Large Volume Users Research Articles

Energy-Saving Effects of Progressive Pricing and Free CFL Bulb Distribution Program: Evidence from Ethiopia

Abstract In Africa, about 70 percent of the total population still lives without electricity. Significant resources are needed to meet the gap. Demand-side management is crucial to curb the increasing demand even in developing countries. A traditional approach is to raise prices, but promoting energy-efficient products such as compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs is also a win-win proposition. While end-users can reduce their spending, power utilities can avoid costly investments in new generation capacity. This paper estimates the effects of progressive pricing as well as CFL distribution program in Ethiopia. It is found that the increasing block tariff structure reduced the demand: the price elasticity is estimated at 0.29. This is particularly useful to influence large-volume users, who are presumably the rich. The CFL program is also found effective to contain the electricity demand. The estimated impact is about 45 kWh per customer. This is significant energy savings particularly for low-volume users.

The operational cost minimization in distributed clouds via community-aware user data placements of social networks

With the increasing popularity of Online Social Networking (OSN) and public cloud platforms, cloud service providers such as Facebook and Google desperately need efficient placements of large-volume user data of social networks into their distributed clouds to enable the placed user data to be not only easily accessed and updated but also highly available, reliable and scalable, in order to minimize their operational costs of accommodating various social networks. In this paper, we investigate the problem of user data placements of social networks into a distributed cloud with the aim to minimize the operational cost of a cloud service provider, where the distributed cloud consists of multiple datacenters located at different geographical regions and interconnected by Internet links. We first devise a fast yet scalable algorithm for the user data placement problem. The key ingredient of this algorithm is the use of the community concept, by grouping users of a social network into different communities and placing the master replicas of user data of the users in the same community to a datacenter, and replicating their slave replicas of the user data into nearby datacenters. We then deal with the dynamic maintenance of the placed user data in an evolving social network, where new users can join in the network and existing users can leave from the network at any time, or existing users can change their read and update rates over time. We finally conduct extensive experiments to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed algorithms through simulations, using three real social network datasets: Facebook, Twitter and WikiVote. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms significantly outperform state-of-the-arts in terms of the operational cost, yet run much faster.

D-Pro: Dynamic Data Center Operations With Demand-Responsive Electricity Prices in Smart Grid

The study of today's cyber-physical system (CPS) has been an important research area. Internet data centers (IDCs) are energy consuming CPSs that support the reliable operations of many important online services. Along with the increasing Internet services and cloud computing in recent years, the power usage associated with IDC operations had been surging significantly. Such mass power consumption has brought extremely heavy burden on IDC operators. While most previous work only consider about dynamical optimization of IDC under electricity markets, the reaction of IDC toward electricity market has been overlooked. Due to the fact that IDCs are usually large-volume users in the electricity market, they might have market power to affect the electricity price. In this paper, we study how to address the challenge of interactions between IDC operation and electricity market price. To this end, we propose a supply function to model the market power of IDC and formulate a total electricity cost minimization problem as a non-linear programming. Then we present CMC algorithm inspired by the economics concept. CMC algorithm not only solves the optimization problem efficiently, but also uncovers the impetus of the work load distribution. Extensive performance evaluations demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively minimize the total electricity cost of IDCs by adaptively handling the interaction between IDCs and smart grid.

Detection of Triazole Deicing Additives in Soil Samples from Airports with Low, Mid, and Large Volume Aircraft Deicing Activities

Soil samples from three USA airports representing low, mid, and large volume users of aircraft deicing fluids (ADAFs) were analyzed by LC/MS/MS for the presence of triazoles, a class of corrosion inhibitors historically used in ADAFs. Triazoles, specifically the 4-methyl-1H-benzotriazole and the 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole, were detected in a majority of samples and ranged from 2.35 to 424.19 microg/kg. Previous studies have focused primarily on ground and surface water impacts of larger volume ADAF users. The detection of triazoles in soils at low volume ADAF use airports suggests that deicing activities may have a broader environmental impact than previously considered.

High performance AAA architecture for massive IPv4 networks

Even though the total volume of paid data through networks has increased rapidly, most telecommunication and network service providers are still struggling with the continuously decreasing voice revenue and the overheating competition as regards broadband services. Moreover, new technologies, such as VoIP, HomeNet and Bluetooth telephones, are still having trouble generating profit. Obviously these obstacles have dogged the transition to the next generation of business. To maintain the existing customer base and to survive under tight competition, network service providers are being forced to improve their service quality and to create new value added services without additional mass investment or replacing existing infrastructure. In the light of these factors, it is necessary to have a set of different prices for differentiated service levels, instead of the current flat pricing and network access-only service. The preliminary factors for transforming the current system to an upgraded and flexible one are identifying and personalizing subscribers. As a result, the current Authentication, Authorization, Accounting (AAA) infrastructure must be changed to meet those requirements. However there are two main technical limits. First, the limit of large volume user information processing capability. Second, the low rate of progress in the field of applications especially in countries such as the United States and Korea. To deal with these limits, we will first present neo-functional AAA architecture for massive and distributed network environments and describe successful cases of nationwide deployment in Korea.

Overview to water recycling in California: success stories

Provides a summary of recycled water use in California, illustrating the evolution of its application from individual projects for nearby users, to city‐wide and district programs. Presents three detailed case studies of recent water recycling projects: the West Basin Water Recycling project in Los Angeles County, the South Bay Water Recycling project in Santa Clara County, and several projects in Marin County. Barriers to recycled water projects include the cost, institutional barriers that separate water supply and wastewater functions, slow regulatory response in permitting, recognizing new technology and expended uses, and educating stakeholders. From the case studies, common elements to successful implementation demonstrate the importance of working with numerous stakeholders throughout the process and addressing their concerns, creating new institutional partnerships, educating stakeholders to bring actors together, market services, and engender support, acquiring financial assistance and providing incentives and, finally, relying on large volume users to support a more cost‐effective design.

Making water competition a reality

Following a decade since privatisation during which attempts at introducing competition for water services have been slow and somewhat ineffective, the government is now carrying out a review. Large-volume users have a thirst for water competition brought about by competition in other utilities. The economic regulator needs to allow a new contestable market for industrial water services to develop whilst major structural and legislative changes to facilitate competition are contemplated.

Composting of pulp and paper mill fly ash with wastewater treatment sludge

Wastewater treatment sludge and power boiler fly ash were combined and composted in mixed and static windrows 50 m long, 4 m high and 6 m wide. Moisture content was maintained above 50%. The final compost had a pH of 8.5, contained high concentrations of specific nutrients, and an average C:N ratio of 43:1. All metal, PCB, chlorophenol and PAH concentrations were below levels stipulated by local regulations. Over the first 8 weeks of the composting period dioxin concentration decreased by 45% to 41 pg/g TEQ. Leachate tests indicated minimal (<0.1 mg/l Cu and Pb; <50 mg/l Na, P, and SO 4 −2) leaching of contaminants from the composted material. Application of compost (8 cubic yards/acre) at a sod farm improved soil characteristics as measured by a number of parameters. The dioxin concentration in the final soil/compost mixture was 3 pg/g TEQ, allowing the soil/compost mixture to be classified as agricultural soil. It was concluded that composting produced an acceptable soil conditioner attractive for large volume users of inexpensive soil material (sod farms, golf courses, land reclamation sites).

Uncooled pyroelectric infrared 128 x 128 imaging sensor

P(VF2-TrFE) pyroelectric copolymer is chosen for its high level of compatibility with existing microelectronics processes, and convenient electrical properties for infrared (IR) 8 to 14 μm imagery in the performance range of NETD 0.1 K to 1 K. Low cost sensors are achieved thanks to the monolithic silicon wafer processing, standard package assembly, and uncooled operations, and are nowadays compatible with large volume user's needs and market prices. The paper describes pyroelectric device trade-offs, architecture and process. Based on the interline architecture, the sensor performances of the TH 7441A 128 x 128 area array infrared detector will be presented: compatible with 1 optics, the square array is made of a 80 x 80 μm 2 pixel, on a pixel pitch of 85 μm. The CCD multiplexer using patented on-site processing is designed to deliver the image information at the maximum rate of 50 image/s. Lower rates are achievable. Imaging performances are the following: a NETD of 1.6 K is achieved with an integration time of 10 ms and the use of a f/l optics presenting a transmission of 0.8.

Without Public Peer: The Potential Regulatory and Universal Service Consequences of Internet Balkanization

Since its inception the Internet has generated positive networking externalities, widespread access and seamless connectivity through a combination of TCP/IP routing technologies and widespread interoperability. During this promotional period, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) appeared to have a keen interest in collaboration seemingly without concern for profit maximization and without regard for operator size, traffic volume and flow of traffic. ISPs coordinated traffic primarily at quasi-public access points and exchanges, in much the same was as two local exchange carriers receive and hand off traffic at Meet Points to secure wide area call access. Growing service demand, congestion at quasi-public interconnection sites and commercialization of the industry have motivated major ISPs and large volume users to pursue more reliable, quasi-private interconnection. Private peering arrangements promote security, reliability and higher service quality. They add robustness and new, faster and higher capacity routing options. But on the other hand private peering arrangements help create a hierarchy of networks and users while previously generated positive networking externalities arose from a flat, democratic, 'sender keep all network of networks.' This paper will examine the evolution of ISP interconnection arrangements with an eye toward determining the consequences resulting from the migration from sender-keep-all, zero cost interconnection arrangements to commercially driven ones modeled closely after conventional telecommunication carrier-to-carrier interconnection agreements. While private peering will enhance quality of service and reliability, it may trigger the same sort of parity and cost of access concerns raised by competitive local exchange carriers and other market entrants. The paper concludes that Internet interconnection and cost of access have begun to raise the same sort of questions raised by local and interexchange carrier interconnection.

Liquid helium servicing from the space station

The current concept of liquid helium resupply from the space station is discussed with regard to user and space station requirements, as well as requirements of the liquid helium servicing facility itself. A number of trade-offs which will affect both the hardware and the operation of the facility are presented. A total of 12 potential users have been identified. The users are divided into two groups: large volume users which are serviced every one to two years and small volume users which are serviced every few months. Both groups have a very strong impact on the definition of the liquid helium servicing facility. The facility components will be based on results of the Superfluid Helium On Orbit Transfer flight demonstration being conducted by NASA. Currently, the space station design includes a customer servicing bay which provides electrical power, thermal and contamination control, and connections for control and data handling systems. Restrictions on venting and vibrational disturbances on the space station may preclude servicing during quiescent periods when accelerations are minimal.

Drinking water: A geochemical factor in human health

Water that is drunk primarily to slake thirst may also supply major, and especially minor or trace elements, nutritionally essential to good health and longevity. Of the 14 trace elements known to be essential for human beings (Schwarz, 1974), apparently some are significantly more readily assimilated from water than from food. Modern, municipal water-treatment plants condition water more for the sake of the steam boiler, laundry, and industry (the large volume users) than for the stomach. This paper considers water for drinking purposes from the perspective of health benefits. Means are explored by which healthful drinking water may be formulated. The use of glacial milk, essentially an aqueous extract (solution and suspension) of rocks, by the natives of Hunza, West Pakistan, has been cited as a major factor contributing to purported excellent health and unusual longevity of those peoples. A suspension of rock flour can supply not only immediately assimilable substances in solution, but also continuous, delayed-action, mineral-nutrient reserves after ingestion. Cooperative effort between geologists knowledgeable about water and nutritionists knowing the needs for optimum human health should upgrade the role of drinking water in human health and longevity.

Modification of column chromatography in T 4 analysis

Three types of resin columns for determining serum thyroxine (T 4 ) were evaluated in this study. There were two types of commercial columns and the third type was a column prepared in our laboratory. The three types of columns produced significantly different results when compared after the initial use and when compared after regeneration and subsequent usages. In general, the laboratory columns were equal or superior to those obtained commercially. For large volume users, the preparation of one's own columns and their regeneration and reuse can represent a worthwhile economy.