Low Cost Operation Research Articles

Collection and delivery points in the last mile of cargo transportation: Sustainability benefits and challenges

The present work aims to analyze sustainability aspects related to the use of lockers, collection points, and other forms of fixed points, by transporters and consumers, in the last mile of cargo transportation, as an alternative to home delivery. For this purpose, a literature review was performed. Three distinct platforms were researched using strings in three different languages, Portuguese, English, and Spanish. From these databases, 31 articles were selected, all of them according to the subject studied. The papers highlighted the advantages of this type of delivery, embracing not only the environmental gains but also the economic and social ones, such as the reduction of traffic congestion and an overall lower operational cost. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric pollutants are shown in 23 papers; lower operating costs for transporters in 26 papers, while 23 articles address congestion reduction. The biggest challenge identified is the distance traveled by clients/pedestrians, cited 21 times.

Patented Technology Innovation Portfolio in Producing Biofuel Using the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) Methodology

AbstractEthanol is produced from biomass through pyrolysis, a technology creating business prospects for biofuels. The power may be utilized in turbines, engines, boilers, manufacturing, and energy production. Two of the numerous benefits of pyrolysis technology are low operational costs and simple liquid fuel storage and transportation. The theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) approach of systematic innovation is compatible with patent database analysis to produce innovations used for this study. The development of biofuel pyrolysis technology can benefit from the systematic innovation provided by the TRIZ framework. Patent portfolio analysis can profit from TRIZ's unique perspective due to its utilization of three essential indicators. The first metric examines the evolution of patented technology over the previous two decades and offers recommendations for advancing the sector. Patent‐protected scientific research and technology applications give essential insight into and foresight of future technological breakthroughs in various industries.

A multispectral transmission image cluster analysis method based on “Terrace compression Method” and window function

Multispectral transmission imaging has a great potential for the early screening of breast cancer due to the low cost, safety and ease in operation. Accurate detection of heterogeneity is important for the diagnosis of breast disease. The low contrast and unclear heterogeneity boundaries of transmission images can lead to difficulties in recognition and segmentation. Therefore, we propose a clustering segmentation method of multispectral transmission images based on “terrace compression method” and window transformation. The images are preprocessed by the frame accumulation to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. After that, the “terrace compression method” is used to compress the images nonlinearly, to reduce data redundancy and then to improve the edge information of heterogeneities. Afterwards, the window function is used to eliminate the redundant information of the background and to reduce the influence of background noise on clustering. Finally, the processed images at each wavelength are transformed into multidimensional data for cluster analysis. The multispectral transmission images of breast phantom are acquired for experimental validation. Then, compared the method with common clustering segmentation methods (including K-means, K-means++, Mean-shift, Gaussian Mixture). The results showed that this processing method can effectively segment and classify the three heterogeneities in the breast phantom. Among these methods, the method proposed in the paper has the best segmentation and classification results for the three types of heterogeneities in the breast phantom. The Dice coefficients of all the heterogeneities segmentation reached more than 0.84 and increased by a maximum of 1.08 times as compared to the common clustering methods. The applications of the terrace compression method and the grayscale window transformation improved the effect of image clustering segmentation.

Leveraging on low-cost devices for wireless data acquisition in remote pipeline networks

Pipeline infrastructures are the most used means of transporting oil and gas from extraction point to production and sales point. These pipelines are exposed to various attacks either by natural occurrences, indiscriminate human activities around pipelines or direct criminal sabotage, and therefore require constant monitoring. The use of low-cost wireless devices for pipeline data acquisition as it applies to remote and difficult terrain is presented. Different methods and models have been suggested in literature with several existing systems such as SCADA, DCS, and satellite spectral imaging currently in use for pipeline operations. Among the challenges here is the need for lower operational costs, even at reduced response time demand. The Wireless Data Acquisition System (WDAS) presented simulates a pipeline system in a testbed in which a petroleum product is caused to flow and its parameters read, processed as data and wirelessly transmitted, through a wireless sensor network, to a remote device for monitoring. Results indicate a very short response time of about 3.0sec in the simulation at a percentage accuracy of 0.07% over 1km. It also shows that low-cost wireless sensor networking can provide a cost-effective means for pipeline infrastructure management and should be explored.

Adsorption of Carbon Dioxide and Methane on Cobalt Gallate-Based Metal-Organic Framework (Co-Gallate): Equilibrium Isotherm, Thermodynamic and Kinetic Studies

Biogas is mainly consisted of methane and carbon dioxide in the presence of other contaminants. The biogas purification by adsorption using metal-organic frameworks is getting attention due to the low-cost operation and high-efficiency process. Co-gallate was predicted to give a promising performance in CO2 and CH4 adsorption. However, the behaviours of CO2 and CH4 adsorption on Co-gallate are not well-explained. Therefore, this work is to synthesize Co-gallate and its performance was discussed in terms of adsorbed amount of CO2 and CH4. The experimental CO2 and CH4 pure adsorption isotherms were then fitted with equilibrium isotherm and kinetic models to describe the adsorption behaviours. Co-gallate offered a greater CO2 adsorption capacity than CH4 due to a stronger adsorbent-adsorbate interaction. The experimental pure adsorption isotherms were best fitted with Toth model compared to Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips models according to the values. Toth model described the CO2 adsorption was multilayer and heterogeneous. Thermodynamic property suggested the CO2 and CH4 adsorption were classified as exothermic process and physisorption. For kinetic models, pseudo-first order model brought the highest goodness-of-fit in terms of rate of adsorption compared to pseudo-second order and Elovich models. Pseudo-first order model reflects the adsorption rate is proportional to the number of vacant sites. It confirmed CO2 adsorption was more favourable than CH4, at lower temperature condition. In this work, the equilibrium isotherm and kinetic models were employed to select the best-fitted model in explaining the adsorption behaviours. Therefore, these behaviours of CO2 and CH4 adsorption on Co-gallate are useful in designing the future practical operation of CO2/CH4 gas adsorption.

Flexibility index for a distributed energy system design optimization

Flexibility plays a critical role in the design of distributed energy systems (DESs) as it encompasses various aspects related to demand, storage, and supply. To optimize the capacity configuration of DESs effectively, a novel flexibility index (FI) is proposed in this study. The FI is constructed based on the fuzzy best-worst method with considerations for economy, autonomy, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness, aligning with the characteristics of the DES. Considering FI, particle swarm optimization is employed to determine the optimal design scheme for the DES. A case study involving a swimming pool in Changsha City is conducted to demonstrate the reliability of the proposed optimization scheme. Furthermore, a multi-objective optimization model based on non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II and technique of ordering preferences for ideal solution similarity algorithms is developed with different objective functions. The results show that the system optimized considering flexibility maintains better performance, with system flexibility, renewable energy penetration, and off-grid degree indices of 0.824, 0.780, and 0.757 respectively. In addition, the optimization of system configuration considering flexibility can dynamically respond to diverse energy demands, maintaining lower operation and maintenance costs ($11223.75 per year), and lower CO2 emissions (91800kgCO2 per year). The quantified FI presented in this study provides a user-friendly and reliable optimization index for the design of DESs.

Terminal-based zonal bus: A novel flexible transit system design and implementation

The pursuit of individual mobilities expedites the development of demand-responsive systems, while the balance between service flexibilities and operational cost is becoming particularly important. This paper proposes a method for operating a novel demand-responsive bus system termed terminal-based zonal bus (TZB). It is a flexible system with vehicles executing a terminal-based zone routing scheme in specified service zones. The terminal-based routing scheme intends to generate TZB lines, and each line is operated by one vehicle that travels along a series of terminal stations arranged in order and serves enroute passenger requests between any two consecutive terminal stations. As instant response is the main trait of demand-responsive systems, TZB is able to address instance response by incorporating reserve capacity, which is employed to indicate the vehicle responsive ability of new real-time requests. Further, a tailored heuristic algorithm is designed to solve the proposed model, which simultaneously incorporates several practical restrictions, including the capability of adopting real-time requests, terminal stations’ fleet-size constraints, time window constraints, and vehicle capacity. Computational experiments are conducted based upon the newly developed modern city Xiong An, China which confirm that the proposed method is capable of obtaining high-quality solutions efficiently, and TZB can provide flexible service at a relatively low operational cost.

Enhancing electrode lifespan in an ammonia removal system: Investigating the potential of polarization reversal and examining long-term scaling mechanisms

This study investigates the potential of polarization reversal for extending the lifespan of electrodes in an auto remote-controlled ammonia removal system and provides insights into the scaling mechanisms that occur after prolonged operation. The results demonstrate that automatic polarization reversal does not influence the average removal rate of ammonia nitrogen but effectively reduces scaling, leading to an extended electrode replacement cycle, improved system stability, and lower operational costs. However, cathode scaling still occurs over time. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy were employed to analyze the scaling mechanism, revealing that the scaling material primarily consists of dolomite crystals, Mg(OH)2, and CaCO3. The formation mechanism is attributed to the disruption of the acid-base balance on the electrode surface during long-term automated polarization reversal, resulting in the detachment of the cathode coating and the nucleation and crystallization of scales in cathode cracks and recesses. Optimization of the polarization reversal program and re-coating of the electrode can enhance electrode passivation during prolonged operation, thereby potentially reducing the need for frequent electrode replacement and lowering associated costs in similar systems. This study provides valuable insights into the long-term operation of ion exchange-electrochemical oxidation systems for ammonia removal.

Internet of Things-based sustainable environment management for large indoor facilities.

Due to global warming and climate change, the poultry industry is heavily impacted, especially the broiler industry, due to the sensitive immune system of broiler chickens. However, the continuous monitoring and controlling of the farm's environmental parameters can help to curtail the negative impacts of the environment on chickens' health, leading to increased meat production. This article presents smart solutions to such issues, which are practically implemented, and have low production and operational costs. In this article, an Internet of Things (IoT) based environmental parameters monitoring has been demonstrated for the poultry farmhouse. This system enables the collection and visualization of crucially sensed data automatically and reliably, and at a low cost to efficiently manage and operate a poultry farm. The proposed IoT-based remote monitoring system collects and visualizes environmental parameters, such as air temperature, relative humidity (RH), oxygen level (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ammonia (NH3) gas concentrations. The wireless sensor nodes have been designed and deployed for efficient data collection of the essential environmental parameters that are key for monitoring and decision-making process. The hardware is implemented and deployed successfully at a site within the control shed of the poultry farmhouse. The results revealed important findings related to the environmental conditions within the poultry farm. The temperature inside the control sheds remained within the desired range throughout the monitoring period, with daily average values ranging from 32 °C to 34 °C. The RH showed slight variations monitoring period, ranging from 65% to 75%, with a daily average of 70%. The O2 concentration exhibited an average value of 17% to 18.5% throughout the monitoring period. The CO2 levels showed occasional increases, reaching a maximum value of 1,100 ppm. However, this value was below the maximum permissible level of 2,500 ppm, indicating that the ventilation system was effective in maintaining acceptable CO2 levels within the control sheds. The NH3 gas concentration remained consistently low throughout the duration, with an average value of 50 parts per million (ppm).

An Acute Fixation Protocol for High-Energy Tibial Pilon Fractures Decreases Time to Fixation and Lowers Operative Costs Without Affecting Wound Complications and Reoperations.

To determine if an acute fixation protocol for high-energy tibial pilon fractures increases the rate of wound complications. Retrospective comparative study. Urban level 1 trauma centerPatients/Participants: 147 patients with OTA/AO 43B and 43C high-energy tibial pilon fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Acute (<48 hours) versus delayed ORIF protocols. Wound complications, reoperations, time to fixation, operative costs, hospital length of stay (LOS). Patients were compared by protocol, regardless of ORIF timing, for an intention-to-treat analysis. 35 and 112 high-energy pilon fractures were treated under the acute and delayed ORIF protocols, respectively. In the acute ORIF protocol group, 82.9% of patients received acute ORIF versus 15.2% of patients in the standard delayed protocol group. The two groups had no observed difference in the rate of wound complications (observed difference (OD) -5.7%, confidence interval (CI) -16.1 to 7.8%; p=0.56) or reoperations (OD -3.9%, CI -14.1 to 9.4%; p=0.76). The acute ORIF protocol group had a shorter LOS (OD -2.0, CI -4.0 to 0.0; p=0.02) and lower operative costs (OD $-2,709.27, CI -3,582.02 to -1601.16; p<0.01). On multivariate analysis, wound complications were associated with open fractures (odds ratio (OR) 3.36, CI 1.06 to 10.69; p=0.04) and an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score >2 (OR 3.68, CI 1.07 to 12.67; p=0.04). This study suggests that an acute fixation protocol for high-energy pilon fractures decreases time to definitive fixation, lowers operative costs, and shortens hospital LOS without affecting wound complications or reoperations. Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Efficient integration of electrocoagulation treatment with the spray-pyrolyzed activated carbon coating on stainless steel electrodes for textile effluent-bath reuse with ease.

In this study, the electrocoagulation (EC) treatment was used to minimize and separate pollutants from textile industrial wastewater (TIWW), including high colour, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), and total dissolved solids (TDS). To enhance the EC treatment efficiency, a novel strategy has been followed in the study that involves thin-film coating on 316 stainless steel (SS) electrodes with banana peel-derived activated carbon (BPAC) by dip coating, spin coating, or spray coating. Among the different types of coating, thickness and contact angle measurements have elucidated that the spray coating of BPAC on SS electrode is the best tool with minimum thickness and contact angle. In this study, a bare SS electrode was used as the anode and a thin-film spray-coated BPAC on the SS electrode was used as the cathode. Moreover, optimization plays a key role in EC treatment process, where operating conditions such as a current density of 10 mA/cm2 , contact time of 15 min, and a pH of 7 were fixed. As a result, the findings indicate comparatively high colour removal of 98%, COD removal of 91%, TOC removal of 89.6%, and TDS removal of 68 % are achieved with ease. Accordingly, in comparison to plain SS electrodes or dip or spin-coated BPAC on SS electrodes, spray-coated BPAC on SS electrodes in EC treatment outperforms in removing high colour, TOC, COD, and TDS. Overall, the study highlights the potential of EC treatment integrated with adsorption procedures for TIWW treatment. Particularly, the use of thin-film spray-coated BPAC on SS electrodes in the EC treatment process led to an effective and sustainable tool for treating and reuse of TIWW. It is due to its low operation and maintenance cost and studied in a short interval of time. Finally, the ultimate goal was firmly achieved in pilot scale studies by the safe discharge into the environment or reuse of treated textile wastewater. Thus, it is a promising alternative with an environmentally friendly footprint that could be easily implemented in any textile industry premises.

Reusable red emission carbon dots based smartphone sensing platform for three-mode on-site real-time detection of alcohol content

A three-mode fluorescence sensing platform using reusable red emission carbon dots (R-CDs) as a fluorescent sensor was developed for rapid and highly sensitive detection of alcohol content in alcoholic beverages. The R-CDs prepared using ionic liquids as precursors exhibited excellent dispersion and red fluorescence characteristics in ethanol. Moreover, the fluorescence could be quenched due to their aggregation in water. Based on the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) mechanism, a new fluorescence assay for the detection of alcohol content was established with a limit of detection as low as 0.12 %. This sensing platform possessed the advantages of low cost, portability, and simplicity of operation, and laid a further foundation for the on-site detection application of R-CDs in the field of sensing.

Application of real-time PCR-based multicolor melting curve with automatic analysis system in pregestational and prenatal thalassemia diagnoses.

To evaluate the value of the real-time PCR-based multicolor melting curve analysis (MMCA) with an automatic analysis system used in a mass thalassemia screening and prenatal diagnosis program. A total of 18,912 peripheral blood samples from 9456 couples and 1150 prenatal samples were detected by MMCA assay. All prenatal samples were also tested by a conventional method. Samples with unknown melting peaks, unusual peak height ratios between a wild allele and a mutant allele, or a discordant phenotype-genotype match were further studied by using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) or Sanger sequencing. All MMCA results were automatically analyzed and manually checked. The consistency between MMCA assay and conventional methods among prenatal samples was investigated. Except for initiation codon (T>G) (HBB:c.2T>G), all genotypes of thalassemia inside the scope of conventional methods were detected by MMCA assay. Additionally, 27 carriers with 10 rare HBB variants, 13 with α fusion gene, 1 with a rare deletion in α globin gene, and 1 with rare HBA variant were detected by using MMCA assay. MMCA can be an alternative approach used in routine thalassemia carrier screening and prenatal diagnosis for its high throughput, sufficient stability, low cost, and easy operation.

Experimental optimization of the heating element for a direct-coupled solar photovoltaic water heater

In the last few years, the price of photovoltaic (PV) modules has decreased significantly. As a result, solar PV has become an interesting option for water heating. In a direct-coupled PV water heater (DPVWH) system, the PV array is directly connected to the heating element. Therefore, the optimization of the heating element resistance value is an essential step to design a DPVWH system. This research aims to optimize the resistance value of the heating element for different climatic conditions (Montreal and Bagotville in Canada, and Fez in Morocco). Simulation models were developed using MATLAB/Simulink and TRNSYS software to evaluate the performance of a PV system directly connected with the heating element over a one-year period. This simulation model was validated with an experimental setup. The coefficient of determination (R2) ranges from 98.75% to 99.89%. The results of the experimental optimization indicate that in areas with high incident solar irradiation, the optimal resistance value is low, while the opposite is true for areas with lower solar irradiation. Furthermore, it is found that a direct-coupled PV water heater with a capacity of 3000 Wp achieves an average annual solar fraction of 41% in Montreal, and 73% in Fez. Additionally, the simulation results show that the use of an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) controller could increase the PV energy production by 29% in average. However, a direct-coupled PV solar water heater system is recommended for a remote and cold region, due to its robustness, its low operating cost, and its simplicity.

Dendrite-free lithium anode enabled by lithium atom preferred orientation on Al[sbnd]Li alloy

Li-rich composite alloys have received increasing attention as a method of inhibiting lithium dendrites. The Al-Li alloy has earned favor as a viable option to stabilize Li metal anodes due to its low cost, low flammability, natural abundance, and ease of operation. However, the mechanism responsible for the inhibition of lithium dendrites in the Al-Li alloy has yet to be thoroughly researched. Through Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, we analyzed the adsorption energies of Li atoms on various lattice planes of bare Li metal and Al-Li alloy. We discovered that Al-Li alloy provides higher absorption energies of Li atoms, ultimately leading to the preferred orientation of lithium atoms on Al-Li alloy. Experimental data confirmed our hypothesis, the symmetric cells with an Al-Li alloy demonstrated superior cycling properties over 140 hours, particularly at a current density of 5 mA cm−2, compared to the bare Li anode. Furthermore, full cells with an LiFePO4 (LFP) cathode exhibited better cycle and rate performance. This work provides a reasonable explanation for the inhibition of lithium dendrites on Al-Li alloy.

Photothermal and Photovoltaic Utilization for Improving the Thermal Environment of Chinese Solar Greenhouses: A Review

A Chinese solar greenhouse (CSG) is an agricultural facility type with Chinese characteristics. It can effectively utilize solar energy during low-temperature seasons in alpine regions. The low construction and operation costs make it a main facility for agricultural production in the northern regions of China. It plays an extremely important role in “Chinese vegetable basket projects”. Energy is one of the important issues faced by CSGs. The better climate resources in the northern regions of China make it possible to apply solar energy as a green and sustainable energy source in the production of CSGs. Faced with the increasingly serious environmental problems of the new century, the Chinese government has made a decision and put it into practice to improve the rate and efficiency of solar energy utilization in agricultural facilities. In this paper, we summarize the research on the application of photovoltaic power generation and solar thermal technology in CSGs. The application of these advanced solar technologies has made great progress. With the further improvement of economic benefits and the establishment of relevant support policies and incentive mechanisms, the combination of CSG and solar energy technology will have certain application prospects and satisfy China’s requirements for long-term sustainable development.

Warehouses without aisles: Layout design of a multi-deep rack climbing robotic system

In the last decade, different multi-deep rack climbing robotic (MRR) systems have been introduced, particularly in e-commerce warehouses. These systems have great benefits, as aisles are no longer needed, allowing a high storage density on a small footprint. They only need vertical channels through which battery-powered robots can climb the racks, retrieve totes from any desired position, and bring them to a workstation. This paper studies two novel MRR system layouts: the cross and the compact layout. In addition, we compare performance with the more traditional aisle-based layout. The system performance, particularly operational cost and energy consumption, depends on these system layouts. The paper establishes queuing network models to investigate the trade-off between storage capacity and throughput of the system with these three layouts, taking robot blocking prevention into account. We compare the throughput, storage density, horizontal travel time, and energy consumption of the system. The results show that, in most cases, the compact layout outperforms other layouts on throughput. For energy consumption, the choice of layout depends on the footprint. We formulate a model to assist warehouse managers in choosing a layout of minimum annual operational cost, with a required storage and throughput capacity. We also compare the MRR system with an alternative robotic compact storage and retrieval system on operational cost and energy consumption. The MRR system appears to always have lower energy consumption and operational cost.

Low carbon and environmental preservation of residential buildings: MOESOM

Introduction: The crucial transition toward carbon neutrality is developing and adopting low-carbon buildings and communities to achieve the recycling and reuse of resources and to minimize the damage to the natural environment by humans. Energy saving for residential buildings is essential for enhancing cost-effectiveness and redundant energy drain. Considering the increasing attention to energy conservation and the accessibility of sustainable energy sources, common energy-saving solutions expose inherent inadequacies limiting their effectiveness. The ineffectual use of traditional energy sources can result in waste, greater operating costs, and excessive energy consumption in residential structures.Methods: Hence, a Multi-Objective Energy-Saving Optimization Method (MOESOM) has been proposed to optimize energy use and conservation in residential buildings in southern Anhui, China. The proposed approach examines lower operational costs and carbon emissions by using green energy sources and encouraging effective energy consumption habits. The suggested Multi-Objective Energy-Saving Optimization Method technique offers insight into energy saving by utilizing green energy sources and confining energy uses. The multi-objective turns around energy saving and resource usage for decreasing operational costs and averting carbon emissions. Thus, the suggested technique is verified utilizing the Osprey Optimization Algorithm (OOA); the detailed goal is recognized utilizing the multiple objectives described. Based on the progress of low-carbon emissions and energy saving, the number of iterations for augmenting Osprey agents is identified. This agent-based optimization is executed if the novel augmented agent fulfills any of the trailing progression. The emission control level and energy-saving factor are assessed considering the variance between new and old agent progression. This encourages the various objectives to be fulfilled under similar criteria balancing their outcomes.Results and discussion: The output from different Osprey agents is induced for consecutive objectives and optimization factors. Then, the system ensures 8.97% energy savings and 8.04% high objectives compared to the other methods.

Yamula barajının hidroelektrik rezervuar işletiminin makine öğrenimi ile simülasyonu

Large-scale reservoirs provide operational flexibility to water managers by storing water during times with higher surface water availability and releasing water when it is most needed. Most large-scale reservoirs serve for multipurpose demands, such as water supply for agricultural, urban and environmental users, hydropower, recreation, fisheries and transportation. Due to its low operating cost, hydropower generation is often maximized in energy systems with mixed hydro and thermal sources. Hydropower generation is also used to meet peak demand by advantage of operating in short notice. This study aims to simulate reservoir operations of the Yamula Dam and hydropower plant using machine learning. Located on the Kızılırmak River, the Yamula Dam is a large-scale multipurpose reservoir with its 3476 million cubic meters storage capacity. Turbine release decisions are learned with Random Forests algorithm. The developed model successfully predict reservoir releases between 2006 and 2015, with a coefficient of determination r2 value of 0.87. Model prediction results are provided, and then hydropower load, generation and revenue are calculated and results are presented. The Yamula Dam generates about 362.3 GWh of energy per year, with an annual average revenue of 14.1 million Dollars.

Reducing CO/NO and absorbing heavy metals in self-sustained smouldering of high-moisture sludge by regulating inert media with low-cost natural zeolite

Smouldering is a low-energy, low-cost, effective treatment technology for sludge with high moisture. However, combustible gas and pollution in the flue gas limit the low-cost operation. This work proposes a novel method to in-situ reduce gas emissions (CO, NO, VOCs) and absorb heavy metals by regulating inert media with low-cost natural zeolite in self-sustained smouldering of sludge, and the effect of natural zeolite blending ratio on the performance is deeply investigated by fixed-bed and smouldering experiments. Fixed-bed experiments show that adding natural zeolite contributes to the sludge reaction owning to the confined catalysis with porous structure, as observed by the more rapid oxygen consumption, lower CO/NO concentrations. Moreover, smouldering experiments demonstrate that the endothermic dehydroxylation and dehydroxylation processes of the pure natural zeolite decreases the smouldering temperature and the propagation velocity, reduces the pyrolysis layer, but adding natural zeolite significantly reduces the concentrations of CO/NO/VOCs in the flue gas. Furthermore, higher heavy element content in the post-reaction natural zeolite is observed, indicating that the inorganic minerals in natural zeolite can effectively absorb the heavy elements. Taking reaction intensity, CO/NO/VOCs reduction and heavy element absorption into account, adding a small amount of natural zeolite (Sand: Natural-zeolite = 2.90:0.10) may be reasonable with obtaining good performance. Finally, the organic components in condensable liquids of the smouldering flue gas are deeply analyzed, and the main components is 36.7% for amides and 23.41% for nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds. This work can provide a possible pathway and useful information for the low-cost application of the sludge smouldring technology.