Integrated Environmental Control Research Articles

Effects of environmental control and LED supplemental lighting on strawberry growth and yield in a subtropical climate

We investigated the effects of environmental control and daytime LED supplemental lighting on the growth and yield of strawberries in a subtropical climate. Two strawberry cultivars, namely ‘Yotsuboshi’ and ‘Benihoppe’, were grown in three greenhouses from October to May as a forcing culture: (1) conventional greenhouse, with side vents open and no other environmental controls; (2) controlled environment (CE) greenhouse, equipped with an integrated environmental control system to cool air and growing medium using cooling devices controlled by sensor monitoring; and (3) LED greenhouse, equipped with an integrated environmental control system and LED supplemental lighting during the day. The conventional greenhouse had higher air and growing medium temperatures during the growing season than the CE or LED treatment greenhouse. Both cultivars had significantly lower aboveground dry-matter weight (TDM) and yield in the conventional treatment than in the CE or LED treatment. Yield in the CE treatment increased 2.4 and 2.0 times for ‘Yotsuboshi’ and ‘Benihoppe,’ respectively, relative to the conventional treatment. Additionally, yield in the LED treatment increased 3.1 and 2.5 times for ‘Yotsuboshi’ and ‘Benihoppe,’ respectively, relative to the conventional treatment. The marketable fruit ratio was higher in CE and LED treatments than in the conventional treatment for both cultivars. The number of fruits for both cultivars was significantly greater under the LED treatment than the conventional treatment. Clearly, daytime LED supplemental lighting further improved TDM and yield during the winter season, when cloudy weather and low solar radiation were persistent. However, during the spring season, when external solar radiation exceeded 20 MJ m−2 day−1, the enhancing effects of LED supplemental lighting on yield were limited. Supplemental lighting methods based on the amount of solar radiation available are necessary to allow maximum, high-quality strawberry fruit production in subtropical regions.

Design and analysis of integrated environmental control system for Plateau cold chain transport vehicles

Plateaus, one of the most important terrain types in China, contain high-quality agricultural and livestock resources. However, due to their natural conditions, they host major deficiencies in cold chain logistics. Existing studies have focused on improving the temperature regulation capabilities of cold chain vehicle refrigeration or air conditioning systems, but have neglected the unique low-pressure environment faced by the Plateau cold chain transport vehicles. Using zoning design, air and vapor cycle refrigeration technologies, this study proposed a bootstrap-type integrated environmental control system (BIECS) and simple-type integrated environmental control system (SIECS) to realize vehicle “micro-environmental control.” The analytical solution of the thermal characteristics of the system was obtained based on the scaling-endoreversible thermodynamic analysis model. Moreover, the influence of ambient humidity on the thermal performance of the system was evaluated based on the enthalpy method. According to the typical working conditions, the system performances using different refrigerants, R404A, R448A, and R452A, were analyzed at different trailer temperatures, cooling capacities, and altitudes. Our results showed that, under the same design requirements, the coefficient of performance (COP) of the BIECS was slightly higher than that of the SIECS. Higher the trailer temperature and cooling capacity, higher is the COP of the system. Comparing the three refrigerants under the same working conditions, compared with R404A, the COP of the BIECS and SIECS increased by 13.4% and 10.9%, respectively, using R484A, and increased by 6.1% and 5.0%, respectively, using R452A. The performance of the systems that used R448A was the best. The system could ensure a 2.4-km cab pressure altitude at an ambient altitude of 5 km, but the COP could decrease by 31.8–35.6%, compared to that on the plains. This study provides and comprehensively evaluates a new technical solution for the environmental control of Plateau cold chain transportation vehicles. It also provides comprehensive health protection measures for drivers and technical support for the promotion and development of Plateau cold chains.

Modular statistical system for an integrated environmental control

In this paper series, we will examine the relation between the smart grid and the next generation of buildings. The new objective is now to design buildings so that the energy exchange takes place in time suitable for both sides. The building takes energy from the grid and give it back at different time because in the next generation of buildings they are equipped in advanced control system that controls energy storage for several hours and the new or retrofitted building can eliminate energy peaks and valleys for itself and assist the smart grid in equalization of the load. The control systems include monitoring and modeling of energy use and indoor environment to arrive to a weather-based prediction, Therefore, in part 1 of the paper series we address collecting, processing and analysis of the measurement data that can be done by the new modular statistical software alone or in conjunction with a dedicated neural network. We want to minimize energy use and maximize the thermal comfort of the occupants. Using the modular structure of the database, data transformation technologies and other existing tools, the modular statistical software (MSS) has been created to process large amounts of data as input to the decision-making algorithm. This is to enable buildings automated control (BAC) to take over the control of heating/cooling, ventilation, illumination and other performance aspects that relate to sustainability of built environment.

USO DA REPRESENTAÇÃO SOCIAL PARA AVALIAR A APRENDIZAGEM DOS ESTUDANTES NO ENSINO DE QUÍMICA

As representações sociais informam as concepções que os indivíduos possuem a respeito de um tema,permitindo interpretar e discutir a influência do meio sobre o pensamento do coletivo e, assim, seremutilizadas como instrumento avaliativo da aprendizagem e levantamento dos conhecimentos prévios doseducandos sobre determinada temática a ser abordada. Nessa perspectiva, a pesquisa objetivou avaliara representação social dos estudantes do 2º ano do Curso Técnico de Controle Ambiental Integrado aoEnsino Médio do IFPB, Campus João Pessoa, no ensino de Química, por meio da técnica de evocaçãolivre de palavras, a qual permitiu orientar e avaliar a contextualização da Química com a temáticaqualidade de água, bem como identificar que, nos resultados obtidos das palavras evocadas após aaplicação da metodologia houve uma aprendizagem significativa e a correlação mais efetiva dosconteúdos químicos com o cognitivo dos estudantes.

The Establishment of Dynamic and Integrated Environmental Risk Control System for Residential Projects

The paper divides environmental risk control modes of residential projects into four types: static and non-integrated mode, static and integrated mode, dynamic and non-integrated mode, and dynamic and integrated mode. The paper elicits that the dynamic and integrated environmental risk control mode for residential projects is better than other three kinds of modes by comparing four kinds of dissimilarity modes of environmental risk control system. The Dynamic and Integrated Environmental Risk Control System (DIERCS) for residential projects is established.

Developing a national research and development centre in assistive technologies for independent living

Assistive technology (AT) plays a pivotal role in the lives of people who require assistance with one or more aspects of daily living. Ranging from simple devices such as an augmented fork to complex devices like a power wheelchair with integrated environmental control, AT is a broad term to describe a range of products and services that provide assistance. Historically used in the "disability sector", in recent years AT devices have merged into the ageing sector as more Australians develop an impairment through "age-related disability", creating a larger market for equipment that provides independence or restores lost/reduced functionality. Despite the national focus on ageing, Australia lacks a nationally coordinated and cohesive AT sector - most AT equipment and devices are imported and the sector struggles for local research, development, and commercialisation funding. In an attempt to address this issue, a network of rehabilitation engineering and AT centres, universities, and industry players formed a collaboration to submit a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) proposal to drive Australian AT products and services. The main focus was on developing Australian capacity within the sector and creating innovative products that met Australian needs, leading to import replacement. A secondary focus was on providing a national education program to provide ongoing AT training and development across multiple disciplines associated with both disability and ageing.

Integrated Environmental Control Modeling of Coal-Fired Power Systems

The capability to estimate the performance and costs of advanced environmental control systems for coal-fired power plants is critical to a variety of planning and analysis requirements faced by utilities, regulators, researchers, and analysts in the public and private sectors. This paper describes a computer model developed for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to provide an up-to-date capability for analyzing a variety of pre-combustion, combustion, and post-combustion options in an integrated framework. A unique feature of the model allows performance and costs of integrated environmental control concepts to be modeled probabilistically as a means of characterizing uncertainties and risks. Examples are presented of model applications, comparing conventional and advanced emission control designs. The magnitude of technological risks associated with advanced technologies now under development are seen to vary markedly across applications. In general, however, integrated environmental control concepts show significant potential for more cost-effective methods of emissions control.

Older adults' responses to an automated integrated environmental control device: the case of the Remote Gateway

Older adults' responses to an automated integrated environmental control device: the case of the Remote Gateway

Costs of integrated environmental control

Costs of integrated environmental control

Integration of coal utilization and environmental control in integrated gasification combined cycle systems

Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) systems are a new generation of coal-fueled power generation technologies which embody the concept of integrated environmental control. IGCC systems are capable of significantly lower discharge rates of gaseous, liquid, and solid wastes relative to conventional coal-based systems. However, because few IGCC concepts have been demonstrated at a commercial scale, there is significant uncertainty regarding the technical and environmental performance of many of these systems in full-scale applications. Examples of IGCC system concepts involving both cold and hot gas cleanup are evaluated probabilistically to provide insights into the resulting differences in plant performance, emissions, and cost. For the specific technologies evaluated here, hot gas cleanup offers the potential for higher efficiency and lower cost than cold gas cleanup, but additional considerations may be required to reduce NO, emissions.

COST-EFFECTIVE EMISSION CONTROLS FOR COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS

Integrated environmental control (IEC) concepts involving combined SO2/NOx. removal processes in combination with pre-combustion and combustion control methods offer significant potential for more cost-effective emissions control for coal-fired power plants. IEC system designs involving three advanced flue gas treatment processes in conjunction with conventional and advanced coal cleaning technologies to achieve overall reductions of 90 percent for both SO2 and NOx are compared to a conventional pulverized coal plant design using currently available technology. A new computer modeling framework is used to characterize key uncertainties, and to evaluate overall performance and cost probabilistically using Monte Carlo methods. Results indicate that several IEC systems currently under development offer a good chance of reducing environmental control costs by 20 to 30 percent, although improvements in currently commercial technology are likely to offset some of the gains expected from advanced process designs...

Integrated Environmental Control

This paper provides an overview of integrated environmental control research and development efforts at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). EPRI studies show that as much as a 50 percent reduction in total environmental control system costs for coal-fired power plants may be achievable by utilities using systematically integrated environmental control design methods. The bulk of these savings can be achieved through consolidation of several functions into one device. The remainder can come from improved plant heat rates, resulting in less fuel consumption and, thus, less flue gas to process and less emissions to control, and from eliminating unnecessary redundant control systems.