Non-renewable Systems Research Articles

Boosting the transition to biorefineries in compliance with sustainability and circularity criteria

In the transition towards climate neutrality, biorefinery models are considered promising alternatives to processes based on fossil fuels and non-renewable materials. This consideration is attributed to the reduction of dependence on non-renewable systems, in line with greener and lower impact technological strategies. However, they imply a profound transformation of the production system, as the variable and stochastic nature of certain renewable sources makes it necessary to have various tools to provide flexibility and optimize the system. Their market penetration is currently limited by their level of development and the regulatory and financial support to implement the paradigm shift. Traditional linear production is still more economically viable compared to circular production models, based on efficiency parameters achieved by years of manufacturing experience. To reverse this trend, it is necessary to leverage its benefits through the use of appropriate assessment tools, as these are the ones that could drive the move towards biorefineries. This is the focus of this research report, which reviews various evaluation methodologies and indicators to effectively evaluate bio-based process schemes. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), Green Chemistry Principles (GCP), certification scheme requirements and Circular Economy Action Plans are reviewed and integrated into a precise assessment framework. To determine their effectiveness, three biorefinery models were evaluated: valorization of apple vinasses, grape must and chickpea peel. Through the combined analysis of bio-based scenarios, it has been possible to identify their benefits, bottlenecks and limitations, and to validate a comprehensive assessment framework that allows an accurate, effective and conscious analysis of bio-based models, promoting their development and market penetration.

Integration of optimal power flow with combined heat and power dispatch of renewable wind energy based power system using chaotic driving training based optimization

Combined heat and power economic dispatch (CHPED) based optimal power flow (OPF) problem has been studied in this article using a new, practical approach based on chaotic driving training optimization (DTBO) (CDTBO). In the proposed technique (CDTBO), the chaotic based learning is integrated with DTBO to overcome the local optimal problem and inferior convergence speed of the existing algorithms. OPF is an important concern to retain the power system running effectively. In order to meet the demand for reasonably priced power generation with optimal power flow in transmission lines, the authors combined CHPED and OPF. Since fuel is changing daily in the current environment, using renewable energy sources to generate electricity economically is crucial. The renewable energy source like wind energy is integrated with thermal units for economic power generation with reducing the thermal fuel consumption of CHPED-based OPF system. The proposed technique implemented on CHPED based IEEE-30 bus system for renewable and without renewable energy sources with considering different cases. The suggested problem considering with valve point loading of thermal units, transmission losses and uncertainties of wind speed to address the non-linearity of the renewable-based CHPED-OPF system. Cost minimization, voltage deviation control, transmission losses minimization and stability index are the single objectives of the prospective system. Furthermore tested on multi-objective functions for simultaneously minimization of cost with emission and simultaneously minimization of active power loss with voltage profile. It is observed that the proposed CDTBO technique helps to reduce the cost by 2% and 12.8% for renewable based system as compared to non-renewable system for multi-objective function. The robustness of the proposed solution has been verified by implementing the statistical analysis on two systems with least variation of mean and optimal values of cost with the tolerance of less than 0.0035%. A comparison has been made with recent well known optimization techniques to address the superiority of the suggested CDTBO algorithm.

Terrene 2.0: Biomaterial composites design & shellular structures development for augmented earthen construction

To transition the construction industry towards sustainable practices, we challenge wasteful methods and non-renewable systems by harnessing local biological materials and augmenting them to describe contemporary forms. Our work enhances the primarily compressive material properties of sand-based compounds to develop a construction method for tension–compression anticlastic shellular structures. We have developed a novel bilayer system with multiscale induced behavior called ChitoSand, made primarily of a sand matrix, incorporating chitosan biopolymer as a microstructural binder, short flax fibers to boost tensile capacity at the mesoscale, and citric acid to increase plasticity, which is then underlaid by a sewn burlap fabric base layer to raise the bending capacity at the macroscale. This produces a fully biodegradable material system that we paired with anticlastic geometry calculations to enhance effective material use and structural form. We then developed an earthen construction workflow that uses reusable pneumatic formwork holding the ChitoSand bilayer composite during hardening in ambient conditions. This research yields a tension–compression system with modern geometry and a minimized environmental footprint.

Alternatives for the Optimization and Reduction in the Carbon Footprint in Island Electricity Systems (IESs)

The penetration of renewable energies in island electricity systems (IESs) poses a series of challenges, which include, among others, grid stability, the response to demand, and the security of the supply. Based on the current characteristics of electricity demand on the islands of the Canary Archipelago (Spain) and their electricity production systems, this study presents a series of alternative scenarios to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase the penetration of renewable energies. The goal is to optimize combustion-based (nonrenewable) energy production and combine it with renewable-based production that meets the requirements of dynamic response, safety, scaling, and integration with nonrenewable systems in terms of efficiency and power. As verified in the research background, the combination of power producing equipment that is generally employed on the islands is not the best combination to reduce pollution. The aim of this work is to find other possible combinations with better results. A methodology is developed and followed to obtain the lowest GHG production and to determine the measures to be applied based on: (a) changing the fuel type by switching to natural gas in the equipment that allows it; (b) using optimal combinations of the least polluting energy production equipment; (c) integrating, to the extent that it is possible, the Chira-Soria pumped hydroelectric energy storage plant into the Gran Canaria electricity system. A series of alternative scenarios are generated with different operating conditions which show the possibility of increasing the renewable installed capacity in the Canary Islands by up to 36.78% (70% in Gran Canaria), with a 65.13% reduction in GHG emissions and a 71.45% reduction in fuel consumption. The results of this study contribute, through the different measures determined through our research, to the mitigation of GHG emissions.

Fire Resistance of Aluminum-Glass Partitions with a Parallel Structure of Intumescent Layers

Aim: The aim of the article is to verify the fire resistance of aluminum-glass construction partitions with a parallel structure. The paper presents the results of tests in a fire chamber of a selected partition, a leading national manufacturer of aluminum-glass systems. The results of the fire tests were used to validate a simple parallel model of the reliability of non-renewable systems. Introduction: Fire-retardant properties of partitions made of glass and aluminum profiles determine their ability to stop the spread of fire by clos - ing the fire in separate zones. Fire resistance of such partitions is measured according to various criteria, in particular the requirements concern: stability R (glass does not break), tightness E, radiation limitation W and insulation I. The tightness requirement E means that the partition effectively protects the fire compartment against flames, smoke and hot gases. The insulating postulate I means that the average temperature of glass and the profiles on the surface of the partition on the protected side does not exceed the contractual value during the nominal duration of the fire. The measure of fire resistance of a partition is time t, expressed in minutes, in which the structure of an aluminum-glass partition meets one or more of the criteria listed. Methodology: The experimental database consists of the results of routine fire resistance tests of system building partitions obtained in the certification process of selected facade systems. Interpretation of the obtained results of laboratory tests was based on simple models of reliability of non-renewable systems. Conclusions: The graphs of average temperature increase on the outer surface of the tested glass are the same in each case in terms of quality and quantity. Up to about 70% of the nominal fire resistance, the temperature increase is linear, followed by a non-linear phase according to a concave curve. The course of the temperature-rise curves on the outer surface of aluminum profiles is qualitatively different. The graphs are non-linear, convex from the beginning of heating, with the inflection point reached after about 20 minutes of the test. The obtained results may indicate that the multi-chamber structure of aluminum profiles does not ensure a parallel reliability structure, because the object has a quasi-parallel structure. The presented results of the temperature-rise curves and their reliability interpretation require confirmation in further laboratory tests of aluminum-glass partitions with a different structure of panes and profiles. Keywords: glass, partitions, laboratory tests, fire resistance, reliability Type of article: case study

Effect of salinity on growth, survival and biochemical alterations in the freshwater fish Labeo rohita (Hamilton 1822)

Salinity tolerance in Labeo rohita (Hamilton 1822) fingerling was conducted for 96 h using a static, non-renewal system and LC50 determined for 48 and 96 h of exposure were 9.60 and 7.72‰ with standard deviation 9.27-9.93 and 7.41-8.03‰, respectively. For sublethal study, 0, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5‰ were selected to assess the chronic effect of salinity on this species. At the end of 90 days of exposure, it was found that the average weight gain was maximum at 0‰ followed by 2.5‰, then 3.5‰ and the least at 4.5‰. Similarly, highest mortality (43.75%) was recorded in fishes exposed to 4.5‰ salinity and least (12.5%) at 2.5‰ at the end of 90 days of experiment. On termination of the experiment, ascorbic acid level was also found significantly reduced (p<0.05) in brain, liver and muscle tissues in fishes exposed to salinity stress. Oxygen consumption rate of fish was maximum at 2.5‰ salinity which gradually decreased with increase in salinity and the lowest was observed at 4.5‰. From results of the study, it can be concluded that with increase in salinity, the survival rate, growth and tissue ascorbic acid level in L. rohita decreases. These results clearly indicated that L. rohita is vulnerable when exposed to higher salinity for longer duration.

People and Nature in an Urban World

Humanity is facing an existential contradiction: we are building an urban future for ourselves, yet urbanization in its current form is threatening the very future of humanity and the natural world. Urban growth is a seemingly unstoppable worldwide process. Much has been written about this historic trend, but the environmental impacts of an urbanizing world are barely discussed.

Bio-Based Production Systems: Why Environmental Assessment Needs to Include Supporting Systems

The transition to a bio-based economy is expected to deliver substantial environmental and economic benefits. However, bio-based production systems still come with significant environmental challenges, and there is a need for assessment methods that are adapted for the specific characteristics of these systems. In this review, we investigated how the environmental aspects of bio-based production systems differ from those of non-renewable systems, what requirements these differences impose when assessing their sustainability, and to what extent mainstream assessment methods fulfil these requirements. One unique characteristic of bio-based production is the need to maintain the regenerative capacity of the system. The necessary conditions for maintaining regenerative capacity are often provided through direct or indirect interactions between the production system and surrounding “supporting” systems. Thus, in the environmental assessment, impact categories affected in both the primary production system and the supporting systems need to be included, and impact models tailored to the specific context of the study should be used. Development in this direction requires efforts to broaden the system boundaries of conventional environmental assessments, to increase the level of spatial and temporal differentiation, and to improve our understanding of how local uniqueness and temporal dynamics affect the performance of the investigated system.

Accounting of switching device errors for system with sliding redundancy based on dynamic fault tree

The object of research is a non-renewable system with a single sliding reservation. Such system consists of two main subsystems, one redundancy and two switching devices. While both main subsystems are operable, the spare subsystem is in an unloaded state. The redundancy system is designed to replace any major subsystem after its failure. Switching devices commute the main subsystems with a redundancy one. During the audit, it was revealed that the switching devices allow errors. In particular, a mistake of the first type, that is, they switch in advance, and a second type of error, that is, they pass the switching moment. This reduces the reliability of the system and leads to underutilization of the inherent resource. An approach is proposed that quantitatively takes into account the influence of errors of the first and second type on the probability of failure-free operation of the system under study during its design. The approach consists of two stages. At the first stage, the reliability of the system is mathematically described by the dynamic failure tree. At the second stage, based on the failure tree, a Markov model is formed. Applying it, it is possible to calculate the probabilistic characteristics of the system. The result is a mathematical relationship between the probability of trouble-free operation of the system and the parameters of the components of the system. In particular, the operating time to failure of the main and redundancy subsystems, as well as the parameters of switching devices that corresponds to errors of the first and second type. The form of presentation of the obtained results for the end user is a software product that automatically generates a family of graphs for reliability evaluation. Ignoring the errors of switching devices in the design of systems reduces their actual reliability, leads to underutilization of the reserve component resources, and also increases the probability of emergency situations. Using a more accurate mathematical model makes it possible to monitor the errors of switching devices during the design of the system. The simulation results will be useful for selecting the parameters of the switching devices.

THE COMPLEXITY OF SUPPLY CHAIN vs. SURVIVAL OF THIS SUPPLY CHAIN

The article presents issue of survival of simulated supply chains depends on the complexity of this chain. Authors analyzed the supply chain with mechanism of coordination of actions. In this article, authors decided to compare three supply chain on a different levels of complexity. For each of this supply chain the simulation model was built, and then the analysis of survival was made. In every model authors analyzed the decision part and transportation part. The first model is the basic simulation model with using the Electronic Bulletin Board, in which one contractor was considered. In second model authors extended the numbers of entities (contractors) in analyzed supply chain to four. In third model the transportation part was extended to be more complexity – different contractors can realized the transportation tasks. For each case authors focus on aspects of durability of supply chain as non-renewable systems.

Assessment of the potential use of demand response in DHW systems on isolated microgrids

This work assesses the potential of demand response on isolated hybrid renewable energy systems, in order to optimize the systems' dispatch by minimizing the operation costs and the peak demand. The developed methodology models the implementation of solar thermal systems to replace non-renewable systems for the domestic hot water supply, and a demand response strategy to manage the electric backup required from the grid, in days of low solar radiation. The implementation of this system is compared between 10 isolated islands with different scales and energy systems in order to identify the potential energy savings introduced by solar thermal systems with demand response capabilities under different conditions.The results show larger savings for small islands, where the load pattern is essentially residential, especially for those with more than 25% share of renewable electricity. Regarding bigger islands, where the services and industry sectors dominate the load pattern, this implementation shows little technical and economic impact. In terms of environmental impact, this methodology shows that the combination of solar thermal systems with demand response programs may result, on average, in less 88% CO2 emissions than using non-renewable DHW systems.

An economic evaluation of renewable and conventional electricity generation systems in a shopping center using HOMER Pro

This paper presents the methodology and results of the simulation and optimization of renewables and non-renewables energy system for supply to a shopping center as an alternative to the electric grid consumption, so that to determinate the optimal system. The fundamentals equations used to estimate the operational costs are presented. The software used to simulate and optimize the purposed system is HOMER Pro®, this software can simulate energy systems with renewable fractions and optimize those components to obtain the best system to use. In addition, the renewable systems they have the lowest annual operation cost and total operation cost in the simulated case study, therefore those systems should be consider as the better option to take as an alternative to the electrical grid consumption, but the non-renewable systems could be a great solution if the problem lies in obtaining an emergency plant, capable of generating large amounts of energy in a short period of time. Finally, that the renewable electric generating devices are the better option to use as an alternative to the electric grid consumption but it is recommended the use of an emergency plant with the final purpose of supply large amounts of energy if the situation requires it and this emergency plants should be natural gas electric generating devices or diesel electric generating devices.

Exergy-based approaches for performance evaluation of building energy systems

Exergy analysis is a powerful thermodynamic technique for assessing the performance of complex energy systems and optimizing their efficiency. A lot of research has been performed on exergy analysis of building energy systems, but there is still a real need to evaluate the practical application of low-exergy approaches on a building scale. One of the challenges that one faces when evaluating building energy systems from an exergy point of view is a lack of a suitable approach for a meaningful comparison of buildings with different types of energy supplier. This paper proposed three approaches, namely Inner boundary of the system, Comparative exergy efficiency and Potential solar exergy efficiency for a fair exergetic comparison of renewable and non-renewable building energy systems. To demonstrate the applicability of the suggested solutions, two case studies using a renewable and a non-renewable system are considered. A solar assisted boiler system and a conventional boiler system are used as representatives of renewable and non-renewable energy systems, respectively, and analysed based on the presented approaches. The results of the analysis show that the proposed approaches are applicable and they enable an exergetic comparison between renewable and non-renewable building energy systems to be made fairly.

Effect of Chlorpyrifos Ethyl on Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus, Bloch, 1972).

The high use of pesticides in intensive rice farming in the Mekong Delta constitutes a potential hazard to the environment and to people's health. Chlorpyrifos ethyl (CPF) is a commonly used organophosphate (OP) insecticide, but information about its potential negative impacts on the aquatic environment in the Mekong Delta is scarce. Both acute and subacute toxicity tests were performed in a static nonrenewable system to investigate the effects of CPF on brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in native climbing perch fingerlings (Anabas testudineus, Bloch, 1972). Environmental parameters, such as dissolved oxygen, water temperature, and pH, were similar to field conditions in the Mekong Delta. In a 96-h lethal concentration (LC50) test, fingerlings of climbing perch were randomly exposed to five levels of CPF ranging from 0.8 to 4.5ppm. Five sublethal levels of CPF (1, 5, 10, 15, and 20% of the 96-h LC50 value) were tested to assess the sensitivity and recovery of the brain AChE activity in climbing perch fingerlings exposed to CPF. The results showed that CPF were moderately toxic to climbing perch with a 96-h median LC50 of 1.73ppm. CPF also caused long-term AChE inhibition with 70% inhibition remaining after 96h for the four highest test concentrations. The recovery of brain AChE activity in fish placed in CPF-free water was very slow, and after 7days the brain AChE activity was still significant lower in fish from the four highest concentrations compared with the control. The results from this study indicate that OP insecticides, such as CPF, can have long-lasting sublethal effects on aquatic species in the Mekong Delta.

Life Time Approach for Prediction Groundwater Depletion

Current approaches to quantify groundwater depletion due to poor management are water balance and Satellite gravity approaches. However, Water balance technique includes uncertain estimation of its parameter such as Eva transpiration and runoff. Satellite gravity method consumes time and effort. This work proposes using parametric life time techniques in a novel way to predict groundwater saturated thickness depletion. One of the most important issues in the failure theory proposed is to determine the failure point (depletion case). The proposed technique uses depth of water as the net result of recharge/discharge process in the aquifer, to calculate remaining saturated thickness resulted from the applied pumping rates in an area to evaluate the depletion. The two parameters Weibull function and Bayes analysis used to model and analyze the collected data. An illustrative example of the proposed methodology was carried out in a nonrenewable aquifer, no recharge; consequently the continuous decline in water depth is the main criterion to estimate the depletion. The value of the proposed approach is to predict the probable effect of the currently applied pumping rates on the saturated thickness with time based on the obtained remaining saturated thickness data especially on nonrenewable system. The limitation of the suggested approach is that it assumes the applied management practices are constant during the prediction period. Moreover, there is no major climate change. With further studies and applications the suggested method could be promising in prediction in different aspects of hydrology field.

Acute toxicity of potassium permanganate to Caspian roach Rutilus rutilus caspicus in two size classes and under different aeration conditions

Caspian roach, Rutilus rutilus caspicus, might experience potassium permanganate (PM) toxicity, because it is common and widely used disinfectant in fish rearing and propagation centers in Iran. Thus, acute toxicity (24-h-LC50) of PM was determined on Caspian roach in two size classes (small and large groups), under aerated and non-aerated conditions, using static non-renewal system. 24-h-LC50 for PM in Caspian roach was 3.2, 3, 3.2, and 2.8 mg L−1 in large-aerated, large-non-aerated, small-aerated, and small-non-aerated groups, respectively. Results indicated that aeration was led to decrease in PM toxicity, regardless of size class. However, large fish showed more tolerance to PM toxicity compared to small ones, under non-aerated condition. It is concluded that aeration could decrease the toxicity of PM that seems to be due to the increase in PM degradation, derived from increase in water turbulence. It is suggested that 96-h-LC50 may be more suitable to determine the effects of fish size on PM toxicity than 24-h-LC50.

Acute and Postexposure Effects of Ammonia Toxicity on Juvenile Barramundi (Lates calcarifer [Bloch

Lethal and sublethal effects of ammonia toxicity to juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer) were investigated under laboratory conditions following the OECD guidelines for testing of chemicals. Acute toxicity was tested in a static nonrenewal system at pH 9.0 and temperature around 29 degrees C. The 24-, 48-, and 96-h LC(50) values for barramundi were 3.89, 3.67, and 3.31 mg total ammonia N L(-1) and 1.59, 1.47, and 1.3 mg nonionized ammonia N L(-1), respectively. Estimated lethal concentrations indicated a relatively high sensitivity to acute ammonia toxicity for barramundi and equaled the 25th percentile most sensitive North American fish species with regard to the species mean acute value (USEPA 1999). A 3-week postexposure experiment on surviving individuals from the acute toxicity test, in clean water, indicated that exposure to acute concentrations up to 1.16 mg nonionized ammonia N L(-1) did not have any significant effects on growth.

Sensitivity of brain cholinesterase activity to diazinon (BASUDIN 50EC) and fenobucarb (BASSA 50EC) insecticides in the air‐breathing fish Channa striata (Bloch, 1793)

With the expansion of agricultural areas within the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam, a concurrent, dramatic increase has occurred in agrochemical usage. To date, little consideration has been given to the negative impacts of this agricultural activity on the aquatic resources of the region. Both acute toxicity and subacute effects on brain cholinesterase (ChE) of two of the most commonly used insecticides, diazinon and fenobucarb, on adult native snakehead (Channa striata) were evaluated in a static, nonrenewable system, the environmental parameters of which, such as dissolved oxygen, water temperature, and pH, fluctuated similarly to field conditions. Four levels of insecticides, from 0.008 to 0.52 mg/L (for diazinon) and from 0.11 to 9.35 mg/L (for fenobucarb), were tested to assess the effects on the brain ChE activity of the snakehead up to 30 and 10 d for diazinon and fenobucarb, respectively. Diazinon was highly toxic to this fish species, with a 96-h median lethal concentration (LC50) of only 0.79 mg/L, and it also caused long-term ChE inhibition, with activity still significantly inhibited by 30% after 30 d for the three highest concentrations. Fenobucarb was less toxic to this species, with a 96-h LC50 of 11.4 mg/L. Fenobucarb caused more rapid ChE inhibition but also rapid recovery. The results of the present study indicate an urgent need to regulate the usage of these pesticides in the Mekong River Delta.

Microsomal monooxygenase activity in Tilapia ( Oreochromis mossambicus) exposed to a bleached kraft mill effluent using different exposure systems

Bleached kraft pulp and paper mill effluents (BKMEs) are known to have adverse effects on aquatic organisms. One of the effects of BKMEs is its ability to induce cytochrome P4501A activity in exposed fish. 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity is the most common biomarker used to measure the mixed-function monooxygenase activity. In this study, Tilapia were exposed to BKMEs using different exposure systems and their hepatic EROD activity, as well as liver/somatic index (LSI), were determined. In the Phase I study, Tilapia treated with βNF and a whole (100%) BKME using a static, non-renewal system exhibited statistically significant EROD induction, but LSI values were not altered. In the Phase II study, fish were either caged in the mill's fishpond with the whole effluent passing through or cultured in tanks receiving 100% of the BKME continuously using a flow-through system in the laboratory. Their EROD activities were then compared with the non-exposed fish (control). The EROD activities in both groups of fish were elevated significantly with the greatest induction being observed in the field-exposed group. The LSI values in all of the field-exposed fish were significantly greater than the control Tilapia. The EROD assay was sensitive in detecting biological changes in fish exposed to the BKME. Further studies are warranted to better understand the impacts of BKMEs on aquatic organisms in Taiwan.

The role of development and duration of exposure to the embryotoxicity of diazinon

Medaka, Oryzias latipes, were used as a laboratory surrogate for species of concern to define the effects of diazinon exposure on teleost embryogenesis. Medaka embryos were placed in a static, non-renewal system and exposures initiated on days 1, 3, or 5 of development. Following initiation of exposure, replicates ( n=5) remained in diazinon for a total of 4 days or from the day of initiation to day 9 of development. This exposure scenario was designed to elucidate sensitive periods in development for diazinon-induced toxicity but also shows the effect of added exposure duration on the degree of toxicity. Embryos were observed daily and endpoints recorded included: edema formation, total hatch, mean day of hatch, percentage of larvae with swim bladder inflation, and total length of larvae on day 14, when observations were terminated. Diazinon exposure resulted in decreases in hatch success, swim bladder inflation and the total length of larvae. In addition, dose-response increases in the incidence of edemas of the pericardial sac and vitelline veins were recorded. As expected, severity of embryotoxicity was positively correlated with duration of exposure. While no developmental period was the most sensitive for all toxic effects, for certain endpoints the severity of effects was dependent on exposure timing. Total hatch was greatly affected in embryos exposed from day 1 until day 5 whereas edema was more prevalent in embryos exposed later in development. Finally, among endpoints recorded, total length of larvae was the most sensitive indicator of exposure with all exposure groups showing significant ( P<0.05) decreases in length at 5 ppm.