volume, and operation hours. Finally, an integrated model is developed to optimally combine procurement and distribution options generated by the first two models to minimize costs while respecting total shelf-life constraints. Numerical experiments based on realistic data are carried out to show that the proposed sequential approach yields valid decisions and presents the effects of price, shelf-life, and demand changes on the supply chain.

Self-Unit Commitment of Combined-Cycle Units with Real Operational Constraints

This paper highlights the importance of accurately modeling the operational constraints of Combined-Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGTs) within a unit-commitment framework. In practice, in Colombia, when given an initial dispatch by the Independent System Operator, CCGT plants are operated according to the results of heuristic simulation codes. Such heuristics often omit technical operating constraints, including hot, warm, or cold startup ramps; the minimum operation hours required for a gas turbine to start a steam turbine; the relationship between the dispatched number of steam and gas turbines; the load distribution among gas turbines; and supplementary fires. Most unit-commitment models in the literature represent standard technical constraints like startup, shutdown, up/down ramps, and in some cases, supplementary fires. However, they typically overlook other real-life CCGT operating constraints, which were considered in this work. These constraints are crucial in integrated energy systems to avoid equipment damage, which can potentially put CCGT plants out of service and ultimately lead to lower operating costs.

Intensification of the Grain Drying Process with an Ozone-Air Mixture

Background: The use of ozone allows not only to weaken the connection of moisture with the grain, but also, interacting with its internal components, the gas contributes to an increase in the temperature of the heap. Due to this, the grain must be heated for less time before reaching optimal parameters, which reduces the energy intensity of the drying process. At the same time, the separation of moisture from the grain occurs more intensively, since the gas in small concentrations improves the permeability of cell membranes, causes structural transformations of the integumentary tissues and promotes the orientation of water molecules around atomic oxygen. As a result, the drying time is significantly reduced. After treatment, the residual ozone decays to oxygen without polluting the environment. In addition, ozonation promotes deodorization, sanitation, sterilization of grain and equipment. However, the use of ozone-air mixture in grain drying in production is too insignificant due to the small experimental base and lack of practical recommendations. Purpose: Improving the efficiency of modern grain dryers through the use of the ozonation process. Materials and Мethods: The theoretical and methodological basis of the research was the work in the field of grain drying with an ozone-air mixture by leading Russian and foreign scientists, as well as their own research. The sources under study cover the first mentions of the use of ozone in grain drying and the subsequent development of this topic. The review included publications from various databases, among which are: e-library, Scopus, Web of Science, Agris, FIPS and others. Results: Hourly preliminary ozonation of grain with a humidity of 26.3% contributed to a decrease in the moisture content by 1.3% from the initial value. While in the control sample, which was not subjected to preliminary ozone treatment, the moisture content did not change over the same period. Subsequent drying of the exposed grain allowed for an hour of operation to remove 1.6% more moisture than that of the control sample. At the same time, the drying conditions of both batches of grain were identical. This indicates that the ventilation of grain with an ozone-air mixture is more effective than its presence in a buffer silo without processing. Conclusion: Pretreatment of a wet grain heap with an ozone-air mixture before feeding it to the grain dryer intensifies the process of subsequent grain drying. At the initial grain moisture content of 26.3%, hourly ozone treatment with an ozone concentration in an ozone-air mixture of 8 mg/m3 reduces the moisture content by 5.4% per hour of drying. Under the same conditions, in the experiment without processing for the same period, the decrease in grain moisture was 3.8%. Consequently, the proposed method of grain drying increases the efficiency of modern grain dryers.

Techno-economic analysis of solar-powered membrane distillation system with circulated permeate gap

This study investigates a novel integration of a circulated permeate gap membrane distillation (C-PGMD) module with flat plate solar collectors. The investigation is performed through a comprehensive performance study and techno-economic analysis, revealing unique insights and findings. The development of mathematical models enables the anticipation of system production and energy efficiency, capturing the employment of single and multistage C-PGMD modules under diverse design and operational conditions. Additionally, an innovative assessment of different powering modes, including solar-only, electrical-only, and hybrid solar-electrical is performed, which offers a unique perspective on system control and unit production costs. Results showed that circulating the permeate gap has significant effects on the permeate flux and the temperature of the solar tank such that the circulation rate controls the operation of the system. The revelation that increasing solar collector numbers amplifies productivity while reducing costs stands out as a noteworthy breakthrough. Cooling the system using a water source at ambient temperature is much recommended compared to cooling with chilled water. The pinnacle of this research lies in the proposal of a well-designed pilot hybrid-power 30-stage C-PGMD system, showcasing a remarkable achievement in reducing production costs to approximately 0.03 USD/Liter for 24-hour operation, predominantly powered by renewable energy sources. These novel findings redefine the landscape of integrated solar membrane distillation and pave the way for more sustainable and economically viable water desalination solutions.

Experimental Investigation of a Low-Temperature Three-Circuit Cooling System for an Electric Motor under Varying Loads

This study investigates a low-temperature three-circuit cooling system for a 55 kW industrial electric motor. The cooling system provides an increase of the power-to-dimension ratio by 63%, together with an improvement in motor performance. The three-circuit cooling system includes water cooling of the housing and stator and air-cooling of the motor’s interior. The test results show that the motor efficiency was maintained in the range between 92.5 and 94.5%, with respect to the motor’s power. With power increases up to 90 kW, a winding temperature of 67 °C was observed during three hours of operation. This advancement is particularly valuable for vehicles, ships, and aircraft applications, where maximizing power within limited space is crucial. An analysis of the experimental data showed that the cooling system operates at an average efficiency of 79.2%, indicating that roughly 20% of heat was accumulated in the rotor. This leads to a gradual temperature rise, particularly in the rotor, posing a risk of overheating and failure during motor overloads above 90 kW. Enhancing the cooling efficiency within the motor’s interior can be achieved by incorporating extra heat exchangers, implementing evaporative heat transfer, and employing water-cooling circuits at lower temperatures. This, in turn, can boost the electric motor’s power-to-dimension ratio.