Pack Size Research Articles

Design Space Exploration of Lithium-Ion Battery Packs for Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft Applications

Distributed hybrid and electric propulsion systems are one of the most promising technologies to reduce aircraft emissions, resulting in research efforts to investigate new architectures and the design of optimal energy management strategies. This work defines the optimal requirements in terms of battery pack sizing and cell technology for a hybrid-electric regional wing-mounted distributed propulsion aircraft through the application of a design space exploration method. The propulsion system considered in this study is a series-parallel hybrid turboelectric power train with distributed electric fans. A set of six lithium-ion battery cell technologies was identified and experimentally characterized, including both commercially available and prototype cells at different combinations of specific energy and power. A model of the aircraft was developed and used to define the optimal energy management strategy for the hybrid turboelectric propulsion system, which was solved using dynamic programming. The design space exploration was conducted by varying the cell technology and battery storage system size; and the effects on fuel consumption, energy management strategy, and thermal management were compared.

Life cycle assessment of battery electric buses

Different Li-ion battery technologies and sizes are used in battery electric buses (BEBs), but little is known about the environmental effect of various battery technology and sizing alternatives. In a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of seven BEBs, we consider three battery technologies combined with relevant pack sizes to evaluate the size and range effect. The environmental performance of the BEBs was assessed over the typical length of a bus tender of 10 years as well as an extended lifetime of 20 years. Across six environmental impact categories we found that the size and range effect depends to a large extent on the performance of the battery technology and that a smaller battery size of the same technology is not necessarily environmentally preferable. Furthermore, extending the BEB lifetime from 10 to 20 years changes the environmental performance as well as relative contributions to environmental impact potentials for the various BEB alternatives.

Standard smokeless tobacco packaging: potential impact on perceived attractiveness, warning label visibility and harm perceptions among adults in Bangladesh

BackgroundIn Bangladesh, smokeless tobacco (SLT) is available in a variety of pack shapes and sizes. Lack of standard packaging could limit compliance with pictorial health warning label (HWL) requirements. We...

Calculation of Purchasing Power Parities for Pharmaceutical Products via EURIPID database

Abstract Background Purchasing power parities (PPPs) are indicators of price level differences for all goods and services across countries. Their calculation follows the ÉKS method (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/prc_ppp_esms.htm). Prices of pharmaceuticals are collected by national statistical offices using different methods, from asking prices in pharmacies to retrieving scanner data. The sample is limited to 150 top-selling medicines, which are not available in all countries. Consequently, the PLIs (price level indices) and PPPs derived are sometimes based on only 50 pharmaceuticals. In a cooperation between Eurostat and EURIPID the PPP calculation was alternatively done with the EURIPID database for 28 countries. Methods The study compared the PLIs/PPPs derived from the E20-2 “Furniture and health” survey (aka CGS) with those from EURIPID for 2018-2020. The main challenge was to identify comparable products from the 224,448 products in EURIPID. For this we grouped those that shared the same 1) ATC, 2) active substance(s) & strength(s), 3) pack size group and 4) dosage form group (e.g., oromucosal) resulting in 157,186 distinctive products compared to 1,928 included in CGS. We used the Gross Retail price (GRP) as defined in the Eurostat PPP manual. Results The ranking of PPPs was similar in both approaches, with Switzerland and Iceland in the lead and Poland and Hungary in the end. Only for some countries, e.g. the Netherlands deviations were identified. The Pearson correlation between the 2020 PLI for the Euripid subsample using the asterisk method with all products marked as representative and the CGS results was 0,946. Conclusions Results from EURIPID show the same trend as the CGS. It is possible to replace the national data collection by a central source. This would reduce the data collection burden on the statistical offices and allows a closer monitoring of the evolution of pharmaceutical prices (bi-annual PPP publication instead of current 3-year interval) Key messages • To monitor affordability of medicines for all citizens it is important to compare prices on a regular basis with a simple tool as e.g. some products prices differed by 1000-times across countries. • The EURIPID database (www.euripid.eu) allows detailed analysis of pharmaceutical prices in Europe and is available for free to non-commerical researchers.

(Digital Presentation) Using Simulations to Determine the Effects of the Lithium-Ion Battery Pack Sizes on Performance of Electric Vehicles

Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles have a longer driving range with a full tank of gas than lithium-ion battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs). Alongside having a higher purchase cost and a lack of charging infrastructure, the range of EVs is a large deterrent to potential buyers. One solution to increasing the range of EVs is using a battery pack with a higher capacity. However, increasing the capacity typically involves an increase in lithium-ion battery cells, which leads to a higher weight, higher vehicle cost, lower energy efficiency, and higher battery charging time. In addition, regenerative braking recovers the vehicle's kinetic energy which is related to speed and weight. To find the optimal battery pack size, a numeric road test simulation can be used to determine how battery pack size affects energy efficiency, driving range, charging time, and cost. This is more optimal than a real-life road test since inconsistent variables like traffic conditions and weather can be controlled. This paper applies work-energy mathematic modeling of an electric vehicle under different EPA dynamometer driving schedules to investigate the problem proposed above, using an EV model with 21700 type lithium-ion cells. In addition, total vehicle weight, motor efficiency, wheel sizes/weight, and the weight of passengers will also be considered. The simulation revealed that when the total vehicle weight reaches a certain point, it can regenerate significant kinetic energy back to the battery pack to increase the range. Figure 1

Integrating basic and applied research to estimate carnivore abundance.

A clear connection between basic research and applied management is often missing or difficult to discern. We present a case study of integration of basic research with applied management for estimating abundance of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Montana, USA. Estimating wolf abundance is a key component of wolf management but is costly and time intensive as wolf populations continue to grow. We developed a multimodel approach using an occupancy model, mechanistic territory model, and empirical group size model to improve abundance estimates while reducing monitoring effort. Whereas field-based wolf counts generally rely on costly, difficult-to-collect monitoring data, especially for larger areas or population sizes, our approach efficiently uses readily available wolf observation data and introduces models focused on biological mechanisms underlying territorial and social behavior. In a three-part process, the occupancy model first estimates the extent of wolf distribution in Montana, based on environmental covariates and wolf observations. The spatially explicit mechanistic territory model predicts territory sizes using simple behavioral rules and data on prey resources, terrain ruggedness, and human density. Together, these models predict the number of packs. An empirical pack size model based on 14 years of data demonstrates that pack sizes are positively related to local densities of packs, and negatively related to terrain ruggedness, local mortalities, and intensity of harvest management. Total abundance estimates for given areas are derived by combining estimated numbers of packs and pack sizes. We estimated the Montana wolf population to be smallest in the first year of our study, with 91 packs and 654 wolves in 2007, followed by a population peak in 2011 with 1252 wolves. The population declined ~6% thereafter, coincident with implementation of legal harvest in Montana. Recent numbers have largely stabilized at an average of 191 packs and 1141 wolves from 2016 to 2020. This new approach accounts for biologically based, spatially explicit predictions of behavior to provide more accurate estimates of carnivore abundance at finer spatial scales. By integrating basic and applied research, our approach can therefore better inform decision-making and meet management needs.

Intensification of Liquid–Liquid Emulsification Process in a Rotating Solid Foam Stirrer Tank: Experiments and Modeling

Process intensification equipment is playing an increasingly role in the emulsion process. A novel rotating solid foam stirrer tank (RSFST) is developed in this work to try to intensify the liquid–liquid emulsification process. The effects of operating parameters and physical parameters, such as emulsification time, rotational speed, packing size, dispersed phase volume fraction, and continuous-phase viscosity, on the droplet size distribution and Sauter mean diameter d32 of oil-in-water emulsions produced in RSFST were investigated using a kerosene–water system. To benchmark the emulsion performance of the RSFST, a Rushton stirrer is used a reference stirrer and the generated droplet size and average energy dissipation rate as the evaluation metrics. Based on the experimental data of emulsification under different operating conditions and physical parameters, models are applied to describe the bimodal distribution of oil-in-water emulsion droplet sizes, and correlation is proposed to predict the Sauter mean diameter d32 of RSFST. This work provides fundamental data for practical applications of RSFST used in emulsion process intensification.

Review on Cost of Anti-Glaucoma Formulation Available in India

The objective of the present work was to determine cost per annum of various glaucoma formulation to patients and plot changes in trends of cost these formulations over years. Main purpose of this study is to provide patients and health care providers with calculated yearly costs of topical glaucoma medications in India. A price per ml model was used to eradicate difference due to pack size of formulation of different brands. And average prices per ml of all studied brands were used to present data of particular drug formulation. Daily recommended drops were also taken into consideration to obtain cost of formulation to patient per year. And results indicated that cost of glaucoma treatment in India per annum to patient varied from as low as 193.3 INR to as high as 6616.72 INR in year 2015, quite similar to that in 2005 wherein cost per annum to patient varied from 191.55 INR to 5879.12 INR. Beta blockers were reported to be the most economical group of glaucoma medications while prostaglandin analogues and its combinations were reported to be expensive group of glaucoma medications. And the study concluded that cost of glaucoma drug therapy varies from few hundred to several thousand rupees in India. And although price per annum of glaucoma medication in India remains to be significantly less compared to other developed countries, steep rising cost first line drugs like timolol maleate over the years forecasts risings concern to patient in India.

Electrification of a Class 8 Heavy-Duty Truck Considering Battery Pack Sizing and Cargo Capacity

The design and performance optimization of fully electric trucks constitute an integral goal of the transport sector to meet climate emergency measures and local air quality requirements. Most studies in the literature have determined the optimum pack size based on economic factors, without accounting for the details of pack behavior when varying the size. In this paper, the effect of battery pack sizing and cargo capacity of a class 8, 41-ton truck on its overall energy performance and technical parameters of its powertrain is investigated. For this purpose, the proposed electric truck is designed and mathematically modelled using AVL CRUISE M software. The second-order equivalent circuit model is developed to predict the battery packs’ parameters. The proposed battery pack model is extracted from experimental analysis on SONY VTC6 lithium-ion batteries performed in the lab. The weight changes due to adding the battery packs to the truck are also estimated and have been taken into account. The mathematical model of the powertrain is simulated in the long-haul driving cycle considering different cargo capacities and battery pack sizes. The results of this study revealed that the battery pack voltage reached its minimum value when the maximum cargo capacity was applied for the 399 kWh battery pack. In addition, increasing the occupied cargo capacity from 10% to 100% resulted in an increase in the regenerative brake energy of up to 9.87 kWh, while changing the battery size imposed minimal impacts on regenerative brake energy recovery as well as energy consumption.

Small/Kiddie Cigarette Packaging Size and Its Impact on Smoking: A Systematic Review.

Background: Small cigarette pack sizes contain less than 20 cigarette sticks in a pack. Smaller packs may suggest lower costs, increasing affordability among lower-income users, especially the younger generation, which could lead to tobacco-related diseases and economic costs, including human capital lost results from tobacco-attributable morbidity and mortality. This concern has caused many countries to ban the sale of single cigarette sticks or kiddie packs. However, small cigarette pack sizes were proposed recently to be reintroduced by the tobacco industry with an excuse to prevent consumers from buying illicit cigarettes. This would demean efforts in combating tobacco consumption based on the existing tobacco control policies to prevent minors from purchasing cigarettes. Given the competing influences of affordability and availability of tobacco on consumption and the dearth of evidence-based review on the impact of pack size on smoking, this systematic review was conducted to identify the link between kiddie packs and smoking specifically on the initiation of smoking, urge/tendency to buy cigarettes among the general population and attempt to reduce cigarette consumption and prevalence of smoking using kiddie packs among current smokers. Methods: We include all studies except for reviews, guidelines, conference papers, commentaries, editorials, or opinion pieces. A database search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science and Scopus on 27 November 2021. The results were presented in the form of narrative synthesis under four groups: initiation of smoking; urge/tendency to buy cigarettes; the prevalence of smoking, and attempt to reduce cigarette consumption. The literature search identified 1601 articles, of which 21 articles had met the inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of all included articles was determined using a validated 16-item quality assessment tool (QATSDD). The average quality score for all papers was 34.8%. Discussion: Given the diverse study settings of the articles and despite the challenges of the methodological quality of some articles, this review provides some evidence that kiddie packs may increase the urge/tendency to buy cigarettes and mixed evidence on the attempt to reduce cigarette consumption. This review also found some evidence that kiddie pack purchasing among teenage smokers was higher compared to adults. However, we are uncertain about the link between kiddie packs and smoking initiation. Nevertheless, since most studies were of low quality, further high-quality studies are needed to conclude about the impact of kiddie packs on smoking to assist the policymakers and stakeholders in formulating new policies and strengthening existing strategies related to the kiddie packs.

Packing Directed Cycles Quarter- and Half-Integrally

The celebrated Erdős-Pósa theorem states that every undirected graph that does not admit a family of k vertex-disjoint cycles contains a feedback vertex set (a set of vertices hitting all cycles in the graph) of size $$\cal{O}(k\log k)$$ . The analogous result for directed graphs has been proven by Reed, Robertson, Seymour, and Thomas, but their proof yields a nonelementary dependency of the size of the feedback vertex set on the size of vertex-disjoint cycle packing. We show that we can obtain a polynomial bound if we relax the disjointness condition. More precisely, we show that if in a directed graph G there is no family of k cycles such that every vertex of G is in at most two (resp. four) of the cycles, then there exists a feedback vertex set in G of size $$\cal{O}(k^{6})$$ (resp. $$\cal{O}(k^{4})$$ ). We show also variants of the above statements for butterfly minor models of any strongly connected digraph that is a minor of a directed cylindrical grid and for quarter-integral packings of subgraphs of high directed treewidth.

Battery Selection and Optimal Energy Management for a Range-Extended Electric Delivery Truck

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">Delivery trucks and vans represent a growing transportation segment which reflects the shift of consumers towards on-line shopping and on-demand delivery. Therefore, electrification of this class of vehicles is going to play a major role in the decarbonization of the transportation sector and in the transition to a sustainable mobility system. Hybrid electric vehicles can represent a medium-term solution and have gained an increasing share of the market in recent years. These vehicles include two power sources, typically an internal combustion engine and a battery, which gives more degrees of freedom when controlling the powertrain to satisfy the power request at the wheels. Components sizing and powertrain energy management are strongly coupled and can make a substantial impact on the final energy consumption of a hybrid vehicle. An optimal control problem can be formulated and solved off-line, to evaluate the most energy efficient utilization of fuel and battery energy for the specific vehicle design. These off-line solutions can be used as benchmarks to compare different architectures and design options, and rules can be derived from them to design on-line implementable heuristic control strategies. In this work a plug-in series architecture with a range-extender engine is considered for a Class 6 beverage delivery truck and the optimal control problem is solved using dynamic programming. To study the strong coupling that exists between components sizing and energy management a simulation design space exploration is performed with four different cell chemistries and three different battery pack sizes. A drive cycle with variable payload, which is representative of delivery operations, is developed and used as a test case. The results show how the selection of the cell chemistry and the constraints on the battery weight can affect the battery performance and the impact on the optimal energy management strategy.</div></div>

Packing size effects on the liquid circulation property in an external‐loop packed bubble column

AbstractPacking size effects on the fluid dynamics in an external‐loop packed bubble column with Raschig rings of three different effective diameters (4.9, 14.1, and 40.7 mm) in the riser were investigated. The overall gas holdup, liquid circulating velocity and gas–liquid mass transfer coefficient were respectively measured by volume expansion, tracer‐response, and dynamic oxygen‐absorption techniques. CFD simulation with the Euler–Euler two‐fluid method was used to predict the liquid circulating velocity by treating the packing as a porous medium. Compared to the empty column, the gas holdup was found to increase in the presence of packing, however, the liquid circulating velocity and gas–liquid mass transfer coefficient are rather complicated. Specifically, the gas holdup increases with the decrease of packing size, while the liquid circulating velocity is on the contrary, and the maximal gas–liquid mass transfer coefficient is achieved under packing diameter of 14.1 mm.

Plasma-catalytic ammonia decomposition using a packed-bed dielectric barrier discharge reactor

Plasma-catalytic ammonia decomposition as a method for producing hydrogen was studied in a packed-bed dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor at ambient pressure and a fixed plasma power. The influence of packing the plasma zone with various dielectric materials, typically used as catalyst supports, was examined. At conditions (21 W, 75 Nml/min NH3) where an NH3 conversion of 5% was achieved with plasma alone, an improved decomposition was found when introducing dielectric materials with dielectric constants between 4 and 30. Of the tested materials, MgAl2O4 yielded the highest conversion (15.1%). The particle size (0.3–1.4 mm) of the MgAl2O4 packing was found to have a modest influence on the conversion, which dropped from 15.1% to 12.6% with increasing particle size. Impregnation of MgAl2O4 with different metals was found to decrease the NH3 conversion, with the Ni impregnation still showing an improved conversion (7%) compared to plasma-only. The plasma-assisted ammonia decomposition occurs in the gas phase due to micro-discharges, as evident from a linear correlation between the conversion and the frequency of micro-discharges for both plasma alone and with the various solid packing materials. The primary function of the solid is thus to facilitate the gas phase reaction by assisting the creation of micro-discharges. Lastly, insulation of the reactor to raise the temperature to 230 °C in the plasma zone was found to have a negative effect on the conversion, as a change from volume discharges to surface discharges occurred. The study shows that NH3 can be decomposed to provide hydrogen by exposure to a non-thermal plasma, but further developments are needed for it to become an energy efficient technology.

SF 6 catalytic degradation in a γ‐Al 2 O 3 packed bed plasma system: A combined experimental and theoretical study

Effective abatement of the greenhouse gas sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) waste is of great importance for the environment protection. This work investigates the size effect and the surface properties of γ-Al2O3 pellets on SF6 degradation in a packed bed dielectric barrier discharge (PB-DBD) system. Experimental results show that decreasing the packing size improves the filamentary discharges and promotes the ignition and the maintenance of plasma, enhancing the degradation performance at low input powers. However, too small packing pellets decrease the gas residence time and reduce the degradation efficiency, especially for the input power beyond 80 W. Besides, lowering the packing size promotes the generation of SO2, while reduces the yields of S-O-F products, corresponding to a better degradation. After the discharge, the pellet surface becomes smoother with the appearance of S and F elements. Density functional theory calculations show that SF6 is likely to be adsorbed at the AlIII site over the γ-Al2O3(110) surface, and it is much more easily to decompose than in the gas phase. The fluorine gaseous products can decompose and stably adsorb on the pellet surface to change the surface element composition. This work provides a better understanding of SF6 degradation in a PB-DBD system.

Modeling strategies for sensible heat thermal energy recovery through packed beds

A considerable amount of industrial heat is wasted to the atmosphere. This valuable energy could be recovered through fixed bed systems by sensible or latent heat. Mathematical modeling and experimental study of a fixed bed thermal energy recovery system by sensible heat are presented in this paper. An experimental setup was constructed in which air and water were utilized as the charging and discharging process heat transfer fluids, respectively. Three different materials including silica-ceramic, alumina-ceramic, and metal with different sizes were used as the energy storage material. Mathematical modeling was performed at three different levels to analyze the system behavior. The difference among the various modeling levels was in their simplifying assumptions. The resulting equations in each level of modeling were numerically solved. Validation of the modeling results against the experimental data was performed to evaluate the capability of the developed models in prediction of the system actual behavior. Level I model with an average error of 24 % in the charging process and 11 % in discharging process showed unsuitable results, while level II and level III models showed approximately the same and acceptable results with 5 % and 9 % average errors in charging and discharging processes, respectively. Then level II model was selected for prediction of the system performance due to its less complexity compared to level III model. Finally, the influence of the packings material, packing size, and inlet air velocity and temperature on the system performance was predicted using level II model. The system yield had the highest value for all packings at the entering air highest temperature and lowest superficial velocity examined. Metal packings showed better performance and had an experimental system yield of 54 % and 67 % at the entering air highest temperature and lowest superficial velocity, respectively. It was also observed that metal packings outperformed other packings and had the highest experimental yield of 58 % at the same operating conditions. Besides, the highest experimental yield of 61 % was achieved by packings with the smallest size (13 mm) at the highest entering air temperature (140 °C). Based on the findings of this study it can be concluded that lower inlet air velocity and higher inlet air temperature enhanced the recovery efficiency. Besides, the smaller metal packings size showed higher recovery efficiency.

Tobacco minimum packaging policy to reduce cigarillo use among young people: results of an experimental study

ObjectiveThe Food and Drug Administration has the authority to set a minimum for cigar pack size, a product feature linked to price. This study examined the effects of cigarillo package...

Select Studies on the Impact of Pandemic and Product Pricing: A Case Study on Parle-G Brand

The selling of Parle-G biscuit recorded the highest sales among all biscuit companies operating in the Indian FMCG market during the lockdown period of India. The 1st quarter (April-June) audited sales of Parle-G of the financial year 2020-2021 broke all the records of past 9 decades sales i.e. for the period of 1929 to 2020 since from the inception of the company:‘Parle Products’ followed by selling Parle-G biscuit brand having a maximum retail price of INR ₹5 and INR ₹2 in the biscuit category products. This proposed teaching case searches for answers like how come Parle-G had set the record by selling even extremely low-priced biscuit pack sizes like INR ₹5 and INR ₹2 in spite of the pandemic and lockdown time? An attempt has also been provided in this case study to underline how the poor people had been impacted by the Parle-G biscuit product during the unprecedented pandemic. This case also highlights the crucial factors which had enabled Parle-G for setting the sales record and enjoying a substantial market share in the biscuit segment in India during the aforesaid period.

A synthesis of local cigar pack policies in the US

Communities have adopted cigar pack policies to eliminate inexpensive, small packs from being sold and reduce youth use. Still, it is unclear how widespread these policies are and whether they differ based on specific policy components. This study identified and measured local cigar pack size and price policies in the US. We used a systematic 14-step process to identify, obtain, and code local cigar pack policies, including pack size and pricing. Between January and July 2021, we identified 299 local cigar pack policies in the US. Policies were (1) identified through municipal code review and requests to state tobacco control representatives, (2) obtained online or from municipality representatives, and (3) double-coded for minimum pack size, minimum price, adopted/effective/enforcement dates, cigar definitions, differences in pack size/price by cigar type, price adjustments, whether the price is before discounts, policy exclusions, and enforcement. We identified 259 municipalities with cigar pack policies, 40 of which amended the pack size or price requirements after initial adoption, resulting in 299 policies. Policies specified eight different pack size requirements ranging from 2 to 25; most prevalent were minimums of 2 (n = 116, 39.2%) and 4 (n = 67, 22.6%). Minimum prices ranged from $0.35 to $10.00 per cigar. Exclusions included cigars priced above a specified amount (n = 225, 76.0%; $2.01-$10.00) and cigars sold at adult-only or tobacco retailers (n = 45, 15.2%). This is the first comprehensive synthesis of cigar pack size and price policies within the US. Policies vary widely both between and within states.

Forecasting the Operational Lifetime of Battery-Powered Electric Aircraft

In recent years, advancements in high-energy and -power density batteries have become central to developing viable aircraft for urban air mobility. In this paper, we introduce the time-dependent aircraft performance over operational lifetime diagram, which is a means of integrating battery lifetime modeling into the assessment of all-electric aircraft meant to service commuter routes: both within polycentric metropolitan regions and between residential and commercial spaces. Four aircraft representing the major configuration classes of urban air mobility concepts were simulated under continuous operation spanning one year. The aircraft flew eight daily flights, with recharging of the battery pack occurring at the end of each flight. The behaviors exhibited by the aircraft powertrains offer more holistic perspectives on the limitations of battery-powered aircraft than other traditional, nontemporal methods. This study highlights that, depending on the vehicle configuration, range, and battery pack size, the battery life of achievable missions can fall by as much as 45%. Additionally, the findings reveal that the rate of change in an operational lifetime can range between 8 and 23 days per nautical mile flown. These findings equip air transportation network modelers with information critical to improving strategies for optimizing vehicle utility and maximizing revenue.